The Life Invasion Pt. 3

Filling both sides of the corridor, several grim-faced agents had cornered us. There were many people, my quick count reached at least 50. 

We had fallen into a trap, and turning back was no longer an option, since the hole that brought us here had disappeared.

Humans were my kryptonite. The first rule for my powers was clear: Do not cross the line of life; my territory is limited to the afterlife.

Hurting or killing humans was a sentence to emptiness — complete and total destruction, with no return. Unlike humans, there was no afterlife for us.

The atmosphere was so thick with tension that I could almost touch it. A few footsteps could be heard; some brave souls approached, but I still had a few meters of safety.

I tried to see the end of the corridor, but all I could see were more people. The question remained: How had my sister found so many humans with their third eye activated?

Well, she controled the entry of souls into this world.

Maybe she marked those who would be born with this power. Or worse, she could have modified the souls before they incarnated to have their eyes activated. 

Still, it didn't matter how or why, the truth was that I was in trouble.

Shi-nii, I think I can help.

Paralyzed, both me and the agents waited for the first move. It wasn't time for Tadashi to bother me. Everyone wanted the reward for my head, but none of them wanted to take the first bullet.

I could turn myself into something small and pass under their legs. Yes, that could be a good idea. Unlike Tadashi, to those humans I should be just a blur or a shadow. Their third eye shouldn't be that skilled.

Even so, dodging so many in such a small space would be complicated.

Another idea was to grow in size and push them out of the hallway peacefully. Or, who knows, turn myself into something gaseous, maybe I could pass through them without touching them.

I never became gaseous. My tendency as an entity of Death is to be deadly. What if I accidentally become a poisonous gas? And push? How can I do that without hurting anyone?

I was in my sister's area, and if I ended up hurting a human right here, it was a sure thing that the right ears would hear about it and annihilate me.

Shi-nii, I'm telling you! I know what to do.

Tadashi, listen, it went really well with the guys back there, but if I use you as a weapon, your soul will end up dematerializing.

That's not what I'm talking about. Let's use the same plan you used against the angels, only now with someone who understands how to make a good dialogue.

I was out of ideas, so what harm would it do to listen to my soul mate?

Okay, I'm giving you carte blanche. Tell me what to do, and I'll follow!

We need to act together! Give me control of your voice and you take care of the special effects, which I know is your thing. Oh…And, bring back the form of death when we met, that will scare the hell out of them!

The coat I was wearing slowly began to grow, gradually turning into a black cape. The bones of my body became longer and sharper. the agents drew their weapons and took a few steps back. Using my shinobi special effects techniques, I made a mist appear, along with a darkness that spread.

That's it! Thanks, now it's my turn. MEGAZORD MODE ACTIVATE! AND TURN ON A DEEP VOICE FILTER!

I improvised a new form of connection to Tadashi's soul, giving him free rein to control my voice.

“Timeout!” I made a T sign with my bony hands with a slight delay. We needed to be more in sync.

The few brave ones who had started to approach ended up stopping, still with their focused expressions.

"Judging by how scared you all are, I think you already know who I am."

Perfect, the voice is deep enough. But increase the hoarseness a little more.

"Code Death... Yes, I am Death — the one who has never lost." I took a step forward, and my enemies, alert, took another step back. "Countless tried to break me, but in the end they withered away. You have weapons and power, but something you don't understand is that these tools belong to me."

I threw the scythe on the floor. The sound of the impact echoed through the hallway.

"Argh..." the imposing voice groaned...?

HOLY SHIT, WHAT A SCARE, YOU HAVE TO WARN ME WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT! I THOUGHT I'D BEEN SHOT.

Sorry, my bad...

Hiding the blunder, we returned to the speech:

“I don't need a weapon. I am the weapon.” Another step forward, now the army retreated two. “I was there for the first stab. From the first lightning bolt to the first shot. All these mechanisms represent me. The simple act of attacking represents me. The only power I have in my hands is death and suffering.”

What are you saying? I can't kill anyone! Well, at least not without a contract.

Yeah, but they don't know that!

"The only means of counterattack I have is sudden death. If you throw yourselves at me in a coordinated attack, you can hold me for a few minutes and do your duty. The question I leave you with is — Are your lives worth two or three minutes?"

Damn. Tadashi is destroying these guys' mental state.

They all lowered their weapons. Not a word was spoken.

YES! HOLY SHIT, WE WON!

That's my boy. It was a real home run!

"Now kneel before the greatest force in the universe. There is only life on Earth, but death spreads throughout the universe. From the death of stars to the emergence of black holes, everything is predefined by the end. Show your respect for the basis of time and space."

All pale and trembling, they knelt, keeping their eyes down, not daring to look at the face of death.

What the hell was that, Tadashi?

Sorry. I got lost in character...

Now the question was: Which way to the basement? Regaining my voice, I asked that exact question:

“Now that I am your new shepherd, sheep, now I ask you... where exactly is the way to the basement?” I said, adopting a villainous tone of voice.

The army pointed to the end of the corridor. With my hand in my coat pocket, I walked past all those men and women with their eyes downcast. Huh... so this is how a great villain feels.

I understand the idea of shepherd and sheep, but not every idea has to be expressed. And you do realize you said “now” twice, right? Like, you really need to work on your conversation skills, buddy.

Just... leave me alone. Next time, let me just enjoy the moment.

After a short walk, I entered the basement and came face to face with Grayer, who was startled:

"You really made it in time!" Excited, Grayer turned to several other gray angels. "Guys, this is the entity who's going to take us to the water park on vacation!"

In the center of the room was a huge machine surrounded by computers. Needle-shaped, the large machinery protruded from the ceiling, going into a hole in the floor, which pointed to a large portal.

"We made it especially for your request. This beauty can handle sending any soul, no matter how big! Put the soul on the tip and we'll do our magic." When the explanation was over, all the other angels nodded in agreement. They were clearly proud of their work.

I took Tadashi out of me, manipulating his soul with my fingers. 

I placed my friend at eye level.

"Well, I guess this is our farewell. Only part of me will accompany you, the rest of me will stay here to cover your tracks. Unfortunately, I won't even be able to see how you are, as it could draw attention to you, but don't worry, I won't let any entity disturb you."

The soul grew, its fire becoming warmer and redder.

“Thank you very much, Shi-nii. I'll miss the part of you that will be staying behind. I'll make you proud! Before you know it, I'll rule the world with my awesome powers.”

The boy was a real method actor. He still had the mindset of a villain, but even so, it was good to see my friend excited.

“Hahaha... All right then, kiddo.” I gently brushed my hand over the flame, as though caressing it. “No matter when, we'll meet again..”

The tip of my index finger connected with the core of Tadashi's soul, releasing a massive amount of energy. The soul expanded like a miniature star, a greenish sun pulsing before us. Three meters long—impossible to fit into a human body. The core still glowed blue, but the flame around it burned green.

“How much entity per soul does he have in him?” Grayer asked, already tense.

“Ten to one — me to him,” I replied.

“HOLY SHIT. ARE YOU CRAZY? THE BOY’S GOING TO VANISH!”

“No way. Hey, Tadashi, you good in there?”

“I’m fine. Just feels like I drank a hundred liters of water and I’m about to explode.”

Grayer shot me a piercing look.

“Relax. It’s just the excess. Now let me zip the file.”

With a twist of his hands, the green flame began to compress, being sucked toward Tadashi's center. The excessive green flame condensed until it disappeared under the nucleus, leaving only a green reflection in Tadashi's soul.

“Wow, I feel so much lighter…” echoed Tadashi’s now happier soul. “Because I’m fire… get it?”

“LOL… I GET IT! HAHAHAHA, THAT’S REALLY GOOD, KID!”

“Yeah, I can see that spending weeks with this guy hasn’t done you any good.” Grayer said, pointing at me. “Just imagine having to deal with him until the end of your days. But I just follow orders, so less chit-chat and more action!”

The soul was placed in the machine, its gears beginning to turn and make a loud noise.

In seconds, the machine released a ray with a dry sound, which spread through space toward an appropriate receptacle: A baby who would be born into a wealthy and nice family. An appropriate environment to develop Tadashi's third eye.

Watching through the portal, I followed the great beam carrying my friend’s soul, streaking across the night sky like a shooting star. Like a castaway, I watched the bottle I had released into the sea drift away on the currents of life.

The happiness that part of me would feel, the feeling of being alive, of having a beating heart. I would never feel any of that, yet it was difficult not to be happy.

“Go and follow the dreams I so long for. A new life awaits you!”

— — —

A pulse.

A pulse?

A cryptic flame.

It was warm and alive.

Where did it come from? In the darkness, I couldn't tell where that vital energy was coming from.

Wait... It's not coming from anywhere.

IT'S ME!

Waking up, I realized I was a soul. Automatically the soul took on my laidback form, the last one I had taken. Floating above the sky, I realized that I was the one who left, not the one who stayed. 

“I'm alive... a little weaker, but still alive.” I looked at my bony hand. "We should be in a body and not loose in soul form. What happened?"

“Hey, could you give me a hand?” Below me, Tadashi was hanging by his arm on…a chain?

I looked at my left arm, an iron chain attached my bones to Tadashi. So our souls were still connected.

“Tadashi, pretend there's a ladder in front of you and come to me,” I said, while standing in midair.

“What do you mean? Pretend? How will that help?”

“Just do it.”

Concentrating, Tadashi took cautious steps toward me until we were at the same height.

“Shi-nii, what the hell is this? Why am I still in my body?” Tadashi asked.

He looked just like his original form, wearing his school uniform.

“We're not in a body, we're as souls. You must have assumed your mental image. What the hell... do you see yourself as a student? What a load of crap.”

“HEY…I spend most of my time in these clothes. Wait, so our plan failed?”

“Yes, definitely... The machine may have failed. Grayer must have—” Before he could finish his sentence, something flew past us.

It wasn't a plane, much less a meteor.

A blue dragon roared, spewing fire across the night sky, a Mecha on its back, wielding a giant sword forward. It was then that we realized, in the midst of the darkness of the sky, there were two moons, one blue and one pink.

“Tadashi...”

“Shi-nii...”

Our voices overlapped.

“WE'RE IN ANOTHER WORLD!”