Chapter 15: Embers and Echoes - Reawakening: I Can Absorb Infinite Skills - NovelsTime

Reawakening: I Can Absorb Infinite Skills

Chapter 15: Embers and Echoes

Author: _JustAdreamer_
updatedAt: 2025-08-23

CHAPTER 15 - 15: EMBERS AND ECHOES

The moment the fight ended, something snapped in Arden's head.

It wasn't pain. It was memory.

Foreign, raw, and loud.

It crashed through his mind like a tide with no warning. He staggered, one hand grabbing at his temple, breathing shallow as the images came in broken flashes.

A dim cave with cold torchlights that hung on the wall, as the cave's only light source.

Arden felt like he was in the body of the bandit leader in real time, kneeling before a tall figure in a black cloak. The man didn't speak much, but when he did, it echoed. His face was hidden behind a dark mask, though what caught Arden's eye in the memory was the strange mark on the man's neck, a jagged tattoo, shaped like a broken ring.

"You will find her," the masked man said, his voice calm and final. "The girl with dual affinity. Do not harm her. She's vital to our experiment. You'll be paid double if she's brought back alive, unharmed."

The leader nodded, fear thick in his throat. He didn't dare ask what they wanted her for. But the way the masked man said experiment, it rang a bell.

The memory ended just as fast as it came, leaving Arden gasping like he'd just surfaced from deep water.

His eyes darted around, but nothing had changed. Only the weight in his head remained, like someone had stitched another life into his own.

It wasn't like absorbing a beast traits. Those were instinctual, clean and simple. But this was messy. Humans thoughts hit deeper, with emotions clung to the thoughts- fear, regret, a bit of pride even. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The system came up right after.

Life Energy Absorbed...

New Life Signature Acquired:

Feedback Loop – Small bursts of physical exertion regenerate some life energy or elemental essence.

Total Life Signatures: 7

He exhaled slowly, reading the text over again. Then he smiled.

"Useful," he muttered. "Worth the headache."

The trait wasn't flashy, but it was solid. In a drawn-out fight, it could be the difference between falling and standing. And for someone like him, who always found himself pushing harder, it was perfect.

Still, nothing came from the others. No new life signatures. Zephyra had taken them down herself, so maybe that was why. But the energy didn't go to waste. He could feel it, a low thrum in his chest, steady, strong, and like his vessel had just gotten a size bigger.

He crouched beside one of the corpses. Not in pity, just thinking.

"So this is how it goes. Getting stronger one death at a time." He sighed. "Doesn't mean it ever feels clean."

A low growl came from behind. Zephyra.

She padded close, her body tense, but her eyes soft. She pressed her head gently into his side.

"I'm alright," he said, resting a hand on her neck. "Just... a little full in the head."

She didn't move away. Just stood there, like a silent shield.

Arden let himself sink into her warmth for a moment, brushing his fingers through her thick fur. The heaviness in his chest eased a little.

Only when she was sure he was fine did she back off, her tail flicking as she sat nearby, still keeping watch.

He rose again, eyes falling back to the bodies.

Then the thought of the masked man. The tattoo. The word "experiment".

It wasn't over. And when he got back to town, he'd find out what the hell this girl was dragged into.

Arden hurried to the girl's side, brushing off bits of debris as he knelt beside her.

She was unconscious, her breath shallow, skin cold from the sudden drain of her power. Her body looked fragile now, barely clinging to consciousness after that eruption of elemental force.

He placed a hand over her wound, channeling his life energy slowly through his palm. It wasn't the same as with Zephyra, he could feel it struggling to connect, like reaching out to something sealed off.

Still, it worked enough to steady her breathing. Some of the bruises faded slightly, and though she didn't stir, she looked less pained.

He exhaled, letting the stream die off gently.

"She'll live," he muttered, glancing to Zephyra, who stood nearby with narrowed eyes.

Zephyra didn't look pleased. Her ears twitched as she circled them once, then let out a quiet, rumbling sound before lying back down with her back turned to them.

"I know," Arden said softly. "But we're not the monsters here."

She gave no answer, but didn't leave either. That was enough.

He scooped the girl onto his back and began the walk back toward their shelter, not before taking the chance to strip the bodies of anything useful.

From the fallen Artificer, he claimed a well-forged sword and a pouch of enchanted trinkets. The others didn't have much beyond weapons and worn gear, but a few parts harvested from beasts they'd taken down could be traded once he returned to town.

By the time they reached the hollowed tree shelter, the girl was still asleep. Arden laid her gently down on the moss bedding near the fire pit, then turned to Zephyra, tossing her some fruit before he sat with his own small share.

He set the sword beside him, eyeing its weight and shape. It was well-balanced, and definitely better than the scraps traded in the border towns. Slowly, he let his life energy flow into the blade. It responded, lighting up faintly along its edge, warm and steady.

"Good," he murmured. Then he tried more, pulling from the Crimson Core, letting fire trickle into the weapon. The blade glowed, not too bright, just enough to confirm the connection. "This will do."

He leaned back slightly, resting one arm on his bent knee, staring at the girl curled up near the fire and then to Zephyra, who still kept one eye on her.

Too many questions. Not enough answers.

But one thing was certain, whatever she was running from, Arden had just stepped into it. And now, there was no stepping back.

A/N

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