That was the extent of my memory. I relived the final moments of this body, Kind Yulen, the son of one of the high rankers, Lenin Yulen.
I put my hand on my chest. My heart was still beating. It was calm and steady, just like the time before Kind jumped off the cliff.
"..."
"Now…"
Master slowly got up from the ground and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"Tell me."
I knew what he was talking about. Of course, any sane person would want to know what happened if someone broke into screams and acted like a fanatic.
"I… remembered something."
"And that is?"
"I believe I have told you that I am from earth."
"Yes, you did. So?"
That was weird.
Did Master not go through the same thing when he came to the Tower?
"Uh, I recalled this body's memory."
"...what?"
As soon as my mouth spat out the words, Master's face contorted to a frown.
"This body… do you mean, your body?"
That was a strange question.
"Yes…?"
"Wait…"
Master slowly sat beside me and clenched his head as if he was thinking something deeply.
"Master?"
I called out to him but no response came back.
…no way.
"...your soul took over someone else's body."
The words flew out of Master's lips gravely.
"And Master must have been born in the Tower."
Master nodded at my reply.
I was correct.
"The Tower is where people from many worlds and dimensions come and fight to reach the top. The Tower has a tutorial for them. But there are also cases of people from other worlds and dimensions being born in the Tower while having their memories intact. And I am such a case. But…"
I was the very first case.
"You are an abnormality."
I was an abnormality.
***
'There's no way…'
The Sword Saint was silently gazing at the boy beside him. An abnormality, and he wasn't even aware of that fact.
Musashi purposefully didn't tell the boy everything about the abnormality. Why were they considered abnormal? Musashi chose not to tell him this.
The abnormality that shook the Tower to the core; forced the Tower itself to take action and the strongest human in the history of the Tower.
'The second abnormality after my Master. Maybe this boy can carry your will.'
After all, he was an abnormality like Chunma.
***
I was an abnormality but that didn't matter. I already had plans to shake the Tower and would do just that.
"You don't have to worry. I'll keep this between us."
Master spoke up with a reliable tone.
Maybe he thought I was worried the cat would get out of the bag.
But of course, it was the least of my worries.
The problem was that I didn't know how abnormalities like me were treated in the Tower.
I looked at Master, who was in deep thought.
"What would happen if people knew about this?"
Master was silent and simply stared.
"A storm."
A storm?
"A storm will ensue in the Tower."
In a place where reincarnations were common, just knowing that someone transmigrated would ensue a storm? That was unsatisfying.
"Why?"
"...you don't need to know right now."
My questions were brought to an end.
"Fuu… anyway, your curse is a stubborn one. Even with me squeezing every drop out of me, I could only lift a tiny portion of it. Until the curse is completely lifted, you will be unable to use mana."
I swallowed hard.
"How long will it take?"
"Hmm…around 3 years? And seeing your progress, it will take 3 years for your body to be able to learn the Song of the Sword Saint as well."
Meaning, that I had to keep on going through hellish training for 3 whole years.
"But that doesn't mean you are only going to train during that time."
"Huh?"
Was there something else that could make my life harder than it was already?
"Song of the Sword Saint isn't the only martial art in this world. In maybe a few months, you can learn something that will help you get a hang of martial arts. Come with me, I'll show you."
Master got up and I followed suit.
"Ugh…"
Shit, was I still feeling groggy?
I didn't know for how long I was out there on the bed. It could be hours.
'No wonder I am struggling to walk.'
My feet were not listening to me. My body acted weird and everything felt reversed.
…this was the worst.
I somehow followed Master out of the small hut with shaking steps.
"..."
Again, I couldn't help but admire the place I was residing in.
Maybe today was a full moon day as I could see the moon stooping down to kiss us with her brilliant radiance.
The breeze was cooler and gentler than yesterday. I felt relieved. I felt energy rejuvenating in me.
My eyes followed Master.
His steps were calm and soft. His gaze was kind and comforting. His movements were delicate and gentle.
'He is smiling…'
It was a small curve on his lips; a kind smile.
"This is one of the features of the Plum Locus. During a full moon's night, the plum leaves will rejuvenate the energy of the people who stay here."
"Is that why you decided to stay here?"
"No, the decision to hear was…"
He stopped mid-way and bit his lips.
His face told me all I needed to know.
'He is someone who is struggling as well…'
His eyes were gloomy from loss. His lips were bleeding in regret. His hands trembled in rage.
'He has lost something very precious to him…'
"Hm…"
Master shook his head as if to drive away the thoughts in his mind.
"Anyway, the thing I wanted to show you."
He took a step back and put his fist forward.
"Look carefully."
A dignified stance.
"There is only one formation."
His feet were slowly glowing in a dark red.
His eyes were glaring fiercely.
Even the wind was scared of him.
"Demonic Fist, First Formation."
Boom—
A sonic boom that scattered everything around.
At a lightning speed, Master darted in on a poor boulder.
Bam—
Even if I could not see mana, I knew it. There was no magic involved. It was Master's pure strength that flew the boulder sky high.
"...!"
The wind got violent and as if to declare himself as the ruler, Master muttered in a deep tone.
"Birth of Demonic Dragon."
Boom—
He shot up, straight up.
"...?"
But he came to a stop just before he met with the boulder. Was it a failure?
Everything went silent and tense.
Tak—
Master's knuckles light touched the boulder. What was that even going to do? That was weak in my eyes.
But I was stupid.
In the middle of the moonlight, there was my Master and a boulder that was reduced to dust.
Just by a light touch.
The dust particles fell above me like rain and Master slowly descended to the ground like a warlord.
"..."
I was in a daze.
"Song of the Sword Saint can wait. You will learn this first."
He said it with a smile.
***