Chapter 18 Getting My Soul Burn By An Headless Woman

Day 48……

My first encounter with King Shuzzon was an awful one. In my years of living, I’ve never crossed paths with a man of such unbridled cruelty. Not only did he love decapitating women while in the act of copulation but he also loved torturing poor souls. He abused me beyond reprieve. He poked and prodded my maimed flesh with his keen blade all throughout the 47th day of my bizarre life’s journey.

Today, he commanded his servants who were versed in caring for dead bodies to stitch my severed body parts back together. I felt so ridiculed and objectified while watching the servants stitching on my legs back to my torso. The iniquitous king stayed there in the chamber observing the entire procedure like an elated murderer. I could tell that he was having fun by the obtrusive grin on his face.

At midday when my body was finished being put back together, king Shuzzon left the chamber for a while, I had no idea where he had gone to. I was left alone in the room with the holy blade resting close by. My re-attached limbs were still bound by the thick chains.

Having a moment to think, various things such as finding a way out of my current predicament was brought to the forefront of my mind. How to prevent the king from utilizing the holy sword and most of all I pondered about my undying flesh.

Why was it that I couldn’t die? How was I able to perceive ghosts moreover, interact with spirits of the afterlife? Where was Tagon? Did I lose him forever back at No Man’s Land? There were so many things that I wanted answers for but first I decided to escape captivity.

I glanced at the holy sword that was heavily wrapped in thick cloths and chains. “If I could use the powers of that blade then…?” No, no. I quickly curate this thought to the back of my mind, the holy sword wasn’t supposed to be used by anyone. If anyone was unfortunate enough to taste its sharpness then they would have their soul taken by the holy sword which would only add to its menacing inexplicable powers.

I could sense that the holy sword was thirsty for fresh brave souls. It wanted to replenish the depleted quota back to its destined amount where it would be able to unleash hell on earth. “I must prevent that from happening at all cost.” This was easier said than done. I tried mustering the strength of 12-men to break free from my shackles, however, I was stunned when I found out that I was currently incapable of rousing the strength of 1-woman!

“How could this have happened? When did I lose all of my hard-earned strength? Was it because I lost a lot of blood due to the cruel king’s slashing?” Many more mysteries were piling up at the forefront of the mind. In my moment of bewilderment, I felt a warm hand caressed my back. This unexpected interaction startled me.

When I turned my head to identify who it was caressing my rear, the Eye of Ghost activated and I immediately found myself kneeling in a bloodthirsty puddle. The spiritual nature caressing my back was the same headless woman who shared with me her tale of decapitation.

“Tiff Marie?”

“I’ve come to offer my assistance, brave warrior?”

“But how? Didn’t you say that you were unable to interact with objects on the living plane?”

“I find it strange as well. But somehow I able of interacting with you. You’re no ordinary man, I can fell it. You are almost like us then again you're not. What are you, brave warrior? How is it that you are undying?”

“I am unsure of that answer, I reckon it must have something to do with this celestial blade.” I shifted my sight towards the holy blade. Tiff Marie went closer to inspect its nature but I hurriedly issued a warning. “Don’t approach any closer! Unless you want your soul to be eaten by its sharpness.”

“I can feel a threatening presence radiating from its wrapped silhouette. Thanks, brave warrior for warning me.”

I found my experience with this headless spirit to be rather strange. She seemed just like a real person even though she’s been dead for ages. After our conversation deepened, I asked the spirit if she was capable of releasing the chains which bound my limbs.

“I could give it a try but…” The spirit hesitated so I asked her:

“But what?”

“I will have to burn a portion of your soul to extend my reach into the physical realm. I’ve tried moving smaller objects before such as rocks and so on. But it burns too much of my soul essence whenever I attempt to. I’m getting the impression that your soul is rather thick, brave warrior. Would it be okay if I burn your soul to try removing the chains?”

“Do it.” I responded without hesitating. At this point in my undying life, why would I fear death? I’ve survived so many tribulations that getting my soul burn didn’t scare me that much.

“Alright, I’ll start now!” [Whoosh!] As the headless spirit spoke I saw her reached out both hands towards me. From the tip of her fingers, a strange radiance manifested which began sucking out my soul energy.

“Soul Burn!” The blistering sensation that I received after having my soul burn was comparable to taking a bath in a pit of lava. I did my best to hold my painful screams in. Moments later, the headless spirit motioned to my rear and grab hold of the chains with her burning hands.

“It’s working!” I felt the thick chains melting away, they were slowly losing constraint over my body.

“Brave warrior, I’ll be finished soon. Please bear with the pain a while longer.”

“Understood. Awe!” [Fwoosh!] While the restriction on my body began to fade. I noticed a slight flare in my peripheral vision which prompted me to shift my sight over to where the holy sword was resting. “Hm?” The blade was quickly acquiring a high temperature of heat. I watched as it burnt through the thick cloths and eventually set them ablaze. [Whoosh!] A small fire manifested inside King’s Shuzzon’s chamber.

“What is going on? How could there be a fire?” The fire was caused due to the burning of my soul which was somehow interlinked with the holy sword. The impression I received conveyed to me that the accumulated souls contained within the holy sword were gradually being depleted as Tiff Marie continued her interaction with the mortal realm. It was shortly after this that I heard the headless spirit spoke.

“Brave warrior I have to stop here, otherwise, I fear I might disappear in the void for eternity without ever knowing my vengeance. Forgive me. I was unable to free your legs.”

“That’s ok. As long as my arm is free I’ll take it from here.” Right after I’ve finished offering my gratitude to the headless spirit, the Eye of Ghost faded and I could no longer perceive the afterlife. Moreover, I was unable to control the Eye of Ghost because I knew not what triggered its activation.

I had no time to waste on finding out the on and off switch for my Eye of Ghost, I was more concerned about the fire which had started inside the king’s chamber. Thus I began crawling my way over by the burning sword but before I could get there, voices from the outside started leaking through.

“What’s this? There is smoke coming out of the king’s chamber! Fetch some water and alert the king right away!”

“There is no need to call for me. I am already here.”

“My lord! Where did you come from all of a sudden! I thought you had gone out of the courtyard!”

“Nonsense. I was present in the secret room adjacent to my chamber, watching everything that was taking place inside and I must say, I’ve learned something quite interesting.” [Thud! Thud!]

“My lord, let me!”

A servant barged into king Shuzzon’s chamber holding a pale of water in his hand. He doused the source of the blaze apace which caused even more smoke to flare up. [Cough! Cough!] I held my breath until the fetid air was completely ventilated through the windows.