"Can you use a domain?"
Just what kind of question is that?
Of course he could. Domain was tied to his talent—how else would he keep track of them?
That should have been his natural thought process, but Nux wasn't stupid.
His talent… his ability… those were secrets meant to stay buried. If word got out, if people knew what he could do, the entire balance of the world would crumble into chaos. He couldn't allow that.
So, he nodded, giving the shortest reply possible. No words.
The less he said, the better. It wasn't just caution—it was survival.
He had worked hard to shift his image from reckless and wild to quiet, calculating, and cold. Every action he made now was measured. His life depended on keeping this secret. Even his father and brothers knew nothing.
His talent…
It wasn't ordinary.
It wasn't even mythical.
It was legendary—spoken of only in the deepest whispers of history.
The last person to awaken such a talent existed three million years ago. That man had risen to become the strongest existence in the world at the time… yet, he was hunted by gods.
All of them.
Millions of divine beings branded his gift as evil.
But the one who chased him most relentlessly… was the so-called strongest god—and also, strangely, the weakest.
The God of Mana.
A ridiculous name. But terrifying.
That legendary man, cornered and betrayed, had taken his own life to end the pursuit.
The era that followed became known as the Era of Gods' Search.
Then came the Qi Breakdown Era—a slow death, as Qi gradually faded from the world until it vanished completely. It took a million years. The once-great Cultivators were reduced to mortals.
But mortals… they adapted. They used their minds to recreate the impossible—machines, tech, and devices that mimicked Cultivator strength.
And then, two million years later, everything changed again.
The game #SURVIVAL ONLINE# appeared, and with it… Qi returned.
That was just before the world faced its first true Apocalypse.
No one knows how or why, but after that, Qi surged back into existence. And with its return, all tech built on microchips stopped working. Replaced with a variant tech—strange and wildly more advanced, beyond understanding.
A/N: Not confusing, right?
"First tell me what happened?" Nux asked, his voice as calm as a frozen lake.
He needed to confirm what he already feared.
The thief can't have escaped… right?
The thought rang like a bell in his skull.
He tried to ignore it.
It was impossible. That was his truth. That was what he had to believe.
Alex's voice broke that illusion.
"T-the… T-thief… he escaped!"
Her words cracked the air.
Nux's eyes widened. What he just heard should've been absurd—but it came from her mouth.
A mortal… a thief… escaped four Cultivators?
That shouldn't happen. Couldn't happen.
But he didn't have time to be shocked.
This was not just about catching a thief anymore. This was about face, about pride, about his father's status as a noble—and his own. If word spread…
He didn't want to imagine it.
He clenched his jaw.
Then, he let go.
His aura exploded outward—his domain surged with it.
Instantly, the entire area trembled. An overwhelming, sinister, chaotic, devouring pressure blanketed everything.
Everyone within range froze. Breathing became difficult.
Abilities began to fade.
Some felt their Qi being forcefully suppressed, their limbs trembling under invisible chains.
In this domain, Nux was king.
Every rule, every law, every movement—must pass through his will. Nothing moved unless he allowed it. Nothing breathed without his consent.
Disobedience… came with consequences.
He could cripple someone's Cultivation.
He could kill with a word.
In his domain, his word was law.
If an ant moved, he'd feel it. If a drop of water shifted, he'd know. Even the smallest microorganism couldn't escape his notice.
Only someone an entire realm above him could walk freely within his domain.
Two realms higher?
Then they could shatter it.
But no one here came close.
So he searched.
He scanned the environment with his heightened senses, eyes glowing with layered perception.
Nothing.
Not even the tiniest flicker.
He sighed. At least this failed guard duty didn't affect his true mission.
The mission to kill Leon.
Once everyone finished searching—once the truth became undeniable—they all accepted it.
The thief had escaped.
Then, someone remembered.
The guy who had caught Leon… his eyes widened.
"He said… he said we should meet him right here again. In two hours."
Silence.
Then doubt.
"Do you really think he meant it? Could've just been a trick to stall us."
"What if it wasn't a lie though? It wouldn't hurt to try…"
"If there's anyone in this world you should never believe," Alex cut in, "it's a thief. But… you're right. It wouldn't hurt to wait."
Their situation was dire.
If the boy came back, it would be their last shot.
One final chance.
A single mistake—and everything they'd built would come crumbling down.
Reputation, to a Cultivator, was like breath to the living.
It was how deals were made. How loyalty was forged. It was everything.
A lost reputation didn't just ruin you—it ruined your entire lineage.
Some Cultivators would rather die than face that kind of humiliation.
And reputation? It was fragile.
Like glass.
One crack, and it was over.
While they battled with frustration and dread…
The boy they were looking for?
He was currently in a dangerous situation in a dungeon. But at least, he was already reaping benefits from it.