37) Death is not the end

Ryker opened his eyes slowly. He found himself in a white room. The same room he was in when he created his character.

'Huh? I am not dead? What's the point in respawning anyway.' -he finally remembered this was a game so he was going to respawn anyways.

"You are wrong there hoot hoot." -said a certain wizard-looking owl.

"Mr. Hoot Hoot? What do you mean I am wrong?"

"See kid, the world you call a game is more complicated than that, but you will have to find what I mean on your own hoot hoot. Now, when your physical body dies, yes, you can respawn, but when your soul also dies, then you die. For real. No respawn. No second chance hoot hoot."

"Wait so does that mean I am dead?"

"Yes and no, hoot hoot. This is all I can say. Take it from here Tyara! Farewell kid. Hoot hoot." -and so Mr. Guide disappeared.

Ryker was left with a lot of questions that would not be answered anytime soon. Two spots of color appeared in the seemingly endless white room. One blue one on the sky and one green one on the floor.

*Swoosh*

They expanded and soon what was once a plain white background was now a plain with a clear blue sky.

"I am sorry for starling you, I do not like the environment that guy lives in. I prefer a more… organic room." -said a female voice next to Ryker who jumped and stumbled back in response.

He looked up just to see a dazzling woman in a white dress with a pair of folded white wings on her back. They were not made of feathers or any material he recognized, they even seemed to be made out of energy. She had a perfect figure and even though her face was covered by a white veil, Ryker's heart skipped a beat, or well, if he had a heart. He just knew this woman was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes upon. Just by looking at her his mind was clearer and relaxed, from a raging thunderstorm to a calm summer breeze.

"So, you are not afraid of dying huh? That is impressive." -she said in a smooth voice. The words flowing like a stream of water.

"Why would you be afraid of dying when you have nothing to live for?" -he said as he took his eyes off her. Even after being lovestruck, he remained calm. How? Who knows, he was just having a major breakdown a minute ago but in soul form, one is not influenced by emotions. Or at least Ryker didn't seem to be.

"You are too young to say you have nothing to live for."

"Young in body, old in soul."

"I see… tell me, Luca, what is it that you want?"

"Luca? How do you know my name?" -he was genuinely confused but his voice did not show it.

"That old man just told you, the world you call a game is more than that. So tell me, what do you want?"

"Well, if I'm honest I would say another chance. A chance to make a difference. I have been selfish all of my life. Making decisions just because I can. Not thinking of the consequences such decisions have on the lives of others. That is until I experienced that feeling of helplessness. There was nothing I could do for him. Even if I tried. It is not fair. Not fair that people can just do whatever they want because they can and no one can stop them. I guess I don't want to feel helpless but I also don't want anyone else to feel helpless either." -as he reflected on his words he even surprised himself with what he was saying.

He had suddenly turned into some sort of hero or something? He even wondered what was wrong with him.

"There is nothing wrong with you. In this realm only your true desires can come. You leave all of your human qualities with your body, such as greed, pride, wrath. You get the point. Anyways, those qualities that make you human are not bad if used properly. You can see now how in this form you would help anyone who asked for it but if you do that in the real world then that would lead to your demise. We can grant you one wish and send you back but only if you promise to save this world. To save every version of it."

"What do you mean every version? And why me? Didn't you see how I just got killed because I didn't have the strength to fight anymore? I am weak. Find someone else, lady. I am no hero."

"Good. We don't need a hero. We need a human. Heroes have a very biased moral compass. Do not kill anyone and everyone deserves a second chance, you know. But humans? Your morality is a spectrum. Kill those who deserve it and save those who are innocent. Strip them of their power if they abuse it. That is why We need you. We need your bloodlust, your pent-up anger, and frustration, but We also need your compassion, your will to do good. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so, do you accept our request?"

"I have no choice do I, lady? Well, my only wish would be to be unlimited. Free from the rules. I want to do what I want, how I want. I want the power to undo my wrongs and the power to crush even the strongest oppressor. I want the power to carry out justice. I want the power to fight for those who are powerless. I am no hero, I am an inquisitor."

"Well said! Now, off you go. You have a world to save inquisitor."

The lady waved her hand and the world around Ryker twisted and turned until it disappeared.

At the forest of Lunar Peak, a sudden explosion turned all of the Souleaters to ash. In the middle of the explosion was Ryker kneeling on one knee, like the superhero pose.

"I am back b*tches!"

[ESPER ability changed]

[[Devour] ability has been acquired]

[[Double shot] is no longer an ability you have]

When he tried to see what this new ability did, it only said.

[Devour - what do you think it does? Eat something and find out]

His mind was suddenly clear. There was only one lingering thought. Revenge. He was going to get revenge on the Orc Emperor, he was going to kill the King of Shadows and he was going to save the world. From what? He had no idea, but he knew he would do it.

The blackberries soon came out of where the ashed of the Souleaters were. He knew the side effects already but he was also curious as to what the Devour skill did. So he picked one and threw it in the air. It fell into his mouth and once he bit into it, he felt a sudden burst of energy.

[Cosmic affinity acquired]

"Say what now"