Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 251: Blurred Outline

'Severance and Corruption… I suppose Allura's Nova Core is based on a branch of Severance. Her Executioner's Blade severs the connection of the target to the Abyss before landing the final blow. Nova Core, on the other hand, most likely erases the connection at the post of impact.' Alice thought to herself as she remembered the phenomenon caused by Nova Core.

How it drew in energy from around it before appearing as a single spark of destruction.

With this in mind, it was clear that her Void Flux and Void Flux – Cleave should not only aim to condense its power to the absolute limit but also aim for the strands of energy that she could see.

If she learns how to differentiate these strands and understand which ones serve as the main connection to the Abyss, she'll be able to better utilise her abilities.

While Alice was thinking to herself, Kaden couldn't help but chuckle at her expression while deep in thought. He could practically see the gears in her mind turning as she theorised on the meaning behind these authorities and what they could do.

"Having fun?" Kaden smiled while giving Alice's head another pat.

"Mnm, I think I kind of understand the difference between my skill and Allura's. It gives me room to make some adjustments on my end but I'll deal with that later. Nalem and Allura are still waiting downstairs right? I'm guessing they'll be worried about my reaction." Alice nodded.

"It's not every day you hear someone claim that they can make adjustments based on an Apostle's authority. And yet here we are. Take your time, there's no rush. Both Allura and Nalem are patient people, more so if its something that bothers you." Kaden chuckled.

"Don't worry, I've calmed down now. As long as it is limited to just my blood samples, I don't mind."

Glancing back at the city one more time, Alice made her way down.

While looking at the city, she couldn't help but notice a strange sight gathering towards the top of the castle. A sea of multicoloured strands gathered together, invisible to the naked eye but thanks to Cayla, she could see it.

With this in mind, Alice could only assume the Goddess was at the top of the castle.

###

"Welcome back. Are you feeling better now?" Allura asked after seeing Alice and Kaden returning to the table.

"I am. Sorry about earlier." Alice apologised but Allura shook her head.

"There's no need to apologise, it's normal to be weirded out by someone asking to perform experiments on you. As long as you're feeling better, I'll be relieved."

Placing a plate with some cake in front of Alice, Allura leaned back into her chair.

Alice could only smile before turning to Nalem.

"How much of my blood do you need? If you want, I can also give you some details about my blood that I know of."

"How much can you spare? The more tests I can run the more accurate the results will be." Nalem shrugged.

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice turned to Allura.

"In the pouch you confiscated after knocking me out, there should be a vial containing blood beads. They're made from my blood and should serve as a good sample. If you give me some vials, I can also fill them with my blood. I presume you want it straight from my body rather than created from my Sigils right?

Since my third Sigil can conjure my blood." Alice asked while glancing at Nalem towards the end.

"That's right. The blood conjured from a Sigil while containing the same properties, have a different origin than the blood within your body. You can think of it as a product created by the Abyss after observing your blood. The origin will always be better." Nalem explained as Alice nodded her head.

While they were discussing this, Kaden took this time to teleport out before coming back with a small bag.

"I've brought the vial of blood beads and some empty vials for you." Kaden smiled while placing the bag on the table.

"You really didn't waste any time now did you?" Alice raised an eyebrow.

Shrugging her shoulders, she reached into the bag and brought out several vials.

"Do you have any healing vials? I'll need to replenish my blood."

"Actually, it's best if you don't drink a healing vial while extracting your blood since each sample will be slightly different." Nalem interjected but Alice shook her head.

"You don't have to worry about that. My blood is a little different. The only changes it receives are from Sigils."

Kaden simply chose to trust Alice and not pry while leaving to get some healing blood.

In the meantime, Alice made a cut on her arm before using her Sigil to control her blood.

Extracting the crimson fluid from her body, Alice continued to fill up the vials while Nalem was still contemplating about what her words meant.

Drinking the healing blood that Kaden had brought over, Alice filled a second batch of blood vials while Nalem began comparing the two.

Taking off his glasses, his Sigil marking appeared around his eyes as his pupils changed into a deep emerald colour.

"This… What the hell is your blood." Nalem muttered with trembling lips, surprising both Kaden and Allura.

This was the first time they had seen Nalem lose his composure in such a matter.

"Is something wrong?" Allura frowned while Nalem continued to compare different samples.

"Something wrong? Yes, everything is wrong. Alice's blood it's… it's completely immune to the permanent change brought forth by the Abyss. The traces left behind by the Abyss Blood is devoured by her own blood. While the effects may linger for a moment it seems… She's completely immune to side effects." Nalem muttered while looking at Alice in a mixture of shock and fascination.

This stare sent a chill down Alice's back as it was similar to how the Scholars stared at her.

Noticing his mistake, Nalem coughed and composed himself.

"Sorry. But as I was saying, it seems like her blood 'consumes' the effects of the Abyss before it can leave lasting marks. As you know, accepting a bounty for a Sigil is a contract formed with the Abyss. It's something that changes you fundamentally hence why Sigils are able to change Alice's blood.

However, even with the effects of Sigils, it seems like the foundations of her blood remain the same." He explained while raising the vial of blood against the lights.

"Wait… Are you suggesting that Alice can't ever turn into a beast?" Allura widened her eyes in surprise.

"Not quite. But I suppose it's not far off. How do I put it… Honestly I think Kaden might be able to explain this better than I can. This spills into his territory of understanding regarding the Soul's outline." Nalem smiled helplessly.

"When transforming into a beast, Sigils and Abyss Blood act as a mould for the soul. It changes its shape to fit that mould and eventually, that mould becomes a prison. But for Alice… Since she doesn't have a clear outline, it's difficult for a mould to be created." Kaden sighed as he created a ball of shadow.

"Think of it like this. A clear outline defines the normal soul born in the Abyss."

He adjusted the ball so that its outline was clear.

"Reshape it and you become a beast."

He snapped his finger and the shape transformed into a draconic creature.

"As for Alice? The outline of her 'soul' is so blurred, it's as though nothing is there yet she still exists. In a sense, she is like a construct but even a construct has a clear outline while she doesn't. Saying that she doesn't have a soul is the best description for this anomaly." Kaden admitted while waving his finger.

The outline of the ball started to blur until it is simply a blurry patch of colour that seemed to stretch on infinitely. But at the same time, it is also contained within the area above Kaden's hand.

If Alice tried to focus on the edges, she'll simply see the library while a patch of darkness appears in her peripherals. And when she tries to focus on the shape in her peripheral, it disappears while the surroundings become dark instead.

"How can you shape something where the outline is so indistinguishable and blurred that you don't even know you're looking at it? This is simply my current observation. I don't know how it's changed or hasn't changed but she is indeed immune to the changes brought forth by the Abyss.

No matter how much Abyss Blood she tries to drink, it will not succeed in defining her outline and thus, cannot shape her into a beast."

Hearing this, Alice finally understood her current condition.

10 years of work put in by the Scholars of the Zenia family could not compare to a day with an Apostle of the Abyss Goddess.

'If my outline is so blurred that the Abyss cannot shape me, then there is probably a way to define it. My one Sigil resonance made this crown above my head permanent. In a sense, using it has defined my 'soul'.' Alice thought to herself as she furrowed her brows.

Countless questions in her mind had become clear.

Why could she mimic the powers of Hunters if she drinks their blood? That was most likely a case of temporarily giving her 'soul' an outline. By ingesting their blood, she takes in the influence of their Sigil and the Abyss blood they have consumed over the course of their life.

However…

"If the shape of my outline can't be defined, what will happen if someone who has a clear outline drinks my blood? What I want to ask is, can I blur their outline to make them immune to the effects of the Abyss? Or perhaps even revert the changes?"