Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

After leaving Zaki alone to fend for himself against the two goblins, Kaden went back to meet the girls.

You couldn't imagine how shocked he was to see Daela actively talking with Eimi. Hell, Daela never even spoke that much with him.

That scene alone shattered his heart, as Kaden stood there wondering if life was even worth living anymore, because apparently, all it took was a single stagger and a tearful hug for Daela to open up more to a stranger than to her own brother.

He was so dejected he just stood there like a shadow, watching them speak about things he didn't care about—shoes, flowers, training, Kaden's behavior apparently—he wasn't sure anymore, he had zoned out from emotional pain.

Eimi asked him where Zaki was, but now seeing her almost as a rival for his sister's affection, Kaden simply responded curtly, acting like a sulking child.

What a child indeed.

And to make it worse, Daela even told him to go away and let them have some girls' talk while he waited for Zaki to return.

At that moment, as he stared into Daela's ever expressionless face and saw no hesitation, no regret, no sympathy—Kaden nearly passed out.

But he didn't say much. He simply walked away and took his distance.

He sat alone beneath a solitary tree, his eyes vacant and soul hollowed.

That's when a familiar warmth appeared beside him.

Reditha, his ever-loyal sword, his companion, manifested softly, then gently dropped onto his lap, her presence flooding him with a warmth that filled every inch of him like soothing fire in winter.

Kaden smiled then, finally,

"Reditha… you're the best ever."

"I miss little Rory too… let's go back fast and be together again."

He spoke gently, and in response, Reditha hummed with a slow but intense crimson light, resonating with his emotions, agreeing without words.

What happened next was Kaden complaining to Reditha like a child would to his mother after being wronged at school, whining about Daela's behavior, mimicking her cold tone, wondering why the world was so cruel to a little brother just trying his best.

It was a ridiculous sight.

And the most ridiculous part?

Reditha actually seemed to listen seriously, reacting with bursts of emotion and color, humming in disapproval when Kaden recalled Daela's words, even projecting defiance at one point and going as far as threatening to teach Daela a lesson for neglecting her poor brother.

What a daring and sincere sword she was.

But all of this was Kaden overthinking things as usual, not knowing that in this world or even two worlds, there was nothing and no one that could ever replace him inside Daela's heart.

It simply wasn't possible.

And all Daela was doing now was shaping Eimi into her own—no, not a copy of herself, but something close enough.

She wanted a friend she could talk with about Kaden's training, about how adorable and serious he looked when he focused, how gentle and oddly selfless he was even when acting like a dumbass.

She needed a bestie, you could say.

And since she didn't have one, she simply decided to make one.

That's why she went so far as to offer Eimi a place in their household as her follower.

Eimi, an orphan who had been surviving on the streets and only managed to eat thanks to Zaki, was overwhelmed with gratitude—being welcomed into a home, offered a roof and meals, and more importantly, a sense of belonging.

But she wanted to wait for Zaki to return and decide together.

Daela didn't mind waiting.

And almost an hour later, Zaki finally appeared.

His clothes were torn, blood dripping from cuts that hadn't fully closed, his red hair messy and caked in dirt and green goblin blood.

In his hands was a pair of red daggers with golden threads engraved on them. They were his mother's daggers, the ones she once wielded in her youth, the ones she had passed down to him.

And those were the blades he used to kill his first ever beasts.

The fight had been hard, brutal even, but he had pushed through, repeating the same words again and again:

I am strong.

At first, nothing changed. He felt nothing. His body was slow, his swings clumsy, and hope started to slip through his fingers like sand.

But then…

You are what you think about the most.

Those words echoed in his mind, Kaden's voice ringing with truth.

And he kept thinking them.

Kept believing.

And in the end… he killed them.

That's when he understood, that's when it clicked.

His skill, 'Self-Enhancement', it didn't work through stats or calculation, but belief.

He realized he was vague, because strength depended on so many things but as soon as he started being specific, as soon as he began telling himself things like "I'm faster than these goblins", then the skill responded immediately.

Because it was true.

The goblins were slower. He believed it without a doubt, and that unwavering belief sharpened his speed until they couldn't keep up.

And that was when he truly understood the nature of his power.

It was tied to belief. To the mind.

All he needed was one proof.

A single proof that it worked.

And now that he had it…

He wouldn't cower again.

So when Zaki returned to Eimi and the Warborns, he wasn't the same.

He still had a long road ahead, yes—but his gaze no longer looked downward, his shoulders weren't hunched, and his steps were firmer.

Eimi noticed it immediately, and a wide, beautiful smile bloomed on her face.

And instinctively…

"Yes… that's who you're supposed to be, Zaki," she said, her voice soft but powerful.

Her words echoed through Zaki's head like thunder, because yes, that was who he was supposed to be.

He just hadn't lived up to it because of fear, pain, and the weight of his past.

He smiled again, because he understood something else today again.

His mind… was truly something wonderful.

Give him the right words, the right meaning and he'll go beyond what was originally intended.

A true Child of Heavens indeed.

After that, Eimi told Zaki about Daela's offer.

And Zaki was happy for her—genuinely happy that Eimi would finally have a home.

And with how Kaden and Daela were, he wasn't worried. She would be safe.

As for him… he chose to remain inside the Caelion household.

Because he realized something else too, if he truly wanted to forge a strong will, then he needed to face the challenges that created his weakness in the first place.

And there were plenty of those inside that cursed house.

So he would return.

He would face them.

He would forge himself.

Kaden smiled at his decision.

To Zaki, that smile looked like a proud older brother, pleased with the little brother finally stepping up and taking responsibility.

But in reality…

"Yes, grow fast and come kill me, Child of Heavens. Hehehehe! The power of thought? HAHAHA! I cannot wait!"

Kaden was clearly losing his mind after finding someone with a Mythic-ranked Origin.

What a strange, strange Child of Blood.

And just like that…

They went back to Waverith.

All of that after Kaden rescued his sister from the hands of a grandmaster, destroyed half a city lived by beasts, nearly killed a Master-ranked Cerveau, and gave purpose to a man who would soon…

…well, you'll see.

All in all, he succeeded in his mission beautifully, and that's why…

DING!

[Quest completed.]

—End of Chapter 121—

A/N:

It was a delightful month. I saw your prompt response about my wish of reaching 400 GT.

Thank you for all, I almost cried of joy.

And…

…thanks for reading ?