Soren finally got out of the Soul Mecha.
Many of the townspeople were rushing to the Soul Mecha with bowls of water, but Soren's mind was perplexed. He could not stop looking at his hands. The flames did not burn him.
Not just that, the flames had been from him.
How was that possible? Chronovore could not summon flames. No, it did not.
This much, Soren was sure of.
Then How?
"Get out of the way, turd-face." Vass brushed shoulders with him as he rushed towards the Mecha, like the others. But as he did, Soren turned to him. His eyes, instinctively drawn to his Glassheart.
Memories flashed—
Before the first Death, Chronovore had rushed out of his Glassheart and devoured Vass's Shade after the Eldritch tore it in half.
Wait! It can't be that...?
A kind of revelation happened in his mind, and enlightenment shone in his eyes.
Soren willed in his mind, and flames appeared in his palm. His eyes shone even brighter in the revelation. How had he not known about such a thing all this time?
Ah... Yes. I had not accepted Chronovore's hunger then.
Soren instantly knew what he had to do next.
"HAHAHAHAHAH!!!" He laughed maniacally.
"Is he okay?" One man carrying a bucket of water asked another.
"Must be too crazy from the knowledge of being an F-rank trash soul warrior."
However, Soren rushed over to the Madman at the warehouse. "Forgive me. But you will get it back in the next loop."
"Chronovore... Devour!" Soren willed as he opened his Glassheart, and his soul leapt for the Madman's toe.
"NO!" The Madman lamented.
After which Soren—on the spot, used a blade to cut his throat.
{You Died}
—————————————-
"Now, let's try that again."
{Initiating Handshake...}
WHUUUUUMMMMMmmmmmmm.... The Soul mecha roared to life.
Soren closed his eyes. The next part.
{Connecting to the Neural Link...}
Whoosh... He could see it in his mind's eye. Unlike before, the neural links were connecting. This was it. This was the true power of Chronovore. His soul could feed off other souls and mimic their power.
However, this made Soren even more confused. Was the 'Unimaginable Hunger' the Curse for such an ability, or was it the 'Repeated Deaths'? Soren was not sure. But neither was easy to deal with.
Regardless, he had finally done it.
He opened his eyes in the Mecha—No, the Mecha opened its eyes—one with Soren.
The moment it did, the Eldritch, feasting on Pencil's remains in the warehouse, turned sharply....
[You died]
———————
[840 Deaths later]
Soren jolted awake.
The ceiling--'One day I shall pilot the stars.'
This time around, Soren was happy to see it—a magnificent, nearly malicious grin on his face.
He rushed down from the bed. He put on his shoes and then went out the door.
He went straight to the kitchen with a bowl in hand.
"Look! Who do we have here? The newest Soulbound Warrior in Town." Machos teased.
"You know it!" Soren chuckled, then he gave an exaggerated turn and a noble bow.
"Ho ho ho! You're looking brighter and happier than ever. Are you... Sure, you okay, boy?" Machos asked with a smile but raised brow.
"Yes... In fact, I couldn't have been happier. I just want to eat your delicious rat-free soup and go kill an Eldritch."
"Huh!?" Machos paused mid-service.
"Oh... It's nothing. You will know in a bit." Soren shrugged it off.
"Okay. Well... I have to go..."
"...Take care of the Madman. Yes, I am aware. But please do something for me. When you see me in the Trash Mecha, ensure everyone follows my orders. If it's you, those assholes will listen better. Don't forget."
"Erm... Okay!" Machos shook his head in confusion as he took his coat and headed out. "Did he hit his head that hard on the ground?" He murmured.
Soren sat and enjoyed his soup to the full, then looked ahead. "Let's make today the last 'Today'."
.....
Soren looked at his wristwatch and then at the sky. It was just about getting dark—the perfect time. And then pulled the Town's alarm.
WAWUWAUWAUWAUWAUWUAU....
In no time, everyone rushed over to the centre of the town, gathering around the Trash mecha.
Many murmured in fear. "What happened?"
"Who pulled the alarm?"
"Doesn't this mean that there is an eldritch soul in town?"
"But I don't see one?"
"Also, who covered the trash Mecha in shit? Are the kids playing a prank again?"
"Yes! It stinks here. Why does it stink?"
Murmurs all around.
Meanwhile, Soren walked calmly, one step at a time, easily navigating through the crowd to reach the trash mecha. And then he climbed all the way to its head. He sat on it. He looked around. "Good...the last person is almost here."
Of Course, it was Pencil, and the other farm workers from the edge of town.
"I demand to know what is going on this instant." Madama Wawa walked over boldly with a giant stride—those who knew her parted ways. No one wanted to be on her bad side. She was currently fuming. Here she was trying to make a lasting impression on a future star, and someone was trying to put a dent in her well-planned, perfect day.
"Who had the stupid guts to pull the alarm? I swear if I find you, I'll tear your guts out and..."
"Shut up, old hag!" Soren spoke up.
The crowd gasped, then went silent as eyes turned up to him.
"What did you say to me? You insolent Dun..."
—A piercing gaze. The words seized in her mouth. She wanted to say more, but she found his presence mounting. Madam Wawa was a woman who had engaged in business with perilous men. She had a sixth sense for them. And now, beholding his gaze, her instinct was telling her to scream and hide in a hole.
Sweat ran down her forehead. 'That gaze. Only men who have either fought monsters or are monsters themselves have that gaze. If I move, I'll...I'll...'
Before her knees would give in, Soren turned back to the crowd. He was doing some last-minute checks on the Trash Mecha.
Someone suddenly spoke up—the two guys in rags. "Wait... Is that not the Dungie trash that became an F-rank? Who told the trash that he can show his face? Where is big brother, he would have loved to see this?"
"Your big brother is dead. He was the first victim." Soren spoke casually, like he was conversing over a pleasant meal. "He went to the cavern to catch bats for dinner. But..." Soren stood on the mecha's good shoulder, "...He became dinner."
"What!? What the hell is that Trash talking about?" one of the men in rags was confused. "How dare you talk about my big brother like that?"
However, Soren did not care what they thought or if they understood.
He had an unusual composure. No Smiles as he used to, or silliness. Not even the desire to please—just a focused mind with a mission.
"Now, listen up, everyone. I know you won't believe me. I wouldn't do it if I were in your shoes, but there is no time to waste. Regardless, I can assure you this, you all..." he pointed at them, "are going to see tomorrow."
—Another loud voice was heard.
"Soren, get down here this instant. You need to give a proper explanation." The mayor looked so furious that his monocle was sinking into his face. But it won't be the first time Soren had pissed him off.
A lot of loops had passed.
"Hey, Turd-face, can't you hear my dad calling you? Or has all the shit I threw at you rotten your brain?" Vass screamed from below. He was freshly dressed in his new red robes, the soulbound Knights had gifted him.
Soren gave a condescending glance. "Shut up, Plump Ass."
The crowd GASPED.
"What the hell did you just say to me, turd-face?" Vass was similarly surprised that Soren dared to reply.
Soren rolled his eyes. With a leap, he landed heavily on the ground—right before Vass.
"I called you plump ass. Or am I lying? Why don't you turn around for everybody to see?" Soren teased, a cocky smile on his face.
Some whispered. "Oh, the SS-rank is going to wipe the floor clean with the F-rank trash."
"I was wiping your face with turd, long before you became a Soulbound warrior. Are you so stupid to think things have changed?" Vass had a smug look, stepping forward, cracking his knuckles.
The crowd created space for the confrontation.
This was a battle between Soulbound warriors; no one wanted to be caught in the crossfire.
Regardless, attention was fixed on the two of them.
Vass frowned as he threw a punch, but Soren, having gone through multiple loops, already knew how this prideful bully would react and act.
He side-stepped, placing a leg slightly in front of Vass.
The bully tripped.
Taking advantage of this, Soren landed a PUNCH on his face.
Vass fell face-first into the ground.
The crowd GASPED again.
Vass was shocked by this. He had never missed.
Rage burned in his eyes.
But Soren was not done with him.
Vass had bullied and humiliated Soren for a long time. Now, it was his turn.
"Would you look at that? You call me turd-face. But it seems like your face is the one in the Turd." Soren gestured, frowning his nose in disgust.
Only now did Vass realise that he had not just fallen face-first on the ground, but his face was now covered in shit.
This was leftover shit from the one Soren used to cover the Soul Mecha.
Vass could not hold back. "You are so dead, Turd-face."
WHOOSH... Soul energy became flames, instantly turning his clothes to cinders.
"Oh, look at that, the boss actually has a plump ass." One of Vass's goons pointed at his backside.
Soon, everyone noticed it.
"Wow... It's true. The SS-rank actually has a plump ass. That's amazing. It looks like a cake," another commented.
Soon, whispers began, and then one person burst into laughter, and another, and another.
The crowd laughed and pointed.
Vass turned around, his face turning a shade of red. "Stop... stop looking. All of you stop looking at me." His eyes became red, confusion and embarrassment enveloping him.
His father tried to calm the situation, but it only became worse.
Vass ended up covering his privates with his arms as he ran from the gathering.
Soren watched with a satisfying smile on his face. But he could not enjoy the moment for long.
After all, there were more important matters at hand—higher stakes involved.
Soren climbed the Soul Mecha and got into the cockpit.
The female mechanical voice kicked in:
{Initiating Handshaking...}
{Bond approved}
{Connecting Neural link...}
{Connection established...}
The Soul Mecha's squared eyes lightened up in a grey glow.
"What the hell? Did that Dungie connect with the Trash Soul Mecha? What the Fuck?"
"How is that even possible? What in the Neural network is going on?" There were all sorts of murmurs.
On the other hand, Machos, who had just arrived, could not believe what he was seeing. He was speechless.
Soren spoke through the Soul Mecha. "Machos! I don't have time to explain. I left some directions for you in the breast pocket of your jacket. Follow it accordingly. It is almost here."
Machos immediately looked in his breast pocket.
There was a piece of paper. It was titled "Eldritch Take Down (Follow Accordingly)."
Soren had barely finished talking when he heard that familiar Silent Scream from the Eldritch.
Eldritch souls were somehow very sensitive to Soul mechas. The moment Soren bonded with the Soul Mecha, it felt it. It was like a sixth sense—some divine call.
The eldritch was coming.
Over his numerous deaths, Soren had tracked the Eldritch.
Firstly, he summed up that it must have come from the Glass after the 'Touching Glass Ceremony.' The Knights must not have fixed the glass properly.
Nevertheless, when it came through, it did not hunt immediately because the sun was almost up. Eldritch creatures hated sunlight and only operated at night. Instead, it found its way to the cavern at the edge of town and waited there for night to fall again.
Of course, it fed on the unfortunate man who went in to hunt bats.
It was naturally supposed to hunt Pencil and the others because their farm was closest before it made its way to slaughter everybody, but Soren had ruined that reality.
And so it appeared in the distance.
The abomination of a creature, three dog-like heads connected in a mess of teeth like fingers leaking down its sides, and those green-veined tentacles reaching out for prey in mid-air.
It was roughly the height of The Mecha. Of course, it was much larger and longer.
Soren locked eyes with the creature. "Today, You Die!"