Dark Lord of Tartarus - Chapter 1

Chapter 1






Dark Lord of Tartarus

Chapter 1

The Awakening

Part 1

"—haaah, back here again…"

The man with a black hair and blue eyes muttered to himself.

What the man was referring to is Cedeas Academy. The school is like normal schools but, it also teaches about what people called Magic. This school also teaches academics whereas many people chose this school to learn both academics and magic.

The man entered the school when suddenly his friend shouted his name.

"Hey! Xyn! Wait up!"

Xyn looked back.

"Oh Hearl it's you."

His friend Hearl caught up to him and they walked together.

"You've been gone for two weeks. What happened?"

"Ah, something personal happened. I don't want to talk about it."

Xyn said in a sad and low voice.

"Is that so? Well, you missed a lot of lessons."

"Magic lessons are easy, academics are unnecessary."

"Eh? Really now?"

"Yes," Xyn replied instantly.

Hearing what Xyn said, Hearl has nothing to say anymore.

As they are walking to their classroom, a group of fellow students and schoolmates stood beside the way to their room. Xyn, looking at them, was noticed by one of the group. Noticing Xyn, he called his group with a smug look on his face.

"Yo, if it isn't the one with a weird ass name," the leader of the group said.

Xyn inhaled and exhaled in frustration and annoyance.

"Long time no see, Draven, what's up with you now?"

"None of your damn business," Xyn replied.

"Oh, now you can talk like that in front of me. You've grown some guts."

Xyn furrowed his brow in annoyance and anger and glared at the guy.

"Woah, Sorry, Berto, but we're going to be late so we must be going now." Hearl intervened and pulled Xyn and continued to walk forward.

"Oh yeah, Xyn Draven! Magic evaluation is this afternoon. I'm looking forward on seeing how far you have gone for someone who has no innate gift."

Xyn glared to Berto out of the corner of his eyes then looked backed on his way.

"Don't mind that bastard, Xyn."

"That guy pisses me off. He may be strong but he's one arrogant bastard. I really want to crush him."

"Yeah. Well, that guy has a gift and you… you know… and plus, he trains and have grown strong, so it's going to be difficult for you as a spellcaster."

"I know, I'm just a mere spellcaster after all."

Xyn and Hearl had reached their classroom. Inside were some familiar faces for Xyn. The ones inside noticed Xyn and gasped in surprise as they saw him.

"Xyn? Xyn it is you!"

"Yes. It's me, Edmund," Xyn said while smiling.

"Hey Xyn, long time no see. What've you been doing?"

"Hey Robie. You know, something that's the same, and something that's new"

"You've been gone for two weeks Xyn. We missed you." His friend said while he tapped Xyn's shoulder.

"Thanks, Ronald. I also missed you guys a lot."

"What's wrong Xyn? You look depressed."

"Ah, nothing, Leden. I'm just thrilled to see you guys again," Xyn smiled that seems like a forced one.

That was a lie. Based on what happened to him, being thrilled at this moment was not the case. It was an entirely different thing. And his friends seem to notice that something was off about him. Being gone for two weeks means something must have happened but his friends didn't mind it for now. Xyn's friends have no idea what has happened to him within this past two weeks.

Xyn's other classmates talked to him and asked questions but his reply's like evading the answer they were looking for. Then, their teacher for the hour came and Xyn and his classmates sat on their seats.

***

Xyn and his friends, Hearl, Edmund, Robie, Ronald and Leden, have been friends for a few years. Until now as 12th Graders, they're still together in the same classroom. Of course, there are some other people in the classroom that are Xyn's friends, but only his best friends are the only ones that are very warm to him.

His best friends sees him as a joyous person and just like his friends, he likes – or loves – beautiful ladies. He interacts and respond to people he knows warmly. Xyn and his best friends get a lot of fun when they are together.

But as the day passed by, everything about Xyn seems entirely different just like the North Pole that swaps position with the South Pole. He is completely different than before. The thought that has crossed his friends' mind is an exaggeration. But it can't be an exaggeration because he is not the Xyn they have known since before. He might be someone pretending to be Xyn. In other words, a doppelganger. But, there's no way a doppelganger has ever existed because doppelgangers are but characters in fictional stories.

***

It's 3 in the afternoon. Students were called to a certain building in the school. This is where the magic evaluation is being held, and a lot of students were present.

Xyn and his friends were also in the building to be evaluated. There are 7 counters for the evaluation so, no matter how many students were present, it will be quick. And also, the process of evaluation is simple and swift.

"I wonder what my power level is now. I'm so excited!" Hearl said in an energetic way.

"Me too, I worked too hard to be stronger so I'm hoping to increase at least two levels." Edmund said.

"Well , I learned a few new low tier spells so I hope that it can at least increase my level." Ronald said.

"I trained hard so maybe that can at least increase the number," Leden said.

"Hm, of course we're all excited." Robie said.

After expressing their excitement and thoughts, they looked to the one who has been silent all this time. They looked at each other in confusion with the question, "what's going on with him?"

"Yo Xyn!" Edmund called Xyn.

As though awakened from his slumber, Xyn frantically looked at his friends that took a few seconds before he could reply.

"O-oh yeah, y-yes, what were you talking about?"

"Talking about?! Never mind that. You were spacing out. You alright?"

"Yes, of course I'm alright," Xyn answered Edmund's question.

"Look Xyn, we have been noticing that today you were a bit… off. You sure you're alright?

"As I said, Yes, I am alright." Xyn replied to Robie's question.

"hmmm, if you say so" Hearl said.

Sensing that Xyn seems to be not in the mood, they stopped asking questions to him and looked forward to the counter. They were all in the same line and are about to reach the counter.

"Yes! My turn."

Hearl said in excitement then placed his hands on the panel.

"Yeah! From 10 to level 12!

"Wow, that's great Hearl!" Robie praised him.

Hearl took the printed paper from the device and moved aside.

"Alright it's my turn"

Edmund placed his hand on the panel.

"Yes! From level 11 to 14! That's additional 3 levels."

"Congratulations Edmund, that's a great improvement"

"Thanks Ronald"

Edmund took the printed paper from the device and moved aside. Then Ronald placed his hand on the panel.

"Level 14! From 11 to 14, so I'm on the same level as Edmund, huh."

Ronald took the printed paper and moved aside. Then Leden moved forward and placed his hand on the panel.

"Woah, to 15 from 11?"

"That's amazing Led!" Robie praised him.

"Yeah this is amazing."

Leden took the printed paper and moved aside, then its Robie's turn.

"Aah, 13 from 11, this is okay, I think."

Robie looked back at the silent Xyn, noticing that he's quite off he said:

"So I'll be going now Xyn, see you at the exit" He smiled to his friend.

Xyn nodded in response.

Robie took the printed paper and moved aside.

Xyn looked at the panel then the female operator asked him:

"Full name please?"

"Ah, Xyn Draven Nightfall."

The operator looked at the monitor, she seems to be looking for something, perhaps she's looking for Xyn's name on the records.

"Alright, you can place your hand on the panel now."

Doing what the operator said, Xyn placed his hand on the panel. He felt like something is sapping on his hand, probably because the machine is absorbing his mana to calculate his power level.

The scan is completed. The operator frowned to the result.

"Hmmm, from 13 to 18? How did that happen?" Xyn said in a cold voice.

"H-how? To someone who has no innate gift to reach that level at that age is quite bizarre."

***

The device used is a Power Level Calculator, this device is used all around the world. This device can calculate one's stats such as mana capacity, power level and detect if innate magic is present in a person. Experiment shows that the higher the level of a person, the harder it is to increase the calculated level. The highest power level ever recorded was level 50, it was 8 years ago and the name of the person was not publicly announced for some reason. There is no maximum level, for a person can always get stronger.

For magic has existed and exercised for centuries, magic's use has been greatly developed and improved. Magic has been used to fuel technologies and power the cities. In addition, magic has been improved to work like technology itself through high tier spells. For instance, a magical monitor or menu to operate certain objects or machines. But the monitor used in the evaluation is only on the device, for only high level magicians can cast Technological Spells.

In this world of Earth, most people have innate gifts or magic. Majority of the ones that have gifts has the power to control the elements such as fire, ice, earth, and wind. The ones that have innate gifts are more powerful than the ones who don't, like, for instance, the spellcasters. For ones that have no gift, mostly of a spellcasters, it is not easy to increase one's power level and can't be hastened. What happened to Xyn is uncommon and really strange.

***

"I suppose this is a mystery to be solved in another time," Xyn said.

Xyn took the printed result and proceeded to the exit.

Xyn went out with his friends. His friends were quite shocked on knowing his power level and all had the same question as "how?"

While Xyn and his friends are walking, Xyn was holding the result paper and still staring at it, and then someone suddenly snatched the piece of paper. Surprised, Xyn quickly looked at him and what he saw was the most annoying monkey he has ever seen.

Indeed, he was a monkey that has been bullying and mocking Xyn for a long time. This monkey only seems to bully Xyn for enjoyment and have no special reason.

"Would you look at this? How the hell did you achieve this?" the monkey said while showing the paper to his fellow monkeys.

While his friends were also surprised, Xyn said in annoyance:

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What do you think? I'm looking at your results!"

"Why in the hell would you look at my results, Berto?"

"That's because I heard of your results and wanted to see for myself. But still, I'm level 20 and a mere spellcaster like you with no gift is still weak."

"So what?"

"Hmmm, I wonder why you don't have a gift. Oh, was it because your mother also doesn't have a gift herself and is only a mere spellcaster?"

"You don't have the right to speak about mother!"

"And oh, your father left your mother right?! Was it because she's a tasteless woman?"

Xyn clenched his fist in anger.

"I wonder how is your poor and weakly mother n –."

Before Berto can finish his sentence, suddenly a force hit his face and was blown a few meters away. It was Xyn who punched him on the face. Anger, no, rage is evident on Xyn's eyes.

"Why do you always insult me?! Why do you have to drag mother into this?! I had enough!"

Xyn casted the spell [Strengthen Force] which he improved to a silent spell himself. It is a spell that temporarily enhances one's physical strength.

"Cheh! Now you did it." Berto said while standing up.

"It seems like you want me to be angry for no reason but! You've crossed the line!"

"Xyn wai—." Edmund's words were interrupted.

"Bastard!" Berto screamed while charging at Xyn.

"[Defense Shield]"

A magical shield appeared on Xyn's arm.

Xyn positioned his arm to defend his body and the shield blocked Berto's fist. Xyn leaped back to gain some space because a spellcaster is at a disadvantage in a close combat.

"You won't get far enough!" Berto threw a fireball at Xyn.

Xyn saw the flames and cast a spell effective against fire.

"[Frost Bolt]"

A magic circle appeared on Xyn's hand and a body of ice intercepted the fire causing a light mist.

"What?!"

"[Ice Arrows]" Xyn casted a follow up attack.

The reason he did not use [Ice Blast] again because once a spell is cast it goes into a cool down.

"--!"

Noticing the arrows, Berto frantically moved his hand into a swiping movement releasing a short wave of flames destroying the projectiles.

"Gifted ones really are troublesome opponents." Xyn muttered to himself.

"I didn't expect that you can put up a fight"

"You underestimate spellcasters, you punk!"

"Cheh, 'punk' huh." Berto's hand formed into a fist and moved it back in like a ready to punch position and said, "I'll burn you!!" and struck out his hand releasing a blast of flames.

"[Enhanced Frost Bolt]" Xyn quickly casted and a body of ice larger than before flew out of the magic circle and clashed against the blast of flames.

"Damn it." Berto said in irritation.

As he was about to charge at Xyn a shout reached his ears.

"THAT'S ENOUGH BOTH OF YOU!!"

Xyn looked at the source of the shout and there he saw a man with a good body build and apparently trained a lot. He recognized the man as a training coach of the school, and going against him would be a bad idea.

"THE TWO OF YOU ARE GOING TO THE PREFECT OF DISCIPLINE OFFICE OR I'LL BEAT YOU UP!"

Knowing that a teacher had come, Xyn forcefully calmed himself because there's no point in fighting anymore. He also noticed Berto glaring at him but he paid him no heed.

After that, the teacher pulled them and pushed the both of them. In the office, both of them were chided by the teacher and let them go afterwards because it was their first offense. In order to have no more fighting, Xyn was dismissed first and he went home.

Part 2

Xyn opened the door of the house and entered. He turned on the lights and there he saw the lonely room. The house itself was silent, with no one to warmly welcome him, and that gave a pain in his heart. Xyn felt so empty, and lonely, and as a matter of fact he, is alone. All alone. That's because the other person that's supposed to be here was not here anymore.

Xyn went to his room and sat on the bed and a sign of grief showed on his face.

Why is this happening to me? Why did that have to happen? Why did you have to die… Mother? I'm all alone now.

Xyn said in his mind. Then, a shed of tears slowly fell from his eyes.

***

Xyn's mother, Reyna, was a kind and supportive mother and cared so much for Xyn. Reyna cooks very delicious foods to fill the belly of Xyn and they go out together to places like a mall or plaza and other places. Xyn and his mother are the only ones occupying the house and living a simple life because his father left when he was still young.

Reyna's last moments were at a jewelry store. She was there to buy a gift for her son when suddenly an armed group of eight entered the store and came shooting everyone. This was a notorious group known for murder and robbery. While the group was shooting, Reyna casted a spell [Widened Defense Shield], protecting herself, the mother and the mother's daughter on her back hoping to survive this attack. But there were a lot of opposition with strong magic weapons – magic powered rifles. Unable to hold out, Reyna's shield broke apart and dispelled, and then here came her demise as well as the mother and her daughter on her back.

For the long evil deeds and ruthless slaughter of the group, the authorities responded quickly. When the robbers were going out of the site, they were met by an overwhelming number of authorities and not for long, all the robbers died.

Xyn was in house waiting for his mother so he sat on the couch in front of the TV. When Xyn was watching television, here he saw the news of the robbery. The names of every victim killed were announced and when he heard the name of the person he so loved and cared, his eyes widened and he froze, while the information was being processed in his mind. He didn't believe it. He could never believe it. He could never ever believe what he just heard from the TV. So he hurriedly went to the said hospital where the victims were brought. Seeing is believing. He needs to see to believe but is also hoping that it wasn't what he feared most. But, fate was cruel. He saw the face of his lifeless mother. As he saw her, tears welled up from his eyes, and he slowly walked closer to the corpse. When he was close, he hugged her lifeless body, wailing in grief.

Grief and anger filled Xyn's heart. Grief of losing his mother, and anger to the culprits. He was so angry that he wanted to crush those culprits until they are nothing but crushed meat, but they were already dead so Xyn can't do anything anymore.

Xyn used the savings from his house and bought a simple coffin, then buried her with the help of one of the neighbors – an old man – in a place where his mother loves. A place of nature. A place where tall trees stand and flowers all around. His mother sometimes brought him here to enjoy the surroundings and feel the fresh air. Then, Xyn has been alone since then. The reason he has not yet went to school for two weeks was mostly because he was still grieving and don't want to go to school yet.

***

Xyn conjured up the visage of his mother, her brown hair and blue eyes. He has always thought that his eyes came from his mother and his mother agreed with him and she added that his black hair came from his father. He vaguely remembered his father's face but he remembers his black hair and black eyes.

His mother once told him the story between his mother and father's love story and the change of his mother's last name to "Nightfall". His mother told him once that his father did not abandon him and his mother, and told Xyn that someday his father will comeback. Therefore, his mother is waiting for his father's return. However, the mother didn't want to always talk about the father for some reason. Thus, Xyn doesn't know the name of his father. Maybe he didn't ask because of his mother's feelings or because he just has no interest in his father.

Damn those people! Why did you have to kill her? If only I can torment them myself!

Xyn cursed the culprits, and then recalled a monkey face from his school. Just thinking about that guy makes his blood boil. How dare that monkey speak about mother? What does he even know? Xyn wanted to beat up the guy, but he can't. That's because gifted ones are strong opponents for mere spellcasters. In addition, that monkey face's level is higher than Xyn so his chance of winning is low.

Humans… driven by their greed and foul desire… Humanity itself now seems to be corrupt.

Xyn knew that there are also good people, however malevolent and immoral people greatly outnumbered the good ones.

As Xyn was thinking of the distressing events. He clenched his fist in anger, and thinking that fate is cruel indeed. Then, he felt a sudden surge on his chest.

Xyn breathed heavily while his right hand is on his chest. This was not a surge from his emotions, it was something else. He felt like something is going to burst out of his body, like a surge of power.

Xyn quickly stood up while panting.

"Aaargh!" he screamed in throbbing pain.

Then, as though the surge of power broke out, something black engulfed his entire body; it was as black as the void. He looked at his hands and saw something - a darkness blazing like fire. This was not flames because it was not warm at all. The darkness was just blazing on his entire body like flames.

Feeling nervousness and confusion, Xyn frantically ran to a mirror. There he saw that his entire body was covered by the darkness, his eyes shone brightly and his eyeballs was nowhere to be seen – it's just that his entire eyes changed form into blue lights blazing like fire.

Calm down, calm down.

He thought to himself.

He breathed slowly and calmed down a little bit when he realized something and confusingly looked back at the mirror.

"Wait, I don't have a nose. Then, how am I breathing!?"

Xyn questioned in panic and was panting again.

It's not like he was breathing without a nose, he just felt like he was breathing. However, he can still smell the room's scent in the air. Confused again he said to himself.

"C-calm down, you can't reach a conclusion while in panic."

He slowly breathed and calmed down, while knowing he still don't have a nose.

Then he realized something again, and looked at the mirror.

"W-w-wait, I don't see my mouth, where's my mouth? I don't have a mouth? THEN HOW AM I SPEAKING?!!!"

Xyn once again panicked and held his head with both of his hands.

What he saw in the mirror was a face with only having a pair of blazing blue eyes. No nose and mouth and the rest of his face was darkness – no his head was all darkness. His head was in a shape similar to a human or rather the same shape and size of his head, and there was no hair, just blazing darkness. Also, his entire body was all darkness with the same shape, but his clothes were still intact and he's still wearing it.

Not for long, he forced himself to calm down and begun to ponder the situation.

"A-alright, think. What's happening to me? Hmmm."

When he glanced at the mirror, the blazing darkness was not as wild as before, as though the blaze was following his emotions. For now he was calm and the darkness was also calm.

"O-okay? I think these dark things are following my feelings, or rather emotion? But how do I turn back to normal?"

He was thinking hard on how to do such that. Then he thought, "What if this is like magic?" And then he began to feel the darkness covering his body like magic.

Then the darkness engulfing his entire body vanished to nothingness. It was as though it never happened. And as the darkness disappeared, he saw himself again – as a normal human being.

Xyn sighed in relief and slowly sat back on the bed while pondering what the hell happened.

"Good thing I came back to normal. Haaaah. Now to think."

Xyn thought of every possible reason why that happened. He thought widely and deeply, making every mechanism of his brain work in full power. A few seconds passed, he had thought two possible conclusion.

What if that was a gift? But mother didn't have a gift. But there are scenarios that one can have a new gift unexpectedly and only needed to be released. But how could that be? People can unlock their gifts on the age of 9 to 13 and in some cases, 14. But I'm 18 now. Does that mean that the gift was delayed for too long?

Hmmm. There are also gifts that are inherited from one's parents or family. If mother didn't have a gift, then it's possible it came from father. No, what happened to me was not a normal gift. No way it could be a gift. Gifts can't make a person transform into something else. What happened to me??? It felt like my humanity vanished when I turned into that.

After thinking all of this, he held out his right hand and looked at it for a moment and began to feel the magic and let some out a bit. Then, the dark blaze that doesn't burn covered his hand. After that, he held his other arm and did the same thing. The same as the other hand, darkness covered his hand.

"Still, this feels great. It's as though great power is coursing through me. Hmmm, looks like I can freely control it. Well, the school's magic tournament is next week, I could make a good use of this."

Part 3

A week has passed and within the past week, Xyn has been exercising and practicing his new abilities. He learned new tricks and the capabilities of it. One of the most useful features of his new form is when every time he transform to his dark form, all that was in his human body seems to vanish or vaporize because of his ravaging body composition. This means that every time he needs to go to the restroom to take out some waste, he only needs to transform and it will all be gone, thus saving him time. Of course, the food inside his stomach and whatsoever also disappears, but that's fine for him.

He was also thinking about how he got to the level 18 easily. He got a conjecture that maybe because of his gift he got to level 18 faster and easily without him knowing. But when he got to fully control and realizes his gift, he felt his strength is doubled of level 18 or maybe even tripled.

This day was the day he was waiting for. A day to test his abilities in the field. He didn't went to school the last week because he doesn't want to, and just want to train on his new found power. He also don't care about the lessons he missed anymore or what he is about to miss.

He doesn't fully care about anything anymore. Maybe because of his past experiences, or maybe something else. The more he seems to fully unlock his abilities, the less he seems to care about everything around him, mostly the people or things he doesn't know or don't have a relationship with. Xyn doesn't yet know why, but maybe he'll find it out soon in the future.

As he was walking alone to the field where the battles are happening, the ones that were currently battling seemed to be over. Then the announcer said:

"The battle is over and grade 11 section Granite won against grade 11 section Ruby!"

At the same time Xyn reached behind of his section classmates where his close friends are present.

"The next contenders will be from the grade 12 Citrine and grade 12 Emerald. Please have your participants step forward to the field."

After hearing the announcer, his friend Leden said to his classmates:

"Citrine! That's us. Well, I'll be going now. Cheer for me, okay?"

"Of course. Good luck!" Robie said.

"Give the opposition a good beating!" Edmund said.

Leden nodded and as he was about to walk to the field he heard a call from behind.

"Wait, Leden!"

Leden and the rest looked back and they saw Xyn.

"Let me handle this one"

"What?! No, Xyn." Leden said.

"Why not?!"

"Look, you've been gone again for a week. And a spellcaster like you would find it difficult to win this kind of fight."

"No, I can win this one"

"What made you so sure?"

As they were talking, the opposition has reached the field and got the attention of Citrine.

"As I thought, it is going to be him." Hearl worriedly said.

"Then Xyn, are you still going to fight someone like that?" Leden asked.

"Seeing him took the field gave me more reason to enter the battlefield."

"This isn't like the last time you fought Xyn. This is more serious. I'm sorry but you can't win this one."

"No. I can win. Just trust me."

"But –"

"Trust me."

Ronald held Leden's shoulder that makes Leden stop talking any further.

"Are you certain you can win this one?" Ronald asked Xyn.

"I'm certain."

"Then we'll give him a chance, Leden." Ronald said.

"… fine, but you better win this one." Leden said.

"Thank you." Xyn thanked them.

After letting him enter, Xyn nonchalantly walked to their side of the field.

As he stopped after reaching his destination, the opposition looked at him with a mocking face and shouted to Xyn across the field:

"Oh! It had to be you!"

Xyn didn't reply. It's only a waste of saliva and energy to talk to an inferior like him.

He accidentally thought of him as an inferior, probably because of the effects of his other form. Also, him being an annoyance only added the reasons why he's inferior.

When Xyn didn't reply, the opposition shouted:

"You're not talking?! Why?! You scared?!"

Xyn kept silent. And his silence made the opposition annoyed.

"You think you can beat me?! Huh?! You, someone without a gift?! This isn't like last time Draven!!"

After the barkings, the barrier has been set around the field to protect the audience from the clash. And the announcer finally voiced out:

"Alright. The contender of grade 12 Emerald is Berto Asfeys!"

Sounds of cheering can clearly be heard.

"And the contender of grade 12 Citrine is Xyn Draven Nightfall!"

The cheers seem to be lower than Berto's. And it mostly came from his classmates in Citrine. But, that didn't bother Xyn.

The announcer knows the name of Xyn and the other probably because his face and information can be found in the records, or probably because someone told the announcer. But it's likely the former.

"Then, let's begin the battle. On my go! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!"

***

As the announcer said go. Berto charged at Xyn.

He's not moving? Then this'll be easy.

When he reached Xyn, he punched him in the face and he used one of the spells of his gift.

"[Fire Blast]"

Flames burst out of Berto's fist and covered Xyn's entire body but what he has seen shocked him.

"What?!"

Berto jumped back.

"You're unharmed?! How?!"

Berto freaked out a little bit.

As Xyn remained silent, he blasted fire at Xyn again, but it still has no effect.

"What the hell?!" He's eyes widened in surprise and not understanding the situation.

Berto jumped on top of Xyn and cast a spell powered by his gift.

"[Flame Whip!]"

He swung the whip at Xyn as hard as he could, but not even a single scratch was evident on Xyn.

As he was falling, he directed a punch on Xyn's face again still nothing. Berto quickly jumped back, feeling frightened.

I just realized, when I punched him, it didn't felt right.

Berto felt anxious.

"Why is nothing happening?! How are you doing that?!"

He got no reply from the one he was asking.

"Answer me, you bastard!"

And he started raining attacks of flames at Xyn. A lot of fireballs and blasts of fire, each one hitting at Xyn who is standing still and is just looking at him. But there's no effect whatsoever.

What's going on?! Berto screamed in his mind.

As Berto was now tired and breathing heavily, Xyn finally moved a little. Xyn tilted his head as though he was curious. Then finally, Xyn talked.

"Was that it? And to think that I have expected more. I thought you were strong. You always shout that around. Well, still, I should thank you for helping with my experiment."

"E-experiment?"

Berto didn't understand what Xyn just said.

"You don't need to know about it. Alright, now that you're done, I guess it's my turn. Now, to test this out."

Xyn smiled – no, that was a smirk and looking at Berto as though he was a little animal.

At the same time, black smoke covered Xyn's arms – no, it seems more like blazing black flames. The black flames covered Xyn's hands up to the elbow, then the black flames seem to take shape on both of Xyn's arms.

As Berto saw this, his eyes widened as though his eyes were going to pop out.

The darkness covering Xyn's arms turned into gauntlets. Not just normal gauntlets. It was deep black blazing gauntlets with sharp fingers, very sharp edges of fingers, and may also be called claws. The gauntlets also seemed greatly designed and detailed. The gauntlets didn't look solid, but it seems to release – no the gauntlets are definitely releasing dreadful auras.

As Berto was seeing this and feeling the dreadful aura coming from Xyn, Berto was filled with terror.

Berto felt like his soul was being sapped away. This was probably because this was the first time someone was more powerful than himself and maybe this was because he was going to lose against someone he always called weak and insulted, or probably because of the dreadful aura coming of Xyn.

"Now I will show and make you realize the vast distance between you and me."

As Xyn said that, Berto stepped back, opening his mouth a little but unable to talk, like the words were stuck on his throat.

Then he saw a wicked smile from Xyn. Xyn moved back his right foot as though about to charge at him.

While looking at Xyn, Berto thought that one hit from those claws and he'll die.

After Xyn moved back his right arm, Xyn charged – or rather he leaped forward to Berto. However, Xyn's leap was not normal. It was fast, too fast for the naked eye to catch up. Just as Berto blinked he felt some force on his right side.

A wave of darkness was left on Xyn's trail as he instantly leaped at Berto's back. Because of that, the force of that darkness blasted Berto away and had him flying. Berto was ricocheting on the ground, and after a few seconds, he stopped bouncing. Berto was barely hanging on his consciousness and felt enormous pain all over his body. He has wounds all over his body and some parts of his clothes were torn. As he was trying to move, he heard Xyn's voice from several meters away.

"Oh, looks like I was an inch off. My bad."

Xyn said in what it seems like in a sarcastic tone.

O-off?

As Berto thought that, he passed out.

***

After the announcement of his victory, Xyn walk to his classmates.

Xyn's friends had a dumbfounded look on their faces. Xyn has predicted that this might happen so he didn't give full attention to it.

"I won." Xyn said in a low voice while smiling.

"H-how?" Leden ask.

"What 'how'?" Xyn also asked.

"You know, that." Edmund said.

"Hmmm. Who knows?" Xyn said.

His friends raised their eyebrows.

Xyn's opposition will be fine. That's because there are healers around. There are spells of healing and people with gifts of healing.

Xyn can't just kill someone off in public, mostly in a tournament. If he killed him, Xyn might get apprehended or damage the image of himself or his family name. Thus, he didn't directly hit his opposition because he has a feeling that hitting his opponent directly might kill him.

Xyn continued walking when he remembered something that he was planning since last week. He has to say something to his friends. He has to say goodbye. Thus, Xyn looked back on his friends who were still staring at him.

"Um, ah, guys, I got something to say."

"W-what's that?" Hearl asked.

"I'm leaving this town. So, I want to say goodbye."

"G-goodbye?! Why?" Ronald asked.

Xyn smiled.

"I want to see the rest of the world. I don't want to get stuck or bounded by society. I want to discover new things and learn. I want to see the wonders and beauty of the world. I want to make things a reality. That's why I want to leave."

"Wait, now? You mean right now you're leaving?" Leden asked.

"Yes"

"That's too quick. And, what about the tournament?"

"You can handle it Led. You can change a contender in this tournament anyway."

"Y-yeah but…"

"You're going to be fine."

"But why now? Can't you wait?" Robie asked.

"It has to be now. Also, I have to atleast go far enough before sunset."

"Then what about tomorrow?"

Xyn shook his head.

Xyn wants to get flying now and don't want to wait anymore so he can't do it tomorrow.

"So, when are you coming back?" Hearl asked.

"Hmmm. I don't know."

"I-is that so?"

"Then again, guys, goodbye. I hope we'll meet again someday."

Xyn's friends lowered their heads looked at each other and finally said their goodbyes to Xyn.

After the goodbyes, Xyn walked to the school gates to the exit. He needs to return home first to get some few things like rations and clothes. Good thing, he still has some savings left to buy some foods.

While going home, he thought about the fight and the success of the test.

Good thing the skill that I call [Dark Protection] worked, if it didn't it would had been bad for me. But that worked more than what I thought, he barely damaged my protective barrier. Perhaps that was just how powerful my new power is.

He made the skill while he was learning and practicing his new power. He covered his entire body with the energy of his dark power, but the barrier

could not be seen by a naked eye or by anything. It was like an invisible barrier.

After returning home and getting what he needs. He exited the house and locked it, no valuable things were left inside, Xyn has it all. Then he used his dark powers, covering his body with fog like darkness and with that he is able to fly or float. He discovered this technique while he was learning his new found power.

The reason he wants to travel was because he wants to see the world and know more about it, and also to make things a reality, but that's not the only main reasons. He wants to at least ease the pain he is feeling.

Also there's another reason. He wants to be stronger, so he will need to travel to learn new abilities or create new ones. He will go to different places to learn what they have than can be useful or interesting. He seeks to be strong as he can be, and that is one of his desires.

As he floated into the air and flew due north he said:

"Now then. Let's see where the world will take me."