James watched as a single zy cloud drifted below the isnd. He had been staring down the edge for what felt like ages. Endless skies stretching further than his eyes could catch. Maybe there was something down there? Hidden by the vast distances between them.

  He doubted it. James couldn’t imagine an end to his inevitable fall. Mind unable to coup or willing to let hope remain in his chest. Then again, if he squinted hard enough, he could swear he saw another set of clouds even further down.

  But he couldn’t be too sure.

  Fuck…

  He sighed. Closing his weary eyes. Whole body felt heavy and lumbersome. Even with the enhanced strength and meditation he received, there was a limit. Said limit turned out to be insomnia for the past few… James couldn’t remember the st time he had gotten any deep sleep.

  Basic naps and shut eye were rare. No matter how badly he needed it.

  It was after the third bout of endless insomnia did he finally figure out that his time on this isnd was over. He had overstayed his welcome. Monotony and a ck of anything other than training, meditation, and eating rice had finally gotten to him.

  Is this purgatory? Why? How? What am I supposed to do here?

  There had to be an end to the uninterrupted torture of seclusion. It couldn’t be just this and the constant notifications of rewards and level ups. There had to be more on this isnd. Away out, someone or something to do with what he experienced?

  James took a deep breath.

  Calm.

  He allowed the eons of constant meditation, that being the only source of rest he could figure out, still his thoughts. It was getting difficult to stop the spiraling negativity and perpetual meaningless questions. The same ones he’d go through every couple thousand years.

  There was no point in dwelling on them. It did little to benefit him in any way, shape, or form. Much less help him escape this prison of solitude. What good would knowing the distance to the moon…? How rge the sun was…? Or what a random person back on earth was doing.

  None of it mattered as long as he was here.

  In a world separated from the need to understand. What value does the schor have? Why would the bee need to measure the distance between it and the moon?

  James couldn’t help but ugh at his situation. He had begun thinking old peoples’ quotes at some point. The longer he stayed here the more they abruptly appeared in perfect pces. Solidifying his thoughts into fancy quotes. It had gotten bad tely.

  The natural feel and perfect course of expining what he was struggling to vocalize. It made too much sense to him too.

  He shivered.

  Bee’s only lived for about a month. Their entire existence revolved around the concept of working and accomplishing its task within the bounds of ‘bee society’. Whole lives used up with no concept of ‘greater than’ or time to stop and think.

  Pying their part to perfection.

  James could remember articles about bees being endangered back on earth. How it would take something along the lines of seven years for the world to end if there were no pollinators of that calibre.

  He shook his head.

  Not here nor there—

  He shook his head again. Another old person saying was about to escape him.

  It had a point though. Now was only time for the end. James shifted in his spot. Toes without any support under them. Loose dirt fell off the isnd, disappearing after a few seconds.

  James held tightly to his favorite spear. He leaned on DragonsWrath to prevent his ultimate fall. The dragons on its shaft seemed to weep, glistening red tears disappearing into the air. It had been by his side for ages. Longer than he could remember.

  The thought of life before it was distant and difficult to recall with any great details.

  Six dragons, carved into DragonsWrath, responded to his emotions. Loud and snapping during his bouts of anger. Quiet and remorseful during his phases of depression and loneliness. Keeping him sane and alive even when the system notification had all but disappeared. They had become sparse and far in between long years of waits.

  Made it sound like he was at an unimaginable level. Yet here he was still a mortal. The results were always the same no matter how hard he trained or after how many eons he had been at it. No qi. No magic. No spiritual energy. No system status.

  And his nemesis stood proud behind him. Bigger and more vibrant than ever before.

  Eons upon eons were filled with his constant struggles. In hopes that it would make the suffering and mental torture worth it. Like some fantasy novel that ended but the collective ‘power of friendship’.

  “Here I am. An example of the preputial state of man. Always looking for better. Forgetting what we already have.” James said. A sad smile graced his face.

  Yep. I’m doomed.

  James let his body fall. Hands spread and robes billowing behind him. Falling gracefully. His hair trailed behind him, whipping back and forth; he had given up on cutting it at some point in the past. Beard stuffing his face and blinding him.

  Shit!

  He reached with both hands to get it out of his face and mouth. Eventually forced to turn and look back up at the isnd getting smaller. More comfortable than his hair trying to invade his privacy. His attempt only sent him spiraling out of control.

  Shit!

  James thought again. Quickly maneuvering, fighting against the wind. He had forgotten his favorite spear had been in his hands as he fell. James forgot he was trying to exude peace and acceptance. Forgetting his grace.

  He fought to straighten out. Swimming through the air towards its hurtling form.

  It outpaced him. Cutting through the air with impunity. He could hear his dragons roar against the wind. Letting their presence be known to all that would listen including him.

  Fuck this! That spear is a sentimental artifact!

  He wrapped his fluttering robes around his body. Pressed his hands together and tried to push himself forward. Attempting to become as aerodynamic as Humanly possible. His heavier weight allowed him to gain ground.

  Slowly catching up to it.

  They bsted through multiple levels of clouds. One after the other without end. The countless yers allowed him the time to finally catch up.

  James caught his spear with both hands. Laughing and pumping his hands in triumph. Fully focused on the task at hand and more importantly, closing his eyes at the ecstasy of victory he had felt.

  Forgetting he was free falling.

  Zer0n1gh7s