My Family in the Novel?

As I pressed forward on my journey, a tingling sensation alerted me to the presence of something lurking behind me.

Turning around, my heightened senses persisted in warning me of an anomaly above the rocks—a seemingly ordinary edge adorned with a collection of crystals.

Instinctively, I charged mana in my fingers, shaping it into a mid-sized mana bullet. With precision, I directed the projectile toward the massive crystal that had become the focal point of my caution.

The moment the mana bullet left my fingertips, the enigmatic presence vanished once again. It seemed to come and go, an elusive force playing hide and seek with my senses.

Frustrated by the persistence of this mysterious presence, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Leaping upward, I ascended toward the crystal that had triggered my sense of foreboding.

The expansive space atop the crystal revealed itself as I surveyed my surroundings. It was remarkably vast, but aside from the ample space to walk, there was little else to be found.

"Did I really sense it wrong?" I muttered aloud, contemplating the unusual nature of this encounter. It felt different from anything I had experienced before.

The uncertainty hung in the air as I continued to scan the area, grappling with the enigma that seemed to toy with my senses.

'Well, this is a first'

Just as I was contemplating heading back, the air crackled with the sound of broken glass, jolting me from my thoughts.

My gaze instinctively shifted to the side, revealing the space itself contorting before unveiling a man in a dark robe, his mouth covered as if his life depended on it.

We locked eyes, and to my surprise, he started crying.

"Hey, who—"

I began, intending to approach him and inquire about the situation, but my words were cut short.

A blue straight line materialized, and I instinctively turned my head to the side, narrowly avoiding a dagger that had been aimed at my head.

"Hagh!" he screamed, swiftly spinning around.

The mana aura around his knife expanded and extended, transforming it into a sword-like shape.

An average person or a regular knight might have been caught off guard by his maneuver, but having faced beings faster than him, his actions seemed sluggish in comparison.

Taking a slight step back, I casually sidestepped his attack. His attempt to catch me off guard had failed miserably.

The precision and swiftness I had honed through countless encounters with formidable opponents allowed me to effortlessly evade his assault. As he readied himself for another strike.

He seemed taken aback by my initial dodge, a momentary shock registering on his face.

Undeterred, he pressed on with another attack, relentless in his assault. Each strike was met with a precise dodge on my part, evading every move effortlessly.

My attention was drawn to the dagger wrapped in his blue aura. It bore a resemblance to those lightsabers from a certain movie I had watched.

I couldn't help but find it impressive; the control and proficiency he exhibited in manipulating his aura were noteworthy, even if the quality and quantity left something to be desired.

"Should I kill him?" Contemplating the unknown assailant's identity and purpose for being here, I hesitated to take such drastic action. With each graceful evasion of his attacks, I mulled over the decision.

As he lunged at me once again, I swiftly sidestepped his sword, closing the distance between us. Clenching my fist, I delivered a powerful blow to his abdomen.

My fist sank deep into his midsection, and a gust of wind exploded upon impact. He coughed up all the air within him, and the force of the blow sent him hurtling into a wall several meters away.

Boom!

The resonating impact echoed through the space, creating a brief moment of silence that hung in the air. My gaze remained fixed on the man, sprawled against the wall, as I assessed the aftermath of the powerful punch.

Surprisingly, he collapsed onto the wall. Thinking the confrontation had come to an end, I cautiously approached him.

However, to my bewilderment, his body began to writhe and twist before being enveloped in a grayish light.

Slowly, he stood up, and the damage he had sustained from my punch vanished as if it had never occurred.

His gaze, now glaring at me, held a renewed determination as he got into a defensive position. This time, a palpable killing intent emanated from his eyes.

Despite the considerable gap between us that became apparent during our initial skirmish, this enigmatic individual refused to surrender. Remarkably, he showed no signs of fleeing, his tenacity unwavering.

"Haha, I don't know who this guy is, but he's fun!" I chuckled to myself, finding a certain thrill in the unexpected turn of events.

As I contemplated ways to prolong the fight, the realization dawned on me that I couldn't allow him to lose so easily.

My perception shifted from mere curiosity to a genuine acknowledgment of the mysterious individual's talent.

It was only when our gazes locked during that brief moment of respite that I grasped the true extent of his genius.

Licking my lips, I considered the prospect of his potential as a sacrifice for Mother.

She had always favored the exceptionally talented, and if this kid truly possessed such prowess, it would be a waste for him to perish without further purpose.

The notion of interrogating him and then elevating his talents resonated in my mind. Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, I could make him shine even brighter.

'Before she eats him that is'

"I don't know who you are, but be grateful. I'll help you bloom!"

I declared with a shout, adopting a martial arts position as well. There was a strange excitement bubbling within me, fueled by the prospect of unraveling the depths of this individual's abilities.

The mysterious guy, unfazed by my proclamation, remained silent. Without wasting a moment, he lunged straight at me, his determination evident in his every move.

….

As I fervently prayed for the mysterious adversary to go away and leave me alone, I reached out for the necklace wrapped around my neck, one of the few artifacts the organization provided me for this mission.

'Calissia's Tears'—this holy artifact had been bestowed upon me by our organization for the successful completion of my mission. They claimed it possessed the extraordinary ability to conceal someone even in the presence of archmages and sword masters.

The truth in their assertion became apparent as I observed the man continuously scanning the surroundings, seemingly oblivious to my concealed presence right beside him.

The artifact emitted a silvery glow, and I couldn't help but sit there, reveling in the success of this remarkable device.

My joy, however, was short-lived as an unexpected event unfolded. The artifact, which had served me faithfully until now, suddenly emitted a disconcerting crack.

"Huh? WTF!" I thought, taken aback by the abrupt change.

Before I could intervene or prevent it from happening, the divine mana that enveloped my body, rendering me invisible, began to crack as well.

The cracks multiplied and expanded before ultimately shattering, leaving me exposed and visible once again.

'Haha…... I'm dead?'

As I slowly turned to the side, a sinking feeling gnawed at me while I covered my mouth, desperately holding my breath.

My fervent hope was that what I had just witnessed hadn't really occurred. However, the reality that greeted me was another man, his ashen gray eyes fixated on me with a blend of curiosity and wonder.

"Hahaha, I'm really dead! I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. I couldn't be the son you expected me to be. I'm sorry, Lory! Looks like I won't be able to fulfill our promise together"

I lamented internally, the weight of impending doom settling over me. Footsteps gradually approached, and I turned to the side, tears streaming down my face in frustration.

"Hey, who—" he began, but I cut him off abruptly. In a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation, I swiftly grabbed my dagger and lunged for a stab, targeting his head.

Much to my chagrin, he casually evaded the attack by turning his head sideways.

"Tsk," I clicked inwardly, cursing my impulsive action.

Despite the seeming foolishness of my move, my rationale was clear—I couldn't afford to be captured.

The academy's interrogation methods were rumored to rival even those of the empire's prosecutors' office.

The prospect of such treatment was more terrifying than facing death itself. If death was inevitable, I reasoned, why not face it with style?

My father's words echoed in my mind, a persistent reminder to never die without leaving a lasting memory.

In this critical moment, I couldn't afford to succumb to death just yet.

Even if no one else would remember me, I vowed to make this adversary remember me, if only for this fleeting encounter.

With determination coursing through me, I spun my body, initiating a slashing attack.

Utilizing momentum to amplify the weight of my strike, I employed a trick learned from my days as a mercenary.

Just before the critical moment, I infused my knife with a small amount of mana, extending its range unexpectedly.

While most would have been caught off guard by such a maneuver, the mysterious man calmly took a step back, effortlessly dodging my assault.

"Damn, what a monster"

I muttered under my breath, both impressed and apprehensive.

Undeterred, I pressed on with my relentless attacks, hoping to catch him off guard with every move.

The dance between us unfolded with a mixture of precision and unpredictability.

Each swing, slash, and thrust aimed to etch my presence into his memory.

….

In the midst of our relentless exchange, the rhythm of the confrontation took on a predictable cadence—dodge, deflect, block, attack.

I maintained a monotonous pattern, responding to each of his assaults with calculated precision.

The repetition should have clued him into my deliberate strategy, a deliberate effort to manipulate the flow of the battle.

Yet, it seemed he either overlooked or dismissed these cues, persisting with his unrelenting barrage of attacks.

As the clash continued, I couldn't help but wonder if he chose to ignore the openings deliberately showcased to him.

Was fear holding him back, or did he lack the confidence to exploit the vulnerabilities I purposefully revealed?

Perhaps, in his intensity, he genuinely failed to recognize these opportunities?

However, as the fight dragged on, I found myself grappling with a realization—I had made a grave miscalculation.

Observing the young man before me, I had initially assumed him to be a genius, given his remarkable aura control.

Yet, looking at his fatigued form now, it became apparent that he struggled to execute even a proper slash.

"Hah, I will not die a mundane death," he declared with a tired voice.

His mutterings filled the air with a sense of determination, but they held little significance to me.

Despite his attempts to leave a lasting impression, I found myself growing indifferent.

The excitement that had initially fueled my anticipation of this confrontation now felt like a fleeting emotion, dissipating into a sense of disappointment.

"What a waste," I sighed inwardly, recognizing that my expectations had been misplaced.

"I can't believe I thought of presenting this guy to mom"

As he poised his knife for a vertical strike, his hands descended, aiming to deliver a decisive blow. In that critical moment, I swiftly intercepted, catching the knife and skillfully twisting it in my grasp.

My grip, fortified by the infusion of aura into my arms, surpassed the strength of an average person, causing the pain-inducing twist to intensify.

"AHH!" he screamed, the sound of cracking bones punctuating the air as his grip on the knife faltered, and the weapon clattered to the ground.

With a firm hold on him, he attempted to retaliate with a punch. In an unconventional move, I chose not to evade the attack as usual. Instead, I absorbed the impact on my abdomen.

His scream echoed louder as he failed to realize the protective barrier of mana enveloping my body.

My skin, reinforced by the mana, had become harder than most metals. The force of his punch met the impenetrable barrier, and his knuckles bore the brunt of the impact. Blood oozed from his wounded knuckles as the realization dawned on him.

"Hey, who are you?" I questioned, choosing to overlook the evident pain he was experiencing.

"I am the god that will fuck your mom!" he defiantly retorted, the audacity of his words hanging in the air.

CRUNCH!!!

Without hesitation, I intensified my grip on his wrist, and in an instant, his hand seemed to explode under the pressure.

The sound of bones crunching and the guttural cry of agony that followed echoed through the space.

"Aghhhh!!!" he screamed, his voice a mix of physical pain and perhaps a hint of regret.

The audacious remark he had made moments ago now seemed to backfire in the face of the excruciating consequences.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of astonishment and anger.

"### ####!!!!!" I uttered indiscernible words, a mysterious incantation that triggered an immediate and dramatic transformation.

Darkness enveloped my arms, and my entire body transitioned to a haunting pale white.

Veins pulsated, snaking their way out of my body with a black hue, and my gaze intensified, my eyes turning pitch black as I fixed them upon him.

"What the? G-get away from me!!!" he screamed, panic gripping him as he attempted to flee.

There wasn't even a fight after that.

….

"So, who are you?" I inquired, my gaze fixed on the young man who now bore little resemblance to the person I had encountered just moments ago.

His once recognizable face had been transformed into a canvas of wounds and bruises, some of which were severe enough to pose a threat to his life.

Despite the brutal beating he had received; I couldn't allow him to succumb to death just yet.

Using stored potions, I began the process of healing his injuries, mending the damage inflicted during our intense encounter.

He met my gaze with a mixture of resentment and a lingering glare.

However, as I approached him, cracking my fist with a smile, his demeanor shifted instantly.

A nervousness crept into his eyes, and he seemed to swallow his pride.

"Gobel! Gobel Allak, that's my name," he stammered quickly and nervously, the words tumbling out as if eager to please.

The trauma of the relentless beating had left a visible imprint on his body, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

As I continued to crack my knuckles, he quivered with every movement, a clear indication of the lasting impact our encounter had on him.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be in his early teens, perhaps around 15-16?

His face had been obscured by the hood of his robe during our initial encounter, making it challenging to estimate his age based on height alone.

'But Gobel? Gobel huh….'

Despite his youth, the name Gobel struck me as unfamiliar—it hadn't been mentioned in the novel.

'Though without even asking I could kinda guess now, why he was here'

"Hey, kid," I addressed him, drawing his attention.

"What?" he responded, his tone guarded.

"I won't kill you, so answer my question honestly," I assured him, trying to instill a sense of assurance in my words.

He regarded me with skepticism, but after a moment's hesitation, he signaled for me to continue.

"Go on," he urged.

"Did you plant the bomb already?"

I asked with a neutral voice, maintaining an outward calmness.

However, the moment those words left my lips, his face underwent a noticeable transformation.

A subtle pallor washed over his features, betraying a mixture of surprise and anxiety.

Ah, I thought, my suspicions confirmed.

This kid really needed to work on concealing his emotions better.