Death.
It is an end, for everyone.
For mortals death is simply that, the end.
For immortal or reincarnator, Death is both an end and a beginning, The end of the current and beginning of the new.
Why am i telling you all this?
Because i’d like to tell you what death means to me.
You see, when one dies, they leave behind a remnant, a soul as some may call it, these souls -tiny luminescent orbs- they can be used for many things, most use them for simple necromancy, some use souls as a battery for artificial life such as machines or vexes, but me?
Souls are fuel, they power me and my weaponry, and unfortunately…i burn fuel at an excessive rate, thus i require a large supply of souls at all times, how do i gain such a large supply you ask?
well…
”AARGHHHH”
A scream, a pained lifeform with burns riddling its form, its eyes plead for the pain to end…but.
*Squelch*
A metallic foot stamps the head of the thing, ending its life.
I look around, Dozens of bodies lay still, mutilated or turned to ash, they have one thing in common.
*step* *step*
*Creak*
Vents and countless holes open up in my form, the souls, as light as they are, disappear into my form rapidly, the glow from them slowly darkening as i process the fuel i gain from this.
”…Not enough, 2 days at most…”
Yes, all this killing…and yet, the fuel can barely last me 2 days, do you see the problem here?
”…I need to relocate”
I do, by now the authorities would be alerted, they are already on high alert, the fact that i managed to even gain this meagre amount of fuel is a miracle.
”Hrgh…”
I let out a groan as i bust down the walls of the building, adamancite if i recall, made to withstand attacks made by demi-gods and higher.
And yet it barely slows me down, speaks to my durability and strength i suppose.
”…”
I engage my Soulbooster and light up in a bright blue, sparks sputtering from my vents before a roaring iridescent cobalt flame spews out from the vents.
”…”
I sigh and jet away from the location, the sights of this planet zooming past me.
”…”
Time passes and eventually, i manage near-light speed -The maximum speed i can reach with low fuel- and leave the planet, speeding past the atmosphere and into empty space.
“…where to go..”
As i jet through the planet’s solar system, i think about where my next harvesting grounds will be, if possible, i’d like to go to a planet with a low development, technological and magical.
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It’d be much easier to harvest on a such a meagrely developed planet, rife with fresh souls and little defence against some as developed and powerful me.
“…been a while.”
Sure has, it’s been years since i’ve had to relocate, i enjoyed the relative peace of that planet, but the BUID found me, so i had to leave, i held off as long as i could but they managed to track me down, so i ran to a place with enough fuel to power an Intergalactic flight and left, yet, i only managed enough for 2 days- about 50 hours in my time- of flight.
”…A station could work”
Yes, a station, if my destination is found to be far too long, then i’ll refuel on a station before legging it again.
”…mh…haha…”
I let out a laugh.
“Oh Parynx…if only you knew what you unleashed…”
I mumble, mildly frustrated, Parynx that rat…has he stuck to the plan then maybe we would’ve still been allies…
”…Greedy idiot.”
Greed.
It swallowed many a life, but i thought him better, resistant, and yet…
”…I should’ve seen it sooner.”
I should have, really, i was a fool to think that he was immune, nobody is immune to greed.
The tantalizing glint of gain is simply too much for anybody.
*RRRRRRR*
A deep humming noise interrupts my thoughtline.
”…too dangerous.”
My Soulseeker, it alerts me of possible fuel sources, this alert was for a traveling vessel, not a viable fuel source, too much security, no guarantee that the fuel wont resist or be powerful either, so i ignore it.
…
Hours pass.
*RRRRR*
The Soulseeker goes off, interrupting my momentary rest.
”…Charybdis.”
Station Charybdis, a spaceport bordering the Black sea and the United.
”…Tempting.”
I slow down my Soulbooster from near-light to a leisurely Mach 1.2
I circle the station from a lightyear away, thinking if landing on and refueling on it would be a worthwhile risk.
”…Just a few days.”
I nod and jet towards one of the landing sites, intent on harvesting in a secluded location for a few days before leaving.
As i close in, an orb of sectioned steel approaches me, a Soundmaker drone, used for communication from afar.
”Alert, this is the Charybdis station, state your intentions of landing here traveller.”
A masculine voice, a young Human from the sounds of it.
I sigh.
”I am here to rest and refuel, i will leave within a few days.”
Not exactly a lie, i am indeed here to refuel.
”…Accepted, you may land, state your name and you will be directed to a micro landing bay.”
”…Anima.”
Anima, i belive it is in the language of latin, one of the hundreds of languages humans have brought when they finally reached space.
Anima means soul if my data is to be trusted.
”Anima has been registered, thank you for landing here, we hope you enjoy your stay, remember to pay the exit fee when leaving.”
With those words, the Soundmaker flies off, back to its post i presume.
I chuckle inwardly, i wonder if that human knows what he has brought aboard.
Flickering lights appear in my way, the path to the micro landing bay, i slow down further and follow the lights, softly landing on the ground before disengaging my Soulbooster.
A worker nods to me and i nod back, before walking down the landing platform and officially arriving on Charybdis station.
The public does not know me well, my refueling so far has been quite secretive, although with the mess that was my last refueling, news of me will soon travel here, so i must act fast.
I strip down all my weaponry and armor, only leaving the bare minimum on, this is to reduce attention, though my form already attracts much attention as is.
I am an undead, specifically, i am an Undead fused together with alchemy and some unknown branch of magic together with steel and machinery into one lumbering hulking mass of steel, with digitigrade legs and pipes surrounding my every form, my form is always eyecatching even when unarmored and unarmed.
*rrrr…*
My soul engine lets out a faint rumbling noise, usually it would be muffled but with most of my body compacted into a rectangular cube within my hands, my engine is free to make noise, its prism-like shape humming and glowing with energy.
This is again, a way to reduce to attention, with such a barebones body, most will likely think i am simply a young machine wandering the station.
”…There.”
I aim my many ocular orbs dotted around my body and locate a suitable location to plan.
An old building, the officials cannot demolish such a thing without explicit agreement from the owners.
”Good”
Great even, with such a rusty hovel, nobody would think that my base of operations lay underneath it.
*screaaak*
The screeching of metal vibrates through my from as i wrench the entrance open with one of my four arms.
”…”
I aim my oculars around and find nothing of note.
”Good”
I get started, one of my arms configures itself into a chisel-like shape and starts vibrating, the VibroChisel, made for rapid excavation with minimal noise.
*Rrhhhh*
As i press the chisel on the metallic floor, it starts breaking the floor, soon enough, i will have built myself a usable base, it wont have to be good, just acceptable enough.
”…A preemptive apology to the lives i will harvest here for souls, you may not forgive me and i understand, i just hope you will find it in yourself to understand my situation.”
I mutter while digging.
An apology, one given to any lives i may harvest for souls, it will never be enough for the sheer amount of souls i may take even in the short time i stay here.
And yet i am always compelled to say it, is it guilt? is it duty? i do not know, i never know.
I shake my mind and refocus on the current task.
”…Where to harvest.”
I mutter, thinking about locations to harvest in as i dig out my base.
Charybdis station does not know of the beast it has swallowed, but it will find out soon, for the Phantom Blaze must burn on, even if many lives are to be harvested.
