~January 2nd, morning~
“Ah, so this is what he meant.” Jet grumbled as soon as he woke up.
DANG! DANG! DANG!
“Damn! This box is pretty solid.” Jet said after punching the side of the box a few times.
He had never stumbled upon one of thede before, but he recognized the box he was in. His father and mother often gave him a few war reports to read.
This was one of the unholy items from Vacuo Valley. A nation within the continent of Foedus. And Vacuo Valley…is famous for their shaman's ability to harvest souls.
Besides Pirate Bay City, almost all the kingdoms in Foedus have received immense benefits from working with the Furvurs. Hence, while all the Children of Chaos are locked away in Caligo, they send these nations to attack Ottilia in their stead.
It was a brilliant strategy. Pitting human against human.
“Hmmm, I thought Vacuo Valley only harvested the souls of warriors?” A weird smile formed on Jet's face. “They think too highly of me.”
Jet's ego received a massive boost. Yet, it was quickly dampened by the fact that he was still locked inside a box.
So he calmed himself, and instead tried his best to feel and activate the power of his newly obtained core.
“Oh, thank god! Thank god it wasn't just a dream!”
Jet almost broke into tears. There, pulsating along with his heart, was his energy core. It was only a tiny bit of energy. Like a fleeting spark from a dying wood ember. But the fact remains, Jet possessed a functioning energy core.
“Right. Now lets bust out of here.”
Too bad, he would be sorely disappointed.
“Hey, what the hell! Why am I getting weaker?”
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As soon as that question came out of his mouth, Jet already knew the answer.
“Shit! I forgot. This coffin drains the energy!”
That's right. That's the single most terrifying characteristics that turned this coffin into an effective weapons against Ottilia. Those who was trapped, or got hit, even just standing near the coffin would have their energy drained.
Panic began to plague Jet's heart. Panic, as well as frustration. He finally got himself an energy core, and he can't even use it.
Then, he remembered something.
“Hahaha. That's right. The stranger said that I should drain my energy and be as close to death as possible. This…this is the perfect training ground for me!”
And so, Jet stimulated his energy core to the best of his abilities. His physical energy converted into energy inside of his Deathwish core.
A normal human's source of energy is the heart. A mage or auror’s source of energy is their own respective cores. The physical energy will replenish the energy of the core.
The cycle continued. Jet activated his Deathwish core to pound on the coffin. When his energy is depleted, his own physical strength is used to refill the Deathwish core. Over and over again until his knuckles are bruised and bled all over.
Turns out, Deathwish core consumes a lot of energy. Not only did it ate up Jet's physical energy, even his flesh was burned along.
Soon, he is mere skin and bones.
“Hah! Hah! Almost there.”
Soon, even his consciousness began to wane. Jet gritted his teeth to hold on. Sometimes, he would bite his tongue just to stay awake.
A while later, he was very close to his limit. His sanity and consciousness whacked to a mere sliver. At this stage, giving up is a very tempting proposition.
“Urghh, no! I…I have to succeed. Or die trying!”
His determination was admirable. Yet, the fact is, he is only thirteen. He was exhausted until he was more barren than the desert. Considering both of those facts, it is a miracle that he could last this long.
“...hehehe. Damn! To die as my dream is realized. Guess I am not destined for a warrior's path after all.”
Jet can no longer filled up the energy core. He was too weak. And he still did not fully understand the Deathwish core.
“Haa…I wish…I knew…whether…my parents…really love me…or not…”
Sadly, there's no one there to even hear the dying wish of a thirteen year old. Thanks to the coffin's energy draining capabilities, Jet was getting sleepier and sleepier.
Perhaps that's a good thing. Dying in your sleep is the most painless way to go. At least, the thirteen year old boy won't have to suffer anymore.
His heart began to slow down. His pulse was beating no more. His breath was getting fainter with each moment passed. With a bitter smile and a frown, Jet slowly close his eyes.
Suddenly…
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
The quietened heart suddenly jumped back to life. The beats were steady. Loud. Like a gorilla trying to break free from its cage.
The core in his heart gradually shone through his flesh. Brighter and brighter. The lights flow through the veins, illuminating the path of his blood. And then…
With his skin covered up in glowing lines akin to roots of a tree, Jet's body began to change. It seems like the light are rearranging his bone structure and his muscles. Every organ and limbs received a blessing from the light.
Right now, the inside of the box was brighter than daylight. Yet, Jet's eyes are still closed.
Finally, Jet opened his eyes.
BOOM!
The coffin was blasted open. Reduced to smithereens.
“...what the fuck happened here?” Caedis asked. She didn't know to whom the question was directed to. She didn't even care for an answer. She just needed to get it out of her chest.
Cruor stood there. Mouth agape. Stunned. Petrified by fear. Not only due to the indestructible coffin being turned to dust, but for the scene laid out in front of them.
There, standing in the middle of the cargo hold, was the thirteen year old they were supposed to deliver to Avi. His body was emitting bright golden lights.
Like a god.
Or perhaps…the devil.
And then the boy smiled, which turned the two assassins into a trembling mess.
“Thank you for volunteering to be my training puppets. Let's begin…shall we?”