Chaos Carrier With A Broken Talent

Usually, for a young Carrier, everything was decided at the ceremony. The way to stop being a Broken Carrier was known to few, and even fewer succeeded in doing so. After all, it required finding and killing a donor, who was sometimes out of reach or too powerful.

Ethan and Menir faced other problems, but they did everything they could.

Did they need Patterns?

They found them.

Did they need to kill two True Carriers?

They did it using all their trump cards, without a doubt ready to risk everything. It seemed that Ethan needed it more, but now Menir's eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Unlike Ethan, she didn't know that she could change her fate and was just trying to do everything in her power. But now, watching her Circle reshape itself, she couldn't hold back her emotions.

The rattle of moving gears filled the space as the two circles spun rapidly like a mechanism being calibrated.

[Calibration in progress... 1% -> 3% -> 5%...]

[Calibration will only be complete when both Circles are fully restored.]

[Constructs will stop rotating when the Circles enter a static state.]

"This... When they finish the calibration, there will be nothing connecting us anymore, right?" Ethan asked.

Menir nodded.

"I guess so. You might not be so glad we're parting ways!"

"Hah, that's not what I'm happy about, I'm just in a good mood!"

In response, she jerked her head to the side, lifting her chin.

"Pffft! We've been through enough for you to get a little sentimental!"

"I am, unlike you."

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The calibration continued while Ethan and Menir remained silent in a slightly tense silence.

After that, it would be time for discoveries and decisions, not all of which would be easy.

"Thanks." Ethan waved his hand carelessly. "Without the Blind Voyager, without your abilities, we couldn't succeed."

Menir was about to say something, but stopped mid-sentence.

"No."

"Hmm?"

"I should be thanking you. Nothing prevented you from trying to kill me a second time or trying to find another donor. In the worst case, you could have simply given up on the idea and lived your life as a Broken Carrier. With your skills, you would find a good place in the army."

She pressed her palms to her chest, crumpling the fabric and biting her lip.

"But for me, it was all over. Black Horn wanted me to find the Essence of Rotten Forest and sent only a squad of pathetic mercenaries with me. I heard something happening, someone fighting, and then... I saw you through a bloody veil."

Ethan chuckled, remembering their first meeting, a very strange one.

"Yeah, that was quite a scene. Hah, I thought the Crooked Growon was my donor. Maybe that would make things a lot easier for me, but... In that case, I definitely wouldn't get such valuable experience. I learned a lot."

Menir smiled faintly.

"Good. So, besides our circles, we both obtained something valuable from this short but intense journey."

The Circles continued to spin without stopping, each time changing their position to check the functionality of each symbol in their complex structures.

The calibration proved to be a surprisingly long process, but Ethan and Menir didn't take their eyes off it for a moment. They watched as their power returned to normal, as if their bodies were being cured of a terminal disease.

[Calibration reached 100%]

[Calibration complete.]

[The Constructs stopped, all gears coming to a static state.]

The darkness faded away as Ethan and Menir looked at each other, finding themselves back in the real world.

Then, a stream of energy rushed before their eyes, revealing two similar images.

[Construct

Stage: First Circle

First Catalyst: Triumvirate Path (Patterns 3/3)

Connected Artifact: Blood Seeker (Projection: Crimson Cut)

Revolve: (Not yet used.)

???: ???]

"You see that too, right?" Ethan asked as their eyes met.

Menir nodded slightly.

"Yes. Now we have a Full Circle, so nothing prevents our Constructs from interacting with the Circles to their fullest extent."

"Hah, but... what is Revolve? You should know about it, right?"

"Sure. I'm surprised you don't know. What were you doing before you went to the ceremony?"

Ethan frowned.

"I don't know, how about I was working and trying to buy at least one Ascension Crystal? Besides, I've been a Carrier for only a short time compared to you!"

"Ah..." Menir shook her head. "The Revolve will allow us to find the Patterns for our future Catalysts."

Ethan's eyes lit up.

"What? Like your Blind Voyager does?"

Menir hesitated for a moment.

"Ahem, the Blind Voyager can find not only Patterns, but also treasures, and it prioritizes what is important to me. Don't forget that. We needed Patterns to survive, so the Blind Voyager did everything it could to help me find them as quickly as possible.

"However, don't expect Revolve's accuracy to be anywhere near that of the Blind Voyager, even though it is indeed the primary way Carriers find their Patterns. For the Broken Carriers, this method is completely unavailable. If it weren't for my Catalyst, we would have to rely solely on luck."

Then, Menir's expression grew serious.

"But that's not the main function of the Revolve."

Ethan's eyes filled with anticipation for something new and great. He wanted new possibilities!

"The Revolve will allow us to absorb energy from both saturated, dense resources like Essence and the environment."

"Hmm?"

Ethan tilted his head slightly, confused.

"To restore our power and return to battle faster? Or... can we use the energy to somehow strengthen our bodies? I mean, what practical application does this have?"

Menir smiled ironically.

"Isn't it obvious? Ethan, despite all the trials we've been through, we became the True Carriers just a few minutes ago. We are at the stage where others find themselves after the ceremony."

The desire for power and the countless paths that opened up before them reflected in Menir's eyes. Like Ethan, she no longer wanted to be at the bottom. She didn't want others to use her.

"The Revolve is our way to one day create the Second Circle and become the Second Rank Carriers!"