The Echo in the Wind
The cool morning air brushed against Ruko's face as he walked along the dirt path leading out of Axel. The village behind him slowly faded into the mist, its usual noise replaced by the quiet hum of the wild. He exhaled softly, noticing the faint static that trailed his fingertips — traces of the instability.
> [System Notice: Mild distortion detected.]
[World Reaction: +500%. Evil entities: +1000%.]
Ruko tilted his head and smirked. "So even the slimes will try to kill me now, huh?"
He didn't mind. In fact, the thought thrilled him. His eyes glinted — that faint, mischievous smirk he always had when something interesting came up. The same smirk that made Darkness nervous and Megumin suspicious.
The Infinite System's faint hum resonated in his head, the voice of Yew breaking the silence.
> [Yew]: Ruko, distortion levels are stabilizing. But you're emitting Shadow lineage traces… too early.
Ruko: "Too early, huh? Guess I can't hide who I am forever," and what the fuck are you exactly!"
[Yew]: I can't program respond to your answer and watch where your going host, the Sealer detects even a fragment—
Ruko: "She won't. Not yet, and how do you know the Sealer is watching?"
[Yew]: I can't recommend that answer host, watch where your going the Sealer is detects even a fragment—
Ruko: "Guess I got no good System well any let's get going cause I have somewhere to hunt."
The path forked ahead — one leading to the forest, the other toward the mountains. A whisper brushed through his mind. A place he didn't recognize — old stone pillars, cracked by time, with shadows swirling like mist. Only a flash — one second.
He froze.
> [System Notice: Memory Fragment Detected – 1.50%.]
[Fragment Duration: 1.0 second.]
A vision flared in his mind — an ancient sigil burning in black flame, a woman's voice whispering, "Return what was lost." Then it was gone.
He touched his head, heart racing. "So… that's what you meant by 'instability,' huh?"
> [Yew]: It's your bloodline calling. A remnant of the Jizuko's memory. The first key to your ancestral chain.
"Then I guess the fun's about to start what do you mean ancestral chain?"
>[Yew]: I can't recommend that answer, the first remnant of Jizuko's memory. The first key to your ancestral chain.
"Well it's no use anyway but what it is that I saw there, well no bother plowing it now though."
He pulled up his hood, setting off toward the forest trail. His steps grew quieter, smoother — instinctively shifting into the motion of a Shadow Realm scout. Even he didn't realize it; his body moved like memory itself was guiding him.
After a few minutes, a rustle came from the bushes. Two goblins leapt out, snarling, their claws sharper, darker — their forms thicker than usual. They weren't ordinary monsters anymore. The World Reaction Effect had already taken hold.
"Wow," Ruko said, grinning. "You guys look like you hit the gym since yesterday."
The first lunged. He sidestepped, hand glowing faintly red.
> [Skill: True Copy – Activated.]
The goblin froze — its movements mirrored in reverse. Ruko used the copied motion, pivoted, and struck its neck with perfect timing. It collapsed instantly.
The second goblin roared, lunging from behind. Ruko ducked, kicked its knee, then whispered:
> "Rewrite: Pain Amplify × 3."
The creature convulsed, screaming as its nerves lit up like molten wires. He didn't kill it immediately — he crouched beside it, tilting his head, curious. "So pain feels different when it's rewritten… huh. Guess I should test that more later."
He finally finished it with a clean strike, wiping his hand on his cloak. Then he sighed, looking up at the distant forest canopy.
> [Yew]: You enjoy this too much.
Ruko: "Maybe. Or maybe I just like seeing how far I can go."
[Yew]: You sound like your ancestors.
Ruko: "Heh. Then I'm doing something right whatever my ancestors are ."
His smirk returned, faint but sharp. He could feel something pulsing beneath the earth — a presence waiting, tied to his bloodline. Maybe a weapon, maybe a memory, maybe both.
As he moved deeper into the forest, the air thickened. The sound of birds vanished, replaced by a faint humming — like the ground itself was vibrating in rhythm with his heartbeat.
> [System Notice: Unregistered Energy Source Detected.]
[Possible Artifact Signature: Shadowline Resonance.]
[Yew]: Ruko… that's Jizuko-made. One of your clan's relics.
Ruko: "What a relic from my clan's cuase i dont remember being in a clan, well i wont doubt it too much, guess I really am on the right path."
He smiled — that same dangerous, playful grin — and stepped forward, into the forest's darkness.