《Dark Magic : The Rise Of The Scarlet Sorcerer》


 chapter 01 : the Empty book

    " Do you desire power ? "


    " Do you want revenge? "


    " Find the book, Boy "


    "And your wish shall be Granted"


    Sunlight penetrated the dark room through the broken window, making the shadows dance as if they were calm waves about to break


    The sleeping boy on the floor awoke with a start. His dirty hair, torn clothes, and the iron chain around his neck marked him as a prisoner. He looked around the room, sweating, but saw nothing unusual.


    Slowly, he got up from the floor with difficulty and stumbled toward the half-broken mirror that allowed him to see only a small part of his reflection.


    "Black eyes. Black hair. And this damned chain. This is who you are, James Williams, just a runaway slave waiting for his death," the boy spoke calmly.


    With heavy steps, he returned to the broken window and picked a green mouldy loaf of bread The boy¡¯s face tightened as he took a hearty bite , which tasted terrible. His vision began to blur as he glanced around. He saw a strange, glowing shadow in the kitchen. It was his mother''s ghost.


    "Despite my constant hallucinations of you, Mom, it seems I won¡¯t be able to meet you in the afterlife. It seems my body refuses to give up," the boy said, tears falling on the bread.


    After his meager breakfast, the boy wandered around the room he had been in. He relied on his memory due to the lack of light. After all, this was his home before the catastrophe. He walked from the room he had slept in to the destroyed, empty kitchen and sat on the table, staring at a knife. He closed his eyes, picked it up, and placed it against his neck. ¡°If I¡¯m not going to die naturally, what difference does it make if I do it myself?¡±


    The boy let out a pained laugh and clenched his teeth. He wanted to end it quickly, but the glowing shadow came again and touched his shoulder.


    "Will, do you want a toast?"


    The boy¡¯s eyes opened quickly, and he looked behind him. He had heard his mother¡¯s voice for a moment. He remembered the time when his mother used to make toast, cutting it into slices and dipping it in milk. She had used the same knife he wanted to use to kill himself.


    In the midst of his contemplation, the boy put the knife away.


    "I can¡¯t do it, Mom. Not before I kill the bastard who killed you and made me his slave. I swear I¡¯ll kill him... even if it¡¯s the last thing I do on this earth!"


    James jumped up and headed towards the door. He stopped briefly and looked back. He was used to seeing his mother there to bid him farewell with a warm smile, but all he saw now was darkness and profound silence.


    The boy turned and opened the door to his home. Suddenly, he heard kind words dancing in his ears: ¡°Good luck, James!¡± Even though it was a hallucination and if he turned around, he would find nothing but darkness, it made him smile widely. ¡°I¡¯ll come back one day, Mom. I promise.¡± With that, he closed the door behind him.


    What he found outside his home was destruction and devastation: shattered buildings, a gray sky, and brown earth that showed no signs of life. The boy moved forward, leaving the wreckage of his home behind.


    ¡°All of this because of that damned black creature. Because of him, this beautiful world was destroyed,¡± he cursed inwardly.


    A hundred years ago, humanity was thriving in international peace like never before. Wars had stopped, and wildlife had flourished. Everything was fine until a creature, known to people as X, arrived. It was black like a shadow of an unseen person. It did not attempt to communicate with or speak to humans according to historical records. At precisely one hour, it erased seven billion humans, which is fifty percent of humanity. It left behind massive destruction and irreparable damage. Millions of tribes disappeared from the face of the Earth for unknown reasons, and then it suddenly vanished as if it had never existed. Due to its devastation, the world was split into two parts: one part was shattered and devoid of life, while the other miraculously survived.


    The remaining humans settled in the surviving part, but their greed and primal arrogance did not disappear. Afterward, widespread wars broke out to seize the unshattered areas, returning humanity to its natural roots: the strongest survive.


    Over time, those who could not enter the livable areas settled in the wasteland ,where the gray sky loomed over the land constant reminder of the damage creature X wrath


    James moved through the ruins and approached a giant iron wall.


    ¡°The Utopia,¡± the boy whispered. It was a human settlement created by the ancestors for trade. They had tried to create an advanced human society even amidst the ruins, but they failed miserably. Whoever controlled this settlement was a powerful scoundrel with a strong gang, and he was also a slave trader¡ªthe same bastard who killed my mother and made me his slave: Zerak. The boy clenched his teeth in anger.


    Although the creature X had destroyed humanity and our beloved planet, it left behind a valuable gift to our world, a gift we could never have dreamed of.


    The boy approached a door in the wall and heard a deep voice say, ¡°Name.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The boy spoke, ¡°William James.¡±


    The gift was the strange remains and energy left behind after the attack. Somehow, the remaining humans absorbed that energy after decades of exposure, and one day, this gift was unlocked. The iron wall began to ripple like the surface of water. The iron pieces separated in a fantastical manner and formed an opening like a door.


    The gift was the birth of what is known as magic!


    ¡°You may enter, William James,¡± the strange voice said.


    The boy entered through the opening and was greeted by the familiar sight: weird shaped iron like  houses, metal streets, and lights floating in the air. The general public included some who could fly and others who disappeared and reappeared elsewhere. Strange creatures, like wolves walking on two legs, were present. This was the Utopia.


    as james navigated his way throught the crowd sympathetic glaces met him here and there while other shifted their gaze from him


    The boy lowered his gaze to the ground and quickened his pace. He imagined the stares of passersby falling on him occasionally, all because of the damned chain around his neck.


    After a few meters, he reached one of the shops. He raised his head to read the familiar sign: ¡°The Blacksmith Shop.¡±


    The boy pushed the door open and entered the shop. It was a typical blacksmith''s shop filled with the smell of molten metal and the sound of hammers used to shape the molten pieces.


    He immediately saw an old man who greeted him with a smile. ¡°Hello, James, how are you?¡±


    The boy forced a smile. ¡°Hello, Uncle Michael.¡±


    The boy approached the old man and sat in one of the empty chairs. The old man brought some milk and pieces of bread and handed them to the hungry boy, but the latter refused the food. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve eaten, and milk and bread are expensive these days. I¡¯m fine, really.¡±


    The old man looked at the boy, who tried


    to act strong but was clearly in pain. The


    boy''s mother had been his student, and


    he had raised her as his own daughter


    and taught her how to earn her


    livelihood. Therefore, he felt a sense of


    responsibility toward the boy.


    "Will,  it will go to waste , its just milk and bread" the old man


    explained.


    The boy  stomach begin  to growl and his salvia started to fall like a wastefall  . The


    old man took a cup of milk and poured a


    little on the ground.


    The boy clinched his fists and screamed "S-Stop, I''ll eat, I''l eat, just don''t waste it!"


    The old man smiled kindly and handedthe boy the plate. James broke the breadwith his hands and dipped it in the milk.Before eating, he paused to look at theplate, his body relaxing, and heformed agenuine small smile. He began eating the bread and milk while the old man watched, smiling.


    After finishing the meal, the old man asked, "Do you still have those dreams about the book?"


    James''s body froze as he recalled the


    terrifying voice in his dreams and the


    strange book the voice urged him to find.


    "Yes" the boy answered, in pain.


    The old man was silent for a while and


    then said, "Will, I''ve tried to contacta


    psychiatrist several times, but he


    wouldn''t come here, and I understand his


    situation. People from the other side


    can''t enter our area. I''ve tried really hard,


    but I failed, and there''s no one who can


    help you here. You need to talk to her,


    Will"


    James was silent for a long time,


    understanding what the old man meant.


    "But Uncle, I can''t face her. She died


    because of me. If only I had magical


    powers like everyone else here, I could


    fight or perhaps kill him. But this damned


    body can''t do anything."


    The boy began to cry and tried to hit his


    foot with his hand, but the old man


    stopped him.


    "Will, it wasn''t your fault. Your mother


    tried to protect you, and that''s what


    mothers do. At least visit her before that


    man comes to take you to the mine" the


    old man said.


    The boy looked at the old man and


    nodded slowly.


    In the far north of the metal city, there


    was a large area with no sign of


    buildings. It was the city''s cemetery.


    A small shadow moved through this


    empty cemetery, which only held graves,


    with no signs of artificial lighting or


    decorative iron trees-just a flat expanse


    of grave


    The boy held a rubber red flower in his hand, carrying a strange magic that made its scent beautiful. With heavy steps, he approached his mother''s grave. He stopped in front of the tomb. A powerful gust of wind swept over the boy, and a terrifying silence enveloped the place. James dropped the flower from his hand and formed a fist that caused crimson blood to flow from it. His mother¡¯s grave had been destroyed and dug up. The boy let out a painful scream and began to beat the ground with his hand.


    "I will kill him!" the boy shouted. "I swear I will kill him!" he cried out in anguish. A terrifying voice echoed in the boy''s ears. "Boy, do you want power?" James shouted, "Yes, I want power!" "Do you want revenge?" "Yes, I want revenge," James replied, his eyes red from crying. "Then find the book!" whispered the voice in the boy''s ear.


    James struggled to approach his mother¡¯s grave. He could see her body, now turning blue and close to decay. He resisted the foul smell and the tears that refused to stop, and he began to carry the soil with his trembling hands and place it in the grave. "Mom," the boy whispered, trembling. His tears fell on his mother''s feet and mixed with the blood from his hand.


    The strong wind ceased, and the atmosphere calmed for a moment. A dark aura hovered over the open grave, and the boy felt his knees shaking involuntarily. He raised his tear-filled eyes and looked around. "What is happening here?" he asked with a trembling voice. The flesh of his mother''s corpse began to ripple and move as if it were alive. The boy lowered his gaze and started to see his mother''s flesh and skin separating from the bones and moving towards her abdomen.


    He fought the urge to vomit and wanted to flee, but he couldn''t. "Find the book!" the terrifying voice whispered in his ears. "The book," the boy whispered, and involuntarily began to clear the dirt from his mother''s body. Her flesh and blood started to separate from the bones and gather in her abdomen. A terrifying symphony echoed in the eerie space where the boy stood. In an instant, the flesh and blood began to merge together in a complex shape. The blood solidified and began to form into a rectangular cover, while the flesh started to bend in a paper-like manner, forming several pages.


    In the midst of his astonishment, a dark book materialized before the boy. "The book," the boy whispered in terror. He automatically took the book from his mother''s skeletal structure and placed it before him. The book had no title, just a red five-pointed star in the center. Trembling, the boy opened the book while recalling the terrifying voice, "power, revenge." In the middle of the frightening book, the boy found the pages empty.


    James was astonished and began flipping through it, but all the pages were the same. The boy felt immense anger and weakness. "My mother''s body has disappeared, and this book has formed, but it''s empty! Did I sacrifice my mother''s body for an empty book? Where is the power? Where is the revenge?" the boy cried out. In his anger


    frustrated he tossed the book aside blinking back the string of tears but as the book his the ground a corner of it pages sliced throught the boys skin a drop of blood splatterd across the paper


    In an instant, the book came alive. The


    pages quivered, shifting as if puled by an


    invisible wind, and then they began to fill.


    Words, ancient and twisted, bled across


    the parchment:


    "He who shall remain asleep,


    He who shall rule over the inner world,


    Rise with the power of darkness,


    To seize the existence of the world."


    The boy''s eyes trembled and widened. A powerful black wind blew and began to swirl around him. Before him, a red window appeared out of nowhere.


    [System Activated]


    [Welcome, child of the dark]


    [powers: Locked]


    [Blood Price: 1 Drop]

 Chapter 02 : The Monarchs Aura

    Amidst the black aura that enveloped the cemetery, James found himself staring at a strange crimson window, as if it didn¡¯t belong to the real world. His heart raced, and he felt a profound fear, as if he had unleashed something he should not have.


    ¡°What is this thing?¡± he asked in a trembling voice.


    A strange voice emanated from the unusual window.


    [Welcome, Child of the Dark. This is an assistant system created to aid the heirs of the great Monarch ########.]


    James focused on the magical yet twisted words that appeared from nowhere, as if they were answering his question.


    ¡°This must be a dream, yes, it¡¯s just a dream.¡± The boy let out a pained laugh, tears streaming down his face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I trusted a strange voice and believed I¡¯d really become stronger.¡± James thought to himself in deep sadness.


    He then heard another sound coming from the window. He lifted his foggy eyes to read.


    [This is not a dream , Child of the dark . You are not weak. You have a magical element that has not been unlocked yet, and as your assistant, I will unlock it for you now.]


    ¡°I have a magical element? You¡¯ll unlock it for me?¡± James whispered. ¡°This damned hallucination is playing with my nerves. It¡¯s all because of that book.¡±


    The boy turned his head to see the book but froze in place. The book that had formed from his mother¡¯s corpse had disappeared.


    ¡°Just as I thought, it really is a hallucination.¡± He looked at his mother¡¯s grave, and his eyes widened and a great fear filled his body . There was only a skeleton where his mother¡¯s body had been.


    ¡°What the hell ? it was real¡± The boy couldn¡¯t finish his sentence before he was overwhelmed by an unusual sensation of heat.


    ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m burning!¡± He lowered his gaze to check his body, but he wasn¡¯t burning.


    ¡°what ?" he screamed " Then what¡¯s burning me?¡± In an instant, the sensation of heat in his body intensified, and he felt his organs boiling. The boy let out a pained scream that echoed through the empty cemetery.


    ¡°This is painful!¡± The boy cried out in agony.


    In the midst of his pain, he heard the voice from the window again.


    [Your magical element * Fire Magic * is now being activated. Please wait.]


    ¡°Magical element? This damned thing is burning me from the inside.¡± he screamed


    In a fit of anger , the boy got up and tried to strike the window with his hand, but it passed through and he fell to the ground in pain.


    [This window does not exist in the real world. Please do not attack it and wait until your magical element¡¯s seal is removed.]


    The boy remained in intense pain, recalling memories of his mother in their old home and their simple, happy life together. He felt as if he were on the brink of death, which was what he had desired since her passing.


    " this is what you wanted james to meat her in the after life , i guess im going there now "He closed his eyes and tried to relax, resigning himself to the possibility of death.


    ¡°James, you must never give up. Your mother wouldn¡¯t be able to be proud of you in front of her friends if you don¡¯t try.¡± The boy, who had resigned himself to death, heard a warm voice dancing in his ears. he opened his eyes in agony It was his mother¡¯s voice when he lost a race against another child. He had felt great disappointment back then, but his mother had helped him get back up.


    James gritted his teeth and screamed in anger, ¡°You cursed window, how long must I endure this?¡±


    [Two minutes.]


    James got up from the ground and looked at the red window in front of him shivering he asked . ¡°Will this really help me in my revenge and goal to become the strongest?¡±


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Crimson words formed before the boy in a terrifying harmony.


    [You are the Child of the Darkand the rightful owner to the Book of Abyss and the heir of the great monarch, Your destiny is to become the strongest among all. You can seek revenge against whomever you wish and kill anyone you desire.]


    James formed a pained smile. ¡°Then I will endure this pain and avenge everyone who caused my mother¡¯s death. I won¡¯t stop at revenge; every evil soul must disappear, and I will be the one to eradicate them.¡±


    James, who felt his internal organs burning with pain, forced his head to look at his mother¡¯s grave and formed a gentle smile. ¡°Mother, I will avenge those who did this to you. I have the power to do it now.¡±


    The boy, staggering from the terrifying pain, approached his mother¡¯s grave and sat quietly in front of it, waiting for the process to finish.


    After two minutes, the pain suddenly vanished from James. He lifted his head and looked at the window in front of him. a sound entered his ears


    [Congratulations, sir. Your magical element has been activated.]


    A small smile formed on his face, and he got up from his place. He focused his attention on the palm of his hand. In the darkness of the cemetery, a red flame materialized before him.


    He remembered the red flames of his mother and how she had proudly displayed in front of him.


    James closed his hand making the falmes disappear and returned to the grave, he went on one knee and with steady hands started scooping dirt to fill the grave containing his mother¡¯s skeletal remains.


    After finishing, he looked at it one last time, then placed the rubber flower on the metal piece in front of the grave his mother wrote before dying


    and left for his uncles shop


    On the metal piece, it was written:


    Serena James


    Beloved Wife


    Mother of the Best Child in the World


    My Son will


    James left the cemetery and headed to Mr. Michael¡¯s shop. In the meantime, he paid no attention to the people around him and did not lower his head. He walked among them as if he were no longer weak.and afraid of them


    ¡°So, am I the only one who can see you?¡± James asked the strange window in front of him.


    [Yes, sir. You are the only one who can see me.]


    James nodded in understanding and then asked, ¡°Is your presence just to remove the seal from my magical element?¡±


    [No. My master said that he was very weak, so I studied your body and found that your magical element was sealed, so I just removed the seal. Your true power is your original magical element, not the second one.]


    The boy suddenly stopped amidst the crowd and looked at the window in front of him in astonishment. ¡°My second magical element? Isn¡¯t fire my only element?¡±


    [Your original magical element is Dark Magic, not Fire Magic. This system is here to help you unlock your power. For now, you have one drop of blood, which is required to obtain books, and you have only one ability.]


    ¡°What¡¯s the ability?¡± the boy asked in curiosity.


    Another crimson window appeared before him.


    [Ability: Blood Manipulation. Details: The user can control a person¡¯s blood and paralyze their body. Duration: According to your current power, you can paralyze for only two seconds.]


    The boy¡¯s eyes widened at this information.


    ¡°So I have both Fire and Dark Magic? That¡¯s truly remarkable.¡±


    In his astonishment, he accidentally bumped into a passerby.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± the man shouted.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± James replied, stammering.


    The large man looked at Jamesand the lowerd his gaze to see the iron chain around his neck, and furrowed his brows. ¡°What¡¯s this? You¡¯re a slave? And you dare respond to me? Do you think you¡¯re at my level bastard ?¡±


    The large man struck James with his left hand to the stomach, sending him crashing against a wall and causing him to vomit blood and passing out


    The large man approached James to finish him off. ¡°You filthy creature, you soiled my trousers when you bumped into me. You must pay the price.¡±


    James, who was unconscious, could not move.


    The large man picked James up by the head and dragged him across the crown into an empty alley and threw him against the wall


    ¡°I¡¯ll finish you here so no one interferes , its been so long since i killed someond and your oragans are wirth alot in the black marekt , curse your luck kid ¡±


    The large man, eyes reddened with rage and excitement advanced toward the weak boy in front of him, intent on ending his life.


    [Attempt to kill the heir detected.]


    [Heir is unconscious.]


    [Activating automatic Monarch Aura.]


    In the dark alley, a crimson aura emanated from the boy lying on the ground.and surrounded the area The large man fel his strength disappearing and fell to his knees, trembling.


    ¡°W-What is this!¡± The man tried to scream, but no sound came out.


    A terrifying voice echoed in his ears. ¡°Who are you to attempt to kill the heir?¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes turned red and bloody, and his heartbeat accelerated unnaturally his arms and feet trembling as if he is infront of something greater then his existence


    ¡°i am sorry , i -i am sorry , Help me!¡± The man tried to call for help with trembling voice tears comming from his eyes but he couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°Know your place, mortal,¡± the terrifying voice thundered in the man¡¯s ears, causing his eardrums to burst and blood to flow.


    The man begged crying . ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m really sorry, i will not do it again please i have a child ¡± he pleaded, bowing to the child on the ground surrounded by a crimson aura.


    The boy on the ground raised his left hand involuntarily and pointed a finger at the large man.


    The terrifying voice echoed once more in the man¡¯s mind.


    The boy¡¯s lips moved on their own. ¡°Disappear.¡±


    In an instant, the large man¡¯s body turned into a pool of blood and vanished from existence.


    The crimson aura around the boy disappeared.


    and they alley fell into silence


    the red window appeared before the unconscious child


    [You killed a person +10 drops of blood ] [Monarch Aura used.]


    [-10 drops of blood.]

 Chapter 03 : Ben the Fat

    In a dimly lit alley of the village of Utopia, a mouse emerged from its hiding place and climbed to the surface. Before it lay the unconscious body of a young boy.


    The mouse approached the boy''s warm form, bit into his hand, and began to chew. The mouse''s eyes widened, turning from dull to a vivid crimson, and it exploded into fragments.


    James drifted in his inner consciousness, surrounded by peace and silence. However, he felt a sharp pain in his right hand and heard his mother¡¯s gentle voice echoing in his ears, "James, wake up." He opened his eyes.


    Before him stretched a gray sky and towering buildings, accompanied by the foul stench of refuse and beggars. He also felt dampness on his back.


    He slowly surveyed his surroundings. "Where am I?" He attempted to rise but was met with a piercing pain in his abdomen, as if numerous insects were feasting on him from within.


    [Do not move, sir. The body will be fully healed in five minutes] said the now-familiar voice.


    The boy tried to move his hand but soon gave up, unable to bear the pain. "What happened? I don¡¯t remember anything. How did I end up here?"


    [You were attacked by a passerby, but I have taken care of the situation, Master ] the voice replied again.


    "I see," James responded. He was aware of Utopian disdain for slaves, so he was not surprised. What truly puzzled him was his survival. The last thing he recalled was a massive man, twice his size, striking him in the stomach.


    The boy set aside his thoughts and began contemplating his new powers, while his ears picked up the ambient sounds of the market and the occasional passerby. Despite the overwhelming stench of filth, he could occasionally detect the aroma of bread.


    Feeling nauseous, the boy muttered, "I¡¯m really hungry."


    At that moment, he felt as though a group of small feet was walking over his wound and sensed warmth spreading to the injured area. He lifted his head and examined his wound.


    He was astonished to see a crimson light emanating from the wound.


    [The healing process is complete. You may stand now] the familiar voice resonated.


    James attempted to stand and, miraculously, rose as if he had never been injured. He looked at the crimson window in front of him. "This is astonishing."


    [It is my pleasure, Master]


    The boy requested the system  to recount the events leading up to his unconscious state. Crimson text began to form before James, as if conjured from a fantasy. The system detailed the events and mentioned the  Monarch Aura and its rental cost of 10 points.


    Curiously, James inquired, "So, every kill provides me with ten points? And if I want to rent those powers again, do I need to pay with points as well?"


    [As the heir to the throne, you can acquire your own powers, but renting is not an option. The incident was a special case due to the heir¡¯s life being in danger] the system explained.


    James nodded in understanding and asked, "How do I earn points? And what can I use them for?"


    The system displayed a large red window showing James¡¯s image along with the following details:


    [Name: William James]


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.[Rank: Child of the Dark]


    [Blood Drop: 1 Drop]


    [Strength: 10]


    [Endurance: 7]


    [Stamina: 12]


    [Luck: 3]


    [Agility: 4]


    [Magical Powers: 3]


    [Magic Type: Fire / Dark (locked)]


    [Master, these are your current stats. You can upgrade them using blood drops. 1 Kill = 10 Blood Drops 1 Assisted Kill = 3 Blood Drops To upgrade your stats, you can press the screen or specify the stat name and the amount of blood drops you wish to invest. 1 Blood Drop = 1 Stat]


    [Warning: Allocating too many stat points at your current level may result in adverse effects, most of which can be lethal. Your cap is 10 points per stat at once. Exceeding this limit may cause severe side effects.]


    James read through his stats calmly and assessed his condition. Although he didn¡¯t fully understand the numbers, his instincts told him one thing: he was extremely weak.


    James asked in confusion, "Is killing the only way to acquire points?"


    [Killing is not the only method, but it is the quickest. There are various tasks you can undertake to earn points as well] the system  responded.


    A smile appeared on James¡¯s face as he sighed deeply. "I don¡¯t want to kill any innocent people to gain strength, but those scoundrels are a different matter. I need to get to Uncle Michael¡¯s shop quickly and inform him about what happened with my mother¡¯s grave."


    With that, James exited the alley and hurried through the crowd, searching for his uncle¡¯s shop.


    As James approached Uncle Michael¡¯s shop, his eyes widened and his heartbeat quickened. He felt a surge of anger coursing through him.


    In front of the blacksmith¡¯s shop, a massive man, over two meters tall, with a bald head and a corpulent figure, emerged. He carried a piece of bread in his right hand. His face bore a black scorpion tattoo, and behind him were two men with the same tattoo on their cheeks, moving toward James.


    With each step the bald man took, the passersby trembled in fear.


    "Ben the fat" james formed a strong fist and gritted his teeth as he studied the man in front of him. Despite his comical title and unassuming appearance, he was Zerak''s right-hand man, renowned for his ferocious strength, immense size, and powerful magic providing impenetrable defense.


    Despite his intense rage and the urge to leap at him and stab him with a dagger, James hid in a nearby alley and waited for the man to pass.


    "I¡¯m not running away. I just don¡¯t have the strength to confront him right now."


    James controlled his heartbeat and tried to stay calm.


    In a moment of silence, james  heard the  familiar voice from the windowthis time it was big and black with red writings


    [The heir is in danger! A powerful individual is approaching you now. Please escape immediately!]


    James¡¯s eyes widened, and he froze in place. He slowly turned his head and looked outside the alley at the crowd.


    James¡¯s trembling eyes reflected the imposing figure of a man over two meters tall with a black scorpion tattoo on his face.


    A menacing smile formed on the man''s face as he silently moved his lips.


    Despite not speaking, James could read his lips.


    "F..O..U..N..D.....Y..O..U."


    The boy began to breathe heavily, his heartbeat racing, and time seemed to slow down. He felt a profound weakness and knew it was the end. He did not want to face the corpulent man because he knew he would be punished for his delay in arriving at the mine, and that punishment was death.


    After his mother¡¯s death, Zerak had given him a single chance to survive in this city, on the condition that he never be late and work until his bones broke.


    "Move... Move!... Move, you damn body!"


    Despite his numerous attempts, James could not move. The massive attacker drew closer, each step amplifying his heartbeat.


    "Damn it ... Damn it ... I can¡¯t die here, not after gaining the power to fight." Tears streamed down the boy¡¯s face as the man approached like a predator stalking its prey.


    "I can¡¯t win... I can¡¯t win..." the boy''s body started to shiver as if it was accepting its defeat


    James¡¯s thoughts began to dissolve, and a black darkness enveloped his mind. He could not think of a plan to escape. He was trapped in a dark, enclosed alley between two tall buildings, unable to use them for escape. Even if he miraculously evaded the corpulent man, he would still encounter his followers at the exit who could easily kill him.


    In the midst of his despair, a familiar voice resonated in his ears.


    [Do you wish to use the skill: Blood Control?]


    James weakly gazed at the window before him. In a remarkable moment, all the darkness that had enveloped him dissipated, and a peculiar calm settled over his body. He recalled the details of the skill and his fire magic abilities, and then realized: despite his current weakness, he was not as powerless as before. He now possessed his own magical element!


    A shiver ran through his body, and he asked quietly, "System, does Blood Control freeze all bodily functions? Even magic?"


    In the midst of the foreboding darkness, the crimson window shone with a glimmer of hope.


    [Yes], the crimson window confirmed.


    A menacing smile spread across the boy''s  face as he regained his confidence. He then glared with renewed determination at the corpulent man, who watched him with bloodthirsty eyes, ready to kill.

 Chapter 04 : Two Seconds !

    James looked at the crimson window in front of him and asked in a low voice,


    "System, tell me the details of the skill."


    Another window appeared before him:


    [Skill: Blood Manipulation]


    [Details: When activated, all the nearest enemies within a radius of two kilometers will be paralyzed, both physically and in their magical elements.]


    [Effects: The user will feel weak for 10 seconds after using the skill.]


    After reading the details, a crooked smile formed on James''s face. He turned his gaze to Ben the Fat, who was approaching him slowly, like a predator savoring its prey.


    James glanced behind him, assessing the distance between himself and his adversaries, as well as studying his surroundings for tactical use in the battle.


    "Damn it , I know my chances of winning are close to zero, but I feel a strange energy coursing through my body. I think I''m not the weak child I was before," James thought to himself.


    "So how do you want me to kill you? Do you want it quick or slow?" Ben the Fat asked mockingly, his face displaying a frighteningly amused expression.


    "I think I want to live today. As for you, I want you cooked," James said, leaping from the wall and launching a barrage of fireballs at Ben.


    Ben''s eyes widened as he tried to protect himself with his hands, but he was too slow. The flaming fireballs hit him from above in a terrifying barrage, creating steam that obscured James''s view.


    "Did I really do it? His magic didn¡¯t activate in time, so I must have hit him!" James smiled.


    Amidst the smoke, a chilling laugh echoed, sending shivers down James''s spine and causing his smile to fade.


    The huge man emerged from the smoke, covered in a strange blue aura. It was his signature spell, "Dragon scale"


    "You really surprised me, you bastard. I didn¡¯t know you had magical abilities; you hid them very well. But today is not your lucky day."


    Ben slammed his hand against the wall, breaking through it. "My defensive magic is always active."


    These words echoed in James''s ears like a sharp knife. He thought he had outsmarted his opponent, but he was gravely mistaken.


    Ignoring negative thoughts, he put distance between himself and Ben, preparing to recharge.


    One of Ben''s servants approached from behind and said, "Master, let me kill him."


    Ben looked at the servant in front of him and struck him with his right hand, sending him flying. "Don¡¯t meddle with my prey. Don¡¯t interfere in this fight. I want to kill him myself."


    With a broken expression, the servant nodded his head and returned to his staggering companion.


    Before Ben could refocus on James, he was met with another barrage of fireballs that struck his face.


    "Tsk, tsk, it¡¯s not respectful to attack someone while they¡¯re speaking. Didn¡¯t your mother teach you that?"


    James was enraged by Ben''s words. "Don¡¯t mention her, you filthy bastard. I will kill you today."


    With that, he unleashed his power and sent a fiery onslaught towards Ben, who remained stationary while his defensive magic repelled each attack as if it were child''s play.


    James fell on one leg, gasping for air. He had used most of his energy but hadn''t even scratched Ben.


    [Warning: Master''s stamina is almost at 20 percent. Please take a rest.]


    Ben the Fat laughed, his appearance reflecting his arrogance. "Is that all you¡¯ve got? I thought you were stronger than this."


    James struck the ground angrily in response to Ben''s provocation but then got  an idea.


    He spoke in a taunting voice while meeting Ben¡¯s gaze, "These words come from a man who used his strongest magic against a weak boy."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Ben''s smile disappeared as he looked at James and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the blue aura around him vanished.


    "You bastard, I don¡¯t need my magic to kill you. I just didn¡¯t want to dirty my suit."


    James¡¯s heart raced and his hands trembled. Without thinking, he sent a single fireball towards Ben''s eyes.


    Ben raised his hand to block the attack, but he was surprised to find it lacking in power.


    In front of him, James formed a fiery spear with all his remaining strength and aimed it at Ben. It was his final attack.


    Ben¡¯s instincts warned him that something was wrong as his eyes widened.


    Before he could move his hands from his eyes, James launched the spear into Ben¡¯s body, piercing and exploding it.


    James fell to the ground, unable to rise, praying from the depths of his heart that the attack had succeeded.


    A minute passed, and no one moved within the smoke. James wanted to rest, but he heard giant footsteps approaching him.


    Ben the Fat emerged from the smoke, his entire body covered in torn official attire.


    In anger Ben said, "See, you bastard, you tore my official suit and still couldn¡¯t kill me. Do you now understand the difference between me and you, you insect?"


    Ben grabbed James by the neck and lifted him into the air.


    Warnings appeared from the System, alerting James that his stamina and health were below critical.


    James tried to escape Ben''s grip, but he couldn''t, and remained dangling in the air.


    "Before I kill you, I want to tell you something I usually don¡¯t tell my enemies. But my magic is not  mainly defensive , that was just its secondary feature."


    Ben snapped his right hand fingers, and in an instant, James¡¯s left leg turned to stone.


    The boy screamed in pain as his vision became blurry.


    Ben laughed and smiled as he watched James suffer.


    "I can¡¯t believe it. Damn it. All my magic couldn¡¯t penetrate him, and I didn¡¯t want to use blood control because I didn¡¯t know if my fire element could penetrate his body even when he was without his magic . Damn it , damn it , why am I so weak"


    James¡¯s lower limbs became cold as a complex expression of surrender crossed his face.


    In his final moments, he heard Ben speak, "What a pity. You make the same face your mother made that day before I killed her, even though I wanted her for myself."


    With weak eyes, James glared at Ben in anger.


    "Don¡¯t... mention... her name," James whispered weakly as Ben increased his grip and choked him harder.


    Ben¡¯s smile grew malicious as he said, "I payed her a visist and saw her this morning , the tomb was on the way so i destroyed it and let me tell you, she¡¯s still as beautiful as ever. She was just a little green."


    He laughed hysterically as if he were having fun.


    James looked at the bastard before him with hatred and loathing that made his body tremble.


    "I¡¯ll kill you," he shouted weakly.


    "I want to see you try," Ben yelled back mockingly and angrily.


    James¡¯s vision started to fade to black and unclear. He knew his time was running out.


    In a brief moment, time slowed before him as multiple memories began to surface.


    When he was young, the first time he tried riding a bike, his fall, and his mother¡¯s laughter as she helped him, the warm milk she prepared for him.


    Tears began to fall from James''s eyes as he thought about those memories.


    In a strange moment, he remembered a visit to his mother¡¯s shop where she taught him how to work with strong iron. He recalled how his mother would focus her flame on one finger, shaping it into a laser, and cut through iron as if it were butter.


    James¡¯s awareness returned, and he regained control over his body as he formulated his final plan.


    He whispered in a hoarse voice, "System, add one point to stamina."


    [One point added to stamina.]


    James felt a weak power seep into his body, and although it was minimal, it was all he needed.


    He formed two fireballs in his hands.


    Ben was surprised by the fireballs, and in an instant, James launched himself over Ben from behind.


    Ben, surrounded by his blue aura, said, "You¡¯re still trying, weakling? You were close to damaging me, but you will never defeated me, even if you lived forever ! " Ben shouted in anger.


    James rose on one leg while the other remained frozen and spat some blood from his mouth. His vision was blurry, and he couldn¡¯t make out the faces, but he could still distinguish the bastard in front of him.


    James raised his trembling right hand and pointed a single finger at Ben.


    Ben frowned and shouted angrily, "You can¡¯t kill me, scum. Accept your fate and die quietly. It would take centuries to kill me. I am the Black Dragon scales Ben , the right hand of zerak and the strongest here ! " he roared as he advanced towards James.


    James''s lips moved in a whisper, " I dont need centuries"


    Then added in anger as he glared at Ben with hatred in his heart " I need two seconds, you bastard"


    "System, activate Blood Manipulation."


    [Activating Blood Manipulation.]


    In front of James, Ben¡¯s massive body stopped moving as his blue aura disappeared, and he felt a significant weakness engulf him.


    "What¡¯s happening?" Ben looked at his servants behind James and noticed they had also stopped moving. His eyes shifted to James¡¯s finger, now surrounded by a terrible crimson aura.


    A chilling shiver ran through Ben¡¯s body as his primal instinct screamed, "Run!"


    James raised his functioning right eye and looked at Ben with mockery and anger


    "Go to hell , Bastard"


    From his finger james released a thin red beam aimed at Ben''s heart , piercing it as if it was made of wool


    Ben fell into the ground , unable to move


    A window appeared before James


    [ Time is up ]


    James couldn''t feel the effects of the skill as he fell unconscious the moment the lazer left his finger , but he knew internally that he won


    Out of no where , a figure in  a black robe appeared , lifted James''s body , and teleported away with incredible speed


    [You killed a person +10 points]


    [Achievement : you killed someone who is beyong your level +30 points]


    [ Title aquired : Titan Slayer]