Death. Death. Death.

That was the only word echoing loudly through Kaden's mind as he walked along the Rocky Mountains.

He lowered his defense significantly, making his body as weak and frail as a newborn baby. At that moment, even a single well-landed slap from an Intermediate could kill him.

It was false.

Even while diminishing his body's defense, no Intermediate could kill him unless he bared his heart himself and guided their hand to it.

But, according to Vaela, this place was full of beasts at least Master ranked.

They were his aim.

So he walked. His steps were leisurely, his mind wandering, his lips moving as he sang a tune he had last heard back on Earth. He looked like he was on a simple stroll, nature itself his only companion.

It was a strange sight. Even to the beasts.

One beast was hiding not far from Kaden. Its skin was completely brown like the stones scattered all around the land, making it blend perfectly into its surroundings.

It was a stone serpent, its fangs as hard as rock, its eyes stiff, moving slowly inside their sockets.

It looked like a rock shaped into a snake.

It observed Kaden with puzzlement. As a Master-ranked beast, it had intelligence, instinct sharpened through countless hunts. And what it sensed from Kaden was nothing but danger.

This prey looked tasty, careless, but it knew better. Poison could be wrapped in candy. Still, it was hungry. Tired of gnawing stone all day, all seasons.

There were other beasts, but none worth the fight…too much to lose, not much to gain.

So instead, it decided to gamble on this frail-looking human.

Lucky for it, Kaden was in the mood for dying.

It concealed itself, waiting for the best moment, but…

"My goodman, why are you hesitating so much? Did I not make myself weak enough?" Kaden whispered, his voice coiling in the snake's ear like a long-lost friend.

The serpent freaked out. It tried to slither away immediately, but Kaden's grip was iron. It didn't budge an inch.

It struggled violently, thrashing, desperate to escape.

"Calm down, goodman, here, look." Kaden pointed to his jugular veins.

"Bite me, strike me, poison me… do whatever you damn like, and kill me." He said it knowing the beast would understand, even if it wouldn't respond.

The snake hesitated, puzzled, wondering if this was some new torture devised by the vicious humans.

But looking into Kaden's crimson eyes, all it saw was sincerity.

"Man, I'm giving you my whole body to eat, why are you hesitating? Eat me." Kaden insisted, before stopping awkwardly.

"Damn, that sounded too weird," he muttered, wincing at himself.

Seeing him unfocused, the serpent did what any self-respecting snake would do — it struck.

Kaden saw it clearly. He even measured the strength behind the strike.

He shook his head in disappointment and lowered his defense even further, allowing the fangs to pierce his flesh, to kill him.

[You are dead.]

First death.

…

"That snake was disappointing. I hope I'll find another one stronger," Kaden muttered as he appeared once again inside the unfathomable darkness of Death.

He didn't linger.

"I want neutral stat points."

[You have received 50 stat points.]

"Weak bastard." He shook his head in disdain.

A Master ranked? What a joke.

"Revive me."

[Cost: 400.]

Tick—!

…

Kaden continued his search. This time he took another path and found himself before a gigantic bear sleeping on the ground.

Like everything in this place, its skin was brown, but this one glowed like polished caramel beneath the blistering sun.

The aura it released teetered on the edge of Grandmaster rank.

Kaden smiled and approached. He tapped its head gently, like a mother waking a child.

The bear stirred, confused, its massive eyes opening to meet Kaden's grin.

"My goodman, I'm sorry to wake you from your wondrous dream, but could you just bite off my head?" Kaden asked, pointing to his skull with a slender finger.

"Pretty tasty—!"

MUNCH—!

The bear didn't wait. It bit his head clean off and returned to its nap, vaguely wondering since when flies had grown so large and human-shaped.

[You are dead.]

Second death.

…

"That big guy didn't even let me finish my words. Tsk, bad manners." Kaden muttered, his red eyes flickering with madness.

He was starting to love these deaths.

He smirked.

[Stat points: 100.]

"Again."

[Cost: 400.]

Tick—!

…

This time, Kaden went deeper into the Rocky Mountains. He encountered other beasts, but they were weak. He killed them quickly, taking their Origin Cores.

The further he walked, the less rocks he saw. Grass sprouted underfoot, and here and there, trees with crimson leaves like condensed blood rose from the ground.

He smiled madly, excitement gnawing at his bones.

Minutes later, he stopped, sensing a gaze — predatory, crushing.

This one was a Grandmaster.

Slowly, Kaden turned to face it. His body tensed at the sight.

"Human…" the voice rumbled, echoing like mountains grinding together.

It was a golem. Eight feet tall, its rocky surface etched with swirling red tattoos.

Its burning eyes fixed on Kaden with chilling neutrality.

"Human…" it said again.

Kaden smiled, raising a hand. "Hello!" His voice was casual, but fear and madness danced beneath the surface.

"Go back," the golem intoned. Its voice carried a finality impossible to resist.

For any other man, that command would have been absolute. But Kaden's will was unyielding, and at that moment, he was consumed by madness.

He didn't care. His grin only widened.

"My goodman, why are you blocking the way? What's behind you? A lost treasure? An incredible ingredient? Or no, let me guess… the tomb of some unknown ancient being?"

He shouldn't have said that.

Because the moment the words left his mouth, he was crushed into a bloody smear by a single punch.

He hadn't even seen it move.

[You are dead.]

Third death.

…

Kaden stood once again in the timeless dark. No snark, no comments. Just silence.

"Something important, huh… a tomb of a powerful being?" he muttered, lips curving upward.

Now things were getting interesting. Still, before facing the golem again, he needed more. More stats. More information.

"Stat points once again."

[Stat points: 400.]

'My goodman…'

His grin stretched wide.

[Cost: 600.]

Tick—!

…

He returned straight to the golem. The fight lasted an instant.

Fourth death.

[Stat points obtained: 350.]

…

Again, Kaden went laughing madly through the mountains, killing beasts without hesitation. He only wanted the golem.

The damn sack of stone.

He went straight for it. This time he fought. He didn't land a single strike. He was crushed mercilessly.

Fifth death.

…

"I fear if I die one more time this soon… I might actually lose my mind," Kaden chuckled lowly.

His mind was cracking.

He didn't want to be afraid. Didn't want to admit the fear of losing himself, of being overtaken by madness.

But he was afraid.

Because it was tempting. Since his second death, he'd felt the urge — the call — to just give in. To plunge headlong into insanity.

He resisted. Albeit Barely. But he knew if it continued, he would break.

So he sat cross-legged in the darkness, forcing himself to calm. He thought of everything he would lose if he let madness consume him. Slowly, painfully, he reeled himself back.

Minutes passed.

"I want information," he whispered, hoping for something useful.

[Ding! You have obtained new information: Whisper of The Undefeated Slave.]

The knowledge burned directly into his mind.

"Undefeated… Slave…"

Kaden's lips stretched into a smile.

"…my goodman."

—End of Chapter 231—

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