Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 233: New Beginning [End of Book 3]

"Let's end this quick. Teivel, make yourself known."

The being that materialized in a mist of red made Altair's skin crawl to no end. There had been something about his eyes that didn't sit quite well within the Prince's gut. His five circles were indeed worrying, but that gaze of his seemed foul.

The creature, if it was a creature, did appear human, yet its aura was the furthest thing from it; it grinned, portraying pristine teeth and fangs. Long, disheveled black hair masking those iridescent red eyes.

Syris had told him about the assassin but had not been able to comment on his appearance due to the bandages and cloak they wore. But seeing his gaunt appearance, Altair found some semblance of him felt intimidated. As if what lay before him wasn't a part of the universe he inhabited.

"Altair... Altair... Altair,' said Teivel camly. "How I've been looking for you. For just a boy, you are like an elusive blade of grass in the winds."

Altair resummoned his shadows. He hadn't much choice now that it was a two-on-one battle. And with Teviel being a Fifth Circle, he needed all the powers he possessed to survive even if the minds of his Shadows were fractured.

"I'm going to enjoy Defiling you."

"..."

"Pause"

"What?"

"Brah... that sounded hella Sus."

"Masters! Booty is Talia's!" The crazed Shadow shouted

"Protect your booty, Master!" Said Kirr sharply, clutching his ass.

"Goddamn rapist!" whispered Jorm grimly.

Altair's face was stone.

"You know... I kind of hear it," said Roxas, glancing at Teivel, looking somewhat confused. He didn't get it. "He means you sound gay."

"Ahh!" Realizing the misunderstanding, Teivel chuckled eerily, "I wonder what face you'd make if I were talking about matters of the flesh." He lifted his lips, flashing his fangs. "But I speak of matters of the Spirit. Each of us... You, me, demons, devils, angels... all of us are created in the Father's image.

The Prince listened, allowing the Circle of Gluttony to absorb more and more of the Mana within the air. He could feel it dissipating at a rapid rate with the death of Yarwin.

"To Defile the Soul pulls you away from the Eternal One. It strips you of his protection, leaving you to see the Truth of this False Reality."

"And what is it you see?" Said the Prince calmly.

"The—"

"Teivel,' said Roxas coldly. "Do not break your Oath."

Through narrowed eyes, Altair watched, glancing towards Reina alongside Syris and the young Lordlings battling against the other four Soul Kings. Towards the north, standing outside the atmosphere, he saw Tasha covering the entire world with her Mana, holding the planet from fully falling apart.

But even so, he could still feel he perhaps had a week left before Yawin became utter ruin.

"Oi! Where are you looking?" Roxas asked, standing inches from the boy, piercing his spear toward his chest.

Altair felt every vein in his body turn to thorns exploding out of his skin in an amalgamation of the flesh. He plummeted, appearing no different than the roots of a tree. But alive only due to the Ashen Blood, mending his injuries faster than he could think. He was whole in a few seconds, with two-thirds of his Mana gone.

'Light and Blood. Are they the only two powers he possesses?' He wondered, panting. He had realized long ago that Ashen Blood might heal all injuries, including mental fatigue, but it also generated a lot of mental fatigue. If he abused his ability to heal, he might just end up fainting mid-battle.

"Give it up, Altair," said Roxas, holding himself up. "You can't keep this up. Withdraw your sword. I don't want your life. Our lords want to meet you."

Altair didn't want to hear it. He charged, vaulting off the bolt of lightning, forcing Roxas on the defensive.

The battle continued....

Blow after blow, slowly growing weaker as the days continued to slip through their fingers, Altair and Roxas fought, neither gaining a hand on the other.

The Defiled one sighed some days later as they stood glaring at the other, dismissing his blood Spear; he reached into his robe and slid a Golden Dagger form out of its leather scabbard.

"Altair..." Syris cried weakly, nearly half her face peeled of any skin. "Don't get hit..." hopping down from the various floating rocks, her reserves nearly depleted. She stopped beside him. "That dagger is..."

"I know... I can sense it, too. If I'm hit... something bad will happen."

"Indeed," said Roxas, "unfortunately for you two... You can't stop me. Not as you are now."

Altair raised a shield, placing Syris behind him. "How much longer?"

"Five more seconds. Thaan, Zagreus, and Ren are currently holding back by the four Soul Kings, but—"

Just then, Roxas lunged forward, his speed paling in comparison to what it once was, but after nearly seven days of battle, neither could display much power.

Still...

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Cutting the boy's consciousness into thirty-two segments alongside his power in a last-ditch effort, Altair could only gape in shock as the golden dagger grazed his cheek, drawing a bit of blood.

"CONGRATS!" Beelzububs voice boomed.

[New Skill Aquired]

"Eh?"

"See you in the Lake of Rot," said Roxas as a back orb nearly twenty meters wide in diameter swallowed Altair whole.

"Welcome... To... the... Abyss..."