Chapter 19: CH. 19 Reborn
Alen drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling to fully awaken. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with a haggard, elderly man sporting tattered clothing. The man clutched a crimson flower in his weathered hands, the petals adorned with delicate black and gold markings. "Fear not, young not young one" The old man said as he placed the flower into a mortar.
Alen's vision blurred and he lost consciousness once more, soon awaken by searing pain in his body, he felt weightless, but the pain made his arc his back as he struggled to breathe. He opened his eyes again, only to find the old man looking at him intently amidst a radiant light, the pain hit his body again; this time, it was more painful than the last, causing him to lose consciousness again.
This time though, Alen was haunted by the memories of what had happened to him, he could see as the other heroes were tortured, and he could see Lamis, Jack and Chris laughing at the suffering they were causing. And finally, he could see the other heroes blaming him for all that happened. Suddenly he heard Jack's cold voice, " Wake up Alen, look at what you created," Jack said as he took a dagger and stabbed him.
A jolt of terror hit Alen causing him to bolt upright, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. His left eye was bandaged, and something else had caught his attention, his left arm had been restored despite having been savaged by Lamis's spell. Although he had dodged the initial attack the force of it had taken his hand. But now not only had his arm been restored, but it was also different, the flesh of his hand now eerie, it had a darker skin tone than the rest of his body. His fingertips were pure black like Simeone had placed his hand on the fire and forgotten about it.
It had a pallid hue, crisscrossed with black veins that shimmered with a red glint. "Like your new hand?" The old man asked with a sly grin. He had a lean but well-built muscled body, last night all his muscles were covered by the tattered cloth he wore but now, shirtless Alen could see the body underneath. The old man had sleek snow-white hair and a beard, and he was sharpening a lengthy blade with a katana-like appearance that was nearly twice Alen's size, yet the old man handled it with ease.
As Alen surveyed his bleak surroundings, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. The desolate area was littered with rocks and had only one entrance and exit. It was a cave. Inside, the old man sat by the fire, whetting his sword with a focused determination. Alen's curiosity got the best of him, and he asked the stranger, "Who are you?" Alen asked.
"Just a weary traveler, who happened to come across you in the forest" The old man casually replied.
With a bag full of books at the corner of the cave, Alen assumed the old man was a writer or a journalist but had decided not to pry any further. "You asked if I liked my new hand, is this your doing?" Alen asked as he raised his left hand.
"Yes, but the rune that was on your stamp prevented further healing.". Alen was hesitant he inquired about the old man's identity. "What's your name sir?" Alen asked.
For what felt like an eternity, the cave was eerily silent. Finally, the old man spoke, "My name is Haku and you young one?"
"My name is Alen."
"And do you know where you're from Alen?" Haku asked, intrigued by the young man.
Alen had a nagging feeling that he shouldn't trust this man, so he lied, "I'm not sure where in from, I can't remember anything." Shamelessly concealing his true identity.
"Get some rest," Haku advised as he rose from his seat and left the cave.
Alen, however, found himself transfixed by something before him. The old man had failed to notice it, but Alen could see it as clear as day.
A window appeared before him, its black background adorned with red text that seemed to glow ominously. Each notification that popped up emitted a sinister sound, causing Alen to feel uneasy.
[System installation complete]
[User has evolved to a lesser demon hybrid]
[Awakening is not possible with current level]
[Aquisition of skills has started]
[The user is adapting well to the system, slow merging will begin]
As he read the words on the screen, Alen's confusion grew. Was this some kind of dream? Alen decided to ignore it and get some rest, hoping that it would all disappear when he woke up.
With a tired body, Alen lay down on the makeshift bed. Before he knew it, he was fast asleep.
Alen woke up to the sound of metal clashing against metal. He rubbed his eyes and got up to see Haku training, swinging his enormous sword with ease. The old man was vanishing before Alen's eyes and reappearing somewhere else and then a clashing of metal could be heard. Haku was fighting against his afterimage.
Alen watched in awe as Haku moved with such grace and skill. He realized that he wanted to learn more about martial arts and how to detect and control mana.
"Hey, Haku," Alen called out, "Can you teach me how to fight like that?"
Haku turned to face Alen with a small smile on his face. "Of course, I can," he replied. "But first, we need to work on your mana control. It's an essential skill for any fighter."
Haku spent the whole teaching Alen how to sense mana and how to control it. He started with simple exercises, where Alen had to focus on his breathing and visualize the mana flowing through his body.
As Alen's control over his mana grew stronger, Haku introduced him to more challenging exercises. He taught Alen how to channel his mana into his fists, making them more powerful during combat.
In addition to mana control, Haku also trained Alen physically. He made him run up and down the mountain, climb trees, and practice his balance and agility.
within two days of rigorous training, Alen finally felt ready to learn martial arts. Haku taught him various techniques, and soon Alen was able to move with the same grace and fluidity as his mentor.
That night Alen stepped outside the cave, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, sensing the flow of energy inside him.
As he exhaled, he channeled the mana into his fists, feeling them tingle with power. He opened his eyes and raised his fists, ready to strike.
With each step he took, he felt the energy flow through his feet, increasing his overall speed and strength. He moved with a grace and fluidity that he had never experienced before.
Alen began to practice his martial arts moves, throwing punches and kicks with ease. He could feel the power behind each strike, knowing that he could take down any opponent that stood in his way.
He continued to channel his mana, feeling it surge through his body. He closed his eyes once again and focused on his breathing, feeling the energy build up inside him.
As he exhaled, he unleashed a powerful punch, sending a shockwave through the air. He smiled in satisfaction, knowing that his training had paid off.
Alen continued to practice his martial arts and mana control, honing his skills and becoming stronger with each passing day. He knew that he still had much to learn, but he was determined to become the best fighter he could be.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone