[HOST SHOULD ACQUIRE THE ANTHIC BLADE]
Ethan paused for a second, looking that what was written on the glowing panel. He was confused as to what he was reading
"Host should acquire 'ANTHIC BLADE'...what the heck is this stupid thing talking about? How would such a blade be found in my house...my parents aren't nobles from what I recall...they aren't some kind of important individuals too"
Ethan decided to ignore the message and turned to leave but again the cold mechanical voice whispered from within him
[ANTHIC BLADE DETECTED WITHIN DEBRIS OF ASH]
[HOST SHOULD ACQUIRE THE ANTHIC BLADE]
"What kind of system is this... Why would it tell me this and why now... I careless about any system... If it couldn't save my sister" Ethan wasn't ready toisten to something that just popped in front of him moment ago without alert. But he was skeptical to what it was saying and decided to walk through the debris of the burnt house.
"It won't kill to try finding the supposed 'ANTHIC BLADE' it is talking. It might be helpful"
Ethan marched forward, picked up a stick and started scattering the pile of ashes he found all over the place. Ethan searched all over the place, the sitting room, the kitchen and his room. What was left was his parents room.
"I don't know what this hell of a system is talking about but I hope ii found what it asks me to"
Ethan walked to his parents room and started the search. Digging and scattering every pile of ash he could found within the room. Then upon searching where was supposed to be the emplacment of his parents bed, he found something. A small opening on the floor with a lock. The wood was fragile due to the burning flames it endured, Ethan smashed the wood with his legs, it gave up to his strength. What he saw was a a black cloth with symbols written all over it. It was wrapped around a long rectangular box.
"What the hell is this...is this what it was asking me to acquire...what are all these symbols... They feel like that which was drawn on the pillars in Mount Etna"
Ethan was confused, but curious. He gently unwrapped the cloth around the rectangular box. It was classic wooden box dark blue veins running around it and at the edges was what looked like silver. It possess no system lock, no keypad, it was free of access.
"Why to I feel like this is shady...I can feel the aura emanating from what is inside this box and it gives me goosebumps" I He paused for a second, looking at the mysterious box before him. But curiousity took the better part of him and he proceeded.
"I am already this far, why should I back down. It won't kill if I just take a peep"
Ethan opened the box. Immediately, a gust of dark shadowy aura blowed out of the box with violence and pressure. Ethan seemed unaffected by it. Inside was a sword guarded in its scabbard. The sheath was silvery and dark in color. The hilt of the sword was silvery with a purple crystal at the edge.
"Wow... What the hell is this... How will my parents possess such a cool sword." Ethan was amazed at what was before his eyes. He wasn't an expert when it came to swords but this one was dope, this was cool and just the aura was sufficient to send shivers down his spine.
With no further ado, he picked the sword. Observing every bit of it, tracing his hand all over the sheath and the hilt. Then he unguarded the sword from its sheath revealing the blade.
[HOST HAS ACQUIRED AN ANTHIC BLADE]
The cold mechanical voice resounded from within Ethan the moment his hand gripped the hilt of the sword.
"What a scam...is this really an 'ANTHIC BLADE'... I was fooled by the aura but look at this blade... It is just a common sword like every other I saw from dad's books" Ethan was disappointed at the aspect of the blade. He expected it to be more detailed and not look this common. Though it looked common, he had only one question puzzling him 'Why would a common sword emit such a shadowy aura'
He dropped the sheath to the ground and held the hilt of the sword firmly, brandishing it forward like a knight preparing to fight. He took a fighting stance, his left leg behind and his right leg slightly bent in front, his left hand was behind and his right hand gripping the sword and was in front, placing his sword at the offensive.
Ethan proceeded in slashing through thin air from top to bottom, left to right and from buttom to top. He did three consecutive strikes like pro, one which he learnt from his dad's books using a wooden sword.
"Wow...this is dope. I always dreamt to make this move with a real sword. Though it feels common, I am keeping this sword with me... It's not like am stealing... It was my parents and now that they aren't, it's rightfully mine" Ethan was enthusiastic and glad. He had a new property link to his parents, though painful, it was still a reminder to what he lost, a reminder to move forward and never back down
Still smiling and caressing the word's blade, he tried testing it's sharpness with his palm, then
"Aaaaarrrrggghhh... What the hell... It's too sharp for a common sword" Though he slightly caressed the blade, a deep cut was made on his palm and blood spilled all over on the blade.
Ethan paused for some seconds when he noticed the color of his blood. It wasn't blood red anymore, rather it was slightly dark red. He looked at it carefully, not sure of what he was really seeing
"What is this... Is this really how my blood looks like... It has never looked like this before... Since when did it change color..." Questions but no answers.
[HOST FLESH HARMED. AUTO-RESTORATION PROTOCOL WILL COMMENCE...]
The glowing panel popped and the cold mechanical voice sounded again from within Ethan. But this wasn't something he hasn't seen before, it what followed that puzzleed him more.
The cut on his palm stopped bleeding, then he could see it closing before him eyes with dark crimson colored energy glowing from the cut and seconds after, there was no cut visible on his palm, as if nothing ever happened. Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief
[AUTO-RESTORATION PROTOCOL TERMINATED SUCCESSFULLY]
"What the heck is this... Did the cut just healed automatically. What is this system... Is it the cause... Did it do it" Still questions with no answer. He looked at his palm, wiping off the blood to be sure he was seeing clearly but the cut has vanished. But something else was about to happen
The blood which was spilled all over the blade of the sword was nowhere to be found anymore, as if the blade absorded it. It started pulsating in his hand, Ethan felt it, brought the sword closer to his face
"What his wrong with this sword too... And where is the blood that spilled earlier on it"
The aura from the blade pulsatated more and more, darkening. The pulsation continued for seconds, raising more and becoming faster like a heartbeat and abruptly stopped for seconds. Ethan tought it was finish but what followed was expected. As if an explosion, a gust of dark aura exploded from the blade, sending Ethan flying in the air, falling to the ground.
"Damn... Is that really a common sword as I thought?"