"I have helped you enough. You are now on your own to survive. I would wake up when you become a Rank 4 Nodesmith... Good night." And the voice of the old man gradually declined as there was complete silence in my mind.
Rank 4...it would take a long time for me to become one.... Not to mention if I get killed before that. I will heed his warnings and not do crazy things to ensure my survival. Now onto the Neophyte part. Dante stared into nothingness as he tries his hard to think what should be do. After some time, a question arises in his mind-
Nodes are put by the heavens on the humans of Celestia... But I am from Earth.. Do I have the nodes?
Dante carefully inspected himself to know whether he has Transmigrated with his body or has possessed someone else body.
I am approximately 6'0 ..... This is not my original body as I was before 5'7 . My arms are also little bulky, legs are well toned.... This guy seemed to exercise a lot. Hmm.... I have abs too. This is not bad... But I don't know about my face. I will check my face when I come across a river on my way to Solarionis. I am wearing something like a tuxedo with a black pants and a chain in my neck... Although,i am in a different person's body, I just feel the same and don't feel any irregularities. What could be the reason? Although Dante was surprised but he was also a little happy due to his new body's muscles. He threw a punch in the air to test this.
Tha -
Hmm.. This is good. Dante nodded in satisfaction.
....For the time being, I have to trust the old man. He imprinted me with a technique too.. He doesn't look like a evil person... Suddenly, an answer of Old man came on his mind-
H-he said that the Ruin of Zastrax is a kingdom of a fallen diety.. That eye on the mural is possibly a diety and this diary also had the same eye... So does that mean this diary is in some way 'his' or related to 'him' !? Dante's hand shaked a little bit as he thought about his new possible connection with a diety!
This.... Isn't my luck really bad?! It hasn't been an hour since I Tranmigrated and I have made an indirect contact with a diety! This old man must also know him and hence the reason for his silence before talking about the Ruin of Zastrax. Dante connected the dots as he came to the conclusion.
... But since the old man said this to me and didn't hide it.... No Dante, don't be ignorant. That old man must have noticed your confusion about the eye and hence was forced to answer it. Although, Dante wanted to believe the Old man he just couldn't bring himself to do it! All the possible connection, made him doubtful of him.
His information about Solarionis and the neighbouring kingdoms are maybe true. He has no reasons to lie about it. Also, instead of staying here at the Ruin of Zastrax and dying of the creatures or hunger, it's better to take a chance and head to the kingdom of Solarionis.
Now.. I really have to consume the Node Nectar. There is no other choice..
Dante gulped his saliva before he stared at the glass bottle on the table with a reddish-green fluid.
Dante slowly walked towards the glass bottle and finally took it in his hand which were shaking a little bit.
... I-I have to take this chance. If I don't, then I would surely die. Consuming the Nectar atleast gives me a little chance of survival....Dante steeled his resolve and calmed himself down.
Remember Dante, being nervous wouldn't benefit you in any way.. You have to confident while consuming the Nectar, so you can advance! Dante then without any second thought, removed the stopper with a little difficulty and gulped down the whole Nectar in a matter of seconds.
"Pha! Sour! " Dante let out a cough in disdain.
Suddenly, he starts to feel something weirds in his body growing and something breaking apart completely.
A few moments after he consumed the potion, everything became dark as he found himself in darkness, standing above a lake while he was covered in darkness too. He wasn't able to move an inch due to the strong clutch of the 'darkness' .
Tap tap
Sounds of footsteps were heard as Dante looked in his front to discover a person appearing in front of him.
This was not any other person, but person whose body was possesed by Dante! He was covered in tears, with blood all over his face as he continue to scratch his face!! He let out a eery scream before he said-
"Heheheh. How are you feeling in my body? Are you happy that you killed me? Tortured me?! Tormented me?! "
"What do you feel!! Tell me! " The person again let out a scream as he said.
"....I-i am sorry. I also d-don't know how I possesed your b-body. " Dante's whole body was covered in sweat as he tried his hardest to form a sentence in front of the entity and move away from it but he had no success.
"Hahahahaha.....Sorry? Do you think a sorry can make me forgive you?! Hahahahaha. You are so funny!! " The person laughed maniacally as he gushed his nails deep into his face that caused blood to flow of it continuously.
Dante continously tried to take a step back in front of this sight as sweat continuously formed in his face, but had no success.
"....See this. What do you think of this? " He stopped scratching himself as he pointed to an empty space.
The empty place suddenly glowed brightly as a screen was conjured in that place. On it was the image of his family at home, weeping.
"This.. What are you planning to do?! " Dante suddenly screamed in anger with all his might.
"Hahahahaha. What are you angry for? The main show hasn't even started yet.. " The person smiled creepily as the scene continued. The family was weeping untill the same person that was in front of Dante appeared in front of them with a creepy smile, carrying a butcher knife.
"... No-No.. Don't do this!!!! I really don't know how I got in your body!!!!! " Dante screamed with all his might as all the veins in his face bulged.
The scene shifted from before. It was a sight that Dante wished he never saw. He saw his little brother cut in half, his mother with a severed head and his father- dead with all his limbs missing.
"Aaaaaaaah. Mother! Father!? Luke!!! What happened to you!!!! Aaaaah! I would never forgive you for this!!! " Dante let put a blood cuddling scream as the darkness that restrained his body finally disintegrated.
Dante face was filled with tears, anger and many other intense emotions! He ran towards the entity trying to catch him but no matter what.. He couldn't reach him at all.
Dante fell on the ground crying loudly as he curled himself like a ball.
"These are the same emotions I felt when you possesed my body. "
" No one in this world can understand you and me. "
" You are alone in this world just like me."
"You will just end up wondering in this Lost World. "
"You will be Tormented, torutured by the heavens just like me. "
" There's no one that can help you. No one in this world to accompany you. "
" No one is there to sympathise with you. "
Dante's weak voice interrupted him as he slowly starts to get up.
"No-No. Y-You are wrong. I am not going to believe in you. "
" I am not going to give up on my goal of reuniting with my family. "
" Say what you want to say. But I am willing to take all the necessary risk to achieve my goals. What are my ambitions if I am easily fooled by an entity like you who is just a puny will of an another me. "
".....Instead of being tormented, why not become one with me. "
" Let our happiness, sadness, grief and all emotions become one. "
"Come with me to the journey of this vast world as we both become one and fulfill our goals. "
Dante stood up with a face devoid of emotions as he stretched his hand for him. In just a short span of time, it looked as if he had calmed himself completely and had full control over his emotions.
" Let's fulfill our wishes as a single indivisuals and not as seperate entities. "
Dante gazed at the Entity without a hint of anger but with warm, gentle eyes as if sympathizing with him.
There was a deep silence that seemed to stretch through for eternity.
"....Hahahahaha..... You are an unique individual....Instead of being seperate entities, become a single individual... I don't hate the idea. " His voice became smooth, his face was healed completely as the darkness throughout the world completely shattered.
Slowly, his body faded away, his spirit touching Dante's outstretched hand slowly merged with him.
Dante's surroundings shifted once more, the oppressive darkness giving way to a serene emptiness. The sounds of torment faded, replaced by a gentle echo of unknown whispers. A feeling of serene, Calmness and peace overwhelmed him.
Amidst the obscurity, a dim light began to radiate from a single point. As Dante strained his eyes to see, a small bud emerged from the abyss, submerged in the unseen waters of his consciousness.
" A Lotus "
The darkness that resided in both of their hearts had now been completely erased, as a new indivisuals was born.