The sight of Grandma being tied next to the couch felt like a punch to my gut.
Her frail body was slumped awkwardly against the ropes that bound her, and dark bruises marred her usually kind and gentle face.
The image burned itself so deeply into my mind that I could not even bring my mind to process it.
My breath hitched, but I didn't let myself falter any longer.
I snapped back to the man on the couch, the smirk on his face making my blood boil.
He had dared to touch her, to bring harm to the one person who had given me so much when I had so little.
My lips curled into a snarl, and a single word escaped me, laced with all the fury I had.
The air around me seemed to grow heavy as anger consumed me.
A pale, simmering orb of liquid began to swirl around my palm, its surface rippling as though alive.
My veins thrummed with power as I focused on the orb, feeling it grow denser, heavier with potential.
This was the power I had awakened.
The power that would devour and dissolve anything it touched.
Without a second thought, I rushed forward, my arm swinging with reckless determination.
The orb shot from my hand, aimed directly at the man's smug face.
He didn't move, didn't even flinch, as though he had no intention of avoiding the attack.
For a brief, exhilarating moment, I thought I had him.
The orb collided with his chest, the pale liquid splashing across his black cloak. But then... nothing.
The liquid clung to his cloak for a moment before sliding off, harmlessly pooling on the floor.
My heart sank as the realization hit me like a blow.
The attack hadn't worked.
The man chuckled, a low, mocking sound that grated against my ears.
His smirk widened into a full-blown sneer as he finally broke the silence.
"Pathetic," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I don't even know why I was assigned to kill you."
His words were a slap to my pride, but before I could react, his hand shot out with lightning speed.
His fingers closed around my wrist, iron-strong and unyielding.
I tried to pull away, but his grip was too rigid. He remained seated, uncaringly calm, as though he had all the time in the world.
He repeated himself, his tone almost bored. "Let's make a deal... shall we?"
For a moment, my anger faltered, replaced by genuine confusion.
The power I'd been so proud of, the power I'd felt coursing through my veins, had failed? My mind raced, trying to make sense of it.
I was sure I had managed to read atleast half of that Book of Sin overn the time I had it opened and every page was etched into my memories.
Everything it had written inside it so far had come true—my awakening, the tattoo, the power.
But this... this wasn't what I'd expected.
The pale liquid, was exactly how it was described in the book. It matched the descriptions perfectly.
Yet it had done nothing.
How was this possible?
Frustration and doubt gnawed at me, but I forced myself to focus.
I couldn't let him see my hesitation, couldn't let him know how lost I felt.
Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I yanked my arm back with a burst of adrenaline.
His grip held for a moment before slipping, and I stumbled backwards, putting as much distance between us as I could.
"What the hell do you want?" I spat, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and fury.
My eyes darted to Ma, her shallow breaths the only sign she was still alive.
"Who sent you? Why are you here?"
The man leaned back against the couch, his body language almost lazy.
He tilted his head slightly, as though amused by my attempts to buy time.
"Now, now," he said smoothly, his tone laced with mockery. "Is that any way to talk to someone offering you a deal?"
My mind raced, desperate for a plan. I couldn't fight him—not .
My power had failed me, and physically, I was no match for him.
I needed to stall, to think of another way.
"Answer me!" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Who sent you?"
He let out a soft laugh, his hood shifting slightly as he turned his head toward my Grandma.
"You're more concerned about who sent me than the fact that your precious grandmother is sitting there, bound and bruised?
I held my words in, afraid that I'd make this man angry.
I had to resist the urge to charge at him. That was exactly what he wanted. He was toying with me, testing my limits.
"What deal?" I asked through gritted teeth, forcing myself to stay calm.
"What could you possibly want from me?"
His smirk returned, and he gestured lazily toward me.
"Oh, it's simple, really. I'll let her go—no strings attached. In return, you give me something of yours."
My stomach churned at the implication. "Something of mine? Like what?"
He shrugged, as though it didn't matter. "Your grandma, your freedom, your life—
He's stronger than you.
I groaned, unable to come to terms with my situation.
He wasn't here to negotiate. He was here to break me, to take everything I had just gained.
My thoughts spiralled as I tried to piece together his motives.
Nothing made sense. Who was he working for?
I had known that an assassin was come... but I did not know that these so called powers would be useless!!
The man's voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.
"Tick-tock, kid. I don't have all day."
Panic threatened to overtake me, but I forced it down. I couldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me crack.
"You're not getting anything from me," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
His chuckle was low and sinister, sending a chill down my spine.
"Oh, I think you'll reconsider.
But sure, take your time.
I enjoy watching people squirm—"
I glanced at my grandmother again, the sight of her bruised face reigniting my anger.
I had to do something.
I couldn't let him win.
Right then, I was reminded of one single ace up my ass.
Yes. That could actually work.
I looked straight into the man's eyes and raised my hands in the air.
Every 2000coins worth gift = 1 Bonus Chapter.
Every 5000coins worth gift = 3 Bonus Chapters.