I am not a puppet

~ Ring

~ Ring

' I survived but why am I here and why is everything the same as back then.' I thought as I looked at the place where I was. This was the house where I used to live with my parents, and everything is the same as I remember.

~ Ring

After a while, I finally noticed that my phone was ringing, and once again, this was a phone that I used a long time ago from the past. I tapped the green icon on the screen to answer the call. It was an unknown number but I knew who was calling me.

– Can I speak with Mr. Cedric Egon?

" Yes, you are speaking to Cedric Egon."

– I am speaking from the ' Black Stars Guild', Your parents are a part of this guild.

" I know"

– The Guild would like to offer you a scholarship to attend the prestigious ANGA Academy.

ANGA, Awakened New Generation Advancement academy, is a place where they trained the most talented individuals of the new generation. Those who graduate from this place will also get the opportunity to join the EDSF, Earth's Defense Special forces.

Joining EDSF can grant you access to even the most sensitive type of information. In the past, I declined this offer because I didn't believe in my talent. Even if I had an amazing skill, I had no way of making use of this skill to its full potential because of my mana quantity.

" Can I ask something?"

– Yes

" Where are my parents?"

I wanted to ask this, in the past, the guild never answered this or helped me in any way to find my parents. They ignored my requests and in the end abandoned me to my fate. If someone knew about my parents, it would be the guild.

– This is classified information, revealing this to anyone would lead to a big loss for our guild. I am sorry but I can't even tell a family member about them.

Unlike in the past, they admitted that they knew something. I don't know the reason but it surprised me and at the same time it made me angry.

" Are they safe? They will return, right?"

I asked, and without noticing I was crying. I wanted the answers that badly, my voice was groggy because of that.

– They...They are safe, and... They will return.

A reply came but it was not the same person, there was someone else on the other side who spoke this time. I could tell the difference between their voice.

~ Your call is on hold

~ Please stay on the line

It seemed that there was more than one person present on the other side. I don't know what was their goal but I need to calm my head and think straight.

One thing is confirmed I had returned to the past, and from the date, I can tell that it is one year after my parents disappeared. If enrolling in ANGA will help me one day gain information then It was worth accepting their offer.

– Thanks for being connected, May I know what is your decision?

" I will."

– Great choice, Please come to the guild for an orientation. I will send you the appointment details.

*****

[ So you are saying that you are not going to accept my offer]

Currently, I was speaking with the voice in my head. I felt a headache whenever I spoke to him, it was mentally tiring as if someone was pressing countless needles in my brain.

" Yes... Do you think I am going to accept it just because you said you would give me power? You want me to become your slave, what kind of sane person would accept it."

[ Didn't you say that being powerless is a sin, that you pity yourself for being weak? I am giving you the strength you need, I am making you my apostle.]

" I don't need your strength to do that, I have a way to solve the issue myself. I can gain the strength required for me to accomplish my goals."

[ You are going into that dungeon, right? From your memories, I could tell that you are hoping to obtain that artifact to overcome your weakness. But can you do it? You will die, You are a weak and pathetic human that was born to only suffer and live in ignorance, I am your only way of gaining that success.]

" Get out of my head, you bastard."

My head hurt as he started to speak louder, I could hardly hold it together.

[ Fine, I will let you try and fail. Once you see that I am the only hope in your hopeless life. You will beg me for it, and then I will make you grovel thousands of times.]

I was sure about one thing, whoever this voice belongs to, doesn't want to kill me. He wants to use me for some reason and probably, he doesn't have any other way of doing what he wants.

There was no need for me to play by his rules, I don't need to become anyone's puppet. The right thing would be to do what I think is right.

~Ding

I received a notification on my phone, it was about the appointment with the Black Star Guild. I read the mail, and it was scheduled after a month which is convenient for me as I needed to search for a particular artifact.

In the past, the discovery of this particular artifact was big news all over the world. The name of the artifact was the Golden heart of the dragon, there were four of these in the world.

In my past life, if I had even one of them then i would have easily been able to become one of the strongest. This artifact allowed anyone to access a huge amount of mana, so it will easily help me overcome my weakness.

My skill, mana infusion allows me to infuse mana into any medium and grant them special traits. For example, I can infuse my mana into my arrows, and give them a speed trait or a blast trait.

I could also infuse elemental traits into it, such as a lightning arrow or a flame arrow. Using this skill I can add traits to other things as well and not only to weapons.

For example, I can infuse mana over my cloth or battle gear and give them a defensive trait.

Skills are something that can be learned using skill books or you are born with it. In my case, I was born with this skill, and it had proven to be a lifesaver for me many times in my life.

*****

In a white space filled with dark black smoke, a figure wearing a black crown was sitting on a throne. His long white hair and blue eyes were the first things, anyone would notice when they see him.

Over his face, there were several marking made with runes and he covered himself with white and black clothes that had several beautiful designs engraved over them. His appearance was out of the world but currently his face was filled with anger.

" I can destroy his soul whenever I want, maybe if I tell him this then he would agree and become a loyal dog."

He gritted his teeth with anger, using most of his powers he was able to turn back time and bond with a human after a very long time. The ability this particular human possessed intrigued him, and that is why he bonded with him without any thought.

" He is a bug, but if he gets that artifact, I am sure it would not be easy to persuade him. But I can't do anything if he fails then he will die. I need him alive, I need him to find the other six fragments and absorb them as well."

" He is the perfect candidate, one who desired power more than anything but will use that power only when necessary and had no ambitions. I could have easily manipulated him that's what I thought but he is not that easy."

" From his memories, it is clear that this world has changed drastically. These dungeons, towers, and other planets are filled with other races. Humans were never meant to face these things, they were never supposed to have awakened."

" Just who is responsible for all of this, if things go like this then this world will end. My vow will be broken and...I would lose the meaning behind my existence."

" If not him then who should I bond with, will it be possible for me to bond with someone else? Only if he dies, but then again that would take a lot of time to find another candidate on my own."

" Whatever it is, what I saw in my vision could not be wrong. That power was miasma, demons are going to evade this place and if he finds me then everything is over. Nothing would remain except for the world of the dead."

" I need to convince him...I need to make him agree with me. I can not just give away my power to anyone, If I can not control them then that would lead to an even worst outcome."

" Not my puppet, huh?"

" That's what he said, I will see, how will you not be tempted by my power?"