Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 197: Distant Dream

Seeing Thane's response, Alice could only huff in annoyance as she deactivated her Resonance. The storm of violet flames disappeared in a single instant as Alice landed on the arena floor.

Just as she was able to stabilise herself, she felt her legs give up under her. Falling back, Alice blinked her eyes in confusion feeling the fatigue that washed over her body.

"Huh?" She muttered, looking down at her hand that barely at the strength to carry her sword.

"It's normal. Resonance is usually limited to one per day. But it's better to think of it as once per rest." Thane chuckled seeing Alice unable to move.

Crouching down in front of her, he curled his lips up into a grin and poked her nose while dodging her retaliation.

"I'm not sure if Allura explained it well but the phenomenon of activating a Resonance is essentially going into debt with the Abyss. In exchange for a big burst of power, you tap into the power you would've had for the rest of the day and use it in that moment.

"That's why the briar thorns manifest around you Sigils and link them to one another. Extra power is siphoned and it's only natural that the backlash of doing such a thing is pure exhaustion. With enough training, you can avoid this exhaustion and continue to fight." Thane explained while flicking Alice on the head.

Standing up, Thane reached towards Alice's head before closing his eyes.

Just as she was about to say something, Alice could feel a foreign power entering her body and washing away the fatigue that had accumulated within her body.

"This'll do for now. The best remedy is still for you to rest but this should let you move to a certain extent. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't fight anymore until you've rested." Thane smiled as Alice nodded her head.

"What was that? Was it a Sigil power?"

"Nope. It's just a simple parlour trick that I picked up. Doesn't help you with fighting but just helps with those who aren't used to using Resonances." Thane shook his head while walking away from the arena.

'I made it for Allura since she was always terrible at recovering from her Resonance use. To think I'll use it again after so many years.'

Massaging her neck, Alice noticed Ria jumping over to her.

"Alice! What was that attack at the end? It was like Allura's Nova Core but there were so many of them! And the way it started to eat away at everything. Is it something I can do as well?" Ria asked as there was a light of excitement in her eyes.

She knew that the skill Alice used was not tied to Sigils so if she was able to learn what she did then it would be another boost to her skill set.

"Erm… I'm not sure to be honest. It's inspired by Allura's Nova Core but I can't replicate it properly. I kind of improvised but if you want, I can try and explain how I did it." Alice chuckled as Ria nodded her head.

The basic premise of her skill was simple but hard to execute.

"Step one is to gather as much power as you can and release it all at once. Once that's done, you want to compress it into a single spark. The key is how fast you can accomplish this stage. If you take too long, it loses a lot of power and makes you vulnerable to attacks. The faster you are, the better.

"Once it collapses into a single spark, you just need to guide it towards your opponent and then run since you'll get hurt in the explosion as well." Alice explained.

"Hmm… I can give it a try." Ria muttered.

But before she could say anything else, Thane interrupted.

"Don't. I don't know why Allura decided to teach Alice that skill but you shouldn't try it. After training with you, I'm very familiar with how your body works. It will not be able to support the activation of this skill." He shrugged while gesturing for them to hurry up.

"Ehhh but Alice could do it. I'm sure if I try hard enough I'll be able to accomplish it." Ria frowned.

"I don't doubt that. But you want to know how many Sigils it took for Allura to use this skill without blowing herself up in the process?"

"How many?"

"It took her seventh Sigil for her to be able to utilize this skill. In that sense, Alice here is a freak of nature of can use a Lord Level skill no matter how abridged she made it. The control and power needed along with physical toughness is not something you can handle." Thane explained as he knew the secret behind how Alice was able to accomplish such a task.

He noticed it several times now but now he confirmed his theory.

That regeneration of hers was actively repairing her body while she flooded herself with power.

Had it not been for this regeneration, he had no doubt that her limbs would be torn apart before she could even compress the spark!

"Ehhh…"

Seeing this, he knew that Ria was disappointed but there was nothing he could do about it.

Not even he knew why Alice had that insane regeneration but it was the foundation that allowed her usage of this skill.

"Don't be too disappointed. I've already shown you the way you can unleash your power. I'm sure you just need a chance to display that skill properly." Thane reassured as Ria nodded her head.

He wasn't wrong, the 'skill' that he showed her was something that would allow her to hold her own. Both of them now received help from Abyss Lords, she shouldn't be too greedy for more.

"Anyways, let's go somewhere nice to eat. It'll be my treat since my job here is done." Thane smiled as both Alice and Ria paused in surprise.

It had only been a short period of time yet he was already leaving.

"What? Missing my abuse already? You two really love to get kicked by me huh? Ew." Thane raised an eyebrow as the two were instantly angered.

"Hah? What the hell do you mean missing your abuse?!" Alice shouted out as she could still remember the pain she felt.

"We're just surprised you're leaving already. Who the hell wants to get beaten for fun? Alice let's eat his wallet dry today!" Ria huffed.

Hearing this, Alice blinked her eyes and looked at Ria with doubt.

This was a man who could throw hundreds of platina out without care. No matter how much they ate, she doubted that they could eat enough to empty his wallet. And even if they were to try, they'd die trying!

"I'd like to see you try. To make it easier on your pitiful appetite, I'll even have mercy on you and take you two to the most expensive restaurant. Surely you can make me spend more than a bit of pocket change right?" Thane taunted with a smug grin as Ria stomped past him with Alice in tow.

"You better not take that back!"

Seeing the two make their way out, Thane chuckled to himself. He had to admit that seeing their reactions never bored him. In the short time he had known them, the last fight especially, he had forgotten about the boredom that plagued his mind.

'Perhaps this is why Allura is so attached to them. Not just because I gave Alice the Eye.' He smiled, following behind the two.

###

Renting a private room for the two to enjoy the food as much as they wanted, Thane stood by the balcony and looked over the city.

The sights of the Abyss changed every time he visited and just seeing this sight, reminded him that Ayr was truly gone.

Ayr was nothing but a distant echo in the timeline of the Abyss. A relic of the past that no one could remember. It was a place of boundless joy and memories.

Its skyline was dominated by towering spires that reached the skies above.

Each spire had its own story while the guardians of the city patrolled, ensuring the safety of all those who sought refuge.

His master, in her boundless love, accepted all who sought help from Ayr yet her reward for all of this was death.

After all these years, his memories were now tinged with sorrow. Every time he came back to the Abyss he felt as though a knife had plunged into his heart. The devastation brought forth by the calamity was still fresh in his mind.

How the citizens screamed, how he tried his best yet for all his power, he was useless in diverting the tragedy.

Taking a deep breath, Thane sighed as a bitter smile hung on his face.

Despite the passage of time, he longed to go back to the good old days. But those days will forever be out of his reach.

'Perhaps at the end, when everything is done and my role has ended… I can finally rest and eternally dream of the life I once had…' He thought to himself.

"Thane?"

Alice's voice rang out, surprising Thane as he was lost in thought. He had expected her to still be eating right now.

"Hm? What is it?" He forced a smile.

However, Alice didn't say anything but only pointed to his eye.

Furrowing his brows, he felt the corner of his eyes and realised that a stray tear had formed.

Widening his eyes in surprise, he wiped away the tears and took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Are you alright?" Alice asked with a slight frown.

"Yeah don't worry about it. I was just thinking about how I'll miss hitting- I mean training the both of you." Thane dismissed with a laugh but Alice could see the pain he tried to hide.

Even though it was only there for a moment, she recognised his expression as Allura had the same expression before when talking about Ayr and her old master.

Biting her lip for a moment, Alice stepped forward and hugged him, surprising Thane.

"I promised Allura this before so I'll say it to you too. I'll try my best to rebuild Ayr in the future so you can have a home to go back to."

Hearing this, Thane's eyes softened as his façade disappeared.

He wasn't sure what he should say but in the end, he settled on two words.

"Thank you."