Chapter 6: Chapter 6- Demons Don’t Frown
Chapter 6- Demons Don’t Frown
A while later, and after a few more successful awakenings and a lot more failures, only 5 people remained in the gymnasium. The rest have either left or continued on to the other room, where they awaited Jack to explain what their next step was.
Zen had already gathered enough information and was certain that everything was occurring the same way again. There weren’t any major changes... At least not yet.
’That only leaves one last thing...’ He thought to himself as he got ready to stand up.
"Zen Levian. Please step forward."
The boy stood up and walked ahead, leaving the unlucky few behind him waiting for their turn with great agony. They felt like they were banished after everyone moved ahead.
Stepping before Jack, he stopped and looked at the door on the other side. He could see some faces through the window, including Cipha, and they were all watching.
"Ehem, please relax your body and close your eyes."
Zen followed his instructions, and then he felt the gun pressed against his chest. ’Time to see if I got a second chance or not.’
Then, he simply waited for the energy pulse to spread through his body. The feeling was already familiar, so he would know if he awakened or not.
A second passed before the gun was finally fired, and Zen felt as if his body was electrocuted for a second. He didn’t move as he let the energy spread through his body and reach his dormant core.
Every living being in the world was born with a dormant core inside them. But that didn’t necessarily mean that the core would awaken. In most cases, it remains dormant forever.
But, this time... Something happened, and Zen instantly felt it.
The core inside him ignited instantly as it absorbed all the energy that entered his body. Then, it flared with a deep red color as that color exploded inside his body, rushing through his veins, muscles, bones, and every cell of his being. It was as if his body was in a deep slumber, and that energy finally brought life back into it.
He felt immense strength spread through him.
’This feeling... It’s so familiar... It’s so-’
That was when... Something happened.
All that energy suddenly exploded out of his body in a violent explosion. The red color spread like massive tentacles, wrapping around every corner of the gymnasium. It wasn’t akin to the raging wind that Cipha’s awakening brought... It was far quieter, and yet, for some odd reason, far more terrifying.
For a second, Jack felt as if every fiber of his being was under immense threat, like a deadly snake that coiled around his body and stopped him from moving. He instantly took a fight stance as he channeled his Soul Essence, trying to fend off the malicious energy.*
’What an intense and evil energy... What is going on?’
He stared at Zen as if he were staring at a monster, his face paling with every second. Had he not been way stronger than Zen, he would’ve crumbled under the pressure.
*Drop* *Drop* *Drop*
The other students in the room weren’t as fortunate as they all fell to the ground, their knees giving out for some reason.
"Uh... Uhhh..."
Their eyes stared at Zen with shock, for a second, a weird silhouette appeared where he stood, with a smile so menacing, it shook them to their core. It wasn’t a human, it wasn’t a beast even... It was purely demonic.
[You have awakened successfully.]
[Your Core has activated.]
[Body reconstruction process is starting...]
[Your rank: Unknown.]
[First Rune: Bloodmancy.]
[Second Rune: Tower Of Athilium.]
[Check your profile for more information.]
"What?" Zen’s eyes widened in shock as he read the content of the messages. It felt like a bombshell had been dropped on his head out of nowhere. Everything was normal at first until he read that line within the system.
Every Hunter had this interface that they could use to track and understand their progress. However, what shocked Zen was what came after.
’My first rune is Bloodmancy, which is what I had before... But... A second rune? That makes no sense. No one is given a second rune out of nowhere and... I certainly didn’t get one before.’ He frowned deeply. ’What’s going on?’
This was the very first major change in the events. It felt odd, almost too deliberate to be a coincidence or a butterfly effect.
’The Tower Of Athilium... I never heard of that name before. Could it be the person who sent me back here? Maybe a deity of sorts?’
A lot of questions formed in his head, and Zen found himself deep in thought, forgetting about the chaos he was causing around him.
"Mr Zen!" Jack yelled, snapping him out of his daze.
"Oh, right..." Zen instantly retracted all that explosive and malicious energy before it could cause more damage. The students were already barely conscious from the immense pressure. "I’m sorry."
"..."
’What in the heavens is wrong with this batch? One girl is an S-Rank talent, and this boy is... is... what even is he? I never felt an energy like his. It shouldn’t be human!’ He clenched his teeth. That feeling... It was almost like a demon had choked him and threatened to kill him.
How could a human have such an evil aura? It should only be monsters and other creatures who could possess such a vile power.
"... He’s a monster... He has to be a monster..."
"I... I..."
"Mom... I need my mom..."
The students were crying and shaking from the experience. It felt traumatizing, to say the least. Zen instinctively looked back at them, making them jump back several steps.
’Sigh, I brought myself too much attention. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. This happened before, so it doesn’t matter.’ He thought to himself.
"Well, can I move ahead?" Zen asked.
"... Yes... Ehem, sure."
’Should I even let him in? I feel like he isn’t even a proper Hunter!’
But, due to the protocols, he had to accept him for now.
With that, Zen walked away, leaving the group stunned and silent. Entering the second room, he found the rest waiting for him inside. They had all witnessed what had just happened, and the silence was just so loud.
Zen looked around before he walked to a corner and stood there. He was familiar with so many eyes on him, so it didn’t bother him.
He could even hear whispers of people talking about him as they pulled away from him.
"What is wrong with him?"
"Was that aura red? I’ve never seen anything like that before."
"It’s really scary... Let’s not mess with him..."
"Even though he looks so handsome."
Zen shook his head as he took a look inside his body. Since he awakened, he could use his Soul Essence to check the state of his body.
’Hmmm, the reconstruction process has already started, and it’s quite fast. In a few days, I should be considerably stronger, faster, and more resilient.’
The energy was being absorbed by his cells, and those cells would grow stronger, changing everything about him to a better, more efficient, and less flawed being. That was what a Hunter is, a far more evolved Human.
’Let’s check my profile for now.’
With a simple thought, Zen summoned his profile.
[Name: Zen Levian]
[Age: 16]
[State: Awakened]
[Rank: Unknown]
[Soul Rank: Beginner (0/100)]
[Runes: Bloodmancy- Tower of Athilium]
[Secondary Runes: None]
[Weapons: None]
"It’s real..." He muttered. "I gained a second rune. This is huge news... If anyone comes to know about it... I will be in big, big trouble."
Zen knew how sought-after people like him and Cipha are. Wars had been waged before for generational talents between clans and guilds, and other organizations to scout and have them. For people like the two of them, this was even worse.
’This only means one of two things. Either the past had already been changed, which is catastrophic, or... Or...’ Zen’s face darkened as he looked up, only for his eyes to lock onto Cipha. The girl was staring at him, curiosity clear in her eyes. Then, when she noticed his gaze, she looked away casually.
Zen’s eyes flashed with a conflicted glint as his lips quivered subtly. ’Or... This isn’t really the past, and I’m either hallucinating or dreaming.’
That thought alone made his heart squeeze in pain. For all of this to turn out to be merely a dream, it would hurt more than anything. He didn’t want that. He wanted everything to be real; he wanted Cipha and everyone else he knew before to be real and alive. That was his only wish.
’I don’t need to put that assumption as the biggest possibility until proven otherwise.’ He exhaled. ’In any case, let’s check my abilities for now.’
Focusing on the first one with his eyes, it opened another window.
[Name: Bloodmancy]
[Type: Manipulation]
[Level: 1]
[Evolution Requirements: (Reach level 10 to unlock)]
[Description: You are able to absorb the blood of any target you kill, gaining bonus Soul points.]
’Hmm, yeah, this is definitely the same ability. I can absorb blood, and the more blood I absorb, the stronger I become. Aside from killing enemies, which already grants me Soul points.’
This ability was the very reason why Zen became one of the strongest Hunters in the world. He had an advantage no one else had. Each kill was worth far more for him than any other hunter, which created a large gap between him and the rest.
The more he killed, the more that gap grew.
