49 Book 3 Chapter 45 (2/2)

The alliance was strong enough to finish Jason's mission. He could now join his fallen friends and comrades. Ever since the day he entered the depths of his soul and saw the locked memories, a part of himself had stayed there. He wanted to join them so, so much.

A pitiful squeak came just when he wanted to close his eyes. Through his connection with Tank, he was able to feel her lifeforce weaken. He felt her pain and fear as if it was happening to himself.

Not yet!

He couldn't give up until he handed Tank over to Roy and the others. He didn't care about anything else as he focused his resolve. Using all his strength, he fought against the increased gravity and forced himself to his feet as blood poured out in lethal amounts.

”Wow, you're still alive?” For the first time, Jason saw the identity of his attacker.

With disheveled black hair and leather armor in disrepair was Cay Wolf, the once feared assassin. He stood in human form not far from Jason. In his hand dangled Tank, wounded beyond belief.

Jason's eyes widened then narrowed as he growled. ”Let. Her. Go.”

”A soul companion, huh?” Cay glanced down at the turtle. In the next moment, his fingers transformed into claws before piercing through Tank's skull. Tank let out a whimper and turned into a flash of light. The light entered Jason's body in an instant as he stood there in disbelief. The connection between them went silent. What? Tank died? Just like that?

Warning! Your soul companion, Tank, has died. To revive her, you must sacrifice 25 levels and 50 to all stats.

Jason grew hopeful upon reading the notification. However, another one popped up shortly after.

Warning! Due to your soul companion's death at the hands of a pure demon, her soul is deeply wounded. Due to her battle physique and the connection you share, she can be revived by upgrading your battle physique to the next level.

Jason dropped to his knees. It was hopeless. The requirement to upgrade his battle physique was unknown, and in all these months, he had yet to make any progress.

Cay saw the despair in Jason's eyes, and for a moment, he paused. Slowly, he asked. ”How's Olivia?”

Jason didn't respond. He only glanced at the ground with a dull expression.

”No matter, I'll find her myself.” Cay shook his head. He gave Jason another glance. ”Jason, right? Back then, I didn't know what an awakened soul was, so I lost and had to become a tool of the tower. Although I lost my freedom, I learned so much.” Cay considered his words. ”Considering your response to my first attack, you still have a lot to learn. You don't know how to mask your will, nor deceive another. Do you even know what a domai-”

An immense power forced Cay to his knees. The ground cracked in every direction with Jason as the center, and the very air trembled. The world grew dark with despair and hopelessness. Jason's will unfolded as he lost himself in the reality of Tank's death. Never before had he so intimately shared feelings with another person, or in this case, a creature. No death had affected him as much as this one.

Cay looked around in shock. He recognized this power. It was precisely a domain, formed from will and powered by intent. While he wasn't the target, Cay just so happened to be right next to Jason, the source. Cay's will was like a small boat in a storm, barely afloat. Jason's will seeped in, drowning Cay in his emotions.

Cay's tears hit the ground as long-suppressed emotions rose to the surface. The shattered pride of the strongest assassin upon failing to kill Shenlong, and the regret from killing his wife, son, and brother for power in a moment of weakness.

At this moment, a near-impossible situation occurred: a resonance between souls.

Back when Jason and Shenlong clashed wills during the tournament, they knew continuing further might irreparably damage their souls. Usually, there would only be a single victor between a clash of wills. However, in absurdly rare cases, a resonance would occur.

Depression and hopelessness powered Jason's will, while a small part of him wished he was stronger. He knew he lacked talent, and only by taking on a role which required the least amount of it could he keep up with Roy and the others.

On the other hand, pride in his power and joy in growing stronger powered Cay's will. Confidence in being the strongest, overlooking all. It was only a small part of him that regretted killing his family. After turning into a pure demon, Cay realized something: would a truly powerful person have to sacrifice their family? No, definitely not. This conclusion left him depressed, and he could only lock away such feelings.

Either party could easily block a resonance, but Jason's willpower was several times stronger than Cay's. How could he resist? Jason's will entered Cay's, and the process continued. Jason wasn't doing this on purpose. At the moment, he was still thinking about Tank's death and his powerlessness to save her.

As the two wills connected, Jason permanently altered Cay's will, and conversely, Cay changed Jason's. Slowly, the will manipulating the world changed from hopelessness to one of pride and strength. Confidence to fulfill one's desires, and to protect what needed to be protected. Shockingly, the auras of the two men flipped.

The resonance ended as soon as Jason came to his senses. The first thing he felt was an endless motivation and the will to accomplish anything, leaving him stunned. He had never felt so good, not for decades. Perhaps only before the tower arrived, when he spent each day in construction, did he think this way. However, even then, it was never this powerful, this clear.

By this time, the curse binding Jason was gone. His wounds had almost healed; his heart grown anew. Standing up, he pulled out the arrows in his chest before looking down at Cay. The man was collapsed on the ground, his tears soaking the dirt.

”What just happened?” Jason muttered, a few ideas surfacing, though he couldn't be sure. Regardless, he felt great and didn't need to have an answer. He closed his eyes and entered his soul. There, he found Tank in a deep sleep. Opening his eyes, he scanned the horizon with a smile. ”Don't worry. I'll revive you in no time.”

”I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…” Cay's muttering came from below.

Jason looked down at the man with pity. ”Now, what do I do with you?”

The man had a lot to answer for, and Jason's pity for Cay wouldn't stop him from finding justice. It was time to find Olivia.