Return Of The Strongest Player

"Head in there again."

Arthur spoke, his expression indifferent and his tone strict. Kai glanced at him in bewilderment, wondering if the crimson-eyed man was being genuine with his words. The boy wanted nothing but to curl up under the sheets and weep.

One did not truly understand death before they experienced it. Although this was not true death and was conducted through one's ethereal body, it still managed to mimic the true nature of the concept.

Through the Blade Sovereign's mysterious power, things like this were possible.

'Seriously?' Kai clicked his tongue, muttering internally. His gaze turned to the dark tunnel, which seemed to symbolize raging emotions, and seemed to ignite trauma in the boy's mind. He didn't want to go.

But, looking at Arthur's resolute gaze, it seemed he would not accept "no" for an answer.

Swallowing his saliva yet again, Kai took a few steps forward. He felt a force resisting his advance, which was why he turned around yet again, glancing at the crimson-eyed man, who seemed unperturbed.

Clenching his teeth, Kai entered the tunnel, traversing through the dim corridor before arriving in the space again.

Before he knew it, a sword came flying at him at tremendous speeds, threatening to slice his neck if he wasn't careful. In desperation, Kai tightened his grip on his sword, swinging as he parried the levitating sword.

Clang!

His heart raced, but he didn't wait. As another levitating sword shot towards him, Kai sensed it, attacking accordingly while protecting his life. He evaded another strike by a hair's breadth, parrying.

'How long is this going to continue?' Kai wondered, already out of breath after only four swings. He was uncertain how long it would last, but he did not wish to die. Anything but death, he believed.

Clang! Clang!

He continued to fight, protecting his life, but on the seventh sword, he couldn't help but watch with raging emotions as a sword swept past his neck, slicing it as his head dropped to the floor with a loud thud.

Thud!

*

"Not again… Not again…" Kai muttered under his breath, desperately trying to steady his breathing as his face was stained with snot and tears. He begged the crimson-eyed man but to no avail.

It was to the point where even Arthur felt a hint of sympathy.

'But I can't let him off easy,' thought the crimson-eyed man. 'He needs to disregard such petty notions. This is the most effective way for him to strengthen his mental fortitude, and I'm not going to let it go to waste.'

'I had a better starting point, sure… But he's much less rigid than me.'

'As a child, he can adapt better than me.'

"Inside… Again," Arthur ordered, watching emotionlessly as Kai stumbled into the tunnel yet again, his expression detached and blank. 

It wasn't long before the boy spawned again, his expression corroded by terror. Arthur approached him, patting Kai on the shoulder as he plopped down beside him. "Again. But this time, think about absolutely nothing."

"W–What the fuck… What the fuck does that mean?" Kai shot back, violently clawing at Arthur like a feral cat as he hid in a dim corner. 

"It's just as I said," Arthur announced, locking eyes with the boy. "Think about absolutely nothing. Enter a state of thoughtlessness. Try to push your thoughts into the void that appears as you close your eyes."

Kai still seemed confused, as he continued staring at Arthur, refusing to move from the corner in which he squatted. He cowered in fear, traumatized by the room that had caused many deaths. He didn't wish to enter.

But what if he couldn't think?

'That truly would be easier…'

Although Kai didn't understand the true purpose of thoughtlessness, he had his own reasons. "Why do I… No, how do I achieve that?"

"You simply stop thinking," Arthur explained. "As I said, throw your mind into a void and fight with your eyes closed, to begin with. Eventually, you will gain the ability to enter thoughtlessness even with your eyes open."

"You're not a very good teacher, are you?"

Arthur eyed Kai with disdain. "Just fucking do it."

Kai nodded as he entered the tunnel with rejuvenated determination. He narrowed his eyes, closing them before unsheathing his sword. However, within a single second, a levitating chopped his neck.

"What the fuck?"

"Again."

The same thing happened again.

"Again."

Kai lasted three seconds.

"Again."

Kai lasted two seconds.

"Again."

Kai lasted five seconds.

Each time, although there were a few occasional dips, Kai continued to improve. His senses were heightened once his sense of sight was eliminated from the equation, allowing for a much better run.

However, as his senses began deteriorating due to the nature of the trial, Kai encountered a dilemma yet again.

"What do I do now?"

"Achieve thoughtlessness."

"But I already…"

"You didn't," Arthur interrupted. "You simply learned how to rely more on your other senses, rather than sight. Now, you need to rely on a sixth sense, and relinquish all thoughts that make you aware of your existence."

"You need to forget everything…"

Seemingly having received an epiphany, Kai entered the tunnel again, determined to achieve thoughtlessness, akin to how Dao Practicers did it. 

As he faced the sword that previously represented death, Kai remained neutral, his expression indifferent and his body calm. He dispelled all thoughts that induced terror and the urge to flee, relying solely on his instincts. 

No, even instincts were only hindrances to the true meaning of thoughtlessness.

However, mustering whatever skills he had and pushing his mind and body to his limits, Kai began parrying and evading the swords, initiating a rally while making sure he didn't think too much.

Thinking took time.

Time was something he did not possess. In a battle in which every millisecond counted, Kai couldn't spend time considering his options, and in which direction to swing his sword to deal the most damage.

All that mattered was survival.

He didn't wish to die again. 

He didn't wish to die.

No…

Having experienced the sensation several times, instead of having his fear reduced, Kai was instead inflicted by an even stronger urge to survive, to live, and to grow stronger so that he would never suffer again.

'I can make use of my ability,' thought Kai, observing the strings of fate that intertwined through reality itself. The webs were intricately designed, to the point where they were difficult to understand, even for someone who had been able to see them his entire life.

Ever since Kai discovered he was the only one capable of seeing these 'webs,' he began researching them.

It seemed as if each string represented the fate of a single person. Kai didn't know whom each string represented, but he could estimate by simply inspecting them. Kai wasn't certain of the usage of these strings, but he was aware he could simply learn.

Suddenly, a specific string shot past Kai, attracting his attention.

'The sword…'

Kai felt as if his existence, his life, was determined by that specific string. Almost instinctively, he extended his arm, playing the string as if playing notes on a guitar. Immediately, the web of reality itself bent to his will.

Kai didn't understand what had occurred, but he felt an unusual sense of control.

It was as if he were ruling over the world.

His spine tingled, and pleasure engulfed his body, causing him to lean back. Coincidentally, a sword shot past where he previously stood. Kai didn't pay any mind and simply watched the strings of fate rearrange themselves hurriedly.

Another string shot past, and Kai felt approaching danger. He played the string again and felt the strength in his body be sucked away.

Then, suddenly, a sharp pain exploded from his stomach, forcing him forward. Coincidentally, a sword shot past the top of his head, avoiding Kai by a hair's breadth. But the situation didn't feel so coincidental.

'These strings decide my fate, and the fate of everyone in the world.'

'I can manipulate them.'

Kai felt as if he'd found his purpose. He was the Manipulator Of Fate, an aspect that not many knew even existed. He continued to manipulate the strings, avoiding all swords by a hair's breadth.

A wide smile remained on his face throughout the process, his mind imagining the possibilities. 

He could become someone respected. 

He could become strong.

He could become independent.

"Hahahahah!" Wild laughter escaped Kai's lips as he continued to evade all the strings. However, his laughter faded once he lost his sense of touch, rendering him unable to interact with the strings of fate.

With nothing but his own thoughts, Kai was forced in a precarious situation.

His joy and excitement faded, and terror approached yet again. It wasn't long before he succumbed to his own inability, being struck by a sword that only grazed his neck. However, the bleeding effect ended his life.

'I guess manipulating fate isn't all that there is to it.'