Death to Power
Copyright© 2025 by TheSmartOne
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.