A.K.s heart sped up and the next thing he knew he was once again on his feet. The bag he was in was quickly soaked at the bottom the water coming to his mid shins.

“Jump,” one of the men said to A.K.

“Jump yourself or we’ll beat you then toss you.”

A.K.'s heart rate exploded. He started to hyperventilate. If onl- his thoughts were cut off as he felt a whack to his head. He fell into the water. A.K. struggled to get back up as he knew he was on the edge. The men picked him back up.

“Jump. Men of Kan do not fear. Jump,” One man said.

“Jump. Men of Kan do not hesitate. Jump,” the other stated.

A.K. heard a sword being unsheathed. By now he was breathing heavy and his body wasn’t just drenched from the water, but with sweat as well.

“Jump.” One man said as he put the tip of the sword against A.K.'s back.

A.K. took a deep breath and his heart suddenly calm and his mind became clear.

“If I somehow survive. I will show you fear.”

A.K. jumped.

><>

-On the day of A.K. second ascension-

“Must you do this to your firstborn? Must the Kan traditions always follow such a tedious path?”

Keala was upset. Beyond just upset. When she married Vasu Kan, Keala believed some of the shady rumors surrounding the Kan family, but not enough to persuade her against the marriage. Her family had a long history as they were part of the founding clans of the Empire. Even before the Empire, the Stargazers wherein every rebellion humans staged against their oppressors. This marriage was not only to tie two old bloodlines into something more but was to establish a new peace between the families. The Kan and Stargazers were far from friendly terms. Almost enemies even.

So when her and Vasu's fathers came together to solve their differences and propose a marriage between their children a hundred years back, she agreed. Even with all those rumors and the words of her sisters, who were strongly against the marriage. Now she was having second thoughts after Vasu demanded her little shield be put through the same test that broke so many members of the Kan. The test isn’t anything that would seem extreme when you hear about it. Aegeus would simply fight a few people higher than his level of power for 5 years. Keala was fine with that. Until she learned how the program was executed. They start off the test by staging a kidnapping with a test of courage to jump off a waterfall. The waterfall. The one in the legends where the Kan received their bloodline from a dying beast.

From there they are pulled from the water half-drowned and taken to the Catacombs underneath it. First, they would start off by fighting an intelligent creature. A captured hobgoblin, or a starved orc, any one of the Empire's enemies really. The problem was is that they’re given a single ax and buckler. Made to fight the beast to death without the use of magic. Then they are thrust further into the catacombs to fight the vicious beast down there.

They are sent on a mission to retrieve an object in the catacombs and must fight their way to the lower levels. Then fight back up. The biggest thing that upset Keala is that they are mana shackled the entire time. No spells, no bloodline activations. They must fight like a regular man. There are beasts down there that a regular man would die from just because of their mere presence.

So Keala asked again. “Why must you do this?”

><>

Vasu looked at his teary-eyed wife and sighed. “Why? Why must I send my son to hell and back? Why must I give him no opportunity to use the abilities we have provided for him? Why must the Kan be this way?” He asked all the questions he knew would follow along.

Vasu let out another sigh then answered. “Because we are Kan. Because if I don’t when the Orcs come to finish what they started all those years ago, the Kan will stand ready to face them. Because our ancestors had no opportunity to use the same abilities and have created an Empire that’s lasted a millennium. Because we are the Shield of the Empire. Our responsibility is to protect, yet we cannot protect if we cannot understand, how and what we did to get to this point in the first place.”

“Keala, I love you and I love our children just as much if not more. The Orcs have rallied, the horde is amassing. They failed to exterminate us once before. They will not let that failure go unchecked. This world is vast, yet look how we humans struggle and occupy less than a tenth of it. We don’t even occupy a tenth of this continent.”

“My life, my love this is not the only way. Our son may die. We have gazed at the stars and foretold a blessed life for our family and children. The horde will fail to gather as they have done in the last thousand years. No new Supreme will be born. Even if they are there would be little left for them to grasp in this dried-up place. Resend your order and change your way.”

“Enough. It is not my way, but Kans. Three generations have gone including me. Three generations have returned and the fourth will prevail as well. It is time for the celebration. We must prepare.”

><>

A.K. woke up screaming. He thought he was drowning. He dreamt some men kidnapped him from the Dukedom and forced him off a waterfall. As A.K.'s thoughts came to this point the smell hit him. Rancid. Like spoiled milk mixed with rotting flesh. A.K. looked around and realized that was no dream. He was in a dark cell laying and old hay. The cell was worn beyond its years and clearly saw its fair share of prisoners.

He moved his body to get up then saw the cuffs. One on each arm and leg all shackling his mana to him. The cuffs had runic symbols on the exterior that gave a slight glow. It was not only shackling his mana but draining it at a steady pace. A.K. got up and went to the cell door.

New Skill Obtained: Basic Night Vision

A.K. frowned, he had just received a new skill. This was the first time he got one this easily. To get something classified as a skill from System you usually needed some proficiency with that skill. You would then gain levels as you did that skill more often with greater proficiency.

So much for this system though. Couldn’t even prevent him from being kidnapped.

He slowly pushed on the cell door and it slowly swung open. The cell was unlocked and that confused A.K., why put him in the cell in the first place only to leave it open.

As he stepped out of the cell and into the corridor, he noticed how there were flame-lit lamps going in one direction. When he looked the other way it was only darkness. It was obvious what his captors wanted from him. So he turned and followed the torch lights. After walking for roughly 5 minutes A.K. came into a room that had light leather armor and clothes to wear underneath, a one-handed war ax with a pick on the other end, and finally a buckler.

“This is some dark soul's ass shit right here,” A.K. said with a chuckle before removing his dirty nightwear and changing into the gear. Actually, A.K. felt as if he should have seen this coming. His childhood had been easy so far and he lived the life of a prince. If he was to introduce System to the races of the world something like this should be expected.

Once A.K. finishes preparing he walked through the open doors and continued down the corridor. Following the torches until he came to double doors with carvings of men battling different types of beasts. Griffins, basilisks, centipedes, all manner of creatures, and men in shining armor warring against these monsters.

‘Enter’

A deep voice rang in A.K.s head causing him to stumble forth and take a knee. It felt as if all his senses were slightly misalign from the word. A.K. retched but nothing but water came out. Staying on his knee, A.K. took a few moments to recover. Whoever that voice belongs to was extremely powerful. Powerful enough to disorient A.K. with his voice alone.

Finally recovering enough to stand A.K. pushed the doors open and walked into the room. He expected resistance when he pushed, but surprisingly there was none.

‘You have entered the Hall of Trial and will fight an intelligent creature to prove yourself worthy of your bloodline and heritage. I am the Gatekeeper of Catacombs. Should you prevail against your foe. I will assign you a quest to retrieve an item within the Catacombs.’

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I? My name is Aegeus Kan, son of Duke of the West, the defender of the Empire west boarders. Who are you to take me hostage.”

The Gatekeeper let out a chuckle that sounded like nails on a blackboard, or what A.K. assumed what nails on a blackboard would sound like.

‘Who am I? I am the Gatekeeper. That is more than enough.’

The Gatekeeper said with finality. As if A.K. was to know who he was. Over the past eight years of his, rebirth A.K. has had so much history and knowledge crammed down his gullet. Many historical figures and families to remember, yet he never heard of this Gatekeeper.

“What happens after I kill this creature? Will I be released? Why would you do this to an eight-year-old child in the first place and what is this quest?” A.K. shot out a few questions rapidly. He hoped to glean as much information as possible. The more knowledge he had on his circumstances the better his chances are of escaping here alive.

‘Did you believe you are entitled to answers from me? No. Struggle, persevere, die, and return. Then you will have your answers. Now, now you fight for your life.’

The voice, the presence disappeared and A.K. finally took note of the room, no colosseum he entered. Rows upon rows of seats leading ever higher until it was too dark to make out the top. Yet as A.K. looked around every seat was empty. It was quiet, not a calming silence that A.K. was used to when meditating, but a creepy silence. The type of silence like something is watching you. The hairs on A.K.'s forearms stood up. The ring was massive and patches of darkness were all over. Something, someone was watching him.

A.K.'s senses immediately went on high alert. He had never been trained in weapon combat. His strongest weapon was the magic he trained in and now that was taken away from him. His ears strained as he sensed for any signs of movement, something was hunting him. He was sure of it. Now, where would it atta-

A.K. jumped to the side as something whistle past his face. He felt a hot pain coming from his cheek as he turned to look at his assailant. It was a hobgoblin standing around 178cm tall. Almost two heads taller than A.K. with a significant reach upon it. Him, the hobgoblin had long black horns with fiery red streaks running throughout. A.K. recognized that colors as an affinity to darkness and fire. See the goblins, as well as other creatures of this world, would grow their mana affinity on their horns or other body parts. The hobgoblin was wearing similar leather armor and instead of an ax used a sword. In his other hand, he equipped a dagger.

“Man whelp,” the hobgoblin, in a slightly deep voice, sneered at A.K. causing him to recoil in shock.

A.K. hadn’t excepted him to be able to understand the creature. He assumed goblins were unintelligent like in every other story. That was his first mistake.

“Who are you?” A.K. replied in Orcish Grunts as that was the language the hobgoblin spoke in.

“Your death,” the hobgoblin said as it lunged at A.K. piercing his sword towards A.K.'s stomach.

In haste, A.K. raised his buckler to block and was sent tumbling back. Nearly losing focus. He jumped to the left to avoid the creature's next strike. The hobgoblin moved forth in a speed almost too fast for A.K. to follow and was within an arm's length of him. He raised his buckler for a strike that never came. That was his second mistake. Instead, he received a kick to his upper groin/stomach forcing the air from his lungs and almost doubling him over.

“You creatures are weak. Your bloodlines petty. Your magic terrible. You forget your place in the world. Underneath and to serve.”

A.K. recovered and took a few steps back from the creature. His breath was ragged. If only he had access to his magic this would be over. As he studied the hobgoblin, he noticed the same cuffs he had on the creature as well. He was losing to a being that was just as shackled as him. A fire started blazing in his chest, his heart. He studied the creature and felt wrong. There was a wrongness radiating from this being. That's what alerted him to not being alone in the first place. That sense of wrongness.

“No.”

“You’re wrong.”

Something was bubbling within A.K. and he started to hear whisperings within his ear, yet too silent to make out what was being said.

The black beady eyes of the hobgoblin turned red.

“Thieves,” the hobgoblin hissed.

“Thieves, who want to copy our bloodline. Our heritage.”

A moment of clarity returned to A.K. and he thought back to one of his lessons when learning of the enemy’s of man. It was said the reason goblins were so dangerous was because of their Ancestral Heritage. It was explained to him as an ability goblins process to pass down knowledge from one generation to the next. This is why they were classified as one of the stronger races. Imagine if a goblin discovers how to make a fire in a more efficient way. Within a generation or so every goblin related to the one who discovered the method would be using it.

Not because their ancestor told them but because it became part of their bloodline memories passed from offspring to offspring. Each generation of improvements goblins only grew more, and more dangerous. The downside of their species is theirs inability to innovate drastically enough to make them the strongest race upon the continent. That's where the Orcs come in.

A.K. refocused on the hob. He still felt like something had lit his heart on fire however he ignored that and put all his attention on the hob. It stared at him in madness and rage.

“Thief.”

“THIEFFFF.”

“THIEF WHO STOLE FROM US.”

Clearly, the hob was not in charge anymore. A bloodline ability? A.K. was not sure but he needed to disable the hob or he would die. He fell into the hobs initiative and that was his third, but final mistake. No more.

He charges forth using his shield to bash into the hob, which took him out of whatever trance he was in. The hobgoblin's eyes returned to normal but in the very center, they glowed with a red ominous light. He swiped at A.K.'s shield arm with his dagger to force the whelp back and create room for his sword. A.K. used his buckler to parry the hob's dagger arm aside. He then slashed forward with his ax cutting the leather open on the hob's left bicep.

“We don’t have to fight. I’m sure we can figure a way out of this place together!” A.K. said backing off a bit from the hob. A.K. did not want to kill the hobgoblin. Truthfully speaking he’s never killed anything. Maybe ants and other bugs back on Earth, but nothing bigger than a spider.

This was a breathing, living creature in front of A.K. now, and honestly, A.K. didn’t have the guts to execute any life-ending attacks. He was hoping to convince the creature to not attack.

Compiling… User A.K. System must inform you that the creature in front of you is in no shape to negotiate any sort of truce. It is advised you use your superior strength and finish this fight as quickly as possible to conserve stamina.

The fire in A.K.s heart grew hotter as he heard System speak, almost as if it was agreeing with it.

‘I… I cannot kill something with intelligence. With emotion.’

It is advised if user A.K. truly wants to walk the path of strength to ‘man up.’ Your life and mission are on the line. In any sense… Have you ever seen a fierce beast you were sure would never bite? System has not. Fight.

‘Did you ju-‘ Was all A.K. got out before he once again dodged to the left to avoid the swing of the hobs blade. The creature was panting as they were both reaching the limits of their stamina.

“You will DIE by my blade wretched beast.” The hobgoblin had a crazed look within its eyes and advanced upon A.K.

A.K., who did not want to fall within the hob's initiative again, quickly swiped at the hob's left leg forcing the creature back. The hob kicked dirt at A.K. aiming for his eyes. A.K. raised his buckler to block and the fight began anew.

><>

Keala watched as her son fought the beast. She had fought tooth and nail for the captured hobgoblin to be starved before it would be allowed to fight her son. If not she would use her magic and break into the Gatekeepers domain. She was scared. She was scared when the hobgoblin snuck upon A.K. and attempted to slice his head off. She was scared when A.K. attempted to talk to the hobgoblin in order to not fight. She was scared because no matter what she did to weaken his first opponent, what if he lost.

She hadn’t spoken to Vasu ever since their argument and was planning on ignoring him. Vasu had been using the twins to communicate with her, so she took them and went to another villa. It was nighttime now and the stars were aplenty. So she did the only thing she could do for her son. She prayed.

><>

A.K. was bleeding from several cuts upon his person. The hobgoblin was the same. They had been fighting for quite a while now and both were clearly tired. Honestly speaking A.K. barely had the strength to raise his weapons. His grip was loosening and all he wanted to do was go back to the castle and take a nice hot shower.

So this is all you amount to.

‘Shut up.’ A.K. gritted his teeth in anger and dodged a slow swing from his assailant.

Did you forget your declaration? To have strength enough so that no one could ever treat you the way [ Beyond ] treated you. Is this all you amount to? An indecisive failure. Back on Earth and now here.

‘QUIET’ A.K. lunged at the hobgoblin in a sudden burst of strength knocking them both to the ground. Both ax and sword were flung away. A.K. felt a searing pain in his side and a claw racked upon his face. Flung backward he looked to his left and saw a dagger sticking out of his left side. His breathing increased rapidly before a calm hit his mind.

The hobgoblin dived for him ignoring the weapons tossed to the side. He wrapped his leathery hands around A.K.s throat to choke the life from him. A.K. struggled and fought back punching and biting like an animal. Clawing at the hob's face and arms to remove the creature, yet his strength was slowly fading. He was losing this fight the fire in his heart was dwindling, almost extinguished.

‘Will I die again’

‘What will happen to mother’

‘This is the end?’

‘No’

‘NO’

‘NO’

The dwindling fire rekindled and the fading light in A.K.s eyes shone like headlights, bright red fire burning within them. A.K.grasped at the dagger still stuck in his side. With a slight hesitation, he pulled it out and in one swift motion stabbed the dagger through the neck of the hobgoblin. He pulled out and stabbed again, and again, and again. Until the body was slumped over him lifeless. He slowly pushed the creature off and stood up. His body is wobbly but his eyes bright with fire and starlight.

New Skill Obtained: Iron-Blooded Will New Skill Obtained: Basic Shield Combat New Skill Obtained: Basic Axe Combat New Skill Obtained:…

Was the last thing A.K. saw as he dropped to the floor unconscious.