《THE FINAL TRANSITION.》


 CHAPTER 1: Ashes of the Past

    AEON


    "I need your help, please! You are my last resort. Have faith in me; once this is over, I''ll locate you, and we''ll be together forever."


    Ring!


    In my dream, I can''t remember who I was talking to when the alarm went off.


    Aeon is my name. I am a 23-year-old. Have short black hair and am 6 feet tall. People think I am handsome.


    I take good care of myself; I dress well and workout every day. I am highly recognized and have a good reputation in the area. However, I don''t really give a damn about it. I''m an introvert who only talks to my girlfriend and people with whom I have to contact because of the circumstances.


    Knock Knock!


    When I stood up, my girlfriend Lia was lying by my bed. I recalled that she had requested to stay the night at my house last night while drunk.


    When I opened the door, I was greeted by an unpleasant face. At my front door. "This is your final chance. The payment is two months past due, I will be there with the cops to evict you the next time I knock on your door", the landlord announced.


    Most of the time, I display a shy and friendly attitude. I said, "I''ll pay the rent when I get my payment."


    ¡°You better do! Because if you don''t, oh god help me for what I will do to you"


    As contrary to me, who had to earn everything. He doesn''t need to work because he inherited these filthy apartments from his father; this 50-year-old fat bastard has nothing else.


    My mother was the only family I ever had; my father was an absentee parent who disappeared shortly after my birth. My mother raised me alone. She was killed in a car accident seven years ago, and I was unable to recognize her at the funeral since her facial characteristics had been altered.


    Since. I changed from the carefree youth with my entire life ahead of me to the person I am today, this has devastated me.


    My mother used to say "Sorry, I can''t give you everything you want or need. But I will do everything in my power to make sure you live a normal life even if you don''t have a father ".


    I have survived all these years because of her wishes, along with her intentions and ambitions for me.


    My father''s old friend Jack, a well-known illegal businessman in the city, was waiting for me when I got ready and headed there.


    After my mother passed away, he was the one who hired me as his errand boy, making me responsible for delivering drugs and other trades the majority of the time.


    I currently work at a little store, but I still do some side work for him because I needed the extra cash to attend college and live the typical life I wanted.


    Jack was inside his bar! "Ah Aeon, Come here" He urged, gesturing at me in a pitch-black room. He is quite muscular and has a six-pack, but he also has numerous scars and tattoos.


    He had two women at his sides. He remarked, "My men informed me you had a fantastic night with that whore Lia." I said as politely as possible, "I would appreciate it if you stopped spying on me and calling her that Mr. Jack."


    The regular life I was looking for included having a girlfriend, but I had no feelings for her. She is a nice person who I didn''t deserve to be with and was always taking care of me, so I had no question that she was deeply in love with me. I wanted to love her and I wanted to feel anything for her at some point, but I couldn''t help it because my feelings had been dead since my mother''s passing.


    "Oy kid! She worked here for a while, and I''m just spouting facts there''s doubt that she is a whore¡± he joked before squeezing one of the women''s breasts.


    ¡°Oh Mr. Jack, you''re calling us whores?" "Asked one of the women.¡± You are the whore of Jack. There is a difference, haha "Before beginning to kiss her, Jack told me to leave and waved his hand in my direction.


    ¡°I must speak with you¡±. I remarked while maintaining an emotionless expression as I watched him touch the two women without giving a damn about me.


    If you want a new job, Visit one of my men¡± he barely took his mouth off them to speak those words. I said breaking up his touching "I want out, and I need my money for my last jobs," The girls were instructed to leave when he halted.


    "Kid, are you aware of what you''re saying? Once you''re in, there is no way out,¡± he said as he stood up.


    In front of me, taller and bigger, trying to frighten me with a menacing expression in his eyes. I replied, "I know, but if my mother were still alive she would be disappointed. This is not a normal life, and the only reason I ever worked here was because I had nowhere else to turn."


    "So you should be appreciative! You said as much. She''s gone funny isn¡¯t it! And you ought to dismiss her!" And when he saw my face, he stopped. My eyes told him, "Say one more thing about her, and I''ll murder you!"


    "Aeon, you are fearless and always complete the task at hand without hesitation or concern for the results. This is why I like you. Almost no one in this city can give me the same glances as you do. I''ll let you go and give you your money out of respect for our relationship, but first you have to complete one last task for me. I''ll send you the instructions later "To return to his women, he commanded.


    I had to wait for him to send the information after leaving the club. I went to a park where not many people go.


    I was enjoying the silence when a man approached and asked, "Aeon, is that you?  I''m Dani, and we went to high school together¡±. I knew he was coming and I just wanted him to leave me alone. ¡°My memory is terrible, haha". I answered with a smile on my face.


    You were always clumsy, haha! "Look at you, you''re sick-looking; I''ve heard you''re dating a gorgeous girl, and... " ringing!   He was stopped by my phone, giving me the opportunity to leave. I said, "Sorry, I have some urgent stuff to do. Let''s meet another time." I got up and walked away from him. He attempted to resume our conversation by saying, "Hey, wait."


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    He resides nearby as well, but I avoid everyone in the area, not just him. I keep everyone away. However, Dani was probably simply jealous of me since I thought having a girlfriend was normal and he thought it was a luxury.


    I received a message with the address of the place I needed to go.


    "One of my guys was engaged in various trades, but there was this man who went by the name of the Owl, and he had photographic evidence and other solid proof that might ruin my man and bring a lot of grief onto me. My man was being threatened by this owl, who demanded a significant sum of money or he would provide the photos to the police or other parties willing to pay more. You should carry out the transaction. We can''t be sure he has no additional copies, but we can''t take the chance, so pay him the cash and take the file he will give you. Now comes the fun part! We put a tracking device in the case, and if they decide to play games, we will find them and look after them.¡± This was Jack¡¯s message including the details of the job.


    The suitcase that Jack''s men had prepared was in my hand when I walked inside the place, an abandoned warehouse at the docks of the city.


    "You have the money?" asked one of the four armed men I entered the warehouse to see.


    I only ever made deliveries or stole things out from under the nose of the law. That was the only quality I had¡ªI was only a kid¡ªand they never questioned me. But this was a job that truly endangered lives. I had to do this to escape from Jack.


    ¡°Yes! Are you the owl?"  They were pointing their pistols at me as I spoke.


    He held up the file and stated, "Yes, I am the owl, and this contains everything."


    I approached a weapon man and gave him the case.


    ¡°The documents?¡± I asked as the owl laughed and reached out to give me the file as he said, "Hahaha you are awesome dude you didn''t flinch when all these guys were pointing their weapons at you." "Wait, the sum is just halfway finished!" The person holding the case yelled. The owl grabbed my shirt and asked, "What does this mean?¡±


    Ring!


    I backed up a few steps and quickly grabbed my phone after receiving a message. It was Jack, and I had to read it thinking it was part of the plan or something. "I was joking, there is no tracking device and my men are surrounding the place, I will teach them not to play with Jack, and good luck kid you were just a bait, don''t blame me:) blame your fate," it said. Only then did I realize I had been tricked; he intended to get rid of me.


    The owl was about to shoot at me when I heard him say, "I''m talking to you. Don''t look at your phone like that."


    The owl told them to shoot, "Kill him and let''s get out of here, this must be a trap."


    I hastily ran behind a wall, where I quickly fell to the ground while hearing gunfire and feeling bullets pierce the wall behind me.


    What is this? I tried my hardest; this has got to be a joke. Normal life? Reputation? Fate? All of this is a part of a plan for me, right? How is that just? What went wrong with me? I finally felt something after asking myself all this time¡ªanger!


    "Corner him" said the owl.


    As one of them approached me carrying a knife, I heard footsteps on my right and left sides. I prepared to die and at least take one of them with me while holding an iron pipe alongside me.


    My body felt incredibly light and strong as I heard a voice in my head command, "Kill them, Aeon." I swiftly emerged from my cover and struck the man on the right with the pipe, causing his head to shatter and his brain to scatter all over the place. Before tossing the pipe at the person on the left and making his insides burst, I thought to myself, "Something is wrong with me¡±.


    The third one yelled in terror and began firing his automatic rifle chaotically. I noticed a shot land on my leg, feeling like a pinch. I sprinted toward him, dodging the remaining bullets. When he had to reload, I grabbed the gun from the front and turned it before he started shooting, throwing it away. I then punched him in the face, causing him to lose some teeth and fall to the ground. I sat above his body and continued punching I enjoyed laughing while doing so.


    In an attempt to understand why I am so strong, the owl became desperate after realizing that bullets had no effect on me. Even I was unable to provide a response at the time.


    Slowly, I approached him. He said, "Stay away! Keep off!" I followed him outside because I wanted to experience that ecstasy once again after he yelled and fled the warehouse.


    When I stepped outside, I saw the owl lying dead in the road and Jack ordering his soldiers "hold your fire!" They were about to shoot me when Jack said, "What the heck happened here? How come you''re still alive? Why did he burst out screaming like a little girl?" Jack came forward to me and questioned.


    Like a young child experiencing candy for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the experience and wanted to fight more. "I''m not sure how you managed it, but congratulations; as a reward, I''ll share a secret with you.  Your father passed away in a similar way to how I was hoping you would, while doing me a job to bring your mother and you some food. I simply kept it a secret from you since I wanted a young errand boy¡±.


    He said while tossing his cigarette to the ground "Nothing personal, kill him". He gave his guys orders and then left as everyone was shooting.


    He was smoking near the warehouse, admiring the dawn and celebrating his victory over the owl. "You see how you handle your business Jacob" he said not realizing I had already arrived while he was speaking to his bodyguard.


    I had shoved a metal rod in his bodyguard''s neck, leaving Jack stunned. ¡°I''m not sure if you or my fate are to blame for my miserable life. Or even I?" I said before I threw his bodyguard into the water.


    ¡°What the hell!¡± I sit next to him and stare at my bloodied hands. ¡°Where are my men?" he exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°I killed them all, and now it doesn''t matter what''s wrong with me or who I am. Perhaps this is why my mother passed away and I had to suffer¡±. I informed him as I observed my reflection in the water that I appeared to be a monster.


    he pulled his revolver and shot me in the head "This hurt!" I said before I broke Jack''s hand with my own. "You helped me when I was a kid, I forgive you," I said.


    Screaming in agony and pleading for his life, he said, "T-thank you¡± I said with a smirk on my face, "I didn''t say you¡¯d live, I said I forgive you for treating me like trash all this time, but I didn''t forgive you for every time you insulted my mother, the only person I cared about ever." It was enjoyable. I offered him hope only to crush it later.


    ¡°Please understand that I was joking. How much cash do you need? I''ll give it to you". Jack was desperately attempting to survive, "Just let me live."


    He was a very strong, huge man, and I was just a kid. Despite his best efforts, he was powerless against the monster I was. I laughed as I grabbed hold of his neck and began choking him.


    "I can no longer live a normal life, but anyone is responsible for forcing me to live such a life will pay, and you Jack will be the first," I said.


    Since I was having too much fun to be concerned about what was occurring, I simply remarked that it was all just a dream or something I would worry about later. For the time being, I would just enjoy it.


    When a powerful light suddenly erupted from the sky and blinded me, everything went completely crazy. I dropped the half-dead Jack and felt weak.


    ¡°Humans! I am the god, and today is the day of your judgment. You will depart for your new world, Eden, as this one is no longer habitable. Everyone in the world could hear a voice that seemed like it was coming from inside their own heads.


    Already experiencing enough strangeness, I could take bullets without getting injured. I won''t be as shocked if I see something similar to a deity; after all, it was just a dream for me.


    When I looked at Jack, he was disappearing. ¡°NO!" Before punching him, I screamed, but he was already gone, like a ghost being transported to a different planet. ¡®Why had nothing occurred to me¡¯?


    The world was ending, there were planes falling and vehicle explosions, and I was the only person, as I wandered alone through the streets.


    ¡°I''m one of the primal gods, and I grant permission for the transition to begin. The planet will be remade for the upcoming tournament. This will be transition number 137. Good luck to all participants.


    "God! you''re real then". I grinned. Finally, I''ve found a purpose. And was capable of feeling. Angry and happy. Something like this was excellent for someone who never feels anything, and I yearned for more! And plenty was on the way.

 CHAPTER 2: Blood in the Alley

    CHAPTER 2: Blood in the Alley


    Aeon


    The sunlight poured through the cracks in the window, warm and relentless. It forced me out of the haze of restless sleep. Groaning, I swung my legs out of bed and started my daily routine. Push-ups, sit-ups, shadowboxing¡ªanything to keep my mind sharp and my body ready.


    Once I was done, I showered, dressed, and checked my safe. ¡°Just a little more!¡± I whispered as I thumbed through the stack of crumpled bills. Becoming a pilot wasn¡¯t just a dream¡ªit was my ticket out. The certificates, the training, the schools¡ªit would all be worth it. I¡¯d miss the thrill of street fights, but I craved stability more than the chaos that followed me everywhere.


    Stepping outside, I bumped into her¡ªthe girl from yesterday. The one who had tried to talk to me. She flinched, lowering her gaze, and hurried past without a word. I thought about apologizing, maybe even remembering her name. But as quickly as the guilt hit, it faded.


    ¡°Soon, I¡¯ll kiss this cashier job goodbye,¡± I muttered as I locked the corner store¡¯s doors after another grueling shift.


    The night air was heavy, the streets quieter than usual. That¡¯s when I heard them.


    ¡°Hey, you! Come with us!¡±


    I turned to see five guys blocking the path ahead. One held a bat slung over his shoulder, another kept his hand buried in his jacket¡ªa not-so-subtle hint of a weapon.


    ¡°Sure,¡± I said with a shrug, masking my unease with indifference.


    They led me to an alleyway. The same one where I¡¯d seen a teenager get beaten the day before. I recognized one of them¡ªa face I wouldn¡¯t forget.


    ¡°You jumped our brother yesterday,¡± said the leader, his tone sharp, his grip tightening on the bat.


    I smirked. ¡°You mean the crybaby? The one no woman will look at again?¡±


    The leader¡¯s face twisted with rage. He swung the bat with a roar, aiming straight for my head. I ducked, my instincts kicking in, and delivered a punch to his gut, followed by an uppercut that sent him sprawling.


    The others closed in fast.


    One of them managed to land a solid punch on my jaw before I deflected his second swing and retaliated with an elbow strike to his nose. He stumbled back, dazed. I followed up with a kick to his chest that knocked him to the ground.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Too late, I realized someone had grabbed me from behind, locking my arms. Another fist slammed into my stomach, then another into my face. Pain shot through me as I collapsed to my knees.


    ¡®They¡¯re just going to beat me up, right? They won¡¯t kill me¡­ right?¡¯


    The thought echoed in my mind as the punches rained down. My vision blurred, the world dimming.


    I opened my eyes to endless darkness. It wasn¡¯t just dark¡ªit was a void, stretching infinitely in every direction.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± My voice echoed, thin and hollow. ¡°Am I dead?¡±


    ¡°No. Not yet.¡±


    A figure emerged from the fog¡ªa humanoid shape, its features cloaked in mist. Its presence was both overwhelming and surreal.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, my voice trembling.


    ¡°I am what you might call a god,¡± it said, its voice deep and resonant. ¡°Long ago, I made a deal to watch over you. To guide you when the time came. And now, that time has come.¡±


    ¡°A deal? What deal? What do you mean, ¡®watch over me¡¯?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon enough. For now, I grant you a gift¡ªa power. Use it well. Show us a spectacle worthy of the divine.¡±


    Before I could respond, the figure dissolved, and the void shattered.


    Pain brought me back to reality. Fists still hammered into me, but something had changed. My body felt¡­ different. Stronger.


    The next punch barely fazed me. With a sudden surge of strength, I kicked upward, sending one of them flying into the alley wall. Still on the ground, I twisted and leapt to my feet in one fluid motion.


    The men froze, startled. I moved before they could react, jumping higher than I thought possible. Time seemed to slow as I came down, slamming a kick into one man¡¯s face. He collapsed instantly.


    Another tried to swing a pipe. I caught it mid-air, snapping it like a twig before driving my fist into his chest. The impact sent him sprawling, his ribs audibly cracking.


    The remaining three stood in stunned silence, fear etched on their faces. One of them fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a gun. His hands trembled as he fired.


    The first bullet grazed my shoulder, but it barely left a mark. The second missed entirely as I moved faster than he could track.


    In a blur, I was in front of him, grabbing the gun from his hands and tossing it aside. Gripping his face, I slammed him into the ground.


    ¡°Monster!¡± he screamed, his voice breaking.


    His words barely registered. Rage consumed me as my fists fell again and again. Blood splattered across the ground, his face unrecognizable. It wasn¡¯t until I saw my reflection in the crimson pool that I stopped.


    I was smiling.


    The sound of sirens jolted me back to reality. A crowd had gathered at the edge of the alley, their expressions a mix of fear and horror.


    ¡°No,¡± I whispered, stumbling back. ¡°I killed him.¡±


    My hands trembled as I looked down at the lifeless body. The weight of what I¡¯d done crashed over me.


    I turned and ran. The city blurred around me, my thoughts racing.


    ¡®I can¡¯t go to prison. I still have to become a pilot. I haven¡¯t started a family. I haven¡¯t lived the life I wanted.¡¯


    The sirens grew louder. I skidded to a stop, gasping for air.


    Then the sky split open.


    A radiant light bathed the city, silencing everything.


    ¡°Humans,¡± a voice boomed, vast and unyielding. ¡°We are the gods. A new transition is coming. Your world will end, but you will thrive anew in another.¡±


    As the light faded, stars returned to the sky. One by one, people began disappearing¡ªdissolving into radiant fragments.


    I stared in shock, unable to process what was happening.


    A car, abandoned by its driver, hurtled toward me. The impact knocked me into the air, and everything went black.

 CHAPTER 3 : Through the Ashen Wilds

    CHAPTER 3 : Through the Ashen Wilds


    My vision swam as consciousness returned. For a fleeting moment, I hoped everything had been a nightmare. But the damp earth beneath me and the towering trees above told a different story. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, illuminating the alien forest around me. The air smelled heavy, filled with moisture and unfamiliar scents.


    I sat up, my body aching, trying to make sense of it all. What the hell happened?


    Memories flooded back. The god¡¯s cryptic words, the blinding light from the sky, and the fight¡ªespecially the fight. I killed someone, and worse, I didn¡¯t just kill him¡ªI smiled while doing it. My stomach churned at the memory of his broken body and the blood reflecting my twisted smile. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I forced down the rising bile.


    Everyone else had vanished into this ¡°new world.¡± But why was I here, alone? What was I supposed to do?


    A sudden buzzing sound interrupted my thoughts. Looking down, I recoiled at the sight of a massive fly¡ªgrotesque, frog-sized, with a needle-like proboscis as long as my hand.


    ¡°Ugh, what the hell?¡± I shouted, swatting it away.


    Before I could recover, another creature emerged from the forest¡ªa wolf-like figure, but entirely made of wood. Wings jutted from its back, and its body sprouted leaves, as though it had grown from the forest itself.


    It didn¡¯t attack; it just hovered nearby, watching me with glowing green eyes. My body froze in primal fear, but when it didn¡¯t move, I stumbled backward and bolted into the trees.


    For hours, I trudged through the endless forest, hunger gnawing at my stomach and thirst parching my throat. My legs burned from the strain, and every sound¡ªrustling leaves, distant growls¡ªset my nerves on edge. This world was nothing like Earth.


    Then I saw it: movement in the distance. At first, I thought it was a gazelle grazing in a clearing. But as I crept closer, I noticed its elongated body and head. Its face was like a horse¡¯s, crowned with twisting horns.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    My stomach growled. Food. I didn¡¯t care what it was; I just needed to eat.


    Crouching low, I moved closer, gripping a rock I¡¯d found along the way. But as I prepared to strike, the creature turned, its gaze locking onto mine.


    It screamed.


    The sound was a piercing, otherworldly shriek that rattled my skull. Clutching my ears, I fell to the ground, and by the time I looked up, the creature had vanished.


    Before I could recover, voices reached my ears. Human voices. Relief surged through me as I staggered toward the sound.


    ¡°Over here!¡± I shouted, desperate for help.


    Three figures emerged from the trees. Relief turned to dread as I took them in. Their eyes were sharp and predatory, and their teeth were unnaturally long. The leader had a red horn sprouting from his forehead, and the others carried bows.


    ¡°Thank God,¡± I said, trying to mask my doubts. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am."


    The leader raised a hand, silencing me. His eyes narrowed. ¡°A Tranhilyan...¡±


    ¡°A what?¡± I asked, but before I could finish, one of the archers drew his bow and fired.


    The arrow struck my arm. It should have hurt more than it did, but it still sent me reeling.


    The archer grinned. ¡°Captain! It¡¯s a Tranhilyan! And alive, too!¡±


    The leader unsheathed his sword, its blade glinting ominously. ¡°Tranhilyans are supposed to be extinct,¡± he muttered. ¡°No matter. A live one will fetch a hefty price.¡±


    They weren¡¯t here to help. They were hunters¡ªand I was the prey.


    I yanked the arrow from my arm. It ached, but my pain tolerance had increased dramatically since the fight with the thugs. I hurled the arrow back with all my strength.


    The leader dodged, but one of the archers wasn¡¯t so lucky. The arrow pierced his leg, and he collapsed with a scream.


    The remaining archer raised his bow, but before he could fire, a distant gunshot cracked through the forest. He dropped to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.


    Before I could process what was happening, the leader reappeared, his sword now blazing with flames.


    ¡°Fire Slash!¡± he roared, swinging the weapon.


    A wave of fire surged toward me. I raised my arm instinctively to block, but the sword sliced clean through it. Pain exploded in my shoulder as my severed arm hit the ground.


    I fell, blood pouring from the wound.


    The leader stood over me, his expression shifting from triumph to confusion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t my blade cut deeper? He¡¯s not a normal Tranhilyan.¡±


    Before he could finish, another gunshot rang out. The bullet struck his shoulder, forcing him to retreat into the shadows.


    I looked towards the sound where the shots came, but my vision was blurring as blood pooled around me. My body felt cold, and the world began to fade.


    The last thing I saw was the sky above, and a figure stood carrying something in his hands; he didn¡¯t look like the other three, and he rushed to tend my wound. I couldn¡¯t see him well as darkness claimed me.

 CHAPTER 4: A Hand of Fire and Iron

    CHAPTER 4: A Hand of Fire and Iron


    AEON


    ¡°Roblard! Where are you?¡± Artou¡¯s voice boomed as we stood before the creaky, dilapidated house on the village''s outskirts.


    The so-called genius we were here to meet wasn¡¯t the most conventional, to say the least. Roblard was a Green, a race known for their peculiar intelligence, and his reputation as a brilliant inventor was matched only by his equally warped personality.


    As if on cue, the floor creaked beneath us. A green liquid seeped through the cracks, pooling before morphing into a small humanoid figure.


    ¡°Ta-da! I present to you my latest creation, the Xhil89!¡± Roblard exclaimed, arms raised theatrically. His outfit, caked in grime and cluttered with tools, complemented his eccentric aura. A wrench hung loosely from his belt, swaying as he proudly held up a strange contraption.


    Artou groaned. ¡°No, for the millionth time, I¡¯m not interested in your junk.¡± He swatted the invention aside like a piece of trash.


    ¡°Your loss,¡± Roblard muttered, pouting. Then his eyes shifted to me. ¡°And who¡¯s this? Your little pet? Doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯ll last a day without a helping hand!¡±


    ¡°This is Aeon,¡± Artou said sharply. ¡°He needs a prosthetic arm. Combat-ready, preferably.¡±


    Roblard¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Now that¡¯s interesting!¡± He immediately started inspecting me, his movements quick and mechanical. He measured my shoulder and remaining arm with a precision that bordered on unsettling.


    Without another word, he melted back into the cracks, disappearing to what I could only assume was a hidden lab below.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Artou said, beckoning me to follow. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to show you while he works.¡±


    We walked through the village and entered one of the adventurer guild¡¯s buildings. Inside, it was bustling¡ªa chaotic mix of laughter, shouting, and the clinking of mugs. Warriors of every race filled the room, their weapons stacked casually against walls.


    But the moment Artou stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations stopped, heads turned, and tension filled the air.


    A massive Majin with bulging muscles stepped forward. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you last time? If I saw you here again, I¡¯d toss you in the dungeon myself.¡±


    Unfazed, Artou sauntered to the bar and sat down. The bartender¡ªa gruff-looking Halfling¡ªlooked ready to smash a bottle over his head.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Artou said, flashing a grin. ¡°I need a favor.¡±


    The bartender¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve showing up here, let alone asking for a favor.¡±


    ¡°We were pals once, weren¡¯t we? Remember all those adventures?¡± Artou leaned in, placing a hand on the bartender¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got two options,¡± the bartender growled. ¡°Either I have everyone here cut you down, or¡ªdepending on what you¡¯re asking¡ªI¡¯ll consider not letting them.¡±


    The room buzzed with unease. Weapons were drawn, and chairs scraped back as adventurers rose to their feet.


    Artou sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take the hard way.¡±


    A Halfling with snake-like eyes lunged at him first, dagger aimed for his throat. Artou ducked, sweeping the Halfling¡¯s legs out from under him and kicking him into the ceiling with a sickening thud.


    The room erupted.


    Weapons were raised, but Artou pulled a sleek, black firearm from his jacket. He fired a single shot, grazing the snake-man¡¯s cheek and leaving a burning streak.


    ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t miss,¡± Artou growled, stepping onto a table. His jovial demeanor was gone, replaced by something cold and commanding.


    The crowd hesitated, tension thick in the air.


    ¡°Get down, you clown,¡± the bartender barked, shoving Artou off the table.


    Artou fell face-first onto the floor, but he only laughed, blood dripping from his nose. ¡°So, can I use the vision orb?¡±


    The bartender sighed. ¡°Fine. But if I see you again after this, you¡¯re dead.¡±


    The vision orb was a shimmering crystal in a dimly lit backroom.


    ¡°Put your hands on it,¡± Artou instructed. ¡°It reveals your magic type¡ªenhancing, elemental, or destructive. If it doesn¡¯t react, well¡­¡± He trailed off.


    I hesitated before placing my hands on the orb. It remained unchanged, its surface dull and lifeless.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t possible,¡± Artou said, panic creeping into his voice. ¡°Every living being has magic¡ªeven humans.¡±


    We tried again. Nothing.


    Artou¡¯s frustration boiled over. ¡°What about your fire resistance? Your strength? You must be an enhancer¡ªor maybe a fire elemental.¡±


    I wanted to tell him about the dream, about the dragon god, but something held me back.


    After several more failed attempts, I let out a hollow laugh. ¡°Maybe I just don¡¯t have magic.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Artou muttered, grabbing my shoulders. ¡°I won¡¯t accept that.¡±


    He looked at me, desperation in his eyes, before lowering his gaze. ¡°Sorry,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s go see Roblard.¡±


    Back at Roblard¡¯s lab, the inventor emerged from the floor with a flourish.


    ¡°Behold! The Burner!¡± He held up a sleek, mechanical arm. ¡°It¡¯s powered by the finest fire core I have. With your fire resistance, it¡¯ll be perfect.¡±


    The arm was a marvel of engineering, with intricate gears and an engine-like device embedded in the elbow. Roblard explained its functions in painstaking detail, but I barely listened.


    Attaching it wasn¡¯t pleasant. Metal claws embedded themselves into my shoulder, and the pain was excruciating. But when it was done, the arm moved as naturally as my own. A punch caused heat to radiate from the metal, enough to scorch whatever I hit.


    ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Roblard beamed.


    Artou¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°How much did this cost?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry,¡± Roblard said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve already worked out a payment plan. Just take care of the guild inspector who keeps harassing me, and we¡¯re even.¡±


    Before Artou could protest, the lab door slammed open.


    The Majin from the marketplace stood there, his black horns gleaming in the dim light.


    ¡°Well, well, Roblard,¡± he sneered. ¡°Where¡¯s that fire core I requested?¡±

 CHAPTER 5: A Taste for Violence

    CHAPTER 5: A Taste for Violence


    AEON


    ¡°Aeon! You look like hell!¡± the boss of my gang greeted me with a crooked grin as he noticed my bruised and battered face.


    ¡°Another seller caught me and said this was his area,¡± I muttered, frustration and shame heavy in my voice. Fifteen-year-old me had returned to the boss¡¯s club empty-handed, dreading his reaction.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re one of my favorites, Aeon,¡± he said, leaning back in his chair, his cold eyes studying me. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d have no problem tossing you out for failing to deliver the batch I gave you. But today, I¡¯ve got a gift for you instead.¡±


    With a flick of his hand, the boss motioned to one of his men. Moments later, they dragged in the guy who had beaten me up, the one who claimed the area as his. His wrists were tightly held by two of the gang¡¯s enforcers, his face pale with fear.


    ¡°Please! You can have the area¡ªI¡¯ll leave! You¡¯ll never see me again!¡± the guy pleaded, his voice cracking.


    The boss chuckled, lighting a cigar. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. I¡¯m not the one deciding your fate today.¡± His gaze shifted to me, a twisted smirk curling his lips. ¡°Do as you please, Aeon.¡±


    My heart pounded in my chest as I approached the man. Until now, I had only been a delivery boy, just running errands for the gang. This was the first time I was handed real power¡ªthe power to decide someone¡¯s fate.


    ¡°Please,¡± the man whimpered, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± I hesitated, glancing back at the boss. His expression turned to one of disappointment, and I felt the weight of his unspoken expectations pressing down on me.


    ¡°You little brat!¡± the man shouted suddenly, lunging at me. His hands closed around my neck, cutting off my air. I thrashed and gasped for breath, but the boss didn¡¯t move. His men didn¡¯t either. This was my fight, and I realized that if I didn¡¯t act, I¡¯d die right there on the filthy floor of the club.


    Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I kicked the man hard in the groin. He doubled over with a groan, collapsing to the ground in pain. Rage burned through me like fire as I scrambled to my feet.


    I didn¡¯t stop to think. I kicked him in the face, sending blood splattering across the floor. Then I climbed on top of him, pinning him beneath me, and let my fists fly. Punch after punch, my anger only grew stronger, each blow feeding a dark thrill inside me.


    When I finally stopped, the man lay unconscious beneath me, his face a battered, bloody mess. My own hands were shaking, coated in blood. Pain radiated through my knuckles, but I barely felt it.


    ¡°Well done, kid,¡± the boss said, clapping a heavy hand on my shoulder. I froze, staring at my trembling hands. But then I felt something strange¡ªa smile crept across my face, wider than I¡¯d ever.


    I enjoyed it. The rush, the power, the release.


    This was before the transition, my first life-or-death situation. It clicked something inside me, an addiction to the thrill of fighting with life on the stakes.


    We were inside Roblard¡¯s house. ¡°What brings the renowned adventurer Artou to our humble village?¡± The Majin with two dark horns spoke with a cold sneer. His name was Zasz, and he wasn¡¯t alone. Three companions flanked him¡ªa Green and two Majins, each with a single, sharp horn. All of them radiated danger.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Zasz,¡± Artou said, his voice sharp with irritation. ¡°What do you want now?¡±


    Standing before the towering Majin, I felt an unfamiliar knot of fear in my gut. In my old life, I hadn¡¯t cared much for danger. When you¡¯ve got nothing to lose, there¡¯s no point in being afraid. But Zasz was different. His aura was heavy and suffocating, like a predator toying with prey.


    ¡°Word around the guild is that someone was ambushed during a hunt,¡± Zasz said coolly, ¡°by someone wielding unusual weapons. Weapons like yours.¡± His black eyes flicked to Artou¡¯s firearm.


    Artou didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Zasz stepped closer, his horns gleaming in the dim light. The air between them crackled with tension. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight, Artou. Your little guild connections won¡¯t protect you forever.¡± He broke the stare-off with a smirk, turning his attention to Roblard. ¡°Now, where¡¯s the fire core I requested?¡±


    Roblard stiffened. His bravado from earlier had evaporated. ¡°I... I used it. I¡¯m tired of you snatching up all the good-quality materials I find!¡±


    Zasz laughed darkly. ¡°You know how this works, inventor. Accidents happen in places like this.¡± His smirk turned into a barked order: ¡°Destroy it.¡±


    The two Majins stepped forward, smashing tables and scattering tools.


    ¡°Artou,¡± Zasz said over his shoulder, ¡°feel free to stay and watch. Maybe you¡¯ll enjoy seeing your friend¡¯s little workshop burn.¡±


    Roblard tried to fight back, enhancing a wrench with magic and leaping at Zasz. But before he could land a hit, Zasz casually kicked him midair, sending him flying into the wall. Roblard melted into a puddle of green liquid, reforming shakily nearby.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± I roared, stepping forward. My mechanical arm hummed with power as I grabbed Zasz¡¯s wrist, stopping him from advancing on Roblard. ¡°The fire core is right here, you asshole.¡± I did hate the guy¡¯s guts, I didn¡¯t interfere wanting to play a hero. Since I got to this world I was itching to get into a fight, and try the new powers.


    Zasz turned his gaze to me, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Did you just touch me?¡± His killing intent was palpable, and though I knew I should be terrified, the challenge excited me.


    He lunged, aiming a kick at my chest. I caught his leg in the air, but his companions didn¡¯t wait. The two Majins charged, one with stone-covered fists and the other wielding a blade. I released Zasz and dodged their attacks, but the earth-wielding Majin¡¯s punch sent me flying through a crumbling wall.


    I groaned, pulling myself up. ¡°These guys are strong,¡± I muttered in excitement flexing my new arm. ¡°But I want to see what this thing can really do.¡±


    The earth Majin came at me again, his gauntlets gleaming like freshly polished stone. He swung hard, and I met his fist with my Burner. Heat flared, shattering his gauntlet and scorching his face. I followed up with an uppercut, launching him into the air. Leaping after him, I drove my elbow into his stomach, slamming him into the ground.


    The swordsman moved next, using wind magic to accelerate toward me. His blade glinted in the light, aimed for my neck. I dodged at the last second, earning a shallow cut on my forehead. Blood dripped into my eye as he swung again and again.


    ¡°Enough of this.¡± I caught his blade with the Burner, the heat melting the steel into slag. Before he could recover, I pummeled him with a barrage of punches, leaving him unconscious on the ground.


    The Green mage, a fire wielder, stepped back, launching a hail of fireballs. I braced myself, raising my Burner arm to absorb the attack. The core inside hummed, growing hotter with every hit.


    The burner absorbed the heat, but I could feel it getting too hot even for me. I slammed it into the ground, releasing a wave of flames that engulfed the mage. He collapsed, singed and defeated.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Zasz¡¯s voice rang out. He hadn¡¯t moved from his spot. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°But let¡¯s see what you can do against someone with a real brain.¡±


    Before I could react, he vanished, reappearing in front of me in a flash. His kick connected with my face, sending me crashing into a boulder. Pain exploded in my nose, and I spat blood as I struggled to get up.


    ¡®Teleportation? No, it¡¯s something else,¡¯ I thought, noting the way his shadow didn¡¯t align with his movements.


    Zasz approached, his movements slow and deliberate. He kicked me again, this time in the stomach, leaving me gasping for air.


    ¡°No one picks a fight with Zasz,¡± he said, raising his foot for the finishing blow.


    But it didn¡¯t land.


    Artou¡¯s voice cut through the chaos. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Zasz.¡±


    Zasz¡¯s foot hovered inches from my face. He turned, smirking. ¡°Finally decided to join the party, Artou? Took you long enough.¡±

 CHAPTER 6: Bullets in the Dark

    CHAPTER 6: Bullets in the Dark


    Artou


    After years of searching, I finally found another human. But despite his raw physical prowess, he lacked magic. That was the worst-case scenario.


    The day I met him in the forest, I was overjoyed, thinking my luck had finally changed. I gave him a potion to mask his human aura and enchanted him with subtle charms¡ªones that would ensure he saw me as a friend and followed my orders. If he ever tried to run, turn against me, or become a problem, I had contingencies in place.


    But if I¡¯m being honest, he probably would have followed me even without the spell. Aeon trusted me blindly. At first, I thought he was just na?ve, but considering how his entire world was ripped away in an instant during the Transition, it made sense. This world¡ªits ruthless rules, the way people would kill without hesitation for the smallest gain¡ªwas still new to him. I understood him, because I was in his shoes once too.


    And yet, as I watched him struggle against Zasz, I felt something unfamiliar¡ªguilt.


    I couldn¡¯t interfere. Not for Aeon his purpose to me was in his magic and since he have none risking everything I¡¯d built in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild would be reckless. But when Zasz raised his foot for the killing blow, something inside me snapped.


    ¡°Enough.¡± My voice rang sharp as I raised my gun and aimed it at Zasz¡¯s head.


    The Majin smirked but stepped back, leaving Aeon gasping for air. ¡°Finally decided to join the party, huh?¡± He cracked his neck and flexed his fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to deal with you for a while now.¡±


    ¡°I see you hold a grudge too long Zasz¡± I replied his focus leaving Aeon and turning to me, he didn¡¯t care about Aeon or the fire gem, he just wanted to get to me.


    Zasz¡¯s cocky grin faltered for just a second. Then, his amusement faded, replaced by something darker. His shadow stretched unnaturally beneath him, the midday sun casting deep, shifting shapes across the ground.


    I knew how dangerous his abilities were. His shadow magic let him teleport between darkness, slipping through the battlefield like a phantom. The stronger the shadow, the greater his reach. Right now, he had plenty¡ªboulders, scattered debris, and the looming outline of a mountain.


    He moved first. A blur. His figure melted into the shadows, and in the blink of an eye, he reappeared beside me, his foot swinging toward my ribs.


    I snatched a weapon from my belt, always keeping useful tools and arms within reach. Just in time, I raised a short shotgun¡ªmodified with magic and enhanced by my own touch¡ªto block the attack. A sharp pain shot through my wrist. I wasn¡¯t as tough as Aeon; one or two solid blows could end me. But I had something he didn¡¯t¡ªyears of hard-earned experience. Whether battling monsters or people, I had grown accustomed to fighting, even picking up martial arts unique to this world.


    Zasz teleported away again before I could counter. He was fast. Too fast.


    I fired, but he weaved through the bullets, slipping into the dark patches around us. His movements were erratic, impossible to track, let alone predict. The outskirts of town, where Roblard lived, weren¡¯t the ideal battlefield for Zasz¡¯s abilities, but even here, he was nearly untouchable.


    He paused for a moment as I reloaded, watching me with knowing eyes. He understood my weapons just as well as I knew his tricks. We had worked missions together before¡ªhis magic had propelled him through the guild ranks, but he had always remained a shadow cast beneath my accomplishments. I had outranked him every step of the way. His arrogance and overconfidence had held him back, and when he realized he would never surpass me, he abandoned adventuring altogether, settling in a village where he could prey on the weak.


    He pressed his hand on the ground and Shadows writhed, stretching and twisting until two monstrous hounds emerged. Snarling, they lunged toward me.


    I switched to my handgun, firing at the beasts as I stepped back. They were quick, dodging my bullets with unnatural reflexes. One pounced, fangs bared¡ªI dived low, ramming my shotgun into its mouth and pulling the trigger. It disintegrated into black mist.


    The second beast leaped at me. Expecting it to dodge my first shot, I aimed off-center, anticipating its movement. It twisted, trying to evade¡ªexactly what I wanted. My handgun fired. A direct hit.


    The shadow beast dissolved.


    Zasz was already moving, charging toward me.


    I didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Cannon Beam!¡±


    My pistol flared with a surge of magic, unleashing a powerful blast. The beam cut through the battlefield, disintegrating debris in its path. Zasz barely avoided it, his teleport taking him to one of the rocks nearby. His constant teleportation halted, he looked around in stress.


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    ¡®I got you now.¡¯


    He was running out of places to move.


    I let him think I was attacking him, but my real goal was different¡ªI had been destroying the shadows. With every shattered boulder, every broken object, I had been eliminating his teleportation zones.


    Now, only two remained.


    Mine and Aeon¡¯s. I had to gamble his next destination, I was his target and he knows he don¡¯t have more shadows to use so he had to finish this quickly.


    As I charged toward him getting in range of my shotgun, his uneasiness turned to confidence. He teleported¡ªstraight into my shadow.


    Exactly as I anticipated.


    I twisted, canceling my fake punch and swinging upward instead. My shotgun connected with his jaw. The buckshot ripped through him, shattering his chin and sending him flying. Blood spattered across the dirt as he crashed onto his back, choking on the damage.


    His eyes widened, struggling to comprehend how I had outmaneuvered him.


    I stood over him, my gun aimed at his forehead. ¡°You were never my target,¡± I said coldly. ¡°I was destroying the objects around us. Reducing the number of places you could teleport to. In the end, you only had two choices¡ªmy shadow or Aeon¡¯s your arrogance was your downfall. And I was waiting for you.¡±


    He gasped for breath, realization dawning in his eyes. He was finished.


    "Please," he croaked, blood pooling in his mouth. "Mercy..."


    I didn''t hesitate.


    I knew his kind¡ªZasz would never truly surrender. The moment he could stand again, he¡¯d come for me with some excuse, some twisted justification for getting rid of me.


    So, I pulled the trigger.


    Shot after shot.


    His body jerked violently with each impact, riddled with holes.


    Then, silence.


    Zasz was dead.


    I stood over him, my expression unreadable. If he had been just another nobody, the guild wouldn''t care. But he wasn¡¯t. He was an asset¡ªa tax collector, a strongman, the so-called protector of this town. He wielded fear like a weapon, squeezing the weak dry while answering only to the guild. His death wouldn''t go unnoticed. It would bring me a mountain of trouble.


    I outranked him, yet I wasn''t considered as valuable. Because I wasn¡¯t the guild¡¯s ideal kind of asset. I wasn¡¯t someone they could count on to keep their profits flowing.


    For what? Aeon?


    The thought was bitter. It was foolish. He had no magic. No real worth in a world like this. My plans for him were a waste of time.


    So why did I feel relieved?


    Why am I glad I had met him?


    I shoved those thoughts aside. I had been alone in this world for too long. I didn¡¯t need companionship. I couldn¡¯t afford it.


    Aeon


    Pain throbbed through my body as I forced my eyes open. The last thing I remembered was Zasz¡¯s attack coming down¡ªthen nothing.


    Now, Artou stood over his corpse, still as a statue.


    I coughed, pushing myself onto my elbows. ¡°I thought you were going to let him kill me,¡± I said, my voice laced with anger. I had never relied on anyone before¡ªI had always been the one to get the job done. But now? Now, I had let my excitement for a fight cloud my judgment, and it had nearly cost me my life.


    Artou turned to me, his face unreadable.


    ¡°I¡¯m not who you think I am,¡± he said quietly. ¡°You need to find your own path.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What are you talking about? Shouldn¡¯t we get moving before more of them show up?¡±


    I didn¡¯t understand what happened after killing someone here. The ones I had fought before had never actually died¡ªnot that I knew of, at least. Would we be thrown in prison? Or would it go unpunished since Zasz was an asshole anyway?


    Before he could answer, Roblard¡¯s voice called from across the wreckage of his house. ¡°You two, come here.¡±


    We turned to see the inventor stepping over debris, his face serious. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to actually kill him,¡± he admitted. ¡°But¡­ I won¡¯t lie. He deserved it.¡±


    Roblard exhaled, glancing between us. ¡°The guild will come for you,¡± he warned. ¡°But you won¡¯t owe me for the burner. If you ever need anything, I¡¯m here.¡± He smirked. ¡°I¡¯m just glad to see my weapon in the right hands.¡±


    Artou barely reacted. Wordlessly, he turned and walked back toward the forest. His steps were heavy. Weighed down by something I couldn¡¯t quite understand.


    I followed, rubbing my aching jaw. ¡°So, uh¡­ what now?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer.


    And for the first time, I wondered¡ªwhat had Artou gone through during his time in this world?


    I had always felt he was planning something for me, guiding me toward a purpose only he understood. But the moment he realized I had no magic, everything about him changed. The certainty in his eyes wavered, his confidence cracked. It was as if whatever grand design he had envisioned for me had crumbled in an instant.


    What had he been expecting?


    What had he seen in me before that moment¡ªbefore he knew the truth?

 CHAPTER 7: Fugitives of Fate

    CHAPTER 7: Fugitives of Fate


    Aeon


    we arrived at Artou¡¯s hideout and as soon as i entred he declared ¡°Aeon, there¡¯s something I need to tell you,¡± Artou called to me, his voice heavy with something I couldn¡¯t quite place.


    I turned to him, wary.


    ¡°I was an adventurer once,¡± he continued. ¡°I fought, struggled, and clawed my way up, building a reputation, gaining strength¡ªuntil I hit a wall. No matter how hard I trained, my human body had limits. My magic¡ªweapon enhancement¡ªwas weak compared to other magics out there, I was stuck. And then I realized something.¡± He paused. ¡°The only way forward was to find another human. Not for companionship. For power.¡±


    I stiffened, the weight of his words crashing down on me. ¡°Is that why you saved me?¡±


    ¡°At first¡­ yes,¡± he admitted, avoiding my eyes. ¡°I thought that by using another human¡¯s life energy, I could break my limits. I even put a charm on you¡ªto make sure you wouldn¡¯t question me, wouldn¡¯t turn against me. But then¡­¡± He exhaled, shaking his head. ¡°You ended up with no magic. The whole point of draining a human¡¯s life essence is to absorb their magic, and you had none. My disappointment got the better of me.¡±


    He hesitated, then sighed. ¡°Honestly¡­ I wasn¡¯t even going to save you from Zasz. Fighting him was a bad idea from the start, and you¡ª¡± he let out a dry chuckle ¡°¡ªyou just had to start a fight with the biggest asshole in that village.¡±


    Finally, he met my gaze. His voice was raw, filled with something I hadn¡¯t heard from him before¡ªshame.


    ¡°I know this might sound like an excuse,¡± he continued, ¡°but deep down, I think I wasn¡¯t really looking for power. I was looking for a friend. And I realized that when I saw Zasz about to kill you.¡± His voice faltered for a moment, then steadied. ¡°There¡¯s no easy way to say this, Aeon. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Anger boiled in my chest. I had trusted him. He had guided me, saved me, given me shelter¡ªand all the while, I had been nothing more than a tool, a sacrifice waiting to happen.


    I turned away, stepping outside to clear my head. The cold air did nothing to ease the storm inside me. Yes, he had saved my life. Yes, he had been my only anchor in this world. But if I had been different¡ªif I had magic¡ªwould he have killed me without hesitation? Or would he spare me a try to be a friend? I shook my head trying to get my thinking straight ¡®maybe the charms he gave me still in effect and he is just trying to play a game on me again.¡¯


    A part of me wanted to walk away. But another part knew I stand no chance alone.


    Artou followed me out. ¡°We need to leave. It¡¯s only a matter of time before they find us.¡±


    ¡°Go where?¡± I asked, still unsure if I could trust him.


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    ¡°There¡¯s a rumor¡ªabout a place beyond the guild¡¯s reach. A realm outside their control.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this world, let alone where to run. And why would I trust you?¡±


    Artou hesitated. ¡°Aeon¡­ I know I betrayed your trust. But I saved your life, too. We¡¯re all we¡¯ve got. Everyone else sees us as prey¡ªsomething to kill, something to harvest.¡± His voice wavered. ¡°I regret what I planned to do to you. If I could take it back, I would. So please, let¡¯s start over.¡±


    I studied him for a long moment. The regret in his eyes was real I sighed. ¡°Fine. I will come with you but that doesn¡¯t mean I will forget this.¡±


    Before he could respond, shouts echoed from the distance.


    ¡°They should be around here!¡±


    Artou swore under his breath, rushing back inside to grab what he could. I stayed frozen, watching shadows move between the trees.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Artou ordered, shouldering a packed bag. ¡°The guild is tracking us.¡±


    ¡°Do you even know where to go?¡± I asked, following him into the forest.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted. ¡°But there¡¯s a portal in a nearby town. If we can reach it, we can escape this region for now.¡±


    We moved swiftly, keeping low to avoid detection, the sun had set made tracking us harder. The settlement was close, and so was our way out.


    We sneaked to the portal, such portal was used by adventurers to fast travel but it was open to use by anyone, ¡°how do we turn it on?¡± I asked confused. The portal was made of wood, branches loomed in circle pinned to the ground with decorated bricks. The portal shimmered before it opened. ¡°Well done its open.¡± I said congratulating Artou. ¡°Eeeh it wasn¡¯t me who opened it!¡±


    Two figures stepped out, blocking our path, Artou tensed beside me. His voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t try to fight.¡±


    The first figure was tall and lean, an elf with flowing black hair. His shirt left his abdomen exposed, but his arms and legs were clad in armor. The second was another elf, towering over both of us, covered in fur, its massive hands flexing with barely restrained power.


    Elves were rare. Reclusive. They didn¡¯t mingle with other races, but they were united serving a king of elves, yet some chose to follow their own paths.


    Artou told me about them and how they had claimed what was formerly the northern continent of America as their kingdom.


    The elf¡¯s piercing eyes locked onto me. His voice was smooth, confident. ¡°This must be my lucky day, you¡¯ve come to us. That saves us the trouble of finding you ourselves.¡±


    My grip tightened. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The elf¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°I am Ziyong. The gods have seen my strength, and I am blessed with their power.¡± His confidence showed in his eyes as they flicked to me, and something in his expression shifted. ¡°And you¡­ it seems the gods favor you too.¡±


    Artou¡¯s posture stiffened. ¡°He¡¯s a divine blessing holder,¡± he murmured. ¡°That makes him¡­ dangerous.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Divine blessing? What does that even mean?¡±


    Ziyong smirked. ¡°It means the gods have chosen me to grant me their blessing. And now, I am here to escort you, human.¡±


    My blood ran cold. How did he know what I was?


    I leaned toward Artou, whispering, ¡°do you know what they are talking about?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he whispered back, his face grim. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    Behind us, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. The guild warriors arrived at the scene, ¡°Halt for the murder of a ¡­¡± his voice cut. Ziyong With a flick of his wrist, a bolt of lightning ripped from the sky, striking the town behind us. Buildings exploded into flames. Guild members scattered, screams filling the air. They recognized Ziyong and he stroke fear in them.


    The elf turned back to us, his gaze now on Artou. ¡°What to do with you?¡± his hand in his chin analyzing Artou ¡°You¡¯re human too. That crazy women might find some useful thing to do with you, come along. We¡¯re heading to the Elf Kingdom.¡±


    Artou¡¯s hand clenched and his eyes dark with fear and resolve.


    ¡°We have no choice,¡± he whispered. ¡°We¡¯re going with them.¡±

 CHAPTER 8: the carrot and the stick.

    CHAPTER 8: the carrot and the stick.


    Aeon


    Stepping through the portal, I felt the air shift around me. My breath hitched as the world beyond unfolded¡ªa sprawling metropolis of towering spires, their golden hues glistening under the midday sun. We had crossed half the world in an instant, the shift in day and night was evident. Bridges of intricate stone and metal arched over shimmering canals, while airships drifted lazily above like floating sentinels. At the city''s heart, a massive castle loomed, its grandeur undeniable, exuding an aura of authority and power.


    Ziyong and his companion led us forward, weaving through the bustling streets. My mind churned with questions, but the most pressing forced its way past my lips.


    ¡°How did you even find us? Are you planning to harvest us?¡± My voice was steadier than I expected, though unease twisted in my gut.


    Ziyong barely glanced at me, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. ¡°Do I look like I need whatever power boost you could provide?¡± His tone was almost mocking. ¡°As for how we found you¡ªtracking magic. Finding things is easy when you know what to look for.¡±


    His gaze sharpened, locking onto me. ¡°And for why you¡¯re here. There¡¯s a prophecy. It speaks of a Tranhilyan without magic¡ªthe only one of his kind. The Goddess of Life has chosen him. And he alone can break her chains.¡± His lips curled slightly. ¡°You matched the description, so we came looking.¡±


    His words settled over me like a weight I wasn¡¯t ready to bear. I was still struggling to accept that magic even existed, let alone that some ancient prophecy might be about me. The sheer absurdity of it almost made me laugh.


    Ziyong walked ahead beside his massive ally, showing no concern about us trying to escape. Either he was overconfident, or he was an idiot.


    A vendor pushed a cart of steaming street food past us. To my disbelief, Ziyong and his ally rushed toward it like children spotting an ice cream truck.


    They were actually distracted.


    I caught Artou¡¯s eye, signaling that this was our chance. But the fear in his expression stopped me. His posture was rigid, his fists clenched. He knew something I didn¡¯t¡ªsomething about divine blessings, about how strong Ziyong really was. And whatever it was, it was enough to keep him frozen in place.


    I exhaled sharply. We weren¡¯t getting out of this. Not yet.


    A shop selling enchanted prosthetics caught my attention. Ziyong was still busy stuffing his face, so I approached, eyes scanning the display.


    My right arm burned with a dull ache, a constant reminder of how crude and outdated it was. The limbs on display were sleek, finely crafted, humming with magic.


    I stepped closer. ¡°Show me your strongest right arm.¡±


    The shopkeeper, a wiry elf with a knowing smirk, pulled out a sleek, black-metal prosthetic. ¡°This,¡± he said, placing it on the counter with care, ¡°is the Breaker. Reinforced with enchanted steel. Strong enough to shatter stone, and with the right enchantments, it can fire magical blasts.¡± He glanced at my current arm and snorted. ¡°An improvement over¡­ whatever that thing is.¡±


    I ignored the insult, reaching out to inspect the craftsmanship.


    Then, I felt it.


    A presence.


    Someone was watching me.


    A figure stood nearby, hood drawn low.


    The wind shifted, and for the briefest moment, her hood slipped back. My breath caught.


    She had ruby-red hair that shimmered under the city¡¯s glow, cascading over her shoulders in waves. Her delicate features were sharp yet soft, and her vivid green eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten.


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    Then, just as quickly, she pulled the hood back over her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s really you,¡± she whispered, barely audible over the hum of the market. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to get you out of here.¡±


    Before I could respond, she melted into the crowd, vanishing as if she had never been there.


    I barely had time to process what had just happened before Ziyong appeared beside me, hands full of snacks. He looked down at the prosthetic and scoffed. ¡°If you prove to be the one we¡¯re looking for, you¡¯ll have access to things way better than this crap.¡±


    He didn¡¯t seem concerned about me running. He didn¡¯t treat us like prisoners. But that didn¡¯t mean we weren¡¯t trapped.


    I followed as he continued walking, though my mind was elsewhere.


    Who was that elf? And how did she know I needed saving?


    The castle loomed ahead, its towering gates pulsing with latent power. As we approached, Ziyong called out, and with a low groan, the massive doors creaked open, revealing a vast courtyard beyond.


    A female elf, starkly out of place among the armored guards, stepped forward. She wore a pristine lab coat, glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She studied me for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°The promised Tranhilyan,¡± she murmured. Her tone was clinical, detached. Then her gaze flickered to Artou. ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡±


    Ziyong shrugged. ¡°Another Tranhilyan. He was with the one you wanted, so I figured he might be useful.¡± His impatience was evident. ¡°Can I leave now?¡±


    The elf sighed. ¡°I¡¯m Lanet, a researcher here at the castle. I¡¯ll be overseeing your stay.¡± She adjusted her glasses before continuing. ¡°You must have questions. Have you heard of the Goddess of Life¡¯s prophecy?¡±


    Artou scoffed. ¡°We heard a version of it. But do you seriously think Aeon is the one? He has no magic. How is he supposed to break anything, let alone some goddess¡¯s chains?¡±


    Lanet¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we believe it¡¯s him. Every Tranhilyan we¡¯ve encountered possessed magic. All except him. That makes him¡­ unique.¡±


    She gestured for us to follow as she led us through the castle¡¯s lavish halls. ¡°If you truly are the chosen one,¡± she continued, ¡°you¡¯ll have a place in the elven army. Whether or not we believe in the prophecy, we all have an interest in using its power. Should you succeed, you¡¯ll be rewarded beyond imagination. A life of privilege, power¡ªperhaps even equal to the blessing holders themselves.¡±


    She stopped in front of a grand set of doors and pushed them open, revealing a luxurious chamber. ¡°Rest here for now, we will speak tomorrow.¡±


    Artou let out a sharp breath. His hands clenched into fists. ¡°We escaped one nightmare just to walk into another.¡±


    ¡°Is this place really that bad?¡± I asked, though my mind was still fixated on the red-haired elf. She had said she would get us out.


    Artou¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°It¡¯s just a fa?ade. Elves always show you their good side first¡ªbefore they stab you in the back.¡±


    Fighting back wasn¡¯t an option. The elves were too strong, and there were armies here. If Artou was right, our only hope was that mysterious elf. Our meeting had been brief, but something in her voice told me she meant every word.


    That night, we debated escape plans. None seemed viable. Exhaustion finally won out, and I drifted into uneasy sleep.


    A loud creak jolted me awake.


    The door swung open, revealing Lanet. This time, she wasn¡¯t alone. Ziyong stood beside her, along with the hulking beast-man who had accompanied him before. But there was another figure¡ªa shorter, hooded presence that exuded something¡­ unnatural.


    Lanet¡¯s voice was unnervingly calm. ¡°Right now, you don¡¯t seem to have anything special about you. This is how we determine if you are the chosen one.¡±


    The hooded figure stepped forward. ¡°I can unlock your true potential.¡±


    Artou stiffened. ¡°Just like that?¡± His voice was wary, confused.


    The hooded figure ignored him, placing a hand on my back and murmuring something in a language I didn¡¯t recognize. I didn¡¯t resist.


    The moment passed. He removed his hand and moved to Artou, repeating the process.


    I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it won¡¯t activate immediately,¡± Lanet said, unfazed. ¡°To unlock your true potential, you need to be in a state where you really need it. Like, say¡­ a fight. A moment where you¡¯re at death¡¯s door.¡±


    Artou¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So, what¡ªyou¡¯re just going to almost kill us and hope our power shows up?¡± His voice was filled with irritation.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Lanet answered, as if discussing a simple experiment. ¡°Many people go through it. Some awaken something great. Some¡­ don¡¯t.¡±


    A cold weight settled in my gut. ¡°And if we don¡¯t show what you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    Lanet gave a small, unreadable smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope, if that happens, you won¡¯t be too close to death.¡±


    And just like that, I saw it. The truth beneath their polished words. The mask had finally slipped.


    Hesitation weighed heavy on my chest. I didn¡¯t want trouble, not here, not now. My gaze flickered to Artou, searching for some silent agreement, some reassurance that we should tread carefully. But what I saw unsettled me. His eyes gleamed with something raw, something eager.


    ¡°My true potential¡­¡± he muttered under his breath, barely containing his excitement.


    A dark truth gnawed at the back of my mind. Artou had always sought power, had never hesitated to cross lines others wouldn¡¯t dare approach. He had planned to kill one of his own¡ªjust to grow stronger. But why? That, I never truly understood. And maybe I never asked because I didn¡¯t want to know. The charms he had given me before had dulled my thoughts, made me push those questions aside.


    But now, there was no looking away.


    I clenched my fists, but I knew there was no fight to be had¡ªnot yet. Without a word, I stepped forward, following them into the unknown.

 Chapter 9: Awakening

    Chapter 9: Awakening


    AEON


    The arena was ancient¡ªweathered stone walls loomed around us, their surfaces scarred by battles long past. A faint scent of dust and blood lingered in the air. From an elevated platform, Lanet watched, her eyes gleaming with amusement.


    Artou and I stood in the center, our footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. Across from us, a hulking figure stepped forward. Beri.


    He wasn¡¯t just massive¡ªhe was monstrous. His body, swollen with unnatural muscle, was almost gorilla-like. His knuckles cracked like thunder as he flexed.


    Lanet''s voice rang through the arena. "Aeon! You will face Beri. He is one of the strongest among the pure muscle elves. His magic shaped him from birth, altering his very being. If you possess the power to free the goddess, this fight should be no problem for you. You might not even need to unlock your true potential."


    It wasn¡¯t a suggestion. It was a command.


    "I don¡¯t usually refuse a fight," I muttered, keeping my eyes locked on Beri. "But I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this."


    Artou smirked, his hand resting on his gun. "If this ¡®true potential¡¯ is real, maybe it''s worth testing. It could change everything."


    I frowned. "What happened to not trusting the elves?"


    He hesitated for a second¡ªlong enough to tell me his hunger for power was speaking, not him.


    Before I could press him, Ziyong entered the arena, his face tight with discomfort.


    "Let¡¯s just get this over with." He barely glanced at me before locking eyes with Artou. "You look more intresting. Why not give your true potential a try as well?"


    Artou walked toward his side of the battlefield. I turned back to Beri.


    <hr>


    The moment stretched thin.


    Beri¡¯s gaze held no malice, no excitement¡ªjust the silent confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times before.


    Then he moved.


    The ground shook beneath his charge. My instincts screamed at me, but a different part of me¡ªsomething twisted¡ªthrilled at the challenge.


    I met his punch head-on. My Burner flared, colliding with his fist.


    A shockwave exploded from the impact. My bones rattled. My Burner¡¯s flames flickered.


    Too strong.


    Beri barely flinched. His lips curled in irritation, his skin singed but his strength untouched.


    Then he slammed his fist into my stomach.


    Air left my lungs in a violent gasp. I felt weightless for a moment¡ªthen the arena wall stopped me with a sickening crack. Pain exploded in my ribs.


    Fuck¡­


    Dizzy, I forced my eyes open. Across the battlefield, Artou and Ziyong were locked in combat, but I couldn¡¯t focus on them.


    "Hey! Don¡¯t kill him too fast." Lanet¡¯s voice rang out. "Just push him to his limit."


    Beri didn''t need the encouragement. He was already charging again.


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    I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the fire in my ribs. Cracked¡ªmaybe broken. But I wasn¡¯t about to just lie down and die.


    His fist hurtled toward me. I jumped, landing on his shoulder before flipping over him. The second I touched the ground, I drove my foot into the back of his knee.


    He stumbled, falling forward.


    My Burner ignited. I slammed it into his back.


    For a moment, I thought I had him. But Beri grabbed me by my collar and hurled me across the arena.


    I twisted mid-air, landing on my feet¡ªbut he was already in front of me.


    Both fists crashed down.


    I hit the dirt, hard. My lungs screamed for air.


    My body¡¯s begging me to run... but my mind? It still thinks I can take him.


    Then¡ªI felt it.


    A surge of raw energy, my true potential.


    It wasn¡¯t magic, but it was something deeper. Primal. Time itself seemed to stretch. My heartbeat slowed. My vision sharpened. Every movement¡ªBeri¡¯s, mine, even the dust in the air¡ªbecame clear as glass.


    This is it.


    I pushed forward, blurring through the air. My fist connected with Beri¡¯s face.


    A shockwave erupted from the impact. The arena trembled.


    Beri staggered back.


    I can see his attacks.


    His fists swung. Slow. Predictable.


    I dodged. Countered. Again. Again. My Burner¡¯s flames seared his skin, driving him back.


    I could feel it¡ªhis frustration, his disbelief.


    A grin spread across my face. I charged.


    Beri¡¯s wild swings tried to keep me away, but I weaved through them like water. My final strike buried into his stomach.


    Silence.


    Blood dribbled from his lips. He collapsed.


    I stood over his fallen body, breathing hard. I turned to Lanet, a triumphant smirk curling my lips. "Is this what you were looking for?"


    But she didn¡¯t look impressed.


    Her voice was flat. "You are not the one. You are of no use to us. Beri¡ªfinish it. The other one has more potential."


    What?


    A sinking dread filled my stomach. Beneath me, Beri moved.


    I leapt back as a deep, inhuman growl rumbled from his throat.


    His hands planted against the ground. A magic aura exploded from his body.


    I hadn¡¯t realized until now¡ªhe had been fighting me without magic.


    His arms bulged, muscles doubling in size. The ground beneath him cracked.


    "I don¡¯t have to hold back anymore." His voice was slow. Confident.


    My thrill turned to horror.


    Beri vanished.


    I barely saw him move before his punch caved into my ribs.


    I was airborne before I even registered the pain. A hand caught my Burner.


    Then¡ªhe slammed me into the ground.


    Again.


    And again.


    My vision blurred. My skull rang. My body screamed.


    Then the punches came. Relentless. Crushing. Blood filled my mouth.


    Bone cracked.


    My thoughts¡ªfading.


    Even with my true potential¡­ I¡¯m still nothing.


    I had been undefeated in the ring, on the streets¡ªalways the one standing in the end. But here, in this world?


    I was nothing.


    My life had been a constant torment, but it wasn¡¯t death that I feared. It was the thought of facing my mother in whatever lay beyond this life. How could I? I had become everything she fought to keep me from becoming. I wanted to live¡ªnot just to survive, but to change. To be more than this. But I wasn¡¯t strong enough. Not to resist my urges, not to fight for the future she dreamed for me.


    I shut my eyes and braced for the final blow.


    But it never came.


    Silence.


    Something was wrong.


    I hesitated, then forced my heavy eyelids open. The gorilla¡¯s fist was frozen. Dust hung in the air, motionless. The world itself had stopped.


    I tried to move, but my body wouldn¡¯t obey. Through the haze of exhaustion and blood loss, I saw them.


    The god from my dreams.


    He lounged in a chair¡ªthough I was certain it hadn¡¯t been there before¡ªlegs crossed, flipping through a book with complete indifference. Another figure paced beside him, restless, his gaze sharp with focus.


    The pacing figure spoke first. "I suppose it was only a matter of time before that power activated. Emotional outbursts tend to cause time glitches. You¡¯ll need to get it under control."


    My lips weren¡¯t frozen. "Who are you? Are you¡­ the Dragon God? What the hell is happening?"


    The seated figure lifted a hand lazily. "I am the Dragon God, but this time stop? Ask him." He said gesturing at the pacing one.


    Before I could process that, the other figure¡¯s tone darkened. "Consider this a gift from me. I¡¯m the Time God, by the way."


    He cast a glance at the Dragon God. "The others will sense something suspicious. Handle it."


    "Fine," the Dragon God sighed, snapping his book shut. "Just don¡¯t forget your part of the deal. So far, this is boring."


    My mind reeled. "What the fuck is going on?"


    The Time God turned his gaze back to me. "That¡¯s not a question you¡¯ll find answers to¡ªat least not yet. But take this as a warning: the next time you cause a time glitch, you won¡¯t get out of it so easily."


    I tried to speak, but before the words could form, my body lurched forward. They vanished.


    The world snapped back into motion.


    The gorilla¡¯s fist was still mid-air, frozen in the moment before impact. But now, I could move. I scrambled back, my limbs heavy, my breath ragged. My entire body screamed in protest, but I forced myself to my feet.


    As I stepped forward, I noticed something¡ªwhenever I got close to anything, it unfroze.


    I eyed the gorilla warily. If I touched him, would he resume his attack?


    Or¡­ could I use this?

 Chapter 10: The Hollow Pursuit

    Chapter 10: The Hollow Pursuit


    ARTOU


    What would my true potential look like?


    Through all my travels, all my struggles, the only way I ever found to break past my limits¡ªboth magical and physical¡ªwas by consuming another human. Now there is a new possibility "true potential,¡± it could change everything.


    I stand facing Ziyong, a divine blessed who was going to push me to my limits to bring my true potential. I had to do my best to see to it.


    They said I wasn¡¯t the one they were looking for yet they decided to make me go through this producer aswell.


    Ziyong stood in front of me as Aeon and Beri clashed in the background, their blows shaking the ground. Ziyong was different. A divine-blessed. Someone who had proven himself to a god and earned their favor. I needed to focus¡ªnot on winning, but on surviving.


    Ziyong stretched his arms above his head and grinned.


    "Alright, here are the rules. I won¡¯t use my blessing. All you have to do is hit me. Just once."


    I narrowed my eyes. "That¡¯s it?¡±


    "I just want to have fun," he shrugged. "Lanet¡¯s plans don¡¯t matter to me. One hit, and you can leave or do whatever you want I¡¯ll make sure of that."


    It sounded too easy.


    I raised my gun and took aim.


    And in the blink of an eye¡ªhe vanished.


    CRACK.


    A kick smashed into my face before I could react. My head snapped back, the force sending me stumbling.


    By the time I regained focus, he was already back where he had started, watching me with a smirk.


    "What you just saw," he said, placing a hand on the ground, "was lightning speed."


    Then he disappeared again.


    This time, I tried to move.


    I barely managed to raise my arms before his next kick buried itself in my gut. The impact nearly lifted me off my feet. A sharp pain shot through my ribs as I crumpled, gasping for air.


    He stepped forward, slow and deliberate, watching me like a plaything.


    I reached for my gun.


    His smirk widened.


    I fired.


    He dodged.


    "Cute trick," he chuckled, sidestepping a shot like he was out for a stroll. "But really? You think these are going to match me?"


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    Damn it. He was right.


    There was no way I could hit him with normal shots.


    I switched to my shotgun. At least the spread would cover a wider area.


    I fired. Again. And again.


    Ziyong weaved through the blasts effortlessly, moving with an unnatural grace. The scattered pellets might as well have been moving in slow motion.


    I gritted my teeth. Fine. If he wanted me to think differently, I¡¯d change the game.


    I reached into my coat and pulled out a grenade. But not just any grenade. This was an incendiary bomb, one I had personally designed. The moment it exploded, the air filled with burning embers.


    Ziyong¡¯s expression shifted ever so slightly. His footwork changed¡ªno longer pure confidence, but measured calculation. ¡°Interesting.¡±


    This time, he didn¡¯t attack carelessly. With the fire burning the arena, I was caught as well, but it was my only defense. I threw another grenade, expanding the flames and forcing him to weave between them. He was still too fast, but I wasn¡¯t aiming to hit him directly anymore. I was forcing him into a pattern, narrowing his movements.


    Then, the moment came.


    I anticipated his next dodge and for the first time¡ªhis smirk faltered.


    As he dodged my shotgun blasts through the flames, I threw a flash grenade.


    He didn¡¯t know what it was. He instinctively dodged, but the sudden burst of light blinded him.


    ¡°Light is faster!¡± I shouted, pulling my final gamble¡ªa concussive bomb designed not for damage, but to create a shockwave.


    I threw it beneath me.


    BOOM!


    The blast propelled me forward like a missile. My legs trembled from the force, but I kept my grip on the shotgun. In midair, I charged the next shot with my magic, overloading the mechanism to make it stronger and faster.


    I was out of the fire¡¯s protection. No more tricks. No more defense. Just this one shot.


    Less than five meters between us.


    I pulled the trigger.


    The shotgun roared like a cannon, the force shaking the ground.


    The impact sent me crashing to the floor. My legs gave out. Pain shot through my body.


    Did I hit him?


    The smoke cleared.


    Nothing.


    Just a crater where my shot had landed.


    My stomach twisted.


    I barely registered movement before I saw him¡ªabove me.


    "Close call," he muttered.


    His foot was already descending.


    CRASH.


    The axe kick smashed into my skull like a sledgehammer.


    I fell to the ground powerless, Pain exploded through my body. My limbs refused to move. My vision darkened.


    I had thrown everything I had at him¡ªto no avail.


    I knew this was how it would end. I knew I had no chance against a divine-blessed. But I had to try.


    My last hope was true potential.


    This was when I was supposed to awaken¡ªwhen my power was supposed to surge forth.


    But nothing came.


    They said true potential revealed itself in moments of desperation, when the user needed it the most.


    I thought I needed it at that moment, but for what?  The thought consumed me Why did I even want power in the first place?


    For so long, I had chased strength, clawing my way forward, desperate to escape the fate of being prey in this brutal world. I fought, killed, and built myself up, convinced that power and wealth were the only way to survive. If I stood at the top, no one could touch me. No one could take anything from me.


    But somewhere along the way, my hunger for strength had been a hollow attempt to fill the void inside me. A goal to keep moving forward. A reason to exist.


    And then Aeon came along.


    I had hoped to just consume him, get stronger and move on. But instead I found in him something else. A friend.


    As I lay there, struggling to keep my consciousness from slipping away, my thoughts weren¡¯t about myself. They weren¡¯t about my own survival.


    A memory. A life before all of this.


    Before the hunger. Before the endless battles. Before the desperate, ruthless climb for power.


    A time when I had no worries.


    A time before the transition.


    A time when I wasn''t alone.


    "My family¡­ I want to see them again."


    The words slipped past my lips, barely more than a whisper, but as they did, the weight of everything crashed down on me.