6 The Awakening of Dark Energy

'I feel light, so I am dead,' I thought as I opened my eyes. I saw the darkness that enveloped my surroundings; it looked like some kind of hell. I got up and dusted off my clothes, taking a look around me.

"Welcome!" I heard a voice from behind me. When I turned around, I saw a child who amazed me because he looked exactly like my new body. He was real Asher Blackthorn. Asher smiled at me and said, "I have been waiting for you. You took your time." Although he was smiling, his voice and eyes were filled with malice. I could understand his feelings; after all, I had taken his life and made it my own.

"Sorry, I didn't do this on purpose," I said with a calm and innocent face, but my voice was filled with guilt and regret that made the boy taken aback with my apologetic remark. He said, "Well, whatever. Even I know that you didn't do that on purpose; I saw you cry like a child!" while shrugging his shoulders and with a smirk.

"What? How did you see that?" I said, fearing that I would lose my manliness image in front of a child.

"Well, I see everything you do from that accident onward. I was thrown here with that dark energy," he said, pointing towards the large cluster of dark energy and the surrounding.

I looked and observed my surroundings, concluding that he was right; all the darkness was some type of energy. It was so large that it would cover the entire area, and I was unable to see the end of it.

"There is no way out," he said, walking towards me. I also took a step forward.

"What should we do?" I asked him. He had been here for a long time, so he knew better about the situation.

"How can I know? I was just watching your weird actions for a time pass, but now even I don't know what we should do," he said, stopping in front of me.

I lowered my head to see him, as I was in my previous world's body, so I was taller than him. I sat on the ground, and he did the same, sitting beside me.

"What you will do? I can tell you that my ability is not strong enough" he said, looking at me with a neutral face. I think he just wanted to pass his time, which is why he brought that topic.

"You don't want your body back?" I asked him, curious about what he thought about me taking over his body.

"Nah, I was sad at first, but when I learned that my ability is a low-level defense type, I think it's better to stay here. You know how they treat weak people," he said, lowering his head. I could understand his feelings; for the last two months, I had the same thought every time I saw my attack power. My defense was also low-level, invincible against elemental power, but I couldn't do a thing against any physical attack. Even a bullet could kill me. I also lowered my head.

"Well, you are right, but don't you have any goals or anything you want to achieve?" I asked him, trying to change this depressing topic.

"Well, I never thought about those things, but I want to make my mother proud," he said with a faint smile. We both knew that with this power, we couldn't achieve our objectives.

"I don't have any good memories of your mother," I said with a heavy heart.

"You don't have all of my memories, but my mother is a good woman," Asher replied weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "She wanted to show me love, but my father believed that care made a child weak."

I couldn't hold back my anger. "Your father is a bastard," I spat. "How could he deprive his own child from love?"

Asher's response was unexpected. "Many people have to sacrifice things to save humanity from demons and gods. We must be willing to make sacrifices. I hate my father, but I also respect him."

His words gave me pause, and I pondered the concept of sacrifice. In my old world, many soldiers had to leave their families to protect their countries. Were they cruel to their loved ones? Yes, but they were not bad people.

Suddenly, the darkness around us began to move, and I was alarmed. "What is happening?" I asked, my heart racing.

"I have some assumptions," Asher said, his gaze fixed on the moving dark energy.

"What assumptions?" I pressed him, my anxiety growing by the second.

"I think we are about to merge and revive again," he explained calmly. But his words made me turn white as a ghost. Was I about to die?

Asher seemed to read my thoughts. "Don't worry, we will merge. But since you are older and have more experience and emotions than me, you won't lose yourself."

I looked at him with a sad expression. "Are you going to die?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He smiled faintly. "I don't know what will happen to me, but don't worry about me. I don't like that world anyway."

The dark energy engulfed us, and the last thing I heard from Asher was "Nice meeting you." I wanted to express my gratitude and apologize for taking his life, but the darkness overtook me, and I lost consciousness.

***

As I gradually opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by the debris of a once flourishing training hall. The place was now nothing but a desolate wasteland, as if a powerful storm had swept through, leaving behind only destruction in its wake. I couldn't believe what I was seeing; Asher's predictions had been correct. Despite the sudden rush of his memories flooding my mind, my own emotions had taken control, and I didn't feel any particular attachment to those who were dear to Asher. However, I was determined to fulfil his final wish and make his mother proud.

Slowly, I rose from the ground, brushing off the dirt and dust from my clothes, and observed the state of the training hall. What I saw made my eyes widen with shock and amazement. The thick walls that were once capable of withstanding an attack from a level 5 ability user, now lay in ruins, cracked into countless pieces. The gun that had been the focus of my attention earlier, was nowhere to be seen. I couldn't comprehend what had happened, but it was clear that my powers had played a significant role in the destruction of the training hall.

Feeling exhausted and drained, I headed towards my room, not caring about the wreckage I had caused or the strength of my abilities. For now, all that mattered to me was a peaceful sleep and a chance to rest. As I entered my room, I collapsed onto the bed, closing my eyes and surrendering myself to the embrace of a deep slumber.

...

As my eyes opened, a newfound determination filled me. I realized that I had to comprehend the power that I had displayed when facing that beam, and I had to understand my own abilities if I wanted to become stronger. It was as if a fire had been lit inside me, a spark that had been dormant until now.

With this realization, a sense of hope blossomed within me. Perhaps, if I could harness this power and master my abilities, I could go back home. The mere thought of it was exhilarating.