Chapter 47: Reaping Scythe
The Crimson Grotto finally came into view. It looked like a dilapidated ruin that nature had reclaimed.
"Let's stop here first."
"Un."
Our group stopped and we dismounted from the Forest Tigers.
"Stay here. I will go and scout first."
"N-no wait."
Before she could take off into the night, I grabbed her hand and stopped her. I pointed at the Demonic Rabbits that I had brought with us.
"I'll s-send them. They a-are smaller a-and natural t-to the forest. Also....keep....you....safe."
The last bits of my words trailed off into a whisper, but she seemed to understand anyways. She gave me a small smile.
"Ok. Also, how long do you intend on holding my hand?"
"Eh?"
I looked down and noticed I had not let go of her hand since I stopped her. I quickly released it and hid both of my hands behind my back.
"S-sorry."
Her smile widened before she spoke again.
"It's alright, let's just hurry, I am worried about Fiona."
"Un."
With that I sent the rabbits off in multiple directions to scout. As we stood there staring at the ruins, awaiting news, I noticed that Taleena kept throwing glances at me. Eventually my poor shut in heart couldn't take it anymore and I spoke up.
"Y-yes?"
"Um.....I have been wondering, these minions of yours....they are more advanced than anything I have heard of. I have never seen or heard of anyone being able to send multiple minions out on a complex task such as stealth and reconnaissance."
Ah so it has come back to this. I had slowly started realizing after multiple comments from her, but my minions seemed to be different than the ones this world was familiar with. Not only was I able to have quite a few, but they were also more advanced it seems.
Part of me doubted the advanced part since they were severely lacking from my perspective. There had been multiple incidents now where a small flub by me caused unwanted results.
"You don't have to answer...but what exactly is your job?"
I didn't know what to say. Based on all the questions up until now I realized 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 was not a normal job. Also, I realized something else, she had always used the singular version of job. This made me further suspect that having multiple jobs was also out of the norm. I looked at her, unsure of what to say. I wanted to trust her, I wanted to tell her, but based on my past life.....betrayal was always a thing.
"I...."
Before I could decide any further what to do, I felt a tug on my mind, it felt like someone was prodding me to get my attention. I looked in the direction of the feeling and concentrated. I felt an odd sensation then information started entering my mind. A circular platform, a group of masked people, and a young girl chained up.
"What is it?"
Taleena's voice brought me back. I looked at her and spoke solemnly.
"Your daughter is chained up on a circular platform. They want to sacrifice her....."
I had not noticed but my fists were balled up tight and my knuckles were white. I had known the general situation before we got here, but "seeing" and "feeling" it....it created a burning anger inside of me. Anger at these filth that would sacrifice Taleena's daughter for something as stupid as a demon.
"To summon a demon."
"Summon a demon? But demons already exist across from the Victus Imperium, why would they need to summon one?"
"No....I think they want to summon a real demon?"
Taleena's eyes widened.
"They are looking to open a portal to the demon dimension?!? This....we cannot let this happen. We must save Fiona and not let them open the portal! Everything coming from there is a walking disaster!"
"Wait. It looks like.... a group of masked people, they are starting something. I see....fiery red light."
"We must go now! There is no time to plan further, we cannot let them finish!"
I nodded my head and immediately called back my minions.
"Reaping Scythe."
A ghostly blue scythe appeared in my hand. It was a new skill I had acquired during my power level in the forest. While I was shit with a dagger, for some reason the scythe felt extremely familiar to me. It wasn't like I was an expert in combat with it, but it felt like a natural extension of my body. I didn't know if I could use it on a person, but I had practiced steeling myself in the forest.
I had gotten the zombies to pin down demonic beasts and I forced myself to look them in the eyes as I decapitated them. The first few times were slow, but I eventually was able to do it without hesitation. Demonic beasts were a far cry away from humans that looked like me....but that was the best I could do. I could only hope I could muster my resolve now to help save Fiona.
I took a few practice swings with the scythe as we waited for the minions to return.
"That....is that a skill of yours?"
"Yes. Is this also strange?"
"Quite."
"...I will explain what I can to you if"
"WHEN"
"....When we return."
"Good."
The rabbits returned and I looked over at Taleena. Her eyes were emitting the blood light again and her face was contorted in rage. Though when she spoke to me, it was still in her normal voice. She seemed to remember to not direct her anger towards me.
"I will go directly to Fiona. Please help me clear a path and keep the guards busy."
"I will."
With those words she took off like an arrow toward ruins. I commanded my minions and they quickly followed behind her. I took one last deep breath and looked up at the sky. The moon was slowly turning red and it was bathing the ruins in a crimson light.
"So that is why they call it the Crimson Grotto."
I took off toward the ruins.
**********
When I caught up the battle had begun. My minions had already started tearing into the guards while Taleena tried to clear herself a path towards the platform. I suddenly heard a high pitched scream.
"MOTHER!!!"
I looked over and saw Fiona, she was crying and pulling at her restraints, trying to get to Taleena. I looked around and saw the battle in front of me. My hands were shaking, but I gripped my scythe hard hoping it would help my resolve. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘰𝘯! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦!
I looked over to a guard who was being attacked by two Demonic Rabbits. He was desperately trying to shake them off as they bit and tore at the gaps in his armor.
"You fucken rabbits! Get the fuck off!"
𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘙𝘪𝘱 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘪𝘥. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘰 𝘪𝘵. 𝘋𝘖 𝘐𝘛!
"Blood Needles."
The guard was too busy with the rabbits, he didn't even notice until the [𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬] had punctured his organs and exited his body. He let out a miserable cry of pain.
"GAAHHHH!!"
The pain and damage of the [𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬] had occupied him long enough for the rabbits to finally go for the kill. They launched themselves at his throat and began to rip and tear. The man's eyes bulged in disbelief and fear as he clutched his throat. Blood began to overflow from his mouth as he collapsed on the ground. He tried to scream but all that did was cause the blood to bubble.
"BROTHER!!!! I'LL FUCKEN KILL YOU!!! HAAHHHHH!!!!"
I turned around and was greeted by a man, his face hysterical with rage. Time slowed and it looked like he was suspended in midair as he lunged toward me. I tried to estimate the trajectory where his weapon would land. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵. 𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘕𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘌𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.....
I urged every muscle in my body and forced myself out of the path of the downard sword swing. His anger must have caused him to swing too hard as his weapon embedded itself into the ground. As he was about to pull it out I swung my scythe towards his neck.
The scythe felt light in my hand, it felt like I was just wiping away a stain, there was no resistance when it met the man's neck. I had done it. I had taken a human life. Time slowed again. The man's body was frozen in mid fall, I could see the insides of his neck. The blood, the exposed organs, the white of his spine. I had done this. I am a murderer. I grit my teeth hard. The world returned to normal. The scythe in my hand pulsated for a second and then I felt a force dull my sense of guilt.
"And I will do it again for them."
I ran forward and headed for the nearest guard.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone