"FOUND YOU!"

He's in my range! I fling my scythe behind my head!

*****

ITS DEATH!

I swerve in the direction of the footsteps. The white outline of his skull illuminates in my aura. The most grotesque grin consisting of his teeth alone spread across his face.

His right arm flung across his chest and behind him. The instrument of my demise curved below his right eye socket, reflecting my aura back at me. If I had a bladder, I would've pissed myself, again.

*****

"You put up a valiant effort boy" I said as I swung my scythe with my full might. This boy was strong willed. If I wanted to end this quickly, I would need to sever his soul in two with one strike.

*****

I had to avoid his scythe.

If it hit me, it was over, even I knew that.

Thankfully Death had underestimated me. Holding his scythe behind his back so that I could only see its blade made his movements predictable.

Although I will admit it was terrifying.

I judged his blades trajectory on impulse. Just like I would the ball when trying to intercept a pass or win a tackle during matches. Before Death even begun his strike I let my body fall limp to my right. My head, my chest and then my legs, all falling to the side. As I fell, Death spun his body and flung his scythe low to the ground towards where my left hip was. His blade created a silver arc in its wake as it wailed beside my side, begging to taste me.

And it did.

Although I had almost perfectly predicted the blades trajectory, I hadn't expected it's speed. The scythe moved faster than I could even see, and it took my left arm with it. I felt no pain. I guess because I don't have a body. But I definitely felt it as the scythe absorbed my arm which now flew through the air.

I don't know why I thought it but as I watched my arm dissipate into nothing I thought 'I'd get him back for that'.

*****

He dodged it?

Mere luck! First, I will collect the boys arm, then I will strike the body.

I command the arm to come to me and it obeys. As it gathers within my scythe, I prepare to follow up the attack. This time I wouldn't miss.

Raising my scythe high above my head I line it up with the boy. His arm is still gathering, I can't attack yet. If I swing now pieces of the arm could get lost and trying to find lost parts is difficult. I will swing the moment it has finished.

I stare down at the boy, expecting to see a terrified expression as he realises he cannot escape me, but... that's not what I saw at all. Instead I saw a twisted, mangled face of pure hatred and bloodlust.

As the tension of my awaited strike reaches a fever pitch the boy started to get up. His eyes locked with mine. His eyes, that of a predator staring down its prey.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Me.

His prey?

What the hell is with this kid?

*****

This bastards attacks are straight forward. Raising his scythe above his head? He's going to strike me straight down the middle. Even someone as inexperienced in combat as me can tell that. My arm is disappearing.

I'll move before it's gone.

He'll attack the moment it's gone.

He is fast.

But clearly inexperienced.

I guess in a place like this there isn't much to fight. But even so how am I going to beat him? His speed is insane.

If I'm going to get close enough to him to fight, then I will have to be invisi... SHIT!

Death swung with all his might straight down at me. I barely swerved out of the way before it sliced point first into the ground. Like a hot knife through butter the hard cold ground gave way without resistance.

Without losing a step I sprinted at Death.

As long as that scythe doesn't hit me, I'll be okay.

I need to find his blind spot.

I need to be... wait... I can't see Death. I can't see the ground. I can see a slight shimmer from within the scythe, but, I can't see me.

The realisation of what had happened made me stop in place. I don't know how I did it but I managed to turn off the glow that made me so easy to track. Now if I don't make any sound, Death can't find me.

I hope.

*****

I can't believe it.

Not only did he dodge again but now he's invisible. Just the shimmering light of my scythe can be seen.

I know I didn't hit him though.

He's still here.

My scythe is a divine weapon meaning it will glow slightly no matter what I do. That means the boy knows where I am, but I don't know where he is.

Did he run?

No. I can't hear any footsteps. He's staying still nearby. He could creep away without my knowing but... I doubt he would do that. He's going to fight. I know it. First, I need to dim the lights as well. Pulling off my cloak I wrap it around my scythe tightly, as not to let any light escape. I can't gather his soul without my scythe's edge, but I can always remove the cloak after pinning the boy down. Lifting my cloaked weapon onto my shoulder I listen closely.

*****

Maybe he is used to combat? Is he still underestimating me then? I can't tell.

Hiding in my opponent's blind spot is something I know to do. I've done it countless times during soccer. Hiding in the dark is just an extension of that. Not letting my opponent notice me until I'm ready to be seen. But he hid his weapon almost immediately after losing sight of me.

Have others done what I've done? Does Death have more tricks up his sleeve?

I have to be careful. Just because his scythe is wrapped now doesn't mean he can't still stick me with it. I have to take this slowly. I can take the advantage if I can buy myself time. Since coming here I went through horrible fatigue which has now faded away. And, although I'm not sure if I can control it, I was able to turn off the glow with my mind. Perhaps there is more I can do. I don't have a body anymore so nothing physical is stopping me. What about the ethereal? Everything here is otherworldly. The afterlife, the grim reaper, souls, the living realm. Nothing here is what I know as normal so perhaps the 'normal' rules don't apply anymore.

Time is going to be the key here. If I want to win and return to the living realm then I need to become strong enough to defeat Death. I think.

How I get back to the living realm is a future me problem.

To start I need to be able to control that glowing at will.

*****

This boy is incredible.

No Eardh human has ever achieved such a level of control over their soul. It's not in their nature. They bear a string of mana which connects to their soul but that is it. During life they have no awareness or means to detect the soul therefore it remains untrained. Not to mention how Eardh is a mana deprived wasteland that chokes any and all potential growth out of its inhabitants.

Upon coming here, the boy has levelled up his soul multiple times incredibly quickly. It's unnatural how talented he is. If he were born on a different world, I have no doubt he would have become an incredible mage. It's a shame he was born on Eardh.

However... I can't sense him either. His soul isn't refined enough yet that I can't detect it. Or did he instinctively supress the mana overflow as his soul became stronger? That would be an insane feat, but I can't put it past him. Anything is possible with this kid. Ending this quickly is the best option but if I rush, he could get the be... THERE!

A flash of white light illuminated on my left. It's the kid. I bolt in his direction before slamming on the breaks only a few steps later.

The light went back out.

No longer than a flickering lightbulb did I see the light.

Why would the kid reveal his location to me?

Is it a trap?

*****

OH SHIT OH FUCK OH SHIT OH FUCK I didn't mean to do that!