Ghost Notes - Chapter 21: The Sound of Freedom

I am an extra. That is an undeniable fact. As a mere extra in a fantasy world filled with sparkling heroes, charming princesses, and mysterious antagonists, my existence is merely to serve as a backdrop for them. But I, Arkan, will not remain silent! Why be satisfied with being ordinary, when I can be extraordinary?In this world, I might be just a herb shopkeeper who doesn't even get to be in the main dialogue. But somehow, my life began to change after I accidentally obtained an Artifact That Extra Characters Should Not Be Able to Have.Now, with a power that invites more trouble than anything else, I struggle to avoid the attention of the main characters... or steal their attention?

With one strike of the sword, I cut through the path of life and death, and slay all those who have betrayed!......I don't want to be the sword; I want to be the swordsman.I don't want to be a pawn; I want to become the chess player.An ordinary person who insists on living his own life in this world.Unfamiliar roads lie ahead, destination unknown.As I carry on, unconsciously, it has been a journey of trials and tribulations. Behold the new world I create.

[DING! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining SSS-Rank Dark Dimensional Reality Talent][Attribute: Darkness]Freed from nuclear war terrors, all humans now have to face the new reality of their fate.Humans are given a power that allows them to have different talents according to their abilities and luck, including obtaining the power of past heroes.Aaron Lewis, an 18-year-old young man, must bear the devastating reality that his mother was killed by an unknown group. The turmoil of uncontrollable rage in his heart makes his talent affected.[WARNING!][System detected Darkness attribute energy increase][Initiates talent rank evolution][Adjusting talents with attributes ][Evolution Completed]Just as Aaron opened his eyes, he saw he was floating in a void dimension with thousands of caged ancestral souls waiting to be freed or summoned. They are the souls of heroes from all over the world.[Main Talent: Dark Dimensional Reality][Rank: SSS-Rank]With his flexibility to explore dimensions beyond ordinary human sight, Aaron gathered thousands of ancestral souls and turned them into his army.To his surprise, Aaron found a way to free his mother's soul and bring her back to life, which was to become a Great Ruler.“There is no other choice. I will become a Ruler.”

Set in the Shadow Slave world...a time before Sunny was born...this story follows a simple soldier who must survive in a dystopian, apocalyptic landscape where magic and gun warfare collide.In a far-off Quadrant known as North America, a young soldier named Hope is 16 years old when he gets infected by the Nightmare Spell. He passed! But...he feels a bit scammed...?A flaw that makes him fade from people's memories...A cursed attribute that makes him remember everything endlessly in eternal wakefulness...It's as if the Spell is twisting his future and existence into an almost improbable one.All he has ever known his purpose to be was to serve as a simple soldier. Not too powerful. But not so weak either. And maybe, just maybe like some others, become an Awakened. Although he never dreamt of being one.Now that his whole life is compromised after his First Nightmare, his first objective is to survive on his own. But as he tries to escape his fate, his actions seem to lead him further from his goal.He struggles against obstacles that slowly grow bigger and out of proportion.Maybe the Dream Realm and the Real World aren't so different than one may think.Hope's journey involves uncovering secrets and gaining knowledge about his true nature and his new role in the world.Is he fit to be a hero?Could he redefine it?***Please read the READER DISCLAIMER in Volume 0.This is my spin-off novel of “Shadow Slave” by Guiltythree.But please don't expect the same writing style, setting, and characters, especially the main character.This story reveals more about how people/cities/governments operate after the Spell’s arrival. I always find it interesting how maybe one country handles it fairly, but how others handle it with desperation to the point that you question humanity.There will be easter eggs pointing to the original novel either intentional for the plot or unrelated to it, but all for fun.I am a new author so props to all who bear with me and helps me improve my writing. If it is not for you, please don't leave outright hate comments. Eat wassabi instead if you want pain. Critique and advice would be great too.