Soul

Marcel POV.

Stepping through the breach with the one we had once mocked but owed our lives to slung across my shoulder;

I had never before endured such a towering sense of guilt and shame. The sound of perpetually grinding molars informed me of Rubel's similar thoughts.

The hellscape we had somehow risen unscathed from vanished to reveal a boisterous occasion.

The breach had no doubt teleported us to the exact location in the 9 realms where we ventured into it.

My mind dallied for a moment before registering the fact that the engagement party of our lady had just commenced when we were sent to the nether deathlands.

Parties in Vanaheim lasted the span of several days as shuras did not possess a mortal conceptualization of time due to their nearly limitless lifespan.

Around us the powerful gales born of domineering wings became a commodity as several winged giants recklessly drowned themselves in booze. "

Rubel lets f-". I turned to find my companion only to realize that his figure had vanished. After searching for a while I found him ogling dancing female Feys dressed scantily.

" You waste of a y chromosome, your brother in arms is dying over here after saving your life yet you still have the time to oogle…".

"Is there really ever a time for appreciating beauty?". He cut me off with a snort. Besides I wasn't ogling but rather looking for master. I was merely checking to see if any of the dancers had seen her, yes that is it."

Tired of accommodating this fool I quickly made my way out of the assembly hall anxious to find a medicinal center.

Rubel closely followed me.

It seemed he wasn't so useless when it mattered. However as we bolted through the street a strange sensation I had never noticed before suddenly appeared in my mind. 

"Hey Rubel, dont the laws of earth around us seem strange". He responded with a skeptical look yet as he patiently observed the ground his pupils wouldn't stop quivering.

His shock was only mirrored by mine, for I could clearly sense an extremely destructive force quaking beneath the ground, no it was superimposed with and it screamed to break free. Perhaps only one who had seen such a phenomenon before like we had in the dark shura temple could perceive it.

Either way we both found ourselves doubling our footsteps. I reached into my collar, bringing out a crystalline necklace my master had entrusted me with.

On it was inscribed the Egyptian hieroglyphic Shen. My eyelids closed in concentration as I called to her to her in silence. 

"Come" a voice appeared in my mind. Immediately we found ourselves in a beautiful jade palace. The vanishing zither palace. The residence of princess Theia.

A celestial figure appeared before us donned in lose linen robes. Bewitchingly beautiful, there was no other way to describe the sensual curves of her body. Even in lose linen, the bottom and chest areas of her clothing were nearly constricted to the point of bursting.

Armed also with a countenance that would entrance anyone in an eternal dream, she was simply magnificent. Yet, neither I nor Rubel bore any traces of lust towards her. Not because we respected her far too much or that we were saints, but rather due to a phenomenon that occurred when she saved us. The reason we were her slaves.

The reason she could browse through our thoughts like an openlibrary and witness any single moment of our lives she wished to. We would also never be able to betray for we felt only what she allowed us to feel.

Our thoughts were hers to bend a she wished. Tell me dear reader. How do you fall for someone so terrifying.

Despite that we never for a moment felt any fear or discomfort, a fact that terrified me. "You've returned". Her chime like voice seemed to cleanse our souls.

I was at the very lest appreciative of the happy tone of her voice as she leisurely closed the book she was reading and arose from her seat. Her manners were perfect, exquisite even, all the same when she noticed the state of the figure slung across my shoulder her smile vanished.

This mystery had boggled my mind after its discovery. Shuras found humans to be convenient pets. They didn't respect our lives. Theia may have treated us a little different but that was simply due to her nature.

She treasured even the flowers of her garden let alone her two male pets. Somehow, the way she looked at Adam was different. As a fellow servant I could sense it.

His mind had never once been interfered and even now her fear was as grave as ours was. Fear that an insignificant mortal might perish.

Her silky fingers came together in a snap and space shimmered like a mirage.

The composition of the room we stood in transformed into that of a hospital like setting. I placed Adam onto the silky white bed. Watching fearfully as his blood soaked the mattress.

Glowing dark red veins bulged above his chocolate skin. "I should have known a third circle realm would have been too much for him. He hadn't even experienced his awakening yet. "Theia said with a remorseful voice.

"Actually he wasn't the useless one, that was probably Rubel" I ignored the jab that came from my left as I narrated the entirety of what had occurred in the nether death lands. Rubel chimed in at times to complete the narration in place where my words were insufficient.

Nonetheless that much effort was useless for I felt an invasive force browsing through my memories, the grimace on Rubel's face informed me that he experienced the same thing. "To think they would do such a thing". Our master was currently vibrating with rage. A fact that stunned me. "Shouldn't we be worried about saving him right now?", Rubel asked in stupor."The magma did a number on him-"

The cold fury in Theia's voice cut him off. "That was not magma. It was dark ichor. Its poisonous corrosive and volatile, but it is the essence of all demonic gods, the liquid that flow through their veins."

"I don't understand. All divine beings perished." I dumbly ascertained.

"All divine beings of the distant past." Theia replied sorrowfully This particular divine beast is of the past but also of the present, and perhaps the future depending on what decision we make."

She sighed for a moment as she gazed at our questioning expressions before beginning.

" Nature most always form a balance. When there us justice and virture there must be evil and sin. And such was the case with the original primordial dragon god. The bringer of storms, the scourge of the earth.

Many didn't know that in the vilest recesses of the universe, his opposite spawned. It was young and weak, undetectable enough to survive the calamity that wiped out the old gods.

Unfortunately after the world evolved into this godless one it no longer had the divine energy to mature.

And so it was existed while blurring through the corporeal and incorporeal but never substantial enough to take form, until recently."

" The dark shuras." I announced, already having perceived a bit of the truth.

"Pushed to the brink of death with no way out they probably sacrificed themselves to raise the dark yin long from oblivion in whatever form he may be." Theia said gravely.

"But the old gods are said to be enough to utterly annihilate the nine realms with a breath. If he really was an ancient dragon god, and a primordial dragon god of all things, how could Adam defeat him no matter how weak he became." Rubel asked after catching on.

Nevertheless, no light came to the darkness in Theia's expression. "It did not perish".She announced coldly.

She said as she directed her gaze toward Adam. "It just needed a host. From the beginning of your battle to its end, it used only enough strength to test a worthy host."

"Host!" I exclaimed as his nearly perfect visage clouded over.

"A body to anchor it to our realm. It has already transformed his body into a draconic one. Only his essence remains human. Even now I am certain the same dark ichor flows through his veins. When its soul has reached the required level of maturity Adams own will perish, be destroyed so completely that entering the cycle if reincarnation would be impossible. And from his a body the demonic dragon will rise, its power unmatched by anything in this era. Before that happens, we have to-".

"Destroy him". I finished for her. I silently rose and redrew an object from my spatial pouch. A crystal that had waltzed into existence when we approached the dimensional gap.

The treasure that was alone in the realm. Now I placed it beside a doomed man. "let it accompany you". I sighed.

The crystalline Shen amulet I always wore also glinted sadly on his neck. 

I turned to Theia once more. "Actually, we have much bigger problems right now".

***

"ugh" I woke up with a groan, an immense, grueling pain registering belatedly to me.

I surveyed my surroundings, curious as to where I was. Massive trees sprouted forth in large numbers and the earth was covered a vast flora of wild flowers. Mountains of immense height rose up in challenge only bound by rivers that snaked across the rich brown earth.

Valleys, gorges, and plateaus, a plethora of each abounded in this strange world. It took me a while to realize I was seeing the entirety of the world without having tried.

 It spanned several thousands of kilometers however I still felt claustrophobic, restricted by the boundaries of this world.

[ That is how gods see the world]. A strange youth appeared in front of me. A boy who couldn't have surpassed the age of ten.

[Let me help out].He waved his stubby little arms and the great blue dome of the sky shattered to reveal a wondrous starry expanse.

"Who are you?" Every molecule in my body screamed out in fear in his presence. He had not done anything threatening, rather it was a feeling of danger that arose from my instincts that plagued me.

His skin rippled with unbridled power, space quaked around him in submissive fear.

Yet his innocent smile was exactly that. An innocent smile.

"Oh no" the boy placed his palm on his mouth in an alarmed gasp. His manner was childish and even comical.

However, immediately the entire world was shaken by an outraged roar.

Appearing just outside of a mile away was an immense dark crimson dragon. [ ROOOAARR].

It opened its maw to produce a heaven ending roar.

The only testament to my consciousness were my wildly oscillating eyes. [ Ha-ha its not just you. Even in the old world no one could withstand the might of yin longs roar. With his demonic spawn being even more powerful no creature will be able to survive the face of its roar].

"Are you enjoying this?" I asked after my bearings returned, barely able to think under the vast sporession my soul felt in thenpresence of the dark dragon.

This was the might of a god soul!!

I immediately turned 180 degrees and raced forth. In this world I was as fast as I wanted to be. The flora blurred past at sonic speeds.

[ Yes, I am, Its quite a boring life. Living in this form. You're the only entertainment I will be getting in a while]. the little child effortlessly flew beside me with his arms folded neatly behind him, choosing to answer my question now.

[ you're quite the weird fella. You didn't lead with "aaah save me" or "Aaaaah I'm about to die like the other puny humans", but rather your response to the blood thirsty dragon hunting you down as to ask me if I'm enjoying it.]

Behind me the dragon had furiously assumed chase, leaving a mass of carnage wherever its colossal body flew. "Why would I go out in sucha pathetic manner if I know in about to die." I screamed at the boy hatefully as i run.

I had melded minds with the dragon briefly as it invaded my body. I was already aware of what would happen to me. I definitely wouldn't survive it. [Actually the reason you're able to speak to me right might be a cause for hope. In you I've discovered the existence of something that hasn't existed since the era of the gods. Something that may very well allow you to overcome this ordeal.]

His words put the brakes on my furiously racing mind. "What are you talking about?."in response to my question he simply gestured to my surroundings.

[I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. You're the divine templated human of legend. 'No that doesn't make any sense. I cant feel natures breath on you.'] he proceeded to break into a fit of mumbling.

Behind me the devilish dragon god had transformed the beautiful scenery into a hellscape as it bounded after me.

A destructive hurricane that swallowed everything masked its figure and as it moved it brought about a tsunami that ruled the horizon.

The destruction was beautiful in it own way [dragons have always brought water with them. Those who associated them with fire are just plain idiots. Yin long was a god who ruled over the rains.]

He explained as if he could read my thoughts a phenomenon I had only once experiencedone other tim: In the presence of Theia.

Again he seemed to be able to peer into my thoughts the moment they changed.

[Hahaha took your ren eh, looks like I'm going miss some good teenage melodrama. 

Pity

For now though lets save your life. Listen you only have one shot at this. The dragon soul is still immature and it needs to devour yours for nourishment before it can reach maturity. Right now it is at its most vulnerable state. You must refine it into your soul to defeat it.

Face it in a clash of wills and best it head on. Destroy it down to its very fabric and reconstruct it as an extension of your soul. 

Of coursenyou are a mortal trying to overpower the dark soul of the primordial dragon god. No matter how juvenile it is your task is completely impossible.

And yet your only choice is success. I truly look forward to what you will do.

 I haven't had this much fun in eons, all anyone had to offer me was fear. Being with you was…..refreshing, I can understand why she chose you. You will need my help soon. I can sense it.

Journey to the red cross where the dregs of my being rest in solitude there I will offer you aid and an.....inheritance].

Then the gentle winds carried the last of his breath away his figure had soundlessly dismantled into purple light.

Several.of his word astounded and confused me, and yet i di not have the luxury of pondering them now.

[ROOOAAARRR].

The world-shattering roar of the dragon behind me. I could sense it, the command within its roar. It wanted to face me. But today… today I had no qualms. Ever since my ventureinto this legendary realm I had sensed it.

The chaos of the battlefield called out to me. It was my true home. Where my soul was at rest. Today I would accept that. The soles of my feet rotated in a complete arc. I stared into the glowing crimson eyes of the massive dragon, aware of its predatory glint. 

Immediately a torrential force slammed into my soul. Memories from a different life. Swimming endless in a sea of chaos with neither form no soul. Being brought to realm of the surreal in a torn broken form that awaited endless pain. And finally, I saw my own figure through a different pair of eyes.

A worthy host from among the others. A body that knew pain but wouldn't oblige. A dull pain appeared in my soul as I fought to retain my sense of self.

I was Adam. However, soon the dull pain evolved into a soul rending purgatory that knew no bounds. I felt every organ, every tissue, every cell, every molecule, and every atom, of existence spasmed in gut wrenching agony. I was losing. I felt my memories scatter as my identity collapsed. Every school trip.

Every detention, every day I would return to my mother's smile. NO. I felt my form coalescing back into certainty as I found my determination. The divine pressure of a dragon gods soul still bore down on me intent on erasing me to completion.

However, I possessed something it could never measure up to with merely eons of existence and a majestic pride. 

A worthwhile childhood with a loving parent. Something it could never erase. Soon the sensation of pressure faded as I regained control of my soul realm. It couldn't steal my soul anymore not anymore.

I knew who I was. I leaped into the domeless sky. Urging my figure to sail through winds until its colossal head was but a foot away from me,

It roared in indignation determined to fight to the bitter end. But it was far too late. I locked eyes with it as it had to me.

I wouldn't be able to extinguish it. It was a god soul after all. But I could borrow its trick. Within its eyes I saw eons torment, its will had been fragmented and its personality, twisted beyond repair.

It was but a raging beast desperate to escape its pain. I placed my palm on its snout as I cooed. "I will release you. Golden flames ignited endlessly on its figure and it was unable to resist. As it writhed in pain I urged the flames to grow stronger until it no longer moved. 

The flame disappeared bringing about an impossible scenery. Within the starry expanse of my soul realm an endlessly long draconic figure levitated proudly. 

However, it scales, hair, wings and eyes radiated a powerful crimson light. One that harmonized with the realm.

'My own dragon night light.'

I gazed deeply into its glowing crimson eyes but no longer found an external will, it was as the entire realm was. An extension of me.

And now until I perished it would guard this great expanse endlessly.