11 Pillarfall and Unexpected Chance (2/2)
”See the size of that hole in your chest? Impressive, you really put your all into it, how you're still here is beyond me. Maybe you're a ghost in the sword!” The beauty in front of him seemed rather happy at the thought, despite how she feigned a graceful atmosphere, she must have been quite lonely alone all these years. Lineir was unbelieving though, ”Something's definitely wrong here, I can't be dead... ahh jeez look at that black liquid getting inside of the hole, that's definitely going to be infected.”
”I'm telling you, you're dead, nobody short of the immortal level could survive what you just did, look even the White Horizon Sect thinks you're dead. Just accept that you're stuck here in the sword with me and we will wait until somebody worthy comes along just like you did in a few decades.” Lineir panicked then,
”I can't be dead, what will happen to my sister! For that matter, there were so many things I wanted to do in life, once I sold you, I was going to be rich, and live happily ever after!” He was naturally, not able to accept that he was dead despite the evidence in front of him. The two began bickering naturally, to be honest, Lineir had given up hope. His body was definitely dead and not only was his heart not beating, it might not even be there anymore it had been completely destroyed by his suicidal actions. There wasn't much else to do but argue, it distracted from being dead. Unbeknownst to both of them however, the image Mei had summoned was still projecting, and something very interesting was happening. As undead blood slowly seeped into Lineir's crushed heart, it began to take solid form. Strand after strand of liquid weaved around inside of his body and soon it took a shape. This shape was something the two would recognize if they could see it but they were too busy bickering. It was the undead heart! A small miniature version had formed in Lineir's chest cavity and after it did, the cavity slowly closed, a black scab covering the cut.
As they were arguing, suddenly Lineir's mental form winked out and the beauty was left alone,
”Hey, where'd you go? Did the reaper finally take you?”
Lineir opened his eyes and stared around. He was surrounded by black liquid and yet he didn't feel particularly bad. As a matter of fact, for a dead man, he felt pretty amazing. He immediately reached down and grabbed his chest looking for the hole. With shock he found a black scab where the hole had been and gasped. Or tried to, there was no air in his lungs. Flipping himself upward, he took a huge breath of air, floating on top of the blood pool. A few short strokes and he found himself climbing out of the filthy pit for the third time in two days.
”Mei, what the hell is going on, I was dead! Yet now I'm here... and this...” pointing at the hole in his chest now just a dark black patch.
”I don't know either, kiddo, this is a first even for me. I've seen a lot of things, but I was sure you were dead.” Lineir continued to feel his chest, and then froze,
”I don't have a pulse! What is going on! Could I be.... undead?”
”That's impossible, you had no heart, there is no way you would rise as the undead no matter how much death Qi is here... unless... no! Those old bastards dare chase even this far!?” Mei who was currently fused into Lineir's blood found it a simple matter to see what was going on his heart region.
” HAHAHAHAHA, those old bastards really overestimated themselves this time, this shouldn't be possible, but apparently it is. The undead heart we slew before was created by those old bastards who chased me through the heavens. I thought I destroyed them, but who would have thought that some of the undead filth actually still retained a free will! When your freshly dead body was flung into the pool, it must have entered you then and immediately built a new heart. However, this heart is not beating because it's of an undead nature, if this continues your mind will die and you will become a mindless undead just like any other.
Fortunately, I am with you. I am skilled in the arts of manipulating darkness. It should be a simple matter for me to gain control of this thing from within you. This'll only take a moment.” A second later Lineir felt a huge pain in his chest as if an electrical current was running through him, and a second later a mighty thump in his chest so loud he could actually hear it came out. Then again, and again, until it was inaudible.
”Got it on the first try! I'm just too good, I'm not even a healer and I brought somebody back from the dead...!” Lineir was jubilant as well,
”So does this mean I'll be okay?” Mei took a moment before answering excitedly,
”Better than ok, there's no way your body would have survived without a working heart for so long if I hadn't already worked on it and used so many forbidden techniques. However, since I managed to take control of this new heart, I am now part of it, I can even manipulate your heart, look!” Lineir staggered as suddenly his returned heartbeat faltered and missed a step.
”Ow!”
”Sorry, my mistake, but the point is that your new heart is quite durable, there's an unusual amount of death Qi in it. Given time, I might even find a way to harness this energy... but for now, just know that you have been given a second chance at life. Don't waste it this time, remember, the White Horizon Sect absolutely cannot know your alive, they won't be fooled again.” Lineir sighed. His life just kept getting more and more difficult. But then he smiled.
”You're forgetting something Mei-Mei, my gambit worked again, you have to admit, your disciple has promise Mei-Mei.”
”SHUT UP THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE KNOWN!!!”