I Refused To Be Reincarnated

"Let go of me, insect! Let go! LET GO!"

Gaston's soul-freezing roar filled the shop, blasting a shockwave in the surroundings. The windows vibrated, the flasks fell from the shelves, breaking into multi-colored glistening shards, and dust billowed in a swirling waltz around the two ghosts.

The dull sound of terrifying headbutts accompanied his words as he struck with all his might at his adversary.

Adam's flickering frame lost substance and turned more and more transparent gradually. Yet, his jaws were like the vicious maws of an alligator refusing to let go of their prey.

'How did I end up in this state? Against this trash? HOW?!'

Gaston's thoughts thundered in his mind, his face deformed into that of a demon, and his soul trembled in unbridled rage.

Would his sixteen years of manipulation and planning end up useless? All because of a stubborn ghost who refused to die no matter what he did?

Why? Why was this happening? Even with the help of this accursed spear, he should have given up or died much earlier. Why was he still trying so hard to defy him?

His questions struck his mind like hammers. For the first time, he failed to understand someone's motivations.

Each second crawling by became torture for both his mind and soul. The odour of dust filled his nose as he kept striking with relentless abandon.

Would he really lose? Him? The undefeated Gaston?

"I REFUSE! LET ME GO, TRASH!"

Gaston snapped after realising they would both die at this rate. The ferocity of his blows doubled, and the wooden floor cracked as he bombarded Adam.

Meanwhile, Adam's mind was as calm and peaceful as a pound.

'Theodore, annoying old dog, watch as I avenge your death... Sadly, I'll join you soon.'

He had already accepted his inevitable demise and used his brief remaining time to think about the people who cared for him.

'Julius, stupid boy, be happy and live your life for the both of us.'

A subtle smile graced his lips, and his sad heart warmed a little as the boy's image flashed in his mind. With everything he taught him, he didn't doubt he would become one of the strongest individuals in this world. Maybe he would even marry at some point and have children... but he wouldn't be there to see...

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A bitter feeling soon settled over him. What a pity... He still had so much to discover in this magic world.

His eyes narrowed into slits the next moment as a swirling vortex of violence and madness filled their depth.

'As for you, let's keep dancing in hell for eternity. We can even invite the bear! HAHAHA!'

Unwavering defiance burned in his eyes, overpowering the spreading corruption of madness before it could devour his mind.

He bit harder on Gaston's neck, drinking more of his essence, already numb to the disgusting sensation he felt. In fact, he couldn't feel anything, and his ears couldn't perceive the vibration in the air anymore. His eyes failed to reflect the sunlight, too. Yet, his resolve didn't falter. Millimeter by millimeter, his teeth sunk into Gaston's neck.

"Stop! Stop. stop... st..."

Gaston's screams grew weaker, turning into murmurs before stopping entirely. His onslaught stopped as well as his head sagged to the side powerlessly.

'I can't die. I have a destiny to follow, grand ambitions, and the strength to carry them.'

Yet, his spectral body began to flicker the next second, showing that his soul started to collapse.

As his body became less and less corporeal, he asked himself one last question: What if he lived an honest life?

His mind wandered into unexplored lands as he imagined how he could have enrolled in the academy, progressed through the tiers and helped his father rule the barony. Then, he would have married, making his mother shed tears of joy before becoming an adept or arcanist.

'Heee? What a boring life. If I could restart again, I wouldn't change anything!'

In the face of death, his lips curled into his malevolent smile one last time.

As Gaston's frame disappeared, Adam lost his support and fell to the ground. Despite his collapsing soul, a triumphant smile graced his lips.

"I knew... I could be... the best ghost hunter... if I wanted to."

His voice, a rugged echo, escaped his lips with difficulty before his last bit of control over his soul left him.

'I... protected... you...'

With this last thought, his luminous eyes dimmed, and the twirling mist enveloping his soul disintegrated a little more with each passing second.

******

"Sigh. You always have to overdo things, right?"

A voice, a chilling echo of Adam's, sliced through the fading mist as the mysterious copy pushed himself off the ground.

"What should I do with you? You are six years early..."

His brows furrowed in annoyance. He was not ready yet.

"Ah! I know! Didn't you absorb a lot of ghost essence?"

His voice sounded strangely proud about his own idea as he raised his nose with a smug smile.

He placed his hand on Adam's dissipating soul, sent a mix of mana and pure soul energy into it and blended them with Gaston's ghost essence. A colorful festival of particles exploded around him as he worked for a moment.

"Argh..."

After imbuing ten percent of his own soul, he groaned in pain, retrieving his shaking hand.

"I can't do more without ruining everything..."

His voice echoed weakly as he shook his head in disappointment. Adam couldn't die before the faithful day.

"Rest well. You deserve it."

With those words, he shook the chain binding them, throwing Adam out of Julius' soul sea into the real world.

Finally, he sat back by the library, his eyes fixed on empty air as his fingers moved with precisions on... something.

******

Julius tapped his foot on the ground, waiting for the last battle's result and praying for his big brother to emerge as the victor.

Unfortunately, he couldn't help. Well, at least he used the Beastbane Dagger lying on the ground to loosen the chains before it disappeared. After a bit of effort, he finally freed himself, yet all his thoughts were turned to his brother.

"I promise I'll become strong enough to help you. So, please, don't lose, big bro."

He muttered, hope swelling in his heart like a lighthouse keeping despair away.

At the same time, Adam's ethereal body suddenly flew out of his and floated like a stiff corpse above his head.

"Big bro!"

He jumped in delight, relief flowing onto his weary nerves in a soothing stream.

However, his joy was short-lived as he quickly noticed his brother's terrible state.

A silent tear rolled down his cheek as he hugged Adam's faint body in his trembling hands.

"Thank you..."

A complex expression mixing relief, worry, sadness, and joy veiled his face. His family and friends could, at least, rest in peace. But at what price?

But he couldn't doubt in these times of incertitude. He had to move onwards and protect him until he awakened. Fortunately, he knew his enemies thanks to the hateful Gaston: the Ashford duchy.

"Rest well. I'll take care of the rest."

Determination burned in his eyes as the noise of his firm steps echoed in the cave.

"Sorry mama... We won't see each other for a moment." Julius muttered sadly before disappearing amidst the forest trees.

*********

Meanwhile, Adam remained unconscious in his apartment. No one knew when he would wake up. Yet, the system's notifications rang one after another.

[Tier 2 Mythic Boss: Gaston, The Uncrowned Arcane Sovereign, defeated. You have gained 4000 experience points.]

[Boss vanquished while being at a much lower level, xp+100%]

[Material detected in Soul Sea. Soul bind available, proceed? Yes/No]

"..." "..." "..."

[Cursed material bound: Gaston's Malevolent Eye]

End of Volume 1.

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AN: Thank you for reading the story so far. I hope you enjoyed it and are excited to start the second volume!

Feel free to leave a review and comments to share your thoughts. It really helps me to improve the story.