Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Hidden Memory

The air crackled with uncertainty as Jett struggled to grasp his surroundings. A familiar voice, like an echo in the abyss, called out to him, drawing him back from the brink of confusion.

"Ethan... Ethan... E..."

His name, whispered on the edge of perception, stirred him from his daze. Through the haze of disorientation, he managed to muster a response. "Ember? Is that you?"

But the voice faded, leaving him adrift in a sea of emptiness. Questions swirled in his mind, each one more urgent than the last.

"Where am I? What is this place?" Jett's voice echoed into the void, unanswered.

Then, like a thunderbolt, a harsh voice pierced the silence, cutting through the darkness with its intensity. "You're not him, are you? My successor, what did you do to my successor!?"

Jett's confusion deepened. "Who are you? What successor?" he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.

Before he could make sense of the situation, a crimson red translucent notification materialized before him, its glitching appearance sending shivers down his spine.

[[Throne of Destiny is reacting to a fragment]]

[[A memory has been unlocked]]

The message blared, its ominous tone fueling Jett's growing sense of dread.

As if in response to the unsettling revelation, memories surged forth, flooding his consciousness with fragments of a past he couldn't comprehend.

"Throne of Destiny? Memories?" Jett's words hung in the air, laden with uncertainty.

Suddenly, the void around him erupted into motion, stars streaking past in a blur of motion. With each passing moment, they grew larger, morphing into an otherworldly landscape that bore the scars of battle.

*****

Jett found himself floating above a grim battlefield, a sight that tugged at his heartstrings. Bodies lay scattered like discarded toys, their forms twisted and broken, drenched in the crimson hue of spilled blood. It was a scene of despair, where the echoes of agony seemed to linger in the air like a haunting melody.

"Where is this place?" Jett's voice trembled with uncertainty as he surveyed the carnage below.

In the midst of the chaos, a middle-aged man knelt, his face obscured by a glitch from the system. Clad in armor, he coughed violently, each spasm accompanied by a spray of blood that painted the ground beneath him. Around him stood fourteen figures, their features shrouded in shadow. Though their faces were hidden, their distinct weapons blurred in the dim light.

"Wait, I recognize that weapon," Jett muttered, his confusion mounting. "That's the Midas spear. What is it doing here?"

As he pondered this strange sight, he realized. These were not his memories; they belonged to someone else. But who?

"Wh… What have you… done?" the man wheezed, his voice thick with pain.

"We can't let you proceed any further than this," one of the figures declared, a note of regret coloring his words.

"What a pitiful sight," another sneered. "To think you were once named the strongest."

"Why... Why have you all… betrayed me?" the man's voice cracked with emotion. "I am your leader, your comrade, your..."

"Brother, you seek to break the balance, we can't let you do that" another interjected, his tone sad.

Jett watched in silence, aghast at the unfolding tragedy. "Brother? They want to kill their own brother? What kind of maniacs are they?"

"If you must blame anyone, then blame father, he…" another voice spoke, devoid of remorse.

The man interrupted, his words strained. "He never... agreed to this... you're all acting on your own accord, you conniving little bastards. You'll pay for this," he spat, pointing an accusatory finger.

The figure who had sneered before chuckled. "Funny how you say that, but you're the one down on his knees at our mercy," he remarked, his tone dripping with scorn.

"You gave us no choice," the first figure spoke again, his voice heavy with regret.

The man laughed bitterly at his pitiful state. "You're afraid of me, quit beating around the bush. I know just how threatening my status can be."

"I'm sorry, brother, but you must die, for our sake," another voice chimed in, filled with sorrow.

With a collective resolve, they raised their weapons, piercing through him from different angles. The man clenched his fists and bit his lip, a primal scream escaping his lips as blood gushed from his wounds.

"Damn it all! Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Why? Why?!" he cried out in agony, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

"He's still alive after that?" one of them remarked, surprise evident in his tone.

"I won't go down so easily," the man declared, his gaze fierce despite his weakened state. "One day, I'll come for you... I curse these weapons with my soul to live on until then."

As the scene faded into darkness, Jett felt a chill run down his spine. What had he just witnessed? And what did it mean for him?

"To my successor." a voice echoed in his mind, followed by a series of notifications.

[[Memory has ended]]

[[Throne of Destiny is reacting to a fragment]]

[[Find the fragment]]

With a sense of determination, Jett prepared himself for the journey ahead, knowing that the answers he sought lay hidden within the fragments of the past.

*****

Jett's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the harsh reality of his pounding headache and drenched sheets. Gasping for breath, he struggled to sit up, his body slick with sweat.

"Ahh, my head," he groaned, his voice muffled by the throbbing ache behind his temples. "It feels like someone took my brain for a ride on a roller-coaster."

As he tried to piece together, his memory, he couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. "Was all that a dream?" he mused aloud, his thoughts racing.

But deep down, he knew it was more than just a figment of his imagination. The Midas spear, the glitching red screen – they were all too real to dismiss as mere fantasy.

He sank back onto his bed, his mind swirling with unanswered questions. "Too many questions but no one to answer," he sighed, resigning himself to the uncertainty that lay ahead. "I'll keep it on hold for now." With that, he closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would offer him some respite from the chaos of his thoughts.

*****

During the remainder of the fair, Jett eased into the company of others, spending his time copying skills and getting to know his companions better. With each passing day, they grew closer, their understanding of their mission deepening.

On the final day, Nerissa insisted on accompanying Jett, despite his protests.

"Do you really have to follow me?" he murmured, feeling self-conscious as they walked together, drawing stares from onlookers.

"We're going in the same direction anyways, might as well," she shrugged off his discomfort.

Jett couldn't help but chuckle. "That seems awfully convenient if you ask me. So, what are you going to do?"

"I need to meet up with my party members," she replied, her tone unusually serious.

Curiosity piqued, Jett pressed further. "Oh? Won't you introduce me?"

"Maybe next time," she deflected, maintaining her serious demeanor.

Sensing a shift in her mood, Jett grew concerned. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine," she assured him, though her tone betrayed her words. Suddenly, she smiled and produced a gem from her storage pouch, handing it to him.

"What's this?" Jett asked, examining the gem with curiosity. "I've never seen this before."

"It's a summon gem, and it was extremely hard to find," she explained, a hint of exhaustion in her voice.

"A summon gem?" Jett's surprise was evident. "Thank you. I'm grateful, even though I don't know what it's for. There really are things about this world that I don't know."

"It must have been expensive," he guessed.

"Yeah, but that's not the point," she replied, patting his head affectionately. "If you ever find yourself in a situation where you desperately need an ally, don't hesitate to use this."

"Ummm...?" Jett hesitated, unsure of how to respond to Nerissa's request.

Without missing a beat, Nerissa extended her pinkie finger for a pinkie swear. "Promise?" she asked earnestly.

"I promise," Jett replied, intertwining his pinkie with hers, sealing their vow.

As they reached a crossroad, their paths diverged. "Alright, I have to go now," Nerissa announced, breaking the connection and heading off in her own direction.

Jett stood there, clutching the summon gem in his hand, watching as his sister disappeared into the crowd. A pang of sadness washed over him.

"I didn't even get her anything," he muttered to himself, regret gnawing at his heart.

*****

Jett finally gathered everyone together, distributing the various colored rune stones to each member of the group. Freya received the white rune stone, while Aiden, Evelina, and Seraphina were given red rune stones. Finn, Marcella, and Rosa got green ones, Cedric, Matty, and Ray received yellow, and Asher, Elora, and Morrigan were given black rune stones.

Taking his time, Jett explained the different criteria for successfully acquiring a skill with each color. When questioned about his knowledge, he evaded or simply stated his love for experimentation in the game.

Freya couldn't shake off her suspicions of him, but she kept silent, already accepting the rune stone he offered her.

Once he felt he had done all he needed to do, Jett motioned for Finn to accompany him. They moved away from the group to a secluded area.

Finn, feeling uneasy, glanced around. "What's the matter this time? You're not planning on taking me on another suicide quest, are you?"

"Relax, I just want to confirm something," Jett reassured him. "Just bring out the spear."

Finn hesitated. "Hmm... I thought I'm not supposed to use it carelessly."

"Just do it, we don't have all day," Jett urged impatiently.

"Alright, alright, here you go," Finn relented, showing him the spear.

As Jett gazed at the gleaming weapon before him, a thought crossed his mind. 'This weapon can only be touched by one person, same as the others. But could it be that for some reason, I'll be able to use it regardless? I have to find out.'

Summoning his courage, he reached out and grasped the spear.

[[Throne of Destiny is reacting to a fragment]]

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[[]] Represents the red Screen

What do you think?

Will anything cool happen?

Oh right

Wanna see what they look like?