Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 268: Cambion II

As the Cambion loomed before Altair, its grotesque form covered in throbbing boils, Syris felt her essence intertwining with the winds. She became one with the gentle breeze, as light as a feather and as soft as a blade of grass.

With the agility of a ghost, Syris moved, her form blurring as she traversed the battlefield like a wind sprite, silent as a shadow. Her silver dagger, a symbol of her fury, was far from gentle. Embers danced in the wind, igniting the air to flames as Syris attacked, her blade slicing through nothing but air.

She missed. Her eyes followed the agile creature that had somehow evaded her surprise attack. Unable to sense a domain, it was baffling how the Cambion had not only detected her but also dodged so swiftly.

Still, as the Cambion somersaulted to dodge, its gnarled arm reached toward Syris. When Hilda's Battle Axe she'd hurled struck like a battering ram itself across the Demon's shoulder, tearing the infernal creature from out of the air through the earth like a rag doll.

Syris tossed her silvery hair over her shoulder, darting Altair a look, her stunning features nearly blinding. "Lightning!"

Altair, who'd immediately understood, didn't hesitate to shoot Syris a bolt of his Infernal Lightning from his fingertips in a blinding array of electromagnetism, twisting into something sickly. It stuck against Syris Dagger. She knew this lightning well. Had seen it so much, Syris did not need to properly study it to condense the light into the deepest reaches of her bones.

As if her bones were now producing Infernal Lightning rather than blood, arcs of burning hot light rippled, sprawling across her body like a goddess bathing in the rain of the Hells. The clouds across the azure heavens split, torn asunder by the sheer radiance of her divine being; as she took off in that instance, the abomination lifted its gnarled head.

She blurred a step too late as Altair arrived first with Sovereign Gale, which appeared much like teleportation. He was before the creature could blink, his eyes measuring the lack of damage Hilda's Ax had caused. He wasn't surprised. Cambeions were infernal creatures. The level of destruction necessary to harm them was magnitudes higher than what most mortal minds could grasp.

But without much care, his fingertips gently touch the creature's burning hot chest, seething with the inner flames of the Nine Hells. He ignored the uncomfortability of that heat. And he invoked, in a cruel whisper.

"Enma"

Like an imploded neutron star inverting on itself, infernal flesh tore asunder, spiraling in a vortex of blood and gore as a beam of raw, deathly energy shrieked through bones, flesh, and organs, turning whatever it touched to liquid bile. From the Cambions chest, then back, the beam split apart the mountain, slaughtering a path through the forest.

Syris struck, her dagger weaving through space like starlight, meeting flesh this time.

'Omnis Mortis, ' she whispered, arriving behind the Cambion. The Empyrean Technique of her Father, The God of Wisdom, Solomon, had molded into being when he first set eyes upon the Angel of Death, Azazel.

For six million years, he stared at the abyss, enthralled by the one to wield Primal Death. The blade that reaped the souls of Gods, Demons, and Fallen alike bore itself from death.

Besieging life from Death, daring sword light so fleeting and dangerous spiraled across the ether, assimilating the forest to sand, then dust, and finally nothingness. For nearly a hundred miles, all life ceased with the annihilation energy reeling through space.

"Holy Shit!" Altair shouted, invoking a barrier to protect himself from the destructive backlash whirling him off his feet as winds stirred, quivering, turning to howls, snapping the trees it caught hundreds of miles away like twigs. It reeled from north to south and from east to west, congealing into a whirlwind of death.

Infernal Lightning lashed itself across space as Altair held onto it, trying not to be pulled away by the winds. His eye locked on the Demon staggering back. He could feel its life fading. The wound that Altair inflicted mended at a visible rate, but the strange technique Syris used seemed to linger across the creature's throat.

It didn't appear deep, yet the level of destruction expressed something other than the physical body had been cut.

The Cambion staggered a few more feet, the mending wound inflicted by Enma slowing before it stopped completely, finally allowing blood to spew from out the cavity.

'What type of Technique was that?' Altair wondered, startled when he saw the Cambion leap into the air and grab at him.

Life was slipping through the Demon's naked body at a visible rate. The Cambion was withering; by the time it reached Altair, its entire being was emaciated beyond recognition.

The artery of Infernal Lighting dissipated, leaving Altair to plummet downwards, barely weaving past the creature's touch. The Demon was indeed mindless. Acting on what was before him rather than attempting to flee.

He wondered what type of torment such a creature experienced for it to become as such. He pushed such useless thoughts from his mind as he flipped through the air, landing on his feet like a nimble cat pivoting backward in retreat. The Demon landed, wanting to follow, only to fall to a knee and moan.

Its emaciated flesh writhing against disfigured bones.

Altair narrowed his eyes, breathing a breath that allowed the tense nerves to fade. "This thing is still alive. How?"

Zagreus approached, too lazy to have hidden himself. Not after the way Altair and Syris bullied the Demon. He had been sure the gods watching had been so taken back they were gawking. If not, throwing a fit.

Few creatures in the Myriad Heavens could combat a demon, even if they were half-bloods. To do it so effectively had left the son of Hades breathless.

Syris rounded to her mate's elbow, surprised the creature was still alive. It was her first time using Omnis Mortis, and despite its poor execution, in her opinion, the Demon should have been felled.

She tilted her head. "I'd heard Demons were immortal. Does that include Half-Bloods?"

Altair didn't know. Reina's blood was silent. He shrugged, opening his hand for Talia to place Endymion into his palm. When she did, he approached, glancing down at the dying creature, too weak to even kneel, slumping over the ground like a moribund pest.

He jammed Endymion into its skull, applying a sliver of Vale Qi across its edge for good measure. He wondered if the Vale, the final resting place of all that lived, could circumvent even True Immortality. He didn't wait long to see the stillness sweep across the Demon's body.

[True Immortal, Cambion Felled. Exp Gained]

[Bonus Exp Gained]

Ding!

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[True Immortal Being Felled. Error]

As the Prince felt the sudden warmth coursing through his veins, he was filled with a renewed sense of vitality. The energy seemed to weave its way through every fiber of his being, invigorating his body and sharpening his mind. He shuddered, sensing an unattainable peak being achieved.

He grinned, allowing a stream of Mana to seamlessly flow from his nostrils.

[Soul of Cambion Aquired]

Altair's smile deepened. "This battle was far easier than I imagined."

Zag's gaze swept the surroundings of the barren earth. "It's not over yet." he slid his sword from out its scabbard, pivoting back, snatching Syris by the collar with him, as a gnarled arm came from the earth, where he'd been.

Altair was stunned before he chuckled, recognizing the arm. "I guess one Cambion wasn't enough," he said, his voice derisive. And watched as the Demon pulled itself from the earth, its grotesque frame bellowing a cry. He chuckled and shouted. "We're running! I got what I wanted!"

"Eh!" Zag looked at him peculiarly. "They're faster than us."

"And? But there, stupid. Let's make a game about it," he said, Valemorphing into the elemental nature of light, arriving by Syris before she could even perceive what happened. He took her into his arms and leaped up into the air, hovering in the skies like a god before he lashed out a string of lightning to stand upon.

The drain of Valemorph for him to maintain a constant state of light was still too much on his reserves.

"Let's see who gets to the finish line first." Altair glanced at his Maids. "Don't die." He said, tossing Endymion down to Talia, who hurried to catch it.

Moaning, "Master," She glared up at her Master, feeling wronged. "I wanna ride, too!"

"Altair, you bastard! Don't just leave us with this Demon!" Zagrues shouted, leaping back as the Demon flashed at blinding speed towards him.

But Altair only whistled at Zag's swiftness. Although he was physically stronger, Zag's movement still showed a difference in skill. He glanced at Vaiga, sending a command to protect them before he vaulted off with Syris in his arms, laughing quite evilly.

"Don't die!"

"ALTAIR!!!!" Zag howled. But his shout fell on deaf ears.

Syris snickered, puffing her cheeks. "You just abandoned your comrade."

"Correction, my lovely Syris. I handed off the responsibility while I, the Master, and I went ahead to achieve our real goal," he explained before his smile slightly faded. "Plus… I didn't really have a choice."

Syris blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight before her. She gazed towards the southern horizon and saw a vast swarm of Cambions, their silhouettes darkening the sky. As they drew closer, Syris could make out their twisted, demonic features, their eyes burning with an otherworldly rage. The sound of their pounding footsteps echoed across the land, and Syris felt her heart pounding in her chest.

It was as though a pack of wolves was closing in on her, and she could feel her body tensing up in preparation for the fight to come.

"Fuck me!" She muttered.

"It's why I brought you with me! Hehe!"