"Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution to establish the dictatorship."
—George Orwell
***
The man's figure seemed to flicker as the whole island rumbled from the loud reverberations of his laughter.
The sand rattled, and even the setting sun seemed to still, as if shackled by the man's will.
"Haha… that answer is amusing. But still not good enough."
Rya's fists clenched involuntarily, and his eyes danced with stubborn resolve.
".... What do I need to do to gain your approval, esteemed one?"
The man stroked his chin in contemplation and answered after a moment.
"Hmm, although your resolve is admirable, do you think you could gain power through mere words and pleading?"
Rya's waning hope was reignited slightly. Listening to this, he spoke firmly.
"I could even sell you my soul, esteemed one… I'm willing to put everything on the line."
The man just scoffed and entoned in jest.
"What would I do with the soul of a mere 6th-level ascendant?"
"Although…. There might be a way for you to gain my powers, but it will cost you everything and some more."
Rya just hardened his gaze and uttered solemnly.
"...what is it, esteemed one?"
A toothy grin split the vague face of the man, and what came out of his mouth made Rya reel back in shock.
"Become my avatar, brat."
He didn't know what the words 'avatar' meant, but he was sure it was something inherently repulsive, making his soul shudder just from its sound.
"Heh… You seem disgusted."
Rya's sweat-coated back straightened at that. He gulped and looked at the figure's feet with trembling pupils.
"....what does that word mean, esteemed one?"
A jovial voice reached his ears in a heartbeat.
"It means becoming my herald, becoming me, everything you have, your intent, your blood, your law would become mine, and I shall fulfil your wish in return."
"Most people would not wish this fate even upon their enemies…. And even at my level, it's frowned upon by all fellow ascendants, as it violates the most sacred piece of any being, their ego."
The intonation was clear; this wasn't just becoming someone's corpse puppet, it was even worse than that, especially for a blade soul ascendant, whose entire life, entire history was their soul, their intent and their enlightenment.
Rya ground his teeth in frustration and hopelessness as he thought about the proposal.
".... Why would you need such a weak ascendant as your avatar, lord?"
"Brat, you have one of the best constitutions, which is resonant with my law; it's better to have a compatible avatar than otherwise, where I have to hold back my strength output."
As Rya's face was entwined with hesitation and reluctance, he thought of everything which was at stake and all that was lost. Eventually, the thoughts and memories flashed in his mind, and he took a deep inhale.
"I am willing, esteemed one. But I have a request."
The smirk on the blurry face widened as the man laughed in pleasure.
"Haha, go on."
"Please let me kill that bastard with my own hands."
A heartbeat passed as Rya worried if he had crossed a line.
".... Is that all?" the voice seemed to be in disbelief.
That made him exhale in relief.
"That is all, lord."
"Most people would've begged to save someone or to kill every enemy they might have. Are you sure, though, child?"
"Yes, lord."
With the final sound of affirmation echoing, both men relaxed. One in resignation and acceptance, the other in giddy joy at the unexpected harvest.
Sand stirred as the man strode to Rya, stepping close to an arm's length, giving him a final question.
"You will no longer be yourself; that in itself is the most heinous transformation a life form could be forced to do. I shall ask again, are you accepting of the conditions, knowing the consequences?"
Rya dazedly looked at the grains of sand at his knees.
Although he was thought to be the greatest talent duskblades had birthed in centuries, he didn't think of himself as any better than any other ascendant. To the beings of the transcendent or the 'will' level, he was but an ant.
He was no different than the countless grains of sand littering this place; some grains might be slightly bigger, but, in the bigger picture, he was nothing.
This mighty being that loomed over him treated him no differently, although he might look amiable; that was but a facade.
The only silver lining in this debacle was that he would finally be able to complete his mission, putting his quest for vengeance to rest.
His voice came out with such heat that it even caught him off guard.
"I, Rya-al-sar, am willing to accept your excellency's offer."
Flickering lights and shadows billowed on the figure's expression as he spoke while pressing down on Rya's head.
"So be it, I [--------------------] accept you as my herald, my avatar. You shall be my limb and follow my will till the chains of death consume my [----]."
Lines of gold and pulsing crimson violet erupted on the man's outstretched finger as it made contact with Rya's forehead.
Veins pulsed on Rya's figure as his mana finally pulsed out, but before it could circulate through Rya's body, it was forcefully suppressed as the crimson violet energy began to intertwine with his mana, his life force.
Eventually, the energy continued on its journey till it reached his soul, where his shattered haze containing his enlightenment lay.
It coalesced into a tendril and latched onto the fragments of his degrading soul and began the process of assimilation, making his haze deform and change its shape into something bizarre and mysterious.
In the dream plane, Rya began to scream wildly, akin to a deranged beast, howling as the foundation he had built over his life was whittled down and transformed into something unrecognisable.
All the while, the man had a grin that split his maw, making the pale white teeth jut out in evident delight.
'What monstrous will!! Any normal soul level ascendant would've died in the first second. This is truly an unexpected find."
'Although the foundation of his will is a bit crooked, it's something that can be fixed.'
Thinking this, the man's figure began fizzling into blade lights with the island disintegrating, leaving behind a screaming Rya.
In the real world, Rya's almost ashen corpse began convulsing wildly, as if some wraith was attempting to possess him.
The head of the dragonoid sitting some kilometres away, chomping down on the flesh of an ascendant, snapped towards the seemingly dead foe it had blasted to a crisp.