CH.88 Kairos Genie
Why does Evil exist?
A thought I've carried for a long time.
If God surely exists, why does He allow harm on mankind?
Well, I received an answer from an old man wise.
He said, "If you were judged before you died,
Would you be surprised by the outcome so devised?"
Those who God says will go to heaven will rejoice,
While the ones He sends to hell will cry, with no voice.
To solve this, He gave freedom to those who roam,
To make their own choices before returning home.
Evil was made into a choice of free will,
So when we die, God uses our actions still.
To explain the fate of our afterlife’s end—
Where those who do bad shall not ascend,
And the ones who do good shall forever thrive,
Rewarded with eternal peace, where love survives.
This answers the dilemma—judging us before we live,
For He knew our actions, but allowed us the gift to give.
The freedom to choose our path in this world,
Even when the outcome, He already foretold.
Henu Safir scowled, his voice rising above the crowd. "You should fight properly, Kairo, and not endanger the citizens!" His annoyance was clear, but Kairo remained unfazed, simply turning away with indifference.
Meanwhile, Khonsu revved up his mysterious black car and charged at Kairo with full speed. Kairo's eyes widened in shock as he attempted to use his power to flatten the car, but the speed and sheer force of the vehicle were beyond what he could control. In an instant, the car slammed into Kairo, sending him flying into the arena's wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him, leaving him momentarily stunned. He couldn’t believe what had just happened.
The crowd erupted in awe, murmuring in disbelief at the strength of Khonsu’s car. Atom, observing from the stands, marveled, “It’s like a Black Bull, but far stronger.”
Akhet, too, was in disbelief. “What is that thing made of? How can it be this strong?”
Amon sighed, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Kairo tried to outsmart him, but this car is no joke. We must figure out how it was built. We need it for our military."
From the royal balcony, the Pharaoh of Nubia chuckled, turning to Queen Nefetari. "I hope we can get some help building this beast. Isn’t that what our treaty is about?" His voice dripped with cunning.
Nefetari, reclining and delicately eating purple grapes, waved her hand dismissively. “You can discuss that with Setka, Menes, or Henu. This car is the crown jewel of my military, and I wouldn’t want to upset the three strongest men in my kingdom.” Her words danced around the subject, evading any promise.
The Pharaoh smirked, knowing that he would get his hands on the car one way or another.
As the dust settled, Kairo staggered out of the rubble, blood dripping from his hands. But Khonsu gave him no time to recover. He drove his car closer, swiftly exiting to grab several buckets of water from the back. Without hesitation, he doused the ground around Kairo with the water.
Kairo, regaining his composure, was about to launch a counterattack when Khonsu spoke coldly, “It’s over, Kairo. I’m about to win.”
Khonsu then screamed, “Electric Shock!” Instantly, the water surrounding Kairo began to bubble and sizzle as electricity surged through it. Kairo’s body convulsed violently, every muscle spasming as he collapsed to the ground, incapacitated.
A tense silence followed, broken only by the distant sound of Khonsu standing atop his car, triumphantly shouting, “I have won!”
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, celebrating Khonsu’s unexpected victory.
From a shadowed corner, Amon watched intently, his eyes narrowing. "He's about to use it, isn’t he?" His voice carried a foreboding weight as his eyes seemed to darken, knowing all too well what was coming.
Drexel, standing nearby, shared the same ominous feeling. His gaze, too, clouded with darkness, muttered to himself, “It’s either going to come with a hefty price... or a stroke of luck.”
As Kairo’s breath steadied and he rose to his feet, the atmosphere in the coliseum shifted dramatically. Every dark energy user present felt an overwhelming weight, as though a thousand kilograms had suddenly been placed on their chests. Their vision distorted into black and white lines, a disorienting effect that spread through the crowd.
Jack, with a deep sense of unease, muttered to himself, "What is this feeling... it's out of my league."
Amidst the chaos, only Menes remained unmoved, his expression as cold and stern as ever. Even Henu, who felt the weight, managed to shake off the oppressive sensation.
As Kairo stood, a shadowy figure began to manifest behind him. It was a being formed of pure dark energy, its red eyes glowing ominously. Kairo’s own eyes mirrored the red glow of the entity. The figure sent chills down the spines of all who saw it.
Khonsu stood frozen in place, unable to move. Kamil, watching in disbelief, questioned, “What is that? It’s not a Chronotex, I’m sure of it.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Kairo’s voice was calm but chilling. Pointing at Khonsu, he addressed the dark figure. "Genie, what will it cost to defeat Khonsu of the Royal Army?"
The dark figure, the "Genie," looked over at Khonsu silently before replying, "It will cost you the equivalent of 300 gold coins and the sacrifice of five horses."
Kairo smirked. "That’s a fair price. Genie, fulfill my wish, and in return, you shall have yours."
The crowd held its breath. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, Khonsu’s scream tore through the arena. Lightning, out of nowhere, crashed down upon him, sending waves of agony through his body. Despite his natural immunity to electricity, his screams grew louder, his body convulsing violently with each strike.
As the final bolt of lightning struck, Khonsu collapsed, his body smoking and charred. The once proud warrior was utterly defeated.
In the stands, Anubis, usually stoic, froze in shock. “His hidden power... it's a wish."
Renjiro, usually composed, could barely conceal his anxiety. "He can wish for anything..."
Ru added, “But he must give something of equal value in return."
Kairo, stepping forward as though he hadn’t just witnessed the destruction of an opponent, declared to the stunned crowd, "My dark energy power is called Genie. It grants me any wish I desire, even those beyond possibility. I am undefeated. All of you—worthless! The Royal Army, the so-called 'guardians' of Thebes—nothing but insects to me. Khonsu was no more than a mere fly. He dared to challenge me, and now, look at him!"
Ramon, consumed with rage, was ready to jump into the arena and strike Kairo. "I'll kill him!" he yelled, but Jack and Kasib held him back, struggling to restrain him.
“Ramon, stop!” Jack urged. “You can’t just go out there!”
Even Menes, who rarely displayed emotion, felt his control slipping. His eyes darkened as pure fury rose within him. Kairo had not only humiliated Khonsu, a soldier of the Royal Guard, but also taunted the very honour of Queen Nefetari’s kingdom. The tension in the air thickened.
Henu, while managing to keep his composure, clenched his fists, anger seeping through his normally calm demeanour.
Kamil’s mind raced. “His power... it’s like the concept of equivalent exchange. To get something, you must give something of equal value. If defeating Khonsu cost 300 gold coins and five horses, imagine what it would take to kill him instead. His talk of impossible wishes... the price must be unimaginable.”
Yune, always analytical, asked, “The real question is—when does the trade happen? Does it occur at the moment of the wish, or afterward? and if this power is in the wrong hands what destruction could to bring to the world”
Jack, still looking down at Khonsu’s lifeless form, replied grimly, "We should focus on Khonsu first. Then we can figure out how Kairo’s power really works."
The group remained on edge, the weight of Kairo’s ability hanging over them like a looming storm.
As Khonsu lay in the care center under Seraphina Aurelia’s care, the aftermath of the day’s battles weighed heavily on everyone’s mind. Despite his weakened state, Khonsu whispered, “Commander, I’m sorry… I couldn’t win.”
Setka, who had just arrived, placed a reassuring hand on Khonsu’s shoulder. “Victory isn’t always guaranteed, Khonsu. Defeat is a lesson, and you shall learn from it.”
Jack nodded, adding, “Get well soon, Khonsu.”
The first day of the strength competition had ended, with the results announced:
Setka had defeated Amon.
Jack had emerged victorious over Elio.
Kairo had bested Khonsu in a shocking and dark display.
As the organizations and leaders began to depart, notable figures like Renjiro Akihiko of the Vanguard, Anubis of the bandit organization, and the commanders of the Merchant’s Guild—Isabella Rossi, Maximilian Weber, and Tarek Amunet—left the coliseum, deep in thought about Kairo's overwhelming power.
In Setka’s office, the atmosphere was heavy with contemplation. Kasib ate fruit quietly, while Jack, Kamil, and Ramon sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Yune and Noya leaned against the wall, while Setka, Menes, and Henu stared up at the ceiling. Memnon, meanwhile, slept soundly in the corner.
Kamil was the first to break the silence. “What happens if Kairo wishes to be the king of this world?”
Yune replied, “It will require something of equal value in return. That’s the law of his power.”
Jack, frowning, asked, “Does it need to be something he already owns, or has control over?”
Setka leaned forward. “In that case, I doubt he could use the people of Thebes as ransom. He doesn’t command them.”
Henu added, “That power is dangerous in the hands of someone with influence, but it's useless to a man with nothing.”
Yune, ever the analyst, pondered aloud. “Does Kairo need permission from those he sacrifices, or can he take lives without their consent?”
Kamil shook his head, still baffled. “I still can’t wrap my head around how the Genie is even a thing.”
Menes, sipping water, explained. “When a person reaches the end of their dark energy training, they specialize in something—a tool or weapon they can manifest with their power. For some, it’s a shield, for others, a crossbow or whip. But Kairo… he turned his energy into a living being.”
Suddenly, a soldier burst into the room, panting heavily. “Commander! Your guess was correct—Kairo has traded his five horses. They’re gone.”
Setka nodded calmly. “Thank you, soldier. You may leave.”
As the door closed, Kamil exhaled. “So our theory was right.”
Jack added, “But what if he fails to meet the deal? What happens then?”
Yune, recalling a theory, said, “In the books I’ve read on equivalent exchange, if the terms aren’t met, the consequence falls on the one who made the wish. Kairo could lose a hand, a leg, his sight… or worse, his life.”
Henu, deep in thought, concluded, “If the cost is too great, it’s likely his life that’s at risk.”
Memnon, though asleep, had used his powers to tap into Kamil’s memory of the conversation. From his slumber, he murmured, “If Kairo doesn’t own or control something, he can’t trade it. But in my opinion, he likely doesn’t need permission from those things. The people of Nubia could very well be part of his price.”
Setka nodded gravely. “Exactly. As long as Kairo doesn’t hold power over Thebes or its people, we’re safe from his direct influence. But the real concern is the nature of his wishes.”
Kamil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “If he wishes for death, or the destruction of someone he hates, it could come true. But the price... would be severe.”
Setka cleared his throat, shifting the conversation. “That’s enough for now. Tomorrow, the second day of the competition begins. The first battle will be Kasib versus Kamil, followed by Yune versus Thane, and finally, Ramon will face Kairo.”
Ramon’s eyes widened, filled with a fierce determination. “I’ll take revenge for what Kairo did to Khonsu,” he said through gritted teeth.
As Menes stood to leave, he paused by Ramon, speaking quietly but with force. “Defeat that brat, and I’ll promote you to Captain Rank 2. You’ll command 300 men of the Royal Army.”
Ramon stood, shocked by Menes’ words. The room buzzed with excitement as the possibility of his promotion sank in. Noya grinned and said, “Ramon, this could be your chance—the rope you need to climb to the top.”
Jack, still curious, asked, “What does it mean to command 300 men? I didn’t know about this.”
Kasib, still munching on grapes, explained. “After the Elite Soldier ranks, you move up to Captain. Rank 1 gives you command over 100 men, either cavalry or foot soldiers. Rank 2 gets you 300, and Rank 3, 500. That’s where it caps until you reach the Royal Guard.”
Jack’s eyes widened in understanding. “So Ramon will command 300 men if he wins.”
Kamil confirmed, “Yes, and if he proves himself in war or other duties, he could even be considered for a position as General or Royal Guard.”
Inwardly, Ramon’s thoughts raced. This is my chance. I must defeat Kairo tomorrow. I cannot let this opportunity slip away.