Grim Reaper
A Grim Reaper.
This being was no ordinary monster.
From another dimension.
An aberrant entity that had seeped in from there.
Thus, the Grim Reaper wasn't simply a creature of immense power.
Death.
It embodied the very essence of death itself.
As a wielder of death's power beyond mere physical might, it exuded a chilling aura that could freeze the air around it just by manifesting its presence.
"Shiiik, shik—."
That was why Nagatara, the one leading the Grim Reaper to the Dragon's Lair, felt like it was dying.
Among aberrant entities, it had thought this one possessed the weakest power.
But up close, the Grim Reaper radiated an aura of terror that transcended mere strength.
In truth, this was nothing compared to what it could be.
Sususuusuk.
Black, thick fog extended from the Grim Reaper's body.
Not mere shadow, but death's energy laden with fear and despair.
Normally, mere proximity would gradually paralyze the will, seep bone-deep apathy and terror into one's core.
Even life force would drain away.
But now, the Grim Reaper was deliberately suppressing its aura.
It couldn't let its self-appointed guide collapse under the pressure.
"Shiiik— shik—."
Even so, Nagatara struggled against even the faint traces leaking out.
Its breaths came harsher than usual.
As Nagatara's vitality slowly ebbed and its face paled,
A lush green expanse began to shimmer in the distance.
"Tsurururung—!"
That place... it's there...
Nagatara perked up, and the Grim Reaper uttered a voice like rumbling through a cavern.
Dark flames flickered in the Grim Reaper's hollow black eyes.
Sasasasasasak!
They accelerated.
In an instant, they arrived before Elatrium.
I sense it... the young... hatchling's... aura...
The black flames in the Grim Reaper's eyes curved like a crescent moon.
From the side, it was a grotesquely eerie sight that would raise goosebumps.
"Tsu, tsurit."
Nagatara's neck shrank further.
Sususuk.
The Grim Reaper approached Elatrium.
Dark fog thickened around it, and with each step, the ground withered, nearby grasses drying to dust.
An unclean... being... has come...
What... business... brings you here...?
The dormant Elatria opened their eyes.
They displayed an intense wariness never shown to any before.
Clear... the path... withered... tree spirits...
A cavernous low tone echoed chillingly.
With it, thick dark energy surged from beneath the Grim Reaper's feet.
An aura driving all life toward death and despair.
The ground it trod stained black, tendrils reaching toward Elatrium.
Kuwaaaaa!
Then, fierce winds whipped through Elatrium.
Begone... unclean... one.
You seek to... steal even this land's... life...
This place... you shall never... breach.
Kwaduduk, kwadududuk!
Green waves surged violently.
Elatria roots burst from the earth, intertwining into a barrier.
Like a fortified fence.
A resolute will permitting no intrusion.
Fools... hastening your own... demise...
A scythe of darkness materialized in the Grim Reaper's hand.
It raised the scythe high, gathering icy terror.
Saaaaaa!
The air screamed.
Chwak!
Death Wave
Dark waves spread toward Elatrium's Forest Ward.
Saaaaaa!!!
The forest ward began to darken.
Some roots forming the barrier blackened and burned, engulfed in death's energy.
Aaaaaah...!
Gruuuuuh...
The Elatria groaned in agony, branches trembling.
"Tsuririririt!!"
Then, Nagatara, who had been biding its time, lunged.
Flash.
Kuwaaaaa——!!!!
Breath erupted from its gaping maw.
Previously, it hadn't even scratched the forest ward.
But now was different.
Jeojeojeojeok!!!
It struck true on the burning roots.
They tore apart, and the Elatria screamed once more.
Hold the line... we permit... no intrusion...
Rotate... the front...!
Yet the Elatria did not yield.
Fresh Elatria stepped forward from the rear, rebuilding the sturdy barrier.
Will you drag... our entire kin... to death...?
At that sight, the Grim Reaper growled low, raising its dark scythe again.
Their resistance was futile.
It would only delay the inevitable.
Eventually, all Elatria would rot before death's aura.
But then.
Jiiiiiing!!
A dimensional tremor from within the Elatria.
......!
The Grim Reaper's eyes twitched.
It sensed a being wielding dimensional power amid the Elatria.
A force only accessible at a certain level of rank.
Proof of an entity even the Grim Reaper couldn't underestimate.
"Tsuriririt!"
Then, oblivious Nagatara advanced, mouth gaping wide again.
Excited by its successful strike, it prepared another breath.
Archeron. Intruder identified. Incineration procedure initiated.
A low, faint mechanical tone rang in Nagatara's mind—a warning bell for stepping forward.
But it was far too late to retreat.
Intimidation activated.
Annihilation Beam targeted.
Nagatara's body froze.
Flash.
Kuwaaaaa——
Nagatara's final memory was a red flash before its thoughts ceased.
Because.
Kung!!!
No head remained to think.
A... guardian... I see...
The Grim Reaper murmured lowly at Nagatara's headless corpse.
Twaaaek! Kuwoong!!
As if in response, a small magic golem gleaming with black sheen appeared before the Grim Reaper.
A magic-powered combat golem... a frequent... guardian of Dragon's Lairs...
The Grim Reaper recognized Archeron.
Archeron. Measuring intruder's combat power.
......
Measurement complete.
Combat Stance Lv4 activated.
Jiiiiing.
Urururur.
Magic circuits etched on Archeron's surface brimmed with intense mana, fiercer than ever.
Exhaust from its raging energy core spilled red aura.
Shoulder and arm cannons extended outward, mounting fully.
Powerful magic energy emitters revealed on hands and feet.
Its frame armored thickly in adamantium plating.
Archeron's eyes and core shifted from red to deep purple glow, radiating fiercer mana.
Finally, back thrusters deployed, ready for agile maneuvers.
With mere Lv4... combat stance... you dare... block me...?
The Grim Reaper wailed lowly at Archeron's stance.
It knew well.
Magic-powered combat golems.
It had clashed with them several times in other Dragon's Lairs.
Those had all assumed Lv5 combat stance.
Yet they were shredded by its scythe.
For this one to stand at a mere Lv4?
Ridiculous.
It scoffed, raising its arm to cleave in one stroke.
But.
Targeting complete. Energy discharge ready.
Jing. Chulk!
The moment Archeron's cannons locked on,
it realized something was wrong.
Impact initiated.
Jiiiiing.
Kuwaaaaaaaaa!!!
Purple beams erupted from Archeron's cannons in unison.
Their destructive power far exceeded the Grim Reaper's expectations.
Kr, aaaah... How... a Royal Grade...
With a dying gasp of disbelief,
it was utterly annihilated by the purple beams.
Pasusus!
Lacking physical form,
the Grim Reaper's energy form disintegrated into oblivion.
Yet at the spot where it had stood, something fist-sized remained.
"Chuchu—!!"
Chuchu, who had watched breathlessly from hiding, scampered out.
It picked up what the Grim Reaper left behind.
★.
A star-shaped gem.
"Chu?"
Feeling an ominous aura from the ★, Chuchu swiftly tucked it into its belly pouch.
This needed to be shown to its master immediately.
"Chuchu."
But it didn't leave right away.
Because.
The massive Nagatara corpse beside it.
Recalling the hearty Nagatara mandragora stew from earlier, Chuchu swallowed hard.
"Chuchu!!"
Chuchu began processing the Nagatara corpse at record speed.
And.
Watching Chuchu stuff the body into its belly pouch,
Archeron. Intruders eliminated.
Archeron declared victory.
At that moment.
The Grim Reaper's aura has vanished.
Annihilated?
I knew that weakling would fade eventually.
Interesting... most interesting...
The silent otherdimensional beings turned their attention toward where the Grim Reaper had vanished.
And.
"Woo woo woo... woo!"
"Ao ooo... ."
Entities like wolves fused with darkness, forms unstable and flickering like dark mist or shadows—mysterious beings—raced toward the Grim Reaper's disappearance.
"Woo woo... ."
At the pack's center.
A newborn pup, limp in the jaws of what seemed its mother wolf.
Urgency and desperation burned in their eyes.
***
"Whoa."
I'd been pretty shocked just moments ago.
Because after Archeron went outside the lair, I'd felt tremendous mana surging.
"Can't tell what's going on out there. So frustrating."
Intruders had appeared, and battle was underway.
But not knowing the details was maddening.
Bellerin approached me.
"Shall I make a scouting drone to attach to Archeron?"
"A scouting drone?"
"Yes! We should be able to observe outside from here."
Oh.
Something like that was possible?
"Do it right now!"
"Yessir. But... the materials..."
Bellerin's explanation followed.
Mithril... magic stones... whoa.
Not cheap at all.
Clearly a huge money sink.
Bellerin's got great skills, but the upkeep is insane.
Still, worth investing.
My gut screamed that scouting outside the lair would bring big growth and riches.
Then.
Jiiing!!
Space tore open as Archeron returned inside.
Archeron. Mission complete. Returning.
"Good work."
I praised Archeron, checking its exterior—no scorch marks or damage.
Despite the massive mana clash, it hadn't been a match for Archeron.
Well, how many could stand against a Lv250 being?
This little guy looked incredibly imposing.
Next time the Mineral Room opens, I'd ask Bellerin to upgrade Archeron's shell to orichalcum.
"Chuchu!"
Then Chuchu rushed to me.
It pulled something from its belly pouch.
★.
A star-shaped gem.
"Wha... what's this?"
Even I, with Dragon Blood letting me read mana flows,
couldn't fully grasp the vast, mysterious energy within.