"Bow before me, and despair at my fearsome might!"
The strange black spectre rammed itself against Epsilons forehead, but it quickly bounced off him before spinning in mid air for a bit. And yet, instead of giving up, it seemed to manifest two tiny protrusions that resembled arms curled up into fists, before attacking yet again.
As expected, it did absolutely no damage.
"This thing is annoying me..."
Giving the ghost a simple forehead flick, it was sent flying back before bouncing off Ki Song.
"I think I felt something? Was that it?"
"Yes it was."
After playing around with it for a while, it became evident that Ki Song was also unable to comprehend nor hear the spirit. However, it was apparent that the.. whatever that thing is.. was capable of interacting with its environment.
Perhaps it would've been a problem if it were more powerful, but this thing didn't even seem to possess a rank or class. It wasn't even harmful either, just plain annoying.
"Bah! Impossible! Your power is too great... even greater than my own... could it be... that you are gods?!"
Was it trying to be funny? A last ditch effort at humour to spare its life? Because at this rate, Epsilon was more inclined to kill it.
He stuck his hand out and grabbed the creature with relative ease. It struggled in his grip, but escape was futile.
"Wait.. wait! If you let me live, I can promise you treasure! A sea of gold that stretches out for miles!"
Epsilons grip tightened.
"A powerful weapon perhaps? One forged from the the spine of a scared?"
"Like hell you have something like that."
Although the creature was pitch black, under Epsilons grip it looked to turn blue from suffocation.
"Hang on! Hang on! Hang on! How about a turn with the Jin Of Covet!? You can get whatever you want that way! Please just let me live!!!"
Epsilon summoned his blade, and was just about to cut the creature in two. But right before he did, Smile Of Heaven called out.
"Epsilon, wait. Let's hear him out a little."
Sighing, he released his grip as the strange creature quickly backed away from him. Out of the 4, Smile Of Heaven was also able to see the creature thanks to also being in a spirit like state.
"He's squishy like playdough.. it's kinda cute?"
"Cute!? YOU DARE REFER TO THIS KING AS CUTE!?!"
A few moments later, Epsilons fist collided into whatever the spirit had for a cranium.
**
"So what.. are you exactly?"
The ghost cleared its throat, before going on a long rant,
"Is it not obvious? I am the spirit of a king! And not just any king.. but a powerful, rich, handsome, talented, charming, honourable, sincere, reliable, courageous, humble, wealthy, respectful, brave, valiant, powerful, grounded, genuine, dependable, knowledgeable, gifted.."
"WE GET IT, YOU'RE A KING! SHUT UP!"
"Oh alright, calm down! ...But did I mention that I was powerful?"
Epsilon was just about to launch himself at the spirit again, this time with his blade in hand, but Cassius quickly grabbed him by the arm. Epsilon gave him a frustrated glare, but Cassius simply shook his head.
'This is the last time.'
Smile Of Heaven then asked,
"Can you atleast give us your name?"
"Fine... if you wish to know who I am, then steel yourself for the truth...
I am The Venerable Legend, The Greatest Supreme amongst all the realms, The Herald Of Carnage who brings Death and Despair to his enemies, but victory and wealth to his allies. I am an heir of war, the master of a thousand crafts, with an arsenal of tools so innumerable, that my military might cannot be fathomed!"
He was ranting again. Epsilon was just about approaching his last straws.
"I AM!
...
..
..
Hm... it seems I can't remember."
Epsilon sighed heavily. Standing up, he simply said,
"You know what? I'm done."
Silently walking out the room, his footsteps resounded before disappearing further into the darkness of the inn. Ki Song and Cassius could not hear what the spirit was saying, so they could not understand what made him so frustrated.
Sparing them of the translation, Smile Of Heaven simply said,
"He says he can't remember his name."
Cassius's face remained neutral, but Ki Songs instead began to glow,
"So that means we get to name him then?"
"Name me? What do you think I am? Some kind of pet??? I am a king! I shall take no name but the one my mother and the world gave me! ...which I also forgot."
Smile Of Heaven shook her nonexistent head,
"Well, what do you want to be called? Just spirit? You can't even remember your own name!"
He seemed to grumble. Being called by his appearance felt derogatory. No doubt he would nag at everyone if they did so, but whatever names he felt like he should be called were lost to him.
What even was the point of naming him? Why should he care? He was alive again, he could do whatever he wanted!
Then, Cassius gave a strange suggestion,
"How about we just call him Bob?"
Ki Song and Gracia gave Epsilon a strange look that said the exact same thing.
'Are you serious?'
But the spirit seemed to disagree for some odd reason.
"No... Bob... it sounds.. dignified.. so simple and humble.. yet eerie and terrifying, but most importantly.. familiar... yes! My name is now Bob!"
Bob.. Bob... how could anyone willingly call themselves that? It was an incredibly outdated name in the waking world, and then there's the god awful naming sense you'd need to have to even consider it.
The two girls couldn't imagine a name worse then that, who knows what the spirit.. Bob was called in his prior life.
Pushing out those thoughts, Smile Of Heaven continued on with her questioning,
"So anyway.. Bob.. How did you come back to life?"
The spirit froze. It was a strange question it hadn't even thought about before. But after giving it some thought, he recalled a strange memory.
"Well I was asleep for a very long-time I think. Everything was dark, so so dark. But for some reason, I felt at peace. What was happening to my Kingdom didn't matter, the people I left behind didn't matter, it was just me and the dark. But then, I saw a light. Once my eyes laid upon it, I suddenly felt aware of my own existence. It was as if I had been jolted awake after being in a deep sleep for an eternity. At first I wanted to go back, but as I grew more and more aware of my current state, I found myself being drawn in towards that light. Until eventually, I..."
Before it could finish, the black smoke Bob was emitting began to grow weak and hazy. It tried form a sentence, but it seemed to stammer before turning into nonsensical garbage.
"?"
Then its size shrank, and suddenly it found itself collapsed on the floor.
It was dying, not even an hour after being brought back to life.