A Reaper's Philosophy-Chapter 67: Death

"We’re all going to die. There’s a reason they only send people like us here." The chubby host solemnly said.

"This isn’t a mission... it’s an execution." I said to myself as I watched the hosts above the wall desperately launch long range attacks at the poisonous cloud.

Some of their attacks would pass right through the cloud and others would get absorbed into it. The cloud slowly approached the wall and a few Ordinary Hosts had their life forces slowly drained away by the poisonous cloud. The cloud was still a thousand miles away and yet, their life forces drained ever so slowly. One would have to concentrate really hard to actually notice.

’Why won’t it just absorb all the attacks, but lets some of them pass through?’ I began to think to myself.

All kinds of attacks were launched towards the poisonous cloud, mental attacks, elemental attacks, soul based attacks, barriers were placed up, etc. and it absorbed them all, but only one kind of attack was being avoided.

’Ice.’ I thought to myself. "So, you don’t like the cold..." I said out loud.

"Everyone, go help with the evacuation! If everyone is out of harm’s way, then there is no reason to hold back the cloud! I will remain and hold it off!" I shouted.

Commotion then began to break amongst the 50 or so hosts above the wall. They all looked at me like I was crazy.

"Isn’t he just an Ordinary Cultivator?"

"A junior just wanting to show off."

"Who does he think he is ordering around?"

I began to wonder why any of them don’t just choose to run away.

"Gen, why won’t they run?" I asked.

"The emblems we recieve in sects are also a soul tie. If they were to desert, the sect can kill them from anywhere they may run off to. You need power in at least the Legendary Realm to break the soul tie.

"I see..." I said then faced the group of hosts.

"You will still accomplish your mission without having to throw away your lives If I remain!" I added.

"He does have a point."

"If we save everyone then so long as there’s one of us up here. We could still report back and get a pass."

The hosts above the wall then reached a conclusion and all began to leave and evacuate people from the nearby towns. It was now only Lilith, Gen, and I left above the wall.

’I wonder why they all couldn’t just run away.’ I thought to myself.

"What are you doing?" Gen asked worriedly.

"Like I said, I will hold off the cloud and you guys evacuate the people." I said to him.

"Tailed Lilith, we may have been a little over our head here...just a little." I said to the tailed Lilith as I kept on the half black, half white mask on.

"Mayhaps..." She responded as we both stared at Death slowly approach us.

After a while, it started to feel as though Death was staring back.

"I am not leaving you here alone. You are technically my responsibility. I don’t like you all that much, but I won’t just leave you here to die." Gen said.

"You’re more earnest than I gave you credit for." I said to Gen.

"Gen, you won’t go with me?" Lilith asked Gen with a pouting face.

"I will follow you anywhere my queen." Gen immediately answered.

"Good luck Grayson." Gen said as he firmly shook my hand with a smile.

"It will be really pathetic if you get defeated by a creature called Death." The tailed Lilith said to me.

"I won’t lose." I said to her then dropped from the wall and sprint towards the poisonous cloud.

I was now a few hundred miles away from the massive poisonous cloud as I stood to face it. I could now clearly see it as it stripped away all signs of life, leaving a path of nothing, but death in its wake.

A name, highlighted in black appeared in front of the poisonous cloud.

{!!!}

"Death, both names suit you." I said then dashed directly into the poisonous cloud.

"Soul-cold." A voice that sounded like that of an injured ghost came from within the cloud.

"Which one, your soul or mine?" I asked amusingly.

I then took off the mask I wore and took in a deep breath.

’If I can take the poisons within this cloud into my body, perhaps I’ll be able to jump start the dark cloud within me.’ I thought to myself.

The cloud then seeped into my body like a cold air. As it circulated within my body, it began to burn away my lungs. My skin began to burn off as well, all around my body, and everything else within me was in utter agony.

(Grrnn!!)

I held back my scream in pain as I collapsed to my knees. The cloud then slowly began seeping into my soul and began to burn it away as well. Multiple cracks appeared within my soul.

The pain was excrutiating. I could feel my life force slipping away. Just when I was at my limit...

"Mas-ter?" The ghostly voice spoke once more. Immediately after, thousands of lifetimes worth of memories, that were not my own, began to flood my brain. Throughout this rush of memories, a deep, mysterious voice spoke through my mouth.

"It’s not you that he is talking to." The voice said.

It was my mouth that mattered the words, but it was not me who said them. It was me, but it wasn’t.

"Who are you?" I said.

"I am you." We said in unison.

My consciousness slowly began to slip away as I felt my body stand back up. It didn’t feel wrong. It felt like this was how I was meant to be. The last emotion I felt from myself, before my consciousness completely merged with this other familiar consciousness, was extreme joy.

"DEEEAATH! JUST LOOK HOW WEAK YOU HAVE GOTTEN HAHAAA!" Grayson screamed out loud in joy.

"HEEEEH, NOT AS WEAK AS YOUR PATHETIC BODY MASTER!" The ghostly voice reciprocated.

Death then immediately rushed into Grayson’s body and was slowly being absorbed into him.

{Dark Cloud is now active.}

Death then began to mend and refine Grayson’s body and soul. The cracks within his soul began to heal and disappear and his body slowly became reinforced. There was no longer any burn marks on his body. In fact, his body now looked completely new. As if someone took the time to perfectly sculpt each muscle.

The golden strands on Grayson’s hair increased and became longer as his entire body began to radiate power.

{Updating Stats...}

{Cloud Warp (Lv. 1)} (Unlocked)(Max Lv.3)

{Cloud Manipulation (Lv. 1)} (Unlocked)(Max Lv.3)

{Eyes of Samsara (Lv. 1)} (Unlocked)(Max Lv.3)

{Cloud Synchronization (5%)}

{...}

A series of messages began to appear in front of Grayson, but he completely ignored them as all his focus was directed to his unlikely reunion with Death.

"I don’t know how you’re here little one, but I sure am glad you didn’t die. I should have known you wouldn’t die so easily. We worried for nothing." Grayson said to Death.

’Master...there’s something wrong with your soul. It seems like you’re not fully here yet.’ The ghostly voice sounded in Grayson’s head.

It sounded much livlier than before.

"Yes, I’ve been popping in and out of consciousness for the past few years. I couldn’t quite get a hold onto a state of consciousness. Our bodies were too different before now. This is the first time I truly feel awake. Leave it to you to bring me back, haha." Grayson said.

"Those fucking gods are going to pay for what they did." Grayson added as he clenched his fist tightly.

A murderous black aura rose 50 feet high from his body, then disappeared just as quickly as it came.

"Where are we even?" Grayson asked out loud.

’I believe we are in a planet called Evnoia. ’ Death answered Grayson.

"I could tell that much from these annoying messages, but when are we? How long has it been?" Grayson asked.

’I am not sure.’ Death replied.

"Can you take on your original form?" Grayson rose another question.

’You know my original form would tear this universe apart. Unfortunately, I can’t even take on a physical form right now. I assume I will be able to once our synchornization reaches 10%.’ Death said to Grayson.

"We will see how we can increase that, let’s go for now. I sense a familiar presence." Grayson said then immediately appeared above the wall where the 50 or so cultivators once stood in defense.

He then began to appear and disappear in different locations, as if he were looking for something.

’My senses are still a little off.’ Grayson thought to himself.

"Why are all these towns so empty? Were they running away from you?" Grayson asked.

"I am death. Of course they would run." Death said smugly.

"In that form? My fingernail could crush you, HAHAHA....but hey, you’re not death. That’s only a name those assholes gave you so they wouldn’t die. No one else other than me and Lilith can say your name without dying. Still, this stand in name is cool and all, but it does not define you." Grayson said to seriously.

’I would have devoured your whole body if I hadn’t recognized you.’ Death retorted.

"Pleeease my piss would have been a greater threat than-," Grayson began to say but then got cut off.

"Grayson? Who are you talking to? Listen, my cloud has been acting up. Whatever was in that poison has affected me as well and..." Lilith started to say after appearing behind me with her tail wrapped around Gen.

"Lilith..." Grayson said longingly.

A warm and gentle smile appeared on Grayson’s face.

Lilith then immediately jumped back and took a defensive stance.

"Who are you?" Lilith asked in a hostile manner.

"I’m Grayson, the same Grayson you’ve always known. The same Grayson that knows that when you get horny you use your tail to-" Grayson said to Lilith before being cut off.

"Okay okaaay, I believe you." Lilith quickly interrupted.

"Umm, what do you do with your tail? I’m not prying or anything. I’d just like to know, since you know, it’s literally wrapped around my body right now...not that I’m complaining." Gen said still bound by Lilith’s tail.

Lilith then threw Gen to the side with disgust as Grayson began to walk towards Lilith.

"You look...different." Lilith said as she stared at me from top to bottom.

"I feel different. You are just as beautiful as I last saw you." Grayson said as he stopped Lilith from talking with a grab of her waist.

His hand slowly brushed across her tail as he lift up her chin.

"Even your aura is kind of differen-oup," Lilith attempted to say then gasped.

Grayson pulled Lilith closer, by her waist, then kissed Lilith’s lips passionately.

"What’s happening here?" Gen asked out loud.