Chapter 6: I Will Rise Again
After another five hours of restless sleep, Ank woke up again.
His eyelids fluttered and then opened slowly, his gaze immediately meeting the same plain wooden ceiling he had stared at earlier. For a few seconds, he simply lay there, letting the silence of the house flow into him. His body still felt heavy, weaker than he remembered due to Maya's punch.
A faint groan slipped past his lips as he sat up. His chest ached with the reminder of his fragile condition.
Note to self, Ank thought bitterly, don't disturb Maya at any cost. If I want to live peacefully for at least another day, I'll keep my mouth shut around her.
The memory of her punch was still fresh in his mind. His jaw still throbbed whenever he thought about it.
He stood, wobbling slightly, and stepped out of the room. The corridor outside was narrow. The sun was shining at its peak. The air smelled faintly of flowers—strange, intoxicating, and unlike anything he had encountered before.
When he finally made his way outside, Ank stopped in his tracks.
The old man sat calmly on a wooden chair in the garden. His silver hair caught the golden rays of the sun as he leaned back, his hands resting on the armrests. He looked almost at peace, his eyes fixed on the vast garden before him.
The garden itself was unlike anything Ank had seen in his lifetime. Dozens of flowers bloomed there, their petals shimmering with colors that seemed to defy logic—glowing blues, crimson reds that seemed alive, and blossoms that exuded faint sparks of energy. The garden had many different types of flowers, ones Ank had never seen before.
The old man shifted slightly, sensing Ank's presence.
"Once again, thank you for saving me," Ank said, lowering his head respectfully.
"Oh, not a problem," the old man replied.
After that, the old man returned to watching the flowers once again, thinking about something.
The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the soft rustle of the flowers in the evening breeze. Then the old man asked, "Tell me, what is your plan for the future?"
Ank hesitated for only a second before speaking firmly. "I have to regain my strength as soon as possible. Can you help me in doing this?"
What do you mean by regaining your strength once again? the old man asked in a curious tone.
Ank thought for a second. He could not tell the old man that his power was sealed.
After thinking for a while, he said, "I mean I want to become powerful enough to protect myself, and in this, I need your help."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "My help?"
"Yes," Ank said, his tone almost desperate.
Before coming to speak to him, Ank had already checked his status. By looking at it, he realized the old man might be able to help him.
[Status Window: Arthur Silvertone]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 70]
[Rank No: Grand Master]
[Level: 1200 ](decreasing due to curse)
[HP: 70,000]
[Mana: 100,000]
[Strength: 100,000]
[Constitution: 10,000]
[Stamina: 100,000]
[Charisma: 50,000]
[Intelligence: 50,000]
[Skills: ????? ](Your level is too low to view this)
[Spells: ?????] (Your level is too low to view this)
Status Note: Due to the curse, only a limited time remains before the level decreases further.
"The old man's eyes narrowed as he studied Ank. "So, you already saw my status," he said knowingly.
"Yes," Ank admitted, bowing his head. "And… sorry for peeking."
A low chuckle escaped the old man. "Don't worry. I'm not like my granddaughter—who would punch you if you looked at her status," he chuckled.
"Let's move inside. The sun is going to set."
They returned to the house together. Inside, the air was warm and smelled faintly of herbs. Ank sat on a wooden chair while the old man lowered himself onto a sofa in the corner. The room was modest, neither large nor small, decorated with shelves of books and a few framed paintings.
The old man studied him for a long while before speaking again.
"You know," he said slowly, "you are ridiculously weak."
"I know," Ank replied without hesitation.
Ank knew he was very weak. And all due to the system.
"From what I've seen," the old man continued, "you are not from this planet. Am I right?"
Ank stiffened but nodded.
"Then let me give you a piece of advice," the old man said, leaning forward slightly. His voice carried weight, like iron being forged. "This planet… is called Duskwild. And Duskwild is one of the most dangerous planets in this sector. Monsters, predators, and even people here live by devouring the weak. If you want to survive, you must increase your strength as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will die."
Ank's throat tightened. He clenched his fists and forced himself to meet the old man's gaze. "That is why I need your help," he said, his voice trembling with both determination and desperation.
For a moment, silence lingered in the room. The old man's expression softened slightly, but then he shook his head.
"I cannot help you."
Ank's heart dropped. His voice came out hoarse. "Why…?"
"You checked my status," the old man said calmly. "You already know. I am cursed. My level is falling every day. I have only limited time left. And in that time… I wish to stay by my granddaughter's side, not train another disciple. I am retired, Ank. You must find another master."
Ank's face paled instantly. Find another master? On a planet like Duskwild? Where even stepping outside the village could mean death? He was weak and he needed someone to train him.
He once had the attitude of the emperor of the universe, but he did not want that attitude anymore.
He wanted to restart his life, a life in which he wanted to live peacefully.
And now, the one who could help him achieve this rejected him.
"How… how can I find someone like that here?" he muttered under his breath.
The old man closed his eyes, unwilling to answer further.
After some hours, Ank was thinking about how to find a master.
Arthur was watching television in front of him. He rarely watched TV; most of the time, Maya watched TV.
Maya was cooking dinner for Grandpa, Ank, and herself.
A cheerful voice called from the kitchen.
"Grandpa! The food is ready!"
It was Maya.
The old man stood slowly. "Let's go. We cannot let him wait."
Ank followed him into the dining room, his mind heavy with dread and uncertainty.
Inside, Maya was already setting the table. When Ank entered, she glanced at him, her expression hesitant.
"Sorry, Ank," she said quietly.
Ank paused. He thought to himself that he had to change. Before, he had never said sorry to anyone. But he was no longer the emperor he once was.
After that, Ank also said sorry to Maya for checking her status without permission.
Maya's eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing more.
Dinner passed in silence, broken only by the clinking of spoons and the faint crackle of the fireplace. Ank barely tasted the food, his thoughts spinning endlessly.
No master… no guidance… cursed status… how can I rise again in a place like this?
After the meal, Ank excused himself and returned to his room. His body was exhausted, his mind heavy. He collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling once more.
"I will rise again," he whispered to himself, his eyes burning with determination. "No matter what it takes."
And with that vow lingering in his heart, his eyes drifted shut, and sleep claimed him once more.