Rain fell silently on the ground.
Thunder roared across the sky.
A man crawled desperately as lightning struck nearby. He screamed in agony—
"Please… someone save me from this maniac…!"
Then—
Silence.
A clean slash cut through his neck.
His head fell.
His body collapsed.
His screams ended.
Blood poured endlessly from his neck.
A voice echoed—cold, silent… almost empty.
"Congratulations… it's my 27th kill."
He gasped for air.
His clothes were covered in blood.
His hands were still.
A dagger rested in his grip.
"I hate criminals…"
He paused.
"…but I never realized… I've become one too."
He sat down on the corpse.
"After all… this dude deserved it."
He licked his palm, tasting the blood.
"My skin… is burning from fever…"
He sighed.
"…but at last, I gave him what he deserved."
The boy stood up, his voice clear—yet cold.
"I sent him to the judgment of God… and I wish he rots in hell."
His grip tightened.
"For raping… and murdering a young girl."
Thunder roared again.
"Let's go…"
He stepped forward as the rain slowly soaked his clothes.
A voice appeared.
"You killed him, right?"
The tone sounded… interested.
The boy turned around, his voice cold.
"Yeah… why?"
His hand slipped into his pocket.
"I killed him. He was my 27th."
A pause.
"Do you want to become the 28th?"
The man shook his head.
"No."
He smirked.
"But I like your ego… you're something that was meant to rule—yet you kill relentlessly like a tyrant."
The boy looked down and spoke calmly.
"I don't kill boys."
A pause.
"I kill those who sin badly."
His voice remained steady.
"Not women… not children."
His eyes darkened.
"I only kill those who take lives."
Another pause.
"I am neither a ruler… nor a tyrant."
He gasped slightly.
"…This is trouble."
The man observed him.
"You look sick."
There was a hint of worry—but it felt fake.
"I'm fine," the boy replied coldly. "You shouldn't show fake concern."
The man chuckled.
"Oh… you caught that."
He straightened his posture.
"Why don't you kill women or girls?"
"Simple."
His voice turned colder.
"…I have sisters at home."
The man placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.
"Your name, boy?"
The boy stood silently for a moment.
Then—
"Ashura…"
A pause.
"…Ashura Rivaan."
Thunder roared again.
The man cracked his knuckles and yawned.
"I don't know why… but you look very confused right now."
Ashura spoke in a calm, cold tone.
"Why don't you fear? You can be killed at any time."
The man smirked—darkly.
"Come on… you don't know what I have."
Ashura glanced at him, confused.
"Oh?"
His hand moved to his gun.
The man spoke again.
"What's your age, boy?"
"…Sixteen."
The man raised an eyebrow.
Rain fell slowly. The moment turned silent.
"That's incredible."
He clapped.
Ashura drew his gun and fired.
"Now… your end."
The man smirked.
"Really?"
As the bullet flew toward him—
It was deflected.
By bats.
Ashura stared, confused.
"…How?"
He stood there, stunned.
A voice echoed—dark, mocking.
"For now, Ashura… you've lost."
A bullet shot into his chest.
"Aghhh—!"
His eyes began losing consciousness.
He fell to the ground.
Coughing blood.
"…Who… is that man…?"
His fist clenched weakly.
The last thing he saw before blacking out—
Was the man's face.
"Goodnight."
Another bullet shot.
Darkness.
Chapter 1 Ended