Chapter 21: Ghouls
As Ini turned to leave the battlefield, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. His gaze fell upon the slaughtered carcasses of the beasts, and he noticed something peculiar. Small, glowing balls of light were floating around the bodies, emitting a soft, ethereal glow. Ini's curiosity was piqued, and he turned back to examine the phenomenon more closely. The warriors cleaning up the battlefield seemed oblivious to the glowing orbs, but Ini felt an inexplicable connection to them.
Without thinking, Ini subconsciously called out to the balls of light, and to his surprise, they immediately began to move towards him. As they touched his body, they disappeared into his skin, only to be followed by the remaining orbs at an incredible speed. Ini estimated that there were thousands of these glowing balls, and yet, he didn't feel any unusual sensations as they entered his body. However, as the last orb disappeared, Ini realized that something was amiss. He became aware of a strange, new space within himself, where the glowing orbs now resided. Ini was certain that this space hadn't existed before, and he made a mental note to visit Tosak to understand what was happening.
Arike's feminine voice broke Ini's train of thought, "Er... Ini, we can leave now." Ini turned to face her, nodding in agreement. Together, they headed back to the vehicle that had brought them to the battlefield, returning to the guild in silence.
Commander Tharkos stood on the bridge of the Iluniverse, gazing out at the multitude of ships docked within the massive vessel. It was a marvel of engineering, a self-sustaining space station that had become the epicenter of their operations. Tharkos's eyes scanned the various screens and holographic displays, taking note of the progress they had made. The Iluniverse was a hive of activity, with ships coming and going at all hours, ferrying supplies, personnel, and...other cargo.
Tharkos's thoughts turned to the words of his king, the ruler of their realm. "You know the Asthrax is a very powerful weapon," the king had said. "It's the cause of the abyss you fought in front of with the Kyrerians. Well, it is just like a god. It can create and destroy." Tharkos had heard the stories, of course. Everyone had. The Asthrax was a legendary artifact, one that had shaped the course of their history. And now, it seemed, it was exerting its influence on Earth.
"I believe it's showing its power of creation on Earth," the king had continued. "This means imdome rate minerals will form, and I want them. Keep sending soft slaves to Earth. So their magic energy is added to Earth's, making its evolution faster. Once it's ripe, I'll devour it." Tharkos didn't pretend to understand the intricacies of the king's plan. He was a soldier, not a strategist. His job was to carry out orders, not to question them. And so, he would continue to do just that, sending ship after ship to Earth, ferrying the soft slaves who would accelerate the planet's transformation.
Tharkos's own motivations were simple: he wanted to do his job and keep his head. In a realm where the king's whims could mean life or death, it was wise to focus on the task at hand and not ask too many questions. The Iluniverse would continue to orbit Earth, a constant presence as the planet underwent its transformation. And Tharkos would be here, overseeing the operation, until the king's plans came to fruition.
Tosaks ship
Tosak's ship was a marvel of advanced technology, and the three figures seated around the table were an unlikely trio. Tosak, the enigmatic alien, sat across from Ini and Arike, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Why did you bring her here?" he asked Ini, his voice low and smooth. Ini replied nonchalantly, "She's sort of my student, and it's better this way, so there's better understanding. Besides, she won't tell a single soul."
Tosak's gaze turned to Arike, his eyes piercing as he said, "You're right, she won't betray you. You've gotten yourself a little lover girl." Arike's face turned bright red, her eyes widening in embarrassment, especially since she couldn't deny the accusation. Ini ignored Tosak's teasing and changed the subject, "I came here to ask you about something." He stretched out his hands, signaling Tosak to do the same. Tosak complied, and they both closed their eyes.
About two minutes later, Tosak opened his eyes, raising an eyebrow. "So, what's it?" Ini asked, while Arike watched their exchange, feeling a bit out of place. Ini playfully knocked on her head, saying, "it's not a bromance." She rubbed her head in response giving Ini the stink eye only to stop realizing this dude could read her mind. Tosak finally spoke up, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. "At first, I thought your power was related to space and the mind, but it appears I was wrong. It's as if your power combines space and souls." Ini's eyes narrowed, "Souls?" Tosak nodded, "Yes, souls. Those balls are soul essence, which can be used to create a ghoul."
Ini and Arike exchanged confused glances, like kindergartners in an advanced physics class. Tosak sighed, explaining, "The soul essence can be said to be the core of the soul, and as you know, the soul is the core of a being. Using the soul essence, you'll be able to create semi-beings that will be like the original being but completely under your mercy and command. They wouldn't have a physical body and would reside in your soul. They'll be in a half-soul, half-body state when you summon them from your soul." Ini's eyes widened as he asked, "So, currently, they're in my soul?" Tosak nodded, "Yes, they are. Be careful, as overloading the soul isn't good."
Ini continued to ask questions, his curiosity piqued. "Can they be destroyed?" Tosak replied, "They can, but with your magic energy and soul energy, you can bring them back, although your strength would weaken." Ini's expression turned thoughtful, and he asked, "How do you know so much?" Tosak's smile turned bitter, and he replied, "A story for another day." Ini raised his hand, showing the seal bracelet, and asked, "Can you create a stronger seal?" Tosak nodded, "Sure."
A few minutes later, Tosak returned with a new seal, saying, "This should do the trick." Ini removed the old association seal and put on the new one. Instantly, he felt a significant change, as ninety percent of his powers were sealed, leaving him with only ten percent. Tosak explained, "There are three layers to this seal. The first layer increases your accessible power from ten to twenty percent. The second layer increases it from twenty to fifty percent, and the third layer increases it from fifty to one hundred percent."
Tosak's expression turned serious, and he said, "Now you may go. I want my peace and quiet." With that, both Ini and Arike left, leaving Tosak to his solitude. As soon as they were gone, Tosak's demeanor changed. He brought out a picture of two young aliens smiling, and his eyes took on a nostalgic glaze. He touched the picture, reminiscing about the good old days. For a moment, the gruff, no-nonsense alien was replaced by a sentimental being, lost in thought.