Chapter 39
EXACTLY, A CHEAT.
ALTHOUGH YOU, YOURSELF ALREADY FIGURED OUT THE WAY TO GET ANOTHER SKILL, RIGHT?
'You mean... wait a second, How long have you been watching me?'
DOES IT EVEN MATTER? WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT AN EXTREMELY INCREDIBLE CHEAT AND THAT IS, SKILL EATER!
'Right... pretty sure it was Skill Steal but sure, whatever.'
SO IT'S FUCKING HILARIOUS TO ME, HUMAN. THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT THE SECRET BEHIND GAINING SKILLS.
'Haha... very funny alrighty then about your story?'
HM? OH RIGHT. WELL-
Soon, the Apolytos faction gave on the Demon Kings and tried to swicth unto the Heroes, naturally this failed completely as the Heroes were already on the Paradeisos faction's thumb.
Soon, the first heroes beat the demon king and so, ascended into the celestial plane.
That was when the stalemate between the two factions started to break.
Cycles after cycles, the Paradeisos faction started getting more and more ascended gods and goddesses on their side and in turn, the Apolytos faction's strength was overwhelmed.
Finally, after countless eons, the Apolytos faction was completely destroyed and their leader, 'Kronos' was slain and ceased to exist.
Paradeisos reigned supreme and continued to rise in power, fully controlling the celestial plane as more and more heroes ascended and swore allegiance to them.
Soon, the whole celestial plane was ruled in peace and order. It's name was changed into Heaven.
They didn't touch the Eleftheros faction as they complied with the rules of Heaven.
Years flowed like river and Apolytos faction was reduced into a mere myths.
'I see...'
THEN... I, JULIUS DURANT, BECAME THE STRONGEST DEMON KING TO EVER EXIST AND WAS ABOUT TO ASCEND INTO GODHOOD.
HOWEVER, HEAVEN STOPPED ME SINCE I DIDN'T SIGN ANY CONTRACT WITH THEM.
THEY'VE ACCUMULATED ENOUGH POWER TO CREATE HELL. A PRISON FOR ALL THOSE WHO STAND AND OPPOSE THEM.
HOWEVER THAT'S NOT WITHOUT A PRICE, THERE EXISTS A PLACE AS OMNIPOTENT AS THE SYSTEM, AND THAT IS...
'The abyss?'
HOU? IT SEEMS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
'But what does it exactly do?'
THINK OF IT AS THE BALANCER BETWEEN CELESTIALS AND MORTALS.
THAT.. THING, DRAGS EVERY CELESTIAL BEINGS THAT COME DOWN HERE, OF COURSE IT NATURALLY MEANS ANGELS AS WELL.
'W-wait hold on... I feel like I know this.. no wait, why does it feel like I already know everything you told me?'
WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THE TRANSITION BETWEEN OUR SOULS.
'Transition?'
NO... MORE LIKE A CLASH, I GUESS? HOWEVER, I AM GENUINELY SURPRISED THAT YOU'RE STILL YOURSELF AFTER CLASHING WITH MY SOUL.
'W-wait... what does it mean to clash souls with others?'
WELL, THAT WOULD MEAN A BATTLE OVER THE BODY. THE SOULS WOULD CLASH, IN RESULT, MEMORIES AND TRAITS OF BOTH SOULS WOULD BE JUMBLED AND MIXED, MAKING THE WEAKER ONE BE LEFT IN QUESTION OF HIS OWN IDENTITY.
WHILE THE WINNER, WOULD BE THE ONE LEFT IN CONTROL OF THE BODY.
Wait... so it's because of him that I confused myself for Julius? but-
'Does that mean... I w-'
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE, HUMAN. YOU MERELY WON BECAUSE YOUR SOUL WAS AN OTHERWORLDLY'S.
IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERED AS A FOREIGN OBJECT IN THIS WORLD, NO- REALM. THEN I WOULD'VE LONG DEVOURED YOU.
'I see....'
I don't get this guy. Does he hate me? then why tell me all this?
'Alright.... then seeing as how you called me otherworldly, then does that mean that there are others like me before?'
IT IS AS YOU THINK, THERE ARE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OTHERWORLDERS ARE ABLE TO REINCARNATE INTO THIS WORLD, ALTHOUGH IT WAS SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY VERY VERY RARELY.
PLUS, IT WAS HEAVEN THAT WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THIS METHOD, TO THIS DAY, IT'S A SECRET THAT STAYS THERE.
'I see... okay.... Why tell me all this?'
THAT'S BECAUSE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR TWO SOULS TO EXIST IN ONE BODY, IF ONE SOUL DOES NOT DISSIPATE ( LOSE HIS IDENTITY ) THEN THE MERGING PROCESS COMES NEXT.
'Huh? merging process?'
AS MUCH AS I HATE IT, IT IS WHAT IT LITERALLY MEANS. THE TWO SOULS WOULD MERGE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT IT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS THE CLASHING FAILS.
'W-w-wait a second... what happens if we do mer-'
[ Well.. well... it seems that there's already an interesting development here. ]
I almost jump in surprise as I heard an unfamiliar voice.
TCH.
[ Aww... aren't you happy to see me? Former Demon Lord? ]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
[ Hmm... well, I heard an interesting conversation here. ]
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
[ Heh... ]
It was then, In the a shadowy figure appeared in front of me.
Two ghastly glowing eyes formed on the shadowy figure. It looked at me straight in the eyes and I couldn't help but tremble in fear.
[ Hou... well they certainly picked an interesting otherworldly this time. ]
I know that this voice was unfamiliar but at the same time it felt familiar.... could it be from Julius's memories?
I looked at Julius and he looked like he had a pissed yet at the same time scared expression.
[ Hmph. Alright then... Mortal, sign this contract. ]
I've never seen Julius this scared before... what the hell? who is he...
'W-why should I?'
[ Why should you? hm... well- ]
Suddenly, a force dragged me down and forcibly hit what would seem to be a solid ground.
The ground started shaking and cracks felt like appearing on the ground, and it was-
That thing again.
IT'S THAT THING AGAIN!
Beside was also Julian who was trembling in fear as he was forced to look at it as well.
AGRH... BASTARD....
stop. stop. stop. PLEASE STOP. NO! PLEASE.
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
[ Calming Mind is in effect. ]
Continuous system notice messages kept popping up in front of me.
Slowly, I wasn't struggling anymore and my mind was becoming more at ease.
'Haa... haa...'
No- wait! shit! I shouldn't have-
[ Hou? What's this here? Someone who can resist the Abyss? Interesting~ ]
Damn it Haruki, you dumbass! you should've kept acting!