Chapter 294 293: Desire
"What is your desire Kiefer?"
Corey's question rang out in Kiefer's mind and a surprised and baffled expression instantly appeared on Kiefer's face.
Two seconds of silence passed, then Kiefer answered:
"To be truly free and happy."
Three seconds of silence passed, then Corey turned towards Kiefer with an expression that was extremely indifferent.
"Your desire is… childish."
Corey said, and Kiefer frowned.
"Just because I'm a child doesn't mean my desires are childish. I believe most people, especially the residents of the Underworld, desire to be free and happy."
Four seconds of silence passed, and Corey replied:
"Happiness and freedom are fleeting illusions."
"Every human, at some point in their lives, have desired to be truly free, to be truly happy."
"But, at some point in their lives, they would realize that having such desire is hopeless and pointless."
"Wanting and achieving are two different things. Your desires are like gusts of wind, fleeting and ever-changing."
"Only children have desires such as true freedom and happiness. Cause when they grow older, they learn that there is no true freedom and happiness."
Five seconds of silence passed, and Kiefer spoke, much to Corey's surprise.
"Throughout my whole life, I've lived as a slave. I had a father who treated me worse than most slaves, and I knew not my mother."
"I've never known what happiness and freedom truly was. Talk less of true happiness and freedom."
"I have never been happy and I have never been free. I don't know what it feels like."
"Although, the nightmare that haunts my dreams is dead."
Kiefer glanced at the head of the leader of the Dread Vipers.
"I'm still not free and happy."
"I want to strive for a life where joy isn't a distant dream."
Corey gazed at the young boy whose words contained a determined will and intent.
Corey was surprised and a strange light appeared in his eyes.
Six seconds of silence passed, then Corey spoke:
"For me, having dreams and desires like yours in our current world is foolish and childish."
"The best thing is to work hard, survive and strive for greater power."
"If you're extremely powerful, who knows, maybe you can attain your dreams and desires."
A second of…
"I hate power. I despise it and those who are obsessed with it."
Kiefer replied instantly and his words stunned Corey.
Corey looked at Kiefer and he could see that his eyes were filled with anger.
Corey wanted to speak, but Kiefer cut him off. His tone reverberating in the room with visible anger.
"The reason why other people suffer and why our world is like this is because of power."
"People are obsessed with power."
"The power to destroy mountains, buildings, monsters and other humans."
"The power to rule over a large group of number."
"The power to become the strongest."
"Power. Power. Power. Power!"
"POWER!!"
"I HATE POWER!"
"When one gains power, a life or more is ruined."
"When two powerful beings fight. The weak beings in the vicinity gets destroyed and people lose loved ones!"
"Power blinds people to the suffering of others!"
"AND I HATE IT!"
Seven seconds of silence passed, and in those seven seconds, all Corey did was stare at Kiefer who had a rage filled expression while breathing erratically.
"Truly a child."
Corey shook his head, and with a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and adjusted his sitting posture slightly.
"Assuming you had a family and lets say a tier 5 or 6 human murderer attacks and kills your family. How would you feel?"
Corey questioned and Kiefer remained silent for three seconds.
"Although I hate power, I never said I do not know the importance of it."
"But just like I said, power blinds people to the suffering of others."
"And… I'm afraid I'll become a slave to power in the future."
Kiefer's last words were spoken as a whisper but Corey's Ears of Omniscience heard it clearly.
"At least you're not a lost cause."
Corey said while closing his eyes with a soft moan.
Kiefer glanced at Corey's face, then the healing hole in his chest.
"Have- have you ever been… happy and free before?"
Kiefer asked and Corey's eyes remained closed.
An image of a young girl running around like an anime character while laughing flashed in his mind.
An innocent smile appeared on the young girl's lips, and her lips moved.
[Onii-chan.]
The seconds went by and a strange silence enveloped the room.
Ten seconds later, Corey replied:
"There was a time I was happy."
Kiefer's eyes widened.
"But because I was weak, I lost my happiness."
Kiefer clenched his fist.
"As for freedom? I don't think so."
"And I don't think one can ever be free without becoming the strongest."
Five seconds of silence passed, and a soft voice from Kiefer flowed into Corey's ears.
"If there was a time you were happy. Then that means I can also be happy."
Corey tilted his head and glanced at Kiefer who had a slight smile of hope on his face.
Corey looked away.
"I hope you'll be able to become truly happy in the future."
Kiefer spoke, and Corey's eyes twitched.
'Truly annoying kid.'
Time went by, and the hole in Corey's chest finally closed itself.
His injuries were not totally gone and his battle prowess had also reduced, so he had to be careful.
Corey stood and he grunted as he stretched.
"Well. I've been much worse before."
Corey said, then he looked at Kiefer whose head only reached his abdomen before shifting his gaze to the two guns of the leader of the Dread Vipers.
A tinge of interest appeared in Corey's eyes and he walked to the guns and picked them up.
However, when he did, Corey frowned.
The guns looked… dull.
[The guns were soul-linked to him, and now that he's dead, the guns are also dead.]
Nina explained, and Corey clicked his tongue before throwing the guns away.
He looked around but when he saw nothing of interest, he shrugged and looked at Kiefer.
"Let's go."
Corey said, and Kiefer nodded.
They both walked out of the room then the building itself, and the instant they stepped out of the building, a baffled and wary expression appeared on Kiefer's face when he saw a thick fog surrounding the headquarters of the Dread Vipers.
"Oh, I forgot about this."
Corey slapped his forehead softly, then he spread out his palm and the fog got sucked into his palm.
Kiefer looked at the fog moving into Corey's hand with intrigue.
After the fog was cleared, Kiefer could finally see his surroundings, and when he did, he was extremely shocked, disgusted, and had the urge to vomit.
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