Odajima Shidaken sat upon his throne, eyes closed, lost in deep thought. Something inside him was changing, slowly, He was becoming something no longer human. He felt it. And with that change, a growing emptiness gnawed at him from within, hollowing him out.
He ask to himself, what is the purpose of life, what was my purpose.
There is something I forgotten it is very important to me, but for some reason, I can't remember it, shidaken sitting on his throne and the empty silence that echoes his isolation.
As he sunk in deep thought, a deep, echoing crack resounded through the lair, the heavy doors slowly creaking open. Shidaken opened his eyes.
Shidaken's eyes snapped open.
Footsteps reverberated through the vast chamber. Red carpet stretched across the stone floor, flanked by towering marble pillars that led to the throne. At the end of it, shidaken sitting on the throne surrounded by the heavy air of power, radiating a cold, majestic aura.
The intruders stopped just a few feet before him, sweat trickling down their faces.
"He's... a monster," Aubert said, trying to swallow his fear. "Everyone, get in formation!"
Yes the team said in unison.
From shidaken perspective, the scene was strangely fascinating.
"So this is how they see me... A monster. That must mean I've grown powerful enough to be feared" he think.
Shidaken's cold voice cut through the silence and he asked a very strange question.
"What is the purpose of life?"
The group froze.
"He can talk?" Aubert muttered.
"Not just talk, he look intelligent as well" Souka said.
"Why is he asking us questions?" Mino asked.
"It's probably a test," Souka replied.
Why is he asking us question Mino said.
It's probably a test Souka said.
"You are correct," Shidaken said. If you were able to answer it, I let you go, shidaken said.
Aubert narrowed his eyes, And we're supposed to believe that.
"Wait, everyone," Souka stepping forward. "I think he's telling the truth."
The others turned to her shocked.
Mare grabbed Souka by the collar. "What the hell are you saying?! Are you really asking us to trust that monster?"
Souka grab her hands forecefully removed it, then looked directly into Shidaken's eyes and said, "If he wanted us dead, we'd already be corpses."
"The decision is yours, Aubert, You're the leader." she said.
Aubert looked up at the figure on the throne. Shidaken met his gaze with emotionless, crimson eyes. The silence was suffocating.
"...Fine," Aubert said through clenched teeth. "We don't have a choice."
"I can't believe this!" Mare snapped. "You're really listening to her?! There's no guarantee he'll let us go!"
"And what's your suggestion? Fight him and get obliterated?" Aubert retorted. "I'm the leader. This is my call."
"Hey Guys, stop fighting!" Souka urged.
Don't come close, stay out of this, this mess is because of you mare yelled.
"Why are you--" Aubert's words were cut short.
Shidaken's release his aura silenced everyone.
A crushing presence filled the air. Everyone stood frozen. Sweat poured down their faces as they stared at him, trembling gulp their salivas.
He glaring at them his eyes crimson red, Just focus on answering my question, remember there will be no next time, you have 5 minutes to answer my question, if you weren't able to answer it, there will be no heads on the shoulders he warn with a cold chilling voice.
Shidaken disappear his aura.
"Let's answer the question," Souka said quietly.
"What was the question again?" Aubert asked.
"'What is the purpose of life,'" Mino reminded.
"Good girl, Mino," Souka said, patting her head. Mino smiled, comforted.
"Should we answer individually or as a group?" Souka asked.
"As a team," Shidaken replied.
"Alright, we'll each share our thoughts and decide together," Aubert said. "Agreed?"
Everyone nodded.
"In order then," Aubert said.
"1: John
2: Mino
3: Mare
4: Me
5: Souka"
"John, you're up."
John scratched his head. "Uh… never really thought about it. I guess I became an adventurer to get rich."
"Mino?"
"I… don't have a purpose," she said quietly. "I was an orphan, but Souka took me in. Because of her, I got to meet all of you. If I had to name a goal… it'd be to keep traveling with everyone, to see the world and explore new places."
"You've grown into a fine young lady," Souka said gently, patting Mino's head again.
Mare sighed. All eyes turned to her.
"My goal was to… pursue love," she said softly, glancing at Aubert.
Aubert blinked. "You? Love? You're always in a bad mood—who'd believe that?"
A shadow of sadness crossed Mare's face.
Souka kicked Aubert's feet.
"Ouch! What the hell, Souka?!"
"You're insufferable sometimes," she said flatly.
"Your turn," she added, looking at him.
"My goal is to become the greatest adventurer alive," Aubert said confidently.
"And you, Souka?"
"I seek knowledge. I want to understand the world."
Aubert summarized:
John wants wealth.
Mino wants to explore with friends.
Mare seeks love.
I want greatness.
Souka wants knowledge.
So, which one do we choose?"
"They're all different," Mare muttered.
"I vote for wealth," John said.
"Seriously?, do you really think in your right mind that monster would give a damn about money" Mare scoffed. "What that monster are going to do with money?".
"And I doubt he's interested in love either," she added.
"I don't think friendship or traveling matters to him either," Souka said.
"I'm sorry," Mino said, lowering her head.
"Don't be," Souka reassured her. "You did your best."
"Do you really mean that?" Mino asked.
"Yes. I do," Souka smiled.
"And honestly, I don't think knowledge is the right answer either," Souka admitted. "That just leaves Aubert."
"Maybe you're right," John said. "A monster like him probably only values power."
Souka stepped forward.
Everyone watched her in silence.
"You have our answer," she said.
"We believe the purpose of life is to become strong."
A cold smile flickered across Shidaken's face.
"What an utterly useless answer."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Let me ask you this, what can one truly achieve by being strong?"
Confusion spread across their faces, they have not expect this response.
Souka narrowed her eyes. What does he want from us?
It's look like you all don't value your lives
Shidaken's voice grew deeper, calmer, more introspective.
"Weakness feeds on emptiness. Without purpose, strength is hollow.
Purpose gives strength meaning. those who don't have purpose in live will never able to achieve great thing that one with purpose can.
"A life without purpose may be peaceful, but it will never be great"
Those who don't have a purpose will someday come to this realization and regret their foolishness.
Holding a purpose means to sacrifice, to embrace pain, suffering, hardship, struggle and challenges and a will so strong that it take all the challenges of life and remain firm till the end.
"Wandering without a purpose in life, It like wandering in the desert without water and direction"
Finding a purpose is easy but to walk on that path is not.
Many turn back at the first challenge.
Fewer make it halfway.
Only a rare few reach the end.
And those who do… often find not peace, but more emptiness.
The room was silent. The air heavy.
"So…" Mino whispered, "Did we fail or we pass? What's going to happen to us?"