From Rock Bottom to Hero-Chapter 22 - Almost Home

What I really am? I don't understand the question.

"I... I'm a human?" I stammer.

Varian stares at me with an ice-cold gaze. "Don't lie to me." He growls. "With my Singular Magic, I can perceive and differentiate the mana of living beings. Your mana is human, but there is another mana inside you. One I've never felt before."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

I hold my breath. What does he want me to say? What is this mana he is talking about? I am just a human, right?

"Why do you have this foreign mana inside you?" He asks further, the blade still pressed against my throat.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about." I whisper in panic. "I'm human!"

Varian pulls back the blade slightly, but his gaze remains relentless. "That much, I know. But this other mana. It doesn't belong to you. It's different, and that makes you dangerous."

He leans in closer. "Tell me now, what are you?"

I desperately try to think clearly, but my thoughts are spinning. Could this have something to do with my reincarnation? Even if it dies, I can't possibly tell him.

"I don't know." I finally murmur. "I can't tell you what it is. I just don't know."

Suddenly, he slowly withdraws his blade. "So you really don't know." Varian says, frustrated.

I dare not say anything.

Varian seems to think for a second, then he shakes his head slowly. "You're lucky that the other mana inside you isn't malevolent."

He finally moves his knee away from my chest, allowing me to sit up.

Varian walks to the door and turns back once more.

"Not a word about tonight." He begins, pointing his sword at my throat. "Or it's over for you."

He looks into my eyes for a moment, then simply turns and leaves the room.

I sigh. In a fair fight, that lunatic wouldn't stand a chance against me.

I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. A knock at my door startles me.

"Come in!" I call.

Auasis enters the room.

"We leave in 30 minutes." He says.

I force myself out of bed and get ready for departure. Outside, Shiro and Auasis are already waiting for me. Varian and Edric stand beside them, bidding their farewells.

Varian and I lock eyes, but neither of us say a word.

Shiro and I climb into the back of the wagon, and Auasis gives the horses the signal to move.

I fight against my exhaustion. My eyes keep closing. It is eerily quiet. Even Shiro has stopped asking questions.

The road leads past a forest, the place with the highest chance of encountering a monster. However, I am not worried, since nothing has happened on the way here.

"Stop. Not another step." A voice suddenly comes out from the forest.

Bandits? No, the voice doesn't sound human.

Three figures step onto the path. Their skin is dark red, their eyes glow faintly. The claws on their fingers make it clear. They are not human.

Demons? I have imagined demons to be less human-like. More importantly, I haven't expected them to be capable of speech. Apparently, demons in this world are intelligent.

I glance at Shiro. He stands frozen, his eyes wide open.

"W-what are you?" Shiro's voice trembles.

"Demons." I murmur, unimpressed, stepping slightly in front of Shiro, ready to fight.

The largest of the three demons grins and points a claw at Shiro. "We'll take that one. Then you may pass."

"Forget it." I protest.

Strange. I am not afraid at all. I focus my mana into my eyes. I have named my Singular Magic "Perception Magic."

I chuckle. "You don't have any mana at all!"

The demon glare at me with hatred. "How dare you mock us?! Do you even know what you're dealing with?"

I look at him mockingly. "Tell me, would the three of you together stand a chance against a Shadow Demon?"

The demon looks confused. "What a stupid question. Everyone knows only an Archdemon can defeat a Shadow Demon. Even we demons can't deny that. But that's not the point right now."

I don't know why, but I feel much stronger than these demons.

Auasis is shocked. "Demons! Please forgive his rudeness, he's just a child! We don't want trouble!"

I turn to Auasis. "Quiet! There's no need to worry. Trust me." I reassure him.

Shiro shouts. "Sota! Have you lost your mind?! You're only making things worse!"

I ignore Shiro and turn back to the demons.

One of them steps forward. "We'll tear you to pieces before you can even blink."

I roll my eyes and activate my Wind Cloak. "Then go ahead."

They charge.

Time to experiment a little.

I try activating my Perception Magic, which slows everything down.

It doesn't work, and I have to dodge normally. The second demon attacks. Another attempt. I focus.

How has it felt back then? I think back.

Suddenly, the world slows down for a brief moment. Excitement spreads through me, but then everything returns to normal.

The demon lunges at me, claws extended. Again, I have to dodge normally.

I have managed to activate the magic, but I can't maintain it. I have to stay focused from start to finish.

I smile. The third demon attacks. They say third time's the charm.

Once again, I focus completely on the feeling I have experienced before.

The world slows down again, and this time I maintain my concentration.

I see everything. Every muscle tensing, every tiny movement.

He aims for my neck.

I step aside and slam my dagger with full force into the demon's chest.

The creature lets out a strangled gasp before collapsing to the ground.

It lays motionless. There we go! I have struck its heart.

The demons are starting to panic. "How can a child be this strong?!"

Time to test something new. I channel my mana into my dagger. The demon rushes at me. I swing my blade, and a wind blade shoots through the air.

The demon dodges. I still needed to train this more.

Instead, I deactivate my Wind Cloak and lean forward. I channel my mana into my feet and release it in an explosive burst of wind. I shoot forward like an arrow toward the demon. He is too slow to react, and my dagger sinks into his chest.

"Not bad. I should do that more often."

Shiro, who has been watching the fight, stands frozen.

"How did you become this strong..." He whispers.

The last demon starea at me, eyes wide with shock.

Then he turns and runs.

"I'm getting out of here! This is insane! That boy is not human!"

I am a little exhausted. Not physically, but my Perception Magic consumes a lot of mana.

Shiro's face is pale. He looks at me with jealousy and shock.

"Let's move on." I say.

Auasis is shocked. "What was that just now?! You took down the demons all by yourself!"

"That was nothing compared to the Shadow Demon." I reply.

Shiro sits there quietly. Unusual for him, but I ignore it for now.

We continue on our journey home.