Chapter 116: A New Me

"Zieglind... You've done it. You have actually done it. I thought it would take you a few more years but this whole island... It has all been absorbed by you." Herold was amazed on how fast I absorbed everything in this island.

"I feel like I've grown strong. I've inherited those two people's powers."

"You absorbed the greatest swordsman and the greatest magician's skills and techniques. You're stronger than ever."

"Yeah. Anyway, how long has it been it felt like I've watched a summary of their lives?" I asked.

"Two years."

"Two years... But the mana and memories I absorbed in this island... I wonder if it would really help. I thought when you said training I would do some heavy lifting or practice swordfighting."

"Then, do you want to try?"

"Are you kidding me? You're level is absurd."

"Come on. Don't you want to see your progress?"

"You have a point. Fine. Since you asked... Domain of the Bloodfallen. Location, Abyss!"

The world around us changed and we were both teleported in an unending darkness that looked like it stretched for eternity.

There's no floor but it feels like we're standing on something.

"That's a cheap trick. Analyze."

"What are yo-"

"Dispel!"

"Magic Invulnerability!"

"An anti-dispel skill."

"This skill isn't mine..."

"It's from the memories you absorbed. With enough knowledge on a skill, anyone can get it. It's the same principle with scrolls. You can imprint a spell there even if the scroll isn't anything special."

"Also, did you just learn how to dispel my domain? This is a unique skill I got."

"It's my specialty. I'm not a mage."

"What does that even mean?"

"Come Burnbright." Two swords appeared from his hand. "I'm an Anti-mage."

"You're getting serious. Then I'll do the same. Armor of the Bloodfallen. Come, Bloodlust."

"I'm coming!" Herold rushed at me with his twin blades.

"Heavenly Guard!" Another skill I inherited from the memories I've absorbed. It's a stronger barrier that surrounds my body and I can control it freely. "I still need some preparations."

Herold struck the barrier but no scratches were made. "It's a tough barrier."

"Just sit and wait. Auto-Heal, Auto-Repair, Lightning Body, Rage, Blood Rampage, Corr-" Before I could finish casting all the buffs, Herold broke my barrier and ran straight at me. "Teleport!" I backed away. "You couldn't even leave a scratch on it earlier..."

"You see, skills are made of mana. That's why skills have a cost. But if I can drain enough mana from your skills, they'll be easy to destroy. Just like this." Herold instantly got infront of me and a slight tap of his sword on my armor, everything I have on suddenly disappeared. My buffs, armor and weapon.

"WHAT!?"

"This are my swords Brightburn. It drains mana everytime I hit something."

"So that's why you call yourself an anti mage."

"First of all, can you heal yourself? Your whole body is filled with holes because of that armor you're using."

"Ah yeah. Heal, Great Heal, Cure Wounds."

"Do you want to continue? I still haven't seen you use that two things."

"I don't know how to control it yet. I can speak to it but I don't know how to use it yet."

"Then I'll be your guinea pig."

"Fine. Let's do this. Balor's Eye... OPEN!" I could feel my right eye change.

"So who is it that dared to wake me in my eternal sleep?" A voice was heard in the back of my head.

"It's me." I replied.

"You reek of human blood and a mix of demon. A hybrid? What a disgusting state."

"You can say what you want but I need you to lend me your power."

"Thousands of species asked me the same thing. Can you handle the power and curse that resides if you accept me?"

"I have known the dangers when I took you in me. Give me your power."

"Why do you even want it? Give me a reason and I'll think about it."

"I'll end the cycle of this world. Everything is getting reset every hundreds of years. Their memories, the pain and everything that was felt in the wars that took place here."

"And how will you do that with my eye?"

"Absolute power. I plan to go against the most powerful beings. I'm no hero. But I finally found my purpose and calling. In my previous world, I'm nothing. Here, I'm something."

"Who are these beings you're going against?"

"Gods. I'll end their reign."

"GODS!? Haha... HAHAHA! INTERESTING! Very much so hybrid! HAHAHA. A human trying to go against their creator. This is amazing. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. FINE! I ACCEPT! I accept. Then my enemies shall be your enemies and your enemies shall be my enemies. I grant you my Eye of Destruction. Go. Let me see how far you can go human. Say these words with me..."

"SCRIOS!" We both said the same thing and a bright shine of light emitted from my right eye and disappeared. "Herold, it's activated I think."

But he didn't reply. I tapped on his shoulders and punched him to his shoulder but he doesn't move.

He dropped his weapons and it disappeared.

"What's going on?" I was confused. Then I suddenly remember the name Balor. "I knew it was familiar but this name... It's from the Irish mythology. Balor the tyrant demon."

He was cursed with the Eye of Destruction. The eye that brings bad luck, hallucinations and death to those who see it.

So he was struck by the eye. I need to hide this somehow.

I tear my clothes and grabbed the piece of cloth and wrapped it around my right eye. I don't know how to deactivate it so this might be the only solution I have.

I'm just wishing that this doesn't pierce through fabric because it'll be troublesome.

This power is dangerous to be left alone.

"Now what to do with you..." Herold was still stuck in the hallucination. "Skill List." I took a look at every skill I have and it seems like I inherited a lot from absorbing the mana and memories.

I'm amazed by the spells I got. It's a lot. These skills will help me in the future.

After searching for a while, I found a skill that can help me with the situation.

[Cleanse, cures all negative buffs. (Poison, Slow, Mind Control, Stun etc.) This skill can only be used once per day.]

"Cleanse."

Herold snapped out of it and fell to the ground. "Wha... What's happening."

"You're back."

"Zieglind? I... I'm so confused... It feels like it's been a year since I last met you."

"What did you see there?"

"There?"

"You were in a hallucination. It's the power of the eye I got."

"I... I see. No...nevermind that." He had a sad look on his face. "Just some old memories I thought I have forgotten. No... Tried to forget."

I'm guessing he saw his old friends and wife there.

"I see."

"I'm trying to get ahold of myself for now. Just let me take in everything for a while. Let's talk tomorrow."

After we got some rest, tomorrow arrived and we were about to talk about what he had in mind.

"So what now?" I asked.

"You go and have your own adventure. But I have one condition."

"Name it. You've helped me a lot."

"When the time arises when you... No... When we need to face our goals, you must come no matter what."

"Even though I don't know where to go from here, I'll respond as fast as possible. We'll end the cycle of battle royale in this world."

"That's all. I want you to get far more stronger Zieglind. We're strong but not strong enough."

"Mhm."

"I'll go find some helpers on my own. The Holy War will start someday. Let's prepare for the worst."

"Got it."

"On to other news, I've had my men track down your group of knights."

"Oh. What's the news?"

"It seems that most of them are spotted at the Itz kingdom."

"It seems that I found where to go. I'll go meet up with them."

"Hmm... Wait. There's one more request I need actually."

"What is it?"

"Aren't you curious?"

"About what."

"Their strength."

"I am. I know they've been doing some training on their own."

"Then try them."

"Try them how?"

"Well I've got this idea in my mind though I don't know if you'll accept it."

"Don't tell me..."

"Try to fight them as an unknown figure. They'll go all out on you."

"I knew it."

"It's a little prank."

"I can do it. I'm raring to fight anything anyways. It's been two years of me watching a two year documentary about some swordsman and mage's lives."

"So it's decided then."

"I'll show them my two year growth. I won't fail them again."

"Then let's go."

"Let's go to where it all started. Where I met all of them. I'm going back to Itz."