Realm of Myths and Legends

...

The inside of the orphanage was quiet.

While most of the Mad Dogs that had been running wild took their destruction to the second floor, there was still a handful present on the first floor.

Currently, the leader of the Mad Dogs, Bloodhound, stood at the center of the main living area.

His knuckles looked slightly bruised and were smeared in blood along with the switchblade in his hands.

However, the more disturbing part was the look of enjoyment in Bloodhound's eyes as his gaze locked onto the floor at his feet.

"I can't remember the last time I've played this long and enjoyed it. Hey, ya aren't dead, right?" Bloodhound said as he swung his foot forward, striking Qiao Xiaoqing in the abdomen without mercy.

Qiao Xiaoqing recoiled in pain as she had the wind knocked out of her and struggled to catch her breath.

"That's it! That's the face I want to see! Hey, you'll show me more, won't you?! Tell me, genius, what will I do next?!" Bloodhound stated as he repeatedly kicked Qiao Xiaoqing in between every few words he spoke.

As Bloodhound immersed himself in his game, the members of the Mad Dogs whispered among themselves.

"Is this alright? If things keep going like this, won't she really die?"

"That Wendell bastard ain't gonna be too happy the boss damaged his property."

"Idiot, you think the boss cares? That Wendell brat only knows how to throw money around and doesn't want to get his hands dirty. You think the boss would be afraid of someone like that?"

"Ha? Of course, not. Still, at this rate, that girl really is gonna die."

"So what if she does? Isn't she an orphan, too? No one will look twice if something happens. Besides, it's her fault for catching the boss' interest."

Qiao Xiaoqing's body was wounded and battered from head to toe. On her face were multiple cuts and bruises. In addition, one of her eyes had swollen shut, and her vision seemed hazy.

"...Ah... Is this how I die...?" Qiao Xiaoqing internalized as she used her still functioning eye to peek over at the corner of the room.

Trembling uncontrollably in the corner with their eyes tightly shut and their hands over their ears were the remaining six children who lived in the orphanage.

"...Good... They listened well... They are strong kids..." Qiao Xiaoqing thought to herself.

She warned them of what to do beforehand; however, even with their hands over their ears, they could still hear the sound of Bloodhound's voice along with the cackling Mad Dogs at his side.

But, to them, the most nerve-racking thing was that ever since the first child was taken outside by one of the Mad Dogs, they had not heard a sound from Qiao Xiaoqing.

Despite all of this, the children still followed Qiao Xiaoqing's instructions. This made her feel strangely proud. That even under such circumstances, they did not disregard her words. However, a part of Qiao Xiaoqing could not help but feel... saddened.

Most children would have already started crying, thrown a tantrum, or dismissed her words. But, the children in the orphanage were all mature beyond their age.

They were either abandoned by their parents at an early age or lost their family to a tragic accident and had nowhere else to go. However, they all had one thing in common. For some time, they were left to fend for themselves.

None of them had the opportunity to experience a genuine childhood or the warmth of a loving family. They were denied the indulgence of innocence that came naturally to children--thrown unwillingly into an unknown world and forced to fend for themselves.

If Qiao Xiaoqing had not found them and taken them in, who knows what their fate would have been? Criminals? Selling themselves for profit? Or even worse... Death.

Qiao Xiaoqing felt her consciousness slowly slipping away as these thoughts blossomed in her mind.

"I wanted to give all of you a better life, but... I have failed you. I hope that one day you can... for...give... me... Ah, that's... I must be seeing... thi...ng...s..." Qiao Xiaoqing's consciousness started to fade as her thoughts drifted and her eyes began to close.

But, just now, as her awareness escaped her, Qiao Xiaoqing could have sworn she saw a familiar face at the doorway. However, she believed it to be a ridiculous notion. After all, that person--there was no way they'd be in a place like this.

...

Just moments before Qiao Xiaoqing's consciousness slipped away, as Bloodhound carried out his assault, out of nowhere, something smashed through the front door of the orphanage.

CRASH! Thud! Thud!

The sound of something crashing and falling inside the building immediately caught the attention of the Mad Dogs, including Bloodhound.

"H-hey! Look! Isn't that Skullz and... Boulder?!" One of the Mad Dogs exclaimed.

"You're right! Crazy bastards... Are they playing some kind of prank? It ain't funny!"

Just now, Skullz and Boulder had practically flown through the door. However, from the way they traveled, it almost looked as if someone hurled them inside!

With Skullz, such a thing may be possible, but Boulder was a large man and weighed over 140kg--how could someone of that size be tossed through a solid door like a plaything?!

Bloodhound stopped his actions when he heard the sound of footsteps at the front door.

Tap. Tap.

"What crazy bastards dare to lay a finger on my men? No, more importantly, how dare you interrupt my fun." Bloodhound said coldly as his eyes flashed with killing intent.

If there was one thing Bloodhound hated, it was being disturbed in the middle of his game!

Jin walked through the broken doorway and halted his steps at the entrance.

Before he knew it, Jin found himself surrounded and his path blocked by several members of the Mad Dogs.

At the same time, Jin inwardly frowned as a familiar yet disturbing scent drifted by his nose the moment he entered the orphanage.

To others, this faint scent would have gone unnoticed. However, with the improved senses of his Heavenly Golden Body, it was a pungent stench that caused the look in Jin's eyes to turn cold.

'This smell... There's no mistaking it--it's blood.'

"Damn! I thought those Underworld Serpent guys were ambushing us or somethin', but this dude's all by himself! Heh, nearly gave me a heart attack." One of the Mad Dogs members who went by Bulldog scowled.

"Ha! So what if it were those garden snake clowns attacking us? They'd just be walkin' into their own funeral!" Another Mad Dogs member called Spike commented.

"What are all of ya standin' around for? This ain't a picnic! Hurry up and drag that bastard over here. I wanna see who has the guts to spoil my fun." Bloodhound ordered.

Bulldog cracked his knuckles and neck as he said threateningly, "I don't know what tricks you used against Skullz and Boulder, but you made a mistake coming here. Well, you heard the boss. Come quietly, and maybe you'll still be able to leave in one piece."

Jin ignored Bulldog's words as his gaze was drawn to the area where the strongest of the blood aroma originated.

Bulldog noticed that Jin had not spared him a single glance ever since he approached him. This caused Bulldog's facial expression to darken as a vein popped out of his forehead in anger.

This nobody dared look down on him like he didn't even exist?!

Bulldog reached his hand out to forcibly grab Jin as he yelled, "Hey! Didn't you hear me?! You deaf or somethin'?! I said-!"

Crrrck!

Before Bulldog's hand could reach Jin, he felt his entire arm go numb, and when he tried to move it, there was no response.

"Why isn't my arm- Huh? Why do you look like you've just seen a ghost?" Bulldog said when he saw that Spike's face had turned deathly pale.

"Y-y-your... a-arm..!" Spike stuttered with his eyes widened in a clear state of shock!

"What are you-" Bulldog looked down at his arm--or, at least, where his arm should have been.

Bulldog's face turned extremely ugly as the color drained from it.

His arm that was supposed to be at his side had vanished without a trace!

Before he had time to process what occurred, Bulldog was struck by an overwhelming force that sent him flying through the back wall of the first floor, burying him under a pile of rubble.

The Mad Dogs who surrounded Jin were left dumbfounded as they instinctively took a step back.

None of them understood what happened to Bulldog or his arm; however, when their eyes met Jin's, they felt themselves trying to catch their breaths as a feeling of suffocation overcame them.

"Since you're here, none of you should dream of leaving this place," Jin stated in a distant tone.