Return of the Lost One

Gold Injury Pill

In this world, people could awaken a certain kind of energy when they turned 13. Everyone would certainly awaken certain energy except for those very few unlucky individuals who were called the Forsaken Ones. Because it was believed that they were forsaken by God as they wouldn't have a chance to use any kind of energy in their lifetime. Someone like them was considered trash among trashes and lowest of the low. They were so hated that they were even deemed as misfortune.

There were five types of energy that people could awaken: Physical Energy, Mental Energy, Weapon Energy, Spiritual Energy, and Elemental Energy. Unfortunately, Dugo Zugath didn't awaken any of those energies. And as if it wasn't enough, he was even thrown out of the high platform and suffered heavy injuries.

Cough!

Dugo Zugath coughed yet another mouthful of blood after getting up and successfully sitting on the ground with great difficulty. Though he was somehow accustomed to suffering physical torture, what he had felt right now was on the other level. An attack from a higher-level awakener was surely something else!

With his trembling right hand, and with his strength leaving out of his body, Dugo wiped the blood dripping out of his mouth. His face with a slave mark on the right cheek was completely pale as he stared at the middle-aged man on the high platform in fear. He regretted saying what he had just said earlier.

"Go and get him home. I don't want to see him here ruining my mood."

Dugo Zugath was still yet to recover when he suddenly heard a cold voice. As it turned out, it was his master, Diego Salaman, who ordered his men to kick him out of the area.

Just after Diego Salaman voiced out his order, one of the two men standing behind him made a move and went towards Dugo Zugath. Before Dugo could utter any words, the other party had already picked one of his feet and then dragged him out of the place. The surrounding crowds had naturally opened a path for them when they left.

Dugo Zugath was helpless. He was too weak to retaliate. All of his strength finally left his body as he was even too weak to beg for mercy. He could only let the other party grabbed one of his feet and then drag him like a dead dog that was about to be buried under the mud.

Dugo had already lost his will to live. The pair of his eyes had already turned dull a long time ago. As he was being pulled like a corpse, his blood was even making a line on the ground like a stroke from a paintbrush. He knew full well that after what had just happened, his master wouldn't have any use of him anymore as he would likely be killed or be fed to his master's tamed beasts.

People in the area had different emotions. Some were sighing. Some were grinning. Some had even shown a hint of disgust as they mocked him. But some were nonchalant as if something like that was not worth bothering over. It was as if it was just a normal occurrence in their daily life.

"Next!"

Before all of them could get over the sudden event, a loud voice echoed in the entire venue. It was one of the middle-aged men standing on the high platform calling for the next person to be tested.

And just like that, the matter about Dugo Zugath was immediately forgotten as the crowds shifted their attention towards the high platform. They were anticipating to see who would be the newly awakened individual that would give them a surprise. If someone could just awaken an energy that had the potential to be a B-rank, then how exciting would it be? Although it was next to impossible, dreaming was always been fun.

Not long after the middle-aged man on the high platform called for the next person, another young boy climbed up to test his awakened energy. His normal appearance and tattered clothes didn't garner much attention. When they saw the slave mark on his right cheek, people around had even scoffed at him.

But the young boy didn't bother himself with them. It was apparent that he was already too accustomed to that kind of treatment. But right now, it was evident that he was nervous as he walked towards the center of the high platform where the magic crystal was being placed on the table. He even swallowed a mouthful of saliva as he was even doubting if he really had awakened certain energy.

"You may start."

After reaching his distance near the magic crystal, the young boy only heard this nonchalant voice as he raised his right hand and touched the magic crystal lightly. It was as if he was afraid that he would break it as he would suffer the heavy consequences afterward.

A moment later, the center of the magic crystal lit up with a slight red glow. Although the magic crystal didn't fully light up, it was more than enough to prove that the young boy had already awakened an energy.

But it was obvious as well that the young boy seemed to be disappointed as he sighed deeply while retracting his hand.

"Physical Energy, E-rank!" One of the two middle-aged men shouted as he went on, "Next!"

Knowing the outcome already, the young boy turned around and then walked away dejectedly. If he could just get an energy with at least a D-rank potential, then how good would it be? But it seemed like he was fated to be a slave forever and be forced to obey their cruel master.

"I wonder how is brother Dugo now..." The young boy muttered in his heart as worries even filled his eyes. It was evident that this slave knew Dugo Zugath and had a close relationship with him. Recalling the scene earlier, his heart was filled with resentment. But since he was too weak to do anything, he could only take a deep breath as he walked out of the high platform.

***

Meanwhile, as the awakening ceremony was being held somewhere in the town, a man with a muscular and medium build was running in the midst of the forest faster than the wind. In his arms, a young boy was being carried like a princess. But the young boy seemed to be lifeless and was in a bloody mess. It was apparent that he had just suffered severe injuries.

After some time, when the muscular man thought that he had already put some distance away, he put a stop under the shade of a certain tree and put down the young boy in his arms. He carefully leaned the young boy's upper body against the tree as it was evident that worries were filling his eyes when he stared at the young boy.

"Little brother..." The man wanted to ask if the other party was fine but seeing the condition of the young boy now, he could only pause at that moment, couldn't find a word to say.

The young boy was naturally, Dugo Zugath. Under the gazes of the crowds earlier, he was being dragged away by that muscular man. But after leaving out of the crowds, and after confirming that no one was looking at them anymore, the man had immediately stopped pulling the body of Dugo Zugath as he carried him in his arms like a priceless treasure.

But instead of following their master to bring Dugo to the Salaman House, the man went out of the village to bring Dugo to a faraway place. Because not only he, but everyone knew that only death was waiting for Dugo once he brought him home.

Although they weren't blood-related, he had already thought of Dugo as his little brother. If only he had enough strength, he would definitely avenge his little brother when he saw him being injured by someone.

"I'm fine, big brother Gulang... Cough!" Dugo Zugath muttered weakly as he went on, "You shouldn't be doing this. Even if I really survive now, I would be dead anyway. With my slave mark on my face, there is nowhere I can go. Even if you bring me to the furthest village possible, it won't take long before master Diego finds out about my whereabouts. Please, big brother Gulang, don't risk your life in me and bring me back to the Salaman House. Although I don't want to die, I also don't want you to die. If you do this, you will surely suffer heavy consequences."

The man named Gulang naturally knew about Dugo's concern as he had already thought about it. But instead of arguing, he ignored the other party as he took out a small bottle from his pocket. After removing the lid, a sweet fragrance had immediately engulfed the surroundings. A moment later, Gulang turned the bottle upside down and a golden pill came out and rolled on his palm. The sweet fragrance in the surroundings became stronger as the surroundings had as if turned into a paradise.

The pupil of Dugo Zugath's eyes constricted when he saw the pill. He couldn't help but mutter in a stuttered voice, "G-gold Injury Pill!"

At that moment, he even forgot that he was injured as it even appeared that just the fragrance coming from the pill alone could already heal his injuries.

But how could this be possible? How could his big brother own such a precious thing?

Unless...

Dugo Zugath involuntarily shifted his gaze at Gulang as he stared at him with a questioning gaze. Although he had already guessed how could his big brother have something like this, he still wanted confirmation.

"Yes, you've guessed it right." As if responding to his thought, Gulang spoke with a nod. "I found it weeks ago when I was doing my task in the forest. At that time, I found a corpse of a wealthy-looking man who was likely to be attacked by a beast not long after I found him. I naturally searched his body and found some valuable items. It can be considered as my fortuitous encounter. But of course, I didn't give anything to master and kept everything instead, including this Gold Injury Pill."

As Dugo expected, Gulang really had gotten lucky and encountered such fortune. To think that his big brother would actually do such disobedience and kept such a precious thing to himself. Not only that, it appeared that other than Gold Injury Pill, there were also other precious items that Gulang had kept. If their master Diego found out about it, his big brother Gulang would definitely be punished heavily. He might even be killed as a consequence of his action!