Chapter 551 Key Of Chaos


    On the precipice of a hellishndscape, Kira stood resolute, thecrackling air around her alive with the heat of rupturing volcanoes painting the horizon in a palette of fire and smoke. The scene was apocalyptic, thend a mirror to chaos and primal force. And yet, she stood unfazed, her three golden tails frozen in the air while her mind seemed to be elsewhere.


    She couldn''t help but think how alive thends before her were despite in a chaotic waypared to the dead ones that was once her home. Just looking at these raging bursts ofva before her made her feel a sense of yearning she didn''t want to feel.


    Amidst this turbulent view, a pair of glowing blood-red eyes pierced through the swirling smoke behind her, heralding the arrival of anold,yet imposing figure.


    d in a simple white chiton that starkly contrasted with his surroundings, the figure emerged with a palpable presence.


    His skin was a deep, unsettling red, and his thick white hair and mustache were stark against his powerful physique. Muscles rippled under the ancient skin, pulsing with a vitality that seemedbothotherworldly and firmly rooted in the primordial energies of the earth.


    "When I was very young, I thought this world wasmore cruelthan anything I knew and wondered why we had to live in such a doomed world. But after what happened, I feel like maybe this world isn''t that badwhepared to those who live in it. At least our world doesn''t know how to be deceptive. Do you believe the same, Guardian Lupus?" Kira asked, her voice echoing slightly as she slowly turned to face him.


    Lupus, his hands sped behind his back, stepped forward. His eyes took in the chaotic scene before them, andscape as fierce as it was unforgiving, "I believe that we are in a cage of fate," he said, his voice deep and resonant, "What happened to your kingdom has happened so many times ever since our world existed and will continue to happen. It is a never-ending cycle which I wish to not be a ve to."


    Kira chuckled, her smile cold and calcting, "Are you saying I am a ve to it?"


    Lupus narrowed his eyes, the red glow intensifying slightly, "Your intention to destroy the Bloodburn Kingdom is proof of it. Would you say otherwise?"


    Kira let out a dark chuckle, her amusement tinged witha starkdefiance, "Now that you say it like that, then I would rather be a ve to fate. But since you seem to know so much about it and even divine one''s fate, why don''t you tell me if I will seedor not? I have always wanted to ask you but have never had the chance to meet the great Moon Guardian like this until now."


    Lupus gazed solemnly at Kira, his eyes reflecting the tumultuousndscape around them, "Do you really wish to know that, child?No matter what I say, we both know it wouldn''t changewhat you n to do.Besides...I have long lost the power to see glimpses of fate. You should ask my granddaughter if you can convince her."


    Kira, undeterred by the stark revtion, nodded, her cold smile belied by the pain glinting in her emerald eyes, "You are right. It wouldn''t change what I want to do, but I want to know if I can look forward to it," she said, her voice tinged with a dark strength. Raising her hand, she continued with a hint of pain in her voice, "I still remember my father holding my hand and entrusting his kingdom and my people to me while my mother chose to stay with him. But the next day I couldn''t even hold their corpses but only smell the stench of death and blood of my people. Not even ournds were spared."


    Her eyes simmered with resentment as she added, "So I have nned for more than a century for the downfall of the bloodburn snakes who took everything from me. And I know for a fact that you wouldn''t have made acquaintance with me if not for knowing how exactly Iam going tobe useful to you. All Moon Guardians are like that. So I know that you must know something about my fate."


    Lupus slowly nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I do, but we moon guardians can never divine fate as we please. We only see what the moon wants us to see. As for your fate... yes, you will seed in wanting to see what you have been desperately waiting for. But..."


    "But what?" Kira interjected, holding her breath, her gaze intense.


    "...your own fate seems to be so shrouded in blinding darkness that makes me believe that you might not have a future," Lupus revealed gravely.


    Kira''s eyes briefly flickered with the impact of his words, but she quicklyposed herself and smiled, "Is that all? I have always been and still am prepared to sacrifice my future to avenge my people and ensure a safer future for whatever is left of my people. I don''t care what happens to me to achieve that."


    "You should look out for that alien. Based on what I remember, he is the cause behind the darkness surrounding your fate," Lupus stated, his voice carrying a warning tone.


    Kira furrowed her brows deeply, her lips curling, "Asher? It isn''t that surprising. He has the potential to be the strongest being in this world and is the king of the bloodburners. But now that you said it, I feel more d that the 100 years I spent in his kingdom wouldn''t be overkill."


    Her gaze then became piercing and calcting, posing her question witha mix ofcuriosity and suspicion, "But you don''t seem bothered at all that your granddaughter is staying with Asher. How could you be so calm when your sessor might be used against you? I even heard rumors that those two are a bit too close. Considering how naive women seem to have a weak spot for him, you should be more worried about her."


    Lupus, his presence as calm as the eye of a storm, responded without hesitation, "Because she will have to find her way back on her own. There is no point in forcing her."


    Kira''s eyes narrowed, hinting at deeper gears turning within her mind, "Or is she secretly trying to steal that ''key'' from Asher for you? I wouldn''t be surprised if you two have such ns," she spected, adding a more probing thought, "When my kingdom was at its peak, my people were highly knowledgeable schrs who always kept learning, including the history of our world. Their records...I still have some of them, whichallowed me to learnsomething interesting about the key you want."


    Lupus regarded her calmly, unfazed by the implication, "What did you think after learning whatever was in those records?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Kira''s expression shifted to one of intrigue, her voiceced with the gravity of ancient lore, "The Legend of the Void Reaver... I never knew the history behind the most ancient swordin our worldcould be so interesting. It was supposed to be a myth long forgotten by our ancestors, but somehow, itdoes really exist. If the myth behind it is true... should I feel worried if you were to get your hands on that?" she asked, her tone mixed with genuine concern and curiosity.


    Lupus''s stoic facade remained unchanged as he responded, "What do you think? Do you think I would act against the interests of my world?"


    Kira raised an eyebrow, the historical weight of her words carrying centuries of implications, "There is an ancient prophecy that only seniors like you remember but forgotten by everyone else, like the Void Reaver itself. ''Only through the sacrifice of the pure can the Void Reaver''s wrath be tamed. A heart untainted by darkness must bind the de, sealing away its power, lest it consume all that exists.'' I wonder if this prophecy would really turn out to be true, and if it does...which way would it turn out to be? No wonder it''s also known as the Key of Chaos. It''s not like any of us are pure."


    Lupus, his calm demeanor a mask to his deep-running currents of thought, acknowledged her insights, "As expected from a Caleumbra, you are highly knowledgeable abouta lot ofthings. It is thanks to your people that I also learned a lot of things in my younger days. But as for the prophecy, it depends on the one who wields it, and you can guess how it would turn out if I had it," he concluded, his voice as calm as ever.


    Kira''sughter briefly lightened the atmosphere, her chuckle resonating with a dark amusement, Tobe honest, I don''t really care much. This world has always been a doomed ce. So I have no interest in what you do with the key. All I ask is for you to keep your word and wait until I destroy the Bloodburn Kingdom," she stated firmly, her stance as unwavering as the jagged rocks that lined the cliff.


    Lupus emitted a deep hum, the sound rumbling like the thunder in the crimson skies above.


    He slowly nodded, his agreementing with the weight of centuries behind it, "Take your time. Time is on our side. It will be easier for you since we have the right people to help us even if things go wrong," he assured her, his voice deep and resonant.


    Kira''s lips curled into a cold, calcting smile, "Indeed..."