Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

—

The air surrounding Kieran's body underwent a startling change, alarming everyone in the party. As if in immense pain, Kieran fell to one knee while clutching his face.

Everyone could sense a dreadful sensation brewing in his one visible eye upon looking up. It was clear something unusual happened to the power Kieran wielded, which was the awakening of his Seed of Vengeance.

The Seed of Vengeance wasn't an item that Kieran always possessed. On the contrary, it was a gift—Agrianos' gift. Agrianos was naturally aware that Kieran was a severe anomaly when they first met.

Why? Because he could sense remnants of an Awakened Soul from Kieran despite his frail body. The body was the soul's vessel, and the soul could only flourish once the vessel was sufficiently strong.

This abnormality intrigued Agrianos, driving him to burrow deeper into the origins, or at least the conditions of Kieran's soul. What he found was something even he couldn't believe.

Still, because of his findings, Agrianos felt it was fitting to bestow an ancient item upon Kieran along with the right to accept their mantle.

In fact, Agrianos felt somewhat honored that a soul tailored for their power existed. It was too perfect in his eyes!

〈System: ERROR! «Seed of Vengeance» and «Vengeful Soul»'s Assimilation remains incomplete. The user's «Soul Permanence» is unstable and insufficient to complete the process.〉

〈System: Searching for suitable alternatives….  One alternative solution found.〉

〈System: «Deranged Spirit» is absorbing the «Seed of Vengeance»'s essence.〉

〈System: The energy inside the «Seed of Vengeance» has been reduced by 10%.〉

〈System: «Seed of Vengeance» has returned to dormancy.〉

〈System: «Deranged Spirit» has experienced a Rank Change. [A → S+]〉

〈System: «Vengeful Soul» has undergone a primary Strengthening.〉

Although the system delivered an assortment of notifications, Kieran's mind was shrouded in a haze, leaving him incapable of sifting through the information.

Instead, the sinister voice continued to tempt him.

"Accept the power. Give in. You know you want the power to destroy everything. Everything can crumble at your fingertips if you so please."

"Weakling, how can you protect others if you couldn't even protect yourself? You, who fell victim before, are not worthy~.

"However, don't worry. It can all be so easy for you. Wash away the pain—the weakness. Absorb the hatred and utilize it as fuel for your uprising."

"Awaken—"

"Awak….—"

The compelling voice ebbed in Kieran's mind, falling to a whisper whilst a tremendous tremor shook the entire room.

Everyone's pupils rattled when the aura surrounding Kieran formed a chaotic spiral that broke the ground.

The current feeling that Kieran's body exuded wasn't too different from the energy found inside the Chasm of Apogeton. However, Bastion and the others weren't aware of this fact.

…

Meanwhile, inside the Wildes' Forbidden Expanse...

Agrianos' disinterested and savage eyes shone with a keen light while a large wolf-like creature cowered under his foot.

'That boy is stimulating the Seed of Vengeance I gave him? Although it's earlier than I expected, I suppose this is what happens when you have perfect compatibility.'

Crunch!

Agrianos' feet pierced through the wolf-like creature's skull as he took a seat on the edge of the Chasm of Apogeton. "Give me an amazing show, kid. If it's you and Scar, both of you should be able to surpass me in strength in the future."

While he spoke, Agrianos gazed into the depths of the Chasm of Apogeton. "Let's just hope time remains amicable during the process—"

"Oh?" Agrianos' grinned menacingly while cracking his fist. "It seems another fishy has come out to play!

BOOM!

Agrianos dashed toward the chasm's depths. However, as effortless as this action seemed, it destroyed a considerable portion of the trench's edge. Large, unusually hardened rocks fell into the chasm, never to be heard or seen again.

Not even an impact occurred, as if the endless darkness swallowed it.

…

Inside Dusvim's Hidden Lair…

Dusvim looked at Kieran's change in abject horror before raising his hand.

The poisonous sand no longer damaged Kieran because the dense crimson blood that appeared as half gas and half solid scorched the sand before it could come in contact with his body.

"W-what is this nefarious presence? I've never felt something so horrible," Dusvim muttered. Sweat unknowingly seeped down the side of his forehead because the stifling pressure was too overwhelming!

"Roar, Rasaha!" Dusvim exclaimed after realizing that fear had crept its way into his heart.

The Ancient Sand Jeweled Serpent moved lightning quick with an open maw, ignoring Bastion, Altair, and the rest. Dusvim's only focus now was dealing with this unprecedented threat.

"!!"

"Aatrox!"

Everyone screamed when Rasaha slithered toward Kieran with the intent to kill. While Rasaha moved, it inhaled the nearby sand. But despite, the strong suction force, Kieran remained unmoving.

BOOM!

"You…" As he lifted his head, a cold voice steeped in hatred and malice sounded from Kieran's throat.

Despite Kieran's unbridled rage, all reasoning wasn't lost. He could still speak, albeit menacingly, like the second coming of a demon steeped in death.

〈System: Your «Flaw: Vengeful» is attempting to overpower your reason.〉

While this message appeared, Kieran held Rasaha's fangs in his grasp. A soft sizzle and faint steam arose, but Kieran ignored them.

Crrrrrck!

Kieran pulled his arms in opposite directions, twisting the Mana Manifestation's neck in the most brutal fashion. Afterward, he extended his hand, attracting Crimson Ashrune, which miraculously flung into his grasp.

Zeut!

Kieran's body flickered and appeared before Dusvim with a trail of crimson energy. During his movement, Kieran swung his arm and manipulated this trail to attack.

Bang! Boom!

Dusvim was thrown into the wall by the impact, but when the dust cleared, Rasaha reappeared before Dusvim.

"Annoying," Kieran said.

Meanwhile, Ezra shuddered and looked at the others in fright. "W-what's happening right now? Do you guys feel how bloodthirsty and sinister Aatrox has become?"

"We do," Altair answered in a solemn voice. He pulled down his scarf, revealing a deep frown while looking at Kieran's back. His frenzied appearance meant he activated that skill he avoided.

"Who would create a class like this? It's… it's pure madness," Lux stuttered and gulped while finding it hard to breathe. Forget Dusvim; he was more worried about being traumatized by Kieran's power.

Alice gripped her staff tight and chewed her lip when sensing the change in Kieran. 'This is even worse than last time. Does this power grow more threatening after every use? It's all because he feels responsible for our protection.'

The fight had gone well until Dusvim summoned his Mana Manifestation and tortured his party members. The possibility of them suffering mental trauma infuriated Kieran because it was a common occurrence in his original timeline.

There were several instances where top-notch players suffered irreparable mental damage, leading to a decline in their combat skills. The damage existed as trauma or sensitivity to specific triggers.

Kieran refused to let that happen, which is how he arrived at his current condition.

Amidst his anger, Kieran looked down at his palm, namely the strange symbol serving as the basis for his power. The symbol reminded him of when he first accepted the quest.

Any average person could feel anger, irritation, vexation, resentment, and several other negative emotions and be consumed by them.

However, this luxury wasn't afforded to a True Berserker.

A True Berserker experienced these emotions but harnessed them, never allowing them to snatch away their reasoning. Two prime examples of this were Scar and Agrianos.

When Agrianos used his power inside the Wildes, there was no fluctuation of his emotions, but Kieran could feel the raw emotion present in each attack.

Right now, Kieran was sorely lacking because he was utterly incapable of harnessing any of his true power. True strength wasn't strictly physical; it was the maturation of one's soul.

If Scar were here, Kieran would mostly likely be chastised for his inability to control his anger.

While strong, this was an intolerable submission to his emotions—a direct opposition to the intended purpose of Kieran's bestowed class.

Kieran stood still for a moment and contemplated everything thus far.

Eventually, a tear he never shed flowed down his cheek as he released a bestial roar powerful enough to rival sound attacks.

The roar was mighty, but it wasn't meant as an attack—it was a release. One Kieran truly needed.

Although Kieran spoke no words, Altair's heart clenched because he could feel a heartrending cadence from Kieran's roar. 'A forlorn cry filled with pain and suffering. My brother… there is so much anger inside of you. Don't let it poison you beyond recognition.'

Kieran's chest rose and fell as the chaos in his mind quieted. Deranged Spirit, Abhorrent Paroxysm, Blood Mania—all these damaging abilities went mute in Kieran's mind.

'Mom… Dad, I miss you.'

A second later, the tears from his eyes evaporated from his cheeks as he pointed his blade at Dusvim. Within the madness, Kieran had found his emotional anchor.

His longing for his departed parents, their fading yet radiant smile that radiated boundless love.

They would undoubtedly shed a tear if they saw how hurt he had become, for it wasn't their fault that they couldn't provide him with the best childhood.

"No loving parent would drag their children into a life a crime when strong enough to go upright. For that, you deserve death. To blasphemy life is to welcome death," Kieran spoke.

Tears of blood shed from his eyes as Crimson Ashrune in hand thrummed and elongated.

"Bastion, Nemean, Ezra, Altair, Sera, Lux, Ezra, Alice, and Camila," Kieran calmly named everyone.

Although still cold, the madness in Kieran's voice had diminished quite a bit. "Fight this battle with me."

"Gladly, brother," Altair spoke and walked up beside Kieran.

The others followed and stood beside one another before the appalled Dusvim.