Axel couldn't explain why, but fatigue caught up with him, and he fell asleep halfway through the drive with his brother to the distant countryside. As he fell asleep in the crowded truck, Axel was transported to a vivid, surreal dream. In it, he found himself floating in a distant galaxy, surrounded by twinkling stars and colorful nebulae. However, a faint suspicion began to creep in within him, as if this dream was not just a figment of his imagination. Something felt off, as if there was a connection between this dream and the reality he was trying to leave behind. The suspicion grew, and Axel felt a chill, as if something or someone was watching him, even in the dream world.
Axel, with a mixture of curiosity and caution, said aloud.
"If there is anyone here, show yourself." The answer came in the form of a small starlight that appeared next to him, its soft luminosity contrasting with an air of strange menace. The small sphere of light began to hover before him, and Axel felt a chill.
"You shouldn't be here," the light said in a voice barely audible but full of authority. "Your presence is a mistake."
Axel frowned, confused and a little irritated.
"Explain yourself,"
he demanded, his voice firm despite the strangeness of the situation. The light hesitated for a moment before beginning to speak, its voice revealing a truth that Axel was not prepared to hear.
The small star of light hovering before him asked in a voice that echoed like a cosmic whisper.
"Do you remember the refined mana stones the government provided you in the projects? The ones that were mixed into your serum and food to help awaken your powers?".
Axel felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he remembered those dark times.
"I remember," he replied, his voice thick with resentment and pain. "Most of those stones killed several of us in the projects. And those who survived… were not the same. They were scarred, changed in ways that could never be reversed."
The memory brought back painful memories of the experiments, the suffering and loss. Axel clenched his fists, still feeling the anger and sadness that those experiences had left him with.
The little star of light stared at Axel with an intensity that seemed to pierce his soul.
"You consumed a precious and rare stone, meant for someone else, not you," she said, her voice echoing with a heavenly authority that left no doubt about the gravity of the situation. Axel snorted, a bitter, ironic smile appearing on his face marked by traumatic experiences.
"It wasn't like I had a choice," he retorted, with disdain and a hint of anger. "When you're tied to a table, with needles and tubes stuck in you, you can't say no. They do whatever they want, and you just... take it." Axel's voice was thick with resentment and the little star trembled.
The tiny star of light looked at Axel with an expression that seemed to convey compassion, something rare in her usually distant tone.
"I understand what you've been through," she said, her voice softening with understanding. "I'm sorry for what was done to you, for the choices that were taken from you. But now… there's no way to extract the stone from you. It's become one with you, integrated into your essence in a way that can't be reversed." The star paused, as if choosing her words carefully.
"The stone is now part of who you are. And that… changes everything."
Axel thought for a moment, and then a grim realization dawned on his face.
"It was the fragmented mana stone in my body that allowed me to return to the past, wasn't it?" The small star of light nodded, its light pulsing with silent confirmation.
"Yes, it was the stone. But there is more you need to know. This stone is an artifact of a mighty god of the heavens, a reliquary of ancient and immense power. It was created to find its right host, someone capable of wielding its power without being consumed by it." The star paused, as if pondering the unexpected turn of events.
"But the government found it before I did. They experimented on it, combining it with other stones, not understanding its true purpose or power. And this stone… it ended up inside you, but it wasn't meant for you. The stone adapted to you somehow." The star continued, its voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and resignation. "I was waiting for you to die so I could extract the stone from you, believing that without a suitable host it would eventually decay or be salvaged. But something unexpected happened. When you died, the stone, moved by your wish, granted a wish... and brought you back.".
Axel felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized the magnitude of what the stone truly was, and what it meant to him. He was no longer just a survivor of brutal experiments; he was now the wielder of godlike power, with all the implications that brought.
Axel frowned, feeling a mix of conflicting emotions.
"I don't know whether to be grateful or offended," he said, his voice thick with skepticism. "You were waiting for me to die so you could take the stone into my body. That's not exactly what I'd call 'good intentions.'" The star seemed to hesitate, as if she hadn't expected this reaction from Axel.
"I… I was just fulfilling my purpose," she said, her voice a little defensive. "My job is to retrieve the stone and return it to its rightful place." Axel snorted, disbelief written all over his face.
"What about my well-being? Doesn't that factor into the equation?" He crossed his arms.
The star stepped back, its light dimming slightly as it seemed to ponder the implications of what it was about to say.
"I cannot change things," it repeated, its voice filled with resigned authority.
"Now that you are the official owner of the mana stone, I will help you achieve the powers it can grant you. But it is crucial that you understand that this will not go unnoticed." The star paused, as if anticipating what was to come.
"Most of the beasts and monsters that inhabit this world will sense your power. They may see you as a threat, and this will attract them. You will need to learn to defend yourself and control the stone if you are to survive." The star looked at Axel with a seriousness that left no doubt about the gravity of the situation.
"I am here to help you understand and master this power, but you must be prepared for what is to come."
Axel closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said.
"I am prepared." A strange sight appeared before him. It was as if a package of powers had materialized in midair, each represented by a small, glowing box or envelope. The boxes floated before him, each containing a succinct description of the power it offered. "Healing Power," "Elemental Manipulation," "Sight Beyond the Veil"—the options were vast and varied. The star watched with interest, its light pulsing gently as Axel began to explore the possibilities the mana stone offered him. "Choose wisely."
Axel looked up and saw additional options, but these were locked with glowing locks. He pointed at them curiously.
"What are these options?" he asked. The star hesitated, its light flickering slightly before answering.
"This is not the time for you to know that," it said, its voice firm but with a hint of mystery. "These options are locked for a reason. You must first master the basic powers before you can access… that which lies beyond."
The star offered no further explanation, leaving Axel with more questions than answers. He felt a twinge of frustration, but also a renewed determination to unlock the secrets of the mana stone and discover what was hidden behind those locks.
"Let's start with what I can access now," it said, its voice resolute. The star nodded, and together they began to explore the available options.
Axel looked at the options and noticed a significant change to his low-level power. He saw that he could now share his ability with others, allowing them to evolve their own powers, as long as they hadn't already awakened. However, there was one condition: he had to touch the person for exactly 5 seconds.
Axel considered the new ability and realized the practical implications. No one in their right mind would let a stranger touch them for 5 seconds, and there was still the risk of being accused of something inappropriate. He knew he had to be careful when using this ability, choosing the right people and the right situations to avoid misunderstandings or worse.
Axel examined the healing pack and everything seemed normal until he saw the option
"Romantic Healing, How strange" confused about the purpose of this option. The star noticed his hesitation and explained that this pack was used as a last resort, healing someone through an enchanted kiss. Axel grimaced, immediately dismissing the idea.
"No, no, no," he said to himself. "I'm not going to kiss someone to heal them. Not at all." He shook his head.
The star continued to show Axel the skill packs, and he saw that the
"Element Control" pack seemed like an accessible and powerful option. With this power, Axel could manipulate the elements of nature, such as water, fire, earth, and air, to achieve his goals. He imagined the possibilities, from creating protective barriers to unleashing devastating attacks.
The star then showed the "Sight Beyond the Veil" pack, which seemed like a more mysterious and intriguing skill. With this ability, Axel could see beyond appearances, revealing hidden secrets and allowing him to perceive things that others could not.
Axel's dream was suddenly shaken, and the star told him that time was running out, that he needed to return to reality soon.
"A dungeon portal has opened in your world," she said, before Axel was pulled from the dream.
Axel woke with a jolt, realizing that he was on Kairos' shoulders, half in the air. Before he could get his bearings, the truck they were in was attacked by level 3 beasts—horrible giant spiders that looked like they had come out of a nightmare. Kairos quickly dropped Axel to safety and summoned his black flames, preparing to face the creatures. The flames danced in his hands as he took a fighting stance, shielding Axel from the monstrous spiders that surrounded them.
"Stay here, I'll handle this," Kairos said, his voice firm and determined. Axel nodded.
Chaos spread across the scene as people ran desperately to escape the giant spiders. Some of them were being devoured by the beasts, and Axel felt an urge to act. He saw his brother, Kairos, fighting the spiders with his black flames, but he knew he had to do something to help.
Axel remembered the star's words and decided to use the little bit of power she had mentioned. He shouted for people to come closer and take cover behind him. With a concentrated effort, Axel managed to channel his power and create a temporary barrier, pinning some of the spiders to the ground. People crowded behind him, screaming in relief as Axel kept the spiders immobilized. Kairos continued to fight the rest, his black flames consuming the creatures with deadly efficiency.
Not far away, a guild had noticed the black flames and the screams of monsters and people and approached to assess the situation. Among the guild members, a blond boy with golden eyes and equally blond hair stood out, dressed impeccably despite the chaos around him.
"Should we help?" someone from the guild asked, looking to the blond boy for guidance.
The blond smiled, his golden eyes shining with interest.
"Perhaps," he said, his voice soft and thoughtful. "Let's watch a little longer and see how things develop." He continued to watch, seemingly pondering the best approach. His smile suggested that he was enjoying the situation, but it was unclear whether that was a good or a bad thing.
Axel looked at the people behind him, some of them injured and bleeding.
"If you're seriously hurt, you can touch me," he said, trying to sound calm and confident. "I have a healing ability that can help." The people hesitated for a moment, but soon a few of them came forward and touched Axel, allowing him to use his ability to heal their injuries and see if there was anyone he could awaken.
As Axel healed the people and maintained the barrier to hold back the spiders, he looked up and saw someone watching the scene. His eyes fixed on a face. It was the leader of the Luna guild, Salvatore Di Angelo. The blond seemed to be studying Axel with interest, his golden eyes shining with curiosity.
"A very interesting power," Salvatore said, his voice soft and thoughtful. "This boy has a rare gift. It's worth watching." He continued to watch, seemingly pondering the possibilities and implications of his ability.
Axel felt a chill as he was watched by the guild leader Luna, knowing that his skill had caught the attention of someone powerful.