Ascenders: Rising From Zero

A Chance To Live Again

Blink!

In the darkness about, light suddenly sparked, bringing warmness to the dread, sad air. 

Bayo's conscience flickered, a glimmer of hope in the spark of light he saw. His sense of feel began coming to focus.

He tried to feel where he was, floating in a space of nothing. Peeking forward, he felt gloomy dark around.

He panicked.

'Wait, where am I?'

Trying to take forward look, he reached for his face but nothing.

'My hands still not working?' He thought.

But that didn't seem like it. He tried to move his legs but felt nothing. 

'Maybe I'm so injured I can't move.' He thought, resigning himself to fate.

He tried again, moving his body, any part, but this time a restricting force began to come on him. 

In annoyance, Bayo mentally refused and felt the restricting forces that came latched on him at several points disappearing.

He sighed mentally, obviously relaxed. As he did, a flood of new insight struck him immediately as his senses expanded. He could sense more things about him now. Somehow, he could sense another presence observing him in a distance like a beast would observe its prey.

Panic filled him again as he thought of it escaping that presence no matter what. In his desperation, he felt himself sink in and bulge out at the other side. This motion kept on until he managed, after much effort to turn his senses on himself.

'What DA EFF?' Bayo yelled, mentally startled.

His whole body... 

No, not body. His whole self was a ball of swishing and blobbing energy.

He was dead?

Finally? 

But how?

Was this what happened to people who died? That they always ended up as shapeless blobs of energy watched by a What?

Wait...

Bayo expanded his senses outward. His sensing reached further in a wide span before than constricting and focusing on a shapelesss mass that kept churning like a mass of what? 

What? Was this how he was gong to be living now? What sort of live would that be? Please, whoever, I don't want this sort of existence? Please.

He panicked and simultaneously, he felt slammed into. Sucking in mental airs, Bayo's conscience fought back, trying to latch free from whatever that was.

'Ah, you have very unique soul here, Ascender." A new, genderless voice spoke, startling Bayo. If he had a body, he was definitely going to jump up in fright.

"Uh... who are you? God?" His mental heart thumped so fast.

"Oh, forgive my manners. I am Yasmin, one of the 21 soul remnants of the Last demiGod of Irunmole history and High Prince of the Dark Order."

"So WHAT THE EFF ARE YOU DOING IN MY HEAD?" Bayo screamed mentally. He had had enough psychological trauma being in this state of existence.

Now, he didn't want a weirdo speaking voice telling him trash about Irunmole and Dark order on his head.

If this was God, well, Damn God. 

"You are disturbed, Bayo. I am Yasmin, and I was created on the day the enemies of my great master destroyed his body and sealed his soul in a soul prison. Up n his seal, the master In his all knowing sovereignty decided to disperse 21 parts of souls to survive and ascend the path of Gods. 

My mission, our mission is to becomes the strongest possible being, evolve and resurrect our Master.

That is our sole existence, Bayo. "The monotone voice spoke again.

"Oh, shut up! Who is this Master? And why do you keeping using WE and OUR?" Bayo queried, irritated.

"Regrettably, I speak in plural terms not only because they are 21 of us but because I have failed in my mission in taking over your soul.

And i have been reduced into nothing less than a soul genie." Yasmin's voice dropped considerably at the last words.

"You say that like it's a terrible thing." Bayo sympathized.

"You do not understand. Even as soul remnant, I need a body... how do I put it? Okay in your Earthen terms... I am an operating software program that needs a computer to function. You are the computer, your soul and I should be the driver which means , I have the ability to evolve through you..."

"In order words you are saying you're a parasite huh?"

"...but now, I have been suppressed by this unique souls of yours, forcing me to be a subsidiary soul or soul genie."

"As a soul genie, I am subject to you. I must help you, evolve, get stronger, survive."

"How about you get out of my head instead of being depressed in here? " Bayo retorted, he was feeling heavy pangs of emotions from the voice settling on him.

"I'm sorry. My programming does not allow me to cut chase. I must help you , for now."

"That makes sense. But what do you mean for now?" 

"You already surmised me as a parasite. Yes, I would remain with you until I have your soul under my control. Total control. "

What? 

Bayo shifted backwards mentally. So this Yasmin was a ??

Symbiotic parasite?

No way was he letting this thing get control of him. 

No, he did not survive this far to be driven as a puppet. He knew for now that he was helpless. How he suppressed Yasmin was a mystery to him.

Maybe because I have a unique soul?

Well, for now, he had no to choice but accept this Yasmin , evolve and then kick him out after he is strong to survive on his own.

"You don't understand, Do you? Things that will break you and destroy your will to survive will come up as you evolve.

When that comes, you would lose so much of yourself that you would give in to him, finally. But truth be told, I don't want want to take over a weakling.

That is why I would help you become as strong as possible then wait for fate to do its bidding." Yasmin explained.

Well, that was frightening, Bayo surmised. But that was till then.

Yasmin mentioned he had to evolve. Which means that he won't have to be stuck in this bodiless state.

Oh wow.

It's like being reborn again.

And at the moment, I am a foetus in my mother's belly.

"Yasmin, I am ready. Evolve me." Bayo spoke to excitedly.

"Keyword recognized. Command accepted. Starting Ascender Induction."

FWOOP! A Bright flash of white suddenly exploded, stunning Bayo. It hurt so badly that Bayo felt he had eyes that had gotten blinded already.

What That Forge?  

Forge out, Yasmin. Get out of my head.

Bayo's annoyance was soon replaced with awe. He felt solidity around him. 

Startled, he gasped. In the distance just before him, was a huge but yet slender figure. The figure had overall flapping behind him and was backing Bayo.

MY NAME IS TRIXIUS, TRIXIUS THE GREAT. 

A great voice boomed around.

'Wait, Trixius? That name is familiar. Damnit, it's true?'

The figure soon was replaced by the image of small boy with just trousers, gladiator sandals and white bands of light spiraling across his arms and even shining from his trouser.

BORN AN IRUNMOLE,SOLDIERS OF THE ORISHAS.

IT WAS PERFECT, UNDERSTANDING THE LAWS OF OF CREATION IN VANQUISHING EVIL. 

The boy bowed his head before an even bigger form of existence.

BUT I HAD ENLIGHTENMENT AND FOUND THAT THE GODS I SERVED WERE THE TRUE EVIL. RUTHLESS, SELFISH AND UNCARING, THEY WERE THE EVIL I HAD TO VANQUISH.

At this, the boy started, his hands transforming into blades and he leapt up, slashing wildly at the figure he bowed to.

BUT YOU CANNOT FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.

In a flick of finger, the boy was slammed down with terrible force that threw even Bayo meteres away.

'Damn... so powerful.'

I HAD TO LEARN THE OTHER WAY. LEGENDS SAY I BECAME A DEMON, BUT TRUTH IS, I FOUND POWER ENOUGH TO DEFEAT THE GODS. 

The boy faded off replaced by the earlier lean figure. By his side, many shapeless and deformed creatures assembled, chanting battle cries and slamming their spears into the shields.

RIDING UNTI THE HEAVENS, I WAS BETRAYED BY THE DEMON IMP KING AND SUFFERED A SURPISE ATTACK. 

The lean figure knelt on knee now. Bayo yawned mentally.

'Okay, Yasmin, I want a summary of this. Watching this shit is taking out of my precious evolution time.'

The scene faded, returning to the blackness that was about.

"I am sorry. You must watch the Ascender Induction to truly understand your purpose. "

"Well, it's boring." Bayo rolled his eyes mentally. "Not interested."

"It is a must, Bayo." Yasmin insisted.

The scene appeared once more now. Infuriated, Bayo yelled.

"I SAID SHUT THAT DOWN! You are subject to me YASMIN and CAN ONLY DO MY BIDDING, NOW." 

"U-understood." For the first time, Yasmin's voice wavered in response to Bayo.

Wait, was Yasmin scared of him?

Well well, I have a unique soul after all. So yea, Yasmin better be so scared.

Oh My!

This second life be giving me vibes again. I feel so powerful already.

Can't wait to see other beings and command them to do my bidding because of my unique soul. 

YESSSSSS...' Bayo jubilated.

"Your Ascension is beginning." Yasmin's voice cut in.