Stranger: Back Home-Chapter 11 - 10: Kori Takashi Ishikawa

As Maximo kowtowed, Xenos watched him for a moment before lifting him up. "You are my first disciple. I know you have many questions, but in time, you'll find the answers."

Then, as if remembering something, Xenos asked, "By the way, have you considered moving somewhere safer?"

Maximo looked confused. "Huh?"

Xenos continued, "On my way here, I encountered two groups—ten people in total. They were sent to kill you."

Maximo's eyes widened in shock.

"Don't worry," Xenos reassured him. "I took care of them. But staying here might not be safe anymore. Do you have anywhere else to go?"

Maximo shook his head.

"Then come stay with me," Xenos offered. "There's plenty of space, and it'll be safer for your sister too."

Maximo hesitated for a moment, but thinking of his sister's safety, he nodded. "Okay, Master. Please give me some time to prepare."

Xenos nodded. "Ah, and those two men keeping watch on you—do you know them?"

"Yes, Master. My father sent them to protect me."

"Hmm. Then you have a VR watch, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. Give them your contact number so they can reach you when needed."

After gathering his belongings and informing the two guards about the attack, Maximo explained his decision to leave with his master. He handed them his contact number, telling them they could pass it on to his father.

Soon, Maximo, with his sister in her wheelchair, approached Xenos, who was waiting outside, seated on a log.

"Master, I've taken care of everything."

Xenos nodded and stepped toward him. "Hold onto your sister's wheelchair tightly."

Maximo wasn't sure why, but he followed his master's instructions. In the next instant, Xenos placed a firm grip on Maximo's shoulder—

And they vanished.

The two guards rushed forward in shock, but their young master was nowhere to be seen. Realising what had just happened, they turned and hurried back to report.

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In the next second, Xenos and Maximo teleported to Xenos' mansion. The estate spanned over 300 acres, with a grand mansion standing at its center.

Maximo, still gripping his sister Emma's wheelchair, was stunned. Just a moment ago, they had been in a simple cottage, and now, they were in an entirely different place.

Seeing his expression, Xenos chuckled. "No need to be surprised. Get used to it—there's more where that came from." He gestured toward the mansion. "There are plenty of rooms. Choose one for your sister and another for yourself. Once you've settled in, come find me. I'll be in the first-floor room near the stairs. We need to heal you properly."

Maximo's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of healing. He quickly nodded and rushed to find rooms on the ground floor for himself and Emma.

Meanwhile, in his own room, Xenos was speaking with Elder Eva.

Elder Eva's voice came through their soul-link. "Kid, I've finished making the curse removal pills. There are five in total. Use them wisely."

Xenos bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, Elder."

"Bah, no need for thanks." Then, after a brief pause, she asked, "So, where's that boy? I need to check his injuries."

"He's settling his sister in," Xenos replied. "He'll be here soon. By the way, Elder... do you think you could teach him?"

"Why?" Elder Eva asked, sounding curious.

"Well," Xenos explained, "his talent for alchemy is exceptional. I only have basic knowledge of the craft—I never really studied it in depth. I'd like for him to learn from the best."

Elder Eva chuckled. "Since you're recommending him, I assume he's truly talented. But I'll pass on this one. Instead, I'll teach you my legacy. You can pass it down to him yourself."

Xenos was caught off guard. "What?"

"You heard me, kid," she continued. "Do you even realize the kind of talent you have? If it weren't for what happened in your past—the way you became obsessed with survival and killing techniques—you would've been sought after by all four remaining elders, not just Athena."

"But, Elder," Xenos hesitated, "I've already inherited Master Athena's legacy."

"That's exactly why you should do this," Elder Eva said firmly. "Athena always wanted you to learn from the other elders, but she never forced you. Now that you're restarting your journey, why not walk a new path?"

Xenos fell silent for a moment, considering her words. Then, he finally nodded. "Yes, Elder."

Just as their conversation ended, Xenos heard a knock at the door. He opened it to see Maximo standing there. Without a word, he gestured for him to follow.

Together, they made their way down to the basement—the place where Xenos usually cultivated.

As Xenos and Maximo entered the basement, Xenos gestured for Maximo to remove his shirt and sit cross-legged on the floor. Maximo obeyed, revealing his bare upper body, scarred and worn from past injuries.

Xenos then sat behind him, placing his right hand on Maximo's back. He spoke to Elder Eva through his thoughts. "Elder, I'm ready."

A soft hmm echoed in his mind as Elder Eva responded. Soon, the tower released a domain field—since Xenos had traveled back in time, they couldn't use their divine sense or spiritual energy outside, so the tower created a space where such abilities were functional.

Spiritual energy flowed into Maximo's body, scanning every corner, searching for injuries. As the energy traveled through him, Elder Eva examined the extent of the damage—torn meridians, shattered pathways, and areas where meridians were completely missing. His dantian was damaged, his bones and organs carried both minor and major wounds, and yet, the only thing keeping him alive was sheer willpower.

Elder Eva frowned. "His injuries are far worse than I expected. But the main issue is the curse—it's not only devouring his providence but also preventing his body from healing naturally."

After a brief pause, she continued, "First, give him the Fate Purifying Pill. It will remove the curse on his providence."

Xenos reached into his spatial ring, retrieving a pill, and handed it to Maximo. "Kid, your condition is worse than I thought... but don't worry, you'll be healed in no time."

For a moment, Maximo misunderstood, thinking his master couldn't heal him. But after hearing Xenos' reassuring words, he smiled.

As he accepted the pill, his eyes widened in shock. As a former alchemy genius, Maximo had seen and studied countless medicinal pills, yet this one was unlike anything he had encountered before. It radiated boundless vitality, emitted a pure light element, and exuded a deep spiritual aura.

Xenos smirked at his reaction. "Don't worry. You'll learn more than you ever have. This pill is called the Fate Purifying Pill. It will remove the curse in your body."

Maximo's eyes narrowed. "Curse?"

Xenos nodded. "Yes. Your providence was cursed. That's one of the reasons for your downfall."

Maximo clenched his left fist in anger. "Master, is this the work of the darkness you mentioned?"

"Yes. Take the pill—it will cleanse you."

Maximo took a deep breath before swallowing the pill. The moment it entered his stomach, a powerful energy surged through his body. The cleansing energy traveled to every corner, seeking out the curse.

Dark, mist-like energy began to seep from Maximo's body. Within the aura, ghostly humanoid faces emerged—twisted, crying, writhing in agony as if they were being torn apart. A horrifying wail echoed through the basement.

Xenos scoffed. "So they infused wrath into the curse... That screech is as unpleasant as ever. Anyone who hears it will lose their mind to uncontrollable rage."

He observed Maximo carefully. "Well, the kid should be fine. The pill has a mental protection effect, too."

As the curse was completely expelled, Maximo's body suddenly felt lighter. Though his injuries still remained, a heavy burden had been lifted.

"Master—" Maximo started, but before he could finish, Xenos interrupted. "Yes, the curse is gone. You can feel it, can't you?"

Maximo nodded. What he didn't realize was that the moment the curse lifted, his providence, once dark and withered, transformed. A golden, dense light surged from his body, towering toward the heavens.

Seeing this, Xenos smirked. "He truly is blessed with providence."

Without wasting time, Xenos handed him another pill. "This is the Nirvana Pill. It will help you fully regenerate and heal your body."

Now fully trusting Xenos, Maximo took the pill and sat cross-legged to cultivate. The moment the pill entered his system, golden flames erupted around him, forging his body anew.

Xenos estimated that Maximo's healing process would take six to seven hours. As he stood guard, watching over him, the Dice of Destiny suddenly began to roll on its own.

The die landed on the letter S—South.

Xenos frowned. "It seems the person is in danger."

The Dice of Destiny had many functions. One of its abilities was to help make decisions between multiple choices, while another was to indicate danger or opportunity. Since Xenos had previously engraved the letter S into the die, it had established a connection with the Heavenly Incarnate residing in the south. Unless Xenos willingly removed this connection, the dice would continue to alert him if that person was in danger.

Glancing at Maximo, Xenos reassured himself that the boy was safe within the mansion. With no immediate threats present, he made a swift decision.

Without hesitation, he activated his Teleportation Necklace and vanished.

The next moment, Xenos appeared in complete darkness.

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"Did the teleportation malfunction?" he wondered.

But after a brief pause, he shook his head. "No, that's unlikely. Which means... the next Heavenly Incarnate is in this place."

He glanced around. The damp air, rough stone walls, and faint echoes confirmed his suspicion. "This looks like a cave. But who lives in a cave in this generation? Is he an orphan, living in the wilderness or something?"

As he walked forward, he noticed a faint light in the distance. Without hesitation, he headed toward it.

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Lunar Cave

A cave specially created by the Ishikawa Patriarch for his daughter.

Inside, a 15-year-old girl sat cross-legged on the cold ground. An intense icy aura radiated from her body, causing the entire cave to slowly freeze.

Pain contorted her face as the ice surged through her veins, forcing her to grit her teeth. Despite the agony, she endured it.

"How many more years must I suffer from the Ice Burst?" she thought bitterly.

At first, it had been manageable. But as time passed, the freezing bursts not only consumed her body but also spread to the surroundings. If this continued... she wasn't sure how much longer she could survive.

Her thoughts drifted to the past—to the warmth of her childhood, when she could still enjoy life with her father and brothers. But after she turned eleven, everything froze—both literally and figuratively.

"Can I even survive another year?"

After two grueling hours, the torment finally subsided. She let out a shaky sigh.

"It seems like I've survived another year."

Just as she relaxed, a voice echoed through the cave.

"I didn't expect you to survive."

Her body stiffened.

"I had hoped you would die. But now, you're forcing me to take the next step—to kill my own descendant."

Her breath caught in her throat. Slowly, she turned toward the voice, and her eyes widened in shock.

"Ancestor...? What... what do you mean?"

The old man stepped forward, his face illuminated by the dim light. Despite his elderly appearance, the aura surrounding him was dark—sinister.

"It seems you still have strength left after enduring the ordeal," he said coldly. "But girl, your birth was a mistake. You were never meant to exist."

Fear gripped her. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her body wouldn't move.

"Ancestor..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Sorry, child. But the Lord's orders are absolute."

He raised a long dagger, preparing to stab her.

But before the blade could pierce her, his hand stopped—frozen in place.

"What—?" he gasped, his eyes darting to the figure who had blocked him.

Xenos stood before him, gripping his wrist. His golden eyes burned with fury.

"Scum. Trying to kill your own descendant?" Xenos spat.

With a single motion, he yanked the old man backward before driving a powerful punch into his chest. The impact caved in his ribs, sending him flying like a rocket until he crashed into the cave wall with a sickening crack.

Xenos then turned toward the girl and asked, "Are you alright?"

The girl, still in shock, nodded weakly.

"What's your name, kid?" he asked.

After a moment, she steadied herself and answered, "Kori... Kori Takashi Ishikawa."