Requiem Of A Failed Hero

Being asura, Thard-Harl was not the bravest nor strongest of his kind but he could boast of an overpowering battle prowess thanks to his mind reading.

The ability to read the mind of a creature and structure his moves around the person's line of thoughts. He could catch a person's moves the moment they conceive the thought and with his superhuman body, he was able to match any kind of foe.

His ability was the best amongst asura, many yearned ri get it and respected him because of it.

Yet, he fell into the trap of this young man.

The moment Raith kicked his claw weapon... he didn't think of the next move knowing fully well that Thard-Harl would be able to have a counter.

Instead, he threw himself at his instincts, knowing fully well that Thard-Harl would charge in his direction. He went straight for the weapons, sweeping low to grab it, and immediately stabbed him from behind.

This was the basis of 'Transcendent Sense' and with this, he was finally able to grasp the true essence of the perk which also updated the skill details.

[Transcendent Sense]

Grade: Prodigious

Details: You have a very uncommon sense of getting used to certain situations and because of this you have developed an inner sense to smell openings and dangers. Your senses improve the more you get used to the situation and have no limits. In an extreme state, you can execute actions in their perfect sequence without thinking. (Note) Extreme states are reached by building blocks.

Raith couldn't put the (note) together but he would worry about that later.

Right now, he wanted to savor this taste of victory.

At least that was what was in his mind as the bleeding Thard-Harl crumbled to his knee.

A wide grin spread on Raith's face.

It was pure luck, but it wouldn't change the fact that he won. He defeated an asura, he didn't know yet the gravity of this achievement.

'Let's not get ahead of ourselves. He is not dead yet.'

Just when he garnered his overflowing thoughts, the asura suddenly disappeared and immediately buried his hand into Raith's abdomen from behind, squeezing it with fury.

"You are just expressing your childish frustration. You know very well that this will only be the end of one person... and that person is you."

Raith chuckled and coughed blood as he spoke.

The asura did not respond to him but instead frowned his face and bowed his head with his hand deeply buried in Raith's stomach and his second hand on Raith's shoulder as a support to stop him from staggering.

Raith suddenly felt a tiny bit of relief as he forced himself to look at the asura who was subtly dying.

'...I'm not sorry, he killed me several times, why should am I feeling bad, I killed him just once.'

The asura's finger began to move as if he was writing something on Raith's shoulders and –

"Arrghhh!!"

Raith let out a groan as something burnt into his skin, it was an inscription, a language he could not understand.

The asura pulled out his hand and fell to the ground, Raith also fell to his knees.

"Don't... trust... Fel"

Thard-Harl said as he slowly lose consciousness with a smile on his face.

Raith's life was also draining and he was finding it harder to keep himself awake.

But amidst all these, he couldn't keep away the feeling of pain as he watched the asura's body lay lifelessly on the stony ground and his mind kept wavering over his last statement as his consciousness drifted afar.

[Congratulations, You have defeated the asura 'Thard-Harl']

[You have gained Thard-Harl's silver boots]

[You have gained Thard-Harl's Helm]

[You have gained Thard-Harl's razor-sharp claws]

[You have gained a new skill 'Truth Seeker']

[You have achieved an unachievable feat for someone of your caliber]

[You have earned the title 'Celestia Slayer']

[Due to this title the perk 'Intimidation' will be momentarily activated when faced with stronger foes]

[You have proven your qualification as the 'CHILD OF DEATH']

[You have passed the first trial]

[The path ahead of you is even more horrendous]

Raith flung up, flinging his hands as if he was about to fly. But to his shock and surprise, he was back in his cozy room.

He looked around with his eyes wide open and ran to the small window, immediately swinging the sliding glass open.

The scenery outside was dark and the only solar pole lamp that stood outside was flickering. However, he could still see the car park which was several meters away from his window and in front of the bungalow motel.

He released a sigh and sat on his bed.

"I..."

His eyes slowly went downwards as he tried to make sense of what just happened.

'Was it really a dream?'

He was conflicted for a moment but was sure the moment he saw the light-fabric shirt that had been on him before he slept off.

Several holes and stains of blood that weren't just one color but two. The fabric had almost torn off and was not different from a rag.

He flung to his feet with the shock of realizing that he fought an asura named Thard-Harl and won.

He looked at his hands in disbelief and tried to picture the moment when he stabbed those claws into the asura's back.

As his mind proceeded to reminisce all of their hours of intense battle, the number of times he died, and lastly the uncomfortable smile on Thard-Harl's face as he died, his face crumpled.

And Thard-Harl's last words echoed in his heart.

"Don't trust Fel"

Right from childhood, they were taught about all the major archons. There are nine major archons but the world considers eight because the last major archon which is Fel died after the world's creation.

Unlike other archons that entered a state of slumber and could still create an aspect of themselves when they needed to. Fel was considered to have entered eternal slumber, he was no use to the land of the living and only existed in the vastness of failure and the land of the dead.

Yes, the things that Raith has been experiencing so far were not too far from what is said about Fel. But resurrection? gaining unattainable feats from blocks of failure? This was beyond whatever Raith would have ever imagined.

Things were hitting him from a different direction than he had ever expected and it was changing him.

His hope and resolve began to shine brighter.

'I will change my life'