The second conversation between Alessandro and the King did not take place face-to-face. This time, Alessandro chose the distance and formality of the written word.
In an extensive, carefully drafted letter, he requested additional resources to continue the analysis of Kai. He did not ask for explicit permission to experiment—knowing that would have been immediately rejected—but rather for means, infrastructure, protection, and autonomy. Every sentence was designed not to openly cross the limits of human law, but to intelligently skirt them.
The King understood the message between the lines and made a pragmatic decision. On one condition—that the child be removed from the capital—he authorized all the requested resources: gold, ancient books, cutting-edge technology, specialized personnel, and holy escorts. Everything was granted.
However, the warning was clear: any kind of experiment performed on a child remained prohibited under human law. That left Alessandro with only one option: if he wanted to continue, he had to do it beyond the reach of that law.
He had to find a place where human power had no jurisdiction whatsoever. It was then that his mind turned toward the peninsula: The Dark Lands.
A territory forgotten by nations, inhabited by monsters, wandering beasts, and ancient ruins. A place where no crown claimed sovereignty and where the laws of the continent simply did not exist. It was dangerous, inhospitable… and perfect. Alessandro knew that if he wanted to disappear from the eyes of the world, he had to do it there.
After weeks of exploration and geographic studies, he found the right spot: an isolated beach near an active volcano. The natural energy of the place was intense and unstable, ideal for powering artifacts and magical seals. Furthermore, the geography offered natural protection: cliffs, thick jungle, and the sea as the only way in. Construction began there.
The complex was neither a stone castle nor a traditional military fortress. Alessandro chose a different design, almost peaceful in appearance: a large wooden structure in an oriental style, with simple, harmonious lines inspired by Japanese architecture. From the outside, it looked like an extensive residence, but inside it housed more than sixty rooms, spacious halls, fully equipped kitchens, storehouses, and resting areas. Everything was designed for a prolonged stay.
But the true heart of the project lay behind it. Hidden among the rocks, a natural cave opened directly onto the beach.
Alessandro decided to use it as a laboratory. For months, it was outfitted with extreme care: internal rooms were excavated, walls were reinforced with magical seals, and operating rooms, analysis tables, specialized apparatus, and unique devices were installed—many of them never before seen outside the Church's capital.
Ancient books, forbidden manuscripts, records of forgotten skills, and all the advanced technology available in the world were moved to that remote location. Alessandro prepared for everything.
Several months passed. When the complex was finally finished and operational, the time came to transfer Kai.
The boy was taken to the beach in a carefully guarded convoy. Armed Holy soldiers, Holy Knights, and specialized personnel escorted every step of the journey. Nothing was left to chance; the order was clear: protect the child at any cost.
Kai watched the world from inside the carriage, not fully understanding the magnitude of what was happening. To him, it was just another trip, another change of scenery. He did not know that, with this transfer, he was leaving behind the protection of human law. Nor did he know that the Church had just made a decision that would mark the fate of the world.
Afternoon fell slowly over the beach. The sun descended toward the horizon, staining the sea in shades of red and orange, while the nearby volcano exhaled a faint, almost imperceptible smoke—a constant reminder that this place was alive... and dangerous.
Alessandro stood watching the waves break against the black sand. Kai played nearby, but he did not run or laugh as any other child would. His movements were calm, measured, almost reflective. Finally, Alessandro broke the silence.
"Kai... sit down, please."
The boy looked at him and obeyed. He sat in one of the wooden chairs arranged in front of the beach house; his feet barely touched the ground. Alessandro took a deep breath before speaking.
"There is something you should know," he began. "You possess a skill. Its name is Evolution."
Kai looked up, attentive.
"I don't know how it works," Alessandro continued, "and you shouldn't know yet either. It isn't a skill that grants magic, or immediate strength, or visible powers. But there is something we do understand: evolution has always been born of danger. For eons, all creatures have changed and grown stronger by facing threats: predators, extreme climates, hostile environments. Without risk... there is no evolution. What we need to discover is how your body reacts. What possibilities exist. How far that skill can go."
Kai did not respond immediately. Alessandro was about to continue when the boy's voice rose, calm... far too calm.
"The only way for a body to evolve," Kai said, "is to subject it to physical and mental abuse."
Alessandro froze. Kai never spoke. He never gave opinions. He never formulated complex ideas. Slowly, Alessandro turned his face toward him.
"...How do you know that?"
Kai raised his head. His expression was no longer that of a child; his eyes did not reflect innocence, but something ancient, tired.
"Look, Cardinal," he said. His voice changed. It was still childish in timbre, but the tone was different: grave, cold. As if something else were speaking through him. "My name is Kai Killerman. I've been playing along all this time because I wanted to know what you intended. You brought me far from human laws to experiment on my body. I understand. You want to know if my skill can make me stronger."
Alessandro felt a shiver run down his spine.
"I don't know exactly what your motives are," Kai continued, "but I will tell you something: I can expose myself to those dangers. To all of them. But I need a motive." He stared at him fixedly. "Why do you want me to do it?"
Alessandro took a few seconds to respond. When he did, his voice was no longer that of a confident priest, but that of a man carrying an impossible weight.
"I don't know who you really are," he admitted, "but it's clear you are not just a child."
He sat down across from him.
"There is a prophecy. The Oracle... a blessed woman, the one closest to God... spoke with the angel Siris."
Kai listened without interrupting.
"Siris walks among us," Alessandro continued. "She is a female, a true angel. And according to the Oracle, Siris said this: Legion, the Jailer, will soon release the Heralos."
Alessandro grit his teeth.
"The Heralos are a variation of the half-demons that exist on this planet. A thousand years ago, they nearly destroyed the world. Entire cities vanished; whole races were annihilated." He took a deep breath. "We do not have enough strength to face them if they return."
Kai frowned slightly.
"The great warriors died in that war," he continued. "S-rank adventurers, paladins, holy knights, great mages, warlocks, even the most powerful half-beasts. We have run simulations, calculations, projections." He shook his head. "We won't win this time. There isn't enough magic. Even if the population is a hundred times larger, individual power isn't enough."
He looked at Kai with a mixture of hope and guilt.
"That is why I need your power. Not to dominate... but to protect every living being on this planet."
Kai remained silent for a few seconds. Then he spoke.
"All right," he said. "Don't worry about that."
Alessandro blinked, surprised.
"If I don't get stronger, I could die too," Kai continued. "But understand this, Alessandro."
He called him by his name, not his title.
"I am not from this planet."
Alessandro's heart skipped a beat.
"I am twenty-eight years old," Kai said, "in a child's body. I have reincarnated."
Alessandro stared at him, unable to look away.
"Are you... serious?"
"Yes. That's why I can understand you. That's why I can speak to you as an equal."
Kai looked down at his small hands.
"But remember something. What we are about to do is inhuman. This body... is still that of a child. I am eight years old. If you expose me to too many dangers, I could die."
He looked up again.
"As the scientist I am, I understand your need. But you must act with care."
Alessandro nodded slowly.
"We will do this with conditions," he said. "I will not allow you to lose your life. I promise you."
But in the depths of his heart, Alessandro knew something terrible: he had crossed a point from which he could never return.
Chapter 8: The Church's Darkest Decision and a Sin No One Would Forgive
Alessandro asked Kai to accompany him back to the house. There were no more words that night. Each retired to their room, and the complex was plunged into an artificial silence, interrupted only by the constant murmur of the sea and the distant rumble of the volcano.
Kai fell asleep quickly, as if his childish body still demanded rest, even though his mind was far from innocent. Alessandro, on the other hand, could barely close his eyes. Alone, sitting in his room, he replayed the conversation on the beach over and over. He still couldn't understand how that child could come from another world. However, it was not impossible; he had read ancient tales, forbidden testimonies, stories of reincarnated souls, of consciousnesses that crossed planes and were reborn in new bodies. But knowing it existed... and having it in front of him... were two very different things.
He slept little that night. Very little. Because he knew exactly what would come when the sun rose. And he also knew that what he was about to do was a sin that no one would ever forgive.
According to human law, the reason the King had demanded Alessandro leave the capital was clear and absolute. The penalty for experimenting on children, for kidnapping, or for abuse of any kind was only one: death. The Hero King, sovereign of the human kingdom—one of the two largest empires on the continent, as powerful as the Demon Lord's territory—had left that law written without ambiguity. Any threat against a child was punished directly with the capital penalty.
The Church, although it functioned as a kingdom, was not a proclaimed kingdom. It was a nation at the service of others, a diplomatic, religious, and military entity that operated under the laws of the human kingdom. Therefore, it was subject to those laws. Alessandro knew it: if what they were going to do there came to light, there would be no trial, no defense. Everyone would die. Scientists, soldiers, nuns, priests... and him with them. There was no turning back. And there was no forgiveness.
The sun rose. Alessandro had not slept. They ate breakfast in silence. No one spoke; no one asked questions. The scientists avoided looking at each other. The soldiers escorted Kai without violence, but with absolute seriousness, toward the cave that had been prepared as a laboratory.
The Holy Soldiers remained outside; only the scientific staff entered. Kai was taken to a white room, clean to the point of obsession, prepared as an operating theater. He was laid on a metallic stretcher, surrounded by magical lights suspended in the air.
Behind thick reinforced glass, Alessandro watched. When everything was ready, he raised his hand… and slowly lowered it. The signal was clear.
They began with anesthesia. Potent injections, enough to put an adult to sleep several times over. Kai fell into a deep slumber without making a sound; since leaving the house, he hadn't uttered a single word. Speaking no longer made sense.
The first tests were with poisons: animal venoms, viper strikes, toxic plant extracts, and substances that had killed young dragons. His skin began to burn. His muscles tensed, deforming unnaturally. His breathing became erratic; his pulse weakened.
Hours passed. Nothing happened. Kai's body lay still. His heart stopped.
Alessandro leaned his forehead against the glass. His breath hitched. "I have made a mistake," he thought.
Then… his heart beat again. His veins stabilized. His muscles returned to their original shape. The body normalized as if nothing had happened. He had survived.
They injected the same poisons again, but nothing happened. Through the very hole of the needle, the poison began to be expelled, as if the body were actively rejecting it. Through the pores of his skin, the toxins seemed to evaporate before they could take effect. There was no way: the most lethal substances on the planet no longer worked.
Then they moved on to magic: Curses.
A dark warlock was summoned. He cast one of the most common and cruel spells: the Black Sleeve Curse. The skin on Kai's right hand darkened and began to rot slowly; flies appeared around the dead tissue, attracted by the energy of decay. The laboratory remained pristine: the flies were immediately exterminated. Four hours later, the curse vanished without a trace. They repeated it, but nothing happened.
They tested pressure and gravity spells; it was no longer a curse, but pure magic. They increased gravity nearly ninety times over his body: his bones shattered, and his body was crushed, deformed. Hours later, the bones reconstructed themselves, and the body emitted a faint glow.
Kai woke up and screamed. They had to restrain him; the sedations no longer worked. They used the most potent sedatives combined with sleep magic; only then did they manage to make him fall unconscious again. They moved on to fire. They burned his skin. This time, Kai screamed incessantly. Neither spells nor anesthesia worked: he endured third-degree burns completely awake. The screams echoing from the cave were soul-wrenching.
Alessandro did not look away.
Hours later, the body was healthy again: the skin regenerated and muscles intact. Fire ceased to work; neither his skin nor his hair would burn. His body resisted over 3000°C; the flames extinguished upon contact. They tried to give him beast blood: the needles snapped, and through his mouth, the blood was rejected. They froze him in an ice block, but the ice shattered and evaporated; the boy felt no cold. They used stocks and ancient torture instruments, but the stocks broke.
There was no way to harm him. Magic had ceased to be effective. Then someone said what no one wanted to say:
"It is time for something... more brutal."
A dagger was taken. In that instant, the steel gleamed under the white light of the operating room. One of the surgeons pressed it firmly against Kai's chest; he did not hesitate. He raised his arm... and drove it in. The steel pierced the boy's body from one side to the other. Blood gushed immediately, hot and abundant.
Kai went into shock. His body shuddered once... and then lay still. The monitor marked a flat line: cardiac arrest. Five minutes passed in absolute silence. Then the impossible happened: the blood that flowed began to stop and then recede, as if an invisible force were reclaiming it. Drops returning to the wound; red threads defying gravity. The puncture closed, and his heart beat again.
The doctors backed away, terrified. This was no longer science; this was not human.
"He's a monster..." someone whispered.
They tried to stab him again, but the dagger snapped in two upon touching his skin. They used a scalpel; on contact, sparks flew and the metal bent. His skin was impenetrable. Invulnerable.
They had created something they could no longer harm. When Kai woke up, Alessandro was there.
"We have made you invulnerable to fire, ice, and steel," he said, "but it is not enough to defeat the Heralos."
Kai stared at him.
"After everything I've suffered... you're telling me it's not enough?"
"No," Alessandro replied. He led him down a staircase to a lower level, a deep basement. "This chamber was prepared for you. Here, we will apply fire, ice, and wind. We will hurl hundreds of swords at you; you will have nothing to defend yourself with but your own body."
Kai nodded.
"It's a siege," he said. "Against my own body."
"Yes. The wind will be used as blades. It will hurt a great deal."
"I will endure it."
Kai was placed inside the chamber. Behind reinforced glass, scientists and mages watched. The first spell was wind: hundreds of cuts appeared on his skin—his face, his torso, his arms. The wind slammed him against the wall, and the boy fell into a pool of blood. He stood up and looked at his hands. The blood returned to his body, and the wounds closed. The second attack caused him no harm; he was merely blown against the wall.
Then came red magic: pure demonic energy. The explosion shattered his body. Broken bones. The impact threw him to the floor. A red mage fired a lilac sphere that crushed him against the wall. Kai stood up; his twisted arm snapped back into place with a dry, unnatural sound. The burns vanished.
Ice was next. They froze the entire room. Ten hours later, the ice block had vanished. Only steam remained... and Kai, standing, waiting.
Then the fire: more than eight thousand degrees, hotter than the surface of the sun. Nothing happened. Kai glowed red-hot. His hair and eyes burned like embers. He looked like a son of the sun.
The final test: Angel blood and pure Heralo blood. Kai drank them. His body burned in a mix of gold and black; divine and dark energy enveloping him completely. For seventy-six hours, he glowed like a living star.
Alessandro could only think of one thing: whether he would survive. And he survived. Kai woke up… but did not speak. His eyes were open, yet vacant. He fell back asleep with his body intact. He had passed every test: he was the most evolved being on the planet.
Alessandro departed immediately for the capital to report the success. He took the Holy Soldiers with him, leaving behind only soldiers destined for protection duties and a small group of mages and scholars to watch over Kai and record any post-experiment anomalies.
The place fell silent.
Kai lay unconscious in the room, his small body motionless on the metallic stretcher. Then something occurred that none of those present knew how to interpret immediately. A sound: faint, irregular, almost imperceptible. A soft, broken chi, like a stifled screech. It was not a word, nor a human cry. It resembled more the instinctive call of a lost cub, the primitive lament of a being seeking its own.
The sound repeated. Kai had been subjected to the blood of every known race: angels, demons, beasts, ancient creatures. This could not be a coincidence. That sound was not conscious.
It was a call.
And someone responded.
The beach air shattered first with a deep howl. A gigantic wolf emerged from nowhere; his presence commanded absolute authority. Behind him, the earth trembled as a colossal serpent slithered toward the complex. From the sky descended a great phoenix shrouded in living fire, and finally, with heavy and lethal steps, a monstrous tiger appeared: a Bemoar.
The Crowned Beasts had arrived. There were no warnings. There were no words. There were no negotiations. They killed.
The soldiers had no time to react. The mages barely managed to raise defenses before being torn apart. The scholars died without understanding what was happening. The beach house and the cave became a silent slaughterhouse.
When the wolf shifted into his humanoid form and stepped through the doors of the operating room, he stopped dead. He caught the scent. And then, he recognized it. The scent was the same: the smell of the tiny baby he had saved long ago, abandoned in the snow, wrapped in death and cold. That same scent was there… but distorted, mixed with pain, blood, and torture.
The wolf did not need to see the marks to understand: they had tortured this child. He approached the stretcher, picked Kai up gently as if fearing he might break him, and cradled him in his arms. The boy's body was warm, alive, but exhausted.
Outside, the other beasts had finished. The phoenix, the serpent, and the tiger adopted their human forms and began to pile the lifeless bodies of everyone who had participated in that place. There was no fury on their faces; only a dangerous calm.
The Crowned Beast of the serpent—a boy no older than thirteen—looked at the child in the wolf's arms and asked with genuine curiosity: "Father… who is that child?"
The phoenix, daughter of the tiger and possessing a fiery gaze, approached and added: "Look, father… he's just a boy. Who is he?"
The tiger—an imposing warrior—looked at the wolf. "Who is this boy?" he asked Ferris.
Ferris, the wolf, looked down at Kai. His voice was deep, laden with memory. "He is a baby I abandoned a long time ago, my friend."
In those words, there was no pride. Only guilt… and resolve.