Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 325: Stealing Blessings

Massaging his neck, Nyer looked down at the bleeding body of Kaden. Even now, he was trying his best to attack him as he reached out his trembling hand.

Grabbing him by the ankle, Kaden tried to use his blessing to corrupt Nyer but nothing happened.

Biting his lip, Kaden glared at Nyer who only sighed before pulling his arm back.

*BANG!!!

Punching Kaden and cracking the ground beneath them, Nyer dusted his hands before closing his eyes.

During the time he was away with Cayla, he had created a contract between them. In essence, it allows him to 'borrow' her power.

Opening his left eye, the whites of his eye turned black as his pupil turned purple.

'Master is fighting against the other Gods. Alice is… She's resting since her body isn't in good condition. Doesn't seem like she's going to be able to talk to the Will. ' Nyer thought to himself with a disappointed sigh.

He had hoped that Alice would be able to make a move before he was forced to step in. But at the rate that things are progressing, it would be impossible.

Glancing back at the Reaper who had lost its target since Kaden had been incapacitated, Nyer stretched his body.

"Might as well clean up after these two since it's my fault anyway."

Walking towards the Reaper, Nyer could see its body cracking apart before exploding into blood mist.

Within this mist, its gargantuan figure disappeared and all that remained was the figure of a woman. She had short black hair and crimson eyes without a single spot of white.

On her right side, a strange black and red energy made up her body, crackling like lightning yet growing like tree branches. Within this strange energy, countless eyes blinked in and out of existence as she revealed a wide grin that would send shivers down the spine of any Lord who was to see this being.

And yet, Nyer remained composed. A bored expression could be seen on his face as he sighed.

"You're just like your Master. Eyes on everything that happens and think yourself to be all powerful." Nyer grumbled as he didn't even take out his blade.

"Come, I'll humour your new birth. Show me what the Reaper is capable of."

Nyer smiled as he gestured with his finger for her to attack.

Unaffected by his provocation, the Reaper slammed her hand into the ground as countless strands of this strange energy shot towards Nyer.

*BANG!!!

Colliding with an invisible barrier around him, the strands couldn't approach him no matter how hard it tried. However, little by little, it began to infect this barrier.

Eyes started to flicker into existence while Nyer chuckled.

"So you control something similar to Kaden but more lethal and takes longer to activate."

Snapping his finger, the barrier pulsed outwards, expelling this infection. Just when he was about to attack, he felt a chill behind him and activated the power he gained from Cayla.

Information flooded his mind as he created a small blade of light.

Slashing behind him, a shadowy figure was cut to pieces while the Reaper lunged towards Nyer.

"Even though I chose to humour you momentarily, you didn't take that opportunity to heart. Or perhaps you couldn't understand me to begin with. Regardless, I've given you more time than what you deserve.

"So scram."

Blessing of Severance!

A single blade slash rushed towards the Reaper before she could react. With her connection cut off with the Will, the strange energy that permeated her body faded away.

Widening her eyes, the last thing the Reaper saw was Nyer's cold eyes before her body was consumed by a mass of black liquid that erupted from the ground!

Blessing of Corruption!

Adjusting his shirt, Nyer stepped away from the area as the biggest issue was now dealt with.

The Reaper was a slight issue before but not unkillable for him in his normal state. However, now that he's stolen the Blessing of Severance and Corruption from Allura and Kaden, it is an easy task for him to kill the beast.

He never obtained a Blessing because he never needed it. But now that he has gotten both, aside from the Gods, he was the strongest.

Not to mention the fact that he was the one who taught Allura and Kaden how to use them. Making use of these blessings was as easy as breathing for Nyer.

Before going towards the Gods, he decided to clean up the rest of the battlefield first. He knew what he must do but he needed to steel his resolve. After all, once he faced Velouria, it was the point of no return. Whether that be this memory of the reality where Alice came from.

Everything will end and a new order will begin.

###

'I got a plan, do you want to hear me out?' Alyss frowned as this would allow Alice to recover her injuries and stop Nyer but at the same time, it was risky.

'I'm all ears.'

'I'm going to change your blood and physique momentarily. It'll allow you to recover from the injuries sustained and give you some fake Sigils to work with momentarily. However, it also means that you come into contact with the most concentrated portion of our blood.' Alyss warned as Alice understood the consequences of doing so.

It was her blood that prevented the Will from changing her outline since she was akin to a second Abyss. The countless beasts merged into one that flowed through her veins.

'Not to mention, this is just a memory. There's no reason for you to go this far for thoughts that would disappear in due time.' Alyss sighed. She gave Alice the option and the warning since she understood her twin.

She understood that Alice wanted to make a difference for those that treated her well. For Allura and Kaden who guided her with care and for Velouria who helped her when she was lost.

Even though this was a memory, the help they granted her was real.

'I just need to talk to the Will. Are you able to make that happen? We don't need to think about complicated things for now.' Alice asked as her tone was strangely calm.

With Cayla, she could see what occurred between Nyer, Kaden and Allura. She also understood she couldn't stand against Nyer right now meaning the only way she could change things aside from using Alyss's suggestion was to talk to the Will.

'I mean… I have some theories that I can try. But I'm not sure.' Alyss shrugged her shoulders.

'Trying is better than giving up. Let's give it a try, do you need to take over my body?' Alice smiled, sitting up.

'For a brief moment.'

Nodding her head, Alice closed her eyes as golden chains manifested around her limbs.

Taking over, Alyss was immediately assaulted by the pain of Alice's wounds and gritted her teeth.

'Holy sh*t how the hell did twinnie keep herself composed with this.' Alyss thought to herself in shock as she took a deep breath to calm her mind.

Closing her eyes, she sensed the connection she had towards her Spiritual Heart. The countless tethers connected to her existence.

Each beast crying out in pain, seeking liberation from this mass of souls. Even for Alyss, this was horrific to look at yet this was her own soul. A soul she shared with Alice.

Within this mass, there were now the souls belonging to Abyss Lords meaning they could tap into their power whenever they wanted but that was not the goal right now.

Activating Cayla, a cluster of strands illuminated with colour as Alyss curled her lips into a grin.

'Found you.'

The time where Alice met the Will, it was at the place where she would choose her Sigil upon fulfilling her bounty. And many times in the past, it's where Cayla was as well.

So long as Alyss traces this strand of energy, she should be able to access that mental space once more.

But just navigating it wasn't enough.

Little by little, Sigils lit up on her body as Alyss bit her lip. From the edges of her fingertips, her flesh and skin began to get dyed with the same colour as Sigils.

A phenomenon that only appeared when Alice entered her Resonance state. As though dipping her hands in ink, it crawled up her arms before stopping around elbow height.

Currently, Alyss was diving deep into her Spiritual Heart in search of the connection between her, Cayla and the Abyss. And it is in this gap where she hopes to seek out the Will.

But no matter how she navigated, it wasn't enough.

Activating the crown, the marking along her neck lit up as the obsidian symbol of power manifested itself above her head.

*Ba-dum… Ba-dum… Ba-dum…

Her heartbeat rang against her ear as all three began to resonate with one another.

The broken Eyes of the Abyss, the newly fixed Crown of the Abyss and finally, the Faux Heart of the Abyss.

Little by little, she could feel a new connection taking place. A new perspective towards the Abyss, as though she's become a part of it.

She was an extension of the Abyss and the Abyss an extension of her. She could feel the fluctuation of power from each individual across the battlefield, the fulfilment of bounties deep down in the layers and the birth of new beasts.

The presence of the Old Abyss Lords, sealed in the depths of Terminus and across the different layers.

Information flowed towards her as Alyss felt as though her mind was about to burst.

Before she knew it, she was once again in the strange world where Alice had met the Will.

And before her, a blank figure stood.

This time, without a smile.

Even without eyes, Alyss could sense its gaze upon her, scanning her from head to toe. And soon, its face cracked open to reveal a frown.

Its gaze was now filled with confusion.

"What are you?"