Inside the tent with Magnus,
In his semi-conscious state, he saw his mom (Elaina) rushed out of the tent around 30 minutes ago.
'What's taking her so looooong~?'
Magnus is still drunk from taking a bite from that Mushroom. When he recovered from his drunken state, he will surely regret not trusting the quote 'Never judge a book by its cover'.
'...'
Silently staring at the ceiling of the tent, Magnus wobblily stood up with his cloak hanging around his neck and walked out of the tent...to find his mother (Elaina).
'Mommy~ I'm coming~'
Swaying left and right, Magnus groggily walked aimlessly with no destination in his blank mind.
With difficulties, Magnus found himself staring at the stream.
'Mommy~ I'm thirsty~'
His half-closed eyes intently stared at the stream before his leg moved forward.
'Water~'
He then saw a small squirrel-like beast drinking water with its mouth in the stream.
'...'
Staring at it for a few more seconds, he successfully learned how to drink water from the stream by 'Squirrel-sensei'.
(A/N: 'Teacher Squirrel' sounds stupid...)
Magnus then slightly bowed his head towards his teacher to show his respect before crouching down by the stream and brought his face forward to drink the water like how his sensei did.
As everything in his vision is still enlarging and shrinking, he couldn't calculate the distance between the water and his mouth. Also, he couldn't balance himself very well in this state and, thus, it's inevitable that...he slipped
*Splash*
He fell, splashing the water.
*Gururu*
Magnus's eyes were still half-closed even when he's 'drowning'. Failing his arm around didn't help much as his hand got tied up by the cloak that is hanging on his neck.
'Mommy~ Halp meee~ I'm under the water~'
He didn't seemed to be bothered by drowning...
Well, he isn't drowning in the first place. Even if he's drunk, his trained survival instinct is still fully functioning when his life is in danger.
A bubble is covering his face, and a small airpipe-like bubble tubes is connected to it, constantly giving him oxygen from the atmosphere.
Yes, he's manipulating the water around him and created wind from his core to supply him air in his drunken state. Manipulating external element is considered to be very advanced and difficult to master.
With this, he's just comfortably being lead further away by the chilling water and is sinking at a slow paced due to his soaked cloak heaviness.
And thus, thirty minutes had passed...
Magnus can still be seen flowing underwater along with the water current.
Magnus could hardly keep his eyes open at this point due to him getting sleepy, but his survival instinct won't let him even blink for a moment, so he could only enjoy seeing the enlarging and shrinking fish that passed by.
*FWIP*
Magnus's cloak got stuck by a pointy dried branch underwater, it didn't halt his movement but it did decrease his momentum and successfully changed his direction.
Coincidentally, there's an unnoticeable narrow cave that could fit one Magnus at max, and that's where the current is leading him to.
Seeing that he's heading towards a safe place, Magnus's survival instinct stopped as drowsiness got the better of him...
***
Somewhere in a hidden underwater dungeon,
A naked figure of a man with a long messy pitched black hair, bright ruby-like crimson eyes and a pair of beautiful pitch-black wings on his back can be seen securely restrained by numerous miasma-emitting chains from every direction in the room. All his limbs were tied by at least 5 black chains.
Anyone could guess right away that this restrained figure is not normal and is an extremely dangerous individuals to be kept restrained as must be locked up for a reason.
The room he's in is dark with not a single source of light present.
'...Hah?...I'm expecting a guest? How long has it been? 500...or is it 1000 years since I last saw a living being? I don't know...How long has it been since I was betrayed and cast away after my lord died?...I don't know...and I don't care either...'
The figure asked himself a 'how long' question mentally before going back to look forward to meeting a guest he might have use of.
Sensing that his 'guest' is a puny human child, totally not what he'd expected to be like. Thus, he got dejected and went back to his own thought.
He had sensed that the human child is unconscious at the moment after being washed up at the entrance of this isolated hidden dungeon.
His interest relating the boy didn't rise one bit, but deep inside he was a little curious about how the boy ended up here in this dungeon where it could bypassed all the perception expert mages.
It's been several hours since then...and the boy started showing sign of moving.
The boy sat up while clutching his small head before looking around with a weird half-closed eyes (drunken eyes).
Looking around for a bit, he started wobblily walking deeper into the dungeon.
'What is this puny human child, mental?'
The tightly restrained figure was confused at why the boy decided to walk deeper into the dark dungeon instead of diving back into the hole that washed him up here to get out.
'I hope this will get a little interesting...expecting to see someone slowly starved to death is not a boring thing to witness'
***
Magnus had woken up 5 minutes ago in this underwater cave and is currently walking deeper inside.
Magnus is still drunk but is now in a hallucinating and a state of imagination.
Magnus didn't know that he's walking in the dark underwater dungeon, but is walking in a long hotel hallway similar to that of a horror movies, with many broken furniture scattered on the floor.
Those broken furniture were rocks and the rocky area in the dungeon which Magnus naturally avoids stepping on.
As Magnus is walking in the hallway of his imagination, he tried opening each the doors he passed by only to no avail as they're all locked.
Magnus didn't give up opening the doors as he continued walking while twisting each door handle he passed. Magnus didn't notice that the hallway is not straight as he's too busy focusing on finding the unlocked door, the hallway is zigzag like it's leading him somewhere.
Little did Magnus know, he'd already avoided activating 2 traps in the dungeon and is getting closer to the room where a restrained figure is observing him.
'Mommy~ Where are you~?'
With that, almost an hour passed.
*Clack*
Magnus twisted the last door's handle at the end of the hallway, and the sound of door being unlocked can be heard by him.
'Yay~'
The drunk Magnus was delighted that he finally found the door that isn't locked.
Without any hesitation, Magnus opened the door and went inside.
*FUam!*
As soon as Magnus entered the room, the hallway and the door of his imagination disappeared into thin air, leaving the confused Magnus in the darkness.
'Ish sho dark~'
Magnus thought before forming an unstable fireball on his palm to create a small light source and looked around. He could see countless black chains around him.
«Puny human, it seemed that I was mistaken, you are more interesting than I thought»
A stern voice can be heard inside Magnus's head, causing his half-closed eyes to darted around and gleamed with...expectation?
«...I'm in front of you puny human»
A stern voice once more resounded in his head.
Listening to it, Magnus looked forward and really saw a naked figure with countless black chains restraining him.
Seeing this, the expectation he had in his eyes dissipated.
'You're not my mommy...'
Magnus thought before raising his index finger and wrote a mirrored text,
[You're not my mommy...]
Magnus's handwriting is extremely cursive due to him still being drunk.
«...»
The figure was speechless as it was the first time in this unexpected situation. He couldn't even ask the puny human his reason for writing instead of talking...
*Thud*
Magnus suddenly fell on his knee with a pale face before covering his mouth with his right hand as if trying to resist something from coming out.
'Ugh- Bleughhhh'
Magnus expulsed the contents of his stomach via the mouth...he vomited.
«...»
After one more round of vomiting, Magnus was exhausted. His head became a lot clearer and he could now think more rationally.
'Ugh- What happened?'
Magnus thought as he clutched his head and laid on his back, slowly losing consciousness.
He didn't even notice the figure he found in his drunken state. With that he fell asleep from tiredness.
«...»
***
I am currently laying comfortably on my bed, casually scrolling down my phone.
'I seemed to forget something'
I knew something is missing, but I couldn't grasped what is it exactly.
'Was I here...this whole time...?'
"Luuucas!"
I heard a familiar voice calling my name.
'blah blah lalala~...I can't hear anything~...'
I continued scrolling down my phone, ignoring a person who's calling me outside my house.
I heard my name being called for a few more time before it stopped.
'hmm...Lucas...was my name always that? I don't know...what's wrong with me today...'
*Clack*
'Did she just intrude my house?!...I'll pretend that I didn't hear anything...'
I then resume whatever I was doing on the phone.
It was then...
*BAM!*
My door was swung opened and a familiar face of a beautiful long black hair teenage girl appeared.
"LUCAS!!"
She yelled so loud, my eardrums shook.
"Did you just break in my house?!"
I automatically retorted, trying to save myself by making her realize her mistake.
"Haa?! Wasn't it you who gave me the spared key?!"
*Gulp*
I gulped in realization before knocking the side of my head with my right hand and sticking my tongue out a little.
"Teehee~"
"DON'T 'Teehee~' ME!!"
She mimics my 'Teehee~' before stomping towards me. That's when I knew...I messed up.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! You will forgive this handsome and generous man right Miss Iris?"
I half joked as I put on a guarding stance with my hands.
I could easily sense that Iris grew several tick marks.
"Y-You shameless! Take this!"
*BAM!*
Her fist connected to my head.
*POF!*
A hard jab to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.
"AHhh! Kuhh"
*CRACK!*
A merciless right swing to my left ribcage.
"Ahn~! Are you trying to break my ribs?!"
*Creak*
The door to my room was once again opened at a perfect time.
'Perfect timing!'
"Wow~ It's quite lively here no?"
A good-looking blonde teenage-boy entered my room out of nowhere which is...a big mistake.
*BAM!*
Iris punch connected his solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him.
"Oumph! Whaf dif I do?"
The blonde man's face turned blue as he asked while holding onto his stomach area.
"A-Andy he..lp..."
I pleaded while making a grabbing gesture with my right hand as my left hand is holding onto my left ribcage...
"L-L-Lucas! Y-you #$%^?!&!!"
...A few minutes of one-sided thrashing later...
Andy and I can be seen sitting on the floor with our knee while Iris is menacingly looking down at us while sitting on my bed.
"Anything to say?"
Iris asked as she flung her beautiful black hair backward.
"W-Why am I-"
Andy opened his mouth only to be shut by Iris 'smiling' face
"Hmm? What was that?"
Iris closed-eye smile seemed to be very scary in Andy's perspective that's why he refrained himself.
"...nothing"
Andy voice is so low that it's almost inaudible.
"You?"
Iris asked me,
"I'm sorr-"
I was interrupted by Iris before I could finish my sentence.
"Why didn't you come and save me? Why did you let me die?"
Iris voice is still soothing but her eyes were hollowed and sunken.
'huh?'
I was startled and confused at this sudden turn of event.
"What?"
I blurted out in pure confusion.
"Don't pretend like you have no idea Lucas. What about me? Why didn't you save me? Why are you the only one alive?"
I was once again interrupted, it was by Andy who's beside me. He too had a hollowed and sunken eyes.
It was then my mind clicked, I remembered everything
"!!"
'W-W-wha-?'
I was frightened and scared, my body started shaking uncontrollably.
'T-t-that's not a...d-dream...?'
"I-I'm..."
""Cat got your tongue?...Say, why are you still alive and not us?""
My surrounding started darkening and their voice continued haunting me.
"I-I don't know...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm r-really..."
Tears flowed out of my eyes socket like a broken dam as their echoed voice didn't show any sign of stopping and it is ringing in my head, pounding my head.
It was just then another familiar voice suddenly chimed in.
"Magnus dear~ You were lying to me all that time? You have the power but you still left me to die? Am I really nothing to you? Why didn't you tell me? You are the reason for us to be cast away and me being later killed. Why? Why didn't you reveal anything?"
It was me...Magnus's mother voice. Her voice were hoarse.
"N-No mother...I-I-I"
"Don't call me that...I don't remember raising a child who tell lie."
"""This is why you are better off dead!!!"""
They yelled in unison.
"No...no....nO!"
My head started hurting like being a continuously hammered sword to be forged by a professional dwarven blacksmith.
"""Why are you still alive and not us?! WHY! WHY?! WHY! WHYY!!"""
Their simultaneous voice started changing, it was now extremely deep, hoarse, and very loud.
"Ahhh! I'm SORRY! I'M SORRY!!!"
I seemed to have lost my mind.
I don't know how long have passed but my mind unconsciously took in their question...
'...Was I really better off...dead? Will it end everything? Why did I get the chance to reincarnated and not them?'
...I seemed to have lost my sanity and rationality to think...
***
"Haa...haa"
Abruptly opening his eyes, Magnus sat upright.
His breathing was rough, his clothes were drenched in his own sweat.
'...A...nightmare...?'
Magnus's eyes were bloodshot and with tears still streaming down.
Frantically looking around, Magnus found himself back in the dark cave he fell asleep.
'...'
Magnus looked down at both his palm with a complicated expression before tightly clenching it.
'...Why?...'
He questioned himself, not minding his tears.
«It seemed you are not a normal puny human»
A deep stern voice rang in Magnus's head.
Magnus didn't look around but continued staring at his barely visible palms in the darkness.
'...'
Seeing that a puny human is not interested in talking after some nightmare he had, the figure continued.
«It's intrigued me at how you were expertly controlling mana despite being just a puny child.»
The figure voice carried a tinge of curiosity.
'...'
«Has the age of time changed that much?»
The figure pondered.
Hearing this Magnus looked up with his lifeless purple eyes glowing in the dark, it showed that Magnus had imbued his eyes with mana to see in the dark.
It was almost natural for Magnus to be a little wary and surprised that the figure who has talking in his head is being tightly restrained by numerous black chains.
Seeing that he's got the puny human child's attention, he continued
«The name's 'Agren'. So, tell me something about yourself. I got bored staying like this for centuries.»
The figure stared down at the puny human child whose eyes seemed to have experience a lot of things.
'...'
[Magnus]
«Hmm...Can't you speak?»
[No]
Magnus answered though a little wary.
It was then the figure's crimson eyes suddenly glowed bright gold making Magnus instinctively jumped back, creating a distance. The wound on his side has stopped bleeding a few hours prior due to being immersed in chilling stream water, so he needs to be a little careful not to reopen his wound.
«Hmm...Are you a hero or something?»
'!!'
Magnus's eyes slightly widen for a second before composing himself. The figure's bright golden eyes seemed to be able to see through secrets.
Judging from Magnus's reaction, the answer to his question is obvious.
«These eyes of mine can precisely see mana you see? I can even tell that your Space, Time, and Light affinity are being sealed away. Also, the quality of mana in you is unreal for someone your age. It's a common knowledge that everyone knows that 'Hero' is a being who is blessed with all mana affinity. Any you, have all that affinity...not counting the sealed one»
Agren explained where he got his hypothesis but missed something. A unique affinity that cannot be sensed...Anti-Magic.
'...That ability is useful and troublesome...'
Magnus's eyes narrowed and sharpened.
«Hey, hey~ Calm down. It's not like this news can spread between us»
'...'
«You also seemed to be under a high ranked curse...Did your ancestor or someone in your family made a deal with a demon?»
'...'
[Get to the point. What are you up to?]
Magnus knew that the figure he's talking to has something in mind.
«Quite sharp eh? Say. What do you think about human and demon? Little Hero»
The figure's carefree tone changed to that of a serious one and Magnus noticed this.
'He's definitely...'
Thinking for a while, Magnus raised his index finger and wrote.
[Human and Demon have their own ideology. Human followed what they think is right and will benefit them, the same goes to Demon.]
«Then which side do you trust? If you were to choose...»
[I trusted neither side. I will only trust myself]
Magnus remembered that he was betrayed by his own race, the demon are also known for their cheekiness behaviors. Trusting himself is the best answer he could give...
«Hmm...Let me ask you this...Do you know about the seven Devils and the Devil King?»
'...Those seven sins devil? Are they even real? I don't recall meeting or fighting one...'
[No]
«Trusting yourself alone is a not a bad idea but finding someone who can carry your trust is even more important, You can't do everything alone in this messed up world. I can see great future ahead of you but know this...Demons are initially not bad, but the ones that were influenced by the seven devils who's currently residing in another world...they will do anything to fulfil their lord's command.»
The figure explained in a serious tone.
'He is not making any sense...is he an introvert who does not know how to talk?...You can't win my trust with that speech...'
Magnus saw desperation and expectation in his eyes.
[Why are you telling me all this?]
Magnus became even more wary of this figure who suddenly gave him all that information him.
«You have the all the rights to not trust me. You will surely know all the truth when the time has comes»
[What if I say I believe you?]
«Then that's great. This will be my first step to fulfilling my late lord's dream. A world of Unity»
[Your lord?]
«Yes. My lord, 'Bullas'. He had been fighting his own race who's influenced by the devils while fighting with the people in this continent to negotiate peace»
'...That bastard?...'
Magnus continued listening while looking straight at the figure's bright golden eyes to find any lies. Unfortunately for him, there's no lies to detect.
«My lord Bullas eventually took his last breath in his fight with that naïve hero»
'...I admit, I was truly naïve back then...'
Magnus recalled the betrayal he experienced, his loss, and his everything...
«Though, that hero was extremely strong and even defeated my lord, my lord Bullas was stronger in my opinion. He knew what to sacrifice and has a strong unyielding state of mind»
'...'
«Do you know? In my opinion, devils isn't what I feared most but humans? Human is a race that is willing to do anything that benefits them, like getting rid of the Hero after defeating my lord just to avoid having a walking calamity in their kingdom. That is the reason why that naïve hero died in the hand of his own comrade hand...tsk»
'...'
Magnus clenched his fist, oozing out drops of blood. He too had hypothesized the same thing this figure is saying a long time ago.
«Say puny human, what do you think of a world where all race coexist in peace?»
'So, now he's approaching me this way?...coexist huh...It's possible but...discrimination will still be present in a world like that and slaves might have a high chance of being legal...something Iris detested...'
[At least it's better than this messed up world]
Magnus lied with a professional stoic face.
«Talking like adult eh? I took a liking to you human. What do you think is the first step to achieving the world peace»
'...What is he up to now?...Peace and war are two sides of the same coin. To gain peace one needs to wage war against the entities that pose a threat to the former. Peace almost seems impossible without war. The first step is definitely...'
[Power]
«For a puny human, you have brain huh?»
Magnus didn't bother himself to judge on the way he talk.
'But...Peace accomplished under domination and lies is not real peace. Only if it is gained by embarking upon a path of truth and honor does it have any real value...'
«Say...Do you want to inherit my power?»
'...So he's trying to control me huh? I guess I should benefit from this. If he wants to play then so will I...'
[Make me]
«Hoho, here are the list of my power hohokokoko»
'Another demon with weird-ass laugh...'
***
Elrora Kingdom, Palace hallway.
"Sis Eli!! Put me down down downnn~! I can walk by myself!"
Elaina can be seen yelling like little kid while being hold in a princess carry by Eli.
"No. You are not getting away this time."
Eli coldly denied.
"Wha-? I'm telling you, there's a bo-"
Elaina tried to tell her reason but was interrupted by Eli.
"Yes...yes. A boy who saved you this and that have eaten a mushroom and is currently in a state of dead-drunk. That mushroom is not dangerous Ellie, it just have a high concentration of 'Maonotoxin' that make the consumer extremely drunk, often used in alcoholic drinks. Nothing life-threatening."
"B-but..."
Elaina hesitated telling Eli the main reason for her worry.
"...But he's h-hurt and is b-bleeding..."
Elaina voice is almost inaudible but Eli is sensitive to voice.
"...Then he might die already."
Eli stoic face made it hard to tell whether she's joking or stating a fact.
"What?! B-But...I a-am the one responsible for his w-wound to open...What if he really die?!! AHHH! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
Elaina freaked out, failing her arms and legs like little girl...
"...So you finally admitted. Don't worry Ellie, I will try finding him...and show you his corpse"
Eli said stoically before smiling to Elaina. Instead of reassuring her, she seemed to be more frightened and nervous as her face paled as a result.
"Sis?!"
"Your parents are waiting for you inside."
Eli put Elaina down in front of the throne room's majestic entrance door.
"...Please Eli"
Elaina faced Eli as she pleaded.
"...I know. Now go"
*Whoosh!*
Eli disappeared along with the wind that suddenly appeared in the hallway.
"..."
Elaina just worriedly stared at Eli's previous spot before turning towards the throne room, entering it.
*Creak*
As soon as the door was fully opened. A figure flashed towards Elaina.
"My baby! Elaina, you're okay! Oh my baby!"
It was Elaina's mom.
"M-M-Mother..Father...I'm sowwy! WahhhhHhhH!"
"Shu shu~ Don't cry my daughter"
Elaina's father said as he stroked her hair tenderly and lovingly.
"WAAAHHHHHHH!"
Elaina somehow cried even louder rendering her father speechless, while her mom just gave her husband a meaningful smile.
.
.
*WHooSH!*
Elincia or Eli can be seen professionally maneuvering through the misty forest that surrounds Elrora Kingdom, her hometown, flexibly.
Elincia was hailed as the prodigy of Elrora Kingdom since the tender age of 9 and has a sister-sister relationship with Elaina, that enough showed their closeness.
She's an expert at manipulating mana and have three magic affinity; Wind, Water, and Earth.
Having two mana affinities are already considered to be rare in every race. So, a person who's blessed with three magic affinity is what you call prodigy. Any more than three magic affinity could only be achieved by either a chosen hero from 'this world' or summoned heroes from 'Another world'.
Elincia is proficient in creating and manipulating Plant which is the unique combination of Water and Earth elements that only Elves are capable of achieving.
Her 'Unique Skill' which she received from the elven shrine when she turned 13 is 'Mana Hunt'. It's a skill that enable her to track a person's mana signature and which is a useful perceptivity skill.
'Unique Skill' and 'Skill' can only be acquired in Towers and is a bit rare. High ranked Artifacts are mostly obtained from Dungeons.
*Thud*
Elincia stopped in front of the tent Magnus set up before her eyes that are glowing green darted towards the stream where a faint mana trial of a person is present.
"This is..."
She was a bit skeptical.
'Is this mana belongs to the human Ellie talked about?'
The mana is that of a good quality that is comparable to her, it made her skeptical and wary.
'...Is he a human prodigy?'
Elincia thought as she followed the trail, stopping at the stream.
"Haa..."
She breathed out a tired sigh.
'...He fell in it'
She knew it's going to be hard following the stream as she might ended up seeing the boy's corpse but she did nonetheless.
She ran alongside the stream while following the mana trail.
She ran for a few minutes before halting her movement as she saw a small figure of a tattered and bruised boy getting out from the stream. He seemed to be seriously injured as his right arm is broken and is hanging to his shoulder, his shoulder somehow didn't bleed or stopped bleeding.
The boy had short pitch-black hair that seems to absorb light, Elincia could not see his face as he has his back turned to her but she could clearly see that he's half naked with his upper cloth torn and burnt to shred revealing his eye-catching necklace hanging around his neck.
'...something's off about him...'
Though the boy in front of her have the exact same mana she's been following, there's an eerie foreign mana mixed in him that made her feel uneasy.
"..."
Staring at him for a few seconds, she finally decided to declared her presence to him.
"Are y-!!"
The pitch-black haired boy suddenly turned his face towards her. His face is indifferent and sharp, his piercing ruby-like red eyes that is staring at her gave her chills. He is also bleeding on his forehead that the blood runs down the side of his face, giving him an intimidating look.
Though Elincia is just 14 and had yet to trained her instinct by experiencing countless battle to the death, she felt like running away from the chills her spine are giving her.
Even if the person in front of her is an injured boy much younger than her, the aura he's emitting is not something she is familiar or could cope with.
She's started sweating unconsciously while stoically staring at the boy's eyes that seemed to have seen a lot.
Then, the boy suddenly raised his 'left' index finger, making Elincia goes into a fighting stance unconsciously.
[You are?]
Elincia was clearly not expecting that as her stoic face crumbled slightly.
Though still wary, she composed herself and stated.
"I'm Elincia and Elaina sent me...She's worried about you and told me to make sure you're okay..."
The boy's indifferent and sharp demeanor didn't change as he once again raised his index finger.
[I'm fine as you can see. If that's all then I'm leaving]
The boy walked away as soon as he finished writing.
'You call that fine?'
Elincia thought as her eyes landed on the boy's right arm that is on the verge of being torn off.
"...Wait, Elaina wants to see you..."
[Why would she? She has safely returned right? My job is done]
"That..."
Elincia didn't know how to convince him but then...a conversation she had with Ellie popped up in her head; 'Don't worry Ellie, I will try finding him...and show you his corpse'
'Show you his corpse...Well, he's still alive but seriously injured...altering it a little won't change anything'
"I promised her...to bring you to her"
Elincia said as she took a step forward.
Elincia saw the boy's movement stopped upon hearing the word 'promise'.
The boy turned around and raised his index finger, a gesture to write something.
[Why shou-]
His writing suddenly stopped along with his movement.
*Thump*
Magnus's head suddenly pounded, an immense pain assaulted him but it felt like nothing to him. If any veteran fighter were to experience the pain that is assaulting him now, the weaker minded ones will undoubtedly scream or even fall unconscious while the stronger willed individuals would frown and endured the pain.
But this dark mode Magnus?
His face is devoid of any emotion, though the pain is nothing to him, his body refused to move before he lost control over his leg, making him fall on his knee with the same calm face still plastered on his face.
Seeing that the boy suddenly fell on his knee, Elincia was confused and is about to approach him when she saw black runes started appearing on his arms, then his chest, stomach, and neck before they were all connected together by lines.
'What is happening?'
Elincia then shifted her eyes to the boy's face.
Surprisingly, the boy is staring at her with his bright crimson eyes before a wide smile formed on his face.
'!!'
The boy then disappeared as the world's color turns inverted in her eyes before seeing her own body were vertically cut in half...
*Gasp!*
Elincia came back to her sense while breathing heavily and immediately jumped back as far away as possible without looking back, she entire body completely broke in cold sweats. As she got far enough, she looked back through the mist and leaves, intently staring at the unconscious...white haired boy?
'...W-What was that?'
*Gulp*
She gulped down a mouthful of her saliva, her eyes are still shaking from witnessing her death.
Little did she know, it was her survival instinct that showed her what would happen if she just stood there like an idiot for one more second.
Composing herself professionally, her eyes glowed, showing that she's activating her unique skill.
'He's drained of mana...Should I...bring him?'
Elincia contemplated before deciding to bring the unconscious boy with her.
'I should also inform your highness'
Elincia jumped and landed in front the boy, inspecting his injuries and gave him a first aid.
***
...An hour earlier...
«Did you take in all that?»
Agren telepathically asked Magnus.
Magnus just nodded with his stoic face. Magnus is still thinking of the nightmare he had.
«So? Do you want to take the risk? If you fail, you die. And if you overcame it, you will inherit all my powers»
'I see what he's up to. Like hell I would fall for that.'
[I'll do it. What should I do?]
Magnus pretended to be clueless.
«Kill me»
'Knew it bastard'
«It's not easy because of these chains, it protects me from any external help to end my life. Its main purpose is to restrained me...for eternal»
'...That's why these miasma chains contained lifeforces...'
Magnus looked at the countless chains around him.
«Come at me»
'I'm right, he's waiting for the perfect time...I'm looking forward to see what face he will make...'
Agren said as he continued staring at Magnus who's walking backwards, create some distance with a stoic face, unbefitting of a child.
'Physical Reinforcement'
Purplish aura enveloped Magnus entire body, enhancing his overall body stats.
'Fire fist'
Bright red fire wrap up Magnus's small right hand.
'Gale fist'
The combination of wind and fire caused the flame to erupt into a frenzy state, its temperature skyrocket as the flame changed its color to that of light blue.
Taking a right-hand punch stance with his left leg forward, Magnus cupped his blazing right fist with his left.
Staring at the amount of concentrated mana, Agren internally sighed.
«Though the power is that of an advance rank...it's not enough to break these chains. Don't underestimate it puny human»
Agren's word entered Magnus right ear before leaving from his left. Magnus didn't listen to his word at all, he's too focused on his task.
'Blazing Gale!'
Magnus left foot slid forward before he swung his right fist, but as the distance between him and Agren is not close, it seemed like he's going to punch the air.
But as Magnus swung his fist half-way to a full swing, the mana he accumulated on his right foot burst.
'Instant Acceleration!'
*FWIP!*
Using Instant acceleration did close in the gap between Magnus and his target, Agren.
Due to the speed Magnus is going, everything around him blurred.
Magnus's killing instinct kicked in, turning his eyes crimson due to the amount of blood flowing in making his surroundings slowed down by a margin.
Seeing that his Blazing fist will connect with Agren's chest in less than a second in real time, he infused one last and the most crucial thing into his Blazing fist in order to get passed those chains that will automatically defend Agren.
'Anti-Magic coat'
Grey hues layered over his flaming fist.
Within a split second, Magnus fist easily passed the miasma chains and even shattered them before leaping slightly to reach the level of Agren's chest.
«!?»
Agren's eyes widen as if he saw something frightening or something completely unexpected.
«Wait!!»
*POMH!!*
Magnus's fiery blazing fist that ignored all the magical defenses connected with Agren's chest fiercely, his fist sunk 7 centimeters into Agren's chest in the process.
The heat from his blazing fist seeped into Agren's malnutrition body before brutally erupting out from his back.
*BOOM!*
Only then did the sound realized that it forgot to make a sound.
An ear-splitting sound echoed throughout the dungeon.
Agren's chest only seemed to be dent a little as a result unlike his back that burst opened. Magnus's arm is also in a battered state.
«F-Fu..ck»
'Anti-Magic?! This little sh..i..t...'
His eyes lost its light as his figure crumbled and turned to ashes as a ominous looking core the size of a ping-pong ball dropped.
"..."
'Too bad for you Agrid or whatever, you are 900 years too early to deceive me'
Magnus thought as he looked down at the ashes and the core that laid on top of it, trying to ignore his almost torn off burnt right arm that is barely hanging onto his shoulder.
'This body sucked...it hurt...'
Magnus complained as he supported his right arm with his left arm before crouching down and picked up the core from the pile of ashes.
Slowly bringing the core closer to his face,
'Thanks to him being restrained by those chains. Most of his ability seemed to be sealed in his core...A good news'
*Gulp*
Magnus swallowed the core.
*DOOOM*
His entire body was then struck by an enormous force that he felt like his body is going to burst.
'Kuh! This is...challenging'
Magnus smile creped up his face as he's controlling his mana to guide the enormous force from Agren's core around his body with difficulty. One mistake and his body will burst into bits.
Magnus has carefully and masterfully guided it through his brain, heart, solar plexus, and his entire body for a few rounds.
This goes on for a few minutes but it felt like hours to Magnus.
Magnus can be seen sweating profusely in a kneeling state.
His entire body is in immense pain especially his tearing shoulder, his arm is completely shattered but he couldn't feel anything as the pain from his shoulder overpowers it.
'Using Physical Reinforcement and combining the powerful combination of fire and wind in this body is...a mistake'
*Thump*
Magnus's heart pulsed loudly.
'Why always...'
*Thump*
'...this'
*Thump*
'...feeling...?'
*Thump*
Magnus's snow-white hair started flickering back and forth between white and black as his breathing turned ragged.
His eyes then started flickering between purple, crimson, and gold.
His eyes drooped and before long, he fell unconscious.
Only to open his eyes a second later, and they were not purple like usual but bright crimson, his hair is that of pitch-black. His usual aura and demeanor is nowhere to be found.
The possessed Magnus...? then stood up and walked away.
'Why is everything...so...bland?'
The possessed Magnus seemed to be able to clearly see in the dark as he's heading towards the entrance he came from.
'Why is my arm hanging like that? I'm injured? It would be troublesome if my arm were to fall off...'
Magus is not possessed but his view of things has changed...He could no longer feel anything in this state...he is...Emotionless...