Chương 4: Choosing a weapon

Hundreds of weapons filled the chamber, each resting in a pristine wooden case. Clean, without a speck of dust. Eric opened one case.

"You definitely take care of your arsenal," he said, using a longsword as a mirror.

"Admire them all you want. Everything is my creation. Every idea, every hideous way to take a life. Humans invented killing. I gave them options." Grim pulled out one flail and took a swing at the case. The shattered wood splinters reversed in midair and traveled back in time to brand-new condition. Spanning across the chamber, one hall hosted more interesting weapons Eric could recognize from movies and video games. Soaked in blood, one machete caught his eye. He spun around and opened its case.

"Where did you get this one?" he asked, lifting the blade. It still had traces of wet blood with a swampy smell. The description window spawned in the air. /——————————————————————\ Killer's Machete Description: Many campers suffered from this weapon. Smashed skulls, broken bones, carved corpses. It's capable of everything you need. Deals bonus damage when used on a Friday. \———————————————————————/"I found it at the bottom of a lake. Some lunatic in a hockey mask refused to let go of it.

Imagine killing someone over hockey!" So the stories were real! Wait… does he know what happened, or is he playing dumb? The smell coming from the machete made Eric put it back into the case. Moving along the hallway, he saw many familiar tools of the trade as Death described them. Other scythes, katanas, blades with chains attached, even a small dagger with an hourglass embedded in the handle. Everything was here, from his childhood memories to the latest designs and innovations.

With so much choice, he felt overwhelmed. A larger coffin-like structure showcased one spear. The upper end had an old, stained blade, while a purple crystal formed in the base. He was afraid to consider it, but the gem had given him an idea that he wanted to try.

"That dagger you gave me was light and easy to carry around." Eric kept his tone casual, hoping Grim would notice the hint.

"Weight's never been a problem. Most of the time I keep it inside the scythe's handle." Death pulled out the shining blade. It was clean with no leftover stains from the earlier battle. The dark blue jewel on the handle shone brightly and caught Grim's attention.

"Well, it seems like the dagger enjoyed its stay in your hands." He pointed out at the gem.

"It changed to match the color of your eyes."

"Can I choose the knife?" Eric blurted, not wasting a second more.

"Hmm… let's give it a try." Death initiated a trade, and a familiar window emerged. /———————————————————————\ Death [Level?] wants to trade with you the following item: Dagger Of A Thousand Souls Do you accept? YES | NO \————————————————————————/ Eric gladly accepted the trade and marveled at his new weapon. Everything was beautiful - the quality of the metal blade, decorated golden hilt, and the marble handle. The dark blue gem was the cherry on top.

"I didn't expect you to agree. Thought this thing meant something to you." Eric looked around Grim. All the adventuring by now made him feel sympathy for The Reaper. Strange as it was, the feeling seemed mutual. Death looked at him less likable a pawn now and more like a friend. In this realm, he had nobody close.

"I feel a moral duty to give you the highest chance of success. Last time these feeling crossed my old bones was long ago. Take it as a gift and a sign of our partnership." Grim's face stiffened and he walked back toward the desk.

"Don't forget that I am capable of obliterating everything you know." Relax, tough guy. In the Eternal Arms chamber, Eric had nowhere to sit. Grim clapped his hands, and the weapons disappeared.

"With each choice you make in Purgatory, a small tutorial zone will appear before you. In order to gain a skill or weapon, you'll need to pass it. That may not always happen, since some items and skills sense you are powerful enough to wield them right from the start." The ornate suspended ceiling came down at once, filling the chamber with broken wood and dust. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Welcome to your first tutorial! Try not to die too quickly." Grim's laughter echoed through the collapsing chamber. The walls dropped straight into the ground as the room shifted, and only a square-shaped arena remained. From the fallen wood in the debris on the platform, small cylinder shaped creatures took form, each with varying lengths for their limbs. Some struggled to walk properly, but others moved with surprising agility and actually posed a threat. Green light burned inside their hollow husks.

The power supply was Death himself.

"Attention, Mr. Graham! Don't underestimate your enemies or overestimate your abilities. Wield the blade with power and confidence. Instructions over!" Just like from speakers in a football stadium, Grim's voice echoed in the arena. Countless wooden figurines slammed together, twisting into a wooden giant. Their individual shapes were still visible within the whole composition. Several feet taller, the wooden giant rotated its head in all directions, until finally locking gaze on the only potential target.

What in the name of… At the last moment, Eric dodged sideways the downward smash from the monster. He scanned the situation for an opening. The differing sizes of the wooden dummies made the giant's movements slow and erratic. After another telegraphed attack and dodge, Eric had a plan. Repeat the same situation, but engage the lower part of either leg. Approaching the construction, he feigned a move to the right and immediately rolled to the other side.

Swing after swing, his blade weakened his foe, severing small wooden figurines from the giant's heels. Eric barely noticed the dagger changing in his hand. Each strike stretched the blade longer. His movements flowed naturally now, executing each strike with speed and precision. The wooden monster struggled to move and flailed violently in different directions. Circling it like a predator, Eric was ready to strike once again.

With a final series of precise swings, the giant collapsed sideways off the platform, exploding into dozens of scrambling wooden bodies. From the remains, one large blue orb dropped. It floated up and down until Eric came near. Upon absorbing it, a new window popped up, showcasing his reward. /—————————————————————\ Blue Soul acquired! Description: Fragments of life scattered all around the realm are hidden in each formidable foe. Grows bigger depending on the strength of the fallen enemy.

\—————————————————————/ Eric looked around after the confrontation. The training realm flickered and black cracks spread through the space before the entire simulation collapsed. They were back in the Eternal Arms chamber, unscathed from the previous destruction in the room.

"Not bad for a level 1 character! The Reaper Acolyte class gives you some battle prowess, but don't get too cocky. All classes that use weapons have the same effect, but fortunately, your class is also familiar with the dark ways of magic." Grim gave a pat on the back to his apprentice.

"I didn't hesitate at all," Eric exclaimed.

"Yes! I'm sure you didn't even notice how the knife changed into a full-sized blade!" Death grabbed the weapon and took several swings. The already sharp steel became bigger and brighter as if brand new. Eric's eyes widened, and after the quick demonstration, he took hold of it and opened the description. /————————————————————————————— \ Dagger Of A Thousand Souls Description: Rumored to be the only possession Death hasn't misplaced over the millennia, this dagger is equal parts elegance and terror.

Though small, it radiates a presence that makes even high-level foes think a second time before approaching. Passives: Last Wish - Deals bonus damage depending on the enemy's missing health. Situational Mood Swings - Just like its original owner, this weapon subtly changes weight, sharpness, or balance depending on what you think you're about to do. Skills: [LOCKED] \————————————————————————————/ T his could come in handy for a lot of situations…

Grim slid the scythe into a larger display rack before dropping into his chair.

"Since we're done with the most important part, it's time to talk about our next move. You remember the frozen door on the left staircase earlier?" Eric strapped the weapon to his waist and nodded. He checked to make sure the dagger hadn't torn through his pants. Instead, the hilt curved against his waist, reshaping to fit comfortably.

"I have no idea what The Shattered did to that door, but that's our next stop. It's a shortcut to the second level of the tower, if you survive till then."

"How do we get rid of the ice?" Eric asked.

"There's only one way to find out!" Grim summoned his scythe and with a single sweep through the air, the entire room dimmed. Going out, Eric couldn't contain his fear of the unknown. The halls beyond the chamber felt colder than before. With the team almost at the icy door, a careful ambush from a group of guards caught them unprepared. Death dispatched one of them with a swing and cast a protective barrier over Eric. Two of the warriors attacked at once, but the scythe successfully parried them.

From the glacier cave at the entrance of the tower, another guard charged towards Eric. He summoned his knife and an acid potion. The armored sentinel teleported forward. Eric reacted by smashing the corroding concoction against the floor between them. He stepped out of the bubble, delivering a powerful stab into the cracks of the armor. Bursting apart from the inside, the shattered guard exploded with his metal vest flying in all directions. Grim redirected the metal scraps in the air with a gust of wind.

Small yellow orbs dropped from the skirmish, and The Reaper teleported away from them.

"Walk over the orbs. They're all yours!" Eric felt the energy surge into him as the shards merged with his body. A new screen gave him the information he was missing. /—————————————————\ You gained Experience Points. + 4 XP \—————————————————/"If I stay any longer in this realm, it's going to get suspicious." Grim twirled the scythe once.

"You are on your own, champ. Go to the door and interact with it. Once you see what it wants, head to the basement. You'll find the entrance underneath the smashed platform. Long ago, I stored many useful and useless things. Something might help break the ice. Meet me at the Elegy Vault there. You'll recognize it by the stone door with a skull protruding from it. Strike the skull with the jewel in your dagger handle and it'll open." Grim slashed the air with his scythe and stepped into a portal back to Earth.

He really left just like that… Sword in hand, Eric looked around and saw the remains from each fight. Walls covered in blood, soldiers turned to dust, metal parts lying on the floor, and silence. Nothing could be heard. He was alone with his own thoughts. Beneath the broken platform, a small ladder descended into the darkness. Eric pulled out another acid potion, just in case. Before climbing down, his curiosity got the best of him. Can I check the hourglass statue?

He moved to the lion holding the hourglass and tried to interact with it. /—————————————————————\ Access denied. No compatible items available for upgrade. \—————————————————————/ This upgrades gear? I'll check this statue after getting more stuff… If I make it that far. Eric's mind drifted back to home. His father's exhaustion and the pain of his mother's illness reminded him why he ended up here. Things finally started improving before all of this happened.

Just as he finally got a taste of the rewards from all the hard work in university. Quitting wasn't an option anymore. After all, he had accepted the job from Death himself. Eric stepped away from the statue and approached the frozen door. Interacting with it revealed a strange riddle with little meaning to him. /——————————\ Bring fire and blood. \——————————/