[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-advent-of-the-three-calamities":3,"chapter-advent-of-the-three-calamities-advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-498":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Advent of the Three Calamities",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},758933,1005,"Chapter 498: Obsessions [4]","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-498",498,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tak-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I defeated the monster, the world shifted, and before I knew it, I found myself back\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in the white void. Standing not far from me was the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he tried to act calm, his wiggling smile betrayed his true thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at him turning his head away from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me guess, you weren't expecting me to be this fast, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>11\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His silence was all I needed to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I yet again, almost burst out laughing. As much of a lunatic as this guy was, he was also quite easy to read. He was too shy to give compliments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't like the expression you're currently making.\" \"Sorry, what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat down on the ground and stretched my arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not going to fall for it like last time. I'm not making any expression. You're just overthinking. There's only one thought in my mind at the moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which is...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning, the old man leaned forward a bit. He seemed curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dragged it on for a second before shrugging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I was just thinking about how surprised and pleased you were by my achievement. You should've looked at your face. You didn't give me any compliments, but I felt them.\" \"This punk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man's expression fell and he raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't flinch and merely smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come, hit me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew he wasn't going to hit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't lying about his face. He really did look quite surprised and pleased. Someone who could make that face wouldn't just kill me for a few jokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aigoo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scratching the back of his head, the old man lowered his head down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You're luck kid. Had it been the me of the past, I would've killed you without my eyes closing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought back to my first vision and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like he would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man frowned upon seeing my reaction as he touched his face while mumbling, 'Is it that easy to read my expression?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head and closed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's been a while since Owl-Mighty has contacted me. Is it because I am in this space?' Normally, I'd be able to get a feel for Owl-Mighty but it was almost as if I had lost complete connection. I was a little bit worried, but then again, it really could all be due to the strange space that I was in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening my eyes, I finally took notice of a pair of projections that weren't far from the old\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a closer look, I saw Kaelion and Caius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I silently whistled at the sight that greeted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were having quite a hard time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No wonder they lost to me.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were in plain sight, others hid in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain poured down from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It poured harshly, as though the sky were crying themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the rain, two individuals stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap, Slap-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you seal your emotions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because I'm a talentless shit with no emotions. I got rid of my emotions because I am afraid\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, repeat it again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....I'm a talentless shit with no emotions. I got rid of my emotions because I am afraid of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius mindlessly repeated the same words over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as the rain stained his clothes and hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could hear was the faint background noise of the rain, his steady breathing, the sound\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of his own voice, and...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cruel and indifferent voice of the 'monster'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm a talentless shit...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time has passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius had long lost count by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just stood by the rain, repeating the monster's words over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also knew this was fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this was an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't stop himself from repeating the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why couldn't he stop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he just closed his mouth, what would the worst that could happen be? A harsher slap? While\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>painful, the slaps Caius could take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you stop speaking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't even hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you stop?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hardly tickled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you lost it completely?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap--!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did his chest hurt?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pain... It was a little different from any physical pain he had felt in the past. In fact, he\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was sure he knew what this pain was, but couldn't quite say it. He just felt the answer at the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>tip of his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you not going to say anything?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap---!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius's head flung to the side due to the sheer force of the slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his head and staring at the man who stood before him, Caius's eyes cleared up a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite looking clearly at the man, his features felt foreign to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Monster.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, he looked like a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you not speaking?! Have you completely lost it? You do understand I can get rid of\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you like I got rid of your siblings. I can make a new one anytime that I want. You're only alive because you have some shred of hope of succeeding me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius felt his body lift as the monster grabbed hold of his collar, lifting him off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As talentless are you are, I can make you better! So listen to what I have to say and start practicing. Do you understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally letting go of Caius, the man stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, repeat after me; I'm a talentless shit with no emotions. I got rid of my emotions\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>because I am afraid of pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm a...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halfway through his sentence, Caius stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong? Are you-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I really talentless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Uh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What sort of nonsense...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the words he used to repeat to himself in the past. Despite saying them, he never\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>truly felt like he was better. After all, he was a talented trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that everyone else was even worse than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a world of trash, he was the better trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was merely a way for him to reaffirm his status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, that was how it used to be in the past. But what about now? Caius thought about\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haven; the place that had the best talents in the entire Four Empires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where Julien-the guy who beat him-came from. Spending time in the Academy,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius understood something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it physical, mana, mental, or theoretical examinations, he was always at the top or near the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>top. There was no one that came close to him in all four aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Julien, who had defeated him was nowhere near him in those aspects besides mental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that sense, Caius started questioning the monster's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he truly a talentless trash?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why aren't you speaking again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius raised his head and looked at the monster once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the pouring rain, his image looked terrifying, but to a Caius who knew no fear, he\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>didn't feel as towering as he once appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he was actually the same height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used to be taller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...The wrinkles he once had also no longer appeared, and his face became clearer in Caius's\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll say it one more time. Repeat after me. I'm a tal-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I talentless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius stared straight at the monster and his lips parted open. \"There's no one better than me in this Empire or any other Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was at the top of everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What sort of-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You've lied to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical, and mental. There was hardly anyone as good as him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I lost, but that doesn't make me talentless. It's okay to lose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To lose didn't mean the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....It just meant one could be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius knew he could be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was after all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't seal my emotions because I am afraid of pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius raised his head and got a good look at the monster in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in a very long time, Caius managed to see his full form. And it was then that\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'....I am my own monster.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one pushing him the entire time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monster haunting his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None other than himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blinking his eyes, the figure in front of him became increasingly clear. The only thing that\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>remained was the rain and himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just like in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always been alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father had never once cared about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he trained in the air, he had been alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one to slap him had always been him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one speaking had always been him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip, drip-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then that Caius understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 'Monster' was never real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely a means to cope with the fact that he was alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his own true companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His obsession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lifting his head, the monster appeared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|| ||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basking in the rain, Caius turned around and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you, and goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tak-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the rain stopped falling, Caius found himself standing in the middle of a white void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind felt liberated and his thoughts clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In spite of all of this, he still didn't feel his emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding onto his chest, he paused. 'When will I get my emotions back?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt like he was close to reaching a breakthrough in that regard, but at the same time, it\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>also felt incredibly far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Will I ever get them back?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Caius was lost in his own thoughts, he suddenly heard a voice coming from the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was incredibly great. Awesome. You were amazing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his head, he saw Julien standing beside the old man, who was eyeing Julien with an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>unmistakable frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when Julien pointed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's what he wants to say, but he's shy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man glared at Julien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Your face said it all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caius hadn't been paying attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>||\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man opened his mouth, only to close it again, crossing his arms with a sigh. Julien\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze to Caius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He's shy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mouthed quietly, prompting the corner of Caius's lips to pull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't realize it himself, but Julien noticed as his brow rose for a short moment before\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>settling back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad...\" Mumbling to himself, Julien turned his head and looked towards the last\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>projection. His expression soon turned somewhat complex. The same was true for the old man\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>who clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unexpected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Caius followed their line of sight, his eyes fell on the projection they were looking at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and his face paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Red.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could see was the color red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing in the middle of the sea of red was a single person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>",1856,"2026-06-02T12:40:56.143Z",1,"novelbin.me","74d2ff0200b631a315cfc1fadc4ac4f1a71267a98bb0c76f64d2bd9f90a4c68a","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-499","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-497",876,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fadvent-of-the-three-calamities-cover.jpg"]