Chapter 10: A new resolution
Kim has been sitting hugging his knee for a whole day with only slight movement. He didn't sleep nor eat during that time. Whether it was heavy rain or bright sun, nothing could move him for his place.
"How long are you going to stay like this?"
Kim didn't reply and stayed there with no change of expression on his cold pale face. His eyes are already dead. For a person to lose a friend was another thing but losing his family who took care of him since birth was unimaginable for a child. Just now, at least he thought of making himself stronger just to kill himself. Now, he lost himself as another traumatic event occurred before him.
"Kid, listen. I'm not someone who would talk unless it's necessary. But, your potential is not to be wasted like this. I may not understand your feeling, because I'm always alone. I don't have what human call family. No one can be considered as friends as every being around me only try to gain my favours. In the end, I was betrayed and sentenced to get chained like this almost my entire life. One thing I do understand is the meaning of loneliness."
Power is necessary to survive in this world. One could not gain anything without power. Be it, whether it is muscle strength, economic or political power, as long you know how to utilize your power you will have a great future ahead of you. It is simpler in the universe of mana. One who governs the most mana can become a king. A lord who everyone obeys. Meaning, only powerful people can sit on top of the throne.
However, as one gets closer and closer to the top they will realize most people would get left behind. Especially when you are the strongest. Not many can stand by you or even get close to you. For that reason, you will feel like you are in your own world where no one is able to enter. A world so high that in the end, others would give up climbing and stay in their place. Sucking up to you to gain favour. Showing plastic smile and fake compliments to gain benefits. In the end, you stop caring and live on your own.
The voice stayed silent as he ponders about his past. If only others were more accepting rather than fearing him. Then he continued.
"I want you to live a more fulfilling life kid, see the world in a better view than me. But, if you going to stay like this then I have no choice but to tell you one thing about this incident happening to your world. It is not by mere chance that the mana suddenly erupted and called forth those monsters appeared before"
Kim agitated a bit and stop moving again. This time, he tried to listen to the voice.
"The reason I was bound in this world was that the mana here was too dormant for me to utilize any mana to escape. Which means, I won't be able to use any mana to break my seal until the point I'm too weak by the time mana become active. Another thing was.."
Kim's eyes changed as he was getting into the voice explanation
"When mana become active, a world won't release as much as how you felt now. Thus, gives more times for human to adapt, enable human to protect themselves by the time monster would start to appear or when an animal becoming one. Meaning, someone force activated the dormant mana in this world."
"Usually only normal monsters would appear. But it seems that this world has accumulated too much mana while it stayed dormant, it manages to even cause boss monsters like Alpha Cerberus and King Hydra to appear. It seems the preparator did not know the consequences they called forth."
"Who.."
Kim stands up as cracks of several meters formed underneath his feet. His body is enveloped with white lights. If someone sees him, they may be at awe looking at how pretty the light is. However, if someone looks into his eyes, they would die from his killing intent alone.
"Tell me who did this?!"
"I don't know exactly. However, I do know that it involved more than a person. It may be a kingdom or an entire world. Heck, I won't be surprised if more than one world was involved in this."
"Then, should I destroy them? Kill every each one of them?"
"Living with only the thought of revenge is not a path one should take. Since I killed many, I've seen how devastating it is for a person who lives solely for revenge. Their eyes make me feel pity. It won't do you much if you waste yourself like this"
"I don't care. I have nothing to live for. I want to kill them. Tell me where they are now!"
"Kid, it seems you won't listen to me. That's why I was reluctant to tell you."
"At least I'm determined to do something as to how you want me to right? Tell me now!"
"You really won't consider any reasoning, don't you? Then don't regret this"
Suddenly the whole ground was trembling, and the sky becomes dark. Shrieking sound of animals can be heard from afar. It feels like as if something frightening would appear at any moment.
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"What is happening?"
Ray and his troop were marching south towards Johor to kill more of the invading monsters and occupy more land. When suddenly a huge fissure causes the troops to halt for a moment. The sky suddenly turns dark and the weather becomes severely bad. The birds and flying monsters fall one by one as they get hit by thunder.
It was not just Malaysia, but also in Europe, East Asia, USA, and Africa. People in every continent was facing the same image. Kingdoms who is affiliated with one another reporting the same thing happening in their area as well. Then a deafening roar struck fear in everyone heart. The pressure was overbearing that everyone including Ray was forced to kneel on the ground.
"Sylva! What with this domineering aura I'm feeling. How can anything in a world which just activate its mana could release this kind of power?"
Ray barely talk as he tried to inquire Sylva who has vast knowledge as an old wizard.
"Your Highness, this old man never felt this huge amount of power. However, the intimidating roar we heard just now is definitely.. a dragon"
Those who heard Sylva had their eyes widened due to the shock from the word of 'dragon'. Even Hassan who never seen a monster before could understand why the word 'dragon' could make even a person as great as Ray to tremble in fear. That was because, among all the books he read and the games he played, a dragon was always an existence that was a pure mass of destruction of which everyone could do nothing but to obey them.
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Several million worlds above Earth, within a deep cave, glowing red eyes opening within the dark place. As if it just wakes up from its slumber. The reason was, it could felt a cold chilling sensation passing through its red body covered with thick scale. The scale suddenly glows with an intense flame and the monster led a roar which shook the entire world it was in.
Then a person with bluish-white hair comes in with respect shown in his face. He has chilly aura emanating from his body which could cause an ordinary person to freeze the instant they are nearby. Despite the frightening aura coming from the person, he still kneels down to the red-eyes beast in front of him.
"What can I do for you, Emperor?"
"Find him"
"Yes sir"
The red-eyes beast went back to its slumber.
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Kim was forced to lay on the ground due the pressure exerted toward him. Although it seems like the power were spread throughout the whole continent, it was actually designated toward Kim only. What others felt around the world was only the residue of the unleashed power. A shock wave after an explosion. A small piece of a broken glass. A splinter from a wood. Even that could make them kneel to the ground.
Kim is now facing several hundred times fold of pressure exerted directly toward him. He could not even lift a finger or scream due to the pain crushing his entire bones. He thought that he already lost all his emotions and would not feel anything. He even prepared to send himself to the netherworld. He would even throw his body to death just to seek revenge. Now all of it does not matter anymore. What he is feeling right now is fear.
He thought that after facing Cerberus and Hydra, he would not feel fear anymore. He could even kill his own cat which had become a monster with no hesitation. Now a sudden fear suddenly erupted his whole body. It was not the pain that made him scared, but it was the feeling of death. He felt like he is going to die. At this moment, Kim shouted.
"I'm not going to die, I'm going to live. I'm going to have my revenge. Arggghhhh!!!"
He shouted and subconsciously released mana to protect his body. Even with all the effort, the pain did not stop. Several hours have passed and finally, the tremendous pressure has stopped.
"You do want to live"
Kim coughs a mouthful of blood. Every inch of bones and muscles from his feet to his head has broken to pieces. Not just moving, even breathing was almost impossible for him. He stayed still to recuperate from his near-death state.
"You told me you want to seek revenge towards an entire world when you can't even stand up just from a mere roar? I could have to kill you just now if I want to. And that is not even the full extent of my power."
The words from the voice felt like a slap on his face. He thought too highly of himself after defeating the two mythical monsters on his own. He thought that all he had to do was to destroy everything. Now he knew it was not that easy in the first place. The world of mana was much more than what he could imagine. He felt weak.
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"Casualties?"
"None Your Highness. Although the force was strong, it was not intended to kill anyone. It seems it was just meant to intimidate."
Ray had a solemn face when he heard what Sylva has thought. If this was only for intimidation then, what could happen if it unleashed its full power. Not even an entire world could last a second. Even if there were several worlds united to go against that force, the winning possibility was still close to zero.
"Location?"
"I sense it to be from an island located several hundred kilometres east from here."
"Hassan, do you know such place?"
"Yes, sir. It's the island of Borneo. Half of it is a part of Malaysia."
"Borneo?"
Ray engraved the name in his heart to make sure he never forgets it.
"Send a report to our base as well as relay a message to other Kingdom from other worlds."
"The message, Your Highness"
"From now on, Borneo is a restricted area. No man should go there without the agreement from every Kingdom. Send them the location and tell them the existing of a dragon"
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"You realized how weak you are now?"
"Yes."
"Do you still want revenge?"
"Yes."
Kim can only give a short answer since he could barely talk due to his severe injuries. Even with all that, his heart did not quiver from seeking revenge. But one thing has changed now. He wanted power. A power strong enough to make his enemies bow down to him without him lifting a finger. A power that is strong enough to crush an entire world. His lifeless eyes just suddenly flicker with a killing passion. He wanted to live and become strong.
He wanted to become the strongest in the entire universe so that no one would die in front of him again. He thought of his friend and his family. He felt sorry now because he could not join them anytime soon as a new resolution appeared in his heart.
"I don't agree with revenge, but at least you have a new determination to live now. Become strong, kid. I will guide you to become even stronger than me. You are still young, you have great potential ahead of you. Live well and don't just rely on revenge to keep you going. And don't live an empty life like this old man."
When Kim heard that words he felt a warm sensation mix with regret within those words. He felt very modest thinking someone as weak as him would be taught by a powerful being like that. He felt fortunate that the voice willing to guide him even though he had given up on life before.
"Now, call me Master"
"No"