Chapter 340: Source of Hate

Kai walked into the darkness with Kaelmorath silently following behind him.

It was time for him to do the next step of his plan.

Even though he had only reached this level of mastery over the night an hour ago, very recently, he was already going to test its limits again. There was no time to waste. He had already started the first step, so he needed to move fast.

He had reached this far in the House of Night through his own efforts.

Initially, he had no idea about anything here and also had no clue about the night.

But now, he already had a foothold and even reached a greater mastery over the night.

Perhaps because he had known nothing—and was forced to find out himself, either through testing or through Noxian—he knew a lot more than he would’ve had the quest from the system had guided him through familiarizing himself with his power.

Since the system only gave quests depending on the Goddess’ wants, he needed to cast his net of knowledge gathering out in a big area, touching every aspect within the House of Night at least slightly.

And due to that, he knew what he must do.

He’s going with number, then what’s stopping me from also doing the same thing?

Kai glanced to the side.

His eyes could now see further into the darkness. fixed on the closest Nightborn to his position. From confronting the Ending of Impersonation earlier, he learned one valuable piece of information that he could use.

And that is all Nightborns have a sliver of control over the night.

It was their innate constitution for being born in this darkness.

The Ending of Impersonation was relying on that in order to overpower Kai—gathering many Nightborns under his wing before making a frontal assault. And with what happened earlier, his plan was working.

But not for long.

All Kai needed to do was copy what he was doing, and it would work.

His sole reason for believing that it would work was simply because he had a real title within the House of Night, the First Son of the Primordial Night. Someone legitimate, someone with real standing, was far more worthy of loyalty than a mere Nightborn of the First Floor like the Ending of Impersonation.

No need to rely on lies or manipulation.

Just his title alone should be more than enough to convince many Nightborns.

It was the same as the kingdoms in old times.

Royal blood, even after being stripped of everything they have—would still be valuable when the time to seize back the throne came. Many people would still protect those royals. And Kai, as the First Son of the Primordial Night, would most certainly sway the Nightborns.

A bit of persuasion would be enough to reel the Nightborns to his side.

Not to mention, unlike the Ending of Impersonation, Kai could see through the darkness.

Earlier, after luring away a few Nightborns guarding the domain’s perimeter, Kai watched in silence as the Ending of Impersonation emerged—sensing something amiss. Even though the Nightborns hadn’t been lured far, he seemed to be utterly lost.

And when Kai made his appearance, the Ending of Impersonation relied on his roar.

It was clear that he couldn’t see through the night.

I held more advantages than you. And now, I’m going to make you regret messing with me.

Kai continued onward toward the closest Nightborn. His footsteps made no sound against the misty shallow water, and his mind churned—arranging proper words to draw the Nightborn onto his side.

Behind him, Kaelmorath followed, a looming presence at his back.

But when they were close enough to the Nightborn, Kai raised his arm.

He barred an arm over Kaelmorath’s chest.

"Let me do all the talking," Kai said in a hushed voice. "You would say nothing. And also, no matter what this Nightborn did—whether it cursed at me or even attacked me, you would do well not to retaliate."

"You are the Son of Night," Kaelmorath protested. "A measly Nightborn should be elated for you to even talk with them. How can I let it run its mouth or even attack you? That would be an insult to the Final Night."

"And yet, you will obey me and do nothing."

"..."

"Do you understand?"

"... Yes."

Despite his reluctance, Kaelmorath decided to nod his head.

Just as Kai was about to walk again, he paused.

He stared at Kaelmorath, realizing one fundamental difference.

During the Night Elevation, the Nightborns were all angry at me—because I could grow and reach the Second Floor. Any growth is a taboo here. But Noxian, Perion, and Kaelmorath didn’t seem to have the same hostility towards me. Is it because I knew their names?

From the start, Kai wasn’t really sure why the Nightborns really hated him for growing.

Since he wasn’t a Nightborn, they should understand the difference between them.

He first suspected that the Nightborns were envious of him, as being able to grow was out of their reach. If not that, then he assumed there was a sacred status quo in the House of Night—one that everyone agreed to and maintained.

Perhaps to keep order within the First Floor, as the Nightborns could attack one another.

If that was the case, the Nightborns on his side would’ve shown at least a hint of their hatred.

None of them did.

Kai never saw even a glimpse of hatred coming from them.

Did knowing their names change their perspectives on me? No—that can’t be right.

All three Nightborns on his side remained the same personality-wise, even after they told Kai their names. So—there shouldn’t be any manipulative significance from knowing their names. But if that was the case, then why do the Nightborns hate him? What’s the real reason?

Kai’s mind swirled with unanswered questions.

Back then, Noxian did explain that the Nightborns were stuck, abandoned by the night.

Seeing someone like Kai, Nightborn or not, growing stronger made them rageful and hateful. It was the reason why many of them tried devouring him during the Night Elevation, but that explanation started to feel wrong.

Both Perion and Kaelmorath weren’t angry at him at all.

Of course, he could assume these two were simply the good ones among the Nightborns, but that explanation rang hollow. Accepting that it was coincidence felt wrong. Too convenient to Kai’s liking.

And more importantly, he didn’t really believe it.

As far as he knew, the House of Night was vast. Impossibly vast.

Months ago, when he walked along with the Goddess—Kai could feel the Nightborns around cowering away. But Perion and Kaelmorath didn’t seem to sense any disturbance at all. None asked him about the disturbance caused by the Goddess.

Despite the Goddess’ impossibly divine presence, it didn’t reach them.

Noxian also seemed to be an ancient Nightborn and hadn’t lived in the First Floor that long.

In his eyes, Noxian was akin to an old man who knew much of history, but knew nothing about the recent events that had happened in the House of Night. Someone secluded, as all he wanted was peace and quiet.

He might be wrong.

Kai turned away from Kaelmorath and fixed his eyes on the Nightborn ahead of him.

If he wanted answers, then he should start prying the Nightborns who loved roaming around.

Once he told Kaelmorath what to do and collected his thoughts, Kai walked forward.

He entered the Nightborn’s view.

Almost instantly, the Nightborn snapped its head toward him—its movement was so fast that Kai believed it must be an Ending related to speed or extreme alertness. Kai blinked, and the figure before him finally began to take shape.

No longer a shadowy blur.

No more an outline in the distance.

It was clad in a dark black robe—with bleak grey trims that shimmered faintly. The fabric and the patterns suggested that it came from medieval times, and it hung from its medium frame like a dark shroud, reaching past its knees.

Even though Kai was standing only a short distance away, he couldn’t see its face.

Just like an assassin, the hood swallowed its face completely—a void within a void.

And this reminded him of the entity in the Furies’ domain, the thing that had whipped him— ruthlessly. Around its hood rims, glowing white eyes were embedded into it, fixing all of their attention on Kai and Kaelmorath.

Such a formation of eyes gave the Nightborn three -hundred-and-sixty-degree vision.

Nothing could approach it unseen. Nothing could hide from its gaze.

Fortunately, like all other Nightborns, it couldn’t see far into the darkness.

Seeing Kai stopping a distance away, the Nightborn tilted its head in confusion. Its attention fixed on him with an intensity that was almost physical—and something flickered in the way it held itself.

Not hostility. Not yet.

It was more like confusion mixed with curiosity.

Something was odd about Kai, but it couldn’t quite put its finger on it.

As it looked even deeper—it realized that unlike the other Nightborns that roamed the House of Night, Kai carried a connection that no one else possessed. Or at least, it hadn’t met anyone who possessed anything like his.

It could see a dark thread that ran through him, pulsing with power.

And that thread was directly connected to the sky above—connected to the night.

Eventually, its many eyes blinked before settling on Kai’s eyes again. "What... are... you?"

Kai didn’t answer instantly.

He simply inspected the Nightborn before him, understanding what he was looking at, and only then opened his mouth. Though there was nervousness in him, the voice that came out of his mouth was steady.

"I’m sure you knew me," Kai said meaningfully.

And then, without waiting for the Nightborn to answer, he raised his hand.

Swoosh—!

Out of nowhere, a vicious splash of darkness expanded, slamming into the Nightborn’s body and forcing it to take a step backward. Above, a thick strand of darkness began to climb down like a sky serpent.

It slithered down and coiled around Kai’s hand.

Not swirl in a circle, but wove in and out through the gap between his fingers, showcasing immaculate control over the strand of darkness. Something that caught the Nightborn’s eyes, as such control should be impossible.

At least within the First Floor, nothing could achieve that.

No Nightborn has that much control.

Only the Children of the Primordial Night were capable of doing this.

Just then, realization dawned upon the Nightborn.

Slowly, darkness began to devour Kai’s eyes, turning them into black pearls—that seemed to absorb the already dim moonlight and starlight from above. He stared at the Nightborn and then tilted his head a little.

A knowing tilt as he watched realization dawn inside the Nightborn’s many eyes.

"Do you recognize me now?" Kai asked playfully.