Steampunk Apocalypse! - 183 Samsara

Ed continued to meditate patiently in the empty void, and inestimable amounts of time continued to pass. Eventually, a new illusory figure appeared in front of Ed, and it was someone he immediately recognized. “Mayor Mick?” He questioned in surprise. Truthfully, he had no real emotional attachment to the deceased mayor, so he was unsure as to why he was seeing him here.

“Mm.” The man nodded while rubbing his beard. “It’s been a while.” He looked around the void. “Where are we?” He asked.

“I figured you’d know already.” Ed replied. “We’re in the place where you learn golden faith energy.”

“Oh?” Mayor Mick nodded in understanding. “So, why am I here?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Ed shrugged as he returned to meditating.

After hesitating a moment, Mick moved behind Ed and copied him in sitting down in meditation.

Time continued to pass, and more illusory figures continued fading into existence. However, Ed now ignored their existence, as he wasn’t very familiar with the vast majority of them. Most of the figures moved behind him and sat down in meditation. Others looked out at the void and chose to float out into it, vanishing from sight. Each time it happened, Ed felt like a thread connecting those souls to himself was severed, and he knew that he would never see any of them again.

Eventually, Ed’s own father appeared before him. Ed opened his eyes and looked at his father for a brief moment. He nodded towards him and returned to his own meditation. He had no words he wished to say to his father at the moment, and he believed that he was on the correct path by calmly meditating throughout this trial. His father moved behind him and sat down in meditation, just like many had done before him.

The number of illusory figures continued to increase without end. Besides the many human souls, there were also quite a few spider souls from when Ed had encountered the intelligent creatures in Hawaii. By now, the many figures stretched so far into the distance that the farthest ones were barely visible to the naked eye. Eventually, the figures finally stopped appearing.

“Hoooo.” Ed released a deep breath. He felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Most of his golden faith energy was gone, and he felt himself to be in complete control of what little of it remained. It was as if he had been a child trying to wield a great axe, and now he had downgraded to a dagger. With such a massive difference, it was no wonder he couldn’t properly control the energy at all in the past.

Ed controlled the remaining golden faith energy to sink into his own soul shards, and he felt great relief upon doing so. The energy was like glue, and he could feel his soul slowly fusing back together. If things continued at this pace, then it was only a matter of time before he was completely healed.

As Ed’s soul continued healing, golden faith energy coalesced around the giant crowd of illusory figures. Something was taking shape in the void, and they were the ones responsible for it. Golden clouds formed underneath their bodies, creating a vast continent within the void. The remaining energy floated upwards, creating a beautiful sky of golden mist. Slowly, the illusory figures started to stand up and get to work. The golden energy floating above them was like clay, and they easily molded it into the shapes of their desires.

Buildings began to appear one after another. Some were simple and homely, and others were massive beautiful palaces and castles. Roads were formed, and farms were sown. The malleable energy seemed to have no limits as to what it could create, though it was always golden in color.

Over time, crops began to grow, and a society took shape. The people bartered with the golden faith energy from the sky that was within reach, but that source soon ran dry. Golden clouds remained above them, but they were too far away to obtain. They were forced to create more golden faith energy themselves to keep their new society functioning. However, there was a limit to how much they could create each day, and some could create more than others. Certain individuals like Mayor Mick and Ed’s father seemed to be capable of making far more than everyone else. This was confusing, as Ed’s father was never an esper nor did he have a powerful soul. On the other hand, Mayor Mick had been an esper when alive, and his soul was far more robust than most of the others present.

As time passed, the citizens of the new continent began to understand the invisible rules that guided them. The amount of golden faith energy they could create each day was determined by two factors. The first was how strong the soul was, however, there was a far more important factor. Faith. The more faith one had for their deity, the more golden faith energy they could produce on a given day. And who was this deity? Naturally, it was Ed!

Unbeknownst to Ed, a temple had been constructed around his body. He sat within it, unmoving like a statue. His followers continually entered and exited the temple to pray to him. Those that were unfaithful left with unsatisfactory results, but those that truly believed, well, they became the rich elites of their new utopia.

…

After an unknown length of time, Ed finally opened his eyes. ‘It’s done.’ He smiled as he looked down at his hands. His soul had completely fused, making himself feel complete once again. Gone were the worries of how he would survive another day.

Ed looked up from his hands and examined his surroundings. ‘The hell?’ He frowned. Hundreds of illusory figures were kneeling before him, seemingly worshiping him. A temple he didn’t recognize surrounded him. It reminded him of the temple he had just entered before coming to the MahaBodhi Tree.

Ignoring the praying followers, Ed walked towards the temple exit. He wanted to see for himself exactly what was going on. Upon exiting the temple, his eyes widened in shock. He was in the middle of a golden city!

An illusory woman was walking past him. Ed reached out towards her. “You, what’s going on here?” He asked.

The woman turned to look at him and her eyes widened in shock as her mouth hung agape. “Lord!” She hurriedly shouted while kneeling on the ground and kowtowing towards him.

Some other nearby persons noticed what was happening and hurriedly rushed over to kowtow towards him as well.

‘What the hell is all this?’ His frown grew greater as he watched the actions of the figures. Feeling a vague sense of control over the people and city, he attempted to control the ground beneath him. He felt surprised as the ground followed his whim and created a pillar that slowly raised him high into the sky.

“Wow!” He gasped in astonishment as he looked over the surroundings. Beyond the city were vast golden plains, farms, hills, and even mountains. The sky was covered in golden clouds, and the place seemed to truly be a utopian heaven out of legends.

“You’ve finally recovered.” A deep voice said to Ed.

Ed calmly turned around. By now, he felt used to such unexpected interruptions.

In front of Ed stood a completely golden man. He was unlike the other illusory figures, as he seemed completely real. He had a big stomach and a hearty smile.

“Buddha?” Ed questioned in surprise. In front of him was the stereotypical looking Buddha from the myths and legends, nothing like the short Buddha he had met before coming here.

“I have often been called that.” He nodded. He gestured towards the golden continent beneath them. “This is your kingdom, and it is completely under your control. Congratulations on having mastered golden faith energy.”

“That’s it?” Ed questioned in surprise. He felt like he hadn’t truly done anything. ‘All it takes to master golden faith energy is to sit in meditation a long time?’ He wondered.

“Mm.” Buddha nodded. “I’ve seen many guests over the past few decades. It seems a resurgence has finally happened.” He smiled.

“Why was it necessary to come here to learn control over golden faith energy?” Ed curiously questioned. If this was all it took, then couldn’t anyone just enter closed door meditation to master it? Why did everyone act like it was always such a big secret when he had asked about it in the past?

Buddha’s grin grew even wider. “Tell me, do you think you could teach somebody what you learned here? Could you explain it to them?”

Ed hesitated and glanced back down at the continent. Even he himself was unaware of exactly what transpired. “No.” He shook his head honestly.

“Exactly.” Buddha replied. “I spent many years creating this heritage sight to pass my teachings to future seedlings. In my own time, I had been one of the very few to master golden faith energy. It was only through hard work, dedication, and luck that I finally managed to pass my knowledge on.”

“I see…” Ed nodded.

“Do you feel it?” Buddha suddenly questioned while pointing towards the illusory figures below.

Ed looked down and felt a vague connection between himself and the people. However, the connection was thin and flimsy with many of them, while feeling strong and rigid with a few select others. “Mm.” He nodded. “I feel something.”

“Heaven. The afterlife. Hell. Valhalla. It has been known by many names.” Buddha explained. “However, the people are always the core. If they believe, then they can strengthen their bond to their deity and increase the glory of their own heaven.” He pointed towards the void. “However, if their belief is flimsy, then they will soon leave the kingdom and enter Samsara to be reborn.”

“I see.” Ed nodded. “Why does it seem like most golden faith energy cultivators are hesitant to use the power?” He asked. As far as he was aware, every golden faith cultivator he had met had been stingy with the use of their powers. Only the Florida Governor seemed to use it without worry, and that man was an extremity when considering the lengths he went to in order to acquire the energy.

“It is only natural to conserve it.” Buddha answered. “Every bit of it you use will take away from your kingdom. It takes from the limited resources created each day and taking even more may damage the kingdom itself. Continuing to do so may cause your followers to lose faith, and in turn they will provide less golden faith energy in the future. Some may even end up entering Samsara, creating permanent losses for yourself.”

“Like borrowing too much money out of an economy and causing a crash.” Ed nodded in understanding. He lifted his hand and played with the golden faith energy, forming it into a pencil which he twirled around his fingers. “But what exactly is golden faith energy?” He asked.

“You are thinking too hard about it.” Buddha shook his head. “Humans always look for an answer even when there isn’t one. Just like there is no beginning or end, there is no answer to what simply is. It just is.”

Ed frowned, not liking the explanation one bit. It was radically opposed to his usual beliefs. However, if even the real Buddha didn’t know the answer, then what was the chance of finding one himself? “You said there’s no beginning? What do you mean by that? The Big Bang Theory explains the beginning clearly.” He countered.

“And what about the beginning before that?” Buddha replied. “And the beginning before that beginning? There is no beginning, and there is no ending.” He looked over the people below while smiling. “I once knew the deities of the east. They taught myths of creation to their followers, insisting themselves to be the creators of the world. Their followers’ beliefs grew so great that the golden faith harvest was almost without equal.” He turned to Ed. “Do you see? It is easy to create a beginning, but it is hard to accept that there is no beginning.”

“So, you never created a beginning for your own followers?” Ed questioned.

“I did not.” Buddha replied. “Instead, I sought for my followers to seek their own enlightenment so that I may gain equals and friends for my future journey. I did not wish for the throne, and so I did not compete for it.” A slightly sorrowful expression appeared on his face. “But perhaps that was a mistake, for now only this vestige remains.” He sighed while looking longingly at the people on the ground once again. “My true self has long reentered Samsara, as he had no choice but to flee there in order to survive. I wonder if I will ever escape once again?”

“Your true self?!” Ed replied in surprise. “This isn’t your true self?”

“This is a mere remnant of my will.” Buddha sighed again while shaking his head. However, he quickly recovered and replaced his sorrow with a smile. “You have mastered golden faith energy. Truthfully, it is only the surface of much greater things.” He held up a hand with two fingers pointing up. “You now have two choices. One, you can awaken and return to your life. This is what most visitors have chosen.” He lowered a finger. “Two, I can allow you to study the law of Samsara.

“The law of Samsara?” Ed questioned, unsure of how exactly to respond. He had a vague idea of it being about death and rebirth, but how was he supposed to study it? If it involved dying, then the answer was a definite no!

“We are all trapped by Samsara.” Buddha replied. “Even if the body is immortal, the soul will eventually wither and enter Samsara. However, that does not mean we must be trapped forever.” He smiled towards Ed. “To escape Samsara, you must understand yourself, your past selves, and then you must sever yourself from the cycle.”

“Sever myself?” Ed repeated, not understanding what the Buddha meant.

“Mm.” Buddha nodded. “However, you must be warned. If you fail in mastering the law of Samsara, then your soul will be trapped here until you enter true Samsara. If you succeed, then you will never need to worry about your soul forcefully reentering Samsara again, however, if you ever die, then your soul will not automatically enter Samsara either. In other words, the only true way for a soul to die is to escape Samsara and fail to reenter it upon death.”

Ed frowned as he continued to listen. The new information was both shocking and surprising, and he couldn’t help but recall the information he had learned from the ruins underneath Reef city. ‘Master the seven elements. Become a paragon of golden faith. Forge a divine body. Create your Dao. Acquire the seven keys. Conquer Bermuda. Inherit the throne.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Am I already considered to have become a paragon of golden faith? What is Dao? Is it the same as laws? And the throne… the Buddha mentioned not wanting to compete for it?’

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Ed asked what was on his mind. “Do I need to master Samsara to inherit the throne?”

“You do.” Buddha nodded immediately in response. “One needs to separate from their mortal coils to become a true paragon of golden faith energy, and in turn, you must set up your own Samsara cycle for your followers.

Ed’s eyes widened in shock at the answer. It was clear that Buddha knew all about the throne and inheritance Ed had learned about from the Reef city ruins. “What is the Dao?” He questioned, wishing to gain more information.

“A vague concept that is a matter of much debate.” Buddha answered. “Mine was the Dao of the Noble Eightfold Path. However, my answer is not necessarily the correct answer nor the only answer. I once knew a man that believed it to be combination of will and belief. He always claimed that you must have the will to make your belief reality.”

“What are the seven keys?” Ed asked. He felt he already knew the answer, but he also figured it wouldn’t hurt to confirm such a thing.

“I do not know.” Buddha shook his head. “The throne required no such thing during my time.”

Ed frowned at the unexpected response. “How do I forge a divine body?” He asked next.

“There are many ways, and I suggest you find the way most suited to yourself.” Buddha answered.

Ed slowly nodded, grateful at the wealth of valuable information he had finally acquired. “Just what is the throne exactly?” He asked, eager for the answer to his final question.

“What indeed.” Buddha smiled but didn’t answer. Perhaps he didn’t wish to answer, or maybe he really didn’t know the answer. “So, will you be studying Samsara then?” He asked.

“I will!” Ed nodded, determination flashing in his eyes.

“Very well.” Buddha casually waved his hand, causing a Samsara Wheel of Life to appear in the void. The wheel was divided into eight sections, and each section had an elegant painting of different types. There was a palace, a farmland, a war, and many other pictures. Smaller sections outlined the edges of the wheel, depicting even more scenes.

As Ed stared at the giant wheel, he slowly felt himself losing focus. Despite already being unconscious and existing within a void, he felt himself sinking even deeper into unconsciousness. Soon, his soul body’s eyes went dull, and his body automatically sat down in meditation while staring at the wheel.

…

“Ugh.” Ed felt his head ache as he groggily awoke. He rubbed his head in frustration, and he felt a wet substance covering his head as he did so. ‘The hell?’ He frowned as he lowered his hand and looked down at it. His hand was gloved and covered in blood.

“Doctor.” A feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.

Ed looked up and saw a pale nurse looking at him. She seemed worried, but even more than that, she seemed absolutely terrified. It was as if she was looking at a monster in human clothing.

“I’m fine.” Ed replied in German as if it was only natural. “Just a slight headache.” He looked down at the operating table. A young man covered in blood laid on the table. “Let’s continue the experiment.” He said as he reached towards the patient, a handsaw aimed at the patient’s arm.

“AGHHHH!!!!” The patient struggled to scream through clenched teeth as he bit onto a belt placed in his mouth.

Ed slowly felt himself losing awareness, as if he was truly becoming the doctor performing the surgery. He knew it was only a matter of time before he lost himself in his new role.

Thud. The patient’s arm fell to the ground, and the man started shaking heavily. “A stroke.” Ed said nonchalantly, though they were not truly his words. They were the automatic words of the doctor that he was merely occupying. Placing the saw down, he removed his gloves. ‘Ah, so that’s what’s going on…’ He thought to himself as he spotted a swastika on the cuff of his sleeve. It was the last thought he had before losing himself in his former life.