Chương 169: Chapter 157.5-Chosen Thrill

Hands dry. Knees strong. Crowd is ready. My hand flips the pick in my hand. This is my moment. The moment I've dreaded. Sure, Forged Hell has a cult following, but this and that are different. Our fans are there to see us. These people, not so much. Looking to my left and right, I find only emptiness. Not to mention I'm alone up here. I shouldn't have come up here… But he asked me a favor. I can't exactly turn down a friend, especially not one who saved my life. Right here, right now! I need to rock this stage!

No, I will rock this stage! This isn't home. Nobody can stop me here. Powering up the magic guitar, I ready my pick. The crowd fades away. The murmurs of their voices are replaced with silence. The only thing that exists is me and my guitar. Mother grabs my guitar and shatters it against the wall.

"What did I say!?" she yells as I look down at the pieces.

"..."

"That's not what I asked. I don't need an apology. I need you to understand me when I speak. What did I say, William?" she says as she looks down at me.

"..."

"No son of mine is going to waste his time on worthless crap like this. It's a waste of your time. Of the Dull heritage. Of your father's sacrifice. You listen to me, William. We live in a world where only the productive get the right to eat. Where your ailment is a weakness for our rival houses to exploit. Without your father, I only have you. So, do you want to kill us, chasing fantasies? Do you want to see me die?" she asks as she steps up to me.

"..." The rhythmic noise from the street stops as a whistle pierces the air. My mother looks down at me with disappointment and pity. Not an unfamiliar look. She shakes her head and leaves my room. Leaving me in the silence. With careful steps, I walk over to the shattered pieces of my prototype. I can fix it. No, I will fix it. Soon enough, I will be sent away to the Empire to learn and [Level Up]. Four years or maybe even six if I prove myself. I just have to wait until then.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Scooping up the pieces, I put them on my workbench. I'll be free! With one hard, downward motion, the world around me comes back into view. The energy bouncing off my guitar creates a visible wave of sound that cascades through the world. The crowd is silent. Even the Professors who were working to take down the barrier have stopped. Yet I pay them no mind. My fingers move as if they have a mind of their own.

More, I need to put everything into this. All of me. I don't care if she learns about this. I don't care what everyone thinks. I don't care who tries to stop me. I love music! I love this feeling! I love being free! My eyes scan the crowd as they look on in awe. Clint and Clara are brought to the barrier by a security guard. Clint shrugs in confusion, while Clara gives a long-winded and logical explanation about how she doesn't know anything. They'll probably get through that barrier soon enough.

I guess this is how long I could create a distraction for. Sorry, CJ. Right as I begin to slow down, another guitar sounds out, but not from me. On the other side of the crowd, I watch as Georgie, guitar in hand, gives me a wink. What in the hells is he doing? That fucking asshole. Before the smile on my face can fully form, Brittany's voice rings out from the middle of the crowd. CJ couldn't have planned this out beforehand, right?

The security guards look on in confusion as three of them splinter off to get Georgie and Brittany. Wait! If they're here, then… In a flash of white, they disappear from the crowd and appear on stage. The sound of drums dances its way into my ears. With a full-blown smile, I turn to see the fourth and final member of Forged Hell. Disorder. To think she's pushing herself so much after getting better. Exactly what I would expect from our drummer.

Her Elven ears peer out of her black hair as she wipes the sweat off her brow and teleports the security guards far from view. As the crowd grows and grows, I let out a silent laugh. Guess what, CJ. I might just be able to keep this up for a while. No, I will!