My SSS-Rank Grim Reaper System-Chapter 46: You Can’t Leave Power in the Hands of a Child

Chapter 46: You Can’t Leave Power in the Hands of a Child

They ran for two full minutes, down marble hallways, around corners, putting distance between themselves and the throne room.

Finally, they reached a larger chamber, far from the Lich King.

They stopped, panting, checking behind them—

No sign of the hand.

"Did we... lose it?" Maya gasped.

"I think... so..." Raven replied.

Everyone collapsed against the walls, absolutely exhausted.

Alex held Grim (in his 80cm form, completely drained) in his arms.

"That was..." Alex struggled for words. "...the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen."

"Agreed," said Raven, wiping sweat from her forehead. "A living hand chasing me is... a new level of nightmare."

Maya started laughing—a hysterical laugh of relief and exhaustion.

"You kicked... you kicked a Reaper Fragment... What the hell is wrong with you?"

Despite everything, Raven laughed too. "I don’t know, it was survival instinct!"

Alex joined them, the tension finally breaking.

For two minutes, they just sat there, laughing nervously, releasing the stress of having nearly died multiple times.

Seraph, however, wasn’t laughing.

She stood slightly apart from the group, helmet still on, staring down the hallway they’d come from.

Silent.

Too silent.

"Seraph?" Maya looked at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Seraph replied, but her voice sounded... strange. Distant. "Just... thinking."

"About what?" Alex asked.

"About Fragment 3."

Seraph turned toward them, movements deliberately slow.

"It’s free now. Separated from the Lich King. Vulnerable."

"Yeah..." Alex wasn’t sure where she was going with this. "And?"

"And that means," Seraph continued, "someone could take it. Fuse with it. Gain its power."

Maya tensed. "Seraph... what are you suggesting?"

Seraph removed her helmet, revealing her face. Her expression was completely serious, her eyes cold and calculating.

"I’m suggesting," she said calmly, "that this is the perfect opportunity.

For ME to take Fragment 3."

Absolute silence.

"What?" Alex blinked. "Seraph, you already have Fragment 2. Two Fragments..."

"Would make me incredibly powerful," Seraph finished. "Yes. Exactly."

She turned fully toward them, one hand resting casually on her spectral scythe.

"Think about it. I’ve carried Fragment 2 for fifteen years. I know how to resist the corruption. If I add Fragment 3, I’ll have control over The Scythe AND The Hand. Power over death AND control over the undead."

"Seraph," Maya said slowly, standing up, "this isn’t part of the plan. We agreed Alex would take Fragment 3..."

"We agreed we’d obtain Fragment 3," Seraph corrected. "We never specified for whom."

Her eyes settled on Alex.

"No offense, Alex, but you’re nineteen. You’ve had Fragment 1 for barely three months. You’re already at 67% corruption with a single Fragment.

If you take a second one now, it would consume you. Or worse: you’d become a monster."

Alex stood up too, still holding Grim in his arms. "And you think you can handle it better."

"I know I can." Seraph’s voice was firm. "I’ve survived fifteen years with a Fragment. I know the techniques, the resistances, how to keep my humanity intact."

"Seraph," Raven spoke now, also standing, "are you listening to yourself? You’re talking about betraying the team..."

"It’s not betrayal if it’s for the greater good." Seraph cut her off. "Alex can continue with Fragment 1. I’ll take 2 and 3. Together, we can hunt the others. Power division. Safer for everyone."

"Except," Maya said coldly, "you’d have two out of seven. Majority control."

"And?" Seraph shrugged. "Would you trust the fate of the world to a nineteen-year-old who can barely control one Fragment? Or to someone with proven experience?"

Alex felt anger boiling inside him. "I thought we were a team. I thought we trusted each other."

"I trust you to do the right thing," Seraph said. "That’s why I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to take Fragment 3. You can keep 1. Everyone wins."

"Except your word," Raven spat. "That loses quite a bit of value."

Seraph sighed. "I’m sorry you see it that way. Truly."

She raised her spectral scythe.

"But I’m not going to let this opportunity pass."

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Everyone froze.

That sound.

The hand.

They turned: it was there, ten meters away, its fingers tapping on the floor.

Seraph smiled. "Perfect timing."

She turned toward the hand and began walking toward it.

"Fragment 3. I am the bearer of Fragment 2. We are compatible. Let’s fuse. Together we will..."

The hand ran.

But not toward Seraph.

Toward Raven.

"WHAT?!" Seraph spun, surprised.

The hand zigzagged at impossible speed, completely ignoring Seraph.

"NO!" Seraph lunged, trying to intercept it—

The hand leaped over her.

It landed and continued straight for Raven.

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" Raven backed away—

Maya tried to block with her [Ring of Fire] (no MP, just used her body)—

The hand dodged her.

Alex threw Grim forward—

The hand leaped over him.

Raven was cornered against the wall.

The hand, three meters away. Two meters. One meter...

Raven closed her eyes, arms raised in defense—

The hand LEAPED.

And fused with her chest.

[FRAGMENT 3 - FORCED FUSION WITH RAVEN INITIATED]

A brilliant green light EXPLODED from Raven, filling the entire room.

"RAVEN!" everyone shouted, shielding their eyes.

Raven screamed—not from pain, but from pure shock as massive energy flooded her body.

[Fusion: 10%... 30%... 50%...]

Her body began to change.

Her hair—once black and straight—began to glow, with crimson streaks appearing, waving, growing longer, more abundant.

Her skin glowed momentarily before settling into a perfect fair tone.

Her outfit—practical combat clothes—transformed.

Black and red fabric materialized, forming a fitted corset with lace details, an asymmetrical layered skirt, a flowing cape with a crimson lining.

Decorative silver chains wrapped around her waist.

High black stockings with garters appeared on her legs.

Shiny leather boots replaced her combat shoes.

And in her hand—materializing from pure energy—

A massive ornate scythe.

Curved silver blade, intricate gothic handle, as tall as she was.

[Fusion: 80%... 90%... 100%]

[FRAGMENT 3 - COMPLETE FUSION]

The light faded.

Raven stood—but she no longer looked like the Raven they knew.

[Raven - New Form]

Black hair with intense crimson-red highlights, wavy and abundant, falling to her waist. A fringe partially covering one eye.

Eyes—no longer ordinary brown—now bright emerald green, almost luminous.

Expression—confident, slightly playful, a subtle smile on her lips.

Full gothic attire: black corset, layered skirt, crimson cape, stockings with garters, shiny boots.

A stylish black beret had appeared on her head, with small metallic ornaments.

Red earrings hanging from her ears.

And the scythe—casually resting on her shoulder as she leaned against the wall like it was furniture.

For five full seconds, no one spoke.

Then Raven—or what had been Raven—opened her eyes.

She blinked.

Looked down at herself.

"...What the hell am I wearing?"

Her voice was the same, but it had a slightly more resonant quality.

Maya was the first to recover her voice. "Raven... is that... you?"

Raven raised her hands, studying them. Her right hand glowed with a green mark: the symbol of Fragment 3.

"I... I think so..." She touched her hair, feeling the new texture. "But I definitely didn’t dress like this this morning."

She lifted the massive scythe—which should have been too heavy—like it weighed nothing.

"And I definitely didn’t have this."

[System - Alert for Raven]

[Fragment 3: The Reaper’s Hand - FUSED]

[New Skill: Necromantic Mastery - Control all undead within 200m]

[New Skill: Death’s Army - Summon up to 500 undead simultaneously]

[New Skill: Soul Manipulation - Manipulate souls directly]

[WARNING: Soul Corruption beginning - 15%]

[Level: 44 → 52]

Raven read the system information, eyes wide.

"Okay... this is... a lot of power."

Seraph, who had been paralyzed by shock, finally exploded.

"NO! THAT FRAGMENT WAS MINE!"

She charged at Raven, spectral scythe raised—

Raven, acting on pure instinct, lifted her new scythe to block.

CLANG.

The two scythes clashed.

And to everyone’s surprise—including Raven’s own—

She matched Seraph.

Strength against strength.

"Wow," Raven breathed. "This is... incredible."

She pushed back, forcing Seraph to retreat two steps.

Seraph looked absolutely furious.

"Give it back! Give back the Fragment!"

"How?" Raven gestured at herself. "It’s fused with me! It’s not like I can just take it off!"

"Then I’ll extract it by force!"

Seraph charged again—

BOOM.

The ground shook violently.

Everyone staggered, losing their balance.

And then, a voice. Resonating throughout the entire castle.

"FRAGMENT... THREE... STOLEN... FROM... MY... BODY..."

The Lich King.

And he sounded furious.

"UNFORGIVABLE... COME BACK... HERE... ALL OF YOU... WILL PAY..."

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Massive footsteps. Approaching rapidly.

And not just the Lich King.

Dozens—no, hundreds of footsteps.

His undead army. All of them.

"Shit," Alex muttered. "He’s bringing everything."

Maya ran to the door, peeking down the hallway.

She went pale.

"Guys... we have a problem. A BIG one."

Everyone ran to look.

Down the hallway, approaching like a tide—

Skeletons. Hundreds of them.

Warriors, archers, mages. All level 40+.

And behind them, visible even from a distance—

The Lich King. Four meters tall. Obsidian armor. Missing his right arm, but still terrifying.

And furious.

"Okay," said Raven, her voice slightly higher from panic. "What do we do?"

"Run!" said Alex. "Definitely, run!"

"Where to?!" Maya shouted. "We’re in a dungeon! There’s only one exit!"

"Then let’s find another!" Alex spun, scanning—

And he saw stairs. Leading up.

"There! Stairs!"

Everyone ran toward them.

Seraph hesitated, looking between Raven (who had the Fragment she wanted) and the approaching army.

Finally, she cursed, sheathed her scythe, and ran after the group.

"This isn’t over!" she shouted at Raven as they ran.

"Focus on NOT DYING first!" Raven replied.

They climbed the stairs—thirty steps, forty, fifty.

Behind them, they heard the army enter the room they’d just left.

"FIND THEM! DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!" the Lich King roared.

Faster. They climbed faster.

Finally, they reached the top of the stairs.

A massive door. Ancient wood. With exit symbols carved into it.

"The exit!" Maya gasped.

Alex pushed against it—

LOCKED.

"NO!"

Seraph joined him, both pushing—

The door began to open. Slowly.

"Faster!" Raven urged, looking back.

She could hear the army climbing the stairs now.

Tap, tap, tap, tap of hundreds of bony feet.

The door opened enough for them to squeeze through.

Everyone crammed out—

And they emerged—

[EXIT FROM FALLEN CITADEL - GROUND LEVEL]

Sunlight. Real sunlight.

They had escaped the dungeon.

They were among the ruins at the entrance—outside the castle proper.

"We made it!" Maya gasped.

Everyone collapsed, breathing heavily.

For ten seconds, they just panted, savoring the fresh air.

Then—

"HALT! IN THE NAME OF THE CELESTIAL TEMPLE!"

Everyone froze.

They turned slowly.

And there, fifty meters away—

Twenty fully armored Paladins.

Ten Temple priests.

And leading them—

Valeria Kane.

In her full battle armor, sword drawn, a serious expression on her face.

"Alex Carter," she called, her voice magically amplified. "You have been declared a Class S Fugitive. You have two options: peaceful surrender or forced capture."

Alex stared at them, feeling hope sink in his chest.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Literally.

"Any ideas?" he whispered to his team.

"A few," Raven whispered back. "All of them terrible."

Seraph had put her helmet back on, hiding her face. She remained silent.

Then—

Valeria noticed something.

Her eyes widened slightly as she scanned the group.

She focused on Raven—specifically on the massive scythe she held, her transformed clothes, the aura of necrotic power emanating from her.

"...Fragment 3," Valeria said quietly. "You got it."

She tightened her grip on her sword.

"Who has it?"

Awkward silence.

Valeria looked from one to another—at Alex (with Fragment 1, obvious), then at Raven.

Her eyes settled on the glowing green mark on Raven’s hand.

"Oh no," Valeria murmured.

"Yeah," Raven said quietly. "It’s... a long story."

"Did you defeat the Lich King?" Valeria asked.

"Well, about that..." Alex began—

BOOM.

The castle, behind them, shook.

Everyone turned.

The castle doors—massive doors that had remained closed for decades—

Burst open.

And emerging from them—

The Lich King.

Four meters tall. His armor destroyed. Missing his right arm. His crown twisted.

But his eyes... burned with absolute green fury.

And behind him—

His entire army.

Five hundred skeletons. A hundred Death Knights. Twenty lesser liches.

All marching in formation.

The Lich King raised his remaining arm (the left), pointing directly at them.

"FRAGMENT... THREE... RETURN IT... OR... DIE..."

Valeria blinked.

She looked at the Lich King.

She looked at Alex and his group.

She looked back at the Lich King.

"...You didn’t defeat him," she said flatly.

"Well, he’s like this from the accumulated rage of being manipulated by a Fragment," Alex excused.

Valeria stared at him more intensely. That wasn’t the answer she expected.

"No, we didn’t," Alex admitted.

Valeria sighed—a long, long-suffering sigh.

"Of course you didn’t."

The Lich King began advancing, his army moving with him.

A tide of undead, rolling forward like an avalanche.

Valeria made a decision in half a second.

She turned to her paladins.

"Battle formation! Priority: contain the Lich King!"

She turned to Alex.

"You! And your group! RUN! Now!"

"What?" Alex blinked.

"I’ll arrest you LATER! First let’s survive the furious Lich King! NOW, RUN!"

He didn’t need to be told twice.

Alex, Raven, Maya, and—after a moment’s hesitation—Seraph, started running.

Toward the forest bordering the ruins.

Away from the castle.

Away from the Lich King.

Away from the Temple.

Just... away.

As he ran, Alex looked back once.

He saw Valeria and her paladins charging at the undead army.

He saw the Lich King roar, raising a massive spell.

He saw all the chaos erupt.

Then he turned forward and ran faster.

Behind them, they heard:

BOOM. CRASH. EXPLOSIONS.

The battle had begun.

But it was no longer their battle.

For now—they just ran.

Deeper and deeper into the forest.

Away from everything.