14 'Overturning Fate' Time
When a new player chooses Ashe Daemon, the player will be guided through an unskippable event scene which then transitions directly into a tutorial battle. The players will then have to fight a battle against the Merez Forest Wolves while learning the basic controls. The tutorial battle ends once all Merez Forest Wolves have been eliminated.
For the players, there are absolutely no problems with how the flow of events goes. There are no factors that allow a player to lose the first battle. In fact, the power level differences between Ashe/[Xoketh possessed] and the Merez Forest Wolves are so big that any damage caused by the wolves would be absolutely negligible. Ashe/[Xoketh possessed] even has a health regen ability that heals even the slightest damage. People questioned the plan of the developers for why Ashe's tutorial battle is so easy compared to the actual gameplay.
While players can safely pass through the prologue, the story is different (literally) for the characters involved.
For Ashe, what happened after his Xoketh-possessed self had completely eliminated the wolves were left intentionally vague in the game.
As soon as the battle was over, Ashe/[Xoketh possessed] was shown to howl into the sky. As soon as he raises his head to howl, the camera quickly rises and zooms towards the moon and then the screen turns dark.
During that transition, the amount of time that past since Ashe/[Xoketh possessed]'s transformation was unknown.
The next thing I knew, while forest scenery remained the same, Ashe was now shown to have turned back to normal as he laid on the forest floor, his eyes closed. As the camera angle trained on Ashe's face, his eyelids began to flutter as he starts to awaken.
By his side, was an unfamiliar man who was tending to a fire that I assumed the man had made.
At first glance, he was a man of tall stature, dressed in a light brown cloak that covered his entire body, reminiscent of a nomadic traveler.
Once the unknown man had noticed that Ashe has woken up, the man then started his examination of Ashe's well-being.
Seeing a confused Ashe, the man introduces himself as Rheves Verstone.
It wasn't until later that players learned that this man was actually an old comrade of Ashe's mother, Aileen.
In fact he was the very comrade that accurately deduced Aileen's 'curse'.
Rheves explained his reason to Ashe as to why he was in the Merez Forest in the first place was because he was planning on visiting an 'old friend'. Normally, a person with any of this world's common sense would question why there would be an 'old friend' anywhere near as forest as dangerous as the Merez Forest at all. Fortunately, while he was still wary of him, Ashe didn't question anything.
As one might have guessed, the 'old friend' that Rheves planned on visiting is Aileen. Unfortunately while Rheves knows that Aileen made a home in Merez, he doesn't know the exact location and is now lost.
Rheves told Ashe that while he was wandering around, he coincidentally found Ashe collapsed on the ground. Seeing that Ashe had no obvious wounds (health regen), Rheves built a fire while waiting for him to wake up.
After introducing himself and his reasons, Rheves started to ask Ashe about why a child is in this forest and whether or not he knows Aileen.
After a few questions, Ashe confirmed that Aileen was his mother.
It was at the moment he confirmed that Ashe suddenly remembered why he was deep in the forest in the first place.
Not minding that he had just only known Rheves just a few minutes ago, Ashe hurriedly explained to Rheves about how Aileen was hurt and he needs to bring Aileen the Blackthorn Roses over there right away.
Rheves who knew about Aileen's 'curse' immediately believed Ashe. With rapid movements, Rheves quickly gathered the necessary Blackthorn Roses while simultaneously carrying Ashe as they he made his way towards the direction Ashe pointed towards.
After some time, Rheves and Ashe finally made it back to the house.
Ashe excited to see his Mom's happy expression after he brought her the flower immediately barged into the house from the door he left wide open.
The thing that greeted him, however, was only the appearance of his mother's cold dead corpse.
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Aaron Amano's POV
According to the original story, after the battle Ashe will eventually return to normal state by unknown reasons, only to fall unconscious.
He will then be discovered by Rheves Verstone who took care of Ashe's unconscious body before he wakes up.
Once Ashe had woken up he, along with Rheves, rushed back to Ashe's home with the Blackthorn Rose in tow.
However, by then it was far too late.
Even if Ashe was to return to normal immediately after taking out the Merez Forest Wolves, the time it took him to return home was not something that Aileen has.
Having not brought the Blackthorn Rose in time, Aileen's 'curse' had since killed her.
Ashe, who found out his mother had died despite his best efforts, will then suffer an extreme mental sickness.
He would forever blame himself for his mother's death.
Every night, Ashe would get repeating nightmares where his mother constantly interrogates Ashe about why he hadn't saved her.
Affected by his sufferings, the personality changed from his originally positive happy self into a constantly gloomy, silent person who also lacked the motivation to live.
The only reason as to why he continues to live at all was all because the efforts of Rheves.
Having seen the fragility of young Ashe, Rheves took it upon himself to raise Ashe for Aileen's stead.
Throughout the entire game, Rheves had tried many methods in an effort to make Ashe stand upon his feet again but remained unsuccessful everytime.
No matter how far into the game I went to, Ashe was never able change himself for the better. He struggled and fought over and over….but in the end Xoketh finally took over.
To the end, nothing could be done.
….this ending is far too sad.
I don't know why I was made to transmigrate into this form. Or know what I was supposed to do.
However, there was something I always wanted to do.
As long as I am here, I will not allow anything that will make Ashe suffer.
If Ashe continues to suffer, what meaning is there for my transmigration?
With renewed determination, I try once again tried to struggle against Xoketh's control.
If what the event scenario showing is true, then Xoketh's control should weaken to allow Ashe to return to normal eventually. If I can somehow speed up that progress, wouldn't Ashe's awakening happen even faster?
It wasn't long until I found out that my futile wish would not come true.
Xoketh's control showed no signs of weakening.
Instead, Xoketh's control is actually growing stronger.
Are you for real!?
At this rate, my consciousness won't hold out much longer.
Will Xoketh's control ever weaken? Or is it that this time what happened in the game won't apply here?
As though I was being forcefully submerged deeper into a pool of water, my consciousness continuously fades away.
This...there was know way I could know anything about this. This feeling…it's not the feeling of merely losing consciousness. In fact…..it is as if my entire existence is being erased.
If this continues, 'I' might not even exist anymore.
[….shit….]
It's impossible.
There is no way a normal college student like myself to have any power to challenge a real Demon Lord.
No superpowers. None of the so-called 'Cheats' that Japanese protagonist gets when they go to another world. None of the so-called 'lucky chances' that Chinese protagonists get to spontaneously raise their cultivation levels.
The 23 years that I had been alive in my previous life…none of it would have prepared me to face this.
They have it good don't they, those reincarnation protags'.
Without even trying hard, they just get an OP power up.
While the only perk I get is to keep my memories of my previous life, not even a body.
…
…it's fine isn't it?
I tried my best.
Normally, people would never get a second chance at life the way I have.
I was lucky enough to 'live' again for 5 extra years.
[Sorry….Ashe.]
I couldn't do anything for you….
…sorry.
…
..
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'....me...Mo….'
Hm?
'…..home….Mom….I wa….'
A voice?
'….go home….Mom…I want..'
Where?
'I want…go home…Mom. I want to..'
This feeling…it's from the soul link?
Ashe! Is he awake!?
'I want t…go hom….Mom. I want to…he…'
…That is not it. This is just Ashe's unconscious thoughts.
'I want to go home, Mom. I want to help you…'
This had been the clearest of his 'voice' so far.
…Ashe.
'…I want help you, Mom. Then we will have fun together again…'
Really…someone as young as you….
'When I bring back the flower…will Mom praise me?'
…Yes. Yes, she will.
'When Mom drinks the flower…she won't be hurt anymore?'
That's right, Ashe. You would have saved her.
'…I want to go, home.'
…Don't worry, Ashe. I'll make sure to bring you home.
As if to show that my earlier weakness was a lie, I tried, harder than ever, to fight against Xoketh.
If Ashe hasn't given up yet, it wouldn't be good for me to give up too!
Even if I know it futile, as long as I don't give up, the chance is never 0%. Maybe!
Great words I learned from anime and manga.
That's fine and all, but I have yet to find even a sliver of the path forward.
Isn't there anything I can use? Work it, Aaron! Use your uselessly large database of anime, manga, lightnovels, and webnovels to find a way to break through!
As I continue to think, Xoketh's dark mist like soul continues to encroach and push me deeper inside him.
Guh! If only I had my body! Being in a soul-like state has never been more infuriating!
In a state of futility, I changed my focus towards my soul body.
If I do like this, I can make something like a hand.
Using all of my 'thought power', I was able to successfully change a part of my 'Soul Body' into a shape of a deformed hand. Using that hand, I started to swat at Xoketh's mist-like body.
This wasn't the first time I had tried to change the shape of my 'Soul Body'. However, it wasn't until now that I became successful.
Is this, what you call it, 'hysterical strength'? There had been many instances in history where humans, when in times of danger, have demonstrated superhuman feats that were unthinkable of them normally. Just like them, because I was in danger, my inner potential had activates and I can do things I can't normally do? Well, it's not the same because I don't have adrenaline flowing through m....hmm?
Something…feels different.
With suspicion, I changed my focus towards my 'hands' which were swatting at the dark mist.
…Yes, 'Hands'. What used to be weird white, glove-like appendages, there str now two human hands. Not just any hands, but hands I had been used to seeing for 23 years.
…No way.
I continue to focus upon my newly developed 'hands'. I opened and closed them. I waved them around.
Hands…my hands are back!
Specifically, 'only' my hands were back. From the wrist up, I still remain as a white 'Soul Body'.
After being in shock for a few seconds, I quickly pulled myself together.
I have no time for this!
If I have hands, now is time to use them!
I moved my hands towards Xoketh's mist-like soul.
As soon as my hands touched Xoketh's soul, it was as if I was holding fluffy cotton.
While I don't know the reason for it, but by using my hands I could grab onto Xoketh's soul and push it away!
Amazing!
If it is like this, I have a chance.
With renewed zeal, I used my newly developed hands to rip, tear, push, and pull apart Xoketh's soul away from my 'Soul Body'.
However, things were not that simple. As if to laugh at my efforts, Xoketh's soul quickly regenerates the parts that I tore apart and, with increased pressure, strengthens his absorption of me.
[Kuuh!]
Not enough. Totally not enough!
I need more! Much more power!
I'm not letting this chance get away!
As if proving what I said was true, new changes started happening in my soul body.
From my hands, my 'arms' began to take shape.
As my 'arms' appeared, so did my power, speed, and range increased.
While Xoketh's continued to regenerate his soul, with my newly developed body, I tore apart those regenerated parts and then some.
Xoketh's soul continues to resist, but my outrage does not stop.
[Xoketh…this time I won't let you do as you please.]
Wait for me Ashe…I promise to bring you home and then we can both save your mother.
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Rheves Verstone's Side.
"Not easy to find, huh? Aileen's place."
Having arrived to the Merez Forest a few hours earlier, Rheves continues to walk around the forest.
Having only been told by Aileen 5 years ago that she planned on living here, the difficulty of his search is to be imagined.
Furthermore there could be a possibility that the information is now outdated.
"Haaaaaa…..Where are you, Aileen?" said Rheves as he sighs from exhaustion.
Rheves continues his search, chasing off Aether Beast along the way when an unusual beeping noise rang out.
"Hm?"
After putting his hand in his pocket, Rheves pulls out a small device which where the sound originated from. The device is small and compact. If Aaron were to see it, the first thing that would come to mind that the device looks similar to a modern smartphone.
The smartphone-like device continues to make noise as if it was a some kind of alarm. On it's 'screen', a shining red dot is blinking continuously on what appears to be radar map. Rheves, having seen the dot, furrows his brow.
'Something is up here.' thought Rheves, having understood the meaning of blinking.
Using his tool as a guide, Rheves immediately dash straight towards the signal's source.
