Visgard

In a world where Earth's population had surged to its limit, a cataclysmic global war swept across every continent. In this chaos, martial arts had become the ultimate weapon, plunging nations into an unending conflict.

I'm Rain Freedom, a general commanding the U.S. martial militia. Renowned for my exceptional skills, I could lead a hundred men and was celebrated worldwide for my mastery of martial arts. But just as I was poised to see the end of the war, I died during an expedition to conquer Italy.

Or did I? The dream I was having felt too vivid, too familiar to be mere fantasy.

My real name is Visgard. I've been plagued by recurring dreams that seem like fragments of a past life, though I barely have time to think about them. My only concern now is surviving this nightmarish world.

As a teenager barely out of childhood, I found myself enslaved in Grave's Dominion, a massive labyrinthine arena. Here, slaves are forced into deadly fights to entertain the wealthy patrons who pay exorbitantly for the spectacle. Built in a prehistoric era by the High Humans, the colosseum was rediscovered by the great-grandfather of its current owner, Hazik Stema, a noble renowned for his arena games.

How did I end up in this hellish place? I can't even remember my past clearly. I only know my name. The rest is a fog of forgotten memories, pierced by sharp pangs of pain whenever I try to recall.

The latest fight had ended in a grim draw—both combatants had perished after a series of brutal attacks. Armored men entered to clear the bodies, and the Colosseum Host, dressed in extravagant attire, took center stage.

"It seems the battle ended in a draw, with both fighters dead. Let's move on to the next match!" the Host announced with a gleeful grin.

The crowd erupted in excitement as the Host gestured toward the left wing gate.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present our undefeated champion—Jaguar Supremo!"

Jaguar strode out from the gate, his eyes burning with fury. A towering figure, his muscular frame was covered in scars, and his long black hair flowed wildly. He wore nothing but undergarments and carried no weapon. Known as the Underground Fist King, Jaguar's mere presence commanded respect. He looked at the cheering crowd with disdain. You all disgust me, he thought.

"Now, without further ado, let me introduce his challenger—Darv the Giant!" The Host's voice rang out as the right wing gate opened, revealing a massive, muscular man.

Darv, a giant of mixed heritage, was covered in scars, his face hidden by long black hair and a bushy beard. He wielded a large, bloodstained blunt weapon.

Darv and Jaguar faced each other with intense glares. The audience chanted their names, betting their fortunes on the outcome.

"Let the final match of the night begin!" the Host declared, stepping back and slowly disappearing like a mist.

Visgard and several other slaves were positioned in the arena, beneath the wealthy patrons who watched from above. Jaguar Supremo, a legend with 58 wins and no defeats, was known as the strongest fighter in Grave's Dominion.

"But can Jaguar win?" one slave questioned. "Darv just arrived and already has 28 wins in six months."

"Jaguar will win. He's the king of fighters," another replied confidently.

Visgard observed, noting Darv's recent arrival and immense size, which made him a formidable opponent. Darv's brutal nature contrasted with Jaguar's experienced demeanor.

The bell rang, and the fight began. Darv swung his weapon with ferocity, but Jaguar dodged effortlessly, positioning himself strategically.

The crowd roared as the battle unfolded. Darv's attacks were relentless, but Jaguar maneuvered skillfully, landing blows that frustrated Darv.

"You sly human bastard!" Darv roared, swinging his weapon with explosive force that cracked the arena floor.

Jaguar, however, vanished from his sight. Darv searched around in shock, only to find Jaguar behind him, his hand glowing with a fierce red light.

The crowd cheered wildly as the Host announced, "Our mighty one has awakened a new skill!"

Jaguar, now seemingly a blur of speed, whispered, "Flare release, maximum output."

Before Darv could react, a gaping wound appeared in his stomach. Blood gushed as Darv fell on his knees, stunned by Jaguar's newfound power.

"You... cheat..." were Darv's last words before he collapsed.

The audience erupted in applause, chanting Jaguar's name. The Host beamed and declared, "Jaguar Supremo is our winner!"

With the Grave's Dominion Colosseum event concluded, Visgard lay in his cell, reflecting on the fight.

"A skill, huh? I wish I had one," he thought, drifting into sleep.

As he slept, an unfamiliar sensation enveloped his consciousness.

An angelic voice resonated within him, "You have obtained a skill."

[Lesser Skill: Heroic Sage]

"A skill?" Visgard wondered, awfully puzzled.

[Heroic Sage: Calculating soul potential… Calculation complete.]

"Who's speaking?" Visgard asked, completely bewildered.

[Heroic Sage: Acquiring Extra skill… Extra skill acquired.]

[Extra Skill: Devour]

"A skill that makes me insatiably hungry?" Visgard questioned in sarcasm.

[Heroic Sage: All optimization complete. Report done.]

"What report? Explain!" Visgard's frustration echoed in his mind.

And with that, his consciousness faded, sending him back into sleep.

Fragments of memories began to surface, like a vivid replay that stretched beyond the brain's capacity.

All the knowledge he had, every memory, and all the hard-won battle experiences were instantly imprinted in his mind, like lightning searing through darkness.

It happened so fast that Visgard's consciousness couldn't cope, forcing his skill to reorganize the influx into a sequence that would unfold daily, protecting his mind from the risk of exploding.

Visgard was a general with unshakable self-belief, a man whose pride was beyond humility.

A remnant of Rain Freedom's essence had slowly seeped into his memories.

"Quickly, the battle has turned against us! We must retreat immediately!" Rain shouted urgently, commanding his men to fall back due to unforeseen circumstances.

It was March 1, 2078, a Wednesday. A grim morning where no light etched the surface.

Italy had been plagued by frequent skirmishes as U.S. militia severely attempted continuously to invade their borderlands.

Rain Freedom, a renowned general leading the U.S. forces, had finally broken through Italy's defenses and entered their territory.

"Today, my soldiers, we conquer Italy and make them bow before our might!" Rain proclaimed, his voice ringing out to rally his troops.

"Long live the United States!" the soldiers chanted, their faith in their nation's unwavering power.

"A fierce and grueling battle lies ahead. Believe in me, and trust that we will emerge victorious!" Rain shouted with confidence, his hand glowing with Ki.

Ki had transformed humanity. Once discovered, weapons became obsolete, replaced by this potent energy. Ki could envelop a person's entire body, granting defense so robust that even cannons couldn't penetrate.

It could be focused and unleashed through a punch, causing explosive force that could obliterate the toughest metal, depending on the user's strength.

The world had been reshaped by Ki, rendering firearms useless and sparking the rise of prideful nations. Unaware of the full extent of Ki's power, World War III erupted in an instant.

As Rain and his soldiers reached Italy's mainland, they faced a waiting army. Ready to antagonize their victory.

The tension between the two forces caused their Ki to flare uncontrollably. Before anyone could act, Rain coughed, breaking the silence.

"Charge, my soldiers!" Rain commanded eagerly, leading his men into the fray against the thousands blocking their path.

The battle against Italy began with both sides charging like wild beasts. Unconcerned with retreat, they clashed fiercely, their resolve unwavering.

"Humans are truly pitiful," remarked a general in the Italian brigade, observing the carnage. "Truly pitiful," he said with a chilling smile, gesturing to the battlefield.

"Ki Nuclear release."

With a simple gesture and few words, a blinding light engulfed the soldiers and Rain, who had no idea what was coming.

In an instant, a massive explosion erupted in the middle of the battlefield, annihilating both sides in a fiery inferno.

A sign of mass destruction Ki realization has been discovered that day.

Some who were able to coat their bodies with Ki, managed to survive but a large portion of both side's army perished and were obliterated by that powerful Ki blast.

Rain fumbled, unable to believe such power existed.

He once rendered Ki to be insignificant to release such blast comparable to a nuclear bomb.

But now that he had witnessed it, his thoughts about Ki reorganized and quickly escalated.

Knowing that such oppressing power could be released once more, Rain Freedom, a general who never knew defeat, finally stated his first retreat.

And with that, the replay ended as it seeped into Visgard's memory sequence that had been sealed by his very own skill, Heroic Sage.

An Era of Beginning was waiting to be unfold.

Chapter End.