A Reaper's Philosophy-Chapter 58: By A Thread

Half of Armando’s head was blow off. However, the grip he had around Dunamis’ hand never lessened even slightly. In fact, it only got tighter.

Dunamis tried to remove his hand once more, but it wouldn’t budge.

Armando then struggled to say, "You-are-no-king."

Dunamis then swiftly swung his arm upward, slicing Armando in half. The swing ripped Armando’s arms off their sockets as they continued to grab tightly on Dunamis’ hand.

Dunamis used a power to burn off the hands clutching on his arm. Arcs of purple lightning sparked all over Armando’s tattered body. With a heavy thump, his body dropped to the floor. It then began to slowly break down into black and purple dust that blew away in the wind.

"(Tsk), they managed to escape, but he won’t last long. It’s only a matter of time until the reaper of prophecy dies." Dunamis said, then flew off.

The tailed Lilith continued to run with me in her arms. She ran as fast as her fractured ankle could take her and did not dare to stop. She knew exactly what would happen when she saw Armando stand in Dunamis’ way.

She knew that Armando wouldn’t be able to hold him back for long, so she couldn’t stop running in case Armando got one shotted and Dunamis caught up to them. She ran all the way past the wasteland and was met with a mighty forest. The trees comprising the forest stood hundreds of meters tall, some even reaching a thousand.

With the cover of the forest the tailed Lilith felt a little more at ease, but she still didn’t dare to stop running. 2 days later, she was past the forest and was now in an icy field with snowy mountains that could be vaguely seen in the distance.

After half a day’s travel, it seemed like the mountains weren’t getting any closer, it was only until the next day, did she finally arrive where the mountains stood. The mountains stood even taller than the trees with half of them being covered by clouds. The tailed Lilith then ventured through the mountains and found a cave nearby.

She lay my body on the ground tried to do something about my injuries. After looking at me, she didn’t even know where to start. There was blood everywhere, on her back as well.

A normal person would have died a hundred times over with such injuries, but being a reaper reinforced by the souls of 4 reapers, my body was not normal. Even with my organs damaged, my life force was still there, but it was fading.

I was hanging on to dear life by a thread.

2 days ago on earth:

"Master..." Axelia murmured beneath her birth.

"A strange phenomenon has been occurring all around the world for the past hour. The dead are not staying dead. A similar phenomenon, just like this one, happened over 3 years ago, where people all around the world, who were supposed to have died, came back to life.

Each of the victims stated that they could feel their soul come out of their bodies then quickly get dragged back.

In this time of chaos, there is but one question on everyone’s mind.... What is Grayson planning this time; what does "Death" have instore for us? This is Tracy Galivant, signing out." A blond, female, news reporter was speaking on the TV Elaine was watching.

Her face looked solemn and her eyes looked like tears threatened to come out as she delivered the events happening all around the world.

’What should I do? I can feel the Master is dying, I need to be by his side, but he had strictly told me not to leave Wendelyne’s side. I should obey, that’s all I can do. I will not do the same mistake twice, or else, he will not have any more use for me.

However, the shadow pawns should be enough. Now that Master has grown stronger, the shadows have gained more intelligence. They can’t communicate, but they can perform tasks beyond escorting souls and can take orders as well...’ Axelia began to think as she debated whether to leave the Earth like the other shadows did, or obey my last command to her and stay by Elaine’s side.

For the past two days, each shadow pawn, from every planet that I had conquered, was now racing towards Evnoia, Dunamis’ planet. Instinct told them that my life was in danger, so, they tried relentlessly to get through the force field around Evnoia. Unfortunately, they were repelled by it.

Many of them even died after being sucked into the unstable spacial rifts around Dunamis’ solar system. As for the ones who made it, they simply weren’t strong enough to pass through Dunamis’ force field, some were even killed by it.

However, that didn’t stop them. The shadows continued to cover a portion of the force field, trying to get through, making it look like a big black spot in the sky, if one was to look up from the ground.

Axelia had obviously taken note of all the shadow pawns leaving earth and decided if she couldn’t aid in her master’s recovery, then she would help deal with the chaos on Earth. Axelia then revealed herself before Elaine for the first time.

"What the heck!" Elaine exclaimed out loud.

"Who are you? Wh-what are you?" Elaine asked with a stutter.

"I am the shadow Axelia, I was assigned by the master to protect you, so I need to take you somewhere secure for now." Axelia said respectively to Elaine.

"The master? Do you mean Grayson?" Elaine asked.

Axelia then nodded at her as a reply.

"What’s happening right now? Why aren’t people dying? What’s Grayson doing?" Elaine asked Axelia.

"Grayson’s life is in danger. The shadow pawns, who’s only job is to deliver souls to the afterlife, have all left the Earth to go and help with his recovery. For now, I just need to take you to a safe location so I can do whatever I can to assist the master as well." Axelia said solemnly.

"Grayson is dying? Impossible! He is death, what can possibly threaten his life?" Elaine asked refusing to believe Axelia’s words.

"It’s the truth. Why would I lie?" Axelia said then proceeded to quickly pack all of Elaine’s belongings and food.

"We need to go, now!" Axelia said to Elaine holding 3 suitcases.

"Alright, let me just call Ace real quick and let him know what’s happening." Elaine said.

"Do it on the way." Axelia said then grabbed Elaine and sped all the way to Africa to an island called Mbudya.

Mbudya was a common hotspot for tourists and citizens alike, with its beautiful beach and clear waters. However, ever since the pandemic struck, no one had been going there and was now a beautiful dead zone.

Axelia then dropped Elaine on the beach along with her belongings. She quickly scouted the island for any threats or signs of life and concluded that they were alone. As Axelia was doing that, Elaine was busy barfing out her breakfast as she was not used to moving at such speeds.

"I need to go now, you should find shelter." Axelia said to Elaine.

"You can’t just leave me here alone!" Wendelyne shouted at Axelia.

Axelia then quickly sped to Ace, grabbed him, then brought him to the island as well.

"There, now you’re not alone." Axelia said then flew away, leaving a shocked Elaine and a barfing Ace on the island. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Umm... what’s going on?" Ace asked Elaine feeling more confused than ever.

"I’ll do whatever I can for the master from here." Axelia said as she began to fly all around the world. For the next two days, Axelia went around the world taking one soul at a time to the afterlife.

With that, the chaos on Earth began to lessen as people began to notice the dead slowly started to stay dead.

’It has been 2 days now, but the master still isn’t recovering. What are these pawns doing? The master’s life is still in danger and it is only getting worse. I need to see the master’s situation for myself, but I cannot leave Elaine unprotected. What should I do?’ Axelia went into deep thought as she threw yet another soul into the abyss.

She then headed back to Mbudya to consult and check on Elaine.

"Elaine." Axelia said hovering above Elaine and Ace lying on the beach.

"Is everything okay now?" Elaine asked Axelia.

Axelia then slowly descend to the ground and solemnly said, "No."

"Master is dying, and I want to go help him, but he has strictly told me to protect you and never to leave your side. I’m not quite sure what I should do." Axelia said to Elaine.

"You should obviously go." Elaine said to her.

"What about you?" Axelia asked.

"Grayson will always think I need to be protected, that will never change. What can change are his chances of surviving if you go, yes? I’m here with Ace, we will be fine. So, go!" Elaine said calmly.

Axelia then nodded her way and flew up at her top speed.

’He doesn’t have long, I must hurry!’ Axelia thought as she rushed to my side.