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), [Breath of the World] (-90%W, +90%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.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
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—a 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.
