Chapter 262: Mindscape and Matter

Chapter 262: Mindscape and Matter

Who in the Ash are you? Reaper Ekanai rasped, clenching and unclenching his gangly fists.

As did Vir, who faced off against him, some ten paces away.

A gentle breeze rustled the nearby leaves of Virs mindscape. Great Godhollows soared around their clearing, while birds chirped from their canopies. An idyllic setting, but one whose peace was about to be violently broken.

You dont remember? Vir asked. Or is this a ploy to get me to lower my guard?

Remember what? Where am I?

Youre in my mindscape, Vir replied, taken aback at Ekanais words. The demon had been many things, but he'd been no actor. Rather, Ekanai was forthright and earnest in his hatred of Vir and Maiya. Hed assumed the demon would attack him immediately and had braced himself for battle.

Mindscape? Ekanai scoffed. What sorcery is this?

Vir had expected a variety of reactions and had planned for several contingencies, but hed never guessed the warrior would appear before him dazed and confused.

You truly dont know who I am? Vir asked.

Are you my enemy?

No, Vir said, feeling, surprisingly, a pang of loss. His experiences with the demon had been far from pleasant, but for better or for worse, they had a history together. For Ekanai to have simply forgotten struck Vir hard. Harder than it ought to have.

Vir thought back to what his predecessors had done for himwhat theyd all sacrificed, including Ekanaiwhen hed first entered the Mahdi Realm.

So this is the cost. This is why they can never intervene on my behalf again.

His predecessors had always maintained some semblance of awareness in his mind. Some part of themselves, however imperfect, had remained conscious. Now that was all gone. The Ekanai before Vir was not the Ekanai Vir had interacted with in the past, but another. Likely a version created by Virs own imagination, based on Virs memories.

Vir watched Ekanai wander around the clearing, his footsteps unsteady.

Release me! Ekanai barked.

Vir averted his eyes. Im sorry. I cant.

So you are my captor, the demon replied, a grin forming on his Ghael face. his faltering footsteps steadied, and he crouched. Then there is only one thing to be done.

Vir barely had time to react before the demon was upon him.

Blinking away in the nick of time, Vir avoided the Reapers vicious claw-like nails that shot from his hands.

Thats new, Vir thought as he circled behind his opponent.

I dont want to fight you, he said, but his words fell on deaf ears. Lacking any weapons, the Reaper was forced to fight with his bare hands.

Despite this, Ekanai had quite the arsenal at his disposal. Between his claws, tattoos, and Chakras, he was still a formidable threat.

Even nails became lethal weapons when augmented by the Warrior Chakra.

Vir reeled when the world fell away from under him, activating the Foundation Chakra in the nick of time, which brought him back to the present.

When he did, the Reaper was in front of him, plunging his Chakra-laden claws in a vicious downward strike.

He expected me to use my Foundation Chakra to block his attack! Vir realized, narrowly dodging the demons attack.

Ekanai struck while Vir dodged, and with each encounter, Virs fear drifted away. He found himself forgetting the danger, falling into the rhythm of the fight.

Ekanai was nowhere near as powerful as hed been in the subterranean chamber of illusions. Now, he was more akin to a normal demon.

Vir felt the almighty force of Balancer of Scales, but hed long since learned to deal with its pressure.

I do not know, Ekanai said slowly. Memories of my life elude me. It is an aggravating feeling.

I suppose that makes sense, Vir said, disappointed. All you have are my memories, after all.

If I were to wager a guess, however Ekanai said, I feel as though there is more. What need was there for our earliest incarnations to unite the Demon Realm?

Thats true. The splintering of the clans was a recent thing. A millennia ago, the political landscape would have looked quite different.

Vir was left with more questions than ever before.

Tell me, Ekanai said. Why have you summoned me here? What do you require of me?

Oh, right.

With all that had happened, Vir had nearly forgotten about why hed summoned Ekanai to his mindscape in the first place.

The Life Chakra. I need help training it.

Ekanai looked away for a moment. My instruction would do you little good. I have learned by instinct. Through adversity. I would make a terrible teacher.

I figured, Vir replied, deflated. Well, it was worth a

All I ever did, Ekanai continued, all I have ever known, is fighting. If nothing else, I can strike you with Life Chakra attacks.

Vir winced. Will that help?

Who can say? Perhaps youll be driven mad. But it is how I would train.

Vir stood up. Well, I suppose it cant hurt to try.

Vir quickly learned that indeed, it could hurt to try, as Ekanai catapulted Virs mind into nightmare after nightmare.

Vir lived through visions of Maiyas death. Of Neel getting gored. Of Shan being ripped into two, and of Cirayus being burned alive.

He lived through personal agony. He witnessed the failure of his uprising against the Chitran and the subsequent annihilation of Garga.

When it stopped, Vir could no longer stand. He lay sprawled on the grass of the Godshollow mindscape, twitching.

Who said I couldnt get hurt here? Vir fumed. Maybe he couldnt be physically harmed, but it seemed there was no limit to the damage his mind could sustain.

Are you undamaged? Ekanai asked.

What a strange choice of word, Vir thought dazedly.

Sitting up, he pulled on the Foundation Chakra and cleared his mind.

Ill be fine, he replied. I just dont know if this helped or hurt.

For the first time in their encounter, Ekanai grinned. Oh, it helped.

How do you know? Vir asked.

Because I can feel it. I can feel you, striking back at me whenever I assault your mind.

Virs eyes bulged. Really? Im opening the chakra?

Ekanai scoffed. No. Not even close. It will be a long path. A painful one. But if you persist, the Life Chakra will be yours in due time.

There was no hesitation in Vir's response.

Then lets continue.