The Role of the Reaper

It had been years since I'd last thought about my parents. The weight of their memory often lingered in the recesses of my mind, but here and now, there was no room for sentimentality. My mission came first.

Six more relics remained to be found in this sprawling labyrinth of stone and shadow.

"Wait…"

I crouched near a cluster of tangled roots, my instincts kicking in. Something glinted faintly in the dim light. With a careful tug, I uncovered a bundle of tarnished metal trinkets wrapped in decayed fabric.

"M-Mother…"

The small child at my side stared, his eyes brimming with fresh tears. The realization hit me like a whisper in the dark—this was all that remained of his family. I paused, torn between my duty and the pang of empathy I seldom acknowledged.

But sympathy wouldn't bring her back.

"You'll have time to grieve later," I muttered, brushing the dirt from my gauntlets. With a flick of my wrist, I stowed the relics. "We still have work to do."

The boy clung to me silently, a fragile thread in this world's tapestry of death and despair. It would've been easier to leave him behind, but something in his gaze stopped me.

Purification of the Abyss

"A cursed land tainted by Abyssal energies must undergo Purification. Flames infused with sanctified essence or elemental purity are required to cleanse the corruption. Failure to do so will allow Abyssal entities to reemerge."

The system prompt flashed before me, and I pulled a flask of cerulean oil from my satchel. The shimmering liquid within reflected faint ethereal sparks—evidence of its divine properties. I began dousing the area liberally, the boy watching curiously.

"This isn't for show, kid," I said, lighting a spark with a snap of my fingers.

The flames roared to life, consuming the tainted ground in moments. Tendrils of black smoke clawed at the ceiling, dissipating into nothingness.

[Purification: 5%]

[Purification: 12%]

Each blaze edged the progress higher, but the effort left the air chokingly thick. I coughed, the acrid stench burning my lungs as I quickened my pace through the maze-like corridors.

"Cover your mouth," I instructed the child. He complied, his small hands trembling against the soot-streaked cloth.

A Flicker of Humanity

It wasn't long before the final embers of my task illuminated the path out of the caverns. My steps quickened as the faint light of the surface called to me, a promise of reprieve from the suffocating darkness.

"You okay?" I asked the boy, his coughing subsiding as we reached the exit.

"…Mom's with the stars now, right?"

His voice cracked, fragile and uncertain. For a moment, the silence between us stretched long and heavy.

"Yes," I answered finally. "She'll always watch over you."

His tears fell freely, yet he managed a small nod.

Adventurer's Guild

The bustling sounds of the Adventurer's Guild greeted us upon our return, a stark contrast to the quiet of the sewers. The clerk at the reception desk raised an eyebrow as I approached, the child clutching my arm.

"Another job well done, I presume?" she said, her tone laced with mild sarcasm.

I deposited the boy gently before her, then unceremoniously dumped the bundle of keepsakes onto the counter.

"These belong to the workers who didn't make it out," I said, keeping my voice level. "The kid's their only survivor. You can handle the rest."

Her eyes widened as she took in the scene, her usually stoic demeanor cracking for just a moment. She glanced at the boy before nodding briskly.

"We'll take care of him," she assured me, motioning for another clerk to escort the child away.

[Mission: Abyssal Cleansing Completed!]

[Subquests Completed: 13/13]

[Optional Objective: Survivor Rescued - Complete!]

A cascade of notifications filled my vision as the quest rewards poured in.

"Your payment, Adventurer," the clerk said, sliding a sealed pouch across the counter. I peeked inside to find 600,000 Astari, the currency glinting in the soft glow of the guild's enchanted lights.

"I see the guild doesn't skimp on rewards," I remarked dryly.

"We don't," she replied with a faint smile.

Reflection

As I stepped back into the twilight streets, the weight of the day's events settled on my shoulders. The echoes of the boy's cries lingered in my mind, a faint reminder of the humanity I so often buried beneath my role as the Reaper.

For now, the city slept peacefully, the shadows held at bay.

But the Abyss never truly rests.

.the Hobgoblin straight through the heart. Its glowing eyes widened in shock before dimming, its cane falling from its hands. The piercing wail of the surrounding Goblins echoed as though their morale had been shattered with the death of their leader.

I withdrew my Zweihänder with a satisfying squelch, black blood gushing from the wound.

"Kieeek!"

The Goblins around me hesitated for a moment, their movements faltering. Sensing the shift in their demeanor, I pressed my advantage, moving with the relentless precision of a predator.

Slash.

One Goblin's head flew off its shoulders.

Thud.

Another was cleaved cleanly in half as I stepped forward, my footfalls heavy with purpose.

Even with the Hobgoblin's death, the battle wasn't over. From the corner of my eye, I noticed several Dholes circling the wagons, their glowing eyes predatory and calculating. They weren't mindless beasts; they were waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"I won't let you." My voice was low but carried an edge of menace.

I readied my Zweihänder, channeling energy into the blade. The weapon responded, dark energy crackling along its edge. With a swift, calculated swing, I sent a wave of energy surging forward, cutting through the approaching Dholes. Their bodies collapsed mid-leap, lifeless.

"Phew…" I exhaled sharply, scanning the battlefield.

「Subquest Update: Number of Survivors: 45 / 52」

More had survived than I'd initially expected, but there were still too many variables to guarantee their safety. My gaze darted to the wagons, where frightened faces peeked out from behind makeshift barricades. They were outnumbered but holding their ground.

"Kieeek!"

The Goblins regrouped, their numbers still formidable despite my efforts. The remaining Olgoi-khorkhoi slithered ominously, their paralyzing poison a lingering threat.

"I suppose I'll have to end this quickly," I muttered, gripping my Zweihänder tightly.

I reached for the small pouch on my belt, pulling out a vial of crimson liquid. It was a high-grade health potion, one of the few I'd been saving. Without hesitation, I downed it, the warm liquid coursing through me, rejuvenating my strength and nullifying the poison in my veins.

"Now, let's finish this."

What followed was a flurry of motion. My blade sang through the air, cutting down Goblins, Dholes, and Olgoi-khorkhoi with ruthless efficiency. My movements were precise, each swing of my Zweihänder maximizing damage while minimizing wasted energy. The battlefield was chaotic, but I thrived in the chaos, my instincts guiding me as though I were born for this.

"Behind you!" someone shouted.

I turned just in time to see a Goblin lunging at me with a jagged dagger. I sidestepped, pivoting on my heel, and drove the hilt of my sword into its chest, sending it sprawling to the ground. Without missing a beat, I brought the blade down, ending its life.

The survivors rallied behind me, emboldened by my presence. Those who had been cowering in the wagons began to fight back, throwing rocks, using makeshift weapons, and even lighting torches to ward off the Goblins.

**「 People in Danger

∎ Move to the battle site ✅

∎ Raiders eliminated: 46 / 50

∎ Subquest - Number of Survivors: 47 / 52」**

Four more. I tightened my grip on my sword. The end was in sight, but I couldn't afford to relax just yet.

The final wave of enemies surged forward, led by a towering Hobgoblin wielding a massive club. Its body was covered in crude armor, and its eyes burned with malice.

"So, the real boss shows up," I muttered, a smirk playing on my lips. "Let's see what you've got."

The Hobgoblin roared, swinging its club with enough force to splinter a wagon in one blow. I ducked under the attack, the ground trembling from the impact, and countered with an upward slash aimed at its exposed side.

Clang!

The blow glanced off its armor, leaving a shallow cut.

"Stubborn, aren't you?" I muttered, dodging another swing.

I needed to find a weak spot. Circling the Hobgoblin, I observed its movements, waiting for an opening. The survivors watched in awe, their hope rekindled as they saw me go toe-to-toe with the monstrous foe.

Finally, I saw my chance. The Hobgoblin raised its club high, leaving its torso unguarded. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance, driving my Zweihänder into its chest with all my strength.

"Die already!" I growled, twisting the blade for maximum damage.

The Hobgoblin let out a guttural roar, its massive frame collapsing as black blood poured from its wound.

「Raiders eliminated: 50 / 50 ✅」

「Subquest - Number of Survivors: 47 / 52 ✅」

The remaining enemies scattered, their morale broken with the death of their leader. I stood amidst the carnage, blood dripping from my blade, my chest heaving from exertion.

"Victory to my blade…" I whispered, the adrenaline slowly fading.

Cheers erupted from the survivors as they climbed down from the wagons, their faces filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, warrior!" one of them said, clasping my hand.

I nodded silently, sheathing my Zweihänder. My job here was done, but this was only a small victory in a much larger war.

I turned to leave, the shadows of the forest swallowing me once more.