Chapter 4: Who are you
"I can sense that you are now the leader of my noble clan," the figure said, beginning to walk out of the portrait.
He sighed and continued, "Weakness…"
"Heh." He laughed. "...is a choice, and those who choose it become nothing but worthless things to be preyed upon and controlled."
The fiery figure walked past him and continued, "Peace is beautiful propaganda, but how long can humans last without actively hitting each other?"
"But sacrifices are needed to create and preserve peace," Vulcan interjected, emphasizing the cost of establishing and maintaining peace.
"That…" The figure paused to think before continuing. "...is true. But peace without dominance does not exist. If one wishes to create or preserve a peaceful world, one must be powerful enough to enforce it."
He turned toward Vulcan and continued.
"Let me ask you something. Why have your demands for our clan gone unmet?"
He watched Vulcan closely. His gaze suggested that he already knew the answer and merely wanted to hear Vulcan admit it for himself.
"Because I…" Vulcan began, his voice trembling. He paused before forcing himself to continue. "I am not strong enough to be considered a threat."
"So, you understand now."
The figure placed his palm on Vulcan's shoulder.
"Only those who can threaten the peace can truly enforce it. Remember this: strength is not a sin. But a leader who lacks the strength to establish order, maintain it, and provide for their people has failed in their duty. And that failure is a sin."
He removed his hand
Vulcan clenched his fist, overwhelmed by anger and the realization of his own naivety. But what could he do? For now, all he could think about was protecting his daughter. That alone was reason enough to become stronger.
After reflecting for a while, he realized that he did not even know who he was speaking to.
"Who are you, old one? And what do you want?"
"Hmph." The figure sighed. "My identity is not for you to know, at least not for now. I am here because of the state of our clan and my Beast Soul," he replied emotionlessly, almost as though he did not care.
Beast Soul? Vulcan wondered.
The figure seemed to read his thoughts effortlessly.
"Do not concern yourself too much, Vulcan. However, I must explain it to you so that you can obtain one."
Suddenly, his body transformed into a screen displaying an illustration.
"As you know, beasts are hunted for their body parts, which are used in weapon crafting and other purposes."
Another illustration appeared on the screen.
"But did you know that these creatures share a bond, through which their will can be carried on? As you know, every living thing, including trees, possesses a soul. Normally, these souls pass into the domain of the Goddess Myrr. However, some souls choose not to rest. Instead, they may become vulnerable to possession by demons. Why? Because of their will and the bonds they share with other creatures.
"If you can form a bond with a creature, then even after it dies, its soul may bind itself to yours. Through this bond, you inherit some of its characteristics as abilities, both passive and active."
The information shocked Vulcan to his core.
Yet the figure continued without the slightest concern, the screen displaying another illustration as his voice echoed through the chamber.
"However, your daughter's case is different. She appears to have a dormant phoenix within her. This deserves further study, but such an investigation could bring problems upon our clan."
The figure then returned to his normal form.
"That is why you must obtain a Beast Soul and train until you reach at least the rank of a Saint."
"At least?!" Vulcan interjected in disbelief.
"Yes, at least," the figure replied calmly. "Before I died, I had reached the rank of a Level 8 Warlord."
He laughed.
"Right before I died."
For a brief moment, his expression turned menacing before returning to normal.