Soul forms. They are the main core of this endless dream. They are the ones which connect the main body and the soul of the dreamer together. If it gets broken, then the dreamer will eventually get cut off from the dream and then will die.
They differ in 10 different colours based on your purity:
White, Light Yellow, Light Blue, Ivory, Pale Gray, Light Gray, Silver, Gray, Dark Gray, Black.
White is the purest yet the most corrupted. Black is the least pure and the least corrupted.
I looked over at Void in a doubtful manner. I couldn't understand why he wanted me to do this. I'm at the Light Yellow stage, he should have known that, yet he's trying to ask me for something like this?
It's ridiculous. Going down from Light Yellow to Black is just ridiculous. I slowly opened my mouth.
"...I know what you want me to do. But everything should have a logic to it. There doesn't seem to be any logic in your request."
Void was by far the strongest, yet I was talking to him like this. I wouldn't regret it because that's the type of treatment I should provide him after requesting something like this.
[You'll die, you know that.]
I knew it.
[You can't survive alone. You'll keep getting into troubles which will lead you to your death.]
I closed and opened my eyes. "My fate is already decided. Even if I have to die, then I'll accept it as gratitude."
[You don't seem to understand.]
I looked over at other objects. Sphere, Cores, Horns, Swords, Spears—everything here seemed to resemble a past war.
[Your fate is written over your face.]
My eyes, which were looking at flying objects, moved to look at the Void, who was standing still with his hands inside his coat's pockets.
I didn't give him an answer, and the silence continued. Until it was broken by Void.
[Every time you survive death, your fate gets re-written, and it shows your death again.]
...Huh? Am I destined to not survive?
I don't know what type of face I was making after hearing this, but the way Void was looking at me with pitiful eyes—it looked like I was making a disappointed face.
I wrote this dream, yet this dream doesn't want me.
Am I getting abandoned by this dream?
It has happened multiple times now. I was on the verge of death several times. I survived them with luck, but luck doesn't work every time. Sometimes luck turns into bad luck when we aren't aware of it.
I already knew that Void can see our lifespans since he's the one holding the position of the 'maker' of this world.
But to think that he would spit it out to me so easily...
Just like that, I didn't give a reply and just stared at the ground blankly. No, my reply was the nothingness I gave to him. I clenched my fists slowly as the frustration of being abandoned by this dream flew through my head countless times.
It was unbearable.
「This dream will eliminate you if you try to change your fate」
The sentences I wrote:
「Several tears burst out of Anna's eyes as she held her lover, ■■■, in her hands」
The filtering I showed:
「■■■ decided to change his fate which resulted in his death」
The fate I wrote:
「Anna stood alone in the room. The room was completely white, resembling Anna's soul form」
The character I wrote:
「Anna opened her mouth, "I know you're there."」
The death I gave to her:
「She stood silent in front of the void—or in simple words, she didn't have the mouth to say a word. Her whole head was missing, laying on the ground like some ball」
This is Desired End.
I used to have fun while writing this. Will I have the same fun again? Probably not.
I was getting eaten by the sentences of my novel. I was drowning. I was screaming for help. I was begging. I was
Getting eaten by these sentences.
[Seems like you have a problem of overthinking]
I felt it. A voice coming towards me. It was the voice of the person who suffered more than Anna or anyone else in this world. It was Void.
I slowly looked straight into his eyes with tired-looking eyes. My hands were trembling. But my body wasn't. I wasn't feeling dizzy, yet I could feel that I would collapse any second.
I didn't need to cling to the past so much, yet I still was. If I don't stick to it, then I won't be able to change this dream. If I stop clinging to the past, then the fate of this dream is destruction.
Clinging to the past is my one and only option. But it's not the correct place to cry over my mistakes.
I took a breath and looked into Void's emotionless eyes.
"..How should I overcome this so-called fate?"
Void looked interested in my question.
[You can't overcome fate.]
As expected, fate can't be changed, but I was able to change the fate of Han Seeyoung, so it should be possible again. I've already decided to change the fate of this endless dream, so I need to learn different ways of overcoming fate.
Fate is something I know nothing of. Desired End didn't have any concept termed as 'Fate' because it wasn't needed. But it seems like this dream has this so-called thing—fate.
That's why I needed the help of Void, who knows more about fate than me.
"There should be a way."
[There isn't.]
"There are multiple ways to survive. There are three ways to come back from death, but there isn't any way to overcome fate? I'm disappointed."
Void opened and closed his eyes.
[Why don't you use the knowledge of that book?]
"There isn't any fate in that book."
[Impossible.]
"It's possible."
[That's stupid.]
"Sigh."
The trembling of my hands had stopped. I was looking calm, yet there was a fear that was planted inside me. The fear of the fate written over my face. What does it say? When will I be facing death again?
These were some of the questions I wanted to ask him but was unable to say. Anyway, why did Void even decide to bring fate into our conversation when we were talking about the black soul form?
I was somehow anxious about the doubt I had about this whole fate talk. I anxiously opened my mouth.
"..Is my reaching the black soul form somehow related to my fate?"
Gulp.
There must be a relation between both things. Fate is something Void wouldn't mention without having any profit from it. He spilled about my fate when he didn't need to tell me—
[That's right. There is a connection to it.]
My thoughts were interrupted by Void.
I knew it.
"Then tell me the whole story."
Void sighed and looked at me with tired eyes. He was tired of this long conversation.
[Your fate is unchangeable.]
I looked down in disappointment. Is this really not possible? Just how many times do I need to survive death and continuously rewrite my fate until it lets me live? Just for how long?
When will I be free from the continuous cycle of life and death?
[But, it's avoidable.]
I looked at Void with astonishment. I couldn't say a word nor think about anything. I only wanted Void to continue his words.
That way, he continued.
[What if your soul form gets destroyed and you get a new soul form?]
I was now looking at Void with anxious looks. Void was mentioning something that was abandoned by this dream a long time ago.
"..You mean Soul Link?"
[That's right.]
A small curve appeared on my mouth as I heard Void.
Soul Link is a ritual that was used 1500 years ago. This ritual helps the participants link their soul form with the soul form of the other participant. Their soul forms would become the same colour, and they could even exchange their bodies whenever they wanted.
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When one participant dies, the other will get informed about it instantly and can even control the body of the dead participant to fight and protect it. They can even intercommunicate within their heads.
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They can't share their skills nor the stats. The linking can only happen between two people. More than two will result in instant death. This link will only be valid for about 2 years. And it should be broken by the participants individually by doing the ritual again but in a reverse manner.
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Even if a participant dies, then they won't die in reality. Their body will be controlled by the other participant and their soul can peacefully wander for a day. After a day, the participant will come back to the body instantly.
That's the soul linking. The success rate of this ritual is only 20% because you would need to perform it in front of the Great God of Linking.
Great Gods are the most difficult to convince, that's why the success rate isn't high.
It's an abandoned skill, so it isn't necessary that the Great God would accept the completion of this ritual.
But if this ritual succeeds, then I'll have 2 years of guaranteed survival. My fate could be avoided. I won't die. I'll see the end of this dream if it succeeds. Two years are more than enough to become strong enough to survive this dream.
I clenched my fists. "What'll you gain from this?"
Void gave a small smile.
[Two soul forms would become one. You'll inherit the Light Blue soul form and will achieve Black soul form.]
Ah, he'll use this to reach the Black soul form. No wonder he decided on this abandoned ritual so easily.
Sigh
"..So I don't have any other option to avoid or change my fate."
[That's right.]
"Do you think the Great God will let you perform this ritual?"
[We aren't talking about all the Great Gods. We are talking about the Great God of Linking. He's already forgotten by everyone. He is abandoned and alone. We can cure his loneliness.]
"What if the other Great Gods get to know about this?"
[It won't be a problem.]
"Why?"
[Because I'm the strongest.]
I gave a jealous smile.
...Talk about confidence.
"But still, this ritual is already forgotten. Performing it in this current era would be a total problem. What if we fail?"
[We won't know until we try.]
"Everyone says that."
Void stood silent. He was arguing with me not because he wanted me to avoid my fate, but because he wanted to see his colleague's face. This guy doesn't even care about me.
He spoke after some time. Maybe he got a comeback.
[Still, you're getting profit too. It's a win-win for both of us, then why not try it?]
Void could have forced me to do this. Maybe he doesn't want to use his authority over his colleague's matters. Whatever.
"You know what'll happen if it fails, right?"
[Yeah.]
If the ritual fails, then we'll be eaten by the Great God. Imagine Void getting eaten by one.
I was laughing over this thought when Void came forward and slapped my head.
[Get these weird imaginations out of your head and answer me.]
It hurts... Well, I know what I need to do.
I need to survive and in order to that, accomplishing this ritual is my one and only option left.
Well I can use this opportunity to understand this man in front of me more. The man who stands silent. The man who doesn't want to loose anything anymore. Yet again he's trying to risk everything he has for this ritual.
I'll become his companion and will provide him the support he deserves. I won't leave him alone.
"..Of course I'll participate in it with you. We are companions, after all."