Tension filled the room, echoing with the gasps and murmurs of the people present. The spectators stared at the holographic screen hovering above my head in disbelief, their eyes widening in disgust.
https://i.imgur.com/S1uKMnW.png [https://i.imgur.com/S1uKMnW.png]
[Enduring Vitality]
Strength: 5 Intelligence: 5 Vitality: 20 Dexterity: 5
"He... he really did it." one whispered in disbelief.
"Vitality?!" another exclaimed, "He's forsaken the path of magic!"
Murmurs of dissent grew louder, and some family members began shouting accusations. "He's a deviator!" "A forsaker!" "He should be quicked out!"
I remained calm and composed, my gaze meeting those of the enraged family members. I had expected this reaction, but I was determined to stand my ground. The patriarch of our family, Lord Kazuhiko, remained in his seat, observing the chaotic scene with a stoic expression.
"Silence!" Lord Kazuhiko's voice boomed through the hall, cutting through the cacophony. The room fell into an uneasy hush as all eyes turned to him.
The patriarch's gaze was fixed on me, and his voice was steady as he spoke. "Kaien...was it?"
The simplicity of the question struck me, and in that moment, I couldn't help but feel a mix of both disappointment and amusement. Here was the man who should have known his own children, yet he asked me to confirm my name.
"That is correct, Patriarch." I responded simply. There was no need for further elaboration. To me, this man was closer to a stranger than a father, and it was a reality I had long accepted.
"Why did you train your Vitality instead of your Intelligence?" his gaze piercing as he directed the question at me.
In that moment, I thought to myself, contemplating the possible answers to provide.
None of them would likely satisfy them. I couldn't tell them the truth - that this was my second life . Even if they believed me, it could lead to unwanted experiments or scrutiny to uncover my time-regression.
What other options did I have? I could say it was a hunch, that I didn't want to risk the consequences of my active skill. But that would sound like an excuse, and it might not sit well with them.
Or I could tell them I wanted to forge a different path from the family's tradition, but that would likely be viewed as defiance, given that our family valued tradition above all else.
As I pondered my response, I realized that there might not be a satisfactory answer that would appease the family. The decision I had made during my year of training was a personal one, and I had to stand by it, regardless of the consequences.
With a calm and steady voice, I responded to the patriarch's question, "I just felt like it."
The room fell into a momentary silence as my simple answer hung in the air. It was a response that didn't offer any explanations or justifications. I knew it wouldn't satisfy their curiosity or concerns, but it was the truth. During my year of training, I had followed my instincts and made a choice that felt right.
Their voices rose in revolt,
"He's making a mockery of us!" one family elder exclaimed, his voice filled with outrage.
"Unbelievable! After all the resources we've invested in his training," another muttered in frustration.
The voices of dissent grew louder, and some even shouted at the patriarch to take appropriate action.
"He should be cast out!" one cried out, echoing the sentiment of many in the room.
Meanwhile, the patriarch, Lord Kazuhiko, remained stoic in his seat, his expression unreadable. It was clear that he had made his decision the moment my information was revealed.
But before any further action could be taken, I could feel the flames of the status activation process enveloping me, preparing to grant me my own active skill.
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"S-Stop the ceremony! We can't allow this forsaker to receive the blessing of God!" one desperate voice cried out.
The sight of me receiving this privilege brought further frustration and anger among those present, as they believed that I did not deserve to gain a skill.
However, it was too late. The ceremony had already begun, and the holographic window above me displayed the icon of my newly acquired active skill, along with its name, for everyone present to see.
The icon and name of my skill hung in the air, casting an eerie glow over the room, and the voices of protest gradually faded into silence as they tried to make sense of the name of the displayed skill.
https://i.imgur.com/3Q0jU1j.png [https://i.imgur.com/3Q0jU1j.png]
[Self-Immolation]
Self-Immolation, It was a name that left everyone puzzled, their anger and frustration momentarily forgotten as they exchanged confused glances.
"What does that even mean?" someone whispered.
The uncertainty in the room was palpable, as no one could comprehend the implications of a skill with such an enigmatic name.
Finally, it was the patriarch, Lord Kazuhiko, who broke the silence. He spoke with an authoritative tone, his gaze fixed on me. "Kaien, demonstrate your skill."
What a sense of déjà vu. I couldn't help but recall a similar situation from my past life when he had asked me to demonstrate my skill.
Back then, it had been mere curiosity that had driven him, and his interest had waned as he watched me burn away at my own life without much concern.
But this time, there was something different in his demeanor. His request for a demonstration held an added layer of significance.
For the patriarch, usefulness was paramount, and if my skill proved to be advantageous to the family, he might overlook my deviation from the Arashi path. After all, what mattered most to him were the tools at his disposal, even if those tools acted in their own self-interest.
Apologies for shattering your expectations, Patriarch, but there's one critical difference between this turn and the last: this time, I'm going to make it through alive! While your disappoint will remain!
"Self-Immolation!"
The moment I activated [Self-Immolation], it was as if my entire world had been set ablaze.
Flames engulfed my body, searing through my flesh, devouring my bones, and consuming every inch of my being.
My clothes were reduced to ashes, leaving me naked and vulnerable amidst the inferno.
Agony beyond words coursed through me, and my screams of pain echoed in the room.
The onlookers, including the patriarch and the family members, were in shock as they witnessed the horrifying spectacle. Their eyes widened in disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation.
Amidst the inferno that raged around me, I bore the excruciating pain with a twisted smile that could be seen beneath the flames that ate at me.
Why was I smiling? It was a simple answer – I was still standing, defying the fate that had befallen me in my previous life.
In my past, a single second of using [Self-Immolation] had left me disabled for life. But this time, I endured, counting each agonizing second as it passed – 1... 2... 3... 4... and so on. I was still alive, still able to move, and it was all thanks to [Enduring Vitality].
"Kaien!" Amidst the roaring flames, the horrified scream of my mother pierced the air.
she cried out in a voice filled with equal parts terror and pity. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched her son being burnt alive.
With a grim determination, I summoned every ounce of my willpower and focused on deactivating the skill.
Slowly, the flames began to dissipate from my body, leaving behind a cloud of smoke and a charred, scorched form.
As the smoke cleared, the extent of the damage became apparent. My body was badly burnt and disfigured, but the glimmer of hope that I've forged myself was not lost to me. My passive skill, [Enduring Vitality], continued its work, gradually healing the wounds inflicted by the flames.
"He's cursed!" one exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.
The family members present, initially stunned into silence, began to voice their thoughts.
"This is punishment!" another declared, his tone filled with condemnation.
"He's forsaken god! His given a cursed skill because of it!" a third shouted.
The patriarch, Lord Kazuhiko, finally spoke, his voice calm and unwavering amidst the chaos. "Enough." His single word silenced the room, and all eyes turned to him once more.
"Cursed child," he began, his tone filled with a heavy sense of judgment.
'Cursed child. Why am i not surprised.'
"You have deviated from our path, forsaken tradition, and incurred a cursed skill from the divine." Lord Kazuhiko continued, his voice unwavering but filled with a sense of finality.
"We cannot allow an individual who has defied the family to remain under its protection. Kaien Arashi, as of today, you are stripped of any and all ties to the Arashi Family. You shall never present yourself as an Arashi again."
The patriarch's declaration hung heavy in the air, casting a solemn shadow over the room. His words were like a final verdict, sealing my fate.
I had anticipated consequences for my deviation, but this was more than I had expected, thought not one i had not envisioned happening.
As the realization of my excommunication from the Arashi Family settled in, there was a single set of reaction among the family members. Nods of agreement, believing it was the right course of action to uphold tradition.
Only two people within the crowd could be seen with torn glances, Elora and my mother.
My mother wept openly, her heartbroken sobs echoing through the hall.
She reached out to me, as if trying to hold on to the last vestiges of our connection, but she was stopped by a few family members who formed a barrier between us.
It was a heavy price to pay for choosing a different path, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was worth it.
But even as I faced this harsh reality, I felt a strange sense of liberation.
"The ceremony has not yet concluded! Escort him out, and let us continue where we left off!" declared the patriarch with unwavering authority.
With those words from the patriarch, my fate was sealed. I was escorted out of the family residence, my body still smoldering, battered and naked.
The flames had tested me, and I had endured for the first time. Now, I was forced to forge my own destiny, away from the Arashi Family's guidance.