Chapter 8: Farewell My Past (Edited)

At the same time...

In the middle of the night, a carriage was travelling to the village of Blumund. Through the carriage's glass, a young girl could be seen with her maid and guard inside.

"Ojou-sama...we are about to arrived at the Blumund village at morning, so it best for you to sleep first." The maid spoke with a polite manner.

The young girl had a robe that cover her head, with her face remained hidden.

"I understand, but right now, I just have a bad feeling." The young girl replied while holding her both hands together as she looks at the window.

Her maid and guard were confused seeing this young girl for having those kind of feelings.

But then...

*BOOM*

The carriage suddenly shook a bit after that explosive sound.

"H-huh??" The young girl was surprised from the sudden noise.

"Ojou-sama!" And her maid suddenly hugged her to keep her safe

While her guard immediately knocked the glass, "What was that!" The guard asked to the courier who drove the carriage.

"I-i don't know sir!" The courier replied.

"Stop the carriage now!" The guard ordered him.

"Y-yes!" Finally, the carriage begin to stop.

The guard immediately went down first to checked their surroundings with the other guards.

Then they saw a smoke coming out in the middle of forest.

"What just happened?" The guard asked again.

Then...

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

As the explosion noise continue to be heard, the young girl went out from the carriage alone.

"Ojou-sama! you must get inside!" Her maid immediately went down to follow her.

"Yes! Ojou-sama! It's dangerous!" And her guard immediately stopped her from walking further.

But she suddenly raised lift her hand.

"...?!"

Then they stopped.

The young girl somehow looks so calm, her gaze move towards the source of the smoke.

"It seems, my bad feelings had come true..."

*******

*TING*

Soon after, a young boy and a giant wolf beast were seen fighting in the middle of the forest.

[Ray Houston], the one who controling the body right now as began to deflecting the monster claws in ease.

*TANG*

After they both clashed, they begin to run around the trees.

*TING*

Then, with astonishing speed, they clashed once more.

*TING*

With that kind of speed, Ray continue to blocked and parried all the incoming attacks using his sword.

*GRRRRR*

The beast start to get angry when most of his attacks are now being deflected just like that.

So when they stopped their movement and having face to face, the beast used a new kind of attack.

*SWOOSH*

By using its tail that dive into the shadow and appeared behind from behind him.

"...??"

Ray saw the incoming attack from behind and turned his body.

*TING*

Then raised his sword and blocked the tail that enveloped with shadow. At the same time...

"Heh!"

By using the force from its tail, his body was thrown towards the beast.

*GRRRR?!*

*SWOOSH*

Ray spun his body in mid-air to created a strong momentum, after that...

'[Horizontal Slash].'

He swung his sword from its right side.

*TANG*

It was a direct hit, his sword whacked the beast's head over which grazed its eye.

*GRRRRR*

Then the giant wolf...

*GRRRRAAA!!!*

...started to howl as its shadows began to spread out across its body, creating shadow spikes everywhere.

"...?!"

When Ray noticed the spikes getting closer, his eyes wide opened, but he was smiling.

*TING*

Then he struck the spikes with his sword once more, allowing his body to be forced back by the force of the impact.

And at last, he managed to get some distance from the beast.

Ray sighed and raised his sword again, 'This isn't going anywhere.'

'Even though I had boosted my status due the new skill, the gap between us, aren't getting shorter...'

=======================================

[Persona]

Active Skill

MP Cost : 0

Duration : 10 min.

A skill that allow the user to switch their soul with another soul that live within the user body. Increasing +50% overall status for 10 minutes.

Penalty: Decrease -20% overall status for 1 hour

=======================================

=======================================

[STATUS]

NAME: Kiritsuka Rei

JOB : Blacksmith

TITLE : [The Reincarnator], [Time Traveler], [Quick Learner]

Level: 16

[HP: 740/2050]

[MP: 300/300]

[FATIGUE: 300]*orange*

EXP: 0/18000

STATUS POINT : 2

__________________

STRENGTH : 40(+20)

AGILITY : 30(+5)(+17)

VITALITY : 35(+17)

INTELLIGENCE : 25(+5)(+15)

SENSE : 30(+5)(+17)

=======================================

Ray checked the time duration of his skill, 'I only have 5 minutes left.... I need to be quick, before I switch back with Kiritsuka.'

Ray would laugh when he noticed the beast glaring at him after their eyes met once more.

"Hahaha! Do you hate me...? We have the same feeling here!"

"I am so thankful here... for Kiritsuka. Who gave me this chance to take my revenge."

Ray tightened his grasp on his sword while feeling a surge of rage from within his mind.

"I have been waiting for this moment ever since the day you devoured my family."

But his expression remained composed as his right golden eye glinted.

"So don't worry....I will make sure to give you the worst pain that you will ever had! before your death."

"But that won't be enough...I shall peeled your skin to be used for my clothes, plucking your claws and fangs as to be used for my sword."

"And finally I will use your core until the day those items worns its duty!" With a twisted smile, he then aimed his sword at the beast.

"So, let me show you...the training I have been going through."

Then he begin to take a deep breath before slowly letting it out.

After that, he took a stance while focusing his eyes towards the beast.

Then...he raised his sword.

.

.

.

.

.

.

With incredible speed.

*SWOOSH*

He appeared right in front of the beast.

*GRRRRR?!*

'[Shukuchi].'

Then he swung his sword down towards its upper body.

'[Vertical Slash].'

*SLASH*

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

*SPURTS*

Finally, he had wounded the beast with that blow, the cut was deep on its upper body which causing its blood to fly all over the place.

*GRRRRAAA*

The beast cried in pain, after it couldn't react to his speed on that time.

*GRRRRR*

But the beast didn't just let him attack, the monster lifted its right claw to strike him down.

*SWOOSH*

But he took a step back and avoided it with the least amount of effort.

*TAP*

Following that, he took a step forward and leap up, while rotating his body.

*SWOOSH*

Then he swung it in straight horizontal line towards the beast's head.

'[Horizontal Slash].'

*SLASH*

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

*SPURTS*

As he left a deep cut towards the giant wolf's face.

*GRRRRAAA*

Once again, the beast let out a painful growl as its shadow started to twitch, causing a similar shadow spike to appear on its surrounds.

*SWOOSH*

But Ray took another step back again and jumped back to take some distances away from the beast.

*GRRRRR*

Now that its body has sustained additional injury, the beast feels cornered.

From the minor damage on the rest of the beast's body that Rei had inflicted, until two deep wounds on it caused by Ray.

*GRRRRR*

The beast eventually released a massive dark aura, as it started to grow cautious of Ray's presence.

Releasing a pressure around it.

Ray still being composed even after seeing that.

'Since you, finally getting serious...'

Ray looked down at his sword, which looked worn and as though it would crack from all the use Rei had made of it against these creatures.

"Thank you for helping me until the end..."

"I will use my all now."

"[Sharp Edge]."

He raised his sword directly in front of him, and a red aura start enveloped it. While his eyes, both red and golden, shone brilliantly.

When he closed his eyes for a moment...

He suddenly had a flashback from his future and that reminded him of someone's words...

******

It was a memory of Ray having a conversation with a young girl sitting near to him.

"Ray, do you ever heard a job called [Magic Swordsman]?" The young girl questioned.

"[Magci Swordsman]??" Ray repeated her words.

"Yeah! a [Magic Swordsman]! Instead of focusing on either sword or magic, it's a job that allow you to use both!" The young girl excitedly explained.

Which made Ray surprised to hear it, "A job that allow you to use both magic and sword?"

Then he began to laugh, "That sound like a [Hero] job to me..."

The young girl pouted, "Muuu! It's not a [Hero] job! you silly!" Then punch his arm lightly.

"Hey!" Ray laughed once more while watching the young girl silly acts.

It was a nostalgic memory he had.

******

Back to present.

'[Magic Swordsman]...like the name, it's a job that allow someone to use both magic and sword.'

'It's a job that is extremely difficult to learn, because you need the aptitude to use both magic and sword.'

'But for someone like me who doesn't have combat job...it's still doable.'

'I still remember how many times used this one certain skill from [Magic Swordsman].'

'Even though it's a fake.'

Ray breathed deeply once again before closing his eyes and concentrating on his intuition and sense.

'First, [Fire].'

A small fire start to flared up at in front of him.

'Second absorb the [Fire] and infused into the sword...'

Suddenly, the small fire was drawn into his blade and began to engulf the whole sword in flames.

'Finally...let them burn it out!!'

Ray let the flame swirl around the sword as he opened his eyes.

'Then compress it...compress it more!!'

Suddenly, the swirl of fire started to take shape...

[Notice!]

[You acquired a skill!]

Finally, the blade of his weapon was transformed into a fire sword.

While his MP continue to go down while he maintain the fire.

"[Imitation Fire Sword]."

=======================================

[Imitation Fire Sword]

Active Skill

MP Cost: 50

Cooldown: 20 sec.

Maintain the skill: -10 MP/1 sec.

An Imitation of a skill called [Fire Magic Sword] by enveloping the sword with fire magic and compress it and combine them into one sword.

=======================================

Ray succeeded on recreating the skill, 'Yes, this is the skill that I had acquired in the future.'

'With the current me...this is the shape I can get from.' Ray thought of it.

Upon seeing that, the giant wolf started to release all of its massive dark aura.

Then the beast start howling.

*GRRRRAAA*

Ray focused his attention back to the beast, "Thank you for waiting."

"Now...die!"

Finally, he rushed in towards the direction of the giant wolf with no fear.

*GRRRRR*

The giant wolf begin to anticipated him, then spread its shadow, wide enough to created a domain for Ray to enter.

"...?!" But Ray didn't stop and continue to run.

*SWOOSH*

When Ray finally walked into the domain, numerous spike emerged the shadow and moved towards him.

Ray who continue to run began to swing his fire sword towards the spikes that is moving towards him.

'[Horizontal Slash]!'

*BAM*

He destroyed one of the shadows.

'[Vertical Slash]!'

*BAM*

Then he destroyed another one.

'[Horizontal Slash]!'

*BAM*

Another one.

'[Vertical Slash]!'

*BAM*

And one after another...

'[Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...! [Horizontal...! [Vertical...!'

Ray continued to destroy all the spikes that approaching him.

'Do not stop!!....'

As the numbers of shadows continue to rise.

Ray continue to move, with his body sustained damage while destroying those shadows.

'Endure it...'

While enduring the pain and not dodging the attack that slip through his sword.

'Push yourself...'

And kept his concentration on what in front of him, pushing himself through the limit and the pain he had experienced so far.

'For the future!!!!'

When Ray continue to run and run when he almost getting near.

Feeling cornered, the giant wolf had decided to use its shadows to form a barrier of some kind around itself.

But...

*CRACK*

When the beast thought it was safe from it barrier.

*SHATTERS*

It barriers had shattered apart, with Ray breaking through using his fire sword.

Finally, he is now glaring at the monster while standing directly in front of it...

"Farewell...my past....." Ray muttered.

"HAAAAAA!!!!!"

With all of his might, Ray swiftly swung his flaming sword from his right to aim for its neck...

*SLASH*

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ray's eyes grew wide when he realised he had sliced its front legs.

'What...?'

To survived that one attack, the giant wolf gives up its legs.

'Are you.... kidding me...?'

*GRRRRRRRAAA*

With its mouth wide open, the giant wolf had prepared to rip Ray's head off...

But...

Before its mouth about to reach his head.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A voice came out nowhere...

"[Restraint]."

The giant wolf movement halted in the midst of it.

Ray widened his eyes after he saw the beast suddenly stopped moving.

'Wha—No! This is a chance!'

With the fire sword in hand continue to blaze, Ray took aim and finally...

"HAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

*STAB*

He stabbed towards the beast's head through its gaping mouth.

.

.

.

.

.

.

After that, he stopped for a moment and...

"BURST!!!" He shouted out.

*SHING*

.

.

.

.

.

.

*BOOM*

Ray released the compressed fire from wothin the sword and burst out through the giant wolf head which resulting its head had been completely evaporated.

Then...finally....

[You leveled up!]

[You leveled up!]

[You leveled up!]

[You leveled up!]

[You leveled up!]

The headless giant wolf body, slowly fell down...

*TSSSSSSS*

As his sword slowly crippled away...

"Haaah...haah....." Ray panted heavily and start fell on his knees.

As he glanced up at the night sky, the pain began to return after being induced by adrenaline.

While his vision started to fade, his body fell to the ground next to the lifeless body of the beast.

[Notice!]

[Skill [Persona] has ended!]

Ray slowly felt sleepy, "Move..... I need to go back home..."

"I promised them..."

But he continued to resist, attempting to crawl his body on the ground.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Before closing his eyes...

*TAP*

He caught a glimpse of someone approaching him.

A young girl with a coat stood in front of him, but he could see her face because her face by covered due her robe.

"You are..." Ray raised his hand to reach her.

"I don't know who you are.....but please protect...." While his consciousness start to fade.

"Our....family." He gave his last words before he switched back and finally, fell unconscious...

The girl stood there quietly watching him on the ground.

"Ojou-sama!!" Her guard and maid shouted while they followed from behind her.

"....?!" Then they stopped moving after they saw a giant headless beast was lying on the ground beside an injured child.

"What happen here?!" The guard asked while being surprised.

"Ojou-sama! It's dangerous here! We need to—" While her maid insisted her to run away from this location, until she stopped when she saw her mistress.

Having an unexpected expression.

"No....it can't be....Rei...kun....?" The young girl muttered as if she recognized his face.

"Harson, quickly we need save him!" The young girl ordered her guard.

Harson, her guard, was surprised from the sudden order, "H-huh?? Understood Ojou-sama!" He replied and followed her order to carry the child which lying on the ground in front of her.

Her guard and maid were both surprised when they saw a small child who appeared to be much younger than them and was covered in wounds.

Harson examined him first, 'How in the world? Who is this boy? Is he the one who defeated that giant monster?'

'That's impossible.' He thought of it, while he brought him back to the carriage with the maid and the young girl.

'So light...and his body is so small, how mysterious, I don't know what happen to him, but...'

'I need to save this boy.... for Ojou-sama sake.' Harson thought of it while following his mistress.

As they walked away, the soldiers that were waiting for them had been ordered by the young girl to take care the dead monster body and for their destination....

...they need to go to, Blumund village.

******

Rei found himself alone in the middle of the white space. He was wearing his middle school uniform, and his black hair and red eyes were returned.

"Where...is this?" He questioned himself while looking around, but there was nothing around him.

Until, he heard a voice...of someone crying from behind.

"....?"

When he turned around, he saw a small boy who had the same looks just like him. The small boy was on the floor, sitting down there while hugging his knees.

Rei felt something familiar towards this child as he approached him slowly.

When Rei stood behind him, "Why are you crying...." he asked.

But the small boy continue to hide his face on his knees while still crying.

Then the child answered, "B-because..."

"My father...and mother...they left me."

Rei, who heard his words, felt a sting inside his chest. But he smiled as he sat behind the youngster with his back against him.

"I see, why do they leave?" Rei asked.

"They said because I'm their child...and I shouldn't be born."

"Now...I'm all alone." The child answered him.

But Rei didn't looked at him, "No, you aren't alone." He replied to his words.

"Why not?..." The child asked.

Rei smiled, "Because I am here."

"But you are also alone." The child replied.

"But now I am not, because we now have a family." Rei spoke.

The child raised his head, "R-really?"

"Yepp, really." Rei answered.

"B-but won't they hate us?" The child asked him.

"Why do you think they would hate us?" Rei asked him back.

"Because...we are not their son." The child answered him with an obvious answer.

Rei shook his head, "They won't...because I had experienced it."

"Despite they know their child have changed, the love they expressed to us...the warmth and the kindness...didn't change at all."

"So, they probably know that I am not their son...but they still love me despite that." Rei explained with his gentle tone.

The child began to stop crying while he listened to Rei.

"T-then, they won't mad if I w-wake up late!" The child asked.

"They won't..." Rei answered

"T-then c-can I eat a lot of food...?" The child asked again.

"Yes you can." Rei answered him again.

"Then....can I get a hug from them?" And the child asked again.

Rei stood up and walked towards in front of him, then he patted his head...

"Of course, they would give you a plenty of hug." Rei answered him once again, with a big smile towards the child.

When the child raised his head, he revealed the same red color eyes towards him.

*THUD*

"...?!"

Then the child jumped at him, hugging him hard. Rei slowly responded him and embrace his small body with his arms.

"Mhm!" The child responded with a big smile and tears falling from his eyes.

And suddenly, the child's body begins to shine, while his legs fade into a glittering light.

"Thank you, for staying with Onii-san...but I have to go now." The child thanked him while still hugging him.

"You don't have to thank me." Rei closed his eyes while his arms still hugging onto him.

"Can we meet again...?" The child asked him.

Rei who heard his questioned, would smiled and nodded his head once more, "Yeah, we can."

"Really?" The child asked once more as half of his body start to fade.

"Yes, really." Rei answered him again and slowly felt his arms holding onto nothing.

"Then, that's a promise!" And the child replied to him with a big smile.

And disappeared into the light.

Rei looked at the light and smiled, "Yeah, it's a promise."

After that, the whole place start to shine and his unconscious slowly fading again.

*******

Rei slowly opened his eyes and regained his consciousness back.

"Ughhh..."

He looked around and saw himself lying on the bed with his entire body covered in bandages.

"Where...am I?" Rei asked himself, then he turned his head to his left.

And he saw Emily was sleeping on his side while holding his hand.

"E....mily...?" Then called her name while reached her head with his hand and gently stroking her hair.

Suddenly, Emily responded to it and heard his voice, she immediately wake up and find her brother had awaken.

"O...o...." Her face suddenly become mess and she cried, "Onii-chan!!!!" Then she quickly hugging him tight.

Rei was surprised when she hugged him this tight, "U-uggh...Emily." He whimpered a bit, when he felt the pain all over his body after she hugged him.

But he endure just for her, "I'm back, Emily."

Emily cried loudly, "Uwaaahhhhhh!!! Onii-chan...!!! Don't leave me!!!"

Rei smiled at her, then he gently embrace her small body while stroking her hair.

"There there..your Oniichan is here now." Rei tried to comfort her, but her hug tightened a bit which made him felt the pain more.

"...?!"

And she continued to cry in his arms.

Then, he noticed someone presence approaching the room

*CREAK*

When the door was open, Rei smiled after seeing his parents who had this messy looks just like their daughter.

Sheila, his mother, covered her mouth with her hand as her tears fell down from her eyes.

Adam, his father, start to cry as soon as he saw his son woke up.

Rei waved his hand to greet them with smile, "I'm back~ Mom...Dad~"

*TAP*

*TAP*

Then, they both rushed towards him.

*THUD*

And finally, they hugged him together with Emily.

"Welcome back...my son!" Adam spoke while he cried.

"Welcome back....Ray!" Sheila spoke the same while she cried as well.

Seeing them cried for him, Rei closed his eyes and smiled.

Savoring this moment together with them. Although, his body is starting to hurt from their hugs.

But that doesn't matter...

'Because....we are home now.'

To be continued...