Desolate Mage: A Legend Reborn! 17 Awakening 2

Linges was a multi-talented boy, sometimes fancying himself a polymath.

Sciences, Arts, Stratagems, Military Formations, Culture, Mathematics, Engineering; whatever it was that he set his mind on, he had mastered. That, despite maintaining a facade to many others of his apparent brutishness and slow-wittedness; a brain that was 90% filled with thoughts of battle and the remaining 10% made up of muscle.

Yet he had to thank one other talent for that successful submersion of his intellect: his acting skills.

When the werewolf had unleashed a flesh-rending claw-strike just moments ago, he had nearly pulled back in fear. If he had; the werewolf would likely not have stopped his killing-blow!

So even as he spouted tons of bluster and braggadocio, inside he was trembling, frowning in frustration at the slowness of the Arena's guardians.

'How much more time do I need to buy?!? Do I really have to take on this monster??? What a pain... Just for those two bloody trainees lives...'

It had to be known that, in all his 5 years in the Arena, Linges had only ever killed 3 people outside the rings; and all 3 by accident. They were just too weak, that's all; so weak that they exploded into a mist of blood from merely one blow!

'It's not my fault... It's their fault for being too useless!' Anyway, they were fated to die sooner or later; what difference did it make whether they departed painlessly under his hands or struggled for another few years, only to fall at the last hurdle of the elimination rounds...?

He tried to comfort himself to keep himself brave and convince himself why he was doing this; facing down an opponent 30% bigger than him and more than 20 years his senior in skills and strength!

'Tch!!! Bloody Creed of the Sun God! If not for that stupid vow to never intentionally cause my fellow humans' deaths; I'd just leave them to die and flee!

Then the grey-haired cur just had to say something he should never have.

"Boy...! Lordking Ganon has decreed that you come, and his word is law for every beastman under the heavens, and even those above! His love for every creature under the heavens overflows; you as his offspring should be grateful for your life that he has bestowed upon you!" The captain eyes shone with fanaticism, almost worshipping the beastman king he spoke of.

'I won't ask again! Either come with us willingly..." He stared the boy in the eyes. "...Or come knocked out cold, dragged as the useless captured prey you are... Just like your filthy mother." He smirked tauntingly.

"...But I won't guarantee you'll be in one piece."

Linges sighed on the inside while maintaining a cocky appearance.

'How troublesome...' He had been feeling pretty irritated earlier, especially since he had to look for a way out of this situation without fighting AND preserve the lives of the two he had hidden away. He was no fool - the beastmen had a sharp sense of smell; even the sewage and drainage waters wouldn't mask Lars and Moira's presence.

'But you just had to talk about my mother, didn't you...?'

Not knowing where his incredible courage and boldness came from to face a foe incomparably greater than he, Linges smirked and gave his own final ultimatum, before roaring and smashing his full-powered fist into the older werewolf's face.

* * * * *

Have you seen bigger kids bullying small children before...? A scene where later, the big brother of the kid comes and says, "Pick on someone your own size!"...?

Well, it had never happened to Linges since he was 12 - because he was bigger than even the adults he met; bigger even than the invigilators. And so it was always he who was doing the bullying, easily pushing around the scrawny twig-like trainees. Though they *were* very toned, with powerful bodies; only, in front of him, they were like sticks to be snapped with just one careless blow.

This time it was his turn to be pushed around, treated like a juicy morsel of meat to be slowly pounded on and softened up until he was ready to be ripped apart and devoured.

Somewhere in the middle of the one-sided drubbing dished out by the older beastman, Linges had stopped trying to fight back and was just defending; trying to last as long as he could in front of the 4 watching squad members.

And the older werewolf was obviously reaching the end of his patience, having garnered enough satisfaction from the thrashing he had delivered.

"What's the matter...?! Oh, maybe your mother wasn't even human; maybe she was just a sick cat - a pussy! Ahahahahaha!" The captain and his squad laughed raucously at the crude joke.

But despite Linges' seething anger, he restrained himself. There was nothing much he could do with his abilities that he finally recognised as inadequate, meagre and lacking.

Resigning himself to his sealed fate of being captured and separated from the last remaining family member he acknowledged, Linges could feel his legs weaken, his knees nearly buckling at the last mauling swat of the werewolf's claws.

'If you guys in the management don't come fast... Don't blame me for getting captured... I just hope you guys spare her, and keep her safe...' He struggled with the last bit of his strength, hoping to convince his prison-wardens who would come later that he had not sold them out or broken his oath. And that he had not forsaken his little sister, Meenakshi, taken hostage as leverage to ensure his loyalty.

Osborne seemed to notice something, or hear something as his expression flickered momentarily. Then he growled and spoke.

"Hmmph! Enough playing around. It's time to go." The grey-haired captain's body seemed to disappear as he stopped limiting his speed and strength to end the game he had been playing.

Linges groaned in shock as a punch more than ten times stronger sank into his abdomen, bringing him to his knees.

'No... No! I need to hold on... Just a bit longer! Else Lars and Moira and Meena; they'll peris--'

Then he was knocked out cold from a knee to his forehead.

Osborne casually and easily picked up the boy who must weigh over 200 kilograms, then tossed him up and on to his shoulder to carry.

He turned to depart, leaving instructions for his team.

"Clean up those two stinking rats - and every other diseased vermin in this place!"

Then he froze in place; shocked.

Every hair on his body stood on end, the back of his scalp grew numb with pins and needles ceaselessly assaulting his senses. He could not breath; and it was far, far worse for his squad members whose willpower had not been honed through a thousand battles, unlike his.

He felt a strong killing intent descend onto them; locking them in place. But the killing intent was not what chilled him and left him unable to move lest he be slain where he stands.

He felt a power so great it nearly eclipsed even that of his Lordking.

He howled in despair and began to run; with no care for honour or bravery, just self-preservation.

And was cut down like a dead dog.

* * * * *

[1 minute before Linges was knocked unconscious, during the conversation with the Beastman Captain, Grand Werewolf Osborne]

Not so far away, under the sewer gratings, a boy began to move.

At first only his fingers twitched, but as the intense heat on his cheat rose higher and higher in temperature, he began to writhe about, on the edge of waking up.

And deep inside his soul and memories, someone else was waking up too.

Along with the long-sealed powers of a Legendary Mage.

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GAME:

Someone's Mum has 4 sons,

North, West and South. What is the name of the fourth son.

**Post your answers in the comments! Correct answer revealed in the next chapter!**

Chapter end