1 Chapter 1: Head or Tails

Dust and sunlight shone down and pierced through the eyelids of Clyde Range who was sleepily standing up from below with hole in his clothes near his chest.

He felt nothing there but was abruptly awoken by a splitting headache. Clyde painfully murmur.

"Where am I? and didn't I die from that unfortunate beating? How could I still be alive?"

As the headache slowly go away, he felt a flood of memory gushing into him. From the past to present, all it gave was weird and strange memory.

Clyde understood that it is the memory he had reincarnated into. Strangely, by either fate or luck, the person he had reincarnated into is also called Clyde Range, their personality and the way he talk is also the same, minus the maturity part. His present body also died similarly but the way he died is strange that Clyde can't make head or tails how. The owner of the body died from an elbow on his chest. He was only a 12 years old but he died at such a tender age.

That explained how he got a wide hole in his clothes.

Clyde scanned his body and found nothing to be concerned of. He scanned his present body memory and found that he actually have two sweet parents waiting for him at home.

Exiting out of his thoughts he look at the worried shout, "Clyde! are you okay!? I didn't know that it was that strong!"

A boy let out a barrage of question to him which Clyde look at Klein weirdly questioning as to who he is. As Clyde immediately look at his memory again, he found that Klein Smith is his childhood friend since before they were 7 years old and secretly been practicing clumsy martial arts moves they have watched on that one fateful day where two looking immortals are fighting in the sky with powerful spells and punches that emits shockwaves upon contact. With fearful yet admiration look on their face, they unknowingly wanted to also become powerful one day. Klein and Clyde, run and excitedly look at each other and sent almost telepathy with the same goal to become the strongest.

Now here they are practicing martial arts without guidance secretly as their families don't have money to send them there.

Clyde thought that is was a lofty goal.

Hearing Klein shout again, he exited once again to his thoughts, "Sorry, sorry. I was just shocked for a moment. Anyway, how did you do that!? Look at my shirt, it got a wide hole. My Mother will definitely scold me for this..." Clyde said worriedly and remember this present body's mother.

"that... I do not know myself either... Let's go home first as we are sweaty now and practiced enough. I hope you do not get scold by your mother though."

He make fun Clyde of it, making the latter blush and nod.

Klein wearily stand up, walk his way to him and pat his shoulder and left.

He wiped his sweat and dust, walk toward his now new home. When one look at their house, it can give one sense of cosy and homely feeling. Though, almost everyone's house are the same, this one in particular just give this sense of belonging. Or maybe that is because this is the house of the owners body.

Musing and preparing himself of what is what to come, he opened the door. Finding and spotting his father and mother cooking together, he hug them both and cried.

Clyde have black hair, red round eyes and cute face that his parents cannot ignore. So when they felt him hug them, they shared a look worriedly and hug him back with a smile. Sensing their worried eyes, he sheepishly look up to them which turn his mother ask.

"Clyde, what happen? Did someone bully my cute son?"

Hearing his mother's soothing voice he wipe his tears and smile cutely, "There's none mom! I'm just happy to see you two, mom, dad."

The truth is, Clyde just look at his memory again and imitated what the original Clyde will do when he get home. And the other reason is, He really is happy since at Earth, he do not have parents either and is living at the orphanage. He and the other orphans were taken care of by a kind lady. She was sweet and very caring. But now that he finally have a parents and home to call to, the happy and smile he let out is genuine as well.

His mother, Claire Miller, is a beautiful woman in her 30s have black hair and black eyes. She look at him adorably until she saw his shirt with wide hole. His father, Arthur Range, who have blonde hair and red eyes also saw it and look at him questioningly.

Snapping out of his thought and about to hastily explain, he stopped. As Clair and Arthur are not really mad or angry, they just ruffle his hair and smile.

"You are practicing martials art with Klein, are you not?", His father shock him from the sudden question.

With visible fear and panic being shown in his face, he was about to respond honestly.

"You practice those moves with Klein every day on those secret forest you called, hahaha, we know son. Now that you are 12 years old, I think it's about time to talk about enrolling you. Besides, Comprehension and Mage test is about to open again in just 1 week from now. Son, we, your mother and me, wish you good luck and hope you get good result. It's out of the blue but later, I will give you something."

With even more shock from the news that what they were doing is not really secret and the sudden announcement from his father, Clyde was stupefied for a second as it is difficult take it at once.

"But honey--!", Interrupting Clair, Arthur added, "I know. but he will do it anyway. Let's just support our son."

Claire, with a sigh, look at Arthur and nod supportively at Clyde.

"Son, I-- We have hopes. but don't be dejected whatever your results will be, alright?"

"...Come home and we will always welcome you."

She smiled looking at Clyde and ruffles his hair.

"R-right! The food! Honey, come help me set the table. Son, change your clothes.", changing the topic as it is heavy, the food and plates have been served in the table.

They sat, eat, and talk.

His father after eating, get up and go to their small storage room to take out the box. He put the box and place it on top of Clyde's hand.

"Here, this box... contain some basic Martial arts technique and some books. I do not have Mage skill book or anything like that, since I was not a Martial Artist or Mage. This box actually is your Grandfather's stuff. Sad that we won't be able to talk him anymore but he gave me this inheritance. I call it inheritance even though it's just basic. Anyway, here. Hope it somehow helps you."

Martial arts technique!

we actually have some!

I can't believe it!

But this owner's memory said that such books are only found in sects or kingdom's academy? so how come?

Gasping from the contents of the box knowing it have some basic techniques, he ponder.

It is just basics so maybe it was allowed?

Tackling this problem later, he said with real smile, "Thank you father!", and clumsily running to his little room, he heard his parents chuckle.

Closing the door and he first analyze all the memories he have. His memories before he transmigrate were hazy and incomplete. All he remembered was how he died. Its all started when he tried to defend his partner, Hayley, from being killed. They were both agents from Mainland that was tasked to infiltrate and gather information about the ancient long standing sect. They succeeded and was even promoted to the inner sect, as they did a goodjob to infiltrate. And all that go down the hill when one mishap happened while Hayley was transmitting the information to the agency.

"Foxtrot 2, reporting. I found the information about the Sect Ma--"

"Who goes there? state your name, Disciple."

She was caught by an Elder of sect and confronted her. She lied something. Alas, the bluff didn't work and even the fight didn't even last as every Elder of the sect is stronger than each rank. It was badluck that who Hayley confronted was the 3rd Elder who was proficient in speed type combat where Hayley is also proficient in speed but inferior to the speed of the 3rd Elder.

Clyde, hearing the beep of 'help' transmission signal, quickly go to the scene where the 3rd Elder was about to end Hayley's life. Alas, He was a beat slower than the 3rd Elder's fast hand in which he penetrated Hayley's heart.

"No!!! Hayley! H-how dare you... I'll kill you! Damn this mission, damn this sect! I'll avenge Hayley by killing you!"

"Hmph. So you two were an agent to infiltrate this sect, huh. Spies and traitors are not condone here. More the reason my action is justified. Child, my eyebrow is older than you. You are severely underestimating this Ancient Sect of ours."

!!

Calming his composure was not the first thing that came to him as his face contorted to the most ugly face he had ever shown, as disbelief and rage consumed him as he saw Hayley's pain smiling face towards him as she lifelessly fall on the ground.

As rage and madness filling the thoughts of Clyde, he quickly close the gap between him and the 3rd Elder. He stances his left foot forward, right foot behind and gather all the power of his entirety body from foot to his fist.

"Dragon's Rage Strike"

Hail of winds burst forth as he punch his right arm toward the 3rd Elder who which beautifully avoided the strike. The punch was powerful and lethal strike that can claim a human life in one move, the drawback is it speed. It was futile but worth a try.

'This kid is not bad, it's unfortunate that he was born in the wrong side', 3rd Elder thought as he wipe his face with small cut on his cheek. He counterattacked with a basic sweep kick. Clyde fell down, grab sand and retaliated with it.

"Nice try, kid."

He kicked and punched Clyde as soon as he saw him get up groggily. Clyde finally using his peak state rage and madness, drew his dagger. He thrust, cut and slash repeatedly. It was fast and powerful but all of it are just but like a blind beast attacking.

He was worn out and tired in the end. Bloody from receiving a one sided beating. He at last consumed all his adrenaline and stamina. He thought, 'I regretted accepting this mission.', as he look at the enemy with bloodshot eyes.

Alas, what happened already happened. With his last breath and little stamina, he crawled and drag his bloody body forward to Hayley. He touched and grabbed Hayley's hand.

"Hayley... sorry...", Clyde said in his last breath.

The 3rd Elder saw all of it and shrugged. It was sad but it was to be done. while he was thinking so, a man in white and gold color robe entered the vast area of lifeless library except the three... one. Noticing, the 3rd Elder turned around.

"I greet the Sect Master. I..."

"Silence. I know all of it.", ordered by the 'Sect Master' as he inspect the 2 dead bodies.

"Bring me all their stuff and throw their corpse in the compound pit.", said before he instantly gone as if he was not there originally.

"Yes, Sect Master.", said in reverie and bowed.

...

A pang of bitterness hit Clyde as he remembered it. He was weak. He was not able to avenge... Hayley.

'I swear... I will someday revenge her death. I will ground the sect to oblivion.'

'oh Hayley... how I wish I can see you again...'

Shrugging and swallowing his anger and sadness, he look at the box and excitedly opened the box. The first thing he saw was a letter within a strange dusty book. Looking closer, he saw a golden hue gem on the middle of the book. caressing it, He open the letter and read it.

"Whoever you are, if you open this letter, first and foremost, Congratulations. It just mean that you are qualified to open this book and receive this little gift of mine. You are chosen. This is a special book I imbued with my powers. As for the reason and what, that's your problem and goal to deal with. Anyone who can get this is bound to go to great lengths. Come and show me what you got!"

[Ding! Welcome Host to the path of the Martial God]

clap! Thunders and dark clouds cast upon the far away lands, as if a calm before the storm is going to befall the world.