Chapter 151 - 148 : The Reaper Has Come (1/2)
”Arthur Bilgart, your time of death had long since passed and that is something 'Death' doesn't allow.”
With terrifying death aura around it and a chilling voice that would make anyone fearful, the Grim Reaper slashed its scythe in the air and created what seemed to be a small dimension that enveloped the whole cave.
Unfortunately for the black mage, it was too late for him to escape by the time the weird dimension was created. The only thing he could do was desperately bang his staff on the transparent barrier but to no avail, his attacks were totally ineffective.
'This is not good.'
Arthur glanced around him but his Sixth Sense couldn't penetrate the dimension. If it was a barrier, his sense could have spread easily but a dimension is a whole other thing. Zodiak's books mentioned that whoever or whatever could create dimensions should not be messed with as they either have unique abilities or strong attainment in Spatial Laws.
Just from looking at the '???' from the appraisal and feeling the aura emanating from this Reaper, Arthur knew he has no choice but to fight seriously but he was confused on why a Grim Reaper would suddenly attack him after saying that.
”Why don't you explain yourself. I don't want to die without knowing why....”
Arthur suspiciously asked the Grim Reaper whilst circulating the Dark Anguish Technique and activated the defense layer from The Dark Star Strengthening technique. He wanted to buy some time to prepare himself and also get some answers.
”You should know, better than anyone, why I'm here, and if you are purposely acting dumb then let me explain. Arthur Bilgart, death at the age of 32 by suicide. You have cheated death and lived more than your designated lifespan and that is not something easily forgotten.”
”Designated lifespan? Bullshit, I died when I killed myself and was reincarnated and to begin with, who are you to judge how much I'm going to live!”
The Grim Reaper wasn't angered by the unpolite attitude of Arthur, he just stared at him for a while before calmly replying with his usual chilling tone.
”I'm but an emissary... a messenger but it is not the same thing for what designated your lifespan. Fate is an entity that hates anyone who betrays or cheats it and it is exactly my duty to eliminate whoever bites more than he could chew.”
Still not understanding what was said, Arthur tried processing all the new things that was just said about Fate or whatever it is but he still couldn't comprehend how does that have anything to do with him. He died and born again! He even had a totally different Race! How is it unfair?
Even if it was unfair, he'll never submit, his life has finally become better after meeting Lucy and marrying her, having a cute daughter and lovely wife, what else could he wish besides that? He's not going to let his life end because of some idiotic thing called 'Fate' that thinks it can decide who lives and who dies.
”Fate... is it? If it really exists, I would really love to kill it with my bare hands, after all, isn't it the one responsible for all the miseries I experienced, all the suffering I had to go through, but I'm sure I am not the only one who thinks like this.”
”*chuckle* Kill it? You are far too weak, Arthur Bilgart. Even with an enigmatic Race like yours, it would take you forever to even have the qualifications to meet it, much less beat it. You say your life was full of miseries but you are not the only one, neither were you the first or the last one to suffer.
Of course, some suffer more than the others but even if you blame 'Fate' it isn't going to change anything, you decided what to do and every action led to another. Fate may decide how you die and when but it doesn't decide what you do in your life.”
”Whatever..... and what does a Grim Reaper have to do with 'Fate'? Aren't you related to the dark side?”
It took the Grim Reaper a couple of seconds to understand what Arthur meant by the dark side, it kept the nonchalant attitude and chuckled again before responding”
”It's complicated so let's start, after all, this world is quite aggressive.”
Although he said 'let's start', the Grim Reaper just stood there and stared at Arthur without moving an inch. Arthur thought maybe it was a trap but at second thought, a Grim Reaper wouldn't do that as after experiencing his scythe, he didn't seem to be the tricky type.
Since the enemy is not attacking and there is still time, Arthur didn't hesitate as he took out a large body of a silver wolf and immediately possessed it. What followed was a torrent of notifications and a pressure pressing on his mind. Arthur was forced to activate [Pain Immunity] due to the intense pain he was experiencing but even with the skill activated, he still felt an invisible burden.
You activated [Solid Max Lv]: Your defense is increased by 15%
You activated [Wind Charmer Max Lv]: You Agility is increased by 10%
You activated [Extreme Poison Fangs Max Lv]: Your attacks now contain a deadly poison that deals 5% of the user's attack every second.
You activated [Deadly Stare]: Your eyes permanently cause a debuff to any targets the user looks at: -10% movement speed, -15% attack speed.
...
You activated [Transmutation]: +25% stats, +20% damage received (10 minutes).
The large silver wolf transformed into a green lightning beast with a domineering aura and a fierce appearance.
”You achieved such strength in a short amount of time... that's applaudable so come at me with all you've got, you'll die an honorable death and come to know how big the difference between us actually is.”
When all passives were activated, Arthur vanished and teleported behind the Grim Reaper, which still stood there motionlessly. The green lightning beast was merciless as the sharp long claws were slashed at the back of the Grim Reaper.
*Cannot damage! 0. Phy.Atk*
Albeit shocked by the notifications, Arthur bit down with his lightning fangs and poured all his poison and endless Natural Lightning inside of the Grim Reaper's bones but the same notifications popped up again.
As he was close to the enemy and felt the deathly aura around him, Arthur was momentarily shocked and was unable to make a reasonable decision after seeing both of attacks dealing nothing.
Each second was longer than the other, at the spur of the moment, Arthur teleported away from the Grim Reaper before not before spitting two large fireballs.
*Cannot damage! 0 M.Atk*
*Cannot damage! 0 M.Atk*
Arthur stared at the Grim Reaper whilst crouching the wolf's body and taking a defensive stance. The enemy didn't attack but it wasn't injured too, it was unscathed from even the ancient flame which is something Arthur never saw. Even the Gods in the Underworld would be damaged by his flames so witnessing this sight, he was truly in shock.
”Do you understand now? I cannot be injured, neither can I die, I'm a Grim Reaper, I take lives and not the other way around, that's my purpose.”
The Grim Reaper started approaching Arthur with its scythe held horizontally, ready to slash at any moment.
'What honorable death? It's just one-sided!'
Arthur cursed the Reaper as it was not a fight, he could do nothing but back away from the enemy but even that simple tactic was useless as he was met with the Dimension's wall after retreating a dozen of meters.
It was only one exchange but Arthur knew he can't win, it was obvious from the second he activated that appraisal and it was later ascertained when he dealt no damage, not with his flames nor his claws and fangs which would kill a God if they are touched by them.