An Encounter with Death!

Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat. Miktlan trudged through the Aokigahara forest, his royal blue robe soaking wet. This was the largest forest of the Eastern continent. He had been traveling for two days through the sea of trees. A thick layer of dark, gray clouds loomed above the woodland. Gentle rain fell from the heavens, but it didn’t bother him. His eyes were fixed ahead, intent on finding the exit to the forest.

“AAAGH!!!” Miktlan stopped dead in his tracks. Who was that?! Have I been followed?? He changed his direction, & bolted towards the cry. The sound of voices, & blades clashing grew louder with each step he took. “HEEELP!!” The cry for help was followed by a loud thud. I’m nearing the battle. I should find a good vantage point. He inspected the trees around him, leaping towards a large branch about fifteen feet above. He grabbed onto the limb, pulled himself up, & inched forward to get a good view. A fight was playing out like a play reaching its climax. At the center of the clearing was a hooded man. Aside from his hands, his body was hidden from sight by his black cloak. He wielded a pair of daggers that were tainted with blood. Two knights stood across from him. Their bronze armor was covered in mud, but Miktlan could see the Beihuan crest etched on their shoulder plates. Three more soldiers lay scattered across the clearing. A hoarse voice called out from underneath the hood, “I warned you… I wouldn’t go down easily.” They stared each other down for what felt like eternity. Miktlan examined the hooded figure more closely. His skin is too pale, & he’s a bit shorter than the others. Could he be a Huldran? The hooded man suddenly buckled over. He fell face first into the muddy ground in front of him.

With a shaky voice, one of the soldiers asked, “Was he wounded? Did we get him?”

“I’m not sure.” The other knight, still in a battle stance, inched forward. Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat. He gripped his sword tightly. The body remained motionless. Miktlan smiled. He’s not dead yet. Suddenly, a white, shrouded cloud formed above the hooded man's body. The soldier stopped in his tracks & gasped, “What is that?!” The knights stared in shock as the cloud took the form of a being. A long black robe covered most of its body. It’s skin was a sickly shade of white. Large, claw-like nails poked from its sleeves. It’s black, sunken eyes fixed themselves on the knights. The same hoarse voice, now coming from this ghost-like creature, said, “give me… your… souls.”

One of the soldiers whimpered, “that’s the reaper.”

The other knight was in too much shock to respond. He watched the reaper rise, & in a matter of seconds it flew past them, circled back, & stood over his body. “Ugh!” The knight turned his head to the gurgling noises coming from his partner. His throat was slit open. Blood oozed out, uncontrollably, painting his armor dark red. The dying knight fell to his knees, still grasping his neck. His partner was paralyzed with fear.

“So, you’ve heard the stories.” The reaper let out a horrid smile, flashing his fang like teeth. He continued, “Then you know your fate. You will not return to your loved ones. This forest will be your burial ground.”

“Please, please… no..”, the soldier stammered. He dropped his sword & began to walk backwards. “I’ll do anything, anything!” The reaper howled in laughter, once again brandishing his blood soaked claws. He darted from his spot & disappeared from the knight’s sight. Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat. The reaper zipped behind the knight, & grasped his shoulders. Even through his thick armor the knight felt the pair of cold hands that grabbed onto him. It was the touch of death itself. “I must feed. This, is my Death Grip”. A light blue aura glowed in the man's chest. It traveled up, moving towards the reaper’s hands, & left the man’s body. The soldier’s eyes grew wide; his body became stiff. It took seven seconds for the reaper to strip him of his life force. His body dropped to the ground. Miktlan mused, This one is dead. For sure.

The reaper turned back to his own body. He hovered over it, & slowly faded from sight. Pit… Pat... Pit... Pat. The hooded man’s fingers twitched. He slowly lifted himself up. His cloak was now covered in mud. He reached inside it, & let out a sigh of relief. Miktlan stood up. He’s leaving. I should say hello. He leaped towards the ground. Sploosh! The reaper quickly turned, “you’re not one of these weaklings.”

Miktlan smirked, “and you’re no myth. It’s an honor to meet you. Although, you’re shorter than I expected.”

The reaper ignored him and hissed, “what is your business with me?”

“I watched you fight just now. I wish to see your techniques up close.” Miktlan paused. “Those techniques of yours… they’re unique, to say the least.”

“Fool. You must be drunk. Leave me. Before I feast on your soul as well.”

Miktlan placed his right hand inside his robe, reaching for the sword on his hip. He leaped forward at blinding speed, revealing the blade, & striking at the reapers head. The reaper ducked, dodging the attack, but his hood was caught by the blade. It was ripped back, exposing his face. Miktlan landed 20 feet behind him. The reaper exclaimed, “you’re no ordinary human!”

Miktlan chuckled & responded, “you’re not even a human. I can smell your Huldran blood. What is your name?”

The reaper turned to face Miktlan. How did he know?? “I’m shocked you knew that… my name is Ninazu… tell me, who are you?” Miktlan could now see Ninazu’s face. He had ghastly pale skin, & long white hair. His cheekbones were well marked, & his eyes were deep in their sockets. “I am Miktlan. I want to learn your techniques. They wield great power. Teach them to me.”

Ninazu frowned. He stayed quiet. Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat. “You do not know what you are asking Miktlan”, he hissed. “These techniques are cursed shackles!! I regret discovering them. You’re better off not knowing them! My body. It has been deformed by them. It will do the same to you!”

Miktlan laughed hysterically. “I do not fear those things. Let me show you something.” He reached for his hood, & pulled it back. Ninazu gasped. His face was stripped of skin, muscle, hair, & tissue. It was a pure skull. “Impossible! What are you???” Miktlan proceeded to remove his robe. He said, “I am Miktlan. You made the assumption I was a mere human. You have earned the names of the reaper, the angel of death, shinigami… they are well earned. However. I am, death itself!! And I will have your power!” He charged towards Ninazu, who barely dodged the stroke of the blade. He added distance & tapped into his matter reserves. Ninazu’s palm glowed with an ghastly white Aura, but before he could use a technique, Miktlan swung his sword at his foe. The blade, infused with matter, created a barrage of Ripple technique attacks. These arcs of water flew towards Ninazu, forcing him to roll around once more. The distraction was enough for Miktlan to cover the distance between the two & launch blow after blow with his sword. Ninazu avoided the blade, but was caught by a kick. He dropped to the ground. Miktlan raised his sword over his head. He noticed Ninazu’s palm still glowed, but was too late to adjust his attack. He had left himself open. “Älvringar!” Ninazu cried out, & slammed his hand onto the ground below Miktlan. The matter energy on his palm transferred itself to the ground. A small ring formed around Miktlan, & a ray of energy exploded towards the heavens. It shot Miktlan 200 feet in the air. He screamed in pain as the energy hit his whole body.

On the ground, Ninazu rolled onto his back, & let out a sigh. He watched as his attack consumed Miktlan. Slowly the ray shriveled up. He could see his foe’s body in the sky. It plummeted towards the ground, landing with a loud thud! A small crater was created at the spot of impact. Ninazu slowly stood back up. Pit… pat… pit… pat. He looked down at his robe. It had gotten torn up in the scuffle. Ninazu took it off & tossed it on the ground. The gentle rain drops trickled onto his bony shoulders. He reached for the pouch he had slung onto his back. It was still intact. The scrolls are safe, he thought. Cough! Cough! Ninazu couldn’t believe it. He yelled, “how are you still breathing!!” He looked at the crater, & watched in disbelief as Miktlan stood once more. He was still hunched over, wheezing & chuckling. “That’s quite a formidable technique. I too have a few tricks of my own. Please, allow me to show you.” He placed his sword above one of the dead knights, & cried out, “rise!” A dark aura enveloped the body, & entered it. The knight stood back up, his eyes completely black. Miktlan did the same to the other body besides him. He cackled, “ what will you do now!? I told you, I am death itself!” The knights rushed towards Ninazu, & lunged with their blades. He pulled out two daggers, & blocked the hits. He stabbed one in the abdomen, but it still swung at him, as if it was oblivious to the wound. The knight landed a direct hit on Ninazu’s right shoulder. He stumbled back, trying to understand what was happening. Miktlan triumphantly exclaimed, “I know that last attack drained a big chunk of your reserves. You’re running out of options.”

Ninazu responded, “I can still enter my other state, you won’t be able to touch me!”

“Careful Huldran. I don’t think you want to do that… I may not be able to touch you, but I promise you I'll tear your physical body to shreds before you can react. I don’t think you want me to do that.”

Ninazu stammered, “how did you know the secret to my technique?!”

“I watched you fight earlier. You made sure to stand over your body as much as possible. I imagine it was to return to it if it was in danger… it’s just a hypothesis, but I assume you’ll die if your body takes too much damage.”

Ninazu assessed his situation. He could feel his right arm going numb. His energy reserves were too low to attempt a large technique. The two knights creeped towards him, & were forcing him back. Then there was Miktlan. He was just watching, sword in hand, waiting for his opportunity to deal a mortal blow. And then the bodies dropped. Ninazu stopped in confusion. What had happened? He looked up, “Miktlan!” Where was he? He scanned the area but couldn’t see him. Then suddenly, a large fireball erupted on his left. He raised his hands, “Mighty Wall!” A large wall of rocks rose just in time to absorb the fireball. A shadow zipped above the earth technique & landed on Ninazu’s right side. It was Miktlan, who had used the fireball as a diversion. He punched Ninazu across his face, sending him crashing onto his wall. It crumbled, & he fell to the ground. He tried to stand, but Miktlan was on him once more. He kicked his ribs. Crack! Ninazu howled in pain. He tried to stand back up; his hands shaking as he tried to support himself on them. “This battle is over.” Miktlan drove his sword through Ninazu’s shoulder, pinning him down, & tearing his collarbone. Ninazu's cry echoed through the forest. Miktlan bent down, getting on one knee. He grabbed Ninazu’s hair, & pulled his head up. He whispered, “now, about those techniques. Tell me… how do I learn them?” Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat. “Tell me, & you get to keep your sad, pathetic life.”

Ninazu groaned in pain. His breathing was heavy. He slowly, painfully said, “My pouch… take… the scrolls.” He coughed up blood. Miktlan searched the pouch on his back. It was a small tan bag, made of a thin cloth. He pulled two scrolls from the pouch, & glossed over them. “Ah yes, here we are. Ninazu, it was a pleasure meeting you.” Miktlan stood up, smiling. He put his cloak back on, & covered his skull head. “I’m sure you’ll survive. I hope we meet again!” Ninazu watched Miktlan disappear into the forest. His vision slowly grew blurry, & his thoughts sluggish. I haven’t seen someone nearly as powerful as him… who… is he? His head fell onto the mud. He lay on the floor of the forest, besides the five fallen knights. Pit… Pat… Pit… Pat.