Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Clingy Aunt

Chapter 390 – Clingy Aunt

The festival of Sul Lotus Blood officially ended, three days having already passed.

The previous joyous atmosphere dissipated like smoke whipped away by a frantic wind. The folks of Waverith were now awake from the dream the festival had been, realizing that reality hadn’t disappeared and that routine was waiting for them.

It was always hard to start again after a break.

Still, no choice was given. So they pushed themselves up, cursing a few times, some complaining about a lack of money, others about aching backs, and others still wishing life was a never-ending festival.

Unfortunately, wishes didn’t make the gods move. And if they did, one would come to regret having obtained their attention.

Added to these news was the departure of Inara. She went back, leaving behind a small letter for Kaden made of her own flesh, as a reminder of their promise.

Kaden found it quite a sight. Touching the letter felt like touching Inara herself, and he shook his head wryly, realizing the deeper intention behind such an act.

He accepted it gladly.

Kaden had also thought of something for Inara. He remembered that the Snake Princess had complained about urgently needing a staff.

He had chuckled at the time, asking why she would need such a thing. Her answer made him bark an even more outrageous laugh, though he gave it to her nonetheless.

"Why else? I need to correct these damn monsters. They are so fucking unruly!" she spat with irritation, explaining to him how difficult it was to raise children.

Inara didn’t stop there. Taking the opportunity, she gave Kaden a snarky smile, approaching him openly under the eyes of passing pedestrians and whispering into his ear words Kaden would never forget,

"You see, Hero, I am already well experienced in raising children," she had murmured, sounding like a succubus seeking to swallow his whole essence. "So you can be sure I will raise our children perfectly. Don’t you want to try? You won’t regret it."

Kaden had coughed so hard that his breathing came out shallow and ragged, staring at Inara in absolute shock, his face flushed red.

She cackled like a madwoman, using an artifact to immortalize Kaden’s expression at that exact instant.

Kaden saw it, blinked in confusion, and immediately tried to snatch it back. He failed.

The Mother of Monsters ran — no, she slithered like a hissing snake — then tucked the artifact between the swell of her breasts.

And with Kaden staring at her, eyes wide, her flesh ruptured outward grotesquely, swallowing the artifact inside her body.

That day, Kaden truly learned how much of a monster Inara was.

Thinking back to that night, Prometheus— now walking through the red corridors of his house — couldn’t help but purse his lips in silent disbelief.

’Inara is truly something,’ he thought, sparing the soldiers and servants a curt smile and nod whenever they bowed.

His black boots clacked softly against the crimson-shrouded floor, almost like a gentle whisper.

’She is different from Meris and Vaela. More unhinged. More crude.’

Being with Inara was different compared to being with Meris or Vaela.

Meris was a romantic at heart. Her every act was sweet and gentle, always intending to please him above all else.

Vaela was somewhat similar, but she was shy despite being far older than him. Taking her role as a sugar mommy seriously, she never missed an opportunity to pamper him.

Inara... Inara was different. She was the type to cuss at him, punch him if he said something she didn’t like, or openly banter and mock him without restraint.

Maybe that was why he had only ever looked at her as a friend.

Still, each of them was unique in their own way, and Kaden found himself growing fond of them all.

He blinked rapidly, sensing the difference in texture beneath his boots, which pulled him back into the present.

Inara had gone back to Fokay, ready to face her own ordeals. Kaden hadn’t wished her good luck; for some reason, he felt he shouldn’t say such a thing.

Instead, he wished her courage in her endeavors. Inara seemed to like those words, nodding with a grin before blowing him a kiss.

Now, it was his turn to go. Two years had passed, more than enough time for respite.

Meris had been informed of his decision and was ready to leave today as well, though they would emerge in entirely different locations.

Prometheus suddenly halted, his boots scraping against cold, hard stone.

Before him was... nothing. Or rather, a whirling black void, oval in shape, deep and terrifying, sucking everything around it like a dozen hungry beasts.

He had walked in a haze all this time. Now Kaden stood in a deserted corner of the Red House. Nothing remained there except the black mass of the void, tendrils of shadow creeping from its edges like grasping tentacles.

As Kaden’s crimson eyes stared deep into it, he began to discern the outline of an ebony spear, pulsing and shivering ceaselessly.

He knew what it was.

It was the Origin of his mother, Nixie.

"Oho! Isn’t this my favorite nephew! Have you come to meet your favorite aunt?" Nixie’s voice echoed, causing the void to pulse even more violently.

Kaden rolled his eyes. "Move aside. I need to say my goodbye to Mother."

"You know the deal!" she barked with ferocious laughter. "And you also know I won’t settle for anything less than that!"

Kaden’s lips twitched. "Why?" he said irritably. "Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me?"

"Do I?" Nixie echoed, sounding as if she were tilting her head. "I certainly don’t! That silent girl Daela is boring. That muscle-headed Dain is just like his father, I might be the one getting bullied if I poke him too much."

"So you admit you’re bullying me?"

"Don’t focus on useless details. The point is, my dear nephew, you are the only one left. So come!"

The void fragmented, its pieces swirling mesmerizingly before gathering together again, forming the shape of a black-skinned woman clad in an ebony dress woven from condensed nothingness.

Nixie smiled at Kaden, spreading her arms wide like an inviting mother, her full black eyes locked onto his crimson ones.

"Come give Auntie a hug and a kiss!" she squealed excitedly.

Kaden sighed, exhausted.

He regretted every morning the day he had pestered his mother into showing him her Origin weapon.

With her understanding and power, Nixie was capable of manifesting in the physical world alongside her weapon form.

Just like Reditha.

And this void weapon, for some unfathomable reason, always wanted to hug him.

Sighing, knowing resistance was futile, Kaden stepped forward and hugged Nixie.

The latter closed her eyes in euphoria, embracing Prometheus even tighter.

"I will miss you, nephew," she moaned. "I will miss smelling such a pure scent of void on you."

"Yes, yes," Kaden said, cutting the hug short before stepping deeper into the Void Gate. "I have heard this from you too many times. Now move."

Nixie grabbed his neck with hands tipped with sharp nails. Kaden halted and cursed inwardly.

"You forgot the kiss," she said, twisting his body so he faced her.

Next, she lowered her head, pointing at her right cheek with a finger while smiling widely.

"I want a smoochy kiss today, nephew."

The urge to land an uppercut on that cheek flashed through Kaden’s mind, but he suppressed it.

Slowly, far too reluctantly, he kissed her on the cheek. The Spear finally allowed him to pass, all while declaring how he was her favorite among all the Warborn offspring.

Kaden only clicked his tongue before passing through the gate.

It felt like slipping through a thin film of reality as he entered a space where only void existed.

There, he saw his mother, standing in her battle dress, looking at him with a smile on her stunning face.

"Don’t mind her," Serena said with a chuckle. "She truly loves you."

"I know," Kaden answered as he walked toward her. "She’s just pushy and clingy. Just like a certain girl I know."

"And you don’t like those types of girls, my baby?"

"I don’t."

"Then why are you smiling?" Serena laughed.

Kaden paused, raising a hand to touch the corner of his lips, only now realizing that he was indeed smiling.

His face flushed red instantly.

Seeing such a scene, Serena appeared in front of him in a heartbeat, pulling his head against her chest in a warm embrace.

It was so sudden that the breath was knocked out of his lungs for a second.

"My baby is so cute!" she squealed. "I will miss you so much!"

Kaden tried to nod, but it was impossible with how tightly his mother was hugging him. Even speaking proved futile.

Instead, he projected his intent and spoke through it.

"I will miss you too, Mother," he said. "I don’t know when I will come back..."

His voice lowered, turning into a whisper of worry as he finished,

"...will everything be fine for you?" he asked.

Serena smiled gently. "Are you worrying about us?"

"Yes."

She giggled. "Don’t be, my baby. Your mother is not weak, and neither is your father. You can be assured that the Stronghold will stand firm no matter what."

"I only ask you one thing, Kaden," Serena continued, finally pulling back so they could face each other.

Black void eyes met crimson, star-lit ones.

"Yes?" Kaden said, waiting.

"Come back," she smiled beautifully, her love unmistakable. "No matter what, do everything you can to come back home."

She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his, closing her eyes tenderly.

"Can you promise me that?" she murmured.

Kaden exhaled softly, then smiled.

"Yes." He closed his eyes as well. "I can, Mother."

He paused, then added with greater weight and determination,

"I will come back, Mother."

—End of Chapter 390—