Chapter 24 – Eyes on Me
Kaden walked calmly toward the edge of the forest.
Soon, he'd be out.
No more trees. No more beasts. No more blood-soaked roots or broken branches beneath his feet. Just—
[So… Be strong!]
[Host, were you actually serious, or just trying to act cool?]
His lips twitched.
Ever since he left that snake girl behind, Death wouldn't shut up about what he said to her.
"What do you want from me?" Kaden muttered, annoyed. "I don't even remember the last time I spoke to someone outside my family."
"And you know what my last life was like. You expect me to be a goddamn eloquent speaker now?"
[Weakness is a sin…]
He ignored Death. Again.
He just wanted to get the hell out of this forest.
…
Hours passed.
He encountered more beasts along the way, but they were weak—bottom-tier Awakened at best. Mindless, predictable. Same movements, same approach.
Instinct-driven.
But instinct didn't mean nothing when you faced someone stronger. Someone smarter.
And in this forest?
Kaden was both.
Eventually, he saw it.
The Great Wall of Waverith's Stronghold—stone carved from dark iron, towering, ancient. A symbol of power. Of protection.
'Now that I think about it… we're not the only big family here.'
Waverith had three pillars of power: the Warborn, the Elamin, and the Cerveau. Each had their domain. Each ruled in their own way.
Together, they controlled everything inside the Stronghold.
'Not that it concerns me.'
Kaden didn't give a damn about politics.
He never did.
The Warborns, in general, didn't either. They didn't care about power plays or backdoor deals. They didn't whisper in shadows or stab allies in the back.
They fought wars. That's what they did.
Simple and efficient.
And if someone provoked them?
They bled, badly.
But all that scheming nonsense? Not their style.
Was that a good thing?
Well…depends who you ask.
…
Kaden stood at the gates.
And again, he came face to face with someone unexpected.
"…Sister?"
Daela Warborn stood in front of the Stronghold gate, arms crossed, expression cold and unreadable. She wore her black training suit like armor, her aura sharp and suffocating.
The kind of presence that screamed: approach me, and you will die.
No one did. Of course.
You'd have to be an idiot to casually approach a Warborn descendant like her.
But then the whispers started.
"…Hey, isn't that the Child of Blood?"
"Yeah, born during that battle with that cowardly Beast King, right?"
"Can you feel that bloodlust? He looks like he wants to kill all of us."
"Shut up, idiot. Don't let him hear you—"
The rumors spread like wildfire. Everyone stared.
His birth was something the Warborns celebrated. So they were curious.
They watched, studied and measured.
Was he really worthy of the name?
Was he truly Warborn?
And Kaden… was shaken.
He'd never had this kind of attention before. Not in his past life. Not even when his family was still alive.
He was always just… there.
Average. Quiet. The kid with two decent friends and no desire for the spotlight.
But now?
All eyes were on him.
He never understood what the name Warborn actually meant until now.
'It's… weird.'
But if there's one thing his trial taught him—if there's one thing death carved into his bones, it's—
Fear is a root. If you let it grow, it'll choke you.
So he straightened his back.
His red eyes sharpened.
Reditha appeared in his right hand, humming softly with bloodlust.
Then—
He walked.
Not slow. Not rushed.
Just deliberate.
Every step was quiet, but his presence screamed death. The silence was instant. No one dared speak. No one even breathed.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Daela raised an eyebrow.
She noticed it immediately. Her little brother wasn't the same. His posture. His gaze. His will.
It was different.
Sharper.
And stronger.
She allowed a tiny smile to tug at the corner of her lips.
She had worried all this time. Wondered if he could carry their name. Carry the world's expectations.
But seeing him now?
Head high and eyes forward.
She was relieved…deeply.
She turned around.
"Let's go, little brother," she said softly. "We're expected."
Kaden smiled faintly.
"Yes, sister."
…
Elamin Family Estate – Frost room
Inside a secluded room frozen in eternal winter, a young girl sat cross-legged on solid ice. Her hair was a soft purple. Her eyes silver and unreadable.
Meris Elamin.
Snowflakes fell around her like ash, but she didn't flinch.
Then, a voice echoed in her mind.
"We have new information. The Child of Blood has returned."
She said nothing. But the voice knew she was listening.
"You don't need to bother with him. Just like his parents… all brawn, no brain. Not worth our attention."
The voice faded.
Meris opened her eyes slowly. "Not worthy…?"
She whispered the words, as if tasting them.
Then shook her head.
"I'll see for myself."
She didn't believe in rumors.
She only believed what she saw.
And this "Child of Blood"… she would see him with her own eyes.
For better or worse.
She closed her eyes again and resumed training.
…
Cerveau Family Estate – Azure Study
A young man sat in a quiet room painted deep blue. Long, smooth blue hair tied back in a ponytail. Sharp blue eyes, cold and calculating.
Nuke Cerveau.
He sat cross-legged, a hand placed on his head as he read another in hand—until—
Knock knock.
He frowned a little.
"Enter."
His voice was emotionless.
A maid stepped in. Head low, movements precise.
"You may speak."
"…Young master," she said, "we've received news about the youngest Warborn."
At the word Warborn, Nuke set his book down.
Now she had his full attention.
"Tell me."
She nodded. "He was seen outside the Stronghold with Daela Warborn. He likely completed successfully his trial. Or at least… he came back alive."
Nuke leaned forward, fingers tapping the armrest.
"How was he?" he asked. "The rumored Child of Blood—how did he appear?"
The maid hesitated. Then said, "Confident and arrogant. Like all Warborn."
Silence.
Then—
A smirk.
Cold and wicked.
"How convenient," Nuke whispered.
—End of Chapter 24—
—End of Volume 1: Kaden Warborn, The Child of Blood—
A/N:
The end of the first volume. Well, it was just a prologue showing Kaden with his new mindset. Now we will go into the real story.
Tell me your thoughts about it.
Thank you for reading and shower me with power stones.