CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: EYES WIDE OPEN

Chapter 37 – Eyes Wide Open

With the ring suppressing his presence and his perception stretched as far as it could go, Kaden was as close to invisible as an Awakened could get.

But close wasn’t enough.

He needed more. So much more.

That’s why if he could sharpen that edge even further—he would.

And he will.

’What’s my perception stat, Death?’ he asked silently.

[150.]

’How many stat points do I have left?’

[15.]

Kaden didn’t hesitate. ’Put all of it into perception. Do it.’

[DING! Confirmed.]

And then—he felt it.

The moment the points were allocated, his world shifted.

His awareness cracked open wider than before, sharper than ever. He could feel the rustling wind brushing against his skin and it was distinctly different from how it rustled against his clothes. Two completely different textures. Two different sounds.

Something in normal situation, he wouldn’t even notice.

And this improvement changed everything.

Long-range detection was still blurry, subtle movement at a distance was hard to detect easily but it was a start. A foundation. And it wouldn’t be long until he could read every flicker of air across miles.

He smiled faintly, the gathered himself.

It was time to act.

The plan was basic.

Find a lone guard. Kidnap him. Get answers—specifically, how to get the hell out of this forest before someone strong enough to make a mountain kneel decided to show up.

The plan had some loopholes. Big ones at that.

He didn’t know the guard’s patrol timing. He didn’t know if they had ways to communicate with each other. Didn’t know if they had instant-alert systems. Didn’t know if hurting one would alert the whole fucking Celestial Empire.

A dozen unknowns. And so a dozen chances to screw everything up.

And that means his death...literally.

Which is why Kaden made one thing clear to himself first:

"I need information."

You don’t run blind when death’s on the line.

You learn the terrain.

So he started watching.

Using his Slothful Steps technique, he became elusive, slipperier than a shadow on mist, blending through thick flora and fading under the shade of golden-hued trees. His presence was a whisper beneath the breeze. His perception scanned for movement with pinpoint focus.

The process was brutal. He had to keep every muscle relaxed and lazy as ever, every breath quiet, every sense wide open.

Hours passed.

Then more.

Nearly a day later—Kaden finally found someone.

A single guard, patrolling the edge of a deeper section of the forest. He was fully armored in gold and white but more importantly... he was alone.

And that’s when a thought struck Kaden...

’Why the hell are they even patrolling a forest?’

It didn’t make sense.

Patrolling meant guarding. Patrolling meant there is threat to guard off. Which meant something in this forest mattered.

And if something that mattered to the Celestial Empire was here, that was a very bad sign.

But Kaden put the thought aside. One thing at a time.

Focus.

He tailed the guard carefully, never getting too close, always double-checking if anyone else was nearby.

It was exhausting.

At first it was manageable. But as the hours ticked by, his mind started to slow. His thoughts felt heavier. But still, he pushed through.

And finally, after what felt like eternity—the guard walked toward something different.

A shift in the air, and in the terrain.

Kaden’s breath caught.

Through the thick trees, visible only because of his enhanced perception—stood a golden castle.

The castle was beautiful, regal, imposing and like anything else this damn forest...it was golden. Golden in a way that screamed purity and divine.

And of course...it was guarded.

Dozens of guards lined the area, swords in hand, posture straight, presence sharp.

The lone guard Kaden had followed walked toward them—and took his place among the formation like he belonged there all along.

Kaden didn’t dare move closer.

His instincts screamed at him.

Even a step forward, and he’d be noticed.

So he pulled back quietly and carefully.

He retreated into the forest and found a small cave not far from the castle’s perimeter. Somewhere to sit, to breath, but most importantly...

To think.

...

Kaden closed his eyes, organizing what he’d seen.

Multiple guard teams rotated through the forest. Some patrolled in groups. Some, rarely, went solo.

And he’d timed it by his internal clock.

Each patrol had a break—roughly 30 minutes—when the forest was left unguarded.

It should’ve been perfect. After all he would have a whole 30 minutes to escape.

But it wasn’t.

Because the forest wasn’t the challenge as it seemed.

It was the castle.

Kaden had followed every path, every step, and not once did he see an exit.

Which meant only one thing.

"The golden castle..." he whispered.

The exit was there.

It had to be.

And that changed everything.

It meant there would be no sneaking around.

No safe way out.

Just a fortress full of elite guards, standing between him and survival.

Kaden exhaled slowly, frustration leaking into his voice.

"Ah fuck... this shit is getting too difficult."

He had already died twice trying to enter Fokay. Now he had to break into a golden fortress belonging to the most powerful Empire in the Northern zone... just to get out?

It was enough to make anyone scream.

But he didn’t scream.

He just cursed massively.

Letting the pressure out.

And when it was gone—when his thoughts were clear again—

He whispered, "That guard... he’ll patrol again tomorrow."

Or whatever counted as ’tomorrow’ in this sun-bleached hell without night.

But the point stood.

The lone guard would walk alone again.

And this time?

Kaden would act.

He had a rough idea now.

A loose plan.

A target.

A route.

And something else—

"I haven’t used that trait in a long time, have I?" he muttered, smiling to himself.

Corrosive Blood.

It was time to see what it could do to a human body.

Kaden laid back, finally letting his mind drift into shallow sleep.

But even then—

One eye stayed shut.

The other...

...Wide open.

Metaphorically of course.

—End of Chapter 37—