Hours, minutes  seconds even the milliseconds trickled by as my concept of time distorted. Asher who was brutally training the newcomers dismissed them with a hand signal, turned away with a deep sigh, then marched right towards me with a nonchalant expression as if we hadn't lost the previous battle. Akira had fought off around fifty of my henchmen and then still managed to match my power. But how? I pondered. Just then, Asher addressed me and snapped me out of my thoughts. Aware of his role as an underling, he bowed when entering the room, a simple gesture; but it more than sent the message that he was willing to follow my commands. I had spent the last few hours replenishimg my mana and sinking deeper into a pit of inferiority. I analyzed the exchange repeatedly in my head, but no apparent weaknesses were shown in his fighting style. 
   Asher was twiddling with his thumbs waiting for a reply. I asked him how training the newcomers was progressing. Asher sighed, "They're amateurs at best" he picked up one of the darts and inspected it,"we were caught off guard. So what?" he stated as he further inspected the dart  only to turn his attention to the dart board. "What are you trying to tell me Asher? Are you trying to say I'm incompetent?" I chuckled. 

  Asher replied,  steadying his arm aimed at the target, "No Blyke-" he corrected himself "sir what I'm trying to say is, why don't we go on the offensive but also ambush the enemy the same time?" He threw the dart, hitting a bullseye. A pincer attack as he suggested could work. I decided that we would indeed launch a pincer attack. To do so however, we needed something that could fight against his fire, we needed ice. 

   The next several days were spent planning as I kept up a public image, not once meeting  any of the members. While attending Syrus, walking in tge hallway one day I ran into this guy with dark grey hair and dead black eyes. He fell, but got up and continued running in speed towards wherever it is that he was going. A small accident that was nothing special, but that individual left a lasting impression.  He was timid  and even apologized before rushing off. I'm not sure what, but something within this person connected with me . I wanted to call out to them but the words were stuck in my throat. That's right. I shouldn't make friends, bonds will only hold me back from my goal. As he was running off I glanced in his direction sure that nothing would come of this encounter. That evening after school had ended, I visited Alice in the hospital. Her condition was deteriorating at an alarming rate. I took her small hand in mine and knelt down next to her bed frame. At that moment I felt so helpless. I had stained my hands with blood for survival and attained power. No matter what I did, I was never strong enough to protect those I cared for. Why? Why must I be in the wrong? Why can't the world just accept us? Tears streaming down my face. My heart in agony. That is when it dawned on me. My choice. My mind flashed back to the moment when Asher's dart hit the dart board.  My choice. I'll save her and create a world that accepts us.  Even if it means I'd have to burn the world to the ground and start anew. That is my choice. 

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Christopher  POV:

   Sparks flew as our blades crashed, Akira and I were now sparring using weapons. He also freely used  mana. I couldnt use the knife yet. As I had yet to conquer the mana figure held within the blade. Supposedly the soul of the Maiden who oversaw the church of the white dragon was sealed within the blade. It was a story unknown to the world, but was supposedly an artifact. Artifacts were the strongest weapons known to mankind. They were imbued with mana and each granted the user some sort of enhancement. As we fought I could feel as if he was uncertain of something. He relentlessly attacked, sparring me no time to think. Even though his mind was probably elsewhere, his bodily reactions were able to keep up with me, which made me feel almost annoyed.  A rush of adrenaline consumed me and my reflexes were enhanced.  He slashed forward aimed at my shoulder. Using the beginner sword artifact that he had given me, I parried the blow stepping forward and lunged aimed towards his throat with my blade. He didn't even move a nano meter but my blade stopped right before his throat. He backed away and approached using his killing intent. My body burned and it felt like I was stuck in place. This was nothing like in the astral plain. There was no pain nullification. I was in pain due to his mana attack but I was also surprised. I hadn't expected him to lose control. His blade coming right at me I tried to interact with the mana around me but there was no effect. Or so I thought.  My entire body entered a state of enhancement as I ducked under his blade, which now seemed as if it was being weilded my a normal swordsman and not a superhuman. I evaded all four of his following attacks closing the gap between us. I then went on the offensive and fired attacks one after the other. I was slowly beginning to push him back. I dodged and parried his strikes and landed several shallow strikes on his forearm, knee and other parts of his body was bruised from me also kicking and punching him. It seemed as if victory was attainable for an instant. Then the effects of cladding my body and utilizing mana without a core for more time than my body could handle started affecting my internal organs and my heart. I could hear the sound of my own heart beat slowing as if to warn me I was dying. So I revoked my will over the atmospheric mana present and my body stopped moving entirely. My consciousness faded but I did not collapse, my body remained in battle stance. Before losing consciousness I saw Akira snap back to reality and he caught me while I was falling to the ground. 

   I came to my senses, my ears still ringing and my body aching as if all of my bones were shattered. I was experiencing 'backlash'. That's right, using mana without a mana core came with a price. One that hurt unlike any pain I'd felt before. I couldnt move and I heard no response from Akira, rather I couldn't even call out to him. My entire being unresponsive .  It dawned on me that I was in some sort of comatosed state. There was nothing. Not even the pain which my body was supposed to be experiencing. After what seemed like days, my eyes were opened. I took all opportunities to survey my surroundings, even though I couldn't move any body part except my iris. 

    I had realised after surveying my surroundings, that I was in a place I'd never been before, and the air was thin. I may probably have been at a high altitude, like on a mountain or such. But I was not alone. There was someone. Something here with me....

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                                                         Hi Merry Christmas! 

(To any of my readers who celebrate it that is) Just wanted to apologize for not being able to consistently work on this novel.  As much as I would like to do this, I simply cannot due to personal reasons. I will not abandon this novel and will write it until completion. However I just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to read my novel as I'm barely even a novice writer and I hope you all continue to bare with me as I continue writing this novel. Thank you all.