Azrael slowly awoke, a symphony of pain resonating through every inch of his body. He could barely move his limbs as his body was wrapped in a layer of bandage.
"Who did you provoke this time, boy?" a hoarse voice asked.
Azrael looked to his side, where an old man sat with a straight posture in a chair.
The man was in his mid-forty, he had short gray hair adding with a thin mustache and beard that matched his hair color.
The man wore a red vest with a delicate floral pattern on it and a white shirt underneath. The man's shirt was rolled up to his sleeves, revealing numerous knife scars on both of his arms.
From the waist down, he wore brown trousers with a belt and a holster. Within the holster rested a unique weapon, a magic revolver, which was his weapon of choice.
This man, known as Old Joe, had been waiting for Azrael to wake up.
"It was just some annoying bastards. How long was I unconscious?" Azrael replied shortly.
"B-rank Magicia, are just some annoying bastards for you? You really are a troublesome kid." Old Joe shook his head, then continued, "You were out for three days. Luna called me, asking about you."
"What did you tell her?" Azrael asked.
"I told her you were with me, assisting in some work." Old Joe replied. His tone softened as he continued, "She sounded really worried."
He turned to Old Joe and extended his hand. "Lend me your phone, old man."
"Here you go, kid," Joe handed over his phone, watching as Azrael deftly dialed Luna's number.
Buzz! Buzz!
"Hello, uncle," Luna's voice came through the line.
"It's me," Azrael's voice resonated through the phone, his presence cutting through the distance that separated them.
"Is it Akki?" Theo's voice chimed in from the background. "Put it on loudspeaker," he urged, wanting to be part of the conversation.
"Akki, are you okay? Why haven't you called?" Luna's voice trembled with concern.
"I'm fine. I just had a little accident, and my phone got broken," Azrael explained, his voice carrying a sense of reassurance.
"What happened? Did you get into something dangerous?" Luna's concern deepened her words, a reflection of her genuine worry for his well-being.
"It's nothing serious, just a bit of bad luck on my part," Azrael explained, his tone attempting to downplay the situation.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Azrael interjected. "You two received scholarship letters from the National Magicia Academy, right?"
"Yeah," both Luna and Theo responded in unison.
"I've made up my mind to enroll into that academy. What about you two?"
"Well, if you're going, then it's a no-brainer. Count me in too," Theo's determination was evident in his voice.
"Me too," Luna says.
"I see. In that case, I'm going to prepare myself for the admission test. As for you two, focus on honing your mana skills and training diligently."
"Sure, I'm not gonna lose to you," Theo declared, with a hint of playful rivalry.
"Also, make sure to ignore any invitations or calls from guild recruiters."
Luna's curiosity couldn't be contained. "Why?"
Azrael's response was firm and resolute. "Because we've chosen the path of the academy. Besides, you both need to stay focused on your training, okay?"
"Okay." Luna's voice carried a sense of agreement, trusting in Azrael's words.
With the details sorted, Azrael felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Oh lastly, I'll be occupied for a while, so I won't be able to meet up with you two for a couple of weeks or maybe months. So we'll meet at the academy."
Luna's voice held a mix of understanding and disappointment. "Okay, just promise me you'll take care of yourself, Akki."
Azrael's lips curled into a faint smile, even though she couldn't see it. "I promise."
With that said, Azrael concluded the call, his thoughts already racing ahead to the path he had chosen. He handed the phone back to Joe.
"Looks like you've got a lot on your plate, kid," Old Joe commented as he stood up. "Boss has some work for you, so take more rest."
"Thanks, old man," Azrael said
Joe nodded in return. "I put some clean clothes in the drawer for you. Get some rest, kid."
Joe turned to leave the room, his footsteps fading away as Azrael settled into the stillness of the moment.
Alone in the room, Azrael's voice cut through the silence. "Show yourself, Jing Qiáng."
From the depths of Azrael's consciousness, a figure materialized—an embodiment of the enigmatic presence he had once disregarded.
"Explain what you've done to me?" Azrael inquired, his tone direct and unwavering.
Jing Qiáng's response was measured, his voice a calm assertion. "I transferred the authority of the system to you. The system now rests within your grasp. Put it to the test by invoking 'status' or 'system.'"
Without hesitation, Azrael complied, uttering a single word, "System." He sought to validate the truth of Jing Qiáng's words.
Before him, an interface resembling a dark-hued game display materialized, revealing his newfound stats.
------------------------------------
| > Main Tab < | < Locked > | < Locked > |
Azrael Akki
Race: Human -- Class: None
Title: None
Potentials: None
Health Point (HP): 80/300
Mana Point (MP): 100/400
Dark Power: 0
Stats:
Strength: 2 | Agility: 3 | Vitality: 3 | Intelligence: 4
Skill: (2)
- Eye of The World
- Dark Power Container (0%)
------------------------------------
Azrael's eyes scanned the displayed information, absorbing the new insight, before turning back to Jing Qiáng.
"What you want me to do now?" Azrael asked.
He had accepted Jing Qiáng's offer and was ready to bear its consequences. He had agreed to work with him, but it doesn't mean that he trusts him at all.
Jing Qiáng's guidance was clear, outlining the path ahead. "Continue as you normally would. I just need you to grow stronger, so you'll be capable of upholding your end of our agreement. But for now, the priority is to recover your body."
Suspicion lingered in Azrael's eyes, but an unspoken understanding had formed. He had made a choice.
He had chosen this path. Regardless of the uncertainties that accompanied it, he was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"What happened after I passed out?" Azrael inquired, seeking clarity about the events he had missed.
Jing Qiáng's response carried an undertone of observation. "I sensed your body being moved by the man who found you. André's presence reached me ten minutes later, and he left immediately after failed to locate you."
"I see." Azrael settled back onto his bed, deciding to take the rest his body needed.
**********
After allowing his body a necessary few days of rest, Azrael set out on his training journey under Jing Qiáng's patient guidance.
Jing Qiáng's advice was clear. "Considering your body's condition after using raw dark energy, allowing it time to recover while gradually accumulating mana is crucial."
Continuing, Jing Qiáng explained, "To prepare for the admission test, your focus should be on honing your skill in handling mana. Manipulate the magic weave around you, relying on the natural mana density of the area rather than drawing from within your body."
"Close your eyes," Jing Qiáng instructed.
Seated in a lotus position, Azrael complied, embracing the instruction as though he were entering a state of meditation.
Jing Qiáng's voice resonated within Azrael's mind. "Imagine the air around you as mana. Assign it any color you prefer. Feel your skin making contact with it, making it denser while retaining its form and color."
Azrael mentally transformed the air, shaping it into a denser mana while maintaining its distinct characteristics.
"Now, picture it like a collection of threads—some clustered, others interwoven, and some forming lines—all weaving around you, gently brushing against your skin."
The air around Azrael gained new meaning as it transformed into dense yet flexible purple mana. The mana enveloped him, flowing around his body like waves in an ocean.
"Experience the mana's transformation, its temperature shifting from cold to hot, its state shifting from liquid to solid, and back again. These are the foundational steps in mastering elemental magic."
Guided by Jing Qiáng, Azrael delved into the intricacies of elemental magic. With unwavering focus, he immersed himself in the sea of mana, manipulating its currents to align with his intentions.
He molded it, shaping its essence like a skilled sculptor working with clay.
Thus, the initial stages of his training focused on delicately weaving the strands of magic to strengthen his control over its flow.
Several weeks had slipped by, and Azrael's daily routine stretched from morning until evening. He focused on honing his mana sensitivity and enhancing his physical prowess. As night descended, he carried out tasks assigned by the boss, dressing in a hoodie and face mask to evade the watchful eyes of the Violet Scorpion guild.
Through the passage of time, Azrael's mind and body grew accustomed to the ambient mana, aided by the training and guidance provided by Jing Qiáng.
Jing Qiáng had imparted numerous techniques to him, ranging from elemental magic to the art of concealing his presence and mana aura. He also learned a superior version of mana aura to enhance weapons and even delved into the creation of a clone.
However, amidst his progress, Azrael never let go of thoughts about André, Lukas, and the looming shadow of the Violet Scorpion guild.
A vow resonated within him, a promise that he would exact his revenge with high interest. The downfall of the Violet Scorpion was inevitable. It was destined to crumble in his hand and he would erase them from existence.
However, Azrael understood that vengeance demanded patience.
Thus, his current priority was to regain his physical strength and secure admission to the National Magicia Academy—a pivotal step towards his ascent to greater power.
He needed strength—a strength that would set his destiny in motion.
**********
Outside the warehouse, it bustled with activity as crates were loaded onto trucks. An authoritative presence commanded attention as he addressed the workers, a hint of urgency in his voice.
"The payment has been settled. Inform the boss that we're suspending trading for three months due to police surveillance," said the man.
"Sure, I'll let the boss know," Azrael responded casually, his demeanor unwavering.
Jing Qiáng's alert sounded within Azrael's consciousness. "An unidentified group is approaching."
The wails of police sirens grew louder, signaling their imminent arrival.
"Move! Hurry!" The urgency echoed as the man shouted, dashing toward the waiting truck.
Azrael's instincts kicked in. He moved swiftly, and slipped through a back door, staying one step ahead of the encroaching law enforcement.
**********
Two months had slipped away like fleeting shadows, and the day of the admission test had arrived.
Azrael went about his preparations with a calm demeanor, his mind centered on the challenges that lay ahead as he readied himself for the journey to District 1. The admission test marked a crucial step toward reaching his goal.
With his usual air of composure, Azrael glanced up as Joe entered the room. "Here's a gift for you."