“You…survived?!
“It can’t be helped. Also, sorry to disappoint you but I don’t react to pain too much…”
“No! You… you cheated?! You… You also powered up!”
“Oh, my… you already noticed it?
666 Kills
The voice inside my head told me of a certain condition. It seems that I just acquired my 666th kill just now. The only one I killed is Kran but, it’s without a doubt, that he is still alive.
But right now, even though I unlocked a new power…
It’s still unknown to me. In the short time, Kran is confused and trying to figure out what happened, I have to think what kind of additional abilities I gained.
I should stop monologuing like this.
The first clue that I can think up is it has something to do with my new altered body… a reaper. I should also factor the fact that I am lazy…this is important.
The second clue is that--!
SWISH!
“You are thinking of something! I know it! Geniuses and talented people like you always think how they will take advantage!”
“Tsk, you are annoying…”
As I dodge Kran’s attacks, I noticed something.
Life…
Death…
Balance…
I am not sure myself if my sense became stronger than before or not but, I can feel everything alive and dead around me if I focus myself to notice them.
Plants, animals, beasts, and even people.
Everything around me is oozing with life and death lingers everywhere together with it. As I look at Kran, he is brimming with life.
All of the life that was clumping on him are all foreign. I can hear voices from these souls that was cluttering inside him.
Men…
Women…
Elderly…
Young…
A cry of a newborn also resounds with them…
And now, I just realized what kind of power I just got and what it means to have it. It also showed me Kran’s secret.
This truth that I discovered led me to hate Kran to the deepest pit of my existence.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Hey! Who do you think you are ignoring me?!”
“…”
“This Kran here will teach you how to respect!”
“[Mortem]”
As I spoke of those word toward Kran whose about to use my skill against myself, he falls lifelessly to the ground as if a puppet whose string got cut.
I just stand motionless as I stare down at him.
And…
I was crying…
My tears…are blood.
In an instant, Kran stood up as if nothing happened to him. He cautiously steps back away from me as an unknown attack killed him in an instant while glaring at me. He tries to make a considerable distance away from me as he thinks that I am using something to kill him within a range of my skill.
“Bastard! Bastard! You just have to power up in the middle of the fight! You’re a cheater! What hell was that?!”
“[Mortem]”
Once again, Kran fell to the ground limply as life was cut off from him. And the same thing happened, he just stands up like nothing happened but now, his alertness is somewhat shows in his face.
“…”
“Kran, I already know about your endless life.”
“…”
“You shitpile of a creature… you are also stealing… people’s life… and use them to keep yourself alive when you are killed. I saw every life you have stolen. You never choose whose life it is. Your only concern is your own interest.”
Sickening…
Truly Sickening…
I’ve been killing people myself for as long as I can remember… but...people like Kran…is just pure evil. His pursuit, his desire, his drive, and everything are the only important figures for him. His envy far more sinister one could fathom.
I don’t want to become someone like him.
………
I see…
It seems…I am able to understand…the value of life a little.
But right now, these trapped souls needed to be freed.
What am I doing and how will I do it?
Simple…
I can now directly distort someone’s body part…or more…their soul…
I snap Kran’s neck twice now and he hasn’t realized it yet. Even if he does, it may be too late for him. But this skill is purely magic and needed a strong concentration to do so depending on the target.
In Kran’s case, it feels like I am just tapping him.
He doesn’t have any magic resistance at all. It may not even affect people with a strong will or people who are stronger than me… this is just a theory with seventy-five percent probability.
“Well then Kran, are you ready? I am going to give you a good beating.”
“Don’t joke with me! I shall know what the hell are you doing and I am going to kill you! I will not spare your soul. I am going to destroy it too!”
“I see. Do you have enough life stocked up, Arcana of Envy?”
“Haaaaaa!!!”
.
.
.
“[Mortem]”
“Uggghhhh….”
“[Mortem]”
“Arrckkk…”
“[Mortem]”
“Kuhhh….”
We’ve doing this for an hour now.
Mortem’s effectiveness is lessening each time I use it to him. It seems that he is developing or trying to resist it through sheer will power.
There were times that we would engage in a close combat as he eventually resisted one or two Mortem. But as he resists it, I always put on extra power to it and now…
“I can’t believe that I was just being played like this…”
“Ohh… your face says that your stock is running out.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I shall reap everything at once so stay still.”
“You… who the hell are you?!”
“…Introductions…are troublesome.”
I manifested the make-shift sword which is dusty black in color. It’s thin and long with only one edge that can cut. The sword I usually use in Totsuka no Tsurugi.
I still haven’t explored much on my new found power but I cannot afford to let this guy live.
As I stances preparing to cut him down altogether with the remaining souls inside him, he pulled out a blue stone from his pocket… and throws it down creating something…
That’s…
“[Totsuka no Tsuru--!]”
I was too late.
I only cleave at nothing.
“I will remember you. I am going to hunt you down! I will take your power!”
Is what he said in a soft and fleeting whisper out of thin air…
A few more… and I have failed…
………
Oh…
It seems that I didn’t completely miss my attack earlier…
…......
……
…
Susanoo’s story ended in a really vague detailed about his battle against Kran.
In the end, he wasn’t able to kill him…
Wait…
“Susanoo… the voice in your head…can you still talk to it?”
“No…I don’t want to either.”
“Haaa…then…did you even bother to ask his name or the name of his daughter?”
“No…too bothersome…”
“…”
“He wants me to do something for him. I am thankful for his help but, it’s just creepy knowing someone is inside you.”
“…”
“Also, why did he chosen me? You would have been a better candidate, Ichirou.”
“Ahahaha…you are even trying to pass responsibilities to others…”
Well, even I would think it’s creepy to know someone is living inside you so I think I’ll have to pass being a vessel of whoever that is.
What I know now is that Susanoo is in pursuit of missing Asagao.
Asagao, even though, a child, is someone I can talk openly and honestly. There’s only a fact that I don’t want to be seen talking alone with her as I don’t want to people to misunderstand us.
………
This is bad… I remembered that time when I saw her in the bath.
Damn it Ichirou! She’s just a child! Why did your nose bleed that time?! Why is she even there in the first place?!
“OH… Ichirou…there’s one more thing…”
“?”
“When Kran escaped…I was able to acquire this…”
KA-CHING
Susanoo drops a bag of purse…
That’s a lot of gold…
“Wait…you are saying…you stole this from him?”
“Stealing is a harsh word. He just forgot it.”
“…Come to think of it…do you drink liquors, Susanoo?”
“Hmm? I do.”
“…”
“I’ll buy you an expensive drink, just give me a lift on your back.”
“Negotiation complete…”
What are we even doing…
After letting the night pass, we continued to travel as sun rises.
I am not really getting sleepy neither I think I need it anymore but, of course, Susanoo is here so it was obvious that we would camp.
And today, I am carrying him on my back as part of our conversation last night…
……..
What the hell…
It feels weird carrying someone taller than you in your back.
Anyway, I started to run as Susanoo continues his sleep on my back. I am getting chills in my spine…
………
After running for an hour….
We spotted our first town in this continent.
But…
I wake up Susanoo to let him know.
…
The townspeople are evacuating…