Death... and me
chapter-2580

Luan found it strange. "But I thought father didn't care about this thing."

"And I don't," Roan said. "Whatever I was before becoming a Death Spirit doesn't bother me."

"Then..." Luan continued to look at the crystals on Roan's hand. "Why are you holding it?"

"It's calling me," Roan finally told the real reason. "It has been like this ever since we brought that Straw Totem inside the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm."

"What?!" Luan was taken aback. "Calling you? How? Wasn't it simply there to unlock Father's memories? How could it have any connection with that Straw Totem?"

Roan narrowed his eyes. That was exactly what he wanted to know. He heard from Kafan how Death Spirit Copies were made, after all. He was a Death Spirit Copy that, in theory, shouldn't have had any kind of meaningful life before that transformation. Yet, things don't seem that simple.

Suddenly, Kentucky appeared near them. "I heard it all! Come on, break it! Let's find out!"

Roan glanced at the Minokawa with a death stare, making Kentucky tremble. However, he looked away right after. That's because he noticed Sister Orb appeared as well. "What? Are you also curious?"

[Obviously! Nothing happens in the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm without me knowing. How could I not be curious... or so I wanted to say. It's just that there is another reason for me to appear in front of you now. I remember something that might shine some light on your doubts.]

Roan's interest was picked. "Then spit it out. You know I don't give a damn to drama."

[Very well. You said that when the Straw Totem appeared, this Black Crystal began to call you, correct?] Roan nodded and waited for Sister Orb to continue. [Then think about it. It was Kafan who told you to pass the jade slip forward in case you got into trouble. Last but not least, according to Gragatou, it was also Kafan who supposedly found a way to locate this hidden realm.]

[Kafan knew how to find it, Kafan knew you, Kafan made this deal with Gragatou to help us. It is all connected. Perhaps... he also knew that you would eventually reach this moment. You were Kafan's most talented disciple, and now the crystal that contains the key to unlock your sealed memories seemed to be connected to the hidden realm. As far as I can see, I think Kafan knew you were connected to it all.]

Roan dropped his head with a pensive expression. He had to admit Sister Orb's analyses made a lot of sense. In fact, he was supposed to have noticed it, but the idea of unlocking previous life memories clouded his judgment. "It's not just perhaps. I refuse to believe he didn't know about it. But then again, I'm also sure he doesn't have any ill intentions towards me..."

"I don't like it. I don't like it at all..." Roan shook his head.

[Should I tell Rean?] Sister Orb could tell that Roan wasn't sharing his memories of this event.

"No need," Roan shook his head again. "He is busy with the refinement of the Universe Foundation Fragment, which is way more important than these memories of mine."

Roan then put the Black Crystal away and told everyone. "I'll discuss it with him once he finishes his job. Before that, it would be nothing more than a distraction."

Luan agreed with Roan. "Father is right. It is not like remembering some things would show us the way to this hidden realm anyway."

Roan was satisfied with his words. "I think Kafan will likely come to this side of the Universe once Gragatou manages to find the hidden realm. I can ask him directly even before going with the memories unsealing."

Kentucky had lived with Rean and Roan ever since he could remember anything. He could be said to be the one who best understands those two. After hearing Roan's words, he somehow could tell that this was not the only thing Roan was worried about. 'Hum... it's probably that...'

Yet, Kentucky said nothing and just agreed with everyone else. "Alright, let's wait for Rean to finish his job. I'm going back. See you later!"

Everyone then left the area, leaving Roan alone once again. Roan pulled out the Black Crystal again and glanced at it one last time, his eyes showing a bit of struggle. He quickly put the Black Crystal away, throwing his mind into something else. 'Let's cultivate.'

Outside, Rean and his group continued their work. Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Nonetheless, the work continued without pause. Every day, they seemed to find something new related to the Fragment of the Universe Foundation. Finally, eight entire months later, Rean and everyone looked at a new piece of equipment they built. Its appearance was more like a bunch of jumbled equipment put together. Exposed circuitry runes, a mess of cables going everywhere in the Blacksmith Workshop. At the center, there was a very small platform, while above it, one could see a triangular-shaped crystal connected to many other cables.

"This is it," Rean and everyone else took a deep breath while looking at it. "The Universe Separation Energy Compressing and Splitting machine is finished."

Droman, Rean's Master, couldn't help but comment. "Can't you find a better name?"

"This is a great name!" Rean refuted.

Samira, the Physicist from India, agreed with Rean. "He is right. Look at this thing. It is a huge mess that we somehow managed to make work. It is only right and proper that the name is also a mess."

"OHHH!" Everyone nodded, feeling enlightened. "So that's why it has such an ugly name. It matches the sight."

Rean's mouth twitched. 'You all can go fuck yourselves!' Rean thought for a moment but then sighed in lamentation. 'Forget it. They just can't see the awesomeness of my intellect.'

"Ahem!" Rean then stopped everyone's conversation. "Let's give it a try. Even if it doesn't work, we can get useful data that will definitely increase our chances in the next attempts."