Chapter 25 : Present

His eyes fluttered open, and he gasped for breath as he regained consciousness. He found himself lying on a cold, metal floor in a dimly lit room. The air was heavy with tension and an eerie sense of unfamiliarity. He couldn't recall how he got there or what happened before he woke up. His mind was blank, except for the lingering feeling of confusion and disorientation.

"Where am I?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. He attempted to push himself up from the cold floor, but his body felt heavy and unresponsive as if weighed down by an invisible force.

A figure materialized in front of him, and without a second thought, he instinctively formed an energy blast and launched it at the intruder. But the figure moved with incredible speed, effortlessly dodging the attack. The blast hit some boxes, leaving crimson energy traces behind. He recognized the familiar blur of orange as the figure had evaded the blast, but he couldn't remember who it was.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice tinged with apprehension and fear. He didn't know who to trust in this strange and unfamiliar place.

The figure got closer, and as it came into focus, he saw a young man who looked many years younger than himself. Despite the confusion in his mind, a faint glimmer of recognition flickered within him. The man's name floated on the edges of his consciousness, but it was just out of reach, like a distant memory.

"It's me, Aytrex. We're in a safe house," the young man replied calmly, trying to reason with him. His eyes were warm and concerned, but they held the familiarity of a friend he could no longer recall.

His eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists. He didn't recognize Aytrex's words or the emotions that played across his face. All he knew was that he had to protect himself and find a way out of this unsettling situation.

Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of energy shards towards Aytrex. The room erupted into chaos as boxes were torn apart and energy shards flew in every direction. Aytrex's movements were swift and calculated as he teleported around the room, avoiding the shards with uncanny precision. The warehouse seemed to shrink as they engaged in their dance of battle, their powers colliding in bursts of energy.

In the blink of an eye, Aytrex teleported to his house to retrieve his daggers and returned to the warehouse. His heart raced with worry as he pondered the situation with Lincoln. This was nothing like he'd seen before with people going into Wrath. Had Lincoln completely lost his memory? Or was this just a temporary case of amnesia due to the intense battle with the Hydes? If so, why was Lincoln's appearance not reverting back to its normal state?

Amidst the clash of energy, questions filled Aytrex's mind while he threw his daggers in Lincoln's direction. The warehouse became a battleground as boxes flew in every direction from Lincoln's barrage of attacks.

Lincoln, desperate to understand his own abilities, created clones of himself to increase his offensive power. The clones moved in sync, attacking from all angles, but Aytrex's teleportation abilities allowed him to evade most of the strikes effortlessly.

With a fluidity that seemed second nature, Aytrex dispatched the clones, one after another, leaving Lincoln feeling more frustrated and lost.

As the fight raged on, Lincoln's mind felt like a storm of emotions and fragmented memories. He could sense the energy coursing through his body, but he couldn't grasp his identity or purpose. He fought with determination, fueled by an instinct to survive, but a nagging feeling of emptiness tugged at him. It was as if a crucial part of him was missing, leaving him adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

Suddenly, amidst the chaotic exchange of blows, Aytrex found an opening. Lincoln's guard wavered for a split second, and Aytrex struck, his hand connecting with what should have been Lincoln's chest. But to his astonishment, the body just disintegrated, revealing that it was just a clone that Lincoln had quickly substituted for himself.

Before Aytrex could react, a barrage of energy shards flew at him from all directions at speeds impossible to dodge.

For a moment, Lincoln thought Aytrex was done for that the shards would pierce him and end the fight. But then, to his surprise, all the shards disintegrated before they could hit their target. Crimson energy dissipated like fireworks, leaving Aytrex unharmed.

Lincoln's eyes widened, his confusion evident. "How?!" he exclaimed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

In the next instant, Aytrex appeared behind Lincoln, his hand striking a precise blow that rendered him unconscious. As Lincoln slumped to the ground, Aytrex crouched down and grasped his knees, attempting to regain his breath.

He approached Lincoln cautiously, checking for any signs of injuries. The silence in the room was deafening as Aytrex processed what had just occurred.

Something was off, and he knew he had to find answers.

"Who are you?" Aytrex asked, looking at his unconscious friend. He had to know if this was Lincoln or someone else in his body.

Lincoln stirred slightly, his eyes flickering open. He looked at Aytrex, confusion evident in his gaze. "I shouldn't be... here... Where am I...? This doesn't feel like... Did I go back... Am I him...?" he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and sadness.

"What do you mean? You are Lincoln." Aytrex asked, as more questions filled his head. "Are you not Lincoln? Who are you?" He pushed for answers, desperate to understand what had happened to his friend.

"K..." Lincoln tried to say, but before he could complete it, his hair and eyes returned to their normal colors as he shook his head slowly. "Lincoln...?" Aytrex asked in a slow whisper.

"Yeah...?" Lincoln replied as he massaged his forehead. "What's going on?"

Aytrex's heart sank, relief and worry warring within him. He gently supported Lincoln, helping him sit up. "Lincoln, what just happened? Do you remember anything?" Aytrex asked, his voice laced with concern.

Lincoln blinked, trying to make sense of what had transpired. "I... I'm not sure. I feel like... I was somewhere else..." He stammered, his mind still reeling from the ordeal.

Aytrex nodded, realizing that his friend's memory loss was possibly impacting his ability to remember the incident. "Wielders can go into a state of extreme emotion," Aytrex explained to Lincoln.

"We refer to it as Wrath, which you call Overdrive." He searched for any signs of familiarity in Lincoln's expression. "So your energy gets darker, and your eyes match your energy. This is all normal for energy manipulators, but your hair is supposed to match your energy, too, yet it's blue. I'd even put that all aside, but..."

"But...?" Lincoln urged, trying to process the information. "It felt like I was fighting someone else, not your Wrath state... But then it also felt like I was fighting someone who was confused, which could've been just you without your memories." Aytrex tried to explain, and Lincoln was taken aback.

"It's probably because of what's happening inside me... I don't think I have long, Aytrex..." Lincoln admitted, his voice tinged with concern. "What if next time I lose my memories permanently?"

"We'll figure things out later. Just don't jump to conclusions now," Aytrex quickly reassured him, trying to steady Lincoln's nerves. "Let's keep low for now. We don't need you pushing yourself for the time being."

Lincoln sighed and looked around. The surroundings were unfamiliar, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. "So where are we?" he asked, hoping to gain some semblance of understanding.

"We're on a safe house on the fourth island, Kon Guardio," Aytrex replied. "Let's get out of here and freshen up. I don't think we should return to Seno anytime soon." Aytrex's tone was resolute, his focus on ensuring their safety and keeping Lincoln away from potential danger.

As they made their way out of the safehouse and into the open air of Kon Guardio, Lincoln tried to piece together the fragments of his memory. Each step felt heavy with uncertainty, and he longed to reclaim the memories that seemed just out of reach. Aytrex stayed close, a constant presence offering support and reassurance.

The fourth island, Kon Guardio, was a stark contrast to the advanced cityscape of Guardio Seno. Here, the pace was slower, and the surroundings bore the marks of a simpler life. Lincoln noticed the modest buildings and the locals going about their daily routines, their curious glances giving away their intrigue at the sight of a newcomer.

As they walked through the streets, Aytrex gently guided Lincoln, recounting their past adventures and memories in the hopes of triggering a recollection. Lincoln listened intently, absorbing the stories, as the side effects of his ability were gradually fading.

They found a small inn where they could rest and regain their composure. Inside the humble establishment, Aytrex secured them a room, and Lincoln sank into a chair, his mind still overwhelmed by the events of the day.