The next day after waking up at his usual time, Sin reviewed the logs he had awaiting his appraisal.
[Congratulations! The Dragon God has been pleased by your results. You have been awarded the Dragon Scale Diagram, and five drops of Dragons God Blood. When consumed, the Phoenix Heart, Vermilion Bird, and Wolf God Clan will receive a bonus of 500% to recovery, and 35% to Comprehension speed, as well as 35% bonus to Physique.]
[Congratulations! You have broken through into the Conquerors stage of Blood Dragon Sword Methods. Your Conquerors Aura and Emperor Aura has combined becoming unique only to you, those connected to your bloodline, and children. Both have separate active passive effects which can be toggled on or off. The Emperor Aura affects your enemies debuffing them by 25% and buffs allies by 25%. The Conquerors Aura increases all Sword, and Sword Heart abilities by 25% while also decreases enemies Sword, and Sword Heart abilities by 25%.]
[!!! Your cultivation and the hidden potential in your body has been crippled.]
[The higher beings have judged all of your actions since arriving at Desolate Kingdom. While you're a man capable of great evil towards your enemies, you have proven yourself to be an upright and guardian for your loved ones and allies. You have been awarded The Ancient Manual Of Rebirth. There is no gain without pain to restore what was once lost.]
[To complete the process of Rebirth, you must go through many painful trials. Only those who are strong willed are able to push on. If at any given time during your rebirth you choose to back away from the pain, you will lose your chance of rebuilding your cultivation.]
[The required time of rebirth for those in the Soulless Body Container has been cut in half. 5 years, 8 months, and 26 days remaining until rebirth.]
After Sin had digested his logs, there was an instant sensation of relief that washed over his body. The sense of deep guilt and self hate had diminished enough to let Sin function properly, but there would never be a day Sin could truly forgive himself for not being adequate enough to protect his loved ones.
Sin consumed the 5 drops of Dragon God Blood. Soon the three clans were alerted by the notifications they heard. But for those in the know, it confirmed all the more. Their Wolf King was still doing his best for them, despite his current situation.
Sin was awoken out of his own world, the little girl he rescued the previous night had long since been awake staring intensively at Sin. Sin heard the grumbles of hunger coming from her stomach, and then his fatherly instincts kicked in.
"Come little one let me make a yummy breakfast."
The little girl followed behind Sin before she talked up.
"Nora"
Sin looked at the girl once more before he asked. "Is that your name?"
Nora nodded before she asked. "What is uncles name?"
"Sin"
Nora looked confused as she followed Sin into the kitchen part of the cabin. Nora attentively watched Sin as he began taking out various pots and pans to prepare breakfast.
"Why is your name Sin?"
Sin smiled before he replied. "It is the name I gave myself, I have done many bad things so I go by Sin to remind myself. My life doesn't belong to just myself, but to the other lives I have taken."
"But uncle is a good person, if you weren't why would you save me and let me avenge my parents?"
Sin thought carefully for many seconds. "Your cries for help reminded me of my incapability to protect those I love. I don't ever want to feel so helpless like that again, that's why I appeared and took you away with me afterwards."
After half a hour of hearing Nora's growls becoming louder, Sin finished cooking breakfast. Sin had brought plates of fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, home fries, and various other breakfast favorites.
Nora looked on with wide eyes and drooled. Just as Nora was about to dig in, Sin heard knocking on the door.
"Go ahead and start eating without me." Sin said while he walked towards the door. After opening it, Alaris and Acacia were waiting outside with a basket of fresh bread. When the aroma of Sins cooking wafted out of the house, their bellies rumbled.
"Care to join us for breakfast?"
Alaris was the first to walk in following her stomachs demands.
Acacia hesitated for a few moments before Sin pulled her in, bringing her to the dining table joining Nora, and Alaris.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Nora ran out to go and play. Alaris and Acacia remained as they still had something important to talk about with Sin. Alaris asked with blind hope.
"When I found your injured body at sea, I caught a quick glimpse of The Ancient Manual Of Rebirth before it was absorbed into your body. It's none of my business, but after reading it. Is it possible for your cultivation to return?"
Sin wasn't fazed, nor was he mad. "I don't know it is possible, but I must complete all the trials head on without backing away from the pain. If I give up halfway, I will permanently remain as a cripple."
Alaris and Acacia had a look of relief on their faces.
"Truth be told, in two years from now. There is a competition called the King Of Mercenaries being held. The tournament hasn't been held for the last 500 years, but the Imperial family of the divine continent has decided to restart it. Invitations have been sent out to all the notable families, and clans throughout our world. There will be many strong Mercenaries participating that are lone wolfs, or hired by various clans. The reward for this competition is becoming a pupil under a Grand Master Ranked Swordsman."
Sin was in deep thoughts for many minutes. "And I assume you would like me to participate as your candidate for this King Of Mercenaries tournament?"
"Yes if you are able to enter into the top 10, we would eternally be in your debt. Any representatives that make it into the top 10 greatly benefits the clan they're hired by. The higher you rank in the top 10, the more benefits you will get, as well as your sponsoring clan or organization."
Sin became serious as he said. "That's a pretty big gamble to bet on me. I can't guarantee I will succeed in recovering my cultivation."
Acacia said lightheartedly. "Even if you don't succeed in recovering your cultivation, we would like to sponsor you as our candidate. My daughter has full faith in you to a fanatical state, Alaris has never been wrong in her judgement, so I will trust her"
Sin didn't beat around the bush anymore. "Very well, I will do all that I can to regain my cultivation."
Acacia stood up and bowed before Sin. "Thank you Grand Warrior Sin, if you need any help please send Alaris to inform me. The Fairy Clan will repay your kindness and help in any way we can." Acacia left, while Alaris had stayed behind.
Sin didn't complain nor did he mind having extra company. Sin returned to his room and spent the next six hours digesting the content in The Ancient Manual Of Rebirth.
First, Sin bit the tip of his finger before writing his name on a contract with his own blood. After that, all of Sins stats he had earned were sucked dry and reverted to 10 for Strength, Intelligence, Agility, Dexterity, Comprehension and Physique. Sin had truly become an average human being on Earth without any impressive cultivation or noticeable stats.
Sin exited the cabin and went outside. After he had gotten far away enough, a notification appeared in his vision.
[Would you like to begin the process of Rebirth? Yes or No?]
Sin clicked on the "Yes" and then out of thin air, a long stretch of an inferno had appeared. Sins instructions followed shortly after the infernos appearance.
[You must walk through the inferno without any defenses. The closer you are to dying, the greater amount of Rebirth essence you will gain. If you die within the trial, you truly die. The process of Rebirth is a long and painful one, this is the lesser of your trials. Do you dare to truly rise from the ashes?]
Sin got slightly pissed off. Was it him, or were the notification logs starting to mock him? Whatever, that thought flew over Sins head within mere seconds. There was a task at hand that needed to be done, Sin wasn't the type to back down after he made his decision.
Sin took off all his clothes except for the pants he was wearing. Taking his first step into the blazing inferno, allowing his body to be engulfed by the near unbearable pain it caused. Sin gritted his teeth, not willing to show any weakness. After forcing himself to endure the pain for several minutes, Sins entire being became intense as he took his next step.
The pain had doubled instantly, causing Sin to grunt from the burning pain. Alaris who had just come out of the cabin was like a nail hammered to the ground. The shock she was feeling had overcome her, she quickly yelled out.
"What are you doing you crazy bastard!? Are you trying to kill yourself?"
Sin however, was bearing too much pain and couldn't reply even if he wanted to. Sin watched as the flesh on his body began to sizzle, the pain he was feeling was physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. This was a type of pain that very few could bear, each passing second his mental state was being overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts. There was a seedling thought of giving up brewing in his mind, but Sin couldn't allow himself to give up.
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To become a powerful person, you must suffer tribulations, challenges, and pain no ordinary people could handle. To become someone who could gain boundless power to protect his loved ones, there was nothing in the galaxies Sin could not handle.
Sin walked further into the inferno, after taking 100 steps in Sins flesh had melted off of his body, his skeletal figure was revealed, but it was wrapped around by a strange power that wouldn't allow him to die. Sins physique, cells, soul, spirit, foundation, crippled cultivation were all being enhanced tremendously. The changes were immediately showing themselves, Sin had gained the strength to press further on.
After passing the 100 meter mark, broken glass appeared along the path, there were giant cleavers above in mid air that would split his skeletal frame in half. Various other torturous devices acted as 'check points' Sin must pass along this new level of the inferno trial. After making it another 75 steps, Sins body fell down due to the increased pain going beyond what he could handle.
Sins flesh was being melted off, and regenerating in a continuous cycle of life and death. Each time his fleshly body was becoming stronger, his cells and blood purer, bones tougher, and his crippled cultivation had meager signs of repairing, but it was still better than nothing.
Sin looked on as he calculated there to be another 2,825 steps until he passed this trial. Sin could hear the voices of the Wolf God Clan cheering him on, images and memories of Alannah and Samara appeared to his left and right side. Sin stood back up, as he was holding the hands of his two little girls. Their voices full of hope sounded out into Sins ears.
"No matter the pain you're feeling that makes you prefer to die. You must not give up papa! We are waiting for you to come back and reunite with us!"
At the end of the inferno path, Sin saw Merala eagerly waiting with a affectionate smile on her face. "Husband, What are you waiting for, don't you want to feel me in your embrace again?"
Sin picked himself back up from the ground, with his hands spread out clasping nothing but air, Sin pushed himself beyond his limits.
200 feet, 300 feet, 500 feet, 900 feet. No matter how intense the pain had become, Sin was no longer giving into it. This pain he was feeling, was nothing compared to the suffering of his daughters without their papa and mom. The agony that drew Merala insane as he died, compared to this meager bit of pain was nothing at all!
Sin had entered a blank minded state, his goal was clear and there was nothing left to do but achieve it. 1,200 feet, 1,500 feet, 1,800 feet. Despite his flesh continuously melting off of his body, Sin kept walking forward one step at a time. As if a calm pond without any ripples, Sin found solace in his pain of loss. The Ancient Manual Of Rebirth was the game changer, the golden ticket Sin could redeem himself through.
After reaching 2,000 feet into the inferno trial. Phoenix's, Dragons, Vermilion Birds and Wolfs manifested out of the flames. The manifestations bombarded Sin, pushing him back beyond the 2,000 feet mark and severely weakening him. Sin kept moving forward no matter what he had to face, his body erupted with his battle lust as he pushed forward.
Right as one of the manifestations smashed itself into Sins body, Sin raised off his feet and balanced on the tips of his toes. Sin skidded backwards 70 feet, bringing him back to the beginning of the final checkpoint. Wrapping his arms around the wings of the manifestation, Sin heaved upwards sending it spiraling through the air.
Sin spent the next six hours being pushed back, flinging manifestations into the air and continuing on his process. Just 100 feet left to go, but the difficulty had surged 10X.
After Sin took his first step, he stood in place with a look of disbelief. So many untold words and emotions coursed through him, disrupting his mental and emotional state.
The figures before him were Merala, Jasmine, Glaze, and the Blood Dragon Mercenary Team members.
"You let all of us die!"
"Husband, you're worse than trash!"
"Big brother, you failed to protect me twice. Burn in hell!"
"Team Leader, your a reckless fool who always causes misfortune for those around you!"
"Sin, your fists may be strong, but you're the reason we are all dead. What is the point of those strong fists of yours now!?"
Then Sin noticed a young girl in the arms of Meralas manifestation.
"Daddy, I called out to you to save mom so many times. But all you did was ignore it! You're not worthy of the second chance of life you've been given!"
Sin felt the exact same feeling of bloodline in this little girl as he did trapped in his Heart World. Sin staggered backwards with his head hanging down in shame.
"What, do you not dare look at us? Do you feel guilt, grief, sadness even? You should, you're the reason we all died, your nothing but a powerless man with honorable thoughts, but could never execute them."
Sin began doubting himself, and this is when the danger truly showed itself. With this momentary relapse of doubt, the melted part of Sins body didn't regenerate. The pain shot through the roof, making Sin scream as he barely held his life in his own hands.
"You never let yourself get help from others. You carry all the weight yourself, and that is why we are all dead!"
Sin struggled to rid himself of his self doubt, Sin knew this was part of the trial. Or maybe this was a trial for himself?
"I'm sorry I let you all die." Sin mumbled weakly.
"You're sorry? It is a little bit too late to be sorry! Because of you, my daughter is going to be born without a father!"
Commander Glaze yelled, running forward and smashing his fist into Sins ribcage.
"Because of you, Seraphim had to watch me die!"
Sin fell to his knees, coughing up all the content in his stomach.
"I know that I always do things myself without any help. But I couldn't allow myself to let you all fight with me against Solarus' forces." Sin said.
The little girl jumped down from Meralas arms and made her way over to Sin. After arriving in front of Sin, the little girl knelt down as she looked into Sins eyes.
"You've made everyone suffer daddy. I died without once feeling your loving touch. Mom suffered so much grief."
Sin hurriedly hugged his would've been daughter into his embrace.
"I'm sorry I am such a failure!" Sin wept as he hugged his little girl tightly.
"Sorry isn't enough for all the pain you've caused!"
A dagger found its way plunged into Sins abdomen. While Sin could have easily dodged such an obvious attack, Sin could not get himself to let go of his daughter.
"I know no matter what I do, there is no way to reverse my actions. If you so please, you can take my life."
Merala rushed forward, grabbing the back of Sins head and smashed down onto the infernos path.
"IDIOT, FOOL, DESPICABLE!"
"Why is it always about you? All of us are here for you, yet you continue to push us all away. Your actions caused so much unnecessary pain. I would've preferred to die fighting with you, instead of seeing my husband's corpse, and my daughters empty eyes as they carried it across the fucking battlefield!"
"Remember husband, our daughters are the ones who have to suffer the most! Even now, they are without us. And all you can do is apologize?!"
Meralas words ripped through Sins heart, Sin stood back up and continued walking through the trial. Swords, daggers, sabers, flames, torturous equipment tortured Sin physically and spiritually.
When Sin was nearing the last 15 steps, Sin looked back as he watched all his loved ones hurl their weapons into his body.
"All of this is but illusions, and the torture in my heart. But all of you are right, I slap away the hands that can help me. I cause pain for many intentionally, bearing the weight on my shoulders alone. I'm sorry to all of you, but I cannot allow my doubts to take my life away yet."
Sin walked the final steps through the inferno hell, after exiting Sins eyes were wet as he panted exhausted. Sin fell back onto his back, as a log appeared in his vision.
[Congratulations! You have begun the process of Rebirth. To truly become reborn, you must conquer your physical, and emotional states. You may feel endless pain, but it is not okay to cower away and throw yourself into agony. Only the spirit of redemption can break through the chains of sorrow. Emotions are a source of power, but do not lose yourself within them.]
After Sin had read his log, and thought about it on a personal level for a long time. Sin was brought back to his senses when Nora had shoved his body many times.
"Uncle are you okay?" Nora looked worriedly at Sin.
Sin smiled. "Yes, I am okay Nora."
"Can you teach me combat techniques?" Nora asked with firm resolution.
"It is a very repetitive and long road Nora, are you sure you want to take this road?"
Nora nodded her head. "I want to become strong for dad and mom. Uncle has also gotten considerably weak since last night."
"Very well, we will begin training right away." Sin said as he got up.
Sin opened up his status page, then went into his Guidance tab adding Nora's name to the list. After that was done, Sin took out a sword from his inventory and asked Nora for her hand.
Nora gave Sin her hand with blind trust, Sin used the sword and left a deep cut across Nora's hand.
"There are various dangers and pains involved with training. Do you still wish to proceed?" Sin asked again to reconfirm.
Nora looked at the blood rolling down her hand, without any signs of fear or pain she said with confidence. "I do!"
Sin nodded his head and begun demonstrating the basics of Blood Dragon Sword Methods, Blood Dragon Fortress Sword Methods, as well as the Wolf King Sword Methods.
While Sin was taking his trial, it felt like an entire day went by. But in reality less than 45 minutes passed, while demonstrating the fundamentals to Nora. Sin began reading through the various other methods of stimulating the Rebirth essence.
Sin walked over to Nora without any defense on him.
"Nora use your fundamentals to train with my bare body."
Another way of stimulation was taking physical damage to the body of all various kinds. Sin had already begun forming various self torture plans, such as building an obstacle course with wooden logs swinging, walking through a trail of sharpened blades, smashing his body into rocks and various others.
Nora was uncertain at first, but she quickly did as she was told. Sin explained it was a way of his own personal training for pain tolerance. When Alaris saw how Sin was training himself, she was freaked out and frightened he would end up dying. His next words assured her.
"Part and parcel for The Ancient Manual Of Rebirth. Also when you go back down the mountain to the Fairy Clan, bring various experts at hand to hand combat, sword combat, and magical combat back with you. The more the merrier, they all must be willing to use me as their grinding stone for their abilities."
After the sun had gone down and the moon had hung high in the sky. Sin brought the exhausted Nora back into the cabin. Sin bathed her, and then made a hearty supper. After tucking Nora into bed, and reciting bedtime stories. Sin left the room and went to go and patch himself up. However, to his surprise, all of his injuries had long been healed. No traces of any scar tissue was left on his body.
Sin quietly closed the cabin door behind him, walking out into the vast plot of land all around. Sin took out various planks of wood, thatch, timber and other various materials. Which Sin gained from raiding Beast Man camps after helping Phoenix Heart Clan in their time of crisis.
Sin began building up his personal torture land of rebirth, when Sin was done he gauged it to be about 3:30 in the morning. Sin used the sheath of Kaiser to pat his way over towards a nearby tree. After climbing up it, Sin raised his head as he looked into the night sky. Of course he couldn't see, but Sin began imaging all of the Wolf God Clan, his two precious daughters, Merala, Lan his master and various other people.
After today's trial, it had ripped Sin open. All this time, Sin had been running from his pain and hiding it deep within himself. Always a stubborn bastard who didn't accept other peoples help, yet it was this trait that caused the agony of his loved ones, as well as the death of his brothers and sisters who desperately fought at the end to avenge him.
Sin made a vow to himself, to no longer run away from his emotions, as a man one must come to terms with himself, accept his weakness and build upwards. And to start receiving help from others, instead of slapping their hands away.
-----------------------------
Elsewhere in the Wolf God Clan. Alannah and Samara were gazing up at the stars in the night sky.
"Papa is watching the sky just as we are. It's been a long six months now, do you think papa has fully recovered Alannah?" Samara asked.
Alannah nodded her head. "Papa is a strong man, there is nothing that papa cannot do."
Samara hugged tighter into Alannah. "Will you one day leave me like papa and mom?"
Alannahs expression dampened. "I will never leave your side, you're my sister. Papa did what he had to do to protect us, mom and big sister Jasmine are only gone temporarily. Papa will be able to communicate with us soon."
Samara began weeping. "I miss mom and papa, I would sleep cuddled in between them every night."
Alannah began gently and affectionately stroking Samaras long hair, this was the only thing that would calm her down.
"I miss mom and papa as well Samara. We have to be strong, train hard, live well, and care for each other. We have uncle Midnight who loves us just as much as mom and papa. Uncle Midnight has told us earlier today that papa is rebuilding his cultivation."
Samara had fallen asleep exhausted in Alannahs embrace.
Alannah wiped the tears from the corner of Samaras eyes. Alannah reached her hand up into the night sky, whispering words that could never cross the void between.
"We miss you papa!"