Hua followed Sunny through the dense forest. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Every step echoed softly against the damp ground. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves or distant calls of unseen animals. Despite the calm, Hua couldn't help but replay the events of the last few hours in his head—the flames, the swordplay, the sudden appearance of the assassin, and now this mysterious man leading him to an unknown village.
Sunny, walking ahead, glanced back at Hua. "You've got a lot on your mind, don't you, kid?"
Hua hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah... mostly about what you said earlier. About energy and magic. And now you're talking about taking me to a village filled with people like you. It's... a lot to process."
Sunny chuckled. "It's always overwhelming for someone new to this world. But you'll get used to it. And once you do, you'll realize just how amazing—and terrifying—it really is."
Hua frowned. "Terrifying?"
"Every power comes with a cost," Sunny said cryptically. "You'll see."
As they walked, the forest seemed to grow darker, the trees closing in around them. Hua felt the familiar sensation of being watched. His hand instinctively went to his side, though he carried no weapon.
"Relax," Sunny said without turning around. "If there were any threats, I'd feel them before you did."
Hua wasn't convinced but decided not to argue. Instead, he focused on the questions burning in his mind. "Sunny, how did you get your abilities? Is there... some kind of training or a ritual?"
Sunny stopped abruptly, turning to face Hua. His expression was serious. "Abilities aren't something you just stumble upon, Hua. They're tied to your blood, your lineage. Have you ever heard of the concept of Ancestry DNA?"
Hua blinked. "Ancestry DNA? No... what's that?"
Sunny gestured for Hua to sit on a fallen log nearby. He joined him, placing his katana across his lap. The blade glinted faintly in the dim light.
"Every family has a history, Hua. A lineage filled with stories, triumphs, and fears. Those fears leave a mark on your bloodline—an imprint, if you will. That's where abilities come from. They're manifestations of what your ancestors feared most."
Hua tilted his head, trying to make sense of it. "So... if my ancestor was afraid of, say, drowning, I'd get water-based abilities?"
"Not quite," Sunny said with a smirk. "It's not about the fear itself but how it shapes their essence. For example, there's a man in my village, Tarou Hantou. One of his ancestors, Zhanghi Hantou, lived a life plagued by betrayal. His greatest fear was trusting the wrong people. As a result, Tarou inherited an ability to read the emotions of others, to sense their intentions."
Hua's eyes widened. "That's... incredible."
Sunny nodded. "It is. But gaining these abilities isn't easy. You can't just wake up one day and start using them. You have to connect with your ancestor—talk to them directly."
"Directly? How?"
Sunny stood, his expression grim. "Through a ritual. You'll need to draw a magic circle, one attuned to your bloodline. Once it's complete, it'll pull you into the void—a place where time and space don't exist. There, you'll meet your ancestor. They'll reveal their fear to you and show you their story. Only then will you understand the power you're meant to wield."
Hua felt a chill run down his spine. "That sounds... intense. What if I don't want to face their fear?"
Sunny gave him a hard look. "Then you'll never unlock your potential. And in this world, Hua, being powerless is the same as being dead."
The weight of Sunny's words hung in the air. Hua looked down at his hands, clenching them into fists. He thought about his father's stories of magic, of power, of the great men and women who shaped history. Was this what he had been talking about all along?
"So... how do I start?" Hua asked finally, his voice steady.
Sunny's serious expression broke into a grin. "That's the spirit, kid. Don't worry—I'll guide you. But first, we need to reach the village. It's the only place safe enough to perform the ritual. Besides..." He glanced at Hua's leg. "You need to rest before we do anything drastic."
Hua followed Sunny as they resumed their journey. The forest began to thin, and soon they came upon a narrow dirt path winding through the trees.
As they wlked, Hua couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was following them. He glanced over his shoulder repeatedly, but all he saw were shadows.
"You're too tense," Sunny said without looking back. "If there's a threat, I'll handle it."
Hua wanted to trust him, but his instincts wouldn't let him relax. He quickened his pace, walking closer to Sunny.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes to their left. Sunny stopped, his hand on the hilt of his katana.
"Stay behind me," he ordered.
Hua obeyed, his heart pounding.
From the shadows emerged a man dressed in black, his face obscured by a hood. He carried a curved blade that glinted menacingly in the faint light.
"Another assassin," Sunny muttered. "They're persistent, I'll give them that."
The assassin lunged, his blade aimed directly at Sunny. But Sunny was faster. In one swift motion, he unsheathed his katana, blocking the attack with a deafening clang.
"Stay back!" Sunny shouted at Hua.
The two men exchanged blows, their swords clashing in a blur of steel. Hua watched in awe and terror as Sunny outmaneuvered the assassin, his movements precise and fluid.
Finally, Sunny found an opening. He spun, delivering a devastating slash that sent the assassin's blade flying. Before the man could react, Sunny drove his katana through his chest.
The assassin fell to the ground, lifeless.
Sunny wiped his blade on the grass, then tuned to Hua. "u okay?"
Hua nodded, though his legs felt like jelly.
"Good. Let's keep moving. The village isn't far now."
As they continued down the path, Hua couldn't help but wonder what awaited him at the village. Would he really meet his ancestors? And if he did, what would their fear reveal about him?