Shadow of the Abyss

Shadow Cage

As the shadowscape of the endless night expanded, swallowing the Specter, tendrils of darkness arose, seizing the Specter in place at the exact moment the Emperor lifted his palm: Light turned to liquefied gold, transforming into a bolt of seraphic might, so blinding it ignited the world ablaze in a sea of molten gold through the Specter.

For only a half a beat did the shrieking bar of light exist, turning all it graced to vaper on its way towards the horizon, only to fade and vanish into the ether.

The Specter shuddered, with a gaping hole embedded in its head; she toppled like a house of cards to her knees as numerous cracks came into being across her emaciated face.

"Thank You," said the Specter, her voice filled with gratitude as she faded into dust.

[Specter Felled. Exp Gained]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

…

…

…

"It would seem like a counter to Necrotic Flame, but Sacred Flame is the bane of evil things," Altair said to himself, taken back by how effortless the battle became after one invocation.

"You underestimate yourself," Tasha mentioned. "What you wield isn't something created by devils or demons. But the Seraphim and Fallen of Old, creatures that predate the nexus of time. Sacred Flame is the Bane to all infernal Creatures. One touch could potentially be fatal."

A gust billowed across Altair's face as he lifted his palm. Necrotic and Sacred Flame originated from Ren, but for some reason, he couldn't quite explain; even with the Realm of Spirits, he couldn't grasp the fundamentals of these two powers. It was as if Reina's blood could shield itself from omniscience. But was such a thing possible?

He shook his head, wishing that his irresponsible Master would return to him. There were simply too many things he needed to learn. It often felt stifling to breathe.

Altair sighed, "Seina, can you use Sacred Flame?

The Malakh fiercely shook her head. "Surely not, your grace! Sacred Flame is the weapon of the Angels; how could a mere half-breed—-"

"Alright, Alright," Altair interrupted. "Enough dick riding. It's just a flame."

"Magesty," Seina said. "Sacred Flame is a skill that amplifies your magic twofold. It even works in tandem with the Almighty Attrubue. My family had records of several angels who forced themselves into the Hells in the hopes of rescuing damned souls. Sacred Flame alone allowed to incinerate most of the demons and devils that foolishly attacked them."

"She's right," Tasha added. "Sacred Flame has been so powerful for a long time we devils were defenseless against it. We had to create Bloodline Arts in the hopes of combatting its seraphic effects. As I said, Sacred Flame is the Bane of all Infernal Creatures or Evil Creatures. That is especially true if the user believes whoever he kills is evil."

Seina nodded again. "It was said when the Lion of God created Sacred Flame, it was done using the image of the One, in tandem with the Primordial of Light, Mithra."

Altair couldn't help but sigh; this was yet another thing he needed to master.

Without thinking, he began packing up his things before heading out before they were attacked once more. Altair had placed Tasha in charge of guarding him as he began toying with the Realm of Spirits and the omniscience it granted. He was growing accustomed to the sensation of being shrouded by water on all sides.

The feeling was euphoric, invoking a sense of some greater purpose in him. Altair couldn't describe it. He didn't want to. Falling into the Realm of Spirit was the highlight of his day, as with every step he took, knowledge of the Heavens branded itself into the depths of his Astral Sea.

'Rune Magic,' Altair thought, returning to himself. He shuddered slowly, growing more fascinated with the magic system that Soloman had created. It had been said that all things were created equally. A falsity Altair knew, but not without some semblance of truth, as all things were, in fact, created out of runes.

Pulling out Basics of Arcane Mastery, written by Kisler Harvac, Altair was given as a reward; Altair fell into deep deliberation, missing the days as they journeyed forward. If not for Tasha occasionally asking if they were walking in the right direction, they might have gotten lost on their way to Raven, with whom they reunited with after the third day.

"Master!" Raven mewled, leaping onto her Master's head like a spider monkey wailing. "I missed you! It's so scary out here! Everything is trying to eat me!"

"We'd all like to eat you," said Tasha, licking her lips.

"Meany!" shouted Raven, hugging her Master tighter. "Master, must we continue to travel with such a vulgar devil! Look at her! She looks hungry?"

Tearing off the spider monkey from his face, Altair dangled her out with his arm, "Raven, that was not appropriate. You can't just wrap your entire body over my head."

"Told you! He almost ate you," Tasha said in a teasing tone. "Your Master is a man, after all. He has needs."

Siena, who'd been silent, blushed, turning the other way.

Raven suddenly grew angry, flaring her cheeks. 'I can't be naked; I can't even hug Master how I want. Are there any more rules?"

Settling the brooding Raven down on her two feet, Altair patted her head. "It's called boundaries, Raven. If people saw how you reacted, they'd think you were my lover. Do you want to be my lover?"

"Raven doesn't really understand what that means."

Altair patted her head. "And that's what makes your action inappropriate. There is so much of the world you need to learn about."

"Such a shame," Tasha mewled, pinching Raven's lovable cheeks. "She so pretty not to eat up. So innocent and sexy. What a combination."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I'm going to have to buy a muzzle for you," Altair said, not expecting Tasha to blush the way she did. He nearly kicked himself. 'Tasha is a devil. A crazy one. Stop giving her ammunition.'

"Anyway!" Altair continued with emphasis. "Have you seen Morrígan?"

"Morrigan?" Raven muttered, pinching her eyes close as if to visualize her better. "Hmmm. I think I caught a glimpse of her killing a horde of zombies."

"And you didn't help her?" Tasha asked, impressed.

"Why?" Raven tilted her head, not understanding. "She didn't seem to need help. Plus, Master was calling. He's far more important than Morrigan."

"Show me," Altair commanded.

Raven nodded, morphing back into a three-eye crow as she took to the skies. Altair gave it some thought, but rather than try to create a platform of infernal lightning; his fingers danced to form the Enochian symbol of flight. The sigil ignited into starry light, which illuminated translucent wings around Altair Feet and faded after a heartbeat.

He took to the skies, propelled by a strange force that gifted him the ability of flight.

The language of the Angels all held an authority no other language held aside from infernal. All it required was the intrinsic formula Altair held within his Astral Sea to initiate. He laughed as a sense of mastery overwhelmed him.

Tasha and Seina, whose armor allowed flight, followed, somewhat taken back. It had to be known that only fifth Circles could invoke a flight spell as it required high levels of arcane mastery and skill, both of which Altair was acquiring each time he entered the Realm of Spirits. Adding Enochian lowered the amount ofManaa needed to fly.

He could maintain his levitation for about four hours due to the purity of hisManaa.

He only needed to spend an hour following Raven to spot Morrigan locked in battle. Alone, surrounded by undead, she stood over a mountain of corpses and bones. Her blade was dancing, whirling to and from various undead, tearing them asunder as they entered her domain of ten meters.

"She's a monster," Altair said, noticing Raven land on his shoulder, pointing her wing at Morrigan.

"I found her!"

"As a special gift, I shall award you some corn from Genisis. I hear they have the best form of produce due to all genetic engineering."

Raven batted her wings happily, crowing loudly, loud enough for Morrigan to take note of their existence.

Altair waved, soaring down towards her, projecting a barrier as a few skeleton archers nocked their bows.

"Need help?"

"Hardly," Morrigan said, rolling her eyes as her blade moved in tandem to her will. " I was just level grinding. I rather loathe this system's dynamic that forces you to kill to get stronger. It's too slow for me."

Altair smiled, lifting his palm as a golden flame arose along the center of his hand.

[Ding]

[Sacred Flame has weakened all undead within the Light of Sacred Flame by 60%]

[Sacred Flame has Weakened all Devils by 50%]

[Sacred Flame has weakened Royal Devil by 10%]

"That….That's ridiculous!" Altair said, turning to Tasha, forcing a smile at him.

"I told you. Sacred Flame is the Bane of all Infernal Creatures. And the stronger your soul is, the stronger it'll become," Tasha explained, staring at the flame that sought to turn her into cinders.