章 5: A Shift in Personality
"Who am I?" Visgard's question echoed in his mind, unanswered and elusive.
He felt a profound disconnection between the flood of memories assailing him and his own sense of self.
The excruciating pain that ravaged him proved too much for his Extra Skill: Devour to absorb.
Left with no other recourse, he was compelled to endure it.
A vivid memory from his past life surged through his consciousness, clinging to the fragments of his former beliefs and personality.
This shift in his very essence would soon be evident to all, but for now, he lay unconscious, his mind reeling from the torment that pierced his very core.
The battle between Tora and the Guard finally reached its climax.
Emerging victorious, Tora stood triumphant, with his newfound strength having secured him the win.
"Tora won!" a slave cried out, excitement bubbling over as they witnessed Tora's victory.
The slaves, roused from their stupor, realized with relief that the tormentor who had harassed them had been vanquished by Tora.
Blood pooled on the ground, a stark testament to the ferocity of the confrontation, with a gaping hole visible in the Guard's full plate armor.
Yet, as jubilation spread through the crowd, Tora collapsed onto his knees, the aftermath of his newfound skill's use crashing over him like a tidal wave.
"Tora!" A young slave girl named Rika shouted in alarm, rushing to his side as he struggled to regain his footing.
Unaware of the full implications of his awakened skill, Tora had pushed himself beyond his limits, recklessly ignoring the toll it was taking on him.
He raised his head, determination etched on his face, as he tried to rise.
"Rika, you should help the others," he urged, his concern for the unconscious slaves overshadowing his own suffering.
"You idiot!" Rika's voice trembled with emotion. "You should be worrying about yourself instead of everyone else. They're fine. So stop neglecting yourself and focus on your own well-being for once."
Rika's fierce concern for him offered Tora a fleeting sense of relief.
But just as he was about to exhale a sigh of relief, a new wave of anxiety surged as several guards stormed into the worksite.
"Get down on your knees, all of you, now!" the guards commanded, their eyes widening at the sight of their fallen comrade.
"Dalio, he's dead," one guard said, his voice faltering as he stared at the corpse of his fellow guard, who had been engaged with the young slaves.
Dalio's face went pale as he turned, horror-stricken, to see his comrade lying in a pool of his own blood.
He had been aware of his younger brother's cruelty and had always sought to intervene, but his efforts had been in vain.
His brother's actions had now led to this grim outcome, and the weight of his failure hit him with a crushing force.
Dalio dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he mourned his younger sibling.
The slaves, observing the scene, felt a pang of sorrow for Dalio.
They knew him as a guard who had consistently tried to shield them from his brother's cruelty.
They had once seen hope in the man now weeping before them.
"I'm sorry," Tora said softly, his voice filled with genuine remorse as he stood before the grieving Dalio.
"You—" one of the guards began, but Dalio raised a hand, silencing him.
Dalio, still in shock, managed to compose himself.
"Was it you who killed my brother?" he asked, his voice was filled with a chilling mixture of calm and cold detachment.
Tora bowed his head in respect. "Yes, it was me. I acted out of anger."
Tora braced himself for the inevitable punishment, ready to accept any consequences to protect his fellow slaves.
But as he closed his eyes, he felt a gentle, reassuring touch on his head, accompanied by Dalio's calming voice.
"I see. I'm sorry for my brother's actions. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive him, now that he has paid the price for his misdeeds."
Dalio's words broke through Tora's defenses, causing him to tear up as Dalio enveloped him in a comforting embrace.
"I didn't mean to kill him. I only wanted to incapacitate him, but I couldn't control my strength. I'm so sorry, Dalio!" Tora pleaded, his voice choked with anguish.
The realization of his uncontrolled strength and the unintended loss it had caused weighed heavily on him.
The other slaves wept, not just for their tormentor's demise, but for Dalio's profound grief and the compassion he continued to show them despite his loss.
As Dalio consoled them one by one, reassuring them of their safety, the guards behind them wiped away their own tears, moved by the emotional scene.
Meanwhile, Rika noticed Visgard still lying unconscious on the floor. "That guy—did he get attacked?" she asked, pointing to Visgard.
Dalio moved toward Visgard, but as his hand reached out, an invisible barrier surged with electricity, repelling him from even touching Visgard.
"What's happening?" Tora asked, confusion and concern evident as he tried to approach Visgard, only to be met with the same electrifying barrier.
"I don't know, but it seems this child possesses a skill as well," Dalio observed, studying Visgard intently.
They watched Visgard in stunned silence, his body lied still and unconscious. Yet within his mind, a whirlwind of memories surged—fragments of dreams he'd dismissed as inconsequential were now cascading through him, revealing a staggering wealth of knowledge about his former self.
In a moment that felt like a decade, the general, usually undefeated, was seized by panic.
He had just uncovered the immense power lurking within the Italian brigade, a realization that made him question the very theories he once considered mere speculation.
"But general..." uttered a soldier from Rain's army, but Rain's roar cut him off, resonating across the fiery battlefield.
"Listen up! Retreat now—this is a direct order! Retreat at once!"
His command echoed even among their enemies, and Rain's troops, gritting their teeth, obeyed.
It was the first time their general had ordered a retreat, a stark turn in their path to victory.
The Italian general, who had just unleashed a massive nuclear explosion, chuckled malevolently.
"That's right, you annoying Americans! Run for your lives!" he taunted, pointing at the fleeing soldiers.
"Here's my final gift to you! Maximum Ki Nuclear Blast!" His words hung in the air as a blinding flash of light signaled their impending doom.
As the light faded, Visgard, once known as Rain, could only watch as memories of their obliteration vanished.
His senses slowly returned, and consciousness followed.
"He's awake," Dalio said, observing Visgard's slight finger twitches.
Visgard opened his eyes to shadows around him and heard a hesitant girl's voice.
Confused, he sat up, grappling with a deep realization.
Dalio, Tora, Rika, and others were left speechless by what Visgard had shown them, as though he were still lost in his senses.
"Um, kid..." Dalio said, attempting to get his attention.
Visgard, absorbed in his thoughts, barely noticed his surroundings.
[Sage: Report, several individuals are intently focused on you.]
Snapping back to reality, Visgard looked at the faces around him.
"Huh? Why are you all staring at me like that?" he asked, completely bewildered.
Dalio explained, "Tora told me everything. It was you who stepped up to stop my brother's cruelty towards these young slaves." He glanced reassuringly at the young slaves.
Tora continued, "I saw you endure the bell's painful toll without flinching, even as the strings bound you. You pressed on despite the agony."
Despite the praise, Visgard remained expressionless, lost in confusion about his true identity.
Sage chose not to intervene, believing that self-discovery would unfold naturally and would ultimately benefit Visgard's growth.
As they pondered, a call came through the magic crystal each guard carried.
"First, you should all get some rest," Dalio said, rising up from his crouching position.
"I'll bury my brother and return." He walked away toward his brother's corpse, leaving a somber silence.
Tora, burdened with guilt, was comforted by Rika's warm embrace.
As sadness settled over them, a chilling breeze enveloped Visgard, casting a gloomy aura around him.
Chapter End.
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