Chapter 23: Embers of A Soul

Chapter 23: Embers of A Soul

As Ty slowly opened his eyes, his senses tingled with a wave of confusion washing over him. He found himself afloat on a vast, cerulean lake, yet, inexplicably, he was defying the norms of gravity as he simply floated over its surface without sinking.

Tilting his head back, he squinted at the uncomfortably close sun, which was so close that its intense heat gradually warmed the cool water beneath him until it turned hot.

"Is this... death? It's somewhat amusing, I suppose," he murmured, releasing a hesitant chuckle. His musings dissolved into the now faintly sizzling water, "Thinking without a brain... how odd."

Suddenly, a deep and serene voice echoed from all directions, startling Ty. "Giving up just after being hit once?"

In a rush of surprise, Ty spun around, causing more ripples in the increasingly turbulent water.

As he glanced at the source of the voice, he saw a man who had a long, well-groomed beard along with sleek, black hair that cascaded smoothly down his back was standing right before him. The strangers' eyes were profound and dark, harboring tales of countless yesteryears, radiating an aura of silent strength that made Ty's skin prickle.

Ty blinked for a few moments, trying to figure out if he was seeing things before he asked, "Who are you?"

Ignoring his question, the man stepped closer on the trembling water, not even flinching as the hot droplets splashed over his skin. "You lie here, ready to let go of everything just because of one failure?"

His voice was firm but not unkind. Extending a strong and slightly calloused hand to Ty, the man prompted Ty to reconsider his resolve. Ty looked at the man, his mind spinning with thoughts as he realized he simply wasn't ready to just give up.

Not yet, not while there were still many things that he had to do.

With a faint chuckle, Ty responded, "So, what was I supposed to do anyway? I assumed this was some middle ground after death. I was slashed with a sword and left under a debris of rocks. For a skeleton, that's most certainly a game over." Reêad latest novels at novelhall.com

"Things aren't as simple as you think they are." the man gave a simple smile.

As Ty listened to him, he was perplexed, however, the man continued.

"I can see that there is a soul that is shared by you and someone else, however, it had remained dormant and had been hidden for millennia."

Ty was even more confused, but the man continued, "It was supposed to remain hidden until the right moment, after countless millennia. But it seems that fate has other plans at play," the man mused, his voice carrying a melodic rumble.

After that, his extended hand touched Ty's head, "Promise me that you won't force me to unlock any more barriers until you've returned home. This should suffice for now."

Just as the man placed his hand on Ty's head, he felt as if something inside him had broken, something that was like a barrier, but before Ty could process this flood of information or pose any questions, the mysterious man made a series of other intricate gestures.

Black flames started to surround Ty, while he tried to catch up with Todd as he inquired if he was fine, to which the latter responded swiftly, "I've had better days; why do you look like the boss a bit?"

Ty chuckled, saying, "That's a good question. Maybe I'll also find it out soon. Let's get you out of here, first." While he helped Todd, the cart burst into an array of flames while the Captain with his blood trickling down his face shouted as he glared at the blade in his hand and demanded, "Why didn't you warn me?!"

As if the blade had its own soul, the blade trembled before it said something in a barely audible sound, "The pressure emanating from him frightened me, making me a second late before he attacked. I suggest we should retreat for the time being."

"Nonsense! I won't retreat by fearing these disgusting monsters, and King Yami will praise me for my heroic deeds!" the Head Captain spat before dashing back towards Ty, attempting to slash him without wanting to waste any time.

However, his efforts were futile as Ty caught the blade while it was still in the air and the flames began to envelop it. Shocked, the Head Captain jumped away, letting go of his hold from the blade's hilt, letting it remain in Ty's hand.

Seemingly in pain, Ty also jumped back 10-20 feet, while the Head Captain glared at Ty and declared while staring at his sword in the enemy's hand, "Let's see if you like being burnt to ashes!!"

The Head Captain, undeterred by the loss of his blade, began to perform an array of hand signs before slamming both his hands onto the ground surface.

In response to his technique, a fiery tornado of blue flames started to surround Ty while its heart caused the nearby houses to catch fire. Even Todd's clothes began to catch fire as he tried to inch away from the heat instinctively, but he was also worried about Ty.

Meanwhile, the Head Captain laughed out with a maniacal look on his face, while sweat and blood trailed down his head, "King Yami doesn't need to bother himself with fodder like this and can just rest knowing that you are nothing but ashes now."

The flames surrounding Ty began to inch closer and closer before all of it came to a grinding halt before it began to cave in, condensing and forming a single point.

Witnessing this sudden turn of events, the Captain who had been laughing for a few moments had a look of confusion on his face as a cloud of black smoke emerged, revealing Ty, back in his original black skeletal form, holding his blade and a massively condensed orb of blue fire.

"This fire is nothing compared to what I've been dealing with lately," Ty stated as a matter of fact.

"It's a cute parlor trick, though. I believe this sword belongs to you, Mr. Head Captain," he continued before throwing the sword up into the air and catching it using its steel tip before hurling it at an alarming speed as if he were throwing a small knife.

The blade zipped past everyone and landed directly on the Head Captain's chest, the power in it still enough to carry him with it before impaling him onto a nearby wall.

The Head Captain now stood impaled by his very own blade while the light of life in his eyes gradually faded away.

Unable to speak and shaken by fear, the sword suddenly started to disperse into an array of energy while a red orb shot out from the dying man and rushed towards Ty, being absorbed into him.

Meanwhile, Todd watched all of this in awe.