Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Ocean of Blood [14]
Chapter 267 – Ocean of Blood [14]
Now, that was a serious situation. Not that it hadn’t been before, but now Kaden understood more than ever how he needed to act swiftly, efficiently, and without hesitation.
The matter concerning The Forbidden Alchemist and The Devourer of Souls was fascinating, yes, but for now, he needed to end this farce. He would have time to ponder it later.
The Cerveau had clearly planned this for a long time. He still didn’t understand how they had managed to engrave a rune of such scale all over the ground of Waverith, even within his own family domain, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Now that he knew how Brain intended to gather the souls and consciousness of the dead, he could finally think of a way to stop the resurrection of the Cerveau from happening.
But how?
That was the question that echoed in his mind as he sat cross-legged, weightless in the boundless, timeless darkness of Death. The gears of his mind began to turn, his expression thoughtful, one hand resting against his chin. He revisited the information he had just obtained, searching for anything crucial he might have overlooked in his initial shock.
And yes, there was something.
The strange space where Brain stood, the one he had called the Evolutionary Room, was located directly beneath Waverith. Right at its heart.
It made sense actually, it was the only place that would allow him to properly absorb all the souls and consciousness gathered above.
This information was crucial. Because of it, an idea sparked within Kaden’s mind, faint at first, like a flickering flame struggling in the dark, but quickly taking shape.
He closed his eyes and relaxed his senses completely. He went over his plan again, examining every angle, every possible flaw. And there was flaw. And yes, it was a gamble, a dangerous one at that, but he hardly had another choice.
All he could do now was hope that some god or unknown entity took pity on him and blessed him with luck.
At that thought, he paused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Pray, huh?" He chuckled softly. "Praying, hoping... all the favorite languages of the mundane, the weak, and the powerless."
For a man like him, who walked the path of transcendence with his unique Will and the power to give Death itself the middle finger and walk away unscathed, there was no prayer. There was only action, and whatever came of it. After all, what was the worst thing that could happen?
He would only die.
And you stop fearing death once you’ve experienced it enough.
"Now..." Kaden breathed, opening his eyes again. "Let’s end this war."
"Death, revive me."
[Cost: 700.]
Tick.
...
Kaden’s vision refocused inside the same room, The Evolutionary Room. His eyes registered the grotesque scenery once more: the skins scattered across the floor like the cruel joke of a god, the skinless humans and beasts, the blood soaking the once-pristine white walls... and most importantly...
Kaden turned his head and locked eyes with Brain. Slowly, with deliberate confidence, he rose from his kneeling position, never breaking eye contact.
Brain smiled. "How did you come here?"
The same question as before, but this time, Kaden didn’t intend to answer it the same way.
Once he stood fully upright, his back straight and his gaze cold, he began to walk around the room without care, observing everything with newfound clarity.
"You know, Brain," Kaden began, his tone calm yet edged with quiet danger, "I heard quite an interesting story some time ago."
He crouched, running his fingers across a piece of furred skin, feeling its strange texture prickle against his fingertips, yet his words continued unfazed.
"Do you wish to hear it?"
Brain looked at Kaden’s attitude, his head tilting slightly in curiosity. It was a strange sight. No, an unusual one, to say the least.
A Warborn acting as if this place were the backyard of his house, speaking calmly, even trying to tell him a story?
Brain wasn’t the type to laugh, but he found himself suppressing one as he observed Kaden. Still, he was intrigued. He was curious about this youngest Warborn, curious enough to listen.
Having no reason to fear a Master-ranked being, even though he was weakened, Brain decided to humor him. "What type of story could a barbarian like you possibly tell?"
He gave a hollow laugh. "You have no talent for words, nor for poetry, nor even for song." Brain rose, and he too began walking slowly around his own room.
"But I’ll let you make a fool of yourself. So tell me. I’m listening, little Warborn."
Kaden smiled. "We are indeed none of that. We’re nothing more than a bunch of killers. But hear this one. You’ll like it." His smile sharpened. "Doubtless."
He stopped. In front of him stood the same skinless chimpanzee Brain had once admired with disdain. Kaden stared at the beast with keen eyes, his perception already stretched to its limits, scanning every inch of the room, and more importantly... everything above.
After letting the silence linger, Kaden spoke again, his finger tracing the tube that held the creature, his touch slow and deliberate. "Well, let me start then."
"It’s a story about a master, one with great talent, unmatched skill, and a flawless reputation. When he reached old age, he decided to take a disciple and pass down his legacy." He paused, letting his words settle into the stale air.
Brain listened carefully, intrigued despite himself by the story’s calm, deliberate rhythm.
Kaden continued walking, each step soundless, yet every time his foot touched the ground, the flesh beneath it pulsed ever so slightly with a soft invisible crimson hue.
"Being well-known, many youths rushed to him, hoping to change their fate. But in the end, only two remained."
He turned, fixing his gaze on Brain, who watched him intently, eyes glinting with eerie curiosity.
Kaden’s lips curved upward as he went on. "Both succeeded, but not at the same level. One passed because of his power and intellect, he was a truly talented bastard. His clothes were luxurious, his skin without blemish, his golden eyes looking at the world as if he’d been born its ruler." He chuckled softly. "The other was less gifted. His hands were calloused, his clothes plain though clean enough, and his eyes darted around, showing his timid, fearful nature."
He paused again. The silence stretched between them like a blade.
Now he stood before another tube, this one containing a young girl, skinless, naked, trembling endlessly in the blue liquid. Kaden laid a finger softly against the glass. The girl froze instantly, her spasms ceasing, while his voice continued to echo through the room.
"The master couldn’t decide, so he let them duel. The winner would become his disciple. Tell me, Brain... who do you think won?"
Brain didn’t answer right away. He liked stories. He had always loved learning from them. Without even realizing it, he closed his eyes for a brief moment to consider his answer, then opened them again and found Kaden standing in the center of the room, hands clasped behind his back.
Brain smiled. "The talented one," he said.
Kaden’s smile widened. "That’s what everyone would say, isn’t it?"
He shook his head slowly.
"But he actually lost. And the reason was simple." He raised a finger. "The talented one had already shown everything he could do — every trick, every movement, every secret — leaving nothing unknown. But the less talented one... he was more subtle. He hid his fangs behind fear, his vicious nature behind timidness. So when the time came, he caught the talented one off guard... and killed him."
His crimson gaze darkened, sharpening like drawn steel.
"Do you know why I’m telling you this story, Brain?"
He didn’t wait for an answer. He didn’t need to. His preparation was already complete.
He smiled widely at Brain.
"Because I know who you are, Brain. I also know what your goal is, what you wish to achieve with all this." He said, gesturing with his hands the Evolution Room.
Brain frowned.
"But you don’t know who I am. You don’t know what I can do. And that’s why... you will lose."
A flicker of unease crossed Brain’s face. Something felt wrong. But it was already too late.
He had been too absorbed in the story to notice the crimson-stained katana embedded in the ceiling — buried deep within the massive brain that loomed above, its blade glistening as it sipped at the pulsing red liquid dripping down like veins weeping.
Kaden spread his arms wide, like the wings of a raven stretching before a storm, his smile vicious.
"Let me show you who I am."
Immediately, with his Will — the one that had devoured [The Breaker] — Kaden bypassed all restrictions and barriers that surrounded the entire room.
Brain moved instantly, eyes glacial as he appeared before Kaden, faster than sight.
But Kaden’s body didn’t move. His Will surged, acting as his master’s Will, and for a single heartbeat, one impossible instant, Brain was unable to touch him.
That was all he needed.
"Boom!" he mouthed.
A heavy silence settled in the room for a single breath and then an earth-shattering roar ripped through the air as, above, Reditha detonated, obliterating the ceiling in a thunderous explosion.
A torrent of rubble cascaded down like judgment.
But not only that...
Brain’s eyes widened, realizing too late what was coming.
Kaden only grinned, arms still spread wide, welcoming the deluge...as the bloody rain poured down upon them, painting the sky crimson.
—End of Chapter 267—