After dinner, dusk began to settle.
Patches of starlight dotted the faintly blue glass of the window.
Zorn, however, was quietly immersed in cultivating and assimilating the Star Trace Gang Qi of his Star Trace Fighter Sequence.
He had fought and killed the Rat King a few days ago.
This high-intensity clash of Sequences, this battle, had allowed his Fighting Master Sequence to reap enormous rewards.
Every day, Zorn could feel the changes within himself with absolute clarity.
His heart grew stronger.
His Perception became increasingly sharp.
His steps became steadier, yet lighter.
Most importantly, the core of the Star Trace Fighter Sequence, the Star Trace Gang Qi, was also growing stronger.
This was a power that one could typically only master at Level Three, or even Level Four.
But with an SS-Level Star Trace Fighter, a top-tier account, he had already mastered it at Level 1, and his absorption and conversion efficiency was astounding.
As for Bevis, the veteran Rat Catcher, he had long ago accumulated sufficient experience.
The successful hunt of the Rat King acted as the catalyst for his advancement.
When Zorn saw him today, he had already advanced to Level Two.
Level 1 to Level 5 is the Lower Rank Extraordinary Sequence.
Level Six to Level 10 is the Middle Rank Extraordinary Sequence.
Level 11 to Level 15 is the Upper Rank Extraordinary Sequence.
Within the same rank, advancing in Level requires accumulating experience, then digesting it to transform.
Although difficult, it can be achieved by honing one's skills over time.
Only then can one level up.
For example, a Fighting Master needs to engage in combat and kill, time and time again.
A Rat Catcher needs to constantly hunt and capture murine creatures.
Of course, capturing other types of creatures is also effective, just not as much as hunting murine ones.
As for advancing in rank...
For instance, from Lower Rank to Middle Rank, or Middle Rank to Upper Rank.
One must not only consume crucial materials and Magic Potions.
More importantly, one must participate in the convergence of [Events], carving their own trajectory into fate. Only then is advancement possible!
And this brings us to the core of the World of Holy Relic: Eternal Poem.
[Chase the tides of the era, surging through the tapestry of history.]
[Forge your own eternal Holy Relic.]
[And with your own hands, compose an immortal poem.]
This is the true essence of the World of Holy Relic: Eternal Poem.
To inscribe one's [True Name] during a [Major Event], altering or advancing the [Trajectory of Fate].
This is the only way to cross ranks and complete one's advancement.
Currently, Zorn is only a Level 1 Star Trace Fighter.
Theoretically, he shouldn't face any major bottlenecks before reaching Level 5.
However, with normal cultivation, reaching Level 5 would take several years.
But participating in, or even creating, [Events] could greatly accelerate this process.
「Before he knew it, the night had grown deep.」
Zorn on his bed, and Ogrande City outside his window, both seemed to have drifted off to dreamland.
CREAK!
Zorn's bedroom door was quietly pushed open.
A slender figure hesitated, pacing in front of the door.
Then, as if having made a great resolution, she stepped into the room and tiptoed toward Zorn's carved wooden bed.
Perhaps because she was so nervous, she caught the faint scent of jasmine lingering in the air after entering. She had always been sensitive to smells.
"Young Master Zorn..."
Her voice was timid and trembling.
In the pale moonlight filtering through the window, Vanessa's cheeks were flushed red.
A few days ago, Young Master Zorn's hand had been severely injured.
But yesterday, the wound had already healed completely. While Vanessa was astonished by the speed of his recovery, she also knew the time was right.
As a maid raised by a noble family, she was a gift for the young master's coming-of-age ceremony.
Standing before Young Master Zorn's bed, her heart beat faster and faster, and even breathing seemed difficult.
At this moment, Zorn seemed to be sound asleep, lost in a deep slumber.
Biting her nervous lip, Vanessa closed her eyes and slowly began to remove the long nightgown that was her only garment.
"Young Master... you... you can... n-now... do... it... to... me..."
As she spoke, Vanessa felt a daze wash over her, her consciousness growing increasingly fuzzy.
THUD!
She collapsed onto Zorn's bed and, just like him, fell into a deep sleep.
The night fell silent once more.
「A short while later.」
CREAK! The door Vanessa had forgotten to close was slowly pushed shut.
A tall, middle-aged man with a cold gaze emerged from a dark corner.
He wore a black felt hat and a dark brown coat, his figure upright and lean.
In the faint light filtering through the window, a shocking burn scar could be seen running from his left brow bone, across the bridge of his nose, to the right side of his nose.
Even Transcendents like Zorn and the Rat Catcher Bevis made some noise when they walked.
But this tall man, shrouded in his black coat, moved like a ghost, completely silent.
He walked to the window, his icy gaze studying the outside for a moment.
Then, he reached out a finger and tapped rhythmically on the windowpane.
A moment later, as he opened the window, a figure as nimble as a leopard climbed up the wall, vaulted through the open window, and entered the bedroom.
The Thief and the Soul Feeder had come to kidnap him.
They looked at the unconscious noble boy in the room, and then at the maid who had inexplicably barged in.
The leopard-like Thief was slightly taken aback.
"I thought we agreed on one. Why are there two?"
His glacial eyes swept over the two people on the bed.
The tall Soul Feeder spoke slowly.
"It's probably a maid from a wealthy family, offering herself to the young noble master."
"So these delicate nobles can complete their coming-of-age ceremony."
"Fortunately, my 'Soul-Calming Incense' is very effective."
"I imagine they're meeting in their dreams right now."
Hearing this, the Thief immediately began to grumble.
"Those goddamn nobles actually have a coming-of-age ceremony like this?"
"I had to give my coming-of-age to a damn she-goat, and even then, my bastard drunk of a father gave me a beating that nearly killed me."
"A young virgin maid... now that's something I like."
The lean Thief gave a wicked grin, his eyes glinting with lust as he looked at the thinly-clad maid.
The Soul Feeder paused, then said flatly,
"Hurry up!"
Aroused by his own wicked thoughts, the Thief reached out to pull at Vanessa's clothes.
During his numerous kidnappings, there had been no shortage of young, delectable noble girls. Even if the families were willing to pay the ransom, the Thief, Tredon, would never spare them.
Just as he made his move, the cold, dark barrel of a gun emerged silently.
Then, a roar of gunfire erupted from its cold muzzle, giving him no time for repentance.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
It was like a sudden tempest—scorching and terrifying.
As a Level 2 Thief,
Tredon possessed the [Climbing] Ability, allowing him to walk on walls like a gecko.
He also possessed an extremely agile body and incredible speed.
The moment he sensed danger, he twisted his body with all his might, trying to dodge the aim of that damned Revolver.
Although he was a Level Two Thief, he was still made of flesh and blood. If he got shot, the damage would be no less severe.
The dim bedroom was shrouded in Shadowy Obscurity, making it impossible to see figures clearly—only their outlines were visible.
Tredon was confident he could dodge the Revolver's bullets.
However, when the gunshots and muzzle flashes struck as fast as summer lightning and then fell silent, he felt an indescribable, piercing pain in his abdomen. It washed over him like a tide, and his vision went black.
He had dodged quickly, but obviously not as quickly as a bullet.
THUD!
He pitched forward and collapsed.