After hearing about Giaya Forest from his father, Benoth, Arian sat on his bed that night, deep in thought.
"That place sounds like the best place for me," he muttered. "But the problem is my current size and strength. If I were to go there now, I could get kidnapped, or worse, injured by a mutant or hybrid to the brink of death… or even killed."
*sigh—*
Arian let out a long breath and leaned back.
"I must be patient," he said to himself, "but sitting around won't get me leveled up."
Arian clenched his small fists, his expression unusually calm for a child his age.
"I'll take that risk and go to Giaya Forest, even if it costs me my life… besides, I've already died once." Arian murmured softly.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
"How could I forget about that?" Arian said, using the side of his hand to lightly hit his head as something came back to him.
Days turned into months, and months turned into years.
By this time Arian, was now five years old.
During that time, Arian had been quietly preparing himself. More importantly, he had fully accepted this new, wonderful family. It was a family filled with love, warmth, happiness, and cooperation. Everyone got along well, including Arian. At first, he had planned to eventually run away and explore the world on his own, but after spending years with them, he had grown to love them… and they loved him just as much.
Arian also remembered something from before his reincarnation.
In that endless void, he vaguely recalled hearing about reincarnation records and rewards.
Which were the—Combat proficiency, blade compatibility & utility and assassination aptitude.
So the next day he woke up early and went to the yard when no one else was awake, despite his small size, Arian performed basic blade skills he remembered using kitchen knives taken from the kitchen. he was able to perform with smoothness and accuracy.
Through careful practice, he improved and modify his blade skills to match with his current size and he grew more precise and flawless while wielding light blades which were the simple kitchen knives. He trained and improved the combat and even refined his assassination techniques too.
On the third day of practicing in the yard early in the morning, Arian didn't realize that his father, Benoth, had been watching him.
Benoth was surprised.
Every day, he would wake up to see Arian practicing. He watched his smooth movements, his honed techniques, and his unnatural precision. By this time, Arian had also noticed his father's presence, but neither of them spoke about it.
The part Benoth found most surprising was watching Arian train with blades—the simple kitchen knives. At first, he had wanted to stop him, but seeing how controlled and safe his movements were, and how Arian never once injured himself, left him deeply astonished.
What unsettled Benoth the most wasn't just Arian's skill, it was the intent behind every movement.
There was no hesitation. No wasted motion.
Each slash flowed into the next as if Arian wasn't practicing, but remembering. His stance shifted naturally, his breathing controlled, his feet adjusting instinctively to imaginary threats.
This wasn't how a child moved.
At times, Benoth felt a strange chill crawl up his spine, as though he were watching a seasoned fighter trapped inside a boy's body. More than once, he opened his mouth to speak, only to close it again.
Also by this time, Arian knew that once he reached the age of six, he would be sent to an Annex Academy, most likely the Tenth Annex Academy of Guadantam after his Base Stirring, partly due to the close friendship between his father and Mr. Rogers.
But that was the problem.
Arian wasn't sure he would even have a Base Stirring, which was the awakening of one's Base.
His Base had a System, and according to it, his Base State was Dormant. A dormant base could not ascend grades naturally which means, it couldn't have a base stirring.
After careful deduction, Arian came to a conclusion.
If he could consume a Corrupted Base Core, his dormant base state might change into an active one.
Rather than waiting an entire year to find out if he could have a Base Stirring, Arian made a decision.
He would visit Giaya Forest.
While he was practicing early that morning as usual, his father, Benoth approached him. Seeing his father, Arian immediately stopped and greeted him.
"Good morning, Dad," Arian said.
"A good morning to you too, Arian," Benoth replied with a warm smile.
"I see you're good at wielding kitchen knives, two at that," Benoth said teasingly. "Are you planning on becoming a chef? I won't stop you, you know."
Arian awkwardly scratched his head, fully aware that his father was joking, and also he had started practicing with another kitchen knife, because he loved dual wielding.
"No, Dad. I was just practicing a blade move I saw in a book at the library." Arian told a half-baked lie.
He couldn't let anyone know about the System, because it defies the logic of this world and would instantly place him under scrutiny, and danger. So he obviously couldn't mention the reincarnation rewards either.
Benoth simply smiled and said nothing.
Benoth was a man who loved all his children deeply, someone who would give the world to them if he could. Over the years, Arian had confirmed this himself.
Noblemen, dukes, viscounts even kings, had come to Benoth seeking arranged marriages for their children. He rejected every single one of them.
This was especially true in Yumi's case.
After Yumi's Base Stirring, the kingdom learned that she was Pillar-Bound—someone whose birth Base Class was a Pillar Base. Even though Benoth and his wife tried to suppress the information, it eventually leaked due to the rarity of such individuals.
Yumi was also at the top of her class and the number one beauty of the Tenth Annex Academy.
This only made nobles more desperate, who wouldn't want to marry of his son to a smart and beautiful girl with a bright future.
Even the King of Guadantam personally suggested that his son be engaged to Yumi.
Benoth rejected him, directly to his face.
He told the king that even if his title as Duke were stripped, he would not agree.
The king never pressed the matter again. Benoth was the kingdom's second duke, someone the king trusted and respected deeply. Still, the king felt regret, knowing that if Yumi married into another kingdom, that kingdom would rise immensely in power.
After Benoth refused the king himself, every other noble stopped their attempts.
For Benoth, his children's futures would never be tools for political gain.
"Arian," Benoth suddenly said, "once you're finished, come meet me in my study."
With that, he left.
After Arian finished practicing, he went to the study.
When Arian entered, Benoth took out a slim, long box, about four inches long and two and a half inches wide.
"Take this," Benoth said, handing it to him.
"What's this for…?" Arian asked.
"I've been watching you practice every day," Benoth said calmly. "Seeing how naturally you handle blades, even at such a young age, reminded me of something I had stored away in my study."
He paused for a moment, his gaze steady.
"It was something I kept for years, unused, slowly losing its purpose. A weapon like that shouldn't be left to rust in silence."
Benoth placed the box firmly into Arian's hands.
"So I decided," he continued, "that it would be better in the hands of someone who knows how to respect a blade."
"Thank you Dad... can I take a look at it?" Arian asked.
"Sure, why not," Benoth said.
Unable to hide his curiosity, Arian opened the box.
Inside was an object wrapped in white cloth.
Seeing the confusion on Arian's face, Benoth said, "Unwrap it."
As the cloth came off, Arian froze.
Inside were two sheathed swords. Just holding them, he could feel their quality, blades that felt perfectly balanced, adaptable to any style.
"Their name is Solthrix," Benoth said. "A Base Core Weapon forged from a Tier 3 purified Base Core. It's a double sword made for dual wielding. Inside the box, there are also two daggers, just a little extra. They're not as good as the swords, though."
"Dad… what's a Base Core Weapon?" Arian asked.
"A Base Core Weapon," Benoth explained, "It is a weapon forged using purified Base Cores. What makes them special is that they can channel the Flow skills of Flow Stimulation powers directly from it's wielder,"
Arian bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Father, for such a wonderful gift, You won't regret giving me this."
"I'm sure I won't." Benoth smiled warmly.
Arian wrapped it back up and put the sword in the box and with that, he left.
Back in his room, Arian took out and placed the swords carefully beside his bag he'd prepared for the journey today and hooded cloak—That he found in the strange box at the library—he had recently shaped to his current measurements.
Originally, he planned to sneak out with just a knife, or buy one from the market.
But this changed everything.
That night, Arian put on the cloak and strapped on the bag. He decided to take only one sword for better movement.
"All right," Arian whispered as he slowly opened his window, "it's time to hunt some Tier 1 mutants and hybrids."
He jumped out of the window, with a quiet leap.
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I appreciate Lonnie_Barrar for the power stone.
(1/5 chapters this week)