Chapter 27 Recollection of the past
Chapter 27 Recollection of the past
My vision cleared as the monstrous threat before me had inflicted unspeakable harm upon my classmates. It will die at by my sword; I was determined about that.
Channelling mana within me, the surroundings were touched by the emergence of blue particles of energy, a manifestation of my focused power.
In my hands, the Light attribute hummed, its radiant energy taking precedence after losing the six elemental attributes I once had. The absence of those familiar elements felt strange, yet the unique charm of Light enveloped me.
Since I wasn't born a mage with the aptitude for handling multiple elements, my sword didn't need the multiple attributes anyway.
As I stood in the cavern, the monster let out a deafening roar, indicating its intention to crush me. To defend myself, I raised my sword, a shining blade that emitted pure light, and prepared for the impending clash with the creature's claws imbued with dark energy.
The monster's dark claws collided with my blade, sparking a luminous confrontation. Eerie shadows danced across the cavern walls as sparks of darkness and light scattered through the air. The resounding clash of elements echoed, each strike resonating through the room.
SHING!
A burst of light stopped the monster's attack, causing severe damage to its demonic form. I realized that controlling light was more challenging than the other elements. It couldn't be channelled using the qi method like the others.
In my past life, I met a person named Raúl Alan, while subjugating the final tower of destruction. He was a light user and incredibly powerful despite not relying on it much. I only witnessed him use it once, but I remember him saying something about it long ago...
/----\
[Tower Of Destruction: [???] Floor 91]
"How did you do that?" I asked Raul who destroyed an A+ Grade Wyvern on the 91st Floor.
"Kiddo you've still got a long way to go!" He smiled at me as his face grinned from ear to ear hearing my praise.
smack!
"Ack! Why did you do that?" He hit me on the head as he shrugged off all the dust off him.
"It's nothing Jan! I just felt like hitting ya." He chuckled quite a lot for someone who was in his middle age.
"Did you say something?" I think he read my mind or felt I was talking bad about him his face seemed to gotten serious. "nope... it was nothing." I rubbed the top of my head and asked him something. "Raúl why can't you use light all the time you could've conquered this tower by now." He looked surprised, laughed again, and explained, "Jan, those who wield the power of 'Light' are of pure heart or born prodigies. But I am neither. Using the power of light comes from within the soul. If the soul rejects the light, not only will you lose the ability to harness qi, but you'll also lose all five senses. Light isn't static; it's a living force that chooses those who align with its nature..."
\----/
So does that mean the light accepts me? If what he said is true, the light attribute I have now has chosen and blessed me. I
CLANG!
As the monster's claws clashed with my blade, I struggled to release light in my swing. The monster inhaled, then unleashed fiery breath towards me. I leapt backward, narrowly escaping its range.
SHAW!
firey breath began flowing out of it's mouth towards me. I quickly leapt backwards barely escaping its range.
The monster countered with astonishing speed, appearing in front of me, as it slammed both hands towards my blade pressing and overpowering me with sheer force. Gripping my hilt tightly, I instinctively placed my other hand on the flat part of the blade, using all my leg strength to stop it from being crushed, feeling shockwaves reverberate through my entire being.
Energy surged from my right foot, and I used it, WHAM! A roundhouse kick created a burst of Azure like energy, forming a thin crescent slash from my foot.
Leaping to the side, the ground trembled as the monster lost its foot. Realizing I couldn't let it regenerate, I ran towards it.
SLASH!
The first swing manifested sparks of light, creating an arc that slashed its right arm.
Leaping forward to avoid it's fiery breath, it tried to grab me with its claws.
A burst of energy from Light and aura manifested in my sword, and I bounced off its body, launching myself into the air.
SLASH!
Holding my sword high, my slash formed a space azure cut, splitting the monster in two.
The cavern fell into stunned silence as the lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Finally gone for sure, I stood there, exhausted. This was the first time I took something so seriously.
I'm glad I could save someone's life for once.
***
[3 days later...]
[Pinnacle Academies Medical Centre]
It's dark once again, my head hurts so much.
Where am I? Did I finally die? Thank God...
[You are actually still alive Mr. Axel :D]
The system interface appeared in this dark room right in front of me, the screen UI still looked the same with the colour light blue.
Does that mean Jan won?
[Correct! To compensate for the system breach and injuries caused, your rewards will be adjusted accordingly for the disruption caused.]
This put a smile on my face, but I couldn't tell if I should be happy that I was still alive or that I might be getting something good for a mistake that was made.
However, I still couldn't believe that Jan could awaken Divine Conqueror this early since there wasn't a situation strong enough for him to realize what he was doing in this world in the first place.
Originally, Divine Conqueror would've awoken when Sifters Organization would attack the 1st year group at the end of the first-year arc, which Jan would then awaken for the first time and completely decimate Jasper and the other fodder villains heh.
But at that moment when I said something like "I believe in you" made me cringe so hard, but that was just a desperation from the other half of my mind begging me to live. (っ ͡ ͡º - ͡ ͡º ς)
[Yes Mr. Axel? :D]
How long am I going to be here?
[You'll wake up soon! I'm just trying to fix your HP circuits, and then I'll also give you your rewards!]
Um... Quick question, system?
[Yes Mr. Axel? :D]
Are you like a one-person or an AI thingy? or are you like a collective system comprised of more ai's put together?
[Oh, you've never asked me this before! Well, I'm one being! There's no other person you talk to in your head besides me, Rel! or the voices created from your schizophrenia if you count those as talking to yourself! :D] n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
So it does hear the things I say in my head.
[Not at all! I can simply read you through your body language and small mannerisms!]
Whatever, so are you going to give me rewards soon?
[Unfortunately, I can't give it right now as your body is undergoing a healing process, but I can promise you that you'll have your rewards very soon!]
[Oh surprise! you'll be waking up 3 seconds from now! :D]
Wait wha-
HAAH!, HAAH!
My eyes flocked wide open as I was gasping for air. What the f-
"You're awake, Mr. Rel. It seems you woke up 2 days earlier than expected." The nurse in the school's white uniform looked at me with an expressionless face. "I'll go get the doctor to have you go through some diagnosis; please hold on for a bit." She left the room swiftly, and I'm here left contemplating on life.
The soft hum of medical equipment filled the air, and the sterile antiseptic scent reached my senses. My gaze wandered, taking in the white walls and sanitized surroundings of the academy's medical centre.
A sense of relief washed over me as I realized I was alive.
I shifted, feeling the crisp sheets beneath my fingertips. The rhythmic beeping of a nearby monitor served as a reminder that I had returned from the brink of death.
Ouch!
A gentle soreness resonated through my body, as my stomach felt like my organs could fall at any moment.
As the sunlight reached my very room, I turned my head towards the remote next to the stand that was by my bed.
Click!
***
[Breaking News! Pinnacle Academy Dungeon out break!]
According to the report of the guild, Visionary Syndicate head informant and investigator Dempsey Anette has a lead on what happened in the dungeon.
"Analyzing the data retracing, there was a certain monster considered a 'boss' level that had evolved within the dungeon, leaving the group of students to confront it alone. Yet, they faced it with strength and unwavering conviction," Dempsey reported, his voice resonating with authority.
As the reporter pressed for more details, a confident smile played on Dempsey's lips. "Nothing else occurred of significance. The students handled the situation admirably. Their courage is commendable."
That's all for today's news station!
***
Dempsey was correct about the info, but I know that he didn't reveal the rest of the information because his ability, Decipher, made him an almost unbeatable opponent when it came to information and tracking.
But did he always look that young? I mean, he wears the usual long brown coat with his brown hat, acting like he's Sherlock Holmes, but did I give him such a young face?
I moved to sit up as my surroundings came into sharper focus. I took a moment to gather my thoughts. My hand instinctively went to my chest, where the memory of the monster's attack lingered in the form of a crimson-red X carved into my skin.
"Rel, you're finally awake," Jan said, a genuine smile breaking through the worry lines on his face. He approached my bed.
I managed to give him a nod as I smiled, envying his good looks... damn bastard. "Yeah, survived by the skin of my teeth, it seems."
Jan chuckled, though the relief in his eyes betrayed the gravity of the situation. "You had me worried there for a moment. The monster went berserk, but thankfully we managed to beat it."
We? Who's we? Well, I can't blame his character; he's always so inclusive when it comes to group work, and everyone did something but me. I shifted, testing my body's response. "Valencia," I began, "How long did it take her to wake up?"
Jan nodded. "She's recovering. Louise left the battle with you and Valencia in his arms. You did a hell of a thing back there, saving her like that."
Eh? What? I could feel the cringe in my body consume me as the reels kept replaying in my head. AHHHH GET OUT OF MY SKIN!!!!
My gaze turned to the window, a silent contemplation filling the space between my thoughts. "Yeah, whatever," I replied nonchalantly to his response. I mean, I couldn't allow a character like her to die; if she died, I'd probably kill myself too. She's like the queen piece on a chessboard, so I was just a pawn making a sacrifice to make a brilliant move.
Jan's tone softened. "Well, it worked, and thank you for those words from before."
Eh? What? I could feel the cringe in my body consume me as the reels kept replaying in my head. AHHHH GET OUT OF MY SKIN!!!!
In my head, I was internally screaming, but on the outside, I smiled awkwardly and changed the subject, asking a different matter.
"Oh, what was our time for the assignment?"
"We placed second behind Camilia's group, with a time of 37 minutes and 31 seconds. They finished much earlier than us since Lyra understood the pathing of the cave."
Lyra was an obvious giveaway for them getting first; well, the groups didn't matter regardless since the top 3 would always be the same.
"Ah, interesting... and what's that in your hand?"
"Oh, this? It's a key. The monster dropped this as a reward, but I'm not good with these dungeon things myself, so I was thinking of giving this to you."
He held out the keys in his hands as the black obsidian-like colour stood out like a sore thumb, and I activated my perceptive mind to scan the object.
[Scanning Item... Scanning Complete.]
[Item: Silent Abyss Key Rarity [???]]
A quiet moment passed before I looked at Jan, surprised; my body was feeling lightheaded; I could easily faint.
I met Jan's gaze and kindly took the key.
"Thank you so much, Jan! I mean it." My bowed my head until hit the bed sheet covers "No problem, this was just my thanks." He smiled at me and got up, leaving the room as we exchanged goodbyes. The doctor quickly ran checkups on me afterwards, and I placed the key into my pocket.
Was this just taking advantage of his kindness? Ah, I feel guilty doing this.
______
Author Notes:
- In the novel's world, people born as mages can use multiple elements simultaneously, but casting spell-less incantations is a challenging task.
ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
- Jan first met Raúl when he was only 17 years old! ( • ̀ω•́ )✧
- As previously mentioned, Jan possesses six elemental attributes: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, Ice, and Darkness. Despite being aware of his possession of all six, he struggles with using technical attributes like Darkness, Fire, and Ice into his arsenal. (¬_¬") <- Jan's face.
- Axel also dreamt of having bubble tea in his dreams, only to discover the taste to be IV liquid (Saline Solution)
(҂ ꒦ິヮ꒦ິ) - Axel when the taste was actually IV liquid (Saline Solution)
- Louise carried Rel in his arms while Valencia was on his back. hint: he enjoyed the bumps... ( ≖‿ ≖ ) <- Louise
- The system is capable of reading Axel's thoughts, even when he tries to hide them.
(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ <- System