Kai cleared his throat. Antagonising his big brother wasn’t part of the plan - he had to fix this.

  Who knew what Kharon the Dreadful would do when offended?

  Kharon spoke before Kai could press the issue.

  “Kai…brother.” Kharon shook his head. “Do you doubt my craftsmanship? Are you displeased with your suit?”

  Kai glanced down at his beautiful suit, which absorbed light and blood like a void. “About that…” Kai straightened. “This suit is more powerful than I could’ve hoped - it even impressed Thread God.” His expression hardened. “But how did it bond to my soul without my permission?”

  Kharon gestured to the suit. “Feeding it blood activates the bonding. Any summon must bond to your soul for you to command it - do you know nothing?”

  Kai lowered his head. “My knowledge of soul bonds is…lacking. Can you teach me?”

  “Unfortunately not. Balance God’s muzzle prevents me. All I can say is, it’ll make things more convenient for you.” He raised a finger. “Unless you bond yourself to a sentient being as a slave. That would be most inconvenient.”

  Soul bonds can enslave others? Am I a slave master now?

  “What about the suit? The dangers?”

  Kharon snorted. “You are its master. It cannot and will not harm you. Its loyalty is—”

  “Unwavering.” The words escaped Kai’s mouth with little thought.

  “Indeed.” Kharon raised his chin. “If you’re pleased with the suit - why are you longing for that grey fellow to grant you a weapon?” He glared at Kai.

  His eyes betrayed an emotion Kai couldn’t place.

  The memory of his first meeting with Kharon swam through his mind. His otherworldly beauty, his immense pressure, his offer to grant Kai a scythe fit for his pitiful power level.

  Forcibly gaining a new Gift and Curse had distracted him.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry. Does your offer still stand?”

  Kharon’s eyes brightened as he nodded. “Your apology is more than enough.” His angelic smile revealed itself once more. “I’ve customised this scythe to fit you perfectly. Regarding its power - I’m sure you won’t find it wanting.”

  Kharon’s chest inflated. His entire being radiated a smug aura. The pressure of his presence was minor compared to their first meeting. That must’ve been the difference between a fragment and the real thing.

  It was strange. This fragment was a convincing copy of his brother, yet it was only a piece of him. The concept revealed questions Kai wasn’t prepared to explore.

  Kharon stretched his right arm to his side and opened his palm. A void of darkness emerged and devoured all light in the chamber. It expanded until it resembled…a sword?

  Didn’t Kharon say he’d create a scythe?

  The sword’s hilt formed in Kharon’s hand. The black blade reached toward the heavens.

  “The scythe adapts - becomes a sword.” Kharon stepped toward him, blade in hand, presenting the hilt. “I assumed you’d feel more comfortable with this form.” He offered the sword to Kai, pride and compassion in his bearing.

  “But you must learn to wield the scythe to release the true power of Death.”

  True power of death…

  Kai’s eyes widened. “Will I be able to use my second Gift if I learn to use this scythe?”

  Kharon chuckled. “No, brother. The true power of death is much more than you can imagine. But there’s another workaround to use your Gift.”

  “A workaround?”

  “The suit. Your limited soul essence is the problem, right?”

  He was right.

  When he used [Lord’s Command] in the Dusk house - he passed out. Essence exhaustion - but the ability still brought Noll back, with modifications. [Blooded Mantle] turned blood into soul essence - the perfect solution.

  Kai’s eyes widened. “And becoming a Saint expands my essence pool?”

  Kharon nodded. “You should be able to create a minion or two. Oh, and tell Thread God we will meet soon...”

  A smile spread across Kai’s face. Undead minions - that’s more like it.

  Kharon continued. “Don’t forget to mention that Grandmother appreciates her work.”

  Kai’s mind was elsewhere, barely registering Kharon’s closing remark. He absorbed the information but didn’t analyse it.

  Tell Thread God they’ll meet soon…Grandma appreciates her work…I wonder if this sword can…

  Kai’s gaze found Kharon through the surrounding void. “Kharon, can this sword cut space?”

  “That sword can cut anything. But you are too weak to cut space. Aren’t you aiming too high?” Kharon scoffed. “Why not try piercing space first?”

  Piercing space…precision over brute force. A needle-point that slipped past any shield.

  Kai bowed in appreciation and reverence. “Thank you, big brother. Your wisdom…no, your guidance is unmatched.”

  Kharon nodded, his chest expanding to worrying degrees.

  “We have little time before you’re revived. Ensure you’re prepared. Your journey will not be easy.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  When was it ever easy for Kai?

  Kharon reached into his robe and produced three black rings. “These are for you.” He presented the rings to Kai.

  Kai hesitated.

  Kharon sighed and slowly shook his head. “Little brother. Have I done anything to bring you harm? To deserve your doubt?”

  The stone-faced bastard had commandeered Kai’s body and forced Space God’s Lineage on him. True - absorbing the Gift was better than relying on an easily lost ring. Now he wouldn’t lose his life if he lost his finger.

  But Kharon had violated Kai’s free will.

  He shivered.

  Kharon had outfitted him with top-tier equipment. He’d even offered useful guidance. His brother offered a loophole when Unbalanced God screwed him over with a second Curse.

  Granted, he was cleaning up his own mess, but Kharon had equipped Kai with lasting advantages. He insulted him for being weak, but he hadn’t done lasting harm.

  Maybe his brother had terrible social skills and didn’t understand boundaries?

  A scary question crawled into Kai’s mind.

  Have I ever had free will?

  How did Old Haggar know about the Black Book? Was it coincidence that he met Alira in the First Trial and she held the key to his salvation?

  He shook his head, unwilling to find answers to his questions.

  If he was a puppet - he’d grow strong enough to cut his strings. No use contemplating it.

  Kharon’s expression brightened, mistaking Kai’s head shake as an answer to his question. He offered the rings to Kai again.

  Did he even have a choice? Wouldn’t Kharon force him to take the rings if he refused?

  He examined the dark circles sitting in Kharon’s open hand. “What do they do?”

  Kharon pointed to a ring resembling a simple band. “This one lets you communicate with me.” Then he shrugged. “I can’t tell you about the rest until you’re ready.”

  Kai frowned. “Balance God’s muzzle?”

  “That’s part of it.”

  Kai nodded. Why fight the inevitable? He took the rings and wore them on his right hand. The silver infinity ring seemed foreign among its obsidian companions.

  The plain black band bore arcane markings, similar to those on the obsidian altar. The remaining rings morphed and changed shape under his gaze. More questions without answers.

  Kai was getting used to that.

  He asked a question with better odds of getting answered. “What’s the name of the artifact I need from the Nivisaras?”

  Kharon hid nothing. “The Frozen Tear. Now get ready - you don’t have long before you return to your body.”

  Kai acknowledged the warning and examined his new equipment.

  Artifacts: [Friendly Grasp] [The Unnamed Blade] [Dreadful Guidance] [ERROR] [ERROR]

  He examined an [ERROR], thinking it might reveal a sliver of information.

  A murky haze blanketed his mind - the description was disappointing.

  [ERROR]: PERMISSION DENIED! You lack the Authority to view this information.

  He sighed and examined the unrestricted ring.

  [Dreadful Guidance]

  Rarity: Rare

  Description: Crafted by Kharon the Dreadful, forged in love and black abyssal flames. This ring allows the wearer to communicate with Kharon.

  Kai’s brows furrowed. The description was simple enough, but…

  Does Kharon craft everything with love and black flames?

  He inspected his new weapon next.

  [The Unnamed Blade]

  Rarity: Divine

  Description: Born from a bone of Death God, tempered in love and black abyssal flames by Kharon the Dreadful. This divine blade has no name and no limit to its power, growing stronger with each soul it claims.

  The weapon reshapes itself to match its wielder’s needs and answers swiftly to its master’s call - eager to deliver death to enemies.

  Its infinite potential will reveal itself when its master proves worthy enough to bestow its True Name.

  Kai studied the words again, ensuring he hadn’t misread them.

  He hadn’t. His heart raced.

  A divine artifact, Death God’s bone, infinite potential. He struggled to prevent himself squealing like a little girl. This weapon was exactly what he needed.

  He observed Kharon’s well-earned smugness. “Balance God won’t let you tell me how to unlock the True Name, right?”

  Kharon sighed and nodded. Predictable.

  Words flowed into his head.

  [Bind [The Unnamed Blade] to your soul?]

  Kai twisted the silver ring on his right hand. “Should I soul-bind the blade?”

  Kharon smiled. “If you do not want it to devour your soul - you must.”

  As expected. Kai accepted mentally. He fed the dark blade his essence. The sword tugged as it bonded with his soul.

  Almost ready to leave.

  Kai checked his gloved hands. His right hand gripped the sword’s cold, carved hilt. His left cradled a bag of Darkshards.

  He could store the weapon in his soul - summoning and dismissing it at will. The bag of Darkshards was a different story.

  He fed the bag essence, trying to bind it. The Darkshards absorbed his essence, then…nothing. No bond, no reaction.

  But he had a master artisan right here, didn’t he?

  “Brother…got a bag with infinite space? One I can soul-bind?”

  Kharon's eyebrows rose. “Who do you think I am?”

  Kai cringed.

  He couldn’t ask his brother for everything.

  “I—”

  Kharon cut him off. “Of course I have one. Father left me trinkets from Space God to experiment with.”

  Kai didn’t know whether to be impressed by Kharon’s catalogue or Death God’s plundering. He chose both.

  Space God must despise Death God and his thieving ways.

  Kharon produced a head-sized black bag from his robes. Red stitching formed a skull.

  Kai bit back a sigh.

  Does he know any colours other than black and red?

  Kharon released the bag and it flew toward Kai. The embroidered skull opened its mouth, revealing a dark void - it sucked in the Darkshard bag like a black hole.

  Disturbing, but convenient - like all Kharon’s creations.

  Kai bowed again. “Thank you, big brother.”

  Kharon’s smile lit the ritual chamber. His chest ballooned so much Kai worried about his spine curving under the weight.

  “You’re welcome, little brother.”

  Kai’s soul was being pulled away - reunion with his body was imminent. Time was running out.

  “Where will I revive?”

  “A Dark Gate near the Nivisara lands.”

  A Dark Gate…

  Dark Gates connected Earth to the Darklands. They were dangerous blights on humanity. They were also the only way to travel between worlds. A twisted balance.

  When Dark Gates first descended, they wiped out billions. Horrific abominations emerged, reaping lives and occupying dead cities. Now the Gates were the path to vital resources - like water and Darkshards.

  Sector 9 was among the last havens with relative safety and infrastructure.

  But nowhere on Earth was safe from the Darklands.

  Kai sighed. “I’ll revive near a Dark Gate…with a hoard of abominations waiting to kill me…again.” Kai pressed fingers against his temples. “Does Father hate me?”

  Kharon laughed. “You’re his heir. He sent me to prepare the Gate for your arrival. I left only weaklings.”

  Kai wasn’t reassured.

  They had different definitions of ‘weaklings’. Kharon called him weak like it was his name. Anything Kharon considered ‘weak’ would kill Kai if he wasn’t careful.

  “Fine. I revive at the Gate. Then what?”

  “What else? You travel through the wilds toward a human settlement. Finding the Nivisara castle should be easy from there.”

  Kai grasped the plan. “I’ll follow a landmark to the nearest settlement. Got it.”

  Kharon frowned. “Why would you need that? Follow the sun.”

  Kai’s jaw tightened. Getting information from Kharon was like drawing blood from stone. “Setting sun or rising sun?”

  “Little brother, Father commanded the sun to show you the way. It will guide you for forty-eight hours. That should be enough time for you to pass through the wilds with your strength…or lack thereof.”

  Did he have to include that last part?

  Shock overshadowed Kai’s indignation. His eyes widened.

  “Commanded the sun?”

  “Of course. Father is God of the Darklands. The sun obeys his commands completely.”

  The words reminded Kai of Death God’s power. He fought to keep his jaw closed.

  “A static sun for two days…people will find it strange. Then I’ll arrive…” Could he be more suspicious? Maybe he could pick his preferred execution method.

  Kharon waved dismissively. “Strange things happen in the Darklands. And what can they do? Complain to Death God?” Kharon laughed, eyes shining with mirth. “Extended night will follow the extended day. It all balances out. Even the old fellow won’t complain.”

  Kai didn’t bother pointing out the ridiculousness of his brother’s logic.

  He couldn’t resist the pull anymore - he gave in and flew. He barrelled through a corridor of space and death. All he knew was darkness.

  Then there was light.

  Strange, ravenous hunger assaulted him. Sharp pain gripped his neck.

  Kai’s soul returned to his body.

  Do you think Kharon wants the best for Kai? Or is he up to no good?

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