Chapter 7 :
The Will of the Heavens
The battlefield fell silent.
Even the flames consuming the wreckage of Shirogane seemed distant compared to the presence that had just arrived.
The Heavenly Knight stood tall at the edge of the village, his golden armor gleaming, untouched by the dirt and ash that filled the air. His white cape fluttered gently, even in the heat of battle, and in his hand, he wielded a massive, radiant greatsword—one that hummed with divine energy.
A heavy pressure settled over the battlefield.
Even the crimson warrior, still smiling, hesitated for the first time.
The Heavenly Knight stepped forward, his piercing gaze sweeping over the battlefield. His voice, when he spoke, was calm, powerful, and absolute.
“Enough.”
It wasn’t a threat. It wasn’t a request.
It was a command.
And the battlefield listened.
The Black Star party instinctively took a step back, their previous coordination dwarfed by the sheer presence of this new arrival. Kaito felt his mana stir, reacting to the knight’s overwhelming aura—it was like standing in the wake of a living legend.
Even the crimson warrior tilted his head, studying the knight with curiosity. “Interesting… Didn’t think the heavens would send someone so soon.”
The knight didn’t react to his words. Instead, he turned his gaze to Kaito.
“Kaito. Son of the fallen warrior.”
Kaito’s blood ran cold.
He hadn’t introduced himself.
How did this man know his name?
The knight’s expression remained unreadable, but his next words sent a chill through Kaito’s entire being.
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Your father’s final wish rests upon your shoulders.”
Kaito froze.
The weight of the words crushed him, pressing deep into his chest. His father… his final wish?
His mind flashed back to the stories—the ones he had only just started to uncover. His father had once been a legend, a warrior who had walked both paths of Chaos and Light.
And now, standing before him, was a relic of that past.
The crimson warrior let out a low laugh.
“Ah, so that’s what this is about,” he mused, rolling his shoulders. “The old man’s debts still haunt the world.”
His red eyes glowed with amusement. “But you’re mistaken, knight.”
He raised his serrated, chaos-forged blade, pointing it directly at Kaito.
“This boy is no warrior.” His smirk widened. “He’s just a scared little heir running from a legacy too heavy for him to carry.”
Kaito’s fists clenched.
The Heavenly Knight, however, didn’t acknowledge the insult. His gaze remained steady, unwavering.
Then—he did something unexpected.
He knelt before Kaito.
The entire battlefield stared in shock.
The elf’s eyes widened. The Black Star party stood frozen. Even the crimson warrior’s grin faltered.
A Heavenly Knight—one of the greatest warriors in the world—was kneeling before a mere rookie adventurer.
The knight bowed his head slightly, his voice steady.
“Your father’s final words were clear. If I ever found you… I was to train you.”
Kaito’s chest tightened.
His father’s final words…
“If you ever find my son, train him… and have him beat the hell out of Tau.”
This was it.
The truth.
His father hadn’t just been a simple warrior. He hadn’t just been a man lost to time.
He had left behind a legacy. A mission.
And Kaito had just stepped into it.
For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.
The crimson warrior, however, let out another low chuckle.
“Well, well. That changes things.” He ran a gloved hand through his bloodstained hair, looking amused. “Seems we’ve reached a crossroads, haven’t we?”
His blade lowered slightly, but his aura remained sharp.
“The gods have chosen their pieces.” He tilted his head. “And I have what I came for.”
Kaito’s heart pounded.
“What do you mean?” he demanded.
The crimson warrior smiled. “You’ll find out… soon enough.”
Then—
His entire body flickered.
Chaos energy rippled outward, distorting reality itself.
“Wait!” Kaito shouted, but—
The crimson warrior vanished.
Gone.
The battlefield stilled.
The fires still burned. The corpses still lay across the ground. But the battle… was over.
Kaito stood there, breathing heavily, his mind spinning.
The Black Star party slowly regrouped around him, their expressions a mix of shock, exhaustion, and relief.
The warrior let out a low whistle. “So… that just happened.”
The beastman crossed his arms. “That was the closest thing to death I’ve felt in a long time.”
The mage let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. “And of course, the farm boy gets wrapped up in divine prophecy nonsense. Great.”
Kaito barely heard them. His gaze was locked on the Heavenly Knight, still kneeling before him.
His mind screamed with questions.
His body ached from battle.
And yet…
For the first time since leaving home, he felt like he had finally found his path.
The knight stood, his golden armor shimmering beneath the light of the flames.
Then—he extended a hand.
“Come, Kaito. Your real training begins now.”