XV | THE REAPER LURKS BEHIND

The sky was black and purple, and the explosions on the other side was dimmed. The air was filled with the smell of smoke and the taste of ash. Li Xin’s face was twisted with pain, as if he had been stabbed in the gut. He knelt down and touched the earth, feeling its tremors. He swung his right arm and tensed his muscles, as he strapped Aegis to his back. Then his face grew worse as he sensed a disturbance at his side. A shadow loomed over him, but it was swiftly cut down by a man with a scythe, who scattered the winds with the blade. Li Xin dashed backwards, turned, and faced the man.

“…you are!” Li Xin’s eyes squinted, then widened, as he realized who he was facing. “Hasaishin… the Grudge of Twin Jewels, the Crow of Hamas.” He swallowed hard as he recognized the scythe in his hand. It was the Reaper of Antara, the weapon that had reaped countless devils. He knew it well, for he was a learned man, well-versed in the lore of warriors. He backed away fifty paces as he felt the tension between the Conqueror and Hasaishin.

Hasaishin’s eyes were dark and narrow, set deep in his skull. His hair was black and coarse, falling back from his forehead in stiff locks.

Hasaishin leaned the scythe on his shoulder, and looked at the Conqueror with a cold stare. He had heard Li Xin’s words, but they meant nothing to him now. He was no longer those, but a father. And Li Xin’s words had stirred up old wounds that he had tried to forget. His face showed a scornful sneer, as if to say: Tch.

The title of the Grudge of the Twin Jewels had haunted him for years. It was the reason he had given up, and become a sect master. He had hoped to find peace and happiness with his daughter, but fate had other plans. Today was supposed to be a day of leisure in another country, a day to buy flowers and enjoy the sun. But then the explosions had shattered the air, and he had rushed to help the common folk flee to a safer place. And when he had returned, he had found two demigods wreaking havoc, with no one to stop them.

He gazed at the Conqueror, a monstrous sight. His skin was a pale crimson, like blood diluted with water. His flesh was rocky and black, like coal. His wings were gray and dusty, like ash. His single eye was a web of veins, like a spider’s nest. His horns sprouted from every joint and shoulder, like spikes. His head had two horns, like a devil’s. His wings were wide and spread, like a bat’s.

They both stood still, tense, and ready.

The Conqueror tore towards Hasaishin with a tremor and charged a fist towards him. Hasaishin dodged and spun with a cleaving Reaper towards the Conqueror, cutting him slightly on his left wing. The Conqueror screamed and swiped his hand towards him, knocking him to the ground. Hasaishin quickly got up and raised the scythe, swinging it down.

Hasaishin pulled a small dagger out of his belt and ran towards the Conqueror, plunging it into his chest as it roared in pain and screamed fire as Hasaishin was quick.

Hasaishin dodged another Conqueror’s fist, as it smashed into the ground, creating a crater. He felt the shockwave in his bones, and the dust in his lungs. He ran towards it, climbing onto its arm. He swung the Reaper, aiming for his neck, but the Conqueror moved his head, and the blade only lacerated a half of its jaw. The Conqueror swatted Hasaishin by his waist, and threw him off his arm, sending him flying. Hasaishin landed on his feet, and rolled, dusting his silver.

The Conqueror snarled, it felt a rage in his chest, and a fire in his eye. A spreading of wings flew towards Hasaishin, with roars of crimson. It swooped down, and slashed his claws towards Hasaishin, aiming for his chest. Hasaishin blocked with the Reaper, and felt the impact in his arms. He pushed back, and swung the Reaper towards the Conqueror, cutting him slightly on his right shoulder. Hasaishin dashed and spun the Reaper, whose full body slash and pale crimson arms fell as a burst of fire was raging.

Hasaishin moved quickly, and ran sideways. He swung the Reaper, and caught it on the Conqueror’s waist with a deep hook, as his muscles tensed and he spun and landed on his back with a spinning slash, lacerating wings. The Conqueror bellowed, as he tried to reach Hasaishin with his newly claws, but he was too far. His steps shook the ground, as he thrashed.

A deafening roar, the Conqueror’s body, blazed with red flames, as the barren land of Aegis’s sun arrow carved, erupted with jets of fire. His pale skin turned blood-crimson as veins spread like branches of a tree.

A cloud of steam rose up into the air, as the Conqueror breathed in, and its wounds began to close. A loose roar ravaged, as the air became dry and hot as its body began to smoke.

The Conqueror stretched out his claws and swiped his arms, trying to hit Hasaishin, who was still dashing unendingly.

The Conqueror lunged forward, and slashed the Reaper with a swift strike. He felt the impact in his bones, as the scythe hit the earth and sent up a shower of sparks.

The Conqueror roared, and lunged again. His claws hit the Reaper and the force of his strike sent Hasaishin spinning into the air, landing with a heavy thud. Another tremoring, and Hasaishin slashed the Reaper once more, sending a wave of force through the air. It swung its claws, and sent him rolling across the ground. Its footfalls carved earth towards Hasaishin, his claws aiming for flesh.

Hasaishin arched his leg up and struck the Conqueror in the jaw, sending him staggering backwards. He gripped the Reaper and spun, hitting the Conqueror in the chin with the back of the scythe.

The Conqueror stumbled and fell, as the scythe slashed the earth and sent up a cloud of dust. It rolled back to his feet, and leapt at Hasaishin with a roar, his claws striking the scythe. Hasaishin moved the scythe, blocking the Conqueror with a quick parry, before countering with a kick to his chest.

The Conqueror grunted, Hasaishin hurled into the air, and slashed the scythe, slicing the Conqueror across his chest, leaving a bloody wound.

Hasaishin’s eyes grew wide, as he swiftly backed thirty strides, as another fell beast joined the battle. The Abomination smote a golden being, as another sprang to its side, hands shining with a blast of golden beam that drove it back to a flower of lotus that burst with a shower of petals that cut it like a tempest of blades. The Conqueror was now whole and fuming with ash, as a golden form bounded and crashed both fists as it bit the dust, another golden shape tried to strike it but was foiled by the Abomination who was smitten by another golden form.

He drew a breath and dashed, looking for Old San, the binder of these two demigods. He alone could make them cease their rampage.

He found him, frail and bloodied, as three shapes clung to each other, barely holding on.

With a sweep of his legs, he cut the air as he ran forward with such speed that the air rippled behind him, but Old San hardly moved as Hasaishin turned in the air. He gulped down a pill and they vanished into the nothingness.

Hasaishin lingered for a few heartbeats before Old San appeared, but Hasaishin had already withdrawn as the Conqueror turned to him, breaking earth and fire. He breathed and glanced at Li Xin, the Abomination was also charging at him, now there were two, Snow and Yuhong were spent, Yuhong was out of Qi.

He spat, and whirled his scythe, planting it on the earth like a pole. “Crimsonthral!” He bellowed, as the flat land and skies were drowned in blood in an ominous sinking sound. It was not like the sea, but the earth was still there, only red. Hasaishin vanished, and was gone. Abomination and Conqueror eyed, he had darted to Old San. Qi howled, as with feeble arms he shaped a quick barrier, but Hasaishin spun three times and the shield broke, splintering like glass.

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Old San gave a groan as his form withered from the pill. He beheld Qi’s head cut off and tumbling to his feet like a stone, with a great sweep of blood. Er had fled and left him alone. Abomination and Conqueror gave a great cry, but Hasaishin only walked slowly, his face shrouded and his eyes burning red.

The thrall of Old San’s grasp was broken as a sigil of slavery faded.

Old San gave a laugh, then a mad laugh, “Go… to… hell—”

A wide arc of blood, and he was severed, but Hasaishin knew it was far from over, it would only get harder, for those binds were the ones that weakened those demigods, or else Old San had much trouble in controlling them. Hasaishin turned to the two beings and with a hand ran through his damp hair, a deep breath and he was gone from where he stood.

Crimsonthral, the domain of the Reaper of Antara, whose name echoed Drown in Blood. The holder of this scythe could gather blood and use it as a changing might within the domain. Therefore, where blood is shed, the Reaper lurks behind.

The Conqueror trembled, as it sensed it. Time crawled, fear for the second time as a luminous smoke of red wielding a scythe for harvesting came to reap behind. It barely escaped, its chest was sliced in two as it tumbled on the earth. The Abomination bellowed as a great ring of light appeared on its back, it was a glowing with divinity, and within the ring were golden hands of men. It possessed four hands; two were its own, and the others were golden.

Hasaishin reaped behind Conqueror, as rays of furious fire, as a large eye opened on its chest. Fire broke through the domain, as all that was seen was scorched and red. No, it was not like the one in the domain, but more like hell itself. Both demigods stood unbound as the Abomination’s body had been clad with pale gold and his hands bore a great saber of luminous sky-gold, as Hasaishin gave ground, he could not face both alone, not any longer as the Reaper of Antara had lain dormant for times, now would he fall here? Or flee with his life.

He laughed within, well then, so be it, CRIMSONTHRAL He cried as blood stained all that he could see.

The sky was red, the earth was red, and the air was red, all was red.

My daughter, my sweet child, do not weep for me. I have lived a full life, and I am proud of you.

He uttered a wail, and the world was still. His flesh rent, and his life was fading fast.

He looked up at the sky, his eyes dim with tears. Vain. All was vain. He felt metal on his tongue as blood gushed, he was cloven by the Conqueror who seized what made Hasaishin a demigod. It was a stone with the hue of an apple, and it was a heart in that it pulsed; it was a bloomed godseed.

With a stride, he devoured it.

And in the Conqueror’s hands was dull gold form, the binding of his will was broken and left a hole. The Conqueror mended that hole, and now he had command over the Abomination. He had taken advantage of the fact that it was the one most stained by Crimsonthral, and it was now in a human vessel. Zhenyuan was a Divine Wielder of his old self as his form had been shattered, but the vessel he had now had traces of Immortal Guan Yu’s mark, he wielded a partial old self and partial Immortal Guan Yu.

He was cast into flesh with a crude slaving seal; he was god in mortality.

Li Xin had witnessed all chaos in not even half an hour; they were the only ones left; he could only swear within; what else could they do? If he had more Qi, he’d be sure he could flee. Aegis had told him when the moons ascended, they’d all be slain, but he was here slumbering like a fetus. Li Xin gazed at Aegis, panting hard; there was a boiling of sweat in bare chest.

Iron Mountain bellowed to the heavens with clenched hands, as his horse neighed beside him, joining his cry. “Damned gods! I want more beer!”

“Bastard shut up!” a shout from afar they heard, Jun Zhou atop a black wolf, “we have no hope here let’s run!” Jun Zhou’s voice was cold and worried as he pressed the others. He had seen Uncle Zhang die like a worm.

“No, we cannot flee,” Iron Mountain replied, his face grim and his fist clenched, “we have come too far to turn back now. We must defeat them.” Iron Mountain was chafing his hands on his palm as if he feared not to meet a god.

Jun Zhou was stunned. On their journey, Iron Mountain had scarcely spoken like a common man, only bragging about himself, beer, and all that, but they never did fathom what his purpose here was for joining them. He was like him; he’d never truly revealed them at all. At least Li Xin only wished to spare more innocence. Then Aegis and Yuhong stumbled upon them; he believed they were here for the same cause as well.

Jun Zhou, quipped at Iron Mountain. “You’re a fool; you can’t beat them. They’re already dead; only the gods remain.”

Iron Mountain looked at him with a fierce gaze. “I can still fight. I will not be intimidated, not after what they’ve done.”

Jun Zhou laughed at his words. “Then you’re bigger a fool than I thought.”

He leapt off his black wolf as it tended to its paws, then a blast of air as a winged beast soared before them, it was Naxo, Li Xin’s wyrm, and in its jaws were two staves, another gust, it was Snow and Yuhong. She eyed them with her dark blue eyes as her black hair flew about upon touching down. Even with her uncommon eyes, she could not tell that it was Aegis.

She kept quiet; she was only given little details on what Li Xin and Aegis meant to do. She looked at Aegis breathing. She was uncertain of her feelings, but now they were neither fondness nor loathing.

Conqueror Akashic, exhaled ash amid all desolate fumes, he was unbound and bound a god at once, he was one of Kuro Sagul’s Conqueror, the living as the third finger of the fallen, yet he could not grasp how those old cravens had caught the finger, but it mattered not, he would rise and bring vengeance to his fallen lord.

He gazed at his, pale red flesh of a hand and gripped it.

All at once, his lone eye quivered violently in dread as a mighty force surged like a god breaking men. A rending of skies echoed all around—no, not only here, but it was everywhere—a light sparked on his form along with a noise of ceaseless thunder.

He’d recall the words of them all; he’d not lost them once, not once; he’d seen the tearing of the skies; he’d heard her say it once as he was broken and fell to a finger.

He looked at the beyond, where ashen skies flickered endlessly with screaming lightning.

He spoke, guttural and hoarse, “A birth?”

And then, the one-eyed horror of black blood spoke again, “No… Awakening!” the two demigods soared into the air, and there he was, the boy they sought. They descended upon him with a crash of earth, sending all living things flying back. He gazed at him, his hands clutching, his eyes red with lust. He would make him his thrall.

This was the moment, the boy, he looked at him as the heavens wept with doom, the boy was wounded, a bloody gash in his breast where a gem had flown out and fallen to the earth. Akashic wiped a drop of blood from his fingers but then a hissing noise muffled by endless claps of thunder sealed the wound.

His dark lashes parted to reveal white orbs and grey irises.

SHATTER

Lightning crashed with oblivion as Conqueror Akashic was hurled back a hundred paces, black hair whipping in the wind as Aegis brushed off the dirt from his chest. His eyes were not cold or wrathful; they were serene, so calm that nothing else could be seen, so calm amid the turmoil around him, so calm amid the storm in the sky.

The two demigods spread their wings, landed with a quake, and skidded along the dirt.

Akashic looked at him amid heavy rumbling. A young heir. His power is unlike any foe I have faced. It is overwhelmingly heavy. He brings back the memory of one I fought before. The one who first obliterated me with heaven’s wrath. I remember her well. The Banished.

The Conqueror Akashic strode forth with a slow pace in flickering skies and cried out with a great voice, “When a Kuzin is born, the heavens are scarred in wrath, bleed in ash and cry in crackles of death. All fear—all cower, they wield that death as weapon.”