Risk and Reward
Eric stood in the soul realm once again. The space around him was still as dark and endless as before, lit by a strange glow that had no source. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. The duck ability had been amusing. Being waterproof was fun, and it had given him a glimpse into what soul powers could do. But now, he wanted more.
Back in the real world, the company he worked for had offered generous compensation to the survivors of the building collapse. Eric had been given paid leave for recovery, and with no job to worry about and plenty of free time, he decided to dive deeper into the soul realm. He wanted to understand his powers better. He wanted to grow stronger.
Maxi, the soul rabbit who had become his guide, floated nearby, chewing on something invisible. Eric turned to him with a question that had been bothering him.
"So," Eric asked, "why am I the one who got the soul powers? Why not someone else? There are people in The Order who've killed dozens of monsters. Why me?"
Maxi paused, looked up, and shrugged. "Why the heck would I know?"
Eric stared at him. "That's it? That's your answer?"
"Yup," Maxi said, hopping in a circle. "Sometimes things just happen. Maybe you were in the right place at the right time. Or maybe the soul realm saw something in you. Who knows?"
Eric sighed. It wasn't the answer he wanted, but it was the only one he was going to get.
He remembered something Maxi had told him earlier—he could bring items from the real world into the soul realm. Curious, Eric raised his hand and focused. A faint smoke appeared around his wrist, and with a soft pop, his old baseball bat materialized in his grip. It was the same one he used during college games. A little worn, but solid.
"I want to fight a Class 5 demon," Eric said. "The weakest one you can find."
Maxi raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
Eric nodded. "I need to test myself."
"Alright," Maxi said. "Let's go."
The dark space faded, and Eric found himself back in the circular arena. The walls stretched endlessly, and the air felt heavier than before. In front of him, a glowing figure began to form. It twisted and shifted until it took the shape of a demon. Tall, muscular, with jagged horns and glowing red eyes. Its mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and it let out a scream in a language Eric couldn't understand.
The demon charged.
Eric gripped his bat tightly. The demon was fast. Too fast. It was inches away, ready to bite into him, when Eric swung with all his strength. The bat connected with a sickening crack, sending the demon stumbling backward. Eric didn't stop. He swung again. And again. Blow after blow, he beat the demon down until it collapsed, fading into mist.
Maxi reappeared beside him. "Nice work," he said. "That was brutal."
Eric was breathing hard, adrenaline rushing through him. "What powers did I get?"
Maxi tapped his paw against the ground. "Increased strength and enhanced senses. You'll feel it once you're back."
Eric nodded. He was happy with the result. But something inside him stirred. A hunger. He had won once, could he win again? He tried to resist the urge, but it was strong. The thrill of victory, the rush of power was addictive.
"One more soul," he said quietly.
Maxi looked at him. "You sure?"
Eric didn't answer. He just stared at the arena.
"Alright," Maxi said. "Class 5 werewolf. Let's see how you handle this one."
The arena shifted slightly. The air grew colder. A new figure appeared—taller than the demon, leaner, but more terrifying. The werewolf's eyes glowed yellow, and its claws gleamed like blades. It snarled, baring its fangs.
Eric charged, bat raised.
The werewolf dodged easily, moving with unnatural speed. Before Eric could react, it slashed across his back. Pain exploded through him. He stumbled, gasping. Blood dripped down his shirt. The werewolf didn't stop. It lunged again, claws swiping.
Eric rolled to the side, barely avoiding another hit. His heart pounded. This wasn't like the demon. This creature was smarter, faster, and far more dangerous.
Fear crept in.
Eric backed away, trying to catch his breath. The werewolf circled him, growling. Eric gripped his bat tighter, sweat pouring down his face. He waited for the right moment—and then, with everything he had, he swung.
The bat connected with the werewolf's side. It howled in pain, stumbling. Eric didn't stop. He struck again. And again. Each hit was fueled by desperation. The werewolf collapsed, and Eric kept swinging until it vanished into mist.
He dropped the bat, breathing heavily.
Maxi appeared beside him. "That was close," he said. "You almost died."
Eric nodded. "I know."
"From the werewolf," Maxi continued, "you gained enhanced smell, best in the animal kingdom and incredible stamina. But more importantly, you learned something."
Eric looked at him. "What?"
"That this isn't a game," Maxi said. "You got lucky. But next time, you might not."
Eric sat down, staring at the ground. He had felt invincible after beating the demon. But the werewolf had reminded him that this world was dangerous. The rewards were high, but so was the risk. He needed to be smarter. More careful.
He returned to the black space, and then, with a blink, he was back in his apartment. Max the cat was still asleep on the couch. The rain outside hadn't stopped. And Eric was standing exactly where he had been before entering the soul realm.
It was like no time had passed.
He walked to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked the same. But he didn't feel the same. His body felt stronger. His senses sharper. He could hear the rain hitting the window with perfect clarity. He could smell the faint scent of his neighbor's cooking from two floors down. And his muscles felt like they could run for hours without tiring. There was no sign of the injuries, as they only remained till the fight ended.
He smiled.
The next morning, Eric woke up early. He dressed quickly, grabbed his bag, and stepped outside. The city was busy as usual. Cars honking, people rushing to work. But Eric wasn't heading to his office.
He was going somewhere else.
He walked for nearly an hour, passing through crowded streets and quiet alleys, until he reached a tall building with a massive emblem on the front—a sword wrapped in flames.
The headquarters of The Order.
Eric stood outside, staring up at the structure. It was intimidating, but also exciting. This was the organization that handled monster attacks. The people inside were trained, powerful, and respected. And now, Eric was about to walk through their doors.
He didn't know what would happen next. Whether they'd accept him, reject him, or laugh him out of the building. But one thing was certain. This place was going to change his life.
For better or worse.