Chapter 9: The Thief and the Soul Tamer

After dinner, the twilight deepened. Mottled starlight dappled the pale blue windowpanes. Zorn sat in quiet immersion, cultivating and refining the "Star Trace Qi" of his [Star Trace Fighter] sequence.

The intense combat from several days ago, which culminated in the slaying of the [Rat King], had yielded tremendous benefits for his [Fighter] sequence. Each day, Zorn could feel his transformation with absolute clarity: his heart grew ever more robust, his perceptions sharpened, and his movements became steadier and more nimble. Most crucially, the core of his [Star Trace Fighter] path, the "Star Trace Qi," was flourishing. Normally, this was a power mastered only at the third or fourth level, but with the SS-rank [Star Trace Fighter]—a top-tier talent—he had grasped it at the very first level, displaying an astonishing efficiency in absorption and conversion.

Bevis, the veteran rat-catcher, had already accumulated deep reserves. The successful hunt for the Rat King served as the catalyst for his advancement, and when Zorn saw him today, he had already ascended to the second level.

Levels 1 through 5 constitute the lower-tier extraordinary sequences; levels 6 through 10, the mid-tier; and levels 11 through 15, the upper-tier. Within the same rank, advancement requires the accumulation of foundation followed by digestion and metamorphosis. While difficult, it can be achieved through time and effort—for instance, a Fighter must engage in repeated combat, and a Rat-Catcher must hunt rat-like creatures. While hunting other creatures has an effect, it is less efficient.

Advancement between ranks—such as moving from lower to mid-tier—requires not only key materials and potions but also participation in the intersection of [Events]. One must carve their path of destiny into these events to ascend. This brings us to the essence of the world of [Saint Trace: Eternal Epic]:

[Chase the tides of the era, surging through the tapestry of history.]
[Forge your own eternal Saint Trace.]
[Personally compose an immortal epic.]

This is the true meaning of the [Saint Trace: Eternal Epic] world. Carving one's [True Name] into a [Major Event] to change or propel the [Trajectory of Destiny] is the only way to transcend ranks. Currently, Zorn is merely a level 1 [Star Trace Fighter].

Theoretically, he faces no major bottlenecks before reaching level 5. However, normal cultivation would take several years to reach that point. Participating in—or even creating—[Events] can significantly accelerate this process.

Unnoticed, the night deepened. Zorn, asleep in his bed, and the city of Ogran outside the window seemed to have drifted into dreamland.

*Creak.* The door to Zorn’s bedroom opened quietly. A slender figure lingered at the threshold, hesitant. Then, as if having made a monumental decision, she stepped into the room and crept toward Zorn’s carved wooden bed. Perhaps due to her nervousness, she caught the faint, lingering scent of jasmine as she entered; she had always been sensitive to smells.

"Master Zorn..." her voice was timid and trembling.

In the thin moonlight filtering through the window, Vanessa’s cheeks were burning red. Zorn’s hand had been severely injured a few days ago, but by yesterday, it had completely healed. While she was astonished by the speed of his recovery, she also knew the time had come. As a maid raised by the nobility, she was a gift for his coming-of-age ceremony. Standing before Master Zorn’s bed, her heart raced, and her breathing grew labored.

Zorn, however, appeared to be in a deep, heavy sleep. Biting her lip, Vanessa closed her eyes and began to slowly undo her only garment, a long nightgown.

"Master... you... you may... now..."

As she spoke, Vanessa felt a sudden dizziness, and her consciousness began to blur. *Thud!* She collapsed onto Zorn’s bed, falling into a deep slumber just as he had.

The night returned to silence. A short while later, the door that Vanessa had forgotten to close shut with a soft *creak*.

A tall, middle-aged man with a cold gaze stepped out from the shadows. He wore a black felt hat and a brownish-black coat, his frame tall and gaunt. In the faint light, a shocking burn scar could be seen running from his left eyebrow across the bridge of his nose to the right side. Even extraordinary beings like Zorn or the rat-catcher Bevis made some sound when they moved, but this tall, dark-clad man moved like a ghost, completely silent.

He reached the window and peered out for a moment, then tapped his fingers rhythmically against the glass. Soon after, he opened the window. A figure as agile as a leopard scaled the wall and flipped into the bedroom.

The [Thief] and the [Soul Feeder] had come for a kidnapping.

Seeing the sleeping young nobleman and the maid who had intruded so unexpectedly, the [Thief] looked slightly surprised. "Wasn't it just one? Why are there two?"

The [Soul Feeder], his gaze cold and forest-like, replied slowly, "It must be a maid from a wealthy family offering her chastity to a young noble, allowing these delicate aristocrats to complete their coming-of-age ritual. Fortunately, my 'Soul-Soothing Incense' is very effective. I imagine they are meeting in their dreams now."

The [Thief] grumbled, "These goddamn nobles, they actually have coming-of-age rituals like this? My own coming-of-age ceremony involved a nanny goat, and for that, my drunken, bastard father beat me within an inch of my life."

The gaunt [Thief] smirked, his eyes glinting with greed as he looked at the maid in her thin clothing. The [Soul Feeder] paused, then said coldly, "Be quick!"

Driven by malice, the Thief reached out to pull at Vanessa’s clothes. In his many kidnappings, he had encountered many young, attractive noble girls, and even when ransoms were paid, Trenton the [Thief] never let them go.

Just as he reached out, a cold, dark gun barrel emerged from the shadows without a sound. Then, from that cold muzzle, erupted the roar of gunfire that left no time for repentance.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Like a thunderstorm accompanied by thunder, it was scorching and terrifying. As a level 2 [Thief], Trenton possessed the [Climb] ability, allowing him to walk on walls like a gecko, along with incredible agility and speed. The moment he sensed danger, he twisted his body with all his might, trying to avoid the aim of that damn revolver. Though a level 2 Thief, he was still flesh and blood; once struck, the wounds would be just as severe.

In the dim bedroom, shadows obscured everything, leaving only silhouettes. Trenton was confident he could dodge the revolver's bullets. Yet, as the gunfire and muzzle flashes struck like midsummer thunder and fell silent just as quickly, he felt an indescribable, piercing pain in his lower abdomen. It flooded over him like a tide, and his vision went black.

He had dodged fast, but evidently not faster than the bullets.

*Thud!* He collapsed face-first onto the floor.