I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"But I admit you really startled me in your third trial... when you almost turned into an evil ghost. Anyway, I witnessed your growth from a clueless child to a young man and came to a conclusion. You are not like us. I mean, you initially were, but you changed, becoming someone... I'm proud of."

As he concluded, his words turned into a barely audible murmur, hiding a hint of gentleness behind their bluntness.

Noticing his deteriorating condition, the copy's upper lip rose into a disdainful snicker. Yet, he crouched to massage his back and continue the story. Unlike the man, his tone dripped with exasperation as he glared at Adam's trembling figure.

"That idiot didn't share his memories with you because he wanted someone unbiased in this new world to guide the boy. Of course, I transferred bribes of knowledge through our link when you needed them and just enough to let you believe you had actual memories."

The copy paused, his eyes narrowing as he resisted the urge to lash out. His next words dripped with sarcasm, sharp as thorns.

"Oh, by the way, he didn't trust us. That's why he chained you and why I stopped your attempts to leave the boy. Meanwhile, he sealed me in his soul."

His brows twitched as his words struck Adam's mind, each like a hammer colliding with an anvil. His face twisted in shock, and his eyes widened as the truth about his existence was revealed. Tremors shook his soul as he cradled his forehead, struggling to endure the weight of the words. Deep cracks of despair ran through his reality, threatening to engulf it.

No doubt was permitted. He had indeed been a tool created piece by piece. Manipulated since his awakening... no, he never awakened since he didn't exist prior... Since his birth. Fed false memories to give him an even falser sense of self.

All to benefit a stranger's insidious plan.

As chaotic thoughts swirled in his mind, he caught a bitter smile from the man responsible, a fleeting moment of connection.

Unfortunately, before he could process it, the copy's voice cut through his thoughts, indifferent to his emotions and spitefully recounting the chain of events. Was it a mercy or just the alter-ego's disregard? He didn't know. But he knew the storm raging in his mind threatened to engulf his sanity...

"Long story short, I shared a part of my soul to save you when you almost died against Gaston, went mad a few months after, and finally broke his rules to explore the beast temple, triggering my soul's collapse. Did I forget anything?"

He turned to the man, hiding his trembling lips behind a mask of bravery and a fiery gaze. "If not, don't waste my time! Absorb us back and be done with it!" he said, a smile that didn't reach his eyes stretching on his lips. After all, even with all the determination in the world, the Manacore Heartgem and Adam's arsenal, they could do nothing against the man.

Meanwhile, the man stared at Adam's somber face, his sunken eyes gentle yet piercing.

Despite his terrible state, he pushed himself off the ground, trying to stand up. His bones cracked, and a painful yelp escaped his lips before the copy moved to support him. The copy placed his shoulder under the man's twig-like arm and grasped his waist, taking some of his weight. His stomach had retreated so far, it looked like it was hiding behind his ribs.

And yet, with the copy's help, he forced himself up.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Then, he moved his right hand, grabbing Adam's trembling shoulder weakly.

"We all died, I mean, the earthlings. Earth is gone, too, transformed into a memory we carry in our hearts... and in our dreams."

He started, a silent tear rolling down his parched cheeks.

"I know how you feel, too. But you are wrong. Your life wasn't meaningless, and every decision you made shaped your own individuality. Perhaps the grumpy little friend's choice was right, and his silence allowed you to shape yourself beyond my expectations. Anyway, you must understand what forced me to create you... by splitting my soul in half."

Upon hearing his words, Adam's cloudy eyes cleared momentarily. He wanted to cling to the man's comforting words, but could he? Even if he hadn't been created out of nowhere like he thought, he was only half the man's soul and would disappear once they merged. As for Earth's fate? He had no memories of the place beside his apartment, so he shrugged off the news to focus on himself.

Despite his turmoil and fast-approaching end, there was one thing he was sure of, at least. He was himself, not a copy, not the man's replica. He was the one and only Adam. All the others were just fake, puny versions of him.

Finding a semblance of inner peace by reasserting his uniqueness, he gritted his teeth, reiterating his earlier questions. "Who are you, and what is your goal?"

"I don't have a name... I gifted it to someone years ago."

The man's smile broadened as he answered, revealing his glinting teeth.

"But time is running short, and I believe your philosophy goes by actions over words, right? So, let me show you instead."

As the man spoke, he felt the man's weak grip grow firmer on his shoulder.

A soul-stirring pain suddenly assaulted him, forcing his gritted teeth into his spectral gums. As the agony intensified, he felt something claw its way into his being, tearing through his consciousness.

Before he could understand anything, the world turned dark in his eyes. A sense of weightlessness engulfed his body for a moment, or an eternity, he didn't know.

And when he recovered his vision, he frowned. The boundless white room was gone. The man and his copy were gone, too. Instead, he sat in the familiar apartment he had been visiting every night in his dreams for the last thirteen years. Confused, he looked around, wondering how he could be back here after destroying the place with his own two hands, only to widen his eyes at the unusual sight.

The dream place's ominous dark sky and the glow of its red moon didn't filter through the windows...