It was so abrupt that it caught Kate entirely by surprise.
A blinding light flashed before her eyes, dazzling her vision, however, it carried no threatening intent.
She waited in silence, her eyes closed against the brilliance, and only after some time did she open them.
Two figures stepped forth from a translucent portal, their hands held tightly together as though bound by glue.
Kate's instincts instantly responded. She went into a fighting stance, her whip started to coil in her grip as the very air around her froze, the environment seemed to blend into her will.
The two figures who appeared from the portal were startled by the sudden chill and exchanged a glance.
One of them muttered with exasperation, "Oh no… I told you your measurement was too far‑fetched. Now look—we've ended up getting ourselves killed."
Kate's whip lashed forward, slicing toward the uninvited guests. But in that instant before her strike could land, she froze. She recognized the intruders at once yet doubt still flickered in her eyes.
She leaned forward, as if to study them more closely, but it became clear—it was just as she had suspected.
However, she refused to believe in coincidences.
___
It had been four days since Blood and his servant left home without returning, placing the entire Marble Manor into yet another round of worry.
Both parents searched tirelessly, their efforts stretching across the region.
They hired mercenaries and implored the Hunter Union, scouring every possible trail in hopes of finding their son.
The servant, too, was missing. His absence also deepened their panic, as they knew he would never willingly leave his master's side.
Besides, this disappearance was unlike the previous ones. This time, they didn't even know if Blood was still alive. And after asking around, they learned he had entered the forest—but no one had seen him exit.
Rumors soon spread like wildfire. Some claimed he had been jubilantly slaying beasts one after another, while others said that the sheer number of beasts he had killed would have stirred envy in anyone—so someone, coveting his spoils, had attacked him, stealing his loot and perhaps even took his life in the process.
Among the many rumors, Salza picked one in particular.
Word reached him that his son had quarreled with a Carmos kid from the Shai Alchemy Clan, a neighboring clan whose territory was very close to the Marble family's territory.
It was said that the boy was very arrogant and had even dared his son to cross the outer boundary of the forest.
Without waiting to piece the puzzle together, Salza exploded in fury and attacked.
He stormed the Shai Clan, demanding the release of his son. His fury erupted like a hurricane, tearing through their defenses as he clashed with the patriarch and elders.
Buildings were obliterated as they fought fiercely, and his rage was felt throughout their land. That day, the Shai Clan once again felt the full measure of Salza's power.
Still his son couldn't be found.
Deep down, Salza knew this all along, though his anger had refused to let him accept it.
On the other hand, Balin and his entourage remained silent, since they knew the truth—that it was they who had sent the boy into the Dark Zone.
To them, it was a ticket to a sure death.
As for the servant who was said to be accompanying him, Balin knew nothing of the man. The servant had most likely fled, in view of the fact that he must have heard words of his master's death and dared not return.
Balin didn't blame the man. To return would have been the same as offering his head in sacrifice. If he came back with such news, he would surely be killed.
They didn't even know the boy was of the Marble family, since he had concealed himself in a hood. Had they recognized him, they would've restrained themselves.
They only realized the truth when Shiva revealed she had glimpsed his face.
However, what was done was done. The matter with the Whip Princess remained unresolved, and they couldn't afford to provoke the Marble family.
Balin had already heard words of a single man who had toppled the Shai Clan over mere rumors of his missing son. He wondered what storm would break if that same man learned of this.
He was the culprit in this case. Although his clan might fare better in an open war, yet Balin knew they already had their cups full.
As a result, he held his tongue and ordered his servant and fellow apprentices to remain within the inn's vicinity. He feared that he would be dead before his clan even learned what had transpired, and he doubted they would retaliate if the Marble family struck him down.
There was no one in the city who hadn't heard of the Marble family's current head. He was not merely a Silver Realm warrior, but a battle maniac whose deeds inspired fear in the hearts of many.
And so, the search continued. Soon after, a great reward was placed on the Hunter Union's mission board, drawing eyes and greed from every corner of the city.
___
Oblivious to the turmoil that followed his disappearance, the duo remained in the same place.
Blood suddenly appeared behind a glowing prism, which began to revolve counterclockwise the instant he appeared. It was as though the prism itself was announcing his return.
The static energy within the eight circles became restless, stirring violently within. By now, the once‑colorful energy had turned entirely red, refined by time into a volatile, impatient force.
All at once, Blood was seized by dizziness. His vision blurred and his body weakened. He collapsed on the shadow‑stained ground as a red mist rose from his form.
The eight circles continue to tremble with fury. Suddenly, their energy erupted like a falcon taking flight, overwhelming the constraints that bound them and bursting forth unimpeded.
Time passed…
Blood eventually regained consciousness, and the mist leaking from his body dissipated. His gaze was locked on the octagonal prism, thoughts stirring within him.
From his knowledge, he understood that heaven and earth energy had to be refined through cultivation techniques to strengthen one's core. Yet this energy seemed to be refining itself, working without his command.
Nevertheless, he began to circulate his cultivation technique—the Blood Formation Manual: Blood Balancing Art. At once, the prism's revolution quickened, spinning faster than before.
The energy from each circle seemed to resonate in harmony, darting simultaneously toward the dim silhouette through the net that bound them.
They converged, and the circles began to contract, condensing their essence into a single colossal ball of red energy.
That ball instantly moved to the summit of the silhouette when it was fully formed, where a small ring stood. Though the ring appeared diminutive, it encompassed the entirety of the gathered energy.
The concentrated energy continued to stir within the small ring, stimulated without pause, until at last it was refined and dispersed throughout the entirety of the dim silhouette.
The dim silhouette became bright, bathed in red energy, aglow with a brilliance that seemed to rival the sun. Its radiance suddenly spilled outward, consuming the surrounding darkness and flooding the area in its dazzling light.
The sight was breathtaking!
When this happened, Blood's veins began to bulge. His face contorted, veined with thick red lines that pulsed violently, beating as though they possessed hearts of their own.
He could feel the same sensation coursing through every inch of his body, accompanied by searing pain.
Yet amidst the agony, there was something else—a subtle, soothing glow that suddenly began to wrap around him. His strength started to increase, rising at an outrageous pace.
In that moment, he felt certain that no one would be his match once this breakthrough was complete!
The feeling of a breakthrough was still unfolding.
Blood's still figure quaked, and the red mist surrounding him receded.
The barrier separating the Iron Realm from the Bronze Realm became as fragile as a balloon. With no resistance, Blood shattered it, breaking through to the second realm of cultivation—the Bronze Realm.
The instant he crossed the threshold, the dim silhouette before him grew clearer, though it remained shrouded in vagueness.
The octagonal prism continued its revolution, but the energy it contained earlier was gone—completely depleted.
It seemed he would have to begin the accumulation anew.
Suddenly, Blood's body vibrated, and in the next instant, he was sent out of his spiritual space.
___
Meanwhile…
"Dear, someone just delivered this note and said it was urgent." Maria said as she stepped through the main door, moving toward her husband who sat on the couch with a livid complexion.
A forceful smile replaced his grim expression the moment he heard his wife's voice, as if calmed by her voice. "What does it say?" he asked.
He didn't want to read it himself, fearing it carried the chief's angry words.
The matter concerning the dual porter he had inquired about had been sent the day before his arrival, and so the message had never reached him.