Warlock: Demon Bane

"Baker, what should I do now?" William pressed, his tone urgent but not frantic. Since things had already come to this, panicking wouldn't help. But he wasn't about to give up easily.

"Is there really no other way? Like, can I still gain protection through some other means later?"

Baker shook his head, his voice heavy. "No, the Awakening Ceremony was your only chance. Once missed, it's gone forever."

"Child, your situation is extremely dangerous. Those monsters..." Baker trailed off, as if unwilling to voice the harsh reality.

"What exactly are those monsters?" William couldn't help but ask, desperate to understand the truth of this world.

Baker sighed and explained, "They... are the nightmares of this land. No one knows where they come from, only that they feed on humans and possess all kinds of bizarre abilities."

"Some are incredibly strong, others move faster than the eye can see, and some... don't even have a physical form, like ghosts that are impossible to guard against."

"In short, they are humanity's natural enemies, the greatest threat to our survival."

William listened, a chill running down his spine. He realized he was in an extremely dangerous world.

"Then... is there no way to fight them?" William asked, unwilling to accept defeat.

Baker was silent for a moment, as if hesitating whether to tell William.

Finally, he spoke. "There is, but it's difficult."

"There's something called 'Breathing Techniques.' It can enhance a person's physique, even awaken special abilities, allowing one to step onto the path of the extraordinary and gain the power to fight monsters."

"But 'Breathing Techniques' are extremely rare and incredibly hard to master. Only a handful of people can achieve it."

"And even if you master it, it doesn't guarantee victory against those monsters. After all, their power is overwhelming. The Shadow Wraith you encountered last night is just one of the weakest kinds. Even so, they're not something ordinary humans can handle... We humans are merely surviving in this world."

As if recalling something, the wrinkles on Baker's face trembled, making him seem to age in an instant.

William's heart tightened, but a glimmer of hope still flashed in his eyes. The words "Breathing Techniques" were like a beacon, lighting the path ahead.

"Baker, do you know where I can find 'Breathing Techniques'?" William asked eagerly.

Baker looked at William's eager eyes, his heart a mix of emotions.

He knew that, given William's current situation, learning "Breathing Techniques" might be his only hope.

"Child, 'Breathing Techniques' aren't easy to obtain, and..." Baker's words were cut off by William.

"Baker, I know it's hard, but I have to try!" William said firmly.

"I won't just sit and wait for death. I want to take control of my own destiny!"

Baker's face showed a troubled expression, but seeing William's determined eyes, he let out a deep sigh.

"Baker, does anyone in the village know 'Breathing Techniques'?" William asked, his tone tinged with urgency and hope.

He knew that in this world full of unknowns, only by gaining strength could he better protect himself.

Baker pondered for a moment, as if recalling something.

"From what I know, there might be four people in the village who have practiced 'Breathing Techniques,'" Baker said slowly.

"Four people?" William was surprised. He hadn't expected there to be such individuals in the village.

"Yes. First, there are the two warlocks. They wield mysterious powers, so mastering 'Breathing Techniques' shouldn't be difficult for them," Baker explained.

It seemed the two warlocks were permanent residents of the village. Recalling their astonishing performance during the Awakening Ceremony earlier that day, William quickly drew his own conclusions.

"What about the other two?" William pressed.

"The other two are Captain Alpha of the village guard and Chief Jimmy," Baker said. "I've treated almost everyone in the village, and during that time, I noticed that only their physical abilities far surpassed ordinary people. So I suspect they might have also practiced 'Breathing Techniques.'"

"However, this is just my speculation. After all, I've never seen them actually use 'Breathing Techniques,'" Baker added, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

William nodded, pondering how to approach them and learn 'Breathing Techniques.'

Just as William was deep in thought, Baker suddenly spoke, his tone turning serious.

"William, there's actually something more urgent I need to discuss with you."

"More urgent?" William was taken aback, unsure what Baker was referring to.

A flicker of struggle passed through Baker's eyes. He opened his mouth as if something was stuck in his throat, his lips moving but no sound coming out.

But in the end, his expression turned solemn, and he lowered his voice. "William, you must leave the village as soon as possible."

"Leave the village? Why?" William was even more confused.

"Because... you are an Unblessed One," Baker said with difficulty, as if unwilling to see the disappointment on William's face.

"An Unblessed One?" William repeated, the term both unfamiliar and jarring to him.

"Yes. During the Awakening Ceremony, a very small number of people fail to absorb the blue light particles and thus cannot gain protection. Such individuals are called 'Unblessed Ones,'" Baker explained.

"And you are one of them."

William fell silent. He hadn't expected to be such a special case. This sudden turn of events was hard to accept. The room was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds outside, emphasizing the gravity of the moment.

"What does being an Unblessed One mean? Are there any restrictions?" William's voice was hoarse as he broke the silence. He looked up at Baker, his eyes filled with confusion and unease. He desperately wanted to know what this meant for him.

Baker looked at William, his expression complicated. He sighed and said gravely, "Unblessed Ones are more likely to attract the attention of monsters and are more vulnerable to their attacks." He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "So, your presence in the village is not only dangerous for you but also a threat to the village."

William's heart sank. A mix of emotions surged within him. He understood what Baker meant, but the idea of leaving left him feeling both unwilling and lost.

"Baker, if I leave, what will happen to you?" William asked. Though he had lost his memories, he could feel Baker's concern for him—a kind of paternal care that gave him a sense of warmth.

"Me?" Baker was momentarily stunned, as if he hadn't expected William to ask this. His wrinkled eyes flickered with a hint of gloom, and he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head as if unwilling to tell William what would happen to him after he left.

"Baker, tell me, what will happen to you if I leave?" William looked into Baker's eyes and asked again, his tone pleading.

Baker looked at William's concerned gaze and remained silent.

After a long while, he finally let out a deep sigh and spoke. "If you leave, according to the village's rules, I, as your guardian, will also be implicated."

"What rules?" William pressed, his brow furrowed. He hadn't expected his departure to drag Baker down with him.

"The Law of Collective Punishment," Baker said with a sigh. "The village's population is too small, especially the number of able-bodied adults. This rule was established to prevent people from fleeing. If one person escapes, their entire family is punished. As your guardian, I would also face punishment."

"Then... what if I don't leave?" William asked.

"Don't leave?" Baker shook his head. "If you don't leave, sooner or later, those monsters will come for you. And when they do, it won't just be you—the entire village could suffer."

"And even if there are no monsters, the villagers won't tolerate an 'Unblessed One' staying in the village."

"They'll see you as a harbinger of misfortune, and even..." Baker didn't finish, but William already understood the severity of the consequences.

"But even if I run, where can I go?" William said with a bitter laugh. "The outside is full of monsters. How long could I survive alone?"

"Yes, in these times, with monsters roaming everywhere, how long could you last alone in the wilderness?" Baker murmured, as if answering William, or perhaps just talking to himself.

His eyes flickered, as if weighing something. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind and looked at William. "Here's what we'll do, William. I've been a physician in this village for many years and have some influence."

"I can use my position to arrange for some people to secretly take you out of here."

"Take me out?" William was startled. He hadn't expected Baker to suggest this.

"Yes, to Redhouse City," Baker nodded. "It's the largest city nearby. With so many people there, an 'Unblessed One' like you could blend in without being noticed. Plus, the city is safer."

"And I have a few acquaintances there who can look after you. At the very least, it's safer than wandering alone in the wild."

Baker's voice was filled with concern. He looked at William, his eyes showing a trace of reluctance.

William fell silent. He knew Baker meant well, but if he left, what would happen to Baker?

"Baker, what about you? If I leave, what will happen to you?" William asked. He didn't want to drag Baker down because of himself.

Baker smiled and said, "Me? I'm just an old man. What can they do to me? Besides, I've been in this village for so many years. The villagers will give me some respect. They won't do anything too harsh."

"But..." William tried to speak, but Baker cut him off.

"No buts. It's decided," Baker said. "Right now, the most important thing is for you to survive. Only by living can there be hope."

With that, Baker turned and walked out of the room, leaving William standing there in a daze.

William watched Baker's figure disappear into the distance, a warm feeling rising in his heart.

Even though he had lost his memories, he knew one thing—Baker, his adoptive father, was the closest person he had in this world.

But the thought of leaving, especially leaving just to save his own life, filled him with bitterness.

He turned around and gazed out the window. The setting sun, red as spilled blood, stained the sky with a sorrowful hue. A few crows let out their hoarse cries as they circled before vanishing into the withered forest in the distance, adding an even deeper sense of desolation to the evening.

"Even if the wilderness isn't dangerous, there's no way I'm letting my teacher suffer just so I can survive." William murmured to himself, his eyes flashing with determination.