Hero of Darkness

Kahn finally understood the main purpose behind the trial and why he was in a separate spectral form and not in charge of his own body. The objective was about making the young him take a stand for himself and make an effort to bring out changes in his personality.

At this moment, he recalled what consequences these incidents had on his personality while growing up.

Back then, since Elric never received help from anyone or had somebody to cheer and support him while growing up, he had resorted to 'running away' from his problems while suffering alone.

Because of this, as he grew up… he ended up seeking a comfort zone instead of facing adversities and overcoming his fears.

In his previous life, he couldn't see through these psychological patterns but now with his memories of past life and his position in the current scenario as a 3rd person spectator, he understood how serious the situation was.

Unlike how many impulsive idiots who quickly jumped to conclusions usually thought…

Real life was not similar to that of a story, a novel or some tv show where a weak-willed person gets bullied, trampled on and abandoned by his own people just to emerge powerful and victorious later through hard work and sheer effort alone.

Every single person's mind worked differently and they adapted to situations based on their outlook on the world and present circumstances.

Some people emerged better and stronger while many would forfeit their lives to fate instead of fighting back after the world breaks them down from the inside.

For Kahn as Elric in his past life… he had resorted to escaping from the harsh reality and endured the suffering all alone as he believed that no one actually cared about him and he was inherently weak to even fight back.

His instinct wasn't that of a predator but a docile herbivore that couldn't escape the clutches of his hunters no matter what he did.

Hence, he subconsciously believed that as long as he didn't cause trouble for anyone or received someone's attention whether good or bad… he'd be left alone; unhurt and without any enemies.

All he had to do was be 'Average' and 'Mediocre' while keeping his head down since no one had any sort of big expectations from him to begin with.

And if he maintained that very approach, he would get by just enough to survive and live peacefully.

"They really broke my mind back then, huh…" spoke Kahn to himself.

Now that he was used to being powerful, cunning and also determined… Kahn saw through the blooming shortcomings of his past life which would dictate his future.

"No, I can't let it happen again. This time… no matter what I have to do; I won't let myself become a pushover who was so weak and pathetic that one wouldn't even bother caring about his existence." he proclaimed with eyes full of indomitable resolve while exuding a kingly aura.

2 Days Later.

The classic reenactment of bullying started as Elric's classmates started thrashing him out of habit.

This time, 2 more kids had joined for the fun of it.

"Help me!" Elric shouted while being choked to death by a fat and burly kid who was thrice his body weight.

"Ha ha ha! Who is he asking for help?

Have you gone mad, Johnson?" taunted one of the kids.

Swoom!!

A pulse of shockwave phased through his spectral form.

As soon as Elric sought help from him, Kahn felt an indescribable and intangible connection between him and Elric.

In his mind, Kahn could feel that connection was asking for protection and help that Elric desperately wanted for the first time since he entered this old memory.

Kahn opened his eyes that were now filled with amazement.

"I see. It was my own will as the younger me that had expelled the current me outside the body previously when I entered this trial.

My mindset and willpower were completely different in my past life and were extremely incompatible and contradictory in terms of ideology.

Hence, I was thrown out of my body and the direction of the trial itself shifted to a different objective." spoke Kahn to himself as he finally figured out why the changes occurred as soon as he took the trial.

Kahn didn't waste any extra moments lamenting and quickly stood in front of struggling Elric who was barely able to breathe because of the chokehold over his neck.

Kahn touched Elric's forehead and soon, his entire figure was swallowed by an unknown force and dispersed like a fog, inside the head.

And the next moment he opened his eyes…

20 Minutes Later.

A big heap of flesh aka the fainted and almost half-dead bodies of the 5 kids aka the bullies appeared on the scene.

Despite them being children, Kahn didn't hold back in the slightest as he broke their bones, joints, and beat all of them to pull one by one till the point their faces and eyes were swollen and their clothes were covered in blood.

Because of his weak body as Elric, it took him some time to adjust and use the minimum stamina he had to strategically and precisely attack his opponent's weak and vital spots.

But compared to Vantrea… the trash bullies of Earth didn't have any overbearing strength or even fighting techniques.

So even with these disadvantages in physical strength and endurance… Kahn, who was also the Apostle of the War Deity, took them down one by one.

Still, he didn't torture them to death like he always did to his enemies in Vantrea. He didn't want to give the past him another trauma.

And during this whole exchange, his will as young Elric was in the backseat and saw that even his weak body could fight these bullies who had been tormenting him for months.

Kahn, who was sitting on top of these scumbags, spoke in a domineering voice.

"See… that's what all there is to bullies.

You may find yourself weak and frightened at times. But if you decide to take a stand for yourself and once they see that they can't push you around or control you… they no longer seem scary at all." he spoke to the younger him with a tranquil expression.

He exited the body and let young Elric take control again.

"I just want to be just like you." said Elric with an excited expression, feeling assurance and confidence that was long gone from his eyes.

To his innocent gaze, Kahn ruffled Elric's hair and responded with a cheerful smile.

"And I want you to be better."