Chapter 173: True hell with a hint of pestilence
The only illumination in the vast cave was an orb of intense light hovering near Mikoto. "The cave is much bigger than I thought. This thing is really running with the whole 'abyss' thing, huh?" Mikoto mused aloud.
"Well, Aurelion's are known to detests light," Astrid chimed in, "Though I wish it did not pick such an ominous lair."
"Eh, not to worry. We'll kick its butt real quick!" Mai exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm, "Of course, I'll hold back some because this is your test, princess."
Astrid flashed the general a grateful smile, "Your support will be appreciated either way, General Mai."
"Still, I'm curious. This Aurelion utilizes the 'abyss' in some capacity, right? How does that even work?" Mikoto questioned as they continued their stride through the cave.
"Think of the God of darkness Xylohr; he oversees the abyss and in a way is merged with it. Power derived from the abyss functions somewhat similar to his. So in this instance, we can look at a spawn of Xylohr," Astrid explained.
"In other words, we're looking at his spawn's Familial Arts," Mikoto deduced.
Astrid nodded, "Indeed. They have but one Familial Art, but it is extremely complex and powerful, or so I've heard. Though I'm not sure really what it is, I've never encountered a spawn of Xylohr." She flashed an apologetic smile at that.
"Eh, it shouldn't matter. You seem pretty strong, so like you said, you'll probably make short work of this thing."
"From someone so strong, those words mean a lot!" Astrid's lips curled up once more into a genuine smile. "Though it is a great comfort to have you as support."
"Don't mention it," Mikoto waved off. Astrid opened her mouth to speak; however, a stray rock got caught under her foot, causing her to almost trip. Luckily, her arm was quickly caught by Mikoto before she tumbled over. "Watch your step, princess."
"M-my bad, and thank you." She cleared her throat with a sheepish chuckle.
("Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,") Meanwhile, feeling left out once more, Mai watched the scene dryly, ("I feel like I'm invading somehow.")
"A-anyway, Mikoto, I must say there is something I was rather curious about concerning you." Trying to shake off the earlier embarrassment by changing the subject, she offered a new one. "I'm curious as to how you and Mira grew so close. She's a difficult girl but so sweet if you get to know her."
"Let's see, Mirabella and I first met in a duel. I forfeited because I wasn't feeling like kicking ass that particular day, and she was pretty pissed at that," Astrid chuckled at that.
"That does sound a lot like her," She gestured for him to continue as they walked on.
"After that, we only interacted again for the curriculum in Verdantis. Being a gentleman, I helped her with a spell to keep her warm. Also, I heroically saved her from this ugly, foul, hideous, and disgusting wild animal," he stated with a smug undertone, "And then she was all like," Making his voice deliberately high-pitched, he continued, "Oh Mikoto, my hero, I love you so much~" Changing his voice back, he finished off, "Honestly, that's what she said."
Astrid stifled a laugh as she covered her mouth, Mai blatantly laughed at Mikoto's impression of the second princess. "Haha, be serious." Astrid chuckled, "If Mira heard you say that, she'd yell your head off."
"True-" Mikoto cut off his own sentence as he stopped, Mai and Astrid following suit. It emerged almost majestically from the shadows, dwarfing the rugged landscape around them, a magnificent conglomeration of mana and shadow. Standing on all fours, its immense frame was reminiscent of a creature that had descended frommaybe a canine merged with the stature of a bear. The Aurelion's fur was as dark as shadow, absorbing the scant light, while odd and unique runes pulsated across its body—symbols etched deep into its hide, radiating a sinister purple hue.
The runes appeared alive, swirling with a soft glow, crackling at the edges as they moved over its shoulders and down across its massive legs. With each step, the ground quaked beneath its weight, sending a vibration through the air that mirrored a heartbeat. Its enormous head was adorned with piercing eyes, glowing like twin pools of amethyst. The beast's fangs, sharp and menacing, glinted dangerously as it growled, a rumbling sound that resonated through the cavern walls, echoing.
As the Aurelion shifted its gaze towards them, Astrid instinctively stepped forward. With a graceful motion, she raised her hand, calling upon a radiant mana that she could feel swimming around her like a fish in water. "I shall take point! Leifa Allr, heed my call!"
In response, a brilliant light erupted from her palm. The cavern illuminated as radiant arcs coruscated around her, shimmering in hues of deep blue and silver. A sword began to take form—a weapon conceived from a pure odd mana and splendor. Leifa Allr emerged, its blade as long as she was tall, crafted from a luminescent material that seemed to flicker between dimensions. The hilt adorned with swirling patterns of light, almost like a nebula, curled expertly to fit her grasp. The blade was not a mere metal; it radiated an essence of something entirely foreign, ethereal energy reminiscent of flames moved along its length, casting a cascade of shimmering reflections across the cavern walls.
("Holy shit,") Mikoto was slightly caught off guard as his eyes provided him with all the needed information as he gazed at the magical artifact, ("That's unfairly broken!")
As Astrid stood poised with Leifa Allr, her expression shifted to a pointed stare. Beside her, Mai took her position. She slipped into a martial arts stance, feet firmly planted and knees slightly bent, arms raised in a tight guard. Each movement was fluid; her Ao Dai billowed dramatically with her motions.
"I'll play support, as we discussed. Just tell me if you want me on the offensive," Mikoto fell back. With his back slightly arched, he surveyed everything—eyes darting between Astrid and Mai, the Aurelion stalking them. "Alright, kick the giant furball's ass," he encouragingly voiced, causing the aforementioned girls' lips to curl up in smirks.
The Aurelion paused, tilting its head, evaluating the three tiny figures standing against it, an expressive flicker of curiosity igniting in its eyes. With a growl that sounded like thunder, the Aurelion surged forward in a fluid motion, muscles rippling beneath the flurry of dark fur, its claws sharp, dug into the ground, the runes along its body shining brighter in preparation for the attack.
Astrid and Mai exchanged glances. Astrid raised Leifa Allr high, the blade catching the light. "General Mai, let us make short work of this beast!" she called out.
"Hear you loud and clear, princess!" Mai sprang forward, executing a quick sidestep that drew her closer to the behemoth. She twirled gracefully, a mix of movement that helped evade the initial lunge of the Aurelion.
As Mai diverted the beast's attention, Astrid followed through, sweeping in behind her, the radiant Leifa Allr pulsing strongly in her hands. She pivoted on her heel, utilizing the momentum to direct a horizontal slash of radiant energy toward the Aurelion's flank. The blade sparked with an incandescent light, leaving a trailing glow in its wake, an arc of brilliant light aimed directly at the creature. Astrid summoned some of her strength, capitalizing on the moment. She leaped forward, with fluid movement her blade easily cleaved through its right back leg. It let out a howl of pain as it wildly thrashed about, causing Mai and Astrid to fall back.
Following that the cavern reverberated with an intense man, dark tendrils spiraled from the Aurelion's body like shadows, coiling around the creature's limbs and morphing into vicious spikes that jutted outward. With a roar that echoed off the rough walls, the Aurelion unleashed its attack—numerous spikes of pure shadow shot forth like arrows, aimed indiscriminately at the trio. They sped through the air, leaving trails of ominous darkness as they raced toward their targets with terrifying speed.
"Mikoto," Astrid called.
"On it." Mikoto replied, summoning a simple spell. With an outstretched hand, he focused his mana.
Three translucent barriers of mana enveloped the trio, the shimmering walls emerging like large shields. The spikes struck the surface of the barriers with explosive force, resulting in a series of resonant impacts that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Each collision sent tendrils of black energy cascading like rain, but the barriers easily held firm, flickering with a bright light as they absorbed the brunt of the attack.
The echoes of the spikes died down, the cavern returning to a momentary quietness.
Astrid leapt forward with Leifa Allr gleaming at her side, the radiant sword pulsating with an odd mana once more.
In one fluid motion, she shifted into an athletic stance, bending her knees slightly as she closed the distance to the Aurelion. She swung the blade with a fierce strong arc. The radiant light arced through the cavern, traced by the vivid hues, she executed a precise cut aimed at the Aurelion's outstretched paw.
The blade connected with a resounding crunch, sending ripples of light cascading outward as the sword sliced through the thick fur and sinewy flesh. The Aurelion howled in pain, its massive form recoiling as Astrid's strike severed another one of its paws at the joint. An explosion of light burst forth from the wound dark blood spilling.
Seeing the Aurelion stagger, Mai tapped into her specialty, feeling the Qi within her pulse in alignment. With a leap, Mai launched herself into the air, her Ao Dai trailing like a flag as she performed a beautifully synchronized arc, kicking off from her back foot with grace. She soared above the Aurelion, letting the weightlessness of her ascent wash over her, harnessing the power of her Qi.
She channeled her energy toward her fist as she descended, her palm glowing with vivid light. She connected with the Aurelion's jaw—the force of the uppercut causing a resounding impact, sending ripples of energy through the creature's massive form. The Aurelion was launched backward, struggling against the potency of the strike, its body twisting wildly as it was forced to regain its footing.
But the Astrothian was resilient. In mere moments, the creature's jagged fur bristled with dark mana as it corrected its trajectory mid-air, powerful remaining two legs stabilizing it against the cavern wall. The runes along its body glowed ominously once more.
The Aurelion sprung back to action, growling. The cave shook and pulsed with an intense force as the Aurelion, summoned its dark mana, it swirling around it, focusing it into a dozen large orbs, each. They hovered momentarily, before the Aurelion released them with a loud roar.
The dark orbs launched forward like missiles, racing through the space between them with blurring speed. Each orb crackled dangerously, leaving an afterimage of blackness in their wake as they hurtled towards Mikoto, Astrid, and Mai.
Mikoto was quick to react, one by one, wards formed before each oncoming orb— translucent shields spun into reality like shimmering bubbles. Each ward expanded outward with a brilliant flash, as they grew sturdy.
The orbs clashed violently against the wards in rapid succession, unleashing an explosive reign that set off shockwaves within the stone walls of the cavern. The impacts reverberated like thunder on a stormy night, a clash that sent dust and debris swirling in every direction. Each collision caused waves of darkness that rippled outward, creating cracks in the cave floor and leaving smoldering, deep craters where they had struck. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the jagged walls quaking.
The trio remained unharmed, ("This thing is pretty weak. I don't even have to be here,") Mikoto disappointedly noted. Either Astrid or General Mai could easily beat the beast, the former was merely holding back to show her proficiency and control of her magical artifact while the latter was an invigilator and merely support. ("Still this abyssal power it's using, I can't replicate it for some reason. A shame, it's such a busted power, if this thing was the least bit intelligent than we'd be in real trouble.") Still Mikoto's instincts went haywire, screaming at him to keep his guard up despite the beast's lack of a threat.
The aftermath of the explosive barrage quickly settled, and Astrid seized the moment. She charged forward. Her footfalls were light as she closed the distance toward the Aurelion, sensing the opportunity to capitalize on its moment of vulnerability.
She twirled Leifa Allr, the blade dancing in a powerful arc that caught the ambient light and refracted it into a myriad of colors. The radiant sword sang in her grip as she leapt into the air, her body propelling upward, gliding gracefully, the cavern around her blurred into the background as all her focus melded into that single point of impact—the Aurelion's large torso.
Time slowed as she descended, the sword poised and ready. The Aurelion, regaining its composure, turned its attention back towards Astrid, a terrible growl rumbling in its throat as it attempted to steel itself against the oncoming blow. But Astrid was relentless.
She twisted, her blade arcing downward in a devastating strike aimed at the creature's torso. The light emanating from Leifa Allr blazed as it descended, the blade connecting with a powerful thrust and sending a shockwave rippling across the Aurelion's frame. The blade cut deep, slicing through the thick, dark fur and meeting the sinewy muscle beneath with intensity. Astrid felt no resistance. The Aurelion howled, the sound reverberating in a desperate plea of pain. Its body jerked as the blade punctured the beast's side, a radiant glow exploding forth from the wound, bathing the nearby stone in an ichor of light.
In synchronized moment, Mai leaped in. With the Aurelion's focus diverted towards Astrid, she seized the opportunity to mount her own assault. Channeling her Qi again, she felt the energy surge through her limbs, strengthening her exponentially.
Crouching low to the ground, she pivoted sharply and sprang into the air, her body coiling like a spring as she pushed off the ground. Her fists glimmered with the power of her energy, she rocketed upwards, her fist glowing with the brilliance of her concentrated Qi. Her punch surged through the air with blinding speed, the glowing fist meeting the Aurelion's face with devastating force.
The impact sounded like thunder, a crack echoing through the cavern as her strike connected—Mai's fist colliding with the Aurelion's jaw and sending shockwaves rippling through its skull. The creature reeled backward, its piercing amethyst eyes wide with shock as it struggled to regain its footing. The force of Mai's blow sent the beast staggering, its few legs shuffling clumsily as it fought to regain balance against the sudden onslaught.
With the Aurelion temporarily disoriented, both Astrid and Mai prepared to launch another coordinated assault. Mikoto frowned beneath his helmet, his instincts still blaring. "Instincts should be listened to," he mused to himself.
And as if on cue, an unsettling shift rippled through the air. The atmosphere thickened nearly instantaneously, the once palpable mana crackling into something much darker, almost suffocating. Mikoto's senses heightened, instincts flaring as a shadowy aura expanded around the Aurelion, wrapping around it like a cloak.
Astrid, still poised from her recent strike, landed gracefully on the ground, her momentum shifting into a readiness to move again. Yet, as she regained her footing, she felt an unsettling pressure bearing down upon her. Before she could react, the darkness shot forth from the beast—a massive wave surging like a black tide, an engulfing essence aimed directly at her.
Mikoto clutched the face of his helmet, a stinging pain in his eyes. He immediately registered why. He was absorbing too much information, his eyes were struggling to break down the phenomenon happening before him. Failing to tell him what was going on, it was disorientating but he reacted all the same. "Astrid, move!" he shouted, recognizing the imminent disaster bearing down on her. This had never happened before, his eyes, his Chthonia never strained no matter what phenomenon he witnessed. But even so without a second thought, he propelled himself forward, his body a blur.
"Move, damn it," he yelled again. She had just registered his warning when Mikoto reached her, pushing her to the side, ("Damn it, it's hard even trying to focus a goddamn spell,")
As he shoved Astrid out of harm's way, he felt the chill of the darkness wash over him, an icy wave that gripped him as it enveloped his form completely. For an instant, the world was filled with chilling silence, and then everything twisted and blurred as if reality itself was tearing apart at the seams.
Mikoto gasped as he was suddenly thrust into something else, falling through the air in a disorienting plummet. He fought to regain his bearings, scanning his new surroundings with confusion. Above him, an ominous purple sky loomed, throbbing rhythmically like a living heart, pulsating with a sinister thick mana that seemed to echo through his very being. The atmosphere felt thick and electric, and the air was thin, and he could barely breathe. Though at least he was no longer disoriented, so a simple spell fixed that.
He felt an overwhelming sense of annoyance as he spiraled downward, the ground rushing up to meet him—a lifeless terrain stretching out below, stark and desolate. Jagged rocks jutted upward like the teeth of some great beast, and the air smelled of sulfur and decay. There was no sun to cast warmth, only a large dark ring where one should be, swallowing the light and leaving everything draped in perpetual twilight.
As Mikoto descended, the desolation of the landscape became clearer, revealing a chaotic array of demonic figures lingering beneath. A savagely animated horde of vicious-looking demons prowled along the cracked earth, numbering in the billions. Their eyes glimmered hungrily in the dim light, reflecting an intelligence that managed to irk him. Their forms were twisted, grotesque amalgamations—some with gnashing teeth, others with claws sharper than blades—each one pulsating with malevolent mana as they stalked the barren ground. And all in different shapes and sizes.
He continued falling freely, the numerous demons' putrid eyes having locked onto his small falling form. Their gazes were greedy and hungry, like he was a delicious meal they could not wait to get their hands on.
Confusion still gripped him in his descent, but his gleaming red eye narrowed behind his visor in annoyance. This was no longer the realm he was in before; this was an entirely separate reality, as his eyes told him. This was 'the abyss,' the home of true demons, not the rabble summoned by mortals. Some demons in the crowd below possessed mana far more potent in quality and quantity than the Chaosmaws he had encountered before, barring Aegraxes.
Such powerful creatures. The Aurelion somehow sent him here, to an entirely different realm. He did not know how...
But there was one thing he was certain of...
Raising his palm towards the numerous demons, a small black orb of mana gathered inches above it. "I'm nuking this place." A simple destructive spell that would utterly destroy the demon horde below, completely eradicating them until there was nothing left.
However, before he could unleash the destructive spell, he suddenly felt a small hand on his shoulder. Before he could register what was happening, he was sharply pulled back, and he blinked, suddenly falling on his rear. The pulsing purple sky, the dark ominous ring that plagued it, and the numerous demons were all gone, replaced by a lush forest, the green almost straining to his eyes. "You're quite the foolish one, huh?" A soothing voice reached his ears, causing him to shoot up and tense as he whirled around to face them. He narrowed his eyes...