Lupel Temple.

It was originally a temple that worshipped an aboriginal god, but a horrific ceremony transformed it into a breeding ground for monsters.

The dungeon's guardian was called Hugula. He was once a High Priest, but now he was a guardian that managed the soul dungeon.

Clown and Scapi set up a deadly trap for Kang Oh here.

"A trap is basically a surprise attack," Clown said whilst gripping the soul stone.

There was an area within Lupel Temple designed for large ceremonies. However, Clown placed his deadliest traps, as well as the soul dungeon's traps, there.

"The most dangerous traps are the ones you don't even notice, and the ones you can't get out of even if you did. It's already too late by then."

Clown was excited that his traps would kill Kang Oh.

"I've coated all the traps in poison. They're all lethal, so if he gets touched by them, he'll be in for a surprise," the Poisonous Scorpion, Scapi, smiled and said.

Scapi was a Poison Mage! She was called the Poisonous Scorpion because she could freely manipulate more than 100 different poisons.

"If the four of us and our subordinates surround this location, then there'll be no way out for him. Moreover, I've set up magic circles across the dungeon that prevent return scrolls or transfer magic circles from working. There's nowhere for him to run," Scapi said confidently.

"True." Clown was sure that even Dukeram wouldn't be able to escape this trap!

"The trap's set up, so it's time to lure in the prey." Scapi licked her lips.

"Hehehe." Clown's red eyes gleamed.

* * *

Brutal Blade, Scapi, Clown, and Taboo.

Red Moon's Four Heavenly Kings gathered in one spot. They were in the Spirit World; more specifically, they were in the Crow's Nest, a city devoid of any color besides white and black.

"Preparations are complete," Clown said whilst smiling.

Scapi nodded her head.

The combination of her poison and Clown's traps transformed the Lupel Temple into an inescapable, deadly trap.

Now, all that was left was luring Kang Oh into the temple.

"It's my turn now," Brutal Blade said. Luring Kang Oh in was his job. "Where is he right now?" Brutal Blade looked at Scapi.

"Let me see."

Scapi possessed an SS-rank ring called 'Altago's Ring'.

An Altago was a mysterious animal said to possess the gift of foresight. This ring, which bore the animal's name, only possessed one ability!

[Stalking]

Choose an item. You may ascertain the status and location of the person who's used the item. Normal anti-tracking skills cannot prevent this ability.

Several items existed within the game that allowed a player to track another. However, this ring's Stalking ability was far greater than any of them.

Even the Mongoose Tail, which prevented tracking, wouldn't protect a player from Altago's Ring.

Plus, it had never been detected via spells or skills before.

In exchange, Stalking required that the wielder possess an item that the target had used before.

"Alright, let's see where you are." Scapi swept her long hair back, gripped the Gladion's Dagger in her left hand, and tightly clenched her right hand.

Altago's Ring, which was shaped like an eyeball, glowed on her right hand.

[You have used Stalking.]

[Five people have used Gladion's Dagger.]

[Rice, Alan, Kang Oh, Tehiran, and I Like Ramen.]

[Who would you like to stalk?]

"Kang Oh," Scapi whispered. Then, the ring created a screen, much like a hologram.

It depicted Kang Oh.

[Kang Oh - Despia, Goddess's Land, Latnia.]

"No matter how many times I see it, it's weird," Taboo, who was crossing his arms, said.

"I need to make sure she doesn't get my equipment," Clown whispered, looking at Scapi warily.

'And I have to steal that ring for myself one day. Even if I have to kill her again and again for it!'

His smiling face concealed his malicious intent.

"He's in Despia," Scapi said.

"Despia, huh... I'll wait at the entrance to the Shadow World. Let me know as soon as he returns to the continent." Brutal Blade stood up.

"Alright." Scapi nodded her head.

"Clown, when Kang Oh starts chasing me, take the other Heavenly Kings and your subordinates to Lupel Temple. The Killing Ghost Squad and I will lure Kang Oh there no matter what," Brutal Blade said.

The Killing Ghost Squad was made up of his subordinates, and they specialize in killing, whether it be players or NPCs.

"What if you fail?" Clown asked impishly.

"I'll be dead," Brutal Blade said nonchalantly.

"Haha, do your best."

"I will." Brutal Blade then left.

Clown, Scapi, and Taboo couldn't hide their excitement. The hunt for the powerful beast known as Kang Oh had begun.

* * *

Kang Oh and Sephiro were drinking tea in a small restaurant within Latnia City.

"Where are we going today?" Sephiro asked, his eyes gleaming.

Lately, he and Kang Oh had been going across the continent in search of soul dungeons. They seized several soul dungeons, and made a profit from selling them. Kang Oh wasn't the only one who made a profit, but Sephiro did too.

"We'll be a bit busy today. We're going to the Twisted Fortress, Heinzmun Laboratory, and Naples Canyon today."

"All three?"

"You gotta strike while the iron's hot. We have to seize as many soul dungeons as possible while the price is still high. Of course, I'm going to keep the soul dungeon if it's any good."

"Mm, you're not wrong."

Gyaa!

Waryong, who was beside them, nodded its head.

Under Sephiro's loving care, Waryong grew and grew. Now, Waryong was a teenager in wyvern years.

When fully outstretched, its wings were more than 3 meters long. A fully grown wyvern's wings were about 6 meters long, so it was a bit more than halfway there.

Sephiro couldn't carry it on his back anymore. Waryong was also good at flying now, and its flames had become much stronger. It also ate a lot more. Sephiro occasionally complained about how expensive it was feeding it.

"If you're done with your drink, then let's get a move on." Kang Oh put down his tea cup.

"Yes."

They used the transfer magic circle to teleport to the city closest to the Twisted Fortress.

The two left the city. A short while later, Kang Oh opened his message window.

"I need to send a message."

"Ok," Sephiro replied curtly.

However, Kang Oh sent the message to Sephiro, who was right beside him.

'Why are you sending it to me? I'm right here.'

- Mr. Sephiro, someone's following us.

Kang Oh possessed Hyper Intuition. Thus, he knew when someone was following him. After all, it felt like someone was watching him from behind.

Sephiro widened his eyes. "Real..."

- Act normally!

Kang Oh quickly sent a follow up message.

Sephiro shut his mouth and discreetly used a detection skill.

Kang Oh was right. They were quite far away, but there were people surrounding them.

- I can sense them. I think there are about 100 of them. What do we do?

He sent a message expressionlessly.

- Just act normal. Don't make the first move. We don't know who they are or why they're following us. But be sure to keep your guard up. Be ready to act at a moment's notice.

- Understood.

"Then let's keep going," Kang Oh closed the message window and said calmly.

"Yes."

Kang Oh and Sephiro proceeded to their destination.

Brutal Blade and the Killing Ghost Squad were following them.

Scapi had informed him that Kang Oh had returned to the continent, so he had immediately mobilized his squad and come here.

"The archer's Sephiro," Brutal Blade observed Sephiro and said. "We only want to lure Kang Oh into the trap."

"I'll kill him," Yaksha, his vice-captain, said.

In the past, Yaksha had been in the same guild as him.

"Can you do it?"

"Guildmaster, no, captain, please take care of Kang Oh. As long as Kang Oh is out of the picture, I can kill Sephiro with ease."

"How many men do you need?"

"Ten is plenty."

"Take twenty with you just in case. The rest of the squad and I will lure Kang Oh away."

"Understood."

"It looks like they're headed for the Twisted Fortress. We're going to attack before they enter the dungeon."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't let down your guard. Kang Oh is part of the Numbers. Sephiro is not to be underestimated either."

"I know."

"Let's go."

Brutal Blade, Yaksha, and the Killing Ghost Squad secretly followed Kang Oh and Sephiro.

* * *

There was a small forest along the way to the Twisted Fortress.

"We'll attack in the forest." Brutal Blade pointed at the faraway forest.

"Yes, sir." Yaksha immediately nodded his head.

Sometime later...

Once Kang Oh and Sephiro entered the forest, Brutal Blade and the Killing Ghost Squad began moving in earnest.

"Projectiles," Brutal Blade ordered. Then, the Killing Ghost Squad popped out of cover simultaneously, and threw projectile weapons at Kang Oh and Sephiro.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Javelins, daggers, iron balls, needles, etc. came flying at Kang Oh and Sephiro.

Since they knew they were being followed, Kang Oh and Sephiro responded calmly.

Kang Oh quickly drew Blood, pulled back, and deflected all of the projectile weapons coming his way.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Sephiro threw his body out of the way, and Waryong soared into the air.

Then, the assassins employed a new strategy. They threw chains, metal nets, grappling hooks, etc. at them.

"Not a chance!" Kang Oh counterattacked.

Tempest Tiger!

The golden aura flew through the forest, coming right for the clustered assassins.

"Scatter!" one of them yelled. Then, they dodged the Tempest Tiger with bizarre movements like that of a ghost, and scattered.

'They move well.'

Just a quick glance at their movements told him that they were pretty skilled.

Whizz!

Sephiro shot an arrow as thick and large as a harpoon.

Earth Shaking Arrow!

At the same time, Waryong opened its mouth and spit flames at the enemies below.

However, they dodged both Sephiro and Waryong's attacks with their strange movements. They were completely unscathed.

A short while later...

The Killing Ghost Squad surrounded Kang Oh and Sephiro.

Tramp.

"Red Eye," Kang Oh muttered upon seeing Brutal Blade's eyes.

Red Eye.

The mark of a killer. The darker the color, the more people they've killed! Brutal Blade's eyes were as red as blood. That meant he'd killed quite a bit of people in his time.

"Who are you?" Kang Oh asked.

"I'm Brutal Blade."

He'd never intended on hiding his true identity.

"Brutal Blade... Red Moon!"

Kang Oh knew who he was. He was one of Red Moon's executives, and was called the Killing Ghost. Most importantly, his bounty was huge!

"It's an honor. To think that one of the Numbers knows me," Brutal Blade said.

"How could I not? You're worth quite a lot." Kang Oh's eyes were filled with greed.

'Is this what it feels like for treasure to come right to your doorstep? If I catch him and bring him to the Security Bureau, then it'd be like hitting the jackpot.'

"Your neck's worth more than mine," Brutal Blade said.

"As expected... Someone commissioned you to kill me." Kang Oh knew why someone like Brutal Blade would appear before him. "I wonder who it is?" He took another quick look at Brutal Blade.

"It must be someone who wants you dead."

"Hmm." Kang Oh thought of a few organizations that wanted him dead. However, he narrowed it down to a single name. "Is it Shion?"

Commissioning Red Moon to kill him would cost a fortune. After all, he was Numbers rank 4, Kang Oh!

Only someone who really hated him would be willing to pay such a huge amount to see him dead.

It would be either Empire or Hercules.

However, the Empire Guild was busy with the Arabas Kingdom's civil war, so they didn't have time for him right now. Plus, it wasn't their style to pay someone else to get revenge.

If that's the case, then the only viable option was Hercules. And of all the people he could think of, only Shion came to mind; after all, he had run with a ton of his guild's treasure.

Although Kang Oh had hit the nail on the head, Brutal Blade didn't change his expression whatsoever.

"Think whatever you want," Brutal Blade said evenly.

"Is this really it?" Kang Oh took a look around and said.

'I'm one of the Numbers, Predator Kang Oh! If you want to kill me, then you need to bring more than this!'

"It's plenty."

Brutal Blade's objective was luring him into a trap, not killing him. This was enough to lead him into their trap.

But to Kang Oh, it sounded like he was confident enough to kill him with the forces he had.

"Alright then. If you're that confident, then come on!" Kang Oh pulled out Demon Sword Ubist too.

'Let me show you your place!'

Swish.

Brutal Blade's body became faint. At the same time, the Killing Ghost Squad attacked Kang Oh and Sephiro.

This is how Kang Oh's ill-fated relationship with Red Moon began.