Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 6: Emergency in the Village

The battle had ended, yet Theos sat on the ground, his body heavy with exhaustion, his vision swimming as his strength abandoned him. His Supreme Eyes still burned brightly, illuminating the fading energy of the slain wolf. His vision was a spectacle of swirling golden threads, each strand a lingering echo of the beast's lifeforce dissipating into the night.

But something was wrong.

He had forgotten to turn his ability off.

Theos' body trembled as a piercing pain shot through his skull. The energy he once saw with such clarity became distorted, the colors bleeding into one another like ink spreading across water. His breath hitched as his balance wavered. His head throbbed as if a hot iron had been pressed against his skull, and a wave of dizziness swept over him. His breathing came in ragged gasps, each one feeling more labored than the last. The legs that had carried him through battle finally gave out, and he toppled sideways, the rough dirt scraping against his cheek as his body refused to respond. A single, disjointed thought flickered—If I close my eyes, will I ever wake up?—then his vision blurred and darkness overtook him.

In the dead of night, Samuel stirred from his sleep, an unsettling feeling gnawing at him. His instincts screamed that something was amiss. He turned toward the door of Theos' room, expecting to hear the soft rhythm of his son's breathing. But the eerie silence sent a chill down his spine.

It was empty.

His heart pounded. Where is he?

Samuel sat up abruptly, his hands already reaching for his robe as he rushed out of the room. "Theos?" he called out into the dimly lit house. No response.

He pushed open the door to the small kitchen. "Theos!" His voice carried urgency now, but the only reply was the stillness of the empty home.

A cold sense of dread washed over him. Without hesitation, he hurried back into the bedroom and shook his wife awake. "Elena! Theos is missing!"

Elena shot up, her eyes still heavy with sleep. "What?!" Panic flashed across her face as she threw off the covers. "He was just here!" She hurried toward the door, searching frantically as if their son would appear if she just looked harder.

Samuel clenched his jaw. "We need to search the village. If he's not here, then..."

Elena's expression darkened. "The forest... He talked about training there."

Samuel froze for a brief moment, his mind racing. His son was missing—had he gone into the forest alone? What if he was hurt, or worse? The thought made his stomach twist with fear. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay composed. Taking a deep breath, he ran outside and grabbed the thick rope hanging from the village's emergency bell, yanking it forcefully. He pulled it hard—once, twice, thrice—each chime echoing through the quiet night. The sound reverberated through the village, waking its inhabitants one by one. Within minutes, doors opened, lanterns flickered to life, and people gathered near the bell tower, their faces filled with concern.

Elder Marcus arrived soon after, his sharp eyes scanning the anxious crowd before settling on Samuel. "What happened?"

Samuel took a deep breath. "Theos is missing. He must have snuck out to train in the forest."

A murmur spread through the villagers. Some exchanged worried glances, while others tightened their grips on their weapons.

Elder Marcus stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Samuel's shoulder. "Do not worry. Theos is a child of this village. We will find him."

Samuel swallowed hard, nodding.

Marcus turned toward the crowd. "We must act quickly. The forest may not be too dangerous for us, but for a child, it is a death trap. We will form search teams—one to comb through the village, and another to search the forest."

Eight men stepped forward, each of their strength at Muscle Forging Realm, strong enough to traverse the forest with ease. Samuel joined them without hesitation, his expression resolute.

With torches in hand, the search party moved swiftly toward the forest. The trees loomed overhead, their thick canopies blocking most of the moonlight. Shadows danced between the foliage, their movements mimicking unseen threats.

The men spread out, their practiced movements efficient as they scoured the underbrush. "Theos!" Samuel called out, his voice echoing through the trees. The others followed suit, their voices blending into the sounds of the night.

One of the men knelt near a patch of disturbed dirt, examining footprints illuminated by the flickering torchlight. "He came this way! These tracks are fresh!"

Samuel rushed over, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Keep moving! He must be close!"

Minutes stretched into an hour, then two. The night deepened, and the forest seemed to grow more ominous. At one point, a faint rustling in the bushes brought the search party to a halt, torches raised. One of the men cautiously approached, only to find a lone, frightened hare darting away into the shadows. Though relieved it wasn't something more dangerous, the moment reminded them of how the forest could hide threats—or clues—at any turn. Still, they refused to stop, pressing on with renewed urgency.

Then, one of the searchers shouted. "Over here!"

Samuel sprinted toward the voice, his breath caught in his throat. The sight before him made his blood run cold.

Theos lay sprawled on the ground, his small frame barely visible beneath the glow of their torches. His body was motionless. His clothes were torn, stained with dirt and dried blood. A few feet away, the carcass of a Level 1 - Stage 3 wolf lay lifeless. Its throat bore a precise wound—Theos had driven his dagger deep into it at the right moment, taking advantage of his Supreme Eyes to strike where the beast was weakest. Blood had long since dried around its form, evidence of the brutal battle.

Samuel dropped to his knees beside his son, his hands shaking as he checked for a pulse. Relief flooded him when he felt the faint but steady rhythm beneath his fingers.

"He's alive!" he breathed.

Elder Marcus stepped closer, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the scene. "He killed that beast... alone?"

One of the searchers exhaled sharply. "That's no ordinary feat for a child."

Samuel carefully lifted Theos into his arms, holding him tightly. He was proud, beyond words, but the worry still gnawed at him. "Let's take him home."

With Theos safely in his father's arms, the search party turned back toward the village, their torches lighting the path ahead. The journey back was silent, save for the crackling of flames and the rustling of leaves beneath hurried footsteps. Samuel held Theos close, feeling the faint rise and fall of his son's breath against his chest, reassuring himself that he was alive.

As they approached the village entrance, the bell tower loomed ahead, its flickering lantern casting long shadows on the waiting crowd. The villagers had not returned to their homes, their anxious faces illuminated by the soft glow of torches and oil lamps. The moment they saw Samuel carrying Theos, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the gathering.

Elena pushed through the crowd, her eyes brimming with tears. "Theos!" she cried, running toward them. Samuel barely had time to steady himself before she reached them, her trembling hands hovering over her son's bloodstained face. "He's burning up," she whispered, her voice choked with worry. "What happened to him?"

"He fought a beast alone," Samuel said, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and lingering fear. "A Level 1 - Stage 3 wolf."

Gasps erupted from the surrounding villagers. Some murmured in disbelief, others exchanged worried glances. Elder Marcus nodded solemnly. "He is strong, but he pushed himself too far. We must get him inside."

Samuel carried Theos through the crowd, Elena following closely behind as they entered their home. They laid him gently on his bed, his body still unresponsive.

Elena immediately grabbed a clean cloth and a basin of warm water, her hands trembling as she dipped the cloth and began wiping away the grime and dried blood from Theos' face and arms. As the warm water made contact with his wounds, Theos flinched slightly, his unconscious body reacting to the sting. Elena winced at the sight, her fingers tightening around the cloth as guilt and worry warred in her heart.

Samuel, kneeling beside the bed, glanced at her. "We have to be thorough," he said, though his voice was softer than usual. "We can't risk infection."

Elena nodded, biting her lip. She resumed wiping his arms, this time gentler, careful not to cause him unnecessary discomfort. Tears welled in her eyes as she traced the bruises and cuts along his small frame. "He's just a child," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else. "And yet... he faced death alone."

Samuel remained silent for a moment, watching as Elena cleaned Theos with quiet determination. He reached for the healing salve, rubbing it between his fingers before carefully applying it to the worst of Theos' wounds. The paste cooled the inflamed skin, seeping into his injuries and speeding up the healing process. As he wrapped fresh bandages around his son's arms and chest, his jaw clenched.

"He's strong," he murmured. "But even the strong need someone to look after them."

Once the wounds were treated and wrapped in fresh bandages, Samuel pulled the blanket over Theos, his expression tight with concern. The exhaustion of the night weighed on them, but their focus remained solely on ensuring Theos' recovery.

"Will he be alright?" Elena's voice wavered, her fingers brushing through Theos' matted hair.

"He just needs rest," Samuel reassured her, though the knot in his chest remained. "His body is exhausted, but he is strong. He will wake soon."

Elena exhaled shakily and leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to Theos' forehead. "You reckless boy... What were you thinking?"

Morning came slowly, the warm hues of dawn spilling through the wooden windows. Theos stirred, a dull ache settling in his limbs as his consciousness returned. A faint ding echoed in his mind.

A translucent black screen hovered in front of him, displaying a notification from the system. His eyes flickered over it, but before he could read the words, his gaze shifted past the screen.

Behind it, standing near the bed, were his parents.

Samuel stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Elena sat at his bedside, her hands clasped tightly, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. The silence in the room was suffocating.

"You woke up," Elena said, her voice soft yet laced with a mix of relief and anger.

Theos barely had time to react before she gripped his hand tightly. "What were you thinking? Sneaking out in the middle of the night? Fighting a beast alone? Do you have any idea what could have happened?!"

Her voice wavered, frustration and fear spilling over into her words.

Samuel exhaled deeply, his sharp eyes locking onto Theos. "You nearly died, Theos. Do you understand that? If we hadn't found you in time..."

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Theos swallowed hard. His body still ached, but the weight of their emotions was heavier. He had wanted to prove himself—to push past his limits—but now he felt his chest tighten with shame. Am I going to be forbidden from training? Will they ever let me out of their sight again? His gaze flickered to his mother's tear-streaked face, then to his father's clenched jaw. He realized the price of his recklessness wasn't just his own pain; it was theirs, too.

"I... I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice hoarse. A flood of emotions rose inside him—fear, guilt, and a strange sense of relief that they had saved him. I scared them... I almost died. What if I never got to see them again? The thought sent a shiver through him.

Elena closed her eyes briefly, composing herself before squeezing his hand. "You are our son, Theos. I know you want to be strong, but not at the cost of your life."

Samuel nodded, his voice firm. "Strength means nothing if you're not alive to use it. If you truly wish to grow stronger, then do so the right way—with preparation, training, and knowing when to retreat."

Theos lowered his gaze. He had won the battle, but at what cost? His body was battered, and he had frightened the people who cared for him most.

He clenched his fists beneath the blanket. "I understand... I won't be reckless again."

His parents exchanged a look, relief washing over them. Elena sighed, brushing his hair back gently. "Get some more rest. We'll talk later."

As Theos closed his eyes, the translucent screen still hovered in his vision, waiting for his attention. Yet, he barely spared it a glance. His focus remained on his parents—their tired eyes, the silent relief in his mother's touch, the firm resolve in his father's stance. They had been terrified for him. He had scared them.

For the first time, the weight of his actions settled fully in his chest. Strength wasn't just about fighting—it was also about responsibility. He had survived, but at the cost of making those who loved him suffer. He knew the path of cultivation was filled with death, but that did not mean he would charge forward unprepared, only to die meaninglessly. Strength had to be cultivated with wisdom, not recklessness. With that thought, he shut his eyes, letting sleep claim him once more, leaving the notification unanswered.