| The Cyber Ascension | Arc 5 — "The Founder of Phoenix" |
Volume 5 | Chapter 51 : "Keeping The Love Away From Truth."
Shinonu continued, his voice deep and steady—like someone who had already seen the entire truth of the world.
Shinonu:
"Power didn't make Shimono unstoppable. His mind did.
No matter how strong his enemy was… Shimono was already ten steps ahead.
He calculated everything. Every outcome. Every possibility."
Queen Victoria Reona's eyes softened, shining with a dreamy glow.
Reona:
"Oh… he's so—"
She froze when she saw Jin Yuan and Shinonu staring at her.
Reona:
"Ah—! I-I mean—he's intelligent! That's it! Nothing else!"
Her face flushed red.
Jin Yuan exhaled calmly.
Jin Yuan:
"You're just like Kiyomi… falling for a man who's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
Shinonu:
"Once he loves… Shimono has no limits.
He may chase his ruthless dream—Immortality—
but for Kiyomi, he becomes the gentlest man alive.
He would go against the entire world just to keep her safe."
Jin Yuan stayed silent, observing… calculating.
---
[ The Past Begins ]
Kiyomi slept curled beside Shimono, clutching the sleeve of his black kimono like a child holding her last hope.
And Shimono… was awake.
His eyes open. Mind calculating.
"I killed her family. Her empire. Everyone who threatened her.
She might cry… but I'll tell her they tried to take her away from me.
She won't hate me… I hope."
Even in silence, he stayed ten steps ahead of the truth.
Slowly, Kiyomi's sleepy voice broke the dark thoughts.
Kiyomi:
"Mm… Shimono… good morning…"
Her hair messy, the black rose he gifted her still pinned in place.
Shimono:
"Good morning, Kiyomi."
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him—soft, warm, trusting.
Shimono's eyes widened.
Her heartbeat.
Her warmth.
Her scent.
Kiyomi:
"I felt like… you left last night.
But you're here…"
She didn't know he had slipped out to massacre her entire bloodline.
Shimono slowly hugged her back—rare, fragile humanity flickering through him.
The blue rose in his fingers trembled slightly.
Shimono (softly):
"I won't leave you…
Never.
I promise."
Kiyomi's eyes filled with tears.
Kiyomi:
"You're the only one who ever protected me… the only one who made me feel safe.
I want to walk with you… wherever you go.
Forever.
Please… promise you won't leave me, Shimono…"
And then—
A single tear.
His first tear in 900 years.
It fell on her kimono.
He pulled her closer, voice trembling in the faintest way.
Shimono:
"I promise.
You're the only one I have too…"
They never said "I love you."
They didn't need to.
Their actions confessed louder than any words.
But the moment didn't last.
Knock.
A hard, echoing knock at the door.
Kiyomi flinched.
Shimono's face instantly shifted—
Warmth gone.
Eyes hollow.
Ruthless again.
He forced a gentle smile for her.
Shimono:
"Kiyomi, go make breakfast.
I'll see who it is."
She nodded innocently and walked to the wooden kitchen.
The moment she disappeared—
His smile dissolved into cold emptiness.
Shimono opened the door casually.
And there they were.
Over 9,000,000 Hell soldiers.
Towering. Armed. Waiting.
Shimono:
"Oh. Nice to meet you."
He smiled softly.
A smile more terrifying than any scream.
Soldier:
"You! The King of Hell ordered us to—!"
Snap.
Shimono snapped the soldier's neck gently.
Shimono (calm):
"Shh… she's cooking breakfast."
Chaos exploded.
Even while massively outnumbered, Shimono moved like a silent ghost.
Bones broke.
Necks twisted.
Blood sprayed the snow.
One soldier leaped toward the kitchen window—
Kiyomi inside, humming peacefully.
Shimono yanked the soldier back by the leg and broke every bone in his body with surgical brutality.
Minutes later, mountains of corpses surrounded him.
Shimono:
"Hmm… that was close.
She almost found out."
The door creaked open.
Kiyomi stepped out.
In a blink, Shimono appeared in front of her, blocking the view with a gentle smile.
Kiyomi:
"Oh—Shimono, who was that?"
Shimono:
"Ah… just some people who walked the wrong way.
I guided them back."
Kiyomi believed every word—
because to her, Shimono was just a kind, soft 19-year-old boy who loved her.
Behind him, his clones crawled over the corpses, devouring them before dissolving back into him.
Shimono noticed a streak of blood on his kimono.
He quickly knocked over a small cup of red paint.
Kiyomi:
"Oh—Shimono, your kimono!"
She wiped it gently.
Shimono:
"Thank you… Kiyomi."
Kiyomi:
"Who else will care for you?
I'm here… always."
They sat together and ate simple rice and meat—
as if a massacre hadn't just happened outside.
---
[ Back to Present ]
Shinonu stood still, eyes intense.
Shinonu:
"Shimono wasn't just strong.
His mind was the true monster.
Physically he may look weak—
but his intelligence alone is more terrifying than Hell."
Queen Victoria Reona swallowed nervously.
Reona:
"He's… brutally intelligent."
Jin Yuan nodded slowly.
Jin Yuan:
"He creates a path even when none exists.
He always finds a way out.
Even if the world tries to corner him."