Over the course of two months, Jin's training was incredibly intense.
The strict regimen he endured significantly enhanced his physical strength, transforming his previously slender frame into a healthy and athletic body.
His condition improved markedly, and his physical endurance increased to astonishing levels.
He could now easily swing the rusted sword and chop 200 pieces of wood every day.
However, this did not make him immune to exhaustion; each night, he would collapse onto the pieces of cloth that served as his makeshift bed, which he hated, falling asleep like a lifeless corpse.
During this intense training, Jin's grandfather imparted extensive knowledge about the continent of Marta.
Jin began to understand the geography and landscape of the continent...
Marta contains eleven major cities, each surrounded by numerous outer villages.
These cities vary greatly in power and status. For instance, Anvil, Jin's hometown, is a major source of medicinal and agricultural herbs.
Meanwhile, Lucaria is the most prominent city on the continent, housing the prestigious Academy of the Awakened and the influential Court of Justice.
The Court is headed by three powerful factions: the Golden Saint Faction, the White Saint Faction, and the Black Saint Faction.
There is also the city of Edoria, overlooking the western sea that connects to the neighboring continents of Marta.
Edoria is renowned for supplying seafood across the continent and also provides many other cities with gold, shells, and silver, used as jewelry and ornaments for women.
Marta is characterized by its diverse and stunning landscapes: towering mountains rise in the north, their peaks often shrouded in mist and snow.
Vast plains stretch across the central regions, filled with expansive farmlands and vibrant villages.
The southern part of the continent is notorious for its danger, teeming with numerous chaotic creatures.
The Awakened factions work tirelessly to contain these creatures and prevent them from overrunning the central plains.
As a result, the southern borders of the central plains have long been a battlefield where fights against the chaotic creatures frequently erupt.
However, there are many abnormal and random instances where gates of chaotic creatures occasionally appear in the north and other populated areas.
These gates appear randomly across various regions of the continent, making the entire continent unsafe.
Despite the random appearance of these gates, the factions are usually able to contain most of them efficiently.
The gates are classified into different ranks.
The first, second, and third ranks are relatively manageable by the Awakened and are quickly closed.
The other ranks, including the fourth and fifth, pose a much greater challenge and require the coordinated efforts of many Awakened, including at least two Captains, to close.
Gates ranked higher than the fifth are known as Disaster Gates, infamous for their potential to cause widespread destruction.
Closing these gates requires the intervention of several Saints, who must successfully combine their immense powers to seal them.
On one quiet evening, under the clear sky above them, Jin and his grandfather Adrian sat comfortably in front of a burning log that kept them warm as they talked.
"Did you know that your parents were among the Awakened who graduated from Lucaria Academy?" Adrian told Jin with amusement.
Jin's eyes widened with excitement, "Oh, that's exciting! Tell me more about it."
Adrian replied, "Your father excelled at the academy and was famous for his strength and talent in turning chaos into corpses."
Jin clenched his fist on his hand as a sign of realization. "Oh, so my dad was a butcher of creatures."
Adrian laughed, "Yes, you could say that."
"As for your mother," Adrian sighed as he looked up at the sky, his eyes sparkling with sadness, "she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen... and your father knew he was the happiest man in the world to have her."
Jin looked at the burning log, smiling slightly. "Was she known only for her beauty?"
Adrian smiled, "No, my boy, she wasn't just beautiful; she was also a talented alchemist."
"And she was famous among men, as many fought to marry her."
Jin sighed, "I expected that. Damn those perverts."
Adrian added, "Her concoctions also strengthened many of the Awakened, as she invented many mixtures that easily dissolved those hideous creatures. Can you imagine how wonderful that was?"
Jin swung his legs, enjoying the conversation. "That sounds disgusting. I don't want to imagine it."
Adrian smiled, "I don't remember how, but your father, unlike her, was incredibly foolish, knowing nothing but fighting. Yet, he won her heart."
Jin saw the sadness in his grandfather's expression as he said, "I really miss her, I miss her hugs, and how she called me 'father.'"
"I still remember how excited she was whenever she invented something new or accomplished something at the academy. She consulted me on everything, but..."
Adrian clenched his hand in anger, "These creatures took my beautiful daughter, Shiro, away from me. So don't let me see these creatures take you away from me too, Jin."
Jin felt the sadness and anger in Adrian's tone. "Don't worry, I won't die like she did. Anyway, I wish I could have seen my mother as well."
Adrian patted Jin's head, who also seemed sad, "Ah, it would have been wonderful if she were here to take care of you. Raising you, little brat, is a nuisance."
Jin glanced sideways at his grandfather, "What do you mean by nuisance, you senile old man? If it weren't for me, there'd be no one to pick those crops daily for you."
Adrian laughed, "Yes, yes, you're right. I'm happy to have you too."
While Jin and his grandfather enjoyed their long conversation, the air around them began to thicken with darkness.
A foul smell permeated the area. "Ugh, what is that awful smell?" Jin pinched his nose.
Then, they heard the cry of an animal from the forest.
"It seems like there's something happening the forest, Grandpa," Jin said, standing up.
Adrian grabbed Jin's shoulder firmly and said, "Break your rusted sword now!"
"Huh? My sword? Why?" Jin looked at him in confusion.
"Just do it, don't ask me why," Adrian replied, irritated.
Jin looked at his grandfather in surprise and concern, noticing the sudden change in his demeanor, but he obeyed.
"How do I break it?" Jin asked, holding the sword.
"Swing the sword forcefully and say, 'I am here, O Immortal Spirit,'" Adrian instructed.
Perplexed, Jin swung the sword and said, "I am here, O Immortal Spirit."
The sword shattered and turned to dust.
"That's strange. How did that happen?" Jin stared in astonishment at the sudden disappearance of the sword.
Suddenly, Adrian's expression turned grim and serious.
"Jin..." Adrian stood, looking northward, his face dark and stern.
"Listen carefully. No matter what happens, for any reason, do not follow me."
"Why? What's going on?" Jin asked, looking at his grandfather with worry.
At that moment, Adrian moved quickly into the forest, leaving Jin alone.
"What is with this senility? Has he lost his mind?" Jin's expression was annoyed.
Ten minutes passed, and his grandfather hadn't returned, increasing Jin's anxiety. "I'll go see what happened... He won't be mad, right?"
Ignoring his grandfather's warning, Jin moved into the forest in the same direction Adrian had gone.
Jin ventured deep into the forest until he found Adrian in front of him. "Oh, what are you doing here..."
Jin suddenly stopped, horrified, his legs freezing in place.
His grandfather was covered in blood, wearing black armor, with a large, long sword leaning against him.
"Hey, old man, what's going on?" Jin asked in a trembling voice, a mixture of fear and disbelief at what was happening.
Adrian turned his head to Jin, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.
"You fool, go back now!" Adrian shouted forcefully.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, and Jin felt a terrifying sensation that made him collapse to the ground, vomiting.
"Urgh my throat " Jin tried to stand up , but his instincts screamed at him to run.
Jin struggled, coughing violently, trying to stand, but he couldn't move.
At that moment, Jin froze as he saw a dark figure emerge from the forest with a frightening smile.
In an instant, Jin's vision was obscured by flying blood as a piece of flesh struck his face.
That piece of flesh was Adrian's left leg...