Chapter 2: The Evil Manifested
Three months had passed. Ming was sleeping in Mina's arms, thinking to himself,
"It's been a long time since I felt this peace… Despite all the brilliance I have lived through, this embrace alone is worth everything."
Mina gently played with his hair and whispered,
"O Heaven, protect our child and make him strong; he deserves this."
Ming smiled and thought,
"Mother's voice is the most beautiful sound."
At that moment, Wang, Ming's father, looked at them silently. He approached and picked up the other child, saying to Wong,
"Wong, don't you love your brother?"
Ming pondered quietly,
"Despite all our wealth, resources, and soldiers, Myung's rank is still Mang—the lowest rank. But if my instinct is correct, my father's strength might be at the Bone Refining level, the fourth level. That's amazing! Only one step away from becoming a general. If he reaches that level in this clan, it would be incredible."
Wang then held his son and said,
"Myung, don't worry, I love you just like Wong."
Ming laughed, saying,
"This is the most beautiful feeling."
Suddenly, a guard came running,
"Master Wang! There's a murderer carrying a spear approaching from the Demon Mountain!"
Ming stood up angrily,
"Damn it! Sons of bastards ruined this happy gathering!"
The murderer entered, murmuring terrifying words,
"Where are the children? Where are the women? Here they are… Die! Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Wang, the father, shouted in anger,
"You bastard! You're late! You were supposed to kill them yesterday! Do you dare kill a tribe of children and call it fun?"
The murderer sneered,
"Heaven's wrath? I will tear you all apart. There is no mercy here!"
He charged at Ming with his spear, but Wong, the brother, blocked it with his fingertips. His eyes flashed with a demonic light, and he said in a hellish voice,
"You son of a bitch! You insult us and attack my family? Your death is certain today."
Ming smiled and said,
"I will make you cry until all your power reveals itself. Father… Haha! I even made my son cry to awaken his light."
Then he stretched out his hand calmly and said,
"Disappear."
Suddenly, the murderer's body started to break and vaporize… and in the blink of an eye, he vanished completely.
Ming said in surprise,
"I was sure this was not his true power… If father possesses this strength, he will become one of the pillars of the kingdom!"
He then turned to his brother and said,
"Are you satisfied, Wong?"
Wong raised his head and replied,
"Ming, when we turn eight years old, we will start building the foundation of our inner strength, and we will become great warriors."
Ming closed his eyes and recalled a memory from his previous life:
"I remember when the day of Awakening came, my mother pointed a sword at us and said, if our foundations were not strong, she would kill us. At that time, I obtained the Emperor's foundation, and my brother the General's foundation. I thought I would be safe… but she brought sorcerers and forced me to eat demon hearts. It was disgusting. Then she threw me into a cave, and from there my journey toward glory began."
Eight years later…
Wong said,
"Come on, Ming, we'll be late for the Awakening Festival!"
Ming laughed,
"Brother, what foundation do you wish for?"
Wong replied,
"I wish to have the Water or Wind foundation."
He asked,
"And you, Ming?"
"I hope to have multiple foundations," Ming answered.
Wong smiled,
"I wish that for you too."
Ming laughed,
"Let's hurry!"
They arrived at the festival square. The ruler stood beside Wang.
Ming said,
"This ruler looks suspicious."
The ceremony began, and the trainees stepped forward one by one. Most obtained weak foundations except the ruler's three children: Yang, Rong, and the girl Myung.
Then came Ming and Wong's turn.
Wong stepped up first. When he touched the awakening stone, the atmosphere changed. The sky flashed lightning, the earth shook, and people shouted,
"It's a curse from the heavens!"
His awakening was of Ice type, at the Emperor's level.
Then Ming stepped forward and calmly said,
"O Heaven, show me my truth!"
The earth trembled as if splitting apart. The sky seemed to flee, and his eyes turned pitch black. Suddenly, his awakening of Darkness at the Emperor's level appeared.
One of the elders said,
"The heir to the throne… this is a great danger to the kingdom!"
But the ruler smiled calmly and said,
"Don't worry… I have a plan to expel them."
To be continued…