For a week, Zhang Yong did not appear much in front of everyone, spending most of his time hunting monsters for the second level of the Tyrant's Body.
During this time, Zhang Yong peacefully broke through to Level 15.
Then, a mission summon suddenly appeared.
Zhang Yong entered last, only to find everyone already gathered.
"Alright, since everyone is here, let me announce your mission." Najenda began in a calm voice. "The target this time is a relative of the Prime Minister, a man named Iokaru. On behalf of the minister, he kidnaps girls from the capital and beats them to death. His five guards share his guilt as well. This mission is extremely important. Everyone will attack!"
Under the cover of darkness, the team set out towards Iokaru's mansion.
Upon arrival, they split into two groups.
Tatsumi and Mine headed to a nearby peak to assassinate the target from a distance.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group remained hidden in the forest to deal with the guards.
After setting the rendezvous point, the group took their positions.
"So, there are five targets?" Zhang Yong looked down from a nearby tree. "This will be easy."
Bulat caught Zhang Yong's sarcastic expression and warned him, "They are not ordinary guards. They have trained in Kokonji, the best martial arts training temple in the empire."
"I see." Zhang Yong looked ahead, relying on his Purple Demon Eyes to see farther than an ordinary person.
Then, a black-haired man in military uniform and glasses, surrounded by women and guards, appeared. But in less than a second, a bullet pierced his head, killing him instantly amidst the crowd.
Zhang Yong immediately realized, "Mine has completed the mission and killed him with a bullet. Four guards are coming this way, and... one is heading towards Tatsumi and Mine's position!"
Bulat ordered, "Zhang Yong, go protect them. You're the fastest here. These four guards are nothing for us."
"I'm going," Zhang Yong said seriously.
Heavenly Demon Records - Dark Dragon Rush
Zhang Yong rode a dragon's aura and charged towards Mine and Tatsumi's location.
As previously arranged, the two had headed to the meeting point.
Zhang Yong moved from tree to tree with lightning speed, using his Heavenly Demon Eyes to see better in the darkness. He spotted the guard pursuing the pair.
He grabbed his spear and hurled it directly at the guard.
The spear whistled as it pierced the air, causing the guard to turn and dodge.
"Another assassin?" the guard muttered in a hoarse voice, rushing towards Zhang Yong at a speed faster than the wind.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track
Zhang Yong moved in a zigzag pattern, evading the path of a deadly fist strike that tore through the air with a sound like a small explosion.
"Let's play a little," Zhang Yong said with a challenging smile, adopting a fighting stance.
The guard didn't reply. Instead, he suddenly vanished from his spot, appearing close to Zhang Yong in a flash, his fist aimed at his spine.
But Zhang Yong was ready.
Heavenly Demon Records - Black Turtle Shield
A semi-transparent black shell formed around his body at the moment of impact. A booming sound shook the ground as the fist struck the shield, sending Zhang Yong flying to the edge of a cliff. 'Too close.'
He looked to the right and saw Tatsumi and Mine waiting there. 'They're here.'
"Zhang Yong!" Tatsumi shouted, gripping his sword with a trembling hand. "This man he's so fast!"
Mine, holding her Pumpkin gun, fired a shot directly at the guard's head.
But in an instant, the guard twisted his body at an impossible angle, dodging the bullet as if he knew its trajectory in advance.
"Impossible!" Mine whispered, her pink eyes flashing with astonishment.
The guard didn't waste time. He leaped towards Zhang Yong with lightning speed, his fist charged with energy compressing the air until it made an explosive sound.
Zhang Yong immediately transferred his spiritual energy to his arm and sent his fist to meet the guard's.
Their fists exploded upon impact, pushing both of them back.
'This man... he doesn't have Qi, but his technique is perfect!' Zhang Yong thought in astonishment.
"Mine, Tatsumi, get back!" Zhang Yong ordered as he charged towards the guard.
Path of Bone - Thorn Flower
Zhang Yong's bones extended and pierced through his skin, emerging from every corner of his body.
The guard, unperturbed, measured Zhang Yong with cold eyes, as if analyzing every movement before it happened.
"A strange technique."
At that moment, the guard moved with speed and shattered Zhang Yong's extended bones.
Zhang Yong was forced back several steps, feeling as if he had been hit by a steel wall.
Zhang Yong looked at his distant spear and extended his hand towards it.
Path of Theft - Wandering Ghost Hand
The spear vanished from its place and appeared in Zhang Yong's hand.
"Zhang Yong, i am coming to help you!" Tatsumi shouted, charging forward with his sword.
"Stay back!" Zhang Yong roared, but he was too late.
The guard didn't waste time. In an instant, he moved fast towards Tatsumi, his fist connecting with his ribs and sending him flying into a tree.
At that moment, Mine fired three shots at the guard, but he moved quickly and dodged them.
Path of Spear - Dragon Slaying Art
Instantly, the spear in Zhang Yong's hand glowed with a golden light, and Zhang Yong threw it with speed. The spear took the form of a dragon flying towards the guard.
The guard dodged the attack, but the moment he did, Zhang Yong suddenly appeared directly behind the spear.
Heavenly Demon Records - White Tiger Claw
Zhang Yong formed black claws on his hand and pierced the guard's chest, striking his heart.
Then he withdrew his arm, and the guard fell as his body burned with black flames.
Zhang Yong was breathing heavily, his purple eyes glowing in the darkness. Blood flowed from his wounds as his broken bones began to return to their original shape.
'Damn, using three different Paths at the same time is difficult. I have to wait. Once I reach Level 30, then it will be a different story.'
"Zhang Yong!" Mine rushed towards Tatsumi, who was lying by the tree, unconscious.
Zhang Yong approached Tatsumi and grabbed his wrist. "Nothing serious. He just lost consciousness from the blow. They really can't be underestimated."
Then Zhang Yong pressed some of Tatsumi's pressure points and punched him in the stomach to wake him up.
After Tatsumi regained consciousness from Zhang Yong's punch, the young coughed violently while rubbing his stomach. "Oh... why did you hit me?!"
Zhang Yong extended his hand to help Tatsumi up. "You learned something today, didn't you? Don't interfere in a fight you don't understand. In terms of combat ability, you're no match for him."
Tatsumi grabbed Zhang Yong's hand and stood up with a sigh. "Thanks... but did that man really die? He was a monster"
Zhang Yong shrugged. "Meh, I wouldn't care about a dead body right now."
Suddenly, they heard the sound of fast footsteps approaching. The rest of the Night Raid members emerged from the trees.
"We finished the four guards," Lubbock said, catching his breath.
"You say that as if you killed one of them when you did nothing," Leone said sarcastically. Then her gaze suddenly turned towards Zhang Yong. "Oya, did you run into some trouble?"
"Burned it," he pointed calmly towards the dead body.
"Hah, you really have no mercy," Lubbock couldn't help but smile sarcastically.
"Since when have we?" Zhang Yong said as he started walking. "Let's go back. Who wants to eat my cooking for dinner."
"Your cooking? Really?" Lubbock said, with a laugh. "Since you offered, we won't be polite."
Night Raid returned in the darkness, and after submitting the report to the leader, they all moved to the table.
"Alright, I'll cook the meat," Zhang Yong said, stretching his body.
Akame, as usual, stood silently by Zhang Yong's side, but her calm eyes were watching him attentively. "I'll help you in the kitchen."
Zhang Yong smiled as he entered the kitchen. "Alright, let's begin."
Zhang Yong entered the kitchen and began his culinary art, slicing the meat lightly and placing the pan.
In less than half an hour, he had prepared the food.
At that moment, Zhang Yong entered carrying a large dish of grilled meat with fresh vegetables. The delicious aroma made everyone stop talking immediately.
"Dinner is ready," he said simply, placing the dish on the table.
Akame followed him, carrying a pot of hot soup, its appetizing aroma making even Mine raise her eyebrows curiously.
Everyone began to eat, and silence filled the room as they enjoyed the meal.
"This... is really delicious," Sheele whispered, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"Really... your cooking isn't bad," Mine suddenly whispered, as if the words were forced out of her.
Zhang Yong raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled. "Is that a compliment from the genius sniper? I should mark this day in history."
"Shut your mouth!" Mine's cheeks flushed slightly, but the usual anger was absent from her voice.
After dinner ended, the Night Raid members gradually dispersed. Some went to rest, others to finish some small tasks.
Zhang Yong remained in the kitchen, slowly cleaning the dishes while thinking about recent events.
'The time of the event is approaching, where Sheele will die. If I plan to obtain her soul, I need to prepare. In that case, I will start training the Nine-Layered Eternal Ice Memory tonight,' Zhang Yong thought calmly.
For now, he needed to recover his strongest abilities, but his strongest required restoring his battle Spirit and opening his spiritual sea.
So far, his spiritual sea had shown no signs of wavering to allow him to open it.
'If there was a way to create pills here, I would make pills to help me cultivate, but... for now, after my name spread as a wanted fugitive for justice, I earned a hundred thousand points. After all, thanks to the capital, I have to exploit the situation here.'
After Zhang Yong finished, he quietly left the place, then heard a sound coming from the training grounds.
He went there immediately and found Tatsumi training with a sword.
Zhang Yong looked at him through his Heavenly Demon Eyes. Tatsumi's focus was scattered.
Tatsumi's aura used to be white, red, and gold, indicating his reliance on justice, his stubbornness, and a pure heart – the traits of a main character.
But now it was different. The golden light had started to become scarce, the red was glowing intensely, but there was another color: dark grey.
He was doubting himself.
Zhang Yong could deduce what was on the boy's mind.
'I failed again. I wasn't a match for the enemy and caused my comrade to be injured,' or something similar.
Zhang Yong could guess, because Tatsumi was that simple type of character.
Zhang Yong approached him quietly. "Pushing yourself beyond your limit will only have a negative effect on you."
Tatsumi stopped when he heard the voice, his sword trembling in his tired hand. "Ah, Zhang Yong, it's you. I was just training."
"That's obvious." Zhang Yong looked at his sword and said, "You won't make any progress this way. Is there a problem? I'll lend you my ear."
"It's just..." Tatsumi looked at the ground, seeming hesitant. "Every time a strong enemy appears, you always throw yourself into the fight, while I'm just a lamb. Maybe I don't have the talent for—"
Suddenly, Zhang Yong flicked Tatsumi's forehead. "Stop being pessimistic. You don't have talent? Then create one. The members of Night Raid see the potential of an assassin in you, so believe in yourself." Then Zhang Yong turned and picked up a wooden sword. "You have to grit your teeth. Thinking about pointless things will only hinder you. Do you think Bulat was born strong? Or Akame? Sheele? Lubbock? We weren't like this. We are all human, and we have all gone through different paths. What makes you different? Or do you really want to let other people meet the same end as your friends?"
Tatsumi trembled upon hearing Zhang Yong's words, as if an imaginary slap had woken him from his stupor. His blue eyes widened as he clutched his trembling hands. "But... how can I become strong enough? Even when I train with all my might, the gap between you and me seems unbridgeable."
"Pick up a wooden sword. From today, I will carve the meaning of combat into your body," Zhang Yong said, planting his sword in the ground.
As the moon cast its silver light upon the training ground, Zhang Yong and Tatsumi stood face to face, each holding a wooden sword.
Suddenly, Tatsumi charged towards Zhang Yong, his wooden sword cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
Then Zhang Yong moved, striking him to the side and thrusting directly towards the side of Tatsumi's neck. "Don't lower your guard. You may have killed monsters before, but humans are different. Expect the attack to come back at you, and expect human reactions."
Tatsumi gripped his sword, his eyes burning with new determination. "Again!"
'This boy, I will make him ready to become a match for the assassin who will appear in a few days in the capital , But no matter how hard he tries, it's impossible for him to kill a Teigu user. If he does, it will be a miracle. So it will be enough for me to train him to at least survive.'
Zhang Yong would not allow Tatsumi to sink into despair. If something like that happened, it would be a disaster. After refining his personality, he would be able to develop Incursio, which is required to defeat the final boss of this world.
In the following days, Zhang Yong and Tatsumi became unexpected training partners.
Every night, while the others slept, they would disappear into the forest to fight with swords, but it seemed as if Zhang Yong was training himself.
The first three days passed peacefully, but on the remaining days, Zhang Yong began to put killing intent into his attacks, making Tatsumi live a life-or-death experience.
Who would have believed that the doubtful boy had become good at dodging?
In the midst of all this, Zhang Yong was still training the Eternal Ice Memory and the Seven-Colored Hellfire.
Then, with all his hunting, he was having trouble finding high-level types of monsters. He decided to exploit the meat for a technique.
Path of Devouring - Elephant Devouring
This skill was different, like a time bomb for his body. It would convert anything the practitioner ate into spiritual energy: wood, stones, food. The only condition was that he had to eat.
But it was like a black hole, consisting of nine levels. As the level progressed, the hunger the practitioner felt increased. If he did not fill his stomach appropriately, his stomach, his body, and everything would explode. Nevertheless, it would increase his cultivation speed.
Thanks to it, he broke through to Level 19.