Chapter 57 - 54: Arise
Ellen barely had time to react. The battle against the newly transformed wyvern—no, the Grim Reaper—had pushed her far beyond her limits. Her once-reliable scissors, her trusted weapon, lay shattered in the remains of their last clash. Now, all she had left was her own dwindling strength and the sheer will to survive. But it wasn't enough.
The power difference was becoming painfully clear. The Reaper was faster, stronger, and relentless. Each swing of its massive scythe came with terrifying precision, the weight behind each strike enough to carve through solid rock. Ellen's body bore the proof—wounds littered her frame, her breath ragged, her vision blurring. She knew she wouldn't last long like this.
Desperation clawed at her as she tried to catch her breath, to find a moment of reprieve, but her enemy refused to allow it. Before she could even process her next move, the Reaper moved—so fast it seemed to flicker out of existence, only to reappear in front of her. A cold hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her off the ground with ease.
Ellen struggled, her claws digging into the iron grip, but it was fruitless. The Reaper's strength was absolute. With a powerful beat of its massive wings, it ascended into the storm, dragging her helplessly into the darkened sky. Winds howled around them, lightning flashing in the distance, illuminating the Reaper's masked face. Ellen forced her eyes to meet its gaze, but the mask betrayed nothing. No emotion. No mercy.
Then, a voice echoed in her head.
Why do you hold back?
Ellen's eyes widened. The voice wasn't hers. It wasn't coming from the Reaper's mouth either, yet it reverberated within her mind with an eerie familiarity.
Why does the one I have chosen as my consort refuse to unleash her true power?
A shiver ran through her despite the pain. Consort? What the hell was it talking about? She tried to speak, but the grip on her throat tightened, choking any words before they could leave her lips.
The Reaper tilted its head as if observing her confusion, then the voice continued, softer now, yet far more insidious.
Perhaps I must force the monster inside you to awaken, my beloved.