Chapter II
Red. A vast expanse of red was all the man could see. It was as if he was staring at an enormous crimson ocean. But suddenly, the man felt as if he was being pulled as everything around him faded to black. A vast black stretch of nothingness now appeared before the man. “W-what...is this?” The man uttered while processing his surroundings. 'The last thing I remember was being engulfed by that red light...Am I...dead?...Is this-' “Hell?” The man gave voice to his thoughts as he looked around.
“Hehehehe” a vile sounding cackle echoed out around him. “Hehehe...this...is not hell...human...” A voice that sounded ancient and nefarious sounded out. “Who's there!?” The man called out. “Who I am...is of little importance...” The man looked around attempting to pinpoint the source of the voice as it continued to speak. “Human...Do you desire...power?...” Unable to find where the voice was coming from, the man gave up on searching. “Power?” The man responded.
“Yes...power...the power to destroy...to take life...to bend others to your will...” As the voice resonated, it contained a viciousness in its tone. “I...I don't know...” The man had a muddled look as he replied. “What...do you desire...human?” The man could hear the scorn that the voice held as it uttered the word human. The man was rather puzzled, 'Just what is this? Who is speaking to me? What do I desire? I-' “I...want to live...” The man answered after giving it some thought for a moment. “Live!? Hehehehe, it is too late...for that...human...” The voice almost seemed to mock him. “That's what I desire! I want to live!” The man exclaimed.
“Hehehe, live?...That is not possible...anymore...” The voice responded unsympathetically. The man's back was covered in a cold sweat as he questioned the voice, “What do you mean!? Why isn't it possible!?” In response the man only received silence. “Answer me!! Why isn't it-” Before he could finish, the voice cut him off, “You are...already dead...” “W-w-what? A-alr-ready d-dead?” The man stuttered. He couldn't believe it. 'Dead!? But how...how am I here then!? What...just what...' The man's thoughts were starting to become disoriented.
“Th-that's not...not true...I'm here! Aren't I!? H-how can I be d-dead!?” The man shouted out to the vast expanse of darkness. “Hehehe...” The voice sounded even more heinous now as it snickered for a good amount of time. Having finished it continued, “You are dead...currently you are just a soul...without a body...” “W-what!? But...h-how can that be!? I can feel my body right now! I can touch myself and I feel my heart beating!” The man looked visibly bothered as he called out. “Hehehe...that is just your soul's way...of trying to maintain...your sanity...” The voice retorted back to him. “Th-this...this...no...” The man was distressed as he uttered out and fell to his knees.
The man remained in a stupor for quite some time. Finally though, he snapped out of it. When he awoke there appeared to be a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes as he yelled out, “Hey! Whoever you are! Are you still there!?” His voice echoed throughout the void. Some time went by before that ancient and nefarious voice sounded out, “What...do you want...human?” “When...when I died...there should have been another man with me! A mage! Where is he!? Shouldn't he be here as well!?” The man inquired of the voice.
“Hmmm...ahh yes...” The voice sounded as if it had just suddenly recalled something it had forgotten. “That other...human...” “Yeah! That mage! What happened to him!? Where is he!?” The man questioned the voice hoping for answers. Another period of time went by before the voice responded. “Hehehe...that other...human...I devoured his soul...” The man was unnerved hearing the voice's answer. “D-devoured h-his s-soul?” “Hehe, that's right...I consumed his soul...”
The previous spark of hope that had been ignited in the man's eyes had all but been put out upon receiving that news. A long silence permeated the air. The man was the first to break the silence as he shakily asked, “A-are y-you going to c-consume my s-soul as well?” “Hmm...perhaps...and perhaps not...” The voice answered in a dubious tone. A long silence ensued again.
“Why? Why did you consume his soul?” The man was the first to break the silence yet again; as he was curious. He didn't see anything else he could do besides talk with this mysterious voice. Regardless if the voice sounded evil and scheming. “Hmmm...why?...souls grant me power...and that mage's soul...was a little stronger...than an ordinary...human's...” The voice answered the man's question.
The man was bewildered. “If...consuming souls grants you power...then why didn't you consume mine?” He was quite curious as to why he was spared. “Why didn't I devour...your soul? Hmmm...I suppose...it's because...you are slightly...different...” The voice sounded rather pensive as it answered. “Different? How?” The man inquired. “I've...been here...for a long time...” The disembodied voice sounded as if it was lost in thought as it continued, “in all this time...not once have I...seen a situation...such as yours...”
As the voice finished, the man immediately asked a question, “A situation like mine? What do you mean?” The voice sounded agitated by the man as it responded, “You ask...too many questions...human...This is the last one...I shall answer...for free...” The voice paused for a moment then carried on, “Usually...when an individual dies...their soul will end up...in the Drahuza Sea...I doubt you'd know...that name, human...I suppose you humans...would call it...the Sea of the Dead...” The man nodded and said, “You're right, I've never heard of the Drahuza Sea before, it-”
The voice cut him off. It sounded a bit miffed as it continued, “I...wasn't done talking...don't interrupt me...” The man widened his eyes, 'Not done talking?...How the hell was I supposed to know when you take such long pauses in between every few words.' The voice continued on, “Usually when mortals die...they appear in the...Drahuza Sea...alone...never together...When your soul...and that mage's appeared...you were together...At that time...I found it odd...so I decided to devour...the mage's soul...and pulled you...into...this void dimension.”
The voice had finished talking and the man was left with even more questions. “W-what? Why though? I still don't ge-” “Enough human...as I have said...I will not answer any...more questions for free...” The voice interjected in a snappy tone leaving the man baffled. The man found his current situation very perplexing. He had many more questions he wanted answers to. Why choose him over the mage? Who was this disembodied voice that he was conversing with? How did it pull him into this 'void dimension'? What was to become of him now? He wanted answers and this voice was the only one that had them, whether its intentions were good or bad.
After thinking for some time the man made a decision to take a chance, “You said you wouldn't answer any more questions 'for free'. So what is the price for more answers?” The voice sounded cheerful as it heard the man's inquiry. “Hehehe...this price...I doubt...you would wish...to pay...” The man furrowed his brow as he sardonically said, “Try me. I doubt it could be any worse than death.” The voice seemed entertained as it responded, “Hehehe...very well human...if you want answers...then you will need...to agree to my...proposition...”
The man looked intrigued as he asked, “Hmm, what proposition would that be?” The voice sounded overjoyed as it seemed to have hooked the man, “It's simple...I grant you power...in return...you provide me...with souls...” The man was startled, “S-souls? How am I supposed to do that?” Seemingly amused the voice responded, “I will grant you new life...in return, you will cull...as many living beings...as I require...” The man's brow was covered in cold sweat as he appeared to be deliberating on what to do.
The man remained engrossed in thought for quite some time. 'Grant me new life? Gather souls for whoever this voice is? I...I don't want to be dead...If I can live...there's nothing for me to go back to though, besides the life of a farmer...If I gather souls, wouldn't that mean I would need to kill? Would that make me evil?...Evil or not, I'd at least get to live...what do I do?'
Finally he appeared to have come to a decision as he declared, “Alright, I've made up my mind.” His tone was extremely resolute. The voice quizzically responded, “Have you...decided...to accept...my proposal?” The man nodded and declared, “I have. But I have two conditions.” The voice sounded surprised as it spoke, “Oh...what conditions...would those be?” The man's expression was solemn as he said, “My first condition, is that after you grant me new life, you allow me to have free reign to do as I wish. My second condition, is that you answer all of my questions.” The voice was taken aback as it responded, “Hmmm...you are a rather...bold human...I can agree...to your second...condition...but regarding the first...hmmm...”
The man interjected, “What I meant by it, was that you would allow me to do as I please without interfering and I of course, would in turn, gather souls for you. But it would be at my own pace and when I choose to do so.” It took a few breath's of time for the voice to respond, “Very well...I can agree...to all of your...conditions.” The man looked overjoyed as he exclaimed, “Alright! Then I have a bunch of questions that I hope you'll be able to answer.” The voice acknowledged the man, “Ask...away...”
The man was grinning as he asked, “My first question is, what exactly are you?” The voice took a moment to respond, “Hmmm...I am...the god of death...” The man was startled, “W-what? The god of death? Y-you...you're a deity?” The voice snickered as it replied, “That's right...human...I am a deity...and I was...one of the most...powerful...” The man had an inquisitive gaze as he asked, “What happened to you? From what I can tell...you sound rather weak...” The god of death chuckled as it responded, “Hehehe, indeed...human...you are rather...perceptive...”
The god of death let out a long breath that was audible to the man before he said in a prideful tone, “169,000 years ago...my might...was unparalleled...throughout all the realms...none of the gods...could equal me...” The man was flabbergasted as he questioned, “Y-you...were the strongest god!? How did you end up here?” The god of death sounded extremely annoyed as he responded, “If you...would be quiet and listen...you will find out...” The man showed a look of realization and apologized, “S-sorry, I'll be quiet and listen now. Please continue milord.”
The god of death snorted and then picked up where he left off, “Where...was I...ahh right...169,000 years ago...my might was unparalleled...throughout all the realms...none of the gods...could equal me...As my power grew...they deemed me a threat...The gods of light...and...the gods of darkness...united...to battle me...In the end...they could not destroy me...however...they found a way...to seal me here...in the Drahuza Sea...and in the process...they direly wounded me...Thus I am trapped here...unable to leave...” The god of death stopped talking and silence permeated the air for a good amount of time. The man remained quiet and waited to avoid interrupting. He didn't wish to be scolded by the god of death again.
The man assumed that the god of death was finished speaking, so he asked, “God of Death, sir, so I uhh...when I was growing up, I learned that the gods of light and gods of darkness were greatly opposed to each other. They really united to battle you? You're 169,000 years old? Why did they choose to seal you here in the...uhh...Drahuza Sea and not elsewhere? And...If the gods of light and darkness united to battle you...just what side are you on?”
The god of death responded in an exasperated voice, “Holy shit...you ask way...too many...questions...” The man smiled wryly and chuckled as he apologized, “Umm sorry about that...” The god of death sighed as he said, “To your first...question...yes they united...otherwise I wouldn't be stuck here...But to be more precise...my power grew to such...a state...that if all of...the gods of light united...they wouldn't be able to defeat me...the same could be...said for the gods...of darkness...thus...they decided to put...aside their differences...and combine their forces...to defeat me...”
The god of death paused for a moment then continued, “Hmm..to your second question...my age...is much greater then just...169,000 years...that is simply...the time that I...have been sealed here...My true age...I do not know...as I stopped counting...long ago...To answer your third question...the Drahuza Sea...is where souls go...once their physical bodies perish...their souls...then enter into...the reincarnation cycle...however my physical body...is not destroyed...I was sealed here...and cannot...enter into the reincarnation cycle...and I do not...wish to kill myself...just to reincarnate...and lose my powers...without a guarantee of...regaining them...and the only way for me...to escape besides entering...the reincarnation cycle...is to regain my full power...” The god of death paused again for a little longer than before and then continued on, “To answer...your final question...I am neither...light nor darkness...for I am death...and I...consume all...”
The man remained quiet as he absorbed all of the information he received from the god of death. An undetermined amount of time passed before the man asked yet another question, “God of death, sir...are you still there?” The god of death sounded tired as he responded, “I am...” The man's eyebrow was raised as he asked, “So you've been here for 169,000 years...correct?” The god of death was agitated as he replied, “Yes...I've already...told you this...” The man interjected before the god of death could scold him, “Well...if you've been here for that long...and need to consume souls to regain your power...then why don't you just consume all of the souls in the Drahuza Sea? Shouldn't you have been able to regain your power long ago?”
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The god of death was amused as he answered the man's inquiry, “Hehehe...indeed, if it...was that easy...I could have...regained my power...long ago...” The man was still curious so he continued his interrogation, “If it was that easy? So then I'm going to hazard a guess and say it's not easy?” Laughing the god of death replied, “Hehehe...indeed...it is not as simple...as it sounds...When a soul enters the...Drahuza Sea...it is at...a random location...and do you know...how vast the...Drahuza Sea is?...The Drahuza Sea is...large enough to...encompass all of the realms...combined...and still have enough room...to encompass all of them...countless more times...Perhaps, it may be more...appropriate to say...that the Drahuza Sea...may just be...infinite...”
The man was startled by the answer he received. Large enough to encompass all of the realms combined and that the Drahuza Sea may even be infinite. Just what kind of craziness was this. Just how vast was the world that the man came from? One could set sail from one continent and take over a year to reach another one. The man had never even left the continent he was born in. Hell, he had never even left the country that he was born in. To speak of realms...just what was this lunacy. The man was baffled if not even overwhelmed.
The man was ripped out of his thoughts as the god of death continued, “Also...when a soul enters...the realm of the Drahuza Sea...it almost immediately...enters the actual sea...Once that happens...the soul enters into...the reincarnation cycle...Even I...am not able...to touch them...at that point...So the time frame...of when a soul can...be devoured...is extremely short...When the souls of both...you and that mage...entered the Drahuza Sea...I was fortunate enough...that both of you...were extraordinarily close to me...had that not been the case...your souls would have both...plummeted into the sea...” The man's eyes widened. He hadn't been aware of just how quickly a soul would enter into the sea. It was truly a stroke of fortune or perhaps misfortune to enter the realm of the Drahuza Sea so close to the god of death's location. Only time would be able to tell.
The man was still extremely curious about these realms that the god of death spoke of, so he decided to ask, “God of death, sir, just what are these realms you speak of?” The god of death sounded amazed as he spoke, “Human...you do not know?...” Sighing he continued, “Very well...I shall give you... the most basic explanation...perhaps in the future...I shall tell you more...”
The man was listening attentively as the god of death spoke, “There are a handful...of realms...There are...the greater realm of darkness...the greater realm of light...the greater realm of the Drahuza Sea...and there is the mortal realm...there are also lesser realms...but you have no need to know of them...at this time...” The god of death stopped there for a moment, to allow the information to sink in to the man. The man was wide-eyed listening to this information.
After a few moments, the god of death continued to speak, “The greater realms...are where the gods reside...based on the names of the realms...you can most likely imagine...where the corresponding gods...would reside...” The man nodded in acknowledgement. But quickly after a puzzled look crept onto his face as he asked, “Umm, god of death, sir. If there's a realm for light and darkness...then what about death? Is the Drahuza Sea your realm?” The god of death's voice sounded very bitter when he responded, “No...the Drahuza Sea is not mine...before I was sealed here...I was extremely close...to creating my own realm...a realm of death...but those damned gods...had to interfere and ruin everything...”
“Enough of that...are there any more questions...that you may have?...If so, speak quickly...I do not know how much longer...I can maintain this void dimension for...” The god of death quickly blurted out. The man was stunned but quickly recovered as he asked, “What is this void dimension?” The god of death sighed as he said, “This is just an empty pocket of space...that I created with...what power I have left...so that we may speak...without your soul entering into the Drahuza Sea...However as I have said...I was wounded in the battle...with the gods...this wound still persists...thus I can not maintain...this void dimension indefinitely...”
The man shook his head as he said, “I have a lot of questions, but I guess most of them can wait. So how are you going to grant me new life?” The god of death snickered, “Hehehe...there is a catch to that...you will not be as you were before...are you still willing?...” The man was confused, “What do you mean I 'won't be as I was before'?” “Hehehe...you will...no longer be...human...” There was a cold sweat covering the man's brow.
He was slightly unnerved hearing he would no longer be human. 'No longer be human...well...I'm already dead...what other choice do I have?' The man thought to himself. Having mustered up the courage to depart from his humanity, the man exclaimed, “Alright! I'm willing...so how does this work?” “Hehehe...excellent...let me ask you...is there anything from your past life...that you wish to hang on to?...”
The man brought his hand to his chin and thought for a few moments. “No. There's nothing. I wasn't married, I didn't have children and wasn't anyone special. I was just a poor village farmer who tried being a guard. There's nothing from my past life that I wish to hold onto.” The god of death could see a small flickering flame of resolution within the man's eyes when he responded.
The god of death was jubilant as he replied, “Hehehe...Excellent...now before I return you...to the mortal realm...there are some things...I need to make you aware of...and something I need to know...” Pausing there the god of death took a breath before he went on, “First of all...what happened...that resulted in you and that mage...coming here together?...”
A sullen expression crept onto the man's face as he answered, “The merchant caravan I was with was attacked by mages and their undead. Those that didn't resist were captured and then sacrificed in some sort of ritual. I managed to force a mage into the center of the ritual with me right when it seemed as if the ritual was reaching its peak. Then there was a blinding red light and I ended up here.” The god of death was surprised as he asked, “Oh...so those mages were necromancers...they must have been...using an old ritual to create...undead...You said there were...mages...plural...How many?...”
The man thought for a second before replying, “I think five...at least that's all I could see, there may have been more.” In acknowledgement the god of death said, “Very well...I will make sure...you are prepared...when I bring you back...” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Now then, once I do...bring you back...you will be similar to a lesser undead...However you will have the potential...to grow...to unimaginable heights...”
Suddenly a violet light flashed and a ring appeared, hovering in front of the man. The band of the ring was plain, but its color was a flawless platinum. Set in the center of the ring was a lustrous amethyst. At first the man thought it was just a plain ring with a violet gemstone, but upon looking closer he became captivated by its ancient and regal air.
The man was engrossed with staring at the ring. “Ahem...” However the god of death clearing his throat brought the man back to reality. The man couldn't help but praise the ring, “God of death, sir, this ring is really majestic.” Chuckling the god of death replied, “Hehehe...indeed it is...” Adopting a prideful tone he continued on, “Now then...this ring is rather unique...I created it with arduous effort, long ago...It is an interspatial ring...with over 50,000 cubic meters of space...you most likely won't...find another one of its kind elsewhere...”
The man was startled as he exclaimed, “50,000 cubic meters!? That enormous!” “Hehehe...indeed it is...however that's not all...just now I infused some of my mana and magic...into the ring so that you will not...be defenseless when you return to your realm...It will not last long however...once you leave this void dimension...the mana will quickly dissipate...from the ring...as I did not create it...for the purpose of storing mana...You at most, will be able...to cast nine or ten spells...before the mana dissipates...In that time frame...I suggest you deal with those...mages, as fast as possible...”
The man interrupted the god of death to ask, “God of death, sir, umm how will I use the magic you infused into the ring?” The god of death chuckled as he said, “It's simple...once I return you to your realm...the knowledge of the spells...will appear in your mind...You will just know...how to use them...Now then...” Without warning there was another flash of purple light as a serrated dagger appeared in midair right next to the ring.
The god of death continued to address the man, “Use this dagger and cut yourself...then use that blood to bind the ring...This ring is unique in that...you need to bind it with your soul...unlike other interspatial rings...which only require one's blood...The binding prevents anyone else...from being able to use your ring...so long as you draw breath...well, in this case, so long as your soul exists.”
The man looked as if he wanted to ask something, however the god of death didn't stop talking, “Since you lack a body and are currently in soul form...using your blood here...is the same as binding it with your soul...” Having heard what the god of death said, the man showed an understanding smile as he nodded. He proceeded to do as told, cutting the palm of his hand and applying some of the blood to the ring. Once done, he slid the ring onto his right ring finger.
Seeing that the man had put on the ring, the god of death spoke, “That interspatial ring...there is one more thing...I need to tell you about it...Unlike other interspatial rings...that would require you to inject some mana...into them, in order to...withdraw and store items...this one requires you to use your soul...” “Eh!? M-my soul?” The man was slightly startled hearing that. “Correct, but do not worry...no harm can come of it...” As the god of death spoke to there, the man relaxed quite a bit.
“By now...you should be able to sense the ring...as if it was a part of you...Can you sense it?...” The man scrunched up his face, he looked to be trying extremely hard, “What are you doing!?...You look like...your trying to take a shit...” The man's face flushed red as he said, “W-what do you mean? I'm trying to sense the ring, like you said.” Letting out a sigh, the god of death said, “Close your eyes...and focus on your inner self...”
The man did as told, in five breath's worth of time, the man grinned as he called out, “I-I did it! I can sense it! Whoa this is weird.” The god of death groaned, “You will get used to it...all you need to do...is focus solely on the ring...and guide your soul into it...then you should be able to...see what is inside of it...Then you can take...whatever you wish out of it...” As the god of death spoke, the man had his eyes closed.
After a moment a scroll appeared in a violet flash of light and floated right in front of the man. Opening his eyes, he exclaimed, “I did it! This ring is amazing!” The god of death praised the man, “Hehehe...good job...now then...that is all there is to it...” The man placed the scroll and the dagger that he used to cut his hand into the ring. Seeing the man's actions, the god of death spoke, “Good...it seems like you...have the hang of it.”
The god of death was silent for a few moments before he informed the man, “Inside of this ring...I have left many items and tomes...all of which contain things...that are beneficial to you...since you don't know any magic...you will have to learn...Also, inside contains the method...for you to deliver souls to me...as well as...the method for you to consume souls...” The god of death paused for a moment and then said, “Regarding, delivering souls to me...you may take your time...as you will most likely...face many obstacles...”
The god of death stopped talking for a moment. After some time he said, “I will now begin...to send you back to your realm..however, before I do so...here is one last piece of information...so that you may prepare yourself...Although a large amount of time...has passed here...in your realm...not much time will have passed...perhaps only seconds will have gone by...now then...” Suddenly a violet mist started to swirl around the man.
“Henceforth...you shall be called Azrael...along with this new name...you shall shed your humanity...and become my harbinger...The Harbinger of Death...” The violet mist that was whirling around the man started to become thicker and thicker. As it started to engulf the man completely, the god of death's voice rang out one final time, “Remember this...For I am the one that granted you power...regardless as to where you are...I can just as easily, take it away...” In a bright violet flash of light, the man vanished from the vast expanse of darkness.
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