บท 84: I’m Lonely
Du-Wei found himself standing in the middle of a street.
Specifically speaking, he was standing in a bustling city street!
On the street corner, there is a Bookstore he used to frequent, opposite to it was a cinema along with a game store that he also frequented. Then behind it was a 24-hour KFC that he often ran to at midnight in order to get a late night snack... (For anyone that knows, its Siu Yea. English don't have a direct translated word for this late night snack phrase)
Looking in front of him, cars were moving to and fro, then he looked at the flickering Red and Green lights, and then also the neon lights of the shops on either side of the streets….
Du-Wei froze for a moment, then he couldn't help but sigh. "Still playing this hand. This is a fantasy right?"
The passing pedestrians looked as if they were in a hurry with an indifferent look. There was even a stumbling child with a balloon in hand at the street corner….
As for himself, his Mage robe was gone. Now he was dressed in a jacket that he often wore in his past life and a pair of NIKE sneakers.
All of this was extremely like the "world" from his previous life.
Of course, it is only "like".
At this moment, the hoarse and muffled voice rang out from Du-Wei's heart. "Your heart hides a very strange world..."
Du-Wei grunted as he watched the sky, then coldly said. "Even though you used to be a snake, but you are a person now. You should at least know how to respect other people's privacy, right?"
The hoarse voice spoke without any anger, "I'm very curious. Your inner spirit world is very different from your two companions... Where is this strange place? Those moving subways and the no horse drawn carriages... Also, there are those tall buildings..."
Du-Wei was fundamentally unable to listen to the noisy voice inside him. His face suddenly showed a trace of happiness as he lifted his leg to cross the road in front of him. Even when he was crossing the road, he carefully looked left and right at the oncoming cars, then he watched the red light turning to green before calmly walking on the crossing lines to reach the 24 hours KFC. Once there, he actually pulled out his wallet to buy a spicy chicken burger and a cone of ice cream.
The familiar feeling at the entrance almost caused his heart to be emotionally moved. Under the extremely realistic sweet taste of the ice cream flavor, Du-Wei closed his eyes to savor the moment, then laughed.
He sighed, "Thank you. Although you peeked into my inner thoughts, but still need to thank you for giving me the chance to look back on all of this... Originally, I thought I had forgotten all of this, but I did not expect that my heart still remembered all of this so deeply."
Neon lights sparkled among the long streets and young teenagers naturally smiled as they walked...
While Du-Wei was savoring the ice cream cone in his inner world, Dadaneier and Hussein have both encountered trouble on their side.
The two men stood in the middle of a circle like that of competitive arena and the surrounding venues were high and empty.
Hussein was wearing a bright silver suit of armor and on his chest was a flashy badge of the Holy Knights.
However, murderous killing intents were coming from all sides!
Nearby, holy knights have already surrounded the two in the inner circle of the arena, each of their faces carried wounds with a frosty chill. Holding their sword up, they pointed their sword at Hussein and a murderous killing aura could be seen from the swords in their hands!
"Hussein! You betrayed the Temple. From the will of his Majesty, you still won't surrender? Accept gods trial and perhaps by the trial, god will let you stay alive!"
A tall middle aged Knights shouted in a loud voice, his facial beard was so big that you could no longer make out his original face. But Dadaneier was surprised to find that on the chest of the middle-aged knight, other than the badge of the Holy Knights, he was also wearing a ninth level badge issued only by the cities association of knights!
Ninth level Knight? Then wouldn't it be...
As expected, Hussein's face looked like he was dropped into the ocean. Staring around, he then suddenly let out a good laugh, "HA HA HA HA! What a good Medusa! You are actually capable of using this illusion trick as a weapon! Humph! Did you think that you have found my biggest weakness in my heart? Humph!" He looked at the ninth level Knight before him and sneered, "Knight leader "Hoilik", I have killed you once before, now in this is fantasy world, I will kill you a second time!" (Hoilik is the third holy knight leader that Hussein killed)
These holy knights acted like they didn't care what Hussein said and this huge bearded middle aged knight was indeed the already dead ninth level Holy knight leader.
Then, almost as if they can't hear what Hussein said, Hoilik raised his hand and the 10 knights behind him held up their sword at the same time. With a flash of brightness, Dou Qi was wrapped around their swords and without pause, they struck down vertically and horizontally aiming at Hussein. At that moment, they couldn't tell how many Sword Qi was actually coming towards where the two were standing...
"Ice cream cone.... The latest Evangelion book... Let me have a look. Now Medusa, from my memories, what else did you find out….."
Du-Wei hummed a tune with his hand in his pocket and walked through the streets, all the while watching the surrounding pedestrians, vehicles and buildings...
Really, very realistic...
With a smile on his face, his eyes suddenly lit up as he saw a small roadside shop. Walking over, he bought of a packet of cigarettes and an emotional expression could be seen on his face. With trembling fingers, he opened the packaging and lit one for himself and took a deep puff...
At this moment, Du-Wei was almost brought to tears by this familiar flavor.
God has mercy, I have finally got another whiff of this cigarette smell.
That familiar hint of spicy flavor as it turns inside your lung, then slowly coming out from the nose, Du-Wei could only sigh as he immersed himself in this pleasure. Then the hoarse and muffled voice rang out from his heart, "This kind of thing is harmful to the body, right? Why do you enjoy something harmful to you?"
"Oh, it looks like you learned a lot." Du-Wei smiled, "Things that are bad for you, but yet a lot of people can't refuse such things. In this world, there are too many examples like power, beauty, wine, and wealth... Could all of those things be completely harmless to people? However, most people are drawn to it even though it is harmful to them, but most people still couldn't give up the pleasure of enjoying them… This is human nature. Medusa, that's human nature."
"Humanity..." the hoarse voice sighed, "Human nature seems to be very complicated."
"At least the thought pattern is much more complex than snakes." Du-Wei curled his mouth, "Well, thank you, at least you've let me have another taste of this cigarette smell... Next, let us see what else you will help me remember."
With that said, Du-Wei readily threw away the cigarettes in his hands onto the ground and stamped it out with his feet.
"You don't enjoy it? Why not enjoy it little longer? You know… Once you leave this is a fantasy, you're never going to experience it again."
Du-Wei smiled with sunken eyes but there was no indecision, "Because I know that these are only fantasies. It took me a long time to let myself to forget these things, so I'm not going to allow myself to indulge in these things."
"This is human nature?" Medusa questioned.
"No, just a kind of self defense." Du-Wei reached out and flicked his fingers and created a ball of flame.
Standing at the corner of the main street, Du-Wei freely unleashes his magic... A roaring flame came forth from his hands and created a giant hole in the middle of the road. The raging flames immediately ignited the trees in the surroundings and even the glass windows from the nearby stores were shattered from the explosion…..
"I have to say, your illusion really is like the real thing" Du-Wei coldly laughed, "Okay, now that I've had enough fun, it's time to go back."
"Why, you're not enjoying this? As long as you want it, you can stay here for a while longer."
A deep grudging atmosphere was starting to cover Du-Wei's face, then he quickly short forth multiple fireballs from his hand. Soon, half the street was engulfed in the shadows of the raging flames! Without hesitation, he destroyed all the surrounding buildings and spoke in a cold voice, "Because I know all of this is not real! The past is in the past, reality is still reality. If I just indulged myself in this and never leave, don't you think that is really stupid? This saying does not only apply to humans, this is also applicable to you….. Queen Medusa."
The current scene in front of Du-Wei was like a war zone. The sky was stained with the color of flames and a fire hydrant on the side of the street reacted to the flames and exploded. Columns of water gushed out and mixed with the flames, causing burning smoke to fill the air. Squeals of cars slamming on their brakes could be heard as vehicles collided into each other, causing pedestrians to scream and scream as they fled for their lives…..
"OK, enough, if that is your test then I'm telling you now, human nature is much more complex than you think, Medusa." Du-Wei's eye was cold and a flaming light could be seen on his fingertips. Without hesitation, he shot it towards the fountain located at the street square, where crowds of onlookers were located…..
"Understood, then leave." Medusa finally said, "However, your friends are not as strong as you are….. Their current situation is much more dangerous than you."
A whistling sound could be heard as Hussein gasp for a breath. Inside the arena, his body was covered in his golden Dou Qi and even his hair turned into a golden yellow color!
The badge and a piece of his chest armor has already been cut apart, revealing his bare chest and a bloody wound. His face was covered in blood, making his face look absolutely hideous!
Holy knight leader Hoilik was currently standing in front of him, but his condition looked a lot better than Hussein's.
"Hussein! Could this be all your strength?" A look of anger could be seen on Hoilik's face as he looked down at Hussein and on his own sword dripping with blood!
Why...
Hussein questioned himself! Why I am not his opponent?
Funny! It really is funny! My strength is far better than him! Even while facing two Knight leaders, I, Hussein, could still come out victorious!
But why do I feel...
Maybe it is because I'm still remorseful in my heart about killing them?
Watching the knight leader in front of him, Hussein felt his inner courage and battle intent slowly fade away….
In addition, there is a part of him in his heart that wanted to condemn himself!
Kill him?
I can't!
How can I point my sword at this respectful master that taught me so much? How can I point my sword at my brothers and companions that has lived by my side?
The tearing pain in his chest has already caused Hussein to lose his focus. From the combined attacks of the knight leader and the 10 senior knights, Hussein could no longer fend off the group, even with his tyrannical powers.
But why can't I lift up the killing intent inside my heart?
It cannot be... It cannot be! I can't kill my brothers! How can I lift my sword against my senior elders?
But... I must survive. I want to live on and bring forth the truth to the public! The Temple lies and all the hypocrisy of the so called gods! I'll tell the world everything!! I cannot die here until I finished my quest!
So I will have to kill the people before me…..
Oh, but they're already dead! This is all but a fantasy...
But facing them, how can I raise my sword and butcher them a second time? Facing all these familiar faces…..
Dadaneier has already collapsed on the ground. In a weak breath, he suddenly shouted. "Hussein! What are you waiting for! They are phantoms! All fake! Fake!! Why don't you fight back!!"
"Shut up!" Hussein lets out a thundering shout. Without waiting, knight leader Hoilik once again raised his sword and slashed down with his Sword Qi against Hussein. With a snort, Hussein blocked off the attack but was pushed back a series of steps by the repeated burst of attacks by the other knights. Looking at the ground, you could see cracks appearing on the ground from each of the steps he took.
Maybe I'll die in here.
I shouldn't be alive today! In order to live, I had to kill so many of my brothers and companions….. Am I so noble?
HA HA!
HA HA HA!!!
Du-Wei opened his eyes and found himself lying on top of a table.
This place was a big room, exactly like a meeting hall. In the air, there was a faint aroma. This type of scent smelled very comfortable, as if there was a warmth in one's stomach.
Du-Wei rolled over and sat up. Stretching his body, he looked out into the empty Hall and smiled. "Thank you, I had a very good dream."
In the empty room, the sound produced by Du-Wei was gently echoing back towards him. With a sigh, Du-Wei looked around and saw that there was only a stone bed in the middle…. Or to be more accurate, it was just a large stone table.
Cold and lifeless.
"You should at least get some lights on." Du-Wei laughed, then spoke as if he was talking to himself. "On the bright side, this is at least warm…. So it won't be so lonely."
"Lonely... What the hell is that?"
While still in the hoarse and muffled voice…. Medusa finally asked another question.
What is loneliness?
Du-Wei lowered in his head in thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Loneliness is when your heart feels empty and no one can share your feelings with you, whether it is anger, happiness, sadness, or joy….. Everything in this world doesn't have a relationship with you and no one cares about you…. You don't know why you are living in this world, you don't know what to do and you don't know what to think….. When you have these kind of feelings, this is known as loneliness!"
Medusa sighed, her voice carried a trace of weariness and a hint of weakness.
"If you say these things are what makes up 'loneliness'..." Then the color of the world must be painted in horror, the quiet voice sighed.
"I am lonely."
บท 85: Hussein’s Metamorphosis
Hussein felt his strength continue to leave him as the blood drained from his body. Now, he could no longer distinguish exactly how many injuries he was carrying. The heaviest wound on his left leg was dripping fresh droplets of blood, staining his pants.
In an attempt to lean his forehead against his sword, Hussein nearly sliced off half his head. Luckily he was able to quickly dodge the weapon in time. Above his left eye, a deep wound, revealing the skull bone could be seen. Blood was seeping out and dyeing the knight's vision in a blood red coloration.
With an unbalanced body, Hussein could only hold onto the wooden crutch (walking stick) that he made before to support himself.
"Hussein, how long will you continue to struggle?" Hussein reluctantly opened his eyes as the sound of Hoilik's voice achoed against his ear, but the only thing he saw was slash of Sword Qi flying towards him. Lifting his sword with his numbed arms, Hussein managed to block the attack but what followed was the crisp sound of shattering fragments. No longer able to bear the strain, the broken sword in Hussein's hand finally shattered into multiple pieces and he was also sent flying from this one strike. Unable to stop, Hussein landed across the arena and laid on the floor.
"Give it up Hussein." Knight leader Hoilik came up to where Hussein was and looked down at the already near death traitor. His voice was just like how Hussein remembered in his memory, "Hussein, God's will must not be defied. It may not be too late to repent now!"
Hussein started laughing as he lay on the floor.
His face was already buried in the fine chips of stone covering the ground so it sounded like a muffled laughter.
Subsequently, the Knight looked up and gently blew away the blood soaked hair on his forehead. With eyes like someone that has given up, he spoke. "Knight leader Hoilik….. I really want to give up. I'm tired of this lifestyle where I have to point my sword against my companions…. I'm tired of it! Even though I know you are only a phantom of my heart…. But I'm really tired. I want to be free, I really want to escape all of this. Perhaps, I wasn't meant to shoulder this heavy burden."
With that said, the knight lifted himself up in a crawl. Without a sword in his hand, he could barely keep his upper body upright and his breathing was so heavy that it was like a hole was pierced into his throat. Afterwards, the knight pointed to his throat with a finger and smiled: "It is here, here... Stab at this point. I remembered master taught me if a sword was to pierce through this point, it would be a fatal blow, and then….. I would no longer be burdened with anything." The smile on the knight was very odd and his eyes were getting more and more sullen as he stared at knight leader Hoilik. From his eyes, you can see that Hussein has already given up as he looked up to towards the oncoming sword on top of his head.
But yet at this time, the prideful Knight once again had a hint of struggle in his eyes…. This hint of struggle was almost instinctive and no one knew where this last remnant of struggle came from.
"I... Can I ask one last question?" Hussein gasped and his eyes showed good faith without any doubt in them. In a soft and sincere voice, "Lord Hoilik, you have taught me a lot in the past, so before I die, can you please answer my last question?"
The sword in Hoilik's hand slowed down, "Hussein, go ahead and ask."
"Tell me... What exactly is God?"
Facing the moment of death, as if unable to give up the faith in his own heart, the Knight puts forth his own life. Until now, this was the biggest doubt in him... Or perhaps, this question is not a problem for the Knight because in his mind, he already knew the answer…. The reason he proposed this was because of an unyielding and unwilling cry in his heart!
What is God?
Humph! What is God!!!
What exactly is God!!!
The pious and faithful Holy Knight replied, "God is everything." Hoilik puts on a reverence expression, "Everything! All things, life, sky, Sun and moon, stars, and all the creatures. The will of everything in this world is determined by God! Each of us are living according to the will of God! So... God is everything!"
"Oh... All... HA HA HA HA..." There was disappointment in Hussein's eyes, but there was also something more and that was disdain! His head was shaking and his laugh grew from small to a loud roar. His voice was also somewhat crazy and provocative, a little unruly, a little haughty, and a little rebellious!
"Oh... Haha... HA HA HA HA!! Everything! All!! You say?" Hussein suddenly raised his head with an unyielding anger on his face and then in a near shouting voice, he shouted out his inner thoughts.
"Why!!!"
Seemingly, a breath of life infused into the knight's heart and cracked apart the yoke of despair inside him. Light once again returned to his eyes and an indomitable fighting spirit was burning in him!
"Why!" He grunted with a painful expression on his face. Struggling to stand up, he no longer allowed Hoilik to continue looking down at him in a condescending way... Instead, with pride, dignity, and equal to the person in front of him, he spoke: "Why! Why must God be so high and mighty! Why must all things live according to its will in order to survive? Why can it represent the will of all things? Is it the Sun? Even the sun would have a time where it would set! Is it the stars? But even the stars would have a time when it would fall! Is it time itself? But time marches on!! Why must it alone be perpetual and without change!"
Hussein's entire body was already covered in bloodied wounds but then at this moment, the wounds suddenly healed! The wounds squirmed and frantically bumped up as it tries to close up the wounds with each ticking moment. Suddenly, a deep golden light burst forth from his eyes and chest! Then… a rumbling sound could be heard!
A brilliant golden light suddenly erupted from Hussein's already dying body!
Not the pale golden light from before! But instead, real deep gold like that of the sun! Bright and brilliant!
Bathed in the burning energy, Hussein closed his eyes and clenched his fist. A glimmer of peace could be seen on his face as the roaring golden flames engulfed his body, cleansing his soul, bones, and muscles in his body….
This feeling is very….. Comfortable.
As if reverting back into a fetus inside a womb and soaking in the amniotic fluid. His whole body had a warm feeling corsing through him as if the liquid was moistening his withered soul and reincarnating his entire being!
As Hoilik's sword made contact with the golden Dou Qi, the sword immediately melted away!
Hoilik looked at Hussein, then shouted in a roar. "Obstinate traitor, die!"
With a howling sound, the sword struck down like a falling meteor as it aimed at Hussein's head!
But...
Gently opening his eyes, Hussein casually reached out his hand and gripped the oncoming blade…..
Easily gripping the blade with his powerful hand, no matter how much Hoilik struggled, the ninth level knight was unable to budge the sword even an inch.
Drops of blood were dripping down the palm of his hand holding the blade. Each droplet of blood seemed to turn into a golden color as it touched the ground! Enshrouded inside the golden Dou QI, the wound on the palm immediately healed and the sword was slowly melting away as it burned under the light!
At that moment, the rebellion Hussein finally changed!
Opening his eyes, the pupil has completely turned into a golden color. With an indifferent face, he looked at Hoilik and spoke in a gentle but understating tone, as if pledging, he said:
"Even if you say God represents the will of everything in this world... However, I'm an exception! My will is free and will not be enslaved by anything! Even if the other person is the so called God!"
Gently lifting one hand, then gently falling down like leaves in the wind. Hoilik was easily beheaded and blood sprayed out into the air!
Hussein slowly puts down his hand and quietly looked at it. His eyes were almost motionless as he spoke, "This…. Is the power of a Saint Paladin?
"You see, my friends can solve it by themselves." Du-Wei smiled confidently, calmly sitting down on the floor. In front of him was a stone wall and on the wall was a surface like rippling waters. Appearing on this surface was a picture: Hussein was enshrouded in a golden Dou Qi, then with a wave of a single hand, the powerful knight leader was easily beheaded by Hussein.
"Thank you, this thing is like a movie... Well, even if you don't know what movies are." Du-Wei said it with a smile.
Medusa's hoarse and deep voice sounded puzzled: "Didn't he give up already earlier? Why all of a sudden he would…"
"This is the human faith." Du-Wei replied in a solemn tone, "Remember, this is the human 'faith'. This power may be present in every person's heart. You can't really see it when it's weak, but you will see it when it explodes…. You saw it, this faith.... Is a part of human nature."
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