Chapter 4 –
"HAHAHAHA—WORTHLESS!"
Gasp—!
Kaden jolted awake.
His heart pounded like a war drum. Sweat clung to his skin. His chest rose and fell in jagged bursts.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
"Shit," he growled, gripping his sheets. "Another one."
Another nightmare.
Another echo of his old life.
The humiliation. The bullying. The slow death of his mind and soul.
"When the hell does this end?"
He ran a hand through his thick, jet-black hair, pushing the nightmare out of his head.
[It ends when you let go of the past and live the life before you.]
"I have let go," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "I'm not Boris anymore. I'm Kaden. Child of Blood. I've moved on."
...Right?
[...]
The system said nothing.
Kaden welcomed the silence. He wasn't in the mood for a psychological debate first thing in the morning.
Knock knock—
The door creaked open.
A maid entered, graceful and composed. Auburn hair in a tight bun. Her eyes warm but wary.
She bowed with practiced precision.
"Happy birthday, young master Kaden. Your family awaits you in the Awakening Room."
He nodded once. "I'll be there soon."
He didn't look back as he walked to the bathroom.
Behind him, the maid frowned.
He looks troubled again, she thought. But quickly shook it off.
Not my business.
...
Inside the bathroom, Kaden stared at his reflection.
A handsome face stared back—sharp jawline, pale skin, symmetrical features. His black hair framed his crimson eyes perfectly. Undoubtedly, he was handsome.
He scoffed.
"At least I'm still good-looking."
But what's the point of being beautiful in a world that only respects power?
He leaned closer to the mirror, eyes cold and sharp.
"This is it," he whispered. "The beginning."
"System. Ready?"
[Host, I was born ready.]
"Bullshit. You were programmed ready."
He smirked.
"Well then. Let's go."
The Awakening Room.
The Warborns stood like statues. Regal. Deadly.
Sarena and Garros at the center, arms crossed. Daela and Dain flanking them—two monsters in human skin.
Dain huffed. "Where is he? I've got better things to do."
"Like slaughtering weak beasts?" Daela said dryly, unfazed.
"Why are you even here? Just go back to Fokay and start your evolution quest."
"I would, if my origin was saturated enough. I need more beast cores. Unlike some people," he glanced at his parents, "I don't get any handouts."
Sarena raised a brow. "But you're doing well, aren't you?"
Dain's lips twitched. "If Kaden asked for help, I bet you'd hand him the crown. Playing favorites now?"
"Obviously," Daela added, deadpan.
Garros chuckled. "Leave the kid alone. He's different."
"I'll say," Dain muttered. "Still, where is he—"
Click.
The door opened.
Kaden stepped in, clad in a simple black robe. His walk was calm. Focused. Unshaken.
He stopped a few paces in front of them.
"Hello."
He greeted softly.
Dain approached with a grin, clapping him on the back hard. "Took you long enough, little brother. Let's get this over with—I've got monsters to butcher."
Pa pa—!
Cough—!
"Yes, Brother Dain," he muttered, barely keeping upright under Dain's hammer-like slaps.
Dain was just like Garros. In fact he was just the younger version of him.
Tall, big muscles with black hair and red eyes.
Then—
"Kaden!"
The room fell quiet.
Garros stepped forward, a crimson orb floating in his palm.
"This," he said, "is the Awakening Crystal. It will channel mana into your body and unlock your Origin."
His voice was steady. Cold steel wrapped in pride.
"The Warborn line usually awakens Weapon-type Origins. That's our legacy. But if yours isn't—so be it."
His tone darkened.
"As long as it's strong. Strong enough to protect you."
The air grew heavier.
"Because from this moment on—you're no longer sheltered. Not even by your mother."
Kaden met his father's gaze, unblinking.
"You were born weak, but that won't excuse you anymore. Not in this house. Not in this world."
"Prove you're worthy of this bloodline."
Worthy.
The word echoed in Kaden's mind.
He nodded, eyes burning.
Behind them, Sarena's eyes tightened. She said nothing, but her heart trembled slightly. So did Daela's. Even Dain's ever-arrogant smirk wavered.
They wouldn't show it. But all three were fiercely protective of him.
Garros says he won't protect him anymore, they thought. But—
'Let someone try.'
'Try touching him and see what happens.'
'I am the only one with the permission to hurt him.'
They were not quite in accord with Garros this time.
Garros held out the crystal.
"Origin rarities range from Common, Rare, Unique, Legendary, to Mythic. For us, anything below Unique is garbage. Unique is acceptable. Legendary is respected. Mythic... is revered."
He nodded.
"Your turn."
Kaden stepped forward and took the crystal.
His fingers curled around it.
He inhaled—
And let the mana in.
It started slow. A trickle. A whisper of power.
Then—
WHOOSH—
A vortex of energy erupted around him. Crimson mana whirled like a storm, crackling with pressure.
Sarena's eyes narrowed. "He's... absorbing it fast. Too fast."
The others tensed.
This wasn't normal.
This was high-ranking.
At that thought they all smiled in relief.
Relief that Kaden will have a high ranked origin.
But even they didn't know—
Kaden wasn't just awakening his Origin.
He was awakening his system too.
[Host has awakened his Origin.]
[Origin: Bloodsoaked Sword King — Legendary.]
[System functions now unlocked.]
[Welcome to the Cycle of Rebirth System.]
[Principle: Die to grow stronger.]
—End of Chapter 4—