Chapter 97 - Luke's Aspect
The monster was dead.
Luke stood still, gazing at the ethereal display of his status, a small smile forming on his lips as he read through the changes.
[Name: Lucan
Age: 16
Familiar: (Not acquired)
Level: 2
Path: Corrupted
Segment: Dissident
Aspect: Transmitter
Element: Void
Description: You are someone who is empty both inside and out, a being of emptiness.]
Luke noticed several changes on his screen.
So, I'm a Transmitter now? Am I like Alice? Obviously, I won't be as powerful as she is, but at least I'll be more useful in combat. The 'level' is now showing up, which means I'm truly integrated with my fragment...
"Wow… this turned out better than I expected. To hell with swords…" Luke muttered as he looked at the two ends of his scarf.
[You have slain an Alpha Man-Eating Fish]
[+5 Soul Vestiges]
[You have claimed a card]
These fabric hands become more powerful when infused with prana, allowing me to exert more force than usual since I don't have the limitation of breaking my own hand when punching something hard. The scarf becomes an extension of me when it takes the form of hands, but I still benefit from not feeling pain if it gets hit.
[Soul Vestiges: 100/100 -> 0/150]
[You leveled up]
[+1 Soul Point acquired]
"I'm happy, I don't mind eating a fish arm."
Luke opened the status screen for his scarf.
[Fragment of the Inner God: Scarf of the Void]
Main Abilities:
(Fabric Hands): The scarf can transform its ends into hands that will assist you. (???): Discover on your own. (Mental Connection): Your fabric companion syncs with your mind, allowing you to control it as if it were part of your body. (???): Discover on your own.
Acquired Abilities:
(Prana Conduit)
Soul Vestiges (0/150)
Level: 3
[Skill Tree (Soul Points = 1)]]
I spent one Soul Point to buy 'Prana Conduit,' but I earned another Soul Point right after. So, I can still buy another ability if I want to...
[Your Master of Puppets ability is entering the evolution stage]
What? How did that happen? Could it be because I reached a new level in controlling my prana?
[Would you like to evolve it with the power of the Void?]
I didn't even know that was possible. Anyway, this ability is kind of useless to me… I think. So, would evolving it convert it to something I can actually use with the Void? If that's the case, then yes, I want to evolve it.
[Your Master of Puppets ability will enter hibernation for evolution]
When I realized I was close to gaining a Transmitter Aspect, I thought the most obvious thing I could do was reinforce my natural prana armor—by strengthening the scarf. Just like Alice does with her sword or Anna with her arrows. The problem was that the scarf is alive and a weapon at the same time. I tried to channel my prana into it during our journey, but I couldn't. Now that I've unlocked this by purchasing the ability, I can make it much stronger.
I still have one Soul Point left, which means I can buy another new ability for it. My next goal is to figure out how to unlock the options marked as (???).
This scarf... I never doubted your potential… well, maybe just a little.
"What was that you just did?" Alice asked.
Luke was so absorbed that he forgot about the two girls who were watching him smile at the air.
I forgot they can't see my options... I've spent too much time staring at the 'Transmitter Aspect' and reminiscing about what I've achieved with my fabric friend.
"I reinforced my scarf with prana to help me in battle… and it seems to work."
I haven't forgotten about you, buddy, you did an amazing job!
The scarf wriggled happily.
"That was cool," Anna praised.
The scarf seemed even happier.
Hey! Why did her compliment make you so much more excited? Okay, I admit, I was happy with her compliment too… I get it.
"Strange, this goes far beyond what a simple invocation could do. It almost seems like... it was synced with your thoughts," Alice speculated.
Oops! Luke realized she might figure out the origin of his fabric friend and felt a pang of anxiety.
Wait, why am I nervous? This is my chance to ask about the Inner God's Fragment. Maybe she can help me. Ever since that flower I put in my pocket disappeared, I've been looking for ways to summon it again, but nothing has worked. The first flower appeared during that chaotic time at the asylum. I'm not sure if I need to summon the flower again to make it vanish, or if I can skip that step. I'm getting impatient… wanting to know how to fully utilize the fragment I have.
"I won't lie to you guys… I don't really know why this happened… it's not an invocation card."
Was it because I don't trust anyone? Or was it the weirdness of the situation? Maybe I was just on edge with the wall opening a door to the Void and that black ghost handing me a black thread from his heart… or maybe I just didn't trust them… I don't know, it's confusing… or maybe I just didn't want them to push me away? Could be… but why would I be afraid of pushing another human away? Isn't that what I always do?
"It's a fragment, isn't it?" Alice asked.
What? Wait, she knew?
"You knew?" Luke asked, surprised.
"I had a theory… well, I heard you talking to yourself a few times during your guard shifts… it was weird."
Man, how embarrassing...
"But since I noticed you never took off that scarf, I figured it was more than just an invocation. I mean, no one talks to an invocation… I think. And an invocation wouldn't be so coordinated with you in a fight… without you even giving it commands. It felt like it was a part of you."
"Ooooh," Anna said, excited. "Really, Luke? That's so cool, having a fragment means a lot in Deviant culture. You should've told us earlier, we could've celebrated!"
"Wait! Hold on! I don't know much about the Deviant world. What do you mean? Why celebrate?"
Alice laughed at this.
"Since you took so long to tell us… we won't share it with anyone for now…" she teased.
"What? No! Please, forgive me… I really need to ask you some questions!"
The two girls laughed.
The trio continued toward the dungeon entrance a little further down the beach. Luke grabbed one of the monster's severed arms, and they moved on.
Breaking through the iron gate, they entered the area. Luke reset the gate, though it didn't close securely. If something tried to enter, they'd hear it from the noise.
The room was completely buried in sand, with only a small visible opening that seemed to be a partially open door. They set up a campfire on the sand using branches, leaves, and stones they had collected along the way. Luke used his torch to light the fire. The trio cut the meat into strips, cleaned it, then skewered a large piece over the fire to roast and eat.
They spent some time preparing, each with their own task. They spread out the folded skins on the sandy ground to lay down on when it was time to sleep. Drinking a bit of water from their canteens and smelling the fishy aroma filling the air, they began to talk. Luke noticed that even the previously reluctant Alice was no longer hesitant about eating the bipedal monster's meat. To be honest, he wasn't disgusted anymore either. The three of them had their stomachs rumbling as the smell of cooking meat filled the room.
"I hope you can forgive me… I really don't have any excuse…" Luke began, trying to steer the conversation to the topic he was eager to discuss.
"We're 'allies'… and you didn't share this with us," Alice teased.
"Well… I won't deny it. I should have told you, but in my defense… I got this on the day we had that forbidden conversation. So I bet I'd have bombarded you with even more dangerous questions if I had mentioned it right away…"
"I'll let this one slide..." Alice said.
"We need to celebrate," Anna added.
"Celebrate? Don't forget, I was just a simple market worker. I'm not involved in noble society, and I never attended a Deviant academy."
"Hm… sometimes I forget that," Anna reflected. "So, should I start with the basics on this topic?"
"Sure!"
"Alright, what is an Inner God Fragment?" Anna asked Luke.
That's what I've been trying to figure out. I'm desperate to know what these things from the black flower are... not to mention that I gained a fragment after touching an altar dedicated to some malevolent entity...
Luke paused, reflecting on everything he had learned since fighting the black ghost in his Inner Self and gaining his first black flower.
"I'll ignore the philosophical side of it and go with the simplest idea that occurred to me. A fragment would be a part of the Inner God?"
"Correct!" Anna clapped lightly. "A fragment is a very important and unique gift. It's a sign of true affection, almost like a token of love… I'd say it goes far beyond simple love. Maybe it's a deep love? A unique affection for a beloved person?"
"Wait… this is escalating in a direction I never imagined. What do you mean by affection for a beloved person?"
Alice joined the conversation. "Luke, would you rip off your hand and give it to a stranger?"
"What? Of course not…"
"That's what an Inner God Fragment is. A physical power that the God himself gives as a gift to a human who has a soul connection with him."
Luke started piecing together the puzzle and remembered the bizarre scene of the ghost opening his own chest.
"I get it… but why is this a reason to celebrate?"
"You wouldn't give your hand to a stranger… but maybe to a friend? Or maybe not even that. You would only truly give a part of yourself to someone if you really considered that person very special to you. It goes far beyond the prana powers we access through our soul connection. Sure, prana powers can be stronger and more offensive than a fragment. But the fragment is a physical confirmation of the bond of friendship between an Inner God and a human. Think of nobles showing off their familiars—now take the same importance they place on that and apply it to an Inner God Fragment. This is true love from a God to a human."
Wait… true love? That black ghost made of sand and slime? Him? Love? Forget it… no! Wait! The black ghost… Evangeline told me that wasn't my God. So who really is my Inner God? And what is he like?