Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power Chapter 409: Path ahead

Exhausted in their own ways, Kaden and Rea rested on the floor.

After confirming Kaden's safety, Rea drifted into dreams, Einar's avatar slumbering upon her chest.

Sleep eluded Kaden entirely, no matter what. He remained sprawled on the ground, staring up at the odd room's ceiling, too scared to glance at the painting again.

Who would have imagined a mere streak of blood could hold an entire memory? Could he one day master such profound blood manipulation?

Prometheus pondered this quietly.

Yet, that mattered little compared to the deeper mysteries weighing on his mind.

'A fallen deity.' Kaden reflected silently, drawing deep, deliberate breaths to steady his nerves. 'The Warborn turns out to be a shattered remnant of a deceased god's bloodline. Now, I must collect every piece to restore it fully.'

Each time this realization hit him, his brows knitted in frustration.

Nocthar, that cursed fool, had framed it as if Kaden had no alternative but to obey his command.

And that rage boiled within Kaden without limit.

'Is it accurate?' Kaden inquired, sharing the recent memory with Blanche. 'Does advancing to Elderling rank require a specific pathway?'

'Indeed, dear.' Blanche replied, unsurprised inside. She'd long suspected the Warborn bloodline's uniqueness stemmed from divine origins.

But if fragments already wielded such might, what power awaited when all were united?

Moreover, the domains it ruled—Death, War, and Blood—were realms few would boldly seize.

These ideas stirred faint echoes in the Phoenix's ancient recollections. Yet her thoughts stayed hazy; she recalled only her sealing and Shamsi's discovery.

Her past lay riddled with gaps. Swallowing her irritation, Blanche pressed on,

'Entering Elderling rank demands a Divinity Pathway for all. It's an unbreakable law, with no exceptions.'

Kaden gave a faint nod, akin to requiring a domain for Grandmaster status.

This sparked memories of his own: the divinity from the Sorrow Pathway and the Sun Way within the Celestial Pathway.

'But suppose I forge my own Pathway?' he challenged, his gaze fierce with resolve. 'Why rely on ancient powers to ascend further?'

'The gods designed it that way, dear.' Blanche explained. 'Adhering to their paths bolsters their might—that's what lingers in my knowledge. No deity tolerates a fresh Pathway arising.'

'What could they possibly achieve against me?'

'Plenty have tried, dear.' Blanche warned. 'Every one ended up slain or fleeing endlessly, haunted by day, night, and all realms in between. Such existence holds no joy.'

Through gritted teeth, Kaden exhaled heavily.

'In essence,' he murmured, 'you're urging me to pursue a pathway? To assemble the dead god's bloodline shards and inevitably resurrect that entity?'

Nocthar had dismissed him as a foolish youth. Kaden clearly saw the villain's sole aim: reviving his master.

As for how completing the bloodline enabled that, he remained utterly in the dark.

'Precisely.' Blanche affirmed gravely. 'I refuse to see you harmed, forever on the run. You're gifted, dear—beyond that, even. The gods would eagerly embrace you.'

'Would the gods truly pursue me?'

'Without question.' Her tone rang with certainty.

'Would they end my life?'

'They would.'

Kaden fell silent for a moment. Then, his voice resounded softly once more,

'One final query. Can they halt Death in its tracks?'

Blanche paused. Kaden sensed her imagined head cocking in bewilderment.

Nevertheless, she parted her beak and replied,

'Gods perish too, dear. Thus, none can defy death. Even the deity ruling death met its end. That fact speaks volumes.'

With this, Kaden flashed a chilling, lethal grin that froze the White Phoenix.

'Decision made.' He declared, shutting his eyes in serenity.

'What? I don't—!'

'I figured you'd grasp us by now, chicken.' Reditha chimed in at last, her tone bubbling with amusement.

'I do grasp you.' Blanche insisted firmly. 'Yet I fail to see why dear suddenly brims with assurance.'

'You overlooked something key, then.' Reditha noted. Kaden added promptly,

'I embody the bitter name, Blanche.'

'Huh?'

'I am Death.' He stated. 'And if gods can't evade death...'

Kaden and Reditha beamed like deranged spirits,

'...then all shall turn out fine.'

It wouldn't.

Kaden understood well. In these cursed realms, Death paled against worse fates.

Even so, he had to muster confidence and cast off dread of what lay ahead.

In that moment, one task demanded action: reaching the Shattered Temple of the Whimpering Saintess alongside Rea.

Intuitively, he sensed the journey would prove arduous.

Beyond that, Kaden couldn't shake thoughts of his bloodline's secrets.

On one hand, gathering the fragments tempted him, promising immense strength.

On the other, reviving an unknown dead god risked endangering his kin.

Complications always escalated somehow.

Muttering oaths, Kaden let Blanche's soothing glow envelop his thoughts until slumber claimed him.

Curiously, his final musings drifted to his companion Asael, pondering his current state.

Time had stretched far. Now, thoughts of their reunion stirred an odd bashfulness in Kaden.

What would it entail? Had Asael remained unchanged?

Kaden recognized he himself had transformed irrevocably. Yet he clung to hope that at least...

'...our bond endures.'

Soon, the realm of dreams seized his awareness, drawing him into profound rest where visions consisted solely of...

...

"Wake..."

Kaden sensed his form jostled. He let out a low groan.

"...up!"

He muttered complaints, rolling over to snag a comfier position for his vivid bad dream.

"WAKE UP!" Einar roared straight into his right ear.

"Gasp—!"

Kaden bolted upright with a sharp intake, lids flying wide, skull throbbing with the relentless echo.

He swore, "Fuck!"

Moments passed before his wits sharpened, realization flooding in. At once, he whipped his gaze to Einar, glaring with annoyance.

Einar grinned slyly, floating near Rea, challenging any retaliation.

"I've longed to rouse you." Rea mentioned. "Feeling better? What befell you?"

Kaden shifted his stare from Einar to Rea's crimson gaze.

"I'm as lost as you." He admitted with a sigh. "I merely observed the painting, and suddenly I was elsewhere entirely."

"What lurked in that spot?" Rea pressed.

"Blood, death, and war." Kaden replied. "Nothing more."

"Yet from it," Kaden went on, "I gleaned vital details on this location and the route to the Frosted Bridge."

He spoke with a grin. Rea's eyes sparkled.

"How so?" she queried, keen with interest. Since awakening, that puzzle had gnawed at her.

Noting her zeal, Kaden's grin widened. But prior to explaining...

"Thank you." Kaden uttered abruptly. "For pulling me back."

Rea's surprise at his sudden gratitude left her momentarily stunned.

She composed herself swiftly, nodding as her fingers toyed with her rings.

"No trouble."

Kaden's mouth quirked up. Then,

"So..."

And with that, he launched into the tale.

—End of Chapter 409—