3 bar menu

Return of the Fallen Vol1 Ch21

Author: Blue_Rat

ch21

Experiencing Mana sickness or Mana fever was quite terrifying for Asuna and the others. This darkened their moods and taught them once more that this was in fact not their world. Kazuki though felt they were too soft and lived such cushy and peaceful lives on Earth so this little introductory in pain, it was only natural that it had overwhelmed them. If only they knew the number of times he had suffered these same symptoms but was forced to grin and bear it and accept it.

(Hmph, as expected, they know nothing of true suffering.)

After everyone started to focus on their breathing and their Mage Cores recovered some power Garn was satisfied and called it.

“That’s it for today. You’ve all summoned an element and you’ve also experienced Mana sickness so today’s lessons are over. Tomorrow, Asuna and Kimi, you two will spar with some soldiers, while Sam, Ryuta, Danny, and Shin, you four will be entering the Karada Cauldron. It seems a fresh batch of Magic Blood Orbs will be prepared by then, that is all.”

After Garn left, everyone else headed for the cafeteria. Grabbing some food, everyone started to dig in and their expressions soon came back to life.

“That was really messed up. Mana Sickness, I can’t believe Sir Garn didn’t even warn us ahead of time.”

Sam put down his bowl of soup and nodded in agreement with Danny.

“Yea, it even hurt just breathing. As long as we remember to keep at least 10% of our energy it shouldn’t happen though right?”

Everyone nodded.

“That reminds me, in order to keep 10% in reserve I can only summon a small force of wind around 15 times, more than that and that fever will hit me. But what’s the point of that? With this small amount of wind, I probably can barely knock a book off a shelf. What use is this power?”

Asuna disagreed with Shin and added.

“At least your power actually does something. With my space element, I could teleport about 2 feet, how can I use that in combat.”

Kimi and the rest who were originally excited about their power started seeing the lack of combat effectiveness and felt rather useless. Kazuki was getting a little annoyed with their lack of imagination and decided to try and change the bad air.

“Hehehe, you all have such useless elements while I have the strongest. With my fire, I can melt a sword in seconds or burn an entire castle in the blink of an eye, hehehe I knew it, I’m the best.”

Everyone became annoyed at Kazuki’s bragging and over-exaggeration. Asuna grabbed him by the collar without thinking and amazingly lifted him off the ground in anger. She held him in place, while his feet dangled in the air below him, stunning everyone. The group fell silent and looked on in awe.

Shin rubbed his eyes with disbelief before he asked.

“Holy shit Asuna, have you been hitting the gym?”

It was only now that Asuna looked at what she was doing. She looked repeatedly between the empty space below Kazuki’s feet and her hands around his collar before she quickly let go and staggered backward.

Looking at her hands she gripped them into a fist several times and felt strength like no other coursing through her body. It was then that she and Kimi shared a look between each other and they remembered what Rust told them as they suffered inside the Karada Cauldron.

He had told them that they would gain memories or experiences from a great warrior and that it would act almost like a guide showing them how to fight but not only that, their bodies would vastly improve whether it be in strength or their senses. Rust had told them those words and a little after that the two had passed out.

When they awoke they were slightly drowsy and the only thing they remembered was being escorted to Sir Garn to learn about magic.

Now, something began to click in their minds and the gears began to turn. While everyone was still unsure of what was happening Asuna looked over at Kimi and said.

“You try it too.”

Kimi didn’t even think and just grabbed the nearby Shin by the collar. She looked at Asuna and Asuna gave her a nod.

Shin though, had a bad feeling.

“Eh, wait Kimi, what are you about to do?”

Kimi said nothing and instead lifted with a bit of strength and once more people couldn’t understand what they were witnessing. Kimi who couldn’t weigh more than 110 pounds soaking wet had somehow released Shin from his earthly shackles and with a single hand had lifted him several feet off of the ground.

Shin started to panic and grabbed onto Kimi’s arm like a cat and although he didn’t really have nails, still they dug into Kimi’s arm causing her to wince slightly in pain and drop him.

Shin just managed to land on his feet but Kimi was rubbing her arm like she was the one who was wronged.

“Shin, that hurt, why did you scratch me like a freaking cat.”

“What, that’s your own fault. Who just goes and picks someone up like a rag doll. I thought you had turned into an ape and was going to either eat me or snap my neck like a cracker. What the hells going on with you two anyway?”

Asuna and Kimi shared a sympathetic look as they explained about the Karada Cauldron as well as the Magic Blood Orb that Garn had mentioned before he left.

“So that’s what he meant. It increases your body’s attributes while also sharing some type of memory with you from someone and at the same time it also causes an extreme amount of pain.”

Shin was recapping what they just told them and Danny, as well as Asuna and Kimi, trembled with fear just thinking about the pain. Though once they remembered that they wouldn’t have to enter it again while the boys would, for some reason a bit of delight lit up within them.

Sam, Kazuki, and Shin felt completely different about it though.

The three began to shake and Asuna and Kimi both thought that the three were afraid like they had been. Asuna gently pat Sam on the back before saying.

“It’s ok, there’s nothing to worry about. We got through it so you all can as well.”

Sam though shook his head.

“I’m not afraid or worried, instead I feel excited. Tomorrow I get to get in that weird bath thingy or whatever and then I get to level up. I got an equip today and tomorrow I level up, this day can’t end fast enough.”

Asuna was surprised by Sam’s reaction but not too surprised.

(He’s treating this like a videogame, figures. What about the other three?)

She could see a gleam in Shin and Kazuki’s eyes and couldn’t help but ask.

“Eh, you two? Its terrifying you know, that darkness the pain, I’m telling you it’s no joke.”

Kazuki jumped onto the table.

“A little pain, hmph, is it any worse then Mana sickness? Even if it is, it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna get super strength tomorrow after simply having a hot bath, hehehe now this is my type of world.”

Shin jumped onto the table next.

“Ryuta’s right, we’ll be able to lift a boulder after taking a bath in the dark, this is as simple as eating. I wonder, between you and me, who will be the strongest.”

A fierce competitive aura rose up between the two.

“Of course it will be me, for I am the main character of this movie.”

Shin laughed wildly.

“Hahaha, Ryuta tch tch tch, don’t tell me you’re that naïve. It’s always the one with the most charming looks who plays the starring role. Everyone else is simply the sidekick or background noise.”

Kazuki wore a grin.

“So with that statement, we are both in agreement. As I am the dashingly handsome one and you are my fugly yet funny comedic relief.”

Shin’s smiled twisted a bit.

“Fugly, who’s fugly? If I’m fugly then you’re the offspring of a drunken one night stand between an ogre and a rat. Ladies, do you agree?”

Everyone broke out into laughter. Kimi pointed at the two of them.

“Neither one of you make the cut seeing as how you both suck. Sam on the other hand…”

Kimi and Asuna looked over at Sam. Sam had no clue how to respond and just buried himself in the food in front of him, causing everyone to laugh once more.

“Alright, Ryuta, care to make a wager.”

“Why say it like that? Just say its a bet, we don’t live in olden times.”

“Fine whatever, a bet then.”

“Gladly.”

“Ok, the bet is whoever is the strongest tomorrow gets the other’s ring, this will prove once and for all who’s the main character and who’s just a sidekick. So how about it.”

Kazuki was already several times stronger than the average human due to his ki alone. Added to the fact he would absorb the Blood Orb and his strength would increase even more. There would be absolutely no way he would lose. Their base stats were just too different. Still, he didn’t want to completely crush Shin by taking his ring.

“Nah, man, that’s too much and this should be a friendly bet. How about instead whoever loses has to treat the other to a drink.”

Shin looked at Kazuki questioningly.

“A drink?”

Kazuki got close and nudged Shin in his side as he whispered.

“Yes, a drink in the city, at a bar, where there will possibly be some chicks. That kind of drink.”

“Oh, that kind of drink. Hahaha, why didn’t you say so earlier? I humbly accept these terms, Sir Ryuta.”

“Good good good, let the games begin, Sir Shin, hehehe.”

Danny and Sam hadn’t heard what the two had said because of the whispering but Asuna and Kimi who now had heightened senses were easily able to hear. Asuna’s eye twitched with annoyance while Kimi pointed at the two.

“You two are pervs.”

Shin and Kazuki didn’t deny it and instead shared a fistbump and sat back down while laughing.

A little later after everyone settled back down, Shin again brought up the topic of their magic.

“Like I said earlier If I save 10% of my energy for emergencies, that lets me summon some wind around 15 times, what about the rest of you?”

Kimi counted on her fingers for a moment before she said.

“Eh for me, it’s only 13 times, why is mine so low?”

Sam lifted his head from his food.

“I can summon about 16 before I have to tap into my remaining power.”

“With my water, I can summon it 14 times.”

Danny felt proud that he wasn’t the lowest.

“Um, I guess I’d be able to teleport about 15 or 16 times before I reach the cutoff.”

Asuna looked at Kazuki and asked.

“What about you, Ryuta?”

Kazuki shook his head.

“A man doesn’t give out such numbers?”

Everyone leaned in a bit and Asuna said

“Why? We all told you ours. It’s not fair if you keep it a secret.”

Kazuki pretended like he was feeling pressured and whispered.

“ten.”

The boys didn’t hear it but Asuna and Kimi couldn’t miss it as they simultaneously shouted.

“What! Ten!”

Kazuki feigned embarrassment and made his own cheeks blush.

Shin jumped in.

“Eh, how can it be so low? Weren’t you just bragging about melting swords and burning castles? With your measly power maybe you can start a campfire and we can all have a barbeque, hahaha.”

“And what are you gonna do with your’s only rustles my hair a little, like it’s a breezy day. Hmph, at least my power can do something, while the rest of your powers are all useless.”

Everyone flipped out and started yelling at Kazuki and he retorted back.

“If your power isn’t useless, then prove it to me. I’ll admit if I could use your elements I would definitely make them into something, as a matter of fact, I’ve already thought of a few ways you all could apply your power but for some reason, none of you are being creative with your abilities.”

Shin got really irritated and yelled.

“Oh, so what are you saying, we’re slacking or something, oi we’re not geniuses like you. You say you’ve thought of ways to actually use our power but have you thought of ways to make yours better?”

Kazuki didn’t say a word and just simply nodded.

Everyone seeing Kazuki just nod all nonchalant like, felt their skin itch in anger. Asuna couldn’t sit still anymore and slammed a fist down onto the table, causing a large crack to run down its entirety. She pointed at Kazuki and yelled.

“Ryuta, are you being serious right now? You make fun of our abilities and claim you’ve already improved yours. Alright then, prove it. Prove it right here and now. If you don’t then I don’t think I’ll be able to overlook this and I’ll never eat at the same table with you again.”

Everyone looked at Asuna, her last sentence started strong but then faded into an almost whimper. If she really gave up eating with Ryuta, the person who would be affected most would clearly be her.

Kazuki put on a serious expression and extended his hand in front of him.

“Ok, you want to see proof, just watch.”