Chapter 9 – Three months
Three months later—
Time passed in the blur of effort and discipline.
For three entire months, Kaden hadn't missed a single day of training. Not one.
Every morning started the same way—body training, sword in hand, breath steady, Reditha by his side.
Over time, their bond had grown—deepened. She no longer felt like just a weapon. She was there, with him, in every swing, every drop of sweat.
Now—
Kaden stood alone on the private training ground he had requested from his parents. No distractions. No observers. Just silence and steel.
His posture was sharp. Both hands gripped Reditha tightly. His breath flowed in rhythm with his movements.
SLASH—!
"997."
SLASH—!
"998."
His eyes were focused. His form, flawless.
His back glistened with sweat.
SLASH—!
"999."
He paused—only for a second—then took a deep breath.
His muscles tightened. His grip solidified. Reditha flared with red light.
FSHHHHOOHH—!
A brilliant arc of crimson light sliced through the air, eerily beautiful and sharp enough to cut through a hard rock.
"1000."
DING!
[Quest Completed.]
[Rewards: 100 Death Coins. 15 Stat Points.]
Kaden let the moment settle, then exhaled softly.
"Well done, Reditha," he whispered.
The sword hummed with faint energy—responding with quiet joy at his praise.
Kaden smiled as his thoughts drifted.
Three months. He had done nothing but train—body and blade. Though all he had practiced with the sword was one slash, it had been enough.
Repetition. Perfection. Discipline.
He could now do that one slash, one strike as easily as breathing.
"I've come far," he murmured. "Show me my profile, Death."
⸻
<<<<< PROFILE >>>>>
Name: Kaden Warborn
Age: 10
Rank: Awakened
Origin: Bloodsoaked Sword King (Legendary)
Title: Child of Blood
STR: 8 → 25
AGL: 8 → 20
CONS: 8 → 30
MANA: 5 → 20
INT: 10 → 16
WILL: 8
Stat Points Available: 30
Fragments: None
Quests in Progress: None
Death Coins: 350
⸻
Skill – Awakened: Blood Reservoir
Every successful kill stores blood in an internal reservoir. This blood can be used as fuel—for forming weapons, enhancing abilities, or rapid recovery.
⸻
Kaden looked over the stats with pride.
He had balanced his growth across the board, but he'd prioritized constitution the most—and it showed.
His body now rivaled his siblings'. For the first time, he didn't feel like the weak one.
"You really need at least 30 points in constitution to even stand beside them," he muttered.
It all made sense now.
He hadn't just been underestimated before—he had earned that judgment. He was truly weak physically.
He frowned slightly at one number, though.
Will: 8
It hadn't changed.
"Death... When will I be able to raise it?"
[You've asked this before, Host. The answer remains the same.]
He sighed.
"When I let go, huh?"
Before he could spiral further into that thought—
Knock knock.
His maid, Sabine, stepped inside. Elegant as always, she moved like flowing silk and bowed gracefully before him.
"Young Master, forgive the interruption. Your parents are calling for you."
Kaden nodded. "I'll be there shortly."
Sabine bowed again and turned to leave.
As she walked away, she glanced back—thoughtful.
In three months, her Young Master had changed beyond recognition. The softness of youth hadn't disappeared, after all he was still a child—but something inside him had crystallized. Hardened.
He trained with the same fever as his sister, Daela—and in this family, that meant something.
Sabine smiled softly to herself.
I like this version of the Young Master.
...
Elsewhere – In the Warborns' Meeting Room
The decor was a reflection of their family legacy—black and blood-red walls, dark stone floors, and a ceiling bearing the family crest: two crossed black swords over a pool of blood.
It was grim. Elegant. Terrifying.
Sarena and Garros sat together in silence.
Garros glanced at his wife, noting the frown on her face.
"You're still hesitating?" he asked.
Sarena didn't answer at first.
Garros sighed. "You protected him when he was weak. I respected that. But not anymore."
His voice dropped in pitch, commanding.
"He's awakened and his Origin is powerful. Now, he must live up to our name Sarena."
"I'm not saying he shouldn't," Sarena finally said, "just that it's early. Let him train a little longer. He's improving faster than we expected. His body is now stronger and rivals even his siblings's body when they just awakened."
"Even so," Garros said, shaking his head, "we waited three months already. That was a gift—for you. No more extensions."
His tone was final.
Sarena went quiet. She understood. But it didn't make it easier.
Garros studied her.
His wife—the same woman who will tore through a battlefield of beasts like a storm—became soft whenever Kaden was involved.
She hadn't even been this protective with Daela or Dain.
Then—
A voice echoed in Garros's mind.
'You must understand her,' said Aeron, his living sword. 'Kaden's birth was... different. Even his Origin reflects that. Can't you see it?'
'I know,' Garros replied silently. 'But you also know... I can't ignore tradition.'
Aeron went quiet. After all, he knew Garros was right. Tradition was tradition.
Knock knock.
The sound snapped them out of their thoughts.
Kaden stepped in.
Wearing a simple black robe, his expression calm, he walked with measured confidence. Not rushed. Not sluggish. Just controlled.
He stopped a few meters from his parents and bowed his head.
"Hello, Father. Hello, Mother."
Sarena's eyes softened. "Hello, my dear."
Garros offered a brief nod. "Kaden."
The pleasantries ended there.
Garros got straight to the point.
"It's been three months since your awakening," he said. "It's time for your first trial."
Kaden tilted his head slightly. "Trial?"
Garros nodded. "A rite of passage. Every Warborn faces one after awakening and because going to Fokay."
He continued.
"You already know this world is shared between humans and beasts. You also know of Fokay—the other world, where we evolve through Evolution Quests."
"But the instability caused by Fokay has fractured space in places, opening gates all over the world. Gates filled with monsters... and treasure."
"These 'Gates' have been ranked by difficulty."
Kaden listened carefully.
"Your trial is simple," Garros said. "There's a Gate—classified Awakened Rank—just outside the stronghold. In the northern part of the Wilderness."
"You will go there, alone."
BADUM—!
The word "alone" echoed in his chest, heavier than he expected. But Kaden remained firm.
"You will clear it."
"That is your first test as a Warborn."
Kaden's gaze didn't waver.
DING!
[You have received a quest.]
Death chimed in his mind.
Kaden looked at this notification with a calm gaze.
So it begins.
Time to prove himself.
—End of Chapter 9—