Chapter 5: Chapter 5 – Spirit and Shade

“What kind of mess did you drag me into?” Aries roared. “Heaven is an unconquerable Great Dungeon. What floor even is this?” Aries barked out.

“We’re on Floor Three. Calm down, I’m working on the contract.” Theseus glared at the Shade.

“Floor Three? As if I hadn’t spent enough time in these rotten dungeons…” Aries looked out into the horizon. The skyline was beautiful, and he vaguely remembered his time climbing Heaven decades ago. His party only climbed up to the Second Floor and didn’t continue.

“How much further do we need to climb brat?” Aries asked Theseus impatiently.

“How should I know? I don’t even remember who you are.” Theseus tried to shake off the annoying Shade. It was traumatizing enough that the Shade killed his friends off in front of him. Coming to grips that this was a dream was the only thing that made this situation bearable. He wondered how his friends were doing in the real world. Hopefully, they were all okay.

“Damn you, you crafty spirit!” Aries yelled into the sky.

“Spirit?” Theseus looked up confused.

“Oh, you don’t know yet do you? HA. You’re dead! I’m possessing you in the afterlife.” Aries mocked.

“What? That can’t be true. Which dungeon did I end up in?” Theseus probed the Shade.

“I stopped caring about that long ago.” Aries looked out into the sky meaningfully. They couldn’t see the ground from their altitude, and it was incredible see the world again after so long.

“I don’t believe you, but here, the Soul Contract is finished.” Theseus responded.

“I am telling the truth you know, but after thinking about it, this is indeed a good opportunity. I will never get to climb Heaven ever again. Let’s sign the contract.” Aries’s mood shifts perplexed Theseus. Maybe the Shade wasn’t lying; the Shade’s reaction and fascination with Heaven was genuine.

Finalizing the Soul Contract, the two were now contractually obligated to help each other climb Heaven and make it through the dream world. With their shared fate sealed, all that was left was to climb. They had to move as fast as possible, or else the Shade Possession would damage both of their souls. Shade Possessions were not meant to be permanent nor as a medium for a Shade Ritual. If too much time went by the dream, it could be damaging, if not fatal, for both parties.

“Let’s get a move on.” The Shade beckoned Theseus, but quickly stopped. He had no clue where he was going.

“Umm, do you know where you’re going?” Aries asked awkwardly. I mean, all they had to do was go up, but there were different paths up Heaven that were objectively better to climb. It would be horrible if they accidentally ran into a monster den or Heavenly Trial.

“Luckily for you, I was the navigator.” Theseus smiled at the hideous Shade. With striking red eyes, black hair that was falling out, and grey skin, the Shade was a true monstrosity.

“Thank the gods…” Muttered Aries.

“You must’ve been a support for your party. I heard you use a party enchantment earlier?” Aries asked.

“You don’t realize the pain I felt until I learned my friends weren’t actually dead. Don’t talk about my party.” Theseus glared. “But yes, I was a support.”

“Hmm, the C Rank Greater Spirit Realm, you are indeed really weak.” Aries laughed at Theseus.

“Shut up Shade. Follow me.” Theseus wasn’t listening and was done talking with this monster. Until they climbed up to Floor Four, he would just have to deal with Aries. Because the party’s supplies were in spatial storage spaces like storage rings, rings that could hold items within like an inventory, they were good on food and water.

“Do Shades even need to eat and drink?” Theseus asked the Shade. Although the objective answer scientifically was yes, he wanted to hear it straight from its own mouth.

“Yes, don’t you? I thought you were done talking to me?” Aries teased.

“Whatever, Shade.” Theseus once again was done talking to the Shade.

“Whatever, brat.” Aries tried to get the last word in.

***

Time continued onwards as the duo climbed Heaven. Nymph Spirits and beasts were of little to no problem at all because Aries was extremely strong. The peak S Sage Realm, a sub-Realm in-between the Sage and Royalty Realms, was notoriously hard to cross. To some, it is known as the Prince and Princess Realm because of its proximity to the Royalty Realm. Alvaro was at this realm as well, but Aries’s foundation was much deeper.

“Come on, keep up!” Aries called out to the slow Theseus.

“You have to go slower. I can’t keep up.” Theseus huffed out.

“That’s it, climb on.” Aries bent over, assuming Theseus would jump on his back.

“There’s no way.” Theseus didn’t want to touch this humanoid monster.

“Just get on! I’m not going to say it again.” Aries’s red eyes shot daggers into Theseus, sending chills down his spine.

“I’m not doing that.” Theseus obstinately complained. As a larger Shade, Aries stood over seven and a half feet tall, while Theseus was closer to five feet tall. Moving unexpectedly faster, Aries moved at incoherent speeds away Theseus.

“Is this really the difference between only a few ranks?” Theseus thought, but soon, Aries ran out of aura and collapsed in exhaustion aways up the mountain. He couldn’t pace himself at all.

“I can’t move.” Aries heaved.

“Don’t do that again, it’ll take us forever at this rate, and your stench is disgusting.” Theseus remarked when he caught up.

“Shut up, boy.”

***

Time flew by. Three months later, the bickering companions reached the edge of the third floor.

“This is it, right?” Aries pointed at the menacing spirit blocking the way. There was no chance this wasn’t the big boss of Floor Three.

“Yes, Ouzo, King of the Third Floor.”

“King?” Aries blurted out.

“Don’t worry, we don’t have to fight it. We have to pass his trial.”

“What would that be?” Aries walked up to the gigantic spirit.

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“Welcome travelers. I am Ouzo, King of the Spirits. Come, have a seat.” Appearing from thin air, a grandiose table spanned the clearing. Spirits and fairies took random spots as food apparated onto the table.

“Huh?” Aries expected a battle, but there was a banquet instead.

“Follow my lead.” Theseus whispered in the Shade’s ear.

“I would love to take a seat with you King Ouzo!” Theseus called out and took a spot.

“Yes? Yes! We love you, King Ouzo!” Aries trusted the navigator’s judgement. He knew every right path as they climbed Heaven, and they made great time because of it. A shallow respect grew in Aries’s mind for his sheer knowledge.

“That’s what I like to hear, have a drink my friends!” Ouzo beckoned. As Aries was about to take a sip, Theseus put his hand out and stopped him.

“Don’t.” Theseus whispered. Aries was confused.

“Grand King Ouzo, why don’t you take the first sip?” Theseus asked.

“How polite, but no, no, the guests should take a drink first.” Ouzo smiled. Aries shrugged and went to take his sip. Theseus knocked the drink out of Aries’s hand.

“Oh, my bad. I’m so sorry friend.” Theseus apologized to Aries as well as the King. “Follow my lead idiot.” Theseus whispered a little louder. He then turned to Ouzo.

“King Ouzo, we are mere Sages in the midst of a strong King like yourself. We cannot dare to eat nor drink before you. It is our utmost honor. Look at the spirits around us, they haven’t taken one bite or sip yet.”

“You are right, friends!” Ouzo shouted with joy. “I was indeed testing you. Good job!” He complimented. Foolish parties that dared to fight Ouzo and his royal court or those who didn’t follow his etiquette would surely perish. The high-King level powerhouse was surrounded by Sages and a few lower-level Kings on his court. Fighting Ouzo and his court was akin to suicide for Aries and Theseus. It was better to play along with his banquet.

“Thank you sir.” Theseus replied to the King’s compliment gracefully. Taking his first bite, Ouzo declared the banquet’s start.

“You can eat now. Eat as much as you can.” Theseus whispered to Aries.

As the banquet continued, Ouzo asked Theseus and Aries,

“Travelers, do you dare to duel my subordinates? It would surely be a good showing, would it not?” Aries looked at Theseus with big eyes. He obviously wanted to decline.

“This guy is stronger than the Suzerain Lords. He’s even got Lord level subordinates nearby.” Aries thought to himself in a panic.

“Of course, we would love to, oh great King, but we are so weak compared to his majesty. Would you be okay with us fighting those at a similar level to us?” Theseus asked cordially.

“That would only be common sense!” King Ouzo declared. Ironically, if Theseus’s dialogue was different, Ouzo would send his strongest subordinates against them.

“Against you, I will send my servant Jerome.” King Ouzo sent a C Rank Sage to face Theseus. Signaling for the duel to begin, Ouzo sat on his large throne that towered over the banquet and yelled,

“Begin!”

“Tier Two Potential Seal!” Theseus used his trump card instantly. It would damage his body since it was created to expose his potential twofold. Typically, a Tier Two Potential Rune was a two layered rune with one layer to protect the vessel, and another to exploit aura potential, but Theseus used this dangerous version for pure power.

This was the rune he inscribed onto everyone in the future battle with Fayette, but Theseus had no way to know that in this dream. Against Fayette, Theseus employed an even more dangerous rune, the Vessel Explosion Seal on top of the Potential Seal, which heightened the vessel’s explosion to fit its future potential. Here however, this Potential Seal was enough.

“What a fool!” Ouzo and Aries both thought out loud. Exploding out, Theseus decimated the poor Spirit, Jerome.

“Winner!” Ouzo declared but secretly shook his head at the reckless Theseus. Panting in the meadow, Theseus was lucky he wasn’t more seriously injured. Regardless, his recovery would be grueling.

“How reckless!” Thought Aries. It did make sense; Theseus used the Self-Soul Hypnosis on himself. Now that he knew what it was, Aries thought only a fool would induce their own soul into a nightmare like this. If Aries had been even a little less prudent, he probably would have killed Theseus. This extreme gamble fit the strange navigator well.

“You! Against you, I will have my daughter Orion to duel you.” Ouzo waved to Aries.

“Don’t kill her like I killed Jerome. Just defeat her. Also, don’t use Shade magic. This is the Spirit King. He hates Shades.” Theseus panted out.

“Fine.” Aries glared. He didn’t like being bossed around.

“Begin!”

“Skill: Ghostly Projection.” A soul projection moved out of Aries. It was likely a skill he created from being a ghost as well as a Shade. The ghostly clone fought alongside Aries. Since he couldn’t use his primary aura path, this would have to do. Barehanded, he faced Orion.

“Skill: Starfall!” Orion chanted elegantly. From the cloud above, sparkles of light shot down at Aries.

“Fuck me. I can’t fight without my Shade power. I guess I have to use a rune. Skill: Potential Seal.” Unlike Theseus, Aries was not as well versed with runes and could only procure the Tier One Potential Seal. As one of the most popular runes, the Potential Seal was used and misused by many Sages. Since it was only Tier One, Aries would lose some of his potential and thus, his lifespan.

Now able to move through the Starfall, Aries closed the distance between him and Orion and cleanly knocked her out. The speed from the potential seal allowed him and his clone to get Orion’s attention split enough to defeat the ranged magic caster. Since he couldn’t use his primary skills, his condition was dire.

“Winner! Congratulations you two. Your impressive performance means you can move on the fourth floor of Heaven, or you can head back down the mountain!” Ouzo smiled and patted the two decrepit companions on the back.

Moving out of the clearing with great difficulty, the Spirit and Shade looked at each other blankly.

“Now what?” Aries asked. Shouldn’t they be out of the dream?

“I’m not sure. We were able to clear the third floor, and both of our dream vessels are pretty beaten up. I didn’t expect the dream to continue, so I went all out.”

“I know, I followed your lead, brat.” Aries grumbled. In their conditions, they couldn’t climb any further and would have just as much trouble going back down the mountain.

Theseus thought hard. If he climbed with Alvaro and the crew to Floor Four, they were unlikely to survive, but it was as if the dream was telling them to keep climbing. He would probably have to use the Vessel Explosion Rune for any chance of the party’s survival…

If he was actually dead, it made sense now how he would have died if they kept climbing. Now though, that was out of the question. If he died now, the dream would continue, but Aries would be trapped here forever. They were running out of options, but Theseus was resolute. A plan formed in his mind.

“I hate to say it, but I think we have to keep going.”

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