CHAPTER 3: True Thoughts( Plot twist)
Ain could still feel the faint hum of energy coursing through his body as the glowing orb that had given him his new abilities faded into the void. The silence returned, pressing against him like a suffocating blanket. He stood there for a moment, flexing his hands, testing his power—the weight of the boxing system( Echo of the fallen)and the tantalizing promise of Time's Embrace buzzing faintly in his mind.
Just as he took his first tentative step forward, the void trembled.
"What now?" Ain muttered, squinting into the darkness.
A second orb materialized, glowing even brighter than the first. Its energy crackled with a strange, chaotic intensity, sending ripples through the void. Ain stared, his jaw tightening.
"No way," he whispered.
From within the orb's light, a figure stepped forward, his silhouette unmistakable. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a grin that could only belong to one person.
"Jack?!" Ain's voice was a mix of shock and fury.
Jack grinned, the same smug expression Ain had come to loathe. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite punching bag. Fancy meeting you here."
Before Ain could respond, the feminine voice echoed once again, her tone dripping with amusement.
"Ah, you've noticed. Yes, Ain, I've decided to... spice things up a little. Watching you alone wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. So, I brought Jack here too."
"Entertaining?!" Ain barked. "This isn't some twisted reality show!"
The voice chuckled. "Oh, but it is, dear Ain. And Jack here has been quite the source of chaos. I figured, why not give him a chance to shine too? Fair's fair, after all."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the deal? You gave me something, didn't you?"
"Indeed," the voice purred. "I've granted you a system as well. It's called Mind Reader—a lovely little tool that lets you read the thoughts of anyone within range. And to make things even more interesting, I've given you the skills Ain so foolishly passed on."
"What?!" Ain shouted.
"Oh, yes, did really you think I had bestowed u the power just because of a mistake of your death I'll have you know this power was always meant for you I had just tweaked the instructions a little" the voice continued, ignoring his outburst. " But Jack now wields Fist of the Immortal, Soul Reaver, and Mind Over Muscle. Quite the deadly combination, don't you think?"
Jack's grin widened as he clenched his fists, a faint aura shimmering around him. "You know, Ain, I always knew you were a loser in life. Looks like fate agrees with me."
Ain's mind raced. The feminine voice had essentially turned his greatest enemy into an overpowered rival. Worse still, Jack now had the ability to read his every thought.
"Let me guess," Jack said, his voice mocking. "Right now, you're wondering how you're going to stop me. Don't bother. You've already lost."
Ain gritted his teeth, forcing himself to calm down. He can hear my thoughts. Fine. Let's make this interesting.
"Oh, I'm not worried about you," Ain said, smirking. " Plus the power was meant for me meaning I have something you don't . Now I finally get to see what you're really made of."
Jack's eyes narrowed, his grin faltering for a moment before returning full force. "You've got a death wish, Ain. I'll be happy to grant it."
The voice interrupted their growing tension with a theatrical sigh. "Ah, such delightful energy. You two are going to make this so much fun. Now then, off you go. Back in your youth make sure to entertain me."
The void around them began to crackle and shift, the fabric of reality tearing apart as the feminine voice spoke her final words:
"And remember, boys, this isn't just about survival. It's about proving yourselves. Let the games begin."
The last thing Ain saw before the void swallowed him was Jack's smug face, and the last thought he had was simple: I'll make you regret this, Jack.
When Ain opened his eyes, he wasn't in the void anymore•`