Gray felt like a young mouse shivering in front of a beast, and for some reason, he felt as if the shadow was peeking at him, because he could feel a sharp gaze in the shadows, looking at him alone from beginning to end.

He cleaned up the clutter around him and slowly stood up.

"We need to get back to everyone as soon as possible."

The hand holding the little idol trembled with fear.

Gray was sure that the moment he moved his steps, the figure would pounce on him, and there was a thick tension between Gray standing in a strange position and the black figure.

"It's now!"

Gray began to run with all his strength, and almost at the same time, the figure was chasing Gray with terrifying speed.

In the darkness where there was no light in sight, Gray and the unknown figure launched a life-and-death pursuit, and the pursued Gray began to breathe rapidly, and his heart was about to jump out.

Although the distance has been reduced to the point where you can reach it with your hand, the black figure seems to be playing a game, maintaining a chilling distance and following closely.

The belief that "I want to go back to my family soon" prompted Gray to speed up his already tired pace, but soon, Gray thought of a tragic situation that was very likely.

"If I go back now, this man will kill them all."

That's right.

Even if Gray returned to the group, none of them would be able to compete with this man, but the mysterious guest he had attracted would kill them all.

What about that......

"In that case...... As long as I die alone, it's fine. ”

The kind smiles of parents and family members come to mind.

Gray held the statue of the goddess drenched in cold sweat in one hand, and a small but sharp knife in the other.

"Goddess, please give me courage."

Gray stopped running, and at the same time, the black figure suddenly stopped.

The two men entered a long silence. Suddenly, Gray took the initiative to pounce on the figure, and Gray, who struggled to jump into the air, stabbed the black figure in the back with a knife.

But the figure that suddenly disappeared from front of him appeared behind him at some point, and kicked Gray in the back with little effort, and Gray collapsed forward weakly.

The only memory before losing consciousness is the huge sack and his struggle.

Gray screamed as he opened his eyes, sore as if he had been beaten with a stick.

Gray tried to stand up, but felt pain in his ankle and heard the sound of chains dragging on the ground. A chill seeped through the stone floor into the soles of his feet, and Gray struggled to brace himself up, recalling his last memories before fainting, that he should have been kidnapped here by the Black Shadow.

Suddenly, a family of cultivators came to his mind. But it is still impossible to tell whether he is the only one who has been taken captive or whether the entire family has been taken captive.

"Please, I hope they're safe." Gray pleaded inwardly.

Determined not to wait for death, Gray got up from where he was and looked around his captivity.

The dim light looms an unknown sign, creating a strange atmosphere where there are no windows or gaps in sight except for a large iron door.

This perfectly sealed room is so dark that it is reminiscent of a thug or a beast being held here.

Gray dragged the chain around his ankle and began to climb up the rusty iron door to get out, but soon he tripped over the chain.

At this moment, the closed iron door slowly opened, and three people wearing masks appeared silently at the door, all of them hiding their true colors with strange masks and dark costumes.

Standing side by side with three people in the same attire, one can't help but give the illusion that these people are not human, but doppelgangers derived from the same person.

The wind made the veil flutter, and Gray could see the corners of their mouths through the cracks, proving that they weren't ghosts or shadows.

Gray remembered that the black figure he had encountered earlier was also wearing a mask, and it was exactly the same as the mask of the person in front of him.

While still thinking, one of these people slowly walked towards Gray.

"Don't be afraid, you're just chosen."

The strange man circled around Gray, carefully observing his body, hands and feet.

"Hmph, it's the best of the resources brought today, it's really a rare strong body, and it will definitely be a good weapon."

Gray was wary and hostile to the man in front of him.

"What's your name? Don't be afraid, answer me. ”

“……”

"I am the 'guide' who can lead you to other paths, and these people sent next to me are the 'heralds', so let me ask you again, what is your name?"

Gray still didn't answer.

"Hmph, that's good!"

The facilitator took a step back with interest.

"From now on you will be separated from the miserable inferior civilians and will be reborn as a strong, beautiful, loyal being, just follow me well, and I will guide you to the right path and live together like a family."

The villain who had separated himself from his family had uttered the word family, and Gray was furious from the depths of his heart.

He was determined not to give in to these people.

"Then, let me ask again, what's your name?"

"I'm not going to answer, absolutely."

In an instant, the guide slapped Gray's cheek, and Gray, who was in a trance due to the powerful impact, felt the pain as if he were dead.

The blood flowing from Gray's cracked mouth smelled salty, and under the influence of the smell of blood, Gray felt fear.

If you don't answer next time, it may not just be your hand, maybe it's the knife that the guide hangs on his waist.

But he also felt that if he took a step back here, he would never be able to leave here.

Gray regained his will and looked up, his eyes burning with anger and resistance.

A loud voice resounded through the room and questioned Gray.

"Answer me, what's your name?"

“.......”

The guide nodded, and the herald standing next to him quickly tied up Gray.

Gray struggled desperately, but it was in vain to try with the adults.

"Ordinary resources can't withstand this all the time because fear has been planted in their spiritual roots. In order to be freed from their suffering, they gave up resistance from the beginning and began to give in. Those wastes... It's too easy and worthless. ”

He nodded, and the heralds pressed Gray down forcefully.

Gray resisted desperately in order not to let himself kneel.

"You are indeed different from other resources, and you have a strong will that is in line with the highest level weapons."

The facilitator slowly approached Gray, who was kneeling.

Gray could tell through the mask that he was smiling.

"It may not be easy to educate you, but I'm sure you'll be able to adapt quickly."

He held Gray down the head and put something on him.

He then pulled a small bottle out of his bosom and poured the liquid into Gray's nostrils.

The small body that struggled slowly became sluggish.