Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Jett sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of his cell, the dim light casting long shadows across the walls. A faint hum of energy filled the air as he practiced his Aura and Mana technique, his focus unwavering. The steady rhythm of his breathing matched the flow of power coursing through him.

The tranquility shattered with a loud clang against the iron bars.

"Hey, you! Playtime's over. You've got visitors," barked the guard, his sword tapping against the bars in a steady, impatient rhythm. His tone was gruff, laced with disinterest.

Jett opened one eye, his concentration broken. A long sigh escaped his lips as he uncrossed his legs and stood, brushing the dust off his pants.

"Visitors, huh?" he murmured to himself, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. "Let's see what fresh hell this is."

Moments later, John and Rey appeared at the far end of the corridor, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Jett's gaze immediately locked onto Rey, noting the tightness in his friend's expression.

Meanwhile, Rey's mind was a tempest. His eyes darted around the cell, searching frantically for any sign of Asher's clone. It was nowhere to be found. The realization struck like a lightning bolt: Asher must have dismissed the skill as soon as it served its purpose.

'You have got to be kidding me!' Rey screamed inwardly. 'I distracted John for nothing! I am such an idiot!'

Jett leaned casually against the bars, a cheerful grin spreading across his face as he watched them approach. "Hey there!" he called, his voice light and teasing.

Rey's sharp glare cut through the cheerful greeting like a knife, wiping away the grin almost immediately.

'What's his problem?' Jett wondered, tilting his head as he studied Rey's stormy expression.

"So?" Jett began, feigning nonchalance. "What brings you here? Can't be to check on little old me, right? I'm harmless in here." He raised his hands in mock surrender, his tone dripping with exaggerated innocence.

John stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto Jett like a predator sizing up its prey. "I need to ask you a few questions," he said, his voice steady but laced with authority. "Are you a Vond soldier?"

Jett's grin faltered, replaced with a flicker of caution. 'Ah, still holding onto that, huh?' he mused. 'This is about me taking down his king, isn't it?'

He quickly masked his thoughts, flashing a charming smile. "Of course not," he replied smoothly, gesturing toward Rey. "You can ask my friend here. He'll vouch for me."

John's attention shifted to Rey, his sharp eyes narrowing. The weight of his gaze was suffocating, and Rey felt himself shrinking under the scrutiny.

"Oh, I see," John said, his tone calm but brimming with suspicion.

Rey swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. His mind raced for an explanation, any excuse to defuse the moment.

'Why do I always end up in these situations?' Rey thought, cursing his rotten luck. He resisted the urge to squirm, painfully aware that Jett's carefree attitude had done nothing to help their case.

Jett leaned back slightly against the cold iron bars of his cell, his arms crossed loosely as he observed the unfolding exchange between Rey and John. His gaze was steady, calm even, as he watched Rey struggle to make his point. Jett's eyes flicked between Rey's frustrated gestures and John's unyielding stance.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Jett's expression remained largely unaffected, though there was a glimmer of interest in his eyes.

He knew this wasn't the time to be impulse as he still didn't fully understand why this was even happening. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly as he considered his next move.

"He's not with those guys, how many times do we have to explain it." Rey sighed in frustration like he was already tired of explaining.

"But he decapitated our king." John added.

"Because he had no choice. That was the only way we could've saved you guys…" Rey argued.

"Rey, stop talking..." Jett called out with a serious tone while facing John.

But he got interrupted by John's sharp words: "All my time here as the head guard and commander of Laxen fleets, this has to be the dumbest excuse I have ever heard."

Jett's lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing, keeping his posture relaxed. Still, his focus sharpened. 'A hidden agenda, perhaps?' he mused, quietly watching as the exchange escalated.

When John delivered his final, damning statement, "His punishment is imminent," Jett's body stiffened for a brief moment. Both he and Rey froze. The words hit like a cold gust of wind. Jett's brow furrowed, the previously playful glint in his eyes now gone. Something wasn't right.

'What the hell is going on?' he thought, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of John's sudden shift in tone.

Rey, too, seemed taken aback by the severity of John's declaration. But Jett could feel it, the underlying shift in the air. The tension was palpable. Whatever was happening here, it was much bigger than just a simple interrogation.

As Jett's thoughts spiraled, John continued with his damning claims. "I don't know how you did it but we successfully foiled your plans of sending ten thousand men to land a sneak attack and kidnap the princess and you can thank your friends for that." The smug satisfaction in his voice made Jett's mind buzz with suspicion, "Don't worry, the sky won't miss you when you're gone."

'This bastard, he's trying to pin the blame on Jett.' Rey thought but he was powerless to do anything.

'So that's what this is all about?' Jett sighed, 'I'm the scapegoat. What the hell does he mean by the sky won't miss me though?'

But then, as if on cue, a new notification appeared before Jett, shimmering in the air. His eyes locked onto it.

[[A new scenario is being created]

[A. Accept the incoming offer]]

[B. Admit that you are the traitor]]

[Reward: ???]]

Jett's heart skipped a beat. 'A new scenario?' He quickly scanned the options, his pulse quickening with each passing second. 'The first option looks like the obvious one, second option, admit that you are the traitor feels like a obvioustrap, but then again, the option itself had a strange pull. Why give me an option I would never pick?'

'Based on the reward part, I'll get something regardless of what I pick so option A is a no brainer, right?' Jett was obviously conflicted.

His eyes flicked back to John, who wore a self-satisfied smirk, unaware of the sudden shift in Jett's focus. Something was coming, a decision, a moment of reckoning. And Jett had to decide how to play it.

'What is this scenario?' Jett's mind raced as he tried to analyze the notification. 'Is someone trying to mess with me?' He had a feeling that whatever path he chose would irrevocably alter the course of this trial.

Rey, oblivious to Jett's internal struggle, stared at John with a mixture of confusion and frustration. But Jett wasn't looking at Rey. His eyes were locked on the choices before him, the weight of the moment settling heavily on his shoulders.

"But I have an offer for you." John finally said, bring Jett back to reality.

But now Jett knew the system wasn't joking so the question was which option should he choose?

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Is he in trouble? ⊙﹏⊙