Bro, I'm not an Undead!

1415  Grim's Dilemma

Yes. Grim could have admitted that he was a little jealous of Yuyui.

Grim had seen Yuyui at her worst, when she had been about to leave Skullius' Faction back then. They were still a combat force of the Severed Union that time. She had thought she didn't have what it took to be a combat expert, much less someone who could be useful to Skullius.

She had even stagnated for a while, dawdling around while the others had been sharpening themselves as fighters.

But suddenly, when it mattered the most, she even managed to save them all from Jerthrax, the Vision of Misery during the voyage across the Central Boundary.

How?

Well, Yuyui had told Grim. She had reconciled with her past and it became a part of her core strength, especially when matched with her present circumstances and the future she hoped for.

This had begun to nag the Unlimited Star.

Despite Yuyui being a friend he wished all the good in the world for, it was such a shocking thing to see her eclipse him so suddenly, and not just because she had a powerful Class. It took great effort to awaken each of her eyes and Yuyui had unlocked the strength to do so.

But it wasn't just Yuyui Grim was jealous of. Skullius was the most prime example of someone who was shaped and empowered by their past. The thing that prompted Skullius to grow as he did was his mysterious background. It might have had elements of tragedy, but he used it as fuel to create the monstrous powerhouse he had become.

Grim had no doubts that he would grow in strength, but he wondered if, as a person, he would ever grow into a character who transcended the name Grim. Power went hand in hand with character, did it not?

In truth, the name Grim had been a moniker he had been given while he was still a bandit under Kenno. It had no meaning. He had no meaning.

Yes, he was Skullius' Unlimited Star, but what about his own person? All the Unlimited Stars had that, but he didn't. Was a notable past the thing he needed to define himself?

Grim had searched for an answer in the other Unlimited Stars.

Kintar was definitely a woman of her own. She was Skullius' contrarian. She was definitely a product of something bigger than Skullius.

Pherdanta was practically Skullius' shadow. She had been a subordinate of Warding Pride before deciding to defect. She was saved by Skullius and had sworn her life to him ever since. She had killed her own brother to prove her solidify her loyalty. That was her resolve. Grim couldn't match that. He couldn't be Skullius' second shadow.

Kenno was invited by Skullius to power and wealth that satisfied his bandit tendencies and more, changing him into something far more profound. He was a free spirit who simply meshed well with the Order and his past definitely bolstered what he became. Grim should know. He had worked under the man.

Baddan had been a devout protector of his lands, and when they were destroyed, he was given a chance to form a new identity with new powers that didn't force him to discard his past. He still proudly wore his previous beliefs.

Grim didn't know Savast very well, but he was sure the former Cluster General was glad to be where he was and had reconciled with his origins—the destruction of his Cluster and the second chance he had been given by Kintar.

But Grim was struggling.

He could hardly put what he was feeling into words.

In fact, he had refused to admit the fact that he was battling some identity crisis until just earlier, when Yuyui had single-handedly taken down three mighty women from the old ages of Aigas on her own.

He had found himself getting annoyed at how she hadn't needed his help. He presented it as a playful jest, but a part of him was burning, paining, struggling.

When Grim tried to explain all this to Asthon, fumbling over his words and wondering if the bird would even understand, Asthon laughed. It was a queer sort of laugh. Many wouldn't expect a bird to be able to express mirth like a human.

"Oh boy," the Trueworth Bill said. "Do you think beasts don't run into identity crises too? I just explained how I was also driven into such a mess of wondering where my place on Aigas was. Many a beast feels the same. Inadequacy, helplessness, fear, uncertainty. These are demons all living things struggle with."

The bird suddenly looked at Azila.

"Most beasts fail to Ascend simply because they face the exact same feeling you are. Perhaps they don't agonize over a past, but they do wonder if previous holders of their racial traits ever went far, what they can do to surpass their genetics, how to match stronger, more blessed beasts. Am I wrong?"

The question was directed towards the Great Mane Mountain Ape.

He had been gawking at Asthon since he had come into Suzamete's domain.

His breath had caught in his chest when the bird had flown over.

"You are right," Azila said. "What you told me before, in Agmold… about humans being able to produce the insights we beasts need to reach powers beyond…. Did you manage to extract what you were seeking? It seems you are finally done with King Royan."

Asthon flapped his little wings.

"I learned a few things," he said, "but Direction drove me to this destination and I think I've just about found the one human I ever needed to meet in my lifetime."

Right then, a striking sensation made known to everyone that it was time. Yuyui was ready.

Grim took a deep breath and followed the others towards Yuyui.

They gathered around her and waited no more than five seconds before they saw her stir.

<Do it, Yuyui.> urged Suzamete.

Her Fruit Bearers – the mysterious humans with the carts – had gathered also, equipped with powerful items. They were supposed to help in what was to follow as well, after all.

Yuyui raised her head and looked up at the never-ending sky.

She opened her left eye, and brilliant white radiance stormed out of it, piercing and driven. By Suzamete's will, the light rushed out of the domain and spilled into the great void, covering a great distance far past what could be seen from Aigas' boundary.

It didn't fail.

It caught the attention of a fearsome beast that had not had a meal in 67 Consternals.