16 The Darkness.

In the middle of training grounds of Dravas clan. The youth was training with the instructor. He was the oldest one in this group.

"Come on. You should give up! TRASH! I will go and take random passerby from the street, and he will be better at martial arts than you!"

It was Derek, he couldn't break through to Muscle Strengthening. His salvation speed was very low because of the opening of only 2 meridians. People from the clan mocked him and ridiculed him every day. He got used to it after some time. He couldn't fight back. Most of these people will surpass him in a few months of time.

He left training grounds and came back to his room. Today his parents will visit him.

*Knock! Knock.

It was his mother. She was a beautiful woman from another powerful clan. His father married her but there was no love between them. It was a political marriage between clans to strengthen the alliance.

"It will be short. From now on I don't want to have anything with someone like you. You didn't inherit any of my genes. You are useless. I don't want to have a son like YOU!" She said these words and left. While she was walking away there were tears on her face but Derek was staying frozen like a statue. Everything in his life lost sense at this moment.

"She is disappointed in me. I am useless... A son of two genius without any talent..."

Negative emotions took over his mind.

(Stop it. All of it was resolved a few years later. Our clans were going on war and my mother wanted to protect me. I had a moment of weakness then but it's already past.)

Neo was struggling with his nightmares. It was a test of the will. He had many painful memories and regrets, and he didn't resolve them yet.

The beautiful woman was sitting next to Derek and smiling. It was Rose, love of his life. She was his sun in darkness when he left the clan. He was depressed because his parents died in the war of clans, and he didn't have any family. Clan? They only cared about strength and there was no love.

He left and started to drink in bars. Everything changed when he met Rose one evening. She sat next to him and started a conversation. They talked about the world and the future. She told him that if he cannot get through the front door, he should enter through window or chimney. Her vision was positive and there was nothing impossible...

A few years later.

They were a happy couple. Derek was a doctor and was researching alchemy. One day, people came and threatened him that if he doesn't work for them. They will kill Rose. He tried to contact his friends, but he got information about the strength of the organization that was threatening him. They had a Martial artist of high level and none wanted to help Derek.

"We cannot be together anymore. I don't love you anymore." He said these words to her. It was obvious that he was lying but Rose understood. If they continued to be together then he would be enslaved by one of clans or organizations. He couldn't risk her to be hurt.

"Why? I cannot be happy. If I was stronger! None would threaten me like this!"

(Rose! I regret everything. I am sorry. I hope you lived a happy life.)

He was overwhelmed by sorrow. He was missing her so much. Her smile, her smell...

(Enough! Why are you making me watch this?)

All around him became darkness. He saw only two glowing eyes. It was him but not him at the same time.

"Hello, Derek."

"Darius? It's you. Weren't your consciousness destroyed?"

"Maybe? Is it important? I am here for you. What's a point in living? I saw all your memories. Let all of this pain go away!"

"Hahaha..." Neo started to laugh maniacally.

"So I am dying now. After all, I was lying myself the entire time. I took a new name but I tried to forget all my past regrets and mistakes."

He shook his head and stopped laughing.

"I am not Derek anymore. I was Derek and this made me who I am now. I cannot leave my past behind. It's part who I am."

"I was starting over in your body, but I was acting like past self. I was lonely almost my entire life and that was a mistake. I should learn from my past life. Not repeat the same mistakes..."

He started to understand his problem. He couldn't conquer the world alone. He needed friends and subordinates.

"Rose, I am sorry but I won't join you anytime soon."

He smiled and turned to Darius.

"You don't need to worry. I won't die soon."

Darius felt relieved from the burden and smiled too.

"Then see you in another life!" After that, he disappeared.

In the middle of the room, Neo eyelids twitched.

His body was struggling to survive. He started to fight with all his might to live on. His will of life started to slowly heal his body. It wasn't sure that he will wake up but at least he didn't give up.

In another room. Reis is getting reports of his people. Someone started to takeover market. His business is suffering and it wasn't long when his merchant empire fall.

"All these years and what? I struggled so much for this family but first my brother and now all of them..."

His family split stopped supporting him as a leader and started taking over some properties. The attack on the villa was an ideal excuse to prove that he became weak. In a few days, he will be left only with the villa and few shops that he personally owns.

"Neo is dying. I am losing my business. I was struck by the goddess of misfortune or what?"

Inside another villa in the city.

It was gathering of Reis's family organized in secret.

"I propose to Joseph be a new family leader." One of the older men said.

Joseph was an uncle of the Reis. He wasn't interested in taking over family but recently business was better. The weird medicine was selling like hotcakes. He became greedy and ambitious. He thought that he can take control of mysterious alchemist and make his family reach greater highs. It was him that sold some information about Reis's villa. The entire attack was an ideal excuse to put Reis in bad sight.

"Reis is unable to defend his own villa! We cannot expect him to defend our business and lead us to greater heights!"