Will of chaos - Chapter 1920: Cap 1916: Path of painful memories

Chapter 1920: Cap 1916: Path of painful memories

Pov Reincarnation:

I walk through the forest with my cane in hand. The lights streaming through the treetops contrast sharply with the absolute darkness spreading between the trees. I soon cross the edge of the forest and walk through a field of beautiful flowers adorning a small lake where two thrones sit.

“Reincarnation, why are you here?” (Life)

“Inferno released a Fallen Lord of Chaos.” (Me)

“That doesn’t make sense. We didn’t feel it.” (Death)

“It must have cost you a lot of your power. Even then, you had abandoned that universe, so you didn’t feel it.” (Me)

“But because Tarzor accompanied that boy, I could see beyond the veil. The System helped.” (Me)

“This can’t be happening. Tell me Zenos wasn’t present.” (Life)

“…” (Me)

“I think we have our answer.” (Death)

I can feel her agitation, but I remain silent. They both always have trouble overthinking things. I look at the ground and try to sense this new being.

“(A being with the power of the natural Cycle… but these instincts…)” (me)

The creature seems to resemble aquatic beings. Its size is undefined, its body and Soul are nonexistent, its Spark of Existence is nonexistent. It’s basically an imaginary creature, like an intrusive thought left untouched and yet never disappearing.

The three powers of Life, Death, and Chaos are the only thing sustaining it, with the power of Chaos being the core, allowing it to exist without actually existing.

“(It sounds a lot like one of Paradox’s Feats, I can’t believe he did this by accident.)” (me)

“Reincarnation, we have to stop Inferno.” (Life)

“Paradox must not return, the risks are too high.” (Life)

“At the moment, we’re in no position to repair the disasters she’s caused, especially if her arrival agitates the Ancients.” (Death)

“Avoidance won’t last forever. That must be why the System agreed to collaborate with Hell. It must have been a test.” (Me)

“Do you agree with them?” (Death)

“Partially, yes.” (Me)

“Even if the timing isn’t right, it would still happen. Hell must have realized it more than we did, since it’s at the top of the Ancients’ list.” (Me)

“I still think it’s wrong to do anything now. The current Chaosbringer is the most stable that has ever existed. He would be perfect in a few more centuries, perhaps a thousand years…” (Life)

“It’s already begun. Unless they choose to act directly, this stone is already rolling down the mountain, and I intend to just watch how it all ends.” (Me)

“Then why come to us?” (Death)

“I thought you deserve to know. The System only responds when questioned, and Hell clearly intended to hide everything. Most likely, other Entities are acting in collusion, so be careful.” (Me)

“What do you expect?” (Life)

“Nothing. What will be will be. We can’t predict, control, or always take care of everything. Life is a Gift… Death a consolation… Reincarnation a new beginning…” (Me)

“These are our Concepts. I still cling to them, and no matter what, I won’t act this time.” (Me)

Suddenly, I feel pressure somewhere. It seems like another fool who thinks he’s special has decided to act foolishly, forcing my hand.

“I’ll leave you with this news and take my leave. There’s another fool trying to interfere with Reincarnation.” (me)

I turn and leave the mental space where the two usually talk. I wanted to stay longer and exchange ideas about the creature, but fools always appear who don’t understand the immensity of what I offer.

———————-

Pov Zenos:

I was in pain, so much pain, and everything around me was a blur of strange colors. I felt as if I’d overdosed on drugs. This had happened once in the past because of the sheer amount of medication I was taking with that sick body.

The problem here was the pain coming from my Soul. There was no way to bear it, no way to get used to it. My mind could barely think. I tried to distract myself with memories or at least erase my mind, but I couldn’t do either. The pain didn’t allow for any moment of relief, any rest, and all I could do was endure this torment.

“Come to me…” (Paradox)

As I surrendered myself to that agony, unable to do anything, I suddenly heard her voice like a whisper near my ear.

“…” (me)

The next thing I noticed was the change around me. It was as if I’d woken from a dream, but this time I was standing in the cemetery. I was sitting on a metal folding chair. There were more of these chairs around, all empty, just like the rest of the cemetery.

In front of me was a grave with a headstone bearing the photo of an old priest. I remember that day. I nearly collapsed with sadness and had to be carried out of the cemetery. I almost died because of it.

I was still in a lot of pain, my whole body was shaking, yet my mind was strangely clearer than before.

“Rest wherever you are, Father.” (me)

I stood up and placed my hand on the headstone before turning to leave. But as soon as I turned, I was in the empty corridor of a hospital. Straight ahead, on my side was a door labeled 343. I just shook my head before feeling the hallway.

The pain was still there, each step incomparable with the pain. I didn’t know why I was feeling this pain even in my mind, but if that alone were enough to stop me, I would have been dead long ago, so I focused on my surroundings again.

I knew I was trapped in my mind; there was no right direction to go or right distance to cross; it was just a matter of walking through memories before reaching the right place.

Turning another hallway, I was suddenly somewhere else. I was on an empty street, standing on the sidewalk, an old suitcase beside me, and behind me was a two-story house that looked old, yet well-preserved.

The pain of these memories no longer affects me as it once did, but they’re still not pleasant. Aside from the memory of the cemetery, I really didn’t want to remember the rest.

I leave the suitcase behind and walk down the street for a few steps before finding myself in an empty classroom. On the board were some writing about math. The students’ chairs and desks were a bit worn, painted just to look newer than they actually were.

My eyes drift to a table at the back of the room. There was still a battered backpack on the chair. I could see the patches on the backpack even from across the room. I don’t think anyone made it through their school years without some bad memory.

I turn to the door and leave, appearing somewhere else. As soon as I walked through the door, I was on a boat, a damaged boat in an ocean I wish I couldn’t remember.

I still felt a lot of pain, it was deep, as if my Soul was being used to vent the anger of a truck that kept running over my Soul over and over. I turn my head to the edge of the ship where I jump into the water.

When I hit the water, I got really wet. I appeared standing somewhere else. This time, it wasn’t part of my memories, so I knew I was in the right place.

I was standing on the summit of a pyramid, looking out—a very large pyramid similar to a mountain. When I turned, I saw a pool that seemed to contain a universe like liquid. Someone was sitting in the middle of this pool, wearing a tight-fitting outfit, revealing only her arms wrapped in ethereal silver bandages, her entire body covered so that it was impossible to see her appearance.

“Paradox, why did you bring me here?” (Me)

“To talk, wasn’t that what you wanted?” (Paradox)

“Why did you make me go through the worst places in my memories?” (me)

“I just helped your mind focus more; the memories you saw are your own work.” (Paradox)

“Were they bad memories?” (Paradox)

“The worst, at least some of the worst.” (me)

“The funeral of the priest who was in charge of the orphanage was by far the worst. I almost died and had to stay in the hospital for a long time afterward.” (me)

“The hospital where I was treated like garbage by the nurses and doctors for no reason. I went through a lot of pain all over my body and had to spend a lot of time sedated.” (me)

“The time I was basically kicked out of one of the foster homes, I remember walking back to the orphanage; I didn’t even have enough money for the bus.” (me)

“Not counting that school, it was one of the worst I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot of schools. The students somehow thought I was strange because of my old clothes and backpack. Kids can be cruel.” (me)

“The last one was in this life, when a Siren mistakenly attacked us, causing the destruction of my Familiar Layla, which sent me into a fit of pure rage.” (me)

“They’re all memories of pain, from physical pain to emotional pain to mental pain. They’re moments of agony that must be surfacing because of the pain in your Soul. The pain is bringing these memories to the surface.” (Paradox)

“That wasn’t my fault, but that’s not why I brought you here, and specifically, that’s not why you wanted to talk to me.” (Paradox)

“No, it wasn’t… I’m just rambling because of the pain.” (me)

I walk over to her and sit on the floor, resting my arm on my knee. As this pain makes it uncomfortable anywhere I sit, I won’t let this opportunity to clarify everything slip by for another second.

I want to scream and demand everything right now, but it would be counterproductive. Staying calm is the best option, and I need to listen to her to know what’s going on. I can’t let the pain and anger make me miss this opportunity.

“I want you to tell me what you’re trying to do. I want to know everything now.” (me)