8 Unexpected Predicaments

Hearing the sudden intrusion, a second figure which stood over the woman who was now recognized as Aimer's mother quickly turned around.

"WHO GOES TH...."

*BAM!*

"SHUT THE F***K UP!"

The figure was met with a fist, a fist that moved so fast the figure couldn't react.

The fist not only jammed into the figure's face but two of the thirty-two-teeth within the figure's mouth shook from their position.

Doing simple math, even a toddler could tell that the figure now only had thirty teeth left.

*AHHH!*

*DOOM*

The figure was blown back; caving into the wall behind it.

*ugh* *cough* A mouthful of blood gushed from the figure's mouth as it slowly recuperated itself, uplifting its body from the caved-in wall.

But suddenly, a palm grasps the figure's head before pummeling it back into the caved-in wall.

Skill [Intimidate] has been activated!

Aimer unhurriedly leaned forward next to the figure's ear...

"YOU...DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE."

The figure trembled, trembled in apprehension unable to move a muscle.

Aimer released his grip from the figure's head and quickly rushed to the woman...no his mother who sobbed in anguish on the floor.

"Mother...mother...it's okay now. I'm here,"

Aimer wrapped his hands around his mother, tightly embracing her presence. His eyes began springing water like a fountain as he rested his head against hers.

Unexpectedly, the woman pushed Aimer from against her.

"Who..who are you?"

With a flustered expression, Aimer responded.

"Mother! It's me! Don't you recognized me! Your son..."

Aimer last sentence jerked his mother back to her senses. Aimer's mother, Anysia though weakly, wiped her eyes then looked up to take a good look at the person before her.

She was greeted with a warm smile that reimbursed an image within her mind. An image which when compared to the person before her, sparked a resemblance between the two.

"Aimer! Aimer! Is that really you!!! My son!"

Anysia quickly pulled Aimer into her arms before holding him, tighter than which he held her.

Aimer suddenly patted her marvelous hair and gave it a nice heartwarming stroke.

"Indeed, I am mother. Your son, Aimer has returned,"

With that, Anysia's puppy-looking eyes dropped water like a tap as all her memories of desperately trying to locate her single child faded away for a fresh, new start.

"I, I can't believe it. I thought, I thought you were d...."

*sob* *sob* *sniff* *sniff*

"Hush, mother. We can talk later but please do give me a moment,"

Aimer separated himself from his mother who gave him a look with wide-open eyes.

"Aimer? What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry mother. Just cover your eyes."

Aimer soon approached the figure.

*cough* *cough* *cough*

The figure coughed but it didn't dare to lift its head towards the approaching Aimer.

'What is this...this feeling. Is it fear!? Am I scared!! I, a (Level: 230 - Ascendant Dweller) is scared!! Just who...

*HEOK!*

The figure's unfinished thoughts were suddenly impeded when a hand gripped its throat before boosting it against the stone wall.

When the two met eye to eye, they both amassed a culmination.

"A, A, Aimer?" *coughs*

"Louis?"

Aimer and the figure recognized each other.

*****

Louis, the person who Aimer hated most since he went to HighSchool. At school, Louis was known as the 'Playground King' not because he controls the playground but more like the entire school to him was a playground.

And Aimer was one of the students who have gotten constantly bullied by him day in and day out. There was absolutely nothing Aimer could do to harm or take revenge against Louis due to his backing and connections.

And so he endured and suffered the worst in his daily school life.

On the other hand, Louis recognized Aimer, not as a punk nor a sissy which he used as a beating stick. But as a formidable force that stood before him, a force that gave him butterflies feeling in his stomach.

*****

"Two years ago...do you remember? When you tried to forcibly cause me to commit suicide on the school's rooftop? Wasn't that enough for you?

No...I guess not? Or else you wouldn't be here. Tormenting my mother...the moment I disappear. I take it you were looking for me? Well, good job, but unlucky for you I'm not the same as I use to be.

Now, I'm built different!"

The more Aimer talked was the more pressure he applied to his grip that tightly coiled around Louis's throat. Similarly, to that of a snake suffocating its prey.

*groan* *gasps*

'Aimer? This isn't the same Aimer I knew back then? Wh, What happened! This power...this tension? Did I just walk into a lion's den!!?'

Louis's sanity rushed with thoughts. He couldn't figure out why he felt so overwhelmed. For a mere second, he thought it was all fantasy but his current predicament was none other than the raw reality.

*DING*

WARNING: BLOODLUST IS TOO HIGH!

WARNING: BLOODLUST IS TOO HIGH!

WARNING: BLOODLUST IS TOO HIGH!

"Skill has been created due to an overwhelming bloodlust!"

[Uncontrollable] - a skill that causes the user to lose his/her sanity and succumb to BLOODLUST. Within this state, the user thinks irrationally. Besides, all skills are 2x stronger.

(Usage: a minute a day)

'I, I can't let it control me! I have to control it! Endure and overcome. Endure and overcome. Endure and overcome'

Anysia who watched in a stupor, suddenly realized there was a change for the worst within her son when she felt the enormous killing intent.

Hopefully to avoid the worst she attempted...

"Aimer! PLEASE! PLEASE STOP!! Aimer!! LISTEN TO ME!"

*swoosh*

The resounding weep of his mother snapped Aimer back to reality. That's when he noticed that Louis, which he held by the neck was on the brink of death.

This caused the stunned Aimer to immediately release him.

*thud*

Louis fell to his knee, below the emotionless gaze of Aimer.

'Dammit! I almost killed him! Shit...I should be more careful. If that happened then...I don't think I'd be strong enough for what would've transpired next...'

"SCRAM. AND NEVER COME BACK."

*EEEEKK* *groan*

'I have to run. I have to run. If I stay here! I might possibly...die! But mark my words...this isn't over'

Louis, though in an unbearable amount of pain struggled to his feet before galloping away from the alley. But not without swearing for revenge.

*sigh*

'Thank the heavens I didn't kill you now...'

Aimer slowly turned around to his mother who seemed to be in a feeling of relief.

He quickly approached her.

"Here mother...let me help you up,"

At first, Anysia was hesitant. To Aimer it wasn't a surprise since she did just have a taste of his dangerous killing intent.

"Up you go,"

Aimer gently lifted his mother who had took hold of his hand.

"Ohh, the groceries,"

"Wait! I'll take care of them,"

After bracing his mother upright Aimer crouched down to collect the bag of items and groceries that fell out.

That's when he noticed...

'Hm? Diapers? Baby food? What are these fo...'

*snatch*

The products that Aimer scrutinized were snatched away from his grasp by his mother. Aimer was taken back a bit by her aggressive action.

"Mother?"

"Let's head inside. I'll explain everything,'

Aimer wanted to pursue the matter but since his mother was open to discussing it once they head inside he left it at that.

After collecting the remaining bags Aimer proceeded to follow his mother.

'What does she need to explain? I wonder...had my mother become a babysitter now? Or did she...NO! It can't be...I must be overthinking things

"Aimer? Where here?"

"Oh, coming!"

Due to Aimer contemplating with himself he hadn't realized that he was now at the stairs of their compartment. A shabby-looking one at that.

His mother was at the top stairs when she opened the door.

*creaakk*

The old wooden door created a noise that sets one's teeth on edge.

'Ahh, I miss that annoying sound,"

Aimer promptly entered the house behind his mother before closing the door behind him. And he didn't forget to twist the lock.

*sniff*

"Ahhh, how refreshing,"

"Quickly, set the bags on the table,"

Aimer followed his mother's order and placed the bags on the four-seat table before him after puffing his chest to take in the ever lingering aroma of his house.

"Oh mother, give me one sec,"

Aimer then turned to his right to a small doorway that led to a hallway.

'Bathroom! Bathroom! I need to pee so badly,"

After looking in both directions Aimer made a left and at the end of that hall, he was met with a door to his left again.

He quickly entered.

*unzips* *pulls out*

*WHOOSH*

"Ahhh, now this...this feels like heaven,"

Aimer relished in his action of emptying his tank.

*flush* *tucks in*

*zip*

Aimer had finished his business before heading back towards the kitchen. To his surprise, his mother was seated with a serious vibe that engulfed the room.

'It seems she's already taken care of her injuries. Did she use a healing potion?'

*****

Note: Potions; made with mixtures of magic, monster cores, and a variety of different herbs and ingredients. Depending on the type of recipe or what has been added an individual can create: healing potions, poisonous potions, sleeping potions, love potions, etc...

*****

*pulls*

Aimer drew out the chair in front of him and sat down before his mother.

That's when she abruptly dropped the bomb.

"Aimer, you have an unborn sister,"

'I have a what now!?'

That was what Aimer meant to say, instead...

"Who's the father?"

*cough* *cough*

Aimer's mother covered her mouth as she coughed at his unexpected response.

'Oh shoots. I asked the wrong question...'

"Umm...your father is..."

Those set of words brought forth a mixture of emotions within Aimer's expression.

Confused? Definitely! Curious? Definitely! Agitated! Somewhat.

Anysia noticed her son's reaction but never uttered a word, she waited instead to see if he's ready to continue this conversation.

*sigh*

'My father. He left me at the age of just one-year-old. Since that dreaded day...I never saw him again. And even to this day, my mother won't tell me why he left. For days I cried and cried and cried, only to have my mother soothe me.

But as time passed and I saw nothing of my dad, I changed. I became determined that we don't need him. We're surviving finely on our own without him.'

'But how the hell is this baby my father's? When did they....and where!!??

*eek* just the thought of it..'

"Alright. Look mother, if you have something to say just say it,"

"Uhh, okay,"

Anysia was mortified not by Aimer's response but his manner of speaking. At that moment Anysia felt as if her little child had finally grown up.

"To be exact, to you it seemed as if your father abandoned you but in reality, I have met with him secretly...a few times. Now, this is the product of my actions'

Anysia looked down at her tummy before giving it a slight rub.

"Oh,"

'So why? Why does my father never show up around me? What is he doing that's so important? And mom...how could you! Anyways, it's not my concern whether he shows up or not...what I need to focus on right now is getting stronger.'

"Let's leave it at that mother. I'm just happy that I'm not the only child...'

Anysia almost cried in happiness after seeing Aimer's brilliant smile.

"Then, since it's getting late I'll go make dinner. You can go get yourself comfortable,"

Aimer's mother sprung from her seated position before pushing back her chair under the table.

'Hmmm...father?'

Seconds after Aimer did the same.

He left the kitchen table then proceeded towards his room upstairs. It didn't take him long before he reached his room's entry.

*unlocks* *creeeaaakkk*

'Ooohh the same as usual. How I missed you so much,'

Aimer entered his room which seemed to be in pretty good shape.

"Looks like my mother may have tidy my room. Poor mother,"

Aimer fully closed the door before walking directly to his right to sit on the side of a bed that was pressed against the wall.

In front of him, was a desk with a computerized setup. And to his left was a flatscreen TV that sat on a TV stand. To the right of that lied his closet.

Looking at the situation, Aimer's expression became wrinkled, a look that was filled with sadness and sorrow; and even then,

he kept an emotionless gaze.

'I need to get us out of here. I have to create a plan. Firstly, I need money. There are two ways I can get that right now.

One is the Auction Coalition, where I can trade in any items or monster cores to place up for bidding. And whatever the profit I can take.

If not, my second option would be the black market. With a good enough presentation, you could become a billionaire in one go.

But I'm not sure which option I should choose or what items I should sell. Hmmm? Let's see something real quick....'

"Status Window"

Name: Aimer Belafonte

Age: 19

Title: Sky-Dweller

Level: 401

[Intelligence] - 390 (+139)

[Speed] - 387 (+167)

[Agility] - 388 (+183)

[Strength] - 399 (+75)

[Defense] - 399 (+100)

[Stamina] - 384 (+80)

[Awareness] - 392 (+55)

[Elusiveness] - 389 (+191)

[Luck] - 360 (+169)

Skills:

[Adapt], [Animal Instincts], [Intimidate], [Perception], [GRIT], [Fade], [Uncontrollable]

Devourer's Descendant Skill-Set: (DD)

[Half-off] - Legendary ( requirement not met)

[Asura] - Legendary (requirement not met)

[Truth-seeker] - Unique (requirement met)

[Empathy] - Epic (requirement met)

Items:

[Ring of Iblīs, The Prince of Darkness], [Iblīs, Blade of the Fallen], [Banshee's Orb], [Lippu's Crystal], [Potion of Irrational Bravery], [Orkan's Whistle], [Sosrono's Wear Set], [Cloak of Drakel], [Sharkanha's Mark], [Titan's Lineage: Morhpling]

Hidden Skill: Water Elementalist (Lvl. 1

(Requirements not met)

Hidden Skill: Fire Elementalist (Lvl.2

Mana:

360/2000

'I can finally see my level now...401 huh? Just 99 levels away from max level. Then why do I have a lingering uneasy feeling?

Aimer's expression tensed up for a bit.

'Other than that, something else has been bothering me.

My skills...I'm just noticing that they are separate. 'Skills' and 'Skill-Set'. Doesn't all skills fall under the same category? Or maybe these are special cases? I'm not sure...

....well, since we're on the topic of skills, why didn't I meet the requirement for the 'Water Elementalist' instead of the 'Fire' one. Firstly I did unlock the 'Water' before the 'Fire'. That's funny, is the Water skill stronger than the Fire. Maybe.

Also, the mana. If the 'Fire' used up that much mana then what of the 'Water'? Damn, just the thought of it.

****

When it comes to mana, not only it is a great source of leveling up but most importantly, it's to allow the user usage for a hidden skill.

To simplify, hidden skills are mana itself. As it was said before, absorbing mana is different from wielding it. And when a person can wield mana that's when they can awaken hidden skills that control a specific part of nature.

And depending on how much mana you can wield the hidden skill and potential of that skill you unlock varies.

'Well, that settles it. Starting tomorrow I'll become quite busy'

Aimer collapsed to his bed with his hands folded behind his head. After staring at the ceiling, trapped in deep thought he slowly, and surely dosed away.