Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 140: Hell Tide: Seven Days and Seven Nights

"The boy is good," The one who personified Death spoke. Bathe in a river of long black hair that stretched to his broad shoulders. His deep, ancient red eyes shone over his pale face, which some would dare to call handsome. Tall with a lean build, he stood in a black fur coat that masked the tailcoat and suit.

"He's gotten a lot better," Blood Rider Zagreus laughed upon his grey stallion. Of similar height and build, he passed his hands through his ashen black hair. "His swordsmanship reminds me of Megaera. Fiercely cruel." He glimpsed the young girl. "But that girl... Are you sure we can trust a Nephilim?"

Thanatos stared. "If she is to be the Prince's Wife, who are we to question his decision?" He turned, mounting his black stallion, and looked south to where the comet vanished. "Let's head back to Lady Iliana. I'm sure she's bored."

"Already!" Zag moaned. "It'll be boring merely to watch." he glanced at the siege underway. "How can we just—

"We're leaving," Thanatos told his half-brother, trotting off.

***

Altair had been drenched. He had lost count of the number of lesser demons he had killed. Lost count of how many times his sword whirled through the hide of the imps. Cutting them up like a butcher on his block. Limbs, wings, tails, and eyes seemed to dance around him. He was like a whirlwind upon the frontline.

Attended by Reina, who wielded an obsidian blade that bore the lotus of Satori Works over its edge. The blade sizzled with a throbbing pulse of mana, allowing her sword to cut through the monster well within the ranks of tier four.

They were back to back nearly twenty meters ahead of the line, surrounded by hordes of lesser demons, slashing their claws and tails in hopes of catching the two Lords. They caught air and steel.

"So this is a Hell Tide," Reina said, somewhat short of breath. It had been twelve hours since she last sipped water or filled her belly with a hot meal.

Altair laughed, cutting apart a bolt of flame barreled at his head with Shadowclaw. Embers flared, shooting a tremor up his arm. "It's a lot tougher than I thought. But... The Leveling is crazy."

"Would be faster if we weren't restricted," Reina mentioned, cursing the fact she couldn't use her blood flames. It had annoyed her she had to spend the past month focusing mainly on the sword and her footwork rather than her alchemy.

Altair had felt her pain. "Luna ought to have taught you spells." he eyed his surroundings of scarlet eyes and licked his lips. Savoring demon blood with a peculiar glow.

Unlike human blood, which was sweet and rich, the blood of the imps was bold, thick, and savory, with a node of sweet tannins one might find in wine.

"I know a few. I'm just not well practiced," Reina admitted. "I—"

"Kyaaaaa!"

Swarmed once more on all sides, Shadowclaw cried in an arc of profane light. Cruel and deadly, it roared louder than the shrieking demons. The curving arc of Altair's blade ran across an Imp, spilling its guts as his other hand tore through the throat of a nearby Imp. Viciously, he tore out the demon's windpipe, kicking it away as his sword and feet danced.

[Lesser Demon, Imp Felled. Exp Gained]

[Lesser Demon, Imp Felled. Exp Gained]

[Lesser Demon, Imp Felled. Exp Gained]

Scratches and bruises were plentiful, but that was all they were. Flesh wounds he cared little for. Altair had grown accustomed to pain. And, in a way, he had grown to appreciate it. It was pain that made the man, and it was pain that would forge the king.

He hadn't spoken to Ren after that. For seven days and seven nights, they slaughtered until they were drowning in blood.

Hilda had been watching it all. Guarding him in secret. The Hell Tide would go on for Months. The longest ever recorded lasted seven years. The Imps were merely the opening Vanguard. There would be more.

Of that, she was sure.

When Altair had returned carrying Riena on his back, he was drenched from head to toe. Guarded by his shadows. She had welcomed him.

For all three years they had spent together, Altair had never seen raw hatred mar her face before.

"You look sexy when you're angry." He lifted her chin boldly, admiring his woman. Reina shied away from his touch, completely red-faced, and dared not look up at him.

Altair had found this side of her to be bashful despite her fierce nature on the battlefield. She was docile with her golden eyes. Burden by innocents that made her all the more delectable in his eyes.

He gave her cheek a poke, enjoying the springiness of her youth. " Ren... i—"

Pausing, he snatched her into his arms and rolled, snatching Kuu off the bed as a demon came hurdling through his pavilion. It struck his bedding, staining it red.

Three arrows protruded from the imp's head and eyes, dead.

Altair moved, covering Ren in a cloak from Draupnir. Just as seven watchmen came rushing in, spears ready. Their eyes never made it to the Imp's corpses. They were staring. Staring at the young flower wrapped in a black cloak.

She hadn't been naked, not truly, as gauze was used to bandage her wounded areas like her breast. Aside from that, she wore only undergarments.

Altair wasn't fooled. The barrier that protected Farwin had reached where he stood. Ensuring that if a demon were to be struck dead, its corpse would slide down outside the barrier.

"Excuse us, m'lord," A crooked nose watchman said. "We were just looking for the Imp." He laughed.

"We told you he was fucken her." One of the Watchmen murmured. Glimpsing Altair's half-naked body. "Look at 'em. He's a lord."

"I'll take care of this, master," Kirr said, dropping the firewood he was using to warm his Master's Pavillion. He had been told the claws of imps had been poisonous like many demons. And that it would take a day for his Master to wake. Jorm had left him in command as he continued to hunt for Demonic Hearthstones.

But it never occurred to him that when he went to gather firewood, something like this would occur.

Altair had said nothing, but Reina could feel his anger. His fury.

"Don't blame him, okay?" She kissed his cheek and cupped his clenched fist. "We all make mistakes. Kirr has protected me for an entire month.

When he looked at her hopeful eyes, Altair sighed, unsure why he felt deflated before her soft expression. He had half a mine to destroy Kirr completely, to permanently remove him from his summons. Such a mistake was unacceptable.

"Please~" She childishly cried, nudging his shoulders.

"Fine." He relented and turned, catching sight of the bloodstained shadow on one knee surrounded by the butchered remains of the watchmen. He looked at him sternly. "Kirr... Ren wants me to forgive you. Truthfully, I would have you dead for this failure. What would have happened if we were still unconscious?" Altair allowed his words to sink in before he spoke again.

"I'll heed her words, but... there needs to be a punishment. Where is Jorm?"

"Collecting Hearthstones," answered Kirr, trembling, with tears in his eyes. He knew he fucked up.

"You are still young. Your memories have been destroyed... so mistakes are understandable." He said grimly. "When Jorm returns, you'll face ten lashes of the whip. Now get the hell out of my sight."

When Kirr had left sullen and teary-eyed, Reina turned to her Prince. "I like kirr."

"So do I."

"But Isn't ten too much?"

"It's not the pain he'll be concerned with." Altair cupped her cheeks. "It'll be the shame he brought upon himself. That will sting far more than any pain I could inflict."