Gomi: "Yuna!"
Yuna: "Huh...?"
She slowly turned around and saw the friend she thought was dead.
Yuna: "Go... Gomi..."
Gomi: "Yes, it's me! I'm so glad someone remembers me!"
Yuna: "She's not Gomi. She looks a bit different."
Gomi approached her. They were near a fountain in a square.
Gomi: "Is there something wrong, Yuna?"
Yuna: "What does this piece of shit want? I'm glad you're alive too."
Gomi: "I was so scared... But they managed to fix me!"
Yuna: "She became a splatter of blood... you fucking impostor... That's crazy. Who healed you?"
Gomi: "Oh, it was just the doctors! The technology has gotten quite advanced, right?"
Yuna grabbed her by the neck.
Yuna: "What do you think you're doing?"
Gomi: "Yu.. Yuna?"
Yuna: "Tell me... why are you doing this?"
Gomi: "I just... I just wanted to..."
Yuna crushed her neck, killing her instantly. A white energy surged from within and flew away.
Yuna: "What was that? I have to chase it!"
At Lunig...
Guard: "A black spirit...? This man is something else. I have to talk to him before he..."
Yuto walks down the large hallway to the throne room and opens it impatiently.
Yuto: "So? I'm tired of not having a clue what others are saying."
Wave: "You want a translator?"
Yuto: "I want to learn your language."
Wave: "I'm not a good teacher. Neither is Tempera or Freet."
Freet: "Wait, I can help you with that."
They went to a library inside the castle.
Yuto: "I'm not a good student."
Freet: "Listen here, if you try anything funny, I'll kill you instantly."
Yuto: "Alright... Do you know language learning magic?"
Freet: "I don't care how proficient you are in our language. I don't like you. I've been to your world a few times. I can destroy your planet if you don't follow our rules to the letter."
Yuto: "Why?"
Freet: "You'll fight the king sooner or later. If you manage to win, which is impossible, I will murder you and your family."
Yuto: "What if it's a fair win?"
Freet: "I don't care. I will make you suffer. Be advised."
He left the library.
Yuto: "All bark, no bite... I've fought stronger."
Yuto walks down the hallway again to leave. A guard follows him. They leave the castle.
Guard: "Wait."
Yuto: "What do you want? You're just a puppet of the king."
Guard: "I'm not like the others. I have something important to discuss with you. Let's go to a secluded place. I know a spot."
They went to a cave far away. From there, it was possible to see the castle. The insanely tall guard took off their helmet. It was a woman.
Yuto: "A girl...? And she's pretty?!"
She had scars all over her face, fair skin, and long, wavy white hair. She grinned at him.
Guard: "Am I your type. Name's Judge, it's a pleasure to meet you, Yuto."
Yuto: "How do you know my name?"
Judge: "I've been keeping an eye on you since you arrived. You're a quite unique individual."
Yuto: "How come?"
Judge: "You've killed millions."
Yuto: "Is it that obvious?"
Judge: "I can see how many souls each person has harvested. It's my power."
Yuto: "That sounds... disturbing, to say the least."
Judge: "Don't worry, I can do many other things with it. I know that many people you loved have died."
Yuto: "It's inevitable, isn't it?"
Judge: "It is. But it can also be undone."
Yuto: "What...?"
He was now genuinely interested.
Judge: "I can revive people, at the cost of other lives."
Yuto: "Then what's the point?"
Judge: "You know how people try to compare their lives to others? It's hard to admit, but some are more important than others."
Yuto: "Importance is relative."
Judge: "Death doesn't think that way. Some really powerful people may require millions of deaths to compensate."
Yuto: "Another reason not to play with fire."
Judge: "As I said, I'm a judge. I can't choose how many lives will be taken, but I can give my input."
Yuto: "To whom?"
Judge: "Death. They're a god. But that's for another conversation."
Yuto: "Look, I'm very grateful for your offer, but I can't make such a selfish decision. It's hard to learn how to deal with it, but I've accepted their deaths."
Judge: "That's wonderful! But you know sacrifices must be made from time to time. Please tell me who you want to revive the most. I won't do anything besides look at their sacrifice cost."
Yuto: "Why are you so curious?"
Judge: "There have been a few people who required zero sacrifices, although rare."
Yuto: "It must need a whole ritual and preparation, so why not... I want to see many people again, but... my sister, she could help me right now..."
Judge: "Your sister? Let me see. Wow, her power level is immense. But she only requires one sacrifice."
Yuto: "One? Who is it?"
Judge: "I don't know. It's only revealed when it's time for the final confirmation of ressurrection."
Yuto: "What if I die?"
Judge: "You love her, right?"
Yuto: "I want to be with her. Sacrificing myself would be meaningless."
Judge: "Then don't get your expectations high. Ah, I forgot to say I want a payment."
Yuto: "How much?"
Judge: "Kill the king and his subordinates."
Yuto: "Then I'm not interested. But may I ask why?"
Judge: "The king, Wave... he's been searching for me for ages. I resurrected an ancient black spirit. They were the strongest opponent Wave had ever had. Then, suddenly, they disappeared."
Yuto: "He wants you to find them?"
Judge: "Or create another equally strong one. I can't do either. That's why I'm hiding in plain sight."
Yuto: "Why not live on another continent?"
Judge: "I'm used to Lunig. I want to live here, but not in constant paranoia. Besides, Wave is a terrible leader."
Yuto: "I can see that..."
Judge: "By the way, Yuto... I think you should know something about that black spirit I mentioned."
Yuto: "Is it alive somewhere?"
Judge: "Luckily not... You're the one who killed them."
Yuto: "I killed a black spirit? When did that happen?"
Judge: "They were merged and imbued into swords, with the soul of your friend..."
Yuto: "My friend...? Are you talking about..."
Judge: "I don't know all the details, but your friend... she was being consumed by the spirit, while at the same time being an inseparable part of it. They were the same being."
Yuto: "Wait... wasn't there a way of separating the two?"
Judge: "Even if you found me back then, it would be impossible. Spirits tend to parasitize the souls of their victims and become one with them. The weaker one would die if I managed to separate them."
Yuto: "So Kataki was doomed from the start..."
Judge: "I'm sorry... It was my fault that that demon came to life, but... Wave wanted a new pet, so he forced me to do it..."
Yuto: "I don't blame you. Unless you're the one responsible for that spirit's disappearance."
Judge: "I didn't know where they went until I met you."
Yuto: "So that scientist... she's the one I should blame..."
Judge: "Thank you for... not holding a grudge against me."
Yuto: "Wave is also part of this... I'd probably kill him even if you didn't find me."
Judge: "That's the spirit! Wait, not the evil kind of spirit."
Yuto: "Haha, thanks for everything. You taught me a lot in this conversation."
Judge: "Of course I'd help a newcomer. Oh, there's something else you should probably know about. The white spirits."
White spirits were masters at inhabiting near-dead bodies. They would kill someone and then steal their body, memories, and abilities.
Rikoche was named after his power. He was born with it. People did not accept a talented person as their peers, so he was often rejected. He managed to become a scientist, but chose to pursue a shady business that resonated with his philosophies.
He wanted to help the world in his own twisted way. When he was fired by his boss for letting Yuna escape, he was killed by a white spirit, who inhabitated his body.
They used all sorts of steroids, potions, and stimulants to push his body to its limits, but he still died from the toxic gases that a fellow black market dealer produced and sold to him in the form of power-nullifying bullets and grenades. He had enough chances to pay the price, but Gaz decided to finish him off.