I am the Only Son of Nyx

From a squad of seniors with six porters, the group has now dwindled to one senior and five porters. Kai had already dealt with the two porters from the Aurelian Academy, making sure that they wouldn’t speak of what happened to anyone.

Now, his remaining concern was Barbara.

Kai approached her without breaking eye contact and stopped a few steps away.

"What about you? Do you have a problem with what I did?"

"Pay me no mind, Lesser Angel. We still have our bet. It’d be a real shame if you couldn’t even make it to the tournament. Besides, I’m not a monster. I would do the same thing you did had I known what the seniors were planning to do."

Both of them stared at each other for a prolonged moment.

Barbara retained eye contact out of pure dominance, while Kai retained his to see whether she was lying or not. He found she seemed to be telling the truth. Being a High Angel, though only for a short time, had elevated her ego.

Defeating Kai through petty methods probably would bruise her ego.

And that’s not something she wanted.

Kai could trust her.

"Okay. I believe you."

"You’re being too kind. Better for us to kill them and be done with this."

Slowly, Kai turned to look at the source of these words.

Bree was standing not too far behind him, facing sideways while her eyes looked at the porters and Barbara. Rather than warning them and believing they wouldn’t go back on their word, it would be far better to kill them.

Just spare Grines and Panas, and kill the rest.

"What did you say?" Kai asked with an icy tone.

"I’m kidding!" Bree cast a sweet smile, as though she hadn’t suggested something heartless, and hugged Kai’s arm, returning to her cheerful self again. "You knew how I can be. So don’t give me that look; I’m scared."

"I have contacted the nearest compound." Grines emerged from the main tent. "Our ships are on their way to pick us up. There are only two ships—so you guys would go back to the First Sky together."

Kai nodded his head and pushed Bree away.

He then went to one of the tents without saying a single word.

"What about Sabas? Is he a part of this?" One of the porters asked.

Kai didn’t stop. "He’s someone who was sent to kill me. Best for you not to know much."

He disappeared into the tent, leaving the porters speechless.

Learning that Sabas was an assassin sent to kill Kai was already shocking enough, especially since they had been friends with Sabas for months now and had seen no signs. They were curious, but as Kai said, it was best for them not to know much lest they get looped into trouble.

One that would put them in danger.

Behind, Bree bit her lower lip and decided to catch up to him after a moment of hesitation.

Barbara smirked at the sight. ’She was being too obvious. He knew now. Then again, no closet is ever secure enough. If there’s a rotting body inside, someone is bound to notice eventually. No secrets last forever. And yours are not an exception, Bree.’

She turned around and went to the nearest seat to wait.

For the porters, they remained where they were, too afraid to do anything.

Inside the tent, Kai went to grab the Blood-phantom Scimitar on the side and inspected it. He saw a cloth nearby and used it to wipe the blade, even though it was completely clean. No trace of blood.

Even the poison coating the handle was no more.

Bree paused right outside, looking troubled, and then entered.

She stood by the entrance and watched Kai’s back in silence, not knowing what to even say.

"Do you have something to say to me, Bree?"

His voice was cold. Distant. Not the voice he used whenever he talked with her.

In the silence, he kept wiping the blade—the sound of the cloth’s rough surface hissed against the steel, heightening the tension that had already filled the enclosed place to the brim. Many things swirled inside Bree’s mind, but nothing came out of her mouth.

"Something you’re hiding from me, perhaps?"

"It’s not li—"

"I wouldn’t lie if I were in your position."

Bree’s lips were sealed again—she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She had been ready to tell Kai the truth. She even wanted him to ask, so that she could tell him the truth. Or at least, that’s what she thought. But now, with the moment finally right in front of her, the words scattered before she could catch them.

She knew what she needed to say.

Just that she didn’t know how to say it.

Especially when she was facing his cold shoulder and his distant tone.

Nervousness made her shift her legs where she stood.

Fear was present inside her. Fear of how Kai would react when he finally knew the truth.

Bree was worried and afraid that Kai would put a distance between them after he knew.

Eventually, she decided to let it out, as there’s no way out of this.

"I-It’s true... What you’re suspecting is true."

"What I suspected is true? Speak clearly. What is true?"

"I... I killed Fimos and Rob to tie up loose ends using your weapon."

"I see."

Just earlier, when Kai woke up, he was surprised to see that the senior squad had dwindled to only Grines. He also noticed his sword, which was supposed to be covered in blood and gore, was clean.

Someone could’ve cleaned it, but why? No reason for that when things aren’t certain yet.

Even if someone had done it, how? A cloth? Then where was it? Water? The only water source in the area was the drinking flasks they carried, nothing else. This, coupled with the surprising disappearance of both Fimos and Rob, painted a clear picture.

He wanted to ask Barbara, but he didn’t have the chance to do that.

Not when he still needed to handle the situation.

And from how passive Barbara had been throughout this mission, it’s hard to believe she went the extra length to help him deal with the seniors, even if the seniors were doing atrocious acts that went against her moral compass.

Grines is out of the picture too, as he was too occupied with taking care of Panas.

Even if he was the one who went to finish the other seniors, someone needs to tell him to do it.

It was obvious that Bree was the one behind this.

Kai wasn’t angry that she’d killed those seniors. If anything, it was a good thing, as those two would have caused nothing but trouble as soon as they found out their friends were no more. But that wasn’t what occupied his mind now.

What he couldn’t stop turning over was how Bree had done it.

How did Bree do that when she’s a Supernal of the Goddess of Childbirth?

She’s a support Supernal—this shouldn’t be possible.

"And should I ask how you managed it? How did you kill Fimos and Rob? Rob, I could almost understand, as he was also more of a support-type. But Fimos?" Kai’s voice dropped, and his eyes searched her face. "Tell me, Bree. How does a Supernal of Eileithyia pull that off?"

"I... I used your scimitar."

"Is that all you used? Anything else?"

Even with his blade, Bree would still need to get close to them.

A confrontation would no doubt have happened, and yet, she suffered not a single wound.

It’s either she was far stronger than she claimed to be, or she managed to sneak onto them.

For Kai, the latter was more plausible, as it’s way harder to do the first one.

Bree looked down and pressed her thumbs against her index fingers. Her tongue was tied in her mouth as the nervousness took over. But she quickly inhaled deeply—and firmed her will to tell the truth.

"I also used your Legacy Imprints."

Slowly, Kai reclined his head, letting the revelation sink through him.

Then, a smile of disbelief crept to his lips.

"My Legacy Imprints?"

"I’m not a normal Supernal of Eileithyia. I am her incarnation—possessing the limit of Divine Locks tied to her. And I..." She paused—the pale expression showed that it was hard for her to talk about this. "I have a Legacy Skill called Birthing Womb. I can give birth to any ability— and make it my own as long as I’m close to the source and... the process is consensual."

"Consensual?"

"Not consensual like that. In this case, the source must at least like me."

Kai’s pupils immediately dilated at what she said.

His mind churned. His vision blurred as if the realization was too overwhelming to bear.

"I possessed your Nigh-phantom and also your ties to the night."

"W-When did this happen?" Kai waved his hand, encouraging Bree to continue. "When did you use Birthing Womb on me?"

"Back when we first met. You were delirious from the lack of oxygen."

Kai placed the Blood-phantom Scimitar down—and placed both hands on the portable plastic table in front of him, processing what he had learned in his mind. He remained silent there as the pieces began to form into a clear picture.

Being comfortable whenever around Bree. The night is not jealous of Bree.

Everything was slowly making sense.

Seeing him being silent, Bree stepped forward as her heart hammered inside her chest.

Kai then turned to face her once again, stopping her approach.

"And the period insomnia?"

"It’s when I first birthed the Nigh-phantom and your connection to the night."

"Matilda was right about you... You’re using me from the start."

"No, Kai. Don’t listen to her. It’s not like th—"

"You approached me because I am completely isolated. The help, the compassion, the sweet words, the sweet strokes—everything had been a lie to use me. Everything you did was to use me."

"No!" Bree protested; her voice was breaking slightly. "Not everything is a lie!"

"Really? How am I supposed to trust you?" A dry, humorless laugh escaped Kai. He couldn’t quite believe this was the conversation they were having. "Let me guess. You said any person, any man, who claimed you would gain incredible boosts. But it comes with strings, doesn’t it? It binds the man to you. It binds me... to you."

His eyes narrowed. "That’s why you’ve been trying to seduce me. Isn’t that right?"

"Of course not! There’s no such thing!"

"Maybe not. But emotionally, you knew that once we did it, I’d be bound to you."

"..."

Kai stared at the silent Bree and nodded his head.

"We’re going to stay friends. You can still be in the group. But as far as you and I... we’re done, Bree. There will be no chance."

He walked towards the entrance; his shoulder brushed against Bree’s.

Before he could leave, she turned.

"I can give them back to you. I don’t need your powers! Just take that back."

"Keep my power. Consider it my parting gift."