The moment Klaus heard the name of the red rune, he knew it wasn’t something friendly. He wasn’t foolish enough to think anything called “Slaughter” was about rainbows and sunshine. He could tell this was dark, and the Senior’s next words confirmed his suspicions.
“Brat, this Seal came from the Pentaface Bead when you activated the Nine Stars Blood Moon Transformation. I hope I don’t need to explain what that means—you should know not to take this lightly,” the Senior said firmly.
“I figured, Senior, but what exactly does it do? More importantly, what is the Seal of Slaughter?” Klaus asked, curious despite the unsettling vibe inside the soul sea.
The Senior chuckled. “Well, brat, you’re one lucky bastard.”
“Language, Senior! And why is this thing lucky? From where I’m standing, it looks more like a walking disaster,” Klaus replied, feeling a mix of excitement and doubt. The rune was practically seething with bloodlust, which didn’t sit well with him.
“It depends on your perspective, but from my view, the Seal of Slaughter fits perfectly with your nature. You’re a Paragon, Klaus. One thing about Paragons is that they walk outside the rules. You’ve never had it easy, and you never will, so getting an advantage is a big deal.”
Klaus listened carefully, his skepticism still lingering, but he trusted the Senior’s wisdom.
“This Seal,” the Senior continued, “is something you’ll one day understand as Law. The universe is governed by many laws—time, space, magic, life, death, and more. These Laws dictate how everything works.
The Seal of Slaughter gives you control over one such law, the Law of Slaughter. The stronger you become, the more you’ll be able to tap into this power, but it comes with a price. Like all great power, it can consume you if you’re not careful.”
Klaus nodded, understanding the gravity of it now. “So, it’s both a blessing and a curse?”
“I knew nothing good would come from that Bead,” Klaus sighed, half-expecting something like this.
“Hey, why are you so down? Do you even understand what the Law of Slaughter is? Or more importantly, what this Seal of Slaughter can really do?” the Senior asked, his tone serious.
Klaus, who had started sulking, raised an eyebrow at the Senior’s words. This was unusual. The Senior never took the initiative to explain things unless Klaus specifically asked. For him to bring this up on his own meant there was something truly significant about the seal.
He didn’t know much about the Pentaface Bead aside from it being one of the nine Forbidden Relics. The last time he got curious about it, he nearly died, so he has been more cautious around it ever since.
However, the Seal of Slaughter was different. The Senior knew something important, and for once, he was willing to share.
“Tell me, brat, what do you know about Asura? I’m sure you’ve heard some fairy tales about them. So, tell me,” the Senior said, his voice hinting at something deeper.
Klaus frowned. He has indeed heard some stories about that, but as the senior said, it was just a fairytale, a fiction. He didn’t expect it to be mentioned here.
“Asura? Yeah, I’ve heard stories. They’re said to be fierce warriors, beings of pure rage and bloodlust. Supposedly, they thrive on battle and destruction. But those are just old legends, right?”
The Senior chuckled. “Old legends, sure. But legends often hold a grain of truth. The Asura were real, and they were more than just warriors—they were the embodiment of slaughter. The Seal of Slaughter taps into that same power. The Asura had mastered the Law of Killing, and this seal grants you a glimpse of that mastery.”
Klaus’s eyes widened as the full weight of the situation hit him. “So… this seal is connected to the power of the Asura?”
“No,” the Senior corrected. “The seal is Asura—the Law of Slaughter, or as it’s now called by most, the Law of Killing.”
Klaus gulped hard, his throat suddenly dry. He might be a school dropout, but he wasn’t clueless. Thanks to Fruity’s memories, he now understood the art of killing, the divine essence of slaughter, the insatiable bloodlust, and all kinds of deadly knowledge.
But knowing that something embodying the true essence of slaughter was sitting inside his soul sea? That was something else entirely. He was blown away.
“The Asura are the Law of Slaughter,” Klaus whispered to himself. Then, he asked, “So, Senior, does that mean there’s no such thing as the Asura race?”
“There was a race,” the Senior said, his tone more serious now.
“But as far as I’m concerned, the true Asura race died off many, many years ago. I really shouldn’t be saying this because of the karma involved, but with a Forbidden Relic and this Forbidden Law Seal in your possession, I think you’ll manage just fine in your next tribulation.”
Klaus couldn’t help but smile as he caught the teasing tone in the Senior’s voice. “You sound amused, Senior.”
“Maybe a little,” the Senior chuckled. “To answer your question, the Asura race was wiped out eons ago. I won’t say who did it—that’s a whole other mess—but understand this: the Asura, or the Law of Slaughter, isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s forbidden for a reason.”
Klaus nodded, already knowing that he had stumbled into something far beyond his current understanding.
“You’re still growing, and as you do, some of these things will start to make sense,” the Senior continued. “Me saying too much now could actually be bad for you.”
Klaus took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the Senior’s words settle on him. He had already figured out that nothing about his journey would be simple, but this? This was a whole new level of responsibility and danger. And yet, something about it excited him. If he could master this power, he would truly be unstoppable.
Klaus didn’t know where the excitement was coming from, but he craved the power, the bloodlust. He could feel the urge rising in him—a deep desire to sink his teeth into battle, to taste blood.
“Don’t get too excited, brat,” the Senior’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts, stern but amused. “As always, you’re far too weak to start comprehending this Law. To even begin, you need to become a Saint. You’ll need a Star Core and the current you doesn’t have one.”
Klaus’s excitement faded a little, but he was still curious. “So, I can’t use the Law of Killing yet?”
“Not yet,” the Senior confirmed. “However, this seal didn’t come without benefits. Just having it in your soul sea will start showing its effects soon.”
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Klaus perked up. “What kind of effects, Senior?”
The Senior chuckled. “Well, for one, your battle instincts will sharpen. You’ll feel more connected to the weapons you use, more in tune with the bloodlust of the battlefield.
The longer the seal stays in your soul sea, the more natural it will become for you to move, fight, and kill. It’ll also make you more resilient but don’t get too comfortable. These are just minor benefits, teasers compared to what the Law can really do.”
Klaus nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and wariness. “So, it’s making me stronger without me even trying?”
“Exactly. But don’t get cocky,” the Senior warned. “The real test will come when you try to wield the Law itself. For now, take what you can get and keep training. You’re not ready for the full power of the Seal of Slaughter yet.”
“Thanks, Senior” Klaus said clearly happy about his gain this time. The Seal is something he knew would open so many doors for him even if it’s forbidden. His existence is already forbidden meaning he wouldn’t be able to move forward with what the universe provides, he has to carve his own path.
“Level up quickly and breakthrough to the grandmaster stage and start forming your Star Core, I have a feeling you will get a surprise on your next breakthrough”
Klaus smiled and then went about looking at the Pentaface bead for a while before leaving the soul sea.
Because he didn’t want to wake Miriam up, he freshened up and left to take a stroll around Arcadian City.