Chapter 4

As soon as he opened the Soul balance, Sikandar’s brows furrowed and if his soul had a heart, it’d skip a beat or two. He could either purchase [Key to Soul memory] or purchase his ticket to transcendence.

Considering how he could not remember many options he gets at the time of death and before his transcendence, the only conclusion was that not all memory is transcended and that some memory is accessible to him only when he is not in a body.

The [key to soul memory] was crucial to him because of the plans he had for NG+7 plus the deal he had made with those [Moderators] were important. Any small detail missing would lead to failure.

[2 billion and 46thousand points] available

With a sigh, Sikandar decided that he will have to take transcendence as it was his main goal. He will have to look for ways to acquire the knowledge again in his lifetime.

So he picked [Transcendence to NG+7], [System Alert: 1 billion points deducted]

[Balance remaining: 1 billion and 46thousand points]

1000 x [Ring of Resistance], 1 x [Ring of undo death], [System Alert: 5,250,000 points deducted]

[Balance remaining:994,796,000points]

Since he still had enough points, he purchased few potions [1000 x Mana Potions, 1000 x HP Potions, 1000 x Stamina Potions, 1000 x teleportation scrolls and almost all tier 1 skill books]

[Balance remaining: 994,066,000 points]

The skill books were not necessarily combat specific, he felt since they were so cheap, why waste the opportunity. Although at this point, he was only gambling. There was a possibility that he already knew many of these skills. But with so many points remaining, he didn’t bother.

Now it was time for trying the best part.

[3. Create/Modify an item]

Sikandar had lived 6 lives so far and almost all of them had a wide variety of cultural, historical, technological differences. Like NG+6 was very modern and had no magic. It was so advanced in its own way but it was nothing as compared to his fourth world where his empire was so advanced, they even colonized other planets.

Although Sikandar was not a king in that world, he did feel jealous of emperor.

His knowledge of all lives were so vast and immense, he decided that this time in NG+7. He’d have enough items to help him on his quests.

First of all, he knew the system was going to punish him for killing its moderator. So there was going to be a catch in buying all these items. How can he get born with all these items he purchased?

[Item made: Soul Storage]: Soul Storage (soul item), Greed knows no limit and the necessities depend upon how deep the pocket is. A Greedy King is a level above all greed. Store all non-living things in this storage. The storage capacity is unlimited. (Cannot store another soul item)

[Balance remaining: 244,066,000 points]

Sikandar giggled as he read how system declared how greedy he was. Like an evil villain being told about how bad he was, Sikandar rolled on floor holding his stomach, laughing more than he should.

His happiness didn’t last too long after noticing this bag cost him 7.5 billion points. Sikandar didn’t know if he should be happy with the bag or cry for the lost points.

Now after thinking for a moment, he thought he can’t really carry entire soul memory without [key of Soul memory] so he thought he should make a [notebook]

[Item not-made: Notebook]: Notebook (soul item), one can write down notes and can keep them even after death/birth. Poor souls who cannot afford [Key to soul memory] often make this object, not knowing the cost is 10,000,000,000 points. Much more than [Key to soul memory]

[System Alert: Insufficient Soul Balance]

The system was obviously pissed at Sikandar, but to think it will act like a bratty girl, mocking him at every opportunity was little awkward.

Now that this idea got dropped, Sikandar sat down concentrating on what he should do to fix the problem at hand. He looked at options that were available to him.

He kept on reading the third option in this [soul shop]

[3. Create/Modify an item]

After thinking for a moment, an idea clicked. “I can modify an existing item.” He declared with eyes wide. Of all things he had done in all his lives, he had never praised himself until now.

[System Alert: Item claimed from past lives: cellphone]: 100 points

“So cheap” he said, wondering if he should try more items.

Not only were his possessions in sixth life available to him, but all. Quickly, he recalled all necessary items in all his six lives, from weapons arsenal, to science books, manuals, tutorials, DVDs, a laptop, solar charger, inverter, air conditioner, swords, staffs, crown of his first life that had stats to wisdom, intelligence and strength.

Almost all possessions were with him now in his soul bag.

“I wonder what that priest who used to tell me that I cannot take my possessions after death would feel like” He giggled satisfyingly.

“You are born empty handed and you die empty handed” he added mockingly speaking to himself.

Afterwards, considering he was the dictator of his country, he planned on taking military items but received a message.

[System Alert: the object is not of your possessions]

Apparently, the system did not consider an asset of the country, personal possession.

Moving on, he placed all gold coins he had in the bag too. There was no point in taking currency notes as neither were they of any value in a world where there was no exchange.

Bringing his attention back to his [cellphone] he started modifying it as per his use.

[System alert: item modified successfully]

[Soul Cellphone (soul item): store information, take pictures and videos, contact anyone, and view all maps. (Item can be used on souls as well]

[Balance remaining: 124,066,000 points]

“Nice cheat item” he claimed pleasingly.

Now was the time to use the cellphone to his advantage. He opened the camera of the cellphone and recorded his message.

Pleased with the outcome, he happily placed the cellphone in his bag.

[System alert: item rejected]

Hitting his head on a pillar nearby, he grimaced as he forgot that he couldn’t place another soul item in his bag.

Now that it was a soul item, he decided to go with the flow. Defeated by the rules, sighing he chose to start the process to transcendence.

[System Alert: Transcendence interrupted. Carrying an item is not allowed]

Annoyed Sikandar was imagining a little bratty girl laughing at him mockingly. The system was being too unfair. His soul literally cried.

So Sikandar sat down and started reading all the remaining options that were available to him.

This time he found a small icon on the smallest corner of the screen visible only to him. Earlier he thought it was just a design. It was a hexagonal shape drawn in pure golden lines. A Bluetooth like sign was drawn above it with a little darker gold color.

Apparently he had assumed that it was the mark of the system. Upon placing his finger on it, a message hovered.

[Mark of the banished: system will ensure roadblocks in your path unless you take the trial]

Sikandar then immediately clicked the button

[You have chosen to take the trial of the banished]

You will be teleported in 5…4…3…2…1

His eyes opened to see that he was floating in some fluid. As far as he could look beyond the fluid was a wall that was somewhere between orang and skin colored.

Reaching out his hands, he noticed that he had no fingers. Grimaced after observing what had happened to his body, he noticed that it wasn’t just his hands.

Assuming that he was given birth as differently abled at the beginning, his surprise only kept increasing. After some observation, he concluded that these walls were actually a shell.

And he was in an egg.

It was no longer a question of being born with deformity but instead his landed on a question that was…

“What the fuck am I?” he asked while crying.

***

This was a world with lots of greenery. There were huge mountains covered in snow. Some even floated in air. The scene was so beautiful that if a painter painted it, a soul title was a must. With clouds hovering above the sky, a gigantic bird flew threw.

After crossing the valley, there was a forest on a plain land. Heading towards the fattest tree, he landed on a branch. A Huge nest was placed and in there was a single egg. Judging by its color, the egg was ready to hatch. The bird titled its head as it approached.

Before its sharp beak could reach the egg shell, it started to fall apart.

With all his might in his tiny body, Sikandar swam through the fluid, hitting the shell of the egg. He had underestimated the tiny beak he had which his brain was constantly ignoring like it ignored his nose when he was a human.

Finally, after little struggle, he could see the light for the first time. He noticed the blue sky was brighter than all his previous world experiences. Happy to see a new world and was very satisfied with the outcome.

As soon as the blurry vision sharpened and now he started to see the surrounding. In his mind, he was also curious to see his parents. Suddenly, he saw a giant bird that was gazing at him with a titled head. Looking directly into its eyes, Sikandar’s tiny heart skipped few beats.

The instincts kicked in and every cell in his body screamed to take cover. Not knowing what was happening, he rushed towards a small hole in the nest where his egg was placed.

With a swing of feet, the egg shell fell off the giant tree. Now the cornered poor featherless bird had nowhere to run. With a desperate will to survive, he yelled with his tiny beak putting every ounce of strength.

But this was the system punishing Sikandar. He could see his parents who had fled to another branch. Their size was much smaller as compared to this predator.

Being born right away, he did not understand the emotions. But he had seen animals hunt before. He knew regardless of his mother’s attempt. His death was inevitable.

The giant carnivorous eagle type bird had already marked him as his meal. In a panic he saw every possible escape routes and in this process, his eyes met with his mother.

The mother was too calm and had her head bent but her eyes had not given up. With as little knowledge he had about how his species really moved, it was difficult to judge what she would be doing next.

As soon as the beak was approaching Sikandar’s body, the mother bird crashed on the giant bird. Hitting its eyes with her beak, she damaged it. Now the bleeding giant bird was furious. With all the efforts from his mother, Sikandar now chose to escape further.

He appreciated her efforts but he knew she would die. It was better to respect her sacrifice and ensure survival.

Running on the branch after crossing over the wall of nest, Sikandar saw a small hole on the main trunk to which the branch was attached to.

After running with his tiny feet, almost also bleeding as the soft feet were not hardened enough for such an action. Plus the rough and spiky surface of the tree branch was also responsible for the bruises.

He rolled, randomly changed paths to confuse the predator not even looking back and not even caring about the fate of his parent. He dived into the hole. As soon as he dived, his mother was thrown towards that hole.

She instantly stood up and now covered the hole. By now she was covered in wounds and was bleeding intensely.

It was then when the heart of the former dictator melts. Tears filled his eyes and a desperate will to have his mother survive, he cast a healing spell that he knew from past life. Not even thinking he would succeed, he had made the attempt and it worked. Maybe it was always his desperate will that bent the system rules for him. Now that his spells were working, he found that he could beat this predator.

Getting such resolve, he then hardened his body with [iron flesh] he suddenly appeared in front of his mother who was about to be stabbed by the predator’s beak.

[Lightening storm]

[Incinerating Bolt]

[Javelin of Light]

After taking direct hits, the predator was all wounded. Its burnt body reminded him of a roasted chicken. The fact that the bird was still alive after taking this much damage, tension erupted on the little bird’s face.

But soon he discovered the predator bird had dropped the idea of hunt and cared more on avoiding getting hunted. As soon as the big bird jumped off the branch, Sikandar was prepared with another skill.

The giant bird had been damaged enough that its flight abilities were greatly handicapped.

[Soul capture] a skill Sikandar had stolen from the absorbed reaper. A scythe came to existence and was thrown towards the fleeing bird. Like a boomerang it reached the predator bird, slit its neck off, absorbed the soul and now returned towards the little bird. In a speck of time, Sikandar caught the scythe with his beak and made it go away.

He immediately addressed all injuries his mother had on her poor body and saw her show the motherly affection towards the little bird. With a complete satisfaction and confirmed safety, he proceeded to hug his mother.

But before it could happen he got a message and his face fell.

Congratulations, you have completed the level 1 of the trial. Click [continue] to proceed.

***