Chapter 32: No Longer Human

[I severed approximately half of my existence and fused it with yours. The process substantially weakened me]

[It also prevented your death. I deemed the exchange acceptable]

Rhos simply stared at the creature. He honestly didn’t know how to take what it was saying. At this point, it was long overdue to think someone was pulling a joke on him. Besides, who would even go through the trouble?

He didn’t have any friends or any peers... anymore. The only person he had now was this mysterious woman, and of course, his older sister.

But listening to this made him really curious.

"You mean... I’m alive because half of.. You... is inside me?"

Saying it like that out loud made him feel strange. Fortunately, the creature didn’t share the sentiment, it said.

[Your soul has merged with mine, becoming one. There is no half. In a sense... you are no longer human]

[Likewise, you are not of my kind]

The room suddenly fell silent. Outside, the morning sounds of Elderwood carried on as though nothing had changed, carrying about their day as usual. For them at least, Rhos on the other hand could only stare blankly at the tiny primordial being.

Seeing him unresponding, it tilted its body a bit.

[Do not misunderstand this as affection. It was merely a decision with the highest probability of mutual survival]

Rhos rubbed both hands over his face and took steady breaths. He didn’t feel any pain physically, his body still felt great. It only hurts mentally.

Nothing about this conversation fit inside the worldview he had lived with for seventeen years. He needed to sit down, and sat on the sofa.

Ever since the Merger, humanity has lived knowing two realities existing at the same time. The Material World and the Spirit World had collided centuries ago, becoming one inseparable existence.

This unprecedented event had rewritten every law mankind thought it understood. Animals evolved into terrifying beasts, plants became predators and every child born thereafter carried within them a Patron Spirit.

That was the world Rhos had grown up in. But after meeting this creature, he understood there was still a lot humanity didn’t understand about the world. Their current knowledge barely scratched the surface.

"Wuuuuuh"

He let out a slow breath, an odd smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn’t say anything mainly because he still needed a bit to think about all this.

The silence dragged on until the tiny creature narrowed its single hollow eye.

[Human... your facial muscles are behaving strangely]

[Is all that I have told you beginning to make sense to you now?]

Rhos lowered his hands.

"Yeah... I figured as much"

He leaned back into the sofa and stared at the hanging ceiling fan. Abruptly he started laughing. It wasn’t loud or out of joy. It was the laugh of someone who had realized how interesting his life had just become.

’Has life finally picked me as its favourite too?’

Excitement exploded in his chest. His heart was beating faster, and his smile wasn’t forced anymore.

Power.... Yes, real power. This strange little creature had given him power. His soul had fused with that of a primordial existence.

Whatever the creature truly was, it certainly wasn’t weak. If even half of what it claimed was true, then the soul residing inside this body now was no longer something an ordinary human could compare to. It was absurdly powerful!

’That’s insane’

He clicked his tongue once he realized something.

’As amazing as that sounds... it’s also a complete pain in the ass’

Having a stronger soul didn’t automatically mean he would become overpowered overnight. Quite the opposite actually.

Throughout history, refinement had always followed the same principle. The greater the foundation, the greater the amount of effort required to elevate it.

A weak soul was difficult to refine because it lacked potential.

A powerful soul was difficult because its very existence demanded exponentially greater nourishment before evolution. It was like trying to fill an enormous lake instead of a bucket.

The stronger the soul becomes, the greater the amount of spiritual energy, experience and resources it requires to make it evolve further.

Neither path was easy. They merely suffered from different problems.

Humans spent their entire lives refining three things; their bodies, their spiritual energy and their souls.

The body could be tempered through hardship, combat and relentless training.

Spiritual energy grew through constant use, emotional growth and repeated refinement through constant circulation through one’s Patron Spirit.

The soul... this was where it became difficult.

Refining it required rare opportunities, priceless materials, dangerous rituals most wouldn’t dare or encounters that most people would never experience even once.

It was also considered the slowest form of growth. But it was worth it in this case. The grass was, in fact, greener on the other side.

However, there was a problem.

"I’m poor"

Quality materials often cost an absurd amount of money and he was flat broke. He should have known. Everything eventually returned to money.

Rhos let out a sigh.

For the past two years, he had worked as Ranger Division 14’s live bait, but he had nothing to show for it. The pay he got after each expedition barely covered rent. The rest disappeared into food.

Whatever little remained had an unfortunate habit of ending up in a glass of alcohol at the bar.

’I really should’ve spent less money on alcohol. Damn you, Old Marn!’

He sighed again while looking down on the floor.

’I don’t even have savings’

With Division 14 gone, he didn’t know whether his employment still existed. There was compensation the Corps provided survivors, but that would take time to be processed. That was assuming they won’t imprison him for questioning first.

He didn’t have time for that. Or the necessary strength to ensure the higher ups didn’t screw him over.

Right now, he needed to find resources. Improve his newly merged soul and master whatever abilities that came with it.

Every single one of those required money. Which meant...

"I need work"

After a long silence, he pushed himself upright. He was no longer smiling when he stared at the creature that floated closer to him.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

Nothing in the world was free. Since it went through the trouble of keeping him alive through a contract, it definitely wanted something from him.

The tiny creature became unusually quiet, its wings stopped flapping but it still remained suspended in the air.

[Human. The answer to that question currently exceeds your capacity]

Rhos frowned.

"What does that mean?"

[You are weak]

[So weak that explaining it now would be equivalent to asking an ant to contemplate the stars]

He stared at it for several seconds before eventually giving up. It was right, Rhos’s current state was that of a weakling. He had always known that but having a primordial tell him that only solidified it.

"Alright fine, since you’ll be sticking around. What am I supposed to call you?"

The tiny creature puffed itself up proudly.

[Neth]

[You have permission to call me such. It is a considerable honor]

[I recommend appreciating it appropriately]

"Neth, huh?"

Rhos repeated the name. That was the name he said before the creature appeared. It made sense now, it worked like a summoning.

He glanced down at his own hands and clenched them into fists.

If his soul had truly changed, then perhaps everything else had changed alongside it. He was tempted to go back to Yggdrasil and undergo another evaluation.

"Getting ahead of yourself already..."

He shook his head. It was way too early to be arrogant. His gaze returned to Neth because right now, there was only one thing that truly mattered.

"Neth, if we’re partners now, help me master this power. I don’t care how difficult it is or how long it’ll take, but make me stronger. Make me strong enough that nobody will ever throw my life away again"

Neth’s hollow eyes shimmered with anticipation, it flapped its wings as it said enthusiastically;

[That... was already one of my obligations!]

A crooked grin spread across Rhos’s face, watching the creature spin around the room.

[I shall teach you!]

[I shall guide your growth!]

[I shall ensure Human survives long enough to fulfil his purpose!]