Wrath of the Re-climber

How are you feeling?" Eliana asked as she approached Ethan, holding a gleaming shield.

"Beaten up," Ethan replied, glancing at the object they had uncovered. Once cleared of dust and mud, it revealed a brilliant dark purple hue with a dignifying aura, marked by an intricate rune.

"Despite falling into corruption, his skills as a blacksmith were always unbeatable," Ethan mused.

"Indeed," Eliana nodded. "What are you waiting for?" she asked, eyeing the rune stone in Ethan's grasp.

"I thought you might try to snatch it from me," Ethan said with a smirk. Though wounded, he was still capable of defending himself. Eliana smiled back, acknowledging the playful challenge. "I'm tempted, but I know I can't defeat you—at least not right now."

{Are you guys flirting?}

Ethan's head throbbed as the vibration from the communication device buzzed through his skull. He clicked his tongue in irritation. "And here I thought you died screaming," he muttered sarcastically.

Eliana glanced at him, confused. "Who are you talking to?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

Ethan waved dismissively. "Don't ask. It's too long and complicated, and we don't have the luxury of sitting around explaining it," he said, pushing himself to his feet despite his injuries.

"…Wait," Eliana said suddenly, her tone shifting. Something in her voice caught Ethan's attention. He turned to see her lifting her shield, its polished surface gleaming faintly in the dim light.

"I'll make you a deal," she said, her eyes locking onto his. "I give you this shield, and you give me that rune stone."

Ethan looked down at the rune stone in his hand. Its power was undeniable, but he knew the risks of using it. The skill it granted was potent but dangerous—activating it without proper defenses or resistance could leave the user vulnerable to devastating attacks.

He hesitated for a moment, weighing the offer. The shield Eliana held was no ordinary piece of equipment; its craftsmanship was exquisite, and it radiated an aura of protection. It was a tempting trade, especially given his current condition.

"Why do you want the rune stone so badly?" Ethan asked, narrowing his eyes.

Eliana smirked. "Let's just say I have my reasons. Besides, you're not exactly in the best shape to use it right now, are you?"

Ethan chuckled dryly. "Fair point." After a brief pause, he extended the rune stone toward her. "Fine. Deal."

Eliana handed over the shield, her expression triumphant yet respectful. "You won't regret it," she said, securing the rune stone [scream of the defeated god] Within her, it glowed before vanishing.

Ethan examined the shield, feeling its weight and balance. "This better be worth it," he muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Ethan watched as Eliana walked towards Derek's body to retrieve the silver spear; it was well made, as it solidly took the aftermath of Derek's strength and his; Ethan walked towards the chamber located at the back, a hidden area only those who took down Derek knew.

*

There were numerous copies of the migration tower distributed everywhere across this realm, giving all an opportunity to face Derek and acquire the tools needed to fight the higher beings.

"Athena acquired this tool, even the four brigade commanders; of the Apex got it, totaling the five heads of the Apex, those who stood head to head with the higher existence " Ethan walked inside the chamber, there was nothing much peculiar from the place, blacksmith tools, iron pots and vice versa.

However, it did not take long for Ethan to see what he was looking for: a black box and a twisted letter.

He walked towards the black box and picked it up, he did not hesitate to open it, as expected, what he was looking for was, the [Realm Eater]

It was a bracelet with a dark crystal orb embedded in the middle. The orb wasn't a core; it was similar to a rune, but it wasn't; this was an object of unknown origins and the main cause of Derek's insanity of today and also what gave him such strength.

"A gift from Yama" Murmured Ethan.

{Where did a devil get this from?}

Young Ethan had already absorbed a few percent of older Ethan's memory, so he knew mostly of what occurred during the tower, he wasn't pleased with the outcome of what would happen after a year.

"It was said that he stole it from one of the higher existence during a conflict and traded it to Derek, who wanted revenge against someone, in exchange for weapons, the Yama sets, but the contract never came to close as the last set was never delivered," Said Ethan.

Ethan looked at the letter on the table, twisted as if the person who wrote it was grieving sorrow and hatred.

Ethan equipped the bracelet on his right wrist; luckily, it didn't hinder the gauntlet as it strangely adapted itself; satisfied, Ethan picked up the letter and read it.

*

*

My days are counted, and I can feel the energy of all the realms corrupting me from within, but I have to keep going; I need to finish crafting it; I would lose my mind to any unfortunate soul who encounters me; sorry, sorry...

There was an abrupt stop, but it followed;

Whoever defeats me and gets hold of this tool, can have it in exchange for this request, you can't say no, the moment you, equip it, you are bound to it until you die, all I ask of you; is to kill him, kill that bastard of Nautilus, or whatever his names are, when you meet him, the bracelet would react to his presence, kill him, kill him, kill him.

Ethan folded the paper after seeing it repeating the same word again and again, but each stroke of his pen showed how deeply he was being corrupted and angry towards that certain Nautilus.

{Do you know the person he is talking about?}

"Never heard of him," Said Ethan; he was frowning; were they an enemy apart from the factions, other species, and the pledge he should be wary of? He questioned, but threw that in the back of his mind; getting stronger was the best method to prepare for the next realm; he had a year for that.

"It should be around or kept in a confined area or in a compartment." Ethan looked, but did not see what he was looking for; after searching the whole area, he came out disappointed.

"Heh, something is glowing within Derek's body," Said Eliana as she walked towards Ethan. She did not go close to it as the aura coming out was filled with an eerie and sinister presence, like that of...

"It's one of Yama's sets." She took a step back; despite being a strong weapon, this weapon brought misery and death around it, and his user ended up with a miserable faith. However, Ethan was happy; he rushed towards Derek and saw it; how did he miss it? He wondered.

Derek had used it as a belt around his waist; the blades were vibrating as if they were being called by someone or something; Ethan grabbed the chains, which shook violently, and rejected Ethan as the owner.

"I wasn't asking your opinion," said Ethan, lifting his hand and clenching it.

Boom!

He stood up, lifting up two blades, they were strangely medium size with a well crafting run; they carried an ominous energy from within.

Left blade [Halo blade, one who slices his enemy's soul from within]

Right blade, [leviathan, one who destroys his enemy from the outside]

All connected by dark, chains, [Yama's judgement; the chain that binds your existence to his evil might]

"By now, everybody should have gotten stronger, but with this, climbing would be much easier," said Ethan to himself.