He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was back to the familiar nebulous abyss.
I am back here again. What the hell was that? What did I just see? Was that a memory? Was that my memory? Probably not. No, definitely not! It did not feel like the memory was mine at all. Then what the fuck just happened?
He looked around. So these stars are not in fact stars their memories? If so, then where the heck am I? Is this Void of Memories the reason why I cannot remember anything, or is it because they actually are my memories and they are just not inside me anymore.
What about the one I just witnessed then? That one clearly was the wrong one. I do not think I was ever supposed to know that. Even my head hurts from witnessing such calamity. What were they fighting about again? Something about the gods being dead, and the realm of cultivation? What were they talking about?
And all around us, what was that world ending war about? I remember seeing bleeding sky, collapsing into the earth below, I saw the broken moon, its shards raining down on earth causing unfathomable destruction. Was that even Earth? I am not too sure anymore.
From what I could tell, the Obsidian Giant and Blood Weaver were at war. The Obsidian Giant also said the other gods were dead, and he had killed them. So that meant he had waged war against the gods and actually defeated them.
Who was that deity anyways? I remember him telling me a name i should not forget, but something in the world interfered, or maybe the world itself did. So I ended up not catching his name. Speaking of the Obsidian Giant, how the hell did that thing talk to me? How did it know I was there?
Were gods really that powerful?
He even called me a human wrench, so I am glad now I know what I am, even though I do not remember being that. What was he scolding me about again? Something about a forbidden lineage, I don't know? I'm really having a hard time processing this memory because of this headache that keeps on getting stronger. I do not even think it is a headache anymore...
This memory was obviously not mine, and it was clearly not meant to be known or witnessed by mere mortals. But I had somehow come into possession of it. How? Did that mean I was not an ordinary human? If not then what was I? Was that thing I was, the reason why the Obsidian Giant wanted to kill me? Because I am not supposed to be? Not supposed to exist? Maybe the answers are buried somewhere in these memories. Let me try another one.
He focused the nebulous energy in his palm and drew another shard towards him. The same thing happened, the shard shattered into small pool of white sparks and entered his chest. Then in the next moment he was in another place.
______________
It was a dark and silent night. There was no dying moon this time, and there were no stars either. True everlasting darkness obscured the whole world, or whatever that place was. A bonfire could be seen from a small distance, barely chasing the darkness of the night away. A tent stood on a small cliff, a few steps away from the bonfire. He was sleeping inside.
Or at least he was pretending to be.
He felt tired though, and his body hurt all over for some reason. He tried feeling emotions again and to his surprise, it was not straining or painful anymore. It felt... normal. He felt a complicated weave of emotions from the body - or consciousness- he was in, intense emotions he could not explain. He wondered why he was feeling this way, but the answer to that question came shortly.
As he pretended to be asleep he heard to voices outside, a male and female, sitting around the bonfire. He could hear the meat they were roasting sizzle and sighed as the mouthwatering aroma filled the air. But that was not the reason why he was in a somber mood. The man outside meanwhile, continued talking.
"I mean think about it Candice. Adrian has gone too far this time. You also heard what the Oracle said right, before he killed her? She said Adrian is fated to bring doom upon the world. And I honestly agree with her. With Adrian's mission right now, he will definitely turn into the next Blood Lord I am telling you. Look at him, he is already changing. He is already killing."
The girl - Candice - remained silent for a few long moments.
"But I do not want to kill him though. I love him Xavier. I do not think I would forgive myself if I killed him, or even attempted to. We have known each other since elementary school and walked the path of cultivation together. We promised each other we would always be there for each other no matter what happens. I believe Adrian will see the truth and you should too."
They were both silent for a few moments and then Candice continued:
"Look Xavier, it is hopeless anyways. Even if we try and kill him, he is way too powerful for us. He is not only on the Ascension Phase, but his lineage also makes it easier for him to cultivate at an unfathomable speed. We are only at the Core Formation Phase. Two whole ranks below him. I suggest you give up the stupid idea Xavier, it might just get you killed."
They were barely whispering at this point, so he could hear everything they were saying.
"But Candice! We cannot just ignore this. We cannot rely on only blind faith, the fate of humanity is in our hands. You know the sacrifice one must offer in order in order to ascend to godhood. Millions of people will die. And I know Adrian will not just be satisfied with just the lineage, he will want more. He will want so much more! Are you willing to let millions of innocent humans die because of your childhood sweetheart?"
He felt the feeling of anger, hatred and betrayal boil up inside Adrian. He did not know who Adrian was, but he suspected that this memory was his. They talked about the same lineage he had supposedly inherited from the Blood Lord, Blood Weaver. The Weaver of Night. They talked about needing to kill him in order to save humanity, it was just all too much.
They also mentioned that he was far more powerful than them, because his lineage made his path of cultivation much easier. So the girl was wary of fighting him. She sounded reluctant to fight him for a whole different reason though. It seems like Candice was in love with Adrian and actually did not wish to kill him.
The more he thought about Candice, his heart ached for some reason. He even found himself crying silently inside the tent, but then he realized something. He was not crying because his best friends were talking about betraying him, he was crying because he felt the same way about Candice too. And now he had to say goodbye...
"Stop being stubborn Candice and open your eyes. We continue with him, we're dead. We go back, we're dead. Even if we actually make it across the Underworld back to the Living Realm, once he reaches the Divine Phase and becomes a god, we are still dead. What difference does this death still make?"
"I do not want to kill him Xavier, and that is all to it. Humanity can screw itself. It never cared about us anyway. Why should I care about them?"
"How could you say that? Our families are up there you know, and we should be too. With them. Not on this desolate land, searching for something we should not even possess in the first place, let alone know off."
"I have made my decision Xavier, you decide what to do with it."
"Mhmm I see. I really did try to convince you Candice, you would not listen. I really hope you forgive me."
And then it was silent once once more. Too silent actually. Adrian turned his head in the direction of the bonfire, and what he saw and felt made him pale. From inside the tent, he saw the shadow of Candice standing motionlessly and staring into the distance. Xavier's shadow was nowhere to be seen.
Something was definitely wrong.
"Candice!"
He forced up his tired body and hurried outside. The motionless figure of Candice turned and looked at him. Her eyes were glassy and devoid of any signs of life. He leaned closer to her with steady steps and cautiously looked around. Xavier was nowhere to be found, and yet somehow he knew exactly where he was.
From what Adrian - the other Adrian - remembered, Xavier's Body Refinement Ability allowed his body to exert superhuman strength, far beyond his peers in the realm of cultivation. His Soul Refinement Ability allowed him to deal damage directly into his enemy's soul, bypassing the body completely.
His Foundation Establishment Ability allowed him to abandon the physical place and travel to the Astral Realm, without having to meditate or leave his body behind. But his Core Formation Ability was the true nightmare.
It works in perfect correlation with his Soul Refinement Ability. As the cultivator climbs higher, the previous Abilities evolve as well. So he could just deal soul damage, he could destroy it completely now. Of course, the Ability had limitations. He could only destroy the souls of beings equal with him or of a lower Phase.
So Adrian was almost immune to that Ability, almost...
His Core Formation Ability allowed him to wear the soulless bodies of his victims as vessels. Since the victims were basically dead - or just walking zombies - they appeared eerie and lifeless even though his soul wore them. And that is exactly what happened to Candice.
Xavier was wearing her as a vessel.
Adrian stopped approaching and looked at the lifeless figure of Candice somberly. Then he spat through gritted teeth.
"Skinwalker what the fuck is this? What have you done?"
He replied but the voice came out hoarse and rough, like a broken glass.
"Can't you see? I am taking a stand, a stand against you. I want to live to prosper, and I want the same for my family as well. So I am not going to let you devour millions of lives to fuel you cultivation."
"You bastard you are going to pay for this. You are so dead!"
"You will have to catch me first."
Adrian dashed forward with inconceivable speed, but no matter how fast and powerful he was, Xavier was too devious and cunning. He had activated his Foundation Establishment Ability during the conversation. Before Adrian could grab him, he had already projected into the Astral Realm.
He kneeled to the ground and let out a pained sob. He cried so much he became dizzy and dehydrated, he collapsed to the ground.
___________
He opened his eyes again and saw the familiar abyss once more. He felt sharp pain in his heart, as if someone had stabbed him in the chest with a really sharp knife.
Why does my heart hurt so much? I do not even remember this girl. I do not even remember her face. Then why am I in so much pain? So many emotions, sadness, anger, pain... what an I supposed to do with them? What am I supposed to do with this knowledge I do not even understand?
Well, at least one good thing came out from this. Now I know what my name is supposed to be, maybe if I reach out for a few more memories, everything will make sense. I will finally remember myself. I will finally remember Candice and I will also remember that bastard Skinwalker, Xavier.
He reached for another shard and brought it closer to him. The shard shattered into beautiful white sparks that entered his chest, then he was somewhere else.
What he saw this time shook his very existence.