Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 38: Infernal Bane II

Through the darkness, the sct of copper spilled into the air, staining it with its metallic aroma. The stch was pungt, caring a harsh ssation welcomed by death.

Altair stared at the bodies before him with unfeely eyes. Their faces, unaware of his blade sinking through their flesh like hot butter. It had be easy. And it was growing easier with each swing of his sword. As was the chime of his system that sounded with each kill.

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

"This makes… Eight." He counted to himself, taking his leave without another thought as he moved with the shadows. Finding comfort in the darkness, Altair stepped into the hall. His footsteps were so light that the motion ssors could not perceive his existce. He was focused, like a beast bearing down on its prey.

From room to room, blood followed the Prince's blade till his face was painted red, and his eyes glinted a scarlet hue.

'Was this what it meant to be King?' he pondered. Seemingly questioning the value of life that made little to no sse at the d of his blade. 'Or is being a King the only way to stop meaningless death?'

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[Mana Circle Proficicy Increase by %]

Stepping out to the hall, he glanced to his left to a stranger wielding a dagger in his hand. His expression was cold as the very dagger he held poised for action. The stranger bore a distinctive burn mark over his eye, wet with tears.

"You bastard!" Cal barked. " You fucking bastard!"

Altair turned to him, keeping his grimoire hidd within his tunic. He wiped the blood-drched over his lips. "Fourte. You'll make fourte." And his eyes swayed to his rear as he dipped to a single knee as silvery light whipped past his head. " You'll make fifte." Altair coldly said to Kirr.

'How!" Kirr howled in his mind as his scimitar slashed towards the Princes again. Sparks flared to life as he parred, using Kirr's weight to fuel his own. Altair smiled as he was thrust to Cal.

"Shit!"

Cal rushed forward, wanting to catch the Prince. Before he landed, greed flashed over Cal's scarred face as he laughed wildly." GOT YOU!!!" He roared, lifting his sword to split the Prince in half.

Altair grinned mid-flight wh, all of a sudd, the darkness sprang beath the unsuspecting Cal's feet.

'Shadow Cage,' said the Prince, as Tdrils of Darkness whispered out of the fog beath Cal, searing him where he stood. Altair slashed his blade over his chest, feeling his bones howl.

Blood painted the g as Altair cursed, stopping using the momtum of his sword against Cal's chest. " Shit. Too shallow." he scrunched his brow, looking up at the beastal eyes of his emy, carrying a dreadful mana.

The hairs on the Prince's neck rose as he dared not stop moving as Kirr chased after him. Using Cal's body that was still in range. Altair lunged behind him, releasing his spell.

Suddly free of Altair's spell, rage overflowed through Cal's mind as his body grew in size like that of a grizzled bear. He twisted his large figure, ignoring Kirr, wh a blatant aura of Mana gathered, stirring everyone's prest sses.

'Erupting Fist,' Painting the hall in yellow Mana, a shockwave wailed betwe Altair and Kirr, skidding them over the g like two brok dolls.

Altair felt his bones shake and his eyes daze as the tremors raced through the halls. His skin cracked and blistered as he looked up with a dazed expression. Witnessing Cal station above him. Instincts howled as the familiar earthy yellow aura swarmed the room.

"WE NEED HIM ALIVE!!!!" Howled Kirr desperately, kicking himself up.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!~

Debris propelled itself through halls like a raging storm, blinding everyone in a storm of dust.

Cal stood froz as tdrils of darkness once again held him in place from the momt his fist was about to land over the Prince, pausing his attack to the very momt Altair had kicked himself away. Cal quickly found himself free yet again but could not stop himself.

The momt his attack landed against the marble floor, tdrils of darkness sprang into action, sealing his every movemt and sight. Wh Endyian, carrying a violet-black aura, whipped over his neck.

Recalling how hard his skin was. Altair didn't stop with a single slash. He gored himself in a downpour of blood. In a matter of seconds, he had struck more than twelve times, severing Cal's head.

[Cal, Aros Slaver Felled. Exp Gained]

[+ Madness]

[You've pushed past the Mortal Limits. + Con]

[Animal Instincts Proficicy Increase by 0%]

Mana Circle Proficicy Increase by 5%]

"Monster!" Kirr barked as the dust settled. He stared at his second in command on one knee, his headless body before a young child. "WHY! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!! We were not—"

"You were not what?" Altair heard himself say, finding Cal's headless body position in a rather amusing standing. It felt right he stood without a head before him on both his knees. He could feel the downpour of Mana whirling through his body and mind like an untamed storm. Something he was sure only happed wh he fought. "Were you not going to rape my frid? Your m sounded like you—"

"You are an elite of the Aros Estate! We would never!" Shouted Kirr. " We were asked to deliver you back to the—"

Altair shook his head. "It doesn't matter now after seeing this living hell. You're sick. All of you. This tire family are all sick bastards."

"And what the hell would a t-year-old know? What do you know of the cruelty of this world." Kirr shouted. 'The people you killed. All of them were my brothers! All of them were born here. What the hell do you know?

You know nothing. What damn right do you have to judge?"

'Is that how grown m are allowed to stay here?' Altair pondered only to shake his head. It wasn't the time to embellish in theory.

"Right, you say?" He continued as the Mana rampaging through his Mana roots fluttered out of him.

[Mana Circle Proficicy Increase by %]

[Mana Circle Proficicy Increase by %]

Anger twisted his refine features in a cloud of anger. "RIGHT!!! DOES THIS LOOK RIGHT!!!"

[DING]

[Mana Circle is Full]

[Your 'Mana' has Increased by 5]

[DING]

[Heart of Darkness pulses]

Cold violet-black Mana stormed off the young Prince as his eyes shimmered a scarlet pigmt. Seemingly stained by the blood pooling down his cheeks. Bloodlust emanated from his young eyes. The Mana radiated off his body, twisting into a raging pillar of raw ergy, devouring all the Mana in the local region.

Suddly, the Pillar of Violet Black Mana twisted, curling into a circle that stood like a throne behind the Prince's back.

"Impossible… Impossible! You wer't a first-tier warrior!" Cried Kirr, pointing at the complete circle.

[New Skills Aquired]

[Insight (C) Aquired]

[Heart of Darkness stirs]

[Insight is beginning to be Tarnished]

[DING]

[Your 'Wisdom' has Increased by 5]

[Your 'Charisma' has Increased by 5]