NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Rebellion Against Heaven - Part 16
Chapter 16: Ryuuusei
Ryuusei stood in the gloom of his room, dim lights casting dancing shadows on the walls, reflecting the storm raging inside. That conversation with the old Herald had not faded, it was still there, embedded in his mind like an endless echo. "Death fears the God of the Bible," the old man had said. "And even more so when He sends His angel Michael."
He clenched his fists. It was a disturbing thought. All his life, he had believed that power was everything, that destiny was forged with blood and unwavering will. But the old man had shown him another perspective. It was not only about defeating his enemies, but about understanding the purpose behind each action. Vengeance alone was a volatile fuel, and if he wasn't careful, he would end up consuming it before he achieved his goal.
However, their goal remained clear: Haru, Kenta, and Daichi must fall.
He slowly got up and walked towards the center of the room. On the table, a detailed map of the city was covered in red annotations and markings. Each point represented a possibility, a strategy, an ambush that could seal the fate of his enemies. It would not be an impulsive attack or motivated solely by anger. This time, it would be calculated, meticulous. Because war is not won only with strength, but with strategy and patience.
But then, the old man's voice echoed in his head again. "Free will is what differentiates men from beasts. Death wants you to believe that everything is written, that you can only follow the path marked by tragedy. But you have a choice, Ryuusei. You will always have it."
He frowned. Was it really like that? Could he choose anything beyond revenge? The idea made him uneasy. Since his family's death, his path had been defined by the desire for justice—or at least, what he called justice. If he did not seek the extermination of those who had taken away everything he loved, then what was left for him? What was the purpose of its existence?
He took a deep breath and let the silence envelop him. His plan had to go ahead. Not because hatred consumed him, but because the world that Haru, Kenta, and Daichi represented must disappear. A world where power was synonymous with oppression, where the strong crushed the weak mercilessly. He wasn't just avenging his family, he was cleaning up a rotten system from its roots. It wasn't just about killing... but to build something new.
"You could be the architect of an era of peace," the old man had said.
The irony made him smile fleetingly. Peace. A word so abstract, so far away. But perhaps, if he managed to execute his plan perfectly, if he eliminated those who perpetuated the chaos, then he could take the first step towards something greater. Something that transcended death and destruction.
He turned to the mirror and looked at himself closely. He no longer saw just a warrior, or a monster hungry for vengeance. I saw someone who had woken up. Someone who understood that the battle was not only with others, but with himself.
"Free will..."
For the first time in a long time, he felt that he had power over his own destiny. And I would use it to change the world.