NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Grim Reapers
The sun hung low over the dense forest, casting long shadows across the grasslands where Jessica and I sat cross-legged, meditating. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the faint hum of spiritual energy buzzed around us as we practiced our healing cultivations. My mind wandered, reflecting on the journey that had brought us here. The crew I had managed to assemble, Jessica and Melanie was coming together nicely, but I knew we needed more. More people, more power, and more opportunities to prove ourselves.
I had decided to name our group the Grim Reapers. It had been a toss-up between that and Twilight Hunters, but the ominous ring of Grim Reapers had won out. It was a name that carried weight, a name that would make people think twice before crossing us. And, if I was being honest, I liked the idea of instilling a little fear in our enemies. After all, fear was a powerful tool.
We also decided on code names, I was Alpha(Grim Reaper)
Jessica was Nova(Grim shadow) and Melanie was Onyx(Grim Knight)
The only problem now was finding someone to give us tasks and missions that would pay well and help us build our reputation. Luckily, Melanie had connections. She mentioned an old acquaintance of hers, someone who was rumored to be coming to town soon. This person, she said, could be the key to getting us the work we needed. Until then, we trained, honing our skills and preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead.
---
Jessica and I focused on our healing cultivations, a practice that required immense concentration and control. Healing cultivation wasn't just about mending wounds; it was about channeling spiritual energy, or ki, to restore balance and vitality. Jessica was a natural at it, her ki flowing effortlessly as she practiced curing ailments and healing injuries. Her goal was to become a master healer, someone who could save lives with a single touch.
I, on the other hand, had a different focus. While I appreciated the art of healing, my primary goal was to master regeneration. In the heat of battle, the ability to recover quickly could mean the difference between life and death. With enough practice, I could become nearly immortal, my body healing itself almost instantly. Combined with my time cultivation, I would be a force to reckon with, a god among mortals.
But I wasn't there yet. Not even close.
My training with Old Man Jakens had progressed from physical conditioning to mastering the intricacies of time cultivation. He was a harsh teacher, pushing me to my limits and beyond. At times, he would transport me to parallel universes or alternate timelines, forcing me to fight against a hundred soldiers at once. It was grueling, but it was also exhilarating. In one of these sessions, I had managed to learn the Time Eruption technique, a devastating move that manipulated time to create explosive bursts of energy. I hadn't perfected it yet, but even in its raw form, it was powerful enough to deal significant damage.
---
As I sat there meditating, I decided to check my progress. "System, appraisal," I muttered almost silently.
A familiar chime echoed in my mind as the system responded.
[Ding! System Appraisal:
Name: Ashbourne
Age: 15
Cultivations: Double
Time Cultivation - Level 40
Healing Cultivation - Level 60
Pervert - Level 85]
I smirked at the last line. Sure, I had a reputation for being a bit of a flirt, but who could blame me? I was a teenage guy, after all. Flirting was practically a requirement at this age. Still, I couldn't let it distract me from my goals. I had a long way to go before I could call myself a true master.
Jessica's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Ashbourne!" she yelled, her tone a mix of frustration and amusement.
I blinked, turning to her. "Huh? What?"
"I've been calling your name for the past five minutes, you dummy!" she said, pouting angrily. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of irritation and affection.
"Sorry, cutie," I said, flashing her a grin. "Got lost in my thoughts."
She blushed even harder, but she didn't back down. "It's still wrong, Ashbourne! You need to focus!"
From a distance, Melanie let out a soft laugh. She was perched on a tree branch, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "You really fell for that, Jessica," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Melanie was a tough nut to crack. Despite my best efforts and the system's constant nudging, she remained aloof and distant. She had a thick wall around her, one that not even my charm could penetrate. I had tried everything, even going so far as to invite her to my bed one night, but she hadn't flinched. If anything, she seemed amused by my attempts.
"Don't be jealous, Melanie," I said playfully. "We can have our moment too. Maybe on the bed?"
She rolled her eyes. "Please, Ashbourne. You'd need a millennia to get through me. Your tricks don't work on me."
Jessica, meanwhile, was still pouting. "Can we get back to what we were doing, Ashbourne?!" she yelled, her voice rising in pitch.
I reached out, brushing my hand against her arm. She shivered, her blush deepening. "Fine, fine," I said, closing my eyes and returning to my meditation. But not before catching a glimpse of Melanie's smirk from the corner of my eye.
---
As I meditated, my thoughts drifted to the reason I had started this journey in the first place, my revenge. Those so called heroes who had wronged me, who had taken everything from me, they would pay. But revenge wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. It required patience, planning, and power. And that was what I was building with the Grim Reapers.
I needed to be rich and influential, not just in the open but in the shadows as well. The quests we would undertake, the missions we would complete, they were all stepping stones toward my ultimate goal. Every coin earned, every connection made, every skill mastered brought me closer to the day I would finally have my revenge.
But I couldn't do it alone. I needed a team, and I needed them to be strong. Jessica, with her healing abilities, was already a valuable asset. Melanie, with her curse cultivation, was a powerhouse in her own right. And then there was me, with my time and healing cultivations, slowly but surely growing stronger.
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in a golden glow, I felt a sense of anticipation. Melanie's friend would be arriving soon, and with them would come the opportunities we needed. Quests, missions, and the chance to prove ourselves.
I opened my eyes, glancing at Jessica and Melanie. "We're ready," I said, my voice steady. "Whatever comes our way, we'll face it."
Jessica nodded, her determination shining through. Melanie, ever the enigma, simply smirked. "We'll see, Ashbourne. We'll see."
And with that, we prepared for the next chapter of our journey. The Grim Reapers were just getting started, and the world had no idea what was coming.
---
As I stood on the edge of the forest, looking out at the horizon, I felt a sense of purpose. The road ahead would be long and fun as well as filled with suspense and danger but I was just getting started. With my team by my side and my cultivation growing stronger every day, i was sure to achieve success in every turn.