Requiem Of A Failed Hero

“Ahh…it’s so good to finally have some peace”

Raith took a deep inhalation and exhalation as he sat down in the void space of the moment between his death and his resurrection. A void that was not materialistic, yet manifested for him alone.

“First of all… I want to check something. My rewards from killing two archons. Let me see that”

The notifications which Raith had ignored all flowed out again.

[Congratulations you have killed two archons]

[You have killed a high rank celestial, you will carry an insignia]

[Insignia can only be seen by celestials]

[You are susceptible to celestial bounty hunters]

[You have 200 point bounty on you]

[When your bounty reaches 1000 you will be regarded as a criminal and bounty hunters will come after you]

[You completely overwhelmed two celestials with the power of rulership]

[Rulership Assimilation has begun]

[Rulership Assimilation: 0.02%]

[Your Rulership Assimilation will increase the more you use the main traits of the power as a ruler]

[Unsuccessful uses will cause a decrease in Rulership Assimilation]

[Death will cause a decrease in Rulership Assimilation]

[Unknown rewards will be given when Rulership Assimilation reaches a certain %]

[Rewards will be withdrawn if Rulerhsip Assimilation reduces]

[When Rulership Assimilation reaches 100% it is fixed and cannot reduce anymore]

[You have unlocked cosmic reputation]

[Some gods are gossiping about you]

[You have gained +10 cosmic reputation]

[Right now, you are like an ant, even though news of you can now travel through planes, you are still not popular, just an insignificant ant]

Raith looked at everything and scoffed at the last part.

“I see what you did there. Keep trying me okay? Keep doing that.” He mumbled and took another time to look through the notifications.

“Wait, is this all?”

[Certainly?]

“Fuck after killing two archons?”

[Contrary to the usual, you didn’t die while dealing with them. Not even once, there was no concept of failure nor was there any of death. It is impossible for you to grow without these two]

[However, I do admit that there are some feats that can grant you powerful privileges but in the end, your strength and growth only lie in your death and misery]

[For example, you are about to wake up a different person]

[I will help you with a little tip]

[The man you killed, is ten times stronger than Egard-Hearl and Thard-Harl put together]

[This is an opportunity to grow]

[But it is also one that will completely shatter you. There are ways to kill a being apart from death]

[He poses a magnificent ability over time-space contraction, should he find out about your power of death. I reckon it will not be easy]

[You might not die]

[But you might also not live]

[Be very careful]

[Fight as if your life depends on it]

Ting!

[YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NEW TRIAL]

– Trial Of Survival: Survive the assault from the Royal Asura.

QUEST REWARD: Welch’s space key.

QUEST FAILURE: LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

Raith gaped at the words that floated in the air—

“Are you serious?”

[Certainly]

Raith gulped. His heart began to beat faster than usual. He touched his chest and hit it two to three times. “What is this? I feel numb and thirsty”

Raith did not know at this point but for the first time in a long time, he tasted the sourness of fear.

[Do you want to resurrect now?]

“Wait give me a minute. I have a question]

“If I die? There’s no way he can stop me from resurrecting right?”

[Certainly, death is your domain and yours alone]

Raith nodded confidently, his tensed face seemed to have been uplifted a bit by the answer the abyss gave him.

[However, I will advise that you fight not to die each moment because a royal asura is different]

[They are the second to the strongest hierarchy of asuras] 𝓫𝒹ℴ𝓿𝓵.𝓬ℴ𝓶

[They have unfathomable powers]

“Stronger than an archon?”

[Strength in the celestial world is not measured based on the superiority of the race. It is based on one’s accumulated power]

“Just like in Felfhiem”

[Exactly]

Raith stood up and jumped a few times, trying to steady his heartbeat rate.

“Okay, I think I am ready. I can do this.”

[Due to title effect ‘One Who Devours Death’ you will be resurrected]

As said, Raith’s vision opened to the vast expanse of sky. It was peaceful but soon the noise reached him. He flung up wondering who it was that dared to engage a royal asura.

And there they were.

His army.

All of them! Dying for him.

“Do not give up!! With the infinite amount of energy our king has, we can regenerate as we like!!” Antares screamed before leaping into the battlefield again.

The presence of Raith’s army of death had caused darkness to shroud the land, and shadows lingered on the floor, they were many and wild, throwing themselves at the asura without remorse for their lives yet they posed no threat to him.

With one swing of his hand, hundreds of them were transformed into dark smoke, waiting to regenerate again. The ones that were able to make him use two moves were Kortopi and Crimson, who snuck in and snuck out making sure that they avoided his attack.

Even that too was not enough because they could not totally evade, hence every time they snuck in to attack him, their attack was always futile and they always snuck out with either a hole punched through them or their limbs were torn off.

It didn’t matter if they were not able to damage the asura, this was a strategy put in place by Crimson and Antares rubbing heads together and the aim was to wear out the asura in order for Raith to have an easy battle.

There was another phase of the strategy which according to Crimson was bound to have an effect no matter how little.

It involved the wyvern squad— all of them soured out of the shadows lingering below and straight into the sky, casting even deeper darkness upon the lands. It was a spectacle to behold.

Whoosh

Flames rained down on the land, consuming any and everything.