CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: FUCKING HELL

Chapter 36 – Fucking Hell

Rea stood stunned for a long second after hearing the guards’ words. Their voices, their tone, their... forced smiles, everything about them unsettled her deeply. Still, she forced a polite smile, hiding the weight that pressed at her chest.

"Is there a place I can stay here?" she asked quietly, voice measured.

She needed a base. Somewhere to settle, somewhere to breathe and plan. Because just like Kaden, she had already saturated her origin. Now, the only step left was to find an evolution stone, start the Evolution Quest and step into the next tier of strength.

But evolution stones didn’t just grow on trees. Finding one in the wild was technically possible—but the odds were laughable.

Which left one solution.

’I need to buy one. And for that... I need money.’ Rea thought as her eyes narrowed slightly.

One of the guards nodded slowly, his unsettling smile still plastered in place.

"There’s an inn at the city center. Go there. If you have coin, pay. If not—you can work for the Church and earn it."

That was all.

The guards turned away, stepping back to their posts like wind-up dolls returning to idle stance. They left Rea standing there, alone, with her thoughts chewing into her bones.

She started walking toward the Church. Not because she lacked funds—but because what she had wouldn’t be nearly enough. Even the lowest quality evolution stones were expensive, and her family... wasn’t exactly well-funded.

Her steps were calm, but her fists were clenched.

She hated it.

She hated the fact that while the other heirs would likely enter Fokay with artifact support, guards, funding, and pre-made evolution plans—she had to work for scraps. Had to hustle for every step.

After all,

They had money.

They had comfort.

They had time.

She had pressure.

And that was why, for her, it was simple.

"Become stronger. Then amass money."

Yes.

Rea was a firm believer that almost anything—loyalty, security, protection, survival—could be solved with enough wealth and power.

Was she wrong?

Who knows.

...

While Kaden and Rea faced Fokay in their own way, Meris was stepping in too.

But unlike them, she didn’t spawn into danger. Not a cursed zone. Not a territory ruled by zealots or monsters.

She spawned in comfort.

In the capital of the Celestial Empire—a place her family had long since claimed a strong foothold in.

That was why right now, Meris Elamin was calmly sipping tea, legs crossed elegantly over each other, her purple hair flowing like silk behind her.

"My lady, what do you wish to do now?" Lari, her ever-loyal maid, asked with polite caution.

Meris didn’t answer immediately. She took another sip of tea, savoring the floral notes, before finally opening her mouth—

"I’m not in a rush," she said with a lazy shrug, eyes half-lidded. "I’ve trained nonstop for five years. A little rest won’t kill anyone, right?"

It sounded so calm. So reasonable.

But Lari was sweating already.

"My lady..." she began, voice tight. "The Matriarch sent word. She said if you spend even a day lounging, she’ll destroy your tea sets, your clothing, your jewelry... and your entire doll collection."

Meris’s calm expression twitched.

Her fingers froze around the teacup.

She could handle the tea.

She could stomach the loss of jewelry.

She could even forgive the clothes.

But the dolls?

Hell fucking no!

"...What?" she said sharply.

She stood, grabbing Lari’s shoulders. "Tell me that’s a joke, Lari."

Lari didn’t even flinch. She was used to this by now.

"I’m afraid not, my lady. You know the Matriarch. She never jokes."

Meris’s expression darkened.

"That damn old hag..."

She muttered under her breath and turned abruptly walking away.

"Where are we going now, my lady?" Lari asked, following her without missing a step.

Meris smiled—bright, cheerful, and completely fake.

"What a strange question, Lari. I have a date to prepare for, don’t I?"

She twirled a bit of her hair between her fingers.

"I need my nails done. My hair redone. And obviously, new clothes."

Lari almost tripped.

She looked up in disbelief. "You’re serious...?"

Meris didn’t even bother to respond, she was ttill walking, still radiant, still...carefree.

Lari sighed under her breath.

"Crazy bitch."

...

"Ah, fucking hell..." Kaden groaned, back pressed against the wall of a narrow cave—one he had painstakingly found after hours of creeping around like a hunted rat.

He had almost given up hope of finding a place like this.

Now, he needed to think.

A plan.

A proper one.

Because the quest wasn’t to defeat someone, or take something, or survive X hours—it was escape without being caught.

That was the key.

But that was also the problem.

"...Where the hell even is the exit?" Kaden asked aloud.

He didn’t know.

And that meant he’d have to find it.

But after hours of searching the endless golden forest, he had found nothing. No hint. No exit. No sign of direction. Just searing heat and endless trees. Even focusing was hard with the oppressive warmth.

Which made one thing clear.

Searching for the exit on foot, passively, carefully... was not an option.

It would take too long.

So—

"I’ll just have to ask someone."

He let the words hang in the hot air. There was no humor in his voice.

The quest said not to be caught.

It didn’t say anything about not interacting.

So technically—technically—if he made someone talk, without getting caught...

That was fair game.

"Easy, right?" he said dryly.

Then he laughed softly to himself. Crooked, tired.

He was Awakened rank.

The guards and warriors here? All stronger. At least one tier higher.

That meant—

"I’m fucked, aren’t I?"

But he didn’t wallow in it.

He’d learned long ago that complaining doesn’t save you. Crying doesn’t change fate. Wasting time never gave anyone strength.

Only action mattered.

And in his current situation?

There weren’t a million choices.

Just one.

A simple one on paper. Horrifying in practice.

"I just need to find someone... and politely ask for the exit."

And by "politely," of course—

He meant torture.

Ruthless, bloody, efficient.

This wasn’t the time to play hero. This wasn’t the time to be soft. If he wanted to live, if he wanted to complete this quest and evolve and survive—

Then it was time to live up to the name.

Child of Blood.

And blood would spill.

Whether his...

Or theirs.

Hopefully not his.

"Fucking hell," Kaden muttered again—then stood, Reditha materializing in his hand.

Time to hunt.

Time to kill.

Time to survive.

—End of Chapter 36—