Chapter Two
Information Paragraph — "Arblex"
Arblex is the strongest entity on this land and one of the most powerful dragons. He is a mysterious being that manifests in the form of dark light. He appears to be light, yet he spreads darkness wherever he exists.
He is the one who sealed the Lord of Darkness a thousand years ago and remains alive to this day. His favorite food is human souls, and he has not eaten his meal for five hundred years.
In Kaith's previous life, he fought Arblex, who was then known as the Catastrophe of Hunger. Although Kaith managed to defeat him, it was only thanks to possessing 1% of his power. Even so, Kaith suffered extremely severe injuries.
The Return
Kaith suddenly opened his eyes, only to find himself returned in time to the moment he entered the empire.
A sinister smile formed on his lips as he whispered:
"I will make them watch my revenge calmly… but before that, I want to make sure of one thing."
Kaith coldly raised his sword and stabbed his own neck without hesitation.
But the surprise was that he did not die. Instead, he returned to the same point in time before stabbing himself.
He laughed quietly and said:
"Wonderful… This is not an ability, but a curse—the curse of darkness itself. The one that made Arblex unable to kill him. So it wasn't just a rumor after all."
Then he muttered seriously:
"Alright… Let's head to the first meeting place with those bastards."
Meeting the Traitors Again
After hours, Kaith raised his voice:
"Who wants to save the kingdom with me?"
The same five who betrayed him in his previous life stepped forward:
Ark: A powerful swordsman.
Falk: A fire mage.
Natak: A swordsman from the elite of ancient warriors.
Erika: The healer, the girl Kaith loved in his previous life.
Arinsa: A water mage with enormous power.
They all responded at the same moment:
"Let's go!"
Kaith was not stupid. He would exploit them as much as possible, since he needed their help to defeat certain curses he could not kill alone.
Then…
After seven days of travel, Ark suddenly stopped and said with concern:
"Isn't this the place of the Catastrophe of Hunger… Arblex?"
Kaith replied with feigned calm:
"Yes, but don't worry. He is weak now because he is starving… We can kill him easily."
Inside, he laughed maliciously:
"You idiot… Arblex can crush all of us with extreme ease. What a stupid lie. How did I trust this foolish group in my previous life?"
Ark asked hesitantly:
"Are you sure?"
Kaith replied:
"Absolutely."
The Encounter with Arblex
The entity appeared before them—majestic, manifesting in the form of light, yet emitting dense darkness that swallowed the surroundings.
Kaith bowed cunningly and said:
"My greetings to the Catastrophe of Hunger, the strongest entity in this world… Arblex, the master of dark light whom no one on this earth can stand against."
Arblex responded in a deep voice:
"You speak beautifully, boy… but unfortunately, you will die today because you walked into death with your own feet."
Kaith said:
"Wait, Arblex. I have an offer you cannot refuse. I am half-dragon, so you cannot eat me. I want one of your abilities in exchange for something you will not reject."
Arblex interrupted sharply:
"What ability are you talking about?! And what is this offer that you claim I cannot refuse?"
Kaith smiled:
"It is the ability of regeneration. That is what I want. And my offer is—"
Arblex grew angry and interrupted again:
"The ability of regeneration has a heavy price. Can a child like you possess such a price? And even then, can this miserable body endure the multiplied pain required to activate it? I will ask you again… What is the price you claim is worth this ability?"
Kaith laughed:
"It is an offer you will never forget—an opportunity you cannot miss or refuse. Five human souls, delivered swiftly."
Arblex burst into laughter:
"Indeed, it is an unforgettable offer. I accept."
Erika stepped forward in confusion:
"Where are the five human souls? I don't see them here."
Arblex turned toward her with disdain and said:
"Incomplete dragon… May I choose other souls instead? Perhaps they will not taste good. They seem foolish."
Kaith smiled wickedly:
"I agree with you. They are indeed foolish. But unfortunately, there are no fools who run toward their deaths this quickly and come to the Catastrophe of Hunger, Arblex."
Arblex, sounding resigned, said:
"Fine. I cannot refuse anyway. It is an offer I will not miss."
In a single moment, their heads flew off and fell to the ground. Their souls rose toward the sky, but Arblex devoured them within seconds.
Arblex smiled with a mixture of malice and admiration:
"You are brave, incomplete dragon… Even though I devoured the souls of your friends before your eyes, you still stand proudly before me. That is truly the bravery of a dragon."
Kaith replied calmly:
"Because I know that beings like you do not break their promises. In return, you will regain a small portion of your power. I am not foolish enough to walk into death with my own feet. But I am confident that I can defeat you with the power I have gained."
Arblex stared at him and said:
"You know I am not at full power… I only granted you power according to your ability to defeat me. That means you were planning to kill me if I had refused."
Kaith smiled:
"There is truth in your words. But at the same time, I might not have been able to kill you if you had refused. Even so, you might have died after that battle… and I do not break my promises either."
Arblex replied:
"Perhaps the new dragons will not be worse than those who came before. I see a dragon capable of destroying lands with his intelligence."
He then smiled and released a light that shone with darkness, handing it to Kaith.
Kaith absorbed the sphere and felt indescribable pain. He fell to his knees from its intensity, yet he stood again while enduring the agony and said:
"It is truly a magnificent ability… As if I have been reborn. Arblex, I want to see the effectiveness of this ability. For that, I want you to cut off my arm."
Arblex, confused, said:
"Very well… I agree."
Arblex swung his claw powerfully toward Kaith's arm.
Indeed, Kaith's arm was severed, but it began to regenerate again with indescribable pain. His bones shattered and reformed once more.
Kaith said:
"It is a magnificent ability, but it should not be relied on too much."
Arblex replied in astonishment:
"You are incredible, boy. I did not expect your will to be this strong."
Kaith responded:
"My goal is difficult. If I want to achieve it, I must stand even before those stronger than me and walk into battles I know I will die in—without a trace of fear."
Arblex said:
"You are truly astonishing, boy."
After Kaith's Departure
As Arblex remained staring into the surrounding darkness, he said:
"This incomplete dragon… This life is not the first life in which he has faced me. That boy has confronted the Lord of Darkness and gained the ability to return after death. It is a curse that will not leave him easily… and he is perhaps the only one who knows how to face me."
End of Chapter Two