The Ancient Genes
Chapter 5 - The Lonely Kid

Seeing the notification, he blanked out for a moment. And then the realisation struck him.

Holy Shit! I am safe. What happened? Was this some kind of prank?

After a struggle, he opened his eyes and found a short and sturdy man standing in front of him with a hammer on his shoulder.

Max tried to look around even with his limited field of vision and found that bastard Rolv was lying on the floor beside the man.

"Now, Mr Edwinson, I would definitely like to hear how you broke my window." He paused before continuing, "But let's talk later, I doubt you are even capable of answering me now."

That was the last thing he heard as the adrenaline rush disappeared and his consciousness faded.

...

Opening my heavy eyelids, I replace myself in a bed with my body in bandages. Waves of pain spread through my body as I try to get up.

"You are up Mr Edwinson." he heard a familiar voice and turned his head to confirm his suspicion.

So it was him after all, the man sitting on the sofa in the corner of the room was none other than his school Principal, Stark Zeven.

"So, I would like to hear your circumstances." He said with his eyes on Max.

And then, a round of question and answer started. After I explained to him everything, except the things related to the system, he walked to the door before speaking, "I will try to contact your parents. You can stay here until you recover ".." With that, he left the room.

Lying on the bed, he stared at the ceiling as the earlier events repeated in his mind.

'Damn it, I was so close to death. If I don't get strong, I will definitely die. I can't depend on this system. And saving the world comes later. With my current strength living in this world is already very tough for me.'

Letting out a sigh, he commanded, 'System, show me my stats, I remember completing my quest.'

«Reporting to Host, Host's current status»

Name: Max Edwinson (Lv 0) (0/1000)

Race: Primal Human (Unawakened)

Gene Status: Awaken (0.1/100)%

Flow Method: Ancient Manual

Flow Energy: 1007

«Stats»

Strength: 7

Agility: 6

Intelligence: 2

Endurance: 3

Vitality: 7

«Skills»

★ Calm Mind (Passive) (Max)

[Calm the Host's Mind, when host reaches his tolerance limit]

★ God's Blessing (Max)

[Allows 10-30% increase in all stats for 30 minutes

Cooldown: 24 hours]

★ Meditation (Max)

[Allows the user to gather flow energy. Speed, Effectiveness and time limit of meditation depends upon the INT and END of Host.]

★ Sprint (Basic Skill)

[Allows the host to move at fast at low consumption of stamina. STR and END determines speed and stamina.]

'System, what is a basic skill?' he asked in curiosity.

«Reporting to Host, Basic skills are low level skills whose effectiveness depends upon the Host's Stats. While Advanced skills are those which give Host a power beyond his limits.»

'Whoa! It's that OP, why didn't you inform me earlier? I always knew you were the best. Now, let me create a skill «Destruction» which would allow me to control the element of destruction.' he clenched his fist in excitement thinking, 'Let the Demons come, I will show them who's the Man!'

«Instruction Heard»

«Calculating....»

«Advance Skill «Destruction» Lv 0»

«Requirements»

• 10000000 FP

• Understanding of Destruction (0/100)%

• Lv 90 , Ninth layer of Ancient Manual

.....

'Damn it, You really have a problem with me don't you.? God Damn, just say it if I can't make a skill. Don't get my hopes up, you useless piece of god shit.' he cursed at the system in anger.

...

'Sigh, I will just level up. I put 1000 FP in the level bar and I get an alert.'he thought in his mind.

«Host has gained a level»

Name: Max Edwinson (Lv 1) (0/2000)

Race: Primal Human (Unawakened)

Gene Status: Awaken (1/100)%

Flow Method: Ancient Manual

Flow Energy: 7

«Stats»

Strength: 7 —> 8

Agility: 6 —> 7

Intelligence: 2 —> 3

Endurance: 3 —> 4

Vitality: 7 —> 8

Stat Points (SP) left: 5

Looking at his stats, he realised that he gained a point in each stat. While there are also 5 extra SP which he can use according to his own judgement.

he put all his stats in his endurance. Since he knew that he would have to lie in bed for a week or two. So having more meditation time would be useful.

.....

A few days passed and he got to know Mr. Stark even more. He always came to sit beside him for an hour or two in the evening. He didn't want Max to get left behind and so he was being tutored by him.

Even though he behaved in a strict manner, he could feel his genuine concern for him. Actually he found it a little hard to believe.

.....

On the other side, Stark looked at the boy looking at the book and studying earnestly.

A few days ago a certain event took place which changed his perception towards this kid.

Stark had tried to contact his parents but he was unable to reach them through their registered contact numbers.

He knew it was difficult to reach an on duty Mage due to security issues. But if they couldn't take their children along, they should have at least left him in proper hands.

Not knowing what to do, Stark approached Max's class trying to get some of his friends to visit him.

But what surprised him was that when he asked, "Which of you are Max Edwinson's friends?"

....

...

..

There was no reply.

He could only ask a student in the front row with a frown, "Doesn't he have any friends?"

"Ah!...F..Friends." The boy stuttered in fear. After all, the principal was standing right in front of him.

Seeing him struggling, the student next to him answered, "I see him talking to Mark a lot. But he is absent today. He has gone to attend the Capital's Magic Academy entrance exams."

...

Stark walked out of the class having a hard time thinking how a student like Max could have no friends. He meant only one.

Max didn't seem to be a shy person or to have any other personality problems.

...

Next day, He called Mark to his cabin and informed him that his friend had an accident.

"What! How? When? Is he fine?" Mark asked as his eyes widened.

"You don't need to worry, he is fine now. He's currently staying with me. I just wanted to ask if you have time to visit him."

"Yes, I definitely have time. Even if I don't have it, I will make it." Mark replied.

Stark smiled, seeing Mark's reaction. At least Max had a good friend after all. Remembering the scene from yesterday, Stark asked, "Mark, how is Max doing in his class?"

....

Hearing him, Mark couldn't help but feel troubled. Should he just say 'Max is an idiot?' No, he can't do that to his best friends. But could he get away safely if he was caught lying?

After a bit of consideration, Mark steeled his resolve deciding to take his friend's side. But before he could speak, the door of the cabin opened, and a golem walked in.

"So did they complete it?" The principal asked.

Hearing him, the golem nodded.

The Principal then turned his head towards Mark, waiting for his answer .

And Mark spoke without a shred of hesitation.

"He's an idiot, sir. He's good at nothing."

Stark's brows twitch at his answer and he could only reply with, "Hmm.. I see. And what about his friend circle?"

Mark could only let out a sigh hearing him and a flash of the past appeared before his eyes, "I am his only friend, ever since primary school. He never had any friends because the students treated him very differently knowing his parents' identities. He was alone most of the time as his parents were always away on missions. It was then when we became friends. Since I was the same as him, no one approached me because of my looks and hobbies. But now things are different... ." But before he could realise anything, I went on speaking for about an hour..

When he came back to his senses, he found the Principal staring at him.

"You really do talk a lot, don't you?" Stark asked.

"S..Sir, I..I"

"Go back to your class, your break time will be getting over soon."

Hearing him speak, Mark turned around without even looking at him and left the cabin.

Seeing him concentrate on his studies and his behaviour, Stark couldn't help but thought 'How could he tolerate something like this? Where is he keeping all his loneliness?'

How can so many unfortunate things happen to him at such a young age?

He didn't know what misfortunes would befall this kid in the future. But he knew one thing, that in his heart, he had already decided to give that kid a chance.