Chapter 18 - A Sign Of A Comeback

"This first stage is a survival stage." Rai uttered in his thoughts. "Tch now I see why Tai and the others would be disappointed in me." He added.

He began chuckling and laughing in a suspicious manner.

"What's wrong with him!?" One of the nobles asked.

"That commoner has finally lost it! Run!" Another noble exclaimed as all of them scattered attempting to find an escape route in other to get away from the lunatic that had murdered their head.

"Rai..." Selena in pain spoke softly, it hasn't been long since she met Rai but one thing was assured. She had never seen him like this so she couldn't explain what was going on.

Rai became silent, directing all his focus on the nobles who all scattered in different directions after seeing what he was truly capable of doing.

Yes it was a survival stage, that entailed only the strongest would come out of the cave alive while the weak would be trampled upon and devoured. Before Rai could proceed, the words of his mother slowly rushed through his mind.

"I didn't raise you to be a killer now did I?" Growing up Rai had one of the harshest background a kid could ever have. It was his mother's principles which she passed on to him that had kept him going all this while.

As he recalled the words of his mother, he took a deep breath as his anger reduced and his killer instincts died down. He became disappointed in himself allowing the words and actions of the nobles to cloud his judgement.

"I'm sorry you had to see that Selena." He apologized as he turned to face the highly traumatized Selena whose eyes wavered completely in terror as she stared at Rai.

"W-what are...you?" She stammered trying to gather the right words as she slowly drew back away from Rai who she now perceived as a monster. In her eyes which hasn't been trained to perceive swift movements and reactions, everything happened so fast.

He could understand her fears.

After all it became noticable that in this world he was transmigrated into, the kind of martial arts and combat techniques that he was versed in had not been discovered yet.

"I guess I can't blame you for being so afraid, not everyone posseses the will to continue after witnessing something they cannot comprehend." Rai said to her, the wall of flames which Ritzu had set up to block their entrance to the portal had long dissipated since the moment of his death.

"There will be many more incidents that you won't be able to comprehend far worse than this. If you still have the will to continue, meet me at the other side of the portal." Rai put simply. Given the words of his mother reached deep into his heart, he decided to spare the nobles and went on to proceed into the portal.

Selena watched as he did, very much perplexed about the situation that she was in right now.

At the other side of the portal which Rai emerged from was a large room, in that room were the members of team A,B,D and E. Their numbers were greatly reduced to about a total of twenty to thirty members per team with their respective leaders in front of them.

Murmurs arose quickly as they all witnessed with their very own eyes who the first member of team C to emerge from the portal was.

"It's that commoner.." One of the nobles spoke.

"What happened to the leader of team C? What happened to Ritzu!?" Another one exclaimed.

Various questions concerning the whereabouts of Ritzu and the rest of team C who were yet to emerge were thrown directly at Rai. Feeling no need to oblige and answer their questions, Rai walked past them and stood at a spot far away from the nobles.

Abigail, the princess of the Ronowa empire observed Rai from afar, she initially thought he was incompetent given that he was a commoner and all but now she began having doubts. "That kid..." She uttered in her thoughts as she began deducing possible reasons as to why he was the first one from his group to emerge from the portal.

One by one, the terrified members of team C emerged from the portal. They all made sure to keep their distance from Rai who they stared at with wavering eyes. Abigail observed this from far and quickly grew interest in the commoner known as Rai.

Slowly, she approached him. The murmuring only increased as all wondered why on earth a person of royal status had chose to approach a lowly commoner.

"You." She said loudly as she stood in front of Rai who seemed a bit unfazed by her presence. Her essence pool was so high to the level that if she stood right next to someone who had a far lower essence pool than her, they'd be crushed instantly. However in the case of Rai, his body was still adjusting to the essence that he had attained which is a major factor as to why he was unable to use the Raisen.

Moreover without the full adjustment to his essence, he was unable to sense the essence of others which saved him in this case.

"Oh? Your completely unaffected by this level of essence?" Abigail addressed him a bit surprised, for a commoner he was able to stand before her without feeling suffocated in the very least. This crafted a smile on her face.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"What!?" The team leader of group B exclaimed.

"Why would you want to know the name of that lowly commoner my princess!?" He added.

Ignoring group B's leader remarks, she repeated the same question again. "What is your name?"

"Rai Voltia, your highness." Rai replied with respect, given she was the sister to prince Julius who provided him with all that he had since he awakened in this world.

"Rai Voltia huh..." She said while smiling.

She turned around and walked away towards the position she was initially. "We'll meet again...Rai Voltia." She added as she ended the short conversation they had, to others it was a conversation. But to the two of them, it was an interaction between warriors who were eager to test each other's strength.

"Alright! Now the surviving participants have all gathered, let us move to the next stage!" Ford announced loudly as the portal began closing.

Rai could only sigh as he looked at the portal which closed slowly, it looked like it was the end of the road for Selena.

However before the portal could close fully, a figure ran through it breathing heavily. "Hang on!" A voice exclaimed from behind them all.

Everyone turned around to find out who it was and to their greatest surprise, it was the second commoner. "I'm not out just yet!" Selena exclaimed with her face beaming with determination as a smile was carved onto the face of Rai.

"She made it."