Void space

It was the second day in the forest, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of the wilderness, carrying the promise of my coming trials. Today marked the beginning of my training. But before anything, there was something I had to share with Master.

I walked over to him where he was cooking meat over a small fire, the sizzling sound filling the quiet of the forest. The firelight danced across his weathered face, his expression calm as always.

"Master, there's something I need to tell you," I said, my voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of anticipation. "God stored some of her memories in my mind. I only started hearing them after I met certain criteria. There was a message about an egg—a beast egg not from this world. She told me to take it and raise it. It's important, for my future battles against the gods. I need to go and retrieve it."

I watched as Master listened carefully, his eyes narrowing in thought. His face remained neutral, but there was a subtle shift in his gaze—a sign of curiosity.

"Okay, then," he said, his voice deep and calm. "We'll go there first. I'm curious about this egg now. But before we do, eat your fill. By the way, do you remember the route?"

"Yes," I replied, nodding.

We finished our meal in silence, the air around us thick with the promise of the unknown. After a brief pause, we set off toward the forest. As we neared the heart of the wild, the trees grew taller, their massive trunks stretching up to 300 meters, their roots like twisted veins deep within the earth. The forest here felt alive with energy, and the growls of powerful beasts—A-rank, S-rank, and even SS-rank—echoed in the distance. But the creatures didn't dare approach. The very presence of Master was enough to keep them at bay.

We walked for an hour, and soon, the river came into view, the cave hidden just beyond its edge. But as I approached, I felt a strange sinking sensation. Something was off. I started searching, retracing the steps I remembered, but the cave wasn't where I thought it should be.

Master stayed silent, watching my every move.

"Something wrong?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of experience.

I frowned, deep in thought. Then, a realization hit me. It wasn't the place that had changed—it was the way I had perceived it. I had only seen it once, through the vision granted by the goddess. With that clarity, I turned and followed the correct path. And there, like a hidden memory, the cave revealed itself to me.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I made my way inside, Master following silently behind.

The cave was dark, the air thick with ancient power. After venturing deeper, we finally came to the end of the passage. There, at the back of the cave, lay a black egg, almost shimmering with an unnatural aura. And beside it, the sword—its hilt dark and elegant, almost like a forbidden relic.

I hesitated for a moment, turning to Master. "Please don't come any closer. The goddess placed a barrier around it. Only I can touch it. This sword and egg... they are bound to me."

Master nodded without a word, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity. I carefully reached out, my hands trembling slightly, and took both the egg and the sword.

As we exited the cave, Master turned to me, a glint of interest in his gaze.

"Give me the sword," he said.

I handed it over to him, and as soon as he touched it, the sword disappeared in an instant.

I blinked in confusion. "Where did the sword go?"

Master showed me his wrist, where a small, intricate mark had appeared. It looked like nothing more than a faint, stylized symbol, but I could feel the power emanating from it.

"It's one of the marks that allow us to store items," Master explained. "It depends on the size of your core. Once we return, I'll mark you as well. But first, let's head back."

We made our way back to our campsite, and Master pulled out a small box from his mark. Inside was a stamp, intricately designed with symbols I didn't recognize. My curiosity piqued, I asked, "What is this?"

"This," Master said, a hint of pride in his voice, "is the stamp used to create storage marks like the one I have. It's a simple thing, really. Now, let me give you one."

I raised my hand, the anticipation building. With a drop of my blood, Master stamped the mark onto my right palm. I winced slightly, but it was brief. The symbol glowed a deep purple, then faded away, leaving only a faint tingling sensation.

"Why did it disappear?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion.

"When you channel mana into it," Master explained, "you can activate the mark. You'll be able to see the items stored within and pull them out."

I nodded, absorbing the new information. Then, after a pause, Master spoke again, his voice more serious. "Now, tell me more about your powers. What have you awakened so far?"

I thought for a moment, then answered with a steady voice. "I've awakened my aura and formed a mana core. I know how to use aura, but I'm still learning how to properly control and use mana. Also, I'm a conjurer and an augmentor."

Master nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Alright, I'll teach you the basics of elemental magic first—wind, fire, earth, and water. But I'll also teach you some advanced elements, like lightning, gravity, ice, and sound. For now, give me the egg. I want to see it up close."

I handed the egg to Master, and as he inspected it, his expression shifted. His eyes widened, and his sharp gaze locked onto me.

"This is... a Cyteris egg," he murmured, his voice filled with awe. "The Cyteris are supreme beings from our realm. They are powerful—more so than even dragons. This one... it's the last of its kind."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "A Cyteris? What does that mean for me?"

Master paused before answering, his tone grave. "Before we can even think about defeating the gods, we must first face and defeat a Cyteris. I killed one many years ago, before I killed a god. They are the true apex of power in our realm."

I looked at him, disbelief on my face. "You killed a god?"

Master smiled faintly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Yes, brat. I did. Over seven hundred years ago."

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of history. Then, without another word, he sat down, pulling out another box from his storage mark. It was filled with more meat, which he began eating with casual ease. I sat beside him, still processing the enormity of what he had just said.

"You mentioned phantoms live only for seven hundred years," I said, unable to suppress my curiosity. "Is that true?"

He nodded. "Yes. The phantom who kills gods has to awaken a power known as 'Source.' It's like mana, but far more powerful. It give us immorality We control it with mana. I'll teach you how to use it, but not yet. It takes time to fully understand."

I was stunned, but Master continued as if nothing had happened, handing me another box of meat. "Eat with me, brat. There's a lot to take in, but you'll get used to it."

I stared at the meat for a moment before taking a bite. The warmth of the food settled in my stomach, but my mind was still reeling from everything I had just learned.

Master, meanwhile, had already moved on, his voice steady but filled with the gravitas of years spent battling unimaginable foes. "Your body is breaking down, brat. The power you receive from the god is too much for a human body to handle without proper training. We'll work on it, but be prepared—this journey will be long and painful. When the time comes, I'll give you the sword I took from you. But not yet."

With a sigh, he stood up, handing me the egg again. His voice softened, almost like a mentor's reassurance. "Now, focus. Feel the mana around you. Imagine it flowing through you, wrapping around you, forming a condensed ball of wind. Do this, and your training begins."

I closed my eyes, letting the energy of the forest flow into me. I could feel the mana—its pull, its force—and I began to focus, just as Master had instructed. The wind began to gather around me, slowly at first, then more powerfully as I condensed it into a sphere.

The training had begun.