"THEY WANT HOW MUCH!!!"
After wasting another day and night inside the hospital, Abel was discharged, but he couldn't leave without paying a huge bill. Abel was left without much of a choice and coughed up the cash.
Walking out of the building Abel stared into his empty wallet. A feeling of defeat and helplessness washed over him. All the money he saved to spend on equipment and food was gone.
While Abel was lamenting over his now light wallet Cain chimed in with some very helpful advice.
("Should've gotten insurance")
"I'm a minor with no stable income."
'...'
Grabbing his hair and pulling on it Abel voiced out his frustration
"Dammit, there goes all the money I got from the mining job! Now, I barely have enough for the cab ride home!"
After Grumbling for a while. Abel finally walked out of the hospital and back into the big wide world. He called a cab and started the long ride home.
Just as he was getting comfortable in the car, Cain started perking up again.
("So, I've been thinking about our next move. And I've got a pretty decent plan. First, we're going to explore some hidden ruins. After we take everything valuable we're going to head to the capital of the Fire clan's territory and sell everything valuable. Buy some potions and equipment then pick up a hidden piece. Probably invest the leftover cash in the stock market then head back to your place and train.")
"..."
("Hello? Did you hear me?")
Over the past few days, Abel learned that Cain's pestering was more painful than forcefully awakening. Cain was relentless. If Abel started ignoring him he'd poke and pester him until he broke. Abel almost had to be sent to a mental health clinic multiple times because of Cains's antics.
Abel had to sweet-talk the nurses a couple of times to stop that from happening. Cain's pestering was the main reason that Abel left the hospital so early. He couldn't take another close call. So it was safe to say that Cain was already on Abel's last nerve.
" 'We' aren't doing anything. I'm going home and then back to work. Only temporarily, until I get enough money to pay for some private lessons. Then when I'm strong enough I'm going to join the superhuman bureau."
The cab driver shifted his eyes to his mirror and saw Abel talking to himself. He was immediately terrified.
'Oh shit! I picked up another psycho.'
The cab driver who had unfortunately dealt with crazy passengers before could only hold his tongue and pray that Abel wasn't one of those violent psychos.
Cain who was only just hearing Abel's plan grew frustrated.
("The hell are you talking about we have to go to HYDE academy?")
Abel who was hearing Cain talk about HYDE academy for the 100th time, couldn't hold back anymore and snapped.
"What are you talking about? HYDE academy? Why would I even think of going to that posh prep school full of rich second gens and super-geniuses? If you haven't noticed I'm neither a rich second gen nor a super genius. That place would eat me up and spit me out! I'd rather work for the bureau make decent money and use it to increase my strength."
Cain as an 18-year-old man didn't appreciate getting berated by a 16-year-old.
("Hey stupid! You don't have a choice. HYDE academy is where the main story is. It's where every single main character is. If you want to grow stronger and have even a 10% chance of surviving you'll need to interact with them. The only way to get as strong as you want to be is to engage with the main cast. Also, why are you worrying about money? I know the future! If you'd just ask me I could get you enough money to retire on.")
Abel was done with Cain. All Cain cared about was himself and his "future knowledge". Abel was tired of Cain just deciding things without even bothering to ask him first.
"Stop acting like you know anything! You're just some delusional voice in my head. You're not real and will be gone in a couple of days. So stop spouting bullshit and leave me alone!"
Cain was Furious. Abel didn't know how or but he could feel it. Strangely though instead of blowing up at him, Cain grew quiet.
The rest of the drive was spent in eerie silence.
….
After Abel paid the cab driver and watched him break the speed limit driving away. Abel grabbed his bags and walked towards his house. Cain was stunned. He just stared at Abel's house in awe. He couldn't believe someone could live in this dump.
Everywhere he looked he saw more problems. The whole house was covered in chipped paint that barely covered the rotting wood underneath. The ceiling had three big holes and all were in separate areas. The front steps looked like they'd collapse under the littlest amount of weight and the rest of the porch didn't look better. One of the rusty hinges on the front door was broken and so was the handle.
It was a complete mess. The house wasn't fit for human habitation. For the first time since he arrived in this world, Cain was happy he didn't have a body.
("This is where you live? The Wasteland?")
Abel was still a little on edge from the car ride so he thought that Cain was insulting him again.
"Yeah, where else was I supposed to go? it's not like I've got any better options."
Cain could feel Abel's hostility and quickly defused the situation.
("No that's not what I meant. It's just that we should leave here sooner rather than later, at least before this place gets destroyed.")
Hearing the genuine concern in Cain's voice Abel took what he said more seriously.
"This place is going to be destroyed?"
("In two to three years, a Giant fire creature goes on a rampage and destroys this entire area. It burns everything in the wasteland to ash. Luckily before it could spread David and the main cast intercepted it containing it. Not my favorite arc but, eh what are you going to do.")
Hearing Cain go off on yet another tangent, Abel was reminded of why he started ignoring him in the first place. Abel tuned him out and was about to open the door, but was frozen in his tracks by the beautiful yet terrifying voice of the ring.
[Analysis of Host 'Abel Vulcan' Complete]
[Selecting Appropriate Trial...]
[Trial #1 Decided]
'Trial?'
[Providing coordinates....35.3606° N, 138.7274° E]
Abel seeing the ring suddenly become active again let out a single tear. He became desperate. Abel would do anything to never go through that hell again.
"Um... H-hey ring lady do I have to go? I'm not doubting you or anything it's just that you know the past couple of days have been a little much and... well I'd rather not"
[Host must Complete Trail #1 in {31 days} or the replacement program will be initiated]
"Perfect! Just run the replacement program!"
[To run the {Replacement program} current host will be disposed of.]
Abel deflated
"....Nevermind"
("pft")
"Shut up"
Abel let out an exhausted and defeated sigh. Running the replacement program was out of the question. Abel didn't doubt for a second that the ring could kill him. So, to make sure he wasn't "replaced" he had to do what the ring said.
The sudden activity of the ring left Abel demoralized and exhausted. Cain though had a different reaction.
'Wait. Your ring talks?"
"Yeah, so?"
("Well If it's able to talk and give out instructions then it's probably not something simple. Where the hell did you get this thing?")
"Uh... I found It about a week ago while scavenging."
("Has it done anything like this before?")
"Yeah, thanks to this ring, I became that I was able to use mana. It spouted nonsense about running an awakening program, and then some kind of soul program.
Huh.... Now that I think about it after it ran the soul program you showed."
("Wait. What!")
"Yeah, It said something about soul fusion then you started talking and never stopped"
("Soul Fusion? I've never heard of that before")
"Welcome to the club."
("But If this ring can do something like that it's definitely the possession of some kind of all-powerful being. One that wants to test you for some reason.")
"The Trial? So, you think it's a test given by some kind of god or something?"
("I don't know about a god, but that's probably what it is, And knowing this world's track records with trials we're probably going to strike it rich. Lucky for us the trial starts a week before the admission exam.")
Hearing Cain talks about HYDE academy again. Abel sighed and started tuning him out again. He forced open the door, threw his stuff on the ground, and strolled upstairs.
When he landed in bed and his back hit the soft mattress he started listening to Cain again.
("We can't just recklessly rush Into an inheritance ground. They are usually very difficult I say we stick to my original plan but we push up the schedule. We raid the tomb I was talking about earlier. we have to do that within the week. After that, we head to the flame clan capital for a day to buy some supplies and then train until we have to go.")
"Nope, not interested. I'm just gonna head into town buy a cheap technique, practice for a month, then do the Trail. Without you."
Hearing Abel's terrible plan Cain couldn't even bring himself to get mad. He knew that getting mad would just start another argument and ultimately go nowhere. So, he tried a different approach
("Look man, I know this sucks. I don't want to be stuck to you either. I'd much rather have my own body so I could go do whatever I wanted on my own. But, that's never going to happen if you get us killed just because you were being a goddamn idiot. That stupid trial is the only clue we have that can help separate us. I don't care if you hate me or whatever but, I refuse to die just because you didn't accept my help.")
Hearing Cain's speech Abel was left at a loss for words. Maybe he was being a little too difficult. Cain did have a point. There was no way the ring's trial would be easy and his plan was reckless at best. Why not risk it? It's not like he had anything to lose. Worst case scenario Cain is wrong and shuts up forever.
But the thing that really won him over was Cain's last sentence. It struck a chord with him and reminded him of what he pledged to himself.
"I can't believe I'm doing this. Fine! I'll do it. But, If it turns out to be bullshit I will go back to the hospital and have them remove whatever part of my brain you holed up in."
That day marked the birth of the most powerful duo in the entire galaxy
("I look forward to our beautiful partnership")
"Yeah, Yeah"