The Advent to an Exceptional Year
"Relax, Bentley while the Pope is amazing, he isn't as holy as you think; plus, what darkness wants to hide, not even light can find. So, stop thinking so hard buddy, and accept the fact that you're raising a future Demon Empress." Irene said joyfully as she sensed the intense gaze of her butler.
Before shifting her attention back to Rin, "So any luck, or am I still a nobody to you, Ezekiel?"
"Do you want the truth, or a blatant lie, Ms. White?" I asked while shocked at the turn of events "Oh, and I go by Rin, not Ezekiel anymore."
"I want the truth and nothing but the truth, silly, and you can call me Irene. If that makes you feel better, even though Ms. White sounds cute and sexy."
"Well, Irene sorry to burst your bubble but no, however, considering our history we can start as friends for now. So, since we are friends could you please kill me, so that I may return to my world?" I asked politely as Irene and Bentley looked at me questioningly with concern.
"Um, are you sure about this, Rin?" Irene asked with a glint of surprise and curiosity in her eye as she summoned a pair of curved daggers with gemstones inlaid into their handles.
"Of course! So once again, could you please kill me, for while this may be the end it is also the beginning of something new. As we let go of the past and forge a new future, but this time built upon the present and what is to come," I replied before we were suddenly teleported to a green meadow in the blink of an eye by Bentley who had a smile on his face and puffy red eyes.
"Sorry, for the intrusion, but I think our friend here, deserves a proper death, Your Highness," Bentley stated with a sniffle, after transporting us to somewhere in the central zone of Dreamworld.
"Sigh, if you say so... well, it was nice meeting you, Rin, and until next time," Irene said as she steeled her resolve and clenched her daggers.
Before dashing toward Rin, who could be seen standing still with his eyes closed, arms spread out, and a gentle smile as he waited patiently for his death. Which came sooner than expected, as a gentle breeze blew past him just as the words, "Thank you," left his lips.
Before he fell to the ground with a thud and separated into finely diced cubes, just as Irene materialized behind him and muttered, "Lingchi." While returning her daggers to her Soul Palace and leaving Dreamworld promptly afterward, however, unbeknownst to Irene following her departure a blood-red orchid grew from where Rin died.
As his remains became fertilizer, along with a singular teardrop from a grieved maiden, and with that our trip to Dreamworld ends.
***
Meanwhile, back at Forbidden Blood inside the dormitory of Rin and his pseudo-archenemy...
Upstairs in a simple room, a handsome teen with silverish black hair slept peacefully in bed, until a sudden burst of bright light appeared and shot toward him.
A couple of minutes later...
"Gasp, so that's what death feels like?" I muttered following my return from Dreamworld as I assimilated with my real body after losing my astral form, the physical manifestation of the soul.
Fortunately, while detrimental to my soul's integrity its destruction did not inflict too much damage on my already wounded soul. Following Irene's execution of lingchi, also known as the death of a thousand cuts a slow form of execution and torture used by the Chinese between the 10th and 20th centuries.
"Sigh, but while amazing... it's a bummer, that I now have to start all over again," I complained as I sat up and glanced at the time on my phone, 'So it is 6:30 am, huh? What a horrible time to wake up on a Sunday.'
[Everything is not so bad, Master Rin, considering that with just a bit of luck and work on your part. You should be back to your previous cultivation in no time.]
'How so? As this sounds too good to be true, Artemis?' I questioned considering this would be the second or third time, I had to cultivate from square one.
[Well for starters, before we can begin, Master Rin, it is high time we fixed the damage sustained to your soul. While getting rid of a few annoying restrictions, before proceeding further with this discussion. As there is much that needs to be addressed concerning your future.]
'... will it hurt?' I asked as I braced myself for Artemis's response.
[Not really, but I guess for some the idea of your soul being electrocuted a hundred times can sound quite daunting. Nevertheless, with me here, while it will hurt, Master Rin, it will only be for a short while so please do not faint or this process will be repeated.]
'Um, Artemis why does it seem like you are causing more harm than good? Considering, if my soul is already damaged, why are we damaging it even further in the name of healing?'
[Because there is no gain without pain, Master Rin, and I assure you this is for your own good. Plus, to be the strongest you must also be willing to endure what the common person would not. For greatest is something forged through fire and blood, not the sweat of a man who gives up at the slightest pressure.]
'Damn... well, um okay then let's do, fuck it!' I replied before immediately blacking out and so began the worst train session of my life or morning, I should say.
Due to a speech that somehow moved me to agree to this tortuous healing process.
***
Two hours later...
[Master Rin! Master Rin! MASTER RIN!!!]
"What is it, Artemis?!" I asked with a yawn as I rubbed my eyes and saw that it was mid-morning now while trying to forget the scene of an old lady trying to feed me soup.
[Nothing, Master Rin I just wanted to check and see if you were still alive. And considering that you still are would you like to begin project Restoration?]
"Tsk, why not? And next time, Artemis, we need to do something tell me ahead of time, so that I can properly prepare for what you deem light."
[I did, Master Rin, however, you are just too weak to endure a little electricity.]
"Artemis, don't start for that was by no means a little electricity," I replied with frustration as I got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom to relieve myself.
[Aww, truly this shall be an exceptional year!]