Chapter - 4: Awakening

Levi sat on the beast’s lifeless body, his chest still heaving from the battle. His hands trembled as the adrenaline ebbed away, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. He stared at the creature’s still form, its deadly fangs forever bared in a silent snarl. The fight was over, but something far worse had begun.

Without warning, a searing pain erupted in his chest, as if a thousand needles had pierced his heart at once. His breath hitched, and before he could brace himself, the pain intensified. It wasn’t just confined to his heart—it spread, rippling outward through his veins, creeping through his limbs like wildfire. He collapsed, rolling off the beast and hitting the ground hard, writhing in agony.

Levi gasped, clutching at his chest, but there was no relief. Every pulse of his heartbeat sent another wave of torment crashing through him, as though a million needles now burrowed into his muscles and bones. His body burned from the inside, the sensation not just of pain, but of something foreign being injected into him—something unnatural.

He groaned, his vision blurring, desperate for relief. His mouth was parched, dry as dust, and his mind screamed for water. With great effort, he turned his head, searching for anything, any source of water to quench his unbearable thirst. But all he saw was the dark pool of the beast’s blood seeping into the earth beside him. The thought of it sent a wave of nausea through him, but even if he wanted to, he couldn’t move—not even an inch. His limbs were locked in place, frozen by the sheer force of the agony.

His mind spiraled. Was this it? Was this how it ended for him, after everything? The battle, the victory—it was all for nothing. He was going to die here, alone in a strange world, no closer to finding his way back home.

Then, through the haze of pain, a memory pierced through like a beacon in the dark.

“You will not forget your promise, right?”

Elara’s voice echoed in his mind, soft yet insistent. Her face flashed before his eyes, her gentle smile, her eyes full of trust and love. That day in the park when they were kids, her playful question about their future, and his promise to her—it all came flooding back in vivid detail.

Levi gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious. No. He couldn’t die here. Not now. He had made a promise, and even if it seemed impossible, even if the pain was unbearable, he would not break that vow. Not to her.

His body screamed for him to surrender, to give in and let the pain consume him, but the memory of Elara’s face kept him anchored. If this world had magic, then it must have answers. There had to be a way to return to his world, to her. He refused to believe that this was the end.

He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms to focus through the pain. The burning in his chest only worsened as he started to crawl towards the pool of blood, with a low growl of defiance, Levi pushed himself up, inch by agonizing inch. His entire body protested, every nerve alight with pain, but he didn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop.

“Elara… I won’t give up.” His voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough. He wouldn’t let this world beat him. Not now. Not ever.

The pain surged once more, but Levi braced himself, gritting his teeth. Whatever was happening inside him, whatever change was coming, he would endure it. For her. For the promise he’d made.

Slowly with the pain in his body, he came near the pool of blood and started licking the blood for water as his throat is becoming wet from it. As his pain and burning sensation near his heart is slowly cooling down.

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4 hours later…

In between pool of blood there is a 10 years old kid sleeping while clutching his heart tighty as if he was in pain. He then slowly released the grip of his hand and he slowly woke up from the sleep and sat down between the pool of blood.

Slowly, with the agonizing pain still coursing through his body, Levi dragged himself toward the dark pool of blood. His throat was parched, the dryness almost unbearable, and he knew there was no other option. He hesitated for just a second, the sight of the thick, crimson liquid sending a wave of disgust through him, but survival instincts overpowered his revulsion. Desperately, he lowered his head, his mouth meeting the blood, and began to lick it. It was warm, metallic, but as the blood touched his tongue and slid down his throat, it brought a strange, desperate relief. His throat, now wet, found a small measure of comfort.

As he continued, the intense burning near his heart—where it had felt like fire was raging through him—began to cool. The pain still lingered, but it dulled, and the heat gradually faded, leaving him with a heavy exhaustion.

Four hours later…

In the middle of the pool of blood lay a small, motionless figure—a boy, clutching his heart tightly, as if even in sleep, he was guarding himself from some unspeakable pain. His fingers were curled into his chest, knuckles white from the effort. For hours, he had been still, his breath shallow and slow, his body resting after the brutal ordeal.

Then, slowly, the boy’s hand began to release its grip. His fingers relaxed, and his body stirred. His eyes fluttered open, blinking away the exhaustion, and he sat up, his heart still pounding in his chest but the pain now distant, as if it had been nothing more than a fading nightmare.

Levi looked down at himself, his breath still uneven, surrounded by the thick, congealed blood of the beast. His body was drenched in it, sticky and warm, the smell of iron filling his nostrils. He could feel every ache, every pulse of exhaustion coursing through him, but something else tugged at his awareness—a subtle sensation near his chest.

He instinctively placed his hand over his heart, the skin there still sensitive from the earlier, searing pain. The moment his fingers brushed his chest, he felt a strange pull, as if his consciousness was being dragged inward, deeper into himself.

Levi’s vision blurred, the world around him vanishing in a swirl of colors. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a vast, dark expanse—a space that wasn’t part of the physical world. Before him, floating in this strange void, was a massive heart. It pulsed rhythmically, its beat slow but powerful, and within it, nestled deep in the core, was a glowing orb. At first, it appeared to be a marble, but as Levi focused, he saw that it was more complex—a swirling mix of colors. White, black, shades of red, and hints of blue spun together, creating something both mesmerizing and unsettling.

“What… what is this?” Levi muttered, stepping closer to the heart.

He squinted at the marble-like core, and then it struck him. It was almost like the mana cores he had read about in stories—the kind that protagonists discover inside themselves after defeating a powerful enemy. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. He had just killed the beast, something primal and powerful, and now this… Was his mana core awakening?

Levi’s mind raced. “No way. This is just like the stories where the system activates after the hero defeats their first monster…”

He stood frozen in place, a battle of emotions raging within him. On one hand, the thought of gaining power was enticing—he’d need it to survive in this strange world. On the other hand, he had always hated the idea of being controlled, of his actions being dictated by some external system or force. The very concept of a system felt like a shackle, even if it offered him strength. He didn’t want his fate tied to something that wasn’t fully his own.

“I don’t want it,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I didn’t ask for this.”

As if responding to his thought, the marble glowed brighter, the colors swirling faster. The pull on his consciousness grew stronger, but Levi fought against it, trying to will himself out of this strange inner world.

“Get me out of here,” he thought, pushing against the invisible force.

Slowly, the void began to fade, and his surroundings started to come back into focus. The massive heart, the marble, the swirling colors—all of it vanished, and he found himself once again sitting on the blood-soaked ground of the forest. He was back in his body, his chest rising and falling with each breath, his hand still resting over his heart.

Just as I was catching my breath, I heard a sound.