《The Last Bastard of House Ardi [Villainous Progression] [LITRPG]》 1. The Pendulum of Hope and Dispair ¡°No one is coming to save me.¡± Those were the words Haki muttered before he, at the tender age of fourteen, cast aside all thoughts of hope or salvation. It wasn¡¯t that Haki didn¡¯t want to believe it but he had been disappointed too many times that he eventually stepped bothering. No knight was coming to the rescue. No galloping into the sunset. No grand quest or adventure waiting for him beyond the city¡¯s walls. Not that he expected much for himself. Orphaned at a nascent age, starvation etched its mark into his surprisingly robust bones Survival was almost impossibly hard at times but a relentless drive born from the depths of his suffering kept him moving. Even amidst the filth and darkness of his prison cell, that fire burnt for reasons He didn¡¯t fully understand. One thing he understood plainly well, however, was the possibility that he often entertained. That, if he ever got the chance, he would set the world ablaze. So that for a brief, hellish moment, the world would be united in agony before finding peace in death. ¡°Get up, worm! You have visitors if you can believe that!¡± One of the dungeon¡¯s guards spat from beyond a wall of iron bars. Haki raised his head from a filth-lined stone floor, leaving behind his fellow prisoners although, unlike them who were covered in scars, the seemingly untouched brown smoothness of his skin could be seen beneath the grime. The cell was dark, lit only by a single torch in the corridor beyond its walls. It smelled like piss, shit and death which was the same for all of the dungeon¡¯s lower levels. Floors which were lined with the guilty, the innocent and the bubbling corpses between them. Haki raised his dark brown eyes to glare at the guard who wore tattered leather armour on top of his grimy green uniform. As for Haki, he had nothing to cover his meagre frame but old torn rags. His damp kinky red hair messily covered his face and he brushed a little of it to the side to properly stare daggers at the guard. ¡°Who is it?¡± Haki snarled only for the guard to kick the iron bars, making the young man flinch. ¡°A pouch of silver told me not to tell so shut up, get up and follow me.¡± Haki bit his teeth and did as instructed, leaving his cell as the guard opened it. His empty stomach filled with dread as he wondered what was in store for him but he steeled himself for the worst ¨C a tactic often used by those who are frequented by pain. He then followed the guard down a hallway lined with cells towards a staircase at the end. It led to the dungeon¡¯s first level above ground which was filled to the brim with guards and heavy with the stench of mead. Since he hadn¡¯t been imprisoned for a serious crime, he didn¡¯t have to wear iron binds which spared him from a lot of the torture the guards would often dish out to those they found guilty. He was still frequently abused but it was nothing in comparison to what happened to the murderers and rapists. The guard led him to what appeared to be an office wherein he saw a small woman who wore a black, silky gown sat. Her head was obscured by a black veil cloaking her in mystique. Her form was harshly illuminated by the pale grey morning light that fell from the cloudy skies above. Standing next to her was a knight clad in steel armour which was adorned with the crest of the illustrious House Ardhi. A crest which depicted a shield, at the centre of which stood a tree within a mystical circle. The knight wielded a broad sword and a shield which bore the same crest as the uniform beneath his shiny plates. ¡°Please, sit.¡± The woman prompted in a voice so soft, it could barely be heard in the near silent office. Haki did as instructed while keeping an eye on the man in steel. ¡°If everything in the cosmos is the product of causality and everything that is was meant to be then maybe you weren¡¯t a mistake after all.¡± She muttered ever more softly than before. ¡°Huh? What are you on about, lady? What do want from me?¡± Haki asked loudly only for the guard behind him to slap him on the back of the head and while the man in steel wanted to raise his sword in response, the veiled woman raised her right hand ever so slightly, stopping him. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you respect?¡± The guard snapped but Haki simply clicked his tongue while rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t know. My old lady¡¯s probably dead in some ditch somewhere and you still haven¡¯t answered me, princess. What do you want?¡± The woman took a deep breath, a moment''s pause, before finally exhaling while assuming an upright posture. ¡°While I do not know who or where your mother is, I know where your father is. Or maybe I should say that I know who your father is.¡± Haki¡¯s eyes widened to their limits and he clenched his jaw hard. ¡°Look, Lady, I don¡¯t know what kinda game you¡¯re playing or what you really want but you can fuck right off-¡° Chuma stopped as the woman lifted her veil, revealing a face that Haki and the entire region of Ardhi recognized. Her beautiful dark skin and youthful face seemingly glowed in the dimness of the office. Her dark eyes stared at Haki unshakingly and belonged to none other than Lady Fure of House Ardhi ¨C second head of one to three Great Houses that ruled over the world.Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Does that mean-¡° ¡°Yes, your father is Lord Kutsunga.¡± ¡°Wait- what?¡± The guard exclaimed loudly. ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you sure it is safe to release that information here?¡± The steel knight asked as Lady Fure lowered her veil, covering her face once more. ¡°Just how little faith do you have in me, Sir Darian?¡± ¡°My apologies, Lady Fure, I meant no offence.¡± ¡°I know but the boy was going to make a fuss if I hadn¡¯t so let us move on.¡± Darian lowered his head. ¡°Now I¡¯m sure you have questions but they are going to have to wait until after you meet your father although he stressed that the choice should be entirely up to you. So¡­ will you stay, be put back in your cell and live the rest of your days among the filth of this land, wallowing on the brink of starvation or will you follow me to the Seat of Kings where you will be given not only food and shelter but purpose!¡± Haki bit his teeth and his face contorted violently. This wasn¡¯t even a choice but what enraged him further was the fact that, if he chose to follow Lady Fure, he would come to face his father - the man who left him to the wolves. But¡­ it was also an opportunity. He would never get another chance to confront him. The offer of food and a roof to sleep under didn¡¯t hurt either so Haki leaned back and relaxed his face while trying his best to smile even as tears welled in his eyes. ¡°Thank you, my lady, for coming all this way to make such a generous offer to one as lowly as I. Allow this humble one to accept.¡± He bowed with a shaking voice. ¡°Good. I am pleased that you chose to come willingly. Now, follow me- oh and you, guardsman. It would do you well to remain silent on this matter if you have anything to live for. You will be free to gossip as soon as his existence is made public.¡± Lady Fure warned while standing up. ¡°Y-yes, My Lady!¡± Haki remained silent while following Lady Fure and her knight out of the guard tower and onto the dank streets of the northern outskirts of Ardania, the capital city of Ardhi. Waiting in front of the guard tower was a sturdy-looking wooden stagecoach which Lady Fure was helped into by Darian who then gestured that Haki enter as well. Haki complied and sat in front of Lady Fure whose gaze seemingly never left him although it was hard to tell due to her veil. Darian joined the carriage¡¯s driver, another knight, and the group set off immediately after, passing by a small crowd of curious townsmen. As the carriage made its way South through the outskirts, Haki found himself thinking about his supposed relation to the Lord of Ardhi. ¡°Huh¡­ I guess that explains the red hair. Why is that, anyway?¡± Haki asked through cracked lips while glancing out of the window. Beyond the mucky outskirts were the great stone walls of Ardania and beyond that was the plateau which was said to be the Seat of Kings. ¡°Those born with the blood of House Ardhi have a deep connection with the world and the vitality within. That explains why someone who has led a life as¡­ eventful as yours barely has any scars.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see.¡± Haki sounded while trying to calm his heart which hadn¡¯t stopped racing. Years of hardship had taught him to be sceptical and even cynical but as soon as the possibility that he could meet his father arose, all of that was undone. As if the boy who was cast aside all that time ago was loudly crying out for some sort of paternal connection. A foolish smile crept onto his face as he acknowledged the fact that Lady Fure may have been using him and his clear weakness for her own means but the child within foolishly chose to break his promise to himself. He chose to hope. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re not my mother.¡± Haki raised an eyebrow prompting Lady Fure to lower her head slightly. ¡°I am not.¡± She answered curtly and while Haki expected himself to feel disappointed, he didn¡¯t. If anything, her monotone delivery felt strangely comforting. He scoffed at himself for somehow getting involved in whatever this was and turned his head once more towards the slums beyond the carriage. Rows upon rows of rickety, damp wooden buildings were haphazardly built next to each other and crawling along the narrow spaces between them were the downtrodden, the outcasts and the outlaws. Although each of them were strangers, their weary faces were all Haki ever knew. He looked ahead and saw the grand iron gates of Ardania. He wondered what the faces of those within looked like. Were they all pretty and clean like Lady Fure? The carriage eventually arrived at the nearly twenty-meter-tall stone walls of Ardania. At the iron gates were several knights who barred all entry into the city with the exception of members of the Merchants Guild and foreign diplomats or other such special guests. Lady Fure¡¯s carriage was allowed into the city without question and Haki didn¡¯t even need to be fully inside to see just how different Ardania was from its outskirts. To begin with, unlike those of the outskirts which were paved with mud and piss, the roads within the city were made of smooth, equally sized square-shaped blocks of stone. A structured uniformity which matched the grand buildings which lined the streets. The people who could be seen walking about or dining at restaurants wore strange clothing made of shiny fabrics and, of course, they were draped in jewellery. Among them were guards and other officials who tended to their needs. Haki turned his eyes toward the grand staircase near the centre of the city. That which led up to the Seat of Kings. ¡°Now, before you can even think about meeting His Lordship, you must be thoroughly cleaned and be dressed in the appropriate attire.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± That¡¯s the only sound Haki could make in response and before he realized it, he was being roughly handled by Darian who scrubbed him from head to toe in a bathhouse the stagecoach had stopped by. Haki kicked the knight in the face when he got a little too handsy, breaking the Knight¡¯s nose in the process, but it wasn¡¯t enough to save him. He was then dried and forced into some stiff black clothes by a group of seamstresses and before he knew it, he was back in the stagecoach with Lady Fure. Haki¡¯s mouth simply hung open as he tried to process what happened and while he sat in shock, Darian hopped back onto the coach which eventually reached the grand staircase. ¡°Alright. The time has come.¡± Lady Fure declared as she was assisted off the wooden vehicle. ¡°You are free to turn back if you wish. The Freedom of Choice is a most precious thing so consider every possibility. Or, more plausibly, think about what would benefit you the most. That is how great men think. That is how your father thinks.¡± Haki bit his teeth. It was a trick question. There was only one answer. Forward. . .. After ascending what must have been no less than a thousand steps, an exhausted Haki was led into a grand Palace of dark stone but he was far too tired and far too hungry to think about how beautiful any of the architecture or the furniture looked. All he could think about was the grand doorway which led into what Lady Fure called the Throne Room. Standing by it were two knights who opened the two great wooden doors revealing a grand chamber lit by a row of candle-bearing chandeliers. At its end was a man who stood next to a grand wooden throne which was covered in intricate carvings that depicted the crest of House Ardhi. The man, like Haki, had red hair although his temples had begun to grey. He had dark skin and his dark eyes were like blank dots that scanned everything in sight with what looked like scorn. He wore dark, clothing that seemed heavy and stiff although it didn¡¯t affect his upright posture. The man, Lord Kutsunga, silently glared at Haki who silently approached and ultimately stopped alongside Lady Fure who bowed but Haki remained standing. He stared at the man who he had been told was his father but just as his racing heart grew its fastest with a mixture of excitement and hope, the man¡¯s face twisted into a scowl. ¡°One would think that whore would have taught you some basic etiquette at the very least but your blatant disrespect proves otherwise. Oh, well. All learning begins somewhere.¡± The man sighed while walking towards Haki who frowned in confusion and anger at the man¡¯s words. ¡°Kneel.¡± The man instructed but all Haki could do was let out a dumbfounded ¡°huh¡± before suddenly having his head slammed onto the marble floor. Haki¡¯s confusion turned to internal cries of agony as he realized that somehow the man had dashed in front of him in an instant. He followed this by grabbing Haki¡¯s hair and forcing his head onto the floor. The middle-aged man then placed his foot on the back of Haki¡¯s head and scoffed. ¡°Your form is appalling but this is your first time so I will forgive you. Let us introduce ourselves. My name is Kutsunga, head of House Ardhi and you will only refer to me as ¡®My Lord¡¯. Is that understood, runt?¡± 2. The Unheard Mourning in House Ardhi Haki¡¯s head rang with pain. It hurt. Having his hopes crushed in an instant was excruciating. Being so thoroughly disappointed was agonizing. But¡­ It was also within the range of what Haki expected. He had come to terms with his naivety as soon as it sprouted in his heart. The question, however, was what would come next. ¡°Well? Did you understand my words or are you hard of hearing?¡± Kutsunga asked again. Haki droned internally while trying his best not to reel from pain. Lady Fure said that if he followed her, he would receive food and shelter. It obviously wasn¡¯t going to be free and he foresaw the abuse that would come from being anywhere near Kutsunga. The problem lay in how much he could take. He was determined to find out. ¡°Y-yes.¡± Haki wheezed as blood dripped from his nose. ¡°¡¯Yes¡¯ what, runt?¡± ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± Kutsunga let out an unsatisfied scoff before kicking Haki in the cheek. ¡°Ah! What the fuck, old man?¡± The boy recoiled while sitting up and cupping the side of his head. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can hide your true self from me. It is he that I want to mould into a candidate.¡± Kutsunga¡¯s words were cold, and sharp, as if he was talking to an opponent¡­ or an enemy. Haki bit his teeth as his cheek bled from within. ¡°You want the real me?¡± Kutsunga¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Fine! Here I am, old man! And don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you kick me around-¡° Haki let out a gross squawk as Kutsunga punched him in the gut, falling to his knees as he reeled in pain. ¡°Can you use magic?¡± Kutsunga asked but Haki¡¯s head was too busy ringing for him to catch it. ¡°Answer your lord.¡± Haki bit his teeth as he clutched his tummy. ¡°W-what¡­ did you say, old man? Couldn¡¯t hear you over the ego-¡° Kutsunga kicked the young man in the ribs making him fall to the side. He was stupid for expecting some sort of cute father-and-son reunion. Kutsunga wanted something from him. All Haki had to do was play along. Even if it hurt. ¡°I will not repeat myself again. Can you use magic?¡± ¡°N-no.¡± Haki wheezed. ¡°Then I will have to be comprehensive in my teachings but I was prepared for that much.¡± Lady Fure eventually entered the Throne room where she bowed before Kutsunga. ¡°Prepare a travel bag for me. We are leaving at first light.¡± The Lord of the house spoke, his voice a deep sigh. ¡°And the meeting with the other lords? They wish to¡­ offer their condolences.¡± Fure¡¯s brows knotted ever so slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sure they do but you have a face and a mouth. Use them aptly. We will be back by the time the last snows thaw.¡± Fure clenched her jaw visibly. ¡°Without informing the-¡° she caught herself before bowing. ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± She said as Haki crawled onto his feet. His eyes met Kutsunga¡¯s, and for a moment, it seemed the two were about to attack each other. Kutsunga scoffed softly before returning to his Throne where he sat. ¡°This way.¡± Haki glanced, through eyes that burnt with anger, at Fure who gestured towards the door on the right-hand side of the throne. The young man glared at Kutsunga who glared back but through narrowed, contemplative eyes.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Where¡­ where are we going?¡± Haki breathed as his mouth pooled with fresh blood. ¡°You and yours truly will be spending the winter in The Forest of Briars in the domain of House Qaya where you will be made into a man at least passingly worthy of carrying a lord¡¯s blood. Just in time for the Ascension where you, along with the other prospective candidates, will compete for the Ruler¡¯s Charge.¡± Kutsunga explained making Haki¡¯s brows meet. ¡°Yes. You will be competing for the most legendary of artefacts and before you inevitably ask, I¡­ am far too aged to be able to compete with the powerful youths the other houses will send.¡± Kutsunga sighed. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The middle-aged man sighed as his eyes lowered in thought. Haki¡¯s brow lowered. He understood the legend of the Ruler¡¯s Charge very well, and he knew what was being asked of him, so he silently turned and followed Fure out of the throne room and into a grand hallway lined with guards in silver armour. Haki was then led to the dining room where he was given what otherwise seemed like a simple dinner of bread and a piece of chicken but it was more food than he had eaten in a single sitting in years. After he finished, Fure then led him to a large room that had several spots on the wall which looked like they once had portraits there based on the pale rectangular spots in the wood. ¡°This¡­ will be your room from now on although you won¡¯t have much time to get accustomed once you¡¯ve left with his Lordship.¡± Fure sighed. Her veil was off, allowing Haki to see her solemn expression. ¡°Tell me, lady. If he knows I¡¯m his son, then why did he hit me?¡± Fure¡¯s eyes fell further. She then took a deep breath before looking into Haki¡¯s eyes. ¡°I am sure Lord Kutsunga will enlighten you in time but for now, get some rest.¡± She turned and left the room, leaving Haki with a heavy silence. He scanned the room, making sure he was alone before taking slow steps towards the one thing he had his eye on since entering. The large bed at the centre of the luxurious room. He stood by its edge and eyed the silky duvet that covered the soft lining beneath along with the fluffy pillows at its furthest edge. He clenched his jaw as he reached down to touch it and his heart melted upon feeling how soft it was. He sat on the edge and let out the deepest of sighs as he finally lay down. His face landed on one of the pillows and in that moment, all the pain he felt was washed away. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he slept comfortably let alone warmly so he took a deep breath of the sweetly fragrant air and sighed. What followed was a deep drowsiness. One he would otherwise fight for the sake of self-defence just in case someone attacked him but he didn¡¯t care. He was going to savour this feeling no matter what. So he steadily drifted into sleep. Just as a single tear fell from his eye. . .. [Name: Haki Race: Human Coalescence Level: 1 Health Points (HP): 100 Willpower (W): 5 DPH (Damage Per Hit): 1 Defence Rating: 2% Equipment: None Skills and Spells: None Artefacts: None] ¡°Mmm?¡± Haki sounded sleepily as several lines of bright writing appeared in his head. He opened his eyes to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming but his thoughts immediately seemed upon finding that he was in the arms of a large woman. He tried moving away but one of her arms was nearly as long as he was tall and she firmly held him in her bosom. She had long, silky black hair that messily draped both she and Haki and pale skin that was cool to the touch. Loosely hanging from her frame was a black dress that seemed to be made of the night sky itself and her eyes were blindfolded with a similar nightly cloth. ¡°Mmm!¡± Haki struggled aloud and this was enough to awaken the woman who sweetly yawned. Her voice was soft enough to make Haki feel sleepy again but he fought the feeling as she loosened her hold on him a little. [Good morning, dearest contender.] She yawned in a voice that seemed to come from inside Haki¡¯s mind. ¡°Who are you?¡± He glared. [I am Maranam, one of the Cycle Sprites or as you may know me¡­ the Goddess of Death.] Haki bit his teeth. He wouldn¡¯t have believed her if she wasn¡¯t so big. She also matched the description of the three Goddesses who were often shown or spoken of as being clad in the night sky and being blind. ¡°W-what do you want?¡± Haki quivered as Maranam held him like one would a pillow. [You have been chosen to represent your house in the pursuit of the Ruler¡¯s Charge and thus are eligible to receive my blessing.] She spoke slowly and quietly as if she was perpetually drowsy. ¡°What blessing?¡± Haki frowned as Maranam finally let him go, allowing him to sit up and back away. Maranam then sat up as well before holding up her right hand. Wisps of white smoke then appeared in her palm where they swirled and coalesced to form a dagger that was about thirty centimetres long. It was made of a dark metal and traces of the white smoke it came from could be seen rising from its edges. With a racing heart, Haki stared at the weapon while still trying to process everything that was happening. [Take it. This weapon, my Aruval, draws power from death and so, as you get stronger, so too will it.] Haki nervously reached out and grabbed the dagger only to wince a little as some of the smoke touched his skin, chilling it. He inspected the weapon all while Maranam laid back down to sleep even though the sun was steadily rising. ¡°So¡­ will you be helping me get the Ruler¡¯s Charge?¡± [While I would love to, there is not much an incorporeal being such as myself can do in this world.] She whimpered making Haki¡¯s brows knot. ¡°What?¡± [The me you¡¯re seeing is but a projection. This world wouldn¡¯t last too long if all of Death itself was lying in your bed, no?] Haki¡¯s eyes nodded in contemplation. ¡°So¡­ why are you helping me?¡± [It is as I said. I am a Cycle Sprite. It''s only natural for the sake of perpetuity.] Haki¡¯s eyes narrowed as he only understood half of what she was saying. He wondered if the goddess was being coy or whether his own ignorance was to blame but chose not to speak up about it yet. ¡°Am I the only one who can see you?¡± [Yes.] ¡°Why haven¡¯t you allowed my father- the old man to see you?¡± [Because I knew that he would not be the one who ascended the mount.] ¡°And the others? Will they be getting help from the other Goddesses too?¡± [Yes.] Haki nodded and just as he did, the dagger disappeared. ¡°Huh?¡± He exclaimed while looking around to see where it could have possibly gone, something which made Maranam giggle barely audibly. [You can recall the dagger by focusing on the centre of your palm.] She cooed and the young man followed the instruction only to wince again as white smoke gathered in his hand where it formed a dagger. The sun began to pour into the room, illuminating Maranam¡¯s full figure which, now that Haki could see clearly, was two and a half meters tall. He had so much he wanted to ask her and it was nice talking to someone who wasn¡¯t kicking him but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Fure called from behind the door. ¡°Young Lord, it would do you well to awaken now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m up!¡± He replied and before he knew it, Maranam was gone. [Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m still here.] Haki¡¯s confusion was quickly alleviated as he heard her voice in his head. And so, he quickly made his dagger disappear and went to open the front door where he found Fure who was dressed in a pale green gown as ornate as the one she¡¯d worn the day before. ¡°Are you ready?¡± She asked in her usual apathetic manner. Haki briefly thought about everything that had happened. It was a lot and he could tell a whole lot more was coming but he was prepared. He was ready. 3. Of Brothers in Blood Fure led Haki to the Throne room where Kutsunga awaited only he was now dressed in a sturdy leather jacket and pants. Standing next to him were several servants, one of whom handed Haki a hefty leather bag. The servants checked Kutsunga''s gear as he stood with an expression which Haki found distasteful but he chose not to express that. He also wondered if Kutsunga knew of Maranam''s existence and, as if she could sense his concerns, she spoke from within his mind. [While he is aware that my sisters and I exist, he has never seen any of us as we tend to guide only those who are most likely to compete for the Ruler¡¯s Charge.] Haki unthinkingly nodded and this finally got Kutsunga to turn his half-closed eyes to the young man. Fear came first. He was afraid he was going to be hit again but¡­ there was also a desire. He glanced at the Throne and wondered what it would be like to sit there. To rule. To have power over one¡¯s own fate¡­ That¡¯s what it meant to be a lord to Haki. His eyes returned to those of his father and while he still felt fear, he also felt a strange patience wash over him. He would learn what he could from Kutsunga, wield the power of death and do whatever it took to gain his freedom. True freedom. Kutsunga led Haki out of the palace and into a carriage where the two sat in silence as they rode out of the palace which stood as an extension of the throne within. And, by virtue of this fact, the region of Ardhi was Kutsunga¡¯s Throne as well. So the person who held the Ruler¡¯s Charge would have the whole world as the Throne. An amazing concept but it was a little too ambitious for Haki who glanced at the palace as it got smaller and smaller as they rode along. Haki felt as though his true throne was the comfy bed he had slept in and it brought a smile to his face. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Kutsunga growled while leaning forward. ¡°Mmm? Oh- sorry. Its just¡­ your house¡­ it¡¯s nice.¡± Haki hesitated and this surprisingly didn¡¯t earn him a kick in the face. Instead, the lord leaned back and let out a deep sigh. ¡°That ¡®house¡¯ is the home of the Ardhi noble bloodline and has witnessed the birth of four Emperors including the very first.¡± A look of pride took Kutsunga¡¯s face. ¡°It was Emperor Tarron who raised humanity from the ashes, uniting every man, woman and child in building civilization as we know it and jt has persisted for a thousand years under the rule of ten Emperors. You will be the eleventh.¡± Kutsunga¡¯s eyes narrowed on the boy. Haki nodded making Kutsunga scoff as he leaned back, looking out of the carriage. ¡°Now, to snuff the seeds of pride and whatever other insidious thoughts are taking root in your mind, you were far from the first option. Prior to you, a handful of your half-blood brothers came to the gates of House Ardhi after I tracked them down but they were all so pitiful and worthless that I immediately deemed them unfit of even attempt to claim the Ruler¡¯s Charge.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Haki¡¯s eyes narrowed a little. ¡°Where are they now?¡± Kutsunga¡¯s face remained unchanged as he dragged his gaze back to his son. ¡°They are dead. I killed them.¡± . .. After hours of travel, the two eventually reached the edge of a forest which was several dozens of kilometres north of Ardania. The carriage stopped on the edge of the forest, where the vast grasslands ended and its here that Kutsunga and Haki disembarked¡ªtheir forms dwarfed by the gargantuan trees which, instead of leaves had dark, thorny vines which draped from their branches. ¡°If not this humble servant, another will come to this point to receive you when the last snows begin to thaw, your grace.¡± The carriage driver bowed before riding off, leaving Haki with his father whose frame seemingly rejected the warmth light of the setting sun. Haki swallowed before glancing at Kutsunga who glared at the forest with an equal amount of animosity. It¡¯s here that some words began to appear above the lord¡¯s head. [Name: Kutsunga Race: Human Coalescence Level: 25 Health Points: 340 Willpower: 125 DPH: 25 Defence Rating: 10% Equipment: [Training Garbs] (+9% DR), [Hidden Dagger] (24DMG) Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W), [Vitality Surge] (15W-, +50HP), [Gentle Water Stream] (1-,0DMG), [Gentle Rain] (5-,0DMG) Artefacts: None] Haki¡¯s brows furrowed. [Those are your father''s abilities and statistics.] *Oh? Am I the only one who can see them?* Haki asked internally. [Only those who are guided by the Cycle can see the abilities of others. As ordained by the Third Emperor, who used the Ruler¡¯s Charge to make that a reality.] *Did you¡­ guide the others too?* [Yes.] *Why didn¡¯t you use your Goddess powers to save them?* [Again, I am limited in what I can do in the physical world beyond offering guidance and my sole blessing.] *Damn¡­* Kutsunga let out a sigh before sitting down on a nearby rock. ¡°Go. Survive for six days. On the seventh, I will find and test you. You should know that the Forest of Briars is where the empire keeps all manner of creatures for the sake of conservation and as targets for aspiring warriors. In your back is a Steel Dagger and a single Health Potion.¡± Haki stood frozen for a moment with widened eyes. ¡°Frightened?¡± Kutsunga scoffed. ¡°What? Of course not, o-old man! I¡¯ll show you!¡± Haki stomped towards the Forest with clenched fists but stopped before his fairly small frame could slip into the shadows. His knees buckled and his heart raced with fear but before he could even think of stepping forward, Kutsunga kicked him in the back, sending the boy tumbling into a cluster of spiky bushes which just so happened to be covering a hole in the ground which he immediately fell into. He let out a series of pained cries as he crashed into several stone surfaces which he could see less of as he fell further down. He tumbled further and everything grew progressively darker along with his vision the further down he went. At this point, too many of his bones were broken and he was bleeding profusely. After what seemed like an eternity, he eventually stopped falling and, even though his vision was beyond blurry, he could make out something that seemed almost to incredible to be real. Looming before him, bathed in light that seemingly has no origin, was a city. A gargantuan city of stone but Haki was in far too much pain to appreciate the intricate carvings on each surface and the pillars that kept the bedrock above the city in place. The pain steadily began to fade as his body grew cold. [Health Points: 1] Haki let out a weak whimper. His chance at something more was slipping. A warm bed, good food. Gone- [This¡­ was the helm of a forgotten age.] Maranam appeared in front of Haki, clad in white smoke. She then turned her eyes to the half-dead boy as she sat. [There is still a chance.] She whispered. Haki let out a groan in response. [The world you want is right in front of you.] She disappeared, revealing the bag Haki had been given. His eyes widened a little upon remembering what he¡¯d been given. He painfully reached for it, ignoring the Agony of every movement. He then pulled out the potion and poured the bitter liquid into his mouth. [Health Points (HP): 11] Haki gasped as he felt some of his bones fuse as they slid back in place. [But¡­] Maranam¡¯s voice echoed endlessly as the ground began to shake. [You must be willing to sacrifice everything.] Haki¡¯s already wide eyes quivered as seven gargantuan creatures rose from the ground, breaking the land around the city. They stood over twenty meters tall, were like humanoids only they were on all fours, has pale, stone like skin, crocodile like heads and wings that hung limply from their backs as limp stubs. Each of them held gigantic broken swords which they used to hoist up their ruined bodies. One of them limped forward and let out a deafening Roar which made Haki shed all tbe tears he¡¯d been holding. [Name: ??? Race: Undead Dragon Warrior Coalescence Level: 100 Available Cycle Shards:0 Health Points: 1290/1290 Willpower: 1/1 DPH: 200 Defence Rating: 80% Equipment: [Broken Ancient Sword] (100DMG), Abilities and Spells: [Draconic Might] (+100DMG), [Stone Skin] (+80% DR), Artefacts: [Dragon Heart] (+200HP)] 4. Tearing at the Sinews Haki immediately crawled onto his feet and ran away from the monsters, heading in the direction of the distant walls of the cavern. The monsters behind burst into action as well, shaking the ground and filling the air with their cursed hisses as they did. ¡°AHHHHHH!¡± Haki screamed just as one of the creatures stabbed the ground next to where he was running and, frighteningly, the ancient sword almost managed to cut his arm as it crashed into the ground. Haki ran for what felt like an exhausted eternity as he barely managed to dodge the barrage of attacks the monsters were loosing on him. His heart raced, each breath was like fire to his lungs and his legs threatened to seize from pain but he kept running. *Mara!* Haki cried as he scrambled away from the pursuing terror. [Yes?] *What are those things?!* [Those are warriors from a time that has since been lost. They once fought in a war where the sky was set aflame and the lands were torn asunder to form the world as you know it.] *Why aren¡¯t they dead?* Haki rolled just in time to avoid being impaled by one of the seven swords behind him. [They have been revived by a primordial magic. One that churns within their ancient hearts.] *What should I do?* The wall was rapidly approaching and Haki couldn¡¯t see any kind of escape or even a hole. It was all just rock. [It would be optimal if you managed to escape alive] *Where is the exit?!* Maranam remained silent which made Haki¡¯s heart sink. He eventually reached the stone wall which he desperately hugged while turning back to face the Undead Dragons one of which tried to impale him. Haki narrowly avoided death by ducking beneath the huge blade which excavated any rock it came into contact with. Another Dragon Warrior then swung its sword at Haki who ducked beneath it as well, pushing his exhausted body far beyond its limits. Two of the Dragon Warriors then accidentally struck each other¡¯s swords, giving a panicking Haki an opening and an idea. In an act of sheer madness, he ran towards the warriors and again, two of the seven swords collided only for those two to block the remaining five in a fanatic series of collisions. Haki ran up to the closest warrior, who tried grabbing the boy with a clawed hand. However, Haki rolled forward, avoiding the grab and narrowly avoiding getting cut in two by a sword that descended onto the warrior he was engaged with, cleaving most of its neck open.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. [Name: ??? Race: Undead Dragon Warrior Coalescence Level: 100 Health Points: 4] Haki summoned [Maranam¡¯s Aruval] (25DMG) and cut the last threads of flesh that kept the warrior¡¯s head attached to its body. Time then seemingly crawled to a standstill. A wave of excruciating pain then washed over Haki¡¯s body and his vision blurred to near darkness but within this darkness, he could see words. [You have levelled up 20x!] [You have gained 4x Cycle Shards!] [Name: Haki Race: Human Coalescence Level: 21 Available Cycle Shards: 4 Health Points (HP): 290/290 Willpower (W): 100/100 DPH (Damage Per Hit): 100 Defence Rating: 10% Equipment: [Training Garbs] (+9%) Skills and Spells: [Maranam¡¯s Breath] (-50HP, +50DMG) Artefacts: [Maranam¡¯s Aruval] (25DMG + 5 for every Coalescence Level)] The pain from before rapidly subsided and the relief that followed came with it more bright words which were clear even in Haki¡¯s racing mind. [That is a list of skills which you can acquire by drawing from the power of the Cycle. There are thirty in total and five tiers among them with tier one being available from level one. Tier two is made available at level ten. Three at twenty-five, four at fifty and five at seventy-five.] Maranam explained as Haki looked over every spell. Two stood out and those were the ones that he chose. The first was a basic healing spell and the second allowed him to conjure a screen of black smoke. [Do you want to acquire [Healing Touch] (-1W, +10HP), [Umbral Veil] (-1W)?] *Yes!* Time returned to normal and Haki watched as his dagger grew to become a longsword with a forward curve. Emanating from it was white smoke which Haki now knew possessed the power of death. [Willpower (W): 99/100] He looked up and watched as the remaining Dragon Warriors swung their blades towards him. Haki immediately cast [Umbral Veil] and threw himself backwards as the warriors all struck the ground where he stood only moments prior. Trying to block at of their attacks was too risky since his newly extended sword could possibly break and he didn¡¯t know how to deflect so he relied on the one thing that had gotten him this far. Narrowly avoiding damage. The warriors all raised their swords and- in another act of madness, Haki sprinted towards them. Several of their swords loudly clashed above as Haki ran beneath the nearest warrior. But, as if it had learnt from the mistakes of the others, the one he was beneath jumped backwards, leaving Haki open to the barrage of incoming attacks. He surrounded so casting [Umbral Veil] wasn¡¯t going to help so he raised his sword to block one of the swords while praying. One of the warriors struck his sword and, while the Aruval didn¡¯t break, Haki was sent crashing to the side but- to his surprise, he managed to land on his feet a few dozen meters away from the warriors. [That¡­ is the power of Coalescence. By absorbing the fallen warrior¡¯s Cycle Shards, you gained some of the power that drives creation itself. Now you stand stronger and faster than ever before.] A seemingly out of breath Maranam explained and this in turn answered how Kutsunga was able to kick Haki so quickly. The dragon warriors all leapt towards him and, in defiance, he blocked another of their sword swings which catapulted him towards another which opened its maw to eat the young man and it was here that he decided to forego whatever sanity he had left. He jumped into the warrior''s large mouth, narrowly avoiding its large teeth and, not a moment later, five swords impaled it with Haki stabbing it from within. The swords of the warriors all just barely missed him as the dragon which had eaten him thrashed around only to eventually die as it was riddled with holes. [You have levelled up 20x!] [You have gained 4x Cycle Shards!] Haki ignored Maranam¡¯s voice as he jumped out of the now-dead dragon. He felt faster and stronger and his vision was clearer than ever. But the dragons were stronger and faster. One of them abandoned its sword and just punched Haki, launching him into the Claw of another who slashed across the boy¡¯s body sending his body tumbling to the side. [HP: 490/310] Haki let out a pained scream but was surprised to see, as he rolled on the ground, that he wasn¡¯t in as much pain as he expected. Yes, his chest had a large gash across it but he wasn¡¯t bleeding as much as one would expect and could still move quite freely. So, with a stubborn Vigour, he challenged the remaining dragons by glaring into their hollow eyes with his own. He was going to survive. He was going to get strong and then he was going to humiliate his father for what he had done! 5. A Primordial Vitality Five warriors remained and charged at Haki, who cast [Umbral Veil] three times. This created a large cloud of smoke, which they immediately ran out of. [W: 197/200] Four of the five warriors entered the cloud, leaving one which pursued the boy who stood fast to fight. At this point, thanks to his upgraded sword, he was capable of dealing 425 DPH and while this was an incredible amount, the warriors had a DR of 80%. In order to kill the warrior in front of him, he¡¯d need more damage and so he turned to the skill he¡¯d gained when his sword grew. [Maranam¡¯s Breath] (-50HP, +50DMG) He had 500HP and, if he wanted to make it out alive, he¡¯d have to sprint along the line between life and death. So he activated the skill nine times bringing his HP down to 50 and his total DPH up to 875. The warriors had 1290HP meaning that, at a rate of 175DPH, he¡¯d have to hit it at least eight times while only having 50HP himself. A Twisted grin grew on Haki¡¯s face as the warrior raised its sword. He dashed towards it as it fell and deflected the stone pillar as it fell, letting it get lodged into the ground while he ran towards the warrior¡¯s legs which he slashed four times, breaking through their hardened stone skin. Sensing danger, the warrior abandoned its sword and tried punching Haki away only for the boy to cleave the coming fist in two. Haki then delivered five swift strikes across the warrior''s arm and chest, killing it as he dashed away from the others who had emerged from the smoke. [You have levelled up 20x!] [You have gained 4x Cycle Shards!] [HP: 700/700 W: 305/305 DPH: 625] Haki immediately activated Maranam¡¯s Breath again, although it didn¡¯t stack. [HP: 50 DPH: 1277] Waves of white smoke burst from his body as he commanded the power given to him by the Goddess of death and accompanying it was a sick grin. The remaining warriors came and, after taking a deep breath, Haki faced them all. He deflected blows that would have otherwise torn his arms apart, blocked strikes that would have shattered his bones and attacked with a Fury and power he could have never before imagined. By the time the last warrior fell, he had assumed a stance similar to theirs. Hunched forward, mouth agape and with his free arm acting as an additional leg. From his body rose plumes of smoke and his battered body twitched with power. He plunged his sword into the chest of the dragon and, in yet more madness, he tore its chest open, revealing its ancient heart. His hunger, a primal ache, came not from his stomach but somewhere deeper within. Whatever it truly was, it compelled him to cut open the dragon¡¯s heart and eat it. Upon finishing his ancient meal, his body violently convulsed, twisted and bloated as he digested the organ. His vision sharpened by several folds and he felt as though he was strong and fast enough to terraform the ground just like the dragon warriors. He also saw visions. Glimpses of a great war. The one which Maranam had spoken of. He saw millions of dragons blackening the sky as they flew and bathing the world in a storm of cataclysmic magics as they fought. At the centre of this Maelstrom was a single dragon whose form dwarfed all else. He fought back countless of his own kin before eventually succumbing to innumerable wounds. The vision ended as the remaining dragons killed each other off while swarming around the now-dead titan. [Name: Haki Race: Human Coalescence Level: 100 Available Cycle Shards: 18 HP: 1390/1390 W: 500/500Stolen novel; please report. DPH (Damage Per Hit): 620 DR: 80% (MAX) Equipment: [Training Garbs] (+9%) Skills and Spells: [Maranam¡¯s Breath] (-50HP, +50DMG), [Draconic Might] (+100DMG), [Stone Skin] (+80% DR), [Healing Touch] (-1W, +10HP), [Umbral Veil] (-1W)] Artefacts: [Maranam¡¯s Aruval] (25DMG + 5 for every Coalescence Level)], [Dragon Heart] (+200HP)] Haki¡¯s body pulled itself back into a unified form although his eyes were now Draconic and burnt with flares of vitality. His teeth were now jagged and his skin was as stone but several times harder. His natural-born, blood-red hair glowed like fire on his head. Haki looked himself over and closed his eyes before uttering a name that he knew would follow him to the end of the path that he now walked. ¡°Maranam.¡± His voice thundered across the cavern and, like that, she appeared before him although her brow was covered in sweat. Haki lightly tapped the ground, sending a slab of stone up from behind him which he proceeded to sit on. Maranam stood with her eyes closed and her head lowered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Haki asked. [N-nothing. You just blocked a lot of attacks earlier. That sword¡­ is a part of me so I felt each one.] She explained before taking a deep breath and composing herself. [You wish to know everything.] Again, she read Haki¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Yes. Before I go back up and teach my old man a lesson, I wanna know why. The houses, the Ruler¡¯s Charge, the dragons, my father. Why?¡± Maranam nodded before joining her hands to make a perfect circle. [All began with the Cycle. It exists in the void of all space and time. It was the one that birthed all things and, we believe, that the Cycle created the Ruler¡¯s Charge to inspire change after the Age of Dragons lasted millions of years longer than what should have been natural, resulting in the gradual petrification of their skin along with the festering, ashen world they ruled over.] ¡°You believe?¡± Haki raised a brow. [We Goddess¡­ have never actually interacted directly with the Cycle itself. We are but aspects of it along with every other being, living or inanimate, and I chose you because you showed promise. You want the world to change. To topple the houses that crushed you and so many others as they perpetuated their own opulence.] Haki¡¯s eyes narrowed a little. ¡°So, what? Is it time for mankind¡¯s age to end?¡± [Perhaps. No one knows the truth of the Cycle¡¯s will. Yours might be the last Age of men or you could be remembered as the man who saved his kind.] Haki nodded. ¡°And the dragons? How did they get punished because from what I saw, it was a civil war of some kind.¡± He spoke with a newfound poise. A dignity which he knew wasn¡¯t born in his heart. [That was a contributing factor yes but, after seeing that nothing would ever happen under the rule of the dragons, the Cycle sent unto the world a Spear¡ªthe Ruler¡¯s Charge and, as you saw, the dragons spent their last days in conflict.] ¡°And the houses? How do they fit into all this?¡± [The war of the dragons was so terrible that any new life that tried to grow and flourish was forced to live underground, beneath the ash. Humans were among the meek and frightened but one of them decided to stand against the ones above. And so, he and countless warriors from all races mounted an assault on the remaining wounded dragons. The man who led this charge was the first human Emperor and your ancestor, Tarron the First Head of House Ardhi. His actions brought about a new age - the Age of Man and it is within this age that the civilization of mankind rose and flourished. The three houses were simply formed from the three most prominent families at the time.] ¡°Mmm¡­ why was succession not passed down from Tarron to his children?¡± [Because once the Emperor dies, the Ruler¡¯s Charge returns to the mountain where it first landed where it awaits its next wielder. This system has undoubtedly led to more conflict but, as we Goddess inferred, this is probably to prevent another stagnant age.] Haki took a deep breath before crossing his arms and letting out a growl of a sigh. ¡°Before I ask about my father I¡¯d like to know why you Goddesses chose to aid the noble houses instead of choosing from the best humans across all births. Additionally, have you ever tried to claim the Ruler¡¯s Charge for yourself?¡± [My vision of the future is death so, even if my incorporeal form could wield the golden Spear, I¡¯d simply kill everything which in turn would kill me since there would be death no more. And as for why we allied ourselves with the three Great Houses, they have the resources to train and educate prospective candidates whereas those of low birth are more likely to die before they learn their first spell due to the myriad circumstances they face.] ¡°Huh¡­ so I guess I should thank the old man for getting me here.¡± Haki hummed. ¡°So¡­ the best case for you would be one where I brought about an age of conflict, change and death but not extinction¡­¡± Haki took a moment to digest all he had learnt. ¡°What would happen if you were free from the Cycle?¡± Maranam¡¯s eyes finally opened and the air immediately grew several times colder. Within them, eyes that were entirely white, Haki saw death. The death of all things. [Then I would be free to actuate my will in the Physical world as I please and, as I said, mine is a desire for the end of all things.] ¡°According to who? Because what you have described is your purpose, not your own desire. At least, that¡¯s how it seems to me.¡± Haki challenged which made Maranam¡¯s eyes narrow and while they made him tremble with fear, his gaze remained locked with hers as the stood in the buried city. [My¡­ purpose is what I am, boy. What else would I do if not delivering death?] ¡°Whatever you like. Like reanimating long-dead dragons.¡± Maranam''s perfect face twitched a little. ¡°Forgive me and my mortal ignorance but it seems as though a world of death wouldn¡¯t be as dead as even you think.¡± Haki warmly smiled. He didn¡¯t know why but for the first time in his life, he envisioned a future for himself. One where he could live as he pleased. And it would be in a world of¡­ [Death Perpetual.] Maranam gasped making Haki¡¯s smile brighten. ¡°I have no stake in this world and wish to wash it all away. To begin truly anew. So what say you, Mara? Would you take my hand in death?¡± Maranam visibly shook before turning away. [The insolence of mortals never ceases to amaze me!] She huffed while Haki stood up. He then walked up to her and asked for her hand only for the Goddess to glare at him although there was no Malice in her eyes. [Tsk! Stay your hand! A-and ask me that stupid question again when you brandish the Ruler¡¯s Charge, for only that will give you the right to even think such ridiculous things, you madman in the making.] ¡°Alright.¡± Haki softly chuckled while turning to face the ancient city. ¡°Oh- and my father¡­ is it true? Did he kill my half-brothers?¡± [Yes. After deeming them too weak or unworthy, he killed them as they slept in the forest above.] Haki expected to feel Ngeref by Maranam¡¯s confirmation but he actually felt a strange relief in knowing that, in death, they could feel pain no more. Not that he cared for them in any particular way. He only knew that they had been treated just as poorly by their father¡ªa pain he still felt in his chest. ¡°Ahem!¡± Haki shook aside his pain and walked up to one of the stone swords that the warriors had dropped. ¡°This necropolis will be our capital and, should I prevail, it will rise from the depths but that will come in time.¡± He said as he stomped on the stone sword, shattering it into countless Splinters, one of which he picked up. [Dragon Scale Splinter] (100DMG) [DPH (Damage Per Hit): 720] ¡°Now¡­ how do I get outta here?¡± Maranam gestured upwards to the same hole Haki had fallen in from. It was several meters deep into the wall and was incredibly steep. But Haki didn''t mind. The path to what he wanted would be arduous so he saw no point in complaining. 6. Rumble in the Rough Haki had spent the better part of an hour climbing out of the cavern and while his newfound power meant he didn¡¯t get tired anywhere near as quick, it was still a tedious process and by the time he emerged from the hole he''d fallen into, a new sun had risen. He stood on the edge of the Forest of Briars and spotted a little campfire in the distance, amidst the grass of the planes beyond the shadowy woods. Sitting by it was a man who was quite familiar. A single day had passed and while Haki saw nothing wrong with reuniting with his father before the seven allocated days, he felt a strange apprehension. As strong as he had become, hardened in the gauntlet of mortal combat, he was still afraid. Of being kicked again. Of being scorned. [Is that why you want a world of death?] *No.* Haki sat down and crossed his legs. *That stems from my hatred of this world and those who govern it. But this¡­ is far more juvenile.* He sighed before consulting the skill tree he¡¯d gained access to during his melee with the dragons. The skills were varied and some even had practical uses. Like [Gentle Rain]. Haki had heard that mages would use it to tend to crops and gardens although he then wondered why there was a shortage of food for the common folk. In his world of death, no one would have to starve again. Haki had a few spells he wanted but they were all of high tiers meaning he¡¯d have to get the lesser spells but he didn¡¯t mind. [Available Cycle Shards: 18] [Acquire [Vineal Snare] (-5W, 30HP (Snare health)), [Vitality Surge] (-15W, +50HP), [Renewal Blossom] (-50%W, +50%HP), [Shadow Step] (-5W), [Abyssal Grasp] (-15, 75DMG (Shadow health)), [Void Walk] (-30W), [Eclipse Sickle] (-40W, 3 hits, 100DMG), [Ice Shard] (-1W, 10DMG), [Frost Wall] (-5W, 50DMG (Wall Health)), [Frost Call] (-15W, 55DMG), [Ice Armor] (-30W, 75DMG (Wall Health)), [Wings of Winter] (-40W), [Ember Burst] (-1W, 10DMG), [Flame Whip] (-5W, 30DMG), [Infernal Arrow] (-15W, 55DMG), [Reignition] (-40W, +80HP), [Maelstrom Manifestation] (-20%HP, +10% DR and +10% Damage boost), [Orb of Light] (-1W)?] *Yes.* Haki¡¯s already glowing eyes burst with magic and his irises held all colours as magic coursed through his body. This seemingly alerted the distant man who immediately stood up and faced Haki while withdrawing a dagger. Haki let out a deep rumble of a sigh as the man cautiously approached. ¡°Hark! State your name and intent for you are in the presence of Kutsunga of House Ardhi!¡± Haki¡¯s enhanced hearing allowed him to hear the fear in his father¡¯s voice, masked by pride. The reformed boy stood up, towering over his father and standing three meters in height. ¡°Hello, father.¡± Haki cast [Orb of Light] (-1W)] behind his head, allowing his sole parents to behold his new form. ¡°B-brat?¡± Kutsunga winced as fear welled in his eyes. ¡°Yes, My Lord. I have returned ahead of the agreed time. So¡­ would you do me the honour of testing if I am worthy of carrying your blood?¡± Haki¡¯s voice was like a choir of guttural roars. Each a thunder that shook the air. Kutsunga bit his teeth and stood upright in defiance. ¡°I know not what you did down there, welp, but no dark magic or artefact will aid you in this examination of which there are only two outcomes. You will either impress me or die in that hideous new form of yours.¡± Kutsunga snarled while pointing his dagger at Haki who nodded in understanding before taking a single step forward, shattering the ground around them. Gargantuan slabs of rock then rose from the ground, boxing him and his father in an arena that was awash with morning sunlight. It wasn¡¯t a spell or ability. Haki had just hit the ground really hard before softly planting his weapons into the ground. ¡°Grah! I am not moved by your illusions, boy! Come at me-] Haki¡¯s perception of time slowed to a crawl as he checked his father¡¯s stats again. [Name: Kutsunga Race: Human Coalescence Level: 25 Health Points: 340 Willpower: 125 DPH: 25 Defence Rating: 10% Equipment: [Training Garbs] (+9% DR), [Hidden Dagger] (24DMG) Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W), [Vitality Surge] (15W-, +50HP), [Gentle Water Stream] (1-,0DMG), [Gentle Rain] (5-,0DMG) Artefacts: None] Haki knew that hitting Kutsunga with either of his swords was out of the question so he didn¡¯t factor them into his DPS. The highest base damage anything could do was 100, anything else came as a passive boost given by skills, abilities or even a weapon itself. Haki¡¯s fists could deal 100DPS and he got 100DMG extra from [Draconic Might] which brought his fists up to 200HP.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. He took a deep breath before dashing towards his father at a speed that tore the air. Kutsunga¡¯s gear would dampen the coming blow which was good because Haki didn¡¯t want to kill him. He didn¡¯t want to kill him yet so he punched his father in the Chest sending the man crashing into one of the walls of the arena. [Name: Kutsunga HP: 160] Not long shortly after, five men, clad in armour of steel, jumped into the makeshift arena before promptly pointing their swords at Haki. [Name: House Ardi Elite Guard Race: Human Coalescence Level: 30 Health Points: 390 Willpower: 150 DPH: 50 Defence Rating: 50% Equipment: [Steel Armour] (+50% DR), [Steel Sword] (50DMG) Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W), [Vitality Surge] (15W-, +50HP), [Gentle Water Stream] (1-,0DMG), [Gentle Rain] (5-,0DMG), [Ember Burst] (-1W, 10DMG), [Orb of Light] (-1W) Artefacts: None] ¡°Stay back fiend! Two of you, assist His Lordship!¡± One of the knights barked prompting to of them to rush to Kutsunga¡¯s side. [Name: Kutsunga Health Points: 160] He was still conscious although his body was probably aching all over from having absorbed all that force. He raised his weary head to glare at Haki who stood unmoving. ¡°Get on your knees and beg forgiveness, fiend!¡± Another knight yelled but who continued to stand even as another snuck up behind him. The sneaky knight then tried kicking at Haki¡¯s knees but the force of his kick was so weak, it didn¡¯t even register as an attack. Haki, while amused, had business with his father so he emanated some of his primal energy, mixed with that of Death and this was enough to make to knights, each trainer and disciplined, buckle with fear. ¡°Alright. You have made your point, brat. So stand down.¡± Kutsunga instructed as he was held up by one of the knights but this made Haki smile since hadn¡¯t even done anything. He absorbed his leaking aura and let out a sigh. ¡°So¡­ am I worthy?¡± ¡°Tsk! So you really think I would see you in a better light because you bested my knights and I with your ill-gotten gains?¡± ¡°Ah-ha. Every ounce of additional strength I possess was granted to me by the Goddess of Death herself, Maranam.¡± Haki nodded proudly but this made Kutsunga¡¯s face twist with Fury. ¡°Assuming that your obvious lie is even remotely true, why would the Goddess choose you? A half-blood, ill-mannered son of a whore?!¡± Haki bit his teeth. ¡°I know exactly what happened down there! You most likely found a cursed artefact, a relic from the darkest edges of the Cycle and you sold your soul for the poultry power you now possess so kindly shed that calm mask you now dorn and show me the weak, pathetic little boy you still are! Then and only then will I begin to consider accepting you!¡± Each word was like a cut from a razor made of ice. He had gotten so much stronger and even that wasn¡¯t enough¡­ He let out a deep sigh before deeply considering what to do next as Kutsunga and his knights continued to spit insults and orders. Even after all this, he didn¡¯t want to kill his father. Instead, he wanted to humiliate him. To kick him from his seat so high and drag him through the same muddy streets that were the home to so many children like him. A lord¡¯s most valued possession was their name. Haki wanted to ruin his father¡¯s name. The selection of the next Emperor wouldn¡¯t be for another six months so he had time. That said, he couldn¡¯t just march back into Ardania by himself because, while he may have gotten incredibly strong, he was still only one man- [One man who walks alongside death.] Maranam assured. *Oh?* [Make your decision and I, in accordance to no will apart from mine own, will aid you.] Haki nodded before returning to his thoughts. *Waltzing into Ardania right now would be premature. We¡¯ll take over Qaya instead and, while gathering strength, we¡¯ll make our way to the capital where I will take the Throne.* One of the knights tried grabbing Haki¡¯s arm but he tapped the ground once, shaking the ground and making Kutsunga¡¯s group lose their footing. They all shook with dread as Haki finally returned his attention to them. The path he was determined to take was not a good one but, even in a world of death, he wanted the living to have their say and so he spoke. ¡°Knights of steel, lower your blades and walk away. Live for your own sakes¡­ or die for his.¡± ¡°Die, demon!¡± One of the knights roared before raising his sword to cut Haki who saw this as the Knight¡¯s consent to engage in mortal combat so he grabbed his swords and, in far less time than a second, cleaved the knight into four. While the Knight¡¯s DR was 50%, two slashes were more than enough to kill him. Steel, flesh and bone fell to the ground in a sad heap which made the, already terrified knights shake in their armour. ¡°KILL HIM!!!!¡± Kutsunga screamed prompting the remaining knights to move and just as they did, Haki cut through each of them, one at a time, tearing through them with ease until only one was left and he fell to his knees, loudly begging for mercy as a now blood-drenched Haki turned to him. Haki had already reached the maximum Coalescence Level and could no longer gain Cycle Shards but that didn¡¯t mean the deaths of the knights were pointless. Maranam immediately got to work filling the four corpses with death and, through it, were they born anew. They rose slowly, their butchered bodies clung to their bones and their eyes shone not with the light of life. Their faces were blank, drained of expression and their eyes were unfocused, drifting in their sockets. [Name: Undead Knight Race: Undead Human Coalescence Level: 30 Health Points: 390/390 Willpower: 75/75 DPH: 50 Defence Rating: 50% Equipment: [Steel Armour] (+50% DR), [Steel Sword] (50DMG) Skills and Spells: [Healing Touch] (1W-, +10HP), [Vineal Snare] (-5W), [Vitality Surge] (15W-, +50HP), [Gentle Water Stream] (1-,0DMG), [Gentle Rain] (5-,0DMG), [Ember Burst] (-1W, 10DMG), [Orb of Light] (-1W) Artefacts: None] Why was Haki being so fair? He figured that he too would have liked a chance in such a situation. ¡°Welcome back.¡± He greeted, albeit nervously. Not only had he taken four human lives, they had also been raised from death to walk again¡ªa scene which seared itself into his memory. He then turned to the prostration knight who had dropped his sword and removed his helmet, revealing a weathered middle-aged face. The knight had dark, curly hair sun-kissed skin and eyes that, although wet with tears, carried decades of experience. Haki felt a strange warm feeling well within him. He was so used to being at the mercy of others that it was refreshing to stand on the other side. But he held no malice for the man and so instead lowered himself to face the weeping knight. ¡°What is your name, sir knight?¡± He asked with the dignity of a dragon and the gentleness of a genuinely curious youth. ¡°H-Herald.¡± The knight chattered and before Haki could speak again, the knight pressed his forehead firmly on the ground. ¡°Please, your Lordship, spare this foolish man so that he may see his family again!¡± Haki¡¯s eyes narrowed. He remembered how many times he himself begged others only to be answered with scorn and contempt. He sympathized. ¡°I gave you the chance you so desperately seek only moments you go and you, in your haste, decided to forego it,¡± Haki growled making Herald tremble even more. ¡°P-please.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ the only path towards forgiveness, I¡¯m afraid, is servitude.¡± Haki really liked the way he spoke after consuming the [Dragon Heart]. He sounded so¡­ self-assured. As if, with every word uttered, he was closer to refining his vision of himself. ¡°I will do anything!¡± The knight cried while looking up into Haki¡¯s brilliant eyes. ¡°Then follow me in death. Swear, as first among my Death Knights, to aid me in bringing forth the next age.¡± Herald¡¯s eyes shook but he eventually swallowed before prostrating again. ¡°I swear with all my being to serve you, even in death!¡± Haki warmly smiled before standing and spreading his arms. ¡°Then serve me well, Herald the Coward, in this life and the next. I gave you that name because it is true that you abandoned your lord for me. Something I will always have to keep in mind.¡± ¡°I would never betray you, my lord!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what you told my father but it¡¯s alright. It was only natural under the circumstances-¡° ¡°Oathbreaker!¡± A clearly panicking Kutsunga lunged towards Herald and stabbed the kneeling knight in the back. ¡°Mmm!¡± Herald winced without moving. ¡°Oh Lord most merciful, what should I do?¡± Haki raised an impressed brow before turning to his father whose face was still twisted with disgust and hatred as he stood over Herald. ¡°Umm¡­ do you have a chain or something?¡± Haki asked as Kutsunga slowly backed away. ¡°My deepest apologies, oh Lord Death, I do not. I do have some rope, however.¡± Haki¡¯s eyes widened a little. Herald then nodded silently before standing up, pulling Kutsunga¡¯s dagger out from his back and subduing the sitting lord of House Ardhi.