CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: POWER OF SOUL

Richard sat on the cold stone floor long after Akumo left him alone with his thoughts. The cavern felt larger than before, as if even the shadows themselves were holding their breaths. His mind churned with doubt, confusion, and this strange, rising fear he couldn’t completely name.

Control my body. his spirit inside me. half his soul mixed into mine.

"I cannot die," he whispered. "Not again ... not like that."

He took a long breath and then walked back into the deeper chamber where Akumo and Raviel were waiting. Akumo, seated on a black stone throne, lifted his head with a smirk.

"You look troubled, Richard."

"I am." Richard stepped closer. "I don’t understand this technique. You said you’d put your spirit inside me. If you do that... I’ll die, won’t I?"

For a moment, the cavern was quiet.

Akumo threw his head back and laughed then.

The old man’s laughter echoed across the walls—sharp, mocking, almost cruel.

"Die?" Akumo barked. "Child, you forget what you are."

Richard frowned. "What do you mean?"

Akumo leaned forward, his eyes glowing faintly red.

"You’re already dead, Richard."

Richard’s breath froze.

"You. you’re lying."

"I don’t lie," Akumo snapped. "You died. Long ago. Your life ended. Your soul faded. I brought you back by reanimation. Your body breathes only because I will it to breathe."

Richard stumbled back a step, chest tightening. His pulse roared in his ears.

Reanimated. Dead. Brought back.

Akumo watched this panic with the calmness of one observing a child.

"Remember," Akumo continued, "what I am offering works only on reanimated beings. When I say I will transfer my spirit into you, it is a ritual—a sacred connection. I can move half my soul into your vessel, because you are a body without a true living core."

Richard swallowed hard. "And... that won’t destroy me?"

Akumo’s smile broadened.

"No. It will bless you."

Raviel stepped closer, towering over them both. His deep voice rumbled low.

"Richard, listen well. When Lord Akumo shares half his soul, you receive something no normal warrior or magician ever gets—soul power of the strongest ancient one."

Akumo lifted a hand, and a faint swirl of black death energy spiraled around his fingertips.

"It is a bond," he said. "A pool connection. During the ritual, our souls mix. Half of mine moves into you. The process ends when the connection stabilizes."

Richard looked at him with wide, tense eyes.

"And after that... you can enter my body whenever you want?"

"At any time," Akumo replied, his response without hesitation. "To speak through you. To fight from your body. To protect you—or to use your flesh if needed."

Richard tensed up. "I don’t like that."

Akumo didn’t have a chance to respond before Raviel reached out and gently touched Richard’s shoulder, which was an unexpectedly soft touch for a monster of his size.

"Calm yourself. There is a rule," said Raviel, "that every time Lord Akumo wants to enter your body... he needs your permission."

Richard blinked. "My permission? Always?"

"Always," Raviel nodded. "He cannot take control without you inviting him. The ritual grants connection—not dominance.

Richard let out a slow breath, relief washing over him.

"Good," Richard muttered. "Because I will not allow anyone inside my body every time they want. Only if I need help. Only if I’m in danger."

"That is enough," said Raviel. "And it satisfies the ancient law."

Akumo clicked his tongue. "You are more dramatic than necessary. But fine—the rule stands."

Richard looked up, steadied his breath.

"Then. I agree."

Akumo’s eyebrows rose. "You do?

Richard nodded. "If this makes me stronger... if it helps me survive... then yes. Let’s do it."

A slow, pleased grin crawled across Akumo’s face.

He extended his hand.

"Shake my hand then, boy. Give me your acceptance. This bond will benefit us both."

Richard looked at that thin, ancient hand.

Then, with a purpose hardening in his chest, he reached out-

—and shook it hard.

In the moment when their hands touched, a loud echo of power rippled through the cavern.

Raviel stepped forward once more, already setting up the ritual space.

Raviel spoke:

"I have created a fusion area. Sit. The ritual must begin."

Richard and Akumo settled onto the carved stone crouch facing each other. Richard’s heart pounded as Akumo placed both hands against his chest.

"Focus," Akumo instructed. "Do not let your mind wander. The soul listens to the mind."

Richard nodded and closed his eyes.

Akumo raised one hand and touched the strange metal opening on his back—a hidden, vent-like seal that Richard had never noticed before. With a clicking sound, Akumo opened the seal.

A thin black pipe slid out with a hiss.

Richard stared. "W-What is that?"

"An ancient conduit," Akumo said. "For soul transfer."

He grasped the pipe and, without warning, pressed it against Richard’s back.

A violent shock ran through Richard’s spine.

"AH—!" he gasped.

His vision blurred, and something cold, ancient, and powerful slithered into him like liquid darkness.

Raviel watched closely, his expression growing tense.

White mist curled upward, shimmering with the light of raw soul energy.

Richard felt it-every nerve, every muscle responding.

Then the real process began.

Something pulled at Richard, deep from the core of his being.

His soul.

Raviel’s eyes widened.

"Lord Akumo... look."

Akumo did not open his eyes. "I know; I feel it."

The white aura around Richard kept growing—too bright, too strong. It swirled upward, spreading past the circle’s boundary.

Raviel took a step forward, his voice tightening.

"This... this isn’t normal. A reanimated person should have a minimal aura. But his spirit— it’s overwhelming. If this continues—"

"Quiet," Akumo snapped.

Raviel’s jaw clenched. "My Lord... if more of his aura leaks out, the ritual will collapse. His soul will tear apart. Richard will die permanently."

He heard this, yet he couldn’t move. His body felt stretched between two worlds, frozen, while all he could do was breathe out a whisper, trembling:

"A-Akumo...? Am I... dying?"

Akumo finally opened his eyes.

Their irises shone black as night.

"You are not dying," Akumo said firmly. "You are simply losing control. This is your first time. Your aura is overflowing—nothing more."

Raviel stepped closer, his tone urgent.

"My lord, we must contain the leak now. Let me seal him—"

Akumo cut him off sharply.

"No. Do nothing."

Raviel froze. "But—!"

"I said do NOTHING," Akumo barked. "This is part of the process. He must learn to control his aura. We follow the rules. Interference breaks the ritual."

Raviel clenched his fists. "If he loses any more energy—"

"Then he loses it," Akumo said coldly. "He must survive this by his own strength."

Richard felt his aura stretching, expanding, cracking at the edges.

The world dimmed into white light.

Raviel growled low under his breath.

"This is dangerous... too dangerous..."

Akumo’s voice was eerily steady.

"Do not be afraid, Raviel. Watch. This is the true nature of soul fusion."

Richard’s aura pulsed violently, white flames whipping around his body in stormlike fury.

Raviel’s eyes widened further.

"This amount... If this continues..."

Akumo’s voice rose, ancient and commanding:

"LET IT FLOW, RICHARD! DO NOT RESIST IT!"

Richard was gasping, his body shaking in great uncontrollable jolts.

His aura rose higher—brighter—

Brighter—

Too bright.

Raviel stepped forward again, his panic rising in his eyes. "Lord Akumo-his soul is reaching its limit-if one more surge escapes-THE RITUAL WILL FAIL-!" Akumo finally turned his head towards Raviel. A thin, chilling smile creased his face. "I know." Richard’s eyes widened in horror. Raviel froze.

Raviel "Lord Akumo!" he barked. "You cannot be so careless about this!"

Akumo slowly turned his head, eyes still glowing with ritual energy. "Careless? Hmph. He must learn—"

Raviel cut him off, his voice deeper and sharper than ever.

"If this ritual fails or bursts, not only Richard will die. You will die as well! Your half spirit aura is already exposed. If it shatters—if even a fraction of it tears—you face death, Akumo. Real death. No revival. No return."

Akumo’s expression faltered.

For the first time, he looked... shaken.

Raviel stepped closer, towering over them both.

"You are walking into the death stare of fear, my Lord," he growled. "If Richard’s aura explodes, your half-soul will be ripped apart along with his. The backlash will destroy you."

Akumo clenched his jaw, realization sinking in like ice.

"...Yes," he muttered at last. "You’re right. I was too confident."

The glow around his hands dimmed slightly as he inhaled, steadying himself.

"I didn’t care about the danger. My mistake."

Raviel knelt beside them, energy rippling from his palms. "Then say it clearly, Akumo. What must we do?"

Akumo looked at Richard’s trembling form, face twisting not with anger, but something more human—concern... and a strange pride.

"I don’t want to lose him," Akumo said quietly. "Nor harm him."

Raviel blinked, startled by the softness in Akumo’s tone.

Akumo continued, voice firming:

"I brought him back because I saw myself in him. His hunger. His rage. His potential."

He placed a hand over Richard’s glowing chest.

"He is worthy enough to be my pupil."

Raviel nodded slowly. "Then we must act now."

Akumo exhaled.

"Yes... he’s new to all of this. Too new. So I need your help."

His eyes sharpened, turning fully toward Raviel.

"Be ready with your energy."

Raviel’s muscles tensed, darkness gathering behind him like wings.

Akumo raised both hands, aura surging again—

but this time with purpose.

"Raviel," Akumo said, voice deep and commanding.

"Prepare yourself. We’re about to do something... that hasn’t been attempted in centuries."

But