With wide, piercing eyes, the blond stood victorious on the battlefield. It was literally the bloodiest fight I had ever witnessed. The teacher had allowed all that damage—I couldn't understand what she was thinking. She should have intervened since they were just kids, my age, just like me. I know that the boy with black hair didn't give up; he's such an enigmatic character. The killing intent was visible on his face, yet he lost because of his weakness. As for the blond, I had never seen anyone like him before. He left everyone amazed and bewildered, including me.
For the first time, I felt weak. I realized I still had a long way to go to grow stronger—especially when it came to speed. What kind of training must he have undergone to become this strong? He also seemed intelligent, judging from my encounter with him this morning. These were the thoughts running through Krista's mind about the battle. She strongly wanted to get closer to the two of them, gather information, and ask for advice to improve herself. But her shyness and fear of rejection held her back. Then, she remembered seeing the blond reading a book, though she hadn't paid much attention to it at the time.
After his battle with Adam, Neil withdrew from the upcoming matches and rounds, claiming he had taken significant damage. His focus now was to finish the book that had captured his enthusiasm. He was eager to learn about other continents and their unique power systems.
Teacher Karla approached him, asking several questions about his withdrawal. He gave his reasons and then left immediately. Returning home, Neil resumed reading the book his grandmother had left for him. He reached the section on how to become a Holy Knight.
The process was straightforward: to become the strongest, be appointed by the king, and earn the title. Whether you accepted the role or not didn't matter—it would be forced upon you. The king had a type of magical scale that measured strength and magical power across the continent, which he relied on for such decisions. For example, Mary Ethan resided in this particular region. She had familial and maternal obligations because she had chosen that path. However, she was also a strong candidate to become a Holy Knight.
If one of the three current Holy Knights died, or if someone surpassed a Holy Knight in strength, they would officially claim the title and fulfill the role according to the laws. This is why everyone aspired to join the HK2 Royal Academy to grow stronger. But those from the academy often looked down on commoners and villagers, deeming their magic weak.
Here's an interesting fact: it is said that one of the Holy Knights was a commoner and a villager. He forced people to acknowledge him. He never even entered the academy—just underwent grueling daily training until he reached the pinnacle of his dreams. That's the essence of human determination. Hard work is the foundation of success. Goals alone are not enough to make you the strongest.
"No success comes without effort."
"The road to success is full of obstacles, but it's those very obstacles that shape success."
"Hard work fuels ambition, and ambition is the secret to great achievements."
"Don't wait for success to knock on your door; create it with your own hands through relentless effort."
Neil was amazed by what he read. He decided to go back to the section on other continents and continue from where he had left off earlier.
As I mentioned before, there are various power systems, including magic. However, there are two specific power systems I know of. One is called Eiji, and I honestly don't know the name of the other one. I found their blueprints in this book one day. As you'll see, it's a science and system that's highly complex. You must learn it somewhere and activate it in its home continent; otherwise, there will be disastrous consequences. Some have learned and used it in other continents, but the negative outcome I mentioned earlier is the loss of half of their lifespan. This seems to be part of a pact that binds the individual, so one must exercise extreme caution.
As for our power system—magic—it also includes Absolute Magic and Dark Magic, but I'm sorry, I don't know the details.
Neil was astonished by what he read. He became determined to master one of these power systems but resolved not to use it until he could one day travel to the hidden continents. He deduced that using a power system outside its original domain would result in immediate death for the user.
Neil continued reading, immersing himself in detailed explanations about learning methods, ancient civilizations, the old system of governance, the evolution and prosperity of the continents, and countless other fascinating topics. After hours of uninterrupted reading, Neil slowly closed the book, resting his hand on the cover as if bidding farewell to a close friend. His eyes gleamed with newfound passion, as if every page wasn't merely words but a gateway to a new world brimming with mysteries and challenges. He whispered to himself:
"Now I understand why the world is filled with conflict. It's not just survival of the fittest... but an insatiable desire to uncover more."
Neil didn't need much time to think. He donned his simple coat, prepared his tools, and stepped out into the cold night, heading toward the forest. The air was heavy with the scent of trees and moisture, but for Neil, it was a sign of the beginning of an adventure.
Upon reaching the forest, he found it eerily quiet. The long shadows of the trees concealed countless secrets, but Neil did not hesitate. He knew this forest held hidden caves and grottos, teeming with "magic beasts" he had only heard about. These legendary creatures were said to have been born from the interaction of nature with divine forces or mysterious energies left behind by ancient civilizations.
The deeper he ventured into the forest, the more his excitement grew. He said to himself with a confident smile:
"If the world is full of things like this, then I'm exactly where I need to be. I won't settle for just observing. I'll become a Holy Knight and prove to everyone that hard work and knowledge are the true paths to power."
His first encounter was with a magical creature of F-rank—a massive stone wolf with glowing green eyes and claws sharp enough to shred through rock. For most, this would have been a daunting challenge, but Neil was different.
With his exceptional speed and agile movements, he dodged the creature's attacks effortlessly. Before striking, he spoke calmly, as if testing himself:
"I won't treat you as just another target... I'll consider you my first step toward my dream."
Moving like a flash of light, Neil struck with precision and destroyed the beast in a decisive blow. It was over in seconds. He turned to the remains of the creature, gazed at it for a moment, and then laughed, saying:
"That? Is that all? I want more! Where are the higher-level beasts?"
I opened my eyes and found myself in my room at home, with my mother, Mary, sleeping next to me, leaning on my bed. It seemed I had slept for several hours. The last thing I remembered was my battle against that blond jerk. He was extremely strong, as I had given it my all with that attack for the first time, but I failed. It seems that confrontation opened my eyes to the concept of power. Unlike my mother, who is considered a role model by some people, I am not naturally gifted. I will gain my own strength and humiliate that blond just as he humiliated me.
However, there's something inside me that tells me not to care about power or anything in this life and to accept death whenever it comes. Perhaps my dream is to die as quickly as possible and be free from the burdens of living, evolving, and protecting bonds. I don't even know how my mother, Mary, treated my wounds, which required specialized medical attention. I never appreciated her care and training for me. It seems I have a new personality now, somewhat decent, but it's normal for others to have one like this since she's a mother, and this is her role in life.
But why do I see her from this perspective? Maybe it's because of the strong intuition I have that something bad will happen to my mother and my little sister. This ominous feeling might be the reason for this personality that I cannot stand.
After a few moments, the door was knocked on forcefully, prompting my mother to rush to open it. The visitor had an imposing presence, light as a feather, and I watched him through the window.
Mary said to the person, "What's the matter, Denji Volt? I haven't seen you in a long time. Come in."
Denji replied, "This isn't the time for hospitality. There are two powerful individuals causing trouble in the Ever region. On my way there, I decided to stop by and warn you to take precautions if they head toward Atragan. I'm going to deal with them and eliminate them. Since I'm getting closer to becoming a sacred knight, I'll defeat them and surpass you as well."
Mary had confidence in him. He was someone like her, settled in the Fathen region with his sick wife, whom he loved dearly, and his newborn child. He lived far from the knights' missions because of a law issued by the king himself, allowing any knight who wished to settle down with their loved ones to be exempt from continuous missions. They would only be tasked with rare missions and could live far from the royal capital.
Denji bid her farewell and left swiftly, as he used the element of lightning. Adam watched this and recalled his confrontation with the blond, Neil.
Mary was surprised to see her son out of bed and said, "Go back immediately! You haven't fully recovered."
He replied, "Alright, but who was that person?"
"Just a colleague," she answered.
"Mother, how did you gain such strength that people trust you like this?"
Mary was slightly taken aback, as it was the first time she saw her son so curious. She liked it and replied:
"Complete freedom to do what you want.
Continuous effort, not intelligence or power, is the key to unlocking our potential.
Challenges never wait, and life never looks back.
The greatest thing that sets a person apart is facing challenges.
The best way to overcome difficulties is to break through them.
Life is a challenge, so face it."
Adam asked, "Then why wasn't I born gifted, even though I'm your son?"
She laughed, "It seems you're jealous of that blond. Teacher Karla told me he defeated you, but it doesn't matter. Everyone has their own path and principle. My principle was to always protect people from evil in a way no one could believe. That's what led me to this strength. I'm certain you'll discover your destiny and your own principle and gain strength as you need it. It doesn't matter if you're introverted or indifferent. What matters is your inner happiness," she said with a radiant smile.
Adam stared at her for a moment before giving her a warm hug for the first time.
Mary then said, "Adam, I'll give you something to do, but promise me you'll follow what I say."