Simple man with his overpowered army Chapter 37: Ode to Sloth: Onwards to death

The news about Toki is a surprise to everyone present. Toki says "Why don’t we go and enjoy a warm cup of tea and talk things out."

And with a snap of her finger, they enter Lud’s office with cups of tea on the table. It is rather crowded there as most captains are there, but Toki sits comfortably on the chair where Lud would usually sit.

Then Toki says "As I said, I am the daughter of Faust Ilumnos, Zolotifa and Peretasha Xitolrta. To clarify how this is possible, I co from a future that no longer exists thanks to few things, so I took it upon myself to make sure that there won’t be a need for other Zolon’s like ."

Tifa says "Zolon. You an that the Zolo in my na has sothing of value?"

Toki says "Yes. Zolo ans first generation whereas Zolon ans second generation. Of course there were Zolor, the third generation; Zolos the fourth generation and Zoloth the fifth generation. All of which existed in my tiline at one point or another."

Altair says "So you an that the blood of Maumar can be passed on to a new generation?"

Toki says "Yes, though it is a procedure that takes advantage of people like Peretasha. My tiline’s Faust and Tifa tried to have a child multiple tis, but they all died in the womb. Maumar then suggested a solution where Tifa would take full control of another woman and they would conceive a child during this possession. This made it much more likely for a child to be born that had Maumar’s blood. It was decided that multiple of these types of children from different mothers would be born. This ant every woman close to Faust at the ti who had the willpower to go through with it. This included Peretasha."

Altair says "So does that include ?" To which Toki says "Abel Ilumnos, Hector Ilumnos and Qiliaphor Ilumnos. Those were the Zolon of the Altair line. Then ca Petrucios Ilumnos, Pontius Ilumnos, Aliaris Ilumnos, Vincent Ilumnos, Iris Ilumnos and Ymir Ilumnos. Those were the Zolos of the Altair line. There were also Rufus Ilumnos and Rain Ilumnos that were the Zoloth of Altair line."

Altair looks shocked that there were so many descendants after her, but then she rembered that she might still have descendants at the current mont, so she let it pass like water. She said "I sure got busy."

Toki says "Those were only the ones that didn’t die in the womb."

This silences most who wanted to speak next and Toki continued "I can continue with all of the nas of all the Ilumnos’ who were born in that tiline. I still rember all of their faces as well as the sounds they would make and how they acted."

Lud then asks "How... how many were there in total?"

Toki says "If we include all that managed to get nas, it is 1521. Zolons were the most nurous, making a total 792 of all Faust’s descendants."

Elisia says "And you rember each of them?"

Toki responds with "Only those who were born after . That would make 1516."

Then Lych asks "Was there a real reason why there were so many?"

Toki answers "Maumar called it ’Beyond the corpse father project’. The purpose of which was to find a new vessel for the abyss so that the world may continue after Maumar is spent out."

Lili says "So I assu that you failed."

Toki smiles and says "Unfortunately yes. I was the most promising one out of all of the Ilumnos family and I ended up not being suitable for the part of the vessel."

Tifa asks "Then what is your plan going forward?" To which Toki answered "I plan to prevent Nesis from trying to destroy this tiline. Granted, this tiline may branch into many other tilines where I may not interfere with, but I’ll do my best to support you all through Nesis’ invasion."

Brutus asks "Just curious, but how exactly can Nesis destroy any tiline?"

Toki answers "Good question. The easiest way to end a tiline is by eliminating enough sources of aether, naly gods. The simplest thod to kill a god is to drag them into the abyss. Inside the abyss, gods must confront countless versions of themselves at the end of the world. In their panic, they not only have to find a way out of the abyss but also locate a tiline where they do not exist.

Additionally, they must deal with the reason for their nonexistence in that tiline, whether they fell into the abyss earlier or died for so other reason."

Altair says "I’ve heard of this before. ’Graveyard of Gods’ was it?"

Toki continues, "Yes. there’s a section in the abyss known as ’The Graveyard of Gods.’ There, countless gods are trapped in a maddening state, endlessly fighting other versions of themselves, most from tilines that have ended. This is a crucial consideration: even if a god manages to escape the abyss, they are likely to be driven mad by their own reflections."

Tifa says "Interesting. A god driven mad sounds like they would be an interesting person."

Toki says "Do you want a mad god to escape the abyss? It’s nearly impossible, but it has happened in a few tilines."

Tifa wondered "Have I seen any of them before?" To which Toki replied "Not likely, since the sight of them is sothing to behold and even you wouldn’t forget them easily."

Tifa says "I see, but what do you an by ’even I’?"

Toki laughs it off by saying "It’s nothing really. Just a figure of speech."

Lud asks "So how do singular beings function exactly? Is there so sort of trick to it?"

Toki answers "It would take a lot of ti to explain it to people who live in one tiline, but the gist of it is this.

Tilines are like the sand grains in a vast desert. The grains are in different colored sections that signify their relation to other tilines.

Singular entities can see those sand grains (tilines) and look at all that happens in that specific tiline of vast choices.

Each choice, no matter how big or small, makes a different branch of tilines.

One tiline is ford from a single mont of each choice made by each entity that is capable of making a choice.

Once singular entities enter one tiline, they exist on a single tiline that doesn’t branch to other tilines where the singular entity makes any different choice. Singular entities have only one chance in each tiline to make a choice.

Once a singular entity leaves the tiline they have influenced, they can see all the tilines that form from their influence after they leave.

Maumar is a special kind of singular entity in a sense that, while to all other beings, even if they are singular entities, the vast sea of tilines is seemingly endless. But for Maumar, it seems very finite. This ans that each possible tiline ford by each choice made by each possible person capable of choice already exists in a way that can be interacted with by a singular entity."

Elisia asks "So what is this talk about the true tiline and the chosen tiline?"

Toki says "In a grand sche of things, there isn’t one true tiline. There only exist tilines that are either influenced by a singular entity, or not.

Singular entities can only enter tilines born after the creation of the abyss. Going further beyond its creation is seemingly impossible. This also indicates that there most likely exist other set of tilines outside our version of abyss. This ans that there can exist a set of tilines that exist under a different kind of Maumar or an entirely another host of the abyss.

But even if we go further beyond like that, there still should be a finite amount of tilines in Lutah."

Lych says "You didn’t answer her question." To which Toki says "Didn’t I? Hmm, well, if I have to put it into words, it would be that it is all made up by Nesis."

Xu asks "Made up? What does that an?"

Toki says "It ans that, as stated before, there is no true tiline. Only those that are influenced by singular entities and those that aren’t. The significance is within the singular entity to make."

Tifa says "So in other words, Nesis sees this tiline as sothing of value since Maumar has put so effort into it."

Toki says "As expected of mother, you got it so easily. Well granted, you are technically a singular entity, but good job nonetheless."

Marco says "So... what are you planning for Weiss? Are you sohow going to bring her back to us?"

Toki says "Close, but first, look at this."

Toki takes out the sword that Siew was carrying before and Xu says "It is indeed a nice sword once wielded by a powerful swordsman. What about it?"

Toki says "This... After doing so research on it, I found out that it was made by the legendary Mathews Witsur."

Altair says "Wait wait wait. You an that that sword that you are holding right now is one of THE treasured swords made by the legend of humanity?"

Lud asks "Is it a big deal or sothing?"

Altair says quite enthusiastically "It is! It is a sword that was made by the person who would later beco the King of Death themselves! The ruler of Lutah’s afterlife!"

Li confirms "Yes, I also heard that the god of death Mors gave up that position after witnessing a mortal man’s might. To think they were human as well is quite impressive."

Lud asks "What are your thoughts Mätuk?"

Mätuk says "Hmph. That poor excuse of a person truly managed to steal forr master’s place back in the day. Unfortunately, the mortal man called Mathews is truly a force to be reckoned with."

Lud says "I take it you are not a fan."

Mätuk shouts "Of course not! For us familiars of death once served Mors and none other! That usurper just strolled to the afterlife one day and just beat Mors down with his dirty tricks!"

Li says "That’s not what I gathered. I heard that Mors willingly gave that position to Mathews after witnessing his power."

Mätuk "That might be true, but we familiars of death know how hurt Mors must have been to let go of that position."

That wasn’t true. Mors was glad that he didn’t have to govern the afterlife anymore, which led him to having a lot more free ti. Mätuk and others of his kind just don’t want to admit that Mors has beco one of the more lazy out of touch gods of Lutah, but the rest of the people there don’t know that.

Altair says "Anyways, what did you find out about that sword?"

Toki answered "Right. After looking to the past and asking grandpa, I found out that Maumar commissioned Mathews to make a sword fit for a fellow outworlder who would call themselves a ruler of a place called Elysium."

Lud was surprised by the word "Fellow outworlder" so he asked "Was Mathews also from my world?"

Toki shook her head and said "No. Mathews was from another world, but he didn’t co from the sa world as you. What Maumar told , Mathews was once called the demon of 1000 swords. As to how he earned that nickna, grandpa told that Mathews is just a fanatical sword collector."

Xu was amused by the word "1000 swords" on Mathews forr title, but he didn’t say anything about it. He was just humored by it.

Altair asks "So did you get to know what the sword’s na is and what it can do?"

Toki nodded and said "I was told that this sword’s na was Elysium. As for what it can do, grandpa told that it was up to Mathews himself to explain once we went to see him."

Altair is quite surprised by this and says "Wait. You an that devil wants us to go and see the king of death himself?"

Toki says "Well, to be more precise, he told to help dad go there. Alone. With the sword."

Altair says "Absolutely not! The only way to enter the afterlife is to die and I’m not letting this investnt go so early!"

Toki says "Calm down. I have the ans to let one person pass that border without any issue and return safely."

Marco says "Are you sure that he will be safe without anyone else there?"

Toki says "Unfortunately I can’t say for sure, but for to make a living person enter the afterlife without dying is only manageable with only one person."

Tifa asks "Since you are so powerful, can’t you just go there yourself?"

Toki answers "While it is possible for to force myself there, there are two issues with it. First is that as an abyssal entity, the afterlife literally rejects by default, making existence there close to impossible. That is also why you haven’t been able to do anything there mother."

Tifa asks "What about the other issue?"

Toki explains "As stated earlier, abyssal entities cannot enter the afterlife, especially singular beings. For to actually go there, I’d need to destroy the very barrier that separates the afterlife from the rest of the world. Breaking it isn’t an issue in itself if we just could fix it as easily, but that isn’t the case, so it is a huge issue for the rest of the world."

Brutus asks "What is the issue if the barrier breaks?"

Toki answers "Are you seriously asking why the land of the dead becoming fully open to the rest of the world is a bad idea? Who am I kidding, you are Brutus, of course you don’t know. Well, the issue is that the aether inside the afterlife is quite different from what is in the rest of the world. If two were to mix on a massive scale, the souls of the living and the dead would beco all ssed up."

Brutus says "I see. Thank you for explaining, though you could have been nicer."

Toki then turns to Lud and says "So dad, are you willing to take the step to the afterlife?"

Lud asks "Is... Is Weiss there as well?"

Toki answers with "I don’t know for certain, but I think she should be there."

Lud said without hesitation "Then I’m willing to go there, be it with the sword or without it."

Toki says "I understand, but please take the sword. Grandpa told that it is quite important that you take it with you."

Lud says "I see. Then would you hand it over?"

Toki gives the sword to Lud, but as soon as it is in Lud’s hands, the weight almost makes him fall with the sword. Lud even says "This is quite a heavy sword."

Toki giggles a little "Your old body would have easily carried it, I think, but since you are more used to paperwork in this life, I think that it would be weird if it wasn’t heavy for you."

Tifa asks "And how would you know this?"

Toki answers "You have told so many stories about the earth you two were from that it is hard not to make a comnt like that."

Tifa says "I see." And Lud asks "So when are we going?"

Toki answers "Whenever you are ready."

Lud gave instructions to the people gathered and left with the words "If anything out of the ordinary happens, then Tifa and Li are people who you should ask for instructions. Other than that, please keep an eye out for Sarah."

People confirm the orders and then Lud says to Toki "I’m ready."

Toki says "Great, let’s get your real body rest sowhere so you don’t feel sore when you return."

Lud goes to the office sofa and lies down and Toki is beside him. Toki says "Just so you know, while you can’t die in the afterlife, since you aren’t really dead, you will receive significant damage to your soul if you end up dying, so keep that in mind."

Lud says reaffirming "I’ll try my best not to get killed. Or... whatever it is called out there."

Toki nods and says "Now then, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths."

Lud starts to do so and the last thing he hears is "Soon, you should be..." But then he finds himself in an unfamiliar room. In front of him is a red haired woman facing her back to Lud, and behind Lud is so sort of portal. The room looks kind of ethereal, but it still has so clear structure on it.

The red haired woman says "So soone managed to sneak in the land of the dead I see. What is your na stranger?"

Lud answers "My na is Faust Ilumnos and I’m the king of Elysium."

The woman says "King of Elysium you say." Then she turns around and Lud gets a clear look on her face. She had fiery red hair in a ponytail and red eyes like rubies. Truly a fierce looking beauty.

The woman looked at the sword that Lud was carrying and soon after she drew her black sword and scratched Lud’s cheek with it. Lud didn’t even have ti to react before she put the black sword back to her sheath.

The woman said "Sorry about that. I just had to check your mories a second because carrying that sword ans a lot to us here. And since we don’t rember giving it to anybody, the first thing that ca to mind was that you sohow had stolen it. Be mindful when you go to the palace Ludwig. It is the building that is on the big wall."

Lud says "I see. Well, thank you I guess. What is your na and what do you do here?"

The woman bowed a little and said "My apologies. My na is Rena Witsur and I am here on behalf of my brother to make sure no one passes that gate without permission."

Lud asks "Is there an issue with people going through here?"

Rena says "Of course there is. I an why wouldn’t the dead want to return to the world of the living? I see why you don’t often trust your own wits Ludwig."

Lud says "I see. Well thank you again for clearing things up in my head... I think. But since you... read my mories or sothing, aren’t you kind of like Cerberus from greek mythology or sothing?"

Rena says "Sothing like that I suppose, but I must say, it is refreshing to hear sothing about another world. and Echo will look through your mories with great interest."

Lud says "Well... I’m sorry if you see sothing embarrassing along the way in advance."

Rena pauses for a mont and then starts to laugh a little. She says "You don’t have to be sorry about that. If anything, I’m sorry in advance for what you will experience when you see my brother."

Lud says "So you can see the future as well?" And Rena starts to laugh again while saying "You... you really have a way with words... No... No, I don’t have that ability. I am just used to people complaining a lot about my brother."

Lud says "Well then... I’ll be careful."

Rena says "Please do. And Ludwig..."

Lud responds "Yeah?"

Rena continues "I don’t recomnd you say anything that isn’t true. Here, the truth will always co to light eventually."

Lud says "I keep that in mind. And if we see each other again, please just call Lud."

Rena says as Lud is leaving "I will do that then."

It takes quite a while, but Lud eventually leaves the cave while passing people coming the other way. Lud wonders if they are people who try to leave the afterlife by force since they all were carrying so sort of weapon.

In the distance, Lud sees a giant cliff wall that looks absolutely humongous. Titanic even. He can see that the cliff is very, very far away and it’s sheer size is what makes it look much closer than it looks.

At the exit of the cave, there is a small village with a lot of people. Lud wanders around and eventually he finds a carriage that can take him, what the sign says is "Wherever you need to go."

Lud speaks to the person and he finds out that he has few options. He can either teleport where he needs to go by walking to the platform, take a carriage, airship, hot air balloon or any of the available flying animals. Lud asks "Why would anyone take anything else but the teleporter? Is teleporting more expensive?"

The person there says to Lud "Oh you must be new here. While there are currencies in the afterlife made by so greedy people, most things don’t cost any money. And as for why people would not take a teleporter, well it is as simple as having a traveling experience."

Lud asks "Why would soone want to experience a long travel distance?" To which the person there says "Why else but to just experience it. We have all the ti in the world until we choose to let go of the afterlife so why not spend it on sothing you like. So people just like the experience."

Lud says "I see. Then I’ll take the teleporter wherever the King of this place is."

The person there asks "You an the King King, or old Thews?"

Lud asks "Is there a difference?"

The person there says "There is. People can claim to be king whenever they like and there are a lot of people doing that. While it doesn’t really do much here, so people just like to act like kings and so people like to placate them. According to Lady Miranda, it has sothing to do with yearning for the real world."

Lud says "Who is this Lady Miranda?"

The person there says "She is old Thews’ wife number 1."

Lud says "He has more than one wife?"

The person there answers with "Well if you ask her, she is the one and only true wife since she and old Thews were married in life, but if you ask anybody else, she is a wife among other few."

Lud says with a wary face "I take it that she isn’t happy about it."

To which the person there says "Let’s just say that you shouldn’t ntion it to her unless she specifically brings it up. Queen of Death is also a title she goes by, which has elevated her mood quite significantly. She thinks it proves that she is higher than the other wives, so that helps."

Lud says "I see. I’ll just take the teleporter then."

The person there says "Yeah, follow then mister."

The person there shows Lud where the teleportation device is and he says "Just walk to it and think of where you want to go."

Lud asks "But what if I don’t know where the king is?"

The person there just waves off and leaves Lud, which makes Lud a bit confused, but when he thought about how he wants to see the king, suddenly he finds himself near the entrance of a massive city. Lud looks up and he can clearly say that "I can’t even see the end of that cliff."

Lud just walks on in without any problems and goes to the place Rena told about him earlier. There is a really big building that is built on the cliff and he can’t even see where it ends from where he is standing, so he goes there.

Lud also notices that half or more people there are humans with other races mixed in. He sees few of the middle realm races there that seem to be looking quite fine mixing in with the humans, but those are the rare ones. There are also dragons in their human forms, phoenixes and other races that are probably from the higher realm.

Lud goes to the building on the cliff and he is stopped by two guards who ask "What are your intentions on entering the Palace of Dawn?"

Lud just answers "I’m here to talk with the ruler of this place."

One guard is about to say sothing, but the other guard says "Hey. Isn’t that..." And points at the sword that Lud is carrying."

The first guard asks "What is your na sir?" To which Lud answers "My na is Faust Ilumnos and I’m the king of Elysium."

The guards look at each other and the second one says "You may enter, King of Elysium."

The guards let Lud enter and he hopes that they don’t think he is a thief or sothing considering what Rena said to him.

Lud enters the throne room, where a woman with curly pink hair and striking purple eyes sits upon the throne. She wears elegant, yet combat-ready attire—fancy but designed to allow fluid movent. Beside the throne stands another woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her practical dress maintains an air of elegance, designed to be more flexible than a typical formal gown, suggesting both grace and readiness.

The woman on the throne says to the person before Lud "I understand your worries, but we can’t just let a dead person return to the land of the living. If you have no desire to wait for the chance to et them again, then I suggest you go to the Palace of Finality and make yourself reincarnate. Leave."

The woman who was pleading to the person on the throne to return to the land of the living says "But your highness, they can’t take care of themselves yet! They are but children with no parents to guide them! Please reconsider!"

The woman on the throne says "If you have issues with this, go against Rena at the World’s End and convince her to let you pass. If she won’t let you, then neither will I. You may leave."

The woman pleads still "Please your grace! Please!"

The one sitting on the throne says "Mommy, if you could." And then the woman besides the throne snaps her fingers and the woman pleading disappears.

Then the woman on the throne says "Now the next person, what do you..." But she notices what Lud is carrying and she jumps from the throne. She says while walking towards Lud "And who might you be?"

Lud answers "My na is Faust Ilumnos and I..."

The woman walking towards Lud doesn’t listen till the end and says "Where did you get that sword?"

Lud says "I got it from a..."

The woman says "Mommy, has daddy let go of Elysium yet?"

"Mommy" says "No. I don’t recall he has."

Lud tries to explain, but as soon as he opens his mouth, the woman grabs the wrist of the hand that is holding the sword and flings Lud to the wall.

Lud lost the sword and now the woman is going to take it. The woman says "Guards, take him into custody and inform Daddy about the situation."

Lud tries to explain, but the woman, now Elysium in hand, points it to Lud’s throat and says "You’ve got a lot of explaining to do Fa... Fa... Fargus?"

Lud says "It’s Faust. Listen, the sword that I had was from..."

The woman doesn’t let him finish and says "I don’t know how you stole it, but I’m not letting you get away with it."

Lud says "Listen! it is from..."

And then an unfamiliar man says "From another tiline, you say?"

The woman says "Daddy. This man stole..." But the man stops her by saying "According to Echo, this man couldn’t steal it even if he wanted to. Let him go Thia."

Thia stutters "But... But..."

The man with red hair and red eyes says to the woman next to the throne "You know, you could have stopped her earlier Mira."

Mira says "I didn’t see a need to. She is your daughter after all."

The man says "It is because she is my daughter that you should have stopped her earlier. Why is it that now I have to be the sensible one? So stupid. Hey you! Boy from Elysium, why didn’t you say sothing?!"

Lud says "I tried but..."

The man scratches his head in frustration as he says "I had to co here personally because of a brat like this? I had such sweet dreams just now. Imagine, a beach with tons of beautiful babes just around , serving drinks, and then..."

Mira says "You do realize that I am here? Your wife."

The man says "Of course I know. Now where was I... Ah yes... the bikini woman was about to give so sort of drink and then..."

Mira says "Mathews my dear husband. Could you not tell your wet dreams while there is a guest present?"

Thia says "Haha! Mommy gave up on the part where daddy talks about lewd things in her presence."

Thews says "It is not a lewd dream. It ends with a giant Mira appearing in the distance that sets a fireball to my face."

Mira says "Sounds reasonable."

Thia says "It does. It indeed does."

Thews says "Now then boy. What is this thing about separate tilines hogybogy and why does that allow you to have Elysium with you?"

Lud says "It... just does? I don’t know how to explain it other than saying that the abyss allows you to go back and forth from one tiline to another and that sword is a result of one of those cases."

Thews says "I see. I see. I totally see. I double see! No. I triple see but then it all turns into nothing and I now have absolutely no idea about this hocus pocus about abyss and so shit! Dear, does it make sense to you?"

Mira says "It does make sense to . While I don’t completely understand how abyss works, if that man is involved who gave you the instructions to make Elysium in the first place, then it can make sense that so sort of separate tilines exists."

Thews says "Well then. Then I guess I should welco you here boy. Welco to the void!"

Mira says "This place is not a void. This is afterlife."’

Thews says "Sa thing."

Mira says "It’s not."

Thews says "It is basically."

Mira repeats "It is really not."

Thews shouts "It is to !"

Mira shouts back "But it isn’t for others!"

Thews shouts "Sophisticated ass bitch!"

Mira shouts "Idiot!"

Thia finally takes the sword away from Lud’s neck and joins in a cheery way "Poopy Heads!"

This seems to calm the situation a bit and Thews says "Love you dear" and Mira also says "I love you too darling."

Then Thews goes to Thia and says "Give the sword." and Thia hands it over.

Thews inspects the sword and says "Yes. She is a very, very worn out sword. Hey Elysium, what can you tell about your travels?"

The sword stays silent. To Lud, Thews talking to a sword sounds insane, but at this point, he wouldn’t be surprised if the sword did talk.

Thews says "I see. So you won’t even talk to your maker anymore. I see. So you have t soone so worthy of you that you wish your last words to be for them and them alone. I get it. I totally get it."

There is a slight pause as Thews closes his eyes and says "It really seems that you aren’t the only Elysium sword in this world. I still have her in my arsenal waiting for the right person to arrive. I understand. And since you don’t seem to want to speak, I’ll proceed with your complete destruction as a form of appreciation. Matrix."

A girl with long white hair and blue eyes appears like she walked out of fog and says "Yes Papa?"

Thews tells the girl "Give this girl the rest she deserves."

Matrix says "Okidoki." And takes the sword. Soon after, Elysium that was on the girl’s hand disintegrates into nothing.

Matrix asks "Do you need anything else, Papa?" To which Thews says "Not at the mont. You may return to... whatever you were doing."

Matrix says "Okkey" and leaves the sa way she appeared.

Then Thews turns to Lud and says "So boy, is there anything else you’d like to do in this shithole?"

Lud stands up and says "I’d... like to et a friend."

Thews says "Aijaija. That goes a little off from the services we usually allow."

Thia asks "It does?" Which makes Thews look at Thia with a face that says "Shouldn’t you know about this already? I know that I am the dumb one, but holy shit."

Thews says to Lud "Follow ."

They start to walk sowhere, Mira and Thia included. While walking sowhere, Thews asks Lud "Do you wanna guess my opinion about necromancy?"

Lud says "Well, if I had to guess, I’d say that the King of Death probably isn’t quite fond of it."

Thews laughs a little and says "A typical answer. Well, it is kind of correct, when dead souls get involved with the living world it becos an issue. But if it is just raising a corpse, then it is all well and good for . The material part of the person serves no purpose until it is given one. Most return to nature straight up, but necromancers can give them another purpose."

Lud says "I see. Sounds kind of morbid."

Thews laughs and says "Well it is death we are talking about, so no worries. But as for why it becos an issue when the dead soul is concerned, well it cos down to aether."

Lud asks "What does aether have to do with the dead soul?"

Thews answers "Well, when the soul has no body it is attached to anymore, it becos susceptible to becoming replaced by aether around them. Usually dead souls co straight here, but if the will is strong enough, they can stay in the land of the living. But as their dead soul, now wandering spirit, becos replaced by aether around them, they will lose two things. The ability to reincarnate and the sense of the original self."

Lud asks "What do you an by losing their original self?"

Thews answers "I an, the soul type spirit has the self in it that died once, but as the spirit becos more and more aether, it loses that self entirely eventually. Leaving nothing but a reflection of the person that once was."

Lud says "That sounds horrible."

Thews says "It is unfortunate, but it is a peaceful way to go. The soul doesn’t notice anything different. It starts with the soul spirit not needing to do sothing, but as the ti passes on, the soul inside that spirit needs to do less and less, like falling to asleep, until the soul part ends up completely gone, leaving only an aether spirit."

Lud says "I get that, but what does eting my friend again have to do with it?"

Thews says "What Echo told , this Weiss is trying to beco a death knight that has the permission to go on missions to the land of the living. Apparently she has a long way to go, but she has a solid foundation and spirit in her to succeed. It will just take so ti before she is ready."

Mira says "I’m afraid that you aren’t answering the question darling."

Thews says "I’m getting to it."

Soon they enter a balcony where they can see the death knights trainees training and in there, Lud sees Weiss.

Thews says "I... Well, there are always people who we would like to et again even though they have passed on. If you are ever granted that experience, you can beco disillusioned about the fact of life. The fact that... sotis, we will say our last goodbyes. Or that we find out that we weren’t able to do that in the end."

Lud says "You think that it is more healthy for to not et Weiss?"

Thews says "Sothing like that. I’m not so smart you see, so I say things that don’t end up making sense or being correct, but when it cos to death, I just feel like... people need to be able to let go. It is fine to use the mories you have for the dead to be your strength, but letting them bind you in place or slow you down isn’t sothing that you should just let be."

Mira says "Thews parents decided to reincarnate before he could say his goodbyes, and this made Thews have regrets. He thought that he would have that ti when he can joke with them again, but when he found out that he couldn’t, it struck him in a way that he didn’t expect."

Thews says "Telling my history now dear? And just a mont ago I had a problem figuring out why wolf cubs wouldn’t leave their dead mother."

Mira says "That was long ago darling. You have grown since then."

Then a familiar voice to Lud speaks up "I think you should let him et that gal."

Everyone but Thews turns around to see who it is, but Thews just says "Of course there’ll be more lively people coming here than usual. So what is your schtick?"

Riatla says "Why don’t you use Echo and find out?"

Thews turns around, calls "Echo" and then scratches Riatla’s cheek a little. Thews says "I see. So that is how you have planned things. Very well. I’ll let the boy see the girl."

Riatla says "Thank you for your understanding. I can’t wait to see how things will unfold."

Thews says back "Don’t expect too much from . I’m not that smart you see."

Riatla smiles and says "We will see, King of Death. We will see." And promptly disappears.

Mira asks "Who was that?" And Thews answers "She was an... well... I can’t say."

Mira looks at Thews with suspicious eyes and says "Oh... is she one of your mistresses? She seed to know about Echo’s abilities."

Thews defends himself by saying "She is not! Echo, back up here!" To which the sword Echo says "I will take no part in this" and leaves.

Thews goes to his knees and shouts to the skies "ECHO!!!"

Mira says "I hope you have prepared yourself, mister." To which Thews rises back up and starts to rub his hands like a screwed rchant as he says "Now now, my dear Miranda. Let us not do this in front of our dear guest and let’s move this aside for now."

Mira stares daggers at Thews for a mont and eventually says "Fine, but there will be a scolding later."

Thews laugh nervously "Hahaha! I know." Then he turns to Lud and says "Well then boy, let us go et your girlfriend."

Lud tries to say "But she is not my..." But Thews grabs him on his shoulder and jumps off the balcony like so Greek god of war.

Thia says behind them " too! too!" And proceeds to jump as well.

Soon, two loud bangs are heard from the training grounds. And a lot of smoke.

As the dust cloud clears, Thews says "Greeting trainee death knights. It is I, you king! I’m here to let this lively one next to et a certain soone."

Weiss and Lud lock eyes and Weiss mutters "Faust?"

Lud waves at her and says "Hey Weiss. Long ti no see."

Weiss runs to Lud and tackles him to a tight hug. She rubs her face to Lud’s shirt and says "I’m so glad to see you again! I don’t know why you got here, but I’m so happy!"

Lud, barely conscious from the two hard landings, says "Yeah. We missed you too."

Weiss gets off Lud and says "How is Bai? Is she okay?"

Lud answers "Yeah... well, she was kind of beaten by..."

And Weiss says "By the other ."

Lud is surprised by this and asks "You... You knew?"

Weiss says "Yes. A night before I... Well, died, she ca to my house as I was returning and we had a little chat. Long story short, I accepted her challenge and lost. But at least she apologized first, so that is sothing."

Lud asks "Why didn’t you tell anyone?"

Weiss says "If I told you all, then the challenge she set to would have beco forfeit and I couldn’t have that. I chose to challenge my fate head on and lost. There is nothing I can do about it now."

Lud says "But you can return to us now, right?"

Weiss is about to answer, but Thews interrupts and says "I’m afraid that I cannot let that happen."

Lud asks "Why? If we give her a body she can inhabit, then she can be like anybody else."

Thews says "First of all, giving her another body besides her original one is just making the decline slower. It won’t stop it. And second of all, I don’t think that girl wants it either."

Lud says "No she..."

And Weiss interrupts him as she says "I don’t want to return just yet."

Lud asks "But why?"

Weiss says "I... need to first prove myself that I am ready to face you all again in equal footing. Before that happens, I will train here and wait for the day when I can stand side by side with you."

Lud says "Well... I... I understand. If that is what you want."

Thews starts to clap his hands in excitent "Excellent! Such a sweet thing to witness. But boy, I have one thing that may change my mind."

Lud asks "What is it?"

Thews says with a big smile "If you can beat the Death King’s challenge, then you may take your girl with you if you so choose and more. How about it?"

Thia says "But daddy! That challenge is too much even for ! He can’t do it!"

Thews says "Just let the boy take it. I want to see how far he can go."

Thia says "Well... I understand."

Thews then says "Sweethearth, can you clear the training ground a bit?"

A woman with a drill sergeant look says sweetly to Thews "On it master." And then she proceeds to shout "Oi maggots! Clear the area for the king!"

The trainees all salute and say "Yes Sweethearth drill sergeant!"

The trainees clear the area so that the "Death King’s challenge" can be done in peace.

Lud asks Weiss "What is that challenge exactly?"

Weiss answers nervously "Well... it is a challenge where you just have to... walk to old Thews that is 10 ters away."

Lud says "That sounds suspiciously easy."

Weiss just taps Lud’s shoulder and says "You’ll understand soon enough."

When the area is clear, Thews walks 10 ters away from Lud, summons a peculiar sword.

The sword was unlike any other sword. Her slightly curved blade shimred with a faint, translucent glow, as though carved from light itself. Pale blue etchings ran along the blade’s surface, intricate symbols that pulsed gently whenever the sword was called upon for her true purpose. Her crossguard unfurled like delicate leaves, an organic design that hinted at growth and renewal. In the center of her hilt lay a radiant gemstone, catching light in hues of aquamarine and opal, casting a soft, almost healing aura. And at the poml, a subtle engraving of a phoenix symbolizes her role as a weapon of awakening, a blade ant not only to strike but to revive and restore.

Thews takes a knightly stance where he puts his hand resting to the hilt of the sword while the sword’s top point was on the ground. He says "Well then boy... You may proceed."

Lud is about to take a step, until he suddenly feels like he will die if he takes a step. Lud looks at Thews and sees that he still has that goofy smile on him, but the aura he is giving is suffocating with killing intent. Every cell in Lud’s body is telling him to step back, but he sohow feels that even if he does that, he will die.

Lud cannot help but stand still for a while, his heart racing and his body sweating bullets just standing still. Truly, the killing intent... no... the aura of death that THE King of Death is making is sothing that would make an average man lose consciousness by the sheer pressure.

Thews says "What’s wrong boy? Is this where your willpower is able to take you?"

Lud tries and tries, but he can’t lift his leg. His whole body is in overdrive and it is getting harder to breathe. Lud feels like if he moves an inch, he will be dead.

Even though Toki said that he won’t truly die if he dies this ti, no matter what anybody said and no matter how much he was reassured that he won’t die, no one can convince him that he wouldn’t die if he took another step.

Thews says "I’ll stop if you can’t make progress soon."

Lud steels himself. He has experienced death a couple of tis before. Death isn’t exactly a new experience for him, but he... just... can’t... take... a step.

"Take it. Take the step!" He shouts to himself. Face death this ti as well. Face that cold, unforgiving death once more and conquer it. "Onwards to death!" Lud shouts out loud and he finally takes a one, really heavy step. Then another.

But then, his consciousness fades. He can’t... his body can’t take it anymore. And so, he falls to the ground, unconscious.

Thews stops exuding the aura of death and Weiss runs to Lud.

Thews goes near Lud, places the end of the sword to the boy’s head and says calmly "Homa, if you could."

The sword says sweetly "Yes, my dear master." And with that, Lud’s body is invigorated and restored to its original state. Lud wakes up shortly after.

Thews then says "Well done Homa, you may go now." And with that, the sword disappears to the mist.

Thews says to Lud "Well done boy. You did well."

Lud says, still grasping what just happened "Yes... Well, thanks... But didn’t I just take one step?"

Weiss says excitedly "What are you saying?! You took two! Two I tell you! That was amazing!"

Lud asks "Is it that amazing?" To which Thews answered "I expected you to only be able to take one step, but two is quite impressive. Granted, if I wanted to, I could have made the killing intent so strong that the very air would beco as cold as it gets. Killing most people instantly."

Lud says "So... you held back."

Thews laughs and says "Of course I did boy! I always adjust the intent depending on the person taking the challenge. One of the few tis I used it fully was when I challenged the death god. What... What was his na again?"

Thia answers "I think it was Mors."

Thews says "Ah yes! Mors! That was the na of the guy! I really expected the guy to be able to beat . I an, he IS the god of death after all."

Lud says "Right. Thanks for clarifying."

Then Thews says excitedly "Now then boy, let us go have a drink! I’m sure you have a lot of stories you can tell from your original world. Let us go and..."

Mira’s voice stops Thews from speaking further. "You think that I’ll let your scolding wait much longer?"

Thews tries to suck up to Mira as he says "My dear! Honey! You are here! Of course I wouldn’t! Who do you take for?! Let us go and have a grand old ti!"

Thews tries to walk away, but Mira grabs his ear and says "Synthia, make sure that our guest gets ho safely, now would you?"

Thia says "Yes mommy! Have fun drying daddy’s balls again!"

Mira just walks aways, leaving Lud to worry about the lack of denial on Mira’s part.

Thia then says "Now then, say your goodbyes and we’ll be on our way."

Lud says to Weiss "I promise that we’ll et again so day." Weiss also says "Yes. That is a promise."

Soon Lud is at the gate of the city, but then he hears a familiar voice shouting at him "Wait boy! Wait!"

Lud turns around and sees Thews running towards him. Lud is about to ask "What is it?" but Thews says "Hand. Give your hand. Quick."

Lud extends his hand and Thews hands him a necklace of so kind. Thews says "When the Swarm cos, make sure to pour so mana onto it. I’ll make sure that and the death knights will..."

Then a voice and explosions echo through the city. The voice shouts "MATHEWS!!!" Which doesn’t need an explanation of who it is coming from.

Then Thews makes a hand gesture to Lud which ans "Bye" and he says "Ti to fucking brace my ass." And walks towards the sound of rumbling.

As Thews leaves, Thia tells Lud that "While usually daddy is the top, in situations like these, mommy takes the top position."

Lud asks "How do YOU know?" To which Thia says "Daddy told ."

Lud sighs and mutters "Of course he did."

Thia says "Shall we go?" And then soon Lud finds his way back to the land of the living.

Toki asks "How was it?" To which Lud answered "I’d rather stay alive than go back there."

Toki comnts "Well I did hear that the Witsurs are quite a peculiar people."

Lud says "That is one hell of an understatent."

anwhile in a bar in Elysium, a man with dark brown hair and eyes that are a mix of blue and green with a hint of hazel is writing sothing on a strange device. He mutters to himself "I an, I did make the Chapter about that peculiar subject, but I only made the character who is supposed to represent that thing in the first place appear only briefly. Is it fine to leave it as is or is it fitting considering the subject at hand?"

The man mutters to himself, leaves the chair and starts to walk in circles around the bar, disturbing other custors and reciting so scenes he has written just monts ago and later in the future.

One of the people at the bar shout "Sit the fuck down!" And the man darts quickly back to his chair where the device is waiting for further input. The bartender says to the man "You really should learn how to be around people more. What is your na, mister?"

The man with the strange device says "Sante. You may call Sante. I was thinking using Santa for the lols, but that is quite literally the sa na of one famous character, so I chose to just stick with Sante. Now that I ntioned it, should I add Santa in this series?"

The bartender says "I don’t have any idea what you just said, but sure Sante, do you still want another drink of cola?"

Sante says "Of course. Never can have enough of that. Well you can when it gets icky on the tongue when you drink too much, but still, keep ’em coming."

The bartender says "You are a strange fellow mister Sante. A strange fellow indeed."

Sante laughs and says "Oh haven’t I heard about that."

The bartender gives a class of cold cola to Sante and leaves to take care of other custors.

Sante stretches his arms and says "Well then. What should the next part be? Should I go straight to the battle that will co, or will I make sothing else? Decisions decisions."

Then Sante takes the cold cola and takes a sip of it. After he swallows it down, he mutters "I wonder how Bob is doing?"