Lucidus Lumen
Abe struggled to stand, pain almost unbearable for him.
Lumen spoke, "You best leave, you'll damage yourself beyond repair at this rate."
Abe took a step forward. Lumen frowned, "Didn't you hear me? You will break beyond repair at this rate!"
Abe struggled, yet he took another step forward. And another one followed by another.
Lumen spun, "Are you deaf?! Leave!"
Abe took another step forward and collapsed onto his knees. He placed his forehead to the ground, "Please. I beg you."
"You idiot! Go!"
"Please."
"Go!"
"Please."
Lumen bit her lip, "Maybe now you'll understand! The pain I went through! I've never been wielded since then! Decades of loneliness, heartbroken. Something you'll never understand!"
"Please."
"But if you remain here, you won't be able to be wielded again! A fate worse than your current wielder being killed!"
"Please."
"Why. . . why are you sacrificing yourself?!"
"Please."
Lumen clenched her fists, "Answer me!"
"Please."
"He won't survive, he's a pure Royal of the Abyss! He can't handle Holy energy! Even if we worked together he will die regardless!"
"Please."
"Are you listening?! There is no hope!"
"I thought that as well."
"What?"
"Several times that thought formed in my head. That there was no hope, there is no hope. Yet every time. . . every single time. That guy, he managed to astonish me. Doing what I thought was impossible, breaking through limits as if they were paper! I- I want to place my hope in him, that he can astonish me once more."
"It's not going to work-"
"I want to try! I want him to shatter what we thought was reality! I want him to break past the limits no other has before! So I need your help! Please!"
A face flashed in Lumen's head. A single thought forming, 'She wouldn't want this.'
Lumen grit her teeth, "Don't blame me if things fail to work!"
Abe lifted his head, "You mean-?!"
"Hurry up! Your wielder has mere seconds to live!"
Abe's figure began to fade. As he did he spoke, "It's our wielder now."
Lumen lowered her hood, "Tch, I can't believe I'm doing this!"
~ ~ ~
Travis felt like he was floating. As he opened his eyes he thought, 'It's like when I first got wiped. This feeling. . .'
A pain arose in his heart, all the effort he put in. All the pain he went through. Despite his second chance he couldn't escape this fate?!
He closed his eyes, "So this is my limit."
'Are you going to let it be?'
A voice entered his head. Travis slightly opened an eye, "Abe?"
'Are you really going to let yourself end here?'
"It's no use, it's impossible to wield two swords."
'This isn't you. My wielder never gave up without trying.'
Travis closed his eye and let himself float.
'Is this really your limit?'
-<>-
"When the obstacle in a mountain, it matters not how much you try."
"I'll shatter the mountain too! I'll shatter a whole planet if I need to!"
"Foolish, you know not of your own limits."
"Limits are merely another obstacle. Another thing that stands in my way!"
-><-
'Another obstacle, was it?'
Travis' eyes snapped open, a determined gleam shone.
So what if this was the limit?
Who determined that?!
His surroundings began to crack.
I'll shatter this too!
His surroundings shattered, his eyes focused back into place. He gripped Lucidus Lumen and felt power surge through his body.
Harrith stumbled back, astonished, "You, it's- it worked! It actually worked!"
The shackles shattered and mana swirled around Travis, as if fascinated by the man who broke a law of the world.
His body underwent a metamorphosis, changing visibly. As Travis felt these changes he kept an eye on the game system.
<…>
<[Abyssal Being] has changed into [Race Hybrid (Abyssal Being) (Holy Entity)]!>
<[Abyss Caller] and [Holy Follower] have fused!>
[Wielder of Two] [Yin and Yang] [Shatterer of Limits] [Wielder of Lucidus Lumen]! [Wielder of Harbinger of the Abyss]!> Travis inspected his new titles as his changes finished. {Wielder of Two: A master swordsman who wields two blades. Effects: - Sword damage increased by 5% - Sword Skill damage increased by 10%} {Yin and Yang: One who wields the polar opposite elements, Abyss and Holy. Effects: - Abyss Skill damage increased by 10% - Holy Skill damage increased by 10%} {Shatterer of Limits: One who broke limits that were seemingly impossible. Inciting the awe of many. Effects: - Increased favorability with powerful individuals.} {Wielder of Lucidus Lumen: A wielder of a Lower Eight sword, an incredible feat. Effects: - Holy damage increased by 20%} {Wielder of Harbinger of the Abyss: A wielder of a Lower Eight sword, an incredible feat. Effects: -Abyss damage increased by 20%} Travis felt his increased power, yet he didn't feel the usual excitement. This wasn't something obtained by chance, this was the efforts of his hard work. Something he earned. No, that wasn't right. It was something he forced to happen, by his own hand. Harrith was shaking from excitement, "I- I did it! Someone wielding two of the Twelve Swords! I did it!" Travis pointed Lumen, "That's where you're wrong, I did it. Not you." "This is the results of my efforts! You cannot take this from me!" "I took nothing from you, don't be so arrogant." "That sword, give it back then!" "I must say, this is quite the gift. I'll be taking it. Besides, it's not like anyone will believe you." "You can't do that! This is my hard work! My efforts!" "This was my effort, you merely presented an opportunity. One I seized." Travis inspected Lucidus Lumen, "Consider yourself lucky, I benefited from this. That is the only reason why you are alive right now. Else I would have killed you where you stand. My life was a mere tool for you, but no longer." Travis retrieved the scabbard of Lucidus Lumen and exited the cave. Harrith shook, trying to stop him. However he had no power to do so. Travis breathed in the fresh air, happy to escape the cave. After sheathing both swords he pulled out a feather. Suddenly a Roc descended from the sky and landed next to him. Travis hopped on top of it, "Let's go Ru." ~ ~ ~ Lumen crossed her arms, "Hmph, that crazy guy actually did it." Abe formed near her, "Thank you." Lumen glared at him, "Don't get me wrong, you'll pay dearly for this. We are not finished, it may not be today, or tomorrow, or even in a year, but I will make sure you pay what you owe. Are we clear?" "Yes. I'll pay it gladly." "You can say that now. . ." Silence filled the space, leaving a strange atmosphere. Lumen sighed, "Do you plan on hanging about? Go!" Abe listened this time, his figure once again fading. Lumen tapped her foot, mildly annoyed. Despite her foul mood a small smile formed on her face. She murmured, "This wielder, not bad. No wonder why Abe went through so much pain." Every single one of the Twelve swords all had a similar desire: To be wielded by a strong individual. Even if their specific tastes were different, they enjoyed being wielded by someone capable. Lumen could tell through the link that Travis was something special. Not only were they skilled in combat, extremely powerful, and high in potential. But some of her specific ideals seemed to align. Specifically Travis' idea to make things fair for all. She believed that such a dream was truly of good intentions, even if his methods were questionable. Perhaps her decision wouldn't be a bad one. ~ ~ ~ Travis felt slightly shaky, he had barely made it past that. His knees felt weak, so he escaped the place as fast as possible. Travis laid down on Ru's back and took a deep breath. He had survived another day. Once he had slightly recovered his mindset he pulled out Lucidus Lumen and inspected it. [Lucidus Lumen (Partially Damaged)] Rarity: Legend Creating A sword forged from the legendary blacksmith Borus, as it was forged it absorbed a large amount of Holy energy. Attack: - x2 Strength Stat - +2500 Damage Requirements: - Holy Follower Class (Current class sufficient) When Equipped: - +250 to all stats - +20% increase to all stats - +30% damage to Holy Skills Extra Skills: {Piercing Light - A light formed of pure Holy energy, shoots forward piercing through all evil. Cost: - 1,000MP Effects: - Shoots a piercing ray of Holy Energy doing a burst of flat damage. Damage: - 150% of Intellect Stat Special Effect: Does extra damage to Abyssal Beings} {Graced Light - Holy light encompasses the user, granting them strength to continue to fight. Cost: - Nil Effects: - Holy Skill Damage and Effectiveness +50% - Stats increased by 300% - HP Regeneration increased by 20% After Effect: - If used twice within 24 hours all stats reduced by 50% for 8 hours} {Final Judgement: Holy Eruption - Giving a final judgment to the opponent, releasing a large amount of Holy energy intending to obliterate the opponent. Requirements: - Usable only when [Graced Light] is active. When used the effects of [Graced Light] will immediately end. Effects: - Creates a large pillar of Holy energy, doing a burst of enormous damage. - The pillar shall continue for an additional 5 seconds, doing mediocre Damage over Time every second. Cost: - 20% Total MP Damage: - 3,000% of Intellect Stat (Burst) - 500% of Intellect Stat (DoT) Special Effects: - Does extra damage to Abyssal Beings} Current State: - Partially damaged - Repair requires additional Holy energy from the Holy Codex Travis whistled, Lucidus Lumen was better than Abe! Although the reason for that was due to it's better condition. Travis sheathed Lucidus Lumen back into its scabbard and inspected his Skills. He remembered the system notifying him about changes and or deletion. After a quick look he nearly had a heart attack. After all, his precious Berserk Skill. . . Was nowhere to be found!