Rewards: Shadow of Death

After logging out, I quickly grab my smartphone. Checking my account, I see that a million rupees have really been deposited!

It seems "PHO" is truly a divine game.

Feeling elated, I hold up my smartphone and spin around. Halfway through, I bump my knee on the table and kneel, "Oww, shit!" but my spirits remain high.

"I feel like I can do anything right now!"

As I dance in the highest spirits of my life, my smartphone buzzes with notifications. Lots of them.

[God?]

[God? What's wrong with you?]

[God! Please don't leave me! Wahh! I will do well next time, GOD!! I will kill him in one strike next time!! Please come back.]

Oops.

[No, I will be back Liora! I need to rest to recover.]

[God, please don't abandon me! Please!]

[I won't.] 

It seems I worried Liora by logging out so suddenly. My apologies.

Even though Liora is an NPC, she's a valuable partner.

I need to consider her feelings.

This money should be used for Liora's benefit too. To maintain a good relationship, we must continue to be mutually beneficial.

I carefully place the smartphone on the desk and log back in.

I can't stop grinning.

▽

"So, Liora. Before we look at the battle results... shall we enter the second field? Many eyes are watching us here, so we must keep the information confidential."

"Yes, God!"

Liora starts running. I float up and high, tagging along with her. Enjoying the scenery, we cross a fountain and reach the forest.

"It's amazing."

"Such big trees, God..."

Everywhere we look, there are trees. These trees pierce the sky like spears, each one hundreds of meters tall.

The scale is overwhelming.

Even the bees living in the trees are the size of pigs and cows.

"Shall we appraise it?"

I appraise a nearby rhinoceros beetle.

Name: [Unknown], Gender: [Unknown]

Level: [45], Species: [Mini-Grasp]

Magic: [Wood Attribute]

Production: [Sap]

[Other skills and stats are unknown due to the level difference.]

...Scary.

We should retreat for now.

"God?"

"Let's do some confirmation work here. After that, we'll go back and level up."

"Yes, God!"

Her smile is dazzling.

I can't just say we're not strong enough and go back now. Liora believes from the bottom of her heart that the God doesn't make mistakes.

While staying alert to our surroundings, I start checking the rewards, beginning with Liora's unique skill.

Unique Skill: [Murderous Blade]

A skill that increases the scythe's killing power at the cost of one's vitality. A blade of sin borne by the deranged. A higher-tier art similar to the scythe skill [Life-Stealing Blade].

"This is good. Liora has [Life-Stealing Blade], [HP AND MP Regen], and [HP Auto Recovery], so this synergizes well."

"This is the power given by the God... I'm happy."

"Oh, yes. That's right, Liora. You did well. I shouldn't play favorites, so I gave a reward that suits your efforts."

"Rewards..."

Liora's face turns bright red, and a single tear falls from the corner of her eye.

Liora probably never received any rewards or words of encouragement, no matter how hard she worked.

"Shall we try it out a little? Liora, first cut a tree normally. Then, use about a third of your strength."

"Yes!"

Liora holds her scythe low and swings it like a hula hoop, striking the tree. The blade sinks into the tree.

She pulls it out and uses the art [Murderous Blade] on her scythe.

"Hah! Yes!"

Liora's scythe cuts halfway through a tree several meters in diameter. This attack power is beyond expectations.

The more she uses, the more the attack power increases directly.

"Amazing, God! Thank you."

"It's a dangerous technique. Use it carefully."

While Liora nods respectfully, I check the next reward.

That reward, currently lying on the ground, is the huge scythe Helmut wielded.

It's slightly too big for Liora.

"Shall we appraise it?"

Scythe: "Shadow of Death"

Rarity: Unique

Level: 1

Attack Power: 50

Durability: 100

Skills: Restoration, Soul Eater

A scythe born from a fragment of the vessel of Helmut, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord's army. By consuming life, it can transform its shape at will and even consume the life of its wielder to exist eternally. Due to its unique rarity, it has the potential to grow.

Skill: Restoration

Sacrifices the wielder's HP to restore the scythe's durability. It can regenerate even if completely destroyed.

Skill: Soul Eater

Collects the souls of creatures killed by this scythe. By using the collected souls, it can increase its power, recover HP, restore MP, and activate a defensive barrier. The effects depend on the number of souls collected.

"This is a powerful scythe. The problem is its size."

"God, let me try holding it."

"Indeed, try it out first."

Liora lifts the scythe, managing to wield it, albeit clumsily. It looks too unwieldy for her to swing effectively.

As Liora and I ponder this, we suddenly sense danger. A giant beetle charges at us like a bullet.

"Liora! Use it!"

"Right! Killing Blade!"

She sacrifices 80% of her HP. A sinister black aura envelops "Shadow of Death." She swings out of instinct.

The beetle approaches. In a panic, I cast [Darkness Creation] a shield, however the beetle breaks it up easily.

"HEYAHHHH!!!"

Batter up, swing, and it's a home run!

The beetle is smashed to pieces, splattering green blood everywhere.

Liora poses triumphantly, covered in the beetle's blood. A home run feels good.

"Liora, how was the Murderous Blade? Did it hurt?"

"It hurts, but I can bear it."

"The pain is inevitable... We'll have to use it sparingly."

I don't want her to die from using it. However, Liora doesn't seem hesitant.

The scythe couldn't handle the ultra-high power, shattering to pieces. Liora quickly uses Restoration.

Her HP is drained, and the scythe regenerates to a suitable size for her. It's now perfectly suited to her.

Liora swings the scythe around, and its speed is remarkable.

"Liora, how about Soul Eater?"

"Let's try it, God!"

Liora touches the beetle's corpse with the scythe. The mangled body disappears, absorbed into the scythe.

Scythe: Shadow of Death

Rarity: Unique

Level: 2

Souls Stock: 1

Attack Power: 55

Durability: 230

Skills: Restoration, Soul Eater

It's growing. It seems that "Shadow of Death" levels up by consuming souls. The collected souls are managed as Soul Stock.

The durability is proportional to the HP drained from Liora.

"Testing her unique skill and weapon is good enough for now. Next is the title."

However...

"We've spent hours fighting the boss. Liora, you must be tired. Let's return to the first field and rest."

Liora nods.

"I need to log out...soon."

Liora looks sad.

"...But let's stay together for a few more hours."

"Yes, God! Forever!"

"Not forever, but for a while."

We returned to the first field.