Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

"This looks like a good place to grind some levels," Rey muttered to himself, glancing around with a hint of optimism.

With no one to talk to, he found himself addressing the Gatcha egg they had brought from home. "You… probably can't hear me, so I'm just talking to myself," he sighed. "This is so boring."

As he lamented, the minutes ticked by slowly until, finally, Rey's luck changed. Up ahead, he spotted movement: a group of monsters shuffling through the undergrowth. He approached cautiously and soon saw three kobolds emerge from the shadows.

The kobolds were squat, reptilian creatures standing about four feet tall. Their scales were a dull greenish-brown, blending in with the dungeon's surroundings.

They wore ragged tunics and carried crude weapons: jagged spears and rusty swords. Their beady eyes glinted with a mixture of cunning and malice as they chattered among themselves.

"Kobolds. And they're all around level 20? Piece of cake," Rey thought with a smirk, drawing his sword with newfound enthusiasm. He had been itching for some action, and this was just the opportunity he needed.

Without hesitation, Rey sprang into action. With precise swings and swift footwork, he cut through the kobolds with practiced ease.

Each swing of his sword was met with a satisfying clang as it met their weapons or struck their scales. The battle was over quickly, leaving the kobolds sprawled on the ground, their meager loot scattered about.

"Level 20 monsters at the beginning?" Rey mused aloud as he surveyed the scene. "I can only imagine what kind of powerful boss awaits at the end of this dungeon."

The thought of facing a formidable foe exhilarated him. His heart raced with anticipation as he envisioned the grand challenge that lay ahead. The prospect of an epic showdown drove him forward with renewed vigor.

Hours seemed to blur as Rey continued to hunt kobolds, each victory adding to his growing sense of achievement. He gathered their drops with a sense of purpose, pushing deeper into the dungeon's depths.

Just when it seemed like the kobold hunt would never end, Rey stumbled upon a new kind of monster. These creatures were noticeably different: they were armored in makeshift steel and wielded well-crafted weapons.

Their demeanor was more disciplined, suggesting some form of basic combat training. Unlike the feral kobolds, these monsters moved with purpose and coordination, their eyes keen and their stance ready for battle.

Rey's excitement surged once more. The dungeon was proving to be full of surprises, and he was eager to see what other challenges awaited him.

"Kobold Warrior at Level 25? Oh, I get it now," Rey thought as he assessed his new opponents. "This dungeon is home to a pack of kobolds, and the further I go, the more advanced they become. I'll probably have to go all out."

Without wasting another moment, Rey launched forward with a fierce determination. The Kobold Warriors met him head-on, their movements more coordinated and their attacks more deliberate than the previous group.

They swung their weapons with practiced skill, their armor clanking as they moved. Yet despite their improved combat tactics, they still fell to Rey's relentless assault. His sword cut through their defenses with precision, each strike decisive and controlled.

"Ha…, all without a shield," Rey boasted, his voice echoing through the dungeon's corridors. He glanced at the fallen warriors, a sense of satisfaction in his voice.

Before this moment, Rey had been adamant about not using a shield. Jett had insisted he take one, a sturdy piece crafted by Cedric. Rey had resisted, preferring to rely on his agility and swordsmanship. However, Jett's insistence had eventually forced Rey to take it along.

Up until now, he had chosen to proceed without it, feeling confident in his own skills. But now, the shield lay strapped to his back but he still wasn't willing to use it.

Pressing deeper into the dungeon, Rey encountered a new battalion of kobolds: both the normal variety and the Kobold Warriors. Leading them was a colossal figure: the Kobold Commander.

At Level 30, he towered over the others, clad in ornate armor and wielding a massive warhammer. His imposing presence suggested he was a formidable opponent.

Rey wasn't overly concerned. As long as he could deal with the smaller kobolds first and then face the commander alone, he felt confident in his chances. At least, that was his hope.

He set to work with his plan.

[Inferno]

Rey used his skill, creating a ring of fire that forced the kobolds to group together. With them gathered, he aimed to take them out in one fell swoop. The flames danced around the enemies, drawing them in closer as Rey prepared for a decisive strike.

However, the Kobold Commander was not so easily deceived. With a roar of defiance, he stepped out of the ring of fire, his sharp eyes locking onto Rey with unwavering focus.

The commander's experience and strategic mind made him immune to Rey's trickery. Rey's heart raced as he realized the challenge ahead: this would be a battle of wits and skill, and the commander was ready to make it a test of endurance.

Luckily for Rey, his assumption proved correct.

The Kobold Commander, keenly aware of Rey's intentions, wisely chose to bide his time, allowing Rey to dispatch the lesser kobolds first.

The two would indeed face each other in a one-on-one duel.

Rey activated [Boost] to increase his speed and agility, making him a blur of motion. He followed up with [Air Binding], which momentarily restricted the commander's movement and gave Rey a crucial edge.

Despite the commander's strength and experience, Rey's combination of skills and tactics allowed him to gain the upper hand.

Each strike he landed was precise, exploiting the commander's brief moments of vulnerability.

When the battle concluded, Rey collected the drops and remnants of the fallen kobolds. He trudged further into the dungeon.

The endless, monotonous walk through the dimly lit corridors, searching for new packs of monsters, was mentally exhausting and boring.

The silence, punctuated only by the occasional echo of his footsteps, made the hours seem endless.

Finally, Rey stumbled upon another group. This time, the pack included a commander at Level 32.

He approached with cautious optimism, expecting a battle similar to the previous one.

However, the kobolds surprised him. They formed a tight formation and refused to engage, waiting for him to come to them.

"If you won't come to me, then I'll just have to come to you!" Rey shouted, his excitement sharpening his focus as he charged forward.

As he closed the distance, the kobolds revealed their trap.

Arrows whizzed through the air from hidden archers, and additional kobolds emerged from behind, intent on flanking him. Rey's instincts kicked in.

[Fire Wall]

He quickly cast a spell that created a blazing barrier behind him, intercepting the incoming arrows and warding off the surprise attackers.

In mid-air, Rey took a moment to cast another spell. His heart raced as he realized how close he had come to being overwhelmed.

"I got careless and they almost had me," he thought, grimacing as he aimed his next spell. The firewall blazed defiantly, protecting him as he prepared for the next phase of the battle.

Rey cast [Fire Ball] with precision, aiming directly at the Kobold Commander.

However, the commander, displaying remarkable agility and skill, deflected the fireball effortlessly.

'He's stronger than the previous one. If not for my perception, I wouldn't have noticed the danger,' Rey thought, his defensive instincts kicking in as he adjusted his strategy.

The Kobold Commander, recognizing Rey's growing caution, signaled his troops to attack en masse. Rey fought with meticulous care, fending off the kobolds while keeping a vigilant eye on the commander.

Despite his best efforts, the commander managed to sneak in a fierce attack that Rey barely dodged. The close call reinforced Rey's understanding of the commander's tactics.

"I get it now," Rey said, hoping to provoke a reaction from the commander. "You're using your men as distractions to catch me when I'm vulnerable so you can deal the decisive blow."

However, the commander showed no sign of comprehension, leaving Rey feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah… I set the bar too low there," he muttered to himself.

As he continued to battle the kobold warriors, Rey remained ever watchful of the commander.

The general's presence was a constant threat, limiting Rey's opportunities to act. The skirmish wore on, each move becoming increasingly difficult as fatigue set in.

Eventually, Rey found himself alone against the Kobold Commander. He was low on MP and mana, with only a sliver of his aura remaining.

Summoning his last reserves of strength, Rey manifested his aura on his sword and charged at the commander.

The battle was grueling, more intense than his previous encounters due to his exhaustion. Despite the strain, Rey managed to sever one of the commander's arms with a powerful strike.

The Kobold Commander let out a blood-curdling wail of pain. Seizing the opportunity, Rey dashed for the commander's spear.

He imbued the remaining aura he had into the weapon and thrust it towards the commander's chest. He aimed for the heart, or at least where he imagined it might be.

With the spear embedded in the commander's heart, the beast's resistance faltered. Rey, drained and on the brink of collapse, sank to one knee. He quickly fumbled for a healing pill, popping it into his mouth.

As soon as he swallowed, a wave of heaviness overtook him. His vision blurred with a flash of light, and a cold, sinking sensation spread through his body. Before he could react further, Rey fell to the floor, unconscious.

*****

Deep in another dungeon, Rosa sat on a massive heap of vines, her posture relaxed but her expression troubled. The vines were tangled and thick, forming a natural throne that contrasted sharply with the dungeon's dark, eerie atmosphere.

Aiden snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Rosa," he said with a touch of irritation. "You good? You left me hanging for a second there."

Rosa blinked, breaking from her daze. "Huh? Did I really?" She touched her head in confusion. "Sorry about that. I suddenly had a bad feeling about something, but I don't know exactly what."

They had just defeated the dungeon's boss before Rosa had spaced out, the intense battle leaving them both drained. Rosa looked unimpressed as she replied, "What kind of idiot came up with that?"

"I did," Aiden said, a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Yeah, I thought so," Rosa said with a wry smile, stretching her sore muscles. "We're done here, so we can head back now."

"It seems like Jett's plan worked. I leveled up twice," Aiden said, checking his stats with a pleased expression.

"Same here," Rosa agreed. "Jett's strategy helped a lot. I don't think I would've made it this far on my own. I'm curious, though, how Jett knows all this. I'm grateful he does, but it's intriguing."

"It's probably from the Forum," Aiden said as he sat down next to her.

"What's that?" Rosa asked, her interest piqued.

"Well…" Aiden began, "WAR BOUND had an MMORPG where you could basically do whatever you wanted—solo play, team play, or even ignore the original storyline. The issue was its extreme difficulty."

"Uh-huh?" Rosa leaned in, eager to hear more.

"The game had hidden secrets and treasure locked behind nearly impossible or just unreasonable missions. No sane person could figure them out alone.

The Forum was created for players to share information and help each other clear the game, while also unlocking hidden rewards."

Aiden continued, "But there were two insane players who single-handedly carried the Forum. They fed us with valuable information like walkthroughs, secret missions, clear conditions, glitches, and more. They became known as the Torrent Siblings because they flooded the Forum with incredible, but legit, info."

"So you think Jett might have been one of them?" Rosa asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

"Ha, I highly doubt it," Aiden said, gazing at the dungeon roof. "But maybe he memorized a lot of what they put out."

"What about you? How come you don't remember all that stuff?" Rosa fired back, a playful challenge in her tone.

"I was a model and an actor," Aiden smirked. "I played as a pastime. While he was memorizing game cheats, I was memorizing movie scripts and walking the red carpets."

"And look where that got you," Rosa teased as she stood up, ready to leave. "You coming or what?"

Aiden chuckled, rising to his feet. "Yeah, I'm coming. Let's head back." They made their way out of the dungeon, their conversation fading into the echoes of their footsteps.

*****

"Ugh, my head hurts," Rey grumbled, his voice a raspy whisper. He tried to move but found his legs unresponsive and a dull ache radiating from his wrist. "Why does my wrist feel sore? I can't move my legs…"

He continued to complain weakly, struggling to piece together his surroundings. "Where am I anyway? Ugh, I feel so dizzy." His attempts to gain full consciousness felt like battling through a thick fog, as though he were waking from a deep, disorienting sleep.

As Rey slowly opened his eyes, the world around him was a chaotic blur of lights and shifting shadows.

His vision swam with indistinct shapes, like a distorted hallucination. The more he tried to focus, the more the scene seemed to elude him.

The heat was unbearable, steadily increasing with each passing second. His body temperature was climbing rapidly, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

The growing warmth was like a searing blanket, pressing in on him from all sides.

Forced to confront the reality of his situation, Rey managed to pry his eyes open fully. "Nope, that's me, that's definitely me," he half-yelled in a panicked realization. The intense heat was coming from the fire that was cooking him.

"How the hell did I end up like this!!!"

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