THE MEANING OF STEEL-HEARTS

By the time his body stopped shaking, Ragnar's entire bed was drenched with his sweat and his body was pale in color. His eyes were drowsy as his eyelids fell and he went into sleep.

The pain he felt slowly drafted away and all that was left was blackness.

....

"Rachel." A kneeling Ragnar was holding a bloodied body in his hands. This was a woman who was extremely beautiful normally, but was covered from head to toe in blood. He was desperately trying to hold her wound so that blood doesn't flow out, but the red liquid was squishing through the gaps within his fingers and spreading all around. Tears could be seen dripping off his eyes as he desperately tried to keep her alive.

"No need to cry. Both of us knew what we were getting into when he decided to enter the crack and eliminate the demons. We worked to keep our world safe and pledged to do whatever it takes for it to happen. This is just one of the outcomes of that. Crying isn't necessary." The woman smiled at Ragnar, while her blood dyed teeth and tongue were visible to him.

"I can't lose you as well." Ragnar said to her. " Just hold on, I will get us out of here immediately."

Hw was about to life her in his arms and carry her back to earth through the crack, when she grabbed his hands and pulled it downwards.

"You cannot abandon this mission now. Our entire civilization has put its hopes on our shoulders when then preapred to battle with us and support us. Some decided to break the oath, but a majority of them still supported and died beside us."

"If you leave now, think about the innocenta back home who would die due to the demons. We cannot let thay happen. You need to walk this path alone. That is the burden you are granted with by fate. I tried my best to support you, but I couldn't walk beside you my longer than this."

Tears flowed from her eyes as well as his as they grabbed each other tightly.

"Ragnar Grimes, you name symbolises hope for our entire species. They look at your image and feel safe. It is your duty to make their beliefs come true. You are like a protector god for them, and a god cannot let go of his duty because of another person or a reason like this."

Rachel raised her hand and a bright light condensed into it. She then waved it and pushed the ball into Ragnar's body.

"This is the last thing I could do for you. I am sorry, I couldn't follow you any longer." The woman's eyes lost their colour as her hand fell on the ground.

"Rachel." Ragnar Grimes screamed at the top of his lungs.

The scene changed.

.....

Ragnar's eyes opened up and he was sleeping in his bed. He was in the middle of a sweat filled bedsheet which also carried stark hints of blood splattered in many places.

He opened up the tab and his stat board was displayed.

"Ragnar Avalon(Ragnar Grime/Avalon( past))

Level:6

Strength: 33

Endurance: 26

Agility: 25

Mana: 56

Intelligence: 16( 1000(locked/ancient/past memories)

Wisdom: ??

Ability: Body strengthening (D-rank)

Self-Heal(F-rank)

Sword Arts(E-rank)

Troll One-Body Martial Arts(D-rank)

???

?????????

(closed slots)

Skills:

Steel-Heart Sword Style

Flash Sword Style

Ranger Heavy-Sword Art

Sand-Swift-Sword Art

Hundred Wave Art

+5

Bloodline:

Troll (Intermidiate-level awakening)

Elf(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Dragon (Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Flame Fairy(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Aqua Fairy(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Wind Fairy(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Rock Fairy(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Metal Fairy(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Illusion Fairy( Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Druid(Dormant, mid-level conc.)

Human Weapon Bloodline(Dormant,High-level conc.)

Giant Bloodline(Dormant, Mid-level conc.)

Flame-steel Dwarf Bloodline(Dormant, Mid-level conc.)

Demon Blood(Dormant, Low-level conc.)

Angel Blood(Dormant, Low-level conc.)

Ancient Beast Bloodline (unidentified, multiple traces, low-level conc.)"

The last procedure was dangerous but he managed to rise through two levels at the same time while his strength, endurance, agility and especially mana grew to a whole new level.

Another interesting occurence was the upgrade of body strengthening skill to D-rank while his Troll's Martial Arts increased to D-rank as well. He also recieved another skill called self-healing. Although it was low level at the moment, by the time he manages to take it to B-rank and higher, the miracle will start to happen. Even his awakening got enhanced to Intermidiate level which meant that his blood purity improved somehow.

Ragnar was excited when he saw this. If his blood purity had improved and his strength did so too, he could now use many things he was previously unable to do so. He wanted to try them out immediately and tried to fill his mana reserve by using Troll's Breathing Method, when he felt a soul stirring pain throughout his body.

"It seems my body still hasn't recovered from the shock. I need to rest for now or else it would be counter productive."

The last mana excavation was forced and hence Ragnar decided to stop mana breathing exercise or using mana at all. He decided to improve his physical stats. He got up from his bed and walked down. It was already Night time and he expected evryone to be finished with their dinner and resting. He wanted to sneak out and practice his sword.

Fortunately, there was no one downstairs and he managed to senak out. Or so he thought since as soon as he got out, another figure followed from the shadows.

Ragnar began to run towards his secret training spot where he has hidden his equipment. As soon as he got there, he grabbed the sword and begun the training. The arts began to flow out one after another and he tried his best to refine his posture as much as he can. He was consistent with the force he applied, and forced his body to follow

a certain path.

Once done, he followed with the next sword art and then the other and then the other. After around three hours, his body gave up. The after effects of the forced excavation were mainly present in his energy channels but his body had suffered somewhat as well. Those hidden wounds were yet to heal up.

....

"Where did he learn these arts from?" A figure was standing in one of the corners watching Ragnar move around while holding the sword. After watching him for some more time, they retreated and vanished form sight.

Ragnar rested for a bit and then repeated another cycle of training for three hours before the dawn approached and he had to rush home to get ready for the academy.