Shadow of the Abyss

Altair eyed the black heart in his hand with fixation, having carved it from out of the Chimera. It was as big as his head, charred black by poison.

"Was it necessary to leave her alive?" Reina questioned from on top of his back. She comfortably rested her head over his hair, twirling it through her fingers bored ."Won't she come after us if we leave her alive?"

"I hope she does." He devilishly answered. "I killed her entire squad, tortured her, and left her for dead. Would you be sane after that?" Reina nudged his head silently. "She'll be driven mad, becoming our shield."

"Huh?"

The Prince chuckled knowingly. " Just like how the Chimera was feasting on itself. I want Tania to be just as mad. When she wakes, her mind will be flustered by what I've done and what's happened to her. The Aros family will call her back. And if I've done my job right.

She'll refuse. Tania will go rogue. And her life mission will be killing us."

"So when the Aros sends more people in…" Reina said, realizing his cruel plan. " She'll kill them, thinking only she has the right to kill you… That… That is—"

"Madness? What a scary ailment." He teased, chuckling. " Yeah. But even if I'm wrong. And Tania isn't driven mad. She'll be forced to return to the Aros Estate.

Either way, we win. By the time we return to the Aros Estate, we'll be stronger than her. So it doesn't matter."

Reina tightened her arms around the Prince's neck, unsure what to say. What he'd done was cruel, so much so she couldn't understand what she was feeling.

That night, beneath the endless stars glistering, Reina did not sleep despite being weakened by Infernal Rage. From the day she awoke from within the Factory, she'd felt something off about Altair. From the way he smiled to the way he spoke. It all made her skin crawl as if everything he said and did was a lie.

She turned beneath her blanket, warmed by the crackled of the fire, to the young man half naked beneath the snow, whisking his sword through the snowfall. Moonlight glistered off his sword in an enigma of light, wrapped in a fine sheen of sweat. Her heart quickened, transfixed by the grace in which he moved, by the sheer focus held within each sword stroke that carried the temperament of a serpent.

She could see his half smile, sharp as the blade that he carried. His eyes were cold as a frozen lake, carrying a depth. A level of insight that seemed to transcend her imagination.

It frightened her. He frightened her, but as for why… she did not know.

Altair had been lost in thoughts of desperation. 'Power' held itself fast within his mind with each swing of his sword. He had learned much today. From the scheme in which he employed to the torment he inflicted. It had been so easy for him. Requiring nothing but the use of his mind.

But he wasn't in the least bit satisfied.

Images flickered through his mind of Tania to the sensation his blade carried through her flesh. It had felt as though he was cutting through raw meat. But the screams had made it seem so surreal. It didn't sicken him as he thought it might. From the moment he took his first life, Altair hadn't felt anything. And what he'd done didn't change anything.

'Was I human?' He'd often asked himself, a bitterness tracing his heart at the useless thought. 'What does it matter if I am not human? Father alluded I needed to be a demon to succeed. A monster. Luna said I needed to smile. And mother… Mother said I needed to be a king.'

His blade stopped through the air, smoldering an intense heat. He laughed, unable to grasp who he even was anymore.

'Am I a serpent? A human. A God. A King. A Demon. A Devil?

A Monster?' Thoughts spiraling out of control, the Prince looked up towards the skies of the Serpent Outreach to the endless cluster of stars sprawled about like a fine mist.

He laughed beneath the snow melting against his burning face, lost. His eyes dimmed, losing their vibrant luster. And for the first time, Altair did not feel like a kid anymore. His chest felt heavy, and his heart ached. Unknowingly, tears gathered in his eyes, shrieking down his face onto his bare chest. He fell to his knee, wanting to ball, wanting to scream… yet only a wild untamed laughter echoed.

Altair smiled at Heaven and Earth, finding it was all he could do in his endless sea of misery.

[Divine Sin, Daddy acknowledges your despair.]

[Divine Being, 'PIercing Owl' traces her finger over your mirrored image.]

[Divine Being, 'Fallen Titin' sighs at the familiar pain.]

The snow billowed over the land, over the silent Prince, penetrating his bones, leaving only numbness and despair. The Prince lay there, finding nothing to hold onto. He closed his eyes. And when he opened them, the panic had vanished, leaving a calm that shook the young girl watching. He stood up, eyes a profound abyss of despair and resolve.

[Ding]

[Path of the Sword Detected:]

[Sword of Ice]

[Sword of Darkness]

[Sword of the King]

[Sword of the Abyss]

[Sword of Shadows]

The Prince stared aimlessly a the virtual screen. He had no idea what any of this meant. They were merely words that held no meaning. Yet his fingers moved within a state of known that reached deep into his subconscious. Finding an answer for him as it had done so many times over.

[Sword of the Abyss Selected]

[Blood of the Abyss detected]

[Shared Blood Between Myriad and Abyss detected.]

[The Path of the Abyss is open to Altair]

"More Words without meaning.' The Prince said dryly, a regal disdain on the tip of his tongue.

[DING]

[Sword of the Abyss (SSS)]

Type: Abyssal Aura

Effect 1: All proficiency increases by 2x.

Effect 2: Sealed

Effect 3: Sealed

Effect 4: Sealed

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.

[Ding]

[Swordsmanship (F) Learned]

[Swordsmanship (F) —> Grave of Night (F) ]

When, at last, the morning came, Altair unknowingly returned to himself in a sweat so cold goosebumps prickled his ashen skin. He shuddered, nearly jolting out of the snow covering him like a snowman.

Snot dripped from his nose as he crawled to the fire, glimpsing the smiling maiden. Luna pinched his cheek. " I see you awoke an aura. How is it?"

"How do you keep appearing and disappearing like that?" the Prince moaned as he tarred out his flesh by the fire, trembling.

Luna giggled, pulling out some furs out of thin air. She wrapped him, allowing the boy to resemble a burrito. "You didn't miss me?"

"Big Sis." the boy moaned, releasing a sneeze. He shot up, snot back into his nose, and huddled closer to the flame.

"Well?" Luna said with anticipation. "Do you like your Aura? Which one did you pick? Your Father hid the details from me. What grade is it? No, wait, how many effects do you have?

Five? Four?"

Altair tilted his head, glancing at his stats. He frowned. " Five? Is that a lot?" He asked, playing along.

"According to the new gods, yes," Luna said, grinning sheepishly. She pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes gleaming with an unbeknownst seductive light. "That's the mark of a supreme genius during this era. Although…" and her eyes narrowed. "Although, I've seen a few that carry six effects."

Altair debated whether he should keep his mouth shut. Weighing the pros and cons of his decision.

"How'd I even get this Aura?" He announced, biding his time.

"Aura's are usually gained through affinity or high-grade techniques like Grave of Night. Techniques that give you Aura right off the back are all B-Rank or Higher. So the earlier you have it, the better your future. When you become a God, they become Halo's. But right now, it's merely an aura." She explained, thinking for a moment. "However, High-Grade Techniques don't always give you a set aura.

You might be given various options if your bloodline, talent, or soul is strong or unique. Although, the stronger the technique, the less chance of developing a unique or a good aura."

"I see.' he said, lifting his eyes to the skies. "What are the benefits of telling you and the rest of the gods?"

Luna smiled. " Blessing, weapons. Gods will fall to their knees in worship of you. But you'll have enemies. You'll have so many enemies you'll be drowning in blood."

"I could lie."

Her smile deepened. "You're still young, my child. You'll not be able to fool the gods watching. You either speak the truth, don't speak at all, or you give them a peak."

[Divine Sin, Archeon frowns at Lunafreya's involvement.]

[Divine Sin, Daddy chuckles, wishing you to reveal it all like a man.]

[Divine Being 'Piercing Owl' wishes you to be smart.]

Divine Being 'She Who Hunts' clenches her fist at your decision.]

[Ding]

[Hundreds of Gods have joined your livestream!]

Altair nodded, standing in his furs. He looked to Luna. "I'll give a peek." He said, bearing a devilish grin. "The first Effect of my Aura… Grants me a times two multiplier proficiency on all skills without limit."