Cain and Abel

It was a long time ago.

"Does it hurt?"

"Of course it hurts..."

"Then work hard enough so you don't get hit."

In his past life, Rian Rose had worked like a madman. He had constantly swung his sword among companions who were hailed as geniuses across nations. Strength does not come on its own. One must seize it. No matter how much of a genius one is, without effort, talent is nothing more than an unusable tool.

Tools exist to be used. And to use them? One must know how. Effort is exactly that—the stepping stone to obtaining strength. There is no instruction manual.

Do you read a manual to use scissors? Do you hold a pencil without knowing how to write? Do you pick up a spoon and not know how to eat? No. No one reads a manual for those things. They simply come to know them naturally.

The sword was no different. In his past life, Rian had no master. Instead, he regarded everything in the world as his teacher. It all began when he first picked up the blood-stained Holy Sword lying on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠floor. He recalled his father's movements. He mimicked the swordsmanship of wandering knights by sight. He didn't stop at merely swinging; he cut. He practiced slicing ten leaves in a single strike. He moved day and night. He strived. He respected every experience. Whether good or bad, he sweated until his entire body reeked of sour perspiration.

As a result, Rian became the strongest knight in the world.

That was why he found Cain Valenos all the more pitiful. Despite being born as the second son of the North's greatest family, he made no effort. Despite possessing a god-given blessing, he refused to learn. He was nothing more than a brat who did nothing but mock and slander others.

Do you know why Rowen was so harsh on Cain? It stemmed from a desire for him to have at least a shred of common sense. If he had any sense, he would have spent his remaining time preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony, swinging his sword one more time instead of wasting it bullying others.

While someone else had to hide just to swing a sword because of their father.

Thinking back now, it seemed Kadan Valenos had forbidden him from holding a sword to protect him from those who threatened the imperial family—to hide his talent, which carried the mixed blood of the imperial family and the Valenos house. Of course, Rowen had ignored that and swung his sword anyway. And not even a proper sword, but a chunk of ice created with magic. Its durability was close to that of a 3-Circle Mage's creation, but it was still lacking.

Things became easier after Arahan arrived, as he finally had a sparring partner.

Because of this, Rowen found Cain truly pitiful. Even more so when viewing him from the perspective of Rian Rose rather than Rowen Valenos. Children born in this blessed generation laughed, chattered, and played. It was a world completely opposite to his past life. A world where young children were not sent to war, but could laugh and play instead. That was the kind of world they had wanted to build. In the end, it was a good world.

That was why it was so regrettable. In a world like this, there was more than enough time to build one's strength, unlike the past where one never knew when they might die. Yet, seeing Cain make no effort despite all this, a wave of pity washed over him.

"Effort?"

"Yeah. Effort never betrays you. Stop spending all day wallowing in rotten thoughts like, 'How can I torment my lovely little brother even more?'"

"You bastard!"

"If you keep acting like this, you'll be left in the dust by an illegitimate son like me."

"Ugh."

"There are still nine years left until your coming-of-age ceremony. Shouldn't you at least try to be of some help to Father?"

"...Sometimes you sound like an old man."

I wasn't allowed to hold a sword within the family. I couldn't become a knight either. That was why I wanted my other brothers to grow strong. Father often went to war in foreign lands. As the practical ruler of the North, he went out to provide support. He was undefeated, but he always returned with wounds. Because I had seen countless people push themselves too hard like that and pass away.

"You have to protect it."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

Cain stopped talking. He suddenly looked at me with an unreadable expression. I couldn't fathom the meaning behind it. Perhaps it was an emotion only a child could feel.

"Well, what could a bastard like you do anyway? You can't even hold a sword just because you're illegitimate. I guess your big brother will have to protect you instead. Right?"

"Is that why you got beaten by someone who's never even held a sword?"

"Shut up. Stop talking like an old man and get lost."

"This brat refuses to lose a single argument. Hey, seriously..."

"Ah, just get the hell out of my room already!"

"This insolent little..."

Slam!

"Hey, open the door. You won't? You want to die?"

"Ah, just leave me alone!"

"Listen when an adult is talking to you!"

"Adult, my foot! How are you an adult when you're younger than me!"

"Bullshit, our birthdays are barely apart!"

Cain huffed and slammed the door shut. The loud noise echoed down the still-luxurious hallway. I worried about my growing wrinkles. At this rate, I really might turn into an old man. ...Yes, there was such a memory.

Cain used the dark shadows unique to dark elves to create a prison. Excluding Rowen, that is.

"...Where did you get that!"

"Bastard. Want to know? Want to know where I learned this?"

He didn't want to know. Because this was a technique he had seen countless times, belonging to a friend he missed more than anyone. Abel Tarkhan. The legendary technique of the man praised as the Great Assassin. How did Cain know it?

Mio Lizfeldt clicked her tongue and swung her staff. Her mana intertwined with the shadows, attempting to dismantle the sealing formula.

Crackle!

"...Huh?"

It didn't unravel. She calculated. She accelerated her thoughts, searching for various solutions. But it was impossible. Why? Before long, she heard the answer. No, she saw it.

"...That's enough. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Abel? Is that really you, Abel?"

"Mio. I'll explain later. So for now, please stay still."

"What on earth is—!"

Abel whispered something in Mio's ear. Her eyes widened. It was—his plan was a dangerous yet definitive solution.

Rowen couldn't hear their whispers. What on earth were they talking about? ...That didn't matter. The problem was that Abel was taking Cain's side. He was glad to see him. He was insanely glad. But at the same time, a sense of betrayal washed over him.

"...Rian. No, Rowen Valenos."

"Abel. You motherfucker. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"...I know."

"Teaching shadow magic to the vessel of a Demon King? Are you insane?"

"The day will come when you will understand me."

With those words, Abel vanished without a trace. Rowen reached out toward his shadow. His mind couldn't keep up with the dizzyingly fast-paced situation. At the same time, he issued a command.

"Valenos. Break the prison."

"...So it can't be broken unless it's Abel."

Damn it. Things are getting complicated.

"Are you surprised? I was surprised at first, too. To think you're the reincarnation of that legendary knight."

"...Cain."

Cain bit his lip so hard it bled. Blood trickled down his chin as he glared at Rowen with pure hatred.

"A bastard on his second life went and trampled all over me like he was so high and mighty..."

"It's because you didn't make any effort."

"No, you're a deceiver. You deceived me."

Is that so? Did I really deceive Cain? At his question, a smirk slipped from my lips. There's a limit to how much bullshit one should spew.

"Deceived, my ass."

"What?"

"Do you even remember who got you to pick up a sword in the first place?"

It was me.

"Even when you always insulted and tormented me, I endured it all with the mindset of an adult. Can you even begin to understand how I felt?"

Of course you can't.

"Don't give me that 'deceived' crap. I swung my sword slowly right in front of your eyes so you could watch and learn."

He never even tried to watch and learn, and even when I offered to teach him, he refused. He was the one who rejected the teachings. Trampled his talent? Deceived him? What kind of absolute nonsense is that? It made about as much sense as Uba growing a full head of hair.

"In the end, you were the one who gave up and spent your time fucking around."

"...No! I—!"

"They say bastards talk a lot right before they die. I guess it's true."

Rowen also gnashed his teeth inwardly. To be honest, he didn't want to kill him. Even if Cain was a bastard and a disgrace to the family, blood was thicker than water. The Valenos blood flowing through his veins recoiled at the thought of killing his own kin. He forced that feeling down.

"...Let's begin."

"I'm going to kill you, Rowen."

Blades of ice danced as they spun through the air. Blades of shadow traced a melody as they whirled through the void. They thrust, shattered, and destroyed one another.

Clang!

Sparks flew from the fierce clash of blades. Brilliant blue flames shot toward Cain.

Thud-thud-thud!

A barrage of high-density flames rained down. Cain absorbed the fire with a wall of shadows and sank into the ground, hiding his presence.

Rowen used Search to locate his traces.

Beneath his feet.

One, two, three. Now!

He twisted his body, dodging Cain's dagger.

"...You cheap bastard!"

"And vanishing right in front of my eyes isn't cheap?"

Frost mana chilled the air. Runic characters formed and spun around him. He opened all his cores.

Thump, thump!

His heart burned hot. He channeled the mana circulating rapidly through his body into the Holy Sword. Cross Slash. The sword energy, fired in the shape of a cross, flew toward the demon before him. Even if they were once called brothers, now he was nothing but a corrupted being.

Cain barely deflected the dark, gravity-laden sword energy with his shadow daggers. He managed to block it, but it was clearly a struggle. Cain spat blood-stained saliva onto the dry ground.

"Pah."

"...Pah."

Rowen refused to be outdone. The glass windows shattered under the pressure of the sword energy, and the ceiling tore open. Flickering lights and streetlamps broke, scattering magi into the air. It was far too cramped a space to fight. But in a way, it was a blessing in disguise. Cain had imprisoned Rowen's companions to keep them from interfering, but it actually helped now. If they had all fought together in this narrow space, their movements would have clashed and become chaotic.

Karlena's footsteps graced Rowen.

Moving at speeds exceeding the speed of sound, he brought down the Holy Sword and his Ice Blade. Cain also fiercely swung his shadow daggers upward.

Boom!

A heavy sonic boom erupted. Wind rushed out of the shattered windows. Papers swirled around, and all sorts of mechanical debris creaked. Demonic technology. What a fucking godawful power.

"Hup!"

With a shout, he borrowed the strength of Kasion. He summoned a massive Ice Greatsword. It was heavy, but he could swing it with incredible speed. Such was the power of Kasion, who had excelled with greatswords in life.

Whoosh!

With a single downward strike, countless spears of ice erupted toward Cain. The ground began to collapse beneath them.

Rumble!

Rowen activated his Dragon Heart.

Crack! Crack!

Dragon wings regenerated from his back. His round pupils began to slit vertically. One eye was the crimson of Valenos, and the other was the golden eye of a dragon. It was an unbalanced appearance, but what did that matter? It allowed him to wield the power of an apex predator.

Skreeeech!

It felt as though a dragon's roar echoed through the air. At his overwhelming presence, Lucius's heart began to beat violently. The call of a brother. His dragon instincts and protective urges were triggered.

"Pant... pant..."

Lucius's breath grew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ragged. Unconsciously, he placed his hand on Rosmerta, coating it in a crimson blood armor and letting dragon blood flow. It gradually transformed into a blood sword, amplifying its power. His body moved naturally. It was Lucius's "will," decided by his subconscious. He threw the blood sword, piercing through the Shadow Prison.

Thwack!

In an instant, the blood sword was gripped in Rowen's hand. The dark energy flowing through the Holy Sword also infused the blood sword. The Holy Sword, the blood sword, and the Ice Blade. Divine Power, speed, and non-attribute. The three energies fused into one, revealing a monstrous form.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Cain's body dissolved into shadow, enveloping Rowen. Rowen was also caught off guard by Cain's sudden movement.

Slash!

"...Kh!"

Rowen's abdomen was torn open. It hurt. It was an insanely excruciating pain. But compared to the agony of having his limbs severed by Beelzebub, it was mild.

It was then. The blue roses, soaked in Lea's blood, bloomed of their own accord. The Red Rose. A singularity created by the fusion of the frost flower and the connection to his past life. The Red Rose slowly healed Rowen's wound. Four pairs of angels slowly descended. Only Rowen could see them. The last trace she had left behind before her death.

"...Lea."

You are with me. A smile spread across his face.

On the spot, Rowen unleashed every magical attribute. Just as he had during his spar with Kajin, he perfectly projected the image of the Archmage Mio Lizfeldt. Cain did the same. He projected the power of Abel, which he had devoured using the Authority of Greed in a short span of time. Shadows began to weave into the dark elf's magi.

They locked eyes. They ran. They simply charged. Strategy? Tactics? There was none. There was only pointing their weapons at the "enemy" to kill the "enemy."

Countless Ice Blades infused with various attributes materialized around Rowen. He flew forward, manifesting his Mandala. Feeling the distinct powers of the blood sword and the Holy Sword, he pushed his output to the absolute limit.

"...Descend, Valenos."

Crackle!

Along with blue electricity, the massive form of the Great Spirit began to manifest. It was enough to make even the charging Cain click his tongue in awe.

"You really are amazing, Rowen."

That is why.

"I will surpass you and take everything for myself."

Everything I want. Human greed is endless. Usually, people only come to senses after losing everything. But because the process of acquiring it is so sweet and irresistible, no one can let go of their greed.

Cain clicked his tongue, turning into a shadow to slip beneath the running Rowen. And there, he declared:

"Descend, Barbatos."

Rumble!

Red electricity enveloped Cain's body. A man with massive horns. A Demon King with crimson skin who relished the taste of blood. Barbatos manifested before Valenos.

In this place, after an eternity of time. As destiny clashed with destiny, the fist of the primordial demon and the fist of the first human god crossed paths.