My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

Elias paused, his gaze distant as he recounted the moment. "After I took down that first demon, something shifted in the air around us. Tanner and Mara—they both saw it. They saw me move, saw what I did, and for the first time since the chaos started, I think they felt a flicker of hope."

Marie leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Hope? After all that? I'm not sure I'd have been so quick to feel hopeful."

Elias glanced at her with a faint smile. "It wasn't exactly hope in its purest form. It was more like... determination, maybe. I realized that if I could fight back, then maybe they could, too. But they still hesitated. I could see it in their eyes—the doubt, the fear. They weren't sure if drinking the vial would help or if it would just... make things worse."

Celia crossed her arms, her voice quiet but firm. "I don't blame them. After watching soldiers drop like flies, trusting something that seems too good to be true isn't easy."

Ethan, who had been listening intently, tilted his head. "So what changed their minds?"

Elias's expression hardened slightly, his voice steady. "Captain Cole. He didn't give them a choice. 'Hurry up and drink,' he said. His voice carried that same command, that weight that made you want to obey without question."

He then chuckled, "He told them, 'We don't have time for doubts. We're here to protect everyone who's left, and we can't do that if you're hesitating. Drink it now, or watch everyone else die.'"

Marie winced. "That's... blunt."

Elias nodded. "That's who he was. Captain Cole didn't sugarcoat anything. He told us exactly what was at stake. He reminded us that at that moment, the only enemies are... the Feroshian and their demons."

He added, "Everyone else—whether they were from Dalkorr or anywhere else—was human. And humans had to stand together if we wanted to survive."

Ethan leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to picture the scene. "And did they drink it? Tanner and Mara, I mean."

Elias smiled faintly, his voice softening. "They did."

He looked at Ethan and continued, "Tanner was the first. He muttered something about how he couldn't let me show him up, then downed the whole thing in one go. Mara hesitated for another second, but after seeing him do it, she followed suit. They both drank, and just like me, their bodies began to glow."

He paused, his expression clouding slightly. "That was the moment everything changed—for us, for the soldiers still alive, and for what was left of humanity on that battlefield."

***

Tanner's body erupted in a crimson glow, his fists clenching as he dropped to one knee. "What... is this?!" he growled, his voice strained.

The red aura flickered and flared around him like fire, wild and unrelenting.

Mara wasn't faring any better. Her body was surrounded by a radiant yellow light pulsating with a steady rhythm.

She let out a sharp cry, clutching her chest. "What is this power?!" she gasped, her voice edged with denial.

Both of them clearly felt something that Elias wasn't. They were screaming in agony.

Since he thought everything was fine, Elias stepped forward, his voice calm but firm, channeling the authority he had seen so often in Captain Cole. "Get yourselves together! We don't have time for questions or doubts. Look around you! If we don't act now, there won't be anyone left to save."

Both Tanner and Mara looked up at him, their expressions wavering between pain and disbelief. "It's painful, you ass!" shouted Tanner.

"Painful?" Elias was confused. He thought it was bearable. The glowing auras around them began to stabilize as the wild energy settled into something more controlled.

Captain Cole's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "You've got your orders. You three move to assist the other armies. It doesn't matter where they're from. Right now, they're human, and that makes them worth saving."

He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "But listen carefully. No matter what happens, do not engage the three demons in armor."

Tanner frowned, wiping demon blood from his face as he staggered to his feet. "Demons in armor?" he asked, his voice still shaky.

Mara, still catching her breath, narrowed her eyes. "What makes them different?"

Captain Cole's expression darkened. "They're not like the others. They look human—two men and one woman—but don't let that fool you. They're far stronger, smarter, and faster than anything you've faced so far. They're of higher status, not foot soldiers, and right now, they're not your fight."

Elias, Tanner, and Mara exchanged uneasy glances, but they nodded, understanding the gravity of his words.

Elias was amazed that he could see the demons Captain Cole mentioned from their position, despite the distance where he previously needed binoculars. Then, the amazement turned to fear.

The first was a tall, broad-shouldered man with jet-black armor etched with crimson runes. His face was calm, almost serene, but his eyes burned with malice. He carried a massive greatsword casually as though it weighed nothing.

The second male was leaner, his armor lighter and more intricately designed, glowing faintly with a sickly green hue. His movements were precise and deliberate, his hands resting on twin daggers sheathed at his sides. His eyes darted across the battlefield, calculating and cold.

The woman was perhaps the most unnerving of all. Her armor was sleek and black, adorned with gold filigree that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light. Her crimson hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her lips curved into a faint smile that never reached her eyes. She carried no visible weapon, but the aura around her radiated authority and deadly power.

Elias shuddered, gripping his fists tightly. He could feel the weight of Captain Cole's warning as he turned to his squad. "Let's move. We've got a battlefield to save."

The battlefield was a storm of chaos and terror. All around them, demons swarmed, and the cries of desperate soldiers echoed in the air. Elias, Tanner, and Mara stood together, their glowing auras flickering like faint lanterns in the darkness.

At first, everything felt wrong. Elias moved to strike a demon, but his punch slid off its tough hide, leaving him stumbling.

Tanner charged another with his red light blazing, but his wild swing barely fazed it.

Mara swung her fist at an imp, but the creature shrugged it off, snapping at her heels as she scrambled away.

"This isn't working!" Tanner shouted, frustration clear in his voice. "We're glowing like fireworks, but what's the point if we can't land a hit?"

Elias stumbled back from another failed attack, his breath coming hard and fast. And then, faintly, he felt it—a whisper in his mind, like a memory half-forgotten but suddenly clear. The wind flows as you move. Let it guide you.

He froze for a moment, closing his eyes despite the chaos around him. He focused on the green energy flickering around him, letting it settle.

Slowly, the air shifted, swirling softly at first and then stronger. When Elias opened his eyes, the world felt sharper, clearer.

The demon before him lunged, claws reaching for his throat. This time, Elias didn't falter. He stepped forward, thrusting his hand out. A gust of wind burst from him, a force so strong it hurled the demon backward into a cluster of others, knocking them over like bowling pins.

He stared at his hand, his chest heaving. "The wind... I can control it," he murmured.

Tanner sprawled on the ground a few feet away and blinked at the display. He pushed himself up, muttering, "Alright if Elias can do that..."

As if responding to his thoughts, a memory surged in Tanner's mind. It wasn't his, yet it felt as natural as breathing. Fire doesn't destroy aimlessly. It burns with purpose.

Tanner clenched his fists, the red energy around him growing brighter. A demon charged at him, roaring. Instead of panicking, Tanner slammed his fist into the ground, just as the memory told him.

Flames erupted from the earth, engulfing the demon in a blazing inferno. It screeched, its body disintegrating into ash. Tanner straightened, grinning. "Okay, now we're talking."

Mara, watching them both, hesitated. Her yellow light pulsed faintly around her, steady but unsure. Then, she felt it too—an ancient presence, strong and unwavering. The earth remembers. It protects those who stand with it.

When another demon lunged at her, she didn't step back. Instead, she planted her feet firmly, letting the yellow energy flow through her into the ground. The earth rumbled beneath her, and jagged spikes shot up, impaling the demon mid-leap.

Mara exhaled slowly, her grip tightening on her spear. "I think I'm starting to understand," she said, her voice steady.

Elias nodded, turning to her. "Right? I feel like it is part of my memory."

Tanner cracked his knuckles, his red aura flickering with heat. "Yeah, yeah, less talk, more action. We've got work to do."

The three of them stood together, their auras—green, red, and yellow—burning brighter now, their light cutting through the darkness like a sunrise. The demons hesitated, sensing the shift in power.

"Let's move," Elias said, his voice calm but firm.

This time, they moved with purpose. Elias darted forward, wind swirling around him in powerful gusts that sent demons flying. Tanner moved in another direction, his fists blazing with fire, reducing anything in his path to ash.

Mara did the same, protecting the helpless soldiers. Her movements were deliberate as she shaped the earth beneath her to trap and crush the creatures swarming toward them.

They were no longer just surviving. They were fighting back, turning the tide of battle with every step.

On a ridge overlooking the battlefield, the chaos below was illuminated by flickering flames and the faint glow of Ascendant energy. Among the Feroshians gathered, tension hung thick in the air.

The cultists, their crimson-embroidered robes stirring lightly in the breeze, stood in a half-circle, their faces obscured by deep hoods. At their center, their leader—a pale man with hollow cheeks and glowing red eyes—stared downward, his expression a mix of fury and unease.

Behind him, Colonel Draeven, clad in dark Feroshian military regalia, stood silently. The scar along his jawline twitched as his gaze shifted to the battlefield.

Captain Cole moved like a golden streak of light, cutting down demons with impossible precision. At the same time, three other glowing figures—green, red, and yellow—joined the fray, steadily learning to wield their newfound powers.

"This shouldn't be happening," the cultist leader hissed, breaking the silence. He turned sharply to Draeven, his tone sharp and accusatory. "Explain to me why such beings exist on the enemies' side, Colonel. What are those humans?!"

Draeven's expression remained impassive as he spoke, his voice measured. "I've heard stories about Captain Cole—legends, really. A man who defied the odds in every campaign, as though fate itself bent to his will. But even with his reputation..." He gestured toward the glowing figures below. "This is not something a man can do. These are not mere soldiers."

The cultist's glowing eyes narrowed. "Are you saying these... abominations are gods? That humans could possess such power?"

Draeven's gaze flicked toward the cultist, his jaw tightening. "Not gods," he said firmly. "But there are legends—ancient whispers about humans breaking past the threshold of mortality, becoming something greater."

"Then, what are they?" The cultist barked. It was already too much for their group to summon the demons. But now, someone was able to defeat the demons.

"Ascendants, they're called. I always thought it was a myth." Draeven turned back to the battlefield, his voice darkening. "Until now."

The cultist's lips curled into a sneer. "Legends or not, they're tearing through the demon forces like they're made of paper. This should not be happening."

Draeven didn't respond, his eyes shifting to a shadowed corner of the ridge where three figures stood, their presence radiating menace. The armored demons—silent and still—watched the battle with an unsettling calm.

They didn't move, didn't speak, but their very existence seemed to darken the air around them.

"Why are they just standing there?" Draeven asked, his voice quiet but edged with unease.

The cultist sneered. "Of course they are. They are of a higher status, the Barons." He turned toward Draeven, his tone laced with venom. "Do you think they'll lift a finger for free? They're not pawns. They'll act when the price is right."

"Barons?" Draeven's expression hardened. "What price are we talking about?"

The cultist's voice dropped, almost reverent. "Sacrifices. They demand blood, souls, or something of immense value. Only then will they lend their strength to our cause."

Before Draeven could reply, a booming voice cut through the air like a thunderclap. "Then sacrifice what you must!"

General Korrik strode into view, his obsidian armor gleaming even in the dim light. His crimson cape billowed behind him as he joined the others, his expression a mask of cold resolve.

"I don't care how many lives it takes," Korrik growled, his voice resonating with authority. "Offer them whatever they want. Give them blood, souls, or anything else they demand. The victory of Ferosh is all that matters."

The cultist bowed deeply, a wicked smile playing across his lips. "As you command, General." He turned to the other robed figures, gesturing sharply. "Begin the offering. The three must take action now if we are to crush these... Ascendants."

Draeven said nothing, his eyes lingering on the armored demons. Something deep within him recoiled at the sight of them, but his duty was clear. He watched as the cultists began chanting in unison, their guttural voices weaving ancient, forbidden words into the air.

The ground trembled beneath them, the sky above darkened further, and the air grew thick with the metallic taste of blood. The demons did not move, but their eyes gleamed faintly, their anticipation unmistakable. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

Below, the battle raged on, but the true storm was only beginning.

Author's Note

Dear readers,

Thank you for sticking with me through the Memories of a Recruit arc. I know some of you may be wondering when we'll return to the main plot, and I appreciate your patience.

This arc will conclude by Part 10, and I want to assure you that these chapters are not just background—they are deeply connected to the larger story.

The events you're reading now are pivotal to understanding the unfolding war, the Ascendants, and the challenges ahead.

I hope you'll continue to enjoy the journey and trust that every detail is building toward something significant. Your support and engagement mean the world to me, and I'm always eager to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Let's press on to Part 9 together. Thank you, as always, for reading.

~Your Author