Chapter 2: Awakening
I woke up in a dungeon. The bars were rusted, so he unsheathed his sword and sliced them apart. "Where am I?" I muttered. The dungeon was musty, with a faint smell of mold. I caught a glimpse of a piece of what looked like parchment, and ran toward it. When I got there, the note disappeared, and I looked around, and eventually realized something. I ran toward where the note was. The note reappeared, and I read it. "This is the trial. Your powers to command the family are taken away for now." -Dad. "Huh, I didn't know that he still considered himself my dad." I saw a shimmer and swung my sword, activating infernal mana manipulation as well. His sword struck the target, and what looked like a zombie spell sword, with old armor and a katana swung at him. I almost vomited from the smell, but managed to hold it in as I stabbed the decaying head. The rotting insides of the zombie's head exploded, landing on his clothes, staining them with black ooze and rotting innards. I stumbled back, vomiting the contents of my near empty stomach. "Welp, it got into my mouth!" I swung my sword around a bit to let the ashes of the zombies flesh float off the blade. A rumbling noise startled me, and left me a bit dizzy. I jumped, spinning around with my sword pointed at the area of the noise. A stone gate opened, and three zombies rushed in, wearing metal armor and wielding metal spears. They moved into a formation surrounding him, and jabbed their spears at me. The zombies were extremely slow, but the sheer amount of attacks forced me to jump and flip around, so that I could dodge all the attacks. I cast infernal teleportation, and the resulting explosion melted the zombies. More grunts and moans of the zombies echoed throughout the halls, and I sensed that there were more than I could handle at my current state, so I ran towards the gate. Before I got there, I sensed a trap, which probably could injure me, so I flipped onto my back, and jumped off the walls, dodging the spears that flew at me. I was sweating and panting, the fatigue making me slower, but I had to keep running, and eventually went through the gate. On the other side was a bunch of heavily clad zombie knights and skeleton archers. They aimed their weapons at me, and a rain of arrows flew, arcing in the air, coming straight at me. The arrows, making a whistling sound, passing near centimeters over and to the side of my head as I dodged, and I had to keep up the rhythm. I almost tripped, and, as a result, I was forced to use my magic energy to throw fireballs at them to buy time. The resulting explosion burned my shirt, sending searing waves of pain into my body, but I still had to jump and flip to dodge another round of arrows. I could feel the weight of my sword clearly now, and it seemed like a 100 pound metal bar, weighing down my arm. I muttered a spell under my breath, keeping up with the sword strikes and arrows, and causing a storm of fireballs to fly at the archers standing on the platform. The shockwave threw me against a stone wall, and I coughed out blood mixed with saliva. The pain spreading through my body made me grit my teeth, but I struggled to stand. The scent of smoke made me vomit and cough, and I started tearing up. He slowly got back up, and took out a glass bottle from his pouch. It had a red liquid sloshing around and lifted it to his mouth. "Damned skeletons, almost killed me!" I poured the liquid down my throat. The sweet, cold liquid started mending my broken bones, and I stretched, causing pops and crackles to resound through the hall, when I heard a shriek. "Help! Help me please!" another shriek resounded through the hall, this time of pain. I had to limp, but I ran towards the direction of the sound as fast as I could, until my bones were fully mended, and I started running. In a sense of urgency, I used blink step multiple times, the chilling sensation of passing through the grey realm causing me to shiver. I eventually arrived to see a young woman's leg being ripped off of her body by a shadowy figure that looked like a large hound. I summoned an infernal fireball, which flew toward the hound, sending it flying into a wall, followed by a shockwave that sent me flying into a wall, then I slumped to my knees, and fell unconscious.
Elena ́s POV
My stump where my leg used to be was throbbing, but it didn't hurt as much as before. I braced myself, waiting for the beast to eat my other limb. I heard the sound of steps, then a young man appeared, running into the room. I saw him insta cast, an incredibly rare talent, when I saw the burning fireball crash into the beast, and watched the man slumping to the ground. Before the shockwave hit, I braced myself, as the shockwave reached me, and blew me into a wall. The man ́s unconscious body was also blown into a wall, and the wall collapsed. I crawled towards him, dragging myself along with a small brown bag. I eventually reached him, but started seeing spots in my vision due to the pain throughout my entire body. The glass bottle rolled out, and before I collapsed, I poured the red liquid down his throat, then fell unconscious.
Kyle ́s POV (In his dream)
"Kyyle, come on!!!" Called his girlfriend. I ran downstairs, and got my bag before putting on a jacket. I saw her at the door, smiling, her eyes twinkling with happiness. I hugged her and gave her a kiss, the warmth of her lips over mine making me happy. She pulled back, and I walked with her towards the park. When we reached the park, a huge crowd was waiting for them. "Congratulations on your marriage Kyle!!!" "Yeah!" "Woo" as I walked with Natasha towards the podium, the familiar voices of friends and family cheered us on. When we got there, the priest raised his hands into the air and chanted, blessing us with long life, and good luck. "You may now kiss the bride!" We smiled at each other and moved in for the kiss. "Gasp" I woke up with a start, and immediately drew my sword, looking around the room. I slowly realized where I was and the events came flooding back to me, hand in hand with pain. I saw a prone body lying on the ground, missing a leg. I got up with a slight limp, and cast a healing spell. The process took 5 minutes, but only staunched the bleeding, and then I walked towards the shadow hound, and harvested its precious materials as well as its beast core, the blood and organs spilling out of it. I took some wood out of my backpack, and started a fire. The glow of the fire lit up her face and I admired it, having fantasies about her. She looked just like his girlfriend Natasha, with the same angled face, the soft full lips. Then, I shook my head to clear myself of such thoughts. They were only strangers after all, and, at most, friends. I cooked some of the beast's meat and ate it, gaining more magic power from the beast, to replenish the magic I had already lost, used against other enemies. I added seasoning to the meat, and cooked another piece, the fragrant smell of the meat waking up the woman, and I looked at her. I walked towards her, and she looked at me suspiciously. With a somewhat sarcastic tone, I replied to her stare by saying "Hello, I'm the man who saved your life. Would you like some meat?" "Yeah." She replied in an apathetic tone "By the way, my name is Elena. I nodded, and helped her up, and balanced her. When I did that, she put a mana marking on him to keep track of where he was "Wha-" I cried in indignation. "Just to keep track of where you are," she giggled, " After all, you saved my life... didn't you?" I sighed in resignation and walked her to the fire, and sat down. I handed her some meat and she glared at me. "What?" "I can get my own meat." "..." She gobbled it up, pieces of meat falling out of her mouth. I laughed, and took some more meat, cooking it, and handing her one piece. The fragrance attracted beasts to the area, so Kyle stood up and drew his sword, and sent some fireballs into the crowd of monsters. The explosion killed some beasts, and the rest were heavily injured. I sent a few mana infused slashes, the visible blades humming softly through the air, and cutting their targets apart. I ran to the dead beasts and harvested their valuable parts, before closing up the entrances with rubble. The next wave of monsters came, so I decided to fight them to gain experience. The woman came along with me, and we fought side by side. The skeletons couldn't breakthrough our defenses, so I sent several cuts into the oncoming mass of monsters, severing limbs and shattering bones, sending blood, organs, rotten entrails, and bone shards flying everywhere.
Elena POV
I watched as the handsome figure slaughtered the oncoming wave. These days, my feelings for him only became stronger, and I started noticing the most abstract things about him, such as how his eyes looked, his gaze, the angle of his hair and the way it blew in the wind. When the battle was over, we went back to our temporary shelter. The longer I looked at the man's handsome figure, the more I liked him. I started to entertain ideas of becoming his girlfriend, but I shook my head to clear myself of such thoughts, yet couldn't help taking a second glance. He turned around "What is it?" He asked questioningly and walked back. "Want some more meat?" "Yes, by the way, what's your name?" My reply was almost a whisper, and Kyle could barely hear it. He gave her some and replied "My name is Kyle." but I didn't recall what happened until Kyle asked her why my face was so red "Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" No, I'm fine" I went back down to the floor and laid down. Kyle made a makeshift bed using nature magic and moss. He tried to make a second bed but collapsed. "Ugh" "I don't think I can make another bed after all that fighting, so we'll have to sleep in the same one." "Whaaaaaat!" I exclaimed. "What? It's not that big of a deal" Kyle replied. "He's right" "It's not like we're dating or anything, so why am I feeling so self conscious?" "Could I be in love?" I muttered to herself. Kyle was already asleep, so I thought about what to do. "Hmmm, well, I'll just kiss him tomorrow morning and see what happens" I giggled to myself, and went to sleep.
Kyle POV
I started noticing things about that woman, like her soft brown eyes, her beautiful, pale face, and her hair's smell. I think I fell in love with this woman. I went to sleep, and woke up with Elena sleeping next to me. I moved carefully, trying not to wake her up, when she shifted and woke up. I was cooking food, when she got up and yawned, then walked over, grabbed me, and kissed me. The soft, warm feeling overwhelmed my senses, and my knees went soft. "Wha-!" I exclaimed. She pulled back and giggled "That was for saving my life" she giggled again and stumbled back into bed. I roasted meat, and added seasoning. She attempted to get up and walk, but fell over. Kyle ran over and muttered a spell, the process taking almost an hour. Elena's leg grew back at a visible pace, and she stared in awe at her leg. The moment was interrupted when I fell over.
Elena POV
"Kyle!!" I screamed, and I quickly took out a healing potion from my bag, pouring it down his throat. "Wha, what happened?" he muttered, and turned his head up to look at me. "Thank god you're okay Kyle." I cried. I kissed him, and he exclaimed "Wha-". "We're a couple now remember?" I replied.
"I never remembered saying thaaaaaa-" I was cut off by a deadly glare from the other party "Okay, okay, okay" "Yay!" Elena laughed and skipped away, before turning around and smiled at me, and I smiled back."Thanks!" said Elena, and I smiled again, but stopped when Elena suddenly punched me in the shoulder. "You jerk. Hmph" Elena pouted and turned her head away. "It was just a mana backlash, jeez." "I've never seen a mana backlash cause someone to fall unconscious. Hmph." "Okay, okay!" I tried to placate her, but it was clear she wasn't going to budge, I gave up and started to pack up. Elena, still turned away said "Hmph. You're gonna have to make up for what you did later." Then, she got up to help. When they were done, I moved the rubble that was blocking the passageway, and walked out, Elena following after me. The combination of skeletons and shadow hounds waiting for us were blasted apart by the rubble I shot outward using telekinesis. I felt a sense of satisfaction and shouted out "Revenge!!!" and walked over to the dead shadow hounds to harvest materials. "You're so petty, Kyle!" Elena sighed, with a look of exasperation on her face. I smirked at Elena, then walked back. "We're heading towards the next room. My mana sense tells me it's close to where all those skeletons are appearing." "Really?!" "Yep." I walked over to a small hole I created and peeked through it. The hole quickly closed, but I caught a glimpse of an army of skeletons and shadow creatures. I quickly ran back to Elena, and said "There's an entire army of them waiting for us. Seems like it's the exit. "Really!? Why don't we go another way?" "There isn't another way. It's best to prepare for now." I took out a magic tome. The book had rips and tears everywhere, and was covered in dust. "Looks like I have no choice." I put my other hand on the book, and muttered a spell. To ordinary creatures, it sounded like an unintelligible garble, but it was actually a long lost ancient language. After reciting the spell, I fell over, and a cold, chilling sensation overwhelmed me, a dark shadowy aura taking shape around him. "KYLE!" screamed Elena. I stumbled back up, falling over a few times, but I was caught by a pair of soft hands. "I'm okay Elena." He took out a vial of pink liquid and drank it. Elena took out a set of armor and put it on, infusing it with light element energy. "Follow me." I ran to the entrance of the exit room, Elena following him. I opened with a barrage of infernal fireballs through the entrance and but the room showed cracks in its walls. The shockwave had no effect on me this time, but Elena stumbled back, her armor glowing white. I ran into the room and drew his sword, swinging it in an arc, before pointing it at the first enemy. "Flowing sword steps!" gasped Elena. To me, the monsters moved extremely slow, but to them, I was the one moving slowly, like a slow, steady stream, but it seemed like I teleported into the horde of monsters waiting for them before they knew it. The sword hit the skeleton's skull, cracking it. I swung again, following a slow arc, shattering the damaged head of the skeleton. The other skeletons were not idle, and swung their swords at him, while the shadow hounds pounced at him. I dodged the attacks effortlessly, and butchered my way through the army. Elena rushed the nearest skeleton, shattering its ribs with a punch. She followed me and eventually reached the exit. A stray arrow, shot by a skeleton archer, which was infused with dark mana, flew at me. I turned to deflect it, but it was too late. I closed his eyes waiting for death.
Elena POV
I watched helplessly as the arrow headed towards Kyle. "Nooooo!!" I screamed, and time seemed to slow to a standstill. I moved in front of him, time resuming back to normal as the arrow pierced through my chest.
Kyle POV
When I opened them, I saw Elena's chest, pierced by the arrow. Her mouth opened, and she coughed out blood. Then, she turned her head, and smiled at me. "I love you, Kyle. Promise you'll remember me okay?" she whispered. I trembled, and tears dripped down my face as I looked up to the sky. A red aura surrounded me, and I looked down back to the rest of the army. The skeletons seemed to shiver and I screamed out in rage. The shadowy aura surrounding me lashed out, shattering skulls, and cracking the walls, floor, and ceiling. After the army fell, I picked up and held Elena's body. "Why?! WHYYYY!?" I screamed. "Why would you take her away from me…?" I whispered as tears dripped down my face. The pain in my heart made me sob, as the door to the exit opened, and I walked out. The light blinded me for a moment, and I looked up at the clear blue sky, with the birds singing sadly, seemingly mourning Elena's death. I buried Elena in a field surrounded by white flowers, and, with great pain in my heart, walked away.
The flowers blooming in the fields
The white roses up in the castle
The world goes on
Blissfully unaware
Of what happened with you and me
Blissfully unaware
Of your fate
Love is pure as snow
As you fall
Memories of you surround me
So close
But untouchable
So close
But a mile away
A meter separates us
Yet it seems like we are worlds apart
I reach out toward you
With tears streaming down my face
You are the one I loved
I will remember you
For an eternity
My heart was touched by yours
You were the key to my locked heart
The fire to my ice
The life to my dying breath
I will remember you
Till I fall again
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone