The God of the Void entered the Realm of Death and in all his power felt like nothing compared to Death itself.

The God bowed before the Titan, not daring to look up at him.

If Death were to step on Earth his head would reach the sky and be grazing the stars above.

His face was a pure glistening black skull that absorbed all light it came into contact with and a black hood covered his head. The loose robe he wore was ancient as time itself and hung from his body like the sails from a ship. He sat on a throne built from the grey souls of the damned. His skeletal hand resting across his face as he looked down at the meek being that knelt before him. His silhouetted eyes had seen the rise and fall of every empire since the dawn of time.

Although he never grew tired of watching life unfold, Death longed for the day that he was no longer needed and could finally rest in the eternal slumber that he guided so many others to.

“Rise.” His voice was deep as the abyss and loud enough to shake the Earth.

The God stood while still bowing his head. “Why have you recalled me to this place, Grim.” The God spoke his voice through Shadow’s mouth.

Death laughed and it filled the God with dread. “I summoned the being in which you live in like a parasite, return control to him so that he and I may speak.”

Without hesitation, the God did as he was told and Shadow regained control of his body.

Shadow looked around the empty realm, it was similar to the God of the Void’s, but the Void always felt living and here there was nothing. The only presence he could feel was his own. Even Death’s presence was too much for him to comprehend.

Shadow looked up at the Titan and for the first time in his life he truly understood how insignificant he was. Seeing the Gods filled him with purpose, but seeing Death even made the Gods seem just as insignificant as him. That’s when Shadow finally understood what the God of the Void was trying to tell him.

“Do not fear me, human.” Death’s words were meant to calm Shadow, but Shadow couldn’t help but fall to his knees and shake uncontrollably.

The power that Death exuded felt crushing. ‘I apologize… uh your greatness. But my body doesn’t seem to be listening to me right now.’ Shadow’s words echoed from his mind into the world around him.

“That is expected, but please refrain from such unnecessary formalities. Call me Grim. Do you know why I have called you here? ”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Shadow fell to his hands and continued to shake, the weight of the pressure he felt was almost too much to bare. ‘I apologize… Grim… I do not.’

“Long ago I granted a hero with the gift of my essence, he then rose to become the God of the Void that you now know. Now it seems that he has found a worthy Hero as well, one who is utilizing my power in such a marvelous way. You are bringing peace in death to the thousands in your Legion of Fallen. Now I would like to grant you my boon as well. Not only will you have the full power of the Void at your disposal, but it will be amplified and become stronger than it has ever been. I only ask you do 2 things.” Grim leaned forward, his bones creaking and dust fell from him as I it were the first time he’d moved in a millennia.

Shadow couldn’t believe what he was hearing. ‘Anything within my power, I shall do for you.’ Shadow looked up at the face of Death and couldn’t help but get the sense he was smiling. It was making Shadow’s heart beat out of his chest.

“First, you will take the place of the God of the Void. He has endured undeath long enough and I would like to see him rest. Second, you must watch for calamity and stop it.”

‘Calamity?’ Shadow didn’t understand the vague request.

“Yes, I know better than anyone that all things must come to an end. Even I shall one day meet my end, there are 2 ways this may happen. One of which is Calamity, the arrival of a being so powerful that they strike down Life and Death. I would much prefer that this not happen.”

Shadow couldn’t believe that such a being would ever appear, one so strong that they can strike down this Titan.

“What is your decision?”

Shadow thought in silence for a moment, he didn’t know how he would be able to stop a being strong enough to kill Grim. But Grim wouldn’t be suggesting it if it was impossible for him to do so, which meant he was missing something.

‘You have my word, Grim. I will take the God of the Void’s mantle and I will stop Calamity.’

Grim let out another terrifying laugh. “Excellent.” He then pointed a boney finger at Shadow and used an extraordinary force to pull the God of the Void from his body.

The God of the Void stood before Shadow as he bowed, “Now it is my turn to have faith in you my Champion.”

Grim then snapped his fingers and a white spirit flew from the Celestial Void body and into nothingness.

The remaining Celestial Void then poured into Shadow’s mouth and merged with his spirit. Shadow was overcome with a new power and was now able to withstand Grim’s presence.

He stood and bowed before Death.

“Now receive my gift, Essence of Death.”

Grim opened the palm of his hand and a grey ghostly wisp burned into Shadow’s skin. His arms and legs all became a deep black and his blood turned to pure Celestial Void energy. His eyes were no longer a perfect black, his pupils had become a stark white in the center. Just how Jin had gained a blue glow, Shadow now had a darkness emanating from him.

He felt transcendent. “Thank you, Grim.” The former God of the Void’s whispered voice had now become his and he regained the ability of speech.

“Be well, I hope that you do not return to me for quite some time.”

Shadow could now sense the different realms and was able to create a portal from himself and return back to Earth.

As Shadow left and the portal closed, Grim returned to his original resting position and stared off into the nothingness.

“To stop Calamity…” He then laughed his horrific laugh one more time and it echoed into the eternal space.