NOVPUB
Chapter 55: 55:The Unseen Behind[II]
"WHATTT THE FUCKKKKK!"
Kael’s eyes widened in horror and disbelief. His entire body stiffened as he stared at the mural carved out of the dancing flames on the ceiling.
The image slowly cleared up showing many humans raising their hands in respect, reverse reaching towards a man standing in the middle as if praising him.
As for the man in the middle..
It showed a man in dark red armor standing upright, holding two swords,one pointed at his toes, the other resting on his shoulder.
His long hair flowed behind him, and his face carried a weary expression, yet his body seemed to radiate by a strong presence indicated by a radiating line of curves burnt by flame.
Yes, it was a wonder pictorial representation but not enough to shock him.
He was shocked because...
Because that man was him.
It was a fucking picture of him in battle armour.
Like what the fuckkk...
On the outside, he looked calm but inside he was screaming.
’What the fck?! What the fck?!’
’Why is my image here?!’
’I’d be an idiot if I didn’t recognize my own face. Everything is the same except the monocle!’
The reddish black armor was his favourite armor crafted out of strongest material that observed enemies’ blood.
And the two swords represented symbols of creation and destruction and served a dual purpose in his fight.
The image was crafted so perfectly, they looked alive.
Kael’s mind spiraled into chaos, but the others? They just admired the damn thing.
"Who is this?"
"No clue," Ramos said, shaking his head. He crossed his arms and sighed.
"Even, I don’t know much."
"All I know is, this guy was respected by the founder. No one knows who he was or what he did. Also, we’re forbidden from talking about him outside cause it is said if others know about it, we might attract trouble. That’s why I didn’t want you to see it cause I fear your loose lip might get us in trouble. Alas, you have a bastard of luck."
He shrugged like it was nothing.
But inside Kael’s mind, a storm raged.
’Why is my face here?’
’The founder admired me? For real?’
’Was he the part of some heretic sect? Or is this someone I knew?’
’Wait... what if my rebirth wasn’t a coincidence but a well-calculated plan?!’
’And the founder Noel Veydrin might have a hand in it. I have helped many kids so he might be one of them.’
His head throbbed with a thousand thoughts. He massaged his temples.
Ramos cleared his throat. "Let’s start the ceremony."
Kael snapped out of his daze. "...Fine."
Ramos studied Kael and spoke. "His Grace said you know how to unlock meridians, right?"
He leaned in, eyes gleaming with curiosity. He was dying to know.
If Kael pulled this off, it’d shake the entire world.
"Give me the mana stones and whatever else I need. Also, I’ll need a strong guy to pour mana into it."
"During that moment, I’ll strive to awaken my mana path."
Ramos grunted and tossed him a storage ring. Kael caught it and turned to Chris.
"Chris, you go first. Baret and Gare will guide you. Don’t worry, you’ve got the potential to awaken. Trust yourself."
Chris nodded firmly. "Yes!"
He walked up to the stone platform and sat cross-legged.
Kael pulled out a mini crystal awakening stone and handed it to him.
Chris gripped it, and within moments, a green light surrounded him beginning his awakening ritual to choose his pathway.
Now it was Kael’s turn.
He stretched his arms, cracked his neck, and started setting up.
First, he arranged the mana stones in a circle, carefully overlapping them.
Ramos squatted down, eyeing the setup.
"What the hell is this sh*t?"
"Shut up." Kael glared.
Ramos scoffed but kept watching. The setup looked complicated, like a high-level magic formation.
Kael grabbed a dagger and sliced his palm open.
With his own blood, he traced the borders of the circle.
Ramos frowned. "Just what the hell are you doing?"
"Are you sure this will awaken your mana and not summon a devil from hell?"
Kael paused, frowned at Ramos, then went back to work.
"You talk too much," he muttered.
Minutes passed.
Blood dripped and his face paled. His hands trembled.
Finally, he was done.
"Hiss—" Kael wiped his sweaty forehead. Damn, that took a lot out of him.
Ramos snorted. "Your face looks like sh*t. Recover your vitality before you pass out."
Kael grinned like a lunatic. "No thanks. I like it this way."
"Now, let’s begin."
Kael’s playful smirk vanished, his face turning deadly serious.
Ramos raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn’t know you could be serious," he chuckled. "Alright, what do I need to do?"
Kael unbuttoned his coat and shirt, tossing them aside as he stepped into the center of the magic circle he had drawn.
"You need to activate the circuit," he said, sitting down cross-legged. He gripped an awakening crystal and took a deep breath.
"On the count of three, unleash your mana and hit the circle. If possible, place your hand on my back and guide the mana. But... I doubt your old bones can handle that."
"What did you just say, you brat?!" Ramos flared up. "Who the hell are you calling old bones? I could crush you with my pinky!"
He lunged at Kael, ready to strangle him, but stopped just before touching him.
"...Are you sure about this?" he asked, his tone unusually serious. "If the mana overloads, your meridians might fry."
Kael grinned like a maniac. "Just leave it to me, old man."
Ramos sighed but nodded. He placed one hand on Kael’s back, the other on the magic circle.
Then, he roared—
"Here we go!"
"LOAD!"
BOOM!
Mana exploded from Ramos like a hurricane, shaking the entire chamber.
The magic circle ignited, its intricate symbols glowing as it sucked in the raging mana, containing it before it could scatter.
Then, the mana rushed into Kael’s body.
"GRRRHHH!!"
Kael expected pain. He did not expect a force like a runaway boulder smashing into his soul.
"FUCKKKKK!"
"Old man, lower the intensity or I will die."
"KUURRGHH!!"
He groaned, his body shaking violently.
Mana from the circuit activated by mana stones and mana from Ramos clashed inside him, both forces fighting for dominance, but his blocked meridians trapped them.
Pain shot through his body. It felt like thousands of needles stabbing into his veins, followed by the excruciating tear of his flesh being ripped apart from the inside.
"You can do it..."
"Come on, boy..."
Kael clenched his teeth, his iron will suppress the pain.
He forced the rampaging man forward, trying to break the blockage.
His veins throbbed, his vessels swelled, and his body convulsed as the mana pushed back against him.
Ramos’ face twisted with concern.
"Boy... are you okay?"
He got no response.
Panic struck him.
"BOY?! SAY SOMETHING, DAMN IT!"
His heart dropped. For a second, he felt like his balls had shot up to his throat.
Then, suddenly—
"I’M FIIIIIINE! GAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Kael’s deranged laughter echoed like thunder.
Then!
BOOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion of mana erupted from his body, shooting upwards like a pillar of raw power, shaking the entire chamber, and then a blink thundering lower illuminated the place but just as right erupted, it suddenly stopped.
A suction fiction emerged following a dark swallowing aura emerged around Kael engulfing him in a shadowy cloak except for his face which suddenly morphed into a demonic figure of crimson tint with a monstrous smile tearing away his lips which scared the shit out of Ramos.
"Wha..."
Ramos staggered back, eyes wide in shock.
This wasn’t normal at all.
This was fucking insane.
