Chapter 102: Identity Theft is Not a Joke, Koh (4)
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***
"It's seven times already. How many times more are you planning to try your hand at escaping?"
Nik woke up to the voice. Stunned.
He was in his personal space, however, for reasons unknown to him, Nik not only felt greatly weakened but also small. Physically and emotionally. As if he had returned to the days of constantly visiting the 'abyss' that Esta groomed— his days of constantly being used.
He looked up and matched his gaze with a man who looked like he belonged to an ancient tribe. He had a sharp face, his skin tan. His dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and aside from a battle skirt on his hips, the man wore leather arm guards and sandals. His body built well enough to make Nik feel a bit envious as he still remained a bit thin despite all the training.
Nik wasn't given enough time to think properly as a wave of... defeat strangely rose in his heart. But just like the flames of domination that would warm his being at rare moments, Nik again felt a similar sensation deep within but fiercer. It was like a flame that wanted to burn the brightest. In defiance. Of what exactly, Nik still had trouble grasping but he was beginning to understand what was going on.
His point of view had shifted again similar to last time. He was viewing the memory of 'Mokshi' once again and this surprised him for a moment. Yet, 'his' lips moved which shocked Nik again.
He suddenly felt the lack of lips and limbs but he still seemed to be speaking... however, these weren't his words.
"It's just seven times. I will try as many outsiders come into this world. One day... Raava. One day. There will come a person that wouldn't be stopped easily. I wish... I wish that I meet someone who understands me."
"Nobody would," the man called Raava narrowed his eyes, "You selfishly attach yourselves to visitors of this world and entice the Primordials to attack them! Don't put the act of a victim now!"
The man scowled as his eyes glowed in a very familiar glow for a moment that reminded Nik of Aang. In fact, even if Nik didn't know the man personally, he could attest to the fact that he was having a lot of trouble by Mokshi selfishly attaching to him so he didn't mind the verbal lashing he witnessed.
"Victim?" Nik felt mockery from 'himself.'
"Me? No... I'm no victim. I will leave this wretched world I am bound to."
"And binding to a human is anything better?" The man curved his lips into a sneer.
"Yeah, it is. I feel them. Humans. Other living beings. They breathe easier because of me. They live a little more freely because of me. Oh, Raava. You and that human fused. You chose to live the life of a human to understand their pain and emotions but I am in love with life. I am in awe of death! Freedom is like love, one of the greatest illusions of this world but I am real!
And because of me, so if freedom!"
The soft voice grew louder and louder. Nik's 'body' was filled with a sense of passion that overwhelmed his twisted need for dominance and the foreign sensation of defiance felt from Mokshi. He felt... different. Like the first time he saw his caretaker who comforted him during the times he despaired the most.
He felt like... he was in love.
However, Nik couldn't grasp what he should be loving and similarly, even with all these nerve-wracking emotions, Mokshi was equally clueless as its voice turned quieter once again.
"O' great spirit of Avatar... I'm indeed in love. But the one who has yet to free me is not here. I cannot fall in love with those whom I provide freedom to... but I want to fall for that one being who would take me away. Who would shackle me the way this world does but also bring me to the sights and tales beyond."
The surroundings began to shift at this point. Nik felt a familiar presence while the man's expression turned indifferent.
Behind Nik's 'body' appeared a blue devil-faced giant insect with a familiar shape. The familiar voice breathed greedily, its raspy voice filling the surroundings.
"That's quite the speech, Mokshi. I will devour you quickly this time. You won't interfere, right, Avatar? It pertains to the balance, after all."
Nik felt that his body was restricted and he couldn't move. Just before the end, as his world was already crumbling, Nik heard the man whisper, "Willingly finding hosts and restraining yourself only to dream of freedom as what you are... Oh, what a great illusion you are indeed, Mokshi. What a pitiful paradox you have dug yourself into."
---
"Huaaah!" Nik gasped, quickly coming to be. Cold sweat drenched his body while his chest heaved deeply alongside the terrible pain from his left knee making his head buzz for quite some time. Still, he had returned to his personal space once again, or to be precise, his consciousness had returned.
As the ringing sound began to recede, Nik squeezed a couple of more needful gasps to control the raging emotions wreaking havoc within him. Clutching his chest, he gulped. He didn't know how much time had passed but he felt parched. His lips had already gotten dry, too.
Yet, Nik could only think back to the visions he just witnessed. Emotions he felt. And then only begin to unveil the mystery surrounding him and Mokshi.
After regaining his bearings, Nik brought up his status screen once again. It was almost natural at this point but the result shocked him!
[Name: Nik Faran
Age: 20 (80)
Code: GC—EHG—98034
Authority Rank: 1 (5.96/100)
Paradise: Transmigration
Title: Transmigration Intern
Bloodline: Adonis' Ember (Common)
Physique: 2.3
Mental: 1.9→ 2.4
Energy: 24.8→ 29.8]
Nik looked at the screen for a few long seconds.
'That does it... even if dangerous, this thing might just be beneficial if I can take care of that... spirit. And, I should meditate more. May bring me some more benefits.'
Even though Nik was safe, he wanted to deal with the situation so he could be treated correctly. There were a lot of waterbending healers, Katara included, so Nik could only hope for some miracle for his shattered knee at this point.
With a groan, Nik pulled himself back up.
'That spirit, it's safe to assume that it devoured Mokshi multiple times with how it spoke but Mokshi seems to come back time and again. I won't be able to do the same thing, most likely. And I have used my ability to enter my personal space in front of the spirit so it may just attack to kill me directly next time.'
Nik fell into a deep thought. He needed to take care of this enemy completely or he may get attacked again and again. However, the opponent was mysterious. He needed to do something about that.
"How did it copy Sokka's face... and if it could copy any face, why didn't it just copy mine for a more dramatic flair?" Nik pondered.
"It called himself a hunter and a thief... I'm prey, I get that. But what does it steal?"
Nik frowned.
Multiple faces... a thief... a hunter. Any conjecture Nik could come to using his imagination only made him feel more awful instead.
'Is Sokka... alright?'
Nik groaned internally. After all this, Nik was a bit gratified that Sokka didn't let go but it was a stupid decision. A stupid decision that won Nik's worry and concern for real. While Nik may have acted as a good friend to others, he didn't often show true emotions outside of the bed and this was the same towards Aang, too. Yet, now, Nik could only genuinely hope that Sokka is alright.
But right now, Nik already had an idea to crush this spirit and make it stop coming after him.
Well, not as much of a plan as an improvisation.
He began walking towards the giant Fire Nation Cruiser. Each step was pained and elicited a grunt. Nonetheless, Nik sill walked up the cruiser and finally settled himself in the control room while he set up the various speakers spread all across the ship for commanding purposes and heaved a deep sigh.
"Here goes nothing."
---
*Trk*
*Trk*
*Trk*
The hair-raising noise of multiple sharp insect legs running across the rocky surface furiously filled the dark cave. The dark creature continued to coil around.
"That face! That face! I must have it, yet, outsiders are not given the identity from Mother. And Mokshi negates curses!
Curses!
That exquisite face! That shock, that life, that passion hidden within him..."
The creature's face changed to form a pale youth with red hair. His features were sharp and his eyes naturally narrowed. The face of this youth was not only handsome but held a natural menace that only served to attract others as a groan escaped his lips, "Unngh, I should carve it before I devour Mokshi. That damned spirit! Hehe, but as humans say, the most bitter tonics are usually the best ones," the spirit licked his lips. A ragged pant escaped his being as he whispered, "Maybe I should try and aim for an Avatar's closed ones again—"
*Thud*
*Boom!*
The spirit felt his body crushed instantly as a giant cruiser emerged out of thin air. The metal behemoth left the interior of the cave in ruin as the edges and the control tower pierced out. The intense vibrations caused Nik to grit his teeth in pain but once he got a look at the outside world, he couldn't help but panic for a moment.
Amber sky.
A wide expanse of a swamp.
Nik had thought that maybe he was somewhere near the North pole but now he wasn't so sure anymore.
Yet, he didn't move but moved at all.
After all, he could not have expected a giant wolf, almost as big as the cruiser simply sleeping in the middle of the swamp. The grey-furred wolf had a strange mark of a face on its back as it slept quietly, seemingly uninterested in the destruction of the cave.
Seeing that the wolf kept to itself, slumbering, Nik heaved a sigh of relief but he suddenly felt a soft tremor. Not a physical one but more from within and he heard a soft, familiar whisper once again.
"Not... end... use Koh... to end Koh..."
"Koh?" Nik frowned, "Is that what the spirit is called? Hey, Mokshi, can you hear me?"
The lack of reply was annoying at this point. He had communicated with Mokshi more than once now but it was more like interacting with each other's memories. Maybe, the contest of blue and red that formed the purple Mokshi was also a part of its memories that he unconsciously tapped into. Regardless, Nik was beginning to believe that Mokshi... was ignoring him out of its own free will. In the speech, that is. After all, it would speak to him somehow but would then refuse to explain anything and simply recede!
Groaning, Nik picked up the communicator clutched onto the primitive control panel of the cruiser, and cleared his throat before speaking. His voice traveled through various corners of the Cruiser using the speakers installed in various locations.
"Koh? Is that it? You're called Koh, right? Scream once if I'm correct. Scream twice if you're dead."
Nik smiled, unable to stop himself from trying to make a mockery out of the situation. He wasn't afraid of dying. Been there, done that. He was simply reluctant to go through painful experiences that didn't get any benefits and Koh exemplified the situation rather precisely. Why should he get devoured for someone else's amusement if not benefit?
Yet his smile soon collapsed into a focused grit as he focused on his knee. It was ironic. Usually, the best way to deal with pain is to temporarily forget about it but Nik simply couldn't afford to do so at the time.
"If you want to meet me, Koh, take the first left into the basement prison. I'm waiting for you there." Nik spoke into the phone once again. He was inclined to believe in Mokshi that the opponent wasn't dead. Nik wasn't thrilled by the idea of it either but the spirit wasn't a human and it made things selfishly easier for Nik... morally, that is.
He had never killed before but he wasn't sure at this point if Spirits did die. Mokshi came back, according to Koh. He had a healthy suspicion that maybe other spirits could come back to life, too.
'But what did Mokshi mean by ending Koh using Koh?" Nik frowned. He was motivated to retreat into his personal space and meditate more on the memories of the spirit inside of him to find some clues but Nik was equally concerned for Sokka... if he hadn't already been crushed under many debris by his act of plunging a giant tool into a tight-fitting cave.
But despite his concerns, Nik was, in the end, a selfish human. Once he deal with Koh, he was ready to find Sokka before leaving this location.
*Vrr*
Nik felt the ship tremble slightly.
'Not enough, huh...' Nik narrowed his eyes. Sword barely pierced the carapace of the spirit so Nik was hoping to crush the spirit to its death using the weight of the cruiser but it seemed to have survived the ordeal and now was probably wreaking havoc within the ship from the ground up. Given that the control unit was at the highest floor of the command tower, Nik had a few minutes still.
But if possible, Nik wanted to end things now and not let the sacrifice of this ship be in vain... before devouring the rubble and scrap and calling it a day.
'A knee-crushing day...' Nik shook his head with a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Koh, you have to work hard buddy. Mokshi said that you're one of the weakest beings to have ever devoured it. That's kind of sad. I thought you were one of the best out there... turns out, you've still got ways to go."
Nik hardly knew anything about Koh so if he couldn't insult the spirit personally then he would aim for its career and given that the spirit only had a few desires revealed at this point, Nik had a simple string of choices to go through to insult the spirit to relieve a bit of his frustration.
While he did that, he suddenly heard a soul-shaking screech, "I'll get you!" Koh's voice rumbled through metal, making Nik even surer in this approach and not to take on the spirit directly.
"Sure you will," Nik replied through the phone, "That's what your mother said when I left her last night."
Nik suddenly sucked in a breath of cold air. This was an almost instinctive reply. Rubbing the back of his head, Nik couldn't help but feel embarrassed, 'I don't even know if spirits have mothers... this probably wouldn't work on Koh.'
"Don't you dare talk about her!"
Nik blinked in surprise.
'Jackpot.'
"Why shouldn't I?" Nik mocked, "She talked about you, you know. Said you were the child she didn't want."
The tremors he felt from around turned more intense as Koh rampaged further into the poor cruiser.
Just before Nik could add salt to the injury, a sharp lance suddenly tore through the thick metal floor as if it was paper, causing Nik's words to get stuck in his throat.
*Chi*
Another lance stabbed into the floor and easily began to push the metal away from the blunt shaft as a grating sound of the metal being forcefully pushed against each other filled the room. Readying himself to leave at a moment's notice when necessary, Nik waited for the giant creature to slowly slip through the hold and collect into a coiled shape in front of him with a menacing face of a red-skinned devil now covering the creature's appendage.
"Do you think yourself a being worthy enough to speak of Mother of Faces?" Koh remarked with a remarkably patient yet eerie tone as if he was waiting for Nik's reply.
"Mother of Faces?" Nik grunted, "I call her Mother of Feces, you shit!"
The pale yellow eyes of the red devil Koh twitched at Nik's retort yet his thin lips curved into a fiendish smile, "I will enjoy it this time. Yes. Carving you shall be more delightful than giving you and Mokshi a quick death.
Passion? Love? That little critter has desires more humane than Raava and Vaatu combined, hehe, let's see if it feels the slightest bit of heartache when I let the tip of my legs carve you whole.
And do not run this time," Koh grinned, "Or those humans I have yet to visit in the north pole will be my target next time."
Nik frowned for a moment. The thought of Suki and Katara getting attacked by this creature... did make Nik feel unpleasant.
"And I should simply die then?" Nik scoffed.
"Not simply, no," Koh slithered quickly and once again coiled around Nik. However, this time, instead of stabbing one of its legs through the puncture wound, Nik found himself getting... carved. Many of its legs merely passed through his skin yet it pulled long gashes on his body!
Gritting his teeth, Nik almost readied himself to leave. He didn't want Suki or Katara getting hurt but just waiting for death was hardly optimal. Yet, he wanted to find more information regarding this spirit.
"Agh," Nik gasped in pain.
"Tch, tch, such an expression is wasted on you. You should have been born here. I should have been the one to take it away from you. That face..."
Nik shuddered as he felt Koh whispering into his ear. Instead of warmth, Nik only felt a chill as he hastily questioned, "Even if you kill me, at least, tell me how can you shift your face."
"Hehehe," Koh's face changed into a beautiful, white-eyed woman. It cackled, "Can't you tell even now? I sense your spirit is even more vibrant than before! Did Mokshi tell you nothing?! What a fool it is!
I'm Koh," she gasped, "The Stealer of Face. All I need is one expression. Pain, sadness, joy, regret! Any is fine!"
Nik frowned harder.
"Then... why— Aaaghhhh!" This time he couldn't help but scream out as Koh's legs dug in. It was simply too painful!
"Because you're an outsider! Your face is not carved by Mother, but someone else. Don't you get it... Nnniiikkkk!" Koh slurred softly into his ear before roaring, making Nik's ears ring.
"I'M BORN WITHOUT A FACE! A VOID OF IDENTITY, CAPABLE OF STEALING MY MOTHER'S TREASURED GIFTS!"
"But... you do have a face now..." Nik mumbled, unsure about Koh's obsession but he wasn't the one to judge about unhealthy obsessions.
'Use... Koh... against Koh...' Nik heard the voice as clear as day within himself once again and Koh suddenly stopped laughing.
"A spike of chi! Did it say how sorry it feels? Is Mokshi begging me to stop tormenting one of its many supposed lovers that I have devoured and will devour?" Koh inquired with a gleeful face this time as it moved around Nik.
Although momentarily dazed, Nik couldn't help but feel hesitant. With all the things he had witnessed, felt, and been subjected to, the possible solution cannot be this simple, right?
'It can't be... but... why do I feel so certain? Is it Mokshi? No... the solution is simply... classic.'
As Koh continued to move, Nik questioned, "If this cruiser would have killed you... what would have happened to Sokka? And where is he? Did you steal his face? Is he alive?"
Koh suddenly had the front portion of its body stop in front of Nik and changed its face to Sokka's.
"I'm Koh, the stealer of identities. Every face I steal, I steal their self. Their memories. Their desires. I know all about his regret. Poor boy didn't want to let you down once again after revealing your secrets to the Dai Li. Hilarious. He barely scratched the surface but he didn't let go, did he. Commendable, I felt. Stealing his face, I dropped him off where I picked him up."
"That doesn't answer my question!" Nik growled.
"Fine, fine," 'Sokka' sighed in exasperation, "Any individual's face I steal live in a state between life and death. They age like others and will die of natural causes... or if you stab them, you know. The perimeters are vague. However, kill me and all the people still living in this state will die, too!
You almost killed your friend, Nik! A loyal friend!"
Nik grew somber.
"I see..." he muttered, "Sokka, if there's any part of you still left... thank you. I... feel that you're the one person I would be able to share who I am for real this time. Thank you for not letting go... but sorry. I hope you forgive me for this."
"What—"
Koh frowned but 'Sokka's' eyes went into a daze as he was suddenly seeing his reflection into a beautiful mirror framed by beautiful golden plates carved with a picture of a luxurious pheasant over flowers.
This was one of the few treasures from Ukano's treasury that Nik stole...
It was poetic.
A stolen good used on a thief.
Koh's hold over Nik fell weak as he crumbled onto the ground and quickly reached out for his stick. He was bloody all over but Nik didn't dare let go of the mirror in his other hand and continued to keep Koh's gaze locked in.
Suddenly, Sokka's 'face' began to peel off of Koh's body. As grotesque as it looked, Nik was surprised to see that Sokka's face began to turn translucent with a golden glow.
Before Nik could consider if Sokka was dead or alive, the red devil face started to peel off, too.
Then the White-eyed Woman's face.
Then the raging blue demon's face.
Then a Chimpanzee's face.
Then a lizard's face that had a scar by its left eye.
Then a green phantom's face.
Then a three-eyed apparitions face.
Nik soon closed his eyes. While he may have gotten used to the process, the more he looked at the more horrifying faces that belonged better in some horror movies, he felt his own consciousness slipping and needed to focus. He was losing too much blood but if he let go now, something told him that it would be the end of him.
Koh or him.
Who would 'bleed' out to their death first?
***
Koh
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