‘Level 18 huh? I guess the wall that was blocking me had something to do with combat.’ I thought to myself as I sat atop my throne.
I have made a lot of discoveries recently. I have levelled up a few times, learnt some magic spells and I have gotten quite good at using a scythe if I do say so myself. My [Soul Manifest] has changed a fair bit also.
[Soul Manifest]
[Name: Rey Stein]
[Race: Human]
[Constitution: Sloth]
[Soul Level: 18]
[@###%$^()!@#!@$#$%^#!@]
[@###%$^()!@#!@$#$%^#!@]
[Strength: 38]
[Agility: 54]
[Stamina: 55]
[Mana: 3200]
[Intelligence: 84]
[Ki: ?]
[Karma: ?]
[Luck: ?]
[Martial Affinity: Reaper’s Harvest]
[Spells: Incarnat, Rubius, Accel, Incras]>
[Abilities: Spark, Soul Manifest]>
For starters the information screen now has drop down menus for my spells and abilities which makes it a bit less cluttered. My spells are things I’ve picked up whilst fighting reapers and although I have yet to discover any new abilities, I feel like I am really close to getting a new one. My current abilities have also changed a bit.
[Spells: Incarnat, Rubius, Accel, Incras]^
[Incarnat: (Mastery 1) allows the user to produce a crimson flame at will. This spell costs 100 mana to use. The flame can be empowered with additional mana at 50 % the cost]
[Rubius: (Mastery 1) allows the user to produce an invisible shield at will. This spell costs 500 mana to use. The shield can block all attacks that are empowered with less than two times the cost]
[Accel: (Mastery 1) increases the speed of the user by 50 %. Costs 1 mana per second relative to the user]
[Incras: (Mastery 1) increases the strength of the user by 25 %. Costs 1 mana per second relative to the user]
These spells have come in really handy. My fights with the reapers have been incredibly informative with different ways to use magic. As I learnt these abilities, my understanding of magic increased by leaps and bounds. This is why I now have a mana and intelligence rating, however, I didn’t choose these values like I did for my strength, agility and stamina. In fact, my current stats updated all on their own as I levelled up.
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[Abilities: Spark, Soul Manifest]^
[Spark: allows the user to manifest a light from within or around the user’s soul with a radius of 8 meters. The light source produces a small amount of heat]
[Soul Manifest: allows the user to manifest there will. This ability assists the user as it’s understanding of the user increases]
Although I havn’t managed to get any new abilities, my current ones have improved by leaps and bounds. [Spark] can be used up to 8 meters away in any direction. You have no idea how useful this is! Every single fight I can suddenly take the advantage by blinding my opponent. Even when I am surrounded, I can blind everyone within range and mow through them before they even realise what’s hit them.
[Soul Manifest] has changed the most by far. What I originally thought was based off my understanding of myself, is actually based on my abilities understanding of me. It’s kind of like, my subconscious gained the ability to communicate with me but wasn’t sure what to say. However, as I have been improving my abilities and learning new spells, my subconscious was analysing and categorising my discoveries. Now, everything updates on the information screen without my input. It just takes some time.
Furthermore, my [Soul Manifest] has other capabilities. I am just unsure what they are right now. But I can feel it. It’s like something is trying to burst out and have a go at my opponents.
That being said, my Ki, Karma and Luck are still unknown. I guess that is because neither me or my subconscious know what they represent.
I guess…
Crunch
Crunch
Crunch
I turn my head to the direction of the approaching sounds. From atop my throne I gaze upon my next challenger.
*****
After dealing with the chaos at that place and finally returning to the land in between I hurriedly make my way. Even that thing is silent right now where it would usually say something every time it sees me. The situation is just that serious.
As I take large strides I reach into my cloak and retrieve the watch. Adjusting the calibration to back to soul collection I wait as it adjusts. However, it never stops adjusting. There are too many souls here in need of collecting.
That old codger said that there were thousands of reaper’s sent here to handle the collection, however, because of that kid over three quarters of them are awaiting reconstruction. We are too understaffed.
Not that it matters. Even if the souls dissipate, they still remain here. It is just a bit of a pain to collect things you can’t see or track.
Even without the watch I know where I need to go. Many reapers have tried to fight that boy and the few reapers that have been reconstructed already always said the same thing. He stays in one place. Waiting for his next opponent.
As such we have been narrowed down the path necessary to find him, and I no longer need a guide to do it. Not to mention that I can see light in the distance which I can only assume is him.
As I continue walking briskly I find the first signs of combat. Bones littered across the ground, tattered cloaks and weapons as well. Deep scratches across the ground every so often and the occasional still burning bones or ashes of what remains.
Stepping over my associates the scene looks more and more like a warzone as I walk. The epicentre is where I will find him.
The bones across the ground become more frequent to the point where I must step on them to continue.
Crunch
Crunch
Crunch
Approaching the centre I see a great mountain of bones, cloaks and weapons stacked on top of each other. It is like a mass burial was unearthed from this very spot.
Allowing my eyes to rise to the precipice I see the boy, sitting on top of the bones. He is sitting like he is on a comfortable chair, however, with the scythes blade hanging over his shoulder and the hilt resting on his foot, he looks terrifying. His gaze as he stares at me seems to pierce my very being. A formidable aura exuding from his soul as dim spots of light surround him.
He has changed a lot.
“Death”, he called “I was beginning to fear you had run off”.
He recognises me? “I had to recover my skin so that I could face you with my full strength”, I replied, trying not to sound too shaken.
He simple nodded at me before grasping the scythe and standing up. Turning to face me with his full body he stared down at me. I couldn’t help but think that, his soul… it looked more… alive than the last time I saw him.
Casting my thoughts aside I reached into my cloak and grasped the hilt of my old a accomplice. A sword. My soul treasure. Something so ingrained into my very being that it passed to the afterlife alongside me.
I haven’t wielded it since the day I died. Drawing the beautiful silver blade excitement rushed my beating heart. My fresh blood boiled in anticipation.
“Are you ready?” I questioned. A wicked grin creeping onto my face.
Suddenly the dim lights multiplied and spreading all around us, giving us a stage for battle. The mountain of bones looking foreboding and promising in the fairy light.
Staring each other down the boy returns my excitement with a twisted grin of his own and then suddenly…
[Accel]