《The Lotus Of Everleaf》 Prologue: Sacrifice ¡°Why did you kill your sister?¡± A group of elders sat on a bench. They faced a captured convict. Chains bound his body that attached him onto a peculiar contraption. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to cooperate?¡± The elder¡¯s voice held a hint of warning. The continued silence of the convict enraged the elders. ¡°Activate it!¡± A maid nodded and touched an orb. Her hand glowed as it absorbed her energy. Du du du¡­ The body of the convict convulsed. He violently fought against the chains. Despite the pain, he bared his teeth, refusing to speak. His violent struggle stopped after a few moments, and his fatigued body slumped onto the chains. An elder browsed through a book as he asked. ¡°Ren Zarstorm, do you recognize your crimes? You rebelled against the clan, murdered countless people, ruthlessly murdered your sister, the last heir of the Zarstorm branch¡­ I could keep going on forever. Your crimes have even infuriated the heavens!¡± He threw the book in anger. It hit the convict and collapsed. Its pages opened to reveal a list of names. The book drew the attention of the audience. Several gasps filled the room as their sharp eyes caught on the contents of the book. ¡°Is that a list of¡­¡± ¡°Silence! This is a trial!¡± An elder rebuked the whispers of the crowd. After calming the crowd, the elder focused his attention on the convict. ¡°Ren Zarstorm, we created you to serve the Zelongs. We groomed you from the moment of your birth, not sparing any resources. Yet, you have betrayed our clan, going so far as to kill the last heir of the Zarstorm branch.¡± ¡°This betrayal will not be forgiven!¡± He slammed his fist onto the bench, fury evident in his voice. ¡°We have let you live until today for a single purpose. We want an answer. You are a failure, but we wish to understand the reasons behind your failure. It should be impossible for you to kill a Zelong! Then, why did you kill your sister?¡± He roared. The convict finally moved. He gazed at the elders and grinned in defiance. ¡°Vile Spawn! Do you realize that today is your last day? If you answer our questions, you can enjoy a peaceful death. Otherwise, you will die with unbearable pain¡­ Pain, specifically crafted for monsters like you.¡± The convict finally opened his mouth. His tired voice seemed to taunt the elders. ¡°Go¡­ ahead¡­¡± With immense struggle, he shifted his gaze onto the clock in the room. With each tick, it neared the 12-hour mark. His response evoked the wrath of all the elders. They gazed at the clock and waited. Just as it touched 11:59, they issued the order. ¡°Activate it! Kill him.¡± Four maids approached the altars surrounding the contraption. They touched the respective orbs on the altars. The orbs glowed, and a loud sound exited the metallic contraption. Dun dun dun¡­ The convict violently convulsed. The skin on his body broke, and the contraption turned red. The audience silently waited. As time passed, the convict¡¯s movements subsided. A few seconds before the clock struck 12, the maids withdrew their hands. ¡°A failed experiment¡­ Get rid of his corpse.¡± An elder commanded. Suddenly, to everyone¡¯s shock the convict¡¯s lips moved. He recited a phrase in a language unknown to everyone. [¡°Void Arts: Summoning Death!¡±] Before anyone could react, a black fog covered the hall. "An enemy?" The guards grew alert. The fog dispersed to reveal a translucent figure of an armored skeleton. It rode a burning horse. [¡°Why did you summon me?¡±] An archaic, disembodied voice resonated across the hall. [¡°A¡­ trade...¡±] [¡°Are you certain?¡±] [¡°Yes¡­¡±] The skeleton extended its bony arm to reveal a large scythe. The flames in its eyes glowed brighter than usual. [¡°A life for a life. Your wish has been granted. I shall reap your soul.¡±] It swung the scythe. The weapon passed through the convict¡¯s neck. Weirdly, it did not create a single wound. The convict froze. His lifeless gaze fell upon the ground.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The monster disappeared, and everyone stared at each other in confusion. ¡°Can anyone explain what happened? Does anyone recognize that language?¡± An elder shouted. No one replied. The servants looked at their blue-haired masters, who were just as confused with the appearance of the monster. ¡°Stop wasting time and check his body! Is he alive?¡± A maid hastily approached the contraption and released the body. With a thud, the convict¡¯s body fell onto the ground, allowing everyone to witness the bloodied figure. Shockingly, it belonged to a child. Besides the blood, they could only see a hint of his blue hair. The maid ignored the horrid stench emanating from his body. She inspected the body before shaking her head. ¡°¡­He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Then what was that horrendous creature? Why did it come here? Does anyone know?¡± Silence greeted the elder. ¡°Useless! Store his corpse! Prepare him for a Zelong¡¯s burial.¡± The elder stormed out of the hall, followed by his companions. Many in the audience sighed in relief. They felt glad that the summoned monster chose to spare them.
A couple of minutes earlier, the basement of an isolated mansion. ¡°It¡¯s almost time. Are you sure that everything is prepared?¡± A bald man impatiently tapped his feet. ¡°Yes, everything is ready. The rest depends on the Young Master. Now, please stop disturbing me.¡± A masked, black-robed figure replied. However, the bald man didn¡¯t feel assured. He gazed at the coffin in the center of the basement and asked. ¡°Did we miss anything?¡± ¡°Stop irritating me! How many times do I have to answer? Don''t distract me. It¡¯s almost twelve.¡± ¡°Is the clock synchronized? Could it be off by any chance?¡± The black-robed figure sighed and approached the coffin. Seeing this, the bald man smiled wryly. Despite checking everything for the nth time, he still felt uneasy. ¡°It¡¯s time. Let¡¯s begin.¡± The clock had hit 11:59. The black-robed figure opened a box, revealing a large crystalline lotus. The bald man carefully withdrew the lotus and placed it on the coffin. In mere moments, they placed a few other items on the coffin and waited. Time passed and with each second, both of them grew anxious. Yet, they did not even dare to breathe loudly. 12:00 PM. The clock rung. 1 second¡­ 3 seconds¡­ 5 seconds¡­ ¡®Is it too late? Did we fail? Then the Young Master¡­¡¯ The bald man despaired. Whooo! A sudden gust of wind shocked him. The lotus glowed and absorbed all the miscellaneous items on the coffin. A dark fog filled the basement. It possessed a horrid stench of rotting flesh. Within moments, it dispersed to reveal an armored skeleton. The skeleton grabbed the lotus and pretended to smell it. [¡°A perfect sacrifice!¡±] A disembodied voice resonated throughout the basement. Without mentioning anything else, the skeleton disappeared along with the lotus, leaving two dumbfounded people. ¡°Was it a success?¡± The bald man hesitantly asked. Thud! Thud! They heard a banging on the coffin. Excited, they opened it and a young child''s torso exited the coffin. She panted heavily, taking in as much oxygen as her little lungs could carry. ¡°Young Miss!¡± The bald man shouted; disbelief and joy were evident in his voice. The young girl glanced at the two people and recognized them. ¡°Aren¡¯t you... my brother¡¯s¡­ Huh? Right. I died¡­ How am I alive?¡± Mumbling with confusion, she touched her neck. An irritating headache tormented her, worsening her condition. The black-robed figure helped her out of the coffin. The blue liquid from the coffin splashed and stained the floor. ¡°Young Miss, please follow me. I have prepared a change of clothes.¡± Seeing the drenched girl, the two adults were delirious with joy. Their hard work over the months hadn¡¯t gone to waste. ¡°Wait! I don¡¯t understand. I should have died¡­ Why am I... alive?¡± The young girl asked. Her headache grew as she recollected her last bits of memory. ¡°Young Miss, we can explain later. Please take a bath and eat something first.¡± ¡°NO! I must know! Tell me! How am I alive?¡± She shouted, her blue eyes flashed with an angry glint. The bald man hesitated. Seeing her insistence, he withdrew a letter and handed it to the young girl. After reading the letter, the girl collapsed onto her knees. ¡°No¡­ Why¡­ NOOOO!!¡± Shrieking, she pounded the floor. Tears uncontrollably ran down her eyes. Seeing this, the bald man¡¯s eyes grew wet. ¡°Young Miss, please stop this. You have to eat and regain your energy.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop him?¡± She clawed at the bald man''s feet. With anger clouding her mind, she stood and punched the bald man¡¯s abdomen, only to hurt her little fist. Nevertheless, it did nothing to curb her anger as she kicked him. ¡°Where is he? I must see him now!¡± She decided to leave, but the bald man stopped her. The black-robed figure tapped her neck, and she collapsed into the bald man¡¯s hands, unconscious. ¡°You disobeyed the Young Master¡¯s order.¡± The black-robed figure rebuked. ¡°The Young Master is dead. From today, she is our master. She deserves to know the truth.¡± The bald man hid his sadness. The black-robed figure hesitated before agreeing. ¡°Fine. Anyways, let¡¯s leave. We can¡¯t stay in the Southern Domain anymore.¡± The bald man nodded, and they left the basement.
The Zelong Clan¡¯s Headquarters. A few guards protected a certain storage room. ¡°He¡¯s dead. I can¡¯t believe it! Now, the Zarstorm branch is no more. Is this good or bad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but that monster is finally dead. That is good news to me. Have you seen the list of people he has killed? It¡¯s ridiculous. Keeping such a monster alive is bad news.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s just 10¡­ Isn¡¯t that too young? Could it be that someone was manipulating him? I can¡¯t visualize a child killing so many innocent people.¡± ¡°Heh, what do you know? You should have paid more attention to the conversations amongst the Lords.¡± ¡°Conversations? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ You¡¯re hopeless! Many of the guards already know this. The Zarstorm branch specially groomed him to become a monster. Apparently, they failed and the monster killed the last member of their branch. Ironic, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Do you even-¡± ¡°¡°Lord!¡±¡± The guards stopped their discussion and saluted a middle-aged man. His blue hair gave away his prestigious identity. ¡°Open the door.¡± The blue-haired man commanded. Without hesitation, the guards opened the door and respectfully bowed. The man strode towards an open coffin. A young boy¡¯s corpse laid submerged within a blue liquid. ¡®Where did the Zarstorms go wrong? Technically, they should have done everything properly. I must study him in detail.¡¯ He opened his suitcase when he frowned. ¡®The temperature dropped? And this peculiar smell¡­ What¡¯s this?¡¯ His gaze roamed across the room before stopping on the young boy¡¯s body. An incorporeal wheel arose from the corpse. It rotated, and a black hole appeared in its center. The hole absorbed the body. ¡°Impudent!¡± The blue-haired figure roared. He withdrew a sword from his suitcase and slashed at the wheel. His sword passed through the wheel as though it were air. The blue-haired man watched in despair as the wheel disappeared, along with the corpse of the boy. ¡°ENEMY ATTACK! There''s an intruder!¡± He shouted at the top of his voice, alerting everyone within the headquarters.
The Wilderness, a large distance away from the Zelong clan¡¯s headquarters. A carriage passed through these barren lands. A hooded girl stared towards the south. ¡®Big Brother, I will avenge your death. The Zelong clan will pay the ultimate price. Then, we shall meet again. Until then, goodbye.¡¯ She clenched her fist, flames of fury raging within her blue eyes. She shifted her gaze from the south. For now, they were heading north. Glossary
Places Everleaf Forest: A forest located at the heart of the Tribal Lands. It houses many species of beasts and demi-humans. However, the human population is minimal. Traveler Review:
¡°Scary~! I don¡¯t want to come here ever again. Too dangerous for unarmed travelers...¡± ¨C A human traveler.
Tribal Lands: The region surrounding Everleaf Forest. It houses many human tribes. However, due to lack of resources, powerful beings prefer Everleaf Forest over this ¡®wasteland¡¯. Reviews:

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Edahi: The domain of the Divine Emperor. It is the largest empire in the Everleaf Forest. Expert Review:
¡°What¡¯s with these demi-humans? These half-human rip-offs attempted to kill me! Aboriginal Barbarians!! 0/10! Never Visiting again! Ps. Can someone tell me what an ''Honored Guest'' is?¡±¨C A human traveler.
Neya: The domain of the Demonic Overlord. It lacks fixed boundaries, and very little is known of this region. Expert(?) Review:
¡°Marshy Swamplands fill this region. It¡¯s hard to find a clean place to sleep. I would rate a 2/10 but¡­ Lust... AH! I¡¯ll give it a solid 69/10! Will visit again!¡± ¨C A human traveler.
Evergreen City: The capital city of Edahi. It is reputed as the Holy Land to the residents of the forest. It houses the Mother Tree. Expert Review: ¡°Pros: The Aesthetics. Mainly built of reinforced wood with minimal stone. A beautiful holiday spot. Cons: Irritating demi-humans. Terrible reception for humans. High chance of death. Seriously, who is this Honored Guest, and why are you trying to kill me? 1/10. I''d pick Neya over this misery any day.¡±¨C A human traveler. Demonic Miasma: The home of demons and demonic beasts. Covered in fog throughout the year, it is the greatest contributor to the death toll in the Everleaf Forest. Ill-equipped travelers better avoid this place. Expert Review:
¡°Pew! Pew! Who in the right mind would stay in this hell?! Get me out of here! Where¡¯s my lawyer?! I demand a refund and compensation for losses! -100000/10.¡± ¨C An angry human traveler.
Learner¡¯s Fall: Filled with rivers, mountains, and hill, it is a paradise for training. Detailed Review:
¡°Imagine a forest. Are you thinking of beautiful trees? Or do you remember creepy bugs? Well, think of a beautiful forest without those irritating bugs. Located within a forest, Learner''s Fall is paradise. A breathtaking river system, with plenty of waterfalls, you will not regret a visit. Even bug enthusiasts are welcome. It''s just that most of these bugs are hidden from plain sight. And beware of strong currents and the waterfalls. Otherwise, it is a great vacation spot to spend with your family. 9/10. Will bring my children next time.¡± ¨C A human traveler.
Warrior¡¯s Street: The Weapons Capital of demi-humans. Busy throughout the year. Even beasts occasionally visit this place for armor. Sponsored Review:
¡°Do you desire sharp and sturdy weapons? Tired of brittle armor? Struggling to repair your swords after each battle? Introducing Yield to Wield... The largest shop in the street! Yield magic crystals to wield the perfect weapons. Become the hero of your dreams. Slay monsters and demons with a single cut! Don¡¯t forget! Yield to Wield! And no, we do not accept humans! Bloody Honored Guest!¡± ¨C A not-so-humble smith owner.
AuthoritiesThis novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Welcome to Edahin News. We offer the fresh, unbiased news and perspectives from verified, hand-picked citizens. We hope you find our interviews educational." - The Editor, Edahin News. Council of Order:
¡°The highest administrative power in Edahi. Their members are in charge of the various branches that keep Edahi alive. They are the direct subordinates of His Grace, The Divine Emperor.¡± ¨C An Edahin.
Council of Chaos:
¡°An unoriginal replica of the Council of Order. Very little is known about this uncouth lot.¡± ¨C An Edahin.
Divine Emperor:
"We couldn¡¯t find any willing Edahin to answer our questions on the Divine Emperor. Please settle with the account of a traveler. We apologize for the inconvenience." - The Editor, Edahin News. ¡°The nominal ruler of Edahi, he [The Divine Emperor] is reputed to be the strongest being in the region. Can apparently overthrow any decision made by the Council. Other than that, I don''t know much.¡±- A traveler. "One editor and one traveler were killed in the making of this report."- The new editor, Edahin News.
Demonic Overlord:
¡°Only the Council of Chaos knows if this [The Demonic Overlord] exists or not. Has never made a public appearance. Shady to the core.¡± ¨C An Edahin.
Other Important Terms Honored Guest: A title reserved for non-beasts that have contributed immensely to the benefit of Edahi. A dream title for aspiring demi-humans. Interactions: These are the processes through which a living being(Practitioner) can use energy. Examples include Physical Arts, Magic Crafting, etc. Practitioner: A living being that is capable of interacting with at least one form of energy.
Note: The following section is incomplete as the novel hasn''t touched on some of these topics yet. Note: The various forms of energy will be explained from the perspective of the academicians/scientists at The Edahin University of Magic Crafting(for demihumans). Other than these, I will only include excerpts from the novel. Energy Interactions The Law of Energy Interaction:
Energy in its Free State tends to interact or crystallize, provided it isn¡¯t in equilibrium with its Crystal State.
"This law allows Practitioners to interact with energy. These interactions can come in various forms, and it is impossible to compile all of them." - A scientist General Format: Interaction Name(Energy it needs)
Quote from scientist/practitioner.
Physical Arts(Physical Energy/Tai):
¡°As long as one uses Tai, they will fall under this branch. Practitioners are sometimes called Cultivators or just Fighters in general. Perfect for brainless fighters.¡± ¨C A biased scientist. "...the branch of Physical Arts involves the absorption and conversion of Natural Energy [Qi]into Physical Energy [Tai]." - Kaero(Chapter 17).
Forbidden Skills(Void Energy/Kyo):
¡°Yields extraordinary strength, but the Practitioner has to suffer through terrifying backlashes. Academicians dispute over its existence, classification, abilities, and limits. The two popular theories place it under either Bloodline Skills or Elemental Magic. Its abilities are generally ancillary in nature.¡± - A scientist.
Magic Arts(Magical Energy/Mana):
¡°Practitioners are called Casters or Mages in general. I can¡¯t elaborate further? Spoilers? Okay¡­¡± ¨C A confused scientist. "...the branch of Magic Arts involves the channeling of mana [Magical Energy]..." - Kaero(Chapter 17)
Magic Crafting(Magical Energy/Mana):
¡°Practitioners are called Crafters. Inarguably, the most important branch of magi- Let me speak! It¡¯s not spoil-¡± ¨C A disgruntled scientist.
Elemental Magic(Magical Energy/Mana):
¡°The scientist is experiencing technical difficulties. The novel hasn¡¯t reached this section yet.¡± ¨C Rasuke.
Bloodline Skills(unknown):
¡°As the name insinuates, it depends on the bloodline. Decided from birth. Its abilities are generally ancillary in nature.¡± - A mind-controlled scientist.
Honing(unknown):
¡°Ren, why did you skip the book? Now, we¡¯ll never know what this is! Or will we?¡± ¨C Rasuke.
Energy Compendium Natural Energy or Qi:
"The most common form of energy available in Everleaf Forest. Although it is of minimal use(basically useless) in this form, Practitioners can convert it into more useful forms of energy." - A scientist.
Physical Energy or Tai:
"Used for Physical Arts. Although it is unavailable in the natural environment, Practitioners can convert Qi to Tai. Minimal entry requirements and abundance of Qi makes this path easily accessible, even to the untalented." - A scientist.
Void Energy or Kyo:
"Used for Forbidden Arts. Academicians dispute its existence, as it is impossible to study and place it under scientific experiments. Lack of cooperation from Kyo Practitioners only worsens this situation." - A scientist. ¡°To interact with Void Energy, a Kyo Practitioner has to meet one out of three criteria. Otherwise, an interaction is impossible, irrespective of whatever they do. This has held true for eons.¡± - Kaero(Chapter 17)
Magical Energy or Mana:
"Used for Magic Arts, Elemental Magic, and Magic Crafting." - A scientist.
Chapter 1: Honored Guest The Mother Tree, Everleaf Forest. A gigantic lion slept within the Mother Tree. His ancestors had built this palace and he was grateful to inherit their legacy. Unlike normal beasts, most of the beasts living near the Mother Tree had gained sentience. However, unlike human beings, they built their society on different values. While the lion slept, it dreamt of the one promise that made their world a reality. Even if he forgot everything else, he could never allow himself to forget that promise. An old wheel was located ahead of the lion. Covered in dust, it looked like it hadn¡¯t been touched for centuries. Whooo! A sudden whistle awakened the lion. Its brown eyes gleamed as it stared at the ancient wheel. A black hole emerged from the center of the wheel. It expanded and a purple ethereal fox emerged from it. ¡°Are you the present beast emperor?¡± The fox¡¯s silvery voice resounded across the room. ¡°Yes. Who arre you?¡± The lion asked. ¡°My identity isn¡¯t important. I¡¯ve come for the promise. It¡¯s time for your kind to display your gratitude.¡± The lion waited while another being exited the black hole. This time, it was a human boy. ¡°Take care of this pup. I¡¯ll collect him after 5 years.¡± Before the lion could ask anything, the fox disappeared into the black hole. Almost instantly, the black hole disappeared into the wheel. The lion frowned. His gaze landed on the human child. The boy looked to be around 10 years in age. He had distinct blue hair, uncommon to humans. However, the lion was ignorant of this fact. The lion growled. His brown eyes went into deep thought. An almost invisible wave of energy exited his body and surrounded the human child. It bound the child and lifted him as the lion exited his abode.
The first floor of the Mother Tree resembled a meeting place. It contained a giant open circle surrounded by tiny mats throughout the circle¡¯s circumference. A few beasts and other creatures sat on these mats. Amongst the group, one could see a few demi-humans, creatures that possessed characteristics of both humans and beasts. They had gathered to discuss the daily issues of their empire. Despite taking a different route from humans, these beasts resembled politicians, trying to convince and debate with each other. ¡°We have been peaceful forr too long. I shall clearr the demonic beasts.¡± A lion declared. He proudly showcased the ¡®X¡¯-shaped scar on his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s a waste of military. We can eliminate them during the next beast tide.¡± A black-armored werewolf replied. While the group discussed, a few mats remained unoccupied. However, amongst these mats, there was one special mat. This mat, large enough to seat 3 or 4 adult elephants, rested in front of a large wooden door. However, as the whole place was made of wood, the wooden door was barely noticeable. ¡°That will not worrk! Our militarry needs rregular combat! I will lead them if you arre terrified!¡± The lion growled. Just as it seemed that the two beings would enter a fight, the wooden door opened. A large lion, standing at a height of nearly 4 meters exited the darkness. An unconscious boy floated behind him, surprising the beasts, especially those who recognized the species of the child. ¡°¡°Divine Emperor!¡±¡± Upon the lion¡¯s entry, the group dropped their discussions and greeted their emperor with one voice. They prostrated in a show of respect. ¡°RRise!¡± The lion commanded, his majestic voice ringing throughout the chamber. The beasts rose. Their eyes shifted to the human child besides their emperor, but no one dared to speak. ¡°The Spirrit of the Ancient Wheel has spoken! It rrequirres ourr grratitude. We must take carre of this human child forr the next Five Yearrs.¡± The beasts held their breath. Although they knew nothing of the boy, his origin alone had earned their curiosity. ¡°I bestow my Divine Medallion on this boy. Frrom today, he will be elevated to the status of Honorred Guest. No one can harrm him without my permission!¡± The beasts bowed in acknowledgment.
The blue-haired boy woke up with a jarring headache. ¡°Ugh¡­ Where am I?¡± Scanning his surroundings, he noticed that he was within a wooden house. Many weird drawings decorated the walls and corners of the room. Other than these weird drawings, a pair of daggers was attached to the wall.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Leaving his bed, he decided to investigate. Just as he took a few steps, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Creak! The door opened and a young girl hurried into the cottage. ¡°You¡¯re awake? Please sit down.¡± The girl urged him to sit and hurried to a place that looked like the kitchen. ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping for a long time. You must be hungry. I¡¯ll prepare something. It¡¯s too late for breakfast¡­ Hmm¡­ I guess we¡¯ll have lunch a little earlier today.¡± She placed a pot on a table. Like the rest of the cottage, it was filled with weird drawings. She pointed her finger at the table and the drawings glowed. They caught fire and the flames danced around the pot, creating a mesmerizing scene. ¡°¡­Where am I?¡± The boy asked. ¡°You¡¯re in Kana¡¯s cottage, within Evergreen city, the Holy Land of the Righteous Domain of Everleaf Forest. I¡¯m Lena, one of the owners of this cottage.¡± She hastily spoke while constantly stirring the contents of the pot. Maybe it was due to the magic spell but the contents of the pot heated up almost instantly. ¡®Kana¡¯s cottage? Holy Land? Everleaf Forest?¡¯ The sudden slew of information overwhelmed the young boy, who failed to recognize any of these terms. He searched his memory, but his headache worsened. ¡°Ah! I forgot to ask. What¡¯s your name?¡± Lena asked while extinguishing the flames. The boy instinctively opened his mouth. However, his mind went blank. His eyebrows creased as he struggled to remember anything. Soon, a word sprung into his mind. ¡°Ren¡­?¡± he blankly uttered. Instantly, his face turned pale. ¡°Ren? That¡¯s a nice name! ¡­What happened? Is there any problem?¡± Lena removed the pot from the ¡®stove¡¯ and brought it to the dining table when she caught a glimpse at Ren. Even at a distance, her sharp eyes caught on to the sickly complexion on his face. ¡°Nothing¡­ I just want some fresh air.¡± The nauseous Ren exited the cottage in a hurry. ¡°Wait!¡± Lena panicked and nearly dropped the pot in the process. Placing the steaming pot aside, she chased after Ren. Upon exiting the cottage, Ren took a deep breath. However, his mind was filled with innumerable questions. ¡®Who am I? Is Ren even my name? What am I doing here? Why don¡¯t I remember anything?¡¯ Gazing at the streets, he frowned. He saw many creatures walking through the streets. Beasts and demi-humans mingled with each other. Although Ren possessed no memories, he felt weirded out by this scene. ¡°Ah, Ren! Please don¡¯t leave like that! My sister strictly forbade me from allowing you to wander off the cottage. Please wait inside until she arrives.¡± Ren glanced at the panicking girl. Only now did he get a clear look at her features. She looked to be about 14 or 15 years old. Two cat-like ears stood out prominently on her black hair and a tail extended from her back. Her tail fidgeted a lot, just like her fluctuating emotions. ¡°Human?! Look! Is that the human kid?¡± A shout attracted the pedestrians. Many eyes, belonging to various races fell upon Ren at once. ¡°A human? That means¡­ he¡¯s the Honored Guest?¡± ¡°This weak human kid became an Honored Guest!? NO! I refuse to accept this! Kill him before anyone arrives!¡± A minotaur shouted. His eyes turned red as he rushed towards the cottage A few like-minded demi-humans followed the crazed minotaur. Lena panicked. She had failed her sister¡¯s orders! Nevertheless, in a moment of courage, she grabbed Ren and rushed into the cottage, sealing the door. Lena did not stop, as she knew that the cottage door would do nothing to stop the angry mob. She grabbed a set of clothes and threw them at Ren. She pointed at the ground and chanted. A gust of wind exited her finger and scattered the thick layer of dust on the wooden floor. It revealed a large complex circle with innumerable inscriptions. Thump! Thump! The minotaur banged on the door, trying to break in. With each moment, Lena''s anxiety grew. She could barely distinguish the sound of the door banging and her heart throbbing. Nevertheless, she held Ren and stood on the formation. Casting a spell, she waited and prayed. Just as the mob broke in, the formation activated and the duo disappeared. The crowd stared at the empty formation with hatred and disappointment. Soon, a couple of elderly shamans arrived. They wore hoods and masks that prevented one from seeing their faces. The shamans brought a platoon of large monsters with bat wings. They sealed the street, capturing every living being in the vicinity. Within seconds, the street had become isolated.
A waterfall, far away from Evergreen city. A bright light flashed on a peculiar circle next to the waterfall, revealing two people, a catgirl and a young boy. The young boy carried a set of clothes in his hands. The cat-girl snatched the robe in the boy¡¯s hand and hastily put it on him. Lastly, she arranged the hood of the robe, covering the young boy¡¯s head. Her actions were swift and in a mere couple of seconds, Ren¡¯s disguise was complete. Without hesitation, she dragged him towards a corner. ¡°Phew!¡± Lena collapsed onto the ground. ¡°Ren! Dear Ren! Please do not arbitrarily go out like that! Ask me before you do anything!¡± She complained. Ren looked around the waterfall. He saw children belonging to different races of demi-humans and beasts. Even after seeing the demi-humans from before, he couldn¡¯t get accustomed to this sight. Confused, he watched the interaction between a lion cub and a cat. ¡°Did you brring them?¡± The young lion asked. It had a body about twice the size of a housecat. ¡°Nehehe, of course! These are the weapons that humans use. The Honored Guest might know how to use them.¡± The cat replied, dropping the sack on its neck. While speaking, it transformed into a monkey, surprising Ren. Opening the sack, the monkey grabbed a few knives. ¡°Knives? Borring!¡± The lion cub lost interest. ¡°You thought they were knives? Nohoho¡­ You¡¯re wrong! Humans call it ''bow and arrow''. It is a long-ranged weapon.¡± The monkey smugly proclaimed, showing off its ¡®knowledge¡¯. ¡°Do they just thrrow it? Weak! But it fits humans.¡± ¡°Nehehe, I don¡¯t know. Why don¡¯t we try it out?¡± The monkey grabbed a few knives and hurled them at the lion cub. With a low growl, the lion entered combat. A wave of energy surrounded its body. It used its claws to defend against the projectiles while avoiding those that its paws couldn¡¯t reach. Ting! Ting! Ting!
¡°Ren, please wait here silently! I need to search for my sister. I beg you! Please don''t wander. If anyone comes up to you, tell them that you¡¯re waiting for Sis Lena. Don¡¯t say or do anything else. Is that understood?¡± After a while of contemplation, this was Lena¡¯s best plan. Bringing Ren along would expose him to more demi-humans and beasts. Some of them could notice his abnormality. As of now, she couldn¡¯t afford to create another mess in this place. Fortunately, not many people frequented the waterfall, especially during noon. And they were a little distance away from the teleportation circle. As long as Ren stayed put, no one would disturb him¡­ or at least that was what she hoped for. Ren nodded, and Lena left in a hurry. She swiftly climbed up the cliff and began her search. Watching her nimble actions, Ren grew astounded. The steep cliff almost seemed like a set of stairs to the cat-girl. ¡°Watch out!¡± Shiing! Mere moments after Lena departed, Ren heard a panicked shout. Turning to the side, he saw a loose dagger, flying straight towards him. However, by the time he noticed, it was too late to dodge the rogue projectile. Chapter 2: Return Of The Fox Whoosh! Ren¡¯s hand disappeared. The next moment, it appeared before the dagger, catching it. Tchish! Ren stopped the dangerous dagger. However, it came at a cost. Blood slowly dripped from his palm, staining the ground. Ren stared at the dagger in a daze. Confusion overcame his mind as he ignored the pain. A new word popped up into his mind. ¡®Parallel Cut?¡¯ Ren dropped the dagger and glanced at his bleeding palm. ¡°Are you okay? It was Lord Ne- I mean, my fault!¡± A cat dashed up to Ren. It jumped onto his arm and licked his injured palm. Ren watched in amazement as the cut faded. Soon, there was almost no trace of any injuries. ¡°There! All done!¡± The cat jovially licked its lips. ¡°Mrr? Who arre you? I have not seen you before.¡± The lion glared at Ren. ¡°¡­I¡¯m waiting for Sis Lena.¡± Ren hesitantly replied. ¡°A newcomer? Kirrin, let''s go!¡± The lion lost interest in Ren and jogged away. However, the cat looked at Ren in suspicion. In the end, it hesitantly left after a weak farewell. ¡°See you later.¡± Ren noticed that he finally had some free time. He sat down and attempted to reorganize his memories. ¡®Where was I before? What am I doing here? Ugh, why can¡¯t I remember anything?¡¯ Despite straining his head, he drew a blank. Whoosh! ¡°Phew! He¡¯s still here.¡± Lena arrived a few minutes later. A cat-woman followed her. The cat-woman took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, it seemed as though all the surrounding energy gathered onto her body. [¡°Edahi Arts: Instant Teleportation.¡±] She chanted, in a language not understood by Lena. With a flash, both the young women and Ren disappeared. Ren felt his surroundings contort before they changed to the familiar cottage. However, the broken door had been fixed. ¡°Lena! Go and prepare lunch. I¡¯ll speak to the Honored Guest.¡± The cat-woman ordered before sitting on the dining table. ¡°Honored Guest! I am Kana, the owner of this cottage. Please sit down!¡± She pointed her finger at a chair. Like magic, the chair moved back, inviting him to sit. Ren gulped at this sight. The indigenous magical abilities amazed him. ¡°Honored Guest, I¡¯m sure you have many questions. I¡¯ll try to clear all your doubts but please hold onto them until I finish my explanation.¡± ¡°This cottage is within Evergreen City, the capital of Edahi. This city is the Holy Land of Everleaf Forest. For your understanding, it means that this place is important to the beasts living in this forest. Has Honored Guest heard of Everleaf Forest before?¡± Ren shook his head. ¡°Oh, then is Honored Guest from the Tribal Lands?¡± Lena''s eyebrows creased. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± The word ¡®Tribal Lands¡¯ drew a blank in Ren¡¯s mind. ¡°Then where is Honored Guest coming from?¡± Lena frowned. The region surrounding Everleaf Forest was the Tribal Lands. Beyond that, she did not know of any place that could be accessible to any terrestrial living creature. Unless... Ren came from the ocean¡­ Looking at Ren, she immediately crossed that idea. Humans couldn¡¯t live in the ocean. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Ren stuck with an honest reply. This question had bugged him for a long time, and he had no clues to his past. Ren¡¯s answers gave Kana a headache. She understood that his case might be more complicated than her initial expectations. ¡°Do you remember anything? Your parents? A friend? A place? Anything?¡± Ren dug into the empty reservoir known as his memory. Finding nothing, he shook his head. ¡°Ha¡­ Amnesia? Don¡¯t worry! Your memories will come back.¡± Kana sighed and comforted him. ¡°I¡¯ll explain from the beginning. This forest is the abode of beasts and demi-humans. The only human habitations I know are those belonging to the Tribal Lands. However, due to many reasons, the Tribal Lands and Everleaf Forest have been almost completely isolated from each other.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°So, your presence as a human is rare in this region. Many beasts and demi-humans in this city have never seen a human before. This, by itself, isn''t a problem. However, the Divine Emperor has bestowed the title of Honored Guest upon you. This is beyond unprecedented, and it has evoked the jealousy of every cat and dog in this region.¡± Kana presented a tired smile. ¡°Honored Guest? What is that?¡± Ren found another weird term. Initially, he assumed it was a respectful manner of greeting a guest. He recognized that he was wrong. ¡°...The title of Honored Guest is one of the highest titles attainable by demi-humans. Before your entry, demi-humans had monopolized this title. The fact that an unknown human, especially a child obtained this title¡­ they take it both as an insult and a threat. That is why they resent you.¡± Cold sweat broke down Ren''s face. Reminded of the minotaur''s actions, he thought of escaping this dangerous place. Seeing his expression, Kana smiled and allayed his main worry. ¡°Fortunately, they can¡¯t kill you. However, they will do their best to intimidate, challenge and bully you. They won¡¯t let you live in peace until you rescind your title.¡± ¡°But, the moment you rescind your title¡­ they will kill you.¡± Her expression turned grim. Ren shuddered. Despite not doing anything, he had won the hatred of a whole race. "You don''t have to worry. Your situation won''t devolve to such a state. The Council of Order¡­ which is the highest power below the Divine Emperor, has placed you under my custody. My job is to ensure a smooth transition between you and the residents of this city. At the same time, I am tasked with your protection. For this, I require Honored Guest to stay hidden for a couple of days. Any questions so far?¡± ¡°Was I living here before? If not, how did I get here? And how did I become this¡­ Honored Guest?¡± Receiving an opportunity, Ren shot a volley of questions. He hoped to track his steps back and maybe find a clue to his past. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, but I do not know. Your presence was only revealed a day before. Only the Divine Emperor and The Council of Order can answer that question.¡± Kana answered after a slight pause. She hadn¡¯t seen Ren before, but she didn¡¯t know if the Council of Order had been grooming Ren in secret. His fluency with their language evoked her suspicion. ¡°Divine Emperor and the Council of Order. How can I meet them?¡± Kana froze. The way Ren spoke, it seemed as though he was speaking of meeting some ordinary cat or dog. ¡°Honored Guest¡­ One cannot simply meet the Divine Emperor. Without the Divine Emperor''s summon, one cannot meet His Grace. As for the Council, I can only arrange a meeting with a few members. But, it must be for grave matters that affect the city¡­¡± Kana awkwardly replied. Ren sighed. In other words, his amnesia was not important enough to warrant a meeting with the authorities of the city. ¡°Lunch is ready!¡± Ignorant of the downcast mood, Lena brought a large pot onto the table. She poured some soup into three bowls, serving it it to her sister and her young guest.
Ren remained silent for the rest of the afternoon. He sat on his bed, trying to recollect any bits of information from his past. At the same time, he puzzled over his future. Should he search his past? Or ignore it and start a new future? Even if he wanted a new future, he did not know where to begin. Without a goal to strive for, he felt empty and soulless. Kana was apparently an incredibly busy cat-woman as she left immediately after eating lunch. Nevertheless, she did not forget to warn Ren of the importance of lying low once again. After the previous incident, she no longer spared any efforts. She hired a few guards to ¡®protect¡¯ the cottage. She also gave them the secret mission of preventing Ren from leaving the cottage. This group was only the guards on the surface. Her real guards were hidden from common sight, adding another layer of protection. Time flew, and the sun plunged into the horizon. Ren stared at the corner of the window. He noticed a small glowing inscription. It drew his curiosity as he thought of possible utilities of the inscription. Sometimes, he wondered if it was all a dream. The setting sun filled him with a sense of familiarity. At least, this sight wasn¡¯t uncommon to him. Thump! Ren shuddered. For a moment, he felt like he lost control over his body. Dizzy, he tried to stabilize his body. THUMP! Just as he thought it settled, he once again felt the shudder. His face paled as his condition worsened. ''An enemy?'' BOOM! Ren spasmed. He felt an explosion from within his mind. Almost instantly, he lost control over his body as his eyes lost focus. He collapsed onto the bed. Suddenly, his eyes changed color. A bluish tint encroached into his pupils, expanding and expelling the amber color of his pupils. In a couple of moments, the transformation was complete. His eyes had turned blue. ¡°Ren? Are you okay?¡± Lena¡¯s sharp ears twitched. They had caught onto the small sudden movements of Ren. Ren left the bed and approached the table. He grabbed a jug and chugged down some water into his system. ¡°Oh¡­ you were just thirsty?¡± Lena lost interest and resumed her book. She didn¡¯t notice that Ren¡¯s pupils had turned blue.
Ren stared at his new surroundings in shock. It looked like an empty place, devoid of anything. Other than himself, he found a purple fox in this empty space. He noticed that it wasn¡¯t an animal. Its body was made of purple-colored translucent substance, giving it an ethereal touch. Staring at it, he wondered if it was smiling. ¡°Welcome to your Mind Space, Ren.¡± The fox¡¯s silvery voice contained no ill intent. Yet, Ren instinctively put up his guard. He vividly remembered the nauseous feeling of losing consciousness. It felt like he was ejected from his body. It irked him to no end, as he confronted the purple fox. ¡°Who are you? What did you do to me?¡± ¡°Calm down pup! I did not do anything to you. If you want to blame anyone, blame dead face.¡± ¡°Dead face?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Right! His name is Azen, the second soul occupying your body.¡± Ren fell speechless. Despite not having any memories, his common sense told him that the purple fox was spouting rubbish. Nonetheless, he had witnessed many things that felt unnatural. Adding one more to the list wasn''t difficult. Ren let out a tired sigh. He felt confused with all this information. First, he awakened in a world without other humans. Then he had no recollection of his past. Yet he seemed to be capable of understanding the language of the beasts and demi-humans with no problem. On top of this, he was sharing his body with another soul?! And that soul took possession of his body and sent him into this ¡®Mind Space¡¯? Ren felt like either he or the world was turning crazy. All this information, one after another drove him to the verge of insanity. He wished to believe that it was all a dream. Yet, his eyes couldn''t deny the truth. For a few minutes, he ignored the fox. He had to sort out his state of mind and¡­ prepare himself for more crazy news. Apparently, it was the norm in this world. After calming down, he asked. ¡°Do you know about my past?¡± The fox nefariously grinned and replied in dramatic pauses. ¡°Of course, although I don¡¯t know your entire history, I was there¡­ to witness¡­ the end¡­ of your life.¡± Chapter 3: Impending Doom Ren¡¯s heart shook. Although he had prepared his heart, the fox''s words still shocked him. ¡°I died? How?¡± ¡°Not telling. Anyways, that¡¯s not important at the moment. Your second life is in jeopardy, and I¡¯d suggest that this is more important than your miserable past. Do you disagree?¡± The fox smiled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ren gulped. ¡°At present, you are sharing your body with Azen. You possess your body during the day while he takes it at night. However, Azen isn¡¯t too pleased with the arrangement. He¡¯d rather consume or destroy your soul than continue like this. But¡­ I saved both your souls from the Netherworld at a cost. So, I¡¯m not too willing to see your early demise.¡± The fox licked its lips. ¡°When I sent you to the beasts, I had thought of a solution to your problems. There¡¯s a big lion in the largest tree of the forest. I believe he¡¯s called the Divine Emperor or Pathetic Kitty¡­ Hmph, the gall of that cat to take the title of Divine Emperor. If I were¡­¡± Midway, the fox grew furious and started ranting. ¡°Oh, sorry! I got sidetracked. Well, that cat is very strong! Strong enough to create a new vessel for one of your souls. If you can convince that big kitty to create a body for Azen, I can force him to leave.¡± ¡°But¡­ if you delay long enough for Azen to recover a good portion of his strength¡­ You¡­ will¡­ perish¡­¡± The fox returned to the dramatic pauses. Ren frowned. He remembered his conversation with Kana. He couldn¡¯t meet the Divine Emperor. Instead, the Divine Emperor had to summon him. And, with the status of the Divine Emperor, this possibility was highly unlikely if not outright impossible. ¡°Is there any other way?¡± ¡°Of course. You can grow strong enough to consume Azen¡¯s soul. However, little pup¡­ I suggest you give up on that idea. You can never catch up to him. Dead face is just too powerful for your standards.¡± ¡°Who is Azen? Why is he sharing a body with me?¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t answer that question. However, I can tell you the fundamental difference between you and Azen.¡± The fox nefariously grinned and continued. ¡°Azen has an Elemental Conversion Technique. As for its ability, you can soon witness it with your own eyes. He can improve his combat strength using this technique. On the other hand, you¡¯re stuck with a crippled body.¡± ¡°Crippled body?¡± Ren checked his limbs. ¡°Not literally! Your body can¡¯t absorb any energy! In the Martial Path, you are the basic example of a cripple. In other words, you can¡¯t improve your strength. And I know what you¡¯re thinking. Don¡¯t ask me for an Elemental Conversion Technique. I don¡¯t have one with me.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m stuck¡­¡± Ren didn¡¯t understand the technicalities but he had obtained the gist of what the fox was trying to convey. While Azen could improve his strength, he was stuck at the lowest level of strength. ¡°Indeed. Big kitty is your last hope. If you succeed, you¡¯ll live. Otherwise, you¡¯ll return to the Netherworld, where your soul will wander for an eternity before fading into nothingness.¡± The fox¡¯s voice possessed an eerie tone. Ren shuddered. ¡°What was my past life like?¡± ¡°Not telling. Discover it by yourself. Anyways, I can convey your last wish.¡± Ren squinted his eyes. He focused all his attention on the fox. He did not want to forget its next words at any cost. However, his concern was in vain. With his memory resembling a blank slate, even if he wished, he couldn¡¯t forget anything. ¡°To kick Azen out of your body! This was your last wish.¡± Ren fell speechless. He began to wonder if the fox was lying. However, he hid those thoughts deep within his heart. ¡°Ooh! I almost forgot! Because of your disadvantages, I gave you a couple of gifts. The first one is Omnilingual Evolution! It¡¯s a unique talent using which you can understand and communicate in any language you encounter. There are a few limitations, but I¡¯m too lazy to explain. You can ascertain them yourself. As for the second gift, I¡¯ll hand it to you once you succeed in your lone task.¡± Ren smiled bitterly. The first gift explained his fluency with the local language. However, he wondered if it would be enough to succeed in his task.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Anyways, I think I¡¯ve explained all that I had to say. I¡¯ll be going. If you wish to¡­ ¡®eavesdrop¡¯ on dead face¡¯s life, then just close your eyes and concentrate. Bye!¡± With an enthusiastic smile, the fox faded away. ¡°Wai¡­¡± Emptiness greeted Ren. He had many more questions to ask but unfortunately, he missed the crucial opportunity. ¡°What a bleak future¡­¡± Ren concluded. Nevertheless, he closed his eyes and concentrated, hoping to learn more of his ¡®new enemy¡¯.
Azen sat with Lena for dinner. He stared at a table in surprise. Ranging from steaks to salads, the table was full of various delicacies. However, for two people, the food was overkill. Not even 5 people could hope to finish such a luxurious banquet. Lena stared at the table in satisfaction. She had worked on these dishes for the past few hours, hoping to identify Ren¡¯s palate. Azen blinked at the sheer volume of the food. However, without uttering a word, he ate in tiny portions. ¡°How is it? Is it good?¡± Lena asked. Azen did not reply. ¡®Does he not like it? Did I make a mistake? Maybe, he likes less spice?¡¯ Lena panicked. Gathering her courage, she decided to ask him. ¡°Is it bad? Should I reduce the spices next time?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The silence plunged Lena into despair. Ren witnessed the exchange through Azen¡¯s senses. He could only smile bitterly as he understood the problem. Azen couldn¡¯t understand Lena¡¯s language! Without Omnilingual Evolution, he had no way of comprehending the local language of this forest. The weird silence continued for a few more minutes. In the meantime, Lena recovered from her panicked state and stared at Azen¡¯s blue eyes. She had hesitated from the beginning. However, curiosity conquered her as she asked. ¡°Um¡­ Ren¡­ your eyes have turned blue. I-Is this natural for humans?¡± She partially stammered, worried if the topic was sensitive. Like usual, Azen remained silent. He pretended that he hadn¡¯t heard Lena¡¯s question. This time, his behavior pushed Lena into an abyss of despair. ¡®He¡¯s ignoring me!! LENA! How did you offend him?¡¯ Although she looked fidgety on the outside, Lena was internally screaming her soul out. ¡®Was it something I did in the afternoon? Or was it because of the morning¡¯s incident? Oh no¡­ He probably hates me¡­¡¯ Lena¡¯s tail wiggled under the table. ''I''m sorry.'' Watching this exchange, Ren silently apologized. Lena had put her heart and soul into the dishes. Yet, in return, Azen couldn''t care less. After eating, Azen washed his face and returned to his bed, ill concerned of the worries plaguing the young cat-girl and the soul within his body. Lena sighed and touched the formation on the edge of the table. The top of the table transformed into a mushy quicksand-like substance. It devoured all the remaining dishes, emptying the table. She took one last glance at Azen and hesitated. In the end, she despondently trudged to her room on the upper floor of the cottage. An hour after she left, Azen opened his eyes. He took a deep breath and clenched his fist. Opening his palm, a web of darkness fell onto the bed. The darkness spread and surrounded the bed. Azen punched the bed a couple of times. Due to the darkness, not a single sound escaped. He willed it to surround his body. Clad in darkness, he approached the wall and snatched a dagger. Feeling satisfied, he touched the window. Darkness diffused from his hand, coating it. He silently opened the window and hopped out. A cloud of darkness cushioned his fall, and he closed the window. With a dagger in hand, he escaped into the dark night. Watching the whole incident, Ren gaped. Azen had executed the whole process without alerting Lena¡¯s acute sense of hearing. Not even the guards were privy to the fact that their guest had escaped.
For the next few hours, Azen practiced his Elemental Conversion Technique. Conjuring various objects made of darkness, he slowly improved his affinity. While training, Azen unknowingly drifted away from the city and wandered into the woods. With darkness coating the entirety of his body, even the animals failed to notice his presence. As he roamed deep into the forest, Azen heard a small noise, akin to a human¡¯s voice. Tracing its origin, he found a suspicious group in the darkness. They formed a camp, barely illuminated by a small lamp. [¡°When are we going to act?¡±] A hoarse voice complained. [¡°We haven¡¯t received an order yet. Wait for now!¡±] A shrewd voice replied. [¡°It¡¯s been so many days¡­ How many more days should we wait?¡±] [¡°Stop complaining! Our identities are trivial to the Lords. Be glad that they even hired us.¡±] To Azen, the conversation made no sense as he heard only a pile of incomprehensible blabber. All he heard was something akin to ¡°Blah Bleh Bloh¡±. He hesitated before approaching the camp. [¡°¡­I shouldn¡¯t have come for this boring mi-¡±] [¡°Enemy attack!¡±] A naga shouted. Azen wasted no time as he retreated into the darkness of the woods. The campers barely noticed a shadow before it fled into the forest. [¡°Follow!¡±] The naga ordered. Besides the naga, the camp had four minotaurs. The minotaurs¡¯ eyes turned red as they dashed into the forest. Upon entering the forest, they were greeted with murky darkness and countless trees. With minimal light from the moon, they failed to spot anyone. They waited for the sound of footsteps, but silence greeted them. They only heard the cries of the insects. [¡°He might be hiding nearby. Search carefully.¡±] The minotaurs continued their search, not noticing that a cloud of darkness had slipped past them. In the meantime, the naga felt conflicted. ¡®They¡¯re already onto our tracks. We need to change our hideout¡­ Why are the Lords delaying this mission?¡¯ The naga sighed and grabbed the lamp. It hesitated before extinguishing the lamp. [¡°Who?! I can¡¯t see! What¡¯s going on?¡±] Just as the naga extinguished the lamp, it was robbed of its vision. Not even the familiar moonlight entered its sight. Horrified, it realized that the nightmare had just begun. Soon, it couldn¡¯t hear the shrill cries of the crickets and other insects. To plunge it into even greater despair, the naga couldn¡¯t even smell the scent of the surrounding flora. One after another, it was robbed of all its prominent senses. [¡°NO! HELP!!¡±] As a last resort, the naga shouted. At this moment, it regretted enrolling for this mission. Tshikk! A dagger plunged into its throat. The naga felt some foreign fluid flowing into its neck. It diffused into its circulatory system, wreaking havoc throughout its inner organs before ending its misery. With despair and regret in its eyes, the naga collapsed onto a blanket of darkness, dead. Chapter 4: The Monster that Wasn鈥檛 [¡°Are you sure that there was an enemy? I can¡¯t see anyone¡­¡±] [¡°I definitely saw something. But it escaped before I could get a clear look¡­¡±] [¡°Hmm¡­ are we safe? Shouldn¡¯t we retreat? This is Edahi! What if the enemy knows our position?¡±] [¡°Hey! Where¡¯s Borag?¡±] The last question stopped the three minotaurs. Only at this moment did they realize that they were missing one minotaur. [¡°Borag? No no no. What about the Boss? Shouldn¡¯t the Boss have reached us by now?¡±] The disappearances began to dawn on the minotaurs. Azen stared at them from the side. He wanted to snipe another of their members but seeing their confusion, he realized that they had put on their guards. His eyes turned grave as he thought for a moment. In the end, he extended his arms and summoned three clouds of darkness. They sneaked onto the backs of the minotaurs. [¡°Let¡¯s go back!¡±] The minotaurs decided to return to their camp. ¡®Now!¡¯ The dark clouds pounced on their victims. Covering the faces of the three minotaurs at once, they effectively rid them of their most useful senses. Azen didn¡¯t wait. His dagger danced in the air. Tshikk! Tshikk! Tshikk! The three minotaurs collapsed into the embrace of dark blankets. With deep wounds on their necks, their blood leaked onto the ground. Azen approached the dying bodies. He touched the neck of the first minotaur. Darkness diffused into the minotaur¡¯s body, devastating its internal organs. Soon, the minotaur¡¯s body blackened and transformed into a charred statue. After a slight pause, the ashes disintegrated. ¡®Another failure¡­¡¯ Azen groaned and approached the second half-dead minotaur. Touching its neck, he went through the same process. This time, the ashes didn¡¯t immediately disintegrate. Azen closed his eyes and waited. Nevertheless, the ashes crumbled. [¡°Mercenary¡­¡±] Azen¡¯s lips moved as he spoke an unfamiliar word. Excited, he approached the last body. While repeating the process, the third minotaur survived for longer before disintegration. [¡°More¡­ enemy¡­ need¡­¡±] Azen mumbled. Witnessing the whole process, Ren gasped. Azen had just spoken in the language of the locals! ¡®Mind Reading!¡¯ A terrible thought crossed Ren¡¯s mind. At the same time, despair clutched his heart. Ren had lost his only advantages over Azen. With this ability, Azen had nullified the advantage of his Omnilingual Evolution. At the same time, Ren felt a sense of urgency in his heart. Azen was trouncing him in every field. He had better combat potential, an overpowered Elemental Conversion Technique and the ability to read minds. While Ren had wasted his day, Azen only needed one night to boost his strength exponentially. It was foreseeable that the gap in strength would only grow. Ren took a deep breath. He steeled his heart to find a method to meet the Divine Emperor at all costs.
As the time neared dawn, Azen returned to the cottage. His return was much smoother than his exit. Without touching the window, he merely operated the darkness to open the window. Sliding into his bed, he tossed the dagger. A cloud of darkness guided the dagger onto the wall. As the darkness disappeared, the dagger did not retain even a stain of Azen¡¯s adventures. On the bed, Azen grinned. His gains over the night were plentiful. He had indiscriminately killed anyone he found in the forest. Over the night, he had added nearly 20 corpses into his kill count. Not only did he learn the local language, but he also gathered some of their secrets. With his newfound knowledge, he had already formulated plans for his next adventure. At the same time, his proficiency in his Elemental Conversion Technique improved by leaps and bounds. However, he wasn¡¯t grinning over his successes. He had a special gift for Ren, and he anticipated Ren¡¯s reaction. Soon, the sun peaked above the horizon, and Azen¡¯s eyes lost focus. His blue eyes slowly transformed, returning to an amber color.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Ren regained control over his body. He sighed in relief as he decided to begin his counterattack. Over the night, he had built a plan. First, he had to speak with Lena. Filled with renewed mental energy, Ren sat up. Thud! Just as he moved, Ren collapsed back onto his bed. Confused, Ren tried to get up once again, only to fail once more. Realization dawned upon Ren. ¡®My body is too tired¡­ DAMN IT!!! AZEN!!!¡¯ Enraged, Ren gritted his teeth. Over 18 hours had passed since Ren had slept. Furthermore, last night¡¯s activity had sapped Ren¡¯s body of all its strength. Ren almost wanted to punch his own face, hoping it would hurt Azen. Visualizing Azen''s smirk, his hatred for his rival swelled. ¡®NO! I won¡¯t let this stop me! He won¡¯t win like this!!¡¯ Grinding his teeth, Ren wobbled over to the jug of water. He poured water onto his face, relieving him of some of the fatigue. With heavy steps, Ren strode up the stairs within the cottage.
¡°Mhmm¡­¡± Lena stretched her body. Staring at the rising sun through the window, she grinned. ¡®A new day! I must make up for yesterday! Lena! You can do it!!¡¯ Cheering herself, she rushed at her wardrobe, changing from her nightclothes. Just as she opened her wardrobe, her cat-ears caught an unusual sound. Thump! Thump! Thump! Lena¡¯s tail instinctively straightened and her eyebrows creased. Her heightened senses felt the vibration. ¡®That¡¯s not Ren! The footsteps are too heavy. Is it a minotaur? Or could it be¡­¡¯ She shuddered as the heavy footsteps reminded her of a recent nightmare. ¡®The guards! Did the monster kill the guards!? It¡¯s dawn¡­ Sister! She¡¯s not here¡­ Wait! What about Ren? Could the monster have eaten Ren? Oh no, what do I do?¡¯ Lena panicked and her eyes wandered around her room. She noticed an antique sword near her desk. She hastily grabbed the sword and unsheathed it. Holding the unfamiliar weapon, her hands shivered. ¡®Lena! Just stab the monster and run down. If you find Ren, take him and flee. You can do this!¡¯ Steeling her heart, she took a few steps back and waited. Thump! Thump! As the footsteps grew louder, Lena¡¯s heart rate rose. Bang! Bang! Hearing two bangs on her door, Lena¡¯s soul nearly left her body. ¡®Lena! You must face this monster. Ren¡¯s down! I must defeat this monster and protect him! Worst case, I¡¯ll use¡­¡¯ Taking a deep breath, she calmed down. She pointed a finger at the door, unlocking it before dashing towards the door, her sword pointed at the ''monster''. Ren noticed that the door had unlocked. Too tired to think, he opened the door to witness a weird scene. Lena dashed towards him with a sword pointed at his chest. ¡®REN!?¡¯ Seeing Ren at the door, Lena tried to stop her dash but by then, she had gained too much momentum. Gritting her teeth, she turned to her right and pointed her sword towards the side. Nevertheless, a collision was inevitable. Lena crashed into Ren and slammed him onto the wall across her room. CRASH!! The collision knocked out the air in Ren¡¯s lungs. It seemed as though the world was against him as his vision darkened.
Outside, two guards sipped their morning tea. They were werewolves of average build. Crash! A large sound alerted the werewolves. With grave expressions, they rushed into the cottage. One werewolf searched the bottom while his companion rushed to the top. Tensed, the companion climbed up the stairs. He knew that the noise had originated from the top. His hasty footsteps suddenly stopped. Pretending as though he hadn¡¯t seen anything, he returned. He stopped his partner who clearly had panic written all over his face. ¡°What happened? Is the Honored Guest okay?¡± ¡°Yeah. Everything is¡­ fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± The werewolf replied with a ¡®serious¡¯ expression. His partner looked at him in suspicion before following the werewolf as they left the house. The werewolf glanced at the stairs before complaining under his breath. ¡°Kids and their weird endurance games¡­¡± ¡°Endurance game?¡± His partner asked. ¡°Please don¡¯t ask. I still have nightmares of that stupid game.¡± ¡°What''s this? Tell me more.¡± His partner grew more enthusiastic. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing! Anyways, have you seen the sky today? It¡¯s so blue¡­ I wish it was green, just like the grass my son once ate¡­ Have I told you of that story?¡± He randomly changed the subject, and his clueless partner joined along.
¡°Ugh¡­¡± Lena groaned. Seeing the unconscious Ren, her face paled. She glanced at her hand and sighed in relief. Fortunately, the sword hadn¡¯t touched Ren. ¡°Oh no¡­ Did I knock him too hard? Is he alive¡­?¡± Lena panicked and shook Ren, even slapping him a couple of times. In her panic, she did not notice a werewolf watching this. The werewolf left without making a peep. After a few moments, she ran down and returned with a large bucket of water. With fidgety hands, she emptied it on Ren. Cough! Cough! With a couple of coughs, Ren woke up. Seeing Lena, he remembered his original purpose of visiting her. ¡°Sis Lena¡­ I¡¯m sorry about last night¡­ The food was great¡­¡± Saying this, he struggled to get up. Lena tilted her head in confusion. She wasn¡¯t expecting such warm words. She helped Ren onto a chair. ¡°Sis Lena¡­ *cough* do you have anything that can remove fatigue?¡± Lena studied Ren¡¯s expression and noticed that he was suffering from over-exhaustion. His face looked pale, and his eyes were drowsy. She hesitated before running down. Soon, she returned with a bottle of pills. Picking a couple, she handed them to Ren. Ren swallowed the pills without hesitation. As he drowned the pills, Ren''s fatigue cleared up as his body regained some strength. Like a parched man drinking a cup of water, he felt replenished. ¡°Thank you, Sis Lena. I want your help.¡± Ren drove straight to his main goal. ¡°Um¡­ How can I help you?¡± ¡°I want to meet the Divine Emperor. Do you know any method?¡± ¡°Eh? Eeeehhhh?¡± Lena gawked. Upon registering the request, she vigorously shook her head. ¡°No! You cannot meet the Divine Emperor. You need-¡° ¡°I know that. I¡¯m asking to know if there is any method to obtain the summons from the emperor. This is very important to me.¡± Ren desperately asked. If Lena didn¡¯t know the answer, he had to search elsewhere. His life depended on it! ¡°Uhh¡­ There is a way, but, um... No, never mind.¡± Lena hesitated midway and stopped. Looking at Ren, she felt that her idea was impossible. ¡°Sis Lena! Please don¡¯t hold back any information. I must know about this!¡± Ren''s voice possessed a hint of desperation. Lena froze. Seeing the panic on Ren¡¯s face, she felt disheartened. In the end, she chose to reveal her thoughts. ¡°The Trial of Righteousness. If you complete it, the Divine Emperor will summon you to become a first-class citizen. But, with your strength, it is impossible.¡± Ren frowned. Nevertheless, after regaining hope at life, he couldn¡¯t abandon it easily. ¡°Sis Lena, please tell me more about this Trial of Righteousness.¡± Chapter 5: Desperation! Strength, where art thou? Kana¡¯s cottage. Lena and Ren sat down for breakfast. Ren downed a cup of tea while gorging down on eggs with red yolks. ¡°The Trial of Righteousness is a test to search for talented individuals. It is a challenging, complicated and extremely dangerous set of tests. There¡¯s no minimum age limit. But, you need at least two contestants to participate in the trial.¡± Lena had calmed down by now. Her clear speech and motionless tail couldn''t make this more evident. Ren attentively listened to Lena¡¯s explanation. ¡°The trial takes place in another dimension and it varies with the contestants¡¯ age, strength, talent, racial attributes and luck as major factors. That is why it is futile to prepare for a trial beforehand. However, as an inclination, having more strength at a younger age usually makes the trial easier.¡± ¡°The greatest deterrent to participating in this trial is the danger it poses. There is a great possibility of death, and death in the trial world translates to death back here as well¡­ That is why I don¡¯t recommend it.¡± Ren struggled to hide his smirk. He could use this information to force Azen to help him. After all, if the body perished, both their souls would perish. Unfortunately, before he could establish a plan, Lena poured cold water onto his enthusiasm. ¡°Ren, I¡¯m sorry to say this but you¡¯re too weak to compete in the trial. On top of this, we are nearing the yearly Edahi tournament. All skilled practitioners are preparing for the competition, and thus no one will help you in the trial. At least, not until the competition is over... Ah! I almost forgot!¡± ¡°There is one last requirement. Each contestant must be capable of lifting a load of 200kg with ease. This is the base strength required to participate in the trial.¡± Ren struggled to hide his urge to curse. At present, he doubted if he could lift even 10 kg, much less 200 kg. He smiled bitterly. The last requirement pushed him to think of methods to enhance his strength. ¡°Sis Lena, are there any other methods to meet the emperor?¡± Lena pondered for a while before shaking her head. ¡°No! Even if you have grave news that alters the fate of the forest, you can only pass it to the Council of Order. Only the Council of Order can enter the Mother Tree and thus, meet the Divine Emperor. That is why I told you, meeting the Divine Emperor is impossible.¡± Ren fell silent. Facing such circumstances, he could only attempt the Trial of Righteousness and rely on his luck. But his present strength was inadequate. ¡°Sis Lena, what are the methods available to increase one¡¯s strength?¡± Lena sighed. She understood that Ren hadn¡¯t abandoned his idea. Nonetheless, after some considerations, she chose to help him. After all, Ren couldn¡¯t compete without help from others of his age. No sane individual would help him in this suicidal endeavor. ¡°Ha... I¡¯ll take you to the Edahi Libra- Uh, never mind. I¡¯ll bring the books here.¡± She rubbed her forehead, vividly remembering the commotion from the previous day.
A few minutes later, Ren sat before a table with four heavy books. He had obtained a new room to himself on the upper floor of the cottage. Although he couldn¡¯t read any of the books, the books had magic formations that converted the contents of the book into audio. It only required magic crystals, which Lena did not lack. Without wasting any time, he dove into the books. Time flew by and he skipped lunch.
Evening Ren placed the last book aside and sighed. As expected, the three books spoke of the common methods to gain strength. However, to Ren, none of these methods were feasible. The first book spoke of enhancing the physical strength of a person by absorbing natural energy and improving one¡¯s physique. They called it Physical Arts. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t absorb even an iota of energy. He wasted no time with this book. The second book involved Magic Arts. Initially, Ren felt optimistic about this branch. However, the entry requirements poured cold water on his optimism.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. In the world of magic, knowledge equated power. Unfortunately, Ren did not have the time to listen to innumerable books, learn all the basics and practice it from scratch. Even at a conservative estimate, it would take him many months or even years before he finished mastering the basics and began with actual spell casting. Furthermore, he couldn¡¯t skip any of the basics. Poor foundations could spell disaster as a mistake at any level could kill an ignorant mage. By the time he learned magic, Azen would have devoured him whole. And the third book¡­ Reading it only served to infuriate Ren. He spent many hours listening to it before realizing its futility. Each section of the book dealt with taking advantage of special bloodline or racial characteristics for each individual species. Only at the end of the book, did he realize that the authors cared little for human beings. They did not spare even a page for humans. Even cats and dogs had dedicated sections. This fact nearly drove him insane. As for the last book called ¡®Honing¡¯, Ren dropped it after the first page. The author mentioned that it would take years or decades of practice before a practitioner successfully enters this path. It was dedicated to talentless demi-humans who could only depend on hard work and time to succeed. Ren strolled around his room. Thoughts of sneaking into the ¡®Mother Tree¡¯ tempted him. ¡®Why is this Divine Emperor so elusive? If I were the Divine Emperor, I¡¯d get rid of these stupid rules.¡¯ He inwardly grumbled before sighing. ¡®The only method is Energy Manipulation. Although I can¡¯t absorb energy, there is some energy present in my meridians. If I can somehow manipulate this energy, maybe it would be enough to lift 200kg.¡¯ Ren pursed his lips. Even he felt a little skeptical of this path. ¡®Stop doubting! There¡¯s no other method. Physical Arts, Magic Arts, Bloodline Skills and Honing. Too many options but none of them work. How unfortunate... I¡¯ll ask Sis Lena.¡¯ He glanced out the window and noticed that the sun had almost touched the ground. ¡°It¡¯s already dusk?! Ha¡­ I¡¯ll ask her tomorrow.¡± He laid on his bed and slept. A few minutes later, his eyelids moved. A pair of blue eyes revealed themselves in the darkening night. Azen hesitated before returning to sleep. He chose to wait until midnight.
Lena entered the room. Seeing the sleeping Azen, she sighed and exited. Soon, she returned with some food. Placing it on the table, she whispered. ¡°Ren¡­ please don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡±
Midnight! Azen¡¯s hunt continued. He dove deeper into the forest and found his target¡­ a pile of bushes and rocks. The cloud of darkness silently removed the obstruction, revealing an opening to a hidden cave. Grinning, he dove into the cave. A few minutes later, darkness slipped out of the cave. It disappeared into the forest, searching for its next nest of prey.
¡°Arre they herre?¡± A white-armored lion asked. ¡°Yes. They must be¡­ There! That cave. That''s their hideout.¡± A silver-haired cat-woman replied. The lion stared at the open hole and growled. ¡°What injustice do they plan to perrform in the open? Investigate!¡± ¡°Yes, Leader.¡± The cat-woman rushed into the cave. She returned after a while, frowning. ¡°It¡¯s definitely a habitation but there¡¯s no one here.¡± ¡°Evil has fled frrom Justice. Go! Justice cannot wait!¡± The lion laughed. ¡°Understood!¡± The cat-woman replied before sinking into the darkness. However, she couldn¡¯t help but think back to the weird sight within the cave. She found cooked food, weapons, and other supplies. However, the disappearance of the enemy felt eerie. Why would they leave without taking any of their belongings? The peculiar duo traveled across the forest, searching for enemy hideouts. However, with a few exceptions, most of the hideouts were empty, ¡®abandoned¡¯ without any proper reason. As the night grew darker, the search of the duo led them to the 5th hideout. Out of the previous 4 caves, only one had enemy mercenaries. Those unfortunate mercenaries, who escaped Azen¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t escape the duo''s wrath. Nevertheless, the mostly empty hideouts evoked the suspicion of the lion. ¡°Is this the last one?¡± ¡°Yes, Leader.¡± The cat-woman studied the open entrance. She sighed and felt like this cave would be empty as well. ¡°Go!¡± With silent steps, the cat-woman entered the damp cave. A thick muddy smell blocked her acute sense of smell. Like usual, this cave was silent. She shook her head and prepared to delve deeper into the cave. However, she noticed something and stopped. ¡®Huh? A body!¡¯ Alert, she hid beside a rock. Her lungs slowly stopped moving and her body stopped exuding any odor. Although the muddy smell prevented one from detecting her scent, she did not wish to take a risk. Soon, her existence nearly faded away. If one didn¡¯t look carefully, they wouldn¡¯t notice her presence. With her black pupils fixed on the ¡®corpse¡¯, she waited. Noticing a bleeding neck, she wondered if it was alive. Remembering the previous hideouts, she guessed that someone would dispose of the corpse. Only this could explain their abnormal night. Loyal to her expectation, her target arrived. A cloud of darkness drifted through the cave. It covered the corpse. A few seconds later, it departed, leaving behind ashes that slowly crumbled into dust. The cat-woman''s heart shook at this scene. Without hesitation, she jumped out of hiding. [¡°Edahi Arts: Cage of Hell!¡±] She touched the walls of the caves. Ssss! The walls melted and transformed into boiling lava. The weird phenomenon instantly spread throughout the cave, turning it into a literal cage of lava. The lava dripped down the exit of the cave, blocking Azen within the cage. Confined, the cloud of darkness floated in mid-air, incapable of touching the bubbling lava. ¡°Give up! You can¡¯t escape! Who are you?¡± Azen didn¡¯t reply. He fired a ball of darkness at the exit of the cave. Tsss! The ball failed to penetrate the wall of lava. It disintegrated after merely creating a small crater. ¡®I¡¯m trapped¡­¡¯ Azen¡¯s face turned grave. His eyebrows creased as he caught a glimpse at his attacker''s face. ''It''s her?'' Chapter 6: Danger! Transformation! Azen¡¯s eyebrows creased. He did not expect to see a familiar face in this cave. Fortunately, the cloud of darkness prevented her from seeing his face. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you an enemy or an ally? Speak!¡± The silver-haired cat-woman pressed him. She was Kana, Lena''s elder sister! ¡°¡­I¡¯m not your enemy.¡± Azen replied in a hoarse voice. Kana smirked. ¡°Neyan, do you take me for a fool? Work on your accent first. Surrender peacefully and I won¡¯t hurt you. Otherwise¡­¡± A sharp glint flashed past Kana''s eyes. She extended her hand and a portion of the lava spiraled to form a whirlpool. Azen froze. For the first time, he became conscious of his accent. After ¡®eating¡¯ the memories of the mercenaries, he had accidentally gained their accent. This was a natural result of his hunt. ¡°I¡¯m truly not your enemy.¡± ¡°Tell that to the Justice!¡± [¡°Hell Viper!¡±] The whirlpool spat out a snake of lava, which targeted Azen''s darkness. Azen groaned before avoiding the snake. The snake turned around and followed him. With its menacing maw open, it displayed its determination to kill him. Azen approached a wall before dashing to the side. Sssss! Splash! The snake crashed into the wall of lava, spraying huge volleys of burning liquid all around. A few moments later, it disappeared, leaving a large crater behind. Seeing the destruction caused by the snake, Azen¡¯s eyes gleamed but he didn''t have time to think. Kana silently approached him and extended her palm. [¡°Justice: Pulverize!¡±] Azen felt an immense sense of danger. However, by then, he couldn¡¯t escape. Whoosh! Zuuuuu! A stream of invisible energy traveled through the darkness. Anything it touched was obliterated into nothingness, including the darkness. Azen¡¯s instinct kicked in, and the darkness forcefully ejected him out the path of the destructive stream. The stream of energy traveled through the cave, before halting at the lava wall. As he escaped the stream, he faced his next disaster, the boiling lava on the ground. Gritting his teeth, he summoned another cloud of darkness, barely gliding off the surface of the red lake. Kana saw a flash of blue before the darkness covered Azen. She grew suspicious. Within the darkness, Azen gazed at Kana. His blue eyes stared at the woman, seething with rage. However, he quickly calmed down. He noticed that he couldn¡¯t defeat Kana in a prolonged battle. His only viable options were either fleeing or killing Kana! Grasping his new goal, Azen extended his arms and shot innumerable bullets of darkness into his surroundings. Except for a few bullets, most of them expanded into the size of Azen¡¯s main cloud. With a thought, all the grown clouds of darkness poured down on Kana, forming a stream of darkness. ¡°Useless distractions!¡± Kana smirked. The whirlpool shot another snake at the incoming river of darkness. The menacing snake tore through the innumerable clouds, protecting Kana. ¡°Give up! If you¡¯re truly innocent, no one will hurt you!¡± Kana declared. She did not notice one small ball of darkness floating behind her. It suddenly expanded and a dagger pointed out of the darkness. Tsuiin! Aimed at Kana¡¯s neck, the dagger tore through the air. Ting! Azen froze in shock. With a ringing voice, his dagger hit an invisible wall. Only small portions of his darkness managed to slip past the invisible barrier. However, to Azen, that provided no help. Grinning, Kana turned around. No physical object could penetrate her barrier. [¡°Justice: Pulv-¡±] As she began the chant, her gaze fell upon the dagger. She stopped and shouted, her voice filled with shock. ¡°How did you get that dagger?! Who are you!?¡± Azen fled without furnishing a reply. Enraged, Kana summoned whirlpool after whirlpool. ¡°You chose death!¡± Her eyes glinted with rage as she invoked her next spell. [¡°Hell Viper: Nest!¡±] Five snakes emerged from the whirlpool of lava. Sssss! Working as a team, the snakes joined their lone companion as they chased after Azen. Azen¡¯s face paled. He could barely handle one snake, much less six at once. Without any hesitation, he dashed towards one of the walls of lava. Unlike previously, the six snakes took their sweet time. They covered maximum territory, attempting to corner Azen. Azen reached the wall and he turned around. Sssss! Six vicious snakes had cornered him. He had no escape! ¡°This is your last warning! Surrender now or I will kill you!¡± A voice emerged from behind the snakes. Azen did not reply. Instead, he fired bullets of darkness into his surroundings. ¡°You!! Kill!¡± Furious, she gave the final order. The six snakes rushed at once. Boom! Splash! The snakes collided into the wall of lava, destroying all the darkness in its path. Soon, they disappeared, leaving behind a humongous crater on the wall.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Kana saw the destruction and sighed. Before she could relax, her instincts warned her of danger. She turned around, only to see a dark cloud approaching her. She gritted her teeth and prepared to cast another spell. However, the dark cloud suddenly abandoned her and dashed away. Before she could register this weird movement, the dark cloud shot a globule of darkness at her face. It penetrated her barrier with ease and fell onto her eyes, blocking her vision. [¡°Edahi Arts: Grand Barrier!¡±] She shouted and cast a higher-level barrier to dispel the darkness. In the meantime, the cloud of darkness approached the humongous crater on the wall. Before the lava could heal the crater, it attacked the center of the crater. Tssss! The cloud of darkness sizzled. Nevertheless, it managed to bore a hole through the wall and escape into the dark night. Kana¡¯s successfully cast her upgraded barrier, just to witness an empty hole on her wall.
Azen heaved a sigh of relief. He could only thank the cat-woman for going crazy at the end. Otherwise, his plan wouldn¡¯t have worked. From beginning to end, Azen¡¯s plan had been centered around the idea of retreating. Just witnessing the power of the lava cage, he knew he had two options¡­ either drill a hole through the wall covering the exit or kill Kana. To drill a hole, he needed the help of the lava snake, which depended on Kana. To avoid unnecessary risks, he invested in both routes. In his first real attack, he did not use all the summoned dark bullets. His flamboyant attack was actually a disguise to hide some of the dark bullets. He had prepared for an elongated battle until Kana used the lava snake. Nevertheless, he did not expect Kana to grow crazy at the sight of the dagger and attack with a group of lava snakes. That attack had saved a lot of his time and energy. Whilst contemplating the battle, Azen remembered Kana¡¯s reaction upon seeing the dagger. If she recognized it, she would definitely return to the cottage. He had to outspeed her! With a new goal, he increased his pace of retreat. ¡°Frriend, wait!¡± An old voice shouted. Azen hesitated for a moment, torn in between two choices. In the middle of a forest, if an old man asks you to stop, what would you do? Would you stop and drink tea with the old man? Or would you run? Of course, you would¡­ run! Seriously, run! Azen made the same choice. He continued to flee, choosing to ignore the old voice. ¡°Frriend! I said Wait!¡± The voice declared. Azen stopped. Not because he wanted to stop, but a mysterious force prevented him from moving. He struggled but with no result. Whoosh! A lion suddenly appeared before Azen. He wore white armor that shone under the dim moonlight. With a height of nearly 3 meters, he looked down on Azen and asked. ¡°Young friend, do you believe in justice?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± Azen answered after a slight pause. ¡°Have you killed any Edahin?¡± The lion pressed on, seemingly capable of seeing through the darkness. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Grr! If you could kill me to escape, would you do it?¡± Azen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Meeting the gaze of the lion, he replied. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Arrogant! You can leave¡­ but this is yourr final warrning! Do not crreate anymorre trroubles!¡± Azen felt the mysterious force disappear. Receiving freedom, he fled as fast as his dark cloud could take him. The lion stared at Azen¡¯s receding back. ¡®I cannot kill you... But you deserve punishment! Even if the Emperor inquires, I have the prroper justification.¡¯ ROAR!!! The lion roared, creating an incorporeal shockwave that flew towards Azen. The shockwave knocked Azen. He collapsed from his cloud and crashed onto the ground. Cough! Cough! Azen stared at the red ground and clenched his fist. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he summoned another dark cloud and resumed his retreat. Nevertheless, his pace had noticeably diminished. Only he knew how much the shockwave had damaged him.
A few seconds later, Kana caught up. She had to revert the cage of lava, which delayed her arrival. ¡°Leader, where is the enemy?¡± She asked, confident in the lion''s abilities. ¡°I let him go!¡± ¡°Huh? Is he our ally?¡± A baffled Kana asked. Despite the distance, she had heard the roar. Her leader had never used that roar on his allies. ¡°I have executed justice. Don¡¯t ask any morre questions. Let us RReturn to Headquarters!¡± The lion commanded in an overbearing voice. ¡°Umm, Leader, can I return to my home? I need to check something. I¡¯ll be back in an hour at most.¡± ¡°No! You can rreturn after submitting the rreporrt.¡± Kana sighed and acknowledged the order.
Azen returned to the cottage. He placed the dagger in its original place and retreated to his room. Then, he focused the remaining darkness onto his face. Soon, the bloodstains near his mouth crumbled into ashes. Along with it, the dark cloud faded away, having completed its duty. Weary, he discarded his sweaty shirt and collapsed onto his bed. He still had nearly 3 hours before dawn arrived but the shockwave had severely damaged him, forcing him to recuperate. On top of this, he had exhausted a lion¡¯s share of his darkness on the battle with Kana. With this, he was spent both physically and mentally. Immediately after falling onto his bed, sleep conquered him.
Lena opened her eyes. Her sharp ears picked onto a sound from Azen¡¯s room. ¡®He¡¯s back?¡¯ The dim moonlight through the window illuminated her black pupils. A silver owl approached her, perching on the wooden headboard of her bed. ¡°You¡¯re awake. I have a message from the clan.¡± An old, fragile voice left its mouth. ¡°It can wait.¡± Lena ignored the owl and sneaked into Ren¡¯s room. Before leaving, she grabbed the antique sword. Upon entering his room, a fallen shirt greeted her. Her sharp eyes noticed a slight trace of red. She picked it, only to confirm her suspicion. ¡®It¡¯s blood¡­¡¯ She immediately dropped it and curbed her urge to vomit. The horrible stench emanating from the shirt drove her nauseous. Focusing her attention on Ren, her gaze turned frosty. She unsheathed her sword and advanced. Lifting the sword, she prepared to swing down. ¡°Lena! What are you doing?¡± The owl entered at this precarious moment, nearly shouting. Lena hesitated, but only for a moment. A cruel glint flashed past her eyes as her sword advanced. ¡°Have you gone crazy?! You¡¯re going to ruin everything! Your hard work, my hard work¡­ everything! Why do you even want to kill this human?¡± The owl confronted Lena, floating between her sword and the unprotected boy. ¡°There is only one Kaero in this world. He must die!¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re going to kill him over a resemblance? Fool! You¡¯re going to waste a whole year¡¯s worth of hard work over a whim? If you proceed, you¡¯ll lose everything. And for what? A mere human pipsqueak? Stop letting your hot blood dictate your actions, or I¡¯ll have to permanently remove your memories!¡± The owl threatened. Its words had an effect as Lena calmed down. ¡°Fine, but he must die. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill him right now.¡± ¡°Sure! But not now. His identity might be useful to us. We can exterminate him after he has provided his worth. But for now, I want you to heal him.¡± ¡°Heal him!? Why must I heal him? Are you playing me with?¡± A violent glint flashed past Lena¡¯s eyes. ¡°No. It¡¯s your sister. If she spots any injuries on him, the Council might intervene. That would be an unfavorable situation. They can move him or improve his security. And if it wasn''t enough, both of you can also fall under investigation. You already know the consequences if they discover something. At present, we can¡¯t take any risks. Heal him!¡± The owl ordered. Lena groaned. Her eyes underwent a transformation. The whites of her eyes turned pitch-black. Her black pupils decolorized into a lighter shade of grey, resembling two moons. After the transformation, they looked like the reflections of two full moons on a dark lake. Her eerie gaze penetrated through Ren¡¯s skin, examining his internal wounds. An aura of death surrounded her as a hint of killing intent escaped her moon-like eyes. ¡°Lena!¡± The owl¡¯s warning pulled her out of her daze. With a low harrumph, she released a wave of green energy. It surrounded Ren¡¯s body, healing all his internal damages in the blink of an eye. She scanned Ren¡¯s internals once again for any hidden damages when she noticed an anomaly. ¡®There¡¯s something wrong with this body¡­ But what is it?¡¯ She frowned. ¡®Eh? Where are the major chakras? ¡­How is he even alive!?¡¯ Her heart skipped a beat, and her frown worsened. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong-¡± Tap! Tap! Before she could continue, her ears caught onto a familiar sound of footsteps. ¡°Sister!¡± Her face paled. She didn¡¯t have enough time to return to her room! Chapter 7: Inception Of Training Creak! The door opened and Kana entered. Her black pupils scanned the wooden room until they stopped at one cat-girl, who she wasn¡¯t expecting. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Um, nothing. I heard a sound from Ren¡¯s room and came to check. I, um, noticed that his shirt was dirty and I wanted to get a new pair of clothes for him tomorrow.¡± Lena reverted to her usual panicky self. Her eyes returned to normal and her black tail fluttered as she pointed at Ren¡¯s shirt. ¡°Oh, did you notice anyone entering this cottage?¡± A sharp glint flashed past Kana¡¯s eyes. Her gaze slipped past the owl as it focused on Lena alone. ¡°I didn¡¯t, um, fine anyone. Um, if there were any, the guards should have noticed¡­ right?¡± ¡°Mhmm¡­ What¡¯s with the sword?¡± Kana ogled the sheathed sword, surprised that her sister would carry a weapon. ¡°Um, I thought there might be an intruder.¡± ¡°Are you sure that there wasn¡¯t any intruder?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t find anyone.¡± Kana closed her eyes in contemplation. ¡®If my eyes didn¡¯t betray me¡­ it was definitely that dagger. There are only three of them. If it wasn¡¯t one of the daggers below then that Neyan was¡­¡¯ In the end, she nodded and said. ¡°Lena, I¡¯m tired. Prepare a cup of tea for me.¡± Lena nodded and hurried down. After she left, Kana approached Ren and scanned his body. ¡®No wounds. My initial guess was wrong¡­¡¯ Shaking her head, she left.
¡°Well done! I¡¯ll rewrite your memories. Just give me a moment.¡± Upon reaching the kitchen, the owl whispered. It didn¡¯t dare to speak out loud, lest Kana noticed. Lena¡¯s eyes wandered for a moment. A dazed expression filled her face before it was replaced by panic. ¡®Oh no! Why am I wasting time? Sister is waiting.¡¯ She hurried with her preparations of tea. ¡°Piko! What do you want?¡± Hoot! Hoot! ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll grind some fish for you. Still, a fish-loving owl¡­ Piko, you¡¯re weird.¡± Lena smiled. Hoot! ¡°Aww, I wasn''t complaining. I¡¯ll always love you.¡± Lena patted the owl and returned to her task.
Ren gaped at the recent progressions. Last night was extremely eventful. For one, he saw the limits of Azen¡¯s power but that did not give him any relief. At the same time, he got a glimpse of the power of magic. As Ren pondered over the battle of last night, a purple fox silently approached him. ¡°Pup!¡± Ren nearly jumped in panic. He wasn¡¯t expecting any guests in his mind space and the fox¡¯s voice startled him. ¡°Eh¡­ I came here to bring good news and this is your reaction?¡± The fox pursed its tiny mouth in displeasure. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­ Please don¡¯t sneak up on me like that again.¡± Ren heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Noted.¡± ¡°Anyways, what good news do you have?¡± ¡°Dead face is severely injured. His soul is suffering¡­¡± Smirking, the fox continued. ¡°It¡¯ll take one week for him to recover. During this time, your body is your sole property. Use this week wisely!¡± Ren froze. A moment later, he jumped up in ecstasy. He hugged the fox and shouted. ¡°Yes! Take that, Azen!¡± His muscles relaxed as he nearly cried in joy. Azen¡¯s performance on the last night had been plaguing him. Even without sleeping, he saw horrible nightmares. ¡°Ugh¡­ get lost! Leave me!¡± The fox displayed an expression of disgust and snarled. ¡°Hmph. Enjoying your rivals¡¯ suffering. You aren¡¯t a good pup! Anyways, I don¡¯t think Azen is concerned. After recovery, he only needs 3 weeks to take complete possession of your body.¡± Ren gaped. Like a hammer crushing a nut, the fox¡¯s words obliterated his excitement. Adding 3 weeks to 1 week¡­ he did the math. He only possessed a month before his demise! ¡°What kind of good news is this?! This is terrible news! I only have one month?!¡± Ren despaired. ¡°Well, it¡¯s an upgrade from the original 2 weeks you had. Be glad!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Hearing it like this, Ren shuddered. He sincerely thanked Azen for offending that powerful white-armored lion. Nevertheless, thinking of the deadline, he even doubted if he could pass the trial by then. After witnessing Kana¡¯s prowess, he fancied the idea of picking magic but with one month, he had to return to his original plan. ¡°Fox¡­ do you know of any method to increase my strength?¡± Ren asked. He hoped that the fox could give him a better idea. ¡°Don¡¯t call me fox! I have a name! Call me Rui! Idiotic stupid ignorant pup!¡± The hypocritical fox grumbled. ¡°Rui¡­ can you help me?¡± Ren felt like the world was unfair. It gave Azen a powerful technique while he struggled with crumbs. ¡°Nope! Finding a path is up to you. Young pup! Remember one thing! This world has never been fair. If you don¡¯t have the strength to survive, then you don¡¯t deserve to live!¡± Ren¡¯s lips curved into a reversed ¡®U¡¯. His tearful eyes begged the fox. Rui avoided the tearful eyes as he departed. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving. This week is the most crucial week of your life. Use it wisely.¡± Rui disappeared.
Ren opened his eyes. There was still another hour till dawn but he had regained control of his body. He took a deep breath and got out of his bed. Ignoring his naked upper body, he sat and pondered over his plans for the day, mainly over his new idea. Ren couldn¡¯t absorb any energy. Due to this, he could only work with the minimal energy within his meridians. However, this amount was negligible compared to a Practitioner¡¯s requirement. Nevertheless, to Ren, these crumbs of energy could bridge the difference between failure and success in the entry requirement of the trial. If he could utilize this minimal energy in the most efficient manner, it might be enough to help him lift an object weighing 200kg. Despite not knowing the feasibility of his plan, he decided to proceed with it. At this stage, he couldn¡¯t waste any time pondering. Each second spent not tackling the trial brought him one second closer to his death. For this purpose, Ren ignored the potential of his path. Maybe, after the trial, he could abandon this path and choose magic instead. Gaining a proper goal, Ren decided to dig deeper into methods to manipulate his energy. However, books could no longer solve that problem. He needed a hands-on experience in the field. Ren settled his mind and waited for sunrise. Despite the flaws, this method was the most viable one amongst the ones he had seen. After all, he wasn¡¯t a prodigy blessed with an Elemental Conversion Technique unlike some others. Achoo! His sneeze reminded him of the cold morning weather. Looking around, he couldn¡¯t find his shirt. ¡®Hm¡­ Azen threw my shirt¡­ It should be somewhere over here¡­ But, where is it?¡¯ Frowning, he questioned his memory. In the end, he shrugged and decided to search below. Maybe, he misremembered and Azen dropped it while returning the dagger.
¡°Ren? You woke up early.¡± Reaching the ground floor, he saw both the sisters together. Seeing Kana, Ren instinctively shuddered. He still possessed a vivid memory of her prowess. Only upon remembering the fact that Kana hadn¡¯t seen his face, did he feel better. ¡°Did you see my shirt?¡± He asked Lena. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll bring you a new set of clothes. It¡¯s a cold morning!¡± Lena attributed Ren¡¯s shivering to the cold weather. She dashed towards her room. He nodded and prepared to return when Kana called him. ¡°Ren, can you come here for a moment?¡± Unlike usual, she didn¡¯t refer to him by ¡®Honored Guest¡¯. Instead, she directly referred to his name. Ren¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Nevertheless, he obediently approached Kana. ¡°Did you go out last night?¡± Her eyes narrowed as she met gazes with Ren. ¡°No.¡± Ren answered with a straight face. ¡®It was Azen who left the previous night! So, it isn¡¯t a lie.¡¯ He inwardly convinced himself. ¡°Oh.¡± Kana nodded. No one knew what thoughts went through her mind.
A few minutes later, the small ¡®family¡¯ of three decided to have an early breakfast. ¡°Honored Guest, I have good news for you. The commotion over your status has settled down. If you want, you can travel outside. Still, you must wear a disguise for now. It¡¯ll prevent any unwanted incidents.¡± Kana casually said while sipping on a cup of tea. Before Ren could reply, it was Lena¡¯s turn to get excited. ¡°That¡¯s great! Ren, is there any place you¡¯d like to visit?¡± Ren hesitated. He thought for a moment before replying. ¡°I want to learn energy manipulation. Is there any place where¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be Learner¡¯s Fall! Umm, Sister, can I take him there?¡± Lena excitedly proclaimed before staring at her sister with eyes that shone stars. Kana smiled wryly. Seeing her excited sister, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse her. ¡°Fine. Lena, I¡¯ll leave the Honored Guest in your hands. But don¡¯t forget the disguise! If there¡¯s any trouble, search for me¡­ Never mind, I¡¯ll arrange a secret protection team.¡± ¡°What is Learner¡¯s Fall?¡± While Lena victoriously smiled, the clueless Ren didn¡¯t know what to feel with others deciding his schedule without his permission. ¡°Ren, you don¡¯t remember? You¡¯ve been there before. It¡¯s the waterfall where you met my sister.¡± Ren instantly remembered the location. Thinking of the place, he remembered the shape-shifting cat and the lion cub. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. We¡¯ll leave after breakfast!¡± Lena smiled.
Many hours later. Chirp! Chirp! The birds sang, the trees danced with the wind, and the sunflowers presented their beautiful petals to the sun. Kana enjoyed the stroll in nature. At moments like these, she felt alive and free. Splash! ¡°Aaahh!¡± A splash followed by a loud shout surprised Kana. She strode out of the forest and arrived next to the river. Lena sat beside the river, reading a book. She was too engrossed in her book that she didn¡¯t notice Kana¡¯s arrival. Huffing and puffing, Ren soon appeared on the cliff next to a waterfall. He ran to a tree and jumped onto its bark. Shouting, he kicked the bark and flew up. Like a ninja, he travelled further above the tree. Thump! Catching a leaf, he fell on the ground, nearly breaking his legs. Gritting his teeth, he repeated the process. This time, he failed to get the required elevation and fell on his knees. Ignoring the pain, he jumped at the tree and repeated the same process until he obtained another leaf. After possessing two leaves, he approached the river. He placed the two leaves onto the river and jumped onto them. Unfortunately, his weight sunk him and he fell down the waterfall with a shout. Kana involuntarily gaped. After regaining her composure, she stormed to Lena. ¡°Lena, what are you doing?! I demand an explanation!¡± Lena finally noticed Kana. She put her book aside and smiled at her sister. ¡°Sister? Don¡¯t worry. He asked for this! If he¡¯s truly interested in manipulating energy, he must at least conquer this course.¡± Kana facepalmed. Her sister¡¯s bar was a little too high for the poor Ren. Seeing him climb the cliff, she hesitated and said. ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for lunch?¡± ¡°Oh! I almost forgot! Let¡¯s go.¡± Lena happily dusted her clothes and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait! What about him?¡± Kana pointed at Ren. ¡°Oh! He¡¯s staying here until he perfects this course. I gave him energy pills for food. As for water¡­ there¡¯s plenty here. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll manage.¡± She gave a sweet smile and strolled towards the teleportation spot. Kana inwardly shuddered. ¡®What in Edahi is going on here? Where did my sweet Lena go? She¡¯s turned into a Demon!¡¯ She almost didn¡¯t recognize her sister anymore. Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t want to disturb their training routine. Seeing Ren¡¯s pitiful state, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the situation devolved to such a pathetic state. Chapter 8: That Elusive Red Leaf! Capture it! Earlier that morning. Ren and Lena had arrived at an isolated waterfall. Due to Ren¡¯s identity, they chose to ignore the popular training hotspots. After reaching the familiar river, Lena dropped her bag and inhaled a deep puff of fresh air. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Ren removed his hood and wiped the sweat on his forehead. The morning sunlight was unforgiving as it singed his exposed skin. He wondered how worse it would get in the afternoon. ¡°Phew. What should I do next?¡± Ren asked. Lena smiled and answered. ¡°Rest, of course. You just completed an hour-long hike. After the rest, I¡¯ll begin with the basics. We¡¯ll take short steps in the right direction!¡± Towards the end, she enthusiastically placed a mat on the grass. Her attitude indicated that she treated this journey like a picnic. Ren curbed his urge to curse. Taking short steps¡­ Indeed, he¡¯d be taking short steps straight into the Netherworld!! ¡°Sis Lena, I cannot waste any more time. I need to learn energy manipulation in one week at most!¡± Ren grumbled. He only had a month! To succeed in the trial, he couldn¡¯t depend on just manipulating energy. That was barely scratching the surface of his needs! Finding a partner and improving his combat potential... He had to look beyond the entry requirement and prepare for the inevitable challenges in the trial. Lena saw the frustration on Ren¡¯s face. She hesitated and pondered. ¡°How much are you willing to sacrifice for strength?¡± She asked. ¡°Everything! I don¡¯t care about food, water or sleep! I only want to learn Energy Manipulation!¡± His instant reply startled Lena. ¡°¡­Are you serious? Will you backtrack on your decision?¡± ¡°No! I can''t be more serious!¡± Ren''s eyes blazed with resolve. Staring at those eyes, Lena felt her inner composure crumble. She hesitated before her expression turned grave. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll help you. But, this training will be the hardest course of your life. I won¡¯t show any mercy. Even if you die from exhaustion, I will not help you! I will not hear your complaints! Are you sure you wish to proceed?¡± She asked for the second time, only to receive Ren¡¯s acknowledgment. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Fine. Before we begin, I''ll give you a brief explanation of what this course will cover. Natural Energy or Qi is abounding in our environment. We, as Practitioners of the Martial Way, absorb this energy into our bodies. After absorption, it improves a practitioner¡¯s physique and turns into Physical Energy or Tai, which can be used for Physical Arts. Controlling Tai can be difficult but-¡± ¡°No, not Tai! The residue Natural Energy in my meridians. I want to learn how to control it.¡± Ren replied. ¡°Eh?" Lena took a couple of moments to register Ren''s request. After regaining her composure, she frowned. "That¡¯s, um, complicated. Why are you even interested in this little energy? Mm..." Ren didn''t dare to disturb her contemplation. ¡°I think it should work.¡± In the end, she nodded. She extended three fingers and continued. ¡°I will split your lesson into 3 different topics. One, gathering Natural Energy to a specific point of your body. Two, using Natural Energy to generate useful force. And three, controlling and maintaining this generated force for a longer duration.¡± ¡°These three topics will constitute your course. Is this fine with you?" Ren vigorously nodded. "Do you see that red tree?¡± She pointed at a tall broad-leaved tree. Ren easily recognized the tree due to its crimson red leaves. Within the border of the forest, it stuck out like a sore thumb. However, its branches were higher than normal. ¡°That is a special tree. It¡¯s not supposed to live here but it has been blessed by the Divine Guardian. That is why we¡¯ll use it for your training. Your task is to climb that tree and snatch two leaves from it. Note that you can¡¯t use your hands while climbing.¡± She guided him to the flowing river and continued. ¡°Then place those two leaves on the river and balance yourself on them. Follow the flow of the river and¡­¡± Pointing at the edge of the river, she calmly added. ¡°¡­survive the waterfall.¡± Ren gulped. The difficulty had escalated exponentially without any warning.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Also¡­¡± ¡®It¡¯s not over!?¡¯ Ren inwardly cursed his big mouth. Lena indifferently continued. ¡°¡­when you land below, you must float on the leaves. If you fail, you¡¯ll have to climb the cliff and start over from the beginning. At the bottom of the cliff, you can see a red sword mark. Climb directly above it and do not deviate from that path!¡± As if not seeing Ren¡¯s expression of agony, Lena added another layer of difficulty. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed back into the cottage until you finish this course. For food, eat these pills.¡± She took out a bottle of pills and tossed it to Ren. Opening the bottle, Ren saw many black nail-sized pills. ¡°They¡¯re very bitter but they¡¯ll satiate your hunger and energy requirements. As for water, you must depend on the river. It¡¯s not the best option but this was your choice! Good luck!¡± After the explanation, Lena took a U-turn in her attitude towards Ren. She ignored him and relaxed on her mat. Grabbing a book, she dwelled into her own world. Ren had already begun to regret his decision. He had spoken in a flamboyant manner, and it backfired. Now, he had no option but to stick with his word. At the same time, he created a mental note to think carefully before shooting stupid remarks. He approached the tree and examined it in detail. The lowest red leaf stood at a height of 4 meters from the ground. Without climbing, it would be impossible for him to grab them. He formulated a plan and gathered his energy towards his leg. Jumping at the tree, he stepped on it, hoping to improve his momentum in the upward direction. He had seen Azen execute this maneuver with the dark clouds and felt like he''d ace it as well. Ren¡¯s leg touched the tree and he released the gathered energy. A new force struck the tree. However, he could have never predicted the result. Crash! The rebound force pushed his leg back, creating a rotational torque that propelled his head forward. The inevitable crash occurred with his head slamming on the hard bark of the tree. Thud! Enjoying his plight, gravity tugged at him, and he collapsed on his back. Standing, Ren rubbed his hurt face. He glanced at his hand and noticed a trace of blood. He sighed, beginning to appreciate the difficulty of his task.
A few minutes later. A bloodied Ren ran towards the tree. Jumping, he kicked the tree. Upon contact, he released the stored energy on his leg. The rebound from the tree sent him into the air. Delirious with joy, he extended his hands into the air. The red leaf seductively posed for Ren, teasing him to take it. His finger barely touched the leaf, before he fell down. Thud! He landed on his legs. He looked at the leaf and gritted his teeth. Unfortunately, his elevation wasn¡¯t enough. Ren frowned and deliberated over his attempt. ¡®The angle isn¡¯t good enough. I should improve the angle or attempt two jumps. Hmm¡­ I''ll try both methods.¡¯
Another hour had passed. Fortunately for Ren, he rarely collapsed on his back. He had learned to land on his legs, sparing himself from innumerable injuries. Nevertheless, his legs had started growing numb after the consecutive jumps. If they could speak, they would have filed a petition with God to change their owner. After many attempts, Ren realized that he needed two jumps. One jumped failed to meet the target. It was barely enough to take him to the lowest leaf. Considering the difficulty of the rest of this course, he needed a stable supply of leaves. Thus, he spent an hour working on double jumps. However, he realized that double jumps were an altogether different beast to conquer. His first contact with the tree always pushed him away, and he couldn''t make the second contact. After innumerable attempts, he brushed across the formula for success. To perfect the formula, he suffered through even more attempts. He dashed towards the tree and jumped on its bark. Controlling his energy, he split it into two forces. He spent the first portion on generating an upward thrust. However, this maneuver produced a rebound force, pushing him away from the tree. To offset this force, he utilized the second portion of energy as an attractive force, maintaining his horizontal distance with the tree. With a successful first touch, his second leg touched the bark of the tree. This time, he concentrated all his qi on the upward thrust. He flew into a plethora of red leaves. To Ren, it felt like he had graced upon heaven. Extending his hands, he grabbed two random leaves. Gravity called and Ren panicked. His hands slipped through the leaves. He returned to the ground, reaping nothing for his hard work. Thud! Ren opened his palm and stared at the whites of his palms. Riddled with blood and dirt, it lacked a red leaf. He dumbfoundedly glanced at the leaves above his head. ¡®Why did it slip from my hands?¡¯ Ren hid his anger and thought back to the moment he grabbed the leaves. ¡®It¡¯s slippery¡­ Ugh, This¡­ Damn it!¡¯ Furious, he punched the tree, accumulating another wound in the process. Ren sat and thought of his next plan, waving his injured arm in the process.
After missing a couple of times, Ren changed his approach. Instead of aiming for a leaf, he decided to grab a branch. He dashed at the tree, double jumped, and grabbed a branch. Fortunately, the branch wasn¡¯t slippery. With one hand holding a branch, he tugged on a leaf. His hand slipped through the leaf, confirming his doubts. Frowning, he tugged at the petiole supporting the leaf. ¡®What! It¡¯s not coming out?! Just how strong is this stupid twig?¡¯ Despite using all his strength, the petiole did not relent. It held onto the branch, outrightly rejecting Ren''s invitation to elope. The leaf''s insistence forced Ren to use his qi. Gathering the little amount of qi he still possessed throughout his body, he pulled the petiole. Ren''s eyes lit up in joy. The leaf saw through his determination and accepted his invitation, finally leaving the tree. ¡°Aargh!¡± Before he could relax, a bunch of thorns extended out of the branch. They drilled into Ren''s palm. Without hesitation, he abandoned the branch and dropped onto the ground. Watching his bleeding palm, Ren hurried to the river and washed it. Despite rinsing it a couple of times, his left hand had grown numb. Ren frowned at this phenomenon. He stared at his bloodied reflection and sighed. He even wondered if he could ever finish this grueling course. Frustration kicked in and the thought of quitting hammered his mind. In the end, he thought of Azen, the one-month deadline and his unknown past. ¡®I¡¯m pathetic. I rejoiced over Azen¡¯s failure¡­ Yet, I have done nothing to bring myself any closer to success. Now, at the smallest sign of difficulty, I''m considering retreat.¡¯ Ignoring the pain, he clenched his fist. ¡®No! I cannot stop here. I¡¯m weak, and Azen is too strong. If I depend on regular means, I can never catch up to his fading back! If I forfeit here, it will only demonstrate that I¡¯m unworthy of this second life¡­ unworthy of learning my past¡­¡¯ ¡®In this life, I have only been a burden, an unnecessary soul that has achieved nothing. This is my last chance. I must complete this course. If I can¡¯t complete it, then I¡¯m better off dead.¡¯ Ren''s eyes rekindled with the flames of determination. He returned to the tree and continued his painful training. Chapter 9: Difficulties! A Stomachs Growl! With his accumulated experiences, Ren snatched the second leaf with little difficulty. He stood on the banks of the river, contemplating over the next part of the trial. Observing the violent current, he gulped. ''I need to float on the leaves. The first problem is keeping the leaves attached to my legs. Then, I need to partition another force to float. Therefore, I need two forces. The first to attract the leaf and the second to balance my weight. Good! I''ll begin with this plan.'' Ren placed the two leaves together on the water. The current immediately guided them away. Without hesitation, he leaped onto the first leaf. However, he had underestimated the leaf''s slippery texture. Splash! Like landing on a banana peel, he slipped and plunged into the water. Even his qi failed to help him in this situation. Struggling, Ren resurfaced to recover his breath. Breathless, he looked ahead and his face paled. The edge of the waterfall greeted him. The current pushed the helpless Ren down the waterfall.
Underwater. ¡®I can¡¯t see¡­¡¯ Ren''s vision faded. Physical fatigue conquered his body and he struggled to hold his breath. He had touched upon the thin line between consciousness and unconsciousness. His body refused to move, and the pull of the water grew stronger with each moment. In this state, he saw the visage of Azen, and something snapped in his mind. ¡®I can¡¯t fall here! I can¡¯t die yet!¡¯ Ren felt his heart rate rise. A sense of rivalry overcame him. A new strength, with no apparent source, filled his body. He swam upwards, fighting the current with his renewed strength.
Cough! Cough! Ren came ashore. Breathless and tired, he collapsed on his knees, coughing. Even after escaping from near death, the kick in adrenalin hadn¡¯t faded. He wheezed, intaking as much air his poor lungs could carry. ''I survived...'' He collapsed on his back. Dangerously expanding and contracting, his lungs teetered on the verge of an explosion. After stabilizing his breathing, he approached the cliff. He searched and found the red sword mark. The portion of the cliff above the arrow looked polished. It did not possess any cracks or extensions. Apparently, someone didn¡¯t want others to climb this section of the cliff. This time, Ren did not complain. He touched the cliff, gathering his qi into his fingers. They acted like tiny magnets, helping him hold onto the cliff. He slowly climbed the steep cliff. However, midway he met a new problem. He was lacking in energy! His remaining qi wouldn¡¯t suffice to finish his climb. Recognizing this, he steeled his heart and abandoned the cliff. The cliff flashed past his eyes. Gritting his teeth, a mad glint flashed past his eyes. Concentrating all his remaining qi into his left leg, he slammed it onto the ground. Crack! He swiftly rolled to divert the remaining momentum. Unfortunately, the damage had been inflicted. Ren held his leg as his face shriveled in pain.
A few minutes later, he approached the cliff again. He had replenished his energy and pondered over his mistakes. This time, he swiftly climbed the cliff without taking any pauses. Without any untoward incident, he reached the top. Taking a breather, he searched for the bottle of pills and ate one of the black pills. ¡®Bitter!¡¯ Ren¡¯s face contorted. The pill had an extremely bitter taste and an even worse aftertaste. After he swallowed the pill, Ren experienced a weird, warm feeling in his abdomen. Along with this warm feeling, his fatigue faded and a wave of energy massaged his injured body. Although it did not heal him, it replenished his tired body and rejuvenated him. Ren looked at the pills and pondered for a while. In the end, he approached Lena, whose entire attention had been stolen by the book. ¡°Sis Lena-¡± ¡°What is it? Giving up already?¡± She grumpily asked. Ren wondered if he upset her reading session. ¡°No. Do you have a small bag or pouch?¡± Lena¡¯s eyebrows creased. She searched her bag and withdrew a small cloth. ¡°Here.¡± Ren thanked her and departed, slightly limping. Each step he progressed, he was reminded of his broken leg. However, he didn¡¯t want a broken leg to end his training.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. He took a few pills and covered them in the cloth. After binding the cloth, he threw it down the cliff. Punching his face, he continued his training.
A few minutes earlier. While Ren nearly drowned below the waterfall, Lena''s heart skipped a beat. ¡®Oh no! He¡¯s sinking... He¡¯s not moving! I must move now!¡¯ Her two moon-like pupils gazed at his direction. Her gaze penetrated through her book and the waterfall. She panicked and clenched her book hard, hesitating on whether to intervene or not. ¡®He¡¯s moving! ¡­Yes! He reached the shore!¡¯ She heaved a huge sigh of relief. The last moment had her incredibly tense. ¡®He¡¯s probably going to quit now. That¡¯s good! Lena! You Idiot! Why did you give him this ridiculous course? How many times should I forget? He isn¡¯t Kaero!¡¯ By now, she had inwardly cursed herself a million times. ¡®I¡¯ll go pick him¡­ Huh? He¡¯s climbing the cliff¡­ No! He doesn¡¯t have enough energy. Ren!¡¯ Seeing Ren climb the cliff, her face paled. She had noted the quantity of energy he possessed while he climbed the tree. She knew that it was insufficient for his climb, especially with his slow pace. Nevertheless, she waited until it emptied before saving him. However, Ren betrayed her expectations. Before emptying his minimal reserve, he plunged down, sacrificing his left leg to stop his momentum. Lena flinched, nearly tearing her book in the process. Seeing Ren struggle, she felt like killing herself for recommending this stupid training course. ¡®No matter what! If he doesn¡¯t move for half an hour... I¡¯m stopping this training!¡¯ She convinced herself. Her eerie eyes remained focused on Ren. Once again, betraying her expectations, Ren merely rested for another 15 minutes before climbing the steep cliff. This time, he had learned from his mistakes and reached the top in almost no time. She hesitated, wondering if she should stop the training. Before she could come to a decision, Ren limped towards her. Seeing this, her eyes returned to their normal black color. ¡®He¡¯s probably going to curse me. But that¡¯s okay¡­ I deserve it. I shouldn¡¯t have given him such a hard task. I¡¯ll apologize¡­¡¯ She relaxed, but she abhorred the thought of receiving Ren¡¯s resentment. ¡°Sis Lena¡­¡± ¡°What is it? Giving up already?¡± As the words left her mouth, she froze. ¡®Lena! Why did you say that? Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! He¡¯s definitely going to hate me now!! You''re supposed to be angry at yourself! Not at Ren!!¡¯ Her irritation grew as she felt like punching herself. ¡°No. Do you have a small bag or pouch?¡± Lena fell speechless. Dazed, she searched her bag and found a piece of cloth. ¡°Here.¡± She passed it to Ren. ¡°Thank you.¡± She remained in a trance as Ren packed a few pills within the cloth and tossed it down the cliff. ¡®Lena¡­ he doesn¡¯t need your help.¡¯ A smile crept up her face, and she refocused her attention on her book. Seeing that she hadn¡¯t progressed from the first page, she smiled wryly.
Time flew by. Ren did not know what time it was, nor did he care. In his mind, he only desired to conquer this training course. The sky had darkened and night set in. His injuries grew worsened, and his clothes were drenched. Yet, he showed no signs of stopping. During this intense round of training, he no longer noticed the whereabouts of Lena. Nearing midnight, she had returned to the cottage at the insistence of her elder sister. Thus, Ren trained alone. His focus laid only on the trial. After many hours, he succeeded in floating on the leaf. Now, he tackled a new challenge that taxed his mind... The optimization of his energy usage. He barely succeeded in standing on the leaves but that did not last till the waterfall. By then, he would deplete his meager reserve of energy. Thus, Ren utilized various methods to improve the efficiency of his qi usage. If he could optimize his usage of qi while floating, then he could remain afloat until the waterfall. Fortunately, with each failed attempt, he was slowly growing closer to his target. During this time, he failed to notice the arrival of a new guest. The stranger observed Ren¡¯s practice routine with avid interest. After watching around 10 failed attempts, he lost interest. He sat beside the riverbank and lit a fire. Staring at the river, he waited. Soon, a fish exited the river and dived into the flames. He dug into his coat and found a few seasonings. After sprinkling them into the flames, he slouched. Enjoying Ren¡¯s agony, he grabbed a flagon from his coat and chugged a few large gulps of alcohol. In the meantime, Ren noticed this stranger. In fact, it wasn¡¯t the fire that attracted him. Instead, the alluring aroma had snagged his attention. The stranger bit into the fish, and Ren¡¯s stomach growled. Looking at the water, he thought of imitating the stranger. However, he remembered Lena¡¯s instruction and swallowed a few bitter pills. Even so, his gaze remained on the fish in the stranger¡¯s hand. Soon, the stranger noticed it. He stopped eating and hesitated. In the end, he asked. ¡°Do you want one?¡± Ren shook his head but his stomach growled in protest. If someone could speak stomach, they would have heard a slew of vulgar profanities. Unfortunately, Ren¡¯s Omnilingual Evolution couldn¡¯t comprehend stomach language. ¡°Are you sure?¡± The man asked. Ren nodded. The man awkwardly took another bite into his roasted fish. Thanks to his technique, the fish had absorbed all the flavors. The delicious spicy taste, accompanied by the soft chewy texture, mesmerized his taste buds. Unfortunately, he couldn''t enjoy the delicacy. Ren¡¯s gaze resembled a honed spear, piercing into his conscience. Losing appetite, he pulled another fish from the river and roasted it. ¡°Come here. It¡¯s ready.¡± He said. ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Ren replied and shifted his gaze with immense difficulty. However, his stomach once again protested and cursed, clearly dissatisfied with Ren''s decision. It even considered switching owners. Ren''s reaction annoyed the stranger. He regretted his decision to eat next to the river. ¡°Kid, stop thinking too much! Your training doesn''t prohibit you from eating good food.¡± Ren hesitated, not sure if he could believe the black-haired stranger. Although Lena didn¡¯t forbid him from eating other food, she did order him to depend on the pills for food. ¡°Kid! Either come here or get lost*gulp*. Your face is ruining my appetite!¡± Ren''s indecisive attitude angered the stranger. He snapped before taking another gulp from his flagon. Ren immediately chose to follow his poor stomach¡¯s desires. Even lions would admit defeat at its growling.
¡°How do you know about my training course?¡± Ren asked while enjoying the most delicious food he had ever tasted. ¡°I¡¯ve passed it a long time back.¡± The stranger casually replied. The flames reflected in his black eyes. ¡°Was it hard?¡± The stranger rubbed his messy black hair. Thinking back to his first attempts, he nodded. ¡°Yes. It was hard, but the result justifies the pain. Still, I haven¡¯t tried completing with only qi.¡± He sipped from his seemingly endless supply of alcohol. Ren had the urge to ask him for some tips. But he quashed that thought. He couldn¡¯t always depend on others to solve all his problems. The duo silently finished their roasted fishes. They stared at the flames, each person with their different thoughts. In the end, the stranger decided to leave. He strolled towards the river and lifted a handful of water. He splashed it on the burning flames. The flames weakened for a while, but they regained their strength. He poured another handful of water. This time, the water spread evenly throughout the flames. However, it failed to extinguish the fire. Annoyed, he waved his hand. A large volley of water splashed onto the flames, thoroughly extinguishing it. Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness. On the other hand, Ren stared at the place where the flames died. After a few seconds of deep thought, a wave of inspiration struck him. He had found the solution to his problem! Chapter 10: Forbidden Skills! A Hidden Threat? The stranger had gifted him an important clue. Over the night, Ren had been worrying over methods to optimize his qi usage. While climbing the cliff, he had run out of energy. At that time, he had solved the problem by optimizing his qi usage. He tried to apply the same logic to his present problem to no avail. A handful of water can¡¯t put out a large flame. Even if one throws it in an optimized manner, it can¡¯t extinguish the flame! Thus, he worsened his situation. He made minor improvements with each of his attempts. However, the accumulated effect of these improvements was negligible. Fixated on the minor improvements, Ren didn¡¯t consider the possibility where the optimized route might fail to carry him through the waterfall. ¡®I¡¯m an idiot¡­ I should have thought of this earlier.¡¯ He banged his head. Unfortunately, he had invested too much on the minor improvements that he avoided reality. If the stranger hadn¡¯t helped him, he would have lost more time and effort. And with Azen¡¯s threat, Ren lacked time the most. ¡®Who was that stranger? I should¡¯ve at least thanked him. Ah, that¡¯s right... I could have sworn he resembled a human. Whatever! I don''t have time to waste.¡¯ A consuming a couple of energy pills, he focused on his real problem. ¡®How do I replenish my energy faster? Hm... I''ll observe the natural process of replenishment first. That might present some clues. I need to empty my meridians first¡­ Okay!¡¯ Regaining confidence, he punched his face and returned to his grueling training.
An hour later. Ren climbed a jagged portion of the cliff. However, he did not use his hands. Instead, he used his legs. Just maintaining his position depleted his minimal reservoir of energy. Unable to maintain this costly expenditure, he dropped from the cliff. Thud! Ren rotated slammed his palm onto the ground, creating a powerful impact that stopped his downward momentum. Panting, Ren smiled faintly. He sat cross-legged and meditated. He concentrated all his senses into tracking the flow of energy. Like tiny streams, they bored through his skin, replenishing his meridians. Observing this phenomenon, he frowned. ''How can I accelerate this process? If I solve this, I can complete the course.''
Azen¡¯s mind space. Darkness covered the vast emptiness. It stretched endlessly, with only a human and a fox at its center. ¡°Dead face, are you seeing this? He¡¯s working hard to catch up to you. Maybe, given enough time and opportunities, he might overcome you.¡± Azen closed his eyes, ignoring the purple fox. Rui continued. ¡°He is worth much more than¡­ Stupid Dead face! Stop ignoring me! Say something! Stupid face! I¡¯ll call you Stupid Face from now on!¡± Rui shouted. Azen curbed the urge to kill Rui. ¡°I don¡¯t have the habit of feeding baby cockroaches just to check if their adult forms are useful. I hope you remember the owner of these words. Reserve your dishonesty for someone else. It won¡¯t work on me.¡± With that rebuttal, Azen closed his eyes and blocked his ears. The purple fox frowned. ¡®Pup, it¡¯s up to you. One month¡­ Why do I feel like I¡¯m overlooking something very important? Bah, I must be overthinking. ...Why am I even worrying over this pup? Stupid Stupid face! Everything is your fault!¡¯ The purple fox kicked Azen before disappearing. Azen ground his teeth and swore. ¡®One day¡­ I¡¯ll boil that fox and feed it to wild foxes.¡¯
Dawn. Lena arrived at the waterfall. She saw Ren who sat cross-legged in meditation. Confused, she didn''t interrupt him. Nevertheless, observing his condition, her face waned. Ren had radically transformed in a day. His clothes were drenched and torn. Bruises and injuries decorated his body and face. After a few minutes, he left meditation and snatched a couple of red leaves. Lena''s heart wrenched as he limped to the waterfall, barely moving his left arm through the whole process. Moreover, she noticed that he had been surviving solely with the aid of energy pills. His tired face screamed off its endless love for sleep. However, his eyes gleamed with a seriousness never seen in a child of his age. Placing the two leaves on the river, Ren boarded them. Balancing himself on the leaves, he advanced with the river''s current. At this stage, he closed his eyes. Energy flowed into his body, supporting his expenditure of energy. Swoosh! With each passing moment, the noise from the waterfall grew louder. Yet, he focused on recovery and maintaining his balance on the leaves. Seeing this, Lena smiled and ran to the edge of the cliff.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡®He¡¯s already fixing his flaws. Regrettably, it won¡¯t be enough to finish the waterfall. He¡¯ll need much more energy to offset his downward momentum.¡¯ However, Ren''s next actions defied all her expectations.
Upon reaching the edge of the waterfall, Ren opened his eyes. ¡®This is it!¡¯ With a determined gaze, he welcomed the waterfall. Without wasting a moment, he bent and grabbed one of the leaves with his right hand. This mid-air maneuver had changed his posture. With his head facing the water, success seemed impossible. However, he hadn''t surrendered... at least, his actions dictated such. Concentrating all his energy into his left arm, he waited for the bottom. His left arm bulged, almost in an unhealthy manner, but Ren was too focused on his task to notice this phenomenon. The surroundings flashed by his eyes. He squinted. Only two objects remained in his vision. The approaching water and the red leaf falling between them. ¡®Now!¡¯ Finding the opportune moment, Ren began his final gambit. He extended his left arm backward. Crack! Crack! The bones in his left arm cracked. ¡°HAAAA!!¡± Ignoring the sounds, he shouted, slamming the leaf onto the incoming turbulent waves. BOOOM!!! Splash! Following a loud explosion, the upper layer of the river deformed into a crater. Ren settled at the center of the crater, with only the leaf persisting between his left palm and the water. Using the little energy in his body, he pushed himself into the air. ''Please succeed.'' Midair, Ren sucked more energy from the atmosphere, slowly replenishing his empty meridians. Water poured into the ¡®crater¡¯, sinking the lone leaf. Under the influence of gravity, Ren slowly lost his upward momentum. Ren stared at his landing spot and his eyes gleamed. He threw the leaf onto the surface of the water. Maneuvering his position, he landed onto the lone leaf. Not wasting any time, he stabilized his wobbling body. Standing on one leg, he stared at the waterfall in a daze. ¡®I did it?¡¯ Disbelief slowly transformed into joy. His hard work over a whole day and night had finally paid off. The current gently shoved the leaf along with Ren away from the waterfall.
Watching the whole process, Lena gaped. However, her surprise came from an altogether different source. ¡°Forbidden¡­ skills? He learned forbidden skills?! H-How? Who!? Who taught him forbidden skills!?¡± A plethora of emotions stormed her heart. She couldn¡¯t contain her shock, anger, and amazement. However, more than anything else, terror gripped her soul. She approached Ren, her face full of panic. ¡°Ren! Come here!¡± She shouted. Ren saw her and presented a tired smile. He tried to lift his left arm but it refused to move. Instead, he lifted his right arm and made a V-sign. At the same time, his fatigue triumphed and he lost balance. Not even the energy pills could carry him forward as he fainted. Splash! Lena panicked and dived into the river. She swam and grabbed Ren before he drowned. Bringing him ashore, she laid him on the ground. Staring at the morning sun, she cursed. ¡®Ugh, this darned sun! Why did you have to come out at this time?¡¯ She carried Ren on her back and hiked all the way back to the closest teleportation circle.
Chapter 11: Warriors Street! Silent Hatred! Ren opened his eyes. A familiar brown ceiling welcomed him. He had returned to his room! ¡®How did I return here? Was it all a dream?¡¯ A glance at his clothes rubbished that random thought. His torn clothes couldn¡¯t lie about his adventures. Remembering his successful attempt, he touched his left arm. Questions stormed into his mind. ¡®That attack, what exactly happened¡­¡¯ Ren struggled to recollect details of his palm attack. At that time, he felt a new energy gush into his arm, tearing apart his muscles and knitting them. During this process, his bones cracked. Fortunately, he did not experience the pain accompanying the process. However, he couldn¡¯t recollect anything further. ¡®Ahh, whatever! The result went well, and that¡¯s enough!¡¯ Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t seen the impact of his palm thrust, or he would have strived harder to recall more details. Moving his arm around, Ren noticed that it had been healed. He examined his body and found no injuries, broken bones, or wounds. ¡®Weird¡­ How did I recover so quickly? ...Even that night with Azen. He had been seriously injured but the injuries disappeared when I woke up. ...Ah! Could this be a Bloodline skill!? Have I gained the ability to regenerate while sleeping?¡¯ Ren''s face flushed with excitement. He decided to test his hypothesis later. Grrr! Ren¡¯s stomach growled, and his famished eyes wandered to the table. They stared at the meal on the table. Without hesitation, he grabbed the food and swallowed it, barely bothering with chewing. Creak! The door opened and Lena entered the room. Her usual friendly smile had disappeared. Instead, her face looked grim and gloomy as she strode towards Ren. ¡°Ren, we must talk!¡± She asserted. Ren¡¯s eyebrows creased. He never expected such a stern tone from Lena. Placing his food aside, he asked. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Who taught you Forbidden Skills?¡± Her piercing gaze peered into Ren¡¯s amber eyes, determined to receive an answer. ¡°Forbidden skills¡­?¡± Ren tilted his head. ¡°¡­Forbidden Skills!! Who taught it to you? And don¡¯t you dare lie or I¡¯ll¡­¡± She ground her teeth, but she couldn¡¯t think of a good threat. In the end, she noticed the food through the corner of her eyes. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll starve you until you spit out the truth.¡± Ren fell speechless. ''Could it be my regeneration?'' Ren''s eyes shone with an excited light. ¡°Sis Lena, I truly don¡¯t know what Forbidden Skills are¡­ I''ve heard of Bloodline Skills. Are they related?¡± Lena squinted her eyes, wondering if he was lying. ¡°You¡¯re lying! That palm attack! Who taught it to you?¡± She harrumphed and asked. ¡°Palm attack? ...Oh! That one! I don¡¯t know. I accidentally picked it up when I fell from the cliff¡­ But the last punch was more powerful than the ones when I practiced. I just concentrate all my energy into my palm. Does Sis Lena know anything about it?¡± Ren wiggled his fingers and swung his arm, attempting to recollect that feeling. Lena frowned and paced around the room, consumed in deep thought. She sensed that the confusion on Ren¡¯s face was genuine. However, that opened another can of worms. She occasionally glanced at Ren before shaking her head. Her weird behavior puzzled Ren. In the end, she approached him. ¡°Ren, carefully listen to me! No matter what! Never use that attack again! Also, don¡¯t do anything similar ever again! Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡­I do, but I want an explanation. What are Forbidden Skills? And what does it have to do with my punch?¡± Ren replied after some consideration. He inwardly planned to investigate this new term in detail. Lena hesitated. ¡°Sis Lena, if you don¡¯t explain, then I won¡¯t obey your instruction.¡± He returned a warning. ¡°Ha¡­ Fine! I¡¯ll explain. ¡®Forbidden Skills¡¯ is a broad term used for martial techniques that oppose nature.¡± Lena continued with a grim expression. ¡°Not much is known about Forbidden Skills. I¡¯ve heard of a theory that it is the polar opposite of Honing. It endows on its users the might of a Honed Act even when they haven¡¯t met the criteria¡­ But this is just a theory.¡± ¡°Honed Act?¡± Ren grew further confused. ¡°Haven¡¯t you read the book that I gave you? I¡¯m confident that I picked a book on Honing.¡± Lena''s eyebrows creased. Ren embarrassedly shifted his gaze. He had dropped that book after reading its first page. Seeing this, Lena inwardly sighed and explained. ¡°Basically, it just gives you access to a powerful attack without the labor involved in Honing. But Forbidden Skills are always accompanied by backlashes. That is how we recognize them. These can range from injuries to death or even the destruction of one¡¯s soul.¡± She took a creepy voice, hoping to deter Ren. Ren hid his urge to smile. Lena noticed this and continued. ¡°In your case, the backlash shattered the bones in your left arm. If left alone, you could¡¯ve lost that arm. Fortunately, I healed it before it grew worse.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®Nooo! My regeneration!!¡¯ Ren despaired. Lena¡¯s words brutally crushed his lofty dreams of bloodline skills. ¡°But... one thing is for sure. Every practitioner of Forbidden Skills will die! There is no exception! That is why I¡¯m warning you. Never! Never! Never use Forbidden Skills again.¡± Ren felt Lena¡¯s panic. Other than panic, there was an element of fear in her voice. ¡°Sis Lena, I understand.¡± He slyly replied. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want your understanding! I want a clear answer. Do you swear to never use Forbidden Skills?¡± Lena immediately caught onto his minor tricks. Ren pouted. He didn¡¯t wish to abandon Forbidden Skills. Especially since it would become a great asset to him in the Trial of Righteousness. Either way, compared to death, severe injuries meant little to him. ¡°Ren! Are you thinking of using Forbidden Skills!?¡± Lena''s black eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. Ren shuddered. He thought for a while before replying. ¡°Sis Lena, what if it becomes my last recourse. Suppose I¡¯m in a situation where I¡¯m facing certain death. If my only path to escape becomes Forbidden Skills, then I have to use it. You don¡¯t want me to die, right?¡± Ren put on a pitiful expression. Although he could lie, he inwardly loathed that idea. Lena hesitated for a moment before ceding. ¡°Fine! But it must be your last resort! If there are any other methods available, use that first! Do I have your word?¡± ¡°Yes! I won¡¯t use it until it becomes my last resort.¡± Ren happily agreed. Even he had no interest in sacrificing his arm for no purpose. ¡°Good! My sister asked for you. You can find her near the dining table.¡± Lena dropped her serious attitude and reverted to her smiling self. Ren nodded and departed. Lena gazed at his fading back. For a moment, the image of another person¡¯s back morphed onto his back. ¡®Ren... why are you following in his path?¡¯ She smiled bitterly.
¡°What happened to you? You look like a horrible mess.¡± Kana asked. Ren''s appearance resembled an untidy beggar. ¡°Just training¡­¡± Ren smiled wryly. ¡°Oh. Don¡¯t overwork yourself. Anyways, I think it is time that we presented you to the public.¡± Ren paused. Till now, he hadn¡¯t made a proper appearance in public. Even while training, Lena had taken him to an isolated waterfall, far away from public eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve taken enough security measures. No one will harm you. Also, I heard that you¡¯re interested in combat. Don¡¯t you want a weapon? This can be the perfect opportunity. Visit the blacksmith and buy a new weapon.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°Wait! I¡¯m accompanying Ren!¡± Lena overheard their conversation and expressed her desire. ¡°Lena, not this time. I¡¯ll let you accompany him next time. I want him to go alone today.¡± Kana frowned. ¡°No! I must accompany him!¡± Lena stood and asserted. Kana''s refusal only strengthened her determination. ¡°Lena! Listen to me! Knowledge of Ren¡¯s relation with us isn¡¯t public yet. I can protect him but I can¡¯t predict the reaction when the demi-humans learn of our relationship. Please understand!¡± Kana¡¯s voice grew louder. Although she usually accepted all her sister¡¯s requests, she showed strong resistance to this request. ¡°No! I¡¯m not trusting your lousy guards. As for the other demi-humans¡­ Hmph. Do you think I care about what they think of me?¡± Kana rubbed her forehead in pain and irritation. She regretted raising this topic in her sister¡¯s presence. In the end, she acceded. ¡°Fine. But be careful. If there¡¯s any trouble, do not react. The guards will protect you.¡± While warning, her gaze fell upon Lena. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We won¡¯t create any troubles.¡± Lena victoriously smiled.
Warrior¡¯s Street. The teleportation circle flashed and two people appeared on the circle. ¡°Ren, welcome to Warrior¡¯s Street! This place has everything that a warrior needs. Armor, weapons, cultivation techniques, medicines, supplies... You name it! It¡¯s the most popular gathering for adventuring demi-human warriors.¡± Lena smiled. Ren looked around the busy streets. Many merchants presented their wares and collections on the streets. Further ahead into the street, he noticed many formal shops. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lena blissfully led Ren into the streets. Browsing through the presented merchandise, Ren couldn¡¯t help but gulp. One merchant sold a spiked armor for minotaurs. He stabbed it with an ordinary sword. However, the sword failed to generate even the slightest scratch on the armor. Instead, the sword had earned new scratches on its surface due to contact with the spikes. Items of this grade were commonplace in this busy street. As the weapons stole Ren''s attention, he failed to notice a major transformation within the streets. Lena was conscious of this transformation. Her mood fell but she hid it with a pained smile.
¡°Phew! That was amazing. There were so many...¡± Ren stopped midway. Looking around, he noticed that the crowds avoided them. This created a weird phenomenon where the street was busy with the only exception being the vicinity of Ren. Ren examined the demi-humans in the crowd. Most of them ignored Ren but some met his gaze. Their condescending gazes declared their hatred and disgust at Ren. They treated him as an abomination. Ren face paled as he instinctively clenched his fist. He experienced an uncomfortable feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. ¡°Ren, ignore them. Let¡¯s go to the blacksmith.¡± Lena pointed ahead. She had partially expected this reaction. Ren relaxed his palm but he couldn¡¯t overcome his uneasiness. Before they progressed for much longer, a werewolf exited the crowd and blocked their path. He donned a humongous ax on his back and bared his menacing teeth at Lena. ¡°Lena! I thought that the rumors were false. But you¡¯ve proven me wrong. Have you decided to support this scum and betray us?¡± Lena¡¯s face darkened. She confronted the werewolf. ¡°Following the Council¡¯s order is considered betrayal? Are you planning to rebel against the Council?¡± The werewolf panicked. He scanned his surroundings and regained his composure. ¡°Hmph. The sister of the Kaero preaches loyalty? Pathetic! Your brother would spit at you if he witnessed your actions.¡± ¡°Hey-¡± The silent witness decided to intervene when Lena stopped him. ¡°Ren, let¡¯s go. They aren''t worth our time.¡± She grabbed Ren and evaded the werewolf. Ren glared at the werewolf before moving on. However, he sighed inwardly. The silent hatred reminded him of his position in this city.
After they left, a hooded figure approached the werewolf. ¡°The sisters have taken their stance. They will remain loyal to the Council.¡± The werewolf reported. ¡°Is that so? Then Lena is no longer useful to us. Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Are we really-¡± The werewolf couldn¡¯t complete his question before being interrupted. ¡°Talk later. We¡¯re being followed.¡± They disappeared into the crowd.
They reached the formal shops in the street. Lena ignored most of the fancy buildings and chose a seemingly mediocre hut. A couple of armed guards defended at the entrance. She withdrew a tiny dagger from her bag and presented it to the guards. The guards scrutinized the dagger before opening the door. They let Lena enter but they pocketed the dagger. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lena pulled Ren into the hut. Ting! Ting! Ting! Upon entry, Ren witnessed a weird scene. A stone statue stood within a shallow burning pit. Its large hand glowed in a bright red light as it mechanically hammered a saber. A crow perched on the statue¡¯s shoulder, observing the process. Upon noticing the guests, it flew out of the pit. ¡°Lord¡­Um¡­ please forgive us if we disturbed you.¡± Lena panicked and bowed. The crow distracted Ren¡¯s line of thought. Metal armor coated its right half and its heterochromatic eyes glowed in purple and red. ¡°Your identity?¡± The crow asked. ¡°Lord, I am Lena¡­ Kaero¡¯s sister." The purplish light from the crow¡¯s right eye subsided. ¡°If you want a weapon, take one from those piles and leave! Do not disturb us.¡± The crow flew back onto the statue¡¯s shoulder, ignoring the duo. Lena sighed in relief. She noticed a few piles of weapons to her side. She smiled and gestured to Ren. She didn¡¯t dare to speak, lest she disturbs the blacksmith. Ren hesitantly nodded before approaching the piles of weapons. Examining his vast selection, he paused. With almost nil experience with weapons, he wondered which weapon could help him in the upcoming trial. Chapter 12: Why Are The Weapons Too Overpowered? Ren approached the pile of swords. ''Swords are easy to wield, right? At least they''re not complicated or are they? Ahh... Why am I not a weapons expert?'' Ignorant with weapons in general, he wanted an easy pick for the upcoming trial. ''Something that can improve my strength but at the same time, it should be easy to learn... Yeah, this looks good.'' Maybe it was because of its menacing appearance, but Ren picked a red, double-edged sword. ¡°Aargh!¡± With a low shout, he dropped the sword. His face paled, and he sweated profusely. Reeling in shock, he took a few steps back. ¡°What happened? Are you okay?¡± Lena whispered. ¡°Yes, but what was that? It felt like something was attempting to conquer my mind.¡± Ren shuddered while remembering the backlash. It reminded him of dusks, especially when Azen took control over his body. Lena¡¯s face turned grave. She touched a few swords and muttered. ¡°All these weapons have spirits? Ugh¡­ We¡¯ll have to look elsewhere¡­ This smith has surpassed my expectations.¡± ¡°Weapons with spirits?¡± Ren asked. His eyes twinkled with curiosity. ¡°Yes. They¡¯re incredibly powerful but¡­ to low-level practitioners, they are extremely dangerous. Only seasoned mages and warriors can handle these weapons without suffering from backlashes." Lena struggled to remove her gaze from the weapons. In the end, she sighed. "Ha... I should¡¯ve considered this earlier¡­ Let¡¯s go. None of these weapons can help you.¡± Lena forced a smile. Ren expression soured. His inability to absorb energy always returned to haunt him. He glanced around the pile and noticed a large glove. Its location caught his attention. It was placed next to a pile of sabers and knives. A spark of inspiration lit his creativity ablaze. His amber eyes gleamed as he thought of an idea for his perfect weapon. ¡®Is there an item that can help me lift heavy items? This place has powerful weapons so there should be at least one item, right? A glove would be perfect¡­¡¯ Ren approached the glove and picked it. Bracing for a mental attack, he waited. 5 seconds passed¡­ 10 seconds passed¡­ The awaited attack did not come. Pleasantly surprised, he studied the white glove. ¡®Is this a normal glove? It can''t be... right?¡¯ Its large size was its only standout feature. He inserted his right palm in the glove and compared the difference in size. ''It''s too big... Right, how could they have a glove for humans? I''m an idiot.'' He depreciatingly chuckled when a sudden change caught him off-guard. The glove shrank, enveloping his palm perfectly. Ren gaped. He pulled the glove to no avail. It stuck harder than a bad habit. Just when he thought things couldn¡¯t get any worse, the glove vanished. He touched his right palm but he couldn¡¯t feel the glove. Instead, he felt the smooth texture of the skin and whites of his palm. ¡®It¡¯s gone? HOW!?¡¯ He screamed internally. He caressed his palm in disbelief. Lena noticed Ren¡¯s antics and approached him. ¡°What are you doing? Let¡¯s go!¡± She angrily whispered. ¡°¡­Sis Lena, I might have messed up. I tried a large glove but it suddenly shrank and disappeared.¡± His face turned ugly. He didn¡¯t know if he had accidentally destroyed an important item. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Lena frowned. ¡°Yes. It was a large white glove. After I wore it, it shrunk and disappeared.¡± He presented his palm. Lena pondered for a while. In the end, she shrugged and replied. ¡°It must be another spirit weapon. It might have rejected you, and returned to its original set?¡± Before Ren could speak, she grabbed his hand. "Even if you lost it, it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re allowed to take one weapon. Either way, we have to leave. I¡¯m more afraid of disturbing the blacksmith.¡± She dragged Ren out of the hut.
After this peculiar experience, they visited another shop. The shopkeeper didn¡¯t hide his hostility and kicked them out. The other shops and smiths refused to let them in. The silent hatred saddened Ren to the extent that he decided to avoid a weapon. He discerned that a weapon wasn''t worth the effort and struggle. He¡¯d have to spend immense effort to learn the weapon. That would distract his original intent of optimizing his qi usage. Moreover, he didn''t wish to see Lena suffer through the crowd''s hatred. Nevertheless, he felt awry over the rejections. He wondered if the title of Honored Guest was worth anything. He even considered trading it for an ordinary weapon. Fortunately, the demi-humans couldn''t read his mind. Otherwise, they would eagerly accept the trade before turning Ren into human stew.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Thus, they returned to Kana¡¯s cottage with no noticeable gains. Little did they know of the storm that awaited them.
¡°Will he even use it? How long must I wait?¡± A masked cat-woman asked. She continuously tapped her foot while her frustration grew. ¡°Calm down, Agony. It iss a Forbidden SSkill. Remember our goal¡­ grab the target and retreat. Leave the resst to me and do not kill without my permission.¡± A giant snake commanded. The cat-woman didn¡¯t reply. She coolly flicked her silver hair and folded her arms. ¡°It iss time!¡± A portal opened ahead of them. The masked cat-woman and the snake entered the portal.
Chapter 13: A Terrifying Encounter! The snake transformed. His body shrunk, revealing a pale-skinned man. His skinny body gave the impression that he did not possess any muscles. And his loose black robe supported this inference. After the transformation, only his eyes remained unchanged. Those vertical eyes still looked like they could discover every secret in the world. The snake-man bowed his head and said. ¡°I apologize. I disslike using forcce, but my options were limited. You ssee, Edahi does not appreciate my presencce.¡± Ren blanked. An apology was the last thing he expected. However, before he could regain his bearing, another voice beamed into his mind. ¡®Human cub, stay quiet listen to me. I am Protection, a member of the Council of Order. Wait for a few seconds and I¡¯ll bring you back. In the meantime, communicate with this snake and try to learn his goals.¡¯ Ren hesitated, unsure as to whether to trust the voice of suspicious origin. Unfortunately, he did not have the liberty of choice. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± He asked, meeting the snake-man¡¯s gaze. ¡°Have you heard of Kaero?¡± The snake-man asked. ¡®Kaero? Wasn¡¯t that the name of Lena¡¯s brother?¡¯ Ren eyebrows creased. The confrontation in Warrior¡¯s Street played out in his mind. ¡°From your expression, can I assume that you have heard of him?¡± ¡°I only know the name.¡± While they spoke, a tiny snake emerged from the wetlands. ¡°Is that sso? That is unfortunate. Oncce you return, you musst learn of hiss sstory lesst you facce a terrible fate.¡± ¡®A terrible fate¡­ Is this a warning?¡¯ He frowned. The tiny snake climbed Ren''s back. ¡°That was jusst a reminder. Evergreen ccity¡­ The Counccil of Order¡­ The Divine Emperor, none of these are what they sseem. Be careful. Otherwise, you will not ssurvive in thiss foresst.¡± The snake-man smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Ren¡¯s confusion grew. This conversation wasn¡¯t going according to his expectations. ¡°Don¡¯t undersstand. Just remember my words. SStore them into your memory. Sss... Anyways, are you interessted in Forbidden SSkills?¡± The tiny snake bit Ren''s shoulder. Even then, he did not notice the danger. The snake-man''s vertical eyes grew larger in his vision but he did not notice this abnormality as well. ¡°How did you know?¡± He frowned. ¡°You have a talent for Forbidden SSkills, but your execution is rudimentary. A pity¡­¡± The snake-man stared at Ren¡¯s arm, avoiding his question. ¡°But I cannot blame you. You are weak! And you are human. You have no Bloodline SSkills. And your crippled body is an interessting casse. In ssuch a ssituation, anyone can fall into the temptation of Forbidden SSkills...¡± Ren¡¯s back tingled. The snake-man¡¯s whispery voice possessed a mesmerizing tone. Its vertical eyes grew larger, filling his vision. Fatigue numbed his mind as he fell drowsy. ¡°I pity you, Ren. You are trapped in Edahi, the domain of the Divine Emperor¡­ A placce too Divine for Forbidden SSkills. You can never reach the peak of your innate potential. With no one to guide you, you will be sstuck on the path of Honing¡­ sspending years or decades before you achieve any ssignificant progress.¡± As he continued, despair crept into Ren¡¯s heart. An uneasiness wreaked havoc in his mind. It reminded him of his greatest worry¡­ the passing of the Trial of Righteousness. ¡°You lack a teacher. Edahi lacks Practitioners of the Forbidden path. In reccent times, the only notable practitioner of Forbidden SSkills was Kaero. SSo unfortunate¡­¡± The light in Ren¡¯s eyes dimmed. He entered into a daze, devoid of the ability to think rationally. The tiny snake departed while the wound healed. Any traces of its presence disappeared. ¡°Leave Edahi and join Neya. I can teach you true Forbidden SSkills. You can improve your sstrength, reducce unneccessary backlashes and uncover your potential. In Neya, no one will resstrict your freedom.¡± ¡®Yes...¡¯ Ren nearly agreed when he snapped out his daze. ¡®Huh? What happened? Mind control? How?¡¯ Ren inwardly shuddered and panicked. His back was drenched with cold sweat. ¡®Is it the eyes? Or the voice? My instincts weren¡¯t wrong. I cannot trust this snake!¡¯ His heart thumped furiously. He avoided the snake-man¡¯s vertical eyes, staring at the wetlands near his feet. ¡°SSo, Ren. What is your deccision?¡± The snake-man''s voice alarmed the confused Ren. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t listening.¡± He took a step back, desperately wishing for the rescue. At the same time, he struggled to resist the urge to look at the snake-man. ¡°Sss? Fine. Return to Edahi, and think about my offer. If you wish to sspeak with me, break this tablet. The sswampss of Neya will always be open for you.¡± The snake-man presented a white, cuboidal tablet. A snake¡¯s face was engraved on the tablet. Splash! Ren did not accept the tablet. He retreated, terrified of the snake-man and the swamp. While moving, he created many ripples in the water. He scanned the waters, wary of everything. He refused to do anything that the snake-man wanted. The snake-man grinned at Ren¡¯s reaction. He shouted, seemingly to no one.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Protection! Enough of your sspying! You can take him back.¡± The snake-man retreated deeper into the swamp. His body morphed into a giant snake. Immediately after he finished, Ren disappeared from the swamp.
Moments after Ren left, the wetlands turned lively. A few creatures exited their hiding places. They chatted, while a scarred lizard approached the snake. ¡°Loyalty! What nonsense was that? Were you trying to recruit or intimidate him?¡± The lizard shouted. ¡°You will not undersstand.¡± Loyalty closed his eyes. ¡°Nonsense! You wasted a good spy, a spy with great potential on this meeting with this... this pathetic human! Yet, you have the gall to act cocky! Who do you think you are?!¡± A dangerous glint flashed past the lizard¡¯s eyes. ¡°In the language of the humans you desspise, I was sseparating the wheat from the chaff.¡± The snake casually replied. ¡®Wheat? Chaff? What nonsense is this? Why should I study those pathetic creatures!?¡¯ Enraged, the lizard roared, ¡°Loyalty!! Don''t forget your position! This isn''t your master''s pathetic group. This is the Council of Chaos!¡± Loyalty smiled at this provocation. ¡°I know. My masster plans to fix that very problem under Hiss reign. For now, there are important matters that require my attention.¡± The snake paused before commanding, "I will expect all your reports tonight. Gather at the usual sspot." A succubus emerged from the forest. Seeing the lizard¡¯s sour expression, she playfully smiled. ¡°Greed, calm down! You¡¯re becoming hot-blooded as of late, but I guess that¡¯s typical for a lizard. Don¡¯t worry. I love hot-blooded animals.¡± She seductively sent a floating kiss towards the lizard. However, her words only served to infuriate the lizard. ¡°One day¡­ The Council of Chaos will be mine. That day, I¡¯ll expel your whole group.¡± The lizard snarled and left. ¡°You¡¯re not greedy for my body? Pity¡­¡± The succubus laughed and gleefully followed the snake.
Ren¡¯s surroundings contorted and soon, he was within a dimly lit stone room. Other than himself, the room contained only a bronze statue of a rhinoceros. He collapsed onto his knees, panting. He couldn''t forget the snake''s eerie eyes. ¡°Well done, human cub.¡± A low guttural voice exited the statue''s mouth. Ren jumped in surprise. He wasn¡¯t expecting the statue to speak. Nevertheless, he recognized the rhino¡¯s voice. "Aren''t you-" ¡°Close your eyes and I¡¯ll send you back home.¡± The rhino commanded. Its voice reminded Ren of an idea he had since he heard the voice. ¡°Wait! You are from the Council of Order, right?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± The rhino paused. ¡°Can you arrange a meeting with the Divine Emperor?¡± Ren asked. The rhino gaped. It vehemently shook its head and shouted. ¡°No way! Complete the Trial first.¡± Ren smiled wryly and closed his eyes. With a flash of light, he disappeared.
¡°Sis, let go! They kidnapped Ren! I must chase them!¡± Lena manically shouted. ¡°Lena, calm down! Ren is under the protection of one of the strongest members of The Council. No one can harm him!¡± Kana forced her sister onto her knees and bound her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t care! Let go!¡± Lena shrieked. Bowing her head to the two new figures in the room, Kana apologized. ¡°Leader, Lord Discipline, I¡¯m sorry for this unsightly behavior. I hope you can forgive my sister.¡± ¡°Do not worry. I do not find it unsightly. Discipline, what do you think about the perpetrrators?¡± The white-armored lion frowned. The werewolf¡¯s indifferent gaze landed on the hole in the wall. He thought for a moment before answering. ¡°Both of the perpetrators are unknown figures. However, their powers indicate that they are Council-level Neyans, especially the snake. And, the remaining traces of the spell indicate that the cat-woman isn¡¯t a push-over. To be safe, I''ll assume that she¡¯s on the same level as the snake." The werewolf''s expression turned grim. "Two Council-level Neyans?" The lion smiled. "No, they are two ''unrecorded'' Council-level Neyans. This is concerning.¡± The werewolf stared at Kana. ¡°Grr. Should we-¡± ¡°Yes, but this isn¡¯t the right place to discuss. There is also the spy to consider. We have a lot to introspect on.¡± The werewolf''s gaze didn''t leave Kana. She noticed it and nodded faintly. ¡°Indeed, it is better than attacking Demonic Beasts. Courage will be satisfied.¡± The lion laughed. The werewolf¡¯s eyelids twitched at the mention of Courage. He glared at the lion before saying. ¡°He has returned.¡± A light flashed and Ren appeared in the room. The surprised Kana weakened her grip over Lena. Lena used the momentary weakness to overcome Kana. She dashed towards Ren. Hugging him, tears dripped down her flushed cheeks. ¡°*sniff*I thought¡­*sniff*¡­going to¡­*sniff*¡­¡± Her voice choked and no one could understand her muffled cry. Ren froze at the sudden embrace. He didn¡¯t know what to do. An alien feeling warmed his heart. After a moment of hesitation, he hugged her with his right arm. Thinking of the encounter with the snake, fear encroached into his heart. His gaze turned sharp as he remembered the one-month deadline. He had to conquer the Trial at all costs!
Warrior¡¯s Street, within a hut. A few hours after Ren left, the golem exited the burning pit. It threw a new saber into its collection and searched around the piles. Looking at the crow on its shoulder, it pointed at the place between the sabers and knives. The crow also tilted its head. After a few moments, it spoke. ¡°The glove? The kid might¡¯ve taken it.¡± The golem lifted its arm. It flicked the crow, blasting it into the air. CRASH! The crow crashed into the barrier protecting the hut. Its right eye shone in a purple light. ¡°Do you want it back? It was Kaero¡¯s sister.¡± It glided above the golem. The golem paused. A few moments later, a white glove appeared on its left palm. The two crystals on its eye-sockets glowed. A few moments later, the glove disappeared. The golem walked toward a small pot. It opened the pot and withdrew a large black slab of an unknown black metal. Carrying the slab that exceeded its own size, it returned to the burning pit. The crow saw the reaction and the purple light subsided. ¡°You¡¯ll manage with one glove?¡± The golem didn¡¯t reply. It dropped the metal into a large black vessel. The vessel nearly cracked under the metal¡¯s weight. Opening another vessel, it poured molten metal onto a prepared cast. The crow returned to the blacksmith¡¯s shoulder, having received its answer.
After healing Ren''s broken arm, the two guests left. Lena calmed down after a few minutes. Even then, it required Ren¡¯s and Kana¡¯s combined effort to settle her turbulent emotions. Ren returned to his room and remembered the four books on his table. He decided to return them. Picking a thick book, he frowned. He waved it around a couple of times. Frowning, he picked all the four books. ¡®Why is it so light? Did my strength improve so drastically?¡¯ He scratched his chin, recognizing that something was amiss. Even while lifting heavy books, it felt like he had picked a light booklet. He removed his left hand, balancing the three books on his right hand alone. Yet, he did not feel any increase in pressure. ¡®What? Did I learn some kind of magic? Maybe a new Bloodline skill?!¡¯ His eyes gleamed. He weighed all the books on his left hand. ¡°Agh!¡± The weight nearly dislocated his wrist. He instantly supported the weight with his right hand and the pressure reduced to a negligible feeling. He dropped the books and focused on his right hand. ¡®What is¡­ Ah! The glove! Could it be the glove¡¯s effect?¡¯ His eyes wandered to his bed. He held one of the bed¡¯s legs and lifted it. The bed sprang up, almost as if it were a child¡¯s toy. Ren¡¯s mouth opened wide, but his eyes shone with excitement. ¡®What power! I must test this!¡¯ Grinning in excitement, he ran down. He dreamed of an alternative version of himself. Defeating enemies with one punch and casually throwing giants with his hand¡­ ¡®Ahh¡­ The future is looking great!¡¯ Lost in his dream world, he slipped from the stairs and crashed onto the ground. Thud! The fall painfully dragged him back from his dream world. Rubbing his head, he sighed. ¡®But the present is hell!¡¯ Chapter 14: Final Preparations for the Trial! The waterfall. Ren stood before a tree. He took a deep breath and pulled his right hand back. ¡®This is it!¡¯ He punched the tree. Bam! A quiet colliding sound emerged from the punch. He touched the bark of the tree. Seeing the damage, or the lack of any damage, he pursed his lips. ¡®Nothing¡­ It doesn¡¯t increase my punching strength. It can only reduce the weight of heavy objects. At least, that''s enough for the entry requirement.¡¯ Ren¡¯s mood improved. ¡®There¡¯s still six days left before the week ends. I should attempt the trial once. But before that, I need a partner¡­¡¯ Thinking of the next hurdle, he sighed. However, with his good luck with the glove, he felt optimistic.
After a while of training, Ren hiked back to Learner¡¯s Fall. It was time to search for a new ally! He passed by many rivers and tributaries. As he approached the main river, the population of demi-humans grew. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t attract any attention in his hood. The main river was in turmoil. Many different demi-humans fought, trained and played in the banks. Watching their reactions, Ren sighed. ¡®If only I wasn¡¯t an Honored Guest¡­ Ugh, stop getting sidetracked. I have a goal. Hmm¡­¡¯ ¡®Demi-humans hate me¡­ They won¡¯t help me. I can only rely on beasts.¡¯ ¡®But how can I convince them?¡¯ Ren roamed around the banks, studying all the beasts. The prowess of the beasts shocked him. ¡®How does it jump so high? What¡¯s with that speed? Are all lions so strong?¡¯ His self-confidence plummeted to the ground. ¡®Huh? What''s with that werewolf kid... Why is he eating grass? Are werewolves vegetarians?¡¯ He tilted his head. ¡°Hey! You¡¯ve returned!¡± A voice dragged Ren out of his contemplation. ¡®Was I discovered?¡¯ Ren''s heart leaped to his lungs. He hesitantly turned to the origin of the voice. A familiar grey savannah cat gleefully strolled towards him. This time, the lion cub didn¡¯t accompany him. ¡°Nehehe! I¡¯ve been searching for you. Are you a human?¡± The cat hastily climbed onto Ren¡¯s shoulder and sniffed. ¡°No, I¡¯m a werewolf. I lost my hair while training.¡± Ren instantly came up with an excuse. ¡°Ne? A hairless werewolf?¡± The cat''s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­Okay, I¡¯m a human.¡± Ren surrendered. He examined the cat, wondering how its attitude would change. ¡°Wonderful!! Nehahaha! Join my family!¡± The cat manically laughed. ¡°¡­What?¡± Ren gaped. He wondered if he misheard. ¡°You¡¯ve turned deaf? Hmm, That¡¯s even better...¡± The cat mused. ¡°You!¡± It pointed at Ren. ¡°Join!¡± It hugged itself. ¡°My!¡± The cat pointed to itself. ¡°Family!¡± The cat frowned before transforming into an old cat. It possessed a white mustache with a walking stick. Then it transformed into cats of various ages, trying its best to display a family. Ren gaped at the cat¡¯s gimmicks. ¡°You aren¡¯t bright? ¡­Nehe, this is troublesome.¡± The cat eyes possessed a hint of pity. ¡°I¡¯m not deaf! Who are you and what¡¯s with your request?¡± The cat transformed into a bipedal cat wearing a long coat. It removed the cigar from its mouth and blew a ring of smoke at Ren. ¡°Request? You¡¯re misunderstanding. Nohoho¡­ It is a demand. You can¡¯t refuse.¡± Ren picked the grey cat and dropped it. Without another word, he left. ¡°Wait! Nehe, I was joking! I¡¯m sincere! Please join my family!¡± It returned to its original appearance and chased after Ren. ¡°Then explain properly. Who are you and why are you inviting me, a human into your¡­ family?¡± The more he thought of the cat¡¯s request, the more his head hurt. Nevertheless, he was thinking of some method to convince this cat to help him in the trial. ¡°My name is Nonyokinyono. Acquaintances call me Lord Nez¡­ Wait! You can be an exception! You can call me Elder Nez¡­ Don¡¯t leave! Just Nez is enough!¡± Ren rubbed his head in irritation. If he didn¡¯t require the cat¡¯s help, he would¡¯ve left a long time ago. ¡°And your family?¡± Ren hoped that Nez didn¡¯t represent its family. ¡°We call ourselves the Edahin Conquerors! If you haven¡¯t heard of this name before, then open your ears! We, the Edahin Conquerors, will conquer the hearts of every Edahin and surpass the Council of Order! And I will become the next Divine Emperor! Nehaha!¡± Ren fell speechless. The ambition of the cat far surpassed his imagination.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Of course, we only use misfits from society. Otherwise, it would be too boring... You fit our requirements. You''re an Honored Guest, but every cat and their pets hate you. I had never even dreamt of such a situation." ''So this stupid title is finally worth something?'' Ren hid his smile and asked. "Is that it?" ¡°Nehe, I have a soft spot for humans. I¡¯ve visited one of your kingdoms before. These Edahins... Nhm, they know nothing of a true kingdom. I need your help to change Edahi! Come, join us and we will rule Edahi! Nehahahaha!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met humans?¡± Ren blinked. The thought of potentially meeting other humans warmed his heart. ¡°Nohoho, you really aren¡¯t bright. How can I live in a ¡®human¡¯ kingdom without meeting a human? I expected humans to be more intelligent.¡± Nez¡¯s voice was soaked in disdain. Ren gritted his teeth. The cat''s condescending tone ruined his mood. He forced a smile and asked. ¡°Where is this human kingdom?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Do you think I¡¯d be staying in this boring place if I knew their location?¡± Nez pouted. At the same time, the light in its eyes dimmed. Ren had a few more questions but he stopped himself after noticing the cat''s expression. He decided to return to his goal. ¡°I can join your family but I have a requirement!¡± ¡°What is it? I will do my best to satisfy my younger brother!¡± The cat proudly declared, already calling Ren his younger brother. ¡°I want a partner for the Trial of Righteousness.¡± The cat put on an expression of contemplation. Ren''s heart skipped a beat. He studied every expression on the cat¡¯s face, terrified of rejection. In the end, the cat nodded and declared. ¡°Welcome to the family! I, Lord Nez, will carry you through the trial. Nehehe¡­¡± Ren sighed in relief and ignored the latter part of Nez¡¯s declaration. He had met all the basic requirements for the trial. He fancied the thought of testing the trial immediately but he struck down that idea. ¡®I should train. 5 days should be enough time?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll attempt the trial in 5 days. Are you free then?¡± Nez stood on its hind legs. Its small face possessed a complex, forlorn expression. ¡°I¡¯m a busy searcat. Edahi depends on me for survival¡­ BUT! For you! And only for my younger brother, I¡¯ll make an exemption. Meet me here and I¡¯ll help you! Nehe, I almost forgot to ask. What is your- Wait! Where are you going? I forgot to ask you name!!¡± Nez chased after Ren.
Five days flew by. For Ren, it was 5 days of brutal grinding. He searched for every little speck of improvement, stretching his qi to its limits. Even then, with each day his progress declined. He had hit a threshold, exhausting his potential in this path. After the 5 days elapsed, Ren arrived at the waterfall. ¡°Nehe, are you waiting for Lord Nez? Do not fret! Lord Nez has graced you with His-¡° ¡°Can we go now?¡± Ren interrupted Nez. Nez pouted. He turned and pointed at a green-skinned girl. ¡°This is Zuzi, my elder sister. Zuzi, meet Ren, the youngest member of our family.¡± Ren examined the girl. She looked to be in her late teens. Other than her light-green skin, a couple of butterflies perched on her long black hair. ¡°Please forgive Nez-zi. My name is Chinzu but everyone calls me Zuzi. Should I call you Ren-zi?¡± She smiled at Ren. The butterflies on her head accentuated her beauty and even Ren couldn¡¯t help but appreciate it. ¡°¡­Ren is good.¡± ¡°Great! Ren-zi it is.¡± ¡®Why would you bother asking if you¡¯re planning to butcher my name from the start?¡¯ A couple of black lines popped on Ren¡¯s forehead. He wondered if he joined a family of lunatics. ¡°Here¡¯s a gift from elder sister.¡± She tapped the back of her right hand and a butterfly emerged from her hand. It flew into his forehead and disappeared. ¡°What happened?¡± Ren furiously rubbed his head. ¡®Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t harm you. It helps me establish contact with you anytime.¡¯ Ren heard a disembodied voice. He recognized it as Chinzu¡¯s voice but her mouth didn¡¯t move the whole time. He could only surmise that she was communicating directly with his mind, akin to Protection¡¯s ability. ¡®Can you remove this? It makes me uncomfortable¡­¡¯ To test his hypothesis, he thought of a reply. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t read your mind. Only the thoughts, which you wish to communicate with me, will transfer to my mind.¡¯ ¡®But still¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry Ren-zi, but it is mandatory. All the other family members have this. Otherwise, we can¡¯t help anyone that falls into grave danger.¡¯ Ren took a deep breath. He already began to regret joining this weird ¡®family¡¯. If only he wasn¡¯t so desperate to meet the Divine Emperor. Thinking of this, he felt an urge to curse Azen again. "Don''t exclude me from your conversations! I despise that!" Nez stared at Ren''s changing expressions and snorted. ¡°Fine, can we go to the Trial?¡± Ren asked. After falling into the mess, the least he could do was to receive his end of the agreement. ¡°Nehahaha! I¡¯ll accompany you. Zuzi, we¡¯re leaving.¡± The cat guided Ren to the nearest teleportation circle. ¡°Have a nice time! After you finish the trial, come to the usual place.¡± Zuzi smiled and waved her hand at the departing duo. She resembled a mother bidding goodbye to her children.
With a flash, Ren and Nez appeared before a small hill. The bottom of the hill was empty, except for a few hemispherical boulders. Towards the end of these boulders, a golem worked on a large slab of stone. It used its giant ax to cut the boulder into small blocks before chiseling them into perfect hemispheres. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Lord Nez is in a hurry.¡± Nez picked a boulder. Staring at Ren, he shouted. ¡°What are you doing? Grab your stone! Are you planning to waste Lord Nez¡¯s time?¡± Ren picked a hemispherical stone and followed the cat. Thanks to his right hand, he didn¡¯t feel any weight from the stone. ¡°Ne, are you an idiot? Why are you following me?¡± Nez frowned. It thought of a possibility and its face darkened. ¡°Ren, by chance, do you not know anything about the trial?¡± Nez cautiously asked. Ren shook his head. He had tried to pry more information from Lena but she refused to help him. Even his attempt today was a secret from her. With no sources, he knew very little about the trial. Thus, Ren was forced to enter the trial blindfolded. He hoped to learn more about the trial in this attempt and succeed in his next attempt. ¡°Seriously! Haa¡­ Fine! Lord Nez will be magnanimous today! Lord Nez will explain the trial to the poor, uneducated Ren.¡± He sighed and listened to the cat¡¯s lecture. ¡°Nehe, you must pick one of these hemispherical stones and follow one of the two paths to the top of this boring hill. And do not follow Lord Nez¡¯s path! My path is reserved for extremely talented geniuses. Once we reach the top, you must place the stone into its position. Then the trial will begin. Does your plebeian brain comprehend this simple instruction?¡± Ren sifted through the information, removing the cat¡¯s boastings and retaining the crucial details. He nodded. ¡°Good! Once the trial begins, our souls will travel to Lord Nez¡¯s realm. We will return after we either pass or fail the trial. I, Lord Nez, can easily pass this stupid trial and so success depends on you.¡± The cat coughed before continuing. ¡°Also, don¡¯t die. If you succeed, you can meet the Divine Emperor at the end of this month. Isn¡¯t that around like 3 days from now? Nehe, anyways, if you fail, you¡¯ll have to wait till the next month to participate in the trial.¡± ¡®End of the month? Does that mean¡­¡¯ Ren froze. He thought of something and asked. ¡°If I fail today and succeed during the beginning of next month, when can I meet the Divine Emperor?¡± ¡°Of course, the end of the next month. Nohoho, you definitely aren¡¯t bright!¡± Nez depreciatingly shook his head. Ren¡¯s face turned grim. He frowned, calculating his remaining time. ¡®Nearly a week has passed since Azen¡¯s injury. So, I have 3 weeks left before my death¡­ I won¡¯t last until the end of next month.¡¯ Realization struck him and he despaired. ¡®There are only three days left and I have only one attempt¡­ Damn it! Is this for real?¡¯ Ren¡¯s ground his teeth. He felt like the world was conspiring against him. ¡®Azen¡¯s injury was pointless¡­ I have to complete the trial this time.¡¯ Ren stared at the two paths on the imposing hill. An oppressive anchor tugged at his heart. Chapter 15: Kill the Clone! Nez smirked at Ren¡¯s changing expressions. ¡°What happened? Scared of death? You aren¡¯t doing your species any favors! Nohoho! Don¡¯t worry! As long as you don¡¯t persist to the point of death, there¡¯s always a chance to escape.¡± Ren didn¡¯t bother with the provocation. He had other important concerns. ¡®Should I return after 3 days? But I¡¯ve already hit my limits. I can¡¯t make any significant progress in my present state.¡¯ With a tired expression, he decided to face reality. ¡°Understood. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Nn¡­ Time flows differently in the trial. First-timers can get a lot of time. Don¡¯t hesitate to use it lavishly. Remember, don''t die! If you meet anyone in the trial, just mention that you¡¯re the younger brother of Lord Nez! They will show leniency on my account¡­¡± Halfway, the cat realized that Ren had already left. Pouting, he transformed into an ape and carried the block along his path.
The peak of the hill was in ruins. A broken structure stood at its center. The tall broken walls inhibited Ren¡¯s view. Unfortunately, Ren wasn''t in the mood to admire his scenery. ¡®Where am I supposed to place this boulder?¡¯ Ren spun the large hemispherical boulder. He tried everything to calm his tensed nerves. He scanned the area and noticed an unfathomable pit. It seemed to possess no ending in sight. He mused for a while before inserting the boulder into the pit. The boulder sealed the endless pit to a flawless fit. The flat surface glowed in orange, revealing an ominous pattern. ¡®Inscription?¡¯ This was the last thought that crossed Ren''s mind. The orange light faded and everything returned to normal. Thud! Ren collapsed, unconscious.
The world was plunged into darkness. It surrounded Ren, preventing him from seeing or hearing anything. The darkness nearly turned tangible as he felt its eerie touch. It drove him insane. Duu! Duu! Duu! As the darkness plunged Ren into despair, three pillars of light arose from the deep, repelling the darkness. They faded, revealing three illuminated doors. These three doors formed a triangular formation around Ren. As deliverers of peace, they illuminated the dark space, relieving Ren''s soul. He took a step towards a door when he noticed a ripple under his feet. ¡®Water?¡¯ A thin layer of black water flowed below his feet. Weirdly enough, it did not give him the feeling of wetness. Nonetheless, it made a ripple with each step. Confused, Ren strolled towards a door. Approaching it, he noticed many abnormalities. Two statues of gargoyles surrounded the door on its sides. An amber orb glowed at the center of the black door. Many paintings of humans were carved on the door. They depicted scenes of fighting and murder, victory and defeat. The door lacked a wall, allowing Ren to circumvent the door. Thus, he didn¡¯t understand its purpose. ¡°Welcome to the Door of Eclipse.¡± A grating voice reached Ren¡¯s ears, seizing him by surprise. He turned to the origin of the voice. The left gargoyle moved from its initial position. Blood poured down its empty eyes. They focused on Ren. ¡°Kill four of your trained selves in one-to-one deathmatches. You have one year until the trial ends. Clear this door within the stipulated time.¡± The gargoyle returned to its original position, and the blood in its eye sockets evaporated. The gargoyle''s words disturbed Ren''s composure. ¡®Deathmatch¡­ I haven¡¯t killed anyone yet. Can I do this?¡¯ He examined the door. It lacked any doorknobs. He touched the glowing orb, feeling its crystallize texture. ¡®Calm down. They¡¯re just my clones. If they¡¯re alternate versions of myself, how strong could they be?¡¯If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®Either way, I cannot avoid this challenge.¡¯ He punched himself, snapping out his indecisiveness. He pushed the orb, opening the door. Passing the door, he noticed four circles on the ground. The circles glowed, illuminating the four life-like statues that stood on them. They resembled Ren in every aspect. Even Ren¡¯s closest acquaintances would struggle to differentiate them. ¡®Four clones¡­ and I have to kill them? But they¡¯re not moving. Do I have to enter the glowing circle?¡¯ Looking behind him, he sighed in relief, ¡®The door¡¯s open. Worst case, I can retreat.'' Ren approached the leftmost circle. He stood on the edge of the circle. A barrier of light emerged from the circumference of the circle, enclosing the battle arena. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the barrier of light. Upon entry, the clone opened its eyes. Ren felt a slight chill in his heart as he stared into the eyes of the clone. The clone¡¯s eye sockets were empty, devoid of any eyeballs. Darkness replaced the eyeballs. He felt like they were sizing him. ¡®What is this creepy abomination?¡¯ Ren waited on the edge of the circle, his mind filled with many considerations. His lack of knowledge frightened him. He didn¡¯t even know the consequences of failing. Nez and Lena had warned him of the possibility of death in this trial. At the same time, he couldn''t afford to lose, lest he fails the trial and becomes doomed to perish in Azen''s hands. As he studied the clone, he didn¡¯t feel any sense of danger, but he didn¡¯t dare to begin the attack. The clone acted. It bent and touched the glowing ground. The white circle turned purple. The purple light coagulated to form a purplish silhouette of a wolf. The transformation took a couple of seconds and soon a living, breathing wolf stood beside the clone. A purplish aura surrounded the grey beast. It imparted the purple aura onto its partner. ¡®Two enemies?! This is cheating!¡¯ Ren curbed the impulse to flee. ''Do- It''s coming!'' Whoosh! The clone dashed towards him, closing the distance between them. With plenty of time to prepare, Ren took a defensive stance. The clone sent a punch, directed at his face. Ren blocked it and countered with a punch of his own. The clone invested too much into its attack, neglecting its defense. Ren¡¯s fist struck its chest, forcing it to retreat a few steps back. ¡®He¡¯s weaker than me?! Is this for real? Then, what is the real threat? Is it the wolf?¡¯ He glanced at the wolf and gawked. His eyes bulged, unable to believe his eyesight. The wolf ran around in circles, chasing its tail like a playful dog. It even barked occasionally, seemingly unconcerned of its master''s plight. ¡®¡­¡¯ Even Ren¡¯s mind fell speechless. He had struggled through immense stress, just to encounter an awkward pair of enemies. Nevertheless, he didn''t drop his guard. He had an uncanny feeling that something was wrong. ¡®This trial can¡¯t be so easy. There must be something I¡¯m missing. But what is it?¡¯ The clone recovered and resumed its assault. It flung its arms at Ren, almost like a child throwing a tantrum. Ren deflected the blows with ease, leaving the clone completely open. He inserted qi into his fist, boosting the strength of his imminent retaliation. Bam! The punch sent the clone crashing into the center of the circle. Embracing its abdomen, it flailed in pain. ¡®¡­This is my trained alternative self? Did it grow weaker after training? That isn''t what trained means!!¡¯ Ren gaped, unsure of whether to exploit the clone''s condition. In its vulnerable state, a full-powered blow to its vitals could kill it. ¡®I should finish it?¡¯ Ren took a step forward when he suddenly stopped. His instincts warned him against proceeding. ¡®Danger? Could it be from that wolf? That must be it! The wolf might be the trap. Otherwise, why would the clone even summon it?¡¯ He stared at the loitering beast. The wolf panted for a while before approaching the fallen clone. It poured purple aura into the injured clone. The clone stopped flailing. It gritted its teeth, its dark eye sockets focused on Ren. ¡®It¡¯s healing? No! I cannot waste this opportunity!¡¯ Ren dashed towards the clone, ignoring his instincts. The wolf¡¯s actions had cleared his greatest doubt. The clone panicked and desperately crawled away. Ren approached the center of the circle when he froze in his tracks. His instincts blared at him and he could no longer ignore it. It shouted at him, pleading to escape when he still had time. Suddenly, the clone smiled. It jumped from its position and instantly arrived before Ren. It grabbed Ren''s shoulder and pushed him into the center of the circle, the domain of death. Before he could react, Ren had already arrived at the center of the circle, far away from any escape. A wolf stood before him while his clone blocked his back. The wolf also dropped its act. Instead, it growled at Ren, flashing its menacing purple teeth. ¡®Trapped!¡¯ Ren¡¯s heart pounded. He recognized the clone''s ploy, but the realization came too late. Nevertheless, he didn''t want to fall without a fight. He turned to battle the clone. ''No hesitation! Kill him!'' A dangerous glint flashed past his eyes. Whoo! The clone whistled, the darkness in its eyes focused on the wolf behind Ren. Ren felt an imminent danger from his back. Gritting his teeth, he was forced to confront the wolf. He turned around to meet a flying wolf. Its agility far surpassed his expectations. Thud! Ren fell on his back. A putrid stench assaulted his nose. The fox¡¯s menacing purple teeth were the last sight he saw before his vision blackened. His reflexes kicked in as he activated his last resort, his full-powered punch. BAAM! He fist blasted the wolf as the oppressive weight on his chest dropped. Panicking, he crawled in a random direction. Suddenly, he felt a sting on his neck. The next moment, a large object slammed onto the edge of his face. ¡®Move!¡¯ He lost control over his body. Despite his desperate struggle, he couldn¡¯t even rotate his head. ¡®Esca¡­¡¯ Fatigue conquered his mind as his consciousness drifted away.
The clone withdrew the purplish blade on its arm. Blood dripped down its hand, splattering onto the glowing circle. However, these drops couldn''t compare to the pool of blood beside the clone. The pool originated from the headless corpse of a young blue-haired boy. The corpse shattered into sparkling motes of light, fading into the black water. The clone returned to the center of the circle. Closing its eyes, it returned to a motionless statue. Silence returned to the trial world. Chapter 16: A Crucial Decision! The Path to Strength! His shriveled hands were dirty, but they embraced the mud. They shuddered but they held onto the shovel. His eyes were lifeless, but he dug. After finishing his pit, he grabbed a corpse. Looking at the handsome young face, unknown to any blemishes, he choked. His withered neck moved. Closing his eyes, he dropped the body into the pit. Sealing the pit, he walked away, the shovel dragging behind him. Only his shadow laid witness to the decrepit visage of an old, tired man. After he departed the graveyard, two men in black blocked his path. ¡°Can you bring him back?¡± The old man asked. ¡°Yes, but your help is needed.¡± One of the men replied. ¡°I have to participate in the experiment?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll send you to your grandson.¡± A cruel glint flashed past the bulky man''s eyes. His muscles bulged under his suit, threatening to rip it apart. The old man hesitated. He looked back to the graveyard. ¡°¡­Lead the way.¡± A tired sigh escaped his mouth.
A community hall. Many people gathered in this plain white room. Paintings of beautiful flowers decorated the white wall. However, the hearts of the people were polar opposites of this beautiful wall. They were in despair. ¡°How long will this continue?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one knows. But, we cannot falter. There is hope.¡± ¡°Hope? I don¡¯t need hope! I want my beach home! They promised me a life of luxury.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ll get it. Wait.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for months! I cannot wait anymore!¡± A skinny man shouted. He banged the walls, screaming until his vocal cords surrendered, ¡°Let me out! I want to speak to the Lord! He knows me! Ple-*cough*¡± An old man sat in a corner of this hall, watching the others battle with despair and hope. Unlike them, he knew the truth. It wasn¡¯t just him. The old man was confident that the clever ones had already inferred the truth. However, being clever, they would keep it to themselves. ¡°Grandpa! Had breakfast?¡± A cheerful voice uprooted the old man away from his contemplation. He never expected to find such an uplifting voice in this cage of despair. However, seeing the owner of the voice, his expression dulled. ¡°You again? Go play with the kids of your age. And for the nth time¡­ I¡¯m not your grandpa!¡± The child pouted. He sat beside the old man in a show of defiance. ¡°Others are boring. Either crying or complaining. It¡¯s so desperc... dipers¡­¡± The boy frowned. ¡°Depressing.¡± ¡°Right, depsersing. Grandpa is different.¡± The boy smiled. The old man envied that smile. ¡°Work on your vocabulary. You aren¡¯t a local?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m traveler.¡± ¡°What is a young traveler doing in this hell?¡± ¡°Hell? Grandpa, you wrong! This is my opprahtuknity! I will become owner of Bloodline Skill!¡± The boy grinned, unabashedly revealing a set of yellow teeth. ¡°A Bloodline Skill? Why that in particular?¡± The old man wanted to ask how he learned to pronounce ¡®bloodline skill¡¯ so fluently, but he quashed that thought. He saw the glitter in the boy¡¯s eyes when he mentioned the word and that answered his question. The boy¡¯s expression fell. He drew circles on the ground and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have taki¡­ takent for Arts. Bloodline skill is my¡­¡± ¡°Only choice? That''s a weird dream for a human. By the way, it¡¯s talent.¡± The old man smiled wryly. ¡°Yes! Zirztoms can change my bloodline, give me bloodline skill!¡± The boy cheered. The old man hesitated. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to crush the young boy¡¯s dreams. In this colorful hell, hope was more valuable than life.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Grandpa, what did Zortoms promise you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The old man closed his eyes. The visage of a young flawless man appeared in his vision. ¡®Pol, will I ever see you? Can I even come to the Afterlife? Agreeing to join this place was my greatest mistake.¡¯ The old man''s head plunged, and his breathing weakened. ¡°Grandpa? Grandpa?¡± Noticing no reply, the boy shook the old man. His face paled as his voice increased a couple of decibels, ¡°Grandpa? Grandpa!! HELP!¡± A faint smile crept up the old man¡¯s face. ¡®Kel, may your optimism take you to the end of this tribulation. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t¡­¡¯ The old man collapsed. His chest had stopped moving.
Ren woke up in a daze. The three illuminated doors surrounded him. He had returned to the entry place of the trial world. ¡®What a weird dream! Who was that old ma-¡¯ ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!¡± A nerve-sundering pain struck him at once. An unnatural force ripped apart his soul, slowly and painfully. The pain felt like someone was tearing his limbs. He rolled on the black water, pleading for it to stop, lest he loses his sanity. He spasmed. Even his inhuman tolerance for pain failed to help him in this moment of disaster. Fortunately, the terrifying pain lasted for a mere few seconds. Nevertheless, even after the pain faded, he didn¡¯t dare to move. ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­ Is this¡­ the consequence¡­ of failure?¡± Ren panted. The pain had gone but its memory would never leave. ''Never, never die in this place. This is worse than death...'' Ren sprawled on the ground. The pain forced him to contemplate his mistakes. ¡®The clone played an elaborate act, and I fell into its trap. My hesitation cost me my life.¡¯ ¡®Two things I must not forget. Don¡¯t hesitate. Trust my instincts.¡¯ Ren repeated these rules. He reinforced these rules with his fear of the dreadful pain. ¡®Nez was right. I have one year. There¡¯s no reason to hurry.¡¯
A few minutes passed. After enough contemplation, he decided to shun the ¡®Door of Eclipse¡¯ until he completed the other doors. Ren traipsed towards the second door. Drawings of animals and mythical beasts decorated the door and a green orb glowed at its center. As he approached the door, the left gargoyle came to life. Its grating voice brought no joy to Ren. ¡°Welcome to the Door of Growth. Survive, grow and surpass. Exit a stronger challenger. You have 1 year.¡± The gargoyle returned to silence. ¡®Is that it?¡¯ Ren frowned over the short explanation. ¡®Growth? Is this a place for training? Isn''t that a little too convenient?¡¯ Even though his mind was thinking, his hands had already pushed the green orb. His body already began to follow his new rules. Thud! Upon his entry, the door suddenly shut. A clone guarded the exit. Ren instantly went on guard, prepared for a deathmatch. Fortunately, the expected battle did not begin as the clone displayed no hostility. It silently guarded the door. ¡®I have to beat it to clear this door? Oh, so this must be the ¡®surpass¡¯ part! That means this clone is at least equal to me in strength. Fighting it in my present would be unwise.'' Ren¡¯s gaze fell upon the four new white doors within this dark space. ''That must be the other part of this challenge. Is it the ¡®survive¡¯ part, or the ¡®grow¡¯ part?¡¯ He examined the doors. None of them had any orbs on them. Instead, the orbs were replaced by glowing engravings. Ren approached the leftmost door and examined it. The door possessed a single engraving; an engraving of a man mounted on a wolf. ¡®Doesn¡¯t this look like- 4 doors!¡¯ Ren gasped. ¡®Are these related to the 4 clones in the ¡®Door of Eclipse¡¯? That must be it! Damn it! I should¡¯ve checked the other clones. I¡¯ll go check now!¡¯ Ren paused and groaned. He glared at the soulless protector of the exit. ¡®There might be a chance.¡¯ He tiptoed to the exit door, his gaze stuck on the motionless clone. ¡®Please don¡¯t notice me.¡¯ Ren extended his arm. He hoped to open the door and retreat before the clone could notice. Unfortunately, the clone caught onto his actions. Its empty eyes seemed to warn Ren. ¡°Don¡¯t attack! I have no ill-intent!¡± Ren instantly backed away until the clone closed its eerie eyes. ¡°Hey, can we make a deal? I¡¯ll go check on your friends and return in a moment. It won¡¯t take long. As recompense, I can promise to spare you once I grow stronger.¡± Ren tried the ''softer'' approach. However, the clone didn¡¯t budge. It stuck to its sole duty, protecting the door with its life on the line. ¡®Damn you! I swear I¡¯ll make you pay.¡¯ Sighing, he returned to the four doors. Ren stood before the second door. It possessed a single complex inscription. The inscription looked like an intricate amalgam of countless strokes. As time passed, his head ached, and he was forced to shift his gaze. ¡®This inscription¡­ it resembles those complex symbols on the teleportation circle. This door is related to magic?¡¯ He wanted to enter, but he curbed his urges and checked the next door. This time, the door had 5 different engravings. The engravings portrayed different postures of a man holding a sword. ¡®Swords? It could be that Honing thing. Is the next door an Elemental Conversion Technique? A Bloodline Skill would also be great!¡¯ Excited, he rushed to the last door. The last door held a weird painting. It showed the silhouette of a man amid a series of swirling lines. ¡®Physical Arts? No! That doesn¡¯t seem right. This engraving is vague. Maybe Forbidden Skills or an Elemental Conversion Technique? It doesn¡¯t look like a Bloodline Skill.¡¯ Ren frowned, slightly disappointed. Unlike the other doors, the last door provided little to no clues. If he wasn''t provided any context, he might''ve even doubted if the image was of a man relaxing in a breeze. Even so, it attracted him much like how a lavender seduces bees. He was torn between the various choices. His logic preferred the door with magic. With one year of training, it might provide enough time to master the basics. He vividly remembered Kana¡¯s powerful spells. In might, they had surpassed Azen¡¯s Elemental Conversion Technique. It wasn''t every day that he saw Azen fleeing like a beaten dog. Other than magic, he also felt hopeful of the first door with the wolf. A powerful companion could save his life in many circumstances and accentuate his combat power by innumerable folds. However, his instincts rejected all the doors except for the last one. Although he couldn¡¯t quantify his instincts, he knew that something was wrong when he struggled to shift his gaze from the last door. A feeling deep within his heart tugged at him to pick the last door. It was like a starved animal drooling over a piece of fresh, luscious meat. This set him into a dilemma. To follow his instincts or his logic? To keep or break his newly created rule? He knew that this decision would alter his fate. It could either tremendously boost his strength or cripple him for the remainder of his life. He closed his eyes for a few moments and made his decision. And indeed, this decision would alter everything. Chapter 17: A Brutal Test! Ren entered the last door, but he almost exited in fear. A large white beast loitered inside the otherwise empty room. It was a white lion. Not only did it possess a height of 3 meters, but its mane also glowed in an awe-inspiring manner. Compared to the young Ren, it resembled a giant. While Ren studied the lion, it had also noticed Ren. ¡°Challenger, why did you choose this path?¡± Its fruity voice spoke a new language, one that Ren had never heard of before. Even so, Ren felt a sense of familiarity with the language. It was almost as if he had encountered his long-forgotten native language. The magical abilities of Omnilingual Evolution astounded him. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. A gut feeling?¡± Ren replied honestly. He felt a weird sense of familiarity from this weird lion. ¡°As expected.¡± The lion grinned and greeted Ren, ¡°Welcome to the path of Forbidden Skills.¡± ¡®Forbidden Skills? So, it wasn''t an Elemental Conversion Technique? Not even a Bloodline Skill?¡¯ Ren smiled depreciatingly. ¡°Do you know about the other doors?¡± He asked, curious about the options he had missed. ¡°Spirit Bonding, Magic Crafts, and Honing.¡± The lion replied in a matter-of-fact tone. ¡®Spirit Bonding? That must be clone with the wolf. Magic Crafts¡­ Whatever that is. How is it any different from Magic Arts? And this¡­ Honing. Damn it! Why do I hear of this everywhere? What even is it?¡¯ ¡°Are you regretting your decision?¡± The lion said. It seemed intent on shooing Ren. ¡°Not really. I just don''t know much about Forbidden Skills.¡± Ren answered. He didn¡¯t doubt the strength of this path. At present, his strongest attack was a Forbidden Skill. "Gahr! Your predecessor didn¡¯t regret his choice. You won''t regret it. I, the Lion Sage, shall be your teacher from today.¡± The lion reluctantly said. ¡°Predecessor?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll meet him later. Introduce yourself.¡± The Lion Sage yawned. ¡°Ren.¡± Ren wondered if he''d regret his choice. ¡°Ren? Your names are growing weirder by the generations." The lion grumbled before continuing, "What do you know about Forbidden Skills?¡± Ren reflected for a moment before summarizing Lena¡¯s explanation. ¡°A Forbidden Skill gives its practitioner the power of a ''Honed Act'' without going through the labor. It is accompanied by backlashes, ranging from injuries to death.¡± The lion gaped. It blinked a couple of times. ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!!!¡± It rolled on its back, unable to control its laughter. Ren awkwardly smiled at this scene. ''At least, this sage isn''t grumpy anymore.'' It took a minute for the lion to settle down. It wiped the tears on its eyes and asked. ¡°Who taught you this? Was it Kaero?¡± The lion asked after calming down. ''Kaero?'' Ren''s eyebrows rose in surprise. He did not expect to hear a familiar name in this place. ¡°Kaero! Come out! You win our bet!¡± The lion shouted. A bright light flashed, and a teenager of about 13-14 years old appeared in the dark space. He possessed silver hair and pure black eyes. ¡®He really looks like Sis Lena. If only his hair was black...¡¯ Studying the new guest, Ren felt a vague sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. ¡°Teacher?¡± The newcomer stretched his body, seemingly having just woken up from his slumber. ''Are all Forbidden Skill Practitioners sleepyheads?'' Ren wondered. ¡°You won the bet! I¡¯m so proud of you! You managed to convince your homeland that Forbidden Skills are a shortcut to Honing. Your junior here believes your nonsense.¡± The lion laughed. ¡°Ren, let me introduce you to your Senior. This is Kaero¡­ To be precise, this is an identical clone of Kaero. I created him when he completed the trial. The real Kaero has left the trial a long time back.¡± Kaero smiled wryly and apologized. ¡°Junior, I¡¯m truly sorry. I placed a nonsensical bet with my teacher. I didn¡¯t think that my real self would act on it. I apologize.¡± He bowed. ¡°¡­You don¡¯t have to apologize. I had forced Sis Lena to explain.¡± Ren avoided Kaero''s gaze. ¡°Lena? How is she? Is Kana fine? What about Dad and Mom? And-¡± Hearing a familiar name, Kaero¡¯s eyes brightened. Before he could bombard Ren with a storm of questions, the Lion Sage stopped him. ¡°Kaero! This isn¡¯t the time for chatter. Your junior is working on a deadline. And did you forget your promise?¡± Kaero¡¯s shoulders slumped as his expression turned despondent. He smiled faintly and nodded. ¡°Good luck, junior! We¡¯ll talk after you finish your test.¡± Waving his hand, he prepared to leave. ¡°Stop! Since you¡¯re already here, give your junior a background on Forbidden Skills. I¡¯ll lend you control over this room.¡±Stolen story; please report. Kaero¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise. He nodded and pointed above his head. ¡°Junior, energy exists in a myriad of forms. These are so many that an individual can''t compile all of them. We, as living beings, interact with these forms of energy in many different ways." A silhouette of a human appeared above Kaero. It resembled a shadow. Many colorful lines surrounded it. It picked a blue line and absorbed it. Its silhouette turned blue. ¡°Since we prefer characterization, we call these interactions and energies with various names like Magic Arts and Mana, Physical Arts and Tai.¡± Other silhouettes appeared in the empty space. They picked lines of different colors, creating a colorful picture. ¡°However, all of these energies have one thing in common. They despise existing as free energy and they desire a body to enter. In the extreme case that there are no bodies, they will crystallize.¡± The lines of energy that did not enter humans formed solid crystals. ¡°And once a body is destroyed, the energy returns to its free state, completing the cycle.¡± Some of the crystals broke into lines. The process of formation and breaking of crystals occurred in a dynamic equilibrium. ¡°We call this the Law of Energy Interaction. ¡®Energy in its Free State tends to interact or crystallize, provided it isn¡¯t in equilibrium with its Crystal State.¡¯ This is just a roundabout way of saying that we can interact with energy and thus become, Practitioners. Accept this definition with a pinch of salt.¡± Kaero sighed and continued. ¡°For example, the branch of Magic Arts involves the channeling of mana while the branch of Physical Arts involves the absorption and conversion of Natural Energy into Physical Energy. These forms of energy are inclined to interact with Practitioners, provided the Practitioners aren¡¯t disabled in any way.¡± Ren hid his sadness with a smile. Kaero¡¯s explanation gave him insight as to why he could use his Qi despite being a ¡®cripple¡¯. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t convert it to Physical Energy. ¡°The other myriad paths also work in similar patterns. Forbidden Skills depend on a specific energy called Void Energy or Kyo. Now, are you curious about the significance of Void Energy?¡± Ren nodded. The silhouettes and Kaero¡¯s explanation captivated him. More than anything else, it gave him a much-needed understanding of Energy in general. Even the books weren¡¯t concise in their explanations. Kaero¡¯s expression turned grim. A new line appeared above his head¡­ A black line. Ren barely noticed it as it blended perfectly into its surroundings. ¡°Void Energy is the exception! I¡¯m not boasting! It doesn¡¯t obey the Law of Energy Interaction. It almost exclusively exists in an inert state.¡± Many silhouettes tried to absorb the black line, but they failed. The black line floated, like an ethereal, untouchable dragon. ¡°To interact with Void Energy, a Kyo Practitioner has to meet one out of three criteria. Otherwise, an interaction is impossible, irrespective of whatever they do. This has held true for eons.¡± ¡®Three criteria? Could they provide some clues to my past?¡¯ Ren''s eyes gleamed. He hoped that Kaero would elaborate on this topic. Unfortunately, Kaero skipped ahead with his lecture. ¡°Even so, Kyo Practitioners couldn¡¯t absorb or channel Void Energy. Instead, the Void Energy temporarily touched their bodies before reverting to its inert nature.¡± The black line entered a silhouette. The silhouette cracked, purple blood dripped down its body. ¡°In return, it provides extraordinary strength to the Practitioner. This is a basic Forbidden Skill. Regrettably, Kyo harms everything it touches. Backlashes are unavoidable.¡± The bleeding silhouette punched another silhouette, blasting it to shreds. But the backlash destroyed its fist. Purple blood spurted out of its wrist. ¡°This is the basics of Forbidden Skills. Our goal as Kyo Practitioners is to optimize our yield while suffering minimal backlashes. There is much more to this branch, but I¡¯ll stop for now. Still, before you take your test, I have to warn you.¡± Kaero took a deep breath. ¡°Interactions with Void Energy are extremely dangerous. Kyo Practitioners are destined for death!" Kaero''s eyes glazed over as he continued, "They can never attain immortality. With physical arts, magic, and the like, there is always hope and potential for long, sustainable lives. That is why I¡¯ll give you an option. If you wish to return, the door is free.¡± Ren closed his eyes, digesting all the information. Confirming his choice, he answered. ¡°Immortality is the least of my concerns. I desire the strength to succeed in this trial.¡± His amber eyes gleamed with resolve. ¡°Good, I hope you can pass your test.¡± Kaero grinned. He turned to the sleeping lion, ¡°Teacher, he''s ready.¡± ¡°Done already? Why don¡¯t you conduct the test?¡± The lion yawned. Kaero smiled wryly and prepared to leave when Ren stopped him. ¡°Wait, you didn¡¯t mention anything about the three criteria!¡± Ren shouted. Kaero¡¯s eyebrows creased. He thought for a moment before a nefarious smile crept up his face. ¡°If you¡¯re interested, meet me after you finish the test. That is if you don¡¯t die here.¡± Kaero winked and disappeared. ¡°Gahr! Lazy brat!¡± The lion stretched. Turning to Ren, it spoke. ¡°Ren, I¡¯m not going to waste any more words. Your first test is simple. Evade.¡± Towards the end, the lion''s voice changed to a playful tone. Ren felt a foreboding. Before he could ask another question¡­ Bam! Ren collapsed onto the ground. He hurried onto his feet and took a defensive stance. ¡®What was that?! An invisible punch?¡¯ He panicked. Bam! The blow landed on his abdomen, forcing him onto his knees. Cough! He coughed a mouthful of blood. Bam! Before he could recover, another blow landed on his left ear. It ravaged the delicate internals of his ear. Ren felt the blood on his ears, and his expression turned surreal. ¡°Learn to evade. Otherwise, you will die.¡± The lion calmly laughed. Ren barely heard the lion¡¯s words. His heart pounded in fear. In desperation, he protected his face with his hands, his vision shaky. Bam! Crack! Bam! Crack! As he focused on protecting his face, the invisible blows targeted his ribcage. They increased in frequency and their strength increased with each hit. Ren crouched on the ground, frantically reducing his size. His face contorted with pain and despair. However, the attacks showed no mercy. Ren realized that he couldn¡¯t continue. Soon, the blows would destroy his last defense and kill him. He had to defeat the invisible assailant before the assailant killed him. Bam! ¡®Now!¡¯ With all his energy, Ren punched in the direction of the last blow. Whoosh! ¡­Bam! His punch landed nowhere but the next invisible attack scraped his right ear, crippling his hearing. Ren wobbled like a drunkard. He threw caution into the air as his punches flew in all directions. Bam! ¡°Aargh!¡± The next blow landed on his right eye. He punched forward, but his fist hit nothing. ¡®What creature is this? This is unfair!¡¯ Ren screamed internally. The threat of death kept him focused. Otherwise, he would''ve surrendered. ¡°Try to use your- Oh, he¡¯s deaf. Maybe it¡¯s too late¡­¡± The lion smirked at Ren¡¯s dying struggle. "He''s probably another one of those lambs. Gahr, how many is it now? Over 5000? Gnah, I''m sure it¡¯s more. Shouldn''t have stopped counting at 2000. Please don¡¯t waste my time and die already. I want to sleep." The Lion Sage yawned. Ren used his right palm to defend his remaining eye, his last refuge. But the blows ruthlessly rained on his body, further reducing his abysmal chances of survival. ¡®Why? Why can¡¯t I hit it? Is it untouchable? Wait! Untouchable! Void Energy is untouchable. Is this Void Energy?!'' Remembering Kaero''s explanation, he nearly surrendered in despair. ''How am I supposed to defend against an untouchable force? Ahhh¡­ I must find a solution!¡¯ Despite fighting with a single eye, Ren did not abandon his hope. He knew that there had to be some method to fight back. Otherwise, Kaero and the lion wouldn¡¯t have recommended this ¡®test¡¯. Bam! Crack! ¡®Argh¡­ Think! Think! What am I missing? NO!'' Cough! He coughed again, nearly choked on his own blood. As time passed, he felt light-headed as his consciousness began to tip on the edge. The threat of death materialized as he forced himself to recollect everything he had heard. ''Remember¡­¡¯ Kaero¡¯s explanation continuously played in his mind. ¡®Void Energy¡­ Forbidden Skills¡­ Untouchable¡­ Inert State¡­ Ah!¡¯ A weak smile crept up Ren¡¯s face. He had thought of a plausible solution. Chapter 18: Logic vs Intuition! Ren closed his eye. He wobbled his right hand over his face, protecting his last final and his left hand shuddered, defending his ribcage. These two points were hotspots for the invisible attacks. Bam! Bam! Bam! He endured blow after blow. Each breath felt like respiring a puff of volcanic ash. Blood leaked through the tip of his mouth. His legs grew weak as they struggled to support his weight. Fatigue tugged at him, promising a permanent rest from this torturous experience. ''I cannot fall here! I must not collapse!'' With a burning desire to win, his willpower alone carried him. He fought all the pain and waited... Waiting for the right attack. ¡°He¡¯s a hopeless case.¡± The lion shook its head and departed. However, an unexpected progression drew its attention. Bam! The invisible attack landed on Ren¡¯s left hand. ¡®NOW!¡¯ Ren activated his familiar Forbidden Skill. His arm bulged, and his tired bones cracked. He halted! Remaining motionless, he waited for the next attack. 1 second¡­ 3 seconds¡­ 5 seconds passed by, but the awaited attack didn¡¯t arrive. Sighing in relief, Ren collapsed onto the black water, a weary grin on his face. Despite the short duration of the battle, it was his hardest-earned victory. A green light surrounded his body, healing his injuries. ¡®Thank you, Senior.¡¯ Ren smiled and stood up. The lion gaped as Ren¡¯s body recovered to perfect health. ¡°YOU IDIOT!¡± It roared. It was Ren¡¯s turn to feel dumbfounded. ¡°Who told you to use a Forbidden Skill?!¡± The lion''s hair rose in anger. ¡°¡­Senior Kaero. Void Energy returns to its inert state after the execution of a Forbidden Skill, right?¡± Ren tilted his head. He couldn¡¯t fathom the basis for the lion¡¯s anger. ¡°You! You! You!! I swear you¡¯re all conspiring against me!¡± The explanation further incensed the ¡®Lion Sage¡¯. Ren¡¯s premonition warned him of danger. Learning from the last encounter, he crouched and protected his face. Bam! Bam! Bam! 3 different attacks flung at him. ¡°You want to defend again? Show me how you¡¯ll survive this time. Evade! How is that hard to understand?¡± The lion grumbled, smoke arising from its nose. ¡®Is this training a sham to kill me?¡¯ Ren coughed blood. But this time, it was from excessive anger. ¡®My vision?! I¡¯m blind? Huh? I can''t hear anything!? WHY?¡¯ Ren¡¯s face paled. Without any notice, he had inexplicably lost both his vision and hearing. ¡°Don¡¯t depend on your normal senses. Trust the same feeling that guided you here. And I told you to evade!! Not defend!¡± The lion ground its teeth. Unfortunately, Ren couldn¡¯t hear its words. Bam! Bam! Bam! The invisible attacks pushed Ren around like a broken toy. His recently healed body returned to an alternate version of its previous bloody state. ¡®Three attacks! There¡¯s no gap, and they hit in different positions. How am I supposed to incorporate all three of them in one Forbidden Skill?¡¯ ¡®What am I supposed to do in this state? I can¡¯t defend! Evade? I can¡¯t even see the attacks! How am I- Ah! Right! The first attack! How did I predict that attack?¡¯ ¡®Instinct? No¡­ that can¡¯t be¡­ I have to depend on instincts to evade? Is that what I''m supposed to do? This...¡¯ Ren blanked, but he struggling for time, he could only resort to unconventional means. ¡®Ugh, I¡¯ll just try it.¡¯ Ren withdrew his hands. He stepped ahead. ¡®Right?¡¯ He hesitated. Three attacks simultaneously landed on his body. One of them targeted his right shoulder! Cough! Ren coughed a mouthful of blood but his mind was filled with disbelief. ¡®I predicted it?! Was that a fluke? Try it again! Ugh¡­ concentrate! Where will the next attack come from? Left this time?¡¯ Although unsteady, he concentrated. Bam! Bam! Bam! Three attacks landed at once, without any warning. However, none came from the left side. ¡®What?! It didn¡¯t work this time? Why?¡¯ Ren¡¯s head ached. ¡®This¡­ lion! Why don¡¯t you give me a clue?! Relying on instincts alone... This seems wrong!¡¯ Complaints accompanied by anger drowned his brain. ¡®This is a farce! I had won the test! This lion just wants to kill me! Go ahead! I¡¯ll just accept death! I won¡¯t this cursed door ever again!¡¯ Ren surrendered, too tired to think. He had relaxed his tired brain when he suddenly frowned. Immediately, he tilted his posture. Bam! Two attacks missed. Ren¡¯s frown worsened, but he didn¡¯t stop. He just moved. The next attack barely scratched his body. ¡®Huh? How did I evade-¡¯ Bam! Bam! Bam! Three attacks crashed into him, seemingly punishing him for the loss in focus. He stopped his internal monologue and relaxed. Like a leaf in a powerful gale, he let his instincts dictate his actions. The invisible attack barely slipped past his body.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! A shot of excitement gushed into his system and¡­ he messed up. ¡®I¡¯m actually avoidi-¡¯ Bam! Cough! Cough! ¡®Why? I was doing so well-¡¯ Bam! Bam! Ren realized that he would be stuck on this for a long time. Unfortunately, his tired soul couldn¡¯t support his mistakes for much longer. Seeing this, the lion sighed. ¡®He learned the basics, but he won¡¯t survive. Should I spare him or let him perish? Grr¡­¡¯ ¡®KAERO!! You stinky brat! Giving cheats while I wasn¡¯t noticing. Gahr, it was my mistake. Letting this kid die will haunt me for another decade.'' The lion stopped the attacks and returned Ren¡¯s senses to normal. ''I¡¯ll spare you for now. Be grateful!¡¯ The confused Ren plopped onto the ground as a wave of green energy healed his body. ¡®Did it stop? Huh? I can see! I won!?¡¯ Ren lifted his arms, but the lion poured cold water on his enthusiasm. ¡°Kid, rest up. We¡¯ll continue after a small break.¡± ¡°HUH?" ''It¡¯s not over?'' Ren¡¯s eyelids twitched. He buried his sadness and pondered over the battle. Even now, he didn¡¯t know if relying on his instincts was the intended strategy. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t think too much. You are on the right track. Your instincts led you to this path. They will guide you through this test.¡± ¡°So I was right! But then, why do they work only sometimes? I don¡¯t understand!¡± Ren instantly sprang up into a cross-legged position. ¡°At those moments, did you think or lose focus?¡± The lion¡¯s gaze seemed dead. Those dead eyes were slathered with disappointment. Ren froze. It finally dawned on him. He understood the reason for his failure. But, this set him into greater confusion. ¡°Gahr, I know you¡¯re having the wrong idea. I¡¯ll explain.¡± The lion sighed and continued. ¡°Your mistakes were many, but they can be summarized into two points. You think too much and your mood swings too frequently. The latter can be fixed with experience. Keeping a calm mind is crucial in battles.¡± ¡°A calm mind¡­ Understood. About the thinking part, I should stop thinking?¡± Ren frowned. To stop thinking in the middle of a battle¡­ Ren couldn¡¯t think of anything more suicidal. ¡°No! You dimwit! Gahr¡­ I knew you had the wrong idea. Have you heard of Logic vs. Intuition?¡± Ren shook his head. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so stupid. Read more books!¡± The lion shouted. Ren cringed at the ridiculousness of this moment. A lion was admonishing him, a human, over reading more books. Nevertheless, he nodded obediently. ¡°Gahr, I''ll give you a free lesson! Don''t bother me after this! Where was I? Gah! Logic and Intuition! Logic pertains to understanding your enemies¡¯ abilities and your own limits. Based on this understanding, you can plot your way to victory. It is the reason why I picked Kaero. He¡¯s talented, a perfect student. I have no reason to reject him.¡± ¡°On the other hand, Intuition is preferred when you don¡¯t understand your enemy, and you have no clue as to what you¡¯re doing! It is exactly what I feel when I take in idiots like you! The only reason you¡¯re living is a result of Kaero¡¯s gimmicks. I have every reason to kick you out, but my intuition refuses to let me show you my teeth.¡± Ren opened his mouth before promptly closing it. He decided to suffer through this lecture. ''Complete the trial... That is all that matters... Stay calm- Damn it! If you wanted me to use my intuition, why didn''t you just say so?'' He raged internally to vent his frustration. Nevertheless, he paid attention to the lion''s lecture. "Intuition cannot be understood by logic. Attempting to analyze it will only hurt your head. If you are using your Intuition, then don''t think. Similarly, if you are depending on your logic, then ignore your instincts. Using both of these together will lead to disaster, just like your present state." ''Ah! If only you had explained this earlier...'' Ren sighed inwardly. ¡°Hone your Intuition because it is mandatory for Forbidden Skills. But don¡¯t neglect your logic. Otherwise, you¡¯ll become one of those brainless Physical Arts Practitioners. Now get back to training!¡±
¡°Ha¡­ Ha¡­ Ha¡­¡± Ren panted. Lying on the ground, he relaxed. He didn¡¯t know how many days had passed. He felt like he had aged a lifetime. The only thing he knew was that the increasing number of Kyo attacks. From three to four, five to six, all the way to nine. Towards the end, it became a competition of complicated maneuver. Any moment of distraction meant welcoming a crippling volley of attacks. The struggle had numbed his mind. If someone told him to jump off a cliff, he would do it without a moment of hesitation. ¡°Good work.¡± He heard the lion¡¯s familiar voice. ¡°How long¡­ did it take?¡± ¡°A little over a month. You have less than 11 months left.¡± Ren depreciatingly chuckled. Even after non-stop practice, it took him a month to master the basics of sensing Kyo. Thinking of the deadline, he stood and declared. ¡°Then let¡¯s continue. I can¡¯t waste any time.¡± The lion hesitated before roaring. ¡°Kaero! Get over here! I¡¯ll hand this kid to you. Train him or kill him. Do whatever you want.¡± It disappeared immediately. ¡®¡­Good riddance!¡¯ Ren grinned. The lion had forced him in life-and-death situations, expecting him to make extraordinary leaps just to maintain his bare survival. After his traumatic experience, he wanted little to do with the lion. The silver-haired teen returned, a cheeky grin plastered over his face. ¡°You survived! Congratulations! I guess I should call you Junior-Apprentice Brother from now. Out of innumerable students, you were the second to pass this test. That¡¯s an achievement worth celebrating.¡± ¡®Achievement? My main target is to complete this trial. The rest does not matter.¡¯ Ren shook his head to remove all unwanted thoughts. ¡®Oh! The three criteria! I almost forgot!'' Remembering the promise, he asked. ¡°Senior Kaero, what are three criteria for interacting with Kyo?¡± Kaero let out a slight sigh and spoke. ¡°Fuu, I should keep my promise. Fine. The first criterion is the simplest. It¡¯s talent! Talented Practitioners can use their natural instincts to sense Kyo. Unfortunately, this is determined upon one''s birth. That is why, Kyo Practitioners from this path are quite rare, relatively speaking.¡± Kaero blushed and continued, ¡°I happen to fall into this category.¡± ¡®So it¡¯s this type of criteria¡­¡¯ Ren felt disappointed. If the rest of the criteria were along these lines, it wouldn''t give him many clues. Even so, he continued to listen. ¡°The second criterion is to kill a talented Kyo Practitioner. By murder, you can snatch their talent. Most of the Kyo Practitioners fall into this category. A cycle of killing ensures that the talent of Kyo can be passed down generation to generation. That is why you must be careful, lest someone stronger kills you for your talent. Teacher happens to fall into this category.¡± Kaero shrugged. ¡®Stealing Talent!? Ah! Could this be a reason why Azen is intent on killing me?¡¯ Ren grew alarmed. Ignorant of his doubts, Kaero continued. ¡°The third criterion is the cruelest. It is the main reason why Forbidden Skills became ¡®forbidden¡¯. It requires a Practitioner to trudge through a path of bloodshed. With each kill, the Practitioner¡¯s soul hinges closer to ¡®Death¡¯, accumulating the curses of their victims. They become more sensitive to killing intent. and this sensitivity can substitute natural instincts.¡± ¡°However, the number of kills required for this path¡­ it¡¯s unfathomable. And each kill necessitates personal investment. Otherwise, one could just destroy swarms of ants.¡± Kaero took a deep breath and continued, his expression forlorn. ¡°That is why I called it a cruel path. Not only will it create an unparalleled disaster, but it will also break the Practitioner. Fortunately, it is extremely rare to encounter a Kyo Practitioner who originated from this sea of bloodlust. Otherwise, I¡¯d dread to think of the consequences.¡± Kaero laughed weakly. ¡°It sounds too troublesome. Why would anyone bother with such a tortuous path? If someone is capable of killing so many people, can¡¯t they just kill a Kyo Practitioner?¡± Ren shrugged. ¡°¡­Yeah, you¡¯re right, but that¡¯s how it is.¡± Kaero smiled bitterly, ¡°There are very few individuals who have succeeded in this path. However, their infamy is immortal. Go to the library and search for the most infamous individuals in history. 3 out of 5 will be Kyo Practitioners from this path. They have drowned the whole of Forbidden Skills into notoriety.¡± Ren frowned slightly, but he instantly hid it. ¡®He¡¯s definitely concealing something. There¡¯s more to this, but... it doesn¡¯t affect me. I should prioritize the trial. Those 4 monsters at waiting for me. And there¡¯s one door I haven¡¯t tried yet. I can¡¯t tarry any longer.¡¯ He took a deep breath and said. ¡°Let¡¯s move on? I have less than 11 months left.¡± ¡°Great! Let¡¯s begin.¡± Kaero stretched his arms. The trial world shook. ¡®Earthquake? No! This¡­ What is ¡­¡¯ Ren''s eyes opened wide. He could barely believe his sight. "This will be your home for the next few months. Since Teacher has placed you under my control, I cannot spare any efforts." Kaero grinned nefariously. Staring at ''his home'', Ren gulped. ''Lion Sage, please come back.'' Ren held back his tears. He had already begun to miss the white lion. Chapter 19: Revisiting the Door of Eclipse! Time flew by as days turned into months. Yet, the fourth white door showed no signs of opening. Nonetheless, the emotionless clone guarded the main exit to the trial without uttering a single complaint. Like this, 11 months had passed before a sudden movement broke the silence of this empty room. The white door opened, and a young blue-haired boy entered the dark space. Noticing the clone, he smiled and strode towards the main exit. The clone noticed the boy¡¯s approach and opened its eyes. Those empty, eerie eyes stared at their fated enemy. The clone predicted an uphill battle, but it wouldn¡¯t abandon its duty. ¡°This clone was at least as strong as when I entered this Door of Growth¡­ Hm... I wonder how much I¡¯ve grown.¡± It heard Ren¡¯s mutter. With its shoulders outstretched, it blocked the exit. The blue-haired boy ignored it and reached for the doorknob. Thud! The clone defiantly thrust its palm on the door, closing it. ¡°You¡¯re not letting me leave?¡± The mute clone shook its head. However, it suddenly noticed a sudden force on the door. The door slowly moved outward. The clone¡¯s expression darkened. Placing both of its palms on the door, it pushed. ¡°This wasn¡¯t how I envisioned our battle to take place. But, if a competition of raw strength is what you desire, I¡¯ll happily indulge.¡± [¡°Pain Series: Enhance.¡±] The blue-haired boy¡¯s veins bulged and the door slowly swung outwards. Irrespective of whatever the clone tried, it couldn¡¯t match Ren¡¯s strength combined with a Forbidden Skill. The gloomy clone recognized this fact. Its mind ran through all the possible scenarios before an idea struck its mind. Turning to Ren, it whipped out its fist. Crack! Crack! The bones on its left arm broke, but it persisted with the crippling attack, determined to stop or even kill its target. Tup! The punch stopped right before touching Ren. Confused, it looked down and noticed a few fingers grasping its left fist. Like chains, they held its arm. The clone tried to withdraw its arm but the fingers were like claws of steel. They prevented any motion. It watched in despair as the blue-haired boy tossed its broken arm and exited the door. ¡°Enter the last door if you wish to improve your skill.¡± The blue-haired boy departed. The clone closed its eyes as its body faded. It had failed its task, and demise awaited it. ¡­ ¡®Ah! Why does it hurt so much?¡¯ Ren groaned and shook his hand. He noticed that green light on the orb had dimmed, signaling his first victory in the trial. ¡®That¡¯s one door! There are two more left¡­ and only a month remains.'' Ren let out a tired sigh. Remembering the past eleven months, he instinctively shuddered. ¡®NO! Don''t think about that hell. It''s behind me! It''s over. No more ants... No more piranhas... No more Kaero... Yes, it''s over!¡¯ Taking a deep breath, he calmed his nerves and turned to the Door of Eclipse. ¡®Ah! How could I forget you? It''s time I settled our grudge and I hope you¡¯re ready. The pain¡­ the suffering¡­ I¡¯ll be darned to Kaero''s hell if I don¡¯t make you suffer a minute fraction of what I went through.¡¯ A devious grin crept up his face. He had found the perfect victim to vent his frustration. He advanced into the leftmost circle. The clone opened its empty eyes and bent down. Touching the ground, it summoned its faithful companion, the wolf. A purple aura surrounded both the creatures. The clone¡¯s actions didn¡¯t surprise Ren. Instead, he grinned. ¡®Not acting this time? Go ahead! Attack.¡¯ Without a word of communication between them, the clone and wolf cornered Ren. ¡®Embrace the pain¡­¡¯ Ren took a deep breath. A ruthless gleam flashed past his eyes. [¡®Pain Series: Body Enhancement!¡¯] The veins all over his body bulged, and his face grimaced in pain. Gritting his teeth, he dashed towards the clone. The clone crossed its arms. The purple aura formed a shield, protecting the clone. Ren sent a glance at the incoming wolf. He kicked the shield. The clone retreated a few steps back to regain its footing. The wolf didn''t miss this opportunity. It pounced on Ren, its menacing fangs threatening to rip Ren to shreds. Tchish! Ren grabbed the teeth of the beast. Blood dripped down his arm but he ignored it. His left hand grabbed the lower jaw of the beast while his upper arm grabbed the upper jaw. The pain from the Forbidden Skill drove him to the brink of insanity.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡®You like biting my face? Show me how you¡¯ll bite after today!¡¯ Ren''s arms shuddered, but he stretched the wolf¡¯s maw, opening its mouth. A repulsive stench assaulted his nose, but he applied more force into his arms. The wolf panicked. It focused all its purple aura onto its jaws, reinforcing its biting strength. However, Ren''s might won in the end. ¡°Aaarghh! TEAR!¡± With a roar, Ren pulled the lower jaw with all his might. Followed by a desperate whimper from the wolf, Ren ripped its lower jaw. The wolf flailed in its death throes, drenched in blood. Ren glanced at the owner of the wolf and dropped the detached pound of flesh. ''You''re next!'' His gaze alone sent the message across. The clone¡¯s purple aura weakened. The wolf''s plight had a profound effect on its strength. In an act of desperation, it morphed its remained purple aura into a blade. The clone rushed towards Ren. Seeing the purple blade, Ren retreated. He didn''t dare to underestimate the danger of a weapon. Soon, his back hit the barrier. ¡®Huh? I can¡¯t leave the barrier?¡¯ Ren frowned. Even the clone paused in surprise, but only for a moment before resuming its attack. Ren punched the barrier but it was like punching a huge block of steel. Staring at the tiny splotch of blood on the barrier, he doubted if he could penetrate it with his strongest attack. ''I''m trapped? No! Qi!'' Using his qi, he climbed the barrier, only stopping when he had created an unbreachable distance between himself and the clone. ¡®The wolf doesn¡¯t know any healing... Damn it! He played me like an idiot!¡¯ Thinking of his previous battle, Ren¡¯s expression worsened. ¡®Once the wolf perishes, I¡¯ll take my time with you. The pain that I had to suffer, I¡¯ll vent everything on you.¡¯ A crazed smile crept up his face. He had a pent up immeasurable frustration throughout the trial and he had to vent it. The clone glared at Ren. However, it felt a new emotion, one that it had never experienced. For the first time in its fleeting life, it experienced fear! Before long, the wolf perished, and the clone lost the last bit of its purple aura. Ren pounced on the clone, signaling the end of the battle and the beginning of the clone¡¯s misery. ¡­ The barrier disappeared. Ren relaxed, a tired smile on his face. The traces of blood remained witness to the brutal suffering of the clone. ¡®Ha... It''s over.¡¯ He had calmed down from his heated frenzy. After dumping his anger onto the clone, he had regained his peace. ¡®The real battles begin here. I can¡¯t be careless like the last time.¡¯ Punching himself on his face, he continued to the next circle. ¡®This should be magic¡­ Magic Crafting, was it? Is it any different from Kana¡¯s magic?¡¯ Ren studied the clone. Unlike the other clone, it wore a long, white robe and donned two fat pouches on its waist. Overall, it resembled a wizened scholar more than a combatant. The clone awakened. Its empty eyes studied Ren as it dug into its pouches. ¡®He¡¯s not going to chant?¡¯ Ren''s brows furrowed. The clone withdrew a few tiny nail-sized capsules. It held them in between its fingers. ¡®This is not familiar¡­¡¯ Ren squinted his eyes. The clone dropped a capsule. It cracked, and black lines emerged from the broken capsule. The lines formed a peculiar inscription on the ground. Shooo! With a loud blast, huge spouts of water surged from the inscription. Within moments, it flooded the ring, drowning both contestants in a column of water. The clone didn¡¯t stop. It crushed another capsule, forming another black inscription within the water. A violent current emerged from the inscription. It pushed the clone above the column of water. Upon exiting, the clone crushed the remaining capsules and dropped them on the water. A layer of frost spread throughout the column of water. It instantly transformed the water into a pillar of ice. All of the clone''s actions were simultaneous as they took place in a matter of a few seconds. Even then, the emotionless clone wasn''t satisfied. It withdrew a brush. Its hands flashed as they painted stroke after stroke on the ice. As it finished the final stroke, the surface of the ice pillar glowed temporarily before returning to normal. Even though it seemed like nothing had happened, the pillar¡¯s hardness had multiplied by many folds. Finishing its trap, the clone relaxed. Tik! Tik! A peculiar sound caught it by surprise. ¡°Incredible! The ice is so hard now. Magic Crafting is scary!¡± It turned around to see Ren knocking on the column of ice. Although the distance between them was negligible, it hadn¡¯t noticed him. Feeling the clone¡¯s gaze, Ren grinned and explained. ¡°Trapping a Void Arts Practitioner isn¡¯t the easiest thing to do. Unless your trap is airtight, you cannot- Can you not reach for your pouch while I¡¯m explaining?¡± Ren bound the desperate clone. He stripped the two pouches and studied them. ¡°These two pouches¡­ What are- Stop drawing and listen to me!¡± Ren snatched the brush, breaking it in the process, much to the dismay of the clone. ¡°Like I was saying, these capsules... What are they? How do you operate them?¡± Ren picked a capsule and observed it in detail. It possessed a single crack on its center. He carefully split the capsule to reveal a tiny roll of paper. ¡®A parchment?¡¯ He tried to open it, but he crumbled it in the process. The paper exploded and Ren dropped it. The paper created an inscription on the ice. It sprayed huge blasts of purplish gas, which covered the insides of the barrier in moments. Ren panicked, but he held onto the pouches. Closing his eyes, he cleared his mind. Feeling a threat, his hand moved. [¡®Pain Series: Enhance.¡¯] Ignorant of what to expect, he went for his familiar attack. He punched blindly, trusting his instincts. His fist landed on something, and the threat disappeared. He awaited a follow-up attack but nothing happened. The gas faded and the ice sublimated. Soon, he was left alone and confounded. ¡®Did I accidentally kill the clone?¡¯ Staring at his hand, Ren sighed. Unfortunately, the capsules would remain a secret. ¡®That was a weird battle. But Magic Crafters are dangerous. If this battle took place a year back, I would have become a frozen statue. These people are dangerous.¡¯ ¡®Ah¡­ Whatever. I won, and that''s what counts! Only two more battles left.¡¯ Ren felt optimistic. If the rest of the challengers provided the same challenge, success in the Door of Eclipse was at his arm¡¯s reach.
The third clone looked uninspiring. Other than a sheathed sword, nothing set it apart from the rest. However, Ren''s expression was grave. ¡®Something¡¯s wrong! This clone is... dangerous! Much more dangerous than the rest. Weird¡­ Why does my instinct warn me of grave danger?¡¯ As time continued, Ren felt a growing threat from the mediocre clone. ¡®Is he accumulating strength? No! That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m missing something¡­¡¯ Ren desired to attack, but he curbed his impulses. Tsuiiin! The clone''s sword flashed. An invisible blade of wind tore through the air. Ren jumped to the side, barely missing the fatal slash. Krrrr! Accompanied by a large sound, the wind tore apart a gaping hole on the barrier. Staring at the damage, Ren¡¯s heart trembled. ¡®Seriously?! This is Honing? What power! It might be even stronger than my Forbidden Skills in raw strength¡­ HOW?!¡¯ Ren inwardly screamed. The clone didn''t wait for Ren to regain his composure as it executed the next sword swing. ''He can even launch them consecutively!?'' Ren''s complexion paled. The winds roared as the invisible blade sought Ren''s head! Chapter 20: Stark Contrast! Ren closed his eyes. Clearing his mind, he surrendered control to his instincts. The clone didn¡¯t relent on its attacks. Slash after slash stormed into the barrier, barely missing him. Ren¡¯s eyes lost focus, and his body moved autonomously. He was no longer in control of his body. Instead, his instincts were in charge. His movements were erratic, lacking in any rhythm. But, they lacked lag and smooth. Even Ren fell surprised at his maneuver. However, having sacrificed control, he had unknowingly abandoned attacking. His instincts prioritized defense. This created an impasse between the two combatants. The clone attacked with all its might, but it didn¡¯t hit even once. On the other hand, Ren refused to retaliate. He watched the battle, but his consciousness weakened, plummeting his influence. Soon, having lost the capacity to think, he turned into a silent witness. The clone advanced, persisting with its relentless attacks. However, Ren noticed a sudden change in its behavior. The clone halted. The clueless Ren also stopped. Lacking a threat, he didn''t know how to react. His lifeless eyes stared at the clone. With hesitant steps, the clone approached him, but he did not feel any danger. Thus, he didn''t react. Reaching a sword¡¯s distance, the clone grinned. At that moment, everything changed. A grave threat of death alarmed Ren. He saw a flash in the corner of his eyes. The next moment, it expanded to a blade, slicing towards his head.
¡®So relaxing¡­¡¯ Ren smiled. Staring at the red river, he dove deeper into his dreamland. A young girl emerged from the river. Her long blue hair contrasted with the red river. ¡°Who are you?¡± He asked. The young girl paused. The light in her eyes dimmed as he mumbled to herself. ¡°Who¡­ am I?¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re suffering from amnesia? Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get your memories back.¡± He smiled and collapsed onto his back. Staring at the blood-red sky, his smile widened. ¡®Red, what a breath-taking color. Much better than a blue sky¡­¡¯ ¡®Weird, why would I think that the sky is blue? What a peculiar thought! I must determine the origin of these weird thoughts.¡¯ He closed his eyes, and his breathing stabilized. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re about to die.¡± The girl¡¯s voice disturbed his sleep. ¡°Die? What do you mean? There¡¯s no death here.¡± He returned his sleep but an unnatural sound stole his attention. The girl choked. She fell onto her knees crying. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ protect¡­¡± ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Ren approached her, more confused than a squirrel in a volcanic eruption. ''Something is wrong. Why do I feel so uneasy? There''s no logical explanation for this.'' ¡°Don¡¯t know¡­ what to do¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Her short whimpers perplexed Ren. A sense of disillusionment hit him. Just as he opened his mouth, the world bent and warped. ''Huh?'' A nauseous feeling overwhelmed Ren, as the world shattered.
The clone¡¯s sword flashed, targeting Ren¡¯s neck. His eyes regained light at the same moment. He ducked while his left hand met the glistening blade. Tzuuk! Blood splashed. Four fingers dropped onto the ground. Ren barely shifted the trajectory of the weapon as it missed his head. A dangerous gleam flashed past his eyes. He flung his uninjured fist towards the clone¡¯s undefended abdomen. [¡®Killer Punch!¡¯] Ren¡¯s right arm bulged and his bones crackled. He abandoned all his reservations. His punch ripped through the air, crashing onto the clone¡¯s abdomen. The world momentarily fell silent. BAAM! The clone exploded, a large hole on its abdomen. Ren saw the confusion on its eyes as it collapsed to its death. Ren panted. The skin on his arm cracked, spilling blood everywhere. His muscles failed, and his arm dangled. ¡®Damn it! That was terrible¡­¡¯ Ren ground his teeth. He curbed his urge to curse. ¡®My instincts took over again¡­ Damn it! Why isn¡¯t there any solution to this nonsense?¡¯ He instinctually attempted to clench his fist when the pain reminded him of a cruel fact... He lacked fingers. The circle dimmed and the clone¡¯s fading body stole Ren¡¯s attention. ¡®Honing¡­ is dangerous. I don''t understand it, but those invisible sword slashes¡­ Honing is very dangerous.¡¯ He stared at his fingerless palm. Small protrusions arose from the wounds. They expanded, substituting his fingers. Soon, his palm returned to its original state. A green wave of energy regenerated his damaged limb. Satisfied with the regeneration, Ren stretched his body, ¡®Thankfully, this is the trial world. I must stop using Killer Punch once I leave this place.¡¯ Ren lounged for a while, his mind wandering to his experience in the dream world. ¡®Who was that girl? And the red sky¡­ Ugh¡­ Whatever! There are so many things I don¡¯t understand. Adding a couple of things to that list won¡¯t make any difference.¡¯ Despite the consolation, Ren was more frustrated than a poor child in a cake shop. He could see all the sweets, but he couldn''t buy anything.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. After his wounds healed, Ren proceeded to the last circle. ''It''s a Kyo Practitioner. This is my real test.'' His expression turned grim. This field was his expertise. Yet, he didn''t know what to expect from the last clone. ¡®I can do it. I¡¯ve been training in Kyo for many months. A duplicate can¡¯t defeat me.¡¯ He punched his face and entered the last barrier. The clone awakened. Its first actions caught Ren by surprise. It inserted its fingers into its ears. Soon, blood dripped down its ear canals. ¡®What is it doing?¡¯ Ren felt a premonition. The clone¡¯s actions weren¡¯t over. The clone removed its fingers. Blood uncontrollably poured down its ears. It grinned at Ren and positioned its thumbs before its eyes. Predicting its next move, Ren flinched. The clone pierced its dark eyes. ¡®Decisive¡­ He sacrificed everything. This battle won¡¯t be easy¡­ He has to be an expert in instincts. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t opt for such drastic measures.¡¯ Ren took a deep breath to regain his composure. ¡®An instinctual type. Most likely even better than me. I can''t meet him on instincts. Logic is the right approach.¡¯ Ren squinted. His mind wandered, crafting plans and countermeasures for the battle. ''I must find his limits.'' Ren dashed towards the wobbling clone. [¡°Pain Series: Body Enhancement!¡±] His veins bulged and his expression darkened. The clone¡¯s veins also bulged at the same instant. ¡®He knows Pain Series?! I invented that! How dare you steal my invention!?¡¯ Ren''s eyelids twitched. He launched a palm at the clone. The clone deflected it and launched a counterattack. Prepared, Ren met its punch. Bam! Following a loud collision, Ren withdrew. ¡®His expertise in Pain Series is slightly lacking. I¡¯m better than him in pure strength unless he¡¯s hiding his streng- HUH?¡¯ Ren¡¯s eyes bulged. The clone dashed towards him. Ren retreated, but the clone followed him like an angry wasp. For an instant, Ren felt like the clone could see his movements. ¡®This clone... How is it following my actions? And he¡¯s attacking proactively? What is going on?¡¯ Ren frowned while mulling. ¡®Ah! Did he master his instincts?! That¡¯s unfair!¡¯ Although Ren complained, he felt better. At least, the clone had revealed this trump card earlier than late. This ability could determine victory and defeat. A logical combatant would consider this a failure on the part of the clone. While retreating, Ren''s back collided against the barrier. He climbed it, awaiting the clone''s response. The clone didn¡¯t stop, it also chased after Ren, using its qi to climb after him. ¡®He can also use qi¡­ Damn it! There are no safe spots in this battleground.¡¯ Ren leaped. The clone jumped after him, launching a punch midair. Ren blocked the punch, but the clone had closed the distance between them. They landed together, and the clone began its offense. Blow after blow flew between the two combatants. It was mainly the clone on the offense while Ren stood his ground. ''What poor luck... Even while using logic, I''m on the defense... Wasn''t instincts supposed to be all about defense!? Kaero! You liar!''
As the battle prolonged, Ren¡¯s condition worsened. His stamina couldn¡¯t compare with the clone¡¯s seemingly endless vitality. On top of this, the pain from his Forbidden Skill took a deep toll on his psyche. ''Can''t think... The pain... This can''t continue!'' A ruthless glint flashed past Ren¡¯s eyes, ¡®I have to risk it!¡¯ He stretched his arms, opening his torso. He presented a juicy opportunity to the clone. However, the clone paused. Seeing its reaction, a weary smile crept up Ren¡¯s face. ¡®One move! He can only see one move! But, how can I use this?¡¯ Even while thinking, Ren exuded an aura of pressure. He was prepared to execute his killer moves the moment his brainless enemy made any untoward movement. ¡®My advantage is pure raw strength. I could overpower it, but its instincts are good. It¡¯ll avoid a frontal confrontation, and my efforts will be wasted.¡¯ ¡®Then I can only trap it, forcing it to a battle of strength. But how do I do that?¡¯ Ren frowned. His head hurt, and pain fogged his mind. ¡®Trap. One move. Trap. One move¡­¡¯ Ren¡¯s eyes gleamed. Gritting his teeth, he took a step forward. The clone retreated. Ren advanced until the clone had its back to the barrier. ¡®This is it. I¡¯ll either succeed or fail here. Do it!¡¯ Ren relaxed his body. The clone seemed to have caught his message as it immediately attacked the undefended Ren. Its arm bulged unnaturally as it tore towards Ren¡¯s chest. ''Foolish!'' Ren hid his smirk and brought his arm towards his chest. It also bulged, prepared to meet the clone''s punch. BAAAM! The sound of the collision was deafening. ¡°Aaarhhhr!¡± Ren shouted, and took a step back. He couldn¡¯t feel his arm, and a red fog blinded his vision. He knew that the result was far from pleasant. His face contorted, and he launched his other fist. BAAM! Another loud collision shook the battle circle. Ren lost control over both his arms and mind-numbing pain assaulted him at once, but he didn¡¯t stop. Otherwise, all his effort would be wasted. ¡°DIE!!¡± Roaring, his leg tore through the red fog. He encountered a slight resistance, but that was it. His leg exited the bloody fog, decorated by broken bones and chunks of flesh. It brought a repulsive smell of gastric juices. Immediately, the skin on Ren¡¯s leg cracked. He lost balance and collapsed onto a pool of blood, It extended to his face. The circle faded, but Ren found little joy. He welched at the horrible stench from the blood and the clone''s corpse. ¡®Red¡­ what a distasteful color.¡¯ He complained while a tingling sensation healed his devastated limbs. ¡®I lost three limbs. Even then, the result was too close. If I were outside¡­¡¯ His expression worsened. The thought drained all the joy from his hard-earned victory. After a while, the pain subsided, and Ren returned to his feet. ''Ugh... Never, ever, fight a Kyo Practitioner. NEVER!'' Confirming his decision, he departed.
The amber orb had dimmed, signaling the completion of another door. He ambled to the third door, the last one in the gruesome trial. Two gargoyles guarded it, and a black orb glowed at its center. ¡°Welcome to the Door of Inner Demons.¡± He heard a familiar grating voice. The red eyes of the gargoyle glowed, and they disgusted Ren. ¡°Enter this door to face your inner demons.¡± The monster returned to a statue. ¡®Inner demons? Can''t you explain any further?¡¯ Ren frowned. Staring at the black orb, he felt like it was calling him, inviting him into an abyss. He sighed and slapped himself, removing all unwanted thoughts. ''This is the last door. Once I complete it, the trial will end. I can meet the Divine Emperor and gain freedom from Azen. Yes! Just a few demons stand in my path.¡¯ He pushed the black orb. A lonely mirror greeted him. ''Is that mirror my enemy? Since when did mirrors become demons?'' He approached the mirror. It was dark, and he couldn''t see his reflection. ''You only had one-'' He fled before he could complete his line of thought. The image in the mirror transformed. It morphed into a young blue-haired girl. Only after gaining a comfortable distance, did Ren stop. ¡®Why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen¡­ Ah! It¡¯s that girl from the dreamland! What is she doing here?¡¯ His brows furrowed. The girl¡¯s face contorted in anguish as she stretched her arm out of the mirror. ¡°Brother¡­¡± She called out in a weak voice. Ren panicked. His instincts blared at him, coercing him to avoid this unknown girl. They preferred failing the trial over approaching her, even if it meant assuring Ren''s doom. ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Fear crept into Ren¡¯s heart. He approached the girl, but he didn''t dare to touch her. Black tears poured down the girl¡¯s face. They created minor ripples into the pool of black water. ¡®The floor is made of her tears?!¡¯ Ren¡¯s heart wrenched at the sight. The young girl¡¯s voice, her face¡­ all of it felt familiar. Steeling his heart, he decided to accept the girl''s arm. Although his instincts warned against such an action, he chose to ignore the warning. But before he could execute his decision, his face paled. ¡®Why? WHY? Move!¡¯ He screamed internally. His body refused to move. Instead, it retreatedautonomously. This movement frightened Ren. He couldn¡¯t control his body! Seeing the sorrow on the girl¡¯s face, he gritted his teeth. ¡®This is my order! Move forward!¡¯ [¡®Pain Series: Body Enhancement!¡¯] The veins on his body popped. He rebelled against the will of his body and lifted his arm. "Guhrr!" Ren gritted his teeth. He felt a mountain on his arm. Nevertheless, he persevered. Ignoring all the warnings, he grabbed the girl¡¯s hand. The next moment, the mirror swallowed his body as he disappeared. Chapter 21: The Zarstorms Young Monster! ¡®This is suicidal!¡¯ An old man entered a courtyard. His steps were slow, oozing of steadiness, but his mind was anything but calm. The beautiful fragrance of roses tickled his nose. But he wasn¡¯t in the mood to enjoy them. He stopped at the center of the courtyard. A young blue-haired boy sat cross-legged under a tree. His eyes were closed, and a sword laid on his legs. He occasionally frowned, as though he were in deep thought. ¡®Do it for the Young Miss!¡¯ The old man bowed and said. ¡°Young Mast-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me!¡± The boy frowned. The old man flinched at the boy¡¯s tone. He hesitated before turning around. A young girl¡¯s head popped out from behind the distant pillar. The old man couldn¡¯t bear to betray those sanguine eyes. ¡°Young Master, the Young Miss¡­¡° The boy opened his eyes. His gaze left the old man and wandered behind him. ¡°I do not have the time for this. Take her back!¡± His cold voice frightened the old man. Clenching his fist, he once again mustered his courage and spoke. ¡°Young-¡± ¡°Tara!¡± The boy scowled. A dangerous glint flashed past his eyes. Tara took a step back in fear. He could only watch helplessly as his Young Master left the courtyard. The Young Master¡¯s eyebrows were creased, irritated with his vain attempts. At least, that was what Tara assumed. However, noticing an unexpected moment, Tara¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°B-Big Broth¡­¡± His Young Miss attempted to call the Young Master. However, the blue-haired boy strode past her. Tara sighed, wondering if the Young Master even registered the call. He approached the young forlorn girl, not knowing what to say. Her shoulders were slumped, devastated by the failure. This failure would inhibit her future attempts, maybe further estrange her relationship with her brother. Tara reigned his wandering thoughts and hugged the desolate girl. ¡°Grandpa¡­ does Big Brother Ren hate me?¡± Wiping her tears, he forced a smile. ¡°No, Young Miss. The Young Master is just too busy¡­¡± Comforting her, he guided the young girl to her room.
A white-robed messenger waited beside a fountain. Occasionally, he shuddered. Was it the weather? Staring at the bright sun, he rejected that notion. Was it his job? Remembering the stories, he gulped. Indeed, his job was the culprit. ¡®Be careful¡­¡¯ He reminded himself for the nth time. His predecessors¡¯ fates warned him to be extremely cautious and respectful in the upcoming meeting. From the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of black. Instantly, he straightened his back. ¡°You can meet the Lord. Follow me!¡± The black-robed figure said. The messenger silently gulped. He took a deep breath and followed the black-robed figure. A fragrant smell caught his attention. The Zarstorm¡¯s manor was well-maintained, just like the clan¡¯s headquarters. He personally loved the blue roses. A perfect symbol for the regal Zelongs, he believed. However, on this trip, they filled him with dread. ¡®Today, another rose will be born. They shall use my corpse as manure.¡¯ His face contorted. The rumors wreaked havoc in his heart. The black-robed figure led him towards a large Skywood door... the luxurious door of life and death. A bald giant guarded the door. Apt, as it contained a royal Zelong, the Lord of the Zarstorm branch. The person who would determine his fate. The bald giant opened the door and invited him. Steeling his heart, the messenger entered the hall. Thump! The door shut behind him, frightening the messenger. He looked back and realized that the bald man hadn¡¯t entered. ¡®¡­Would you abandon me as well?¡¯ He cursed the giant to a prolonged stay in the Netherworld before returning to his task. A young, expressionless blue-haired boy captured his attention. ¡®The rumors were true! He¡¯s the spitting image of the Old Master of the Zarstorms. So young... but he¡¯s already the head of this branch. And the people he''s killed¡­ This kid is a monster! Who said the Zarstorms were declining?! I''ll fight them if it can guarantee my survival today!¡¯ The messenger gulped. ¡°Sit!¡± He received the command. Without a thought, the messenger instinctively kneeled on the spot. Instantly, his face paled. He was far away from the monster! ¡®Nooo! I¡¯m dead! My life¡¯s a gash!¡¯ He approached the young monster in a hurry, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. ¡®I messed up. He¡¯s going to kill me!¡¯ He inwardly panicked, not knowing what to do. Catching a glimpse of the monster''s face, a wave of relief washed over his heart. ¡®Phew, his eyes are closed. He probably didn¡¯t notice-¡¯ ¡°The message.¡± The messenger flinched. He searched his robe in haste. He retrieved a letter, only to drop it. Aghast, he picked it, his heart beating faster than the time he fought that dreadful bear. With a flushed face, he read the contents of the letter.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°To Ren Zarstorm, from the-¡° Before he could read any further, a commanding voice interrupted him. ¡°Summarize!¡± The messenger froze. He felt a penetrating gaze. It pierced through his white robe and his chest, targetting his fragile heart. ''It¡¯s over! My fate is sealed!'' The messenger wanted to flee. By reading the letter, he could hide behind the written words of the clan. However, on summarizing, he would have to use his own words. And any poor choice of words could easily offend this young monster. The messenger wanted to cry but he had no tears to shed. ''Cursed Zelongs! They purposefully sent me to my death. If that''s your desire, I''m out! I''d rather become a slave than a corpse.'' Reviving his dead heart, he gave an apt summary of the letter. ¡°Young Master, the Zelongs have rejected Young Master¡¯s rule. They revoked our branch status and they want to take the Young Miss back to the clan¡¯s headquarters. And¡­¡± He spoke as a servant of the Zarstorms, hoping to reduce the hostility. Even then, he hesitated as he reached the last point. ¡°And what?¡± The messenger had the urge to cry. He knew that once he uttered the last sentence, he would meet his ancestors. ¡°¡­They a-asked for Young Master''s d-de-death.¡± The white-robed messenger stuttered. ¡°Is that it?¡± The monster touched the sword on his lap. ¡®NO! I can¡¯t die here!¡¯ The messenger¡¯s face paled. ¡°Young Master, please don¡¯t kill me. I¡¯m just a messenger. I can even abandon the main clan to become your slave. Please don¡¯t kill me. I have a family to feed!¡± He prostrated and begged. He couldn''t see the Young Monster''s face. The unsettling silence, his thumping heart... he wished the world would end already, sparing him this misery. ¡°Do you love your family?¡± The messenger saw the light. Maybe, he would live today. Maybe, Ren Zarstorm wasn¡¯t as terrible as the rumors. Maybe, the jealous gossips had warped his view of the gracious Young Master. ¡°Yes, Young Master! I have a child. He¡¯s just a year old. Young Master, please spare me on account of my family. The Young Master is merciful! No one can compare to the grace of the Lord. I and my family will be forever indebted to the Young Master. I shall live a loyal dog to the Young Master.¡± He desperately clutched onto the opportunity. Not even his wife, had he hugged this hard before. The Young Master fell silent. Optimistic, the white-robed messenger awaited the Young Master¡¯s merciful verdict. Inwardly, he even fancied the idea of working under this Young Master. ¡°Your life or your family. Which one do you love more?¡± The nonchalant voice asked, crushing his hopes. The white-robed man froze. ¡®Oh... So, it¡¯s like that... The rumors weren¡¯t false¡­¡¯ His dreams evaporated. Tears rolled down his forlorn cheeks. With a muffled voice, he made the last choice of his life. ¡°My¡­ family.¡± Tsuiin! He saw a flash. The floor collided onto his face. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the monster wiping the blood off the sword. ¡®Ple¡­¡¯ Darkness clouded his vision forever.
Many days passed. Tara carefully opened the door. Tiptoeing, he entered the room, all while carrying a tray. With silent movements, he placed it onto the table. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed a young girl. She was absorbed into the canvas, a brush on her hand. Tara nearly sighed in relief, but he stopped himself and returned. ¡®Phew, The Young Miss didn¡¯t notice me. Better leave before-'' ¡°Grandpa, what happened to the maid?¡± A sweet, inquisitive voice brought a wry smile on his old face. The Young Miss¡¯s head was tilted. ¡°She has taken a vacation.¡± The old man smiled bitterly. He hoped to avoid this meeting but luck wasn¡¯t on his side. ¡°A vacation?¡± ¡°Yes, a trip with her family.¡± The old man forced a smile. ¡°When will she return?¡± ¡°Maybe a few months later.¡± He lied, ¡°Young Miss doesn¡¯t have to worry. The Young Master will arrange a new maid.¡± ¡°Really? Big Brother will?¡± Seeing the stars in her eyes, he couldn¡¯t afford to ruin her dreams. ¡°Yes.¡± He lied through his teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave. This old man would only disturb Young Miss¡¯s painting.¡± ¡°Wait! Grandpa, I need your help.¡± The old man¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He wondered what trouble he¡¯d fall into this time. ¡°Young Miss, please issue the order. Even if it is jumping into a volcano, as long as this old man can do it, it will be done.¡± ¡°Boo, no volcanoes! It¡¯s about my painting. Come here.¡± She pouted and waved her arm. ¡®Painting? I can¡¯t even draw a circle. How can I¡­ Ha, I¡¯ll just praise the Young Miss¡¯s skills.¡¯ Putting on a cheerful face, the old man approached the canvas. Although his drawing skills were garbage, he was quite proud of his acting abilities. He had mastered the arts of 209 Facial Expressions in his youth. No one in this household could stand a chance against him! Prepared to put on the Fifth Variation of the amazed expression, he reached the canvas. After all, what could a nine-year-old draw? Staring at the canvas, his mouth dropped and his eyes bulged. A breathtaking portrait of a family of three played out in his eyes. Their figures, the level of detail¡­ His eyes refused to leave the canvas. From the minor wrinkles to the tiny dimples, the painting radiated the heart of his talented Miss. Tara even thought of sacrificing his entire life''s savings to buy this portrait. ¡°Stop acting!¡± The young girl¡¯s angry voice whipped him from his daze. ¡°This¡­ Young Miss, I swear I¡¯m not acting. Staring at this picture, I feel like the Second Master has returned¡­¡± The old man spoke his heart. He couldn''t remember the last time his thoughts left his mouth without a filter. ¡°Really?¡± He nodded furiously. ¡°Grandpa is lying. That is an old painting. I was not too good then. This is my present painting.¡± The girl dashed to her bed. She dragged a large canvas from beneath her plush bed, one larger than her tiny body. Placing it onto the wall, she pulled the cloth, revealing her masterpiece. Tara instantly kneeled on the ground. If the last picture was breathtaking, the present one was no longer in the realm of pictures. Instead, it had ascended to become the manifestation of the Second Master¡¯s family! He broke down. Unable to control his feelings, his eyes grew wet. ¡°Second Master¡­ Welcome back.¡± He choked. The faint smile on the familiar stern face broke his heart. The painting exuded the bold, yet kind aura of his Second Master. Tara never imagined he''d relive this aura. ¡°Buu, Grandpa is overacting.¡± He smiled and wiped the tears on his face. ¡°Young Miss, your drawing is legendary. I will petition the Young Master to let you study under a Grandmaster Artist.¡± As he spoke, he wandered into his dreamland. Imagining his Young Miss becoming a world-renown painter, a flame lit up his heart. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re not helping me. This picture is incomplete!¡± She pointed at an empty region at the bottom of the painting. ¡°¡­It is incomplete.¡± Tara noticed the empty portion next to the image of his familiar Young Miss. He was so absorbed with the Second Master that he had ignored the rest of the drawing. ¡°Young Miss, why is it incomplete?¡± ¡°I want to draw Big Brother Ren¡­ but I can¡¯t imagine his face.¡± She bit her bottom lip. Tara could feel the frustration in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Young Miss. I¡¯ll borrow the Young Master¡¯s portrait.¡± Thumping his old chest, he rushed to the door when his Young Miss blocked his path. ¡°Young Miss?¡± ¡°Grandpa! You¡¯re not listening! Why are you overreacting? I don¡¯t want those boring portraits!¡± Feeling a slight sting on his feet, he took a deep breath. ¡°Young Miss, what is your wish?¡± He bowed. ¡°Grandpa, look at that painting. Dad, mom, everyone is smiling. I want to draw a happy face of brother, but¡­¡± Tara¡¯s shoulders slumped. His initials doubts weren¡¯t wrong. The Young Miss had a knack of pushing him into trouble. ¡°Young Miss¡­ You¡¯re asking for the impossible. I can¡¯t ask the Young Master to smile. He¡¯ll kill me!¡± Tara would rather jump into a volcano naked. The girl pouted. Her little arms flung at him. ¡°Useless! Useless! Go out! Buu, Useless!¡± With a wry smile, the old man left the luxurious room.
¡®Zelong¡¯s sky roses! How does the Young Miss come up with these weird requests? How can I get the Young Master to smile? Tickle him? Make funny faces? Maybe like this?¡¯ Tara stretched his wrinkled face. ¡®I need a mirror¡­ Hmm, blue hair? Is that the Young Master? Will he smile at my face?¡¯ He extended his tongue. The young boy halted, and their gazes met. ¡®Smile! Smile, you little runt! Smile for your sister!¡¯ The old man smiled with his stretched face. At the same time, he wondered if it was funny or scary. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The boy''s nonchalant voice irked him. ¡°Zelong¡¯s sky roses! Why aren¡¯t you smiling¡­ YOUNG MASTER!" Chapter 22: An Unparalleled Offer! Ren frowned slightly. ¡°Young Master, I¡¯m terribly sorry. I have a problem with my nerves. My facial muscles jerk out of control. Old age¡­ Ha¡­¡± The old man wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes. He exuded an aura of suffering and pain. ¡°¡­Is my sister in?¡± Ren could only avoid the topic. ¡°Yes? Ah! Yes! She¡¯s in!¡± The old man¡¯s expressions constantly changed, almost like a chameleon changing color. ¡°I wish to speak to her¡­ alone.¡± Ren entered the door. A blue-haired girl stood before a painting, frowning in deep thought. From her behavior, he understood that she hadn¡¯t noticed him. Gripping the sword on his waist, he closed his eyes. Tsuiin! The sword flashed. Thud!
Ren wiped the red on the edge of his sword. He looked at the painting. Blood had ruined the masterpiece. A sea of killing intent stormed into his heart. It clouded his senses, overflowing his mind with murderous intent. ¡®Kill! Kill! Kill!¡¯ An archaic chant rang in his mind. Ghastly apparitions floated around him, whispering curses of death. ¡°Congeal!¡± The apparitions collapsed onto each other, forming a red claw. Tzaaa! It charged towards him. Ren defended with his left arm. The claw drew a deep wound on the back of his palm before disappearing. Ren touched the wound before leaving. The clueless old man guarded the door. Ren ignored him and spoke to the black-robed figure. ¡°Give her a Zelong¡¯s burial.¡± Saying this, he left. Tara''s eyebrows rose in shock. He pushed Ren and rushed into the room. ¡°No¡­ no¡­ No¡­ NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!¡± An ear-piercing shriek rang through the corridors. Ren frowned slightly before his expression reverted to normal. Suddenly, his footsteps halted. He touched his sword before turning around. A pair of red eyes gleamed in the corridor. Lit by just torches, it revealed the silhouette of a disheveled old man. The crazy grin on his face revealed his proximity to madness. ¡°Ren Zarstorm¡­ Today, you will die!¡± He thrust his palm onto the walls. A brown ethereal wave spread through the corridor. It spat out spikes of stone. From all directions, they surrounded Ren. [¡°Void Arts: Slaughter Aura!¡±] Ren¡¯s body shone in red light. The light faded, revealing a red field of aura that surrounded Ren. Tuk! Tuk! Tuk! Like needles hitting a metal wall, the spikes lost all their momentum after touching the shield. BOOM! Immediately, the ceiling collapsed. It drowned Ren in a sea of rubble. ¡°Haha! How does it feel now? You love killing, right? How does it feel to be on the receiving side!?¡± Tara laughed manically, but his laughter was mixed with an agonized cry. Shoo! The smoke settled to reveal the silhouetted of Ren. He was surrounded by debris, none of which could dent his shield. The old man¡¯s face contorted in fury. He charged, brandishing a spear of stone. ¡°Tara, are you going to betray me?¡± Tara paused. Stretching his arms, he shouted. ¡°Betrayal? I served this household since the days of my birth. The Old Master took me under his wing, taught me Earth Magic. I was the disciple of the Legendary Earth Mage¡­ How many can boast of this privilege? In return, all I had to do was pledge my loyalty.¡± Tears rolled down his eyes. ¡°Generation after generation, I loyally served the branch. From the Old Master to the Second Master and¡­ the Young Miss. But now, I am no longer obliged to do anything! I will NEVER¡­ ever¡­ work for a demon that killed his own sister. As far as I¡¯m concerned¡­ The last Zarstorm is dead and YOU KILLED HER!¡± With bloodshot eyes, he stabbed the spear at Ren¡¯s shield. Ting! The spearhead broke. ¡°Tara, I shall give you one last chance. Pledge your allegiance¡­ or perish!¡± A hint of killing intent escaped Ren¡¯s eyes. ¡°AHAHA! That shield can¡¯t protect you forever!¡± Tara retreated and touched the ground. A huge arm of stone grabbed Ren. It squeezed the aura shield. ¡°DIE! MONSTER!¡± Tara''s face had turned red with the exertion. Kra! KRAK! The shield of aura cracked. However, Ren smiled. ¡°Tara, you¡¯re already a corpse.¡± ¡°HAHAHA, What ga- Hu¡­¡± Tara¡¯s gaze dropped to his chest. A black-clad arm emerged out his chest. Seeing what it held, his laughter stopped.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The arm gripped a beating heart. ¡°Sh*t¡­ Rou¡­¡± His eyes flashed with realization. Ren''s apathetic gaze fell upon as he uttered his final words. ¡°Ren¡­ Zarstorm¡­ Arh¡­ I¡­ curse you¡­ Gah¡­ to¡­¡± Blood spilled out of his mouth. It clogged his throat. Unable to complete his last curse, the light in Tara''s eyes dimmed. The stone arm holding Ren weakened. Shrugging, he broke through its binding. ¡°Good work, Rou.¡± The black-robed figure dropped the corpse and kneeled. ¡°Young Lord, I am undeserving of your praise. I¡¯m sure Young Lord could have managed this senile traitor.¡± ¡°Wrong. Rou, the number of times I can use Void Arts is limited. I must preserve them until the final confrontation.¡± ¡°Understood, Young Lord.¡± ¡°I''m no longer your Young Lord. I am the Young Master of the Zarstorm branch..." Ren stared at the rubble around him and continued. "The treacherous deeds of the Zelong clan must not fall unnoticed. They used Tara, a spy to kill Nell Zarstorm. Then, they attempted to assassinate. Fortunately, the spy was promptly killed before succeeding. Spread the news.¡± ¡°Understood¡­ Young Master.¡± The black-robed figure disappeared into the darkness. Before Ren could rest, a bald man approached him. He offered a towel. ¡°Young Master, how was the result?¡± Ren smiled and accepted the towel. Wiping the blood off his arm, he said. ¡°I succeeded, but I lost the bet.¡± Ren glanced at the corpse of Tara. The bald man¡¯s face was flushed as he asked, ¡°Does that mean¡­¡± ¡°Indeed, I have mastered Void Energy.¡± ¡°Splendid! Congratulations, Young Master! We can finally face the Zelongs head-on.¡± The bald man laughed. ¡°No, it¡¯s not enough. Write an open letter to the other branches. Tell them of the injustice we suffered. While you¡¯re at it, pin the previous assassinations on the Zelongs as well.¡± ¡°Splendid, Young Master! After all, which other mysterious force is capable of killing the entire Zarstorm family? And the timing of our feud will only further implicate the Zelongs." "Yeah. Give Nell a Zelong''s burial." Ren nodded. His head ached as he struggled to find his balance. "Young Master, I have a suggestion!¡± The bald man smiled, ignorant of Ren''s condition. ¡°What is it?¡± Ren hid in annoyance. ¡°Since we''re inviting allies, can I reframe our war goal? Instead of seeking independence for the Zarstorm branch, how about I say that we¡¯re fighting for the independence of all the branches? Even better, our goal is to liberate every person under Zelong rule! How does that sound?¡± Ren hesitated before nodding, ¡°I prefer the first proposition, but I¡¯m no expert. Consult with the elders. I¡¯ll leave it to you and Rou. For now, I must focus on my training.¡± The bald man bowed and departed.
Gaining freedom from his retainers, Ren relaxed. Before he could leave, something caught his leg. Looking down, he saw a palm. It belonged to Tara. "Die!" Tara grinned. A stone spear pierced through Ren''s leg. Tearing through his abdomen it skewed his torso before emerging out through his skull.
Ren punched his face. ''An illusion?'' He noticed that Tara was long dead. Sighing, he wobbled to the courtyard. He sat and stared at the star-filled sky. The moon had turned red. It bled into the stars, imparting its color to the sky. Ren¡¯s head blared. Many eerie voices whispered into his ears. ¡°DIE!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Join us!¡± Staring into the bleeding sky, he spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve met all the conditions. I stole the talent, and I bathed my soul in killing intent. I... have sacrificed everything.¡± A fog surrounded Ren. The smell of rotting corpses assaulted his nose. The temperature of his body rose and he suffered from a feverish heat. It filled him with nausea and dizziness. An archaic, disembodied voice spread through the fog. ¡°Golem of human blood, will you surrender your humanity and descend?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ren''s reply was weak. ¡°Death has embraced your sacrifice, and the fate of a demon awaits you. Your wish shall be granted.¡± Laughing, the voice faded. Along with it, the eerie whisperings stopped, and the fever subsided. Rumble! The clouds thundered. The night rain was just as sudden as the death of Nell Zarstorm. However, in Ren¡¯s eyes, it was a downpour of blood¡­ a reminder that he was no longer human. As the skies thundered, Ren sighed. ¡°I was never human in the first place.¡± He departed. His war with the Zelongs was just beginning. BOOOM! A red bolt of lightning struck the center of the courtyard, setting a banyan tree into flames. It was the lone witness to Ren¡¯s transformation.
Ren opened his eyes. He had returned to the mirror room! Trk! A metallic sheen spread throughout the mirror. It shattered, and the shards dropped into the black water. However, it wasn¡¯t just the mirror that broke. Memories, foreign, yet familiar poured into Ren''s mind. He collapsed, his eyes wet. A plethora of emotions flashed past his face as he relived his past. Burying his head into his legs, he cried in silence. An hour passed before Ren moved. He wiped his face. Upon reopening his eyes, clarity had returned to them. He strode towards the door. The black orb had faded. He had completed the trial. However, an unexpected guest awaited him. ¡°Welcome, Ren Zarstorm.¡± A smooth, silvery voice said. The owner of the voice was a purple fox. ¡°Are you the representative of the wheel?¡± Ren¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Yes. You look brighter than expected. I half expected you to fall into despair before committing suicide! You¡¯ve surpassed my expectations! Bravo.¡± The fox winked. ¡°The dead should remain dead. Why did you bring me back?¡± ¡°Uuuu¡­ You just had to turn pessimistic! And that too the moment after I praised you. Are you trying to embarrass me?¡± The fox pouted. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your nonsense. Just answer the question.¡± ¡°Of course. But first¡­ Congratulations! You completed the trial, earning your second gift. I present¡­¡± Rui whipped out a ball of fire. Its presence brightened the trial world. ¡°¡­The Fire Source. It wasn¡¯t easy to obtain, and keeping it out of Stupid Face¡¯s greedy paws was difficult. I hope you¡¯ll like it.¡± Rui tossed the burning ball. It levitated to Ren. ¡°This is not a gift.¡± Ren didn¡¯t accept it. The fox paused. It flashed a knowing smile as it replied. ¡°Indeed. This is a pledge of loyalty to the wheel. It¡¯s the least you could commit for an Elemental Conversion Technique.¡± The burning ball morphed into a burning lotus. It brightened, showcasing its awe-inspiring potential. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Ren asked. The fox frowned. A cold smile crept onto its face. ¡°Is this how you repay me? I saved your soul from the Netherworld, but you¡¯re not willing to pledge your loyalty?¡± ¡°What¡­ if¡­ I¡­ refuse?¡± Ren asked again, this time slowly enunciating each word. The fox¡¯s smile faded. It looked around and spoke. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to kill you.¡± Tuk! Tuk! Along with the sounds of cracking, the gargoyles awakened. They left their doors and surrounded Ren, their blood-filled eyes focused on him. Ren¡¯s heart skipped a beat but he maintained a straight face. ¡°I paid a huge price to bring you from the Netherworld. It was because I saw great potential in you. The Fire Source combined with your Void Arts¡­ I can¡¯t even fathom the result. And if that wasn¡¯t enough, you¡¯re also the first Void Arts Practitioner to cheat death! The whole world will shudder at your presence.¡± ¡°But if you wish to trounce on that opportunity, it is regrettable. Even incredibly foolish. This foolishness will forfeit your life. Thus, you will declare your loyalty to the wheel. Otherwise,¡± ¡°I will kill you¡­ until you die! I just hope you¡¯re ready to suffer a hundred deaths.¡± Just as Rui finished speaking, Ren felt a sudden dip in temperature. An oppressive killing intent overwhelmed him. He looked around. The six gargoyles surrounded him. They were the source of the killing intent. ¡°So, what is it, Ren? Will you pledge your loyalty or perish?¡± Ren smiled faintly. The fox''s words filled him with a sense of deja vu. Chapter 23: The Impossible Gambit! ¡°So, what is it, Ren? Will you pledge your loyalty or perish?¡± Ren smiled faintly. The fox''s words filled him with a sense of deja vu. ¡°Oh, any before you make a mistake, do remember. You are expendable! I already have Azen. He can replace you whenever I desire. Although the lack of Void Arts is regrettable, I can suffice without it. Five years of training can turn him into an unparalleled beast.¡± Ren pondered. He wanted to live, but as an individual with freedom. None of the fox¡¯s options gave him that option. And he was determined... He''d rather choose death over subordinating to the wheel. Minutes passed, but the fox didn¡¯t disturb his line of thought. After confirming his choice, Ren spoke. ¡°I had a friend. You might remember him. He loved to bet but he¡¯d usually lose. One day, he made a grand bet. Unfortunately, he died, and I don¡¯t know the result of his bet.¡± Ren approached the fox, cutting through the field of killing intent. The killing intent magnified, but he presented a strong front. ¡°In his memory, I¡¯d like to propose a bet.¡± ¡°Brat, you owe me your life. What more can you offer me? Stop wasting my time and make your choice!¡± The fox scowled. ¡°Complete servitude. My liberty will be at the wheel¡¯s mercy.¡± The fox jerked. Its eyes opened wide in shock. However, it quickly recovered and asked, ¡°What is your bet?¡± ¡°Five years¡­¡± Ren¡¯s eyes gleamed as he continued, ¡°How about I become the Divine Emperor within the next five years?¡± The fox laughed. ¡°Hah! You dare to trick me? You¡¯re a thousand years too young. With your Void Arts, you can probably beat that pathetic kitty in a year at most.¡± Towards the end, it smirked. Ren¡¯s eyes narrowed. He spat out the first thing that popped into his mind. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t use Void Arts. On the off chance that I happen to use it, consider it your victory. I¡¯ll surrender my liberty with no qualms.¡± ¡°And how do you plan to achieve that?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t thought that far yet. I¡¯ll find a way.¡± Ren shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! What do you even have without Void Arts? Forbidden Skills? You think that cheap imitation can stand a chance?¡± Rui scoffed. Its eyes were full of suspicion. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should be happy with the bet, right?¡± Ren smiled. For a good minute, silence reigned supreme. However, unable to take the silence, Ren spoke. ¡°Representative Fox, what do you say? This is my bet. If you dislike it¡­¡± Ren bent. Merely a couple of inches separated the two entities. ¡°You can kill me¡­ until I die.¡± Ignoring the waves of killing intent from the gargoyles, Ren grinned. He taunted the fox, knowing full well that it could not ignore his bet. The fox groaned. Ren could see the conflict on its face, and it pleased him. But he controlled his expressions, lest the fox noticed anything. ¡°Ren! Don¡¯t act too cocky! I have power over your life.¡± ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve never thought the converse.¡± Ren pointed at the gargoyles. ¡°¡­Fine, I¡¯ll entertain you.¡± A trace of a smile crept up Ren¡¯s face before instantly disappearing. ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll lay my side of the bet. If I win-¡± ¡°BRAT! You dare to demand!? You¡¯re going too far.¡± The gargoyles moved. It seemed that with one command, they would end Ren¡¯s life in a moment. However, Ren didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Representative Fox, this is a bet. I must win something. Otherwise, it is pointless.¡± ¡°How about sparing your life? Or leaving you alone? Are you forgetting that you owe me your life?¡± ¡°None of them can compare to a promise of servitude. You¡¯ll never find a subservient Void Arts Practitioner. That aside, I won¡¯t ask for much.¡± Ren took a couple of steps back, avoiding the onslaught of killing intent. ¡°A return trip. That is all.¡± He was confident that his demand wasn¡¯t unreasonable. Rui paused before laughing. Its cheerful voice rung throughout the dark space. ¡°Pointlessness! It¡¯s pointless! By the time you return, the result will become evident. Either the last Zarstorm will perish or the Zelong clan will end. You cannot affect it in any manner. But, I know you¡¯ll say that it¡¯s none of my concern. Therefore,¡± Smiling, it continued.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°I wholeheartedly accept your bet. You have five years. Show me how useful you can be without your Void Arts.¡± The gargoyles returned to their respective doors. A wave of relief washed over Ren. He almost let out a sigh before stopping himself. The fox hadn¡¯t left! ¡°After the trial is complete, I¡¯ll get Stupid Face to leave. We¡¯ll meet after 5 years. In the meantime, I¡¯m looking forward to your service. That is if you survive.¡± With a playful wink, Rui disappeared. Finally alone, Ren relaxed his tensed nerves. Wiping the sweat on his face, he thought of his grand bet. ¡®What a wonderful idea!¡¯ He sighed. Ren noticed a winding staircase in the center of the formation of the three doors. He inferred that it was his destination. ¡®Five years is better than nothing. Ha¡­¡¯ Sighing, he climbed the stairs.
The stairs seemed endless. After what seemed like an eternity, Ren reached the top. The lack of light irritated him. It reminded him of the time he entered the trial. The despairing darkness hadn''t changed. Without another stair to climb, he examined the darkness but he could only use his sense of touch to feel around. But he didn''t dare to drop his cautiousness. Falling from his height meant certain death. Suddenly, a flash of light temporarily blinded him. After it faded, he noticed a couple of cryptic letters in the dark sky. Burning in the darkness, they exuded an archaic and grandeur aura. [¡®Selfless!¡¯] A voice rang in his mind. Before he could comprehend what happened, he lost consciousness.
Ren arose with a start. He noticed a distinct change in the energy. The familiar ruins, the smell of earth... they filled his heart with relief. He had left the trial world! ¡®I should have passed¡­? Ah! Nez! Did he pass or fail?¡¯ Ren looked around. Both of them had to pass. Otherwise, the trial would be considered a failure. Dong! Dong! Dong! A loud bell sound dragged Ren out of his contemplation. Originating from the ruins, it rung five times before stopping. Ren¡¯s face suddenly paled. Dropping to his knees, he choked. ¡°Gah.. A¡­ Agg¡­¡± His face reddened. Kaff! A ball of darkness exited his mouth. Wheezing, Ren massaged his aching throat. The ball of darkness expanded into the silhouette of a human. It absorbed all the light that touched it. Staring at it, Ren felt a familiar aura. Before he could speak, the darkness disappeared. ¡°Azen¡­¡± Ren''s mouth waned. He had returned to the cold embrace of loneliness. ¡®Was my choice right? I have five years but-¡¯ Whoosh! A faint sound disturbed his line of thought. He looked up before dashing to the side in haste. He barely caught a glimpse of a shadow. Bam! The shadow crashed into the ground. ¡®An enemy attack?¡¯ Ren panicked. He scanned his surroundings but found nothing. Confused, he took another look at the ¡®weapon¡¯. It was Nez! ¡°¡­¡± Ren fell speechless as Nez recovered its footing. Its face had turned to a bloody pulp, but it smiled gleefully. Pouncing onto Ren¡¯s head, it laughed. ¡°Nehahaha! We succeeded! Lord Nez is so proud!¡± Nez proudly declared. However, its tiny claws furiously dug at Ren¡¯s face. Ren smiled wryly as he left Nez to have at its revenge. However, he felt empty inside. ¡®Rui is right. There¡¯s no way I can defeat the Divine Emperor without Void Arts. The five years are my sole gain¡­ Maybe I should have bargained differently?¡¯ ¡°Ren! Let¡¯s celebrate! Zuzu must be waiting for us.¡± Nez was exuberant, ignorant of Ren''s worries. ¡°Nez, can I skip on the celebration? I¡¯m just not in the mood.¡± Ren knew that he would ruin any festive mood. His present state was the last thing a party needed. ¡°Are you okay? We completed the trial! You might be the first human to succeed! Nehahaha, we¡¯re special!¡± Ren''s expression darkened. Rui''s action of controlling the gargoyles and entering the trial world displayed the cruel truth. His trial was rigged! ¡°I know, but I¡¯m not in the mood today. Maybe, we¡¯ll meet sometime later.¡± Ren hastened towards the exit of the hill. His mind was in chaos, and he had to fix it first. Nez pouted. It jumped away from Ren¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re really dragging your race down the mud. Even among humans, you are pathetic!¡± That was the last Ren heard from Nez. Ren wiped the blood on his forehead and sighed. ¡®Nez, I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ He walked down the hill, his shadow as his lone companion.
Ren returned to Kana¡¯s cottage. The golem had congratulated him, but he returned a perfunctory reply. All the while, he was trying to sort his internal conflict. He had regained his memories. After learning the origin of his power, he didn¡¯t wish to use it again. However, that made his bet an impossibility. Ironically, if the bet wasn¡¯t impossible, he doubted if Rui would even accept it. Maybe, if he had put more thought into his bet, he could¡¯ve found an easier bet that seemed impossible. Nevertheless, he doubted if he could cheat the fox that had survived for countless centuries. He could only suffice with his gains. ¡®Five years¡­ The last five years of my life. How can I spend them?¡¯ As Ren puzzled over his situation, he noticed Lena. She was absorbed in a book. He frowned, staring at the white owl perched on her shoulder. It lacked eye-catching features, but it stole Ren¡¯s attention. It was because Ren felt a faint trace of killing aura. This usually manifested in killers. As a Void Arts Practitioner, Ren was very sensitive to such auras. He always had this ability but he couldn¡¯t distinguish it before regaining his memories. ¡°Ah! Ren! You¡¯re early! Finished training already?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Ren replied perfunctorily, his gaze focused on the owl. ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t introduced you yet. This is Piko, my pet.¡± Turning to the owl, she continued. ¡°Piko, this is Ren!¡± ¡®Pet? That¡¯s no pet! That¡¯s a bloody assassin!¡¯ Ren presented a smile, but he was thinking of a way to kill the owl before it could hurt either him or Lena. ¡°It¡¯s a cute bird. Can I touch it?¡± Lena nodded. While Ren petted it, he released a slew of killing intent, targeting the owl. Piko flinched. ¡®That¡¯s a warning! If you dare hurt one of us, I¡¯ll kill you!¡¯ Ren¡¯s lips moved. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t know if the bird understood him. The owl nodded, shocking Ren. He relaxed his killing intent and said. ¡°I¡¯ll return to my room. I need a rest.¡± ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll have lunch prepared if you are hungry.¡± Ren nodded and left.
As soon as Ren left, the owl spoke. ¡°Lena, wake up!¡± Its voice possessed a hypnotic touch forcing Lena into a daze. As soon as she recovered, she grumbled. ¡°That imposter! I want to kill that thing now!¡± She gritted her teeth, furious that her alternate self would offer food to the human scum. ¡°Calm down, Lena! I didn¡¯t awaken you to hear your nagging.¡± The owl¡¯s words reduced her fury. ¡°What does the clan want from me now?¡± She folded her arms. ¡°Nothing from the clan. But, I stumbled across some juicy information.¡± Lena¡¯s eyes narrowed. She couldn¡¯t fathom what ¡®juicy information¡¯ the tyrannical owl could have found in her house. ¡°What information?¡± ¡°I found a Void Arts Practitioner.¡± Although the owl¡¯s face was expressionless, Lena saw a hint of a smile. However, Lena felt like the owl had cast an explosion spell in her brain. She nearly screamed before controlling her voice. ¡°Are you joking? You can¡¯t even find legitimate Forbidden Skill Practitioners in Edahi, much less a breathing Void Arts Practitioner! You''ve gone crazy!¡± Chapter 24: The Awakening! ¡°His killing intent revealed the truth. And by the Lunocha clan, I swear¡­ Only a demonic Void Arts Practitioner can possess such a powerful killing intent.¡± ¡°He? Who are you talking about?¡± Lena felt even more confused. She didn¡¯t remember meeting anyone powerful lately. ¡°Ren.¡± Lena froze. For a moment, she doubted her hearing. ¡°Ehhhh? That human scum!?¡± ¡°Tone down. He might hear you.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No buts. Do you doubt my judgment?¡± Lena fell silent. But she was inwardly screaming, unable to reconcile what she had heard. ¡®A human Void Arts Practitioner!? I must be dreaming. There¡¯s no way! That brat can never be the epitome of strength!¡¯ ¡°We have to change our strategy.¡± The owl declared, much to Lena¡¯s dismay. ¡°Changing our strategy over a human? I disagree! No, no, NO!¡± She furiously shook her head. After sacrificing a whole year¡¯s work on their plan, she would never agree to the owl''s preposterous suggestion. ¡°Of course you¡¯d say that. You¡¯re ignorant of the power of Void Arts! Though I won''t blame you. Information on this topic is extremely confidential.¡± ¡°Who even cares about confidentiality? He¡¯s a human! You can¡¯t be that ignorant!¡± She protested, ignoring the difference in status between the owl and herself. ¡°Lena! I¡¯ll tell you one thing. Even Kaero wasn¡¯t able to perfect Void Arts. He was a failure! And do you know why?¡± Hearing the familiar name, Lena¡¯s heart palpitated. She instantly fell silent, awaiting her superior¡¯s answer. ¡°Void Arts requires one to complete at least two of the criteria for Forbidden Arts. However, to perfect it, one has to master killing intent. Kaero failed because he couldn¡¯t kill you and Kana. His soul was still pure. But, this kid, Ren¡­¡± The owl called Ren¡¯s name with respect, irritating Lena. It hadn¡¯t even used that tone when talking of her talented brother. ¡°¡­His soul is of a pure demon. He¡¯s an authentic Void Arts Practitioner. I can''t even infer the number of kills he has accumulated. And that includes his loved ones. Yet, he hasn¡¯t lost his sanity. I want to call him a monster, but I feel like that it¡¯s an insult to Ren.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s a human!¡± Lena felt that her perception of the world was breaking. A human, one of the weakest beings in the Everleaf Forest was standing at the epitome of strength? That very thought made her nauseous. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± The owl¡¯s voice took a deep turn and continued. ¡°We must recruit him! No matter the cost! With the help of a Perfect Void Arts Practitioner, forget the Blazen clan, even Edahi will have to kneel before our Lunocha clan.¡± ¡°What about the Divine Emperor?¡± Lena smirked. She was confident that the owl had lost its sanity. The owl gave her a contemptuous gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not going to explain any further. This might be concerning! I finally understand why Edahi bestowed the title of Honored Guest on Lord Ren.¡± ¡°Lord Ren!? What the-¡± Lena gaped. Knowing the identity of the owl, she had never expected such a drastic change in its tone. ¡°Silence! Don¡¯t disturb me! The Divine Emperor might already know of his talent. This is very problematic. We must act quickly! I¡¯ll contact the clan. On the other hand, you better be prepared. You¡¯re in the best position to recruit Lord Ren. The clan will definitely ask you to intervene.¡± ¡°NO! I¡¯m not going to beg! Not to a human! Never! You can go ahead and kill me! See if I care!¡± ¡°Huu, this is just a reminder. Wait for the Clan Head¡¯s personal order! Sleep for now.¡± Lena fell into a daze. Regaining her consciousness, she looked around in confusion. ¡°What was I doing? Oh no! I¡¯m falling into these weird dazes too often. Piko! What do I do?¡± She panicked. Hoot! ¡°Ehhh? You won¡¯t help me? No! Give me a cuddle! That might cure me!¡± She hugged the owl. It struggled, flapping every feather to escape the grasp.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Hoot! Hoot! Soon, Lena left the bird. ¡°Ah, I feel better now. Eh? Why are you flying away? Hmph, you can¡¯t escape forever. I know you¡¯ll be back for dinner!¡± She smiled and returned to her book, ¡®How To Become An Extrovert? Vol. II¡¯.
Night. Ren sighed for the nth time. He had lost count over the times he had sighed over the evening. Seated on his bed, his mind wandered to his bet. ¡®Ha, Rui is right. Without Void Arts, I¡¯m useless. I can only enjoy these five years and surrender to the wheel. I lack other options.¡¯ He rubbed the scab on his forehead. Crack! A sound caught Ren by surprise. It didn¡¯t originate from his surroundings. Instead, it came from within his body. Perplexed, Ren focused on the peculiar sound. Crack! Crack! Ren¡¯s eyes glowed. He waited for another minute, and the crackings increased in frequency. Once they stopped, he grinned. ¡®Rui, Oh Rui! You finally left! Spying with a residual soul¡­ Your tricks are good but alas, they aren¡¯t effective. You¡¯re playing with a demon!¡¯ He laughed before clenching his fist. ¡®My loyalty lies with the Zarstorms forever. Your wheel is unworthy. The Zarstorms created me, and I shall never betray them! Your dream of stealing a Void Arts Practitioner will remain a dream. Stay satisfied with Azen.¡¯ Opening the window, Ren jumped out. He noticed a couple of curious guards and waved his arm. Pointing at the roof, he climbed the building, indicating that he¡¯d stay there. The guards nodded and resumed with their duty. Ren stretched his limbs, relaxing under the caressing night breeze. Catching a whiff of the woody smell, he relaxed, his face covered in bliss. However, his gaze quickly sharpened. ¡°Reveal yourself.¡± An owl appeared in the darkness. Lit by the legions of stars, its body glistened. ¡°Lord Ren, please forgive me for disturbing your rest.¡± The owl spoke. It had the deep voice of an average middle-aged man. ¡°It¡¯s you again? Do you have a death wish?¡± Ren laughed coldly. He had already determined to end this murderous creature. Even at a distance, he could feel its killing aura. ¡°Lord Ren, it seems that there¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯m not Your Lordship¡¯s enemy. In fact, I wanted to extend my clan¡¯s support to Your Lordship.¡± Ren pondered for a while. His goal was to return to the Zelong clan at haste. At present, his sister¡¯s life was at risk, and if anything unfortunate befell her, it would dictate the end of the Zarstorm branch. He could never allow for such a scenario. Thus, he had to return! As for the Five Year bet, Ren decided to ignore it altogether. He couldn¡¯t wait for five years. With each passing second, Nell''s fate was facing greater jeopardy. However, to return, he needed local help. Ren had no recollection of the Everleaf Forest or the Tribal Lands. It was likely that he was far away from home. As Ren mused, he kept the owl in silence. After a long period of silence, he spoke. ¡°Which clan do you represent? And why are they interested in me?¡± He asked. ¡°Lord Ren, we are the Lunocha clan. We consist of Ascended Humans with the Lunocha bloodline.¡± The owl replied in haste, its voice filled with relief. Ren¡¯s pupils dilated. He never expected to hear that term. It unfolded a number of unanswered questions in his mind. ¡°There are Ascended Humans in this forest? Then where are the humans?¡± ¡°Lord Ren, the humans have been expelled from Everleaf Forest.¡± ¡°Expelled? By Edahi, I assume.¡± Ren frowned. ¡°Indeed, Lord Ren. We, humans, are in a precarious situation. It is in our best interest to form an alliance with common goals.¡± ¡°Says a talking owl. Why should I trust you in the slightest? For all I know, this could be a trap to set me up as a traitor.¡± A dangerous glint flashed past Ren¡¯s eyes. Although he knew that it wasn¡¯t a trap, he wanted to pry out more information from the owl. The owl tilted its head. After looking around, its body morphed into a middle-aged human. His hair and eyes were black, just like the night. However, the feature that captured Ren''s notice was the pulsating scar on his forehead. No object in Ren¡¯s recollection was capable of creating such a disturbing wound. However, Ren smiled. Despite being a simple transformation, it fed him with all the information he needed about the owl. ¡°You¡¯re a Forbidden Skill Practitioner. Let me guess. You know my real identity, and you wish to ally or recruit with me?¡± ¡°Indeed, Lord Ren. I hope Your Lordship has noticed my sincerity.¡± A trace of blood emerged from the corner of the middle-aged man¡¯s mouth. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ren pointed at the cottage below him. ¡°Lena is a member of the Lunocha clan. She''s half-blood to be precise.¡± ''Half-blood? Ah! That explains Kaero''s lack of cat ears.'' Ren¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise. He thought for a while before a grin crept up his face. ¡°Your expertise in Forbidden Skills isn¡¯t bad.¡± He commented. The man¡¯s complexion slightly paled. Ren continued. ¡°I¡¯ll accept your clan¡¯s invitation. But first, you must prove your worth. I¡¯ll give you three words! Zarstorm, Zelong, and Nell. Bring me all the information you can gather on these three terms. We¡¯ll discuss cooperation after that.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord Ren. For future reference, my name is-¡± ¡°Piko.¡± Ren interrupted the scarred man. ¡°Lord?¡± ¡°Your identity is Piko. I don¡¯t want to keep track of another name.¡± Watching Piko¡¯s expression change rapidly, Ren smiled in amusement. However, remembering an important issue, he said, ¡°Our cooperation will be founded on sincerity. If I sense anything suspicious¡­¡± Ren released his killing intent, overwhelming the scarred man. Watching his face contort in pain, he dropped the killing intent. ¡°That¡¯s a warning!¡± Piko nodded sternly. His body shrunk into an owl as he disappeared into the night sky. As soon as he left, Ren¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡®There are far more Forbidden Skill Practitioners here than I expected. I cannot reveal my killing intent lightly.¡¯ He sighed. The crescent moon glowed, surrounded by uncountable stars. Levitating above the cloudless sky, they brightened the large tree that hung over the city. ¡®I, Ren Zarstorm, will return. If gales divert me, I shall tear through them. If mountains block my path, I shall level them. Through flames or storms¡­ I will return!¡¯ ¡®At that moment, the rose of the Zelongs will wither, and the lotus of the Zarstorms shall bloom! Nell, until then¡­ wait for me.¡¯ The Mother Tree stood tall, unbreakable, just like Ren¡¯s determination. Closing his eyes, he welcomed the caressing breeze. Chapter 25: Dong! Dong! Dong! The previous day. A few demi-humans gathered at the top of a restaurant. Clad in long hoods, their masks hid their identities. The differing insignias on their cloaks were their sole identification. One individual, code-named Rat, wore the insignia of a rodent. As a silent member, she spectated the heated discussion, adding nothing to the discourse. Dong! Dong! Dong! A loud bell rang five times, interrupting the discussion. ¡°5 bell rings? Is it another pair of those bloody beasts?¡± A grating voice asked. Judging by the emblem of a castle, Rat inferred that it was Castle, a demi-human reputed for his brute strength. ¡°That''s impossible. The timing is inappropriate. None of the beast clans will send their younger ones into the trial. Not now! Especially with the competition ahead¡­ it¡¯s just too risky.¡± Another voice replied. Its owner wore the symbol of a wave. ¡°It¡¯s one of our kind? Then we must recruit them!¡± Castle banged the floor with his sheathed sword. ¡°Castle, learn to use your brain! This could be a trap by the Council. Even if it wasn¡¯t their plan, Discipline won¡¯t let this chance slip.¡± ¡°Discipline this, Discipline that! If you¡¯re so scared of that geezer, then go become his slave! You speak like one with human blood.¡± The grating voice cackled. ¡°Castle! There are limits to my patience.¡± ¡°Gahaha. Did I stab the truth? Was your mother a human? Or was your mother desperate enough to choose a human?¡± The unwarranted insult sparked a fierce argument between the duo. The other hooded members showed no signs of intervention. Some of them even chuckled. Rat sighed, disappointed in this group. In her opinion, the unity and potential of the Resistance were lacking. Without her help, she wondered if they would even survive for another year. As the argument escalated to a competition of insults, she intervened. ¡°What a ragtag bunch! You hope to overthrow the Counccil of Order? Forget the Counccil¡­ Even I can desstroy your pointless resisstancce.¡± For a few seconds, the hall was deprived of any sounds. Basking in the shocked silence, Rat awaited their reaction. ¡°Who are you? ...Rat? No! You aren¡¯t Rat!¡± All eyes fell on her chest. Their confused silence amused Rat. ¡°Well, you now have a rat in your organization. Congratulationss!¡± She curtsied. ¡°What did you do with Rat?¡± Wave¡¯s voice possessed a hint of warning. He made a few subtle gestures with his hand. Rat smiled in amusement, curious as to what tricks her prey could conjure. She removed her mask. Pulling her hood, she revealed her pale, beautiful face to the crowd. In her short life, no individual had ever forgotten her after the first encounter. And she doubted if this group would become the first to defy that trend. ¡°I am not your enemy. I only happened to dine on a little rat.¡± She licked her palm in memory of the meal. It had satisfied her voracious tummy for many hours. ¡°Castle, I¡¯ll block the exit. You kill her! She won¡¯t escape today!¡± Wave¡¯s shout surprised Rat. From what she had seen, these two individuals were the greatest rivals within the group. However, they could ignore internal conflicts in the face of external threats. This pleasant surprise forced her to position them at one stage higher than mere prey. The towering Castle dashed towards her. His large sword flashed through the air. Shrugging, Rat decided to ignore the rude gesture and explain her goal. ¡°Do not mistake me for your enemy. I am here to help you-¡± Tsuiin! Before she could complete, the sword split her body vertically. Blood spurted in copious amounts as the halves of her corpse collapsed. ¡°Hmph. You dare to sneak into our headquarters. You must have a death wish.¡± Castle sheathed his sword with an arrogant smirk. ¡°But how did she kill Rat? And¡­ Is she a human?¡± ¡°Who cares? She¡¯ll be plant food in a couple of days.¡± Rat''s corpse twitched. It stitched together to reveal Rat in an unharmed state. Having eavesdropped on the conversation, a faint smile crept up her face. She felt extremely hungry, even to the point of craving the flesh of these demi-humans. However, she controlled her impulses. A better delicacy awaited her. ¡°¡­You dessire a human corpsse, I dessire a human corpsse. We share a common goal, and I can help you.¡± She spoke, annoyed by the hunger pangs. Gasps filled the room. Despite expecting this, Rat¡¯s irritation grew. In her eyes, the value of the demi-humans nearly plunged to the level of mere prey. However, she had plans for them, which prevented her from dining on them. ¡°Your organization is terrible. Where do I begin? You sset your hideout above a resstaurant... A resstaurant!! Which idiot agreed to thiss idea?" "In addition, you have poor codenames, terrible communication, and your security... Anyone with bassic tailoring sskills can infiltrate your pathetic organization. Your foolishness is beyond my comprehension!¡± Listing their vulnerabilities, her hunger grew. She could barely refrain from eating them.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Who are you, and what do you want?¡± For the first time, someone took Rat seriously. But it did not please her. She groaned, baffled by the foolishness of this group. ¡°Can you not hear? Or do you lack undersstanding? I have already enuncciated my goal. I dessire a human corpsse! In return, I will help you rally the remnantss of thiss¡­ Resisstancce and transsform your misserable group.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t state your identity. Who are you?¡± Rat''s vertical eyes dilated. ¡®I revealed sso many of their weaknesses. Insstead of sseeking ssolutions, they are more interessted in my identity? Foolishness musst run in their bloodlines. Ssss... Prey shall always remain prey!¡¯ Rat''s vision reddened as she revealed her killing intent. Her patience had worn off. In her sight, the status of the demi-humans had dropped to mere prey. ¡°My identity iss not important. I am jusst a rattled ssnake.¡± She grinned, revealing four prominent fangs. The group quivered in fear as her neck extended. Her head transformed into a snake. A couple of minutes later. The demi-humans groveled before Rat. Even the gigantic Castle begged for his life. The price of obedience was three unlucky prey, who temporarily quelled her craving stomach. Along with this, she had regained her sanity. Watching their reactions, Rat remembered her mission. ¡®Ren, you will grovel before me, begging for merccy. But, it will not redeem you. The pricce for rejecting Lord Loyalty is... Death! Not jusst to you... but to everything you hold dear.¡¯ She licked her palm. ''Both you and Edahi are mere prey to the true predators!''
The Edahin Intelligence Headquarters was a prominent building in Evergreen city. Frequented by even members of the Council of Order, its presence was iconic to the residents of the city. With over 50 floors in height, its architecture was supported by lavish expenditure on the part of the Council. Especially the top floors, which were often compared to paradise. However, only the top officials of Edahi could frequent this area. While Rat took her first step in conquering the Resistance, two prominent members of the Council gathered at the topmost floor of this building. A werewolf slouched on his desk, staring at the reports. He did not notice the arrival of his friend. ¡°What is wrrong with you?¡± A white-armored lion asked. The werewolf shifted his lifeless gaze from the desk. Seeing his friend, a tired smile crept up his face. ¡°Justice¡­ you¡¯ve come.¡± ¡°This is not the Discipline I rremember! What is torrmenting you?¡± ¡°I received intel from within the Pillar faction. They are dissatisfied, even murmuring rebellion.¡± Discipline rubbed his forehead. The lion¡¯s expression worsened. ¡°So, they have picked the path of the unjust. Forgetting all the favors that Edahi has bestowed upon them, they chose to rrepay good with evil? Good! I shall hunt these trraitors to extinction!¡± Seeing his friend about to rampage, Discipline intervened. ¡°Wait! They haven¡¯t made that decision yet. For now, it¡¯s just internal murmurs. I don¡¯t believe that they¡¯ll take the path of rebellion¡­ yet.¡± ¡°Then what is your prroblem? Stop moping about like a deprressed canine!¡± ¡°The problem isn¡¯t simple. I¡¯ll show you.¡± The werewolf took a box of inscribed stones and dropped them onto his table. Watching Justice¡¯s confused expression, he continued. ¡°I transcribed them for you. Just read them.¡± Justice placed his paw onto a stone. Inserting his mana, he closed his eyes. A couple of minutes later, he frowned. Soon, he sifted through the stones, one after another. With each passing stone, his expression worsened, until it couldn¡¯t become any uglier. Witnessing this transformation, Discipline sighed. ¡°Audacious! Arre all demi-humans planning a rrevolt!? Discipline! How farr has your rrace been corrupted? Arre they forgetting all that WE have done for them?!¡± Justice roared. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions. There are no revolts¡­ yet. But, they are dissatisfied. The Divine Emperor¡¯s decision has opened a wound. If let to fester, it will worsen¡­ weakening the unity of our Empire, maybe even to the extent of, His Grace forbid, a disastrous civil war.¡± Discipline replied. ¡°Grr! Wishful thinking! The Divine Emperor crreated the title of Honored Guest! His Grrace determines who is worthy of it. If the demi-humans arre dissatisfied, tell them to brring theirr grrievances to me! I will convince them! If they cannot control theirr ambition, I do not mind expelling them. The humans were not the first to be expelled. They will not be last!¡± Discipline understood his friend''s disposition, but he disagreed with the suggestion. ¡°Justice, your approach is a harsh one. It will not win any minds. Our goal is to protect Edahi from all threats, internal or external. If we handle this incorrectly, it will create a deep wound, one that will require many centuries to heal.¡± ¡°Then what do you prropose?¡± The desk trembled at the white-armored lion''s roar. The werewolf paused, waiting for Justice to calm down. Discipline knew the temper of his friend, especially when the lion saw anything he considered unjust. After the lion calmed down, Discipline spoke. ¡°Can you arrange a meeting with Lord Righteous?¡± ¡°No. He went to the Demonic Miasma with Courage. I do not know when they will rreturn.¡± Discipline frowned. After thinking for a while, he nodded. ¡°Then please do me a favor and arrange a meeting once Lord Righteous returns. Remember, it cannot be delayed.¡± ¡°Fine. But the demi-humans better contrrol themselves. Otherwise-¡± Dong! Dong! Dong! The ringing of a bell interrupted the lion''s fury. ¡°We have another pair of talented children.¡± The werewolf smiled in relief. The ringing bell provided him a good excuse to shift the topic of the conversion. ¡°But this timing...¡± ¡°I agree. It¡¯s most likely a pair of demi-humans. But we have to invite them. I don¡¯t think they¡¯re involved in this mess.¡± ¡°Do whatever suits you. I will inform you once they rreturn.¡± Saying this, the white-armored lion left. The werewolf shrugged. He knew that the contents of the stones had ruined Justice¡¯s view of the demi-humans. But, the dissatisfaction of the demi-humans was no longer a secret. He approached the window. Staring at the sparse clouds, his mind wandered into various troubling scenarios. ¡®Lord Righteous, if you don¡¯t return soon, I¡¯ll be forced to use my final resort. I cannot allow Edahi to plunge into chaos.¡¯ Exuding an aura of slaughter, he completed his thoughts. ''The Order of Edahi shall never be infringed upon!''
The next morning. ¡°Ren! You have a guest!¡± Ren jerked. Rubbing his tired eyes, he scanned his surroundings. ¡®Where am I? This is not the trial¡­ Right¡­ I already finished that.¡¯ Yawning, he stretched. Having slept for the first time in a long year, he thoroughly enjoyed the lazy feeling. ¡°REN! A guest is waiting for you!¡± Lena¡¯s voice blared again, this time louder. ¡®A guest? For me?¡¯ Ren frowned. Punching his face, he snapped out of his daze. Barely arranging his hair, he waddled downstairs, tired.
Meeting his unexpected guests, Ren¡¯s drowsiness evaporated. ¡°Zuzi? Nez?¡± ¡°Ren-zi, did we disturb your sleep?¡± The butterfly woman smiled. ¡°Not really. I should¡¯ve woken up by now. Anyways, you were looking for me?¡± ¡°Nez-zi has something to tell you. Can we go somewhere else?¡± Ren¡¯s brows furrowed. Nevertheless, feeling guilty over the previous day¡¯s argument, he agreed. ¡°Sure, lead the way.¡± Chinzu nodded. She waved towards Lena and touched Ren. With a flash, Ren¡¯s surroundings warped. The next moment, he was standing before a table. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed many tables, spaced evenly in an open hall. Although mostly empty, the place had a neatness and ambiance that he couldn¡¯t even find in Kana¡¯s cottage. ¡®A restaurant?¡¯ Ren wondered. Chapter 26: Poison! Ren studied the restaurant in detail. In fact, he spared no efforts to find a disarranged element. However, he found none. The empty plates glittered, and the wooden tables shone. Each table and chair was set in its proper place, positioned at the same distance and angle from each other. Everything seemed too symmetric, too perfect. Ren inwardly made up his mind to meet the owner of the restaurant. Whoever the owner was, he or she had won his respect, friendship, and admiration. ¡°Nez-zi! I thought you had something to say.¡± Chinzu glared at the cat. ¡°Nehe, Ren¡­¡± Ren snapped out of his admiration. He faced Nez with a serious expression. Before the cat could speak, he bowed. ¡°Nez, I¡¯m sorry for my behavior yesterday.¡± Ren apologized sincerely. Despite passing the trial, he had ruined a great moment of celebration. Even if the trial no longer held much significance to him, he knew how much value it had with the Edahins. Ruining Nez¡¯s great moment filled him with guilt, especially considering how much the cat had supported him without any questions. His words shocked both Chinzu and Nez. ¡°¡­Neho?¡± The cat tilted its head. It groaned and continued, ¡°This is not fair! I wanted to apologize first! I¡¯m sorry, Ren. I spoke without thinking.¡± Ren blinked, confused as to when it became a competition of apologies. However, he quickly recovered and smiled. ¡°Sure! It¡¯s forgiven and forgotten!¡± ¡°Nehahaha! See Zuzi, everything¡¯s over! You can¡¯t stop me from eating anymore!¡± Nez pounced onto a table and shouted. ¡°We¡¯re back! Two specials and one extra-special!¡± Chinzu lightly rubbed the butterfly on her hand. Chinzu sat beside Nez and pointed at the seat opposite her. ¡°Had breakfast?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± Ren sat down, a little saddened by displacing the chair from its perfect position. He thought for a moment. He had a couple of doubts, and he decided to clarify them. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°A small town. I thought you¡¯d be interested in this place.¡± ¡®We¡¯re no longer in Evergreen city?¡¯ Ren''s eyebrows slightly creased. ¡°How did we reach here? I don¡¯t see any teleportation circles!¡± ¡°Do you like spicy food?¡± Chinzu smiled playfully, avoiding his question. ¡®It¡¯s a secret?¡¯ Ren hid his annoyance. With his limited experience, he knew that there were at least two forms of teleportation. Both of them required ¡®Teleportation Circles¡¯, a term that Ren coined since he didn¡¯t know the official name of those weird inscription-filled circles. One form of teleportation was traveling from one Teleportation Circle to another Teleportation Circle. Ren and Nez used this method to travel to the trial. It required two Teleportation Circles, and anyone with basic energy control could operate it with ease. At least Ren could use it by himself. Ren inferred that the second method was more complex. It consisted of teleporting directly to a Teleportation Circle from apparently any location. He had seen Kana execute it once. Using these two examples as the core, Ren had inferred that at least one teleportation circle was necessary to perform teleportation. But Chinzu¡¯s latest teleportation broke his assessment. It did not use any Teleportation Circles unless those circles were hidden. This proved that he had much to learn in the field of Edahi¡¯s magic, one that drastically differed from the magic in his homeland. Nevertheless, he felt glad. Maybe after some research, he might even be capable of teleporting back to his home. ¡°Yeah. I think I¡¯m okay with spice.¡± He replied, returning from his line of thought. ¡°That¡¯s great. Good luck.¡± ¡®Good luck? What is she talking about?¡¯ Ren felt a premonition. However, before he could continue his question, an unexpected guest stole his attention. A girl in her late teens entered the restaurant through the back door. Carrying a tray, she carefully maneuvered through the network of tables. However, her appearance had captured Ren¡¯s attention. She had neat blond hair and dark brown eyes. Along with her thin figure, she lacked any special features. However, this very fact intrigued Ren. ¡®A human? Maybe an Ascended Human? No¡­ her aura is ordinary. She has to be human! But weren¡¯t humans expelled from the forest?¡¯ Ren¡¯s eyes narrowed. He carefully studied the teenager, searching for any abnormalities. She approached Ren¡¯s table. Placing the tray on the table, she distributed the dishes. ¡°Two Spicy Bowls and one Dea-¡± ¡°Nehahaha! Lord Nez appreciates your help! Aren¡¯t you busy? We¡¯ll handle the rest!¡± Nez laughed loudly. ¡°Okay, just be careful with-¡± ¡°Nohoho! I¡¯ll take care of everything!¡± The girl nodded and left. Throughout, she did not glance at Ren even once.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Zuzi, is she a human?¡± Ren asked, unable to suppress his curiosity. Chinzu nodded, ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I brought Ren-zi here. This is a town of humans.¡± A cold glint flashed across Ren¡¯s eyes. ¡®Either we have left Everleaf forest or Piko lied.¡¯ He took a deep breath to calm down. He refused to let his anger cloud his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s eat! Ren, I ordered a special bowl for you. You cannot leave without completing it!¡± Nez transformed into a monkey. It pushed the largest bowl, along with a dish towards Ren. However, instead of the food, Ren was more intrigued by Nez''s transformation. ¡®That isn¡¯t a Forbidden Skill. Is Nez using a Bloodline Skill? Interesting¡­¡¯ The wafts of steam from the bowl caressed his face. It distracted his line of thought, reminding Ren of his empty stomach. However, a glance at the bowl instantly suppressed his hunger. The bowl of red soup resembled a pool of lava. The bubbling surface screamed about its nearly boiling temperature. Ren could almost swear he saw flames dancing on its bubbling surface. Besides the burning soup, there was a dish of red meatballs. Radiating blazing heat, their presence spiked the room¡¯s temperature. ¡®This isn¡¯t food!¡¯ Ren gulped. On one hand, the aroma aroused his appetite, but he didn¡¯t dare experiment with his tongue. ¡°You must finish both of them! Nehaha, even if you die, you cannot leave without completing your food! Don¡¯t worry about the water. I¡¯ve already prepared many jars. Nehaha!¡± Nez cackled, pointing at the jars, spread throughout the restaurant. The light in Ren¡¯s eyes dimmed. Although he loved spicy food, he doubted if his tongue could handle burning flames. He hesitated and instinctively gulped again. ¡®The cat¡¯s having its revenge... Tongue, rest in peace.¡¯ With an aura of martyrdom, he grasped a two-pronged fork and forced one flaming ball into his mouth. He braced for ignition, but once he chewed, he knew that he wasn¡¯t prepared for this dish. The hotness of the dish caught him by surprise. It wasn''t a painful experience. Instead, it was a pleasant surprise. The meatball was extremely spicy, the spiciest food he had ever tasted, but it wasn¡¯t intolerable. Instead, the more he chewed it, the more the spiciness grew on him, and the more he loved it. Indeed, he had found his first love! As his love grew without limits, it ascended to the next stage. He wanted to marry the meatball! Soon, he became one with the meatball, reaching the peak of bliss. He felt like he had become a wizened sage, understanding the intricacies of life itself. ¡®This spicy meatball represents life. It is frightening at first, but the more you experience it, the more you enjoy it!¡¯ Ren grinned in ecstasy. Not even in his past life had he remembered loving a dish to this extent. Optimistic, he dug into the flaming soup. Nez¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of its face. Returning to a cat, it leaped onto the table and snagged a blazing meatball. After poking it a couple of times, Nez swallowed the fireball. ¡°NNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!¡± With an earth-shattering scream, Nez zoomed into the air. Ren snapped out of his bliss, only to witness the panicked cat dive into a large jar. Confused, Ren turned to awestruck Chinzu. ¡®What¡¯s going on? What happened to Nez? And Zuzi¡­ why are you staring at me like that?¡¯ ¡°Zuzi?¡± Ren couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of the situation. ¡°Ah! Ren-zi¡­ You can continue. Just ignore us.¡± She dug into her food, but her flustered voice didn¡¯t escape Ren¡¯s notice. ¡®Weird¡­ Was there an enemy attack? No, I would''ve noticed. Maybe it¡¯s a backlash to Nez''s Bloodline Skill. But since when did Bloodline Skills have backlashes? Intriguing¡­¡¯ Ren dug into his food, quickly forgetting the commotion. ¡®Once I return, I must treat Nell to this amazing restaurant.¡¯
A few minutes later, Ren lazily lounged on his chair. For the first time, he let himself indulge in food, something he would have never allowed in his past life. ¡®That was the best! Ah! All good things must end. I must return to my task.¡¯ ¡°Zuzi? I¡¯m curious... Do you know the closest exit to this forest?¡± He asked. ¡°Does Ren-zi plan to leave?¡± Chinzu¡¯s reluctant tone caught Ren by surprise. His eyes slightly narrowed. He grew suspicious of Chinzu. He had only met her twice. Despite being considered family, he doubted if their relationship was strong enough for her to miss him. Thinking of this, he instinctively took caution and dropped his casual attitude. ¡°Maybe. I haven¡¯t decided.¡± ¡°If Ren-zi says so. There are a few exits, but they are both difficult and dangerous to traverse.¡± ¡°Which one is the most common path?¡± ¡°No one usually leaves the forest. It¡¯s barren wilderness outside, especially to any Practitioners.¡± ¡°Suppose I want to leave. Which path would I pick?¡± ¡°That depends. Does Ren-zi wish to return after leaving?¡± Ren¡¯s brows furrowed. He thought for a moment before replying. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I can only think of one path. Nine, no¡­ ten days from today, there¡¯s a specific route that¡¯s available. If Ren-zi is lucky, Ren-zi can follow a tight schedule and return after a month. But if Ren-zi has the Edahi¡¯s Travel Seal, then Ren-zi can travel without considerations.¡± ¡°And how do I get this Edahi¡¯s Travel Seal?¡± ¡°Win the yearly Edahin Tournament.¡± Zuzi lightly rubbed the butterfly on her arm. ¡°Not interested,¡± Ren replied without hesitation. Participating in a tournament would just reveal his talent in Kyo. If hunters knew of his talent, leaving the forest would be the least of his concerns. However, he was unconvinced that there was only one exit to such a large forest. ¡°What about teleportation? Can¡¯t someone just teleport out of this forest?¡± Ren hoped to rely on this broken ability that seemed to possessed no limitations. Chinzu smiled wryly. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°If Ren-zi doesn¡¯t know how I teleported here, then Ren-zi won¡¯t understand the reason.¡± Ren nodded, but he was disappointed. ¡®Apparently, even teleportation has its limits. I can¡¯t depend on it to return home. I¡¯ll have to find another way. Now, that I¡¯ve cleared most of my doubts, I should see what Zuzi is planning.¡¯ ¡°That was a great meal! Let¡¯s return?¡± Ren probed. Inwardly, he doubted if she would agree. ¡°Before we leave, can I take Ren-zi for a tour?¡± ¡®As expected.¡¯ He smiled and replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Chinzu also smiled. She tapped the jar, and a dispirited cat exited the jar. Seeing Nez¡¯s depressed expression, Ren was reminded of its weird shout. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked, still unclear of the circumstances around the previous commotion. Nez glared at him. It dashed towards the exit, ignoring his question. ¡°How did I offend you?¡± Shrugging, he followed the cat. Chinzu giggled before placing a few purple crystals on the table. Seeing her reaction, Ren''s confusion grew. ''What are they hiding from me? What did I miss?''
A few minutes after they left, a blond teenager arrived at the table. She removed the empty dishes, noticing that one set was untouched. However, it wasn¡¯t their ¡®Death by Flames¡¯ combo. That infamous dish had been emptied! ¡®The Honored Guest ate it? What a powerful tongue! God tongue!¡¯ It took her a minute to calm down. She removed the dishes and replaced the jar before cleaning the table with her voluminous set of rags. Wiping each and every corner, she ensured that not a speck of dirt escaped her noticed. Following this, she meticulously cleaned the chairs before arranging them carefully. After completing her work, she smiled. ¡®Perfect, as all things should be! Since there¡¯s no one, I¡¯ll clean the floor again!¡¯ Grasping a mop, she resumed her work. Bam! The door swung open, and a pot-bellied man rushed into the restaurant. ¡°Della! Did you see that blue-haired boy?¡± ¡°The Honored Guest? Yes. He ate at our place.¡± Della stopped mopping and wiped the sweat on her face. The man rushed towards her, an excited smile plastered on his face. ¡°Did you poison him?¡± He asked, grabbing her shoulders. Chapter 27: The Infamous Gards! Della¡¯s mind blanked. She doubted if her ears had malfunctioned. ¡°Poison? Dad, what are you talking about? Why would I poison the Honored Guest?¡± The man¡¯s smile waned. Della¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s your mother? She should¡¯ve poisoned his food, right?¡± It took a couple of seconds for Della to register her father¡¯s words. Her generous father spoke of taking another human life¡­ Not even in her nightmares had she considered such a sight. ¡°Mom is sleeping. Her fever has worsened. She let me handle the cooking.¡± She avoided the issue of the poisoning, hoping that she had misheard. ¡°¡­And you didn¡¯t poison him?¡± Her father''s voice held a profound sense of despair. ¡°No. Why would I?¡± Della shouted, unable to ignore her father''s peculiar behavior. Tta! Della held her cheek in shock. The stinging pain hurt her, but the shock pained her even more. She couldn¡¯t believe her senses... Her father had slapped her! Watching her father¡¯s face contort in anger and despair, her fear abounded. ¡°You fool! Why didn¡¯t you kill him? That was a God-given chance! Don¡¯t you remember the consequences?¡± He roared. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re talking about killing a human being! We¡¯re not Gards!¡± ¡°Gards? Is that your concern? Have you forgotten what happened to your Aunt? They¡¯re coming for your mother next!¡± Della froze. All her thoughts faded. Her father¡¯s last words looped in her mind. ¡°No¡­¡± She shook her head and cried, ¡°That can¡¯t be the truth! NO! They won¡¯t harm mom! She''s sick!¡± The man took a deep breath. He hugged Della and said. ¡°It¡¯s the truth. At most a week... they¡¯ll take her to the shop.¡± Della felt faint. Terrifying memories popped into her mind, memories that she had hidden in the deepest corners of her heart. She never imagined that she¡¯d have to relive that dread. But the darkness had returned to her life. She clenched her fist before releasing it. Deep down, she knew that this day would come. It was only a question of when. This was the fate of humans¡­ An unavoidable fate. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. But I can¡¯t do it¡­ I can¡¯t kill.¡± She shook her head. ¡°But your mother¡­ it could have saved your mother!¡± Seeing that her father was in denial, Della decided to reveal the cruel truth. ¡°Dad¡­ have you thought of the consequences if the Honored Guest dies in our restaurant?¡± Her father''s face went taut. His eyes widened in realization as he collapsed onto his knees. ¡°No way¡­ It¡¯s hopeless? Are we doomed to die?¡± Della bit her lip as tears welled her eyes. Overwhelmed with grief, she couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°No! There might still be a chance! I must inform the Gards about the Honored Guest¡¯s arrival! They might spare us in return!¡± Light returned to the man¡¯s eyes as he dashed out of the restaurant. Della¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her father¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t normal. She hesitated before following him.
A few minutes earlier. After leaving the restaurant, Ren¡¯s eyes instinctively narrowed. The picture outside the restaurant was a drastically different one. The buildings were decrepit, mostly consisting of huts. Many people hurried through the streets, mainly carrying stones, letters, and boxes. All of them had grave expressions, almost as if they were visiting their dying relatives. Their torn clothes couldn¡¯t hide their bruised bodies. Amputated limbs, a damaged eye, bandages... Ren couldn¡¯t find a healthy person amongst the busy pedestrians. Some people even had more bandages than clothes. Ren took a deep breath. The scene in his eyes stood in direct contrast with the beautiful restaurant. ¡°Ren-zi?¡± Chinzu tilted her head. Her gaze alternated between the frowning Nez and the musing Ren. ¡°Ah¡­ sorry.¡± Ren snapped out of his contemplation and followed Chinzu. However, Nez didn¡¯t move. ¡°Nez?¡± He probed. The cat¡¯s frown deepened. Without warning, it took off. ¡°Wait! Nez!¡± Just as Ren began to chase after it, a green hand held his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a grim-faced Chinzu. ¡°Nez-zi will join us later. Let¡¯s go.¡± She smiled, but Ren felt a hint of sadness in her voice. Ren took a deep breath before following Chinzu. Traveling through the streets, his expression worsened. The people in this town did not resemble humans. They looked like trained animals, slaves, solely focused on their respective tasks. His ears failed to capture a conversation in this ghost town. Ren looked at Chinzu, searching for any hints. However, Chinzu didn¡¯t have any reaction to her surroundings. Ren sighed inwardly, wondering how humanity had dropped to such a pathetic status. Soon, they came across a middle-aged man. He had collapsed onto the ground, holding a box too heavy for his fragile body. Wheezing, he struggled to keep his eyes open. Ren hesitated before approaching the dying man. However, Chinzu held him. ¡°He¡¯s diseased. A few minutes at most¡­ he¡¯ll die.¡± The man¡¯s face writhed in pain. He extended his arm, barely squeezing out a few words. [¡°Please¡­ take¡­ box¡­ to¡­¡±] His breaths grew more laborious, but no one paid any attention to him. Ren was the sole witness as the middle-aged man¡¯s voice grew weaker. Soon, his chest stopped moving. Ren closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After composing his mind, he spoke. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Chinzu nodded. They traveled through the long, winding streets before arriving at a larger hut. Chinzu entered the hut without knocking. Her behavior shocked Ren, but he could only follow her silently. Sunlight squeezed through the many tiny pores of the hut. It illuminated the poor condition of the hut. ¡°Elder Jerr-zi?¡± Zuzi inquired. ¡°That voice¡­ It is Lil¡¯ Chinzu?¡± An aged voice came from near the mud wall. An old man laid on an assortment of cloth and animal skin. Ren wondered if it could be considered a bed. ¡°Yes Elder, I have returned. I brought a guest.¡± ¡°Guest? Is it Kirrin? Or Lass Jil?¡± The old man sat upright, using the wall to support his back. Chinzu hastily reached out to help him.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Elder Jerr-zi, Ren-zi is not an ordinary guest. Ren-zi is the fabled Honored Guest.¡± ¡°Honored Guest? ...Young Renzi, please come closer. I can¡¯t see you.¡± Ren approached the old man. A pair of shriveled arms touched his face. A pungent smell of rotting assaulted Ren¡¯s nose. But his expression didn¡¯t change. The bony arms wandered throughout his face. ¡°Young Renzi¡­ Good! Good! The prophecy¡­ The Hero of humanity! Thank you!¡± Tears ran down the old man¡¯s wrinkled face. ¡°Please forgive this old man. I¡¯m just¡­ too happy!¡± Ren didn¡¯t know what to say. A conflicting feeling hurt his heart. But he trampled it and put on an expressionless face. It took a few seconds for the old man to regain his composure. ¡°Young Renzi, when I heard that a human became an Honored Guest, I was elated! If I were 20 years younger, I would¡¯ve danced, drank, and made merry.¡± Ren''s brows furrowed, but he remained silent. ¡°After so many centuries, our race has finally birthed a hero¡­ Thank you, Young Renzi!¡± Ren¡¯s eyebrows twitched. He could already predict the drift of the conversation and he hated it. He interrupted the old man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Elder, but I¡¯m no hero. I¡¯ll be leaving this forest soon, and I cannot fight for you or this town.¡± Silence! The room fell silent for a while. Ren stood his ground, unyielding from his decision. ¡°May I ask why?¡± The old man broke the silence. ¡°Hm¡­ How do I explain? I met a dying man today. He represents everything that¡¯s wrong with your town. Out of what I¡¯ve seen, this town is dying. Even if it survives today, it will die tomorrow and¡­ I cannot protect a dead town.¡± Ren shook his head. The old man let out a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re very observant. Indeed, it is as you say.¡± His gaze was unfocused as he continued, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s too late for us. Many decades have ruined our chance at redemption. We have lost our fighting spirit... I¡¯m sorry for wasting your time. Since you listened to this old man, I shall give you a word of advice¡­ Beware of the Gards.¡± The old man struggled to his bed and resumed his sleep, his real thoughts a mystery to Ren. Ren let out a tired sigh before leaving the hut. ¡°Zuzi?¡± ¡°Mmh?¡± ¡°Is this why you brought me here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded. Ren fell silent. He had misjudged Chinzu. Dealing with hostile environments throughout his life had made him often distrusting. Only a rare few had won his complete trust. Staring at the pathetic state of the town, he wondered what Chinzu thought of his decision. ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± He asked. ¡°No. Ren-zi has different goals and ideals. That is fine... Protecting humanity is not Ren-zi¡¯s responsibility. Regardless, Ren-zi is still a part of our family.¡± Ren nodded slowly. ¡®I am the protector of the Zarstorm clan. Although I can sympathize with this town, I cannot abandon my duty to help my clan.¡¯ Zuzu suddenly frowned. Her expression worsened. ¡°Ren-zi, I must leave. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Saying this, she disappeared. Ren shrugged and wandered through the streets. But he couldn¡¯t calm his conflicted mind. ¡®Wasn¡¯t the Zarstorm clan also dying? Then, am I not fighting for a dying clan? Doesn¡¯t that make me a hypocrite? ...Ahh! I shouldn¡¯t let these thoughts distract me.¡¯ Ren sighed. Thump! Thump! The ground shook, alarming Ren. He looked around and noticed that all the humans had increased their pace. They ran, ignoring their fragile bodies. Without hesitation, Ren joined the panicking crowd. His blue hair and perfect clothes made him stand out, but he hoped that his short stature would compensate for his eye-catching features. Staring into the distance, he saw a couple of giants. However, these giants were unlike anything he had ever seen. They resembled bipedal lizards. Their dark green heads protruded forward unnaturally and their eyes bulged. Strolling through the streets, their tails flailed about, sometimes tearing gaping holes in the huts. With their enormous sizes, the human below them resembled insects. Thump! Thump! As they neared him, Ren overheard their conversation. ¡°Krekeke, I¡¯m tired of looking after this farm.¡± ¡°The Ramming Squad are on their way. We have to help them.¡± ¡°Ramming Squad? Those puny minotaurs? Krekeke! I want to eat minotaur flesh.¡± A giant laughed, revealing many sets of teeth. Its mouth extended a long way into its head. Ren realized that the monster''s head mostly consisted of its mouth. ¡°Stop. If you want to eat, prey on these humans. Don¡¯t ever offend the Minotaur General.¡± ¡°Human? Kreat! I pick¡­ you!¡± The lizard pulled a middle-aged woman from the crowd. [¡°Aaaahhhhh! Please spare me!¡±] ¡°Kra Kra Kra¡­ Are you offering me your arm? Kreat!¡± The lizard stretched the woman¡¯s left arm. [¡°No! Please¡­ I have to complete- Please show merc- AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!¡±] Ren flinched. He clenched his fist before relaxing it. Krak! Kitch! Disturbing sounds emerged from the giant¡¯s mouth. It dropped the poor woman, who fled, sobbing in pain. Pa! The giant spat out a red blob of indeterminable mass. ¡°Distasteful! Kra! Raw human meat tastes like sh*t.¡± ¡°Who asked you to pick this waste? You must eat the premium ones. They have the best texture. A true delicacy.¡± The giant¡¯s companion laughed. Ren gritted his teeth as his vision reddened. ¡®Don¡¯t make a mistake. I cannot reveal my Forbidden Skills! And even if I react, I might not win. Stay low for now.¡¯ Ren restrained his killing intent and sought to leave the area, lest he attracts any attention. However, a shout caught him by surprise.
Della quietly followed her father. She maintained a safe distance, ensuring that he did not notice her. Throughout the way, her heart thumped furiously. Two issues spiked her anxiety. For one, she feared for her father¡¯s life, knowing full well that interacting with a Gard was extremely foolish, irrespective of one¡¯s intention. However, her father was intent on this reckless endeavor, and she couldn¡¯t convince him otherwise. Other than this, the muddy ground drove her insane. The repulsive dirt slithered into her sandals. She wanted to take a bath, but fearing for her father¡¯s life, she trudged through the muddy hell. Thump! Hearing a faint sound, Della shuddered. This sound signaled an unparalleled disaster for humans. From the time she learned to listen, she dreaded this sound. However, her father chased after the origin of the noise. Della bit her lip, petrified. Combined with a distant wailing, she felt like she was undergoing a nervous breakdown. Soon, a woman emerged from the direction of Gards. Blood dripped down her missing arm. Realizing what happened, Della gasped. ¡°Ar-Are you okay?¡± ¡°Leave me!¡± The woman pushed her and advanced, limping. Witnessing the plight of the woman, Della mustered her courage and chased after her father. Thump! Thump! The sounds grew louder and she finally saw them¡­ ...The dreadful behemoths that evoked the dread in every human¡­ the Gards. Meeting the giants for the first time, she realized just how much the stories had undervalued their monstrous statures. Her father kneeled before the monsters, like a rat in front of two lions. ¡°Where is he?¡± The Gard asked. ¡°Lord, I saw him beside my home. But I¡¯m sure he¡¯s still within this city.¡± BAM!! Della trembled as the ground shook. The Gard unsheathed its giant sword, a sign that the situation had turned awry. Tsuiin! The sword whistled as the Gard shouted. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Lord, please give me an hour. I¡¯ll find him!¡± Her father pleaded. ¡°You dare to lie and waste our time?! Die!¡± The Gard lifted the sword. Della¡¯s complexion paled. She realized that her father¡¯s bargain had failed. Fear plagued her mind, and the dust drove her insane. ¡°NO! He¡¯s not lying! Please spare him!¡± She shouted in desperation, knowing full well that her decision would doom her. However, she didn¡¯t care anymore. Her mother was fated to die, and her father stood between death''s teeth. If she didn¡¯t make an attempt, she wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive herself. The Gard stopped. The menacing behemoth glanced at her. ¡°Krekeke, what do we have here? A premium human?¡± The Gard¡¯s creepy smile extended all the way to the back of its head. Della¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Lord, please forgive him!¡± She prostrated, begging in the prestigious language of the beasts, hoping that it would calm the Gards. ¡°Krekeke, I was hungry, and my meal ran towards me. Kreat!¡± A giant arm grabbed her. Her vision changed rapidly as she could no longer feel the ground. In the end, her eyes stopped at the Gard¡¯s mouth. It opened its giant mouth, revealing many sets of sharp, and dirty teeth, waiting to her rip apart her flesh. She almost vomited from the rotting smell of the pus within its mouth. Imagining her death in that disgusting meat grinder, Della¡¯s anxiousness grew. ¡°NOOOO! PLEASE NOT MY DAUGHTER!¡± Her father¡¯s horrified shout reached her. Della calmed down. She understood that her time had come. Raised as potential livestock, she was doomed to die at the Gard¡¯s teeth. This was her fate. ¡®Dad¡­ please escape. Mom, I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t take care of the restaurant. Please find a new successor. And please instruct your successor to keep our home clean.¡¯ She closed her eyes, reconciling with her fate. The seconds passed¡­ ¡­but her awaited death didn¡¯t come. She imagined the teeth impaling her, but she did not feel the pain. Instead, she heard a few confusing sounds. THUD! A large impact shocked Della. It took out all the breath in her lungs. ¡®Is it over? Am I dead?¡¯ Quickly recovering, she opened her eyes, noticing a giant, dirty finger. It blocked her view, squeezing her. ''Am I going to be crushed here? ...This dirty hand.'' She struggled, but her attempts were futile. Just as she surrendered hope, the hand relaxed. She squeezed out of the dirty hand and took a few deep breaths. The next moment, her eyes popped open, unable to reconcile the baffling scene in her vision. A young blue-haired boy ran up the second Gard. He wasn¡¯t climbing! Instead, he was running vertically on the Gard¡¯s body, defying all notions Della had learned of gravity. However, her shock did not end there. Once she noticed the boy''s weapon, she could no longer avert her gaze. He carried the sword of the Gards, the giant sword which was a multitude of times larger than his tiny body. She gulped, even contemplating slapping herself to snap out of this peculiar dream. The boy ran up to Gard¡¯s abdomen and swung the giant sword, cutting through the Gard¡¯s protruding head. A white stream gushed out of the Gard¡¯s head as it collapsed. THUD! The Gard crushed a few huts, but it was dead. Della gaped. She had witnessed the death of a Gard! It convinced her that she wasn''t dreaming. Her dreams could never conjure such a ridiculous scene. Thump! The boy tossed the giant sword, like throwing a twig. He approached the awestruck Della. Della gulped. She finally understood why this human had become an Honored Guest. He was a monster in human skin! ¡°You!¡± The boy faced her. ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± Della¡¯s heart shook, worried if he would kill her as well. ¡°Become my chef!¡± Della blankly stared at the outstretched hand. It was a bruised, dirty hand. She wanted to grab it and accept the offer, but¡­ the dirt. The dirt on the boy¡¯s palm frightened her. In the end, Della''s emotions conquered her fears. With silent tears, she shook her savior¡¯s hand. Chapter 28: Far From Home! Ren had left the danger zone when he heard a loud shout. ¡°Lord Gards, I bring news!¡± ¡®Gards? Didn¡¯t that old man warn me of this name?¡¯ Ren wondered. After a moment of hesitation, his curiosity won and he returned to the danger zone. ¡°You dare to lie and waste our time?! Die!¡± By the time he returned, the enraged giant lifted its sword, prepared to kill another human. This time, it was a fat man. ¡®Are these giant creatures called Gards? Or is it this individual''s name?¡¯ Ren¡¯s interest was piqued. At the same time, he understood why the old man had warned him of these giant monsters. With weapons, their physical might alone could level fortresses. ¡°NO! He¡¯s not lying! Please spare him!¡± Another shout caught him by surprise. However, he faintly recognized the voice. Staring at the familiar girl, his pupils dilated. ¡®It¡¯s her? Damn it! Do you have a death wish?! Get away from those monsters!¡¯ Ren panicked. Nonetheless, she recklessly approached the behemoths. ¡®She¡¯s dead! Damn it! Damn it! You dumb woman! ¡­My spicy soup!¡¯ Ren gritted his teeth. He could care little about the girl¡­ but he couldn¡¯t say the same about his favorite food. Ren¡¯s face flushed with anger. After having the best food of his life, he couldn¡¯t bear to abstain from it. Although he wasn¡¯t sure if the blond teenager cooked the delicious meatballs, he did not want to take a risk. ¡®If I intervene¡­ Damn it! I¡¯ll get involved in this mess. But¡­¡¯ Ren¡¯s composure leaped into oblivion, lighting flames of chaos in his mind. His logic wanted nothing to do this mess, but his craving stomach tugged at his emotions. In the end, a spark lit in his mind, reconciling the polar enemies. ¡®I¡¯ll hire her as my¡­ ehm, the Zarstorm¡¯s cook. That way she¡¯ll be a part of the clan, someone worth protecting. Brilliant!¡¯ The monster bent to grab the teenager. Ren was running out of time! ¡®How should I intervene? I¡¯ll have to depend on Forbidden Skills. But will that be enough?¡¯ Ren rubbed his aching forehead. His gaze wandered to the muddy ground, focusing on a lonely stone. His eyes brightened as he pocketed the stone. He scanned his surroundings for more potential weapons. However, his vicinity was devoid of other large stones. He frowned before punching the wall of a hut. Pulling and pushing, he obtained a few chunks of the solid mud, which he quickly pocketed. Taking a deep breath, he dashed towards the giants. [¡®Pain Series: Body Enhancement!¡¯] The muscles on his body bulged. Like a moth approaching a flame, he charged at the giant. ¡°NOOOO! PLEASE NOT MY DAUGHTER!¡± The fat man shouted. Ren leaped onto the giant¡¯s leg. Using his accumulated knowledge and experience in natural energy, he climbed the giant, barely holding onto its scaly skin. ¡°Kre?¡± The giant noticed Ren and looked down. Its bulging eyes focused on the tiny ant on its abdomen. Ren gathered his natural energy into his arm. Due to the monster¡¯s protruding head, the distance between them was within Ren¡¯s throwing range. He threw the stone! Tsiu! Tchikk! The stone tore into the giant¡¯s eye. ¡°KAAAA!!!¡± The Gard shouted. Losing balance, it collapsed. The huts couldn¡¯t cushion its fall as they were crushed to bits. Discarding its sword, the Gard covered its bleeding eye. Ren struggled to stay attached to the Gard''s scales. His reserve of natural energy plunged quickly, nearing depletion. As the monster collapsed, its sword entered his vision. It stood at a height of about 5 meters, much taller than Ren. Staring at the humongous weapon, his eyes glistened. A borderline insane idea popped into his mind. He instantly changed his original plan and dashed to the weapon. Holding the giant sword¡¯s hilt, he closed his eyes. ¡®Glove¡­ I¡¯m counting on you.¡¯ The veins in his arm bulged as he tugged at the weapon. With a little exertion, he lifted the monstrous sword. Hoisting the massive weapon above his head, Ren indulged in the surreal moment. However, he snapped out of his daze and swung his sword, targeting the giant head. Tchish! The giant stopped moving. Ren pulled the surrounding natural energy into his body, replenishing his empty meridians. ¡®Is she okay?¡¯ Ren glanced at the monster¡¯s arm. It was clenched, holding his potential cook. ¡®No! Not now! The other giant first!¡¯ Dragging the humongous sword, he hurried towards the second giant. The second giant roared. Its foot zoomed towards Ren, intent on crushing him to paste.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As the leg neared, the sky darkened. The foot covered Ren¡¯s line of sight. With a swift movement, Ren slanted his sword, positioning the blade between himself and the giant. If the giant wished to trample him, it would have to face the blade¡¯s edge first. However, the lizard monster recognized his present a little too late. The giant stamped on the sword¡¯s edge. Ren tightened his grip on the weapon. The residual impact of the giant''s stamp nearly shattered his wrist. Fortunately, his glove bore an unparalleled majority of the force. ¡°KRAAA!¡± The monster shouted and withdrew its leg. Grey blood dripped down the sword¡¯s edge. However, unlike its partner, this Gard did not collapse. The giant¡¯s state did not slip past Ren''s notice. He leaped onto the monster¡¯s leg and dashed towards its head. ¡°Kraaa!¡± Ren reached the giant¡¯s abdomen when his natural energy dropped to a negligible amount. Gritting his teeth, he swung his sword. The long reach of the sword favored him as the blade cut through the giant¡¯s protruding head, spraying greyish blood everywhere. A pungent smell permeated throughout the area. Fighting his urge to gag, Ren jumped from the falling giant. THUD! The giant collapsed. Ren let out a relieved sigh and tossed the weapon. Ignoring the element of surprise, the monsters¡¯ inexperience helped him achieve a victory. However, without the glove, he doubted if he could handle both the giants. As he relaxed his body, the backlash from his Forbidden Skill struck. He gritted his teeth for a few moments, letting the pain subside. He noticed that his newfound cook had left the giant¡¯s arm. He studied her, searching for any fatal wounds. Her hair was disheveled. Besides her wrinkled clothes, she looked unhurt. Ren wanted to call her when he realized that he didn¡¯t know her name. Annoyed, he resorted to using a simple... ¡°You!¡± ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± She replied subserviently, surprising Ren. Nevertheless, he preferred it over an arrogant or indifferent attitude. He approached her, intent on reaping his rewards for the battle. ¡°Become my chef!¡± He offered his arm. However, she didn¡¯t instantly accept his offer. Ren grew upset, wondering what other incentives he could offer. However, before he could come to a decision, the girl¡¯s behavior changed drastically. She cried before accepting his palm. ¡®Is that a... yes? A... reluctant yes? I don''t like coercion but, whatever.¡¯ Ren removed the unwanted thoughts in his mind. Looking at the corpses, he sighed. ¡°What''s your name?¡± ¡°Della Kelchon.¡± ¡°Della, leave this area immediately! Don¡¯t tell anyone about¡­ this.¡± He pointed at the giant corpses. Della nodded and his opinion of her instantly grew better. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll meet you later.¡± Without wasting another moment, Ren escaped from the pungent hell. His gaze focused on the roof of a distant hut. A masked man levitated above the roof. His large bat wings sucked in all the light around him, giving his immediate surroundings a feeling of the night. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Honored Guest, I am the servant of Lord Discipline, a servant of the Council.¡± ¡°Are you here to punish me for killing those monsters?¡± Ren¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­No, Honored Guest need not fret. I do not care for the lives of such inferior creatures. My goal is to offer an invitation. You and your companion, the searcat are hereby summoned to meet His Grace, The Divine Emperor. Dawn, two days from now, I¡¯ll be expecting you at the Mother Tree.¡± The masked man flew into the air before fading. Ren sighed in relief, thankful that he didn¡¯t have to battle the masked man. His instincts despised the idea of fighting the mysterious being. ¡®A bat-winged humanoid, giant lizard-monsters called Gards, sentient beasts, a whole different magic system with teleportation¡­¡¯ Considering all the differences in his new environment, the light in his eyes dimmed. ¡®Just how far am I from home?¡¯ Ren sighed again.
Chinzu returned with a bruised Nez. They had gone on an adventure of their own, but they refused to disclose the details to Ren. Although he didn''t know what happened to them, Nez''s mood had improved and this pleased him. Lounging in the restaurant, they chatted. ¡°Nehahaha! I, Lord Nez, will become the Divine Emperor. I will abolish the slavery of humans and use them to their full potential!¡± ¡°Nez-zi is planning to make them work harder?¡± Chinzu giggled. ¡°Nah! I¡¯ll make you work harder!¡± Watching their interaction, Ren smiled. However, his smile faded quickly as he decided to convey an important decision to Chinzu. ¡®Zuzi? Can you hear me?¡¯ ¡®¡­Yes. Why is Ren-zi using telepathy?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m planning to leave Everleaf forest on the next available route.¡¯ ¡®I understand. Does Ren-zi want to keep this a secret from Nez-zi?¡¯ ¡®No. I¡¯ll inform him later.¡¯ After a few seconds of silence, Zuzi spoke. ¡®Will Ren-zi return?¡¯ Ren hesitated. Thinking of his clan, he sighed inwardly. ¡®Probably no. But, my sister might visit.¡¯ ¡®Ren-zi has a sister?¡¯ Ren smiled at the excitement in Zuzi¡¯s voice. ¡®Yes, I want you to show her around the forest. Everleaf is a beautiful place.¡¯ ¡®Sure, I¡¯ll give both Ren-zi and Sister-zi a tour of the forest.¡¯ ¡®¡­Thanks.¡¯ Ren stared out the window, lost in the sunset. ''Nell, are you seeing this sunset? Stay strong! I''ll return soon.'' He smiled, entering a daze. Thud! A door slammed open. Della rushed out of the backdoor, carrying a chair and a mat. She glanced at the group and shouted. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re going to miss Luster Night!¡± ¡°Neho!? It¡¯s Luster Night?! Nehaha! Lord Nez won¡¯t miss it!¡± Nez jumped out the window in haste. Even Chinzu seemed excited as she hurried to the door. Confused, Ren could only follow them.
The group gathered outside the restaurant, staring at the star-lit sky. The sun had just set and everyone looked excited. Even the ordinary people had stopped their work to stargaze. While excitement lit up everyone¡¯s faces, one person stood confused within this enthusiastic mob. It was none other than Ren. ¡°Nez, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Luster Night!¡± The cat shouted gleefully. Ren grew annoyed. He understood the meaning of the two terms separately, but together, they didn''t make any sense. ¡°What is Luster Night?¡± ¡°Were you living in a swamp your whole life? Nehaha, just look above!¡± Ren shook his head disapprovingly. Nevertheless, the excitement in the air had won his curiosity. A star shone brighter than the rest. As seconds passed, it outshone its companions. Even the moon paled in comparison. The world fell silent. Everyone stared at the star, awed by the mystical power of the celestial kingdom. The star released a purple light. It spread throughout the sky, turning the night sky purple. Under its influence, even the moon glowed in a lighter shade of purple. No one spoke. Everyone appreciated the breathtaking scenery. Men, women, and children¡­ the human population cried in joy. The purple sky wiped their worries, renewing their energy to persevere in their dreary lives. However, one person had a drastically different reaction. While others celebrated, Ren¡¯s heart sank. The purple light shone onto his dreams, vaporizing them into nothingness. All of his plans crumbled under the purple sky. One dreadful thought dominated his mind. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ His face paled. He was far away from home... However, the word ¡®far¡¯ could no longer describe the distance. Chapter 29: Despair and... Hope? ¡°Are we lost?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Azen ignored the fox. Conjuring a flame, he morphed it to objects of changing sizes and shapes. ¡°IDIOT FACE!! We¡¯re lost!¡± Rui''s scream nearly turned Azen deaf. ¡°$*#&%!!¡± Infuriated, he shot a blazing fireball at the incorporeal fox. It passed through the fox¡¯s body before lighting a tree. ¡°You can¡¯t hit me! Idiot Face!¡± The fox cackled, almost like an irritating child. ¡°One day! I¡¯ll burn¡­ you¡­ to crisp!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to dream! And don''t change the subject! We¡¯re lost and it''s your fault!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Scram!¡± Azen closed his sense of hearing, shutting the fox¡¯s irritating chatter. At ease, Azen gazed at the night sky. ¡®These five years of grinding is my last hurdle. No matter where my enemies hide under this night sky, I will-¡¯ A glowing star diverted Azen¡¯s line of thought. Soon, the sky turned purple and Azen frowned. ¡°What the hell¡­ Where are we?¡± He asked. The fox¡¯s mouth moved, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything. Confused, he unclogged his hearing. ¡°¡­ter Night! I almost forgot about this!¡± ¡°Ter Night?¡± ¡°Luster Night!!¡± Azen nodded and before resuming his experiments with the flames. ¡°Hey! Why aren¡¯t you asking me for an explanation?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The flames in Azen''s hand expanded rapidly. He frowned, trying to emulate an explosion. ¡°Stupid Face! ¡­Boring Face!¡± Rui shouted a couple of times. Soon, it giggled before laughing hysterically. ''Did the purple sky turn this darned fox into an idiot?'' Azen stared at the fox with newfound pity. ¡°Hahaha¡­ My plan¡¯s out. This darned Luster Night! I wanted to reveal the truth to Ren personally¡­ Sneaky sky! Ruining my schemes! Now I can never see Ren''s face of despair!¡± Despite cursing the sky, Rui¡¯s voice was gleeful. Azen¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Scheme¡­ Is this related to your bet?¡± He asked. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re clueless! No wonder you¡¯re an idiot, Idiot Face! Pfft-¡± Rui laughed without control. Azen gulped at this sight. ¡®This fox has lost its mind. Purple sky is scary¡­¡¯ Azen stared at the vegetation below, not daring to look at the sky. ¡°Hey! Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Rui asked. Azen frowned slightly before understanding what the fox wanted. ¡°No. If Ren becomes the Divine Emperor, he wins. If he loses, he becomes the wheel¡¯s slave. It¡¯s simple and the result has no bearing on my affairs.¡± Azen shrugged. At the same time, he noticed that he had assimilated with his new body to the extent that his body often moved subconsciously. He wondered if this result was beneficial or detrimental. ¡°Pfft, HAHAHAHA! You really are clueless! Did you think¡­ did you really think that our bet was so simple?¡± Rui wheezed while laughing. Azen snapped from his contemplation. He frowned, awaiting Rui¡¯s explanation. ¡°If you call me Grandfoxter Rui, I¡¯ll explain everything!¡± Fwoo! Azen returned to his practice with his fireballs. ¡°¡­Okay, if you¡¯re so insistent I¡¯ll explain!¡± Azen sighed at the fox''s shamelessness. Rui proudly continued. ¡°Ren¡¯s bet was a trap! I understood this after some contemplation. His actual goal was the five-year duration of the bet. Within the next five years, he¡¯d return to his clan and complete his unfinished work, most likely even dying in the process. But¡­¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not an idiot like Idiot Face! My prestigious intellect has been honed by millennia of plotting and scheming with kings, emperors, and divine beings. To me, his plan was as clear as the purple in this sky¡­¡± Rui laughed nefariously. Azen cringed at the shameless boasting. Nevertheless, he understood the gist of the fox¡¯s explanation. ¡°Ren thought he was one step ahead of me. But in reality, I was ten trillion steps ahead of him! No mortal can confront my intellect! I¡¯d like to see how he¡¯ll return to his homeland without me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Azen nodded before confirming, ¡°Then, the bet is his sole hope of returning?¡± Rui grinned, his voice full of enthusiasm. ¡°Indeed. This is why I love Ren! He¡¯s brighter than an Idiot Face I know. Considering and accounting for unknown variables... Deep down, he already considered the scenario that he might be incapable of returning. That was why he asked for a return trip as his victory condition. That way, he¡¯ll still have a chance at returning. But, in the overall picture, it is insignificant. His real bet was the five years and he already lost!¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Azen took a deep breath. He hadn¡¯t placed enough thought into the bet. It reminded him of an important lesson. ¡®If Ren had the strength to defeat this darned fox, he wouldn¡¯t need a bet in the first place. His weakness will be his downfall. And I¡­ I will not make the same mistake.¡¯ The flame in his palm brightened.
For the rest of the night, Ren did nothing. Downtrodden and devastated, he helplessly watched his hopes crumbling to dust. A day has passed. It was lost, forever. The rivers of time flowed mercilessly, inching one day closer to that 5-year deadline. Ren¡¯s bet hung over him, like the sword of a Gard. Although five years remained, deep down Ren knew¡­ He had lost. He had never considered that Rui would travel across planets. Reaching this conclusion, he dreaded the wheel and its mythical power. Capable of reviving life, traveling between worlds¡­ the wheel broke every limitation set on mortals. The wheel was too obscene! Remembering that a skeleton casually handed such a powerful artifact to a kid, he realized that the world was much larger than his imagination. He never imagined that a skeleton would wield such a powerful artifact, much less present it to a kid for free. At the same time, he understood¡­ how tiny he was¡­ how insignificant his attempts were¡­ This feeling was unknown to him. Born as a beast, raised as a monster, his sole purpose in life was the revival of his branch. He wanted nothing less than to transform his Zarstorm branch into the Zarstorm Clan... to witness the Lotus outshine the blue roses of the Zelongs. However, his prospects were bleak. While waging the bet with Rui, he had inserted a victory condition of a return trip. He hoped that it would allay Rui¡¯s suspicions, and convince the fox that he planned to play the seemingly impossible bet. In hindsight, it became his last chance at returning. Nonetheless, Ren lacked the confidence to become the Divine Emperor, especially without his Void Arts. ''Strongest in Everleaf forest'' wasn¡¯t an easy-to-obtain title. To make matters worse, if he desired to become the Divine Emperor, he would need the support of the citizens. And thanks to the title of Honored Guest, he couldn''t have had a better start to the bet, especially with the demi-humans. Forget about supporting him, he could thank the heavens if they didn''t obstruct him. ¡®I should have eased the bet. But that¡¯d be useless. Rui, that clever fox wouldn¡¯t accept the bet if I had any reasonable chance at victory.¡¯ Ren sighed. The bet was impossible! It was impossible by design. In his eagerness for the five years, he made it impossible. Ren knew that had no one other than himself to blame. ¡®What is wrong with me!? Why do I always¡­ Ahhhh¡­¡¯ Ren punched himself. Unsatisfied, he repeatedly activated and deactivated his Pain Series, enduring the mind-breaking pain. It was his last attempt at saving his fading sanity. After a while, Ren collapsed onto his bed, panting. His face was bruised, but the physical pain was negligible to the pain in his heart. ¡®My minimal success with the Zelongs had blinded me with arrogance. I overestimated my tactics and underestimated Rui¡¯s intelligence. This bet was my mistake¡­¡¯ ¡®But, I won¡¯t suffer the consequences. Instead, Nell and the Zarstorm clan will suffer for my mistake.¡¯ Ren clenched his fist. Blood dripped onto the bed, but it did little to calm his seething anger. ¡®No! It must not end here. I have five years! The Zarstorm clan must rise and the lotus must bloom!¡¯ A maniacal light flashed past Ren¡¯s eyes. ¡®Right! I have a meeting with the Divine Emperor. This is a good opportunity to estimate his strength. In the worst-case scenario, I can focus on teleportation. If Rui can travel between the worlds, why can¡¯t I?¡¯ Ren returned to his feet. ¡®But I must not let arrogance blind me again.¡¯ He took a deep breath. A dot of light shone amid his dark future. As he proceeded in the right direction, he hoped that it would grow brighter, until it revealed success.
In the deep of night, Ren sneaked out of his window. The cold air brushed against his skin, dampening his enthusiasm. Dropping to the ground, he met an imposing werewolf. ¡°Honored Guest¡­ What are you doing outside this late?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡± ¡°A walk? This late?¡± The werewolf squinted his eyes. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Honored Guest, but for your safety, I¡¯ll have to ask you to return.¡± The werewolf put on a menacing stance, blocking Ren¡¯s path. Ren''s expression darkened. The last thing he wanted was to miss his meeting with the Divine Emperor because of rigid security. However, he didn¡¯t want to spread the news of this meeting, especially not to the envious demi-humans who¡¯d grow even more envious. At present, he wanted to stay low in Evergreen city. Considering all this, he spoke. ¡°I have received orders from Lord Discipline from the Council. The Council summoned me to the Mother Tree at dawn. However, this matter is extremely confidential.¡± He masked the truth with a white lie. The werewolf frowned, visibly confused by Ren¡¯s words. However, he did not open the path. The guard¡¯s inaction displeased Ren. He didn¡¯t have time to waste over security issues. ¡°Do you dare to defy the Council¡¯s wishes? Are you conspiring against the Council?! Where is your loyalty!? This is an act of rebellion!¡± With no choices left, Ren resorted to threats. The threat was effective. Hearing the charge of rebellion, the werewolf instantly dropped his imposing stance. ¡°Honored Guest, I¡¯m sorry but Miss Kana¡¯s orders were to-¡± ¡°Do I look like I care? Is Kana greater than the Council? It seems like my guess is correct. Fine, I¡¯ll warn you. If I cannot reach the Mother Tree by dawn, you will be charged with treason. I¡¯d like to see how Kana can save a rebel.¡± Ren seethed in anger. Desperate, he resorted to bluffs and threats, hoping to exploit the werewolf¡¯s ignorance. The werewolf shuddered before bowing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Honored Guest. You can leave but on one condition. I must accompany you until we reach the Mother Tree. And I need confirmation from a representative of the Council.¡± ¡°Is my word not enough? Am I not the Honored Guest?¡± Ren growled. ¡°Lord, please do not make this hard on me. I have to follow the procedure. Otherwise, it¡¯s not just my life that¡¯s in jeopardy. My family will also face the consequences of my actions. Please cooperate with me, Lord.¡± The werewolf bowed. Ren hesitated. His initial plan was to walk all the way to the Mother Tree. However, with a guide, he could reach the Mother Tree earlier. And if the guard could teleport to the Mother Tree directly, then his trip would be over in a flash. ¡°Lead the way.¡± The werewolf sighed before guiding Ren to the nearest teleportation circle. Before the teleportation circle activated, a silver-haired silhouette stared at him from a window. The next moment, Ren¡¯s surroundings changed rapidly. A tree of unparalleled height covered his line of sight. Seeing the Mother Tree at a close distance, Ren''s heart shook. Calling the Mother Tree ''large'' would be a severe understatement! Its stem extended to the heavens, lacking an end in sight. The branches buried the sky behind its countless leaves. In front of the Mother Tree, even the giant Gards looked like ants. A pleasant smell teased his nose. It resembled scented resin, but at the same time, it was distinctly different. The tree exuded an aura of majesty, stability, and serenity, setting his mind at peace. The mesmerizing aura grew more powerful and Ren smiled in a daze. ¡®As long as this tree stands, the world will have peace and prosperity...!!¡¯ Ren jerked, regaining control of his consciousness. His heart sank as he recognized the origin of the mystical thought. ¡®This tree can influence minds¡­ No wonder creatures worship it and call it Mother Tree.¡¯ The werewolf prostrated before the tree. Ren felt a chill run down his spine, and it wasn¡¯t the cold breeze. Vast empty fields surrounded them. Besides the humongous tree, the region was devoid of notable landmarks. However, it wasn¡¯t devoid of life. Ren felt many gazes on him, studying each of his movements. He knew that he was under watch, but he couldn¡¯t discern the origin of these gazes. Taking a deep breath, he proceeded through the path of stinging gazes. ¡®Divine Emperor¡­ just how powerful are you?¡¯ Chapter 30: Meeting the Divine Emperor! ¡°You¡¯re earlier than expected.¡± A bat-winged man flew towards Ren. The familiar grey mask covered his face. ¡°The credit goes to this guard.¡± Ren shrugged and continued, ¡°Can you remind him of the importance of keeping this meeting a secret?¡± The masked man paused. Inwardly panicking, Ren glared at the masked man. He didn''t want the news of the meeting to spread through the guard. Fortunately, the masked-man understood his hints. ¡°¡­Right! You¡¯re one of Miss Kana¡¯s subordinates, right?¡± The masked man turned to the werewolf guard. ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± The werewolf guard bowed. His subservience to the bat-winged man was visibly greater than any respect he had displayed towards Ren. ¡°The Honored Guest never came to the Mother Tree. Is that understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡± The werewolf guard departed, and Ren let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. But I do not understand. Why keep this a secret?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wish to attract further envy from the demi-humans.¡± Ren replied honestly. At present, his infamy was dropping. He could only hope that the storm over his title would settle, reaching a stage where the demi-humans completely forgot about him. ¡°I understand. Please wait here. Your companion should arrive soon.¡± The masked-man took to the air. Staring at his receding back, Ren smiled wryly. ¡®It''s no wonder that demi-humans hold humans in contempt. Intelligence is mankind¡¯s sole weapon. If creatures with flight and other mystical abilities have intelligence, humanity will plunge to the bottom of the hierarchy. Whatever! This isn''t my concern.¡¯ Alone, he spent his time in contemplation. ¡®I can safely assume that the Divine Emperor is unparalleled in strength. At least, it should be impossible for me to surpass him without Void Arts. Otherwise, Rui would never agree to the bet.¡¯ ¡®Then, my Forbidden Skills should be insufficient. Its main purpose is ancillary support to Void Arts or a last resort in life-and-death battles. Thus, in my case, Forbidden Skills has minimal use. Even so, I shouldn''t abandon it altogether. At present, ignoring the invisible glove, it is my greatest trump card. If only I could substitute Void Arts...'' ''There were three other paths in the trial. Spirit Bonding, Magic Crafting, and Honing... But none of them can substitute Void Arts or work well with Forbidden Skills. I need something that improves my endurance and defenses, while at the same time holding its own in normal battles. The last thing I want is to spam Forbidden Skills at every battle. Hm...¡¯ ¡®Damn it! If only Tara were here. His earth magic was what I needed. Does this world even have Earth Magic?¡¯ As Ren dwelled deeper into his thoughts, he lost track of his surroundings. Whoosh! Thud! An object collided onto his head, painfully knocking him out his thoughts. ¡°Ren!¡± Hearing the familiar voice, Ren groaned. ¡°Nez, can you not do that?¡± The eagle transformed into a familiar cat that jumped onto his head. ¡°Nehaha! You couldn¡¯t avoid it this time! Lord Nez¡¯s stealth is unparalleled! I was just warming up the other day!¡± Ren smiled. Nez reminded him of Rui. However, unlike the deceiving fox, Nez was much more genuine and trustworthy. ¡°Yeah, It¡¯s almost dawn¡­ I guess?¡± The humongous tree blocked the skies. Ren could only see the slowly brightening horizon. The bat-winged man returned. Opening a letter, he spoke. ¡°Ren, the Honored Guest, and Nenyo-Nonyoki¡­¡± The masked man stuttered. Ren bit his tongue, fighting his urge to burst into laughter. Apparently, Nez¡¯s name was foreign to the masked man. ¡°It¡¯s Nonyokinyono! Lord Nez to you!¡± Nez pouted. Its cheeks bulged in disgruntlement. The masked-man coughed before continuing in a serious tone. ¡°¡­the searcat, The Divine Emperor will meet you. Before you meet His Grace, remember your manners. Bow upon His Grace¡¯s arrival. Do not speak without permission, and answer every question with utmost honesty and deference. Any sign of disrespect will be taken as a sign of rebellion! Is that understood?¡± ¡°Nehaha! Understood.¡± Nez¡¯s carefree attitude worried Ren. Nevertheless, he nodded. The mana density in the vicinity changed. Mana charged into the masked man''s body as he chanted. [¡°Edahi Arts: Instant Teleportation!¡±] With a flash, Ren¡¯s surroundings warped. As his line of sight settled, an empty hall greeted Ren. Purple inscription circles were spread evenly throughout the wooden floor. Ren happened to stand on one of the complex circles. ¡°Please follow me.¡± The masked man led the way. Just as Ren left the circle, a blue liquid covered the inscription circle. Ssss! With a sizzling sound, the inscription dissolved into nothingness, leaving a clean floor.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°What is that?¡± Ren asked. ¡°Standard security procedure. It stops any unwanted teleportation.¡± ¡°Interesting, but how does that work?¡± Ren asked. ¡°The Teleform recognizes anyone that travels through it at least once. We destroy any Teleforms used to teleport guests. That way, the guests can¡¯t use them to sneak into the Mother Tree. Effectively, they become one-time-use Teleforms.¡± The masked man explained while entering a corridor. ¡®Ah! So these circles are called Teleforms¡­ Peculiar name.¡¯ Ren hid his smile. ¡°How are you capable of teleporting to a... Teleform directly? I usually need another teleportation circ- ehem, I meant Teleform.¡± He asked, unused to the new term. ¡°It seems like the Honored Guest is interested in Teleportation. Would you like to enroll in Edahi¡¯s university? They teach Magic Crafting in detail.¡± ¡°Maybe, but you didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± Ren replied. He was determined to learn more about teleportation. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. I used Magic Arts.¡± Ren¡¯s eyes brightened. He remembered reading about Magic Arts. Unfortunately, it demanded heavily on one¡¯s knowledge of the basics. "Is it possible to teleport without any Teleforms?" The masked-man fell silent. Puzzled, Ren opened his mouth to ask again, when the masked-man replied. "Yes, but this subject isn''t my expertise. In my limited knowledge, it is an extremely dangerous process, subject to many peculiar rules. You must enquire with an expert for more information." ''Dangerous? Then why would Zuzi use it for a random trip?'' This question was doomed to be unanswered for now. For the remainder of the walk, no one spoke. Ren studied the wooden walls, the occasional statue, and the rare strangers, which mostly consisted of lions. He expected walls with precious decorations, many powerful guards, and an extravagant display of wealth. However, the Mother Tree betrayed his expectation. It was plain, just like an ordinary wooden house. Besides the vastness of the corridor, nothing caught his eye. ¡®Do beasts not care about wealth?¡¯ He kept his thoughts to himself. The corridor expanded into a large circular hall. Mats were spread in a circular formation, spaced evenly. A lone black-armored werewolf stood on a mat. With closed eyes, his body was motionless. If he didn¡¯t breathe, Ren would have considered him another statue. He noted a mild killing aura around the werewolf, confirming that the werewolf had plenty of experience with killing. Besides the armored werewolf, the circular hall only had a notable large door. ¡°Lord Discipline, I have brought the children.¡± The masked man bowed. Discipline opened his eyes. His gaze flew past Nez before stopping at Ren. ¡°Leave.¡± The confused Ren wondered if the order was targetted at him. ¡°Understood.¡± The masked man departed, leaving Ren and Nez alone with the werewolf. ¡°Congratulations. Today, you shall become first-class Edahins.¡± Discipline smiled, but it was awkward and forced. Nonetheless, Discipline''s words reminded Ren of his conversation with Lena. Becoming a first-class citizen was one of the benefits of completing the trial. ¡°Nehahaha, I¡¯m already a first-class citizen! That isn¡¯t enough for Lord Nez!¡± Ren¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Nez¡¯s tone terrified him. The cat had no cognizance of time, place or occasion. The werewolf¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change and Nez¡¯s demand was left hanging. Nez pouted and opened its mouth when the door opened, revealing the darkness behind it. Instantly, an oppressive pressure compressed the air. The temperature rose and it seemed as though the space within the hall was compressed. It felt like drought had struck. Ren struggled to breathe and his throat was parched. All kinds of complex emotions wreaked havoc within his heart. ¡®Calm down!¡¯ Ren took a deep breath. The silhouette of a beast emerged from the darkness. ¡°¡°Divine Emperor!¡±¡± An invisible force pushed Ren to his knees. Before he could understand anything, he heard a low, yet dignified voice. ¡°RRise!¡± Regaining freedom, Ren caught a glimpse of a giant lion of about 4 meters in height. Without hesitation, Ren focused all his attention on the lion. To succeed in his bet, he would have to surpass this lion. However, his attempts at scanning the lion yielded failure. He couldn¡¯t sense any killing aura from the beast. Either the lion hadn¡¯t killed before or it knew of a method to evade his senses. Ren¡¯s expression darkened. He could safely discard the first scenario. No ruler could have earned the title of ¡®Strongest in the forest¡¯ peacefully. The path to ruling an empire was filled with bloodshed. This led him to the second scenario; a possibility he dreaded to think. The Divine Emperor could hide its killing aura, a feat which he believed was impossible. Ren''s skill in detecting killing intent was unparalleled. After all, it was one of the requirements that earned him the right to use Forbidden Skills and Void Arts. Ren had never encountered someone capable of hiding their killing aura from his senses. The Divine Emperor was the first exception! ¡°Discipline, accept my orrder!¡± The lion commanded. The werewolf bowed. ¡°Edahi has adopted these cubs! Frrom today, their fates arre linked to my Empirre.¡± The werewolf lowered his body even further. Ren felt a warmth within his abdomen. It grew warmer, like a stream of hot water traveling throughout his body. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Flames burst throughout Ren¡¯s skin. Weirdly, they did not burn his body to crisp. Instead, they combined to form a fireball on Ren¡¯s forehead. It solidified into a medallion. The medallion consisted of a crystalline base with the engraving of a life-like lion. Staring at it, Ren saw an illusion of a burning lion. ROAR! The lion roared and the earth shook. Ren''s face paled as the ground collapsed. ¡°You arre worthy of wielding my medallion. Take it!¡± The Divine Emperor''s voice broke the illusion. Ren grabbed the medallion. His hand warmed as he felt a special connection to the mystical object. The lion returned to the darkness behind the door. The befuddled Ren couldn''t regain his bearings as he didn''t know what to say. The memory of the illusion terrified him. Ren felt a piercing gaze from Discipline. Instantly, he bowed. ¡°Thank you, Divine Emperor!¡± Only then, did the werewolf relax his gaze. As the giant door closed, Ren heard a fleeting voice in his head. ¡®Human cub, do not rrely on Void Energy. It is a path of evil and destrruction.¡¯ Ren smiled weakly. The Divine Emperor far surpassed his expectations. He couldn¡¯t even estimate the lion''s strength while the Divine Emperor had already spotted his trump card. He could only take solace in the Divine Emperor''s benevolent act of keeping his trump card a secret. From the expressions of the cat and the werewolf, he inferred that they knew nothing about the last words of ''advice''. ¡®Five years at most¡­ I will surpass you.'' Ren steeled his heart. ¡°Neho? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Nez asked. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Ren smiled wryly. ¡°Have you determined your path to strength?¡± Discipline asked, his voice as frigid as ever. Ren tilted his head, wondering the werewolf meant. However, Nez replied quickly. ¡°Bloodline Skills!¡± ¡°I see. Do you need a teacher?¡± The werewolf asked. ¡°Teach Lord Nez? Nohohoho! Bring your teachers to Lord Nez! Lord Nez will teach them Bloodline Skills!¡± Nez laughed loudly. The werewolf''s eyelid twitched, but he turned to Ren and asked, ¡°What about you? Which path have you chosen?¡± Ren¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He couldn¡¯t say Forbidden Skills, lest the news spread to troublesome Kyo hunters. However, Ren saw an opportunity! An opportunity to pick a new path! An opportunity to replace his Void Arts! He already had a guess, but he doubted if this world had this legendary path. Discipline frowned at his silence. Seeing this, Ren answered, ¡°Earth Elemental Magic¡­¡± He desperately wished the world had Elemental Magic. He had noted Magic Arts and Magic Crafting, two peculiar paths. But in his heart, nothing compared to Earth Elemental Magic, the signature ability of the Zarstorm clan. He stared at Discipline''s mouth, awaiting the next words. If it went against his wishes, he''d have to search for another path. Discipline''s frown deepened. Seeing this, Ren lost hope. After all, the magic systems in the two worlds were so different. ¡°Do you want a teacher?¡± Disciple asked. Ren¡¯s eyes opened wide and his mouth opened unconsciously. Ren couldn''t begin to describe his joy as a tsunami of happiness flooded his chest. The change from despair to hope was too quick! ¡°Yes, please!¡± He replied enthusiastically. Chapter 31: A Broken Shack! Ren scanned his room. He realized that he had nothing to claim as his belongings. Besides the torn clothes, he had three sets of clean clothes and a mask, gifts from the kind-hearted Lena. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± He turned around. A familiar black-haired cat-girl entered his vision. She leaned against the door, smiling faintly. However, her tail moved like a dancing snake, indicating that her mood was anything but peaceful. ¡°Yeah, did Kana tell you?¡± Ren asked. Lena nodded and added, ¡°I heard you¡¯re moving to the Edahin University. Is that true?¡± Ren¡¯s brows rose. He wondered how she had learned of this news, but thinking of Kana¡¯s influence, he found his answer. After all, she was his caretaker. The silhouette he saw the previous night also pointed towards Kana. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m moving today.¡± Lena¡¯s smile faded. She approached Ren and bent to match his height. ¡°Ren, I know you¡¯re hiding many secrets from me. Especially in the last few days... You completed the trial and¡­ and met the Divine Emperor!? Grrhh!¡± Lena¡¯s tail swung like a flashing sword. Under her glare, Ren smiled awkwardly. He had tried his best to keep these matters a secret, all to no avail. ¡°Did Kana tell you all this?¡± Ren asked. If this news spread to normal demi-humans, he knew that his goal of eradicating his infamy might remain a wishful fantasy. ¡°Is that your concern?! What other secrets are you hiding? Spit it out!¡± Ren opened his mouth before closing it. He determined that silence was his best reply. It proved to be effective as Lena sighed, cooling from her rage. ¡°Ha¡­ I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing or what kind of company you¡¯re getting involved with. And I won¡¯t pry into your affairs, but I want you to remember one thing.¡± Ren blinked. ¡°This is a cruel world and you¡¯re too young to face it. You¡¯ve already offended enough enemies for many lifetimes. Now, you¡¯re moving to the Edahin University¡­ a place that I know you¡¯re not prepared for.¡± Lena clenched her fist. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a university? A place of learning.¡± Ren asked, bewildered. The way Lena spoke, it made him wonder if he was entering a battlefield. ¡°Yes, and no. More than a haven of learning, it¡¯s a chaotic and dangerous place. I know many Edahins that entered there only to never return alive. Their internal feuds are just as cruel as wars.¡± Lena¡¯s expression worsened as she continued. ¡°Especially beware of the factions! Even though you¡¯ll find many opportunities to make friends or enemies with them, just stay away...No. Run away! Once you get involved, it¡¯s over. No matter the result, you will always be the loser.¡± Ren nodded. For some inexplicable reason, he couldn''t bring himself to oppose Lena. ¡°I think that¡¯s it? ¡­Ah! Be super picky with your friends. If they try to sell you a faction, CUT ALL TIES! ¡­Stop smiling! I¡¯m very, extremely serious here!¡± Lena pouted. However, Ren couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Lena¡¯s attitude reminded him of a worried elder sister. Weirdly, it was a familiar, yet foreign experience. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Sis Lena. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°So you say. Ha¡­ just don¡¯t forget my advice!¡± Lena¡¯s tail stopped moving, indicating that she had regained peace of mind. ¡°Sure. I guess I¡¯ll leave then.¡± Ren grabbed a bag, containing his stuff. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to visit me often! I won¡¯t spare you otherwise!¡± She bared her teeth at him. ¡°Sure sure.¡± Ren took a step towards the door when he stopped and asked, ¡°One last thing. Does the word Lunocha remind you of anything?" Lena pursed her lips and mused. In the end, she shook her head. ¡°I think I¡¯ve encountered that term somewhere. Maybe a book. But¡­ I can¡¯t remember which one.¡± ¡°Never mind then. Just forget I asked.¡± A faint smile crept up Ren''s face as he left.
Moments after Ren left, Lena sat on the bed, frowning. ''Lunocha? Why do I feel like I''ve heard of that term? Why does it make it uncomfortable?'' She rubbed her aching head. ''I might be misunderstanding my uneasiness. I''m probably worried for Ren. Will he be okay? Sister survived the University... Can he do it?'' ''No! There''s no way that he''ll be fine. The demi-humans will turn his life into hell. But how can I help him?'' She hammered her aching head, but it yielded no solutions.
¡°Where are we?¡± Ren asked. Accompanied by the masked, bat-winged man, he wandered through thick woods. The blazing sun sat above his head, boiling his brain. He lost track of how much time had passed since their trip had begun. ¡°Quiet! We¡¯re almost there.¡± The masked man replied, his head bobbing around like a chicken. Ren shrugged. Bored, he examined the bat-winged man''s mask. ¡®How can he see? Is his mask see-through? Or is he blind? But... Damn! His wings are huge!¡¯ The masked man briefly took to the sky. ¡®Why is an Earth Elementalist living in these thick woods? Why am I asking these many questions? What is the meaning of life? Why is the sky blue? Why do we even ask questions? Is it to find answers? Then, did the question come first or the answer?'' The heat fried Ren''s brain. ''Whatever! As long as I can learn earth magic, everything will be worth it.¡¯ Ren stretched when the masked man returned. ¡°Follow me.¡± They trudged ahead for a considerable distance before stopping. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived¡­ Keep quiet.¡± The masked man commanded.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ren rolled his eyes. Amongst them, only one person was speaking and it was the bat-winged man. Nevertheless, he looked ahead, noting a shabby shack. Tiny holes and missing planks made the shack unusable. The masked man threw a stone. Thud¡­ The stone collapsed beside the cottage, missing it by a tiny margin. Ren finally understood the origin of the holes. The masked man was clearly involved in professional vandalism! ¡­BAM! The ground opened and swallowed the rock. It slammed shut, leaving nothing behind. Gulp! Ren awakened at this sight. A mere fraction of a second was enough to bury to stone, and he doubted if it¡¯d take any longer to bury him. Whoosh! The bat-winged man flew towards the cottage. Dun! Dun! Dun! Chains of mud shot out of the ground. Within a moment, they surrounded the bat-winged man. [¡°Discipline: Silence!¡±] The chains froze midair. With a swift motion, the masked man flew higher. Clang! Regaining freedom, the chains struck, forming a messy knot. They barely missed the bat-winged man. ¡°Xerzhe! I bring orders from Lord Discipline.¡± The masked man shouted. Ren rolled his eyes. Throwing stones at other''s property in the name of Discipline? He found a deeper level of appreciation for Edahi... A place filled with hypocrites like himself. Whoosh! The mud chains sunk into the ground. The masked man hesitated before entering the shack. Alone, Ren leaned against the tree. ¡®Xerzhe, huh? Is that his name? At least, his earth magic doesn¡¯t seem shabby. Should I test it with a stone? ...Better not¡¯ Ren relaxed under the shade. After a while of silence, a whooshing sound caught Ren¡¯s attention. He climbed the tree, noticing a giant butterfly approach him. ''Wow... Beautiful!'' The butterfly''s blue wings glittered under the sunlight. It ingrained the word beautiful into his mind. A green-skinned woman rode the giant insect. She waved at him. ¡®Zuzi? She already arrived? Ha... it must be great not having to walk through this hell.¡¯ Ren hid his complaints and waved back. Reaching the vicinity of the worn shack, a blond-haired teenager dropped down from the butterfly. Della instantly dusted her pants before greeting Ren. ¡°Young Master.¡± ¡°Have you prepared everything?¡± Ren asked. He wondered if a few hours was enough for Della to pack and say her farewells. ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± She replied, pointing to the large bag on her back. Ren nodded. Turning to the giant butterfly, he bowed. ¡°Zuzi, thank you for everything.¡± ¡°Keep your thanks. And good luck!¡± Zuzi winked before disappearing into the horizon. Ren smiled awkwardly. He wanted to discuss Teleportation with her, but he could delay it for now. The door of the shack opened and two people exited the darkness. Besides the masked man, Ren noticed a familiar black-robed figure. The messy black hair and the flagon¡­ Ren never expected to meet this familiar stranger again. ¡®It¡¯s him!?¡¯ Ren''s eyebrows rose. ¡°Ren, he¡¯ll be your teacher from today. And¡­ who is that beside you?¡± The masked-man asked. ¡°She¡¯s the one I spoke about today morning. She¡¯ll be studying with me.¡± Ren replied. However, his gaze remained frozen on the black-haired stranger. ¡°I understand.¡± The masked-man nodded before facing the black-haired man. ¡°Xerzhe, I¡¯ll leave the children into your hands.¡± The bat wings expanded and the masked man returned to his domain, the air. With his departure, an awkward silence filled the proximity of the shack. The stranger didn¡¯t mind it as he drank from his flagon. ¡°Thank you for help last time.¡± Ren broke the silence. During his training, he had missed the opportunity to thank the black-haired stranger. ¡°Right¡­ Fate has brought us together. Not that I believe such nonsense.¡± The stranger tapped the ground. Three mud chairs arose from the ground, positioned behind each person. ¡°Sit!¡± The stranger lounged on his chair. Ren accepted the offer, while Della didn¡¯t move. ¡°Della?¡± Ren asked. ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ll stand,¡± Della replied. Her eyes contained a hint of fear. ¡®Is she afraid of me? Or is she being too formal?¡¯ Ren mused before continuing. ¡°Della, you¡¯re my chef, not some slave. You can sit. I don¡¯t care for formalities.¡± ¡°Young Master, I prefer standing.¡± The anxiety in her voice befuddled Ren. It almost seemed like she was frightened of sitting. In the end, he could only accept her decision. ¡°Hah, it seems like the two of you have an interesting relationship. Not that I care too much.¡± The stranger gulped from his flagon and continued. ¡°It''s time for introductions. My name is Xerzhe and my goal is to become the greatest drunkard in Everleaf. Not that I think it¡¯s likely. I teach Elemental Magic, and I¡¯m extremely picky with my students. Get ready for a test later. Kid, state your name and goals.¡± Ren took a deep breath, digesting the new information. He felt two sets of gazes on him, expecting his reply. He fell into a dilemma on the issue of mentioning his goal. Depending on Xerzhe''s character, Xerzhe could either support or inhibit his goal. However, considering how Xerzhe helped him the last time, even feeding him, despite being total strangers, Ren couldn''t think of Xerzhe as a petty character. After sorting his mind, he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m Ren. My goal¡­ My goal is to become the strongest in Everleaf Forest.¡± Ren replied honestly. ¡°Good. Target the top of the Mother Tree and maybe you¡¯ll reach its branches. Not that there''s anything worthwhile in those branches." Turning to Della, Xerzhe asked, "Young Lass, what about you?¡± Della fidgeted before replying. ¡°Della Kelchon. I wish to become a powerful Elementalist and¡­ and help the Young Master.¡± Della clenched the edge of her long-sleeved t-shirt. Ren felt flabbergasted. He only wished for Della to gain the strength to protect herself, but her response pleasantly surprised him. After some contemplation, he guessed that she probably wanted to repay his favor of saving his life. And Ren didn''t know how to feel about it. However, Xerzhe had a completely different reaction. ¡°Not that I doubt you, but is that your true goal?¡± He took another gulp from his flagon. ¡°Yes¡­ Yes!¡± Della vigorously nodded. ¡°Okay. Then let¡¯s begin the test.¡± Xerzhe closed his eyes. A wall of mud sprang up, enclosing them along with a large portion of their surroundings. Ren studied the walls. Deep down, he craved to test its strength, but he could only quell those feelings for now. ¡°Look at my hand.¡± Xerzhe opened his palm, revealing two stones: a blue stone, and a brown stone. ¡°These are elemental stones. They serve an important purpose that you¡¯ll learn later. For now, grab one.¡± Xerzhe tossed a stone towards each of them. Ren caught the brown stone. The stone melted to goo in his hand, slowly dripping to the ground. ¡°Eek!¡± Della shook her arm vigorously. Ren noticed a hint of blue on her rapidly swinging palm. ¡°Stop flailing. Just channel your mana and they¡¯ll revert to normal.¡± Xerzhe said. Ren closed his eyes, sucking all the surrounding energy into his body. Usually, he¡¯d keep only the Natural Energy and discard the rest. But on this occasion, he fought his habit and retained all the energy. ¡®Which one was mana? It should be this one. But separating it from the rest seems like a chore. Hmm¡­ what if I just use the combined energy? After all, it has mana. So, it should work?¡¯ Ren gathered his energy into his palm. The gooey semi-liquid solidified into stone. ¡®It reacts to mana¡­ Interesting.¡¯ ¡°AH! Please get it off! Someone help me!¡± Della screamed. The blue goo coated her palm, slowly spreading to her elbow. ¡°Della! Stop panicking and use your mana.¡± Ren¡¯s words did not affect Della as she scratched her palm. However, the goo attached to her fingers, slowly coating her second hand as well. Ren let out a short sigh and approached her. He touched her hand and repeated the process. Soon, the blue goo coagulated to form a blue stone. Holding one stone in each of his palms, Ren studied them. Upon melting, they dripped to the ground. This puzzled Ren as he wondered why the blue stone sought to stick onto Della while ignoring him. ¡°Della, you should work on channeling on your mana. That was a horrendous performance. Ren, you must isolate the mana before using it. Impure mana will hamper your efficiency. Not that it is possible to segregate pure mana. Anyways¡­¡± Xerzhe burped. The ground before Ren separated to reveal a deep pit. ¡°Drop the stones,¡± Xerzhe ordered. Ren tossed the stones into the pit, disappointed that he couldn¡¯t learn more about their peculiar behavior. The pit closed, burying the Elemental Stones in the deep. ¡°Good. Now I¡¯ll begin the test. Remember, if you fail, I won¡¯t accept you as my students." Xerzhe waved his flagon. "I hid the two elemental stones within this region, enclosed by the walls. You have 2 hours to find them. Not one second more.¡± He jumped onto the mud wall. Staring down at the contestants below, he continued. ¡°Both of you must cooperate. I have assigned the Water Elemental Stone to Della and the Earth Elemental Stone to Ren. Find your respective stone and you¡¯ll pass. Fail to do so, and you may search for another teacher. This wall will gradually collapse, and in two hours, it will be submerged. Not that I believe it''s a great indicator of time. Well, good luck!¡± Xerzhe chugged from his seemingly endless supply of alcohol. Ren blinked. Staring at the large area, he gulped. ¡®I might as well search for a pin in a haystack.¡¯ He frowned. Chapter 32: The Pointless Test! ¡°How do I find them? Are they buried deep?¡± Ren asked. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. Cooperate with your partner and find the stones.¡± Xerzhe swirled his flagon. Ren took a deep breath. After punching his face, he searched the surface. ¡®What is the purpose of this test? It can¡¯t be something as pointless as hide-and-seek, right?¡¯ Ren displaced rocks and dug into bushes in an attempt to ensure that no stone was left unturned. In the process, he shifted a giant boulder and found a hint of blue underneath. Surprised, Ren touched the blue goo and channeled his mana. The semi-liquid solidified into stone! ¡®Already found one?! That was easy¡­¡¯ ¡°Della, I found yours.¡± He lifted it before lobbing it to the black-robed man. ¡°I found the blue stone. Did she pass?¡± ¡°Yes. Not that she found it but, the rules are the rules. Congratulations Della.¡± Xerzhe clapped. Della smiled, but it was a forced one. Her behavior perplexed Ren. Shrugging, he returned to his task. ''This has to be the worst test I''ve ever taken! Is the other stone also hidden in beneath a rock? Or is this some sort of preparation for a treasure hunt?¡¯
Time passed and the mud wall lowered gradually. Each second ticked into oblivion, doomed to never return. Ren searched every nook and corner. Beneath the rocks, beside the trees, behind the leaves, within the bushes¡­ he left nothing to chance. However, his search yielded unfavorable results. In the meantime, the wall had lowered to 1/10th of its original height. Sitting on it, Xerzhe played with his feet, casually whistling. Ren groaned. Having probed the surface, one last reasonable hiding spot remained. ¡®He kept the blue stone in plain sight, but hid the brown one underground¡­? Does he have some sort of personal vendetta with me? Where am I supposed to dig?¡¯ He glared at the black-haired drunkard. ¡®Wait! Why is he drumming his feet? Is that a clue? Ah! It¡¯s underneath my feet!¡¯ Remembering Xerzhe¡¯s cryptic method of providing clues, Ren solidified his suspicion. His eyes brightened as he dug the ground beneath his feet. While digging, he noticed Della. Throughout the search, he hadn¡¯t noticed her doing much. She occasionally moved here and there, but besides that, he doubted if she contributed anything. However, to be fair, he hadn''t paid much attention to her. Choosing to give her the benefit of the doubt, he shouted. ¡°Della, stop searching the surface. The second one is underneath your feet. Dig there!¡± Xerzhe stopped drumming his feet. It boosted Ren''s confidence in his judgment. Soon, the wall¡¯s height dropped rapidly, and the hole grew larger. Ren''s gaze alternated between the shrinking wall and the ground. Sweat, mixed with dirt soiled his clothes. ¡®Damn it! There¡¯s no time¡­ Did Della find anything? No¡­ She would¡¯ve let me know. Is it deeper?¡¯ As he reached the last few seconds, his heart rate increased. ''No... Where is it? No! My guess can''t be wrong!'' The mud tore into the pinks of his fingernails. A few of them bled. Yet, he dug. ¡°Time¡¯s up!" Ren''s heart sunk. In a daze, his fingers dug autonomously. "Stop!¡± Xerzhe commanded. Ren''s hands slowed to a stop. Staring at his empty hole, his mind blanked. ¡®I¡­ failed? I guessed wrong? Did Della not find it as well?¡¯ Ren leaped out of his hole and stared at Della''s handiwork. All he saw was pristine ground beneath Della¡¯s feet. Not one speck of dirt had been moved! ¡®Huh? Did she not hear me?¡¯ Ren blinked, struggling to comprehend his sight. Xerzhe chugged from his flagon before announcing. ¡°Good work! Here are the results. Della, you passed. From today, you can learn Elemental Magic." Turning to Ren, he continued, "Ren, you failed. Return to the city and search for another teacher.¡± ¡°Wait! Where did you hide it?¡± Ren asked. More than the shock of losing, he was disappointed in the test itself. It added nothing to his skillset. ¡°Simple. Beneath Della¡¯s feet.¡± Xerzhe laughed while tapping the ground.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Eek!?¡± Della took a step back. Ren frowned. He approached her previous position and brushed the surface. After peeling a layer of dirt, he stopped. An unnatural brown blob hid within the earth. Upon touching, it solidified. Ren glanced at the fidgeting Della. He was at a loss for what to say. ¡®Didn''t I clearly- Was this deliberate? But why would she betray me? There are no benefits¡­?'' A possibility slithered into his mind, numbing it. ''Unless¡­ She wants to monopolize the teacher¡¯s resources? Right! She came from that decrepit town. She¡¯s merely using her chance to gain an advantage.'' ''I trusted such a petty person? Was I always this blind?¡¯ Ren held his forehead. The moment felt surreal to him. ¡°Do you want me to escort you out?¡± Xerzhe grinned. Ren snapped out of his daze. ¡°No, I can walk fine. Thank you.¡± Squeezing out a few words, he grabbed his bag. ¡°Youn-Young Master!¡± Della¡¯s repulsive shout provoked his fury. It reminded him of her petty character and his terrible vision. ¡°Never call me that again! You''re free to pursue your ambition!¡± He entered the forest, disgusted by everything. ¡°Catch. Not that I¡¯m generous, but it¡¯s a gift from the Council.¡± Ren caught the flying object. It was the Earth Elemental Stone. Pocketing it, he left. He heard a faint sobbing behind him, but he ignored it. Escaping into the forest, he sought peace of mind.
Night. Ren sat on a branch. He hadn¡¯t eaten for many hours, but he felt no hunger. Only pure anger... Not at Della, but himself. ¡®What went wrong? Was I blinded by food? Ha! How foolish...¡¯ He smiled depreciatingly. Soon, fatigue overwhelmed him and he fell asleep.
Ren kneeled before an old man. A strand of light blue hair dropped onto the old man¡¯s face. He shifted it onto his head and asked. ¡°Have you assimilated into your new environment?¡± ¡°No, I can still hear whispers and curses behind my back. It fills me with killing intent.¡± Ren answered. ¡°Hah! Ignore them. Anything else?¡± The old man gulped a mouthful of tea. Ren stared at the reflection in his teacup. After heaving an indistinguishable sigh, he asked. ¡°Old Master, why would you declare that I''m the next in line for the Branch Head? I¡¯m no pureblood. And Second Master is the rightful heir.¡± ¡°That henpecked brat is unreliable." The old man scoffed, "He¡¯s loyal to the Zelongs, even after what they did to his older brother. Such scum is not worthy of leading the Zarstorms.¡± Ren nodded and sipped his tea. A calm silence filled the empty room. ¡°I heard about your new subordinate. Rou is her name, correct?" Without pausing for an answer, the old man continued, "Usually, I wouldn¡¯t care. But her origin is suspect. She has every reason to betray you. Why would you trust her? Moreover, she¡¯s a hideous creature behind that disguise.¡± ¡°Old Master, I disagree.¡± Ren exhaled a warm puff of air and continued, ¡°My choice of subordinates might be weird but I¡¯ll give them a chance before discarding them. ¡­And I believe in Rou!¡± ¡°Hah! Ren, the word ''believe'' shouldn¡¯t be used lightly. There should be only one thing you believe in. Do I have to remind you?¡± The old man set his teacup aside. ¡°No, Old Master. I acknowledge my mistake." Ren stood and unsheathed his sword. "I believe in the future of the Zarstorm clan.¡± He cut a slight wound on his arm. Tsuiin! The sword slid through the wound, peeling a long layer of skin and flesh. Drip! Ren''s blood dripped to the ground as he recited his pledge. ¡°My loyalty lies with the Zarstorms alone. I promise the revival of the clan, even at the cost of my last breath.¡± Ren sheathed his sword. ¡°This! This is why I trust you!" With a flushed face, the old man slammed the ground. "Unlike my incompetent son, your loyalty is clear to me. You¡¯re the only one who I can trust. Even Tara can''t understand me.¡± Ren nodded and kneeled. He sipped from his teacup. However, the pain ruined his appetite. ¡°Ren, there¡¯s something I must remind you.¡± The old man spoke. ¡°I¡¯m listening, Old Master.¡± ¡°Once you master your Void Arts, or maybe even before then¡­ I will be killed." The old man sighed. Ren frowned, awaiting an explanation. "You cannot save me. The Zelongs know my ambition. After my death, they will promote my incompetent son to the position of Branch Head. Under the ignorant puppet''s rule, they will exterminate the last of us.¡± A crazed light flashed past the old man''s blue eyes as he commanded. ¡°At that time, don¡¯t hesitate. Kill my son! Use any means to wrest control of the branch!¡± Crack! The teacup in Ren''s hand cracked. ¡°Old Master?¡± He asked. ¡°I know I¡¯m contradicting everything I¡¯ve taught you. ¡®You shall not harm a Zarstorm!¡¯ Nonsense! I¡¯m relieving you from this unnecessary burden." The old man''s voice turned frosty as he added, "As long as the result ends in the successful reign of my Lotus, I could care less for the means.¡± ¡°Old Master, this is not an easy decision. It will change our plans drastically. ...I have to discuss this with my advisor.¡± Ren placed his broken teacup aside. ¡°Take your time and don''t be upset. You are my weapon! But unless you¡¯re capable of destroying internal threats, you''re a defective weapon!¡± Ren took a deep breath to calm the chaos in his mind. It took a minute of silence for both of them to settle down. ¡°Ren, show leniency towards Tara. He¡¯s too senile for his age, but his expertise in Earth Elemental Magic will help you.¡± The old man struggled as he continued, ¡°However, in the scenario where he stands in your path¡­ Kill him!¡± Ren¡¯s heart grew heavy. However, he quickly removed all the unwanted thoughts and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll keep Old Master¡¯s advice in mind.¡± He departed. ¡°Beware of your choice in subordinates. Prioritize your goals and the path will become clear.¡± A fleeting voice drifted into his ears.
Ren woke up to the shrill cries of cicadas. He sighed before gazing at the stars. Time flew in silence, but Ren couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡®I failed this time, but I cannot stop. My goal is clear! The day after tomorrow, I¡¯ll enroll in the University. I will find my opportunity there.¡¯ He noticed a bird in the corner of his vision. It grew larger, revealing the silhouette of an owl. ¡®Piko? What is he doing here?¡¯ Ren climbed higher up the tree. The owl floated around, seemingly searching for something. It caught a glimpse of Ren before diving towards him. ¡°Lord Ren! I¡¯m back!¡± Its voice was filled with excitement. ¡°Wait! How did you find me?¡± Ren asked. The Council always found him with his medallion, and Chinzu could track him with her butterfly. However, it didn''t make any sense for Piko to track him. ¡°Lord Ren, I¡¯m a scout and a spy. It¡¯s an embarrassment if I can¡¯t find a human in this forest.¡± Piko replied in a bashful tone. Ren narrowed his eyes. ¡°You can leave. I have no interest in your clan.¡± He said. ¡°Lord Ren? But, you said that-¡± ¡°Stop wasting my time. I know you failed.¡± The owl tilted its head and said, ¡°Failed? Lord Ren, I think you¡¯re misunderstanding. I found the information you wanted.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Ren shook his head. How could his clan appear in this world? ¡°Of course, we didn¡¯t find anything on the terms ''Zelong'' or ''Nell''.¡± The owl continued in a cheerful tone, ¡°But we did find valuable information on the word ''Zarstorm''.¡± Ren¡¯s eyes opened wide. Chapter 33: The Zarstorm Empire? Ren landed on paved ground. A towering wall faced his back and tts glowing inscriptions terrified him. His instincts wanted nothing to do with the wall and its inscriptions. Looking at the concrete buildings, Ren gulped. Used to the wooden architecture of Evergreen city, the developed buildings surprised him. He felt a strong sense of familiarity with the architecture. Nostalgia clouded Ren''s mind. Everything reminded him of home. However, a particular difference destroyed his reverie. The inscriptions on the buildings glared at him. In this aspect, the buildings resembled Edahi¡¯s model of architecture. ¡°Lord Ren, welcome to the Lunocha clan. I shall be your guide.¡± The owl perched on Ren''s shoulder. ¡°Why did you bring me to your clan?¡± Ren asked. He couldn¡¯t get over the vague sense of familiarity. ¡°Our Matriarch wishes to meet you. Of course, it is related to Zarstorm.¡± Ren nodded and followed the owl¡¯s directions. On his way, he encountered many black-haired humans, clad in decorated robes. Their cheerful banter filled the air. It was a familiar, yet foreign sight, distinct from the enslaved human town in Ren''s memory. However, an extraordinary aura surrounded everyone. It reminded him of their identity. They were Ascended Humans! Ren¡¯s blue hair stuck out in the crowd. All sorts of gazes fell upon him, mostly curious. Ren sighed. He couldn¡¯t escape his unspoken fate of being the center of attention. His sole consolation was the lack of hostility from the crowd. ¡°Hey, a human!¡± ¡°What is a human doing in our Clan? I¡¯ll blast him out!¡± Two young men spoke loudly, ill-concerned of inconveniencing the public. Ren stopped, curious if he''d meet the first hostile bunch. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Wait! That¡¯s Elder Xeroh!¡± ¡°Elder? Blasted bones! I forgot my training sash. I''ll be back.¡± ¡°Pfft! Weren¡¯t you the one who spoke of kicking him out? Chicken!¡± ¡°Your mom is a chicken!¡± ¡°She¡¯s your mom too!¡± Ren couldn¡¯t help but smile. However, Piko¡¯s head plunged. ¡°Lord Ren, please ignore these rascals. I¡¯ll teach them a lesson later!¡± Piko glared at the two brothers.
Ren entered the largest building in his vicinity. Armored swordsmen crowded the building. With Piko¡¯s intervention, they passed the security and entered a large room. A white-spotted black lamp stood at the center. Its overpowering black light arrested the trespassing sunlight, isolating them in the shadows made by the lamp''s spots. As a result, the walls resembled stars glowing in the night sky. ¡°Welcome, Void Arts Practitioner Ren.¡± A soft, cracking voice caught his attention. An old woman approached him, seated in a wheelchair. Her large spectacles rested on her wrinkled face. However, her black hair lacked a single trace of white. A uniformed maid pushed the wheelchair towards him. ¡°Are you Lunocha¡¯s Matriarch?¡± Ren''s brows furrowed. ¡°Indeed, Young Ren. Entering this cruel path at such a young age¡­ It breaks my heart to see such suffering.¡± The Matriarch wiped her spectacles. ¡°Thank you for the concern, but I¡¯m not here for your pity.¡± Ren''s impression of the Matriarch instantly plunged. She wouldn¡¯t have spared him a glance if he wasn¡¯t a Void Arts Practitioner. Yet, she feigned pity over the same issue. ¡°If the elders were to be apathetic towards the plights of the younger generation, the youth shall grow into a bitter generation, crueler to their young ones. This vicious cycle of apathy will destroy us. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Her smile warped her wrinkles. ¡°The information or I¡¯m leaving,¡± Ren warned. He even doubted if they had any information on the Zarstorms. The Matriarch nodded and commanded in a soft, yet stern voice. ¡°Xeroh, can you bring my documents?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°¡­Matriarch, pardon my memory, but may I know which documents?¡± Piko asked hesitantly. ¡°Silly me. I placed them on my study table. They¡¯re the ones marked with ¡®Zarstorm¡¯. You can''t miss them.¡± ¡°Understood, Matriarch.¡± The owl escaped through a window. Ren''s expression fell. He doubted if the old woman was stalling for time. ¡°Young Ren, would you like a cup of tea?¡± Without waiting for a reply, she ordered, ¡°Bring a chair for my guest. And two cups of tea.¡± The maid displaced a chair, carefully positioning it behind Ren. Then, she departed. ¡°I¡¯d prefer if you told me whatever you know about the Zarstorms.¡± Ren sat down. Inwardly, his excitement for the information had dimmed. ¡°You care a lot about ¡®Zarstorm¡¯. Revealing one¡¯s weakness is a terrible idea in a negotiation.¡± The old woman caressed the armrest of her chair. ¡°I disagree.¡± Ren stared into the old woman¡¯s black pupils and continued, ¡°There are no negotiations without this information. If you want my help in any manner, I need all the information on the Zarstorms. If your clan withholds it or I find it unsatisfactory, I¡¯m leaving. But, conversely, if it is helpful, I will return the favor. So, can you stop stalling?¡± ¡°Are all children fearless these days? It¡¯s no wonder that we have Void Arts prodigy. I can rest assured. The future is in wonderful hands.¡± The Matriarch praised while accepting a teacup from the diligent maid. Ren clenched his fist. ¡°Lord.¡± The maid offered a cup to him. He refused the cup and outright ignored the maid. She awkwardly placed it aside. ¡°If you''re going to stall, I''ll have to assume that you know nothing. And if you shift the topic again, I will leave.¡± He spoke in a deadpan voice. Unlike his expectations, the Matriarch smiled calmly and waved her hand. The maid approached her and whispered into her ears. Although Ren couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, he guessed that it pertained to the source of the delay. After a gesture, the maid moved the Matriarch towards the mystical lamp. The Matriarch touched the lamp and spoke. ¡°It feels like yesterday. I sat on my father¡¯s lap, listening to his bedtime stories. One story, I could never forget. It was an era when the Mother Tree wasn¡¯t supreme. A lotus bloomed! Its petals spread throughout Everleaf forest, expanding at an inconceivable pace.¡± Ren¡¯s heart shook. He isolated all his thoughts as his back unconsciously straightened. ¡°It was the awakening of the earliest known empire in Everleaf, the Zarstorm Empire. Earth Elementalists ruled the forest and humans were supreme amongst the races. Even so, every creature bowed before the ultimate ruler, the Progenitor.¡± A nostalgic smile crept up the Matriarch¡¯s face. Her eyes turned cloudy, as though she had witnessed that era. ¡°This Golden Age invented the field of Magic Crafting, along with its inscriptions. Even Teleforms are credited to this period. A short 10 years... It transformed the forest forever. It connected and united the fragmented forest under the ever-blooming lotus. Or so, one would believe.¡± The old woman closed her eyes. ¡°Every flower with wither one day. What matters is how long they captivated the world with their beauty. The Zarstorm Empire captivated the world for 10 years. However, its fall did not leave Everleaf in chaos. A new empire rose in its place, the Edahi." The Matriarch sighed and continued, "The rest is common history.¡± Ren gulped before asking, ¡°How long ago was this?¡± ¡°If we go by Edahin records, it will date at least 5000 years back.¡± Ren sighed. He was confident that the Zarstorm Empire belonged to his Zarstorm branch. Unless there existed another Zarstorm bloodline with the lotus as its symbol and Earth Elemental Magic as its expertise. The possibility of such a coincidence was lower than the possibility of Rui speaking the truth. ¡°What about the ruler? What was he like?¡± He asked. ¡°We don¡¯t know much about the ruler. But in our ancient records, they¡¯ve been mentioned as the Progenitor.¡± ¡°Are his descendants alive?¡± Ren¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°Yes.¡± The woman smiled. Whoo! Ren sucked in a breath of cool air. Excitement, hope, and joy returned to his parched heart. ¡°Where¡­ are they?¡± His voice grew hoarse. The Matriarch caressed the lamp. Staring at the glowing darkness, she spoke. ¡°Young Ren, we are the descendants of the Progenitor.¡± Ren jerked. However, upon second thought, his brows furrowed. ¡°You have the bloodline of this Progenitor?¡± He asked. ¡°Indeed, we are the heirs of the Progenitor. Even our earliest known ancestors refer to the Progenitor as their ancestor.¡± The Matriarch replied in a grave tone. ¡°I see. How good is your Earth Elemental Magic?¡± Ren grinned, his gaze alternating between the black hair of both the maid and the Matriarch. ¡°I¡¯ll have to disappoint Young Ren. We aren¡¯t Earth Elementalists.¡± The Matriarch smiled faintly. ¡°What about your bloodline skills?¡± Ren hid his urge to laugh. A cold flame raged within his chest. The Matriarch¡¯s smile faded. She ordered, ¡°Cut the lights.¡± The maid nodded and waved her hand. The curtains closed, forbidding entry to the sunlight. The lamp became the sole illuminator in the room. ¡®Wind Elemental Magic?¡¯ Ren¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Matriarch removed her spectacles. Her cloudy black pupils focused on him. Profound darkness corrupted the whites in the Matriarch''s eyes, turning it black like viscous tar. Thump! Besides the rhythmic thumping of Ren''s heart, the room was silent. However, the Matriarch''s pupils brightened, overpowering the darkness. It resembled the moon in a starless sky. Thump! Thump! Ren¡¯s heart pounded rapidly. A slight change had transformed the fragile old woman into a dangerous predator. ¡°Young Ren, please come closer.¡± The Matriarch beckoned. Ren calmed his heart before approaching the Matriarch. She grabbed his hands by force. A green light covered Ren¡¯s fingers. He felt a slight tingling in the depths of his fingernails. Soon, his wounds healed, expelling the remnants of the dirt. The green light spread throughout his body, massaging the minor wounds spread throughout his body. ¡°There, all healed.¡± The Matriarch dropped Ren¡¯s hands and continued, ¡°This is our bloodline skill.¡± ¡°Healing, it¡¯s a powerful bloodline skill.¡± Ren¡¯s eyes gleamed but his joy fell flat. Healing was never an expertise of the Zarstorms. The Matriarch¡¯s eyes returned to normal. However, her complexion was a shade paler. ¡°Young Ren, I believe you mentioned our cooperation hinges on sincerity from both sides. We¡¯ve proved our sincerity. Now, I ask for your sincerity.¡± The Matriarch smiled weakly and asked, ¡°What is your origin and how did you learn Void Arts?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a human. As for the latter question, how many methods of learning Void Arts are you aware of?¡± Ren shrugged. Crack! The armrest of the wheelchair broke. The old woman entered a coughing fit. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes¡­ yes. I¡¯m fine.¡± The Matriarch took many short breaths. Nevertheless, the concern on the maid¡¯s face told Ren that all was not well. Upon regaining her breath, the Matriarch spoke. ¡°Young Ren, we have one last request. Can you show us your Void Arts?¡± Rewrite + Temp. Hiatus The title says it all. My first attempt at writing a story wasn¡¯t my best attempt. Reading certain chapters again, I spotted several mistakes(both major and minor). All these mistakes accumulated such that focusing on the next chapter became a chore.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I¡¯m taking a hiatus to refocus on the story and improve my skills. It''ll last around 3-4 weeks and when I return, I shall bring along a better web novel. Thank you for the support, follows, favorites, rates, reviews, and comments. Above all, thank you for reading. -Admiral Rasuke.