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nDarkness.

nThat was all Atticus could see. He couldn’t feel his hands or legs; he couldn’t feel anything.

n‘Am I dead?’ Atticus thought. ‘How can I think then?’

n‘It’s different from the last time I died,’ Atticus couldn’t help but notice the difference between the last time he died and now.

nThe last time was swift; he had just been shot, died, and opened his eyes immediately, finding himself as a baby. There was no in-between.

n‘No, I’m not dead.’

nAs Atticus was trying to figure out what was happening, the darkness suddenly changed and receded, and the scenery shifted into a familiar dojo-like setting.

nAtticus noticed that he could feel his body again. All the pain he was feeling before was nowhere to be found. His piercing headache was gone. His body’s arch was gone. His bleeding eyes were gone. He was good as new.

nHe also noticed that his attire had also changed into a kimono.

nHe turned his gaze towards the middle of the dojo, immediately recognizing the man sitting at the table, staring at him with a smile, Cedric Ravenstein; the ancestor he had met when he passed the first test and gained the acknowledgment of the katana.

n“Child, come. Sit,” Cedric spoke. His tone still maintained the sagacity of experience and elderliness.

nAtticus listened and approached the table to sit.

nHe knew where he was; how could he not? It was where he gained his most valuable possession, inside the katana. There was no way he could miss something like that.

n‘If I’m here, what is happening outside?’ Atticus was worried about what was happening in the real world if he was in here.

nCedric smiled as if he could read what Atticus was thinking and said, “I’m sure you’re worried about what is happening outside.”

nAtticus swiftly nodded. He was curious about many things. What about Ember and Aurora? What about the rest of the trainees? Were they okay? The questions were numerous.

nCedric seemed to see his inner turmoil and spoke, “Calm your heart, boy. The time here moves extremely slowly compared to outside. They would still be there by the time you finish here.”

nHearing those words, Atticus’s heart calmed down considerably, and he was now able to think more calmly.

nHe gazed at Cedric and asked what he had been wondering since, “Why am I here, senior?”

nCedric smiled, seemingly pleased that Atticus had gone straight to the point. “Good! The life weapon brought you here to learn the second art,” he explained.

nAtticus raised his eyebrows. The second art? Now? He quickly asked, “Why now?”

nHe was literally on the brink of death, and the katana had chosen this moment for him to learn the second art?

nAs he thought of this, Atticus suddenly furrowed his eyebrows, realization dawning on him, ‘It’s trying to give me the strength to survive this situation.’ He realized.

nCedric continued, affirming his thoughts, “Yes, it’s exactly because you’re in this predicament that it brought you here ahead of time to learn. Listen, Atticus, you have exactly six months to learn it; that’s the limit you can be in here. If you don’t, you won’t be able to save anyone outside.”

nAtticus was shocked. Six months? What kind of art was it that would take six months to learn? His heart couldn’t help but race once more; what if he couldn’t learn it? Does that mean everyone would die?

nCedric noticed Atticus’s changing expression and immediately stood up, saying, “Follow me.”

nAtticus emerged from his thoughts and listened. He stood up and began walking behind Cedric. .

nCedric led him toward the wall of the dojo, and just when it seemed like Atticus was about to collide with it, the scenery immediately changed.

nAtticus found himself on a cliff, below him spread the most breathtaking sight he had ever seen in his life.

nBefore them lay a serene and picturesque river, its waters shimmering like liquid sapphires under the gentle caress of the sun’s golden rays.

nThe river was embraced by lush, emerald foliage that stretched down its banks, creating a vibrant, living frame for the water.

nThe air was filled with the soothing sound of the river’s gentle flow, and the fragrance of wildflowers that lined the riverbanks wafted in the breeze.

nAtticus noticed the vibrant colors of the wildflowers, as if nature itself had hand-painted the landscape with meticulous care. Reds, purples, and yellows mingled harmoniously, creating a tapestry of vivid beauty.

nThe scenery seemed to clear his mind of all thoughts, enabling him to think clearly now, with every distracting thought gone.

nCedric smiled; he had wanted Atticus to be fully focused. He knew how hard it was learning the second art.

nHe had brought him here to calm his mind and was glad it did the trick.

nAs Atticus was still enjoying the scenery, Cedric spoke, “Before you begin your training, I think it is high time you learn about our history with life weapons.”

nAtticus turned his gaze away from the sight and looked at Cedric, his full attention on him, genuinely curious about it.

n“The life weapon has been with the Ravenstein family for a long time before I was brought into this world,”

nAtticus’s eyebrows furrowed in shock.

nThose words, anyone could miss it, but with his intelligence, it was impossible for him to miss it.

nHe wasn’t the only one brought into this world?

nHe swiftly looked at Cedric, his eyes demanding answers.

nCedric smiled and started speaking, “Our Ravenstein family was able to become one of the rulers of the human domain because our third family head was able to meet a being beyond our comprehension. It was this being who gave him our Elemental bloodline.”

nAtticus listened attentively to every word that came out of Cedric’s mouth. This was important information!

n“This being also gave him 5 weapons, with a decree. Every Ravenstein child in the main line, as soon as they come of age, was to try and gain the weapons’ acknowledgment. He revealed to the family head that unimaginable powers await those who were able to gain their acknowledgment. The family head was elated and immediately made it a tradition in the family. Every child in the main line must attempt to gain the weapons’ acknowledgment when he

/she becomes of age.”

n“Ever since then, throughout our history, every generation has always tried to gain the acknowledgment of the weapons, with just a few succeeding.”

nHis tone suddenly changed, turning grave, .

n“Although every single user of the life weapon was known throughout the human domain, becoming revered and respected due to their strength, there was always one constant fact: every single user died before they could reach their full potential.”

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