Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Path ahead

Chapter 409 – Path ahead

Kaden and Rea lay there on the ground, exhausted in different manners.

Rea slipped into the dream realm after knowing that Kaden was okay, with the avatar of Einar sleeping on her chest.

For Kaden, sleep refused to come in any way or shape possible. He just lay on the ground, looking at the ceiling of this weird room, afraid of even looking at the painting once more.

To think a simple trail of blood would contain a whole memory. Was that a level of blood control he could eventually step into?

Prometheus couldn’t help but wonder.

However, that was the least important thing among all the matters he needed to wonder about.

’A dead god.’ Kaden mused inwardly, breathing consciously and loudly in order to keep himself calm. ’So the Warborn is a fragmented bloodline of a dead god. And now, I need to gather all of them to make it whole.’

Every time he thought about that, he couldn’t help but frown his eyebrows.

Nocthar, that damn bastard, had made it sound like he had no other choice but to do what he had said.

And that irritated Kaden beyond bounds.

’Was it true?’ Kaden asked, transferring his memories of the last event to Blanche. ’Do you need a pathway to step into the Elderling rank?’

’Yes, sweetie.’ Blanche answered, inwardly not surprised by the revelation. She had always thought that the bloodline of Warborn was too unique to not come from a god.

But if it was this powerful while being fragmented, what would it be if they gathered all the others together?

Added to that, the aspects they governed were ones few dared to claim: Death, War, and Blood.

At these thoughts, the Phoenix began to remember things long past. But her mind was blurry, and everything she could remember was her getting sealed, then found by Shamsi.

Her memories were missing. Too many of them. Blanche swallowed her frustration and continued her words,

’Anyone who wants to step into the Elderling rank would need a Divinity Pathway. It’s a rule. There are no other choices.’

Kaden subtly nodded. Just like how they needed a domain for the Grandmaster rank.

That made him remember that he had the divinity of the Sorrow Pathway and the Sun Way of the Celestial Pathway.

’But what if I can create my own Pathway?’ he asked, eyes murderously determined. ’Why should I depend on others to go higher?’

’Because the gods want you to depend on them.’ Blanche said. ’Following their pathway gives them more strength. That is what, from what I could recall. No gods would accept the emergence of a new Pathway.’

’What could they even do?’

’Many have dared, sweetie.’ Blanche said. ’And all of them either became dead or spent their lives running, afraid of the day and the night and everything between heaven and earth. It’s not a life worth living.’

Kaden sighed through clenched jaws.

’Basically,’ he breathed, ’you are asking me to follow a pathway? To gather all the bloodline fragments of that dead god and surely revive that god?’

Nocthar thought he was a dumb child. Kaden knew well that bastard wanted nothing but to revive his lord.

As for how him completing the bloodline would make it possible, he had no bloody idea.

’Yes.’ Blanche said seriously. ’I don’t want you to be hurt and spend your life running. You are talented, sweetie. No, you are more than that. Any gods would doubtlessly welcome you in their arms.’

’Would the gods really hunt me?’

’They will.’ Blanche’s voice was filled with absoluteness.

’Would they kill me?’

’They will.’

Kaden paused. Then slowly, his voice echoed once more,

’Last question. Do they have the power to stop Death itself?’

Blanche halted. Kaden felt the imaginary tilt of her head in confusion at his words.

Still, she stretched her beak open and spoke,

’Even gods can die, sweetie. So no, no one can hold death. Even the god with death as an authority died. That alone should tell you something.’

At this, Kaden let out a cold, murderous smile that sent a chill through the White Phoenix.

’Then it’s settled.’ He said, closing his eyes peacefully.

’What? I don’t—!’

’I thought you would know us better by now, chicken.’ Reditha finally spoke, her voice dancing with laughter.

’I do know you.’ Blanche said adamantly. ’But I still do not understand why sweetie is suddenly so confident.’

’There is one thing you failed to perceive then.’ Reditha said. Kaden followed swiftly,

’I am the bitter name, Blanche.’

’Huh?’

’I am Death.’ He said. ’And if even the gods cannot escape death...’

Kaden and Reditha grinned like mad-touched souls,

’...then everything will be okay.’

It would not.

Kaden knew. Death was not the worst thing that could happen in these goddamned worlds.

Still, he needed to be confident, and he needed to shed away his fears of the future.

At that instant, there was one thing he needed to do. And it was getting to the Shattered Temple of the Whimpering Saintess with Rea.

Already, he could feel the path ahead would be daunting.

Aside from that, Kaden couldn’t help but wonder about the matters of his bloodline.

On one side, he wished to collect them, knowing the power he would receive would be phenomenal.

At the same time, he didn’t wish to revive a dead god he had no knowledge of and plunge his family into danger.

Things seemed to always find a way to get worse.

Cursing under his breath, Blanche bathed his mind in peaceful light before Kaden managed to sleep.

His last thoughts strangely went toward his friend, Asael, wondering how he was doing.

It had been so long. Now, Kaden began to feel somehow shy when he thought about reuniting with him.

How would that go? Was Asael the same one he knew?

Kaden knew he would not be the same. He could not be. But he hoped at least...

’...our friendship is still alive.’

Then the dream world snatched his consciousness, plunging him into deep sleep where the only things he dreamed of were...

Death. War. Blood.

...

"Wake..."

Kaden felt his body shake. He groaned.

"...up!"

He grumbled under his breath, turning his body away to find a better spot to continue his sweet nightmare.

"WAKE UP!" Einar bellowed directly inside his right ear.

"Gasp—!"

Kaden jerked upward with a gasp, eyes snapping open, his head ringing and echoing the Wakeup continuously.

He cursed, "Fuck!"

It took him seconds to gather his mind, understanding dawning upon him. Instantly, he turned his head toward Einar, eyes narrowing in irritation.

Einar smirked and hovered behind Rea, daring him to do anything.

"I have been wishing to wake you up for so long." Rea said. "Are you okay now? What happened to you?"

Kaden peeled his eyes away from Einar and settled them on Rea’s ruby eyes.

"I am as clueless as you." He said, sighing. "I only watched the painting, only to find myself in a completely different place."

"What was in that place?" Rea insisted.

"Blood, death, and war." Kaden said. "Only that."

"But thanks to that," Kaden continued, "I managed to obtain crucial information about this place and how to reach the Frosted Bridge."

Kaden said it with a smile. Rea’s eyes lit up.

"How?" she asked eagerly. Since she woke up, that was the one issue she had been cracking her head over.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Kaden’s smile deepened. However, before he talked about that...

"Thank you." Kaden said suddenly. "Thank you for saving me."

Rea was dazed by the suddenness of Kaden’s words for an instant.

Then she regained herself, before nodding, her fingers playing with her rings.

"It’s fine."

Kaden’s lips curled upward. Next,

"So..."

And so he began.

—End of Chapter 409—