Chapter 6: I’ve Lost Control…

As Aden’s head fell against a dry piece of bark, his memories vividly replayed every moment—his feeble attempts to penetrate the wild, and the more unrestrained attacks he had unconsciously executed.

Call it an exaggeration, but the pain he experienced at that moment was absolute.

Initially, he had believed the pain he felt during the beast attack was the pinnacle of whatever stimulus the body could endure, but he was proven wrong in the most painful way possible.

At first, it was a small heat that bloomed along his ribs, causing mild discomfort—not enough to disrupt his concentration.

Then it moved to his heart, slowly, almost methodically, coiling around it like a snare tightening around a neck.

But he pushed through.

He relentlessly fired punches at his master, who remained unflinching and unreadable, never allowing a single sign of weakness to seep through the cracks of his expression.

And it worked.

For the time being, he managed to fool his frighteningly perceptive master, and he was determined to keep it that way.

What he failed to notice, however, was that his movements were becoming faster—and more… foreign.

His thoughts streamlined.

His eyes sharpened, catching the tiniest details—from subtle shifts in his master’s footing to the seemingly random twitches of his muscles.

In his perception, he was still moving at roughly the same speed as before—no different from when he had evaded the beast’s attacks and begun training under his de facto mentor.

So he let the lingering suspicion drift away with the wind tearing past his face as he leapt off the cabin.

’Finally!’

Aden rejoiced internally, deliberately ignoring the pain that had spread its ugly tendrils into his muscles and tendons.

That excitement was immediately extinguished by a near-incapacitating collision with a tree, courtesy of his master’s force field.

Like fuel added to flame, his body screamed in protest.

Every nerve, every muscle, every organ howled at the punishment they were subjected to, and Aden decided—at least mentally—that it was time to stop before he killed himself.

That was what he told himself.

His body didn’t listen.

Cold sweat drenched his clothes. His heart beat erratically. His hands shook uncontrollably.

And his mind fixated on a single thought:

’I’m not in control.’

As if to confirm it, his mouth opened wide—but what escaped wasn’t human.

It was a primal roar, saturated with rage, resentment, and suffocating bloodlust.

Before he could comprehend it, his foot was already arcing toward his master’s temple with terrifying precision.

’Duck!’ Aden tried to scream, but the words died before they reached his throat.

Another blast hurled him deeper into the jungle.

’W—what’s happening?! These aren’t my actions! I—!’

His mind clicked.

The beast attack. Although he had confidently reassured himself he was fully aware of what happened, he couldn’t actually remember the last three or so minutes prior him losing unconsciousness.

Did he actually kill that beast by his own abilities?

How come he had no recollection of how he did it?

What happened after those intense bouts of pain he experienced? Did he pass out? Did the beast get killed by his mentor?

His thoughts spiraled, questions colliding, answers dissolving, until a fresh bout of pain snapped him back into his body.

’What have I gotten myself into?’ Aden questioned himself as he watched the reckless beast that he had become through the screen of his eyes.

’And my master….why can’t he see through this? How come he doesn’t know I’m not the real me? Is my Adaptive Resonance that interesting to study or is he just hell bent on proving his superiority?!’

Rage— genuine, human, rage festered in Aden’s mind, and for the first time, he felt his face twitch for a split second.

Whatever took control of his body seemed to have sensed that rage. Aden’s— no, it’s lips curved to it’s limits as it’s movements grew faster, stronger and unrestrained.

Gone was the training session.

This had turned into a blatant murder attempt.

Aden could no longer keep up with the speed at which his body was moving. All he managed to make out was a constant repulsive energy that forced him back with every attack.

Head, neck, back, legs, even the groin, no attack aimed at any part of his body made a difference.

The shield remained steady and unyielding.

At least, that was the prediction.

Fate, as they say, always seemed to have other plans.

A loud crack shattered the storm that brew in Aden’s mind and even brought an apparent look of shock to his stoic master’s face.

’No!’

If Aden’s soul could jump out of his body and pushed him away, he would’ve done so in a heartbeat as he belatedly noticed a transparent energy flow in and out of him. It’s flow was unrestricted and almost…. sentient.

No, Aden couldn’t have predicted this, he instinctively knew it.

This was a final attack.

’Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! I have to do something! Anything!!’

But it was too late.

Luckily, he was allowed the pleasure of feeling his fists collide against his master’s tough face and the sounds of his knuckles shattering.

Pain detonated through him, erasing coherence, reducing everything to raw, unbearable sensation, his eyes blackened but his body still refused to give out.

The sheer will power that was being forced upon him was enough to make the strongest being in this kingdom to pass out.

But Aden wasn’t allowed that luxury.

He was forced to hear and feel the pain of his ribs shattering as it collided against their cabin and the disturbing thuds that came after.

He felt something crash against his back, but he was too disoriented to care. Blood flowed from every orifice, bones protruded from his hands and feet and the demonic adrenalin had worn off, making the pain fifty times worse.

’What a… cruel… master…’

Aden’s mind and whatever had taken over, finally lost control of his body. Luckily, he was able to slip into the warm hands of unconsciousness.

….

On the other side, his master walked over calmly, his cheeks slightly reddened but his eyes had a shine that was never there before as he stared at his student’s deformed figure.

“You’re definitely not Sir. Daren,” he squinted, his hands weaving complex signs above Aden, leaving a stream of green energy pouring out of it. “I wonder who you are….” He mumbled.

***

The moon hung low above the ruins, pale light settling over broken wood and bloodied earth. A cool breeze swept past, pushing his long hair back as he carried the still-healing Aden across his broad back. Together, they formed a scene that was strangely beautiful.

He walked steadily toward what remained of their cabin, his steps unhurried as his thoughts wandered.

’No one has ever managed to land a punch on me since the Great Demon War, even though I wasn’t at full defense, for him to accomplish that…’

He let out a quiet breath.

’I don’t know whether I should be proud or embarrassed.’

A few minutes passed before Aden’s mentor reached the damage site that was once their former home.

He gently set him down in a secluded spot, positioning his own back against a large piece of wood to keep it from collapsing onto his student.

Despite having the ability to heal himself, he chose not to. Whether it was a silent apology or simple forgetfulness was impossible to tell—his face had already returned to its wooden calm.

Another sigh left his mouth as he stared at the wreckage they created.

“It would seem work never stops coming my way.”

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