Chương 10: Death's Note

How long have I been sleeping? Eric woke up refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges. He needed some rest since he wasn't injured, just tired. All the adventuring made his mind weak. Fortunately, a good night's sleep solved almost all of that. After staring for another minute at the endless ceiling, he readjusted himself and got up.

"You seem to like my new rodeo equipment more than me," Eric said, preparing himself for an answer. An icy shiver ran down his spine. He really left me alone again. The constant presence of family members was the norm for Eric. He had almost never experienced solitude. Back on Earth, his parents would joke around, and the TV would run in the background with his dad's favorite channel. It had been ages since he was by himself. Pulling out the dagger, he looked at his reflection. The weapon gave reassurance.

He might be alone now, but knowing that Grim watched over him was enough. Eric took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He was ready to get back into the fray. The note from Death caught his attention. A long scroll lay on the polished cowboy boots. Glowing green letters cast a subtle light on the old parchment paper. Near the end, it had a giant signature. Is this how he signs the million-dollar deals at the trading company? Eric chuckled. /————————————————————————————\ You found a new item!

Death's Note Warning! Adding items to your inventory may have unforeseen consequences! Take this item into your inventory? YES | NO \——————————————————————————————/"Hello, my brilliant apprentice! Since you were fast asleep while I was preparing my dramatic speech, you'll have to settle for the written version instead. Prepare for the most exuberant, extravagant, extraordinary guide ever created!" Eric grinned from ear to ear and read with excitement.

The note was littered with crossed-out sentences and half-finished words. More lines materialized at the bottom and extended the page as he got closer to the message's end.

"Unfortunately, things on Earth have become quite the shitshow. Don't worry, your pops and mama are under my protection. I gave you my word. I'll try to be more present as you transform from a baby reaper to a full-grown soul-reaping machine. Remember, with a disease spreading on Earth and a few wars flaring up in places you probably never heard of, I won't be available all the time. Your near-death experiences will dwindle significantly. Pun intended." I'm glad he's the kind of psycho that I can get along with.

Another section of the note appeared as Eric read the last line.

"So… let's cut the yapping and get on with it. Your next stop is the frozen door. Find a way to use the witch's hand to melt the ice. After you enter, there should be an elevator taking you straight to the next floor up. Now, hear me out. The next part is important. Gateway has multiple floors, each with its distinct structures and challenges. Water is the primary driving force on the second floor. More importantly, you will have to use it to move things around." A raven sigil pulsed beneath the words on the note.

"I had a companion named Ash. It helped me with all the stuff I couldn't do or carry myself to Purgatory. It's the most intelligent creature I've ever met. While I'm away, you and the raven will be my team of superstars. The Shattered have imprisoned it on the second floor. So yeah… go save my bird." The note glowed one last time in Eric's hands.

"With Ash's help, you'll survive this place a lot easier. I hope. It has knowledge of the tower, the enemies, and intuition about magic and powers. This concludes the greatest guide ever written! Make me proud! Signed - The Grim Reaper P. S. After you finish this note, it will evaporate in fire and brimstone, so you better throw it somewhere. Or don't." Sparks flew in the air, and the paper in Eric's hands grew hotter. He held it for a few moments, trying to memorize as much as possible.

Pain shot through his fingers, and he threw the note away from the makeshift bed. The parchment paper hit the ground and broke into yellow, smoking pieces. All of them ignited in an instant. His way of doing things is literally insane. I could've kept the note! If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. This wasn't the first time Eric's mentor figure had done such unusual things. Grim was reckless and impulsive.

For now, he gave enough information and guidance, but the delivery method was completely deranged. Looking at the cowboy boots, Eric noticed how they were brand new. No dust, debris, or minion spit was present. Determined to continue forward, he put them on and felt the boost to his movement once again. I'll quickly get used to this. The interior of the tower had gone quiet. Some faint clicking and turning of gears could be heard in the distance.

A damp smell of mold, old books, and clothes hit Eric as he finally had some peace traversing the battlefield. On the other side of the broken columns and overgrown vegetation was the resting place of the first stone golem. Torches lit up the pathway before him. The hardening of the surface in the treasury spread here and stopped the flow of water. Eric prepared himself to enter stealth mode any second. All of his senses were working overtime, a feeling of dread and anxiety creeping with every sound.

The smashed barrels were gone by the time he reached the corridor. At the far end was the familiar entrance with the moving platform and the twin stairways, both of them covered in blood. Now, let's melt that ice. Eric opened his inventory and pulled out the witch's hand. /——————————————\ Pain is the spark. \——————————————-/ Interestingly enough, the item didn't provide any description. The system gave no further information. Until activation is achieved, it wouldn't show its real stats.

With all the uncertainty going on, Eric took cover near the golden lion statue. He had nothing to upgrade, but at least its frame was big enough to provide cover. Something was near. His Awareness didn't always signal, but the times it did, it was effective. Two flying minions descended from the top. Both of them had a vicious, bee-like hum to the wings. Surprisingly, the small membrane kept the hulking bodies of the monsters in the air. Black tar seeped from their mouths and stuck to whatever it fell on.

Like the other creatures in the tower, these found more gruesome ways to derive enjoyment from pain. Cruising through the air, they didn't notice Eric hidden behind the upgrade statue. He could spy on them without worrying if his essence would deplete from camouflaging. What Eric saw next was straight out of a body horror comedy movie. These flying mutant chickens had two long, dangling legs, flapping in the air as they raced in the building.

Structurally, they looked like braids of hair with the soft tissue folding into itself. No trace of muscle was visible. They're literally trying to eat each other. Eric watched with morbid curiosity, not knowing if these lunatic creatures would sense him somehow. He wasn't panicking this time, despite facing new enemies. The flying game of tag had some consequences for the chamber. Black tar was scattered around the staircases.

As the second minion got tired, it took a detour to the giant red door near the upgrade statue. Without hesitation, Eric entered camouflage and readied himself for ambush. Buzzing with its wings, the enemy slowed down and sniffed the air. It sensed something, turning lightning-fast towards the lion statue. From above, the other flying menace lunged in the same direction. Eric took cover, trying to deflect with his blade, but he wasn't the target.

Instead, the long appendages caught the witch's hand he was holding the entire time. All the adrenaline made him forget that he hadn't put the item back in his inventory. Shrieks and cackles filled the air as the minions untangled their prize. Whatever intelligence they possessed vanished the second food got involved. Patience was not something alien psycho chickens had. Following their instincts made everything worse. One big bite into the hand and flames exploded outward, hurting both of them.

The black tar ignited and blew the impatient minion's jaw clean off. Experience orbs spawned in its place as the body disintegrated into ash. With all the chaos going around, Eric jumped onto one staircase, kicked off into the air, and slashed the flaming relic free. /—————————————————\ Achievement unlocked! Einstein Solve your first locked item. Reward: Scroll of Revelation x 1 \—————————————————/ You've got to be kidding me. It literally runs on pain. The riddle finally made sense.

By damaging the body part, it would ignite and unleash flames. With one of his enemies badly injured, he seized the momentum. Cowboy boots weren't made for sprinting, but the boost in movement speed wasn't something Eric would complain about. I'm really sorry, but I have to do this! Eric quickly slashed the palm of the hand and took aim.

"Die already, you deformed sack of shit," he screamed, the pent-up anger fueling the heat. Fireballs shot out violently as the hand twitched in pain. One of the minion's legs was already burning from the explosion earlier, just like a firework fuze. Despite its injuries, it remained alert and dodged another fireball. Eric struggled to aim. His hands were hurting from the intense heat, and the recoil from each fireball made targeting impossible.

Most of the black tar in the room ignited, filling the air with smoke and a faint smell of burnt rubber.

"Come on! Don't hide now!" Eric yelled, dropping the relic and grabbing his weapon with both hands. The surroundings were either on fire or smoking. Still, the frozen door stood with no damage. All the cacophony would soon alert the Shattered, and Eric was not ready for a big brawl. After some contemplation, he pulled the relic back into his inventory. Ignoring the minion and trying to exit to the second floor seemed easier. Hunting in the dense smokescreen wasn't the most effective strategy either way.

Several steps up the staircase to his left, he was right next to the frozen entrance. The chill from the door hit his bones. Why doesn't this thing open? How much more fire do you want? Eric hacked at the ice with his weapon. The impact rang out with a loud metallic sound as the door glowed with a blue film, revealing an information pop-up. Ignoring the window and fueled by anger, Eric took another swing with no effect. The sounds from hitting the ice barricade gave away his position. His anxiety slowly crept up.

Knowing that scouts could appear at any moment drove him to the edge. Body tense, hands gripping the blade, he turned, guided by his awareness once again. Automatically, his body sensed the incoming minion and sent an alert. Eric braced against the frozen door, facing the smoke. He stepped forward and impaled the incoming enemy. Its right leg had almost burned down to the small torso filled with black tar.

Realizing what was about to happen, Eric drove his blade into the ice door and jumped sideways, covering his head. Seconds later, a devastating explosion tore through the area, flinging shards of ice all over the battlefield. The glacial blast wave cleared some of the smoke. Moments passed as Eric got up, his ears ringing. He made his way to the entrance of the second floor and pulled his blade free from a big chunk of frost. The doors were wide open.

Peeking through, he saw a glowing metal plate and several pipes rising upwards. Symbols of gears and flowing water were carved on the walls. Once he stepped in, the doors closed behind him, and the platform went up. This was the worst Fourth of July barbecue experience ever. /—————————————————\ New area unlocked! \—————————————————/