Chapter 27 – The Extra Help
The shockwaves intensity lasted for over a minute before dying down. Despite not being pushed back murderously, the excruciating pain did not wane. When the chains started to become less rigid in their hold, the brightness of the entire chamber started to fade down. After what felt like ages for the environment to come back to normal, a couple of minutes passed. Unable to see his surroundings, the reaper chains let go of him and whipped back into the ground.
"…" Jin said standing in severe agony. Hyperventilating, he cringed his face and pressed his teeth together murderously. Unable to feel anything except what his current body and mind felt, individuals behind him stood up and looked around him.
"…Wow…so this is the capability of a Breaker…" Haurette stated impressed.
"Yes. I think Eve made a good pick from this gunslinger," Lamia replied also feeling the same way.
"Of course I did. Don't you think so darling?" Eve said with a smug on her face.
When all the demons let go of him, the gunner fell flat on his face and stomach. They heard him lurch and saw blood oozing out of all possible openings. The ears, mouth, nose, eyes, fingernails, toenails, belly button, the rear, and the front had crimson dripping from them. He gritted his teeth murderously and mildly thrashed himself on the ground. After a few of minutes grunting in suffering, he slowly crawled to be on his hands and knees.
[…] Selbith messaged watching him gingerly try to stand up. He couldn't, but was able to sit on his knees. Seeing his tortured look, he leaned forward. Putting too weak fists on the ground, he held himself up and continued to breathe.
"He he he…he always makes amusing faces," the serpent demon stated licking her lips.
"Mmm…I hope you are sharing him Eve," the fire devil said eyeing the gunslinger. "He looks delicious."
"Oh darling!" Eve exclaimed happily.
Embracing him, she did not mind all the blood on him or that came out. Jin couldn't think straight as the pain throughout his body felt like needles stabbing him. There was also a burning sensation over his body as well that numbed him. Eventually, he was able to calm down his breathing. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his gloved hands, he opened them a little. A reddish lens occupied his sight. Blinking a couple of times, the redness slowly faded away.
Looking at his meters in the HUD, it was a bit nerve racking. All of them were flashing. He wasn't near death; however, he was pretty battered and bruised. All of his senses were out of balance too. Oddly, he could have sworn that he did die when he was hit by that supernova like explosion.
Blinking and cringing from achiness, he saw movement in front of him. Focusing, he saw all the demons looking at him. Seeing them opening their mouths and talking, he couldn't understand them from not hearing anything still. Too out of it to feel alarmed, he saw a message.
[…you alive?] Selbith asked.
[…I think so…I feel sick and weak…]
[You did bleed in a lot of places.]
[…I don't want to know where…]
[Best if you didn't]
Bringing up his item menu, he selected health potions, magic potions, and energy drink. He didn't have a whole lot but there was enough to get all the meters to stop flashing. Recovering a little bit, he was able to stand up. Still aching all over, he wasn't incapacitated which was better overall. His senses recovered to a certain extent.
"Feeling a bit better darling?" Eve asked.
"…sort of…are you all alright?"
"He he. Yes. That was quite a feat breaker," the fire demon stated.
"…yeah…some imagination this game has."
"Yes. The creators were just as enthusiastic creating the world as they were making us," Lamia replied with a smirk.
"…right…enthusiastic to create and lock you up at the same time," he said with a stiff expression.
[It does seem that way.]
"…I guess…we move on then?" the gunslinger asked.
"For the time being gunslinger," the sea demon stated. Watching her, she moved behind him and gave him an affectionate squeeze. Before he could react, she faded away.
"I look forward to our next outing Breaker," Haurette said.
Standing in front of him, she caressed his face. As much as he wanted to recoil away, he stood in place. She had the same presence as Eve when getting closer. A corrupted feeling seemed to reach out from under her skin. She giggled seeing his facial expression then faded from existence. Still affected by the strange and dark sensation, something eerie stood behind him. He turned around slowly having a fair idea who it was.
"Darling—"
[You are not going to drain him you damn wrench!] the reaper message cutting the other off.
"Ignore her darling…let me heal you all better," Eve said cupped his face.
For once, she looked normal in his drained state. However, letting his guard down actually showed the level of eeriness in her eyes. The closer she got to his face, her hellish presence grew making her eyes shine differently. Snapping out the daze, he was too weak to break out of her hold and escape. He turned his head the last second making Eve kiss his cheek. Pain shot through his spine from the quick movement.
"Someday darling…we'll be doing more than just this," the she-deviled cooed and pressed herself against him. "Seeing you in this state…I wouldn't mind giving you a little demonstration of bonding."
[…ugh…you make me sick!] Selbith messaged and whipped out her scythe. Oddly, the blade sliced through one of the pillar platforms while she was in her ghost form.
"Thanks Eve…but I'm feeling better already," Jin replied weakly. Swallowing down the lump in his throat, the trepidation seemed to be dulling the pain.
"You know…a little goes a long way…you know?"
"Mmm…if you say so darling…" the she-devil whispered lovely. Feeling his skin litter with goosebumps, she gave him one last squeeze.
"Dream about me."
When the last physical formed demon was gone, he shuttered visibly. Sighing out loud, he looked a little less stressed and in pain. Turning around, both he and Selbith looked back at where the black hole was. Half of the chamber was missing, but it was a bit startling. It was in a form like the game programmers forgot to add that piece in. In fact, the magma pool remaining was not falling to the newly created abyss.
[What an odd looking void…what is that?]
"…best guess was that the black hole ripped the space and time from that area. So now it is in suspension."
[…interesting…I wonder if this power is capable of destroying the heavens]
"Or hell for that matter."
[…yes…if that is your choosing]
"…" Jin said shivering from the slight and turned around. Feeling the death spirit merge back into his body, he only blinked from the sensation. Wondering if he was still too numb, he shook his head. Gingerly going from platform to platform, he eventually exited the chamber.
The rapid magma column room was silent with no rising of molten rock. Walking to the walkway to the left, an overall sensation came over him. Entering the chamber with the magma floor, it never changed from its glass form. Moving to the next passageway lead to the liquid rock wave room; however, nothing came. The only sound that he could hear was the gravel being stepped on under his feet.
[Feels awfully quiet in here] he messaged looking cautiously around.
[That being you defeated was probably the source of all the magma in this dungeon] Selbith replied back.
[That makes sense…wonder if that stopped all the lava flow above]
[…that is possible…if that thing was the source]
[You don't think so?]
[The size of the flow around the town came from a distance and not underground]
[…hmm…you are right. The lava was flowing from a wall opening]
[Of course I am right]
[Curious] he messaged. Both reached the first magma chamber. It was lifeless as the other ones they walked through. He started walking toward the staircase passageway.
[Does this setting remind you of your imprisonment?]
[…to a degree…yes…why?]
[Trying to figure out why you were placed in confinement and heavily guarded when you are not a "pure" reaper. If you were seen as inferior and that there are so many Grim Reapers around, why weren't you…you know…erased?]
[…] Selbith messaged. Enter the pathway, he could feel the demon open and close her mouth a couple of times. Focusing back ahead of him, he could feel she was contemplating while having a growing lost sensation.
Reaching the spiraling staircase, it was completely closed off by fallen red stone and bedrock. Heading back to the first chamber he looked at the magma holes. The "Stalker" window opened up and stated that there was a hidden passageway in one of the gaps. Closing the window, he walked into it. Reaching it and looking inside, there was still a smell of molten rock.
The hidden tunnel was seen. Walking toward it, its passageway got narrower and limited moving around once in. Walking forward for a while, Selbith had yet to message anything. Keeping his mouth closed, she was radiating different emotions. Feeling the same sensations, she seemed to be lost, frustrated, and uneasy.
Seeing something up ahead, there was an opening. Going through it, there was a small circular room with red stone surrounding the walls. Nothing was on the floor. Looking up, there was light far above him. Feeling the bedrock around him for protrusions, there seemed to be none.
Transforming into his Grim Reaper form, he hovered upward quickly. By the time he went through the opening and was on a flooring, he changed back to his human form. Dusting himself, he felt many eyes on him and noticed that he was in a large room. Blinking, he looked up and saw everyone, AI and players, in the room were staring at him like he did something unheard of. Looking at what he came out of, it was a well.
"…" he said.
Turning back toward them, everyone still looked shocked. Giving a small smile and a quick wave, he suddenly vanished. At the exit door, he opened and closed it quickly. Now outside in town, he could sense a ticking time bomb of commotion about to occur. Finding a shadow to his right, he leaped into it and enabled sneak. Just afterwards, the well room door burst open with multiple players drawing out their weapons.
"Wha? Where is he?!"
"How could a Grim Reaper transform into a human?"
"I don't know. I do know that if we defeat it, it will be massive experience points. Probably go up two or three levels on the spot."
"Did you see what that guy was welding?"
"Uh-uh. He looked unarmed to me and I didn't see a scythe on his back either."
"Let's seek and destroy guys! Maybe the locals will reward us as well!"
The warriors passed him by never noticing the shadow in front of them. When the coast was clear, the gunslinger stepped out of the shadow and made a quick dash to the outer wall. Once there, he ran the perimeter to the back part of a small house near the town entrance. Peering out and looking to see if anyone was looking, the fighters were slowly making their way toward his location.
Running to the entrance, he rounded the corner and bolted down the walkway doubling his speed. Reaching the warp gate area, he hid behind the teleport and crouched. Opening up the profile menu, he saved and exited the game.
[…saving complete…]
Back in the ambient menu settings, he sighed in relief. Thinking about what would happen if he logged out; the remembrance of being in the giant fireball chamber came to mind. Feeling apprehension, he steeled and prepared himself. Going to the log out button, it was grayed out.
"…" Jin said and put a hand over his face. "…now what…"
[You will be connecting the cable to both devices…right?]
"…yeah…"
[Good…just checking.]
After logging out, he removed the headset and grabbed the cable. Hooking up both the helmet and the cell phone, and uploading screen came on the mobile. Putting on his glasses and rushing quietly out of his room to the bathroom, the side effects from the game took hold. His skin felt damp as if he suddenly dripping with sweat. Already use to most of the after math of playing the game, the black and white hole shockwave pounded him murderously.
Putting his head in the toilet, his insides felt squirmy. Everything on his body felt very tingly and had a mild burning sensation that slowly increased. Nothing came out of his stomach which was a plus. A phantom feeling of blood oozing out of all openings in his skin came and made him feel queasy. As the sensation of oozing everywhere continued, he couldn't take it anymore and threw up in the toilet. After several minutes of getting use to the feeling, he stood up shaky and finished his business.
Outside on the main road, a sedan pulled on to the gravel road toward resident homes in the rural area. It slowly went by the first home and came to a stop. The overhead light in the car was turned on from the driver seat. The person opened up a vanilla envelop that had a set of instructions in it. Pulling it and reading it, he closed it. Putting the message in the glove compartment, he started putting on black gloves and a ski mask.
Walking back to his room while brushing his teeth, he saw the download was completed. There was a message icon that appeared.
[You there Jin?]
[Yeah. Transfer okay?]
[For the most part…(0.-)…why are you sawing your teeth?]
[…it's a brush…used to clean my teeth]
[Do you have a nasty mouth?]
[…(-_-)…no. It is just a part of the daily routine.]
[Your mortals' hygiene are rather disgusting]
'Your mortals' hygiene is rather disgusting,' Jin thought in a mocking voice with a straight face. Narrowing his eyes a little at his phone and continuing to brush his teeth.
[…whatever…] he messaged.
Finishing and cleaning out his mouth, he took his phone out of the bathroom. About to go to his room, something foreboding came over him. Analyzing the worry, it felt like someone was on the premises. He still hadn't recovered from the night the hit men came and tried to kill him in his sleep. Turning off the light in the restroom, he looked down the stairs.
[…Jin?]
Selbith noticed that he wasn't going to his room. Seeing him slowly and quietly go down the steps, he got to the ground level. Walking into the room to his right, he slowly moved near the window. Getting an up shot view of his face, the moonlight dully lit his face. Seeing him being sneaky, he peered out the window.
[What are you doing?] she messaged and vibrated the phone. The scene changed suddenly and saw him move again. He went into another room and another upshot view of his face was barely seen. Despite the little illumination, she did see him instantly panic and start to sweat.
[W-What is it? What's going on?] the reaper messaged again. She vibrated the phone for a longer duration. She stopped when she saw him look at the phone and begin to text.
[There is someone outside on the premises dressed in all black with a face mask.]
[…(0.0)…sounds like an assassin]
[Damn it…not another one] he stated and looked out the window again.
[…(o_o)…your life has been tempted before?]
[Yeah…he's moving] he said lowering his head a little.
[Let me see.]
[Kay…just kill the screen light or turn the background to a dark tone so it isn't so bright.]
After doing so, he raised the phone to his eye level. Both of them could see a shadow figure slowly walk behind the garage. Shortly, he appeared on the other side with a ladder in hand. The spirit saw the scene change and the male quickly and quietly went up the stairs. He entered his room and left the door open ajar. Moving to the window, the sophomore peered down it moving the phone camera in the same direction.
Both saw the shadow figure set up the ladder to his room. Before she could message anything, the environment moved. Placing the cell on the nightstand, it was facing him. Selbith saw him work quickly and quietly grabbing extra blankets from his closet. Taking those, he stuffed them under his bed covers and stretched the sheets over the pillows. It gave a make shift appearance that someone was in bed sleeping.
Quickly, the teen moved to the adjacent corner that was left of the window. At the same time, the window quietly opened. Holding his breath, both saw the shadow figure enter the room silently. Not tripping on anything, the individual walked toward the bed. The hit man reached into his jacket and pulled out a syringe.
Swiftly, he stabbed the hump in the bed and injected. Putting the needle away, he then pulled out piano wire. Hovering over the bump, he slowly descended at the pillow area. At the same time, the door opened up catching the assassin by surprise. It was an adult female.
"Jin…are you alright? You rarely leave your-!?"
She saw a dark figure hovering over her son's bed with wire in his hands. The hit man mentally swore thinking that the woman was going to scream. The female was surprised and terrified; however, she put a hand on her chest and one on her throat. That indicated that her voice was lost when in fear. Observing that information, he then needed to take care of the woman before dealing the teen.
He proceeded to get off the bed toward the door when something hard and heavy slammed into the back of his head. Another strike happened before he registered it and fell to the ground. The woman blinked in surprised and saw a dark silhouette standing in the room holding something and breathing erratically. She felt for the light switch and turned it on.
The overhead light in the room turned on and blinded both her and the teen. When their eyes adjusted, she saw Jin was the silhouette. He was still standing over the all-in-black man on the floor with a dumbbell in hand. Observing him, her son was a bit pale and shaking a little. He reached for his bed and sat down dropping the weight on the floor. She came to him with tears and sat next to him.
"Oh thank god you are safe!" she said with scared relief. Holding on to him, she wondered how frighten he was. Her train of thought stopped hearing him call her.
"…hey…mom?"
"Yes Jin. Mom is here."
"We should call the police, right?"
"Oh, yes. We should do that. I will—what is it Jin?" she asked. He put a hand on her arm and turned to her.
"Before you do that…can I make a suggestion?"
After explaining it to his mother, she looked at him perplexed. When he stated the reason, she understood but still was puzzled. She went into the living room and dialed for the police. At the same time, the spectacle teen removed the mask and took a picture of the man's face. Putting the face cover back on, he pocketed his phone then got the man into a fireman's carry. Making sure nothing was dropped, he slowly went down the stairs.
His mother finished calling the police and hanged up the phone. She turned to see him carrying the man easily. Both put on shoes and went outside. An unfamiliar car was seen nearby and they walked to it. Upon getting next to the sedan, they found it was unlocked. While Jin placed the unconscious man in the driver seat, the female went over to the passenger side and opened the glove compartment.
There were many papers sacked on top of each other so she picked the top one. It was a vanilla envelop. Upon opening and reading the contents, she let out a sharp breath and looked in horror at her son. He was unaware of her staring as he finished placing the man in the driver seat. She bit her lower lip and closed the envelope. Looking for the return address, there was none listed. The person that wrote the message indicated themselves as "HAGC".
"What's that mom?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing much. Just personal mail."
When she came to the other side, she placed the envelope on the man's stomach. Both went back into the house and waited for the police to show up. They came and stopped next to the unfamiliar car. The police woke the man up and asked him questions. Whatever was crossed between the dark clothed man and the law enforcers caused the man to be taken out of the car and searched.
In the end, the hit man was handcuffed and taken away from the police. One of the officers came to the house and asked questions to both of them. After finishing and seeing the peacekeepers leave, the two sat on the couch in the living room. No words were passed between them as time continued. Jin felt the phone vibrate, but didn't react to it.
"Are you alright Jin?"
"…at the moment…not really…you?"
"…no…I'm still in shock from what almost happened."
"…makes sense…"
"…is…is there anything I can provide to make you feel better?"
"Like what mom?"
"Well…I can give you comfort."
"…" he replied with a mild grunt.
"…I could ask if you'd provide me comfort."
"…" he grunted again then looked at her.
"Is that embarrassing because I'm your mother?"
"Aren't I too old to be doing that? Besides, isn't dad supposed to do the comforting for you," he stated quietly then immediately held up his hands. "No offense mom."
"…given the circumstances…I don't think age is important…or how one should act at a certain age," Mrs. Ainsley she said softly. Reaching out to him, she pulled him into a hug.
"…I'm sorry…I…feel my emotions are messing my thinking a bit."
"…" Jin said. Normally he would frown from family affection, but he didn't. Instead, he hugged her back.
"I can understand."
"…would you…would you mind if I asked you for something?" she whispered.
"…okay…?" he asked. Seeing her looking at his face, he blinked remembering that expression long ago.
"I know when you reached a certain age in grade school, you didn't like all the motherly things I use to do when you were younger."
"…yes…that is normal…" he said feeling guarded.
"I remember when you gave an equal amount of affection back…you were so adorable and cute," she said smiling and petting his hair.
"…" the sophomore grunted. Looking at something to his left, his felt red with embarrassment.
"Did you know that a couple of the other mothers accused me of being too explicit with you?"
"…yeah…"
"You did?" his mother asked in surprise.
"…my classmates kept calling me names for being…close to you I guess."
"…!?" she said astonished and a little upset. "If you were in fourth and higher grades then I would understand. But this was when you were in first grade!?"
"…" he said not knowing what to say. "…I'm sorry…"
"Damn those women," she muttered then took a deep breath. "Well…at least that gives a more concrete reason of why you suddenly had to mature."
"Why would grown women do that?" he asked a little curious.
"Jealousy."
"…what…?" Jin stated with a deadpan expression.
"More likely it was jealousy…I mean, who wouldn't be," his mother stated with smile. Placing a hand on her cheek, she sighed joyously.
"When you gave your speech to the class about your most important person when all the other parents were present, you said it was me with a confident smile on your face," she stated and gave him a warm hug. "You made my heart swell so much that day when you stated you wanted to marry me in front of the class. You sly dog."
"…god…please don't remind me of that…" he stated with a groan. Hearing her giggle, his face was cherry red in embarrassement.
"W-Well…we should probably try to get…some sleep."
"Are you offering to be a body pillow?"
"…I didn't say that…"
"You know…you use to-"
"Yes. I know. I use to. Please stop," he stated hearing her giggling more. She let go of him in which he relaxed a little.
"You know as your mother…I have to tease you."
"…" Jin said grunting and frowning.
"Your bashful side is a bit cute."
"Whoop-dido."
"I think I feel calmer now…thank you Jin," she said. Leaning forward, she kissed his forehead.
"…you're welcome mom…"
"Can I get one?" she asked and saw him narrow his eyes at her. It only made her smile wider as she placed her hands together as if praying.
"Pretty please? It be the last-" the woman requested. She stopped talking when Jin leaned forward and kissed her on her left cheek. Watching him lean back and stare at the ground, he looked up. Narrowing his eyes again at her, she grinned.
"Such a handsome display. Cut me off in mid-sentence."
"…you are enjoying this too much…aren't you?" Jin said not amused.
"He he he…you think so?" Mrs. Ainsley stated standing up. "I'll head off to bed…or do you need company?"
"You are not being cute mom," he said standing up.
"If it pushes your buttons to express yourself, then I am doing my job as your mother," she said was genuine smile. Giving him a small wave, she headed up the stairs to her room.
"…" Jin said with a scowl on his face. Hearing her door close quietly, he blinked.
"…women…"
Heading toward the stairs, he went up to his room. Once inside and closing the door behind him, he stared at the floor. Remembering the place where the assassin was, the images of what transpired replayed in his mind. Not too affected as he was when it happened, he didn't feel like sleeping. Remembering that his phone vibrated, he looked up the message on the phone.
[What happen to the assassin?]
[Authorities took him away.]
[You should have killed him]
[The laws here aren't like the ones in the game world]
[So what. If a being gave intent to take life, you as a reaper should reward them and take theirs]
[…(-_-)…]
[Don't tell me you are affected by this?]
[What do you mean Selbith?]
[You are still trembling. I can feel you shaking the phone as well seeing everything shaking]
[…death here is different from the game realm…]
[What do you mean?]
[I can respawn if I die in the game…In the real world…I can't.]
[…that means if you perish outside the realm…I will cease to exist.]
[…if no one plays gunslinger…then yes.]
[…I see…how weak you really are]
[Well…like you have said before…I am a mortal]
[…who were you talking to?]
[My mom]
[Why was she clingy to you?]
[…I am guessing it is because she thought I was murdered by the assassin]
[…I see…is that…normal behavior?]
[For a parent…yeah…why?]
[…I have no concept of human relations or parental relations…]
[I…see] Jin messaged feeling that the conversation seemed awkward. Before he could think about what to do next, Selbith continued with another message.
[Based on the time, you would be sleeping now]
[That is true…but I don't want to go to sleep]
[…are you expecting me to do something?]
[Expecting?]
[…]
[What are you driving at?]
[…nothing…]
[You okay?]
[I said it was nothing!]
[…(-.o)…kay…] he messaged. Going to his bed, he stared at it. Lifting the bed cover, one of the blankets had a wet spot from when the hit man injected into the bed. Grabbing the one that was dry and a pillow, he put the bed cover back on. Laying on top of it, he put the blanket over him. Setting the pillow behind his head and the phone next to his head, he tried to get to sleep.