Chapter 2: Why would I sabotage someone?
Meet Philipe, a teenager captivated by the adventures of Tim Crise, a renowned daredevil and living legend. Tim's life was a thrilling roller coaster ride as he fearlessly confronted challenges without relying on any fancy stunts – he truly walked the talk of seizing every moment. Philipe idolized Tim, often raving about him to his friends.
"He's the best!" Philipe would exclaim enthusiastically, always finding a way to work Tim's awe-inspiring feats into their conversations.
Tim was more than just an inspiration to Philipe. He had become the only father figure in the young teenager's life since he tragically lost his parents. But not everyone shared Philipe's love for the man.
One of his friends, a book enthusiast, cheekily retorted, "Nah, he's just suicidal. Hey, have you guys checked out 'Regressor Survival'? It's fantastic!"
The novel seemed to be a hit among teenagers their age, but Philipe, being single-mindedly devoted to emulating Tim, never gave it a chance.
"C'mon, guys, Tim's the real deal! Forget about those books. I want to be just like him someday."
Fate took an unexpected turn in Philipe's life when he embarked on a risky hill-climbing endeavor. With his eyes set on triumph, he ventured into the unknown, determined to conquer the challenge. But, in a twist of irony, the daring teen met his untimely end during this escapade.
***
Fourteen years had passed since Philipe's reincarnation as Ryujin, and the world had undergone some remarkable changes. In the midst of this ever-evolving world, Amanda, dressed in her maid-style outfit, sprinted down the hall, her attire now dirtied from her relentless pursuit of her master, Ryujin.
In an ironic twist of fate, Philipe found himself reborn as Ryujin, the notorious antagonist from the novel "Regressor Survival." Had he ever immersed himself in its pages, he would have instantly recognized the weight of his new identity. But, engrossed as he was by Tim's legendary feats, he never did. Instead, Philipe perceived this unexpected second chance at life, not as the embodiment of a novel's villain, but rather as a serendipitous reincarnation into a realm infused with magic.
Throughout the day, she tirelessly combed through every nook and cranny of the sect, but Ryujin seemed to have vanished without a trace. Her worry and anxiety grew with every passing moment, propelling her to search even more fervently. She scoured the familiar forest area, where he used to train with unyielding dedication, and checked the training grounds and the kitchen, the place where he often concocted what he referred to as "food supplements."
"Ryujin-sama, please come back. It's been a while and we haven't heard anything from you," Amanda implored, her voice reflecting genuine concern for her master.
Ryujin had always had a peculiar habit of disappearing to engage in his extreme training, so much so that his mother, Alexia, had asked Amanda to prevent him from doing so. However, Ryujin, being the playful soul that he was, always managed to outsmart Amanda and continue his relentless training sessions.
In a desperate bid to get his attention, Amanda resorted to a clever tactic. She shouted with all her might, "Ryujin-sama, I've prepared your all-time favorite – a delectable chocolate cake!"
Then, just like a bolt of lightning, Ryujin suddenly materialized before her. His red hair was drenched in sweat and his blue eyes sparkled with sheer joy. His well-built physique testified to the dedication he had put into his training.
In stark contrast to the Ryujin of the original novel, who was portrayed as overweight and neglectful of his physical health, this version was the sheer embodiment of strength and discipline.
"Did you seriously do all this for me, Amanda?"
Feeling a rush of emotions, Amanda shyly replied, "Yes, Ryujin-sama."
As Ryujin's gaze met hers, he earnestly said, "Thank you, Amanda. You mean a lot to me."
Blushing, Amanda managed to stammer out, "Ryujin-sama, please don't say such things."
(Seriously, that's enough to make any girl's heart skip a beat.)
"Well, let's not keep that delicious cake waiting any longer… hehehe."
***
"Why do you push yourself so hard with these intense workouts, Ryujin-sama?"
"I've told you before, Amanda, I want to be like Tim, the greatest hero of all time. He's accomplished feats beyond imagination, like destroying a mountain with just his bare hands! Meanwhile, I can only achieve such incredible feats through the use of magic. I feel like a mere imitation compared to him."
As Philipe, now Ryujin, had grown up believing that all of Tim's movies were real events, he had convinced himself that Tim had truly accomplished all those astounding feats depicted on the screen. This unwavering belief fueled his desire to become just as powerful as his idol.
"But, Ryujin-sama, I've searched the entire library and there's no record of this hero Tim that you speak of…"
"That's because he hasn't arrived in this world yet."
In his heart, Ryujin genuinely believed that Tim had the ability to shatter dimensions, and he held onto the hope that one day they would meet. He dreamed of demonstrating his strength to Tim and, in doing so, hoped to impress the hero enough that Tim would take him on as a disciple.
"Ryujin-sama."
A voice echoed through the kitchen, catching Ryujin's attention. To his surprise, two identical individuals stepped into the room.
"Who are you?" Ryujin asked, eyeing them cautiously.
"We are the twins, Yang and Lang, and we have a proposal," one of them responded.
"Alright, what's your proposition?"
"We want to get rid of what you hate the most..." Yang spoke with a devious glint in his eye.
Ryujin's curiosity piqued and he wondered what they could possibly offer. He couldn't help but smirk.
"Oh, you mean my localized fat? Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have any. Take a look."
With that, he revealed his perfectly toned six-pack, removing his shirt for emphasis.
"Indeed, Ryujin-sama boasts zero localized fat!" Amanda chimed in, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
However, the twins had a different agenda.
"That's not it, we want to get rid of the commoners," Lang interjected sharply.
At that declaration, Ryujin's smile faded, and he felt a pang of discomfort. He had been practicing how to reject anything that might disturb his focus on training. Even though he hailed from a noble background and was the son of the sect's leader, Ryujin didn't bear any animosity toward commoners. His priorities were solely centered around daily training and refining his physique.
"Ah, yes, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in that... I'm fine with things as they are... I need to continue my training..."
Ryujin had mastered the art of declining politely while staying true to his dedication to self-improvement. He valued the pursuit of strength and the cultivation of his abilities, not harboring any ill will toward others based on their social status.
As the twins, Yang and Lang, persisted with their unsettling proposition of getting rid of commoners, Ryujin remained steadfast in his convictions.
However, the twins seemed insistent on having their way, and Yang attempted to raise his voice to assert their dominance. Before he could say anything further, Amanda intervened, displaying her mastery of ice magic.
With a swift and precise movement, Amanda conjured icy tendrils that wrapped around Yang's arm, effectively restraining him. She then turned her attention to Lang, employing her magic to similarly immobilize him. Her expression showed a mix of resolve and defiance as she stood between the twins and her devoted Master.
"I'm afraid you've misunderstood, gentlemen, Ryujin-sama is not one to entertain harmful or derogatory ideas about others. He values the path of growth and self-improvement without harboring ill intentions toward anyone, including commoners."
With a flick of her wrist, Amanda used her ice magic to gracefully but assertively escort the twins out of the kitchen. The cold tendrils lifted them effortlessly and gently guided them away, ensuring they didn't cause any trouble.
Ryujin's unexpected decision not to meddle with the test left Pedro's ego bruised, floundering in the wake of public mortification in front of Suzune. Pedro, you see, had assumed that Ryujin, the notorious trickster, would play his usual game, sabotaging the first test to make way for the second, a test of skill. Banking on this, Pedro had poured every ounce of his energy into honing his physical prowess, neglecting his studies entirely.
Oblivious to his own power, Ryujin continues to unwittingly puppeteer Pedro's narrative, spinning a web of unexpected chaos.
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