[Author's Note: You can skip this chapter if you want. I was just fed up with the Austin personality and decided to make him more open and mature.]
.....
The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky.
The night was peaceful and calm.
Only the whistling sound of the wind was audible.
In the forest, the occasional howling of the magical beasts was echoing.
A blonde-haired boy was standing in front of a large tent. He was staring at the entrance from more than one hour.
"Come inside."
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside his head. The boy was startled by the sudden voice. But he stepped inside regardless not caring about anything.
He tried opening the door but wasn't able to. He circulated a bit of mana in his fingers then touched the door knob.
*Click*
The door opened without any problem. He entered inside looking around the inside was completely dark. Even after using his powers he was unable to see anything. The door slowly closed by itself making a shark creaking noise.
"!!"
Before he can understand the situation he started falling down.
*whoosh*
"Wtf!?" Austin looked around anxiously. He tried to use his power but was unable to gather any mana. It was sucked out of his body.
After a few minutes, Finally, he fall into a large large pool of water.
*Splash*
"Argh..." He groaned in pain due to the impact.
Austin somehow managed to swim outside. He laid down on the ground flat with his face up.
"Huff..cough, ...cough...huff...." He gasped for breathe. He doesn't have much muscles and was completely exhausted without his powers.
"!!"
All out of a sudden, Austin was covered was by a silhouette. He immediately tried to get up but his body refuse to respond.
"Sup, Austin." Austin calmed down after hearing a familiar voice.
"What the fuck is the place, I could have died @!?#m..."
Tired of cursing he looked around himself only to find him in complete foreign surrounding.
"What?"
The was a large waterfall in front of him. There were multiple mountains extending in all directions. All the mountains were exhibiting a sacred and holy aura. Their peeks were touching the top of the sky even above the clouds. Austin tried to look through it but was unable to.
The trees around him all were of different colours, he can't even recognize a single tree. Even the Mountains, waterfall the complete scenery, he has never heard of a place like this in this world.
His mouth went wide open in surprise. He started in disbelief. Some of the mountains were huge possibly the largest ever seen by him.
I grinned and nodded satisfied by his reaction.
"This is a place where you will train."
Austin furiously got up. "What the fuck do you mean by this. Explain to me what is that thing." He pointed at the large bird flying in the sky completely covered in white flames.
"It's a nirvana bird, precisely a Near god-level beast," I said calmly.
"What is a dog doing here?" Austin said annoyed.
"Awwoooooo" The silver wolf howled.
"It is a Fenrir, A god beast and He is saying he is a 'wolf' , not a dog."
"Well, actually he doesn't like being called a dog," I explained awkwardly.
"Woof." Fenrir shook his head in agreement.
... Dude if you don't like being called a dog stop always shrinking your size into a puppy.
Looks Matter!!
He shrunk his size into a small puppy again. He wiggled his tail as he climbed above my shoulder.
Austin looked around to find many similar beasts near him. He stared them in a daze.
At a glance, they seem like normal beasts but on a careful look, each beast was emitting a sacred atmosphere around it. Every beast has its own dignity on par with gods.
Austin closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"It must be dream..."
He opened his eyes only to find me looking at him amused. "It's all real and you can't escape it."
"Which place is this and how there are so many God beasts nearby." Austin said visibly nervous.
I put on a pondering expression. "It is an alternate space created by me. As for the beast, I found their souls in the Cursed forest.
"They would have most probably died in Great war of Gods 10000 years ago. They were waiting for rebirth. God & God beasts never die they just go into the process of rebirth. I just speeded up the process."
"See how happy it is." I glanced at Fenrir and stroked his silver fur. It has grown an attachment to me.
"..."
Austin strolled around panicked unable to comprehend anything. He looked at me in disbelief.
"What are you!? how can you revive them."
To be frank I didn't want to get him in here this soon. But got no choice, I got to train him and hide this place from Natsuki at the same time. She shouldn't be allowed to know about my strength before my plans are completed.
Austin was getting insane, anyone would be, if any random person someday just come and say, 'Hey see I can easily resurrect the God beasts'. Even gods were unable to pull off something this crazy.
"...You will understand it slowly, for now, you will train here. I will be going the-"
"WAIT!!"
Austin shouted frantically. Before I was able to pass through the portal he caught my sleeves.
I turned back confused.
"What?"
"I don't want to train or do shit. Tell me about my father why did you take the blame on yourself. Is it to save me? if yes I don't need anyone's protection." He said in a single breath without stopping.
I frowned. "You have misunderstood, something boy."
Did he think he can talk to me like this? I jabbed him in his ribs with my elbow making him fall to the ground.
"Listen Brat" I crouched down and stared at him fiercely.
"You think I am protecting you, sorry but I don't have enough time to protect a trash. I told to train you and this is what I am doing. Nothing is free and you will have to pay the equivalent price.
"If you don't want to accept, you are free to leave. Go wherever you want."
"But where will you go after this... Against the Church? Alone?? hahaha... " I glanced at him with disdain.
"Who do you think you are? Can you even touch a single feather of a Archangel?"
Austin grimaced, he wanted to scream he can but he knew it was impossible.
"Why are you silent? can't speak or dumb? Where is your arrogance? haha.. Is that how you stared when your Mother was butchered in front of your eyes."
"Hah, A helpless father and a helpless son... What a iconic duo"
Austin body trembled with anger. But it was all useless without his powers.
"Just a pathetic creature ,small and insignificant. Stop dreaming about killing a Archangel."
"Go and first learn how to control your powers." I released a torrent of mana, slightly pushing him.
"And when I order to do something, you just do it and not question.
"If you want to speak earn your place for it."
Austin shuddered, slightly intimidated. But he was still stubborn.
He isn't the one to get easily pushed around. But now he has no other choice other than to surrender. [Let me get out of here man. I will personally behead you.]
He watched me with a hostile gaze. "What do I have to do and what about my powers."
I smirked. Previously my plan was to leave him alone for a while and let him stabilise. But now It is changed.
My gaze shifted away from him to the mountains.
"You have to climb all the mountains. In the peak of each mountain, there will be rare technique learn it then repeat till you finish comprehending all of them."
"As for your powers, I never sealed them it's you who did it. I don't know how to remove the seal. Ask yourself, not me."
Austin's looked around examining the surroundings.
His face turned ghastly pale. "B-But there are more than hundreds of mountain it will take an eternity."
"Ah, about it don't worry time doesn't flow here, you can take as much time you want," I said casually.
Austin looked around him with wondering eyes. Climbing them without his power is literally impossible. How the heck he is supposed to do remove the barriers?
Austin stared up at my face, but I ignored him.
I proceeded to move into the centre of the waterfall.
I sat down on the rock and started meditating.
I would always concentrate hard and dive deep into thoughts. So much so that sounds won't reach me and things that I would normally notice will be disregarded.
When I was in this state, I looked as if time has frozen for me from other's perspectives as I sits there without any sort of movement. The only slight movement that could be seen was only my chest rising and falling rhythmically, showing that I was still breathing and alive. Else, I could be mistaken as a painting.
When Austin first saw me, he began to panic slightly, worried about my sudden lack of movement. But after thinking about my terrific powers he decided to focus on his problems.
Austin sighed, gazing up at the mountains.
"Give me a break."
...
*Bam*
"Hah...hah.....fuck how am I supposed to complete it."
Austin cried out after falling for the 7th time.
....
*thud*
"Give me my powers."
*Bam"
"Plzzz this time no-"
"Ahhh...."
*swoosh* *Crash*
"Argh"
*Bam*
"Ahhhh..."
"Nooo..."
"Not this tim-"Austin squeaked.
*Splash*
He has fallen in the water again.
"Argh...!" He wailed in pain, helpless. "It is impossible, how I am supposed to climb it."
*Splat*
He slammed his hand at the ground in annoyance.
His clothes were tattered. His body was covered in scars and wounds. Blood was flowing out from every part of his body... Without his powers even the smalls cuts were taking days to heal.
Austin deliberately moved near me. He gathered all his remaining power trying to punch me down.
"BASTARD..."
*Crash*
"Ahhhhhh.....!" Unfortunately, his efforts proved futile. His hand met a transparent barrier and he was blown away.
"Argh...!" Austin tried to stand up but his body didn't respond. He fell limp to the ground exhausted.
His eyes closed and lost consciousness.
"Sqwakkkk....."
*Swish*
The fluttering of a bird resounded. The Phoenix bird deliberately hovered above him to keep him dry.
...
"What time it is...Argh! ...it hurts." Austin woke up groaning in pain.
His wounds haven't healed yet.
He was a puzzle, a man with no memory beyond waking up in the morning.
The number of days spent by him has already crossed a thousand mark. He was unable to use his power yet.
Austin sighed at his fate. "When will this Hell end." He whimpered.
But Nobody was there to accompany him except a statue like person sitting in the centre.
Austin smiled bitterly. "You must be happy aren't you, ...isn't this is what you wanted, to see me suffering, dying, daily wishing for my death but unable to even commit suicide."
"Hahhahahahah...." He laughed loudly like a lunatic.
"Hahaha...are you even alive or already dead Bastard."
He sat down on the ground tired.
"Please I want to go back *sob*...*sob.*...please...help me*sob*...I beg you..."
Eventually, he started to cry.
He cried until it was dark. He was in a vulnerable state, completely helpless and broken. On this vast island, he was alone. No one was there to support him.
He had a self depreciating smile. "Is it because I am Orphan...curse of being an Orphan...huh"
He stared at the sky absent-minded.
"Why.....why I have to suffer every time....let me die....."
Unwittingly he began to sob, again tears flowed from his eyes.
Hours passed like this.
The morning Sun shone. The first ray of sunlight falls upon him.
He gazed at the morning sun.
A look of determination flashed across his face. He swallowed down a sob and wiped his eyes free of tears.
"No I have to survive, I will survive...I can't disappoint them...."
Austin somehow managed to drag himself to the rock next to me.
...Self Reliance.
He closed his eye started meditation.
Mana gradually started accumulating near him.
...Patience.
I opened my eyes slightly to peek at him.
Hehe .... brat did you decided to use your brain, instead of blaming.
He is going through the process of rebirth. His powers are turbulent. He has to first stabilize them. He can only do that if he completely accepts the power inherited to him by his Father and Mother.
Even though he has accepted his Mother but still hasn't completely accepted James power.
Unity of Demonic and Human powers, it's impossible in a human body. He needs to shed his blood and bones to rebuild his body. Normally it should be impossible but this is a special dimension and mana here is slightly different.
However, if he fails, he will get crippled.
I sighed closed my eyes again.
....
*Crackle*
Austin opened his eyes. Fire and lightning were revolving around him.
He gazed at the mountains again. But this time there was a confident expression on his face.
Mana started gathering near him.
"Haha...I am coming."
He strengthened his body and dashed towards the Peak.
...Trust.
He continued moving ahead without looking back.
Hmm, he completed rebirth faster than I thought.