Chapter 22: The Blessing

“Let me tell you something classified about the moon…”

Three hundred years ago, before humans gained supernatural abilities, humanity made a crucial discovery about the Scarlet Moon.

Not all animals fell prey to the moon’s power, just those able to absorb the malevolent energy it gave off.

“Several animals were introduced into the territory for observation. Fewer than half transformed into Scarlet Kins, and the remainder were devoured.”

They called this phenomenon the Blessing. It was far more likely to corrupt creatures with limited lifespans than healthy, robust ones.

Arthur gestured upward toward the red moon, guiding Scar, who carefully observed.

Sometimes the moon appeared to breathe like something alive, something with a heartbeat. It would blaze a brilliant red before returning to its normal sinister glow mere moments later.

“Few families know about this, and it’s outlawed because it’s believed to turn Akumas into Scarlet Kins.”

In the right conditions, even a battered and exhausted human could absorb the Blessing as readily as any animal. Successful absorption resulted in dramatically increased physical strength.

“It’s been done before. In fact, most Royal Knights do it. Ha, if you don’t get caught, it’s not a crime, right? But too much of it is dangerous. History has already proven that.”

Scar nodded in understanding.

He’d always been curious how humans had managed fifty wins against Scarlet Kins in three hundred years, especially considering they’d achieved ten of those wins in just the past three decades through the Epic Competition.

“Or are you just going to talk about it forever? Are you going to teach me how to absorb it or not?”

Arthur nodded enthusiastically.

“You fought Storm, right? So you saw his style. What did you think?”

Scar’s eyes narrowed a bit.

He could recall it vividly. Even at the time it seemed wrong, Storm never ran despite that incredible speed everyone talked about. Just single steps that carried him across the space. More like teleportation than velocity.

“He flashed in and out like that, right? With better control, you could learn his flash steps. And those arrows, damn, you could do that too… and more.”

Arthur’s hands went to his waist in a pose of supreme confidence. With a big, self-assured smile, he declared:

“Too much of it, boy, and you’d go insane. You’d become a Scarlet Kin.”

The words weren’t comforting, but he looked proud saying them.

The moments that followed transformed Scar’s night from a lecture into something he almost couldn’t stand. But he endured. This was completely different from his usual training.

The goal was total exhaustion: over 200 laps around the hall, running while dragging a wheel Arthur sat on, doing reflex drills, and finally practicing with the wooden dummies.

In a few hours, he breathed like a dying donkey.

“After you absorb the Blessing even partially, you can keep it stable and manage it until you’re ready to absorb more.”

Scar nodded, pushing through his agony to follow Arthur’s guidance on meditation.

“It’s in the air, everywhere you turn. Just loosen your body and let it seep in like breath. Take it in slowly.”

At a steady pace, Scar went through with it.

Nearly an hour passed, and Scar felt nothing. Arthur, acting like it was no big deal, had him redo everything from scratch. But it still didn’t work, Scar couldn’t absorb the Blessing.

Four more training sessions and four more meditations passed. By the time the sun started rising, Scar still hadn’t managed to absorb the Blessing.

’I think I’m a curse to this world… how?’

Scar thought, leaning against the wall with his muscles refusing to even move.

“Oh, one thing I forgot. The Blessing is so stressful that most humans refuse to absorb it.”

Arthur stretched and yawned, rising from the bench where he’d been napping. He’d slept nearly the entire time, yet whenever Scar failed to absorb the Blessing, he became suddenly alert and ready to explain what to do next, as if the instructions weren’t already burned into Scar’s mind.

“Such a powerful motivation. Thank you, unc.”

“…”

Several hours later, not wanting to see any relatives, Scar departed the Rover estate and finally got to rest. Though it felt like he’d barely closed his eyes for two seconds.

“Where were you last night? You came back looking like you got beaten up.”

Julien asked, watching as Scar struggled to get on his feet.

Scar hesitated.

He couldn’t mention training with Arthur Rover. Not just because Arthur was a Supreme Council member, but because he was Arthur Rover, one of humanity’s strongest. The name alone could expose Scar’s own connection to the Rover family.

However, before Scar could utter a word, Purple walked in on them.

Well, she’d gotten comfortable enough not to knock when entering their room now. Tsk.

“Scar, a staff member asked me to tell you to come with your friends.”

Scar’s expression grew lazy.

“Oh, that’s it? Tsk… come on. Follow. You two might as well join the suffering.”

Julien was confused, but Purple only frowned.

“We aren’t friends. I’m only here because of Julien:”

“The audacity. Standing in my room like it’s a hotel lobby. I’m glad I defeated her… but must you rub in my face that I only have one friend?”

The words left him murmuring, barely audible.

“What did you say?”

Scar sneered.

“Shut the fuck up and keep up.”

Actually, she did.

Before long, Scar presented the Rover family emblem stamped with Arthur’s signature, and they were granted access to the Rover estate.

“What?! You didn’t tell me you knew the Sun Phoenix!”

Julien’s voice rang out, enthusiastic but stunned. Purple, however, didn’t look surprised at all.

“Wait… does that mean you’re a Rover? This is the Rover estate, and you were summoned by the third head of the family…”

“Really?”

“You’re not a prodigy, and your family holds no influence. With your father dead, the only explanation is that you’re the Rovers’ bastard.”

Scar’s face contorted with annoyance. If he could, he would’ve hit her. But the way Purple said it wasn’t rude, it was playful and clever, making his rage feel unjustified.

“That was rude… but yes, you’re right. This is my nephew, Scar Rover.”

Scar let out a disbelieving sigh as Arthur struck his characteristic pose, looking every bit the god he thought he was.

Scar began his training while Arthur briefed Julien and Purple on Scar’s origin.

“If anyone finds out, you’ll have the Sun Phoenix and the Rover family coming for you.”

Arthur laughed like he hadn’t just given them the most terrifying threat of their lives.

Julien looked a bit sad, probably upset that Scar had hidden his bloodline. But he let it go, and soon they were training alongside Scar. Purple already had the Blessing in her inherited memories and explained everything to Julien.

A few hours in, right in the middle of Scar’s meditation, he shouted.

“I’ve absorbed it!”

He frowned.

“Oh shit… it’s gone.”

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