The Monarch-Chapter 593: Challenger of the heavens[5]

"Let’s get out. If he repeats that, he’ll send the three of us flying. I saw that lunatic throw an old man from the fourth floor just for making too much noise while eating," he said with a strange expression.

"THOMAS!" A scream echoed across the battlefield, causing most of the smaller fights to stop. Kayden looked at a tall, fat man carrying a large axe.

"Do you really love me?" Lorena asked after a long time lying on the boy’s chest.

Kayden fell into the abyss without any fear. He knew this was an insane place, but the same fear people had of the abyss would be the fear they would have of the mage who survived it. There had never been such a case before, but there could always be a first.

"You have the potential to become a god, boy," Merlin said to Kayden with a smile.

"Triz, you were wrong, and now you must treat Kayden the same way as an honored guest until his stay on this planet ends."

"Hunt me, Merlin. If I survive this, you will be dead."

"A lich?" Kayden smiled.

"A being no ordinary mortal should ever be able to face in their lifetime."

"Even gods will die one day."

"I am a nine-ray mage, the absolute peak of this universe."

"You shouldn’t believe in every mage you meet, Kayden." Those were the words he heard before stopping his captured soul.

"I love you, Athena, with all the strength of my being."

"I hope your soul can forgive my greed for power," Kayden said as he killed the only person who had truly loved him with all her heart.

"I am Kayden Heart."

"I am Kayden Heart."

"I am Kayden Heart."

"Congratulations on surpassing the fourth and fifth ray." Another figure appeared in the skies, confusing everyone at that moment. Only Kayden understood what had happened.

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Kayden relived his entire life in the blink of an eye, from the moment he was born to the last second of his life. Everything passed before him, and he was free to change things. Every little detail he wished could be altered. Any fool would know this was a test and wouldn’t make a move, but that would be too simple for a test from the heavens.

Kayden’s subconscious was tested—it was beyond his control. The fourth ray was reliving his entire life with his mind intact. The fifth ray was having the opportunity to change anything and still follow the same path. If Kayden even hinted at changing his actions, they would be altered.

His mind was incapable of understanding the depth of the test because he was in an almost intoxicated state. Only his subconscious controlled his actions, and even so, Kayden chose to relive his life identically—every moment of pain and every moment of happiness. Everything was redone in the exact same way.

When the test ended, Kayden felt his existence vibrate as if it had been disassembled and reassembled in a single instant. His body remained the same, but something inside him had transformed. A silent understanding took hold of his mind—it wasn’t just a test of strength or determination but of essence. The heavens weren’t looking for just a powerful mage but for someone whose soul remained unchanged before the infinite. And Kayden, without realizing it, had proven himself worthy.

The heavens wanted someone capable of following their path to the end, someone willing to walk it without ever deviating, someone who sought much more than strength or influence. They wanted someone capable of becoming a true challenger of the heavens, someone willing to become unique.

This was the hardest test they could create for a mage, especially one as old as Kayden. Billions of years were relived and could be altered. Small decisions Kayden could make would change his life forever. Tiny regrets could be corrected. Yet, his mind remained calm and unwavering. His consciousness stayed entirely still as he observed all the decisions of his life.

"The sixth ray is the last mental test. Good luck." After the being spoke those words, Kayden’s mind had a slight breakdown upon seeing someone he never expected to be near again.

"Athena," Kayden murmured, his mind collapsing completely. He knew this was not an imitation—Athena was before him in a perfect form. Her soul was flawless. It was not an illusion. It was truly Athena. He did not doubt it.

The heavens ascended to an even greater concept in Kayden’s mind. They were capable of bringing the woman back from the dead, not only reconstructing her soul entirely but doing so without any difficulty. Kayden didn’t even understand how this was possible. Even the surrounding gods felt like children before such power.

Kayden thought this woman would no longer have any influence on his psyche, but the moment she appeared, he suffered a small breakdown. His soul cried out for him to go to her. His mind begged Kayden to surrender completely to the true love of his life.

"Kayden, my love," Athena’s voice was the same. Kayden’s mind had not been able to forget it even after all these years. His soul resonated with just three words. His mind was in ecstasy with dozens of emotions that had not surfaced for billions of years.

"Once again, we meet, my love," Kayden responded.

"It feels like just yesterday that you killed me for power," Athena smiled, and Kayden’s heart shattered into thousands of pieces.

"In the end, I understood your last words," Kayden smiled. "And I understand them more with each passing day."

True loneliness. As complete as Kayden was, he would never be as whole as he once was, and he knew it.

"Hold me?" Athena began to cry, and Kayden couldn’t resist. It was funny—this was supposed to be a test, but it was just another farewell to the worst moment of Kayden’s life."

As soon as Kayden touched Athena’s body it was as if his soul had received a lightning bolt, he didn’t even remember when he felt so good, the two didn’t say anything for hours, everyone was watching this strange interaction between them.