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—----------------
"It's too soon to give up." Testros proclaimed loudly as he stepped out of the woods
/Caw…/
Behind him, Ubuk appeared, poking his head from behind a tall tree, gazing down at them all quietly.
He seemed rather unsettled by the burning houses, not feeling comfortable being around them.
/Crackle…/
As the houses burned around, Testros said loudly:
"For years… Decades… A century, you all stood here, generation after generation, resisting… Surviving… And for what?"
"To give up now?"
He spoke with determination, confidence, and power, not caring about who heard him.
He only wanted to let out his lingering emotions…
Having trained for so long, now that he was here… Those he wished to save…
Were giving up?
He could barely contain his anger.
"Haa… That's not it…" Wuril said as he looked at Testros
His weak body trembled from the cold, despite the heat of the flames around him.
It was clear that he was in dire need of medical attention, but no one cared about that, apart from Fir who kept trying to pull him back...
It was a rather pathetic scene, but there wasn't much he could do about it, his body was failing him, and he wouldn't make it go up through the power of his Will.
He needed the help of others, and that was when Fir helped him stand.
"F-For weeks, I've been here, fighting… I have no more strength left…"
"Until the others are back, there's nothing else I can do."
"Monsters keep coming and we can't leave this place… If not for him, we would've been overrun by now." He said as he looked at Dale who was now silently observing it all from afar
"From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for coming here… But it would be best if you two turned around and forgot about us…"
"It may be too late for us, but for those that already left… They may have a chance of redemption..."
/Fwoosh!/
"SHUT IT!" Testros voiced as he interrupted Wuril, shaking his right hand in the air and causing a strong wind to brush over everyone in front of him
"If you wish to die, then so be it!"
"But don't drag the others with you!"
"?!"
"Are you going to let go of your life, of everything you did, just because of a few inconveniences you experienced? A little blood and some injuries? I've never seen someone as weak as you!"
"Even the kids back home are sturdier than you, and you're a grown-up man."
"Don't you think it's too late for you to give up like this?!"
/Clench…/
Testros was clenching his fists so hard Dale could hear his bones crack…
He felt it was weird, Testros had always been patient, understanding… But now, he was being narrow-minded and aggressive.
It wasn't like they knew what these people went through, it's not like they knew the circumstances of their survival...
He was speaking whatever he pleased because he had no idea of who they were, was that even correct?
But... Seeing these people… Seeing this man give up triggered something within him, a part of himself perhaps not even he knew existed.
Something he suppressed for so long that he even forgot it once existed.
"STAND UP!" He exclaimed loudly, his voice infused with energy
/BAM!/
"UGH?!"
Testro's voice became so powerful that it pushed aside dust and even the flames, extinguishing them and sending many of the survivors tumbling down as the corpses of the monsters and their blood were pushed aside.
"..."
Dale was also forced back slightly, but that was thanks to him being behind the stomping Testros as he made his way to Wuril.
He looked at Testros with a confused expression, this had been the first time he had ever seen such a display of power from him.
'Old man… Why are you so angry?'
[Ding!]
"Hm?"
Just when he thought of that, another System notification played in his ears.
And this time, he didn't ignore it.
[Companion Quest, The Final Doubt, Over Limit! Has been generated]
[Description:
At the cusp of a new age, old Legends resurface... And new ones are written.
Chained by the shadows of a past, a man seeks redemption by walking within a dark road whose shape cannot be discerned.
Alas, Fate is a trickster, one known for playing the cruelest of pranks.
His past, the one he slowly abandoned in favor of a better future reappeared, and now... He couldn't help but seek it again.
While forgetting his previous goals.
If the chains are to be lifted and the shadows cleared... What sort of world will be left for him?
>Requirements:
Help your Companion make peace with his past and set eyes on the future once more before he is completely swallowed by his chaotic emotions 0/?
#Assist your Companion in taking the first step into Transcendence!
*Optional* Complete the Quest within 24 hours
]
"..."
'Well... Shit.'
...
"... Answer me! What do you want to do with your life?!" Testros exclaimed loudly as he stared down at Wuril
"I..."
"S-Stop!" Fir replied as she took a step forward, standing between him and the old man
Although, in a sense, Testros wasn't that old anymore, he didn't look that much older than Wuril at the very least… Perhaps just enough for him to be his father.
"I-I don't know why you're so angry sir, b-but please… Wuril does not deserve this prejudice."
"... You have courage, the spark of determination still burns within your eyes…" Testros said as he looked at her
"Since you got on your feet, why don't you answer me?"
"I… Wuril didn't do it on purpose, he's tired…"
"He was the only one that stood to protect all of us, so don't look down on him!" She replied strongly as she looked Testros in the eyes
"I know, but... You weren't supposed to be the one to say that to me." Testros added as he looked at her, his eyes shining
"...?"
"Gasp… Ha… He's right… Fir… Stand back…" Wuril replied amidst gasps, trying to stand on his own two feet without her help
"Mister… I thank you for saying those words to me…" He said as he breathed heavily, holding onto his shoulder as his hand was stained red
"Wuril…"
"As you said… What I just said… Was pathetic, not only did I undermine myself... But those around me also... Haa..."
"I didn't fight day in and day night… I didn't lose countless nights throughout my life training… Just to give up now."
"There was a time when I stood up with the desire to fight until the end... Even if that end led me to my grave."
"It was never my intention to fall without putting up a fight!" He proclaimed loudly with the little strength he had left
/Cough!/
He coughed a little bit afterward but quickly recovered.
"However… What else can I do?!"
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm "Cough cough!"
The man started coughing some blood, he may have put too much strength into that scream…
"Wuril!" Fir exclaimed as she rushed to his aid
"Haa… Haaa… I'm fine, my throat's a bit sore but that's it…"
"There's nothing we can do apart from waiting." Wuril added as he looked at his hands
"The only way to move an entire shelter worth of people through the forest is with the assistance of Project Burnout…"
"But those that know about it have already left together with those capable enough to handle themselves out there."
"Until they're back with the solution… The only thing I can do… Is to shed my blood where I currently stand."
"..."
But instead of berating the man like before, Testros smiled.
"That's it, you gave me the answer."
"Perhaps alone, as you said, you wouldn't have been able to do much."
"But when those that can help you arrive, your first thought is to despair?"
Testros shook his head, tapping his uninjured shoulder.
"You are a leader…"
"The last person to give in to fate… Should be you."
"Next time, observe your surroundings and make a proper countermeasure."
"So, now… Do you have anything to say?" Testros asked as he crossed his arms
"..."
Wuril's eyes sharpened.
"Can… Can you help us?"
/Smile/
"I've been waiting all my life for those words." Testros said with a wide smile as he took a step forward
"..."
Dale observed their conversation silently.
"Let us talk inside, your injuries need immediate tending… Dale!"
"Yes, Sir!" Dale replied as he took a step forward, smiling inside his helmet
"I think I left too much of an impression on the locals, so would it be possible for you to… You know… Handle them for me?"
"... Sigh. Fine." Dale replied as he shook his head
'It won't be against my plans to grow my image with the locals.'
"So let's move, we don't have all day long…" Testros said out loud as he walked past Wuril
"We may have even less than that." He mumbled to himself as his expression grew dark
...
With those words, everyone gathered in front of the doors leading inside the Old Trunk.
…
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Notes
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