The Awakened Arcane Legacy

Beaten By Bullies

It was a scorching hot afternoon, the sun at its peak. Talon found himself cornered by Arion and his gang at the street corner where his shanty was located.

“I’ll show you the strength of my Arcane Energy, something you’ve never witnessed before. Once I’m done with you, you’ll be nothing but my tool!” Arion shouted, his bulky body trembling with anticipation.

To accumulate enough Arcane Energy, it typically takes about two years of training. Before awakening, children usually spend that time building up their energy reserves.

Arion charged at Talon, unleashing his Indomitable Charge, a basic -F Class Ranking skill for Sanctifiers in the Order of the Divine Sentinel. Sanctifiers were like warriors who fought demons in one-on-one combat, relying on brute strength rather than weapons.

As Arion charged, the other two boys, Divine Guardians, followed suit, wielding small, broken shields. It was clear that their parents could barely afford shields made by a Heavenly Artificer.

Talon felt helpless, knowing he couldn’t run forever. He had to stand up to them so they wouldn’t bully him again. As Arion and his gang closed in on him, Talon crossed his arms in front of him, bracing for their assault.

“You always make a fool of yourself. I thought you’d run, but I see you’re not a coward. But remember, in the face of power, your courage is useless,” Arion sneered, closing in on Talon.

“I don’t care! As long as I’m alive, I won’t submit to you,” Talon declared defiantly.

The other boys approached from both sides, their broken shields in hand. Talon found himself trapped between them. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and prepared for the impact from all sides.

Suddenly, Talon felt the first impact as Arion’s blow sent him flying backward. Arion, part of a family of Sanctifiers, possessed innate strength that was evident in his strike. Talon crashed into the wall, his improvised shelter collapsing around him.

“Eeeerh!” Talon cried out, the pain overwhelming him. He was as weak as someone who hadn’t eaten all day, his lean frame showing his malnourishment. With poor balance, he couldn’t withstand the force of the blow.

Shortly after Arion’s strike, the other two boys delivered their own blows with their broken shields, intensifying the agony. Talon spat out blood.

“Aaaaaah!” Talon screamed. He hadn’t expected another attack so soon after Arion’s initial strike. He never thought they would go to such lengths against someone nearly their own age. Arion and his gang may have been poor, but they had parents who did their best to provide for them. They weren’t starving, which would have explained their desire for the meager fruits Talon had.

Arion, standing a distance away, laughed along with his gang. “Hahaha! All that show you put on just now! I thought you could at least withstand my first blow. You’re so weak,” Arion taunted, adding insult to Talon’s injuries.

Surveying the wreckage of Talon’s shanty, Arion noticed the fallen fruit that had been their primary target. He approached it and picked it up, saying, “All this for such a small thing. You should have just given it to us, and we would have left you alone. But no, you wanted to act tough. Well, look where it’s gotten you.”

Arion callously threw the fruit to the ground, no longer caring about it, but he continued to gaze at it. Weakened and covered in blood, Talon lay on the floor, unable to do anything but watch. He understood what Arion was about to do.

“Nooo… That’s my meal for the day. Please, don’t do this…” Talon pleaded, reaching out his hand toward the fruit, but his strength had diminished, leaving his hands weak and numb. They dropped back down, unable to maintain their position.

The other boys laughed at Arion’s impending action. Though they were poor, they could easily afford Mutated fruits. They saw nothing wrong with what Arion was about to do.

“Oh! You were acting so tough before, but now you’re begging for this garbage,” Arion sneered. He positioned his leg, ready to smash the fruit beneath his foot. “Now, I’ll enjoy watching you eat from the ground!”

Arion swiftly crushed the two oranges into pulp. Talon cried as he witnessed his meal, which he was about to eat, shattered right in front of him. He never expected them to reject the fruits.

A deep hatred for Arion and his gang consumed him, but he was helpless, just sitting on the ground.

“Now, you’ll eat this!” Arion taunted, approaching Talon who remained motionless. Arion’s gang held Talon’s hand while Arion approached with his foot.

Arion stomped on the fruit, forcing it near Talon’s mouth. “Noooo! Noooo!” Talon shouted, struggling to break free from the boys restraining him. But all his efforts were in vain.

Arion observed Talon’s desperate struggle and, with a cruel laugh, shoved his foot into Talon’s mouth. Talon fought to avoid tasting the dirt on Arion’s shoe, but it was futile.

Finally, Arion released Talon. “Guys! I think we’re done here. He can’t even put up a fight. Let’s go,” he said to his gang, laughing as they walked away.

Talon, unable to take any action as he wasn’t an Awakened, watched helplessly as they departed. He remained seated on the ground, his weak hands and body betraying him.

He had endured the worst form of abuse, with no power to retaliate.