The Ballad of Crystl

CHAPTER 4: Sleep God of Reapers

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"For a universe of reapers, the souls outnumber you by a ratio of 100:1," Index calculates the current statistics of the probability of some uncertainties. "Princess Strotus Darling, I suggest that you'd convert certain criminals into soul reapers like you."

"We haven't thought about that since father was in charge," Princess Darling, while slaying off some cannibals in her way, gives a thought about it. "However, I don't have any idea about the one who'll be in charge of us... so..."

"Your highness," Index alerts her. "Do you know that guy 3 kilometers straight ahead? I can sense high amounts of power."

"Master Evva, the warden," the princess confirms her identity. "She has the power of imprisonment."

"Are you going to engage?" Index checks the perimeter. "We are already in a cage as of this moment.

It seems like the cannibals are aware of the situation the would unfold. Evva has already locked herself with her and is prepared to fight to the death. The barrier is thick that none of the cannibals can penetrate. This reaper cannibal is prepared alright...

"It seems that I have no choice but to engage," the princess takes a deep breath. "Guide me, Index."

"Long time... no see... your highness," Evva walks towards her and abruptly stops halfway through. "Do you like my birdcage?"

"You look nothing like your previous appearance, but you actually grew stronger," Princess Darling prepares to fight. "I can't say that I like it..."

"This birdcage reminds me of the music video from the song Elastic Heart by Sia," Index inspects the area of the circle. "Don't mind me, your highness. That woman does not hear me at all."

Actually, Index is functioning as an AI like Cortana from the game series Halo or Jarvis and Friday in the Marvel movies, although he is the Sleep God of Knowledge and Wisdom... but hey, he can do this shit and he doesn't fight so his task is to guide the protagonists like Princess Darling over here. So, back to the fight...

"I consider this new appearance as an upgrade," Evva sounds erratic while explaining. It gives one the feeling that she is addicted to what she is doing... cannibalism by means of eating souls. "Grim Reapers are pictured as scary skeleton-like beings dressed in black holding a scythe... I like how the mortals picture us..."

"Actually princess before you reply to her, let me give you a background about the concept of grim reapers," Index knowledgeably educates the princess. "In the right part of the verse, those who believe in God, who is actually Reax the Creator, the grim reaper popped up during the ones they called the Black Death or the unsanitary age of these people who are still lacking knowledge to become very civilized individuals. They actually call it as the Bubonic Plague that time and that the grim reaper appeared not to be holding a scythe but a sickle-"

"Index, this is not the right time..." the princess halts him.

"You are talking to someone else," Evva looks around disappointed. "I can only see the two of us... or do you have a device on your ear or are you using telepathy? Who is Index?"

"It'll take too long to explain," she changes to her fighting stance. "I won't be beating around the bush any longer..."

"You are not going to use the eternal weapon, I see..." Evva brings out her own weapons. "These two daggers were forged from the stalactites and stalagmites of this universe. They may not be the same as that eternal weapon, but the one who uses them."

"I'm not going to use the eternal weapon to beat you," Princess Darling makes her move and charges at her. "The eternal weapon recognizes me as its wielder because it knows when it is supposed to be used. My eternal weapon, Midnight-of-War, only wants to be used if my enemy had an eternal weapon as well..."