Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power Chapter 410: Little contest

Morning arrived, with the initial beam of sunlight gently illuminating the visages of Kaden and Rea.

Positioned at the doorway of the peculiar dwelling, they gazed intently at the eight distant mountains rising prominently in the horizon.

The interior of the house now stood completely empty.

Kaden had claimed every single painting—without so much as glancing at them, not even sensing them through his awareness—the sofa, and even that odd, vibrant-hued rug.

His avarice didn't end there. He extended it boldly by seizing the azure flame flickering mildly beneath the hearth.

He instructed Blanche to claim it. Initially, the snowy phoenix hesitated greatly, deeming the flame rather... repulsive.

To her, Blanche explained, that blaze carried the stench of spoiled eggs, much like it would to people. It wasn't an element she desired to incorporate into herself.

Yet Kaden remained firm, prompting the White Phoenix to wail in protest before ultimately yielding to her lord.

However, she refrained from assimilating it, merely holding it inside her.

Kaden wasn't bothered by that.

"Are you certain about your intel?" Rea inquired, her gaze narrowing toward the remote eight ghostly mountain peaks.

Unlike the previous day upon their arrival, Rea now sensed they could actually get there.

How peculiar, she pondered momentarily.

"This is the sole clue available to us." Kaden shrugged. "I figure we lack any alternative except to pursue it."

"Moreover," he went on, "it's hardly like we'll forfeit anything by giving it a shot."

"Indeed." Rea inclined her head, recognizing the validity in Kaden's statement.

She breathed out, momentarily shutting her eyes. They flew open scarcely a moment afterward, her crimson gaze now firmer and icier.

"Which mountain do we begin with?"

"The third one."

"As you wish." Rea dipped her head and retrieved a duo of silvery, ring-adorned blades from her spatial ring.

Right then, Kaden couldn't hold back any longer.

"Do you have some obsession with rings or something?" His brows lifted high. "You've got tons of them. Damn, even your hair and those daggers are loaded with them."

'This is somewhat concerning,' he mused internally, restraining any sign of criticism from appearing on his expression.

It proved a challenging endeavor, and he shamefully botched it.

"Are you critiquing my style?" Rea questioned, her eyes tightening.

"I'm just curious."

"No, you're judging me. Why? Have I commented on yours?"

"Mine's pretty standard, honestly."

"So mine isn't?"

"I mean..." Kaden trailed off, eyeing Rea's irritated expression. Evidently, she disliked him highlighting her eccentric fashion.

He gradually faced ahead and cleared his throat loudly.

"I believe we can set off now." He quickly switched topics. "We can't afford to squander much time."

"And I know you sense them as well." He appended, now with a subtle grin. "Let's see who slays the most."

"Why would I?"

"You're no fun, Rea." Kaden tsked. "But regardless, the loser handles cooking and pitching the tent for the night."

He cast her a quick sideways look. "What do you think?"

Rea hesitated.

During their journey, Kaden had prepared a meal once, offering her some despite her embarrassment.

It had been ages since she savored anything so delicious, as the Church of Sorrow insisted on infusing everything with melancholy... even meals stirred a desire to weep.

Not in a pleasant manner, to clarify.

She'd felt too bashful to request his cooking, particularly given her demeanor toward him. But with this proposal, Rea saw a chance to relish those talents again.

Noticeably, her presence sharpened, growing more intent and resolute.

"Let's keep it even." Rea suggested, aware that Kaden outmatched her. "You'll restrict your power to Master level."

Kaden stifled a chuckle.

"You believe that'll alter the result?"

"Are you scared?"

"Hm, attempting to provoke me?" Kaden remarked. "Alright, fine. I acce—!"

Rea vanished, transforming into a streak of ragged glow as she plunged into the pristine snowy expanse.

Kaden let out a hearty guffaw. He snapped his fingers, incinerating the house in his wake to pale cinders that the howling gale swiftly dispersed.

Afterward, he called forth Reditha, his sight locked on the fog-formed beasts scurrying everywhere.

"You'd better hurry up, Kaden." Reditha stated upon materializing at his back. "Lady Rea has a huge lead."

"I'm not sightless." Kaden replied. "I'm merely granting her a fair head start. I'm a just guy. You know she can't compete with me even at Master rank."

"You've overlooked how she amplifies herself with fear." Reditha cut in. "Do you grasp the boundaries of that ability? Perhaps it has none."

"There has to be a limit. All abilities possess one."

"Even so, it might be sufficient for her victory. And haven't you detected it?" Reditha's tone dropped naturally. "The aura surrounding Lady Rea."

Kaden's expression grew somewhat graver.

"I have." He affirmed. "I've noticed it from our initial encounter in that inn. The aroma of Divinity clings heavily to her. Particularly around her mind, and the site of her core."

"And it's a Divinity we've encountered before, too." Reditha noted. "Sorrow."

Kaden remained quiet. This evoked memories of Rea's uncle's intent to slay her.

There was also that apparition of Luke genuflecting before a woman with ashen skin. Kaden hadn't been in control then, but reflecting now, he recognized that figure bore the Divinity of Sorrow.

"Blanche, are you familiar with the goddess of Sorrow?"

'Only by reputation.' Blanche rasped. 'She goes by the WoefulOne. A superior deity among the divine.'

'Superior?'

'Affirmative. Not all gods hold equal status. They possess hierarchies, though I'm ignorant of the details. I'm no deity.'

Kaden cocked his head. 'I assumed you were. Your kin, that is.'

Blanche chuckled. 'We are Myth. We emerge from various facets of the Seen and UnseenWorlds. This grants us distinctive abilities and elevated starting potency. Yet we can't progress further. The sole method is...'

'To bond with another entity.' Kaden surmised.

'Correct,' Blanche affirmed. 'Hence, our lineage performed ceremonies and trials to select our Host. BloodandAshesrituals, as we termed them. A ceremony of demise and renewal via blood and ashes. However...'

Blanche's tone grew taut with lingering emotions.

'...however, we all turned to dust, dispersed by time's relentless breeze. I scarcely recall the events of the past millennia. And I can't locate my kin anymore. Where might they be? Are they safe? Why have my memories faded?'

'I'm utterly isolated now. I...'

For the first time, Blanche displayed raw panic.

She'd strived to seem resilient up to this point, but few things terrified more than losing vast swaths of one's existence from memory.

A profound emptiness gripped her, one she had no idea how to mend.

Kaden and Reditha grew quiet, respecting her doubts and terrors.

Moments later,

"You're not solitary, chicken." Reditha declared. "Or do we not matter?"

Kaden grinned. "Exactly, Blanche. I mean, we're bound together at this stage, right? And rest assured, I'll track down every one of your siblings."

'You will?' Blanche trilled with delight.

"Naturally." Kaden bobbed his head. "I planned to anyway. I require your family's flames, after all. But now, I'll pursue it for your sake too. I'm convinced they're out there, alive."

Silence enveloped Blanche briefly. But it soon shattered as she shrieked joyfully, manifesting in a flare of fire to plant a kiss on Kaden's right cheek.

"Thank you, darling!"

Kaden laughed softly. Reditha beamed.

Yet their expressions stiffened abruptly as awareness dawned...

"Kaden..."

Reditha murmured.

"Yeah... I realize." Kaden's mouth quirked sharply. "I completely overlooked the challenge with Rea."

He emitted an uneasy chuckle, then clutched Reditha firmly, adjusting his grip to prepare for a launch.

Drawing his right arm back, his sinews swelled and popped, making the surrounding atmosphere crackle.

"Well, I suppose I'll have to push a bit more against her."

He smirked.

"Away you go, Reditha. Eliminate them all."

Kaden spun on his heel, whirling around, and hurled Reditha skyward.

A thunderous blast, akin to a crumbling edifice detonating, echoed as Reditha tore through the atmosphere, soaring upward.

At her peak altitude, she paused and reoriented, aiming her point straight down.

Crimson fluid streamed from her, staining the firmament like sanguine dye on pristine canvas.

The fluid bubbled, twisted, then morphed into scarlet blades.

In a terrifying instant, the heavens bristled with weaponry.

Rea halted her rampage, glancing skyward.

Her lips contorted as she beheld the barrage of blades cascading from above without pause or pity.

—End of Chapter 410—