—Soren Jolted awake.
Cough. Cough. Cough.
The ceiling—"One Day, I'll Pilot the Stars."
He took deep breaths to stabilise himself. His lungs heaved heavily. He had never died like that before. His heart had literally exploded from his chest.
Regardless, it was a weirdly good feeling. Dying and enjoying it was weird. But he could also feel a sense of achievement. This was a loop that ended differently.
He needed to know why. Instantly, he put on his shoes and rushed out to meet the madman.
Moments later, he was back in his room. He placed the Glassheart on the crate that Machos usually sat on to advise him.
The Madman had told him the problem. Soul Mecha pilots did not just bond with Soul Mechas. There was a training for it that taught one not only to use the powers granted by the bound Soul but also to understand the bond and even deepen it.
Of course, this was supposed to be in the academy and would take about five years to master. Also, it had to be done carefully, or death could be the answer. There was no shortage of arrogant idiots who died because of their stupidity.
Unfortunately for Soren, there would be no tomorrow if he did not overcome today. But fortunately for him, he could learn the hard way. If it was going to be through death, then so be it.
First, he would have to concentrate on the bond. Souls were not ranked A to F solely based on colour. But firstly, because the colour showed the extent to which a soul could bond with its warrior. Secondly, colour revealed how strong a soul could be.
The warrior's natural talent also had something to do with it, but that was for another time.
While Soren did not understand much of this, he did understand something. And that was the principle of the bond that the Shade had with the warrior.
According to the Madman, Shades did not only come with abilities but also a price to pay for using them—a kind of curse they carried.
An example would be Boyed, the Soul Bound Knight, who served as an assistant to Commander Jared during the 'Touch the Glass' Ceremony. Even Soren had found it weird that the man always covered his nose with a handkerchief.
Was he a wuss or a sissy?
But that was the price Boyed had to pay. Some curses were manageable, and some were not.
After hearing what the madman had to say about this, Soren instantly realised what it was.
It was the Hunger.
Chronovore's ability involved time, but it also had an overwhelming hunger. It came from the very soul. But Soren would have to face it.
There was no easier way to do this. What was there to fear—Death?
Pfft!
Soren placed a hand on the Glassheart and willed it to open.
[Hunger] [Hunger] [Hunger] [Hunger] [Hunger] [Hunger]
It was a cry with just one word in his mind. The last time he had opened it, he had run away from the cry. But now, he was more intentional in embracing it.
It started in his stomach, but then, like a snake, it coiled around his lungs, squeezing them so tight he could barely breathe.
And then the hunger EXPLODED within him.
His throat burned, and in a rush to quench it, he ran out.
The pot of soup Machos was cooking—he grabbed it without another word, lifted it hot from the stove, and poured it like a raging monster in his throat.
It burned, but the hunger burned more.
Machos screamed and tried to stop him, but Soren shoved him away with one swing. Some poured into his eyes instantly, blinding him, while others burned his skin—flesh sizzling.
But even that was not enough. Hunger! Hunger!! HUNGER!!!
Now blind, his hands reached for anything he could touch and feed off. Clothes, the box of nails in the corner. His blood and torn skin splashed in all directions.
He even began chewing off his fingers in the process.
But it was still not enough. The hunger was seeping into his bones, into his mind. He needed to fill it. To quench it. Everything had suddenly become edible.
He lifted the red-hot stove to his mouth and face. He poured it in.
[You Died]
———————
—Soren Jolted awake.
Cough. Cough. Cough.
Okay! Let's not do that again.
He nodded to himself.
This was a different kind of death. He swallowed hard as he thought up a plan. He went downstairs, ignoring Machos, cooking his pot of soup. He carried chains and fibre cables.
The old man stared, perplexed, and wanted to question, but said nothing.
Soren carried them upstairs and strapped himself to his bed. Such that without help, there was no getting out of this one. And then he used a bind for his mouth. Afterwards, he willed, and the Glassheart opened.
This time around, he did not go downstairs raging, but he ended up biting so hard he crushed his teeth and tongue, swallowed them, and then drowned in his own blood.
[You Died]
————————
{Death 460}
Again and again and again. The hunger was persistent... until...
Soren willed for the Glassheart to open. He gritted his teeth. The hunger was still there, but now, he was familiar with it. In fact, he embraced it. Because he was hungry did not mean he could not exist without the hunger. In a way, he had achieved peace with it.
While this mountain had been crossed, another was before his path.
Again, he entered the Soul Mecha. And then he connected his Glassheart.
[Initiating Handshake...]
WHUUUUUMMMMMmmmmmmm.... It roared to life.
"YES! YES!! Roar for me, you son of a bitch!" He was so happy. This showed that he had accepted his Shade, just as it had accepted him.
Soren closed his eyes. There was the next part.
{Connecting to the Neural Link.}
{Connecting...}
{Connecting...}
The voice echoed in his mind.
Come on. Come on... You can do it!
The Neuralink—heavily praised by all, and even worshipped. It was the key. This was the connection between the man and the mecha—the turning point. But there was a problem with it. One that he knew.
It was popular knowledge that Soul Mechas were explicitly made for the pilot and the Shade they bonded with. At least, this was the rumour. This allowed the neural connection within the mecha to mimic, first, the formation of nerves within the individual, and then the bond between the Warrior and Shade.
Yes. This mecha was explicitly made to connect with the Madman and his Bulb.
Soren hoped that this would not stop his advance, but would hope be enough?
Nevertheless, he would have to connect with the network first.
Come on. Come on... You can do it!
He prayed hard in his mind. But then...
{Unable to connect. Soul energy is incompatible.}
{Unable to connect. Soul energy is incompatible.}
{Unable to connect. Soul energy is incompatible.}
"Oh, goddamn it! Work!! Work!!! I have died too many times to mess up NOW!" He slammed a hand on the controls in rage. Again and again and again.
WHOOOSHHHHH
Golden flames ignited from his hands....
{Warning... Warning... Cockpit on fire}
Soon, everything was burning around him. However, Soren paused.
"Why am I not burning?"