Chapter 195: "Binding Vow: The Severed Stitch."
Ren thought, 'Ha… I know it now. The answer, if I am not wrong, is a simple but complex binding vow…'
For the first time, Ren didn't reach for a notebook or pen and didn't scribble frantically across Instead, he simply closed his eyes. He didn't write. He only imagined. He let the thought unfurl in silence, as though shaping itself from the very core of his being. His thoughts flowed sharp and deliberate, weaving through the endless maze of his mind like the very threads he was trying to perfect.
'But before all binding vows, I need to make a system first…'
'A system where my perfected cursed Red Circuit won't be affected by other binding vows… And well, it's simple now that you look at it in this way, huh? I think I also understand the understanding itself, which Copy gave me…'
His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of excitement coursing through him.
'It's not just a copy of the cursed technique perfectly… No, no, it's a copy, and copies are never perfect in any way. I have copied the Red Stitch, but in a way where it's not the perfect copy of my own Red Stitch—it's just a little different… Just a little detail… but that little detail changes everything. One detail is not just information; it's also a different way to look at things…'
Ren chuckled under his breath, running a hand through his hair as the realization anchored deeper.
'Like my core problem: I thought I couldn't split the Red Stitch in two without fucking up my cursed Red Circuit. But that was never really the core problem… The true problem was how to make my circuit work in my body while still being able to use two parts of Red Stitch at the same time. And now I have the answer—because of those little details. I can see it differently. That change in perspective… that's what Copy gave me. Understanding, not just replication.'
He exhaled sharply, a grin pulling at his lips. 'Hahaha! This should do…'
Ren muttered aloud, voice calm but edged with triumph.
"First Redstitch will be split in two…
Spider, and… for now let's call the other part of Redstitch (Sword.)"
He tapped his finger against his chest, steady.
"But how will it work? Simple binding vow… To get power, you need to throw away power."
The words lingered in the air like scripture.
The more you give away, the stronger the binding vows become. The path was absurd, yet perfectly clear.
'A binding vow where I can't use Red Stitch outside of my body!'
The thought echoed like thunder, yet carried the strange comfort of inevitability.
The benefit: he would gain two distinct paths. One, a visible spider. The other, the Sword. In exchange, he would lose the ability to use Red Stitch in its original, unrestricted form. To anyone else, it sounded insane. To Ren, it was elegance in madness.
'I'm throwing away my core cursed technique to use Red Stitch normally, and in return, I'll have two specialized versions. Sure, they're weaker at the start—but they'll be sharpened, refined, and strengthened by the other five binding vows I've already prepared. By the time it's complete, it'll be like trading a blunt blade for two honed ones. Throwing away power to gain more power… It's stupid, but in the world of binding vows, it makes perfect sense.'
He laughed softly, his shoulders relaxing as the realization solidified.
'This loophole… These lesser versions won't stay lesser for long. And the most important thing—the genius part of this binding vow—is that I can't use red stitch outside of my body… That means inside my body I can use red stitch perfectly… That means my 'Perfected Red Cursed Circuit,' which is inside of my body, will be perfectly fine!. Hahahahahahaha—this is great…'
Ren lay back on the bed, the soft weight of relief sinking into him at last. His mind, restless for over a year, finally felt still.
Kai2 floated lazily above, casting an almost judgmental glance at him. Ren ignored it, holding his hand in front of his face, studying the faint lines of his palm. He hadn't needed to write a single word—the whole structure lived inside his mind, a riddle finally solved.
'It's like staring at a puzzle for years and finally seeing the missing piece. The question that has haunted me… how to make Red Stitch stronger… And here it is. The answer. Clear as day.'
His lips moved, steady and deliberate.
"Binding Vow: The Severed Stitch."
"The Red Stitch outside my flesh is no more. Never again shall I weave the original thread beyond my body. In its place, two paths endure—Spider and Sword, branches of the original, equal, and whole."
The vow carried weight, but his voice was calm, almost amused, as though he had just stepped through a door he was always meant to open.
Ren knew it was not perfected yet, but still he only smiled calmly and closed his eyes, the words reverberating within him, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to rest.
End of Chapter 195.