AWAKENING

In the bustling market, I lay motionless, a specter in the eyes of the crowd, presumed lifeless. But then, with a surge of energy, I unleashed a blazing fire aura that left onlookers frozen in awe. Their gazes pierced through the haze of disbelief, questioning the source of my new found power. As if conjured by some mystical force, my appearance transformed—fiery red hair cascaded around me, and my orange eyes shimmered like embers. The fire mark on my right hand pulsed with a radiant glow, a beacon of the extraordinary.

I stood tall, power coursing through me like a raging river my body full recovered; Is this my power? I wondered, my voice steady, calm, yet laced with unyielding determination. But deep within, a storm brewed—a relentless thirst for vengeance against the vampire who had taken my mother from me, right before my eyes.

Without a moment's of hesitation I leaped at him,my first crash down with unrelenting force.He raised his arms to block,but my strength overwhelmed him sending him hurtling backwards like a ragdoll.

"what the hell isn't he suppose to be dead?and how can a human possess such power,who is this kid?he muttered to himself,disbelief etched across his face"i'm sure I'd be dead if I hadn't guarded against that attack.The crowd watch in stunned silence their amazement mirrored even in the eyes of demonking himself.

The vampire,his pride unshakable refuse to accept defeat at the hands of what he deemed the weakest race.His crimson eyes burned with rage as he prepared to unleash his full power,his dark aura surging with urestrained malice .But I didn't give him the chance.

With a burst of speed,I closed the distance between us,my movement blur in the dim of light,my fist connected with his jaw in a devastating arc,the impact echoing like thunder,he staggered,then collapsed to the ground in a heap.

Before he could recover,I stood over him,my foot pressing firmly against his head,his struggles were weak,his pride shattered along with his body,I crushed his skull with deliberate force,the sound sickening yet satisfying,black blood oozed onto the ground,the once mighty vampire reduced to nothing more than a broken,lifeless form beneath me"This us what you get for killing my mother and treating humans like nothing"i coldly removing my foot from the shattered remains of his skull.my chest heaved as I tried to steady myself,but my vision blurred,a wave of exhaustion threatened to pull me down,my body screamed for rest.

"It's my first time wielding this power," I muttered under my breath, feeling the strain ripple through every fiber of my being. My body wasn't accustomed to it—each movement felt like dragging a weight too heavy to bear, every surge of energy threatening to tear me apart from within. Yet, despite the pain, I couldn't stop now.

Up above,seated on the castle grand balcony the demonking watched with a twisted smirk.His dark eyes burned with malice as he leaned forward.issuing his command as his voice echoed like thunder.

"Kill him" snarled,his tone laced with venom"he's too dangerous to leave alive".

Five demon troops closed in on me,their sword gleaming ready to deliver the death blow as the DemonKing barked his command,my body was on its limit,I couldn't move,I knew there was no escape.my end was inevitable.

But then it happened.before their blade could touch me thier heads were severed in an instant.one by one they fell lifeless

as their heads rolled across the blood soaked ground,I stood frozen unable to comprehend what just occurred.

What happened I questioned myself,breath shallow.

"I'm sorry I am late"a calm familiar voice echoed through the chaos.

I turned slowly my strength faltering,and there he was.Merlin.His presence was undeniable his gaze piecing filled with knowing.

Relived swept over me as the last of my energy ebbed away,my knees buckled,and I fell only to be caught by his outstretched arm.

Impossible how comes you are here"The demon roared his voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief.

Merlin's gaze locked onto the Demon King, his eyes alight with both defiance and power. Slowly, he raised his staff, its surface etched with glowing runes that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.

"This is your warning," Merlin said, his voice steady and commanding. "The tides are turning."

He slammed the staff into the ground with a resounding crack. The earth beneath us shuddered violently as waves of radiant energy erupted from the point of impact, swallowing the battlefield in a blinding light.

I found myself lying on the cool stone floor of a dimly lit cave.

The power within me was gone, replaced by a deep exhaustion that left my body feeling like dead weight. I tried to move, but even lifting a finger felt impossible.

"Rest, Leo," Merlin's voice echoed softly from somewhere nearby. I turned my head slightly and saw him standing near the cave entrance, his staff planted firmly on the ground. The glow of the runes on his staff had dimmed, but his eyes remained sharp and watchful.

"I went pass my limit ," I muttered, my voice barely audible.

Merlin turned to look at me, his expression both stern and understanding. "You did what you had to do. The vampire is gone, and his reign of terror has ended. But the power you wield comes at a cost, Leo. You're not invincible. Overextending yourself like that could've killed you."

I closed my eyes, letting the cool air of the cave soothe my burning lungs. "I didn't have a choice. If I held back, he would've killed us both."

Merlin approached and crouched beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "And you succeeded. But now you must learn to balance your power. Fire is a gift, but it's also a burden. You can't burn yourself out every time you fight. That's why we train."

I opened my eyes again, meeting his gaze. "Train? After this? I can barely move."

Merlin chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the quiet cave. "Not now, obviously. First, you need to recover. Sleep, Leo. Your body and mind need it."

Reluctantly, I allowed my body to relax, the exhaustion dragging me deeper into its grasp. As I drifted off, I could hear Merlin's voice, distant and calm.

"Rest well,My liege. Tomorrow, we take the next step."

END OF CHAPTER