The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 288: Chapter 283 — Weak

Kaiden was silently meditating in one of the fortress’ training rooms when he heard a thud in front of him. Opening his eyes, he frowned at the wooden sword lying on the ground. Raising his head, his frown deepened when he saw the figure now standing before him.

Standing tall with a broad frame and ruby-like eyes was none other than Kaelion.

The Calderalth boy regarded Kaiden with an unusually serious expression.

”Let’s spar.”

Kaiden narrowed his eyes. ”What—?” He cut himself off, finding something else far more pressing. ”Wait, how the hell did you even get in here?”

Kaiden wasn’t exactly a fan of Kaelion. First was the ridiculous fact that they basically had the same damn name. But more importantly, there was Kaelion himself. The Calderalth boy always carried himself with an air of confidence that rubbed Kaiden the wrong way, as though he knew he was more talented than most people around him.

’Lucky bastard.’

That was what Kaiden always thought whenever he looked at him. After all, who wouldn’t want to be born with the blood of Calderalth’s main line running through their veins?

One would basically be set for life, both in standing and, more importantly, pure talent. Though Zephyrion clearly existed on an entirely different plane compared to even the primary line, Kaelion was different.

Kaiden had always believed that if Kaelion hadn’t been born into the primary line, carrying its blood, there was no way he would’ve been stronger than him.

But the world had never been a fair place.

Here they were now. Kaiden was currently at Mark Five, while Kaelion had probably already reached the peak of Mark Six.

Kaelion tilted his head toward the open door. ”Through the door.”

”Yeah, no shit.” Kaiden clicked his tongue. ”I meant who the hell just walks into someone else’s training room without knocking?”

”Apparently me,” Kaelion said, taking a few steps back. ”Now stop wasting time and let’s spar.”

”Have your eyes stopped working? In case you somehow failed to notice, I’m busy.”

”Doing what?”

”Meditating.”

Kaelion went silent.

Kaiden lifted his gaze, only to find the Calderalth boy staring at him with narrowed eyes. His own eyes narrowed in return.

”What?”

Kaelion shook his head, the look on his face almost judgmental.

”You’ve changed. The Kaiden I know would be running around with more weights than he can handle. Not sitting on the floor slowly getting fat.”

Kaiden’s brows twitched. ”Did you just call me fat?” He shook his head. ”You know what, forget it. In case you don’t know, it’s called fucking evolution. You should try it sometime.”

”It’s not evolution. It’s weakness.”

Kaiden narrowed his eyes. ”The hell is that supposed to mean?”

”It means you’re weak,” Kaelion said calmly. ”And don’t think we haven’t all noticed. This isn’t you. It’s you trying to become someone else and doing a terrible job of it.”

Kaiden’s eyes slowly grew cold. ”And what the hell do you know about me?”

”I know you’re doing this because you don’t believe in yourself. So either you’re strong enough to admit you have flaws, correct them, and evolve, or you’re just a weak, pathetic little boy who doesn’t think he has what it takes to become strong on his own, so he’d rather copy someone he thinks is stronger.”

Kaelion paused, his eyes remaining fixed on him.

”Which is it? Because right now, I’m leaning toward the pathetic little boy. Tell me I’m wrong.”

Kaiden’s teeth were clenched so tightly they were practically letting out sparks. He had no idea why Kaelion’s words affected him so much. They were just the ramblings of an entitled fool.

After all, what did he know? He had been lucky enough to be born with the blood of the direct line running through his veins. He could never understand what it meant to be Kaiden. To start from nothing.

”If you want to prove me wrong,” Kaelion said, gesturing toward the sword on the ground, ”pick it up.”

Then he put some distance between them and silently waited.

But his words had already pushed Kaiden over the edge.

”Fine then.” Kaiden nodded, his eyes burning. ”Your funeral.”

He picked up the sword and faced Kaelion. Syncing his rune tab with the training room, Kaelion activated the scrambler.

”No elements. Just passive strength and speed. First one to land a lethal blow wins,” Kaelion said.

Kaiden silently nodded, tightening his grip around the sword. He would teach this bastard who dared run his mouth a lesson this evening.

A moment of silence passed, then a sudden gust tore through the room. Their attires had barely begun billowing when they met in the middle, both swords colliding with a dull boom that echoed through the room.

But that was only the start. Several more collisions followed in rapid succession, sending violent gusts blasting outward.

Kaiden was like a sharp gale, rapidly shifting stances while sending attacks from different directions. Meanwhile, Kaelion was like steel, stable and unbending. He remained rooted in place, parrying each attack in swift blurs.

The fight continued like this, and soon Kaiden gritted his teeth. Even with the scrambler on, Kaelion possessed greater passive strength and speed than him.

It was painfully evident from how easily he parried every attack. And Kaelion’s unmoved expression wasn’t helping things either. With that look on his face, he might as well be taking a leisurely stroll rather than fighting.

’Think, think, think... what will he do?’

Kaiden forced himself to use his head. Currently, there were no openings in Kaelion’s stance, at least none he could exploit.

’Patience,’ he told himself.

It was another thing he had seen Zephyrion practice numerous times. During their fights, Zephyrion always waited until there was something to exploit before he acted.

’I just have to wait.’

And true to his thoughts, cracks had been steadily spreading beneath Kaelion’s unmoving feet. Eventually, the ground gave way, causing him to stagger back. Kaelion’s expression finally shifted.

Kaiden’s eyes lit up.

’Now!’

He retracted his blade, about to strike, when a sudden thought stopped him.

’Wait... what if it’s a trap?’

There was no way Kaelion hadn’t noticed the ground cracking beneath him. It had been too obvious. Zephyrion’s attacks always came from his blindside, from somewhere even Kaiden hadn’t thought to consider. This didn’t feel like that.

If he attacked now, he could be playing right into Kaelion’s hands. However, what if it wasn’t? What if he was simply letting a perfect opening slip away?

The uncertainty threw Kaiden’s thoughts into disarray, and for a brief moment, he froze.

It was an opening Kaelion did not hesitate to take.

Kaiden barely saw the blade move, only catching a blur before the cold touch of the wooden sword pressed against his neck.

”W-what?”