BXBX NOVEL Chapter 36: I will miss you all.
"You are wrong on several things David."
"Is that so? Then elucidate them for me then John. Why did you kill the ones who abandoned Liv Ivaldi, Aki Miroku and Robyn Lithgow? Depending on your answer the outcome would differ."
Funny how even if this bastard almost murdered me numerous times, I felt no anger towards him. This man was both my peer and goal. There were six more like him around the world.
Just from what I know of Clive and him I could already conclude that these fuckers were insane basket cases. I mean how could they not be. They carried the weight of humanity on their backs. And I aimed not only to join them but even surpass such a group.
"My goal was to kill the brute and go home. I killed Oliver because of what he did to me and the fact that he was in the way. Oliver hid behind the assault group that Amari formed, so I killed them too.
"That is the same even for the girl who had invisibility. If I didn\'t take her out, she could have stabbed me in the back. My actions had nothing to do with Liv, Aki or Robyn," I answered.
David then stood up and continued. "Then what about that bit about being Formless?"
"When I saw that Oliver\'s group not only abandoned by intentionally left behind three capable fighters, I knew that I could never be on good terms with them. Would you willingly spare those you know would stab you in the back? If such was their treatment of the Formless, as one of said group then I do not need them."
"Then you will treat anyone and everyone who mistreats Formless as an enemy? Do you wish to be their savior or something?" The Revenant\'s questioning tone bordered on ridicule and disbelief.
"No, I am weak, I cannot be a savior for them. But if anyone gets in my way, I will kill them, nothing more, nothing less."
The man called Invincible stood in front of me as he continued his inquiry. "Then what about me? I think Formless are shit. Do you have the guts to say the same thing to my face? I thought you endured the beating for your women."
Unable to take this anymore I stood up and looked at David face to face. "Yes, I will get you back one day David Thomas. Didn\'t I say it already? I will be the one to surpass you and close Hellsgate. Get in my way and I will take you down as well. It would be far better for you if you killed me right now."
David who could punch nukes into existence looked at me with eyes full of fighting spirit. But I didn\'t cower and glared back with the same intensity. He wouldn\'t kill me, the fact that I am still here meant he either didn\'t want to or couldn\'t.
\'No matter the reason, I am no longer human, so I refuse to cower in fear ever again.\'
After a few seconds of total silence, David then burst out in laughter as he slapped my back as old buddies did. My bones didn\'t shatter like when we fought but it still hurt like hell.
"HAHAHAHA! Look at this motherfucker! NOW THAT is how a reaper should be! Kick my ass you say? I look forward to it! The other Revenants are all fucking pussies!"
"Father, please watch your language!" Lilly advised.
He then placed his arms around me as he bellowed in a loud voice.
"Then let me be your sponsor motherfucker! Grow in strength then once you become a Revenant have a fight to the death with me!" David challenged.
"I refuse." I immediately replied.
"What? Why? What happened to all that bravado?"
"I didn\'t refuse the fight, I refused to have you as my sponsor. I will make do on my own. Once I become a Revenant, I will come for of all you. Just wait." I countered.
"HAHAHAHAHA! MOTHERFUCKER YOU ARE THE BEST!"
David then pushed me in front of him and gripped my hand and shook it.
"I am David Thomas the Invincible. Sovereign of the North American battlefront. From this day on I recognize John Smith the Formless as my equal. I will wait for your growth and then bury you in your grave."
The bloodlust that erupted from the man before me was so thick I could hear people screaming in pain and suffering. Just how much death did this man experience to gain such pressure?
My entire body felt like I was being stepped on by a hundred elephants. I felt my bones fracture and my skin bruise under the immense strain. Yet failure to stand at this point meant I was nothing but a pompous asshole.
"{REGEN}, {Withstand}, {Endure}. Understood. I am John Smith Formless. Wraith of the North American battlefront. On this day I swear I will become a Revenant and beat the shit out of you and the other Revenants."
I summoned every bit of strength I had to resist the bloodlust and answer the Invincible as an equal. When I checked around, I could see the dumbfounded expression of the girls, Amari and Mia, even Lilly. Heh, I aimed to do as much anyway this much was fine.
The pressure suddenly disappeared allowing me to stand straight once again. David then faced the rest of the group and said in a loud voice.
"I David Thomas the Invincible declare. The top performers of the 2023 July enlistment have been crowned. Liv Ivaldi, Robyn Lithgow, Aki Miroku, Josephine Benelli and Jasmine Denel are the top five reapers. 5000, 3500, 2500 will be given to the top three while fourth and fifth will get 2000 souls each.
"The top three will also gain the right to choose an A ranked soulgear from the North American Treasury. Meanwhile Isabella Taurus, Amari Soldat, Mia Flair who are in 6th to 8th place will be given 1500 souls each."
He then turned back to me as his words continued.
"John Smith who was supposed to be ranked first will have his rewards stripped and demoted to Rank 99. He will be given no rewards due to the elimination of 26 reapers. However, as he acted in self-preservation and not malice, he will not be charged with murder but will pay a fine of a thousand souls for each reaper.
"The fine would be payable in a year. After he pays the fine no one may bring up this incident again. head organizer Lilly, relay my words to rest of the battlefront as well as the other continents. Contesting my decision will be equivalent to opposing my rule."
Lilly stood up answered with a salute to her father. "Sir!"
David then gave me a silent nod and got back to his seat. Lilly then gestured for everyone to leave the office. Somehow, I could sense melancholy from the girls. I wonder why? Was it because of what I said?
I followed them outside and walked with them towards a separate white room. The room was filled with soldiers with guns and people in lab coats.
Lilly made a bright smile as she led us to what looked like small footstools. They looked like complex platforms that glowed in bright lights and had wires all over. The princess of North America then turned to face us as she explained.
"Everyone, it is already 7:00 am CST, meaning the night is over, as the enlistment is a special event. Hellsgate would remain closed for the next two days to allow the reapers to readjust back to their own time zones. Once you get on these teleporters you will be sent back to your places of residence back on earth with all evidence of your death erased."
She then took a couple of boxes and gave them to each of us.
"These are the latest reaper handsets that are connected to GRAVEYARD. Any news and updates about the Hellsgate or the reapers can be accessed there. This is the gift of the North American battlefront for your excellent performance. You can claim your other rewards from your respective safe zones when you return."
Lilly then made a sharp salute as she expressed her praise.
"Welcome to the 2023 Reaper army! May your fates end the darkness! SALUTE!"
At her command the crisp sound of an innumerable people saluting in one movement resounded. Seeing the respect in the eyes of everyone around made my chest swell up with pride.
"May you fates end the darkness huh?" I pondered the weight of this single sentence.
Amari and Mia got on the teleporters first, both of them looked my way as they said their goodbyes.
"You are the most insane lunatic I ever met John Smith; I look forward to your future endeavors. Until we meet again."
"Thank you for saving me and Amari John. Anyone who can fight and curse a Revenant deserves my respect. Also remember to say sorry to your girls after this, okay?"
Before I could reply, both of them vanished with a beam of intense light. They probably returned to their homes at that moment.
The girls didn\'t immediately get on the teleporters and crowded around me.
"Honey, do not take anyone else\'s {fate} aside from ours understood? If you get one that is not compatible you will lose everything you have. We will come back soon so sit tight till then," Bella said with a stern face.
"Come back?"
Josephine explained with an energetic voice. "We all agreed to transfer to the North American battlefront darling. The process would take a couple of days. But after that we can be together all the time!"
"Husband, stay healthy. See you in a week," Jasmine said curtly.
"See you later wombat," Robyn bid farewell in passing.
"Smith-san thank you for your hard work. Until we meet again," Aki stated with a bow.
"I won\'t give up John." Liv declared with fire in her eyes.
"Uh..Okay? Take care. I will miss you all."
After that we all got on the contraptions and returned to earth.