THE REBIRTH OF THE FALLEN PRINCE

The soldiers stood in a rough circle near the smoldering ruins of the village, their laughter filling the air with cruelty. They exchanged jests about the helplessness of the villagers, recounting their merciless killings of men, women, and children as if they were entertainment.

"Did you see that boy try to hide behind his mother? One swing, and they both fell!" one soldier guffawed.

"And the screams," another added, grinning. "Music to my ears."

"Best day we've had in months," another said, leaning on his blood-stained blade.

Suddenly, their chatter was interrupted by the sound of soft, deliberate footsteps. They turned, weapons ready, expecting a survivor or an animal. Instead, they saw a lone boy, no older than fifteen, with long white hair and piercing blue eyes, walking toward them. He held a black sword in his hand, its blade glinting ominously in the fading light.

For a moment, there was silence, and then the soldiers burst into laughter.

"Is this what's left? A scrawny kid with a toy sword?" one sneered.

"Poor thing must have lost his mind after seeing his family die," another jeered.

"He's got guts walking here. Let's see how long they stay inside him," one laughed darkly.

Riku continued forward, his face devoid of emotion. His eyes, however, burned with a quiet, chilling resolve.

"Hey, boy," one of the soldiers called out, stepping forward. "What's your name? Not that it matters—you'll be dead soon."

Riku stopped a few paces away, his grip on the sword tightening. "I don't have a name," he said, his voice cold and flat. "But I will kill every one of you who destroyed this village."

The soldiers exchanged glances before erupting into laughter again.

"Big words for a child!"

"Should we bet how long he lasts? Ten seconds?"

"Five, maybe!"

One soldier, a burly man with a jagged scar across his face, stepped forward, smirking. "I'll take care of him. Watch and learn, boys." He pointed his sword at Riku. "Come on, runt. Show me what you've got."

Riku raised his sword and took a defensive stance. The scarred soldier lunged, his swing swift and powerful. Riku dodged, but the movement was clumsy, his body struggling to keep up with his intent. The soldier pressed the attack, his strikes precise and unrelenting. Riku parried desperately, his smaller frame giving him agility but little strength to counter.

As their blades clashed, Riku suddenly heard the same voice that had spoken in the void.

<< [EV] updated: 50 to 100. >>

The distraction cost him. The soldier's sword sliced through his defense, grazing his left arm. Blood trickled down, and Riku winced in pain, staggering back.

The soldiers roared with laughter. "Look at him! He's bleeding already!"

"Did you see his face? Like a scared rabbit!"

Riku gritted his teeth, clutching his injured arm. His mind raced. What was that voice? Why now? But there was no time for answers. The soldier advanced again, grinning cruelly.

"You done yet, boy?" the man taunted. "You can't even hold your sword properly."

Riku forced himself to his feet, his grip on the black sword firm despite the pain. He stared at the soldier, his resolve unshaken. "I'm not done," he said, his voice low but steady.

The soldier scoffed, readying his blade. "Suit yourself. Let's end this."

Riku steadied his breathing, his chest heaving as blood dripped from his injured arm. His grip on the black sword was firm, despite his trembling hands. The scarred soldier advanced with confidence, a smirk plastered across his face.

"You're just a kid," the man sneered, swinging his sword in a lazy arc. "This isn't even a fight."

Riku lunged forward, the weight of his blade slowing his strike. The soldier sidestepped with ease, bringing his weapon down in a counterattack. Riku parried, the clash of steel ringing out, but the force sent him stumbling back. His smaller frame and injured arm were no match for the soldier's brute strength.

"Come on, boy!" the soldier taunted. "Is that all you've got?"

Riku gritted his teeth, darting in for another attack. Their swords clashed again, but the soldier twisted his blade, disarming Riku momentarily. Before Riku could recover, the soldier delivered a heavy kick to his chest. He flew back, hitting the ground hard, but rolled to grab his sword and got back on his feet.

As the fight raged on, the other soldiers leaned on their weapons, watching with bored amusement.

"What's taking so long?" one yawned.

"Scarface is playing with his food," another laughed.

"Bet he drags it out for another five minutes," a third said with a smirk.

Riku heard them, but their words faded as the voice returned in his mind:

<< [EV] updated: 100 to 150. >>

His grip on his sword faltered for a moment as he processed the words. What is this voice? What does it mean? But there was no time to think. The soldier was on him again, his blade slashing downward. Riku barely managed to dodge, the tip grazing his cheek.

He ignored the voice and focused, lunging once more. Their swords collided in a flurry of strikes, but Riku's childlike body was too slow and weak. The soldier swiped at his legs, tripping him, then delivered a brutal kick to his side. Riku was sent flying, his body slamming into a tree with a sickening thud.

The soldiers erupted in laughter.

"Looks like it's over!"

"That brat couldn't even scratch him!"

Scarface turned back to the group, sheathing his sword halfway. "I told you, ten seconds tops. He—"

Riku's shaky form rose again, his grip on his sword unwavering. His eyes burned with silent determination, and he took a step forward.

The soldier's smirk faded. "You're kidding me."

Then the voice returned, louder this time:

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Riku's knees wobbled, but he steadied himself. "What... what is this? Who's speaking to me?" he whispered, but there was no answer.

Scarface shook his head, unsheathing his sword again. "You don't know when to stay down, do you?" He began walking toward Riku, his steps slow and deliberate. "Fine. Let's end this for real."

Riku clenched his sword tightly, his heart racing. Then another voice, different from the first, spoke clearly in his mind:

[[ Skill requirements are complete. Skill Analyzer and skill Adapter now available. ]]

His eyes widened in shock. "What...?"

Scarface didn't wait. He raised his sword high and swung it down with lethal force. But before the blade could connect, Riku's body reacted on instinct. He sidestepped with incredible speed and slashed upward, severing the soldier's hand clean off.

The man's scream echoed across the clearing. Blood sprayed from the stump, and his sword fell to the ground with a clang. The other soldiers froze, their laughter silenced.

"What the hell?" one of them muttered.

"He cut Scarface's hand off?"

Riku stood still, his breath heavy, his eyes locked on the soldier writhing in pain.

[[ Skill Adapter is now activated. ]]

[[ Skill Analyzer is now activated. ]]

Riku's thoughts raced. What are these skills? What's happening to me? But he had no time to dwell on it. The injured soldier snarled, gripping his sword with his remaining hand.

"You little bastard!" he growled. "I'll kill you for this!"

He lunged at Riku with reckless fury, swinging wildly. This time, Riku's movements were precise, almost effortless. He sidestepped again, the Analyzer skill feeding him information about the man's attacks. With one swift motion, Riku struck, his blade cutting through the man's chest.

Scarface collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around him. Riku stood over the body, his sword dripping red.

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Riku exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on the black sword. His mind was a storm of confusion and determination. I don't know what these skills are... but they just saved my life.

He turned to face the remaining soldiers, his gaze cold and unwavering. "Your turn," he said quietly, lifting his sword.

The soldiers hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. One of them whispered, "What... what is that kid?"

Riku's lips curled into a grim smile. With this power... I'll make you all pay.

The remaining 19 soldiers stared at him in disbelief, gripping their weapons tightly. One of them, a burly man with a scar across his face, growled, "He's just a brat! Surround him and cut him down!"

The soldiers began to advance when suddenly, the strange voice echoed in Riku's mind: [[ Skill: Regeneration acquired. ]]

Riku froze, his eyes widening. "What…? Regeneration? What does that mean?" He looked down at his arm, still bleeding from the earlier injury.

Before his eyes, the wound began to close, the skin knitting itself back together as if time had reversed. The pain vanished, leaving behind smooth, unbroken flesh.

Riku staggered back in shock. "My arm… it's healed? How…?"

The soldiers noticed his hesitation and took advantage of it. Five of them broke from the group, rushing at him with swords raised.

"He's just a kid! Take him down!"

Riku steadied his grip on his black sword, his heart pounding. As they closed in, the second voice—the one tied to his skills—spoke again: [[ Threat detected. Incoming attack pattern analyzed. Countermeasures suggested. ]]

Riku's mind was flooded with information: the trajectory of their strikes, the openings in their movements, and the precise angles to attack.

The first soldier swung down with a heavy overhead slash. Riku sidestepped effortlessly, his body moving in sync with the guidance. He brought his sword up and slashed the man's chest, sending him collapsing to the ground.

The second soldier lunged at him, but Riku ducked low and drove his blade through the man's stomach. He yanked it free and spun around, just in time to parry the third soldier's thrust. Using the momentum, he twisted his blade and cut through the man's neck in one swift motion.

The fourth soldier hesitated, seeing his comrades fall. Riku didn't give him the chance to act. He dashed forward, his movements unnaturally fast, and slashed across the soldier's chest.

The fifth soldier roared in anger, swinging wildly. Riku raised his sword and blocked the strike, but the impact jarred his arms. I'm still not strong enough to overpower them, he thought. But with a quick feint, he slid under the soldier's guard and delivered a fatal blow to his side.

As the last of the five fell, the first voice returned:

<< [EV] updated: 250. >>

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Riku paused, his chest heaving. His mind raced. What is this [EV]? Why does it keep increasing? Is it tied to… my power?

Suddenly, he felt the air shift behind him. Without thinking, he pivoted, the Analyzer skill alerting him to an attack from behind. The soldier's sword barely missed him as Riku spun and delivered a precise slash across the man's torso. Blood sprayed as the soldier fell.

<< [EV] updated: 500. >>

Riku blinked in surprise. His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid. It's as if I'm growing stronger with each battle…

The remaining soldiers hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. But three of them broke through their hesitation, charging at him in unison.

Riku's grip tightened on his sword. This time, their strikes seemed slower, easier to read. The first swung wide, and Riku ducked, slashing across his legs. The man crumpled to the ground with a scream.

The second aimed a thrust at Riku's chest, but the Analyzer skill highlighted the opening in his stance. Riku sidestepped, deflecting the attack, and countered with a slash to the soldier's neck.

The third hesitated, seeing the ease with which Riku cut down the others. But before he could retreat, Riku dashed forward and ended him with a single clean strike to the heart.

[[ Skill: Pain Resistance acquired. ]]

[[ Skill: Pain Nullification acquired. ]]

Riku froze, the words ringing in his mind. "Everything… everything I endure turns into a skill?" he murmured. His gaze darkened as realization dawned. In this world, everything—pain, survival, power—is a skill to be mastered. If that's the case… He gripped his sword tighter. I'll master it all.

Four more soldiers stepped forward, one of them standing back to chant a spell. The air around the mage began to shimmer with heat as flames gathered in his hands.

Riku's eyes narrowed. The Analyzer skill flooded him with information: the positions of the four advancing soldiers and the time it would take for the mage to cast his spell.

The first soldier swung, but Riku sidestepped, delivering a fatal slash to his abdomen. He deflected the second soldier's strike, countering with a thrust to the chest. The third swung high, but Riku ducked low and swept his blade across the man's legs, finishing him off with a downward strike.

The fourth soldier hesitated, giving Riku the opening to dash past him, aiming directly for the mage.

The fireball was nearly complete when Riku reached him. The mage's eyes widened in shock as Riku's blade pierced his chest. The spell fizzled out as the mage crumpled to the ground.

[[ Skill: Elemental Magic –

Fire acquired. ]]

[[ Skill: Fire Resistance acquired. ]]

Riku stood amidst the carnage, his body covered in blood that wasn't his own. The first voice echoed again:

<< [EV] updated: 700. >>

He tightened his grip on his sword, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. "What… what does [EV] mean?" he whispered to himself. Whatever it is, it keeps rising. And with it… so do my abilities.

His gaze turned to the remaining soldiers, his expression cold and unyielding. "You're next."

The remaining soldiers exchanged nervous glances, their confidence shattered. Four of them mustered their courage and charged at Riku, their swords raised.

Riku steadied himself, gripping his black blade tightly. This time, he whispered, "I'll let my instincts take over… Let's see what these skills can truly do."

He activated his skills, his mind immediately flooded with guidance:

[[ Skill: Analyzer activated. Analyzing attack patterns. ]]

[[ Skill: Adapter activated. Adapting body movements to optimal efficiency. ]]

The soldiers swung their swords with deadly intent, but Riku's movements were no longer his own. His body twisted and turned with inhuman precision, dodging every strike.

[[ Threat detected. Left flank incoming. Counter: Step forward and slash. ]]

Riku moved as directed, stepping forward and slashing across the chest of the soldier on his left. Blood sprayed as the man fell, his screams cutting short.

[[ Dual threats detected. Rear and frontal assault imminent. Counter: Pivot and thrust. ]]

Riku spun around, his blade piercing the gut of the soldier behind him. As the man collapsed, he pulled his blade free and deflected the attack of the one in front of him, slicing through his neck in one swift motion.

The final soldier swung his sword high, hoping to overpower the boy.

[[ Overhead attack detected. Counter: Dodge left and sever the arm. ]]

Riku sidestepped, bringing his blade down with surgical precision to sever the soldier's arm. The man howled in pain, dropping to his knees, before Riku ended his suffering with a clean slash.

The battlefield fell silent, leaving only one soldier standing.

Riku turned his icy blue gaze to the last man, who dropped his sword and fell to his knees. He raised his trembling hands, pleading, "Please… mercy. I have children! A little girl and a boy, just like you once were. I'm sorry for what I did. Please… spare me."

Riku stopped a few steps away from the man, staring down at him. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was laced with quiet fury. "Will your apology bring my parents back? Will it undo what you and your men have done to this village? Will it make this world any less cruel?"

The soldier shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his face. "No… but I didn't have a choice! We… we were following orders! Please, I'm begging you!"

Riku's grip on his sword tightened. He raised it slowly, his voice cold and unwavering. "Excuses won't bring back the dead." With one swift motion, his blade cut through the man, splitting him in two.

The voice returned in the deafening silence:

<< [EV] updated: 1,000. >>

Riku stared at the blood-soaked ground, his breathing heavy.

[[ Skill acquired: Elemental Magic – Water. ]]

[[ Skill acquired: Elemental Magic – Lightning. ]]

The battlefield grew still once more. The weight of what he'd done finally settled on him. Riku dropped his sword, falling to his knees. His shoulders began to tremble as tears welled up in his eyes.

And then, he cried. He cried louder than he ever had before, his sobs echoing in the desolate village. He screamed his pain to the world, the weight of his losses breaking through the walls he'd tried to build around his heart.

"Why…?" he choked out through his sobs. "Why… after everything… after being killed by my own sister, after being betrayed and left to suffer in that void, why… why is this world just as cruel? Why did my parents have to die here too?!"

The memories of his past and present lives swirled together, suffocating him. The pain of betrayal, the agony of loss—it was too much to bear.

As his cries echoed, the voice of his skill interrupted his anguish:

[[ Evolution to ©£®^£ now beginning. ]]

Riku barely registered the words. His mind was too clouded, his heart too heavy. All he heard was the word "evolution," faint and distant.

"What… evolution?" he whispered weakly, his voice cracking. He tried to make sense of it, but his body couldn't take it anymore. Exhaustion overwhelmed him, and his vision darkened.

The last thing he saw was the red sky above, as he collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground, unconscious.