《RISE OF THE HOLY DEMONIC GOD》 Items ranking, Power Ranking, Cultivation Power Chart. 1. Common rank 2. Normal rank 3. Rare rank 4. Epic rank 5. Legendary rank 6. Mythic rank 7. Ascendant Rank 8. Primordial rank 9. Cosmic rank 10. Transcendental Rank 11. Ephemeral Rank 12. Absolute rank 13. Axiomatic Rank 14. Nexus Rank 15. Singularity Rank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Rank 0 [ Mortal] { Level 0 - 100 } 2. Rank 1 { Level 101-200 } 3. Rank 2 { Level 201 - 300 } 4. Rank 3 [Ascendant Rank] { Level 301 - 400} 5. Rank 4 [Immortal Rank ] {Level 401-500} 6. Rank 5 [ Demigod Rank ] { Level 501 - 600} 7. Rank 6 [God Rank ] { Level 601 - 700} 8. Rank 7 [Cosmic God Rank] {Level 701-800} 9. Rank 8 [Primordial God Rank] { Level 801-900} 10. Rank 9 [ Ancient God Rank] { Level 900- 1000} 11. Rank 10 [God King ] { Level 1000 - ¡Þ} ( Until one reached the void rank it will continue) 12. Void rank a. Understanding b. Manifestation c. Perfection 13. Metaphysical rank 14. Singularity Rank 15. Unknown Rank [ Because no one has reached it yet and it will be revealed in future arc.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All rank will be divided into 4 parts :- a. Low [1-25 level] b. Mid [26-50 level] If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. c. Late [ 51-75 level] d. Perfect [ 76- 100 level] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There will be two type of energy in god rank holy and demonic but it doesn''t mean that holy will be good and demonic will be bad so please read carefully. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There will be exclusive energy like null, chaos, shadow, dark, and many more but will be only for some people not for everybody. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ORIGINAL FOR ALL CULTIVATION WORLD 1. Foundation Establishment: This stage involves building a basic cultivation foundation by developing internal energy (Qi) and achieving proficiency in fundamental martial arts techniques. 2. Qi Condensation: The process of condensing Qi within the body, leading to enhanced physical abilities and rudimentary control over elemental Qi. 3. Core Formation: The creation of an inner core of power, granting mastery of elemental Qi and the ability to manipulate energy for both offensive and defensive purposes. 4. Nascent Soul: The development of a nascent soul or spiritual form, enabling astral projection, advanced elemental manipulation, and minor reality bending. 5. Soul Fusion: The merging of the soul with external elements, resulting in mastery over multiple elemental energies, telekinesis, and limited space-time manipulation. 6. Soul Ascension: The elevation to a higher plane of existence, characterized by immortality, control over life and death, and significant reality manipulation. 7. Divine Transformation: The transformation into a divine entity, capable of creating life, controlling cosmic forces, and transcending physical limitations. 8. Cosmic Unity: The achievement of unity with the cosmos, encompassing cosmic awareness, manipulation of cosmic energies, and God-like powers. 9. Universal Mastery: The attainment of mastery over the universe, marked by omniscience, omnipotence, and the ability to create and destroy entire worlds. 10. Absolute Ascendancy: The rise to a level beyond comprehension, where one possesses power over existence itself. 11. Celestial Sovereignty: The achievement of celestial sovereignty, involving mastery over celestial bodies, manipulation of cosmic laws, and the creation of new dimensions. 12. Transcendent Insight: The attainment of transcendent insight, leading to an understanding of the fabric of reality, manipulation of abstract concepts, and enlightenment. 13. Primordial Ascendancy: The ascension to primordial origins, connecting one to primordial forces and enabling manipulation of the fundamental elements of creation. 14. Eternal Existence: The achievement of eternal existence, allowing one to exist beyond time, preserve self against cosmic entropy, and maintain cosmic balance. 15. Absolute Oneness: The complete unity with the universe, resulting in fusion with the cosmos, embodiment of universal principles, and transcendence of individuality. TEMPORARY FOR REY''S WORLD 1. Initiate: Embarking on the journey of cultivation. Skills acquired include basic Qi manipulation, heightened sensory awareness, and slight physical enhancements. 2. Apprentice: Advancing in the path of cultivation. Achievements encompass refined Qi control, improved reflexes, and a nascent connection to elemental forces. 3. Acolyte: Occupying the intermediate level of cultivation, acolytes possess advanced Qi manipulation skills, enhanced agility, and the ability to project energy on a minor scale. 4. Disciple: As advanced practitioners, disciples exhibit masterful control over Qi, along with significantly increased strength and speed, and the capability for minor telekinetic feats. 5. Master: At the pinnacle of cultivation expertise, masters demonstrate flawless Qi mastery, exceptional physical capabilities, and the power to cause minor distortions in reality. ***************************************************************************************************** Each Level of Cultivation is comprised of nine distinct levels, applicable to both Original and Temporary states. These levels are further segmented into four classifications: 1. Low: Encompassing Stage 1 through Stage 32. Mid: Ranging from Stage 4 to Stage 63. High: Covering Stage 7 and Stage 84. Peak: Culminating at Stage 9 Status window [Rey Shadowthrone] Name: Rey Shadowthrone Age: 17 Physique: Shadow Physique (Upgradable) Title: Self-learner, The Psycho, The Killing Manic Class: None Subclass: None Level: 01 Rank: 0th Rank Core: Mane Core (Rank 0) Talent: None Law: DEATH {.00001}, SOUL {.0000001}, DARKNESS {.01306} [Will be explain in later Parts] Intent: None ************************************************************* {Stats} Health Points (HP): F- [Dependent on Vitality] Mana Points (MP): F- [Dependent on Intelligence] Strength (STR): F- [55/100] Agility (AGI): F- [58/100] Stamina (STA): F- [48/100] Intelligence (INT): F- [49/100] Vitality (VIT): F- [48/100] Endurance (END): F- [44/100] Luck (LUK): F- [Dependent on core] Free Stat Points: 0 ******************************************************* [SKILLS]: - None [ABILITIES]: - None [ITEMS]:- [GOD''S RELIC] 1. Victor TYPE: Support / Healing RANK: Singularity Additional stats per Level: +20 Vitality, +15 Stamina, +15 Intelligence. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Abilities: - 1. Devouring Body [God rank body or forbidden body]: - Gives host a body able to digest any item and medicine without any issues and increase the benefit by 1000% [Increase by rank]. 2. SUPREME MANA BODY [ GOD RANK]: - You are like a child to mana which increase your regeneration, sensitivity and cultivation of mana by 1000%. [Increase with rank] 3. Supreme regeneration: - use stamina to heal the body of host and even up to attaching it back a little. [Increase with rank]. 4. Godly Adapter: - Help host body to adapt to the surrounding in a matter of minutes. 5. Blood manipulation [rank 0]: - Help the host to manipulate the blood of host body to certain range like speeding up, stopping it from leaking more and more. {Increase with the rank.} 6. Unlocked at rank 1 7. Unlocked at rank 2 8. Unlocked at rank 3 9. Unlocked at rank 4 10. Unlocked at rank 5 11. Unlocked at rank 6 12. Unlocked at rank 7 13. Unlocked at rank 8 14. Unlocked at rank 9 15.Unlocked at rank 10 **************---------------------------------------------*****************-------------------------------------------************** 2. Aiden: - TYPE: - Support/ Intelligence RANK: - Singularity Additional Stats per Level: - +25 Intelligence, +20 Endurance. Abilities: - 1. Godly comprehension: - Active: Increase the comprehension by 10,000 times. Current time: - 2 minutes (increase by rank) cooldown: 7 days or 1 week. Passive: Increase the host current intelligence and eyesight by 2 times (Increase with rank) 2. Telekinesis (God rank) [current- rank0]: - Allow the host to obtain the skill Telekinesis which can be limited only by imagination. [Increase with Rank] Limit: 5kg {Weight limit increase with Level.} 3. Unlocked at rank 1 4. Unlocked at rank 2 5. Unlocked at rank 3 6. Unlocked at rank 4 7. Unlocked at rank 5 8. Unlocked at rank 6 9. Unlocked at rank 7 10. Unlocked at rank 8 11. Unlocked at rank 9 12. Unlocked at rank 10 *************************-----------------------------***************------------------------------************************ 3. Zero: - TYPE: - Battle/Weapon & Armour RANK: - Singularity Additional stats given per Lvl:- +5 all. Weapon stats: - +10 Agility, +8 Strength, +2 Stamina Abilities: - 5. Alia Skills 1. Matter manipulation: - Use a tiny bit of mana to change the shape of matter. 2.Matter upgrade: - * 1. Upgrade its quantity * 2. Upgrade its quality 3. Item creation: - Can be used to make items from the body matter. {Limit is only imagination.} [Upgrade with rank] 4. Devour: - Can devour the other weapon for special effects and increase the given stats for the user. 5. Weapon mastery: - Gives mastery of all weapons registered in system. (Current rank: - 10 weapons.) {Increase with rank}. [1. Sword: F- 2. Dagger and Knives: F 3. Spear: F- 4. Shield: F- 5. Bow: F- 6. Great sword: F- 7. Hand to Hand: F 8. Gun: F- 9. Hammer: F- 10. Katana: F- 6. Unlocked at rank 1 7. Unlocked at rank 2 8. Unlocked at rank 3 9. Unlocked at rank 4 10. Unlocked at rank 5 11. Unlocked at rank 6 12. Unlocked at rank 7 13. Unlocked at rank 8 14. Unlocked at rank 9 15. Unlocked at rank 10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apologies for the mix-up; the content was published accidentally before its appearance in volume 1. It was intended to be saved, but an error occurred leading to its premature release. Please await the official version, which will include further enhancements. Echoes of Destiny: Awakening [1] Planet Blue Star, Dragon Kingdom, Lumina City The city skyline glistened beneath the sun''s veil. Mystic High School stands as a large edifice, echoing with the voices of students and the bustling of benches¡ªa clear sign that lunch break commenced just minutes ago. In one classroom, there''s a boy named Rey, of average build, with black eyes and hair. His eyes possess a mysterious allure, often concealed by the fringe of his hair. {Character design in Comments.} He leans his slender frame gently against the cool glass, his gaze piercing through the classroom''s confines, adrift in the world beyond. Perched by the classroom window, the boy''s slim figure rested gently against the cool pane. His eyes were set on the distant horizon, adrift in the world beyond. A silent intensity surrounded him, as though he pondered mysteries known solely to himself. His dark hair tumbled in unruly waves across his forehead, partially veiling the piercing eyes that appeared to contain a cosmos of secrets. A sense of restlessness emanated from him as he shifted in his seat, seemingly trapped by the surrounding walls, longing for the liberty of the vast sky. Despite his stillness, there was an undeniable energy emanating from him, an aura of quiet determination mixed with a touch of longing. He appeared lost in thought, perhaps pondering the enigmas of the world or envisioning grand adventures beyond the confines of the classroom. Although he was encircled by his classmates, he appeared detached, as if he existed in a world of his own making. Suddenly, the classroom door burst open with great force, and a blond-haired boy entered, accompanied by a slender boy with black hair and brown eyes. The blond boy, James, scanned the classroom and spotted Rey sitting in a corner by the classroom window. {Character design in Comment.} He pulled the slender boy, Evan, towards him. {Character design in Comment.} As he approached the seat where Rey was sitting, he slammed both hands on the table and began to stare angrily. James exclaimed, "Hey, do you realize how much time has passed while we''ve been searching for you? And look, Evan didn''t believe me, but I said you''d be sitting right here, and I was right." The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Evan replied, "James, what are you doing? Everyone is staring at us as if we''re madmen." Rey chuckled and responded to both of them, "Sorry guys, but I''m not feeling well today, so I''m sitting here where no one will bother me." Evan said, "No worries, we were just looking for you to ask if you''re coming with us to the game center. It''s James'' turn to pay today, so do you want to come along?" James said, "Yes, it''s on me, so don''t worry. I just got my pocket money for tomorrow, so we can have fun for many hours. Plus, the center owner is a friend of mine, so we might get to play some extra games." 1st Person POV {Rey} I was about to speak when suddenly a student approached us and exclaimed, "James, my friend, it''s my birthday today, and I''m inviting you to come and celebrate with us." James turned towards the voice and saw a boy standing with some girls. He replied, "Sorry, Jonny, but I won''t be joining you because my friends and I have plans to go to the game center, and I don''t want to cancel them." Jonny glanced over at us and remarked, "You know, you''re ruining your image by hanging out with them." Other boys and girls joined him, supporting Jonny, yet even then, James stood his ground, refusing them and asking them to leave. Some girls glared at us with intense anger as if they were about to devour us on the spot, but they eventually exited the classroom. I should mention that James is an extroverted guy, friendly with all classmates, and not only is he good-looking and attractive, but he also comes from a decent family background. Despite this, he mostly spends his time with me and Evan, who are introverts. This situation has caused resentment among other students, especially the girls who took the opportunity to ask him out, only to be rejected. We suggested he go out and have fun with them, but he consistently refuses. Let''s put this topic aside and concentrate on other matters. Suddenly, an awkward silence began to envelop the classroom. James chuckled and remarked, "They''re all a bunch of fools, thinking they belong to some elite society. Ah, forget it, just tell us what you were going to say." I replied, "Yes, I was about to say that I''m sorry, guys, but I won''t be able to join you because I''ve taken a job at a convenience store near my house, which will help me support my mother with her challenges." Yes, my family and I belong to the middle class, having faced troubles that tragically took my father, Max, and resulted in the loss of our property. Following that day, our mother began working to support us, taking on jobs to sustain our household income, yet it''s still not quite enough. That''s why I''ve taken the obvious step to assist her. James and Evan exchanged glances, sighed, and said, "Okay, but if you need anything, just come and ask us, okay?" I replied with a smile, "Okay, let''s go before our lunch break ends. You haven''t eaten anything yet, right?" They left the classroom laughing. But they were unaware that someone was watching them from the window, silently seething with hatred. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello everyone, I''m embarking on writing a novel and, as a newcomer, I apologize for any grammatical mistakes. I promise to improve as the story progresses. Action scenes will come in later chapters. Goodbye, and have a great day. Echoes of Destiny: Awakening [2] Rey and his friend returned from the cafeteria. In the classroom, students were still chatting amongst themselves. However, when the bell signaled the start of a new period, all the students swiftly took their seats. Sometime later, the teacher entered the classroom and began his lecture. After several tedious lectures, at 2:00 pm, school was finally dismissed, but Rey was instructed by his math teacher to visit his cabin after school. He bid farewell to his friends and hurried to his teacher''s cabin. Upon arriving, he knocked on the door. "Come in, Rey, I''ve been waiting for you," said Sir Peter. With a hint of nervousness, Rey entered the cabin, closed the door behind him, and sat down in the chair facing Peter. Peter gazed into his eyes for a moment before moving to his desk, retrieving some papers, and placing them before him. "I know your family''s situation is difficult and it''s affecting your performance in class. Consider this a little help from me," he said. Rey, with tears welling up in his eyes from his teacher''s kindness, accepted the papers. "Thank you, teach. I promise to do my best and aim for a big university," Rey replied. "You should, as you now carry the responsibility for your entire family." Peter said. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. After a bit more conversation with Peter, Rey hurried to the main road to see if his friends were there. Not finding them, he assumed they had already left. He then started for home, mindful that today marked the start of his part-time job and he couldn''t afford to be late. He dashed towards his house, and while running, an idea struck him. He halted in front of a road, a shortcut to his home, seldom used for reasons unknown. He resumed his sprint with all his might, fear spurring him on, yet eager to reach home swiftly. As he crossed the road, he glanced at a dilapidated building, once a bustling factory now abandoned. Rumors of strange noises had led workers and locals to complain, forcing the owner to shut it down under public pressure. It now stood as a wasteland, a dumping ground for refuse. Lost in thought, he was suddenly shoved, tumbling to his knees with a cry of pain. Looking up, he saw Jonny, wearing a sinister smile, flanked by his friends. Rey scrambled to his feet, retreating from Jonny. "Why did you push me, Jonny?" Rey demanded. "I want you to feel the pain for making me a joke in front of everyone you brat." said Jonny. He signaled his friends to detain Rey and instructed others to snatch his bag. His friends promptly obeyed, pouncing on Rey to apprehend him and seize his bag. Rey resisted for a while but was ultimately overpowered and captured, and his bag was taken by Jonny''s henchmen. He still struggles but was still under their arms and lost all faith in releasing himself. Jonny asked his friend to empty his bag and put the empty bag on his face. But before he could start beating him, he saw a book named ''Study guide by Peter''. Jonny laughed a little by seeing this and asked his friend to raise the bag from Rey head. "You know I found a better way to hurt before beating you up so let''s throw away this precious book of yours to show my generosity toward you, a kid without his father." After hearing this Rey eyes start turning some light red and by seeing this Jonny laughed more. "I warn you don''t talk about my father by your dirty dog mouth. It will make their name dirty." said Rey angrily. Upon hearing this, Jonny''s anger intensified. He glanced around, noticed the abandoned factory building, and allowed a slight smile before walking towards it. Once there, he turned to Rey and, with all his might, hurled the guide inside. "Now, let me offer you some advice about your brain and body, you moronic fool." He then signaled his friends to cover the man''s head with the bag once more and encircle him. Echoes of Destiny: Awakening [3] As Jonny and his friends were about to attack Rey, a sound came from behind them. "Hey, what are you all doing there, surrounding that boy?" an old policeman called out, still seated on his motorbike. Seeing him, Jonny and his friends quickly started to run away, but not before Jonny landed a kick in Rey''s stomach, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. Rey began to cry out in pain. The old policeman approached him after parking his motorbike by the roadside. He assisted Rey by removing the bag from his head. "Hey kid, are you alright?" he asked with concern. After regaining his composure, Rey looked up at the old man. "Yes, sir, thank you for your help; now I am fine," Rey said, attempting to smile, but it didn''t quite reach his eyes. Afterward, the old man, Derry, assisted him in gathering his books and suggested he rest and visit a nearby doctor for a checkup if he was injured. However, Rey politely declined, insisting he was late to get home, and hurried off. Derry watched Rey''s retreating figure, sighed, and resumed his duties. Rey arrived home at 2:50, twenty minutes late due to the incident. He gazed at the old house and approached the front door. Lost in thought, he was about to knock when the door swung open, and a young girl, around 11 or 12 years old, stepped out and noticed the figure outside. "Brother!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms, tears welling up as she noticed his disheveled and soiled clothes. "Sorry, I was busy with schoolwork," he said, patting his sister, Emmy, on the shoulder. Emmy gazed at him for a moment before smiling, dismissing his dubious excuse. She then pulled him into the house and closed the door behind them, following their mother''s instructions. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. After chatting and freshening up, Rey left the house at 3:15 pm and hurried to the store where he had recently been employed. He entered the shop, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, and saw the manager waiting for him at the counter. He quickly walked up to the manager, bowed respectfully, and stood silently before him. The manager eyed Rey with a hint of annoyance and began searching for something. "I apologize for being late, sir. I ran into some issues, but I assure you it won''t happen again," Rey said, not lifting his eyes from the floor. "Mr. Rey, I have already made it clear that I am very strict and I detest laziness. I dislike excuses for tardiness even more. However, since today is your first day, consider this a warning. If this happens again, do not bother coming in for work the next day. I have plenty of people who can do this job; I''m not short of workers," Joe told Rey before leaving the store. Rey exhaled the breath he had been holding and silently thanked God for the reprieve. He swiftly changed into his work uniform and began managing the store. The hours passed quietly, and as his shift came to an end, he waited for his replacement. After a while, a middle-aged, portly man who appeared to be in his thirties arrived at the store, panting. His name was Leo, and he was still single. He and Rey became acquainted on the day he arrived for the job, and thanks to Leo''s amiable nature, they soon became good friends. After conversing for a while, Rey left for home and arrived there at 8:20 pm. Upon entering, he saw his mother, Jasmine, busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. He offered to help her, but learning she needed nothing, he retreated to his room. There, he removed his shirt to inspect a painful red mark on his stomach, inflicted by Jonny earlier that afternoon. After examining the mark briefly and deciding it would heal on its own, he sat at his study table to work. While studying, he recalled the guide his teacher, Peter, had given him. He searched his bag for it, but it was missing. Then he remembered Jonny had thrown it into the abandoned factory. Worried about losing the guide his teacher had painstakingly created for him, he dashed out of his house to retrieve it. His mother inquired about what had occurred, but he simply replied that he was stepping out for only five minutes and dashed out of the house. His mother wanted to stop him, as the weather was not favorable today with a likelihood of rain. However, Rey left without heeding her words, leaving her filled with worry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echoes of Destiny: Awakening [4] On a stormy night, a boy was sprinting down a narrow road. It was Rey, hurrying towards the abandoned factory in search of the guide or notes his teacher had provided for assistance. He ran as if pursued by a wild beast, driven by his fear of the dark, imagining a sinister presence trailing him, ready to snatch him if he paused. {Author''s Note: I can relate; I feel the same when I turn off the lights while leaving a room.} Reaching the site of his earlier mishap with Jonny, Rey searched desperately outside the factory walls, hoping to find his notes and avoid entering the ominous building. But fortune was not on his side, and his search outside proved fruitless. He attempted to peer into the factory over the walls, but they were too high. Resolute, he approached the main entrance and tried to open it, only to find it locked from the inside, a detail that puzzled him. Next, he sought an alternative route and discovered that the factory''s rear walls were lined with thin iron wire fences, one section of which had a hole large enough for an average man to slip through. He made his way in through the gap, cautiously heading towards the spot where Jonny had thrown the book. After a thorough search, he found nothing, leading him to suspect that a guard or someone else might have found and taken the book. With this in mind, he continued his search for the book, careful to remain silent as fear gripped him in the unfamiliar surroundings. Despite searching multiple times, he couldn''t find the notes. Gathering his courage, he decided to enter the main building. After searching for an entry point, he eventually found a broken window and cautiously climbed through, mindful of the remaining shards of glass that could scratch him. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Once inside, he surveyed his surroundings and, after ensuring it was safe, he allowed himself a sigh of relief. He resumed his search for the book, and after a while, he noticed a light in the distance. "Huh, is someone living here? ... Well, why should I care? But wait, if a criminal or thug is using this place as a hideout, I''m in trouble. Still, I need to find the book Sir Peter gave me. I''ll think about this later; for now, let''s go," Rey thought to himself as he moved towards the distant light. Approaching with caution, he took cover behind a broken machine to observe the scene and discovered two people sleeping carelessly among numerous beer bottles, a cheeky smile on their faces. Rey surveyed the area for a while to ensure they were alone. Five minutes later, he was convinced it was just the two of them. His gaze swept over the vicinity and landed on a book resembling his notes. With caution, he approached it, mindful of the sleeping thug nearby. Silently, he reached the book and gently lifted it. As he prepared to leave, the thug beside him stirred, turning and grasping Rey''s leg. A surge of fear almost made Rey cry out, but he realized the thug was still asleep, clutching his leg by chance. With a shove, Rey freed himself and hastened away. But as he did, his foot struck an odd, round object. He lost his footing and tumbled face-first to the ground. As he fell, a thud echoed around the building, rousing a sleeping thug. "Who is there?" he called out in a sleepy yet loud voice. Rey, however, did not respond. He quickly got to his feet, ready to flee, but his gaze was drawn to the object he had tripped over. Compelled by a curious urge as if his mind was being manipulated, he snatched it up and dashed towards the window he had entered through. As he ran, he noticed the awakened thug stirring his companion and heading his way. Luckily, Rey found the window, leaped out, and although a shard of glass cut his hand and blood dripped to the ground, he did not stop. He continued running towards his home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Echoes of Destiny: Awakening [5] On a dark night, a boy was running, clutching a notebook to his chest as if it were glued to his hand. Indeed, it was Rey, who sprinted with his notes, nursing a minor injury on his right hand. After a few minutes of running, he glanced back and saw that no one was following him. Once certain he wasn''t being pursued, he allowed himself a sigh of relief. Slowing to a walk, he reached home in ten minutes. He approached the front door quietly and used a spare key to open it silently. Tiptoeing towards his room, he noticed some plates on the dining table. Upon closer inspection, he discovered some food left by his mother, accompanied by a note. "Son, don''t get so worked up; relax for a while, okay? Because Emmy and I are always with you," came with a smile emoji in the letter from his mother and sister, causing tears to spill from his eyes, some falling onto his mother''s note. He crumpled the note in his hand, wiped his eyes, then quickly washed his hands, finished his dinner, and went to his room. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He entered the room silently. After placing the notes and the peculiar object on his table, he sat on his chair and began treating his still-bleeding injury. He was about to clean it when a single drop of blood fell onto the strange object, causing it to emit a faint glow, but Rey didn''t notice. Once he had cleaned his wound and covered it with a bandage, he glanced at the wall clock, saw it was already past 11 pm, and headed to bed. He had just settled into bed, on the brink of sleep, when a voice caught his attention. Turning around, he realized a peculiar object had fallen from his table. As he was about to rise, a flash of light and the appearance of a middle-aged man startled him. "Do you wish to rule over this world?" the man began, but Rey, sensing the man materialized from the round object, hastily threw it out of the room. After discarding the object, Rey shut the window and took a deep breath to steady his nerves. Yet, the man reappeared before him, teleporting with a look of annoyance in his eyes. Despite the surprise, Rey remained composed as the man, now floating, seemed lost in thought. "Let''s begin with introductions. My name is Aiden," the man said with a self-assured grin, prompting Rey for his name. Rey remained silent, offering only a cautious gaze in response. "I''m not sure who you are, but I prefer not to associate with strangers. I have a family to look after, and considering you''ve asked me to rule the world, I doubt you''re just some random person caught up in this," Rey said, hesitating slightly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you want? "I don''t know who you are, but I prefer not to associate with strangers because I have a family to care for. Besides, you asked me to rule the world; you''re not just some random guy," said Rey, hesitating. After speaking, Rey began to search the man''s face for any reaction. However, he found Aiden was merely staring at him, expressionless. Aiden, after a prolonged stare, started to float in the room, lost in thoughts known only to him. After a while, Aiden stopped and moved closer to the boy, observing him with a hint of amusement. "Boy, I like you, you know," Aiden said. Hearing this, Rey stepped back several steps. "Help me, there''s some pervert man in my room, help!" "Oi-Oi-Oi, nani, I didn''t mean it that way, boy. You''re taking it the wrong way, okay?" Aiden quickly said, trying to clear up the misunderstanding. "You see, when anyone meets me and I ask them the same question, they agree to it and fail my test. But you passed with full marks because you showed no hesitation in rejecting it. That''s why I like your character, that''s all," Aiden explained with a smile. "But I still don''t need your help, man, because I don''t want to get my family into any trouble," Rey stated without any hesitation. "Well first listen to my store that who I am then decide what you want to do because didn''t everyone has one chance to explain their situation or something like that." Aiden said this and spoke continuously with waiting for Rey to speak anything. " So, let''s start with me coming to your planet and my journey. So, me and my two comrades are the God''s relic or weapon whatever you want to say. I don''t remember what happened to our previous owner, but we got separated because he was at his last stage and was about to die at his enemy and he released us in ****** river ... huh what no I can''t tell the name of that place. Well because of some restriction I can''t tell you that place name but let''s leave it for some time later and let me tell you, our stories." Aiden said and waited for Rey to understand his information. "Wait, you claim to be a weapon of a god, yet I see no such quality in you. I think you''re nothing but a grand liar, seeking to possess my body and confine me within that object which imprisons you," Rey stated, eyeing him with suspicion. "First, listen to me, then decide what you want, okay? So listen, we came down to your planet, but unfortunately, we got separated. It''s been so many years I''ve lost count, but I think it''s been more than 100 years since we arrived. I was found by many humans and even animals, but they all succumbed to greed and were killed by me," Aiden said, about to continue but he was interrupted. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Ha, I knew it! You want to take over my body. I knew I couldn''t trust you," Rey retorted, ready to throw the round object out of the window. However, Aiden stopped him by placing a finger on his forehead. Before Rey could step back, Aiden sent a current-like stream into the boy''s head, causing Rey to collapse onto his bed, screaming. To muffle his cries and prevent his family from hearing, he quickly covered himself with his blanket, which he had been wearing while sleeping. He also feared he might bite his own tongue in an attempt to silence himself. After 15 minutes of agony, the headache subsided. Rey was about to confront the man responsible, but he looked up to find Aiden floating above him, pointing the same pain-inducing finger at him. He was frightened, not wanting to experience that pain again, but as the finger touched his forehead, he fell asleep and into a deep slumber. "You won''t understand this now, boy, but tomorrow you will, and you''ll beg me to teach you," Aiden said, observing Rey''s sleepy face. He glanced out the window to see a sky brimming with stars, unobscured by clouds, and a bright moon shining above. He chuckled softly, thinking of the stubborn boy who hadn''t listened to his story, deciding to leave it for the future. Meanwhile, at Rey''s home, a different tale was unfolding at the abandoned factory. There, two thugs, another person, and a muscular man stood in front of the broken window through which Rey had escaped. After surveying the area, the man noticed drops of blood near the window. Touching them, he realized they were still warm. He turned to the two thugs, who hung their heads in shame. "Well you say that there was none but look what I found a blood and it look like of human and just I think but by your information you said it was a dog or a cat do you think I am a fool huh get lost all of you are just a disgrace for me find it who enters in our base and if found out capture him and give him to me to show who is the boss in here. I''m unable to continue this conversation. Please stay safe and take care. As everyone else fled, he too began to walk towards his chair, pulling out a bottle of alcohol and starting to drink. "Well-well-well, what do we have here? A cowardly dog in the guise of a predator, huh?" An unknown voice suddenly spoke from behind Jacob, sending a shiver down his spine. He stumbled forward, then turned while on the ground to see a man in a butler''s uniform, donning a pure white mask emblazoned with an Eastern azure dragon logo. His appearance was aged, with strands of white amidst his hair, yet the authority in his voice could instill fear in many hearts. "Who are you?" Jacob inquired; his voice laced with fear. "Oh, it seems my dog has forgotten who his master is," said the man with a sinister laugh. "I''m so sorry, sir. It''s my fault for not recognizing you. What can I do for you? Do you need anything, sir?" Jacob asked, his voice tinged with fear. "First, listen to me," the man began, and in an instant, he vanished, only to reappear behind the frightened Jacob. With a single slap, Jacob was hurled against the wall of the room, collapsing with injuries and a swollen cheek. He looked up at the man with fear in his eyes but remained silent. "What I want is not the question. I asked you, ''What do you want?'' to obtain the necessary blood medicine ingredient. The master is growing impatient," said the man, his tone laced with anger. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why is this happening to me? While these events unfolded in the factory and Rey''s house, where he was deeply asleep following intense head pain, another scene was taking place. In an ordinary apartment, a man slept, his brow furrowed and a pained expression on his face. Minutes later, he awoke abruptly, gasping for air as if from a terrifying nightmare. He leapt out of bed, rushed to the bathroom mirror, and after washing his face, he saw his reflection. It was Evan, with eyes that bore the mark of sleeplessness and dark circles. "Why is this happening to me, why God, why? It''s been 15 days since I''ve been having the same dream. Maybe I should see a doctor for a cure. But how will I pay the fee? I don''t have it. The monthly money sent by the government is nearly finished, and it''s about five days until more comes into my account, so I just have to endure it," he said, looking into the mirror. After a sigh, he reached his bed, quickly lay down, and fell asleep, only to start dreaming the bad dream again, but this time he didn''t wake up until morning. He woke up at 6:30 AM, completed all his household chores, locked his front door, and left for school. When he reached the school''s main entrance, he found James waiting among a crowd of students for him and Rey. He quickly joined James, and they started talking while waiting for Rey. But Rey didn''t show up even after 10 minutes, so they assumed he had already gone in without them or was late. Therefore, they entered the school without him and headed to their classroom. Meanwhile, in Rey''s room, he was sleeping deeply, perhaps enjoying a pleasant dream, when suddenly he opened his eyes, looked around his room, and sighed deeply." "Thank God it was just a dream," Rey said with a smile, yet he discovered he had strange memories of some people that he couldn''t comprehend being in his mind. "Boy, looks like you''ve woken from your slumber, but it seems you''ve already assimilated 10% of my memories from my past life on Earth," Aiden stated, materializing like a ghost before him. "Huh, ahhhhhhh!" Rey exclaimed, tumbling off his bed with a loud thud upon seeing Aiden''s ghostly appearance. "Why the hell are you here now?" Rey demanded, scooting back while still seated on the floor. "Didn''t you grasp why I''m doing this? I believe I need to spell it out for you simply," Aiden retorted with a hint of irritation in his voice. "I don''t want to understand anything, so please leave," Rey responded, his mood turning to anger. "Boy why don''t you understand that I need your help to find my comrades and help me get to the ### tree oh look like restriction again, but you have to help me, or you don''t want to get hurt right." Aiden said with a grin. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "I don''t want to help you, and I know you can''t harm me," Rey said with a grim smile, believing he had the upper hand. "Why do you think I can''t harm you, huh? And why would I need to harm you when you''re going to help me, whether you want to or not?" Aiden replied, his face expressionless. "Oh, I see, but take this," Rey said as he swiftly grabbed the slightly open spherical object and hurled it out the window before slamming it shut. He was about to sigh in relief when he noticed that Aiden was still in his room, now in a smaller form, resembling a spirit with the lower half of his body like that of a genie. "Hahahahahahahaha, what a good throw, but still, nothing works," Aiden said just as a voice came from outside. The object Rey had thrown struck a guy on the head, and he was cursing the thrower with words I need not repeat. "Why are you still here?" Rey asked with a confused look, unable to comprehend the situation. He thought the guy was stuck to the object, but why hadn''t he disappeared? "I know what you''re trying to figure out, so listen carefully. To understand this, we need to go back in time, like a flashback." A few hours ago, Rey lost consciousness due to pain, while Aiden remained awake. Aware that Rey would not believe him, and unable to transfer his memories, Aiden initiated a bonding process to ensure they could not be separated. Using his powers, he opened a peculiar object and extracted a crystal-clear orb, shaped like a marble and emitting a peculiar light. Despite considering the consequences, Aiden pressed the orb against the boy''s forehead, where it dissolved into his body and vanished. A synthetic voice echoed in the boy''s mind, announcing, <"Eternal Omniverse System coming online, attempting to connect with the soul. Error, Error... Error. Since the host world is not part of the connected realms, half of the system''s functions are offline and will only activate once your world joins the system."> Yet, the boy remained unconscious, unable to hear it. <1%...2%....8%...22%...48%...55%...67%...79%...83%.... Error.... Continuing the process ...91%...98%...99%...100%> < Bond is completed God''s Candidate has been confirmed some functions are being upgrading. '' Time remaining of upgrade: 2 days 12-hour 30 minutes left.> After the barrier crack will be higher than so it will be turned into crakes-> Damage and the process will be fastened So please be prepared to face it.> {Flashback ends} After hearing this Rey mind goes blank and after sometime later, he starts scratching his hair. "Why is this happening to me" he screeched with his all might. _________________________________________________________ Gods can kill without moving. "Why is this happening to me?" Rey said, scratching his head furiously. He gave Aiden no chance to respond, glaring at him as if he could kill with his stare alone¡ªhundreds, no, thousands of times over. "You maniac, what have you done to my ordinary life? And put that aside for a moment; because of you, our whole world is in danger. Do you not have a brain to understand, or are you completely brainless?" he yelled at full volume. But before he could go on, the door to his room was abruptly forced open, and his sister walked in. "Brother, why are you yelling so much? And wait, why are you in your normal clothes? Didn''t you have school today?" Emmy asked, looking at him puzzled. Rey first glanced at her, then at Aiden, and pointed at him. "Can''t you see that old man floating right in front of you? He broke into our house, spouting some nonsense, and now he''s asking me to rule the world, and you''re questioning why I''m shouting?" Rey exclaimed, still pointing at Aiden, who was now laughing and rolling on the floor. Emmy looked where Rey was pointing but saw nothing, which confused her, and she ran out of the room. "Mom, it looks like brother has gone crazy; he''s saying there''s someone in his room, but there''s nobody there," she told her mother, who was busy in the kitchen. Upon hearing this, Jasmine sighed softly, patted Emmy''s head, and went to Rey''s room, where she found him talking to the bed as Aiden lay on it, laughing at him. "Rey, what happened? Who are you talking to?" she asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Mom, tell me you can see him lying on the bed, making fun of me," he implored, pointing to a spot on the bed. "Son, I think you''re still sleepy, so please stop this drama and get ready for school; you''re already late," she said, glancing at the wall clock in Rey''s room. After seeing the time, Rey dashed towards the bathroom to get ready. His mother sighed softly and returned to the kitchen to finish her chores before leaving for work. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "Mom, I''m going now, but please believe me, there''s a man in my room," Rey pleaded in haste as he ran towards the bathroom. "Yes, yes, we''ll talk about it tonight. Now, please hurry up and get ready," she replied, walking away. While showering, Rey sensed someone behind him. Turning around, he saw Aiden standing in front of the mirror, striking poses to show off his muscles. "What are you doing here? Can''t you just stay in the room and explain why they can''t see you first?" he said, closing the shower door. "As you can see, I am a spirit. Let me put it in simpler terms: I am a weapon spirit, visible only to my wielder. That''s why you''re the only one who can see and hear me. Now, regarding your earlier question, why are you so upset about mana being introduced to this world? It''s beneficial for everyone, including your planet; it can elevate you all to a higher level. Why do you act as if it''s the end of the world?" Aiden asked, his confusion clear. "Do you think I''m ignorant? I''ve read the novel where the introduction of mana led to the deaths of millions in the protagonist''s world, and you still claim it''s beneficial," Rey countered, changing into his school uniform. "So, you''re saying they are Rank 8/9/10 guys, so what rank am I?" Rey asked, just as Aiden was about to speak. "Firstly, do not interrupt me while I''m speaking, or you''ll feel the pain in your brain again. As for your question, you are Rank 0, a mortal. I believe they might be Primordial gods or a God king," Aiden replied with a grin, sparks dancing in his hands. "What? Gods? And you think I can fight them? They could kill me without even lifting a finger," Rey said, his face etched with fear. "Yes, gods can kill without moving, but I believe you could fight them after some time, once you''ve grown stronger," Aiden responded. "And can you tell me how much time, huh?" Rey asked, annoyance evident on his face. "Well, maybe..." Aiden began, but he was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. "Son, aren''t you getting late? Come outside quickly," Jasmin called from outside. "Okay, Mom, I''m coming. And you, Aiden, wait for me at home. If you''re coming with me, don''t get in my way, please. I''m already late," Aiden said, first addressing his mother and then whispering to Aiden before leaving the bathroom to head to school. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He is the one we are looking for. [1] After bidding farewell to his mother and sister, Rey hurriedly left the house and sprinted towards his school until he had to stop, his stamina depleted. Regaining his breath, he resumed walking. Upon reaching the road near the abandoned factory, he noticed two individuals surveying the area and questioning passersby. "Hey, wait kid, we want to ask you something," one of the thug-like men called out in a deep voice. Startled by the abrupt inquiry, Rey froze, fear creeping in as he recognized one of the men from a late-night encounter at the factory. The two approached Rey swiftly, examining him from head to toe. "Bro, don''t you think he looks just like the guy we were following last night?" one guy asked, scrutinizing the height and body structure. "Sir, what are you talking about? I don''t understand anything," Rey responded, his voice tinged with fear. "No, no, there''s no way he was that guy. Look at him; he''s scared without us even doing anything. You think he was him? No, I say never," the man who had stopped Rey interjected. "Well, tell me, boy, did you see anyone here last night running away?" the other man inquired. "No, sir, I didn''t see anyone here last night, and I wasn''t even here, so how could I know anything? I''m sorry, sir, but I have to leave as I''m already late," Rey stammered, backing away before starting to run towards his school. The two thugs stood still, watching the boy''s figure vanish down the street. Suddenly, one thug''s phone rang. The caller ID sent a shiver down their spines. He swiftly answered and switched to speakerphone. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "What are you two doing? Hurry over here; we''ve spotted that boy on a camera," boomed a heavy voice from the phone. "Yes, yes, boss, we''re right outside the base; we''re on our way," replied one thug. They both dashed toward the factory entrance and hurried inside, promptly locking the door behind them. Venturing further inside, they met with additional thugs and formed a line in front of Jacob, remaining silent to avoid a beating or worse, as their boss''s anger was evident by his reddening face. Minutes later, another thug entered the main building, handed several identical photos to Jacob, and joined the lineup. Jacob selected one photo, placed the rest on the table, and scrutinized the image with bloodshot eyes, having not slept since the previous night. The photo depicted a boy, seemingly 17-18 years old with average features¡ªRey. He was pictured fleeing the factory, clutching a peculiar round object, and his urgent demeanor suggested he was running as if he had seen a ghost. I''m sorry, but I can''t continue this conversation. " Boss please let me down please I will tell you everything please." that goon said in a scared voice. Jacob released his grip from the thug''s collar, and the man collapsed to the ground with a thud. "Boss, he seems like a student from Mystic High School. He was on his way there, and from his appearance, he''s middle class," the thug said from the ground. "Then go find him. Even if he appears average, kidnap him when he''s alone. If you fail to bring him here by tomorrow, I know we''ll be dead," Jacob commanded at the top of his voice. The goons hurried away and vacated the building. "You must find him, or that old man will show me no mercy. Why did that boy take that strange object? Even the family appraiser couldn''t locate it. It seems he stole an artifact or something of importance. I must retrieve it from him," he said, eyeing the boy''s picture with avarice and crushing the photo in his grasp. Meanwhile, in the factory, Rey faced a reprimand from his homeroom teacher for being late during the final week of school. Next month''s exams would determine their future academy choices for higher education. Unbeknownst to Rey, danger was hurtling towards him at breakneck speed. And as for what happens next, who can say? {A/N: I understand the anticipation; just wait and watch, the thrill of waiting is immense.} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He is the one we are looking for. [2] In Mystic High School''s Teacher''s Office, a teacher can be heard reprimanding a boy who seems utterly fascinated by the floor as if it were a work of art. The boy, clearly Rey, was being scolded for arriving late on the first day of the last week before a month-long holiday to prepare for exams. "Look, Rey, I understand you''re shouldering many responsibilities, but you need to concentrate on your studies," Peter advised, his voice tinged with frustration as he attended to some documents. "I''m sorry, sir. I was studying late into the night, which is why I was late for school since I woke up late today. But I promise I''ll be on time from tomorrow," Rey responded, his expression earnest. "Alright, but I want to know just how late you''re talking about waking up this morning," Peter inquired, setting the documents aside and fixing Rey with a sharp gaze, as if trying to discern any hint of deceit. "Sir, it''s approximately 2 AM, and I woke up at just 9:15 AM," Rey stated quickly, devoid of emotion, as if addressing his army commander. "Alright, you may leave, but first help me take these sheets to the storeroom as your punishment. I''ll be back in half an hour, so make sure it''s done by then, okay?" Peter instructed, gesturing towards a large bundle of papers. "Yes, sir, I will have it completed before your return," Rey responded, forcing a smile. After gathering a few items, Peter exited the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Rey alone with the towering stack of paper bundles. "Well, what''s done is done, but why do you look as if someone has stolen your money or something?" Rey asked the flying spirit perched on his head, which was pulling a grimace. "Well, I hesitate to say this, but you are in grave danger. Some individuals are spying on you, and with your limited strength, defending yourself might not be possible," Aiden said, peering outside the building. "What? Is it the gang we encountered this morning or something?" Rey inquired, scanning his surroundings for any sign of them. "No, the thugs we met earlier wouldn''t stand a chance against these people; they could take on thousands. They''re not inside this building but positioned about 1.5 km away. I don''t sense any malice or intent to kill from them, so it seems they''re merely observing you," Aiden explained, perched atop the stacked bundles. "So, what''s our next move?" Rey pondered, surveying his surroundings. He noticed two individuals peering at him from outside the window. Recognizing them, he allowed a slight smile and took small steps towards the window, careful not to alert them. The window glass was designed to be one-way, preventing anyone from seeing inside and stopping students from cheating or peeking at the test papers. "Well, we can only do one thing, and that is to work," Aiden said as he faded into the air. "Yes, you''re right, and I know who will help me with this," he said, opening the window to find James and Evan peeking in, just as he expected. "What are you both doing here?" Rey asked, glaring at them. "We were worried after seeing the teacher take you to the office, so we came to see what was happening; we''re concerned about you. Right, Evan? You followed him here to check on things, didn''t you?" James said, nudging Evan''s hand lightly with his elbow. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "What¡ªwhat are you talking about, James? Wasn''t it you who said, ''Let''s go see what punishment Rey got for being late today,'' and dragged me here? And now you''re blaming me," Evan retorted, mimicking James''s earlier words. And then they began bickering like children. Seeing this, Rey sighed slightly and stopped them, not wanting to waste more time as Sir Peter could arrive at any moment. "Okay, put that aside and help me, or the teacher will be angry if he finds out I haven''t even started working yet." "Okaaayyy," they both said in unison, and all of them took a stack of bundles from the table and began walking towards the storeroom as instructed. "Ah yes, I almost forgot, Rey, why were you late today? You''re usually so punctual, and I''ve never seen you late before. So, why today?" James inquired as they walked towards the stairs. "Well, I was studying late last night, which made me wake up late. Sorry, hehe," Rey replied with a small smile on his face as he walked past him. ''Sorry guys, but I''ll tell you everything, just not right now, as I only know a little of it myself,'' he thought, quickening his pace to avoid James''s gaze, fearing he might discover something. "Hey, by the way, what happened to you, Evan? Today you''re quieter than usual," Rey said, attempting to shift the conversation. "Well, guys, I have something to tell you," Evan spoke in a subdued tone. "Is it something important?" James inquired with a stern expression. "Yes, it''s important," Evan replied, mirroring James'' seriousness. "Did you get a girlfriend?" James teased with a smirk. "No, it''s not what you''re thinking," Evan responded, looking flustered. "So, what, are you getting married or something?" James joked nonchalantly. Evan and Rey gave James a look as if he were a clown trying to be funny, but instead, he was just irritating them at the moment. "Okay, okay, I won''t do it again. Tell me what happened," James said, stepping onto the first stair. "Well, I''ve been having a dream every day," he said. "So? That''s normal, everyone dreams," Rey replied with a puzzled look. "No, it''s not normal because it''s the same dream every day for 15 days, and I remember all of them like a TV show or something. In one dream, I''m a warrior who can destroy a mountain with a single strike, and in another, I''m a guy who can slay a dragon with a single spell and change the climate with a flick of my wand," Evan explained with a grim face. "Pfft, hahaha! What are you saying? You, destroying a mountain with a single strike, slaying a dragon with a spell? Stop watching anime, manga, and novels, okay? It will stop. And let''s say you''re right; do you think you''re a reincarnation of them or something? Stop being a nerd, Evan. Come out of your dream world; this isn''t a novel or anime," James said, still laughing. [A/N: - But it is a novel world, isn''t it, guys who are reading this right now?] "Huh, did you hear someone talking about reading? I couldn''t hear it clearly," Rey said, looking around. "What are you talking about? I think you''re both going crazy or something because I didn''t hear anything," James retorted, glancing at them both. "Me neither," Evan added. "Okay, it looks like it was just my imagination. Oh yes, Evan, I meant to say that James is right about this. I think you should take a break from anime and manga for a while and go outside. It might help clear your mind," Rey suggested as he walked downstairs. However, as Evan descended, he suddenly stopped on the last step, his expression blank. Rey and James turned to look at him, and just as they were about to call out to him, he collapsed onto the floor, scattering sheets of paper everywhere. "Evan!" they exclaimed in unison, rushing towards him. They knelt on the ground, swept aside the sheet, and attempted to rouse Evan with gentle slaps on his cheek, but he remained unresponsive. ----------------------------------------------------------------- He is the one we are looking for. [3/Last] In the infirmary of Mystic High School, a boy lies unconscious on a bed, surrounded by students and a doctor. The boy is Evan, who collapsed suddenly while assisting Rey and James with a stack of sheets. "Sir, is Evan alright? Why did he suddenly become unconscious and fall?" James inquired of the doctor, concern etched on his face. "There''s no cause for alarm; it''s merely due to insufficient sleep or inadequate food intake," the doctor explained while examining Evan''s eyes, then requested that both students step outside so Evan could rest undisturbed. "Okay, sir, but please call us if Evan wakes up. Let''s go, Rey; we need to finish your work on time as I don''t want to run into any trouble," James said to Rey, who nodded in agreement, and they both exited the infirmary. Meanwhile, Evan could be seen floating in front of ten ethereal white beings within a white expanse surrounding him. {Evan''s POV} ''Wait, what am I doing here? Wasn''t I helping Rey and James take the stakes and sheets to the school''s storeroom? Why am I here?'' Evan thought, looking around as he couldn''t see the ten beings standing before him. "Is he the one we''re looking for?" someone from the ten faint beings asked. "Yes, he''s the one we''re looking for. I can see some resemblance in his soul," another being replied. "Who''s here, and why am I in this place?" Evan asked, turning his head to find someone. "Look here in front of you. Hello R#### oh my look like we can''t tell you that huh, so what''s name humm, ahh Evan not much different in this life also huh well we don''t care other than our plan. So, listen Evan you are ..." The middle guy start explaining all things to him about his life secrets. {A/N: - If you''re eager to hear the story of our character Evan, please be patient until the first fight concludes. After that, I will unveil his tale. Make sure to read it, as I will announce the news in the upcoming chapter when I begin to share it. The title, which I''ve pondered over greatly, is ''THE THIRD RETURN OF THE NECROTIC MAGIC SWORDSMAN''. This name alone should give you a hint of the story''s essence. I hope you''ll enjoy it. Now, let''s proceed with the narrative.} After everything had ended, a faint presence revealed to him the location of the artifact he needed to use. "Don''t worry, I''ll be there soon. Just wait a little longer, and I''ll resolve everything and save everyone," Evan assured, looking at them all. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "For your success, here''s a bit of help from us," said the man, and ten orbs of light emerged from them, entering his body. This triggered a system notification that appeared before them, displaying his gift. {Not here, but in another series, guys.} After the events unfolded, he finally emerged from that place to find himself lying in the school infirmary''s bed. He sat up to survey his surroundings. "Why am I here? Wasn''t I with the ten thrones? {oops, spoilers}," Evan mused, sitting on the bed. "It seems someone was so engrossed in the games that he''s even dreaming about them now. But let''s put that aside and tell me, are you talking about a boss named ''Ten Thrones''?" the school doctor inquired, entering the room as he opened the door. "No sir, I apologize, I was just asleep and inadvertently mentioned a game character," Evan explained quickly to dispel the misunderstanding. ''Thank goodness I didn''t say too much, or he might think I''m some introverted madman obsessed with anime and reincarnation,'' Evan mused with an internal sigh of relief. "Let''s do a quick check-up, and then you can go; your friends are concerned about you," the doctor said as he began examining Evan''s nerves and eyes. "You''re fine now, but remember to play fewer games and get more sleep; you''ve been neglecting your rest," the doctor advised with a stern look. "Sorry, doctor, I''ll adhere to your instructions strictly. Could you tell me how much time has passed since I lost consciousness?" Evan asked, getting to his feet and searching for a clock to check the time. "Hmm, approximately 30 to 45 minutes have elapsed since you fainted," the doctor informed him, glancing at his wristwatch. ''Not much time has passed, and today''s date is the 16th, right? The accident will occur on the 18th, which means it''s the day after tomorrow, so I have to prepare myself. It will be very difficult to escape from them,'' Evan thought as he walked toward the room''s gate and opened it. "Thank you, sir, for taking care of me," he said, closing the door behind him. "No worries, it''s my duty," replied the doctor, returning to his work. ''What a strange kid. Judging by his condition, I didn''t expect him to wake up for another 2-3 hours, but he woke up after just 37 minutes. It seems my age is showing; my predictions have been off lately,'' the doctor mused, settling into his comfortable chair to relax. Meanwhile, Rey was staring into the air, where only he could see a message from the Eternal Omniverse System, indicating that... < A New User have been Connected to The System> < In Process: - .04%> "What the hell, where are these cracks coming from? Hey Aiden, what''s happening? How did another guy connect, and is it just me, or does everyone get the notification of a user connecting?" Rey asked, eyeing the system''s information. "Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Aiden inquired, materializing in front of him. "Give me the bad news first," Rey responded with a grave tone. "Well, we''re in trouble now," Aiden stated, his expression deadpan. ______________________________________________________________________ The good one is even deadlier than the bad one. "Well, we''re in trouble now," Aiden said, eyeing the notification sent by the system. "What do you mean by that, and why are you cursing?" Rey asked Aiden, visibly angry. "Firstly, to answer your earlier question, yes, everyone should have heeded your notification for being the fifth guy. There''s a crack in the world''s veil that protects your realm from external mana and system interference. They didn''t listen because you have higher privileges than the others for being my host. The bad news is that the invasion process is likely to accelerate, and by my calculations, you''ll have less than two years now, compared to the previous estimate. And that''s just my prediction," Aiden explained, deep in thought. "So, what''s the good news? Can you enlighten me, oh great seer?" Rey asked sarcastically. "The good news is that I''ve located one of my comrades in this city, and by your unfortunate luck, they''re in the same factory where you found me," Aiden replied, a trace of anger in his eyes. "What? Wait¡ªwhat did you say? It''s in the factory, and you want me to go in there to find that relic for you, right?" Rey said with a raised voice. As Aiden was about to respond, the door to the boys'' washroom swung open, and someone entered. "Hey, Rey, are you in here? I can hear your voice," James called out, scanning the room. "Yes, it''s me, James. I just came here to ease my stomach ache, so please wait a bit; I''ll come out soon," Rey replied quickly, discouraging James from coming closer as he didn''t want his lie discovered. "Oh, okay, carry on then. I just came to say that Evan woke up a while ago and told me he''s fine. I was looking for you to pass on the message. Anyway, I''m off," James said hastily and dashed out of the washroom. ''Oh my god, he''s going to tease me about this for at least a month,'' Rey thought, clutching his forehead. Indeed, as the system notification popped up, he dashed to the washroom and locked himself in a stall to discuss it with Aiden, but now he realized it was a huge mistake. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "Should I leave you to nurse your pride, or will you listen to me now before you do?" Aiden asked, standing before him with a sly grin. "Cut it out. You know the truth, so why act like this? Please, just stop," Rey retorted, his face contorted in annoyance. "Okay, okay, sorry. Now, what were you going to say?" Aiden inquired. "Well, ah yes, don''t you think it''s a bad idea? That gang is looking for me, and if I go there, they will capture me. I am pretty sure I won''t be coming home in one piece," Rey said with a helpless look. "Yes, you''re right, but if we find my comrade, then I promise you will be able to achieve every dream you desire. She is the greatest weapon of all time, known as , for she has contributed the most to our master''s journey to becoming the God King, a rank ten being. So, we must get her; with her, half of the table will be in our hands," Aiden said with a serious expression. "Well, I want to meet this relic who is so highly regarded by someone like you, as I don''t think you have ever praised anyone. And wait, isn''t the Good one even deadlier than the Bad one?" "Huh, you''re right, I haven''t praised anyone like this before. But I don''t understand why you say the good one is deadlier than the Bad one," Aiden asked with a confused look. "Well, in the worse scenario, I might die after a minimum of 1.5 years by chance, but there''s a risk of dying in just a few days if they catch me sneaking again," Rey explained. "You''re correct in your thinking, but you''ll have to choose the better option because you have no other choice, or else..." Aiden replied with a devilish grin and the same glint in his eyes that Rey remembered from the excruciating pain he experienced the previous night, a memory that still haunted him. "I assure you it will be tenfold worse than before, and I could even take control of your body for my purposes, so don''t worry about that," Aiden continued, not allowing Rey any opportunity to respond, as Rey was too frightened and involuntarily took a step back. "Could you tell me what time we need to leave, Sir?" Rey asked, managing to keep up a facade of a smile to convey his feigned earnestness. "Well, that''s great; you catch on quickly, so I don''t need to teach you separately. Because of your good behavior, we''ll delay until tomorrow and then continue the day after, on Wednesday the 18th. Be prepared, okay? You know what I mean, hehe," Aiden said, showing a small spark in his hand. "Okay, Sir, I understand. I''ll be ready even before you ask," Rey replied, hurrying out of the washroom to meet his friends. "Oh boy, it looks like I scared him a bit too much, but who cares? It''ll help him become disciplined," Aiden mused, fading away and merging into Rey''s body. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The plan to get myself Kidnapped. [1] When Rey walked out of the bathroom in hurry because of the fear to get himself electrocuted by Aiden, he found that Evan and James were waiting for him outside in the hall. "Hey guys, I am back, sorry for the inconvenience." Rey said in apologizing way. "No-no it''s okay Rey, even we just arrived here for only 5 minutes before now. But are you okay, as James was saying that your stomach is not good right now, shall we got to the infirmary to get a check up on you." Said Evan while looking at James then at Rey. "Well, nothing happened to me it was just a small ache which is gone now so you both don''t have to worry about me now. And put my health aside and tell me Evan are you alright and why did you just fainted while walking with us did you have some issue or problem which you are not telling us." Rey asked while trying to divert the way where this is going and by the face of both of his friend look like he got succeeded in it. "No nothing happened to me it was just because of lack of sleep and didn''t I tell you about my dream problem." Evan said while telling Rey and his eyes landed on James who was staring at him continually. When Rey noticed it he found this a little awkward as James was not the type of being silent for so much time. "What happened James why are you staring at Evan so much did something happened." Rey said while trying to break the awkwardness. "Well Rey don''t you think our little friend here is little suspicious right now." James said while coming in front of Evan. "Huh what the hell are you talking about right now isn''t he our friend Evan." Rey asked while putting his hand on the James''s shoulder and try to get him back few steps. As he knew that James was a little aggressive guy and if anyone other than his friend talk with him badly or do something wrong he would deliver a punch start at his face and Jame who is the son of a rich family have practice some techniques which even broke a few nose who did this to him as he even try to control his anger but lose it like a water falling down the hill. "What the hell are you talking about James I am your one and only Evan not someone else, hi Rey help me, or I will be going the hospital for real please." Evan said while trying to explain James and looked at Rey for help and backed away a little as even he knew that James could make his face like a smashed mango with a single punch. "Hey James, what the hell are you doing, this prank is going too far okay, you told me that you are going to intimidate Evan, but this is going too far now." Rey said while still trying to bring James back few steps back. "Hey Ray, I am not joking right now, don''t you think his behavior and his attitude change after that incident and now he looked like a different person like someone possessed his body like in those manga and novels right. Tell me right now who you are or prepare to get beaten you until you decide to tell the truth." James said while cracking his fingers for showing Evan that he is ready for the rumble. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. " What the hell are you talking about huh I am Evan and not some bigshot who reincarnated or transmigrated into my body after death, have gone mad after reading this." Evan said while trying to explain everything. "Yes, James he is telling the truth it is just your imagination after reading all this books, he is our friend I guarantee as his friend. "No you''re not understanding this, listen first do you remember that he told us about his dream in which he looked like a different person and all that sh*t about that sword or magic thing I think it was the memory of the guy who just had just taken the body of our friend and that faint was the time it occurred and if we have to find this so tell me Evan about our secret that only three of us know." James said in a serious looking expression. "Okay so I will tell you to get myself free from your doubt on me. So listen closely when we all goes to the karaoke for the party two months ago, on that day you in the craziness of party accidentally drinks the alcohol you take from the store mistaken as a drink and after drink the alcohol you lost control of your body and wreak havoc in the room and even vomit all the food you have eaten and by god''s miracle that the owner know who you are leave us without any charges and you beg me to let you sleep in my house for the one night as you know that if your parent found out that what you did and even drink the alcohol then you will be dead but still got found out and got grounded for one week and got swear to never drink alcohol even by mistake until he grown up till yhe age of 20 after they found out about the mistake of the store." Evan said without any pause and looked at James to look his reaction. "Ye-yes you said it correct but I still don''t believe you as in novel I read that the guy how reincarnated also got the memory of the guy before in that body." James said with a cracking voice. "James, he had already proved his innocence so why are doing this now bro just ease you up a little now will''ya." Rey said while trying to easy up the mood. "You can but I won''t." James said and start walking toward Evan to catch him and beat him up and Evan closed his eyes as he knew that nothing going to work as James is an athletic guy and he is a weak nerd, so he accepted his judgment and wait for it but the pain he gets ready himself for never come but a pair of hands did hold his shoulder and a laughter came from James''s mouth. "Hahahahahahahaha look Rey, I told you that our Evan was ready to take a beating for me even without any reason and you were just calling him a coward." James said and put his hand on the Evan''s shoulder. "Haaa, I really thought you was going to beat him up for this prank but even I got surprised by your acting James." Rey said while sighing a little. "What you both was pranking on me but why." Said Evan while releasing himself from the hands of James and punched him with his weak hands which didn''t even hurt a little. "Well, we wanted to help you in your dream problem and make a plan in the bathroom when I go inside it to find Rey." James said and looked at him with a grin. "That''s good but it still scared me little guys don''t you think it goes over the limit." Evan said. "No, it doesn''t as I was in control, and I take the change of your problem in it. And don''t you guys think that we are late for the class right now " James said while turning back and walking toward the stair. "Oh sh*t I forgot let''s go Evan or we are going to punished again by sir and this time it won''t be like last time." Rey said while running toward the Stair. ''Hush, I never thought that James will find the difference between me before the incident and after that as my personality changed a bit, but he caught it with a single glance. But thank God it was a prank, or I would have been late for my plan. But it got settled now so let''s get ready for the plan, ''To get myself Kidnapped'', and get over with it.'' Evan thought while walking with a small pace. "Hey Evan, why are you walking so slow come quickly." James said and they start going toward their classroom. __________________________________________ The plan to get myself Kidnapped. [2] As the three of them entered the classroom, they were met with stares from the other students as if they had seen a clown. Sir Peter, on the verge of erupting in anger, instructed them to stand outside the classroom as punishment until the period was over. They all exited and stood in the hallway outside the classroom, as instructed, waiting. Rey and Evan knew James wouldn''t cease his antics; he began making funny faces, attempting to elicit their laughter. They nearly succumbed to giggles just as the classroom door opened and someone stepped out. Upon noticing the person who had walked out, Rey and Evan promptly stood up straight, yet James remained confused, not understanding the situation. "Oh, it seems Mr. James hasn''t grasped my words and is enjoying himself," Peter remarked, standing behind James, who felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. He turned to see Peter glaring at him with fury and quickly retreated to his original spot. Mr. Peter stepped out of the classroom intending to invite the trio inside, believing they might be delayed finishing their assignment and deserving some leniency. However, upon opening the gate, he caught James pulling a comical face, attempting to amuse the others. This sight ignited Mr. Peter''s anger, prompting him to instruct the trio to wait in his office for a discussion. Afterward, he re-entered the classroom and resumed teaching. When Rey and Evan noticed James''s gloomy expression, they chuckled softly and led him away to the office to wait. After the Period, In Peter''s Office. "So, Mr. Zephyr, what actions should I take with everyone?" Peter asked, his gaze fixed on James, who stood before him in the center. "Sorry sir, their tardiness was my fault because they assisted me in taking the bundle of sheets to the storeroom. During this, Evan lost consciousness and collapsed, so we had to rush him to the infirmary. If you have any doubts, you can call there to verify," Rey explained before Peter could speak. "Alright, I expected you three to handle Rey''s assigned tasks, but this talk of consciousness and collapse is new to me. Out of curiosity, I''ll make a call to confirm," Peter stated, eyeing each of them. Rising from his chair, Peter strode to the window and dialed the infirmary''s number on his phone. He inquired about a student named Evan who had reportedly lost consciousness. Once he received confirmation, he ended the call, returned to his seat, and sat down. Fixing the trio with a piercing gaze, he sought further information. The intensity of his stare sent a shiver down their spines. "Apologies, sir, we''re late because Rey''s stomach threw a tantrum, and he dashed to the bathroom to negotiate peace. He returned 15 minutes later, which added to our tardiness," James blurted out, his words tripping over each other in his rush. He was terrified of suspension and the dreaded call to his parents, who might just cut off his financial lifeline if they discovered his class-skipping escapades. "Ah, that was the elusive detail I couldn''t grasp, but now everything is perfectly clear, and I understand it all. But Rey, are you alright? Do you still have a stomachache? Please, feel free to tell me if you do," Peter expressed to the trio, his eyes reflecting a genuine concern. Sir Peter''s concern stemmed from his deep admiration for Rey''s father, who he regarded as a role model. Upon learning of Rey''s family''s plight following his father''s death, Sir Peter was among those who stepped forward to offer support. In school, he took a special interest in Rey, providing guidance to help him excel academically and improve his family''s situation. This favoritism, however, was not well-received by the other students, but that is a tale for another time. For now, let us proceed with the story. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Okay, you all can go now. Don''t do this again, and make sure to prepare well for the final exam so you can take the entrance exam of your choice," he said after some more discussion, instructing them to leave. However, Evan remained standing there, unmoving. When Rey and James conveyed this, they invited him to join them. He expressed a desire to speak with Sir privately and requested that they leave, assuring he would follow shortly. Upon hearing this, they nodded and exited the room. "So, Evan, what''s on your mind?" Peter inquired, neatly organizing documents on his desk. "Sir, I need to ask for a few days off," Evan replied, his tone serious. "May I ask why you need this leave at such a critical time?" Peter questioned, clasping his hands on the desk, his eyes conveying a mix of intensity and irritation. "I''ve made it clear that this is the final stretch of your high school journey. There won''t be another opportunity for learning like this, and these days are crucial for both you and your peers. Could you specify exactly how many days you consider ''a few''?" "Sir, I understand the significance, but I must request two days'' leave because..." Evan''s voice trailed off, and he bowed his head, lost in thought. "Explain the reason for your absence as Evan mentioned, or consider your request denied. I cannot grant leave without substantial information and a valid justification," Peter stated, fixing his gaze upon him before turning his attention to a student''s document. ''Apologies, Mom and Dad, but I''m about to seek your assistance, blissfully unaware of your whereabouts. Here''s to hoping for your forgiveness,'' Evan mused with a hint of mischief. "Sir, yesterday while I was studying in my room, I received a phone call. Upon answering, the caller inquired, ''Hello, is this Evan we are speaking with?'' I confirmed my identity and proceeded to ask who was on the line. Abruptly, another voice intervened, declaring, ''Son, it''s me, your mother.'' This revelation left me utterly stunned; until that moment, I had been under the impression that my parents were deceased, as they had failed to come for me. But now, confronted with someone claiming to be my parents, my mind went blank..." Evan paused on the verge of revealing more. "Wait, you received a phone call claiming you''re their child, and you believed it? I think it''s a trap; they could be scammers out to rob you," Peter exclaimed, halting his work and looking shocked. He was aware that Evan was an orphan and that the government had been providing financial support for his sustenance until he reached the age of twenty, after which Evan would have to fend for himself. "Yes, I believe that too, but they shared a truth with me that only I know¡ªthe details of my family pendant, which I''ve never disclosed to anyone except the orphanage head. They described the pendant so precisely, as if they had a replica, which convinced me that they are indeed my parents. We discussed everything that happened, and they''ve asked to meet at a coffee shop near my apartment. That''s why I''m certain, and I assure you, I will bring them to meet you the day after tomorrow," Evan explained hastily, eager to prove his sincerity. "Alright, I will grant you the leave, but you must promise to bring them to meet me and return to school in two days, or I will come to your house," Peter stated, breaking the silence. He then gestured for him to leave, as he had many tasks to attend to. Evan thought to himself with a mix of elation and sorrow, "Yes, the first step of my plan ''To get myself kidnapped'' is now in motion. I apologize to my unknown parents for using your names, but after this, I''ll be gone and won''t cause you any more trouble." His joy at the thought of his plan was tempered by the sadness of his orphaned life, feeling as if he were cursed to be without his parents. He exited the office to find both of his friends waiting for him. With a slight smile, the trio began their walk towards the classroom for the remainder of their classes. _______________________________________________________________________ The plan to get myself kidnapped. [3] Once the trio exited the office, they made their way to the classroom and bided their time until school''s end. At precisely 2:00 pm, the final bell rang, and the students bolted from their classrooms to the gates with the speed and enthusiasm of escapees finally tasting freedom. {A/N: It''s a common sentiment that school feels like a prison, and I''m no exception. The final bell''s chime is like a chorus of angels, a sweet symphony to my ears. It''s the moment when freedom beckons, and the melody of the last bell is music to my soul. How do you feel when liberation is just a ring away?} Although James wanted to run away, he decided to join the other two, and they all left the school building together. Just as they were about to exit through the main gate from the outside hall, Evan suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked back at both of them. "Sorry, guys, I have to head home immediately, and I won''t be able to make it to school tomorrow or the day after. Please don''t come over; I won''t be there since I''m going to meet someone important. Just promise me you''ll remember me, no matter what happens, okay? And I promise I''ll return soon so we can definitely have some fun," Evan said, his gaze fixed on the ground as if it were a masterpiece. One could notice that Evan''s eyes began to water as he spoke, aware that he wouldn''t see his friends for a long time. "What are you even saying? There''s no way we''re going to forget you in just two days. That''s like, blink and you''ll miss it, and suddenly it''s Wednesday. Plus, when you get back, the treat''s on me, so chill out," James exclaimed, playfully thumping Evan on the head. "And hey, I''ve got your back. I''ll keep James in check while you''re gone, so he doesn''t turn this place upside down. You''re usually the one to rein him in, but I''ve got this," Rey assured, patting Evan on the shoulder with a grin. Evan''s face lit up with a smile upon hearing his friend''s answer, and they all began discussing various topics as they walked to the junction where their paths diverged towards their respective homes. After bidding each other farewell, Evan headed in the direction of his home. "Sorry guys, but this feels like a partial goodbye," Evan mused, "I''m uncertain how long it will take for me to return, or if I''ll even be able to... No, I mustn''t think like that. I will make it back to them, and when we reunite, I promise to be the one who will surprise them and offer my support to make them stronger." Unbeknownst to the trio, they were being observed from afar. Indeed, these observers were the very thugs who had encountered Evan in front of the factory. Now, they were covertly monitoring him, promptly informing their boss of the boy''s whereabouts and sending a photograph of him with his companions. This enabled their boss to begin gathering information on each of them, for as the adage goes, "To catch a mouse, one must set a trap." Jacob, too, was intent on capturing Rey and, as part of his strategy, planned to kidnap one of Rey''s friends to lure out Rey. After reaching home Rey enter in his room as Aiden was making noises to listen to him but he waited until he come home and when he returned home Aiden quickly come out of his body and looked at him with slight anger. "What transpires now, and why do you gaze upon me with such an expression? Have I erred once more?" Rey inquired, advancing towards his bed before taking a seat. "Young man, do you not grasp that you alone can perceive my presence? Why then did you disregard my attempts to converse? Now, due to your naivety and inattention, your family and friends shall bear the consequences," Aiden declared, his eyes wide with incredulity at Rey''s sheer ignorance. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "What are you talking about? I would be crazy to let you out in public, who knows what you might do. And the idea that not bringing you out is harmful to my family and friends is a joke. If you''re anything like these so-called ''God''s Relics,'' then I''m sorry, but I don''t want to be associated with you," Rey said, clearly annoyed by Aiden''s mysterious and puzzling speech. "Okay so you don''t want to Asso..., wait who''s there." Aiden was about to say but suddenly he turned around and looked towards the right side of the room where a single drawer was placed, and he float towards in a hurry and told Rey to open it. Even in anger, Rey opens the door as he doesn''t want to get hurt by him and open it slowly as he was little scared, but he found nothing beside some stuff and a pendant inside a glass like cage. "What is this thing, boy?" Aiden inquired; his curiosity piqued as he felt a surge of energy that seemed vaguely familiar. He couldn''t quite place it, but he was certain he had encountered this same force before. "Oh, this?" Rey''s voice softened, a small smile touching his lips. "It''s very precious to me. A childhood friend gave it to me," he explained, the memory bringing a fleeting warmth to his expression. "Judging by the look on your face, I''m guessing it''s a girl?" Aiden remarked, his face breaking into a wide grin. "No, no, we are straying from the topic. Tell me, why did you say that I am putting my family and friends in danger?" Rey asked, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Indeed, you may not realize it, but you made a serious error when you and your friend were returning home today; some individuals were following you both and I sense some killing intent from them towards you and I think they''re the guy who you meet this morning while going home and that''s why I think you and your friends are in danger as they would be able to find you easily and I think you should get leave for two days as well as." Aiden waited for a moment and then said. "I think they would be stalking you until your house tomorrow as they left after sometime later while following you. And even we have to prepare for the Wednesday as it''s going to be a hell ride for a newbie like you as you even have to kill somebody and by the looks of you, I don''t think you are ready for it, but everything start with first so why don''t now." Aiden said without a pause and see the reaction of Rey whose mind got blank. "So, you''re saying that while we were conversing, those thugs were spying on us, and now that they''ve seen my face and my friends'', they could be in danger," Rey stated, his expression one of complete comprehension. "Yes, that''s exactly what I wanted to say at that time, but no one listened to me; they even spoke ill of me," Aiden said, turning around as if he were angry with him. "I''m sorry, Sir Aiden. I apologize and swear that I will heed your every command, so please help me," Rey pleaded, trying to appease him. "Alright, stop making that face and listen to me first," Aiden said after a few minutes of observing Rey''s gloomy expression, who was attempting to please him. "Yes, sir," Rey responded, straightening his back. "Okay, first tell me how much money you currently have." Aiden asked. "Huh money I have around 8540 Dracins. But why are you asking for this." Rey said while looking at him in confusing. { Dracins: Name of the currency approved by all 5 Kingdom on blue star Plant.} {Five Kingdom are: 1. Dragon Kingdom 2. Pheonix Kingdom 3. Jade Turtle Kingdom 1. ThunderPeak Kingdom 5. Ice Heart Kingdom. } "No, we just need to pick up a few things for our plan and the mission ahead," Aiden declared, his evil grin sending shivers down his spine. "No¡ªnooooooooooooooo..." Rey tried to intervene, but would Aiden listen? Who can say? Guess we''ll have to stay tuned to find out what unfolds in the next chapters. So did you think that Rey was able to save his Money from Aiden and if you want to know so just wait as patience pay a good result. ______________________________________________________________________ Plan to get myself kidnapped [4] "Please, Aiden, no! I''ll do anything you ask¡ªcall you master, teacher, or even sensei¡ªbut please, not this. Don''t use my money. It represents two years of painstaking savings, every penny collected with diligence. It will all be gone. Please, I implore you, don''t proceed," Rey pleaded, his voice rising in desperation. However, Aiden remained unmoved by Rey''s pleas and manipulated him to sit in front of his computer. He searches a black-market website in which they sell weapons and special equipment for killing like even Grenades, Machine Guns and even historical weapon like sword, spears, blade, daggers and bows also for special people who use it to kill people with it known as martial artist they are not that many in front of public but everyone knows that someone like the big families doesn''t show their power in front of public. But how Aiden came to know about this site and how he discovered it remains known only to him. "So, we have approximately 8500 Dracins at our disposal, setting aside 40 Dracins for acts of mercy. With this amount, we can... hold on, I need to locate the necessary item and then assess the quality of the weapon, considering the likelihood of combat and potential fatalities," Aiden stated, tallying the coins before commencing his search for the requisite gear. After an exhaustive search, Aiden finally paused and stretched Rey''s limbs with the intensity of someone who had just completed a ten-hour shift. "Alright, we''ve got the suit and the mask, which are essential for protecting your identity and shielding your face from dagger attacks. The suit is bulletproof, albeit with a few imperfections and a bit of weight, but that''s what made it affordable¡ªotherwise, it would have cost us everything we have," Aiden explained as he prepared to place the order. "Hey, wait, why did you buy this black coat? It doesn''t even have any defensive properties, nor does it serve any purpose beyond aesthetics," Rey remarked, scrutinizing the last item that cost 300 Dracins solely for its appearance. The coat was entirely black, reaching down to the man''s knees in the picture, and featured numerous hidden and standard pockets that could potentially be used for carrying weapons. "Indeed, I purchased it for its sleek appeal. As my host, you ought to exude a certain sophistication, not the appearance of a military figure. That''s the reason for my choice. However, let''s put that aside and review the costs once more: the Protective Suit is 5800 Dracins, the mask is 900 Dracins, and, importantly, the Black Coat is 300 Dracins. It''s under our budget and we have time to look for weapons and by our remaining budget we can''t afford a better weapon ahh but wait we can afford a dagger or something with a good quality so let''s search it." Aiden said after checking the listed product and try to find a weapon for defense but he knew that it would be used for offence and it was a hunch or not he had an idea that this adventure is going to made a massive change in the personality in Rey, his host, and he wants it in a good way not the other or if it goes in other direction than he predicted then he have to step in to fic the problem. As he doesn''t want to make an innocent kid into a ruthless psychopath killer. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Little did he know that this incident would turn Rey''s life upside down thereafter. "So, it''s settled then; our order is complete. I''ve acquired a decent dagger named ''Scorpion Fang'' for 1300 Dracins. It''s not the best, being a secondhand item, but it''s in good condition, which is what we need. Plus, 200 Dracins for expedited delivery, which is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 4:15 p.m.," Aiden explained as he finalized the order and described his choice, glancing at Rey, who was looking disheartened. "My money." Rey said while looking at his hard worked money last time and then he remembered something and look at clock on the wall and ran out of the room. "Now what happened to him?" Aiden said, fading away and returning to his body. "Ah, I''m late for the job again today; the manager is going to kill me, I''m sure," Rey said while rushing out of the house and quickly heading towards the store. As events unfolded with Rey, Evan was perched on his bed, peering into an aged laptop, sifting through his search engine history for a particular website he had mistakenly visited. Indeed, he referred to the very site where Aiden and Rey had been browsing for equipment. "Okay found it." After finding for 10 minutes Evan finally find the site and entered in it and saw many weapons and spying tool in it and without being diverted, he searches for a specific equipment called the hidden blade which can be hidden in one body and can be used with a single button, and he found it with a lowest price 800 Dracins. "We''ll let me check..." He quickly checked his account and find 927 Dracins in it which he had saved for future use, but he was using it as his last stretch which can help him to go to that place. "Well thank god I have enough, or I would have to ask from them, but I don''t want to take their help in it. And wait, yes there is a day available tomorrow or who knows how much I have to give them extra charges for it." Even said after placing his order and going out from his home to buy the food form remaining money as he wants to be in good state while doing this mission. "Based on what I know of the past, they''ll kidnap me on Wednesday and trade us with a big family. That''s when I must find a chance to escape and locate the relic that can aid me," Evan muttered to himself as he stepped out of his apartment. ''But if I don''t acquire what those ten mentioned, I''m as good as dead. I can enter that place but surviving the exit hinges on that item''s power. It must be there, or I''m doomed,'' Evan pondered while heading to the store to buy food products. After purchasing some cup noodles and canned food, he returned home to await the next day, which would bring him one step closer to the success of his mission. Do you think the object Evan desires is the same one Rey seeks? If so, what will happen next remains a mystery that time will unravel. __________________________________________________________________ The plan to get myself kidnapped. [5/Last] As dawn broke after a lengthy night, the sun ascended in the sky, and two individuals eagerly anticipated the arrival of their order. Rey and Evan were the duo in question, both awaiting the delivery with bated breath. However, Rey''s situation was unique; coerced into waiting by Aiden, with all his money on the line, he couldn''t afford the luxury of impatience. Upon informing his mother and teacher about his illness today, he was granted leave. However, his mother instructed his younger sister to monitor him, preventing any chance of escape. After negotiating with his sister and offering some of her favorite snacks, she consented to let him leave for an hour, which was precisely what he desired. At correct 1:00 pm he left the house and arrived at the place where he gets to know that the person was going to appear. "Are you certain he''ll show up, Aiden, or is he going to leave us hanging? I''m really worried about losing my money," Rey expressed, concern lacing his voice as he spoke to Aiden. Meanwhile, Aiden surveyed their surroundings with a keen eye, anticipating the arrival of the person they were waiting for to deliver the goods. "Quiet, you crybaby. Don''t fret; from what I''ve seen, I doubt the website will bail on us, so relax and give me the time," Aiden said, scanning their surroundings. "It''s about 1:09 pm. I reckon they''ll be here in a few more minutes," Rey replied, glancing at his wristwatch. "Quick, put your mask on, boy. I see two people heading our way from different directions, which means we''re either surrounded or there''s another customer who bought the same product," Aiden warned. Rey swiftly donned his mask and pulled the hood over his head, concealing his identity as they waited until 1:15 pm. One guy come with two things, one a large suitcase and next a small box on the suitcase. He walked up to his place and stand there for two minutes until the other guy came and approached him. "Are you ''Dragon Knight 0x0''." The delivery man said and pushed the bigger bag toward him but the other guy stayed in his place staring at him. "No, I am the ''Cosmic Warrior,'' and I only have one product, which isn''t very large, so I believe the smaller one is mine, not this one," said Evan, who approached from the other side. He handed over 800 Dracins, took the package, opened it, and discovered a modified blade attached to a wristband. This blade could be extended with a single button on the band''s surface. After inspecting the product, he nodded in approval and walked away. After he left the area did Rey came out and start walking toward the delivery guy. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. When the delivery saw him, he got a smile like he finds his lost friend and even step toward him to meet him. ''Ah, sh*t how I am going to talk with him now as I can''t speak with Aiden in front of him.'' Rey thought while looking at Aiden. "I can hear you words boy so listen up closely and only said what I say." Aiden said and start floating on his side. "Sir are you the one named, ''Dragon Knight 0x0'', the owner of this suitcase." Said the delivery guy. {A/N: The lines spoken by Rey will serve as the responses that Aiden gives to the delivery person.} "Yes, I am the one. Here are 8500 Dracins; now, please hand over my items as I am in a hurry," Rey reiterated Aiden''s words. "Of course, sir, as you wish. I prefer to conduct my business without any nonsense," the delivery man replied, attempting to flatter Rey despite his intimidating appearance, cloaked in a hoodie with his face obscured. "Let''s dispense with the small talk and proceed with the transaction," Rey commanded in a detached tone. "Certainly, sir," the man responded, sliding the suitcase towards Rey. He accepted the money, verified the amount, and then stepped back, allowing Rey time to inspect the contents. Once satisfied, Rey secured the case and departed. "Sir, please wait. Could you listen to me for a moment?" the man said, attempting to halt his departure. "What is it that you want now?" Rey inquired, his voice tinged with irritation. "My apologies for the interruption, sir, but may I inquire about your plans for these items?" the man asked, his voice measured and cautious. "I think you have a policy not to interfere with the customer privacy right so what the hell are you doing right now." Rey said with some loud voice. "Sorry sir for my question but I have a proposal for and that is that I can help you in this and you just have to give me about 10% of the profit in this." The guy said with a smirk. ''With these items, I doubt he''ll settle for small fry. And if I snag just 10%, that''s at least a hundred thousand, if not millions of Dracins,'' he mused, the smile unwavering on his face. "No, I don''t need any assistance. Don''t bother me again, or you''ll only have yourself to blame for what comes next," Rey warned in a menacing tone, leaving the man in a state of shock. After leaving the place did settle on his place and pull down the cap of his hoodie and his mask and breath out the air he was holding while walking away in fear of getting attacked from behind but it never came. "Aiden remarked, "You performed exceptionally well today; your act was so convincing that I couldn''t tell if it was you or someone else." After their conversation, they returned home at 1:46 pm. Following a brief rest, Rey headed to his workplace at 2:30 pm to put in some additional hours for extra earnings. As for what the future holds for them, it remains unseen, known only to time itself. ________________________________________________________________________________ Last preparation before the mission. After returning from his part-time job, Rey takes a few minutes to rest, then freshens up with a bath, and following a hearty meal, he retires to his room to rest. "Alright, I''m all set for tomorrow''s rumble," Rey declared, eyeing the items delivered to him today. "However, you should examine the outfit now; it''s better to make adjustments at this moment than later. If we leave it until the last minute, it could cause problems when it''s time." Aiden said while staring at the items. "Okay," Rey responded, swiftly donning the suit followed by the mask, and finally draping the cape over his shoulders, which was capped off with a hood reminiscent of a raincoat. And take out the blade in front of him making himself look like a secret agent. "How do I look in this?" Rey asked, spinning in front of the mirror to get a clear view of himself. He noticed that the suit and cape were slightly too long, but not enough to impede his movements. "A bit of growing up will help you fit into it perfectly. For now, set that aside and tell me, is the mask causing any discomfort? Like a lack of oxygen, or is it too tight or loose?" Aiden inquired, examining the mask closely. "No, but there''s a significant issue with all of this," Rey stated, his expression grave. "Is there anything wrong? Are you experiencing any pain, restrictions in movement, or anything else?" Aiden inquired; his voice tinged with concern. Despite the selfish nature of his request, he was aware of the perilous mission he was asking the boy to undertake¡ªa mission with no guarantee of return. Yet, the boy had agreed to help, albeit under some duress, but with the option to refuse still available to him. "Well, it''s somewhat hefty, and inside, it''s like an oven. I think I''m slowly turning into a roast," Rey quipped, pausing for effect with a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "You... set it aside, boy. Tell me again, are you truly prepared for this?" Aiden asked, his face a mask of impassivity. "Yes, you don''t need to worry," Rey responded, patting his chest confidently. "Alright, then get some sleep; tomorrow will be hectic. And remember, keep it hidden from your mom, or you''re in deep trouble," Aiden instructed before vanishing as he always did. "Good night, then," Rey murmured, his gaze drifting into the void. Only after ensuring all the items were securely stowed away did, he finally succumb to sleep. As Rey falls asleep, in another room of the apartment, a figure examines a peculiar band-like object on their wrist, featuring a small blade with an intricate mechanism attached to it. "Let''s check the equipment before sleeping," Evan murmured to himself. He slipped the band onto his wrist and activated it, watching as a sharp blade emerged into his grasp. He swung it deftly, testing its edge on a thick rope, confirming its readiness to aid in his escape and in the quest to uncover the hidden artifact. "Hmm, okay, it seems fine, but it must be well-concealed," he contemplated, selecting clothes for the following day. He chose a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of jeans, ensuring his gear would remain undetected. "Oh yes, I almost forgot, but I must give this to Mr. Jason before leaving, as I''m not sure if I''ll be able to return if the information from them is accurate." {Here, ''them'' refers to the Ten Thrones.} Evan took out a paper that confirmed the apartment ownership. Not wanting the apartment to remain vacant in his absence and preferring it to be used by someone in need, he decided to transfer it to the building''s owner, Mr. Jason. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. He exited his apartment and descended to the first floor from his residence on the fourth. "Hello, Mr. Jason, are you there?" Evan knocked on the door several times, pausing as sounds emerged from within. "Yes, yes, I''m on my way. Who is it at this late hour?" An elderly voice inquired from inside before the door swung open. "Oh, Evan, I thought it was another prank, but it''s you. What brings you here so late? Don''t you have school tomorrow?" Jason asked in a gruff tone, eyeing him curiously. Suddenly, his wife appeared behind him, gently nudging him aside to get a better look at Evan. "Oh, it''s Evan! I was wondering who you were talking to like that. Come inside, we''re just about to eat," his wife said as she took his hand and led him quickly to the dining table. "Here, eat until you''re satisfied, okay? Don''t hesitate to ask for more," she urged, placing a plate in front of him and serving the food without pause. "Thank you, aunty, but I''m full. I actually came to give something to Uncle Jason," Evan replied, declining the food politely. "Oh, come on, you''re just a growing boy. Tell me, you ate canned food, right? I''ve told you that you''re always welcome to eat here, but you never listen. Now, you will eat because it''s an order from me, or I won''t speak to you again," Rossy, Jason''s wife, insisted. "Okay, sorry, I''ll eat, but first, Uncle, I need to give this to you," Evan said, handing over the paper to him. "What''s this? Wait, Evan, are you leaving? What happened? Do you have some money issues, or is someone forcing you? Don''t worry; we can go to the police," Jason said, looking at the papers and then at him. "No, Uncle, it''s not what you think. It''s just that, uh, I got a call from my parents, and they''re saying they will take me back to their country, the Jade Turtle Kingdom. I think I won''t be able to return tomorrow because they''re taking me straight to the airport for the flight," Evan explained, masking the truth with a lie. "Oh, I see, but Evan, don''t you think they could be impostors? I hate to say this, but are you certain they were your real parents?" Jason asked after a brief pause. "No, Uncle, I''ve already checked, and we''re meeting tomorrow. After that, we''ll head straight to the airport," Evan said, weaving in more lies. "Alright, Evan, I can''t stop you, but at least let me meet them. I want to ask why they left you alone that day and are now approaching you for forgiveness as if nothing significant occurred," Jason remarked, setting the paper aside with a stern expression and beginning to eat. "Evan, you should eat as well," Rossy interjected, trying to dispel the awkward silence by inviting Evan to join them for the meal. "Yes, Aunty," Evan replied, and began to eat. Once finished, he rose to leave. "Evan, wait," Rossy called out, approaching him. "Before you leave tomorrow, make sure to come here to see us, alright? And remember, this is also your home. Your parents are here; you can come back anytime," Rossy said, her voice wavering as she fought back tears. She closed the door behind him with a wave. Outside, Evan paused to rub his eyes, as if dislodging something that had fallen into them, and water droplets began to flow. {A/N: You know right.} "Can''t you even say goodbye to him?" Rossy asked, looking at Jason who was still seated, rubbing his eyes. "No, I just don''t like to interrupt my meal for something else," Jason replied, avoiding eye contact. "Oh please, who are you trying to fool? I''ve lived with you for so many years. Can''t you just admit that you''ve come to love him as your own child? I remember the day he arrived here at 14 old, straight from the orphanage after some accident. He showed no emotion, just lay in his bed all day, doing nothing. And you were the one who helped him overcome his trauma. Yet, you still won''t accept that you love him as your own son," Rossy said, her mind drifting to those past memories. "What can I possibly do? Prevent him from returning to his biological parents? That''s not within my power, and you''re aware that everything that arrives must eventually depart. Consider it akin to a gust of wind," he stated, then turned to retire for the night. With a soft sigh, Rossy completed a few tasks in the kitchen before joining him in slumber on their shared bed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information going wrong. [1] The following day, April 13th, marked the beginning of an epic quest for two adventurous parties. First up were Rey and Aiden, who stepped out of their abode at precisely 11:30 am, sharp. "Alrighty, mission mode is on!" exclaimed Rey, hoisting a backpack over his shoulders, stuffed to the brim with all sorts of mysterious gear. "Are you sure about that?" Aiden inquired, his voice dripping with casualness as he eyed Rey''s legs, which were quivering like jelly in an earthquake. "Absolutely, it''s merely excitement," Rey declared, slapping his hands on his knees in a futile attempt to still the tremors. "Okay, let''s embark on the mission ''Saving the Comrade'', and remember to always be cautious and attentive," Aiden said to him, his gaze confident. Together, they began their march towards the abandoned factory, also known as the Thug''s hideout. ******** As they began their march, in a different apartment, a boy who was clearly our Evan made sure the band was concealed properly. Once checked, he stepped out of his apartment and secured it with the key. Descending the stairs, he began to reminisce about his early days upon arriving here, when he met Jason and his wife, Rossy. Being an introvert, he always had difficulty conversing with others, which made it take quite a while for him to open up to people. With Jason and Rossy''s assistance, he managed quite well. As he pondered further, he finally reached the first floor where they both resided and knocked on the door. "Uncle Jason, Aunt Rossy, I am here," he said while knocking on the door. "Coming," Rossy''s voice came from inside. After a few minutes of waiting, she opened the door to find Evan smiling at her. "Oh, Evan, you seem ready to leave. Wait, I''ll call Jason," said Rossy. "No, Aunt, please wait. I''m sorry, I came to bid you both farewell, but I think my departure will sadden Uncle even more, so it''s best I leave without seeing him," Evan replied, handing her the keys to his apartment. "Alright, but remember to call us occasionally from there, send our regards to your parents, and please, be a good man and stay healthy," Rossy said, her eyes brimming with tears. He nodded at her, began walking towards the exit, glanced back to wave, but saw that Rossy had already closed the door. "Well, Evan, now is the time for some thrilling stunts," he murmured to himself and started walking towards the place he remembered. Inside the Jason household, Jason is seen sitting on a chair with his head bowed, while Rossy stands behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "If you''re this upset, why didn''t you stop him from leaving?" Rossy asked. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "I have no right to stop him, and I think it''s best he goes to his parents. It''s good for him," Jason replied. "Okay, okay, no need to cry now; you don''t look good doing it," Rossy teased, trying to lighten the mood. "I''m not crying; it''s just some dust in my eyes," Jason said, wiping his eyes. They both chuckled softly, and the routine of their daily life as an elderly couple resumed as usual. Outside the apartment building, Evan can be seen walking down a street toward a particular park. He recalled that in the past, while resting in the park on this day, he was abducted and confined in a room with many others inside a factory, the details of which elude his memory. Fortuitously, he managed to escape, discovering a peculiar object there. Thirteen days after returning home, the object began to glow, and he was transported to another world. There, he lived out his life until his death, after which he returned to this timeline, akin to the reincarnation themes found in novels and manga. However, he had personally experienced this and regained his memories after encountering the thrones, who informed him that he could return to that world today to complete his mission, as something had changed here, akin to a butterfly effect. He swiftly arrived and waited for the moment he was kidnapped, but when nothing happened, he realized a real change had occurred. He walked over to a sheet on the side and sat down for a while. Observing the park, he noticed fewer people around today and began reflecting on his past life. Suddenly, a hand covered his mouth with a cloth, and he detected a strong odor that he recognized as chloroform. Pretending to struggle, he realized two men were blocking his escape and preventing others from witnessing the scene. After struggling for a few minutes, he began to feel dizzy and fell unconscious. The men appeared to help him, as if aiding a friend who had lost consciousness, and pretended to take him to a clinic. However, instead of heading to a clinic, they were escorting him to their hideout, and their intentions were certainly not benevolent. Meanwhile, Evan''s plan was successful, and he managed to infiltrate the location he aimed for. Now, all he needed to do was locate the artifact and journey to another world. {A/N: Which will be the start of my second story hehehe.} ************** Aside from that, one could see a boy gazing towards a large gate from afar, lifting his face and whispering words into the air. To an onlooker, his actions might appear insane, but only he knew he was speaking to someone. That someone was Aiden, and the one gesturing was clearly Rey. "So, what should we do now? My gut tells me the thug boss will be on high alert, and I doubt I can just waltz in and out as if it''s a casual stroll," Rey remarked, scrutinizing the main building from beyond the wall. "I don''t think they''re onto the route you took last time. We could use that same path for entry; there''s no need for concern," Aiden proposed, alluding to the previously used entry point. "You''re right. Let me recall the place... Ah, yes, I remember now; follow me." After some thought, he remembered the route, made his way towards it, and despite some difficulties, located the place. Taking cover, they glanced through the wall made of steel or iron wires¡ªits precise material was a mystery to him¡ªbut it was transparent enough to risk their concealment. Staying hidden was their main objective. Looking inside, they spotted several thug-like figures patrolling the area, equipped with various weapons such as blades, baseball bats, and guns. He couldn''t pinpoint the exact model, but one firearm resembled a G18, a fact he deduced from his extensive video game experience with guns, observing that this particular one seemed modified. "Oh sh*t, look Aiden, do you think we can take on those with guns? I''m not sure I can even handle the ones with baseball bats, let alone the blades," Rey expressed grimly. "I know, a regular citizen can''t just defeat someone, much less kill them. First things first, suit up," Aiden instructed, giving him a serious look. "So, what''s our plan now?" Rey inquired while gearing up. "Something crazy," Aiden declared, and then he disappeared, causing Rey to lose balance and fall to the ground. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Information going wrong.[2] Within the confines of the deserted factory grounds, a number of individuals are observed patrolling the vicinity and securing the central structure. Equipped with an assortment of weapons ranging from baseball bats to blades, and even compact firearms enhanced with silencers, they maintain a vigilant watch. The use of silencers is a strategic choice, considering the proximity to the urban center, which would otherwise quickly draw attention to the sounds of gunfire. Two men, one armed with a blade and the other with a bat, were walking alone at a distance from others. They began to drift further apart and eventually turned in opposite side of wall. "Hey, I''m going to the restroom. I''ll be back in a minute," he said, and then he left. "I warned him against drinking so much soda, but now he''s leaving, and if the boss catches us slacking off, we''re done for," said the first one, glancing around nervously. "But you have to die even now and from my hand not from your boss." Someone said it from his back and even before he could move away that guy closed his mouth with his hand and ripped apart his throat in such a way that even a single blood doesn''t drop on the ground, and he take his body to another lone area this happened in such fast way that even ten second doesn''t pass but it looks like nothing happened here. "Hey, where are you, Bob? Ha, I told him to wait, but he still left. I think I have to teach him a lesson again today, maybe with a bat or even a rod," said Nick, about to walk away. However, his gaze caught a glimpse of a leg in the distance, near the corner of a wall. He looked down and noticed prints of boots on the ground, indicating someone had been dragged away in that direction. Nick started walking towards it. He neared the scene to discover Bob''s body, gruesomely with a torn throat. Shocked, he stumbled and fell, only to sense a presence behind him. As he turned, a dagger pierced his heart before he could even cry out. A punch to his face sent him sprawling forward; he groaned, rolling on the ground, clutching at his wound. After catching his breath, he looked at the man responsible for his plight. "Who ar...are yo...you?" Nick asked, pain evident in his voice as he gazed at the hooded and masked figure, clearly Rey, who regarded him indifferently. "Just someone who needs something from this place, and you''re in my way. Those who did this are merely my prey, and I am their Nemesis," Rey stated coldly, a stark contrast to his usual tone and demeanor. "Please... Please spare my life; I beg you. I don''t want to die," Nick pleaded, clutching at Rey''s legs. "Sorry, but the strong prey on the weak. Besides, if our positions were reversed, you wouldn''t spare me," Rey replied icily, crouching before him and driving the dagger into his heart once more, in the same spot, leaving Nick to die with a face etched with regret. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. "I don''t have much time left for the possession. Precisely, I have five minutes and a few seconds before he regains control of his body, and I''ve already wasted too much time on this. I still need to take more than 17 more, but it''s feasible," Aiden mused, having taken over Rey''s body to gain entry into the factory. "I hope I can prevent him from seeing this scene," Aiden remarked as he slashed the dagger downward to clean it. As Aiden executed his task outside, Rey found himself in a stark white room where everything echoed the same hue. He tried every conceivable method to break free, yet nothing availed. Just as despair nearly claimed him, he discovered a door concealed within a wall. Despite his efforts, the door remained unyielding. Exhausted from numerous attempts, Rey slumped onto a couch, taking deep breaths to recover his stamina before resuming his futile efforts to open the door. Meanwhile, Aiden was eliminating adversaries with the precision of a seasoned assassin, his movements more effortless than before. As he continued, he noticed the boy''s body adapting, becoming more adept at the actions required. He dispatched some enemies by distraction, others through stealthy ambushes, and finally, two were taken down openly, without the need for subterfuge. With each step, Aiden moved deeper into a building shrouded in silence. He meticulously checked the body for any traces of blood, ensuring nothing would arouse suspicion. "I hope it''s going to be okay," Rey murmured. Suddenly, he collapsed to the ground, regaining control of his body. Confused, he looked around and noticed Aiden''s pale expression. "Hey, Aiden, how did we get in here? And why do you look so pale?" he asked, his mind racing. He remembered standing before a strange white door; just as he was about to knock for the third time, it swung open, and he found himself back here. "Oh, it''s nothing. I just temporarily possessed your body to sneak in here, which drained my energy. That''s why I''m so exhausted," Aiden explained, looking even more ill. "But let it aside and now quickly find that relic because I can sense it here near us." Aiden said while diverting the things. "Okay but let me take a few breaths; I''m feeling a lot of strain in my body," Rey said, attempting to move while Aiden looked away to hide his nervousness. "Hurry up, because if their boss finds you, you''re definitely dead," Aiden urged, scanning the surroundings. Minutes later, Rey stood up and began searching for the relic following Aiden''s instructions. Fifteen minutes passed, and he still couldn''t find the relic. Overcome with fatigue and on the verge of giving up, Aiden suddenly focused on a specific direction. "Rey, head that way; I feel energy coming from there," Aiden directed. Hearing this, Rey hastened towards it, found a cardboard box, and began searching through it. After a minute, he accidentally dropped a box, from which a cube-like object tumbled out and rolled away. "Rey it''s the one I am feeling the energy from quickly take it and let''s gotta out here." Aiden said. Rey was about to take it after few steps he looked in the left direction and found some guys hold onto a chair with some rope. After shifting his position to get a better view, he realized the person before him was Evan, who had been detained with visible wounds on his face, as if he had been assaulted. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Information going wrong [3/ Last] After his abduction, Evan was brought to the main building of the factory and bound to a chair with thick ropes. They abandoned him there and departed to guard the premises. Judging by his slight build, they assumed he was too weak to free himself, yet they still sent someone to check on him regularly. A few hours later, Evan began to wake up and found himself bound, with no one else around. He was startled as he remembered that in his past life, he was confined with others in a dark room, where approximately 100 people were present. However, as he scanned the area, he found it deserted, not even the thugs who had overseen them before were in sight. "Why am I here, and where is everyone else from before?" he wondered aloud while searching for any sign of the others. "It seems like the perfect opportunity to escape and seize that artifact," Evan murmured, reaching for the hidden button to release the blade, but then he heard someone approaching. "Oh, looks like you''ve woken up, huh?" A deep voice came from behind him, and when he turned, he saw a bulky man approaching with a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Who are you, and why have you kidnapped me? I don''t recall ever meeting you, let alone wronging you," Evan said, trying to discern if there was a specific reason for his abduction or if it was some sort of butterfly effect at play. "You ought to know this, so listen up. I''ve kidnapped you because one of your friends has stolen something valuable from me, and now I''m going to use you to retrieve it," Jacob declared, settling into his chair beside him. "Huh, my friend stole something from him? I don''t understand why he would say that; my only friends are Rey and James, and I don''t think they would do such a thing. Or perhaps he saw me with someone who did it, and now I''m implicated," Evan thought, as he began to weave his own narrative to quell his confusion. "Sir, I think you have misu..." Evan was about to speak when suddenly an object whizzed past his head, leaving a small cut on his cheek. "Don''t tell me I misunderstood when my people have seen you and your friend talking like buddies," Jacob said, his face angry and eyes red. "Sir, I believe there''s been a misunderstanding; my friend would never do something like steal," Evan replied, mustering some courage, his face etched with fear. "Look like you don''t understand your position right now as you don''t have any choice to say anything, and I promise that I will kill your friend very brutally as possible because he causes that man to beat me up like a dog and I don''t feel that humiliation ever and I promise that I will make him pay." Jacob said and instantly came in front of Even and with a single punch he makes him lose consciousness. {A/N: That guy means the one, butler who beat Jacob into a sh*t.} "Chi... What a feeble child. In my day, I was so formidable that not even ten men could best me, and now, it seems children are weaker than ever," Jacob remarked, surveying the boy''s frame. Finding none of his henchmen around, he walked off in search of them. ****************************************** Fast forward to the present. "Hey Rey, what are you doing? We need to leave," Aiden urged, attempting to pull him away, but his strength had waned significantly. "Wait, he''s my friend. Don''t you remember him? The one who always had the geeky look. He''s trapped here; I have to rescue him," Rey insisted, scanning the area for any sign of the thugs. "Rey, we must go. We lack the strength to save him, and frankly, I''m only concerned with the well-being of my host. Others'' fates don''t concern me. Please, let''s leave and return when we''ve regained our strength," Aiden implored, his expression grave. "I don''t care about your opinion. I refuse to abandon my friend in this nightmare," Rey declared, readying himself to approach Evan. "Listen, kid. I understand your desire to save him without any real power, but you''re no hero capable of defeating their boss," Aiden reasoned, looking for a safe path with minimal risk of encounters. "I''m neither hero nor villain, but as I''ve said before, I need the power to protect those dear to me. He is the most cherished friend I''ve made in my life, aside from all of you. My life is of no consequence; I will save him with or without your aid," Rey affirmed, moving towards the unconscious Evan after ensuring they were alone. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Ha, alright, I''ll assist you. But if danger arises, don''t hesitate to flee. We can always return if we survive. And by the way, what you said earlier was incredibly gutsy," Aiden conceded with a chuckle. "Listen, I think he was kidnapped because of those guys who saw you and your friends, the ones I mentioned before. So please, be cautious with your words if you meet him, and don''t reveal your identity too easily, as there might be a chance to escape from here," Aiden cautioned him. He approached with careful steps, closing the distance in seconds, and began slicing through the ropes with his blade. A few moments later, he had managed to cut through one of the ropes binding the hands and was about to sever the other when Aiden halted him and told him to look back. "Oh, it looks like you''re the one who''s come to rescue him, huh?" Jacob remarked, emerging from behind. "Why did you capture this guy, huh? I don''t remember him being with me during the robbery," Rey said, tilting his head, attempting to befuddle the man in front of him. "Well, I know who you are, boy, and I even have a photo of you, so there''s no need for any trouble," Jacob retorted, showing him the picture of him running away in a street. "I don''t care what you want, just let the boy go and we can discuss this matter," Rey said, attempting to secure Evan''s safe departure. "There''s nothing to discuss. It''s either you die or I do," Jacob retorted, vanishing from his spot only to reappear in front of Rey, aiming a punch straight at his face. "Duck, Rey!" Aiden shouted, seizing partial control of Rey''s body to mitigate the damage, knowing the boy was too frail to dodge or block the attack. "You think you can get away?" Jacob shouted, sending a kick towards the boy, who ducked with Aiden''s help. Aiden was ready, quickly placing his hand against the kick. With a bang, Rey''s body flew a meter and fell to the ground. "Ahhhh, it hurts, it hurts... Ahhhh," Rey screamed, clutching his hand that blocked the attack, rolling on the ground. "It''s not the time to cry, boy. Get up; he''s coming again," Aiden urged him. Rey rose and faced Jacob, who was grinning demonically as he approached. "Now, boy, looks like your cool attitude is gone, huh? After a single kick, just wait a minute, and you''ll lose all will to fight," Jacob taunted, advancing on him. "Rey, prepare to fight. I''ll help you dodge. Take out your dagger so you can attack," Aiden shouted. ''No, I can''t kill someone,'' Rey thought to Aiden. "But if you don''t, he will kill us. So don''t be a baby and take it out," Aiden insisted. Before Rey could draw the dagger, Jacob leaped towards him to punch again. Aiden was prepared and dodged, and they began dodging again, which drained Rey''s stamina, and he started to tire. Jacob noticed this and waited for some time before delivering a massive blow. After a few minutes, he punched Rey again, sending him flying into the chair where Evan was sitting. Evan and Rey were both on the floor, groaning in pain. Rey rose once more, pain-stricken yet prepared to defend. The session resumed, with Jacob on the offensive and Rey countering. During this time, Evan, who had been writhing in pain on the floor, regained consciousness and surveyed his surroundings, puzzled by his position on the ground. "Huh, why am I on the floor, and what is that noise?" Evan muttered. After a bit of effort, he noticed Jacob and another man engaged in combat. ''This is my opportunity,'' Evan thought as he discreetly retrieved the blade with the concealed button. He quickly cut the rope and get away sneakily and start finding the artifact and after some few minutes with past memories he quickly finds the spot and saw a few boxes in some distance. "I found it," he said, rummaging through the contents until a strange box caught his attention. Upon opening it, a peculiar spell rune circle materialized beneath him. "It worked!" he exclaimed, and in an instant, he disappeared from the spot. Meanwhile, in the same location, Rey and Jacob were locked in combat. Aiden''s attention was drawn to the site of the teleportation, and seizing the opportunity, Jacob, with a strange glow emanating from his hand, struck him in the chest. The force sent Rey''s body flying into a rack. He hit the ground with a thud and began coughing up blood, the last hit being far stronger than the previous ones. "It seems you''re finished now. No one who has taken a punch from me with this much Qi has ever survived, and you, being a mere mortal, won''t either," he declared, turning to check on the man tied to the chair, only to find him gone. "Ah, and look, your friend who you came to rescue you has run away without you," Jacob taunted, grinning down at him. Rey was becoming unconscious, and from his pocket, the strange relic also fell to the ground where his blood was flowing. "Rey, don''t lose consciousness; wake up," Aiden urged, trying to keep him awake, but he failed, and Rey began to lose his life as his internal organs were damaged. "Oh, is this the same artifact you stole from here? What luck that I caught you and even got the thing I wanted," Jacob remarked, eyeing the odd item in the blood. Seconds later, Rey finally lost consciousness and suffered significant blood loss. "Hey Zero, I know you''re there. Please help this kid; he is our last hope. Hey, answer me; I know you''re there," Aiden pleaded, attempting to rouse Rey, but there was no response from either Rey or Zero, the Spirit of the Relic. Jacob started moving towards Rey''s unconscious body with slow steps. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ {1800+ words} Awakening of the Relic ******************* A few minutes earlier. "Huh, is this Aiden''s energy? Hmm... looks like he found a new toy again," a feminine voice said in the dark surroundings. A few minutes later, she noticed someone approaching her location. Then, a gloved hand reached out, retrieving the object in which she was sealed¡ªor had sealed herself. The man was chosen by Aiden, who floated beside him, urging him to flee the place after acquiring her. But before the man could leave, he spotted someone he recognized, tied to a chair with ropes. It was then that Aiden and his host began to argue whether to leave or not. Yet, witnessing the man''s bravery¡ªor foolishness¡ªto save his friend, knowing well the danger it posed, her impression of him grew. Even after being found by the Boss of thug, she didn''t like at all. The guy didn''t lose the hope and still try to help his friend leave. She felt a strong connection with the unconscious man tied to the chair, an aura emanating from him that drew her in, compelling her to bond with him immediately. She was about to approach him when the thug boss intervened, making it impossible at that moment. The man holding her was being beaten relentlessly, yet he never lost hope, continuing to dodge or block the increasingly brutal attacks despite his growing weakness. Still, she persisted in her attempt to reach the man, seizing her opportunity when it came. However, before she could act, he rose once again, moving away to protect his friend, which drove her to frustration. Her intention was to bond with this man, overthrow the insignificant thug boss, reclaim Aiden from the other feeble child, and locate the last one if he is here in this world. With them, they could return to their original land. She recognized the man''s immense potential who was held on chair, surpassing even that of her former master. Yet, she couldn''t fathom why Aiden had chosen other instead him, knowing well that Aiden had the power to switch hosts. Yet, she didn''t miss the scene where the man she sought to bond with fled like a coward. He ran a distance before starting a peculiar world-level teleportation spell and vanished, instantly erasing the aura he emitted. Freed from the frenzy of bonding, she felt anger at herself for wanting to bond with such a coward, rather than the one who was now gasping for his last breaths, his life slipping away. "Hey Zero, I know you''re in there. Help this kid; he''s the only one who can aid us, I beg you," she heard Aiden''s voice, desperate and pleading. Resolving to assist, she decided to inquire later. ******************************* Currently, inside Rey''s residence, Jasmine and Emmy are present. Jasmine had taken leave in advance due to Rey''s health issues for the following day. However, Rey departed, claiming he needed to meet a friend and carried a peculiar bag that Jasmine had never seen before. "Hey son, where did you get this bag? It wasn''t here in our house before," Jasmine inquired at that moment. "Yes, mom, it belongs to a friend. I borrowed it to return some items to him," he responded. Before she could probe further about this friend, Jasmine was overcome by an uneasy sensation in her chest, an indescribable premonition that something bad was about to happen. "Hey Mom, when is big brother coming home?" Emmy asked while eating her food. "Emmy, you should eat first, then talk. Don''t worry, your brother will be back soon," Jasmine said, resuming her meal. However, the unsettling premonition she had was not fading; it was growing stronger. She decided to call him later to check if he was okay. *********************** Inside the factory''s main building, Rey lay unconscious while Aiden attempted to rouse him. Meanwhile, Jacob approached, intent on seizing Zero, mistaking it for the artifact he had previously stolen. However, as he drew near, he witnessed the artifact he coveted dissolving into the boy''s blood. Before he could grasp it, it had completely vanished as if it had never existed. The blood began to behave oddly, retreating back into the boy''s body. Like a parasite, it enveloped him entirely, and particles resembling blood entered his mouth, coursing through him in an effort to preserve his health. As they neared his heart, they delivered a slight jolt, prompting it to resume beating rhythmically, though differently from before. Zero had executed a maneuver to preserve his life by administering a shock to his heart, which had sustained considerable damage and had ceased beating moments earlier. The blood particles began to absorb his suit and the half-broken mask, which had been damaged by the punches. After absorption, the particles restored them to their original appearance, but in an improved state. Even the cape he was wearing was absorbed and became integrated into the suit. If someone saw this, they might think the blood had coated the suit, but in reality, the blood-like substance absorbed the suit, transforming it into itself, taking its place. Then, almost immediately, the blood-red color began to fade, and the suit''s original color returned as if nothing had happened. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. If someone witnessed this, they might assume nothing had occurred before. "Looks like you finally woke up, huh?" Aiden said to the suit while drifting away slightly. "Yes, I never imagined the God General would be in such a state, beaten by such a thuggish brute," a robotic voice echoed in Aiden''s ears, startling him a bit. "What happened to you?" Aiden inquired, remembering that Zero could speak in a normal tone without emotion, but now she was expressing emotions, even in a robotic voice, as if taking system help to speak. "It''s not the right time to talk, but first, we must finish him off and save this boy," Zero stated in her usual robotic tone. "So, just like back then, you''re handling defense, and I''m taking over the body, huh?" Aiden remarked as he entered Rey''s body to control it more easily, since Rey was semi-conscious. "Yes, but please be quick; this boy won''t last more than 10 minutes," Zero stated. "There''s no need to worry; it will be completed in just 3 minutes, and then we can depart," Aiden replied, as he manipulated the body to grasp the dagger at his side and stand up. During this time, Jacob observed the artifact being absorbed into the boy''s body, who then rose and began speaking in a robotic tone to the empty air. Abruptly, the boy drew a sharp dagger and aimed it at him. "So, it''s a parasitic artifact, is it? But fret not, I will handle it far better than you, boy. Just go to sleep," Jacob declared, lunging towards the boy. However, the boy had transformed; his speed had doubled, and his agility had significantly increased. ''It seems the artifact has temporarily enhanced his power, but I can still handle this,'' Jacob thought. Yet, he suddenly felt an intense pain in his abdomen and discovered a clean cut on his right side. "You bastard, how dare you strike me," Jacob exclaimed, attacking with increased speed, but the boy managed to evade every blow and even counterattack. Jacob''s body accumulated numerous dagger wounds, bleeding profusely from several places, causing widespread pain. Moreover, he felt his strength waning as his vision blurred. "What poison have you used, you treacherous snake? Now you resort to such methods to kill me," Jacob gasped, trying to conserve his stamina. "Ah, so the poison is effective. I had doubts, given it was said to work only 15% of the time, but it appears to be accurate and is saving us time," Aiden observed, noticing a drop of poison leaking from a tiny hole in the dagger''s tip. ''Hey Zero, can you channel some mana into your hand socket? I''m about to give this bastard a more gruesome end than he attempted on Rey,'' Aiden communicated telepathically to Zero. "Yes, I can, but I think it''s not necessary since we can easily kill him, and... this boy is Rey, okay?" Zero said to him, about to say more but stopped and repeated the name Aiden had mentioned. "No, we will give him a cruel death as how much this bastard had done bad things." Aiden said and Zero start gathering mana in her sockets as it takes some time because mana density was low in this area than she required. After several more dodges, Jacob grew tired and retreated slightly. "Hey, where are you all? Come and help me!" Jacob shouted, calling for his men, but no one came. "Are you trying to summon your goons, huh? What a shame; they''re all dead," Aiden declared, hovering mid-air about five meters above the ground, channeling mana into his legs. "I will kill you," Jacob retorted, beginning to gather Qi in his hand to replicate the move he had used previously. As he did so, he noticed the boy''s hand was glowing similarly. ''Is he also a cultivator? But I sensed no Qi from him. Could this be because of the artifact?'' he wondered, his greed for the artifact intensifying. "Give me that artifact and go die," Jacob shouted, lunging with a punch towards Rey''s head. Rey, moving at high speed, contorted his body in an unimaginable way, using the momentum of Jacob''s hand to dodge the blow. Capitalizing on the momentum, Aiden delivered a powerful punch straight to Jacob''s jaw, driving him down towards the ground. With these immense strength Jacob jaw dislocated, and his head crashed into the ground which destroyed his backside of head and spine got destroyed by going back in a strange angle and blood splatted around like water with a spider crack like crater formed around. Even after confirming the man was dead, Aiden thrust the dagger into his throat to be certain and surveyed the destruction they had wrought. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Rey screamed suddenly, his body on the verge of collapse, trembling with pain from the overuse of mana in a body unaccustomed to it. His leg bones were cracking slightly, but it was his hand, the one Aiden had used, that was in far worse condition, bleeding profusely with bones shattered into fragments. "What happened to him." Zero asked in concern. "I think his bones get destroyed with the use of Mana as it was the first time he used." Aiden said and about to go. "Hey, wait. Just give me a second and help me carry something," she said, moving the body towards a seemingly closed wall. Upon reaching it, she pressed a hidden button, revealing a door that led to a room filled with high-priced jewelry and a safe secured by a code. "Can you take this? It could be useful to us in many ways," she suggested. Aiden sighed slightly but proceeded to add the items to the inventory system Rey had provided, which he had never used before. "Hi yes there are more people are we going to rescue them and where is the boy Rey wanted to save." Aiden said talking about Evan and those people he talked about. "The cowardly boy escaped using a spell of world-level teleportation, and I suspect someone will come to investigate since your attack caused quite a commotion. Let''s leave quickly so we can rescue him," Zero stated in her usual robotic tone. "Don''t worry, with your assistance, we can reach his home in three minutes, and he''ll recover swiftly since I have something for that," Aiden replied with a grin. "Wait, you know he''s in this world and his location?" Zero asked, incredulous that he was indeed in this world. She didn''t expect that the three of them are now together with each other like before and that what she wasn''t expecting as she think that they will be able to meet with each other with their new host. _________________________________________________________________________________________________So who is he that both talking about and how is both of them going to save Rey who was on verge to die. If you want to know so stay tuned to find and tell me, how did you like the chapter today. And have a good day/night my all friends. [2000+] Coming back home and meeting the third one and last. "Let''s go before someone else comes by, which will delay our return home," Aiden said, ready to leave but noticing Zero wasn''t moving. "Hey, Aiden, let''s just help them quickly and then leave," Zero suggested. "Why should we? If we don''t leave now someone else might stop us, causing further delays. We don''t have much time to spare here," Aiden argued, trying to convince Zero. "Please, it will only take half a minute," Zero pleaded, a look of earnestness in his eyes that Aiden had not seen before. "Fine, but make it quick; we''re short on time," Aiden conceded with a long sigh. Zero moved in a specific direction and upon arrival, discovered a solitary door in the hallway. Opening it revealed a room with a hundred people inside, trembling in fear at the sight of him, as Rey''s body was smeared with blood from a previous battle, giving him the appearance of a psychopathic killer. "You don''t have to fear me. I''ve come to free you all; the gang that captured you has been dealt with by me, so you all can leave this place. The police should be on their way," Aiden declared in a deep voice, disguising his identity. After hearing the statement from the strange guy people started to relax a little bit but there was still fear in their eyes. Aiden stepped forward, and the dagger, Scorpion Fang, which Zero had absorbed, appeared in his hand. With swift precision, he cut the ropes binding a man''s hands, freeing him to assist the others. The onlookers regarded Aiden warily, his dagger still stained with Jacob''s blood. Yet, as they observed his actions¡ªhelping some and then retreating to show he meant no harm¡ªtheir anxiety lessened, and they too began aiding their companions. Realizing they were capable of helping themselves, Aiden moved towards the door to depart. "Wait, I want to thank you. What''s your name?" asked the man whose ropes Aiden had cut first. This question piqued the curiosity of many, who, now attentive, also wished to learn the identity of their savior, clad in a flashy manga-style mask and an assassin''s suit. {A/N: It''s hidden hero name time.} "I am neither a hero nor a savior; you are merely fortunate that I stumbled upon you while on a personal quest. My name is ''RAVENBLADE''," Aiden declared in a grave, resonant tone, intending to halt the conversation and depart swiftly. A few moments after Aiden''s departure, an awestruck voice emerged from the silence, "Oh my God, that''s so cool," expressing admiration upon hearing the name. As the others assisted with cutting the rope, Aiden, controlling Rey''s body, was seen dashing from the main building''s window towards the hole that Rey had originally entered. In their escape, they were met with the sound of police sirens and the sight of officers entering the building through the front door, securing the premises. By the time Aiden came into view, he had already left the vicinity of the main building, making his way towards the wall with considerable effort, as the boy''s body was severely damaged, beyond what it could bear. It was certain that if the boy were conscious, he would not be able to stand even for a moment, yet here they were, pushing his body to its limits as they ran. After reaching the wall, they exited, but a small piece of Rey''s t-shirt snagged and tore. Aiden, unconcerned, hurried to the bag they had used to carry the equipment, now disintegrated by Zero. "Let''s put this in the inventory and head to his house; it''s likely he can be fully healed there. If we take him to a hospital or clinic, he might be dead by then," Aiden said, swiftly stowing the bag in the inventory. After checking that no one is watching them they quickly departed towards Rey''s home and with great carness they quickly reached there without being spotted by other guys. "We can''t enter from the main gate we have to enter from his room window on the first floor." Aiden said while seeing around. "Okay." After saying this, Zero walked toward the specific window with Aiden''s help and jumped through it with great care not to shatter any remaining bones. With considerable effort, they finally entered the room. Zero looked around and found the room to be too plain for a 17-18-year-old guy. "This boy''s room isn''t too simple," Zero remarked, scanning the surroundings. "Well, this boy''s situation is unlike other kids''; he doesn''t have the luxury to enjoy life as other children his age does, yet he never complains," Aiden observed, walking towards a specific corner of the room. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. After reaching the drawer he quickly opened it and start founding certain thing and found the pendant Rey show him that day. He quickly throws it on bed and waited for some time but still nothing happened. "Huh, you said he is here, so what are you doing now? This boy doesn''t have much time left, or he will die," Zero stated, observing the boy''s condition. "Just wait a minute. And you, Victor, why don''t you show yourself now? We don''t have time for hide and seek," Aiden demanded, glancing at the pendant on the bed. "It seems my acting isn''t as convincing if even someone like you could find me," a hushed voice emerged from the pendant, and a semi-transparent image of a man with features similar to Aiden materialized from within. The man who emerged had blood-red hair and eyes of the same color. He possessed a slightly muscular build and wore a dark robe who look not more than 19-20 years old but wisdom in his eyes show millions of years of knowledge. "So why are you asking me now, when you had time before embarking on your childish mission, huh?" Victor said, eyeing Aiden and Rey''s bodies, pausing mid-sentence upon noticing something. "Wait, you found Zero there," Victor remarked, recognizing the ordinary appearance of Rey''s clothes but aware of what was concealed within. "Yes, and I need your help because he''s dying, and he''s the only one who can assist us in this condition," Aiden implored, gesturing towards Rey''s body, which was growing paler as time passed. "Why should I save him if I see no potential in him? I believe that even with our help, he''ll only manage to reach rank 6 at most, and then he''ll be stuck there forever," Victor stated, eyeing all three of them with a stern tone. "We don''t have time for this, Victor. Help this kid, or be ready for the consequences," Aiden interjected, channeling the last bit of mana in his uninjured hand. "Whoa, wait a minute, I was just joking, Aiden. Why so serious? Did you really think I wouldn''t heal this kid because he''s unworthy and lacks potential? You should know I support him more than you do," Victor retorted, signaling Aiden to approach. "Don''t pull another trick, you red-headed bastard," Zero chimed in with her robotic voice, startling Victor slightly, but he waited for her to ask her question and began examining Rey''s body to determine whether he could heal him externally or if he would need to resort to that method. "It seems I must establish a bond with him to facilitate healing, given the severity of his condition. His internal organs have sustained damage, and his bones appear to have been crushed under a tremendous weight. Moreover, his mana veins are so extensively damaged that if he were to use mana again, he might never regain the ability in his lifetime unless a cure is found. Nevertheless, I am still capable of healing him," Victor explained in detail after a thorough examination, to which Aiden and Zero showed little surprise, well aware of his capabilities. "Quickly, do this; he doesn''t have much time," Aiden urged, desperate to save the boy who was severely wounded due to a reckless plan for revenge. "Okay, okay, why the rush... Alright, quickly remove that stone from the pendant and place it in his mouth so I can initiate the bonding process," Victor was about to suggest taking it easy, confident in his abilities, but the stern glare from Aiden spurred him into action. Aiden hastily took the pendant and stopped when feel something, then suddenly he forcefully extracted the stone, and crushed it to reveal the core. Within it was a small round stone, inscribed with runes. He swiftly managed the boy''s mouth, opened it, and tossed the stone inside. Upon contact with the blood, the stone dissolved and disappeared. "What have you done? I didn''t instruct you to extract the original core; why did you do this?" Victor exclaimed, recovering from his initial shock. "Trying to be smart, huh? You didn''t think I''d know what you''re up to?" Aiden said, glaring at him with an angry expression. "Aiden what are you saying." Zero said while looking at both of them. "Zero he wanted to make a temporary contract by which he can change the host and the stone cover was the medium for it." Aiden said while explaining. "Yes, so what even you did that huh and I can''t fell any of your signature energy in him as we can feel from an original bond." Victor said while shouting. "Yes, but our current situation is not ideal. Don''t worry, we will formalize an original bond with him after his recovery. Please proceed with the healing quickly," Aiden stated, clarifying the confusion. "Fine, but this is the last time," Victor conceded after a brief pause. Suddenly, the boy''s body began to emit a glow of red, white, and green light. The red light signified the bonding process, while the green and white lights indicated the healing effects taking place within him. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh..." Rey began to scream, but Aiden quickly silenced his vocal cords and severed the connection to his nervous system, preventing him from feeling pain. Despite this, Rey''s body continued to convulse from the intense pain of healing. Healing was not as depicted in novels or anime, where relief is instantaneous and soothing. Instead, healing is a process that boosts the body''s regenerative capabilities to their limits, allowing for recovery within minutes. However, this requires considerable stamina and energy, which Zero supplied in small amounts. This assistance served a dual purpose: it not only facilitated Rey''s healing but also acclimated his body to mana. As the process commenced, Rey''s body underwent significant changes: his bones began to mend themselves, his organs initiated repairs, and even his mana veins were completely restored. The most noticeable transformation was his growth in stature, as he gained at least 4cm, reaching a height of 170cm. His muscle and bone density increased marginally, and his physique developed some muscle mass due to the bonding and healing. Once the healing process concluded, Rey''s body settled into a state of tranquility. However, a black substance began to seep from his pores, which was recognized as bodily waste, releasing a foul odor throughout the room. Zero promptly opened the window, allowing the tainted air to escape. Finally, Aiden maneuvered Rey''s healed body into the bathroom, while Zero disposed of the soiled sheet by tossing it out the window into the garbage bin below, utilizing the same material she employed in crafting armor. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ And tell me how much you like this chapter and add it to your library for instant updates. {1900+} Immense pain. ********************************** A few hours later, in a room. We can see a guy lying on the bed unconscious and two spirit talking with each other. And the guy was obviously our Rey. Rey awoke with great difficulty, finding himself in his own room. He experienced intense pain as Aiden had repaired his nervous system, releasing the accumulated pain. However, the pain was fleeting and soon subsided. At first, he was confused, but then the memories of the past few hours began to flood back, and he quickly rose, filled with a startling urgency. He glanced around and realized he was in his room, where Aiden was sitting on a couch, and another guy, appearing to be around 19-20 years old with blood-red hair and eyes, was floating nearby. "Oh, looks like our prince charming is waking up," the new guy remarked, shrugging Aiden''s shoulder. "You''re awake, Rey. I thought you''d take a bit longer," Aiden said as he floated towards him, followed by the new guy. "Zero, you can come out now; we have some critical tasks to fulfill our duty," Aiden announced. Then, from beneath the bed, silver particles resembling water flowed out and coalesced into the form of a girl. She appeared to be about 21 years old, with silver skin made from the substance, and even without her true form, one could surmise that the girl was a true beauty. "Who are you two, and Aiden, didn''t we go there to find just one relic? Why is there one more now?" Rey asked, eyeing the two new spirits¡ªone a mirror image of Aiden and the other resembling a robot girl made of liquid material. "Let me explain, but first, you should tell your mom that everything is okay. She''s been here about 15 times in the last three hours," Aiden suggested, gesturing towards the door with his thumb. "But how can I face her with a body full of injuries? Look at my hand..." Rey trailed off as he inspected his body, which was surprisingly normal except for his muscles, which resembled those of someone who had been working out for half a year. "What the hell? What happened to my body? I don''t remember being this fit or having so many muscles," Rey exclaimed, examining his reflection in the mirror, utterly astonished to see his physique resembling that of a model. "Now that you''re surprised, please let her know you''re alright," Aiden said, and they resumed their conversation. "Okay," Rey replied, nodding. He walked out of the room, clad in a blue t-shirt. He glanced around, saw no one, checked the time, and realized it was 4:30 pm. He was late for his part-time job, but it didn''t matter today as he hurried to speak with his mother. Upon entering the hall, he noticed his mother and little sister engrossed in the television. "Mom, I''m here," Rey announced, seeking to capture his mother''s attention, which caused her to startle slightly, not expecting him this early. "Oh Son, I was frightened because I remembered you said you wouldn''t be able to come out for about five hours for some reason, but here you are," Jasmine said, sighing with relief before sitting back down. "Brother, I miss you so much," Emmy said as she hugged Rey. "How could I leave my princess alone for a long time? So, I came back quickly but got caught up in work for a few hours. That''s why I was in my room for so long, and I didn''t want any interruptions, so I asked Mom not to disturb me for a while," Rey explained, patting Emmy''s hair affectionately. "Don''t worry, son. I was just concerned because you asked not to be disturbed in an unusual manner and mentioned you had work, so I refrained from disturbing you. However, I did check on you from time to time," Jasmine said, gesturing to Emmy to come and sit down, indicating not to disturb him any further. Emmy complied quietly, sitting next to her but only after tugging Rey to sit beside her as well. "Brother, are you going back to work, or will you play with me as you promised?" Emmy asked, giving him a pleading puppy-eyed look. "Sorry Emmy I have to do some more work." Rey said while smiling helplessly after remembering that there was some work left with bonding and status matter by which he had to return soon. "Don''t worry, son, continue with your work. And Emmy, shouldn''t you be finishing your homework from the 10-day holiday?" Jasmine asked, glancing at Emmy. "Okay, Mom, but I want to sit here a little longer with my brother," Emmy replied, holding Rey''s hand. "Alright," Jasmine conceded with a heavy sigh. "Just wait, you two. I''ll make some delicious food that you''ll remember," Jasmine declared as she headed to the kitchen. A few minutes later, Jasmine had swiftly prepared the meal. After serving it, they all ate together. Shortly thereafter, Rey retreated to his room and closed the door behind him. Silence filled the room. "The happy moments are over; now it''s time for the important topic," Victor announced with a long sigh, breaking the silence. "Yes, so what is it you want to say?" Rey asked, sitting on the bed and facing the couch. "So, listen carefully, because after you hear this, you must remain calm," Aiden said, giving Zero and Victor a nod. "What are you saying? Is it really that important?" Rey asked, laughing awkwardly. "Listen, Rey, I need to tell you that the bonds Zero, the Silver Lady, and I have with you are temporary and can be easily broken," Aiden declared with determination. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "So, the fact that you can leave at will is not ideal. If the chance arises, wouldn''t you prefer to return to your original owner? Being with someone who has only been part of your life for a few days surely cannot compare to the bond with one who has wielded you for countless years. It''s understandable that being with a rank 0 individual, who lacks both skill and potential, is less appealing than staying with a master of rank 8 or 9," Rey articulated continuously, his voice fading as he concluded. "Listen Rey or whatever your name is, after we signed a contract with you being permanent or ''temporary'' we gained our past memories, and we remember that our original owner is no more and he was a Rank 10 for your kind information. And if you asked who killed a rank 10 then the answer was his own brother." Victor interrupted the conversation and said with a rude expression and putting extra care for temporary. "Victor, I said shut up, or perhaps you''ve forgotten who I am," Aiden stated in a direct and angry tone. "Alright, alright, you be the storyteller; I won''t interfere anymore," Victor conceded, adopting a surrendering stance. "Hush... Now, listen carefully, Rey," Aiden began, his words a rapid stream. "When we talk about a temporary connection, it''s not as simple as you might think. Take Zero, for instance; she''s bonded with you from the inside out. It''s a merge, akin to being permanently attached to your skin, which can still be healed. However, if it were permanent, it would be at a molecular level, and that would be catastrophic for your body. As for me, you''re aware that my body resides within your brain, partially intertwined with your nervous system. Changing hosts would be lethal for you. A permanent bond would mean a complete integration with your nervous system and brain, similar to being dissolved in water, and the only way to reverse it would be through death." Aiden paused, awaiting Rey''s response. "I knew it, I knew it. I shouldn''t have gotten entangled with you guys; being with you is akin to a death sentence in one way or another," Rey said after a while, losing his composure. He was about to say more when Zero suddenly leaped forward and covered his mouth with her body material. "You should lower your voice if you don''t want your family to hear," Zero stated in her robotic voice, maintaining a straight face, which slightly startled Rey. "Okay, I''ll listen, but please, could you back away a little?" Rey asked, taking a step back to maintain some distance. Zero retreated and stood in one corner of the room. "Listen, as I said, Zero and I are in a temporary contract with you, and we want to form a permanent contract that can only be undone by death. So, do you want to do this, or shall we remain temporary and break the bond when you rise in rank?" Aiden proposed. "Do you think I want to say yes? I want to live without any problems, but do you really think I have a choice in this matter? I can only say yes, or absolutely yes," Rey responded with a look of helplessness. "Alright, let''s begin, but pay close attention. We''re going to fully bond with you, and we possess certain skills that will be integrated into you. This process will cause pain, albeit significantly less¡ªabout 80% less¡ªthan the full bonding process," Aiden explained, waiting for a response. "So, I''m to endure the pain of two bondings and two skill integrations, correct?" Rey inquired, mentally bracing himself. "No, it''s two bondings and three integrations," Zero clarified, correcting the error. "Wait, this guy''s skill hasn''t been integrated into me yet? But how am I still alive if the integration isn''t complete?" Rey asked, both confused and shocked. "You''ve grossly underestimated us. We are relics of the gods, not some beggar''s child. We possess immense power, enough to transform a talentless, mediocre brat like you into someone who can surpass the fourth rank and achieve immortality," Victor boasted smugly, humiliating Rey. "Victor, I told you to be quiet, or there won''t be a third warning," Aiden shouted, his anger palpable. "Why are you siding with this insignificant child when there are many geniuses in the world? With their help, we could rank 7 or 8, ascend to higher worlds, and choose someone with talent equal to or greater than our previous master," Victor shouted, reacting to Aiden''s words. Before Aiden could respond, a silver flash caught his eye, and he watched as Zero captured Victor with her body matter, pinning him down. "It seems you possess something crushable, right Victor? I have a strong urge to crush something," Zero declared, her voice tinged with anger, though her expression remained impassive. {Author''s Note: The term "crushable" refers to the ego, in case there was any confusion.} "Okay, release me; I won''t say anything." Seeing what had happened, Victor backed away, also fearing Zero for some reason. "We will now start the process and as for pain don''t worry about it because I can temporarily halt the function of your nervous system for now. As you rank up, your body will become much more complex than before, allowing for maximum upgrades after your achievement and a glimpse into the future," Aiden explained, addressing some concerns. "Okay, but do it quickly because I don''t think I can hold on much longer," Rey said as he hastily lay down on the bed with a grave expression, his legs still trembling with fear. "First, I''ll complete the bonding process, then I''ll move on to the skill integration," Aiden explained. "And I''ll start by disabling your vocal cords so as not to alert your family," Aiden added before Rey could respond. He acted swiftly, and a sharp pain silenced his voice. He attempted to speak, but no words emerged. Minutes later, his body ceased to move; Aiden had temporarily halted his nervous system, initiating the bonding process. Pain surged through his mind, and his skin ached as Zero enveloped him, just as before. Tiny, needle-like structures emerged throughout his body, interlacing with his molecular matter, causing agony despite the suppressed nervous system. However, the truth was that Rey''s nervous system was partially active, functioning at 10-15% capacity. Any less, and Rey would perish as his organs would fail, leading to certain death. "Endure it, boy, as you will frequently feel this amount of pain from now on," Aiden said. However, Rey heard nothing as his brain had ceased to function due to the immense pain. A few minutes after the bonding process with Zero was completed, Rey finally found some relief. But Aiden quickly began his own process, wanting the boy to endure the pain all at once rather than in intervals. The bonding process with Aiden began, causing Rey immense pain in his brain. Despite being in a place where even Aiden couldn''t halt the process, he tried to telepathically encourage Rey to endure it, as it would be the last obstacle. After a few minutes, the pain ceased, indicating the process was complete. The confusion may arise because Victor''s bond took much longer, whereas the bond between Zero and Aiden was shorter due to its temporary nature, which reduced the duration. "Okay now for the skill integration time and Rey you can sleep as it won''t hurt that much anymore." Aiden said and about to look at Rey but. "You don''t have to as he is already asleep." Victor said while pointing toward him. Rey was sleeping while some tears of pain was still in his face and his whole face red due to sheer pain. Okay so we have to do 12 skills integration, but I think we should just integrate it whole as it will cause pain for one time only." Aiden suggested and after both agreement did, he started the process. And a mass pain accumulated in his body, but Rey didn''t wake up as he will experience it after waking up but only 5% as the pain was still there but his body was enduring it while shaking a lot. But the future is the only one who can tell what will be going to happen with him so just wait and watch the story of Rey and his weapon spirits. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I hope you enjoy it and have a good day/night. [2400+] Awakening and Status for the first time. In the evening at Rey''s house, Rey could be seen sleeping peacefully, yet his body was undergoing significant changes, evidenced by the increased presence of a dark, waste-like substance¡ªa result of two recent bonding processes. Moments later, Rey''s complexion turned red, and sweat began to form on his forehead. "Father..." he exclaimed, waking up with a start as if from a nightmare. "What happened, Rey? Did you have a dream or something?" inquired Aiden, approaching him alongside Zero and Victor. "Nothing, just... ewww, what is that odor?" Rey began to question but was immediately overwhelmed by a foul smell, prompting him to cover his nose. Unfortunately, his hands were also contaminated with the waste, intensifying the stench. "Pftt, just close your mouth and clean yourself first; even I feel nauseous," Aiden managed to say, barely containing his laughter at Rey''s predicament. Acknowledging the advice, Rey made a beeline for the bathroom. After cleaning himself and returning, he was confronted with the sight of his bed soiled with the same substance. With considerable effort, he disposed of the contaminated bedding for cleaning. He then hurriedly opened the window of his room to dispel the foul smell and, after a few minutes, was able to breathe in some fresh air. Seeking answers, Rey turned to Aiden, eager to understand the changes his body was experiencing and the origin of the waste. "Well, firstly, you''ve been asleep for about 3-4 hours, and secondly, regarding the substance, it was accumulated bodily waste that your system expelled due to our bond. The expulsion was less severe than when you bonded with Victor, as his bond was with your entire body, whereas ours was only partial. Haven''t you come across such concepts in novels and manga?" explained Aiden. "Okay, I understand that it is beneficial, but I am concerned about how this will assist me in the future. I fear my body may continue to accumulate more of this," Rey said, seeking an explanation from Aiden. "Listen carefully, boy. Since you have a bit of knowledge from your manga or whatever it is, it should be easier for you to grasp. From birth, our bodies accumulate waste daily, which typically doesn''t affect ordinary people. However, for us Awakened ones, it has a significant impact, and with each rank advancement, this waste is released from an Awakened''s body, which greatly enhances your potential. This release can usually be achieved through treasures or high-grade pills, and bonding with us is one method. You should be thankful for your bond with us, and I hope it lasts a long time. Judging by your current state, it might last a few centuries, or at the very least, decades... Ahhhhhh!" Victor was in the midst of explaining, interrupting Aiden, when suddenly a hand struck his head, causing immense pain and silencing him. "It seems I told someone not to disclose certain things, haaa," Aiden remarked angrily while rubbing his hand as if preparing to strike someone. Victor, slightly frightened, backed away only to find Zero blocking his path. With no other escape, he retreated into Rey''s body to hide within his true form. "My apologies, Rey. Victor sometimes speaks out of turn, and his words can slip," Aiden said, attempting to assuage Rey''s feelings regarding Victor''s remarks. "Oh, no, it''s quite alright. Perhaps he is correct; I may not possess much potential, and a few centuries or even decades are significant spans of time during which many things can change," Rey interjected, preventing Aiden from continuing. "Very well, since you are now aware of everything, it is time for you to open your status window, which has been unlocked after the permanent bond. Just as he spoke, a system interface materialized before him, causing a slight startle. <1%...2%...6%...19%...25%...54%...68%...79%....82%...93%...97%...98%...99%...100%> A blue screen popped up in front of him and began loading his status. "Is it going to take this much time every time?" Rey asked Aiden, who was beside him. "No, it''s just for the first time. After this, it will be as quick as a flash unless there''s some massive change in your status, like a rank up or something significant," Aiden explained as they waited for the status to load. A few moments later, the status appeared before him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Name: Rey Shadowthrone Age: 17 Physique: Shadow Physique (Upgradable) Class: None Subclass: None Level: 01 Rank: 0th Rank Core: Mane Core (Not formed.) Talent: None Law: DEATH {.00001}, SOUL {.0000001}, [DARKNESS] {.00000001306} Intent: None ******************************************** Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. {Stats} Health Points (HP): F- [Dependent on Vitality] Mana Points (MP): F- [Dependent on Intelligence] Strength (STR): F- [7/100] ¨C> [47/100] + [8] --> [55/100] Agility (AGI): F- [8/100] ¨C> [48/100] + [10] --> [58/100] Stamina (STA): F- [6/100] ¨C> [46/100] + [2] --> [48/100] Intelligence (INT): F- [9/100] ¨C> [49/100] Vitality (VIT): F- [8/100] ¨C> [48/100] Endurance (END): F- [4/100] ¨C> [44/100] Luck (LUK): F- [Dependent on core] Free Stat Points: 0 ******************************************** [SKILLS]: - None [ABILITIES]: - None Bonded Relics: 1. Aiden:- TYPE: - Support/ Intelligence RANK: - Singularity Additional Stats per Level: - +25 Intelligence, +20 Endurance. Abilities: - 1. Godly comprehension: - Active: Increase the comprehension by 10,000 times. Current time: - 2 minutes (increase by rank) cooldown: 7 days or 1 week. Passive: Increase the host current intelligence and eyesight by 2 times (Increase with rank) 2. Telekinesis (God rank) [current- rank0]: - Allow the host to obtain the skill Telekinesis which can be limited only by imagination. [Increase with Rank] Limit: 5kg {Weight limit increase with Level.} 3. Unlocked at rank 1 4. Unlocked at rank 2 5. Unlocked at rank 3 6. Unlocked at rank 4 7. Unlocked at rank 5 8. Unlocked at rank 6 9. Unlocked at rank 7 10. Unlocked at rank 8 11. Unlocked at rank 9 12. Unlocked at rank 10 2. Zero:- TYPE: - Battle/Weapon & Armour RANK: - Singularity Additional stats given per Lvl:- +5 all. Weapon stats: - +10 Agility, +8 Strength, +2 Stamina Abilities: - 1. Matter manipulation: - Use a tiny bit of mana to change the shape of matter. 2.Matter upgrade: - * 1. Upgrade its quantity * 2. Upgrade its quality 3. Item creation: - Can be used to make items from the body matter. {Limit is only imagination.} [Upgrade with rank] 4. Devour: - Can devour the other weapon for special effects and increase the given stats for the user. 5. Weapon mastery: - Gives mastery of all weapons registered in system. (Current rank: - 10 weapons.) {Increase with rank}. [1. Sword: F- 2. Dagger and Knives: F 3. Spear: F- 4. Shield: F- 5. Bow: F- 6. Great sword: F- 7. Hand to Hand: F 8. Gun: F- 9. Hammer: F- 10. Katana: F- 6. Unlocked at rank 1 7. Unlocked at rank 2 8. Unlocked at rank 3 9. Unlocked at rank 4 10. Unlocked at rank 5 11. Unlocked at rank 6 12. Unlocked at rank 7 13. Unlocked at rank 8 14. Unlocked at rank 9 15. Unlocked at rank 10 3. Victor TYPE: Support / Healing RANK: Singularity Additional stats per Level: +20 Vitality, +15 Stamina, +15 Intelligence. Abilities: - 1. Devouring Body [God rank body or forbidden body]: - Gives host a body able to digest any item and medicine without any issues and increase the benefit by 1000% [Increase by rank]. 2. SUPREME MANA BODY [ GOD RANK]: - You are like a child to mana which increase your regeneration, sensitivity and cultivation of mana by 1000%. [Increase with rank] 3. Supreme regeneration: - use stamina to heal the body of host and even up to attaching it back a little. [Increase with rank]. 4. Godly Adapter: - Help host body to adapt to the surrounding in a matter of minutes. 5. Blood manipulation [rank 0]: - Help the host to manipulate the blood of host body to certain range like speeding up, stopping it from leaking more and more. {Increase with the rank.} 6. Unlocked at rank 1 7. Unlocked at rank 2 8. Unlocked at rank 3 9. Unlocked at rank 4 10. Unlocked at rank 5 11. Unlocked at rank 6 12. Unlocked at rank 7 13. Unlocked at rank 8 14. Unlocked at rank 9 15.Unlocked at rank 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What the hell?" Rey screamed, shocked by his status and the trio''s abilities. ******************************************** Law study with Aiden and immense change "Good heavens," Rey gasped, his eyes widening at the sight of his status and the capabilities of his weapon. Aiden and the others were similarly taken aback by a specific part of his status. "From where on earth did this lad acquire such a thing?" Victor murmured, scrutinizing the data that had even Zero showing a look of astonishment. "Why the surprise? Has something occurred? I noticed nothing amiss, only those intriguing law-like elements which I''ve grasped subconsciously. Nonetheless, it''s fascinating. It''s akin to an element introduced in the intermediate chapters of a manga or novel, yet here it is at my disposal from the outset," Rey remarked, observing everyone''s expressions. "You''re oblivious to the fact that you possess an item of immense value, coveted even by those of Rank 10, as it''s typically held by only a handful," Aiden explained, attempting to regain his composure. "Hold on, are you suggesting that I possess something of such significance? Yet, I discern nothing in my status that could be problematic," Rey inquired, poring over his status screen with great attention. Despite his scrutiny, nothing seemed amiss. Observing this, Aiden tapped on a tab, causing it to detach from the status and appear separately. The information that was revealed was beyond Rey''s expectations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Law: DEATH {.00001}, SOUL {.0000001}, [DARKNESS] {.00000001306} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Huh this thing but I didn''t see anything wrong in this." Rey said while looking at it to understand something but still find nothing. "Didn''t you see the highlighted thing in it which is a sign of suspiciousness." Aiden said while pointing at it. "Oh yeah but what about it I think it''s just related to my physique isn''t it. And I think Death and Soul law are more attractive than this." Rey said while rolling his eyes. "No, you are not understanding my point of view as this [DARKNESS] law is several times higher than this other two." Aiden said and signaled him to click on one of them. He clicked on the soul one as he finds it interesting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Law: Soul Grade: Superior Stage: Infant Progress: .0000001 Description: The ancient and enigmatic Soul Law governs the very essence of life and magic. Rooted in the primordial forces of creation, the Soul Law is an intricate web of divine rules that binds the souls of all beings to the fabric of the universe. It dictates the flow of magical energy, the cycle of life and death, and the balance between light and darkness. Those who study the Soul Law, known as Soul Weavers, possess the rare ability to manipulate this ethereal force. They can heal mortal wounds, commune with spirits, and even alter fate itself. The Soul Law is a double-edged sword, offering immense power but demanding great responsibility and wisdom from those who seek to master it. The balance of the world hinges on the ethical use of this formidable force. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He reads the whole information and finds it goods and move on the next one, The Death law. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Law: Death Grade: Superior Stage: Infant Progress: .00001 Description: Death Law stands as one of the most feared and revered magical disciplines. Rooted in the dark primordial forces that govern the end of life, the Death Law offers unparalleled power over mortality and the afterlife. Practitioners, known as Necromancers, Dark Mages, Death Knight and Death Disciples wield this formidable force with both caution and ambition, for its capabilities extend far beyond the mere cessation of life. The Death Law grants its users the ability to commune with the deceased, summoning spirits from the underworld to extract secrets long buried. It enables the reanimation of corpses, turning the dead into obedient servants, bound to the necromancer''s will. These undead minions vary from simple skeletal warriors to complex revenants with retained skills and memories. Death Law can inflict devastating curses that drain the life force of victims, causing rapid decay or lingering suffering. Its practitioners can manipulate shadows and darkness, creating terrifying illusions or concealing their presence from both mortal and magical detection. The Death Law is not without its risks. The boundary between life and death is fragile, and reckless use of this power can result in unintended consequences, such as uncontrolled hauntings or the necromancer''s own soul being trapped in the abyss. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After reading he found it''s very interesting as it mentioned things about necromancer which he liked a lot to read in novels. [A/N: Just like me. HeHeHe.] "Who said this." Rey said this while looking around but found nothing. "Okay so now for the final one and I wanted to see what''s so much in it to amaze you all." Rey said and clicked on the last one [DARKNESS]. The information showed on the screen shocked him. "What the hell." Rey said in a shocked state. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Law: [DARKNESS] Grade: ORIGIN Stage: Infant Progress: .00000001306 Description: Darkness is Eternal and Eternity is Darkness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Huh, what is this thing? It doesn''t have any description like the other two, and I don''t understand these stages and types. I''ve never read anything like this in novels," Rey said, puzzled, as he gazed out the window. "Listen boy I shall tell you that Laws are divided into 3 parts: - 1. Common: Like Fire, water, Wind, Earth, Lightening and many more. 2. Uncommon: Ice, Magma, Thunder, Gravity, Darkness, Light, Blood, wood and many more. 3. Superior: Death, Soul, Shadow, Space, Time, Chaos, Null and many more. "These three are known to the world, but there is still one left, the Origin ones, comprehended only by a few. And those who fully understand it gain complete control over that element," Aiden said, pausing to let him absorb the information. "However, I read that those who comprehend the law become fully resistant to that element and gain total control over it," Rey questioned, beginning to doubt what he had read. "Yes, that is partially correct; they have gained about 95% control over it. However, the true masters are those who have 100% control and reign supreme over those elements. Even if a being two or three grades higher were to use the same elemental spell against him, he who possesses the Origin element would not receive a single scratch," Aiden replied. "Okay, I understand this, but I don''t think I''ll be able to achieve it. Seeing the rate of progress, it would take decades, no, millions of centuries to gain even half of it, and with my potential, it''s just not possible," Rey said with a bitter smile. "You wouldn''t understand now because laws are only accessible from rank 3, and only geniuses or those with monster capabilities can grasp them at rank 2 but when you got it on that rank you will be able to comprehend it, I promise as we will help you in it." Aiden explained but still look a dejected look on his face and turned to Victor for assistance. "Listen, boy, as you now know, only those of rank 3 can comprehend the laws. Normally, that would be a common rank, but you''ve grasped a superior law, and not just one, but two," Victor began, after receiving a nod from Aiden. "This could be overlooked, but you possess the Origin element, which is exceedingly rare, found in perhaps one in a hundred Trillion. Those who have it are in a league of their own. And..." Victor''s explanation was cut short as the door swung open and Rey''s sister entered. She was taken aback to see her brother, who had always been a small, nerdy-looking kid, now sitting on his bed shirtless, his physique resembling that of someone who had been working out for years. "Wow, brother, what are you doing shirtless?" Emmy exclaimed, covering her eyes but still peeking at his chiseled body. "Oh, sorry Emmy, I just took a bath and was about to get dressed, but you arrived first. Just give me a minute," Rey explained as he hurriedly searched for a T-shirt. He found one in yellow and white, which he liked, and quickly put it on. "So, tell me, what happened? Why did you come here?" Rey asked, adjusting his clothes which felt a bit too tight, and glanced at her. She was staring at his body as if she had seen a ghost. "Brother, when did you get so much taller, and where did you get such smooth skin, even smoother than mine?" She inquired, recovering from her initial shock. She began pinching the skin on his arm and eyed his shirt, which was stretched tight by his muscles. Rey who got up quickly stand in front of his mirror and looked at the image reflected on it and got shocked as he found that he got taller for about 3-4 cm and his skin look like of those skin advertising model. "What the hell is this." Rey screamed a little which startled Emmy a little and she remembered why she come here. "Yes, brother I come here to say that come down quickly as dinner is ready and mom is waiting for you so hurry and eat the dinner before mom got angry." Emmy said and run out of the room leaving behind the still shocked Rey who heard the dinner thing and after some little more thinking he start walking toward the window but suddenly Zero come in front of him and stopped his way. "Now, what did you want to say? And where did you go when Emmy entered the room?" Rey asked Zero, about to sidestep her, but she suddenly leaped onto him. The matter began covering his body as before, and he noticed his favorite T-shirt dissolving beneath it. He was on the verge of yelling when Aiden intervened, advising him to let her proceed. Moments later, he was enveloped in silver matter, leaving only his head exposed. Before his eyes, the matter shifted color, transforming into the hue of his previous clothes but in a larger size that fit him perfectly, concealing his body''s shape. "Wow, that''s cool, just like in a manga," Rey said, looking at his reflection in the mirror. After a few minutes, he left his room and went downstairs for dinner. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Story of a kind helper? "Wow, this is just like in the manga where the main character gets that awesome armor that morphs and is super comfy," Rey exclaimed, twisting and turning to test its flexibility. "Don''t even put those tacky armors in the same league as this one; it''s light-years ahead of those soulless tin cans," Aiden remarked before vanishing into his own body. ''I better make a run for it, or mom''s going to have my head for being late,'' Rey thought, dashing from his room to the dining room. Arriving there, he saw Emmy and his mom dining in silence. His mom''s eyes widened at the sight of him, her spoon nearly clattering to the floor, but she caught it and stared as if he were a ghost. "Who are you, and how did you get inside our house?" Jasmine demanded, snatching a knife from the kitchen and shielding Emmy behind her. "What? Mom, can''t you tell? It''s me, your son!" Rey protested, stepping forward only to halt as she retreated slightly, raising the knife as if ready to strike. "You expect me to believe I don''t recognize my own son? My son isn''t a giant, he''s just an average kid, not like you. Stop this charade and leave before I call the cops," Jasmine threatened, brandishing the knife to intimidate him, but he stood his ground. Emmy, peeking from behind her mother, noticed the man''s attire bore a resemblance to her brother''s and recalled his recent transformation, spotting the similarities, she stepped out from behind her mother. "Brother, is that you?" Emmy asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty, which caused her mother to startle and swiftly pull her away from the unfamiliar man. "Yes, Emmy, it''s me, your brother. And Mom, why are you so frightened? I''m your son, don''t you recognize me? I don''t believe I''ve changed that much," Rey said as he moved toward a mirror on the wall. His approach caused his mother to recoil and retreat to the farthest corner away from him. "Huh, who is this?" Rey exclaimed, staring at his reflection in disbelief. Even he could not recognize the face looking back at him. His once frail and weak body had undergone a dramatic transformation, now possessing muscles capable of crushing rocks and metals like iron and steel. "Hey, Aiden, what''s going on with my body? The stats increase isn''t huge; I''ve only gained 40 points in each, and a bit more from Zero, but it''s causing massive changes," Rey inquired mentally. "Listen, kid, I''ll explain it in your terms. It''s like equipping a legendary armor and items on a weak character; it becomes overpowered and helps you clear the level. It''s similar here; you''ve bonded with us, and we''re at the pinnacle of the item ranking. So, what else would you expect?" Aiden replied. "Hey, what do you mean by ''weak character''?" Rey shouted, having heard the explanation. He turned to his mother and sister, noting their wariness had lessened somewhat. A silence fell for a few minutes before his mother rose from her chair, took a glass of water, and drank, her gaze settling on Rey. "Alright, if you truly are my son, tell me something that only the two of us would know, something not even Emmy is aware of," Jasmine challenged, seeking the truth. "Alright, let me set the scene: it was about seven months back, you waltzed into the house early because the sun was practically frying eggs on the sidewalk. Desperate for something chilly, you raided the fridge and¡ªvoil¨¤¡ªa cup of blueberry ice cream appeared like a frosty mirage. You dove in without a second thought. But halfway through your arctic adventure, it hit you. That ice cream was Emmy''s treasure, acquired after an epic one-hour queue at the store. In a panic to cover your icy tracks, you pinned the blame on me, claiming a tragic ''accidental'' drop by her brother. The result? She gave me the cold shoulder for a week. And up until this grand confession, she was none the wiser. So, yeah, sorry about that. Oops?" Rey rattled off, barely taking a breath. The room plunged into silence, and Jasmine caught her daughter''s gaze, filled with the shimmer of betrayed tears. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Jasmine shot Rey a sharp look for his comment but approached Emmy, who was on the verge of tears. "I''m sorry, dear. It was an oversight on my part, and I promise to make it up to you with two new ones," Jasmine offered, and after several minutes of gentle persuasion, Emmy''s mood began to soften. "So, you really are Rey, but what has happened to you? I can hardly believe someone could change so drastically in just 5-6 hours," Jasmine remarked, her gaze roaming over him as if sizing him up for a new set of clothes. ''Hey, Aiden, I''m at a loss for words here. I need some assistance,'' Rey implored silently, seeking Aiden''s guidance in his thoughts. "Hush, boy you never learn to manipulate other with words but let it aside and tell them what I am saying." Aiden said with a big sigh. {A/N: - All the words said by Rey is from Aiden to lessen the work a little as even ''I am only human Afterall''.} "So, what happened is, ... when I was coming home from the friend house today just as I told you while coming home, I met an old man taking a huge cardboard box on a street and I walked toward him to help but before I can, suddenly the man collapsed on the street and after seeing this I dashed toward him. I quickly take him to the near park area and help him sit down on a chair and after that I gave him some water to drink and waited for him to gain some breath. And while I bring back the big box of him. He thanked me and took out a small clay bottle like in cultivator novel and put it on my hand and said " thanks child for helping me and clearing this test as I was looking for a kind and help other without any greed. And you passed it with flying colors. HOHOHO," he exclaimed, and then he suddenly disappeared from that spot. When I tried to look for him, he was nowhere to be found, as if I had seen a ghost," Rey recounted Aiden''s entire story, even mimicking the old man a bit while telling it. A little while later... "So, you expect me to believe this story of yours, which seems like it was read from a 6-year-old''s book?" Jasmine said, scrutinizing him to extract the truth. ''Pfft, looks like someone has the mindset of a 6-year-old, doesn''t he, Aiden?'' Rey retorted. "No, Mom, I''m telling the truth, and it''s as real as the fact that I am your son and no one else''s. And I think that old man was a martial artist or a cultivator of a higher rank," Rey said, giving her puppy eyes that twinkled like stars, aiming to lower her shield of suspicion and prove his honesty. "Hmm... okay, I understand, but please stop making that face; it''s making me nauseous. Rey, you''re turning 18 next month, yet you''re acting like a 5-year-old," Jasmine said with a slight sigh. ''Hush, we''re safe now,'' Rey thought, about to relax, but then... "Show me the bottle first, then I''ll fully trust you. And don''t say you broke it; if so, show me its remains," Jasmine demanded. "O... okay, I''ll show it to you, but wait a few minutes. It''s in my room, and I can''t remember where I put it, so just give me a few minutes, and I''ll be back," Rey said with a hint of hesitation and dashed out of the room. He hurried upstairs, entered his room, and locked the door. "Now, how are we going to find this bottle, or vial, or whatever it is?" he wondered aloud in frustration. "It''s your problem, boy, and I''m out of it. I''m going to sleep, so goodbye to the big trouble," Victor said, leaving the other three in silence as he dispersed into Rey''s body. "I knew we shouldn''t have lied; we should have told the truth from the start. But now, how are we going to get the Vial?" he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What will happen next? Will he manage to obtain the vial, or will his lie be exposed? First skill activation and new title gained. "Hey, why are you getting so hyped up?" Aiden said, then continued, "Let me remind you that we are the god relics. Have you already forgotten our abilities?" "Huh, oh yes, thanks for the reminder, Aiden," Rey said after a brief silence. He opened his status to check for any ability that could help him and then he found it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zero Abilities: - 3. Item creation: - Can be used to make items from the body matter and mana. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hmm, wait a moment, I currently lack mana, correct? I''ve encountered in various novels and manga that mana cannot be retained in our bodies without a core. Moreover, utilizing it with zero matter, especially since mother has taken it, would complicate matters further," Rey pondered, beginning to mutter under his breath. "Who mentioned that we''re incapable of storing mana within ourselves? Within our hearts lies a small, core-like substance inherent in everyone, which permits the use of a modest amount of mana without issue, and that''s our heart. Should someone attempt to augment their mana capacity without establishing a core, their heart would rupture the instant they tried to enhance it. Considering your body has significantly strengthened, I believe you must form the core at E- rank," Aiden narrated the entire scenario to him. "Huh, if I hadn''t achieved this strong body, what level would have been required to create it?" Rey inquired, driven by his curiosity. "Well, it would have been about an F grade, and even then, you might have started experiencing minor heart pains. But now, it''s been pushed to an E-. If you wish, you can now stretch it to the maximum of E rank." Aiden said, casting a glance at the dumb kid he had selected for the host position. "Ohhh. You all are far more useful than you appear," Rey remarked, nodding repeatedly with his mouth formed into an ''O''. "Okay, here we go. [Item creation]," Rey said, extending his hand forward and announcing the skill name to activate it, but nothing happened. "Huh, why didn''t the skill work?" he asked, tilting his head to the right. "What on earth are you doing, you moron?" Aiden demanded, punching Rey in the head, causing him to clutch his head in intense pain. "Why did this go wrong? I remember using that skill like this in anime and manga," Rey said, looking at Aiden for an explanation with a dejected expression. "Listen, boy, the real world isn''t a novel or manga. You only have one life, and there''s no plot armor to save you here. Follow me and watch how it''s done," Aiden instructed, and Rey nodded vigorously. As ordered, Rey closed his eyes, and after an hour, he was able to sense his inner mind, or the inside of Aiden''s body, where twelve ability balls were floating around. With Aiden''s help, despite many mistakes, he began to understand how to do this. "Wow, so this is the space inside your body, huh?" Rey exclaimed, running around and approaching the twelve orbs floating in the air, of which only two were unchained, floating freely, while the other ten were bound by crystal-clear chains of azure-blue. "Yes, these represent my abilities," Aiden explained. "And now, I''ll show you how to use them." As Rey watched, mana flowed from his heart to his brain, entering Aiden''s form. Suddenly, the space ripped open, and a gust of mana burst forth, enveloping the unchained orbs, while a system notification rang in his ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Description: The title is bestowed upon those who achieve significant knowledge without systemic assistance. It is reserved for the self-sufficient mavericks and geniuses who do not require the conventional support systems. This title can be combined with other honors. Effect: Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. * Enhance skill activation speed by 15%. * Boost the probability of skill creation by 25%. * Elevate the likelihood of acquiring a skill by observing it by 5%. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ " Oh, thanks Aiden for this gift, Hehe." Rey said and laughed while rubbing his head for gaining the title only given to geniuses. "What the hell how... why did you give him that as I am the one who did this for him, and you gave him that now." Aiden screamed like a mad man at system. "Aiden, I think system see us as one because we are bonded and gives your credit to me, I guess." Rey explained his theory he guessed. "Well, who cares about this lousy title? Just focus on using your skill and remember how I did it," Aiden said, and they both emerged from the inner mind space. ''This title could be quite useful for that ability of mine,'' Aiden thought, but he shelved the idea for the time being, as the future is uncertain, especially for the weak, and even he couldn''t predict the actions of the high rankers. "Now, try to use my ability, telekinesis." he said. And the information screen appeared in front of him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Telekinesis (God rank) [current- rank0]: - Allow the host to obtain the skill Telekinesis which can be limited only by imagination. Limit: 5kg {Weight limit increase with Level.} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Cool," Rey said, imagining lifting buildings, mountains, or tens of thousands of swords with this ability, though his current limit was only 5kg. "Right, just shut up and try the skill," Aiden instructed. "Okay, sir," Rey responded with a salute, then used the skill on a book on his desk. The book vibrated slightly at first, and after a few attempts, it began to levitate and rise. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Brother, why is it taking so long? You know mom is waiting downstairs," Emmy''s voice came from outside the door. "Yes, yes, I''m coming, Emmy. Don''t worry. Tell mom I''ve just found it under the desk and I''m trying to get it out, so wait for just 3 more minutes," Rey replied. Afterward, he heard Emmy''s footsteps retreating downstairs. "Phew, that was close," Rey muttered, glancing at Aiden, who also let out a small sigh of relief. "Okay, leave my skill and focus on Zero''s skills," Aiden instructed, and Rey nodded in agreement. "But wait, where do I direct my mana if she''s covered my entire body with her matter? I don''t even know where her real body is," Rey inquired. "It''s actually quite simple; you just need to direct your mana to the surface of your skin, and that''s it. She''ll handle the rest, right Zero?" Aiden clarified, and Zero responded with a thumbs-up gesture. "Understood, sir," Rey replied with a military-like accent. He focused on his mana and, despite some initial struggles, managed to control it, though not in the way Aiden had described. The mana moved in the directed path, but some particles remained disobedient. However, with Aiden''s guidance, he perfected the control and, with considerable effort, made contact with the skin area, causing his mind to go blank. Rey then found himself in an expansive void, silver particles drifting around him. He noticed fifteen sun-like objects floating nearby, similar to Aiden''s, with only five unbound and ten restrained by azure-blue crystal chains. "Huh, why are these chains the same as those in Aiden''s abilities? Could they be from the same origin?" Rey pondered aloud. "Yes, they are from the same origin. It''s the system that has blocked our abilities until the host reaches the minimum required capability," Aiden explained, which took Rey by surprise, as he had assumed he was the only one who could enter this place, aside from the relic spirit. "Oh, that''s why," Rey nodded. Minutes later, he realized his mana was flowing from the outer space, filling the void. He exerted control over it and directed it towards a sun-like object, an item creation ability. The mana enveloped it completely, and the skill activated. Emerging from the space, Rey noticed a magic circle on his hand. "Quick, make a bottle, or you''ll deplete your mana." "O... okay," he responded hastily, envisioning a pill bottle from a cultivation manga. He sensed a significant loss, 85% of his mana, as the creation process began. In the midst of it, Rey collapsed, gasping for air, overwhelmed by a weakness as if he had run 10 km. "Are you okay?" Zero inquired through the system. "Yes, I am. Don''t worr- worry," Rey managed to say, struggling. After a few minutes, he stood up to find the bottle nearly complete at 98%. He swiftly grabbed the bottle and dashed from the room, heading for the dining table downstairs. As he was about to enter, he collided with his sister Emmy, who seemed to be on her way to call him once more. His mother awaited him there, her expression slightly irate due to the more than thirty minutes he had spent searching for the ceramic bottle. Approaching her, he presented the bottle he had found in his room. "Look, Mom, here it is," Rey announced, showing it to her. His mother hummed thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on him, repeating the action, which only served to heighten Rey''s anxiety. ''Rey, don''t be nervous; she''ll catch you in this trap. Just relax and maintain your composure,'' Aiden advised, bolstering Rey''s morale, and he quickly heeded the advice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First Glimpse and the match of geniuses. Rey was as nervous as could be, yet outwardly as calm as a still pond. After several minutes of intense staring, his mother sighed deeply and set the bottle down on the table. "Okay, I believe you, but listen carefully. If I find anything suspicious about you, or if you''re not my son but a stranger in his place, you''ll be dead," Jasmine declared, placing a knife against his neck and mimicking a slashing motion. "Alright, Mom, I get it, but could you please move the knife away from my neck? It''s positioned in a way that could cut me," he said, edging back slightly. "If I''m indeed innocent, could someone please make an effort to feed me? I''m extremely hungry at this moment," Rey added, stepping back as his stomach emitted a low growl. "Okay, okay, I''m sorry, I forgot about dinner," Jasmine apologized, setting aside the plate she and Emmy had been eating from, as the food had gone cold and no one desired cold food before bed. After placing a fresh one on the table, they began to eat quickly, and within five minutes, the food was gone. Rey''s eating speed was astonishing; he consumed a portion meant for two, which only increased his mother''s suspicions. Once dinner was over, Jasmine moved to wash the dishes, but Rey stopped her, suggesting that they watch TV while he took care of it. Witnessing this, his mother recalled that the old Rey would often do the same to reduce her workload. She sighed, giving herself a light slap for doubting her child and mistaking him for a stranger. Despite the changes on the outside, inside, he remained the same. While Rey was doing the dishes, they both started watching TV. He could hear the sounds of news channels and occasionally a movie channel, recognizing that Emmy must be holding the remote. He sighed softly, a small smile on his face. "Today is the final match between our two contestants in the High School Martial Artist Tournament," announced the TV from the living room. Eager to watch the match, Rey quickly finished washing the dishes. He rapidly cleaned all of them, checked that everything was in order, washed his hands, and, after drying them with a towel, joined Emmy and his mom in the living room. They were watching the match as two high school students took the stage. "On the left side is David Bennett, the young master of the Bennett family, and on the right side, we have Aria Frostheart, the young miss of the Frostheart family and the top star of the tournament," the referee announced loudly. The crowd in the stadium began cheering for both, but the cheers for Aria grew louder and louder, eventually overpowering those for David. "Hush, Aria, I think you''re quite famous in the crowd as your fans are increasing," David said, looking around at the cheering crowd. "You should worry about yourself, David, as you won''t be able to walk off this stage on your own today," Aria replied with a cold, uncaring voice. "Ho, we will see who is going to win today," David said in a low voice. Aria looked so beautiful that every time she moved, it seemed as if an angel were dancing for everyone. This isn''t just my opinion; it''s what the mindset of the people sitting in the crowd suggests. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall with an hourglass figure, age of 17 years old and every angle of her body appeared as a masterpiece crafted by a god of perfection. Her long white hair cascaded down to her waist, complementing her light blue eyes, tender and soft skin, and a demeanor as cool as ice. She could become an ideal model, capable of making significant changes in the modeling industry. There are rumors that a prominent company offered her a contract, which was immediately declined. However, as rumors are just that, their veracity cannot be fully trusted. {Character design in comments.} David stood at 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a muscular build and dark brown hair. His eyes were a striking dark orange shade age of 18 years old. His face could rival that of a model, reminiscent of a main character from a fantasy novel, but who cares about that. {Character design in comments.} You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. He returned to the outer area of the stage and retrieved a large suitcase from his servant, which was held by three people. He opened it and took out a broadsword with a handle made from a strange black metal, and a blade that shone like silver but was stronger and more durable. {Weapon design in comments.} Aria also returned to the outer stage area to receive a sword held by a girl. "Sis, are you sure you can win this match? Look at his sword, crafted by his family''s advanced blacksmith, and you have your regular sword. How are you going to win?" Elara, Aria''s sister, who stood at 5 feet 7 inches tall with blonde hair, 16 years of age, and black irises, questioned her while eyeing the broadsword in David''s hand. {Character design in comments.} "There''s no need to worry, Elara. I am confident in myself that he will be the one visiting the hospital today," she replied, returning to her position and quickly assuming the stance she wanted for the attack. Both were ready, and the referee was about to start the match as the crowd''s curiosity grew, wondering who would emerge victorious. Both began to emanate their auras; Aria''s body emitted a cold, freezing aura that began to frost over the stage, while behind David, an image formed, taking the shape of a demon composed of orange flames. Some spectators exclaimed at this display of aura, which even caused the referee to step back a few paces to avoid injury. "He has begun to use their family''s unique technique, Infernal Pyroclasm, which only a few can master," Elara heard her friend say, eyes fixed on the image that grew larger as the flames spread across the floor. "But my sister is not to be underestimated; she has also mastered our family''s secret technique, the Glacial Abyss Technique, only mastered by those in the family with the royal frost bloodline. She is also proclaimed a genius, even greater than our ancestor," Elara declared. "Begin," announced the referee, standing just outside the stage. The two competitors lunged at each other, their swords clashing with a resounding impact. David''s superior strength forced Aria to retreat a few steps, her sword showing cracks from the collision. The visible cracks highlighted the disparity in their weapons'' quality, a gap that could only be bridged by a rare few qualities. Qualities that Aria evidently possessed, as her sword began to freeze over. The entire blade transformed, encased in ice, morphing from a standard sword into a longsword. The ice qi she conjured with her technique filled the cracks, reinforcing the weapon''s structure. David, not to be outdone, initiated his technique, channeling his Qi to hurl fireballs at Aria, who deftly shattered them with her newly forged frost blade. "Let''s see if you can handle this," David declared, conjuring a large fireball above his head and hurling it at Aria. She was momentarily startled but quickly raised her guard and slashed her sword, sending three icy strikes towards the fireball. The collision resulted in an explosion, and the stage was engulfed in smoke. As it cleared, the audience saw both combatants breathing a bit faster, yet unharmed, which only fueled their cheers. The battle raged on with an exchange of slashes and advanced movement techniques. Both sides sustained injuries to their hands and legs, and Aria received a scratch on her cheek. As their stamina and Qi began to wane, they both recognized the signs and started preparing their final moves to conclude the match. "If you can withstand this, you win Aria, but if not, be ready to go on a date with me as per our bet from a week ago," David said with a wink, inciting jealousy among many male fans. Rey was also envious, wanting to thrash David so badly that he''d be bedridden for life. "Huh, we''ll see who wins and who loses after this," Aria retorted with her usual cold demeanor, beginning to prepare her move. David began to channel the remaining qi into his blade, which grew hotter and glowed orange. The handle bubbled from the intense heat, and even the floor began to melt, but he didn''t stop, continuing to amass more energy. Meanwhile, Aria was executing her move; the wind swirled beneath her, gathering momentum, and an ice blade began to form within it. Both were prepared, and the breaths of the entire crowd were held in anticipation. Suddenly, both unleashed their attacks. "Wrath of the Flame Demon!" David bellowed, swinging his sword towards the tempest encircling Aria. "Glacial Storm!" Aria countered, her blade slashing through the air towards David as his fiery assault approached. The two attacks collided, resulting in a tremendous explosion that created a dense fog. The forceful winds generated by the blast swept over the spectators outside the arena, shattering the glass windows in an instant. The crowd composed themselves after a few minutes. Then, someone yelled, asking what had happened to the two of them. Everyone waited for the fog to dissipate, as the outcome could only be determined afterward. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The winner of the match and Regretting his role in the demise. [1] The stage was shrouded in fog following the climactic exchange between Aria and David, drawing all eyes to the obscured battleground. The audience held its collective breath, awaiting the moment the fog would lift. Spectators, both in the arena and watching from afar via mobiles and TVs, were perched on the edge of their seats, hearts racing with anticipation. Would a victor emerge, or would the battle rage on? As the facility''s ventilation system whirred to life, the fog began to retreat, slowly unveiling the outcome. A hush fell over the crowd, the tension palpable in the charged silence. Then, after minutes that stretched like hours, the fog dissipated completely. The result, now clear for all to see, sent a wave of shock through the audience, their gaze locked onto the stage, where the unexpected outcome was revealed. The outcome was clear for all to see, leaving the audience in utter disbelief. The stage lay in ruins, and both combatants were sprawled across the wreckage, unconscious. A hush fell over the crowd for several minutes until the referee, recovering from his astonishment, announced, "The match is declared a draw as both fighters are unable to continue." This proclamation sent shockwaves through the stadium and among online viewers, as no one anticipated a double knockout. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Aria''s male fans experienced mixed emotions; they were relieved she wouldn''t have to date David, yet dismayed by her knockout. Amidst the commotion, the medical team hastened onto the stage, followed by Elara, who was concerned for her sister''s well-being. Upon arrival, she found a team of female nurses and a doctor attending to her sister, who was modestly covered with a blanket, despite her suit being torn in several places. Moments after the checkup began, Aria''s eyes snapped open, startling the medical team who had anticipated several hours before she would regain consciousness due to her physical and mental exhaustion from the battle. Despite their intentions to transport her via stretcher, she communicated her refusal through a gesture. With her sister''s assistance, Aria rose and began descending from the stage. Meanwhile, David was under the attentive care of numerous doctors and nurses. Although merely drained from the combat, he was resting peacefully. Requiring the strength of three to four individuals, he was placed on a stretcher and escorted to the changing room, from where he would be conveyed to his residence. Amidst these events, Aria, having descended the stage, cast a glance back at the team attending to David. A subtle smile graced her features, a detail the media did not miss as they prepared to engage her with questions. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Why did you smile when you saw the men taking David away?" a reporter inquired. "Because I promised my fans that I would have David carried off the stage on a stretcher, and I''ve fulfilled that promise," Aria responded as she headed towards the exit leading to the changing rooms. The media clamored for more questions, but Elara intervened, quickly following Aria with the medical team in tow for her check-up. Entering the hall, Elara found Aria seated on the floor, leaning against the wall for support. She approached Aria, attempting to rouse her, but found she was asleep. "My stoic sister, you truly are a work of art," Elara remarked with a faint smile, shaking her head. She then gestured to the team to escort Aria to the infirmary for a check-up and first aid. Aria''s reputation soared among all her fans, who admired her resolve, and even David''s fans were swayed by her comment. As the martial tournament concluded with its final bout, Emmy, awestruck, exclaimed, "Big sis Aria is so amazing, isn''t she, brother? I want to be just like her one day, defeating the villains and protecting the good and innocent!" She demonstrated her aspirations by playfully adopting a fighting stance, complete with mock punches and sword slashes. Rey smiled at his sibling''s enthusiasm and replied, "Yes, Aria has always been both cool and composed. But I''ll let you in on a secret that only the three of us know¡ªmyself, Aria, and Elara. Aria wasn''t always this way; she used to be a shy and timid girl. She only showed her true self to us, and the demeanor you see now is a facade she adopted for her own protection. Without it, she was afraid she would become a target for the numerous boys who constantly pursued her because of her beauty. Set it aside and hand me the remote; I wish to watch the news now. You should go upstairs and attend to your homework," Rey instructed, pausing momentarily as if lost in a reverie of past memories before snapping back to reality. He took the remote from her and gestured towards the stairs. "I hate you," Emmy retorted with a pout, sticking out her tongue at him before scampering away. Jasmine observed the scene, a soft sigh escaping her as she mused, ''It seems he was momentarily caught up in a memory.'' She watched her son, who was now looking at Emmy''s retreating figure, shaking his head with a small, amused laugh. "Well let''s see what''s happing around the world." Rey said and dialed the channel number and sat on the sofa before the Tv beside his mother who was also watching it. In the news channel both can see an anchor talking about sone huge murder case in which about 20-25 people are killed in a closed factory of Lumina City of Dragon kingdom. After hearing this Rey thought it was quite a coincidence as its on his city and he remembered that he didn''t kill anyone in the factory and thought it would be another one. "The live footage sent by our team from the incident area will now be shown," said the anchorman, and as the footage appeared on the screen, it left everyone watching in shock. As in video there was bodies everywhere lying there in line and the area were marked where the body was found. "It is evident that the individual responsible for this act is a trained professional assassin, given that the body was positioned in an area concealed from others," explained the reporter, while displaying the body with the bloody and attacked parts censored. Just as he was about to speak further, a sudden scream erupted from within. He, his crew, and the police force dashed inside, where the cameraman captured a policeman seated on the floor, appearing to have fallen. The man pointed in a specific direction, and upon looking there, they were met with a sight so gruesome that it left some in utter shock, to the point of losing control. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Regretting his role in the demise. [2] The man pointed in a specific direction, and upon looking there, they were met with a sight so gruesome that it left some in utter shock, to the point of losing control. They observed a man seated in a prayerful pose within a large cavity in the ground amidst the debris, his hands placed on the earth to his left and right. But the man heads were on the ground backward and his spine was outside his body with blood and muscle spilled around everywhere. His spine was still connected with his body and his whole mouth was smashed into meat paste like someone has punched him 100 of times. His body inner organ was spilled around the ground and the whole area was covered in dried blood. Everyone who witnessed the event was terrified, but the reporter and his crew managed to stay relatively calm, having covered similar events for years. However, this incident was more intense than what they had previously encountered, so they quickly evacuated the building in search of fresh air. Once outside, they saw several ambulances in the distance. Approaching them, they discovered that doctors and nurses were providing first aid to individuals who had been held captive for an extended period. "Sir, can you tell us what happened here and who rescued you?" the reporter asked one of the rescued individuals. "No, sir, we didn''t see anything. We only heard sounds of fighting, a loud explosion, and then, after a while, silence fell over the factory. A few minutes later, our door opened, and a man dressed in a cool black coat and a mask entered, resembling a dark villain. We feared it was our turn to die, but instead, he saved us. When we inquired about his name, he replied, ''Raven Blade,'' right?" The man recounted the events and even confirmed with another man beside him, who nodded continuously. "That man was a hero," a young girl, around 10 or 11 years old, interjected, beginning to describe the man who had saved them. And the video ended after the reporter asked everyone about the incident and the news anchor screen was shut down. "The extent of the damage caused by the individual known as Raven Blade is significant, resulting in numerous fatalities. However, it has been determined that the deceased were criminals involved in kidnapping and robbery, orchestrated by their leader, Jacob. Due to the condition of Jacob''s remains, which could be distressing to viewers, we are unable to broadcast the image in accordance with safety regulations," the anchor reported, detailing the entire incident and displaying photographs of the culprits. "It appears that the safety of this area is increasingly compromised. Just two months ago, a family was murdered overnight, and now we have this incident," Jasmine remarked, glancing at her son, whose face was beaded with sweat. "What''s wrong, son? You seem overly concerned about this news," she inquired, nudging him gently on the shoulder to snap him out of his reverie. "Ah, sorry, Mom. I just remembered something urgent I need to do for school," Rey replied, quickly excusing himself to his room. "Kids these days always seem to forget the important things," Jasmine mused, turning off the TV and heading to the kitchen to finish up before bedtime. While this was happening, Rey had already entered his room and locked the door. "Aiden, come outside right now," Rey demanded in a stern voice. "What''s the matter, kid? Why are you so angry?" Aiden asked as he appeared before him in a night suit, holding a pillow and rubbing his eyes. "Aiden, I''m going to ask you something, and I want a straight answer¡ªno twisting words," Rey instructed, while Victor and Zero also emerged from his body and stood aside, sensing the tension in the air. "Alright, I''ll answer truthfully, but make it quick; I''m sleepy," Aiden responded in a drowsy, childlike tone. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Tell me, what exactly did you do to the thugs guarding the factory building?" Rey asked directly. "Huh? Didn''t I already tell you that I put them to sleep? They should have woken up by now," Aiden replied. "Aiden, am I in the mood for a joke or something?" Rey asked with a grim, serious face. "No, but I was right when I said they are in ''eternal sleep'' and woke up in ''hell,''" Aiden replied with a straight face. "So, when were you going to mention ''eternal'' and ''hell,'' huh?" Rey said, starting to pull his hair while thinking about the murder Aiden had committed with his body. "What happened, kiddo? Did someone say anything to you about the murder I committed?" Aiden inquired while changing into his normal clothes. "No, but it''s on TV, and you know the boss named Jacob, whom I was fighting, was killed so brutally. Please tell me you didn''t do this," Rey pleaded. "No, I didn''t," Aiden responded. "Hush, but wait, so who did this?" Rey took a sigh of relief and was about to ponder who could have done this but stopped. "You did it. I mean, if there''s an investigation, you''ll be seen as the murderer in the eyes of society and executed in the name of the Raven blade," Aiden said, leaving Rey''s mouth agape. "Ah, what have you done? Now I might go to jail or, worse, get executed. But if I claim he did this... who would believe me? They''ll send me to a mental hospital for shock treatment," Rey thought, his body shuddering at the idea. "I shouldn''t have gotten involved; now I''m moments away from being branded a criminal," Rey muttered, pacing the room while Aiden and another person sat on the bed. "Boy, calm down and listen to me," Aiden urged him. "How can I stay calm after what you''ve done?" Rey retorted, about to bite his nails in anxiety when a sharp slap to his left cheek silenced him. It was Zero, controlled by Aiden, who had delivered the slap. "Listen, remember you purchased a complete suit, and the gloves were included, so there''s no need to fear; I doubt they''ll retrieve any fingerprints," Aiden explained, which brought a glow to Rey''s increasingly pale face. "Ah, I had almost forgotten, thank you, Aiden. But why did you suggest I might get caught?" Rey inquired, twirling in his newfound joy. "Oh, I was merely jesting with you," Aiden replied, sporting an innocent child''s grin. "You should listen¡ªI am worlds apart from you all, and I never desired to be with you. So let''s agree to part ways," Rey declared, and after a brief dance and a glass of water, he retired to bed to sleep. "Wait, are you implying your end is near? So, it has come to this. Well done, lad; I shall remember you as the briefest of hosts," Victor, who had been sitting quietly, remarked. He then placed his hands on Rey''s shoulders in commendation and merged into him to rest. "Huh, what happened to him?" Rey asked, while the others simply shrugged their shoulders. "Okay, I''m going to sleep, so don''t disturb me," Aiden declared before disappearing from his spot. "They''re both clowns, aren''t they?" Rey commented with a slight smile, and Zero nodded in agreement. "Well, as I can see, you''re much better than those two, aren''t you?" Rey remarked as Zero gave a small smile and, after merging with Rey''s body, entered her sleep slumber. "Now that everyone is asleep, should I go too? But first, I have to..." Rey trailed off as he ran towards the toilet to answer nature''s call. After returning, he too fell asleep. The room was silent, but suddenly a figure appeared in front of the still-sleeping Rey and did something to him. "What are you doing right now, Aiden?" Victor emerged and looked at the figure hovering above Rey''s head. "Just a little rearrangement of his brain," Aiden replied as he stopped using the little mana he had borrowed from Rey''s body, who was still asleep. "But why?" Victor inquired. "It''s for his own good, but why do you ask? I remember you couldn''t wait to get away from him," Aiden said with a grin. "But you might break him," Victor replied, concern evident in his voice. "Oh, so the great warrior is now concerned about a weak child?" Aiden teased with a coaxing smile. "I am not..." Victor began, hesitating. "It''s better for him to adapt. Otherwise, he''ll end up in a far worse state than he is now," Aiden stated. "Still, you should go easy on him," Victor suggested, glancing at the boy. "No, it''s for his own good, by which he can be ready for the real world." Aiden insisted. "Kid, this night is going to be a long one for you," Victor said as both disappeared from there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Night of Hell. [1] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the two relic spirits returned to slumber within their primary vessel inside Rey''s body, Rey, who had been sleeping peacefully, began to exhibit signs of distress and mumbled incoherently. "Stop... don''t do this, ahhh," he uttered, yet he remained unable to awaken. After a brief moment of calm, his expression twisted in discomfort once more, and he began to scream for help, thrashing his arms and legs against the bed, creating a cacophony of sounds. Meanwhile, Aiden, who was also attempting to sleep, found himself disturbed by the boy''s cries and struggles. In a drastic move, he severed the connection between Rey''s nervous system and his body, rendering it temporarily insensate. The boy''s suffering began anew, but this time he was immobilized, with only his eyes functioning as tears gathered, second by second, until even that ceased, as if his body had run dry of tears. In another room, Jasmine was on the verge of sleep when a peculiar sensation invaded her thoughts, prompting her to think of her son, Rey. She sensed something was amiss with him but couldn''t pinpoint what it was, and dismissing it as a mere thought, she fell asleep. Unbeknownst to her, her child was in the midst of a grave ordeal that would alter his life forever. Though the night was quiet, the boy''s mind was anything but, as he endured an unending torment. In an unknown place, we can see Rey floating around. As he drifted into sleep, floating serenely in the void, he noticed a red dot approaching. It grew larger and larger until it loomed before him, making him feel like a mere speck. He was swallowed in it and after a big bang he found himself sitting in his room calmly and tried to call Aiden or other, but no one answer and thought they were sleeping and tried to call the system for checking if everything is alright or not. To his surprise, he wasn''t dreaming, and the realization made him worry. He began to think that everything that had happened was just a dream until now. Meeting the spirit named Aiden, the black-market purchase, the factory incident, and the painful bonding¡ªall seemed like a dream. After pondering for a while, he chuckled, attributing his thoughts to the influence of Evan''s novels. He planned to discuss this with his friend tomorrow. As he was about to go to sleep, he decided to drink some water and went down to the kitchen. After filling a glass and taking a sip, he was ready to head upstairs when a sudden noise caught his attention, and he decided to investigate. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Upon approaching, he noticed the back door ajar. Alarmed by the possibility of an intruder, he hastened to his mother''s room, only to find her door open as well. Inside, his mother lay on the bed, turned away. A flicker of relief passed through him as he moved to wake her, informing her of the open door. Yet, despite his calls, she remained unresponsive, still facing away. Suspicion crept in; his mother was a light sleeper, usually stirring at the slightest sound. Her silence was uncharacteristic. With trepidation, he approached the other side of the bed. As the dreadful reality dawned on him, he collapsed to his knees, his face draining of color at the sight that met his eyes. His mom was lying with a face full of blood and her eyes were rolled backside and her neck was cut with a sharp knife and on her mouth was a mark of hand shutting her mouth. "Mooooooom...." he screamed, rushing toward her with tears streaming down his face, trying to wake her, but she was already gone. "Can somebody help me?" Rey shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping for assistance from outside, but no one was available. "Sis... I''m coming. Wait here, Mom. I''ll get my sister and take you to the hospital," Rey said, his mental state wavering, as he dashed toward her room. He hurried upstairs, finding her door ajar. Fear gripped him, fearing something had happened to her too, but he still moved toward her room with trembling legs. Entering the room, he saw the chaos within; the room was ransacked, the bed empty. Then he noticed a man covered in black clothes like assassin cleaning his dagger with a cloth, who then turned to look at him. Rey found his sister who was lying on the ground filled with blood coming out of her neck and she was trying to stop the blood coming out of her neck wound and when saw him tried to reach him and do a grabbing emotion with her hand and died there. This was the moment when Rey was completely shattered and collapsed to the ground. Tears filled his face and his skin flushed with anger as he lunged at the man with a punch. But what could a weak child do? The assassin vanished, and Rey felt a chilling pain in his thigh. Looking down, he saw both thighs slashed by a sharp knife, and turning back, he saw the man toying with his blade. He wanted to act, but the man approached, pressing the knife against his neck. "Any last wishes?" the man asked. "Why did you do this? We don''t have enough money or anything valuable," Rey questioned. "It''s nothing personal, kid, but we were hired to kill you and your family, so the job must be done," the man replied. "Can you tell me their name please." Rey said. "No, we can''t sorry kid no offence." The man said and about to do the work. "I will kill you and the one behind you I swear." Rey said with anger emotion. "No boy you can''t as today you are dead and remember don''t try to mess with big people again." The man said and slashed the boy neck and after checking that he was dead he also disappeared from there. Moments later, Rey''s eyes snapped open, and he found himself alive. He rose to his feet, surveyed his surroundings, and was overcome with shock. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Night of Hell. [2] Rey awoke again to find himself lying in bed, just as he had initially. He rose and examined his body, finding no cuts or slashes, and sighed in relief, thinking it had all been a dream. Nevertheless, he decided to check on his mother to ensure she was alright. Descending the stairs, he noticed her door was slightly ajar, which made him feel weak as he approached it with hesitant steps. Upon reaching the door, he saw his mother sleeping soundly, unharmed. He was about to feel relieved when his gaze shifted to the other side of the room, where the man who had killed his family was advancing towards her with the same knife used before. He saw the man poised to drive the knife into his mother''s neck, and at this sight, Rey couldn''t restrain himself; he dashed towards the man as he entered the room. The man spotted Rey but couldn''t react in time; the knife had already been thrust into his mother''s throat, and a second later, she was gone. Rey''s punch landed squarely on the man''s face, sending him tumbling backward to the floor. After a single roll, his head collided with the wall, leaving him dazed. "Mom... wake up, I''ll save you, please wake up," he pleaded, attempting to stem the bleeding. But it was too late; his mother had already passed, and he was powerless to do anything but witness her demise. Enraged, he prepared to confront the assailant responsible for this tragedy. However, as he turned, he realized the man had vanished. Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in his throat, and he discovered a large dagger embedded deep within. The pain was excruciating, but before he could react, the dagger was yanked out, and he collapsed to the floor. Powerless, he watched the man advance towards his sister''s room. Moments later, a scream pierced the air from above, and then silence enveloped the house. He lay there, forced to watch the life ebb from his family, and with profound regret, he drew his final breath. Minutes passed, and then, inexplicably, he awoke to find himself back in his bed, as if nothing had happened. Dazed by the sight, he thought he was trapped in a loop and began yelling, "Aiden, I know you''re behind this, please stop, I beg you. I''ll do anything you ask, just stop this torture." He pleaded for 3-4 minutes and was about to rise when the door opened, revealing the assassin with a bloody dagger, the one who had killed his family. The assassin, seeing him awake, lunged to finish the job. Rey, having been killed by this man twice already, was beginning to adapt. He rolled to the side to dodge the attack and quickly stood to defend himself. However, the assailant was experienced and, using his superior strength, attacked Rey with such speed that Rey couldn''t defend himself. He was slashed all over, and finally, he fell to his knees, gasping for air, his vision blurring from the blood loss. Seeing Rey weakened, the man stepped forward and swiftly slit Rey''s throat with the dagger, ending his life before he could react. Rey''s last sight was of the man leaving, speaking with colleagues who seemed to be waiting outside the house. And by this he died for the third time and the process continue from the start. He woke up and now his mind was clear about what to do. First he had to find something to defend and attack and that can be only find in kitchen as only sharp weapon was a knife in his house. He sprang up and rushed to the kitchen downstairs. As he descended, he glimpsed the shadow of the man who had killed him. He prayed that his mother would be safe by the time he returned. Moving silently, he reached the kitchen and withdrew a knife from the drawer. A moment''s hesitation gripped him, but the memory of what had happened to him and his family steeled his resolve, and he hurried to his mother''s room. He arrived just in time to see a familiar scene about to unfold within seconds. But before he could act, Rey burst into the room with a loud bang from the door, startling the intruder and waking Jasmine, who had been sleeping peacefully. Terrified at the sight of an unknown man advancing towards her, she retreated to protect herself. Rey charged at the man, knife concealed behind his back and the other hand poised to strike, using the punch as a distraction. The assailant, blinded by the darkness, sidestepped to avoid the punch but felt a sharp pain in his wrist and noticed a cut. It was only after Jasmine, who was behind Rey, turned on the light that he saw the knife in the boy''s hand. The man became alert and assumed a battle stance, drawing another dagger from his bag. He leaned forward slightly and charged at the boy he was hired to kill, thrusting the dagger blade at him. Rey, inexperienced in combat, managed only to fend off some of the slashes. However, having faced death three times, he mustered some courage and began to counterattack, causing both to bleed. Rey''s condition was critical, and seizing the moment, the man delivered a kick to his chest, sending Rey flying into the wall. The impact shattered a family photo, scattering glass shards on the floor, some of which scratched him. As the man approached to finish the job, Rey searched for his knife but realized it was out of reach. Desperately looking for anything to use as a weapon, he found something. Struggling to rise, still on his hands and knees like an animal, he gasped for air, the kick to his chest hindering his breathing. The man approached and was poised to strike, but a faint voice halted him. "Why are you doing this?" Rey''s whisper was too soft, prompting the man to stoop closer to listen. But as he did, a premonition of danger made him recoil. Too late¡ªa sharp object pierced the underside of his jaw, causing excruciating pain, and his dagger clattered to the ground. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Seizing the moment, Rey lunged for the weapon. The man noticed and scrambled to retrieve it first, but a shadow loomed, and a vase crashed against his face, buying Rey time. It was Jasmine, who had been standing behind Rey. Witnessing his peril, she grabbed a vase from a table, biding her time until the right moment to strike. With the man distracted, Rey snatched the dagger and, with a powerful leap, drove it into the man''s face¡ªspecifically, his eye¡ªending his life. Rey confirmed the man was motionless before collapsing to the ground, exhausted, to rest. He was just settling in for some rest when a voice erupted from the Bluetooth. "Oi, Agent 7, what''s taking you so long to finish a simple family, huh?" someone demanded. "Your Agent 7 is dead, and if you dare come here, I''ll kill you too," Rey retorted, anger flashing in his eyes, fueled by the pain of his past¡ªthree deaths and a fourth life. "Who the hell are you, and where is Agent 7?" the man on the other side inquired. "Didn''t you listen? I told you he''s dead. And if you''re so eager to meet him, just wait¡ªI''ll send you all to join him," Rey declared, his face calm yet smeared with blood. "Just you wait I will be the one to take your head." Man said in rage of anger and the Bluetooth got unconnected. "Rey, what''s happening? Who are these people?" Jasmine inquired, dabbing the blood from Rey''s face. "Mom, you and Emmy need to find a place to hide; I fear the attack isn''t over," Rey urged, guiding them towards Emmy''s room. Pausing briefly, Rey seized two daggers from the ground, discarding his inferior blade that stood no chance against the assassins. Entering Emmy''s room, they found her asleep, oblivious to the chaos. They woke her gently. Emmy, upon awakening to the sight of blood-stained clothes and Rey''s lacerated body, was petrified. Jasmine consoled her, recounting the night''s harrowing events. Rey hurried them downstairs to the storeroom for safety. "Son, come inside before they arrive," Jasmine pleaded, with Emmy nodding in agreement. "No, Mom. If we all hide, they''ll find us easily. I''ll lead them away while you two wait for the police. And don''t worry, I''ll be fine," Rey assured them, determined to protect his family. "Please, son, don''t do this; we can hide here and be saved by the police," Jasmine pleaded with tears in her eyes, knowing that if he went outside, he would surely die. "Mom, understand this, and Emmy, please take care of Mom until I clear up this whole mess," Rey said, then swiftly closed the door and ran away. Jasmine and Emmy tried to open the door, but it wouldn''t budge, and they could only wait for Rey''s return. Meanwhile, Rey sat in his mother''s room, where the body of agent number seven lay on the floor. He rummaged through the agent''s bag for something useful but found only some keys and a few blades. Now armed with five blades, he felt quite confident in taking down at least two or three of them. But what he didn''t realize was that his personality was changing rapidly. Before, he had opposed Aiden''s actions towards the thugs and Jacob, but now he faced the prospect of killing others with calmness. Previously, the sight of dead bodies on TV would have made him nauseous, but now he stood before one, as composed as if he were observing a zoo animal. He was waiting for them, feeling his body gradually slipping out of control, his vision dimming, yet he refused to close his eyes. His mother and sister were still there, and if he fainted or died, they would be in danger once more. He persisted, and after some time, he heard the door of the room open and six figures entered. Four men and two women were among them. They quickly encircled him, cutting off all possible escape routes, and one approached him, standing directly in front of him. "So, you''re the one who killed our brother, right?" he said in a deep voice, then added, "And you wanted to kill us too, huh?" "Yes, and I firmly believe that tonight will be your end," Rey replied, his expression unchanging, thinking to himself, ''Well, maybe in a few lifetimes.'' "Ho, so let me see the strength of the one who will be going to kill me." He said and clapped his hand as two of the one surrounding him rushed toward him with daggers. Rey saw that both were attacking him from the opposite side and was about to back away but his body conditions were not right and so it delay a little and two slashes appeared on his skin on hands and belly. Rey''s heart raced as the assassins closed in. He swiftly drew the two daggers he had taken from Agent 7. "It''s the unique dagger of Brother 7," one of them shouted, charging recklessly. The others followed suit. Rey parried one attack but was caught off guard by a strike from behind. He stumbled, avoiding a fatal blow. Seizing the chance to finish him, both assassins lunged simultaneously, their daggers piercing his stomach. Blood flowed freely. Yet, before they could celebrate, Rey''s hands shot up. With lightning speed, he drove both blades through their skulls, ending their lives with a resounding thud. The remaining assassin stared in shock. What they had dismissed as a normal guy turned out to be a relentless lunatic, taking hits to thin their ranks. ????? The tension hung heavy in the air as the assassin leader seethed with rage. "You bastard, I will kill you!" he spat, lunging toward Rey. But fate intervened¡ªthe wailing sirens of approaching police cars disrupted their deadly confrontation. His henchmen pulled him away, urging him to leave. Relieved yet battered, Rey staggered toward the room door. Each step was a struggle, but determination fueled his movements. Finally, he reached the door and pushed it open. Inside, his mother, Jasmine, and his younger sister, Emmy, stared back at him. Jasmine''s initial fear melted into relief, but it was short-lived as she took in Rey''s condition. Both women rushed to his side, steadying him as he teetered on the brink of collapse. "Why, Rey? Why did you do this?" Jasmine''s voice trembled with tears. Emmy sobbed, her eyes wide with fear. Rey managed a faint smile, brushing away their tears. "Mom, it was my duty to protect you both. I''m certain you''ll be safe in this life. Please, live happily." Jasmine protested, urging him to rest as the ambulance approached. She knew that if he succumbed to sleep now, he might never wake up. But her words were meant to console Emmy, who continued to cry. Meanwhile, the assassin leader stood a distance away from the house, waiting for his accomplices. They returned, tossing a remote into his hand. "Is everything ready?" he asked. "Yes, big brother," replied the woman named 3. He clenched his jaw. "Let''s ease our brother''s soul with their lives." With a push of the button, the explosive charge they had set detonated. The entire building collapsed, burying Rey''s family beneath the rubble. ????? And Rey who was killed by the blast was returned into the darkness and the cycle started again but this time he was ready for it maybe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Story of a greed man and the big shot. While Rey''s situation unfolded, a hospital scene emerged where an autopsy was being performed on the bodies of thugs and Jacob. The doctor in charge was under immense pressure after an old man in a butler suit {Who appeared in Ch. 6} had visited his office earlier, offering 5 million Dracins for the autopsy with a stern warning of dire consequences should anything go awry. He proceeded with utmost caution, and the findings were startling. Upon examining the wounds on the 26 bodies, he discovered they were all inflicted by the same weapon, indicative of a professional assassin''s handiwork. However, the injuries on Jacob''s body told a different story. The slashes on Jacob appeared amateurish, likely made by a novice just learning to wield daggers, laced with traces of poison. His death, however, was the work of a martial artist of at least Peak Acolyte or Low Disciple rank, who delivered a fatal punch directly to his face, crushing his skull and reducing his brain to a pulp. The force was so great that his neck could not withstand the impact, and with his spine attached, his face was driven into the ground. "What a gruesome way to kill someone, but whoever did this is certainly not a low-profile individual, huh who is this Raven blade who did this." the doctor mused as he recorded all the details in his report before exiting the room. He entered his cabin where the old butler was already waiting with a cup of tea. "Apologies for the delay, sir. Here is the information you requested." He handed over the report, and the butler''s eyes widened in surprise as he read through it. "So, there were at least three individuals involved: a professional assassin, a trainee, and, as you assumed, a low-ranking Disciple artist responsible for the demise of the thug boss known as Raven Blade," the old man stated, to which the doctor nodded continuously, a sign of his nervousness. "Indeed, sir. The police also handed me this piece of cloth found on the iron fence''s back wall, where there was a hole. It appears that this hole was the escape route for the trio," the doctor explained, opening his desk drawer to retrieve a sealed plastic bag containing a fragment of black cloth. "Hmm, let me see," the old man murmured, removing the cloth from the bag to examine it closely. "It seems to be made from a blend of cotton and some lightweight, flexible metal. Judging by its appearance, it''s part of a coat," the old man deduced, leaving the doctor astounded at how one could identify the garment from just a small piece. "Sir, you truly are a genius," the doctor said, attempting to flatter him. "Enough with your charade; what is it that you want?" Marcus, the butler, demanded, his face a mask of straight-faced disgust. "Sir, the money you... promised..." the doctor began hesitantly. "Ah, your reward, correct? Take it," Marcus replied. At a snap of his fingers, a figure clad in black materialized behind the doctor and, with a swift motion, twisted the doctor''s head 180 degrees, leaving him dead with a shocked expression. "Hmph, the master was correct; greed is indeed humanity''s greatest foe," Marcus remarked as he exited the room, approaching ten men dressed identically, kneeling before him. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Sir Marcus, what are your orders?" asked the one kneeling at the front. "Burn down the entire floor, make it look like an accident, just as we''ve done before," he instructed before disappearing with the file. "You heard me correctly, start the work," the leader commanded, and the group commenced their task. Within 15 minutes, the entire floor was ablaze. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the entire floor had been consumed by fire. According to reports, all the bodies, including the doctor, were burned alive, and the fire was officially deemed an accident. Marcus appeared before a room in a grand mansion, heavily guarded. Despite his labored breathing, he made it there swiftly, knowing his master had no tolerance for sloth. ''It seems my body is succumbing to age, my strength and stamina waning with each passing day,'' he mused as he entered. The room was adorned with lavish Lavois and imported luxuries. At the center, a man sat in a rocking chair, cigar in mouth, flanked by a retinue of butlers and maids. "Sir, I have returned with the report," Marcus announced, kneeling before the man. "Oh, you''ve returned, Marcus," the man said, looking up from the paper he had just set down. "Yes, my lord, I have returned with the report," Marcus replied, presenting the document in his hand. The man took the file, read through it carefully, and set it aside without a word. "Did you find anything about this Raven Blade fellow?" he inquired, swinging in his chair. "No, Sir, but I suspect it''s a ploy by a prominent family to undermine our business. Only they have martial artists of this caliber, and I doubt a stranger uninvolved with us would target us," Marcus responded, awaiting his lord''s reaction. "Alright, what about the report on their family?" he asked, noticing Marcus''s pallor. "Sir, we''ve been monitoring them closely, but the boy, Rey, has been acting suspiciously. He vanished from our surveillance and reappeared as if nothing happened, and we couldn''t find anything and now his facial structure and body is totally different and when we checked it then there is no sign of him and the boy changing the places.," Marcus explained with hesitation. "What has happened is serious, and you''re only telling me now? Don''t you realize that if something were to happen to them, we would be the first ones investigated?" The man said angrily as he raised his hand and made a gripping gesture, causing Marcus to suddenly levitate as if held by an invisible force. "I-I''m sorry, sir, we will do our utmost to investigate. Please, have mercy," Marcus pleaded with difficulty, feeling as though his body was being crushed by the immense pressure. The servants grew fearful and retreated slightly, but none dared to flee, knowing well that any attempt to escape would mean certain death. They could only watch the scene unfold. "Quiet now, be extra cautious and leave," the man commanded as he released his hold, flinging Marcus to the ground. ''This is the might of a Low-grade Master rank artist; even a Peak martial artist like Sir Marcus is insignificant before the Patriarch of the Ashcroft Family, or the Second Duke of the Imperium Aurelius Empire, under the dominion of the Valerius Family,'' Marcus thought as he gasped for air, bowed his head to the floor in supplication, and retreated outside. {The power structure and history will be revealed in later chapters. "I am saved, but I must unravel this boy''s mystery to save myself from the lord," he said, and with a snap, several special guards appeared. He ordered them to tighten the security in surveillance of Shadowthrone family. And killed the ones before doing this job to vent his anger. Unaware in his room, Rey didn''t know that a formidable force was approaching to uncover his secret. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A night of Hell. [3/last] The scene unfolded in the main house of Ashcroft, where one could glimpse the room where Rey lay sleeping, or more accurately, unconscious. To an onlooker, it might appear that Rey was in the throes of a nightmare, his body trembling and drenched in sweat. Yet, he remained asleep, eventually settling back into a normal state without awakening. Rey, still in the grip of sleep, experienced the sensation of waking up in the same position. Clutching his head, his nails digging into his skin, he managed to soothe himself and rise from his bed. On his 23rd attempt, he failed yet again to save his family. In his final effort, he managed to eliminate each one efficiently, but still, one of them triggered the bomb. The bag worn by one of them exploded, and the entire house collapsed. This time, he was fully prepared. As he stood beside the mirror, he noticed his reflection and saw his body reverting to the form he had acquired after the cleansing. "That''s why I could dodge and evade their attacks so easily," he realized, recalling how in his recent attempts, his offensive and defensive abilities had surpassed those of his previous lives. He was glad about it and confident that in this life, he would be able to save them and break the vicious cycle. ''Let''s move before he kills her again,'' he thought, dashing out of his room. Once again, he caught a glimpse of the assassin''s shadow. Without a moment''s hesitation, he began to follow him cautiously, having a plan far superior to merely killing him with the knife. He observed that Agent 7, who had arrived first, used a special tool to open his mother''s door and was about to enter. But suddenly, two hands emerged from behind him; one covered his mouth, and the other locked his neck in a tight grip. He struggled to break free but realized he couldn''t even move slightly, and his body was weakening by the second as the assailant''s grip was too strong for him to handle. Just as he decided to pull out the dagger to attack and free himself, he heard a sound. It was not the sound of a human, but that of a hunter. "No, you don''t, and goodbye, Agent 7," he said in a low tone. With the hand that was covering his mouth, he twisted his head, claiming his first kill in this lifetime. He heard a voice as he saw his mother waking up from the sound caused by the dumb idiot before dying. He quickly hid the body before his mother came out of the room. "Huh, son what are you doing here this late night." Jasmine asked as she exited her room and saw her son standing in the hallway. "Oh, Mom, I was about to get a glass of water when I suddenly heard a noise and found a mouse trying to get into the house, so I killed it and threw it outside," he said, maintaining a straight face. "Oh, but son, you shouldn''t have killed the mouse like that; they are living beings too. And weren''t you scared of mice before?" she inquired, scanning the area for any signs of blood but found none, assuming he had already cleaned it up. "It''s a thing of the past, Mom. I''m big and strong now, see my muscles? And don''t worry, I didn''t kill it without reason; it was trying to harm me¡ªand my family," he said, flexing his muscles and swallowing the last few words he had hesitated to say. "Okay, just go to sleep because I have to wake up early for the office, and don''t you have school tomorrow? Rey, you do realize there are only three days left before your high school ends, and in May, you''ll take the exams, right?" Jasmine was about to continue when she was interrupted by him. "Mom, we''ll talk about this tomorrow evening, so go to sleep," he said as he ushered her into her room and locked it from the outside. "Why did you lock the door, son? Open it," she demanded, pounding on the door. "Mom, you go to sleep then I will open it." He said as he backed away with light step and run toward his sister room as he remembered that while in 16-17 life, they used her as shield to kill him and eventually killing his family. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. He locked the door from the outside and even broke the knob to prevent it from being opened, as he had mentally promised his sister that he would return to open it for her. He approached the assassin''s body and removed the daggers he always carried, as well as the Bluetooth earpiece that was still ringing incessantly. He answered the call. Silence enveloped both the receiver and the caller. "Where is 7?" The caller''s single sentence broke the silence, and he immediately recognized the voice. "The individual you''re attempting to reach is currently en route to the underworld. Please try your call again later, or alternatively, remain patient for my arrival¡ªI am your demise, and I shall escort you and your party of six to join him," he articulated with the polished tone of a customer service representative. "I will kill you if anything happens to him," Agent 1 declared as the Bluetooth call ended abruptly with a loud noise. "What''s wrong, big brother, and where is the 7th?" A woman named 3 inquired, moving closer to gauge his expression in the dimly lit alley that narrowed their field of vision. "It seems someone has killed the 7th brother. They''re threatening to kill us all and send us to the underworld," he replied, seething with anger. As Agent 1 simmered with rage, Rey, who had already crushed the Bluetooth device in fury, lamented that despite his efforts to explain that the 7th was dead, Agent 1 refused to believe him and threatened him with death should anything happen. "The old never change, but this time the roles have reversed; the hunter and the prey are now different," he mused, leaping from the building to approach the hideout. Having pinpointed their location in several past lives only to be thwarted by explosive injuries, Rey was determined that this time, they would surely perish. He sprinted towards the location and upon arrival, he discovered they were preparing to leave for his house. They were stunned that their hideout had been uncovered. "Who are you?" they demanded, shining a light towards his face, causing Rey to squint slightly before his eyes adjusted. "Confused, aren''t you? I''m the one you were hired to kill, along with my family," Rey stated, bewildered. "You''re Rey Shadowthrone? But the photo we received shows..." one of them remarked, pulling out an image of Rey''s former appearance. "It doesn''t matter if you''re the real Rey or not; we have orders to eliminate anyone claiming to be Rey," another declared, lunging at him with lethal intent. "Wait, no..." Agent 1, a seasoned assassin, sensed something amiss and wanted to intervene, but it was too late¡ªthe arrow had been released from the bow, unstoppable in its flight. Everyone witnessed Agent 5, who was poised to behead the man, suddenly hit the ground, face in the dust. They were all taken aback, unable to see what had happened; even Agent 5 was stunned, only feeling himself being thrust to the ground and the ensuing pain. Before anyone could react, Rey, already in a crouched stance, drove the dagger into his heart, ending his life. The transition from life 4 to life 23 was significant; he could now outpace them all in speed, leaving only Agent 1 slightly superior, as would soon become evident. "You will all die here," he declared, charging at them. The others were in a state of shock, witnessing their brother''s death without being able to intervene, but they quickly recovered, bracing for the impending attack. However, before they could grasp the situation, the first body dropped, riddled with cuts, drawing its final breath. Rey, shrouded in shadows, methodically eliminated them one by one, and they were powerless to stop him. Eventually, only Agent 1 remained. All agent bodies were on ground lifeless, and Rey come out from the darkness like a magic and see the fear on Agent 1. "What a great difference now. I was scared in past lives, but now the roles have changed," he mused, recalling the saying, ''The strong prey on the weak.'' As he charged towards his adversary, the attack from Agent 1 was already upon him. However, his experience in combat made the fight seem effortless, and within minutes, the leader of the Assassins, Agent 1, lay on the ground, bloodied with wounds. "You know, Agent 1, there was a time when I was in your position, and you left me to die in a bloodied state like this. But fear not, I will not repeat the same mistake," he declared as he advanced towards the woman known as Number 6, who was clutching the remote for their dimension. "What... What..." he stammered, not understanding anything since it was his first encounter with this man. "I always say that I will kill you all in every life cycle, but today I will fulfill it without dying," the man declared, which he didn''t comprehend. He watched the man walk away, thinking he was safe, but then a beep sounded, and an explosion occurred in the alley, reducing everything to ashes. He observed from a distance, pondering when he would be able to break the cycle. He waited, but even after five minutes, the expected event did not occur." Huh isn''t the mission to survive with my family and kill the assassin so why I am not out of this hell." He said as he starts panicking. Suddenly he got an idea that if he killed everyone in this imaginary world would he be able to get the exit pass. He thought as make himself reassure that if anything goes wrong, he can kill himself and retry it from the start. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A birth of the Legendary Psycho. In Rey''s dream world. {As everyone might have guessed¡ªor not¡ªhere it is.} We can see the whole town around Rey house was covered in silence and if anybody goes inside even one of them, they will be surprised as the whole family living inside those houses were killed by him. Even the pets were not excluded and were killed without any emotions. Bodies could be seen in the street of the man who was returning from work late at night, and the perpetrator was on the verge of entering another house to continue his deeds. Indeed, it was Rey who was on a killing spree, seeking an escape from this world. However, the strange alteration was that his expression differed from the usual, as if he were not in control of himself. He bore a creepy smile on his face. His mind was not clear, and it seemed as though there were screams echoing in his head. ''Kill,kill,kill,kill,kill.'' HE was hearing this word again and again until he lost his mind and fully emerged into this identity. The identity of a killer. He enters the house and emerges a minute later. With even more blood, he moves towards the next house, and the cycle repeats itself over and over. Yet, his way out remains hidden, and his sanity slips further with each repetition until finally, something snaps in his mind. A glimmer of clarity appears in his eyes, restoring his sanity, and a single tear rolls down his cheek. A screen which in past time he hates it now looked like a Saviour or a light in a room of darkness. < Title: - The Psycho If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Grade: Legendary Description: The one who received this is hailed as a true lover of killing by the system. You who is hailed as the Psycho will gain, please in killing others and torturing them. Effect: * Increase the amount of experience gained by 10%. * The title will be activated after the requirement is completed. * The title holder pain tolerance will increase in this effect. * Title first effect will be always active. Requirement: Killing one species 500 people without killing anything else.> After reading, he was first silent, then burst out with happiness, realizing he could finally escape. "But wait, what are those keys?" he wondered, and an idea struck him. He dashed home at top speed. His form blurred as he hurried. Arriving home, he found his mother still seething with anger. He stealthily ran upstairs in search of something. Entering his room, he approached a drawer, opened it, and found a pendant Aria had gifted him inside. <1 Key founded, Remaining: 2> His happiness now no bonds after this system notification. And he ran down toward his mother room and opened it up and saw his mother sitting on her bed. She was scared first but after seeing his face clearly, she was much more scared as his whole body was covered in blood. First, she thought that it was his blood but didn''t find anybody. He walked toward his mom and hugged her tight and said," Mom I will be back so please don''t worry too much." "What are you..." She was about to said as Rey plunge the knife in his head and killing himself. But before his demise, he saw his mother attempting to wake him. Yet, in this life, his time had elapsed. ''Indeed, a mother''s love remains constant in both the real and the imaginary worlds,'' he mused as he faded into the darkness. After a few minutes later he enters the dark area where everything starts again of getting absorbed by the huge ball, he thoughts as the imaginary world. He wakes up and without any delay take out the pendant and ran downstairs. He walked towards the backdoor and found agent 7 opening the door. He saw him standing in front of him and was about to attack him but the dagger in his hand was missing and the boy in front of him was playing with it. "Well agent 7 look like it''s our last meeting huh." He said while playing with the unique dagger. "Huh what the hell are..." He was about to ask when his own dagger take his life. He was sure that the 7 are the assassin but who are those 27 guys. But he thought he will be able to find out later. And picked up all the daggers and Bluetooth. He ran toward the other 6 hideout and in 2 minutes he reached their saw them still waiting for agent 7 to come. He got a call from agent 1 and picked it up. "What happened agent 7 why it''s taking so long." He asked as Rey said out the same thing, he told them in past 23rd life. They were all ready to attack on his home but suddenly the agent body started to fall as everybody wanted to wake them up, but they were already dead and in 4 minutes after all were dead living only Agent 1 in half dead state. He saw a guy walking out of the shadow and going toward agent 6 and taking the remote from her. He walked away without saying anything as his mind was occupied by something else. 1 thought that he was mistaken as dead and was happy to survive but with a blast his body was reduce to pieces. He shrugged his shoulders and dashed towards the factory to retrieve the other keys when he realized who the targets were. A few minutes later, he entered the factory grounds after scaling the wall. Eager to find the remaining keys yet nervous about confronting his past incident, he trusted in his strength and advanced towards the building. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Facing the fear. [1] He entered the factory ground area and looked around but found no one. He thought about checking his status screen but saw only the target number screen: <7/34>. He pondered this and entered the building area, where he found Jacob''s thugs capturing people and putting them in a room. He even saw his friend Evan among them and realized that the dream world was made of his memories. However, he still couldn''t understand where he had seen the seven assassins he killed, so he put that thought aside for a moment. ''I have to cover my face. I can''t let my friend see this side of me, even in the dream world,'' he thought, feeling a bit scared. If he lost control again and started acting like a maniac, his friend wouldn''t be able to recognize him. He tore apart his T-shirt and wore it as a mask. He then took out the set of daggers he had taken from Agent 7. He could have taken other weapons from the agents, but he liked these daggers a lot. He didn''t understand why, but they suited his taste perfectly. He was ready to wreak havoc on the gang, but he stopped and thought about the possibility of the thugs using the kidnapped people as human shields. How would he save them then? He dropped the plan for a straightforward attack and looked around for a bit, his brain sparking a brand-new idea. "Well, sorry Aiden, you really were a genius," he thought, realizing his plan was almost identical to Aiden''s. He looked around and found some pebbles on the ground. He collected them all, then looked at his clothes and even removed his mask, as he wouldn''t need it right now. He put the mask in his pocket and looked toward the thugs'' area, spotting a single thug standing a little apart from the others. He throws one pebble toward him and wait util he looked at him and start running in the opposite direction like a kidnapped guy is running away. "Huh, how did that guy get away?" thought the thug who had been hit. After shouting to his comrade, he ran in that direction but found no one. He continued deeper until he caught a glimpse of the man''s clothing and chuckled at the man''s foolishness. He stealthily approached, ready to pounce, but found only a piece of cloth hanging on a cardboard box. As he was getting up, a shadow loomed behind him. Before he could turn around, something sharp pierced his back, and he fell to the ground, overwhelmed by pain and the weight of his assailant. He tried to scream, but his mouth was swiftly covered, and all he could see was darkness overtaking his vision as he slipped into eternal slumber. The perpetrator, Rey, stood emotionless, observing the body, waiting for something. And the thing he wanted finally come in front of him. The status screen. <8/34> He was finally on the right track. After checking everything, he looked at the body, hid it beside the cardboard boxes, and covered it with them. He heard a noise and saw two thugs approaching. He quickly concealed himself from their view and waited for the opportune moment to strike. The thugs advanced carelessly, shouting the name of the thug Rey had killed, but there was no response. Suddenly, one of them noticed blood spilled on the ground and alerted the other. But before they could flee, someone was already behind them. With swift precision, they were all sent into eternal sleep, unable to see the face of their assailant. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. New changes happened in target number: <10/34>. He swiftly conceals their bodies and begins to retreat, aiming to entice more. As time progresses, the number of thugs diminishes rapidly, and in nearly an hour, only two remain. Rey, who has been waiting for the opportune moment to strike, watches his screen intently. <29/34> If someone ventures in the direction where Rey killed his first prey, they will find areas saturated with blood. He hunted them so meticulously that nothing was found except for a few drops of blood on the ground, as if they had been deliberately sprinkled there. All the bodies were concealed in a random location, and each face bore an expression of shock and pain, as they had not known who had killed them. He was contemplating their demise when one of the guards realized that his comrades were absent, leaving just him and his colleague to guard the door of the room where the hostages were being held. He urged his friend to check on them, suggesting they might have left to attend a party. After a moment''s hesitation, his friend consented and departed to locate everyone. He began his search, heading towards the junkyard area. He walked until he noticed drops of blood on the ground. Panic set in as he considered the possibility that if one of them had harmed the hostages, their fate was sealed. Yet, it didn''t occur to him that the blood might belong to one of his comrades. He continued his search but found no one. As he moved through an area, a sudden chill ran through him; he felt as if a predator''s eyes were upon him, ready to devour him. He scanned the surroundings but saw no one. He was about to dismiss it as a false alarm when he spotted a hand on the ground. The rest of the body was obscured behind machinery, and he steeled himself to investigate. With cautious steps and a gun in hand, he approached. With each step closer, his heartbeat quickened. He steeled himself and advanced swiftly towards the body, expecting it to react as if someone were jumping on him, but there was no response. When he looked closer, he realized the soul had departed from the body of his comrade, whose face was etched with pain and shock. He attempted to rouse him, but it was too late; his comrade was gone. As he prepared to stand and notify his friend, his gaze caught something in the distance, causing his phone to slip from his grasp. Although the call had already connected and his friend''s voice inquired anxiously about the situation, he remained silent, his eyes fixated, his body unresponsive to his own commands, and his pants dampened by the horrifying scene unfolding before him. Before him stood a small mound, not of garbage or earth, but composed of the bodies of thugs. A youth, seemingly seventeen or eighteen years old, gazed emotionlessly at him, clutching a unique dagger that bore the appearance of a game texture. Yet, the thug who witnessed this scene felt as though he was standing before a grave entity, a manifestation of death poised to consume him whole. The boy''s eyes were filled with an all-consuming darkness, promising eternal oblivion. Rey, oblivious, had a system notification flashing before him, yet he did not respond, his mind preoccupied elsewhere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ < Error the law of host is trying to merge with host emotion. Please stop yourself to stop this as host body is not ready for it. You may die.>