"You really don't learn, do you, Sukuna?" The taunt slipped from my lips with an almost bored familiarity. I watched the King of Curses being dragged off like a stubborn cat heading for a bath. Chains of luminous energy, woven with pure intention and a touch of 'I've had quite enough of your nonsense', pulled him towards a small, gloomy structure in the furthest corner of my mindscape. "Every time the same story, the same tantrum, the same predictable end…"
"RELEASE ME, YOU INSOLENT BRAT, AZRA'IL! YOU CANNOT TREAT ME THUS, I AM THE KING OF CURSES!" Sukuna bellowed, his multiple arms flailing in impotent fury as he was inexorably pulled towards the "kennel" – an affectionate nickname for the mental containment facility where I kept the more… temperamental entities inhabiting my soul. Sometimes, when your mindscape is a pocket multiverse, it ends up like a rather poorly managed condominium.
"Oh, but I can, my dear, and you know it as well as I do," I replied with an amused, almost maternal smile, if mothers were in the habit of locking millennial demons in corners of their souls. "Now, be a good little vessel of cursed energy and stay quietly in there until you learn to behave and, perhaps, develop a modicum of interdimensional etiquette. Perhaps next time I'll bring you a bone."
Kurama let out a guttural laugh, a sound like millstones grinding together. "Pathetic. He truly never learns. Stubbornness is a stronger curse than any he possesses." Wise words, coming from a nine-tailed demon fox who wasn't exactly a paragon of flexibility himself.
"Well, now that our tetchy friend with anger management issues is suitably settled in his… rather spartan quarters," I turned to the other entities present, whose presence was a tapestry of power and eccentricity. "I must be going. This body, however promising, is still painfully new and needs to be… encouraged to reach its full potential. The journey of cultivation, as you know, requires patience and persistence."
Aurelion Sol inclined his majestic head slightly, a gesture that on his cosmic scale probably displaced a few stars. "Understandable. My starlight still pulses in your veins, an inheritance from our ancient alliance. Use it wisely, little Azra'il. Greatness demands both power and discernment." And, possibly, an ego the size of a galaxy, but he didn't mention that.
The Phoenix Force drew near, her fiery wings emanating a comforting warmth that contrasted pleasantly with the cosmic chill of others present. "Don't take so long to visit us this time, poppet. Your presence always brings… interesting entertainment, and a welcome break in the monotony of eternity." Her eyes, like miniature suns, shone with an affection that transcended aeons. Eternity can be surprisingly tedious without a bit of drama.
"Tsk, just don't die in some daft way this time," Kurama grumbled, looking away, but I could see the unmistakable glint of reluctant concern in his slitted red eyes. His affection always came wrapped in layers of sarcasm and gruffness, like a badly wrapped gift, but with a sincere bow.
"Don't you worry," I smiled, feeling my consciousness begin to recede from that vibrant, chaotic mental plane. "I'll return stronger. It's the cycle, isn't it? Death, rebirth, the eternal fresh start. And as for you, Sukuna…" I cast a final glance towards the "kennel," from which one could still hear irritated grumbles and probably some very creative curses. "Behave. Or next time the kennel will be smaller and windowless."
The last sound I heard before returning to consciousness was Kurama's thunderous laughter echoing through the mindscape, a boisterous and strangely comforting farewell.
------(*)-------
My eyes opened slowly, the sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees seeming almost brutal after the kaleidoscopic darkness of my mental space. I blinked a few times, re-acclimatising to the solidity of the physical world. I was still seated on the same rock in the forest, exactly where I had begun my inner journey. What had seemed like hours of interaction with the entities, with their dramas and monumental personalities, had been but a few precious minutes in real-world time. The relativity of time is one of the first lessons eternity teaches. And one of the most irritating when you're stuck in a body that needs sleep.
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the familiar weight of this new body's limitations. The distance between what I am and what I can do in this current form was an abyss. "I need to strengthen this vessel first…" I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
[Yes, you are absolutely correct,] Eos's voice echoed in my mind, ever-present, ever-analytical. [This body is still far too young and underdeveloped to withstand the influx of your true powers. Your real stats are completely locked, like a Gringotts vault awaiting the right key.]
"My stats…" I murmured, a sudden recollection nudging me. I'd completely forgotten about that little bureaucratic formality of the system. "Eos, my old logical friend, can you show me the current situation? Just so I can get a notion of the size of the hole I've got myself into this time."
[Of course. It's always good to have a clear perspective on one's own temporary insignificance. Here you are.] Ah, Eos's subtle sarcasm. Sometimes, she seemed more human than many of the people I'd known.
A semi-transparent, sleek, and minimalist interface materialised before my eyes:
STATUS SHEET
Name: Azra'il
Race: Beastman Half-breed (an… interesting combination, to say the least)
Gender: Female Intersex (which, in this world, likely just adds another item to the 'odd things about Azra'il' list for others to whisper about)
Current Level: 8 (basically a cosmic infant in terms of power)
Real Level: 1279 🔒 (ah, there's the old Azra'il, just waiting to get out)
CURRENT STATS | REAL STATS
Strength: 25 | 26,467 🔒 (can lift a small log vs. can rearrange mountain ranges)
Endurance: 30 | 27,891 🔒 (can take a punch from a bully vs. can sunbathe in a supernova)
Magic: 45 | 39,234 🔒 (can light a candle with my mind vs. can rewrite the laws of magic)
Speed: 28 | 26,987 🔒 (run faster than the other children vs. lap the planet before breakfast)
Luck: 5 | 1,756 🔒 (find a coin in the street vs. win the universal lottery without buying a ticket)
Charisma: 32 | 25,345 🔒 (can convince the baker to give me an extra bun vs. can unify empires with a speech)
Vitality: 40 | 27,678 🔒 (rarely get ill vs. am basically immune to most forms of death)
Regeneration: 35 | 26,987 🔒 (cuts heal quickly vs. regenerate lost limbs in seconds)
[As you can observe,] Eos explained, with a touch of amusement in her mental voice, [your true attributes are, shall we say, somewhat beyond the current capabilities of this modest mortal shell. These are powers you have accumulated and refined over hundreds of lifetimes and countless reincarnations, a testament to your stubborn refusal to cease existing.]
I observed the numbers with resigned attention. The difference was, as always, stark and a little depressing. "And when will I be able to access this old glory again?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
[Gradually. As this body grows, matures, and strengthens through cultivation and experience, it will develop the capacity to withstand your real powers without disintegrating into a puddle of elemental goo. It's a natural process of adaptation – it cannot be rushed, or we risk permanently damaging this vessel. And we wouldn't want that, would we? After all the trouble of finding one with rather decent genes…]
[But don't be disheartened,] Eos added, in a more optimistic tone, probably sensing my slight melancholy. [Since you restarted your Cultivation a few weeks ago, your current stats have increased considerably. For someone of your chronological age, your attributes are well above average. In fact, you've already far surpassed some older, less… experienced children.]
"Really?" I asked, re-examining my current stats with renewed interest. A small victory in the midst of a marathon.
[Yes. Most children your age barely reach 15 points in any attribute, and that's if they're lucky and have a decent diet. Your current numbers – Strength 25, Endurance 30, and especially Magic 45 – are impressive for someone so young. Your affinity with Magic, in particular, is already at a level some mages only reach in their adolescence, if they're talented.]
I smiled faintly, feeling a small spark of pride bloom. Small steps. That's how one climbs mountains, be they literal or metaphorical. "So the training is truly working. The old methods still have their value, even on this new stage."
[Certainly. Your body is responding very well to Cultivation, as one would expect from a vessel chosen with such… care. If you continue at this pace, your stats will soon increase even further, allowing you to gradually begin unlocking some of your real powers. And then the fun truly begins.] Or the trouble, depending on one's point of view.
"Well," I said, stretching the muscles that still ached a little from the day's work and the intensity of meditation, "I suppose it's time to continue the training then. The sooner I strengthen this body, the faster I can access my true powers. And frankly, I'm starting to get a bit bored of not being able to rearrange the furniture with a mere thought."
[Precisely. And with your vast experience from past lives, you know exactly how to optimise this strengthening process. Though, I must admit, your choices of "odd jobs" for physical and mental stimulation are… peculiar.]
"Ah yes, speaking of vast experiences and accumulated resources…" I scratched my head, a little embarrassed. I had been negligent. "How's my inventory looking, Eos? The warehouse of cosmic trinkets and mortal mementos."
[Oh, you finally remembered it?] Eos replied with an amused tone bordering on mockery. [I was beginning to wonder when you'd mention the existence of an arsenal capable of subjugating small solar systems, conveniently stored in a pocket dimension. Do you know how many useful things you have stashed away in there that could vastly simplify your current life? You could have bought that entire factory instead of crawling through the ducts.]
"Hey, don't mock me," I replied with a feigned pout. "Where would be the fun in that? And I just want to confirm what I still have in there. Even if I don't intend to use most of it now… it would be rather catastrophic to unleash certain weapons upon this world that has likely never seen anything more dangerous than a guild mage spitting fire." Moderation is a virtue, especially when one has the power to extinguish stars.
[Very well, you hoarder of interdimensional relics. Here's a summary of your inventory. Try not to drool on the interface.]
AZRA'IL'S INVENTORY (The "Why Hoard So Much Cosmic Rubbish?" Edition)
Legendary Weapons (also known as "Final Arguments For Any Discussion"):
Excalibur (Holy Sword – blinding shine and potential to accidentally crown kings)
Rhongomyniad (Holy Lance of World's End – do not use indoors or near planets you're fond of)
Mjolnir (Thunder Hammer – requires worthiness, good for hammering very large nails)
Kusanagi (Divine Blade – sharp enough to cut through flimsy excuses)
Gáe Bolg (Crimson Lance – specialises in unhealable wounds and a lot of paperwork)
Gungnir (Odin's Lance – never misses its mark, terrible for friendly games of darts)
Green Destiny (Green Jade Jian – elegant, light, excellent for dramatic duels in bamboo groves)
Heaven Splitting Sword (Jian of Celestial Division – self-explanatory, use with caution)
Purple Lightning Sword (Sword of Violet Thunder – shockingly effective)
ARMOURS AND VESTMENTS (because fashion can also be fatal):
Divine Armours (when you absolutely, positively, need to survive an apocalypse):
Athena's Divine Armour Set (Absolute divine protection + Resistance to holy magic – and a helm with a fabulous plume)
Celestial Dragon Armour (Elemental immunity + Advanced regeneration – scales not included, but the effect is the same)
Immortal Phoenix Armour (Self-regeneration + Resistance to divine fire – fireproof, literally)
Mystical Cloaks and Robes (for that 'mysterious sage' or 'I'm about to vanish before your eyes' look):
Cloak of the Eternal Void (Invisibility + Spiritual presence concealment – excellent for avoiding tedious conversations)
Robes of Immortality (Constant regeneration + Poison purification – for those dubious dinner parties)
Cloak of Ethereal Shadows (Phase through walls + Total camouflage – perfect for spying or sneaking snacks from the kitchen at night)
Cultivation Outfits (because even cultivators need style whilst seeking enlightenment… or more power):
Heavenly Emperor's Vestments (Amplifies spiritual power + Divine protection – emanates a 'don't mess with me' aura)
Ascended Immortal's Robes (Accelerates cultivation + Purifies vital energy – like a spa for the soul)
Supreme Cultivator's Mantle (Increases Qi absorption + Spiritual barrier – for when meditation gets intense)
Vestments from the Land of the Rising Sun (elegance and functionality, straight from distant lands and past lives):
Celestial Silk Hanfu (Levitation + Elemental resistance – floats gracefully whilst dodging fireballs)
Eternal Moonlight Yukata (Amplifies magical power + Protection against curses – ideal for festivals or exorcisms)
Kimono of the Four Seasons (Climatic adaptation + Natural camouflage – never feel too cold or too hot again, and blend in with your surroundings)
Western Outfits (a touch of class or brutality, depending on the occasion):
Enchanted Victorian Dresses (Social charm + Poison protection – because a prepared lady is worth two)
Noble Medieval Clothes (Aura of authority + Physical resistance – for when you need to look important and withstand a few knocks)
Mystical Modern Outfits (Social adaptation + Magical concealment – to blend in whilst secretly manipulating reality)
Nightmare Hunter Coat (Resistance to corrupted blood + Supernatural speed – Yharnam still gives me the shivers)
Noble Huntress Maria's Outfit (Blood manipulation + Special attack combos – she was beautiful with those blades)
Old Hunter Set (Resistance to curses + Beast detection – Gehrman knew his stuff)
Bloody Moon Coat (Increases critical damage + Dodge speed – for those particularly trying nights of the hunt)
Hunter's Workshop Outfit (Poison resistance + Bonus to firearms – always good to have options)
Celestial Choir Vestments (Resistance to Frenzy + Protection against insanity – the High Cosmos is not for the faint of mind)
Special Armours (when basic simply won't do):
Samurai Dragon Armour (Superhuman speed + Spiritual protection – honour and power in one stylish package)
Armour of a Thousand Souls (Absorbs damage + Automatic counter-attack – let them hit themselves)
Vestments of the Primordial Void (Immunity to physical damage + Spatial manipulation – hard to come by, even harder to explain to tailors)
Berserker Armour (Completely suppresses pain + Removes all bodily limiters – for those days when you just want to break everything without feeling the… immediate consequences)
Unique Sets (cosmic designer pieces):
Divine Ascension Suit (Flight + Elemental manipulation – for when walking is too mundane)
Doomsday Armour (Temporary invulnerability + Power amplification – the ultimate panic button)
Immortal Emperor's Vestments (Dominion over spirits + Dimensional barrier – because ghosts can be annoying too)
Magical Items (an interdimensional traveller's pharmacopoeia):
1,467 Healing Potions (Various levels – because getting hurt is a recurring hobby)
892 Mana Potions (To recharge the magical battery)
234 Elixirs of Immortality (Redundant for me, but excellent for gifting… or bribing)
867 Cultivation Potions (To give the process a little nudge)
645 Qi Refining Elixirs (To purify internal energy)
789 Celestial Cultivation Pills (Small doses of divine power)
456 Transformation Potions (For when being yourself isn't quite enough)
234 Youth Elixirs (More redundancy, but vanity is eternal)
123 Invisibility Potions (For those 'I'm not here' moments)
Amulets and Talismans: Various (Because one never knows when a cosmic rabbit's foot might come in handy)
Poisons and Toxins (because not all problems are solved with a flaming sword):
Nine Shadows Poison (Subtle and deadly)
Black Lotus Toxin (Beautiful name, terrible effects)
Imperial Paralysing Poison (To incapacitate with elegance)
Eternal Sleep Mist (For long… induced naps)
Silent Death Essence (Self-explanatory and efficient)
Thousand Needles Poison (Painful and debilitating)
Ghost Flower Extract (Causes… interesting hallucinations)
p1...p2...p3...p4...<...>
"So many memories…" I murmured, my eyes sweeping over the almost endless list, each name evoking an echo of past eras, of lost worlds and battles fought. "Rhongomyniad… that battle against Arthuria Pendragon under the rainy skies of Camlann… she was magnificent, the personification of a king's ideal. In the end, when she realised I shared, in my own twisted way, her desire to protect the innocent, she decided to entrust Rhongomyniad to me. A responsibility, more than a weapon." Wisdom is often born from conflict, from mutual understanding forged in the heat of battle.
[And that epic battle with Thor in Asgard, when the heavens literally split with the force of your blows…] Eos commented, with a tone that, if she had vocal cords, would be pure admiration.
"Ah yes…" a fleeting smile crossed my lips as I recalled the righteous fury and overwhelming power of the God of Thunder. "Thor was truly mighty, a whirlwind of strength and honour. Our battle made the nine worlds tremble under the impact. The duel lasted three days and three nights, a dance of destruction and mutual respect, until I finally managed to disarm him. Most surprising, and a testament to the hammer's character, was when Mjolnir, of its own stubborn will, flew to my hand. It recognised not only my strength, but my warrior spirit as worthy." Power, true power, often resides in the ability to recognise dignity in another, even in an adversary.
[Thor was visibly surprised, but accepted Mjolnir's decision with an honour few gods possessed.]
'The hammer chooses its wielder,' he said, with reluctant respect and a spark of curiosity in his eyes. 'And for the first time in millennia, it seems to have found someone besides myself worthy of its power and its trust.' It was one of the greatest honours I'd ever received in all my lives. A lesson that dignity can be found in the most unexpected places.
[And speaking of lessons and trials, that sword you acquired in that immortal eastern kingdom wasn't exactly a walk in the park…]
"The Heaven Splitting Sword? Oh, that one…" I chuckled softly. "I had to duel the Five Venerable Immortal Elders simultaneously, each a master of a forgotten art, to prove my worth and my understanding of the Dao. That battle lasted seven days and seven nights, a test not only of skill, but of mental and spiritual endurance. In the end, it wasn't victory that mattered, but the respect we gained for one another." True achievement often lies not in winning, but in understanding.
[The Nine Shadows Poison also has a particularly… slippery story behind it…]
"Ah, yes! Poison Empress Ling, a tortured soul with lethal knowledge. She taught me her dark art after I saved her empire from that ancestral plague that turned life to dust. She saw I didn't covet her power for evil, but understood it as another tool in the vast arsenal of existence. And the Celestial Cultivation Pills… I had to climb the Mountain of Nine Heavens, a place that existed between dreams and reality, to personally harvest the herbs under the light of three moons." Sometimes, the path to the deepest knowledge is solitary and arduous, but the view from the top always compensates.
[We also have the Purple Lightning Sword in your collection. The one you won after a particularly… electrifying period of introspection,] Eos quipped.
"After meditating for a thousand days and nights on Purple Thunder Peak, yes," I confirmed, remembering the deafening stillness broken only by the crackle of pure energy. "The sword's own spirit, an ancient entity of pure tempest, chose me, sensing the affinity in my soul with the untamed nature of lightning." Nature, in all its forms, is a great teacher for those who know how to listen. "And to think Green Destiny, so elegant and lethal, came to me after a single, interminable game of Weiqi against that old hermit master, who valued strategy and patience more than brute force." Strength has many faces.
[Not to mention the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which you literally fished from the bottom of the primordial ocean after that cataclysmic battle with the Eight-Headed Serpent, Yamata no Orochi, which threatened to swallow an entire archipelago.] Each item, a scar, a lesson, a fragment of wisdom acquired.
"Each item has its own journey, its own song," I touched the interface where the ethereal image of Excalibur shone with a soft, constant light. "This one… was a gift from the Lady of the Lake, guardian of ancient mysteries, after I helped restore the delicate balance between the mystical realms and the world of men, a balance that was on the brink of collapse." Balance is a constant dance, fragile and essential.
[And that exquisite set of Yukatas from the Celestial Empress? If I recall correctly, it was after you diplomatically averted a war that would have consumed both the Celestial and Demon Realms in eternal flame.]
"She said she'd never seen anyone dance so gracefully with both a blade and with words," I smiled at the memory. "True strength lies in the ability to choose the right tool for the right moment. Sometimes it's the blade, sometimes it's the word. The Vestments of the Primordial Void were even harder to acquire… I had to traverse the primordial void itself, a place of non-being, and confront my own deepest fears to obtain them." The greatest challenge is often the one we wage within ourselves.
[Not forgetting your considerable and ethically questionable collection of poisons. The Black Lotus, for example, which you used with such… creativity in that negotiation with the Dimensional Thieves' Guild.]
"Which I personally extracted from the forbidden garden of the Poisonous Immortals, a place where every flower was a deadly trap, yes," I confirmed with a sigh. "I nearly died three times on that mission. But I learned that even in the deepest shadows, there is knowledge to be found, and that poison and antidote often grow side by side." I sighed, closing the inventory interface, the weight of so many lives and stories hanging in the air. "Each item here tells a part of my journey, of my battles, my defeats, and my conquests… fragments of who I was, and who I am becoming, again and again."
[You can use them again, when and if you wish. They yearn for purpose.]
"Yes, when this body is ready, when the time is right," I agreed, looking at my small, young hands, which would one day wield such powers again. "For now, let them rest safely, guarding their stories and their lessons for the right time. Patience, after all, is the virtue of immortals… and of those who aspire to be so, even for the umpteenth time."