Chapter 5
Damon was now sure what he needed to do and accepted the life he has now. With so many questions that he will never gain any answers, his most prominent trait is analytical thinking. required to break down complex problems into manageable components, enabling them to devise effective solutions. This analytical mindset also fosters a strong attention to detail, as even minor errors in code can lead to significant bugs and malfunctions in software. Consequently, developers tend to be meticulous, often debugging and testing their own work to ensure the highest level of quality.
Damon, like any other programmer, is highly focused and dedicated to continuously improving his skills. Secretly, Damon tends to overwork himself, often sacrificing personal time for the sake of perfecting any of his craft. Despite this tendency and Damon's passion to push boundaries and seek innovative solutions in all possible problems, even at a very young age when his mother taught him the way of the sword, he didn't even complain and absorb his mother's lessons and never once showed signs of giving up. His determination and resilience have always been evident in everything he pursues, making him a valuable asset in any team or project he is involved in.
Damon wanted to learn everything he possibly could; his father, who also taught him military strategy and tactics, instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and dedication to his craft. This combination of skills and mindset has allowed Damon to excel in various fields, from combat training to strategic planning, making him a well-rounded individual with a unique perspective on problem-solving. His cousin saw that when Damon is doing something, he will never stop until he fully learns it, so his 12 cousin understood that Damon was different. As Emmit once said when they were still young...
"That kid is like a Pitbull; once he sinks his teeth into something, he won't let go until he's mastered it." This determination and tenacity have set Damon apart from his peers and earned him a reputation as someone who always rises to the challenge.
So his cousin made sure to drag his butt from this focus and teach him that overthinking and obsessing over perfection can sometimes hinder progress rather than help it. They wanted him to understand the importance of balance and flexibility in learning and growth.
Damon grew up to be a well-rounded individual who knows when to push forward with determination and when to step back and reassess his approach. His ability to adapt and learn from his experiences has made him a valuable asset in both his personal and professional life.
With his cousin, they were adventures and wild, but with a sense of strong justice, they even fought with other people who were bullying or mistreating others. Their adventurous spirit and strong sense of justice led them to stand up for what they believed in, even if it meant facing challenges or conflicts. This shared commitment to doing what was right helped shape their character and bond as cousins.
But everything fell apart when he started working and accidentally lost his parents in a tragic accident. This unexpected loss shook Damon to his core, causing him to struggle with maintaining the balance and flexibility he had worked so hard to achieve. His mind could not navigate through this difficult time and found escape in drowsing himself and shutting his emotions off from the world. This period of grief and numbness was a stark contrast to the resilience and adaptability he had shown before.
He turned away and became a shell of his former self, isolating himself from loved ones and burying his pain deep within. Damon's journey towards healing would be a long and arduous, sad, lonely one. He spent all his time creating the perfect world that he wanted his parents to be proud of until that fateful day.
Damon could never forgive himself. He became weak-minded and forgot that he was his parents son, and all their traits were passed down to him the strong focus, determination, and perseverance that had once defined him. Damon knew he needed to find a way to rediscover his inner strength and honor his parents' legacy.
As Damon woke up, he meditated and cleared his mind. He wanted to feel the rush of adrenaline that ran inside his vein when he and his cousin were fighting with know-school bullies in their small farm town when they were young, getting bruised and bloodied but always standing tall. He knew that by reconnecting with those memories, he could tap into the same resilience and courage that had carried him through tough times in the past. Damon took a deep breath, feeling the familiar fire ignite within him as he embraced his true identity and prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
First on his list was getting acknowledged by his relatives and securing a known identity.
Damon Azai Lazarus was his old name; being called Junior was fine, but it lacks personal touch.
So he decided to rename himself and use Dane Lazarus. It sounded unfamiliar, but it's better that being called by his birthname and lying about being his own son, he felt weird and hearing his old name unauthentic and somewhat chains him from his past.
Dane Lazarus felt like a fresh start, a new beginning where he could truly be himself without any pretense or falsehood.
While sitting, he shook his head and gently slapped his face with both of his hands and told himself to own up to the lies he created. His 12 cousins were old now, and some of them, especially the two eldest, heard his story and that he was Damon Rinne, 23 years old, who was said to be the biological son of Damon Lazarus, an estranged son who was raised by his birth mother, who had a family name of Rinne that originally came from Germany. On her death, she gave information that his biological father was named after him, who was living somewhere in Texas.
He continued to familiarize himself with all the details he mentioned and run all possible questions and scenarios in his mind. He is like this even when he accesses his player status window. He wanted to pursue the idea to actually enter the world he helped build and see if his creation remained the same after it became real.
But he still needs his family's help; the mistake he made was the regret that ate his soul every day. He knew that in order to find his path, he needed his relatives support. He is the only player with the highest mana pool without even gaining a level and a proper profession; he does not want to get tied to just one job, as he enjoys the flexibility of being able to switch between different roles. When he finally decided the perfect profession for him, when he heard somebody knock on his door,
"Hay, wakey, wakey, sleepy, head it time to get up and seize the day!" his cousin shouted, interrupting his thoughts. With a sigh, he pushed aside his thoughts for the time being.
Mary Kay Lazarus, at just 18 years old, stands out both in character and appearance. At five foot five and weighing around 130 pounds, she carries herself with a confident poise that draws the attention of those around her. Her most striking feature is her dark bluish hair, a trait that runs prominently in her family's bloodline, setting her apart in a crowd. Often styled in a long, curly ponytail, her hair adds a touch of vibrancy to her overall look,
while framing her face in a way that complements her expressive features. With a slim physique most female in the the Lazarus clan had a distinct tomboyish quality, but this is only attributed towards who they act amount others as they are all rowdy and rough. Despite her tomboyish demeanor, all female Lazarus clan members possess a grace and elegance that is undeniable, making all of them stand out even more in social settings.
With this unique combination of traits, she has a captivating presence wherever she goes.
Among them, Mary Kay is more playful and cheerful always ready to crack a joke or engage in a friendly competition. Her infectious energy and sense of humor make her a favorite among friends and family alike.
But even with her personality, she is still a lazarus and can hold her own in any challenging situation that comes her way. Mary Kay's ability to balance her fun-loving nature with the strength and resilience of her family lineage makes her an excellent archaeologist by player profession.
he stood up and walked toward the back kitchen door while carrying the Tupperware. Mary Kay saw him washing the food container and was about to say somewhen,
"Mary Kay, can you please hand me that kitchen towel?"
"Aunt Addison will get furious when I return her container still dirty."
"Aren't you scared about the DNA test?"
"Why should I be scared? I don't have to go all the way here and meet you guys, just to lie about everything." Mary Kay handed him the towel and replied, "You're right, but we still need to be cautious." he nodded in agreement before continuing to clean the Tupperware.
"By the way, after the test, could you help me find a good lawyer?"
"Why? Did you get into some trouble?"
"No, I just want to update my legal name; I wish to change my name to Dane."
"I really don't know what to be called by my late father's name; I feel like living in shadows all my life.,"
"So you want to have a name that truly reflects who you are as a person. I think that's a brave decision, and I fully support you."
He smiled gratefully, appreciating the understanding. He scrubbed the container dry after he asked Mary Kay to lead the way. While walking, she openly said a few things about the current situation, as if she already agreed that he would pass the DNA test, smiled, and asked Mary Kay why she was sharing this with him.,
"I reckon you are really blood relatives; you act, think, and even talk the same way." Mary Kay chuckled and replied, "I guess some things just run in the family, even if we never knew it until now." Dane felt a sense of connection and belonging like what he experienced before.
As he came near the other side of his relatives in farm house he saw four vans with men guarding the area, Mary Kay gave Dane an explanation they came from the player association, they are the only group that was allowed to enter their land because they are the ones who will clean and retrieve the chaos creatures,
She further added that these chaotic creature looked similar toward earth normal animals but the difference is the se particular beast came from the Obelisk, the huge tower has only one entry point,, and that giant gate that was estimated to weigh about a million ton,
"You haven't seen it right.?"
"the tower?" he shook his head, intrigued by Mary Kay's description of the mysterious Obelisk. Mary kay was a huge source of information about the Obelisk and its inhabitants, as she was an explorer in the game before. She was more interested in the history and lore surrounding the tower when It was still a virtual game, but seeing it in reality was another trill for her she explains every detail she could gather from her time spent exploring the tower She eagerly shared stories of the challenges she faced and the secrets she uncovered, painting a vivid picture of the Obelisk's grandeur and mystique.
he listened intently, captivated by her passion for the tower, but in reality, he was just polite about the fact that he was the one who designed the tower while it was still a game, so he knew this information very well, but he didn't want to interrupt her excitement. Instead, he smiled and nodded along, appreciating her enthusiasm for the virtual world he had created. As she continued to recount her adventures, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his creation coming to life before his eyes.
Mary Kay was still sharing as she walked into the main house and into the living room when Uncle Emmit entered and told her to leave the room until further instructions were given. Three medical professionals were among the elders, and they explained that the DNA test they would be doing was much more advanced and quicker now. A small machine on top of the table was connected to a minicomputer, and the medical technicians explained that all he had to do was put a drop of blood on the scanner, and they would have the results in a matter of minutes.
And just like Emmit and the rest of the elders burst out of joy, the DNA test given proves without doubt he was blood kin. As soon as Mary Kay heard this, she burst inside the main office of the elders with the rest of her cousin and partake in reading the DNA test.
Emmit congratulated Junior, but the moment Mary Kay heard her uncle mention the name, she rushed toward him and forcefully, in a polite manner, told her cousin what's to be called by his new legal name.
"Uncle Emmit, please listen, for our cousin has an announcement, hay cuz! Its time that you say what you told me a few minutes ago about that."
"Oh, that. Ok, but."
"Don't you worry, we got your back. Aunt Farrah here is a certified lawyer."
Soon the Lazarus family welcomes their newest family member. Dane Lazarus stood proudly as he announced his new legal name to the rest of the family. Aunt Farrah nodded in approval, ready to offer any legal assistance needed for the transition. The Lazarus family embraced Dane with open arms, excited to celebrate this new chapter together.