The Forgotten Ages

Morning had arrived.

I woke up from my sleep and stepped outside to find Diego, who still seemed to be on guard.

Diego noticed me and looked surprised.

"Eh... Kai, you're awake?" he asked, startled.

"Yeah, good morning," I replied.

"Good morning to you too," Diego answered back.

"Ayla is still asleep inside. If you want to get some rest, feel free to go in," I said to him.

Diego shook his head.

"No need, I think I've had enough sleep."

"Are you hungry?" I asked him.

"Not really. Let's wait until lunchtime and combine meals to save supplies," Diego said.

"Anything happen while you were on watch?" I asked.

"Nothing at all," he said, shaking his head.

"What about you earlier?" Diego asked in return.

"I tested the safe zone earlier. It doesn't let us leave or break through—it's like a glass wall," I explained.

"But I noticed something else. Look at that," I pointed outside the safe zone, where there was a wall of water as tall as Diego.

"You see that small fish? It sometimes swims into the safe zone. I think living creatures from outside can enter this area, but objects or dead things cannot."

"I was thinking about catching medium-sized fish to use as food, but we can't seem to pull the larger ones in. Only small fish occasionally wander in by accident," I said with a sigh.

Diego huffed, trying to calm me down.

"Ah, isn't there another way...?" he asked, his voice carrying the same frustration I felt.

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Suddenly, the door behind us creaked open, and Ayla rushed out, her steps hurried, her eyes still half-closed from just waking up.

"Why didn't you guys wake me up?"

Ayla asked, her expression filled with guilt.

"I feel bad sleeping longer than you guys..."

I chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's fine. Women need more rest," I said with a small smile, hoping to reassure her.

But Ayla's expression still reflected a deep sense of guilt.

Seeing us laugh, she eventually smiled too, though her eyes still carried a hint of confusion.

"Oh right, Diego, your class leveled up. Any changes?" I asked, trying to shift the topic.

Diego nodded, looking a bit proud.

"Yup, my class is now Vanguard Sentinel," he replied with a slight grin.

"There are a few upgraded skills, plus two new ones."

"What are the new skills?" I asked, curiosity sparking at the importance of our abilities in this situation.

Diego grinned, clearly pleased with his new capabilities.

"The first one is Aura of Valor," he began.

"With this, I can create an aura that boosts allies' resilience, strengthens their endurance, and reduces fear."

He paused for a moment, then continued with enthusiasm.

"The second one is Unbreakable Bastion. It's like a massive energy shield that protects a specific area. Allies inside it get full protection and rapid regeneration. If enemies attack it, they take damage in return."

I froze for a moment, impressed by his explanation.

Ayla seemed just as amazed as I was.

"Wow. And what about the upgraded skills?" I asked, eager to absorb all the information.

"There are three," Diego replied.

"First, Protective Reflexes is now Guardian's Instinct, and it's way stronger."

Diego's tone turned serious.

"Now I can sense enemy attacks and automatically block or dodge them."

He paused, watching Ayla and me as we listened intently before continuing.

"Next, Adamantite Grip has become Titan Grip," he added with pride.

"This grip is much stronger—it can hold onto large weapons or even restrain massive creatures."

Diego gave a faint smile as he wrapped up his explanation.

"Lastly, War Cry has evolved into Battle Roar. Allies get enhanced strength, defense, and speed, while enemies lose morale, attack accuracy, and are compelled to focus on me."

I stared at him in admiration.

"Your powers have grown significantly, Diego. This will be really helpful," I said, nodding in approval.

Diego just smiled slightly.

"At least we have more hope now."

"What about you, Kai? Anything new?" Diego asked, his tone light but filled with curiosity.

His eyes looked at me with anticipation, as if eager to hear what I had gained.

I held his gaze for a moment before replying.

"Yeah, there's something," I said briefly.

"My skills didn't get upgraded, but I got four new ones."

I continued in a more serious tone,

"My class is now Mindbreaker."

There was a certain pride in the words, though I didn't want to show it too much.

This new class made me feel stronger, but also more dangerous.

"My passive skill is Psionic Mirror. It can reflect psychic attacks with much greater force, but the downside is... my mental endurance decreases. The more attacks I reflect, the weaker I become mentally."

Diego and Ayla stared at me, seeming to process every word I said.

I could see the worry in their eyes, but they said nothing, only nodding slowly.

"Then there are three active skills," I continued, my voice growing heavier as I understood how crucial these abilities were.

"The first is Psychic Barrage. It attacks the enemy's mind with illusions of pain, capable of knocking them unconscious. But it drains a lot of energy, so I can't use it recklessly."

I paused for a moment, ensuring they were following.

"The second is Mind Shatter. This skill creates fear and despair in enemies, breaking their courage. And the last one, Astral Chains. It binds enemies with astral chains, immobilizing them. But it consumes a massive amount of energy and leaves my body weakened."

Diego looked at me seriously for a moment, but then he smiled, relieved though still slightly worried.

"Now you have skills to protect yourself, Kai. That eases my concern."

"I don't need you to babysit me, Diego," I replied flatly.

Diego smiled faintly but didn't respond.

He knew I said that not because I didn't appreciate his concern, but because I wanted to appear strong.

"What about you, Ayla? You just advanced to Tier 2 Class, right? Did any new skills unlock?" I turned my attention to Ayla, hoping she could share with us.

"Yeah, my class is now Tideweaver," she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I have four skills. One passive, Aqua Shield. I can manipulate surrounding water to form a bubble shield that protects against attacks, but it causes dehydration—the longer it's used, the worse it gets."

I was stunned, then smiled with gratitude.

"Ah, so that's the passive skill that saved us yesterday..."

Without that ability, we might have been swallowed by the tsunami wave.

Ayla nodded with a smile, seemingly happy to have been able to help us.

"For the active ones, there are three. Vapor Mist, a mist that clouds the enemy's vision, but it drains a lot of stamina. Tidal Flow, controlling water for various tactical purposes, but it strains my muscles. And finally, Hydro Pulse. I can create a powerful wave of water that shoots forward at high speed, attacking enemies at a distance. But if I overdo it, I get nauseous or dizzy."

I stood silent for a moment, my mouth slightly open in disbelief at what I had just heard.

"You can manipulate water? Can you control the water outside the safe zone?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

Ayla looked a bit startled, as if just realizing her potential might be far greater than she thought.

"Ah... I haven't tried my skills yet," she admitted softly, her voice trailing off as she processed the idea.

My heartbeat quickened.

Inside, I knew we had to try this.

We had to.

Without wasting time, I looked at Ayla and spoke with newfound determination.

"Then let's test it!"

I moved quickly toward the edge of the safe zone, where the translucent green light shimmered like a thick glass wall, shielding us while also making us feel trapped.

The water was held back, forming a massive barrier, yet strangely, living creatures could still pass through it.

I looked at Ayla with growing hope.

"See that fish? Can you manipulate the water around it and push it into the safe zone?" I asked, my voice brimming with confidence, believing this was a critical test for us all.

Ayla nodded, and I could see her excitement begin to grow.

"Alright, I'll try!" she said, full of enthusiasm.

There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes, as if she finally felt needed, that we genuinely relied on her for something significant.

Calmly, Ayla began moving her hands forward, creating fluid motions as if she were guiding the water around the fish outside the zone.

Her movements were slow but deliberate, like painting a picture only she could understand.

I watched with bated breath, my heart pounding in anticipation.

At first, nothing seemed to change—just the faint flow of water, barely noticeable.

But then, something extraordinary happened.

The once-invisible flow of water began to shift, swirling and pulling the fish along with it.

It worked!

I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

"IT WORKS!!" Diego shouted excitedly, his voice echoing around us.

Ayla smiled, pure joy radiating from her face, but she remained focused.

Her hands moved faster, as if skillfully channeling the power of water with more precision.

I watched as she created a strong current, perfectly directed at the fish.

The fish didn't have time to react.

It got caught in the flow Ayla controlled and was quickly pushed into the safe zone.

Once inside, it landed on the ground, flopping helplessly without any water around it.

"IT WORKED!" Diego shouted again, even more ecstatic, unable to contain himself.

I saw him grab my shoulders, shaking me enthusiastically, practically jumping with excitement.

It felt like a breath of fresh air, lifting the heavy weight of worry that had been pressing down on us.

"Are we having fish for breakfast?!" he asked gleefully, his gaze darting toward Ayla.

Ayla, now just as energized, smiled brightly, happy to have helped.

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54:33:39

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The three of us sat in a circle around a campfire, roasting the fish we'd caught.

The soft crackling of the fire filled the air, accompanied by the tantalizing aroma of fish slowly cooking.

We'd managed to catch a decent amount of fish, considering how unsatisfying yesterday's single can of corn soup had been.

For now, our stomachs felt a little more at ease.

If you're wondering how we made the fire, whether we used primitive methods like striking stones together or rubbing sticks.

Of course, the answer is NO.

We're in a modern era, and there's no shame in using the technology we have.

A lighter.

That's what we used.

I stared at the lighter I'd taken from the underground station with a sense of pride.

The world may be advanced, but I was lucky to find it in a small shop during our time in the station.

Naturally, everything we carried from the station had a specific purpose.

Diego's bag was dedicated to food and water, packed to the brim.

Mine focused more on survival essentials.

This planning came from the survival lessons I paid close attention to during school.

Back then, I made mental notes of what to bring in emergencies—something I proved yesterday at the underground station.

Carefully selecting crucial items like a medical kit, blankets, a flashlight, a lighter, and self-defense tools like a knife.

We didn't want to repeat the mistake of facing the Voraxes guards unarmed, which had shown us just how dangerous unpreparedness could be.

One unexpected yet fortunate find was the salt we discovered in this place.

What once seemed like an ordinary fish-selling spot had turned out to have supplies that made our meal far less bland.

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"Feels good to finally be helpful," Ayla said with a cheerful smile.

Her eyes sparkled, and I could sense her happiness.

"I told you, we're all helping each other here. Nobody's a burden," Diego replied with a big grin, holding a freshly roasted piece of fish.

The fish he had eaten earlier was gone, and he now seemed much better with this new portion.

Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the bigger issue.

"Now, we have one major problem—water. Our supply is running low. We've only got two large bottles left," I said, opening up the discussion about our dwindling water reserves.

"If we don't find a solution soon, we could end up in a much worse situation."

"True, even though we're surrounded by water, it can't enter the zone, and I can't generate water with my skills," Ayla sighed.

I looked around, trying to think of a solution.

Then suddenly, Ayla spoke up.

"Ah, I noticed a well behind Dirga's party area. What if we ask them for some water?" she suggested.

"That might be our only option," Diego said, his voice more confident.

"Alright," I agreed.

"Let's finish eating and head over there immediately!"

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After finishing our meal, we immediately set out.

However, as we approached the well Ayla had mentioned, we found ourselves walking straight into a much more complicated situation than expected.

The sound of shouting could be heard from a distance, growing louder as we drew closer.

"You're all too greedy with the water!" Dirga yelled furiously, his voice echoing with rage, his eyes bloodshot and fiery.

He stood in front of Bram, his posture radiating anger.

Bram, equally furious, snapped back in a raised voice,

"You're blaming us? Isn't it your group that keeps taking water from the well?" Bram's voice was sharp, his stance firm as he faced Dirga.

"Our group? You should realize that you're the ones wasting water! I allowed you to use it, but not for bathing! That's ridiculous! Look at it now, the well is dry! What are we all going to drink?!"

Dirga's voice grew louder, practically on the verge of exploding.

But Bram wasn't about to back down.

"So you were never sincere about letting us use it? Hypocrite!" he said, refusing to be blamed.

The tension grew, and I could feel it surrounding all of us.

Dirga was now seething, furious, and then his gaze shifted to the three of us who had just arrived.

Dirga, now fully enraged, glared at the three of us.

"LOOK! It's not just your group and ours who need water! They need it too! Don't you ever use your brain, Bram?! What are you thinking?! This situation isn't a joke!" he shouted, pointing toward us.

Bram, unable to tolerate the provocation, pointed the rifle he was carrying toward Dirga.

"Now you insult me? You want to fight?" he said coldly, aiming the rifle at Dirga.

The tension reached its peak.