Adventure World Online (AWO) Chapter 274 274: The Reaper King’s Throne

The Land of the Dead was starkly different from the last ti Chang Long had entered it. Back then, the place was teeming with structures and walking corpses, resembling a bustling city of the dead. This ti, it was an open expanse filled with fields of grass and flowers. The mirror or portal that had allowed Chang Long to enter stood atop a high cliff, offering a clear view of the entire land.

"Empty,"

Chang Long muttered as she scanned the landscape, letting out a sigh.

"You're the one who did this, so why are you complaining?"

Devi-chan remarked as he started walking down the sloping path toward the open expanse, which was an island surrounded by the sea. At the far end of the island stood the only remaining structure—the Castle of Death, built entirely of jet-black stone. It housed the Throne of the Reaper King.

Chang Long followed the narrow path leading to the island's center. A gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, swaying the grass and flowers in rhythm. The serene, quiet atmosphere was so calming that she felt tempted to lie down and rest there.

"It's peaceful here,"

Chang Long murmured.

"Indeed, much better than the last ti we were here,"

Hisa-chan agreed, gazing at the scenery with a relaxed expression.

"Wait, you two have been here before? Didn't you say you had to find the mirror before entering?"

Alice-chan asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Before missy received the quest to find the mirror, we ca here once. Back then, this place was filled with houses and the dead,"

Devi-chan explained as he led the group toward the Castle of Death.

"Co to think of it, where are the Reaper Guardians? They haven't co to greet yet,"

Chang Long muttered, puzzled. No matter where she looked, there was no sign of the Reaper Guardians or any other living—or dead—beings.

"That's right, what about Ackeran? He didn't follow us in, did he?"

Alice-chan exclaid as she suddenly rembered that Ackeran had guided them to this point but had not entered the Land of the Dead.

"Only those granted permission by the land's master can enter. Any spirit not authorized cannot pass through," a familiar voice said, making Alice-chan freeze. She turned slowly toward the voice, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.

"Cedric,"

Alice-chan whispered hoarsely. But Cedric's gaze was fixed solely on Chang Long.

The remaining Reaper Guardians appeared beside Cedric, all kneeling in unison to pay their respects to Chang Long with serious expressions. Then, Kearick, the leader of the four Guardians, gestured toward the castle and spoke in a solemn tone.

"My Lord, forgive us for being late in welcoming you. We've been occupied with preparations for your arrival."

His tone was so earnest that Chang Long could not tell that they had actually overslept and delayed their welco.

"Uh-huh, can I ask you sothing, Kearick? What happens if I sit on the throne?"

Chang Long asked nervously as she continued walking alongside the group.

"You will beco the true ruler of the Land of the Dead, wielding absolute power over every soul in this domain. All spirits will bow before you in fear and submission,"

Kearick replied with a serious tone and expression.

"The Reaper King's skills are decisive and overwhelmingly powerful. Missy, you'll need to level up quickly to unleash their full potential, you know that, don't you?"

Devi-chan seized the opportunity to lecture his notoriously lazy successor. Chang Long nodded, letting out a sigh through her nose, imagining how Devi-chan would pester her about leveling up from now on, leaving her little ti for adventure.

The Castle of Death remained as eerie and foreboding as ever. Kearick smiled at Chang Long's expression, gesturing politely for her to lead the way inside. The group entered the vast throne hall, its walls adorned with large mirrors of various designs. Each mirror was sizable enough for a person to walk through with ease.

At the far end of the hall was a short staircase leading to a grand ebony throne. Intricately carved with patterns of silver and molten gold, the throne was encrusted with gemstones of many colors, glowing faintly as Chang Long approached, as if signaling that its wait was about to end.

"My Lord, please take your seat on the throne,"

Murik, the only Reaper Guardian with an appearance that looked like a beautiful woman, spoke with a joyous smile.

Chang Long walked to the throne and sat down, feeling slightly embarrassed under the gazes of everyone. As soon as she settled, the world around her disappeared. She found herself standing in an endless void. One by one, the skills she rembered, were that of the Reaper King's were unleashed upon her. Chang Long scread in pain, crimson blood pouring from her, staining the void red. Through the agony, the Reaper King appeared before her with a warm smile. He knelt, gently stroking her head as she lay prone, breathing softly.

"Does it hurt, Chang Long? It must hurt a lot. Look, your tears are streaming down your cheeks. But this is the way to pass on the mantle of the Reaper King. The skills will embed themselves into your very being. You'll never forget them, whether awake or asleep. Sotis, I've thought that being the King of Death is so lonely. I longed to escape it. But it will probably be different for you. You are surrounded by so many who love you. From this mont, you are the true Reaper King. Inherit everything from ... including so of the sins I, Azrael, have committed."

"Chang Long, even though I will no longer appear before you, I will always be by your side." As Azrael's voice faded, the crimson blood seed to lt, swirling like a torrential current toward both Chang Long and Azrael.

"Player Chang Long has successfully unlocked the profession: Lord of Death. The profession Lord of Death has been unsealed. As Player Chang Long has earned the title Reaper King, which is synonymous with the Lord of Death, the profession and the title have rged..."

"Player Chang Long has unlocked the profession of Reaper King, gaining the following Reaper King job skills: Infernal Reaper Judgnt, Soul Resurrection, Infernal Demon, Reaper Soul Harvest, and Reaper's Baptism. However, due to the player's current level, the full power of these skills cannot yet be unleashed."

.....

Outside the Player Service Building in Ark City, Siegfried walked out looking visibly displeased. Having been killed by Demos, his level had dropped by five. As he raised his watch to contact his friends, his gaze caught Demos standing not far away, grinning in a way ant to provoke him.

"Hey, death is fun, huh?"

Demos called out.

"You think so?"

Siegfried replied warily.

"I think it is. I don't die often in gas like this. And you know, Siegfried, you're pretty skilled. If you had struck down again without turning your back on , the outco might have been different."

Demos spoke earnestly, recalling his previous death atop Mount Agaz.

"True. I do regret sparing you. I shouldn't have shown rcy."

Siegfried responded with a grim tone, puzzled by Demos's calm deanor, which oddly reminded him of Chang Long.

"That's your weakness. It's what landed you here with . rcy towards an enemy determined to kill you doesn't always pay off. Next ti you show rcy, the result might not be the sa."

Demos's face hardened, his voice carrying a chilling intensity.

"Oh, soone's co to get . They must think I'd get lost on my way back to town. Hey, Siegfried, next ti I'll kill you in a way that's even more agonizing. Count on it. See ya!"

Demos gave a broad grin, as if his words were a joke, but Siegfried remained stoic, refusing to laugh. Once Demos left, Siegfried allowed his killing intent to fade and exhaled heavily.

"What kind of person laughs while exuding such killing intent? But, Demos, next ti, I won't let things end the sa way either."

He muttered while continuing his walk down the street.

"Hey, Siegfried. Isn't that you, Siegfried?"

He flinched at hearing his na called and turned to see a familiar figure across the street: a royal procession led by a king he knew well.

"King Duck!"

He exclaid in surprise. Both players and AI citizens in the city turned to look at him, curious about why the king had addressed him so casually.

"Ah, it really is you. Co here, I've got sothing I'd like to ask of you."

King Duck waved him over jovially. Siegfried, feeling a bit sheepish, walked over and asked softly:

"What can I do for you?"

"It's about Chang Long."

The king leaned in and whispered. Siegfried perked up, moving closer, curiosity mixed with suspicion.

"What about Chang Long?"

"I want her as my second queen. Can you tell where she is..."

"What. Did. You. Just. Say!"

Siegfried glared at King Duck, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, ready to draw it out and behead the person in front of him at any mont. His killing intent was so fierce that the royal guards imdiately surrounded him, weapons drawn, prepared for a fight.

"Hey! I was just joking, really. I knew you'd lose it if I said that. Anyway, co to the palace. I do have sothing I'd actually like your help with,"

King Duck quickly backtracked upon seeing Siegfried's furious deanor. Once Siegfried cald down, the king invited him to follow him back to the palace.

"Does this... still have sothing to do with Chang Long?"

Siegfried asked as the procession resud, his expression still wary from the king's earlier remark.

"If you want it to, it does. If not, then it doesn't,"

King Duck replied cryptically.

"What do you an by that?"

Siegfried frowned, puzzled.

"Just co along. I'm not the one who'll answer your questions—it's Anna. Usually, anyone seeking a quest from her must go through rigorous tests to earn our trust. But you and Chang Long already have our trust, so you'll get the quest imdiately. Besides, she seems rather anxious. Lucky for I ca out today—this trip wasn't wasted."

The king's mysterious tone only deepened Siegfried's curiosity. He followed the king's palanquin politely in silence. Whatever the task, if it involved Chang Long, the only one who could provide answers would be Queen Anna.

.....

When Chang Long sat upon the Reaper King's throne, her body vanished from sight. Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, and Alice-chan waited anxiously, despite Kearick's assurance that there was no need to worry. The three paced around the throne nervously. After what felt like so ti, Chang Long's form reappeared on the throne. The four Reaper Guardians knelt in solemn respect, but Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, and Alice-chan stared at her, stunned.

"Is that you, Chang Long?"

Hisa-chan asked hesitantly.

"Hisa-chan, it's ."

Chang Long's voice trembled slightly as she steadied herself and stood up. She turned to a nearby mirror, and the reflection she saw left her just as shocked as her companions. Her appearance had changed so drastically that she barely recognized herself.

Chang Long's hair was now ash-gray with a silken sheen. Her grey eyes glead like crystal ball. Her skin was pale and smooth, resembling marble. Her fingernails were painted jet black. She wore an entirely black outfit adorned with silver skull-shaped buttons that sparkled like gemstones. A long black velvet cape lined with fluffy white fur draped over her shoulders. On her head sat a silver crown encrusted with obsidian gemstones. Her ears bore silver earrings—on the left, a hoop with a single skull charm, and on the right, a delicate chain extending to her neck, ending in a small winged skull.

"You look so regal now,"

Devi-chan exclaid, his expression filled with pride for his cherished successor.

"Is this really ?"

Chang Long asked Kearick, who stood beside her. He smiled warmly and nodded in affirmation.

"But if I walk around dressed like this, it'd look ridiculously over-the-top. Besides, fighting like this would be a pain. Imagine being in the middle of an intense battle and tripping over the edge of this cape."

Chang Long pictured herself fiercely battling a beast, only to trip over her cloak, fall flat on her face, and get utterly obliterated by the creature, forcing her to respawn.

"You can follow Lord Azrael's example, my lord. The Reaper King's attire isn't limited to a single mode—it can be adjusted for practicality without affecting the outfit's status bonuses. The full regalia you're wearing now is only for use within this realm,"

Henrik explained, calming Chang Long, who had been frowning at her own imaginings.

"Oh,"

Chang Long's expression brightened imdiately.

"Hey! So this realm belongs to Mis—sy, my… my lord! What the heck? Why do I have to call her my lord?"

Devi-chan exclaid in shock. He had always called Chang Long missy, but now found himself unable to use any term other than my lord.

"My lord has ascended as the Reaper King. Those under her rule are compelled to address her as such,"

Kearick explained.

"But just a mont ago, I could call her by her na,"

Hisa-chan argued.

"Try saying it now,"

Kearick replied with a smile.

"Ch… my lord,"

Hisa-chan reluctantly tried again, only to find he was indeed unable to call Chang Long by her na anymore.

"As for this realm, you must first designate a fixed entry point, my lord. You can relocate the entrance to any area of your choosing. Once that's done, the rest of the processes can comnce,"

Kearick explained further, turning back to Chang Long.

"But the current entrance—floating out in the middle of the sea—doesn't count as fixed yet?"

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