First Blood

'Fu*k!!!' I cursed. The sensation of multiple magical presences from the shadow ninjas at Arya's place sent a jolt of concern through me. Without hesitation, I morphed into my eclipse form I raced across the snowy terrain of the mountains, each step guided by determination and the urgency of the situation.

My thoughts raced as I considered the possible threats that could be looming over Arya, My first friend in this world since my reincarnation.

I sprinted forward at full throttle, well aware of 5 in the front yard and 2 in the back. Additionally, there were three familiars perched on a nearby tree, keeping a watchful eye on the cottage. I decided to dispatch my shadow ninjas to deal with the familiars, allowing me to focus on rescuing Arya. Being detected by powerful individuals at this early stage of my journey could prove detrimental to my growth.

~I wouldn't advise that partner,~ Ddraig chimed in a cautious voice within my mind.

~I sense a faint malevolent draconic aura not far from the cottage. If it truly is a dragon, the distance isn't great enough to guarantee our concealment.~

"Wait, an evil dragon? Are you sure?" My surprise was evident; such a presence was unexpected.

~I cannot identify this one. It exudes an aura of malevolence and carries draconic energy, but it doesn't match any I'm familiar with,~ he responded.

"Damn it! Another unknown variable," I grumbled, frustrated by my ill fortune.

Caught in a dilemma, I needed to make a quick decision. I couldn't use my shadow ninjas to eliminate the familiars, nor could I risk going in person to deal with them; Arya's safety was paramount.

Then, a sudden idea struck me. I urgently sent a soul transmission to Arya,

"Arya, don't panic, Use the spell we've been working on," I instructed him. I knew that this spell was incomplete but it should work for at least 20secs which should be enough for me to finish them.

In mere moments, a large, imposing dome-like structure enveloped the area, along with the familiars. The familiars immediately collapsed to the ground and disappeared as their contracts were severed by the Anti-Magic Area spell.

Yes, the spell Arya was working and the one I was helping him with, was the ANTI-MAGIC AREA spell which isolates everyone within it from the outside world and restricts the use of magic.

Without a moment's hesitation, I melded into the shadow of the one closest to Arya. In a seamless and lightning-fast maneuver, I burst forth from the shadow with a Qi blade gripped firmly in my hand. As I emerged, I executed a rapid vertical strike, cleaving through the ninja from bottom to top during my ascent, swiftly neutralizing the threat with deadly precision. He was split in half.

[WARNING!! ANTI MAGIC AREA DETECTED, A 6TH TIER SPELL. HOST LEVEL TOO LOW TO RESIST]

[USE OF MAGIC HAS BEEN RESTRICTED...]

[STATUS : MAGIC RESTRAINED]

My eyes narrowed, locked onto the four menacing figures in Arya's front yard. Two of them wore blue robes, and one donned red attire, all bearing the emblem of the Magic Society. Their gazes radiated a mixture of anger, frustration, and powerlessness within the confines of the anti-magic dome Arya had summoned.

Arya's voice rang out, a shout of defiance, "Blue-robed magicians without spells are powerless."

My form seemed to blur as I sprang into action, I flash-stepped to the nearest blue-robbed mage, and just when he was about to fully understand what has happened I pierced my blade into his throat. "ughhh...!!"He died by choking on his own blood.

With him as a distraction Red-robbed mage attempted a sneak attack from behind, wielding a dagger. In a fraction of a second, I sidestepped the attack, the edge of the dagger brushing against my shadowy form.

Before he could reposition to attack, I immediately sliced his arm off, "AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!" he screamed while holding his bleeding arm. I drove my blade through his heart as he was being too noisy.

In the wake of my relentless onslaught, only one mage remained, paralyzed by terror and the gruesome fate of their companions.

I approached him, my blade gleaming ominously in the dim light, a chilling reminder of his impending doom. As I raised my blade, the mage's voice trembled in a pitiful plea for mercy. But in this anti-magic arena, there was no escape, no salvation.

With a swift, merciless strike, I delivered the coup de grâce, ending his suffering and sealing his fate.

Now, only two foes remained in the backyard, and I had barely ten seconds before the spell's effects wore off. In a moment of grim anticipation, I saw them rushing toward me from the corner of my eyes, a malicious smile formed hidden beneath my mask.

With a graceful leap, I landed before them, closing the distance in an instant. My blade was poised, and with a swift spin, I severed their useless heads from their bodies.

I stood there in the front yard which now lay painted with lifeless bodies. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the ground was soaked in a gruesome art of blood and gore.

I turned my gaze towards Arya, who was now looking at me with shock and a sense of reverence. "Quick, let's go inside the house," I said to him, urgency lacing my words.

Arya snapped out of his momentary daze. "Yes, yes," he replied hurriedly.

[NOTICE: ANTI MAGIC AREA HAS BEEN DISPELLED]

[ALL RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED...]

[STATUS : NORMAL]

We swiftly made our way inside the house. Once within the safety of the cottage, Arya suddenly apologized to me, a tone of regret in his voice. "I am very sorry for dragging you into this. Now you've made yourself an enemy of the Magic Society because of me. You helped me with my research, and I repaid you like this."

I scoffed, dismissing his concerns. "Huh? Don't worry about that. They tried to harm my best friend, so they had it coming. JUST pack the necessary things quickly; we need to get out of here now. This is not the end of them."

Arya looked at me, his eyes welling up with gratitude and disbelief. "Best friend? Thank you. Nobody ever wanted to be friends with me."

"Oi! Stop being emotional now and start packing," I chided him, masking my own emotions. There was no time for sentimentality; we had to make a swift exit before more trouble arrived.

After a few minutes of intense packing, Arya questioned our mode of transportation. "Everything is set now, but how are we going?" he inquired, looking around at the trunks filled with his belongings.

"I'll take care of it," I replied calmly. With a subtle gesture, numerous shadow ninjas emerged from the darkness, each one silently grabbing a trunk and disappearing into the shadows with them.

Arya watched this astonishing display with a shocked Pikachu face, his eyes wide in amazement. He seemed frozen in disbelief as the shadow ninjas efficiently whisked away his belongings.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his daze. "It's time to go," I said, and without further explanation, I wrapped both of us in the darkness of my shadow form.

As we melded with the shadows, I hoisted Arya onto my back, his surprise now replaced by fear as he clung to me, eyes shut tight, and muttered curses under his breath. It was a rare sight to see him so rattled, given his usual calm and collected demeanor with an "I-know-everything" vibe. The sensation of running at full speed while carrying him through the shadows seemed to be a bit too much for his nerves.

But we had no time to waste. With Arya securely on my back, I sprinted towards Mt. Kailash, our surroundings a blur as we traversed the snowy landscape.

After several hours of running through the snowy pathways, we finally arrived back at the cottage where I had initially awakened after the meditation incident. I could sense that Arya was still quite traumatized by our journey through the shadows, so I asked him to wait outside for a moment while I took care of something.

As I stepped out of the shadowy realm, I reverted to my original form and headed towards the divine presence of Father, Lord Shiva, who was in deep meditation. Approaching him respectfully, I greeted him with reverence. "Greetings, Father," I said.

He opened his eyes, the depths of the cosmos reflected in his gaze. "You have returned, my son. Have you completed your tasks in the mortal world?" he inquired.

"Yes, Father," I replied. "I have come to request a place for my friend to stay."

Lord Shiva considered my request for a moment. "He may stay here for the duration of your training, which will span one year. After that, he may choose to follow your path."

I felt a rush of gratitude toward my divine father. "Thank you, Father," I said sincerely.

"However," Lord Shiva continued, his tone serious, "impart upon him the importance of not leaving the premises of the cottage. The beings that reside on this mountain may not be as forgiving as I am."

I nodded in understanding and took my leave, returning to Arya in my eclipse form to share the news with him. It was time to reveal my true form to him, a moment I had been anticipating.

With the weight of divine guidance and newfound responsibilities upon my shoulders, I made my way back to Arya, still concealed in my eclipse form. The moment had come to reveal myself to him and share the extraordinary events that had transpired.

As I approached Arya, I could sense the mixture of shock and curiosity in his eyes. He had been waiting patiently, his thoughts likely filled with questions about my true identity and the purpose behind my actions.

"Arya," I began, my voice calm yet filled with purpose, "there are matters of great importance that I must share with you."

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I've been waiting for you to explain everything, Eclipse."

Taking a deep breath, I began to recount my encounter with Lord Shiva, the divine guidance he had bestowed upon me, and the upcoming year of training that awaited me. Arya listened intently, absorbing the gravity of the situation.

"Father has offered his guidance to unlock the fullest potential of my powers," I explained. "But this journey will be arduous, and I will need to devote my full attention to it."

Arya's brow furrowed with concern. "And what does this mean for me, Eclipse?"

I paused, allowing the weight of my words to sink in. "I have asked Father to grant you sanctuary here, at this cottage, during the year of my training. It will be your safe haven, a place where you can continue your research and further your magical pursuits."

Arya's eyes widened with surprise and gratitude. "Thank you, Eclipse. I never expected such generosity."

"But there is more," I continued. "I must reveal a truth that has been hidden. Arya, My name is Grey and I am not who you may have thought me to be."

With a deep breath, I allowed my eclipse form to dissipate, revealing my true self as a child. I watched as shock registered on Arya's face, and he took a step back, his eyes widening further.

"You're just a child," he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

I nodded, my expression earnest. "Yes, Arya. I am a child, but I am also the one who wishes to become the Supreme Emperor, to unite the realms and bring order to chaos."

Arya's initial surprise quickly gave way to contemplation. He didn't scoff at my dreams or dismiss them as childish fantasies. Instead, he knelt before me, one knee on the ground, and lowered his head in a gesture of reverence.

"I pledge myself to you, Grey," Arya said solemnly. "I will serve you, Emperor, with unwavering loyalty, until my last breath and beyond. I will follow you through the fiery ocean or the mountain of swords."

I was deeply moved by Arya's oath and the faith he had placed in me. It was a moment of profound significance, a bond forged in the fires of shared dreams and mutual respect.

"Why, Arya?" I asked, my voice filled with gratitude. "Why did you not hesitate to pledge yourself to my cause?"

Arya lifted his head, his eyes reflecting determination. "Because you, Grey, never once doubted my skills or my research. You never looked down upon me for having a low affinity for magic. Instead, you gave me the Dark Scripture and offered your insights to help me improve. You saw my work as valuable and encouraged me to continue. You recognized my talent when others dismissed it. You have given me a renewed sense of confidence and self-esteem, and for that, I am forever grateful."

I felt a surge of emotion as Arya's words washed over me. It was a reminder of the impact we could have on one another's lives, of the power of belief and encouragement.

With Arya's unwavering commitment and the strength of his oath, I felt a surge of appreciation for his devotion. Looking into his eyes, I spoke with a solemn yet determined tone, "Arya, your dedication and belief in our cause do not go unnoticed. As we embark on this journey together, I bestow upon you a new name and a title that reflects your unique abilities and the role you will play in our future empire."

Arya looked at me, his anticipation mingling with curiosity. "From this moment onward, you shall be known as Arya Arcane Mystvale, the Arch Bishop of our future Empire," I declared, my words carrying a weight of significance.

His eyes widened in astonishment, clearly moved by the honor bestowed upon him. "Arch Bishop?" he repeated as if testing the title on his lips. "I am deeply honored, My Lord."

"As Arch Bishop, you will stand as the guardian of our magical knowledge and the guiding light of our arcane pursuits," I explained. "Your role will be crucial in shaping the future of our empire, for it is your insights and mastery over magic that will lead us to new heights."

Arya, now Arya Arcane Mystvale, the Arch Bishop, nodded in understanding. "I accept this title with the utmost humility and commitment, My Lord. I will dedicate myself to our cause and serve as the torchbearer of our magical legacy."

"Then rise, Arya Arcane Mystvale," I said with conviction, "and accept your new title as the Arch Bishop of my future Empire. Your loyalty and dedication will be instrumental in our journey towards becoming the Supreme Emperor."

I extended my hand once more, and Arya, now Arch Bishop Mystvale, clasped it firmly, sealing our pact with a handshake that resonated with determination and shared purpose. As our hands met, I could feel the convergence of our ambitions, our desires, and our resolve to shape a future where our dreams would become reality.

As Arya rose to his feet, his eyes shone with newfound purpose. Together, we would embark on a path filled with challenges and uncertainties, but with unwavering faith in each other and our shared vision, we would strive to reshape the destiny of the realms.