<--------------------------------><--------------------------------><-------------------------------->
The entity repeatedly perused the contents of the blue screen despite knowing that the information he lacked, and therefore desired, was not there, regardless of the number of times he engraved each word imprinted on the screen carefully in his mind.
‘How…? How is this possible? Infant... solar system? I’m in another galaxy…? But... How? No infant solar system ever existed in Fengold Galaxy… ?… and my name… My name isn’t Alyn. It’s… It’s…’
Alyn opened his mouth, preparing to declare his name that he once remembered seeing on the floating ocular panel just before he was stripped of it countless years ago when the ‘gift’ was received. His eyes further widened and then slightly twitched, being unaccustomed to utilizing the most minimal of facial muscles after maintaining an expressionless face for so long. However, Alyn did not notice and nor did he care as a profound reverberation shook his soul, realization dawning on his face.
A blank. A space within his thoughts, once housing a particular memory. A permanent deletion of certain neurons and synapses. He just could not recall; his attempts in doing so bore fruitless conclusions before all efforts abruptly ceased. A few seconds later - or what he believed to be seconds as time held no meaning in the void - Alyn simply and calmly accepted it. He had no other choice.
He did not deserve the name dedicated to him by his deceased parents, not after what he did to them. No water or panacea could find it in themselves to approach his sins, let alone cleanse his towering spire of burden. He was sin, perhaps. The crimes that he perpetrated ever since the First Chaining, even if his body was possessed by his master ever since the deliverance of the ‘gift,’ was nonetheless enacted using the entirety of his body. His mind and spirit beheld the events leading to the cataclysmic extinctions of sentient species amounting to hundreds - and that was the number Alyn counted right before his soul barely dipped into the realms of insanity, both mind and spirit collapsing after a brutal dismemberment of a young child who reminded him of his sibling at that time. Whether his sibling was male or female, Alyn was unable to recall. An impenetrable haze engulfed the faces and bodies of all his family, relatives, and acquaintances within faint fragments of what could be identified as simple remembrances.
If his new name could help alleviate even a minuscule fraction of his family’s anguish and hatred toward him in the afterlife, then so be it.
He would be Alyn. Nothing more, nothing less.
<--------------------------------><--------------------------------><-------------------------------->
Upon settling his mental state, Alyn noticed that the light permeating the void was gradually dimming, coming from a direction to his right. He had not bothered inspecting the origin of this light when it first appeared as he was preoccupied with the sudden discovery of the blue screen and its contents. Unfurling and stretching his ‘wings,’ Alyn subconsciously began capturing and storing the light rays infiltrating the void into the wing-like appendages located on his upper back. He did not remember what its name was as his master muttered it once upon creation, and also because of the staggering pain that accompanied the process being too overwhelming to make any thought sensible. After a moment of hesitation, Alyn decided that a preemptive strike despite not knowing the identity of the light source was far better than waiting patiently for the momentum of the unknown. Preparing his body for the final time, he erupted with instantaneous acceleration before promptly vanishing in the shadows of both light and void.
Traveling within wavelengths invisible to the naked eye, Alyn cautiously drew near the source. It was not only until he felt the opportune moment that he immediately changed trajectory upwards for some time before advancing forward once more in the same initial direction. Alyn recalled that one of the most wearisome lifeforms that he encountered in the past was a nearly incorporeal entity boasting a unique ability to land guaranteed strikes whenever Alyn was… predictable in terms of his attack patterns and movement. Neither he nor his master were not furious once throughout the duration of that particular confrontation as the entity stalled for weeks, successfully ensuring the retreat of his species to another undisclosed planet in exchange for his martyrdom. The sole reason Alyn reminisced such an event was because the blurry outline of the converging light source appeared eerily similar to the species of that incorporeal entity - one of the few sentient races he actually yearned to destroy because while his master only destroyed for reasons undivulged, these creatures raped and mutilated all encountered lifeforms before castrating and annihilating them subsequently. But even in their death, these lifeforms could never find relief.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
The pupils as well as the irises of his eyes slowly transformed into the epitome of darkness - and hatred. Alyn later discovered during some Chaining that those entities murdered in their horrific manner not only for entertainment but to also extract souls through the medium of crushing despair. He did not unearth the exact purpose of these souls, but he had no longer cared after witnessing their states. Salvation was denied even in purgatory.
‘If... my family... were to have that fate, I… I WOULD… ???... my family?… my family... I k…?’
He could not take it anymore. His guilt and sorrow in that instant of time quickly converted into a form he could resolutely handle. Rage.
Alyn’s eyes completely metamorphosed into the void, utterly absorbing the surrounding wavelengths of light and transmitting a rapidly proliferating aura of darkness. In spite of his method of concealment instantly shattering and surfacing him to the visible spectrum, he paid no heed as only pure, unadulterated fury turned physical and announced itself with a primal roar. Beyond the concept of sound, it disseminated throughout the void of a once-silent vacuum.
As Alyn madly accelerated much faster than before, he failed to observe the lack of action by the silhouette of the light source.
The outlines of the two entities, one pulsing with darkness and dread, and the other, peaceful and radiant with light cyan and white colors, quickly found themselves in a sudden battlefield.
Then, there was an explosion of… nothing.
Alyn’s eyes widened in surprise, white pupils and varicolored irises returning in full bloom just as the mist of darkness departed in front of clarity. There was no collision of any kind and nor was there the slightest wall of resistance. He took a double-take, his vigilance soaring to new extremes as he dove into invisibility instantly while rapidly analyzing what had just happened.
All his wavelengths refracted perfectly, not a single wave reflecting. Right before ‘contact,’ Alyn secretly sent gamma rays at tens of varying angles at the head of the brightly gleaming figure; yet, not a single incident angle, and hence reflecting angle, was created - leading to one realistic conclusion. Additionally, his sense of impending danger never arrived, which only bolstered his deduction. Souls.
That dazzling light in the midst of complete blackness was an entirely incorporeal being born from the premature death of a sentient creature just recently. The brighter the soul, the younger its passing was, Alyn reminded himself before floating gently in front of the soul’s faint silhouette. He simply stared with incredulity, now understanding that another being was inside his prison who was not his master for once.
‘Strange… how did-’
He couldn’t finish articulating his thought before a blue notification spawned in front of his face roughly a meter away. Curiously, he glanced at the soul before returning his full attention towards the panel. However, he remained invisible, a product of habit and the combat ravings of his master over several Chainings. Alyn would never forget the lessons initiated by the King despite his chasmic resentment towards the being who took everything from him. He was reminded that oftentimes, it was the enemy who provided the opportunity and tools necessary for that prime moment of execution. Wary your attention must be always, for anything can kill under a time awaiting those who persevere. You should be well aware of this, last of Crevorn.
Memories of Jacob Rsslin
Accept?
*Warning: Upon accepting, unknown conditions will apply. Immediate ejection out of the 23&j!# void will occur after &#g1@ seconds.
Alyn paused momentarily before ultimately deciding. He lacked data and all information about his current situation, subsequently ensuring that any opportunity in the acquisition of such intelligence was of the highest priority. Investigating the location and condition of his master as well as comprehending how he landed in another galaxy were of the lowest of priorities.
His whereabouts unknown, situation unpredictable, and mind emotionally unstable; but, he will survive. He must. For his family. For his planet. For those who died because of him, he will die for them. Alyn acknowledged that no matter how much he yearned for death, he could not embrace it just yet. Not until he cleared his blood debt.
With the freedom he suddenly obtained, Alyn’s life was no longer his nor his former master’s to control. He immediately confirmed his choice on the blue screen without any hesitation.
<--------------------------------><--------------------------------><-------------------------------->
There was absolute silence as the light in the void continued to become fainter, nearly fading away into oblivion. Alyn mentally shook himself awake from his screen-induced stupor just before the light truly disappeared. He immediately took off into a certain direction as the outline of the soul dispersed; Alyn now knew what to do.
<--------------------------------><--------------------------------><-------------------------------->