Return of the Youngest Son with SSS-Rank Talent-Chapter 197: Ruins

After the man’s death, Kael continued walking through the magical forest with an indifferent expression. He did not look back. The life he had extinguished no longer had any meaning for him; it was just another event on his journey.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, he encountered only wild animals.

Creatures born from the divine essence of heritage, deformed and strengthened by a power that did not belong entirely to them. Their bodies emanated a strange aura, but they lacked accurate intelligence. Throughout his journey, Kael encountered no one.

It was as if the only person transported to this area had been him... and the man he had killed moments before.

That wasn’t a problem. On the contrary, it was excellent news.

No competitors, no observers, no unnecessary conflicts.

Kael could keep all the resources in this area, explore them at his own pace, without having to fight other humans or reveal his cards prematurely.

He looked up at the artificial sky, which mimicked the vastness of the heavens. He watched it indifferently as the roars, screeches, and footsteps of animals echoed in his ears from all directions.

Kael let out a slight sigh and continued moving forward through the bushes and trees. As he passed, several beasts watched him curiously, but none dared to attack him.

His presence exuded a dangerous calm, like that of a predator who did not need to rush.

After about twenty minutes of travel, the landscape began to change. The vegetation became sparser, and among the undergrowth, the remains of ancient structures emerged.

Finally, he came to some ruins, guarded by a group of green-skirted monkeys. Their bodies were agile, and their eyes shone with a primitive intelligence, trained to protect that place.

A dark gleam formed in Kael’s eyes as he looked at the ruins. He knew very well what they meant.

The inheritances left behind by demigods often contained Zu, aura manuals, and magical tomes—treasures left behind by beings who had defied time.

Without hesitation, Kael reached for one of his space rune rings and pulled out the coin sword. In an instant, the weapon was covered by its sword aura, which turned black and white, intertwining like a perfect representation of yin and yang.

The blade vibrated softly, as if anticipating the blood it was about to spill.

But Kael did not attack immediately.

Before facing the guardians, he still had to make his preparations.

...

A few minutes later, Kael approached the ruin with calm steps, where green-skirted monkeys moved back and forth, beating their chests and emitting harsh growls.

Their muscular bodies glided between the ancient stones like restless shadows, marking their territory with primitive aggression.

Upon sensing Kael’s presence, several pairs of eyes immediately lit up with hostility.

A dangerous aura emanated from them, charged with instinct and violence. However, Kael showed no reaction whatsoever. His posture was relaxed, his expression indifferent, as if those beasts were nothing more than unavoidable obstacles.

In his hand, he held a bottle of banana wine. The glass reflected the dim light of the surroundings, and inside, the golden liquid swayed gently.

The green-skirted monkeys, with their keen senses, sensed it instantly. Their nostrils flare,d and a restless murmur ran through the group.

With a calm gesture, Kael threw the bottle into the sky.

A moment later, it fell to the ground with a sharp sound. The glass shattered, ed and the sweet aroma of fermented banana spread through the air, enveloping the ruin like an irresistible temptation.

"...!!"

The monkeys were shocked. Their attention diverted entirely, their bodies tensing at the unexpected stimulus. And in that very instant, Kael had already moved.

The coin sword appeared in his hand like a natural extension of his body. In a single fluid motion, he severed the tendons in the feet of those closest to him.

Before they could react, he spun on his own axis and lunged at their necks, decapitating them with clean, precise cuts.

The first body fell to the ground with a thud.

Then the others reacted.

But it was too late. Kael moved quickly, using the trees and ruins as natural shields. His figure appeared and disappeared in the shadows, constantly reappearing at the exact point where he needed to attack.

He moved among the wild beasts with an unsettling calm. Around him, the flow balanced itself: attack and retreat, advance and disappearance, forming a perfect yin and yang. Every movement had purpose; every cut, a guaranteed kill.

After a few minutes, silence returned to the place.

The monkeys lay lifeless, their bodies scattered among the ancient stones.

Kael wiped the blade of his sword with an indifferent gesture.

Now, the ruin was clear.

And he was able to enter with complete peace of mind.

Once he entered, everything became hotter. The air was heavy, scorching, as if the earth itself breathed fire.

Kkk—Crunch!

The floor split violently, and flames shot through the open cracks, illuminating the place with an unstable reddish glow. The heat rose suddenly, making the air vibrate.

A long, thin hand emerged from one of the fissures. It burned relentlessly; the flesh melted and dripped in incandescent fragments before disappearing into the fire. With great difficulty, the owner of the hand crawled out from the depths.

It was a moving skeleton, almost devoid of flesh. It wore clothes made of dancing flames and held a torch in one hand, whose light flickered like an evil eye.

It was not alone.

Along with the flames, thin bones continued to emerge from the split ground. One after another, countless skulls made their appearance, covering the ground while a dry murmur echoed in the air.

"...Yes. I’m sure there are many," Kael muttered, observing the size of the horde with unsettling calm.

RUMBLE!

The ground shook violently. All the skulls stopped at the same time, turned toward an unknown direction, and bowed their heads in submission. The silence that followed was more terrifying than the noise.

That could only mean one thing.

Through the underground fire, a gigantic hand, resembling living magma, slowly emerged, dragging with it an overwhelming pressure.