"Thump Thump Thump!"
A dark-haired man was running in the dark woods as fast as he could while holding his bleeding abdomen, the countless trees grew blurry from his view as he ran tiredly like a prey trying to escape from its predators.
"Tch! Those damn barbarians, if only I saw it coming then none of this would've happened..."
The man grunted quietly under his breathe, his gaze sullen as he cast his armour onto the soil, desperate to shed its weight. Suddenly, a sharp killing intent brushed against his neck. Instinct took over and he dodged to his left. But he wasn't fast enough; The dark arrow whistled through the air, piercing clean through his shoulder and embedding itself deep into a nearby tree.
"Ugh! Damn it."
He groaned as he tried to hold his shoulder but immediately let go at the slightest sound; his gaze was attracted toward a faint shine that appeared from the gaps of the tree leaves and managed to dodge the next five arrows consecutively and hide behind a large trunk.
He then looked at the artifact that he was gripping in his left hand ready to be used at the slightest mishap.
"Do I have to use it this early?"
he said with a hardened gaze but then saw a red smoke permeating the dark sky: he hurriedly focused his mental energy into the weird looking obsidian stone with weird symbols drawn on it seeing that the enemy who shot him called for allies.
Light suddenly appeared on the symbols and the dark-haired man felt his mental state deplete by a quarter as his body was now camouflaged like the trees and soil. He didn't stop to rest as he knew the cooldown of this artifact was already limited and focused all his energy to reach his hometown, the village which he was born in.
"I hope it is still ther-" A sudden gasp escaped his throat as he started coughing into his hand and saw blood and a small but extremely red centipede with a skull shaped head; he immediately threw it away but knew that it was too late realize it now.
He scoffed as he muttered lightly.
"Heh...to think kingdoms of so called righteousness would work with these demon figures just to come kill me."
The man known as Crius understood his situation clearly, but even at the face of death his expression remained calm and deep as the ocean.
He ran until he couldn't, he walked until he started limping, his head was too dizzy already to focus on where he was headed due to the affect of the poison.
Suddenly he stumbled and tried to regain his balance by holding a branch but it was too light to support his weight, thus causing him to fall on the dirt.
"finally...I'm here."
He grumbled lightly; followed with a choked laugh and then focused his gaze upon an ancient slab of stone with ancient writing on it.
Since the beginning, this end was something that he had foreseen and was prepared for, when he made his decision in the beginning he had already prepared himself for this conclusion.
"sigh...I don't know in which place and time or world am I going to be reincarnated to by using this thing."
"Regardless, as long as I get a second chance I'll make sure not to repeat my mistakes."
Slowly but with resolute, Crius walked to the slab with a dagger and sat cross legged with his back on it. His mouth opened reciting the chant that was inscribed on it.
"O-slave of fate and the firstborn of the unknown, disgraced from light, darkness, lies and good; you have walked these lands and spread fear, cowardness, and treachery to all races."
Crius aimed the dagger's tip to his throat slowly as it started drawing blood, his hands were shaking but his gaze unwavering as he recited the last sentence
"Have created this treasure of yours filled with loathe toward fate and thus...marking the beginning of the war of severed realms."
With that Crius thrusted the dagger into his throat as a pained groan escaped from his throat and blood began to pour out. Crius was gripping his dagger that was stuck in his throat with a pained expression as some tears fell down from his eyes because of how painful it was.
...
After 5 minutes of desperation, the grip of Crius hand suddenly lost all of its power as his body fell on the weird stone. After some time, the weird stone's runic letters shone a strange yet divine bright light within as it disappeared taking with it Crius's corpse.
***
It was raining quietly on a village near Mao'er mountain, the village was led by the fang clan.
It was already late at night, so the cold breeze was mixed with the fall of the rain. The village and the mountain weren't covered in darkness as dozens of flickering lights were shining all around the buildings in the village, from high buildings to small houses, shops and restaurants.
Although the number of lights was not more than a couple of thousands, it was enough to light up most of the village in beautiful and serene manner.
In the middle of this village was a large building, a magnificent ceremony was taking place at this moment. There were more than 15 people inside all wearing white robes.
"We pray in this year's talent evaluation that our clan's younglings will bring many young talents and geniuses who will be able to bring new hopes and dreams to our clans!"
The head of the Fang clan slowly raised his glass as he announced to the people who ranged from clan elders, influential people and important members.
After the head announced what his words, the sounds of discussion began spreading throughout the place.
"four years have already passed since our fang clan has produced a B rank talent haah..."
"I agree, it's been a long time since we have seen a good talent emerge in our clan"
"I hope this year's evaluation will bring many talented youths "
"Aside from the new geniuses that appeared in the Chi clan and the Ni clan, we are the only clan that didn't have a genius appear in our clan in the span of these 5 years."
"Indeed, the Chi and the Ni clan had three geniuses appear for them in the span of these years unlike the fang clan. The only thing holding us at the top is the past of our alliance leader being from the fang clan and the clan leader being of the sacred tier."
"Especially that new genius from the Chi clan is monstrous, I heard his talent's aptitude is already B rank!"
"I heard he's also already an ascended."
Many of the elder's expressions started to worry at the mention of the rising genius of the Chi clan, even the fang clan's leader eyebrows furrowed upon hearing the name.
Chi Liu's talents were extraordinary indeed, being able to become an ascended in the span of 5 years was nothing but the works of a miracle!
The clan elders wouldn't even be surprised or doubt it if he became a strong pillar of the Chi clan and also one of the strongest people to come yet from their clan alliance.
"regardless, there's still hope for this year that we may be blessed with new young prodigies."
"You're right, there's the younger son of fang Chi, able to talk at 4 months, and walk at the 6 month, I heard he took after his father's talent with the sword too. It's a pity that his parents have passed away and his elder brother is a D rank only."
The head of the clan Fang clan already knew who this Fang Yun was, being the clan leader he naturally focused his attention on the future candidates and this Fang Yun happened to also be quiet famous around the village as the most promising candidate.
It was shown that those who were geniuses from birth had a good chance of awakening a promising talent aptitude.
With that as his final thought, the clan leader knocked on the table three times to gain the attention of the people.
"Guests, the hour is late and we have to be prepared for tomorrow's evaluation; today's ceremony is concluded."
"And keep in mind, anyone who tries to interfere immorally with the evaluation will have severe punishment, no tricks or conspiracies are allowed!"
The clan leader concluded with a stern expression.
"We wouldn't dare!"
"We'll keep it mind"
"Please take care."
...
At the same time, faraway in the Fang Chen household
Crius opened his eyes with a gasp as he quickly held his throat.
"I'm alive...I did it..."
He slowly sat up and walked to window as he took a look at the quiet and serene village that he was just reincarnated in.
His gaze fixated on his palm that was nearly close of teenage years from his observation then slowly clenched his palm with resolution.
"A second chance starting from a young age...it almost feels surreal."
But he knew that the reality that he was currently in was nothing but his now.