After being unconscious all night, Blaise got out of bed at the sound of Kylia’s voice calling him inside his head.

  Sitting on the blood-soaked mattress, he looked at his hands; the dried fluid stained most of his clothes. After the initial shock, he asked Kylia what had happened.

  The answer didn’t surprise him:

  —Your body suffered massive wear and tear. Not just anyone would have survived what you did, kid.

  Blaise nodded and stood up. His first feeling was one of strangeness: he felt he could control his sword much better. His body felt lighter, slimmer, and stronger. He noticed that his affinity with the weapon had grown—something he hadn’t been aware of until then.

  Soon the voice echoed again:

  —It’s normal. Listen, kid: to ascend with your affinity toward the Gods of the Past, you need to strengthen your bond with their power. In short, you have to die while training the maximum capabilities of your powers.

  This left Blaise stunned. “Gods of the past?”, he thought. Did they really exist? Although it overwhelmed him, the idea ignited an absolute determination in him to become stronger.

  He descended with slow but motivated steps to the ground floor of the inn.

  The structure was made of wood, surprisingly clean and well-kept. The tables were attended by three attractive waitresses and a handsome manager. Blaise stared a little too long at the manager and the waitress girls.

  Since the service didn’t offer laundry, he had to manage on his own. The warm morning atmosphere gave him the tranquility of a home. Having gone so long without being treated like this had left Blaise feeling like a complete novice.

  After cleaning the blood from his clothes and changing into clean ones, he left the inn. He saw the world differently:

  the colors were sharper and he could detect tiny details with precision. He walked north, heading toward the city exit, planning to test his strength outside the walls. With Kylia by his side, staying alive wouldn’t be difficult.

  —The dirt ground brings back memories… walls with graffiti and wooden houses. This place is depressingly nostalgic —Blaise thought with a tired expression in his navy-blue eyes.

  Pulling himself together, he raised his gaze and said out loud:

  —Alright, we need to get strong. Sir Kylia, I need your help.

  Kylia remained silent; Blaise took it as approval. The city was a mix of wood, bricks, and dust. In the distance, he saw a boy about ten years old fall and hurt his leg while defending his little sister from a dog. The animal lunged and the boy covered his head, enduring the claws to protect his younger sister.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  —Blaise, don’t intervene, we’re just wasting time.

  Blaise intervened and drove the dog away with his mere presence.

  —Be careful. If you see me and need help, just mention my name: Blaise.

  Blaise thought to himself —Are these kids siblings? He saw the strong young boy, brown hair. And he noticed the little white girl, with radiant blond hair.

  —Tell me your names, kids, I’ll remember them. The boy started first —My name is Theb. The girl, a bit quieter, said —My name is Beth, sir…

  Blaise smiled and told both children, who were still looking at him in awe:

  —If you ever want to become strong like me, reach the age of majority and I promise I’ll make you strong myself. Blaise saw the potential in those children. Theb has impressive physical strength; he’d make an excellent tank. Beth… she’s shyer and prettier than her brother, but inside her there’s a monstrous power. If they ever go through a bad time I could use her as a guinea pig or maybe she’ll explode—I need to control her.

  When the parents arrived, they ran to hug their seven-year-old daughter. The son, Theb, was crying from the pain of his wounds.

  —Stop crying —the mother told him—, you’re a man and men don’t cry.

  The boy’s expression changed instantly. The father, a muscular man with a warrior’s voice, noticed his son’s wounds, hugged him, and then shouted toward Blaise:

  —THANKS FOR HELPING MY SON! I’LL REPAY YOU SOMEDAY!

  Blaise looked at the man and nodded.

  No longer worried, Blaise reached the city entrance: an imposing structure of reinforced brick and cement, designed to withstand giant beasts. There he saw the guard, a man named Liam, 1.70 m tall, blond with green eyes.

  —My name is Liam. What are your intentions? —the guard asked.

  —I want to go out to hunt some cursed beasts —Blaise replied, following Kylia’s advice.

  Liam looked him up and down, mocking his lack of gear and protection…

  —I don’t need it, I’m way too strong —Blaise snapped. The guard laughed and let him pass, treating him like a walking dead man.

  After running a few kilometers, Blaise reached the forest. It was so calm, as if the creatures didn’t even know where they were. Suddenly a bush moved and a white-horned rabbit appeared, with sharp claws and large teeth.

  —How… cute —Blaise thought sarcastically.

  Purple vapor rose from the creature and its eyes locked onto smaller prey.

  —Violet Horn. They’re territorial; it’ll be good practice —Kylia said.

  —Violet Horn? Its horn is white —Blaise replied.

  —You’ll see.

  Kylia released a flash from Blaise’s left hand. The rabbit leaped straight for his neck. Up close, Blaise noticed how the vapor entered the animal, tinting its horn violet.

  —The vapor repels predators. You can’t detect it, but there are at least three more nearby —the voice warned.

  Blaise shielded himself with a piece of wood. The rabbit bit the wood and leaped again toward his legs.

  Instead of fear, Blaise felt ecstasy. He spun and delivered a kick to the creature’s abdomen, killing it instantly. Ecstasy—a sensation he described in his official fights as “determination to survive.”

  —That was easy, wasn’t it, Kylia?

  —Turn around and get ready.

  A giant tiger, three times larger than a normal one, with a scar across its torso. It also emitted vapor that was absorbed more slowly, changing the color of its claws. With this power boost, the giant tiger launched its attack.

  Blaise couldn’t react in time, but a yellow bolt shot from his left hand and struck the beast’s jugular, incinerating it.

  The corpse fell on top of Blaise.

  —I want you to become strong enough to leave your body, kid —Kylia said coldly—.

  If I hadn’t intervened, you’d be worse off than that rabbit.

  Blaise pushed the huge animal’s body off himself, excited and stunned.

  —Sir, how did you get so strong? You must have had your own goals, right?

  Kylia took a long time to answer.