Journey of the soul chapter 77

Where we last left our "hero", he was being covered in light that I did my best to make not sound like a tentacle.

Hunter: tentacle? You mean like the things on octopuses?

I always thought it was octopi. Either way, they're technically only on squids.

Hunter: what's wrong with tentacles?

….do you really not know?

Hunter: know what?

Spinax: *kicks down door* I SENSED A DISTURBANCE.

Well this is a pretty disturbing conversation. Let's just start the chapter.

Hunter: no hang on, I want to know-

Spinax: no! This story is for good little boys and girls. You don't get to bring that unholy shit in here.

Hunter: *checks rating*…whatever you say pal.

Hunter felt himself sleeping. It was a strange unconscious thing his mind did where he became aware he was sleeping, but couldn't wake himself.

"Well this is counterintuitive." He muttered, "what's the point of even asking for answers if your just going to knock me out?" He waited for a response from Spinax.

There was none.

"….oh god." Hunter tried to reach out, but then something surprised him. He couldn't sense Spinax anywhere. They were too far away from each other for the link to work. That set his mind at ease, but now he was stuck wondering where the hell he was.

"Xerxes! Xerxes!" Suddenly, a voice started shouting.

"Gesundheit"

"Xerxes get UP!" Hunter felt all the wind get knocked out of him as someone pounded a fist into his stomach. His eyes flew open and adjusted to the light. He was in a small hut from the looks of things, similar to the digadig tribe huts. No digadig to greet him though. Instead it was….

"Lila?" Hunter stared at the girl in front of him. Aside from maybe a few years of age difference, she looked EXACTLY like Lila. She gave him a puzzled look.

"Lila? Who's that?" A mischievous look played across her face, "have you met a girl Xerxes?"

"I….you…..what the hell is going on?!" Hunter looked down. Instead of his usual clothes, he was wearing a beige shirt that was almost teared at every seam. His baby's were brown and baggy and instead of goggles, a bandanna was tied around his head.

"this is some next level magic shit."

"Xerxes, language!"

"WHY IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT?!" Hunter jumped off the bed and ran to the exit. When he pushed the door flap aside, he was shocked by what he saw.

It was a village of a similar style to the digadigs. Clay and Adobe houses lined a simple dirt road, where people had oxen pulling carts by. Everyone was wearing similar primitive clothing, not to mention just the general non-modern look of everything. But what really caught Hunter's eye was the massive castle looming in the distance. There was a sprawling field of Adobe buildings surrounding it. It looked…familiar, too familiar. Hunter turned his head slightly and from the different angle, he could see that it looked identical to the castle depicted by the paintings on the stone temple.

That was Zongazonga's castle, no doubt about it.

"Where…when the hell am I?"

"Xerxes, focus!" The girl slapped the back of Hunter's head.

"Focus?! Focus on what?!"

"Preparing! After all, today's the big day!" When she said that, her expression got significantly darker.

"….is something wrong?"

"I don't know what you mean by that. Anyway, let's go find gramps. He'll have the cart all ready to go." With that, she started walking off.

"Hey wait! I think you've confused me with someone else."

"What do you mean? Are you playing tricks again?"

"No, my name is Xerxes…I mean Xerxes….what the hell?" Now he couldn't even say his own name?

"Right, you're my brother Xerxes and I'm your sister Zariah. Are you feeling okay? You don't seem like yourself."

"The most accurate sentence you've spoken was the last one."

"…what?"

"Nevermind," maybe it wouldn't be best to just go along with it, "so, Zariah right? Where are we going?"

"We're going to find gramps. Come on now!" She beckoned with a hand then started jogging off down the road. Hunter started to follow, but couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

"Hey Zariah, what's the name of this land again?"

"Are you sure you are feeling alright? It's caliosteo of course!" So he was still in caliosteo, but apparently at the time period where Zongazonga's castle still stood. Not to mention he was taking the role of this "Xerxes" guy, whoever that is. How did the guardian's power do this? Time travel is immediately out of the question. If that were the case, he would be himself and Spinax would be with him. This isn't an illusion either. He clearly remembered the sensation of being slapped by Zariah. Come to think of it, he recognized Zariah too. Aside from almost being an older version of Lila, dirty blonde hair, oversized sandals and all, she also bore a resemblance to the shrieking girl that was on the stone temple murals. Something just wasn't adding up right. Nevertheless, he followed Zariah into a back "alley" between two sets of adobe houses. It was slightly dark, although he could still see the old wooden cart hidden between the two walls. There was a pile of hay in the back of the cart. and on the cart was…

"Arawn! Thanks god you're alright." Zariah ran up to this man and jumped into his arms. He was old, no doubt about that. He had the same beige clothing as them, but his white hair and beard were exceedingly long. This man was the spitting image of Alvis. Only, you know, without being blind.

"It is good to see you two still alive." He even spoke in the same smooth voice as Alvis, "Xerxes, I assume you are prepared?" His expression darkened the same way as Zariah's did earlier. Prepared, prepared for what? There was obviously some kind of plan between the three of them before Hunter took his place, but what was it?

"I think it would be best if we went over the plan one last-"

"Xerxes!" He felt the scruff of his neck get grabbed and was forced into the pile of hay. As he emerged coughing and sputtering, he received two glares.

"Have you lost your mind boy?" Arawn whisper-shouted, "HE could be listening."

"Right. Right. I understand, sorry." He didn't understand at all, but it was better to go along with it, "I'm just feeling a bit out of it today. We're going to the city right? I just want to make sure we have everything we need." He figured that wording would convey the message without this HIM guy knowing, whoever that was.

"We should get moving first. Get in you two." Arawn moved behind a building and returned with an ox. It was a bit small compared to the others he saw. Zariah scramble into the hay pile with him. Arawn sat down at the front of the cart and began leading them out from the alleyway onto the road. Eventually, they were out of the small cluster of buildings.

Arawn sighed, "Okay, he doesn't survey the roads, so now we can talk."

"Xerxes, why did you forget the plan? You were the one who was the most against it the other day."

"Sorry." He looked down, "Anyway gramps-

"I keep telling you not to call me that. We are not related."

"Right. We should review the plan again just to be safe." He looked over at the carts and people they passed. They were all giving them strange looks, some even have nods or sad smiles.

"Alright then. As you know, the tournament of the vessel finals are today and you two are competing.

"Tournament of the…..shit."

"I have already contacted the shaman tribe. They have prepared an army to combat his tyrants."

"Skeletal soldiers right?"

"Correct"

"Double shit. Continue."

"Xerxes, you must lose to Zariah in the finals so that he will take her body. Zariah is frail and riddled with sickness. His power will be diminished enough for us to launch our attack."

"….triple shit." This confirmed it. He was living through the moment the war against zongazonga began. Zariah was the girl that volunteered to become a majestic vessel. But still, there's no way this could be time travel, so what is it?

"If you are thinking of stopping me, I already told you this was my decision that I came to Xerxes." When she said that, Arawn looked away. Hunter took note of that. He knew this couldn't be time travel, but on the off chance these events determine the future he should let the past unfold as is.

"Alright, fine." He said, "I'll trust your judgement."

"That was….surprisingly easy. Although I must confess, I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried," it was awkward playing the role of big brother, especially since Zariah looked closer to his actual age compared to however old Xerxes is. The cart eventually wheeled into the front gate surrounding the city below the castle. Hunter looked around. Like before, people were acknowledging them. However, many of them where bound in chains that leaked the same purple energy that came from Zongazonga's hands. Hunter fruited his teeth. They were slaves.

"That bastard is going to pay." He said aloud. Arawn and Zariah looked at him with horrified shock.

"….what? He owes me back the money I lent him." This cause them to relax again. Hunter forgot that apparently Zongazonga's listening to every conversation in the city.

They arrived at the entrance to the castle with no problems. At the front, There was a large marked square in the center. A crude battle arena. Slaves were holding up a massive throne. Atop the throne sat a hooded figure shrouded by darkness, Zongazonga himself.

"Your majesty," Arawn and Zariah bowed and Hunter quickly followed suite, "I have brought to you the finalists of the tournament of the vessel. Given the age limit, they are the finest warriors in the lands of caliosteo."

"…state your ages." Was Zongazonga's reply. Hunter felt himself considerably creeped out.

"15" Zariah replied.

"18" somehow Hunter knew what to say.

"I expect I could get 30 years out of the boy and 33 out of the girl." He remarked, "you truly are disappointing little vermin aren't you?" The refined cold comments was nothing like the wild anger Hunter was used to with Zongazonga.

"Very well, commence your little scuffle. Prove your worth to me." With the flick of his wrist, Zongazonga created a gruesome sight as bones began emerging from the ground. Literal purple flesh materialized out of nowhere and wrapped itself around the bones. In seconds, Hunter had seen every layer of skin, flesh, and other things overlap to create a living, breathing dinosaur. Two zombie T-rex's stood snarling and spitting blood at each other.

"Revival machine be damned."

"Proceed to your respective tyrants." Hunter moved behind one while Zariah moved behind another.

"Begin." There was no fight. Instead, Hunter was treated to a series of flashing images. The two T-rex clashing with each other, blood spilling from the wounds, himself falling on the ground purposefully. It was all going by so fast. Bones pulling themselves out of the ground as zongazonga approached Zariah, clacking together to form boneysaurs. The sound of a girl's shrill laughter as dark magic shot in all directions.

"What is this? What am I seeing?"

"My memories. Although I thought it was wise to remove you for this next part." This voice was new. It sounded somewhat similar to Hunter's own voice, yet much older.

"Who-"

"You should already know that." The scene shifted again. This time, Hunter was staring at a man lying in a bed, his eyes open. This man had to be Xerxes, there was no doubt about that, but he looked older than when Hunter was in his place.

"Xerxes." There was a women standing in the doorway to the room. She had blue eyes and long dark hair. There was a curve around her stomach that told Hunter that she was expecting a child.

"Evening Lydia." Xerxes didn't get out of bed.

"Arawn has informed me that the guardian is almost complete." The woman, whose name was apparently Lydia, spoke softly, "but there lies a problem. Unlike the other skeletal tyrants, it requires-"

"A soul." Xerxes finally got out of the bed, "I am aware. I myself provided the fossils for creating such a creature. I loathe myself for stooping to the level of that monster, for feigning god hood by creating life." Lydia walked over to Xerxes and the two embraced each other.

"So now, when I have the opportunity to right my wrongs and finally end this madness and bring her back, I also have a reason to stay." He placed a hand on her stomach.

"You're debating whether or not to use your own soul to complete the guardian." Lydia said blankly.

"I am, And I hate that I even considered it. Why should I do something like that? I have you, I have our child, I have so much to be thankful for. I have….her memories."

"For 5 years, you told me your only goal was to get her back."

"That was before-"

"Before me? Was I a distraction?"

"Yes, a much needed one."

"Your deluding yourself. You're weighing the value of saving lives at the cost of leaving yours behind."

"There would be no coming back. I would reside within the guardian until death through battle. For all purposes, I would be gone forever."

"But she wouldn't, and HE would as well."

"Are you saying should abandon you?!"

"I'm saying that I believe you already made the decision on your own, so this is my way of accepting it." Xerxes laughed, his voice broke in the middle of the laugh.

"I love you Lydia, nothing will change that."

"I love you as well Xerxes, now go save your sister." Xerxes turned to the door, but turned slightly as he was about to leave.

"We never did agree on a name."

"I suppose you are right. How about this? If it is a girl, she shall be named Lyra. And for a boy?" Xerxes looked to himself for a moment, then smiled.

"If it's a boy, then name him Cloud."

"Oh you've got to be freaking joking." Hunter said as the scene began shifting rapidly again. Arawn, who somehow didn't look any older, was standing in front of the lifeless guardian with Xerxes. There was another flash, and then suddenly the guardian was moving around with the purple orb of energy now in its ribcage. Another flash, now the guardian was flying towards a screaming Zariah while dark energy was flying everywhere. The final scene he saw was Zariah inside the stone temple with the guardian, standing over the coffin.

"We couldn't destroy him." Zariah said aloud. The guardian nudged her shoulder gently.

"You are right. We still have a duty to fulfill." They both slowly walked to the back room.

"Are you two certain about this?" Arawn was in the room as well. "I'm only required to seal away the weapon. You don't have to give the rest of your lives away."

"Xerxes already gave his life away to save mine." Zariah looked as if she had been crying for a long time, "this is what he wants, and I don't ever want to leave him again. There will be enough food and drink to last the rest of my life in their. I want to catch up….and repent."

"I see….very well. The agreement will go as planned. Only a direct blood descendent will be able to open the seal."

"Thank you." With that, Hunter felt himself being pulled out of the entire scene. He was plunged back into darkness, with nothing but a million thoughts racing around his head.

"Cloud, Cloud? That doesn't mean that-"

"It does."

"So Lila is….and I'm….well, adopted. But still…."

"You sound surprised."

"YA THINK?!" He tried to hold his head in his hands, but realized he just couldn't move.

"So….how does the whole soul transfer thing work?"

"Essentially, I am confined within this magic amalgamate of bones for eternity until I am killed in battle. My soul has spread throughout this entire creation."

"So, hypothetically, if a creature that those bones belonged to where brought back, what would happen?"

"They would receive similar strengths to my own."

"Like telepathy?"

"I suppose, although it would have to be with creatures of similar origin."

"…OH MY GOD THINGS MAKE SENSE NOW." Hunter was then jolted awake by something violently shaking his entire body. He opened his eyes only to have them roll back into his head as he was dangled by the ankles. Spinax lifted him up with a claw to meet his own larger eyes.

"Oh hey, you aren't dead. Neat."

"That's reassuring. By the way, I know how you can talk."

"Double neat." Apparently, five minutes weren't up yet so Duna and Lila hadn't entered the room. Hunter looked up at the guardian again. Despite the outward appearance, it seemed to look sad.

"I know you've been through a lot, but I need your help. I guess you already know that he's back" the guardian nodded.

"Then I'll get right to the point. I need the ancient weapon and your help." The guardian let out an unearthly shriek. There was a small explosion of flames in the back of the room, lighting two torches. The light revealed a sliver and blue hammer resting on the far side of the wall. Hunter slowly walked over to it and traced a finger over the runes lining the handle. The block of the hammer seemed to pulse with light when he grabbed the handle. Despite appearances, it was light to hold. Hunter turned back towards the guardian, hammer in hand.

"I hit zongazonga with this, it forces his soul out of the vessel right?" It nodded.

"That may be difficult….will you come with me?" Again, it nodded. The Guardian curled up before being engulfed in a flash of light. There was a glowing purple disc, suspended in the air where guardian once was. Hunter slowly walked over and grabbed it. The disc was slightly warm to the touch. Hunter looked back at the small skeleton in the corner a stared blankly off into space for a bit.

"I've lost years of my life, had to grow up faster than probably any kid on the planet, and have been pretty much kicked to the curve by life and I still can't imagine how hard these guys must've had it."

"Then I guess we should get to keeping history from repeating itself." Spinax transformed back into a Dino medal. Both him and Xerxes' soul disc fit into his holder.

"you're right. So, what do you want to call this world saving hammer?"

"Pipsqueak."

"No."

"Fiiiiine. How about….SoulCrusher"

"A bit dark isn't it?"

"Pipsqueak it is."

"Soulcrusher's fine."

"Thought so. By the way, didn't you say you know how I can talk telepathically? Care to explain?"

"Oh boy, do I have a story to tell you."

Done!...well that ain't good.

Hunter: what's not good?

I can't access desktop mode on my phone anymore. Without it, I can't post new chapters without some multiple device shenanigans.

Hunter: just make a bunch of chapters and post them all at once then.

If I do that, there's a better chance chapters are skipped. Not to mention I've made chapters in advance so people will probably get less uploads much earlier.

Hunter:…..I've got an idea

Spinax: blame corporate government?

Hunter: no, but good idea, we could-

People from the future who are reading this! I require you're technical knowledge. Tell me how to fix this!

Hunter:….that is possibly the dumbest thing you've ever said.

I know right. Thanks for reading! (If I haven't been updating weekly, now you know why!)