"Wake up."
"Wake up."
"Wake up Author."
A voice echoed through my ears, telling me to get up from my slumber, I move slightly as I slowly place my hands on my head.
A new foreign light invade my vision, I slowly open them further, and after I adjust to the light around me, I was welcome by the beautiful face of Shalva.
The coffin doors had clearly been removed since I instantly sat up from it, an unlike before, I didn't felt weak, no instead I felt brimming with power.
So much so, I feel like I could solo an entire country with my mere presence alone, I look at both my hands, but something was different.
Instead of the tunic that I wore earlier, I now had on a full black armor with red vein coming from some places, the armor itself looks very heavy but instead.
It was the opposite, and what stand out the most to me, was the fact that on my face, I now had on a mask-like helmet as well.
On top of my head has six large demon like horns that were crimson red.
From there I began to use blood manipulation to create a full body mirror, and man oh man did I look very intimidating.
The helmet I wore on my head look demonic and draconic in nature, and what surprise me the most was the fact that behind me was a full black dragon tail.
The transformation itself was intimidating to say nonetheless, the gauntlet on my arm look like dragon claws.
But what also very surprising to say the least was the fact that my voice sound really distorted, in nature.
"Ha now this is armor, but it feels more like my body than anything else."
I say this in a casual voice, it came out rather demonic on the outside.
But as I was admiring the armor itself, I totally forgot Shalva existence, as she bring me back to reality as she said.
"I see your enjoying my masterpiece for what it truly is."
"Of course its amazing."
"With that, holy armor Yarklane is complete, it's up to you to decide your limits when training inside the doom box."
"I see, so I guess this is were we say goodbye?"
I said as I turned my head back to Shalva, she smiled at my words as she said.
"Naturally yes, and after you complete your training, you will be summon by one of the country if not the empire, I cant say it will be the undead since the undead empire is working with two other empire from two different realms."
"I see, which are?"
"The Demons and the Casters."
"I see."
I spoke with a neutral tone, but she responded with a question.
"Say Author I'm guessing that menacing sword of your has something to do with with the chosen one power."
When she said that I instantly remember that strange dream from earlier, as I raised my arm towards my face, and I saw the same exact sword I got from that mysterious lady.
I look at the sword which was a rather well crafted katana, but as soon as I look at this, vision and many voice started to run wild in my mind once more, as the voices themselves were like a cold whispers.
"King of kings."
"Father nooo!"
"We strike from the east."
"Why won't you accept me father."
"A whore who cheat on her husband deserve death and nothing more."
"The born king."
"I refuse this future."
"Why, why, why?"
"Modred how did it came to this."
"Save this world Author Pendragon."
--Drop!--
After all those vision a d voice enter my mind I fall flat to the ground holding my head and breathing heavily, instantly Shalva rush to my side as she ask me.
"Hey, hey what the hell happening to you, your not hurt are you, could it be that your still not heal properly."
I raised my hand signaling her to back off, as I began to spoke.
"Don't worry about me, Shalva it just a mild headache."
"I can see that, but what the hell happened?"
I look at her, my purple eyes stares at her intently through the helmet that I was wearing.
But due to her worry it was clear to see that she didn't caught me staring at her.
So I raised myself off the ground as I took Excalibur by the hilt almost as if by instinct as I open might mouth wide which began to shone a bright red light.
And the blade itself slowly went into my mouth completely sheathing it with my body itself.
From their I turn towards a confused Shalva who was equally shocked and confused at my earlier action as she began to ask.
"That look rather painful."
"Take my word for it I didn't feel a thing."
"I see, still looks rather painful, so what can that blade of yours even do?"
"Don't know."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I see, sigh very well then if you are alright I think it's time we said our goodbyes for now."
I gave Shalva a rather confused look from the helmet, this strange feeling of saying goodbye was rather weird, I feel empty, what was this feeling, I don't understand.
"Agh... come on dot give me that look we spent nearly a 600 years together in this place, the baby bird has to leave the nest eventually, otherwise how will they grow and learn to survive."
"Did she saw my face through the helmet that didn't even have a single hole in it all."
"Of course I can see your face I'm a goddess for talking out loud."
"I see."
"Well then before you go can you stretch out your hand, there is two more things I want to give you."
"Hadn't you given me enough."
"I feel as if I barley gave you anything."
"No you gave me a lot for that I am grateful."
I spoke as I bowed down to her showing my respect and appreciation for everything she has done for me till now.
"Thank you for everything."
Shalva gave me a rather shock look as she sigh and began rubbing my head as she said.
"Don't sweat it Author-sama, this goodbye is only temporary, we will cross paths once more I'm sure of it, for now just focus on becoming stronger, because after you leave the doom box all hell broke loose."
"Yes."
"Good with that said, open your hand so I can give you my final gift."
With that said I wasted no time as I open both my hands all must as if was about to drink from my hands.
She gave yet another smile as her tiny hands touch mines, doing circular motion in it, in a teasing way at that, as she began to spoke.
"Agh... how much you have grown compare to before, I almost feel bad parting like this but for now emotion are mean less so take these two things."
Was what she said to me, as she drop two things in my hand, the first thing was a card it felt the same as normal credit card, hard to the touch.
While the second thing was a Necklace with a black rose on it, which something I have grown accustomed to, the black rose was without a doubt a plant that symbolize the primordial goddess of death, so everytime I see one it always remind me of Shalva.
From the moment I saw it know, it was like a moment of sorts, my statement only hold more sentiment to it as she replied to me as such.
"The necklace itself is a memento of sorts, my great grandmother pass it on to my grandmother, which she passed down to my mother then she did same and pass it down to me, and now I'm following in their footsteps as I now pass it on to you."
I look at this with awe, but deep down I know I shouldn't take this, so I gave it back to her and said.
"I can take th...
"Shhh... I insist and I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Sigh, are you sure?"
"Of course I am, if not why would I give it to you in the first place."
I look at this completely bewildered by the whole situation as I sigh it off and spoke.
"Sigh fine you win."
From there I place the necklace around my neck as I gave the card a confused look and ask.
"So what does this do?"
"That Author-sama is status card, it use as an identification in all realms, without it can't cross the dimensional plane, it also use a credit card as well, but it's mostly use as power tracker, you see by spilling a drop of your blood on it, will show your physical stats in numerical value, and show your occupation and ranks itself."
"I see."
With that said I wasted no time as I bit my thumb till blood started to come fort, and I place it on the status card.
Instantly it shone a blue light, and a picture of my face along with my occupation and stats emerge on it, and this was what it said.
[Status card]
Name: Author Pendragon
Age: 5,640
Race: Undead
Occupation: Hero, Apostles
Rank: Apprentice
Source rank: SSS+
Aptitude rank: X
Strength: 456
Speed: 567
Vitality: 9999
Durability: 3456
Stamina: X
Upon reading this I was shocked, but I couldn't help but ask.
"Hey Shalva what the normal numbers for an apprentice rank."
"The highest recorded in any stats in the apprentice rank would be 70."
"Agh.... I see, what does x means."
"X means that the status has reach a point it can only be considered as unreadable, normally undead has that error mark on stamina for obvious reasons."
"I see very well then with this I think I am ready to go."