Chapter 60 - The Reaping Bell

Its been nearly two years now since this death game started. There are those who have made a living out there. Those that have given up and accepted living here. Those who are still trying to escape from this hell game. Then there's the not so rare case's of suicides in places. From those who've given up on everything and picked to die than see tomorrow. Meanwhile on the seventy-second floor a shop opened up. Called the "Reaping Bell" its a small multipurpose shop ran by a family of seven.

With a rather large barn next to it that doubles as a house. These two buildings were bought by the infamous Joking Reaper. Who retired to this floor after the first year of the game with his family. The six kids he adopted have become pretty excellent. In the arts of crafting items after their new dad patiently thought them. That those who usually visit this shop are greeted by one of the kids. As the joking reaper is usually in the back working on something new. To pass the time slowly now a days instead of killing people.

Today three customers came into the shop and were greeted by Fuyuko. The two customers were Asuna and Kirito that got married. Though they still fight a lot of the time in front of people. Today though they came in with Yui on Kirito's shoulders. Which Kirito after many beatings learned to know when he causes hopeless love. So he's mȧturėd in that area but he's still a hopeless idiot. The couple though came here today to invite Chimera out. To do somethings while leaving Yui here with the other kids.

Which when he heard they were asking him to go somewhere. He put on his newer gear and his reaper gear. Before following the couple out of the shop with a grunt. Myriad and Jackson coming out of the barn and tagging along. Behind the trio as they walked off into the town at sunrise. The Joking Reapers gear he achieved through crafting like mad. That he is extremely proud of his creations and refuses to sell them.

[ Assassins Jacket: Wearer is passively put into stealth unless they make noise. Provides a 150% boost to damage when attacking unnoticed. Rarity: Mythical Durability: 9,999 Armor: 800 ]

[ Stalkers Guantlets: These Guantlets hold many secrets within them. Passively thin the wearers presence to unnoticeable levels. Provide a 500% damage boost when in user punches. Rarity: Mythical Durability: 9,999 Armor: 400 ]

[ Shadow Boots: These boots are armored and make the wearer light as a feather. They don't make a sound even when the wearer runs. 200% damage bounse to when the wear kicks a target. Rarity: Mythical Durability: 9,999 Armor: 300 ]

[ Hallow Wrist Crossbow: A hidden crossbow located on the left wrist. This little hidden weapon fires 50% faster than its predecessors. The blade bolts it shoots usually vary in effect. Rarity: Mythological Durability: 9,999 ]

[ Hidden Sting: A hidden blade usually located on the right wrist. Its sturdier and sharper than its predecessors before it. Provides a 100% chance to poison all enemies. Even immune ones shall fall its might eventually. 80% Bleeding adds onto damage to cause bleeding ontop of poison. 40% Chance to inflict paralysis onto a target struck. Rarity: Mythological Durability: 9,999 Damage: 90-300 ]

[ Endless Daggers: A sash and belt with a total of fifty daggers. That once a dagger is thrown a new one forms out the energy in the air. 60% Chance for daggers to explode upon hitting target. 70% Chance to cause burning damage once target is hit. Rarity: Mythical Durability: 9,999 Damage: 50-150 ]

[ Myths Fang: This is a hooked blade made crom fourteen mythological beast fangs. This sword pierces all and devours all under the heavens. Effects: Wide Area Heal: If the weilder of this blade wishes it a light dome. Of about five hundred feet wide forms healing all allies and friendlies., Fenrir's Domain: An invisible three hundred feet dome forms. At the weilders command and anything inside will be devoured slowly. Upon being cut the range and effect increases under a full moon. Rarity Mythological Durability: Unbreakable Damage 400-600 ]

[ Deaths Hunger: This ring is the physical manifestation of deaths hunger. To collect souls of criminals and horde them for eternity. Rarity: Mythological Durability: Unbreakable ]

[ Eclipse Scythe Necklace: This necklace takes the form of the eclipse. Being used as scythe blade to harvest souls. Passively increases all held scythes sharpness over time. Rarity: Mythological Durability: 9,999 ]

[ Life Arm Band: This arm band is made of the aspect of the deaths mercy. Usually worn on the right arm near the right shoulder. Those touched by the right hand sick or dying are spared or cured. Rarity: Mythological Durability: 9,999 ]

[ Death Arm Band: This arm band is made the aspect of deaths wrath. Usually work on the left arm near the left shoulder. Those touched by the left hand are cursed to die painfully. After two consecutive hits the target will perish unless spared. Rarity: Mythological Durability: 9,999 ]

These items are what he poured his heart into creating. As he plans to take them with him even to other worlds. These are his legacy in his mad pursuit of crafting the perfect gear. While he followed Asuna and Kirito from behind. Occasionally clicking his tongue so they know that he is behind them. The place they are heading to is where a blood bath shall take place. Between all of Laughing Coffin and the combined forces of guilds. Even though he's retired they called him to help out in it. Which all he had to say in response was time to reap once more.

Arriving at the old seventy first boss floor a war took place. A war of psychopathic killers against those playing hero. During this battle numerous people died in the span of six hours. All but ten Laughing Coffin members died as they escaped. While on the other side out of the thousands of players. Three hundred and eighty-six people died fighting Laughing Coffin. During this war though the Joking reaper was reported to been seen at random. Hacking, slicing, punching, kicking, or stabbing unlucky victims while exuding. An over powering aura of death as his eyes shone crimson with a savage smile.

While two large mythological wolf like beast were seen charging. Through the enemy lines and cause large aoe damage with magic. Following their master who plunged head first into hells grip. That the survivors who lived to tell the tale spoke. Of the Joking Reaper's reemergence in the lime light of battle and blood. But for those who knew him on a personal level knew he left. Soon after battle with his two companions back to his home and shop.

Where he donned the half mask of a caring father and crafter. Once more while waiting for the call to reap lives once more. Asuna and Kirito showed up later on in the night to pick up Yui. While thanking him for his help today and to come to a gathering. Of his friends who became his second family in these nearly two years. But he looked at a ghostly notification, that lurked in the corner of his vision.

[ You've been acknowledged as death its self and therefore completed. Your quest but in order to truly embrace your new existence you must die. Letting death embrace you and become your very core. You will not move onto the next world but revive where you are. None will notice you've died only you and death will notice this simple fact. ]

Reading that notification he didn't think twice and double punched. His left leg instantly bottoming out his health and dying. Where upon the world going dark he was standing alone. In pitch black world waiting for death itself to appear. Which it did appear before him after six seconds.

"Child you are living yet dead, you cause death your wake. You embody its very essence and control it to raise the dead. You've now embraced it as a whole, you've decided who and what lives or dies. So I grant you the right to take up my mantle child. Become one with me at your very core and carry on your daily life. While you decide the fate of others around you child. But remember that death is inevitable and all succumb to it."

With those words death embraces Chimera before returning him. Back to where he was standing in his shop the Reaping Bell. His eyes taking on a crimson hue to them. While with a thought the fog of death trails behind his hands. Anything it touches turning to dust. As his right hand briefly brushed along two swords. Death has taken on a phsyical form now. Walking among the living and deciding fates as he goes.

The Gamer: [ Deaths journey has just begun no world shall escape its wake. ]