"If that's the case, let's meet at the town's entrance tomorrow.
If all goes well, we won't be returning to this backward town…
Do well to gather your belongings," Old Man Frank said.
Nodding their heads, the twin duo departed from his stall and headed back to their rundown shack.
"Davi, about that Jin, I don't know if…" Russell asked.
However, before he could complete what he intended to say, Davi cut him short.
"And so what? Don't tell me you feel you cannot pass the exam?" Davi said.
Russell bent his head after being scolded by his twin.
"Don't tell me you intend to give up after that trash talk of his…
Are you trying to say all your training was in vain?
You worked countless hours in the mine just to give up before the exam you have always dreamed of," Davi asked.
A look of determination flashed past Russell's eyes.
Although Davi could not see that for himself, he felt it and smiled, knowing that his brother's morale was back to its peak, perhaps even higher.
"Brother, what should we do? We barely have two weeks to prepare for the exam, and we will be leaving tomorrow," Russell asked.
Russell could not visit the mines because of the 'search,' and now he was with his brother.
Naturally, he would not want to make decisions without him.
"For now, let's return home. Since we won't return here, it's best we gather our valuables.
And you better go and train.
You have failed once already, and you and I know you would not forgive yourself for a second failure," Davi said after thinking for a brief moment.
"Hmmm… There is a lot of merit to what you said.
Well then, let's go with that… Speaking of valuables…" Russell replied.
A nostalgic smile appeared on his face.
"Do we have any?" Davi asked.
"Let's go home… There is something I have to show you," Russell replied, not giving a direct answer to Davi's question.
Not placing this in his mind, Russell led Davi back to the slums as Davi attracted endless attention with his staff, making passersby wonder if he was truly blind.
Not long after, they arrived at their rundown home.
Russell carefully placed Davi down on the mat where they slept before going to a relatively dark corner and pulling out an aged box.
"What are you doing?" Davi asked curiously.
He heard the screeching sounds of the aged box against the wooden floor.
"This is what I wanted to show you," Russell said as he dragged the box to Davi's feet, allowing him to feel it.
"What's so special about the box?" Davi asked.
"It's not the box that's special but what's in it… Davi, there is something I must say," Russell said.
"Go ahead, I'm all ears," Davi responded.
"I doubt you remember due to your illness, but we woke up here seven years ago.
At that time we were just nine years of age, no matter how we tried, we could not remember anything related to our past except our names.
Except for this single box that contained two emerald bottles of liquid and a note.
The note read: Consume the liquid before your awakening test.
Last year, I didn't tell you this because of your illness.
Hence, I chose not to consume it and take the test.
I am certain that perhaps it's the reason why I failed.
I don't know who left this here or purchased this rundown shack on our behalf, but I am sure this bottle is key to tracing our true origins," Russell said all this, feeling pained for lying.
Still, he had to because he believed it would cause more harm than good to let Davi know.
~Sigh
Davi could feel the relief Russell felt when he told him all of this.
Clearly, he felt burdened from not telling Davi about it these past few years, and a warm feeling blossomed within him.
Besides, with or without Russell's information, Davi was certain that this body wasn't normal.
But sadly, even the little clue that he had to trace his true origins in this world was useless as he couldn't see the bottles.
"This is the only valuable we have, and it's finally time we consume this," Russell said as he gave a bottle to Davi.
What happened next made Russell feel a bit pained but very much grateful to his brother.
"Don't worry, you can have mine… By the way, I knew there was something special about our origins.
Although it was a speculation then, at least now it is confirmed.
So don't bother. Consume both liquids. You need it more than I do… Don't tell me you want to waste such a precious gift on this blind brother of yours, eeh?" Davi smiled as he said this.
Russell was stunned for a few seconds before a radiant smile spread across his lips.
"Brother, thank you," Russell said deeply.
"There is no need for thanks between us. Besides, we both know that you need this way more than I do, so don't get all emotional, hehe," Davi laughed.
"Hahaha… I better get going. Let me consume this and continue my training.
By dawn, we will depart from Blue Wind Town," Russell said.
Clearly unable to hide his excitement.
"Alright then, I will await your tales tonight," Davi responded after Russell left.
***
"What's the point anyway? I still have the Asura system to figure out.
It would not make sense to drink another liquid that I have absolutely no origins of just to complicate things further," Davi thought.
Almost simultaneously, the system reacted…
[MISSION STATISTICS!]
[Task 1: Climb the apple tree and retrieve the ten apples growing within the tree]
[7 apples retrieved; 3 remain]
[Task 2: Complete your body routine session: Push-up x20]
[Undone!]
[Rewards: None!]
[Punishment: 45 minutes of Torment]
A strong feeling of dread for what's to come slowly began to well up inside Davi.
Just as he was about to curse his bad luck, the system interface rippled.
As he watched in horror, his countdown began…
[Punishment Will Commence]
[5…]
[4…]
[3…]
[2…]
[1…]
As soon as the countdown ended, Davi disappeared from this world.
It all happened so fast. Before Davi could get a hang of what was even happening,
He saw himself in another world.
Without needing to think, he realized it was the place he came to when he obtained the system.
The one place he dreaded going to the most, it was none other than…
Just then, the irrecognizable voice of Asura spoke to his hearing.
[Welcome To The Abyss Purgatory]
His eyes widened as he realized the name of this alternate dimension he came to was none other than The Abyss Purgatory.
However, the 'system' didn't give Davi the leisure to dwell in his own thoughts.
[Keep Your Life For The Next Six Hours!]
Before he could understand what was happening after hearing the instructions from the system, his body was plunged downwards towards the endless abyss.
The purifying flames of purgatory tormented him from all sides.
His clothes burned, his eyes soaked with thick red tears of blood.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Davi cried out in pain.
This, however, was just the beginning.
The purifying flames of purgatory grew ever more intense when he heard it.
A roar that sent shivers down his spine.
It wasn't just one of such roars but ten, perhaps even more.
Initially, when the punishment began, in as much as he felt dread, he was still a Saint Sage in the world of forsaken saints.
It wasn't anything that could break him.
What also gave him confidence to pass is…
"Since I am the bearer of the Asura system, can it really kill me?… Of course not."
Davi now had a look of horror.
Because at this moment, he knew he had fucked up big time.
"How could I forget that I am a host?" He questioned himself.
"In that same light, who knows if this system would not just find another once I pass away?" Davi thought, still screaming under the torments of the purifying flames of purgatory.
"That cannot happen… absolutely not! At least not until I take revenge on those bastard immortals," Davi said out loud, gritting his teeth.
He resisted the urge to scream as his feet were crumbling by the second under the scorching lava, yet he had to move on.
Taking a glance behind, he saw an extremely hideous creature about 17ft long and 5ft high.
Like a combination of a black centipede with the head of a venomous horned viper and talons of an eagle for legs, it ran toward him.
And it wasn't just one of them.
There were twelve of such creatures, and while the centipede body and talons for legs remained the same, the heads of the other creatures were different.
One had the shape of a frog, another a bug, another a jade skeleton head, each of them radiating a ghastly aura and an oppressive presence.
A resolute look flashed across Davi's eyes as he observed these creatures from a distance, and they were rapidly approaching him.
Without looking back a second time, he dashed forward, running with everything he could muster.
As he ran, stumbling from time to time, he began to realize just what sort of entity the Asura was.
Not only were the purifying flames choking, but there were countless groans and cries of pain resounding in this place.
Like pleas from the dead.
Skulls of different shapes littered the ground, but he only needed a glance before pressing forward.
He knew the moment he stopped running would be his end.
Davi didn't know how far he had run but knew he could not stop.
The creatures were just behind him, looking for the slightest opportunity to devour him.
Just as he was about to give up, he heard the voice of the 'system' and he never knew that, in that moment, he would cherish that voice.
[Punishment: Complete!]