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Chapter 2: World to World

  In a distant place far from Hiro's world, here the souls from the Free Worlds come to go through reincarnation. In every direction large glass cylinders were spread out connecting the ceiling and the floor, which were glass as well, and the same cylinders could be seen on lower and higher floors. A man stood before one cylinder, operating on a hologram computer system projected by that particular cylinder, the technology was so advanced it seemed magical.

  "Well now, what do we have here".

  He was smiling nervously this was something nearly unheard of. Orbs of light were busy going through the cylinder like all others. Except in this one, one orb was motionless. With the computing system he extracted it without opening the cylinder itself. Each orb was a soul, and outside the cylinder took on the form of what it was before death. The man watched as this orb transformed into Hiro then gave his welcome.

  "Welcome to the leading End Dimension of the Free Worlds, I am its manager. You can call me Manager".

  Hiro was confused it was just a moment ago when he used his new magic which cost him his life and now he was here as alive as one can be, only he was just a soul.

  "You must be confused, but when you think about it calmly, it makes sense. You died and arrived here so your soul could be cleansed then reincarnate. Souls are not an endless resource too you know".

  He said jokingly trying to lighten the mood. Hiro could understand what the manager was saying but it did not help with adjusting to his current situation, he took in his surroundings from end to end it was the cylinders, souls constantly moving through them, how many souls were going through the them each second? Too many to count certainly.

  "Assuming what you said is true why out of all these souls did you bring me out".

  The manager was puzzled by Hiro's question, from his perspective he should be the one seeking answers, Hiro's soul was the one for reasons unknown to him not completing its reincarnation.

  "You don't know. I was hoping you could tell me, why your soul refuses to pass on. Is it tied to some sacred item perhaps or are you..."

  Before he could propose another possibility, Hiro split into two people, one was Hiro the other was unfamiliar to both. Even his clothes Hiro found strange, a highly restraining straitjacket, he had never seen one before. The manager was first to act bowing in respect to this mysterious man, even though Hiro was startled he did not react much.

  (Things just keep getting stranger and stranger, and I may be wrong but I feel I should know him).

  "Visitor from the true origin, though I do not know who you are, I feel that you are One who stands above the All Mother, she who guards the Free Worlds. I seek your assistance for she has disappeared and the Free Worlds are in turmoil".

  The straitjacket man looked at the manager pity in his eyes, but he would not help.

  "I know her, she was like a sister to me. Sadly as you can see I'm far from being able to exercise my power, you would have a better chance of protecting them than I could".

  The manager stood up straight typed something on the system and three seats appeared, offering for them to have a seat. When they were all seated he continued.

  "Being the manager I am unable to leave this place and forbidden to interfere in the world".

  He looked at Hiro, he had a plan in mind.

  "Your existence is tied to him he can no longer operate within the reincarnation cycle of the World, meaning I can remove him from the life and death cycle of the World without any violations on my part. With my guidance you can prevent any further destruction from the invaders, if both of you agree of course".

  The conversation had been lost to Hiro for quite some time but he understood there was a danger to the world and he could help prevent it somehow. The straitjacket man shook his head.

  "Hiro he intends to use you for something he could easily accomplish, so I'll leave the decision to you"

  "From how I understand it you are unwilling to do a thing yourself for whatever reason and I am under no obligation to help. I don't know what dangers will come but I will not turn a blind eye to what you've said. If these invaders are a threat to the world you can count on my assistance."

  With Hiro onboard the manager gave a summary.

  "Invaders are beings that come from outside the Free Worlds. Normally they are like guests but that is in the case of there being an owner or guardian of the place. And for the Free Worlds it was the All Mother, ever since her disappearance these guests have turned to thieves doing as they please. Hiro you were almost a victim of harvesting. That old man you encountered before your death is one of many harvesting invaders. What they harvest varies from individual to individual, some harmless but most cause disaster spreading a form of evil. They are fearsome beyond belief, before you can finalise your decision you should know you have the option of being separated from him and go through the reincarnation chamber, have your soul memory wiped and start a new life".

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  Hiro was determined many would fall like him maybe even worse if nothing changed, if no one was willing to act then he would even if the dangers he would face were unlike any he had ever faced before.

  "I don't know everything now but I trust my judgement, I will put a stop to the invaders".

  He knew this was not the same as putting an end to all misfortune to the world but one less and the world would be a better place even if not for everyone.

  "I'm surprised are you not curious as to who I am".

  "I am, it's just there's simply a lot to take in, but I have a vague idea of how we're connected". There was no way Hiro wouldn't be curious who this man who split off from him was. And he was slowly recovering memory of when he was young, something he had forgotten, the time they first met.

  When the decision was finally made the manager wasted no time removing Hiro from the cycle.

  "It's done. At present you wouldn't even stand a chance even against a weak invader, so build your strength".

  "It doesn't matter where you send me but I'll need my swords, send me home we'll see where to after".

  "It's not possible, your home world is not in this end dimension. Your soul will not survive going through the void and the Soul Corridor of Worlds only works for reincarnating souls".

  Hiro was a newcomer to most these concepts so there was a lot he did not know this being one of them. But even the manager had missed one thing that would work in Hiro's favor.

  "His soul is connected to me, it won't perish."

  "Ah, that can definitely work. Now that everything's in order follow me I'll take you to an exit point".

  The manager took the lead and they followed behind, the scenery around them changed in way that the glass room seemed like a hallucination or they just teleported away. (Distortions in space maybe)

  Hiro guessed with how there was no way they left from where they were to here by simply walking. Ending up in a dark basement like area with a door at its centre attached only to the floor with nothing behind and beside it.

  "This door leads to the outside, from there you'll have to find your way to your world. On your journey try to find clues that may shed some light on where the All Mother might be and if possible find her, with her return peace would return to all the Worlds".

  The door was opened showing the great expanse beyond it. The two entered the void leaving the manager behind.

  The transition of stepping through the door into where ever it leads was lost to Hiro, when he came to he was already on a familiar land. His body restored, he looked exactly like he did before the demon lord raid.

  "Where do we go from here".

  "I can sense the holy swords, we can retrieve them later, for now a drink. And it may be late to ask but what should I call you?".

  "B1 will do. From this moment on you'll be my familiar but your fate is yours decide"

  He said while hovering around, unlike Hiro he did not gain a physical body. They left the forest and went into town, their first destination, the adventurers market where he stole a cloak. With the money he had he could not afford one but moving around as he was, wasn't an option, who knows who might recognise him. Along the way he noticed that his companion was not a soul body like he originally thought, he could not be seen by adventurers who could see ghosts and other spirit like bodies.

  After that he went to a tarven, he and his party would go to for drinks. With the cloak no matter how much or closely a person looked at him they would fail to recognise him thanks to his hero's blessing, unknown savior, that came into effect when he was hiding his appearance.

  Reaching the tarven, it was just as he had hoped his party was here but he wouldn't be joining them, that would cause complications. Their spirits were down he could see but even that wasn't enough to make his presence known.

  (Good I can now have that drink with them, and Rinia it's great that she's just drinking juice. There's a chance they'll notice it's me if stay long, heck with their skills it's possible they've already noticed but knowing me they'll know I have a good reason not to return).

  He ordered one drink, after finishing it he went straight to the town church. That's where the swords were, and likely with his deceased body it hadn't been more than a day, his body and possessions were probably in the process of being cleansed to prevent it from turning into an undead after burial.

  "So you'll be stealing both swords".

  "Epsilon is mine and only known to me and my friends the other I'm sure the world won't need it by the time I'm done. Besides I will leave something behind".

  He justified.

  When he arrived it was just as he'd thought, his body was in the inner buildings of the church along with the holy swords. Gaining access was easy he just had to lie about seeing a recently deceased relative. And with his link to the swords he easily navigated his way to them. Seeing his dead body in the coffin was strange to say the least, even though he now had a new body it felt as though there was still a link between his soul and former body. He took the swords and one other he wasn't expecting to see then used Spiriton to cut space and exit the church without using its exit. With the swords in hand Hiro could leave but there was one more thing to do.

  (Before I leave there's one last thing I must do, forging a holy sword, more like a dagger really.)

  Hiro was in no rush, he was leaving his world and was unlikely to return, he wanted to take as much time as he needed before leaving. He looked around for an available smithy. And with how familiar he was with the town finding it was not a problem, the challenge was he would have to negotiate with the head black smith there to let him use it, and with a not so cheap item he swiped from himself the negotiations went smoothly. He took out both swords and did something any swordsman wouldn't dare do to their sword. With his hand he cut the tips of both holy swords and put them in a melting pot. Such minimal damage to the swords wasn't an issue they would recover in time. While waiting for the sword tips to melt he began to explain his plan.

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