The Great Sage that Conquers The Heavens (Mori Jin X Rias)

Ch.2 - Crossroads of Fate

Mori opened his eyes slowly, finding himself enveloped in darkness. He was submerged in water, yet strangely, he didn’t feel wet. The sensation was disorienting, a stark reminder that this was no ordinary place.

"Finally conscious enough to make an appearance, huh?" Sylph's voice broke through the silence, and she materialized within Mori's line of sight, her expression unreadable. "It gets lonely here, you know."

"Hey, Sylph…" Mori sighed deeply, attempting to sit up. His balance faltered as he instinctively reached out with an arm that was no longer there, causing him to stumble to his right. He grimaced, still not accustomed to the loss. "How long have I been out?"

"Time flows strangely here," Sylph replied, her tone thoughtful. "The day and night cycles feel artificial, almost like they're being manipulated. But if I had to guess, it's been at least a day or two."

Mori exhaled in relief. "At least my energy has returned."

"Not just returned," Sylph corrected, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It's increased exponentially—astronomically, even. It's far beyond what Buddha possessed."

"Great…" Mori muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm as he forced himself into a sitting position.

Sylph's expression softened. "Are you... going to be okay?"

Mori clenched his fists, his voice trembling with frustration. "I don’t know, Sylph. It doesn’t feel right. I’m stuck in this dimension while my friends... they might be dead. I have no idea if they’re okay, if Mira and Dan Ahan are still alive. I left them there, in that poisoned hellhole, and I can't do anything to help them! What kind of leader does that make me?"

Sylph remained silent, watching as Mori wrestled with his guilt.

"And if I’d just been stronger, if I’d been more careful, Daewi might still be alive! Maybe he could have done something to save them! Now they’re all trapped in a dimension filled with poisonous air, dying slowly, and I don’t even know how to save them! I don’t know how to fix any of this!" Mori’s voice broke, his hands gripping his head as if trying to hold himself together.

Sylph’s eyes softened further as she stepped closer. "I understand..."

"Do you?" Mori snapped, his anger masking his despair. "What’s the point of stopping Buddha if my friends aren’t alive to see it? They die either way…"

Sylph hesitated before speaking again, her voice tinged with something Mori rarely heard from her—hope. "I didn’t want to tell you this before because it might be false hope... but there’s a chance you could save them again."

Mori’s head snapped up, his eyes searching Sylph’s face. "What do you mean?"

"The Enhanced Fiery Eyes," Sylph began, her voice steady. "They have the potential to allow you to travel through dimensions. Maybe, just maybe, you could break into the afterlife itself. I didn’t want to get your hopes up, but it might be possible."

Mori let out a bitter laugh, his chest tightening with a mix of desperation and longing. "Maybe... if I can figure out how to use these eyes properly." He touched the corners of his eyes, his fingers trembling slightly. "But I don’t even know where to start."

"I’ll help you," Sylph said resolutely. "I don’t know much about this dimension either, but maybe, just maybe, there’s a way to make you even stronger."

Mori’s eyes darkened. "I don’t want to get stronger. No matter how strong I get, it’s never enough…"

Sylph moved closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Mori, I didn’t know your friends, and I can’t say I’ve ever had much affection for humans... but you’ve formed a special bond with everyone you’ve ever met. You even managed to get me to care about you, and that’s saying something. I know this won’t ease your pain, but you will make new friends. It’s part of who you are. And deep down, I think you know that your friends wouldn’t want you to stay here, drowning in guilt and sorrow. I’m not saying you should forget them or move on completely, but don’t let regret consume you. Live on, Mori... and keep their memories alive in your heart."