My strings give me senses beyond what normal people have. It's like a constant ripple that shows me the shapes of people and things. It can be overwhelming at times. So when everything suddenly went quiet, I found myself on edge immediately. In many ways it was similar to if you suddenly went blind, or deaf, a vital sense once there suddenly vanished. It didn't help that sound seemed to pause, the screaming and footfalls of everyone running stopping as the world took on a grayscale. I came to a stop, looking around as I took a moment to calm my breathing from running as I saw the others, mid step, some every frozen in midair. Even in the distance the fight between Zilla and the man in the hoodie was frozen, the two locked mid swing. My eyes drifted up to the falling ship which now stood frozen in place as I heard a small sound escape from it. So while a part of me wanted to grab Aiden, Selene, and Jax and get them to safety, another part was drawing me towards the noise.
No, I need to make sure they are safe fir-.
I started to think before I saw a small point on the hull of the ship light up just like I had seen before on the mine that day years ago. I think even Aiden would have been surprised by the speed at which I shot towards the ship, my heel driving through the wood as I found myself inside of a large wooden hull area. Around me I saw several tall cylindrical tanks filled with figures.
The first tank contained a taller boy, well muscles with scars all over his body and face like he was covered in burns, his orange hair practically looking like suspended flames. He wore an open vest and baggy black pants. Next to him was a girl in a casual blue dress with a black bobcut hair and a set of large circular glasses on her face. Next to her sat a boy in a tan trenchcoat and a small length of hair tied in a ponytail, an almost sarcastic feel to even the way he seemed to sleep. Further down was a hulking man, at least 7ft tall with muscles and a shirtless chest, he wore red pants and had a head of long white hair and a combed white beard. Lastly a black and red greatsword hummed in a nearby tank instead of a person. Its hilt and blade felt ominous to look at like it was a box packed too tight with something. I looked to the next pod and paused for a moment as I glanced back. It was the boy with orange hair again, same clothes, same scar, everything. I quickly went down the lane of tanks and realized it was copies, orange hair, bobcut, ponytail, beard, sword. Over and over and over again like they were made in a factory or something. I continued down the lane, realizing what they were before a voice seemed to speak, quiet, but echoing due to the silence of the cargo bay.
"You're not supposed to be here, though you're not supposed to be able to move either, so I guess there's that."
My eyes whipped around to a still dark part of the hull. My nerves stretched like piano wire as I felt like I was down a sense without my strings to see. The entire ship seemed to shake slightly as I saw a large black leather boot emerge, and even thee top of the boot alone was taller than I was as the man stepped out. He had a resemblance to the bearded man in the tanks, but this one was much bigger and clearly more powerful.
"Huh, hey Nick, why exactly is a little dwarven girl able to run around in frozen time? Don't tell me you somehow did this because I know I didn't."
Came a voice as I could barely begin to step back before a sharp blade was at my neck. I felt a trickle of warmth run down as I saw that a greataxe blade was shaking slightly, its blade in my neck enough to draw blood, but not enough to harm. I looked down to see that the large man had moved, grabbing the grip of the blade as it seemed to wiggle, like it had a mind of its own in his hand.
"Hey Nick, what part of the 'whole city gone' didn't register?"
Came a voice that seemed to be originating from the axe itself. I stared, for a moment in shock before the man pulled the axe back and said.
"Yea, but remember dad talked about this one, he said they should be let go along with the others in their party."
I stared in shock for a bit as the man and his axe seemed to be arguing before I managed to stammer out.
"W-Why us? Why are we exempt from this?"
The two seemed to pause their discussion before turning back to me. The axe seemed to facepalm despite having no limbs to do so before it said.
"In case you haven't noticed, your party has the daughter of one of the greatest arch-mages in history, a descendent of the divine beast of Hajnal, a being created and chosen by purple of the masks, a descendent of Ryuga the son of blue of world 9, a fateless created but unplayed by their player, and our nephew."
I stared for a moment, a mix between horror at being caught, realization towards my party members, and a strange constant screaming that might have been from just the situation itself. As I stared the axe and man seemed to turn to look up as the sound of commotion could be heard overhead. They seemed to stare for a moment before I asked.
"S-So you're here for us?"
"Actually no, we were originally following the black dawn fateless and student council fateless with the goal of creating the zilla situation, but because they were all gathering in the city to 'aura farm in the chapter' and you all happened to get caught up in it, so dad gave each of us a mission to keep an eye out and make sure your party walks away ok."
The big man said as he shook his head, turning back to look down to where I stood.
"So, we are just unlucky and got caught up in all this?"
"That sums it up, yes."
I stumbled back a bit, sitting down hard on the floor as a bit of bitterness built in my chest. I knew what I was, a discarded fateless, one not even played by my player after being promised the strength to stand at the top of the world. I knew that I wasn't supposed to have a connection to the forum where all the players talk. I knew that when I heard the players were watching a group of adventurers form up in a town nearby it was reckless to run over. I knew it was wrong to lie about being scammed to be invited into their party, but I was promised. Promised power as long as I worked for it under my players tutelage, and if he wouldn't look at me then I would make him look at me. However, it was still frustrating to see what I had thought was him finally recognizing me, making me the center of a massive event like a raid boss meant that I was being seen, I was being acknowledged. So, to hear that it was by chance was painful, that my player appeared in the chapter not to see me, but because they wanted to show off another character. I felt my normal calmness begin to slip as in a moment of surging anger I stared down at the floor and yelled.
"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT AUDACITY, AT LEAST FUCKING LOOK AT ME!"
Quit screaming, I was typing the message out
My eyes darted up to the system message that appeared before me as a second one appeared.
"Congratulations! You ... caught ... my ... attention. Your audacity to force yourself into the narrative is bold but at the same time intriguing. I believe such risk also should come with some reward. However, know that if you wish to gain my acknowledgement, the path will be long and treacherous with many hardships to the point it might even be cruel. However, the rewards and power you will gain from such trials will all be worth it and so much sweeter when you claim it as your own! This is your reward for such audacity you display! A hint towards the path I envisioned for you upon your creation! Grow out your hair! I didn't bestow upon you the surname of Platinumhair for nothing! When you have the chance, brush it with the Platinum Hairbrush I gifted you, until there is not a single tangled strand! It is up to you to figure out the rest! Never be satisfied and suck the marrow out of every experience, forehead!"
As I read, I found myself standing there, standing there as I saw the man and his axe walk past me where they made the whole I came in through bigger. Unmoving as sound suddenly rushed back and I bounced against the man's back as he was now several times larger and holding the ship from crushing Aiden, Jax, or Selene. Unmoving as he set the ship down and I fell to the ground, my head striking painfully against the cobblestones as I stared upward, my vision blurring as I said in a tear-stricken voice.
"Took you long enough….. dad."