The Invincible Hero - Chapter 68

“What will you do if you found out that I was the Great Fiend?” asked Tower.

“I would kill you, and then I would kill myself,” B’wiri responded.

“Wow, that’s a little harsh isn’t? What if the Great Fiend had reformed himself like the fellow said? Wouldn’t it be wrong to kill him?” asked Tower.

“Hah, as if Fiends can reform themselves! There is nothing eviler than a Fiend. Even if a Fiend did reform himself, does that excuse all of the murder and despair they brought to others in their time as Fiends? If that fellow is right and cultivators can become Fiends, it means they had to do horrible despicable acts to become Fiends. Just because they free themselves from the Fiend Fate it doesn’t mean they’ve freed themselves from consequences of their previous actions. There is no justice if we were to ‘forgive’ these Fiends. All we’re saying is it’s okay to selfishly ruin the lives of others so long as you say sorry later. I reject this notion!” This conversation really ticked B’wiri off.

“If it is so just to kill Fiends then why would you kill yourself after killing me?” asked Tower.

“I couldn’t live after I’ve killed you. Even if you were a Fiend….arrrgh!!! I hate this conversation! If you were the Fiend it means that the Fiend is sleeping in you and you right now isn’t really you! I have to kill the Fiend!” B’wiri said.

“Yes, but why would you kill yourself?” asked Tower.

“Because if you are the Fiend and the person I’m talking to right now is just an echo of the real Tower, then that means you died. You died on that battlefield. I swore I would protect you and we would marry. If you died on that battlefield then it means I didn’t protect you. I don’t deserve to live!” B’wiri said as her eyes moistened. This was the truth of why she wanted nothing to do with Lorne. If he was right then Tower was already dead and she was in love with a ghost who could disappear at any moment. She didn’t want to acknowledge that.

“I suppose Paneneko has no chance then. You’ll just off him and go about your business.” Tower said in a very deadpan method. B’wiri was startled for a moment before she started laughing.

“That’s right, I wouldn’t think twice.” B’wiri laughed.

Unknown to Tower and B’wiri, Paneneko was outside their door listening to their conversation. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, but what could he do? He started to enter and heard them talk about this issue and he was overcome with curiosity.

“It’s okay if I’m not really alive, I’d rather you kill me so I can join Malkus,” Paneneko said as he entered the courtyard of his friends. The pair were startled by Paneneko’s sudden appearance. Ever since Lorne revealed the awful truth about Malkus the friends separated and hadn’t spoken for over thirty years. Only B’wiri and Tower stayed together. Lorne thought that he was the only one they had an issue with. What he didn’t realize was his words drove a wedge between the friends. B’wiri pulled away because she was afraid that Tower was dead and she was in love with his ghost. Tower knew B’wiri was sensitive about it so he pulled back. Paneneko, he pulled back from everyone. Maybe he was the Great Fiend, wouldn’t that mean in some way Malkus’ death was because of him?

No one could tolerate the possibility that the person they thought they were might be an illusion. B’wiri feared this most of all because it wasn’t until the great battle where the three brothers met that B’wiri actually started falling in love with Tower. Who was she in love with? Tower, the ghost of Tower, the Great Fiend, or some lurking soul waiting to break free to consume the remainder of Tower? She was scared.

“Paneneko, I’m sorry, we didn’t know you were there. Please don’t be offended we were just joking with each other.” Tower said.

“Yeah, killing your friends is hilarious. Talking about Malkus’s death like it’s no big deal, amazingly funny. Please continue.” Paneneko said stonily. Tower sighed and stopped talking.

“Why are you here?” asked B’wiri. They hadn’t seen each other in over thirty years, there must be some reason he suddenly popped up at their place.

“Master Que wants us to gather. I’m here to pass along his message.” Paneneko turned around and headed toward Master Que’s home, the meeting place for today’s intrigue. B’wiri looked helplessly at Tower who gave a grieved look to B’wiri. Tower hated this, he missed Paneneko but he couldn’t talk to him. It seemed like Paneneko retreated so far into himself that he no longer cared for his former brother. This made Tower sad. B’wiri felt guilty because she knew Tower avoided Lorne and Paneneko all these years because of her.

Tower and B’wiri followed paneneko to Master Que’s place. Once they arrived, they were led to the back where Master Que, Master Bilvo, and Lorne were waiting. Tower’s and Paneneko’s masters were off on a mission for the sect which is why they weren’t here.

“Welcome everyone, it’s so good to see you.” Master Que said with a laugh and a kind smile. Master Que motioned for everyone to have a seat. After taking their seats, Master Que continued.

“It’s been around thirty years since we had our little meeting where Lorne explained about Malkus and the Great Fiend. Everyone walked away from that meeting bitter and upset. I didn’t say anything at the time because, well, everyone went off to cultivate and frankly I believed you would work it out.

“What I find is none of you are talking to each other. B’wiri, I have the utmost respect for you but I must say that I am utterly disappointed in you. The Amazons are known for their wisdom and their stoicism. I have benefitted from your wisdom many times, but the way you have reacted to all of this…I thought you would be the voice of reason. I hoped you would guide everyone back together. Instead, I find you to be the most aggressive in this separation.

“When the four of you first came to the sect you dazzled. It wasn’t just because of your abilities, it was because of your deep trust and reliance on one another. Now, look at you. Everyone hides in their residences. I am very disappointed. Seeing as none of you are willing to step forward to fix this problem, I suppose I will have to step in.

“We don’t know anything about the Great Fiend, we don’t know if Lorne was the only sleeping soul or if we’ll lose Tower or Paneneko one day. However, there is nothing we can do about that. There is no guarantee anyone here is the Great Fiend. You are destroying your friendship on an unlikely possibility.

“Paneneko, you resent Lorne because he took Malkus from you. Let me ask you this, do you know what Lorne has lost? How did Lorne wind up in your brother’s body?” Master Que asked Paneneko.

“He ascended and took over my brother’s body when he died,” Paneneko said gloomily.

“Wrong! Absolutely wrong! Lorne fought a life and death battle against the Great Fiend. The strings of Karma brought him into our world, he thought he would be reborn, reincarnated. He didn’t choose to occupy your brother’s body. He was forced into it! Are you going to resent this poor man here who threw away his life so that others could live?” Master Que asked.

“I can’t…I can’t look at him! He looks like Malkus, he sounds like Malkus, but he isn’t Malkus! I don’t hold him responsible, but I can’t be around this man, he’s in the body of my brother! How can I stand to be around him? If Malkus was dead and his body was buried in the ground that would be one thing, but I can’t stand to look at him.” Paneneko said all off while he cried out.

“If you could bury your brother would that help?” asked Lorne.

“Of course, but I can’t ask you to kill yourself just to make me feel better,” Paneneko said.

“No, I don’t have to die for you to bury your brother. l can give you his body so you can bury him. If that’s what you want.” Lorne Said.

“How? You won’t die?” Paneneko asked.

“No, I won’t die. When we first met thirty years ago, I didn’t have any options. About ten years ago an option came available to me. It will allow me to get a new body while surrendering the body of your brother. I didn’t do this earlier because I was upset with the way I was treated by everyone. It was vindictive and childish of me and I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me for not doing this soon.” Lorne said.

“What do you mean?” asked Paneneko.

Instead of answering, Lorne sat down on the grass in the lotus position. Reaching into himself he traveled into the Samsara Pod where he met with BS42.

“Is it ready?” asked Lorne.

“Is what ready?” asked BS42.

“Let’s not play games, everyone is waiting. I know you went ahead and constructed a new body for me. As long as it’s still within the mortal realm I’m willing to use it.” Lorne said.

“Fine, yes I did make you a new body and I anticipated something like this after our last conversation when you rejected the body. It’s in the mortal realm.” BS42 said.

“What do I need to do?” asked Lorne.

“Bring your soul into the Samsara Pod,” instructed BS42. Lorne did as he was told and brought his soul into the Pod. On the outside world, they noticed Malkus’ body stopped breathing, it was dead. Just as they began to get worried they noticed something coming into focus, it was a humanoid figure.

After a few moments, the body finished appearing. The body was an interesting blend of characteristics. The body shape was very similar to Lorne’s superhero form on Earth, but he had two thick gold streaks of long hair combed back over his black hair. His irises were also gold. His skin was a dark brown color. Standing in blue and white martial garb, Lorne appeared for the first time in his new body.

Lorne looked at each person for the first time with his new eyes.

“Hello, I’m Lorne,” he said.