THE NEW LEGEND
Rex continually fell in the endless white space, falling down and getting farther from Adrienne as the goddess smiles at him while he tries to look for something he could hold on to. He closed his eyes and when he opened it, he returned in the real world.
The Tikbalang's attack was about to hit him.
Boom!
A loud noise echoed inside the abandoned building as the monster's attack landed. Dust flew everywhere because of the impact. It created a smoke screen around the area and when the dust subsided, the monster was surprised, Rex was not there.
The monster turned to his back and saw a man materializing from the shadows. Its eyes were glowing white with an eerie aura of black. It was Rex.
His clothes were torn apart with a body full of wounds. Some of his ribs broke. His legs are broken too. Blood dripping from his lip, nose, arms, and even his head. He is injured yet it seems he doesn't feel any pain.
A pitch black blade materialized in Rex's hand. It is the dagger that Adrienne gave to him. Once Rex gripped the dagger's handle, his black aura became intense. For the first time, the monster got intimidated. The monster felt the surge of power coming from Rex. It gets furious. It felt challenged.
Rex tightened his grip on the dagger. The tikbalang look at Rex with intensity. Smoke coming out of its nose. They are observing who's gonna take action first until...
The monster made his first move. It growls loudly. It sprinted towards Rex, it is about to launch its attack.
Aaaaaa!
Rex shouted as the monster gets close to him. He lunges to the monster as if to meet its attack. Then in a split second Rex duck his head and then swung his dagger right at the abdomen of the monster before he passed from his enemy.
The monster scream in pain. It growls so loud that the building shook like it is crumbling. The wounded Tikbalang turn to Rex but in a mere second Rex is already at its face ready to attack.
Rex lunged his dagger to stab the Tikbalang but the monster is also swift. It blocked Rex's attempt by parrying his hand making Rex drop his dagger. The monster caught Rex to his neck and choke him. As the monster was about to bite his shoulder Rex move his hand and release a haymaker punch right below its chin.
Rex's punch make the monster fell down to the ground and released him from choking. Rex jumped over the monster's body and started punching it with reckless abandon. The fight turned into brutal a torture of a beast from a berserk fight maniac as Rex continued his barrage of punches to the laying Tikbalang and with a powerful grip. Rex held the monster's mouth forcing to tear its jaw apart.
"Die you monster!"
Rex shouted as he put all his energy to his hands and with one strong effort the the Tikbalang's jaw broke killing it in the process.
Rex stared at the lying corpse of the monster as the black aura dissipated from his body. The dagger also disappeared as if it is evaporating. With the release of his aura, Rex suddenly felt the excruciating pain all over his body. He coughed out blood. The pain is too much for him to handle so he collapsed beside the dead monster. His eyes gets blurry and in the final moments he saw Jed with a woman wearing a red knight armor running towards him.
"Rex! Rex!" Jed shouted while running towards his fallen friend.
As Rex closed his eyes he said "Bastard" then everything turns black.
Rex woke up looking at a white ceiling. He saw some small hose connected to his hand and the dextrose hooked on the stand. He is in the hospital. He get up and sat down. His body was full of bandages. He started to move but he didn't feel any pain. The the door opens, a nurse entered the room. They locked eyes then suddenly the nurse shouted "Doc!" then it ran out of the room.
Next the doctor is checking Rex's vital signs. The doctor uses a stethoscope on Rex's chest to check his heartbeat.
"Everything's normal Mr. Morte. It seems that you take care of your body really well. You are almost fully healed."
"How long did I was admitted here doc?" Rex asked
"You were sleeping for five days. You were severely injured when you're brought here. You have broken bones everywhere but now, it looks like you are fully healed. You were the fastest to heal considering how bad you're condition are when you arrived here"
Rex fell silent. He is in his deep thought "I remember fainting from my injury? How come? How did I heal this fast?"
"Anyway Mr. Morte, we will run some test for you before we decided to discharge you from this hospital. For the meantime you just rest"
"Thank you doc" Rex answered. The doctor just smiled and then gave his notes to the nurse and turned around to exit the room. When the doctor opened the door two unfamiliar faces came in.
One of the people came inside the room was a male wearing a black suit and tie. He looks so formal as if he is an office worker from a large company. The other one is a female with long blonde hair. She wears a small metal hair clip on her head with a dragon design, also, she was wearing a black suit, sunglasses, and a face mask to hide her face.
The male offered his hand to Rex to shake "Good morning Mr. Morte, I am Hubert Ang from the Myth Slayer Association. I think you already know why were here. We would like to interview you about the incident that happened in District 8 Binondo where you were found beside the body of a dead Tikbalang" The man on the black suit said to Rex. "Together with me is Alessia, she is the one who rescued you." The man pointed the woman at the back.
"Alessia? The top Awakened in Fortress Manila?" Rex questioned in surprise.
Hubert answered "Yes, Alessia Coronica, the only S-ranked Awakened in Fortress Manila and the whole Philippine Island"
"Thank you for saving me Miss Alessia" Rex bow his head to the S-ranked slayer. Alessia never spoke she just waved her hand to Rex looking like she was embarrassed with the sudden gesture. She steps back and hide behind Hubert. Hubert just chuckle with Alessia's action. "Mr. Morte, we would like to know what happened in the abandoned storage depot and how you defeated a ranked B monster"
"Ranked B? I never knew it was ranked that high" Rex thought to himself.
"Well, it started into something like this..." Rex started to talk about what happened during the night they scavenge district 8.
"...and then everything turned black" Rex after he finished telling them the story.
"So you mean that you received a blessing from an unknown God?" Hubert asked Rex with a suspicious tone. "Miss Alessia?" Alessia stepped forward holding a small rectangle gadget.
"The hospital told us that they never saw an insignia on your body which is usually serve as a sign of a person receiving a blessing. So we are wondering how you got the power to kill a beast like Tikbalang. This gadget that Miss Alessia hold will measure the power you have and could identify if you are to become a Myth Slayer. Please put out your finger" Hubert instructed Rex as he pick up the small clamps from the small rectangular gadget to be attached to Rex's finger.
Rex put out his index finger then Hubert clamp some wires on it. The gadget whirred for several seconds and then stopped then beeped.
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Name: Rex Morte
Power: 5
Mana: 1
Overall Power Rating: 3.5
Rank: Cannot be ranked due to low OPR
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Rex saw the result the from the gadget. He felt disappointed. He thought that he already gain power after he met Adrienne, but it is not. He still belongs to the common folks. He still belongs to the commoners who will wander around Fortress Manila only to earn something in whatever way possible. He still one of the unblessed.
Alessia and Hubert look at each other. The result is clear. Rex is not awakened, but it doesn't makes sense. If Rex is telling the truth, how did the gadget never detect any power coming from a blessing from him. If Rex is lying, how did Rex killed a mythical beast alone?
Hubert clears his throat. "It seems we misunderstood your situation Mr. Morte. We are very sorry for disturbing you. We hope for your fast recovery, good day."
Hubert and Alessia bow their heads and turned around and walk out the door. Rex looks at them as they close it.
"Why? Where did my power go?" Rex is also wondering what is happening. He just look outside the window. He needs to talk with Adrienne, but how?
Outside the hospital, "Does Mr. Morte did it accidentally? Did he just get lucky? This doesn't makes any sense." curious and wondering, Hubert entered the car and before following Hubert. Alessia look back at the hospital looking at the room where Rex is confined. She also thinks. Everything does not makes any sense at all.
Two days passed and Rex is fully healed, all he waits is the discharge approval of the doctor. He is already ready to go. He's been stretching and exercising inside his room and he feels like every minute he is getting stronger.
Rex just finished his exercise routine when someone knocked on his door. "Come in". Rex is trying to get dressed when suddenly he heard a familiar whistle.
"Yoohoo"
Rex recognized the whistle sound so without any words he rushed to the person at the door with only one purpose, to hit that person standing at the door.
"Hey! Hey! Rex...it's...me..me Jed!"
"I know you bastard! You left me behind there!" Rex speaks to Jed full of anger.
"I didn't left you. I ran! I escaped! I never knew you would fight that monster!"
"It's the same you ass!" Rex pulled Jed up. He was about to hit him.
"Stop dude! Stop! I ran and went back. I brought Alessia that time! And also you are supposed to run and not fight that Tikbalang!"
Rex just grunt and then put Jed down. He turn his back "And why are you here?"
Jed pulled his crumpled shirt in place "Yo, I'm here to visit you and tell you sorry"
"I never thought you would fight that monster. We are unblessed we are not meant to fight such monstrosity"
"I have no choice" Rex replied. Jed's face turn from surprised to empathic quickly. He remembered how badly Rex was injured that night.
"I'm very sorry bro" Jed said.
"Don't talk about it" Rex answered with annoyed voice.
"But do you know what? Everybody is talking about you? An unblessed guy killed a notorious Tikbalang. You are slowly becoming a star!" Jed remarked happily.
Jed sat down on the hospital and ask Rex "Also people are also saying that it was a fluke. Many talked about you being the newly awakened until the news came out of you having low power rating" Jed looking at Rex while the latter is just looking outside. "Man, how did you do it?"
"I met a god. An unknown god." Rex clenched his fist. "But I don't know. The rating said that I am unblessed." Rex look towards the window and look at the sky. "Maybe I'll find out soon."
Jed stands up "Well, as long as you are alive." Jed tapped Rex's shoulder. "Anyway, good luck going back home dude" Jed walks out of the room. Rex followed Jed walking out then look at the sky again, and speak to himself "Adrienne"
Later that day. Rex was discharged of the hospital and went home. Rex slowly opened the door of their small decrepit apartment. "Hello?"
As he stands at the door, Ria rushes to him crying and hitting him on the chest "Idiot! Idiot! Idiot"
Rex hugged Ria "Sorry"
Ria calmed down and hugged Rex back. "I thought you would leave me alone. I thought you will never come back" Tears fell down on Ria's cheek.
"But I return, didn't I?" Rex giggling
Suddenly Ria's hand moved swiftly to Rex's ear and then pinched and pulled it "Yeah! You returned but at what cost? I almost die of heart attack you moron!"
"Aw! Aw! Aw! Ria stop! Sorry!" Rex asking Ria
"Hmpf! I told you before!" Ria exclaimed as she crossed her hands with an annoyed face. Rex was holding his ear who felt the wrath of his sister's anger. "Anyway welcome home, brother" Ria's face turned from being annoyed to a happy face with small tears at the side of her eyes and a wide smile as she looked at his brother returning in one shape. All Rex can reply is a smile. Happy being with his sister again.
Later that night. Rex lay down on a makeshift bed. Looking at the ceiling, he wonder what happened to him? Where his power gone.? He knew that he received it, the blessing. But why? He was about to close his eyes to sleep when suddenly a small monitor prompt pop out in front of him.
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System Analyzing
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He was surprised, he blinked then suddenly the monitor changed its message.
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Name: Rex Morte (Lvl. 0)
Affiliation: Adrienne (The Forgotten)
Primary Blessing: The Power of Story
Secondary Blessing: Darkness, Shadow
Class: Assassin Job: Story maker (Special)
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Another message appeared. . .
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Welcome! Hero of a New Legend
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