Becoming Legend

Chapter 61: Acknowledgement

[You are weak. No matter where you are. People around you die. Accept it. You are weak. You are a burden. Ned.]

"... "

Ned's consciousness drifted in an endless space of nothingness. Although empty, he felt his body being ripped from him. He wanted to shout - but his voice was empty. He wanted to move. He struggled. Yet, an invisible shackle was holding him. A prison, that's what it was. Prison of endless, borderless, empty, and dark space.

Who are you

What are you

Ned's consciousness led him to ask an empty thought.

Even better, why are you.

Series of questions, but none answered.

[It was your fault.]

[For being weak.]

[For being nothing but a burden.]

[They died.]

[Because of you.]

[Ned.]

A series of smooth, persuasive, and a silvery disembodied voice echoed the space.

Who are you!

Ned cried, but the voice shrugged in an empty space.

[Kamma died. Because of you.]

A speck of light broke the space.

Ned's consciousness drifted in a place he long remembered but never forgotten. A place where thousands of unique races spectated the act at the center of the plaza.

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Mechanical vessels flew along with the dragons, wyverns, gryphons, flying beasts, and mechanical beasts in a grandeur place.

Seated in a vast circular dome were species of different races.

All there to witness the Emperor. The emperor who conquered the countless planet. Eradicated races. Achieved greatness only the emperor could.

In the middle of the dome caused all this commotion. An elevated platform was raised where two mortals were chained.

Ned's thought drifted towards the platform. In a bird's-eye view, Ned recognizes the two mortal chained. None other than himself or the old him. And Kamma.

[If only you were strong.]

[None of this

The voice vanished, then Kamma tilted her head towards the consciousness of Ned. Her eyes gazed deep into Ned's thoughts.

Kamma? It's me, Ned! Kamma!

should have happened if you are not weak.]

"Ned, it's fine. I'm happy that I met you." Kamma smiled. "Don't worry, this is not the end. Go out there, explore, make friends. Have a good adventure. And have a wonderful life. For you are nothing but weak. Accept it, Ned. It's your fault I died."

I'm sorry, Kamma, I'm sorry. Ned wandered the empty space above his old self and Kamma. He wanted to shed tears. But his empty and lifeless body stopped him.

[Acknowledge it, Ned. You are weak.]

Ned flew to embrace Kamma. But when the clear and chilling crystal enveloped Kamma, Ned stopped.

No! Kamma!

Kamma's gaze passed through the crystal. Inside, she moved.

The voice imitated Kamma's adventurous tone.

Kamma's eyes dilated, followed by a cracking sound that traveled from the bottom till the top. The crystal broke into pieces. Dust gleamed the space, then the surrounding turned empty - dark, lifeless space.

The moment Ned came back, his body felt ripped again. Threads of muscles ripped apart, limbs twisted, and a constant empty breath tortured Ned. It was empty, yet it filled his body with pain. A never-ending pain.

What do you want?! Stop!

[Acknowledge it, Ned.]

[Thousands of races. Killed. Tortured. Turned to slaves. All this because of you.]

[You can't save them.]

[Planets of innocent races. Annihilated. Because of you.]

[You are weak. You let it happened.]

They forced me! It wasn't me!

Space was once again hit by a beam of light that transitioned into another scene inside the thoughts of Ned.

Even at his bodiless state, Ned was gasping for breath through the lifeless desert. The barren-red desert flamed and fried in heat. It seemed to hate everything that lives.

This is Ned's immaterial body hovered through the scorching sky. Moments of silence broke when Ned heard a terror. No not this! I was forced I told you! They forced me!

[You were not forced. You have a choice. Yet. You choose not to. You did not stop. You walked the path.]

[You want to know why?]

[Because. You are weak.]

"No!" cried by a human-like figure. It covered its body with different clothing to shield from the heat. "You will pay for this!"

The figure stood from its kneeling position and attacked the man in front.

The man in a suit, covering its entire body, raised a rifle and shot dead the struggling man. Distinct sounds of rifles against the powerless individuals followed this.

The theatre of death filled with keening and caterwauling sounds as the sodden dessert became sleek with ichor.

"Captain what about them?" a fully suited man asked. Pointing his head toward a circle of children.

"Our mission is to annihilate. Left no one alive," replied the man with the rifle. His white suit turned red, reflecting against the barren desert.

"Affirmative, Captain 179!"

The group of suited men shot fire at the remaining children. Yet, the children remained unmoving. Blood dripped off their dry clothes. Holes made its way through the children's innocent body. But they remained standing.

Dozens of children looked towards Ned, remissly drifting above the red sky. "You could have saved us. Yet. You choose not to. Because you are weak!"

Their angered voices echoed the sky, then a bright and scorching heat of the sun split again, and Ned was transported to another space.

Whimpering sounds resounded through the grim side of the black forests. The clapping and bellowing thunder ripped the fragile veil of silence.

Hovering deep inside the forests. Ned was once again transported to a place familiar to him. The forests of O'rriadt island.

But Ned went into deep insanity. His unseen body went craze into the depth of the woods. Passing countless trees, Ned stopped when he encountered a moment of his life.

Enough. Enough. Enough with this! Who are you! Why are you doing this to me! Ned bellowed along the thunderous and rainy sky. Please, no! Stop this!

Under the veil of the thunderous sky, Ned saw Sir Edwin stabbing Master Will. The knight yanked the sword deep into his Master's shoulder and closed his lifeless eyes.

With the yank, Master Will spout a mouthful of blood. The blood made a pond. Then Master Will opened his dying eyes, looked at Ned, and smiled. "This all my fault kid do not make revenge to justify all this"the surrounding time froze, then Master Will turned his head toward Ned's consciousness drifting up the gloomy sky"if only you were strong kid, you could have saved me. We could be on an adventure now. But. You are weak."

[You are weak.]

Master. No!

The sound of glass falling apart broke the scene in front of Ned. His view then cracked. Along the gaping crack came the shackles. Bright and silver light beamed the consciousness of Ned. With the scene shattered to pieces, Ned was once again drifted back to space.

The silver shackles gripped Ned. Neck, body, arms, legs, and feet revealed themselves. All tied by the heavy and boundless chain. Neds naked and slender body revealed itself in the empty and dark space.

But one shackle remained. This shackle moved aimlessly, like a tentacle, and swirled left and right. Moved close to Ned, as if it was sniffing him. Coiled around his neck, his body, waist, and legs. Firmly binding him. The shackle crawled behind Ned.

Ned let out a shout of agony when the shackle went through the hole in his chest. The feeling of pain was tenfold that of the Devourer.

The silver shackle showered in red. Blood dripped off Ned's chest. The whole, which was almost a foot in diameter, emitted a blinding light. The space went bright but vanished in an instant.

The dazzling light faded and along came a figure Ned was so familiar with. The shackles that bound him lifted Ned midair. Blood crawled from his chest, ending to his feet. Endlessly dripping. Ned looked at the figure below him.

"You are me," Ned said, his voice echoed the space, bouncing aimlessly.

"You are me," replied the figure. The figure looked at Ned high above the space. Aside from his short-silver hair, the figure looked exactly like Ned. His sharp voice, delicate jawline, and sharp eyes, everything looked the same. Even with a hole in his chest, the doppelganger's expression remained unscathed.

"What do you want!" Cried, Ned. The shackles clanged as Ned was forced to unbind himself.

"What do you want!" Replied the figure. He cried, but his face shows the contrary. He smiled. A vicious smile.

"Enough with this, tell me, what do you want?"

"You," the figure replied. Pointing a finger right into Ned's chest. "Everything about you. I want it. There's no place for you outside. Outside. You will die. For you are weak. Accept me. Acknowledge me. And attain strength. Those chains are your past. And your past was weak. Acknowledge it. And free yourself."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Ned. Catching his breath, he relaxed. The pain that struck his body slowly fades away

"Tell me. If you have the strength. Will Kamma die? Calahir made everything for you. ICE. The means of travel. Calahir made everything for you to survive. Yet. He might be dead now. He sacrificed himself to save you. And you left. How about Toni? She is also out there. She might be dead now! Yet! here you are. And how about your Master. No. Our Master is out there. Trapped in an endless loop of time. And you trusted the one who caused it! All this because of you. Your second chance of life will shatter to pieces. All this because of you! You are weak! Acknowledge it!"

Ned went into deep thoughts. Tears flowed. Blood dripped. Sweat formed. Ned went into realization. Reality. That only strength will make him move forward. He closed his eyes. Tears stopped. He breathes as deep as he could. The deepest breath he made. Opened his eyes. His eyes went into transition. The long, sympathetic eyes were gone. What remained, or what had changed, were the eyes of uncanny, impassive, and cold Ned.

Looking exactly the same as the figure below him. Ned displayed a smile.

The figure raised his hand. Gesturing Ned to accept him. "Now, you know what to do. Acknowledge you're weak. And reach for my hand."

The shackles on Ned's hand vanished. The shackle, that was inside his wound, vanished. The wound slowly healed itself. Blood stopped dripping. Light thump. Followed by another thump. His heartbeat once more. Ned pushed-forward with his free hand. Reaching the one below. He gripped his counterpart's hand. And smiled. "I am."

[System Reboot Complete.]

[Becoming Legend Protocol activated.]