Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 327: Crystallisation Of Myth

Pushing her palm to the side, she managed to divert the path of Solaris's spear, causing it to miss.

Twisting her body, shadows stretched out from beneath her before jumping up to form a barrier, blocking Lumiria's attack.

However, Enris managed to sneak through the sudden burst of attacks and appear in front of Velouria. Twisting her body, chains and rusted blades exploded from the ground in an attempt to restrain Velouria.

Quickly jumping back, Velouria managed to dodge and clasped her hands together.

Divinity burst forth from her body as the Abyss screamed out in anger. Eyes manifested around her as a flood of energy crashed down from above.

Howls of beasts and blood poured from the realm while Solaris conjured a shield and slammed it on the ground.

*BANG!!!

A golden dome manifested around the three Gods while Velouria took this moment to catch her breath.

The progression of the Will's influence tore through her body as she could feel herself losing more of her power with each passing second.

To begin with, she wasn't a great fighter. Her power against the other Gods was merely exerted through brute force. The power granted by the Will and the Abyss allowed her to suppress the other Gods even if she couldn't fight.

But she was slowly losing her advantage.

'I can't let it continue like this.' Velouria groaned as she closed her eyes.

A God has five powers available to them. First, the power of their Blessings or the Divinity they rule over.

Velouria with Severance and Corruption. Enris with War and Famine. Solaris with Protection and Preservation and finally, Lumiria with Immortality and Spirituality.

Whatever power they grant to their followers, they are able to use as well.

Of course, a God can manifest more blessings if they wish to create more Apostles but doing so causes them to lose more personal power, making it dangerous when facing other Gods.

The reason why Gods stick with two Apostles no matter the time frame was because the difference between no Apostles and two Apostles was negligible and at that stage, having two Apostles help you look after your domain was better than none.

Naturally, having Apostles also creates weaknesses for the Gods which is why Allura diverted some of her attention in stopping the other Gods from locating Allura and Kaden.

Using her Divinity over the Abyss, she had restricted the sensory abilities of the Gods and Apostles.

The second ability granted to a God was their Divine Realm. Similar to the Second Resonances of Hunters, it's a domain that allows them to exert their power to the fullest. A realm where they can use their Divinity to its full extent, even ignoring the rules of the current realm they are in.

For Solaris, this means being able to summon the Sun in the Abyss of perpetual darkness where only the light of the stars and the false moon can exist.

And for the third ability, a manifestation of their legend/myth. On top of gaining followers, each God must have achievements that can be condensed into a myth. And from this myth, they gain abilities.

Legends were actions seen by their followers, Myths are stories told in their name. It is also from these stories that the Gods are able to bestow relics of immense power.

Solaris was said to have created a sun. With a single spear toss, he pierced the night veil and created a hole leading to a realm of light. Capturing that infinite light into a single orb, it is now known as the Sun.

The Myth of Solaris the Night Piercer.

Lumiria was said to have birthed Spirits and ghosts to pray for those departed, allowing them to settle old grudges or bid farewell to loved ones.

The Myth of Lumiria, Mother of Spirits.

Enris granted humans the feeling of violence and conflict. With every war, you sing her name. With every battle, you praise her being.

The Myth of Enris, Progenitor of Wrath.

Velouria didn't have a Myth. Unlike the Gods of the Surface, she wasn't born a God. All she had was Legends, actions that her followers have seen which then crystallised into her power.

In the eyes of those in the Abyss, she represented Hope. For those of the surface, she represented the gatekeeper of this infinite darkness and wellspring of power.

When the Abyss and Surface first linked their borders with one another, Velouria held back the army of beasts. With each flick of her finger, she governed this realm and created a holy sanctuary known as the Holy City of Ayr.

But therein lies the issue between Myth and Legend. Legends are events beholden to the eyes of the observer. Stories are concepts passed on from person to person. An exaggeration of their achievements that grant the God a further boost in power.

"Manifestation!" Solaris shouted out as his veins bulged. From his hand, an orb of pure light appeared before transforming into a radiant spear.

[Night Breaker Spear – Crystallisation of Myth]

Holding his breath, Solaris released a loud roar before throwing the weapon.

*BANG!!!!!

Widening her eyes, Velouria had a split moment to react.

"Manifestation!" Slamming her hands down, golden energy threaded together to form a pristine wall with the illusion of a city behind her.

[Abyssal Sanctuary: Ayr – Crystallisation of Legend]

*CRACK!!! BANG!!!

As the radiant spear collided with the illusionary wall of Ayr, cracks formed across the surface as Velouria was pushed back. And soon after, it was shattered apart!

The Night Breaker Spear, a spear that can only be thrown once with the power to create the Sun. One of Solaris's trump cards yet the trust and belief Velouria's citizens have in her allowed her Legend to block this spear long enough for her to get to safety.

"Tsk!" Clicking his tongue, Solaris gritted his teeth as his right arm was steaming from throwing the spear. For a brief period, he was unable to use his right arm to attack. For the duration of this fight, he was unable to bring out the Night Breaker Spear.

"Get her!" He shouted as Lumiria sighed and snapped her finger.

"Manifestation."

[Dream of a Distant Paradise – Crystallisation of Myth]

Dew drops gathered on her fingertips as they dripped to the ground. As though colliding with the surface of a lake, ripples expanded across the battlefield. In an instant, it seemed like they were standing above a mirror.

One side stood the living, the other stood the dead.

Velouria could feel a foreign energy trying to take over, her hand began to wither as she was forcefully being pushed to the realm of the dead.

Gritting her teeth, Velouria bit down on her left hand as blood began to flow from her wound.

While this was not her Legend or Myth, it was an extension of the Abyss. If she wanted to tap into its power, she'd need to synchronise herself with her connection to the Will. It had its drawbacks but she couldn't be picky right now otherwise Lumiria would send her to the afterlife!

"Manifestation!" Velouria shouted out as a swirl of blood exploded from her wound, surging towards the withered hand.

[Blood Ambrosia of the Abyss – Crystallisation of Myth]

Her wounds healed up in an instant as she was brought back to the living. The grips of the deceased couldn't hold her as Velouria conjured a blade made from shadows.

Twisting her body, she activated the Blessing of Severance and slashed towards Lumiria but her slash was blocked by Solaris who diverted it using the Blessing of Protection.

"Enris! Stop watching!" Solaris shouted out. Even though Velouria was weakened, her Blessing of Severance wasn't something that could be diverted or blocked easily. It boasted the power to severe anything and everything including divinity which is why he needed to be careful.

"I know I know~ I'm just seeing which one suited this the best." Enris laughed as she had many myths surrounding her.

Myths of immortality that so long as war and famine exist, she will manifest. Myths of how she orchestrated the downfall of Empires. However, none of these Myths had the power to kill Velouria right now.

But if she had to pick one, it would be the Myth regarding one of the most brutal wars known to the surface.

"Ah~ This'll be perfect." Enris curled her lips into a grin as she clasped her hands together.

"Manifestation~"

[Bloodbath of a Thousand Nights – Crystallization of Myth]

The Bloodbath of a Thousand Nights, a war between the Cult of the Eclipse and every faction that existed on the surface. A lawless battle that stretched on for a thousand nights, coronating the birth of the new order belonging to Enris.

Countless killed in the name of the Eclipse. Sacrificing anything and everything from people, children to even animals. A slaughter that knows no bounds.

But Enris wasn't done.

Her favourite weapon wasn't a relic that could be summoned. No, it was a follow up to the crystallization of this particular myth and the product of a God's fourth ability.

The ability to create holy relics!

[Cleaver of Endless Slaughter – Holy Relic]

In her hands, she held a large cleaver bigger than her own body. The long handle was wrapped in chains and dried blood. The blade itself was filled with scars and jagged edges.

The material was clearly metal yet there were glowing red veins along the face of the blade that pulsed with life. With each passing moment, blood oozed from the metal with no clear source.

Crouching down, Enris let out a maniacal laugh and lunged towards Velouria as she hacked away at anything that stood in her way!

No matter what defences Velouria threw at Enris, she couldn't stop her advance and soon, the two of them came face to face.

"Bye bye~ It's been fun Veli."

But before her attack could land, a blood mirror appeared beside them.

Executioner's Blade!