IN VERSION

" One of the major changes the 'Rip' made was the reform of the educational sector, as well as the establishment of a new educational institute. This Institute was created specifically to foster and raise young ability users in order to secure for them a definite future"

YEAR: 2161

LOCATION: Unknown

Darey had been watching, ever since Tenny passed out. He had observed all that ensued between his brother and the beast, and most significantly, the 'Awakening' of his brother's innate special ability.

He had wanted to interfere countless times, but he kept being surprised by how Tenny managed to survive and fight back. It was at that moment he decided that he would not step in at any point in the battle. Even if it meant his brother's death. As he now looked at his brother, who was paralyzed, lying on the rough ground, bleeding and bruised, he felt a tinge of pity. However that was not all he felt bad about. The eyes the injured boy used to look at him, they pierced his soul, though he did not show it.

Tenny looked at Darey, with more fire in his eyes than before. He was obviously angry, no, furious, enraged, bitter at Darey for his betrayal.

"And what if I did? Is that the way to look at your rescuer?" Darey asked with a smug look on his face.

"Don't give me that crap! If it weren't for you my life wouldn't have been in danger to begin with!" Tenny's rage grew more intense as he kept looking at Darey's calm face.

"Is this guy even human?" Tenny found himself asking. All the pain he was feeling faded and the only feeling he had left was pure rage. He now had no doubt, this guy was not his brother.

"Wrong! It's not on me that you ended up like this. I remember giving you a choice, and telling you I did not much care. It's also definitely my fault that you passed out right before the 'Gate'. And most of all, it's absolutely not my fault that you were such a weak person who couldn't easily defeat a mere Grade 2. It's all on you." Darey spoke in steps, allowing his hurtful words to sink in, and they did.

Tenny was angry, but he knew Darey was right. And his fatal battle was with a Grade 2? Pathetic! The whole fight he assumed the beast was at least a Grade 6 monster. That was the difference in strength... he truly was hopeless.

"However, you exceeded my expectations. I never would have imagined you lasting so long, talk less of killing it. I was so sure you would die." Darey spoke up, smiling.

His expression changed as he now looked compassionate. "W...Wait... Did you say... I killed it?" Tenny said, nearing tears. He did not believe it.

"Yes, you did... Take pride in that. I could never have pulled that off if I was in your level. There exists no one your age who can do what you've done. And as a Grade 2 in my standard, that Cultivator was a Grade 4 by this world's standard, albeit being considerably weak and nutrient deprived." Darey said.

Tenny could not believe what Darey was saying. He had killed a Grade 4 Monster all by himself. He had survived all on his own... He did not die. Tears started pouring down his face as he started to bawl

"I really thought I would die! I though it was the end... I actually did it. I pulled I off..."

Tenny felt a bittersweet feeling surging within him. Though his entire body stung like hell, and his future remained uncertain, he had never felt better.

Darey looked at his brother wet his cheeks like a baby and smiled. He could have told him that the Cultivator he fought was a weakened one, as it had probably not anything to eat in more than a decade. Some Cultivators could handle it, but that condition was especially worse for this one.

By his observation, and the powers it displayed, the Cultivator must have been a degraded Vampire Cyclops. A species that depended on blood for energy and physical prowess. That was why it was slow at Tenny's first encounter of it. It became considerably faster and stronger after it grazed him and absorbed the blood that leaked out. He looked at Tenny and decided against telling him the details, at least not for now.

They had more urgent matters to attend to. He would need Tenny with him in order to confirm something that kept bugging him. However, Tenny did not trust him. He needed to build up trust between them before he moved on to the next phase of his plan. Ultimately, he would require Tenny's help and abilities later in the future as well.

"Tenny, do you hate me?" He asked suddenly. Tenny, who was also taken aback by the sudden question kept silent for a while, looking to the ground for a moment.

"No, I don't... After all, it was my decision to come here in the first place. I have also Awakened just like you said. It must have required a painful experience to suddenly trigger the ability that was dormant within me. I don't blame you. After all, I'm alive, with a sweet ability, I slayed a Grade 4 monster... And now... I can finally say, that I'm not weak! So thank you... You may not be the brother I knew, but you're definitely Darey, and I'm sorry I doubted you." Tenny said, with a smile on his face, and tears flowing down his eyes.

Darey felt waves of emotions surging through him, but he kept them in check.

"Tenny, you.... you called it a monster again! I told you already, It's a Cultivator! What did I say? Cultivator!" Was what Darey reply was to Tenny's heart filled words.

"WTF?" Was the only question that Tenny's tired brain could respond with.

Darey sighed and asked "So you believe me now?"

Tenny, who had already made up his mind a while back, looking convicted said "Yes, I do! The fact that you knew of this place, the fact that you know so much about me, the fact that you were not lying about the Awakening and the fact that you could have killed me whenever you wanted but didn't. I have decided... I believe you!"

Those warm words hit Darey's cold heart, and a crack appeared. He was amused by Tenny's naivete, he was still too young and inexperienced. Darey could still find at least 10 reasons to distrust himself, but he did not mention them. He was however happy. For the first time in over 200 years, he finally had someone to talk to. He would have it no other way! "Healer's wish" Darey spoke softly.

Suddenly, a white glow covered Tenny. Tiny white balls of light danced around his body, like fireflies in the dark, as the light lifted him up, allowing him to stand upright. The pain was vanishing, the wounds were closing... the weariness was fading away.

"What's happening? Am I...?" Tenny asked in utter confusion.

Darey just kept smiling. Before he knew it, he was standing straight, before Darey, and as suddenly as it came, the white glow vanished but the balls of light surrounded them both and danced around the area.

"Even if you died, I would still bring you back! I'm sorry I let you pass through all that. I have no excuse... Tenny, I'm truly sorry." Darey spoke, voice soft, lingering with regret.

Tenny, who was already good as new and still surprised at the miracle which had occurred smiled. "I trust you, and from now onward, I'm your comrade. I'll help in whatever way I can! After all, we're brothers!"

Tenny smiled, remembering their moments as kids, and even hours ago when Darey had hugged him. Their bond would never be broken. He stretched forth his fist toward Darey smiling. Darey, knowing what he meant, also reciprocated. Darey smiled to himself. He had finally gotten his brother's trust... "Too easy." They fist bumped saying in unison "Brothers!"

The awkward moment lasted longer than expected, until Tenny broke the silence

"So what now? Since you've achieved your objective and I've awakened, are we going back to the surface?"

Darey smiled, and put his hands back down. He looked, facing the wall by his side "Not yet, there's still something left to do!"

His eyes glowed purple, and suddenly the ground started shaking again. The humming sound Tenny heard before returned, and so did the vibrations, though they were not as intense as before. The portal he had previously seen reappeared. The wormhole looked dormant, as it just generated a humming sound and glowed purple and black.

"What is this... I saw this right before I passed out..." Tenny asked as he was both curious and a bit afraid.

"Don't worry, that won't happen again. This is a Gate, it's a rift that connects two worlds. That Cultivator you just fought most likely came from within it. In essence, it's like a mini Rip." Darey smiled calmly explained.

"Does that mean it..." Tenny spoke hesitantly.

"Yes, it contains otherworldly energy. This gate is being restrained however, and so the level of energy radiating is limited. If it had been a full gate, you would most likely have died instead of passing out." Darey answered.

Tenny was now visibly upset "Then why did you bring me down here if there was that possibility?"

Darey looked away from the glowing rift and looked to Tenny. "I already knew it was restrained. I don't take chances, and so I knew you would survive. Even if you did, I would revive you, so that is not a major issue. The major issues I have with this gate is way more unpredictable."

Tenny noticed Darey looked troubled. "What is the problem? "Tenny asked.

Darey looked stern now.

"There are 3 major issues in this situation. Gates are not supposed to be restrained like this, unless an ability is used to seal it. It's like a hallway between two doors. If one door is locked, then only one door is left to pass through. This side of the door is closed, which is not natural. My second issue is the fact that this gate has been here for at least a decade, or more. This underground passage was made by humans and The Dump was kept there for a reason. This Gate is the source of the putrid smell covering Adele. You probably didn't notice because you've been occupied all this while, and you're used to it. This confirms two things. Someone knows about this gate, and it's dangers, and they have gone a long way to hide it."

This was all news to Tenny. "Are gates that rare an occurrence? Don't mons... I mean Cultivators come from them? Why is this any different?" Tenny asked.

Darey was not surprised Tenny didn't know this

"Gates are very rare. I doubt up to 8 have been found since the Rip's appearance. It's true that all Cultivators come from Gates, but those gates appear and disappear at various intervals. Stable gates such as this are very rare. A gate vanishes immediately a Cultivator comes out... except in rare cases. A gate like this only means one thing. Behind this one, is a swarm of Cultivators... and as is the case of a Hive, there is sure to be a Queen, The Grandmaster!" Darey spoke seriously now.

"A Grandmaster is at least a Grade 7 Cultivator, and so this Gate must be very dangerous. If it is released, Lagos Island, no... this entire state is done for!"

Tenny had never seen Darey look so serious "What's the final issue?" Tenny managed to ask.

"The final problem... Is that this Gate is located directly below our house." Darey spoke, looking grim.

"What? What do you mean by that?" Tenny raised his voice, alarmed at this shocking information.

"It all adds up. Why we've been living here all this while when we could most definitely afford to move to a better place. Why mom works in the nearby Firm and has never left 100 meters from our house, no vacation, no holiday, no road trips..." Darey started.

"What are you saying?" Tenny's eyes widened at the realization dawning on him.

"...And most importantly, why in the near future, when she is killed, this gate opens, causing unimaginable deaths and destruction... Now that I am here now, there's no room for doubt..." Darey spoke slowly, eyes piercing a dazed Tenny.

"Mom is an Ability User!"

TO BE CONTINUED....