The Beginning Of A Five Year Agony-Chapter 44: Don’t cry, I’m only gone for a little while

"Dual Spectrum,"

he said aloud. The words were a command and an activation.

As he spoke, the white room dissolved around him. It didn’t fade or blur into nothingness. It simply ceased to be, replaced instantly by another reality. In its place, Samuel found himself standing on cracked ground, familiar debris scattered around him. The air was thick with the scent of dust and smoke...He looked around.

This was the Blue-Crest Kingdom, exactly as it had been. Not the physical ruin he had just left, but a perfect and vivid recreation of it. He recognized the crumbling buildings, the twisted and destroyed streetlights...This was his artificial battleground, a precise simulation drawn directly from his own memories.

A wave of his recent memories washed over him. He saw the fighting, the brutal and relentless Black Knight. He felt the cold fear, the desperate rage, the profound exhaustion. He was reliving it all again...even though he knew this wasn’t real. It was a perfect recall, designed to immerse him completely into the scenarios...

Then, he heard a sound. A heavy, vibration... thudding that grew closer. From around the corner of a partially collapsed building, a massive colossal figure emerged. It was the Black Knight. Just one. Its armor was gleaming black, perfectly intact, and its red eyes glowed...exactly as he remembered it before "ASH TO ALL" had been unleashed...

Samuel stood his ground. "Increase the difficulty," he ordered, speaking to the unseen system of the Dual Spectrum. He knew he needed to push himself harder, to truly test his limits this time...

Then, he focused on his blade. "Aegirion," he commanded. The blade did not simply appear in his hand. Instead, it formed from his skin, bubbling up in a liquid and flowing form, then solidifying into its sharp, familiar shape in his grip. Samuel could not deny it...he had missed this sensation. The feel of his power, the thrill of the transformation, the readiness for combat. He realized it, with a chilling clarity, that he was slowly, undeniably, getting addicted to war, to the fight, to the adrenaline...

He looked around again, confirming his surroundings. It was the Blue-Crest Kingdom, perfectly recreated in the moment before he had used "ASH TO ALL" to destroy everything. He knew this.

"Start," he ordered the system. The fight began.

Thoom... Thoom...

It was the Black Knight, now directly in front of him...Samuel’s eyes widened with fear, a subconscious reaction to the raw power of his previous adversary. But he was snapped back to the present moment by the clear, internal voice of Aegirion.

"Are you ready?" it asked Samuel, its presence a calm and steady force within his mind.

He swallowed hard. He was...

Then, in a quick and devastating movement, the Black Knight attacked. Its massive blade came down, precise and swift, and slashed across Samuel’s hand, severing it completely. Blood, simulated but vivid, sprayed. But this time, Samuel did not scream. There was no desperate cry of pain. Instead, he twisted his body, rolling with the impact, and then, with a surge of controlled power, delivered a powerful kick directly to the neck of the Black Knight. The force sent it flying backward, its immense form tumbling through the debris...

Samuel stood his ground, watching it fall. His severed hand, moments later, began to regenerate. Flesh and bone knitted together, reforming perfectly, painfully. His fear...solidified into something else...a cold and hard determination. He knew he had to evolve, to become stronger, to truly face what was out there in the divine realms. This was just the beginning...

After a while of intense, grinding battle against that single Black Knight, Samuel finally killed it. He had used every tactic, every skill, every bit of enhanced strength, but crucially, he had done it without the help of his ultimate power, "ASH TO ALL." This was a significant achievement, a testament to his will...

Then he continued. He ordered the system to summon more Black Knights. The numbers increased. First, five more Black Knights appeared, then ten, then twenty, then thirty. He fought through them all. Each wave was harder and more demanding. He had to adapt, to constantly change his tactics. He fought groups of fifty, then seventy, then ninety. The simulation pushed him to his absolute breaking point, again and again.

Each time he was defeated, he regenerated instantly, facing the remaining enemies without pause. He kept fighting in the "Dual Spectrum." groups of black knights, a relentless tide of adversaries until it was finally over. The number reached one hundred. He battled against one hundred of them simultaneously, moving as fast as a bullet...striking with precision, learning every weakness, every vulnerability, every possible way to survive and win against impossible odds. He fought until the last one fell, dissolving into dust.

Then, the simulation ended abruptly.

Samuel lost count of time...for him in the "Dual Spectrum." it was years...

His eyelids opened slowly. His vision was blurry at first, struggling to adjust to the dim light. His nose felt stiff, and dry, as he inhaled the clean, still air around him. He realized it was the smell of the room, not the dust and ash of the battlefield...

He looked around. He was in the plain, white house, lying on the floor where he had activated the Dual Spectrum. Then he stood up. His real body felt stiff, and slightly sore, from days of not moving. He picked up his shirt, which was still on the floor and walked to the window at the edge of the white house.

He saw the sun rising from the horizon, a soft, warm glow painting the sky. Birds were chirping, their small sounds clear and melodic. It was a stark contrast to the endless, brutality of the Dual Spectrum.

He put on his shirt. Then, he opened the door of the white house and stepped outside. The fresh wind hit his face, cool and clean, and he slowly exhaled, letting out a breath he felt he had been holding for years...

Then, in an instant, the maidens appeared, stepping gracefully through a shimmering portal nearby.

"Congratulations, Son of Anarchy," they said in unison, their voices soft and harmonious. "On your successful training and preparation."

Samuel was in confusion. How did they know? He had just woken up. He had not told anyone.

"The goddess wishes to see you," one of them said, gesturing toward the portal they had just used.

He nodded, not questioning further, and walked into the portal. In a brief moment, the atmosphere shifted, and he was in a different room. This was not just any room. It was a massive battle room, filled with all kinds of battle-related items. Weapons of every shape and size hung on racks, armor stood on displays, and training dummies were scattered about...

His eyes widened, dumbfounded by the incredible view in front of him. The sheer variety and quantity of specialized gear were overwhelming.

"You’re here, Samuel," a calm voice uttered. He turned around. It was Solmira, casually sipping her coffee at the edge of the room, observing him.

Then she stood up straight, setting her cup down on a nearby pedestal.

"You seem different," she said, her gaze assessing. "Your essence became stronger. I guess the whole training worked out well for you."

"How did you know I was training?" Samuel asked, his confusion evident.

"That?" she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Arithmos does that all the time. So when I asked him, he explained it to me. Dual Spectrum, right?"

Samuel was left speechless. Arithmos told Solmira about it... His private training ground was somehow known to her now. The thought was unsettling...

"Here," Solmira exclaimed, gesturing. "I want to show you something." She moved her fingers, and a nearby section of the wall silently turned around, revealing an all-black garment. It was a set of clothes, similar in style to a vulture’s clothes, but this time, there was no hoodie. The fabric looked incredibly rich and dark, almost absorbing the light around...

Samuel was astonished by how good-looking the clothes were. The design was sleek and practical...

"Take it," she declared. "It’s yours."

Samuel extended his hands, reaching for the clothes. He grasped the fabrics, bringing the clothes closer into his arms. The material felt soft yet strong...

"How is it? Like it?" she smiled, watching his reaction.

"It’s made from a special fabric and material," she continued. "Not found even in the divine realm’s lower parts, of course."

"Lower parts?" Samuel questioned, picking up on the specific term.

"Yes, the lower parts," she clarified. "Where the lesser important gods or the gods that lost their domain in the Battle of Existence reside." She shrugged slightly...dismissing the topic. "Enough with the politics talk." She smiled again. "How about this... is there anything else you want in this room?"

Samuel was still wary of her kindness. Despite her help, she was a god, and his experiences had taught him deep distrust. He still didn’t fully trust her, but he knew he had no choice but to rely on her for now...

"Give me a second to look around," he explained... needing time to survey the vast array of types of equipment.

He turned around, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the immense collection. There were too many battle gears to even begin to consider them all at once.

His gaze landed on a golden shield by the edge of the room. Though he had regeneration, he knew he still felt pain. And he didn’t want to risk it unnecessarily, especially when facing unknown threats. A shield could offer extra protection.

"This one," he said, pointing to the golden shield. "I want this one."

"Hmm, I see. You have quite the taste," Solmira observed. "It is a shield of a fallen god I once knew. You can take it. It’s better with you...than it rusting here."

"What’s the name?" Samuel asked, curious about its history.

"The Faith-keeper," she replied.

She moved her fingers, and the shield levitated from its stand. It flew gracefully through the air, directly towards Samuel.

He reached out and grasped it. As his hands closed around the shield, it did not remain in its large form. Instead, it shimmered and transformed, shrinking into a compact golden bracelet that settled perfectly onto Samuel’s wrist. Samuel was surprised by the sudden change. The bracelet pulsed faintly with golden energy, warm and subtle against his skin...

Samuel bowed his head, showing respect. "Thank you," he uttered.

Then she clapped her hands together once. "It’s alright. But is that enough for you?" she asked, her gaze questioning.

"Yes, I think so," Samuel replied. He didn’t want to carry too much. Besides, most of the weapons in the room did not have the ability to hide themselves by shrinking into the user’s body. They would be a hassle for Samuel to move around with on his journey.

She smiled a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Then he turned around. The maidens were there, and one of them opened another portal for him. It shimmered, inviting him to step through it...

He entered the portal.

He found himself in a different location, a wooden corridor. The wood was polished, giving off a warm, natural scent. The maidens directed him into a specific room. It was a spacious room with an indoor bath and a large wooden tub filled with clear water. Samuel took off all his clothes and stepped into the warm water, letting the heat soak into his skin. He cleaned himself...

After a while, he got out, his body feeling refreshed and clean. He dried himself, then dressed up in the new clothes Solmira had given him. The black fabric felt comfortable against his skin, strong yet flexible.

"It fits," Samuel murmured, surprised by the perfect tailoring...

He then walked out of the bathroom and back into the wooden corridor. He turned towards the waiting maidens. He took a deep breath, collecting himself.

"I am ready," he stated, his voice firm and clear.

Then, another portal was opened. But this time, as he stepped out with the maidens, he saw... everybody. Lira, Yvaine, Veora, and even Solmira the goddess, were gathered in an open and vibrant landscape. The sight was unexpected...

Lira was smiling as she ran up to him, her face full of joy. She launched herself into a hug. "I haven’t seen you in seven days," she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his chest, "but it’s okay. We were told by the goddess that you are ready to go, so we got ready too."

"So it was seven days."Samuel taught to himself... For him, it was years in the "Dual Spectrum."

Then he looked up, carefully avoiding Lira’s eyes, his expression tightening. He couldn’t meet her gaze.

"I don’t think you guys are coming with me," he explained... his voice low, stating the hard truth.

"What?" she said in disbelief, pulling back from the hug slightly. "What do you mean by that?" Her voice was sharp with confusion and hurt.

Samuel swallowed hard, ignoring her direct question. He turned towards Solmira. "Please, can you let them stay here for a while?" he requested, his voice a quiet plea. He needed them safe.

Solmira smiled gently. "Certainly. They can stay for as much as they want."

"Liar!" Lira shouted, her voice thick with sudden tears, as she hit Samuel’s chest with her fist multiple times...a desperate and pained gesture. "You promised me you wouldn’t treat me like this again!"

Yvaine and Veora watched in silence, their expressions somber, but understanding the conflict.

"It’s for your own good," Samuel responded, his voice flat, trying to convey the necessity of his decision, even though it hurt him to say it.

Lira remained silent, her head bowed, looking down at the ground, tears silently falling.

"I promise I will..." Samuel began.

Lira got on her toes and kissed Samuel directly on the lips. His eyes widened in surprise at the sudden, unexpected contact. Her soft lips pressed against his own for a brief moment.

Then she stopped, pulling back slightly. Tears were still visible in her eyes. "Promise me again that you will come back and that you won’t let anything happen to you," she pleaded, her voice desperate.

Samuel stood quiet for a moment, unable to speak, overwhelmed by the emotions.

"Promise," she repeated, her voice firmer this time.

"I promise," Samuel said, his voice tight, the word a vow.

Then she stopped hugging him, her arms dropping to her sides.

Samuel said his goodbyes to the rest of the girls, a quick, somber exchange of words and nods.

Then he turned towards the goddess Solmira. With a flick of her finger, a circle of black and red flames shot up from the ground in front of him, forming a swirling portal.

"It is done, Son of Anarchy," she said, using the title again...This time, not as Samuel. "I hope to hear good news." She smiled, a complex expression on her face.

As Samuel entered the flames, they erupted outwards in an explosion of light and energy.

Then, for a second, he could not hear or see anything. Just a blank, overwhelming sensation.

Then, a portal opened in the air above him. Samuel was falling downwards, rapidly.

In seconds, he landed on a heap of sand, impacting with a soft thud. He raised his head. He was in a crimson-red desert. The landscape stretched out far beyond his eyes could see, an endless expanse of red sand under a red sky...

Roar...

Roar...!

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