Arthur unlocks the door and walks inside, a small table light is turned on and he sees his mother sitting there. He sees her and then puts his head down in shame and walks to his room, before getting there she says "Do you know how worried I was when you first left?" "All these dark thoughts in my head. I couldn't sleep not knowing you were alright".
"When the rift opened and I saw you getting carried out. I thought you died. Art." Arthur stands there as he hears his mother weeping and tears start rolling down his face too. He doesn't say a word and a few minutes later, she says "I know you must be tired, go get some rest". He looks at her for a brief moment before leaving and she says "I'm just happy to see you again". He sees the smile on her face and goes to his room.
He just goes straight on his bed and goes to sleep curling himself into a ball. The next morning, Arthur hears footsteps around the house early in the morning. As his mom gets ready for work, Arthur changes his clothes and goes the living room. He sees her getting breakfast ready for him and she sees him, looks away and then looks back again saying "your up early". "Yes because there is somewhere I have to be and so are you" he replies.
"I have to go to work" she says and Arthur mumbles "No you don't". "What" she asks as she couldn't hear him. "You don't have to go to work" he says clearly. Arthur brings out a stack of cash and puts it on the table. She looks at it and looks confused and worried. "You didn't.." she looks him sideways saying it and he reassures her saying "No" "I wouldn't do that sort of thing".
"I got this from selling the stuff I got from the rift". He lowers his head in shame saying "I understand what you said last time and i'm sorry for worrying mom". "There will be other times where I might be away for long periods and I want you to trust me." "I will always come home to you and your lovely food" he says with a smile on his face.
Tears start coming down her face and he stands up and gives her a hug. "Thank you Mom". Afterwards she goes out for a bit to go shopping. Arthur goes back to his room. He places the the blade and the potions right next to each other.
He pulls out the weapon and he sees the system page.
[Clarent]
[A legendary sword which was once used by royalty and powerful beings to now be known as the Coward's sword]
[Attack Power: 130]
[Understand more about this swords history to unlock it's true power]
[Stats will increase when unlocked]
Arthur puts the blade to the side saying "basically useless right now" and the blade resonates making a sound. "Well you are useless" he says again and it resonates louder. He ignores and sits there for awhile pondering on how to take the poison.
He goes to his computer and tries to figure it out. He scrolls and searches for an hour and gets nowhere. He finally comes to a video about a martial artist. "When you sit and breathe while relaxing all of your muscles and allowing everything to flow."
"Fake" he says as he leaves his computer and goes back to sitting on the floor again. As his bed is right behind him, he leans his head back and looks up at the ceiling and he remembers a moment from his past life. "What's that guy doing?" asks Arthur to Dave. Dave looks at the person he thinks it is, "You mean old man kim?". "Yeah" replies Arthur. "He calls it Zen, Some meditation thing he does". "To be far, he moves like his 40 while he is nearly 70".
Arthur just gets fed up and gives it a go. He sits while crossing his legs and cupping his hands one over the other. He breaths in and let's it out slowly. He clears his mind and thinks to himself "How do I effectively take this poison?"
The draken blood for now is classed as poison but later on there will be a way to effectively cleanse the toxic substance and create a powerful elixir which can promote growth.
Arthur after several minutes thinking and pondering, opens his eyes. He takes the poison and the effects come on immediately. He writhes in pain letting out "AHHHH" a several times. "Focus" he repeats to himself and maintains the zen pose and uses his Art of Sanguine skill. He sends the poison to his heart and keeps it there causing a painful experience while increasing his capacity to use mana.
Drakens blood is toxic because it's pure mana and humans cannot handle it without filtering it and lowering the potency.
Arthur grabs the replenishment and drinks it. Going back into the zen pose and staying like that until he can heal his internal wounds and increase the amount of the poison he can absorb into his whole body.
Every EVO has a mana core which allows them manipulate mana and use magic and other skills at will. Arthur's mana core which is in his solar plexus starts to flow everywhere. Throughout his bones and into his heart, increasing the size and density of his bodies. Arthur tries to increase his mana heart but feels a jolt. Like a lock has been placed on his core. He coughs out blood and stops due to the pain.
The draken blood has allowed him to use mana more efficiently. He has created a Mana Heart.
Several hours go by and his Mom comes back home and calls his name out. He doesn't answer. "He must be out then". More hours go by and still nothing. It's dark outside and Arthur opens his eyes. Sweat, blood and different fluids all mix in together as he finally absorbed 40% of the draken blood. He says status and looks at his page.
Name: Arthur Aldridge
Age: 18
Unique ability: Perseverance
Rank: E
Title: Ruthless Slaughterer
Stats:
Strength: 30 >> 51 (+130)
Agility: 25 >> 44
Intelligence: 24 >> 43
Luck: -40 >> -15
Mana: 21 >> 70
Points available: 0
Skills:
Master of Exodus
Eye of Odin
Art of Sanguine
Steps of darkness
Butcher
Calm Mind
Another screen pops up next to his status window.
[Art of Sanguine]
[Skill Proficiency: 3 > 4]
Arthur steps out of his room and gets an earful from his mother but clears it up with her and is actually happy about his progress. "Soon Phase 2 will begin" he says while laying his bed.