[Fethan couldn't see the Reaper's shadow, but he was sure that foul thing still haunted him. The Hellhounds that had fled had returned—reinforced and regrouped to kill him. Fortunately, his soul power regenerated far faster than mana ever could.]
"Soul Fusion." Fethan invoked his Dominion's power, linking minds with Lumi. His left eye turned cherry red as he launched into basic sword forms. These monsters kept spawning endlessly like lingering resentful spirits. He couldn't afford the mana drain of using advanced forms like the Eastern Guardian Sword Style and had to rely on fundamentals.
His clothes were soaked in red stains reeking of carnivorous beasts. His scholar's arms ached from swinging the blade hundreds of times. Though drained, he'd remained unscathed. He glanced at the Hellhound corpses surrounding him as messages flooded his view:
[Level up!] [You have acquired Green-Grade Soul: Unnamed Hellhound.] [You have acquired Green-Grade Soul: Unnamed Hellhound.] [You have harvested over 100 Hellhound souls. Bonus reward: 5 Soul Coins + Building Template: [Canine Village]]
'Thank God. I finally learned that I can earn Soul Coins outside of taxes.' Gasping, Fethan opened his Dominion panel:
[Everland Dominion] [Glory: LV1] [Territory: 10,000 sqm] [Population: 105] [Soul Coins: 5] [Monthly Tax Income: 6.20 Soul Coins] [Buildings: None]
'Still no clue what Soul Coins are for, but they're clearly vital. If I don't gather 100 by the 13th, I die.' The pressure of that looming deadline made it hard to breathe. He also discovered that soul color affected tax output:
Lumi's purple soul contributed 1 coin/month. Green Hellhounds gave 0.05 each. Stronger blue-graded ones gave 0.1—those took Demon Severance to kill.
'If I don't kill that Reaper, it'll never stop. I hope the Gate closes soon—but wait, the quest says I must kill it before the Gate closes. Is there a hidden meaning?'
But how could he defeat something unknown—was it even alive? Even in a world where ghosts were normal, Reapers were mythical. He'd seen one as a child, but no one believed him. In high school, he scoured every archive for proof—found nothing.
If it wasn't a monster, how could it be killed?
Fethan looked up at the yellow sky. Everything had gone unnaturally silent. No birds, no bugs, no wind. It was like time had stopped. He shivered. Not once since arriving here had he felt safe. Every life-or-death moment had sharpened his survival instincts. He gripped Phoenixfang tightly.
His Deathseer Eyes spotted something—a spiritual presence from the forest.
It wasn't a wolf. Not quite.
The creature was tall and lanky, furred in reddish-brown, muscle-bound like a giant stitched-together beast. Its face was neither human nor beast—elongated jaw, serrated teeth in layers, bulbous eyes like cooked yolks.
It walked on clawed hands like long-fingered paws. The pressure it gave off made the Hellhounds look like lapdogs. The death aura nearly blinded him.
"Awooooooooo—" A piercing howl froze Fethan mid-step. His body locked in place as the creature stepped forward. And again, that mocking grin under the Reaper's cloak.
'Relentless bastard. You really want Lumi's soul that badly?' Fethan glared. This wasn't about reclaiming a soul. The Reaper was enjoying watching him struggle—sending Hellhounds repeatedly rather than striking directly.
Was it incapable of killing him? Or just unwilling? Either way, this cruel game had gone on too long.
The stench of the beast filled the air. Eyes locked on prey, it charged. Fethan's reaction was late—two beats too slow. Before he could raise his blade, a massive fist struck his torso.
WHUMP!
The blow sent him flying. He clutched his chest, gasping, skin turning mottled purple. His heterochromatic eyes locked on the creature, now still.
If it had wanted to kill him, it could've. It was playing.
[Unnamed Werewolf] [Level: ???] [Race: Hellhound Variant – Werewolf] [???????????] [???????????] [???????????] [Strength: ??] [Endurance: ??] [Speed: ??] [Intelligence: ??] [Perception: ??]
'Can't see its stats… Different from the Reaper, but just as bad. Am I so beneath it that I can't even know how strong it is?' He chuckled bitterly. Of all System Chosen, he had to be the unlucky one.
"*_)(#^#@" The werewolf barked, then charged. Fethan forced his body to react quicker. Left eye glowed red. Fusion activated.
He moved faster, striking with precision. But the beast dodged and counter-kicked. Fethan leapt midair—barely dodging. It was his most acrobatic move ever.
'Aim for the head!' Blue flames ignited along the sword.
Eastern Guardian Sword Style – Form One: Demon Severance.
The blade sliced in a crescent toward the beast's neck. But at the last instant, it tilted its head—the strike clipped only fur.
It had intentionally dodged.
Then it mimicked his move—spinning midair to land a soccer-style kick.
Still airborne, Fethan couldn't dodge. But he remembered a martial arts technique: relax your body fully to absorb impact.
Before dating Lumi, bullies beat him up constantly. He'd never mastered this technique—but Lumi had.
"If I didn't learn it, I'd be bedridden after every wooden sword beating," she once joked.
'Relax... like jelly...' He let Lumi's instincts take over.
CRACK!
The kick sent him flying twenty meters, tumbling through bloodied mud.
[You used skill: Softbody Technique (B) LV1]
'It worked.' He tried to stand, but his bones disagreed. The technique softened the impact—but he was still a novice.
Not a masochist, either. And the beast wasn't going to give him a second chance.
His HP dropped below half. His body was damaged, mana drained. No hope remained.
And still, the beast watched him—mocking. It didn't see him as a threat.
'You arrogant piece of—' Rage flared. 'Think, Fethan! Use your damn IQ!'
The beast lunged. He countered a beat faster, swung—missed. Its claws slashed his gut.
'Don't scream. Don't let it win. Keep your pride.'
He struck again. Missed. Again. Almost.
The beast accelerated, becoming a blur. But it didn't finish him—it circled, taunting.
'Show-off bastard. Reminds me of the smug jerks who mock anyone who can't beat them at their own game.'
Its speed peaked. Then it lunged with fangs and claws—like a bullet.
The Reaper grinned, expecting a kill.
Fethan smiled faintly.
He slid naturally. Both hands gripped Phoenixfang. He dipped low, unleashed all remaining mana.
Eastern Guardian Sword Style – Form Two: Skypiercer.
The fox blade howled. Blue flames spiraled. He drove it straight into the werewolf's chest.
Both crashed into the ground. Fethan's skull slammed a tree. Dazed, but conscious, he saw the result.
"Hhhhhh—" The werewolf gasped, saliva dripping. Its joy gone. Its eyes bulged in shock.
If it hadn't toyed with him, he'd be dead. But its ego had given him an opening.
'Overconfident fools always make dumb mistakes. Especially the ones buzzing around my girlfriend.'
"Don't bother pulling it out. You'll just die faster." He grinned, not the least bit sincere.
"RAARGH!" The beast roared.
"Die already. You can't dodge midair—just like I couldn't. Idiot mutt."
"GRAHHH!" It understood him. Furious, it launched itself in a last-ditch charge.
Fethan pulled out a small canister.
He pressed the red button.
PSSSHHHH!
Pepper spray hit the beast in the face.
"WOOOO!" It screamed, blinded, overwhelmed by the stench. Fethan limped away.
Tears streamed from its eyes. It couldn't see or smell.
'Lumi said: "Fethan, even though there are laws, take care of yourself. If any shady girl comes near—spray her without hesitation."'
She gave him pepper spray—not the other way around. Who knew it'd save him from a monster.
Not a stalker. Not a mugger.
A damn werewolf.
"Huff… huff…" The beast collapsed. It couldn't pull the sword free. It choked, dying.
[You acquired Purple-Grade Soul: Unnamed Werewolf.]
[First solo Purple-grade soul kill. Reward: 10 Soul Coins, 5 stat points.]
[Level up!] [Level up!]
"Haah…" Fethan staggered, drained. He pulled Phoenixfang from the corpse. Proud—but someone else wasn't.
The Reaper cursed in tongues. It had watched this gnat survive again and again.
It didn't want to get its hands dirty. But this bug had killed its chosen hound.
It was annoyed. Maybe even afraid.
Its instincts screamed: kill him now. No more delays.
It descended before Fethan. Fethan smiled weakly.
"So you're finally doing this yourself. Took you long enough." He chuckled faintly. Hellhounds emerged from the shadows by the hundreds.
It had the power all along, but chose not to use it—until now.
"How sweet. Look at all these helpers. You really don't want me alive, huh?"
The Reaper trembled with rage.
"Come on, then. You want Lumi's soul? Take it. Kill me first—if you can."
The Reaper had never been insulted like this. It screeched. The Hellhounds charged.
Fethan stood firm.
'Lumi… I gave it everything. I've become the man you'd be proud of. No regrets… no, wait. Screw that.'
He raised Phoenixfang.
"Watch me, Lumi. This is every ounce of courage I've got!"
Just then, a golden window appeared:
[Your indomitable spirit has been acknowledged by ancestors from beyond the realms.]
[You are now worthy to inherit the full power of the Eternal Dominion.]
[An ancestor from another universe offers you a blessing.]
[Will you forsake your mortal life and walk the eternal warrior's path?]
"I'm ready." No hesitation.
In the boundless yellow sky, a ruby hue broke the emptiness. Sunlight dimmed.
Something indescribable appeared.
Fethan trembled. Even the Reaper dared not look. All life stood still.
A lotus symbol bloomed in the sky. His eyes shimmered. A daffodil etched itself into his irises.
[All functions of the Everland Dominion have been unlocked by the Ancestor Beyond Worlds.]
[No one can stop you now.]
The great shadow vanished—but its power surged within him. Injuries healed instantly. He felt limitless.
The final skill had unlocked.
A spiritual surge erupted. Hair and clothes fluttered. Gray aura dispelled the Reaper's pressure.
He raised both hands, fingers forming a triangle.
"I, King of the Eternal Dominion, command my subjects—hear me."
A massive spell circle formed. Souls of slain hounds rose.
They turned toward the Reaper's army—reborn.
"AWOOOOO—" The spectral wolf howled. Hundreds more joined it.
Fethan pointed.
"Kill them all."
The undead pack surged forward like unleashed artillery.