Death To Power

Volume Two: First Step in Fokay

Chapter 25: Five Years Later

Five years have passed—

And in those five years, many things changed.

After his return, Kaden went through the second test—a test of will. But with his high stats, he passed so easily it left every Warborn speechless.

Since then, his name spread through the Stronghold like wildfire.

But no one called him Kaden anymore.

They only called him:

The Child of Blood.

A child born from blood. From death. From proof.

And once it was proven, people clung to it.

He became popular. Famous, even. But with fame?

Comes both the benefits... and the downsides.

For Kaden, there were no benefits. Not to him.

But the downsides? Too many to count.

Just like they say:

The tallest tree is always the first to be cut.

Why? Because it draws the most attention.

And the Warborns—Kaden included—drew too much.

Feared. Respected. Hated.

They were always the first to go to war. The first to defend. The first to bleed.

And that made them a problem. Because they are liked by the people.

A threat.

And to some inside the Stronghold... it was time to cut the tree down.

Every branch included.

...

Cerveau Family Estate.

"We have to take care of them," said Nuke Cerveau, fifteen years old, heir of the Cerveau family.

He stood in his father's office, face serious.

His father—Brain Cerveau—looked nearly identical. Blue hair. Blue eyes. A long white coat marked with their family crest: a blue brain threaded with lines like nerves.

Very fitting.

"And I know that," Brain said, calm and cold. "But it's not the time yet."

"I told you—patience is key when dealing with people like them."

"You can't rush. You can't confront them directly."

He looked at his son with sharp eyes.

"Because they won't run. They'll come at us in full force."

"And that would be a bother, that's not how we work."

Nuke nodded slowly. "I know. I was never planning to attack them head-on. Everyone knows what they're like."

"I just want one thing, father."

He stepped forward, leaning across the desk.

"Let me take care of the Child of Blood."

Brain raised a brow.

"Why? You feel challenged because he's the same age as you?"

Nuke didn't hesitate.

"No. No one my age is my equal."

He said it calmly. Without arrogance. Just certainty.

"I'm just interested. A boy born in blood. Surrounded by death. A legend around his birth before he even held a weapon."

"These types of people... if you let them grow—"

"—they become a problem," Brain finished with a faint smile.

He already knew. He had already planned to eliminate the boy eventually.

But hearing it from his son?

It pleased him.

'I've raised him well,' he thought.

He nodded. "Fine. Take care of him, then."

"I'll leave the matter in your hands. I won't interfere."

Then his expression changed.

His aura shifted.

Suddenly, the entire room felt heavy. Suffocating.

"But—don't disappoint me, Nuke. You hear me?"

Nuke's gaze was steady. "I won't, Father."

The pressure vanished.

"Good. You may go."

Nuke turned to leave, walking toward the door. But before he stepped out, he paused.

Still facing away, he spoke.

"I've planned a small meeting between the heirs of the three big families."

He smirked.

"I also invited the Thornspire."

"I heard their heir awakened a Legendary Origin. She qualifies."

Brain nodded, uninterested. "Do whatever you want. I only want results. Not methods."

Nuke smiled more, then stepped into the hall.

As he walked through the corridor, his voice echoed softly—cold and absolute.

"Send the letters to each of them."

An invisible voice answered.

"Understood, young master."

Nuke's eyes narrowed slightly.

'Well... this is gonna be fun.'

...

Warborn Estate – Library

Meanwhile, Kaden was seated in the Warborn family library.

Now fifteen, his features had sharpened. His voice deeper, more mature. But the eyes? Still the same—red, cold, and calm.

He wore his usual black clothes. The Warborn crest on his chest shimmered faintly.

He flipped through a book, reading in silence.

"So even beasts can enter Fokay... but only those with strong bloodlines, intelligence, and awareness."

He muttered, almost impressed.

"Quite interesting."

He had spent the last five years reading.

Books about history. The Warborn legacy. The structure of Fokay. Beasts. Bloodlines.

Everything.

He learned a lot.

But there were things he couldn't understand.

Like the first Warborn—the ancestor. Said to be the first to wield a weapon-type Origin. So powerful even the realms of Fokay and Darklore didn't dare challenge him.

And then?

He vanished.

No explanation, no trace.

It didn't make sense.

Then there were whispers—of gods and goddesses. Churches in Fokay. Families who worshipped those very gods.

"Gods, huh..."

Kaden scoffed. "Still can't wrap my head around that."

He'd even asked his father once.

But the answer was so deranged, he never wanted to think about it again.

"Everything just gets more confusing."

The world was big. Messy. Dangerous.

But he wasn't scared.

He had trained.

He hadn't died these past years—because he barely left the estate—but that didn't mean he was idle.

No.

He'd grown.

"Death. Show me my profile."

<<<<< Profile >>>>>

Name: Kaden Warborn

Age: 15

Rank: Awakened (Saturated)

Origin: Bloodsoaked Sword King (Legendary)

Title: Child of Blood

Traits: Corrosive Blood

STR: 175

AGL: 175

CONS: 190

MANA: 170

INT: 170

WILL: 190

PER: 150

Stat Points: 15

Fragments: Wolf's Instincts

Quests in Progress: None

Death Coins: 10,000

Skills:

→ Blood Reservoir [Awakened]: Every kill adds blood to your internal reservoir. Can be used as fuel for forms, weapons, or recovery.

Techniques:

→ Iron Fang Form (Rare): A foundational attack style. One strike. One kill. If you strike twice, you did it wrong.

→ Iron Step (Rare): Every step is a decision. Every shift a setup for the next kill. Move simply—but with purpose.

<<<<< End >>>>>

Kaden studied his stats, a small smile on his lips.

Five years.

Dozens of quests.

Every stat above 150.

But still...

"It's getting harder to earn skill points. Why, Death?"

[No opportunity yet.]

Simple.

The world hadn't tested him enough recently.

Kaden sighed.

Still... his Origin core was now saturated.

Meaning once he stepped into Fokay, he could immediately begin his evolution trial.

He was excited.

And nervous.

New place. New dangers. New rules.

"But the worst that can happen... is death."

He smirked.

"...And death just makes me stronger."

That thought always centered him.

He looked at the technique section.

Unlike skills, techniques weren't given by the Origin. They were created—by clans, warriors, ancestors.

And he had chosen two rare, foundational techniques. One for offense. One for movement.

Not the flashiest. Not the strongest.

But flexible, balanced and clean.

He didn't want extremes.

He wanted something he could build his style from.

"Strong offense, weak defense... never works."

"I need something solid."

He closed the screen, leaned back, and took a deep breath.

Then—

Knock knock.

"Young master Kaden. Your parents are waiting for you."

Kaden stood up, cracked his neck, and smirked.

"...Playtime's over, I guess."

Chapter 26: Only a sister

Inside the Warborn family's meeting room—

Sarena and Garros sat side by side, facing Daela, who lounged across from them with that same blank, unreadable face.

Garros tilted his head. "Why are you here?"

"We called Kaden. Not you. So—oust. Get out," he said, waving her away like some annoying fly.

And to him, Daela was annoying. Every time it was about Kaden, she showed up—sticking her nose in things, acting like she had the right. Even when it didn't concern her, she'd show up, and if she didn't like it? She'd oppose them without blinking.

A truly bold little brat.

Which is exactly why Garros didn't want her here today. Not today. Today, they were finally going to tell Kaden the truth. Something they'd held back since the moment he was born.

"Go train or something, Daela," Sarena said, calm as ever.

And that's when the alarm bells rang in Daela's head.

If even her mother was telling her to leave?

'It means it's something I won't like,' Daela thought darkly.

Which only made her want to stay more.

She shook her head. "I'll stay."

Garros's lips twitched.

A second later, the entire room started to shake.

The table rattled. Wall decorations toppled. Cracks spidered across the marble floor. Dust rained from the ceiling like ash from a storm.

And the pressure? Still rising.

Daela frowned—but she didn't move. She was used to this. Her father always pulled this shit whenever she opposed him about Kaden. Always tried to intimidate her.

But it never worked.

And it always ended the same way—

"Stop it, Garros," Sarena said coolly, eyeing the collapsing décor. "Break one more of my ornaments, and you'll be the one paying for it."

Garros turned to her with a wild grin. "Oh? And what are you gonna do about it?"

Sarena mirrored that grin without blinking. "Beat your ass, dear husband."

"HAHAHAHA! That's it, Sarena! Come! It's been so long since we fought!"

Yeah. Every damn time.

Knock knock.

The room froze.

A knock echoed, followed by a familiar presence stepping inside.

Kaden Warborn.

Instantly, the pressure died. Garros and Sarena turned toward their son.

"Hello, everyone," Kaden greeted with that calm smile that somehow always cut deeper than any scream.

He looked at the wrecked furniture, then back at his parents.

"Were you at it again?" he asked knowingly.

Garros crossed his arms like a sulking child. "Why are you acting like you're the parent here?"

'Ahhh, I was so ready to fight Sarena,' Garros lamented silently.

'Stop your bullshit, Garros. Act your damn age,' Aeron muttered inside his head, fed up as always.

Garros ignored him.

He was used to the old man's nagging by now.

Kaden walked in and sat beside Daela, who didn't even glance at him.

"So," he said. "Why'd you call me?"

And just like that, the mood shifted.

The playful air vanished. Sarena and Garros straightened up. The silence grew heavier.

"We called you to inform you about something," Sarena said.

A small flash of light—then a letter appeared in her hand.

Kaden noticed the ring on her finger.

Space ring, he noted silently.

Sarena continued, "This is an invitation from the Cerveau family. A formal meeting between you and the heirs of the three major families."

She paused.

"But there will be a fourth person joining you. Someone who also awakened a legendary-rank Origin."

Daela tensed beside him.

Kaden tilted his head, curiosity piqued.

"She's called Rea Thornspire," Sarena said, voice suddenly flat. "Your fiancée."

Silence.

Kaden blinked slowly. His eyes moved from his parents to Daela—who turned her head toward him at the same time.

He gave her a crooked smile.

"I must've misheard, right, sister? I don't actually have a fiancée?"

Daela nodded, eyes narrowed. "I thought the same. Thanks for confirming, little brother, I thought my ears were failing me."

Sarena and Garros both twitched.

"You heard right, Kaden," Sarena said with that serious-mom tone. "Her name is Rea. And you'll meet her at this summit. So be on your best behavior."

Kaden and Daela were both unimpressed.

"Are you kidding?" Kaden asked, frown deepening. "Since when do I have a fiancée? Why did I never hear of this?"

"Well," Garros said with a shrug. "You're hearing it now."

Daela leaned forward slightly, voice ice-cold. "Who decided this?"

"Your grandfather," Sarena replied, irritation finally showing in her voice.

Kaden laughed—a short, bitter sound.

"Someone I've never even met made this decision for me?"

He had never once seen his grandfather. Barely even heard about him. And now that ghost of a man had decided who Kaden was going to marry?

It left a sour taste in his mouth.

But Kaden didn't argue. He could tell from the way they said it—this was already settled. He couldn't undo it.

So he exhaled.

"Fine."

That single word silenced the room.

Sarena and Garros both blinked.

They knew Kaden. Mature. Calm. Always thinking. But this fast?

Even for them, that was surprising.

Sarena smiled sweetly. "Thank you for understanding, my dear."

Garros, of course, lost his mind.

"HAHAHAHA! That's my boy!" he roared, slapping his thigh like a drunk uncle at a feast. "He is not some whiny brat!"

Kaden just smiled quietly. Said nothing.

But someone else wasn't smiling.

Daela.

'A girl? A fiancée? For what?'

'He doesn't need a fiancée...He just needs a sister.'

Her thoughts started spiraling, growing darker with every breath. She thought about finding this Rea girl. Thought about hurting her. Torturing her. Killing her, maybe.

And she meant it.

"Are you okay, sister?" Kaden asked, snapping her out of her spiraling.

She blinked. Looked at him. His eyes held concern.

Her heart melted.

'My little brother is too cute!!!!'she screamed inside her head.

Outwardly, though, she was cold as ever.

"Yes. I'm fine."

Kaden smiled. "Good."

Daela's mind went blank at that sudden smile. But after a second, her lips twitched. A tiny, invisible smile crept out.

Just a ghost of one.

'Yes... he only needs a sister.'

Definitely.

Chapter 27: Ridiculous fears

Thornspire Estate—

Inside a plain white room, bare except for a bed and a side table, a girl who looked no older than fifteen tossed and turned in her sleep.

Rea Thornspire.

But her sleep wasn't peaceful. Sweat clung to her skin, her brows furrowed, and her body shifted constantly, like she couldn't find comfort in any position.

The frown deepened. Her body started trembling—subtly at first, then hard enough that the bed beneath her creaked and cracked.

Then—snap.

Her eyes flew open.

She shot upright, breath ragged and chest rising fast.

"Ah... ah... again..." she whispered, her voice low and trembling with something close to fear.

"Why am I still having these dreams?"

It was the same question she kept asking herself since she awakened her Origin. Because ever since that day, the same nightmare kept haunting her.

A blurred woman. A face she couldn't quite make out. And those black tears... dripping down, shimmering like oil, tainting everything.

Just seeing them made her skin crawl. Made her want to rip her own eyes out.

But the worst part?

She didn't even know why.

All she knew was that the dreams began the moment she awakened her Origin. So they had to be connected.

But knowing that didn't help her at all.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with that?" she muttered, voice sharp with irritation.

She didn't have answers. No clues. No guidance. Just that vague, overwhelming nightmare that made her feel like a stranger in her own body. Like she was watching through someone else's eyes. Not living it—just trapped inside it.

And that was the most terrifying part.

Rea sighed hard and collapsed back onto the bed, her breath still shaky.

It was messing with her. Badly.

And when you added that to everything else—

Knock knock.

A knock at the door. Then it opened.

A young maid stepped inside and bowed respectfully.

"My lady, we have received a letter for you."

Rea didn't respond immediately. She was staring at the maid—but not really looking at her.

No.

She was looking into her.

At her fear.

That's what Rea could do. Her awakened skill let her see people's fears. Not guess them. See them—laid bare, raw and exposed. And she couldn't even control it. That meant every time she met someone, their fear bloomed in front of her like a grotesque flower.

Of course, powerful people could suppress it. But this girl?

Her fear was plain and pathetic.

Still, it made Rea tired. Exhausted. She was so fucking done with it all.

But outwardly, she stayed composed—the same well-mannered Thornspire daughter everyone knew.

She forced a small smile. "What letter, Amie?"

Amie stepped forward and handed her the envelope. "It's from the Cerveau family, my lady. They've invited you to a meeting between the heirs of the other three families. And..."

She hesitated.

"...your fiancé, young master Kaden Warborn, will be there as well. Your father expects you to be at your best."

Rea nodded quietly. "Understood."

Amie bowed again and stepped out, leaving Rea alone with her thoughts.

The moment she left, Rea sighed—relieved to no longer see her ridiculous fear.

Fear of rejection from her crush. Fear of being caught drinking her master's tea. Fear of the head maid.

Kind of funny, really.

But overwhelming all the same.

Still, Rea's focus shifted. The meeting. Her fiancé.

Kaden... child of blood.

Strangely, a question surfaced in her mind.

"...What are your fears?"

For the first time, she was curious.

And she couldn't wait to find out.

...

Elamin Estate—

Meris read through the letter Nuke had sent, then clicked her tongue sharply.

"What are those scheming bastards planning now?" she muttered, freezing the letter midair before letting it dissolve into snowflakes.

"I don't know, my lady," a voice echoed in her head. "But the Matriarch advised caution."

Meris nodded, her eyes thoughtful.  

"I know... but tell me. Will that child of blood be there?"

"Yes."

A smile curled across her lips.

"Perfect. I'll finally get to meet him."

And honestly?

She couldn't wait.

...

Back to the Warborns—

After the meeting with his parents, Kaden sat alone in his room, thinking.

His supposed fiancée. The meeting. The Cerveau family.

Especially them.

He didn't know much—just that every generation, without fail, they awakened some form of mind-type Origin.

All of them.

That was why they were the strategists during war. The planners. The thinkers behind every move in the Beast Campaigns.

He had asked his parents once about the Cerveau family.

They both grimaced.

And with perfect synchronization, said, "They're snakes."

"Snakes, huh..." Kaden muttered, a little more intrigued than before.

That alone made him want to meet them.

As if on cue—

[DING!]

[You have received a quest.]

[Quest: First Step in the Real World]

[Description:You are about to take your first step into your rightful circle.

You cannot show weakness.

You are the child of blood, born in war.

Show them who you are—in a perfect way.]

[Rewards]: Based on performance

[Penalty]: Your name and family name will be tarnished

Kaden stared at the prompt, then sighed.

He was getting used to Death's ridiculous sense of drama.

But the penalty...that's something he couldn't let happen.

He was a Warborn, honor and respect were something they will never neglect.

"...What do you mean by in a perfect way?"

[Do it with power if power is required.

Do it with words if words are required.

Do it with silence if it's required.

Do it with presence if that's enough.

Just do it—in the perfect way.]

Kaden's lips twitched.

"...And how am I supposed to know what that is?"

[That's on you.]

Of course. He should've guessed.

Still, he chuckled.

"Fine."

His tone shifted. Face calm, but resolve sharp.

"I'll handle it."

And along the way, he'd meet her.

"Rea Thornspire, huh..."

He leaned back.

For some reason—

He was curious.

Chapter 28: Heirs’ Meeting [1]

The time for the meeting had finally come.

Kaden stood in front of his mirror, dressed in a black and red suit embroidered with the Warborn crest on his chest.

People didn't say it often, but Kaden was a dangerously handsome man. His features were perfectly symmetrical. His dark hair shimmered like black ichor, thick and luxurious, falling just above his eyes.

And his eyes... those blood-red eyes.

They were the kind of eyes you didn't forget. Like drowning in a sea—not of water, but of blood. Deep. Haunting. Beautiful in the most terrifying way.

"You look handsome, my dear," Sarena's voice rang out as she stepped into the room, followed—of course—by Daela.

Kaden smiled softly. "Thank you, Mother."

He turned to his sister, expecting nothing. Just wanted to tease her a little with a cocky grin.

But then—

"Handsome," Daela said, nodding seriously, her face as deadpan as ever.

Kaden blinked.

His sister was unfairly adorable.

He almost gave in to the urge to pinch her cheeks, but he liked having both arms attached, so he held back.

"Thanks, Sister. Wasn't expecting that from you, really" he said with a soft laugh.

But what even he didn't expect—was that Sarena looked more shocked than him.

She knew Daela well. That was her daughter, after all. And she was certain—Daela had never complimented a single soul in this house.

'She really does love her brother...' Sarena thought, and a small smile tugged at her lips.

There was nothing more beautiful to a mother than seeing her children love each other.

"Are you ready now?" Sarena asked gently.

Kaden turned back to the mirror, studied himself once more.

Then smiled.

"Seems like it."

Sarena and Daela both shook their heads.

Kaden had changed since returning from his Trial. More mature. More composed. Stronger, no doubt.

But he'd also unlocked some buried parts of himself.

For one—his ego.

Kaden was painfully aware of how good he looked. Watching him admire himself in the mirror too long made you want to punch him square in that perfect face.

But neither Sarena nor Daela had the heart to ruin the moment.

'He's my cute little boy,' Sarena thought warmly.

'He's my cute little brother,' Daela echoed silently, the love in her heart as real as ever.

They were both lost causes.

Finally—

"The carriage is waiting outside," Sarena said. "You'll be escorted by guards, but they'll stop at the door. Inside, you'll be alone with the heirs of Cerveau and Elamin."

She paused. Her tone dropped.

"Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

Kaden nodded, his face growing serious.

He knew. She couldn't protect him forever.

And Daela, ever herself, added only one word:

"Careful."

Kaden gave a small, firm nod. "I'll take care of myself. Don't worry."

Then—

He left.

...

Not just Kaden—every heir invited to this meeting was already on their way.

...

Meris Elamin stepped into her multi-colored carriage, her princess-blue robes trailing behind her like waves.

Her fingers sparkled with rings—gems of every shape and color. Around her neck, a chain with a glowing blue ruby rested just above her heart. She was radiant. Regal. A walking statement of royalty.

But inside her carriage, as she sat down and gathered her dress, her excitement betrayed her composure.

"You may depart," she told the driver with anticipation in her voice.

He nodded. "At once, my lady."

...

Rea Thornspire, with her white hair and ruby-red eyes, wore no jewels. No rings. No necklace.

Just a simple white dress that matched her hair and amplified her calm, quiet beauty.

Her expression wasn't blank like Daela's—just neutral. Still. But her feelings were there, subtle and steady.

She stepped into her red-and-white carriage with grace, like a queen walking into her throne.

"We can go now, mister," she said softly, with respect.

"Roger, my lady!" the driver chirped as the horses charged forward.

...

Meanwhile, Nuke Cerveau was already at the meeting place.

A private restaurant located in the heart of the stronghold—completely reserved for the day. Not a single soul allowed near without his say.

He sat outside in a large wooden chair, legs crossed, back relaxed, dressed in a tailored brown suit that hugged his lean frame perfectly.

His head rested on one hand, the other holding an open book. He read calmly. Patiently. As if the entire event was an afterthought.

Behind him stood his maid, Sari , completely silent.

Without looking up, he asked, "Do you think I'll get what I want today?"

Sari didn't reply.

How could she?

She didn't even know what he wanted.

Nuke smiled faintly. "You don't even know what I want, do you?"

He closed his book slowly and stood up.

"That's exactly what I'm aiming for. To get what I want... without anyone knowing what I wanted to begin with."

He turned, gaze sharp now.

"To master that skill... and test it on these wonderfully talented heirs."

"What do you think, Sari?" he asked, eyes still distant. "Am I being ambitious?"

Sari bowed her head without hesitation. "Never, young master. Even if their status matches yours... they are not your equals. You are above them."

Nuke chuckled.

But there was no warmth in the sound.

It was hollow. Like the echo of a role he'd rehearsed too many times.

"Well, Sari," he murmured, still watching the road.

"You may want to lower your voice now."

Three carriages appeared in the distance, drawing closer with every heartbeat.

Nuke smirked, sharp and knowing.

"After all... our guests have arrived."

Chapter 29: Heirs’ Meeting [2]

The three carriages arrived at the same time—like fate itself was directing the scene.

One by one, the heirs stepped out. Each one different. Each one striking. Beauty carved its own way into them—unique, unforgettable.

Nuke stood waiting, a gentle smile stretched across his lips. The kind of smile that made you believe he was the happiest man you'd ever meet.

That kind of smile.

"Hello," he said, voice smooth. "I'm Nuke Cerveau, heir of the Cerveau Family. The one who invited you all here for this little meeting."

He paused, eyes scanning them like pages in a book.

"Meris Elamin, heiress of the Elamin family," Meris said with nonchalance—calm voice, cool eyes. But those eyes kept flicking toward one person.

Kaden.

'Those eyes... 'Her heart skipped. Blood-red, deep and haunting. Stunning in a way only something violent could be.

Beautiful in the same way blood is beautiful when it splashes warm across your skin.

Bloody beautiful.

"Rea Thornspire, heiress of the Thornspire family. It's a pleasure," Rea said next—polite, composed, precise.

But behind her calm voice, her gaze was locked on Kaden too.

Not because of fascination. Neither of attraction.

It was shock.

Her face stayed smooth outwardly but her mind didn't.

Then came Kaden's turn.

And here's the thing—

"Kaden Warborn. Youngest child of the Warborn Family," he said, voice low but steady.

He wasn't the heir.

Kaden was just the youngest and spoiled child of the Warborns.

But did that mean he stood beneath the others?

Hell no.

He smiled softly and added, "Also known as the Child of Blood."

And as he said it, his red eyes gleamed—like the name stirred something wild inside him.

Meris was caught.

Couldn't stop staring.

Couldn't look away.

'He..he is really handsome,'she thought, lips curling with interest.

Nuke watched all of it unfold, eyes far too sharp for someone so young.

He saw Meris's curiosity. Rea's inner jolt. The tension beneath their frozen expressions.

He saw how Meris carried herself—like excitement was the only thing worth chasing, and everything else was noise.

Rea moved like still water. Quiet. Controlled. Calculated.

And Kaden?

'Just like I thought,' Nuke mused, smiling warmly as his thoughts turned colder.

"Please," he said, gesturing toward the doors. "Follow me. Let's continue inside."

...

They sat around a round table. Food already served—steam rising, scent rich enough to make a starving man sob.

But no one cared about the food.

Nuke didn't speak. Didn't try to play host. Hr just watched.

What a lousy fucking host.

But Meris didn't care. She leaned forward and spoke to Kaden like they were long time friends.

And Rea?

Rea's mind was screaming.

Because of her origin skill, the one that let her see fear.

She couldn't read Nuke. Couldn't read Meris. Something blocked her.

'Artifacts,' she thought grimly. 'Of course. So they know about my origin...'

But Kaden?

Kaden wore nothing to block himself.

No enchantments. No relics. No charms.

Maybe it was arrogance—the Warborn kind that bled into everything they did.

Or maybe... maybe it was because she was his fiancée.

But still. If he wasn't hiding his fears—

Why couldn't she see anything?

Nothing at all.

No fear of death.

No fear of failure.

The two most common fears, she saw in everyone.

She was sure even Nuke and Meris had them.

But Kaden?

Only one thing surfaced.

The fear of being scolded by his mother.

Maybe slapped around by his sister.

That was it.

'How is that possible...?' Her heart thudded in her chest.

'Such... ordinary fears? From someone like the Child of Blood?'

It didn't make any sense.

And yet... it fascinated her.

"What's your origin?" Meris asked suddenly, her silver eyes gleaming. She leaned in closer, her voice playful.

The question cut through the room like a whip.

Rea froze. Even Kaden blinked.

That wasn't the kind of question you asked a stranger.

"Do you really want to know?" Kaden asked, his voice calm, but stripped of all the warmth he used with family.

This wasn't the little brother anymore.

This was the Child of Blood.

Meris didn't even flinch, her smile became even more playful, " Yes, of course."

Kaden tilted his head, then turned—slow and deliberate—toward Rea.

Their eyes met for the first time.

Ruby-red and blood-red.

And just like that, Nuke sensed something.

And Kaden proved him right.

"What do you think, Rea?" he asked, soft smile still on his face. "Should I tell her?"

Like they were old friends.

Like this wasn't their first meeting.

No hesitation. No shame.

Rea blinked.

She should've been thrown off. And she was—just a little.

But instead of pushing her away... it pulled her in deeper.

She smiled.  

Then turned to Meris.

"Lady Meris, I don't think it's proper to ask someone's origin when you've just met them."

Meris tilted her head, annoyed, just about to retort—

But Nuke, who had been eating with slow, perfect grace, finally spoke.

"You two seem to know each other," he said.

Rea answered instantly.

"Yes. We're engaged."

Silence.

Then Nuke looked up, eyes flicking between the two of them.

He was surprised.

Genuinely surprised.

Because even his family didn't know this.

And his family had spies everywhere.

'This... this is interesting' he thought, eyes gleaming behind the warmth of his practiced smile.

Because that was the point of this entire meeting.

Not alliances. Not peace. Not friendship.

Observation.

To see how they moved.

Who they gravitated toward.

How they responded when poked.

He hadn't seen that last one yet.

But he would...soon.

He smiled again, that same harmless smile.

The kind that whispered I couldn't hurt a fly.

But then—

"The famed Child of Blood," he said softly, "of the illustrious Warborn... engaged to the heiress of a fallen house?"

He smirked.

Eyes cold under the mask.

"How... curious."

Chapter 30: Heirs’s Meeting [3]

Silence.

And that silence was deafening.

All of them were stunned—caught off guard.

Especially Kaden.

Because he had no idea—none at all—about the "fallen house" Nuke had just mentioned.

But that wasn't even the most disturbing part.

What really made it strange was the way Nuke said it.

The words dripped with mockery—like he was looking down on both the Warborns and the Thornspires.

But his tone and his face?

So soft. So gentle.

Warm enough to put your guard down without even noticing.

"You... what are you doing?" Meris asked, puzzled.

Her cheerful, playful face was gone—wiped clean.

What remained was cold and confused expression.

The others might not have known.

But she did.

She knew the nature of the Cerveau.

How could she not?

Her mother never stopped talking about them. Always saying the same thing,

"They're two-faced, Meris. Every last one of them. Smiling monsters with velvet knives."

And that's exactly what this was.

But what she didn't get was why Nuke was doing it.

Was he really trying to pick a fight with the other heirs? Make them his enemy?

For what?

Was he stupid?

Nuke just tilted his head and looked at her. "What do you mean? I simply made a remark."

Then turned to Kaden and Rea.

"I was just surprised to see the two of you together," he continued. "After all... how can a noble family like the Warborn allow their youngest child—not just any child, but the Child of Blood—to marry into a ruined family?"

He looked back at Meris.

"Isn't that curious, my dear?"

No hate. No sarcasm.

Just calm.

Which somehow made it worse.

But Nuke wasn't finished.

He tilted his head to the right, all innocent curiosity, blue eyes shining.

"Or is it because she has a legendary origin? Do you think... that will bring the Thornspires back from the grave?"

A genuine question. At least to him.

Because if that was truly their plan...

Then they were idiots. Legendary origin or not, it wouldn't save a broken name.

But that question didn't even register for Kaden.

He was completely lost from the start.

He barely even studied Waverith's history.

Only focused on his own house.

The rest? Nothing at all.

And now it was biting him in the ass.

'Fallen house? Thornspire?' he wondered. But not a flicker of it showed on his face.

Years beside his sister had taught him well.

And today, he wore that same blank expression like a mask forged in hell.

So no—Nuke's little performance didn't rattle him.

But Rea?

Rea understood.

And it cut deep.

If there was one thing—even the soft, reserved Rea Thornspire couldn't accept...

It was someone mocking her household.

Because to mock her house was to spit on her father's effort to keep the house from sinking deeper.

It was to stomp on her deceased grandfather's legacy.

And that...that crossed a line.

Her ruby eyes locked on Nuke, cold and unblinking.

"What... did you say?" she asked, her voice...

Wrong.

Too calm. Too slow. Too sharp.

It chilled the air.

Because Rea wasn't just someone who saw fear.

She could pull it out—make it stronger, twist it into something primal.

And that's what she did.

But—

"Did you just try something?" Nuke asked, not even blinking.

Because he had an artifact. A perfect little tool that made Rea's origin useless.

Her gaze turned even colder.

Meris sighed.

'I was just starting to get to know the Child of Blood, for god's sake.'

She didn't care about all this bullshit. Not really.

What annoyed her was that her window to learn more about Kaden just slammed shut.

But then—something clicked.

'The Thornspire girl is his fiancée...So what now? Will he act? And how?'

Excitement surged again. She turned eagerly to look at Kaden. Not only for excitement but also because she strangely liked to just look at his handsome face.

And Kaden watched it all in silence.

Still. Calm.

He didn't understand half of it. He didn't care either.

'This is a waste of time,' he thought silently.

He could've been tempting death right now—getting stronger, instead of sitting here listening to children pretend they're playing war.

But...

Kaden was Kaden.

And Kaden was a Warborn.

And a Warborn doesn't let anyone touch what's theirs.

Doesn't let anyone spit on their name.

Doesn't let disrespect walk.

And like it or not—Rea was his fiancée.

That meant she was Warborn now.

So—

"Enough."

His voice cut through everything. Instantly. Like a knife to the throat of the room.

All heads turned.

They expected something. Some grand speech but,

Kaden stood slowly.

"I will not sit here and listen to you insult my fiancée."

Nuke didn't even flinch. Still smiling. That same soft mask.

Kaden turned his gaze to Rea.

And without a word—she stood too.

But not before giving Nuke a glare that could freeze hell.

This meeting was supposed to be casual. Friendly.A chance to learn more about each other, at least to her.

But...

'Always the same with these people,' Rea thought, anger boiling just beneath the surface.

No more words.

Kaden and Rea walked out.

Gone.

Leaving only Nuke and Meris.

Meris looked at him, face unreadable.

"Did you get what you wanted?" She asked, irritated she could no longer look at Kaden's face

Nuke looked at her and held her eyes calmly.

"What do you mean?" he asked with a smile that could belong to a priest.

Meris stared for a moment. Then stood.

And just before disappearing, she dropped her words like a knife:

"I hope you know what you did."

Nuke stayed silent for a moment.

Then—slowly—his face changed.

The warmth died.

Gone.

Now there was nothing.

Just cold apathy.

He closed his eyes. Replayed it all in his mind.

This meeting wasn't for diplomacy.

It wasn't for connection.

Not even for manipulation.

It was bait.

He wanted them to dislike him. To hate him.

The more they focused on him—

The less they'd notice what was really happening.

He opened his eyes.

"Meris. Not a threat. Only cares about entertainment. Until further notice, easy to control and predict."

"Rea. Even easier. Her background is worthless to me. Her origin does nothing to me with my artifacts. And Character-wise..."

He let the sentence dangle.

Then finally,

"The Child of Blood. Warborn through and through. Arrogant. Protective. Trusting."

Typical Warborn.

Honor. Family. Loyalty.

That's all they were.

And if you know what they love?

'You know where to hurt them.'  

Nuke smiled.

A true one this time.

The kind that make you want to slap his face.

Chapter 31: Smoke Beneath the Stars

Kaden walked slowly outside, but he didn't take the route toward his carriage. And still, Rea followed behind him in a slow and steady manner.

The night was quite beautiful, with stars filling the sky—making it one of the rarest things in the world of Darklore... a starry night.

A perfect time for a date.

But none of the two young people here cared about that.

One, because he just didn't care about any of this and wanted to go home and prepare for Fokay.

The other, because she was now in a bad mood after Nuke's words.

All in all,

The atmosphere was quite awkward. And Kaden didn't even try to change it.

'What a bother...' Kaden thought inwardly. He may have acted in favor of Rea back inside, but it was only because she was now officially his fiancée, so even if he didn't actually hold any feelings for her—or anything at all—he had to act on her behalf.

That's what honor does.

That's what responsibility does.

It makes you act in ways you don't want to. It makes you do things you'd rather leave undone, all for the sake of appearances, duty, and weight you never really asked for.

It was so... constraining.

But what could you do?

In this world, even the most unfettered man has responsibilities.

So really...

What does being free even mean?

Kaden didn't know. And truthfully, it wasn't his goal.

His goal was to be strong. Strong enough that even the constraints—responsibility, honor, and reputation—could be crushed under the weight of his power.

And if his strength wasn't enough?

Kaden smirked silently, his blood-red eyes glowing fiercely.

'Then I'll just have to die again. And again. And again. Until I reach the point where I'm untouchable. Until I reach a point death could never claim me, until even death starts to miss me.'

That was his goal.

But that was only his goal.

So—

"What's your goal?" Kaden suddenly asked as he stopped walking. He didn't turn back immediately.

They had arrived at a kind of a hill. A perfect spot to look up at the sky.

'What made me walk this way?' Kaden thought softly before snapping out of it as Rea's voice broke the silence.

"My goal?" Rea repeated softly, her voice carrying an inquiring tone.

She hadn't expected such a question—not from him.

Kaden nodded, his back still to her. "Yes. Your goal. What do you wish to achieve in your life?"

"If that can make you open up easily, I'll go first. My goal is nothing incredible, I just want to be strong enough that nothing can threaten me or my family."

Kaden said it in a nonchalant manner, like it was nothing special.

But how hard was it to be strong enough that nothing could threaten you in this cursed world?

That was something Rea didn't fully understand. Her mind was still clouded with anger, and maybe she wasn't mature enough yet to grasp the full weight of what he had said.

So,

She just brushed Kaden's goal off as something basic. Something every man loved to claim.

"My goal..."

She paused. Then gathered herself.

"My goal is to revive my family. To make it stand again alongside the other three great houses. I also want to find the killer of my grandfather and take revenge. And I..."

She paused again.

She didn't know why she was telling something like this to a man she had just met. But somehow, she just felt like saying it. Like the words needed to come out. Like the moment demanded it.

She wanted to tell him her goal, but in the same breath, she wanted to share her fear with this boy who looked like he feared nothing.

"And I... want to be happy too."

That was a weird thing to say. Because what does being happy even mean?

Such an abstract statement.

Such an abstract word.

Happiness.  

"What can make you happy?"

"Will you be happy if you succeed in taking revenge and bringing your family back to the same status as ours?"

Kaden asked instantly. His red eyes still fixed on the distant horizon, as if there was something fascinating out there.

But really, there wasn't.

He just thought that it will be easier to open up to someone when he didn't have to feel his eyes on them.

Just like how a sinner enters a church and confesses to a faceless priest.

Same concept.

Different setting.

"Yes... I would be happy if that happened." Her voice wavered. It was doubtful.

And Kaden picked up on it.

He finally turned and looked at her.

Needless to say, Rea was a breathtaking woman. White hair and red eyes that glowed like rubies, with a slender figure that showed the grace and control of a true noble.

But Kaden looked at her with impassive eyes. Her beauty didn't even register.

He was more curious about something else.

"What are you preparing to do for this goal of yours?"

That's what he wanted to know.

Because he was prepared to die. Prepared to suffer mental breakdowns. Prepared to go through horrible deaths again and again just to achieve the strength he needed.

So... what about her?

Rea hesitated.

She didn't know what to say.

What was she really ready to do to achieve her goal?

She had never thought about it. Not seriously.

Hell, she didn't even know how to achieve her goals in the first place—so how could she know what she was ready to sacrifice?

"I... I don't know," she answered quietly. Her voice shaking slightly.

Kaden looked at her silently. His gaze didn't hold any criticism.

Then he smiled.

"It's fine. You're still a child after all."

He said, as if he himself was not a child.

He then started walking away, but his voice echoed softly behind him.

"You'll never succeed in your goal if you don't know what you're willing to let go. What you're willing to sacrifice."

But Rea's voice cut through the air—sharp and loud.

"And you? What are you willing to let go?"

She shouted the words at his back.

Kaden didn't stop walking.

But he still responded.

"My life. I'm willing to die. Again and again. I've already made death my friend for this little goal of mine."

And with that—

He disappeared.

Rea stood there, stunned.

His own life?

'Is that why...?'

Is that why he didn't fear death?

Why he didn't fear failure?

Because he was already prepared to lose it all?

'How a 15 years old boy can think like this?'

She didn't move. Just looked in the direction Kaden had walked away, her eyes distant and unreadable.

And after a while... a small smile appeared on her face.

"What am I willing to sacrifice for, huh..."

She turned and walked away.

This time, her steps weren't hesitant or pensive.

They carried a bit more purpose. A bit more weight.

Still not as steady as Kaden's.

But they had progressed.

There was smoke now. A faint trail.

And as they say—

Where there is smoke...

There is fire.

Chapter 32: A Smile That Freezes

Kaden stopped in front of his carriage, ready to return to the Warborn household.

But before he could open the door, someone was already standing there—unexpected, but at the same time... not surprising.

Meris Elamin.

Kaden tilted his head slightly, his voice calm, "Do you need something?"

Meris smiled brightly, almost too brightly. "We didn't get the time to really talk because of that dickhead Nuke. That's why I came—to propose something."

And without waiting for a response, she vanished from her spot in a blur of speed and reappeared in front of him, softly grabbing his hand.

"I want to invite you to my house for a small tea session. We'll have all the time to talk and... bond," she added, the last word slipping out with a blush blooming across her pale cheeks.

It would've looked cute—to anyone else watching.

But for Kaden?

'Fucking eerie. What's wrong with this girl? ' he thought as he took a step back instinctively, putting distance between them.

But Meris didn't let up.

She followed with the same bright, innocent smile.

"Do you agree? I'll even show you our family household—you'll love it, I swear!"

She was being persistent. Pushy, even.

Kaden shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't have the time."

And just like her, he didn't wait for her reply.

"I have to prepare for Fokay. I can't afford distractions. But if we meet there... I'll gladly accept your invitation."

He said it all in one breath, then stayed quiet.

Meris stood there for a moment before smiling again. "I have your word then, Child of Blood?"

Kaden nodded once.

"You do."

She grinned, turned back to her carriage, and walked away. As she stepped up, her voice drifted behind her like perfume.

"Let's make it unforgettable then."

She entered the carriage. Moments later, it vanished into the night.

Leaving Kaden alone.

He sighed quietly, finally climbing into his own carriage and slumping lazily into the seat. And just as he was about to begin processing everything that had happened tonight—

DING.

[You have completed the quest.]

[You chose to walk away and not fight when your fiancée was being humiliated.]

[It was... disappointing, to say the least.]

[You did not act like a true Warborn. Not like your title, the Child of Blood.]

[You have gained nothing.]

[And you will not receive any penalties either.]

Kaden stared at the system prompts silently.

He knew he could've acted differently—like his father would have. Stepped in and made a scene.

But he didn't.

And he didn't regret it.

"Father and Mother were right," he murmured, voice soft, unfazed that the quest had given him nothing.

Instead, he leaned back, expression thoughtful.

"So that guy was trying to read us. Trying to see what triggers us..."

He smirked faintly.

"Didn't he realize that when you try to read someone, you have to be ready to be read in return?"

It was almost funny. But still... exhausting.  

Having to play a part. Having to measure your responses.

His smile faded. His expression cooled into something flat and empty.

"He must want something—or wants to do something to us, if he's willing to go that far."

It wasn't surprising that Kaden saw through Nuke's little game.

He had lived two lives. And in the first one, he'd been a bullied kid.

And what does a bullied kid learn best?

Observation.

He had to, if he wanted to survive. He had to learn when the bullies were angry. When they were relaxed. When they were hungry for cruelty. When to speak and when to vanish.

He had to read people. Every twitch. Every shift in tone. Every hunger in their eyes.

Nuke was more subtle, more refined in his acting.

But in the end?

He was young. Inexperienced.

And—

"He slipped."

Kaden muttered the words to himself.

"And that's enough."

Because now he understood—Nuke wanted something. Either to harm his family, or to use them for something bigger.

Either way—

"He's an enemy."

And that was all Kaden needed to know.

He would act accordingly.

He finally closed his eyes, deciding to rest his mind.

Soon, he would leave for Fokay.

And he couldn't wait.

...

Inside Meris's carriage, she wasn't alone.

Seated across from her was a woman in a maid uniform—beautiful green eyes, brown hair tied neatly.

Lari. Meris's personal maid.

And right now, she was staring at her young mistress with confused, almost concerned eyes.

Meris tilted her head slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that, Lari?" she asked, her voice laced with playful mischief.

Lari hesitated. Then found the courage to speak.

"I just don't understand why... why you acted like that with the Warborn's youngest," Lari said carefully.

Meris smiled, then shrugged her shoulders.

"I just like him."

That was it.

That was all she could say.

Because even she didn't know why she was so drawn to him. Why she wanted so badly to know him. Why she felt that strange pull toward him.

Lari's voice came again, this time gentler—concern in every word.

"My lady... he already has a fiancée. Rea Thornspire. And you know the Warborn—once they choose, they don't stray. Their men only have one woman. It's always been like that. One bond. One mate. From childhood."

It was meant as a warning. A soft nudge to stop.

But the moment Rea's name left Lari's mouth—everything changed.

Meris's face darkened in an instant.

The temperature in the carriage dropped sharply. Frost appeared on the windows. The air turned biting.

"Don't say her name again, Lari."

Her voice was low. Flat. Dangerous.

Her silver eyes were no longer playful. They were deadly.

Lari's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't expected such a violent reaction.

"I don't care if he has a fiancée," Meris continued, her tone cold as steel. "If I, Meris Elamin, set my eyes on someone—"

Her eyes glowed faintly, light bending oddly around them.

"Then I'll have them. No matter what. And Kaden Warborn... I want him."

Simple.

Direct.

Obsessive.

Why? She didn't know.

But she had made up her mind.

She'd have him.

With sweetness if needed.

Or—

"With force."

Then came the smile.

Wide. Distorted. Unhinged.

A smile that could make a grown man flinch.

"Do you understand me, Lari?"

A long pause.

"...Yes, my lady," Lari said, her voice trembling slightly.

That day, Lari saw a side of Meris she'd never seen before.

A face that was... frightening.

And in that moment, she found herself—against her will—pitying Kaden.

Chapter 33: Fokay [1]

A day had passed since that meeting—a full day where Kaden did nothing but prepare himself for his entry into Fokay , because finally...

He would enter it today.

Not because he particularly wanted to go now—if it was up to him, he would've waited like a week later, then he would've trained more, honed himself sharper, carved deeper into his foundation until no one could touch him.

But according to his dear father...

"You've been slacking off enough. You'd better enter Fokay tomorrow and get stronger."

Kaden clicked his tongue at the memory of those words.

'Slacking off? Seriously?' he muttered to himself in irritation. 'I've been training non-stop for five years. Five fucking years. How is that slacking off?'

Only he truly knew how much he'd poured into mastering just two basic techniques—two foundations he had drilled into his bones until they became instinct, until they moved through his body like blood through veins.

Because let's be honest—five years of training on just basic techniques?

He had taken those techniques and sharpened them into weapons far beyond their initial purpose. He could perform them as easily as breathing.

But he also knew something else.

They were still basic techniques. Fundamentals. A stepping stone.

Soon, he would need to create something of his own.

Thankfully, he wasn't exactly disadvantaged—he had Reditha, and he had his blood skills. And as that thought passed through him, Reditha, resting silently across his lap, hummed with a soft crimson glow as if in response to his mind.

He smiled faintly at her.

Then he stood.

He slipped into his black training suit and made his way toward the Warborn training ground.

Because, before stepping into Fokay, his dear sister had decided that it would be appropriate to give him a little duel—to see if he was truly ready.

Kaden smiled wryly at that.

'This is gonna fucking hurt...'

...

Inside the main Warborn training ground, Kaden and Daela stood across from each other inside the arena. Both of them clad in eerily similar combat suits.

Not a coincidence, of course.

Daela had made sure her little brother wore gear like hers. Because that's just the kind of big sister she was.

Adorable, right?

But that wasn't the point. Because right now, Daela was trapped in a storm of inner thoughts.

'Should I go easy on him? ...No, if I do that, he might get overconfident and die in Fokay.'

'So I go hard? No... that might break his confidence before he even starts.'

'So... go somewhere in the middle?'

But that was tricky. Daela wasn't known for her ability to hold back.

Still, she looked at her little brother with her stoic eyes but inside it was full of love, and in her head, she made a decision with that sweet inner voice of hers—

'I'll do it!'

It was the kind of inner declaration that, if Kaden had heard it, he would've absolutely patted her head because of how adorable she was.

But, unfortunately—or fortunately—he didn't.

"You can begin the duel," Sarena's voice echoed across the training grounds, calm but firm. She and Garros stood at the edge of the arena, watching closely.

The instant the order was given, twin silver blades materialized in Daela's hands. The moment she held them, something shifted in the air.

Goosebumps raced down Kaden's spine. His eyes widened.

Without thinking, he went to summon Reditha—

But he wasn't fast enough.

Daela was already there.

"What the—!" Kaden didn't even have time to finish as Daela struck with terrifying precision.

"Blood Wall!"

His voice rang out just in time as a thick wall of blood surged in front of him to intercept the slash.

CLANK—!

The clash echoed through the air as Kaden hurled himself back, putting distance between them, breath soft and steady.

"Huff..."

"Reditha, let's—"

Slash—!

Kaden froze mid-command.

His eyes slowly dropped to his chest where a fresh wound bled out. A clean, crimson line across his ribs.

A slash?

'When...?' he thought, eyes darting to Daela—who hadn't moved. Not since her first attack. 'So how...?'

But there was no time to think.

In a burst of movement, Daela came at him again—her twin blades glowing with silver light, cutting through the air with impossible grace. Her strikes looked like a dance. Elegant. Almost beautiful.

But deadly.

Kaden didn't fall for the illusion this time. His blood-red eyes snapped into focus as blood-forged weapons of all shapes and sizes manifested around him, forming a swirling shield.

Daela's attacks came—relentless, sharp, precise. She struck dozens of times from every angle. She was too fast. Her movements left afterimages.

But—

"Blood Explosion," Kaden's voice rang out, low and cold.

A storm of red detonated around him as the barrier turned into a violent burst of force, absorbing every hit Daela had just delivered.

BOOOM!

The shockwave shook the arena, dust clouding everything—

But Kaden didn't need to see.

With his high perception stat, he already felt where she was. And in that moment, he moved.

He took his stance.

One strike. One kill.

That was the name of the technique.

But this time, it wasn't meant to kill—and without the intention to finish, the technique lost its edge.

Which didn't matter.

Because before he could finish his move—

"Arghhh—!"

Pain exploded across his body.  

Kaden stumbled back, eyes wide as dozens of thin slashes appeared all over him—blood dripping freely from his chest, arms, legs.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to retreat. Daela stood silently, expression unreadable.

I felt it, he thought, his perception catching up. The first time, he'd assumed it was some fluke. The second confirmed it.

Both hits followed the exact trajectory of her original strikes.

Only this time... delayed.

Invisible.

Just like—

"Echo...?" he muttered aloud.

And for the first time, Daela's eyes widened.

A reaction.

"Did he actually figure out Daela's origin skill after just two hits?" Sarena asked, stunned.

"HAHAHAHA! That's my son!" Garros laughed loudly, but even he was caught off guard.

What none of them realized was that Kaden's perception was abnormally high for someone at his level—and Daela, though she struck fast, had left just enough space for him to piece it together.

She let him think.

That was her mercy.

Kaden smiled as he stared into her eyes. He knew now. Every strike she made left behind an echo—an invisible delayed copy that hit with full force after a short delay.

So...

I just need to predict the timing... and parry the echo.

Kaden's grin spread wide.

"Come on, sister. Let's finish this."

It was a beautiful smile.

But to Daela, it looked just a bit too confident.

So—

BOOOOMMM!

BAAAAMMMM!

The moment she launched forward, faster than ever before, she didn't go for finesse.

She slammed the hilt of her sword straight into Kaden's forehead, hard enough to knock him out cold.

Kaden hit the ground with a solid thud.

Daela stared at him, then blinked.

"Oops..." she muttered, deadpan, as the gazes of her parents bore into her.

Sarena and Garros both shook their heads in unison.

...

Later that night, Kaden stood in front of his parents and sister.

He had regained consciousness two hours ago and had spent the time quietly preparing.

Because, like he said—

Today was the day.

"Be careful, my dear," Sarena said softly, brushing his cheek with her fingertips.

Kaden smiled and nodded. "I will, Mother."

"Kaden," Garros said next, this time with no trace of his usual playfulness—just raw seriousness.

"You won't be able to return until you complete your first Evolution Quest. So finish it fast... and come back to us."

He gripped Kaden's shoulder, firm and full of fatherly weight.

Kaden tilted his head. "Can't you just come visit me in Fokay?"

All three of them shook their heads instantly.

"We have no idea where you'll land," Sarena said, worry deep in her voice. "It's random. And there have been cases—young ones like you appearing in deep forbidden zones on their first entry."

Kaden's heart skipped.

But his face didn't change.

He didn't want to worry them.

Instead, he smiled brightly, maybe too brightly.

"Hahahah! Don't worry, Mother. Father. I'll be fine. Just take care of yourselves. And like I told you—keep your guard up around the Cerveau. Don't underestimate them. Not for one second."

Then, he turned to Daela.

He smirked.

"You better be ready, sister. Next time I see you, I'm the one knocking you out."

And before any of them could reply, before Daela could even register what he just said—

Kaden activated the transfer.

He vanished.

Leaving behind a smiling sister.

...

The moment Kaden reappeared, he was standing in darkness.

A golden interface lit up in front of him.

{Kaden Warborn, Child of Blood. Welcome to Fokay.}

{Your spawning point has been determined.}

{Spawning point: Morvul the Unmoving's Lair.}

The moment he read the words, the space around him shifted again.

And then—

He was falling.

High in the air, above a massive cave. A monstrous lair.

He looked down—

And his heart skipped a beat.

"What the fuck...?"

He muttered out loud.

Which was a mistake.

Because the beast resting far below, a titan of a creature, slowly opened its deep black eyes.

And then—

It snorted.

BOOOOOOMMMM!

The air detonated.

And Kaden's body exploded midair into a rain of blood.

'...This is fucking crazy,' he thought as the world turned black.

[You are dead.]

Chapter 34: Fokay [2]

Kaden found himself back in that same mysterious darkness—consciousness dazed, confused, shaken.

"How did I die?" he asked aloud, still trying to piece things together.

"Don't tell me I was killed by his snort? Ain't no way, right?"

He genuinely couldn't believe it. How the fuck could his whole body explode just because some beast—no, some dragon—snorted?

Pause.

"Dragon...?"

"Fuck! That beast was a fucking dragon!" Kaden shouted in shock, the realization slamming into him like a freight train.

"This is insane. First time stepping into Fokay, and I meet a fucking dragon?!"

What were the odds? And worse?

If it wasn't for his system, he'd be gone for real—right here, right now.

At that thought, Kaden's expression shifted. He went quiet. Serious.

Because no matter how miraculous the system was, it wouldn't mean shit if he ran out of Death Coins. They weren't infinite. Every revival had a cost—and once those coins ran dry...

He'd be truly dead.

He clicked his tongue, low and sharp.

DING!

[You have died.]

[At what point in time do you wish to return?]

Kaden paused, thinking it through.

The best option was to return to just before he entered Fokay—hoping, praying, begging that this time, he'd spawn somewhere else. Somewhere without a slumbering fucking dragon.

So—

"I wish to return to just before I entered Fokay. How much will that cost me?"

[500 points.]

Kaden blinked. "What? Half my coins? How come? I didn't even go that far back in time!"

[The strength of the being who killed you also affects cost. The greater the gap between your power and theirs, the more Death Coins required.]

Kaden cursed under his breath again.

Things were already starting to get irritating.

But he didn't argue further.

"Fine. Do it."

Because it's not like he had much of a choice.

[DING! Confirmed.]

And then, finally, the reward prompt appeared—what he had been waiting for.

[You have been killed by Morvul The Unmoving. You have obtained a technique fragment.]

[You have obtained the technique: Slothful Steps (Unique Rank).]

Kaden blinked—then smiled.

His first technique fragment. And considering how few techniques he actually possessed, this was a huge win.

"Give me the description."

[Slothful Steps (Unique Rank): Your steps appear slow, lazy, careless—but the slower you walk, the faster you become. Movement and unpredictability blend as one.]

Kaden blinked again. And then smiled, softer this time.

"I like this one."

"Death... revive me."

The black clock reappeared.

Tik—!

The void wrapped around his senses—and darkness took him again.

...

"Be careful, my dear," Sarena said as she looked at Kaden one last time with love and affection.

Kaden smiled, then turned to his father.

This time, he asked the question that had been burning inside him since the moment he died.

"Father, what are the chances someone spawns in a forbidden zone? Or somewhere... completely lethal to an awakened being?"

Garros tilted his head, thinking.

"Hmm... it's really, really rare. In all my years, I've only heard of it happening a few times. So I'd say maybe... one in a million would be unlucky enough to end up like that."

Then he grinned brightly.

"But don't worry! We're Warborn—we've always been blessed with good luck."

He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Kaden's lips twitched, but he said nothing.

He simply turned his gaze forward.

Then, without wasting another second, he willed himself into Fokay again.

But not before turning to his sister—his expression smug, his voice teasing.

"Be ready, sister. Next time we meet, I'm the one knocking you out."

And with that—

He vanished.

...

{Kaden Warborn, Child of Blood. Welcome to Fokay.}

It all happened again. The sensation. The interface. The shifting space.

{Your spawning point has been determined.}

A pause.

{Spawning point: The Shattered Church of the Whimpering Saintess.}

Moments later, Kaden appeared—this time not in a cave, not in open ground—but inside what looked like a shattered, crumbling church. Everything here felt old. Ancient. On the verge of collapse. The walls were cracked, the ceiling half-caved, the altar broken and leaning.

It looked like one strong breeze and the whole place could fall apart.

But Kaden didn't even think about testing it.

Not because he feared the structure falling.

But because something else had already stolen his attention.

Someone stood in front of him.

No—something.

'What... is this?' Kaden thought, narrowing his eyes.

At first glance, it looked human. Almost too human.

Not ugly. Not deformed. Not some grotesque creature stitched together from beasts.

No.

She was beautiful.

So beautiful it hurt to look at her.

But that wasn't the problem.

The problem... was the tears.

Red and black tears ran endlessly down her face, shimmering like blood mixed with void, trailing over perfect skin, and yet—something inside them felt wrong.

Then she smiled as she looked at Kaden.

And the moment she did, Kaden's entire body shuddered with fear—pure, instinctive, primal fear.

He didn't even realize he had taken a step back.

And that—

That was a mistake.

"Are... are you abandoning me too?" the woman asked, voice trembling, tears spilling faster now.

"Don't... don't go," she pleaded, stepping forward.

Kaden stepped back again.

He couldn't help it.

Something deep inside him—gut, soul, blood, everything—revolted.

Every part of him screamed that he shouldn't be here. That he shouldn't look at her.

That he shouldn't listen.

"Why... why... WHY?" she wailed—and her beautiful face tore open, black tendrils ripping out where her features had been, twisting and writhing like they were alive.

Disgusting. Alien. Alive.

"Fucking hell! What the fuck is this??" Kaden yelled as panic surged through him. He turned, sprinting for the church doors.

But he didn't make it two steps.

The tentacles on her face moved with terrifying speed and wrapped tightly around his legs.

BAAAM!

Kaden's face hit the ground. Hard.

He gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening as Reditha instantly appeared in his hand—and with one swift movement, he sliced the tentacles off without hesitation.

The scream that followed—

SCREEEEE—!

A beastly, otherworldly shriek tore through the air as a wave of black tentacles slammed into Kaden's body from above.

His skull cracked.

His vision spun.

His body died.

[You are dead.]

...

"...One in a million, huh? Fucking bullshit," Kaden muttered, standing once again in the dark space.

He couldn't believe it.

He had died again. Just to enter fucking Fokay.

This was madness.

And it only got worse—

[It will cost you 500 points to revive.]

Yep. Just like last time.

This was it—his last chance.

He had only one more shot before he was truly dead. The next one had to work.

Either he landed somewhere he could survive—or he wouldn't come back.

Kaden exhaled slowly.

His heart was racing. Tension buzzing under his skin.  

But he kept his face still.

Panicking won't change anything.

"Ahh..." he sighed, then nodded.

"Go on."

[You have been killed by the Whimpering Saintess. You have obtained a trait fragment.]

[Trait – Silent Tears: You cannot cry easily. But once you do... you will not stop until you have either killed or resolved the source of your grief. And once you do, you will have their most cherished things.]

Kaden blinked. Then smiled crookedly.

"I seem to get great stuff from dying lately..."

[The stronger your killer, the greater the reward.]

Makes sense.

He had already suspected as much.

"Revive me, Death."

The black clock appeared once again.

Tik—!

Chapter 35: Fokay [3]

Kaden found himself back inside his house, standing before his family once more. As he looked at them—looked at their warm faces, the subtle worry in their eyes—he didn't feel fear. Even if he should considering it might be the last time he will see them. Instead, he looked at his father with something close to… disdain.

"Father," he said, voice flat, "I heard somewhere that a damn idiot once said that only one in a million ends up in a lethal situation their first time in Fokay."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Is that true?"

Garros stared at him, face caught in an awkward twitch. 'Why do I feel like I'm the damn idiot he's talking about?' he thought bitterly.

But, as expected, he wore his signature grin a second later.

"A damn idiot indeed. It's actually one in a billion, my son. Don't listen to those dumb bastards out there, alright? HAHAHAH!" Garros laughed, loud and carefree.

Kaden's lips twitched. He didn't say another word.

He shook his head, then willed himself to go.

He didn't want to linger.

Because if he did, he might not have the heart to leave.

No matter what he said, no matter how composed he tried to act—the possibility of true death was now real. He had no Death Coins left. Zero.

And if he died again… it would be the end.

And in that moment, Kaden saw it. Just a glimpse.

Something beyond the fear of death.

But it was only that—a glimpse.

…

Kaden reappeared in the same familiar darkness.

The will spoke again.  

{Kaden Warborn, Child of Blood, welcome to Fokay.}

{Your spawning point has been selected.}

Kaden's heartbeat picked up, loud and hard in his chest.

He held his breath.

{Spawning Point: Forest of Eternal Sunshine.}

And in a flash, Kaden vanished—his form pulled from the void and thrown into a new reality.

A forest. But not a normal one.

This place shimmered.

Golden trees. Golden leaves. Even the soil glowed faintly beneath his feet, shining in the light of a golden-white sun that loomed unnaturally overhead. The temperature was overwhelming—hot to a degree that felt almost divine in pressure.

Kaden stood still, scanning the surroundings with his perception pushed to its maximum.

'No enemy… yet,' he thought, slowly exhaling in quiet relief.

But he didn't relax.

Because just because there wasn't danger now, didn't mean there wouldn't be in five seconds. Especially not in Fokay. Especially not here.

Then, it hit him.

He remembered this place.

He might not have memorized the politics of Waverith, but when it came to Fokay—he had studied hard. He'd learned the types of zones. The mechanics behind the evolution quests. The forbidden regions. The places not marked dangerous because of monsters—but because they were owned.

Owned by power.

Owned by names.

Zones that belonged entirely to specific factions or bloodlines. Zones that were untouchable for those who didn't belong.

And the Forest of Eternal Sunshine?

Was one of them.

Kaden's mouth tightened as he muttered—

"…The Celestial Empire."

And immediately, he cursed his fate.

Of course. Of fucking course. He just had to be tossed straight into the domain of one of the most powerful forces in all of Fokay .

"This is insane. What if they find me? What if they don't believe me?"

He paused, then nodded to himself.

"No… no, they'll know. They'll understand. The Will does this sometimes. They'll see I'm Awakened rank and know I didn't get here on my own."

He smiled, just a little.

"They'll believe me."

For the first time since entering Fokay , he actually felt a little relief.

Because there was no way he'd survive offending the Celestial Empire. Not with the way they controlled almost every resource in northern Fokay .

But apparently—

something disagreed.

DING!

Kaden's face twitched as the system message opened in front of him.

[You have received a quest.]

[Quest: Escape.]

[Difficulty: Near-Hell.]

[Description: You have been transported by The Will into territory belonging to the Celestial Empire. You are considered a trespasser. You will be hunted and killed on sight, no questions asked.]

[Objective: Escape without being caught.]

[Reward: Depends on performance.]

[Penalty: True death.]

Kaden stared at the quest window with a blank expression.

Then—his ears twitched.

A moment later, he vanished from his spot with a lazy, slow-motion blur—activating Slothful Steps.

Seconds after he disappeared, three figures arrived—each one dressed in radiant white-and-gold armor, faces hidden behind smooth, faceless masks.

"…Did I sense wrong?" one of them said, looking around.

"Man, you ruined our nap over nothing?" the second said, slapping the first on the back of the head.

SLAP—!

"Aïe aïe! Luke, what the fuck? I swear I felt something weird!"

"Oh, now you're backtalking, huh?" Luke raised his hand to slap again, looking genuinely offended.

"It's enough," the third voice interrupted—calm, stern. The leader.

"Continue patrol."

With that, he vanished.

"Tsk tsk. This guy has no sense of humor," Luke muttered before vanishing too.

Rael, the first, lingered. Eyes scanning. He looked around one last time, suspicious.

Then he too disappeared.

Seconds later—Kaden emerged, slowly, in complete silence.

He looked down at his hand, where a small, glimmering ring sat. Faintly pulsing.

An artifact.

Rare-rank.

It suppressed presence to a great level—almost like vanishing.

'Gotta thank Mother for this one,' Kaden thought.

Then he smiled.

Faint. Hollow.

'Well… if I survive this.'

He exhaled and moved.

His new goal was simple.

Escape.

Without being caught.

'Fucking hell.'

…

At the same time Kaden was thrown into Fokay—his third time, technically—his dear fiancée was entering for her first.

She stood in that same space of darkness.

The same voice greeted her.

{Rea Thornspire, welcome to Fokay.}

{Your spawning point has been selected.}

{Spawning Point: City of Pain.}

A blink later—Rea vanished.

When she opened her eyes, she stood in front of a massive, ominous gate. The sky above was cloudy. The wind cold.

And the guards stationed at the gate were wearing armor shaped like ceremonial robes—something between a knight and a priest.

Their presence was unsettling.

And before Rea could even process anything, the guards stepped forward.

"You… are you new to Fokay?" one of them asked.

They had seen her appear from nothing. That wasn't something a normal Awakened could do.

Rea gave a small, polite nod. Her face was calm. Her voice clear.

"I am. I just arrived. Could you tell me where I am?"

The guards glanced at each other.

Then the speaker responded.

"You're in the northern region of Fokay. This is the territory of the Church of Sorrow."

He paused for emphasis.

"This is the City of Pain. One of the holy cities under the Church's guidance."

Then—he smiled.

And the other one did too.

But the smiles weren't right.

They didn't look happy or even kind.

They looked like the smiles of men drowning in pain.

The type of smile someone forces when they want to cry.

The kind that doesn't make you feel welcome—it makes you ache.

Rea felt it.

Deep. Instinctive. Crawling under her skin.

Then their voices rose—together, perfect harmony. Like this was something they'd said many, many times before.

"Welcome to the City of Pain…

Where pain is the only thing you will find in abundance."

Chapter 36: Fucking Hell

Rea stood stunned for a long second after hearing the guards’ words. Their voices, their tone, their... forced smiles, everything about them unsettled her deeply. Still, she forced a polite smile, hiding the weight that pressed at her chest.

"Is there a place I can stay here?" she asked quietly, voice measured.

She needed a base. Somewhere to settle, somewhere to breathe and plan. Because just like Kaden, she had already saturated her origin. Now, the only step left was to find an evolution stone, start the Evolution Quest and step into the next tier of strength.

But evolution stones didn’t just grow on trees. Finding one in the wild was technically possible—but the odds were laughable.

Which left one solution.

’I need to buy one. And for that... I need money.’ Rea thought as her eyes narrowed slightly.

One of the guards nodded slowly, his unsettling smile still plastered in place.

"There’s an inn at the city center. Go there. If you have coin, pay. If not—you can work for the Church and earn it."

That was all.

The guards turned away, stepping back to their posts like wind-up dolls returning to idle stance. They left Rea standing there, alone, with her thoughts chewing into her bones.

She started walking toward the Church. Not because she lacked funds—but because what she had wouldn’t be nearly enough. Even the lowest quality evolution stones were expensive, and her family... wasn’t exactly well-funded.

Her steps were calm, but her fists were clenched.

She hated it.

She hated the fact that while the other heirs would likely enter Fokay  with artifact support, guards, funding, and pre-made evolution plans—she had to work for scraps. Had to hustle for every step.

After all,

They had money.

They had comfort.

They had time.

She had pressure.

And that was why, for her, it was simple.

"Become stronger. Then amass money."

Yes.

Rea was a firm believer that almost anything—loyalty, security, protection, survival—could be solved with enough wealth and power.

Was she wrong?

Who knows.

...

While Kaden and Rea faced Fokay in their own way, Meris was stepping in too.

But unlike them, she didn’t spawn into danger. Not a cursed zone. Not a territory ruled by zealots or monsters.

She spawned in comfort.

In the capital of the Celestial Empire—a place her family had long since claimed a strong foothold in.

That was why right now, Meris Elamin was calmly sipping tea, legs crossed elegantly over each other, her purple hair flowing like silk behind her.

"My lady, what do you wish to do now?" Lari, her ever-loyal maid, asked with polite caution.

Meris didn’t answer immediately. She took another sip of tea, savoring the floral notes, before finally opening her mouth—

"I’m not in a rush," she said with a lazy shrug, eyes half-lidded. "I’ve trained nonstop for five years. A little rest won’t kill anyone, right?"

It sounded so calm. So reasonable.

But Lari was sweating already.

"My lady..." she began, voice tight. "The Matriarch sent word. She said if you spend even a day lounging, she’ll destroy your tea sets, your clothing, your jewelry... and your entire doll collection."

Meris’s calm expression twitched.

Her fingers froze around the teacup.

She could handle the tea.

She could stomach the loss of jewelry.

She could even forgive the clothes.

But the dolls?

Hell fucking no!

"...What?" she said sharply.

She stood, grabbing Lari’s shoulders. "Tell me that’s a joke, Lari."

Lari didn’t even flinch. She was used to this by now.

"I’m afraid not, my lady. You know the Matriarch. She never jokes."

Meris’s expression darkened.

"That damn old hag..."

She muttered under her breath and turned abruptly walking away.

"Where are we going now, my lady?" Lari asked, following her without missing a step.

Meris smiled—bright, cheerful, and completely fake.

"What a strange question, Lari. I have a date to prepare for, don’t I?"

She twirled a bit of her hair between her fingers.

"I need my nails done. My hair redone. And obviously, new clothes."

Lari almost tripped.

She looked up in disbelief. "You’re serious...?"

Meris didn’t even bother to respond, she was ttill walking, still radiant, still...carefree.

Lari sighed under her breath.

"Crazy bitch."

...

"Ah, fucking hell..." Kaden groaned, back pressed against the wall of a narrow cave—one he had painstakingly found after hours of creeping around like a hunted rat.

He had almost given up hope of finding a place like this.

Now, he needed to think.

A plan.

A proper one.

Because the quest wasn’t to defeat someone, or take something, or survive X hours—it was escape without being caught.

That was the key.

But that was also the problem.

"...Where the hell even is the exit?" Kaden asked aloud.

He didn’t know.

And that meant he’d have to find it.

But after hours of searching the endless golden forest, he had found nothing. No hint. No exit. No sign of direction. Just searing heat and endless trees. Even focusing was hard with the oppressive warmth.

Which made one thing clear.

Searching for the exit on foot, passively, carefully... was not an option.

It would take too long.

So—

"I’ll just have to ask someone."

He let the words hang in the hot air. There was no humor in his voice.

The quest said not to be caught.

It didn’t say anything about not interacting.

So technically—technically—if he made someone talk, without getting caught...

That was fair game.

"Easy, right?" he said dryly.

Then he laughed softly to himself. Crooked, tired.

He was Awakened rank.

The guards and warriors here? All stronger. At least one tier higher.

That meant—

"I’m fucked, aren’t I?"

But he didn’t wallow in it.

He’d learned long ago that complaining doesn’t save you. Crying doesn’t change fate. Wasting time never gave anyone strength.

Only action mattered.

And in his current situation?

There weren’t a million choices.

Just one.

A simple one on paper. Horrifying in practice.

"I just need to find someone... and politely ask for the exit."

And by "politely," of course—

He meant torture.

Ruthless, bloody, efficient.

This wasn’t the time to play hero. This wasn’t the time to be soft. If he wanted to live, if he wanted to complete this quest and evolve and survive—

Then it was time to live up to the name.

Child of Blood.

And blood would spill.

Whether his...

Or theirs.

Hopefully not his.

"Fucking hell," Kaden muttered again—then stood, Reditha materializing in his hand.

Time to hunt.

Time to kill.

Time to survive.

Chapter 37: Eyes Wide Open

With the ring suppressing his presence and his perception stretched as far as it could go, Kaden was as close to invisible as an Awakened could get.

But close wasn’t enough.

He needed more. So much more.

That’s why if he could sharpen that edge even further—he would.

And he will.

’What’s my perception stat, Death?’ he asked silently.

[150.]

’How many stat points do I have left?’

[15.]

Kaden didn’t hesitate. ’Put all of it into perception. Do it.’

[DING! Confirmed.]

And then—he felt it.

The moment the points were allocated, his world shifted.

His awareness cracked open wider than before, sharper than ever. He could feel the rustling wind brushing against his skin and it was distinctly different from how it rustled against his clothes. Two completely different textures. Two different sounds.

Something in normal situation, he wouldn’t even notice.

And this improvement changed everything.

Long-range detection was still blurry, subtle movement at a distance was hard to detect easily but it was a start. A foundation. And it wouldn’t be long until he could read every flicker of air across miles.

He smiled faintly, the gathered himself.

It was time to act.

The plan was basic.

Find a lone guard. Kidnap him. Get answers—specifically, how to get the hell out of this forest before someone strong enough to make a mountain kneel decided to show up.

The plan had some loopholes. Big ones at that.

He didn’t know the guard’s patrol timing. He didn’t know if they had ways to communicate with each other. Didn’t know if they had instant-alert systems. Didn’t know if hurting one would alert the whole fucking Celestial Empire.

A dozen unknowns. And so a dozen chances to screw everything up.

And that means his death...literally.

Which is why Kaden made one thing clear to himself first:

"I need information."

You don’t run blind when death’s on the line.

You learn the terrain.

So he started watching.

Using his Slothful Steps technique, he became elusive, slipperier than a shadow on mist, blending through thick flora and fading under the shade of golden-hued trees. His presence was a whisper beneath the breeze. His perception scanned for movement with pinpoint focus.

The process was brutal. He had to keep every muscle relaxed and lazy as ever, every breath quiet, every sense wide open.

Hours passed.

Then more.

Nearly a day later—Kaden finally found someone.

A single guard, patrolling the edge of a deeper section of the forest. He was fully armored in gold and white but more importantly... he was alone.

And that’s when a thought struck Kaden...