Welcome aboard, Isabella.

"What?"

As Isabella questioned me, her strained voice told me that she heard me but was unable to believe what I had just said.

"If Hellsgate is closed, you get to come back to life for real, right? Then just wait for me. I will do it on my own," I elaborated.

"You? A Formless? You don't even have a sponsor nor a handler. How?" she questioned.

Disbelief and irritation evident in her face, her expression warped as if she thought I had killed her dog. Heh. That type of face. It reminded me so much of the people I used to work with. The implications and the thoughts written on that expression were so familiar to me, they were almost palpable.

'Who do you think you are? I gave up, so you should too! You are not better than me, so don't even think of climbing any higher! If I must suffer here, you must suffer even more. Aiming for something more is selfish. We should stay just stay here.'

Envy, spite, hopelessness and resignation. Only those who gave up could ever make such a face. And only people who did the same thing like me would know best. An hour ago, I was human, so I understood. Now? I was already a reaper. So why should one have used human logic on something like me?

"Why not?" I challenged.

Forgetting her despair, Isabella put all her energy into telling me why I could never succeed as a Revenant.

"You are fat, suck at combat and have neither resources nor backing. Did I forget to mention {Rewind} is horribly expensive for a {fate}? I agree that its applications are astounding. But you do not gain offensive nor defensive abilities. A zero, no matter how many times you multiply, will always remain a zero!"

Seeing as the sadness that overwhelmed her had been replaced by anger, I chuckled as I answered.

"Then should I just lay down here and die?"

Unable to give a reply, she clenched her mouth while staring daggers into me. It was such a treat to shut up an intellectual with simple reasoning. But I had wasted enough time here. There was no telling when more zombies would come for me. While I did already fill my quota, as Lilly's people had yet to appear, then surviving should also a part of it.

"I am glad you feel good enough to argue about my matters. Give up on your own if you wish. I will not stop you. But do not place your limits on me. I have decided that I will become a Revenant. The strongest one at that. Survive long enough to watch me do it, Ms. Taurus. Farewell."

Not waiting for her response, we parted ways as I resumed my jog towards the platform. More reapers were locked in combat with the zombies. Even the monsters would tire out if they fought nonstop. Well, they had it better than me.

While letting my mind wonder, I suddenly heard a voice calling for me.

"WAIT! JOHN! WAIT FOR ME!"

Naturally, it would be the 5'6'' Brazilian bombshell. Seeing her run with such a rack was indeed pleasing to the eye. Focusing my gaze back to her face, I slowed down and turned towards her.

"What is it? If you are still going to talk me down, just stop," I told her, annoyed.

She then stopped in front of me and placed her hand on her chest as she spoke.

"Please, let me join you! I will supply you with intel and weaponry for free! I will serve as your support and your combat personnel if need be. I even offer you my body if you so desire, just don't abandon me! You are right! Rather than accepting my death, I will struggle with all I have!"

Hearing the generous offer, I was sure this came with strings attached. I didn't trust her fully, but she had proven herself to be a talented individual. If she didn't ask for too much, I didn't see anything bad with taking her along.

"What are your terms? And why me? Wouldn't joining one who had a soul weapon be better?"

Right, if she really wanted to, I was sure someone among the ones who had manifested soul weaponry would request for her services. Being a woman and a beauty at that, she could even sleep her way to get a reaper husband. The demerits of following me were too numerous for her.

"I have three requests, which I will name later. As to why, you are unaffiliated with any sponsor nor handler. So, you will not be embroiled in the politics of the battlefronts. You are also Formless, so you would not treat me horribly as others would. Next, even when you could, you neither molested me nor took advantage of me."

Hmm. So even the battlefronts had political agendas? Even with the fate of the world at stake, man remained greedy as fuck. While I didn't molest her, I couldn't say I was not interested, though.

It seemed the biggest factor was how the other reapers would treat her. Between a regular reaper and a Formless one, if bedside skills were the deciding factor, Isabella would have to be able to give amazing head or fuck like a succubus.

Unaware of my dirty thoughts, Isabella continued her case. "Lastly, my gut tells me you are going to be amazing in the future. Even after all I said, you never despaired. I envy that. Let me ride your coattails at least. And you did save me from dying. So. You know. You're my prince…"

Isabella turned red like a tomato for some reason. I could barely make out her last words. She then took off her breastplate to show a blue cross hanging from her neck.

"As proof of my fidelity, I am willing to give you my only Soulgear. This cross has a {fate} called {Tourniquet}. It stops the damage of any injury in exchange for souls. Ah - souls are the currency you get when you take down a zombie. If I remember correctly, you get ten souls per head."

Ho? So Soulgears were equipment that had {fates} on them. And souls were the rewards for taking out the undead. Good info. In the short time I spent with this woman, the number of things I figured out really helped. I wouldn't mind if I had such a partner.

While I could take the cross, the way Isabella held it meant it was of great importance to her. Injuries were not an issue for me, so I figured I should just let her keep it. The real issue was I had yet hear what she wanted.

"Keep it, I don't need it. What would be the price for all your efforts?" I asked.

Isabella visibly brightened at my refusal for the cross. I guessed right. She treated it like a treasure. The woman gingerly placed it back inside her shirt and held out three fingers while making her demands.

"Okay. As I said I have three conditions. 1. You will share your souls with me for my growth. 2. As I will subordinate myself to you, our lives will be as one and you must never abandon me. 3. When you can, you will make me your kindred. If you agree to all this, I will do all I can to turn you into a Revenant."

Unlike when she cried in despair, Isabella's eyes shone with a fighting spirit as she found a goal. None of her conditions were bad since I planned to do them anyway. Ignoring your allies' growth turned them into a burden. Leaving anyone I called an ally was something I would never do again.

The only problem is… what the hell was a kindred? I felt it was sly of her to make me accept without her explaining what a kindred was. Before I could ask, she started touching her fingertips together as she explained.

"When a reaper evolves to a phantom, they can take other reapers under their wing. These reapers are called Kindred. They are basically treated as the phantom's family."

Not sure why she looked away at the end, I pondered the meaning of her words. So, she wished to become part of my family in the future? Why though? Wasn't our partnership enough? But I didn't think she would tell me even if I asked.

If I ever got that far, then I would willingly make her my kindred. Worrying about it at this point was useless. Without her information, I would only ask to get taken advantage of. For now, I would uphold her terms. If I kept my word in the future, only time would tell. I was no hero who would keep my word stupidly even if I had to die.

"Understood. Then I agree. In exchange for supporting me to become a Revenant I will gain souls for your development, protect you and make you my kindred in the future."

Isabella smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen on her. Despite the bad lighting, her joy and excitement practically gushed out of her body. She threw herself at me then embraced me tightly. Her words full of happiness. Like I was the best thing to ever happened to her.

"YES! Thank you, John! Please take care of me, honey… I will make sure you won't need anyone else!"

Taken a back at her words, I awkwardly patted her back as I replied.

"Uh… okay… Welcome aboard, Isabella."

And thus, I gained my first ally in the land of the dead.