Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 1068: Meeting The Reaper

Alice’s thought process was actually very simple when it came to the choice of inverting the Authority of Life to reach death.First, it was clear that the Reaper was Nyer’s goal. So, in order to foil it, one must understand why the Reaper was needed.

Second, by linking herself to death, she’d get a better idea of exactly what it was that was keeping him chained up. Once she understood that, breaking it shouldn’t be too difficult, thus setting the Reaper free.

There was only one issue. No, that was incorrect.

With the stunts she had pulled, the times she’d avoided death, she had little doubt that the Reaper would probably be livid to see her.

Someone who could consume souls to regenerate her body with ease and fight through what should have been fatal injuries.

So Alice braced herself.

For this was going to be her first meeting with the one who governed death. The Reaper who managed one of the most important foundational rules of their world.

"What is it with all of you... f*ckers and messing around with death?

"Like seriously. You get one miserable little life on this hellhole and somehow that’s not enough for you.

"No, every last one of you sh*t stains has to scratch at the walls of existence looking for another f*cking loophole that I somehow overlook.

"But the worst part is that it’s always the humans that do this. Never the beasts. No, they have some courtesy not to piss me the f*ck off. They live long enough anyway. But humans? Always the humans. No, that’s not quite accurate.

"There’s also that crazy b*tch called Yvael. Made a motherf*cker so immortal that even the Cogs had to deal with him. That’s kind of f*cked up, don’t you agree? Like how do you even become THAT immortal???

"Do you know how ridiculous it is that I, me, the Reaper, have to KILL my own contractor because that f*cker couldn’t be killed?"

Before her stood... or rather, sat a giant bone avatar in a mind space shared only by the two of them due to the link she had just formed.

Long tattered robes draped behind him while a crown of bones sat on his head.

A pair of soft blue flames acted as eyes within his skull. Resting his chin on his knuckles, he ranted at Alice without care while the scythe leaned against his body.

Chains were coiled around his limbs with one trying to breach his heart.

And yet he didn’t care for the predicament he was in.

"Maybe if I bind my soul, maybe if I devote myself to the Moon. Maybe if I sacrifice a few thousand idiots. Always asking maybe and never stopping to think if immortality is all that good.

"The first few times were fun. Oh ho, you got me. Alright fine, I’ll let you off." The Reaper waved his hands theatrically.

"Then came the second, and the third. Every century it’s the same. Some dumbass decides they’ve finally outsmarted the universe. A philosopher’s stone, an elixir, rituals, blessings, relics.

"The stupid sh*t they all do to themselves for a single chance at immortality.

"Blah blah blah, ’oh it’s a miracle’, ’I have freed myself from my mortal coils!’ Why don’t you go f*ck yourself? What’s with calling torture a miracle? I don’t get it." He clutched at his head.

"I like the screaming. I like wars. But when it keeps happening time and time again, it all just becomes white noise. I’m f*cking sick of it.

"I don’t know HOW your species is still around to this day when every other person seems like they’re on a path to destroy your species as a whole. It’s f*cked up really.

"I have never seen a species so addicted to death like a drug addict. You just... all of you just keep coming back for more!

"And when you FINALLY get your wish, when you FINALLY outsmart the Reaper and attain the dream known as immortality, you know what happens?" The Reaper let out a deep sigh as black mist escaped from his jaw.

"You beg me to get rid of it. There is a reason why this sh*t is so hard to attain. Because you shouldn’t be f*cking doing it. And yet you monkeys think it’s a f*cking challenge to see which one of you f*ckers can reach the finish line first.

"Then when the thing that’s clearly meant to be avoided, difficult to achieve, and downright recommended against comes to bite you in the ass, you go, whoopsie doo, what the f*ck is happening to me? This isn’t what I asked for.

"Surprise motherf*cker, I wasn’t granting you a wish so what the f*ck are you making requests for? Do I look like some red hat wearing f*cker laughing ho ho ho every twelve months?

"I’ve worked this job since creation and every century another f*cker submits the same complaint."

Alice stood there in raw confusion as the Reaper continued to rant. It was as though he’d never had the chance to fully vocalise his frustrations with their race as a whole.

"Like seriously. Meet enough immortals and the stories start sounding like they keep copying each other’s homework.

"They spend the first hundred years enjoying everything they can.

"The next hundred convincing themselves they haven’t run out of things to enjoy.

"Then comes the part where they start collecting everything they can get their hands on. Kingdoms, lovers, disciples, pets, trophies. Anything to distract themselves from the fact that they’ve already seen everything a thousand f*cking times and dread fills their lungs.

"Another few centuries pass and they start talking in riddles because they forgot how normal people of the modern age speak. They see their loved ones die, stop remembering names. At this point they either become crazy motherf*ckers, not that they weren’t in the first place, but somehow even crazier.

"Immortality is not a reward. How many times do I have to tell you f*ckers that?

"It’s a punishment. An eternity so unbearable that oblivion becomes a dream. That is the grand achievement that these ’things’ chase after."

If the Reaper could have veins, Alice was certain she would see bulging veins around his temples from how angry he sounded.

In an act of frustration, he grabbed the scythe and tossed it as far as he could. The weapon disappeared into the distance in an instant only to reappear by his side seconds later.

"I was put here at the dawn of time. And every passing second I question what my role is. Is it to be the one who passes down judgment, or a prisoner watching you f*ckers torture yourselves for all eternity? I seriously don’t f*cking know anymore.

"None of you f*ckers seem to understand. What you do, what you decide to treasure. It’s the time limit set for you f*ckers that gives your life meaning.

"The more I look at you lot, the more I realise that I’m watching a self-destructive circus full of nothing but stupid f*cking clowns. And I’m strapped to a chair with my non-existent eyelids forced f*cking open to watch without stop.

"I am... so f*cking tired of your race’s sh*t."

Alice opened her mouth but nothing came out. She didn’t know what to say.

She wasn’t about to tell the Reaper, who had lived through everything since the dawn of time, what was right or wrong. Clearly he knew more.

Not only that, but she was one of those who kept abusing the "loopholes" considering she should’ve died long ago.

Maybe if she were more fearful of death, she would be more careful with what she did.

Either way, what was done was already done and the only thing she could say was this.

"I’m... erm... sorry." Alice scratched her hair sheepishly.

". . ." The Reaper stared at her without a trace of emotion on his face.

Not surprising considering the emotional range of a skull was the same as a brick. Not exactly what you would call expressive.

"What the f*ck do you want?" the Reaper asked casually.

Alice hesitated. With the... rant that the Reaper had just had, she wasn’t exactly sure how she should speak to him.

Respectful or casual? He seemed... rather casual so maybe she should be casual? But then that might give him the wrong impression. He might think she saw herself on the same level as him.

"I have all the time in the world but this is not your ticket to bore the ever living sh*t out of me more than I already am." The Reaper hurried her up.

"Erm... Would you like to help each other? Nyer seems to be trying to take you elsewhere for his own goals. And I’m... thinking maybe I help break the chains on your body while you help me kill the Doctor." Alice asked slowly.

"Why should I stop him?"

Alice blinked in confusion.

"Did you not hear a single f*cking word of what I’ve been talking about? My patience with you f*ckers as a species is nearing its limits. It’s torture seeing you guys propagate and commit suicide all at the same time. So if he wants to take my job off me, be my f*cking guest. It means I can finally get some shut-eye and let myself be destroyed by the jaws of Oblivion.

"Yes, that sounds f*cking lovely. It’s what you guys would call a holiday. Just a permanent one."

Alice opened her mouth to object but... with everything he’d gone through, it wasn’t surprising that he was happy with someone taking up his mantle as the Reaper.

"What if he works you to the bone instead?" Alice asked as it was clear that Nyer didn’t plan on becoming the Reaper. He just needed his power.

"Then so be it. It’s not like I haven’t let myself go before. But fate works in wondrous ways. Always finding a method of putting me back into this f*cking seat." He grumbled.

It was then that Alice realised that trying to convince the Reaper was going to be difficult. He was fully content with simply surrendering himself to whatever was going to happen and letting fate take its course.