The breeze was cool and gentle as Ethan sat on the cliff's edge, his legs dangling freely over the steep drop. The sprawling forest stretched endlessly below, a sea of eralds that rustled softly under the mid-morning sun. The horizon was hazy, blending seamlessly into the sky, and Ethan found himself lost in the vastness of it all.
His mind wandered aimlessly, unable to grasp anything concrete. It was like staring into an empty void within himself. Despite the beauty around him, there was a gnawing sense of loss—a constant reminder that he didn't even know who he was.
Ethan sighed, leaning back slightly as he stared into the distance. His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, sudden chi that echoed in his ears but felt like it resonated inside his head.
Startled, he sat upright, his heart racing. A translucent panel materialized in front of him, hovering in mid-air.
"What the...?" Ethan muttered, his eyes wide as he stared at the glowing text. He instinctively reached out to touch it but hesitated, unsure if it was real or so trick of his fragnted mind.
The panel displayed a notification.
=====
[Mission Complete: Rescue Operation]
Objective: Use the information gathered by ???? to locate and rescue ???? 's family. Ensure the operation's success without harm to the captives.
Rewards:
1. 15,000 EXP
2. 50 Ascension Points
3. 50 Free Attribute Points
4. Exclusive Item Unlock
=====
Ethan blinked, his confusion deepening. "Rescue operation? Is this about the mission I rember… the family? Was it completed?"
He frowned, trying to piece together the fragnted images in his mind. "But... how does this work? What is this thing?"
Before he could process further, another notification appeared, layering over the first.
=====
[New Mission: mory Retrieval I]
Objective: Familiarize yourself with the system interface and functions.
Rewards: Completion will restore 5% of your lost mory.
=====
The ssage left Ethan speechless, his heart pounding as he stared at the glowing words. "mory retrieval?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Is this... is this how I can get my mories back?"
The notification faded and was replaced by another panel. This ti, it was labeled clearly at the top.
=====
[Status Panel]
Na: ????
Level: 12
Rank: High Star Apprentice
EXP: 72000 / 75000
Ascension Points: 79
Wealth: Unlimited
Attributes:
Strength: 105
Speed: 105
Endurance: 103
Intelligence: 103
Charisma: 105
Free Attribute Points: 70
Skills:
1. ????
2. ????
3. ????
4. ????
5. Heightened Senses
6. ????
Divine Skills:
1. ????
2. ????
=====
Ethan stared at the panel in awe and disbelief. His gaze lingered on his na—or the lack thereof. "Why is my na blank?" he asked aloud, his voice tinged with frustration.
His eyes moved down to the details, noting the unfamiliar terms; Ascension Points, Free Attribute Points, Skills, Divine Skills. Each word sparked questions in his mind, but there were no imdiate answers.
"What is all of this?" he muttered, his hands trembling slightly as he reached the panel. It hovered just out of his grasp, its faint glow unwavering.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan steadied himself. "Alright," he said softly, his resolve hardening. "If this is how to get my mories back, I'll start here. I'll figure out this... system."
Ethan hesitated montarily, his eyes fixed on the translucent panel hovering before him. It felt surreal like he had stumbled into a dream he couldn't wake from. Yet the promise of restoring his mories pushed him to action.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Let's get started."
Ethan reached toward the glowing panel, his fingers lightly grazing the interface. Just then, he realized that wasn't how the system operated. "I guess this is not how I'm supposed to do it."
He then tried to ntally click on it. The text shimred and rearranged, revealing a new nu labeled [System Overview]. A brief description appeared beneath it.
Ethan let out a sigh of relief after a few monts. "So this is how the Unlimited System works." He studied the panel for a while and then wondered, "Does everyone have this system, or is it just ?"
He realized he couldn't ask Marie, Celia, or the old man about it until he regained his mory. For now, he would need to rely on their care and guidance.
Then, another chi sounded.
=====
[Mission Complete: mory Retrieval I]
Restoring 5% of mory to the host.
=====
Ethan's gaze lingered on the words "5% mory restoration." He let out a slow breath, the weight of his situation settling over him again. "Five percent..." he murmured. "It's not much, but... maybe it's enough to get my na back."
The thought sent a pang through his chest. He couldn't explain why, but not knowing his na felt like the cruelest blow. "That's all I'm asking for now," he whispered, his voice resolute. "Just my na."
Ethan suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his head, causing him to wince and clutch his temples. The world around him seed to blur for a mont as the pain intensified, almost like a pulse echoing inside his mind.
Then, faint voices began to surface—distant, muffled, but unmistakably familiar. Your next read awaits at empire
"Ethan!" a voice called out, distorted yet desperate. It was as if soone was shouting his na across a vast chasm.
"Ethan, we need to move!" another voice, firm and commanding, followed. The tones varied, gentle and urgent, but each carried an undeniable familiarity that tugged at his heart.
As the voices grew louder, fleeting images flashed through his mind. Blurred faces of people he couldn't recognize swirled before him, their features indistinct but clear emotions—concern, fear, determination.
"Ethan..." A hand reaching toward him, a shadowy figure standing by his side, another running ahead through flas.
The flashes ca faster, overwhelming his senses, until, suddenly, everything stopped.
Ethan gasped for air, his heart pounding in his chest. The pain subsided as quickly as it had co, leaving him slightly dazed but with a single, undeniable truth now etched into his consciousness.
"Ethan," he whispered, the na feeling foreign yet familiar on his tongue. "My na is Ethan."
He exhaled shakily, his hands trembling as he repeated it, this ti with more certainty. "I'm Ethan... that's who I am."
Though the voices and faces remained a mystery, the one thing he knew for sure was that he finally had a piece of himself back.
Unbeknownst to Ethan, the old man stood so distance away, partially hidden by the shadows of the surrounding trees. His presence was perfectly masked, a skill honed over decades, allowing him to observe without being noticed.
The old man's sharp eyes watched as Ethan sat on the cliff, murmuring his na to himself, the weight of the discovery evident in his expression. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the old man's lips, though his brow remained furrowed in thought.
"He's starting to piece things together," the old man muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. Though he kept his distance, he could feel the faint resonance of the Primal power still lingering within Ethan, albeit dormant for now.
Questions were burning in his mind, things he needed to confirm about the boy. But he knew better than to rush. For now, Ethan needed ti—to regain his mories, to rediscover his identity, and perhaps to fully awaken the power buried deep within him.
The old man's gaze softened, his expression unreadable but laced with a tinge of nostalgia. He clenched his hands behind his back as if steadying himself against the tide of emotions threatening to surface.
Quietly, he whispered a single na. "Richard..."
The na lingered in the air for a mont, carried away by the gentle breeze as the old man turned and retreated silently into the forest.
***
The sound of boots striking pavent echoed through the air, a steady rhythm punctuated by sharp commands. The sprawling military base was a hive of activity, its rigid order starkly contrasting the chaos often found beyond its walls. Soldiers marched in tight formations, their uniforms pristine, the insignias on their chests gleaming under the midday sun.
Among them was a younger version of the old man—barely in his twenties, lean and wiry but with a spark of determination in his eyes. His na was Elias, which carried no weight back then, no reputation to precede it. He was just one of many fresh recruits, eager and nervous as they were led through the base's labyrinthine grounds.
Elias's uniform was slightly ill-fitting, a stark reminder of how new he was to this world. He adjusted his belt nervously, glancing at the others in his unit. So were as green as him, while others carried themselves with the confidence of n who had seen more than their share of battles.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, and the recruits snapped to attention, their bodies stiffening instinctively. A towering figure strode toward them, commanding the respect that could silence even the rowdiest soldiers.
He was their drill instructor, a man whose na was spoken with equal parts reverence and fear; Captain Richard Cole.
Captain Cole was everything Elias aspired to be—broad-shouldered and imposing, his every movent radiating strength and authority. His sharp blue eyes scanned the line of recruits, his gaze lingering on each face as if assessing their worth instantly.
"You call yourselves soldiers?" Cole's voice bood, rough and gravelly, as he paced before the line. "I see a line of boys and girls playing dress-up. If you think this uniform makes you warriors, you're wrong."
Elias swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had heard the stories about Cole, the grueling training regins, and the relentless expectations. But standing there, face to face with the man, he felt the weight of those stories settle heavily on his shoulders.
"You!" Cole barked, pointing directly at Elias. The young man straightened instinctively, his heart pounding. "What's your na, recruit?"
"Elias, sir!" he replied, his voice loud but not quite steady enough for Cole's liking.
"Elias," Cole repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. He stepped closer, looming over the young man. "You think you have what it takes to survive, Elias? To keep your comrades alive? To co back in one piece?"
"Yes, sir!" Elias shouted, louder this ti, his voice filled with a determination he wasn't sure he entirely believed.
Cole studied him for a mont, his piercing gaze unwavering. Then, to Elias's surprise, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of the captain's lips. "We'll see about that," Cole said, his tone almost amused. "Welco to hell, recruit."
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