Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Chapter 113 Trial Rewards

"Three, two, one…" Jett counted down, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Right on cue, the golem's remains erupted once again, sending a second, although smaller, explosion rippling through the room. Medusa, already severely weakened from the first blast, was caught in the shockwave. Her body was flung back, unable to muster the strength to avoid the hit. The once-mighty creature now lay motionless amidst the settling dust and debris, her venomous rage silenced.

The atmosphere in the chamber shifted. The violent tremors subsided, and the air grew still. The eerie silence that followed made them all hold their breath, listening, waiting. No movement. No sound. The battle was over.

"Did we… do it?" Evelina whispered, her voice barely audible.

A soft chime echoed in each of their minds as notifications appeared in their vision:

[You have defeated the boss: Lesser Medusa]

[Time Remaining: 3/7]

Jett flashed a smug grin, wiping a speck of dirt from his face. "Like I said," he scoffed, "mediocre at best."

Elora rolled her eyes, a small scuff escaping her lips as she realized Jett had planned it all along.

"You mean that thing wasn't even its strongest version?" Finn clutched his head in disbelief. "What if I accidentally run into its full form one day? I'll be done for!"

"That's highly unlikely," Aiden added calmly, shaking his head. "You're more likely to run into something far worse."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the group as another notification appeared:

[All petrification has been reversed.]

"Seraphina and the princess should be fine now," Morrigan exhaled, her tense shoulders finally relaxing.

[The possession has been lifted.]

"So, they really were being possessed," Rey muttered, a note of disappointment in his voice. "I feel bad we didn't catch the one responsible."

"Don't jinx it," Jett teased, giving Rey a light shove on the shoulder. "We don't need any more surprises."

The final set of notifications chimed in their minds:

[Your reward will be calculated.]

[Reward:]

[x2 Level]

[x1 Rune stone]

[Mid-Level Class Exclusive Set]

Discover hidden content at m,v l'e-NovelBin.net

[100% Stats Recovery.]

[Trial Complete]

"It's finally over," Finn exhaled, relief washing over him.

The moment the words left his lips, the entire group was enveloped in a soft glow, instantly transported back to their meeting spot. Alok, as usual, stood waiting for them, his imposing figure unmoving at his usual post.

"I see you've arrived. Congratulations on completing the mission," Alok greeted them with his usual calm demeanor, his hands clasped behind his back. "Here are your rewards."

Finn's eyes lit up with excitement. "More rewards? That's even better," he grinned, practically bouncing on his feet.

[Rewards:]

[x10 Mythril Ore]

[x10 Adamantium Ore]

[x10 Yggdrasil Branch]

[Map of Laxen]

As they sorted through their newly acquired items, Finn let out a small sigh, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "You know, people might start asking questions. The variety of materials we exchange every week... they're always high quality or rare materials. Someone's bound to notice."

Jett smirked, unfazed by Finn's concerns. "Don't worry about that. The academy prefers results over the process. As long as we're not committing any crimes, we're in the clear." He gave a casual wave of his hand, reassuring the group.

As they all inspected their rewards, a sharp crimson notification flashed in front of Jett, his brow furrowing as he read the ominous text.

[[Akashic Gloves]]

[[Description: ???]]

Jett's expression darkened slightly, his fingers tapping against the air in frustration. 'Another red notification. Every time I see this thing, it's like trouble's lurking just around the corner.' He sighed, eyeing the gloves with a sense of unease. Unsure of what to expect, he reluctantly accepted them into his inventory.

'Argh… these question marks aren't even helping in any way,' he thought bitterly, growing more frustrated by the cryptic nature of the item.

Freya, always perceptive, noticed Jett's unease from afar. Concern flashed across her face as she approached him quietly.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice gentle but tinged with worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about how busy I'm going to be soon," Jett replied, forcing a nervous smile as he tried to downplay his unease.

Freya wasn't convinced. "Is that really all that's on your mind?" she asked again, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to read him.

Jett chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I promise."

Freya sighed, her lips curving into a small frown. "You're a bad liar, you know?"

Before Jett could respond, Ella popped out from seemingly nowhere, her small arms wrapping around Freya in a tight hug.

"Mummy, mommy!" Ella repeated, her voice filled with pure joy.

"Aww, did you miss mommy?" Freya's face lit up as she gently spun Ella around, their laughter filling the air.

Freya continued to play with Ella, lifting her up and twirling her, the child giggling uncontrollably. They shared a moment of pure affection, with Freya's warmth on full display as she ruffled Ella's hair and kissed her forehead. It was a brief escape from the tension that had been building around them all.

Soon, they were all teleported back, and the familiar surroundings of the academy came into view.

*****

The following days saw Jett dive deep into his studies at Clarence's office, pouring over the texts, absorbing as much information as he could. During his free moments, he pushed his limits, training his Aura and Mana with an almost obsessive focus, seeking to hone his abilities further.

One evening, Jett sat cross-legged in his room, meditating in the stillness. The steady rhythm of his breathing filled the room as he tried to center himself, Aura flowing through him like a calm river.

Bang! Bang!

A sudden, aggressive knock echoed through the room, shattering the tranquility.

Jett's eyes snapped open, irritation flashing across his face. Reluctantly, he got up and moved to the door, knowing he was the only one inside. When he swung it open, Rey stood in front of him, his expression intense.

"What do you want?" Jett asked, his tone sharp and hinting that he had no interest in company.

But Rey didn't seem to care. "Spar with me," he demanded, his voice firm.

Jett raised an eyebrow, taken aback. "Where's this coming from anyway?" He spoke casually, not taking Rey's sudden request seriously.

Rey stepped forward, trying to force his way in, but Jett quickly pushed the door back with a firm hand, blocking his entry. The door stood as a barrier between them, Jett's resolve clear.

"I'm serious, Jett. I want you to spar with me. It's my rank on the line anyway, and you've got nothing to lose," Rey pleaded, his tone unusually desperate.

Jett leaned against the doorframe, his expression unimpressed. "Of course, I've got something to lose. My sweet, precious alone time. Ella's out with Freya, and I can finally get some rest. What's the meaning of this?" His voice carried a hint of annoyance as he crossed his arms.

Rey, unfazed, pressed on. "You've been growing exponentially in combat classes, aside from the whole etiquette stuff. I just want to find out how strong you've really become compared to me."

Jett hesitated, his mind racing between the comfort of his current relaxation and the challenge Rey posed. He wasn't exactly eager to engage, but the look of determination in Rey's eyes made it harder to say no.

After a long pause, Jett sighed. "Alright, fine. Let's do this," he said abruptly, stepping away from the door without warning. Rey, caught off guard, stumbled forward, nearly tripping into the room.

"If you can climb the ranks and reach the top of the school rankings, then I'll face you," Jett added, throwing the challenge out as he casually walked back toward the center of the room.

"Wait, really?" Rey looked at him in disbelief. "That's asking way too much!"

Jett glanced over his shoulder, a sly grin tugging at his lips. 'He's going to do it anyway… might as well give him more motivation,' Jett thought as he saw the fire in Rey's eyes.

"That's the only way I'll agree," Jett said, shaking his head as if the decision was final.

Rey frowned for a moment before a determined grin spread across his face. "So, you're saying you're on par with those at the top of the ranking?"

Jett shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean… I guess so."

"Alright then, just you wait!" Rey grinned, his enthusiasm renewed as he marched out, his mind already formulating plans.

As Rey left, Jett leaned back against the door and sighed in relief. "I can't believe that actually worked," he muttered before heading back to his meditation spot, sinking into the quiet once more.

"I can't believe that worked," Jett sighed, shaking his head as he returned to his meditative posture, letting the stillness of the room envelop him once more.

*****

Back at the capital, Reynolds stood alone on the grand balcony, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The air was calm, yet his expression was tense. As he stared into the expanse of clear skies, his brow furrowed with an unsettling thought.

"A storm is coming," Reynolds muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as if he could see something no one else could.

A soft voice echoed behind him, carrying a gentle but curious tone. "And why would you say that? There's not a single cloud in sight, let alone any sign of rain."

It was a lady's voice. She approached quietly, her graceful steps almost imperceptible against the polished marble floor.

For a moment, there was only silence. The stillness between them stretched until it was broken by Reynolds' slow, deliberate words.

"No, my lovely wife," he finally said, turning to face her with a faint smile, "not that kind of storm." His eyes reflected a deeper worry, one that could not be calmed by clear skies or gentle breezes.

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What could be thinking about?