Death to Power
Copyright© 2025 by TheSmartOne
Chapter 47: The Capital, Asterion
Kaden walked with calm, measured steps as he approached the towering wall, then quietly took his place in the queue that stood in front of it.
But this wall wasn’t made of ordinary brown stone like most fortifications.
It was entirely black—not painted, not shaded, but born of a rare material: Blackstar Stone. A resource only the Celestial Empire possessed.
And in the middle of that obsidian wall stood a golden gate. Carved into its surface was a radiant crest—a crown with three celestial flames flickering upward.
It was the mark of the Asterion, the ruling lineage of the Celestial Empire.
And behind that door ... lay Asterion—the capital city of the Empire itself.
‘You’ve got to be pretty damn arrogant to name your capital after your own family,’ Kaden thought inwardly as he stepped forward—it was finally his turn.
“Put your hand on the ball,” one of the guards said bluntly, monotone, not even glancing up.
The man had dark red hair and void-black eyes. Looking at him, the only things that came to mind were:
No nonsense. And bored as hell.
Kaden looked at the orb—a glowing artifact nearly identical to the one he used to define his Origin—and calmly placed his hand on it. The orb flared green.
“No criminal record,” the guard muttered, jotting something down.
Kaden’s lips twitched slightly.
‘If only you knew... ‘ he thought with a private chuckle.
“Name: Kaden Warborn. Rank: Awakened. Age: fifteen,” the guard continued, before pausing. “Oh ... a Warborn, huh.”
He finally looked up—and there it was. Black hair. Red eyes.
Typical Warborn.
The guard smirked.
“Didn’t know those bloodthirsty bastards had another child beside that monster.”
Kaden tilted his head slightly. “Monster?”
“Dain Warborn,” the guard replied flatly.
And just like that, Kaden’s eyes widened—only a little, but enough. It had been so long since he saw his brother. The last time was ... his Awakening Day.
‘My brother is known here?’ he thought quietly, before nodding and replying,
“Yes. He’s my brother.”
The guard grinned in a weird way—something halfway between amusement and something darker—before muttering,
“Well, welcome to the capital, little Warborn. Hope you enjoy your stay.”
Kaden frowned slightly. There it was. The subtle shift. The scent of trouble already hanging in the air.
He sighed inwardly, frustrated.
‘What did you do here, brother?’
He nodded in mock appreciation and moved to walk through the gate.
But the guard stepped in again, extending his right hand.
“Entrance fee. Five gold coins.”
The smirk on his face made the demand worse.
Kaden twitched slightly at the price—five gold coins just to walk through a door? But this was the capital, so he didn’t argue. Calmly, he pulled them from his space ring and handed them over.
And just when he thought that was it, the guard added with a smug tone,
“I hope you’re not as troublesome as your brother, little Warborn.”
Kaden heard him. Loud and clear.
He turned his head, lips curling into a bright, deliberately fake smile.
“Don’t worry, sir...”
“ ... I’m the example child.”
...
The capital was ... breathtaking.
Towering constructs and impossible architecture, yes—but more than that, it was alive.
And how could it not be?
This was where the Royal Palace stood. Where the great noble houses resided. Where even a branch of the Tycoon’s Merchants had planted its roots.
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