Finding

(27) Younger Counterpart

Tord knew that he couldn't prolong things any longer.

The snow was only getting worse and the bizarre phenomenon of a rain of literal blood was the one to finally able to convince the silver haired Norwegian that it was time.

It was time to take over the life of his younger self and start anew.

So, on the very day of birth, he decided to spend it with his son, Asher. Having the teen most of the day just an arm's length away from him. That, and he showered the pineapple as much familial affection that he could.

So, as of the current moment, it was now close to night and the last rays of the sun's light was currently shining on the both of them as they watched the sunset at their home's balcony. Tord disentangled himself from Asher and smiled ruefully as he thought whether he should even properly try to say his goodbyes.

Turning back to look at the sentient tropical fruit that he had raised, he took out the time travel device that had made and prayed.

He prayed that the things for Asher would be great. He prayed that his new future would better. And most of all, he prayed that in this new time he is about to go, someday he and Tom would finally be able to meet the people that they respectively love.

"Asher." Tord called his son's attention and smiled one last bright smile at the teen. "I hope things go well for you, my child," he says as he turns on the device and everything went with a loud bang and flash of light as blood rain falls on the ground.

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It was loud.

Waking up to the loud sounds of sirens and the raucous ringing of gunfire.

It was as if he had once again found himself returning to a battlefield.

A battlefield that was highly drenched with not only the scent of blood but also the stench of chemicals and antiseptics.

Tord forced his uncovered eye open and sat up from his currently prone position.

He knew where he was.

The cold harshness of the floor and the bright white of the metallic walls were enough to signify where he was. That, and the large cylindrical tubes he was currently surrounded with only confirmed his suspicion.

He was back here.

In the lab that trapped him until his toddler years.

The Larsson Pharmaceutical's laboratory in Winnipeg, Canada.

The place that Tom and he burned in the future of his first timeline.

Pushing away any of his other unnecessary thoughts, Tord realized that the time travel device he used was still in one piece and that the coat he was wearing was the one that Asher had draped over him before they were viewing the sunset.

It looked like things went relatively well enough for him for his aforementioned time travel journey that he was still able to take a souvenir from that time.

Tord then smiled at the discovery and finally stood up as the roars of gunfire and struggle rang out the laboratory's extensive hallways. The noise only meant one thing.

He was finally out.

His younger self was finally out of the shackles the scientists had placed him and was fighting his way out of the hellhole they were currently in.

He was finally out and Tord thought that it wouldn't be that bad to intervene much later; waiting out a bit on the fight. After all, as much as Tord knew what he was back then, the Norwegian wanted to know what his younger self was from another perspective and understand how well was he truly of a fighter and monster back then.

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Battered and bruised, with a number of broken bones and still open cuts from incisions and chemical pumping then add in a few bullet holes and grazes, the child sleeping deeply on the damp ground was being watched over by a man with horned silver hair with two fully uncovered glowing eyes.

Tord watched as his younger self was recuperating from the massacre and escape that he did.

The Norwegian couldn't help from applauding his younger self from having the sheer will to fight so many people even with such a state. The absurdity of it all would have appalled him of the stakes if it were him in his older years and in a saner state mind. But, the one in front of him was the version of himself which was forced into utter desperation. The one that had no other choice but had the interest of wanting to stay alive.

That's the difference of the two of them at the moment aside from their physicality and all.

The way they think of things.

Tord was wondering how much of a fight would his younger self have in going against him with the fusion. After all, there were still chances of one side merely winning and the other soul being forever lost into the abyss of death. But right now, Tord has no intentions of letting the soul of his younger self even go even if he had won over his body.

To let his younger counterpart's soul go would be a waste of power since mana is the excess of the soul and its manifestation. By devouring the child soul Tord knows that his magic would get stronger and it'll make things easier for him in the long run.

Taking a deep breath, Tord knew that now was his chance to use the spell. He already prepared the magic circle and the other materials he needed. He was just waiting for the moon now to show in its entirety in the sky.

The full moon was to bolster the spell's power and effectiveness. Which was why, the Norwegian was waiting for the rain to now die down as he watched his younger counterpart sleep.