by M. Q. Kajack
“Why are you named Shallow?” I asked.
“Aren’t you avoiding us because of your shallow judgment?”
Indeed, I only avoided it because of its appearance. If my mother was alive, what would she say?
“I apologize,” I said, reflecting a bit on my attitude. Perhaps, I went a bit overboard before.
“Don’t worry, you are still young and there are many things you don’t know about this strange world. It’s full of wonders. Shu Yi and Shu Er would be fine and they would greatly benefit from this. If they will choose to help us, we can serve you. We know that they won’t do anything against your wishes. In fact, they only allowed for this inheritance to happen because they wanted to be stronger for you. They are afraid of losing you.”
“I...” I didn’t know what to answer. It was true they were enslaved by me, but I didn’t treat them like slaves at all. As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for them, I was sure I would lose every piece of humanity I had.
Why would they really go so far? It was the same thing with You Ye. Why would she act like that? I truly didn’t understand.
“As I said, you are young. Don’t be mistaken. The Death Soul Seal you placed on them can control their souls to not betray you, but that doesn’t mean they have to like you or care about you at all. In fact, you understood your seal wrong. It’s not a seal to enslave people, otherwise, why would they still be like that? Free of emotions, free of opinion... Why would they be still themselves if you were truly enslaving their souls? You still don’t understand, young man?” This time the voice sounded more profound and more feminine.
Wait a moment... Death Soul Seal, how could this old soul know? I never told the exact name to Shu Yi or Shu Er. I raised my head and looked straight into its eyes. Could it be that it wasn’t the true purpose of the seal? What Shallow told me was right; if they were truly slaves, why weren’t they behaving like puppets?
I didn’t notice but a ray of light entered my mind, and foreign memories flooded in. Thousands of souls were enslaved. They acted like puppets devoid of emotions, devoid of words. It was a true seal—their consciousness were wiped out. They belonged to an unknown existence…
The memories stopped. I recovered my sight and looked straight into Shallow’s disturbing eyes.
“It was you. Those memories... You were the one who enslaved all those souls. You showed me a true Soul Seal.”
“That’s right, that was the true Soul Seal. Now, you realize how different your seal is even though it has a more overbearing name,” Shallow said with a big smile on his face.
“Right, it’s indeed as you said. My seal is totally different as though it has another purpose but... how did you know the name of my seal?” I narrowed my eyes. There was definitely something going on.
“I was told its name by someone,” it simply replied.
“By who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know,” I said, raising my eyebrows. “Are you telling the truth? You are telling me you don’t know... I told no one about it but you seem to know how special it is.”
“I truly don’t know. It was just that a voice reached us before we got teleported to this place, and it told us the name of your seal, including the information I just told you. Look, if I wanted to lie to you, it would be not a good idea. We are in your territory and you have full control over it. Our existence is in your hands.” Shallow smiled and closed its eyes, pondering something.
If Shallow was not lying, then there was someone who knew what was going on with me... or could it be that there was another being like me? Many thoughts and theories kept crossing my mind. Again, I sat cross-legged and started to go through all my memories to make sure I wasn’t forgetting something.
My thoughts were elaborating some theories when I felt pain on my arm. Slowly, I turned to see my arm. Something bit me. Could it be my snake? But my snake couldn’t be here. I was in my soul form.
And then I saw a familiar little snake curled around my arm. As I was about to grab it, an immense and ancient snake appeared in front of me.
What the fuck...
The ancient snake had white scales with a beautiful yet aged aura emanating from them, giving it an imposing presence. The eyes of the snake looked like black pearls, and such pure darkness reminded me of the time I was in the void, those powerful forces that ripped our bodies back then…
The snake’s power seemed to threaten my domain yet I didn’t feel danger at all. Our eyes met. There was a connection between us. I felt it—what she was feeling. It was a female. She was in pain, trying to be strong but feeling so weak deep inside, yet that wasn’t the worst of it. It was the loneliness, the passing ages on those white scales. It felt like an eternity.
The huge ancient snake finally opened its mouth.
“You killed me… you… killed my loneliness…
“I’m the last of my kind, bound to have no descendants. You bestowed me a new life, a new chance, a new beginning. Everything happened because of you. I neither hate you nor love you, but I’m bound to walk alongside you for all eternity, no matter what. Treat me well, and I shall treat you well. This will be the first and the last time we meet. In time, you will understand.”
After those words were said, it shrank once more to become the cute little baby snake that curled around my arm. What curled against my soul form was also the soul form of the baby snake.
I was dumb and slow-minded most of the time, but there was something I understood with what happened.
Time Reversal.
Someone had reversed her whole life back to her very beginning! What was far worse and scary... this wasn’t a casual meeting. The one who did it made sure she had time to say those words. I shivered, turning my head to look at Shallow.
It shook its head.
Could it be the same being who told Shallow about my seal? A sudden pulse from the Death Core struck my mind and a concrete memory popped up.
I understood, back where I got the snake, back in the mountains. The random teleport. The incident where the System didn’t know what happened and now Shallow...
If I didn’t understand it now, I would be truly too stupid. I might not understand the purpose, but I knew what was going on.
Someone was pulling the strings behind everything!
Neither Shallow nor I talked after what just happened. We just stood there, waiting for the twins to finish the inheritance and wake up. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the two of them. Being surrounded with so much death didn’t actually make me inhuman, but perhaps a little colder.
I didn’t know if it was because the time was weird or it was because this place was just created. Perhaps, it was due to the System not being active, but it made it really hard for me to keep track of the time we spent on the first realm. Kinda depressing that there was nothing at all and the skill to go back was called Home. I let out a long sigh, wondering how much more we would be waiting.
Surprisingly, it didn’t take long before I heard a very welcomed System message.
Ding!
Processing finished.
Unlocked Death Corps.
Waiting for subject #1 and subject #2
Death Corps Lv2 / 100 (1/300.000): Through Death Soul Seal, they pledge loyalty to the host. Loyal followers are able to use the skill, Home. Able to pass your bloodline on and become immortals, breaking free from the rules of the current world, cultivation will become one layer lower than the host. Cultivation will be bound to the host. Able to use Purgatory souls for Death Corps subjects. (Max Corps 2/2)
System stable. All functions will resume.
It left me speechless. Did I just win the possibility to build an immortal army? The System’s message was quite clear. I knew that was how it worked.
In every mythology, religion, and culture, whatsoever, a god was supposed to be worshipped by millions of followers…
I couldn’t wait to understand how the Home skill worked for them. Pa
ssing down my bloodline was exciting. My bloodline was really powerful but it had many downsides... or so I thought. To normal mortals, it would mostly kill them the moment I passed it on...
Ding!
The host is incorrect. Passing your bloodline down would not turn them into corpses. Only if they die and you choose to create a corpse for them to use will they become corpses.
Upon death, their souls will get bonded to host’s second realm and your everlasting lifespan thus making them immortals, unless the host ceases to exist.
Take note that passing down your bloodline will make the bloodline one grade lower.
I pondered what the System just explained to me. For some reason, it felt too damn nice to be true. I noted the System became more talkative than usual even though it didn’t get an upgrade.
System functions are working at 100%. Before, they were at 50%.
Okay, that explained it.
I proceeded to check all the system data and information I had stuffed in my soul. There were a few new details, but not really important.
All that mattered, for now, was for both twins to wake up.
They finally woke up after a few more hours of waiting. I got pretty excited seeing them gain consciousness, but deep inside, I blamed myself for everything that happened until now. I could still remember when I told them being with me was a big opportunity. Should have I added there was a big chance of dying as well? I let out a long sigh. The thing already happened. There was no going back.
I wasn’t sure if it was the inheritance or my guilt, but I could swear they got prettier. Had they been doing nasty things? I saw their confusion when they fully woke up.
I grinned. “Been doing dirty things while I was gone?”
Shu Yi and Shu Er snapped out from their confusion and looked at me. Tears fell from their beautiful eyes and big smiles spread across their faces. They didn’t take long to process my words, and their faces turned completely red from embarrassment.
So, they did have sex... I guess, in their soul form?
Honestly, I found it a little weird but I didn’t care much. I approached them both and slowly embraced them. Their embarrassment and shyness disappeared. I let them vent out their feelings and frustrations.
“Master...”
“It’s okay. Shallow explained me everything,” I said, pointing to Shallow who still didn’t move from its spot. “Are you both okay now?” I asked them softly.
Even though I knew I could bring them back to life if they had both died, I was still concerned about their wellbeing.
They nodded.
Shallow finally moved. It slowly approached us, looking at both girls. “Can you help us? Please?”
Both twins were confused. I was about to explain everything to them when I recalled that there was a faster way to tell them. I packeted all the memories I had related to Shallow and sent them through the Death Soul Seal, a pretty convenient use.
It didn’t take long for both of them to understand who Shallow was and what it was asking for. Shu Yi was the first to talk.
“It could be fate that brought us together, even though it was all the Ancient Ruins’ work. I cannot thank the Ancient Ruins but I can help you out. Yet I’m not the one who you should ask. My master has the last words,” Shu Yi said calmly.
No one would ever believe this woman was so emotional a few minutes ago. Shu Er didn’t add much more. She just nodded with her head and repeated for Shallow to ask me.
“It’s true. Because of you, they had a great chance and also Shu Yi’s life was now saved. Still, the fact remains it was due to the Ancient Ruins and not your choice. But since Shu Yi mention that she will help you, I will agree.” I had some plans in mind and I was not gonna let a Nascent Soul existence go just like that.
“Thanks,” said Shallow.
“Now, could you please explain to us how exactly can they help you out?” I hoped it didn’t involve engaging in dual cultivation with them.
Shallow smiled. “Actually, they don’t have to do much. I’m sure you girls didn’t refine the energy you created, as it was your first time. Am I right?”
“N-no, we are not yet that familiar with all the details during the inheritance process. We didn’t want something wrong to happen so we proceeded slowly and carefully...” Shu Er stuttered and her face became red. It took her few seconds to keep going. “After we were done, there was a mass of energy inside us. Half belonged to the other half. We still need to meditate and digest it.”
“Good, all I need is that mass of energy. If you both transfer it to us, we could undo our fusion and become two individual beings again.”
“Is it dangerous? Will something go wrong with them? Are you sure you both want to do this?”
“It’s okay, Master. Even though we haven’t digested the entire inheritance, we know this is the right method for someone who has cultivated wrongly. They need the balanced Yin and Yang energy from us.”
“Okay, then. Please proceed with care. I don’t want anything to happen again to you two or I will look like a bad master and will have to spank both your asses,” I said, grinning at them and moving my arms to show them my perfect spanking skill.
Both women’s faces got red.
Seriously, I do like to tease them.
I was expecting something a little bit more perverted. Maybe, something more mystical. Nothing like that happened.
Just a simple handshake.
Seriously? A curse-like miscultivation that existed for hundreds of years, solved by nothing but a good, old handshake... Who would believe this shit?
Shu Yi and Shu Er grabbed each of Shallow’s hands and transferred this balanced Yin and Yang energy. In a split second, a flash of light covered Shallow, splitting it into what he and she had once been, husband and wife, their best years already gone, leaving only two almost dissipating old geezers. Tears could be seen on both their faces. They tried to talk but they couldn’t. They didn’t know what to say. I didn’t care so much for both of them and their emotional meeting, so I went to check my precious twins to see if everything was okay.
Their eyes met mine and, without me asking directly, they already reassured me about their condition. There was nothing for me to worry about. Perhaps, it was because they were good at reading people, or maybe it was the obvious thing for me to do, but that feeling when our gazes met confused me. Transparency... the seal?
As much as I wanted to stay and spend time with them, I needed to exit and check on You Ye. I assumed that since the System started working normally, I could control my exit. So, I hurried myself a little bit. I briefly told the twins I would be back soon. They just smiled at me. For some reason, they knew they were safe even though I didn’t tell them that.
“Shallow, I need to exit and I’m in a bit of a rush here—” Before I finished my statement, I was interrupted.
“Can you lead us to exit?” the old man asked.
“Are you sure? If you exit, you will both die in less than a year,” I said nonchalantly.
“H-How do you know?” I could see the confusion in both their faces.
“Your souls are dissipating. One of my powers allows me to know the lifespan of people. Your life force is less than a year.”
“Even if we only have one year, we want to exit and live this life. We have spent so many years together but it was like a curse...” the old woman said, looking at his husband tearfully.
“Oh... I see. So, you will choose to live for one year over eternity.” I waved my hand at them.
“Wait! Please! Do you have a way for us?” yelled the old man.
Seems I will soon have some real cultivators behind me
“I might have a way for you two and you will be really grateful for this big chance. But...”
“What’s the price we need to pay?” asked the old woman.
“Indeed, you will have to pay a price, but, to be honest, it’s not that big. After all, I’m giving you an eternity.” Their eyes lit up. What d
id cultivators fight for? Eternity—they fought against time and I had all the time in the world. I gestured towards the twins.
The old man got my point really fast. “That’s it?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” I grinned.
Their decision came as soon as the words left my mouth. They both kneeled on the ground.
“Master.”
“Master.”
“Good, you will never regret this choice. I will explain it all to you later. Now, I have things to do. See ‘ya.”
With just a thought, I exited this realm and my soul returned to my body. Having done this, I realized that I could also use this place for escape or emergencies. Since both twins physically existed there, I figured I could do the same. I grinned.
This Death Core was getting more and more interesting.
What greeted me was dawn. The last I remembered of the outside was that everything happened at night. How many days had passed?
Ding!
Space-time inside the Death Core is unstable. Space-time has resumed at a normal rate. Time inside Death Core is halved. Two days inside equals to one day outside. Time since host’s absence is less than one day.
It was good that the System was finally working at 100%. Its explanations were more reasonable. I wondered how it would be like once the System upgraded with those tokens. I expanded my soul to check my surroundings. Everything was normal except for one thing: You Ye was gone. Shit! I recovered both missing women and now I lost another?
“System, regenerate my body. Do you have any tracking function to know where You Ye is?”
Ding!
Regenerating...
Replying to the host: no.
“Damn it!” I cursed.
A few minutes later, my body regenerated back to its perfect state. I could walk properly now. Flying was good, but I also enjoyed walking with two legs. It felt better.
I checked every corner of this rundown Greek temple, but there was no trace of You Ye. Perhaps, while I was inside my realm, I disappeared and so she was out searching for me? I decided to wait just in case. I had my senses covering the area.
