Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 179: Inner Hunger

Sitting in the VIP suite, Thane had a bored look on his face while leaning against the sofa. He was currently overlooking the entire venue as he had arranged subsequent fights for Alice after she finished the current match.

'She seems to be doing well for herself. Doesn't quite have the same look in her eyes as she did in the prison. I guess Allura must've treated her quite nicely in the time they spent together.' He mused to himself.

Alice had even taken on some of Allura's habits that she has from time to time. The way she would sigh and posture her body when she felt annoyed or helpless at a situation.

Even back in the Guild, he felt like he was looking at a younger Allura which is why he decided to play a prank on her.

If it wasn't for that, he wouldn't have stepped in like he has done right now. It was simply not his nature to do so.

But since he was here, he may as well make it worth it for the girl.

'She's not using the weapon I had Nalem give her. I suppose using the heirloom of a family I ruined might be a bit too much out in the open. For someone of her strength anyways.'

Then there was the case of the brat next to him. Even if he did make the bet with Alice out of boredom, he wasn't going to go back on his promise.

And while he was here, he may as well guide her a little.

"Oi brat." Thane called out as Ria frowned slightly before glancing over.

"What is it?"

"What are your Sigils and what do you plan to aim for?" He asked directly while tilting his head to the side lazily.

"Huh?"

"Stop wasting my time and just tell me. I'm pretty sure Allura and your grandfather have given you some tips but they're both too soft. Answer me and I can help you get stronger."

Hearing this, Ria paused. She thought back to the moment she felt helpless against the strange man in the realm of souls. How her attacks did nothing and how only Alice could react.

She didn't want to be helpless. She didn't want to suffer the same way she did at the hands of the Cult like she did before.

Biting her lip for a moment, Ria stood up and activated her Sigils, allowing them to manifest on her body.

"Stormweaver, Thundercoil Harpy, Thunder Fury Serpent and Storm Leviathan." Ria answered truthfully as Thane gave her Sigils a glance before nodding.

"Seems like you're aiming to be a physical fighter with lightning. Storm Leviathan is pretty impressive if you got it as your forth. Did Allura ask you to choose the Lightning Ascent skill?"

Pausing in surprise, Ria didn't expect him to be able to guess so accurately and nod her head.

"As expected of her." Thane chuckled. Even after so many years, Allura still favoured Sigils that boosted physical attributes and diverse effects. Just judging from her overall choice of Sigils right now, Thane could already simulate the fighting style in his head.

"Have you tried focusing on ranged attacks rather than physical?" Thane smiled.

Her combination of Sigils may be used for physical fighters but he knew that there was more to it than just being a frontliner.

Plus, just because someone is ranged doesn't mean they're weak in close combat. It's a mistake that many Hunters make when underestimating their opponents.

It's also a tactic used by stronger beasts so they waste less energy when dealing with weaklings that don't deserve their time.

"Once the lass has finished her fights I'll show you something later. Do as you please with the information. You can ignore it, you can take it to heart or you can even sell it. I don't care what you do with it." Thane waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit down since the fight was about to start.

He wanted to see how Alice was doing in terms of surviving in the Abyss.

###

Looking at her opponent Mortis, Alice could already feel a silent pressure dawn on her as he looked around at the numerous spectators that came to watch the hundred platina fight.

He is a tall figure wearing a tattered cloak that exposed some light armour through the gaps that didn't hinder his mobility. Two swords in their sheaths were strapped to his waist while a large greatsword could be spotted on his back.

With a large hood and mask covering his facial features, Alice could only see a pair of crimson eyes surveying the arena.

"100 Platina. A price that not even I could reject. Who are you? I don't know who is reckless enough to gamble such a large amount for this kind of fight." Mortis asked, finally looking at his opponent.

"He said he was an old friend of my master and wanted to make things interesting. I'm not exactly in a situation to stop him." Alice smiled bitterly while observing her surroundings.

With Mortis having three Sigils, there was a high chance that he had a Resonance or else Thane wouldn't have paired them together.

'Knowing how Allura is and how similar they act, he definitely picked someone stronger than average. I can't take this opponent lightly.' Alice thought to herself while narrowing her eyes at him.

Unsheathing her blade, Alice held it by her side as the announcer had finally finished hyping up the battle.

Most people understood that this fight wasn't exactly going to be a spectacle, they were merely here because of the large wager that even the nobles were shocked by.

Alice could hear their whispers of doubt. How they found it impossible for her to stand against one of the best three star Hunters of the arena.

"I see. I will apologise in advance but I won't be taking this battle lightly. Even if you are supposedly weaker than I." Mortis nodded as he reached behind him and pulled out the greatsword effortlessly.

Stabbing it into the smooth ground in front of him, he crouched down slightly and placed his hands against the handle of his sword.

In that instant, Alice could feel an overwhelming pressure wash over her as her instincts were immediately kicked into survival mode.

This was the aura of a man who's fought life and death battles.

Unknowingly, Alice took a step forward with a smile on her face. Anticipation bright in her eyes and a ravenous hunger blossoming within her mind.

###

What is this girl?

I asked myself in confusion. The killing intent I had so proudly cultivated in my many battles was met with happiness and excitement.

A far cry from the reaction I would usually get.

Instead of stepping back, she stepped forward. Instead of panicking, she laughed in excitement. There was no hint of fear or composure in her eyes.

'She's too strange.'

Something about her was off. She felt unnatural.

Every cell in my body was warning me, begging me to step away from this battle in pursuit of safety. A feeling that I only felt when I was out on the field.

'She feels just like an Abyss Beast.'

That was the conclusion I came to. Perhaps she had spent a long time with them or perhaps it was due to some other circumstances.

The stance she took was reminiscent of a beast. Full of openings yet should I attack recklessly, she would not hesitate to sacrifice a part of herself to deal the same damage back to me.

A deranged beast was the best description I could give to her.

No matter her appearance or way of speaking, she could not hide her bestial nature.

I was starting to regret my decision to accept this battle but it was no use in thinking about that now. The hosts have already instructed me on what to do. I need to win this battle like I have done before.

Closing my eyes I focused my mind. The announcer should be starting the battle soon.

When he does, I'll land the first strike.

###

"Begin!"

"!!!"

Before Mortis could even unsheathe his blades, Alice's sword appeared in his vision. She had thrown her weapon the moment the battle began!

*CLANG!!!!

'What is this force?!' Mortis thought to himself in shock.

Even after blocking her attack, his hands were ringing from the collision. This was not the strength a normal two star Hunter should be able to exert yet the results speak for themselves.

He leaned forward, expecting the girl to be behind the blade but she was nowhere to be found.

Above, behind, left or right, not even her shadow could be spotted. Almost as if she had disappeared entirely.

'No! It's a hallucination!'

In realisation, he hurriedly activated his Resonance to dispel the effect, but it was too slow.

She had already appeared in front of him in all of her unsatiable hunger. Her blade above her head, ready to cleave down. There was no technique, no refinement. Only pure brutality!

*BANG!!!

Kicking his leg down, he used the greatsword as a shield to block the strike.

Yet her response is simple, primal even.

She grabbed hold of the blade edge of the greatsword and swung herself towards him, kicking him in the chest and pushing him back, setting Mortis off balance.

'She's an instinctual fighter! I need to take hold of the tempo of this fight or else she'll keep pushing me until I fall in defeat!'

He had kept his blades sheathed due to the effects of his Sigil, unsheathing them would've produced the most speed and power but clearly it was a mistake! Even if he lost in power, he should've taken the first move.

Just as he pulled his blades halfway out of their sheath, Alice stomped down against the pommel, forcing him to sheath his blades once more.

He could see her preparing to knee him in the face but once again his vision blurred. Another illusion!

But the duration of this illusion was far shorter than the other due to his resonance and he was able to react in time to block her knee.

Grabbing the arm he used to block, Alice laughed as excitement was apparent in her eyes. Her face was flushed from ecstasy as the feeling of battle took over her mind.

Bending her body back, she was able to avoid the greatsword slashing towards her from behind. Going into a handstand, she grabbed his neck with her leg before throwing him away to the other side of the arena.

This was how it should've been. She should never have denied her inner hunger.