Rise of the Broken Warrior

Chapter 4

"I will turn your skull into dust!" Bruce bellowed, his voice sounding like a feral beast. He charged forward, swinging his massive left fist like a falling iron hammer toward Lucas’s head. The force of the punch tore the wooden planks of the stall in half.

[Elevated Murderous Intent Detected.]

[Executing Tenfold Karmic Rupture!]

The dark crimson energy around Bruce’s fist suddenly froze in mid-air and turned completely black. Before his punch could land, the dark power shot straight back into his own chest. A terrible cracking sound filled the room as Bruce's entire ribcage caved inward like broken glass.

His lungs burst into black ash, and his heart ruptured under the crushing spiritual rebound. The giant enforcer froze on his feet, spitting out huge mouthfuls of dark, clotted blood. The terrible red glow in his eyes died out, leaving him pale, shivering, and completely helpless.

Bruce collapsed onto both knees in the dirt, clutching his sunken chest with his broken fingers. He looked up at Lucas, his body shaking with pure, unadulterated terror as he struggled to breathe. "What... what kind of demon are you? Your core was ripped out... you are supposed to be dead!"

Lucas took one slow step forward, looking down at the dying soldier with dead, emotionless eyes. The weak beggar was completely gone, replaced by a ruthless sovereign who walked on oceans of blood. A suffocating pressure locked onto Bruce, making it impossible for him to even scream.

"Mercy..." Bruce choked out, tears of blood leaking from his swollen, blackened eyes. He dragged himself across the muddy straw, trying to touch the hem of Lucas’s torn clothes. "Lord Lucas... have mercy on me! I have two young sons... I was only following orders!"

"When you drove that spear into my chest, did you think about mercy?" Lucas asked softly. "When Clara cried out for help and you ripped her away from me, did you show pity? You sold your soul to a viper, Bruce, and now you must pay the debt."

Lucas did not wait for another useless plea from the lying man's lips. He raised his right foot and stomped down hard on Bruce’s throat, snapping his windpipe cleanly. Bruce’s body gave one violent twitch in the dirt, and then his wide eyes rolled back into darkness.

[Wicked Life Extinguished.]

[Retribution Complete. +10 Karma Points Acquired.]

Lucas stared at the cooling corpse on the ground, his mind turning completely cold and practical. He knew that a dead captain would bring a swarm of guards the moment morning arrived. "System, is there any way to dispose of this body without leaving a trace?"

[Ding! The Heavenly Karma System can refine enemy cultivators to harvest their lingering life essence.]

[Consuming this target's corpse will grant the host an additional 100 Karma Points.]

[Current balance will reach 110 Points, which satisfies the requirement for a Heavenly Vault Draw!]

"Consume him completely," Lucas commanded in his thoughts, without feeling a shred of hesitation. A wave of dark, silent flames rolled out from his fingertips, covering Bruce's armor and flesh. Within three quick breaths, the corpse, the armor, and the blood vanished without leaving a single trace.

[Corpse Refined Successfully.]

[Total Karma Balance: 110 Points.]

[The Heavenly Vault is now unlocked and ready for your first divine draw!]

Before Lucas could open the glowing system screen, loud iron horns blasted across the courtyard. The sudden noise shattered the peaceful night, followed by the sound of dozens of running boots. Torches flared to life outside, casting dancing orange shadows against the wooden walls of the stable.

"Captain Bruce did not report to the watchtower!" a loud voice shouted from the main road. "Search every building! Check the gates! Find out where that lazy fool fell asleep!"

Heavy boots pounded against the gravel path, stopping directly outside Lucas’s locked stable door. Five elite guild guards appeared, holding large steel shields and glowing torches that lit up the stall. Their sharp eyes swept across the empty pen, landing straight on the quiet youth in the corner.

"The captain was seen walking out toward the outer pens before midnight," the guard leader barked, slamming his scabbard against the iron bars. "Look at this trash! Did you see anyone come in here tonight, beggar? Speak before I cut your ears off!"

Beneath the tangled mess of his dark hair, a cold, mocking smirk flashed across Lucas’s lips before vanishing into the dirt. He loved watching these arrogant dogs run around like headless chickens, searching for a corpse that was already wiped from existence. Every frantic shout in the yard was proof that they were dancing directly in the palm of his hand.

Lucas deliberately forced his shoulders to shake, curling into a tighter ball against the cold wall like a terrified child. He squeezed his eyes shut and let his breathing stutter, putting on the perfect show of a helpless cripple begging for his life. "N-no, my lord... I only heard the wind... please do not hurt me, I am just sleeping!"

The guard leader frowned, looking around the clean, empty straw where no blood or struggle could be seen. "Double the chains on this cage and place two men at the door! Lord Valen ordered that this trash must not leave our sight until the grand ceremony ends!"

The heavy iron door was slammed shut, and two massive iron padlocks were locked over the bars. Two guards drew their wide steel broadswords, standing right outside the door with their eyes fixed on Lucas. Lucas lowered his head into the dark shadows, his heart racing with cold, sharp calculations.

Clara was trapped in the cold dungeon below, running out of precious time with every passing hour. Yet right outside his tiny cage, two heavily armed guards watched his every breath with drawn blades. He needed to find a way into the dark depths of the earth without alerting the entire estate.