This world seemed to believe that the Formless were trash. I couldn't help but wonder. If we, a merry group of Formless Reapers, won this thing, what does that make them? While I was considering such a future, Bella continued our discussion.
"Honey, Jasmine is weak from her injury and exhaustion. Josephine is trying to pretend that she is energetic, but I can see her legs shaking. That girl is probably forcing herself to look fine. They are desperate. And they are aware that they will die the moment we leave them."
Hmm. My partner was amazing. I didn't even notice such details. So, we held their lives in our hands. Huh? Should we extort them then? But didn't they already get mugged? What else could we get from them?
"Mr. Code, your face is despicable. You are thinking of stealing their virginities or something, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but wraiths will die if they have sex. Become a Phantom at least if you can't keep it in your pants."
What? I would die if I had sex? Why? How? That was bullshit! Before I could voice my anger, Bella placed her slim finger on my lips and came closer to whisper.
"The only thing they have of value is their {Fates}. Having more {Fates} is always a good thing. Compatibility aside. Even as Formless they cannot possibly be worse than {Code}, right?" she explained.
While she tried to hide it, the palpable self-deprecation seeped through her voice. {Code} might not have been flashy, but I couldn't bring myself to think that any {Fate} was useless.
There were likely useless reapers, but the {Fates} appeared to be more complex. Wasn't I living proof of that?
"{Code} is not useless, Bella. Even if we didn't have an agreement, I would have approached you just to get it."
My partner's face betrayed her surprise as she blushed scarlet. How interesting; this woman wanted me to think she had experience, but it seemed to be a ruse.
{Fates} were very personal. To deny a {Fate} was to insult a Reaper's deepest regret and the wish they desired the most. I would never trample on either of those whom I called my allies.
Changing the topic, I continued speaking. "Anyway, if both are close to dying, won't they be a burden? Should I give them {Rewind} so they can at least fight?"
She made a disgusted face as she spat out her reply. "You just wish to lock lips with them, don't you?"
Well, I couldn't deny that. But right now, my goal is to become the strongest Revenant. Picking up chicks is not something I would let dictate my actions. Yet, if they come to me, who am I to refuse?
"No, I do not. If they will just die in battle, let's abandon them here. I am not strong enough to carry the burdens of others. I already told you that. I have no need for meat shields, nor do I intend to fuck either afterwards. So, they can just die on their own. Our risk goes up if we take in weaklings."
Bella then made a complicated face. "You can be heartless at times, you know. If… If a time ever comes when we are at odds, will you abandon me too?"
"Yes," I replied in a cold manner.
Being with Isabella was pleasant, but we were not together because we loved each other. I needed her for information about Hellsgate. She needed me to survive and help her grow. We could trust each other because we were looking out for our own interests.
If Bella, Josephine, or Jasmine got in my way, I'd put a bullet between their eyes without hesitation. Although I never intended to abandon an ally, I would also never grant mercy to an enemy.
My goal in Hellsgate was to become the strongest reaper. I came here not to look for a relationship. This was my promise to myself. Not for fame, fortune, or recognition, but for myself. As proof of the life I lived and the achievement I wished to be remembered by.
I noticed that my partner became a bit crestfallen. Well, it was better to clear this up now. I suffered a great deal from my first relationship. Having a quick fuck was fine, but I never saw myself getting into anything serious anytime soon.
"Okay, I'm glad we cleared that up. Yes, this is better. We are partners who use each other. Nothing more, nothing less," Bella conceded.
Despite the sadness in her voice, I neither comforted her nor corrected her statement. The awkward air between us was tangible. Before I could clear the air, Bella cleared her throat and changed the topic.
"If you do not wish to trust them completely, then give them your blood instead," she stated.
"My blood?"
"Yes, I told you before, right? Reapers borrow {Fates} by bodily fluids. Saliva's best attribute is its ability to explain a {Fate}. Meanwhile, blood grants twice the duration. It does so even if the ability itself remains a secret," my partner explained.
Confused, I ended up retorting, "Duration? What does that even mean? And that makes no sense. Why share the {Fate} but not the ability?"
"It's like this. The bodily fluids are ranked by intimacy. You have donated blood before, right? But do you kiss everyone you meet? It's like that."
"That kind of made some sense. Who decided the rules of these things, though?"
Bella fixed her hair as she continued. "Blood gives one the ability but doesn't teach them how it is used. It's meant to be for everyone. Conversely, only lovers or spouses use saliva. Thus, intimacy normally determines what is used.
"The main benefit of blood is the duration. For example, if my spit gave you {Code} for a week, then my blood would give it to you for a month."
"Then what are we even giving them my blood for?" I inquired.
"This loophole is especially beneficial to you, honey. If you have them invoke {Auto} and {Save}, they will then get the lifeline of rewinding but cannot use {Rewind} itself. Just tell them when they are about to die. For any future prospects, we should test everyone like this."
Hmm. Aside from {Rewind}, neither {Auto} nor {Save} showed any signs when used. This way, if they turned on us, we could still kill them. If they were trustworthy, then that was the only situation in which we would teach them {Rewind}.
"Okay, I am fine with that. How do we incorporate them into our combat doctrine, then?" I asked.
"Have Josephine serve as the point man. You will cover her left side. I will have Jasmine cover the formation's right. Finally, I will bring up the rear. This way, if they do something fishy, just shoot Josephine from behind. I will similarly stab Jasmine before she has a chance to act," the Brazilian concluded.
A plan that took everything into account. With such a plan, we would have the upper hand. Pleased, I couldn't help but praise her. "How evil, Mrs. Code. Have I told you how much I adore your devilish mind?"
"I am eager to please, Mr. Code. I knew only such a plan would make an esteemed fucking heartless demonic bastard like yourself happy, right? Only the vilest and most contemptuous plots are worth our fucking piece of shit asshole of a Revenant, no? I am so glad you liked it, Honey," Bella said with a beautiful smile.
"…"
Taken aback, I couldn't even reply. I had never heard such a long string of curses before. It was like I got cursed with every expletive available in the American dictionary. What? Was she angry or something? Didn't I make it clear from the beginning?
Bella then left without waiting for me. The woman began speaking to the Reaper sisters as our group's representative. She called for me when the discussion was over.
"Then, honey, please give them a bit of your blood." Bella took her knife and pricked my finger. She then began letting my blood drip into tiny vials that were barely an inch long.
My curiosity got the better of me, so I asked, "What are these tiny things?"
Josephine responded, still full of energy. "Oh? These are the Reaper vials of the European battlefront. We are not allowed to fill them before coming. But negotiating with {Fates} is a given. I have spares if you want some!"
So, {Fates} were treated as not only combat abilities, but even as currency. Bella had me fill up three vials with my blood. One for each of them. The three girls did the same, and we ended up each with three vials of Formless {Fates}.
Upon receiving Josephine and Jasmine's vials, Bella asked for their activation keywords.
"{Perceive}," replied the brooding raven-haired beauty.
Her cheerful sister answered with "{Listen}."
Bella taught them hers and gave them mine while telling them {Auto} and {Save}. She told them {Save} would automatically take a lethal blow for them once. The sisters got all ecstatic upon hearing the explanation. It was not technically a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.
"How reliable."
Curious to know what their {Fates} were, I drank all three vials I obtained, one after another.
Downloads occurred when I activated them. I marveled at what I saw.
___
{Rewind} 00:00:00
{Save} 00:00:00
{Auto} 18:21:07
- {Reload} 00:00:00
Souls Available: 378
{Fate} Level 2
Souls needed for evolution: 3,000
{Fates} Active
{Code} 729:58:23
- {Connect} 359:58:10
{Perceive} 359:58:30
- {Aim} 359:58:30
{Listen} 359:59:22
- {Interpret} 359:59:22
{Kindred}
N/A
___