Chapter 15: A Step into the Unknown
CG Chapter 15: A Step into the Unknown
[Warning: This chapter may feature content unsuitable for certain readers.]
"What made you come to the conclusion that this is not merely a new undiscovered planet in the same universe?" Tom found it hard to believe that, just like that, he was in an entirely unique foreign world. Thus, he wanted a more precise explanation of the thought processes behind Noor's conjecture.
"I reached this conclusion by analyzing your encounter with the entity that called itself Lord of Reincarnation. Him giving you the Fragment of Samsara item and explaining its uses in that hurry increased the probability of this being a new world rather than a new planet. Especially with the fact that there is no known planet other than Aetheria in your previous world that contained intellectual living beings." Noor emotionless explanation made Tom understand where she came from and why she said what she said.
"Your analysis actually clarified my doubts, and now, when I think back about Lord of Reincarnation's action, I think I understand where he was coming from a little better. Since I now have an understanding of the world around me, I suppose I need to understand my body. I want you to display the stats of this new body I got."
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[Stats Panel]
[Name: Thomas Blackwood]
[Gender: Male]
[Species: High likelihood of being a species that is similar to Homo Sapiens]
[Health: 19/20]
[Strength: 0.02]
[Agility: 0.01]
[Intelligence: 1.8]
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"It seems that your intelligence has increased since you entered the Pagoda because of the Trials you went through. However, the level of tribulation to growth ratio in your intelligence is much lower than before. Thus, there is a possibility that you are approaching some kind of bottleneck in your intelligence." Just as usual, Noor did her job perfectly by explaining to Tom the causes of change in his stats.
"It doesn't really matter for now as I don't think increasing my intelligence should be one of my priorities; instead, I need to gather as much information as I can on this world so that I can plan ahead accordingly," Tom used the information provided to strategize a short-term plan for the things he needs to do.
Tom, who completed his planning, scanned his surroundings only to see his current body's parents.
The father was a boorish middle-aged man with a long, flowing beard and hair that reached his neck. The hair had a dark color to it. He had tanned skin that was likely caused by long exposure to the sun. His skin was covered with deep scars that spoke volumes of his experiences.
While the father had the build of a dangerous man that was not to be missed with, the mother, on the other hand, had a fairy-like aura. She perfectly combined the looks of a town girl with the looks of a saint who cared for the masses.
Although the two of them looked as if they were the antithesis of one another, they somehow fit perfectly together. The father defined the meaning of Yang, while the mother symbolized the gentle Yin.
Looking at those two, Tom assumed that he would become a good-looking man in the near future by virtue of his mother alone. And while he might not care much about looks and outside appearances, he understood fully well the power that beauty held in the eye of the masses; hence why he was delighted that he could use his charm in the future to make people do his bedding.
"Parents, huh? I can recall the people that I once called my parents." A melancholic look vaguely appeared on the face of the baby while disappearing just as fast as it came.
As the minutes passed by, exhaustion started to creep on the body of the baby, making him close his eyes and fall asleep into a dream of memories of his past.
In a house with an alcoholic father and an abusive mother.
[Flashback]
CRACK.
I heard the sound of my room door getting opened loudly. I am not sure who is there. I hope it's not the boogie man.
Oh no, it's the boogie man. He is screaming at me for some reason. I hope I didn't make any mistakes today.
"Tom, you piece of shit, did you steal money from my wallet?" The boogie man looked at me with a scary look. I think he wanted to leave me on the street for good this time.
I wanted to tell him that I needed the money, but he didn't listen. No, he didn't listen. Why doesn't he listen to me?
"I used it to buy food for myself. I didn't eat for three whole days." I told him that in a shaking voice, I was afraid of what might come next if I didn't explain myself properly.
He told me he didn't care. I think I was a bad boy today.
"So what? Do you think I care why you stole the money? You money-sucking pit. You eat all of the food that I leave here, and now you come here and take money from me? And all of that for what? So that you can enjoy yourself and fill your face with food that you get from my money. If you feel hungry, you should go out to the streets and work just like the rest of us. Do you think that you are some kind of precious gem that doesn't need to work? I am already letting you live in my house rent-free, and now you repay me back with this?" The boogie man didn't look happy today with me, I am afraid.
"Come here, you little brat. I am going to teach you a lesson that you will never forget." After he told me that, he took off his belt and started lashing me with it while screaming at me to die.
I told him I didn't mean it. I told him I was sorry, but he didn't care and kept on lashing.
After the boogie man got exhausted from hitting me, he dumped me on my bed and screamed at me for the last time, telling me, "This will teach you a lesson. You should never ever steal from me again, bunk."
I cried at night all alone. The pain went through my body, and I couldn't sleep. That was until La Llorona came to me asking for most of the money that I took from the boogie man.
After I told her that I used it all, she looked at me with her look. She looked at me as if I was trash that was not worth a second glance and told me, "Sight, what do I expect from his son. Why did I bring such useless filth to this world."
Unlike the boogie man, La Llorona didn't usually hit me. She instead asked me for money, and when I didn't get it for her, she looked at me with that look. Sometimes I wish that she would just hit me like the boogie man instead of looking at me like this.
I cried and cried until my tears dried out, and I had no more tears to shed. I fell asleep while feeling a lump feeling in my throat. I promised myself that day that I would be a good boy tomorrow. I will make La Llorona happy and get her a lot of money.
A memory of a past long forgotten, a past sealed deep within.
.
.
.
Tom opened his tiny eyes from that dream, asking himself, "Is it because I have parents again after so long that I dream about that time? Well it doesn't really matter as after that, I will never call someone my parent. And for these new people who think they are my parents. I will make sure to put them to good use, and after I am done with them, I will just throw them away."
Tian Cheng looked at the bed only to see that his son was wide awake. This led him to smile at him, holding him in his arms and telling him in a gentle voice. "Look at you, my strong boy. You're going to grow up and become a hunter, just like your father. I will make sure that you eat a lot of meat. I want your body to grow up fast so that I can take you out with me on my hunting trips."
"A hunter, huh? Interesting. I think this father of mine has some use after all," Tom smiled back at his father with a demonic smirk.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Slumbering_Dragon_
Slumbering_Dragon_ This chapter reveals more about Tom's past and the difficult upbringing he had with abusive parents. It seems that the memories of his past life are surfacing in his dreams. Now that he finds himself in a new world with a new family, he plans to use them to his advantage while also harboring some dark intentions.
Question: How will Tom's traumatic past experiences affect his interactions with his new family? Will he use them as means to an end, or will he develop genuine emotions and attachments towards them? How might his past shape his future decisions and actions in this new world?
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