"You're nothing but a wastrel!" after the world turned white, hazy images started clouding Bas' young mind. A handsome youth who looked 60% similar to Sebastian King sneered as he hurled insults. Seeing the youth's face Bas felt a festering hatred that was definitely not his own, considering he didn't care much. He had seen far too many terrifying enemies, this ordinary young man was unable to affect his mentality.
"No need to dirty your hands, big cuz!" an arrogant youth wearing combat armor stepped forward and pounded his chest in confidence. "We will make this punk pay the price for daring to snatch your destiny."
"No...please, cousin Edward, don't do this! We can talk about things slowly!" came Bas' slightly more immature voice, shocking him thoroughly.
However, Bas soon realized that this was the original Sebastian's voice calling out from the vision. Apparently, he was watching these events through the eyes of Sebastian, like a movie shot in first-person that no one asked if he wanted to see before handcuffing him to a chair and starting it. Bas felt depressed.
Sebastian continued to beg and plead like a coward, unwilling to suffer pain for fear of death, "What would auntie think about us fighting? She asked me to look after you!"
"You? Heh. Hahaha," Edward King laughed like a maniac. "You think you can use that old bitch's words to persuade me? It is true she is my mother, and I am grateful to her. However, she is but a pretty and talented slave my father picked up to give birth to a worthy heir. I. Am. That. Worthy. Heir. Trash like you is unworthy of my honorable status!"
Edward turned around and started to walk away before calling out behind him, "Cripple this bitch, then send him to my mother's doorstep. Let her make the report, bwahaha, it'll take days to reach his father."
"Heh heh heh," the evil eyes of Sebastian's cousins Tracy, Luther, and Rodney King as they beat the surprisingly resilient Sebastian to death for two hours were images burned into the young boy's soul.
The scene slowly faded to white again, and the next scene that appeared was a pitch-black space where a grey crystal seed was frozen in mid-air next to the flickering and fading silhouette of 12-years-old Sebastian King. The damaged soul of Sebastian was on the verge of departing from his body, as his subconscious said a prayer, "I hope that the ancestors can bestow me their favor. I have accomplished nothing in this life, and my wastrel existence has shamed my father and my mighty forefathers. I hope that in the next life, I am reborn a pharaoh! An existence that stands above all, whose light can never be snuffed out!"
"Ah, I remember this part." Bas King nodded to himself.
As the soul's thoughts rang out, the grey crystal seed released a violet-golden light, transforming into a small amethyst flame.
"AHHHH!!" the soul of Sebastian King screamed in agony as the amethyst flames engulfed him without a shred of mercy. "Oh, great ancestors, is this your blessing or your wrath? Our King clan was founded on the power of the sun. Somewhere down the line slaughter became more important. Is this the sacred flame of mercy or retribution?"
Sebastian was able to say no more. The flames that were engulfing him suddenly rushed into his soul form, making him look like a burning man, violet-gold flames blazing at his transcendent atmosphere. He floated there dull and expressionless. At this moment the soul of Sebastian King was already gone.
"Definitely an accident," Bas King thought to himself, covering his eyes. "Why would the kid choose to cry right next to my dormant soul? No self-awareness, it's a shame. We could've been partners. It seems his prayer is what awoke me to his aide. Unfortunately, he was standing to close and I directly assimilated him as I woke.
"Don't worry kid, I know what you wish to tell me. I owe you your retribution, as you have suffered enough. I will slay your enemies, rest assured. I promise you this, as the grand Pharaoh God Skylord Everflame! This will be the last thing I do for our old selves. After that, we live a new life as a new man."
Two hours after being struck by the white lightning, Bas King awakened in his mother's bedroom. His mother sat at her desk brushing her long wavy hair and reading the news on her mecha-hand, while his older sister fussed. Her mask was removed, revealing her beautiful countenance. Bas appreciated his mother's splendor in silence momentarily before releasing a breath.
"You cannot expect little Bazzy to be a pacifist like you, mother. We cannot live out our lives in fear and desperation!" Mirocca King harrumphed coldly.
"I am neither afraid *cough* nor desperate," Eureka King said calmly, ignoring her daughter's disrespectful attitude. "I simply do not wish for my son to end up like his father."
"What's wrong with being like dad? Dad is such a strong man, a mighty hunter! Even if he is a despicable liar, a demonic killer, devious schemer, and a backstabber." Mirocca shouts in frustration. "We should be proud that he's starting to remind us of dad if we're only talking about his strength. Maybe if Bazzy can reach the fourth class in a year, our so-called father will let us return."
"What kind of life awaits us in the main family? I have no desire to return to there..." Eureka King closed her eyes and spoke gently.
Mirocca was silent, as her mother would indeed suffer quite a bit if they returned to the Hunter's Society. However, that was only if their father didn't take note of her condition and do something about it. Or could it be their father who never actually cared for their mother?
"The mecha-hand...a standard hunter tool that works as a communication device and connects directly to the hunternet. It even has a bunch of cool games and apps. I must obtain one..." Bas King paid minimal attention to the emotional conversation these women were having. He had always wanted a Mecha-Hand, and could hardly focus on anything else.
There was no such invention back before he ascended. However, only fourth class hunters were able to equip them. Therefore, Bas would have no choice but to wait.
"Oh?" Eureka King turned around when she noticed her son's open and clear eyes in the mirror. Bas' previously brown eyes were now a dazzling violet-gold color. This startled his mother greatly, and she forgot to speak for a breath or two. "Darling what...what happened to you? Was that light earlier...what I think it was?"
"Hehe," Bas King sat up and scratched his nose in a silly manner.
He knew he wouldn't be able to hide the moment he became a Qi Producer. This was because every time a Qi Producer was born, they would be hit with the Light of Enlightenment. Qi Producers are special existences, blessed by heavens with the power of knowledge. The moment someone creates a product from spiritual and soul power, there's a small chance that they enter enlightenment. This chance is greater when it's a heaven-defying item, or its the first time an item was created and the quality is superb.
Bas was complacent as he responded to his mother, "Sorry mom. I followed my hunter soul's guidance and accidentally became a Qi Producer."
"My word," Eureka King looked faint, but a bright light shone in her eyes. "You have become much more than a mere Qi Producer, Lil' Bazzy.
"Bazzy, you're a Soul Mason! Oh my god, my brother's a Soul Mason?" Miracle King was similarly stunned.
"Soul Mason?" Bas King was unfamiliar with this term.
"Yes," his mother nodded and became excited. "The Light of Enlightenment that rained down on you has given you tremendous benefits! Ordinary Qi Producers will not be able to compare to you. This light marks the birth of a heaven-chosen Qi Producer, also known as Soul Masons."
Bas nodded as he easily accepted this new terminology. How could Bas not be recognized by the divine powers that be? He created a heaven-defying Soul Record, even if it was currently low-level. If anyone could be considered a Soul Mason, it should be himself. Merely, such a distinction didn't exist before.
How much time had passed exactly?
"Now quickly tell your mother what qi product you've invented?" Eureka was impatient to see what her son had done.
"I made some improvements to dad's Hunt Record!" Bas King announced confidently. Eureka was immediately shocked speechless. Improvements to a bronze class Hunt Record? So is it a silver class Hunt Record? But Bas was only a Fifth Class Hunter. This wasn't possible, was it?
"Show me," Eureka King suddenly grew serious, suspicion growing in her heart.