Chapter 210: Life and Death Cycle

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After Ervas changed Jobs to the 'Herald of Life and Death' Job, both he and Veronica had their consciousness sent to a different space, where they expected a strange event to unfold.

Both of their souls appeared, Veronica was dark and abyssal, while Ervas was golden and semi-transparent, both of them harmoniously rotated around the other, while also containing a tiny bit of the other within the center of their ethereal manifestations.

What are souls?

Ervas and Veronica could not help but question this as these events unfolded, Souls were a concept well known in the world of Kritias, and although there were some beliefs that Souls reincarnated, not all common folk knew about this truth. But the real question was certainly another.

From where do they originate?

Souls are known to be constantly reincarnating through the many transmigration cycles within many worlds, but… from where did souls came from, to begin with? And why was Ervas and Veronica's soul so strange?

What really has happened to their soul after having been divided? Was that the only factor that caused their souls to become so strange? Or were they themselves who developed them that way? Or both?

Certainly, within their knowledge about souls, only very few would show anomalies such as these, except if they were to be Gods, whose true selves and most of the time, real bodies are their souls and the embodiment of it.

Strangely enough, through the bizarre course of events through both of their third lives, Ervas and Veronica had seen their souls develop strangely many times… but this was the first time that it became so strange now.

By glancing at their souls rotate harmoniously, they recalled upon the 'cycle of life and death', and how perhaps both of their souls represented one another.

Ervas and Veronica had already assumed such a thing beforehand, but now, it was seemingly being confirmed even further… Could it be that the wound inflicted within their souls made for these changes and mutations to occur within their split souls?

They could only wonder as they recalled the life and death cycle.

Suddenly, they were brought back to reality, as Ervas felt that a stream of knowledge flowed his mind. The cycle of life and death was more mystical than he had initially thought!

But why? Why would a mortal be granted such power?

Although the Skill named 'Life and Death Cycle' was not exactly an all-powerful ability that could let them manipulate life and death at a whim, it was a Skill that let them grasp various concepts that only unfolded to the oldest of gods.

And amidst this stream of information, Veronica received a gift from Ervas Job Change!

[You acquired the [Life and Death Cycle: Level 1] Unique Skill!]

"Eh?! I got a Skill out of nowhere!" said Veronica in surprise, as she glanced at Ervas crimson eyes.

Ervas realized that his Job Change and the event unfolded within his consciousness also involved Veronica, this was perhaps the first time where he had acquired a Job that also benefited Veronica!

Perhaps the Yin and Yang Jobs could let benefit each other, but only if both took the respective Jobs. However, in this case, Ervas had only changed Jobs to 'Herald of Life and Death' and it instantly took effect within Veronica's soul as well!

"You acquired the Skill too? I am… rather puzzled about what it could truly do… So, we are better looking at its description through our Appraisal, as if it were not obvious enough," said Ervas, as both he and Veronica glanced at the 'Life and Death Cycle' Skills through their Appraisal Skill.

[Life and Death Cycle: Level 1/10]

An ability is forbidden within mortals and most gods, only granted to those entities who had grasped the truth about the cycle of life and death, and whose powers are closely related to these two elements of nature and existence.

This Skill allows its user to grasp the cycle of Life and Death, and to make use of it through its manipulation, such as the creation of a Lesser Reincarnation Cycle or the Guiding of Souls. Level up this Skill to strengthen its effects.

"This Skill…" muttered Ervas.

"Wait, WHAT?! L-Lesser Reincarnation Cycle?! A-And Guiding of Souls?! Ervas, this is OP! Well done, my boy!" said Veronica.

"Y-Yeah… I did nothing, I just changed into this Job and-"

Before Ervas could finish mustering his words, the System notifications clouded his sight as his 'Herald of Life and Death' Job began to level up constantly.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!...

[The gained Experience has reached the required Level, User's Job has reached Level 1!]

[The gained Experience has reached the required Level, User's Job has reached Level 2!]

[The gained Experience has reached the required Level, User's Job has reached Level 3!]

[The gained Experience has reached the required Level, User's Job has reached Level 4!]

[…]

[The gained Experience has reached the required Level, User's Job has reached Level 100!]

"Wait… am I already manipulating the cycle of life and death?" asked Ervas, as he glanced at his own hands…

Suddenly be noticed that one was filled with dark and ethereal energy twisting around, while another hand had an iridescent and shiny golden ethereal energy flowing peacefully.

"Ervas, me too!" said Veronica, as Ervas glanced at her metallic claws that showed both of these two energies.

"What… What are you doing now…?!" asked Jason with concern, as he noticed both Veronica and Ervas hands holding upon two, differently-colored powers.

"Err… Nothing much, we might have grasped the truth about how to manipulate the Life and Death cycle" said Ervas.

"I see… Okay then- WHAT?!" asked Jason.

"It was Ervas! He had this crazy Job that did it for us! We might have always had this potential, but his Job change was the trigger that let us unleash the power of it!" said Veronica.

"But… in what can you two use such power? Can you kill and revive people?" asked Ismene.

"No, I don't think it is that straightforward. It is more of the spiritual side of things. The cycle of life and death can also mean change…" said Ervas.

"Life and death are a continuous cycle, making birth and death different ends of the same spectrum of existence… Get it?" asked Veronica.

"…Not so much," said Anna.

"Well, to put it bluntly, we might be able to bring change to things, more than we might expect before… From death comes life, and from life comes death," said Ervas.

"I-I see…" said Anna.

"But how can you create that reincarnation cycle? Do you have any clue?" asked Ismene.

"Isn't that a bit dangerous?!" asked Jason.

"As of now… we can't," said Veronica.

"We might need more than this, but it is enough to enhance our abilities to guide the death towards us, while also letting us enhance life, such as the vibrant life of this beautiful forest," said Ervas.

"I've heard that there are Dungeons where certain reincarnation cycles take place… Although most of them are taken care of by the God of Death and Souls, Qadall" said Veronica.

"We ate a Demon God, and they're capable of creating dungeons… I wonder if we can do the same at some point?" asked Ervas.

"We have to develop our capabilities more, there is still a long road for us… Although it might seem like that to us, we are not exactly powerful when compared to actual Gods… and Monsters above Rank 10 are still dangerous to us, while A-Rank and above Adventurers are as well…" said Veronica.

"Hm, we are still far too weak," said Ervas.

"You two…? Weak? Are you kidding me?" asked Anna.

"It is nice to be humble, but you two might be overdoing it…" said Ismene.

"My son, you're far from someone weak… Haha" laughed Jason.

"Anyways… I will change Jobs now that I can again… Let's get the Skill I wanted before too," said Ervas, selecting his desired Job.

Ding!

[You changed Jobs to [Dead Spirit's Prince of Death]!]

[You acquired the [Dead Spirit Magic: Level 1] Skill!]

[The Levels of the [Death Attribute Charm; Level 5], [Golem Transmutation; Level 5], [Soul Binding; Level 5], and [Dominate Created Undead; Level 5] Skills have increased!]

"I got it too now, Veronica," said Ervas with a smile, as Veronica was excited about Ervas.

"Ah! Dead Spirit Magic? Nice! Let's go practice some new spells then! Ozgeth, Legion, Pete, let's go guys!" said Veronica, carrying Ervas over her shoulder as the three ghosts followed them.

"I wonder if there could be the possibility of creating a Life Attribute Ghost," said Ervas.

"Wouldn't such a ghost contradict itself? Like Life Attribute and Undeads… Don't go together, right?" asked Veronica.

"Indeed, they're a concept that contradicts each other… but now that we can take a hold of the cycle of Life and Death, perhaps we might be able to create something that breaks the rules a bit," said Ervas.

"That would be… certainly something, do you have any idea?" asked Veronica.

"…I do, there is actually a bunch of Plant Dead Spirits floating around us," said Ervas.

"Ah, right! So, these tiny dead spirits are from plants? Wait! You're right, if they're the dead spirits of plants… they're the living being most connected to the Life Attribute!" said Veronica.

"Indeed, through that trace that might even be inherited into their souls, if we converge them all together… I'll need your help though," said Ervas.

"Count me on! Let's do it!" said Veronica, as both split souls walked out of the castle, reaching a clearing within the forest.

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