Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Life and Death

As the doorways opened, the group entered it and closed the door but didn’t lock it.

Similar to the previous door, what followed was a long and dark staircase.

But this time, some monsters were floating around.

There were several Drake Ghost around. Unlike in the game where they were stoic and firm, these Drake Ghost appeared transparent as if they could pass through walls.

The Drake Ghost was the floating half of a warrior. He had no legs but hovered around and had a sword, a helmet, and wore red armor.

“Looks like their real ghost. A Spirit Punch should be enough, though...” Dyne plotted. He gave the orders, and the group walked up the stairs depleting the Incense powder.

When they drew closer to one of the Drake Ghost, Dyne immediately made his attack.

He jumped in midair and delivered a powerful punch erupting the Spirit Energy in his arm.

SMASH!

The Drake Ghost was sent back, and his figure no longer appeared translucent.

Bertugo used Steal to swipe an item from the Drake Ghost.

After ensuring it, Brod also attacked, and the two Slimes jumped on the Drake Ghost so that it could no longer attack. And the group continued to attack it until it suddenly dissipated like the skeletons would do when they were killed.

Dyne tried to use the same ability as he tried to capture the scattering soul.

Dyne felt a strange sadness as he acquired the energy. But upon entering his soul, Dyne sent a jolt of his soul that contained the image of Alos Vasilous. The entering soul suddenly shivered as the color immediately changed.

Dyne was startled but immediately reached out to Number 1 and Number 2, who used to be on top of the Drake Ghost.

For some strange reason, the life energy did not go towards Number 1, but all rushed towards Number 2.

Dyne was confused at the soul's sudden movement. But sensing that the soul remembered it's past life in Alos Vasilous, Dyne allowed it to move.

The dissipating soul somehow reformed and entered the core of Number 2.

Number 2 was shaking, and soon it calmed down.

A strange connection was formed between Dyne and Number 2, and it was as if he could also send basic commands to Number 2.

Brod was confused. He felt that the Evil God's bloodline link disappeared, and he could no longer communicate with Number 2.

Strafe felt as if he was stabbed as he saw that.

“What... what exactly did you do?” Strafe couldn’t help but ask.

“Hmm? Oh. I showed him a few of my memories. I guess it reminded the soul that he was from Alos Vasilous.” Dyne chuckled.

Strafe was shocked. He began to grumble and grumble with great intensity that it confused Dyne for a bit.

“Err... I feel heavier.”

“Of course you did! You tamed another Slime! If we use Brigandine terminology, you are nearing your Rune Power limits!”

“Oh... So that’s why. Ugh. That means I can’t let him evolve. Oh, wait... What happens if I level up? Will it increase my Rune Power?”

“Soul Power is directly linked to the body. So yes. But it also can increase your training. Right now, you haven’t even reached your limit in Soul Mastery. I guess having a Slime that adds pressure to your soul is beneficial. That way, you can slowly train yourself to grow, I guess.”

“Alright. Sounds great!”

Brod began to explain that he lost Number 2’s connection.

“It’s alright. He’s with me now.” Dyne explained.

“I think we should stick to killing Drake Ghost. It’s easier and doesn’t burn us to death.”

“Show me the item you stole.” Dyne then asked Bertugo.

Bertugo revealed a strange blueish, almost gaseous orb.

“Power Elixir! We need a container!” Dyne then urged Number 2 to spit out one empty jar.

Dyne placed it inside the jar and put it back inside Number 2.

Dyne saw another Drake Ghost near the end of the staircase.

The group attacked it.

Unlike the previous Drake Ghost, this one noticed it and began to send wind blades at them.

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The Windhash moved with incredible speed, but Bertugo charged and raised his shield to receive the blow.

The attack struck Bertugo and caused him to retreat a few steps.

Dyne rushed forward with the rest and did a series of combined attacks.

A few seconds later, the Drake Ghost was killed.

For some strange reason, there was no life energy, but only painful and torturous soul energy entered them. It was as if a concentrated amount of Mist energy attacked them.

Dyne sensed it and didn’t try to throw out the energy but resisted it.

It was then that Dyne felt the small wisps of a soul, which Dyne redirected and sent towards Brod.

Brod was nervous as Dyne reached out but stood still and bit his teeth.

Dyne channeled the energy and once more created a soul vision of Alos Vasilous. The small wisps of soul trembled as it rushed towards Brod.

Brod also shivered as if he senses a strange power being channeled within.

Brod stopped and took a look at his arms. It was there that he could feel strange things. It was as if the emotions that he could feel increased.

He glanced at Dyne, and tears began to fall on his eyes. But his expression remained confused.

“Ok... What’s going on?” Dyne wondered.

“Same thing happened me. Night Genesis Tree.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gobu Gobu race different from man. We feel different. When Genesis Tree grow bright, Bertugo feel strange. He feel things he not feel before.”

Dyne was startled.

“I see. Soul Kindling gave birth to a wider scope of emotions!” Dyne was shocked.

“That is correct. I guess there is no harm in telling you this. Imagine Betugo and Brod was once monsters. They do feel emotions, but it is vastly weaker or different from what humans feel. Imagine being a dog. What emotions do you feel? It isn’t as complex as humans who get disappointed, angry, vengeful, and so on. Bertugo had a full transition. But Brod still has a long way to go. You’d need about ten more of those to make his soul full. He is grateful towards you, but he doesn’t understand what that emotion is.”

“So that’s it! Then if I count Number 2, I’d need twenty more Drake Ghost? Or will Skeletons and Gimards do? On second thought, I’d better not try that to a Gimard. The burning pain doesn’t give me the luxury to concentrate.”

“I guess there's no harm telling you. The Skeletons don’t have a soul. The corruption of the Mist caused the dead bodies to rise. But you already guessed that. But as for the Ghost Drake, it is made up of the souls of those that remain in this world. I believe you could imagine why this is so?” Strafe asked.

“I don’t know. Why can’t the souls go back to Noaru Valley?”

“Guess.”

Dyne thought for a bit.

“The Genesis Tree? If they could bring souls from Noaru Valley to here, then are they a way to get to the other side?”

“Correct. Now with that in mind, you should be able to deduce why the souls can’t cross-over.”

“The Mist!” Dyne exclaimed.

“Correct. The Mist hinders them. It is part of the Evil of the Mist. It is more sinister than what it looks like. When a person dies in this world, they begin to start their journey to go to Noaru Valley. But this process happens for a long time. Upon getting born into this world, people slowly go through decay. You could call in entropy. We call it Death Energy. Upon dying, a person's soul goes through the opposite of that. They are in a continuous state of regeneration until their soul is strong enough to move.”

“What?” Dyne was confused.

“That how it is in Legaia and in the Cultivation world that you go through.”

“Is it Reincarnation?”

“Sort of. The best way to put it is Final Fantasy 7’s plot. How the dead return to becoming that Life energy that fuels the earth. But in the cultivation world, the cycle of Yin and Yang occurs. You see, you need Life Energy to create Death Energy. Life Energy is the mysterious energy that dictates life. When a person dies, the soul becomes the energy which is known as Life Energy. And the mysterious laws of the world requires both Life and Death.”

“Wow. It sounds Chinese.”

“It really is. As I said, the Cultivators of Chinese Legend came from our world. In our world, Life and Death Energy go hand in hand. When Life Energy disappears, Death Energy appears. People are created and born through Life energy, and immediately they fall under the control of death energy and decay. And so, the Yin Yang symbol that the Chinese of your world adheres to is proven true. There is Death in Life. And while people under the powers of Death Energy can procreate and produce more life. In our world, everyone is created as Life beings clothe in Death bodies. There is no other way to be formed. There have been tales of those who fought against the heavens and overturned these laws. The Mortal Severing is this stage. You sever death by actually dying to be reborn as Life.”

“Alright. Now it's getting more difficult to understand.” Dyne shook his head.

“Let me make it easier for you. Death and life is a cycle in this world. Life Energy and Death energy supports itself. Through life and death energy, more life and death energy are created. People need to be born in a body of decay. By combining Life and Death, more Life energy can be created as those with Life energy will need a body of decay to procreate and make life. Cultivators fight against the heavens to break free from this body of decay and life without Death Energy.”

“Cool story, bro. But how does that affect Legaia?”

“When a person dies, his death energy ends, and life energy begins to grow. The soul will then travel to the nearest Genesis Tree to go to Nauro Valley, where all souls of Legaia dwell. But the journey of the soul from here to Nauro Valley is a long time. A soul can linger for years and years in this world before traveling to the Genesis Tree. But the Mist hinders this process. It keeps the soul and corrupts it. Those Drake Ghost are those very souls.”