Chapter 23: Body, Mind, Soul and Existence
Inside a dark room, a figure could be seen watching TV while holding a knife. It’s Issac, who is watching the memory of Beelzebub.
“How long have I been watching this thing, century, eons? How long does this guy live anyway?”
The thing about Beelzebub is that after he escaped the void, his soul was on the verge of breaking apart. Possessing a vessel may fix the life force but not his existence, so when he is absorbing me, what he is doing is fusing my existence to his, thus born an entirely new being with two personas.
With that, both of us gained all the traits and memories of each other combined. That was supposed to make us a new being, but no, our desire was different.
He wants power to devour, but I want power to destroy. That is what makes us different. Looking around the room
“This room is strange; an unknown power is preventing time and space from affecting this room; thus, Beelzebub never knew such a place was in his mind.”
Opening up the curtain is the view that Beelzebub is seeing right now in extreme slow-mo. He is approaching the academy, where he will meet someone he knows very well.
“I heard that Kang will come here, which means it will trigger his trauma, causing his mind to grow restless but weak.”
“By weakening it further, I just need to wait for my trauma to arrive. So that I may awaken fully. This trick can only happen once, but I will give with everything I have.”
“Even if I fail, I will have more time to study anyway.”
“Well, let’s go.”
Issac raised the knife and cut off his head. At the same time, the room faded into darkness, leaving a TV behind.
*****
“P-please, st-stop”
“Well, sorry, my brother, no hard feeling.”
I raised my leg and stomped it with full force. But it stopped midway, and one of my eyes turned white. Beelzebub scream
“GIVE BACK MY BODY.”
“It never your to begin with.”
“LIKE HELL, I CARE.”
Isaac just stood there, talking to himself while clawing his eyes. The raven's wings shift their form into a fly’s wings only to be transformed back. Seriously, look up, wondering what is going on, but he must act quickly. That thing isn’t his brother.
“Earth pit”
A large hole appears beneath Isaac, causing him to fall. Derious uses this chance to heal his arms with an artifact.
"Brother, that isn’t nice.”
But Derious doesn’t care; he casts another spell.
“Filled, strengthen”
The earth hole closed itself and got tighter, trapping and burrowing Isaac.
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“Now that’s hurt.”
Derious, with his fully healed arms, points in the direction where Issac with one finger and uses his ability.
“Damage Link”
A black lightning shot to the ground and pierced right through Issac's foreheads, creating an invisible link. Derious pulls out his dagger, cuts off his legs and arms, and heals it.
At the same time, Issac’s limbs were cut off.
“Interesting. An ability that shared the damage, but by using a normal knife, you can heal it much easier than the linked person who is damaged from mana.”
After immobilizing him, he runs. He knows that he is no match for it, but before he can take another step, a curse is cast.
“But I’m a proud black mage too. Hands”
Multiple shadow hands come out of the ground and bind Derious; he tries to cast another spell, but Issac isn’t stopped there.
“Shock”
“ARGHH”
Derious shook his body like he was in an electric chair, digging out with his already-healed legs. He smirks at Derious.
“Watching memory isn’t something I did there. If Beel can make a theory for it to work, so can I.”
Walking toward Derious, Issac raised his tongue to strike
But a silver light appeared on his wrist before he knew it. His hand was cut off.
“SILVERLIGHT”
Beelzebub screams in fear but also anger. SHIT, I’M LOSING CONTROL
.
A kick landed in my face; this kick is similar. The trauma is triggering Beelzebub even more.
Looking at the gray eyes, my body shivers.
“S-SHIT, FU-FUCK F-F-GIVE BACK MY BODY.”
My body twitching, the image disappears, leaving me holding my head.
“GIVE BACK MY BODY.”
“IT WAS MINE FROM THE START.”
“LIKE I CARED”
“FUCKING SHAMELESS PIECE OF SHIT”
Blood spurted out of Beelzebub’s head as he went unconscious and fell to the ground. Kang SilverLight, confused by all of this, decided to heal Derious first and then take care of the stranger later.
Come to think of it, these two have similar faces. Could it be that guy is Issac Mortem?
A shadow passed me, causing me to raise my guard. But the shadow only swallows Issac and then runs away.
I think of following them, but looking at the near-death Derious, I decided this is more important. Derious is important for the future.
*****
Inside a black space, two figures with identical faces except for the eyes are having a stare down. Beelzebub, who is in rage, and Issac who is trying to keep a straight face
“B-BASTARD”
Beelzebub tried to exert his will but was futile. Issac mocked
“Huh, you think you're still a demon king? How pathetic”
“YOU FUCKER”
Beelzebub tackles Issac but Issac jumps up and then kicks the air, pressing Beelzebub down.
“Haizz you foolish demon, not only did I gain all of your memory, but I also trained for eons as well.”
“YO-Huff”
From Beelzebub's back pop out multiple insects' legs that pierce Issac.
All of them explode, knocking Issac away. Taking a break, Beelzebub calmed down.
“You fucker think that you are better than me, huh? You know that I gained your memory too?”
“Kehkehkeh, you are right, Beel. So you must know too.”
“W-?”
“That I only amplify your emotions when you approach the academy, not before it. You aren’t a demon anymore, Beel; your existence is worthless.”
“Y-YOU”
“You aren’t used to human emotions. So give in and let me show you what true purpose is.”
Beelzebub, fuming in anger, suddenly shows a smile.
“Kehkeh, acting tough, huh? You aren’t that different.”
“?”
“Damn these emotions, how can your human control this easily? But whatever my soul is, I’m still a king. So don’t belittle me there, Issac”
“…”
“You think to yourself that you are Issac but the truth is you are just me fuming with hatred. The difference is that you used to be human. Your soul is Issac but is your mind Issac anymore?”
“…”
“And the control over this body, you have studied my memory and drowned in hatred for eons. Causing you to lose the ability to control this body, especially when I awaken phantom eyes. Meanwhile, I have been using it consistently, wielding it far better than you.”
“But that is not all. You say that I’m a human; alright, it hurts to admit it, but I’m a h-h, not a demon yet. You have been transferring the demonic energy into dark mana, aren’t you? So if I absorb a large amount at once, you won’t be able to stop it, and the demon king will return.”
"YOU B-haizz, I knew that this was difficult. Well, I guess my planning skill was born from you after all. I will just return and refine my knowledge then.
“Bullshit all you want; now that I have my mind much clearer, you aren’t a match for me anymore.”
“It’s been fun, Beel; for the first time in eons, I have someone to talk to for this long, but, sadly, that person is you.”
"Oh, you, mother-“
"Goodbye; we will meet again. The next time we met, I hoped it would be the last.”