A strange gift

As the two enemy energies clashed with each other, Arsenal tried his best to do the impossible.

Unaware of the consequences of his failure, he pressed hard, determined to re-write nature. Dark and divine energies have never co-existed but he was everly ready to make it happen.

Again, they collided with each other, causing the whole place to tremble. Arsenal coughed out a mouthful of blood as his concentration was disturbed.

"Damn it," he cursed and stared at the two conflicting energies. "If I don't succeed, then I am not the reincarnation of the devil," he said with his fists clenched and went ahead to try again.

With his eyes closed again, he began to move his hands in different motions, energetically trying his best to manipulate the two different energies.

"From the deepest abyss comes a serene voice, the call of your servant. Powers from the heavens and hell, heed the cry of your servant and come to me," as he chanted these words, the two energies stopped attacking each other and began to come together.

Feeling that the response was still very slow, he repeated the chant two more times, and finally, at the last one, the two energies met together forming a mixture of dark and golden energy.

"It's done!" He said and opened his eyes. He was surprised beyond words, he couldn't believe that he had finally succeeded in doing the impossible. 'With this, I can become more powerful. I won't have to depend on just dark sources for my improvement,' he thought and stood up to go back home but just before he could take a step, a sudden chill ran down his spine. The air seemed to thicken, and an eerie silence fell over the alley.

The attack came without warning. A dark, swirling energy erupted from the shadows, enveloping him in its grasp. He tried to defend himself, but the energy was too powerful, too relentless. It seeped into his pores, spreading like ice through his veins.

Arsenal's vision blurred, and his thoughts grew foggy. He stumbled, his knees buckling under the weight of the energy's assault. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of darkness, unable to escape the crushing pressure.

As the energy intensified, Arsenal's screams echoed through the alley. His body contorted in agony, his muscles spasming uncontrollably. The world around him dissolved into a haze of pain and despair.

When the energy finally receded, he lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His mind reeled, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. The darkness still lingered within him, a constant presence that threatened to consume him whole.

With a herculean effort, Arsenal dragged himself to his feet, knowing he had to find a way to control the energy before it was too late.

Soon, he arrived home and met Kloey and Muna who had already woken up.

"Master, you are back," Kloey said and got up to welcome him but avoided her touch and walked past her. When Kloey glanced at his back, she was shocked by what she was seeing. "Master, what is that on your —"

"It's none of your business," he replied, cutting through her words. "Tomorrow, you will begin to attend school, get prepared for it," he said to Muna without glancing at her.

After he left the sitting room to the master room, Kloey sighed helplessly while Muna frowned deeply. It pained her that he didn't even pay any attention to her then it occurred to her that she was only a servant. Servants aren't worth anything to their Masters.

"Muna, we should rest, it's late already," Kloey said and Muna nodded her head in agreement. She was still weak so she needed some good rest before the day would break. So the two of them took a room each in the big apartment and occupied it.

Meanwhile, inside Arsenal's room, he walked into the bathroom and took a hot shower. After that, he changed into one of the clothes there in the wardrobe and went to bed. But before putting on his clothes, he walked to the long mirror and gazed at himself — his body was now covered with dark arcs, indicating the still yet unsettled presence of the strange energy.

"I can't let this thing have the upper hand," he muttered and went to his bed. It had been a long tiring day so he fell asleep the moment his back touched the bed.

While he was fast asleep, he was unaware of the transformation his body was going through until the following day when the girls saw him walk out of his room to meet them.

"Master," Muna called. She stopped on her track as her eyes roamed Arsenal's body.

"What is it?" He asked, still oblivious to his new looks.

"Master, your left ear has re-grown, and all the injuries are gone," Kloey replied.

Hearing this, Arsenal rushed back into his room to confirm what the girls were saying. He went to the mirror and stood before it. After pulling off all his clothes, he began to stare into it with all seriousness. Just like the girls had said, his body had been perfectly restored like that of a newborn baby. His left ear which was missing had been replaced by a new one.

"I can't believe this," he muttered with a smiling face. That was his first ever genuine smile since he became someone else. "Is this related to the new power? If it is then this is more reason why I should learn about it and make it completely mine."

"Master, what happened to you last night while you were away?" Muna asked as she and Kloey came into the room unannounced. Seeing that he was naked, they both gasped and turned away abruptly.

"Mas—master, forgive us. It was a mistake... We didn't mean to... to..." Kloey stammered.

Perhaps it was because of the good thing that happened, Arsenal was not offended by the girls. Rather, he smiled and went up to them, putting his arms around Muna's shoulders.

"Since it has come to this, why don't you do your work as a servant?" He asked her with a smirk.

"Ma—master, I don't understand what you mean," Muna asked him as her face turned red.

Arsenal seeing how shy she was sighed and removed his hands from her shoulder. "Never mind. Let us focus on something more important," he said, referring to their plan for her to enroll in the school.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Muna reluctantly nodded her head and left the room.

"You, what are you still waiting for? Or..."

"Forgive me, master," Kloey cried out and flew out of the room immediately. She also was embarrassed by Arsenal's shameless behavior.

"Tsk. Sooner or later, I'll make you girls very bold," he muttered with a glint in his eyes.

After putting on his clothes, he went to meet the girls and after instructing Kloey to stay at home and wait for him, he left with Muna.

"Should we use the main transportation means or do you want to fly as usual?" He asked her while they were outside.

"Flying is faster and easier," she replied.

"Alright," he replied and held her hand. "Let's go!" He said and the two of them turned into a beam of dark smoke and flew into the air like a bolt of lightning.