Chapter 2: Severing Ties
I stumbled forward, exhaling heavily as I tried to follow the faint sound in the distance. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and my body felt like it was being weighed down by lead. The dizziness struck again, sharper and more persistent this time.
Not again... I thought, bracing myself for the inevitable blackout. But instead of falling unconscious, something else hit me—a wave of memories.
Painful. Disorienting. Suffocating.
My head throbbed as scenes flashed before my eyes, not mine, but belonging to the previous owner of this body. As the memories settled, I began to piece everything together.
The woman who had saved me earlier—her striking purple eyes, her graceful yet imposing presence—she was my aunt. No, not mine, but this body's aunt, my father's sister. And now, technically, she was my aunt too.
As the haze of the memories cleared, I also realized why I was in this battlefield-like situation. My lips curled into a bitter smile. Of course, it couldn't just be a simple reincarnation, could it?
A deep sigh escaped me as I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. Just then, a sharp yell echoed in the air, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I turned toward the sound, and there she was—another woman. Blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her striking blue eyes burned with intensity as she argued with my aunt. The memories stirred again. This woman was my… mother.
The sheer irony made me scoff under my breath.
I dragged myself closer to the scene, my legs feeling like they would give out any moment. Both women noticed me at the same time. My aunt's expression softened immediately as she rushed to my side. She placed a hand on my shoulder, her eyes filled with concern.
"Feeling okay?" she asked gently.
I looked at her face, etched with genuine worry, and nodded. "Yeah, Aunt," I muttered.
She smiled faintly, though her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if ensuring I was truly fine. Then, she turned back to the blonde woman—my supposed mother—whose attention was now divided between the two children standing behind her: a boy and a girl.
Frustration bubbled in my chest as I watched her fuss over them while barely sparing me a glance.
My aunt's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Why weren't you saving Anos?" she demanded, her tone cold and biting.
The blonde woman didn't even flinch. She straightened her posture, her reply clipped. "I was saving Kevin. He too was attacked, and I believe he was their original target."
My aunt's eyes narrowed dangerously. Her voice was sharp, like ice cracking under pressure. "So Anos, your biological child, didn't matter?"
The blonde finally turned her gaze toward the boy beside her—Kevin, the supposed "orphan" with the holy affinity that she had adopted. She seemed uncomfortable, but her cold demeanor didn't falter.
With an unyielding stare, she replied, "He is his little brother. Anos wouldn't have wanted anything to happen to his little brother, right?"
Then, she turned to me, a saccharine smile plastered on her face. "Right, my son?"
Her voice was sweet, but it was laced with condescension. The way she looked at me felt more like she was testing me rather than seeking affirmation.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could utter a word, a metallic sound echoed in my mind.
[Ding.]
[Host triggered the Divine Arsenal System.]
[Initiating… 1%... 30%... 99%... 100%.]
[Ding.]
[Host triggered the first quest.]
[Shatter the illusion of being a pushover to your mother, as it will greatly affect your future.]
My thoughts spiraled in disbelief. A… system? First, reincarnation, and now this? My shock was an understatement.
The quest details flashed before my eyes:
[1. Say "Yes" and receive a normal iron sword.]
[2. Clearly express what you really think and receive your beginner's gift.]
My jaw clenched. The implications of the first quest made my stomach churn. I knew what the memories told me—this body's original owner had spent years trying to gain his mother's approval. He had become a pushover, enduring her neglect and criticism, all in the futile hope of earning her recognition.
But I wasn't him. I couldn't live like that.
Closing my eyes, I made my choice. Option 2.
[2 selected.]
[Complete your task and claim your reward.]
The system's message faded, leaving me alone to face the moment. My heart pounded as I looked up at the blonde woman—the mother who had spent years overlooking her own child.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied my voice. "Let's end this," I said, my tone flat and emotionless.
Her smile faltered.
"I can't handle this anymore," I continued. "I've done everything you've ever asked of me, just to gain your recognition. Swinging a sword like a madman. Enduring all the whispers and comments, being called an unwanted child…"
My voice cracked, but I forced myself to press on. "That you didn't need me. That you only adopted someone else because he had a high holy affinity, and you neglected your own son in the process."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as a single tear slid down my cheek. I smiled bitterly. "I can't say everything, because it hurts. It hurts too much."
The silence that followed was deafening. My mother, my aunt, the boy, and the girl all stared at me, wide-eyed, their faces etched with shock.
But I wasn't done.
Taking a trembling step forward, I spoke with a voice heavy with pain and resolve. "Since you like him so much, from now on, you only need to care about him."
Tears blurred my vision as I raised my hand to the heavens, my voice trembling yet unwavering. "From this moment on, I break my ties with you. In front of the earth, fire, water, wind, and sun… I, Anos, declare that you are free from the bond of mother and son."
The words left my lips, heavy and final. The air around me seemed to crackle with energy as the declaration settled into the universe.
Without another glance, I turned on my heel and walked away.
Each step felt like a thousand, the weight of my words pressing down on me. My chest ached, but for the first time, it wasn't from the pain of rejection—it was from the freedom I had finally claimed.
The sounds of the battlefield faded into the distance as I walked away, leaving behind the life that had never truly been mine.