Chapter Thirteen: Echo of the Scream

  “What…”

  “What’s wrong, sir?”

  “Ah, nothing. I just… discovered something new about my Origin.”

  “I see. You’re free to go now, but if you’d like to discuss anything, feel free to.”

  “No thanks.”

  Tairen left the consultation chamber and received a decent credit card from the administration desk.

  What was that voice…?

  — “Really, sir? That’s your first question? I’m your child, technically.”

  By the Creator of the Skies, what is this?

  — “You're hurting my heart… Technically. Not that I have one anyway.”

  “What… are you?”

  It felt like the voice blinked several times in confusion.

  — “I am what I am.”

  “Stop joking.”

  “…Echo of the Scream?!”

  — “Yes.”

  “So you’re a sentient weapon.”

  — “Correct. Though calling it that is a bit impolite. I was just—born? Awakened?—a few moments ago. Gained my awareness from your memories.”

  “Hm… So basically you’re like a cheap knockoff of me. A Void-made Chinese bootleg.”

  — “E—excuse me, what!?”

  A faint smile crept onto Tairen’s lips.

  “Don’t worry, my friend. You’ll become the finest weapon of mass destruction.”

  — “I want to say ‘screw you,’ but I was literally born seconds ago. You’ve outdone yourself, making someone—or something—who just came into existence want to insult you.”

  “I know. I’m amazing. The more enemies you gather, the more successful you are. After all, no one cares about a failure.”

  — “Then… who are your enemies?”

  “Hmmm… You know, those world-shaking threats that dare to interrupt my naps. Who cares about history?”

  He wasn’t entirely wrong. History is written by the strong—meaning it's inherently false. But naps… naps are honest.

  He pictured himself resting on a warm bed while rain poured gently outside.

  Wait. Wasn’t he about to die soon from the Rift Call?

  ---

  A while ter, he had rented a two-room apartment for a month, needing a pce to prepare for the upcoming Call of the Rift.

  “Let’s take a look at this mess,” he muttered.

  ---

  Name: Tairen

  True Name: Lord of the Void

  Origin: [Voidborn]

  Css: [Silent Birth]

  Void Core: [1/7]

  Fw: [No one has heard—or will hear—your suffering]

  Traits:

  [Voidborn]

  [Void Cultivator]

  Abilities:

  [Void Call]

  [Echo Dash]

  Description:

  The Void has no soul.

  Your soul does not belong to you, but to the Void itself.

  You can unch your soul forward, cloaked in Void as an impenetrable armor, breaking through barriers.

  You can leap to Void Marks for each Void Core you awaken.

  ---

  “So I can always escape. Perfect.”

  “I’m officially the Lord of the Void… though I can’t exactly tell anyone that.”

  “…But peasants still have to bow.”

  He id back on the bed.

  “Time to nap.”

  Just then, a voice pierced the serenity of sleep.

  — “Sir, why do you keep avoiding attention?”

  “Because the tastiest meals get eaten first.”

  — “Huh? What does food have to do with—oh… I get it.”

  “You have the comprehension of a fish.”