Lord Solarius announced himself in a mixed dialect, blending the languages of this world and his own.
After speaking, he remained kneeling respectfully, awaiting a response. A long moment passed before the voice boomed again, slow and deliberate.
"Was it you within Leon Keeper?"
"Your insight is unparalleled, Senior. It was indeed this humble one."
"And is the one named Silas Von now your puppet?"
"Your vision pierces all, Senior. He is."
"What art did you employ?"
"A mere trifle, unworthy of your attention. It is called the Soul-Split Fusion Art—a most vulgar technique."
"Present it to me."
"...Pardon?"
"..." (A silence heavy with immense, unspoken pressure)
"The... art?"
"..." (The pressure intensified, demanding compliance)
"It's utterly worthless! It would only soil your sacred eyes, Esteemed Senior!"
"..."
The silent pressure was crushing.
Lord Solarius was starting to get genuinely annoyed. The Silas Von puppet outside was, in his mind, his ultimate insurance policy.
Based on his observations, this so-called "Senior" was also some form of soul-based entity.
Once outside this sea of consciousness, in the physical world, this "Senior" would be utterly at his mercy.
Yes. Play the grandson now, dominate later! The wisdom carved by a millennium of conflict and battle in the real world.
"Senior, many of this junior's most valuable treasures are stored in a spatial pouch on my physical body. If you would permit this junior to leave, I would gladly retrieve them all for your esteemed inspection."
"This junior would also be honored to serve you without question, to be your willing ox or horse!"
"..."
"Senior, this junior... AAGH!!!"
Just as he was about to continue his groveling, a sensation like a powerful electric shock coursed through his soul.
[Light. So bright, just like the one I did to others, damn lovely....] was his final, fleeting thought.
An immeasurable amount of time passed….
Lord Solarius opened his eyes once more. It was the same Sea of Consciousness.
"You're awake." A voice spoke. Before him materialized a soul-form, its features unmistakably those of Jake Nickelson.
He was utterly bewildered, but the tone of the voice brooked no doubt—a response was required.
"No need to speak. You now have ten minutes. Contemplate carefully."
The imperative was absolute. Lord Solarius focused inward, and the realization began to dawn.
[He is the Master. I am Little Soly. Everything I am belongs to the Master—my life, my soul. In wealth or poverty, in health or sickness... I shall love the Master, cherish the Master, and never abandon the Master...] [Here, ten thousand words are omitted.]
Lord Solarius had attained enlightenment...
A Soul Brand had been seared into the very core of his being—a brand of absolute, unbreakable loyalty.
If he had to put a timeframe on breaking it, he would wish for ten thousand years...
Because this brand felt disturbingly... permanent.
"Understood?"
"Mn."
"Adjust your mindset."
"Yes."
"Attitude. Check it."
"Understood, Master! Little Soly is at your service!"
"No need for 'Master'. My name is Jake Nickelson." [In this life, and any other... it will always be...], he added silently in his thoughts.
"Once we're out, you will return to Silas Von's body. Your soul-splitting technique has inherent flaws. Had it not, that Soul-Nurturing Wood of yours would have sustained your spirit for centuries more, not left it on the verge of dissipation."
Lord Solarius didn't fully understand, but he was profoundly shocked by the insight.
Jake continued, "However, your fusion art has its merits. I've... improved it. The method is now imprinted in your consciousness. Once you use it to perform a complete Soul-Seize on Silas and fully integrate your previous soul fragment, you will finally possess a whole and stable soul. Then, you can truly resume your cultivation."
Lord Solarius's inner voice screamed: [Fusion is my specialty, but Master's method is downright heaven-defying!]
"It's not exactly 'heaven-defying'," Jake said, seemingly reading his thoughts.
"It merely allows you to perfectly inherit all of Silas's memories and personality traits—to become him, in every meaningful way, without the flaws of your old technique."
"It's hardly heaven-defying. It simply allows you to perfectly inherit all of Silas Von's memories and personality traits."
Upon hearing this, Lord Solarius's pupils contracted violently. "Senior... can you truly perceive my thoughts?"
Jake glanced at him but offered no answer, continuing instead.
"However, there is a drawback. Inheriting the memories and traits of the one you seize will subject you to a period of intense schizophrenic sensation.
Those without a sufficiently strong soul may lose their original nature entirely. But I believe you can withstand it. Here is an auxiliary mantra to assist you. Receive it."
Not daring to hesitate, Lord Solarius hurriedly responded, "Yes, Master!"
"Good. The remaining information has been imprinted into your sea of consciousness. Meditate on it in time.
Now, we must depart. This spatial convergence point is unstable. A physical body from the Mundane World will soon face rejection by the laws of your Arcadia plane."
As he finished speaking, a single point of light drifted out from between Jake's brows.
"Go. Now. Use my method. Fuse the souls."
The point of light flickered and shot into the space between Silas Von's brows.
The time it takes to burn three sticks of incense passed...
Silas Von's body opened its eyes, exhaled a long, turbid breath, and rose to its feet. It bowed deeply at the waist to Jake.
"Master." Then, after a slight hesitation, it added, "Lord."
"Look at me!"
Soly looked up. A brilliant, penetrating light flashed in Jake's eyes, striking him with such force that he stumbled back three steps, thump, thump, thump.
"Lord!"
Jake's expression softened. "Mn. The inheritance is successful. From now on, you may address me as Jake in public."
"Soly, you have now fused with all of Silas's memories, including his personality traits. It will feel chaotic at first, but you will gradually adapt."
"Yes, Lord. I will indeed require some time to process it all."
Jake nodded. "Henceforth, you will maintain the identity of Silas Von to the outside world. I trust that with your skills, you can manage this facade perfectly in short order."
"Lord need not worry! Leave it to me."
"Good. I can already feel the dimensional rejection beginning. Wake the other two. We're leaving."
"Understood, My Lord. One moment while I tidy up here."
Lord Solarius—now inhabiting Silas—walked, slightly distracted, to where his own skeletal remains lay.
He bowed respectfully to them, whispered a few inaudible words, and then carefully removed a ring from one of the skeleton's bony fingers.
A ring deemed too risky for Leon to carry.
He first used the ring to store away the precious segment of Soul-Nurturing Wood. Then, he dug a pit and carefully buried his own jade-like skeletal remains.
Afterward, he walked over to the iron frame and the ornate palace lantern, storing them within the ring as well.
Finally, he approached Jake, holding the ring reverently in both hands.
His facial muscles twitched several times before he managed to speak.
"Lord, this... this is my spatial ring. I humbly beg you to accept it."
After a brief pause, he also took off Silas Von's spatial backpack and offered it to Jake as well.
Jake nodded, accepting the ring. "I am indeed in need of a spatial artifact. As for Silas's backpack, you may keep it. Just return any of my belongings inside to me."
Soly offered an awkward, apologetic smile.
He retrieved the Golden-Thread Blood Crystal from the backpack.
After a moment's thought, he rummaged further and produced three Blue Blood Crystals and one additional Golden-Thread Blood Crystal, handing them all over to Jake.
With this complete, Soly went to wake Rolly and Sam. The group then made their way out of the underground crypt.