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16 June 2008

"Honey, I can't do this anymore..."

"What happened Saaksh? Are you alright?" Said his wife walking into the room while removing her apron. "You were alright when you left. Something happened at work?"

"Yea... nothing, let's eat dinner first." Saaksh clenched his fist and sucked back all his feelings when he saw his wife's concerned face. Stress from work can't be brought at home... but it's a threat... I need to protect these two... They are my only family in this world.

"It's alright you can tell me, I am your wife."

"It's...alright."

"Saaksh you need to tell! Don't bottle it up."

"Anik is waiting, isn't he... I'll explain after dinner."

"Okay, it's okay. I'll wait for you don't worry."

Anik ran towards the dining room as soon as he heard his parents walk out of the room. He wanted to show his dad the medal he got on the annual quiz day. It was the first time he saw his dad so vulnerable which was something he can't bring himself to look over.

"Anik~ how was your day son?" Saaksh wanted to be the best version of himself to be a good dad. He wanted to give Anik what he lacked at his age. He walked on the path of truthfulness without fear. He was righteous and brave. He was all this until Anik was born. After the birth of Anik, he suddenly felt a strange type of feeling what if I lose them? That was the fear he never knew he had to this day.

"It was good dad, I won a quiz."

"Oh, my goodness Anik you won a quiz at the age of five? You are a genius Anik." said his dad picking Anik up in his arms.

"My competitors were five as well Dad," said little Anik pouting.

"But you won."

Anik smiled happily and hugged his dad. Saaksh was taken aback by his sudden hug. Tears came rolling down his eyes as he hugged him back tightly. Saaksh stroked Anik's hair and wiped his tears.

"Guys, are you gonna fill your tummies with all this love or are you going to eat too huh?" Said Jada, Saaksh's Arabic wife with beautiful features which she passed down to Anik too.

"We are not leaving you out dear, come," said Saaksh as he opened his right arm for her while he held Anik in his left one. She walked to them and that was the last time Anik felt warm in that world.

They heard a gunshot on the front porch.

"What's happening Saaksh?" Jada didn't freak out but her hands were trembling slightly. It wasn't Jada's first time hearing gunshots. His husband works undercover all the time and he had plenty of people following him home too. But the last time that happened was more than six years ago.

"Jada... I am sorry." He said as he pushed both of them into the bedroom and locked the door from the outside.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" This was the first time Saaksh did something like that, back in the day both of them easily chased away the intruders. Saaksh was military trained and Jada is a karate black belt. But if Saaksh had to lock them in means the enemy is not easy to deal with. That's when the real fear struck her.

"Protect him Jada..."

Anik lost his ground at that moment. With no idea what was going on he wanted to cry but his voice seemed to be locked inside. He stared at the door as his mother looked panicked trying to make a phone call with trembling hands.

Another gunshot, now right at the front door.

"Anik listen tell the police our address and hide in the closet, I'll go save Dad, okay?" She jumped out of the window with Saaksh's baseball bat in her hands. This baseball bat is a gift, the first gift Saaksh received from Jada on his 18th birthday.

"Hello, police..."

"Yes 100 here, what's your emergency?"

"My dad is going to die please help us..."

"Your address?"

"Lake-town, Parganas district-"

"Anik??"

"..."

"Are you Saaksh's son?"

"Yes..."

"We'll be reaching shortly don't worry and hide."

"Yes"

Anik kept waiting till sunrise, but no one appeared. All he remember was the gunshots and his dad's mourning before the last gunshot. The last gunshot and everything was silent. Sickeningly silent. Anik wanted to check what happened but he didn't have the guts to. He kept waiting, he wasn't able to cry he wasn't able to move, all he did was stare into the darkness, neverending darkness.

Jada wasn't able to save Saaksh, instead, she died as well, trying to block the bullet for Saaksh. Police arrived in the morning, and everyone knows why... Anik was rescued and sent to an orphanage. His mother's side family refused to take him in because Jada married Saaksh against their wish. Saaksh was an orphan himself. Anik was the history that repeated itself.

Anik wanted to know the truth, he wanted to know who killed them, and he wanted to get revenge.

"I'll kill each one of you...I'll leave no trace of your bloodline whatsoever. I'll make sure you regret what you did."

"Dad, Mom your son killed someone. The first one's down now I'll take care of the next"

"I know you don't want me to do this, but wait for me. I'll come to meet you soon." Anik said these words to his parents every day. He would get revenge and kill himself. During his time before coming to this book, he killed every member of that gang except for the leader.

This gang was a pretty big one that ruled over Lake-town. Its leader was known to be a wolf in sheep's hide. He would kill people in the most brutal ways possible but he also knew when to stop. He had a better brain than 98% of the population. The leader gave up on his gang in 2011 and moved to his birthplace with his wife and daughter. Anik wanted to find him but he was unable to. No one, not a single person from his gang tipped him off. All of them stayed loyal till the end. Anik knew nothing about that guy except for the fact that he was the one who threatened his dad on the day he died.

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Anik found that guy's mistress but he wasn't able to do anything to her because every time he tried to approach her, he felt a strong resistance. A gentleman never hurts a woman. These words by his father echoed in his head. So he planned an accident for her son. His son was supposed to die in the accident but he miraculously survived. That guy had his legs broken and his broken left ribs punctured one of his lungs. But he was well like a horse in less than six months. It felt like the heavens were mocking Anik before he was struck with an amazing thought. His mistress's son was in an accident, he should come to check on him.

That was the last hope. And it did come true. Anik finally showed his face to the main villain on the night of 13th October 2020. Anik wanted to kill this person alone but he was not brainless. Someone who once ruled over Lake Town and had an influence even on the police wouldn't be an easy catch. Anik had hired a dozen of hitmen and surrounded the leader in a silent alleyway. The hitmen quickly took control of him and Anik approached him with a dagger in his hands. He was about to stab right through his heart when he heard gunshots again. Anik panicked for a moment while all the memories went over his head but he kept his ground. His hitmen started running away as he was left there alone with this huge guy who could pin him down in a minute. These hitmen were amateurs with almost no experience. All Anik thought was of extra hands, he was sure that nothing unexpected can happen so he ordered his hitmen with mindset. Now that there were gunshots everyone ran away for their lives.

The situation was unexpected but instead of trying to run away Anik gave his all to attack him, Anik has no wish to live anyways. He would take the leader down with him. He ran towards him and gathering momentum he aimed for his heart. The guy dodged it easily and Anik caught a glimpse of the mistress back at the end of the alleyway with a gun in her hands. Anik had no will to survive whatsoever. He wanted to kill the leader before dying himself. He attacked him again and the leader dodged it easily again. Anik had been taking all sorts of combat classes for the last seven years. How is this guy still able to dodge so effectively? And mistress... was this a trap all along?

Anik felt a strike on his neck before passing out. He woke up in the alleyway the next morning and he was unharmed. Not even a scratch. With no idea who saved him, he got up and walked towards his tiny apartment. After losing to the leader he had lost all his hope. He wasn't able to kill him when he was right in front. Guilt, a sense of failure, sadness, resentment all sorts of feelings took him over as he got home. He opened the door to be greeted with a mess. Everything in his house was broken down with a letter hanging from the fan.

Don't come for me again if you don't want to die like your pathetic dad. I have no beef with you, so I'll let this pass this time, don't expect the same again.

"No beef huh?" Anik tossed the letter in the bin and took out his phone from his pocket. The screen was about to fall off but other than that it was working. He cleaned up enough space for him to lie down and sat on the floor browsing the internet. That's when he found 'The Sweet Death'. He read it till he fell asleep. And woke up to the sound of a notification.

...

Present

Anik... I wonder if we can use this for long distances.____________ 3 days ago

I guess we can't after all. __________________________________2 days ago

I'll be embarrassed when we meet... _________________________1 day ago

Why the hell did I even set the last text _______________________5 hours ago

Augh we can't delete them, right? ___________________________Now

So that's the notification that woke me up. Ashleen Thanks a lot.

We can use this

You knew it?? Why didn't you tell me?

I just figured that out.

Why weren't you saying anything then?

I just saw these

How possible? The text appears right in front of your face how didn't you see that?

...

Don't tell me... are you okay??

I am alright

I chose the medical type place for you how did you end up unconscious for days...

Wait Wind Master's here. I'll tell you everything soon. And you better explain what you mean by 'chose'

Okay but don't tell Gayatri anything.

Hmm

"You are up kid, how are you feeling?"

"Better now," Anik said as he got pulled himself up to sit. His body was stiff and his core was not completely healed yet. He won't be able to use his mana at least for a month now... That's going to be hard.

"Show your hand."

"Huh?"

"Wind Master is a doctor too," said Xie Yun who entered the room right behind the master. "Thanks for saving my life, I'll remember this."

"I didn't do that for free. I'll be taking you master for an indefinite time." Xie Yun looked better. His complexion was better, his way of walking was better and his mana felt stronger than ever. Anik didn't expect that but Xie Yun's mana was on par with Wind master's mana at such a young age. Whoever thought of poisoning him made a smart decision. Now he can crush his enemies easily.

"Haha, kid. Talk about this later just show me your hand."

"No need to I am a doc. I told you I am good. I know medicine better than you anyways." Anik had no idea why was being rude. He knew he was being rude, he knew he should not do so but he was doing that regardless.

Wind Master sat beside him with a smile and held Anik's arm himself.

"Ouch... Why you-"

"Hmm, your core is not in good condition. You have no strength at all left. Your body... is there any pain except for when it's touched?"

"...no" Anik silently looked at the Wind Master who was stroking his beard while thinking, sitting next to him.

"Xie Yun bring XYZ flower roots and ZXY plant sap from the store room. Boil them for an hour and bring the liquid back to me."

"Eh, are you telling a king to work?" He said smiling.

"Oe Mei Mei get the thing done." Said Miss Fei while stepping into the room.

"Why should I listen to y-" "Ouch let go... Let go A'Fei my ear's gonna fall off." A'Fei!"

"You rest well Mr. Doc. We'll be back soon." She said before dragging Xie Yun by his ear out of the room.

Anik smiled a bit and looked at the Wind Master.

"Rest for a bit son. That thing I asked them to make will treat your core. I have something to show you later." He said as he got up to leave.

"Sir- I mean Wind Master, where is the girl that was with me?"

"She's sleeping in her room."

"Okay... By the way, how many days have I been passed out?"

"3 Days."

Wind Master stroked his head as he walked out of the room.

Anik laid back in bed as he opened his message box again.

Ashleen? I've found the Wind Master.

I know that you first tell me what happened to you.

Why did you text me 3 days ago?

I felt uneasy.

Haha, now I understand why they say don't underestimate a woman's instinct.

Huh?

You see I treated that Xie guy 3 days ago and that's how I ended up unconscious for 3 days.

...

I am better now yaar told ya

Don't lie.

Huh

I discovered a new skill of mine

What?

I'll tell you when we meet. But lemme tell you. You need to give me a well-described report of whatever happened there. And whatever you were dreaming of... breathe in, your breath was so disoriented. You need to explain everything.

So we've got a spy here? Okay, how's it going on your side? Did she see it? Do I need to tell you this? I have blood on my hands. That's not something I can bring myself to tell her. I don't want to. I don't think I ever will do that.

I'll need to fight the Earth Master for the key I guess. A character is helping me find him. This character lost his friends midway. I am feeling so guilty man.

You can't fight him, he's a piece of key himself. Why is he still helping you after his friends died? And what do you mean by a character? And yea what was that 'chose' thing?

Haha, his friends didn't die, dumb boy, we just lost them, you know lost and found type of lost.

My bad, but you'll need a way to get him to help you. You can't fight him.

Hmm, I'll figure something out. You get well soon.

Wind Master is helping me so don't worry.

You are a lucky guy, that master is helping you while I still am unable to find mine.

You'll find him soon.

Hmm, by the way when you move on to the next place give me basic information about that place. I'll give you the info about it.

You will?

Yea, these places originated from my memories, like dramas I watched so you can rely on me with this one. The demon left his essence in these places to lure the Masters here. You see these masters can just spawn as whoever they want to so yea, I chose the places we can begin our search with. For next I don't know where we'll find the rest.

"Rely she said..."

Alright.

You take a rest, I'll find a way to talk it out with Earth Master.

Okay.