Chapter 13: Not bad
Ini slowly opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. This wasn't the medical bay at the Association; it was something far more advanced. He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him.
A figure walked into the room, checking the readings on the machines beeping around Ini. He looked up to see a pair of piercing blue eyes staring back at him.
"Oh, you're awake," the stranger said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You recovered faster than I expected."
Ini tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse. The stranger gave him a quick recap, explaining that Ini had taken an enormous amount of venom and had miraculously come back to life.
Ini's memories came flooding back, and he tried to sit up again, this time more urgently. "Is she okay?" he asked, thinking of Temi.
The stranger, Tosak, raised an eyebrow. "So, you basically committed suicide for a female. What's with this race?" He said it calmly, but Ini sensed a hint of curiosity.
Ini's eyes narrowed. "You're an alien."
Tosak chuckled. "Well, if you put it like that, I guess yeah."
Ini's hand shot up, and a blast of fire erupted from his fingers, aimed straight at Tosak. But instead of hitting him, the flames seemed to collect in front of him, as if blocked by an invisible wall.
Tosak smiled. "Impressive. You can use your powers, even though the venom is meant to corrupt your magic first. But you're special, I guess."
Ini tried again, this time shooting an invisible wave that pushed Tosak back a little. Tosak's smile grew wider.
"I'm sure you didn't have that before. Who knows what you've awakened?" Tosak said, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"It's called Ko'ak'sah on Kyran," Tosak explained. "A form of reawakening that happens when an individual goes through a series of events. At first, I thought you just had a special cell structure that reacts differently to the venom, but it's more than that."
Tosak leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "The venom is meant to be stagnant, but when I checked the venom extracted from your body, it had lost 99% of its poisonous properties."
Ini's eyes widened. "What are you saying?"
Tosak chuckled. "You're one of the first generation magic users on your world. The magic in you isn't stable yet, allowing things like leveling up and reawakening to happen."
Ini's mind reeled. "Meaning I've gotten some other abilities."
Tosak nodded. "Although yours don't complement each other. I mean, fire awakens heat-related powers, like magma or solar power. But you have something close to mind or space manipulation."
Ini shook his head, trying to process everything. "So, what now?"
Tosak grinned. "I'll do you a favor and help you get accustomed to your powers. Maybe you'll become the most powerful person in this world."
Ini raised an eyebrow. "You seem confident that you're the strongest in this world."
Tosak laughed. "Even your S-Ranks are beneath my feet."
Ini's eyes narrowed. "S-Ranks?"
Tosak's smile grew wider. "Oh, things changed while you were asleep. Get up, and follow me. You'll catch up as well. Time to train."
Tosak led Ini into a room that seemed ordinary at first, but with a few clicks of a button, the scenery transformed into a vast grassland that stretched as far as the eye could see. Ini's eyes widened in awe.
Tosak grinned mischievously. "Attack me with all your might, Ini."
Ini took a deep breath, raised his hands, and unleashed a massive blast of fire at Tosak. The flames gathered in front of Tosak, but instead of engulfing him, they seemed to be held back by an invisible force.
Tosak nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Your fire powers are advancing gradually, but that's not what I want to see. Summon that new power within you, Ini. Just like how you summon your fire."
Ini closed his eyes, focusing on the strange sensation within him. He tried to locate the source of his new power, and suddenly, his eyes snapped open, glowing bright blue.
Tosak's playful expression faltered, and for a moment, he seemed to be struggling to stand. But with a simple move, Tosak snapped Ini back to reality.
Tosak smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That was good, Ini. I felt slightly threatened by you. I'm sure you're an S-Rank by your world's standards already."
Ini's eyes narrowed. "S-Rank?"
Tosak nodded. "While you were napping, your world had kept evolving. S-Ranks have either been awakened or A-Ranks have leveled up. It means your world is evolving smoothly."
Ini's mind reeled. "So, I'm one of the strongest in the world?"
Tosak's smile grew wider. "With the presence I felt from you now, compared to the ones I'm sensing in the world... yes, you might be the strongest. But you need to own your skills. That's what I'll help you do."
Ini's eyes locked onto Tosak's. "Why are you helping me?"
Tosak's expression turned serious. "I've been on Earth for a while now, searching high and low for those who might be stronger than me. But I couldn't find anyone. I mean, this is a newly awakened world, so that's what I should expect."
Tosak's eyes gleamed with intensity. "I changed tactics, searching for people with potential. I did find some, but it wasn't enough. Even the S-Ranks. But then I saw you in the sickbay, defying logic. You're getting stronger, and it's made me happier than you can imagine."
Tosak's expression turned grave. "War is coming, and if we're to survive, we have to be on the same side and work together. So, I'm helping you because I can't do it alone, and it's tied to my survival. You were asleep for five years ten months, you have spent almost six years of your life sleeping because of a woman who....."
Ini notices the sudden cut in the sentence and ask " what happened?"
Tosak ignoring the question, threw a sword with a swift motion at Ini. "From today, I'll be your teacher. I'll push you to the limit, so get ready!" Tosak charged at Ini, smiling as Ini repelled some of his attacks. "Not bad," Tosak said, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as he continued to attack Ini.