Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 214: Baptism of Blood III

"The First Stage of Aeron," Iliana muttered. "Baptism of Blood."

With a single step back, a torment of wind came like a thousand lashes, pulling with it the scent of blood. Iliana stared at the slit-like pupils writhing surrounded by the sigil that branded itself permanently into the iris. His clothing was wrenched from his chest, revealing an enigma of obsidian tattoos dancing along the flesh like a living being.

"Show me, boyo~" Iliana howled, shooting like a bolt from of the ground. A crater nearly twenty meters wide exploded beneath her feet from the sheer force. She arrived startled as Altair's blade seemed to arrive at her throat first.

[Grave of Night, Third Form: Devouring Night]

Eyes slightly contracting, Iliana pivoted off the balls of her feet, leaning her back nearly to the earth, cutting her momentum in a single instance. She watched as his blade slid past her nose, changing direction in the same half-instant. When her eyes widened, she noticed Altair was not merely using the Third Form but the First Form.

"There you go!" she shouted, channeling Abyssal Qi into her sword. A gush of ember swallowed the skies as Altair's blade struck hundreds of times before a third of a second passed, pushing Iliana back.

Suddenly, Infernal runes lit up over Shadowclaw's edge, and as Iliana's sword instantly met with the Princes, destruction ensued.

[Hellish Rebuke]

Hellish flames exploded, swallowing the battlefield in a geyser of fire. Stones turned to liquid, the air to flames swallowing the abyssal, forcing her on the defensive.

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"HOW'S IT FEEL!!!!" Iliana roared, leaping out of the flames untouched and skidding over the earth.

Altair barreled through hellish flames, cleaving his blade down toward her. Arcs of sword light followed his sword, cutting through light and darkness.

The sigils of his eyes exploded with a baleful light so profane Iliana could only laugh as her blade clashed against altairs.

"Body and soul, Soul and weapon, spirit, and world are now one within you! All emotions are your power! So release it, boyo! Show me what you got!" She continued parrying the blow with ease when another, followed by another and another and another, came like a wild barrage.

"DIE!!!!" Altair roared, opening his mouth so a wide a ball of mana twirled into form before firing off point blank.

[Enma!]

With her off-hand, Iliana caught the beam of energy dancing in a circle as her sword parried all incoming attacks. She simultaneously hurled the spell at the boy. Altair did not seem surprised, but as Shadowclaw crossed paths with Enma, the beam of energy vanished into the sword.

Skin peeled from off the Prince's arm when Shadowclaw suddenly exploded with the very might of the hells. So dreadful was its power that Altair needed both arms to wield the blade, bleeding out an Aura not even he could handle.

'Was that an aspect? Is it absorption?' Iliana thought, glancing at how wretched the boy's body was becoming. 'Not yet. He can still do more.'

She licked her lips, beckoning to him.

Altair obeyed. He arrived via Sovereign's Gale above Iliana, slashing at her head. Catastrophic damage ravaged the city as Altair merged the First, Second, and Third sword paths into one. Stones turned to the vaper as the earth began to thrash back and forth, parting and crumbling. Lava overflowed from Yarwins' crust in upward geysers of destruction as they clashed over and over.

When from the skies, it came, having brewed since the start of the baptism of blood. Iliana saw a single scarlet bolt fall from the heavens.

The Monarch grinned viciously. "That's a first-generation Abyssal. That body is a mere vessel. Touch him... And you are dead. Unless you think you can handle an Abyssal."

With a half smile, Adam shrugged. "I've got the Father's Eternal Blessing. I could—"

"Her name is Iliana... rings a bell?"

The name sounded slightly familiar. "Maybe... who is she?"

"One of the Twelve Abyssal Generals. The One Who Conquered Destruction, Iliana Of The Abyss."

"You're kidding, right?" Gabriel asked, leaping out from space. He leaned over his elder brother's shoulder, gasping. "It could just be a coincidence! You never know. That mask is quite a terrifying piece."

Pushing off the Gabriel, who had always been too touchy for his liking, Beelzebub folded his arms upon his throne. "That's what makes this all the more fun. Why don't you go rip her mask off, Gab?'

"Me?" The archangel pointed to himself and laughed. "So I can fall in love? Naw, I'm good. I'd rather not have someone like that. She'll ruin my life."With a few strange looks towards Gabriel, the archangel explained. "What can I say?

I'm a sucker? And Iliana seems like someone that'll gobble me up."

***

"Are we almost there?" Jin asked, walking in on the bridge aided by his guardian, Sabine. He glanced at Captain Roxian.

"We've pierced through the deficiencies of Babels Tower, my Lord. However, there seems to be quite a bit of traffic ahead. I—"

"Cut them all down," Jin said coldly.

Roxian looked a bit flustered. "My Lord, that is—"

"Bullying," Sabine said.

"Piss on their feelings," Jin exploded. "This is Keres we're talking about. If we can't retrieve him, are you going to explain why to Father? Above all else, you know Father prioritizes efficiency. I'll not play the game of politics. Not when Keres as we know it is alive."

Sabine hesitated at the mention of her Master. "You've got a point, but without His Majesty present, it would be unwise to anger any major powers."

"Father once told me if your kingdom has to rely on one person to survive, it's a failure of a kingdom. Tell me, Sabine, is the Astral Kingdom a failure?"

Quick to catch herself, Sabine bowed. "Forgive me. I miss spoke."

Jin gave a tooth smile, snicking inwardly at the victory that had taken him years to achieve. He patted his guardian's shoulder with a smug grin and nodded. "Worry not, Sabine. I've brought some of Grandpa's devils... just a few Blood Reavers and a few Abyssal Fiends. You know... just in case."

Everyone on the bridge turned to their Prince with a peculiar expression. " In case of what?" Sabine said incredulously. "War against every major power? That's overkill."

" Hehe, I'm a Snow. Now raise our banners! And Lets GOOOOOOO!!!!!"