Chapter 27: Leap of Faith

It’s dark. But your eyes are open. The feeling is unnatural. You've never been there before. You've never seen such vast and lonely place. There’s no sound but you can hear yourself breathing; the sound of your blood pumping through your veins was a unique experience. It’s strange but... as strange as it may seem, this was a place where you felt like you belong. Your home.

“Hello?! Anyone there?” (Sora)

Sora calls out towards the abyss. No echo. Staring down at his feet, he finds himself standing at the edge of a cliff. The rock he’s standing on felt solid to the touch yet looked brittle. As if dropping a dime would cause a chain reaction; shattering the whole foundation.

Below the cliff is an endless chasm. There was no light. It was impossible to see how far it reached. It was scary. But it felt safe. Sora took a moment to breathe.

“Hello Sora” (???)

Sora flinched. He turns around to see who the mysterious voice belong to. A man who looked between his late thirties to early forties was giving Sora a warm smile. He was stark nude. His muscles were well defined. His dirty blonde hair was soft and loose. Tall and powerful, the man had a very dignified aura about him... even with the lack of modesty. Sora looked at himself. He was also naked.

“Ah-Hi. Where are we?” (Sora)

The man pondered to himself for a brief moment before explaining.

“We are in our soul” (???)

“Our?” (Sora)

“Yes. I am you as you are me.... I've been watching your growth ever since we were awaken” (???)

“Huh? What do you mean?” (Sora)

“Hm. What I meant to say was ‘I am your past life’. My name is Markus” (Markus)

Sora wasn't too surprised. He was actually relieved. All those bizarre flashbacks and dreams he’s been having weren't just him going insane. They were real.

“Ah, so it was you!” (Sora)

“Hahaha! Yes. We finally got the opportunity to meet” (Markus)

Sora had a million questions to ask. He was excited to finally get the chance to meet his former life.

“This isn't a dream is it?” (Sora)

“Depends on your definition of what a dream is” (Markus)

“Uh-You’re not gonna be like one of those people who answers questions with another question right?” (Sora)

“Hahaha. No. Here let me explain, do you remember who Akiko was?” (Markus)

“Of course I rem-” (Sora)

Sora froze. How could he forget! All the memories he had of Akiko came rushing back. Sora fell on his knees. His hands touching the floor. The feeling of sorrow and depression started to drown him. He felt sick. Why did he forget about Akiko? Didn't he promise her he would always remember?!

“Sora...” (Marksu)

“Hic-Why?! Why did it happen?!” (Sora)

Sora loved Akiko. Not because she was beautiful. Not because she was the only girl who would ever talk to him. It was because she was the light that guided him through the darkness. She was the comfort during the hard times. She picked him up whenever he fell. Sora truly loved her for who she was. He was now full of regret. He never had the chance to tell her how much he loved her.

“Sora! There’s not much time. You need to stand. Steel your resolve. Akiko is still alive!” (Markus)

“What?!” (Sora)

Sora grabbed Markus by the arms. He started to beg. He needed to see Akiko again.

“Please Markus! Please tell me where she is!” (Sora)

Markus pulled Sora back to his feet. Placing his hands on Sora’s shoulders, his voice began to resonate deep within Sora’s psyche.

“Sora! Our goddess is trapped within a virtual world. Her mind is being used as the engine to power the world and all of it’s creations!” (Markus)

“You mean Golden Age?!” (Sora)

“Yes. Golden Age.” (Markus)

“Trapped inside a game? N-no way... It’s impossible! How can we save her?!” (Sora)

Markus gave Sora a serious look.

“Sora... are you not a Hero?” (Markus)

Sora heart thump. He felt it. The dilemma of being called a Hero. He hated the name. He’s failed so many times at trying to be a hero.... Just yesterday he was betrayed by those jerks and put Yunni in danger. He still wanted to kill those bastards. He still wanted his revenge. These evil thoughts only reaffirmed that Sora was no hero. He was only a weak human who didn't have the resolve to push ahead. He looked back at Markus. Before him was someone who was a Hero. Someone who Sora strive to be.

“But... I’m powerless. I’m no hero. Not like you...” (Sora)

“Is it power what you seek Sora? Is power your definition of a true Hero?” (Markus)

Sora nodded his head. He needed power. For him, power is justice. Power is what he needed to protect his friends. Without it, it was impossible to be a Hero.

“Yes! Please, help me! Give me power!” (Sora)

Markus closed his eyes. It wasn't the answer he was looking for, but there was enough resolve for him to give Sora a helping hand.

“Sora. I will grant you the power you desire. But in return, you will grant me your soul” (Markus)

Sora paused. Markus sounded more like the devil than a hero. His soul? What does he mean by that?

“Um, what do you mean by soul?” (Sora)

Markus pointed towards the abyss. Slowly, the sun started to rise. The darkness retreated under the intense light. Looking around, Sora was captivated by the sheer wonder of the universe. Stars, galaxies, planets... Sora was floating out in outer space. Looking down from the ledge, Sora could see an exotic planet, it was huge. The terrain was vibrant, mountains, forest, deserts.

Sora then realized the cliff they were standing on was fairly small; it was a floating rock in the sea of wonders. He was standing 300 kilometer above sea level! Markus patted Sora's back to grab his attention.

“Sora, our soul is one. But your mind is weak. You were unable to contain the vast knowledge of my soul. The pain caused you to forget. It must have been a traumatizing experience for you” (Markus)

“So what happens when I give you my soul?” (Sora)

“I will take control. Since my mind is more resilient, I will be able to handle the pain of our souls fusing. Once our minds have reached equilibrium, we will truly become one” (Markus)

Sora stared deep inside Markus's blue eyes. He felt he could trust Markus.

“Okay. I’m down! What do I need to do?” (Sora)

“Jump” (Markus)

“Jump?” (Sora)

Sora turned around. He was again staring down towards the earth-like planet. Sora wasn't afraid of heights, but jumping towards your demise was somewhat... difficult.

“What’s that planet? It doesn't look like Earth” (Sora)

Sora was trying to buy time to steel his resolve. This was the first time Sora would be ‘sky diving’. It was kinda scary.

“Sora. This rock we stand on is a representation of your soul. Around you, it’s my soul” (Markus)

“Whoa...” (Sora)

Sora had to do a double take. His tiny floating rock represented his soul?! Just how powerful was Markus?!

“So I’m guessing once I jump, you’ll have control of my body?” (Sora)

“Our body. And yes. Once you jump, all your memories will also fuse with my mind. It will take some time but when our souls finish merging, we will no longer by ‘Markus’ or ‘Sora’. We will be an entirely new entity” (Markus)

“Sigh...” (Sora)

Sora didn't quite understand everything Markus was saying. But he figured he would understand once their souls fuse. Sora had to put his trust into this man’s words. Be it a god or the devil himself, Sora still wanted to save Akiko. He would gladly offer his very soul to get the chance to see her face once more. Standing on the edge, Sora was ready to jump.

“Any last words before you go?” (Markus)

Last words? I guess this would really be Sora’s last words. He turn around and give Markus a cheeky grin.

“Kill those bastards for me” (Sora)

“Hah! Consider it done!” (Markus)

Taking a deep breathe, Sora jumped. It was a leap of faith. The feeling of freefall was the first for Sora. He felt the rushing wind against his bare body. His eyes became watery from the pain but he still kept them open. He wanted to see. He wanted to witness the end of his life.

A burning sensation started to tickle at the fringes of his body. Like a soft ember burning away at a piece of paper, Sora’s body began to fade. The sensation wasn't painful, it was oddly pleasant. How strange? To know that you’re dying yet to still feel like smiling. Sora could only laugh.

His voice slowly gave out. As the remaining of his body disintegrated, the only thing remaining was his head. The sound of the rushing wind was the last thing Sora could hear before fading away...

[SWOOOOOOSHHH....]

***

[ping]

You’ve gain a level!

You’ve gain a level!

Markus wiped the artificial blood off his face. His body was bare. All his clothes had burnt away due to his black aura. On the ground were several items, some belonging to Marcus, others belonging to Viper and his crew. Markus turned his attention towards the entrance. There, shivering in fear, was a fairy, a demon, and a dog.

Markus made his way over to the girls. Yunni tried her best to twist her body from her bindings but it was impossible. Rieko was crying. Diloria had a big grin on her face while staring at Markus.

Markus decided to first cut the bindings off Diloria’s mouth. Using his nail, he carefully slid his finger down the wrappings. Diloria started to bark in excitement.

“Daddy! Daddy! You smell funny!” (Diloria)

Markus gave himself a wiff. The ‘vial of stench’ was mostly washed away thanks to the blood (his and his enemies), but it was still lingering on his skin. Turning to Yunni and Rieko, he notice a puddle of water beneath their legs.

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He had to be careful not to scare them any more than necessary. He figured his appearance would look somewhat ghastly, but without any mirrors, he didn’t quite know how he’d looked.

“Ahem. Hello, Yunni and Rieko, it’s me, Markus” (Markus)

“Aerm-ahm! Eurm!” (Yunni & Rieko)

They were both still gagged. Markus took the liberty to remove the cloth from their mouth, but he didn't cut the bindings that held their arms and legs.

“Wah! Get away from me!” (Yunni)

“Eek, don’t eat me!” (Rieko)

Markus only sigh. He decided to trim his hair with his claws. After cutting it down to a more reasonable hair length, he looked back towards Yunni and Rieko.

“There’s no need to be afraid. It’s me, Markus!” (Markus)

“Nononono! Marcus isn’t a demon!” (Yunni)

“Wahhhh, mommy!” (Rieko)

How does Sora put up with this?

Markus squatted in front of the two girls and patted their heads. He was trying his best to convince them that he wasn't a child eating demon, but it had the opposite effect.

“Wahhhhh! Marcus where are you?!” (Yunni)

“Wahhhh!” (Rieko)

“...Memnosis!” (Markus)

“Yes Master?” (Memonsis)

The giant again appeared out of thin air with a twirl. This time he was only 215 cm (7 ft) tall. Memnosis stood behind Markus while looking at the commotion.

“Memnosis. Your clothes” (Markus)

“...” (Memnosis)

“...how long are you planning to make me wait?” (Markus)

Memnosis reluctantly stripped from his silky garment and handed his armor to Markus. The giant was now fully nude but he didn’t have anything to cover. Even though it was a ‘he’, he had no gentails to speak of. Memnosis bowed his head as Markus tried fitting inside the silk.

[ping]

Level restriction. Unable to equip

“Sigh” (Markus)

Markus stood still as the clothing kept slipping off his body.

Level restriction? Ah.

[ping]

Status WindowMarcusFarmerLevel39 (5.7%)TitleFiloria's HeroHealth750/750 (+150)Mana1582/1582 (+255)Stamina748/748 (+5)Charm29 (+5)Strength293 (+5)Intelligence52 (+5)Agility185 (+5)Dexterity120 (+5)Wisdom20 (+5)Vitality142 (+5)Nature162 (+5)Fame1620Infamy233

Ability: Aszalar’s Blood

+ 5 to all stats (Filoria's Hero)

Reputation: +1000 (Filoria), +1000 (Hansbridge)

Fire resistance: 41.5%Water resistance: 16.2%Air resistance: 16.2%Earth resistance: 16.2%Dark resistance: 25%

Level 39 huh?

“Memnosis, bring me all the treasures you have, I need to find something to wear” (Markus)

Memnosis delightedly retrieved his clothing before vanishing. Markus looked back towards the girls who were staring in awe at the giant.

“Hey, can we talk?” (Markus)

“E-eh? W-what do you want from us?” (Yunni)

“Erm...” (Rieko)

Markus first removed the black aura. The flames trickled out from existence. Next, he picked up Diloria and undid her bindings. Diloria sat still while wagging her tail. If Markus wasn't so smelly, she would probably licked his face like she normally would. Markus began to tickle Diloria in all the right places. He knew all her weak spots and the places she loved the most.

“Ah-Ah-AH, more Daddy~” (Diloria)

“...” (Markus)

“Ahhh~ it feels so good~” (Diloria)

Why does this feel so wrong?

“Ahem. As you can see, Diloria recognizes me” (Markus)

“Bu-..What happen to your body...?” (Yunni)

Markus didn't like telling lies, but explaining exactly what had happened would only lead to more questions. He needed a convenient lie.

“I defeated the boss and he granted me his powers” (Markus)

“Power?” (Yunni)

“Yes...his power” (Markus)

“Is that why you've changed?” (Yunni)

“Yes it is” (Markus)

“But what did he do to make you look like a demon? And where is he now?” (Yunni)

“...isn't it obvious?” (Markus)

“Wa-you don’t mean-” (Yunni)

“That’s exactly what I mean...” (Markus)

“No way! It all makes sense!” (Yunni)

“...” (Markus)

Phew

“Here, let me undo your bindings” (Markus)

After releasing Yunni and Rieko, he remember about the cuffs that restricted their magical powers. The cuffs were made of stone with ancient runes engraved along the outside. Markus pinched the cuffs between his two fingers, causing them to shatter.

“Eek!” (Yunni & Rieko)

“There. Now you should be able to use magic” (Markus)

“T-thank you Marcus...Um, how did you survive by yourself?” (Yunni)

“...Isn't it obvious? I’m a Hero! Clearing this dungeon is a piece of cake!” (Markus)

"Piece of cake?" (Yunni)

"It means easy..." (Marcus)

“Ehehe~I knew you were strong! I love you Marcus!” (Yunni)

Yunni gave Markus a big hug before retreating back from the stench. Markus apologized; he was determined to take a bath after this ordeal was over.

“Master, I have returned” (Memnosis)

Memnosis reverted back to his giant form. He was carrying a variety of weapons and armor inside his arms. After neatly placing them on the floor, Memnosis shrank back down. Yunni and Rieko were both captivated by the giant. He was glowing with a pure white light, he looked like an angel, if not, a god. Markus examined all the outfits before selecting the most casual looking garment. He knew exactly what each armor was and their properties. After all, he was the person who made the dungeon...

The only problem he had now was the fact that the game itself restricted him from equipping higher level gear. Even the sword he tried to wield from the treasury would become dull to the touch. He needed to figure out a loophole or a useful skill that would allow him to wear the clothing he wanted to wear. In the end, he at least had enough clothing to cover his manhood.

[ping]

(Rare) Black spider silk Turban (150/150)

Description: A hat woven with the silk of a demon spider.

Physical defence: +41

Magical defence: +90

Bonus: +5 INT. +5% Dark resistance.

Requirement: lvl 35

(Uncommon) Hard leather shirt (135/135)

Description: A shirt made from hard leather dyed in black.

Physical defence: +71

Bonus: +5 STR.

Requirement: lvl 31

(Uncommon) Black direwolf leather pants (172/172)

Description: Leather pants made from the pelt of a direwolf.

Physical defence: +108

Bonus: +5 AGI. + 5 STR.

Requirement: lvl 37

(Rare) Adventurer pack (999/999)

Description: A mid-tier pack to carry your goods.

Inventory space: Reduce size by x100

Weight reduction: Reduce weight by x100

Active: Inventory window

Requirement: None

Markus equipped his new clothing. The adventurer pack was something new. The game must have placed it inside. Markus filled his pack to the limit. He was planning on selling the ‘loot’ he obtain from killing the other players, as well as stuff he collected from Memnosis.

“Um Marcus, who’s that? Why is he calling you Master?” (Yunni)

“...” (Markus)

“...” (Memnosis)

Markus eyes connected with Memnosis. Since they were soul linked, Memnosis understood Markus’s feelings.

“This is the boss that I defeated. I spared his life, now I am his Master” (Markus)

“It is as he says” (Memnosis)

“Wow! You’re so big!” (Yunni)

“Woof! (Daddy, I’m hungry)” (Diloria)

“...” (Markus)

Markus nodded to Memnosis. It really was impossible to explain the circumstances. He couldn’t tell Yunni that he was the one who created Memnosis-Or the fact that the skeletons and zombies were actually the villagers who had their souls trapped inside-Or that this whole labyrinth was created to conceal a powerful elixir that contained the essence of the demon lord ‘Aszalar’.

No. He couldn’t tell her. He couldn't tell her because the whole story sounded absolutely unbelievable!

“Ahem. Let’s take our leave now. I’m sure you all must be starving” (Markus)

“Ehehe! Lets go!” (Yunni)

“...” (Rieko)

“Food! Food!” (Diloria)

Markus gave one last look towards Memnosis and gave him a final farewell. Memnosis acknowledge with a gentle smile. It’s been 500 years since he’s reunited with his Master... It was a somewhat melancholy to say goodbye yet again.

“Alright! This is where our adventure truly begins!” (Markus)

“Yay! Sounds fun!” (Yunni)

“Woof!” (Diloria)

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