choosen by the fallen

In the depths of Nightmare Forest, legend whispers of a magical herb that grants the power to become the world's strongest. For ten thousand years, countless adventurers have sought this mythical herb, but none have returned successful. Now, a young man, lost and starving, inadvertently ventured into the forest and consumed an unknown herb to stave off hunger. Upon waking, the forest vanished. In its place, the young man found himself filled with strange memories, seemingly belonging to the one who cultivated the herb. He realized with a jolt that he now possessed phenomenal strength, the likes of which the world had never known. However, unlike past seekers driven by greed, he chose not to exploit his newfound power for evil. He spent days wandering the land, finally arriving at the bustling capital city of the Fire Kingdom. As he entered the city, a haughty noble, judging his worn attire, hurled an insult his way. But before the bewildered young man could react, a beautiful woman intervened, offering him protection. As their eyes met, the young man felt a spark of affection ignite within him. Interestingly, the noble, upon seeing the woman, seemed to cower in fear The noble man fled upon seeing her. The young lady then asked his name, and the boy responded, "I'm Haruto. How about you?" The lady replied, "My name is Hena." However, the young man, with his heightened senses, could tell it was a lie. Another woman, who seemed to be a servant, arrived and retrieved her. Before leaving, Hena gave some money to the young man, saying, "There are many people in the city as unfortunate as you. Buy some clothes and find a job." The boy purchased some clothes and went to a nearby inn to rest. In the middle of the night, he sensed killing intent and the scent of blood emanating from the city's outskirts. He rushed towards it and saw the girl who saved him, injured and surrounded by men dressed in black. He intervened, killing everyone. The lady fainted due to blood loss. He brought her to the inn where he was staying and sought medical attention. A doctor treated her wounds. Morning arrived, and he questioned her about the previous night. However, she evaded his inquiries, so he abandoned the line of questioning. She then revealed that she was a student at the Fire Magic Academy in the Fire Kingdom. Her curiosity about him was piqued by his effortless dispatch of such powerful foes. When she inquired about his abilities, he simply replied, "I'm just a regular traveler." to be continued......