Then the mysterious being before me said with a smug look on his droopy but terrifying face, “Your other hole…your alter ego…Unmei.”

Puzzled, I said, “My…alter ego?”

“Exactly!”

“So what exactly does that mean for me, alter ego?”

“It means that you will be gifted with power. Now that will not be without consequence. You will have to balance the control part of your soul and the uncontrolled part of your vessel.”

“How so?”

With a hint of annoyance, he said, “Close your eyes and imagine a picture—a picture of your mother with the biggest smile possibly. Then try to imagine a picture of her bloodied on her deathbed. After imagining the two opposite images, try to balance your emotions between pure despair and Paradise.”

I tried to imagine the ideas of my other whole. The image of Mother smiling every day, without the worry of death. And an image of her painfully sacrificing herself for the townsfolk and dying for that monster.

After sitting still and meditating with this image in mind, for what seemed like hours, I felt something like a shining hope.

I felt a slight amount of control over my vessel. I felt stronger. Far stronger than I was as a normal human living with my family. I felt like I had truly achieved something special in this reborn life.

I felt happy.

After this feeling of short happiness, I heard my other whole speak once more about me, “So you did it, so quick as well; I’m quite impressed.”

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“Thanks, I feel good right now. Is that part of equilibrium?”

“Not necessarily…but it isn’t a bad thing,” he said, not knowing how to respond to my question.

After a moment of silence, I felt a quick mood change as my consciousness faded. I had been relinquished from the void and was sitting on the bed now.

The man known as my trainer was in the kitchen, grilling some sausage and scrambled eggs on the stove, when he heard a slight noise, “Oh, so you finally decided to wake up from your little dream, boy. Breakfast will be ready in about 10 minutes, so you better wash up in the restroom before eating.”

“Sensei, where's the restroom?”

“Go up the ascending staircase until you see a white door; that is my restroom. Don’t take so long, or your food will get cold.” Sensei sounded like he was in a playful mood today.

“Thank you, sensei.”

I started to get out of bed and go to the restroom when I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

Probably heartburn, I mumbled to myself as I got to the ascending stairs.

Then I began to walk up the stairs.

Tap, Tap, Tap

I got to the top of the stairs and looked for the white door in question.

After a moment of observation, I saw the white door in question that sensei had mentioned.

I opened the shiny white door to see a single-toilet restroom with a shower and bath and, most importantly, a glass mirror on the wall.

After going number one in the toilet, I went to the marble sink to wash my hands.

While washing my hands with hot water and soap, I started to feel that same sharp pain again.

Finally, I looked at the glass mirror on the wall in front of me.

What? I muttered after seeing my face.

My hair became a darker shade of black, black like the crescent moon in the sky during a solar eclipse . I also saw that the shape of my jawline had changed. It was longer and more handsome than what I was used to seeing in my seemingly chubby face. But that wasn’t all.

Lastly, I lifted my shirt to see a set of six-pack abs. I could see them glistening in the bathroom light.

What…since when did I get such a nice body? I also then noticed a deep scar near my belly button.

“Is that the area I got slashed in half by that damn god,” I pondered with uncertainty.

After glazing about myself, I walked back down the now descending staircase.

Tap, Tap, Tap

“Hey sensei, um, I have a quick question for you.”

“Yes, what is it,” he asked, confused at the sudden request.

“Why has my body changed from the average build, to a total ladies man, and this “scar”.

“Oh that must mean that you were successful in winning over more control over your “other-whole”, don’t pay it much mind,” he said hesitantly.

“Oh, ok thanks for answering another one of my idiotic questions.”

“No, it’s all right because that was actually the best question that you asked since waking up in my house.”

“How so?”

“You're acknowledging your achievements so far in your abilities.”

“Wait you said that I succeeded in further control over my other-whole, right. Then what does that actually entail?”

“Another good question, young one. It means that you now have the ability to use a small portion of your potential alter-ego abilities, and also your celestial powers.”

“How small of a portion of my alter-ego abilities can I use right now?”

“If I were to make an estimate I would say, maybe close to “1%” at max.”

“1%?”