“I accept. Hurry up and start the process.” Kifo smiled towards his, once again newly accepted, Boss.
Zilan laughed with genuine joy, hearing Kifo’s answer. “Good, that’s how things ought to be done.”
“Now then give me your arm.”
Kifo, “Wasn’t that just a joke?”
“Relax, I’m not sacrificing it or anything of the sort. I need to mark you with the Brand of your Ancestors if you’re ever going to be able to perceive any of the Inheritance within your blood.”
Kifo’s eyes immediately glowed with both longing and excitement. He was well aware of the importance of Inheritances since he already had one that granted him the ability, [Feline Perception].
“Another Inheritance? How is that possible?”
Zilan’s smile had yet to fade but hearing the question posed to him, he was suddenly at a loss as to how to explain.
“Hmm, if one insisted on calling it an Inheritance then they wouldn’t be wrong. However, in my opinion, the more correct term should be rite of passage. If you’re ever to unlock your full potential, the best and fastest way is to go through the proper channels and systems that flow within your blood.”
“Eh? My blood?” Kifo scratched his head in confusion. Before today he had never heard of a Beast having a rite of passage on top of an Inheritance.
“I’d like to tell you more but unfortunately if I divulged anything to you, without you experiencing it for yourself, the passage will forever be closed to you and the things that you need to reach the pinnacle will be stripped from you. What I can tell you though is that it has to do with the Feline Lords.” Zilan slowly explained.
Kifo “……”
“I understand that you’re confused but trust me, everything will make sense once the passage is opened.”
Kifo could only nod in agreement. He knew Zilan wouldn’t do anything intentionally to hurt him therefore, his worries although not completely thrown out the window, were still greatly reduced.
“Let’s begin. When you wake up, your mind will be opened and the world will never look the same again. At that time, you will realise how stupid things like the Enlightenment enclosure really are.” Stated Zilan.
“Oh! Before I forget, the time you will spend umm…asleep will depend on your innate talent towards the laws. It could be a few days, a month, maybe even a year. Ha, if you really are capable of staying in there for a year then I’m afraid even gods will have to look up at you, so don’t worry too much about that. A week or so should be pretty good for the current you.”
Kifo was greatly shocked by Zilan’s words but thankfully, he managed to calm himself.
“Your arm.” Commanded Zilan.
Kifo resolutely stretched his arm towards him. ‘I don’t want to be left behind’ He thought to himself.
Zilan relaxedly transformed his right hand into a Dragons claw and while applying a tiny bit of strength pinched a saucer-sized piece of flesh out from Kifo’s arm.
His movements were so fast that blood only started seeping out from the wound after several seconds. In that time, Zilan had already almost finished chanting a strange incantation.
“Giza Etremiana Giza….”
The previously bright chamber suddenly became all dark, and the only thing Kifo could see was the person before him, who slowly but surely was deforming into a giant shadow.
“Giza Etremiana Giza….” The chant was now recited in a deeper, more profound tone, almost as if the ruler of Heaven and Earth was speaking it and not Zilan.
‘This is, where is Zilan?’ wondered Kifo.
Where Zilan sat, now an almost fifteen foot shadow giant could be seen. It had extremely faint features but if one focused enough, which Kifo did, they’d notice that the shadow was actually Feline in nature. It was unknown what species it belonged to but its aura alone was something that made Kifo want to prostrate in worship and for some reason it was only growing stronger.
“Giza Etremiana Giza….”
The voice echoed out once again, only this time the surrounding dark world suddenly crumbled and before Kifo was an ancient Gate of epic proportions. It was pitch black and so big that Kifo could not make sense of where the door started and where it ended. Be it in terms of height or width, in both aspects the gate was immeasurable, at least for him it was.
“Kifo, get ready!” Zilan’s weak and tired voice, jolted him awake as he tried to locate it.
“Remember, try and stay there for as long as possible.” After that, there was no more words from Zilan.
The piece of flesh that had previously been pinched off suddenly returned and reattached itself onto his arm. However, it came back substantially different. The previous fur covered flesh was now completely ink-black and covered in a pattern that resembled five feline claws in a ring, surrounding a pair of incomparably fierce cat eyes.
Reacting to the return of the flesh was the giant shadow. As fast as lightning, it reached out with its left hand but before it could come in contact with the fearful Kifo, it stopped, hovering just above the branded patch of flesh.
“Swiii!”
A black katana-like sword abruptly rose from out of the patch of flesh. It was extremely thin and tiny but the moment its entire twelve foot frame came out of the brand, it swiftly enlarged in width and girth.
The giant gripped the sword tightly, and without waiting for Kifo to process the situation, it stabbed the blade right through his heart.
“AAH!” Were the last words Kifo spoke before he stopped breathing.
………………….
A few moments later and the darkness enshrouding the room, disappeared. Zilan laid flat on the surface of the training chamber his body covered in cold sweat and from his eyes which had two stars, two streaks of blood flowed.
“Mimicking the sacred ritual of the Feline Lords isn’t as simple as I thought. Luckily, this time I succeeded.”
A smile hung on his face just thinking about the great developments Kifo will have after he leaves that place.
“Some places should never be talked about out loud. That place is one of them! In order to get there not only must one reach the ridiculous Bloodline requirements but they also must die. If not done properly, the consequences…I can’t imagine.
Luckily, luckily…”
Seeing the lifeless eyes of the seemingly deceased Kifo, he could not help but laugh. He was wholeheartedly happy for Kifo.
“The rest is up to you. Your lineage is extremely troublesome, thankfully you descend from the Lords and not the Feline God himself otherwise us brothers would truly be regarded as a match made in Heaven. To be dealt such cruel hands by fate.”
Cleaning up and sealing the room, Zilan then headed down the stairs towards the living area.
“Eh, Zilan where is brother Kifo, I had something I wanted to show him.” Shouted Fujo, who just noticed Zilan.
“Don’t disturb him, he’s training. Under no circumstances are you to enter the training chamber.”
“Oh!” It would be a lie if Fujo were to say he was not surprised or interested but nevertheless, he wouldn’t go disturbing others privacy, especially when it came to training.
“Hehe, since you’re free, I’ll just tell you some of the hot topics around the Association. Of course your matter is still among the top of the rankings but other than that, the young master of the Seven needles camp was ambushed and killed, the Elder himself went into a fit of rage and is carefully investigating this matter. Then there’s the thing about some precious pill surprisingly being concocted by a three star Alchemist, he was then directly promoted to fourth rank. Oh, oh and the most important thing, one of the three great beauties of the Association apparently is having an affair, no one knows who’s the unlucky guy but it sure is fun watching that pompous fiancée of hers run around with red eyes looking to kill. Yeah and before I forget there’s……”
Fujo went on and on however, unlike in previous days when Zilan would avoid such conversations, due to his current good mood, he happily joined in.
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