Chapter 291: Get to the point. [2/2]
Chapter 291: Get to the point. [2/2]
With {Rewind} still on cooldown, I had no choice but to use another {Replace}.
My body began to vanish in an explosion of light, but before my consciousness left, I heard the silver cage murmur in approval.
"Impressive."
As my body appeared outside the cage, my ears immediately registered the sounds of at least a thousand jackets fluttering in the wind! Fuckboi was the only one wearing a jacket!
"HOW THE FUCK?!"
I looked around in horror.
My eyes saw a thousand Raymonds scattered across the sky and ground. All of them had over half a dozen sonic needles floating around them.
Then they all asked eerily in unison. "Any last words?" x 1000
"[Inventory] F90s! [TANK]! [ABSORB]! [FLASH STEP]!"
"Then die! {SONIC NEEDLE}" x 1000
"ARGHHHHHHH!!!!" Shouting away all my fears, the sounds of a thousand lances made of violent wind rushed towards me. Even though I used [Flash Step], I could only dodge half of them.
Pulling the triggers of my F90, I tried to shoot down as many projectiles as possible. However, before the battle could continue, a flash of searing fire flew past me and encircled me like a chariot of fire.
Its speed was even faster than Raymond's projectiles.
After incinerating everything, the lights that resembled dazzling fireworks suddenly faded into the silent sky.
A hand grabbed my shoulder as an order rang in my ears.
" That is enough. {SLEEP}."
Unable to fight the power of Roland's death resonance, my eyes began to close against my will. My senses shut down one by one as my mind tried to stay awake.
'No!!! Stay awake you fucker!'
In the next second I lost consciousness.
***
"Didn't I tell you? This kid is the real deal!"
"Roland, you senile old bastard, how many times have we had this conversation? So what if he reminds you of that blond fucker with a God complex?"
"Gertrude, mind your manners before I rip your guts out and make you."
"Or what, you hedonistic goat fucker? You think I'm afraid of a fucker made of metallic shit? Come at me then!"
"Why are you bastards always like this? And you used to be such good friends."
'Ugh, my head fucking hurts. Is that the Specters talking?'
Keeping my eyes closed, I tried to gather more information, but was suddenly kicked in the head.
"OWWWWW!" I yelled in pain.
"Get up, boy, eavesdropping like a woman hardly gives you any class," an old voice complained mockingly.
Rubbing my head, I glared at the Specters and asked in irritation. I tried to hide the terror running through my body with anger.
"So? What the hell do you crazy fuckers want from me?"
They were powerful, immensely so. If I had to put numbers on it, I would be a 10, Raymond and Xander would be in the 9,000's. Roland would be in the 100,000s.
'How is this fucking bastard not a Revenant yet?!'
"Look at this fucking asshole's mouth! You phantom brat! Was the ass-kicking you got not enough?"
"I'm not the one who got his head and insides blown out by a Formless Phantom, are you sure you got the balls to try again, fuckboi?" I replied angrily.
"Hmm... he seems to be mentally challenged," Xander said with a frown.
"My brain works just fine, you liquid terminator wannabe. Get to the point. You dragged me here, but you did not kill me. Stop wasting my time and tell me what the hell you all want!"
This was why I didn't bow down to these fuckers. Despite everything they did to me, I was still alive with all my limbs. That meant they needed me for some reason. And until they did, I was safe.
[Sirens, can you all hear me? Anyone who can hear this, please respond]
"What was that? Technopathy? How many fucking {Fates} does this brat have?"
"I told you he was special."
Roland then stepped forward, although he had a magnificent beard, I could see his wide smile from his eyes. He held out his hand and asked eagerly.
"You seem to have made the most of this second life, John Smith. Have you managed to resolve your regrets?"
Roland's words struck a chord in me. This whole day had shown the difference between my current life and my old one. His words to me just a week ago echoed in my mind.
"That's because you're already dead, boy. Anyway, your heroism earned you an invitation to join the reapers. You had a lot of regrets, didn't you? I am offering you a second chance to live again and fulfill them all."
That night changed my life. If Roland hadn't found me that night, I would have simply died as a human. I would not have had to worry about Hellsgate, but I would not have been able to meet the Sirens.
It was just as Vincent had said.
"I will take your silence as a yes. My Lord, 1st generation reapers are a product of chance, like me, I need a fateful encounter to get my hands on the blood of a reaper. From the 2nd generation on, it is usually the blood of a friend or acquaintance."
The trajectory of my life changed drastically because this old man decided to inject me with his blood that night. Grateful, I took his hand and shook it.
"I have. I no longer live for my regrets, but for my dreams. And I have you to thank for that. Thank you Roland, I mean it."
"I am very pleased to hear that, boy. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but I came here to ask you something," the Specter said in a serious tone.
"And what might that be?"
" Withdraw from the Seeker War."
"No," I replied immediately.
"Look, boy, this matter is more complicated than you think. The moment you started waving the flag of the Formless, you were no longer just representing yourself. I am telling you this for your own good, so bow your head and shut up."
"No, if I did, this would be something I would regret. This life. My vow was simple. I will live this life as I please. And going to war with the Saviors is something I will not back down from."
"Roland, what does David think about all this?" Raymond asked.
Before the grandpa could answer, it was Xander who replied.
"He said if I intervened he would kill me. It seems his mind is already made up."
"Really? After all this time? Why? What does this phantom fucker have that the others don't?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Roland added.
Wait, wait, wait. What the hell were these Specters saying? The Seeker War was my business, right? Why were they all acting like I'm part of David's conspiracy or something?
Roland brushed his white beard with his hand as he exhaled.
"I think the time has finally come. Take a seat John Smith. We have much to discuss."