《Beast Mutation》 2 Ch.1 Karol Year 783, 1st day of 10th Month. In the Town of Catorn. A boy can be seen running on the streets. He was almost at the height of 160cm and an above-average face with brown hair, but what stood out was his eyes that were the same colour as blood. While he was running, he bumped into someone. "What the heck.." The man who had fallen to ground shouted. "I am sorry about that." He said and continued running with a tense face. While he was running, he bumped into many more people, but he just kept running. "Shit, I got to reach there as soon as possible, or they will reach there before me." The boy thought with a horrified face. "If only, I had never taken that test or hell even met her, it would have never happened." The boy thought with regret. "S**t, only if I can change my past." The boy shouted. The people around the streets looked at him with strange, but the boy just ignored them and kept running. A Few Hours Ago. "Karol, wake up." A woman voice was heard from the Kitchen of the house. "Mom, Let me sleep a little longer," Karol said and continued his sleeping. "This boy *sigh*, you haven''t forgotten about the bloodline testing, right?" The woman shouted with an amused face. The boy suddenly jumped out of his bed and thought "Oh, Shit! I am going to be late for that." Then he looked at the time and sighed as he realized there was still time for that. "If you have woken up then go fresh up as food will be ready soon." The woman shouted. "Okay, then," Karol shouted and walked towards the bathroom. "Finally, the day has come." Karol thought with an excited face thinking about the bloodline testing that was going to be happening today. Bloodline testing is an event that happened every year, along with the annual village celebration. Bloodline testing is significant for a 14-year boy like Karol as it opens the limit of the body to become an absorber. In this world, People who have gone through that testing can gain the ability to absorb the strange energy present in the environment to strengthen their body or mind to gain incredible strength or mystical skills. "But what type of absorber should I become." Karol thought while he was brushing his teeth. "Well, why not both as I can become stronger than the rest to earn more money." Karol thought while dreaming of the money he was going to gain. The Absorbers are branch out into two parts that are Body type absorber; the people who strengthen just their body are called this. Those who strengthen their body gain fantastic strength, speed or reflex that a normal human being can ever hope to achieve in their lifetime. The other type is Mind type absorber; the people who strengthen just their mind instead of the body are called this. Those who strengthen their mind does not get incredible strength or anything but the power to manipulate mana to change it into any element they want. And those who strengthen both of them are called dual-type absorber, but many people do not choose this path as strengthening both at the same time can slow down their progress against their peers. After washing up, Karol walked towards the Kitchen to eat food. Entering the Kitchen he saw a woman in her early thirties, with brown hair and beautiful face with blue eyes putting food on the table. "Mom, what have you make?" Karol asked, entering the room. "Oh! You are finally here, and I have made your favourite chicken sandwich for your special day. Hearing that Karol cheered as he was delighted to hear that and sat down on the chair to eat food. "Sorry, Karol as I won''t be able to go with you to the Town Hall." Karen suddenly said with a sad face. Karol was surprised to hear that and asked, "But why is that?". "I am preparing a special dinner for today''s occasion," Karen said with a smile. Hearing that Karol was happy but also sad as he won''t be with his mom at the special time. "Don''t worry, mom as I am grown adult now," Karol said with a smile. Hearing that Karen just laughed. "So, are you all ready for today''s occasion." Karen then asked to change topics. "Yeah, and I am sure that I get at least level 7 bloodline and become so strong that I can earn money whenever I want," Karol said with excitement. In the test, a person has his bloodline level discovered. A person can have a bloodline of between 1 to 10, with one being the weakest and ten being strongest and a level 7 bloodline is above average one. The bloodline level plays a vital role in strengthening your body as it acts as a purifier to purified mana so it can strengthen our body. A level one bloodline can only refine 5% of mana with 5% purify rate increasing with each level. "Kid, it not always about money as happiness is more important," Karen said in a scolding tone. "Okay, Mom," Karol told without any seriousness as he was used to hearing that. "You never going to change, huh?" Karen said while shaking her head. "Yes, as money is very important and I should be going now," Karol said before she can reply and ran out of the room. "He really is like his father stubborn about everything." Karen thought with a smile, but suddenly a tear falls from her eyes. "Ah, that''s not a time to be sad." Karen thought and started to collect the dishes from the table. "Ah, am I forgetting something." Karol thought while he was running towards the street. "Oh s**t, I almost forgot about Ellie, I got to get there fast, or she will kill me." Karol thought and turned around to run in a different direction. 3 Ch.2 Ellie After a while, Karol reached in front of a two-storey house made out of wood. "Ellie, come out," Karol shouted. Suddenly the door opened, and a cute girl comes out of the house. The girl was almost the same age as Karol having azure color hair with deep sapphire colored eyes. The girl was Ellie and also Karol''s girlfriend. "I still can''t believe she is my girlfriend." Karol thought with a smile. Two years ago. Karol was walking around the Lake at North of the town when he suddenly heard a splash in the Lake. "Help me." A shout was heard from the source of the splash and looking towards it Karol saw someone drowning in the Lake. Without a second thought, Karol jumped into the Lake and started to swim towards the drowning person. After reaching there, he grabbed hold the person and began to swim towards the shore of the Lake. After a while, he reached the ground and lay down the person on the ground to find the person to be a girl the same as him. He then started to push her chest to remove the water stuck in her chest. *Cough* *Cough* "Huh, I am alive?" The girl waked up and thought loudly. Looking around, she saw a boy sitting next to her, holding her chest. She then backed away from him and shouted, "Who are you and why are you grabbing my chest?". Karol was surprised by her behaviour but realized why she was like that and told her what happened. Hearing all of that, the girl suddenly bows and said, "Thanks for saving my life." Karol shakes his and said, "Ah! You don''t need to do that." "But.." The girl said as she was still grateful. "It''s okay but say what is your name?" Karol asked to change the topic. "It''s Ellie." The girl replied, and that''s how he met her. After that they become friends, and one year later, he confessed to her, and surprisingly she accepted his confession, and from then on, she is his girlfriend. "Karol, what are you thinking?" Ellie asked as he was standing there without saying anything. "Ah! It''s nothing." Karol said as he snapped out of his thought. "Okay, then let''s go," Ellie said with an excited face. "Huh! Isn''t your father is coming." Karol asked with a confused look. Hearing about her father, Ellie make a strange face for a second but regained her rational expression and said, "Ah, he is busy in work but will come after the test." Karol didn''t saw the change of emotion in Ellie. "Oh! Okay then, let''s go." Karol said, nodding his head. After the conversation, they started walking towards the town hall. While walking on the streets, Karol saw many street vendors preparing for the festival that was going to happen today. He even saw some selling artifacts and battle technique. Battle techniques is a special skills used by body absorber to strengthen their attack and defence. Even though rare there are Mind techniques used by mind absorber to change neutral mana into elemental mana like fire, water, wind, etc. "Once I will get stronger even I would be able to sell those to make a huge amount of money." Karol thought with a shrewd smile. "Hey, Karol come with me." Ellie suddenly said and pulled him towards an older woman selling some jewellery for woman. "Can I see it," Ellie asked, pointing towards a necklace. "Sure Milady, I am sure you will look beautiful in it." The old Lady said, giving the necklace to Ellie. Ellie then wears the chain and turns towards Karol and said, "How do I look?". "You are looking cute," Karol replied with a smile. "Then how much for these?" Ellie was happy hearing his compliment and asked the price of the necklace with an excited face. "It cost 12 copper, but for a cute girl like you, I will sell it for ten copper." The old Lady said with a smile. The currency of this kingdom is divided into three types of mineral coins that are copper, silver and gold, with 100 copper being equivalent to 1 silver and 100 silver being equal to 1 gold. Hearing the price, Karol was surprised and walked towards the Lady and said, "Mrs You are looking beautiful today." Hearing the sudden compliment, the Lady was startled but still replied, "Thank you, young man, but why a sudden compliment?" "I am just stating the truth, but can you give one more necklace," Karol said with a confident smile. "Sure, they will be 20 copper." The woman replied with a smile. "Ah, Mrs Can you give me a tiny bit of discount," Karol said with a smile. "Sure, young man and for you, I will sell it for 15 copper." The Lady replied with a smile. "Thank you very much, and your heart is as beautiful as you," Karol said and give the money to buy the necklace. "Ah! Thank you, young man, and here take this ring from me as a gift." The Lady said, happy by his compliment. "Ah! Thank you, and I should be going now." Karol said and left with Ellie. "Hope to see you again, young man." The woman said with a smile. "You are amazing bargaining." Ellie suddenly spoke with an amazed face. Hearing that Karol laughed and said, "It''s just something you get when you like money." "You like money, huh?" Ellie said, shaking her head. "Yeah, I love money," Karol said, laughing. "I really can''t understand you in that," Ellie said and hearing that Karol just laughed. After a while, They were in front of a large building made out of stone and wood acting as the pillar. The building was the town hall where the bloodline testing was going to happen. Entering the town hall, they saw many of their peers sitting on the floor talking to each other with a stage in front of them having a podium on it. 4 Ch.3 Bloodline Testing Entering the town hall, Karol looked around his peers to find someone, and after looking around, he found him sitting at the corner of the rest of the group. "There he is," Karol said to Ellie pointing towards the boy. Then they started walking towards the boy, and Karol then tapped on his shoulder to get his attention. The boy turns around, he had black hair with golden eyes looking at Karol, The boy was Robert also Karol''s best friend, or you can also call him his only friend. "Robert, You didn''t even wait for me, huh?" Karol said, looking at the Robert. "If you have come a little earlier, then I would have," Robert said with a sarcastic smile. "Well I am on time, it''s just that you like being early," Karol replied. "Well, I don''t want to be like certain someone," Robert said, laughing. "You..but enough about that but where are uncle and aunty," Karol asked changing the topic. "Oh, they will come after the testing," Robert replied. "Oh, then after the testing, why don''t we three tour festival," Karol asked. "Sure, I have no problem," Ellie replied with a smile. "Only if you don''t act as a money-grubber," Robert said, sighing. "Huh, what is the problem with that," Karol asked with a confused face. "Even though I have told you many times, why do you always ask that question?" Robert said with a severe tone. "Huh, what do you mean by that?" Karol said with a smile while making a confused face. "You..." Robert fumed. Hearing that Karol just laughed and said, "I am sorry about that; it''s just fun teasing you like that." Just as Robert was about to say something, Ellie interfered them and said, "Hey, guys, the mayor is here." Both of them quietened down and looked towards the stage. A muscular man can be seen walking up to the stage with a strange transparent spherical object in his hand; the spherical object will be used to check their bloodline level. The man was the Mayor of town and also known as the mayor hunk due to his muscular body. The Mayor then put the spherical object on the podium, then he looked towards the children sitting on their places and said, "Soon you guys are going to enter the world of the Absorbers, and as a representative, I would like to welcome you all...." As the Mayor Speech was still going on, "So, what are plans after becoming an Absorbers." Ellie whispered. "Well, I would probably go to the Berth Academy," Robert replied. "Same for me, and what about you?" Karol asked as he has the same plan. "That''s great as I will also be going there and we all can support each other there," Ellie said with an excited face. Hearing that Robert and Karol both just nodded their head with a smile. "Once I become an Absorber, I will surely be able to earn a lot of money," Karol said with an excited face. "Instead of going for the money, you should try to earn the honour." Robert retaliated. "Your honour is not going to feed my stomach," Karol replied. "But money is not going to give you respect from people," Robert said. "Money." "Honour." "Money." "Honour." "Both of you keep quiet," Mayor shouted, looking at both of them. Everyone started to laugh at them, and both of them silently sat there with an embarrassed face. "You guys just fight for one thing, and the topic is always that. Can''t you guys accept each other difference." Ellie said, shaking her head, hearing that both of them snorted. "Robert, come ahead," Mayor said after his speech was over. Robert was confused why was he called out when Ellie said, "It''s your turn for the test." Hearing that Robert nodded his head. "All the best," Karol said with a smile. "Thanks," Robert said and walked towards the Mayor. "How do you guys are best friends? I still can''t able to understand that." Ellie said after their sudden change in behaviour. "Even I don''t know that it just that we are," Karol said laughing, hearing that Ellie just shakes her head. "Here prick your finger with this," Mayor said, giving Robert a needle. Taking the needle, Robert pricked his finger. "Put your finger on that sphere," Mayor said. Robert then put his bloodied finger on the spherical object, and the spherical object started glowing. After the glow disappeared, there was seven red light inside the sphere. "Oh! You got a level 7 bloodline." Mayor said with a surprised face. "Thank you," Robert said with a smile and started to walk towards Karol and Ellie with a huge grin. "You got pretty lucky. Congratulations on becoming an absorber." Karol said with a smile as level 7 bloodline is above average level. "Hehe, Just you wait how I will surpass you," Robert said, laughing. "We will see," Karol replied with a smile. "You guys don''t start to fight once again," Ellie said with a desperate face. "Ah, don''t worry about that." Both of them said at the same time, and they started laughing. "Ellie come ahead," Mayor said after few more test happened, but not a single one was able to surpass Robert level. "All the best." Karol cheered her with a smile. "Thanks," Ellie replied and started to walk towards the Mayor nervously. "Don''t worry kid and just take a deep breath," Mayor said as he realised Ellie was still nervous. Ellie then nodded and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Here take this," Mayor said, giving her the needle. Ellie took the needle and pricked her finger with it. Then she put her bloodied finger on the spherical object, and just as she put her finger on the object, it started to glow with light more luminous then Robert. 5 Ch. 4 Bloodline Level-2 Just as the glow in sphere disappeared, there was nine red light glowing on it. Everyone was surprised in the town hall by Ellie''s bloodline level. "Go, tell them." Mayor suddenly shouted, looking towards the back of the stage. "Yes, sir." A man suddenly appeared in full black suit replied and ran out of the town hall. Suddenly the ring on the Mayor''sMayor''s finger glow and a chair appeared on his hand. He put the chair and looked towards Ellie with respect and said, "Why don''t you sit down, miss." Everyone was surprised by the sudden change in Mayor''s behaviour towards Ellie. Ellie was surprised but still nodded her head and sit down on the chair. "Everyone let''s continue the test," Mayor said to grab everyone attention. Karol was looking at Ellie, but Ellie didn''t even glance at him. "Don''t worry, she is probably surprised by the events," Robert said to Karol. "You are right," Karol replied. "But she got some great luck as she got level 9 bloodline," Robert said, laughing. "You are right," Karol said with a smile as he was happy for her. A few hours later. Only four people remained in the town hall that was Karol who have his test still not happened, Robert who was waiting for Karol and Ellie, Mayor who was taking the test and lastly Ellie who was still sitting on the chair thinking about something. "Karol," Mayor said. "All the best," Robert said with a smile. "Thanks," Karol replied with a smile and started to walk towards MayorMayor while walking he was looking at Ellie who didn''t even look at him. "Here, prick your finger with this," Mayor said, giving him a needle. Nodding his head, Karol took the needle and pricked his finger with this, but strangely he didn''t feel any pain at all. "Huh! Why am I not feeling any pain?" Karol asked with a confused face. "It''s because of that needle," Mayor replied. "Huh! What do you mean by that?" Karol asked inspecting the needle. "Well it''s a special artifacts but enough about this, you should continue the testing." The MayorMayor said. "Ah! Okay, sir." Karol said and give back the needle and then put his bloodied finger on the spherical object. Just as he put his blood falls on that sphere, a strange red light started glowing from it. Karol felt a peculiar sensation in his body. Suddenly, a peculiar organ opened near his brain, and a peculiar layer of the membrane was awakened throughout his body that was dormant till now. The organ that opened was the mana absorbing organ that a human has since his birth but is dormant and is awakened by the help of the testing. The membrane is mana membrane that also was dormant till the testing. The mana membrane is used for the flow of mana inside the body to strengthen it or use skills or spells. Karol was thrilled that he finally becomes an Absorber. He also started to felt the mana around the surrounding but not accurately and even the mana inside his body that wasn''t much. Karol realized he was still unranked and he needed to strengthen himself to the limit to get to the next rank. The Absorbers rank is divided into seven parts that are Mortal, Novice, Apprentice, Expert, Master, Grandmaster and lastly elder, and there were also its subranks that are Low, Low-mid, Mid, High-mid and finally High. Karol was still unranked, so he didn''t felt any sudden strength gain or anything. "Yes, I have finally in the realm of the absorber and just a little strengthening, and I will be a mortal rank." Karol thought happily. But suddenly his happy expression turned into a sad one as he looked towards the sphere to find his rank to be only level-2. Suddenly, he felt someone hand on his shoulder and turning around he saw MayorMayor looking at him with sad eyes and said, "It''s okay, and I am sure you will be able to overcome your low level." Even though he said that he knows that it''s isn''t possible to become strong with that level. "Thanks, Mayor and I will be alright," Karol said and started to walk towards Robert. While walking, he looked towards Ellie to find not even looking at him. He became sadder looking at her as she was not also looking at him. "Hey, I am sure you will be able to do something," Robert said with a smile. "Yeah, you are right," Karol replied with a sad smile. Suddenly the gate of the town hall was opened, and a boy older than Karol entered the area. The boy had a handsome face with green eyes and hair, and his clothes were also costly with a strange badge on his chest having a big tree on it. "Where is level 9 one is?" The boy asked, looking at Mayor. Mayor suddenly bows in front of him and point towards Ellie. "You can go then." The boy said, looking at the Mayor. "Okay, sir." The Mayor said with respect and exited the town hall. The boy then started to walk towards Ellie. After reaching in front of Ellie, he bowed and took her hand to kiss on it. "I, William Woods, would like to congratulate you for your successful bloodline test," William said with a huge smile. "Who are you?" Ellie asked with a confused face. "Well, I am a son of Earl rank noble." He said proudly. "Earl?" Ellie asked as he heard this term for the first time. "Oh, right you wouldn''t have heard about nobles, right?" William asked and to that Ellie just shakes her. "Well, in the Empire of Azeroth the people are recognized by two things one is their strength and other is their Nobel rank," William said with a smile. "What are these Nobel ranks?" Ellie asked. "Well, the noble rank is divided into ten parts that are Peasant which are you, then Knights, Baronet, Baron, Viscount like that Mayor, Earl like me, Marquis, Duke, and lastly the royal family," William said. "But why are you telling me all this," Ellie asked with a confused face. "Well, I wanted you to come to our family and marry me," William said with a smile. 6 Ch. 5 Betrayed Karol was looking at William with an extreme hatred in his eyes, but he didn''t do anything as he also wanted to know what decision Ellie will take. "Once Ellie will reject him, then he will not leave this place in one piece." Karol thought as he was confident, Ellie will reject him. As Ellie heard William proposal, she looked at Karol with weak background and weak future, then William with great background and great future and it wasn''t tough to choose whom. "If I remain with Karol, there is no great future for me, and if I choose him, then my future will be great, and I will also be able to kill that man." Ellie suddenly gets angry thinking about that man. "Um.." Ellie sighed. Hearing her sigh, both Karol and William got nervous. "If I accept your proposal, then can I become strong," Ellie asked William. "Yeah that''s an easy job and if you can even command underlings strong as that mayor," William said with a smile. Hearing that Ellie nodded her head, "I would accept your proposal." Ellie said, looking straight into William''s eye. Karol just stood there still, not believing Ellie had accepted his proposal. "You have chosen the right choice, now let''s go from this backward area," William said, laughing. "Okay." Ellie just nodded her head. "Let''s go," William said, extending his hand. Ellie then took his hand and started to walk out of the town hall with him. Just as both of them passed by Karol, he regained his senses, then looked towards Ellie and said, "Why are you doing this? Don''t you love me?". Hearing that William looked at the situation with an amused face and looked towards Ellie for what answer she was going to give. Ellie turned around and then looked at Karol with disgust in her eyes. "Love, you say, huh? I never loved you." Ellie said, looking at Karol. "But..but..what about the time we spend together a-and the time you accepted my confession," Karol asked with a sad face. "The reason I was with you till now was just that you were easy to trick and can easily gain whatever I wanted from you and yeah while being with you I can stop the love attempts from other guys," Ellie said with a wicked smile. "But...but." Karol wanted to say something but he couldn''t as he felt his heart being broken from each word Ellie uttered. "Let''s go from here," Ellie said with a disgusted face. "Okay, let''s go, but you are pretty good at manipulating people. So, I am sure we will be a great match." William said, laughing. "If you have complimented me, then we should now go," Ellie said, looking at William. "Ah! Yes." William replied, laughing. Just as they were about to leave the town hall. "You f**king b**ch," Karol shouted, looking at Ellie. Suddenly William turned around, and Karol felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and he flew away at least 3 meters from his initial position. Just as William was about to go towards him, Ellie stopped him. "Why are you stopping me," William asked with a suspicious face. "I have a better idea that can make him suffer more than losing his life," Ellie replied with a wicked smile. "Oh! So, let''s hear it." William said, and suddenly two grassroots came out the ground to bind Robert and Karol. "Well, instead of killing him in one swoop, you should cripple his mother as he will always be in pain looking at her but won''t be able to do anything," Ellie said. "That''s a great idea but shouldn''t I kill her," William asked. "No, you should not as he will only suffer for few months, but if you cripple her then he will always suffer looking at her, and Also he got low talent so he won''t even be able to heal her," Ellie said with a cruel face. "You are cruel, but I will follow your idea," William said with a surprised look. "Sometimes, circumstances make you cruel, but enough talking and let''s go from here," Ellie said. "Okay, but where is the target location," William asked. "Towards the north," Ellie said. Then William grabbed Ellie and disappeared from that area. After they disappeared, the vines binding Karol and Robert disappeared, and both of them were set free. Then Karol stood up and started to run out of the town hall. "Wait, I am also coming with you," Robert shouted and began to run with Karol. "No, you should go and bring the doctor to my house." Karol retaliated. "Ah... Okay." Robert said as he realized they wouldn''t be able to reach that place before them, so he runs towards the opposite direction to get the doctor of the village. 7 Alter Ego Saga Episode: 1 Plot Armor Notice: This is just a side story and does not relate any way in the main story so you can ignore this if you want. "I am finally here." A person said. "Huh, who are you and where is the author." The Reader asked with a confused face. "Me, you ask? I am the great alter ego." Alter ego replied. "Oh! But why are you here?" Reader asked. "Well, I am here to save the character from the sadistic author." Alter ego replied while laughing. "Huh, What do you mean by that, and how will you save the character?" Reader asked with a confused face. "Well, that''s a good question, but I can''t answer you." Alter ego replied, shaking his head. "Huh, is it that secretive and important," Reader asked with an excited face. "Nope, not at all, it''s just I want to build up the tension." Alter ego replied with pride. "Ah! Okay, then but can you tell me how are you here or you going build-up that so-called tension." The Reader asked. "Haha you are learning from me, and yes I will not tell you." Alter ego replied, laughing. "So, how are you going to save the character." Reader asked. "Well, for that, I will show you so I can increase the word count." Alter ego replied. "Aren''t you ashamed?" Reader asked. "Nope, not at all and let me increase my word count." Alter ego said and started the story. Just as William punched Karol, Ellie didn''t stop him and kept hitting him, and after a while, he finally stopped breathing. "Heh! Never talk s**t about her." William said, laughing. "Wait, Wait, Wait, what are you doing?" Reader suddenly interfered. "What do you mean by that?" Alter ego asked with a confused face. "Aren''t you going to save him, then why are you killing him?" Reader asked with a stern voice. Suddenly Alter ego started laughing, "He can''t die as he has something no other can have, something that others always want but can never get." The Alter ego started his monologue. "Huh, what does he have?" Reader asked with an excited face. "Well, he has the plot armor." Alter ego said and continued the story. Suddenly, Karol body started glowing, and his every wound was healed. He then looked into William''s eyes and said, "Die." and he died. Karol looked at himself and realized he gained immense power and was able to kill anybody with his word. Suddenly he looked towards Ellie. Ellie then bowed Infront of Karol and said, "Oh! My master, I am sorry I did not realize your greatness and wanted you to forgive me." Karol being a generous guy forgive her and then married her. Then Karol travels every place in the universe, killing everyone that annoys him with his plot armor and no could kill him as he had the plot armor. He also married every beautiful girl and have kids with them. "Wait, Haven''t you just make the worst story." Reader asked as he started to get a headache. "Heh, I never say that I am writing a story and that sadistic bastard is writing it, I am trying to save the character of the novel." Alter ego replied. "But haven''t you only saved Karol." Reader asked. "Well, in the novel, only the main character is a character, and everyone else is.." Before he could finish his sentence, he falls unconscious. "I am sorry about this person, and I will not upload the chapter." The author said after hitting on the alter ego''s head. Then he picked up alter ego and take him to the basement and chained him in the chair in the basement. A few hours later. "Huh, where am I?" Alter ego asked. "You are chained in the basement by the author, and he also stopped the upload of that chapter." Reader replied. "Heh, like he can do that as I have scheduled it so it is going to be uploaded and guys give the novel five stars and follow it." Alter ego replied, laughing maniacally. "Aren''t you ashamed by your self-promotion." Reader asked. "None not at all ahhhhh!" Alter ego suddenly shouted as the light was gone. "Hehe, I was not scared ahhhhh not at ahhhh all." Alter ego keeps shouting as the light keep going and coming. What will happen next? Will, the author, will realize about the scheduled release? Will alter ego be able to release himself? Will alter ego admits his fear? See all of it in the next episode. "Wait, but who are you?" Reader asked with a confused face. "Me, I am the mysterious man, hehe." The man then disappears in the shadow while laughing creepily. "What the heck is going on today?" Reader thought, shaking his head. 8 Ch. 6 Crippled At Karol''s house. Karen was in the house cooking food for the celebration of his son''s becoming an absorber. "He will surely be happy eating this special meal, and I would also love to see his surprised face after he sees those gifts." She thought looking at the box at the corner of the house. "He sure will be happy overall his personality is just like his father." She thought of thinking about her husband, who was now dead. "I wish he was also there to see this day." She thought with a trace of sadness in her eyes." Enough about these things, I should focus on my son''s special day." She thought with a sadness and happiness mix in her eyes. Suddenly she heard door clicking, and just as she was about to turn to see who it was, she suddenly feels pain in her neck, and she falls unconscious. "That''s why hate peasants they can''t even protect themselves." William sneered, looking at Karen as she falls unconscious after a single hit. "So darling, what should I do with her." William asked, looking at Ellie." I think you should cripple her instead of killing her." She said like the woman in front of her is an insect. "Huh, shouldn''t I just kill her instead of crippling her," He asked as he didn''t understand her thinking. "I am saying that because if you kill her in one swoop, then Karol will be sad for a few days or weeks, but if we cripple her, he will be seeing his mother suffering every day, and he can''t even do anything about it." She said as she wanted Karol to suffer. "You are just as wicked as I am." William said with a loving eye directed at Ellie. "Okay, I should just do that." He said and started to create four water ball spells above the joint of Every limb of Karen. Then the water ball falls on the joints of Karen at an amazing speed. After the water ball touched her, a breaking sound was produced, indicating that all of the joints in Karen limbs have been broken and crippling her. Seeing this, Ellie realized that William is not on novice rank, but on apprentice rank. She thought it was a good thing that chooses William instead of Karol because she can also rank up faster with him than staying in this village. "Now, let''s go from this backward place." William said, stretching out his hand towards Ellie. After seeing the condition of Karen, Ellie happily put her hand in William''s hand, and they disappeared from there. Present Time. After the incident, Karol was running towards his home with the fastest speed he can attain. But he couldn''t reach his home immediately as the town hall was in the middle of the town, and his house was at the Northern edge of the town. A few minutes later, he reached his house. He saw the door of his house was open, and he started to think about the worst possible scenarios after seeing that. With a shaking body, he entered the house but was devastated to see that his mother was lying on the ground with water all over her and blood flowing from her body. He immediately runs towards her and then carries her to her bed. Entering his mother''s room, he laid her down on her bed and started to search medicine and cotton cloths in the house to stop the flow of blood. After finding the medicine and cloth, he started to tie the fabric around her wound by putting medicine on her would. After a few moments, he completed treating her, and then Robert came into the house with the village doctor. The village doctor was a female healer around her late twenties. She is an Expert rank mind type absorber. She is also a friend of my mother. "Aunty Sasha, can you look at my mother." Karol said with a desperate feeling. "You should go out of this room for a while. I will check your mother." Sasha said with a sad voice, looking toward her friend''s condition and then at her friend''s son. "Okay, Aunty Sasha." Karol said with sadness in his eyes while towards the condition his mother was in right now just because of him. He started to walk out of the house with Robert on his side."Thank you, Robert, for getting aunty Sasha." He said, looking at her with grateful eyes. Suddenly Robert punched on his stomach and just as Karol about to say something. "That''s for the morning, and don''t ever say thanks or sorry to me as I am your best friend." Robert says with a determined gaze. Looking at him, Karol was grateful that he has such an amazing best friend. "You are an idiot." Karol said, looking towards Robert with a little bit of happiness in his eyes. 9 Ch. 7 Ways to Heal After coming out of the house. "Hey Robert I want to go somewhere for a while can you wait here." Karol said, looking towards Robert. "Uh, Ok," Robert said after thinking for a while. Karol started to walk towards the northern side of the village. Seeing Karol walking away, Robert suddenly thought about something and started to follow him. After a while, Karol reaches in front of a lake. It was the same lake where he met Ellie for the first time. He then started to walk towards the left side of the lake and reach in front of the 4m high tree. Suddenly his face contorted with anger, and he suddenly starts to punch the tree, and after his 9th punch, the tree broke down, and his hands were also bleeding. Suddenly he felt pain on his back, and when he turned around, he saw Robert with one leg in the air. Seeing his leg, he understood the reason for his pain. "Why did you hit me?" Karol asked with anger in his eyes. "Because your mother is hurt right now, and you are here hurting yourself too." Robert shouted, looking straight in the eyes of Karol. "But.." Karol wanted to say something, but Robert didn''t give him any chance and said, "No buts, what were you thinking doing this, do you think your mother will be happy seeing your hands like that." "Let''s go now." Robert said. "Okay," Karol replied. Both of them now started walking back to Karol''s house. "Say, why were you punching that tree anyway?" Robert asked, looking towards Karol with a curious gaze. "That is the tree where Ellie and I used to hang out the most, and I want to destroy everything I have related to her." Karol said with a face mix of anger and sadness. "You still love her, right?" Robert asked. "You could say that I still love her because I can''t just destroy this emotion that I have for two years in one day, but I also hate her the most in this world." He replied as can''t understand his feelings towards her. "Well, we will know your feelings if you face her." Robert said with an understanding gaze. "You are right, but enough about those things, but I want to know, why did you follow me even though I said not to follow me." Karol asked, looking at Robert. "As I have known since we were children, I know that you were going to do something stupid as you always do when you are angry." Robert said with an amusing face, and he suddenly started laughing, thinking about how foolish his best friend is and seeing him laughing, Karol also started to laugh too. In Karen''s room. Not knowing anything that was happening outside, Sasha started to treat Karen. First, she stopped the flow of the blood, and just as she was checking her body, she realized her bones had been crushed into a paste. She tried to use higher-level healing spells on her, but she couldn''t repair her bones at all. She also tried her highest level healing spell, but even that wasn''t able to restore her bones, but she was able to heal her external wounds. Karen suddenly started gaining consciousness. When she woke up, she realized she was lying down on something. She suddenly realized that she couldn''t move her limbs. Looking around, she saw Sasha using healing spells on her. "What happened?" She asked, looking towards Sasha. "Someone attacked you, and Karol found you wounded, and Robert takes me here to heal your wounds and¡­" She replied, but she was hesitating to tell her current condition or not. Realizing something was wrong, she asked: "And what?". Finally decided to tell her condition, "Your joints, bones are crushed to paste, and I can''t heal you." Sasha said with a depressing voice. "Don''t look sad; it''s not your fault. It just maybe fate not wanting to live my life fully." Karen said with a calm tone. "There is a way to heal you," Sasha said, looking towards Karen as she wanted to help her friend. Karen looks at her with a curious gaze as she wanted to know that way. "The way to heal you is to heal you using bone repairing pills, but that pill costs 20 gold, and I have a way to get it for ten gold, but the ten gold will still be missing." She said, looking towards Karen as she knows that she can''t procure as she is poor and also the condition she is in right now. "Don''t worry about ten gold; I sure can get that much money in 1 year." Karen said with a confident gaze as she knew what Sasha was thinking about. "But there is a huge problem as you can''t be healed after one month." Sasha said with a depressing tone. "Don''t worry about it; just think of it as God''s choice." Karen said with a calm tone, even though knowing the situation she was in. Suddenly the sound of a door clicking was heard, and both of them hear the sound of Karol and Robert voices. 10 Ch. 8 Gifts After entering the house, Karol saw Sasha standing in front of the door of his mother''s room with a sad face and seeing that he realized that something was wrong. Just as he was about to run into his mother''s room, "Don''t worry, your mother is well and awake." Sasha said, seeing his actions, hearing that Karol heaved a sigh of relief. "But first, what happens to your arm?" She asked with an angry face. "This.."Just as Karol about to say something, she took his hand and started to heal his hand, and after a while, his hands were fully recovered without any scar. "What about my mother''s condition," Karol asked, "You just care about your mom, huh, well she is fine, and all her external wounds are healed" She replied. "But I couldn''t heal her broken bones, so she still can''t move," Sasha said with a sad face and started telling him his mother''s condition and a way to heal her. "So you are saying that I need ten gold more to buy that low-grade bone repairing pill." Karol asked. "Yes, you are right." Sasha said with a sad face. Suddenly realizing something, Karol said, "Thank you, aunty." as she healed both him and his mother and also getting a pill for her mother for half the price." Don''t worry, kiddo, after all, I am your mother''s friend." She said with a warm smile. Just as Karol was about to say something, "Don''t worry about my fee as I will not take any."She said while going out of the house. Suddenly she turned around and said, "And yeah, don''t call me aunty but call my big sister." She said, and started walking away. Looking at her back, Karol promised himself that he would repay this debt to aunty or big sister Sasha. "You should go to meet your mother; I will go to my house to tell everything about today to my parents." Robert said as he realized it was getting late and he also wanted to Karol to have some alone time with his mother. "Okay." Karol said and started walking inside his mother''s room and Robert going the opposite direction to his house. After entering the room, he saw his mother lying down in bed while covered in bandages. "Mother, I am back." Karol said to his mother as he didn''t know what else to say. "Welcome home, so how was your day today." Karen asked, turning her head to see his son. Seeing his mother like that, he suddenly felt guilty as his mother has been in this condition just because of him. After steeling himself, "Mom, I want to tell you something," Karol said and started narrating today''s incident. After hearing all of this, his mother was not angry at all and instead was worried and asked, "Nothing has happened to you, right?" Hearing that Karol replied, "I am fine, and nothing has happened to me." with tears in his eyes as his mother was not angry but was worried about him even in this condition. "Why are not angry because of me, you are in this condition?" He asked with a teary face. Seeing her son like that, she smiled warmly and said," In my whole life I will get because of two reasons, and that are if you lied to me or do something wrong." Hearing that, Karol suddenly started crying because of today''s incidents and his mother''s word as he was still a 14-year-old child. After a while, "I promise you, mom, that I will heal your wounds." He said with a determined face. Seeing that Karen saw the face of that man on his son and seeing that, she smiled warmly. "Before that, why don''t you check out the gifts I have for you." She said. "Huh, where?" He asked with a confused face." Your gifts are in that box why don''t you check that out." She said with her head pointing towards the box in the corner of the room. Looking in that direction, he saw a medium-sized box in the corner of the room. Walking there, he picked up the box and sat in front of his mother with a box in front of him. "Why don''t you open it." She said with an excited face. Seeing his mother''s excitement, he realized it must be something good. Opening the box, he realized there were five books in the box, but his focus was in the first book as he realized he could sell it for ten gold. "Don''t even think about it; you are not going to sell that book?" Karen said, looking towards Karol as she realized his intention."But I can sell it and get the pill for your healing." He said with a sad face. "No means no, you are not going to sell that book, and if you get the medicine by selling that book, then I will not accept that medicine." She said with a determined face. Realizing he couldn''t change his mom''s decision, he gave up. "Okay, mom, I will not sell it." He said with a sad face. "Karol comes out of the room." Suddenly he heard Robert''s voice. Hearing that he got out of the room. 11 Ch. 9 Academy After coming out of the room, Karol saw Robert standing at the main gate with two people who were his mother and father. "Hello, Uncle Sean and Aunty Joana." Karol said, bowing. Both of them sigh in relief, seeing that Karol''s condition is alright as both of them heard about today''s incident from Robert. "We have heard from Robert that you need ten gold to buy the medicine for your mother." Joana said, looking towards Karol. "Yes, aunty, you are right." Karol replied with a questioning gaze as he didn''t understand why did she say that. Seeing Karol''s reaction, Joana understands his queries and said, "As you are like our son, we have decided to contribute five gold for your mother''s medicine." with a warm smile. Hearing that Karol was surprised as five gold was a massive amount for Robert''s family as their family status was the same as them. "Thank you, uncle and aunty; I will be sure to repay this debt." He said with a big smile. Seeing that both of them smile and aunty Joana said, "You are just like our son, and your mother is like my sister, so you don''t need to say thanks." "Who is outside Karol" Karen''s voice was heard as they were talking. All of them enter the room, hearing that voice. Karen was surprised to see that it was Robert''s family who has come here at this time."Sorry I couldn''t welcome you all." Karen said with a sad voice. Seeing her in this condition, Joana cried and held Karen''s hand and started consoling her. Seeing this scene, all males decided not to interrupt them and get out of the room. "So kiddos, what are your plans?" Sean asked, looking at both of them as he wanted to know what they wanted to do in their future so he could help them. "I am planning to try the entrance exam of Berth academy that is two months from now," Robert said with a determined voice."And what about you, Karol?" Sean asked this time, looking towards Karol. "First, I will try to make some money to heal my mother this month, and next month I will travel to the birth city for the academy entrance exam." Karol said with a determined face. Hearing Sean was happy that both of them have their future planned for now, and both of them will be at a place where they can help each other. "I wish the Academies were also at our times." Sean said with a depressed voice. Karol knew why his uncle was saying that as he heard from his mother about how academics come into being. It was about 13 years ago when an army of bandits mix with traitors attacks the empire, but the empire was able to defeat them all, but they suffered huge losses as they didn''t have enough absorbers at that time. As the people who were at the peasant level didn''t have any knowledge about how to rank up, and nobles were the only ones who knew how to rank up. So after that incident, the king decided to open Academies for peasant as they can also level up, so the empire doesn''t suffer those huge losses once again. So that''s how academy came into being 13 years ago. But the people who past their teens couldn''t join the academy as only teens were allowed to enter the academy. So this why most people who are at peasant rank near their thirty or above aren''t at high rank. "Karol can you sure to take care of my idiot son as he doesn''t provoke anyone." Sean said to Karol. "What are you talking about, dad? I am not an idiot." Robert pouted. Seeing his reaction, both of them laugh. After a while, Joana came out of the room with red eyes and said," Honey, I am thinking of staying with Karen here tonight, okay." Joana said, looking at Sean."Okay, honey." Sean said as he knew he couldn''t change her decisions. "Why don''t you all eat here as I had made too much food in the afternoon." Karen''s voice was heard. Hearing that, Joana replied," Sure, why not." After a while, Joana served the food to all three males and took her and Karen food in Karen''s room. As she couldn''t eat her food by herself as she needs someone help to eat food. After eating the food, Robert and Sean went out to their home, and Joana was sleeping with Karen as she could help her immediately if she needs any help. Inside Karol''s room. Instead of sleeping, Karol was sitting, and there was a book in front of him titled ''Mana Formation.'' He picked up the book and started reading the books, and after 1 hour, he remembered every content of the book. After closing the book, he started to put his mind to focus on his mana gland. 12 Ch. 10 Mana Formation "Good Night Mom and Aunty Joana." Karol said, and after that, he leaves his mother''s room and enters his room. He sat down in the middle of the room with one of the five books that his mother gifted him as the occasion of him becoming the absorber. The book''s title was Mana Formation. Mana formation was created at least a 700 hundred years ago, but its origin is still unknown. The mana formation was created because the human body can only filter the 50% of absorb mana, so the rest 50% is wasted, and that''s where mana formation comes into play. The mana formation is worked by making formations of mana in your mana gland, which absorb the mana and send the purified mana to the mana membrane. Just like bloodline, the mana formation also has ten levels, and each level purified mana at the same level, the bloodline level purified mana. The mana formation is divided into two parts; one is mana formation that purified mana only if you put your some amount of mind power to use it, and second is automatic mana formation as it automatically purified mana without any commands. The mana formation also divides the mana gland into two parts, one for purifying mana and one for unpurified mana. Without the division, the mana which has purified will stay in the mana gland, and unpurified mana is expelled out. Without the division, the person cannot absorb mana without having used the purified mana fully. So having a mana formation is an excellent boost for an absorber. The level of the formation he has been gifted with is level 5, but it is an automatic one. One automatic one can buy three manual formations of the same level. Even as the book is level 5, it cost a hefty sum of 20 gold, and only people at the noble level can buy the formation level of 6 or higher. So this is why it was important to him to create the mana formation. After reading the book, he started to purify the absorb mana he has in his mana gland. Every person has the same capacity of mana gland, but as the people''s rank or level increases, the person mana gland also increases. So no one has the advantage in mana absorbing capacity, but only in the mana purifying capacity. After a while, he purified only 10% of his absorbs mana and started to form the mana formation. First, he takes the purified mana and makes it into strings. First, he uses the string to mana gland into two parts. According to the book, he has to make a strange symbol on the formation that is drawn in the book, but as he created 10% of the mana formation, the mana ended from his mana capacity gland. "Even in the purifying level, I have got the lowest talent in it." Karol sighed, realizing even in this, he got the lowest talent. The purifying level is divided into five parts, that is: 1 Low rank- That takes 30 minutes to purify total mana. 2 Low Mid rank- That takes 25 minutes to do that. 3 Mid rank- That takes 20 minutes to do that. 4 High Mid rank- That takes 15 minutes to do that. 5 High rank- That takes 10 minutes to do that. He stopped thinking about his low talent and started to absorb mana once again to create that strange symbol. The strange symbol was a big square with four circles connecting to its four edges, and in the middle of the square, there ten more squares in it. After ten tries, he finally created the mana formation, and just as he created the mana formation, the book that contained the mana formation was destroyed. The reason the book was destroyed because the book was a one time use only, and the moment someone created the mana formation, the book reacts to it, and it will be self-destructed. The moment his mana formation was created, he realized that he could rank up at any moment, but he didn''t do it as he has something to do before that. He was just about to do that; he realized that he couldn''t move his body, and he also started to feel tired, and he falls asleep right at that place. A few moments later. Joanna wakes up as the morning light was on her face. After waking up, she waked up Karen. "Good morning Joana." Karen said. "Good Morning to you too." Joanna replied. "I am going to wake Karol up from his sleep." She said, but just as she was about to exit the room."Wait! Joana, you shouldn''t disturb him right now." Karen said, realizing something. "Huh, What do you mean by that?" Joana asked she couldn''t understand her intentions. "I have gifted him a mana formation book, so he must be creating his mana formation." She said with happiness in her eyes. "Okay, I understand, so I will not disturb him." She said, realizing the situation. "Thank you, Joana, for staying here with me." Karen said, looking at Joana. "Don''t worry about those things and say what do you want to eat." She said with a small smile."Make some food that restores energy as Karol will need them after completing his mana formation." Karen said, and Joana exits the room to cook the food. 13 Ch. 11 Limit Breaker Exercise After a while, Karol wakes up, and suddenly he heard a rumbling sound and realized the source of it was in his stomach. Standing up, he walked towards his mother''s room instead of the kitchen as he wanted to inform his mother about successfully creating the mana formation, and he also wanted her help in something. After reaching the room, he opened the door, and his mother was still lying on the bed, and seeing this scene, his heart hurts a lot. "Good morning, Mom." Karol said with a happy expression as he did not want his mother to look at his sad face. "Good Morning to you too, kiddo." She replied with a cheerful expression. "Mom, I was able to create the mana formation." He said with a big smile. "Congratulations on that, but there must be something else, too, as you also look a little worried." She said, looking at Karol. "You are right, mom; it''s just that I don''t know if I will be able to complete that exercise or not." He said with an amazed face as his mother realized that he was worried about something without even telling her. "I know that you will be able to do that." She said with a confident face. "Huh, How can you say that?" He said as he can''t realize where her confidence is coming from. "You can call it my intuition or my sixth sense, but I know you will be able to do that." She said with a confident face. Seeing her confident face, Karol thought he would be able to do that. But suddenly, a rumbling sound was heard, and Karol realized it was his stomach, and he became red from embarrassment, and his mother was giggling, looking at him. "Before thinking about the exercise, why don''t you eat something." She said with a small smile. "Okay, mom." he said in a small voice and turned around to go to the kitchen. Seeing his back, "Also, another reason I think you will be able to do that because he was able to do that, and you got the same personality as him." She thought of thinking about someone. Entering the kitchen, he saw aunty Joana cooking the food, "What are you cooking aunty Joana." he asked. "I am cooking some energy restoring food for you." She replied. Hearing that Karol''s face lighten up in delight as most of the energy restoring foods were beast meats, and he likes beast meat. "Here you go." Joanna said as she served him food. "Thank you for the food, aunty." Karol said after taking a bite in the meat. "No worries, I am going to your mother''s room so eat properly." She said with a small smile and started walking away with two plates of food in her hand. After a while, he completely eats the food, and after eating the food, he first washes his plates, then he started walking towards his room. After entering the room, he out another book of the gifts, which was titled, ''Limit Breaker Exercise.'' It contains 12 moves in it, but it is not any physical exercise, but 12 places where you have to divide your mana membrane and connect it to some specific parts of your body. It was created when the human comes into being as they don''t have the tools to fight against the beast that roam around the world, so human created this exercise to gain advantages against the beast during early times. The exercise you can gain huge advantages against others as it can help you strengthen your body and mind over the limit and makes you 2x strong against the person at the same level. But it is not very popular and not many perform it because when dividing and connecting those mana membranes, then it produces a vast amount of inhumane pain. And some potions give 50% of effectiveness, but it does not produce any pain, and lastly, it is useful only till the master level. It does not provide any changes when reaching the Grandmaster level as a human body attain massive changes at that level. This is why most people prefer those potions instead of this exercise as doing exercise is very tough for an average human body. But the most significant disadvantage of it that you got to do this exercise one more time at every level limit and that means that Karol got to do this exercise right only one time but at next level two times and at next level three times and so on until the last level of master rank. This is why most people don''t even think about it as they cannot perform this exercise till the expert level, and you got to take the potion every level just one time. 14 Ch. 12 Rank Up Karol started to focus on the mana membrane near his left hand and started to divide it, and just as he split it, he felt immense pain in his left arm. Tolerating the pain, he started to move the mana membrane to connect it to his muscles, but just as he was about to move it, the Mana membrane dissipated. "Sigh, it hurt like hell." he thought and started to divide the mana membrane once again and connect it to his muscle while feeling the immense pain he finally joined it after the third try. "Finally completed after all this immense pain, but there is 11 more to go." he thought, thinking about the immense pain he is going to face. He now started to do the same process on the mana membrane of the right hand, then left and a right leg then his both shoulders. After making half of the moves in the exercise, he suddenly felt tired, and he slept for a while. Waking up, he divided the mana membrane near his stomach, chest, and then the neck and connected the membrane to the muscle. "Done the body parts now the mind part which is the toughest one." he sighed to think about the rest of the three moves, which are the most difficult ones as they are related to his mind, and it also hurts a lot. He then started to divide the mana membrane near his brain while feeling more pain than the pain he felt before. After five tries, he finally split the mana membrane into his front brain. Then he started to divide two more mana membranes near his brain, which also taken five tries each to divide, and then he connected it to his middle and back brain while feeling an immense amount of pain. After connecting the moves, the divided mana membrane forms a connection with the divided mana membrane. Then suddenly, the limit of strengthening his body and mind increased. Just as Karol realized that the formation created by his mana membrane absorbs a large amount of mana, strengthening his body and mind. After a while, he was strengthened to reach the limit, and he finally evolved to the next level that is a low-level mortal rank. But just as his level was increased, Karol suddenly falls unconscious. The reason he falls unconscious was because of being tired and also the pain that he felt when the formation was absorbing the mana to make his reach next level. He couldn''t take the pain as it was more than the pain he felt during all those moves combined, and he couldn''t take the strain, so he has fallen unconscious. After a few hours, Karol wakes up, but he was feeling an immense hunger as well as pain in his body. Struggling, he stood up and started to walk towards the kitchen. In the kitchen, he saw some food. He took out food on his plate and started to eat. Even after eating everything on the plate, he was still hungry, so he eats three more times to satisfy his hunger. He also realized that his body pain was also gone. After satisfying his hunger, he started to check his body after he levels up to low-level mortal rank. He realized that his strength was increased by a lot, and his body density was also increased. "I hope that it should be at least at low, mid-level knowing the talents I have gotten till now." Karol thought and started to check near his mana gland, where another gland was created connecting to his mana gland. He was checking the level of the compressed man gland, which will also decide his magic talent. It was the gland that contains compressed liquid mana, which is created from absorbing mana. In this world, to use the magic, you need to use compressed liquid mana, which is contained a compressed mana gland. This gland is dormant inside the human body, and it is awakened when a person reaches a low-level mortal rank. The capacity of this gland determines a person''s talent. Karol capacity is of a low mid-level, and the ranks are divided from low to high same as the levels of the other talent levels. The compressed mana is recovered fully in any gland in 30 minutes when not moving and 1 hour when moving. The mana is also recovered automatically. This gland capacity only increased when ranking up, but not on leveling up the sub levels "Even in this place, I also got a low-level talent." he sighed, thinking about his low talent in every place. He suddenly stands up and shakes his head to stop those depressing thoughts. After shaking his head, he started to walk towards his mother''s room, and to reach in front of the room, he opened the door and entered the room. 15 Ch. 13 The sword Entering the room, he saw his mother sitting down on the bed with her back, laying against the wall behind the front side of the bed. "Mom, I have completed the exercise and leveled up." Karol said with a cheerful face while looking towards his mother. "Congrats, Karol." She said with a smile while turning her head towards him. "So, what are your plans after this." She asked as she wanted to know her son''s choices. "I am thinking of making some money by being an adventurer." He said with a small voice. "No, you are not." She instantly denied his decision as she knew the dangers of being an adventurer and how strong the beast becomes at night time. "Mom, don''t worry, I will only hunt the beast near the edge of the forest, and I will not stay in the forest for night time." He said, trying to reason his mother. "But..." she wanted to deny that as she knew it was still dangerous, but seeing his eyes, she realized that even if she says no, he will do it. "Okay, I give up, but if you see any danger in the forest, you got to run immediately." She said with a serious face. "Okay, mom, I will do it for sure." He replied with a small smile. Just as he was about to go out of the room, his mom stopped him and said," I have got something for you, why don''t you take it." while pointing towards her drawer with her head. Hearing that, Karol turned around and walked towards the drawer, and inside it was a sword and some money. "This is some money so you can buy some arms and supplies." She said. "What about this sword, mom." He said while pointing towards the sword. "That is what your father wanted to gift you when you turn 14." She said with a trace of sadness in her voice. Hearing that, he once again looks towards the sword and felt an unknown connection with the sword. Picking it up, he thought that he doesn''t have enough power to unlock its full potential. "Thank you, mom." He said while bowing towards her and started to walk away from the room. Seeing his back, Karen hopes that nothing terrible will happen to her son. Instead of going out of the house, he entered his room and picked up a book, which was a battle technique, ''Triple Slash.'' To use it, one needed to be at an intermediate sword mastery level, and Karol was at the level as he was training with the sword since his childhood. Mastery level is divided into the level of beginner, intermediate, expert, master, Grandmaster, sage, and lastly, ancestor. The other two books of the gifts were a battle skill for bows which he can''t use right now as he doesn''t know how to use a bow and the second was a blank book, and when he asked his mother about this, she replied that he would know its contents if he grows stronger. He left those two books in the house and left the room. Exiting the house, he counted the money he had and realized it was a hefty sum of 40 silver. He thought that before registering in the adventurer''s guild, he should buy some armor and a sheath for his sword. After walking to the center of the town, he saw an armor shop. Entering, he saw an older man standing at the counter. "What do you want kid." He asked, looking towards the Karol. "Sir, I want a full set of leather armor, a medium-sized leather bag, and a sheath for this sword." He said with respect as the man was older than him. Seeing his respect towards him, the man decided to give him a good deal. The man entered inside of his store and got out with the leather armor. "You should try the armor in that area and give me your sword so I can look for its sheath." The man said while pointing towards an area which is covered by the curtains. Giving the sword to the old man, he entered the area behind the curtain and started to wear the leather armor. After wearing the armor, he exited the area and saw the old man with his sword in a scabbard. The old man gives the sword to Karol. Karol saw that there was a leather strap connected to the sword, which can be used to hang the sheath on his shoulder. Hanging the sheath, the sword was now on his back. The old man also gave him the leather bag, which was half the height of Karol. "How much for all of this, sir." He asked, looking towards the old man. "That will be eight silver for all the items." The old man said. Hearing that, Karol takes out eight silver and gave it to the old man. After giving the money, he started to exit the shop. "Wait, take this too as a gift for your behavior." The old man said, giving him a dagger as he was happy with Karol''s behavior. "Thank you, sir." Karol said, looking towards the old man as he knows that this dagger is about ten copper. He put the dagger in the space of his leather boots and finally exits the shop. 16 Ch. 14 Adventurer Guild Karol was standing in front of a huge building made out of wood next to the town hall. There was a huge wooden sign of sword and shield on the top of the main gate of the building, and below the symbol, there was ''Adventurer Guild'' written in bold. Entering the building, he smells a wave of a strange smell, and it was barely bearable. Looking around the building, he saw many people wearing iron, leather, and cloth armor sitting at the table with their friends. They were chatting in a loud voice, and the building was also echoing their sound. Looking around, Karol saw some counter with people behind it at the opposite end of the building. He started walking towards the counter and stopped in front of the counter with a woman with black hair and brown eyes behind it. "Hello, big sister Leah." Karol said, bowing towards the woman named Leah. As Leah was looking behind the counter, so she didn''t saw Karol coming. Turning around, she saw a fresh face in this guild, and looking closely; she realized it was Karen''s son. "So, What brings you here, Karol." She said with a wide smile as she was happy that he called her big sister. "I am here to register to become an adventurer." He said, looking at Leah. Hearing that, Leah was surprised as she knew Karen as she is a single mother. Hence, she earns money by completing herb gathering quests, and most of the time, she submitted her completion of the quest to her, and with her personality, she would have surely not allowed him for this. "Did you get your mother''s permission before coming here." She asked with a suspicious voice. "Yes, I have already got mom''s permission." Karol replied as he understands her doubts. "Okay then, here fill this form." She said, believing his words and then gave him a form to fill. "Say, Why do you want to register to become an adventurer." She asked as most kids at his age would have gone to academy instead of this place, and adventurer is not seen as a respectable job in this country unless you are a high-rank one. "Right now, mom is a little bit of sick right now, so I wanted to earn some money for her before going to the academy." He lied as telling the truth will create some unnecessary troubles. "You are a mommy boy, as you always care about her before yourself." She said as she knew about the dog for ten years. Hearing the Karol just laughed as he couldn''t deny that. "Here, I have filled the form." He said as the form just required to fill his name, age, and rank. "Okay, let me check." She said, taking the form from him and giving it to someone behind her. After that, she got under the counter and stood up with a transparent sphere in her hand. She put the sphere on the counter and look towards Karol and said, "Put your hands on to it and supply it with mana." Hearing that, Karol was looking strangely at her as he couldn''t understand its use. "It is used to check whether the person has done any crime that is the level of betrayal of this country." She said, understanding his strange look. Hearing that, Karol put his hand on the sphere and started to supply it with some of his mana. Then the orb began to glow blue. "You are innocent as this shows the blue light, and if it were happened to have the red light, then you would have been guilty." She said, looking at Karol, and she put the sphere once again on the counter. "Listen here, you have two choices, either right now at the rank of H or fight a beast same level as your and kill it or survive for five minutes to start at the rank of G." She suddenly said, looking towards Karol with a severe face. "What are the benefits of G rank." He asked as he wanted to know as it was worth a risk. "By directly reaching the G rank, you will get more quests available for you to accept, and that means making more money." She said as she knew he wanted to make money. "I hope that you should choose that first option as you will get hurt doing the second." She said before Karol could say anything as she was worried about his safety. "Thank you for your worries, but I am going to choose the second option." He said as he needed to earn money as fast as possible, and this way, it can help him. Hearing that, she was worried that he would hurt himself, but l decided to accept it as she cannot deny his choice. "Hey, Alan, come here right now." Leah suddenly shouted, and Karol was surprised by that shout. Suddenly a man came running towards them who was wearing a robe that also covered his face. Reaching there, he removed his robe from his face. "You called for me, Leah." He asked, huffing as he came here, running towards as fast as possible after hearing her shout. "Of course, I called you here, so take that kid to the arena, and he is a low-level mortal rank." She said, pointing towards Karol. Looking in the direction she was pointing at, Alan was surprised to see the kid of his age as it was scarce. But he didn''t ask any question as it was too bothersome to ask. "Follow me, Kid." He said, looking at Karol and started to walk away. "And yeah, don''t kid hurt the kid." Leah said with a stern voice. Hearing that, Alan just nodded his head and started to walk away after hearing her words. Seeing that, Karol also began to follow behind the man named Alan. 17 Ch. 15 First Figh Karol, following the man, entered a door on the left side of the building. While he was walking with Alan towards the door, many adventurers were looking strangely at him, but he ignored them as he didn''t place any importance on other''s reactions to his actions. Entering the door, he was surprised as he saw a vast space in front of him, with a dome-like structure covering it. There was another reason he was surprised as he didn''t saw this type of architecture outside the building. "The reason why you didn''t see this structure from outside because of this place in another dimension." Alan said before Karol could say anything. Hearing that he was confused as he listened to this thing for the first time. "Don''t ask me how it works, as even I don''t know either." Alan said, looking at Karol''s surprised face and hearing that Karol controlled his curiosity about this place. "Kid, wait here I will be back in a minute." Alan said that and started walking towards a metal door on the left side of the structure. Looking around, Karol saw the structure once again and realized that it just seems like those arenas he read in books. He also started to feel the mana in the surroundings. He realised that there was a negligible amount of mana present in the surrounding, and he got a feeling that this little mana is for maintaining this structure. After a while, Alan walked out of the gate with a cage in his hands half the size of him. Looking at the cage, Karol realized that it must be where the beast is contained. "Kid go stand over there." Alan said, pointing towards in the middle of the arena. "Sir, before that, I want to ask you something." Karol asked his permission before asking a question that is bothering him. "If it''s not about this dimension, then I can answer your questions." Alan said as he didn''t want to disclose information about this place. "It''s not about this place but about that beast." Karol said, pointing towards the beast. "Okay, then ask me, I will try to answer the best within my knowledge." He said as he didn''t mind questions about these things. "I want to know that why are letting the beast this place capture to be killed." Karol asked that question as he knew that living beast has a considerable price on them as they are great material for research and the beast trainer. Hearing that Alan was a little bit surprised as he saw most of the people asking ways to defeat the beast or it''s a weakness, but the kid asked something different. "The reason is that because the one who can kill the beast bound to be a great adventurer." He replied as know answer to his question. "Thanks for answering." Karol said as he realized the test by this answer because to kill a beast of the same level, you need at least two people of the same level. "Enough about your queries, now go stand over there." Alan said as he needed to finish this task as soon as possible. Hearing that, Karol started to walk towards the direction Alan was pointing at. "On the count of three, I will release the beast." Alan said after Karol reaches the location, he was pointing at. Hearing that, Karol takes out his sword and prepared himself for the upcoming fight. "One, two, three....." Alan counted to three and released a beast. The beast was a rabbit with a height of 40 cm, black fur, red eyes, and two huge fangs. Looking around, the rabbit saw Karol in front of him and started to run towards him to kill him. After reaching in front of Karol, the rabbit opened its mouth to stab him with its fangs. Seeing that Karol moves towards the left side as the rabbit was walking in the straight line. Just as the rabbit reaches the place where Karol was standing before, the rabbit stopped in its track Karol moved from its attack line. Suddenly, Karol stabbed in the side of the rabbit, but he was only able to produce a light wound as the rabbit skin was very hard. Turning its body, the rabbit tackled Karol as he was still in his attacking position. Just as the rabbit was about to hit him, he put his sword in front of his body and absorbed some damage, but he was still pushed back two meters from the impact. Both of them were wounded. They looked at each other and running towards each other. Just as both of them were in front of each other, Karol suddenly lowered his sword and then used it to throw the rabbit upwards. After the rabbit was thrown in the air, he slashed at its stomach two times at the same place. The rabbit started to fall on the ground, hitting the earth; its body was divided into two parts. Seeing the body, Karol suddenly started vomiting as he realized that he killed a living being. "You got a pretty interesting skill there, and you used it wisely to kill the beast." Alan said after appearing near Karol and started to pat his back, seeing his condition. Hearing that, Karol was surprised as that man realized that he used a skill. "Don''t look so surprised as I am stronger than you so I can feel the mana fluctuations in the surrounding." he said while still patting his back. He understood how he was able to tell that he used the triple strike to kill the rabbit, but he was more surprised that this skill used up a quarter of his compressed mana. "I got to master this skill fast to increase its efficiency." he thought, thinking about the skill cost. After a while, Karol felt better after vomiting and started to wash his face with water given by Alan. "Let''s go out of here." Alan said after seeing that Karol stabilized his condition. 18 Ch. 16 G-Rank Mortal While they were exiting the dimension, "Hey! Tell me, how do you get the idea to use that skill in that way." Alan asked as he wanted to know about where did he get that idea. "Actually..." said Karol and started to narrate what happened after the first clash with the rabbit. After he was pushed back, he realized that he couldn''t break its defense. So, he thought about using the skill he recently got. He got that idea when running towards the rabbit as he saw its stomach, which was not covered by any fur. So, he used the first strike of the skill to throw the rabbit upwards as its weight was meager. After throwing the rabbit in the air, he used the remaining two strikes of the skill to hit at the same place in its stomach. If he had missed the attack by a single centimeter, he would have surely lost the fight as he needed some time to use that skill once again. But the main reason was the skill as it covered the sword in the mana, which increases the attack power by almost 20% after each consecutive strike. Hearing that Alan was surprised, as this little kid was able to think of a strategy to defeat a beast, he met for the first time this easily. "You got a great battle sense, but let me tell you something, you should never tell anyone about the details of your skills or spells." Alan said with a serious face. Hearing that, Karol was looking at him with a confused as he couldn''t understand that. "Well, if you tell someone about your skills, then they can use it against you." Alan said, realizing that Karol is still a child with a pure brain. Hearing that, Karol nodded in understanding as he understood his meaning behind those words. "Okay, now let''s get out of this place." Said Alan, exiting this place by entering the door they use to come in from. Exiting the dimension, they started walking towards the counter to meet Leah. The surrounding adventurer was surprised to see Karol in that condition because they also knew what that place is for, and they started to Eve''s dropping on the conversation between the Kid and Leah. "Leah, he has finished the test by killing the beast." Alan said casually while looking at Leah. Hearing that Leah was surprised, as she didn''t think Karol will be able to pass the test. "Congratulations Karol, from now on, you are a G-rank adventurer." She said while maintaining her surprised face. "Don''t worry, I will tell you about how he killed that beast." said Alan while looking at the shocked face Leah was making with a small smile. "That''s a promise, Oh! Here you go, Karol, your adventurer card." Leah said with enthusiasm while giving a leather card to Karol. Taking the Leather Card, Karol saw that there were three things written on the card, one was his name, the second was his age, and the last thing was his rank, which was G-Rank (Mortal). The surrounding adventurers were also surprised to hear the conversation between them as they knew how rare someone was, who was able to kill a beast of their same level, even though that kid is at the lowest level. An uproar was started in the building, hearing that news. "Silence!" said Leah in a loud voice, and the uproar was silent in a second. Karol was amazed to see that, with her voice, she quiet, everyone in this room. "You should form a party with some adventurer and complete some quest to make money and increase your ranks." Leah said, looking at Karol, who made an amazing face, as this was on her job to guide the new adventurer in their journey. Hearing that, Karol nodded his head and turned around to take a quest, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around and asked." Big Sis Leah, I want your help with something." Karol said as he remembered something important. "Sure, say anything you need my help in with, without any worries." She said with a wide smile as she liked it when someone calls her big sister. "I want to hire a caretaker for my mother as she is sick, but I don''t know any place to find one." Karol said as he knew that, Aunty Joana could not stay with her mother all day as she has her own family to take care of her, and he couldn''t stay with her all day to help her as he will be out making some money. So, this is why he wanted to hire a caretaker to take care of her mother in that condition. Hearing that, Leah started to think about the place that let people hire as a caretaker for some money when suddenly Alan chimed in their conversation and said." Why don''t you buy just a slave." with a nonchalant face. Hearing that both of them were surprised, "I am saying that because there are chances that the caretaker can take advantage of your mother in that condition, but if buy a slave, then it can never betray you or take advantage of your mother." He said as he wanted to justify himself. Hearing his explanation, Karol also realized that it was a better idea to buy a slave than to rent a caretaker as his mother''s condition is worse than they were thinking about. "Aren''t you are ashamed of your thoughts." Leah suddenly said, looking at Alan with disgust in her eyes as she hated those people who treat people''s life as nothing as she also had a past as a slave, and at those times, people treated her life as equal to an insect''s life. 19 Ch. 17 Slave Hearing that, Karol was surprised as he didn''t expect that reaction from her. "I am sorry." Alan abruptly said, bowing towards Leah as he realized the mistake he made right now. Even after seeing him apologize, Leah was still angry with him and just turned around, entering the door behind the counter as she didn''t want to see his face right now. "What was that all about?" Karol asked with a confused face as he didn''t understand why did she get angry over that. Hearing his question, Alan realizes that he didn''t know anything about the past. "You know that right that slaves also have rights of their own, and their lives are also important to the country." Alan said, looking at Karol. Hearing that Karol just nodded his head as he also knows that slaves have some rights such as you can''t hit the unless it is self-defense or you will get fined if you killed your slave and lastly if the slave collected enough money then they can release themselves from that status. "But 13 years ago, it was not used to be like that as at those times; people just consider slave as some tool to vent their anger on or just to satisfy their sexual desires." Alan said with a disgusted voice as he hates those people who treat a slave like that. Hearing that Karol was surprised as he didn''t know the conditions of slaves 13 years ago were like that, "So, how did it change." Karol asked as he wanted to know that. Hearing that, Alan just smiled. "No one knows as 13 years ago; the king decided to pass this law for slaves suddenly." Alan said as no one knows as to why the king decided to do that. "I understand that, but why did Big sis Leah get angry over that." Karol asked, as even though he was disgusted by those people, but it should not be enough to get that much anger over that. "14 years ago, her family was killed by a group of bandits, and they left her alive and sold her to a lady of a noble family." Alan said with a sad face. "But that''s just not enough, as that noble lady used to torture her every day and at those times, she was just 12 years old, she was highly traumatized by that and hated those who buy slaves, but she was able to get out of that slave status due to that new slave law." Alan said that with a sigh. Hearing that Karol was sad as he didn''t expect that the Leah, who was always cheerful, has a bad past like that. "Don''t show that expression in front of her, as she hated those who sympathize with her." Alan said with a serious face. Hearing that, Karol just nodded his face. After the conversation between them, both of them stood there silently for a few minutes, when suddenly Leah exits the back door and enter the counter once again. Before both of them could say anything, she gave Karol a note and said, "It is the location of the slave shop in this town." Hearing that, Karol was surprised as he didn''t expect that from her. Seeing his reaction, Leah suddenly realized and looked towards Alan with a sharp gaze and asked, "Did you tell him that." Hearing her question, Alan just nodded his head and said in a small voice, "He was just curious." "Well, we can''t do anything about do anything about that, but listen here Karol, don''t ever sympathize with my past as I hate it." Leah said with a stern voice, and looking at her, Karol just nodded. "But I cannot understand as to why did you give me this." Karol asked Leah about the address. "Oh, that, there are two reasons, first is the slave law, and the second is your mother." Leah said, looking at Karol. Karol didn''t understand what his mother has to do with this. "The second reason is your mother because I have known her for almost eight years, and with her personality, she will surely treat the slave as her child." Leah said as she knew what Karol was going to ask. There is another reason she said as his mother also knows that Leah was used to be a slave, but even after that, she didn''t treat Leah any differently, but she didn''t tell him that as she didn''t want anyone to know about that. "Thank you, Big Sister Leah." Karol said with respect after learning about her past. Hearing that, Leah just smiled. "I will be going now. Bye." Karol said, bowing towards Alan and Leah. "Hey, say, what do you think his future will be." Alan suddenly asked, looking at Leah. Hearing that, Leah replied, "I am sure he become a great adventurer." Hearing that, Alan was surprised as Alan also thought the same thing. "Don''t look surprised as even you know, what happened with those who passed that test." Leah said, looking towards Alan. Hearing that, Alan nodded with a small smile as he liked that kid. "Say, wanna head after work to have a drink or two." Alan suddenly said, looking at Leah. "F*** You as I have still not forgiven for your word earlier." Leah said, looking at Alan with a small smile. "Please forgive me." He said as he didn''t want her to hate him. Seeing him like that, Leah suddenly started laughing. "I will think about forgiving you." Leah said with an amused face. While Karol was exiting the guild, many adventurers were looking at him with gazes filled with appreciation as an adventurer appreciates those with exceptional talents. But there was also some gaze that was filled with hostility as there were some who hate people talented than them. Just as Karol exited the guild, he felt someone tapped on his shoulder and turning around, he saw... 20 Ch. 18 Bloodline Deficiency Karol turned around and saw two men and a woman looking at him; all three of them were in their mid or late twenties. "Hey, wanna team up with us." Said a boy in the middle who was wearing leather armor with a sword strap on his back. "Josh, you should introduce yourself first, then ask something." The Woman said, looking at Josh. Hearing that Josh nodded his head," As you heard her, my name is Josh, the girl there is Jessica; also, my sister and this is Ron." Hearing that, Karol looked three of them and realized they were probably adventurers, but he didn''t understand what they needed from him as he was a lot weaker than them. "My name is Karol, and why do you want me to be on your team." Karol asked as he wanted to know their intentions. "Well, you look like a new adventurer, so we thought we should help as we are your seniors." Josh said with a smile. "Right, and I was the one who suggested that." Jessica said with enthusiasm. Hearing that Karol thought for a while and said, "Can you guys give me some time to think." as he wanted to do other stuff. "Sure, You can decide it by tomorrow, same time as we are going to the forest for completing some quest." Josh said with an understanding gaze."And yeah, we will be staying in the forest for a week, so you should get supplies for a week." Jessica said, looking at Karol. "Okay, I will think about it." Karol said and started to walk away towards the east side of the town. After reaching the front of the east gate of the town, he saw many vendors selling their stuff and many people acting as mascots for some shops. He entered the first street from the east gate and saw a shop in front of him. The shop was made from wood with some stones acting as pillars. There was a huge banner above the shop''s door in which a cage was imprinted on it. Entering the shop, he saw a fat man at the same height as him, wearing highly expensive cloths with some gold jewelry. "Hello sir, What can you do to help you." The fat man said, bowing towards Karol. "I want to buy a slave." Karol said with a little surprised tone as he didn''t expect that man to bow towards him. Hearing that, the fat man''s eyes shone and said, "Sure, Sir, just follow me." and he started to walk towards a door at the back of the shop. Entering the door, he saw that the door was going downwards. "The slaves are kept in the basement as the shop doesn''t have enough space to store them." The man said. Hearing that Karol understands as to why they were going downwards. They were silent the whole time as they were going downward. Finally, they reached the bottom, and Karol was surprised as he saw many prisons like cells in the basement. "Why they are contained inside that place." Karol asked as he didn''t understand the purpose of that. "Sir, The reason I am doing that to contain them inside this place." The man said, understanding Karol''s surprise. "Okay." Karol said with a sad voice as even though he understands the purpose, it was still sad to be treated like that. "Don''t be sad, sir, as our shop treats the slave very well." The man said as he wanted his customer to be satisfied. Hearing that, Karol just nodded his head. "Enough, about those things now, let''s find a slave for you." The man said, looking at Karol then started to walk forward with Karol following behind him. They reached in front of the first room and saw a woman in her early twenties wearing a half revealing cloths. "Sir, this is our best product in this shop, and she just cost a sum of 50 gold." The man said with pride in his eyes. "Boy, You should buy me as I can satisfy whatever needs you to have." She said with a seductive voice while revealing some of her important parts of her body. Karol was surprised, but not because of the Woman''s action, but because of her price. "Can I get a little cheaper slave." Karol said, looking at the man. Hearing that the Woman then looked at Karol with a disappointing gaze. Understanding that the man just nodded and said, "What is buying range." "I can buy a slave with a price of at least 25 silvers." Karol said, looking at the man, hearing that the man looked at Karol with a disappointed face. "You can buy a slave at that price, just follow me." the man said with some rudeness. The man started to walk forward, and Karol also started to follow him, after a while, they reach the and of the basement. "You can buy this slave for just 25 silver." The man said, pointing towards a girl. Karol looked at the girl who likes she was almost ten years old, but her body was highly malnourished, but even in that situation, her face has some life in that as she looked at Karol with a curious face. Karol was surprised to see that girl selling at such a low price. "Why are you selling this girl at a low price as she can reach almost the level of that first slave if she grows up." Karol asked, looking at the man. Hearing that, the man looked at Karol with some surprise as he didn''t think he will ask that question. "You right, if she grows up, she can be sold at a very high price." the man said with a smile, but suddenly his expression turned into a disappointed one. "But she can''t as she has bloodline deficiency." Hearing that, Karol looked at the girl with a surprised face. 21 Ch. 19 Slave Contrac The bloodline is a factor that is still unknown to the people because it is decided randomly by nature as what your bloodline is going to be, that means even if someone is the son/daughter of most powerful person in this world, even then it does not guarantee them an excellent bloodline. From what has been researched, the bloodline of the person is directly decided by nature at their birth, and it is fully unlocked at the age of 14. But there are some rare cases when nature does not give them any level of bloodline, and that state is called Bloodline Deficiency. In this state, a person can not age over 14, and the moment they age over that, they die an unnatural death on their fourteen birthday. That is, she is being sold at such a low price as she is not worth it. There are also vast cases of death of that child at their birth by their parents. "Where did you get her." Karol asked as he did not understand how is she even alive. "Well, you could say that she was born with some great luck as her parents decided to raise her even though knowing her future but.." The man said with a smile. "But what?" Karol asked with curious eyes. "Well, she lost all her luck when a monster horde happened to her village, but surprisingly, she survived that, and I found her in that village when I was traveling there." The man said, lost in his thought. Hearing that Karol looked at the girl with sad eyes. "So, wanna buy her or not." The man said in a hurried tone. "You don''t have any emotions, huh! But tell me first what her age is." "Will the people in this line of jobs lost their emotions long ago, and yeah, her age is 10, so wanna buy her not." The man said, looking at Karol with a small smile. Karol thought for a while and said, "Well, I will buy her." Karol said, looking at the man. Even though Karol did not think of himself as a saint that will protect everyone, but the reason why he decided to buy her also though her condition was in like that because she can still live for four years so that it will be not any loss. Secondly, he wanted to help her live a better life as he can''t ignore her after seeing her in this condition. "Sure, sir, but first, you have to form the slave contract with her." The man said with a happy gaze. "Huh, what is this slave contract." Karol said with a confused gaze as he thought he just has to buy the slave. "Well, it looks like you don''t know everything, huh." The man said in a sarcastic tone. "Yeah, so what? I am not interested in those things." Karol said with some anger. "Okay! Okay! Don''t get angry, I will tell you." The man said with a smile. "Say it." Karol said, looking at the man. The reason why Karol suddenly reacted like that because he hates it when someone comments about his knowledge as he loves reading books, so he has some pride in that. This is also the reason he was able to complete the formation, the exercise, and the skill a little faster. "Well, we can''t give you the slave as she can escape or hurt you." The man said, looking at Karol to see if he understands his meaning. "You are right, so that''s where the slave contract comes." Karol said with some realization. "What you are thinking is right as it bounds your slave so it can''t escape or hurt you." The man said, impressed by his knowledge. "So, how is it done." Karol said, looking curiously at the man forgetting his anger as he loves learning something new. "Well, wait here, I will come back with the required tools, until then why don''t you talk with your new going to be a slave." The man said that and left the basement. Karol looks at the man disappearing back then at the girl. "So, what is your name, kid?" Karol said, looking at the slave. The girl looks at Karol curiously and then shakes her head hearing that question. "What, you don''t want to tell me then, okay." Karol said, shrugging his shoulder as he was not that interested in her name anyway. Hearing that, the girl once again shakes her head. "Huh, what are you trying to say?" Karol asked, looking at the girl, not understanding her body language. "I don''t have any n-n-name as I have f-f-forgotten my m-my-memories." The girl said in a small voice while stuttering. Hearing that, Karol was surprised as he didn''t expect her to lose her memories. Then suddenly he heard some footsteps and turned around to see that the man was coming with a collar in his hands. "So, how was your first conversation with your slave." The man asked, looking at Karol curiously. "Nothing extraordinary, but you didn''t tell me, she had lost her memories." Karol said, looking at the man with a smile. Hearing that the man tensed a bit, but calmed himself, "Don''t worry, she has only lost her memories about her life, but not about the language or common sense of this world." The man said with a calm tone. Hearing that Karol smiled as he knew that the price of a slave decreased if they have lost their memories," Don''t try to play smart as I have read the books about the slave before coming here." Karol said with a smile, remembering about how it was an intelligent choice to read about the slave before coming here, and if he didn''t have read that, he would have probably been scammed. "Well, aren''t you are a smart kid, Okay, I can decrease the price of twenty silver." The man said, looking at Karol and hearing that Karol just nodded his head with a smile. 22 Ch. 20 Buying "Come out, you little girl." The man said, opening the door of the cell. Hearing that, the girl came out of the cell and looked around the surrounding with a curious eye. "Stop looking around, kid, and wear this." The man said with a rushed tone and gave the Girl a collar. The collar was made from some kind of black leather with a white stone in it. Hearing the man''s command, the Girl takes the collar and tries to wear it on her wrist. Looking at that, Karol suddenly laughed, and the man sighed, looking at the Girl''s action. "Wear it around your neck, you dumb kid." The man said under his breath. Hearing that, the Girl finally understands how to wear that and puts it on her neck. "Here, take this pin to prick your finger as we need some of your blood." The man said, throwing him a pin. "Why we need my blood for this." Karol asked as he wanted to know it''s the use of blood in the process. "It is proven from research that the bond form with blood is the most effective one, and there is another one, but I can''t tell you as you are still a kid." The man said with a smile. Hearing that, Karol looked at the man and said, "Don''t worry about these kinds of stuff and tell what the second one is." "Well, it''s not like, it''s going to harm me or anything so here you go..." The man said and started to whisper the process in Karol''s ear. After hearing the process, Karol''s face suddenly turned red. "So, wanna try that method." The man said with an amused smile. Hearing that Karol looked at the man and said, "No way in hell, I am going to do that." Overhearing their conversation, the Girl was curious as to what that man whisper in that boy''s ear, but just as she was about to ask them. "No, we are not going to tell you that." Karol immediately said, looking at the Girl''s action. "But.." She said, looking at Karol as she was very curious. "No means no." Karol said with a firm voice. Hearing Karol''s tone, she just gave up. Looking at both of them, the man just laughed. "Would you stop laughing and complete the contract." Karol said, pricking his finger. "Okay, first put some of your bloodied fingers on the stone of the collar." The man said that after hearing Karol. Karol then put his bloodied finger on the stone, then suddenly the stone started to turn red, and after the stone was entirely red, he felt a small indescribable connection with the Girl. "Okay, now the process has been completed, give me the money." The man said with a smile. "Huh, it''s just that." Karol said in a confused tone as he thought if someone uses that method, then it will be easy to make everyone a slave. "Yes, that''s because of that stone as it is an extraordinary one and very tough to be crafted." The man said, understanding the meaning of Karol''s words. Hearing that, Karol just nodded his head and gave the money to the man. Then the three of them started to exit the basement. Karol and the Girl left the shop, and the man stayed behind in the shop. "Hope to see you again, sir." The man said, looking at Karol. Karol heard his words but decided to ignore his as he was not going to buy another slave as he doesn''t like to buy someone''s life with some money. "Just follow behind me kid, we will be going to our house." Karol said that looking at the Girl. The Girl just nodded her head with a curious gaze as she wanted to know what a home is. Karol was walking in front, and the Girl was following behind him. While they were walking, many people were looking strangely at them, then ignored them. The reason why they were looking strangely at them because the Girl was malnourished and wearing some kind of rag, but then they say the slave collar around her neck and understand the Girl''s condition and ignored the situation. After a while, they reached in front of Karol''s house. "This is my home, and also yours from now on." Karol said, pointing at the house. Hearing that, the Girl looked at the house with a curious gaze as her older home was used to be that small room. Karol entered the house and turned around to see that the girl was still standing there. "What are you waiting for? Come inside quick." Karol said, looking at the Girl. She heard his voice and entered the house. "You go there and wait for a while when I call you entered that room." Karol said, pointing at the Kitchen then at his mother''s room, hearing that the Girl walk over to the kitchen and sat on the floor while looking around curiously. Karol ignored her and entered her mother''s room and saw that she was laying on her bed. Karen looked around the room and saw that aunty Joana in here. "So Karol, how was your adventurer test." Karen said that as she was still awake when Karol entered the room. "Mom, I have completed the test in a breeze and even got to the G-Rank." Karol said with some pride in his tone. "My idiotic son, did you take the G-rank test of fighting the monster, didn''t you." Karen said with some anger in her voice. "Mom, what are you talking about? I didn''t fight any monster at all." Karol said with a small voice. Hearing his voice, Karen realized that he was telling a lie. "Karol, tell me the truth." Karen said with more anger. Hearing her tone, Karol realized that he would be doomed if he lies anymore, so he started to tell the truth. After hearing what happened in the test, his mother began to lecture him. 23 Ch. 21 Lily After a while, his mother''s lecture finally stopped. "Now, promise me you will never risk your life." Karen said, directly looking into his eyes. "Okay, mom, I will never do it." Karol said in a small voice. "Okay, that''s good." Karen said while nodding her head in satisfaction. "Mom, where is aunty Joana." Karol asked. "Kiddo, she also has a family to take care of, so of course she will be there." Karen said with a smile. "It was a great idea that I did that." Karol thought out aloud. "Huh, what great idea did you do now." Karen asked while thinking about what trouble did he do now. "You can come in now." Karol shouted. After a while, the gate of the room opened, and the girl entered the room. "Who is this..." Just as Karen asked that question, she saw a slave collar on the Girl''s neck and looked at her with a strange emotion. When she finally entered the room, Karen said, looking at her, "Kid, you should sit down." and then look at Karol with an angry eye and said, "Now, about you kiddo!." Karol realized that something was, so he started to crawl out of the room slowly. "Stop right there, kiddo!." Karen said with daggers in her eyes. Hearing that, Karol just froze on that spot. "Don''t you remember what I had told you at that time." Karen said with a sharp voice. Hearing that, Karol started to think about what she had told him, and he suddenly remembers it. "Mom, sorry, but I got to do that as you will be alone in this house if I work outside." Karol said in a small voice, trying to reason with her as he still remembers that she hates those people who buy or sell slaves. Hearing their conversation, the girl suddenly started to laugh. "Why are you laughing?" Karen asked in a soft voice. Hearing her voice, she suddenly froze as she was not familiar with the woman in front of her. Looking at her reaction, she realized that she is probably scared of her as she still doesn''t know her. "Don''t need to get scared as you have done nothing wrong." She said in a soft voice. Hearing her voice, she looked at the woman. "I am n-not s-s-scared but h-h-happy as someone s-spoke to me with a soft tone." She said with a smile. Hearing her, Karen suddenly remembers something but ignored it. "From now on, you do not need to worry as you will be staying with us." "Then, mom, have I done a great job, right?" Karol asked in a small voice. "Well, kiddo, I am still angry, but I decided to forgive you as this was your first time but never do it again." Karen said, looking straight into his eyes. "Okay, mom." He said with relief. "And, yeah, another thing, from now on, she will be not our slave..." Karen said, looking at the girl. Hearing her words, the girl suddenly froze, thinking that she will be discarded. "But my daughter and your little sister from now on." Karen said with a warm smile. Hearing her words, the girl suddenly started to cry as even though she has lost her memories, she still knows how slaves are treated in this world, and she didn''t expect this thing to happen. After a while, the girl stopped crying. "Say, what''s your name is?" Karen asked, looking at the girl. Hearing that, the girl just puts her head down. Looking at the situation, Karol said, "She doesn''t have any name." Karen looked at the girl with a surprised expression and asked, "What do you mean by that?". Hearing that, Karol started to narrate the story of the Girl''s past to his mother. After hearing the story of her past, Karen looked at the girl with a sad expression. "We will give you a new name for the occasion of the start of your new life." Karen said with a warm smile. Hearing that, the girl looks at Karen with expectation for her new, and Karol also looked at the situation with interest. "Karol, you should name her as you have brought her here." Karen said that looking at Karol. Karol was surprised to hear that but nodded his head. Karol started to think about what name he should give her. Then he suddenly remembered something and said, "Lily!". Hearing that name, Karen remembered something and smiled that Karol has accepted Lily as her younger sister. "So, how do you like your name." Karol asked, looking at Lily. "Lily, like her name very much." Lily said with a smile as she liked her name very much. Suddenly, Karol started patting her head, but Lily didn''t say anything as she loves this action "Kiddo, you should now remove the slave collar from her." Karen said, looking at the siblings. Hearing that Karol nodded his head and tried to remove the collar using his brute strength, but was unable to do anything. "Absorb mana from that stone, then remove the collar." Karen said, sighing. Hearing that, Karol said, "You should have said that first.". Hearing that Karen looked at Karol with a sharp gaze and said, "What did you say?". "Nothing at all." Karol said in a small voice. He then started to absorb the mana of the stone after absorbing the mana; the stone turned transparent once again. Now, he tried to remove the collar and was quickly able to do that. "Now, that has been done; you should go shopping with Lily to buy her some clothes." Karen said, looking at the rag Lily was wearing. Karol nodded his head as he also doesn''t like his sister to be on this rag. "Let''s go, Lily, for shopping for your new clothes." Karol said, looking at Lily. "Clothes for Lily." Lily asked in a surprised tone. Looking and her reaction, both of them laughed and said, "Yes, for you." "Lily is very happy." Lily said in a bright tone. Looking at her emotion Karon and Karen warmly smiled at her. 24 Ch. 22 Shopping "Lily, you should go out as I wanna talk to mother about something." Karol said that with a smile. Lily just nodded her head and got outside of the room. "Lily, don''t Eavesdrop in our conversation." Karol said with a smile, looking at the door. Suddenly a gasped sound was heard, then a sound of footsteps disappearing. "So, what do you want to talk about." Karen said, looking at Karol as it must something serious to not let Lily listen about it. "It is about Lily''s condition." Karol said with a sad tone. "Huh, What about Lily''s condition?" Karen asked, realizing something is wrong by Karol''s sound. Then Karol started to tell her about the condition of Lily''s bloodline. For a few minutes, both of them stay silent. "Don''t worry about this; we will find a cure for her." Karen said with strange eyes. Karol couldn''t understand how his mother is so confident about healing Lily. "Don''t worry; we will find a way to heal her." Karen said, looking at Karol''s expression. Karol just nodded his head as he was not confident about it as the condition Lily was in is considered incurable. "Mom, I will be out for a week." Karol said as he wanted to change the topic. "No, you are not." Karen said that as she knew he is talking about staying in the forest. "Mom, don''t worry, I will not be in the forest in the nighttime and stay at the edge of the forest in the daytime." Karol said that looking at his mother. "Then why will you be out for a week when you can come back in the nighttime." Karen asked as she was still in doubt. "I have found a part-time job in the nighttime, so this is why I will be out for a week," Karol said, trying to convince his mother. "Okay, but don''t try to overwork yourself." Karen said in a sad tone as she knew it was because of her, he was doing it. "Don''t need to worry mom, as I am the strongest." Karol said with a smile. Karen started to laugh, hearing that and was also happy as she knew, he said those words to up her mood. "Okay, then, I will be going shopping with Lily." Karol said that and turned around to leave. "Don''t try to be stingy and buy better clothes for Lily." Karen said, looking at Karol''s back. Hearing that, Karol stumbled a little and said," You don''t need to tell me that." listening that, Karen just laughs. "Okay, Lily, let''s go to buy you some clothes." Karol said with a smile. "I am s-s-sorry." Lily suddenly said that lowering her head. Hearing that, Karol was surprised and looked at Lily. "Huh, Why did you say sorry?" Karol asked as he didn''t remember what she had done wrong. "It is about when I didn''t leave when b-b-big b-brother tell me to." Lily said with an apologetic tone. "You don''t need to worry about those things as I not angry at all." Karol said with a smile. "Really?" Lily asked with a cute voice. Looking at her face, Karol just nodded his head with a smile and patted her head. "Now, let''s go to buy you some clothes." Karol said that and started to walk with Lily at his side, holding his hand. While they were going towards the shop, Lily was looking around everything with a curious eye. Suddenly, Lily''s gaze was fixed on something, but she ignored it and didn''t say anything, but Karol saw what she was looking at and decided to buy that after buying the clothes. Finally, they reached a small shop made of wood which sells clothes for girls. Entering the shop, they saw many clothes hang around the shop. "Sir, how I can help you." A middle-aged woman said, looking at the new costumer. "I want some clothes for her." Karol said, pointing towards Lily. The middle-aged women looked at the girl and were surprised to see her condition, but she didn''t say anything about it. "So, how many clothes, sir?" The woman asked with a smile. "Seven sets of casual clothes and two sets of clothes she can wear on special occasions." Karol said, looking at the women. The woman just nodded her head and started to show them some clothes. After a while, they finally decided on clothes. "Why don''t you go any try the clothes." Karol said, looking at Lily. Lily just nodded her head and started to go towards the trial room. "Can you help her in wearing the clothes as she doesn''t know that, and also I will back in a few minutes." Karol said that and left the shop. The women then go towards the trial room and help Lily with the clothes. "How d-d-do I look b-brother." Lily said that with a red face and closed eyes. For a few minutes, she didn''t hear anything and thought something was wrong, and she opened her eyes to see no one was in front of her. She looked at the women and asked, "Where is big brother." The woman looked at the girl and said, "He said that he is going somewhere and..." even before she can complete her sentence, Lily started crying. Karol entered the shop and saw Lily crying, and he was surprised to see that. He ran towards Lily and asked, "What happened?" Hearing her brother''s voice, Lily calm down a little and said, ''It-thought that big b-b-brother is going to leave me." "Don''t cry as your big brother is never going to leave you." Karol said with a smile and started to pat her head. "Here, take this." Karol said that and gave Lily something. Looking at the thing her big brother had given her, she was surprised. It was the candy she saw at the shop when she was coming here. Suddenly she hugged Karol and said, "You are the best brother." Karol smiled, hearing that and patted her head. 25 Ch. 23 Training After their shopping, they reached home. "Lily, you should go and show these clothes to mom." Karol said with a smile. "What about you, brother?" she asked with a curious gaze. "I will be training for a while." He said, looking at Lily. "Can Lily also w-watch your t-training?" Lily asked as she was curious about the training his brother was going to do. "Okay, you can, but first show those clothes to mother and the come to the back of the house." Karol said that as he didn''t have any problem showing his training to his little sister. "Okay, I will do that first." Lily said with enthusiasm. After leaving Lily, he walked towards the back of the house. He first started with some warm-up exercises to help his body reach the peak during the training. He then picked up his sword and stood in front of a tree. He started to extract mana from his compressed mana organ and begin to cover his sword with mana. The sword began to glow blue, and he hit the tree with the sword and hits the tree two times more. With each hit, the blue glow of the sword was intensifying. Looking at the aftermath of the blow, there was a significant cut on the tree. Seeing that cut, Karol smiled. "That was amazing, big brother." Karol suddenly heard a sound, and he turned around to see, Lily looks at him with admiring eyes. "You finished showing your clothes pretty fast." Karol said with a smile. Hearing that, Lily suddenly froze, but regains her calm and said, "Lily has already asked mother to see brother''s practice." Hearing that, Karol just shakes his head with a smile as he knew that she wanted to see his training. "Sit over there so you can watch the training without getting injured." Karol said, pointing at least 20m away from that tree. Hearing that, Lily nodded her and sat in that place. Karol once again covered his sword with mana and executed the skill once again. After the hit, there was an even bigger cut on that tree. "Brother, what is that skill?" Lily asked with a curious gaze. "The skill is called Triple slash, and the way it works is...." Karol said that and started to explain the working of the skill. After all the explanation about the skill, Lily didn''t understand anything as the topic was very complicated for her. "So, it is a very powerful slash." Lily said that after the explanation. Hearing that, Karol just laughed slowly and said, "Yeah, you can also say that." "But brother, why didn''t that tree fall after those attacks?" Lily asked with confusion. "It is because of the mana." Karol replied. Hearing that, Lily got even more confused as to what mana has to do with this. "Okay, let me explain, you know that right that everything in this world has mana." Karol asked, looking at Lily. Lily just nodded her head as it is a piece of common knowledge, "That''s why just like how we humans use mana to strengthen ourselves, other living organisms also do that same." Karol said, looking at Lily. Hearing that, Lily finally understands why didn''t that tree fall. "So, Trees also use mana to strengthen themselves?" Lily asked for her brother''s confirmation. "Yes, that''s right." Karol said that with a smile. "Can you also teach more about this world?" Lily asked with enthusiasm as she wanted to learn more about this world. "I can''t teach you right now, but why don''t you learn from mom then." Karol said as he wanted to train, and it will also increase the mother and daughter time together. "Okay." Lily said with excitement and ran inside the house. "Okay, now, let''s focus on the training." Karol thought that and started to practice the skill, and when his mana runs out, he practiced his swordsmanship. After four hours, Karol was laying on the grass as he was dead tired, but he had a smile on his face because of two things, first was because of the tree that was laying in front of him and second and most important one was that he improved his skill. Before, when the skill was using his 25% of his mana, but after the training, it takes now only 23% of his mana. He gets up from that spot and goes inside the room. First, he goes towards his mother''s room and opening the door; he saw his mother sleeping on the bed with Lily sleeping next to her. He smiled, seeing that scene, but suddenly his stomach grumbled. He slowly closed the door and walk towards the kitchen to eat some food. After eating his food, he walked towards his room and fall asleep just as he lay down on his bed. Sunlight shined in the face of Karol. Feeling the light on his face, Karol wakes up and walks out of the room. After exiting the room, he saw Aunty Joana and Lily in the kitchen cooking breakfast. "Good morning Aunty Joana and Lily." Karol said with a smile. "Good morning to you too, you should sit down at breakfast is almost ready." Joana said that and started to serve food for Karol and Lily on the table and two plates of food for her and Karen. After sitting down at the table, both of them started to eat breakfast. "Brother, wanna know what I had learned from mom yesterday?" Lily said with excitement. "Sure, tell as I am inquisitive to know." Karol said with a smile. "But first promise me that you will give me some candy." Lily said with a smile. Hearing that, Karol was surprised and asked, "Where did you learn this from?" but he partially knows the answer to that question. "Mom, teach me to do that when someone asks you for something." Lily said with ignorance. Hearing that, Karol just smile and said, "Sure, I will give you some, but tell me what you learned yesterday?". Hearing that Lily started to narrate what their mother taught her yesterday. 26 Ch.24 Into the Fores "Lily here, take this." Karol said that giving Lily something. "Huh, brother, why are you giving this money to Lily instead of mother." Lily asked as the object his brother given is ten silver. "She is not going to use that money if I give her that, so this is why I am giving this to you." Karol said as he knew her mother''s personality. "Okay, Lily understand, but what should Lily use it for?" Lily asked with a confused face. "You should use it for buying necessities and also some candy for yourself." Karol said with a smile. Hearing that, Lily was excited as she will be able to eat candy. "I should be going now and remember not to eat to much candy, or you will get fat." Karol said, chuckling. "Lily is not going to get fat." Lily said with a pout. Looking at her, Karol just laughed. "Bye, Lily, and take care of yourself and mother." Karol said after exiting the house. "Huh, are you not meet mother?" Lily asked with a surprised face as her big brother is leaving without meeting the mother. "If I meet her right now, I am 100% sure that she will stop me from going." Karol said with a sigh as he also wanted to meet his mother, but he can''t as she will inevitably stop him from going. "Lily understand that and take care of yourself, brother." Lily nodded her head with understanding while looking at her brother''s disappearing back. She then gets inside of the room after her brother''s back disappeared. Karol reached the adventurer''s guild and looked around to find that party of three. Looking around, he finds them at the entrance of the guild. "Hey there." Karol said, standing in front of them. "Oh! You have come, now Jessica, you have lost." Josh said with a smile. Suddenly Jessica threw something towards Josh with a grunt. "Huh, what was that?" Karol asked with a confused face. "We have betted whether you will come or not, and I have won the bet." Josh said with a pleasant smile. Hearing that, Karol nodded. "So, which side of the forest we will be going towards?" Karol asked with a curious face. "We will be going towards the river located on the west side of the forest as it''s a great place for one week hunt." Josh replied. "Enough talking, let''s go." Ron said with an indifferent face. "Okay, then let''s go towards the west gate." Josh said that and all four of them started walking towards the west side of the town. After a while, they reached the west gate of the town. "Did anyone need anything then you can buy here as we will not be returning for a whole week." Josh said that with a serious face. All three of them shake their head as they have already bought everything for the week. "Okay, then let''s go." Josh said that, and all four of them exits the town, and just as they reached in front of the forest, a horned rabbit jumped in front of them, but it was immediately shot by an arrow and died from it. Karol looked at his back towards Ron, who was wielding a bow with a surprised face. "At least let us do some action too." Josh said with a grumpy face as he wanted to impress his junior. "Be on alert all the time." Ron said, looking at Karol and ignoring Josh. Karol nodded his head, hearing that and removed his sword from its sheath and hold it in his hand. Ron then walked towards the corpse, and just as he was about to put the corpse in his bag, Josh stopped him and said, "Wait, let me put the corpse in my bag as I am swordsman, and you are an archer." Hearing that, Ron nodded his head and backed away from the corpse. After Josh put the corpse in his bag, they once again started to walk towards the river located somewhere in this forest. "Hey, Karol, do you want to know our rank?" Jessica suddenly asked as they were walking. Karol just nodded his head as he was curious about their level. "Josh and Ron are low novice rank, and I am low mid novice rank." Jessica said with some pride as she is the strongest in them. Hearing that looked at them with a surprised face because of their low rank. Karol did not ask them as that will offend them. Looking at Karol''s surprised face, Jessica just smiled, thinking he was impressed by her rank. Suddenly, Jessica stabbed something above Karol''s head with her knife. Karol falls on his butt and looks towards his shoulder to find a snake in two pieces. "Thank you." Karol said with a grateful expression. "No need for that, just be alert of the surrounding." Jessica said with a smile. After a while, they finally reached the river, and on their way, they have killed six more beasts. "We should camp over here as it is a great location." Josh said, looking around his surroundings. All three of them nodded their head. "Here, both of you should use this." Josh said, giving Ron and Karol a circular object with a button in the middle of it. Karol looked at the object with a curious face. When suddenly, Ron walked a few meters away from them and pressed the button. After pressing the button, the object enlarged to form a tent can fit up to two people. Karol also walks a few meters and did the same thing, and there was a tent in front of him. Opening the curtain on the tent, he only saw a mattress attached to the tent in it. "You guys should rest for a while as Jessica will be cooking some food." Josh said that and also formed his tent. Hearing that, Karol just nodded his head and got inside the tent to do some strengthening. 27 Ch.25 Inner Area "Karol, the food is ready." Josh''s voice was heard outside the tent. Hearing that, Karol stops the strengthening and gets out of the tent. "Let''s go." Josh said that and started walking. They reached the campfire and saw that Jessica and Ron were already eating their food. "Oh! You are here, come sit down and eat." Jessica said that pointing towards the food. Josh sat next to Jessica and Karol next to Ron. "So, what''s the plan for the week." Ron said, looking at Josh. "I thought that we should split into a group of two and hunt near the camp." Josh said with a serious face. "Won''t it be dangerous for the other group." Ron said, indicating at Karol. "You don''t need to worry about that as the beasts near the camp are quite a week, and it is also more efficient." Josh said, understanding Ron''s queries. "Okay, so who are the members of which group." Ron said. "Jessica and I are going to be group A and hunt towards the right of the camp, and you and Karol are going to be group B hunting towards the left of the camp." Josh said. "Won''t it be a disadvantage for our group." Ron said as he didn''t like the group composition. "You don''t need to worry about that as you are a long-range adventurer, and secondly, we will be hunting close by so you can call for help when in danger." Josh said with a smile. "So what will be the loot share then." Ron asked, looking at Josh. "The group will divide their hunt between their members so you should decide between you two." Josh said, pointing towards Ron and Karol. "Okay, I understand." Ron said that as he didn''t have any points to put even though he doesn''t like the group composition. Hearing their conversation, Karol was a little bit annoyed as he was being treated as a liability. After their conversation, they silently eat food. "Okay then, we should be going now." Josh said after finishing his meal. Both of the siblings, then move to their designated position to hunt. "So, what should be our formation of hunting." Karol asked, finishing his food. "You will be the vanguard distracting the beast, and I will be at some tree to finish off the beast." Ron said without any expression. "Won''t I be at a disadvantage like that." Karol asked, looking at Ron. "If you can shoot an arrow more accurately than me, then we can switch the position." Ron said. "Okay, then, I will follow your direction." Karol said with an annoyed tone. "Okay, then, let''s go and get to our positions." Ron said. Both of them started to search for a beast around the forest. After a while, they found a boar of a mid mortal level. "You should go and just try to dodge its attack and try not to face it head-on and get it over there." Ron said, pointing towards an area with only one tree. "Why don''t you shoot it from here then." Karol asked as the beast have holes in his guard. "I can''t as the beast have a special instinct of danger when they do not engage in any fight," Ron said. Hearing that, Karol realized that he has to distract it for Ron to hit the beast. "Okay, then I will do that." Karol said. Ron nodded and climbed up a tree the give a vantage advantage to him. After Ron finishes climbing the tree, Karol then walks forward towards the beast. The beast was at least a half size of him with tusk longer than his arm. After Karol goes in the range of the beast, then the beast picked up his scent and started to run towards him. Karol then began to move towards the designated position while dodging the beast. "It''s good that the speed of it is slow." Karol thought while dodging the beast. After a few minutes, he finally reached the designated position. Just as the beast reached the designated spot, it was shot by an arrow to its head. After the shot to its head, the beast moves a little forward and just slumped down in front of Karol. "You are pretty good, kid." Ron said, jumping down from the tree. "You too." Karol replied as he was impressed by his shot. "Okay, then let''s put it in the bag and resume our hunt." Ron said, pointing towards the corpse of the beast. Karol nodded and put the beast in his bag. After that, they continued their hunting. 6 Days later. In the past six days, Karol and Ron hunted a total of 58 beasts, but they only kept their fangs, claws, and fur from the body of the beast as they didn''t have any space for a whole beast. On the last day, Josh suddenly said, "Hey, why don''t we explore a little bit at the inner region of the forest as this is our last day." Josh replied, looking at all of them. "Won''t it be dangerous as the beast are stronger in the inner region and are mostly in groups." Karol said as he read about the composition of the beast in the forest. "Don''t worry about that, as we will be only exploring." Josh said, pursuing tone. "But.." Just as Karol about to say something, Jessica interfered and said, "We should go as beast mostly attack those who provoked them." Karol then looked at Ron as he trusts him more than the other two. Looking at Karol''s gaze, Ron nodded his head, signifying he is okay with that. "Okay, then, I follow you." Karol said with a sigh. "Okay, then let''s retract our tent and go inside the forest." Josh said that and started to move towards his tent. Then all three also proceed to their tents and retract them. After all that, four of them started to move towards the inner area of the forest. 28 Ch.26 Wolf "Say it would amazing if accidentally got those power that the main characters of the books have right." Josh suddenly said, with excitement while they were walking. "You are right as we will be able to become strongest and even the king will kneel in front of us." Jessica also replied, with a pleased smile as she also wanted that these kinds of things happen. "What are they Kids or what? If that happened wouldn''t everyone become strongest in this world." Karol thought, shaking his head at their childish thought but decided to ignore that. Ron also ignored that as he also didn''t believe in these kinds of things. Both of the siblings ignorant of their surroundings just keep talking about their fantasies. "Watch out." Ron suddenly shouted, looking towards Karol. Suddenly a shadow jumped on Karol. After the attack, Karol falls down 2m away from his initial position. Karol put a sword between which helped him block from the beast that attacked him. Suddenly a piercing sound was heard and an arrow pierced the beast head. The beast then falls next to Karol losing all his strength. "You are lucky that you survived." Ron said, giving his hand to Karol to help his stand up. "Thanks for the warning or I would have been survived." Karol replied, while standing up. "But which beast is this?" Ron asked, as he looked at that beast which was like a cat but was fully black in color with large claws. "It is the baby of a stealth panther." Karol said as he recognized the beast. "Uh, Ok but it is a strange beast as I didn''t felt it presence until the last minute." Ron said, with a confused voice. "It has a special ability to conceal its presence by making its mana flow the same as the environment." Karol said, what he learned from books. "Oh! but it''s still a baby then.." Ron said, thinking about something. "S**t! Its mother should be around this area, we should get out of this forest now." Karol said, with an anxious face. "What is the rank of its mother usually is?" Ron asked, with a curious face. "It would probably be an expert level beast." Karol replied while looking around the area. "We are in huge trouble, let''s get out from here right now." Ron said while putting the corpse in his bag. "Josh, let''s get out of here." Karol said but didn''t find any reply. Looking towards Josh, he found both of the siblings looking at the ground. "Hey, what are guys doing, we got to get out of here." Karol said while shaking Josh''s shoulder. "Yeah, Yeah but look at this flower." Josh said pointing towards the ground. Karol looks at Josh with strange eyes and saw emotion of greed in his eyes but ignored it. Then Karol and Josh looked at the ground while both of the siblings were behind them. There were a bunch of flowers of the same species and they were strangely fully grey in color and even their stem was in grey in color. Looking at the flower, Karol realized he had seen it somewhere. Karol suddenly remembered something and just as he was about to turn, "S**t" He thought as he felt a stinging pain on his back. Looking toward Ron, he saw a sword coming out from his stomach. The sword then pulled out from his body and he fell down. Karol also realized he had been stabbed by Jessica dagger and he fell down to the floor. First Ron then Karol also stopped breathing and slumbered to their death. "Heh, the boy was pretty weak as he was killed in one stab." Jessica said with a wicked smile. "You are a whole rank stronger than him and stopped standing there and dug out those flowers." Josh said while digging out the flowers. "Yeah, Yeah but why are in such a rush." Jessica asked with a relaxed smile even with a dead body next to her. "Haven''t you heard that boy, that beast mother is going to be here soon." Josh said with an anxious face. "Okay but aren''t we lucky that we found these flowers as we will get lots of money selling these." Jessica said with an excited expression. "You are right and these are also idiots to lower their guard near us." Josh said while thinking about how easy it was to kill them. "You are right as even I wouldn''t have done that." Jessica said while giggling. "Okay let''s get out of here." Josh said after digging out the last flower. "Wait a minute." Jessica said that and started to pick up the sword of Karol and the bow and arrows of Ron. "Now let''s go." Jessica said that and started to walk. Josh just follow her while shaking his head. Few minutes later. *Cough* Cough* Suddenly, Karol started moving while holding the place where he was bleeding from. "It was a good thing I strengthen my defense with the mana." Karol thought while moving towards a tree. He then goes to the back of the tree he saw earlier and there was a huge cavity inside the tree. Getting inside the tree he sat down and started to rip his clothes into strips. With those strips he tied up his wound to stop the bleeding. While the tying up his wound he groaned feeling the pain. While tying up his wound he heard a loud footstep. Surprised by that sound he peeked a little out of the tree and was shocked because he saw a humanoid wolf walking on it two feet. The wolf picked up Ron and started to rip apart Ron into pieces and started to eat him. Karol gasped in surprise and felt something rising from the stomach. Suddenly the wolf stopped eating and looks towards where Karol was hiding. Karol then quickly hide himself while covering his mouth with his hand. Then the same footstep was heard but strangely it was getting lower in sound with each passing second. 29 Ch.27 Mutation "What hell was that!" Karol thought while relaxing his body as he was fully tense when he saw that creature eating Ron. Just as he relaxed a bit, he smelled a rotting stench?. Smelling that, he lowered his face and started to vomit out whatever he had eaten today. Just as he stopped vomiting and looks outside, he saw the creature without an eye was looking at him. His body tensed and he tried to stop any sound produced by him. The creature was the humanoid wolf. Strangely it''s flesh was rotting and it''s smelled like a corpse. The creature suddenly smiled pulled Karol out of the cavity. Karol started to struggle to get out of its grip. "Aaaaahhh!" Karol shouted loudly as the creature has ripped his arm apart. Looking at Karol suffering the creature just howled loudly. Mix with Karol''s shout and the wolf''s howling it created a strange sound that scared every beast near their area. Karol moved his remaining arm towards his boots and pulled out a dagger. Then the creature put his jaws around his head. Karol then started to stab the wolf while shouting loudly. Just as the creature''s teeth pierced his neck, a shattering sound was heard where Karol has stabbed his dagger. Suddenly the creature lost all his strength and falls down on the ground on his back. After falling on the ground the creature howled for the last time and lost its life. Karol didn''t look towards the beast as he was still in shock of losing his arm. Karol then looked towards what used to be his arm. Karol tried to shout but only blood comes out of his mouth. "Am I going to die like this." Karol thought while he was vomiting blood out from his mouth. Suddenly a blue color shined on his face, Karol looks towards the source of the light and saw that it was coming out the beast chest. Karol got a strange feeling that the light could save his light. Crawling towards the light, Karol sat on the creature''s chest and tried to pull out the source of light from the beast chest. After some struggle, he finally pulled out the source of light from the beast. Karol then looked at the source of light and saw it a blue ball size of peanut. Suddenly, the body of the beast moved and Karol dropped the blue ball on the ground. The beast tried to move his hand towards Karol but he dodged it and run some distance away from the beast while picking up the blue ball. After running for a few metres, Karol was exhausted and sat down on the ground. Karol instinct was telling him to eat that blue ball if he wanted to survive. Suddenly a sound was heard and Karol looks towards the source of the sound to see that the beast was crawling towards him. Without thinking anything, Karol puts the blue ball in his mouth and swallow that. Just as Karol swallow that ball, he falls to the ground and stopped breathing and the same condition was happening with the beast as the beast also stopped breathing and falls to the ground. Few minutes later. Both of their body started to glow blue in colour and their body started to float above the ground. Both of their body started to circle each other and the speed of circling was increasing by each passing second. While they were circling each other floating on the ground. Strangely, the grass below them were drying up without any life then getting fresh green, full of life and this keep happening many time. Suddenly both of their body pulled towards each other and their body collided with each other. Just as their body collided, a blinding blue light was formed and their body is the source of it. After the light started to disappear, the area around their body was fully dried up without and life and in the middle of it, there was only Karol, fully naked. Suddenly, Karol started to move his body. Karol with lot of struggle stood up but strangely his eyes were fully gold in colour instead of his red eyes. Karol then looked up in the sky and started to howl loudly. While howling, his body had gone a huge transformation. His body started to grow up to two meters with his body fully covered in silver fur with some white mix in between it and his muscles also grown densely to make him fully ripped and instead of a human face there was a wolf face. While Karol was still howling after his transformation. A beast jumped from a tree and ran towards a pile of ash as what used to be the dead baby stealth panther. The beast was a fully grown expert rank stealth panther and also the mother of the dead baby. The panther tried to search through the ashes to find its baby as it could smell it in it but couldn''t find anything. The panther then stare towards Karol and roar loudly. Hearing the roar, Karol then looked at the panther and howled lightly while grinning. Hearing the howl, the panther ran towards Karol with bloodshot eyes. Looking at panther running towards him, Karol just stood silently in his place while grinning. Just as the panther jumped in the air to bite on Karol. Karol just light slashed towards the panther with his claws and the panther falls down to the ground in two pieces. Looking at the dead panther, Karol just howled loudly and tried to eat the panther. Just as Karol put his mouth near the panther, he groaned loudly in pain and there was a huge change in his eyes as there was one red eye and one golden eye. Karol then ignored the panther and howled loudly in pain and started to run towards where Josh and Jessica have departed. 30 Ch.28 Light Purple "Huh, What happened?" Karol thought while waking up. Looking around he saw the area he was in earlier was fully dried up without any sign of life. "Where is that wolf?" Karol thought as he didn''t see the wolf and strangely he didn''t even feel any pain even though he lost his arm. Looking around he saw something that makes him extremely shocked. "Huh, Why am I there?" Karol thought while looking at himself howling loudly while looking at the sky. Karol was then shocked as he saw himself being turned into that wolf creature. "What happened to me!" Karol shouted as he looks at himself as he became some kind of translucent spirit. While he was still surprised by that, the panther comes into the area searching for its baby. "Baby, where are you? Mommy is looking for you." Karol suddenly heard a sad voice saying all this. Looking around he saw the stealth panther looking for something. Karol once again heard that voice and realized it was coming from the stealth panther. Then the stealth panther looks towards Karol who was now a wolf and roared, "What have you done to my baby?", Karol then looked towards the panther and howled, "I have ate him." "Why, Why, Why, what have my baby done anything to you?" The panther roared and started to run towards Karol to kill him. Looking at everything, Karol realized that someone have possessed his body. While Karol was thinking those things, the panther was sliced in half. While dying the panther roared for one last time and thought, "I can''t even avenge my baby, I really am a failure as a mother." and the panther takes her last breath and died. Strangely, Karol heard her thoughts and looking at the mother panther, he saw a strange scenario of his mother in that place there trying to protect him from that wolf. Then the wolf howled loudly in happiness and tried to eat the panther. Looking at this scene, Karol felt a strange emotion and run towards the wolf to stop its action. Just as Karol runs into the wolf, a strange light purple light was shone and Karol in spirit form disappeared and there was only Karol in wolf form struggling in some unknown pain. After a while the wolf stood up and started to run towards Josh and Jessica. "Say what are you going to do with half of the money?" Jessica asked while counting the number of flowers. "Hey, why aren''t you replying?" Jessica asked as she didn''t hear him say anything. Just as she turned, she was shocked and scared as she saw a humanoid wolf eating her brother while smiling. She froze in her spot as she felt immense killing intent from the wolf. She could only see her brother being eaten the wolf by each passing second. After some struggle she finally was able to reach to her dagger, then suddenly the wolf lightly slashed his claw towards Jessica. Looking at the claws coming towards her, she realized she is going to die and closed her eyes. Jessica was surprised as she didn''t felt anything, opening her eyes, she still saw the wolf eating her brother and just as she tried to move her body, she falls on the ground in two pieces. Looking at what remains of Jessica, the wolf just howled loudly and tried to eat Jessica. Just as he picked up her, something falls on the ground. He then looks towards the source of the sound and backed off a few meters from it. The wolf for the first time was looking scared of something. The wolf just growled loudly while looking towards that object. For a few minutes it keeps doing that but it doesn''t get any response. Curious, it started to walk towards that object and tried to touch. Just as he touched it, he once again backed off a few meters from it. Realizing it didn''t do anything, he once again goes near it and picked it up. He then curiously started to look at the object as he felt that it could kill it easily. Suddenly, he tightened up and looked sharply at a certain direction and started to run towards that direction. While running in that direction, Karol encountered many beasts but he just killed them off with a single slash but he didn''t stop in his tracks to eat the beast as he felt a strange fascination towards something in that direction and kept running towards it. One day later. Karol stood in Infront of a building made out of woods but it fully destroyed as it''s Foundation remained there with some chunks of wall standing. Karol just howled loudly in front of the house. After a while he finally entered the house and ignored everything and just ran towards the back of the house and just looked the floor made out of wood. Suddenly, he punched that wood it shattered completely from his attack and he saw an entrance to an underground area under the house. Without thinking anything, Karol just jumped in it and free-fall for at least a height of 10m but he landed smoothly with taking any damage. Looking around he only saw and door make out of metal which has a strange square cavity in it. He smashed open the door and entered the room. Looking around he saw a strange platform that can have a grown adult lay on it. Karol walked towards it and just he touched that platform, he started to groaned loudly as he felt immense pain as something was happening to his soul. Suddenly, he quietened down and picked up a necklace from the ground and just as he tried to wear it around his neck he felt an immense resistance. While tolerating the pain he finally wears the necklace and just as he wears that necklace, a light purple light flashed with him being the source of it. After a while, the light disappears and there was... 31 Ch.29 Palingenesis "Where am I?" Karol thought while waking up. Looking around he finds himself to be in a room made out of wood. "Huh, My wounds have been closed." Karol thought while touching his back as he didn''t felt any pain. Suddenly he smelled a rotting stench and started to vomit everything in his stomach. While he was still vomiting, he felt a stinging pain in his brain. "What the heck is going on?" Karol thought while holding his head as he was feeling a huge headache while he was still vomiting. He suddenly felt a strange presence behind him, turning around he saw a rotting corpse walking towards him. Looking at the corpse he felt an intense anger towards it and tried to push it away from it. Suddenly the corpse was slashed in half and falls to the ground and then it suddenly disappeared in thin air, Karol was looking at the scene with a shocking face. Karol then looks at his arm that is not humane looking anymore but of a beast. He strangely couldn''t remember anything about this arm or how did he even get that but he strangely felt a strange connection with the arm. He clenches and unclenches his fist and even though the arm was foreign to him, he felt a strange connection of belongingness with that arm. Strangely, he was also very calm looking at that arm. Karol then suddenly thought about something and tried to do that. "Wow! it is transformable." Karol thought as he was able to transform his index finger to a human-looking one. Lost in his own world he started to transform his arm into a humane looking one. Few days later. "It''s good that I was able to do that." Karol thought as he was able to transform his arm fully to a humane looking one. He then suddenly thought of something and tried to do and suddenly his arm turned into the beast one and then the humane one. "Looks like I got a strange power, huh!" Karol thought while smiling as he will be able to heal his mother. Just as he completed that transformation, a huge amount of mana started to strengthen his mind and body. After a while he finally reached the limit of that level. He then started to perform the limit breaker exercise and strangely he was not feeling and kind of pain and was easily able to do that and reach the next level. Just as he reached the next level, once again he felt being strengthened by mana and after a while it ended and he was strengthening his body and mind to almost to the half of that level. After this strengthening, Karol was finally able to come out of the zone he was in. Karol then felt something flashing on his face and looks towards the source of it to find a strange necklace around his neck. "Huh, when did I get this?" Karol thought and tried to touch it. Just as he touched the necklace, he saw a scene of a boy giving something to a girl. Looking at that scene, Tears started to fall from his eyes. "Huh, Why am I crying?" Karol thought while touching his face. After a while, he stopped crying but he was still looking at the necklace with strange eyes. Suddenly, he looks at himself and found himself to be naked. He then calm down his thoughts and started to look around the room to find something to cover himself with. Just as he walks forward, he trips and falls in front of the podium. "Huh, S*v* h** if I d**." Karol suddenly said those words aloud while looking at the bottom of the podium which have those strange letters with some words missing in it have. (*= missing words.) "It must be a creator message or something." Karol thought and stood up and started to search the room. After some extensive search, he found a piece of cloth that can almost cover his body around his torso. Strangely, the piece of cloth was the only thing he can found in that room. Karol then decided to leave the strange room. Exiting the room he found himself to be in an area that can be considered as a vertical tunnel with a stair attached to it. Karol then started to climb the stairs and climbing out, he found himself to be in a house with its only Foundation remaining. He then looks around the house to find nothing but only a big leather bag in the middle of it. Karol then opens the bag to find his sword, some armor and also the flower that made Josh and Jessica betray him. Remembering that betrayal he felt an immense anger towards them. Karol then calms down a bit and decided to think about them later as he couldn''t do anything to them right now, he then picked up the bag. "But why is that bag there?" Karol thought while looking at the bag. He thought about it but couldn''t find an answer and he then decided to ignore it as he couldn''t find the answer. He then decided to leave this place as he saw many strange things today. While exiting the house he saw a signpost on it and there was ''Palingenesis Villa'' written on it. "It is a very strange name for a villa." Karol thought while looking at the signpost as it was a very strange word. "Well, it''s not like I can do anything." Karol thought and decided to leave this place. "But where am I and where should I go." Karol thought while looking around the area. Suddenly, he saw a corpse of beast near a tree. Karol then decided to pick it up as it could make him some money. Just as Karol tried to touch the beast, he started shaking and falls on the ground with a shocked face. 32 Ch.30 Scared Karol just sat on the ground looking at the corpse of the beast with a horrified face as remembered how did he get this strange arm and how he killed that mother of that panther. He tried to calm himself down but wasn''t able to that as he still remembers and gotten a strange trauma from that experience. "Calm down or I won''t be able to do anything." Karol tried to calm himself down from all the things that happened. After 10 minutes he finally was able to stop shaking of fear and after 30 minutes he was able to somewhat walk. Even though he was able to walk he still couldn''t touch that beast. He then looked ahead of the beast and saw a bloodied footprint of a large feet. Realizing it was probably his when he was that beast, he started to follow the footprints to return to his house and get out of this forest. While following the footsteps he encountered many beasts but all of them were dead but he was not able to touch or look at any corpse at all and when he tried to do that he always gets remembers about that incident and it''s scared him to his core. While he still walking through the trails of the footprints, a beast suddenly appeared in front of but runs away when it''s realized it was weaker than its opponent. Karol just stands there looking at the escaping beast with a horrified face. "No, it can''t be.." Karol thought with a horrifying feeling as he realized he wasn''t able to attack or look at that beast at all. "I got to get out of here fast." Karol thought and started to run while trying to avoid encountering any beast. After a while he reached the place where all the incidents take place. Looking around the area he saw two piles of ashes and on one pile of ash there was the stealth panther laying there dead. Karol looked at the panther and then at the pile of ash and realized whose ash it is. Karol then started to dug and hole in front of the tree and put the corpse of the beast while shaking and the ash of the baby panther in the hole in it and covered it with dirt. He then transformed his arm to the beast on and started to scratch on the tree. ''Here Lies the Stealth panther and her baby'' was written on the tree. Then Karol bow down to pay respect and then started to dug another hole near another tree. He then picked up the ashes of Ron and put it in the hole and covered with the dirt and write ''Here lies Ron the Archer'' on the tree. "I will surely get revenge for your death." Karol said while bowing in Infront of his grave. He then suddenly remembered something and takes out a bow that Ron used to hunt with, from his bag and put it in front of his grave. He then paid his respect for the last time and leave that area. Even though he didn''t have any footprints to guide his way, he was still able to return to the river as he remembered the area. After reaching the river Karol then decided to wash himself up as he was stuck in a room for many days. After washing himself up, he leaves the river and just as he started to go towards a town. He encountered a party of four walking towards the river. Just as he saw those people he runs away from them and started to vomit near a tree. "What was that?" One of the members of the party asked. "It was probably some adventurer, let''s ignore him and go our way." The person in front of the party said. "You right." The other members replied and walk away from Karol while looking at him with strange eyes. "Huh, why did I started vomiting." Karol thought while vomiting as just he went to greet that party, he felt a sudden urge to vomit looking at them. "It must be an aftermath of that corpses of the beast." Karol thought thinking it was probably due to those corpses of the beast. After a while, Karol stopped vomiting and started to walk towards the town and instead of going to adventurer''s guild he ran towards a clothing shop. While he running towards the shop people were looking at him with strange eyes due to his clothes. "How can I help.. we don''t have any money so go away." The owner tried to greet Karol and stopped midway after looking at his clothes and tried to make him go away thinking him as a beggar. Suddenly, Karol thrown a silver coins towards the shop owner and said with an angry face, "Here''s the money and give me your best clothes and keep the change." After getting the money the shop keeper quietened down and runs at the back of his shop to get his best clothes. Karol just stands there with an angry face. "Here is our best clothes, sir." The shop keeper comes out of the back while giving the clothes to Karol. Karol then takes the clothes and goes to the trial room to wear them. After a while he comes out of the room wearing the clothes, "You are looking amazing, sir." The shop keeper compliment Karol trying to get on his good side. "You don''t need to tell me that." Karol said with an angry face and exited the shop. Just as Karol exited the room, he punched himself on the face, "What the heck I was doing?" Karol thought as gives away so much money and get angry over something small as he didn''t have done that. "I need some rest after all this incident." Karol thought as strange things keep happening after that incident. "But first I need to sell these." Karol thought while looking at the flowers and started to head towards the adventurer''s guild. 33 Ch.31 Moonlight Dew Reaching the Adventurer''s Guild, Karol enters it and goes straight ahead to the counter ignoring everything. "Good morning big sister Leah," Karol said bowing. "Oh, you are finally back after two weeks, so how was your first time adventuring." Hearing he had been in the forest for two weeks Karol was surprised, he then calms down a bit. "It was fun," Karol said while smiling as he didn''t want to share that incident with anyone as it could provide some unwanted trouble. "Oh! So, What brings you here?" Leah asked while smiling. "I want to sell this," Karol said while showing her a flower. Suddenly, Leah''s gaze sharpened and she said while lowering her voice, "Do you have any more and if you have them, then just nod your her." Hearing that Karol was surprised but still nodded his head. "Oh! So you have lost your, come in we will get a new one for you." Leah suddenly said in a loud voice and pushed Karol inside the room behind the counter. "Huh, why did you bring a kid in the room?" Alan asked as both of them enters the room. "He has a pretty valuable object," Leah said indicating towards Karol. Hearing that, Alan was surprised but calm his emotion and then perform a strange magic. Looking at everything, Karol just stands there with a surprised face. "Kid, why don''t you sit there," Alan said pointing towards the chair. Karol just nodded his head and walked towards the chair and sat on it. Then both Leah and Alan sat on the chair opposite to him. "Do you know what that flower is?" Leah asked while looking at Karol. Hearing that Karol just shakes head and suddenly cursed himself in his mind as he didn''t research about the flower before selling it. "I seriously need some rest." Karol thought as he even forgot to research even though it is like his second nature. Suddenly he distracted from his thinking as Leah coughs to get his attention "You are quite lucky that you tried to sold it to me or you would have been in great trouble." Leah said while sighing. "So, what is this flower," Karol asked he was suddenly curious about it. "The flower is called moonlight dew and is one of the most important ingredient in a very important potion," Leah said with a serious tone. "So, what potion it''s used in?" Karol asked as he was even more curious about these flowers. "Sorry but I can''t tell you that as even I don''t know that," Leah replied with a sigh. Karol was surprised to hear that, when Leah suddenly said, "Before you asked it, no one knows which potion it is used for because the creator doesn''t want to reveal it and the flower is in our important ingredient list." Karol was surprised as she answered his question before he asked that. "Thanks for telling me that but how much can I sell it for?" Karol asked as he wanted to know it''s price. "Well, one flower cost 25 gold," Leah said with a slight smile. Hearing the price Karol was surprised and also excited but suddenly he backed away from Leah and Alan. Looking at his reaction Alan and Leah just laugh, "You don''t need worry as we aren''t going to steal it." Leah said while laughing. "Huh! but why?" Karol asked because if he was in their position he would have probably stolen it. "Well, we also are going to make some money from that transaction and you are like a little brother to me," Leah replied while smiling. Hearing the Karol was surprised and suddenly and bows and said, "I am sorry." as he was very happy that he found someone he could trust after all those betrayals. "You don''t need to do that as we aren''t angry," Leah said while laughing. Hearing that Karol just nodded his head and sat down once again on the chair. "Give me all the flower and I will be back in a bit with your money," Leah said while stretching out her hand. Karol just nodded and gave her all 13 flowers. After getting the flower Leah then left the room and Karol and Alan were just left in the room. "So, what is troubling you." Alan suddenly asked while looking at Karol. "Huh, What do you mean by that," Karol asked with a surprised face. "Well, you were looking pretty tense when Leah asked about your adventure," Alan replied while smiling as he watched his troubled face before entering this room. Karol was surprised hearing that and said, "Well I was adventuring, I encountered a baby horned rabbit and killed but was later confronted by its mother, and strangely I was able to hear it''s thought and I started to feel like an evil person after hearing those thoughts." "That''s interesting, so what happened after that?" Alan asked with a curious face. "I was able to kill the mother rabbit but after killing it, I wasn''t able to hunt any beast at all," Karol replied with a serious face. Alan was surprised to hear that but he calmed his emotion and said, "Well I can understand what you''re thinking right now and it isn''t wrong." Hearing that Karol was surprised as he didn''t expect that type of reply. "But it is not right either," Alan added. "Then what can I do about this," Karol asked with a desperate face. "Well you can have two types of mentality," Alan said while smiling. "First, you can have the mentality that you currently have and just stay in this village while always being afraid to kill the beast. So you want to be like this?" Alan asked with an amused face. "No, I don''t want that," Karol replied as he also dreams of adventuring this kingdom and become strong that people start respecting him. Hearing his reply Alan just laughed as he knew that Kid like him will not choose that and then he started to tell him about the second option. 34 Ch.32 Platinum "The second mentality you can have is that to gain something you must sacrifice as this will also help you survive in this world," Alan said with a serious face. "Huh! What do you mean by that?" Karol as heard of that term but does not understand why it will make him survive in this world. "Well let me give you an example, let''s think that you didn''t kill that pair mother and son beast and left them alive. Then what do you think will happen?" Alan asked looking at Karol. "Well, they will then live their life in the forest unless someone kills them," Karol said with a strange face as it is an obvious fact. "That''s can happen but what if someday they break out village and attack at your house. Then what will happen?" Alan asked with an amused face. "That...." Karol didn''t reply as he already realized that they will kill him and his family with a doubt. "What you''re thinking is right, this is by killing the beast that is the sacrifice, you are gaining protection from their future attack for yourself and your family while also getting stronger," Alan said while smiling. "But can''t it happen with sacrificing something?" Karol asked as he didn''t like the term sacrificing something. "You can''t as even right night you are sacrificing something to talk to me right now and always continue to sacrifice it in your life even if you don''t want to," Alan said pointing to Karol. "Huh! What do you mean by that?" Karol asked as he didn''t know what he was sacrificing. "It''s your time, you are always sacrificing it from your birth time to gain something," Alan said while smiling. Hearing that Karol was surprised as the answer was just in front of him, he just didn''t realize it. "That instead of trying to gain something while trying not to sacrifice, you should try to gain the maximum amount of anything while trying to sacrifice as less as possible," Alan said with a serious tone. "Thanks for telling me that as it has removed a huge problem from my heart," Karol said while smile. "Well, it''s not my talking will heal it instantly as you still need some time to regain your will to hunt," Alan said while looking at Karol. "You are right," Karol replied as even he knows that. "Huh! What is the right about?" Leah asked while entering the room. "Well, it''s nothing but some men''s talk," Alan replied while laughing. "Well if you guys are done with your men talk then let''s talk about those flowers," Leah said while sitting down on the chair. "Okay." Both of them replied at the same time. "So, how much did you sell it for?" Alan asked with a curious face. "Well, Karol will tell it himself," Leah said while giving the money to Karol. "Huh! 25 gold and what are these strange coins," Karol asked there were only 25 gold and 3 strange white coins. Alan looked at coins with a surprised face as he didn''t believe that kid of his age have that. Leah just laughed and said, "Well that is a Platinum coin that is equivalent to 100 gold." Hearing that Karol was surprised and he suddenly started shaking as he didn''t believe that he has that much money. Looking at Karol''s reaction both of them laughed as they knew anyone would be shaking having that much money. "Well, why don''t you come out of your dreams as you still got to go home," Leah said while laughing. "Ah yes, yes," Karol said while nodding his head. Looking at Karol, both of them just laughed and Karol''s face was red due to embarrassment but he was still happy as he got that much money. "Alan, you should walk Karol to his home." Leah suddenly said with a serious face. "Yeah, you don''t need to tell me that," Alan said with a relaxed face. While Karol just listened to their conversation while just nodding his head as he still excited by the amount of money he had. "Well let''s go kiddo," Alan said while tapping Karol''s shoulder. Karol then snapped back to reality and started to follow. Just as they exited the room, many adventurer were standing as the gate while looking at something, and just as they saw Karol walking with Alan, they suddenly dispersed and goes to their respective way. "These guys really are bastards," Alan said clicking his tongue. Looking at the adventurer''s strange behavior, Karol suddenly realized why Alan was going with him and he was once very thankful in his heart by their actions. Exiting the adventurer''s guild they silently just walked to their destination. "If you want to ask something then ask it." Alan suddenly said while smiling. Hearing that Karol was surprised as he wanted to something from Alan but couldn''t decide to ask but after hearing him, he said, "Well, I wanted to ask as to why most of the adventurers are weak even though being so old." Karol emphasized the word most as both Alan and Leah were least at Expert rank. "Well, I can''t tell you now as it will endanger your life but you are going to the academy right?" Alan asked looking at Karol. Hearing that Karol was surprised as what could endanger his life but still nodded his head. "Well, that''s a great decision as you will know the answer once you go there but I can give a hint that it has a very special reason for it," Alan replied while laughing. Hearing Karol was suddenly excited to go to the academy now as soon as possible but decided to calm his emotion. "But enough about that, tell me how did you get those flowers?" Alan suddenly asked with a curious face. "Well, After killing the mother rabbit, I wasn''t able to kill any beast and then I encountered one so when I was running away from it, I encountered the flowers after evading from it." Karol then tells a made-up story as he couldn''t tell anyone the real one. "Well, you are quite lucky aren''t you," Alan said while laughing. Hearing that Karol just nodded his head. 35 Ch.33 Coming Back "Well, I should be going now," Alan said after they reached Karol''s house. "Thanks for accompanying me till now," Karol said while as he very grateful for his actions. "You don''t need to thank me for that and bye," Alan said laughing and then he leaves, Karol then enters his house. Few minutes later. Two men suddenly appeared near the area of Karol''s house. "Hehe, Looks like he is gone, You wait here while I check the boy." The man with the sword said. "Check it fast, I will be guarding outside and Kill the boy if he tries to do anything." The man with the spear said. "Well, Well, Well, aren''t you guys are getting ahead of yourself." A voice was suddenly heard behind them. "Huh, Who the f**k tries to.." The man with a sword tries to scare away that person when suddenly his head falls from his head. Looking at his companion corpse fallen on the ground, the man was surprised and tried to shout but he couldn''t as his head also falls off from his body. The one who killed them was surprisingly Alan and just stood there smiling. Just as both of them died many presence disappeared from that area. "Looks like no one will bother his for now." Alan thought while smiling and started to use a magic. Suddenly a ball of fire was created and launched at their corpses. After a while, their corpses were turned into ashes and suddenly Alan waved his hand and the ashes fly away with air. "Well, that''s done I should be going now." Alan thought while leaving the area. "Retreat all the members." A man said hiding behind a house far away from Karol''s house and after a while, he runs away from that area. "Mom, I am back," Karol shouted while entering the house. Suddenly a presence runs towards him and jumped on him. "Brother you are finally back, Lily was very worried about you," Lily said with tears in her eyes. "Don''t worry as your brother will never make Lily worried," Karol said while smiling warmly. "Pinky Promise," Lily said while holding out her pinky finger. "Pinky Promise," Karol said while responding to her gesture. "Well, you should let you have some rest as he was missing for two weeks," Sasha said after coming out of his mother''s room with an angry face. Karol then placed Lily next to her and bowed saying, "I am sorry about this." "Well, you don''t need to do that as I am not that angry but I can''t tell that about her," Sasha said while pointing towards his mother''s room. Hearing that Karol froze on his spot but still managed to say something, "I will tell mom about this." "Well, you should and hope we meet again if you survived," Sasha said while giggling. "You don''t need to tell me that," Karol grunted. "Huh, what did you say kiddo, should I convey it to your mother," Sasha said while smiling. "It was nothing at all," Karol said with an anxious face. Looking at his reaction, Sasha just laughed. "Can Lily also come with your brother." Lily suddenly asked with a curious face. "Lily, you shouldn''t as you are a good girl," Sasha said while patting her head. Hearing that Lily just nodded her head. "Well then, I should be going now," Karol said and enters his mother room. Entering the he saw his mom laying down on the bed. "So, why have been out for 2 weeks instead of one," Karen asked with an angry face. "Well, I encountered something and something happened so this is why I was late to come home," Karol said with an anxious face. "Can I know what something is being referred to and tell me just the truth," Karen asked with a severe voice. "Well, it happened on the last of the week as I was traveling in the forest edge," Karol said while emphasizing the word edge. "I encountered a powerful beast so I got to run from it and then after evading it, I was lost in the forest for a whole week and only able to get out with help of some kind adventurer I met in the forest," Karol said with a serious face to make it look like the truth. "You aren''t lying right," Karen asked looking at Karol. Hearing that Karol froze on his place but calm down his emotion and said, "What are talking about mom why would I ever lie to you." "I am sorry as I couldn''t tell you the truth as it will only put stress on you." Karol thought with a sad face but laughed on outside. "You aren''t hurt from anywhere, right?" Karol asked with a worried face as she realized her son was trapped in a forest for the whole week. "You don''t need to worry about that as that beast not able to put a single scratch on me," Karol said with pride. "Yeah, I understand but tell me if anything happened, Okay?" Karen asked with a worried face. Hearing that Karol just nodded his face with a smile. "But enough about that, do you know something very special occurred in that week too. Can you guess?" Karol asked with a wide smile. "Well, if I have to guess you probably have encountered something that can help to cure me," Karen said with a warm smile. "Huh, how did you realized that?" Karol asked with a surprised face as he didn''t expect that. "Well, firstly I am your mom and secondly it''s written all over your face," Karen said with a smile. "Am I that obvious?" Karol asked Karen replied just with a nod, and realizing that Karol just sighed. "Well, you guessed it correctly as I have encountered a rare flower that sold for a hefty sum and I also have the money to buy the pills to heal you, Mom," Karol said with a wide smile. Hearing that Karen just smiled and said, "That''s a good thing and why don''t you two also come in." Just as Karen said that Sasha and Lily entered the with an anxious face. "When did you realized that we are eavesdropping?" Sasha asked with a surprised face. "Well, from the start," Karen replied with a smile. 36 Ch.34 Strange Voice "Brother, that means that mom will be healed," Lily asked with an excited face. "Yes, she will," Karol replied with a warm smile. "Lily is delighted." Lily cheered and ran to embraced Karol. Looking at the sibling, Sasha and Karen just smiled. "Well, looks like you are going to be healed soon," Sasha said with a smile. "If I got healed, at least you would be relaxed a bit," Karen replied while laughing. "Wait, that means.." Sasha asked with a surprised face. "Yeah as I can tell from looking at your face that you are overworking yourself," Karen said while laughing. "You tend to amaze me as noticed such small details better than anyone," Sasha said with a smile. Hearing that Karen just laughed. "But you got yourself a pretty good son as I didn''t expect him to make that much money," Sasha said while smiling. "Well, whose son it is so he bound to succeed," Karen replied with a proud face. "You are proud of your son, huh?" Sasha said while shaking her head. "Well, he can be sometimes careless, but he is a responsible son and a brother," Karen replied while smiling. "Okay, then I should be going now to get that pills," Sasha said and walked towards Karol. "Karol you should give me the money, and I will go buy those pills," Sasha said with a smile. Hearing that Karol just nodded and gave her five gold. "Well, I will come back tomorrow," Sasha said and left the house. "Lily, you should let your brother have some rest as he would be tired," Karen said with a smile. Hearing that Lily just nodded her head. "Okay, then I should be resting now and call me if you need anything," Karol said and walked out of the room. Just as Karol left the room, Lily realized something and said, "Mom, Lily, forget something so that Lily will be back in a minute." and runs out of the room. "She is like her brother." Karen thought while shaking her head. While Karol was walking towards his room, he suddenly felt his shirt being pulled from the behind and turning around; he saw Lily standing there with an excited face. "What happened Lily," Karol asked with a curious look. "Lily wants to show brother something that she has saved it for a week," Lily said with an excited face and pulled Karol with her to the Kitchen. Karol just goes with her with a clueless look. Entering that Kitchen, she stopped pulling Karol and ran towards the lower drawer in the kitchen and take out something from it. She then walked towards Karol showed his the objects with an excited face. "Huh, why are you showing me this candy," Karol asked with a confused face. "This is the candy lily stored for one week to give it to brother when he comes back while also protecting it from bad brother Robert," Lily said with a proud face. "You don''t need to give me this candies, you should eat it for yourself," Karol said with a smile. "No, I can''t as this is for you brother," Lily said with a pout. "Then how about this, I am giving this candies to Lily so she can forgive me for coming home late," Karol said while laughing. "Then...Lily forgives brother and will take the candies." Lily said while patting Karol''s head. Karol suddenly laughed by her gesture. "Why are you laughing?" Lily asked with a confused face. "Oh! It''s nothing but have you already met Robert." Karol asked, looking at Lily. "Yes, I have met bad brother Robert, and he is terrible, but Aunty Joana is very good," Lily said while nodding her. "Robert is an idiot, but why do you think he is bad?" Karol asked, laughing. "Brother Robert always tries to steal Lily''s candies, but Aunty Joana punishes him and even give more candies to Lily," Lily said with a smile. "He is an idiot." Karol thought while shaking his head. "Lily, you should also share those candies with mother or she will get sad," Karol said while patting her head. "You are right brother as Lily didn''t think about that," Lily said and ran towards Karen''s room. "She is very innocent." Karol thought while laughing. He then stood up and started to walk towards his room. Entering his office, he locked the door and sat in the middle of the room. "Well then let''s check this strange powers." Karol thought while looking at his arm. Suddenly he walked towards his bed tried to lift it and was quickly able to do that. Then he transformed his arm and was still able to lift the bed easily. "Looks like I got some strange powers." Karol thought while smiling. "I can feel that I am at least two times stronger than some with the same rank as me with the same exercise." Karol thought with a big smile. "But my arm when the transformed arm is at least make my arm strength four times stronger." Karol thought with a surprised face. Then he sat in the middle of the room and tried to transform other body parts of his body but was still unable to do that even after half an hour of trying. "Looks like I can''t transform my other body parts." Karol thought while sighing. Then he started to experiment with his transformed arm. He first tried to make only his fingers transform and were able to do that. Then he tried to change just his upper arm and was still able to do that. He keeps experimenting with his arm for a few hours. "Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill.." A strange voice echoes those words in his mind. Hearing those voice Karol felt a peculiar headache, and just as he transformed his arm to humane one, the sound stopped, but he falls on the floor unconscious. 3 1. Karol In the town of Catorn, the sky was shining brightly and the people of the town were radiating an aura of joy and happiness as they were preparing for the upcoming festival. A young boy with a tense look can be seen running towards the north side of the town through the crowd of the people. Suddenly the boy bumped into a man and both of them falls down to the ground. "Hey! watch where are you walking." The man shouted in an angry voice. The boy looked towards the man with a hurried look, his red eyes out of focus and with an unruly brown hair. "I am sorry but I am in a real hurry." The boy said abruptly and started to run once again. "Hey! You shouldn''t treat¡­" Before the man could finish his sentence, the boy had already run past him. "Shit, I got to get there faster." The boy mumbled while breathing roughly. "Can''t it just fucking end." The boy shouted loudly looking at the sky. All the people surrounding him looked at him with a strange expression but the boy keeps running ignoring every one of them. A few hours ago. The birds were chirping loudly as the sun was rising up. The sunlight gleam through a window of a house falling on the face of a young boy who was sleeping soundly. "Karol, wake up." A voice of a woman was heard from the back of the house. "Few more minutes, Mom," Karol replied and fall asleep once again. "Have you forgotten about today''s event?" His mother replied in a stern tone. "What event?" Karol asked in a sleepy voice. "Today is the awakening ceremony." His mother replied angrily. "Oh! Shit." Karol shouted and wakes up abruptly. He quickly jumps out from the started to clean his bed hurriedly. Just as Karol finish cleaning his bed and tried to walk out of the room, he fell down on the ground by tripping on something. "What was that noise?" His mother asked hearing the noise. "It was nothing mom," Karol replied and looks towards the object he tripped. He found that he tripped on his books, looking at the books he just sighed and pick himself and his books that were scattered around his rooms. "That''s all done and now let''s go." Karol sighed looking at dozens of books on his table and then walked out of his room. Exiting the room, Karol walks at the back of his house towards his kitchen. "Have you brushed your teeth." His mother was facing opposite of him as she was preparing breakfast. "I was just going to do that," Karol replied and backed off from the kitchen and entered the room next to the kitchen. Entering the bathroom, he picked his wooden brush and apply the herbal mix on it and started to brush his teeth. "Today, I am finally going to become an absorber." Karol thought excitedly while looking in the mirror. After washing his face, he exited the room and entered the kitchen. "And here I was thinking, you were not interested to become an absorber." His mother having same hair brown hair colour but with blue eyes said looking at him while sitting on the dinner table with two plates in front of her. "Mom!" Karol said angrily. "I was just kidding." His mother said laughing. Hearing that Karol just laughed and sat down on the chair to eat the food. "You stayed up late, again didn''t you?" His mother asked looking at him sharply. Karol froze on his place hearing that, "What are talking about mom?" Karol asked laughing with an innocent face. "Well, the sounds of your books weren''t as silent as you thought." His mother said with a sharp voice. "Shit, I got to be more silent from now on." Karol thought with a calm face. "I asked you something, Young man." His mother asked with a fit of anger in his voice. "I am sorry mom and I will not it again from now on," Karol said with a quiet tone. "Karol, I am not angry about you reading the books but I am worried about your health as you are not sleeping properly." His mother said in a worried voice. "Ok mom, I promise to never stay up late from now on in this house but always be a happy mom," Karol said bowing. "I am happy as long as you stay healthy but enough about these things, let''s eat breakfast." His mother said laughing. "Thanks for the food," Karol said and started to eat breakfast. "It is t-t-tasty, mom," Karol said as the food was still in his mouth. "Eat what''s in your mouth first." His mother said laughing. Karol just nodded his head and ate the breakfast quietly. "Sorry, Karol but I won''t be able to come with you to the ceremony." His mother said after both of them finish their breakfast. "Huh! But why?" Karol asked with a surprised face. "I got some important things to do as today is your special day." His mother said laughing. "But¡­" Karol looked sad as his mother is not going to be present on one of his most special time. "Don''t be sad as I will have something special for you after the ceremony." His mother said patting his head. Karol just nodded his head with a smile. "I am going to change my clothes now," Karol said laughing. "Okay, kiddo." His mother replied and picked up his dishes. "I am going to get one of the best level bloodline." Karol thought as he was walking towards his room. After a while, Karol walked out of his room with changed clothes. "I should be going now, Mom," Karol said exiting the house. "All the best for your ceremony and be happy at whatever level you get." His mother said seeing him out. "Don''t worry mom, I am going to get the best level," Karol said excitedly while running towards the centre of the town. "If you were also here to see our son today on his special day." She thought with a sad face. Suddenly she shakes her head and said, "It''s not time to be sad." And walked inside of the house. 4 2. Ellie "Ah, am I forgetting something." Karol thought while he was running towards the street. "Oh s**t, I almost forgot about Ellie, I got to get there fast, or she will kill me." Karol thought and turned around to run in a different direction. After a while, Karol reached in front of a two-storey house made out of wood. "Ellie, come out," Karol shouted. Suddenly the door opened, and a cute girl comes out of the house. The girl was almost the same age as Karol having azure colour hair with deep sapphire coloured eyes. The girl was Ellie and also Karol''s girlfriend. "I still can''t believe she is my girlfriend." Karol thought with a smile. Two years ago. Karol was walking around the Lake at North of the town when he suddenly heard a splash in the Lake. "Help me." A shout was heard from the source of the splash and looking towards it Karol saw someone drowning in the Lake. Without a second thought, Karol jumped into the Lake and started to swim towards the drowning person. After reaching there, he grabbed hold the person and began to swim towards the shore of the Lake. After a while, he reached the ground and lay down the person on the ground to find the person to be a girl the same as him. He then started to push her chest to remove the water stuck in her chest. *Cough* *Cough* "Huh, I am alive?" The girl waked up and thought loudly. Looking around, she saw a boy sitting next to her, holding her chest. She then backed away from him and shouted, "Who are you and why are you grabbing my chest?". Karol was surprised by her behaviour but realized why she was like that and told her what happened. Hearing all of that, the girl suddenly bows and said, "Thanks for saving my life." Karol shakes his and said, "Ah! You don''t need to do that." "But.." The girl said as she was still grateful. "It''s okay but say what is your name?" Karol asked to change the topic. "It''s Ellie." The girl replied, and that''s how he met her. After that they become friends, and one year later, he confessed to her, and surprisingly she accepted his confession, and from then on, she is his girlfriend. "Karol, what are you thinking?" Ellie asked as he was standing there without saying anything. "Ah! It''s nothing." Karol said as he snapped out of his thought. "Okay, then let''s go," Ellie said with an excited face. "Huh! Isn''t your father is coming." Karol asked with a confused look. Hearing about her father, Ellie make a strange face for a second but regained her rational expression and said, "Ah, he is busy in work but will come after the test." Karol didn''t saw the change of emotion in Ellie. "Oh! Okay then, let''s go." Karol said, nodding his head. After the conversation, they started walking towards the town hall. While walking on the streets, Karol saw many street vendors preparing for the festival that was going to happen today. He even saw some selling artefacts and battle technique. "Once I will get stronger even I would be able to sell those to make a huge amount of money." Karol thought with a shrewd smile. "Hey, Karol come with me." Ellie suddenly said and pulled him towards an older woman selling some jewellery for woman. "Can I see it," Ellie asked, pointing towards a necklace. "Sure Milady, I am sure you will look beautiful in it." The old Lady said, giving the necklace to Ellie. Ellie then wears the chain and turns towards Karol and said, "How do I look?". "You are looking cute," Karol replied with a smile. "Then how much for these?" Ellie was happy hearing his compliment and asked the price of the necklace with an excited face. "It cost 12 copper, but for a cute girl like you, I will sell it for ten copper." The old Lady said with a smile. The currency of this kingdom is divided into three types of mineral coins that are copper, silver and gold, with 100 copper being equivalent to 1 silver and 100 silver being equal to 1 gold. Hearing the price, Karol was surprised and walked towards the Lady and said, "Mrs You are looking beautiful today." Hearing the sudden compliment, the Lady was startled but still replied, "Thank you, young man, but why a sudden compliment?" "I am just stating the truth, but can you give one more necklace," Karol said with a confident smile. "Sure, they will be 20 copper." The woman replied with a smile. "Ah, Mrs Can you give me a tiny bit of discount," Karol said with a smile. "Sure, young man and for you, I will sell it for 15 copper." The Lady replied with a smile. "Thank you very much, and your heart is as beautiful as you," Karol said and give the money to buy the necklace. "Ah! Thank you, young man, and here take this ring from me as a gift." The Lady said, happy by his compliment. "Ah! Thank you, and I should be going now." Karol said and left with Ellie. "Hope to see you again, young man." The woman said with a smile. "Even though I have seen it much time but I am still amazed by your bargaining skills." Ellie suddenly spoke with an excited face. Hearing that Karol laughed and said, "It''s just something you get when you like money." "You really just love money, huh?" Ellie said, shaking her head. "Yeah, I love money," Karol said, laughing. "I really can''t understand you in that," Ellie said and hearing that Karol just laughed and continued in their path. After a while, They were in front of a large building made out of stone and wood acting as the pillar. The building was the town hall where the bloodline testing was going to happen. Entering the town hall, they saw many of their peers sitting on the floor talking to each other with a stage in front of them having a podium on it. 5 3. The Star "Ladies First," Karol said with a smile. "Sure," Ellie replied and entered the town hall, Karol following behind her. "But, where is he?" Ellie asked looking towards Karol. "Well, I have the same ques- Ah! There he is." Karol said pointing towards a black-haired boy sitting in the front row. Then they started walking towards that boy. "Hey there Robert, we are finally here," Karol said after arriving in front of that Robert. Robert was looking at an emblem in his hand with a mighty eagle carved on it when he was interrupted by a voice and looks towards the source to find it to be Karol. "Oh, you are finally here. Well, I have already secured seats for you guys." Robert said grinning while pointing towards two empty chairs next to him. "Oh, and I was thinking that you had already forgotten about me," Karol said sat next to Robert while Ellie sat next to him. "What can I say, certain someone was still sleeping when I had gone to picked him up," Robert replied smiling. "Oh, right it''s not like you could have tried to certain someone up," Karol said laughing. "Well I Tried but that certain someone still didn''t wake up so I left him be," Robert replied laughing even harder. "You are right, I would have done the same," Karol replied laughing even harder and garnering the attention of their peers towards him. "Right." Robert laughed even harder. Both of them keep trying to laugh harder than the other. *Cough* *Cough* Both of them suddenly started to cough while other kids started to laugh due to them. Ellie just gives both of them water with a red face. "Are you kids or what?" Ellie asked looking at both of them. Both of them could only sit there with red faces as all the kids were laughing at them. "Silence." A rough voice was suddenly heard from the stage. The people in the hall all got silent and all eyes were toward a bearded but muscular man probably in his 40s carrying a huge bone sword behind his back. The man was the mayor of the town and his name was Angus Fowler. Angus then walked towards the podium and looked towards all the 14 years old and took a deep breath and said, "I am glad that all of you showed yourself¡­". "Hey, where are uncle and aunty?" Karol whispered to Robert while Angus speech was still going on. "Well they had some worked left to be finished so they couldn''t come with me," Robert replied grinning. Hearing that Karol smiled and said, "You are thinking what I am thinking." "Yup totally and I am up for it but what about Ellie," Robert asked looking at Ellie. "Sure, I am up for having some fun in the festival as my d-dad is also busy in some work," Ellie replied calmly while still looking towards the stage. "That''s great." Both Karol and Robert said loudly at the same time. "You shouldn''t shout right now as the mayor speech is still going on," Ellie whispered to bot of them as Angus almost heard both of them. "Okay we talk quietly now Robert," Karol whispered. "Yup totally quiet,?? Robert whispered back. "You two stop talking with each other," Angus shouted looking towards both of them. "You idiots," Ellie mumbled. "Yes Sir." Both of them replied saluting. "Okay as I was saying, I am happy for all of you kids as you are finally going to be entering the world of absorbers and today I Mayor of this town also known as Angus Fowler present here as the representative of absorbers for you kid would like to welcome you all in the world of magic, might, strength, fantasies, dream and most commonly known as the world of absorbers." Hearing that everyone started clapping. Hearing the last part of the speech Karol just laughed instead of clapping while Robert looks at the Emblem in his hand with determination and Ellie just looked straight ahead with a calm face. Then suddenly bright light flashed from Angus''s hand and after the light diminished, present there was a transparent sphere on the podium. "Now let''s start the bloodline testing so you can enter the world of absorbers," Angus said in a dignified manner. Every kid looked at translucent eyes with excited eyes, waiting to know what stored in there for the future of their life "Okay I will announce your name one by one and at your call come to the podium so first, Robert, come ahead," Angus said after his speech was over. Hearing that Robert nodded his head. "All the best," Karol said with a smile. "Thanks," Robert said and walked towards the Mayor. "Here prick your finger with this," Angus said, giving Robert a needle. Taking the needle, Robert pricked his finger. "Put your finger on that sphere," Angus said. Robert then put his bloodied finger on the spherical object, and the spherical object started glowing. After the glow disappeared, there was seven red light inside the sphere. "Oh! You got a level 7 bloodline." Angus said with a surprised face. "Thank you," Robert said with a smile and started to walk towards Karol and Ellie with a huge grin. "You got pretty lucky. Congratulations on becoming an absorber." Karol said with a smile as level 7 bloodline is above average level. "Hehe, just you wait how I will surpass you," Robert said, laughing. "We will see," Karol replied with a smile. "You guys don''t start to fight once again," Ellie said with a desperate face. "Ah, don''t worry about that." Both of them said at the same time, and they started laughing. "Ellie come ahead," Angus said after few more test happened, but not a single one was able to surpass Robert level. "All the best." Karol cheered her with a smile. "Thanks," Ellie replied and started to walk towards the Angus nervously. "Don''t worry kid and just take a deep breath," Angus said as he realised Ellie was still nervous. Ellie then nodded and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Here take this," Angus said, giving her the needle. Ellie took the needle and pricked her finger with it. Then she put her bloodied finger on the spherical object, and just as she put her finger on the object, it started to glow with light more luminous then Robert. 6 4. Awakening Just as the glow in sphere disappeared, there was nine red light glowing on it. Everyone was surprised in the town hall by Ellie''s bloodline level. "Go, tell them." Angus suddenly shouted, looking towards the back of the stage. "Yes, sir." A man suddenly appeared in a full black suit with an emblem on his chest with a large tree carved on it replied and ran out of the town hall. Suddenly the ring on Angus''s finger glow and a chair appeared on his hand. He put the chair and looked towards Ellie with respect and said, "Why don''t you sit down, miss." Everyone was surprised by the sudden change in Angus''s behaviour towards Ellie and also the sudden appearance of the man out of nowhere. Ellie was surprised but still nodded her head and sit down on the chair. "Everyone let''s continue the test," Angus said to grab everyone attention. Karol was looking at Ellie, but Ellie didn''t even glance at him. "Don''t worry, she is probably surprised by the events," Robert said to Karol. "You are right," Karol replied. "But she got some great luck as she got level 9 bloodline," Robert said, laughing. "You are right," Karol said with a smile as he was happy for her. A few minutes later. Only four people remained in the town hall that was Karol who have his test still not happened, Robert who was waiting for Karol and Ellie, Angus who was taking the test and lastly Ellie who was still sitting on the chair thinking about something. "Karol," Angus said. "You turn finally came and here I was thinking you were not even on the list," Robert said laughing. "Well even I didn''t expect that my turn will be that late, anyway I should be going now," Karol replied laughing and started to walk towards Angus while Ellie who didn''t even look at him and was lost in her own world making some strange expression. "Here, prick your finger with this," Angus said, giving him a needle. Nodding his head, Karol took the needle and pricked his finger with this, but strangely he didn''t feel any pain at all. "Huh! Why am I not feeling any pain?" Karol asked with a confused face. "It''s because of that needle," Angus replied. "Huh! What do you mean by that?" Karol asked inspecting the needle. "Well it''s a special artefact but enough about this, you should continue the testing." The Angus said. "Ah! Okay, sir." Karol said and give back the needle and then put his bloodied finger on the spherical object. Just as he put his blood falls on that sphere, a strange red light started glowing from it. Karol felt a surreal but calming sensation in his body. Suddenly, an organ opened near his brain, and a layer of the membrane around his body was awakened throughout his body that was dormant till now. The organ that opened was the mana absorbing organ that a human has since his birth but is dormant and is awakened by the help of the testing. The membrane is mana membrane that also was dormant till the testing. The mana membrane is used for the flow of mana inside the body to strengthen it or use skills or spells. Karol was thrilled that he finally becomes an Absorber. He also started to felt the mana around the surrounding but not accurately and even the mana inside his body that wasn''t much. Karol realized he was still unranked and he needed to strengthen himself to the limit to get to the next rank. Karol was still unranked, so he didn''t feel any sudden strength gain or anything. "Yes, I have finally in the realm of the absorber and just a little strengthening, and I will be a mortal rank." Karol thought happily. But suddenly his happy expression turned into a sad one as he looked towards the sphere to find his rank to be only level-2. Suddenly, he felt someone hand on his shoulder and turning around he saw Angus looking at him with sad eyes and said, "It''s okay, and I am sure you will be able to overcome your low level." Even though he said that he knows that it''s possible to become strong with that level but it will be very tough. "Thanks and I will be alright," Karol said and started to walk towards Robert. While walking, Karol suddenly put his hand his chest and while smiling said, "I am sure, I will be able to do something." "Hey, I am sure you will be able to do something," Robert said with a smile. "Yeah, you are right," Karol replied with a smile. Suddenly the gate of the town hall was opened, and a boy older looking than Karol entered the area. The boy had a handsome face with green eyes and hair, and his clothes were also made out of expensive-looking material with an emblem on his chest carved a big tree on it. "Where is level 9 one is?" The boy asked, looking at Angus. Angus suddenly bows in front of him and point towards Ellie. "You can go then." The boy said, looking at the Angus. "Okay, sir." The Angus said with respect and exited the town hall. The boy then started to walk towards Ellie. After reaching in front of Ellie, he bowed and took her hand to kiss on it. "I, William Woods, would like to congratulate you for your successful bloodline test," William said with a huge smile. "Who are you?" Ellie asked with a confused face. "Well, I, William Wood son of Earl Wood is very grateful to be in your presence." He said proudly. "Earl?" Ellie asked as he heard this term for the first time. "Oh, right you wouldn''t have heard about nobles, right?" William asked and to that Ellie just shakes her. "Well, in the Empire of Bourgnear the people are recognized by two things one is their strength and other is their Nobel rank," William said with a smile. "What are these Nobel ranks?" Ellie asked. "Well, the noble rank is divided into ten parts that are Peasant which are you, then Knights, Baronet, Baron, Viscount like that Angus, Earl like me, Marquis, Duke, and lastly the royal family," William said. "I understand But why are you here," Ellie asked with a confused face. "Well, I wanted you to come to our family and marry me," William said with a smile. 7 5. Hur Karol was looking at William and Ellie with curious eyes and even though he proposed to his girlfriend he didn''t even move from his place. "Let''s see what she chooses." Karol thought. As Ellie heard William proposal, she looked at Karol having a weak background and an uncertain but also a weak future, then at William having a powerful background and uncertain but a powerful future and it wasn''t tough to choose whom. "If I remain with Karol, there is no great future for me, and if I choose him, then my future will be great, and I will also be able to kill that man." Ellie suddenly gets angry thinking about that man. Ellie suddenly sighed and calmed her expression. William suddenly got nervous thinking she will reject him but tried to maintain his confident demeanour. "Can I ask you something?" Ellie asked with a blank face. "Ask me anything you want," William replied with a smile. "If I accept your proposal, then can I be able to defeat an expert rank absorber," Ellie asked looking straight into William''s Eyes. "Well, you can easily defeat an absorber of that rank, heck if you accept my proposal then you can get absorbers at rank as your slaves," William said with enthusiasm as he couldn''t lose a talent of this level. "Okay then I will accept your proposal," Ellie replied with an excited face. "Now I will finally be able to torture that man." Ellie thought with loathing in her eyes. Hearing her reply William laughed happily but Robert looked at Ellie with an angry face and then looked towards Karol and he was surprised as Karol was just standing there smirking with a calm face. Then William holds Ellie''s hand and started to walk towards the exit. Just as they walked past Karol, he turned around and said, "Hey, Ellie can I ask you something." Karol asked with a calm expression. "Sure, why not?" Ellie turned around and replied with a smile. Hearing that both William and Robert looked at them with curious eyes. "Why did become my girlfriend anyway as I know you didn''t love me," Karol asked with a blank face. "Well it was simple as boys of this town kept bothering me and among them, you were the easiest to fool and so I became your girlfriend and also I never loved you but instead hated you." Ellie replied with a sinister smile as she wanted to see his broken face but was surprised while Robert was stunned as Karol just grinned and said, "Okay then you can go now." "You¡­" Before Ellie can finish her sentence, William grabbed her hand and said, "Let''s go as shouldn''t waste your time in a place like this." Hearing that Ellie just nodded her head while Karol just smiles. Looking at his expression Ellie got angry but didn''t say anything and started to walk with William. "I can believe you wasted your time with a piece of trash like him and I am sure even his parents are some piece of¡­" Before William could finish his sentence, he was sent flying away from his position as he was punched by Karol on his face. "Don''t say a fucking word about my family." Just as Karol finished his sentence, he was sent flying as William punched on his stomach as smashed on the podium. "You fucking dare to punched my precious face now I am going to kill you off," William said then swiped down his arm as the green light came from his arm. Suddenly Vines appear below Karol and Robert, trapping both of them to the ground. Then William walked towards now struggling Karol and put a dagger above on his neck and said, "You shouldn''t have punched my precious face now I am going to cut you into pieces and feed you to my pets." William said with a devious smile as Karol struggled to remove from the vines. "Wait!" Ellie shouted as William was about to killed Karol. "What?" William asked with a cold face as he stopped the dagger to stab Karol''s neck. "I have a way to make him suffer each moment of his life till he is alive," Ellie said with a sinister smile. "Oh, what is that?" William asked with a curious face. "You should cripple her mother as he will keep suffering looking at her condition." Hearing that William looked at her with a confused face while Karol looked at her with bloodshot eyes. "But isn''t it better to cripple him or kill his mother," William asked pointing towards Karol. "Well it is not as he will kill himself if you cripple him and he will only suffer for a few months if you kill his mother," Ellie replied with a calm smile. "But what will be different if I cripple his mother," William asked as he was getting little annoyed. "Well, you can already tell by your left cheek that he absolutely loves his mother and if you cripple her he will keep suffering every moment in his life as he will not be able to heal her as he is poor and secondly he has a very low talent," Ellie replied with a sinister smile. Hearing all of that Karol increased his struggle to remove from the vines while in the process his body started getting bruised. "You are cruel, but I also like your idea," William said with a surprised look but a sinister smile. "Sometimes, circumstances make you cruel, but enough talking and let''s go from here," Ellie said with a blank face. "Okay, but where is the target location," William asked. "Towards the north," Ellie said. Then William grabbed Ellie and disappeared from that area. After they disappeared, the vines binding Karol and Robert disappeared, and both of them were set free. Then Karol immediately stood up and run out of the town hall. "Wait, I am also coming with you," Robert shouted as he finally regained his calm and began to run with Karol. "No, you should go and bring the doctor to my house." Karol retaliated. "Ah... Okay." Robert said as he realized they wouldn''t be able to reach that place before them, so he started runs towards the east side to get the doctor of the village. 8 6. Crippled Opening the door Karen entered the house with a box in her hand. Closing the door behind her, she entered the room right next to the main door. "I am sure he will be happy seeing all of these gifts." Karen thought to put the box on the bed. "Now let''s cook some meal for this special day." Karen thought with a smile and exited the room and started to walk towards the kitchen. Standing in front of the stove she closed her eyes and put her hand forward, suddenly the stove lightened up with fire. Suddenly, a drop of tear felled down from her cheeks as she looked at the fire. "I wish he was also here to see how our son has grown." Karen thought as she wiped her tears. Suddenly a knock was heard from the front door. "Coming," Karen said as she put on a happy face and extinguishing the fire as the wind comes out from her hands. The knock was heard once again, "Yes, I am coming." Karen said and walked towards the front door. Opening the door, she saw a young man in his 16 standing there. "Yes, how can I help you." She asked with a smile. "Well, by crippling." The young man replied with a sinister smile. "What¡­" Before she could have said anything, she was attacked on her neck and fall down to ground unconsciously. "It was easy as I expected," William said laughing. "Well you should cripple her legs now," Ellie said appearing from the side of the building. "Why only her legs? Shouldn''t I cripple all her limbs." William asked with a confused face. "Because if you just cripple her legs then it will give a glimmer of hope to heal her, he will try and each time he will fail, he will suffer more and more but will keep trying as that hope will be always there," Ellie replied with a cold face. "Woah! You are cruel than I could have imagined." William said with a surprised face. "So are you going to do that or not," Ellie asked with cold eyes. William expression changed as he smiled and said, "You are cruel but you are definitely my type." As he holds his hand above Karen and a few seconds later two large water balls appear on her legs, he then swiped down his hand as both of the water balls fell on her each leg. Just as water balls touched her legs, a bone-crushing sound was heard. William smiled and said, "Let''s go from this place now." William said as he holds out his hand. Ellie then nodded her head and put her hand on his and disappeared from the area. Present Time. Karol kept running through the crowd while stumbling with people on a few occasions but he kept running with desperation on his face while his body kept aching at each step but he kept running. Just as he arrived in front of his house, he fell down as he saw his worst fear coming true in front of his eyes. "No, No, No, it can''t be happening again," Karol shouted with fear as his mother''s injured body lied there while blood flowing from her legs. Karol suddenly slapped himself and shouted, "It isn''t the time for sitting here, I got to stand up." After some struggle, he finally calmed himself down and carried his injured mother inside the room opposite his and lay her down on the bed. After laying her down on the bed, he ran towards the next room and started to search for the medicines and bandages in the drawer. Picking up the medicines and bandages, he ran towards the other room and then carefully started to apply medicines on her wounds and tying it up with bandages to stop the blood from flowing out. After a while he finished bandaging her wounds, then he smiled looking towards her face which was calm and peaceful. Just he clenched his fist with anger as he saw her swollen neck, "I will fucking kill the bastard." Karol thought with bloodshot eyes. Suddenly the main door was knocked. "Looks like they are finally here." Karol thought as he immediately ran towards the door. Opening the door, he saw Robert standing there next to a woman in her early twenties wearing a large white coat with disoriented black hair. "Aunty Sasha, mother is injured," Karol said with an anxious face. Suddenly she patted his head and said, "Don''t worry I will heal Karen." And walked towards the rooms in which Karen was present. Entering the room, she clenched her fist looking at Karen''s wound. "Is mom going to be alright?" Karol as with an uneasy face. "Don''t worry she will be alright until I am healing her, you two stay outside." She said with a smile and entered the room while closing the door behind her. Both Karol and Robert stayed standing outside the rooms, "Thanks for that, Robert." Karol said bowing. For a few moments, Robert didn''t say anything, looking up Karol saw Robert standing there with a dazed face. "Hey, are you alright." Karol asked shaking his body, "Huh? Yeah? Did you say anything?" Robert asked with a confused face. "Are you alright?" Karol asked with a worried face. "Ah! I am but did you say anything." Robert said with a smile. "Well can you stay here as I wanted to go somewhere," Karol said looking towards Robert. "Huh, where are you going at this moment?" Robert asked with a confused face. "Well it is something I can''t tell right now but can you stay here," Karol asked with a pleading face. "Okay then," Robert replied nodding his head. Karol the exited the room and started to walked the west side of the town, a few moments later Robert also started to walked towards the westside of the town. 9 7. Healed? Karol was standing in front of a tree next to a lake. He suddenly put his right hand on his left hand and started to forcefully remove a ring from his finger, after some trouble he was finally able to remove the ring from his finger while cutting his finger a bit. He then pulled out a necklace from his pocket and looked at both items in his hands with a bloodshot eye. Suddenly he pulled his hands backwards and throws both items in the lake and looked towards the tree as he clenched both of his fists and started to punch the tree. Robert arrived near the lake as he saw Karol punching the trees as blood started to leak out from his hands. Robert just stands there looking at Karol while clenching his fist as his hand started to pale from the force. "Only if I haven''t said that then he would have not suffered this fate once again." Robert thought as he started to clench his fist more tightly and blood started to leak out from his hands. Suddenly Karol stopped punching the trees and put his fist on the tree and shouted loudly as he slowly falls down to the ground. Karol laid on the ground looking at the sky as a leave falls on his face as suddenly started laughing loudly as he covered his eyes with his arms. Drops of water can be seen on both his cheeks as he kept laughing but after a while, the laughter completely died down and what followed was sound of wind hitting the leaves and chirping of birds. "Have you finally calmed down?" Robert asked looking at Karol who was laying there silently. "Well, I can have expected you to follow me and looks like I was right," Karol said as he jumped up to stand with a smile but traces of tears can be still be seen. "Well, you know me the best anyway," Robert said laughing as he sat down under the tree. "You are right," Karol replied laughing as he sat next to Robert but what followed was silence as both of them look towards the sky. "I am sorry." Robert suddenly said while still looking at the sky. "You don''t need to as it was not your fault," Karol replied with a calm face. "But if I didn''t have done that then¡­" Robert couldn''t finish his sentence as Karol said, "You couldn''t have predicted this could have happened so don''t bring it up anymore". Robert wanted to say something but couldn''t as he didn''t know what to say. "Hey, do you want to know something interesting about this tree," Karol asked looking at Robert with an excited face to which he just nodded his head. "It was an amazing coincidence but I met him and Ellie at this place and both of them turned out to be same," Karol said laughing hearing that Robert''s eyes widened from the surprise but he couldn''t do or say anything but let him suffer alone. "Amazingly I am not hurt by Ellie at all as because of him but I will kill that noble one day," Karol said as laughing face suddenly turned into a cold one. "Let''s go back." Robert suddenly said clenching his fist with sorrow. "Wait let me wash my face first," Karol said as washed his face and bloodied hand while Robert washed his bloodied hand too. Both of them silently wash their wound quietly and then walk back to Karol''s house but there was an awkward silence present between them. At Karol''s house. Sasha looked at bandages around Karen''s legs and thought, "It''s a good thing he has to stop the flow of the blood." As she put her hand above her legs while closing her eyes and suddenly white light appeared below her hand as the light touched Karen''s legs it disappeared. "Legs are healed." Sasha thought happily as she tried to remove the bandages but she saw Karen''s swollen neck as she clenched her fist but calmed herself down as she repeats the process once again as her swollen neck finally healed. Then she started to remove the bandages from her legs and what revealed was a fully healed leg. Sasha then touched Karen''s leg to check the condition but she felt something strange touching the legs, "It couldn''t be possible." Sasha thought with a worried face she once and tried the healing spell but in bigger in size but she still wasn''t able to do anything. "Huh, what happened?" Karen asked as she slowly wakes up. "Huh! What are you doing here and what am I doing here in this room?" Karen asked while looking around the room with a confused face. "I will tell everything you later but can you move your legs right now," Sasha asked with an anxious face. "Huh, what are you talking about of co- huh? Why can''t I move my legs?" Karen asked with a confused face. "Look like the bones of the legs have broken," Sasha said with a gloomy face. "Okay, I understand but how did this happen?" Karen asked with a calm face. "Even I don''t know when I was here you were here injured while Karol treated you," Sasha said looking at Karen. "Huh? Where is Karol? Is he alright?" Karen suddenly asked with a concerned face. "Don''t worry he is alright and just standing outside," Sasha said with a calm face. "Can you tell him to come inside, I want to see him myself," Karen said with a worried face. "You should calm down and I will send him inside," Sasha said as she exited the room. Exiting the room, she was surprised looking at the condition both of the kids were in, "Huh? How did you two injured your hands?" Sasha asked as she started to heal both of their hands. "It is nothing but is mom alright," Karol asked with an anxious face. "You- just go inside, she is waiting for you." Just as Sasha said that he immediately ran into the room. "We need to talk about everything," Sasha said looking at Robert to which he just nodded his head. 10 8. Inciden Entering the room, he saw his mother looking out of the window towards the sky. Karol''s eyes suddenly reddened and filled with tears but Karol shakes his head to calm his emotion. "Mom, how are you now?" Karol asked with a smile on his face. Karen turned around as she looked towards Karol with an anxious face and asked, "Are you alright? You are not injured, right? And how did this happen?". "Don''t worry mom I am alright and not injured at all and about how this happens¡­" Karol then started to narrate what happened but he leaves out the detail of him being injured. After hearing all of the details, Karen sighed in relief as she looked towards Karol with a calm face and said, "Come here." Hearing that Karol gets worried but still walked towards her. Suddenly she hugged him, "I am very happy that you are alright and if something had happened to you, I wouldn''t have been able to live." She said with tears flowing from her eyes. "Why, why, why¡­" Karol suddenly started mumbling. "Huh? What happened?" She asked with a worried. Suddenly removed himself from her hug and look towards her with reddened and teary eyes. "Why are you not angry? It happened once again and all because of me. Because of me that time and this time too you are injured and suffering the consequences because of me, so why are you worried about me and not angry, only if I wasn''t here then¡­" Karen suddenly slapped Karol and looked towards him with teary eyes and said, "Don''t ever say that again as I have already lost your dad and don''t want to lose you." As she hugged him tightly. "But, but¡­" Karol mumbled as tears flowed down his cheeks and fell on Karen''s hand. "Because you are my son and that''s it and you will never talk about this again, promise me," Karen said as she slowly caressed his hair. Hearing that Karol nodded his head as he kept crying in her embrace and she slowly caressed his hair. "Look''s like he felled asleep," Karen mumbled as she slowly put his head on her lap. "Don''t talk like that ever again as it hurts me the most as you are my child," Karen whispered with a smile as she wipes his tears. "Only if that incident didn''t had happen years ago then all of this wouldn''t have happened to you as your father would have been still here to fix everything," Karen whispered as she put his head in her shade as the sunlight fell on them. A few Hours Later. "Huh? Where am I?" Karol waked up and looking up he saw his mother looking at him with gentle eyes. Suddenly he stands straight up as he bowed and said, "I am really sorry about that." "Huh, what are you talking about?" Karen asked with a smile. "Where I said I should have¡­" Before he could finish, she interfered and said, "Oh! You are talking about that but I am sorry as I didn''t listen properly." As she shows a wide smile. Suddenly Karol realized what she was trying to do as he laughed and said, "It''s nothing mom." Suddenly a knocking was heard from the main door. "I will go check who it is," Karol said and walked towards the main door. Opening the door, he saw Robert standing there with two adults behind him, they were Robert''s mother and father. "Uncle Stephen and Auntie Rebecca welcome," Karol said bowing his head. Suddenly Rebecca hugged Karol as she looks at him with a worried face and asks, "Robert told me everything, are all right? And nothing happened to you right?" "Don''t worry auntie nothing happened to me and if something would have happened to me then you would be only worsening my injuries by hugging me," Karol said laughing. Both Robert and Stephen laughing and Rebecca stopped hugging Karol and was embarrassed. "Ow." Karol moaned as Rebecca lightly hit his head. "You two stop laughing and You really like playing pranks on me huh? And where is Karen?" She asked with a strict voice. Both Robert and Stephen stopped laughing and Karol laughed awkwardly and said, "I am sorry about and mom is in her room resting." Hearing that Rebecca nodded her head and walk ahead. Suddenly Karol stomach grumbled, "As I have expected you haven''t eaten anything right, let''s go inside as there is food for all of us." Stephen said laughing as he pointed a box in his hand. "Thanks, uncle," Karol said with an appreciative face. "Don''t worry about the formalities and let''s go eat some food as both of us are also hungry," Stephen said laughing and all three of them entered the room next to Karol''s room. "Hey! Is Aunty Karen alright." Robert whispered as Stephen was setting up the plate. "She is alright right now but she can''t walk right now as her injuries still haven''t healed fully but where aunty Sasha," Karol asked with a confused. "She is at the clinic and she will be back tomorrow but something was strange," Robert said with an anxious face. "Huh, what do you mean by that?" Karol asked with a confused face. "She was acting oddly when she was back at the clinic as she kept looking for something," Robert said with a worried face. "You two come now as the food is ready to be eaten." Stephen suddenly said. "We will ask from Aunty Sasha about it tomorrow," Karol said and walk towards the table to eat the food. Robert just nodded and followed him behind. 11 Ch. 9 Robert sat next to Stephen while Karol sat opposite to them as they started to the food but there was an awkward silence present between them as they eat the food. Suddenly Stephen coughed as the kids look at him, he said, "So, kids what are your plans after this ceremony." "I will stay with mom for few days and then try to enrol into Berth Academy," Karol replied with a calm face. "Me too, I am also planning to enrol into that academy." Robert followed up. "That''s great then as both you will there and can help each other out," Stephen said cheerfulness. "That''s right," Karol said smiling while Robert just nodded his head with a strange expression. But the atmosphere once again becomes silent as they continued eating. "You kids are really lucky that you are born in this time," Stephen said laughing. To which Karol just nodded his head while Robert looked at him with a confused face and asked, "What do you mean by that?" "Oh! You wouldn''t have known about the war 13 years ago, Karol do you also don''t know about it?" Stephen asked looking at him to which Karol just nodded his head. "From what I have learned from the book, there was war 13 years ago between the Empire and the rebels but even though Empire won the war they suffer great consequences after that such as losing their many powerful warriors and many citizens but what it''s had to do with the academy," Karol asked with a confused face. "Do you kids know why many adults before the war didn''t attend the academy," Stephen asked smiling. "Because they didn''t have enough money," Karol replied as Robert also nodded his head. "No that''s not the reason, many adults didn''t attend the academy because they choose not to but because they couldn''t," Stephen said as he looks up to the roof while the kids were confused. "13 years ago, the academy was only for the nobles but that changed as the rebels use normal citizens who were well trained against us and the empire was barely was able to win and after that, they opened the academy for normal citizens too," Stephen said with a strange face. "So, basically they opened the academy for us because likes of us proved to be useful for the enemies," Karol said with a cold face. Suddenly Stephen laughed loudly and said, "You could also say that." "Do you kids want to know something special about the war while I was in it?" Stephen asked with an excited face. Suddenly, Karol expression changed into an odd one after hearing he was in the war while Robert just nodded his head. "Well in the war, it wasn''t the King that led the empire to victory but was a mysterious man that led us to victory and he was even stronger than the King and he even killed the leader of the Rebels in one his and I witness it happen right in front of my eyes." Stephen narrates to them with an excited face. "Huh! So, who was that and where is he now?" Robert and Karol asked with at the same time. "Well I don''t know who he was and he mysteriously disappeared after the war never to be heard again," Stephen said with an awkward smile while both their excitement died down. Suddenly a cough was heard near the door and at the door, Rebecca can be seen standing there with a blank face. "Stephen come with me and also take some food for Karen and ourselves and kids wait here as we adult have something important to discuss," Rebecca said with a gentle smile. Stephen nodded his and walked out of the room with Rebecca while holding the food. "And why are so loud there? Don''t you know there was someone injured in the house." Rebecca said with an angry face as they walked away a little. "I was just trying to lighten up the mood of the kids," Stephen said as he laughed awkwardly. "With what? Your made-up stories." "It is a real one." "Yeah, Yeah, like how some that famous disappeared from the world." "Uh¡­" Stephen didn''t know said anything and just walked. Both Karol and Robert were laughing in the Room as they heard their conversation but stopped laughing after a while and just ate their food. "Karol, I wanted to say something." Robert suddenly said with a serious face. "Huh, what is it?" Karol asked with a confused face. "I am sorry as I wasn''t able to help at the town hall," Robert said with a serious face. "Ah! It''s okay" Karol said with a smile. "No it''s not as I didn''t even move to helped you, even as he was about to kill you I didn''t move, as for the second time in my life I felt so weak and only if I had done something it would have never happened," Robert said and then sighed loudly. Karol could only eat his food silently as he didn''t know what to say as he knows his dream. A few minutes later. After a while, both of them finished their food but they didn''t talk with each other. Suddenly the door opened and Stephen enter the room and said, "Kids get ready as we three will be going to the festival." "I am sorry but I wouldn''t be able to come as I am very tired right now," Karol said with an apologetic face. "Ah! It''s okay, you would be tired right now after all of what happened today." Then Robert and Stephen walked towards the main door. "Ah! I almost forget, Karol there is something from your mother in your room." Stephen said as just he was about to leave. "Thanks for telling and have fun at the festival," Karol said and closed the main door as both of them left. Karol entered his room to see a box on his bed but he ignored it and walked towards the window as he looks at the sky while clenching his fist. Suddenly, a noise was heard and the night sky was lightened up with the fireworks, Karol and Robert both looked at the same time and said, "Am I weak¡­" "I am weak¡­" And looked towards the sky and said, "But Will I be strong." "But I will be strong." 12 10. Mana Formation "Let''s check what''s inside that box," Karol mumbled under his breath as he opens the box and inside it was 5 books. He picked up the first book titled ''Limit Breaker Exercise.", and looked the book with a complicated eye and put down the book beside him as he picked up the second book and mumbled, "I will read this tomorrow." As he also put this book beside him and picked up the three third book and looked at with a confused face and just put it down too. "Huh, why is this blank?" Karol mumbled with a confused face as there was not a single word on it as put it down near the other three books and sighed loudly. Then he picked up the last book and just as he read the title his eyes glimmered with excitement and he ran towards his table immediately. "Ow!" Karol groaned in pain as he stopped and mumbled, "Shit, my whole body is hurting." But he just shakes his head and started to look for something in the piles of books on his table. "Ah! Here it is." Karol should in excitement as he read the title of the book named, ''Basic Knowledge of Mana Formation." Inside he read were, ''A mana formation is something very special and also one of the core reasons to what lead humanity to what it is today. It created 700 years ago in the time of¡­'' "Not the Origin." Karol mumbled as he started to skim through the book, "Ah! There it is." Karol mumbled as he started to read the book once again. ''The gland that opened in the human in the process of the Bloodline Awakening is known as Mana Purifier as it absorbs from the surrounding and purifies the mana to a certain level to help a human to strengthen their body or mind but the organ has a huge flaw as it can only refine 50% of mana but only if that human had a level ten bloodline in half an hour.'' Reading that part Karol sighed with disappointment and mumbled, "Looks like it will tough to grow strong fast with 10% of purification half an hour." But he just shakes his head and with a determined face started to read the book once again. ''But there is a way that even those with a low level of the bloodline can gain strength fast and that with the help of mana formation. The Formation is divided into two parts that are manual one and auto one, there is not much difference between them as manual one needed some part of mind power to purify the mana whereas the auto one can work without any mind power to work and even will purify your mana without the human noticing.'' Karol then immediately opened the Mana Formation and a smile appeared on his face as he mumbled, "Looks like my luck is not entirely run out as I have the auto one." And just laughed awkwardly and continued reading the book. ''Just like the Mana Purifier it''s limit of purification is also 50% and also like its counterpart it is also divided into 10 levels and from lowest level giving the power of 5% purification to the highest giving the power of 50% purification.'' Karol then looked into the other book and mumbled, "Well it''s better than nothing that I got the level 5 one at least." And continued reading, ''You can learn the Formation by creating a distinct formation given in your book and creating it with purified mana in the middle of mana purifier.'' Then he just skims through all the book until the last part where written was, ''But there is something strange about this formation as it is strangely complementing the humans and can''t go over after it''s maxed level like it was created by someone intentionally just for the humans. The reason it is a huge mystery because it was not created first by humans but was found.'' And the book just abruptly just ended. "Even after all this year the only thing I remember from this book is this and still I wasn''t able to find anything about it," Karol mumbled while laughing sluggishly. "Well let''s make the formation," Karol mumbled and looked at the formation in the books that was a square with circles on each of its corner and one in its middle. Karol then sat down in the middle of the room and put the book in front of him and then closed his eyes. Suddenly a blue line appeared from the book and touched the forehead of Karol. Karol then looked around in his organ to find himself in a space covered with blue clouds. "Its good thing all my mana is purified as he started to created the same formation that was in the book but just as he created the square and two circle his mana fully ran out. "Let''s wait for a while," Karol mumbled as he absorbs mana from his surrounding and after half an hour later his gland was fully filled with mana but it was little dark in colour as he then started to purify the mana. Five Hours Later. "It''s finally complete," Karol whispered in excitement as there was the huge formation in the middle of the organ floating while purifying the mana in the organ. Looking outside, Karol mumbled, "It''s still dark so I should finally get to the mortal rank." And then looked at the bed and mumbled, "And those will become useful at that rank." As he waited for his mana to be purified and started to strengthen his body and mind simultaneously to its limit. 13 11. 3 Weeks A blue light was surrounding Karol''s body as he was sitting there with his eyes closed. Suddenly the blue light burst then disappeared immediately as Karol open his eyes and with an excited face mumbled, "I finally reached the Early Mortal level." And then looked towards the mana formation book and with a calm face mumbled, "Looks like the book has also been destroyed." Then he picked himself up and walked towards his bed as he picked up the second book from the box and walked outside of the room. "Huh, Aunty Sasha is here," Karol muttered as he saw her in Karen''s room. "Karen, I wanted to tell you something important," Sasha said with a depressed face. "Go on," Karen replied with a calm face. "You aren''t able to move legs right..." To which Karen just nodded her head. "It''s because I wasn''t able to heal your legs as the bones of your legs have been totally destroyed," Sasha said with a sad face while Karen just listens to it with a calm face. "You would be able to heal her right," Rebecca asked with an anxious face. "Yes, I can heal her but..." "But What?" Rebecca asked with a worried face. "To heal her fully I need a certain potion that has a price of 50 Gold," Sarah said as she smiled sadly. "I am sure we will be able to collect that much money in a month or two." Rebecca said with hopeful eyes while hearing that Sarah face suddenly turned into a sorrowful as Karen notice the change in her emotions and asked, "What is the time limit?" Sarah was surprised to hear that but she calmed her emotions and said, "Three weeks." Hearing that Karen just nodded her while Rebecca was confused and asked, "What three weeks." To which Sarah sighed loudly and said, "I can only heal her in three weeks and if I don''t then she will never be healed." Sarah said with regret in her eyes while Rebecca can only stand there with a blank face. "You two don''t worry I am sure that I will be able to do something," Karen said with a smile on her face. "But..." Sarah mumbled but before she could finish, Rebecca interfered and said, "Not I but we will be able to do something." "I can''t understand you two ladies," Sarah said while shaking her head as both of them suddenly laughed. "Don''t tell anything to Karol as I am sure he will endanger himself to earn the money." Karen suddenly said with a serious face to which both of them just nodded her head. Karol suddenly shakes his head and with a calm face exited the house through the backdoor in the Kitchen. In the back of the house there a dirt patch and in the middle of it was an old tree. Karol then picked up a wooden sword hanging on the back on the wall and then walked in front of the tree and then swing the sword towards the tree but not a single scratch can be seen on the tree from the impact. "Not even a single scratch even when my power has been doubled," Karol said with calm face. Then he picked up the book titled, ''Power Slash.'' and then started to skim through it then he put down the book and picked up the sword as he mumbled, "Okay, so first put 30% of the mana on the sword through the membranes." As the sword started to covered in the blue light. "Now balance it equally throughout its edges." As the blue light started to disperse and cover the edge of the sword. "And then slash it." As the tree shook from the impact and there was a scar on the tree and the book also disappeared. "That''s good." Karol mumbled and suddenly he thought of something and mumbled, "What if I try to overload it with mana." And then closed his eyes and tried to overload the sword with more mana but he opened his eyes with surprise and mumbled, "Looks like I really need a skill book for it." And then he gave up the experiment. "Well, at least I can lower the mana output while trying to master this skill as I can at least use unpurified mana too to use this skill," Karol muttered as he started to practice the sword skill on the tree while the scratches started to accumulate on it from the repeated impact of the skill. A few hours later. Karol was lying on the ground with sweat pouring all over his body while the wooden sword was lying there broken next to him. "You should rest right now and not train." A voice was heard and turning around Karol saw Rebecca looking at him with worried eyes. "Well, it''s just have become a habit so I wasn''t able to stop," Karol said with a smile. "You really are some maniac training all day and I am sure Robert is also doing the same," Rebecca said while shaking her head while Karol just laughed. "So you going to eat breakfast or change your first," Rebecca asked while looking at him with all dirtied cloths. "Well, I am going to wash myself first then," Karol said as picked himself with the help of Rebecca. "Well then I have put your food on the table and if you need anything just tell me as I will in Karen''s Room," Rebecca said and entered the house with Karol following behind him. Karol then entered the bathroom to take a bath and then changed his clothes into something fresh. "Now time to eat some food." Karol mumbled as he started to eat the breakfast and just as he finished eating the food, Rebecca entered the Kitchen and said, "Just give me the plates and you should meet with your mother for now." "Thank Aunty," Karol said with a smile and walked towards his Karen''s Room. Entering the room he saw his mother sitting on the bed with a calm face. Karol expression turned into a sad one but he calmed his emotions and said, "Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something important." 14 12. Sword "Good Morning," Karol said as he entered the room. "Oh! You are finally awake, tell me how were the gifts." Karen asked with an excited face. "They were great and I have already learned the Mana Formation and the Sword Skill but there was something I wanted to ask," Karol said. "Huh? What is it?" Karen asked with a confused face. "It was about the gift as there was a blank book and a skill for an archer," Karol replied. "Oh That, Don''t worry about it as I will teach you archery when I am fully recovered and about that blank book, you will realise what it is when you get strong enough," Karen replied with a smile. Suddenly Karol face saddened but he calmed his emotion and with a curious face asked, "Huh, what is inside the book, can you tell me it''s content." "Well, even I don''t know about its content too," Karen said as she shrugged her shoulder. "And that book can also act as your reward for getting strong," Karen said laughing to which Karol just nodded his with a determined face. "Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something important." Karol suddenly said with a serious face. "Huh, What is it?" Karen asked with curiosity in her eyes. "I wanted to join the adventurer gui-" "No, you will not." Karen immediately rejected. "Mom but." No means no." Karen replied as she didn''t want him to endanger himself. "And can I ask why you are not letting him do it," Rebecca asked as she entered the room. "It''s because he will probably injure himself by taking some dangerous quest and he also doesn''t have any real combat experience," Karen replied while looking at Karol. "Then how about this Karol will not take any dangerous quest and it will be also beneficial for him as he gets real-life experience at a young age," Rebecca said with a serious face. "Yes Mom I will not do it so please," Karol said with pleading face. Karen then just sighed and said, "Okay then but promise me you will not endanger yourself." "Thanks, mom and Aunty Rebecca and I promise that I will not endanger myself," Karol said with an excited face and both of them just laughed at his excitement. "Here take some money to buy yourself some armour," Karen said as she gave him 1 gold. "Huh, isn''t it too much," Karol asked with an anxious face. "No it is not as you should buy the best armour to protect yourself," Karen said with a worried. Karol could only sigh and he said, "Okay mom." "Anyway, I should be going now as I got to prepared some food for those two," Rebecca said as she exited the house. "Okay, and thanks for everything Rebecca," Karen said with a sincere face. "Don''t worry it''s nothing and I should be back in a while," Rebecca said as she exited the house. "Mom I should be going now," Karol said with a smile. "Wait I wanted to give you something." Karen suddenly said with an excited face. "Huh, what is that?" Karol asked with a curious face. "Can you get the box from that closet," Karen said with a smile as Karol just nodded his head and get a long box from the closet. "Huh, what is this?" Karol asked with a curious face. "It''s for you so open it up," Karen said with a huge smile as Karol then opened the box with an excited face. Inside it was a sword made out of bone with strange symbols on it. Taking the sword in his hands Karol felt a strange connection with it. "Thanks for this mom but it should have been expensive right?" Karol asked with a worried face. "Don''t worry as I didn''t buy it but it is something your father wanted to give you when you reach this age," Karen said with with a sad face as she remembers her husband. Suddenly Karol makes an odd face but he immediately calmed himself down and said, "I should be going now." And exited the room before she can say anything. Karol then entered his room and throw the sword onto the face and with an angry face said, "I don''t need anything from you." And then exited the house. Suddenly his expression changed into a cold as he mumbled, "I got to earn money as fast as possible." And then he started to walk towards the east side of the town. A few minutes later. "Now let''s buy some equipment," Karol mumbled as he entered the blacksmith shop. There were many weapons hanging on the walls while there were many mannequins wearing armour around the show and an old man was sitting at the counter. "What do you want kid." The man grumbled. "Sir, I want to but some leather armour, an iron sword, a medium-sized bag and a scabbard for the sword," Karol said with a smile. "Wait a minute kid." The man said as he entered the back of the shop. A few minutes later. The man came out with some leather armour in his hands. "Here kid and go try it out." The man said as he gave a brown leather armour to Karol and then pointed towards the side of the shop. "Thanks, sir," Karol said bowing and then entered the trial room and exited the room wearing the leather armour with a leather helmet. "So how is it, kid." The man asked. "It''s great sir," Karol replied with a sincere face. "That''s good now here take this sword, scabbard and the bag." The man said as he throws these items to Karol. Karol then wears the scabbard on his waist and put the sword in it and put the bag on his back. "Now this is good," Karol mumbled with a smile. 15 13. Adventurers Guild "So, how much for all of it, Sir," Karol asked with a smile. "8 Silver kid." The man said as he sat down behind the counter. "Sir, I hope you can give me some discount as I have buy many stuff," Karol said bowing. "No, and now give me the money." The man grunted but Karol just smile and said, "Sir, Think about me as a future customer as I will buy from your shop if I get items on such a great price while you can also attract more customers as I will recommend your shop to everyone I know." Suddenly the man eyes sparkled but he controlled his emotions and said, "That''s a good idea but I can''t give you any discount." "But Sir-" "I said I couldn''t give you a discount but can give you some extra items...So here take it." The man said as he throws a Dagger and chainmail towards Karol. "Thanks sir," Karol said smiling while the man just laughed. Karol then once again entered the trial room and wear the chain main under his leather armour. "Now where should I put this dagger," Karol mumbled as he exited the trial room while holding the dagger in his hand. "Kid you should put the dagger in your shoe." The man suddenly said then Karol looked at the shoe and found a small cavity that can fit that dagger. Putting the dagger in the shoe Karol then exited the shop and start to walk towards the centre of the town while the man shouted, "Come again Kid." Hearing that Karol just laughed. A few Minutes Later. Karol was standing in front of a two-storeyed building made out of stone and there was a huge banner above the gate with a symbol of sword and shield and in a large text written below was ''Adventurer''s Guild'', Karol looked at the building then looked at the building opposite to it which was the town hall and just laughed bitterly. "Well let''s go inside," Karol mumbled and then entered the building. Entering the building, Karol suddenly covered his nose and mumbled, "I still can''t get used to this smell." And looking around he saw many adults drinking and having fun with their friends on the tables. Karol just ignored them and started to walk towards the counter and just as he arrived at the counter and with a relieved face he mumbled, "It''s good that this area doesn''t smell." "Oh! What brings you here Karol?" A woman behind the counter in her early twenties with black hair and eyes said. "I am here to registered as an adventurer." Karol said with a determined face while the woman was surprised to hear that and said, "Huh! Did Karen give you the approval and speaking about her, where is she?" "Yup, Mom has already given me the approval and she didn''t come with me as she was a little sick." Karol said with a smile while there was suspicious in her eyes but she calmed herself and, "Okay then, kiddo just fill out this form." As she gave him a form to fill and Karol took the form and started to fill the form. A few minutes later. "It''s done," Karol mumbled as he walked towards the counter to return the form. "Here it is." Karol said as he gave the form to the woman as she then checked the content of the form and with a smile, she said, "That''s great and just wait here and I will back with your adventurer card in few minutes." To which Karol just nodded her head. "Sarah, aren''t you going to tell the kid about the test." Sarah co-worker said as she was just about to enter the back office. "Huh, what is this test?" Karol asked with a confused face to which Sarah just turned around laughing awkwardly while she looked at her co-worker with angry eyes. "Well, it''s nothing special kid," Sarah said with a laugh. "But what is this test anyway?" Karol asked with curiosity in his eyes. "Well, it is a test in which the new adventurer fight a monster same rank as them to get a higher rank," Sarah said with a bitter smile. "What are these ranks and what''s the benefits of having a higher rank," Karol asked with curiosity in his eyes. "Well the adventurers are divided into different ranks with highest being the S rank and lowest being the H rank and the those with higher rank can have benefits such a better quest, discounted items and even support from the guild if they have offended someone with power," Sarah said with a blank face. "And what is the purpose of that test?" Karol asked immediately. "Well, a new adventurer can have a chance to start with G-rank if they complete the test but you should not take this test like this is not beneficial at all and you can also get injured." Sarah with a pleading face. Karol face suddenly turned into a serious one and he mumbled slowly, "If I start with a higher rank then I would be able to earn money little faster." Karol looked at her with a determined face and said, "I would like to take the test." "Your mother is seriously going to kill me," Sarah mumbled slowly. "Huh! What happened?" Karol asked looking at Sarah. "Oh! nothing but you should consider taking the test once again," Sasha said with a pleading face. "No I will take the test," Karol replied with determination glimmering in his eyes. Sarah just sighed and said, "Okay then." "Alan, Come here." Sarah suddenly shouted looking at the backdoor. "What is it, Sarah?" A man with brown hair and eyes said with sleepy eyes said as he entered the guild from the backdoor. "You were sleeping once again?" Sarah said with anger in her eyes. "No, I was not but what did you call me for." Alan said as he laughed awkwardly while Sarah looking at him with sharp eyes but with a calm face she said, "Take this to the test room." As she pointed towards Karol. 16 14. The Tes Alan look at Karol with a surprised face then at Sarah and asked, "Huh! Did his mother given him permission for the test." Sarah just sighed and sighed, "What can I say? It''s not like I can reject him anyway." "Well then remember that I was not the part all of this," Alan said with a smile. "Yeah, Yeah just don''t let him get injured," Sarah said with a serious face. "Well, I was not going to let that happen anyway," Alan said with a smile. "I know that but I was just reminding you," Sarah said sighing. "Anyway follow me, Karol," Alan said as he started to walk towards the east side of the guild to which Karol just nodded and started to follow behind him. "So, what makes you become an adventurer at such a young age," Alan asked with curious eyes. "Well I wanted to experience some combat against the monsters so I thought of joining as I can also earn money in the process," Karol replied shrugging his shoulder. "Oh! That''s a good idea but where is the other one." Alan asked with a curious face. "Well Robert was kind of busy so I just came alone." Karol replied laughing while Alan just nodded his head. While walking many adventurers were looking at them with curiosity or surprise in their eyes but both of them just ignored them. "So where is this test going to take place," Karol asked with a curious face. "Well you will know once you get there," Alan replied laughing. After a while, they arrived at the East end of the guild and before them was just a door. "Now let''s go inside," Alan said with a smile as he entered the room with Karol following behind him. "Hey, those two entered that room right." An adventurer said looking at his companions. "Yeah and looks like that kid was going to take the test." "Hey so, you guys wanna bet if he will succeed or not." "Sure I am up for it." "Me too." "I am in this too." As a commotion started in the guild. "These guys really..." Sarah sighed looking at them. Karol opened his eyes as he looked around to find a huge clearing with walls surrounding all the sides and the room with a source of light being some white glowing orbs attached to the roofs, illuminating the whole area. "Huh, isn''t this safe area," Karol asked with a curious glimmering in his eyes. "Well it didn''t have any uses except it being the safe area so guild decided to use this place as the test area as it most of the times empty," Alan replied shrugging his shoulder. "But do you know what is this area made out of?" Karol asked with a curious face. "Well it is made by space magic and that''s the only thing I know," Alan replied to which Karol looked at him with a disappointed face. "Hey don''t be disappointed, maybe you can find about it when you get stronger but first let''s start the test," Alan said laughing to which Karol just nodded his head with a determined face. "Well wait here and I will back in few minutes," Alan said as he started to walk towards the east wall of the area. Arriving in front of the wall, he then puts his hands on it and then an entrance suddenly appeared in front him just as he entered the gates closed behind his while Karol looked at the scene with curiosity. A few minutes later. The gate opened once again and Alan exited the room with a cage in his hands as the entrance once again closed behind him. Karol was surprised to see what was inside the cage but he calmed his emotion and looked at it with a determined face. "What was that entrance and how does that work?" Karol asked with a curious face as Alan arrived in front of him. "Well it is just a simple enchanted gate and works when I put some mana on its focal point," Alan said shrugging his shoulder. "And how do you recognised it''s focal point," Karol asked looking at him. Alan then just sighed and said, "You really like asking questions huh...well there is carving on the wall so it is easy to recognise. Hearing that Karol looked at the wall and found some carving on each wall. "Do you have any more questions or should I start the test," Alan asked pointing at the cage while a grunting noise came from inside it. "Well, I have one last question?" "Ask." "Well, wouldn''t it be disadvantage to risk killing that monster as it can be sold for a large sum of money," Karol asked with a confused face. "Well, yeah beast researchers or tamers would surely pay a huge sum for it but it is more beneficial for the guild if it used in a test." "Huh?How?" "Well it''s simple if you killed it then chances are you are talented and for the guild, you can be an asset with great potential and if you don''t then it will be alive and secondly you still be in the guild as an asset," Alan said shrugging his shoulder. "You are right," Karol said with a thoughtful face. "Well enough questions for now and let''s start the test," Alan said with a smile. "Okay." "Then go stand there," Alan said pointing some few metres ahead of them to which Karol just nodded his and walked towards the pointed location. Just as Karol at the location, Alan put the cage down the ground and said, "Are you ready?" To which Karol just nodded his head and unsheathed his sword looked at the cage with a determined expression. "Okay in 3, 2, 1 release," Alan shouted as opened the door of the cage and backed away a few metres. 17 15. First Figh A rabbit half of the size of Karol with a huge horn exited from the cage as it looked around to see Karol in front of him, grunting loudly it started to ran towards Karol. "Let''s do this," Karol whispered under his breath and started to run towards the corner of this area. Just as he turned around he saw the rabbit running towards him at full speed with its horn pointing towards him. Just as it was few metres away, Karol immediately jumped from his position but the rabbit wasn''t able to change its direction and directly collided with the wall and stayed still for a few seconds. Karol sword suddenly glowed blue as he swings it towards the rabbit and cutting one of his rear legs as the rabbit howled loudly. "I got to end this fast," Karol mumbled with an odd face as ran towards the other wall with his back facing it. The rabbit turned around with its horn broken and legs cut as he looked towards Karol with bloodshot eyes and started to run towards him at full speed. "It''s okay," Karol mumbled as he takes a deep breath as he once again jumped from his position but this time the rabbit was able to stop its momentum before colliding with the wall but Karol sword once again glowed blue as he swings it towards its head and cutting it off its body as the head rolled towards Karol''s feet. Looking at the head Karol''s face change into and disgusted one as he ran few metres away from the corpse and started to vomit on the floor. "Here take it," Alan said as he gave him a glass of water after he finished vomiting. "Thanks," Karol said as he drank the water. "Well first let''s clean you up," Alan said as water suddenly falls on Karol and his equipment. "Huh? What was that?" "Now to dry you," Alan mumbled as a flow of wind hits Karol many times to dry his body and equipment. "Thanks," Karol said bowing while just Alan laughed. "But you learned skill in just one day," Alan said with a surprised face. "You are right," Karol mumbled thinking about something. "Hey, are you alright," Alan said tapping his head. "Huh? Yeah, I am alright but what are you going to do about that?" Karol said as he pointed towards the rabbit''s corpse. "Well don''t worry about and anyway congratulations for completing your test and follow me," Alan said as he started to walk ahead towards the exit with Karol following behind him. Entering the guild once again all of the adventurers were looking at them with curious eyes while mumbling between themselves and creating a huge commotion due to that. "Huh? What is this commotion?" Alan asked Sarah with a confused face. "Well, they all started a bet if he is going to pass the test or not, so what happened in the test?" Sarah as with a curious face hearing the Karol sighed and mumbled, "Shit I missed it." "Well, he passed it easily," Alan said shrugging his shoulder. "No, I lost." "Me too." "Shit." "Oh yeah now give me the money." As a huge commotion started in the guild hearing the result of the test. "Silence." Sarah suddenly shouted with anger in her eyes as all of them became silent and the commotion immediately died down. "Well now give me the money." Sarah suddenly said with a smile as she extended her arm towards her co-worker. "Yeah, Yeah, here you go." She said as she gave some money to Sarah. "Wait a minute, you also bet some money," Alan asked with a surprised face. "Well yeah and here Karol," Sarah said as she gave 1 gold to Karol while he looked at her with confusion in his eyes. "Well, I won because of you so you should have some of it," Sarah said shrugging her shoulder. "Thanks." Karol said bowing while Alan grumbled and said, "Shit I should have stayed here." "Well, I will be back in a while with your adventurer card and Alan take him so he can get his reward," Sarah said as she entered the back door of the guild. "Huh, what is this reward?" Karol asked with a confused face. "Well, it''s your reward for passing the test so follow me and choose your reward," Alan said as he started to walk towards the west side of the guild. "But what is the reward." "Just follow me and you know there," Alan said as he arrived in front of a counter with Karol behind him. "Huh? What do you want Alan?" The old man behind the counter asked. "Well, chief this kid has passed the advancement test so give him his reward," Alan said pointing towards Karol. "Kid, what weapon do you use?" "Sir, I use a sword." "Okay then choose one skill kid." The old man said as he gave him many novice level sword skills. "Huh? The rewards are a skill?" Karol asked with a confused and excited face. "Yeah, kid now just choose one." The man grumbled. "Ah! Yes." Karol said as he started to look through all the books. "I will choose this one," Karol said as he chooses one book. "Well that''s a good kid and now both of you go away." The man said as he started to sleep while Karol looked at him with a surprised face. "Let''s go Karol," Alan said sighing and started to walk towards Sarah with Karol behind him. "Oh! Have he choose the skill." "Yeah." "Anyway here is your Adventurer card and put some blood in it," Sarah said as she gave Karol a leather card and needle. "Huh why the blood?" Karol asked with a confused face. "Well if you put your blood on the grey circle on the Adventurer card then it will connect with your bloodline and it also helps the guild to know if you are dead or alive," Sarah said shrugging his shoulder. "Oh!" Karol said as he looked at the adventurer card with a curious and excited face and then poked his finger with the needle and spill some blood on the grey circle in the Adventurer card. 18 16. Pas Just as the blood dripped on the card, a blinding red light glimmered from the circle. After a while, the light died down as the circle started to glow with a pulsating red light in the left corner of the card while his details and his rank were shown below. Karol was looking at the card with excitement glimmering in his eyes when Sarah coughed and said. "Well now that the card has been connected, you should go and show this to your mother¡­and yeah if you want to do any quest just look it up on that board." As she pointed towards the board near the entrance and then started to walk towards the backdoor. "I want to ask you something," Karol said as he looked towards Alan with a blank face. "Oh! What is it?" "Well right now mom is little bit sick and I can''t always be at home so is there any way I can help her," Karol said while laughing awkwardly as hearing that Alan started to think about it. "Ah! Right, you should buy a slav¡­" Before he could complete a loud noise was heard from the back and turning around, they saw some parts of the backdoor broken and its handle lying on the ground as Alan''s face turned into a worried one as he mumbles, "Oh! Shit." While other adventurers didn''t notice what happened there. "You Idiot." A co-worker of Sarah said as she ran towards Sarah. Alan suddenly sighed and said, "I really am an idiot to talk about this." "Huh? What was that about?" Karol asked with a confused face as he pointed towards the door. "Well, she has some history with the word slave and gets angered at the mention of buying and selling of people," Alan said as massaged his forehead. "Huh! What happened?" Karol asked with a curious face. "Well, when she was ten years old her all of her family died in a monster horde and she was the only survivor but all of her luck ran out after that as some bandits captured her after the attack and sold her to a slave trader but that was still not the end as she was bought by a lady of nobility as she tortured her every day," Alan said with sadness in his eyes. Karol suddenly clenched his fist and with a confused and sad face asked, "But why did she torture her." Hearing that Alan just laughed and said, "She tortured her just for fun." "Huh, what do you mean by that?" Karol asked with a confused face. Alan suddenly stopped laughing and with anger in his eyes. "She just tortured her every day as she loves hearing the pain of people weaker than her." Hearing that Karol clenched his fist even harder as he looked towards the ground with confusion, anger and sadness in his eyes. "After two years of torture and pain, she was finally able to live a normal life but here I am¡­" Alan said as he sighed loudly. "How did she escape from her," Karol asked as he was still looking at the ground. "Well after the war that happened 13 years ago, the king suddenly declared a law where a slave cannot be harmed or killed by anyone unless it is self-defence," Alan said with a smile. "And what happened to that lady?" Karol asked as he calmed his emotion, "Well even after that law, she didn''t stop¡­" Alan said as he clenched his fist but suddenly a smile appeared on his face as he said, "But the King caught the gist of it and even after many warnings she didn''t stop so the King publicly executed her." Hearing that Karol smile and mumbled, "Serves her right." Suddenly the gate opened as Sarah entered the guild once again with a calm face. "I am really sorry." Alan immediately said bowing. "Ah! You don''t need to do that as I just overreacted." Sarah laughing. "But¡­" Alan mumbled as he looked towards her with a serious face but Sarah just smiled and said, "It was my fault that I overreacted and that''s the end so let''s not talk about it and anyway take it." Sarah said smiling as she throws a card towards Karol. Karol looked at the card and was surprised to find it to be a card of slave shop. He then looked at her with a confused face and asked, "Huh why this?". "Well you wanted to buy one so address is written on it and also you would get a discount," Sarah said laughing. "But aren''t you angry," Karol asked with a confused face. "Well why should I be? as the condition of the slaves are not same as 13 years ago and I am sure you would not harm anyone innocent," Sarah said shrugging her shoulder to which Karol just nodded his head. "Can I ask you something?" Karol said as he looked towards Sarah. "Huh? What is it?" "After that incident, can you trust anyone?" Karol asked with a strange face. "Yeah, but why ask?" Sarah said as she looked at him with a confused face. "But after what she had done, how can you trust anyone?" Karol asked with a confused face. "Well after that incident, I met many amazing people such your mother, you, Rebecca and many more," Sarah said laughing. "Okay, I should be going now," Karol said as he started to walk towards the exit. As he walking, he looked at his hand mumbled, "Even after all of that she was able to trust but here I am¡­" As he stopped talking and looked towards the roof and just laughed. "Hey, what about me?" Alan suddenly asked looking at Sarah. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" Sarah asked with a confused face. "Well, what do you think about me?" Alan asked with an excited face. "Well, you are just an idiot, lazy person who does not care about other''s feeling," Sarah said laughing while Alan was making a strange face as he was looking at the ground. "Well maybe I can think about you better if you treat me some ice-cream," Sarah said shrugging her shoulder. Alan face lightened up and with an excited face he said, "Then let''s go after our shift and we also can¡­" Hearing that Sarah just laughed pleasantly. 19 17. Slave "Well, the look''s like the store is near the east gate," Karol mumbled as he looked at the card in his hand. Just as he was about to leave the guild he felt someone tapping on his shoulder, turning around he saw a brown-haired man in his early twenties standing there with a sword strapped on his back as Karol looked at him with a confused face. "Oh! Right, I am Josh and I wanted to ask you something?" Josh said with a smile. "What is it?" Karol asked with suspicion in his eyes. "Well do you want to a quest together," Josh asked while scratching the back of his head. "Huh? But why me?" Karol asked with a confused face."Well as a senior adventurer, I wanted to help you as you are my junior," Josh said laughing awkwardly. Hearing that Karol examined Josh and asked, "Are you the only one?" "No, No, there are two more." "Okay." "And you should think about it as we will be doing the quest tomorrow," Josh said laughing. "Okay then, I will think about," Karol said with suspicion in his eyes. "Then, meet me tomorrow here at the same time," Josh said and exited the guild. Looking at his back, Karol looked at his chest and mumbled, "Should I trust him or not...well I will think about this later." And the started to walk towards the south of the town. A few minutes later. Karol was standing in front of a one-storeyed building made out wood and with a book carved above its gate. Karol looked at the carved book and mumbled, "Well let''s get those things." As he entered the building. Inside the building, there was a large number of books on the walls as it acted as a bookshelf and there was a counter towards the left side of the town. "Oh! What brings you here, kid?" An old man behind the counter asked with a book in hand. "Well, uncle Joseph, what do you think?" Karol asked with a smile to which Joseph just laughed. "Well, just get whatever you want and yeah, how was your bloodline test?" Joseph asked with curiosity in his eyes. "Well it good but I didn''t get a great bloodline level," Karol said shrugging his shoulder. "Well, it''s ok as I am sure you will do something and yeah if you ever need a job as a teacher just tell me," Joseph said with a smile. "Well, I will tell you if I ever need one but I should get some book first," Karol said laughing. "Ok then, Kiddo," Joseph said with a smile and started to read the book in his hands. "Well, I should read about that one first," Karol mumbled as he entered the door at the back of the counter. Entering the room, he saw many bookshelves lined up in rows with books in it. "Where would that be...Ah right there." Karol mumble as he picked up a book from the third row titled, ''Slave and their history'' as he started to skimmed through it. A few minutes later. "Well that''s about it and now the next one." Karol as he finished reading the book and put it back where it was as he then picked up another book and also started to skim through it. Half an hour later. "Well, now I should go," Karol mumbled as stretched his body and then exited the room. "Oh! You finally here...not going to take any book." Joseph asked with a surprised face. "Well not right now but later as I should be going now," Karol said laughing. Suddenly, Joseph sighed and mumbled, "If only could my idiotic son, Alan studied as you do then...". Hearing that Karol just laughed awkwardly and said, "I should be going now." As he immediately ran out of the library. "Well let''s go buy one," Karol mumbled as he looked at the slave-trading business card in his hand as he started to walk towards the east of the town. A few minutes later. "There is the east gate then it should be there," Karol mumbled as he looked at the east exit of the town and then towards the left side of the street. "Ah! There it is." Karol mumbled as he found the shop which was a small building with a collar carved on its door. Just as he entered the shop, he looked at with a confused face and mumbled, "Huh? Is it the right place?" As he only saw a counter inside the shop with a fat man behind the counter. "Welcome to my shop Sir, I am Paul, the owner here and in this you can get any type slave you want such as small, big, weak, strong, cute, hot, beautiful, handsome and more," Paul said with a huge smile. "Is this the same place," Karol asked as he pointed at the card in his hand. "Let me see it," Paul said and Karol gave him the card. "Oh! It''s the card I gave this Miss Sarah and with this sir, you can get a 20% discount on anything from my shop." Paul said laughing loudly. "But why did you gave it to her?" Karol asked with a confused face. "Well, I usually don''t give out the detail but as you have the card, I can tell you...well I gave it to her because she is my regular customer." Hearing that Karol looked at him with a confused face. "But she is a strange one as she immediately releases whatever slave she bought," Paul said while he examined Karol while he just smiled as he looked at the card. "So anyway, Sir what brings you here?" Paul asked with a smile as he sat behind the counter. "Well I wanted to buy a slave but..." Karol said as he looked around the empty shop. "Oh! Then follow me, Sir." Paul said as stand up and pressed the wall behind him with his hand as the wall suddenly parted to reveal a staircase going down while Karol looked at it with a confused face. 20 18. Buying "Follow me, Sir," Paul said as starting to go downstairs as Karol calmed his emotion while following him. Arriving at the end of the stairs, he saw a large corridor with many rooms to its sides. "Sir, she is one of our finest slave here," Paul said as he pointed towards the first room at the left of the corridor. Turning around Karol saw a room with a simple bed, toilet and a drawer with a long bar of steel acting as a gate. "Sir, I would glad to serve you." A woman said looking to be in her early twenties with the blonde while wearing a revealing dress as she stands in a seductive position. "She is expensive right?" Karol asked with a calm face. "Yes, sir you are right but she also very talented as she got the bloodline level of seven and you would have realized how beautiful she is," Paul said with a beaming smile while the woman nodded her head with pride. "The price," Karol said in a calm voice while smiling. "Well, sir it isn''t much but just¡­20 golds but she is totally worth that price." Paul said as he smiled widely. "Well I would love to buy her but show me the cheapest one," Karol said with a smile as he pointed towards the corridor ahead. "Shit." The woman said as her expression turned into full of anger as she kicked the bed while Karol looked at her with surprise in eyes while Paul just laughed awkwardly. "Sir, let''s go." Paul sighed while started to walk ahead. Looking around he saw many rooms like the first one with different kinds of slave in those rooms. "Hey, how do you feel doing this kind of business," Karol asked with a curious face. "Well, If I was doing this thirteen years ago, I would have probably been sad and depressed but¡­" Paul then looked upwards and said, "Right now am just okay with it as I know that chance of them being killed if pretty low and additionally all of them are either orphans or those who lost everything so it is good that they will find a better life after being sold." As he showed a small smile. "But I still don''t know it good or bad as one hand, I am selling someone''s life while on other they will get a better life than they had, so what do you think? Is good or bad." Paul said looking at Karol with a curious eye. "I mean like they will not die or get harmed as long they are a slave then I would say it''s great but hey what can I say as I am just a child experiencing the world around me so I can''t just say you are good or bad just by meeting you for the first time," Karol said as shrugging his shoulder to which Paul just laughed loudly. Just as they reached at the end of the corridor, "Well, anyway here is the cheapest slave in my shop worth twenty silver." Paul said pointing towards in her girl with long black hair and blue eyes. "Why is so cheap?" Karol asked with suspicion in his eyes. "Well, because she has bloodline deficiency¡­So, still want to buy her." Paul asked with a curious face. "Well, I don''t really care about if she can''t become an absorber and she is at cheap price anyway so yeah," Karol said shrugging his shoulder. "Well then, sir just wait here as I will back in a while," Paul said and started to run towards the direction they come from. "Well kiddo, what''s your name and age," Karol asked looking at while she looked straight back while staying silent. "Hey, can you speak or not?" Karol waving his hand to which she just nodded her head. "So, what your name and age?" Karol asked with impatience in his eyes while she just stayed silent. Karol just sighed and said, "Just don''t talk if you want to." And just stand with crossed arms. "I-I don''t¡­don''t know my n-name and my a-a-age is 10¡­10." The girl suddenly said with some fear in the eyes. "Huh, why is that?" Karol asked as she looked at him for few seconds and said, "I l-lost my¡­my m-memories of m-mine." The girl said with fearful eyes. "Interesting¡­and yeah you don''t need to fear me as I am not going to do anything," Karol said as he rubbed his hand with a smile while the girl just nodded her head and looked at him with curious eyes. After a while, Paul came back with a black collar in his hand, "Thanks for waiting for sir and just wait a minute." Paul said as he put his hand on the wall next to her room and suddenly the steel bars were sucked into the ground while Karol looked at it with calm eyes and said, "You didn''t tell me about her memory loss." Hearing that he just laughed awkwardly and said, "Looks like she told you, well that''s a good thing as I was going to tell you anyway." "Well, that''s good then as I am expecting a total of 40% discount," Karol said with a smile. Paul just smiled and said, "Looks like you came prepared." "Well, I can''t just come here with knowing anything," Karol said shrugging his shoulder. "Anyway, kiddo here, wear this," Paul said as he gave her the collar. The girl then looked at the collar with curious eyes and tried to wear the collar in her hand and looking at that Karol just laughed while Paul just sighed and said, "Give me that." And then put it on her neck. "Well just put some of your blood on that grey stone her collar," Paul said as he gave Karol a needle. "Okay then," Karol said and took the needle as he stands in from of her. Just as he pricked his finger, she looked at him with worried eyes, "Don''t worry and standstill." Karol said with a smile as he put his bloodied finger on the grey stone of the colla 21 19. Lily Just as Karol touched the stone on the collar, a blinding red flashed from the stone and after few seconds it died down and the stone turned into the colour of red. "Well, that''s it," Paul said with a smile. "Huh? That''s it?" Karol asked with a confused face. "Yeah," Paul replied shrugging his shoulder. "But won''t it be easy to enslave people easily," Karol asked pointing towards the girl. "Well yeah but..." "But what?" Paul just smiled and pointed towards the collar and said, "Well because of that collar as it is very expensive to make." "But it isn''t enough," Karol said with suspicion in his eyes. "Well yeah that collar is something special but I can''t tell you the details as it is a secret," Paul replied with a smile. "Okay, then I will find it myself someday," Karol said shrugging his shoulder. "Oh! Also, don''t hurt her or give her any life-threatening command." Paul said pointing towards the girls. "Well I was not going to anyway and here take this," Karol said as he gave Paul 12 silvers. "We should be going now," Karol said as he started to walk ahead with the girl following behind him. After a while, they were back at the entrance of the shop. "Hope to see you again sir," Paul said waving his hand to which Karol just shrugged his shoulder. "Here, wear this," Karol said as he gave the girl a pair of boots. "It''s o-okay as I d-don''t need a-any." The girl said shaking her head. "Well sure," Karol said shrugging his shoulder and put the boots in his bag. Just as she takes the first step on the dirt road, she immediately jumped back in the shop. "Need one now," Karol said waving the boots in front of her to which she just nodded her head while looking embarrassed. "Well, I will buy a better fitting one later," Karol mumbled as he looked at large boots in her small feet. "Follow me," Karol said as they started to walk towards the north side of the town. While walking the girl was looking all around the town with a curiosity glimmering in her eyes while the people of the town were looking at them with strange eyes. "Well, I should have got her some better clothes," Karol mumbled as he looked at the rags she was wearing. "Well, whatever," Karol said as he ignored the people''s strange looks. After a while, they finally reached home. "W-what is t-that?" The girl asked while pointing towards a large container next to the main door. "Well, that is a water purifier," Karol said shrugging his shoulder while she looked at it with confused eyes. Karol then just sighed as he walked in front of the container and said, "Can you see these two symbols?" To which she just nodded her head. "When you applied some mana on the left one it will start to fill with water from this pipe which is connected to the lake at north-east side of the town," Karol said pointing at the pipe in the bottom of the container. "And when you apply some mana on the right side one, it will purify the water. Do you understand now?" Karol asked looking at her while she nodded her head with a smile. Just as he entered the house, his body shivered and he mumbled, "What was that... anyway, you stay here until I call you." To which she just nodded her head. Karol then entered his room first as he throws his weapon and armour on his bed and then immediately entered the other room. "Oh! You are finally here and did you had fun?" Karen asked with a curious face. "Yeah, and I have already become an adventurer now," Karol said with pride. "That''s great," Karen said with a pleasant smile. "Mom, there is something else," Karol said with an anxious face. "Oh! What is it?" Karen asked with a curious face. "Well it''s..." "It''s?" "I have bought a slave to help you when no is around." Karol said but his body immediately shivered in fear as Karen eyes narrowed and asked, "Karol, what did I told you about buying slave?" "Uh Oh!" Karol mumbled with a worried face. "I am sorry." Karol immediately bowed down. "You don''t need to do that as I am not angry but don''t do it ever again," Karen said with a gentle smile. "Then we can keep her as she will be helpful to you as you are still injured," Karol said with a smile. "First call her in," Karen said with a calm face. "Yes...You come in." Karol shouted as she entered the room with an anxious face. "Little girl, come here," Karen said with a smile. "You too," Karen said with anger in her eyes. "Shit, she is still angry," Karol mumbled as he walked in front of her. "Put your hands on that stone and absorb all of its mana and you should let him do it," Karen said with a calm face. "Huh? Why is that?" Karol asked with a curious face. "Are you going to do it or not," Karen said with anger in her eyes. "Yes, yes," Karol replied laughing awkwardly as he put his hand on the stone and started to absorb its mana. After a few seconds, the stone immediately turned grey colour. "Huh? What was that?" Karol asked with a curious face while the girl also looked at Karen with curiosity in her eyes. "Well! It''s to just to reverse the process." Karen said as she removed the collar from the girl''s neck. "Anyway, What your name?" Karen asked as she looked at the girl with a curious face while she just stayed silent. "Well, she has lost all of her memory," Karol said shrugging his shoulder. "Well, then it''s a new start in your life, not as a slave but as Lily, my daughter and Karol''s sister." Karen said with a gentle smile as she patted her head while Lily looked at her with a surprised face while Karol looked at her with a shocked face and shouted, "What???"