Everything went dark. Then, I found myself in some kind of abyss, standing face to face with someone.
"Welcome." [???]
As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I recognized who it was.
"...Hema?" [Solace]
"The one and only." [Hema]
Recalling my last moments, I made an educated guess.
"...I'm dead, aren't I?" [Solace]
"A fresh corpse indeed." [Hema]
Her words hit harder than Jukhan ever did. I still had things I needed to do. A person I needed to avenge. A monster… I needed to kill.
"You look dissatisfied." [Hema]
I was sure it was more than just "looked".
"Hema. You're the God of Death and Malevolence right?" [Solace]
Hema nodded.
"You're asking me to revive you." [Hema]
As expected of a god. I didn't even need to speak for her to know.
"It's a request most ask me for. I don't need to read your mind to know that." [Hema]
She still ended up reading anyway.
"In any case, I can't just bring you back to life. There are rules." [Hema]
She had this high and mighty attitude while talking to me.
"Besides, what would I even get in return? What can a mortal offer a god?" [Hema]
"Don't play dumb. I know what you're trying to do." [Solace]
Hema froze.
"Whatever do you mean?" [Hema]
"You were going to bring me back regardless." [Solace]
Hema's expression shifted.
"Oh?" [Hema]
"You were probably planning to make some sort of 90/10 deal against me in exchange." [Solace]
Hema grinned.
"How did you figure it out?" [Hema]
"The moment I died. …Think about it. You came out of nowhere, gave me a true title, and appeared when I died. Isn't it suspicious?" [Solace]
Hema applauded me.
"Well done. I will bring you back to life. As many times as you'd like. However, peering into my plans will cost you." [Hema]
"I was ready for that." [Solace]
From all mythologies, no mortal has ever interacted with a god without some kind of misfortune. The gods were a prideful lot, almost as much as they were petty.
"That's enough talking. Have fun with your hunting trip." [Hema]
With a wave of her hand, I opened my eyes.
"Urgh!" [Solace]
I flinched as the pain of my wounds set in.
"Alert: The status of the |True Title| |Promised Seedling| has been changed to |Blooming Undying|" [Spirit Guide]
I knew it would change. The name had "temporary" written all over it. Its effects probably changed with it.
"Alert: |Blooming Undying| activation confirmed. All debuffs have been dispelled. Health and mana have been restored. Sanity has dropped by ten percent." [Spirit Guide]
That one was new. It felt like I couldn't think as straight as before. Or maybe straighter? It was hard to tell.
"|Item Box|!" [Solace]
I had a little time to collect myself in death. First things first, I equipped Vermillion Crimson and the blue clothing Nakros made for me. I knew my Temperance couldn't keep up with a divine beast's strength, so I had to place my bets on my senior disciple's crafting skills.
"I… hate you…!" [???]
"Tear it apart." [???]
"Perhaps if you weren't so weak?" [???]
The familiar voices of my gauntlets filled my head. Echoes of past lives told me their tales. Strangely, it was comforting.
"|Thunderbolt Lance|." [Solace]
There wasn't any reason to hesitate. I summoned a spear of lightning and took the stance taught to me by Vermillion Eclipse.
("This probably won't kill it, but it'll do some damage.") [Solace]
The beast didn't even look to be on guard. That was good. It just makes it an easier target.
"|Grygand|." [Solace]
I dug my heel into the earth, allowing me to launch myself as fast as lightning. I felt like I broke the sound barrier as my spear penetrated the divine beast's shield.
("Now!") [Solace]
Although |Grygand| may be powerful, it only broke the beast's defenses. I obviously didn't have enough mana to cast it again, so I went with something else.
|Explosion Arts|!" [Solace]
"Warning: Insufficient mana." [Spirit Guide]
Was what I heard before seeing the beast's tail go straight to my head.
"Alert: |Blooming Undying| activation confirmed. All debuffs have been dispelled. Health and mana have been restored. All stats increased by fifty percent. Sanity has dropped by ten percent." [Spirit Guide]
I awoke gasping.
("I… died?!") [Solace]
I didn't expect it to avoid aiming for parts of my body covered by Nakro's clothing. Either way, I was alive again.
"|Thunderbolt Lance|!" [Solace]
My mana was back. I was also within the divine beast's guard. Put two and two together, what do you get?
"|Grygand|!" [Solace]
I turned into speed itself. Within a split second, my spear was in that damned beast's hide. It howled in pain as I stained its black and white fur red.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Experience| limit reached. |Thunder Lance| has gained a level. |Grygand| has gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
"How do you like that, monster?! I'll rip out your innards and take Elisse back!" [Solace]
I now knew I didn't have mana, so I resorted to brute strength. My spear disintegrated from |Grygand|'s strength, which led me to shoving my arm into the beast's wound.
"Let's see what's in here?!" [Solace]
I grabbed a hold of its insides and started clawing around. The beast thrashed around attempting to knock me off. Too bad I had a death grip on it.
"You won't get rid of me even if I die!" [Solace]
The beast gave up on thrashing around. In exchange, it switched to using its tail again.
"Be my guest!" [Solace]
I let it take my head off in order to refresh my mana.
"Alert: |Blooming Undying| activation confirmed. All debuffs have been dispelled. Health and mana have been restored. All stats have increased by fifty percent. Sanity has dropped by ten percent." [Spirit Guide]
Luckily, my resurrection was practically instantaneous. Thank goodness my arm was still in the beast.
"Eat shit." [Solace]
I casted |Explosion Arts|. The beast made an expression like its eyes were going to pop out, causing fire to expel from its mouth.
("Wait, did that cook Elisse inside it too? Well, who cares anymore?!") [Solace]
I can safely say I was not in my right mind. I yanked my arm out as the beast staggered, gazing at me with both fear and hatred.
"What? Got something to say?" [Solace]
It growled. I could see blood spill out from its side and from its mouth. This thing wasn't going to live for long. It dug its claws into the ground before rearing its head.
"Well? Come on then." [Solace]
It charged at me with its horns facing forward. What a silly move.
"|Rotating Shell Arts|." [Solace]
That was all I needed to toss its head into the ground.
"Hilarious." [Solace]
Just moments ago, this thing would've probably ripped me apart with that. The stat increase of my title was no joke. It also tried to whip me with its tail again, so I had to retaliate.
"|Vortex Arts|." [Solace]
I tore that tail off like plucking the feathers off a chicken. Blood spewed everywhere, resulting in the beast getting more agitated. It picked its head off the ground, leading it to do that one powerful roar.
"Shut up." [Solace]
I slammed a foot on its snout to keep it quiet.
"I expected more from a divine beast." [Solace]
That was when the horns began to glow.
"Oh." [Solace]
"Alert: |Blooming Undying| activation confirmed. All debuffs have been dispelled. Health and mana have been restored. All stats have increased by 50 percent. Sanity has dropped by ten percent." [Spirit Guide]
No clue what happened there. From when I opened my eyes, there were signs of me getting blown away. There was also a giant trail of blood starting from the beast's horns and my current location.
("I got one shot?") [Solace]
For some reason, I chuckled. In fact, I laughed hysterically for a while. I could sense the beast's gaze of confusion and caution as I let my emotions out. After a few moments, rage took over.
"You damn mutt." [Solace]
I know I said mutt, but it was more like a cat. Regardless, I approached it without caution.
"Go on. Kill me. It'll only make me stronger." [Solace]
The beast inched back with its teeth bared. As I came closer, its horns shone once again.
("Let's see it.") [Solace]
A beam of light. It was so bright and fast that I could barely react. Or rather, I didn't feel like dodging.
"Agh!" [Solace]
The beam hit me at full force. However, I lived.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Experience| limit reached. |Temperance| has gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
It hurt. My body was covered in burns. How did I look? Did I appear grotesque?
"Haha… It tickles!" [Solace]
I felt bubbly inside. As if I was freed of burdens. Everything felt mixed up inside and I didn't know what was going on anymore. At this point… what was I even doing?
"Heh… Kehehe… HAHAHAHA!!! I feel so alive!" [Solace]
I rushed in with a crumbling body. With no regard for safety, I ended up skewered by the beast's horns.
"Alert: |Blooming Undying| activation confirmed. All debuffs have been dispelled. Health and mana have been restored. All stats have increased by 50 percent. Sanity has dropped by ten percent.
My body felt nigh invincible. So much so I took hold of the beast's horns and ripped them off.
"Whoopsie!" [Solace]
Its eyes rolled back. Did it pass out? I didn't bother to check. Instead, I grabbed its maw and peeked in.
"What's in here~?" [Solace]
It was dark. There were signs of burns inside, most likely from my |Explosion Arts|.
"It's so dark! Here, I'll give you some light!" [Solace]
I threw in |Flame Cannon| a few times to give it a nice wake up call.
"Hee hee!" [Solace]
I giggled like a child as I began to pummel the divine beast with punches and kicks.
"Die! Die die die!" [Solace]
I punched.
I kicked.
I punched.
I kicked.
I punched. I kicked.
I kicked. I punched. I punched. I kicked.
I punched I punched I punched I punched I punched I punched I punched I kicked I kicked I kicked I kicked I cried?
I cried I punched I kicked I bit I hated I loved I hurt I hurt I hurt I hurt it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it… hurts?
It died.
"Ah…" [Solace]
By the time I realized, all there was was endless amounts of blood and a corpse.