Three Hundred Years Later.

"Don't you find it weird?" Kai asked, leaned up against a nice sun chair; something he explained and designed for Bloodthorne who replied, "find what weird?"

"I've been here for three hundred years. I am you and you are me," he stared into Bloodthorne's eyes, "the only thing that sets us apart is our clothes."

Bloodthorne looked like he was in deep thought, eyes trailing the darkness. "It was a bit weird at first, yes. But that's not what really… intrigued me over the centuries." Bloodthorne held up some Earth-like glass, the contents a light brown. Chocolate milk; another courtesy of Kai.

"What has really made me curious is how you've yet to lose your mind." He slurped through the straw, continuing, "truly fascinating."

"I'm glad you can find amusement in something. But hold off on the cynicism. I don't plan on losing this battle, and it seems you're realizing that."

Boodthorne leaned over his chair, placed the glass on the floor, "you've always misunderstood what I say. Always." He leaned over, "you WILL lose to your own mind, fool."

"..."

"You've noticed, haven't you? Each time you've gone back, something's changed. Your mind is turning against itself. Soon, no matter how many times you relive that life, you'll be unable to discern truth and lie."

Kai, angered, repulsed out of his chair. His brows furrowed, "I'd rather not talk about that. Instead, how about you actually teach me something, today?"

"Today? You've gotten too used to that… schedule of yours."

"Maybe if you would make it to where I couldn't tire."

"In the real–"

"Oh, shut it." Kai closed his eyes, suddenly teleporting hundreds of meters away. Bloodthorne followed suit. "I think you've finally reached a high enough level. You've learned Abyssal Grasp, Soulrend Palm, Twilight Mirage, and more." He smirked. "You truly have grown. But now that you're a Late Core Foundation, it's time you pick up the blade. My blade." He summoned forth two versions of his sword. He tossed one to Kai, "this will hurt."

"Yeah, and I've grown."

**********

Sixty Years Later.

"Isn't this cheating?" Kai asked, surrounded by four different versions of Bloodthorne. The real one, however, was sitting on a massage chair. He lifted up his sunglasses, despite there being no sun, "mm, no, I don't think so."

"Argh, you ungrateful motherfucker! I create these stuff for us and what do I get in exchange? A fuckin' beating?! The least you could do is thank me!"

"I don't do thank you's."

"Ah, forget you!" Kai gripped the handle of the sword, holding his sword high in the air. The first doppelganger, with no weapon, launched an attack of pure light in a straight line, which Kai dodged by spinning and counter attacking with a lightning quick slice, cutting the head clean off.

In an instant, three others enclosed around him. Having nowhere to retreat, Kai tucked his shoulder and charged at one of them. He clanged against their sword, forcing both their swords upwards, but Kai lifted his foot and pummeled it into the doppelgangers stomach. As it fell, he used the force of gravity to further push his sword down, piercing the neck.

He front flipped over the body, twisted around, and faced the remaining three. Abandoning his sword, he chucked it at one of them. They blocked it, but Kai curled his fingers slightly, like a tiger, and a violet light emanated from his palms. He struck the face, then the chest, dodged some blades, and lastly attacked the stomach. The doppelganger went flying, crashing against the floor.

It didn't get back up.

The two doppelgangers exchanged looks with their doll-like eyes, nodding. Both with swords, one struck high, and the other struck low. Kai closed his eyes again, 'Stride!' He thought, suddenly teleporting behind the two. He palmed the back of their heads, slamming them into the ground.

Not wanting to give them a chance, he raised his hands high, using the ability of Abyssal Grasp, he flung them high into the air. And with the swift motion of his arms pointed to the ground, they too came back down. They splattered across the ground, guts and flesh flying everywhere.

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He sighed, not of fatigue, but of annoyance. "These games of yours. I find them exceedingly annoying."

"You always say that. But at least now you listen." Bloodthorne spoke, Kai walking closer to him.

"Now, I'm Mid Soul Refinement. Only a little bit longer before this is all over." Kai laid in his designated chair.

"Don't forget. Once you've gotten to Late Soul Refinement, you must still learn these." Bloodthorne summoned the two books.

"By learn you mean memorize. I can't learn those in here and perform them in the outside, anyway."

Bloodthorne brought forth his favorite drink; chocolate milk. "You're correct. But that means you'll just have to work hard to achieve Nascent Divinity."

"..."

Bloodthorne glanced over. The man across from him was staring forward. No where else, his eyelids didn't move, his water's didn't water, and his body remained still. All except two things; his hands. They were floating above his knees, shaking uncontrollably.

The tone shifted. "Is this real?" Kai asked, attempting to not laugh as he showed his hands to Bloodthorne.

"Nothing here is really real, fool."

"Puhuhu…" Kai's lips curved upwards, his expression cracking.

Bloodthorne ignored it, sipping his chocolate milk, and whenever silence fell upon the plane, it was soon interrupted by a sinister, yet low cackle.

**********

One Hundred Years later.

Kai Ren had now undergone his first life a total of ten times. At first, his sanity was slipping by emitting a concerning influx of different emotions, like a switch.

But it was different now.

"You've done it." Bloodthorne said, "now you and I are truly on the same level. There's just one thing you're missing until we get to the books."

Kai was curled up on the floor, his ear twitching as Bloodthorne spoke. He planted his arms into the ground, like trees, and pushed off, standing up. He moved his hair reminiscent of the area out of his eyes. "Sanctuary." He gestured around them.

"Before we go through with this, there's something I need from you. A contract."

Kai wiped his eyes, as if he were tired, but the both of them he wasn't. "A contract, you say?"

"I already kno–"

"Okay."

"What?" Bloodthorne asked, confused.

"This contract. Why's it so special?"

"It's to ensure you seek revenge. And if you don't, then you shall die by your soul getting destroyed." He interlocked both hands, twisted them, and pulled them apart from each other, showing a golden thread. He held one side out. "Do you understand?"

Kai grabbed the end of the thread. He pulled more of it, then his hand moved through his chest. Although it wasn't real, he felt the thumps of his heartbeat, "I get it." He said, wrapping the thread around his heart.

Bloodthorne did the same.

"I can only hope you choose my will over death, fool."

"... enough talking. How do I create my own Sanctuary?"

"I've got a trial for you. There are many mystical creatures in this world. I want you to defeat three, three at the same time. You can only beat them once you've memorized both the books."

Kai scratched his neck, "is that so?"

"It is. They are not of the same power, because they would obliterate you, but I've lowered their abilities. Still, they're strong, so remain wary."

Bloodthorne snapped his fingers, creating an environment similar to the real world. Mountains out far, as well as a volcano, the rough ground, but most importantly, the bright sky adorned with a sun.

Even though he was the creator, Bloodthorne smirked, approving of his own abilities. But as he looked over, he saw Kai remained indifferent. Suddenly, In the tranquil meadows where the mountains kissed the sky, there roamed a creature of majestic splendor—the Qilin. Its form was that of a noble deer, its coat the color of sunrise, with hooves that trod upon the earth with a grace unmatched by mortal beasts. From its back sprouted a tail of purest white, crowned by a single horn that gleamed with iridescent light. Eyes like pools of jade gazed upon the world with a serene wisdom, embodying the harmony of nature and the tranquility of the heavens. The air around the Qilin hummed with a palpable energy, as if charged with the essence of life itself. With each step, it left behind a trail of blossoms and dewdrops, a testament to its divine nature and the blessings it bestowed upon the land. To behold the Qilin was to witness the beauty and majesty of the natural world, a fleeting glimpse of the sublime in an ever-changing world.

And following right after, something dug out from the ground, the Nine Tailed Fox. Its form was that of a graceful fox, its fur the color of moonlight, with nine shimmering tails that swayed with an otherworldly grace. Eyes like pools of liquid amber gleamed with intelligence and mischief, reflecting the wisdom of centuries and the secrets of the cosmos. The air around the fox seemed to shimmer with magic, as if touched by the ethereal essence of the moon itself. With a flick of its tails, it wove illusions that ensnared the unwary and bewitched the senses, a master of deception and intrigue. Yet beneath its beguiling exterior lay a creature of boundless power and ancient wisdom, its presence a reminder of the mysteries that lurked in the depths of the forest.

It stood next to the Qilin, awaiting their final companion.

And amidst the flames of the volcano, where molten rivers flowed and ash clouds darkened the sky, there soared a creature of fiery radiance—the Phoenix. Its form was that of a magnificent bird, its feathers ablaze with the colors of dawn, with wings that spanned the horizon and tail feathers that trailed like tongues of flame. Eyes like twin orbs of burning ember gazed upon the world with a fierce determination, reflecting the eternal cycle of life and death. The air around the Phoenix crackled with the heat of its presence, as if touched by the very essence of fire itself. With each beat of its wings, it ignited the sky with a blaze of light and warmth, a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. To witness the Phoenix was to witness the power and resilience of the spirit, a symbol of rebirth and renewal in a world consumed by chaos and strife.

And it struck a landing in between the other two.

"Try not to lose." Bloodthorne said.

Kai walked closer to the mystical creatures. They all roared out warnings to him, but he ignored them. On his robe, he grabbed the sword, which he had given a sleek, clad scabbard.

He unsheathed it, tossing the scabbard to the side.

"Looks like there will be some fun."