Flynn took a step back. Although he never initially wanted to look at the Keeper, his eyes couldn't leave the bloodshot red gaze staring at him from above. His breath shook, and then he took another step back. At this moment, falling into the void underneath the floating platforms seemed like a more decent plan than facing the Keeper.
".... SAY YOUR NAME, MORTAL!"
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead at the sound of this question, and a reply came involuntarily from his mouth: "Flynn."
"FLYNN!" The Keeper's tone was far from normal, spoken with hate and extra force.
Flynn's legs gave way, and he fell. The pressure from the Keeper's presence filled his heart with terror.
"Are you a Gatekeeper, Flynn?" The Keeper's sudden question prompted a vigorous headshake.
"Are you from the Bureau, Flynn?" Again, Flynn's emphatic "No" headshake provided the reply.
The Keeper closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly judging Flynn's case. Then, he opened them wide and asked:
"How did you enter the Gate of the Spirits? What path did you take?"
Flynn replied, "... I... I don't know which path I took, the Gate just opened... it just opened.... I never knew it was a Gate, I—"
"Do You Want To Live?"
A sudden interruption question caused Flynn's heartbeats to grow louder.
".... Y-yes."
"Flynn, no mortal has ever crossed into the Gates without getting killed. I don't know how you managed to survive, but you've entered the domain, the heart of the Gates' path. You have walked into your doom, that which I would happily bring unto you."
Saying this, a red scythe materialized in the Keeper's hands, and he jumped down toward Flynn, whose legs kicked backward before he could stand up, ".. I thought you just asked whether I wanted to die or not!" He said, taking a good look at the Keeper.
".... I know I asked you, but your composure," The Keeper said, his red eyes narrowing, "reveals your weakness. You are a weakling, and I can see that from your fear."
"Run, scramble, like the lowly mortal you are but nothing will save you are," the Keeper continued. "Although Gatekeepers are mortals, they are the only ones with the right to live... Not someone like you."
Flynn's pupils shook as he trembled, unsettled not just by the Keeper's words but also his appearance. The Keeper, dressed as a knight in black, wore no helmet, revealing a skull-like head. His eyes glowed red from the hollow spaces, and his towering figure exuded a menacing aura.
Flynn didn't want to die. He never did. He had taken over Bimpky's body, determined not to lose control again. A second chance seemed unlikely.
"Please, I don't want to die!" he cried out, meeting the Keeper's piercing glare.
"Please," Flynn begged again, "I don't want to—"
"Kneel, you lowly mortal!"
"Huh?"
"I. Said. Kneel." The Keeper's voice forced Flynn's knees to buckle, his eyes fixed on the scythe before him.
After a few seconds of a displeasing stare, the Keeper spoke, "I'll give you three questions. You have five seconds each. Answer correctly, and you live. I'll give you the Red Key of Death, a valuable piece reserved as Rank S!."
"The Red Key of Death?"
"Yes," the Keeper replied, "it's an artifact granting the user free passage into the land of the Dead, banishing undead creatures, and holding control over the other world."
"Each Keeper of the Gates holds an extremely powerful relic, meant to be locked forever," he continued. "I offer this to you, mortal, because I know you cannot defeat me."
"Try me!" Flynn exclaimed, his voice trembling.
The Keeper's piercing gaze lingered on Flynn before he abruptly asked, "... What binds eternity?"
"What?!" Flynn's confusion was peak high.
"5, 4, 3..."
"What should I say?" He thought desperately.
"2, 1..."
The Keeper swung his scythe, and Flynn felt a part of him torn away. Beyond his aching body and bleeding legs, he sensed something was horribly wrong. The pain didn't hit him immediately, not until his shaking eyes locked onto his missing leg. Then, agony exploded, and Flynn's scream echoed across the domain.
Yet, the Keeper asked, un-phased, "... Death is the beginning of life, but at what cycle does it terminate?"
Flynn's eyes trembled, tears streaming down his face. He was at a loss for words.
The Keeper's countdown began, "...5, 4, 3, 2... 1."
No reply...
The scythe swung again, and Flynn's right hand was severed.
A loud cry escaped Flynn's mouth, his breathing ragged as he pushed himself away from the Keeper's presence. At this point, he was at a loss. Death seemed inevitable, and he'd soon join the other Digger boys. He wished he could plunge into the void rather than face a brutal end in the hands of the Keeper.
His thoughts were interrupted by the final question.
"... The Heart Of A Man is corrupted by Greed. What are the nightmares he faces?..."
"How the heck am I supposed to know?" Flynn cried out in desperation.
The Keeper's countdown began, "....5.... 4... 3....."
Flynn's mind raced, but he couldn't think. The pressure placed on him at this moment, and not just that, The Keeper's questions seemed designed to ensure failure.
"You've failed, Mortal. Now, you die!."
The scythe did it's work, as it drew closer to Flynn's neck, who had different thoughts,
'I don't want to die!...
'Not now! I don't want to... Die...'
The scythe's descent seemed inevitable, a gruesome death of Flynn's own beheading.
'..... I haven't gotten a solid certificate yet....'
The scythe's blade, closer.
'..... I haven't explored half of London!...'
Its blade mere inches from his neck.
"... I don't want to... DIE—"
[RING CRITICAL HUNGER — 99%!]
[HOST SURVIVAL MAXIMIZED!]
[TRANSFORMATION FORCED!]
[... PRIMAL STATE - SHADOW LORD: AWAKENED]
Flynn's body suddenly became absorbed with purple darkness, as if shadows themselves were engulfing him. Around his head, a crown of seven spikes materialized, in his hand, a dark sword.
His eyes transformed, showing pure white hollows, devoid of pupils. The Ring's voice echoed in his head.
[NEW QUEST — KILL KHAOS, THE KEEPER OF THE SPIRITS.]
A rush of smoke escaped his mouth and the air became heavy.
"What are you—" Khaos began, but before he could finish, Flynn vanished.
'Dash!'
Within the blink of an eye, Flynn reappeared, slicing through Khaos' chest with his dark sword. The attack revealed a glowing white stone which instantly shielded itself.
Khaos jumped back, his face contorted in agony. He let out a scream, causing the domain to shudder.
Enraged, he rushed back at Flynn, unleashing a thousand slashes. The attacks rained down like a tempest.
Flynn stood unwavering, his dark sword at the ready.
With a swift swing, he neutralized the onslaught.
'Cling!'
The clash of steel on steel echoed through the domain as Flynn's sword absorbed the attacks.
Khaos stumbled back, his eyes widening in surprise.
"You... How—"
Flynn's response was a cold, hollow stare, "KNEEL YOU LOWLY KEEPER."