Lord of The Karmic Armada
Chapter 45: Forgotten Memories(1)

Chapter 45: Forgotten Memories(1)

Reading so many details and small and big changes in the Interface Valtar had a thoughtful expression on his face. The system in the meantime revealed some more information,

[Upon using the skill, it returns to the shape of a crown and it is also the key of control to the "Eternal Dark Fire."]

The first thing he paid attention to was the stats section. Every time his stats reached a round figure, now all the stats seem to be at 120. There are even 20 unallocated stats, which if he adds to ’Mystic Energy’ will make that 120 as well. So, the system basically told him again and again to keep all of his stats totally balanced.

He nodded to himself in understanding a balanced path is not a bad one to follow.

The ’concepts’ section seems to have been divided into 2 new parts ’Innate concept’ and ’acquired concepts’ though he has no idea what exactly they mean. However, the specific skills belonging to a certain concept seem to be placed under that concept.

Then seeing the number of Karmic Energy he thought himself pleased, I could probably update a few more skills using that. Just at that moment system stated in its robotic voice,

[Karmic Energy can no longer be used for skill upgrades or stats increase, it will be used for powering Karma-based skills.]

[Positive or Negative Karma can be used for that purpose as well as increasing Mastery over a certain concept can help upgrade a skill and unlock new abilities of that Concept]

Though it was a bit disappointing, he took the news calmly. After acquiring the concept of Darkness, from the affinity tab ’Darkness Affinity’ seems to have been removed indicating that ’concepts’ were something of a much higher level than affinity. Then there was the Artifact ’Dark Crown’ which had the skill ’Darkness Overload’, it should be something very helpful against the Fae Folks. He should be able to get the ’Key of Eternal Dark Fire’ now.

The title now seems to have more details compared to before, now it was time to check the details of his few new skills. He clicked on the option Dark Vision first,

[Dark Vision: You can see and sense everything in the pure Darkness]

Then he clicked on the other 3 skills within the Darkness Concept -

[Dark Steps: In the absence of light you can move 10% faster and In pure darkness, your movement speed is boosted by 20% or more]

[Darkness Manifestation: You can compress and manifest a weapon of darkness, you can transform it into various weapons of different strengths depending on your proficiency]

[Suppressed Emotion: Your superficial and unnecessary emotions are suppressed and you are more objectively focused.]

He silently absorbed the information and now learning of all the changes, he focused his attention on the next point. He walked closer to the headless body of the Tribe Leader and activated the skill ’Ghost Summoner’.

Black smoke started coming out of his body and then slowly a dark wraith almost looking like a reaper came out of the dead body, it looked at him for a moment and kneeled in a humble posture showing its obedience and allegiance to its master. Looking at the newly summoned ghost intently. Valtar thought,

’This one seems far more intelligent and self-aware. Understandable since it’s a ghost of a pathwalker.’

Then thinking some more he said to the system, "I think using the ghost continuously is a bit inappropriate, they are more like wraiths rather than Ghosts. Let’s rename the skill Wraith Summoner and call the possessed one’s Wraithbounds."

The system curtly replied [Noted and the changes have been made effective]

He commanded the Wraith to go inside of him. It did so obediently. He felt something fill up inside of him then the sensation suddenly disappeared. Valtar now needed to review the memories he got from both the Tribe Leader as well as the First Elder which he did not get the time to see at that time.

Valtar commanded the system to bring out the memories of both of them, first, he decided to see the memory of the First Elder.

[Showing the inherited memory of First Elder to Host]

Suddenly Valtar’s vision turned black and he sent one last command to the possessed ones which are now called Wraithbounds to surround him and protect him in the moments he is unconscious.

All of them moved and surrounded him, ready to attack anything if it dared to come close or try to hurt their master.

Valtar’s mind was pulled into something or somewhere. He opened his eyes or be precise he was witnessing the memory from the First Elder’s point of view. It was a lush green forest where he was playing with kids or to be precise it seems to be a memory from when he was the child of 4,5 years old. 2 more kids were playing alongside him.

One was a cute girl of similar age to himself, and another boy who was a few months older than them. The three children were giggling happily and playing with each other without a worry in the world. Young Zolthar suddenly called out to the two children,

"Hey Han and Greta let’s play another game, I’m tired of this."

The boy replied, "How many times did I tell you not to call me Han, call me Hansel. Only my parents can call me that."

The girl added, "Brother is right, and don’t call me Greta call me Gretel."

Zolthar snorted cutely, "Hmph, then start calling me Zolthar as well instead of calling me Thar all the time."

Both siblings stuck out their tongues unwilling to agree to Zolthar’s request and still demanding their own. For a few moments, they quarreled with each other saying nonsense, and started playing again forgetting what happened moments ago like children should.

It was close to evening and the other children were slowly going home. A young male who barely crossed his twenties appeared in front of the children, the moment Hansel and Gretel saw the man they both ran towards him and jumped into the man’s lap both simultaneously calling out, "Father."

Zolthar felt a tinge of sadness in his heart, since both his parents were dead, he lived with his uncle. His uncle and aunt did not mistreat him and always looked after him as much as possible, despite that the void of his real mother and father can never be refilled.

The man after hugging both of his children noticed the imperceptible sadness of Zolthar, he felt pity for the boy and said, "Little Zolthar why don’t you stay at our home tonight, all three of you can sleep together."

Zolthar’s eyes immediately lit up, the two siblings were his closest friends as long as he was with them he was always happy, he replied in a cheerful voice, "Thank you, Uncle Zhao, you’re always the best."

Zolthar let out a satisfied chuckle seeing the boy so happy, his children also began shouting and jumped up in joy. It was a peaceful and blessed moment.

The memory suddenly shifted to a few days later, Zhao was an honest woodcutter who worked for the village merchant cutting trees in the forest and bringing back wood for sale. It was a well-respected job in the small village as not everyone could get that job, despite being a tough job, the merchant paid fairly well to the few woodcutters which helped them pay for their family’s expenses moderately well in the small village at least.

However, suddenly one night, Zhao did not come back. Zolthar’s uncle’s home where he lived was only a few houses away from his friends. Suddenly hearing the news from his uncle, he went to his friend’s house immediately.

Then he saw some neighbors gathering in Uncle Zhao’s house. The moment he entered their house, he saw both of his friends crying, and even their mother barely held in her tears as she was trying to calm the two children, perhaps she was comforting herself as well.

The other people who were there also tried to comfort the 2 children and their mother saying Zhao would come back alright, he definitely will.

While other women whose husbands did not earn as much as Zhao, silently whispered to each other in slight glee, perhaps Woodcutter Zhao had perished in the hands of a wild beast. Though these comments were said in an extremely low voice, they could be heard if someone paid attention.

Zolthar immediately ran toward his two friends and hugged them tightly. Zolthar being someone who lost his parents at an early age was much more mature and understanding of the world compared to his friends. Without Uncle Zhao who earned good money, how would his friends survive, Aunty Zhao cannot earn enough to feed 3 mouths properly doing minuscule chores for other people. There was also the merchant who would be furious for losing an Iron axe which was a pricey item, he may take out his anger on Aunty Zhao, Han, and Greta.

Zolthar also felt immensely saddened by losing someone as kind as Uncle Zhao, he was always very kind to him. Unfortunately for them, Zhao did not come and it was pretty confirmed he had died somehow.