Reaper's Purgatory-Chapter 44: All or Nothing!!

A sweat ran down Megumi's face as she watched alongside Dino. They watched as the Liang was enveloped in the chaos of battle along with the others that tried to analyze a way to defeat Liang's. It was like watching small-scale war being waged

Megumi couldn't imagine herself in such a difficult position of trying to overcome a flurry of one random attack after another.

After watching for so long, Megumi noticed how much faster Liang was becoming. It was like his reaction speed picked up. It was scary just watching as each person fell from their own reflected and poorly calculated attack.

And with each attack everyone made, it was like Liang himself was mocking their attempt by adjusting his own body enough to reflect a killing blow to the examinee.

Megumi grimaced seeing that same smirk he made when first taunted her in that ice cream shop where he posed as a waiter. She tightened her grasp on the plush tree she hid behind.

As the numbers of examinees dwindled away, Liang finally noticed the other half of the people still watching from a distance including Megumi and Dino. "They must not want to have fun fighting me. Well too bad for them." Liang thought.

Liang bent his back, dodging the swing of an energized club. "Alright! New rule!" he shouted.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to Liang as the flurry of attacks continued.

"You can't be away from me for more than fifteen feet. Otherwise, you fail." Liang announced.

"Th-that means..." Megumi froze, glancing back. Several people behind her already started turning to ash as if an invisible bubble was conjured behind them.

Everyone moved at once. It was clear that he didn't want them to just watch in the safety from a distance. In fact, he was forcing them closer to action.

"Damn it all!" Someone yelled.

Megumi didn't waste time glancing back. "S-scythe. I–I'll need scythe!" Megumi stretched out her palm. "C-concentrate... F-focus."

Megumi's full attention graced the energy she was forming beneath her palm.

"Look out!!" Dino cried.

Before she could react, Dino tackled her to the ground as a boomerang-like weapon whizzed past her.

The weapon by some miracle struck Liang in the face leaving behind a visible mark to everyone's shock.

"What the hell is wrong with you!!!" a little girl yelled. "Are you trying to kill me!!"

Megumi glanced back, seeing a girl and boy fighting. They were practically fighting next to her and Dino now. "K- Kids?"

"I told you to get out of my way!!" the guy retorted.

"Oh please! I told you to wait for me!"

"Y-yeah but I couldn't stop it. A-at least I tried aiming it away-"

"Hey!" Liang yelled.

At this moment everyone realized the attack had ceased. Both The boy and girl finally realized that everyone was looking at them. Nervous sweats and glances were exchanged to just about the entire body of people looking at them.

Dino slowly got off of Megumi as they both watched as Liang marched up to the two kids with the purple ether still cloaking him. An aura of seriousness was carried throughout as he stood in front of them face to face.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, I did say it didn't matter..." He said to himself. "Alright."

Liang shot his gaze at the boy. "You're the kid that threw that ether enhanced Boomerang thing, Right?"

"Y... Yeah-"

A yellow head band was thrown his way. "Congratulations you pass kid." The kid looked dumbfounded. Megumi stared in shock, seeing that a random kid just passed.

The kid beamed with pride as the girl beside him pouted with her arms crossed. Just before Liang could speak up, the girl quickly interrupted.

"Hey!"

Liang's attention fell back to her. "What is it?"

"Can I forfeit?" she said with her hands raised,

Liang looked at her more curiously as everyone else was either left in shock or disbelief. Even Megumi was stunned hearing what the girl asked. But it only made sense witnessing Liang in action.

The girl scratched her cheeks, and she became more flushed. "I- I... W-we promised whoever became the reaper first c-could choose the f-first..." Her face became a deeper crimson.

The boy stepped up in front of her, shielding her from the crowd. "Y-you don't have to tell everyone that part!"

"The girl quickly realized her folly, becoming even more embarrassed, hiding her face.

"If you want to forfeit, be my guest. I'm not gonna force anyone to fight. Besides, you can come back in the next fifty years if you change your mind." Liang said.

Soon after a roar of people started shouting. Forfeiting the exam as well to Megumi and Dino's surprise. However, it seemed that this surprising turn of events was expected by Liang. With the snap of a finger a bright green door warped `into existence.

"For those of you who want to leave, this is your one and only chance. You step through that door, and you automatically fail. Of course, if you have a yellow headband I gave, you'll be just fine."

Lines of people quickly formed as one after another left the world of stuffed trees and rocks. Eventually even the girl and boy left, more happily than anyone else.

Megumi couldn't help but feel a little envious seeing the two kids. She felt a strange hole in her heart an emptiness she just noticed.

"[What's wrong Megumi?]" A mocking voice came from within Megumi's head. it was her shadow.

As much as Megumi wanted to answer, she kept silent as she got back to her feet. "It's nothing..."

Megumi gazed back upon Liang, calmly analyzing.

"[I'm surprised you still haven't figured it out yet. especially since that latest attack gave away Liangs secret weakness behind his power.]"

"I don't think that kid was aiming for Liang." Dino suddenly spoke in a hushed tone.

Megumi glanced his way then back at Liang who was stretching.

"I think his powers might have to do with actually trying to attack him or hurt him. Perhaps a limitation from one of the sins. Regardless, I think it's safe to say that trying to attack him directly is a death wish." Dino took a quick glance around at the last person the looked back for a brief moment.

"I think Everyone else had pretty much just caught on to that fact too by the looks of things." To Dino's surprise the wimpy man that was accompanying them stayed. He seemed even more confident and determined. "Heh. I thought you would've turned tail already."

The man didn't falter, instead he bent down touching the ground with one hand.

Megumi could hear her dark counterpart laughing. "[He's a perceptive one.]"

"Sh-shut up! Why are you speaking up now anyways!?"

"[Because I'm bore of watching a coward like you just watching from the background like some scared chicken. And here I thought you actually cared about Eric.]"

Megumi felt a blow was struck against her.

"[But I guess you're still that scared girl, trying to avoid trouble.]"

"Y-you're wrong!" Megumi slowly reconjured her crimson scythe in hand. "I'll prove it to you. Right now!"

Dion looked back at Megumi, surprised. "Megumi are you sure about this?"

"Y... Yeah. We can't just sit by and do nothing anymore."

Dino flashed a casual smirk. "And here I thought I'd be the first to attack between the two of us."

Liang caught a glimpse of Megumi's newfound determination as the green door warped out. "So, you're finally joining... Megumi. It's about time."

A flurry of red ether surrounded Megumi's feet. "So, I can't attack him directly... If that's the case. I should aim for the ground behind him."

A burst of speed erupted from Megumi, surprising even Liang.

"Oh?" He glanced around seeing that everyone else was attacking as well. He blocked the first attacker and moved to dodge Megumi's first attack.

Megumi could see there was a clear difference in his reactions. It was sharper and more precise than before.

"Twenty minutes left." Liang smirked as he jumped above Megumi.

he blocked and clashed against sever more people and slice through several projectiles creating a chaos around Megumi. She pushed forth, but with so many people it became hard to tell when to attack with her huge scythe.

With her hands now tightly clenched at the hand of her huge scythe, Megumi finally pushed in. She swung her scythe in the air. She closed her eyes and struck the ground in front of Liang who jumped back, dodging the attack.

His gaze fixed on her scythe for a short while before blocking another attack from his side. He slid his blade disarming the attacker.

Dino watched on as Megumi made her clumsy attacks. Clearly, she still had much to learn. Not wanting to be left out any further, Dino ran in. He shot shards of Crystals, aiming them at the people behind liang.

Liang instantly block the first few and slice the last.

Moving Quickly Dino slid into a crouch, grasping the ground.

"Crystal wonderland!"

Shards of crystal erupted from the ground at once, people were caught in the crossfire with some getting cuts and scratches. Liang however Jumped high in the air avoid this attack.

"Tch!" Dino eyed the sky.

Just before Megumi could try to attack Liang, Dino shouted. "Don't!"

Megumi stopped at once and witnessed as several other people attack Liang in the air, only to have their attacks reflected at them.

Without warning, Liang threw his sword onto Dino's crystal, piercing through it and landing on it.

"Rub it in some more why don't you." Dino sneered.

unexpectedly the ground below started to move and shift around them. a smile soon formed onto Dino's face.

"What's going on!?" Megumi question.

"Nothing Much, just a little assistance from a cowardly guy."

"HERE GOES NOTHING!!" A wimpy man shouted.

Just before Megumi could react, the entire ground whipped up like rope, sending people flying. This turn of event even surprised Liang, who lost his sword.

"Ah, very clever." Liang said. A glance down seeing spikes of crystal spikes on the ground. "You know that only one person can get credit for actually hurting me right, Dino?"

Dino, who also flew in the air along with Megumi and the others, grinned. "Yeah. But I figure I'd run one more experiment. Lucky for me, I had someone will to help with that."

A second later, Dino grabbed Megumi by the arm. he manifested a new crystal from his palm and teleported to crystal, on the wavey ground.

Megumi hunched herself over, as the ground continued to rock, trying to center herself.

People ignored the clear danger from below them, instead, persisting in attacking liang at his most vulnerable. unfortunately for them, gravity was much faster as they hurtled straight to the ground. getting even more pierced and cut by the Dino's crystals.

However, the true target, Liang, perfectly avoided the trap. Liang using the small window, conjured a katana in hand, and sliced through the crystals around him.

"Nice try." Liang glance around seeing only five people left. another person had attack from behind, but the attack was easily reflected. "Make that four people." Liang saw that the saw a that the other participant was charging at him.

Sensing a difference, he quickly blocked the first attack and allowed the second to hit. "And then there was three..."

The attacker turned to ash leaving only Megumi, Dino and the wimpy guy. Liang eyed the wimpy guy seeing that he was still clutching the ground. a shot a curious gaze at the man, but just as he was about to speak, a crystal shot up into the air, cutting Liangs face.

Dino and Megumi glace at Liang surprised. Dino then glanced back to the wimpy guy behind. "I... I did it... I did it!!" The man jumped up in joy, happy about his accomplishment.

"Haha. Alright you got me." Liang spoke.

Liang threw a yellow head band at the wimpy man. "You pass. talk about a lucky break, am I right..." Liang said. he then turned his gaze to Dino and Megumi who seemed to be ready.

A green door warped behind the wimpy guy. "You can leave if you want." Liang said.

The last man didn't hesitate to leave, leaving Megumi and Dino with Liang. "Welp, I guess it's only fitting that you two are the last ones standing. Can't say that I'm surprised though, you two seemed to be on the cautious side this entire time."

Neither Megumi nor Dino spoke. Their sole focus was to pass this impossible exam.

"Right, I suppose there's no reason to talk. so, let's not waste any more time." Liang said.

As Liang finished speaking, Both Megumi and Dino charged in.

Dino with his combat knife moved fast, aiming for the ground beneath Liangs feet. He threw the knife to little success.

Megumi moved in swinging her scythe, only for Liang to also dodge.

Megumi gazed at Liang with some irritation and swung her scythe with much more fury, it was one swing after another. leaving no room to for him to properly distance himself.

as Liang kept moving, He noticed the absence of Dino. "From behind, huh?"

Finding the prime opportunity, Liang jumped high, leaving Megumi and Dino to nearly hit each other.

This came at a cost for Liang however, He gazed back at his katana, seeing that it's been cut through. "That scythe is no joke. Even if I wanted to, I can't even block her attacks. and it looks like Dino can still teleport through those crystals too..."

Liangs broken katana fade into a mist as a new sword it conjured. He quickly reoriented himself, seeing Megumi pressing on the offensive again. "Theres only ten minutes left. I wonder how long I can bleed out their clock or if they can actually get me at all."

An excitement from deep within started to erupt. Liang pressed on with his graceful dance between Dodging Megumi's attack and countering Dino's guerrilla tactics. "C'mon! Show me what you can do! Show me the full extent of your powers!"

"Nine Minutes."

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"Eight Minutes."

"Seven Minutes"

"Six Minutes."

The entire plush beach was chalk full of crystals What dino had thought would help turned into more of a hinderance for him and Megumi than he expected.

Dino gritted his teeth, a glared at Liang he stood on the tallest crystal, looking down at them. "He's toying with us." Dino thought.

"There's only five minutes left." Liang stated

A shock ran through both Megumi and Dino.

"What? You didn't think I'd make things easy for you two, did you?"

Despite a deep frustration boiling within, Megumi pushed it aside, instead. asking a question she had on her mind.

"Liang." She called.

"Hmm?" Liang turned to Megumi.

"Why did you lie... Why did you say you were a demon hunter when you were a grimm?"

Liang stood silent for a moment, as if pondering how to answer.

"When we met. I wasn't lying when I said I was a demon hunter. while I was a grimm before, tried retiring, of course living a peaceful was a bit on the boring side so I became a demon hunter... It wasn't until recently that I decided to become a grimm again."

"But.... Why?" Megumi asked.

Liang chuckled. "Let's just say that I found an interesting people with an interesting goal. They had me thinking about the good ole days. So, on a dime I decided to take back my old job back. But I think that's more than enough talking. You two only have four minutes left now. and counting."

Everyone prepared themselves once again. "It's all or nothing Megumi..." Dino said. "Are you up for it?"

Megumi simply nodded her head. "Whatever it takes."

At once, Megumi cleared the field of crystals. she positioned her scythe like a bat, and using the blunt end, smacked all the crystals she could at Liang. He dodged and sliced through them He then turned his gaze around expectantly.

"You didn't expect for me to fall for that now, Dino..." Liang blocked Dino from stabbing him with his knife.

Liang jump away from Dino, in the direction where more crystals spikes towered the field.

Unexpectedly Megumi was beginning to slice through all the crystals in her way into smaller chunks. She shoveled them all into the air, allowing Dino to continue the pressure against Liang.

It was rinse and repeat process, of cutting the entire field of crystal while shoveling them at Liang.

Liang could feel that something was up between these two, but he didn't feel too concerned. as he jumped from the last crystal spike, even more chunks of crystals flew above him. he readied his sword expectedly. "It's just two minutes now-"

Megumi was suddenly above him. Liang jerked back surprised by the sudden switch up. "How could I forget!" Liang at that point remembered seeing that Dino had helped Megumi down from safety much earlier. "He could teleport other people through his crystals too."

He saw Dino behind Megumi. There was nothing more Liang could do. Even if he blocked with his sword in hand, it wouldn't be enough to withstand Megumi's scythe. all he could do was brace himself with his arms.

Both Megumi and Dino struck Liang at once, sending him hurtling to the ground along with them. was the smoke cleared. two visible and differently shaped cuts made their presences known along Liangs chest.

"Ow..." Liang reached from just under his back finding a small crystal under him. "Of course."

Liang erupted into laughter as both Megumi and Dino tried catching their breath. "Well Congratulations you two... It looks like... you both pass..."

A pride swelled withing Megumi's very being with a new warmth she hadn't felt before.

"[Congratulations Megumi. It looks like you did it after all.]"

Ignoring her Shadows words, she jumped up in joy. leaving both Lianf and Dino to watch in bewildered amusement.

Dino sighed as he watched on. "Finally..."