Chapter 17- So Much Truth, So Little Lies

Malice stared up with a serious look. Even though Avatar had no corporal presence in that white chamber, he still felt like staring up as he thought she was up there, somewhere.

[I assume it's concerning the Soul Essence Serum?] Avatar asked.

"So you can hear my thoughts?" He asked with squinted eyes.

[No, I cannot. But, judging from your expression, that could only be the question I can think of. I have a lot of data about you, after all, Marked Malice.] She replied.

'Talk about a friendship.' He rolled his eyes. "So, what is your explanation for that? It seems the Soul Essence Serum or whatever that is isn't actually necessary, is it? That guy Cipher didn't even bat an eye over the fact that I formed a Soul Core without it." He said.

[It is certainly true that he didn't notice and that is most likely because it is common for humans to form Soul Cores without the serum nowadays.]

"Huh? Then, why did you say that a human can't form it?" Malice asked. He was only getting more and more confused by the second.

[I would like to apologize for the mistake, Marked Malcie. Currently, the data I have stored in my memory is a little outdated due to the fact that I'm merely a manifestation of the Shard Of Hatred's consciousness in this world. I have no presence nor awareness of the outside world.]

"Wait, hold on a second, you want to tell me that you have old knowledge that could not be true in the current world?" He asked.

[I believe so. The Shard Of Hatred has been dormant for a long time and only awakened recently when it found you. This world is completely new to it and to me.] Avatar explained patiently. [The oldest data I have now says that humans were unable to form Soul Cores without the Serum.] Avatar said.

"..."

'What the hell… This is annoying.' Malice frowned. Not only did she give him the wrong information, but she also only realized that once he pointed it out. How unreliable is that? 

'I thought this was a divine shard for god's sake.'

Avatar seemed to notice the change and she added. [I deeply apologize for the inconvenience, Marked Malice. I believe that mistake shall never happen again. Now that it's awake, the Shard Of Hatred allows me to gather information and data from all over the world. It will take a few days to process all the information but once it's done, everything shall be up to date.]

As she said those words, a window appeared in Malice's retina. The window was rectangular in form with a long loading throbber that was barely 20% of the way.

"... If you say so."

'I guess it makes sense that she has the wrong info when she didn't exist until a few days ago.' He thought to himself as he shook his head. As long as it was not going to be a problem in the future, he didn't mind.

[Thank you for your understanding.]

"But, that's still not the end of it. If I consumed the Serum when I should've been able to simply form it naturally, what is gonna happen to me?" He asked as he knitted his eyebrows.

[The Serum is still very beneficial for you, Marked Malice. If you didn't already notice, consuming it gives you way more Soul Essence and a far more refined Soul Core than anything else… As far as my data says.] She replied.

"... How do I know that?" 

[You can simply check your current Soul Essence level if you close your eyes and think about it. It will also show you your Soul Core.] 

"Oh, that is something new." Malice murmured as he slowly sat down and closed his eyes. Then, he simply thought of his Soul Core. Even though he didn't know what it looked like, he decided to repeat the word again and again.

 Almost instantly, his closed eyes started seeing a small ember of red light in the distance. That ember slowly grew in size, expanding like the roots of a tree in real-time.

Malice didn't know what was happening, but for some reason, something inside him told him the answer. 'This is… My own body…'

The way the roots expanded formed a human body in shape. The energy coursing through these veins was so beautiful and vivid that he could only admire it for a few seconds.

"Wow… That looks amazing." He muttered.

[That is your Soul Essence and Soul Core. They are very similar to how your vascular system works in many ways.]

"I don't know what that is. But, I guess I can believe you for now." Malice said as he stood up. As far as he could see, his Soul Essence and Soul Core looked quite lively and even ethereal to look at.

He doubted there were any problems since he didn't feel anything bad so far. In fact, he was inclined to believe that consuming that Serum had benefited him a lot as Avatar said. It was a matter of time for that to be proved or not, though.

"Ok, now that's done with. What now? I'm back here so you definitely have something for me, right?" 

[Of course, I still haven't told you about the true Purpose of this entire pocket realm, Marked Malice.]

"Purpose?"

[As I said before, the Shard Of Hatred created this chamber to help you get stronger. Now, this particular room doesn't really do anything apart from recovering your body to its normal state.]

"Yeah, I noticed that."

'It healed my body when I came here the first time.' He thought to himself.

[That is why, I haven't told you yet. But, this chamber isn't the only place in this world.] She said. [It is but a very small area of a way bigger realm, created by the Shard Of Hatred.]

"... A small area? Wait, so there is more of this place?" He asked, clearly taken by surprise. "Where is it?"

[It is beyond that door.] As she spoke, one of the walls of the white room, the frame of a door suddenly appeared in one of the white walls. [That is where you can truly enter the world created by the Shard.]

"... That is interesting. But, what is the purpose of it?"

[Naturally, beyond that door are many trials that you have to go through to be able to get stronger.]

'Trials, huh… That doesn't sound easy.' Malice gulped down a mouthful of saliva before he looked at Avatar.

"Uh, so I assume there are monsters and dangerous enemies behind that door?"

[Yes. There are also many other things, but I cannot disclose anything yet as I do not have access to such information myself. You will have to discover it on your own.]

"Hold on a second, if that's the case, how am I supposed to fight monsters? With my bare hands?" He asked.

Even if Malice was courageous enough to face a monster head-on, he certainly didn't believe he could kill them with his fists. Training or not, he wasn't at that stage yet where his fists could do actual damage.

[I was tasked with handing you a few tools to assist you in your first steps.]

After saying that, Malice noticed a few things appearing in the room. On the bed, an armor set, one long sword, one bow, and a few arrows appeared out of nowhere. Finally, there were two potions with green liquid in them and one with red liquid in it.

[The beginner's pack is what I shall call it.]

"Thanks for deciding that on your own." Malice sighed as he approached the bed and looked at the items curiously. "So these are the things I'm supposed to use?" He asked.

'I have seen Marked Nobles wear these clothes before. I guess they're used for protection.] Picking up the set of armor, he inspected it with his eyes. Its base structure was made out of sleek, matte black plating with sharp angular lines going across its length. These lines were pulsating with a faint blue light.

{Beginner's Armor Set

Rank: Unranked

Damage Negation: 10 (To all types of attacks.)

Effects Immunity: 10 (To all types of effects.)

Traits: None

Description: Beginner's armor set. No special abilities.}

Malice tried to read some of the words written in front of him at first and he was able to understand a few, but he still ended up using the voice to read the rest. He still felt happy that he could at least read something for the first time in his life.

'I guess this is not too bad. It doesn't seem to be anything special, but it feels better than nothing.' He murmured as he touched the fabric. It indeed fits its name perfectly.

Then, Malice looked at the rest of the items that looked more interesting.