Overlap

While Skirk was training Ajax how to use the Abyss element, Allen took the opportunity to train himself, going further from Skirk's house, reaching the point where he was able to sense the Abyss again.

'For what she said, this place is her own created layer. It should be difficult to cross over it normally but...' Allen stepped forward, that feeling of being swallowed by darkness crossing his body 'As I thought, I can easily cross it.'

Once found himself surrounded by the Abyss, Allen sat on the ground and took out his colorless Vision. He closed his eyes and tried to feel the energy around him, trying to absorb it over his body like the elemental energy from Teyvat.

'Pantalone send me here to become stronger as I really doubt he wanted for me to die. It could be to see how it could affect my mind and training killing beasts, but there must be more in here. There must be a way to become stronger.' However, it didn't matter how much he tried, the results were null as in the end, he was unable to control the Abyss, his Vision was useless here and he was unaffected by the Abyss environment.

"You needed to try it, no?" Allen turned around seeing Skirk looking at him. "That won't work here no matter how much you try. In the end, here Vision are useless for their main purpose so they won't work."

"I supposed it, but I still want to try it." Allen said, not at all surprised by Skirk coming, even if he could leave her layer, she must be able to sense it so it was no wonder that she came.

"I already advised you. You should stop here" Skirk warned "I know what you should be thinking. Would you really try to be attacked to Abyss beasts?"

'So she is aware' "I might" Allen also thought about it. The wolves that he faced before had the power of the Abyss and its attack was able to injure and affect him, meaning that there was a possibility. 'Maybe I could train my body like that.'

"You'll only get your body destroyed doing that as it will still leave your soul unaffected. If you really want to die like that, there are easier ways" Skirk sighed "I don't really understand you. You have talent, you have a path in front of you to become strong, you only need to follow it and time, you eventually will become strong."

"Yes, I have" Allen was aware that he was still far from his limit and by continuing training and growing, he will become stronger, but... "I know that I will become strong. But, would that strength be enough? Would I reach that point?" 'The level of a Harbinger.'

'Why are you doing this? You don't need it, you will be one of the strongest training normally, you have the talent to accomplish it.' Listening to him, Skirk's eyes went wide as memories resurfaced, a past long memory that she couldn't forget 'I know, but that's not enough! Would I be able to reach his level like that?'

'"I'll do anything to accomplish the impossible"' For Skirk, the memory overlapped with the reality that red-eye directly looking at her with decision overlapping with Allen's purple ones.

"Hm!" Skirk hummed and started laughing "Haha."

"What happens? I don't see the point" Allen said a little pissed.

"Sorry. You simply reminded me of someone" Skirk stopped her laugh, making a sad but nostalgic smile "I don't really know why. To tell you both of you are world apart."

"Who are you talking about?" Allen asked confused.

"You know the saying that there is always someone stronger? I met the one that this saying is invalid" Skirk stated "And I was talking about the idiot girl trying to surpass him." She said with a smile.

*Pa!* Skirk suddenly clapped her hands "I've decided. I'll help you."

"Really?" Allen's eyes went wide "How?"

"You remember my explanation, no? Strong bodies affected by the Abyss will become monsters." Skirk announced "I'll make you a monster by controlling the Abyss around you, forcing it and carving through your body."

"Will I become a monster like a Hilichurl or something?" Allen asked worried

"I'll try to keep your human form, but it will be difficult to consider you like one" Skirk smirked "I'll refine your body. This can only be done to you, a weak body with an immense soul as it would be kind of useless for stronger bodies and lethal for weaker souls. What I can promise is excruciating pain. Are you ready for it?"

Allen breathed profoundly and directly looked at Skirk with decided eyes "Yes. I'm ready for it."

"Okay" Skirk nodded "As you need my help, I'll ask a payment for it"

"What would it be?" Allen glared at Skirk 'What can she possibly want from me?'

"If you ever meet someone with a single left eye" Skirk passed her hand through her mask "Help that person and try to save it."

"Who is it?" Allen asked confused.

"I don't know" Skirk shook her head "To tell you the truth, you will most probably don't have the opportunity to even pay for it, you only need to remember it. Even if you were to meet it, I won't ask you to put yourself in danger, simply help it."

'It's strange and fishy, but it not truly asking for anything and she won't force me even if I were to break it' "Okay. I'll do it" 'I won't lose anything, but if I were to find that person, I'll try to help him or her.'

"Okay. Let's return for now and prepare for the pain."

...

"MGGG!" Allen shouted in pain while biting some stick with all his strength to make the pain a little lower as Skirk sliced through his body, piercing her daggers through it while injecting Abyss energy.

"Ajax's case was an easy one. He had a special body to take the Abyss so it was simply directing the energy where it needed. Quite easy!" Skirk said smiling as, she cut over Allen's left arm, blood surging from all over his body before the wounds instantly closed by Skirk's powers. "But your body is completely average so for it to be able to survive the Abyss energy, plus even keeping your form is impossible."

"MGGGG!" Skirk slashed at him one more time.

"So the answer is easy" Skirk grinned "I'll destroy it little by little, reconstructing it to keep it away from collapsing."

Allen could feel it, how the muscles were teared apart, how his bones were smashed into dust, all for it to instantly be generated again, creating an even more unbearable pain that seemed it would last forever.

"And with this, we ended!" Skirk smiled as she finally took her daggers away from Allen's body "How did it feel? It wasn't so bad, no?"

Allen fell to the ground immobile, he really didn't have the strength to even talk. The only reason of him being still conscious was that Skirk had made sure to keep him like that.

"The left arm is done, let's do the right one tomorrow. It won't be really painful until we reach your head." Skirk said smiling as she cleaned her weapons "Look forward to it."

'Fuck!' Allen cursed.