The years passed, and the contrasting paths of the brothers, Kyuren at the age of 16, the strong warrior, and Kanji, the unemotional tool, continued to widen. Kyuren emerged as the powerful bulwark of the Naein clan, calling upon an unending army of dragons to defend their territory, further emphasizing the disparity in their roles. Kanji, on the other hand, still served as his father's weapon, his true potential lying dormant, waiting to be unleashed.
As Kanji ventured into the Abyssal depths, a realm bordering the infamous hell, he found himself tasked with the daunting duty of eradicating an entire legion of abyssal creatures. The sheer number of nightmarish entities threatened to overwhelm even the most fearsome warriors, testing both Kanji's strength and his stoic resilience.
The Queen of the Abyss, reclining lazily on her throne, was interrupted by the abrupt arrival of her Royal Knight. The knight's voice echoed with a mix of distress and urgency as he approached, delivering a report that seemed to fill the air with disquiet.
"Milady," the Royal Knight began, his voice heavy with concern, "we are under attack." The words hung in the air, their gravity palpable as the knight continued. "A warrior has infiltrated our realm and is systematically decimating our legions."
The Royal Knight's expression was grave as he report to the Queen's. "Milady," he responded, his voice trembling slightly, "the reports indicate that this warrior is single-handedly slaughtering our entire legion. We've lost countless abyssal creatures, including powerful commanders and lieutenants."
The Queen of the Abyss, her expression turning from nonchalant to one of deep contemplation, leaned forward in her throne. Her voice, though low, held a sharp edge as she asked, "Has this warrior's identity been determined?"
The Royal Knight replied, his voice filled with uncertainty. "No, milady. The troops that managed to escape before being annihilated report that this warrior is an enigma. They possess unparalleled strength and a cold, unfeeling demeanor."
The towering doors of the castle, once a symbol of strength and security, now lay in smoldering ruins. Amidst the smoke and wreckage, Kanji emerged, holding the severed head of the Queen's Royal Knight by the hair. The cold, emotionless expression on his face betrayed no hint of the carnage he had wrought.
The Queen of the Abyss, her eyes widening in a mix of horror and fascination, sat on her throne, her composure faltering momentarily as she processed the scene before her. Kanji, a living weapon, stood firm, holding the decapitated head of her trusted Royal Knight as mere evidence of his prowess.
The air thickened with tension as Lucretia, her voice betraying a hint of annoyance mixed with awe, spoke up. "So," she began, her eyes fixed on Kanji, "you're the one who's been dismantling my forces. How did you manage to penetrate our defenses so easily?"
As Kanji took a stance with his katana, poised to attack, the Queen's loyal Royal Knight attempted to intervene. However, Kanji's swift and powerful dash cut through the knight, leaving him sprawled in two halves. Lucretia, her composure faltering momentarily in the face of such raw power, braced herself for what was to come.
"Impressive," Lucretia admitted, her voice tinged with both awe and irritation, as she watched the fate of her Royal Knight. She focused her attention on Kanji, who now stood close, his katana at the ready. "You possess exceptional strength," she conceded, her eyes studying him intently, "but do you have anything more than just raw power?"
Kanji towered over Lucretia, his height and emotionless demeanor adding to his intimidating presence. She could barely discern any expression in his eyes, his face a perfect mask of indifference. The stark contrast between the sheer power he wielded and the emptiness in his gaze was chilling, leaving Lucretia feeling a mix of trepidation and fascination.
Lucretia, her tone a combination of curiosity and fear, asked, "Are you even human? Your strength and demeanor defy anything I've ever encountered before. Who are you, really?"
Kanji, seemingly unperturbed by the Queen's question, replied in a cold, emotionless tone, "Kanji... just Kanji." His voice, as indifferent as his gaze, offered no insight into his origins or motives beyond the present moment.
The tension in the air thickened as Kanji, his cold gaze locked on the Queen, prepared to deliver a fatal blow. Lucretia, her eyes widening in a mix of fear and acceptance, braced herself for the impending attack.
In that moment, the fate of the Queen of the Abyss hung in the balance. Kanji, with his unwavering determination and lack of emotion, was poised to end her rule in a single strike. Lucretia, though she had faced many challenges before, found herself at the mercy of a being whose power surpassed her wildest imagination.
"You plan to end me so easily, do you?" Lucretia's voice trembled slightly as she looked up at Kanji, her eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and vulnerability. "Does my life mean nothing to you?"
Kanji, his response cold and direct, spoke in a monotone voice. "I have no attachment to anyone. I just follow orders." The flatness of his tone only served to accentuate the emptiness within him, as if he were more a tool than a living, breathing individual.
Lucretia, struggling to comprehend the sheer detachment in Kanji's words, found herself at a loss for words. She had faced numerous adversaries before, but none quite like him. His complete lack of emotion and total obedience to his orders made him a force of nature, unstoppable and devoid of any hint of humanity.
The atmosphere in the throne room grew heavier as Lucretia's mind raced, trying to grasp a way to survive this encounter. Kanji stood before her, a living weapon with no regard for life or emotion, waiting for the moment to strike.
In a split second, Kanji's blade, fueled by his immense strength and cold determination, effortlessly cleaved through the stone walls of the castle as if they were mere paper. The entire structure trembled as if in a violent earthquake. Yet, despite the devastation around her, Lucretia herself was miraculously left unharmed. She found herself just millimeters away from the deadly blow, a stroke of luck that spared her life at the last moment.
Lucretia, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and surprise, managed to utter a few words, "How? How did you spare me?" Her eyes, filled with a mixture of awe and confusion, remained fixed on Kanji.
With an utterly emotionless tone, Kanji answered Lucretia's question about his decision to spare her. "My heart stopped it," he said, his expression remaining as stoic as ever. The answer was matter-of-fact, lacking any hint of the emotional turmoil or inner conflict that Lucretia might have expected.
With no further words, Kanji turned and walked away, leaving Lucretia alone in the wreckage of what was once her grand throne room. The sound of his footsteps echoed faintly, like a grim reminder of the devastating power he wielded effortlessly.
As Lucretia, the Queen of the Abyss, sat amidst the wreckage of her kingdom, a mix of shock and resignation washed over her. Kanji, the enigma who had effortlessly sliced through her most loyal soldiers and even the walls of her own castle, had spared her life with a simple explanation – his "heart had stopped it." The chilling encounter had left her mind reeling, grappling with the implications of that enigmatic statement.
~Next chapter "Celestial King"