Chereads / The Vman Chronicals / Chapter 3 - Echoes of the Past

Chapter 3 - Echoes of the Past

The trading outpost in Celdrom buzzed with activity as travelers bartered for supplies. Jimothy marveled at how quickly they had arrived in the city.

"I can't believe we made it to Celdrom in just 2 hours!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

Anon, their mysterious guide, glanced around the bustling outpost. "We are in the trading outpost right now. We'll pick up a few things and then leave."

The team gathered necessary supplies for their journey, but Vman couldn't shake off a growing suspicion. Something felt off, particularly about their provisions—or lack thereof.

"We're not getting any food. Isn't that strange?" Vman voiced his concern, eyeing their meager supplies.

"Who is this guy anyway?" he whispered to Jimothy, eyeing Anon cautiously.

"I am Anon, the strongest human on Earth," Anon replied to Vman's unspoken question, his voice carrying a weight of authority.

Vman, ever skeptical, challenged him. "If you're so strong, why didn't you deal with Seiku before?"

Anon's response was grave. "Seiku had no humanity. He killed indiscriminately—women, children, the disabled. Anyone or anything alive that crossed his path, Seiku took life from."

Jimothy's eyes widened with horror. "I thought he was just evil, not a genocidal maniac!"

Vman was perplexed. "How did you not know? He's infamous worldwide."

Anon silenced their bickering with a stern warning. "Stop your arguing. We're in Celdrom now. I expect you two to stay quiet. People might be onto us."

"But why? Who would want to attack us?" Jimothy questioned, puzzled by Anon's caution.

Anon's explanation sent shivers down their spines. "You have Seiku's soul inside your body. People want him dead. If an angry victim of his seeks revenge and attacks you, they could risk releasing him again."

"But if attacking me releases Seiku, why would they attack in the first place?" Jimothy asked, trying to make sense of the danger.

Vman, ever pragmatic, interjected, "Who cares about releasing Seiku? All they want is revenge."

Anon cut the conversation short, "We are going to the training grounds now!". leading them towards an underground training ground through a hidden tunnel behind the ruined castle.

"But what about food? We can't train on empty stomachs," Vman protested, a practical concern amidst the looming danger.

Anon's response was curt. "If your biggest worry is food, you're not ready for what's to come. Fool."

Reluctantly, they followed him into the dimly lit underground battlefield, the glow of ID creating an eerie atmosphere.

"Why is there light underground? Is it fire?" Vman questioned, his curiosity piqued.

Anon explained, "No, it's the ID that gathered on such a spiritual ground. In the past, Drifts were common, and battles were celebrated. Now, it's just a wasteland."

As they ventured deeper, Anon vanished, leaving them alone in the strange underground chamber. Panic set in when the entrance disappeared, leaving them trapped in the dim light.

"Where did you go? Did you betray us?" Jimothy's voice quivered with fear, his eyes darting around the dark expanse.

Vman's voice was laced with despair. "This is it, Jimothy. This is the end of the road. We're going to die down here because we're too gullible."

Anon's voice echoed in their minds, a reassurance amidst the darkness. "If you can still hear me, you are powerful enough to pick up even the slightest of vibrations. That means you are on high alert and ready for what you will face."

Vman's voice trembled with anticipation. "What do you mean? What are we going to face?"

Anon's voice resonated in their minds. "You are going to fight Seiku's drift. He is sealed into Jimothy, but his aura leaks out of him constantly. The ID will change and form into memories, creating a false Seiku to fight against."

"Jimothy! What's happening?" Vman's cry was drowned out by a blinding flash of Jimothy's skeletal arm. The room plunged into darkness, and they were enveloped in the unknown, awaiting the challenges that lay ahead.