The God of Nothing.-Chapter 9: First Blood

Caelith was a bit confused. On the night of his departure, Kaden had come to see him.

Carrying a well-sharpened blade in both hands, Kaden approached Caelith, causing the boy to stop his practice.

Kaden had a neutral expression, devoid of any hint of happiness or sadness in his eyes.

As he drew closer, Caelith became increasingly confused until he understood Kaden's intent.

At the same time, Kaden hurled one of the swords toward Caelith. The metal scraped along the ground as it came to a stop.

Caelith steeled his nerves and picked up the weapon before assuming the Igarian stance. His sword was in his lead arm, and his other arm was bent and ready.

Kaden did not show his younger opponent the same respect as the moment Caelith picked up the sword he was already on the move.

The wind whistled behind him as he shot towards Caelith, his sword coming down in one swift motion.

It was Caelith's first time holding a real, battle-ready sword. Its weight is daunting, and its edge is terrifying. His inspection was cut short by the falling steel before him.

Immediately meeting the incoming strike, Caelith parried its force and pivoted to the inside of Kaden's attack.

From there, he used Kaden's momentum against him, lowering his center of mass and causing the experienced warrior to flip over him.

Taking advantage of this brief opening, Caelith charged forward, his sword glinting in the moonlight as it flew straight toward Kaden's abdomen.

Then, a strange glow surrounded Kaden's feet; it felt as if a hurricane had just been summoned.

Interrupting Caelith's charge with a burst of wind, Kaden surged forward, augmented by the mana of the world.

He effortlessly knocked the boy off balance with his shoulder, and his sword quickly followed, striking Caelith's neck.

Warm, red blood trickled down the bastard's neck.

His mind was reeling from the sensation of having his skin sundered.

Caelith had been beaten brutally before, even within an inch of his life. However, this was a sensation he had never experienced.

Death is inevitable and always approaching, ready to strike its prey at any minute.

Caelith touched his wound and then looked in horror at his red hand. Only now did the true terror of death quite set in.

There was nothing he could do, no possibility of resistance, no salvation for him. First, he felt pity for himself, as he would never live a free life. Then, he felt guilt for having to leave his mother alone, with nobody to protect her from Alaric.

The boy's resolve had been fierce for the past month of training—if the torture he put himself through could even be called that—but it finally waned. However, waning did not mean broken. A fire stayed lit in the boy's eyes as he turned to face his teacher, but there was a smile on the man's face.

"It seems you have braved death for the first time. congratulations."

Kaden chuckled, reaching into his pocket.

Caelith was confused; he was a few moments away from bleeding out. What was Kaden talking about?

Then, Kaden retrieved a small red vial and poured it on Caelith's neck. Almost magically, his pain diminished, and the feeling of impending doom subsided.

"Sorry about the tough initiation. If it helps, mine was a lot worse."

Kaden said softly while helping Caelith up from the ground, a hint of pride sparkling in his eyes. Drive and conviction are fickle things. When people have them, they feel unstoppable and motivated, as if success is inevitable. However, this feeling is merely arrogance fueled by the confidence gained from minor achievements.

When humans begin to overlook death, it strikes swiftly and accurately.

"Many great heroes were never born due to being killed prematurely. Often, their cause of death is reckless abandon in pursuit of their goals, or a loss of will to continue after facing true mortal danger."

Kaden spoke, his voice even.

"That's why I chose to see your resolve in its most intimate state, where nothing could obscure it. You've done well, Caelith; your will is strong, and your power is growing".

"When you venture out, remember that a dead person cannot struggle and, therefore, cannot achieve. Your life should always take precedence in battle."

Caelith nodded understandingly. Despite nearly bleeding out, he was mostly fine. The potion had closed his cut, and he had been able to stop the blood loss with pressure. He would be fine after some rest, so his departure was postponed to tomorrow.

Having passed his initiation into battles of life and death, Caelith looked at Kaden incredulously.

'Seriously! Who almost kills their student in an unplanned training session!'

However, Kaden's words hung true. He had never felt death. He was not initiated with it. And, therefore, he might have stumbled in the heat of battle.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as Caelith stepped beyond the estate walls.

For the first time, there were no chains, no looming figures above him, no sneering nobles whispering behind his back. Just him, his blade, and the untamed wilds ahead.

Kaden walked beside him, silent as they moved through the outer forest.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns of gold and green across the undergrowth. Small creatures skittered away at their approach, their tiny forms vanishing into the brush.

Caelith adjusted his grip on the hilt of his sword. His body still ached from last night's lesson—a wound more to his pride than his flesh—but the sting had left him sharper.

Eventually, Kaden came to a halt. "This is where we part."

Caelith stopped beside him, scanning their surroundings. The forest was still, but he could feel life pulsing in the shadows, watching, waiting.

Kaden turned to him.

"I won't guide you. I won't save you. Your only task is to bring back proof of a kill." His gaze darkened. "And before you ask, no, insects don't count."

Caelith exhaled. He had expected as much.

"How far should I go?" he asked.

Kaden shrugged.

"That's up to you. If you want to risk running into something above your level, be my guest."

He gestured toward the deeper parts of the forest, where the trees thickened, and shadows stretched long.

"But I'd recommend starting with something manageable."

A pause.

Then Kaden added, "Don't make me dig a grave."

With that, he turned and strode back toward the estate, leaving Caelith alone.

Silence settled over the woods.

Caelith let out a slow breath and pressed forward.

The outer forest was home to low-tier beasts, creatures unfit for serious hunters but dangerous enough to end an overconfident fool.

Zero-Star creatures were the weakest of the weak—vermin, scavengers, and fledgling predators still clawing for dominance.

After nearly half an hour of careful movement, he found his target.

Perched atop a fallen log, sniffing at the air, was a Gnarlfang Hare.

It was twice the size of a normal rabbit, its fur a patchy blend of brown and gray.

Its front teeth jutted forward, unnaturally sharp, and its claws twitched against the bark. A scavenger by nature, but when desperate, it could tear through flesh and bone with ease.

Caelith crouched low, gripping his sword.

He had no doubt he could kill it. But how he killed it would determine if he truly learned from Kaden's lesson.

No recklessness. No wasted movements.

He would do this right.

He adjusted his stance, waiting for the perfect moment.

Then, he struck.

Caelith lunged forward, closing the gap in an instant. The Gnarlfang Hare's ears twitched, its beady eyes widening as it twisted to flee—but it was too late.

The tip of his sword lashed out, slicing through the creature's flank. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to slow it. The hare let out a shrill screech, a sound far more unsettling than any normal rabbit's cry.

It kicked off the log in a desperate attempt to escape, but Caelith was already moving.

He pursued, keeping his breathing steady, his mind clear. He wouldn't let excitement cloud his judgment. The hare was fast, darting between trees and underbrush, but it was injured. It couldn't run forever.

He angled his approach, cutting off its path.

The creature turned to face him, its small, hunched body trembling. It hissed. Not a natural sound, but a guttural, almost unnatural noise. Its sharp teeth glistened, and its claws scraped against the dirt.

It was cornered.

A small part of Caelith hesitated. It looked pathetic—just a scavenger trying to survive. But then he remembered Kaden's words.

Hesitation was death.

His grip tightened.

The hare lunged first. It wasn't a mindless animal—it knew it had no escape, so it chose to fight.

Caelith pivoted, sidestepping the attack. The moment it passed him, he brought his sword down.

Steel met flesh.

The hare's body convulsed as the blade cut deep, severing its spine. A final, strangled cry left its throat before it collapsed, its twitching limbs going still.

Caelith let out a breath.

His first kill.

He crouched beside the carcass, wiping the blood from his blade onto the grass. His hands weren't shaking.

He felt no overwhelming guilt. It was just a beast. A creature of the wild, surviving by its own rules.

And now, it was his proof.

Caelith gripped the dead hare by its hind legs and began the journey back.

The forest felt different now. The rustling leaves, the distant cries of unseen creatures—they were no longer just background noise. He could feel the presence of life all around him, watching from the shadows.

Prey. Predators.

This was a world dictated by strength.

By the time he reached the clearing where Kaden had left him, the sun was higher in the sky, warming the earth.

Kaden stood there, arms crossed.

The moment he saw Caelith approach, his eyes flicked to the hare dangling from his grip. He raised an eyebrow.

"Not bad."

Caelith tossed the corpse at his feet.

"Satisfied?"

Kaden smirked. "You tell me. What did you learn?"

Caelith exhaled, his mind replaying the hunt.

"Patience. Control. And not to hesitate."

Kaden nodded. "Good."

Visit freewёbnoνel.com for the best novel reading experience.

Then, without warning, he nudged the hare with his boot and shrugged. "Still just a rabbit, though."

Caelith scowled. "A Gnarlfang Hare."

Kaden laughed. "Ah, yes. The mighty terror of the outer forest."

Caelith gritted his teeth. "I killed something. That was the point, wasn't it?"

Kaden waved him off. "Relax. You passed." His smirk returned, sharp and knowing. "Barely."

Caelith scowled but didn't argue. He knew the truth.

The hare had been weak. A Zero-Star beast. He had fought something that was barely a threat.

And yet, despite its insignificance, the lesson it left behind was invaluable.

Strength dictated survival.

And Caelith would become strong.