5 Meeting the Protagonist

Aur's eyes glinted as he spotted the golden-haired boy hiding in the shadows. 

Despite his normal thought process, Aur felt his mental clarity slipping the longer he observed the youth. 

Aur compared himself to the boy, noting their similar handsomeness. However, the boy had a more feminine face and smaller build, while Aur's muscular build added a rugged, masculine edge. 

After an extensive search, the golden-haired boy's eyes brightened as he discovered a specific spot on the ground and began to dig fervently. 

Finally, his efforts paid off as he unearthed something solid, revealing a single paper emitting an ominous aura. But before he could unravel its mystery, a chilling voice echoed from the forest, startling him.

Three youths emerged, accompanied by a guard in distinctive armour bearing a scar over his left eye. 

The lead youth accused William of stealing his treasure and threatened him with violence. 

William's expression shifted reluctantly, a mixture of injustice and resignation evident in his eyes. With quiet determination, he approached Felix. 

However, Felix's reaction was not what William had expected, and the situation quickly escalated.

"You're too naive, William. Did you think I'd let you off the hook after luring you out of the village?" Felix's voice dripped with disdain, hitting William like a hammer.

Realization dawned on William, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "So, it was all a setup," he murmured, despair clouding his gaze.

"That's right. You're nothing but a dumb bastard destined for servitude," Felix spat.

With a heavy heart, William surrendered to the inevitable, regret filling his eyes. "Just finish me," he whispered.

But then, a spark of determination ignited within him. "No, I can't give up. What about my sister?" His eyes snapped open as he saw the cold blade hurtling toward his neck. Instinctively, he dodged, narrowly avoiding death.

The scarred man was momentarily stunned by William's agility, his sword clattering to the ground. William seized the opportunity, charging at Felix with a hint of madness in his eyes.

Felix, bewildered by William's advance, unsheathed his sword. His henchmen moved to intervene. "Let us handle this, Felix," they offered. Amused, Felix agreed.

Fueled by rage, William's gaze bore into the goons blocking his path. He snatched a rock from the ground and charged.

"Stop right there!" the goons shouted, nervous. But William acted swiftly, delivering a brutal blow to one of the youth's necks. Blood spurted as the lifeless body collapsed, staining the leaves with crimson.

The remaining youth trembled in horror, but William charged at Felix with unbridled fury. "I'll take you down with me!" he bellowed.

Felix reassured himself, "I'm stronger than this peasant." Suddenly, William was upon him, a blood-soaked hand reaching for Felix's neck. Crack! Felix's bracelet shattered, leaving him stunned. In that moment, a sword pierced through William's heart.

"I'm sorry, young master. I was late," the scarred man said coldly as he withdrew his blade. 

William's agonised scream echoed through the forest as his vision faded and he collapsed.

Furious, Felix kicked the lifeless corpse. "Worthless bastard," he spat. 

The scarred man approached, apologising. "I'm sorry, young master."

"It's fine; I'll reward you when we return," Felix assured him.

Unbeknownst to them, golden text from a paper began to absorb into William's body. 

Miraculously, his wound mended, and a new heart formed within him. 

Bathed in a radiant golden light, William's eyes fluttered open, a newfound vitality coursing through him.

Felix noticed the now empty paper. "Where did the writing go?" he muttered, perplexed.

"What happened, young master?"

"I was sure there was some text and patterns here, but they've vanished," Felix said, frowning.

"Eh." Suddenly, the guard felt a hand grab his leg, sending a shiver down his spine. As a warrior, he swiftly jumped back.

Grrr...

When he looked, his eyes widened in horror. William was alive, the hole in his chest and his heart, which had been dug out, fully restored. Though the guard couldn't believe William could regenerate a heart, he understood the possibility of wound healing.

But William had changed. His fingernails had grown, his eyes were entirely red, and bat-like fangs protruded from his mouth as he hunched over.

"He must have become a zombie," the guard thought, the only explanation he could conceive.

"Ahh, help me already," Felix's voice snapped the guard back to reality. "I forgot that I was chasing this guy."

"No hard feelings, kid. I'm just doing my job." The guard ran at William, slashing at his neck.

A small smile graced William's lips as he turned his neck 180 degrees and caught the blade with his fangs.

"This..." The guard's eyes widened in horror.

Before he could react, William swiped at him with his nails.

The guard gritted his teeth, letting go of the sword and backing away.

"You want to fight seriously?" the scarred man said, a red aura gathering around him, making him look like he was burning alive. He emitted a bone-chilling aura.

William ignored him, swiftly grabbing Felix by the neck.

"Plz don't kill..." Felix whimpered, his face tear-streaked and snot-covered.

William smirked and sliced with his sharp nails.

Shing!

Thud!

Felix's head fell to the ground with a sickening thud, blood gushing out like a fountain, soaking William in crimson.

"You bastard." The scarred man roared, the fire around him burning everything it touched. He had fully released his Qi and blood.

William snickered, his eyes reflecting deep madness as he hunched further.

The scarred man's eyes widened, sensing danger. But as a warrior, he couldn't retreat. He gritted his teeth and slashed forward with his glowing fire sword. His speed and strength had increased.

William, lost in madness, charged at him, attacking with his sharp nails.

Boom!

A metallic sound reverberated as the fire-strengthened sword failed to slice through the nails.

The scarred man backstepped, avoiding the nails coming at him.

"Damn it." He gritted his teeth, but William gave him no reprieve, charging again.

"A kid dares to bully me?" Small veins popped in his head as his eyes turned fully red. He released all his aura, slashing with full strength.

"Hehehehehe." William laughed, advancing despite the incoming attack.

"You..." The scarred man was stunned by William's advance but quickly regained his calm. "Since you don't want to dodge, you might as well die." He sneered, tightening his grip on the sword, producing more momentum.

Time seemed to stop as the sword was about to connect. William shifted slightly, dodging by a hair's breadth.

The man's eyes widened as a nail plunged into his throat.

"Y..." The scarred man tried to speak, but with his neck slit, words failed him. He lifted his right fist to punch.

William coldly watched, his nails emerging from the man's neck, and drove his other hand into the man's heart, extracting it with precision.

The scarred man's eyes widened in sheer horror as he gazed at his own heart. His eyes turned lifeless, and his raised fist fell.

Kekekeke!

William laughed like a bloodthirsty beast, holding the heart in his hands.

Without hesitation, he ate the heart whole, revealing his sharp canines.

William burped, touching his stomach with satisfaction, but his expression quickly changed to horror as he roared in pain.