32 Rest In Peace (1/2)

”Truthfully this old man is interested in what you've experienced in life to make you so cold towards the world, the indifference in your eyes is different from what I've seen before…” He pondered as he stared at me, the old man was clearly on the verge of death with one step in the grave but he wanted to spend his final minutes questioning why I was indifferent to the world.

I almost wanted to laugh at the situation but managed to restrain myself – although I was heartless I wouldn't mock a dying man on his last breath, regardless of it being me who would slit his throat in the end and be the one to take his life.

”It doesn't matter anyway, does it? I'm on my last breath, regardless of your origins I doubt we have the time to speak of them in depth.” He sighed, his voice filled with regret and disappointment as he looked out of the window into the distance.

Since he had started his breakthrough he hadn't moved from this spot so it was only fitting for it to be the place where he finally drew his last breath.

”This kingdom of mine… This kingdom of mine.” He repeated himself shortly after he'd said it once, the second time a long drawn out sigh followed as if he was remembering the past in these short moments before his end.

”We're no more than puppets, connected to the strings that bind this world. Our fates are intertwined with this place for eternity and we can only accept this fate.” He said to me, his head tilting slightly as his gaze turned to the slowly setting horizon – it truly had been a long day, I sighed to myself thinking of how far I had come in these short months.

”Then why not break free? Become strong enough to destroy the strings that bind you and become the puppeteer rather than the puppet?” I couldn't help but ask, the question had weighed heavily for a while now – there had to be some form of resistance in this world but I had yet to see it.

”If only… The child that took down this kingdom of mine and destroyed my opportunity for a breakthrough is a person with such ambition; however, to succeed he will need more than just luck…” The former king sighed in dismay, his head drooped slightly as his life began to slip away at a much faster weight as if the thought of a life in strings had destroyed his will to live.

”His talent is heaven-defying, I have nothing but praise for the boy, but to surpass the man who stands before us as God in his own world? He'll need to sacrifice much he has worked for – but he doesn't have the heart.” He said with a sigh, from the look in his eyes I knew he was telling the truth.

There was respect in his eyes as he spoke of the boy who had caused this rebellion, I couldn't help but become slightly interested in him – I had no intention of making friends but if I could make use of him in the future it would be perfect for my plans would it not?

With that thought in mind, I returned my attention to the king who was now gradually beginning to slip away, ”There's no chance you could leave my corpse intact is there?” He somehow found the strength to form the words needed to say that, yet the determination in his voice shook me slightly.

I only stared back at him, my hand gripped around the cold hilt of the Abyssal Dagger – his eyes showed a look of acceptance as he closed them for what would be his final time, yet I didn't move.

My entire body screamed kill as I looked at him and yet I remained calm, 'is this truly who I am?' I thought bitterly, I wanted to become stronger yet despite never having met the man before today I felt respect towards him.

His home, his kingdom, his people and all his accomplishments in life had been taken by the 'boy' who caused this small rebellion and yet he still found the strength to push himself towards a breakthrough, only to have the opportunity stolen from him due to the 'boy' he had praised.

I sighed at the irony but could only steel my own resolve and wait for the final moments before reaping the XP.

His life was rapidly leaving his body so at the final moment when his consciousness had all but faded I slit his throat soundly.

'+2000 XP for Killing Fourth Realm Primary Cultivator'