Chapter 8 –
Morning.
Kaden stirred awake in his bed, eyes blinking open against the soft morning light that seeped through the curtains. He braced himself—
Expecting pain.
But none came.
"Huh?" he muttered, slowly sitting up. "Why... doesn't anything hurt?"
He frowned.
He should have been sore. After pushing his body past its limits yesterday, he expected to wake up broken.
But instead—
[Your sister gave you a Rejuvenation Potion. Your recovery has been enhanced.]
Kaden exhaled, tension melting from his shoulders.
"...Daela helped me?" he said under his breath. "Was she there?"
[She arrived after you lost consciousness. She carried you to your room.]
"So she was watching the whole time..." Kaden murmured.
Typical of her. She wouldn't say a word, wouldn't offer encouragement... but she always made sure he was okay.
She cared. Quietly. Constantly.
Just like her...
His thoughts drifted—to a small kitchen, warm bread, laughter. His sister's messy braids. His mother's singing. His father's strict but caring attitude. His real family.
The warmth of those memories crept into his heart, uninvited. A soft, nostalgic smile formed without him noticing.
A full minute passed before he snapped out of it.
"...Again," he sighed, rubbing his eyes.
These memory slips were becoming a habit.
"System," he said, changing focus, "I've received my rewards, right?"
[Yes. 50 Death Coins. 5 Stat Points earned.]
"I want to allocate my points."
He considered. If "Will" were an available stat, he'd invest in it without hesitation. But for now, he needed to strengthen his body.
His siblings were miles ahead of him physically.
"I'll put 3 points into Constitution and 2 into Strength."
[Done.]
Kaden immediately felt a shift ripple through his body.
A crackling sensation echoed from his joints as his muscles tightened, reinforced by the added power. His grip clenched instinctively.
Stronger.
Not by much, but it was noticeable.
A smile crept across his face.
"Show me my attributes."
⸻
[KADEN WARBORN – STATS]
• STR: 6 → 8
• AGL: 8
• CONS: 5 → 8
• MANA: 5
• INT: 10
• WILL: 8
⸻
"Still not enough," he muttered. "I'll need more points."
This—this was the taste of progress.
And just as people said—once you taste it, you crave more.
Kaden nodded to himself, feeling less overwhelmed than yesterday.
This isn't so bad after all.
Then a thought struck him.
"I still haven't checked my Origin yet."
He remembered what he'd studied about the Warborn bloodline. No matter the generation, no matter the child—all direct heirs awakened a Weapon-type Origin.
Weapon-type Origins were quite common in this world.
But the Warborns? Theirs were anything but.
Their weapons weren't mere tools.
They were alive.
Sentient, powerful, and entirely unique to their wielder.
His father Garros, for example, wielded Aeron—a greatsword so heavy it bent space around it, so dense no one else could even lift it.
That was the legacy Kaden was now part of.
He took a deep breath and stood up.
Then extended his right hand, palm down.
Eyes closed, he reached inward.
Felt for the spark.
The connection.
It was faint—like a whisper in the dark—but it was there.
A presence.
Calling to him.
Kaden's brow furrowed. "How do I summon you?" he asked, unsure if it was even possible.
The connection pulsed.
And this time... he heard something.
A name.
A whisper, clear and commanding.
Kaden took a deep breath and—
"Come to me—Reditha."
SWHOOSH—!!
Crimson mist exploded from his palm.
It twisted, spiraled, bloodlike and alive. A hilt formed, then the blade. Metal stretched out from nothingness, shaping itself with elegance and menace.
A few seconds later, it was complete.
A katana.
Its blade shimmered like blood under sunlight, a deep red hue that looked almost wet. The hilt was wrapped in black and red cords, perfectly balanced between beauty and brutality.
Kaden grasped it.
The moment he did—
Something clicked.
As if a missing piece of him had fallen into place.
He felt...
Joy.
Not his own.
Hers.
Reditha was happy to finally be summoned.
Kaden laughed, surprised at the warmth in her emotion.
"Yeah... I'm happy too."
He could almost hear her reproaching him for being slow to catch on.
For a sword called the 'Bloodsoaked King,' you're kind of soft, he joked silently.
She burned with light indignation.
Then—
[DING! New Quest Received.]
"Already?" Kaden blinked.
⸻
[Quest: Training – Part II]
Your Origin is a sword. You must learn how to wield her.
Objectives:
• 500 Slashes
• 500 Pierces
• 500 Parries
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Reward: 50 Death Coins, 5 Stat Points
Penalty: Inability to use your arms for 2 days
⸻
Kaden looked down at Reditha. His grip tightened.
"Ready?"
She responded in kind—not with words, but with emotions.
Determination.
Resolve.
Excitement.
It was all he needed.
He stepped into the courtyard and raised the katana.
Time to feel the pain.
Time to earn the power.
—End of Chapter 8—