BXBX NOVEL Chapter 60: Let me pass!
I forced myself to swallow back my dinner and looked up around me. Hundreds of people were appearing and walking about in a clean white area. There were others like me who were also puking their guts on the floors however they were the minority.
A large number of men and women of various races and ethnicities appeared and walked towards the exit like they just got out of the elevator.
'Those must be the seasoned reapers. I mean if you had to deal with this every night sooner or later it would lose its novelty and just become a nuisance.'
After composing myself I stood up and followed the reapers towards the exits. I then noticed the gear most of the people wore. They looked like characters from a fantasy novel.
Some were dressed in full medieval armor; others were dressed in robes while a large number wore what looked like tough looking leather armor.
Due to wearing a suit I heard a lot of them snicker and comment at my attire. Obviously, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I experimented using {Thief} before the summon and it seemed to have worked. With {Thief}'s built in {Perceive} and {Listen} I eavesdrop on the hundreds of conversations going around.
"Yo, check out that guy. He reminds me of the assholes that sell encyclopedias."
"Haha! I know right? Maybe he sells washing machines instead or some crap. Who the hell comes here in a suit? This fucker must be poor or something."
"Wanna bet if he makes it through the night?"
"You're on. 50 souls, Let's follow him to know what his reaper id is."
Reaper Id? So, this Id allowed you to identify an individual reaper? Well, I don't blame them. Compare to the gear of the ones around me I was indeed poor as fuck. But that would change the moment I get on the battlefield, so I was not worried.
What struck me odd however was the air in this place. Unlike in the enlistment here I felt souls lingering in the very air we breathe. It was not only extremely pleasant but enriching, like I finally found fresh air. My body grew energized just from staying in this place.
Ignoring the two reapers moving towards me, I followed the crowed and noticed the exits having two small bright booths at the end. One had a large signage that read "Welcome to the North American Battlefront." Majority of the people passed by this booth and touched what looked like a sensor.
The other booth had a different sign that said "Reaper Registration" this booth barely had anyone heading towards it.
"The crowded one on the right must be for regular reapers while the one on the left is for new reapers. Seems simple enough."
I broke from the pack and headed towards the booth on the left. When I arrived at the counter a slovenly looking man in a tattered suit suddenly showed up. He had a thin mustache, wore sunglasses and had an angry sneer on his face.
'Hmm. What is the point of wearing sunglasses in Hellsgate? Is this bastard just stupid or something?' I inwardly thought.
"What the fuck do you want? I am busy you asswipe!" the man snarled in irritation.
"Why did you come to the counter then? If your busy, then have someone else talk to me! I want to register," I snapped back.
"I am the only here you bastard. Why do you think I am busy to begin with?"
"But your booth hardly has anyone on it."
"Ah, fuck it... You a newly sworn Wraith or a transferee?"
The rude clerk pulled out a thick book from below the counter and began skimming the pages. A pen suddenly appeared on his hand which was enveloped in black energy.
Chills crept up my spine as my eyes gazed into the pen. This man was dangerous. Even more than the brute. My instincts were screaming telling me to run away.
"Heh. First time a rookie didn't faint at the sight of my {Epitaph}. Look boy, this {fate} was made to record the dead. Stare to long and it will swallow you whole. Now tell me which enlistment you joined, your name, sponsor and handler."
'So that freaky pen is a {fate}? Fuck! How powerful is this thing, I feel goosebumps across my body. Whatever… focus for now.'
"I completed the July 2023 enlistment. My name is John Smith, I have no sponsor or handler," I replied curtly.
"Save the pseudonyms for the Graveyard boy. Tell me your name. The real one."
"John Smith is my real name. Ask the head organizer Lilly Browning."
The arrogant man pushed his glasses down as he asked in a tone full of hostility.
"You are acquainted with the princess? How come I never heard of you before? Are you a bastard descendant or something?"
"I am no descendant. She is my friend, and this is my first time in Hellsgate so you would not have heard of me."
"Wait. Did you say you were from the July enlistment? Are you the formless bastard who placed 99th? The one who David pounded into paste?"
This fucker was on first name basis with the Revenant of NA. Either this dude was extremely high up the totem pole, or he might be an insider.
"I did come from July, placed 99th due to a ruling and got a beatdown from the Revenant. I also am Formless."
He then stepped out from behind the counter and looked at me from head to toe. After some intense scrutiny he then made a sign as he continued.
"What the hell? Has David finally lost his marbles? What a hassle! Your paperwork has already been taken care of. Your reaper id is NA20230799-FRM. I came here as David said I would be able to get a fine mercenary, seeing your punk ass.
I wonder if he was pulling my leg."
'David sent this bastard? I remember mercenaries being one of the professions available to reapers. But what exactly do they do? And why should I even choose it?' I question in my mind.
"I do not know what David Thomas said about me. I just came here to kill as many undead as I can. Let me pass so I can do my job if you please."
"Ho? Look at the balls on this one, you call the Revenant of NA by his first name? You must have a death wish you bastard," The man snarled as he came closer.
Fed up with his poor attitude I snapped and berated him. "Give me a break you stupid ass gangster wannabe, if David couldn't get me to kneel what makes you think you can? Besides you do it too!"
The man brushed his black hair with his hand as he put away his sunglasses. He looked extremely pissed as he spoke through clenched teeth.
"It seems you are as dumb as he said. I can call him by his name because I have known him from even before he became a Revenant you asshole. You on the other hand are what? A complete rookie, a Formless one at that, dare to disrespect my king? Draw your weapon reaper. My name is Zachary Lynch, a specter.
You are in dire need of an ass whopping boy."
I franticly pulled out a pair of guns to defend myself. "{Save}! {Draw} 1887, MP5SD!"
Specter?! As in the rank above a Phantom? Before I could process it, Zach came at me like a speeding bullet. He held a wicked looking pen in his right hand while his left had a golden one-handed axe. As he moved, I heard words echo in the air.
{Through a wall were a dream leaks. I lay alone, in my nest}
Suddenly my body felt heavy like lead, devoid of stamina and even strength! My guns felt like large boulders I could no longer raise. Still reeling from the effect of his actions I awkwardly pointed the MP5SD and fired full auto.
Due to {Thief} my actions could still be considered fast, but the level of effort needed to move was excruciating. Zach danced around the 9mm rounds before charging and kneeing me in the gut. Unable to bear the impact I vomited blood as my insides got hammered by the force of his blow.
{In a room, from which blood reeks, I lay alone in my rest}
Just then my eyes suddenly lost their vision while my nose got overpowered by the smell of blood. What the hell was going on I screamed internally.
'Shit, is this the effect of {Epitaph}? These debuffs are insane! And they stack! Is it because he recites entire verses using soul?!'
"{Fighter}! {Sheathe}! {Draw} M26!"
I sheathed my guns and draw the M26 frag grenades into both hands without their pins. If I could not see him coming, they I will just blow him to kingdom come, rewind then finish the job. {Fighter} should allow me to withstand the damage, heal then counter.
{And from my death shall blossom flowers, love and even joy to give}
A sensed something coming for my head. I barely managed to raise my right arm to block it. The impact even reduced managed to make my arm go numb on top of fracturing my bones.
'What the fuck! His attacks hurt this much even without momentum?! How the hell is that even possible!'
{And from then, an eternity I will live.}
I then felt a massive energy from behind me, my eyes which were healed by {Fighter} was able to open. They saw a glowing light that looked like a small star coming for me at blinding speed. Zach's voice echoed for the first time since the battle started.
"{Eternal}."
As I knew this was the moment of truth, I let go of both the M26 in my hands and roared the name of my {fate}
"{Rewind}!"
I vanished from the space evading his attack as both grenades exploded. Zach was of course caught inside the blast radius. After I reappeared, I was free of injury and continued my assault.
"{Draw} M60. {Mage}!"
Ignoring the other people around I squeezed the trigger and began to rain lead on the specter.