Chapter 2

I got out of the clear pond and finally looked at my reflection in complete and utter shock.

What looked back at me was a little boy, about eight to nine years old, with a picturesque face.

Memories of another life come back to me at this instant, If I was considered pretty handsome in that life, now, even though I had similar features to my previous self, It was like every feature of mine was enhanced to the utmost perfection.

I'm sure if I walked around like this, the constant and shameless ogling will happen even more than before and I was just a child for now.

I caught sight and marveled at the shining red and black scaled dragon tattoo on my left arm and chest in the reflection of the pond, it looked strangely charming, enticing, and powerful like it was alive and hungry, making me wonder how it even got there, but I quickly clutched my head, trying to ease the pain I felt from the copious amount of visions that appeared at once in my mind.

I eventually calmed as I decided not to override my thoughts, my brain started to slowly unveil more memories as I took the time to relax; eventually giving me the answers I needed, no longer feeling a mind splitting headache...

**** **** **** ****

"Here, take this, this will make you more powerful."

An old man with many youthful indicators, such as very smooth impurity-desolate skin, a full head, and a beard of healthy black hair, was standing tall and straight spoke as he looked down toward me.

"Powerful?"

My eyes brightened as I looked toward the pitch-black liquid inside the clear vial, the horrible stench pierced through the container and my body shuddered inwardly as I got a whiff, telling me whatever that liquid was, was no good news.

"Yes, powerful."

The vigorous old man, who one could tell lived many years due to his eyes and demeanor revealing that he was a seasoned expert, who was also a faithful servant of the Visum Family stated, his voice laced with extreme temptation.

"Remember, after taking this alchemic liquid, reach the Heaven Realm as soon as possible, young master, your parents will be happily awaiting your arrival."

Serge, the Visum Family Servant smiled amicably and said before disappearing.

Zero looked at the black liquid in his hands, he knew his family was counting on him to return, alive and powerful.

He was a prodigy, he had to survive his family's trial and keep the reputation of being the strongest of the Ancient Guardian Families alive, he was only eight years old and was left to fend for himself in the mortal realm with no background nor help, just himself to blame and needed every bit of help he could get.

Zero took a deep and determined breath, he popped open the vial of 'alchemic liquid' and downed it all in one go, making a disgusted face as he drank it all.

He wanted to throw it up, his body rejecting it immediately, but he knew that Serge would never give him something to harm himself, he was trusted by his mother and father to take care of him, so he kept himself from barfing out the disgusting alchemic liquid and fully consumed it all.

It burned his throat as it slid down to his stomach, bubbling like acid.

He had to be powerful no matter the cost.

The scenes of this other life flashed through my eyes, after taking that vial of medicinal liquid, multiple weeks passed by of horrible torture as the black concoction slowly melted his insides before the poor child fell feeble and died a tragic death.

The liquid was an extremely potent poison that killed without a trace, it gradually tortured Zero for weeks until it was supposed to completely dissolve Zero's body once he died, but at that same time, a multi-colored light struck Zero's child-like frame. Keeping his eight-year-old physical body alive but the soul and mind that were long corroded were now entirely different, it became mine.

That red and black light seemed to have expelled and healed the poison from his body, completely transferring my soul and mind into his physical body once he died.

"I will avenge your death, little bro."

I said as I clenched my fist, he was only a child and I felt a very strange connection to him like we were the same, but different, his emotions and love for his family actually transferred to myself without me realizing it, I engraved that old man's face into my mind as I swore to poison him just as he did to Zero, but make him suffer for longer than a few weeks. He must have just been a dog anyways, and there had to be a mastermind behind all of this.

To successfully betray his parents, the person or force behind this had to be remarkably influential.

Serge was extremely loyal to their family for thousands and thousands of years, he was one of the most trusted servants, yet turned on a Visum Family heir the day he started their elusive trials.

Something was definitely up.

I didn't bother to further go through how I died and took over Zero's body, who strangely had the same name and shared similar features as me, as I had bigger things to worry about, such as where the hell I am at, Serge, the Visum Family servant who was so obviously old, yet looked young, vanished like an immortal from the legends.

I was still extremely shocked at that, pinching myself once more to make sure I still wasn't dreaming.

I looked over every memory of mini Zero's over and over until I had a complete understanding of this new world I was in.