The Revenant: From the Ashes

Chapter 3: Memory Lane

The young warrior became perplexed. "You show me your memories?". He asked. "How is this even possible? No mere mortal can share their memories with someone else, even the Ghosts couldn't do it".

Gaster shook his head. "No mere mortal can do it, yes". He said. "But I am no mere mortal, I was able to get into your head after all".

The warrior studied the entity that stood before him, his eyes looking for any sign of deceit on his end, but he found no such sign.

He frowned, either that entity was a master in the arts of deceit.....

Or he really was telling the truth.

"Damn it". He cursed to himself. This was the one time he truly wished he possessed the ability to sense someone's intentions, an ability that was exclusively available to the Ghost Ronin.

But he was a Ghost Samurai.

So the young warrior stood for a moment as he carefully thought about the choices that laid before him. He had all reasons to mistrust the entity that stood before him, to have the right to be suspicious of any ulterior motives he had.

Yet, the entity stood there with a patient and sympathetic expression; giving him the impression that he was not here to hurt him.

The young warrior sighed in frustration as he finalized his decision, then his eyes met the gaze of Gaster, the self-proclaimed forgotten warrior of.....the "Omniverse"

He had nothing to lose. His friends and family were slaughtered by the Oni-Baba, and he had to endure the hell of surviving under their brutal reign for four years.

If the entity really was going to kill him, at least he would finally rest in peace.

"Whatever happened to keeping the legacy of your comrades live with you?". A faint voice whispered into his ears, but he shook his head.

"I wasn't even worthy of doing so to begin with". The warrior thought to himself. "I did that to comfort my spirit, but I was only lying to myself this entire time".

"The least I deserve is death".

"Do whatever you wish". The young warrior said as he extended his arm towards Gaster. "I don't care anymore".

The entity was surprised by his decision, then he sighed. "I will prove to you that I am trustworthy". Gaster said. "Whatever you are going through, I can help you-".

"Enough". The young warrior said in a firm tone. "Do what you must. Even if you are telling the truth, it won't change a thing". He said. "No one can overcome the Oni-Baba". He continued. "I am a coward without honor anyway, so why would you waste your breath with someone like me?".

The face of the entity morphed into that of sympathy, he gave a small smile as he also extended his hand to meet the warrior's.

"I've been in your shoes". He said. "I've experienced that loss of hope in a cruel cycle that lasted for centuries, but I came back stronger every time I failed". He continued. "I promise you, if this works then I will help you, and nothing is going to stop me from doing so".

The young Samurai was confused by his declaration, and he opened his mouth to demand an answer from the entity.

But before he even knew it, the entity's skeletal hand made contact with his, and his entire world was immediately consumed by darkness.

(Flashback, Gaster's memories)

The veteran warrior sighed as he looked at the descending sun, the once eternal blue sky began to turn into a beautiful color of fiery orange. The birds chirped and sang their last melodies as they returned to the safety of their homes, as did the rest of nature's animals.