Growing Up - Part 2

A couple of minutes earlier…

As Rin was cradled in his mother's embrace as she breastfed him, a prompt suddenly manifested before his eyes. Before disappearing and a new one replaced it, which went on for about two minutes before everything suddenly stopped and nothing happened for about half a minute.

Until a whirlpool of mesmerizing baby blue light began to slowly revolve above Rin, unbeknownst to Crystal. That slowly grew and got faster as time went on until Rin could not fight it anymore and he was dragged in and transported to a pristine white palace.

Where he would be residing for the next ten years while a clone took his place for the time being until he was done with the tutorial.

***

Back to the original timeline… 

[Beep... Beep... Beep...]

[The Prototype System of ??? has finished the integration phase!]

[Error! Error! Error!]

[Sorry, that about it seems the Administrator angered a couple of shareholders and had to change a couple of Laws. But fret not as it has already been dealt with; so, could please stay still for a moment as I create a clone to replace you temporarily.]

[Thank you for your patience and good luck, Rin Jasper Kurama!] 

[Time Skip Commencing in three...two...one...zero!]

SWOOSH! BOOM! DING!

Once it reached zero, it seemed as if the hands of time were thrown into disarray as an unknown power forcefully took control of the timeline and froze space. Creating a spatial bridge between Multiverse Z and the God Realm which disrupted the past, present, and future.

Leading to the creation of a new timeline not bound to any power or entity...

***

Somewhere in the God Realm, where the embers of a Phoenix were still burning fiercely, a white pristine palace magically appeared in the heart of this once prosperous land. Before disappearing, into the folds of space where a protective barrier surrounded it as a layer of extra protection. 

Even though no one would be crazy enough to enter this cursed land unless they wanted to try and use the embers of a Primordial Phoenix to be reborn.

Now within this magical palace that was large enough to fit three football stadiums and still have space left over. There laid a baby boy within its central hall, which was connected to various training halls, libraries filled with archives of knowledge, and even entertainment districts if he so desired. 

However, that is a discussion for later, as Rin finally woke up and realized he was not at home anymore.

Prompting Rose, Rin's system guide to introduce herself as she appeared before her future host in the form of a holographic spirit. Who was wearing an oversized hoodie and tight as she drank iced coffee?

Since it was not every day, a child was transferred from the backyards to the highest realm known to the Cosmos.

[Hello Earthling! I am Rose, your personal Guide, and friend until you grow strong enough to become a candidate for an actual System! However, do not be discouraged as I assure you after you undertake some quests and complete a few trials you will eventually become one of the feared and fabled System Holders. A title held by only six other individuals in the Cosmos, cool right!?]

"I guess… but what does that have to do with me?" Rin asked shyly as he was a bit confused as to why he was here, to be honest. Since he only remembers being breastfed by his mom, before a strange prompt appeared before him and transferred him here.

Unaware that it technically should not be possible for a baby to speak after being born for less than 24 hours. However, considering how massive the Cosmos was this was not that shocking in the grand scheme of things.

[Well, to be honest, while I would love to answer that time is of the essence… so please keep all your questions for later. However, do note that if you manage to successfully pass all the trials of the House of Whisper in ten years you will be granted the opportunity to return home.]

"Okay, but how do I know you aren't lying to me?" Rin asked Rose doubtfully as while this might sound good what if it was all but a lie in the end?

[…]

'Sigh, I guess in the end I am but a prisoner to this imaginary voice in my head.' thought Rin as he sat down and lamented his fate as tears began to swell in his eyes.

[Don't cry little one, of course, I am telling you the truth, Rin! So, the sooner you complete the trials the quicker you will be able to get back home to see your mommy and daddy! Also, during this time while you may be away from your parents, a clone of yours has already temporarily taken your place until your training is over! So, no need to worry if they will miss you or anything like that, okay Rin.]

"Sniff, sniff okay miss… so which door should I enter first?" asked Rin as he wiped his tears and stood up, ready to get this over with so he could return to his family.

Who must be worried sick about him yet contrary to belief they were doing fine without him as they spent time with their "supposed" son and watched him grow up into a handsome young gentleman.

While taking the time out to teach him how to write and read until he was proficient enough to do it on his own. Before Adam took over and began to teach him the families' arts while I lectured him on how to properly control his Divine flames. Which was a dreamy bluish-purple color with specks of gray and had the power to both destroy and heal.

And in no time ten years had passed in the blink of an eye from being abducted to learning about swords, alchemy, talismans, magic, cultivation, and so much more.

***

Within one of the training halls, where the last trial was currently taking place a 5'10 barefooted Asian male with sweat dripping down his face could be seen fighting a dragon. As he maneuvered around the room using his surroundings to his advantage as he waited for the perfect opportunity to strike and secure his victory over this behemoth of a beast.

"Come on, Rin you got this! Just hold on for one more minute," Rose shouted as she watched Rin and Cypress fight a battle of physicality and wits.

"A minute, huh?" Rin muttered as he glanced at the timer above his head, before rolling out the way as a tail flew past him and hit the wall of the coliseum.

Swoosh! Kaboom!

Leaving a crack in its surface as Rin used this time to dash toward Cypress, a life Dragon one of the hardest dragons to kill as it can recover from any injury in a matter of seconds. However, the last trial was not a battle to the death but a game of wits, which forced the participant to use their minds instead of their muscles to try and knock out the dragon. Or at the very least try and survive the onslaught of a dragon for five minutes straight.

A short yet long moment that could decide whether he will be able to go home or be stuck here forever.

'Sigh, so is this truly how things are going to end, Rin?' He wondered as time slowed down, allowing him to notice he only had less than 30 seconds before it was game over.

Yet, while most would have given up, a voice in the back of his mind told him otherwise as it shouted, "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" repeatedly as time resumed its usual pace. Empowering Rin with the strength and courage needed to win as a surge of inhumane strength coursed through his body as a smile graced his face.

Which irritated Cypress as it felt like this peaky insect was underestimating it too much now, causing him to unleash the full aura of Divine Dragon. Since it couldn't fathom how something that it used to eat as a snack could smile in the face of death.

"Hmph! Now let us see if you will still laugh, lowlife?" Cypress grinned as he could not wait to see that hideous smile be wiped away and turned into utter fear.

However, things did not go as planned as during that moment, Cypress indulged in the thought of destroying whatever little faith Rin had of winning. 

Rin managed to reach the top of the dragon's head before gathering all his strength into his right hand and shouting, "Gargantuan Drive," a self-created technique that gathers all the body's strength into one part of the body, which has the probability of bypassing an enemy's defense.

Once his fist connected with the dragon's skull, nothing seemed to happen at first before the Cypress began to sway left and right like a drunkard. Until its eyelids closed and it fell to the ground with a thud. As the lingering thoughts, 'a lowlife managed to knock it out,' repeated in its mind as a cloud of dust rushed into the sky.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Declaring the end of the trial and Rin's completion of the Tutorial…