Death. A concept feared by many. I'm sure you have experienced it as well, the terror of death that is. Wherever you go, you'll see people preaching about preserving life, how valuable life is, how unfortunate it is when someone close dies.
But to me, the concept of death never really seemed all too bad. In fact, I always longed for it in my younger days. It wasn't really all about wanting to die or that death that sounded so nice though, It was just that life was too unbearable for me.
How simple life was back in those days. But I couldn't die, for unfortunate reasons. I had responsibilities that prevented me from dying, despite the madness raging inside of my head.
But after a while, things started to get pretty nice. I rose and became more powerful than many could ever imagine, I had the people whom I loved and the concept of death didn't seem as nice as it once was. I was happy.
Indeed, I was happy....
THAT WAS THE GREATEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!!!!
''.....''
cough, excuse me for my outrage.
Where was I? Ah yes. So the thing about happiness is, it may seem nice and all but in truth, it just makes you careless. You start slacking and make mistakes that shouldn't be made.
And oh did I make great mistakes. And now, I do nothing more than long for death once more, to be swallowed by the void and just disappear. The world around me looks void and gray, everything I feel hurts, Everything I think turns me mad. I just… just can't stand existing anymore.
But yet again, I have certain reasons that I can't kill myself. Oh how I regret not killing myself when I was younger.
"Daddy, I'm hungry." The voice of a young girl rang out of the back.
Yes, she is the reason why I can't kill myself. Afterall, I can't abandon my child.
Looking at her, she reminded me of what I had lost, what I could never regain.
Forming a fake smile on my face I spoke to her "yeah hold up. I'll make you something amazing."
Alright, that's enough about the confusing story that I'm rambling about, you won't understand any of it anyway.
so how about you witness it for yourself.
The story of the one later known as the essence king. The one who is in control of everything, yet in possession of nothing.
————————————————————
'somewhere in an illegal underground facility'
Loud cheers could be heard everywhere. The audience going mad. The reason for that is because of the fight going on in the ring in the center of the dimly-lit facility.
"KILLLLLL HIMMMMM."
"RIP HIS THROAT OUT."
"END THE REAPER."
Loud chants rang through the audience, wishing for the downfall of one individual.
Far above the ring, there stood a lone woman, or rather, teenager. She had a beautiful face, her violet hair reaching her waist, perfectly commenting her amethyst eyes. She was the commentator of the match, Emma Ranger.
Though she was the heir to one of the most powerful guilds there was, she took this commentator job to observe these kinds of fights. Fights with a lot of blood.
She wanted to get used to the real world after all, since if she had to take over her guild, she'd need experience. And she'd rather obtain it now rather than later.
"Will this be the fall of the reaper? The one who has hailed ever since he was a small child, regardless of his frame, as thin as bones." She spoke out through the mic, making the audience scream even louder.
Though she said that, Emma knew the reaper would win either way. He... practically wasn't human anymore.
'I still don't understand how he has never lost before, he's nothing more than a bunch of bones. He looks like he could die from the smallest of breezes' She thought.
Afterall, this man, no, this boy has never lost ever since he entered the ring at the meager age 10.
Though she had only taken this job last year, she had heard many things about the guy from her fellow commentators, rumors that were quickly confirmed once she commentated one of his fights.
The only thing she could think back then was 'thank god this, this monster hasn't awakened, otherwise...'
The individual in question was currently lying on the ground in the ring, looking as if he were defeated. His opponent on the other hand, apparently thinking he had already won this match, was basking in the glory of the audience.
"YESSSSSS!" (many times)
"Is this your champion?! Is this scrawny kid the undefeated reaper?! All of those who lost to him are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! My grandma can handle this boy!" He screamed, trying to get the crowd agitated.
The receiver of all the trashtalk, the Reaper, was still on the ground. His eyes, shining a bright radiance, stared at the ceiling, seemingly admiring the lights above him.
'Ahhhh, that guy hits pretty hard. Well he's quite big so it doesn't surprise me.' He thought to himself.
The big man was still talking to the audience, though.
"Tonight I will end the so-called nightmare of the underworld! Bear witness to how I will slaughter this 'Reaper' in front of your very eyes!"
'Hmmm. Seems like he wants to kill me. Who knows, perhaps I should let him. It would make things a whole lot easier. Alright , I have decided, today I will finally leave this world.' A small smile formed on his lips as he finished his thoughts.
But a second later the image of a young girl, smiling at him, popped up in his mind. She seemed no older than 8 years old. She had beautiful long ,white hair and these radiant, golden eyes shining far brighter than his own.
As the image faded, his mood became sour again. He got up, annoyance filling his face. "Well that's annoying, I guess I have to remain alive now' don't I?"
Seeing him get up, the audience went silent, not expecting this sudden turn of events.
His opponent, noticing the sudden absence of sound, turned around to see the Reaper standing up.
But he wasn't worried. Why would he get scared of a scrawny brat that doesn't know when to give up. "Ohh? You got up? Quite tough for a scrawny little kid. Tell me, how do you wish to die, boy? I can at least grant you that."
Reaper on the other hand, just stared at him. His golden eyes seemingly piercing his opponent. Opening his mouth he just spoke two words, his tone cold. "So loud."
The big guy was stunned, had this brat lost his mind?
"So loud, So loud, So loud. God, why did you grant this buffoon such a big mouth, he talks too much nonsense." The reaper went on to rumble further to himself
His reaction stunned his opponent for a second. After that came anger. His opponent jumped at him, screaming in rage." YOU DARE BOY?! I wanted to give you a nice death but it seems I'll have."
to rip you to shreds.
Looking at his incoming opponent, Reaper just stood there, unfazed, and perhaps a little bored. "Ripping me to shreds huh? I guess that's how I'll kill you. Just know that you could have lived as long as you were willing to be merciful."
The man just scoffed in his mind, thinking the kid had gone crazy. Little did he know that those were the last words he would ever hear.
And after that everything was a blur.
————-
The facility was silent, so silent that the slight buzzing of the lamps far up became loud. The audience didn't utter a single word, they just kept looking at the ring in horror.
Standing in the ring was a lone boy. His entire body, dyed in red. The only distinguishable feature on his face full of blood were his golden eyes.
If one were to look at him right now, they'd think death itself had come for them. Next to the Reaper lied a mangled corpse. Some parts of its body were sprawled around the arena. You could see bones sticking out of its body and even its private parts were torn out.
To break the silence, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Ehm well that was one heck of a fight but it seems that our winner is yet again the one and only, REAPERRRRRRR!" Emma spoke through the mic, causing the sudden silence to be lifted as the audience broke out in cheers.
"REAPERRR!"
"REAPERRR!"
"REAPERRR!"
Praise and chants started to form, screamed out by the audience, all for the Reaper
Emma who stood in the commentator spot, had a smile on her face but on the inside she was a bit horrified.
After all, even if she had been a commentator for the underground for over a year, she was still a kid.
'What a monster. I can't imagine what kind of strength he'd possess if he were awakened, no scrap that, if he could even eat properly.' Breaking her thoughts of fear and reverence was the Reaper, he seemed to have had enough of the audience and went for the exit.
'I guess he wants his money, poor soul, he has to take care of his family with this as his only source of income. Even worse, they don't pay him as much as they do the others because he's desperate. He doesn't have the power to argue back.' Though she was scared of him, she had known about his situation which caused her to pity him.
While she was pitying him, the person in suspect was currently at the exit.
"Those scum in the audience, praying on my downfall when I was down but cheering for me when I win huh?" Though It sounded like I was pissed, it didn't bother me much.
Having been here for the past six years nearly everyday, I have gotten used to it. Kids, unfortunately, adapt to their situation very quickly.
Oh how many times I wished I'd die in that ring, just to end my pathetic struggle. But I couldn't die. First off, I had to take care of my family. They are the only ones whom I live for and I can't just abandon them do die like gutter rats on the streets.
And second, as stupid as it may sound for someone who keeps talking about wanting to die, I am afraid of dying. Look if there was something like heaven or hell, I wouldn't mind going there. But what if there is just nothing. You just cease to exist, unable to know or think that you don't exist.
Pretty scary right? It's the only fear I possess, disappearing into the void.
But well, I guess we gotta live on. If only I had awakened, perhaps than my life would have been nice. But I'm not one to make excuses, I am where I am because I'm too weak. That's the only truth there is.
"Well well, if it isn't our dear Mr Reaper, I see you have come to collect your money." A familiar yet hated noise broke me out of my chain of thoughts. Looking at the direction it came from, I saw a woman. She didn't look very special.
Average face, black hair, black eyes and wearing a black suit. Everything about her makes her look unassuming. But I have known her long enough to know she isn't just some nobody. Hell, she probably fakes her looks with some kind of artifact.
"To what does this lowly one owe the pleasure to speak with one of the highly esteemed elders of the underworld, I doubt that I'm of a high enough standing for you to personally give me a meager 100 credits." I spat out, though my words sounded polite, there was clear hostility in my voice.
After all, why would I be happy to see the woman who reduced my income. Under normal circumstances I'd get five times the amount of money I'm supposed to get but she reduced it.
"Hey hey, you're making me shy looking at me as if you could devour me any second. I thought we knew each other better than this." I scoffed hearing her say this.
"Just tell me what you want from me, give me my money and leave." this time, I wasn't as polite.
and clearly, the guard beside her got triggered by my words as he immediately pulled out a sword and aimed it at me.
"You dare speak like that to miss Heartfelt?! I'll have your head for tha-." He started to threathen me but before he could even finish his sentence, his head disappeared. Too fast for me to even notice.
"Excuse me for the rude interruption , it seems someone didn't know his place." She waved her hand around, trying to get the blood off of it. And she spoke as if nothing even happened.
'Damn! S-ranks sure are crazy strong. I didn't even notice anything. If only I were awakened.' And yet again, I began forming foolish thoughts.
"Ah, where was I? Right! I wanted to ask you if you had considered my proposal of working under me. You won't have to worry about money ever again if you accept it you know?"
'This again? How many times do I have to refuse her before she understands that I won't work for her.'
For some reason, this crazy woman wants me to come under her. She has proposed this to me many times before.
But I rejected it each time. I know that I'd obtain a lot of money under her and that sounds nice and all but I already know what kinds of things this crazy woman will make me do very. Things such as murder, torture and more.
As you have already seen before, I'm pretty good at it. But the thing is, I only do such things to others who'd do the same.
Whenever my opponent tells me how they will kill me, I kill them in the exact way they described. So whenever I have an opponent who has no intention of killing me, I spare them. I don't want to say that I'm a good guy bit I still at least have my morals.
And hell, I still can't understand why she wants me. I'm unawakened. Even if I'm undefeated in this place, the lowest of the awakened can defeat me with ease.
Hell, she even reduced the pay I'm supposed to get after every fight by five times. Just so that I'd join her.
"I'll say this once more, Miss Heartfelt, but I have no intention to work under you." I politely rejected her proposal once more.
"Ah well that's a pity. You know, the more you reject me, the more I want you." She said with this weird smile on her face.
Damn she creeps me out. Perhaps she wants me to serve her as a prostitute. Hell to the naw will I ever sell my body!
"Well I guess that's that. Here is your money. Be careful with it. Oh and tell your sister I wished her a happy birthday." She said throwing a bill out of her pocket.
Taking the 100 credit bill I left through the exit without looking back. I just wanted to be gone from this woman.
As I left, I suddenly thought about my sister. It was her birthday today. 'I should have a bit left to buy her a birthday cake.' A smile formed on my face thinking about her happy face upon seeing the cake. I don't care about myself really. Being consumed by despair for the past couple off years has killed most of my desires, leaving me with only one. Make my family happy.
Well, I guess off to the bakery.