Azure Requiem

[Three Years Later]

For the past three years, Elara had taken her twin sons to live in a secluded house up in the mountains, far from the small town where they were born.

Time passed swiftly, and the twins were now walking perfectly on their own. They had even skipped the crawling stage, learning to walk with ease by just nine months old.

During this time, Elara never breastfed them. The first time she offered, Verion firmly refused, turning away with a look of pure disgust.

"No. I ain't like that. Put me down."

"But it's for your growth. You still need it," she said with concern, but still placed him back on the bed. When she glanced at Elion, he shook his head too, refusing just as firmly.

Now, three years later, Elion stood inside their modest mountain home. It was a simple wooden structure, divided into three rooms: the main room with a large bed for the three of them, a tiny bathroom, and a small kitchen equipped with only basic cooking tools.

As he stepped through the creaky wooden door, cold air hit him, and the rustling leaves sounded like a distant melody, accompanied by the soft flow of water in the distance.

Elion looked up to the sky, his gaze fixed on the breathtaking sight above: grand, upside-down buildings, rivers flowing against gravity, and sprawling cities stretching as far as he could see.

"No matter how many times I look at it, I just can't get used to it," he muttered, still in awe. The sight was beautiful and awe-inspiring, but it also made him wonder about the strange gravitational forces in this world.

As he drifted into thought, a familiar voice called out from a distance.

"Elion, look what I got!" Verion grinned widely as he walked out of the forest, his face and clothes splattered with blood. In his hand, he held a rope, dragging a large, furry creature behind him.

Seeing this, Elion sighed. "A boar again? Don't you ever get tired of eating that?"

"Well, truth is, I was just practicing, but these animals keep attacking me. So I don't have much choice but to kill them. Besides, it's good food, right?"

Verion tossed the massive boar, about five times his size, at Elion's feet. Its head was in terrible shape, clearly crushed by one of Verion's fist techniques.

But Elion wasn't surprised anymore. Since Verion could stand and walk, he'd spent nearly all his time training his martial skills. Each morning, he ventured into the predator-filled forest to train, returning only as dusk approached, growing stronger by the day.

"But why do you always smash their heads?" Elion asked, eyeing the blood dripping from the boar's mangled head.

"Killing them by crushing their heads is faster than hitting their thick bodies," Verion replied nonchalantly, casting Elion a sidelong glance. "If only I had a sword or at least a dagger, I could kill these boars without damaging their bodies."

Elion squinted suspiciously. "Why are you looking at me like I can just make one for you?"

Verion chuckled. "Do you think I'm stupid? I already know you can create something out of nothing."

Despite being reborn as a child, Verion's battle-hardened instincts and sharp observation skills from hundreds of years in Murim hadn't left him. He had noticed the needle Elion had once created to kill the landlord's son.

Not to mention the bed and the simple kitchenware that had appeared out of nowhere soon after they moved into this remote mountain home—he knew his brother was behind all of it.

"Fine, fine… I'll make it for you later," Elion sighed, extending his hand toward the boar carcass. But he paused when a harsh grunt echoed from the forest. Suddenly, the ground shook violently, trees swayed, and birds fled from their nests in a frenzy.

"They're probably coming for me again. Those damned wild beasts," Verion muttered.

Each approaching step rumbled like the beat of a giant drum. Closer and closer, the air trembled with the creature's sheer weight and power. Emerging from the forest's shadows, a massive boar as tall as the surrounding trees appeared.

Its black fur was tangled and caked with mud and leaves, with large, curving tusks jutting out like deadly ivory blades. Its bloodshot, red eyes glared down at the two brothers, filled with rage and sorrow, as if seeking vengeance for its kin.

Elion looked on impassively, almost as if he'd expected this. With a long sigh, he spoke in his usual calm tone, "That's probably the father of the boar you just killed, Verion."

Ignoring Elion, Verion's expression darkened, his gaze sharpening. "How dare an ugly creature like you set foot near my home?"

Verion assumed a fighting stance, positioning his hands in front of his chest as Qi auras formed around his limbs, preparing to strike.

"Wait," Elion interrupted. "This time, use a sword so we can eat every part of its body."

Staring at the giant boar, Elion could already feel his mouth watering. Ever since he'd first tasted boar meat, he couldn't forget its incredible flavor, and now he struggled to keep his drooling in check.

"Alright, hurry up."

As Verion waited, Elion activated his [Creation] skill, focusing to create a short, lightweight iron sword fit for a toddler, which he then tossed to Verion.

Catching the sword, Verion smirked. "Not bad. In return, I'll show you the ultimate sword technique—the one used by the strongest in the world."

"You mean the former strongest," Elion murmured quietly.

"What did you just say?" Verion asked, confused. He truly hadn't heard what his brother had said.

Meanwhile, the massive boar let out another fierce grunt, its fiery red eyes fixed on the twins. The ground shook even harder as it charged toward them, branches and leaves scattering in its path of fury.

Verion stood tall, his gaze steady yet intense. Taking a deep breath, he began channeling his Qi into the sword. The blade vibrated lightly, emanating a subtle reddish-purple glow, as if it were a shining star in the night.

In an instant, Verion's Qi enveloped his entire body, adding a fine but powerful layer of protection. This aura enhanced his physical strength, marking him as a Martial Warrior—someone able to use Qi to enhance their body, create bursts of energy, and surround their limbs in a Qi aura.

Although far from his former power, at three years old, Verion was already stronger than most adults.

The giant boar charged forward like a storm, ready to demolish everything in its path. But Verion stood his ground. With a graceful but powerful movement, he lifted his sword, his body flowing with the wind, and said to Elion,

"Watch closely, Elion. This is a technique I've spent my entire life perfecting."

As the gap between them closed, Verion swung his sword in a dazzling arc. In a single, swift slash, the blade sliced cleanly through the boar's body, dividing it into four neat parts—head, body, and both pairs of legs—as if flesh and bone were nothing more than air.

The boar's remains crashed to the ground like a falling sky, lifting dust and leaves into the air. Standing amidst the scattered pieces of the creature, Verion held the sword, its Qi glowing faintly, like a bolt of lightning subsiding.

"I call this sword technique [Azure Requiem]."

Elion, watching in awe, found himself stunned. Verion's movements had been like a deadly dance, precise and calm. Though he knew his brother was a reincarnator, seeing Verion's true strength firsthand was still impressive.

"Amazing technique," Elion murmured, clapping lightly in admiration.

"It's nothing. I'm still far from my former strength," Verion replied, attempting nonchalance, though a proud smile broke through, causing Elion to chuckle.

"Now, let's gather the meat and start cooking."

Verion nodded, and as they began to lift the large slabs of meat, the sharp sensation of bloodlust from the forest put them on alert once more.

Adopting a fighting stance, the two glanced up as a white-haired woman with golden eyes, dressed entirely in black clothing soaked in blood, emerged from the trees. Her hood had fallen back, revealing her face, and she clutched a dagger. Upon seeing the two young boys before her, she quickly hid the dagger behind her back, her expression shifting to panic.

"Oh, my… Elion, Verion, what are you two doing?" asked Elara, the twins' mother, as the two narrowed their eyes, looking at her with suspicion.

As they both stared at her hand hiding the dagger, they leaned in and whispered to each other.

"She's definitely an assassin."

"You damn right she is."