Way of the Knights

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100 Demon Slaughterhouse. 

A Danger Zone which is filled with death and decay. 

There are many tales as to how this place turned out to be like this. Some said that it was the work of the Black Curtain Guild, others think that it's due to natural occurrence, some even said that it started from the Royal Family. But whatever the origins of this place is, no one's interested anymore since they won't even step inside this place.

Raven knew about this place. He had once investigated it along with his father during his past life.

According to the people they interviewed, the slaughterhouse is in the depths of the woods. It used to be a factory of processed meat but somewhere along the way, their products turned from cattle meat to human meat. 

100 Demon Butchers, or so they say, are present and lurking around the slaughterhouse. They attack anyone they see, be it invaders, animals or even other Demon Butchers. The people they interviewed described their appearances as such: Bald, big-bellied, naked upper body, muscular arms and wears a blood-stained aprons while holding a pair of Butcher's Knife or cleavers. 

Some said that inside the slaughterhouse, these butchers are immortal. Some claimed to have killed them but saw them stand back up, eat their own flesh and regenerate them in a blink of an eye. They said that the butchers don't feel pain, at some point they're even asking for it. They would cut down their own fingers, groan in glee and eat them like candy, and since they regeneration is absurd, they would repeat the same process over and over again until they are satisfied.

And if they could treat themselves like that, nothing needs to be said for their victims.

This is why many of those who entered this place resented ever coming here. The trauma they received is enough to haunt them for the rest of their lives. It was pure carnage inside, and if two butchers saw one victim at the same time, the torture would just increase by twofold. 

At some point, some criminals even fled to this place. Due to the reason that even the Royal Guards are wary of this place, they thought that this is a safe place for them. They committed atrocities so that got them thinking that whatever they will witness inside this place won't affect them in any way, shape or form. 

What a foolish idea.

In the end, the blackness of their heart and the influence of the surrounding carnage, corrupted them into a demented state where they started acting like those butchers. A shame that unlike the official butchers of this place, they aren't immortals. They could be killed. 

A good example were the ones Raven flattened into meat paste earlier. 

None that existed inside this place are innocent. If they are, then dying by Raven's hand could be considered as setting them free from this atrocious fate. Like what the guards said before…

This place is not for those who don't have a firm heart and strong will. 

If anyone come in here with a half-assed attitude and unprepared for they're about to see, then they will become corrupted into a demented person faster than they could realize it. 

'I hope I didn't take that to the heart.' Raven thought as he strutted inside the dead forest. 'They were asking for proof of strength, I showed it to them. It's very unlikely that they will grant me entry without me displaying some confidence.'

He didn't really wanted offend those guards. He knows that they're just looking after his safety and he could appreciate that. He doubted that they will make way for him through words so he had to display some of his background. Once he comes out of this place, he'll apologize. But for now, he had other matters that needs his attention.

*Boom!*

He swung his hammer once again, causing a fist-shape pillar to descend nearby his location. At the point of impact, he once again flattened some curious criminals watching him. He didn't even need to look at them one by one to know their intentions, from the thick killing intent they exuded, he already know what they wanted from him. And he's not giving it to them.

Thankfully, his strength experienced a massive boost after that 1-year training inside the Ancient Royal Grounds and through his recent breakthrough.

The Archaic Thousand Arms Hammer had unlocked it's second form during his training in the Bloody Mary Falls. Ten Phantom Fist is what it's called.

Ten Phantom Fist is what those fist-shaped pillars are. Every swing of his hammer would be followed by a massive fist that would cause destruction. If Raven wanted to, he could summon ten fist descending at once to thoroughly crush anyone he's facing. Each fist is as heavy as the hammer itself.

Of course, this has some drawbacks as well. First, the hammer was heavier but due to Raven's body strength, he hardly notices this and he could swing the hammer like some twig anyway. Second, each attack he does in this form would cost him his Chaos Force. He could still revert the hammer back onto it's base form and just use his sheer brute strength to plow his way through this place but for a higher efficiency, he decided to use the second form of the hammer.

One could tell what hammer form Raven using from they glow on the hammer itself. In it's base form, the Archaic Thousand Arms Hammer is just a huge hunk of metal attacks to a narrow handle, making it look like a hammer. On it's second form, the carvings on the handle will light up, ten glowing lights representing the Ten Phantom Fist. So long as he have enough Chaos Force to attack, the hammer stays on it's second form.

After walking for a bit more, and finding some more curious worms. Raven eventually saw the slaughterhouse.

The strong smell of rotting flesh and decay immediately assaulted his nose. He could also feel the density of killing intent within. It was so thick to the point that it was starting to manifest as a maroon aura around slaughterhouse. In fact, once he activated his Crystal Sky Eyes, he could clearly see it's maddening image.

It takes form of an enormous skull, glaring at anyone that laid eyes on it. Tendrils of red flew from its mouth, fusing with its surrounding and corrupting anything it touches. 

Raven could hear faint whispers in his ears. Telling him to kill to his heart's content, drink his victim's blood and chew on their flesh, promising him perpetual life and glory in the name of slaughter. 

Sadly, no matter how these voiced tempted him. Raven is absolutely immune against it. He didn't even need to be on guard, the second this voices starts to enchant him, his 'Will' will immediately shut it down crush it to nihility. 

What a joke. Raven's soul was forged after countless despairs and battle. This tiny wisp of enchanting voice is nothing compared to what he came across before in the Divine Realm. Comparing this from those is just an insult to the latter. This is nothing but a mere wisp of air for Raven.

"Oh?" Raven raised his brow in surprise. "They sent a welcoming party for me. How nice."

Entrance of the slaughterhouse flew wide open, instantly three hulking figures walked forward reeking with a thick scent of blood. 

"Huhuhuhuhu."

"Buhihihihi!"

Strange giggles and cries came out from their mouth. Those sounds were enough to make kids cry for days end. 

Raven sized them up one by one. Bald heads, naked upper bodies, big bellies, blood soaked aprons, meat cleavers on hands. There's no mistaking this. The Demon Butchers came to welcome him.

"Okay. Let's see if the rumors are true."

Raven tightened the grip on his hammer and did a mighty swing.

*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*

Three phantom fist descended, one for each butcher. Raven didn't even stepped away from his spot and he already flattened them into meat pastes. 

But if that was the end of that, then this will pose no challenge to him at all..

Under his watchful gaze, he saw their flattened body wiggle around and emit some gurgling sounds. They then crept up and reformed into a human shape. Then the regeneration kicked in, in less than a minute the butchers were back to their old self and was emitting those hair raising sounds once again. 

They laughed at him and dashed forward in a speed that is unbelievable for their sizes. Raven calmly evaded their advances but never underestimated their blows. 

These Demon Butchers are not some sparring partners. They are coming to do some serious harm and if Raven isn't careful, then he will surely lose a limb or two from these guys. That would obviously be bad.

Once again, Raven attacked and flattened them into meat pastes. This time, he unfolded his observation techniques without holding back and watched the entire process without missing a single beat. As soon as they reformed for a second time, they dashed once again and attacked Raven with no remorse.

Despite that, Raven's eyes were gleaming.. A cold smile surfaced to his face as he said: "So that's what's going on."

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