Kuma’s eyes opened and he was met with pure darkness. He took a second to look around, taking his time to comprehend his surroundings, only for it to confirm even more darkness. He couldn’t move, or rather, no matter how much he moved it felt like he hadn’t moved at all. Like space itself was being consumed by the void.

Kuma tried to let out a sigh, but nothing came out. In fact, he quickly realized that he had nothing for the sigh to leave from, in this darkness void of life and light, he was void of his body. There was nothing in the void for him to experience, and there was nothing of him to experience the void.

This must be hell. This must be my punishment for all the lives I’d taken. Kuma thought as he drifted aimlessly through the void. Kuma reminisced about the life he led before he died, reflecting on everything he’d been through. 

He came from a land of war and strife, for centuries the Kingdom of the West and the Kingdom of the East were at arms. Born to a Swordsman clan that raised mercenaries for hire, Kuma strived in the “World of Bloodshed”. He was ruthless, killing without mercy or justice, guided only by what his masters instructed. He strived for strength and more powerful enemies, and most importantly he dreamed of his end, dying in battle against a powerful and worthy foe.

However, none of that came to pass. He had gotten too big for his britches, too strong to control, and his superiors didn’t like that. Kuma was betrayed and hunted like a dog by his masters and clan, sending Kuma down a dark and viscous path only he could travel. He took on the moniker of “Demon Swordman” for both his strength and his eternal lust for more power. His thirst for strength would end up being his curse, as throughout all that time he failed to meet a warrior strong enough to take his head. As he grew older he grew restless, he became a ruthless natural disaster in an attempt to find a worthy rival. And in the end, he died of old age having not met a single person to rival him. 

I can’t believe I died of old age. All that time… and not a single person could stand against me. What a waste of time.

Frustrated, Kuma tried to let out a yell. And to his shock, he could hear a cry in response. Kuma tried to look around for the source of the sound and in the distance of the void he could see a rather dim floating light glowing from the sound's direction. Kuma moved toward the light, and as he did, the crying became louder and more pronounced.

The light was… someone crying. It looked like a small child, their facial features and other defining traits weren’t prominent, as if they didn’t exist, but from what he could see they seemed to be no older than 8 years old. 

Is this another soul like mine? Kuma thought to himself. If it was, he wondered what kind of shit a kid had to do to get stuck here. 

“I-I’m so tired…” The child whimpered, their body shaking and quivering. Taking a better look, Kuma noticed that the light from the child was getting weaker and weaker. He wanted to speak, to ask the kid why he was crying, but just like before nothing would come out.

Is this some sort of test? Kuma thought to himself, Maybe this is the first test hell has for me, what a weird test. Then am I supposed to… cheer it up? How the hell do I do that if I can’t even speak to it?

“If only… If only I wasn’t such a coward.” The child weakly spat out, “If only I wasn’t so weak… If only I had been born right…”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Kuma glanced down at the child, he grimaced at his words. Man stand up for fucks sake. You’re only a kid it can’t be that bad. Stop feeling so sad for yourself! He glared down at the child, his frustration growing before he sighed in defeat. What am I getting so frustrated for, it’s not like you can even hear me.

The child hugged their knees tightly, while Kuma couldn’t tell for sure, it looked as if they were starting to cry. Then the child muttered, in a breath so light he could have sworn he never spoke at all, words that shook Kuma to his core.

“God… why did you make me this way?”

Kuma grimaced, his thoughts pulling him back to dark times in his life. If this was a test… it was sure pulling at his heartstrings.  Kuma was reminded of himself, weakly asking for aid and forgiveness from a god who had done nothing for him. Betrayed by his people he reached out to the heavens to guide him toward inner peace and was met with nothing but disdain.

Even though he had no body, he swore he could feel the veins pop out of his head. Even in death, God still played with humans like toys. Before he even knew what he was doing, Kuma imagined himself reaching out to the child and grabbing them by their shoulders. And just as he did, the child suddenly raised their head in shock just in time for Kuma to punch them in the face. 

The child was sent rolling back several meters into the void, and Kuma was left aghast and confused at the feeling of punching. He looked down to see a thin, ethereal form of his body that wasn’t there before. 

“Y-You punched me!” The child yelled holding their nose, “Who are you- and how did you punch me?!”

The child's reaction shocked Kuma, not only could the child see him now, they could also perceive him. As if to test his new state of being, Kuma finally spoke up. “You’re damn right I did.” He replied, grinning greedily at hearing his voice. “Would you look at that, I’m me now. What the hell was that about?”

“Wh-Who are you?” The child demanded as they pushed themselves to their feet. They began to look around as if they realized for the first time the void around them. “Where am I?”

“I was hoping you would know actually.” Kuma replied, “But I’m not really anyone in particular, I just didn’t like the shit you were saying. All that weak-kneed crying shit, “Oh woah is me I’m so sad, why did god make me this way”, on and on and on.”

“S-Shut up!” The child yelled. They let out a short battle cry and ran at Kuma punching the air, but before they could take even 3 steps they were flung into the air and held by Kuma.

“See, look now you’re a fighter.” He replied as a devilish grin spread across his face. “Now there’s the lust you need to keep on living. Why don’t you keep this up all the time?”

“Y-You don’t know anything!” The child cried out, now gripping Kumas ethereal arm. “That’s all easy for you to say, you must already be strong! When you’re like me… When you’re weak-”

Before he could finish he was dropped to the ground, but this time he just barely landed on his feet. Kuma glared at the child with cold, empty eyes. He winced, raising his hands in front of him to stop another hit from Kuma. 

“I’ve been weak longer than you’ve been alive kid.” He said sternly, “I’ve known blood-boiling weakness earlier than you knew how to take a proper shit.” He reached a hand to the child, and they closed their eyes to intercept the hit… only to be met with a soft embrace.

“You grow from it. That’s the only way to stop being weak. Stop wallowing in your own self-pity and be strong.”

“B-But…” The child shakily replied, “I don’t know how, and I’m so afraid.”

“I’ll show you.” Kuma replied, however as he did he suddenly felt himself feel physically weak, as if he was running out of energy. Nevertheless, he stood strong and held the child. “Strength undeniable by anyone alive. So stop crying and watch me do it.”

“You’ll… show me?” The child muttered. As he did his light began to glow brighter and brighter, to a point that it began to illuminate all the brightness. As his light grew, Kumas consciousness faded more and more. He tried to stay aware, but he could only delay the inevitable, and as his consciousness faded he could hear the whispers of the child like an echo in the distance.

“Please… Show me what it looks like.”