"My second talent earned the na Child of Darkness. My body beca a vessel housing two forces that refused to coexist. Overusing my abilities would kill outright, only for the Child of Light to resurrect monts later.
"To grow strong, I discovered my two true nas could never exist in balance—just as Light and Darkness can never coexist in the sa vessel. I had to suppress one, embrace the other. Since I was already accustod to being the Child of Light, and had grown comfortable with death’s embrace, I chose naturally."
Her eyes remained clear and steady.
"But that didn’t make it easy. With no one to train , I had to die repeatedly as my own experint... Eventually, I cracked the code. I had to rely heavily on my family heritage, using my talent abilities only when absolutely necessary. If I could resolve a situation through death, I’d gladly die—but if I also needed to win, then I’d ensure victory."
Northern continued staring at her.
She spoke so casually, so effortlessly, making him wonder if she buried imnse pain beneath that composure.
In his first life, he barely rembered his parents. He recalled being raised by a grandmother, but mories of Shin and Eisha had overwritten those experiences.
Their love, care, and support—shown in unconventional ways—he treasured nonetheless because he understood their intentions.
Contrasting his life with Raven’s, bitterness and pity flooded through him.
Yet he didn’t pity her much. Now he understood better why Raven was like this—a doll, emotionless. Still, it didn’t excuse her sins in his book.
He shrugged.
"You could have just killed them. Knowing you, that’s exactly what you would’ve done."
Raven looked at Northern and chuckled dryly.
"You think I didn’t try?"
Northern nodded slightly, muttering.
"Of course you did."
Raven offered a pale smile.
"It’s impossible to kill cockroaches. They’re cockroaches—they possess incredible survivability. They’re maddeningly difficult to eliminate."
She studied him intently.
"Let tell you sothing, Northern. It’s not our talents that make us formidable. It’s our heritage."
Northern nodded slightly, thinking:
’Figures.’
Raven shook her head as she elaborated.
"I don’t know who our family’s first patriarch was, but he must have been devastatingly powerful. Our Heritage grants us abilities that dwarf our talents. Whatever talent we awaken rely complents the Heritage ability we inherit.
"Because of that, it’s nearly impossible to asure my brothers and sisters by conventional soul rank standards. Climbing soul ranks simply enhanced their soul essence quality and granted abilities that determined how long and extensively they could wield their Heritage powers."
She exhaled slowly.
"They trained to the brink of death. As direct Kageyama scions, the training was rciless—that’s how they mastered their heritage abilities. It forged them into devastating instrunts of slaughter."
She locked eyes with Northern.
"I’ll tell you this plainly—my brothers and sisters, though not yet Paragons, can and will kill a Paragon with proper planning and preparation."
Northern frowned. He found that hard to swallow.
’Now, isn’t that fascinating.’
He sighed and looked down.
"I expected nothing less from the Kageyama clan—their reputation speaks volus. Thank you for that insight, but back to my main concern... how did you escape, and how did you beco a Paragon?"
Northern didn’t particularly care about Raven’s backstory. He understood she was attempting communication and respected the effort.
’Though she’s terrible at it. We’re facing a war that could end everything—I’m not about to sympathize with you.’
But he also recognized that Raven needed no sympathy. She desired none.
"A week after you left, monsters invaded the city. The Emperor had retreated into seclusion training, leaving precious few defenders. The Empire’s walls lay shattered, countless people suffered. I broke from my cell to protect what remained."
Northern chuckled darkly.
"What delicious irony—you broke from your cell to protect a city you destroyed. Let’s not forget the monsters only breached those walls because you tore them down."
Raven frowned.
"If you’re going to keep berating ... why give the chance to speak?"
Northern raised his chin, flashing a rage-baiting smirk.
"So I can berate you even more?"
Raven studied him, her brows smoothing as her expression went completely deadpan.
"I see. I deserve it."
"You absolutely do..."
Northern sighed.
"So monsters attacked Luinngard..."
"Yes. We left countless monsters alive, and the rift count doubled since then. We defended against attacks daily—there was no respite. Eventually, we had to venture into the rifts themselves. The Empire Knights were restructured with that priority. The Tower Master and the Princes oversaw this. I was thrust to the forefront of every perilous mission, and I delivered unquestionable victory to the Empire... Within one month, countless people lived because of . When the Emperor erged from seclusion, conditions improved, and I was granted the highest knightly rank."
Northern gazed at the distant port drawing closer while Raven continued.
"As for becoming a Paragon... my dual talent and true na nature grants a unique thod of essence absorption. Since arriving on the Dark Continent, I’ve been experinting with sothing... It clicked when I beca a Sage, and ascending to Paragon beca effortless due to my dual nature."
Northern watched her intently as she spoke.
"I possess an inverted gluttonous soul core. My essence depletes rapidly but replenishes just as quickly. I can absorb essence without specialized techniques—my soul core drains every particle of essence from a core through re contact.
"This led to experint with essence absorption... whether I could absorb atmospheric essence perpetually, regardless of activity. I couldn’t advance the experint until becoming a Sage. Upon reaching Sage rank, I could sense atmospheric soul essence, and my core began subtly absorbing it naturally. I built upon this discovery and refined the process."
She t his gaze.
"Another factor was that for four months straight, I killed at least a hundred monsters daily. On truly hellish days, I slaughtered thousands... Even I was shocked by my progression rate."
Northern looked at her, then gazed forward.
"I see..."
’To think it was sothing so simple...’
He sighed again and straightened.
They were approaching the city’s port.
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