Chapter 176: Vali

[Chronos Magic Academy, Grand Market]

Grand Market is the biggest market in the entire continent, known mainly for its variety and diversity. It's a known fact that if a magic-user or a battlemage needs something rare or wants to auction an item, they come to the Grand Market of Chronos Magic Academy.

It has branches of many big merchant groups, including local merchants shops and the most famous Silver Moon auction house.

Kai was walking down the roads and looking for the branch shop of the Fastasia group.

'There are so many street shops and street food shops on both sides of the street. But nobody is shouting to attract customers. It's the first time I have seen such a peaceful market, and ahead of me, the road is splitting into two. It looks like I need to ask for direction.'

Thinking so, Kai reached out to one of the shopkeepers.

Shopkeepers saw Kai coming towards him and smiled.

"Young man, are you interested in medicinal herbs?"

Kai shook his head. "Uncle, Do you know which road I need to take to reach the Fastasia group shop?"

"Oh! Fastasia shop. Take the right road and turn left after you see a dessert shop."

"Thank you, Uncle," said Kai, and continued walking.

[Oliver's House]

Daoma was sitting on the sofa and playing the video that got recorded during the graduation ceremony.

Shaking his head, Daoma sighed.

"Jai, your little brother is becoming dumber each day. What does he think telling the students that he is a battle Archmage and can use dark attribute magic? He is one of the dumbest cultivators in my life. Who is like an open book to read for others? Are you sure Kai is not naive and childish from the beginning? And that advertising part was also a bad idea. The Buraford Kingdom will be doomed if he will become the King."

"Master Daoma, it's probably because he had already told Princess Froleytia and others on the last day of our stay in Ebonwick Fortress. As for the advertisement part; It was something I have suggested. We have a serious need for talent. The continent will unite with the Great Magic World, and we don't know what challenges are ahead of us. We are too busy to spare the workforce to invite these lowly humans, one by one, and treat them as special. I would not have ever suggested our beforehand plan of turning the entire magic beast population into human form by using a Myriad World Ring power. But I have to change it due to the current situation."

"You can't protect him forever, nor can I. He must grow up and learn to make current decisions according to the situation. Even if he had to tell princess Froleytia and others, why did he have to announce it to the entire world? The more hidden cards a magic-user possesses, the safer and stronger he is. He cannot remain like this forever. His naive character will one day cost the life of his loved once as well as his own. I don't know; why you guys have so much respect for him. Perhaps you are afraid of something? One day or another, he will have to kill many people. Some will be good, but there will still be people opposing him, leaving no choice but to kill them. He already met people like the Undead Emperor Yakto, Duke Raleigh, and the entire Golden Star-Cross organization behind him. Who were willing to cross any bottom line of morality to reach their goal."

"Kai will have to face cultivators who will not aim for him directly and will not attack in light. They will attack his weak points and make use of his emotions. He still has not felt the cruelty of the magic world. Friends and brothers can turn against each other just for small benefits. So, Jai, will you continue being stubborn and say that his decision to speak out his secrets in public is a good one!? He has become careless and started to forget my warnings just because he has reached the peak of this continent and can depend on powerful friends. The reason for that is because he had been strong from the very beginning. He always has some way of solving the problem by depending on his strength instead of using his brain. That origin bloodline is not only making him stronger but hindering his growth." said Daoma as he looked at Jai with keen eyes.

Meanwhile, Jai tried to avoid any form of eye contact as his body trembled.

The Moonless night.

A child surrounded in a bloody red aura with radiant red eyes devoid of any emotions, with claws, ripped apart the body of a Flood Dragon and drank his blood while standing above the mountain of bones and looked into the eyes of the dying beast.

[The day the darkness in the boy's heart overcomes the light, his body will forever return to my control. Remember my name; it is Vali]

Remembering those terrible memories which he never wants to witness again, he said with a trembling voice.

"If.. there.. comes.. such..a..day. And he will have to kill innocent people with his hands. I will kill all of them with myself, but will never allow them to affect my brother's mind. Ne..Never, as long as I am alive. I am happy with how he is now. Rather than seeing him turn into that monster."

Getting such an intense response from Jai increased Daoma worries even further.

"Jai, please tell me; if it's related to Kai. I am his master and have the right to know about it.

"Master Daoma, inside... my..brother, a terrifying being resides. A being who is an incarnation of cruelty," Jai eyes turn watery, he looked at Daoma with sadness.

"What if I say that, I, Kaya, Maya, Bolt, and every living magic beasts already died once."

"What? How can it be? How are you still alive then?" asked Daoma.

He couldn't believe what Jai was saying. He has been hiding the truth from Kai for so long. It just sounds unbelievable.

"I was killed by Kai. No, the sleeping devil named Vali, who resides within the dark part of Kai's heart."

Hearing the name, 'Vali,' Daoma's breathing turned rough; the horrible memories buried deep inside his heart started to surface.

"Vali, are you sure he called himself by that name?" asked Daoma with a grave expression.

Jai nodded.

'I never thought that I would have to hear that cursed name again in my life. Are Kai and Vali somehow related? I don't think anybody else in history can be more mentally ill than that guy. If only he had used his brain for good instead of creating those Spiritual Gods'

Jai looked at the roof with a tired expression. Remembering that nightmare like night put too much burden on his mind.

"He controlled Kai's body for three years during the time he was unconscious. He possessed a weak body, but his mental strength was beyond imagination, and used all types of magic. He made magic beasts fight each other for entertainment and turned the Forbidden Forest's entire core region in a chaotic hell. Even I was no exception and was used as a tool for his entertainment. One day, he got bored and started killing every magic beast because he wanted to see them struggle before him. Everyone was dead, but somehow were brought back to life, and the entire core region was restored to how it was before. I don't remember how I came back to life. All of those events were just erased from memories like some kind of dream. But they have left a deep impression on my soul. I never told Kai about it. While others just don't want to remember or don't take it seriously. I also started to remember those memories in the last four months after becoming a Magic Commander."

"Jai, are you telling me that Vali influenced Kai somehow unconsciously without him knowing?" asked Daoma.

Jai shook his head. "I have no idea about that. I just remember that Kai should never kill innocent with his own hand or do something that goes against his life principles."

"Master Daoma, Do you know anything about this, Vali?" asked Jai and waited for Daoma to respond.

"Hmm...I don't know if he is the same person. Maybe Kai is his reincarnation, and his past life is affecting his present life. The Champion of Chaos, Vali; he was a notorious head of the Chaos Faction Spiritual God during the dark era. My master died while sealing him away; because we can't kill him. That foolish master of mine treated him like a brother, and even I was deceived by him. He betrayed us. Because of his creation, my senior sister, Serina, died during the final battle between Chaos Faction Spiritual Gods and Magic users." said Daoma in a sad tone.

"Master Daoma; this Vali is a manifestation of Kai's past life memories? What is this dark era you are talking about?" asked Jai.

"I will explain that," a voice resonated in the room, and a long black-haired young man accompanied by a blonde man appeared inside the courtyard.

Jai tuned out and looked at them.

Meanwhile, Daoma's eyes widened in shock.

"Master Sunaya and Brother Zebel"