Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
The night after the battle was quiet, the village wrapped in silence. The air was cool, the only sounds coming from the distant hooting of owls. Despite the victory, Adam did not sleep. He sat outside the mansion, looking at the stars filling the vast, unbroken sky.
Alert: Anchor setting available. >
you want to return to the anchor? Yes/No >
Adam's face twitched as the message appeared on his screen. This The system request was a non-verbal question. Should he return to the base? The village was safe, the soldiers were defeated, and his efforts had paid off. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was not yet done.
"Not yet," Adam whispered.
saved. Time left: 6 hours until reset. >
messages disappear, Adam sighed. To retreat would be to undo their hard-won victory, but to gain important information About the soldiers' intentions - about Garon's true intentions. What were they looking for? Why were they so interested in this village?
"Arama."
The soft voice made him wake up, and he turned to see Elder Bai standing behind him, his expression calm but worried.
"You need to rest," Bai said as he walked forward. "Your injuries..."
"I'm fine," Adamu finished. He pointed to the empty street in front of him. "Just thinking."
The old man sat down next to him, resting his tired hands on his knees. Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Finally, Bai said, "You fought well today." Beyond what anyone expected. "
Adam looked at him. "I didn't do it alone. The village will gather. If it weren't for Garrett, Feng and everyone else, we might not have a chance."
Bai slowly moved. "True. But you are the light, Adam. Never forget the man who brought us together.
Adam looked at the old man, the weight of his words settling on him.
"What do you think they wanted?" Adam asked in a low voice. "I mean the soldiers. Garon thinks he's not the type to attack a village for no reason."
The Bye mode was dark. "I thought so too. This village has no resources or strategic importance. Why did you come here?"
Adam opened the system interface and checked The costs and data collected during the competition. The Wolf Helm of the Order caught his eye, and its bright light gave it a possible clue.
View>
Name: Wolf Helmet Description: Worn by Garon Greg, this helmet represents the leader in the Obsidian Fang military group. The remaining energy shows that it is filled with symbolic symbols, perhaps related to something hidden in the village. **> Adam's eyes widened. "Tracking treasure?" "What is it?" Bai asked as he saw Adam's expression change.
"There's something here," Adam said quickly. "It's what they were looking for. A treasure"
Bai's face shifted, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "If this is true, we should find it before the others. "
The next morning, Adam and Bai began their search. With the help of Gareth and Feng, they crossed the village and explored every hidden corner A forgotten barn The villagers entered with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
It was only in the evening that Adam came across something. In the basement of the infirmary, he found a small wooden box covered in mud and moss. The lock was old but tough, its face held in pale rays that shone in the dim light.
"Old!" Adam shouted.
Bai hurried down the stairs, her eyes widening "I haven't seen this in years," Chest said, her voice filled with fear. "It's from my past. "
"Do you know what's in there?" Adam asked.
Bai shivered. No one would do anything. They had to go after the lock, but they had already lost it. "
Adam leaned against his chest, keeping his hand on the lock. The system interface appeared in his vision and offered a solution.
Tip: Use spiritual power to break the seal. Caution: May trigger protective mechanisms. >
Delayed response. Protective mechanisms?
Bai said in a strong voice, "It's a good death.
Adam nodded, focusing on his hand, and turned to the lock. The runes came to life, glowing before fading with a soft click. The box opened with a creak, revealing its contents.
Inside was a small ball no larger than a fist. The surface glowed with an ethereal light Swirling and the colors seemed to change and dance.
Check>
Chrono Shard Type: Time Shard Benefits: Increases time manipulation ability. Can be integrated into the Infinite Rewind system for advanced tasks. **>
Adam looked at the bullet, his heart pounding. This was - the reason Garon attacked the village.
"What was that?" Bai asked as his voice dropped.
Adam gently picked it up and said, "It's a Chrono Shard." "It's about time manipulation. If Garun catches this problem..."
Bye mode is dark. "So it's a good thing he didn't, but it means our enemies aren't finished with us."
Adam shook his gloomy head and put the chip in his pocket. The battle may have been won, but the fight wasn't over yet.
As he exited the basement, the sound of the system rang through his mind.
Notification: New mission has opened. >
< Quest Title: The Secret of the Chrono Shard
Objective: Discover the origin and purpose of the Chrono Shard.
Bonus: System Upgrade, Unlock Time Skill, ???**>
Adam stepped into the sun, the shard weighing heavily in his pocket. The village might be safe now, but the discovery of the Chrono Shard made it even more difficult to move.
He clenched his fists, his decision clearer. Whatever came, he met it immediately.