The next day, Cale had teleported to the other side of the stone pillar which was located at Mount Leeb in the Eastern Continent. Youna had another errand to run for the ancient dragon so he decided to leave the redhead human's side. He was reluctant at first but Cale had managed to convince him.

Cale was lucky that he had remembered everything he read about geography and each place's coordinates in every continent. The redhead was looking at the scary looking stone pillar which was also located in their underground villa. He then decided to think about it after he got the last natural attribute of ancient power which could be found in the Grey Eye Forest.

Cale wondered why it was called 'Grey Eye Forest', the name was a mystery itself. Though he couldn't find much information about the forest, he only knew how to gain power here. As he was venturing inside the forest, he was quite surprised since there were no people nor monsters around.

Then, his heart started to beat wildly. Sparks from the Fire of Destruction started to appear, the other ancient powers, too, became incredibly active. He had used the Sound of the Wind to move faster.

Do they know the previous owner of this ancient power? Cale thought as he kept walking to find the lake.

A moment later, Cale found the lake but as soon as he got within the vicinity, he felt needles were prickling his skin. Looking at the appearance of the lake, he could now deduce why this place was called 'Grey Eye Forest'. Before him, a grey-colored lake in the shape of a human eye could be seen. Cale shuddered at how creepy the lake was.

It's like this is an eye of some god, judging a person or monster in this area. Is this the reason why no one can be seen around here? He thought as he tried to calm himself down.

The ground started to shake, then the Fire of Destruction suddenly spoke in his head, Wow! Damn it! I knew he was a cool person! He's taking the initiative just like I taught him to do!

Cale shuddered at his voice, don't tell me the previous owner was a fight-loving person? He wanted to cry. He knew he had to fight but he never thought it would be as soon as he stepped in its area.

The lake was shooting up into the sky and it started shaping into large spears of water.

The ground continued to shake and the spears became sharper and sharper every second passed.

Ah, I really need to fight it, Cale thought as he readied himself to dodge and attack.

Tsk! The other trials were simple and easy, I didn't expect the last one to be this aggressive, Cale clicked his tongue as the ground shook violently and the spears pointed at him.

It looks like we need to fight him first! This guy really likes to fight. Did he choose his trial to be a fight as well? The Fire of Destruction continued to speak.

Hey, old man, I hope you're ready to heal me as I fight during this trial! Cale said in his mind addressing the Energy of the Heart.

Don't overdo it, your plate is weak. Moreover, you're still a child. It'll be difficult to fight in this state! The Energy of the Heart responded as he felt himself crying.

Don't worry, Cale. We'll protect and support you! Indestructible Shield and Super Rock chimed in.

They're right! Don't worry! This kid never won against us anyway! The Fire of Destruction said.

Thank you, wow, I really appreciate that information, Cale smiled. Then the spears started coming at him.

A repressed power cannot defeat a free power, the Sound of the Wind spoke. Cale dodged the spears and activated his shield to defend himself. He continued to think while fighting.

I see, so this ancient power was tied to something and in the end couldn't fight in his full strength, Cale thought.

The spear clashed against his shield. Cale groaned as he felt he was hit by something, but he had to endure so he could take this power. The Energy of the Heart was continuously working to maintain his body and the Super Rock to keep his plate stronger.

Cale used the Super Rock to create a spear and with the help of his gift, he surrounded the spear with the Fire of Destruction. Now the stone spear was covered with rose gold thunderbolts. He countered the water spears with his own. It clashed and created an explosion. He coughed up blood as the Energy of the Heart was keeping his body in a good condition.

If this fight drags on, it'll be troublesome for me, Cale gritted his teeth as his blood flowed from his mouth. He doesn't even have the time to wipe it off.

The Sky Eating Water or was previously known as the Water of Judgment, it was a great power indeed but it was scary as hell. The strength reminded him of something that was made to execute someone immediately.

The ground rumbled once again, then something came out from the bottom of the lake. Chains were shooting up as if they were ready to shackle the hands and feet of the sinner.

A water spear and now chains?! Cale was frustrated as multiple chains shot up from the water.

"Ah! Why are you using some weird shit!" Cale shouted as he attacked the water spears and chains. He continued to cough up blood every time he attacked.

It's not me, a voice of a woman was heard inside his head.

No! This isn't me! It continued to speak. Cale knew the voice came from the previous owner of Sky Eating Water.

The spears and chains started to combine to form a large spear. Furthermore, the surface of the lake started to tremble.

This isn't my power! This is not me! I-I am not a judge!

"Then, who are you?" Cale asked.

I am ... someone who doesn't have freedom, the voice was quiet as if it calmed down but the attack was still aggressive.

I was chained, the woman continued to speak. Then his ancient powers started to speak in his head once again.

She was chained by a god using the shackles called responsibility and duties. She had to be repressed by an identity that she was not born with.

She was chained the moment she was born and then that god named her. Then he gave her to the people.

Cale was saddened by the truth. He felt like he was choking from the life the previous owner of Sky Eating Water had led to. He was the same. Cale sympathized with her as he was the same.

I wished to get out of them. That's why I escaped and ran away to the corner of the Eastern Continent. However, I already forgot who I truly was.

Free me.

The ancient power wanted to return to its original self. The power that a god cherished but had no choice but to be chained down who actually wanted to be used freely.

The god gave me the name, 'Water of Judgment'. However, I have a name that I gave myself, the ancient power continued to speak.

Ancient powers always gave themselves names but I lost my chance to give myself. I want a new chance to give myself a name.

The ancient power could sense the people who helped her escape. She could sense them from the person in front of her. They helped her write a resignation letter, they caused a fire to create a diversion, and then defended against the white snake with a shield. They also gave her a ride with the wind in order to help her move and gave her a body as sturdy as a boulder.

In the end, these people had to sacrifice themselves for the world. She was sad as she couldn't go back to be by their side after being helped to escape.

I am not the judge.

The lake trembled once again. Water was something that should flow from top to bottom, that was the laws of nature. But her power was something that goes against nature. That was why, a god cherished her but had to chain her down and was forced to be with the humans.

The ancient power revealed the name she gave herself once she arrived in the Eastern Continent,

I am the Retrogressive Water.

The one who defies nature.

I am the Sky Eating Water.

The voice died down and the gray spears shot toward him. It tried to chain Cale's limbs. He was smiling at the chains and spears that were coming at him.

"The Retrogressive Water, I like the name," Cale smiled and looked directly at the spears.

He used the Sound of the Wind to serve as his feet then he jumped into the Grey Eye Lake. He was sure that the water would not touch him.

Cale's body started to sink to the bottom of the lake. He had trouble seeing as if the lake was filled with fog. His heart beats loudly and wildly as the lake trembled at the same time. Blood continued to drip from his mouth as the Energy of the Heart continued to heal his body.

As he continued to sink, Cale heard the voice once again as it reverberated inside the lake.

I was born a slave. I didn't know who my parents were. The only thing I could remember was the chains around my ankles.

He told me I had talents before he freed me from slavery. He told me it could be used for the world. That was how the god destroyed the first chains.

However, he placed new ones instead. The chain was not around my ankles, but in my heart instead.

People revered me for having the attention of a god and trusted me to take care of their problems. Some people wanted to use me as well and they were the ones who put the chains back around my ankles.

Cale listened to the voice as he continued protecting himself with the shield.

That's why I ran away.

I met some people who helped me run away. However, I ran away alone.

They said they had something to do so they remained. All of them had said they had to fight.

That was how the Sky Eating Water had become free. At that moment, the lake trembled at a fast rate and Cale's body shook as if he was caught in a current. Something was cutting through the fog and approached him. He could hear metal-like sounds. And he saw it. It was the chains.

The half-transparent chains rushed towards him and he heard the woman's voice again. She was laughing. Laughing in disbelief, I was free and yet I didn't know how to live freely! I had never lived like that before!

The chains tied Cale's limbs as it pulled him to the bottom of the lake. He struggled to take it out but it was in vain.

Run away.

The voice continued to speak, but Cale wouldn't run even if he managed to break free from the chains. He closed his eyes and focused on thinking how he should be able to get out from the chains.

He once again opened his eyes, his irises turned gold. The chains and spears stopped moving, as if it felt the presence of a divine being. The chains were removed. He continued to sink to the bottom without the help of any of his ancient powers nor being dragged down.

His goal was at the bottom of the lake.

Cale could now see the bottom, the chains stopped moving.

You, are you a god? The voice asked.

I am not but I am someone who was blessed by them, Cale answered in his mind.

Cale reached the bottom ground and the water surrounded him. He used the Super Rock to create large spears on the ground, because of this the ground terribly shook.

The lake started to split open and in between those cracks, large stone spears appeared. Above one of the spears, stood Cale Henituse.

The chains shot up and started going after Cale once again, he then lifted all the stone spears and covered it once again with the Fire of Destruction. He then attacked the chains that were coming at him.

Yes, destroy everything! Cale shouted in his mind as he continued to cough up blood.

Explosions could be heard every time the chains and spears clashed against one another. The grey water splashed all sides which drenched Cale and soon it returned to its original state, a water.

Soon after, the water spears charged at him once again. He created more stone spears and used the Fire of Destruction. The sky started to rumble and thunderbolts appeared.

His eyes shone brightly as he lifted his arms to create hundreds of spears and to prepare the attack of the fiery thunderbolt.

"If you'll destroy something, one should do it properly. And oh, you cannot chain me down," Cale spoke and brought his arm down, which served as a signal for the spear and rose-gold thunderbolt to attack the water spears.

Loud explosions could be heard in the area, Cale curled his body as he felt like his body was being turned upside down. He continued to cough up blood, he felt like dying from the pain he felt.

A sudden screech was heard from the lake and this was the time Cale was waiting for. The chains disappeared. His body looked terrible. Drenched and bloodied up.

A light suddenly floated where the grey chains became a vapor. The dirty grey color started to disappear revealing an unexpectedly beautiful color. The sound of the lake was the same as a calming wave.

The spears flew directly in the sky. He then heard an energetic voice.

I ... I am the Sky Eating Water. Isn't my name cool?

Cale laughed even though he was in great pain.

"Yes, it's a cool name."

Are you good at cussing? Do you fight a lot?

"Not sure if I'm still good at it. Yes, I might fight a lot."

Cale and the Sky Eating Water conversed as if they only exist in the world. The woman laughed.

That sounds fucking fun!

The ancient power seemed to return to how she spoke before. The spear disappeared as soon as the rain started to fall. Then, a short spear appeared next to him. He grabbed it then a light rushed into him.

I will be your spear. I will protect you and your freedom.

Cale could feel the power all over his body. As soon as it was over, he felt his body falling. He no longer has any strength left.

As he hit the ground, he curled his body to prevent his pain from coming but it was futile. He coughed up blood once again and he started hugging his body and his nails dug on his arms. He was feeling incredible pain.

"Ugh!" He groaned as he coughed chunks after chunks of blood.

Hang in there, kiddo! We'll work right away! Don't die! His ancient powers spoke at the same time.

Gasps and heavy breathing were heard. He cried as a physiological response to the pain he's feeling. He wanted to scream but the choking feeling prevented him from doing so.

He felt as if he was being kicked and beaten up. He also felt like he was being electrocuted. He continued to gasp for air as he felt like he would stop breathing any moment.

Cale, you cannot sleep. Endure it for a little while, Super Rock spoke.

No, I hate this! I want to sleep! Cale protested but he remained awake while enduring the pain.

"Hey kid! Hang in there!" Someone said but he couldn't focus as the pain was too overwhelming.

.oOo.

Meanwhile, a pair of men, one with blue hair and one with purple hair, were walking around Leeb-An City. They were checking out the branch of the Mercenary Guild and they were about to go back when they heard loud explosions in Mount Leeb, specifically to where the Grey Eye Forest was located. They immediately departed to check what was happening in the forest.

The two men arrived, they slowly and carefully treaded the forest. The sound of the blast was coming from the Grey Eye Lake and they rushed towards it. There, they were met by a certain red haired child, around eleven years old, who was standing on one of the stone pillars. They saw how the sky darkened and how the rose gold thunderbolts rained towards the lake. Watching the scene unfold was indeed scary yet it was beautiful as well.

"Such destructive force!" The blue-haired individual exclaimed in awe. His companion was rather speechless as his mouth was gaping.

Once the explosions subsided, a light appeared in front of the boy and after everything was over, the red-haired child fell to the ground. They were astonished and they remained unmoving for a few moments and their dazed was cut off when they heard the child coughing and writhing in pain.

They both rushed as fast as they could, the pair saw how much the child was suffering, they could guess it was from his powers.

"Hey kid! Hang in there!" The blue-haired man said but the redhead child was too focused on his pain, he thought the child didn't even notice them.

"Glenn, we should bring him back home. I think it'll be safer there than here," the blue-haired man said.

"Yes, we should," Glenn replied toward his boss. Glenn, the mage, teleported the three of them back in their guild.

After a blink of an eye, the three landed on the Twin Island where Bud's home island. They placed the red-haired child in one of the empty rooms in their guild.

"We should give him potions to heal him," Bud, the blue-haired individual, said. Glenn hastily followed but as soon as he got near with a healing potion in his hand, the bottle got flicked by a vine.

Bud and Glenn widened their eyes in shock. Just how powerful is this kid? They thought.

"It seems usage of healing potions isn't allowed," Bud said as he frowned.

"Glenn, look for information about this child. He doesn't seem like he is from the Eastern Continent," he continued. Glenn bowed and exited the room.

Bud Illis, the current Mercenary King, was tending after Cale himself. He couldn't let anyone touch the kid as he was a stranger and he felt like he shouldn't carelessly reveal a child's identity. He prepared warm water, towels, and a change of clothes for the child. He was still curling in pain and coughing chunks and chunks of blood.

In his observation, the child seemed to be awake. Whenever he tried to talk to him, he let out a groan as if he was trying to respond to him too.

"Is it an ancient power that is causing you great pain like this?" Bud asked as he wiped the blood from the child's face even though the latter continued vomiting and coughing blood.

Night came and Glenn came back with the information he got from the red-haired child. He instantly handed the papers to Bud.

"Hm, Cale Henituse? Son of the wealthiest nobleman in the Rowoon Kingdom and from the Henituse Territory. Age 12, but he looked younger and smaller than that," Bud read the paper Glenn had given him and gave a quick glance towards the redhead who was now sleeping after his sufferings. Of course, Bud cleaned him up and changed the bedsheets and his clothes to keep him comfortable.

"He's the son of the Count's late first wife and has two siblings from his father's second wife, tough life kid," he continued to read as he commented on some. Glenn just shook his head.

"Known among the high society for his brash actions, well he does seem aggressive based on his attacks and powers he displayed earlier.

His powers enable him to manipulate plants, oh did he somehow use this against nobles? Well, they're somehow annoying to deal with too. Can't blame the kid for doing that," he continued.

After he finished reading, they monitored the redhead and managed to fall asleep.

.oOo.

Morning came, Cale turned and tossed around the fluffy bed. He still doesn't want to open his eyes but was forced to as he was too hungry and his ancient powers were too noisy inside his head.

He slowly opened his eyes and he found himself in an unfamiliar place. He slowly looked around and he saw an unfamiliar man sleeping beside the bed.

W-Where am I? Cale thought as he slowly backed away, the sleeping man woke up and he stared at the redhead for a while.

"Oh! You're finally awake!" the blue-haired man spoke which made Cale flinch. The redhead didn't respond.

"I am Bud Illis and you are currently in my place," Bud said with a smile. Cale didn't respond.

"I know you have a lot of questions—"

"I am hungry," Cale finally responded.

Bud laughed as the first thing the redhead had to ask was food. Glenn, who was just across the room, smacked the back of Bud's head.

"I'm sorry about this person, is there anything you specifically want to eat?" Glenn asked.

"Meat, lots of meat and sweets," Cale answered honestly with sparkling eyes. He was so hungry as if he had starved himself for months.

"Alright, we will prepare them but there are things we need to ask you first," Bud replied this time. Cale just nodded.

Glenn exited and asked for food in the kitchen.

"So, what are you doing here in the Eastern Continent, Cale Henituse? Upon observation, I haven't seen any knights or guardians to accompany you," Bud asked.

"I came here alone. The reason why I am here is something I cannot fully reveal," Cale replied with his serious tone.

"But I can say one thing, I am here to pick up something that will make me stronger," he added.

Bud Illis, the current Mercenary King, could infer that Cale Henituse took an ancient power at the Grey Eye Forest.

"How about you? Why did you help me, Mercenary King Bud Illis?" Cale asked and looked at the shocked man sharply.

Cale certainly knows the man in front of him the moment he told him his name. He has knowledge about this man. Since they already met, shouldn't he take this advantage to make this man work for him? He grinned from that idea.

"Wow, that's unexpected. You're pretty smart for a kid." Bud smirked. Cale scoffed and shrugged his shoulders.

The food arrived and Cale filled his stomach happily.

"Since you already know my identity, you should tell me your reason why you're here," Bud spoke.

"I am not a stupid kid who will start trusting someone just because they gave me food," Cale replied as he kept shoving food into his mouth.

Damn, obtaining these ancient powers really drained me, Cale thought as he continued to eat. Bud just watched the redhead who's too happy eating his food.

Ah, I can feel my friend from that person, the Sound of the Wind spoke. Cale raised an eyebrow and looked at the man again. By friend means another ancient power?

Cale ignored what his ancient power had said and continued finishing his food. Once he's done he stands from where he's sitting.

"Kid, let me ask you again, why do you need to get stronger?" he asked. He looked out through the window, his gaze was directly pointing to the other side of the Twin Island. He was too focused on that side; he didn't notice Bud's questioning gaze.

"Hey mister, what is in there? What's on the other side of that mountain?" Cale asked as he pointed his finger to the place he was looking. Bud followed where the redhead was pointing at.

"That's where one of the Three Restricted Areas is located," Bud answered and slightly glanced toward where Glenn was, they wondered what the redhead was seeing in there for him to notice.

Unknown to them, Cale could hear some voices on that island.

//TBC ...

Thank you for reading! ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶