A bright light blinded his vision as he slowly woke up.
As his sight cleared, he saw a woman sitting on top of him.
“Hello!” she said cheerfully.
The room suddenly went quiet as everyone stared at him.
“Um… hey,” Davonte responded nervously.
A man nearby stepped forward.
“Great, you’re finally awake! You know, you could’ve died releasing that much power at once.”
Davonte stared at him.
“Who are you guys… and where the hell am I?”
“Straight to the point, huh?” the man said with a smile. “My name is Zion, and the girl on top of you is Yukei.”
He gestured around the room.
“As for where you are… you’re in the most secure place in the Precipice World.”
A slight pause.
“The Cleaners’ headquarters.”
Davonte frowned.
“So this place isn’t Hell… and how did I even get here?”
“Well, Yukei here is pretty good at sensing strong people. She led us straight to you.”
Zion shrugged.
“Plus, the explosion you caused made things easier.”
Yukei leaned closer, her eyes sparkling.
“This one is strong, Mr. Zion. Do I really get to keep him?”
“Yep. He’s all yours.”
Davonte’s expression darkened.
“Why are you all talking about me like I’m some kind of object?”
He pushed Yukei off and stood up.
“You know what—screw this. There’s someone I need to find.”
The moment he tried to move—
Something hit his head.
A small ball.
But the impact sent him flying straight into a wall.
Dust filled the air.
As it settled, Davonte looked up.
A figure stood in front of him.
“You’re not a guest here,” the person said coldly. “So you don’t have the freedom to leave whenever you please.”
Davonte glared.
“You know what… I just remembered. I have no problem beating the shit out of a girl.”
The person blinked.
“…Girl?” they muttered.
Then their face twisted in anger.
“I’m a man, you idiot!”
“Oh… um, sorry, I guess,” Davonte replied.
“Okay!” Zion quickly stepped in. “I think what Tama meant is—since we found you in the forest instead of the City of Beginning, where most people appear…”
He paused.
“The higher-ups got concerned.”
“So we assigned Yukei to watch over you.”
Davonte crossed his arms.
“So you people think I’m a threat.”
“Yes,” Tama said immediately.
“And the moment you act up… I’ll take you down.”
Davonte smirked slightly.
“Are you sure you can take me down, Mr. Tama?”
His tone was sharp.
Cold.
Zion clapped his hands.
“Alright! I’ve got places to be, so we’ll let you and Yukei get to know each other.”
He turned back.
“Oh—and we never got your name.”
“It’s Davonte.”
---
Later that night—
Davonte sat on the bed, with Yukei still watching him.
“So…” she leaned closer. “Are you getting any dirty thoughts right now?”
“…No. Not really,” he replied.
She tilted her head.
“Do you not like girls then?”
“It’s not that,” Davonte said quietly. “My heart already belongs to someone.”
Yukei blinked.
“But you’re dead now… so how are you going to meet them?”
Davonte looked away.
“Well… she died too. So I’ll look for her in the morning.”
Yukei sighed.
“You know that’s not how it works, right?”
Davonte frowned.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Normally, when someone dies, they go to Heaven or Hell.”
She paused.
“But recently… there have been souls that aren’t judged.”
“Undecided souls.”
She looked directly at him.
“And it’s extremely rare. You’re the first we’ve seen in over fifty years.”
Davonte scratched his head.
“Yeah… that reminds me. The old hag at the Final Stop said something like that.”
“You must be talking about one of the gods who guide souls,” Yukei replied.
She continued:
“Being truly undecided means you have both demonic and angelic traits.”
Her expression darkened slightly.
“And the gods hate that. They can’t stand holy blood being tainted by demonic blood… so they tend to lose control whenever they encounter someone like you.”
Davonte scoffed.
“Figures.”
He looked around.
“So… you guys call yourselves the Cleaners. Is there a reason for that?”
Yukei nodded.
“The Cleaners were formed long ago.”
“People who can manipulate the presence of death.”
“We protect souls in the Precipice World who can’t use it.”
Davonte raised an eyebrow.
“Protect them from what?”
“The demons.”
Her tone became serious.
“They’ve been trying to take this world for a long time. So we’re constantly fighting them.”
“I see…” Davonte muttered. “That must suck.”
Yukei smiled softly.
“No. I like my job.”
“Because I get to make people happy.”
She looked at him.
“What about you? Are you happy?”
Davonte paused.
“…Yeah.”
Yukei stretched.
“Anyway, it’s late. Time to sleep.”
Davonte frowned.
“…Did you really have to sleep in my bed?”
“Yes,” she said casually. “I’ve been assigned to watch you.”
Moments later—
They both fell asleep.
---
Morning came.
“How dare you!”
The loud shout woke them both instantly.
Davonte opened his eyes.
“Who the hell…?”
He looked forward—
And saw Tama.
His face twisted in frustration.
“Why are you yelling?” Davonte asked.
“Why are you in bed with Ms. Yukei, you bastard?!”
Davonte smirked.
“Why do you care? You jealous?”
He stretched.
“And she got in bed with me, by the way.”
Tama’s expression snapped.
“I’ll kill you—”
“HEY!”
Zion suddenly appeared between them.
“Everybody relax.”
He looked at Tama.
“Is there a problem here?”
Tama straightened up.
“…No, sir. I was just leaving.”
He turned and walked away.
Zion sighed, then sat down.
“Davonte… would you be interested in a job?”
Davonte blinked.
“…I’m dead. Why would I need a job?”
“Well…” Zion scratched his head. “The higher-ups were impressed by your power in the forest…”
Davonte narrowed his eyes.
“But?”
“They were also threatened.”
A pause.
“They believe if we leave you alone… you might join the demons.”
Davonte smirked.
“And what if I refuse?”
Zion’s expression didn’t change.
“Then we’ll have to kill you.”
Davonte blinked.
“…But I’m already dead.”
“In this world… you can die again.”
Silence.
“…Fine,” Davonte muttered. “It’s not like I have a choice.”
“Great! Glad we understand each other!”
Yukei raised her hand.
“Hey Mr. Z, can I show him around?”
“Sorry, not this time,” Zion said. “You’re being sent on a mission in South Bisilia.”
Yukei frowned.
“Again? Why can’t someone else do it?”
Zion stared at her.
“You know why.”
“…Fine.”
She turned.
“Bye, Davonte. Talk later.”
“…Yeah.”
Zion handed Davonte a piece of paper.
“These are directions to three locations.”
“Depending on how you perform… you’ll be placed into a squad.”
Davonte glanced at it.
“Oh… cool. So can I go now?”
“Sure. But this might take about a week.”
“…Yeah, whatever.”
---
A short while later—
Davonte stood in front of a door.
He knocked.
“Come in.”
He stepped inside.
An old man sat in a meditative pose.
Davonte scratched his head.
“Are you the guy I’m supposed to see?”
The old man opened one eye.
“Are you Davonte?”
“Yeah.”
“I have one question for you…”
A pause.
“Which do you prefer on a woman? Bigger boobs… or a bigger ass?”
Davonte froze.
…Is everyone here a pervert?
He sighed internally.
“…A bigger ass.”
The old man nodded.
“I see. You are wise.”
He smiled.
“As a reward… I will teach you how to use the presence of death.”
---
Two days later—
Zion entered the room.
“Hey, old man Yama. Did Davonte find you yet?”
“Yes,” Yama replied. “He’s over there.”
Davonte stood nearby, focusing.
Energy pulsed around him.
“Impressive…” Zion muttered. “He can already convert the presence of death into power?”
Yama nodded.
“I’ve never seen someone learn this fast.”
Davonte opened his eyes.
“Hey old man, I’m done. Can I go to the next place?”
Yama chuckled.
“In just two days… you’ve already grasped your element.”
“But your output is too high.”
“You’ll exhaust yourself if you’re not careful.”
He closed his eyes.
“I have nothing left to teach you.”
“Good,” Davonte said. “I’m leaving.”
---
As he walked—
Davonte thought to himself:
Once I finish all this…
Maybe they’ll let me access the Precipice Archives.
Then I’ll know if she’s here.
He stopped in front of another door.
Knocked.
“Come in.”
He opened it—
And froze.
“…You’ve gotta be shitting me.”
Tama stood there.
They stared at each other.
Equally annoyed.
END
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