ă€ŠMagic Vs Cultivation : A Testament of The Dark Magiciană€‹


 First comes death

Prologue

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    Other POV

 Chapter 1 - A Lost Star

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 Chapter 2 - Family is not everything

    The hearth fire burned noisily whilst thick embers slow-roasted the wood chips crackling away. Zachary had decided to take a seat an hour into Brutus'' story. Or he was thinking about whether or not to call it a recap. A recap of all the gloriously dastardly events that took place before and during his coma.

    Ah, and on the matter of said coma. Zachary also learned that it was widely considered a suicide attempt by most of his family members. Also, said family didn''t live here or near here. They dwelt someplace in an even bigger castle, where his grandfather, the patriarch and respected Duke lived.

    Zachary sat in silence and listened intently. One of the great things he still remembered was his ability to retain large amounts of information quickly. Tears of joy almost streamed down his cheeks because of that.

    Brutus concluded his story at the two-hour mark, and Zachary needed a good stretch. He couldn''t help but marvel at the man''s commitment to talking. He did hope the crestfallen brute was being paid for this since most of the history lesson he spoke on wasn''t important to the current him.

    However, he did listen intently to the tale about his mother, Diane Salazar, who unfortunately died two years ago. Brutus sounded a little sketchy when he tried to talk about her, but Zachary had already gotten the gist of it all. However, what stood out the most about that story was the revelation that the owner of that giant dragon outside belonged to his mother.

    ''So my mother was the eldest daughter to the Patriarch or the Duke, and he also had two other sons who had kids my age. There was a falling out, lines were drawn, and rather unfortunately, my mother was killed.''

    Zachary took a prolonged pause after that thought. He felt warm when he thought about the idea of a mother; clearly, this body still had a strange attachment to these people.

    ''Because my late mother chose to be with a foreigner. She was cast aside and forced to live as a branch family member.''

    Zachary knew this play quite well. Unfortunately, just like in his world, discrimination from royal or wealthy households was a truth as old as time.

    "My Mother...how did she die?" He asked plainly. Brutus looked a little troubled by his frankness but swiftly followed suit.

    "She was...killed by...she was killed by-"

    Those same brass doors burst open again, and two more boiled leather fellows appeared this time. They walked inside, turned towards the blinking little boy, and almost jumped out of their armour, screaming ghost with pointed iron fingers. With a whack against their arms from Brutus, they turned into model knights again.

    '' "f-f-f-f-f-forgiveness my lord! Ahem, there is a problem. We''ve received troubling news that the grandchildren of Duke Salazar plan on sacking the west side of your territory on Staple Myers. "

    Zachary paid close attention to the look of shock and betrayal against Brutus'' face.

    "Damn it! Those reckless brats have no care about the order of things. Tsk, listen Yong Lord. I''m afraid this introduction of ours will have to be cut short. Those little runts from your clan seem to think this old boar is useless. Hmph, let me teach them something their fathers should''ve taught them." Brutus performed a cordial bow to Zachary before twisting against his heels.

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    "Rest well, young lord; I...I won''t be long."

    Zachary watched the fork-beared man exit the room, tailed by the two guards. Once the door finally slammed shut, he remained rooted to his heels for a short while. Between the flying dragon outside and the tense history between his side of the family and everyone else, there were quite a few things to unpack here.

    He had gathered a few things from that conversation just now. He was a young lord of a noble house, preferably one of the youngest children, considering how the man named Brutus addressed him. His grandfather was the patriarch of this clan. And likely someone his late mother didn''t get along with.

    ''That would explain why I''m being hidden away from the main estate. I wonder if they had something to do with my mother''s death as well.''

    Zachary smoothed the bridge of his nose whilst he thought about these matters. It was safe to say this new world was still filled with all the dangers and secrets as his old one. What bothered him the most about this situation was the idea of starting from scratch.

    Zachary hated not knowing what was lurking in wait. One of the things he prided himself on the most in his old life was his meticulous methods of information gathering.

    "There are way too many holes in this; if only I had some way of remembering...hmm if only I still had that thing...the apple of Acrux."

    Zachary was a bit crestfallen thinking about that revolutionary artificial intelligence system. He couldn''t help imagining what could''ve been if he had had that relic. The Apple was like an encyclopedia of everything, built into a sentinel chip that responded based on one''s thoughts. Thinking of his past life, Zachary started seeing how careless he had been. Of course, they would come for him. What he had perfected threatened to completely dismantle the planet''s political and economic system.

    Without proper backing, his death would always come. He exhaled a deep sigh and rubbed the side of his sore neck. Zachary remembered the faint remnants of the last moments of his life. The explosion. And all those people he likely killed along with him. He shuddered at the thought of the wreckage before carefully attempting to calm his racing heart.

    A strange surge of different emotions welled inside of his brain at once. Zachary felt his breaths quickening, sweat beaded against his forehead suddenly, and a blurred vision was the icing on the cake of what was likely a panic attack.

    ''My goodness, a panic attack? M-me b-but why-wa-wait this feeling.''

    Suddenly, a warm sensation welled against his two eyes. He felt something unnatural awakening. A sharp pain splintered against the side of his head like a thousand knives had been plunged into the same point.

    A terrible cry out of agony howled, but the pain swiftly drifted away seconds later. But something strange was happening.

    Zachary clutched the loose clothes around his chest and was forced to blink a few times before he noticed a peculiar set of tiny particles casting a strange light before him.

    He rubbed his eyes several times and waved his hand through the pixelated screen. Shortly, he was stunned into silence as he saw a game-like menu materialise before his very eyes.

    Other POV

    The scent of death and burning metals filled his nostrils. Brutus galloped through the field of partial grassland. His small company of 12 rode around himˇŞfigures of black darting across the meadow with iron armed at the ready. A tall hill beckoned their arrival, and Brutus felt a terrible premonition looming in the air.

    He gave the men around him a knowing nod before countless swords were pulled free from their scabbards. Brutus inhaled a bellyful of air before erupting a bellowing roar.

    "Charge!"

    The dozens of hoofs ate away at the soft ground and closed in on the hill''s edge. Brutus held the reigns tightly before cycling his Ki through the open channels within his body. A thin layer of blue smoke appeared against his hulking frame. A mysterious wind wrapped around his entire body, stirring his perfectly combed hair wildly.

    Brutus was under no illusion this skirmish would be a lose-lose situation for him. These were the kids of his peers; embarrassingly enough, in the last few years, they had acquired enough resources to accelerate their strength to a level good enough to stand against him on the same field. Normally, that would dent his pride, but Brutus was under no illusion about the origins of this clan.

    Climbing the hill in haste, the air was suddenly halted by the whining snarl of a great beast. Brutus felt his blood turn cold. For across this vast spread of land, there was only one beast capable of causing the skies to quake in that way.

    His band reached the top of the hill and held their steads in place. From a vantage point, they could see across the endless open clearing. To the side were wisps and forest remnants. Brutus shuddered coldly; he recognised only a few days ago, this entire clearing was covered in tall forests.

    That blood-curdling sound whined loudly against the air again. Brutus tossed his gaze towards the heavens, and his eyes bulged wide in terror. His men spotted the creature first, lurking amongst the unnatural clouds above.

    "By the Gods! D-d-d-ra"

    "T-t-two dragons?"

    Brutus couldn''t even take in the level of death against the clearing below. Two medium-sized dragons were hovering above. Since he was currently at the peak of the Bronze body rank, he could see the features of those arrogant fellows seated proudly atop those dragons, even from this far away.

    They, of course, were the grandchildren of the patriarch, Govan and Lotten Cloud.

 Chapter 3 - Omega

Roland POV

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 Chapter 4 - Confessions and Willows

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 Chapter 5 - Deception

    Roland was pacing back and forth, staring at the pixelated version of a family tree floating before his narrowed eyes.

    Soma Salazar + Genieve Blackstorm

    <b>                                                      Eric  Salazar+Lady Herone    = Xavier , Mariah, Lotten</b>

    Almos Salazar        =      Govan

    Diane Salazar         = Roland

    First, he committed all the names to memory, strangely lingering on the name of his mother, Diane.

    Roland felt a swell of emotions surfacing from an unknown part of himself. Anger, sadness and a deep-rooted sense of regret. He clenched his fists tight, recounting some of the things he remembered in that letter left behind from the Roland before him.

    Wearing someone else''s body was more complicated than he might''ve expected. Somehow, there was a growing connection between himself and the previous owner''s memories and feelings. There had to be some way he could further explore this. Roland didn''t once believe all of this was a coincidence.

    Unfortunately, he gathered this current time period may not be sophisticated enough to contain the level of science he needed to conduct the necessary research. A sudden thought flashed through his mind.

    ''Wait a minute. Omega said this world has a complex magic system. That may be the route I must take to gain more knowledge about this world and myself. If they were using Magic to develop and build things, that would likely replace modern-day technology where I came from.''

    Roland posed the question to Omega.

    {Yes my Host, the magical system within this world shares intricate similarities with what you understand as science. Although there are several complex formulas and theories in this world of Magic, none greater than the theory of reincarnation and immorality.

    Omega highly recommends the Host studies the system of Magic here; according to my database, the best methods for learning Magic derive from attending one of the 8 Schools of Magic.

    Traditionally known as the 8 Unseen Colleges. Located in an entirely different province called Arcadia. Several miles away from our current location}

    The mention of a province spurred Roland to inquire about the overall structure of kingdoms and countries in this world.

    {Sun Kingdom - Southern Realm - Patriarchal Society

    Rain Kingdom - Eastern Realm - Matriarchal Society

    Storm Kingdom - Western Realm - Patriarchal Society

    Cloud Kingdom - Northern Eastern - Patriarchal Society

    Moon Kingdom - Northern Realm - Matriarchal society}

    Roland nodded while he made another twist against his heels. He walked down the same path along the room. With his hands held together behind his back, he was locked into his thoughts, conversing with the AI system about the theories of Magic. Unfortunately, he discovered that Omega''s knowledge was limited in this field, partly because of Roland''s lack of exposure to Magic.

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    ''Hm, so there are stages of your growth, then Omega. That''s interesting since I always believed the Apple of Acrux was a self-sufficient system capable of improving itself when the needs and must were required.''

    {That''s correct, my Host. I am created to develop my capabilities depending on the situation. In this current context, I improve like the hosts improve."

    ''And how''s that?''

    {Through the process known as ageing}

    A wry smile tugged at the corners of Roland''s mouth. Sometimes, the answers were more common than complex.

    {The more days and information I''ve given to handle or be tasked with. This helps improve my understanding and functionality. Omega will continue to inform the Host of these changes as we progress.

    *Chiming sounds*

    Warning! Two heat signatures detected}

    Before Roland was given a moment to react, he heard the sound of knuckles being wrapped against the frame of his door.

    "Eh? wh-who is that?" He stammered quietly with a bit of uneasiness coursing through his belly. The few people he had met so far didn''t bother to announce themselves. Without waiting for a response, his door slowly sneered open.

    Two fellows dressed in light armour stood by his door. The one leading the duo removed his iron helmet before frantically shaking his head to free the matted scruff of hair trapped inside. He had sallow skin, a round, youthful face, and thin brows. They locked eyes, and Roland noticed the briefest of shock against his face before a more natural look replaced it.

    The second fellow kept his helmet on. The first thing Roland noticed about that figure was the sword glued to his hip.

    Roland cocked a single brow upwards, observing the two knights appear before him. The more he took in their appearance, the more convinced he was about the period he was in.

    ''Hm, maybe they''re part of that Brutus fellows army.'' He thought to himself, although there was a subtle concern he carried, staring into those dead eyes of the front man.

    The young-faced man creased a slight smile before postrating into a half bow.

    "Greetings, master of the court. We had no idea the son of Lady Diane was resting here. Let me say it''s a pleasure to meet you." said the man with the sallow skin.

    His voice irritated Roland, or maybe the dandy look bothered him. Short cropped black hair, thin eyes to the point he could barely see his pupils and a very pencilled drawn moustache.

    To Roland, this was the textbook appearance of a traditional villain. They stood in awkward silence, and it took him a few moments to remember he was Roland, the son of Lady Diane.

    He performed a similar greeting and creased a boyish smile in return.

    "The pleasure is all mine err..."

    "Ah forgive me, I am Ser Oswald and this here is Haldan the Iron. We are part of Lord Brutus'' personal warriors. Apologies for disturbing you, but...there has been a breach in the castle. And Lord Brutus has instructed us to escort you to a safer place at once." Oswald stepped further into the room and inspected the area.

    A slight cloud of worry descended once Roland heard that.

    ''An attack on the castle? Is that why Brutus hurried off.''

    He had no idea about the politics of this people or what kind of feud this clan of his was in. But judging by the letters left behind, there was a clear divide between his mother, Brutus and the rest of the clan.

    ''There was no mention of my father, hmm. I wonder what that''s about, '' he thought to himself before scanning the room.

    Roland''s gaze fell towards the letters sprawled against his bedside. He casually walked towards them and neatly arranged them into a pile. He wrapped the small ribbon around them and aligned them behind the blue flower. Besides this, he noticed an iron dagger with a white and gold hilt, probably used to open letters.

    "So is Brutus in trouble then?" asked Roland, lazily, tracing the curved groove of the daggers bite before he turned around to observe the duo again.

    "He''s dealing with some troubling affairs right now, but Lord Brutus has reached the peak rank of a bronze body, so he''ll be fine." Said Oswald creasing a broad smile that made Roland uncomfortable.

    "Say, I don''t see any sign of a death knight here? Were you not assigned one being a descendant and all?"

    Roland slightly tilted his head in confusion before quickly remembering that purple mask and the aloof fellow clothed in slender black.

    ''Good question, wasn''t he supposed to be protecting me. Hm, strange.''

    Roland curiously shifted his gaze towards the silent knight standing by the door. His movements caught his attention since the fellow had walked inside a few steps before retracing his steps and placing himself directly in front of the doorway. Roland found that odd, but he shifted his attention back towards the round-faced young man with that Cheshire-cat-like smile.

    Roland''s brows suddenly furrowed. Something was off. He remembered his training as a commanding officer and locked in. During his lengthy discussions with the AI system implanted into his mind, Roland was delighted to learn that Omega also had what he personally called ''special abilities.''

    The only accessible function was a handy protocol known as.

    ''Omega, switch to analyst mode.''

    {Affirmative}

    A sudden warmth settled at the back of his two eyes. Roland felt an irritation before a strange light appeared over his gaze. Unbeknownst to everyone else in the room, a silvery light glazed over his two irises, and an invisible light shot away from his gaze. Roland tried to remain composed; wherever his gaze fell upon, a tiny piece of information appeared close by.

    #Iron Sword *** Analysing...fresh blood stains found ***#

    Roland''s gaze shot open, and before he was given a moment to process anything, he caught a looming figure hanging around his blind spot. Oswald halted against his heels once Roland turned towards him again. Roland moved his body in front of the bedside desk and slowly gathered the knife into his hand.

    A drawn-out silence stiffened the room. Roland could feel his heart racing, but his mind remained as calm as a shallow river. Oswald exhaled a tired breath before smoothing the loose hair strands from his forehead. When he finally lifted his head again, an air of coldness contorted his mask.

    "How did you know?" He simply asked

    Roland remained silent for a few moments before a wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

    " You didn''t refer to me as young Lord. So then, what can I do for you two then?"

    Oswald nodded his head as if to understand where he went wrong. He slowly pulled a short dagger from his hip and creased an ugly smile.

    "Your life." He said before he leapt forward.

 Chapter 6 - Rituals

    Roland reacted almost perfectly on cue. He had already gathered a fist full of the heavy duvet, snatched it away from the bed, and flung it between them. The onrushing assailant shot towards him and sliced forward. Omega''s mechanical chime continued ringing with warning voices.

    Given no time to think, Roland released the duvet and dove across the king-size bed. The sounds of iron ripping through the heavily quilted duvet startled him, followed by a burst of pale feathers as the dagger severed the quilt. Roland felt sickly in his gut after seeing that.

    There was no logical explanation for a dagger cutting through that cleanly. However, he held no second to waste and beelined towards the door. Wearing the imposing-looking iron helmet, the knight stepped forward and pulled the long sword away from his tall scabbard.

    Roland''s mind emptied all unnecessary thoughts weighing him down. Somehow, his body still remembered his elite-level training from his old world. His eyes never left the tall sword falling towards his head. But he was as calm as water and kept his frame low while maintaining his rush towards the knight.

    The sword suddenly accelerated. Roland''s eyes flashed wide with shock, but he swiftly ducked lower before changing his direction and making a sudden dash to one side. The sword sliced down. Its bite caught the end of his trailing braided locks, narrowly missing his frail body.

    The force alone sent a burning shiver across the side of his face. Roland landed heavily on his feet, and a terrible pain assaulted him from his heels. He gritted his teeth, flipped the dagger upwards and sprang forward like a leopard. Aiming for the space between the knight''s armpit. The knight moved quickly in an attempt to parry, but Roland kept his eyes lasered in on his target.

    He swiped forward and felt his dagger sever flesh. The bite was too shallow.

    ''Shit! I missed.''

    The knight abandoned using his sword and instead kneed him right against his midriff. Roland felt the air snatch away from his entire body as the force of a horse''s kick sent him flying back.

    He slammed harshly against the floorboards and rolled a little. His mind was in a daze, but he groggily picked himself off the floor and steadily rose to his feet again.

    However,

    "Arghhhhh"  A terrible pain made his knees buckle, and Roland crashed back down again.

    He took a nervous look at his ankle and was left in horror by the sight of bone sticking out of his foot. And then it suddenly hit him. Sure, he had muscle memory and experience of his old world, but Roland made a fatal error. This juvenile body had no training nor experience to carry out the movements his old self could once fluently make after years of honing his body into a machine.

    A snigger filled his ears from his rear.

    Lost in a daze, Roland tried to move swiftly, but his body refused to listen. The shadow loomed over him, and a dagger arrived, slamming into his back. Roland lost control of his body and found himself staked into the ground like a helpless doll.

    "Guaaaaaaaargh!" hurled free from his mouth. He clawed at the floorboards harshly, his nails chipped and broke.

    He didn''t want to reward them with the satisfaction of hearing him scream, but the pain rushing through his entire bones was so unbearable he could only wail bitterly.

    "Buahaha! Now-now, that was a surprise little one. We came here looking for a hostage, and look what we found instead."

    Roland felt another terrible sensation as the dagger twisted into the gaping wound.

    "My-my, The long-lost cripple, hiding away all safe and sound- guahaha! Well, It''s not so surprising come to think of it." Roland felt the assailant''s warm breath behind his ears as he leaned closer.

    "I did hear of some rumours that old boar Brutus had a soft spot for your whore of a mother.Tsk! Tsk! It''s a shame what happened to her. "

    Roland could barely lift his fingertips. His entire body turned as heavy as lead all of a sudden. And the gaping wound against his back had changed from pain to a stiffened coldness. His memories of his past life have already taught him what this sensation likely meant.

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    ''I''m dying...again...I''m dying.''

    {Warning! Host in critical danger! Vitals plummeting! Unknown agent detected. Host at risk of incurring fatal wound! Warning! Warning!} Omega''s voice chimed away in his thoughts.

    "Listen, it feels me with great joy to know that I, Oswald, a simple fellow no more important than a lowly servant, will be the one to kill a grandson of the great Salazar. Goodbye, little prince. You won''t be missed."

    Oswald pulled the dagger free. Roland''s body jerked away from the ground, but that weightless sensation lasted momentarily. Gruesomely, he felt the weight of a giant pounding into his back repeatedly. Oswald stabbed him over and over againˇŞunrelenting, savagery, and very much enjoying every sordid second.

    Roland had to admit to himself that he was shocked. Why on earth was this happening to him so soon, and why was it so barbaric?

    The pain bled into darkness, which swiftly sent Roland''s consciousness sinking into a pit of nothingness. The entire ordeal happened so quickly that Roland was astounded by how weak he was compared to before.

    He was at least grateful; he was spared hearing the hysterical laughter of that psycho continually stabbing him in the back.

    ''Sigh, a second death. '' He thought to himself in the dark.

    ''...How embarrassing.''

    As if matters couldn''t get any worse, that incessant mechanical noise thrummed in his mind without end.

    {Warning host in critical danger!}

    {Warning host in critical danger!}

    {Warning host in critical danger!}

    {H-h-ho-s-t...I...criti-...dan...dan...dang...er}

    Silence descended. Finally, he was at peace.

    It was a soothing realm of forced peace and painless embrace. Roland saw nothing, heard nothing and yet felt everything. He wondered how long this state would last. He didn''t recall this happening the first time; his first death felt a lot more final.

    ''Wait, I can still hear my voice, so that should mean I''m not quite dead...right.''

    A tiny freckle of hope bloomed in his mind. Roland seemed to be a fellow of manifestations. Within the dense, thick darkness, he saw a little light sparkle into existenceˇŞa tiny seed of life birthed through the embrace of a cold and lightless fog.

    Roland heard a whisper first, a childish heckle breaking through the dark. Fear filled his thoughts, but a sudden warmth invigorated his once formless body. Then, as though a God or benevolent guardian snapped its two fingers, the most beautiful sunrise was unveiled. He rubbed his dreary gaze and set his half-closed eyelids across the endless land of golden wheat and tall grass.

    A giant sun half rose away from the distant fold of the horizon beyond. Roland could barely believe what he was seeing right now. He looked down and saw brown hands caressed in the bristling grassˇŞhis own hands. His own? Not Roland the boy, but...

    That delicate laughter filled his ears again.

    Zachary''s heart tightened like a pair of hands had wrapped around the beating organ. He spun around in haste, praying he wasn''t dreaming this. And there he saw her faceˇŞher little round face and her almond-shaped eyes.

    The box-braided hair trailed down her little neck. Zachary could barely contain himself. Seeing her face again, a swell of tears welled against his two eyes. He sunk to his knees and simply cried his eyes out.

    "Na-naraiyah?" He muttered brokenly. The little girl creased a toothy grin before running towards him. A speechless Zachary opened his arms, and she fell right into them. Her little frame melded into his body. She was real.

    He held her tightly, squeezing her delicately with all the warmth he had in his heart. His tears stained her summer dress, but Zachary didn''t care one bit. He never got to say goodbye to her, the most precious thing he held dear to his heartˇŞhis little sister. She was alive.

    "Big brother, why are you crying for?"  her childish voice asked him

    "Naraiyah, h-h-how (hyuk) You''re alive, I thought...I thought I lost you. Wait..."

    Zachary wiped his tears away with his sleeves. He gently pulled the little girl away and beheld her deeply. Her wild braided hair was fiery red, strikingly contrasting her unblemished pecan brown skin.

    His fingers unwove the tangle of her messy, fiery red hair.

    A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The red hair was his family''s unique and peculiar defect, but his little sister''s familiar freckles resting on the hill of her puffy cheeks were unique to only her.

    Zachary''s emotions finally cooled, and he had no idea how this was possible.

    "N-no, this can''t be...am I...Naraiyah am I de-dea-"

    "Brother, it''s alright. Look at me." She held his cheeks with her dainty hands. Zachary felt his heart melt beneath her large brown eyes.

    "It''s alright, don''t be afraid. This is all part... of the traveller''s course (of the traveller''s course)

    Zachary''s brows furrowed, and he heard a second voice overlapping his little sister''s. A sinister voice.

    "Wait Na-naraiyah, say that again?" He squeezed out forcefully

    Suddenly, a terrible outcry marred the peaceful air. Zachary tossed his gaze to the clouded air. Something was up there, something big.

    "Naraiyah, wh-what is..." Before he could finish his sentence, a baleful chill descended upon him. Zachary moved his gaze back towards his little sister, and a shriek startled free from his slightly opened mouth as he crawled away from her.

    Half of Naraiyah''s face had melted and turned into a decaying skull. Her gaze was devoid of emotions, and Zachary could only stare in horror as a cruel smile creased against the little girl''s half-melted round face.

    "Dear traveller, (Dear traveller) Why is it thou fears death so, (Why is it thou fears death so) and yet embraces the road of crimson so willingly (and yet embraces the road of crimson so willingly). Look, see the hills, aren''t those skulls your own doing? (Look, see the hills, aren''t those skulls your own doing?)

    The overlapping voice definitely spooked him enough to want to turn around and run away, but more so, Zachary still felt conflicted, staring at the appearance of his little sister. Reluctantly, his eyes shifted towards the rolling hills where her fingers gestured. And upon doing so, he wished he didn''t.

    The sun turned carmine red while a pile of smoky bones towered high in place of the once-green hills. Zachary swallowed harshly and narrowed his gaze. Countless piles of bones towered up high. The bones and skulls of humans.

    The skies ruptured again, but this time, he noticed a gargantuan-sized silhouette behind the clumps of gathered clouds. Zachary saw a creature with five heads and two mighty wings ferociously blot out most of the sky.

    "What in the world is that thing?" He muttered, almost breathless from the shock. A sense of looming doom arrived, and all he wanted to do was...

    "Run...Run as fast as you can.

    Run towards it. Find it, seek it, quickly...before he finds yo-"

    *ROARRRRR*

    Zachary felt the entire world quake beneath his feet. He shifted his startled gaze towards the heavens and saw the skies melting away like a horrible dream. He felt a pull against his sleeves, and the little girl with half a face glared into his gaze. Those once brown iris were no more, and a strange pool of shimmering brown gold took their place instead. Zachary felt his heart lurch. He gritted his teeth regretably. His initial fears were correct.

    "Y-y-you''re not my sister." He squeezed out his mouth. She wore a deranged smile as her lips gently parted.

    "No, I am not. And you...are no longer her brother... aren''t you...Roland Smoke."

    Before Zachary could react, she shot forward, her mouth gaping horribly wide.

    Darkness arrived swiftly enough.

    He blinked a few times and sank into a sea of nothingness again. Just before he lost consciousness, he heard a familiar mechanical sound.

    Followed by a clear-sounding announcement ringing within his thoughts.

    {Memory Synchronisation complete}

    {Undead Bloodline...activated.}

 Chapter 7 - Changes

    His heavy eyelids puckered open, and Roland felt an uncomfortable stickiness. His view was foggy, but slowly, the more he moved his eyeballs around, the more they refound their focus.

    The ceiling was moving, or rather, he was moving.

    ''Wait, why am I being...carried?''

    He felt a weightlessness subtly hidden beneath the pain throbbing against his back. Roland observed his surroundings, and his dreary gaze narrowed with a questioning look before he traced the slender figure carefully carrying him. The scent of blood assaulted his nostrils, and his half-closed eyelids swiftly widened upon the notice of blood splatter against that mysteriously familiar violet-coloured mask.

    "You''re...b-back?" His voice croaked painfully.

    The Willow lowered its head with those smoky glassed eyes beholding Roland.

    "Young master...I...forgive me. I was too late."  He muttered in that usual gentle voice. Roland felt slightly uncomfortable hearing him apologize. But he was grateful he wasn''t dead, at the very least.

    ''He must''ve saved me then, but what the hell was that weird dream about?''

    Roland blinked a few times, simply staring at the cold expression moulded against the peculiar relic''s features. In truth, he never once considered the Willow at fault. But that was only down to his way of handling his problems. The things he could control, he never placed the burden on anyone else but himself.

    But a rouge thought birthed a strange idea within him. Perhaps a new way of doing things was required for a new world. He had almost died trying to go against those two men. Back in his old life, with the training and experience he honed in the military, a situation like that would''ve likely resulted in him escaping with a few cuts.

    Roland creased a boyish smile, remembering those days. One thing was glaringly apparent to him now: strength was key in this world, just like in his previous life.

    So he wetted his lips this time in preparation before he spoke.

    "I forgive you, my friend." He said affectionately.

    The Willow gave him a slight nod before moving his glassed stare ahead again. Roland recalled the assassination attempt as he refocused on that splatter of blood covering the death knight''s mask.

    "So what happened to them?"  He found the courage to ask his silent savour.

    "I killed one. And one got away. But I took one of his arms...as payment." explained the death knight in his usual melodic tone.

    ''As payment.''

    Roland furrowed his brows questioningly. He could still hear that crazed laughter whilst that psycho stabbed him repeatedly in the back.

    "Which one did you kill?"

    There was a brief pause between the two before the voice of the mysterious figure crept through the mask.

    "The one with the iron helmet."

    Roland felt a sense of gladness well up in his chest. He pictured that dandy-looking, round-faced demon, and suddenly, his aching bones were invigorated again.

    "Good," said Roland with a cruel smirk. He was willing to adapt to a different way of thinking within this new world, but one constant he was assured of keeping. It was the repayment of revenge.

    Once they reached the end of the long corridor, Roland felt his strength return and requested to be lowered to his feet. Surprisingly, his strength had returned quicker than he expected. He observed this youthful body of his. The clothes were torn and covered in dried blood. Should he consider this a miracle, he wondered? No, there was likely a dark truth about why his body had healed so quickly.

    Only he couldn''t for the life of him, work out what that was.

    They stood on the upper floor. The death knight walked casually towards the wooden bannisters and looked down. Roland felt a slight uneasiness, but he approached the slender figure and planted his feet beside him. The moment he glanced over the railing, a coldness raced through his spine.

    Down below, he counted up to 20 or so bodies lying in a pool of blood. A soft sand brown rug sat in the middle of the hall below. Towering twin doors sat on the far end with tall windows on either side. Judging by the clothing of the corpses, he assumed they were a mixture between the attackers and the guardsmen defending this place. He moved his gaze towards the descending stairwell, falling away from the top of the floor.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The bodies of the maids sprawled out helplessly. His gaze met the empty look of that broad-shouldered maid from earlier. And his fingertips curled into fists until his knuckles turned pale.

    He exhaled a warm breath before facing the thing he had been avoiding until now.

    ''Omega, can you hear me?''

    {...}

    {Yes, my host. I am with you}

    Roland felt slightly relieved hearing that mechanical voice whirring in his thoughts again. He wasn''t sure where to start, but for now, he could only express the truth sitting in his thoughts.

    ''I need, no, we need to get stronger. I''ll need your help with that, and I hope you''ll support me along this journey we face ahead of us. Omega.''

    Roland wasn''t sure exactly what he expected from an Artificial intelligence system. He knew things would be difficult; this was entirely new territory for him. But thankfully, he had Omega with him.

    He felt anxious when he heard that first mechanical sound racing through his thoughts.

    "I understand my host. Omega will assist and guide the host in whichever way it can to facilitate your growth. Omega hopes to be a valuable asset that you can rely on.}

    Roland smiled, unknowingly listening to that. He closed his two eyes and placed a hand against his chest.

    "Thank you, " he muttered softly beneath his breath. The twin doors suddenly flung aside, startled.

    Roland and his death knight stood rooted against their heels in wait. The smokey wind from the outdoors walked inside, and Roland narrowed his sharp gaze at the burly figure below, covered in heavy furs stiffened from frozen rain.

    Brutus heaved heavy breaths as he walked into the manor, his face filled with fury. He tossed his glare around the hall before he peered up the stairwell. Roland locked eyes with the forked bearded fellow, and a noticeable look of relief drowned the anger away from his defined features.

    "Thank heavens," Said Brutus, walking inside.

    Brutus quickened up the spiralling stairwell, and Roland was shocked by the sudden bear hug embrace he received. He wasn''t quite sure the giant knew his own strength by the careless way he squeezed his small frame. A few wheezing breaths later, he was finally freed and placed back down to his feet.

    "I heard the news of the attack!" Brutus sounded, shuffling Roland around like a ragdoll whilst he inspected his body.

    "Young Lord, have you been hurt anywhere? What happened to your clothes? And why is there blood on you?" With all the questions flying his way, Roland wasn''t quite sure where to start. Also, he wasn''t quite sure what to say right now, considering he still had no idea how he was still alive.

    "Shit! You!" Brutus pointed towards the silent shadow lingering behind Roland.

    "Why was the young Lord not protected?" He hissed with venom. Roland was about to speak up when he noticed a strange thing taking place. A faint white smoke appeared around Lord Brutus'' hulking physique. Roland remembered seeing something similar briefly beforehand.

    ''That psycho had it coated around his dagger. Perhaps it has to do with...'' A sudden realization flashed across his mind.

    ''Omega, what am I looking at right now.''

    {Omega senses a dense amount of the energy source known as Ki}

    Roland relaxed his brows after hearing that. He had expected that to be the case. Meanwhile, his death knight had silently appeared beside him and dropped to his knees again before bowing his head solemnly.

    "I am unworthy to hold the title of protector. Forgive me for failing to keep the young Lord safe. I am willing to carry out any punishment deemed necessary for my crimes." It spoke without flinching a muscle.

    Lord Brutus wore a mask of anger, glaring down at the figure with disdain.

    "Your entire existence is to serve and protect. Failing that, why else are you alive."

    "The Lord speaks truths. Shall I rip out my spine in response to my failings?" It said in response.

    Roland shuddered at the mention of that. He tossed his gaze between the two of them, wondering why they had to be so intense. He cleared his throat loudly before sheepishly holding up a single hand in protest.

    "Err, might I add some important details." He said with a slight smile.

    His eyes lowered to the side, beholding the strange masked fellow beside him. No doubt, without his involvement, things might''ve gone from bad to worse. Perhaps the miraculous recovery of his body also had something to do with him. Who could say at this point? But Roland was assured he was one of the only two people he could trust right now.

    "He saved me, " he eventually said with a warm smile. So I...I need him alive."

    Brutus searched the boy''s face in silence, his chiselled features stiff, with a slight look of annoyance forming wrinkles. Roland turned his eyes away beneath the pressure, hoping the large brute wasn''t about to scold him. Instead, Brutus ran his gloved hands through his thick black hair and exhaled a pent-up breath of frustration.

    " Fine, if he has curried your favour. Then...who am I to say otherwise."  Lord Brutus formed a forced smile before lightly patting Roland against his bony shoulders and saying.

    "I''m just glad you''re alive. Well done." He walked away down the hall with his head slightly lowered. Roland watched the broad back of his slowly marshalling away. He felt something was off, more so because Lord Brutus never once gave the dead bodies a second look.

    The shadowy figure rose behind him; as per custom, Roland shivered before slowly turning around to face him. By this time, he could already sense what was about to happen, so he stopped the masked figure in place and spoke some words of his own.

    "You don''t need to thank me or fall on your knees either, " he said, narrowing his gaze as he noticed one of the willows'' legs begin to bend.

    "Without you, I wouldn''t have made it. So I...owe you one. But you also owe me one. I was forced to fend against those two horrible fellows on my own. And look at meˇŞI can barely look after myself, let alone fight two seasoned warriors in this state...so I guess...I guess." Roland stumbled upon an idea as his eyes suddenly brightened with life.

    "Yes, that''s it; I need you to train me. That''ll be how you make amends. I need to become stronger, fast! So, regardless of how dangerous it might be. You must swear to make sure I''m strong enough to handle those psychos. Next time, I won''t be so weak; next time, I''ll...I''ll kill them myself." Declared Roland, clenching his fists tightly beside his side.

 Chapter 8 - Training Day

    Roland held onto the shimmering steel sword with a curious expression. When he moved the sword intentionally, he heard its metal hum while passing through the formless air. Holding a sword felt a lot different than he first imagined.

    The hilt was heavy, for starters, and the blade was noticeably lighter than he expected. It was easy enough to understand the allure of these ancient weapons.

    After meeting Lord Brutus again, he had washed himself and slipped into a change of free-moving clothes for today''s lesson. After he made a promise with his death knight, the eagerly sworn protector insisted they start training today. Much to Rolan''s shock, he was initially a little sceptical; after all, wasn''t he bleeding out not so long ago? Not to mention, there was a veiled understanding about what had happened after he lost consciousness.

    Roland combed his gaze over his new surroundings. The hall reminded him of a sophisticated Grecian gymnasium. The walls were tiled with polished black stone, and tall pillars were erected in the corners. There was even an area where onlookers could sit down and watch. In the centre was a large ring covered in white sand. This is where he was currently standing.

    The Willow carried a wooden training sword as he advanced slowly towards Roland.

    "There are 8 fundamental strokes of swordsmanship. A strike straight down from the top, straight up from the bottom, diagonally down to the left and so on.

    When it comes down to sword fighting, you only need to perfect a single stroke to understand them all. What you will need to constantly practice is your stance and your awareness. Your footwork and agility are crucial in manoeuvring between the attacking and defensive phases. Like this."

    The death knight lowered the wooden sword to his side and turned the blade flat towards Roland. He rose onto his tiptoes and began to lightly hop between the left and right heel. His delicate footing was alarmingly quiet. Roland felt his nerves standing up, anticipating something was about to happen. Suddenly, the death knight moved, but his movements were almost impossible to follow.

    A shadow blurred across his view in the blink of an eye. Roland stepped back in a desperate bid to avoid him. The flat side of the wooden sword smacked the side of his head lightly. Roland winced before rubbing the side of his head.

    "How did youˇ­"

    "You were focused on the wrong thing. You cannot control my movements. But you can control your own. If there are 8 basic strokes. You have a 1/8 chance of knowing where I''ll attack. Bracing yourself and preparing for them, that''s what will save you."

    "Now then, I''m going to attack you again and again. Prepare, brace yourself and react accordingly. Let us beginˇ­"

    ***

    Roland stared at the faraway ceiling covered in mosaic patterns. His chest heaved in and out as he struggled to regain his strength. His body ached, and his light clothes clung against his soft brown skin, covered in sticky sweat.

    ''Omega, how many hours have passed since I started training.''

    {4 hours 35 minutes 20 seconds} Replied the system.

    A wry smile crept across Roland''s lips. Despite his fatigue, it didn''t feel like time had moved so quickly. He caught footsteps approaching him before a slender arm reached out to help him upright.

    "Well done, young master. We''ll continue tomorrow. But first. This is for you."

    Roland sat upright in a hurry and stared at the slender grey book being handed over to him. The cover looked worn out. He curiously brushed his fingertips over the surface and felt hardened paper rather than a firm hardcover like he was used to.

    His eyes scanned over the front of the book with deep wonder before he placed a questioning look towards the death knight standing beside him.

    "Lord Brutus asked me to deliver this to you, young master. This is a one-of-one body refining manual, purposely formed for a unique, specific reason."

    The death knight gestured for him to open it. Roland followed suit with the help of Omega''s automatic translator protocol. The alien language shimmered into basic English.

    "Five Talon-Speared Body Shredded method. Created by Diane Salazar."

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Roland gasped out loud. That lady was supposedly his mother. The woman who died two years ago. He carried many questions but instead felt a firm arm falling against his shoulder in response.

    "You should go and speak with the Lord of the manor. He has a great deal of things to discuss with you. "Roland nodded his head; he needed a break from all the beating he was taking. And what better way to kill time than taking a quick history lesson. Also,

    ''Omega, can you begin analysing this text and find out if this is the most effective way to conduct these methods?''

    Roland had gotten dressed in more formal clothes. Before he left his room, he checked himself out in the mirror. His clothing style was a mixture of modern and Victorian styles. He might''ve found this ridiculous looking at one stage of his past life, but things had changed.

    Once he stepped out into the long hallway, he noticed the new faces around the castle this morning. After the attack, Lord Brutus wasted no time in finding replacements by the looks of it.

    ''I only hope these lots survive longer than the others.'' He thought grimly whilst he passed the many strangers wearing obvious looks of anxiety.

    Roland reached the west wing of the manor. Here, he met a row of closed arch-shaped mahogany doors framed inside an embroidery of rusty gold. One of the doors sat wider than the others. He approached it cautiously and pressed an ear towards the hard redwood. A familiar voice filtered through from the other side. Roland lightly wrapped his knuckles over the doorframe in response.

    "Come in." said a gruff voice from inside.

    Roland complied and found himself standing in a place that reminded him of a war room. The walls were decorated with different-styled iron weapons and armour. Roland marvelled at the various weapons he had only seen in books until now, from iron-spiked maces to greatswords and bulky shields.

    He was given the impression that Lord Brutus was some kind of collector. He guessed that assumption was probably wrong. He had Omega perform a sweep scan of the room before entering. And the brute''s clothes noticeably carried aged blood against them.

    In the middle of the room, he found the Lord of the manor hovering over a squared table with a vast map against it. Lord Brutus peeled his gaze away from the table and beheld Roland with an affectionate smile.

    "Young master, you''veˇ­finally arrived."

    Roland was taken aback by those warm eyes. The middle-aged man looked as though he had aged an extra 10 years in that short timeframe. It''s been a while since he met someone who looked at him like that. That tenderness was genuine.

    A warm smile creased against his lips as he bowed his head cordially. "I''m glad you''re safeˇ­uncle." Roland noticed the softness in the man''s face contort into a look of sadness.

    Lord Brutus exhaled a tired breath before gesturing for Roland to come inside.

    He closed the door behind him and sat on the nearest chair on the other side of the table.

    "How are you feeling today? I heard you received some gruesome wounds? Are youˇ­are you sure you''re alright, young one?" Asked Brutus

    Roland regarded the man with a pleasant smile. The worried look on his chiselled features reminded him of a caring father.

    ''I guess he did have a close relationship with my mother then.''

    "Yes, I''m alright. I''m not sure how, but my wounds healed faster than I expected, " said Roland, feigning ignorance. He had a feeling his strange dream had something to do with it, but there was not enough evidence to back that thought up.

    Thinking of that dream, he should ask Omega to ensure his vitals worked correctly. Lord Brutus considered him briefly before sitting against the leather chair, waiting to catch his fall.

    "There areˇ­there are a few things we need to discuss. Yesterday resulted from a lasting blood feud between the respective branch families and the main house."

    The seasoned knight slowly removed the heavy gloves away from his large hands.

    "It should have never spiralled that far, but I foolishly gambled on those brats having some sense of pride before it got this bad. Nevertheless, the patriarch has stepped in, and we''ll have peaceˇ­for now." Brutus raised his chin, and a cold light glazed over his dark eyes

    Roland felt an intensity behind Brutus'' glare. It was clear the animosity between him and this main house was not resolved.

    ''But why does this feel eerily familiar and subtly like I have something to do with it.''

    "Next, did you look at the body refining manual I asked that ''thing'' to give you?" Lord Brutus asked, unfurling a scroll that sat beside his arm.

    ˇ°Eh-y-yes Iˇ­I had a look." Roland stammered awkwardly, wondering when the conversation would move towards that.

    "Good, before I go further, I need you to understand something, young one. Your mother." Lord Brutus''s eyes turned sad.

    "sighˇ­Diane Salazar was once considered the most gifted prodigy this realm had ever seen. By the time she was your age, the King of the Cloud Kingdom had sent countless delegates for her hand in marriage. She refused them all, of course. Her excuse? She didn''t want any distractions to ruin her training."

    Brutus traced a particular area against the open scroll several times with his finger. Roland narrowed his gaze, wondering what he was reading.

    "Everyone expected her to achieve a Gold Ranked Body in a few years. She would''ve been only the second person to achieve this. But alasˇ­she failed."

    "Why? Wh-what happened?" Asked Roland, sensing more to the story.

    A warm smile creased against the middle-aged man''s rigid features.

    "You happened. She fell in love and abandoned her dream. But a few years ago, I watched her fall in love with a new dream. A dream to make sure her beloved son, who was pronounced as a cripple, might one day reach the heights of a gifted warrior."

    Brutus motioned the scroll across the table, enabling Roland''s gaze to finally see what was written against the oil-skinned paper.

    Against this, he saw a large diagram of the human body, with various diagrams and unfamiliar annotations and descriptions. The thing that stood out the most amongst the diagrams was the descriptionˇ­

    ''Turning Stone into Gold.''

    He removed his gaze away and felt his body lightly shiver underneath the precise meaning behind that. He searched Lord Brutus'' expression and saw a look of regret against his stiffened features.

    "Unfortunately, she died before she could complete it. As far as I know, this manual she created will only take you from the meagre stone rank into a high Iron body within a single night. Of course, this is incredibly dangerous, and if you ask me, this has a 1/75 chance of working."

    Roland fought back the urge to show his disgust. He knew something like that was too good to be true. More so, those odds sound less than appealing to any sane mind. But he wonderedˇ­

    ''Omega, can you make a mental copy of this scroll and cross-reference it with your database in any way to reduce the likelihood of death?''

    {Affirmative, my host, this Task will take Omega 5hrs 25mins and 12 seconds to complete. Will the host like to continue?"}

    Roland sneered under his breath. He had no choice but to comply if he wanted to get stronger. But he wondered if there would be an opportunity to improve the time Omega took to complete these tasks.

    ''Go ahead with the task.''

    {Task has been set: Body refining methodology analysis}

    Roland nodded absentmindedly; his strange behaviour caught the attentive Lord Brutus'' attention.

    "Is something wrong, young one."

    Roland snapped back into reality and smiled charmingly.

    "Lord Brutus, thank you for all your help, especially the body refining manual from my mother. But you mentioned a deal was made between you and the main house?"

    Lord Brutus''s countenance darkened at the mention of that. He sat in a brooding silence for a little while before his lips parted aside.

    "They wantˇ­your grandfather ordered you to return to the main house."

    Roland looked visibly surprised to hear that. What benefit was a cripple like him to the main house, considering the stories told by Lord Brutus suggested both he and his mother had been exiled.

    "When?" He simply said in response despite the waves of confusion drifting in his thoughts.

    Lord Brutus exhaled a deep sigh and leaned back against his chair.

    "We have 7 days."

 Chapter 9 - From Stone to Iron

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

 Chapter 10 - Bloodline

    ''No way, this had to be some mistake.'' The thought sounded ridiculous, but Roland quickly remembered something.

    ''Omega, activate scout mode.''

    A shimmering silver light appeared over his eyes. Roland lowered his gaze and observed the blood stains against his body.

    #<u>Blood Report</u>...

    + 3 hours old

    + Classification - Black Boar

    + Classification - Red-tailed fox

    + Classification - Moonlight Rabbit

    Roland deactivated Omega''s abilities and almost immediately fell into a slight state of panic. Was he covered in animal blood? Of course he was? Because what else would he be covered in other than blood.

    ''Omega, can you show me my-"  Before he could finish his sentence, the detailed description of this body appeared. Roland scanned through what looked like an RPG sheet. Once he reached the bottom of the list. He took a few moments to steady his breathing before peering closer at the new entry that made his chest tighten.

    <ul><li>Name: Roland Smoke (Cloud Family) </li><li>Age: 16 </li><li>Weight/Height : 52kg   168cm </li><li>Race: Unidentified Bloodline.  </li><li>Recorded Body Rank: Unrefined Early Iron</li><li>Bloodlust Hunger (5.0% /100.00%) </li></ul>

    Roland furrowed his brows staring at the entry. He was too bright to not put things together. But also somewhat cynical in accepting what was staring him right in the face.

    ''Omega, tell me everything you know about this blood lust ability? Analyse what part of my body directly influences the value showing. And also, assuming you don''t possess the right data, I need a general idea of what this could mean.''

    Omega went to work before producing a response that kept Roland''s brow closely knitted together.

    {During the unknown brain activity, a highly reactive toxin caused your anterior cingulate cortex to pause. And a single message was being transferred from the hypothalamus.}

    Roland knew the answer, but his mouth moved to ask the question.

    "And what was the message?"

    {Hunger, hunger, Hunger.}

    ***

    Roland trodded over the crunchy earth beneath his bare soles. He walked through a small clearing snaked through the dense foliage. The owls hooted from the unreachable branches above him, and the sharp winds whistled every so often. The cold was beginning to get to him, but his body had never felt so loose and full of energy like this before.

    He clenched his fist and threw a swift jab forward. His body had changed; he could feel it when he walked, punched, ran, and jumped. This could only mean one thing: the body refining process was a success. Relief was an understatement, there was a part of him that genuinely believed he wouldn''t make it.

    ''I actually did it, I improved my body constitution from a stone rank to an Iron Rank.''

    His smile was so broad he hardly had time to think about the sad things. He went from a low stone rank to a low iron overnight. And according to both Lord Brutus and the scribbled voice of Diane, his mother. This was seen as no more short of a miracle.

    ''There was more chance of me dying than surviving that. And yet, I did it. And my body feels in the best state it''s ever been.''

    Roland didn''t believe in coincidences. Before he could rest his head in peace, he was determined to discover what had happened to him during that period, and he lost control of his actions.

    His arrival back at Lord Brutus''s manor wasn''t eventful. In fact, when the night guards first saw his ghoulish figure trodding towards them from a distance, they almost cursed him to death, thinking he was a ghost.

    Roland told them he had sleep-walked and found himself in the forest. No one believed him, of course. In fact, they looked as though they had never heard of such a thing.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Thankfully, the guards didn''t dare to question him further. As a result, he was inside, up the tall stairs, and on his way to his sleeping courts with little to no issues at all.

    He cautiously opened the door and was bombarded by the most terrible stench he had ever smelt.

    ''Ergh-yuck, what the hell is that smell! ''

    Forced into shielding his entire lower mouth, Roland braved inside the room. Upon taking his first few steps, he was left stunned by the destruction within. The windows, the shelves, and most of the bed were either smashed or broken into pieces. His first thoughts were that some kind of untamed beast had run amok here. But his eyes later trailed against the pool of black layered against the ground.

    Roland cautiously approached the oozing bile but was forced away by the strong smell . He had a small rationale for where that came from but referred to Omega just to confirm.

    ''Impurities? Fr-from inside of me? ''

    Roland looked completely shocked, staring at his bony frame in wordless disgust. How such a vile thing could''ve left his body was a marvel to him.

    ''Now that I think about it, the manual mentioned the method of washing my tendons and replacing my bone structure.''

    The corners of his mouth tugged upwards slightly, recalling he now carried the body of an early staged iron rank. Roland smoothed his temples before exhaling a deep sigh. For now, he could only hope there weren''t any lasting effects waiting to reel its ugly head unexpectedly in the near future.

    ''Complicated, everything''s just so complicated.''

    Omega''s voice beeped through his thoughts with a sudden announcement ringing.

    {Heat signature detected} it said

    Roland turned expectantly towards the opened door, where he met the familiar masked fellow announcing himself in silence.

    His death knight took a single look around the room, turned to face Roland, and stood silently for a little while before simply stepping back out again.

    Roland heard his smokey voice lingering in the air as he left.

    "I will find you a new roomˇ­Young Lord"

    A new morning arrived, and Roland tussled with the remnants of misplaced sleep. He spent the rest of his days either training or discussing theories and hypotheses with Omega. Roland understood the need to be intentional with his system from now on, which required constant engagement to further its current abilities.

    During the following six days, Roland spent most of his time sparring and exercising. His death knight was composed and quiet during the day but completely ruthless and unforgiving during their training at night. Most nights, Roland''s muscles were so fatigued that he slept as soon as his head touched the bed. He slept, ate, trained in his swordsmanship, and studied alone.

    By the 6th day a large convoy consisting of 4 carriages and 8 horses assembled in the courtyard. Roland was dressed in very fitted smart clothes. With his hunting boots pulled on and a medium sized grey robe wrapped over him.

    Lord Brutus looked stiff as he marshalled his men in order. His eyes crossed the stone yard and found Roland standing on the top steps. His hardened face contorted into an affectionate smile. He beckoned him closer, to which Roland complied and walked through the busy courtyard with measured steps.

    The tall, standing man dressed in iron placed a single palm against Roland''s frail shoulder. His bearded face pulled a smile.

    "It''s good to see you, young Lord. But before we depart, I wanted to have a few moments alone with you."

    Roland nodded, observing the iron knight fiddling with something in his pocket. He pulled out a silver chain with a strange black diamond embedded into the style of a pendant. Brutus placed the jewel into Roland''s hand. The black jewel looked peculiar, with a smokey dark essence pooled inside.

    "This belonged to your mother." Said Brutus ruefully. Roland''s brow lifted in intrigue.

    ''So this belonged to Diane?''

    "It used to carry a charm. Something about knowing when you''re aliveˇ­I can''t say much about all that magic stuff, but it''s yours anyway."

    Roland twirled the jewel before his wide, childish gaze. Unbeknownst to everyone around him, he was locked into a mental exchange with Omega about the nature of the diamond.

    ''So what I''m staring at is a concentrated amount of mana? Are you able to further extract its function?''

    {Negative. Omega is unable to understand the components structure. As far as one can tell, it''s mana stored inside a relic.}

    Roland left things at that for the time being. He also didn''t want to arouse suspicion or come across as a madman, so he swiftly started a conversation with the towering knight.

    They spent a short amount of time talking about Lord Brutus''s next plans while he was gone. Roland learnt that this civil way was much deeper than he thought. Lord Brutus had planned to return to his homeland to strengthen his already depleted army.

    "Thank you. For all your help. I won''t forget it."  Said Roland earnestly. He meant every word he spoke as well.

    Lord Brutus gave him a solemn bow before leading him to the middle carriage where he would be riding today.

    The clouds finally dispersed, and a round sun took its place in the sea of azure quilted above. Despite the somewhat animated journey, the convoy noisily trailed along the uneven road, filled with bumps, deep craters, and sudden dips in the middle.

    During the journey so far, the convoys'' manoeuvring had been strict and composed, all things considered. Meanwhile, Roland used the rare time afforded to him to soak in this beautiful landscape. He would''ve never guessed that seeing such a vast plane of earth would fill him with such joy.

    ''I never allowed myself to experience this in my old world.'' A moment of reflection sent Roland down memory lane. Most of his life was spent under a strict regime. Everything he did was structured for him down to the last minute of the day. Looking back now, Roland wasn''t surprised most of his life he lived was in small acts of rebellion against the natural order.

    Seldom could he remember prolonged days of peace. Thinking of his past, it was no wonder his most desirable skillset was in espionage, counterintelligence and war. Roland caressed a soft smile, dreamily gazing into the moving outdoor whilst the carriage continued rolling over the harsh terrain. By the late evening, the skies had darkened again, and the envoy''s journey noticeably slowed down.

    When Roland questioned one of the guards assigned to ride beside him from the outside.  He was informed that the level of dangerous beasts increased during the night. The pace was to ensure the envoy remained prepared for anything.

    Sometime along the journey, Roland was sure he simply blinked, and suddenly, his death knight had materialised into the same carriage he had been riding alone in until this point. His reaction, of course, was the same as whenever the elusive fellow decided to appear randomly.

    Roland pulled a half smile as he stared at those glassed, lifeless eyes glaring his way. No matter how many times he saw it, he could not see past how scary that mask looked up close. He wondered if all the other death knights looked the same way.

    ''Guess I''ll find out once we arrive.''

    The silent figure eventually engaged with him after he explained what had become his usual way of starting conversations.

    ''There''s nothing like an eerie entrance before a conversation.'' Roland thought to himself with a light-hearted chuckle.

    "Apologies for disturbing your peace, young Lord." Said the willow.

    Roland waved away those sentiments.

    "Did you have something to err-tell me?"  He asked.

    "Yes. We should use this time to train."  announced the death knight proudly.

    Roland looked visibly disturbed upon hearing that ludicrous suggestion. First, he looked around the box-sized room. How was he supposed to train here? He wondered.

    The willow made himself comfortable and twisted his head towards the side, seemingly staring off into the outdoor world.

    "Meditating is as important to as physical development. It is through your mind where all your dreams are intricately woven into reality."

    The death knight laid his hand flat against his lap and pressed his knuckles together.

    "Try slowing down your thoughts. And gently regulate your breathing. Find your rhythm and allow your body to involuntarily continue a steady pattern. Keep doing this until I tell you to stop."

 Chapter 11 - Castle Black

    Roland gently opened his eyes again. There was a subtle ache behind his gaze before his wide eyes brightened towards the dark world.

    A host of rolling hills dotted his dreary gaze, before which a large field of tall grass carpeted the ground. He peered through the carriage window with a narrowed gaze. He could faintly make out a monstrous-sized castle, almost blending with the fading nightly air from afar.

    Staring at the towering silhouette in the distance, Roland noticed something was different.

    ''Could I always see this far?'' he asked himself.

    He was just now noticing the subtle, practical changes to his body after developing an iron-ranked body.

    After he relaxed his nerves a little, he gathered the leather satchel his death knight placed beside him, uncorked the top away and poured the bitter-tasting liquid down his throat. The cold liquid trailed down his throat and cooled his body. But his mouth contorted into a horrible mask every step of the way.

    Roland just needed something to round off the edges a little.

    He sighed a cool breath before wiping his mouth with his sleeves. A cold light glazed over his gaze as he watched the approaching castle looming ever closer.

    ''I guess it''s time then.''

    A little while later...

    Voices of men travelled across the gloomy skies; upon their announcement of visitors, the iron gates slowly started to pull away from one another. A lavish stone courtyard dwelt on the other side. Fountains and thin man-made streams snaked between a luscious bloom of trimmed hedges and bushes. Groups of bright-coloured petals gathered in pockets, and in the very middle stood a towering stone statue of a three-headed dragon erected from a black stone plinth.

    Roland admired all these things from inside the comforts of the slow-wheeling carriage. The convoy circled around the courtyard and eventually manoeuvred onto the straight and narrow path leading over the drawbridge. An arch-shaped gaping mouth beckoned them in.

    Droplets of rain fell from the ends of the raised portcullis above. Roland held the window sill and peered out of the carriage.

    Seeing it from afar, he knew just how mighty this castle was. But being up close to it was a completely different matter altogether. The castle mounted boisterously tall like an immeasurable titan. There weren''t many things with the power to leave him breathless.  But Roland was sure he had never seen such an imposing place before.

    The convoy aligned itself right before the castle entrance. Two towering brass doors sat slightly ajar. Roland saw a host of maids forming a line on the tallest step. In the middle of them stood four distinctive figures, clearly part of the castle''s ruling family.

    The tallest figure was a slender woman dressed in a red gown with heavy fur draped over her slim shoulders. Even from this far away, Roland could see her beauty. But he also didn''t miss those cold eyes framed against almost a perfect, unblemished face.

    Beside the woman stood a shorter replica of her, a young-faced girl with jet-black hair and a white hairpin clasped over the left side of her hair. She wore an evening dress meshed together with formal wear. And her dainty hands sat in a pair of white gloves.

    Roland noticed a short boy holding her hand. His hair was bleached blonde, and he wore clothes similar to those Roland had on.

    His mind searched through his internal archives by instinct, replaying that family tree he had drawn inside of his mind.

    ''They must be my cousins.''

    A cold light encircled Roland''s eyes, and he suddenly remembered the letter the old Roland had left before his death.

    You wouldn''t be mistaken into believing this looked like a normal, high-upstanding family. But Roland had already lived in a world where some of the most dangerous individuals he encountered were considered normal-looking.

    Besides the three, a butler dressed in the servant''s attire stood beside the lady. His dandy moustache and tophat were hard to miss

    The carriage door opened to his side, and Roland unconsciously paused. He took a few moments to gather his thoughts before he proceeded out of the carriage.

    Halfway down, a voice filtered into his ears.

    "Young Lord, I''ll be beside you every step of the way. Have no fear." Said his death knight from the shadows; Roland twisted around, not finding any traces of the aloof figure anywhere.

    Roland smiled and gently nodded his head.

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    His first steps onto the gravel floor were light. His legs wobbled a little, but that sensation only lasted a bit. He recovered his senses and approached the awaiting Lord Brutus.

    The tall brute beheld him with those same sad eyes. Roland could tell he was feeling guilty. What he still couldn''t work out was why.

    Lord Brutus held out his bearish-sized hand. Roland looked at it before swiftly remembering his manners. He met the hand with his noticeably smaller hand and shook it.

    "If you ever need my help, just ask." Said Brutus, who caught him by surprise and leaned downward until his face was level with Roland''s ears.

    "The Willow knows how to find me." He whispered before rising back up and clearing his throat.

    He stood aside and gestured for Roland to proceed forward. Alone.

    Once Roland finally made his way up the short stone steps, he felt an uncomfortable feeling against the nape of his neck. It was a strange instinct telling him something was wrong, or was it a warning, he wondered. It was too late to retreat, however, as he placed himself in front of the line of bodies blocking the castle entrance.

    The slenderly tall woman walked casually towards him first. Eyes framed like a cat watched him with a directness he wasn''t expecting. The corners of her lips lightly pulled into a half smile, and she lightly bowed her slender neck before her lips parted aside and a raspily cool voice filtered into his ears.

    "Welcome back, Roland. Son of Lady Diane. We''ve all been terribly worried about your safety recently. You might not remember me, but I am Lady Herone. The mother of your three cousins."

    Roland leaned to one side as the two children started to approach. The girl released the little boy''s hand and swiftly quickened her steps, giving Roland no chance to react. She swiftly leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly.

    A waft of sweet fragrance filled his nostrils. He was a little stunned at first but eventually returned the hug.

    "You''re back (sobs). Thank the Gods you''re safe and soundˇ­we thought you wereˇ­d-dead." She whimpered, burying her face into his chest.  Roland remained the silent observer. His mind cycled through the names he did know. By the process of elimination, she must be the only girl whose name he saw on the family tree.

    "M-Mariah?" Said Roland out loud. He noticed a slightly off-putting reaction from Lady Herone. Even the girl in his embrace slightly flinched before her body relaxed again. Roland wasn''t someone to miss the slightest of changes to someone''s demeanour.

    "Yes, soˇ­so you remember me then?" Tears stained her cheeks as she rubbed her eyes before lightly pushing herself away from him.

    "Ha, look at me. I''m sorry, cousin, I forgot how to conduct myself. It''s only been a few years. Of course you remember."

    Roland nodded, but he wasn''t buying her response for a single moment. In fact, he wasn''t believing any of them right now. Mariah moved the quiet little boy from behind her and placed him between them.

    The boy''s eyes scanned Roland''s from his feet right up to his face.

    "This is my little brother. Edmond, go on, Ed, and say hello to your cousin. You remember Roland, don''t you?"

    Roland held out his hand, and the little boy begrudgingly copied him. Their handshake was cordial but brief. Roland noticed the child subtly wiping his palms against his trousers.

    There was a silent coldness beneath his youthful expression. The boy wasn''t mature enough to hide it compared to the other two.

    ''Well, at least I wasn''t overreacting. This is hostile territory for me. Omega, how long will it be until you''ve completed my full mental and physiological analysis detailing all the things I asked of you? ''

    {00:04:56:45 and counting}  said the system in his thoughts. Roland''s heart fluttered pleasantly at that news. 36 days had really flown by just like that.

    Roland smiled charmingly, sensing his silence might be looked at oddly soon.

    "Thank you all for being so welcoming," he said, masking his true face beneath a slight bow. Roland was willing to play this game of lies. Heck, he had prided himself on these kinds of Cold Wars ever since his days training as a spy.

    Before his arrival here, Roland had already attested that his biggest problem would likely be direct conflict with someone stronger than him. So, until he figured out how to increase his strength correctly, his first mission was to lay low.

    The convoy eventually retook their leave. Roland said his final goodbyes and watched Lord Brutus command his men on their way. He felt a surprisingly small sense of sadness in his gut as he watched the horses galloping out of sight. Roland was a little surprised at himself for feeling this way. But this was good for him deep down; ultimately, this played out, reaffirming his natural, instinctual thoughts.

    In this world, he was alone.

    A host of golden lights shone in a spectral brilliance inside the castle.

    Roland stood in awe as he took in what was to be his home until further notice. He barely noticed the stoned walls since mahogany wood, red carpeted floors, and polished candle stands covered most places his eyes fell against.

    There was a strong air of opulence that perhaps birthed what was perhaps one of the grandest places his feet had ever stepped foot into. The girl called Mariah remained by his side. She seemed to sense his mood and allowed him to observe the front hall in silence for a short while.

    Roland soon felt her dainty, cold hand caressing his lowered palm. He turned to the side to face her. Her round face beamed with joy as she said.

    "Come on, I''ll show you around."

    And Mariah remained true to her word. Roland was whisked across this grand castle. The place was twice the size of what he might''ve initially guessed, and it looked far more prestige-looking in its inner appearance compared to how it looked from the outside.

    There were three floors in the main court. Here, he was told, most of the day-to-day things dwelt, such as the dining room, the armoury, training halls, and a few large bedrooms. Also, this place boasted a very old library, which contained nearly, if not all, the secrets of the cloud kingdom and its surrounding realms.

    Roland finally found his intrigue truly piqued. A library was the perfect place for him to learn more about this new world. After Mariah had finished showing him all the relevant rooms, he asked where his own sleeping quarters dwelt.

    Her face turned a little embarrassed as she nervily explained herself.

    "Well, you see, the main house quarters are located in a separate building at the back of the castle. A-and since you''re technically considered a branch member, errˇ­we-we had to improvise. So feel free to claim any of these rooms you find in the halls. And don''t feel bad to kick out one of the servants if they''re currently residing in a room you might fancy."

    Roland pulled a plastic smile and nodded.

    ''So I''ll be sleeping beside the servants then. Heh, that might be safer for me.  He thought it made sense whilst also telling the underlying truth behind his arrival here today.

    "Say, cousin, do you mind me askingˇ­do you remember what happened all those years ago?" Asked Mariah in a delicate voice. Roland lowered his gaze, feigning deep thought. In truth, he was wondering when she would start probing him. The suspicions around his memory fell in line with the letter the old Roland left behind.

    "Erm, I don''t remember a great deal in truth. To be honest. I can''t really remember who any of you are-heh." He explained, scratching the side of his head awkwardly.

    Roland wasn''t exactly lying. Since his impromptu transmigration, he had no idea who any of these people were. He paid attention to Mariah''s facial expression, and a look of surprise flashed across her youthful face. He watched as a flicker of relief glazed over her large eyes before she quickly wore a smile again.

    "That''sˇ­quite sad cousin. I can''t imagine what it feels like to forget your family."

    She held his arm and pulled herself closer to him. Roland felt her lithe body wrapping itself over his arm; he squirmed in discomfort, horrified by what this little girl was trying to do.

    "Ah-y-yeah, it''sˇ­sad. Hey, I''m a little tired. Do you mind if I call it a night for the day?"  He stammered while delicately pulling his arm free from her clutches.

    "Of course, I''ll have one of the servants bring your stuff up. Feel free to choose a room on this floor. I''ll meet you in the morning, and we can go for a lovely walk. Sweet dreams, cousin." Without warning, she leant closer and kissed him against his cheeks.

    Roland gave a blank stare. He watched Mariah''s cheeks turn red before she twisted against her heels and quickly paced down the hall.

    Roland stood there for a short while, rubbing the side of his cheeks. Once Mariah disappeared down the hall, Roland lowered his eyelids as his default cold mask surfaced again.

    ''Omega, is there any way you can sense how strong someone is. Like an upgrade to your scouting protocol, but instead solely for assessing power levels.''

    One of his main concerns was gauging his enemy''s strength. Although his ascent to the Iron body rank was easier than he first expected. Roland was under no illusion that his strength was likely still lacking.

    Omega''s mechanical sounds chimed and beeped before that

    melodic tone echoed through his thoughts.

 Chapter 12 - First Morning...Books?

    {Scanning protocol is currently at the infant stages. Omega will need more information to implement a new protocol to analyse and produce accurate readings of what the Host considers ''power levels.''}

    Roland tried to process that response. His brows suddenly lifted, and he remembered a hall filled with the sea of information needed to improve the system.

    ''The library?''

    He had more than a few reasons now to venture into that hall. But Roland would leave that for tomorrow. For now, he focused on getting some much-needed rest. Roland surveyed a few available rooms on this floor despite Mariah''s eliciting advice for him to carry out tyranny. Roland chose the empty room.

    The room was only a little bigger than the one in Lord Brutus''s castle. But this one was furnished modestly with expensive-looking d¨¦cor. Roland didn''t care much about any of those things. He just needed a bed. He closed the door and finally allowed his tense body to relax.

    He quickly discovered that wearing a mask all day was draining. He carefully moved his neck from side to side to relieve the strain on his joints. With his back firmly against the closed door, Roland fell into a daydream, piecing together his next move and, realistically, what options were open to him at this point.

    Roland folded the loose strands of braided locks over his head, and a deep exhale left his mouth.

    ''I want to try and advance to a bronze body at least. I have a feeling Iron won''t be enough to make it out of here in one piece. ''

    The question is, how do I go from Iron to Bronze when the manual is incomplete.''

    Roland''s thoughts were suddenly disturbed, he sensed something but before he could speak Omega arrived with an announcement.

    { Omega has completed the physiological and mental scan. Would the Host like to see the results?}

    "Y-yes show me the results" He responded eagerly.

    A few electronic sounds beeped and chimed away. A small 3D cube image appeared floating in the air. Roland watched the curious cube and even cautiously moved his hands through it. As he expected, his body passed right through. Suddenly, the four edges unfurled open, and a humanoid 3D model appeared. A series of annotations and descriptive information surrounded the model.

    A general description aligned against one side, consisting of his age, height, and weight. In fact, it delved deeper and revealed his blood type, blood group, the percentage of damage taken, and whether his body was in full health.

    Roland scanned the information and felt his heart skip a beat once he passed over a particular set of annotations.

    He narrowed his gaze, reading what was listed beside his race.

    "Human/Undead." And the line just below it.

    "Bloodlust Hunger ¨C 16.8%."

    The value had increased by 11.8% in just a few days. Roland could only imagine what would happen once he reached 100%. In truth, he probably could guess it had something to do with him appearing in the forest in the middle of the night. Covered in animal blood. He sighed a deep breath before scanning the rest of the information.

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Strength: 0.4/5

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Speed: 0.9/5

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Vitality: 1.0/5

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Intelligence: 2.1/5

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Body Tier: 1.1/5 (Early Iron)

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Mentality: 3.27/10

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Mana Core (1): 15% Synchronisation

    <strong style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Mana Core (2): 0%

    Roland stared at the screen with mixed feelings. He wasn''t used to suddenly going from one extreme emotion to the other. Inwardly, he was happy Omega could pull off something like this. He glanced at his base stats and wanted to cry, but his intelligence and mentality showed promise. What troubled him the most was the two separate mana core values. This did coincide with Omega''s earlier findings. However, Roland himself still did not understand the extent to what possessing two cores meant.

    Omega''s voice awoke him from his downcasted thoughts. Within the withdrawn silence, he heard the mechanical voice.

    {Host, is there anything else you''ll be needing?}

    Now that he was somewhat accustomed to Omega''s abilities, Roland had already produced a mental list of ways to quickly increase his power with the help of his sophisticated AI system.

    There were way too many dangers around him, for one. And since this was a world that seemed to hold its own measure of mythical powers. The unknown was likely the biggest threat to his life at this moment, he concluded.

    A cold light glazed over his youthful, bright eyes.

    ''I need to be able to defend myself. Or these psychopaths will kill me.''

    He exhaled another deep breath, feeling the day''s frustrations leaving his body. He ran his fingers through the tussle of wavy locks falling down the side of his head.

    His previous cold demeanour had wholly transformed into the smiling boyish grin of a child''s again. Right now, he looked just like any 16-year-old boy would look.

    "No Omega, it''s fine for tonight. Goodnight."

    Roland heard a rouge sound from within the room. He scanned the still atmosphere, and his eyes fell towards a shadow being cast against the ground. Roland had only noticed one shadow against his room: the one in his current view.

    He creased a slight smile as he said.

    "I was wondering where you were hiding. You can come out now. My death knight."

    The shadow squirmed and enlarged, and a dark figure rose out from the once flat shred of darkness. The purple mask seemed to materialise into place. In a few blinks, the willow was inside his room, placed against a single knee.

    "Young Lord. How may I be of help." It asked him.

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    Roland thought about some things before he replied.

    "I have a few things to ask you about your origins. But first, I have a plan to share with you. So listen very carefully."

    ***

    The next morning, Roland rose up early by force. His mind refused to give him any peace, it seemed. There was too much to do and what felt like a very short window for him to do it. Nevertheless, he had succeeded in surviving his first night here. He was hoping for more of the same today.

    Stepping out into the castle, he noticed twice as many servants as in Lord Brutus''s castle and alsoˇ­

    "Hm, am I beingˇ­followed."

    Halfway along his curious walk Roland noticed two light armoured guards tailing him. At first he dismissed it as a coincidence, but after testing how committed they were by stopping and starting randomly, he decided to test their resolve by running around the corners once he met the end of the hall.

    He confirmed they were, in fact, doing a poor job of trying to remain unseen. He could hear their armour clattering wildly as they gave chase.

    By the time he was bored having them chase him up and down the vast halls. Roland stumbled upon two things: his stamina and body had definitely changed. The jump from a stone to an iron wasn''t anything to shrug off. He was confident that there were more dangers now he could escape or narrowly avoid losing his life if he focused.

    He replayed that night those two men attacked him. If he had this body back then. There was a good chance they wouldn''t have caught him, maybe might''ve even have held his own until his death knight arrived. He shook his head in a bit to free himself from those thoughts.

    The second discovery he made happened when Roland coincidentally stumbled upon a pair of arch-shaped doors covered in tiny symbols. After a closer look, he soon discovered that they were dragons, artistically carved into the two wooden doors.

    He pushed the doors aside and found himself surrounded by a sea of books and scrolls sitting against countless rows of stoned shelves.

    Roland took his first steps inside. His footsteps softly echoed against the white and black marble tiled floors. The room was large and shaped into a wide sphere, so the tall shelves wrapped around him as he walked into the centre.

    Roland could hardly believe he had discovered the library on his ownˇŞa library this dense with scores of information, for that matter. Back in his old world, he frequently spent his off days submerged in a sea of texts, usually in a four-story building known as the largest library in the country. Thanks to his higher clearance, he practically gained access to every bit of sacred or hidden text there was.

    Refusing to leave until he soaked in as much information as he could handle.

    A well of excitement birthed inside of him. With Omega''s help, there was no telling just how far he could push that line of gathering and retaining information. Roland shook his head free from his daze and scanned around the hall.

    He felt a little closer to home for the first time since his transmigration.

    "Right, let''s get started then, shall we, Omega."

    <h2 style="color: rgba(14, 16, 26, 1); background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; font-weight: normal">Other POV </h2>

    Mariah sat in a dimly lit room overlooking the outdoor gardens.

    Her mother stood beside the balcony, caressing a glass filled with dark red liquid that smelt a little funny. Mariah noticed that most of the drinks her mother made smelled funny.

    A deep sigh was breathed through Lady Herones''s lips as she stared out into the vast outdoor scenery. Her mind was filled with hopes of tomorrow, shrewd as they may be. They were the little miracles that got her through the day.

    "What do you think of him." Her sultry voice combed the silent air.

    Mariah shuffled, her eyes lifted and filled with resolve.

    "He''sˇ­different. And I''m not quite sure 3 years would drastically change one''s character." Said Mariah.

    Her mother nodded in agreement.

    "You only needed to have met the cripple once to understand he had a temperament as volatile as his late Mothers."

    "They say after he was found, he had been in a coma for three years. Do you think such a case could be had for why he''s changed so much?" Mariah asked her mother.

    Lady Herone scoffed mockingly.

    "That fool is only playing in front of us. I don''t believe he doesn''t remember for one second, and let''s just say there''s a small window of that being true. That nosey imbecile Lord Brutus would''ve seen to it that the boy was informed of the matters involving his mother before he arrived. Tsk! No, continue with the plan. We''ll monitor his behaviour these next few days and respond accordingly."

    Lady Herone daringly balanced the glass of wine against the thin stone balcony. The glass refused to move, as though it were compelled in place by a hidden force. Mariah squirmed slightly beneath her mother''s cold eyes as she twisted around to meet her gaze.

    "Lotten and Govan are away on a mission. But your brother should return a few days before the patriarch''s banquet. I care little about what that madman''s son gets up to"

    "What of father?" Mariah inquired

    Her mother''s gaze narrowed even more.

    "He''s been sentˇ­somewhere far away. At the very least, your uncle Almos is expected to arrive in the coming days with the spring army. Hm, what is it my child? Something bothering you?"

    Mariah couldn''t hide the uncomfortable feeling she was holding back. Her eyes shifted away, and slowly, she found the courage to speak.

    "It''s nothing butˇ­sigh, news of the cripple''s return has reachedˇ­some of the main houses. And-wellˇ­ˇ±

    "Speak clearly child." Snapped Lady Herone, a small ounce of her Ki leaked out and the air pressure immediately turned colder. Mariah squeezed the material beneath her hands. The vibration against the air was beginning to physically make her sick.

    "bˇŞBlackstorm clan, they know he''s back. And I assume-"

    A loud bang clapped against the air, and Mariah swiftly braced herself. The heavy rush of wind howled, but then silence fell, and nothing happened.

    Once she opened her eyes, a white fiery aura burned over her mother''s body. Mariah sat in awe for a moment before her gaze became more serious.

    ''Early Stage Silver Ranked Body.''

    Other than Lady Diane, her mother was a close second to the youngest member of the Cloud family to reach it. So why was she reduced to simply being a housewife? Mariah asked herself with a mask of confusion written against her features.

    "Alyssa Cloud, isn''t that pretentious little madman the reason we''re in this mess in the first place. Ho-ho-ho- no matter. Soˇ­When are we expecting the little princess then?"

    Mariah watched the aura slowly dissipate into nothing.

    She breathed a sigh of relief and placed a hand against her fast-beating chest and slowly responded.

    "Anytime from this afternoon ˇ­I was told."

 Chapter 13: Genes and Poisonous brunches

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 Chapter 14 : Patriarchal Aura

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 Chapter 15: A troubling turn of events

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 Chapter 16: The bite of a Betrothed

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 Chapter 17 - Ice and the breath of dead

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 Chapter 18 - A new Dawn

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 Chapter 19 - Whiskers and Blues

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    [Light of bewitching- Animal Farm]" A dazzling light appeared on the tips of the wand. Gradually it turned brighter until all those present within the tavern were blinded by a very pure and warm surge of light.

 Chapter 20 - Lets go on a Red Hunt

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 Chapter 21 - Aemon the knight

    "Achoo!"

    "For crying out loud, keep it down, ya idiot ."

    "It wasn''t my fault; it''s those ash flower petals. They won''t stay out of my nostrils."

    "Can you both shut your mouths? We''re in the heart of their den."

    Aeomon raised his fists to halt their convoy. His shifty dark eyes moved from left to right, scanning the crowded forest with his usual suspicious look. Judging by the weary looks on the faces of the other company, they were probably very close to their target.

    Roland, on the other hand, was feeling quite good. This outing was far from the usual look of the previous days, and it gave him a chance to soak beneath the rich air and large warm sun.

    On the other end of his enjoyment scale, Roland had begun testing a theory. He wanted to know just how wide Omega''s sensory net was. The AI chip could send invisible waves through his body to sense a heartbeat, but Roland wanted to see how far that reach went.

    After an hour or so of countless attempts, he finally arrived at a median.

    40 meters

    "At the ready, men! We''ve spotted one of them!" heralded a booming voice, steering everyone''s attention towards him. Roland already caught wind of something ahead. He narrowed his gaze, peering between two slender trees nearby. The short shrubbery shuffled as blazing red fur moved between the shadows. Roland''s eyes shot wide. He twisted towards Aeomon, but the knight had already moved before his mouth could move.

    Aeomon unsheathed the iron sword glued to his hip and pointed it ahead.

    "There, attack"

    The men on foot moved first. They raced forward with spears and swords in hand. A red blur sprung out from the shadows. Roland double-blinked upon seeing the hulking-sized creature squaring up to them.

    True to its name. A four-hoofed boar with blazing red fur, two ivory tusks and a wagging tail with a tiny ember appeared. It was certainly bigger than a normal boar, but of course, Roland had never seen any kind of pig with spitting fire on the ends of its tail. Heck, there wasn''t any animal breathing back in his old world that could do that.

    The surrounding knights didn''t share the same sentiments. A single blink later, four guardsmen rushed forward with two spears aimed directly at the head of the Boar. The two swords flanked the creature. The Boar opened its large mouth, and an ear-splintering roar erupted forth. The charging knights found themselves rushing against an immovable force suddenly.

    The red-furred Boar moved. With its long ivory horns, it dove towards the nearest knight. The knight with the spear secured its footing before dashing backwards. Roland frowned. For some reason, he could tell the Boar was quicker.

    The Boar seemed to gain a second wind in the middle of the air and kicked forward at an alarming speed. Its ivory horn bore straight for the knight''s stomach. Just then, a flash of white surged forward. Right before the ivory tusks found its mark, a tall iron shield appeared in its way.

    The Boar slammed right into the immovable iron.

    *DING*

    The creature remained boisterously charged, merely skidding back a few paces. It snorted tuffs of air out of frustration, then snapped its eyes to the side. A few of the knights had already moved upon it. Iron swiftly moved and slashed the robust skin. The Boar cried out in pain before it bucked up and sent its dangerous hind hoofs against the knights. The knight crouched and held its sword flat. The iron hoof met the base of the iron sword, and Roland heard the sound of a shotgun.

    Knocking the knight off his feet.

    But then a spear shot forward like a python and punctured the Boar right through its fat.

    The Boar didn''t slow down and only grew more violent, charging and roaring at the onslaught of iron assaulting its stern body from all angles.

    Roland watched all this happen with a broad and curious stare.  By now, the crunchy forest bed was covered in splashes of red. Roland scanned the company of knights, none of which had sustained any serious injuries. But the same couldn''t be said for the red-furred Boar. Blood poured out of countless wounds, and it noticeably started breathing heavier.

    A few more quick and timed attacks struck it, and very soon, the red-furred Boar stumbled on its hoofs before toppling over to one side, never to rise again.

    Roland felt his chest heaving up and down quickly.

    Euphoria, fear, excitement...eagerness?

    A flurry of emotions welled up in his chest.

    Roland was more impressed with how quick and brutal the knights'' attacks were. His only worry was how long it took the 8 knights to overwhelm the red Boar.

    ''It''s matured or either at a higher level.''

    While in deep thought, Roland reflected on his previous idea.

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    ''Omega, how long would it take you to gather and create an index filled with information about the different creatures within this world?''

    {Due to the host''s lack of experience, a full index covering every creature within this world would not be possible at this time. But if the host gives Omega enough time. Omega can produce a list which speaks for the regional creatures}

    Roland was expecting that response; he had already understood somewhat how this system operated regarding information giving.

    Omega was a complex system that needed its own help to acquire the data for its index.

    Somehow, what Roland saw during his day-to-day life would help feed information back to his AI system and help it with index building. That, along with Omega''s overall experience, played a huge part. Omega was practically less than a year old at this point, and its overall makeup presumably behaved the same way as a newborn (to an extent)

    So, Roland was left to train the system by continuing to feed it tasks and questions. Over time, natural evolution would occur, which was how he understood Omega''s evolution. Roland would delve deeper into these matters later.

    A cool wind swept past him, and suddenly, Roland picked up some disturbance within the bushes. His eyes grew vigilant, and his suspicious gaze slowly made out the robust creatures slowly entering the fray.

    He heard their groans and grunts before he saw them all.

    Six identical-looking red-furred boars slowly unearthed away from the crowded bushes, one large hoof at a time. Roland watched the six beasts align themselves into formation. Puffs of hot air escaped from their nostrils, their eyes were glazed with anger, and it wasn''t difficult to feel their intent was to kill.

    Roland felt a little worried seeing them; after all, it had taken 7 of the dozen knights to bring the first red-furred Boar down. He turned expectantly towards the leading knight in charge again. Aeomon poised himself sturdily as a statue; he exhaled a deep breath, which seemed to ignite a sudden change in the atmosphere.

    Roland watched all of this unfold, and his youthful gaze began to widen slowly. A faint blueish-smoky substance appeared over the knight''s sword. Aeomon hopped down from his horse and charged forward. Two of the red-furred boars stood imposingly in his way, ready to ram right through him. Roland saw visions of the tall knight being turned into meat paste and felt his heartbeat quicken with each step Aeomon took towards the danger.

    The first Boar lowered its large helm before tossing its sharp tusk forward. Aeomon was seconds away from being gored when suddenly he vanished. He appeared falling from above with his sword angled overhead.

    Before the Boar caught on to what was happening, Aeomon struck down. Hard. And cleaved anything in its way.

    *SLASHH*

    A loud tremor ripped across the forest. Roland clutched desperately for the reins, feeling his horse stumbling beneath him. Once the brief quake had simmered away, he moved his eager gaze towards his front again. A short gasp escaped his lips, and a wild smile creased against it.

    The dust settled, and Aeomon the knight stood over the fallen creature with wet blood sliding off the stainless iron. The beast itself had been severed in half from its head down to its tail.

    One hit, one kill. The rest of the red-furred boars saw this and immediately began retreating slowly. Aeomon raised his iron sword again.

    "Finish them!"

    After Aeomon''s involvement, the rest of the Red Boars were dealt with rather quickly.

    Roland never turned his eyes away from the skirmish, not for a single second. He kept feeding information back to Omega, who was also helpful with translating some of the strange things he saw during this one-sided fight.

    "So Aeomon''s body constitution is likely at the Early Bronze body rank. That power he was using is the clear difference between lower and higher tier ranks."

    Omega sensed the level of Ki the knight melded through his sword before that final attack. Roland was beginning to better understand how Ki worked and the importance of having a strong bodily constitution.

    His iron body also displayed subtle signs of adapting to his new strength. Before his advancement, these ghostly auras and colours were almost non-existent to him. And with time, Roland concluded his body would undergo more changes.

    The company was busy tending to the Red boat carcasses, binding them with thick ropes before hoisting slabs of meat onto their horses and cargo. The whole thing was messily bloody and smelly, too.

    Roland remained on top of his beige stead during all of this. His biggest take from today was his admiration for how these men fought. You only needed to watch them for a few minutes to understand who was the strongest, and they fought that way to reflect that. Everyone knew their role and attacked with efficiency.

    ''Compared to my old world, where strategy was paramount in defeating your foes. The concept here isn''t that far different. There''s a chance someone with overwhelming strength can change the tide of a battle instantly. There''ll always be a level of confidence in that.''

    Sounds of hearty laughter and chatter rang across the air. Roland enjoyed this atmosphere. It reminded him of the days he spent in the army during his teenage years.

    Aeomon approached him on foot. He looked him up and down before giving him a slight nod of approval. He handed him a satchel filled with what Roland presumed was water.

    Roland awkwardly laughed at that. He wasn''t sure he had done anything to warrant a drink break, but he was grateful nonetheless.  After he uncorked the lid, he poured the warm liquid down his throat. The warm liquid splashed against his tongue. Roland drank from it greedily. Maybe he was thirsty. But then his eyes shot open, bulging wide as an unexpected bitter agent burned his chest.

    "Blergh! Cough-coughˇ­is thatˇ­gyak -alcohol?"

    Now that he had considered it, he looked at the satchel questionably. This odour was familiar. He noticed the faintest of smiles creep against Aeomon''s chiselled expression.

    Time passed, and the company returned along the winding road towards the Patriarch''s manor. All in all, Roland was glad he ventured out today. Seeing the knight Aeomon fighting up close was inspiring.

    ''And it gave Omega more information.''

    Roland remembered that awkward dinner the other day. Without omegas to help detect that poison, there was no telling what his fate would''ve been.

    ''I''m going to need to get stronger fast. I have a bad feeling that failed attempt was not the last.''

    The moment those thoughts surfaced, Roland heard that familiar sound coming through his mind.

    {Warning! High levels of radiation detected! Warning! The host is in great danger! High levels of radiation detected! Warning! Take cover!}

    Roland''s eyes flashed open. He swiftly quelled the panic in his heart and steered into a more rational thinker.

    ''Omega, where''s the attack coming from?''

    {Above! warning! Take cover!}

    He twisted desperately towards Aeomon riding beside him.

    "WE''RE UNDER ATTACK!"  he desperately screamed.

    Roland obeyed the system''s order and released the reins. He tossed himself away from his horse without a further thought. A series of loud whistles echoed from the skies. Four furious falling lights descended towards the company, and a series of loud booms quaked in unison.

    The sounds of high-pitched screams from beast and man, muddled with the sound of flesh being pulverised.

    Roland''s body slammed harshly against the ground, and the blast carried him further than he might''ve expected.

    Darkness encroached on his vision from all corners. The bitter, stale taste of lead filled his mouth. The final thing he remembered was Omega''s mechanical voice, whirring warnings until he faded away.

 Chapter 22 - Hideouts beneath the trees

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 Chapter 23 - Wizard Grey

    "Hm? What did you say? Oh, cat, got your tongue still kukuku-no matter, it''ll soon loosen once I begin the body flickering ritual."

    Roland''s eyes widened like two saucers.

    "W-w-wait, body what?" Rolands facade swiftly melted away. He struggled and fought tirelessly to release himself.

    "L-let me go right now! You old freak, fight me fair! Just me and you, let''s go."

    "Old freak? Ara! There you are, that''s the snotty-nosed brat with whom I made all those promises. No matter, I''ve prepared the hex to shut you up."

    "Okay, wait. Let''s talk about this. If I''ve eaten what you want, surely there''s a way to extract it from me without resorting toˇ­such underhanded methods, no?" Roland pleaded in his childish voice.

    The elder looked him up and down for a few moments, seemingly thinking deeply about the whole matter. He eventually shook his head.

    Disapproving whatever it was he was considering.

    "If you weren''t a conniving little weasel. Then I may have considered your proposal. But alasˇ­ we''re here."

    He took out his wand again intently. Roland understood there was likely no talking himself out of danger this time. He could only pitifully watch the elder close his eyes solemnly. Secretly, he even wished he had met the previous owner of this body in person. He would''ve liked to have given him a whack against his head for all the troubling things he had involved himself in.

    The elder delicately held one end of the wand over Roland''s little round face. The indignation of the approaching outcome felt like a direct vex to his spirit. Roland''s childishly innocent face scrunched into a horrid mask, like a boy discovering one of the vilest potencies of humans for the first time. The act of Dishonour.

    This old crone was going to take over his body. Living through Roland''s body just like he was doing. The irony wasn''t lost. But the ire burned white all the same.

    [Book of Enchantments; Vol 86, Line 2ˇ­]

    [Brain Rot]

    ''Brain What!''

    Roland stopped thinking and reacted. His hands were suddenly pliable. His bones felt like burning rubber when he finally slid them out of the tight iron grip, snapping a few finger bones along the way.

    The elder wore an expected look of surprise when those iron chains rattled loose. He was left even more stunned by the sudden forceful blow of Roland''s head smashing directly against his face.

    The old man comically flew backwards. Roland heard a resounding crash just before he watched the staggering elder land painfully between a soft wooden table.

    Roland shook his tiny head, throbbing with pain. His vision slowly refocused a few breaths later. He leant forward and carefully looked around the tightly clasped chains binding him to the sturdy work table. Luckily, he only needed to remove the iron chip from the hole, and the entire thing fell apart.

    ''Heh-eh such an easy thing was supposed to hold me?''

    He jumped away off the work table onto fragile and very sore legs.

    Without missing a step, he hastened towards the short table and snatched the scalpel into his hold. He spun around quickly, and simultaneously, the old man staggered to his feet. The old wizard looked mortified at the carmine drops falling against his open hand.

    ''Shit-what''s the plan now?''

    Roland scanned the old man''s body and quickly noticed a missing stick. He searched the stone floor. The wand nestled just beneath a broken table. A glint of madness shone in his eyes, and Roland was poised to spring into action when suddenly.

    "You think me a weak fool? That I wouldn''t have myself armed without a wand-Pftt...idiot." The elder wore a confident smirk whilst he held out his right hand. Roland heard bones popping, crunching, and a slithering sound of contorting flesh writhing furiously from the elder''s sleeve. Layers of sweat lathered against the old timer''s forehead, and a bizarre white slime-covered tentacle popped out in place of his arm.

    The tentacle was thick as a tree trunk and, concerningly, was only growing bigger.

    Roland sensed danger and wasn''t prepared to be a docile target. He dove towards his left and leapt directly over the broken wooden debris. The tentacle slammed against the wall; Roland heard the pieces of stone falling, and his face turned pale in response to that destructive power.

    He pushed off his heels and dashed forward towards the ascending stone steps.

    The old man''s laughter tailed his shadow.

    Roland sensed something was off; he instinctively held his footing and jumped backwards away from the staircase.

    The thick, slimy hide slammed down against his intended path a breath later. Roland saw just how much damage the hard stone steps had taken and grimaced. His jump carried him back, but he adjusted his body just before the harsh landing and descended into a backward roll.

    The moment his heels found firm ground again, he pushed off again, this time circling around the wooden bench.

    The old-timer looked at him with questioning, murderous eyes.

    "Since when did you learn how to move like that? Tsk! No matter, once I take over your body, I''ll take my time probing through every inch of your flesh-kukuku."

    Roland''s frown only deepened upon hearing that. He would rather die than allow this weirdo old man to get his hands on him.

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    He effortlessly twirled the scalpel between his fingers before holding it more aggressively. Before he made his next move, the briefest of thoughts crossed his mind.

    His movements, instincts, and battle sense were the skills he had dedicated most of his previous life to hone. And his body still remembered them. No, this Iron Ranked body treated those skills differently. Not a single movement was wasted.

    Roland''s movements were becoming better and less predictable. The old man grew tired, raised his strange tentacle-covered arm, and unleashed a barrage of heavy attacks in quick succession. Roland kept his centre of gravity low and moved with the graceful spryness of a feline. The stone walls almost exploded each time that arm swung. Trying to run was only slightly prolonging the inevitable.

    From the moment he broke free. Roland understood it was kill or be killed. He managed to get close to the old timer, barely avoiding another heavy attack aimed towards his head. The writhing tentacle hovered above his head again. Roland didn''t waste any movements and took the end of the scalpel into the large mound of flesh. Carving a clear red line that looked more like a scratch than a deep wound.

    Roland ducked low again and hastened for his retreat with a dissatisfied glare.

    "Not so fast, you slippery little pest!" The old man spat furiously. This time, he twisted his entire arm and swung it around like a windmill. Roland was caught flat-footed. He failed to account for such an attack, which slammed right against his midriff before sending him flying back against the heavy wall.

    The impact left an awful sound lingering in the silent air, as Roland''s body slid away from the crevice made against the wall. He landed face-first in a heap against the ground and didn''t get back up.

    The old fellow wore a triumphant grin against his wrinkled face. He walked cautiously towards what he expected was a half corpse by now.

    "Tsk! You almost gave me some trouble there little bastard. Hahaha- a shame you didn''t reveal your skills to me earlier. I might''ve taken you on as my disciple." Said the old man, busying his aged gaze against the floor littered with stones and chips of broken wood in search of his wand.

    "Damn it! I don''t have time for this." He bemoaned sourly to himself

    "Now then."

    The tentacle wrapped itself around the seemingly lifeless boy''s body. And slowly carried him upright. Roland''s head hung low without movement. The wavy strands of knotted locks shielded his face. The Old man tightened the grip around the boy''s neck and pulled him closer.

    "Gyak!" Roland cried out in agony. His eyes snapped open, and the whites covered in veins started bulging out. The old fellow tightened the slimy noose. Tears streamed down the boys cheeks as he wheezed and fought desperately for air. This continued for a short while before his legs eventually gave out. And his head slumped down.

    The old man was over the moon. He carried the corpse towards him and inspected it a little closely.

    "The body flicker spell becomes a lot harder if the target is dead. I should hurry this up whilst there''s still a faint trace of life within him."

    Roland''s body dangled stiff as a log. The old wizard was just about to start looking for his wand when he noticed the boy''s lips slowly moving.

    "Huh? What is it, little prince? Speaking from the grave? Keheh. Sure, I''ll hear your last words of penance."

    The wizard brought the boy''s face closer to his own. Roland''s mouth continued to move. But no audible words came out. The old wizard was starting to get annoyed.

    "Speak up boy!" He almost growled, strangling Roland''s neck tighter.

    However, once the boy slowly held up his head. An ugly smirk etched against a bloody smile. And then the boy''s voice finally broke free. A deep guttural tone, laced with murder.

    "Nowˇ­die."

    And within that moment, the seasoned elder felt something he had not felt in quite a long time, especially from anyone roaming these mortal plains. Where the essence of mana was so thin that it was barely traceable. And yet, that same fear briefly flashed through his mind. It was a real warning for him to be weary.

    A cold wind swept through Roland''s mind. He still held onto the scalpel and slashed across the elder''s neck. The rigid cold air was filled with a spray of carmine. Roland felt the pressure against his neck release. And the expected fall of their two bodies. Pain wracked his back. Roland tried to move, but his bones were as heavy as lead.

    His breathing was still hoarse, but he wasn''t as bad as he had led the elder to believe. Thanks to his weird body, he had already started healing the moment he ricocheted off the wall.

    ''That was a close one.'' He thought, rubbing his chaffed neck to ensure his head was still intact. He painfully lifted himself into a seated position. Where he saw the elder convulsing against the ground, using his singular regular hand to help cover the gaping wound.

    There was a small window of regret watching the clearly elderly man writhing around the ground desperately. But those thoughts were nothing but cowardice, he told himself.

    A cold light appeared across his childish gaze while he stared at the final moments of the elder against the ground. The elder''s eyes were open right until the final moments. Roland exhaled a deep sigh. He had killed someone.

    ''Tsk! Don''t think about it. We don''t have time to overthink it.''

    He looked down at the hand still clutching hold of the scalpel, covered in wet blood. And he couldn''t stop that same hand from shaking.

    After a short while, Roland calmed down. He twisted around to observe his strange surroundings. This place was likely the old-timers'' hideout. What worried him the most was whether or not there were any more strong fellows within this place, and if so, how many more.

    ''I can''t expect to win all my fights that way. Not to mention, it''s a risk between life and death. I can''t play dead for the rest of my life here.''

    This encounter only confirmed what he already understood about this new world. Strength was absolutely necessary.

    He picked himself up and staggered upright, holding onto the edge of the large wooden table for support. Roland still felt incredibly weak. Cursing at this childlike body with each painful step he took. But this fight had also unveiled one of his questions about Wizards.

    ''Without his wand and that slimy tentacle arm. He wasn''t that strong.''

    He drummed up this theory randomly in his thoughtsˇŞspecifically after he was left completely powerless against that crazy girl with silver hair.

    Wizards, in the fantasies he once read as a kid, insinuated a similar thing.

    "The main thing isˇ­I won. Now then, how do I find my way out of here."

    Roland gingerly moved his body towards the collapsed short table. One of the things he was most focused on was the black wooden stick-like object. He noticed it during the fight and kept a close eye on where it ended up.

    Roland knelt down and cautiously picked up the magic wand with two fingers. He could feel his heartbeat racing out of excitement. To think this was actually a magic wand in his grasp. Muddled with his childlike infatuation towards mythical things being proven true, his rational and shrewd mind couldn''t imagine how chaotic a world was where magic and wands existed.

    He learned that humans were all the same quite late. Despite being only 21 years old when he died, Roland felt like he had lived several lives within a short time frame. The awful things he witnessed stemmed from humans'' greed and selfishness.

    He took a moment to recall that day he realised his friends had betrayed him. He lowered his gaze and turned towards the corpse of the old man.

    "I guess some things never changeˇ­hm? W-wait. What''s that?" Roland noticed something odd about the old man''s corpse. He thought he could hear the tentacle still writhing around. But he couldn''t see anything. Roland moved closer, making sure the scalpel in his hand was ready at any time. He peered around the dead body and almost jumped away out of sheer fright.

    Crawling away from beneath the corpse were countless tiny slug-looking creatures, forming a trail towards the outdoors. Only after a closer look did Roland see they were shaped and coloured exactly the same as the large tentacle arm from before.

    Seeing them made his skin crawl but also posed a frightening question in his thoughts.

    "Is heˇ­still alive."

    Before Roland could think up another hypothetical, he felt a sudden weakness assaulting him all over. His vision blurred next. His attempt to move left his body swaying from side to side; he was losing his feeling in his hands first and then his arms. Roland instantly understood something was happening to him. His knees buckled, and his body crumbled down to the stone floor.

    He could still move his eyes, frantically rattling in their sockets whilst he could do nothing but idly stare. Just then, he heard a familiar dark voice caressing his ears. His heart skipped a beat as realisation kicked in.

    ''Shit! I messed up. How is he still-''

    "You get full marks for the art of surpriseˇ­little bastard. But whoever taught you those fancy fighting skills should''ve told you one important thing."

    Roland couldn''t actually see where that voice was coming from. The old man''s corpse was still lying prone on the ground in front of him. Whatever had rendered him unable to move at this moment made it difficult for Roland to pinpoint the source of the voice.

    A slimy object writhed over the nape of his neck, and Roland remembered the flock of slug-like creatures escaping. The tiny creature slithered over his ears and onto the side of his face.

    The strange voice was supposed to sound deep, but Roland heard it in its miniature state, like a tiny villainous voice.

    "Rule number 1, boy, You should never turn your back on a wizard. Or, at the very least, you should''ve made sure you cut my head off, kukuku."

    Roland wanted to curse himself for being so lax in this situation. Of course, he should''ve finished him off. That was code 101 when dealing with enemies in a neighbouring camp. He felt depressed to know that not only had this childlike body''s of his lost its reaction time. But his mind was also not as sharp as in his previous world.

    The slimy slug writhed down his face, stopping just before his open mouth.

    "I wanted to spare you the agony of experiencing this. But now I''ve lost another body. You''ve forced my hand."

    Roland wanted to scream the moment it happened, but it was already too late, the nasty slug creature crawled directly into his mouth. And made its way forcefully down his throat. He felt the air in his lungs being trapped and the horrific sensation of being choked whilst unable to move a single limb. He sputtered and convulsed in agony; whilst his body''s natural defences got to work, Roland could feel his senses and his sanity fading into darkness.

    ''No! Please No! Not like this! Someone help me! Help meˇ­Omeˇ­ga.''

    The slug successfully made its way down his trachea. Roland''s vision darkened. His bloodshot eyes stopped rattling, and he finally fell still.

    The echoes of laughter bounced away. He was certain they belonged to the old wizard.

    Death was imminent.

    The bitter truth of that was heart-wrenching.

    But alas, his fate was inevitable.

    Just before, he felt the familiar cold embrace of nothing.

    A chime echoed. A mechanical whirling sound like thousands of gears turning.

    Each cog filled with all the hopes he summoned from his previous life.

    And then he heard it.

    As clear as a bright new morning.

    {Mental Sphere alimentation completed}

    {Forced Upgrade Complete}

    {system 12.67% synchronisation with Acrux Completed}

    {Omega has successfully been rebooted}

    {Master, how can I be of service}

 Chapter 24 - Exploring the Mind Palace : Conscious Prison

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 Chapter 25 - Blinded Swallow

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 Chapter 26 - Much ado about cores and demons

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 Chapter 27 - Pre Banquet Nerves

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 Chapter 28 - Belles Arrival..."two glasses please."

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    ***

 Chapter 29 - Dungeons and Fluffy Cats

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 Chapter 30 - Natural learned ability : Bright Eyes

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 Chapter 31 - Belle and Sir Mynx a lot

    Roland was more focused on making sure he wasn''t in the direct line of sight of that wand she was waving around.

    On the other hand, the girl was still very much beside herself.

    "Who is he? Why did you bring him here? Why does he smell funny, and... who told you to run away without my consentˇ­?"

    *Chomp-Chomp-Chomp*

    "Nom-nom-meow meow? Me-ow- meow-hehehe." It sniggered lazily, almost disregarding the girl''s words.

    Roland made a hmm sound. With his chin still propped against one hand, he narrowed his eyes questioningly. He was sure that cat understood every word they were saying. A sudden whimper caught him unawares, and Roland stumbled a few steps away from the sobbing sounds beside him.

    "Waaah! You''re so mean. I''ve done everything you ask for! And you''re always up to no good! Shame on you, Sir Mynx a lot. Shame on you."

    Roland jumped his attention between the two. While he could somewhat imagine how frustrating that thing would be, he didn''t think it earned such a response.

    "H-hey, you know, if a pet doesn''t listen to you anymoreˇ­you can always, you knowˇ­get rid of it?"  He suggested with an earnest, childlike smile.

    Two stern gasps cracked through soundless air. Roland was surprised by that reaction. ''Did I say something wrong.''  He wondered, scratching the side of his head.

    His answer appeared in the form of an enraged little girl, refinding that boiling energy with which she had opened their greeting. This time, her fingers pressed against his chest.

    "Hey! Now listen hereˇ­err- weird and f-fuzzy h-hair boy. You don''t just go around saying crazy things to people. That''s not good manners. And that''s how you earn yourself in Belle''s bad books. And if you''re in Belles''s bad books, you''re in Sir Mynx a lot''s bad books. And if you''re in sir Mynx a lots bad books, then you''re in Belles bad books, and if that''s not clear, then I-"

    The cat had already left the trunk and waltzed unbothered between them. It stopped as it passed Roland''s foot and lifted its tiny head up to meet his gaze. Then it opened its perfectly shaped leonine mouth, and a loud yawn broke free. Then it twisted rather purposefully towards Belle andˇ­said?

    "Be a good disciple, Belle, and clear up some of this mess for me, would you."

    Roland was stunned into silence, blinking a few times at the talking cat.

    "Oh, and If you''re feeling slightly daring, stuff a few of those mana crystals in your blouse fir me. Come on, I''ve grown tired of this place already."

    Roland raised his two eyebrows and stared in awe. The girl named Belle reluctantly gathered herself. Just before she could say anything, the cat interjected.

    "Oh, and bring him along. If you''d like."

    Belle sniffled her runny nose and wiped her cheeks, which were stained with her cries.

    "Wh-why should I?" She sulked halfheartedly

    The feline sniggered in a playful tone.

    "Well, my young apprentice, that''s because if you want to acquire that yearly bonus, you''ve already started spending by the way. Why don''t you steer your efforts to something moreˇ­achievable?"

    There was a wicked grin which startled Roland a little.

    But its words calmed the girl down. It was her turn to think quietly. There was a tiny spark of realisation and then confusion.

    "Wait, the acolyte''s quota? H-h-he''s a potential acolyte, you sayˇ­h-him?"  Belle pointed directly at the side of Rolands face. Caring little about whether or not he had any issues with his personal space being invaded.

    By this time, Roland was no longer concerned about that persistent finger prodding between his chest. He shared the same astonishment as Belle, for different reasons, of course.

    Staring aimlessly at the talking cat, he repeated that buzzword over and over again.

    ''ˇ­acolyte?''

    ***

    Roland smiled wryly, watching Belle effortlessly pull a large trunk into the centre of his room.

    "And remind me again, how your things ended upˇ­here?" He asked dryly.

    Belle grunted, dragging the trunk a few more inches to the centre.

    "A girl told me too. She said this is where they keep the things nobody wants. Come to think of it, she wore a very amused smile whilst she led me here."

    Roland grimaced darkly. These kids were getting out of hand at this point.

    Belle observed the trunk before finally freeing the golden talons away from their secured lock. She rattled the chain free and pushed the lid of the trunk away. A cylinder-shaped disk rose out from a thick tube. Belle turned the dial and shifted the compartments to their respective places.

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    Roland watched the large trunk rise into a speculative brass workbench. The top rows were filled with different-sized coloured glass bottles, and the bottom with scrolls and a few thin books. Belle finished forming the tall stand. On the very top, there was an empty space for a large oval-shaped object to sit in its middle.

    Belle stretched her body and gently applauded her efforts. When she finally shifted her gaze towards Roland, her adorable joy vanished. Watching him with an indifferent gaze, she seemed to have remembered something.

    Rather begrudgingly, Belle walked over to the miniature work bench and shuffled a few things against it before she withdrew away, leaving a small vial of yellow liquid inside.

    "Take off your shirt, please." She almost mumbled between her teeth.

    "Sorry, what was that? I couldn''t hear you?" Roland lied, emphasised by cupping his ears towards her.

    Belles''s gaze narrowed before she cleared her throat loudly and stared daggers into him.

    "Your shirt, take it off. Now!"  She held out her wand towards him threateningly.

    Roland raised his arms to comply, "Anything you wish, Lady Belle." He didn''t waste any time and took his shirt off. He took a curious look at his youthful, slender body. Each time he looked at himself, he was reminded how young he had regressed.

    On the flip side, Roland sat slightly surprised by how smooth and toned his slender body was.

    ''All that training looks to have paid off.''

    He cocked one of his eyes to the side and noticed the young girl''s face was completely red. Belle defiantly raised her nose, and with a hmph sound, she turned her entire nose away in protest.

    "Hmph, lousy sweet talker." She said delicately, trying to snatch a peak at Roland. "And that''s master Belle to you, no-good rascal."

    Roland was already drifting into his own world, taking in the various strange-looking things the blue-haired girl carried.

    At this point, Roland felt it was safe to assume this little girl, alongside her talking cat, was part of that mysterious world he had heard about, the world the original owner of this body sought after obsessively.

    Roland didn''t believe in coincidences. But somehow, his steps had placed him along this path, steering him towards these mysteries and into a world where his every fibre was beginning to yearn for in discovery.

    ''Wizards? She''s a wizard?''

    His thoughts drew a boyish smile across his gaze.

    A swell of excitement raced through him. Roland could think of at least 5 good reasons why this was an opportunity made in heaven for him.

    ''Did that cat person say something about me becoming anˇ­acolyte, was it?''

    There was nothing that resonated more with his soul than learning magic. How could his mind, constantly filled with sciences, not be drawn to the evolution of logic? Roland went on a tour through his mind into the realm of the unknown. But in reality, he kept quiet and obediently sat there in wait.

    Ever so often, he turned towards the tabby cat in the corner, lazing around whilst enjoying the soft bed beneath its body.

    Belle uncorked the seal before delicately swirling it around.

    "Don''t waste your time expecting anything. My master only talks when it''s necessary. Sometimes, you might never hear his voice for almost a year."

    Belle explained between focus.

    She poured a gentle amount against her two fingers and scooted a little closer towards Roland from the front.

    "Sit straight, put your hands against your lap, yes, like that and try not to move."

    Starting from the top of his chest, she traced a line directly down to his bosom. Roland''s nostrils were hit with a strong smell. Belle finished off by making a ring around his belly button.

    "This is Nogroa oil. It''s the perfect way to trace the flow of mana inside a person''s body.

    "I''m going to have a Quick Look inside of you. Again, keep still."  Belle''s hands went rummaging around his stomach for a few minutes now. Roland had to catch himself more than once from squirming away underneath her cold touch at times; otherwise, the process wasn''t so bad.

    Belle had already closed her eyes and had fallen into a state of focus, he noticed. Roland observed her carefully as her mouth continued to mutter inaudible things. A small cycle of silence passed before Belle''s almond shaped eyes fluttered tiredly open.

    Roland wasn''t surprised by the next set of reactions following that distant look. Surprise. Deep concern and then finally a douse of scepticism laced with traces of fear any time her gaze brushed over his stomach area.

    Belle rose to her feet soon enough and started pacing around the small clearing. With all these things bundled into his room, Roland realised this wasn''t the room for all this.

    The anticipation weighed heavily on him. Although he might''ve guessed what she likely found looking inside.

    ˇ°Er-we-well?ˇ± Roland spoke out

    His voice halted Belle on her hot heels.

    "Well, what?" She narrowed her brows in response.

    "I meanˇ­am Iˇ­did you findˇ­sigh. Am I good enough to become an acolyte then?"

    Roland could feel his heartbeat pacing quicker, since when had he become so afraid of something. This distant and yet familiar feeling took him back to a time where he first applied for the galactic federations army.

    He was 16 and a naieve recruit looking to find his way in life.

    Roland rubbed the side of his head in deep wonder. It felt like he was losing something each time he discovered a memory fragment.

    By now, Belle folded her two arms and found a secure seat against the edge of his bed.

    "There are two things I know to be true in this world," Belle explained, holding up two fingers.

    "One, a broken core almost disqualifies you from living a peaceful life. Just getting out of bed should be gazillions times more painful than a normal person, and if you''re lucky, you live out the rest of your life waiting for one infection to the next to consume you.

    In reality, it''s equivalent to having half a working heart.

    Number two, sticking with the heart analogy. A single core plays a role similar to that of your heart. But you have two cores in theoryˇ­twoˇ­twoˇ­ heartsˇ­ˇ±

    She said the last part purposely slowed to enunciate her point.

    Belle''s gaze was becoming more and more narrow. To the point it borderlines scrutiny even.

    ''Why does it sound like I''m being interrogated?''

    "Sigh, long story short, kid, I''ve never seen anything like it. And there is absolutely no guarantee you can use magic. But, since it is practically an essential law to both test and guide anyone suspecting to possess the talents of an initiate, I''m under oath to go ahead and give you a chance."

    She went rummaging around the back of the personalised box of wooden compartments and took out an old scroll with a blue ribbon tied to the end. Roland thought it was old on account of the discolouring of the long page. It was practically dark golden brown with dark and light splotches.

    Belle wore a questioning look whilst she stared at the scroll in her hand in silence for a few minutes. After she concluded the wrestle with her internal discord, she handed the scroll over, exhaling a deep sigh.

    "Here''s a list of Rank 0-1 basic spells. You manage to learn one of these, and I''ll consider you competent enough to attend the enrollment trials. I don''t have time to teach you much, so we''ll call this a crash course."

    Roland caught the scroll practically bundled into his lap. It was heavier than he expected. And smelt just as old as it looked.

 Chapter 32 - Four stages of life? Rank 0 & Rank 1 Incantations

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 Chapter 33 - Painful Oaths

    Beneath the darkened outdoor light, this side of the castle looked quite different at this time of night. The air was still somewhat noisy despite the main hall being across two courtyards. Roland could still hear a faint song of collective voices gathered in the air beside him as he made his way. No matter where he was in the castle, that smog of noise was always heard.

    This side of the castle was quieter than usual. Roland discovered most of the wide halls were empty. He assumed they shifted all resources elsewhere for the occasion of the day.

    When he arrived at the end of the hall, two guards marshalled the outside of the patriarch''s door. They stepped aside once he walked between them. The door opened itself, and Roland stepped into his Grandfather''s study. Unlike the first time he arrived here, the mood was less grotesquely dark and much more breathable.

    A group of elders surrounded a slenderly tall man dressed in lavish leather and a deep violet robe.

    ''Why does he look younger?'' Roland thought to himself. The overbearing aura was still there, but there was an unmissable sense of power and respect coming from the patriarch from this distant place.

    The boy stared at his planted feet, almost surprised. The iron body rank made him much more sensitive to those sitting on a higher hill than he was right now. Roland cautiously stood a few away and observed the patriarch in silence.

    The present group sensed his arrival but chose to continue their discussion. Roland noticed his Grandfather''s tall frame slowly turning towards him. His aged hand lifted rose to silence the noise, and suddenly, all eyes coldly turned to face him in unison.

    .

    The pressure was unrelenting. Roland lowered his gaze and instantly began cycling his Ki using a breathing technique his death knight taught him.

    After a few moments of deliberating, he slightly bowed his head and said without emotion.

    "Pardon my interruption, but you sent for me? My lord."

    He slowly raised his gaze and briefly caught a flicker in his Grandfather''s impassive mask. Once the aged man''s lips moved, the usual coldness resurfaced.

    "Yes, I did send for you, didn''t I?" He waved away the small group of black-robed men surrounding him, amongst whom Roland just noticed the elder with the hunched back gingerly walking in front. His Grandfather waited for the last man to leave before he spoke, almost precisely on cue.

    "There''s something strange about you. Since you''ve returned, you''ve avoided death how many timesˇ­poison, assassins, and what was it the other day...kidnapping by a seasoned Wizard?"

    Roland stood there wearing a frown. He wasn''t that shocked to hear his Grandfather was aware of everything. But the idea that someone had witnessed those moments and not intervened says a lot about this so-called patriarch. Roland took a few breaths to calm himself down. But then a smile crept across his face. He had already mastered locking his anger in the deep cave within his subconscious long before he arrived in this world.

    "Your luck has become infectious."  Said his Grandfather as a matter of factuality.

    "And no one rejoices more than I do to see your body improving. So, while I admire the willpower and the guts. There is no room for you in our army." His Grandfather finally announced. Drawing a curtain against a slithering ray of hope, Roland caressed towards the strongest warrior within this castle.

    His eyes lowered in a strange bond of sadness. Roland expected this outcome, yet he still held a small bit of hope for the patriarch. Perhaps a man as strong as he was would be willing to change his fate. Under less bias circumstances, Roland was confident perhaps it would be enough. But now, where lines and schemes were being drawn. He was reminded he couldn''t trust the judgement of these people.

    For a split second, that cold face of Alyssa cloud resurfaced again. He recounted her scheme and the part they wished he had played. Roland caressed the golden alloy in his pocket.

    ''She said I just need him to touch it...should i-"

    The heralding voice of the patriarch caught him off guard.

    "But... your blood is still worth a lot. Your mother already agreed to a wedding on your behalf. And I will honour that choice she made. By allowing you to wed, Alyssa Cloud, the Cloud Kings Neice."

    Roland swallowed his anger and clenched his fists tightly. In a moment, he exhaled, and all the tension ran away.

    "As you wish, my lord." He responded dutifully.

    "B-but my lord, before I go...may I come close and speak something secretly to you?"

    After a few moments of thinking and sizing him up, the patriarch drew a slightly surprised look. His Grandfather nodded his head.

    Roland stood outside the patriarch''s door in silence for a short while, staring at the golden alloy in the palm of his hand. It was strange to hear someone''s worth discussed with such disregard. The thought forced him to reflect on the sort of life the boy who once owned this body of his had lived before. Without Omega or anyone to trust, Roland must''ve felt like the loneliest person in the world.

    He took his time making his way back to the other halls located across the two gardens. Roland strolled through the silent courtyard, a graveyard of weathered stone busts of dragons and warriors cast behind the shadows of the chilly night. He lightly scratched the side of his head as he walked through the tiled pathway.

    ''Tsk, didn''t think hearing no I expected would bother me this much.''

    Beneath the moon''s watchful eye, there was a sense of serenity against the whole world. Roland kept his eyes on the moon as he walked. He shifted his stare momentarily towards the glassed finish to the side, which showed one of the open hallways connecting the library to the dining area within the main house.

    Two sneaky-looking figures caught his attention. A man with a dandy mustache, willow eyebrows and silk jet black hair slicked backward . Roland remembered him from the first day he arrived here. He greeted him alongside the Lady of the castle and Mariah. It wasn''t uncommon to see guards or servants walking around these halls. Roland didn''t interact with the butler or any of the servants, for that matter. He got the feeling a lot of them didn''t see any real difference between himself and them.

    Roland recalled that weird smile when he presented him with his food.

    The second figure had his back facing him, but once he slowly unearthed his face towards him. A cold wind swept through Roland''s mind. His brow twitched as his blank glare could almost penetrate the side of the young man''s head.

    Those squinted eyes and cat-like smile still flashed across his subconscious in moments. The barbaric nature of how he was stabbed still hauntedly sent shivers down his back.

    Roland quickly dispelled the haze and, with a clearer mind, observed the relationship between the two men. Judging by the facial expressions, the older gent spoke with some kind of displeasure, and then he placed his hand against the young man''s shoulder. The young man said some things, and suddenly, in a fit of rage, the older man grappled the young man''s collar and aggressively shouted some things.

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    The young man bowed in penance. A few minutes passed between them, and the young man took his leave.

    Roland watched on with mixed feelings; although he never once found that woman completely innocent, he was a little surprised to finally confirm she had likely plotted to kill him.

    ''Safe to attribute that poison attempt to her as well then.''

    What Roland didn''t understand was the end game of their schemes. On the one hand, both the Lady and somehow Alyssa had become in cahoots to murder the patriarch. And to make matters worse, his own involvement was necessary.

    ''So if they need me, for what I guess it to take the fall for their crimes. Why have they tried to kill me a few times?''

    There were pieces still missing, and Roland was having difficulty seeing the entire picture.

    "Sigh, let me turn in for the night. I''ll handle this in the morning."

    Roland sat against the soft bedspread. The drapes to the side were slacked apart, allowing the bold moon''s pale light to enter his room. He gazed dreamily into the moonlight, reflecting on the events of the day. He wasn''t Zachary anymore; he was really Roland....

    "Roland Smoke." He said self, mockingly.

    "But who exactly are you, Roland?" He asked no one in particular. With his legs folded together, he laid the book regarding casting an incantation against his lap.

    Roland felt restless while observing the quiet skies. The night remained the same since the skies had darkened. The castle fell to a strange, dangerous quiet at this time. Because Roland wasn''t confident in his ability to defend himself, he was constantly on alert to the faintest sounds.

    At that moment, Roland heard a sound against his door. A cold wind walked into the room, and the floorboards creaked. Roland felt something was off. He shuffled himself towards the edge of the bed and stepped onto the hardboard floor. He took one step towards the closed door.

    A chime echoed within his thoughts.

    {Danger! Omega detects another heat signature}

    Rolands''s stomach turned when he heard that bad news and saw no one.

    ''Shit, who is it this time.''

    He frantically searched the room for anything sharp or blunt enough to be considered a weapon but found nothing but the thin glassed lamps. He moved across the creaking floorboards and arrived at the bedside where the lamps sat.

    The very unmissable sound of iron being pulled away from a scabbard caressed the silent air. Roland''s body immediately froze as he felt a cold bite pressed against the side of his neck. He felt the warm breath first, followed by the soft-sounding voice filtering into his ears.

    "Stay still. My blade is too sharp for sudden movements."

    Roland''s entire body shook. All his instincts transmitted the same response. Don''t attempt to move.

    "A-Alyssa?" His voice cracked under the weight of his shock.

    Without wasting more time, he slowly raised his two arms in surrender. Roland made sure the coldness in his eyes had gone. Before he slowly turned around and performed the most pitiful expression he could muster.

    "W-wh-wy did...d-d-o to you." He whimpered pitifully.

    Alyssa blinked a few times before a wide grin creased against her face.

    "Good, I thought my little pet had forgotten who his Mama was?'' Said Alyssa with a playful glare sizing him up.

    Roland tried to keep the pitiful facade going, but he did have to wonder why a 16-year-old was calling an 18-year-old girl mama. He couldn''t avoid taking a deeper look at the young lady''s striking figure. She was clothed in a silk gown, with high socks showcasing her long legs. The dress she wore seemed to do her large bust no favours, barely keeping everything held together in place.

    Roland felt his face turning warm. Catching himself before things got worse. He trailed his eyes somewhere else in response to the cold look he received from the beauty.

    "Ara! Looks like my suspicions were right. A brief taste of death and my favorite pet has grown bold enough to look me directly in the eyes. Hmm, how unsightly."

    {Warning! Omega detects a spike in the air pressure}

    From his reading of the body tempering manuals, Roland understood that meant her Ki was leaking out. Which meant she was charging up to attack him.

    Roland cursed under his breath. He still had goosebumps, remembering the last time they encountered one another. Roland didn''t need a second invitation. He swiftly fell to his knees and desperately crawled towards the slender young girls'' feet.

    "Forgive me-forgive me! Please forgive this...pet of yours."  His head remained firmly pressed against the floorboard.  Alyssa remained quiet for a few seconds. And Roland waited.

    "Buahahaha!" A childlike laughter erupted from above.

    "You''re such a pitiful boy, aren''t you huahaha! But ohh- Fear not. I already knew you wouldn''t be capable of completing the mission tonight. I will forgive you this time, for it seems as though tomorrow is more...better day, so to speak..."

    Roland listened in silence, with his head pressed against the cold ground, disregarding his ego while his mind went into a deep thought of planning and execution.

    Suddenly, Alyssa raised her foot and stamped down against his head. Roland felt the force of a titan pushing his head deeper into the floorboards. The aged wood broke way too easily as his helm sunk like butter into the ground.

    "For disobeying me."

    Her leg raised high again and forcefully came down again on his head.

    *BANG*

    "For showing me disrespect, not only in my presence but in the presence of the patriarch."

    *BANG*

    "Heh-Heh, what do you think I wouldn''t know of your attempt to break our marriage? DO YOU FORGET WHO I AM!" She bellowed.

    *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

    The sirens of Omegas voice sneered in his mind. It helped distract him from the pain assaulting his head.

    {Warrning critical damage taken}

    {Warning critical damage taken}

    {Warning damage taken}

    "Take this, and this, and this"

    Roland''s face smashed and bounced back and forth. The pain he carried had far exceeded anything he felt during his training. But he didn''t make too much of a sound. His bones and flesh were loud enough to drown his soft groans and whimpers.

    When Alyssa stopped stomping his head, Roland''s entire head was buried in the stone ground. A thick layer of smoke rose out slowly. His body twitched every so often, and thanks to his iron-ranked body, he somehow managed to stay alive.

    Despite the throbbing pain and clear embarrassment, Roland didn''t move or fight back.

    "Phew, ha-ha...I needed that." Alyssa remarked, cracking her knuckles.

    "Now then, tomorrow is your last chance. The patriarch will be showing his face at the sparring arena. He will train with the main house, you will show up, and for pity, he will trade 1 or two blows with you. Then you will use the gold alloy Kekeke" she chuckled playfully.

    Roland finally moved. Pieces of stone rolled away from his back as he attempted to drag his head away from the hole.

    The heavy air pressure lifted. "Remind me again, your pathetic bodily constitution stands at what? A lower

    stone tier? Life must suck knowing you''ll amass to nothing short of my plaything. Sigh, fear not, I am a merciful bride. Once we''re married, I''ll drag you along my ascent to Godhood."

    Alyssa stepped over Roland''s body and measured her footsteps towards the door.

    "Well, that''ll be all for now...oh right, don''t worry about that death knight of yours. To be honest, Grandfather assigning you one is stupid to begin with, hahaha. But I''ve put measures in place to ensure that thing is occupied whenever I need you.

    Anywho, Bye-bye, for now, my little lamb. And good luck."

    Alyssa finally left, and Roland gingerly peeled himself out of the ground. He stared at the unconventional hole in the ground whilst droplets of blood poured down like rain. Roland staggered to his feet and limped bitterly towards the mirror. His face ballooned and was practically unrecognisable. Roland already felt the heavy pressure against his eyelids, almost forcing him to keep his eyes in a squint.

    The pain wasn''t great enough to cause him harm, but the psychological pain ignited a burning white fury within his chest.

    Roland lightly poked the swelling, and blood streamed out of the countless cuts. He stared at his horrific injuries and waited. His hoarse wheezes quickly became more subtle and peaceful. His chest heaved in and out in a gentle rhythm. Roland stood there and stayed silent, watching for a long time before it happened.

    First, the cuts. The wide wounds began stitching his broken skin together. And suddenly, in minutes, the gaping wounds had been sealed. Roland continued to centre his breathing while watching the wounds against his face heal. The swelling took the longest, and once an hour had passed, Roland''s face returned to normal.

    He stared at his reflection with a coldness masking the intrigue of what he had witnessed. A crooked smile crept across his boyish features, and a single trail of blood ran down from one nostril.

    ''So that''s how it is here as well. The weak struggle against the ground whilst the strong trample everything beneath their feet.''

    Roland remained fixated on the droplets of blood softly falling. He remembered his previous lives. There was a time when he couldn''t even afford a loaf of bread and butter to eat. Sleeping on the streets, the cobbled stones were his comfort. So, he spent his days lurking through alleyways, scrounging for scraps or having to defend the little he managed to find from the other homeless folk.

    Roland could picture at least two instances where he was shown that might is right, and the cruelty subjected to those considered too weak to defend themselves had also been justified to the masses as right.

    He finally wiped away the blood trickling down his nostrils. With an ugly smile, Roland clenched his fist and pledged an oath.

    "I don''t know who you are, nor do I care about the things you may have done before. But now that I am here, I swear this to you. I vow to make sure we achieve it...the freedom to live as we choose. I promise you this, Roland Smoke. I won''t allow anyone to bully us...ever again."

 Chapter 34 - Wizard Greys Hideout (1)

    The following day, Roland arose bright and early. The girl with the elaborate blindfold had materialised outside his door right on time. Due to the absence of the Willow this morning, little Swallow wasn''t sure what to do with herself. Using this opportunity, Roland pretended he had just planned the perfect plan.

    He tried to avoid eye contact while he begged rather aggressively for a day off to recuperate. By the time he finished ranting, Swallow merely yawned before telling him she was going to sleep.

    Roland took that as a go-ahead to have his day off. After the previous night, Roland had already decided how to proceed with his escape plans.

    The first mode to address was locating Wizard Grey''s hideout. He spent much time deliberating on the best way to go about this. Since his trusted knight was being forcefully suppressed, he held no direct contact with anyone else who could help.

    ''They''re unlikely to grant me access to just leaving alone. So I''ll need to take a tiny detail with me." Roland said, pondering the accessible people within this castle. He scratched at the scalp buried beneath the growing tangle of thick vines in his head. Not long after, a broad and stoic face appeared through his thoughts.

    "Of course, I''ll just ask him."

    Roland spent the morning roaming around the outer barracks of the castle. This place was as big as he might''ve imagined. And stepping foot onto each long hall felt like he was an ant in the middle of a spacious world. A lot of the tall walls were covered in large framed pictures. The crimson blood rug beneath his feet never seemed to end. After bumping into a few maids he met along the way, he was finally steered towards the outer gardens. Where the barracks were built. And where he would find the man he''s looking for.

    Roland walked across the thin strip of gravel lined against the sea of trimmed grass outside. At the end of the road, a small red stone building stood. At the end of it, he met the faces of two tall men. He gave a quick glance at their leathers and light armour.

    He made a wave and formed a boyish smile.

    "Good day friends." He said with affection in his speech

    The two guards furrowed their brows to get a better look at him. One of them nudged the other and shared a strange, knowing look. They moved their right fists over their chests and reluctantly bowed.

    "Young L-lord of the house. How many we help."

    Roland watched their bodies twitch in an attempt to show their respect. To this, he could only shrug with a wry smile. He wondered how many people had been briefed to hate him secretly.

    "I''m looking for Aa-ea-mon? Is that the proper way to say his name?" His question was sincere, but the two guards merely glanced at one another.

    "Eh-Aeomon is inside. Would you like to- "

    "Don''t mind if I do." Roland swiftly pressed against his heels and moved between the two. He opened the door carefully before walking inside. A long hall filled with several long benches greeted him. The room was filled with beds, armour, and weapons, and stations with uniforms and other clothing items.

    Roland scanned the many faces going about their business. His eyes flickered, finally catching sight of the man he was looking for. Aeomon stood to one side, examining a scroll covered in writing back to front. He hovered over a short table with a quill and ink, along with a shirt dagger to the side.

    Roland''s not-so-subtle approach drew his attention almost instantly. For the first time, Roland saw a mixture of emotions flash across the man''s stoic, cold face. He looked surprised, then oddly guilty, before a little anger crept in.

    "L-little Lord? What are you doing here?"

    Roland smiled broadly as he approached the knight.

    I''m "Looking for you, "he said, arriving just before the tall Aeomon. Roland stared blankly at the towering giant. Hee could still remember the way he fought against those boars. His handling of a sword was excellent, too.

    ''That reminds me, I must go through the battle sequence with omega.''

    Roland still had a few things to cross off his checklist, and practising these people''s fighting and movement styles was high on that list once he concluded his escape mission.

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    Meanwhile, Aeomon seemed slightly annoyed by the silence, but his next choice of words wasn''t what Roland had expected.

    A deep sigh was breathed through his bearded mouth.

    "Little Lordˇ­Forgive me for my performance during the hunt. And my inability to be man enough to check up on you afterwards. "

    ''Huh? Why''s he talking about that stuff.'' Roland was sure he wasn''t annoyed about that. "Oh yeah, sure, that''s alright, nothing you could''ve done." He cleared his throat before getting to the real reason he was here.

    "I need your help. I''m planning on a short trip to the further woods. I think I dropped something quite important to meˇŞa keepsake, so to speak, one that belonged to my mother." He purposely lowered his gaze, feigning sadness with a drawn-out silence.

    Aeomon stared awkwardly at the boy. It was apparent he had no real training in this kind of matter. "Iˇ­I see. If it''s just over to the further wood, I can send two soldiers to accompany you. Is that alright? Unless you feel you need more?"

    "No-no two is enough ahaha. More than enough."

    Roland secretly jumped with joy at how easy that was.

    Roland watched the impassive face contour between sternness and softness. He found it amusing, in truth, watching guilt dictate someone''s decisions. Nevertheless, he sighed in relief once Aeomon gave the go-ahead. Two guardsmen from the barracks were assigned to him. And now he had his reason to leave the castle grounds.

    Time moved along, and a gentle chill walked across the vast spread of emerald land. Compared to being stuck in the castle all day, his surroundings this early afternoon felt like a deserved reprieve from the shenanigans of the last few days. Roland manned his familiar beige stead, whom he had recently named sunfoot. His handling of the thick reigns was still poor, and the inside of his thighs hurt after riding for a while. But he sat with not much complaints today. Just seeing the rolling grass hills and surrounding forests improved his mood.

    ''This reminds me of some things I enjoyed doing during those rare times away from the federation.''

    Roland still thought about those days from time to time, as distant as they were. He still carried those memories like the last remnants of a deceased relative.

    Their horses trotted carefully over the crunchy ground. Roland curiously tilted his head towards the humid air above. Since they entered the deeper forest, he had lost sight of the clear skies and the raging sun. The cool wind he enjoyed enveloping him hardly brushed through this deep into the forest.

    Roland exchanged conversations with the two guardsmen tailing him, but much else wasn''t said. This, of course, suited his temperament. He would much rather have personal discussions with the artificial system within his head.

    Half a mile from their entry point, Roland noticed a bed of white-petalled flowers growing wildly across the ground. He had already made a mental note of the old man''s instructions. After encountering the bed of white flowers, a giant oak tree covered in moss should be seated just against a short hill ahead.

    Roland peered closer towards the rising hill, where he saw a wide tree with a great cluster of leaves blooming out of every piece of branch gnarling away from its side.

    Roland''s eyes flashed wide. He swiftly dismounted his horse and waved his escort to his side. They looked confused as they approached the smiling boy, who kept his hands behind his back.

    "Right, so I think I lost it somewhere around that tree over there. I don''t want us to lose sight of our trail, so you guys can help me look around here. I''llˇ­ check around that hill over there look, and I''ll let you know if I find something?" Roland swiftly twisted on his heels, purposefully not giving the two a moment to respond.

    He climbed the hill without any difficulty and circled the giant oak carefully. He found nothing out of the ordinary from a first look.

    ''I hope that old geezer wasn''t lying to me.'' He thought to himself. Roland still didn''t trust Wizard Grey. Given how this kind of thing usually played out, he was half expecting some kind of betrayal along this quest at some point.

    Roland took this time to enjoy the slight vantage point he gained standing on the top of the hill. From here, he could see across the crowded green bed. Vines looped and tangled amongst themselves, and colourful birds perched on high-raised branches. When he stood quietly like this, he could hear the air talkingˇŞa consistent buzz of hundreds of tiny insects in a choir.

    A growing smile formed against the boy''s youthful face. He stared dreamily into the open sea of natural life, thinking of this world and all its incredible splendours. He felt a growing intimacy surrounded by the vast wildness of nature. Roland knew he always had that. Only circumstances made it difficult to fully appreciate these things in his previous world.

    ''I never got to enjoy anything like this before.'' He wore a smile whilst exhaling a calm breath. Roland''s gaze fell upon nowhere in particular; from the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of a feint footpath trailing away from the towering Oak tree. He followed the pathway that slinked over the hill drop through a cluster of crowded bushes where a weathered, stoned totem stood outside what looked like the entrance of a sealed cave.

    Roland''s eyes perked up, and he approached the sealed mouth with his outstretched hand. His fingertips caressed over the sandy surface. The second he pulled his hand back.

    "What''s the master''s secret code? " a deep voice growled to his side.

    Roland jumped backwards and readied himself for a sprint away. Only when he realised the stone totem was the actual one talking did he feel curious enough to hold his retreat for now.

    "Who-who are you?" He asked curiously, alert

    "What''s the master''s secret code." The totem''s mouth moved sterner with an ugly grimace.

    Roland frowned at that but remembered what the old Wizard had told him.

    "Apple Honeycombˇ­ and Dew drops." He said begrudgingly.

    The totems mouth dropped open and out fell a bronze talisman big enough to sit in his palm. Roland eyed the golden disk suspiciously before moving closer to retrieve it.

 Chapter 35 - Wizards Greys Hideout (2) - Emerald and Ivory

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 Chapter 36 - Wizards Greys Hideout (3) - Bleeding Lamb

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 Chapter 37 - Inherited Curse

    <h2>Alyssa POV</h2>

    Alyssa enjoyed watching the life drain away from RolandˇŻs eyes. This weak and insignificant wretch of a human had served to scratch certain urges of hers. At best she thought heˇŻd eventually become a loyal slave. Another small piece in a world filled with moving parts. At worst she would have to kill him out of boredom.

    When she first heard about his death, Alyssa did feel a momentary feeling of discomfort. If her favourite slave was going to die. She only hoped she would be the one to do it.

    As a young lady reaching her womanhood, her body was going through a lot of changes. Love, being one of those changes. And Alyssa realized something rather recently. She loved to win, and also deeply loved watching weak people die.

    A cruel smile creased against her round face almost demonically. She just needed to squeeze a little more and his windpipe would burst.

    Alyssa was so busy basking in this joyous occasion that she completely missed reacting to the moment another visitor arrived at the door. The heavy stone frame sneered open again. Alyssa noticed her death knight move. He never moved, unless instructed to do so. She sensed something troubling for a second and turned slightly around.

    Alyssa cocked one of her brows up in confusion. She was looking at a very slender figure, dressed in strange clothing she had never seen before. He looked like an elderly man on the count of his grey whiskers and bald head. But his skin was completely dark grey with very sharp-pointed ears like a goblin. A glassed monocle rested just in front of his left eye. His tailored clothing was a single charcoal colour.

    ˇ°Goblin? What is a goblin doing here?ˇ± She asked rather loudly.

    Her death knight stood the closest to it. The goblin removed his hands away from its back. AlyssaˇŻs brow narrowed almost immediately, she noticed the different coloured gemstones squeezed onto its thin fingers. Being a bronze-ranked body, her senses were a lot sharper than most people her age.

    Alyssa remained vigilant and alert. She could sense a strange power circulating around the goblin. And all her senses were telling her the same thing. This was a danger she needed to take seriously. She released her grip and watched Roland''s limp body crumble down in a heap. Alyssa gave her little slave one last look of regret before turning her back on him.

    ˇ°What are you supposed to be then? A-and why are you disturbing my fun?ˇ± She protested sternly.

    The question was simple enough to understand. Alyssa had asked many people the same question before. And depending on their response determined whether she killed them quickly or not.

    The malnourished-looking goblin didnˇŻt react at first and merely moved its gaze between both her and her death knight. She found it a little cute, its helpless stare and little arms made her want to squeal. It would become completely dependent on her and after a while, sheˇŻd grant it mercy by killing-

    ˇ°Huh, where did it go.ˇ± Said Alyssa scanning the caves interior for answers.

    Alyssa was assured she blinked and the goblin vanished completely from her sight. Bizarrely enough, she followed the outstretched gesture of her death knight. And was completely stupefied, seeing the Goblin standing by the far wall with a weird white mask in its dainty hands. It wore a serious expression while it scanned every inch of the mask.

    ˇ°Hmm, the Goat was late to the tea party you see.ˇ± Said the Goblin in a gentle voice

    ˇ°And now it seems the Goat is nowhere to be found.ˇ±

    There was a curious look against the Goblin''s hardened features. It took a careful look at its surroundings before its wide eyes fell towards her again.

    ˇ°Say does anyone have any idea where the owner of this mask is? Does anyone know?ˇ±

    The goblin focused on Alyssa and the slender knight placed behind her. There was a soft groan cracked against the frigid air. Alerting everyone present to the pitiful site. Alyssa felt her heart quickening. And all eyes fell towards the hoarse breathing Roland, surprisingly still breathing. The Goblin finally took notice of the heavily wounded boy, slumped against the wall.

    ˇ°Sayˇ­do you know where the owner of this mask dwells?ˇ± It turned its question towards Roland.

    Alyssa wasnˇŻt sure why she was feeling troubled. There was no perceived threat here. But something inside of her didnˇŻt want them both to talk.

    Roland continued wheezing hoarse breaths in an attempt to get his words out. A pool of blood puddled beneath him whilst his bulging eyes rattled with vigour despite the look of death paled against his face.

    The goblin took a careful look at the dying boy without even so much as a smile before shifting its gaze towards her again.

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    ˇ°Did you do this? Why?ˇ± The cool voice grated against her ears.

    Alyssa furrowed her brows and remained silent, her death knight carefully positioned itself beside her.

    ˇ°Yesˇ­I did that. ItˇŻs a family matter but most importantly. I have no idea who owns that mask. When I first arrived he was the one inside hereˇ­alone.ˇ±

    Alyssa folded her arms, her deviant smile creased broadly as she noticed a look of surprise flash against the goblin''s stern face. If she could somehow place blame on Roland. Whoever this was would give her no trouble.

    The goblin made its way towards Roland and simply stood there. It cupped its ears and leaned closer towards the boy.

    ˇ°Hm, whatˇŻs that? I canˇŻt hear you?ˇ±

    Roland muddled inaudible noises. The Goblin moved even closer.

    ˇ°Hmm, I canˇŻt seem to understand you? Do you know the owner of this mask or not.ˇ± Asked the Goblin

    Roland struggled to find his voice again, Alyssa was tempted to put her little lamb out of his misery. Until suddenly he convulsed forward and spat out clots of blood. There was a deranged look against the boy''s youthful features as he steadied his breathing. Alyssa felt something she wasn''t expected to feel from the weakling. Fear? With a bloody-toothed smile, he took one look at Alyssa and said.

    ˇ°Y-y-yes. I knowˇ­the ownerˇ­of thatˇ­maskˇ±

    <h2>Roland POV</h2>

    Roland was in a terrible state right now, his vitals were failing and he was on the cusp of potentially passing out and never waking up again. Omega had already kept him awake for as long as the system could possibly do.

    The time afforded to him now was to be used to save his life.

    He still struggled to keep his gaze fixed on the goblin.

    ˇ°Oh, so you know? Where can I find the owner then? Tell me and IˇŻll be on my way.ˇ± Said the Goblin expectantly

    Roland thought about his next choice of words carefully. When the topic concerning the ivory mask came around. Wizard Grey was noticeably troubled by it. And if Roland had to guess, this mysteriously looking goblin dressed in an out-of-placed tailored suit had some part to play.

    RolandˇŻs hoarse breaths wheezed through his mouth. He steadied himself before gently putting his words together.

    ˇ°HeˇŻsˇ­heˇŻsˇ­heˇŻs dead.ˇ±

    The goblin looked visibly disturbed by that answer. It turned away, pondering something in deep thought to itself. Roland gritted his teeth and waited. Whether or not this bought him enough time was yet to be seen. The goblin''s stern gaze lifted again soon enough.

    ˇ°And are you a relative of the deceased? A friend or at best a disciple?ˇ± A cold itch ran against the nape of RolandˇŻs neck. By instinct he simply nodded his head in agreement, hoping this person was a friend to the old geezer. The goblin startled him by clapping its two hands together unexpectedly.

    ˇ°Good! Then that settles it. Being his disciple and all, the curse by rite transfers over to you.ˇ± Announced the Goblin was rather pleased with that decision.

    Roland heard the word curse and almost choked. A soft heckle left the lips of Alyssa. Who looked to be greatly enjoying this the most. With hope fast slipping between his fingers.Roland was reluctantly slowly resigning to his fate.

    ˇ°This must be yours?ˇ± He heard a voice sprouting beside him and slightly flinched. The Goblin nonchalantly held onto his severed arm. Roland stared at the blood-covered limb before blankly staring at the Goblin before him.

    ˇ°Errˇ­th-thank you.ˇ± Before Roland could finish his sentence the Goblin placed the severed limb just below the bleeding wound. Roland''s gaze flickered with a curious glint. He only now noticed the different coloured rings squeezed onto the Goblin''s little fingers. One of the gemstones in particular started to softly glow with a soft white light. The whole thing happened so fast, that he barely had enough time to form any coherent words. A white inky substance floated around his severed arm. Tiny threads of milky white began attempting to attach his severed limb to his wound. The blood dried up before his very eyes before the flesh began to form and bind itself together. He could only sit there and watch in a breathless awe.

    The strange thing about it all was the Goblins nonchalant attitude during this entire ordeal.

    Roland cleared the mucus away from his throat. And wiped the blood away from the side of his mouth.

    ˇ°Sorryˇ­ but who are you.ˇ± He asked the Goblin after staring blankly at the entire process unfolding.

    The goblin blinked a few times and pointed towards itself.

    ˇ°Who me? Oh, thatˇŻs right I forgot to introduce myself. I am-ˇ°

    ˇ°What the hell do you think youˇŻre doing!ˇ± Roared Alyssa in rage. Roland''s brow furrowed together, he had almost forgotten about those two. Alyssa''s face was a mask of true anger at this point.

    ˇ°You-you-youˇ­ruinedˇ­everything. H-how dare you. Kaito! Kill that thing now!ˇ±

    ˇ®Damn it. I still have to deal with these two.ˇŻ

    Roland could feel mobility slowly returning to his left arm. He wanted to say thank you to the goblin. But he should be telling it sorry instead, for getting it involved in his mess.

    The tall dark figure stepped forward. It held out its gloved hand and a set of throwing knives appeared. It waved its arm lazily and a knife darted forward. Roland cried out for the Goblin to move but the old gent didnˇŻt seem all that concerned. The boy hastily squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself. He heard the sound of sharp winds slicing the air followed by a deep silence.

    Roland slowly peaked through one eye.

    ˇ°Huh?ˇ± he gasped suddenly.

    He rubbed his eyes a few times just to make sure he was seeing things correctly.

    ˇ°W-what happened to hisˇ­head?ˇ±

    Roland didnˇŻt even hear so much as a cry out. He took an extended blink and AlyssaˇŻs death knight had lost its head. How? He didnˇŻt see it, but he heard something fast. Clarity slowly surfaced and Roland couldnˇŻt even believe what he sensed had happened. He nervously shifted his frantic stare towards the goblin.

    The suited creature was busy wiping its fists with a small handkerchief. It looked more annoyed at the mess on its clothes than anything.

    Roland''s body trembled, he next moved his gaze towards the prodigy of the Cloud family. Alyssa stood rooted to her heels. Her face was devoid of any emotion or even her usual mask of coldness this time around. They locked eyes and stared at one another. And Roland saw a different look on the cold girl''s face. A vulnerability he wouldnˇŻt imagine existed. He almost felt a little sorry for her.

    His lingering sad gaze turned Alyssa the wrong way. And her face contorted into a shell of madness. She clenched her fists hard and her Ki surged wildly. A visible white film covered her entire body. Sparks and broken stones sizzled before a large gust of ice stirred from beneath her feet and consumed her entire self. Alyssa gave one mighty roar and attempted to flee at a speed Roland couldnˇŻt follow with his bare eyes.

    Suddenly, the goblin snapped its two fingers and Alyssa was frozen in midair. Stunned, Roland quickly turned his attention to the goblin. Who had already stretched out his thin fingers towards the girl. This time however, Roland noticed a peculiar black stone pulsing against it''s finger.

    ˇ°SheˇŻs too loud. IˇŻll release her after weˇŻve spoken."

    In that moment Roland recognized this wasnˇŻt a simple goblin.

    The mysterious fellow returned to his side. It looked a little cross.

    ˇ°Now then before I was rudely interrupted" it said glaring towards the frozen Alyssa one last time before continuing.

    "Ahem, where was I. Oh, of course, my name is Chizuwak the III, the most humble servant, under the service of the most gracious and benevolent ruler of them all. The Overlord, Lord of the eternal unyielding.ˇ±

    The goblin raised it''s chin high and held the end of his suit proudly. RolandˇŻs head was still a little foggy from before, he wasnˇŻt in too great of a headspace to think clearly right now. He held the side of his head whilst his body tried to hold itself together.

    ˇ°S-s-soˇ­about this c-curse?ˇ± Asked Roland faintly.

    ˇ°Ah, Indeed. YouˇŻre inheritance! Come hold out your hand.ˇ± The goblin busied around itself before swiftly locating the pale mask again. Roland carefully watched it delicately pluck away the tiny gemstone embedded into the goat''s forehead.

    ˇ°Hereˇ± said the goblin placing the stone on RolandˇŻs palm.

    The goblin gestured for Roland to close his fist. The boy of course being naturally a cynic had a host of personal questions and wonders before he complied. OmegaˇŻs mechanical chimes whirred away detailing every piece of description it could gather.

    {Unidentifiable Material}

    {High levels of Radiation detected}

    {High levels of concentrated Mana}

    {unknown source of Mental Energy detected}

    {Omegas conclusionˇ­ "approach with cautionˇ±

 Chapter 38 - Her Life in his Hands

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 Chapter 39 - Lord of the Cosmos

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