Luke steadied himself for battle. It was not the first time he sparred against an awakened seeded.
But this wasn't training. His life was at stake.
The danger sharpened his mind. Focus surged through him like a current. Every instinct, every thought narrowed to one purpose—survive.
If elder Cho had been at full strength, he would not have stood a chance. But now... things were more even.
Still, an awakened seeded was an awakened seeded.
Elder Cho charged at him, his sword tearing through the air.
'so fast.'
Luke reacted, barely managing to move his spear to the left, deflecting the blow.
But elder Cho followed up with a kick to Luke's exposed ribs. Luke threw up his arms just in time before he was sent flying against the walls of the corridor.
He staggered up, righting himself. Blood leaked from his lips.
His eyes were cold, his determination unwavering.
This wasn't over.
In that last exchange, relying on nothing but his skill and training, Luke felt something awaken in his spearwork. A hint of it's essence.
And he drew from it.
he lunged, taking the offensive. His spear stabbed at elder Cho's head then twisted into a slashing arc midswing. The elder reeled, barely blocking in time.
The duel continued. Luke was constantly on the defensive, brushing against death in every exchange.
But a discerning eye would see. He was improving. Adapting. Inch by inch, he closed the gap.
Before long they were evenly matched.
And then, Luke's eyes began to glow.
Brilliant gold radiated from them, illuminating the corridor.
The elder snarled. Enlightenment? He was being used as a whetstone for this boy's growth? Absurd. He was already giving his al, yet they'd reached a stalemate. Worse, the toxins from the traps were working through his system. His limbs trembled. His vision swam.
He had to leave.
But he was too late...
He tried to disengage but found no path of retreat.
Somewhere along the way, he'd lost control of the battle's flow.
Now, his back was to the wall.
Luke's flurry of spear strikes came relentless, like a storm with no eye. The elder felt caged, overwhelmed.
How was this happening?
He had greater strength. Greater speed.
Yet this boy—this unawakened child—was suppressing him.
There was no time to process it. The final strike came too fast. He couldn't react at all.
The spear pierced his skull cleanly
Elder Cho's expression froze in stunned disbelief as the light faded from his eyes.
Luke collapsed to one knee, gasping. Sweat dripped from his brow.
He'd done it. He'd won against an awakened. Euphoria rushed at him but he stomped it.
The victory didn't seem clean. Something had changed in him.
He felt like he had truly touched the essence of his spear.
Control.
His current understanding of the spear made his old self feel like a child playing with sticks.
But before he could relax and consolidate his gains.
The golden light in his eyes surged.
Luke entered into a world of pain.
"AHHH!" He screamed, convulsing as the world disappeared in a blaze of agony.
Something was being born inside him. Something new. Something glorious. But he didn't care.
The pain was all-consuming.
It felt like his nerves were set on fire. His muscles twisted. His entire body rewired itself—every cell screaming. New reflexes. New instincts. New memories burned into his bones.
He didn't know how long he'd spent there on the floor screaming. He only knew pain.
And then—just as suddenly—it ended.
Luke lay limp on the ground, soaked in sweat, chest heaving.
He couldn't move.
'Arya' he thought as soon as he had his faculties together.
He had to get her. The fact that their parents weren't back yet meant that something had to be terribly wrong.
He struggled to pick himself up. His body feeling unfamiliar to him.
Suddenly, claps rang out from the corridor.
Luke tensed, his instincts - strengthened by the transformation - screamed at him to run.
He instinctively knew. Even fully healthy, he stood no chance.
He turned.
A tall man in a black overcoat approached, face hidden behind a sleek black mask. His hands clapped slowly as he walked.
"Amazing. You really awakened the spear seed." The black masked man exclaimed amusingly.
Others might think the Spear Seed was only a marginal improvement over the common ones but he knew better.
The rarity, the power, the potential. The fact that a dud-seeded child had just defeated an awakened Seeded was testament enough.
" A shame. If you were born in another family, I might have raised you myself. Unfortunately, I can't leave someone with as much potential as you coming after me. I initially wanted to take you siblings as a chip to force your parents, but I'll have to kill you now." The black masked man said, his voice carrying a leisurely undertone.
"Oh. Where's your sister?" He said, looking around casually.
But Luke immediately felt an overwhelming killing intent focused on him.
"Leave her alone." Luke grumbled.
"Hm?" The black masked man chuckled, looking back at him.
"You want to resist?"
Luke glanced down.
Somehow, an arrow, one of the remnants of his initial trap was embedded his chest. He didn't even remember it happening.
He ignored the pain. Ignored the fear. He gripped his spear and lunged at the black masked man. He had to protect Arya. He promised her.
The eyes of the black masked man crinkled with sadistic joy. He flicked a finger. Luke was sent flying, slamming against into the corridor wall. Before he could move, A sword shot from the masked man's side, piercing Luke's heart.
The blade retracted and returned to his side.
"Be grateful," the masked man said, his voice almost tender. "Not many get to die by my weapon."
He waved a hand, the door to the bunkers were torn and Arya flew into his hands.
"No..."
Luke tried to move. His body failed him. He collapsed.
His vision blurred, light fading from the world.
His last thoughts were not of pride.
But frustration.
Despair.
Guilt.
If only I was stronger...