Water fell from the gray-colored clouds in the sky one by one. Not long after, the intensity of the falling water increased until it became uncountable and covered the world.
Kaiser silently gazed at the heavy rain, enjoying the melodious sound of droplets touching the ground and plants, accompanied by the crackling firewood beneath the blazing flame that warmed the young warrior.
"... Just as I expected, but it's good to meet you again, Darkness," Kaiser said casually to the reptilian-tailed woman who was also warming herself beside him.
"I'm more surprised that the one who killed me was just an ordinary warrior, not a Transcendent as I thought," replied the reptilian-tailed woman, not even bothering to hide her body that wasn't covered by a single thread.
The woman's blue eyes shifted from the campfire to Kaiser. "But it seems the word ordinary cannot describe your talent and abilities, Warrior."
"I only have a teacher and an opportunity. If anyone else were in my position, I'm sure they could reach the same level," Kaiser answered calmly.
"But not with the achievements. No sane human would dare fight a Sacred Beast. Be proud of yourself, Warrior," responded Ormr Simulacra with a smile on her lips.
"Fair enough." Kaiser replied as he pushed the burning wood deeper into the fire with a half-charred stick. Without shifting his gaze from the blazing flame, he continued speaking. "Honestly, I wasn't really trying to replace my teacher to avenge him. I simply wanted to. Besides, I'm more interested in the knowledge and information you possess, one of them being the Transcendent you spoke of, Ormr Simulacra ... whether Transcendents are real or just legends."
Transcendents are the highest level that can be achieved by humans who follow the path of warriors or the path of magic. But they were nothing more than fairy tales and stories.
"They are real. I've seen several of them in the past. Though, most had not yet become Transcendents. They were like you, beings with the potential to become Transcendents."
Hearing Ormr Simulacra's statement, Kaiser focused on one word and found interest in that part. "If you say several … does that mean there used to be many Transcendents?"
Kaiser looked at her, and the woman nodded. "No, most were only Transcendent candidates … Those who failed to achieve Transcendence died, while those who had reached Transcendence died challenging the gods. I can even count the number of Transcendents I've met with one human hand."
"I see …."
Kaiser understood. Even though they were said to surpass the limits of their race and become equal to gods, they were still in the mortal world—one could say they were False Gods because they could defeat any mortal creature but still could not match divine beings. Transcendence meant becoming one with the universe. If it were him, what kind of level could he reach?
"And in this era, you are the first human I know who is approaching the level of a Transcendent, Warrior."
"... That is an incredible compliment. But I still have much to learn about martial arts before reaching transcendence." Kaiser gave a faint smile.
"Even only a few potential Transcendent candidates could scratch my scales. But you could do it as if cutting through meat. What have you done to yourself to be able to do that, Warrior?"
Kaiser didn't answer immediately. He remained silent for a while, simply pushing the firewood into the coals. Ormr Simulacra wasn't a being he should've been able to kill at his current level. From the start, his goal was merely to test his power.
"Well, since we've somehow become friends, I'll tell you a small secret." Ether filled Kaiser's eyes, and his eyes began to glow faintly in golden light.
"My eyes are Demonic Eyes. With them, I can calculate every possibility, find openings, and take the best action to execute every technique and ability. That's why I can accomplish what shouldn't be possible at my current level—because my eyes help me calculate and show the most optimal results I can take," Kaiser continued.
"Demonic Eyes … That is incredible, but it doesn't mean they can make their owner's body change significantly enough to bring about the same results as yesterday. That was your own effort and talent from the very beginning, Warrior," replied Ormr Simulacra.
Kaiser nodded. "I will remember that."
"If I'm not mistaken, there was someone who once called something Magic Eyes. Perhaps Demonic Eyes and Magic Eyes are actually the same?"
Demonic Eyes, or what Ormr Simulacra called Magic Eyes, are mutations and anomalies that occur in the human eye. It is unknown how such mutations and anomalies happen, but Demonic Eyes always grant power that surpasses human understanding to a level capable of directly affecting the surroundings. In Kaiser's case, his only affected himself and did not directly influence his environment.
One recorded example in history was Demonic Eyes that could turn living beings into stone. Kaiser was familiar with this story because he had heard it in the past, but in that particular case, the owner of the Demonic Eyes was killed as a child because they were considered a "Devil's Child." Since Kaiser's eyes could not affect his surroundings, he was only considered a prodigy by his teacher and the villagers.
Unless the owner had physiological or health issues from the beginning, Demonic Eyes did not change anything regarding the owner's innate talent. To Ormr Simulacra, with eyes that could calculate every possibility and turn the world into mathematical data, Kaiser's abilities would become more optimal if he became a Mage, because his Demonic Eyes affected his brain's performance, allowing him to control his body perfectly according to his needs.
One could say Kaiser had full control over his own body both actively and passively.
"Ormr Simulacra …." Kaiser called out.
"Just call me Sol-yure, Warrior," replied Ormr Simulacra.
"Why? Is there something about that name?" Kaiser wondered.
"Ormr Simulacra is a name you all gave me, but my true name is Sol-yure. Just like the title and true name attached to you, Warrior."
If Kaiser thought more deeply, it was indeed possible that the name "Ormr Simulacra" was only a title, and now its owner had confirmed that. The name was given because she was the shadow and darkness that brought nightmares.
Not only "Ormr Simulacra," Sol-yure was also called the "Shadow of Skies," the shadow capable of devouring the sky itself.
"Fine. Hmm … Sol-yure, huh, how about I call you Sol?"
"Sol?"
"Yes." Kaiser nodded.
"I do not mind. In fact, I will be pleased to receive a new nickname from someone interesting."
Kaiser didn't respond. He thought about how ironic the name Sol-yure was. Sol, which he took, came from the word Solus—sun. An irony, because Sol-yure was darkness and shadow.
Kaiser took his empty water container and filled it with rainwater before drinking it, refreshing his throat.
"Want some?"
"Certainly."
Kaiser handed the leather water container to Sol-yure. The serpent in human form inspected the leather container with its wooden lid. She observed the item for some time before drinking the water inside.
"... Now I'm curious how you, Sacred Beasts, came into this world and who gave you your names." Kaiser looked at the reptilian woman as she drank.
"Sacred Beasts are pure manifestations of the universe, created by nature to protect the universe. I am the manifestation of nature blessed by the moon," answered Sol-yure, wiping her lips from the dripping water.
"Interesting … I thought you simply appeared or that there was some special bloodline that allowed you to exist in this world once in a rare chance," Kaiser tapped his chin.
Sol-yure shook her head. "I don't know, maybe there is. But I have never seen or heard of such a Sacred Beast."
Kaiser gave a short nod. As someone who had only known the existence of humans for more than three decades—almost four decades of life experience—speaking and conversing with a being completely non-human was both fascinating and inspiring.
"Will you return to your cave?" Kaiser asked.
Hearing the question, Sol-yure pondered for some time. "You have disturbed my peace. Now this place is a mess. It is uncomfortable to live in such an open space."
Sol-yure spoke about the forest she had destroyed because Kaiser disturbed her. And frankly, it wasn't entirely Kaiser's fault because Sol-yure could have used her human form from the beginning.
"As compensation, I will follow you."
"Why?" Kaiser asked again.
"You are the only human who has spoken to me after several hundred years, and you are different from all the other intelligent creatures who have conversed with me. Unlike them, you speak as if you are not standing before death. You speak to me as though I am your friend … you are truly honest with your feelings and your behavior. You never once considered me a threat, Warrior."
Kaiser simply nodded without saying anything. When fighting Sol-yure, he did not feel resistance at all. As if from the start, Sol-yure's goal wasn't to kill him.
Kaiser was not one who enjoyed small talk. He had no intention of dragging conversations out, especially when he had the opportunity to speak with a non-human being—one who had lived for thousands, maybe millions, of years.
Even though Kaiser did not see Sol-yure as a threat for now, that did not mean he stopped being cautious at all times. But it would be more enjoyable if Sol-yure existed as a neutral, non-hostile figure.
"So what about you, Warrior? What is your next step after avenging your master?" Sol-yure's eyes watched him with intense curiosity, pressuring Kaiser.
"Honestly, I have not thought about it. I have no particular plans after all this, and my only goal now is to travel and see what the world looks like," the young warrior replied.
"To see the world, huh …."
Kaiser nodded and explained, "Besides, I have no one left since my teacher passed away. My goal in becoming a Warrior was only to survive. I have no special ambition like becoming a king or the strongest warrior in the world."
"That is fine by me. Besides, I have already decided to follow you for now. Wherever you go, I am sure interesting things will be there."
"Well, whatever."
If he wanted to bring Sol-yure along, he would need to give her clothes.