Chapter 42 - The System Breakdown

The System BreakdownTaranis lay in bed, his body aching and his right arm bound in thick bandages. He'd been slipping in and out of consciousness for the past week. The pain in his arm was relentless, a reminder of the brutal assault by the Nazgûl. His mind felt clouded, though there was one thing Taranis knew for certain: he had to check the system. It was his only way of understanding what had happened and how to move forward.He reached out with his left hand, wincing at the weakness in his body, and activated the interface. The familiar glow of the system appeared before him, but something was horribly wrong. Instead of the clean, clear display he'd grown accustomed to, the interface was garbled and fractured. The numbers were a mess—flickering, disappearing, and reappearing in a chaotic jumble.Taranis (his voice shaking): "No... no, no, no..."The System Breakdown: StatsHis stats, usually so reliable, were now unreadable. Every number was flashing, unstable. His heart raced as he tried to focus on the stats—his Health, Mana, and abilities—but they kept glitching.Health: ??? (flashing in red)Mana: ???Strength: ???Endurance: ???Agility: ???Luck: ???Abilities: UnavailableNothing made sense. Taranis was horrified. His mind struggled to understand what was happening. The system—the very thing that had given him his power, his abilities—was broken.Taranis (horrified, barely above a whisper): "What's going on? Why is it like this...?"For the first time since coming to Middle-earth, Taranis felt vulnerable. His connection to the system had always been a source of strength, a way to keep track of his progress, to know how much further he had to go. But now, it was gone. If the system didn't come back, he was just a man—no more than that.Gandalf's VisitAt that moment, the door to his room creaked open, and Gandalf stepped in. He had been keeping watch over Taranis during his recovery, but now the wizard's usual calm demeanor seemed touched by concern.Gandalf (approaching the bed, his tone soft but concerned): "You've been unconscious for a week, Taranis. How are you feeling?"Taranis barely glanced up, his mind still racing as he stared at the broken system interface in front of him. His fingers hovered over the screen, but no amount of will could restore the data.Taranis (with a shaky breath, voice filled with panic): "The system... it's broken, Gandalf. I can't see my stats... my health, my mana, it's all corrupted. I don't understand. What does this mean?"Gandalf studied Taranis for a moment, his face unreadable. He clearly didn't understand the full extent of the situation—he had never seen the system before, had no idea what it was that gave Taranis his power. The wizard simply knew that the young man before him was in trouble, but the cause was unclear.Gandalf (softly, with a knowing look in his eyes): "I don't know what this system of yours is, Taranis. But I can tell it's important to you. And I can sense that something... darker is at work here. Perhaps this is just the beginning."Taranis felt a pang of frustration at Gandalf's lack of understanding. The wizard didn't know about the system. He couldn't know. How could he? And yet... Gandalf's words still carried weight. Darker forces at work. That thought alone sent a chill through Taranis.Taranis's Determination to Fight OnDespite the confusion, Taranis pushed the thoughts of the broken system to the back of his mind. He couldn't afford to focus on it now. He had faced darkness before—he could face it again.He met Gandalf's gaze, his voice a little steadier now, though still filled with raw determination.Taranis (gritting his teeth, eyes burning with resolve): "I don't need the system to fight. I'll figure out a way. I've fought monsters, faced down dark forces, and I've survived—broken arm or not. I'll keep going, with or without it."Gandalf seemed to take a moment, his expression softening as he studied Taranis's resolve. He nodded slightly, though there was a wariness in his eyes, a hint that he knew this path would be a hard one.Gandalf (carefully, his voice grave): "I do not doubt your strength, Taranis. But I fear the road ahead will be more treacherous than you imagine. Whatever force has done this to you... it is not of this world. Be vigilant."Taranis nodded, though the unease in Gandalf's voice lingered in his mind. Still, he knew one thing for certain: He wasn't going to give up. He had come too far to let this stop him. The world would test him, but he wouldn't break. Not now.Moving ForwardEven without the system to guide him, Taranis steeled himself for the battles to come. There was a growing darkness in Middle-earth, and whatever forces had attacked him, whatever force had caused his system to fail, he would face it head-on.As Gandalf turned to leave, Taranis found himself alone again, but the fire inside him burned bright. It didn't matter if the system was gone. He still had his will, his skills, and the strength to push forward.Taranis would find a way to survive. He always had.