Chapter 64: Revolution! Wake Up!
3 more days passed since The Laughing Blue Blade Reaper became extremely notorious.
Just within 5 days since his so-called rumored appearance, the death toll had reached extremely high numbers—closing in on a thousand. It was to the point where he became one of the most wanted men across the region. Entire squads were sent to hunt him down, either to claim the massive bounty or just to kill him out of fear and for the sake of survival.
But on the other hand… there were others. Silent, subtle, but growing. People who began to look at him differently. Some saw him as a Martyr. A necessary evil. Someone striking back in ways no one else could. They cheered him on in secret.
Because starting 3 days ago, his killings were no longer as random or indiscriminate as before.
Ironically enough, his primary targets had become demons. Though whether it was intentional or coincidence wasn't certain, since the ones moving in large, aggressive numbers were mostly demons and their affiliates. Still… the pattern began to form.
Then came the new rumor—one that changed everything.
Only 1 day ago, whispers began to spread that he was somehow able to free the Shackled.
The very ones laced with spells and formations meant to implode and explode the moment they were tampered with. These weren't simple chains. They required special keys, access, timing. Even a Mortal Shedding Realm expert at the middle stage would need time and careful preparation to bypass them safely.
And yet… he had done it.
The only reason this was even discovered was because of what happened in Brymia City.
So many troops were constantly out scouring the region, trying to locate that human child, The Laughing Blue Blade Reaper, that the city's internal defenses were left weaker than usual.
That's when it happened.
A massive revolt broke out. Hundreds of no longer Shackled people rose up, especially those of the Echoing Tribe under the Longbi Clan. They seized the moment and unleashed hell inside the city.
Amidst the chaos, a devastating battle between 9 Gold-tier experts erupted.
Five of them were former Shackled who had found freedom thanks to the Reaper.
The remaining four were two elite guards and two Longbis of the Forest Tribe.
Three of the five freed warriors were Echoing Tribe Longbis.
The city was nearly brought to ruins in the chaos. Entire districts burned. Structures collapsed. Civilians fled or were trampled. It was already on the verge of collapse.
That's when he appeared Like Blue Lightning.
The Laughing Blue Blade Reaper descended with a sneak attack of incredible speed, striking with such intensity that even Gold-tier experts couldn't react in time. He severely injured a Gold-tier 3 warrior and cleanly decapitated a Gold-tier 1 fighter on the spot.
The injured Gold-tier 3 was ganged up on by the others shortly after, succumbing to his wounds.
The battle ended with one expert barely escaping while being badly wounded.
The entire city felt the shock. After this incident it was eventually discovered that he was able to somehow cut through the enchantments and seals on the Shackles breaking them down internally and allowing them to be removed. The thought was horrifying with all of the dangerous Shackled beings living inside the prison called the Whispering Expanse.
And it didn't stop there.
Two more older and clearly much more powerful Gold-tier experts of the Echoing Tribe were also freed amidst the mayhem.
That's when things truly took a turn.
Instead of everyone hunting down the Reaper, now there were many secretly looking for him. All were desperate, hopeful, and wanting him to remove their own shackles. Some were even willing to betray their masters and kill former allies just to be granted that freedom.
And curiously enough, he did free a number of them.
Others, he would ignored.
And a few… he killed on the spot.
No one knew why. No one could predict his reasoning.
But the message was clear.
No power could allow this to continue.
Yet it was too late.
Great revolts began to erupt across the region. In the name of the Laughing Blue Blade Reaper, rebellion spread like a disease. Camps went silent. Armories were raided. Shackled prisoners began to rise up, inspired by the myth, the chaos, the chance.
And soon enough… the imitators appeared.
Pretenders cloaked in blue, laughing through massacres. Some doing it in their version of justice. Others… just committing atrocities and blaming the name.
But no matter what…
The real one was still out there.
Ten days had passed since the appearance of the Laughing Blue Blade Reaper.
In the dim void of his unconscious mind, voices began to echo faintly—familiar voices that pierced through the darkness like the flickers of distant stars.
"Brother Elton… Please get ahold of yourself…" came Shayleaf's voice, gentle but strained with desperation.
"Elton Onyem… Wake up..! Please wake up…" Erica's voice followed, nearly choking with emotion.
"Oooiii Elton! What's gotten into you?! Wake up!!" Ramiro's voice, wild and urgent.
"Elton. Get up. Enough sleeping," Zoro said bluntly, but there was a deep weight behind it.
And then—one more voice, soft, radiant, threaded with bittersweet longing.
"Elton… It's time to wake up. We will see each other again soon and we will make up for lost time… Now wake up, my—"
Suddenly, another voice cut through. Cold. Familiar. Smug.
"Tch. So you've finally started getting a hold of yourself… truly, this time, instead of just flailing around subconsciously," his inner voice sneered.
With a sudden gasp, Elton jerked awake—eyes wide, heart pounding, body trembling.
His breathing was ragged, disoriented. He sat in silence, blinking at his surroundings, until memories began to rush back like a broken dam.
"No… wait…" he muttered. "I was surrounded by those demons and then… you… Y-you!!!"
He clutched his head with blistered, blood-crusted hands. His fingers dug into his scalp as horror twisted his features.
"Damn it!!! No—I should be grateful for your help in exterminating those demons, but what have you done?!"
A low chuckle echoed in his mind.
"Hah! You should be thanking me," said the inner voice. "I saved us. Every single one of them got what they deserved. That's justice in its truest form."
Elton's eyes widened, fury and guilt colliding like thunderclouds.
"But you… No—I killed so many people! There were innocents among them!! Countless lives snuffed out by my hands!"
"Innocent, my ass," the voice spat. "Most of them were liabilities. Weaklings who would've betrayed us eventually. You think you're invincible? They would've dragged us down—and gotten us killed."
"AHHH!! Shut up!! Shut up!!! So much blood—so much death…" Elton fell to his knees, trembling, eyes glassy. "And now this idiotic title… The Laughing Blue Blade Reaper… My body… kuh—!"
His voice cracked. His knees buckled beneath him. Pain flared across his body with every movement—his flesh screaming in agony, muscles twitching from overuse. He began coughing violently, his tears mixing with blood at the corners of his mouth.
The inner voice, for once, didn't laugh.
Instead, it growled low and sharp. "Pathetic. What now? You want to play the hero again? Some righteous warrior of justice? Don't make me laugh. Have you forgotten everything? Your parents? Your childhood friends? The way people spat on us, treated us like trash even when we offered them kindness? You're too weak. You'll never save anyone that way."
There was silence… then the voice hissed: "You let Christy almost die before your eyes."
Elton froze.
"You almost lost her. And what did you do? You hesitated. Always hesitating. Conveniently blanking out and still putting mental barriers on yourself. Still clinging to this twisted idea of justice that's been eating away at your cultivation speed."
The voice grew colder. "It's disgusting. You're disgusting. And that's why I should be the true Elton—NOT YOU."
Elton's teeth clenched, the anger boiling beneath his grief. Tears streamed down, but something new flashed in his eyes—resolve.
He remembered something—something important.
Even while possessed… even when the inner voice had control, Elton's will had twisted its actions, guiding it to fight demons and their allies. To save the shackled. To spare those not tainted by hatred. He had broken their chains… freed them.
Some of them even vowed to serve him. Others promised favors, gratitude etched into their very souls.
He forced himself to his feet, pain be damned.
He stood there—bruised, battered, bloodied—but no longer broken.
"…Maybe you're right," he muttered quietly. "I haven't been doing things the best way. I've made mistakes. Costly ones. But I'll face them."
He stared into the abyss within himself.
"I'll change. I'll grow. But I'll never abandon who I am. My sense of justice isn't weakness. It's my foundation. I just need to become strong enough to uphold it… my way."
There was silence.
Then, suddenly, laughter. Mocking… but less cruel than before.
"Heh… fine. Do what you want. But when you slip up again, I'll be there, and… I willl take over."
And then, silence again.
Elton stood still for a while, staring at the sky through the canopy. He felt the wind. The stench of rot. The lingering energy of the massacre.
He didn't notice the soft footsteps at first—he was too lost in the war inside.
But then…
"B-Big Brother Elton!!!"
A familiar voice rang out—filled with emotion.
Shayleaf burst through the bushes and sprinted toward him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She crashed into him, arms wrapping tightly around his waist, sobbing uncontrollably.
Elton groaned from the sudden pain but managed a smile, gently patting her head. "I'm… fine. Just… took a nap in the wrong place."
Behind her stood Seraphiel—still composed, still elegant. But something had changed. She looked at Shayleaf with calm acceptance. Even… joy?
She stepped closer, maintaining her usual cool tone.
"Elton, we don't have much time. You need to come with us. Now."
Shayleaf nodded quickly, wiping her tears as she helped Elton steady himself. With her support, and his Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer sword dug into the earth like a cane, he limped toward the waiting magical vehicle.
The doors opened, glowing with runes. Seraphiel stood at the entrance, arms crossed, watching him with a gaze that didn't judge.
As they boarded, the vehicle rose, engines humming, propelling them toward the Fae Region Upper Lands Tunnel.
Elton leaned back in his seat. His body screamed. His mind throbbed. His soul felt scarred.
But for the first time in what felt like forever…
He was awake.