A/N: This is the start of another flashback chapter... Thank you for reading as far as this part!
Still at Everson City, I went to a nearby mall to rest my legs. Few people were hanging near the stalls, and the shops were almost empty. Window shoppers were everywhere looking for the famous trends in clothes and gadgets. People like me sat down and waste time near the fountain, appreciating its view.
The air conditioning inside was adequate, not too cold or humid. Perfect for seeking refuge under the blistering desert heat. I got bored sitting alone, and I thought of finding some entertainment. Seeing the kids and those in heart play in the arcade, I was intrigued and went there.
The people were in the queue to play the game named 'Iron Warrior Tournament.' Displayed in the body of the video game machine were the characters Pete Sparrow and Shangwu Li. Both were iconic characters in the franchise. Shadowing them were Shin Yamanaka and Kotaro Mitsui, both also famous characters.
I tried to play these games before and admitted I am no good at it. Realizing it was a waste of time, I gave up playing and just became an avid audience. That way, I enjoy the game without wasting effort on meaningless endeavors.
It was my lucky day as the mall hosted a tournament. Banners were everywhere, displaying the event at the Cyberzone. It was a portion of the mall that sells and provides services for Computers and IT-related matters. I watched intently with the participants who had their supporters behind them.
The fight began in the game. The players anticipated the moves of their characters. Using their joystick to navigate his character while the four buttons enter their combinations, they carefully observed their opposition. The first player using the character, 'Pete Sparrow' had the upper hand. Seeing this, his supporters cheered for him while the opposing team was silent.
As the fight continued, the player playing as the character, Kotaro Mitsui allowed his opponent to have the upper hand. He wanted to inflate the opposing player's ego, giving him the first two rounds. In round three, the fight had changed, the player playing as Kotaro, began being more aggressive. The unpredictable moves and fluid combinations had caught the opposing player off guard.
The player playing Pete Sparrow was having a hard time. Being cornered in the fourth round, it was obvious that the player was not happy. The fight had become frustrating and against his favor. In the end, he lost and exited the arcade. The supporters of the player playing as Kotaro Mitsui cheered at him.
In the end, the player who played Kotaro won. Seeing the disappointing exit of the player using Pete, his supporters exited as well. The announcer then announced the victory and then concluded the tournament.
It was an intriguing fight, bloating the enemy's ego and then crushing it with a devastating blow. I would also feel bad if someone did it to me. It may be a game, but it can be a degrading experience if you are at the opposing end.
Checking at my watch, it was eleven-fifty. It was time to eat, and then exited the arcade, heading to the mall's cafeteria. Looking around, I saw a beautiful woman in a red dress. Her figure, style, and poise were eye-catching. She captivated a being like me, even not of human origin.
To ease my boredom, I followed the woman where she went. Being stalked could be creepy at times. Closing at her, I tried to scare her by grabbing my shoulder. My stomach suddenly grumbled before my hand reached her shoulder. It caught her attention, chuckled at me, and made me embarrassed and tried to leave.
"Elios, there's something we need to discuss!" The woman in red clothes suddenly said.
"What!?" How did this person knew my name?" I was surprised as I glanced at her.
"What's wrong, it like you seen a ghost?" Thalia smiled with her green eyes looking at mine.
"Nothing, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" I glanced away from her.
She suddenly gave me a smirk and spoke, "It must have been the messenger. What did he say to you?"
Hearing her words I kept silent, undeterred by my silence she tried to force my words out of my tongue.
"He must had said that I cannot be trusted and the like? He also told you that I was a manipulator as well?" Her words surprised me.
Spot on by her observations, she surprised me. The messenger warned me about her, and I suspected he may have shared something. However, I conceded the idea of keeping secrets and said, "You're right! The messenger just visited me three days ago!"
"He must have fixed the system by then, cool!" Thalia looked excited in learning what transpired between me and the messenger.
"I will help you as much as you can. However, I need your cooperation above everything else!" She said and tiptoed to touch my forehead, "What I will do next will help enhance your abilities. Trust me and the process, and you'll become more powerful!"
My view suddenly turned black as if engulfed by the void. Thalia was the one I saw before me, "What we'll do next is to access your memory. This step will allow you to improve faster than you'll learn by experience. Remember, only I can help you with this process!"
"Understood!" I nodded in reply.
Deep inside, I had objections to this method of accessing my memories. However, if this promise to make me more powerful, I will let this one slide. Once I become powerful enough, I will deal with this pantheon of gods and rule the world for myself! It's a mistake that this rebel of a goddess thought she could manipulate me.
"Are you ready, Elios?" Thalia asked.
"Yes, I am!" I responded, already made my mind.
My body felt stretched by an unknown force, and I felt light, unable to move. My body felt light being crushed by a wind-like force that passed through my body. The strange sensation lasted for several minutes until I suddenly passed out.
"Elios, wake up!" A familiar voice called me.
"We will have to kick him before he wakes up." His companion replied.
I felt a strong force hitting me on the left side of my abdomen. The pain woke me up, and I grunted loudly and cursed at the ones who kicked me. Opening my eyes, I saw familiar figures whom I recall to be Alendi and Shotorah.
"Ouch, what did you do that for?" I stood grunting.
"Humans are at it again, they attacked a settlement nearby." Alendi said urgently.
I looked at Shotorah who handed me my longbow, "You know what to do!" He said and the two left.
Everything felt real, from the sensation of my skin to my sense of smell. It felt like the Kaspion I remembered. Looking at my clothes, it were the standard gear of an elven elite warrior. It was a light and durable garb protected by interlocking metal plates. The workmanship was intricate, and it was difficult for me to describe the rest of the details.
As the fog in my mind cleared, I remembered that it was the time when a human army attacked an elven settlement in Norwid. We, a detachment of fifty elven immortals, were ordered to defend it at all costs. The humans who attacked were formidable with their weapons and armor, causing a disadvantage to our side.
Humans were expanding rapidly, which concerned the elven elders and kings. Despite this reality, there was no united front against the humans or a reform to counter them.
I navigated myself outside of our camp. From the top of the hill, I saw the siege. Humans used their torches to illuminate themselves. Their siege engines laid waste to weak elven fortifications protecting the settlement. I rendezvous with the other elven immortals in the area and met with them.
The eldest of us, Hiledi, saw a weak spot on the human army's flanks. He told us to take advantage and sneak to kill the king in his camp. Pointing at me, Hiedi ordered me that I should lead the small force to assassinate the target. He carefully chose the others who would accompany me in my task.
While others obeyed their command, two elven immortals objected and said, "Why should we follow someone not trained by a guild?"
Hiledi approached one of them and punched him in the stomach. The elven immortal who refused to cooperate grunted and apologized.
"Good, follow your orders as if your life depends on it!" Hiledi looked at me, "I trust your abilities, Elios! With their king dead, it would result in a massive rout. Make us proud!"
I nodded,"It's my pleasure to serve the Elvenkin!"
After our preparations, we left with haste. Navigating through the darkness of the night, we followed the moon's light. Our eyes were augmented to adjust to it, making us see our surroundings clearly at night.
We paused for a while and scouted for enemy sentries and traps. We crouched as two of my companions scanned our surroundings. Seeing that no one was around, we continued to move on our way with our swift and light feet. On our way to the King's camp, we wasted no time.