I am the Only Son of Nyx

Deafening silence fell upon the camp.

Every student stared at the figure emerging from the shadow beyond the treeline.

Subconsciously, the air in their lungs stilled as their eyes determined whether this figure was real or merely a product of their tired minds. As shocking as it was, this figure was real. And he walked into the camp without saying anything.

Kai walked into the main camp, trying his best to keep his walk straight.

Steam was sizzling from his body as if he had been on fire. His clothes were torn, revealing all kinds of wounds and bruises that were still bleeding. In his hand is a broken sword that spoke of the battle it had gone through.

All students made way for him.

As he neared the center, he stopped and looked up to the sky.

It was already at the crack of dawn. Blue sunlight peeked from the clouds and bathed his face.

He closed his eyes and took in the warmth for a second.

And when he opened his eyes again, he looked around, realizing that right now, he was the center of attention. Everyone was waiting for him to say something. But he was too tired. No more strength to even say anything.

Instead, he rummages through his pocket.

All eyes watched as his hand moved and took out something.

He tossed it to the ground, and everyone realized that it was a bloodied, dirty gold armband.

At the same time, Kai saw Dorian poking his beautiful face out of the tent. Curious as to what even prompted this deafening silence. And when he saw Kai—the corner of his lips curled as he now understood why.

Kai went to that tent and stepped inside.

"You look like shit," Dorian commented as he watched Kai walk in.

And when he reached the center, his entire body began to shake—and then he dropped to his knees. "Ow..." He groaned in pain, staring at his shaking hand. "Everything hurts. I think I’m going to sleep."

Kai dropped to the floor and closed his eyes.

It was already the beginning of sunrise, and he feared the Deep Slumber wouldn’t work.

He wouldn’t be able to sleep without it.

Fortunately, the tent was still shrouded in darkness, and he drowsed into the dreamland.

Outside, Layra and the other students stared blankly at the bloodied, dirty gold armband. As one, realization dawned, and they released the breaths they had been holding, exhaling it as if surfacing from deep water.

Kai and Lion disappeared into the forest, but only one returned.

A High Angel falls, and the Lesser Angel stands.

They won.

Like an exploding volcanic mountain, the new Team Crius burst into cheers, cries, and incredulous laughter. Just yesterday, all of them were suffering from a slow death. None even has the hope of surviving the third trial.

But seems like Dionysus took pity on them and gave them a miracle through Kai.

All of their pent-up emotions exploded at once.

Those who resented Team Crius cheered as if there was no tomorrow. Those who had gone through the pain of loss wept like babies. And those who thought they were as good as dead laughed from sheer relief and joy.

Even Layra, the previous leader of Team Hyperion, allowed herself to break down.

She fell to her knees, covered her face with both hands, and cried. She pressed her forehead against the earth and then touched the intricate golden ring that belonged to her twin sister, letting out everything that had built up inside.

One that she held to keep a strong front as the leader.

"Mayra... You can rest easy now, sister," Layra sobbed. "Lion is dead. Lion is dead..."

Aaran went down and held her shoulders.

From his first encounter with Kai, he knew something was different about the Lesser Angel.

It was his gut feeling, and he decided to give Kai everything he knew.

And that’s the single-best decision he had made throughout the entire rite.

He looked up at Namira, not too far away, and smiled, giving her a thumbs up, "We won."

"Hmm," She nodded back. "We won."

Moments later.

Now that Team Crius is the only team standing, the surviving students quickly adjusted to the new normal. Compared to yesterday, the threat to them had significantly decreased. But the third trial isn’t over.

Kai opened his eyes.

His mind was now refreshed, but the wounds still needed to be treated.

Or at least, that’s what he thought, yet he doesn’t feel as bad as before. The pain that had been ravaging every part of his body was now bearable. He thought it was the Deep Slumber, but when he looked down, he realized that he had been treated.

He was wrapped in herb leaves and bandages.

"You’re up?"

Dorian’s voice seeped into his ears.

On the side, also lying down not too far away was Dorian.

Almost instantly, Kai’s face turned pale. "You’re not the one who treated me, aren’t you?"

"Fuck you," Dorian sneered in contempt. "Are we still doing this? For the thousandth time, I’m not gay. It’s not me who treated you, but another guy who can heal shit, so wipe that fear out of your face."

"Oh..." Kai cleared his throat. "That’s good. How is it going outside?"

"Great. Most students are recuperating and also opening their second Divine Lock. Layra and a few others are hunting for food, but they should be back by now. You didn’t miss anything. Nothing happened while you were asleep."

"That was the best sleep I’ve ever had."

"I’m sure. You slept like a log." Dorian turned and looked at Kai with a meaningful gaze. "Say, care to tell me how it went with Lion? I know that you said that you won, but is it really the truth?"

"Yeah..." Kai recalled what happened that night. "He’s dead."

...

[You have completed the Ending Fragment of Stone]

[You have successfully understood Perion the Golem Ending]

[You can now summon Perion from the House of Night]

After meeting Perion for the second time and getting to know him better, Kai managed to complete the Ending Fragment of Stone. Not only did his Inner Strength of Stone develop, but he also got another surprise.

He can summon Perion.

Before instigating Team Coeus, he tried summoning Perion.

All he needed to do was call for its name, and Perion appeared in the form of a smoky shadow.

Kai could tell almost instantly that Perion is incredibly strong. In fact, he was quite certain that Perion was stronger than him. And like him during the duration of the Nigh-Phantom, Perion’s presence was very light.

If he stayed still and someone were to walk past, he would pass as a shrouded rock.

Keeping Perion out is draining his mana, but it doesn’t matter for him.

His mana reserve is incredibly large and could certainly retain Perion for one or two hours.

Since Lion would be his very first tribute for Bella, he wanted Lion’s blood on his own hands. Only then can the tribute be worthy of Bella. He kept Perion on standby, ready to step in and help should the battle turn for the worse.

As it turned out, Perion’s help was unnecessary.

Until the very end, Kai didn’t help. He won the battle fair and square.

"I was never alone. From the start... You never had the chance to survive."

Lion looked up at the massive, shadowy golem before him.

His pupils trembled at the monstrous sight. Every instinct in his body blared with warning that this creature was dangerous. Its gaze alone locked his muscles, stole his breath, and kept him to the spot with raw, primal terror.

’Just who am I fighting...?’ A bead of cold sweat trickled down Kai’s face. ’How come he has a lot of abilities when he’s only an Awakened Supernal? He’s also a Lesser Angel to boast. This shouldn’t be possible!’

Perion moved slowly.

He went down to one knee, and with the sound of a rockslide, he swung and crushed Lion’s legs. Seconds ago, it was hard for Lion to walk. Now, there will be no future where he can walk ever again if he survives this.

A painful scream tore through his throat.

For the entire length of the third trial, he had heard the scream from other students.

Never in his wildest dreams that he’d be the one to let out a victim’s cry.

"Kill me with your own hands, coward!" Lion roared as he hissed in pain. He glanced over his shoulder and glared at Kai, who had been watching silently like the moon’s shadow. "If you have the guts, then kill me yourself."

Kai tilted his head.

"I was going to do that," He approached slowly.

Like an executioner, he stood towering before Lion and raised his icy sword.

"Repent," Kai said coldly. "Ask forgiveness to Goddess Elios for everything you did." His eyes grew sharper at the sight of Lion’s confusion. The Permafrost Gloves hummed stronger as he clutched the sword tighter. "Repent!"

Killing Lion wasn’t only for himself, but also for the students who fell.

And Kai wanted to hear him repent. Wanted to hear him apologize. Wanted to hear him weep.

But all he got from Lion was a maniacal grin.

"Like hell, I would!" He twisted his hand, and the Fire Aegis came to life with blazing fire.

Swoosh—!

Lion’s hands burst with flames like a flamethrower, engulfing Kai, who wasn’t expecting him to do that. A flicker of madness glinted in his eyes—as he laughed maniacally. "Repent?" He asked incredulously. "Repent for what?! Those fuckers are weak. They should be thankful to be my plaything! Thankful that they can be of use to me!

"Now die, bastard!" He roared and put more mana into the Fire Aegis.

He knew that he’d die here since he couldn’t beat Perion.

And since his death was certain, he would drag Kai to the underworld with him.

If Hades were to get to him, then he would make sure that Kai was caught, too.

But as he burned Kai, he noticed that Perion hadn’t made a move.

’Why...?’ Lion stared at Perion in confusion. "Why didn’t this thing kill me?’

Just then, the answer came to him when a hand grabbed his wrist.

Kai’s hand pushed through the roaring fire and clamped down on Lion’s wrist. He pushed through the fire and emerged from the flame with nothing but willpower. Steam was rising violently from his unharmed skin.

The Ending Fragment of Stone is now complete.

His Inner Strength of Stone had fully awakened, and from it, he gained resistance to all natural elements. Fire, wind, water, lightning, every single elemental factor from nature has less effect on him.

"N-No... It can’t be..." Lion’s face was pale.

Kai plunged his icy sword into Lion’s chest.

Blood sprayed onto his face, but that didn’t deter his determination to kill.

He knocked Lion’s arms away, killing the fire, and quickly grabbed Lion’s head.

"Deep Slumber!"

The darkness around Lion tightened.

What had begun at his legs now climbed higher, dragging a thickening drowsiness through his body. Lion struggled—but Kai held firm, driving his knees into Lion’s wrists and pinning him to the ground.

Slowly, with every passing second, the Deep Slumber sank deeper.

But a shout stopped Kai from devouring Lion completely.

"STOP!"