Schlk! Schlk!

Through the unbearable agony, Leon saw the two crimson streaks emerge from the depths of Hell’s Pool and shoot straight toward him.

Before he could react...

Stab! Stab!

They pierced through his chest, one on each side.

’Fuck!’ Leon’s eyes widened. ’Did the phoenix’s soul think I was dying too slowly?

So she decided to finish the job herself?’

Leon looked down. Two crimson daggers were embedded deep within his chest. Yet a moment later, he noticed something strange.

The burning pain... It was fading. Slowly. Very slowly. But it was undeniably happening.

A series of notifications suddenly appeared before him.

[Foreign object detected.]

[Foreign object: Raging Inferno’s Wings.]

[Raging Inferno’s Wings are reacting with Host’s bloodline.]

[Host’s bloodline ’Abyssal Adaptation’ is evolving.]

[Evolution Complete: 5%.]

Leon gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

His body was still burning. He could see his flesh melting, decaying, and charring under the relentless heat. But at the same time, he noticed something else. The damaged flesh wasn’t merely being destroyed. At the edges of the wounds... New flesh was growing. The regeneration was incredibly slow. So slow that Leon initially thought it was an illusion.

Yet after staring at it for several seconds, he became certain. His body was healing. His eyes immediately returned to the system panel.

’My bloodline is evolving again? Damn it. Whatever’s happening, hurry up. I don’t want to die before it’s finished.’

[Evolution Complete: 22%.]

Leon’s vision blurred. His consciousness drifted in and out. He felt as though he could lose consciousness at any moment.

Then...

The crimson daggers suddenly dug deeper into his chest. Blood burst from the wounds.

"ARGHHHH!"

[Evolution Complete: 31%.]

Leon noticed something immediately. The evolution speed had increased. As though the deeper the daggers penetrated, the faster the process became.

A moment later...

The daggers plunged even deeper.

[Evolution Complete: 49%.]

[Evolution Complete: 68%.]

[Evolution Complete: 89%.]

Every time the daggers sank further into his chest, the progress bar surged upward. The excruciating pain repeatedly dragged Leon back from the brink of unconsciousness.

Then finally...

[Evolution Complete: 100%.]

[Evolution Complete.]

[Abyssal Adaptation

Grade: Uncommon > Rare]

[New Ability Unlocked.]

[Ability: Self-Heal]

The grotesque wounds covering Leon’s body immediately began to close at a visible rate.

He was still enduring the pain. But this time, he wasn’t just enduring, he was adapting to it.

On one side, the flames of Hell’s Pool continued melting his flesh. On the other, his newly awakened ability regenerated it just as quickly.

The healing speed wasn’t enough for all his injuries to vanish instantly, but it was enough to let him adapt.

[Fire Resistance: 0.99%.]

Leon stared at the notification. ’What the hell? Self-Heal? An ability like that actually exists?’

Despite the unimaginable pain, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

But the system wasn’t finished. More notifications appeared.

[Bloodline has reached Rare Rank.]

[Rare Rank bloodlines possess an Rare Rank weakness.]

[Weakness activated.]

[Abyssal Adaptation Bloodline’s Rare Weakness: Battle Hunger.]

[Description: When a bloodline reaches a certain threshold, a corresponding weakness manifests to maintain equilibrium.

Abyssal Adaptation Bloodline’s Rare Weakness is Battle Hunger. The owner will gradually develop an intense craving for battle. The owner will experience heightened excitement and adrenaline when facing powerful opponents. The stronger and more dangerous the opponent, the greater the exhilaration.]

The smile on Leon’s face instantly froze. But then it reappeared again. ’What a load of crap. Like I will ever feel happy about someone beating the shit out of me.’ Leon totally brushed off the weakness and started focusing on the heat.

He sat down this time in a lotus position and closed his eyes. He didn’t bother pulling out the crimson daggers. The scorching heat continued melting his flesh without mercy. If not for his newly awakened healing ability, even his bones would have long since turned to ash.

But now things were different. Slowly. Steadily. He was adapting to the bone-melting heat.

[Fire Resistance: 1.07%.]

Leon remained seated in the lotus position.

Seconds passed. Then minutes. Eventually, an entire hour went by. Yet he never moved.

The flames continued raging around him like an endless sea of destruction, while his Fire Resistance climbed upward at a steady pace. Unfortunately, the progress was painfully slow.

Hours passed. Then an entire day.

The inferno remained unchanged. Relentless and merciless. As though it intended to burn everything in existence to nothingness.

Meanwhile, in the real world...

00:30 A.M.

Deep in the middle of the night, two figures stood beside a private helipad. Not far away, four black Mercedes-Benz vehicles were parked in a neat row.

One of the figures was a young man with a sharp jawline and black-blue hair. He wore a black leather jacket over a gray tunic, giving him a confident and arrogant appearance.

It was none other than Sean Bowen. The same Sean Bowen who had hired thugs to cripple Leon, Jenny’s classmate.

Sean glanced toward the dark sky.

"Father, who are we waiting for?"

His father kept his eyes fixed on the horizon.

"The Bloodhound Guild."

Sean’s eyes widened. "The Bloodhound Guild?" he repeated. "The most notorious assassin guild in the world? But, I thought they only operated on the Western Continent."

His father let out a faint chuckle. "That’s what most people believe. They’ve been helping our family for a very long time. And, not just us," his father continued. "The Bloodhound Guild has been quietly extending its influence across every continent. They’re gradually planting roots in countries all over the world."

Sean swallowed. The more he learned about the organization, the more terrifying it sounded.

"And this time? One of their main squads is coming here on a special mission."

"A mission?" Sean asked curiously. "Are they coming here to inspect our family?"

His father shook his head. "No."

"Then why?"

For the first time, a trace of seriousness appeared on his father’s face. He stayed silent for a while before speaking again. This time in a hushed voice.

"Noah Hudesman. They are coming for Noah Hudesman."