Chapter 17 – Let's Die!
Kaden stared up at the figure hovering high in the sky.
His entire body trembled—uncontrollably. His knees threatened to give out. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest.
He didn't understand why. Just looking at the man made his blood run cold.
'What... is this feeling?'
He instinctively took a step back.
The figure in the sky smiled.
"Why are you trembling, little brat?"
The voice was a whisper—yet it echoed in Kaden's skull like thunder, loud and suffocating. It felt like someone was hammering nails into his brain.
Kaden dropped to one knee, barely able to stay upright.
"You think it's fair to ambush my children like that?" the being asked, his voice almost amused.
Kaden clenched his jaw. "This is a fight. Fairness doesn't matter."
The being nodded slowly. "That much is true."
"But you got one thing wrong. There may be no fairness in battle... but there is justice in defending your home."
Kaden said nothing, tightening his grip on Reditha.
"And as far as I see... you are the intruder here."
A grin split the man's face—jagged white teeth against endless black.
"But I'm feeling merciful today."
His grin widened.
"It's been a long time since I've had company. Entertain me."
"Pass my test, and you'll leave this dungeon alive—with a reward beyond your imagination."
Kaden's mind reeled. The pressure of the being's presence was overwhelming. Every word slammed into his head like a falling mountain.
But even so—he refused to be treated like some toy.
"...What kind of test?" he asked, voice hoarse.
"Now that's the right question."
The being gestured lazily. "You came here uninvited. My children hate intruders—and you've already killed four of them."
He chuckled darkly. "They want your blood. All of them."
"So, here's your test: survive their assault. No, not just survive—kill them all. And pass... or perish."
"I always keep my word," he added smoothly.
Kaden frowned. "...Aren't they your children?"
"Just a term of endearment," the being said, waving it off. "Don't sweat the details."
"And what if I refuse?"
The moment the words left his lips, the dungeon fell silent.
No more wind. No more echoes.
Kaden looked up—and instantly regretted it.
SHUDDER—!
His body convulsed violently, as if every muscle rebelled at once. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping. Sweat poured from his skin like rain.
It felt like madness incarnate was staring directly into his soul.
"If you refuse..." the being whispered, voice devoid of playfulness, eyes glowing like twin abysses, "I will take your soul and chain it here for eternity."
"Or—" his smile returned, colder this time, "—I'll simply make you one of them."
He tilted his head, almost cheerfully. "How about it? Interested?"
Kaden's heart froze.
Becoming one of them—mindless, soulless things—felt far worse than death. And the worst part?
The being never said he'd kill him.
Which meant...
He might not revive.
Because he wouldn't be dead.
His hands trembled.
For the first time since his reincarnation...truly, deeply—Kaden felt helpless.
But he clenched his fists.
"...I accept."
The moment he spoke, the pressure vanished like a passing storm. The being smiled.
"Perfect."
CLAP!
With a sharp clap of his hands, dozens of massive doors began to open all around the arena.
"Like I said... my children want your blood."
Kaden stepped back, Reditha trembling in his grip.
"And my children... are not one or two."
His grin stretched into something monstrous.
"They are thousands."
From every door, monsters began pouring in. Goblins. Trolls. Wolves. Ogres. Minotaurs. Things he didn't recognize—all black-eyed, all hungry. Their blank eyes glowing like coals. All fixated on him with predatory hunger.
"What... what is this...?" Kaden whispered.
DING!
[You have received a new quest.]
[Quest: Sudden Test.]
[Difficulty: Hell]
[Description: A being of unknown origin wishes to test your worth. Show him what the Child of Blood can do.]
[Reward: 500 Death Coins, 50 Stat Points]
[Penalty: Loss of ALL current stat points]
[Time Limit: 2 hours]
But Kaden didn't have time to read.
Because death itself was charging toward him.
"Let the test begin!" the being roared.
...
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
A storm of crimson spears rained down from the sky, piercing dozens of beasts at once. Their corpses hit the ground with wet thuds, their blood instantly drawn into Kaden's body.
He stood in the center of the battlefield—blood-soaked, surrounded, his blade Reditha pulsing violently in his hands.
Hours passed—or maybe just minutes. Time became a blur of violence.
Kaden had killed over a hundred. But it changed nothing. The wave was endless.
His body was shredded. Blood dripped from dozens of wounds—his own and others. Without Reditha's healing, he would've died long ago.
But now—now he was at his limit.
SLASH—!
SLASH. STAB. SLASH. STAB. SLASH.
Over and over. Unceasing. Mindless.
Kaden's body moved, but he was no longer in control. His mind had gone numb. His consciousness flickered.
Then—he fell.
The monsters swarmed him. His body hit the ground.
The black figure above only smiled—unsurprised.
But beneath the dogpile of beasts, Kaden's thoughts stirred.
'Why...?'
Why do I have to suffer like this?
What did I do to deserve this?
Parents dead. Beaten in school. Bullied. Abandoned. And...Forgotten.
Everyone saw what they were doing but no one helped.
Why?
"WHYYYYYYYY—!"
His scream tore from his throat, raw and animal. The monsters paused—for just a second—as if the agony in his voice reached even them.
"You're weak," the being answered coldly.
"I don't care about your reasons for shouting like this. There is only one truth."
A pause.
"You are just weak. That's all there is."
Silence fell again.
'Weak.'
The word rang in Kaden's mind like a curse.
Why am I weak?
He had a a lineage that people fear. A powerful origin. A system that defied death.
So why?
And then... he remembered.
The system's words:
"You haven't let go."
He hadn't.
He told himself he had. Told himself he'd moved on.
But it was a lie.
The past still clung to him. Still haunted him in dreams.
He was afraid.
Afraid of dying a worthless death—like last time. Afraid of failing again. Of being nothing.
But now?
Now he saw it.
'Why am I here hesitating?'
'If I want strength—I can take it.'
And to take it... he had to die.
And to live with meaning, he had to stop fearing death.
CLICK!
Something shifted in his soul. Like a lock opening.
He remembered the system's first words.
"Death will be your closest companion."
And he remembered what he told his sister—
"Death is my friend."
Kaden laughed.
Not his usual soft laugh.
A wild, unrestrained, insane laugh—like his father's.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"FINE!"
He grinned, blood running down his face.
Because now... he understood.
Death is not my enemy. Death is not a source of fear.
Death...is my companion.
So—
"LET'S DIE!"
No more running.
As if responding to his resolve—
CRUNCH!
A massive troll stomped on his head, reducing it to pulp.
DING!
[You are dead.]
—End of Chapter 17—