Chapter 43 - 43 - Persona

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 - Persona

n-/OvelbIn

Bong emerged from the Dungeon, and the lifeless bodies of both monsters and adventurers vanished, leaving nothing behind. The Dungeon stood empty, guarded solely by Eclipse at the entrance to the boss room.

As Bong stepped outside, he was consumed by deep thoughts. He pondered where to find the remaining souls he needed. The options were limited - monsters, humans - but the numbers required were vast. The Orc Village came to mind, but he had already decimated much of its population. It was clear that additional sources of souls were necessary to acquire the remaining four hundred.

To gather the remaining souls, Bong contemplated venturing into Baron Valerian's territory. Transforming his form, he sprouted wings from his back, allowing him to take flight. With powerful thrusts of his wings, he ascended vertically into the sky. As he hovered in the air, his wings beat rhythmically, sustaining his flight. Surveying the landscape below, he searched for the right direction.

Simultaneously, he used his telepathic connection to communicate with Eclipse. Instructing his loyal servant to determine the path to Baron Valerian's territory, Bong combined his own aerial observation with Eclipse's insights to chart his course.

After finding the direction, he pushed his wings further north and soared through the moonlit sky. His eyes traced the world below, searching for any traces of life. With every beat of his wings, his gaze danced left and right, scanning the landscape for signs of living beings.

As he soared through the sky, his journey led him to the sight of a village. Halting his flight, he remained suspended in the air, his senses attuned to the surroundings. Utilizing his sonic senses, he estimated the potential number of souls he could obtain from this village. His initial concerns began to transform into a sinister grin as he realized the village boasted a substantial population of thousands.

Summoning the Cursed Wraithstrike from the sky, Bong readied the bow with a Soul Haunt arrow, intending to unleash a volley of ethereal arrows upon the unsuspecting village below. However, just as he was about to release the arrows, an unexpected sensation enveloped him. His body froze, as though gripped by an invisible force that halted his every movement.

A potent surge of malevolent intent surged through his veins, warring against the course of action he had set upon. Within him, his alternate personality, the vestige of his original self, stirred restlessly. It rebelled against the impending carnage that his darker nature sought to unleash upon the innocent.

"I refrained from intervening against those adventurers, for they embraced wickedness. Their actions were fueled by arrogance, and they possess the power to defend themselves. But these citizens do not possess any power," The dissenting voice resonated within him, trying to remind him of the distinction between justice and carnage.

"But now you, the one who clings to the light, are you going to prevent me from achieving what I have set out to do?" Yet the darker persona persisted, a counterargument emerging.

Trapped within this tumultuous conflict, Bong grappled with his dual nature, caught between his desire for carnage and his innate moral compass.

"You must halt your actions here, do not proceed any further, remember, it was I who shaped you, who gave you life. If you venture down this path, forsaking my bat creed, I will not hesitate to obliterate the essence of your being. Your pride, your existence, your very identity - all are mine to command. Never forget, I am your creator, and without me, you are nothing." The voice of this moral persona echoed within his mind.

The internal struggle raged on, the two personas locked in a battle of wills within Bong's consciousness. As the darker persona sought to push forward with its vengeful intent, the gentler side of him, the one that held fast to the principles of justice and morality, mustered its own voice, growing more resolute.

The darker persona's fury erupted within Bong's mind, manifesting as a fierce yell that reverberated through his consciousness.

"You dare challenge my authority? I am the ruler of this domain, the master of my fate. How dare you attempt to halt my course?" The darker persona bellowed, its frustration tangible as it clutched its head with both hands.

"You created me out of your own weakness, your inability to take life, to eliminate those who deserved it, I exist because you lacked the strength to do what was necessary," The darker persona retorted with an edge of scorn.

"You, who couldn't bring yourself to kill humans, because you were once among them," The darker persona taunted, its voice laced with mockery.

As the internal conflict raged within Bong, the struggle intensified with each passing moment. The darker persona was fueled by pride and a thirst for souls to save his vampire kin, while the moral persona held onto principles of not to harm the innocent citizen and find the balance. Their clash created a storm of emotions within him, tearing at his very being.

"I halted you and warned you, do not harm the innocent souls. You must find another way. We need to maintain the delicate balance between light and darkness, morality and evil. Else, I will obliterate you this very instant. And as you once said, it is more gratifying to shatter someone's pride than to break their bones. If you wish to avoid the destruction of your pride, seek an alternative path that aligns with my creed," Urged the moral persona with unwavering authority and conviction.

"Tch. Tch."

"This, too, is a matter of pride for me - to not lay down my bow. You have already shattered my pride to compel me to lay down my weapon, all for the sake of preserving the human race. They, who have decimated our own kind. Just this once, I shall heed your words, but know this: I command you to not obstruct my actions in the future. My race's survival is at stake, and I cannot afford the luxury of entertaining your moral musings."

Upon hearing the words of his other persona, the darker side of Bong, in order to salvage his pride and prevent further internal conflict, restrained the bow from firing the arrows. Despite his overwhelming pride, he resentfully agreed to his moral counterpart's counsel. For him, finding the souls to break the curse and lessen the pain of the boss took precedence over indulging in internal conflicts.

Deep in thought, he pondered over the search for living beings that wouldn't trigger another internal conflict. Realizing that this process could be time-consuming, he decided to employ his Shadow Summon. With clear instructions, he commanded the Shadow Summon to seek out groups of potentially malevolent individuals, numbering in the thousands, who were either harming others or engaging in evil actions.