==== ??? Pov ====

The final moments of my previous life merge with the memories from the cave, putting the final pieces of the puzzle together as I stare into the darkness, which has long since returned to its tranquil state. Eventually, I manage I repress my need for blood and vengeance. Everything has a time and place, and when I get my hands around that black knight's neck, I can vent to my heart's content.

Somehow I know that there is a lot more to remember, but it doesn't matter. I have all the information I need.

"A wise choice for someone who has peerless innate knowledge but no experience. Maybe you're not as hopeless as I thought," muttered the strange, otherworldly voice in a confident tone.

Lost in my memories, I had forgotten about the voice.

Your meaning?

"Unlike when you are conscious, while you are in your soul's realm, every memory that has had enough impact or emotion to leave a spiritual imprint, is available to you, with the right cues of course. If you were to try and remember everything now, the present you would cease to exist."

Am I not already dead?

"Mortals." The voice lets out an exasperated sigh. "Unfortunately for Acoria, the world you are now a permanent resident of, you are pretty much the definition of immortal. The flesh that is currently your soul's vessel is alive and... recovering."

Then tell me how I get out of here. I don't have time to waste with voices in my head.

"Patience. Your body is currently fighting to keep itself alive after your little rampage, and your subconscious has... removed you from the controls, so to speak, to help with this endeavour," replied the voice in irritation. "I Also have an important matter I wish to discuss."

I thought you said I was immortal? If that is the case how can I die? And who are you?

"Even though you have so many experiences behind you, I still find it shocking that you can so readily accept another world and magic and are more concerned with picking holes in what I am trying to tell you," chuckled the voice in amusement.

Reality is perception and perception is reality. Now answer my questions.

I felt a foreign presence get closer. "You are a unique existence, and while your body is moral, that is to say it can die, your soul has now been infused with mana from this dimension. This coupled with the many lives you have lived, has resulted in you becoming something... new."

After a half a minutes silence, the voice continued. "You have long passed the point where you could ascend to the next plane so now, if your body is destroyed, your soul along with all the memories you have accumulated, will find a... suitable embryo and you will be reborn. You are outside of what you mortals call the circle of life. Fate and death are meaningless to you, making you incredibly dangerous, especially to beings like us."

It all sounded ludicrous, but after my recent experiences, I continued to listen.

"To answer your last question, in your previous world, I am similar to the existence you would call Death; but after analysing some of your memories, I find the term Grim Reaper more... enjoyable. Please call me Grim. As I have seen some of your past, I know your patience is a finite resource so I will get down to business. I have a proposition for you. One that will speed up and enhance your vengeance significantly without dragging the whole world into it."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I was getting restless, wanting nothing more than to get back to wherever my body was and hunt down those who had killed... no, destroyed my daughter's soul.

Hurry it up. I have places to go and people to butcher.

The presence around me intensified as if it had been waiting for me to get impatient.

"You need to understand that what happened in the summoning room was a fluke. Essence derived from powerful creatures and the souls of those you killed, along with unique spell formations, gave you an incredible, but temporary, boost in power."

"Although compared to the young of traditional species, you are a terrifying creature, as you currently are, even an average human would be able to kill you without much trouble. Not only are you weak because you have just been 'born', but your body has nearly been destroyed by the magical backlash caused by absorbing and using too much foreign mana."

... So you're saying I am pathetically weak?

Grim ignored my interruption. "This is where my proposition comes in. I will declare you my avatar, bestow upon you a name, skills and abilities that will enable you to effectively carry out your revenge as well as some... guidance."

If what you say is true, I will grow and recover. What makes you think I need your he-

"Knowing what you have just found about, not only in regards to your pitiful state but about souls and reincarnation, would you be content with simply killing them? Also if you are to hunt down those that are truly responsible, then without my help, you might just make it to them as they take their last, gasping breaths before succumbing to old age."

I remained silent as I pondered the meaning behind the self-proclaimed god's words. Like hell would I be content with that outcome; those responsible must suffer the same fate as my daughter, every last one of them.

It seems you know me too well. How can giving me a name and... skills? help me?

"Being named by a God gives many benefits, and as the God of Death, I can bestow abilities that will... match the requirements needed for your revenge. I will show you the abilities now, in the same format you will find in Acoria so things make a little more sense but remember, these will only be available if you agree to my terms."

What seemed to be a grid with text appeared in the darkness.

Soul Split

Using spirit energy, you carve out a portion of your soul's memories and implant them into another,

creating a substitute soul that can grow and evolve.

Substitute souls can only be implanted into entities that are capable of conscious thought.

By implanting a soul into a living being, you are in effect, killing the previous occupant and pushing their soul into the reincarnation cycle.

The memories removed from your soul will be forgotten, but personality traits developed from them will remain

Upon leaving the host's soul, the substitute will become an independent entity.

[Requirements]

Requires the host to have a soul age over five thousand. This requirement doubles with each use.

Soul energy used must be accumulated in Acoria.

The table vanished before I could fully understand it, another one reappearing in its place.

Soul Destruction

Using the host's spiritual force, a target soul's energy is irreversibly destabilised,

causing it to collapse in on itself and disperse while suffering from unimaginable pain.

The target's soul is destroyed.

The resultant spiritual energy from the destroyed soul will pollute the area with mana radiation.

Will not work on other Avatars

[Requirements]

Can only be cast when there is a positive balance count created by substitute souls.

Soul energy used must be accumulated in Acoria.

I guess I can work out the details later.

And the guidance?

"I will give you a brief glimpse into the past of someone who will be of great help to you. Even though your first meeting wasn't ideal, I need you to get along. I have already caused more than enough trouble manipulating the Goddess of Foresight's avatars so that you two could meet."

I doubt you are talking about the black knight or the naked girl so I assume you're talking about the silver eyed, one punch meat grinder?