Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 439 Revealed

The chill that prickled Altair's skin had him shaking within his carriage towards St. Toraina, the holy ground of Sepith, housing the Seven Pillars of Virtues. Perhaps it was stepping onto holy ground wielding four sins—that had to be the case—but Altair found himself shaking. The Primal Instincts he had honed to new heights were screaming at him to leave, to run.

"Master?" Raven's voice reached as she placed a palm on his knee.

For some inexplicable reason, the chill placating his being faded alongside the goosebumps as he forcefully said, "For a second, I sensed an unexplainable danger."

Raven's icy, calm face never wavered. "Then we flee." It was not a suggestion. Before he could voice any objection, Raven had already stood up about to speak to the coachman before Altair pulled her back to the side with a wry chuckle.

"Relax!" He wanted to laugh at how ready the woman was to retreat. "Someone was probably just talking about me. A strong bastard. A God, perhaps. I shall not flee over mere speculations."

Perhaps that hadn't been what Altair should have said because, for a single second, he felt he had been dropped in a skillet by the hardened look Raven had given him. He almost rose to escape that heated gaze of hers. How the woman developed such a look made him jealous. It was surely a look only a woman could use against him.

The carriage suddenly made a jerking stop, though neither he nor Raven swayed, aware they had arrived at their final destination.

It took only a single breath for Altair's palatine nature to reflect across his eyes. Raven seemed to understand before stepping out to secure the area; when she had, the door to his carriage opened once more to welcome him.

Three Sisters, followers of Ariandel, no doubt welcomed him with open smiles that never reached their eyes. Their faces were smooth, with a hint of that ethereal grace that simply could not be obtained without years of practice. From what he knew, those who followed the teachings of Sepith did not usually bow towards anyone other than their fellow sisters or Angels. Even before the King, they kept their heads straight. For them to do so now only place Altair more on guard. He suspected they were trying to fan his ego—a very interesting approach that just might work—he certainly was happy about it.

"We greet the First Young Master of House Nier," the three women said in unison.

"I—" A sudden lashing of fear dug into his pores so vigorously, a killing intent, he did not realize he was bleeding out, so baleful in nature that the white marble stone he stood on shifted to black as his eyes glared at the heavens. And for the first time since he had arrived on Almor, Altair turned on his System Chat.

[Divine being, Praying Raven, exclaims in shock at your ability to sense the intent of the divine!]

[Divine Being Stellar Moon, covers her mouth at your Transcendent Intent]

[Divine Sin, Archeon, roars in laughter at your baleful aura]

Even the plans there were ruined by his interference.

Altair suddenly felt as if he should have followed the Sin of Wrath as his father had. The acrid pain of hate in his chest was burning so fiercely that it took an effort not to explode with the Thirteen Godhands. They were there just within reach, burning gold upon a sea of shadows within his consciousness. The ancient power felt so sweet, like a nectar calling for him.

"FUCK!!!!!!" He screamed, letting it all go, all of it. Anger, hate, even his pride as he looked around at the Dawnbreakers, Theia's little paladins that had taken the Vow of Mercy and at least the Vow of Temperance. He sighed, ignoring the fifty or so golden paladins, directing his attention to the three sisters.

"I'm ready; take me to the Saintess." It was not a suggestion. The command lashed out, and even they appeared to lower their heads in reluctant agreement. Whether they wanted to or not, Altair gave them no hope of refusing him. The Eye of Sacrilege had already begun to pulse with its intangible power, invading their sea of consciousness to dominate their minds.

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The three sisters nodded, and Altair sent a cold eye to Raven. "Send a message to Tasha. Tell her that I have been exposed."

With a graceful bow, Raven nodded in the affirmative. " As his Majesty commands."

****

As Ashara stood atop the rooftop of the gentleman's club, eyes locked in the direction of that dreadful Baleful Aura that reminded her of a baby devil, a half smile played at her lips. She could sense her master's rage and just about understood. She had just returned from the mental space where Grimory had summoned her from to inform her about Altair's heritage.

"Find out the secrets to becoming an Archaeon!" she had commanded with a feverish gleam in her eyes. It was a look Ashara had never seen in her Master that made her wonder what exactly the sin she represented was. "Arsene Snow is the Myriad Heaven's first Archaeon! A stage he created. We need to learn the secret of such a thing."

Ashara scratched her head, staring in the direction of her master's power raging across Vastroph. Grimory's command was simple enough, but she had no idea how to even go about such a subject. Not when her Master's rage was still so fresh.

"They'll all be coming now," she muttered to herself, glancing at the several Spatial vortexes opening across the city. There were hundreds of them. Some were from higher up in the tower; others were returning to the tower. "It won't be long before the Seraphim and Fallen begin sending their own chosen to persuade Master into joining their side."

She shuddered. Her entire life, she had heard of the exploits of the Silver Devil and the First Abyssal Lord. That was to say nothing of their wives. The First Nephilim and the Abyssal Empress. Both had made their very own era. Even their children were creating waves within Arcadia.

"Master is about to have a rough few decades."