I know the End

It is so dark, where am I?"

Arion slowly opened his eyes. The intensity of the light blinding his sight result him to use his hand to block his field of vision. His sight a bit blurry. He began to muster all the energy left in is body to stand up. His gaze surveyed the whole surrounding. He was on top of an dilapidated building. He groaned in pain. He was in a terrible state. He could feel a metallic taste in his mouth. His body battered and the lean figure of his body screaming in pain. His whole body physique was in a state of malnourishment. The bones in his body was already discernable.

Arion can only lament to the weak body of his. But still there was this feeling swirling within him, an accomplishment. The Time Orb worked. Now he finally have a second chance to save his world. Just when he was celebrating his achievement. A sudden voice broke his thought.

"It seem like that beating as done something to Arion's head." 

That voice was filled with mockery and hatred. There is one thing that Arion can never forget and that voice was not as exemption. A look of surprise dawn on him. It was him no doubt. An intense hatred and a desire for revenge was itching his body waiting to destroy that anonymous person. He calmed his nerves an uncontrolled mind can lead to disaster.

He gazed at the owner of the voice, Adrian Lancelot, the bully that made his life a living hell. Though he controlled himself that does not hide the ferocious killing intent in his face. He was more like a beast ready to pounce on his target.

There are different kind of people in these world. Those who seek to help other and those who use their power to dominate others. Adrian was none other the latter. To them it was a supreme and ubiquitous rule which transcend any other law, the strong dominate and the weak are dominated. That is what true power is like.

Adrian was nothing more than an average guy. There was nothing exceptional about him. His red hair was just as fiery as his temper. His face ordinary looking. His skin tone and hazel eyes does not stand out much.

This led to the root of his aggressive behavior of his. This ordinary and quotidian nature of his led him to his new, reformed self. Adrian was Arion's childhood friend. He was more like a pivotal figure that always made Astron stand up for himself. A confidant Arion could rely on. A kind hearted person. Adrian was a stoic person. He was always been a thick skinned guy no matter any vituperative words thrown at him beause of his B+ rank as a mage. That doesn't mean he doesn't have friends. Always standing up for the weak no matter what. An apricate who embraces nature as one. He was a true hero figure.

Everything changes when they enter Transcendent Academy, an iconic and the most influential acadeny know throughout the school if Arora itself. It was where all the each iconic hunters best in their forte were nurture and grown into powerhouses.

During the entry exam, a duel was scheduled between Adrian and Leon, one of the dominators or what should I say powerhouse in the class. He was defeated effortlessly within 20 seconds!. His spells were useless against him.

"You are weak". It was like a cold steel slashing through him. It all shattered like glass. His dream, ambition, his perspective about the world changed. He barely attend class for 3 weeks. It left him traumatized. Until this new devilish transformation took over him. He became a bully and became acquainted with some guys who also contributed to his terror.

Ever since then Arion life took an hellish turn. Beating day by day but this time it is going to be different. No longer the empty shell that hide under the shadow.

Meanwhile, Adrian couldn't help but notice a subtle change in Arion. His eyes were more like a ferocious beast. His instinct screaming at him like he was in danger. This felling he couldn't shake, fear. It was for a moment still he was becoming wary of him but shrugged it off.

"I think he is out of his mind. Maybe a little beating will help his brain reset. What do you think guys"

Laughter echoed the whole surrounding. Arion just kept a calm face. Not fazed or angered by their expression.

This infuriate Adrian even more and he couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger.

"Seem like you really need a dose of beating. It will be good for your health"

Arion snickered

"The only thing that is good for your own health is when you stop leaving under your veil of defeat"

This was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Adrian was about to charge and launch an attack.

When suddenly, Arion's face calm face transposed into one of a fiend ready to devour his prey. Adrian instinct kicked in and pushed himself back. Adrian and his gang were shocked to core. They felt an heavy bloodlust descending on them. They couldn't move. The most bewildered part was that it was emmiting from Arion. Their eyes were filled with disbelief. It was torrential more like unbelievable. This amount of bloodlust emmiting from his body. How many people did he kill. Was this the Arion they know? It was too novel, too unreal. Tempting them to pinch themselves to reality, but still, it was real.

Adrian could not believe it. He maintained his usual demeanor. Though bewildered, he masked it. Could this be Arion?. The very question lingering in his mind.

"Come on guys. What are you afraid of? He is deceiving us. But we are not that foolish"

His words made his gang retain their usual composure. This time they were ready to give Arion a hell of beating. But before they charged him. Adrian tossed him a sword in his storage ring and snickered.

"To be fair"

Arion couldn't help but smirked

"You will regret it"

Arion was not fazed about the situation he was in. His gaze calculated. His experience was a testament to the battle he has faced even with the devil incarnate. This guy's are not up to his challenge. He pointed his sword at them

"Charge at me"

Adrian and his gang thought they misheard him. They couldn't deny it there was the aura if confidence within him. Could he really beat them?

Thomas lips curled up and grinned

"You asked for this. If his beating you want it us what you will get."

One of Adrian's gang members, Lucius, was the first to rush in. A pseudo rank 1 water Mage.

"Elemental Magic:Water burst"

The coordination and the control was not good enough but was manageable. Just when the attack was about to hit his mark. Arion sliced it with lethal precision. It was more like the attack was slash in half!. Lucius was dumbstruck. He felt a sense of danger behind him. It was too late for his to block. A crushing blow was delivered to his jaw and was knocked out cold.

Realization dawn upon Adrian and his gang. Arion was no longer the empty shell he once was.

Adrian could only glare at Arion ferociously. If looks could kill. Arion would already be dead thousand times.

"What us wrong with you guys. Don't tell me you are scared? That was just beginners luck. We all know Lucius is the weakest out of us. Let show him his place."

This time they charged in groups. Adrian forward as a mage and the others behind one as support then the other as defenceman.

Arion couldn't help but be quite amazed by their coordination strategy but however that is not a threat to him anymore. He was mo longer the timid, old self he once was.

It was a clash of titans. Light and darkness intertwining in a deadly dance. Though the latter attack were coordinated, Arion was relentless more like a ferocious beast. It is either he parried or avoid the attack. He was holding his ground against the three if them without breaking a sweat! Every move of his was coordinated and precise. In each strike of his there was an unspoken power behind it. He moved with purpose and grace. Though his opponent were showing determination with each strike their attacks were starting to waver.

One of Adrian's gang memeber, Mitchell an opening at his side. He stricked . Thinking it would meet his mark. It was a feint! Arion parried the sword. It rose upward and Michell loses his grip on his weapon. He was give a swift kick to the face and met his defeat.

"An enemy's trap is an element of suprise that could turn the course of battlefield to his favour"

Though one of their members suffered a crushing defeat. Adrian and his other support, Darius went on with their unrelenting assault. Just when they taught the battle was tipping in their favour. The temperatures around the surrounding seem to drop. The hair on their bodies stood on end. Arion's attack were becoming more ferocious but coordinated. They couldn't keep up with him. He was too strong. Then it came. A sword strike that seem to send shivers down their spine.

There were ready to block it. To their amazement, it was also a feint. It was a stab. Arion thrust his sword forward. Time to stop for a moment

"Abysmal Void Technique First Form: Stab of the Conqueror

A sigil of black energy was covering his sword. It was crackling with raw power . They couldn't deny it. Their instinct was screaming at them but couldn't avoid it. It was too fast. A deafening sound reverberated the surrounding. Fragment of bricks and remnant of soil were scattered everywhere in the ground. A massive shockwave that pulsed with power. It disturbed the air in the vicinity. It was shocking. The dilapidated building was destroyed in half! Only a piece of it clinging to his existence.

"Was it too much. I though I minimized it. Are these bullies that weak, a meager attack none of them could block"

If the old Arion was alive. He would have slapped him to oblivion. Not even a peak rank one could survive it even a rank 2 will be wary by it and he said it was minimized. Just what is his full power.

Just when Arion was about to leave the scene

" Where do you think you are going"

The sudden voice stopped his tracks. Arion could not help be grin

"Now this what am talking about, a challenge"

Arion was enthusiastic to fight. He doesn't know whether it will last long but it will worth a good fight

The voice belong to none other that Adrian. He was bleeding in his forehead. His body battered but still clinging to consciousness.

"That was not Mana. What is it?"

Arion lips widened in a smile. I will tell you if you defeat me

Suddenly a red flame started swirling around him. Realization dawned on Arion like a bolt of lightning.

"Did he just swallowed a Mana core to increase his rank. No wonder he was able to survive that attack. He used that dire moment to swallow a Mana core. Anyway this is gonna be interesting"

He dropped his sword

"This time I fight with fist. To make it fair"

Vein was bulging out of Adrian' temple.

"Overconfidence will be your flaw"

Arion smirked

"Let see"

The flame crackling around Adrian intensified. He was now a peak rank 1He charged in with amazing speed. But Arion was ready a dark red energy was circulating his fist. They both clashed. It was intense. The building was shaking as a result of the clash. This was no longer a battle of experience to Arion. It was that of Power. Adrian shot a massive fireball towards Arion with unwavering concentration and precision.

Arion hurled the energy to his foot then sidestepped but the massive fireball was still following him! It was an inch close to him. Arion could feel the power behind it. His senses alerted to the extreme. He shielded himself and in that direction moment he circulated the unknown dark, red energy around his arms. A boom was heard. A crackling sound that sent a gust of wind.

"Now this is what I call a challenge"

Arion was still uninjured!

I'm annoyance, Adrian hurled three massive fireball at him.

With a lethal strike, the dark red energy around Arion arm intesified forming a blade the fireball were nothing but a butter sliced through by a knife. Just as Adrian was about to attack, Adrian could not be seen. Just then a cage of flame surrounded him. Adrian sense piqued. A sense of overwhelming danger.

"Haha! I told you overconfidence will be your fall. You can never defeat me. Never!

Just surrender now or you will regret it"

But inside the cage, Adrian could only smirk

Adrian was feeling an hint of annoyance within him .

"You asked for this. Elemental Magic: Cage of Annihilat...!"

Just when he was about to finish chanting his spell. A torrential dark red energy filled the cage and crushed it. It was immense. This time it was filled with bloodlust. It was as if blood drained from Adrian face. It was fear. Looking at the energy surrounding Arion was like a fiend beast from hell itself.

Arion smacked his lips

"Now it my turn to prescribe a dose of revenge to you, friend"

His words were filled with thirst fir revenge and amusement. Arion rushed in towards Adrian with immense speed. Adrian sense was piqued and in high alert but before he could conjure any spell a devastating blow was delivered to his jaw. Then a swift kick was given to his side. This was no longer a fight it was a crushing defeat. Blow were delivered to Adrian one after the other until he blackout.

"Damnation! Can't even put up another tricks up your sleeve. Anyways I expected much. Finally am back again"

Arion was already tired from all the fighting today. He gritted his teeth in anger

"This body can't even keep up anymore. My whole body is sore. Back to square one. Anyways since I now have a chan I will grow even stronger than how I was before"

Arion continued to look at the cloud and smile.

It is until this day that history will know the journey of this young man to the pinnacle of power. Destiny will also take a turn in his life.