Shadow of the Abyss

"You asshole!"

The black knight's voice was exceptionally cold, laced with a scorn that was hard to miss. Greatsword in hand, she pointed it at Altair, making herself big.

"Who the bloody hell are you?"

Altair was stunned. Surrounded by destruction, the Black Knight appeared untouched, her Armor without the slightest hint of damage or scratch.

'Did she really tank a Fourth Circle Spell?' he wondered, finding a smile. He said, "Well, I'd be happy to give my name if I Had your word; you'd give me yours."

The black knight nodded.

"My name Is Altair Blackwood," he said, adding, 'Snow' deep in his heart. "What's yours?"

She snorted. "I'm under no obligation to tell you."

Altair's expression grew poised and cold. The notion of comradery of a potential ally trickled through his fingers like rainwater. He didn't respond, signaling to Therion to follow as he left.

"Wait!"

Therion barred her second step forward with a stare that had her taking six paces back. He sneered, following after his Master.

Beneath her mask, the Black Knight bit her lip. She clenched her chest, feeling her heartbeat thumping so loudly against her ribs that she wondered if it was audible. She hesitated and took a step forward to follow.

Altair felt like a fool. He could almost imagine his father laughing at him. It was his mistake. He realized that. He should have kept the regal air he'd always maintained. He couldn't afford to show weakness.

"Shall I find more Skeleton Knights, Majesty, "Therion asked.

Altair did not immediately answer. He looked up at the skies, sensing night approach, which seemed almost impossible, for no star seemed to touch the skies. Even the sun he'd seen hours ago felt like a dying one without a kindle. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to absorb the Mana he'd exerted to its final drop before the words came to him.

"Remain by my side. The day is about to end soon. And I'm curious about what that level of exhaustion entails."

"As you say, Majesty," Therion said. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words failed him. He bowed his head and followed.

'He's shy,' Altair noted. 'I guess all newborns are shy in their own right. Still, if he is to be my messenger, he'll need some confidence.' And he said, " Lift your head, Therion, and speak."

Therion flinched. "I… I am curious why you are allowing that lesser being to follow us."

Royal fury threatened to shatter the calm air the Emperor projected. "I allow it because there'll always be some rat clinging to my shadow. If not her, then it'll be someone else. There is no benefit in killing her."

"Isn't the experience enough?"

The Emperor grinned. "It's as you say. But I don't base my way of life around the system. If I did, it would control me. If experience were all that mattered, I would kill everyone on Terra."

"You could kill everyone outside Terra."

"In time, Therion. In time."

***

As the new day approached, Altair suddenly felt an uncomparable pang emanate from his stomach. The sensation alarmed him. He'd wanted to fight it with ashen blood but held out, unsure if this was something he could fight. But the longer he stood beneath the night, Altair suddenly felt a strange weakness overwhelm him.

[You Have Experience One Level of Exhaustion]

[Your Muscles Have Begun To Atrophy]

[10% Of All Attributes Have Been Temporarily Lost]

"What a strange effect," Altair muttered, glancing back at Therion, tilting his head with a questioning look.

"Magesty?"

"You weren't alerted?" Altair asked.

"Alerted to what?"

'So it doesn't affect my Shadows. Is it because they are considered dead by the system?' Altair asked himself, playing with a strand of hair. A habit born out of stress every time Aurora brought a stack of documents to his table. He looked back at the Black Knight following at a distance.

She was staring at her shaking palms, apparently affected.

Altair didn't attempt to consume anything he held in the Ring but instead sauntered forward at a quicker pace. He was curious how far the laws of this Realm could affect him. A theory was almost coalesced in the furthest reaches of his mind as he pushed his way forward.

By the third day, sweat slithered down his brow onto his formal attire as he pushed forward one step at a time. Each step appeared as if they were weighted by some unseen mass standing on his shoulder. He forced himself forward.

The black knight followed though she was doing a lot better than Altair, having carried a few rations enough to last a week. She had never had to worry about food since her Armor filtered the Mana into substance, ensuring she'd never have to eat as long as she wore the Armor. She only kept around some rations due to missing the taste of food.

[60% Of All Attributes Have Been Temporarily Lost]

[You Shall Experience Psychosis]

[Psionic Mind has made you immune to Psychosis]

Altair forced a smile but did not delay his steps, occasionally peering through the Spirit Realm to glimpse omniscience. He was thankful for the fourth ability he'd gained from his Aura, Psionic Mind, but was a bit mindful of the lack of description it held.

[Sword of the Abyss (SSS)]

Type: Abyssal Aura

Effect 1: All proficiency increases by 2x.

Effect 2: Will of the Abyss

Effect 3: Ashen Blood

Effect 4: Psionic Mind

Effect 5: Sealed

Effect 6: Sealed

Effect 7: Sealed

Effect 8: Sealed

Effect 9: Sealed

Description: Broken is the King, who stands before the Abyssal Night. Through Despair, the Sword of the Abyss shall appear.

Fallen Moon Imperfection

Type: Vale Physique

Effect 1: Almighty Resistance

Effect 2: Vale Qi

Effect 3: Valemorph

Effect 4: Rebirth [Semi-sealed]

Effect 5: Sealed

Effect 6: Sealed

Effect 7: Sealed

Effect 8: Sealed

Effect 9: Sealed

It was the same for the Rebirth ability he'd gained from Fallen Moon Imperfection. He didn't quite understand what it entailed. Did it require him to die to use it, or was it more versatile than simple death? He'd wondered for three days, but no answer came to him.

'Perhaps my Authority isn't high enough.' Altair told himself, finding a smile. Still, he wasn't so inclined to perish merely to test a skill, especially since he hadn't fully formed his Fourth Vale Star. "But I will soon once Tasha appears. I will. Perhaps not just my fourth but fifth and possibly Sixth Vale Star.'

He could already imagine the anger she was currently feeling. He had, after all, promised to have her on the third floor. The thought sent into a state of elation as he continued, deciding to pull out a blood bag after the fourth day when the system message emerged.

[Your Mana Has Been Sealed]

[90% Of All Attributes Have Been Temporarily Lost]

[You Will Experienced Major Psychosis]

[Psionic Mind has made you immune to Psychosis]

Altair exploded in laughter. Not only had his Mana not been sealed, but the world laws and the secondary effect held no dominion over him. He felt free. Unbounded the heavens that once bounded him.

Sinking his fangs into the blood bag of his Saintess, he was all smiles as he felt a strength return to him.

[One Level of Exhaustion Removed]

Summoning a single Vale Star, Altair channeled Vale Qi into it, feeling the almighty attribute lash itself onto his Mana.

[The Attributes of Almighty has now been infused in all Magic]

[Mana consumption has been divided]

Channeling Ashen Blood through his body, Altair suddenly felt a wave of warmth smoothing the atrophying muscles. In a blinding moment, the world laws that worked against him receded, allowing him to become whole.

[All Levels of Exhaustion have been Removed]

[Dungeon Master gasps at what you've done]

[Dungeon Master is requesting fair judgment before the Upper Moons and Tower Masters]

"What type of bullshit is that!" Altair snapped, glaring at the heavens. "It's my ability! It's not my fault I can't be sealed."

[Dungeon Master has chosen silence]

Altair tsked, "Whatever," he said, continuing on his way, dismissing the Vale Star. He took off at a speed that left anyone watching curious to know if he was at the peak of the Fourth Circle.

"Master… there is movement up ahead," Therion said, "Shall I exterminate them?"

Altair glanced a few miles ahead, using the eye of sacrilege to push past any limitation his perception held to a small army of humanoids gathered together, distributing food, slabs of red meat that was eaten raw, and weapons.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I can't be the only one that thinks cooked food is the best."

Therion lifted a brow. "Didn't His Majesty just devour a blood bag? Isn't that raw?"

"Hmmm. Didn't think about it like that…. But that's different, I think." Approaching the group, Altair paused, noticing a group of spearmen lifting their spears in reaction to his sudden appearance.

"Who are you!" Shouted a very gaunt spearman.

Guarded eyes locked onto him as a voice reached out from the crowd. "Master! Master! Is that you!" Tasha waved, pushing her way out of the crowd with a faint blush. She hurried on over to his side, nearly tumbling into his arms, and whispered, "These people are insane. It's kinda fun."