“Eden?!” Iskar called. “It’s time you surrender to me.”
In that instant, Eden’s sense of self fractured.
As Iskar drew closer, a silent exchange unfolded—Eden was pulled into Iskar’s memories, living them as if they were his own, while his own past lay bare, open for Iskar to assimilate and integrate it.
His name was Iskar—the “me” from another world.
Or rather, like me, he was a fragment of a higher being.
Eden's mind opened as sealed information powered down in his consciousness, expanding his boundaries.
I surrendered. As if it was the most natural thing to do.
[ Merging protocol initiated...
23%... 37%... 52%... 78%... 94%... ]
[ Error! ]
[ Merger impossible. ]
Warning! Due to resistance from spirit BD-37029, the merger protocol has failed.
In this scenario, the weaker spirit may retain fragments of self-awareness, potentially causing instability for the dominant entity.
[ Do you still wish to continue? ]
[Y/N]
"Yes." Iskar answered.
[ Merger partially completed: A fragment of consciousness from the entity known as FTP-23407 remains. ]
Detected future actions:
- Expel the remaining fragment before it rebels.
- Coexist until its bond with the physical vessel erodes.
- Transfer it into a new host.
Before they knew it, their spirits became one, their consciousnesses merging almost entirely.
The New Entity—born from the fusion of fragmented echoes of the same concept, reforged into something greater, under the control of the stronger spirit.
The objects in the room trembled, then rose, weightless and untethered. The mirror twisted, flipping upside down with an eerie grace. Even the long-lost pen beneath my bed surfaced, drawn into my awareness.
I felt them—every single one—caught in my reach, bound to my will. The storm inside my head raged, wild and chaotic, but still... I controlled them all.
I ran from merging with my creator and I was about to merge with the consciousness of another version of the concept that I bare? That’s what I get for not understanding how these things work.
The headache subsided with time. I remained on the floor, assessing my breathing, muscles, flux, and chakras.
This “me” had done a decent job in taking care of himself. Fortunately for him, he’d been blessed with a safer environment.
Welcome back to the world of living. I told myself. Haaa. I’m alive.
“So good,” I said aloud, just to hear my voice, which sounded more childish than before.
[ Spirit BD-37029, resembling the fragment of Broken Control, had been given the role of serving as the Hollow Seraph and capture the spirit calling itself Makha—the unique fragment of Absolute Defiance. ]
[ Congratulations! ]
As per the agreement you made with the system, you’ve been granted access to enter the world of living. In return, you are expected to fulfill the role you have agreed upon. Serve as one of the 10 Angels of the Underworld and capture Makha—The Absolute Defiance, dragging him back to the depths where he belongs.
Eden’s body—controlled by Iskar's spirit—trembled at the sight of the open window. The system’s voice rang strong into his ears, forcing him to remember.
No spirit is permitted to escape the Underworld until they have repented. Only when they shed the weight of their sins—purging themselves of guilt, hatred, and regret—can they be bathed in pure light, preparing for their next reincarnation.
I reminded myself of this truth as I gently set the objects down, releasing my hold over them.
Makha.
A spirit who had amassed terrifying power in a single mortal lifetime—by means forbidden and profane.
Upon his death, Ados, King of the Underworld, had seized him immediately, sentencing him to repentance before his soul could move on.
Iskar's spirit—BD-37029—had endured the same fate after exiting the physical body. Only that he wasn't granted the honor of being seized by the king, Ados himself. He had undergone the cleansing, surrendering his burdens—guilt, remorse, vengeance—until he was free. When the gate of light finally opened for him, he was meant to ascend, to await his next cycle of reincarnation.
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But in that fleeting moment—when the gates of the Underworld wavered—Makha struck.
Seizing the opportunity, he tore his way through the weakening boundaries. Four of the ten Death Angels fell trying to stop him, their souls returning to the Source.
The chaos left the Underworld in disarray. Some spirits used the turmoil to follow Makha into the mortal realm. Others, purified by the light, ascended as they were meant to.
Yet from disaster came opportunity. Iskar's spirit was given a choice: to become one of the Death Angels of the Underworld, inheriting their power—and with it, an early ticket back to the world of living.
Of course, he accepted.
[ New Job obtained: Hollow Seraph ]
Status: Active
Existence Purpose: The Hollow Seraph is tasked with hunting the spirits that have escaped judgment—beings too cursed for the afterlife yet too powerful to be forgotten. It drags them back into the underworld, ensuring no dark spirit evades its destined cleansing.
Previous owner: Daelvion – The Soul Hunter
Job Abilities:
- Abyssal Chains: Shackles forged from the essence of lost time, binding the damned and sealing their power.
- Eternal Pursuit (Blocked in physical form) : No spirit can hide from the Hollow Seraph that exists outside the constraints of space and time.
- Hollow Gaze: Those who meet its gaze feel the weight of all their sins, breaking their will to resist.
- The Devouring Silence: Its presence erases all sound, making the victims feel utterly alone as they are dragged to the underworld.
- Karmic score: The Hollow Seraph can see the karma of every being and leave them time to repent or capture them immediately.
- Rahaeta-Gate of the Underworld: All Death Angels possess the power to open and close the Underworld Gate.
The angels have jobs? I asked myself. Can angels do chores? House chores? A maniacal grin curved my lips.
Lips stretched, Eden got up from the floor, removing his underwear to examine his reflection in the mirror. It felt strange and fascinating at the same time as he posed in different positions. To have something reflect the light back, making his material body visible without the need to Astral Project—it was simply marvelous.
What would you taste like? Opening his mouth wide, Eden tried to bite the reflection. Ah. Silly you.
He couldn't. So instead, he licked it.
Haha. Don’t you know what a joke is? Why so tasteless? He placed his forehead against the mirror, staring into the depths of his own eyes.
You're still broken. Free from the shackles of pain and the limits of the mind. But caged by your own split consciousness. Can you learn to control it? Can you still find yourself beneath the voices and desires of the others? Eden thought in a fleeting moment of seriousness before breaking into a hysterical laugh.
What am I now? Not Eden, not Iskar, not an angel. But all three combined.
“I am everything in between and all beyond. Yes, that’s who I am. Nothingness incarnate. I cannot be hurt again.” Eden placed a hand on his chest. “They cannot make me suffer. But I can make them.”
“But… what do you do for a living?” Eden pulled back slightly, his gaze dropping to the floor.
I can’t remember what loving someone feels like.
“But what if my future lover asks me that? It’s common to receive this question, isn’t it? Am I right? Aren’t I?” He looked out the window. No one was there to answer, yet he still waited.
What do I say? That I’m some sort of karmic bounty hunter?
“And where do you live?”
I was born on another planet, spent who knows how long roaming the underworld as a spirit, and then I ended up here. Possessing a body that is mine, yet at the same time, it isn’t.
“Great. I’m sure she’ll love me like crazy for this story.”
Eden grabbed and pulled at the curly blonde hair on his forearm. It climbed up his arm, stopping just below the shoulder. His other arm was hairy as well. His legs were covered in a dense forest of curls.
What’s this? Am I some sort of monkey? He searched for his tail.
Everything can be changed, but…
It’s better to start with a solid foundation. Eden pressed his lips together, disappointed in the condition of his new body.
Unfortunately, this ‘safer’ environment hasn’t given me the foundation I need to achieve my goals and freedom. It’s slowing me down. How dare you?
“In a world that never sleeps, where every second feels borrowed and every moment demands more than it gives, many fall for the illusion of safety and freedom—failing to understand their condition until it’s too late to change anything of importance,” 'The Sage' inside Eden took control, speaking aloud.
As I assessed my physical condition, my thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Are you awake?” Eden’s—I mean my mother’s— suave and delicate voice called from the other side.
Looking at the door, I tilted my head playfully, expecting her to enter. I then replied, disappointed when she didn’t. “I’m butt naked, running an examination on my flux and condition. You can come in if you want to.”
A moment of silence followed, likely as Maria tried to figure out how to respond. Meanwhile, Eden continued tracing the shape of his calf muscles.
“Ah… no. I brought your food. I’ll leave it here. You can take it when you’ve finished. Don’t let it get cold.”
“I won’t,” I replied calmly, though I detected the concern in her voice.
She probably suspects I’m doing something inappropriate. I smiled. Well, no.
After putting my underwear back on and slipping into the pants resting on the bed, I headed toward the door—but my gaze caught on an empty white casket.
“How could I ever willingly climb into a coffin to play with my mind in a virtual world?” Eden muttered aloud. “Was I stupid?”
“...maybe just a little bit.”
I savored the juicy sausage my new mother had prepared, its rich flavor grounding me in the present as my thoughts wandered. My inner voice low and heavy.
How long has it been since my home world laid me to rest? Was my mother still holding on? Did my family somehow find a way to be… okay—if losing a son could ever leave anyone anything close to okay.
A sigh, and the somber atmosphere changed inside my head.
The food here is quite good. Different from the one in my previous world. But good enough.
“Open inventory!”
[ Processing… ]
[ Calculating data… ]
[ The ethos has experienced a major change. A trial has been issued to test the new entity. ]
“No shit,” Eden had time to say.
[ Quest: Beginning or End ]
Due to your actions, the system has initiated a forced trial to test your resolve.
Quest: Prove yourself in the fragment world of Saria.
Objectives:
- Create your build: 0/1
- Survive: 0/1
- Make a decision: 0/1
- Defeat 3 Gloom Maw: 0/3
Rewards:
- Permission to continue living in a mortal body
- ???
The quest is automatically accepted. You will be teleported in 10 minutes.
[ System Alert! ]
Because of the merger, attribute points were obtained incorrectly. To maintain balance, points have been deducted.
You are permitted to reallocate your points as you see fit.
Choose wisely — your survival depends on it.
[ Countdown: 09:47 ]
“For real? You dare not allow me to enjoy my food?” I threw my fork on the table.
Then shook my head, wiping my hands with a handkerchief before lying down on the bed, eyes closed.
This is stupid. But I'd been given the chance to live again — I couldn't complain now, could I?
Of course I could. This is just disrespectful.