Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power Chapter 459: Nameless Host

"Perhaps you aren't fond of the meal, dear guest?" The enigmatic entity inquired, a subtle smirk playing on its lips while it stared intently at Kaden.

Kaden remained silent, still reeling from the surreal nature of his current situation.

He found himself trapped within the residence; despite the overwhelming atmosphere of dread, the house itself held an oddly pleasant quality.

A delicate fragrance permeated the air, perfectly harmonized with a soft, melodic background tune that felt strangely appropriate for the scene.

Rea slumped in the chair to his left, her eyes shut and her limbs lifeless. Kaden had to employ his blood manipulation technique just to keep her upright.

He slowly cast his gaze downward at the alluring dishes, which triggered an undignified rumble of hunger from his stomach.

Kaden honestly struggled to recall when he had last consumed a proper meal. In truth, he could remember, but it felt like a lifetime had passed, even if it had been less than a month.

Yet, the sheer density of events that had occurred since then left his memories cluttered and blurred.

He released a frustrated sigh, fighting the urge to scarf down the food, and redirected his focus toward the mysterious figure.

I still cannot discern what this is. Kaden pondered anxiously.

He was not only unable to gauge the creature’s cultivation level, but he also couldn't determine its gender.

It was deeply unsettling.

The appearance was a fusion of both sexes—as if some deity had been unable to commit to one—a quality mirrored in its voice and mannerisms. These gestures seemed to pulse in a constant, rhythmic synchronization with whatever invisible sound it was observing.

"Why do you refuse to eat?" The being asked, tilting its head while consuming a piece of meat glistening with gravy.

"My mother taught me not to take food from strangers."

"Ah, a prudent piece of advice." The creature cackled like a crow before gently setting its utensils down with a faint clatter. "In that case, I shall properly introduce myself, dear guest."

Clasping its fingers together atop the table, it parted its lips to speak.

"I possess no name," it stated. "No one has ever bestowed one upon me, and I neither desire—nor possess the capacity—to name myself."

"That ensures you shall remain a stranger to me forever," Kaden replied.

"Do you truly believe a name defines an individual?"

"A name acts as an anchor for one's identity," Kaden argued. "Without it, how can you even confirm your own existence?"

"Is it the name, or the memories?" The entity smirked.

Kaden paused, bewildered. "What?"

"You claim a name anchors identity," the creature iterated. "But are you entirely certain of that?"

Kaden didn't get a chance to respond as the androgenous being continued in a melodic, rhythmic tone that practically forced him to pay attention.

"Allow me to strip you of your name," it said, idly toying with a knife. "Would you cease to be who you are? In all likelihood, no. A label is just a label, not the essence of your being. Sometimes labels hold enough gravity to direct your actions, but that is merely because they are tethered to something else..."

It raised a finger, grinning widely.

"...tethered to the history you carry. In other words, your memories."

It offered a playful wink, observing Kaden’s perplexed yet fixated expression.

"Now, let us flip the scenario," the creature chuckled joyfully. "What if I were to steal your memories? The recollections of your youth, the moments that shaped your path, everything you have ever experienced—leaving you with nothing but your name."

It exhaled softly before continuing.

"Tell me then, Kaden Warborn—"

Kaden’s pulse skipped.

"—are you still Kaden Warborn?"

He remained silent, unable to form a retort. The being's logic resonated with a haunting truth, forcing him to confront concepts he had never deeply explored.

He had been raised in a world where names carried immense weight, and his own experiences, like those involving Aurora or Sora, had only reinforced that belief.

He had always assumed it was the name that mattered, but it was really the memories intertwined with those titles.

His eyes sharpened. Lifting his head, he stared at the entity’s strange grin.

"I," Kaden began, "would likely not be the person I am today. But," he hesitated, his brows knitting in confusion, "how do you know my name? I never revealed it to you."

"I have no name of my own," the creature said, twirling its fork, "but all names are known to me. Possessing a name allows me to access the memories tied to it. By doing so, I understand a person in ways they cannot even comprehend themselves."

Kaden felt his throat tighten, a knot of dread forming in his gut.

"Why... why divulge this to me?"

The air chilled, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"It will not change the outcome," the creature answered with a casual shrug.

"What is it you want from me?"

"A name."

Kaden froze, frowning as he tilted his head in confusion.

"A name?" he repeated. "Didn't you just say—!"

"I never claimed a name was useless. I stated that memories define you, not the name itself. However," it paused with a thin smile, "you require a name to be remembered, so that your history might travel from within you into the wider world. That is how legends and myths are forged."

"And you desire to be among them."

"My ambitions are not so grand. Not anymore. I once existed as such, and it is far less glorious than mortals imagine." Its smile lost its warmth. "Now, I simply seek a name so I might be remembered as something entirely new."

"Sometimes, remaining nameless is a blessing," Kaden said, not entirely sure why the words left his mouth.

The creature gave a slight nod. "Yet, something must be named to evolve and ascend to a higher form of existence."

"Is that your goal?"

"That is my fervent hope."

"Then how am I supposed to name you?"

"Oh, an excellent inquiry," the creature chuckled, leaning back in its chair. "I mentioned that I can perceive the memories of the names I possess."

"Yes."

"Yet, I could not witness the entirety of yours, Kaden." The being shifted its gaze to the unconscious Rea. "Nor can I see everything within this girl. Rea, you call her? A lovely name, but an empty one."

"What are you implying?" Kaden asked, sitting forward.

"Exactly what I said," the being shrugged. "You possess an emptiness within you—an void so deep that my power fears to probe further. That makes you uniquely suited to be my namer. I have waited for this since I encountered that talented man."

Emptiness? Kaden thought. Talented man?

"As for the girl," it pointed toward Rea, "I see nothing at all, because her name is existentially false. My current state cannot bear her true identity. How far I have fallen."

It spoke with genuine melancholy, then its lips curled back into an eager smile.

"This is quite the curious pair. Who are you truly?" It shook its head. "It matters little. All I require is to be named."

"Why should I agree to this?" Kaden retorted, deeply uncomfortable with the turn of events. "What if by naming you, I birth a calamity? What if I invite a curse upon myself?"

"Because you have no other recourse."

"What?"

"If you wish to survive and save this girl, that is," it specified. "You cannot see it, Kaden, but there are two rhythms struggling for dominance over her body. One is failing. I need not say which one."

Kaden hissed, his anger flaring. "Do you know how to escape this place?"

The creature looked at him with an expression of pity, as if Kaden were the most foolish person it had ever encountered.

"Naturally. I am the master of this... hmm, how should I label this state? Let us borrow a term from that talented man..."

It clapped its hands, while Kaden glared with icy intensity.

"Ah, yes. I am the master of this Echo of Warren."

—End of Chapter 459—