Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

For four long and boring years, Jett lived under the constant watch of his parents, rarely stepping beyond the confines of their home.

His every move was monitored, and his outings were limited, preventing him from engaging in many activities that other kids his age enjoyed. He felt stifled, trapped in a routine that offered little excitement or freedom.

But Jett wasn't one to let his circumstances hold him back. He devoted himself to training his Aura, Mana, and Lumix.

Day in and day out, he pushed his limits, honing his abilities far beyond what his peers and even those older than him could achieve.

As he stood shirtless in front of his mirror, flexing his newly toned muscles, Jett couldn't help but admire his progress. "So this is how those MCs in light novels feel when they know they're much stronger than others," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Now the tricky part would be avoiding my fated death. I wonder how the journey will be since Jett's fate doesn't really make it to the academy. Technically, it's my original decision from that point on."

He ran a hand through his hair, contemplating his appearance. "Damn, I look good," he said, admiring his reflection. "But should I dye my hair to make it one color? The academy would be troublesome for people like me and I really don't want any unnecessary attention."

Jett stretched in his room before going through his bag to ensure he had packed all the essential items.

The bag seemed smaller than expected. 'I don't need to carry much with me and I can always use the [Storage Space] to hide any item that I don't want anyone seeing with me,' he thought with satisfaction.

Once he was certain he had everything, Jett slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out to where his family was waiting. He blushed slightly, trying to hide his excitement. "You guys really don't have to gather here for me," he said, his voice betraying his feelings.

"It's time, kiddo," Jerry said, his voice tinged with pride and sadness. "Sadly, your talent would be wasted here, but you can grow even more when you get to the academy."

"You don't need to worry much," his father added. "Finn and Ray will be there."

"You mean all the Divine Lords?" Jett replied, causing a brief silence to fall over the group.

One of the soldiers jested, "The young Lord could even have been one of them, and they don't know about it."

Jett chuckled, appreciating the support and humor of those around him.

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"Right? His talent can't be below theirs, he could actually be one of them," another added, causing everyone to wonder in that direction.

Jett was getting uncomfortable. Yes, he liked the attention, but too much of it was also dangerous if you couldn't protect yourself, and he knew this fact.

"Too bad I'm really not one of them, but I'll still do my best," he said, turning to enter the carriage. He couldn't help but wonder, 'Mom didn't come to see me? That's surprising.'

Just then, Eva came rushing out with a storage bag. "Wait!!! Take this with you."

'Speak of the devil.' He took the bag, "A storage bag? What's in it?"

"I know you'll miss my cooking, so I made some snacks. Too bad they can only last for a week," she explained, looking sad.

Jett smiled warmly at his mother. "Thank you, Mom. Your cooking is the best. I'll savor every bite and think of you. Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it, and then you can cook me a feast or better still we'll both cook together, I can't wait to try any new dish you make. But more than anything, I'll miss my incredibly beautiful mother more than anything."

Eva's face brightened at his words. "Oh, Jett, you always know how to make me feel better," she said, ruffling his hair. "Now, listen to me. No drinking until you're 18, and stay away from trouble, okay?"

"Got it, Mom," Jett agreed, still smiling. "I'll be on my best behavior."

'He really has a way with words,' Jerry thought nervously. 'Now I'm worried about other people's daughters. He didn't interact with a lot of girls here, but he's still my son, and that's what scares me.'

Jett walked up to Jerry to say a final goodbye. "Take this," Jerry said, handing Jett a new shiny long sword. "It's not much, but I'll be sure to get you something better when you graduate. Now go to the academy and crush them all."

"I will," Jett said, taking the sword and smiling.

*****

In a dimly lit room, the air was thick with tension as mysterious men sat around a large table. Flickering lights cast long shadows on the walls, their faces partially obscured by darkness. The leader, a man with a stern expression and cold eyes, broke the silence.

"What does the situation look like on your side?" he asked, his voice low and commanding.

One of the men sighed deeply. "It's no good. The protection on her is too strong. This would have been the perfect chance to get her if she weren't so heavily guarded."

"It seems like they're planning ahead of us now," another man added, frustration evident in his tone.

The leader's eyes narrowed. "Once she gets into the academy, all plans to attack her will automatically come to a halt. It's safe to say that's also part of their strategy to buy time in protecting her."

"Darn it, have all our attempts till this point come to naught?" another man lamented, slamming his fist on the table.

"We can't even punish the ones that foiled our plans. If only those idiots had hidden more carefully," the previous man grumbled, his frustration palpable.

"Calm down," the leader said, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "I understand how you feel. I feel the same way, and I've decided to show Jerry the pain of losing something precious to him."

"You're going after his daughter?" one of the men asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"Going after her won't be easy, but that doesn't seem to be the case if it's his son," the leader explained, his voice dripping with malice. "The mercenaries I hired should be taking care of that soon. The incident will be made to look like a wild beast attacked and killed him."

"Hahaha, and here I thought you had gone soft," one of the men said, excitement lighting up his eyes.

"You're going to kill her son? How petty can you get?" the man who the leader had tried to provoke during one of their meetings finally spoke.

"Do you have a problem with that?" the leader asked, his gaze piercing.

"Do as you wish, I'll take my leave if that is all," the mysterious man said, standing up and leaving the meeting with no one stopping or calling him back.

*****

The mountainous terrain stretched out before them. Jagged peaks rose into the sky, their summits lost in the clouds. The path was narrow and winding, flanked by sheer cliffs and dense forests.

"This is sooooooo boring, we've been traveling for a week already. How much longer do we have to go?" Jett complained while sitting upside-down on the carriage seat, his legs dangling in the air.

"Two more weeks," Cormac replied, sitting opposite him with his spear resting closely next to him.

"What? Can't this thing go any faster? Can't we use a teleportation platform?" Jett continued complaining, though his thoughts were elsewhere. 'I'm more surprised that nothing's happened yet,' he mused silently.

"My apologies, but we received information that the teleportation platforms might be rigged for the sole purpose of endangering this year's new students," Cormac explained calmly.

"So that means they're still trying to get their hands on Freya. It sounds more like a trap they might be trying to abduct her when she's far away from the capital. But that would mean that the Empire already has a mole in their midst." Jett smiled as he shared his thoughts on the matter.

"What? That can't be. And we have no way to inform them right now." Cormac was visibly taken aback, unable to hide his surprise at Jett's astute observation.

"Forgive me for asking, but how do you know all this?" Cormac asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

"Well, you see…" Jett began, trying to concoct an excuse, but something caught his attention.

'We've stopped moving?' they both wondered in unison.

"Master Jett, come here!!!" Cormac yelled, grabbing Jett from behind and jumping out of the carriage.

BOOOMMM!

The carriage exploded in a fiery blast, debris flying everywhere. The rider didn't stand a chance; not even he escaped the inferno.

"He didn't make it," Cormac sighed, his face darkening with anger. "Who dares! Show yourselves, bastards!"

Jett's senses sharpened, his excitement growing. 'One, two… five. I count five people. Two should be as strong as Cormac. So this is where it happens,' he thought, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

After a few seconds of silence, Cormac decided to take the initiative. "I guess I'll just have to make you," he said, gripping his spear and taking a stance. "Spear Art Second Form: Splitting Moon!"

With swift, vertical slashes, Cormac used his aura to create visible cuts that traveled at high speed, hitting the rocks around them. The attackers, realizing they couldn't hide any longer, emerged from their hiding spots to avoid the deadly attack.

Jett's excitement grew with each passing second, a wild smile spreading across his face. "This really is where I die," he murmured to himself, unsheathing his sword. 'Alright, fate, show me what you've got.'

The five attackers closed in, their expressions fierce and determined. Jett could feel the thrill of battle coursing through his veins. This was his moment, his chance to defy the destiny that had been laid out for him.

Cormac stood ready, his spear poised to strike. "Stay close, Master Jett. I'll protect you."

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It's finally that time