CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: LONE GUARD

Chapter 38 — Lone guard

The night—or whatever it was—passed, and Kaden, now refreshed, was ready to start his plan today.

After all, the more he stayed here, the more chance those guards would notice him, and the more chance they would get him.

Meaning, his chance of dying would be higher. Way higher.

Death was not something he was afraid of—true. But not this type of true death. Kaden liked death where there was something to gain, something to plunder, a way to be even more stronger.

Yes, for him death was just that...a way to be stronger.

But death like eternal rest?

’No thank you.’ Kaden thought as he silently followed the guard once again, but this time, he would not only follow. He would act.

It was reckless to attack someone stronger than you, but lower-ranked people were usually able to tell the rank of someone if the difference wasn’t too big. And he didn’t know if it was fate or not, but the solitary guard was only at the Intermediate Rank.

One rank higher than him.

Truthfully?

It was manageable.

At least he wasn’t against a Master, because if he was...

’I wouldn’t die anyway.’ Kaden thought with confidence in his mind. And his confidence wasn’t unfounded.

But immediately, he paused, hiding behind a thick tree as the famed guard stopped beside a small river, wanting to squelch his thirst in this damn heat.

’Opportunity!’ Kaden thought instantly, as finally—finally—an opportunity presented itself.

And Kaden wasn’t one to miss such a gift.

Instantly, Reditha appeared in his hand, and he cut his finger. Crimson blood started to flow.

The interesting thing about a trait was that you didn’t need mana to activate it or anything else.

It’s a trait—so it’s part of you. And the flowing blood from Kaden’s finger right now was very corrosive, so much that the moment it touched the ground, the earth started to sizzle, hiss, and melt.

Kaden smeared his blood along the blade of his sword.

’Ah...’ he exhaled softly, closing his eyes briefly, calming his body and his mind.

Then he opened them slowly—without rushing.

The moment his eyes were wide open, they looked like a flowing blood ocean—mesmerizing.

But they screamed murder. They screamed blood.

And so...

Kaden acted.

He dashed toward the guard with incredible speed, leaving behind a blur. In not even seconds, he was already behind the drinking guard—who had just started to turn his head, sensing a rustle behind.

But Kaden didn’t let him process what was happening. With a swift strike, he slashed his skin—lightly.

But that lightly was enough to tear it open, and the corrosive blood didn’t only melt the wound—it entered it. Crawled in and started to corrode him from inside.

The guard opened his mouth wide as deep pain hijacked his mind. He was ready to scream, but Kaden didn’t let even a sound out of that gaping mouth.

BAAAM!

He knocked him out cold with a punch to the skull—with his full strength.

The guard crumpled to the ground. Without hesitation, Kaden began to search his body, checking if there was anything that could pose a problem.

After a short while, he found a runic wooden talisman, a few regeneration potions and other type of potions, and some useful artifacts. His expression shifted immediately.

Runes were tricky. Especially when you didn’t know shit about them. One wrong move and they could alert an entire army.

Kaden cursed. He didn’t have a choice. He threw the talisman into the river, grabbed the guard’s limp body, and used Slothful Steps to vanish into the forest toward his small cave.

The steps he left behind were elusive and unpredictable—almost impossible to track.

’First step done.’ Kaden thought inwardly.

Now only the second part remained.

And it was the most tricky one.

...

Later, Kaden sat back inside his little cave. He had knocked the guard out many times, every time the bastard started to wake up—because he wanted his corrosive blood to dig deeper, to eat more of him, to make him weaker.

And if that meant wasting time, so be it. Rushing things would only kill him faster.

He had also stripped the guard and thrown the golden armor far away. After all he didn’t know if there were tracking runes inside it.

Better be safe than sorry.

"Ah... ah..." Broken words echoed as the guard finally woke again.

And this time, Kaden didn’t knock him out.

He figured it was enough. Now, the man couldn’t even speak properly. He sure as hell wouldn’t be able to shout for help.

Kaden smirked.

To the dazed, half-naked man who felt like he’d been through hell, that smirk looked like it belonged to a demon.

It was... horrific.

Kaden looked at him.

The guard’s appearance was plain. Jet-black hair. Black eyes. A face you’d see every day and never remember—forgettable in the worst way.

But Kaden never cared for appearance. For him, it meant nothing.

It was just a shell.

And a shell could crack. It could be disfigured. It could rot, wrinkle, and wither.

That’s why he never understood people who got into relationships just because someone was good-looking.

What a fucking stupid thing to do.

But that wasn’t his problem.

His problem now... was finding a way to get out of this forest alive.

"Hi," Kaden said calmly. "I’m...well, nameless. I’ve got some little questions. Care to answer?"

The man looked at him, eyes tired, lips trembling.

"Who... who are you? What did you... do to me?" he asked, finally noticing how he was nearly naked. Only his underwear was left, and alarm bells started to scream in his skull.

"All your health potions are with me," Kaden replied with a calm smile. "And deep inside your body, there’s corrosive blood killing you. Little by little."

He tilted his head.

"So let’s not waste time."

"After all... neither of us have much left."

His smirk stretched further.

"So, mister..." he said quietly, "how do I get out of this damn forest?"

—End of Chapter 38—