Chains of the Forgotten

******

"Thank you for the meal." Yue licked the last few drops of blood off her lips. Her complexion was rosy and her skin glowed with vitality. Her eyes held a gentle and warm light as she caressed Alex's face. She adjusted her position on his thigh but Alex showed no response.

"…"

Her excitement died down and she now gazed at him worriedly. Alex would often be like that. His eyes were dim and devoid of light and his body unresponsive. He would just stay still for even hours sometimes. It wasn't just that; she had noticed that the magic in his body was slowly disappearing somewhere. It wasn't much but it was constant. At this rate, the magic in his body would be emptied within a few months; that is excluding the extra mana he got from eating new stronger monsters.

"Alex…" Yue turned around, sat down on his lap comfortably and leaned against his chest. She grabbed his hand firmly and closed her teary eyes.

Yue had often enquired about it but Alex would just brush it off saying it was nothing. She knew he was lying, but she couldn't force him to tell her about it. Alex had already told her about how he and his class were summoned to this world, and he betrayed, suffered and fought to live until he met her. He had also said that there was something else he did not say for now…

She wanted him to trust her. This man, Alex, saved her from the darkness she had grown used to. She adored him, but she was helpless. He relied on her, but didn't place much trust in her… Or rather, he did not want to trust her, or anyone else for that fact.

'I won't give up.' The bonfire crackled while the two figures stayed still.

***

Alex was currently standing in an endless world.

The ground a hundred meters around him glowed with a dim red-amber light that formed a cherry red color. He was like a beacon of light in this gloomy world. No matter how or where he moved, he always stayed in the middle of the light.

At the same time, all his abilities were gone. Heck, he couldn't even sense any mana in here. He wasn't any different than any normal human in here.

But he wasn't vexed. He already had an idea where he was.

'My soul...'

He had visited this place many times in the past few weeks... Or was it months, it was difficult to keep track of time. Every time he came here, the light surrounding the area around him grew a little. At the same time, his mana and psychic energy were slowly disappearing.

Alex knew they were being drained to nourish this world. He also understood from this.

"I must have a perfect affinity with Spirit(Soul) Magic."

In his time in the dungeon, he discovered that his affinity with transmute was not up to par. It was quite complicated.

He must've originally held an affinity for spirit magic only. The transmute talent was most probably the courtesy of the system. Of course, he wouldn't be angry about it. He was very thankful instead.

He should be able to make weapons up to the limits of humans. SSS-rank in system terms. But in theory, after getting concept magic, if helped by someone else with the same magic, he can surpass that limit easily. He did not know much about after the transcendent rank.

That was fine with him. After all, even though he liked his transmute ability, he did not like using guns that much. He didn't hate it, but he would prefer using a weapon that could make him move physically. He already had a physical body with almost infinite potential. He would rather use the guns remotely with psychic energy where didn't have to move at all.

Leaving that aside, he needed to find a way to utilize this talent of his, otherwise, he would be drained of his mana and psychic power without being able to use it. Maybe he should target the dungeon with spirit magic first. But that would be hard considering he would have to face a very strong opponent.

Oh did he mention the world he was in was his awakened innate talent? No? Well, now he did...

***

He exited the world and opened his eyes in the dungeon. He felt a weight on his chest. Yue was curled up and slept soundlessly as her hand tightly gripped his own. Her other hand held his waist.

"This girl..." Alex did not know what to do about this girl. Or how he felt about her. He did not hate her and even liked her a bit. He knew he could trust her and entrusted his back to her during fights. Perhaps he already felt something for her. The bond formed deep in the abyss was not weak by any means.

He faintly smiled at her cute visage.

For now, he called out to his system. It was time to open the chests he had accumulated. Maybe he would get something useful.

<Name: Alex

Race: Chaos Human

Innate Ability: Soul Space

Talents: Omni-Mind, Mana Manipulation, Transmute, Language Comprehension, Gale Claw, Lightning Field, Fire Field, Air Dance, Diamond Skin, Telepathy, Intimidate, Sense

Inventory: 1x Epic Chest, 5x Rare Chest, 9x Mystery Chest, Treant Wood(A), Toothbrush(F)

---Quests---

[Main quest: Kill/Seal Ehitruje – Reward: ???]

[Chain quest (2): Conquer the Great Orcus Labyrinth – Reward: 1x Unique Chest]

[Quest: Clear Floor 100 of the Great Orcus Labyrinth – Reward: 2x epic Chest, 4x Rare Chest, 5x Mystery Chest]>

'The Mystery Chests'

<You have received Pepsi(F)>

<You have received Leather Sandals(F)>

<You have...> <…>

<You have received Chains of the Forgotten(DG)>

< …> <…>

<You have received Blank Martial Arts Manual(EX)>

<...>

'As I thought, these mystery chests are a scam. Nothing good eve...!?'

"What the hell!"

He got so excited he stood up with Yue in his arms and shouted out loud. Yue went "Nn. Let me sleep more." but woke up regardless seeing the excited Alex. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned on his chest.

Alex just noticing that Yue was in his hands. He awkwardly said, "Yue. Get off."

"Don't wanna." His blunt speech didn't affect her in the slightest. They both stared at each other for a while...

"If you don't, then I'll just let you fall."

"I know you won't."

Alex was stunned speechless again. In the end, he just set her down as she reluctantly separated from him and checked the rewards.

Was lady luck finally smiling upon him?

A Transcendent and a Demi-God rank reward. It had been a long time since he had got this excited. He didn't even know he had such emotions left in him.

<Blank Martial Arts Manual(EX) - Basic information regarding martial arts as a whole.>

<Chains of the Forgotten(DG)>

So the manual was something like a blank slate and he could create his fighting style suitable for only him.

The system only explained selected items over the transcendent rank. The chains were not one of them.

He wanted to take out the chains right now but Yue was in front of him.

He turned to look her in the eyes. They both just peered at each other for a while.

"Yue... Can I trust you?" He hesitatingly opened his mouth to ask the question. He wanted to hear the answer even though he knew it.

"Nn." She nodded straight away without hesitation and kept her gaze firm. Staring into those red eyes, he saw unexplainable trust.

He sighed and sat down in front of her and summoned the chains out.

The pair of chains were rusty with sharp, blade-like links and seemed to be on the verge of breaking. However, they exuded a mysterious force that drew both of them. They were no longer than 4 meters each and their rusty appearance did nothing to hide the majestic feel coming from it.

While Yue was gawking at the chains that seemed to come out of nowhere, Alex felt something enter his body from the chains into his body. It was a cooling sensation, but the chains on the other hand, as if sensing something terrible, trembled for a moment and the force retracted.

They suddenly moved like a snake and started wrapping around his arm with inhuman speed. He did not have any time to dodge before they started from both his wrists and formed a loop around like a bracelet. They then extended to take three loops around his entire arm up till his shoulder. Then extending a little more to his back, they met each other at the back right on his spine.

"Ugh!!"

Alex felt a searing pain for a passing moment as the chains half embedded themselves in his skin from the wrist all the way to the back in his spine forming a new link there.

The rusty appearance fell apart and disintegrated while the surface of the chains changed into an attractive cherry red before dulling down a little.

"Alex!"

Yue rushed over seeing him wince in pain.

"I'm alright." He calmed her down and patted her head. He examined himself and found that nothing was wrong with his body. He tried removing them, but it seemed impossible for now.

All of a sudden, Yue touched the chains in amazement. He wanted to stop her but it was too late. As soon as her hand came into contact with the chains... Nothing happened.

'Looks like I was worried for nothing.'

Yue looked at him with an expectant look hoping for an explanation.

Alex changed his face and delayed the answer.

"I'll tell you when we clear the dungeon."

Yue pouted at the answer and grumbled unhappily. Alex laughed a little at her antics and opened the rest of the rewards. He took out the Pepsi and shared it with her as he reviewed the manual in his mind.

As such, they continued traversing through the dungeon.