Chapter 7: Do You Want To Enter Elysium?
"The God of Games?" Lux looked at the floating boy in front of him in confusion. "Who is Macuilxochitl? Are you sure you didn't visit the wrong person? Are you perhaps looking for my Grandma?"
Eriol sighed as he looked at Lux who had no recollection of the God of Gamblers, from the Heavenly Domain.
"It seems that the damage to your soul is quite severe," Eriol said. "You didn't reincarnate properly. This is why your current body and your soul are not synchronized and you keep fainting. They're not compatible."
Lux frowned as he listened to Eriol's words. "Huh? What are you talking about? Are you sure you're not talking to the wrong person?"
"Does the name Lucien ring any bells to you?"
"Lucien? Who's that? My name is Lux."
Eriol smiled bitterly when he realized that Lux had no recollection of anything prior to his rebirth. He was like a slate that had been wiped clean.
'Looks like I have to start from the beginning,' Eriol thought. He then looked at the red-haired boy in front of him who his best friend had chosen to take a gamble with.
"Neh~ Lux. Do you want to enter Elysium?" Eriol asked.
"... I do," Lux answered. "But I don't have the qualifications to survive in that world."
Eriol nodded. "True. The current you will just die a miserable and pitiful death if you enter Elysium now. However, what if I told you that I could help you meet the requirements to set foot in that world that you've always dreamed of?"
Lux narrowed his eyes as he focused his attention on Eriol who was looking back at him with a sad expression.
"What do I have to do in return?" Lux asked.
He knew that there was no free lunch in the world. Although he didn't feel any kind of malice coming from Eriol, he was still someone Lux had met for the first time. He couldn't possibly put his trust in a stranger so easily, right?
"What I want you to do is struggle," Eriol answered. "Struggle to the bitter end. Regardless of whether you become a Hero or a Demon Lord, all I ask is that you do everything in your power to live. Can you promise me that?"
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"You're not going to ask me to give you my soul when I die?"
It was at that moment a smile appeared on Eriol's face.
"Well if you want to give me your soul I can accept that too," Eriol said in a teasing tone. "Do you want to?"
"No way." Lux firmly shook his head. "I hear that those who sold their souls to the devil all had untimely ends. I don't want to suffer the same fate."
Eriol smirked as he waved his hand.
Suddenly, Lux found himself standing on top of a clear blue sea that reflected the blue sky above.
Before Lux could even do anything, he heard Eriol's voice behind him.
"This is a special domain I have created," Eriol said. "In here, no one will be able to hear our conversation. We don't have to worry about prying Gods who have too much time on their hands. I'm sure that you have a lot of questions, but sadly I can't answer them all. My time in this world is limited, so for now please listen to my explanation. Okay?"
Lux nodded his head. He wasn't sure where he was, but he had a feeling that if he didn't obey Eriol's words he would be stuck in this strange place for a very long time.
"First, let me help you recover your memory," Eriol stated as he pressed his hand on Lux's head.
A few seconds later, Lux's pained screams spread throughout the beautiful blue world that Eriol had created.
Eriol didn't bat an eye as he continued to pour his Divinity through his hand in order to repair the memories that Lux had forgotten.
Several minutes later the red-headed boy panted on top of the blue sea, staring at his own reflection.
"Do you remember now?" Eriol asked as he crouched down beside Lux.
"I do," Lux answered as he panted for breath. "The Heaven's Gate Project… Max, and Himea."
Eriol nodded. "Because of the cannon's malfunction, your soul suffered irreparable damage. Do you remember anything after you were shot from the cannon?"
"No."
"I see..."
Eriol rubbed his chin as he pondered his next move. After Lux regained his composure, the God of Games eyed him with a serious expression.
"Okay, before anything else, let me tell you how you were born in this world," Eriol said. "After your soul survived its long journey, it didn't have the ability to be reborn the natural way. This is why the Divinity that Max gave you decided to look for the best next substitute to comply with your character settings.
"Since a normal rebirth was impossible, your soul merged with the body of a newly born… I mean, a newly-dead baby Half-elf. That is the current vessel that you are possessing right now."
Eriol patted Lux's shoulder, making the red-headed boy look back at the God of Games in disbelief.
"I know, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth and nothing but the truth," Eriol stated. "This is also the reason why you sometimes feel disconnected from your body. Every time you exert your will, your body rejects you.
"The reason for this is because your body and soul are not synchronized properly. Don't worry. I will fix that problem. Right here, right now."
Eriol tapped his finger on Lux's forehead and the boy's body stiffened. It was at that moment a series of words appeared inside his head, surprising Lux.
—-
< Starting Body and Soul Synchronization >
< Incompatibility Ratio is 78% >
< Looking for solution… >
< Solution Found! >
< Looking for Compatible Body Physique… >
< Compatible Body Physique Found! >
< Immortal Conqueror's Legacy >
< Synchronizing with Special Body Physique >
< Synchronization Rate: 1% >
< Synchronization Rate: 18% >
< Synchronization Rate: 39% >
< Synchronization Rate: 78% >
< Synchronization Rate: 100% >
< Ding! >
< Congratulations! Immortal Conqueror's Legacy had been set to become your primary body constitution! >
—--
A blazing fire engulfed Lux's body and instantly incinerated his clothes until nothing was left.
The red-headed boy started to panic because he thought that he was going to be burned alive. However, after flailing his hands for half a minute, he realized that he wasn't feeling any kind of burning pain.
Instead, he felt a soothing pleasure wash over his body.
It was a very surreal feeling that he couldn't put into words. All he knew was that every fiber of his being was rejoicing as they were born anew, shedding their weak and pathetic selves behind them.
When the blaze disappeared, Lux's body appeared sitting cross legged in the air with his eyes closed. He was basking in the afterglow of his rebirth and trying to understand the changes that happened inside his body.
In the past, whenever he tried to do anything, his body felt heavy as if it was weighed down with stones. There were also minor delays when he executed actions. Growing up, he thought that it was a normal thing.
But now things have changed. He no longer felt burdened, the invisible shackles that held him back had all disappeared. He felt that if he challenged the trial again he had an 80% chance of succeeding.
When Lux opened his eyes, the happiness he felt was evident on his face.
Eriol smiled in satisfaction after seeing that Lux's rebirth succeeded.
"Now, take out your Soul Book, and see the changes that have been made to your body." Eriol urged.
Lux nodded and summoned his Soul Book. Every person in the world of Solais could summon their Soul Books to check their progress. Only the owner of the Soul Book would be able to see their stats.
Of course, others could see them as well if the owner gave them his permission.
—--
Name: Lux Von Kaizer
Age: 16
Race: Half-Elf
Rank: (None)
Strength: 4
Intelligence: 5
Vitality: 4
Agility: 5
Dexterity: 4
Special Abilities: Skill Evolution [EX]
Special Body Constitution: Immortal Conqueror's Legacy
Title: None
Note: You're still a mob character. Don't think too highly of yourself, weakling!
—--
< Skill Evolution [EX] >
– This ability will allow you to evolve your skills once.
– Certain requirements must be met in order to evolve the skill of your choosing.
< Immortal Conqueror's Legacy >
Rating: F
Progress: 1/100
Conquest is not all about claiming lands and expanding your Domain. True conquest is conquering the hearts of people. Once you gain their loyalty, the path to Dominion will open its doors for you.
Abilities: (None)
Note: Upgrading your special constitution will allow you to unlock its abilities.