Point of View: Tharok
Rogan stopped.
I spoke coldly.
"My second art is actually quite simple."
He remained silent.
"It's called Overload.
Passively, it stores an enormous amount of Origin Energy inside my heart."
His body trembled slightly.
Then he slowly began turning toward me.
I continued speaking.
"When I activate it… all that energy is used to push my body beyond its limits temporarily."
His face turned pale.
A dark smile slowly appeared on my face.
"Now you understand what's about to happen… don't you, Father?"
He took a step back.
Just one.
But he did it.
I looked at the sky one last time.
Snow continued falling over the silent forest.
"In my current state, I'll probably die afterward from the backlash of the art."
I looked at him again.
"And unfortunately for me… I only have one life left."
My voice grew deeper.
"When I die… that will be the true end for me."
Rogan's face lost even more color.
I could see it clearly.
Fear.
Real fear.
My killing intent began overflowing.
"Your idea of using abominations to destroy my soul was clever…"
I smiled slowly.
"So how about I use you to test it first, Father?"
I heard his voice tremble.
"You…
You can't possibly be thinking…"
I didn't answer.
I closed my eyes.
And released everything.
The energy accumulated inside my heart exploded outward instantly.
BOOM
My heart began beating like a war drum.
Pressure surged through every part of my body.
My muscles tightened violently.
Veins bulged beneath my skin.
The wounds across my body split open further, blood slowly running down.
But I didn't care.
I whispered,
"Art: Reinforcement."
Origin Energy spread throughout my entire body.
My muscles began strengthening.
My bones hardened.
My skin became tougher.
And then…
I slowly opened my eyes.
"Art: Overload."
BOOM
My heart beat again.
Stronger.
Heavier.
More monstrous.
The ground beneath my feet began cracking apart.
The snow sank around my body.
My size slowly started increasing.
The muscles in my arms and legs expanded.
Cold air escaped my mouth like steam.
The chains binding me tightened violently.
The metal creaked.
Groaned.
Tried to resist.
But it couldn't.
CRACK
The chains exploded into pieces.
The sound of shattering metal echoed through the entire forest.
My body was now nearly twice as large.
I was still wounded.
Still weakened.
My strength was nowhere near its peak.
But…
I didn't need more.
I only needed to reach him once.
Two white rings rotated around my body.
The sign of two active arts at the same time.
I stared directly at Rogan.
His face had gone completely pale.
And for the first time in my life…
I saw terror in his eyes.
My voice sounded deep.
Monstrous.
"You should have expected this after everything you did."
I leaned slightly forward.
A pursuit stance.
Then I heard his voice.
It trembled.
"Art: Extreme Speed."
A white ring appeared around his body.
And in the next instant…
He fled.
He didn't try to fight.
He didn't try to attack me.
He ran.
I let out a low laugh.
Filled with contempt.
"I expected nothing less from you."
I launched my body forward.
BOOM
The ground exploded beneath my feet.
I didn't have much time.
And I intended to use every second to kill him.
Point of View: Rogan
"Damn it…!"
I ran desperately through the trees.
Snow struck my face.
Branches scratched my skin.
But I didn't stop.
How did this happen?
How did it go so wrong?
Everything was planned.
Everything was under control.
Then…
Why am I the one running now?
Why do I have to flee from my own son?
I clenched my teeth and pushed my speed even further.
I had to reach Drakar's tribe.
It was the only safe place.
The forest was hell.
Trees.
Rocks.
Snow.
Everything obstructed my movements.
And behind me…
That monster was coming.
BOOM
A massive rock flew past my waist.
The impact destroyed several trees ahead of me.
A chill ran down my spine.
If that thing hit me…
I didn't even want to imagine it.
BOOM
Another rock.
"Damn it!"
My breathing was starting to lose control.
I couldn't make mistakes.
Not now.
Not here.
This damned world…
It always does this.
Always.
Every time I'm about to obtain what I deserve…
Something goes wrong.
Something ruins everything.
Then I heard a roar behind me.
"FATHER!!"
My body tensed.
"FACE ME, COWARD!!"
I felt terror.
Real terror.
And I ran even faster.