Kai Lane: Beginning

"As I watched you, I became angry at your stupidity. You don't realize what you're doing. You can't see the mistakes you're making. You dislike arrogant people, yet you are more arrogant than they are. Turn around and see for yourself!"

At that moment, the man in front of Kai exerted a very strong pressure, making it seem as if any mistake on Kai's part could cost him his life.

Kai turned around. He wanted to avoid Ryuga's hand in front of him. If this man hadn't stopped time, Kai would have probably died from Ryuga's palm strike. Now, however, he was aware of an even greater danger.

An arrow had just pierced the air where he had been standing!

Although it was now in the air, Kai could see that it had been very close to where he had been standing. Had he escaped Ryuga in time, that arrow would have pierced his heart. Now, Kai realized that the arrow had already touched his skin.

It took Kai only a few seconds to find the owner of the arrow. In a life-or-death battle, he wouldn't have had those few seconds. It was then that he realized a girl was hiding in the trees and aiming her bow at him.

"She is the fourth most powerful Hunter. You are no match for Ryuga, and the fact that she came at the same time proves that you are already dead."

After speaking, the man turned his head to Kai and pointed his finger at him.

"Kai Lane, tell me. Do you think you're a better genius than they are?"

Kai was silent for a moment. He knew the answer was important, but he also knew that if he lied, the man would know. So he was completely honest.

"Yes. When I'm their age, I'll definitely be much stronger than them."

He was completely confident about that, even though he didn't know Ryuga's or this woman's age. Ryuga looked 20 when he arrived. He had to be at least 25. Of course, that was the best-case scenario. He was definitely older than Kai.

The young man's face showed a nervous expression. Then, he sighed. He turned to the heavy coat Ryuga had left behind.

"Kai, you're getting too big for your britches. The only things that got you this far were your blood and the people behind you. You... Because of your personality, you will never ascend to the Land of the Ancestors."

GULP! GULPP!!

Kai's heartbeat quickened, and he took a deep breath. Even though he didn't know this man, he was angry about the nonsense he was saying about him.

But, unlike Kai, the young man remained the same. He acted as if Kai could never ascend to the Land of the Ancestors or reach Open Sky.

"I am the Spirit of Sky Island, Kai. I have seen many things you have not. I have heard many things you have not. Experts many times stronger than you have come here. Some could kill you with a single finger. Your talent is great, but it doesn't determine everything."

Your problem is that during your time on Sky Island, you never encountered anyone from the Second Step. Back then, you kept your distance from your friends because they were arrogant. But now... What do you think you are?!"

Finally, the Spirit of the Sky exploded.

"Look at that kid! Do you think someone on the Half Step could lift that vest? He pushed himself and trained his body. He didn't have incredible potential; he struggled to survive in dangerous areas. In the end, he used people as stepping stones to become the Dragon King and reach the peak. He only gained notable power once he became the Dragon King."

"Still, he didn't stop working like you did. He had a heavy vest made for himself and wore it day and night. He made decisions that risked his life. You only trained your body a little while you were at Green Lightning. Do you think you're stronger than the others?!"

"Zeus condemned himself to live under the Thunderous Sky."

"Poseidon lived for thousands of years by binding the chains of the seven seas to his body!"

"Ares walked through countless wars, following a bloody path. He left behind his friends and his humanity!"

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"Many people on this island were not like you, Kai. Some bore mountains on their backs; others lived blindly for hundreds of years."

The man with black hair sighed and finally turned his gaze first to the distance, then back to Kai.

"Your first mistake was greed. You could have ended this from the beginning. Even when you destroyed the Immortal Sword Academy, you knew everything. You simply chose to ignore it. You wanted to be stronger. But your goal was to work less."

You wanted to win the easy way, and you paid the price when the Hunters came to the Sky Lands.

Your second mistake was carelessness. You could have stayed on the island, but you should have at least been careful of the Hunters. Because of this, many people, including your dear friend Zaheer, died. These were your faults. Only you can take responsibility for this."

"Your third mistake was anger. When a few people died, you became angry and left your city, endangering everyone's lives. Because of this, the city's power diminished greatly. No matter how many people you kill, your gains don't compensate for your losses.

"Fourth, your mistake was arrogance. You challenged Ryuga but didn't stand up to anyone else. You called out to your friends, but it only had a small effect. I want you to see the course of this war with me."

The middle-aged man began walking calmly. Kai followed him, seemingly in a trance. The words of the Sky Spirit were simple, but they were true. The problem was that everything he said was true.

Kai followed the middle-aged man as they slowly made their way through the trees and appeared on the battlefield created by the explosions.

"T-this!"

Kai felt like he couldn't breathe as he looked at the scene. Arms and legs were scattered about. He could clearly see rivers of blood, exploded heads, and people attacking like madmen. Everyone here was making attacks that consumed their souls in order to kill their opponents. This could prevent them from entering the Reincarnation Cycle—or worse—they could be completely destroyed.

Unlike Kai, the Sky Spirit was completely calm. Although this was a rare battle for him, he had seen it before. That's why he was calm.

"Everyone is putting their lives on the line. Even the couple we left behind could die on a battlefield like this. Still, even in a situation like this, it seems like the Developers are going to lose."

The Sky Spirit's calm words worried Kai. Among these people were his friends, those he had fought alongside. How could he just watch them die? Especially because of his inexperience!

Kai's body shook violently. When he turned his gaze to the Sky Spirit, he saw how calm he was. It was as if these events were truly insignificant.

"Senior, Is there no way to save them?"

Kai asked in desperation, but he knew better. The Sky Spirit had no connection to him. Why would he help?

"Would you accept a sacrifice?"

The Sky Spirit's words held a trace of hope. Looking at the battlefield, Kai could clearly see that the Hunters were stronger.

"I can do it!"

"Okay then."

The Sky Spirit said calmly, reaching into his robes and pulling out a small pill. The pill was the size of a small seed and was clearly crafted by alchemy masters using energy. The movement of the laws of nature could be felt around it. Even Kai could recognize it. If he looked at the pill for a few hours, he could begin to understand the laws.

Unfortunately, with his incomplete knowledge of alchemy, he could not measure its level. With his lost memories, it was impossible for him to understand it!

"Kai, you don't have the slightest understanding of any law, do you?"

The Sky Spirit's words embarrassed Kai. He really had no idea how to grasp those laws.

"The Sky Lands may be unique in many ways, but the laws are harder to understand here than in the outside world. So I will not force you."

Of course, the Sky Spirit had seen people on the island who had begun to grasp the laws, except for the old hunters.

"What are you going to do with that pill?"

Kai was knowledgeable about many things, but he thought those pills only worked if you swallowed them.

The Sky Spirit gave him a disdainful look and tossed the pill onto the battlefield.

"Fall."

A lightning bolt appeared on the pill, and at the same moment, the lightning bolt and the pill turned to dust.

The sky split open, and a huge yellow bolt of lightning came down from nowhere.

Kai was surprised, then horrified. He was surprised that such a pill existed, and he certainly believed that this lightning bolt was special.

But what terrified him was that this lightning bolt could move slowly, even in frozen time.

"Is it breaking time?!"

"Go back. Staying close to where you were just now will minimize the side effects. If a tear in the fabric of time opens while you are here, your body will probably explode. The closer you are to where you used to be, the less nauseous you will feel."

The Sky Spirit explained casually and began to watch the lightning. The gigantic thunderbolt was slowly approaching the ground. Time would probably resume when it hit the ground.

Kai turned around, about to go to where Ryuga and Valeria were, when he realized he didn't understand why the Sky Spirit had been helping him all this time.

"Senior, why did you help me?"

The Sky Spirit continued to stare at the lightning. Kai couldn't see his eyes, but he could sense the loneliness within him. It was so intense that even someone at Kai's level could detect it if they paid attention.

"Don't look at me like that, Kai.... Shouldn't you enjoy it instead of questioning it?"

' Haven't you always done that?'

Kai took one last look at the Sky Spirit, then turned and walked away. The Sky Spirit became translucent as it stared at the falling lightning.

"Why did I help? Because I'm waiting. I'm waiting for you, Arthur."

"Ten years from today..."

"One hundred years from now...

One thousand years from now...

One hundred thousand, a million, a billion years from now, life will go on. But it won't be you, Arthur. "

"I'll wait anyway.... Because..... I have no other choice."