My father waits patiently outside the cabin. He waves when he sees me from a distance.
"Dad..."
"Uhm...Loi, I'm sorry for everything I did yesterday." He says.
"It's fine. I would have done the same. Rather, I'm grateful for the compassion."
My father scratches his hair. "Yeah...uh...I was thinking last night about what to give you as compensation. I couldn't think of one the current you would want...so ask away."
...
"Well, there is something I need right now. Do you remember the blessings I mentioned?" I ask.
"Wait a moment." My father spreads his aura out into a barrier. "Alright, continue."
"The blessings essentially allow me to copy my target's talent, attributes, and innate skills but kill them in the process. I wonder if you know any strong apprehended criminals on death row?"
My father closes his eyes and ponders. "Yes, there are. I can bring you to the prison right now, up for it?"
"Sure."
Travelling north of the capital, one can find rows of dangerous mountains. The Royal Prison, perched on the precipice of a monumental mountain, stands as a formidable fortress constructed from imposing stones. Gargoyles adorn the giant perimeter walls, leering at potential threats or escapees. A single, narrow bridge provides sole access to the prison, suspended over a sheer drop.
Across the bridge opposite the prison is an intricate archway. Floating runes pulsate in a shimmering hue around a mystical crystal above the gate, weaving arcane energy through the structure. That is a warp gate.
The empty archway glows into a bright blue portal before my father and I appear.
Several knights standing guard at the warp gate greet my father politely. "Good afternoon! Sir Jorde Krist!"
My father returns a nod.
I stand in the archway frozen.
...
"What's wrong?" My father turns to me.
"Doesn't the use of warp gates cost a fortune?"
"Eh, it's fine. A commander of the Royal Army can freely use it."
"...Alright."
I step across the bridge, trusting my life with it. Beneath it is an endless fog. How high up are we? It's cold.
We stop at the gate of the towering wall, guarded by vigilant sentinels armed with imperial weapons. My father goes ahead and tells them something.
The guards glanced at me.
"That's my son." He says.
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"Ah! Welcome!" They bow at me. I return the courtesy.
We enter the large fortress and only then do I realise a barrier array around the prison.
"Keep your eyes ahead." My father says.
The interior is dark and damp. Dim torchlight flickers across narrow corridors. The deeper we go, the worse the air becomes. The stench and distant echoes of muted whispers amplify. Columns of thick iron bars encase every damp and small cell, leaving only a straw pallet and chamber pot, without an ounce of light from the outside world.
Soon, we encounter a section where every prisoner has a dangerous aura. "Kekeke! Captain, brought your kid to the zoo?" Prisoners ask my father. He ignores them.
When they attempt to taunt me with their glares, my killing intent jolts them away.
"W-Woah, even the captain's kid is..."
At the very end of the prison are several big iron-chained doors.
Sentinels patrolling the area greet both my father and me.
Under extreme supervision, he allows me to go through each incarcerated prisoner. All prisoners are either incapacitated by amputation or unconscious and chained to the wall by several thick giant pieces of metal.
The first prisoner is a bald man with an X scar across his face.
I touch his head.
--------
Fate: 20
Role: Background Character
Talent:
-Sense Tier 4
-Bow Tier 3
-Sword Tier 6
-Magic Tier 3
Skill:
-Ultra Hearing
Extract?
[Yes][No]
--------
Oh? Not bad.
"So, how is it? It took some effort to catch him." My father asks.
"Not bad but I want to check the others."
I go through each prisoner one by one. All have their ups and downs but are considered to be a treasure chest. That is until I reach the jackpot at the final room.
"Hm...this man might be the hardest to detain out of them all. Not because of his combat ability but his wickedness and evasion." My father says.
The last prisoner is a middle-aged man with long messy red hair. His eyes hide beneath the shadow but exude excruciating malicious intent.
"I don't worry much since his limbs are amputated and you are considerably strong but..." My father enters before me. "Just in case...this guy assassinated three nobles' daughters and plotted two organisations to ruins. Even now, we are still unable to find his true identity."
I touch the prisoner's hair.
--------
Morja Esbavien(clone)
Fate: 100000
Role: Antagonist
Affiliation: ARW
Talents:
-Speed Tier 4
-Dagger Tier 9
-Stealth Tier 7
-Sword Tier 5
-Bow Tier 8
-Magic Tier 5
Attribute:
-Darkness Tier 10
-Fire Tier 10
Skills:
-Calm Soul
-Lie Detection
Extract?
[Yes][No]
--------
!!!!!!!
I jump away from the prisoner.
"Loi?"
"This man is M-Morja Esbavien," I mumble. "And this is a clone."
"What?!" My father goes out to the patrolling officers. "Immediate with effect, put a bounty on a man named Morja Esbavien and investigate more about him."
A villain...
I've never heard of this name before but he has an immense fate and incredible talents.
...
I turn my attention back to the clone. I wonder if I can even extract the talents from it.
--------
Warning! Extracting from this vessel will create a drastic change in destiny. The apostle may not be able to handle the turbulence. Are you sure you want to extract?
[Yes][No]
--------
There's a warning?
Ugh! Fuck it! I've come this far!
--------
The target is a mere copy, switching to partial fate extraction.
Fate: 65100 -> 115100
Karma: 7319 -> 20919
Full Extraction is available.
Extract?
[Yes][No]
--------
--------
The target is a mere copy, partial full extraction initiated.
You've obtained the following talents:
-Speed Tier 4
-Stealth Tier 7
Your talents have been upgraded:
-Sword Tier 7 -> 8
-Magic Tier 5 -> 6
You've obtained the following skills:
-Calm Mind
The selected talents and skills will disappear from the original target.
--------
--------
You have extracted an important providence and interfered greatly with the string of fate.
You've obtained the hatred of a divine being:
-Asriel(1 star)
--------
--------
Frequent use of extraction detected; Proficiency has increased.
Partial Integration will commence.
Good luck apostle.
--------
Wait, the apostle was referring to me-
*BZZT!*
"ARGHHHH?!!!!" I couldn't hold in my scream as agony strikes my mind. The pain of my brain tearing apart as someone forces something into my head rivals dying by a billion bites.
I drop to the floor as my vision blurs, my body senses shut down and my mind drifts away into a void.