Chapter 11 (The Ghost of Past)

 As the children moved to their destination, a sudden mist interrupted them. A chilling wind also shook Max to his spine. Max, reminded of the attack in the theme park (During his life), told the driver boys to drive slowly. Every child prepared their weapons, and Jizo, too, started chanting a protection Mantra. 

 As they moved further, the mist darkened, and the children could see no more. The lights of the vehicle could not pierce it. The temperature also reduced significantly. Max could feel his fingers chilling and going numb. In a short time, the surroundings became too blurry to see. Due to the lack of visibility, the vehicle could be driven no more. The drivers dared not to risk as dangers could come in every direction. 

 Max felt a scene of danger and was terrified inside. He made a flame on his hand, breaking the mist. All the children gathered around him. But suddenly,

“Flap!”

 A strong wind blew off his light. 

“Bam!”

 He felt a strong push.

  His body felt like levitating. He heard a sudden burst of screams and mourns. Something had pushed him, and he could not see it. He could feel the cold grip on him but could not see the hand. 

 Were the children still with him? Was he still on the bus? He did not know. Being shaken by the thoughts, he tried to get up.

“Bam,” A knock attacked him this time, preventing him from standing. It caused his legs to bend and kneel. He produced another flame to observe the surroundings. Then, something blew it up again. 

 Max was and still is a stubborn boy. He is furious when something interrupts his task and will always carry that task to the end in response. He could not see the foe, so he brightened the flames on both of his hands. 

 The sudden light revealed that he wasn’t in the vehicle anymore but was at a field. The flame was blown off again. This time, annoyed Max changed into his demon form and flapped his wings to blow away the mist. Only then did the foe decide to reveal himself.

 The foe was a ghost with a white appearance, wearing a robe. His body was like a skeleton wrapped in a shroud. Max felt like he had seen the ghost somewhere. He could not recall it. 

 His lifeless skull face showed some hints of anger. From his body, dark waves of power emitted.

 The ghost began attacking him with those dark waves. Max crossed his arms, resisted it with his strength, and proceeded to make a defensive attack. His wings could not be flapped due to the mighty waves. His legs could not stay firm. Yet, he gripped the land with all his might. It was as if standing on a wavy beach. 

 He tried to put flames on the foe but failed. The ghost began sending more waves. This time, these waves were not ordinary. A surge of pain occurred whenever the waves touched him. Max could then only resist his torture.

 He had fought with several types of ghosts and phantoms, including ancient ghosts. But this ghost. What is the matter of him? How could he trap a demon boy easily?

“Who are you? Why are you interrupting me on my way?” He asked. Without answering, the foe continued attacking. He kicked Max on the back suddenly, causing him to kneel. He then appeared before Max within a second via teleportation, scaring little Max.

“Do you not remember me?” he asked, moving his scary face nearer to Max’s. 

 His eyes were hollow, and his bones were burnt. The smell of burning bones appeared. Max knew this smell. He immediately remembered him as the messenger of Asmodeus, whom he had slain.

“You… You burnt me alive, didn't you?” The ghost said. His voice was like an echo in a deep cave.

 The memories of the past flashed in his mind. That day, Asmodeus sent this ghost to Max. Through him, Asmodeus told Max that he had captured his parents. Being struck by grief and blinded by anger, Max burnt the messenger ghost within a second. He ignored all of Vithura’s words not to do so. Max now felt a great shame over his action.

“I… I am sorry…” His words fueled the raging flames of the ghost more. He sent a powerful dark beam towards Max. This beam caused Max to cry out. He felt as if a thousand thunderbolts struck his nerves. The pain surged through all parts of his body, all his veins, nerves, and organs. His heart rushed as if a thousand horses were racing. 

“Is that all you got? All you can say is sorry?! You, unmanly child. You don’t know the suffering of mine, don’t you? When you took my life, did ye value it as a life?” The ghost began crying. He was too emotional, and so was Max.

“I’m sorry,” Tears rolled down from his shaking body

“Now, you shall face the Naraka for your action…” The ghost said as he pulled a sword from thin air. He sent no more painful beams. Max, being ashamed of his actions, made no move. He was ready to face the consequences of his actions.

“Ting!” 

 Lucy, holding Max’s flaming sword, stopped the ghost’s attack in mid-air. 

“He may have been foolish once by the grief, but he had proved his empathy,” she said while attacking the ghost. She switched to her spear and handed the sword to Max. 

“Attack!” Jizo and the children appeared around the ghost, beginning their attack.

“Fight, Max. O Warrior, Don’t get stuck in your past actions for no one is truly pure. Now you have grieved, then, you shall move on,” Lucy said. Max,  following her words, picked up his sword despite his weakness and pain and began attacking. 

 The ghost summoned his minions, among whom were outsiders. But the children, surprisingly, could handle them. It was a weary fight for both sides until the ghost stopped. 

 “For he grieved…” The ghost said and disappeared with the mist. The surroundings became clearer. Everyone thought it had ended. But,

“Kree… Krak!” 

 The ground became shaking. On where Max stood, a canyon appeared. He could control himself no more for he had worn out. Max began falling into the canyon. The crack was massive, and deep, and reached lava at its end. Max tried to fly in his demon form. But due to the pain, fatigue, and anxiety, he could barely move his wings. His demon form began to disappear as his fall started. Then,

 “Max, hold it tight!”

A rope appeared, along with Lucy’s command. It was the rope that the Sultana had gifted. Jizo had saved that in time when they left the boat. Max tried to grab it but failed. He tried again, and this time, he succeeded. Lucy and the children grabbed him back to the surface, but it was too heavy. Only when the youngest brother of Lucy stepped in did the pulling go at ease. It was the arrival of the great strength.

 And so when Max reached the surface, the mist had disappeared fully. They could see the gate to another realm nearby. Max thanked Lucy and the children and proceeded to get inside the gate.

But before getting in, Jizo said, “My boy, I cannot help you for the next stage,”

 His words shocked Max to the core.

“Why, Master? How could I face it without you?”

“The next realm will test your inner ignorance and illusions. You have to face it alone. And currently, very few have passed it. People who failed this realm can be forgiven. But in your case, I’m sure Yama won’t,”

 Max, shocked by his words, said to Jizo

“Then, I will fail for sure, Master,”

 Tears rolled down Max’s cheek because he hadn’t prepared for the sudden separation from his master. Jizo, too, had a saddened manner. 

“O Boy, Max, remember. Perhaps I’ve bonded you with compassion. Now I will suffer for that bond. I, as a master, can only guide you. There are times I have to let you go even if I don’t will. Keep in mind that failure and winning are just the sides of a coin. Don’t forget. Everything doesn’t exist on its own,”

 Max was still too relutant to get inside. If he fails, he will be in Naraka. If he doesn’t go inside, he will still fail and get to Naraka too. The whole game is a cheesy play. At last, he decided not to turn around at this stage. He supposed that it was always worth a try. If he deserved failure, he would accept it, he said. Having said those words, Jizo felt proud of his pupil. He tied a piece of Sultana’s rope on Max’s wrist.

 Wielding his sword, Max faced the gate. 

“Wait!” said Lucy, handing him the diamond ring.

“Take it back. It suits you,”

 Max put the ring on his finger, thanked Lucy, and entered the gate without heading back.