Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Chapter 428: Chapter 428: Slithering runes

Chapter 428 – Slithering runes

The Curse of Voice of Kaden acted simultaneously with the Blossoming Fear of Silence of Rea.

The effect was devastating, but nothing could be seen from any visual effect except the widening, plucked-out eyes of the Alchemist.

His brain was viciously reorganized by Rea’s impactful attack, causing all of his neurons — most of them able to coordinate many tasks at once — to be able to do only one single task...

...produce fear because of silence.

And that was when the attack of Kaden became like a nail in the coffin. With his Curse, the Alchemist was no longer able to speak. In other words, no longer able to hear the sound of his own voice.

There was silence even when his mouth moved to speak. Only silence.

And that silence caused the Alchemist to fall to the ground, his body balling into itself as he visibly tried to shout, but nothing came out.

His mind was being overridden by fear, making him unable to move even a single finger. Terror painted his face, and dread hung over him mercilessly.

Kaden and Rea took their distance from the Alchemist, their throats dry like cotton, their faces pale with beads of sweat trickling down.

Kaden’s head felt like a hammer was pounding it on an anvil. Using his newly created Harvester’s Will Ladder, his Domain, and even the Seed of Prometheus at the same time had been more taxing on his mind than he had believed.

Especially against the Alchemist. He had needed to put extra effort into it.

Rea was no better. She was worse, even. She had been enhanced by both Kaden and Einar, and after combining all those powers into a single attack, she was utterly spent.

She felt like falling.

A dull, consistent, and sharp pain covered both of their heads like a scarf.

And that pain made Rea completely miss the next action of the Alchemist, while Kaden barely reacted to it.

His perception screamed at him, causing him to notice that in his moment of weakness, his whole domain was riddled with black-white runes.

They slithered like worms all over.

His heart thundered.

He snapped his head toward where the Alchemist was, only to find a storm of runes rolling upon itself in front of him.

Some runes stopped, then reconstructed into words, but Kaden had no idea what those words meant.

And he regretted that day even more his lack of knowledge of runes.

Suddenly, Kaden lowered his head and saw a rune etched on his chest. A black rune, one he recognized almost immediately.

It was too late.

The attack came fast and powerful, piercing him like a vicious sword thrust. His eyes shot wide as he yelped and growled, feeling a part of his soul cut away.

Agony spread across his body like wildfire. He staggered multiple steps, about to drop to his knees, but managed to stand strong with his high Will.

Beside him, Rea was already down, her body spasming as two runes — one making green-colored thunder course through her veins like blood, the other killing her soul — were left unchecked on her.

’This...’ Kaden’s mind became dazed for a moment, unable to understand how fast the situation had just changed.

Reditha immediately appeared inside his right hand.

He ordered Blanche to go toward Rea, helping halt the Soul-Eating rune, while he attacked the storm of runes that reconstructed into the form of the Alchemist once more.

The man looked at Kaden with scalding anger, his skin shifting like a living construct of runes.

"You underestimate me rather much, little puppet." The Alchemist spoke, even though his lips didn’t move.

Kaden didn’t answer. He ordered the absence of runes inside his domain, but it no longer worked.

Only now did he realize that the Alchemist had also unleashed his own domain. And its effect countered most of Kaden’s own.

Kaden’s eyes became grim as Reditha landed on the Alchemist, who blocked with his bare hand.

The impact was like two boulders crashing into each other. A shockwave erupted, spilling like a wave.

Kaden staggered a couple of steps back from the impact. He shifted his stance, his energy draining too rapidly, knowing he didn’t have much time.

They now faced each other.

"Let me teach you who I am." The Alchemist growled, his hands balling into cold fists.

"You speak too much." Kaden finally retorted.

The Alchemist grinned sharply, and the next action was a blur.

Both Kaden and the Alchemist moved with blasting speed, their eyes rotten with killing intent.

The sword of Kaden met the fists of the Alchemist in a vicious dance. Nothing could be seen but trails of black and crimson light swirling around each other.

The overlapping domains creaked with each impact, sparks bursting through them like stars in a bleeding sky.

Kaden’s mind went into overdrive, ducking, parrying, and counteracting all in the same breath. His bones were aching.

It was harder than he ever could have expected.

The Alchemist’s fists transmuted continuously, as if he were in a constant process of alchemy.

But Kaden was no pushover.

He suddenly stomped his foot on the Alchemist’s left one, causing the man to abruptly halt his attack. Swiftly, Kaden dived into him, slipping between his arms, appearing an inch from him.

He crashed his forehead into the Alchemist’s, feeling both of their skulls crack in the process. Blood sprayed.

Already expecting the pain, and his blood healing him, Kaden followed by letting go of Reditha. She disappeared and reappeared just above the Alchemist’s head, then went down.

The head of the Alchemist transmuted into steel instead of flesh instantly.

Kaden meanwhile controlled the blood that burst out of the Alchemist’s forehead, creating needles adorned with corrosive and flammable aspects.

Next, he put his hand on the Forbidden’s chest, trying to shape the blood inside him into blood spikes.

All happened so fast it was maddening, but the Alchemist managed to recognize the most lethal attack and acted accordingly.

With one exhale, his fists became wisp-like, like ghost hands, dripping and illusory, then dived deep into Kaden’s chest.

That was when Kaden’s attack erupted, causing blood spikes to burst from the body of the Forbidden, making him spasm violently. His heart, organs, and intestines were all shredded.

Kaden was not left unharmed. The hands of the Forbidden had literally grasped his soul, weakened by the runes, and tore it open.

The sounds that escaped Kaden’s mouth were primal, filled with unfathomable pain.

The two fell to their knees. One had his heart and everything inside him destroyed, leaving him at the edge of death’s door.

The other had his soul slashed away.

Instantly, the domains around them broke into molten light, making them reappear back inside Rudolph’s house.

Only then did Rea manage to open her eyes, her soul protected by Blanche and the runes destroyed by the current state of the Alchemist.

She raised her head weakly, gingerly, then turned it toward the sound of blood splashing on the ground and a low whimper.

What she saw made her heart drop.

She refused instantly to believe it, but the angry, sorrow-filled screech of Blanche, followed by her running toward the kneeling Kaden, confirmed her fear.

There was no light in Kaden’s eyes.

His soul was cut away. And with that...

"N-No... No..."

[You are dead.]

...Kaden died, and the Alchemist barked a laugh before following seconds later.

—End of Chapter 428—