Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 46: Big Brother

"You couldn’t leave it for tomorrow, could you?" Raiden sighed before turning around and walking toward a nearby table, where a bucket full of ice and glass bottles sat.

"Your stomach is strong, isn’t it?" he said, picking one up and pouring the liquid into two glasses.

"Strong enough to handle stones and glass... don’t ask me how I know." He laughed and handed me a glass. "But doesn’t my age bother you?"

"Tsk! Others might think something about it, but my eyes don’t deceive me, Kai. I knew it from the very first day."

I frowned, waiting tensely for him to finish the thought.

"You remember your past life, don’t you?" Raiden said, gazing at the horizon as he leaned against the balcony, slowly bringing the glass to his lips. "Even so, you’re not an ancient soul. I’d say you’re far too young—your first life must have ended early."

I let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

"I imagine being a cultivator lets you pry into other people’s secrets," I said.

He laughed again.

"Of course. Some things about you are abnormal to our eyes. For example, your consciousness is greater than normal even for a legacy beast, rivaling that of a cultivator. And needless to say, what drives you is more complex than a blank soul—though the effects aren’t all that different."

"Is that something normal?" I asked uncertainly, unsure how others might see it.

"On the contrary, it’s quite common—especially if you know where to look." Raiden burst out laughing. "This world, for some reason, is flooded with reincarnations. But most will lie about their past lives or even hide their existence altogether. It’s a sensitive topic for many reasons."

"..."

For a moment, I fell silent, thinking about it. How many people had I met so far, and how many of them were reincarnations?

It was unsettling to imagine that the children of that village might actually be old souls pretending to be children.

A chill ran down my spine.

Raiden laughed again.

"Don’t think about it too much or you’ll end up paranoid." He tipped his glass again, and this time I followed suit.

The liquid was icy cold, but it burned as it went down my throat. The alcoholic taste brought back fond memories.

"I kept my memories too..." Raiden said nostalgically. "I was an ordinary human once—a barista, if you know what that is—and then one random day I was born as a tiger in a civilization of tigers! I thought I was insane. Completely insane!"

"And what were your first days like?" I asked, remembering mine—how I could only eat raw, bloody meat, and how I somehow liked it despite the disgust.

"Better than yours, I guarantee it," he said mockingly. "My father was a wealthy big shot, and I had plenty of luxuries, along with plenty of expectations—but that was the least of it."

I grunted, leaning on the balcony, staring into the distance as I swirled my drink.

"Lucky bastard."

Raiden laughed loudly.

"I had money, status, and with very little effort—thanks to wonderful genetics—a ripped body that made every girl drool at first sight... Even so, studying was a pain! Cultivation required a sharp mind I didn’t have, and developing my aura was far too difficult. My father was extremely harsh with me. A complete asshole!"

Once again, he took a drink, his eyes drifting away. His youth returning step by step into the present.

"Still, I think the worst day of my life was when he stopped fighting with me... I think he got tired of me one day and decided I was just a loudmouth not worth the effort... Soon after, he was gone—not just for me, but for everyone... and then everything went wrong. The kingdom began to crumble, and day after day I begged for him to return, and day after day all I found was his silence."

"I think I disappointed him. I think we all did."

He tipped the glass, drinking every last drop, yet his throat still seemed dry.

"Who was your father?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Charia, the supreme ruler of Axel." Raiden sighed heavily. "The founder and king of Axel was always there, even in silence. Even when we needed to hear his voice."

"..."

Silence settled between us as I slowly drank from my glass.

"There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while, Raiden," I said, looking toward the horizon. "In the forest where my family and I were born, there were only you and Sun Eater... was either of you our father?"

Raiden shook his head before going to fetch another bottle.

"Then... why are both of you so interested in me and my siblings?" I asked, my expression serious.

"Because we are blood of the same blood." Raiden gestured for me to come closer, and I did.

He filled both glasses again.

"Sun Eater and I are mortal enemies, Kai. We hate sharing the same space and want nothing to do with each other. Yet we live only a forest apart, and the reason for that was a third tiger who lived there."

My ears sharpened.

"And who was that?" I asked. Raiden sighed.

"Charia was secluded in that forest, and both Sun Eater and I were waiting for a chance to speak with him once more. Your mother was likely a cultivator who fell from her realm and was taken as his last wife on this land before he departed to who knows where."

My eyes widened, my hand quickly bracing against the nearest wall so I wouldn’t fall.

I drained my drink in one go.

"So that means..." I looked at Raiden strangely.

"We’re brothers from different mothers," Raiden scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Both abandoned by our bastard of a father."

"And Sun Eater...?" I asked, drawing a long laugh from him.

"He’s also one of our brothers... though he has a long history with me. Even so, he wouldn’t harm you during your mutation—nor would any of our relatives you’ve seen."

"Still, they clearly showed malicious intent."

"Well, that makes sense... you’ll soon find out why. But those bastards could have taken your system for themselves..."

"What?!"

"And not only could they have—they did so many times in the past, with others. Basically, you dangled a fresh, juicy fish right in front of them—and they only didn’t bite because they still have some sense of integrity."

"I’ve done it too, a few times..." Raiden laughed. "You will as well—don’t judge so harshly."

I brought a hand to my chin, thinking deeply.

"Anyway," Raiden said, pulling me out of my thoughts, "where did you get those powers?"

"An entity blessed me," I answered directly.

"Oh, so you’ve already met some of those..." He paused as I frowned.

"The system is like that entity?"

"Yes. However, I’m sure you still don’t understand much about those beings—or why they help us. But you will, soon enough..."

I sighed. Too many thoughts were swirling in my head.

"Just two more questions. Why do you walk around in this incomplete human form, and why did you and Gravis call me an older brother?"

Raiden laughed.

"It only took you a moment to figure it out, didn’t it? These forms are for convenience, since we can’t perform the noble transformation—the result of the earthly path. Still, It’s a good way to train, cultivate, and move among humans.And if I need real power, I can return to my true form."

"And the other?"

"Well, you see, we tigers never had older brothers like humans do. But since we had a civilization that required coexistence, we created a similar concept: the ’big brother’ instead of the older one. That is, the biggest and therefore the strongest... I don’t think I need to mention your size, right? The two ideas merged through contact with humans, and so it became normal to call the ’big brother’ the ’older brother.’"

I nodded.

"I understand. Thank you for clearing up my doubts... Big Brother Raiden?" I said uncertainly.

"Just Raiden is fine."

He raised his glass, and I raised mine in response.

Clink

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"