The courtyard felt so still once Kaien's laughter faded into the night.
He stumbled a few steps and plopped down on the mossy stone steps by an old pavilion. There was this gnarled peach tree stretching its crooked branches toward the stars, its blossoms long gone.
With a grunt, he leaned back against the trunk, one hand pressed against his sore ribs. His golden eyes flickered open and shut, trying to adjust to the dizzying mix of pain and weird energy.
"Damn… it's like I swallowed a furnace and an ice bath at the same time," he muttered.
Then this soft whisper slid into his head — it was familiar, almost teasing.
Relax, little demon… breathe. Let it flow. You won't explode… probably.
Kaien snorted. "Always comforting, aren't you?"
He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. For a moment, everything blurred: the rustling bamboo, the smell of moss and wet stone, and the slight vibration of bugs in the grass.
Beneath all that, he felt it — a swirling ocean of chaotic energy deep inside him.
The voice hummed with approval.
This is your Chaos Demon Vein. You were born with it in this world… twisted and incomplete, but strong enough to scare any sect elder if they knew.
Kaien's brow furrowed. "Chaos Demon Vein… catchy name. Sounds like a shady energy drink."
It can blend different paths of cultivation. Qi, elemental magic, spiritual arts… all work together if you can handle the backlash.
Kaien smirked. "So, it's a buffet. But if I overdo it, I explode?"
Crude analogy. But kinda true.
He shifted a bit, focusing inward as the voice guided him. He sensed tiny channels throughout his body — like delicate rivers — pulsing with a faint red and black glow. Each heartbeat sent a wild wave through them, almost tearing them apart.
A single drop of energy drifted to his palm. When he concentrated on it, it shifted colors, going from red to this deep blue flame, then back to shadowy wisps.
A sudden jolt shot up his spine. The energy lashed out, burning his palm.
"Shit… chill out," he hissed, sweat starting to bead on his forehead. But instead of panicking, a wild laughter bubbled up. "Ah… that's the good burn. Better than black coffee."
Control takes time. For now, guide those small threads of energy, shape them slowly… or you might just turn yourself into a crater.
Kaien focused again, this time taking it slow. He pulled the chaotic energy into a thin line — like threading a needle. It stung a bit, but he pushed through.
His palm flared up with a dim, dark flame. It felt cold yet burned from the inside.
"Hah… can't tell if it's ice or fire," he said, holding his palm up to the moonlight. "Guess that's part of the fun."
Elemental magic takes on your intent. You're currently attuned to shadow and flame, but it'll evolve.
Kaien chuckled softly. "Evolve, huh? Like a gacha game character upgrade? Do I need spirit stones or a wallet for that too?"
The voice seemed to chuckle back — or at least, that's how it felt.
Your mind is amusingly twisted, even here.
He let go of the energy, letting his palm cool off. Leaning back, he took a deep breath.
The weight of this world settled on him — heavy, cruel, yet exciting with its possibilities. He thought about the nobles who called him "demonic trash." And his mother who cried but never stood up for him. The silent courtyard where his broken body had been tossed aside.
A cold determination seeped into his golden gaze.
"Vengeful," he whispered to himself. "Yeah… definitely fits. But not mindless. Oh no… when I get back at them, it'll be with style."
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the new flexibility and pain tolerance. Every nerve felt raw, but he could sense the power slithering beneath, waiting for him to shape it — or let it loose.
His fingers twitched, remembering the keyboard that used to trap him. A low laugh escaped his lips.
"No overtime… no bosses… just me, the world, and a few unwanted nuisances."
The voice hummed.
You've got potential beyond any sect's understanding. Use it properly… or die in a funny way. I'm fine either way.
Kaien raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his face.
"Cheerful, aren't you?"
Just being realistic.
He stood up, wincing as his ribs shifted. His robe was still stained with blood, torn up in ugly patterns. He looked up at the moon, those twin moons shining down like silent deities.
Then he scanned the courtyard. Weeds were choking the cracked stone, moonflowers drooped near the walls. The broken jade basin in the center reflected only bits of the sky — a shattered mirror of his own rebirth.
He moved closer, kneeling down. His reflection stared back at him: messy blue-black hair, sharp golden eyes, and a half-crazy grin.
"Kaien Azreth," he whispered to himself, tasting the name. "Not Yuto anymore… though I guess he's still in here somewhere."
The voice drifted softly, almost approving.
Names are for others to tie you down. You, however… are unbound now.
He dipped his fingers in the still water. A ripple spread, distorting his image into a thousand dancing pieces.
A sudden chill raced up his spine, like the world took a sharp breath. In the ripple, he saw something — a vague figure in a black cloak, crimson eyes glowing from the void. Then, it vanished.
Kaien blinked.
"…What was that little cameo?" he asked aloud.
In time… if you survive.
He shook his head with a laugh, then stood back up.
"Of course… always with the cryptic teaser nonsense."
Finally, he turned away from the basin. He felt steadier now, moving with a new rhythm — the chaotic energy pulsating inside him, like a cheeky puppy obeying him.
Kaien stretched, grimacing as something in his spine popped.
"Alright… enough soul-searching. Time to see what this world's really about. Monsters, sects, betrayals, hidden ruins… sounds like a vacation compared to quarterly reports."
A low, amused chuckle bubbled up as he hopped lightly over the broken courtyard walls.
The forest waited beyond, wrapped in silver mist, full of the hidden growls of spirit beasts and the flicker of distant fireflies.
Kaien took one last glance at the moons. His grin returned — wild, carefree, hungry.
"Let's go meet the neighbors," he murmured, stepping into the dark.
His laughter echoed behind him, flowing across the dead garden, a promise and a warning carried by the midnight breeze