62 Chapter 62
"Shit—ow," Shin murmured, wincing as he sat up and rubbed his jaw. "Okay… that one actually hurt."
Across from him, Aruno stood swaying, eyes glassy. His chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths. He didn't look victorious — he looked haunted.
"Hey," Shin called, slower now. "You good?"
Aruno's legs buckled. He collapsed without warning, like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Whoa—Aruno!"
Shin rushed over, kneeling beside him. Aruno's skin was cold, damp with sweat, eyes flickering beneath shut lids, blood on his forehead and leaking from his nose.
"Don't do that," Shin muttered, checking his pulse. "Don't pass out after decking me like a truck. That's just bad manners."
He's out cold! What exactly happened to this man. I need to get Ryuko here right now to heal whatever happened to him. Damn you Aruno forcing me to use telekinesis,"Ryuko, there was an accident I need you to come heal Aruno."
"Wha am I healing everyone today! I'm on my way. Wonshin go find out if there is a city nearby, the merge is well over by now bring Ko and Yoru with you."
"Ok let's head out."
It's dark- "where am I now?" It's like that one time. The ground is wet..
"So you've made it back here huh?"
Not this again, "why must I face you again?" I'm tired of the past, I just want to move forward!
"What's wrong- you still hate yourself? You've gotten a bit stronger since last time, so you must of won." This is what I have become, a fraud. My eyes narrow, striking my older self a dark gaze.
"Why am I here? What do you want?"
"Slow down me, we have all the time in the world here in the void. I'll answer you, firstly you have to answer me first. Do you understand how this is going to work?"
I take deep breaths, annoyed by my self. My younger self's ego. Who I use to be. I lower my guard, now relaxed to face myself.
"Fine."
"Okay now, firstly who was the very first person you ever killed?" I need to make myself tough. If he's passing out due to mere projection magic, then I need to make myself into who I use to be.
We're going there? Hmmf, I take a slow breath releasing a cloud of my cold air into the void.
"My first kill- that was long ago. It was a woman, I remember everything about that like it was yesterday. It was not long after the incident with Serenia. The woman's name was Bella Moncure. She was 25 years old. Tan, hazel eyes, about the same height as Yoru. She was running a building that had shades hiding."
"We killed them all. Remember! It was amazing the blood rush! That was more than our first kill. It was more like what- 5-10 right! We had power! Sure we have power now, but we're being held back. We made friends, got Serenia back but now we've become weak."
He- no why am I smiling hearing this. Did I really enjoy it that much? Are the 'Vitanex' holding me back? Why am I doubting myself? Is he right?
"Anyways, I'll answer your first question."
"You are back here with your dear ol' self because the interaction you had with whomever that was sucked you dry of all mana. I don't know who or what he is, but we're his target. I'm in our mind so I see blurbs at a time. Fragments that come through during curtain events."
"My advice is since we're officially all on one world, planet, galaxy whatever it is. Get the hell away from everyone, if you truly now have found people you care about you need to run."
I'm giving him more than I should with this- damn-it! "Get as far away as you can, because that being is stronger than US. It was kill all of the 'Vitanex' as well as the Lumes. I'm not being condescending here, I'm doing this for Serenia's sake."
"ARUNO KUROGANE RUN."
"Secondly I'm not asking anymore questions from you so I'll tell you what I want in return from this exchange."
"I want the return of the Ghost. You need- We need to become the most dominant creature in this world. That's what I ask. That's what our heart wants.."
Can I actually trust my heart or is this some darkness trying to corrupt me. "He wants me to protect everyone, but in order to do so I must revert to the former."
Tears start rolling down my face as I realize this is the path I must choose.
Yes, my present self actually has a brain! I mangled my way through I'm back! The Ghost is back! "Aruno, I- would like to accompany you through this next journey. I need you to make a blood-pact with me, your former. You may physically be alone but you'll still have yourself if you agree."
"This feels like it's wrong but to protect everyone it feels right." I must agree with this.
"I'll agree. On the condition that you will not try to take over my body and kill everyone."
"Have you been reading too many fantasy novels? How would I even do that? I'm a piece of you, yes but I'm only capable of consciously being with you. Think of me as the Ghost of the Ghost."
"Okay, I agree. When we wake from the void, We have one thing to do then we find our way to power- to kill whomever is the danger to our new found family."
"Accept."
"Accept."
"Also there is no waking from this place you just walk into that bright light behind you."
What is he talking about, I turn around to now see the white light, like looking at the sun.
"Okay let's go!"
"Okay.."