Born in Blood

'He's unfamiliar.' Liam realized, staring at the delivery man from behind a distant wall.

Eve accepted the coins and stored the meat satchel inside the home, which prompted the hunter to turn around and leave.

Liam silently began to follow, pulling down his hood and keeping his distance.

The streets of Ucladd were busiest during the day, allowing Liam to hide his short figure amidst the townsfolk.

In the distance, the guild building grew visible, and the hunter was clearly headed towards it.

Half an hour passed, and the crowds slowly dwindled the further they went, giving Liam less chances to hide his presence.

'Damn it. I won't be able to follow him like this.' Liam cursed, forced to extend his distance.

However, the route the hunter took was quite strange, consisting of dark back alleys that led to the guild district.

'Does he know I'm trailing him?' Liam wondered as he slowly peeked over the corner.

However, the hunter was gone.

"What do you want?"

A grueling voice rang out from behind, and a strong pressure weighed against Liam's mind.

'Sh*t! What should I say?'

Liam slowly turned around, a defiant look on his pale face despite his flickering consciousness.

"Please... teach me how to cultivate."

As he said those words, the pressure slowly subsided, allowing Liam to assess the hunter's facial features.

An unreadable expression was on his stern, scar-ridden face. He looked to be in his middle-ages, yet his aura indicated a strange enlightenment.

His brown eyes contained a powerful gaze, and his tall, burly stature gave him an intimidating air.

"Why do you want to learn it?" He eventually asked, his gaze fixed with Liam's own.

After a short pause, Liam answered truthfully:

"I want power."

The hunter's eyes flickered with amazement for a split second, before reverting to normal.

Memories of his own flashed in his head, remembering himself saying the same thing.

'Such a defiant, ambitious rascal. If he wants to walk down this path... I won't deny his resolve.'

"Ten seconds," The man uttered with an expectant look. "Suffer for ten seconds, and I'll teach you."

Liam suppressed a smile from appearing on his face.

He'd been suffering for an entire lifetime, what could a mere ten seconds do?

"Deal." Liam instantly agreed. "Suffer how?"

"No spoilers." The man denied. "I'm Lloyd Kahl by the way, and you?"

"Liam--"

Liam couldn't complete his words before a mountainous pressure enveloped his consciousness, as though his head was placed under a truck tire.

One. Two. Three.

Seconds felt like hours, and Liam's heart pumped blood like an engine. His face and body started to sweat from every orifice, all the while, the pressure on his head never waned.

Four. Five. Six.

At this point, Liam's consciousness started to drift. His knees buckled, pulling him to the ground. His eyes flickered close as darkness started to take over his vision, and his limbs trembled uncontrollably.

'No!' Liam managed to squeeze a thought, his eyes bursting open as he bit his tongue with all the strength in his jaw.

Blood gushed from his wound and filled his mouth, causing him to cough it up violently.

Yet, the sharp pain from his maimed tongue managed to keep him barely awake for the next four seconds.

The pressure ceased.

Lloyd's expression didn't hold back any amazement at that scene.

'This kid might just be something special.' He realized, before attempting to inspect Liam's condition.

Liam raised his hand, denying any help as he weakly picked himself off the floor. "Are you gonna teach me now or what?" He asked, his wounded tongue slurring his words.

Lloyd smiled, flicking his wrist and stretching his hand.

Under Liam's shocked eyes, a green, thumb-sized pill appeared out of thin air in Lloyd's palm.

"Chew. It'll help with your tongue."

Liam did as instructed.

The pill had an extremely bitter taste, but gave a warm surge of energy throughout Liam's body.

Slowly, the wound on his tongue started to heal, and a moment later, there was no trace of any injury.

"What... is this?" Liam asked, an incredulous look on his face. He realized the world he was in was much more advanced than earth. "How'd it come out of nowhere?"

"It's a revitalization-pill. I said I'll teach you cultivation, and I will. You'll learn those things in time." Lloyd heaved a sigh, before gesturing for Liam to follow him.

Liam nodded and followed.

"Are you already familiar with what the guilds are?" Lloyd asked as they made their way to the guild building. "What about cultivation?"

Liam shook his head. "Only the names. I have no idea what a 'Sea of Consciousness' is."

The pair approached the guild building. Armored soldiers leaning on sharp spears covered the large entrance, their expressions turning stern as they saw Liam's figure.

Lloyd shot them a brief, understanding look, and the guards let them pass.

'Is he important or something?' Liam couldn't help but think that as they entered the building.

The inside lobby resembled a lavish bar, accompanied with various drinks and furnished with wooden tables.

To the right and left side of the room, were stairs that led downwards.

Men donning similar clothes to Lloyd were seated around the tables, mugs of beer in their hands. They were too drunk to pay any heed to the small child.

Lloyd walked down the stairs with Liam following closely behind.

The basement led to a hallway, which led to a small empty booth. A small hollow compartment was on its side.

Lloyd took out a small lapel button from his collar and inserted it into the slot.

A moment later, whirring sounds resounded around them, and the booth doors closed on their own.

'An elevator?' Liam thought with wide eyes. 'I thought they didn't have electricity?'

A few moments passed, before the 'elevator' stopped and its doors opened.

Liam's green irises reflected a large underground 'city', illuminated by giant, glistening chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

'You gotta be kidding me.'