The sky thickens with acrid smoke as flames dance wildly. Distant screams of help and agony ring in my head.
The air echoes with crackling embers, embellishing hell on earth.
Burning red carpets and polished marble succumb the once opulent mansion into a god's campfire.
Hot.
I can't feel my legs and my vision blurs. Where am I?
*BANG!*
A portrait falls beside me, shattering into fragmented memories.
The fire lights up the picture into mere ashes.
My gaze fixates on the portrait. Four fading members of red hair and eyes.
I feel...regret and anger. The emotions of betrayal.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
Footsteps so loud it could burst my eardrums. How can such a surreal sound mask the flaming blare?
"Interesting...to think I would find a Heavenly Martial Physique in this world. Good, you will be the catalyst of the beginning." the mysterious voice says.
Ah...that's right. I am...
...
Who am I?
My mission...is to assist the Murim...for my revenge?
No, I...need to change the fate...of...somebody?
"Loi...Loi..." Vanishing voices reverberate.
Loi?
...
I am Loi!
My mind abruptly returns after a loud bang.
My body jerks up, breathless.
"Hah! Hah huff huff huff...what the?" I mumble.
"Loi? You alright? Anywhere feels off?" my father says beside me.
A soft mattress below me and a damp and dark atmosphere. I'm still in the prison.
"I'm fine. How long was I out?" I ask.
"A few hours."
I nod. "Okay..."
-----------
Your consciousness is intact. Congratulations!
The fragment of Morja Esbavien's soul is integrated into your soul.
You've extracted from a villain and lost a portion of your humanity.
------------
------------
Calm Mind
Grants immunity to fear and maintains a rational mind even in the face of death.
------------
...
The female healer on duty checks my vitals and discharges me from the infirmary.
"What happened?" my father asks on the way out.
"I'm not sure..."
That dream...it's a memory of Morja.
But the most important information I got is...the Heavenly Martial Physique. That tone is a martial artist.
Damn it...the worst scenario is here.
=======================
I sit on a large rock with my legs crossed underneath the moonlight. A piece of log stands behind. Four days left until the competition.
...
That memory was from thirty years ago. Right now, I don't know how deep the Outworlders invaded. I will have to reorganise my plans.
Moreover, this power of mine was bestowed by an unknown god strong enough to change the string of fate and control time. Before my death, I saw a silhouette of a young girl. A coincidence? Probably not.
I close my eyes and imagine the burning mansion. It felt like yesterday. When I immerse myself, I completely become Morja, sharing his senses and knowledge.
I grip the hilt and flip back into the sky. Suddenly, I appear in five different directions and simultaneously slash through the log, effectively carving one pentagon and five triangles. My movements uplifted violent wind.
Placed together, the carved shapes form a star.
This is the Star Trigram Sword Art, a beginner martial art taught to Morja.
Hahaha...a beginner martial arts is this destructive?
The ground around the log has five wide and deep cuts that extend to surrounding trees, cutting them into two.
I barely exerted strength...
In addition, my high talent enabled me to see flaws in the sword art and possibly improve it.
"My explosive speed can do better. Let's try six." I mumble.
I chop another log and place it on the ground. This time, I jump in and slash six times with a tapestry of afterimages.
"Not enough! I can push myself further!"
As my challenges grow increasingly difficult, my blade slowly forms a seamless dance, transcending the bounds of mortal perception. My phantom-like speed blurs the line between illusion and reality, leaving behind an ethereal lingering hurricane.
Finally, with gritted teeth, I achieve eight slashes at the speed of light, forming elevated columns of nature in the aftermath.
Resting amidst the remnants of mud and grass is an octagon with eight triangles.
"Huff huff...the improved sword art displays the power of Pseudo-Master Swordsman, amazing!" I exclaim.
!!
When I try to take another step, I stumble. I'm out of energy.
Although I am curious about what other knowledge Morja has, I shouldn't synchronise too frequently. I fear losing my temperament.
Back at the cabin, I see my father practising his sword. Every swing exudes great stability and power.
"Dad," I say.
!
My father jumps at my sudden voice. "Loi? I...can't feel your presence. Is this the talent of Morja?"
I nod. "Are you done? I need to talk to you."
"Yeah, I am about to finish up."
My father does a few more swings and drops the sword.
He descends onto a stump. "So, what's up?"
I expand my aura into a barrier, copying what my dad did.
"I didn't elaborate on the war because of Mom but I believe you are strong enough to hear the truth."
I begin to explain everything I know about the Outworlders and the war.
"Thirty years ago...that's when that person arrived..." My father mumbles.
...?
He turns back to me. "Truth be told, I've been investigating the strange disappearance of several people, some were my subordinates. The Chief Commander Zepdas stopped my investigation and I started suspecting him since."
"You look calm learning about other world invasions."
"I tend to keep an open mind. Anyways, many puzzles connect now. Don't worry too much about them or me. I won't be careless."
"No, I'm telling you this because I want you to not do anything. I have the plan to lure out the large organization behind this," I say.
"...Alright."
My father abruptly swings his arm and a beam of aura shoots from his fingers and penetrates the forest nearby.
"An uninvited guest." He mumbles. "Loi, wash up and go to bed. Just worry about the tournament and don't follow me."
He then chases after the mysterious stalker.
...
I wanted to ask about apostles and gods...
Those can wait.
YOU ARE READING
A Background Character's Fate
Fantasy"In war, commoners are the victims in victory or defeat." Struck by poverty amidst a long and devastating war, an ordinary mercenary dies among the countless corpses on a snowy battlefield. Yet by a stroke of luck, he regressed to his younger self...
