The Villain Can't Lose

46 Accept The Power Within You

I collapsed to my knees, feeling the cold, damp ground of the dungeon beneath me. Darkness enveloped me, and I could see nothing around me.

Breathing in and out, I struggled to catch my breath,

"Rowen!"

The only sounds I could hear were the gentle pattering of falling water from the ceiling and Nari's fading voice. The water droplets echoed through the dungeon, creating a soothing, almost hypnotic rhythm. Nari's voice was barely audible, a faint whisper that seemed to be getting further and further away.

"…Rooween…."

I could feel the dampness of the ground seeping through the fabric of my pants, making my knees feel cold and wet. The moisture seemed to cling to me, like a thick fog, enveloping me in its chilly embrace. Each time I shifted my weight, I could feel the ground squelching and squishing beneath me, as if I was sinking in a marsh. The sensation was unpleasant, making me feel even more uncomfortable and vulnerable in the dark and unknown surroundings of the dungeon.

I suddenly felt an electric pain coursing through my veins, as if my blood was on fire. The sensation was almost unbearable, and I gasped for air as I clutched at my arm, trying to ease the pain. With each beat of my heart, I could feel my blood pulsing through my veins, as if it was alive and trying to escape my body. The pain was so intense that it made me dizzy, and I struggled to stay conscious, afraid of what might happen if I passed out. It was a strange and terrifying feeling, as if my own blood had turned against me, and I was at its mercy.

I somehow clenched my jaw, bracing myself for the battle against the raging blood swirling through my veins, "I won't give up!" With gritted determination, I accepted whatever was to come, surrendering to the intensity of the moment. In the midst of the chaos, I heard an old woman's voice echoing in my mind, "you're not one of us!" A cold and dismissive tone sound greeted my mind.

The words hit my ears, I felt a cold shiver run down through my skin. The voice was sharp and biting, with a tone that conveyed disdain and superiority. The words were spoken slowly and deliberately, each syllable enunciated with icy precision.

"You will not get this power! You're too weak!" The voice spoke again.

I felt a sinking feeling in my gut, as if I had been rejected and cast aside by someone I didn't even know. The words left me feeling unwanted and unwelcome, as if I did not belong. The coldness in the voice was palpable, leaving me feeling isolated and alone.

Despite the rejection, I refused to let the cold tone break my spirit, "Fuck you!" I wasn't going to listen to her and held my head high, determined to prove that I was worthy, that I belonged.

The rejection stung, but it only fueled my resolve to prove myself and earn my place.

The voice sounded familiar, yet distant and unrecognizable. It was as if I had heard it before, but couldn't quite place where or when. Despite the uncertainty, the voice felt close, like a comforting presence in the midst of the turmoil.

"Then show me… Show me the power you wish to control…" The woman was whispering in my head, and moving around me like a ghost in a haunted house.

With the woman's voice as my guide, I focused my thoughts and channeled my mana to overcome the chaos within. My willpower and determination fueled my resolve, bolstering my strength and focus.

As the electric charge surged through my body, I felt every nerve ending come alive with a searing pain. It was as if every cell in my body was on fire, burning with an intensity that threatened to consume me.

But I refused to give in to the pain. Instead, I accepted it, embracing the full force of the electric charge as it coursed through me. "Aaaagh!" With clenched jaw and firmly set mouth, I channeled my mana, using it to strengthen my body and push back against the pain.

And then, just as suddenly as it had come, the pain began to ebb away, leaving me feeling drained and weak, "what the heck was that?" I muttered as I felt how my blurry vision filled with darkness became more clear, "finally!"

I opened my eyes and saw Nari standing in front of me, her eyes wide with panic.

I rose to my feet, a sense of pride and accomplishment filling me.

I looked down at my hands and widened my eyes. Despite the intense pain that had coursed through my body, there were no visible marks or injuries. However, I did notice that my hands were covered in dirt and scratches from the cold ground, evidence of my struggle in the dungeon.

The darkness was overwhelming. A few flickering lights illuminated the vision, but it was not enough to dispel the shadows completely. The only thing that shone bright was Nari's face, her eyes reflecting the dim light like two shining stars. As I looked at her, I felt a sense of comfort and safety wash over me, knowing that she was there by my side.

"Ro-Rowen… What happened to you…?" Nari's voice stuttered while she stared at me with her eyes slowly filling with water.

"I'm not sure…" I replied slowly, not having the answer myself, but then again, looking at my shaking hands, I closed my eyes.

I stood there for a few seconds, trying to catch my breath and collect my thoughts, a woman's voice whispered in my mind, "your blood is accepted…" The voice was soft and gentle this time, yet still commanding, as if it held some sort of authority or power. It seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, filling my mind with its soothing presence, and it spoke again…

"The blood flows through my veins,

A lifeline to my mortal frame,

While mana, a force arcane,

Resides within my brain.

Together they form the core,

Of what makes me, me and more,

Body and soul, forevermore,

Connected as one, at the core."

I thought the woman's voice was almost poetic in its elegance, but before I could dwell on it any further, the voice spoke again.

"You are not of our blood, nor kin to our soul,

Yet, we grant you power to exact your toll,

Revenge is yours, a fire that burns bright,