Black Killer Kain (2)
"Won't you leave Lunaria with me and head to Haven?"
I kept my expression as calm as possible in response to Kain's cautious question, but inside, I was screaming with joy.
Yesss! I'm alive! I really survived! It worked!
Kain was Balderic's right-hand man, practically her shadow.
A perfect executor who followed only her will, a loyal tool with no room for his own thoughts.
But he was a man possessed of fanatical loyalty to Balderic and absolute devotion to Haven.
That made him the one who anticipated and carried out her intentions better than anyone.
If he encountered a powerhouse with no will for life or purpose...
I figured he'd try to recruit him as Haven's strength.
And fortunately, my calculations were spot on.
When the words Shadow Rift Field came out of his mouth, my heart nearly stopped.
I knew the culprit and outcome of the Lunaria Empire Prison 3 collapse, but not the process.
Shadow Rift Field.
The most horrific explosive created by Haven's vice minister, Kain.
Kain's supernatural ability, Ruler of the Abyss, could materialize shadows into weapons.
The Shadow Rift Field was what resulted from compressing and condensing those shadows to their limits.
Its true terror lay in how, upon detonation, it sucked the surrounding space itself into the abyss of shadows.
Any space swallowed by the shadows became an eternal void, never to return.
An absolute abyss that devoured everything, like a black hole in space.
Back then, I wanted to drop the whole act and just run.
I watched with my own eyes as every section of the prison vanished in an instant.
Not through explosion or destruction, but quite literally erased from existence.
All that remained was a pitch-black hole of unfathomable depth.
As the hole grew and the ground disappeared, I wanted to scream, but mercifully, even in that moment, my ability wouldn't allow it.
As I stayed silent,
Kain withdrew his shadows, revealing his true face, and spoke again, sounding genuinely regretful.
"If you come to Haven, you could easily claim one of the vacant regiment leader positions. And I believe you'd experience far more intriguing matters than in the Lunaria Empire."
I'd seen Kain's real face countless times in the game, but seeing it in person was even more shocking.
A face like death itself carved into cold marble.
Pale skin devoid of any emotion, icy eyes that felt utterly lifeless.
He looked like a walking corpse.
And the word intriguing from his lips.
It was going according to plan.
He saw me as a powerhouse simply awaiting death, devoid of any will.
The real problem starts after I get to Haven...
Showing up in Haven with no real abilities would mean far more deadly opportunities than now.
But right now, there was no other path.
I had to accept his offer to survive.
Refuse, and he'd regret it but return to Haven alone,
while I got sucked into those shadows and died.
After a long silence, I spoke in a voice stripped of all emotion.
"A regiment leader in Haven..."
"Yes, there's currently one vacant regiment leader position in Haven. You would undoubtedly be suited for it."
Sir. That honorific alone showed how highly he valued me.
Haven's regiment leaders weren't mere heads of brute-force groups like in typical games. They were absolute rulers who perfectly controlled and dominated their assigned domains.
Within their territories, they could exercise life-and-death authority and even amend laws without permission from Haven's lord, Balderic.
And to claim such a position, only one thing was required:
Overwhelming force.
Of course, their roles varied as leaders of martial forces,
but ultimately, being a Haven regiment leader meant being a top-tier powerhouse.
Even Lunaria Empire's vaunted Five Kings would be considered inferior.
The vacant position right now is with the Jin Gang Regiment.
The Jin Gang Regiment ruled Haven's mountainous regions, using natural fortresses to form Haven's defensive line.
Their very existence was a massive shield against all threats to Haven.
And the mountains they control... they're full of hidden secrets.
I narrowed my eyes slightly and looked at Kain, who stood respectfully before me.
"Can you be certain? That if I go to Haven, I'll have intriguing experiences."
"Yes, you can be certain. Haven is more extraordinary than any other nation."
"I hope that certainty proves true, Astra."
I spoke the name from my status window.
Probably a random one assigned by the system,
but from now on, it would be my new identity.
A smile spread across Kain's face.
He seemed pleased just to learn my name.
As expected. He's thrilled that a regiment-leader-level powerhouse is heading to Haven.
Of course, I was no such thing—just a level 1 weakling...
"Then, Sir Astra, I'll escort you straight to Haven's Lord's Castle. Please don't resist my shadows."
With an elegant wave of his hand,
the writhing shadows at Kain's feet surged up like living creatures, enveloping us both.
My whole body churned with nausea.
When my darkened vision cleared,
I was no longer in the damp, musty prison but in a corridor reminiscent of a noble mansion.
Elegant murals framed in gold, expensive decorations everywhere.
And staring at our sudden appearance in shock—a maid in elf garb?
Her ears were sharply pointed, unlike a human's.
The World Tree fragment war with the elves comes to mind... makes me uneasy for no reason.
"Vice Minister Kain, the lord awaits you."
The elf maid bowed deeply to Kain as she delivered the message.
Few could utter Balderic's name.
She considered it an insult for the weak to speak it.
When the elf eyed me suspiciously alongside Kain, he spoke.
"He is a distinguished guest who will become a tremendous asset to our Haven. Treat him with utmost respect."
"......!"
Shocked by his words, she quickly bowed her head.
"My apologies for the discourtesy. I am Ailin, maid of the Lord's Castle."
Ailin... an unfamiliar name.
But I couldn't let my guard down.
Working in Haven's Lord's Castle meant strength beyond comparison to mine.
Fortunately, I'd just learned something useful.
If I willed it, my Domain of the Absolute hid my aura accordingly.
Good. If I'd emitted a stronger aura than Balderic's in her presence...
She was utterly unpredictable.
"It's fine... Kain, take me to Balderic now."
Better to face the hawk head-on.
Gulp—
The sound of swallowing echoed through the corridor.
Ailin was trembling faintly.
A natural reaction.
Hearing Balderic's name from an unauthorized mouth.
"Yes, right this way."
Kain finished speaking and took the lead.
Following him down the grand corridor revealed a massive obsidian door engraved with golden patterns.
Its overwhelming scale and pressure screamed who ruled here.
And then, a deep voice rang out, as if she knew we were coming.
"Enter."
This is the final gate between life and death. I can do this.
The door opened to a massive desk, a head seat, and nine chairs lined on either side.
This was where Haven's lord and regiment leaders gathered for supreme decisions—the Tian Yi Hui.
Entering, I saw a woman with purple hair seated at the head.
Striking beauty contrasting her cold eyes.
Yes, Balderic was a woman, despite the name.
Even in the game, her status window never appeared, so her true power was unknown.
One thing was certain.
The game devs officially recognized her as the strongest.
"Kain, the mission?"
As if I weren't there, she addressed only him.
Her cold tone belied a seductive voice that could steal souls.
"A perfect success. All chimera research records and related personnel have been eliminated."
"Hmm... all dead? Then what is that man before me?"
"I..."
"Kain, I'll speak."
She favors the strong. Acting boldly here might earn her favor.
"I am Astra. Kain proposed I come to Haven."
She turned cold eyes on Kain at my words.
"Is that true? I never gave such an order."
Her emotionless tone carried absolute pressure that could force anyone to kneel.
I wonder how my words sound to Kain.
"My apologies. On my own judgment... I believed him worthy to fill the vacant regiment leader position and brought him. If you command it, I will end my life at once."
Kain drew a dagger without hesitation and held it to his throat.
You madman! If you die like that, what about me?!
"A powerhouse..."
Balderic's cold gaze turned to me.
"I sense no power from you."
"Yes, I thought the same at first. But he possesses such perfect control that he can completely conceal his strength."
"Control even I can't detect..."
An intrigued smile touched her lips.
"Interesting. Very well... but I can't decide a regiment leader position on my own. The Tian Yi Hui will convene soon—let them all gather and decide. Leave."
She watched them leave with keen interest.
"Kain acting without my orders..."
A smile curved her lips.
Kain had been her vice minister for decades.
If he acted independently, there must be a significant benefit to Haven.
But the man in her eyes... was utterly ordinary.
Just a plain body, no traces of training, no special aura.
Kain, what did you see in him...?
"Well... no matter. If he's regiment-leader level as you say, appoint him as such. If not..."
A cold smile spread across her beautiful face.
"Kill him."
She was generous to the strong, merciless to the weak.