Enlightenment Stones were just a normal stone that evolved by chance. To protect themselves from danger, they make a shield to protect their body.

This stone was also the most sought after by most Master as this stone will give you a realization that will either increase your understanding of Branding Ability or Increase your understanding of your Ego Weapon making you level up in overall stat.

However, the realization someone can gain is mostly up to entirely of one's capability. That is why it's also possible to only gain a little.

Nevertheless, it was still an upgrade.

Before the kid could even react, he quickly grabbed the Enlightenment Stone and swiftly put it in his mouth.

Hiss.

Upon contact with his tongue, the stone melted letting out a hissing sound.

Noah drank the liquified stone.

"Its bitter, like life."

He almost spat some of the liquified enlightenment Stone because of how bitter it is. However, he persevered and drank everything.

Tick! Tack!

The sound of the clock ticking was heard.

And, the world suddenly stands still and becomes black and white as if the time was gone.

In this black and white world, Noah was in the trance and suddenly remembered what his Master always say to him all the time in the past.

"Cut."

"If you ever arrive in a situation where there's no way out, just swung your Sword and Cut."

"Everything can be cut. Not just wood, not just flesh. The air, the very essence of life around you. You must understand this before you can truly wield your Sword."

I thought I finally understood it when I can finally cut every one in the same level effortlessly.

It seems like I was wrong.

It wasn't about the physical act of cutting; it was about cutting through the barriers in his mind, the limitations he had placed on himself. Everything could be cut because everything was fundamentally more or less connected.

After that, a realization for his very first original sword technique came.

A cut is originally a way to kill. But, it's not just a way to kill; it was also a means to 'End'. And 'End' was not only for ending a life; it can be the 'End' of anything. However, it doesn't mean it was truly the 'End'. Sometimes, it was merely the start of a new 'Beginning', like how the caterpillar 'Ends' its form through metamorphosis to become something new.

Just after the realization came in. Everything came back to normal, the world regained it's color and the time finally moves.

And finally, Noah swung his sword, a vertical strike from the Head to the ground.

A sword technique that End what's present for the new beginning.

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'It will be called as.....'

[Genesis Sword Technique First Form: Sword of Beginning]

A flashing light came from his sword as his strike obliterated the strong sound wave gushing to his place.

Boom!!

The strong sound wave that slowly destroys the place suddenly disappears out of thin air.

"Holy!!"

"I can't believe it obliterated those sound waves."

Seeing the sound waves destroying the place suddenly disappeared because of his sword, Noah couldn't help but be flabbergasted.

"Genesis Sword Tech—"

He tried to use his sword technique when suddenly, his body grew weak and eyelids grew heavy.

'What!?'

'No! Not now!!!'

'Was it already the End?'

'What about the kid? I should have saved him at least.'

Frustration and Despair consumed Noah's thought as he thought everything will just end as he just starts walking.

"[Pierce]!!! Longinus!!!"

Boom!!!

Just as he fall to the depths of tranquil sleep, he heard a thoudering voice that seems to shook the heaven and Earth.

And saw a golden pillar of light that seems to Pierce the sky piercing through its thick hard flesh, ending the Fallen into smithereens

'........'

'That should finally end its suffering....'

Seeing the Fallen being destroyed in smithereens, Noah finally gave himself in and falls to the depths of tranquil sleep.

***

The previous bustling city square was now desolated devoid of any life.

The square shows signs of an intense battle; cracked concrete floor, shattered tree, destroyed buildings and headless corpses of civilian.

"Captain!!! There's a kid and unconscious individual here!!!"

A woman with emerald green eyes and green hair tied in braids appeared from the side of the building. She wielded a long piece of wood that seemed like a staff. Her attire was striking: a long black coat with silver trimmings and buttons that covered her entire body, with a hood at the back that could be used for cover.

On the left side of her chest, there was a circular insignia featuring a tall ancient tower with clouds and a large sun. A nameplate on the right side of her chest displayed her name and serial number. Her black pants and knee-high combat boots completed the dark theme of her outfit.

"What's their current status?"

A man with golden hair and golden eyes, dressed in an identical black coat, emerged from the place where the Fallen was pierced. His eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any lingering threats.

"What's their current status?" he asked, his tone sharp and commanding.

"The kid is safe without any injury. However, the guy is seriously injured. He needs immediate care," the woman with green hair responded, her voice calm but urgent.

She knelt beside the unconscious individual, her hands moving swiftly as she examined the man, Noah, for further injuries.

"[Heal]"

She began applying first-aid, her staff glows faintly with green light as she worked.

The golden-haired captain nodded decisively. "Heal the guy first and Raul, find a safe place and bring the kid there."

"Understood" 2x

Another person appeared from the side of the building. He has a large build and holds a large shield in his back. He also wears the same identical coat as the other two.

Despite having a large build, he holds the kid gently in his hands so as not to hurt him.

"I'll take the child to the house I saw earlier in the outskirts first. It’s secluded and should keep us safe for the night. I will just send the location through the communication device.

After that, he ran through the wrecked buildings disappearing in their view in an instant.

The woman with green hair continued healing Noah's wounds. It didn't take long for Noah’s breathing steadied, as his most severe injuries began to mend under her skill.

— Ding!

After a while, the woman received the location of the safe place through her communication device.

Once Noah's condition stabilized enough for transport, she gently lifted his body in her arms to move him to the safe place.

The captain’s gaze was steady, his senses keen. "I’ll remain here and ensure no more Fallen approach. Be swift and stay vigilant."

With a nod, the woman moved swiftly through the wrecked buildings, following the location sent to their communication device.

The captain watched her disappear into the haze, then turned his attention back to the clearing.

"Where is it....."

He muttered, his golden eyes flickering within the dark, desolate city square as his gaze pierced through every nook and cranny of the place.

5 Km in the west of the Jade Groove City.

Dark Tinted Forest.

In the heart of an old, gloomy, dark forest, where the dense canopy of trees blocked out anything but the faintest glimmers of moonlight, an eerie silence reign. The trees, gnarled and twisted with age, stood like silent sentinels, their branches intertwining to form an almost impenetrable barrier.

Amidst of this eerie silence, a shadow began to stir. It wasn't the movement of an animal or the rustling of leaves in the wind, but something far more unsettling. The shadow, dark and indistinct, seemed to pull away from the surrounding darkness, shifting and undulating with an unnatural grace.

Slowly, the stirring darkness of the shadows coalesced, taking on a more defined shape. The shadow elongated, forming limbs and a torso, until it stood upright, showing the appearance of a Bear Mascot.

The figure moved, removing the mascot it's wearing with a swift movement s. Even in the near-total darkness, the outline of the figure was visible thanks to the faint glimmers of moonlight that pierced the canopy. However, the figure’s whole appearance remained hidden.

Despite that, his pair of cold, piercing Amethyst eyes stood out.

"Lord Tristan!!!"

A voice shattered the eerie silence, coming deeper from within the Dark Tinted Forest.

"Where did you just go!?"

The unknown voice asked, their tone was a mix of irritation and concern.

Tristan's warm voice, responded, "Nothing, just taking a stroll."

Tristan's eyes narrowed. "But, I did see something interesting."

The curiosity in the cloaked figure’s voice was palpable, "What did you see that made you interested?"

A sly smile curled on Tristan’s lips, though it remained hidden in the shadows. "Nah, it's not fun if I said it to you. My siblings might catch onto it, and I might lose a toy."

"Lord Tristan, if there’s something out there, we need to know. What if, that toy you found might be the key." The unknown figure's frustration grew as evident in his voice.

Tristan stepped forward, his Amethyst eyes gleaming with mischief. "You overthink it, that guy is not the key."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I made sure of it."

The figure sighed but agreed reluctantly, "Very well, I don't dare to doubt the eyes of Cain after all.

After that, Tristan walked forward and disappeared in the darkness.

Then with that, the eerie silence of the forest continued.