Chapter 2: Anomaly
Author: Dark_Eyes
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

"Gather around, lost souls. You are needed on a grand and dangerous mission to save Verena from the clutches of darkness." Aurelia announced, his voice ringing out with a sense of urgency.

"I knew it," Jean interrupted, her tone tinged with frustration.

"You should probably let him finish," Ryota interjected, his attempt to defuse the tension palpable in his voice.

Aurelia nodded gratefully at Ryota before continuing, "The Verena continent faces a threat never seen before, and you all have been summoned to their aid."

He scanned the room, taking in the varied reactions of his audience, before pressing on. "Half of the world has already been corrupted by the dark lord and his twelve generals of destruction. Your mission is to take up the mantle as summoned warriors and join the fight to stop the dark lord's reign."

As Aurelia paused, he could see unease spreading across the faces of those gathered, the weight of their newfound responsibility settling heavily upon their shoulders.

"Don't be scared, you won't be going empty-handed. I suppose you're all familiar with classes and skills," Aurelia reassured them with a faint smile.

"I hope you're not sending us to a world similar to a video game. I have no knowledge with things like that," a young girl dressed in the same uniform as Ryota spoke up, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

With a deep sigh and a broad smile, Aurelia turned his attention to the girl. "And you are?" he asked gently.

"Emi Suzuki. That's my name. I'm Ryota's classmate," she replied, her tone soft yet resolute.

"It is somewhat similar but not totally," Aurelia replied, his smile lacking its previous warmth.

"Somewhat? Care to elaborate?" Emi inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Aurelia began to explain, but before he could continue, a gothic girl at the back cut in. "We get stronger and level by training and other activities. I presume by hunting the bad guys we'll get points and get stronger. But if we die, we die for real. There's no restart button like in a video game. That world is going to be our lives and there's no turning back."

Aurelia hid his annoyance as he concluded, "Th... That about sums it up... And who might you be?"

"Charlotte. Charlotte Blanc," she replied with a sigh.

"That is correct. But the skills and classes you'll all choose will help you to survive this ordeal," Aurelia assures them, his tone more reassuring now.

"So how do I pick out skills and class? And who gets to choose first?" Emi asks, her curiosity evident.

"I'm glad you asked," Aurelia says with a broad smile, sensing the anticipation in the room.

"Here it comes," Ethan sighs, adjusting himself in his seat.

"You all get to draw straws," Aurelia continues playfully, as the materials appear floating next to him.

"That is correct. But the skills and classes you'll all choose will help you to survive this ordeal," Aurelia assures them, his tone more reassuring now.

"So how do I pick out skills and class? And who gets to choose first?" Emi asks, her curiosity evident.

"I'm glad you asked," Aurelia says with a broad smile, sensing the anticipation in the room.

'Here it comes,' Ethan sighs, adjusting himself in his seat.

"You all get to draw straws," Aurelia continues playfully, as the materials appear floating next to him.

*****

As the proceedings unfolded, Ethan found himself caught off guard as a translucent screen materialized before him, displaying a series of cryptic messages

[Anomaly detected]

[Condition has been met]

[Adjusting compatibility]

[Throne of Destiny 1/1 , Do you wish to continue? Y/N.]

The sudden appearance of the screen sent a shiver down Ethan's spine, his confusion mounting with each passing moment. 'I'm pretty sure this never happened in the book. What's going on?' he muttered, his mind reeling with uncertainty.

'Throne of Destiny? What's that?' Ethan wondered, his brow furrowed in confusion. 'How don't I know about it? And what does it mean by Continue?'

The mysterious messages left Ethan feeling more bewildered than ever, his sense of unease growing with each unanswered question. As he sought to make sense of the strange occurrence, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

With a mixture of trepidation and resignation, Ethan reassured himself, 'Alright, what's the worst that could happen? I'm already dead, though.'

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he reasoned, 'I guess this window works just like the normal ones in the book, though. Yes.'

Ethan accepted the mysterious invitation and clicked the confirmation button, bracing himself for whatever revelations lay beyond the 'Throne of Destiny.'

As Ethan processed the rewards bestowed upon him, his disbelief gradually gave way to excitement and incredulity. 'I get rewards for accepting? These are all broken skills, and I'm getting them for free?' he marveled, his eyes widening in astonishment.

[Copy EX]

[Skill Forge S]

[Rewrite Illusion A]

[Checkpoint A]

'A skill to let me copy others' skills, another for making skills by combining already existing ones but there are restrictions, a skill to help hide my real stats and also lets me view others' stats, and a skill to create checkpoints for quick transport like in a video game. These are all crazy.' Ethan exclaimed, internally.

But it was the revelation of his maxed-out luck that truly caught his attention, eliciting a grin of satisfaction. 'Maxed out luck.' he murmured, his grin widening. 'I'm basically untouchable.'

As he scanned through the rest of the rewards, Ethan's excitement was tempered by a sense of realization. '20 stat points and I can distribute them as I please? That's convenient, considering that the game distributed our points automatically depending on our class.' he noted, his mind already racing with possibilities.

But then, a nagging thought crept into Ethan's mind. 'Class... That's right, my class is Anomaly, but I've never seen that before. This might be troublesome.' he sighed, a flicker of concern clouding his expression as he contemplated the implications of his newfound abilities.

Ethan began allocating his stat points, carefully considering the best distribution for his newfound abilities.

'Now for distribution. I'll put 7 in both strength and MP, 4 for HP, and 1 for Perception and agility. Let's skip intelligence for now.' he decided, his choices reflecting a balance of offensive power, magical prowess, and survivability.

'I guess I could always change my stats when necessary.' Ethan mused, acknowledging the flexibility afforded by his newfound control over his attributes.

As he finalized his decisions, the window appeared once again, bearing a simple yet profound message:

[Congratulations]

Ethan rose from his seat, a devilish grin playing on his lips as he addressed the gathered souls.

'I think it's time to play along with the story.' he declared, his voice tinged with a hint of mischief.

'Let's draw straws.' he continued, his grin widening as he made his way towards the group, eager to participate in the age-old tradition of random selection.

As he left the seat he had been occupying, Ethan failed to notice the subtle cracks that appeared beneath him.

*

*

*

Oh it cracked?

I guess Ethan really got lucky

But I hope nothing bad happens because of that 😇

Related Chapters

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 3: Unlucky Throne

    Ethan sauntered back to the group, slipping seamlessly into the midst of his companions. Despite his brief absence, it seemed that no one had noticed he had left them for a while.Meanwhile, Aurelia continued to explain the rules with his trademark calm demeanor, his voice carrying a playful yet sly undertone. "...Once it's your turn, I'll send you to a pocket dimension where you'll be choosing your skills." he explained, his words sparking anticipation among the gathered souls.As the excitement in the room grew palpable, Aurelia's gaze swept over the eager faces before him. "Any skill that gets picked by someone won't be available to others." he added, his tone tinged with a hint of mischief, knowing full well the competitive nature that would soon unfold among the chosen warriors."Excuse me." Ethan interjected, raising his hand to request permission to ask a question."Yes, Ethan, is there a problem?" Aurelia responded, his smile masking a hint of annoyance at the interruption."W

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 4: Skill Selection

    "What's the matter?" Jean asked, her tone tinged with annoyance at the interruption."Well... umm, my luck got restricted, so I basically have zero luck." Ethan explained, his voice heavy with defeat."Yeah right, let me see." Jean requested, disbelief evident in her tone.'I can't show here my awkward stats and skills, but I can't really say no after causing a scene.' Ethan hesitated before recalling, 'Ah, right, the Stat Illusion skill.'[Status Illusion]: Rewrite your stats however you choose. Effective with anyone with a 40-level difference and below.Ethan activated the skill, swiftly altering his stats to appear similar to everyone else's.Jean glanced at his screen and confirmed, "Yep, that's bad, probably karma for trying Aurelia," her mischievous smile evident."Hey, no fair, you did too. Why am I getting punished?" Ethan retorted, already on the defensive."I don't know what you're talking about." Jean smirked, avoiding Ethan's gaze.Ethan wasn't angry, but it did irk him th

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 5: It's Finally Time

    'It's been 3 hours and I've used my skill 6 times. Although the skill didn't work on Aurelia.' Ethan mused playfully, a hint of disappointment in his voice. 'Now...' His smile widened. 'Let's see wat you've got for me, Dmitry.' he said, feeling excited. ===== Current Name: Dmitry Sokolov Level: 1 HP: 3 MP: 3 Strength: 3 Agility: 1 Intelligence: 9 Perception: 1 Luck: 185 Skills: - [Blueprint A] - [Gifted Hands A] - [Simulation B] ===== 'Blueprint and Simulation. I'll be needing both. Too bad it has a one week cool down and I probably won't be seeing him for like 6 years after now.' Ethan mused, contemplating his options. [Copying Skill: Simulation B] [Continue? Y/N] 'Hell yeah' he thought to himself. This continued for 7 hours, with Ethan able to copy 13 skills. Since he was the only one left, there was no need to draw straws. Aurelia opened the space for him, and he walked in, feeling confident. Inside the space, Aurelia explained what Ethan needed to do. Ethan rem

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 6: Welcoming the Newborn

    In the small town of Lagia, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, the news of a newborn brought a wave of joy and excitement that swept through the cobblestone streets and timber-framed houses. The air was filled with the melodious tunes of minstrels playing lutes and harps, their music echoing through the narrow alleys and bustling market squares.Vibrant banners and colorful ribbons adorned every corner, fluttering in the gentle breeze as if dancing to the lively rhythm of the festivities. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats wafted from the open doors of taverns and bakeries, enticing passersby with their savory scent.In the town square, a grand celebration was underway. Tables laden with sumptuous feasts lined the perimeter, groaning under the weight of roasted game, platters of fruits and cheeses, and flagons of frothy ale and spiced wine. Villagers gathered around, chatting merrily and raising their cups in toast to the newborn and his family.Children r

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 7: Lagia

    With a sense of accomplishment, Jett proceeded to merge [Holographic Decoy] with [Simulation], resulting in the creation of [Tactical Mirage A]. Satisfied with his progress, he felt the fatigue setting in and decided it was time to rest. Drifting off to sleep.Focused solely on his training, Jett dedicated an entire month to refining his control over his Lumix, undistracted by anything else. By the fourth month, he had mastered the second step of his plan. However, he knew that the final step was the most perilous, requiring precise knowledge of human anatomy to successfully recreate his circulatory system with Lumix. Understanding the importance of this knowledge, Jett resolved to acquire it before proceeding further.As two years passed, Jett found himself able to walk around and converse with others, a significant improvement from his earlier state. Though his stats remained unchanged, he appeared healthier and more robust than children his age.Accustomed to his life as the Lord's

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 8: It can't be helped

    "Don't feel too bad, she only just found out too." Eva offered with a nervous smile, hoping to ease the tension that hung in the air.Jett's unease only deepened at his mother's admission. "That doesn't make it any better. If anything, that's even worse." he replied, his tone laced with uncertainty. "When is she coming?" he asked, trying to push aside his apprehension."She's already here." Eva revealed, her smile widening with anticipation.Jett's eyes widened in surprise at the news. "She's already here?" he repeated, caught off guard by the sudden revelation. "I better go see her."But before he could make a move to leave, his mother intercepted him with a firm hand. "You're not going out there dressed like that young man." she admonished, her gaze sweeping over Jett's disheveled appearance."I'll clean up once I see her." Jett protested, still yawning and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.Eva's expression softened, but her resolve remained unyielding. "And I'll rain lightning on yo

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 9: New Siblings

    As they proceeded into the church, Jett couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for his exceptionally high luck stat. 'Yes,' he thought to himself, 'thank you, maxed out luck.' With his nerves slightly calmed, he addressed his father. "It's alright, father. Let's just get it over with.""Right this way, everyone," the priest beckoned, leading them through the lavishly decorated main hall to where the high priest conducted sermons. There, they found a crystal orb awaiting them. "Do you accept God's guidance?" the priest asked, directing his question to Jett.Jett turned back as if seeking approval from his parents, only to catch them shedding tears. 'What's with those two?' he wondered silently. However, he noticed Nerissa nodding excessively, as though trying to cheer him on."Place your hand on the crystal," the priest instructed.Jett complied, placing his hand on the crystal surface. Instantly, his stats were displayed, but he had already manipulated them to his liking beforeh

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    Chapter 10: Training Match

    =====Level: 40Class: WarriorAura: Red (Peak)HP: 96MP: 12Strength: 72Agility: 36Intelligence: 12Perception: 12Skills:[Crash A][Quick Learner A][Battle Rage B][Iron Wall B][Battle Cry C][Speed Boost C][Quick Heal C]=====Jett was genuinely impressed by Nerissa's stats and skills. "Level 40 with Peak Red Aura? That's incredible. I guess it's all thanks to that [Quick Learner]," he mused. "Now I want it."He decided to acquire the [Quick Learner] skill first, considering its potential benefits. "I'd really love to learn a new attack skill, but I don't even have a health recovery skill. [Quick Heal] should be good enough. I'll copy that later."Jett proceeded to copy Nerissa's [Quick Learner] skill. "I kinda feel bad stealing her skill like this, but it can't be helped," he thought to himself. After successfully copying the skill, he wondered if he would get the chance to copy another."When are you going back?" Jett inquired."I'll be here for a month, after that I'll go

Latest Chapter

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 27: Succession Unlocked

    He stretched his hands, and Finn lets go of the spear, but to their surprise, it slipped through his fingers as if it were intangible. An awkward silence hung for a few seconds. "Pftt…" Finn burst into laughter. "Sorry, my bad," he chuckled, unable to contain himself. Red with embarrassment and annoyance, he quickly urged Finn to try again, but Finn disagreed. "C'mon, let me try again," he pleaded, attempting to grasp the spear, but Finn evaded him, dodging every attempt. "Nothing's going to change, just give up," Finn insisted. "I wish I could, but I need to try," he explained, as the notification kept popping up repeatedly. Finally, he managed to grab hold of Finn and slammed him to the ground. He reached for the spear, and to their surprise, he was able to touch it this time. Upon contact, the notification finally changed. [[Throne of Destiny is Reacting to a Fragment]] [[You have Acquired a Fragment]] [[Fragments 1/13]] It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off his

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    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,

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 25: Resting and Bonding

    After conversing with Ray, he convened with the others, exchanging brief words before approaching Elora with a casual demeanor, hinting at his forthcoming claim of the reward. With that, he took his leave. Within the confines of the Emberville estate, Jett roamed the gardens in a state of deep contemplation, his mind dwelling on the events of the recent battle. His thoughts lingered on the strength displayed by his comrades, a testament to their prowess. Yet, amidst their power, Jett recognized the pressing need for his own advancement. "Strength, undeniable strength," he mused inwardly as he treaded silently towards the mansion. His steps were deliberate, avoiding any unnecessary noise until he reached the solace of his chamber. "Now, let's assess my skills and the spoils of battle," he murmured to himself, eager to delve into the rewards that awaited him. ===== Title: Undead Slayer Class: Magic Swordsman Level: 16 HP: 40 MP: 40 Strength: 46 Agility: 55 Intelligence:40 P

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 24: Decided Outcome

    "Round two," Ray declared, his voice carrying across the training ground.Elora surged forward with even greater velocity than before. "Luck won't save you this time," she taunted, her strikes devoid of mercy.Finn refrained from launching any offensive maneuvers, adhering to his instructions to hold back even further. He deftly evaded each incoming blow and parried those he couldn't dodge."What's he playing at? He's not even trying to counterattack," Asher remarked, his focus fixated on Finn rather than Elora. "Was it all just luck?""No, it wasn't. You might not have noticed, but he's deliberately restraining himself," Aiden elucidated."Finn holding back against Elora? That's unheard of," Evelina chimed in, joining the conversation."Simply surviving against her for this long is an accomplishment in itself. Now, I'm itching for a spar myself," Matty added, his fists clenching in anticipation.Meanwhile, Ray observed in silence, his gaze fixed on Finn's weapon. An odd sensation was

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 23: Unexpected Duel

    "Haha, looks like someone needs a lesson," Elora declared, eyeing Jett, who remained expressionless. "When do we start?" she asked, reaching for one of the swords strapped to her back. "Right now. But if you're aiming to win, you better go all out," Jett replied, nodding towards the second sword she carried. Elora's irritation flared at his words, and she turned to Finn. "Blame your friend for what's about to happen to you." Finn felt a chill run down his spine and quickly pulled Jett aside. "What are you doing? Why are you trying to provoke her? And dragging me into it?" "Relax and trust yourself. Trust that weapon you obtained earlier," Jett whispered back. "Believe me." "But can I even win? Her skills are unmatched, even compared to yours," Finn pondered. "You dense fool... did you bother to read the weapon's description?" Jett sighed, disappointed. "Just read it and stop fretting." [Midas Spear EX] [One of the fourteen great weapons forged by the Gods themselves, each imbu

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 22: Reunion

    A group of children, all the same age, gathered at a quiet, secluded spot away from the bustling activities. "So, is everyone here?" a voice chimed in, as if conducting a roll call. Among them stood Asher, Cedric, Evelina, and Freya, who had just joined them. "Hey, guys, hope you didn't start the party without us," Evelina broke the silence with her usual flair. "This isn't a game. But I suppose manners were never taught in your household," a blonde girl retorted sharply. "What did you say? Come on, say it again, I dare you," Evelina bristled, clearly irked by the remark. "I'd rather not stoop to your level," the blonde girl replied coolly. "Elora, stop being mean," a boy who bore a striking resemblance to her interjected with a smile. "Let it go, Lina. Elora could wipe the floor with you if she felt like it," Asher attempted to diffuse the tension while subtly reminding her of who she was challenging. "Oh, right, ummm… Finn isn't here though. We couldn't find him anywhere," Ce

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 21: Hidden Quest 6

    Jett's eyes widened as he processed the gravity of his situation. "Oh right, I forgot about that penalty," he muttered, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips as he glanced away. "You forgot something that important?" Finn's voice sliced through the tense air, his anger palpable as he jabbed a finger accusingly at Jett. "How am I supposed to support you or myself?" he lamented, the weight of their situation evident in his defeated tone. Jett merely shrugged, a sarcastic smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hey, it slipped my mind," he replied casually, though inwardly he acknowledged the gravity of his mistake. He glanced at his status information, seeking solace in any advantage he could find. As he scanned the data, relief flooded him as he spotted a helpful skill. With a breath of relief, he turned his attention back to Finn. "So, how confident are you in your combat power right now?" he inquired, his tone betraying a hint of amusement. Finn shook his head despondently. "Not

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 20: Hidden Quest 5

    [Time Remaining: 00:54:38]"The undead army closed in, leaving Jett with little time to spare. Despite his confidence in his strength, facing hundreds of undying soldiers alone while protecting a lifeless body for 30 minutes was no small feat.As they drew nearer and charged towards him, creating more space between them and Finn. He was ready to utilize every skill in his arsenal to keep them occupied, knowing he had to go all out.[Heavenly Blessing: S]: - 3x Exp bonus - Amplifies all skills accordingly Purifies all Dark attributes and monsters within its area of reach. - Grants Holy attribute and triples the effectiveness of all attributes apart from dark attributes to the user and his allies.- It envelopes the user in a radiant aura, boosting all stats and recovery by 500%, while also granting immunity to status ailments and providing healing over time.- Reduces enemy stats by 300%- Grows with the user.[Duration: 10 minutes][Cooldown: 24 hours]"This skill always gives me g

  • Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character    

    Chapter 19: Hidden Quest 4

    "Kill your ally? What kind of mission is that?" Finn grumbled, his eyes fixed on the screen before turning to meet Jett's expressionless face. A surge of apprehension coursed through Finn as he tried to gauge Jett's thoughts. "He's not seriously considering killing me, right?" Finn thought, taking a cautious step back."This objective seems... too straightforward," Jett mused, his gaze still locked on the mission details. He noted the incomplete sentence and frowned as the screen displayed, leaving the rest hanging.[Quest Objective: Kill your ally...] [Reward: Force Contract Knowledge]Jett spoke without turning to Finn, his attention fully on the mission at hand. "The objective isn't complete," he pointed out, his voice devoid of emotion."What does that mean? I've never encountered an incomplete quest in WAR BOUND before," Finn admitted, a hint of unease creeping into his tone."That's because you've rarely ventured beyond trading and you also tend to avoid all events, am I wrong?