I am the Only Son of Nyx

"Eugh..."

Professor Hera slumped in her chair after finishing class.

Nothing much happened throughout the entire class as always; the students were mostly tired from the winged boots training and mining, so most of them spent their morning sleepy and inactive.

Some even fell asleep during class, and Professor Hera warned them once.

After the first warning, if the students fell asleep again, then she wouldn’t even bother.

It wasn’t her who needed to learn in order to survive.

’I did notice that Chester is not paying attention to class.’ Professor Hera thought.

As a professor, she noticed a lot of things—even if she didn’t want to from simply standing in front of the class and teaching. She could tell when an alliance had formed, when a crack formed, when a grudge had taken root, or even the personality of each student.

One thing she had always known was that Chester was a diligent student.

He always listened to class and absorbed as much information as he could.

Everyone knew him as arrogant and self-centered, but there was another truth to him beneath the surface. He worked relentlessly to prove himself better than anyone else. She noticed it in the way he always listened, never drifted off, and grew stronger than nearly everyone in class.

So, when Chester was suddenly distracted, Professor Hera caught on quickly.

Just as she was about to recline in her seat, she straightened her back when her phone rang.

Professor Hera reached for her phone—and tapped the screen. A name surfaced, and her eyes flew wide. Almost instinctively, she rose swiftly and made for the nearest exit, the call already pressed to her ear.

It was break time before the second class, so the students were mostly crammed into the cafeteria.

Nobody was in the corridor as she went through the side gate.

"How did it go?" She asked the person on the other side. "Is he willing to do it?"

Moments later.

Professor Hera returned to the academy after taking the call, visibly in a good mood.

Seems like the call went well.

Naturally, she made her way back to the professor’s headquarters for a meal, but paused mid-track as she passed a narrow corridor leading to the toilets. Without a sound—she pressed her mana inward, lightening her presence, and flattened her back against the wall.

She peeked at the small corridor and saw a student.

Chester.

Even though he was facing away, she could tell that it was him from his hair.

’Who is he talking to?’ She thought inwardly as her eyes narrowed.

Professor Hera glanced around once more, ensuring the corridor was empty—then shifted her position for a clearer view. She saw another student facing Chester—a male student from the low murmur of his voice.

She leaned closer, pressing herself against the wall, and listened.

"Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? You know how I feel about this."

"He’s involved with something much more troublesome. It is not up to me or you. Besides— my hands are tied here."

"I want to defeat him with my own two hands."

"Don’t take your matter with him personal. It’s not worth it to get worked up with someone who wasn’t going to live for long. Just focus on your future; the academy needs someone with talent in the Second Sky. I’ll help you with the resources you need."

"Whatever, it’s not like he’s going to certainly die. I’ll have my victory and earn the Red Prince title."

Chester turned around to leave.

He walked out of the narrow corridor and headed back to the cafeteria.

"I wouldn’t have high hopes if I were you!" the other student shouted from behind.

Seeing Chester giving him the middle finger, he could only sigh and walk away, grumbling.

From outside the side exit, Professor Hera peeked inside with a peculiar gaze.

"Ragnar...?"

...

Asher looked over his shoulder and saw death.

A shadow axe came down in a devastating arc, slicing through his shoulder and made way to his belly. Searing pain burned his pain nerves as he hissed in pain. Before the shadow axe was able to cleave him in two, it dissipated.

But the damage was already done.

"Karghh..."

Blood burst from his mouth as he dropped to the cloudy ground, staring at the bright sun that remained indifferent to his condition. He tried gasping for breath, but he barely got any air as one of his lungs was sliced open.

’How in the Gods’ name did this happen?’ Asher thought inside.

Today was supposed to be routine.

He had done this multiple times already, and this time was supposed to be the easiest.

Never did he imagine that today would end up this way.

’Lesser Angel Kai...’

It was purely his mistake.

Asher had underestimated Kai so much that it opened a path to his defeat.

He didn’t even have the chance to resist.

Footsteps seeped into his ears. Light. Uneven. Like the footsteps of someone drunk, or in this case, someone severely wounded. Eventually, a figure came into his view. His face was utterly silhouetted by the sun from his back.

"Unnatural strength. Many Legacy Imprints." Asher whispered weakly. "What are you...?"

"I already told you," Kai whispered back breathlessly. "I’m just a Lesser Angel."

"Bullshit. No Lesser Angel has ever survived the Blood Rite. And no Lesser Angel could ever be as strong as you. What are you? Who is your Patron God?"

"Goddess of the Primordial Night."

"Goddess of the Primordial Night...? W-Who?"

"Yeah... I also don’t know."

Just as he expected, Asher also didn’t know anything about the Goddess.

No Supernal has ever claimed to be a Supernal of the Goddess of the Primordial Night, or at least, there’s none as far as he knew. He was aware that there were his sisters, but he could not even be sure that their origin was the same as his.

Couldn’t be sure that they were also a Supernal or even someone who came from this world.

Kai sat down beside Asher and breathed.

His Reckless Ruin Ending Fragment was still active; thus, his body was still seething with dark energy. Even his severed arm was still replaced by the black tentacle. But then again—he was going to give it a few minutes to see how it would work.

After all, this was his first time ever triggering the Reckless Ruin to this extent.

I still have the berry.

Knowing that things might end up like this, regardless of how the mission was set, Kai didn’t forget to bring the berry from Professor Evie with him. It would heal him instantly, or he had assumed it would, so he could afford to be wounded like this.

Since it was given by a professor, he has no doubt of the berry’s healing properties.

It could most certainly heal him back to normal, even from this severe condition.

"Moros... Is that the Patron God you used to fool the others?"

"..."

"No matter. Now that you killed us, it’s going to be harder for you to hide your real power. A professor would investigate this, and your involvement would no doubt be found. At that point, you would be forced to be tested again."

"You’re dying, and you’re still thinking about that? Are you that angry that you lost to me?"

"Hah!" Asher exhaled roughly, and then coughed, choking on his own lifeblood. He then put on a nasty grin, showing his blood-coated teeth. "Just like the professor said, Angels who died simply died from natural selection. I’m not angry. What’s there to live for as Angels, anyway?"

Kai looked down at the ground and exhaled deeply through his nose.

Even Asher, someone unhinged and evil, couldn’t find a reason to live as an Angel.

And that somehow made Kai feel even more helpless.

"Is the Second Sky the same as the First Sky?" Kai asked—as he looked up to the clear sky. "Is that why you went this far to grow even stronger? Because the Second Sky was as unforgiving as the First Sky?"

An illusion of blue and sun hung above, making the world feel suffocating.

Many thought the Second Sky would be far better.

No need for them to mine anymore, but perhaps mining mana ores was the easiest task.

"Yes..." Asher whispered; his voice was weaker now. "You think the First Sky is unforgiving? Just wait until you reach higher skies. Just wait until you see the true face of horror. Good things... are out of the reach of us Angels."

Asher inhaled deeply and then exhaled his last.

He was an evil person.

Someone wicked who has no morality. No limit in pursuit of power.

But even then, he still thought the world was crueller.

"I really need to unravel the skies. I need to destroy the system—and create a new one. For me to do that, I need to become a stronger Supernal to hold more power in this dark world." Kai looked down at his fist and clenched it hard, fire in his eyes. "But I’m not going to play by its rules. I’m going to walk my own."

Kai placed his hand over Asher’s forehead, intending to use Deep Slumber.

He caged his intention when he remembered something.

I should start completing my second Primordial Lock.

Before coming to check on Asher, Kai already used Deep Slumber on both Damas and Makos, increasing his usable exp by a lot. He could use Asher to feed his Primordial Lock instead and complete his second Primordial Lock.

Due to being stagnant because he was unable to kill a Star Beast properly, he was stagnant.

All he could do was perfect his combat skills, learn to use winged boots, and grasp even more Ending Fragments. But now that he has the chance to devour another Supernal, he can’t waste this chance.

Kai has decided.

Best for him to start completing his second Primordial Lock.

"Errgh..."

A grunt escaped his lips when his wounds began to throb painfully—which he took as a sign that the Reckless Ruin was about to be deactivated. He reached for the berry again, "I should heal first."

"Lesser Angel Kai...?"

Just then, Kai heard someone call his name, and his body froze.

He whipped his head to the side and saw someone standing on the edge of the camp.

"Sabas? W-What are you doing out here?" Kai asked stutteringly.

He sat wounded beside Asher’s corpse.

And the scene told a story he couldn’t easily deny.

Anyone who stumbled upon him right now would draw the conclusion easily. It didn’t matter even if he had his own reason to kill Asher. Right now, the fact was that he had killed Senior Asher, and that’s not permissible.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" Sabas was baffled and then pointed at Asher. "What happened to Senior Asher? And why are you in that state? Don’t tell me... Did you do this? Did you kill Senior Asher?"

"No, wait!" Kai quickly rose despite the pain. "I can explain!"