> A power so strong, with a name so grand, Chrono-Arachnid, a force to command. Skill and determination required to wield, The secrets of Level 5 yet to be revealed.
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> The Nomad's past intertwined with this power, A path to survival in a dangerous hour. The secrets of time and space to unfold, Will the Nomad find them and be bold?
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> The journey ahead full of mystery and strife, The Chrono-Arachnid a key to a new life. The past and present colliding in this quest, Only time will tell if the Nomad is blessed.
Jacks Power Chrono-Arachnid
Kasib's defeated voice echoed across the training ground as he fell to his knees with a resounding thud. Losing a finger was one thing, but losing a fight was another. It was the first fight he had ever lost in the army, against any soldier. Kasib fought for respect, and he was rumored to be one of the strongest in Menes' fleet.
In an angry voice, Kasib demanded, "How did you win? What did you do?"
Jack let out a sly laugh and smirked. "You left me with no choice. I had to defeat you anyhow," he said, clearly pleased with himself.
Commander Menes approached the two fighters with Ramon close behind him. "You both did well, but Kasib, you didn't follow my orders. I did say that I would kick you out. However, for some reason which I will disclose to you later on, you can stay."
"Ramon!" Menes called out.
"Yes?" replied Ramon.
"Take both of them to the infirmary and treat their wounds," ordered Menes. "And what are all of you looking at? Go back to training!"
Jack struggled to keep his eyes open as two burly men carried him across the palace. His eyelids drooped, and eventually, he succumbed to the darkness.
FEW HOURS LATER
When he awoke hours later, Jack groaned and wiped the tears from his eyes. He took in his surroundings, noticing the small bandages covering his body. The flickering candle cast eerie shadows on the walls, and the howling wind outside only added to the ominous ambiance.
As Jack swung his legs off the bed and stood up, he reached for his coat, which lay draped over a nearby chair. He donned the coat to ward off the cold breeze seeping in through the open window. Glancing out the window, Jack saw that the sky was a deep, foreboding blue. Night had fallen, and the city was quiet, enveloped in a cold, wintry atmosphere.
Closing the window, Jack felt the room grow warmer. He pulled out a chair from the table and sat down, staring up at the ceiling. Memories flooded his mind as he thought of the day, he found the Chronotex the sky was the same color. But his thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Jack asked.
"It's me, Menes," a voice called out from behind the door.
"Can I come in? It's also me," another voice chimed in.
“Yes, please come in," Jack replied. The door slowly opened, and a creaking noise emanated from it.
"Hey Commander Menes and Ramon, how are you?" Jack asked as they entered the room.
"We are good," replied Menes and Ramon in unison.
Without wasting any time, they proceeded to get the extra chairs from the corner of the room and sat down. "So, Jack, how are you feeling?" Menes asked, showing genuine concern.
"I am good, Commander," Jack replied, feeling relieved.
"I saw your power for the first time, and that plan of yours was smart, but you could have died," said Menes, with a hint of worry in his voice.
"Yeah, at first, I didn't understand it, but after the Commander told me, I was amazed too," replied Ramon, nodding his head in agreement.
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"Thank you and sorry for hurting Kasib and putting my life in danger. However, it was the only way to prove myself to you, Commander," replied Jack in a sad tone.
"Don't worry about it. It was Kasib's fault. He was the one who started it, and he knows that he has been defeated. It was his first-ever defeat in the army," Menes said reassuringly.
"Keep in mind that he never fought me. If he did, he would have probably died," Menes joked, making everyone in the room laugh.
"Let's get down to business," Menes said, his tone serious. Ramon pulled out a book filled with notes and nodded attentively as Menes explained the reason for their meeting. "After what happened this morning in training and the power, we saw you release, Ramon and I decided to come up with possible theories about what your power is and what uses it may have," Menes said, addressing Jack directly.
Jack's excitement was palpable. "Finally, I will know my real power," he shouted. "So, what is it?"
"Well, for the split second we saw that power at work, it was like a hand or a claw, almost resembling one of a spider with a sharp, pointy end," Menes explained. "We predict your power would be one resembling that of a spider."
Jack's face lit up with newfound understanding. "That is great! What can I do with it, and how do I activate it at will?" he asked Menes.
"Well, first, we must understand what it really does. These are all theories, after all," Menes cautioned. "Ramon, please read out the possibilities we have come up with," Menes commanded.
"Your power resembles that of a spider, so these are the possible uses: strong instincts, just like a spider fighting for survival. I believe this will be the first level of your power. The evidence is there - the bandits that hurt you and Kasib both triggered your instincts suddenly. Additionally, when you fought, the power came out," Ramon explained.
Jack listened intently, his mind racing with possibilities. "That's amazing. Thank you so much for figuring this out. Now, how can I train to use my power effectively?" he asked eagerly.
"Regrettably, this technique may not be sufficient to win a battle, as it serves solely as a defensive measure. Furthermore, its effectiveness depends on one's physical capabilities to evade incoming attacks," Menes responded with a stern expression.
"Nevertheless, the utilization of claws appears to be a second-level power within the realm of Chronotex abilities. Each of these powers is governed by a set of levels, which restricts the user from utilizing the ability to its fullest potential unless they have mastered it, it’s the chronotex's law. Most of us have achieved this level of mastery. To be specific, the level 2 ability is the one you must unlock, as it may increase your speed and, more importantly, enable you to confront enemies in combat," Menes explained with conviction,
"I see, but I have another question," Jack inquired.
"Of course, go ahead," Menes replied.
"What is the Chronotex's law?" Jack asked.
"Well, the Chronotex is like nature; it has a set of laws that cannot be surpassed. For instance, nature cannot grow instantly and requires water. It cannot have unlimited energy; this is one of the laws, and no one can surpass it. It's the same for the Chronotex. To unlock the next level, you need to master the previous one to a certain point," Menes explained.
"There are four levels in total. As far as we know, no one, even in the other factions, has gone over four. But some say there are five, and level five is the most powerful," Menes said in a worried tone.
"What do you mean?" asked Jack.
The Chronotex is akin to a crystal-like substance and requires direct contact or proximity to the user to harness its power. Jack, it's crucial to note that Chronotex users are restricted to utilizing up to Level 2 of dark energy. Attempting to access Level 3 of dark energy as a Chronotex user can lead to catastrophic consequences, resulting in a deadly explosion that destroys the Chronotex itself. However, the concept of Level 5 offers a potential solution. If a Chronotex user manages to reach Level 5, they might gain the ability to harness Level 3 of dark energy in conjunction with their most potent Chronotex form. Achieving this pinnacle of strength demands unwavering dedication and years of arduous training. Nonetheless, the attainment of Level 5 remains speculative at this juncture. (This section has been edited, it might sound out of place but holds crucial information)
"Interesting facts indeed," Jack replied, his scientific curiosity piqued.
Ramon, then asked “so what do you want to name it?”
Jack replied, "Name it? What do you mean?"
Ramon explained, "Your ability, we need a name for it. If not, I will add one of my own made-up ones. What about 'Spider legs'?" he said jokingly.
"That sounds weird," Jack replied, shaking his head.
"I think the name should reflect me as a scientist, so I would like to name it 'Chrono-Arachnid'," Jack said proudly.
"Chrono-what?" Ramon mumbled.
"Chrono-Arachnid. 'Chrono' meaning time in Greek, which also matches with the name of the 'Chronotex,' and 'Arachnid' are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals, linking that to a spider," Jack explained.
"Ah, I see. Smart," Menes replied, understanding how Jack used his knowledge to name his power.
"Well, from this day onwards, you will train with Ramon away from the group for a month," Menes said.
"But why, Commander Menes?" Jack questioned, curious to know the answer.
"Well, Jack, after what happened with Kasib, no one still believes that you deserve to be in the army. I don't know why. They might be jealous, or they might just hate a blonde man with long hair like you," Menes explained.
"So, I want you to train with Ramon for a month to train your power and be able to control it at will. Only then could you join. Then you can prove yourself at the army strength competition," Menes said.
"What competition?" Jack asked.
"There is a competition where anyone in the army can take part in to fight the strongest. If they win, they rise up in rank. This is your opportunity," Menes explained to Jack.
Menes looked at Jack intently before speaking. "For these reasons, I want you to go with Ramon for a bit," he said.
Jack looked at Ramon, who seemed unenthusiastic about the prospect. "But what do I do with him?" Jack asked, gesturing towards Ramon.
"Well, I have already made preparations for you. Tomorrow, you both will be on guard duty. This will help you learn more about the army," Menes explained.
Ramon let out a big sigh. "Huhhhhh! Why guard duty? It's not like anyone is going to run inside the palace," he reasoned.
"But this will be a good opportunity for Jack. Don't you understand?" Menes said to Ramon.
"Okay," Ramon mumbled reluctantly.
"After the guard duty, if you do well, who knows? You might find other work with other people. The possibilities are endless," Menes joked, letting out a small giggle.
"Well, no problem. This is all good," Jack said, smiling.
"So tomorrow at 8 pm, we will go on duty for the feast," Ramon shouted.
"What feast?" Jack asked.
"Queen Nefetari is having a feast, so we need to protect her guests and her," Ramon explained.
"Oh, I see," Jack answered.
Menes stood up and said, "Well, Jack, rest till tomorrow. Then, you'll be ready to go on duty. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ramon, Goodnight, Commander," Jack said in a soft voice.
They then proceeded to leave the room, shutting the door behind them.
Jack went back to his bed and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. "Hmm, I have to work hard for the competition. This is my chance to prove myself," he thought to himself.
After a few minutes’ walk
Menes and Ramon entered a small, dimly lit room that exuded a sinister atmosphere. Menes gazed at the figure lying on the bed before him and spoke up, "Hey Kasib, I have a task for you...."