The air around Dave suddenly turned ice cold, his entire body freezing in place as a suffocating wave of terror washed over him. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever felt before—an overwhelming presence, dark and oppressive, that gripped his very soul.
'What... what is this?' Dave thought, his heart pounding in his chest. He could barely breathe, as though the very air had been sucked out of the room. It felt like something was standing right behind him, watching, waiting. He wasn't sure if he could move or even if he should.
Slowly, Dave turned his head, his body trembling with a fear he couldn't control. His eyes widened as he saw what stood before him.
A figure cloaked entirely in shadow, draped in long, dark robes that seemed to swallow the light. The being's face was completely obscured by the hood, leaving no trace of who or what might be beneath it. In its hand, it held a massive scythe—long, curved, and gleaming with an otherworldly glow. Just looking at it sent a chill down Dave's spine, a cold certainty that if he so much as brushed against it, his very soul would be torn from his body and erased from existence.
The scythe radiated an aura of pure death. Not just physical death, but something far more profound—something that threatened the soul itself. Dave could feel it in his bones, that this was no ordinary weapon. This was an instrument of finality, of an end that no one could escape.
'Who... who is this?' Dave's mind raced, but his body refused to move. He had fought superhumans, faced overwhelming odds, but this... this was something far beyond that. This was not a battle he could win. This was something divine.
---
The figure remained silent for a moment, its presence alone forcing Dave to remain rooted in place. Then, slowly, it raised its head just enough for Dave to feel its gaze upon him, even though he couldn't see any eyes.
A deep, echoing voice filled the air, one that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of existence. "I've come... to collect their souls."
The words sent a fresh wave of dread through Dave's body. He felt like his mind was collapsing under the weight of the figure's presence. This wasn't just some random being. This was a god—a God of Death.
"You... came for them?" Dave managed to choke out, his voice shaking as he gestured toward the bodies of the fallen superhumans around him.
The cloaked figure's head tilted slightly, as if acknowledging his question. "Indeed. Their time in this realm has ended. Their souls are mine to take."
Dave swallowed hard, trying to process the situation. A god—an actual god—was standing before him. The power radiating from this being was beyond anything he could comprehend. He had thought superhumans were the pinnacle of power, but this... this was something far greater.
As the God of Death spoke, Dave noticed something strange. Despite the overwhelming terror, he could feel a strange sense of calm emanating from the god. There was no malice, no hatred—just a cold, detached duty. This being was here simply to do its job.
---
"What... are you?" Dave asked, his voice quieter now, more curious than afraid. "Are there... more like you?"
The figure's grip tightened on the scythe, the soft sound of metal against leather echoing through the room. "There are many gods in this world, human. Each one governs a different aspect of existence. Life, death, time, and space... all are under the domain of gods."
Dave's heart pounded in his chest. There were more gods? More beings with this kind of power? His mind raced, thinking about the implications. If gods existed, then what did that mean for him? For humanity?
The God of Death remained still, its presence a constant reminder of how insignificant Dave felt in that moment. Yet despite the fear, Dave couldn't help but ask the question that burned in his mind.
"Is it... possible for humans to reach the level of gods? To achieve that kind of power?"
For a moment, there was silence. The God of Death didn't move, didn't speak. The tension in the room seemed to grow thicker as Dave waited for an answer.
Then, finally, the god spoke, its voice low and haunting. "What do you think?"
With those cryptic words, the figure began to fade, dissolving into the shadows like smoke in the wind. The chilling presence that had weighed on Dave disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving him standing alone in the room once more.
---
Dave stared at the spot where the god had stood just moments before, his mind swirling with a mixture of awe, fear, and confusion. What did that mean? What had he just encountered? The reality of gods walking the earth was beyond anything he had ever imagined. And the thought that humans might one day reach that level of power... it left him with more questions than answers.
His fists clenched as he tried to steady himself. This was just the beginning. If gods existed, then there was no telling what other forces were at play. But one thing was certain—he wasn't done yet.
Dave looked down at the bodies of the superhumans he had slain. Their souls had been collected, their lives ended. But his journey wasn't over. If gods existed... then perhaps his ambitions had to change.