CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: THE WEIGHT OF DEATH [2]

Chapter 166 – The Weight of Death [2]

Only those who understand the Weight of Death can wield Death.

This was such a simple concept, such an obvious thing but Kaden hadn’t even realized it.

Because he had missed something very important since the beginning... life.

Kaden took life lightly—not because he didn’t care anymore, but because when you have the power to revive, then surely, life would not hold the same weight as before.

Life would not be the same battlefield where you would do all you could just to survive. Life would not be the incredible journey of self-discovery and elevation anymore.

Life would just be... life.

But that’s not how things work.

Death would be meaningless if life didn’t exist. And so, to understand Death, why not go to the very source? Why not understand what makes death special? What makes death so feared?

And all those answers are found in... life.

That was the missing point.

That was what he had been missing this entire time.

Kaden’s mind continued to expand, his comprehension elevated to a ridiculous degree.

The space inside the underground became filled with the stench of death, but compared to the usual disgusting smell that it provoked in others this scene was... sweet.

Kaden’s enlightenment wasn’t done yet.

He had to make this new understanding firm inside his mind.

He had learned the importance of life but he had the power to revive after death.

So how could he truly give life its own value with that kind of power? That’s what he had to think about.

He couldn’t cripple himself by avoiding danger at all cost just to stay alive — that wouldn’t work — so he had to find a balance between both.

One that would support this new understanding... and elevate his concept of death.

And in this state of clarity, his mind was finding the answer pretty quickly.

He had to set limits for himself. Limits he would abide by.

’Dying is my power... but I shouldn’t choose death as the easy way. It’s a trap. I shouldn’t — just because I can revive —choose to die when things get tough. I will suffer for it.’

Because just like in his current situation, a time might come when dying won’t be an option.

So he had to be careful with it.

And also if he wanted to respect life, then he had to respect the lives of others.

Kaden would not rewind time to save someone if that person had wished to die.

He would let them die. That would be his respect. His consideration.

Even if all his being wanted to see that person lives. He would not.

All those things were being consolidated inside his mind until finally... everything clicked perfectly, making Kaden’s intent ascension finally complete.

The intent started to dissipate and retract within himself, his boundless black eyes fading as his usual blood-red eyes took their place.

But even after deactivating his intent, there was an unmistakable chill of death around him, permanently attached.

That’s what True Intent meant—not only did it grant a ridiculous boost to all his skills, but it also gifted him an aura tied to his intent. A passive, permanent aura.

And on top of that... he could now manipulate intent itself.

Just like how one manipulates mana but instead of raw energy like mana, intent was something closer to Will.

It was abstract. It was a concept.

But to manipulate it with the same ease as mana... would change the game of battle entirely.

Kaden finally stood up and looked at his body. Nothing had changed... but he felt like a new person.

And finally... he felt like the lingering regret, his regret of not taking care of the life his parents had given him back on Earth, dissipated.

Now... now Kaden was ready to value life. Not just because it mattered for death...

...but because life deserved to be valued.

Because for most people, you only live once—and not only that, but your lifespan is limited. Even superhumans like the Awakened, Intermediate, and Master ranks... still had limits.

A regular human, whether from Darklore or Fokay, could live up to around 120 years.

At Awakened, you could live up to 200.

At Intermediate, you gained an additional 100, so up to 300.

At Master, it wasn’t that much of difference between the two so up to 450 years.

But from Grandmaster onwards, the increase became dramatic, jumping from 450 to around 800 years.

Above that... Kaden didn’t know yet.

All of this... just to say that it’s precisely because life is limited in time, and because it’s a one-time event, that it deserves to be respected. Honored. Lived with everything you have.

And now that he understood that. Kaden had evolved again.

"Ah... I understand it now," he muttered softly under his breath.

"Did you really reach True Intent in just a week?" Asael asked from in front of him, not believing his eyes.

His friend was truly unfair. True intent was something he, himself, only achieved years of suffering in this dungeon.

But Kaden did it in one week?

How is this possible?

But Kaden only smiled at his shock. "I’m a genius. Didn’t I tell you that?" he said with a prideful grin.

Asael’s lips twitched. "You have told me many things that weren’t true, my friend." He retorted.

"Now you are hurting my feelings, Asael. I’m the most honest person in Darklore—no, in both worlds." Kaden defended himself, but Asael wasn’t having it.

"Yes, of course and I’m the best father in either world too," Asael blurted instinctively.

Instantly, silence reigned in the underground.

Asael opened his eyes slightly and covered his mouth with his hand, as if shocked he had said that aloud.

Kaden just looked at him with a mocking grin. "That’s great, Asael. Do you know what they say?"

"Self-awareness is the first step toward being a better version of yourself," he said with a wider grin.

"I think you have taken that first step very well."

Asael groaned in frustration but said nothing. He just sat on the black stairs and pointed to the door behind Kaden with his slender finger.

"Just go inside and take whatever we need to get out of this dungeon. I miss my princess," he said while waving his hand dismissively.

Kaden tilted his head. "You’re not coming? You might find something useful."

Asael shook his head. "I’m good. I told you, I’m not a fan of death. And I can feel it... I can’t enter that place. I don’t have the intent of death."

He smiled faintly.

Kaden nodded.

"Well, fine then," he said, turning around. The door was right in front of him—open. But nothing could be seen inside. Everything was black.

Kaden took a deep breath and steadied himself. His perception and death mana were reacting, something was inside.

An opportunity.

Finally, he took a step forward and entered the door.

Immediately, it closed behind him.

The moment he entered, Kaden felt like he had stepped into a completely different world. Everything around him was pitch-black, no light in sight. The scent was filled with death, as usual but there was something else. Something that made it... almost addicting.

Kaden frowned a little bit. He tried to expand his perception in order to know where exactly he was but nothing worked.

The moment he expanded it, it immediately disappeared as if...being killed.

A dark frown appeared on his face.

"Wh—!"

DING!

Kaden’s voice was interrupted by a chime.

A chime he recognized too well.

The Will.

And indeed—

{A being with the trait ’Corruptive Blood’ and the half fragment of the War-Aspect of ****** has been detected.}

{A being with refined comprehension of Death.}

{You are eligible.}

{Bear the Weight of Death and obtain the half fragment of the Death-Aspect of ****.}

At this, a soft light appeared in the room, illuminating only one part.

A dried corpse with a haunted expression was seated there beside a small river of black blood and above its hand floated a half-scythe, exuding a harrowing aura of death.

{Bear it, O Child of Blood.}

—End of Chapter 166—