Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 68: Trial of the Moon II

"Arise"

As the voice of authority fell like a sword with ruthless abandon, Altair's shadow grew long and elongated. And from the darkness, thirty Fallen Shadows appeared, their bodies ablaze with the power of darkness. From serpents to wolves to Liama's and more, one by one, their figures appeared.

"What the hell!" Shouted Ren, pointing at the sudden reinforcements. "What the hell is all this!"

Jorm and Kirr stepped to their King like two sentries, one wielding a longsword, the other an otherworldly Glaive draped in obsidian flames.

"We live to serve, Master." They boomed with a mighty roar that stirred the battlefield.

"Hand Reina a Shield Belt," The Prince ordered, activating his without hesitation at the sight of the archers ahead nocking their bows.

Kirr all but lunged towards the startled Nephilim like a joyful cat, grinning. " Hello, Princess! I'm Kirr, Master's most Loyal Fallen Shadow. It's an honor." He reached into his robes, pulling out a belt with a hexagonal shape buckle. "Please wear this per Master's request. It's called a shield belt, and it should help block some pesky arrows.

Awesome right? Me and Jorm got one to see?!"

"Altair?" Reina said hesitantly, glancing at him for direction. Confused as to who or what this thing was, bearing grey skin and yellow eyes that sent shivers through her spine. Kirr felt warm, but there was a familiar coldness that followed him. One that reminded her of the icy gleam of a dagger to her neck.

Altair shot her a grin. "It's alright. Just put it on and hit the buckle. You better hurry. The archers are about to fire."

Before he finished, a black shadow loomed over Altair and his Army of Fallen Shadows. Suddenly, a scarlet ark of lightning, the size of a mountain, washed the Heavens in a vibrant storm of lightning, decimating all the arrows in the blink of the eye as the Former Tania stepped forward, her arm crackling with a newly founded control her Master granted her.

She fell to a knee before him. "I beschee thee, grant this lowly Shadow a name, Master."

The Prince gave her a side glance. "Is Tania not enough?" He knowingly asked.

"If it's your wish, My Lord." She responded with a deadpan expression betrayed by the urgency of her tone.

He closed his eyes, opening them filled with thought. "Talia... It means..."

"Dew of God." She finished with a sweet smile. "Thank you, my Master." When she stood up, Talia arcs of Infernal Lightning danced around her pale flesh, challenging the very Heavens with their nature.

Years ago, when Arsene approached her with a plan for his progeny within the Final Garden of Eden. Not once did they ever expect such a scene to take place. At his word, the dead would rise, wielding the power of their Master, as well as minds of their own.

Luna gulped down her excitement, trying to grasp the chaos that would unfold once Altair left.

"Sister! Am I to keep slaying till the blood is dry?" The Prince asked, wielding his ingrained arrogance as a sword. "We'll be here for weeks."

She smiled. " Then you'll die. My Army never tires."

"Neither does mine," Altair replied in a challenging tone as the men, woman, and beast howled. Their presence swallowing the battlefield in a baptism of war. He reached for Endymian, unsheathing the blade that had not seen blood these past few months, and pointed at her.

A spyrful gleam flashed over the maiden's pearly eyes as she turned. "I'll see how long you last... boy." And Lunafrya vanished in a wisp of silvery moonlight.

With another roar, the Chimera opened its jaw, preparing to breathe fire. But the moment it did, Altair's figure had mysteriously vanished beneath its perception. And like an apparition, he appeared, landing upon the head of the goat with a single foot, his eyes shimmering a demonic light.

Enigmatic Step

As if the world's weight gathered beneath Altair's feet in a focal point of power, a flood of blood sprayed over the temple wall, drenching the pristine stone red, as a gale of organs splashed over the ground. Altair tore apart the Chimera with the power of seven mountains came crashing down. Crushing the beast into a fine paste before it could whimper a cry.

[Enigmatic Step (E)]

Proficiency: 57%

Descriptions: Condense mana in a focal burst beneath the user's feet.

A wave of destruction splintered the earth for over ten meters, leaving nothing behind but a crater of utter destruction and death. The Prince laughed like a demon of war, stepping out of the crater to his army, cutting down the undead, and his laughter only grew.

When all was said and done, he surveyed the battlefield with undecided bloodlust, leaving the death trembling."Leave nothing standing! If the dead must rise, our blades will continue to fall! KILL! KILL! KILL!"

Overwhelmed by the dreadful presence, the Army of the Dead trembled, and despite being unable to feel the concept of pain, fear twisted there inside until their Soul's Flames dimmed.

Jorm and Kirr lifted their blades, bloodied by war, and released their war cry, followed by the other Fallen Shadows over the battlefield.