Chapter 8 - Fire against Water, the Eternal Struggle

Bright blue light stung my eyes as I opened them. Da Vinci was childishly playing with a tiny ball of light, fiddling with it to create many different shapes. Once noticing me, Da Vinci immediately dismissed the ball of light, and a shade of pink burnt onto his old matured face.

“Alright, now you have to enter your inner mind, where the creatures in your mind reside. To do so, summon a creature in your mind, preferably the one you had created, as rogue creatures like Pyro Tigris might not listen to you.”

Irritated, I closed my eyes once more, and imagined Thetidis Serpent into my mind. The friendly Thetidis Serpent gracefully swam from the darkness and into the space, as if in water, and approached me with bright radiant eyes, prompting me to hold on to its flipper.

Right after I did so, Thetidis Serpent made a turn and guided me into my inner mind. Gradually, the darkness faded away, replaced by a sunny summer sun, and a tropical island appeared. Pyro Tigris was peacefully napping under the shade of a coconut tree, but once it had felt our presence, became agitated and got up.

In reaction, Thetidis Serpent gave out a nasty snarl, revealing its shark-like teeth. This was definitely contrasting with its behavior before. Suddenly, a voice started to speak in my mind.

“That foolhardy tiger, it only knows how to fight, nothing else!”

Reacting, I withdrew my hand, and instantly the voice faded away. Soon, I realised that it had came from Thetidis Serpent, probably because I was in contact with it, so its thoughts naturally flowed into me, its creator.

Pyro-Tigris snorted and grunted out, “What’s with this fish? I’m not any worse than it, why create it, Forger?” Thetidis Serpent reacted with a growl, baring its teeth once more. “Look who’s talking, you are just an orange ball of fur on fire!”

Pyro-Tigris grunted once more, but this time as if laughing, and said, “Bring it, but I doubt that Forger would let you.” Thetidis Serpent wiped its snarl off its face, realising that he was right. Turning to face me, the serpent awaited my orders.

I stepped forward and declared to the tiger, “Ok, so I know that I didn’t create you, so now are you going to submit to me? Or do I have to use force?” The tiger sneered, “So this’s what it’s about, ok, let’s see your fighting skills without my instinct.”

Thetidis Serpent told me to touch its head and concentrate on bonding together, then we could fight. After doing so, Thetidis Serpent was soon sucked into the palm of my hand, and then the transformation started.

My face grew and stretched out, forming the stingray’s wings. My teeth started to deform and shift into that of a shark. But next, my fingers and toes fused together, and started to shift into flippers.

Unable to stand any longer, I fell onto the sand, face down. My torso next started to stretch and extend, forming the serpentine shape. My tail grew out next, and ended with the same hooked sting filled with living poison.

Pyro-Tigris sniggered, as if looking at an ugly monster. I peered into the water surface, without any scales, I had looked nothing like Thetidis Serpent. At this moment, my skin started to deform and take the shape of scales. But what had caught my mind was the feeling of my skin changing into scales, it had felt exactly like how I had shaped them out in the designing process. Every detail and feature, all engraved onto my mind once more.

I unconsciously closed my eyes to experience this déjà vu, reopening them once more with a strange view in my eyes after the sensation faded away. Black was white and every other colour had darkened down. The image of my surroundings in my mind was sketchy and electric, and details were not easily focused.

I looked around me, My transformation is complete.

In a quick blur, Pyro-Tigris immediately rushed towards me, taking the advantage of me adjusting to my new form. As predicted, when Pyro-Tigris pounced onto my scaled skin, his claws were not able to protrude into my flesh.

Taking my opponent by surprise, I twisted my head and struck towards Pyro-Tigris. Baring dagger-like teeth, I munched a chunk of warm flesh out of the tiger’s left shoulder, draining his energy and his warmth. Blood dripped between my teeth as the tiger grunted out in pain, and a scarlet streak of blood rolled down slowly to his paw.

Pyro-Tigris was able to jump back after the attack, but had seemed to be staggering. Pyro-Tigris breathed large flames out of his nostrils heavily. Putting a paw on the bloodied bite wound, the paw burst into flames for a few moments, and was put back down on the ground, with the wound completely healed.

“The warmth of the heart is one of the few things driving our bodies forward, allowing us to live. That was an example of how strong my fiery heart is, and of course I can do it without your incompetence, Forger.”

Licking my teeth, I started devising a new attack strategy in my mind, Let’s try my poison.

Slithering slowly towards my target, the tiger took a defensive position, although he could heal his wounds, but a rapid barrage of attacks would not allow it to have time to heal itself, And anyways, I wouldn’t give it time either.

As if seen a weakness in me, Pyro-Tigris had a small twinkle of hope in his eyes, and pounced towards my more vulnerable face. But before his claws could touch me, I looped my long body around Pyro-Tigris, rendering its claws useless.

However, Pyro-Tigris’s ever-blazing flames caused me much pain, despite the counter-measurements I had made. I solved the problem with a blast of water onto his face and back, ceasing the flames for moments but they came back, much weaker than before.

After skewering my sting into his body, the flames had further dimmed. Obviously I had done a number on his strength with the poison. Slowly, I pulled out the blood-stained hooked sting, with bits of flesh caught in between.

Pyro-Tigris was in more pain as the poison travelled further into his body, causing more damage to his tissues and organs. Pyro-Tigris tried in desperation to get free by wiggling his bladed tail in all directions, but setting his body onto it had prevented much movement. Furthermore, the vigorous movement had sapped his energy even more, giving him not many options to escape.

“Surrender?” I said with a mocking tone and a smirk on my face. Pyro-Tigris replied with a faint voice and a pale face, “Never…”

As the poison approached his dying heart, a bright red light blinked out my sight. What is happening now?!

Chapter 7 - A New Creature is Born

The surrounding space started to fade away after the battle, revealing the laboratory that once took the presence of the three of us. Da Vinci took out a chair and sat down, “Alright, before we proceed to the next part of the training, the Endurance Test, you need to do something about Pyro Tigris, before you go out of control.”

Da Vinci said the last few words with great emphasis, this was obviously not a joking matter. Concentrating, I closed my eyes and pictured the empty space. Orange gleaming eyes stared out at me, but I shut the tiger out. Ok, creating a new creature. Got it, but it needs to be able to restrict Pyro Tigris’s quick movements.

Slowly, I shaped out a long serpentine body, this could help by constricting the tiger like an anaconda. Next, I shaped out a diamond-shaped bulk at the front, in reference to a stingray’s wings, and also to my name. To compliment the stingray’s head, I added a long sting at the end of the body. It was like a typical stingray’s sting, but with extended hooks from the side, making quick stabs lethal and agonising.

Next, came two sets of flippers at the front and back. Being strong and durable, they are able to increase the serpent’s mobility on land, as well as defend the serpent from attacks.

To counter the flame, I shaped out the many thorned scales of a serpent with my mind, but it was as if using my hands. I felt every detail and feature of the scales, every crack and pattern, all shaped out as if it was a pottery artwork. Next, I added a moist fire-proof layer of mucus, further defending my creature from Pyro Tigris. In order to make any pounce attacks ineffective, I added thorns to the back of the serpent, sharp and deadly to pierce through flesh.

A creature with these features resemble that of an aquatic creature, so I breathed the power of water regeneration into the lifeless empty shell. Every stingray needs poison, so I added a poison sac in the tail, generating living poison that could be controlled to my every wish and desire.

Finally, I gave the name of this serpent, Thetidis Serpent, after the great thorned ray that resides on ocean floors, the Thorntail Stingray.

Pyro Tigris watched the creation of Thetidis Serpent with eyes of rage and anger, already suspecting my rebel against him. With a quick breath, I breathed life into the serpent, as Pyro Tigris ran off in a fit of fury, not wanting to welcome its new companion.

Slowly, Thetidis Serpent opened its eyes, and a bright yellow flowed into it, contrasting with its black circular iris. Instantly, a dark musky shade of blue flowed from Thetidis Serpent’s head to tail, and bright white filled its belly. Constantly blinking, the great serpent approached me, seemingly curious and innocent, to get to know me. After a nudge with its head, the playful serpent followed up by exploring the space it was born in.

It doesn’t seem that dangerous, I hope it can fight.

Chapter 6 - Forge Energy 101

“Alright, first things first, I shall start with the basics of what is Forge Energy. Forge Energy is an unlimitedly-powerful weapon that dead souls can possess. Forge Energy allows their users to be able to utilise their imagination to create objects or transform themselves into any creature that their imagination can think of, it doesn’t even have to exist!” Da Vinci started up with a brief introduction.

“However, only some souls can possess this gift, in fact only two in every few million souls can possess this power. These two souls would have to maintain balance in the Other World, sometimes as good and evil or both on the same side. I, Leonardo da Vinci, am your predecessor, being the generation two times above yours. One of your immediate predecessors, Charles Darwin, is currently locked up by the Drakels for some unknown reason.”

Imp had looked like someone who was insulted, but knew that he was not in a place to rebut, for he was in enemy territory. This was responded with a sly smile from DaVinci.
“When you first use Forge Energy, it would normally be after this training, which is crafted by the first Forger and passed down to later Forgers, allows you to willingly use Forge Energy. But however in your case, you were able to activate it using your emotions, am I not wrong? So now I shall teach you how to do so willingly.” Da Vinci ended his speech with a flash in his eye and a glisten in his teeth.

“First, close your eyes and imagine a space. Then imagine a creature in it. This creature can take up any features, but the complexity of it would affect on the energy you use to transform into it. Since you have used Forge Energy before, picture the creature you transformed into.”

Ok, a space. Got it.

In my mind, I pictured a black space, no stars, nothing. Then Pyro Tigris leapt out from the shadows, but what had surprised me was that I haven’t pictured him yet, he came out himself… Are these creatures alive?!
“Ok, you have your aura around you, hmm, orange, nice colour, so now you can open your eyes.”

I opened my eyes, everything was in orange once again. I reached out my hand, it was a forming paw. This was different, I thought my body changed first? My other hand had also started to change. My tail sprouted out next, then my fur. But before my limbs were strong enough, my tail blade developed. Suddenly I fell backwards, picking myself up after my muscles developed.

Finally, my weight shifted and flames grew. I was finally in my full form, Pyro Tigris.

“Such a fine feline, it must have been extraordinary designing it. Now let’s test its skills.” I had wanted to say that I had transformed myself without designing the creature, but no words came out when I opened my tiger’s mouth.
Da Vinci had then started a transformation of his own…

A pure white aura came out of him, contrasting with the black space surrounding. Then, he opened his eyes, pure white with no iris or sclera, just white, glaring fiercely at me. But Pyro Tigris was not afraid, it had wanted to fight.
Nothing he can dish out can hurt me, I’m indestructible!

Huge wings shot out of his back. “As you might have noticed, all transformations are different.” Da Vinci said with a smile as black horns grew out of his bald scalp and his hair and beard shot back into his head, revealing his ears. His body took the shape of a reptilian humanoid, and with the wings of a dragon but a head of a devil. Slowly, Da Vinci’s skin started to turn pale white, and then snow white.

Da Vinci closed his eyes for a brief moment, to feel his power, and opened them again. In a deep croaked voice, Da Vinci said out, “Ah, this is my creation, the Snow Devil!”
It seems that Da Vinci could communicate, but why can’t I? Hmm, my next creature must be able to communicate.
Forming a ball in his hands, Da Vinci shouted out loud, “Let the battle begin!!” With a sheer evil screech, and ice formed in his hands, and he shot the ice bolt at me.

Immediately, I shot a flamethrower to counter the ice. It melted instantly before it even touched me. But before I could make a counter-attack, another ice bolt flew towards me, this time faster than the first. I stopped to melt the ice bolt, but then Da Vinci flew towards me in a surprise attack, striking me with his dragonoid claws.

In fear, I drew my blade forward, blocking the strike as I shut my eyes.

Wait, what am I doing? I should be attacking him now!

I flung my eyes open and pushed Da Vinci back with a thrust. Da Vinci was pushed back, but his form prevented much distance to be created. I dashed towards Da Vinci in a mad frenzy, then pounced onto my prey with sharp extended claws.
With a slash from my tail, a wing was chopped off, then another.
Da Vinci smiled devilishly and chuckled. “Nice instincts, now let’s see my Final Attack!”

Wings made of ice shot out from the cut area to replace the wings. Da Vinci hauled me back with suddenly renewed strength and flew up. He put his hands together and formed a lotus facing me, and shouted out, “Blizzard of Ice!!"

Instantly, a fury of ice bolts shot out like torpedoes, one faster than the other. With nothing else to do, I shot my flamethrower, but the ice just shot through, stabbing me in my face and shoulders.

“Haha!! The ice is millions of times colder than normal, there’s no way ordinary fire could melt them!” I glanced at my shoulder and realised frost had already started to grow on me, slowly trying to devourer my body into a frozen statue.

Argh! I need a Final Attack of my own!! I need to focus, maybe Pyro Tigris would know!

I loosened my mind, but my muscles tensed and my body moved. Pyro Tigris had taken control of my body. My body sprinted over to Da Vinci, and leapt up with enormous strength, achieving Da Vinci’s level in the sky.

Then, in mid-air, flames shot out of my right paw, like a huge flame glove. With a battle roar, I slashed Da Vinci with my right paw, amazingly melting his wings and his ice.

As Da Vinci crash-landed onto the battlefield, I touched the ground perfectly with a graceful pose. A rough deep voice came out of me, “Revenge of the Tiger.” Pyro Tigris’s control over me faded as Da Vinci slowly got up, injured.

He started to morph back, recovering from all injuries as if nothing happened. “Well done, you were amazing! However, you lost control of your creature, right? That would explain the sudden surge of power as well as not introducing your creature’s name.”

I started to retain my human form as well. “Sorry, its name is Pyro Tigris. But there is something odd I found about it. For one, When I had first used it, I didn’t design it at all. And when I started to transform into it, it appeared itself instead of me picturing it and it didn’t allow me to speak.”

Da Vinci had a troubled face. “Pyro Tigris must be a rogue creature. Since it is a rogue creature, you have not designed your creature at all. You can either dispose of it or you can try to control it. Design a creature and battle Pyro Tigris in your mind. If you kill it, you can never use it again. But if it submits to you, it will be added to your Forger’s Library, the collection of creatures in your mind created using Forge Energy.”

But Pyro Tigris is an animal of great pride, it will be difficult getting it to obey me, but its strength is very valuable. It would be useful for future battles…

Chapter 5 - Introduction to Forge Energy

Imp gasped as remnants of Pyro Tigris’s face disappeared, replacing it with a friendly human face. “What did you do?! How did you do that?!” Imp screeches to me in a confused and stunned manner.

I simply shrugged my shoulders, I too had no explanation to it. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed as a huge shadow appeared behind me, covering me completely in fear and darkness.

I whirled around, seeing a huge black shadowy figure with red gleaming eyes and a long black cape, flapping around in the sudden wind. Slowly, the dark gloomy appearance disappeared, replaced with an old man with a long white beard and white flowing hair, but the old man also had a bald spot on the top of his head.

The old man moved towards me in a proud stride. At conversational distance, the man was slightly taller than me. The man bowed down slightly, and introduced himself, “I am Leonardo da Vinci, it’s a pleasure to meet a fellow Forger.”

Forger? What does it mean? Wait, is he referring to me?

Da Vinci then continued despite my puzzled look, “I’ve felt powerful Forge Energy in this area, it was you I presume? It’s nice to see the new generation of Forgers, the Forge Energy just now was probably your first time right? That would explain the power surge.”

Da Vinci paused, noticing my expression, said, “Boy, do you know anything about Forge Energy yet?!” After a shake of my head, Da Vinci seemed to be shocked or disturbed. “Since you have not gone through the Forger’s Training, you must do so immediately! Let’s make swift to the ADRF Headquarters now!”

At the mention of ADRF, Imp burst out, “Wait! ADRF?! There’s no way I’m going to the enemy’s headquarters!” And as if just noticing Imp, Da Vinci shot a disgusted glance at Imp, “Oh, you are with the Drakels…”

“Drakels? No, I don’t even dare to go up to those foul beings, not to mention ally them!” Imp protested with a defensive stance.

“Are you sure? The Grim’s Dreams uniform you are wearing and the fact that you are an imp shows that you work with the Grim Reaper. Please remember this, the Grim Reaper and the Drakels are working together in a conspiracy to gain a dangerous upper power! This is what we, the Anti-Drakel Rebellion Force, are tasked to prevent. No matter, I will just bring all of you to the Headquarters, whether you want to or not!”

And with a quick pull of his cape, we all disappeared from the street-side, and then mysteriously appearing in a dark gloomy room with a single dim light. As I looked around, I realised that the place seemed stuffed up yet tidy, filled up with all kinds of machinery and bookshelves filled up to the brim with aged stained volume books.

With a small flick of a switch, Da Vinci turned on numerous blue lights, transforming what had looked like an abandoned storeroom into a hi-tech laboratory. Taking out a tiny metallic ball with a glowing blue core, Da Vinci tossed it on the ground between him and I.

“Alright young Forger, this moment will count the start of your Forger’s Training. Activate Space-Ground.” Da Vinci’s last sentence had seemed to end with an echo, and afterwards the room had seemed to blank out, and being replaced with an area similar to that of space.

I looked around in awe, not moving a step, afraid to fall. However, Imp and Da Vinci acted like it was a no big deal. “Ray, this is a very primitive Hologram technology in the Other World, the Hologram technology at Grim’s Dreams is much more realistic than this, the technology there would allow us to really as if in space.” Imp explained to me, giving me the impression that the scientists of the Living World had lots of time to perfect many inventions after death.

Chapter 4 - The Flame Tiger, Pyro Tigris

I stared at the shocked Tengu in front of me with eyes of rage as the Master Tengu starts to loosen its grip on me. I blinked, and everything I saw had turned into a fiery shade of orange in my eyes.

Without any warning, my body had started to grow, my weight shifted upwards and I fell onto all fours. The Master Tengu let go of his grip of me entirely as a tail grew out of me.

My face twisted and grew as my nose had turned into a snout and the muscles in my limbs multiplied. My ears had migrated up to the top of my head as orange and black fur sprouted out of my body, giving me a very tiger-like appearance.

I glanced into a nearby puddle of water and realised that I had indeed transformed into a tiger! But unlike a normal tiger, I also had eyes with a sclera of orange and a black long streak as my iris. My upper back heated up as I had realised that fire had started to spew out of my back and near the top of my head, down to parts of my lower back.

My tail grew heavy as I felt a metallic cold surrounding it. I drew it forward to look and saw that a huge black metallic blade had appeared onto my tail, making it a killer weapon against my enemies.

The Master Tengu had returned back to his underling to witness my mysterious transformation. I let out what had supposed to be a smile with a tiger’s mouth. Now both my targets were at one place, this is going to be a breeze…

With my liquid-steel muscles, I leapt across onto the Tengus in a flash, puncturing their hideous faces with my claws. The Master Tengu had tried to retaliate by striking me with his claws, but its now bloodied eyes gave it a poor judgement, making its attack slow enough for me to block it and further injure it with my bladed tail, but instead chopped the arm off entirely.

I smiled once more as the Tengus withdrew away from me, with the Master Tengu bleeding profusely. I dragged my blade on the concrete ground as sparks flew out, sharpening the blade while blood dripped down from it.

Instead of having an expression of fear, the Master Tengu smiled villainously, whereas the Tengu was shivering and knelt down to its superior. The Master Tengu let out a laugh, and commented, “Do you really think that you have defeated me?! Ha! There is a reason why powerful spirit beings like me have an underling following its master!”

Keeping its wild eyes on me, the Master Tengu reached out and ripped the Tengu’s head off and devoured it, and followed up with a bloody meal with the rest of the Tengu’s body, leaving just its black hat, which the Master Tengu then tossed it away.

Slowly, the Master Tengu had started to regenerate, its arm grew back, and its body further grew, its arms that of a wrestler and its royal robes ripped apart into a battle outfit. Wings outstretched, the Master Tengu flew up to the top of a single tree amongst many others in the nearby park, and disappeared with a blur and a wicked smile.

Chasing after it, I entered the park, with the atmosphere completely different and the battlefield darker. The flames on my back blazed, giving me the light that I had needed to see as I searched around for my opponent. Suddenly, my right shoulder was slashed, but no one was in sight. A howling laugh echoed through the park after a confused look appeared on my face.

This continued for sometime until I let out a heavy sigh, with flames spewing out from my nostrils. This gave me an idea that would turn the tables around. After another unforeseen attack, I let in a huge breath and breathed out through my mouth, and as expected, a huge breath of fire shot out of my mouth, acting like a flamethrower.

The trees surrounding me were sent ablaze, and after I had burnt the trees immediately around me, the Master Tengu appeared a few meters in front of me, injured and burnt.

With both of us heavily panting, the fight was finally even and fair. My body was covered with slashes and my opponent’s was burnt, we charged towards each other in one final attempt, as another attack from either of us would be impossible in our current state.

Everything that had happened afterwards was a quick blur, we were a frenzy of claws and blood, until I had finally stabbed the final blow, with my tail into the Master Tengu’s heart.

After which, the Master Tengu begged for mercy, as it started to disintegrate into dust and blow away. Simultaneously, the park had recovered it its original state, without a single tree burnt.

As I strolled out of the park and to the now-awakening Imp, I thought in my mind as I had transformed back, The only thing that I could name this being was, Pyro Tigris…

Chapter 3 - A Whole New World, of Danger

Although I was given time by Imp to stay in the Living World for awhile longer, in my mind was a huge blank. What should I do first, visit my family? My friends? Hmm, I should just enjoy the Living World with all of its beauty and Nature, after all I might never see them again.

As Imp and I slowly strolled down the path, I looked around my surroundings from a perceptive of one who had seen it for the first time. I was surprised as a small Sun Bird landed on a branch of a tree. The bird settled peacefully on its branch as I crept towards it with awe, this was the first time I had seen a wild bird full of life up close before.

The Sun Bird had beautiful and streaking yellow feathers with magnificent brown wings and patches of grey over its slender body. And in its eye was an image full of life and inspiration, something that many alive would not be able to notice.

I glanced back to Imp to show him the Sun Bird, but he was busy staring at a small contraption, with tiny yellow lights on a gridded screen. My first guess was that Imp was searching for another dying soul to replace me, but I couldn’t be too sure.

I turned my attention back to the Sun Bird, but instead it had flew away! Immediately, a strong shockwave blasted through my body, instantly piercing primal fear into my heart. Imp looked up, obviously he had felt it as well. But I looked at the surrounding people, no one had seemed to notice it.

At a corner of my eye, I saw a tiny corpse of the small Sun Bird, collapsed on the road, wings spread out, as if it was in mid-flight. Imp came towards me, with the same shocked expression that I was wearing, urging me to leave the Living World with him immediately.

Soon, another shockwave blasted, this time stronger, as if the source of the shockwaves was closer.

What is happening? It must be serious, even Imp is serious now! I have to-

My thoughts had been interrupted by a huge blur of brown and red leaping over Imp and I, causing the winged imp to faint instantly. The blur was followed by a larger second, but it was red and white.

The blurs landed on the pavement, causing the concrete to crumble out of pure force. When I caught the appearances of the unknown beings, I saw two winged creatures. Each had long beak-like noses and terrible menacing eyes. The larger was wearing red elegant robes and had snow white hair. The other wore a cloak of dead leaves and had a peculiar tiny black hat.

The larger creature took out a feathered fan and waved it towards itself, and pointed a clawed finger towards me. “Tengu, capture that soul now. I’m sure that the Creators would value such an unharmed soul…”

The Tengu laughed and let out a mischievous screech, and disappeared. In that same moment, the Tengu appeared behind me, and whispered to me, “Peek-a-boo.”

I recoiled back in fear and surprise, stumbling back a few steps, but instead got caught by the other creature’s arms.

“Master Tengu, now that we have the soul, what do we do with this insignificant red waste?”

The Master Tengu flicked its wrist, indicating the Tengu to dispose of Imp. “Such waste would not be needed by the Creators, dispose of it.”

The Tengu lifted the unconscious Imp with the ease of two fingers, casually shaking him to see if he was still unconscious.

Although I don’t know Imp at all, I can’t stand by while someone kills my companion! There has to be some way I can help!

Suddenly, a bright orange aura came out of me, shocking both Tengus. I let out a demand with a deep, almighty voice, “LET MY FRIEND GO NOW!!!”

Chapter 2 - New Introductions

I stared at the jumpy creature, panicking around and ignoring me, just as the crowd was, only that the creature noticed my presence, which had seemed to have disturbed it. Soon, the driving of a vehicle filled the atmosphere.

An imp-like creature? A soul? What was this about? Why couldn’t anyone human respond to me?

These questions revolved around my head as the vehicle came and the crowd made way. My answer to the questions came as policemen came, also ignoring me, and carefully laid a huge cloth over me.

At this, I recoiled back in surprise. But what really surprised me was that the cloth literally went through me. It was then had I realised that I was a ghost!

Calming down, the creature looked up at me in deep thought as I started to get up.

The creature said nervously, “H-hello! I am y-your em, your ga-guardian angel! Ya that’s it. Do not worry, I’m here to help you, p-please lie back down…”

I thought that the creature was insane, first acting strangely and then claiming to be my guardian angel with that devil-like appearance. I squatted down to its level, “Look, I don’t know what you are, or why you’re so panicky, just answer me.”

The creature stammered at my answer, before giving a final sigh, sat down and decided to calmly answer to me. “Firstly, my name is Imp. I am a servant, or rather, employee of the Grim Reaper. You’ve probably heard of him, after looking at the media culture of your world on my collection missions…”

I was quite taken-back by his answer, the Grim Reaper? He’s just a myth, a legend, there’s no way he could really be real. And what does Imp mean by ‘collection missions’?

“I know what you’re thinking, many centuries ago, the Grim Reaper had created a organisation with the request of an unknown group of spirits in the Other World. The request was to do something about the morale of the dead souls in the Other World, as the years gone by, the souls were getting more and more moody and rowdy. They found out that the cause of this is that many souls could not bear to leave the Living World.

“That’s where the Grim Reaper’s organisation, ‘Grim’s Dreams’ comes in, our top imp scientists and researchers had discovered a way to pinpoint the locations of living souls that were about the die, as well as a way to knock out and to maintain a soul to be unconscious while we bring it to the Other World. Then we are able to put the soul in a Soul Simulator, where the soul would wake up, and the soul would be able to ‘live’ again in a way by having the Soul Simulator simulate the soul’s living daily life based on his or her memory. After the soul ‘dies’ he or she should be able to accept the fact that he or she have had a fulfilling life. The thing about you was that I was not able to inject the Soul Tranquiliser into you in time, and you regained conscious…”

I stood up, with my mind trying to absorb the huge change of events that had just took place in a few minutes. A lone tear rolled down my cheek.

I’m really dead. But I died so young. I didn’t get to do the things in life I’d always wanted to do. What will happen to my family? I have to stay.

I wiped my face and looked back down, but before my mouth opened to say anything, Imp had already knew exactly what I had wanted, to stay in the Living World.

At first, Imp had seemed reluctant to allow, but after reminding him that it was him who had ruined my ‘life’, he gave my request further thought. With a sigh, Imp said his answer, a yes.

A radiant beam instantaneously ran across my face, from ear to ear. “My name is Ray, nice to meet you Imp!” I cried out to the surprised creature.

Chapter 1 - I'm dead?!

I was just alive just now…

I was alive, I was going to school…

I was going to secondary school for the first time, anxious to meet new people. I got off the MRT, I saw my close friend, Nicholas, across the road. Out of pure glee and joy, I dashed across the road, to meet him.

But in the midst of that moment of folly, a sharp and piercing horn blasted through my ears, forcing my head to spin to its direction in pure instinct, and speeding towards me was a bulk of white, vaguely resembling a truck.

In a sudden split second, my world went black…

I felt cold… I felt lost… My mind was a buzz of activity, but seemed to slowly fade away…

What had happened to me? Did that truck crash into me? What is going to happen to me now?

Questions buzzed in my mind, for a period of time that seemed to last an eternity. Suddenly, all was silent…

………

Did I hear a voice? Where did it come from?

A small croaky voice danced into my mind, “After I knock the soul out, what do I do next? Oh ya, I inject the… OH NO! WHERE IS IT?!” At the sound of the shout, I flung my eyes open. Everything seemed normal enough, but why was I on the ground? Why was there a crowd staring at me? Nicholas was part of the crowd, staring at me with dumbstruck eyes with tears welled in them.

“Nicholas, what’s wrong, I’m okay now, you don’t need to worry anymore…”

In the middle of my speech, I realised that no one seemed to have heard me at all, and at the corner of my eye, I saw a monstrosity that was almost beyond description!

Next to me was a small imp-like creature with a stout bloated build and a noticeable overbite, and with skin of ruby red and blazing eyes. Crimson hair covered his scalp as well as parts of its back. On its back were also two tiny wings that seemed too weak to fly its owner.

The creature was staring at me with its fiery eyes, but with an expression that seemed to be on that of a nervous wreck about to be beaten up. What seemed even more strange was the fact that it was wearing a shirt that was tainted with what seemed like sweat and had the colour of a faded blue. At a corner, the shirt had the words “Grim’s Dreams” embroidered on it, which was the only part of the shirt that had seemed decent.

“Oh no! The soul has woken up! My boss’s gonna kill me!!” screeched the being, with the same croaky, crude voice that had woken me up.