Lord Evolution: Starting With SS-rank Skills

[ You have obtained Title (Merciless Killer lv1) ]

[ Special effect of Title (Merciless Killer) has been activated ]

As Rowan slaughtered his way down to the escaping Lord Fagin, several prompts appeared in front of him, revealing his new achievement and title.

'Hmm,' Rowan paid attention to his notification, as this was his first title.

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MERCILESS KILLER: A title given to lords who would slaughter to keep their territory and people safe.

EFFECT: Bloodlust boost (lv1) – Your bloodlust increases your attack power by 50% during combat.

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Seeing the effects, Rowan couldn't help but grin as he returned his focus to Lord Fagin.

The Glenwood soldiers around him kept moving away from him in fright, as though he were a demon. Nevertheless, this gave Rowan the opportunity to move faster without restraints.

Fagin, who had been trying to escape, immediately gave up when he saw Rowan approaching him with unexplainable speed.

He stopped crawling and could only watch in fright as Rowan got even closer.

He looked at his men for help, but no one seemed to be paying attention to him.

He even tried to call for help, promising them luscious rewards, but still, no one listened—they were not ready to lose their lives for a fat bastard who couldn't even lift a sword.

The resignation and remorse on his face became clearer.

Rowan quickly appeared in front of Fagin and halted, a devilish grin appearing on his face as he stared down at him.

Fagin shivered uncontrollably. He tried moving back, but Rowan just kept walking closer, the black dagger in his hand dripping with blood.

"You boasted so much earlier, Fagin. But now you're cowering like a little bitch," Rowan mocked.

"Where's all that boldness now? That shitty confidence of yours to talk nonsense about my women, where is it now?" He continued tormenting him verbally.

"Please, I was joking!"

Having no other saving point, Fagin began to plead for his life.

"Everything I said was pure lies! I wouldn't dare lay my hands on innocent women!" He continued pleading as he stepped back, lifting his right hand to try and stop Rowan.

"Oh... are you sure? What about Elara, Liara, and the other women you used to satisfy your non-existing manhood?" Rowan asked.

Hearing those names, the look on Fagin's face revealed even more fear—he could still recall those women. He knew very well that Rowan's words were genuine.

"I was very wrong. I would never try it again! Please, forgive me. If you let me go, I will call off the vassal decree on your village," he pleaded.

"Hmm, you think I will really let you live for such a stupid reason when I can just kill you now and take control over your village?" Rowan snorted.

He would have killed Fagin already, but he wanted to make him go through the worst emotional pain of his life before killing him, as punishment for the men he had killed and the women he had violated.

Rowan made Fagin plead for his life, even making him promise to reverse the vassal decree and become the one under Winterseed. He even went as far as promising Rowan 90% of their weekly harvest and control over his entire army.

Rowan made him list everything he had to give him false hope of survival. Rowan grinned widely as he imagined the look on Fagin's face when his hope was completely shattered.

While he tormented Fagin, Bryce and the other captains slayed as many Glenwood men as they could. Some of the young soldiers who had lost their friends in the battle did not hesitate to slaughter without consideration. The captains who had lost their men also didn't spare their foes.

Glenwood soldiers, who were more than three thousand in number at the beginning, had been badly reduced to less than one thousand, and more kept falling every second.

Roland slayed the enemies in front of him before turning to look at Rowan, who stood in front of Fagin. As he saw this, a proud smile crept onto his face. He could see it now—the fate of the village was definitely going to be better!

Roland quickly recalled how the village was two years ago when no one had a single hope of escaping Glenwood's strength. But now, it was all going to change for the better.

"Do you really want me to spare you?" Rowan asked with a smile on his face.

Fagin immediately nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, I want you to spare me! I will do everything it takes—anything."

"Are you sure?" Rowan asked.

"Yes, name anything you want me to do or bring for you, and I will fulfill it immediately. I'm telling the truth!"

"How about handing over the staff of authority to me?" Rowan asked with a calm smile.

The staff of authority is one of the few things Rowan needed to upgrade his territory. It is the sole and ancestral proof of one's leadership over a territory.

The staff of authority is always protected by its owners. Sometimes, even after killing a lord, it will take ages before one finally gets a hold of their staff of authority.

Rowan didn't want the stress of having to turn the whole of Glenwood upside down to find the staff of authority, so he made plans to obtain it without hassle.

Nevertheless, his question came as a big shock to Fagin. His staff of authority is the only thing protecting his position as Lord of Glenwood. Once it's taken away from him, even the lowest-ranked soldier could kill him and take his position.

"My staff of authority?" he repeated the question as though he didn't hear it right the first time.

"Did I stutter when I said it the first time?" Rowan asked with a deep frown on his face, his eyes radiating a menacing killing intent that made Fagin shiver in fear.

"No, no... you didn't," Fagin immediately waved his hands in apology.

"But..." he stuttered afterward, trying to explain the severity of Rowan's request.

"But what, fat pig? Are you going to sacrifice your staff of authority now and live, or do you want to die?" Rowan lifted his dagger, causing Fagin to shiver in fear.

"Okay, I'll give it to you! Please, spare my life!" he accepted.

Rowan grinned, hearing his response. Without wasting time, he grabbed Fagin by the shirt and forced him off the ground.

Thanks to his recent evolution, lifting Fagin—who was almost the same weight as an adult bull became easy as lifting an infant.

After lifting him off the ground, Rowan quickly made a loud, authoritative announcement to every individual on the battlefield, causing both Glenwood soldiers and Winterseed soldiers to stop in their tracks and listen to him.