One day had passed. Fizz was still sleeping.
"Ah... When is he going to wake up?" Kichu said, clearly frustrated.
"I don't care if he wakes up or not, but the snoring is unbearable," Roco groaned, covering his ears.
Suddenly, Fizz jumped up from his bed and shouted, "Ah... Am I alive?"
He looked around in confusion, then flopped back onto the bed.
"Get up, you piece of shit," Kichu said, punching him in the head.
"Oops... I slept for a while," Fizz yawned.
"A while? You slept the whole damn day," Roco said.
"Hah... I've slept for a week once," Fizz said, walking to the kitchen. He grabbed a snack and took a bite.
"This is a really good spaceship, kid. Did you steal it?"
Roco burst into laughter, trying to hold it in.
"No, a man gave it to me," Kichu replied.
"Oh... then he's a good man. Otherwise, he wouldn't give such a treasure to a brat like you," Fizz said, sitting on a chair.
"Can you stop insulting me and just tell us where the planet is?" Kichu said, irritated.
"Yeah, yeah. But before we go to the planet with the transcript, we need to make a stop at another planet," Fizz replied, sipping tea.
"Why?" Kichu asked.
"Ah, this tea is good. Who made it?"
"Texa made it. Now can you tell me why we—"
"Texa? You didn't tell me there's a girl here!" Fizz leaped out of his chair, fixing his hair.
"Oh, shit. It's not a girl... she's just an AI," Kichu said flatly.
Fizz froze, sat back down slowly, and then asked, "By AI, you mean..."
"Exactly. Hey, Texa," Kichu called.
"Ruru... Yes, Kichu. Do you need something?" Texa responded.
"We have a new companion. Say hi to Fizz Highbolt."
"Hello, Fizz Highbolt. Nice to meet you. Feel free to approach me for any help," Texa said.
"Can we talk about the matter now?" Kichu asked.
"Yeah." Fizz gulped the tea in one go and wiped his lips.
"Ugh... it's not alcohol, you bastard," Roco muttered.
"So, we're going to meet a friend of Sir Xavton. He'll give us the details."
"Okay... what's the name of this planet?"
"It's in the Apporoma Galaxy. The planet is called Hedaxipotomous," Fizz said.
"Huh? What? How do you even pronounce that?" Kichu blinked in confusion.
"Just like I did."
"Okay, no point talking to you. Texa, set our destination to Hippapotomas..."
"Hedaxipotomous," Fizz corrected.
"Yeah, whatever the hell that is."
"Setting destination to Hedaxipotomous. Searching routes... 1,870,000 routes found. Selecting the quickest route. Rururu... Please choose between these two," Texa said, showing them on the monitor.
"Why ask me? Just pick it yourself," Kichu replied.
"Rururu... Response needed. Route Two is faster but more dangerous. Many travelers encountered wormholes. Which do you prefer?"
"I can't risk another wormhole. How long does each route take?"
"Route One: two weeks. Route Two: five days."
"That's a big delay... Hm... Can't waste time. I'll take the risk. Texa, choose Route Two."
"Taking Route Two. Estimated time: five days and one hour."
The spaceship started to accelerate.
"Ah... I'm going to sleep," Kichu said.
"You sure we won't get sucked into a wormhole again?" Roco asked.
"Please... It won't happen. If it does, I'll call you 'Master' for an entire day," Kichu mumbled as he drifted off.
"Fair enough," Roco said and began training.
Fizz sat nearby, watching him closely. After a while, Roco noticed and walked up to him.
"What's your problem?"
"Nothing. Just observing. You've got great potential... but nothing going on up here," Fizz said, tapping his head.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You won't get far with your Sin unless you train your soul energy."
"I don't need that. I'll master my Sin and achieve a power to defeat even Immortal."
"Immortal? Haha..." Fizz laughed loudly.
"What? I'm serious."
"Kid, you have no clue how this universe works. You've been in safe mode till now. Things are about to get hellish. Ever even seen a Devil?"
"No."
"I've seen two. Barely made it out alive. You wouldn't last a second."
"I don't care. I have someone to save. I'll do whatever it takes," Roco said, eyes blazing.
Fizz stared at him, impressed.
"Hah... Teaching isn't my thing, but I'll do it."
"What?"
"Tomorrow morning, I'll start teaching you the fundamentals of soul sensing. Bring that brat too—he's got potential."
"Don't think it'll be easy," Fizz added, walking away. "You'll wish I never joined this journey."
Roco smiled and resumed his training.
---
The next day
"Hey... oh jeez, you're always like this. You've been training again, haven't you? When are you going to make us proud, son?"
A woman's voice echoed in Kichu's dream.
"Mom?" Kichu called softly.
"I can't wait for you to grow."
"Ah..."
Kichu jolted awake, drenched in sweat, panting.
"What was that?" he gasped, then chugged a full jug of water.
"It's happening again... These memories... are they even mine?"
He shook his head, confused, and walked to the main hall where Roco and Fizz were waiting.
"Why are you guys up so early?" Kichu asked.
"Early? It's 9, asshole. Get ready," Roco replied.
"Oh... I didn't realize." Kichu yawned.
"Get ready quickly. I've got something important to say," Fizz said.
Kichu returned after getting ready.
"So, yesterday I told Roco I'd teach you two the basics of soul sensing—something you've been curious about," Fizz began.
"Whoa, whoa—hold on. Fill me in. You're teaching soul sensing?" Kichu interrupted.
"Yeah. Got a problem?"
"No, just... you sure you can pull it off?"
"Of course I can. And don't interrupt me again," Fizz said.
"Yes, sir," Kichu mocked.
"Oh, I like your attitude. Try to keep up. Good luck."
Fizz picked up a pencil.
"The main thing about soul sensing: you do everything with your own soul energy."
He snapped the pencil in half without touching it.
"Like the energy we use for daily activities, a bit of soul energy is produced too. It's so little, it's useless—unless trained. We're not creating new energy; we're increasing its production."
"I have a question," Kichu raised his hand.
"What?"
"Could it be that normal people have figured this out, but just don't realize it?"
"Maybe. But without proper training, they can't grow it. You're from Earth, right? Most people don't even know soul energy exists."
"Yeah. We have no idea."
"Figured. Are there people who can do miracles? Lift huge weights or run faster than anyone?"
"Yeah, a few."
"Then they've taken the first step toward soul sensing."
"Got it."
"Soul energy is your ultimate inner power. Soul sensing is how you use it."
Fizz vanished and reappeared behind Kichu before he could even turn around.
"See that?"
"Barely. But that's just your Sin, right?" Kichu asked.
"What if I told you I didn't use it?"
"Haha... good one."
"I'm serious. I boosted my speed using only soul sensing. No Sin involved."
"You mean you can go even faster with your Sin?" Roco asked.
"Exactly. Now, enough talking—let's begin."
He pointed at them.
"Roco, you already have plenty of soul energy. You'll start training in soul sensing directly."
He turned to Kichu.
"You'll focus on boosting your soul energy first."
"Ahh… can I say something?" Kichu asked Fizz.
"Yeah?"
"I already know the basics, by the way. I can differentiate a person's soul energy from natural energy," Kichu said.
"Wait! You mean you already know how to sense others?" Fizz asked, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, but I'm not that great at it."
"No… no, that's not the problem here. Ah… I'm overthinking. Never mind. I'll just start from the beginning. You can improve it from there."
"Okay," Kichu said, determined.
"That being said, let's begin. We can't do compact training inside the spaceship—that can wait. First, Kichu, imagine you own a small business. You want to grow it, but the economy and your lack of experience hold you back. What would you do?" Fizz asked.
"Umm… I'm not good with business stuff, but I guess you'd study the economy and wait until you gain enough experience," Kichu replied.
"Exactly! Think of the company as soul sensing. You can't build it in a week. That's why I've been studying this for ten years," Fizz said.
"Ten years? That's a lot," Kichu said.
"A lot? Kid, there are people who've been trying to master it for nearly a hundred years," Fizz said, striking him with a dose of reality.
"So how are we supposed to study it?" Roco asked.
"I'll fill you in on the basics and the essentials you need to know. After that, it's in your hands. As time goes on, you'll apply it in real life and become professionals at it," Fizz explained.
"Yeah, yeah… just get to the point already," Kichu said.
Fizz looked at Kichu with a smile and picked up a coffee cup.
"Roco, fill this with water," Fizz said, and Roco did.
"Now, I want you two to spill the water from this cup—without touching it," Fizz said.
Both Kichu and Roco stared at him, confused.
"Can I use a stick?" Kichu asked.
"For fuck's sake. What am I teaching you?" Fizz asked, frustrated.
"Soul sensing," Kichu replied.
"Then do it with your soul energy," Fizz said, placing the cup on a table.
"This is impossible, man!" Kichu shouted after staring at the cup for a while. Roco was still trying.
"Impossible? What are you talking about?" Fizz raised his hand while munching on bread. Suddenly, all the water flowed out of the cup. Kichu and Roco stood stunned as Fizz took another bite.
"Fill the cup and try again," Fizz said.
Kichu and Roco kept struggling, but there was no progress.
"Okay, let's stop here for today. You can still keep trying if you want. Hah… I'm tired. I'm going to sleep," Fizz said and left.
"That's supposed to be my line," Kichu muttered and sat on the floor. He glanced at Roco, who was still trying.
"It's enough, man. We can continue tomorrow," Kichu said, panting.
"No… I have to do this now," Roco replied, trying again and again. Kichu, moved by his determination, resumed trying as well.
The day passed…
The next morning, Fizz walked into the hall. The first thing he saw was Roco, still training.
"Oh… we've got a determined brat," he said, sitting on a chair.
Just then, Kichu walked in rubbing his eyes. When he saw Roco, his eyes widened, and he quickly ran off to brush.
"Did you make any progress?" Fizz asked Roco.
"No… but I'm trying," Roco replied, staring at the cup intensely. Suddenly, the water began to bubble. A few seconds later, Roco collapsed to the floor.
"That's progress, right?" he asked.
"It sure is," Fizz said with a smile.
As time passed, Roco actually managed to spill a small amount of water. But Kichu showed no progress.
"That's it for today. And Kichu… I want to talk to you alone," Fizz said and walked to the monitor room.
"What is it?" Kichu asked.
"Don't push yourself too hard, kid. I should've seen it earlier," Fizz said.
"Just say it already."
"There are different kinds of soul energy. But in your case… I can't figure it out. You have a tremendous amount. That sword is proof. But somehow, you can't use it. Why? It still amazes me," Fizz said.
"So, you're telling me I have tons of soul energy, but I can't use it? What the fuck does that even mean?"
"It's beyond my knowledge. So, I contacted a researcher who specializes in soul energy. When I mentioned you, he wanted to meet you immediately. I've arranged for him to meet us on Hedoxipotomous. Until then, work on your reflexes or compact techniques," Fizz explained, walking toward his room.
"What about him?" Kichu asked, referring to Roco.
"He's already making progress. Keep training, or he'll surpass you," Fizz said with a smirk.
"I don't care about that..." Kichu grumbled and walked away in frustration.
"This is how you trigger a brat," Fizz chuckled and went to bed.
Kichu entered his room and sat on the bed.
"What am I doing? I used to have a goal… a mission. Now I'm just wandering. No progress at all. 'I'll beat Immortal'—my ass! I can't even scratch that king," Kichu muttered, then lay down.
"If I think back… I was happy on Earth. Ah… I want to see Mom. I'm such an asshole—I left her all alone in that world. But maybe it's better for her. I wasn't a good son," Kichu whispered, as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
To Be Continued....