CHAPTER 28, The Veil Appears
The cold wind swept across the rocky plains, carrying dust through the broken remains of the ancient watchtower.
Silence stood between the two groups like an invisible wall.
Jay remained motionless near the entrance of the ruins, his dark cloak shifting slightly with the wind. Behind him, Elara and Lira stayed alert, both of them already sensing the difference between these newcomers and every enemy they had faced before.
These people were not reckless bandits.
Not corrupted puppets.
Not mindless servants of darkness.
They were controlled.
Experienced.
Dangerous.
---
The four figures stood calmly several meters away.
The man holding the massive spear looked almost bored, lazily resting the weapon across his shoulder. Yet the pressure coming from him alone was enough to make the surrounding air feel heavier.
The hooded woman beside him radiated something colder.
Not power.
Death.
Even without seeing her face, Jay could feel sharp killing intent hidden beneath her calm posture.
The third figure was massive—far taller than the others, wearing dark armor covered in strange crimson markings. Every breath from him sounded heavy, almost beast-like.
And at the center—
stood the leader.
A man dressed in black robes trimmed with silver patterns.
Unlike the others, his presence felt calm.
Too calm.
As if he stood completely above the situation.
---
His eyes remained fixed on Jay.
"You absorbed the fragment," he repeated quietly.
It wasn't a question.
It was certainty.
---
Jay's voice stayed calm.
"And if I did?"
---
The man smiled faintly.
"Then our mission becomes simple."
---
The spear wielder cracked his neck lazily.
"Can we skip the talking already?"
---
Elara immediately stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly.
"Jay…"
But Jay slightly raised his hand, stopping her.
His eyes never left the group ahead.
"…You know what the fragments are."
---
The leader nodded once.
"Of course."
"They belong to something far greater than you understand."
---
Lira felt a chill run through her body.
There was something wrong about the way he spoke.
Not fanatic devotion.
Not fear.
Respect.
As if the darkness they served was something sacred.
---
Jay asked quietly,
"What are you people?"
---
For the first time, the leader's smile widened slightly.
"We are the Veil."
---
The moment those words were spoken—
the atmosphere changed.
Even Elara's expression darkened.
"…The Veil…"
---
Jay noticed immediately.
"You know them?"
---
Elara's grip tightened around her staff.
"They're not a normal organization."
Her voice lowered.
"They erase people."
---
The spear wielder laughed.
"That's a rude way to describe us."
---
The hooded woman finally spoke, her voice cold and emotionless.
"If someone becomes a threat to balance… they disappear."
---
Jay's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And I'm considered a threat?"
---
The leader answered calmly.
"You destroyed a Core."
"You absorbed its fragment."
"And now…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…you're changing."
---
For a brief moment—
silence.
---
Then the leader extended his hand slightly.
"Come with us willingly."
"We may still be able to control the corruption."
---
Jay stared at him quietly.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
---
"…No."
---
The wind suddenly intensified.
---
The spear wielder sighed dramatically.
"There it is."
---
The armored giant stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
---
Elara immediately moved beside Jay.
"We can't fight all of them directly."
---
Jay's expression remained calm.
"…I know."
---
But deep inside—
his instincts were already moving.
Calculating.
Predicting.
Searching for weakness.
---
The leader looked almost disappointed.
"…That's unfortunate."
Then he gave a small nod.
"Take him alive if possible."
---
The moment those words left his mouth—
the battlefield exploded into motion.
---
The armored giant charged first.
Fast.
Far faster than his size should allow.
Each step shattered the ground beneath him.
---
Jay vanished instantly.
---
FLASH.
---
He reappeared above the giant, blade descending toward his neck.
But—
CLANG!
---
The attack barely pierced the armor.
---
The giant swung his massive arm.
Jay teleported away before the impact landed.
---
The spear wielder attacked next.
His spear shot forward like lightning.
---
Jay tilted his head slightly.
The spear missed by inches—
but the pressure behind it sliced through several stones behind him.
---
"…Fast," Jay muttered.
---
The man grinned.
"Thanks."
---
Then—
the hooded woman disappeared.
---
Elara's eyes widened.
"Jay—behind you!"
---
Too late.
---
A black dagger appeared near Jay's throat.
---
But suddenly—
Jay himself disappeared into shadows.
---
The dagger cut through empty air.
---
The hooded woman froze slightly.
"…What?"
---
Jay emerged from another shadow several meters away.
---
📜 SYSTEM NOTICE
Shadow Shift Synchronization Increased
Current Compatibility: 21%
---
Jay ignored the screen.
His focus sharpened further.
---
These enemies were strong.
Far stronger than the corrupted servants from before.
---
But more importantly—
they fought intelligently.
---
The leader still hadn't moved.
He simply watched.
Analyzing everything.
---
Jay realized it immediately.
"…He's the dangerous one."
---
At that exact moment—
their eyes met.
---
The leader smiled slightly.
"…Correct."
---
And then—
he vanished.
---
Not teleportation.
Not speed.
---
One moment he existed.
The next—
he was simply gone.
---
Jay's instincts exploded with warning.
---
He turned instantly—
blocking a strike with his blade.
---
BOOM!
---
The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
---
For the first time in a long while—
Jay was forced backward.
---
His feet slid across the broken ground.
---
The leader stood calmly where he had appeared.
One hand extended.
Black energy swirling around his fingers.
---
"…Interesting," he murmured.
"…You reacted."
---
Jay's eyes sharpened.
---
This man—
was stronger than the others.
Much stronger.
---
The leader tilted his head slightly.
"You've begun awakening memories from your previous life, haven't you?"
---
Elara's eyes widened.
Lira froze.
---
Jay said nothing.
But internally—
his killing intent rose instantly.
---
The leader noticed.
And smiled.
---
"So it's true."
---
A dangerous silence filled the battlefield.
---
Then the leader spoke again.
---
"…The King of Killers has truly returned."
---
The world itself seemed to freeze around those words.
---
Because for the first time—
someone had recognized what Jay truly was.
---
Not just a prince.
Not just a reincarnated warrior.
---
But the monster who once ruled the shadows of another world.
---
And judging by the leader's eyes—
the Veil had been searching for him all along.
---
— To Be Continued 🔥⚔️👑