Born in Blood



In the corridors of the giant temple, the four looked at Liam with awkward smiles.

"Yeah," Ruth said with a nod.

The others nodded in synchrony.

Silence.

"Okay? Get on with it then!" 

Liam frowned. Was it just him, or was everyone around him an absolute retard?

"Alright, alright. Well, first, Usan won. We have 24 points now," Ruth said with a broad grin. "We're in the lead, baby."

Liam nodded.

"The Moyong family is right behind us," Maeve said with a slight frown. "They've got 21 points."

The four grew a little serious on those words.

Liam asked why.

"Myriad Brush revealed another rule," Jargon said with distaste. "Those in the finals forfeit their second chances."

"Now, it's the Temple versus the Luminous Lights."

"Whoever wins this… well, they pretty much win the tournament."

"The others don't have nearly as many points as us."

"They'll more likely forfeit to save some face and ally with the victor."

Jargon's knowledge of political knowledge was pretty astounding. The others nodded in agreement with him.

'Moyong family.'

'A light only clan, eh?'

"Who's my next opponent?" Liam asked, a trace of caution in his tone.

What was it?

Another Zenith?

A Sect leader?

Maybe two?

The four shared a look among one another, then shrugged.

"I don't know how, but this one was pretty normal compared to the other crazy opponents you've had. It's that silver-haired girl," Ruth said. "What was her name again? Something… light?"

"Twilight," Maeve corrected with a nod.

Liam blinked.

Well… that was unexpected.

…Then, Liam realized why.

His deformity!

Liam's deformed arm reduced his prowess significantly.

The Matchmaker took that into account somehow.

Without this… lump of flesh on his right arm, he'd probably face the North Star for all he knew.

But all that did was make his life difficult in a roundabout way.

Liam still had to fight tooth and nail to defeat the girl. 

But, at the very least, she was the same power level as him.

Well, not really. 

She was in the liquid-stage.

That was a pretty big deal for someone's strength and prowess.

Not to mention, Liam would have to fight with a deformed arm if he didn't find a way to heal it.

'The Elders must have tried fixing it and couldn't.'

'The problem isn't that it's a wound. It's literally one with my body.'

'I'll need to practice some more with Transfiguration and my Blood Shadow. Hopefully that won't change the matchup once more.'

"Anything else?" Liam asked. He wanted to practice with Transfiguration and his Ashura Form straight away. 

"Yeah. Usan told us to fetch you once you're awake," Ruth said. "He's waiting for you at the peak of the pyramid."

After a few more back and forths, the four went their own ways, and Liam ran through more then twenty corridors to arrive at Usan's dwelling.

When he did, he pushed the doors to the hall wide open, and saw Usan cultivating with his shadows.

"You called?" Liam asked with a raised brow. 

For some reason, the Unforgiven's aura was slightly… weaker than before. 

And a little bit dimmer, too.

"We need to have a talk," the Unforgiven said, opening his eyes for the first time.

They were solemn.

Liam raised his brow. 

Usan sighed heavily, opening his mouth, hesitating for a moment, before speaking.

"I'm dying."

Liam blinked.

…

"You're what?" 

Liam's words were filled with shock, his mind racing.

"Dying."

Usan's face was resolute for some reason.

As if he'd already accepted his death with open arms.

"How?" Liam questioned with a slightly angry tone. "Aren't you a powerful Zenith? Can't you slow your death some way or the other?"

"I have been slowing it down. This isn't anything new," Usan responded with a low voice.

Usan sighed again.

"I've been dying for a while now."

"Back when I just advanced, I got a little careless and did things the wrong way. I was always sickly, you see."

"My latest stunt just expedited things."

"Though, it's not like I'm gonna die so soon. I'm pretty sure there's still a few years in me."

"The fruit won't do much. In fact, it'll probably quicken my death."

Liam's eyes narrowed.

All this time?

What was the point of all of this, then?!

Why was he fighting in this tournament?!

For what?!

Liam grimaced angrily.

A Rank 5 existence!

The middle part of the cultivation journey!

An expression of pure power!

Dying.

Laughable.

Liam felt pure anger.

If the tables were turned, Liam wouldn't be in the same situation.

He'd find a way to live.

Any way.

No matter the means.

If Liam had to slaughter his entire clan, he'd do it just for another day.

Power was the motivation.

Survival was the goal.

But Usan chose the former over the latter.

He simply fought and 'hid' it. 

For some reason, Liam felt anger at Usan.

His existence clouded the meaning of power to Liam.

If Liam indeed got to the Celestial Ranks… was that it?

So much power and a deathly sickness was the conclusion he arrived at.

Would Liam suffer the same?

"The others don't know," Usan said with a solemn voice. "I couldn't tell them."

"And you're telling me? I don't even share the same views as your Clan," Liam frowned, his tone a little more distant than usual.

Usan sighed for the fourth time.

Despite the disrespect in Liam's tone and words, he didn't hold it against him.

"Because you're the only one I can ask this of," Usan said, his piercing gaze locked with Liam's own. 

"You and I are much more similar than you think. Both in mindset and life. You're vengeful, but it's not what drives you the most."

Liam felt a bit of pressure on his mental sphere, but it was more of a firm press.

"I need you to carry on my mission after I die," Usan said with a heavy voice, but his words were heavier.

"My rage."

"My hatred."

"My revenge."

"Death is near, but I do not know when it's coming."

Usan's gaze turned hard, and Liam felt like the next words were going to be heaviest yet.

"But once it comes… I want you to lead."