North – Baikon's Home
Present Time
A quiet room as usual, a beautiful scent of incense, a wooden ceiling that's easy on the eyes, a wooden bed and a warm blanket, and a window where a wonderful morning breeze and the sounds of birds enter from all around.
Okays wakes up, stands on his feet, and walks toward the window. He looks at Baikon watering the plants in his small farm.
Okays (loudly):
What are you doing this early in the morning?
Baikon looks up:
Oh, you're finally awake? You've slept for 4 whole days.
Okays (loudly):
Well, I was really tired, but I also woke up many times during the past two days.
Baikon:
Come down here, boy, my head hurts when I look up too much.
Okays (sarcastically):
What happened to the old man who could kill me two days ago?
Baikon:
Shut up and get down here.
Okays closes the window and wears one of the clothes Baikon had placed for him in the past two days. His old clothes were torn from the battle. He wore the new clothes, although they were a bit too big for him — he didn't care much.
He left the room. The house was more like a small cabin: another room and a small hall in the middle, with two chairs and a tea table, a small kitchen in the corner, and another closed room. The house was filled with herbal scents, and every step Okays took, he heard the wooden floor creak beneath him.
He reached the front door and opened it. Baikon was waiting for him.
Baikon (wiping sweat with a towel):
Come here, you rascal. Help me a bit.
Okays quickly walked over and held the vegetable cutter.
Okays (innocently):
Grandpa, I don't know how to cut them.
Baikon (sighs):
And how did you live in the forest before?
Okays:
My mother did everything.
Baikon:
Were you spoiled or what?
Okays:
Well, I focused on other things like training and learning.
Baikon grabbed the vegetable cutter and taught him how to cut vegetables from the ground. After that, they went to the small chicken coop and took two eggs, then returned to the house.
Baikon headed to the kitchen and began preparing a simple breakfast: fried eggs, a glass of milk, and a vegetable salad.
Okays wandered around the hall. There were some books about ancient combat on one of the shelves. He took one and started reading. The book's title was "The Last Controller." The book talked about a user from ancient times.
Atalius, a user from thousands of years ago, who stood at the peak of users in history. He controlled blood with incredible precision — he could create another complete version of himself using his blood, and form multiple swords and arrows at the same time. This book talks about his abilities and how he did them – Part Three.
Note: If you haven't read the first two parts, you won't be able to benefit from this book.
Okays closed the book and headed to the kitchen, asking Baikon:
Grandpa, where are the other copies of this book?
Baikon:
Let me see, what is it?
Okays approached Baikon and showed him the book.
Baikon (laughing sarcastically):
Are you a child or what? It's a storybook for children, and it's not real. It's just an old legend written by an amateur for kids.
Okays:
But why are combat techniques written in children's books?
Baikon:
How should I know? Also, they say the first and second parts were burned by former kings. It's all nonsense anyway — nothing proves it's real.
Okays:
Seems odd. Anyway, can I borrow the book?
Baikon:
You can take it. No one reads it anyway. And breakfast is ready.
Okays takes the breakfast with Baikon, and they head to the table in the middle of the hall.
They sit and start eating.
Baikon:
So, what have you decided, boy? Winter is near — 28 days left.
Okays:
I don't know, but for now, I'll use the remaining time for training. Also, teach me that technique you told me about.
Baikon:
It's not as easy to learn as you think. You might need more time than you have.
Okays:
It's fine. I'll do my best and try to master it before winter comes.
Baikon:
Then finish your food and follow me behind the house.
Okays finishes his meal and follows Baikon.
Behind the house is a small open yard facing the forest. There's a wooden dummy and several broken wooden swords here and there. It seemed no one had been here for a long time.
Okays (looking at Baikon):
What is this place?
Baikon:
It's a training area. As you can see, it hasn't been used for a long time.
Okays:
I mean, who used to train here?
Baikon:
Why do you care who used to train here? Just clean the place now, and after that, I'll teach you the blood heating technique.
Okays (complaining):
Why do I have to clean?
Baikon:
Clean the place if you want me to teach you.
Okays (seriously):
Why are you helping me so much? You saved me, and now you're helping and training me?
Baikon:
What? Want me to throw you off the mountain now? Clean the place.
Okays:
Yes, sir!
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General Information:
Monsters resemble humans a lot in appearance. What makes them different are the horns on their heads and parts of their bodies wrapped in bones like the ribcage. Also, silver-colored lines are drawn on their faces. The pattern of these lines differs from one monster to another. But there are also other monsters who look completely different and only resemble humans in behavior.
Okays is known as a hybrid due to the absence of horns and his bony ribcage. He only has facial lines — one under his eye extending to his chin, and another on his forehead.
To be continued...