They could hear the ritual outside the cave as Sim stood on one knee coughing blood as the man angrily pounded his fists against the ground.

“Listen up you fucking brat!” He shouted.

[Current status.]

[Name: Sim Owens]

[Rank: F]

[Strength: D]

[Agility: F]

[Stamina: F]

[Intelligence: C]

[Mana: F-]

[Luck: F]

[Charm F+]

[Profession: Rune User: Nature Rune.]

[MC: Sim Owens.]

[Level: 1. EXP 100/100.]

[Health 200/200 MP 100/100]

“Ho-w…” Sim coughed.

“You want to fuck with Messengers of Damuzen so bad then I will show you what we are capable of!” He explained.

Sim watched his stats sitting on the holographic screen while he felt a pain coming from his stomach that wouldn’t subside It wasn’t from any physical injury, it was from something else. He had never felt anything so painful. The more he looked at it, the more worried he became.

“If you want your question answered then yes I know who you are Sim!” He howled.

“Della…!” Sim shouted.

[HP -23 HP Remaining 1/100.]

He ran forward as the man's fists got him in the gut knocking the air right out of his lungs. As he hit the ground he coughed violently before getting up.

“My name is Gravel, but you can call me Uncle” He spoke.

Sim collapsed to the ground once again coughing painfully while holding his side struggled to stand up and stumbled towards the exit. Gravel grabbed a hold of Sim’s face slamming him into the ground as his head hit the ground sending him spiraling to his stomach Gravel pulled him up by his hair.

“Healing Correction!” Gravel grunted.

The brown-haired author cried out in pain as he felt the healing light penetrate his veins; he could feel the heart in his chest beat faster than usual, creating his veins and arteries to jump out of his body to heal him from the attack as Gravel continued to pull him up.

[HP recovered 100/100.]

“You really thought you would win this?!” Gravel cackled.

“How did…you get the authority to pull my information!” Sim yelled.

“You aren’t even taking the time to level and you already want to know who got you by the balls!” He laughed.

“Shut up! I want to get this town back to normal soon as possible! If you know where the book is, you better tell me!” Sim stated.

“I will tell you that the ink on your pages was a random pick so you shouldn’t feel so special!” Gravel noted.

“I see… ” He muttered.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Gravel charged at Sim as his golden aura erupted around him causing Sim to scream in pain as his body was flung toward the rock wall. Sim slid down on his side as Gravel came charging right after him grabbing Sim by his neck, his grip so tight he began choking Sim.

“I don’t even need to use my abilities to kill you if I wanted to! Harmonious Boxing Sight Touch!” Gravel growled.

[HP -99 HP Remaining 1/100.]

Sim’s hands fell to his side violently as his life slowly left his body Gravel smiled sinisterly at him. His body went limp as he let go, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as his vision faded Sim collapsed to the ground nearly unconscious.

The death rattle in his chest started to make him wheeze as Gravel grabbed his collar lifting him off the ground. His body started to burn as he grew hotter and hotter the heat radiating from his core causing him to gasp for breath as he fought to catch his breath.

“Healing Correction!” Gravel yelled angrily.

[HP restored 100/100.]

His breath heaved as he was brought from the grips of the reaper from the healer as he gasped he felt his heart thumping painfully in his chest. Gravel walked over to the crystal circle and he placed his hand on the ground.

“Now!” He barked. “Let the magic flow from the earth!”

Sim could feel an amplification vibrate in the earth below. He felt a rush of energy pass through his body causing everything in his body to be healed beyond the damage done by Gravel’s golden aura tearing him apart.

“Oh...wait!” Gravel shouted.

“You made a grave mistake!” Sim smiled.

[HP (Temporary Boost) 300/300.]

[MP (Temporary Boost) 500/500.]

[No rune is needed when the rune type is amplified.] He could feel rejuvenation as the Earth reached out to Sim. Through the power of the magic as I ran through his veins absorbing all the energy into himself ‘I won’t lose again!’ He yelled inwardly to himself. Sitting up, he held his hand towards the ground.

An inner part of his soul he could invoke he could feel plant roots ready to burst under his feet.

‘I don’t care! This is the end! The end!!’ He thought.

With every step, he took the earth and responded to his will. It moved with every move he made, making him dance across its surface, jumping over tree roots. He felt the earth pulsating beneath his feet and the air moving as if he was floating in the air as if he had weightless legs underneath him.

‘Thump,’

“Fuck…Assault Sylvan Fusion ” Sim whispered.

‘Thump,’

Dried roots broke the barrier of the cave floor as Sim guided them like a missile at Gravel The rocks were crushed, shattered, ripped out, and broken until they formed an obstacle course.

Innumerable roots sprung forth as if to stop him, but his power was strong enough to overcome these obstacles easily.

[MP -70, MP remaining 430/500.]

‘Thump,’

“Fucking kid!” Gravel howled.

Sim held tight to the chest as the Earth's abilities took a toll on him as Sim fell onto his knees he saw blood seep into the dirt around him. He quickly stood, the energy of the land was still surging through him.

“What is going on here? Senior Gravel?” A voice shouted.

“Sim?!” Della yelled.

“D-Della?” Sim huffed.

The amplification released the temporary increase in his rune magic as his body weakened. He dropped as the roots quickly wilted to the ground. Della ran to Sim as his breathing labored heavily. She lifted Sim onto her shoulder.

“Sim, speak to me” Della screamed.

“How many times have you used ‘Healing Correction’?” The Elder scolded.

“Enough times, but it was his fault!” Gravel responded angrily.

“We have to postpone the rest of the test Della…call Kavan to this scene this instant!” He shouted.

“Understood…” Gravel mumbled.

“We are going to get in trouble now,” The Elder whimpered.

“What do you mean by that?” Della asked.

“We have an agreement with guilds to not PVP if we can help it, ” He scolded.

A crowd of hooded figures panicked as Kavan made his way to the cave about what he had just heard. Kavan approached the cave as the priest gawked at him.

“What happened?” Kavan asked sternly.

“A fight broke out as we were doing the level 10 quest,” The Elder explained.

“I know that Sim is easily angered and likes to start fights. He will be punished for interrupting, but for now, how is he doing?” Kavan questioned.

“He has a fever…my light rune magick hasn’t been able to do anything,” Della responded.

Kavan disliked the thought of her influencing Sim’s actions; he frowned slightly as the Elder cleared his throat and looked at Kavan.

“Light is akin to darkness and every ability is a double-edged sword so your abilities most likely won’t work…I would like a copy of the report once one is made Elder priest,” Kavan noted.

“Understood…” The priest mumbled.

“I want to come, sir!” Della shouted.

Sim’s hand shot up as he gulped for air looking directly at Della who stared at him confused and then turned toward Kavan.

“Good morning idiot!” Kavan smiled.

“What…happened…” Sim yelled.

“Depends, what did you see,” He asked.

He was speechless as his gaze hit the ground as he spoke. Sim was confused about what he had seen in everything, but he wasn’t sure if he should speak of it.

“Well, you can tell me later, for now, you owe this guild an apology, ” Kavan chuckled.

“What?!” Sim shouted.

“Do what you are told!” Kavan argued.

Getting up from the ground he dusted himself off, shaking his head as he walked away from Della. Kavan turned toward her and looked at her questioningly as she stared straight at Sim.

“I am so sorry for interrupting your thing whatever it was!” Sim said gently.

The priest only smiled softly as he waved his hand dismissing the apology. He motioned toward the cavern before glancing at Sim.

“Sim, we aren’t even allowed here…we have to talk later,” Kavan grinned.

“Fuck…” Sim whispered.

He knew he was in trouble with the two elders as they were definitely not happy with how reckless he was. Looking at the Elder he nodded his head before walking away. As he walked out of the cave he sighed deeply.

“Sim, what is wrong with you?” Della shouted.

“It doesn’t matter as you chose your side, but I will make it normal soon and we will be friends again!” Sim yelled angrily.

“Normal?” She asked.

“The world has changed quickly and now we're stuck like this and…Dad…he doesn’t even remember me…” He huffed.

“But it has always been like this hasn’t it?” Della questioned.

“How do you remember me if that was the case?” Sim thought.

“You are my friend aren’t you?” Della noted.

Bringing up the holographic screen she showed he was on her friends list along with other names he didn’t know. Sim stared at the screen in disbelief and sadness, before turning back to look at Della.

“How did we meet?” He demanded to know.

“We were childhood friends and met at the crimson plateau where the guilds meet because of our fathers every year to test their strengths,” She smiled.

He knew this was hopeless for information. Her memories weren’t the same as when she was brainwashed. He could only hope she would remember the truth.

“Yeah…” Sim whispered.