Entering the Reaper's domain

Fires broke out in all directions. The lower-class wildlings screeched and howled as his men struck them down in response to their attack. The mother wildling lay dead on the ground. The skull was wide open where Erebus struck her with his heavy axe. Blood seeped out from the open wound and bugs started to crawl over her dead body.

Erebus knew how their bodies exploded after they died.

However, according to Jafar, their brains released a hormone that caused the body to self-destruct.

He positioned back into the air before the other lower-class wildlings caught him. The lower class wildlings would catch the predator after it struck their mother which would allow the predator to die in the explosion.

He felt an odd movement in the rear that proceeded opposite to the direction of the wildlings.

He darted towards it without hesitation.

"As I predicted. Alaksad's messenger." he alighted at him and grabbed him by his robes around the neck causing him to choke. His attempts to break free from Erebus's grip were useless. The more he struggled the tighter he gripped.

He landed a few yards away from the warzone on the wall that was thick enough to have tunnels than arches.

He roughly threw him down which sent him rolling till he hit the crossbow tower. It was a hard fall. He slowly walked to where the messenger sat breathing heavily.

"For a mere tool, you seem to have underestimated us." he bent on his knees grabbing him once again by the collar.

The man didn't reply.

Erebus grinned and made a proposal slowly letting him go.

"How about making a deal with me?"

"D-Deal?"

"A simple deal it is. I don't want much. In return, I can set you free from his clutches."

"How do I believe you?" he managed to ask him.

"You simply need to take me to your master. After all the map he gave you was a fake."

He started at him without uttering a word.

"You thought that I didn't know? I've pretty much guessed it the moment I laid my eyes on you. You realized it too after you sat at the foot of the cliff studying the map. You're no messenger. Just a mere slave to be discarded after use."

"Anything... I'll do anything. But please let me go free."

"Well said." he grabbed him again and penetrated the city walls before the guards spotted him.

"Guide me well," he instructed him. It was more of a warning to do things right this time.

They flew through the towers that rose high with the grim reaper's statues on the rooftops.

He shakily pointed at the huge building that appeared as a thin line behind the hills, Unlike the grey and white buildings in the city. It had a red brick rooftop. The rest of the building was whitewashed. It was tremendously wide and could make at least two of his fortress. His fortress boasted its size and history but this was something more magnificent.

He landed in the garden and released the slave looking around.

The garden alone was expanded from east to west. Some human gardeners took care of the garden. He noticed one old and feeble man walk past him. There was a metal cuff on his left ankle.

-"Slaves." he realized the seal on the cuff.

The huge doors opened and a servant came out.

"Lord Alaksad awaits you."

-"He received the news. The watch is more strict than I presumed."

He nudged the messenger to take the lead so he might not escape.

The servant led them through dark hallways that were only lit by the sunlight.

He looked out of the windows as they climbed a flight of steps. The flowers in the garden formed a vivid picture of a grim reaper.

He was once told by someone that Bacia Alaksad was a man who fed himself with the souls of the living. His favorite was not the humans or Amanécerians but the demons and hybrids of Amanécerians and humans that were extremely rare to see.

It was rumored that he tried his best to pursue the young wife of the vampire commander of the crowned prince's imperial guards. She was the rumored beauty who was known to have Amanecérian blood and appearance.

Erebus never paid much attention to the people around him or the circulating rumors.

He usually waved them off when he heard hot topics circulating in the capital. Jafar was the first to bring him an update.

-"Lucky his useless rambling came of some use."

He wondered if the wildlings had been put on hold.

-"Ciaran was supposed to follow me up. Did he fail to pursue them at the rear?"

His thoughts were more concentrated on the wildlings than Bacia's worthless summons.

They stopped in front of huge white doors. Erebus leaped back without a second thought.

Before he could find a steady pace the black fog rushed out of the room like smoke from a bonfire.

The shriek of the servant and the messenger pierced his ears.

"Forgive me, master! I was forced into this-"Before he could continue a sharp curved blade reached behind his neck and slit his throat open. The next moment the head rolled down still begging for forgiveness.

"It seems like I've got to deal with something more troublesome." a deep rough voice called out from the room as Erebus shielded his face with his arm. The trench blades he wore on his knuckles reflected the light of the sun as he squinted.

"Seems like I have an uninvited guest."