Abyssal Awakening

When it comes to consuming souls and taking over their abilities, Alice wasn't strictly limited to drinking blood.

In the right scenario, she's able to do so with attacks.

Of course, the success rate of this was a lot lower not to mention the inherent risks of facing an attack head on hoping she had the resistances to consume it without injury.

But when it comes to a direct soul attack, Alice needed a method of locking down her enemy. To prevent them from running away so that she could digest the power and take it for herself.

Folding her arms, Alice opened her mouth.

"Let's set aside how I can attack souls. What if they try to run away? Since they decided to enter my soul, I want to use something to keep them there." Alice asked.

If they simply overload her soul then run away, they would've achieved their purpose even if Alice had the option of fighting them.

But if she were to trap them, she'll be able to fight on her own terms rather than subject herself to the enemy.

"Trap? Hmm, there are a few methods. Though… Nanna is more familiar with them. And I doubt you want her to find out about you." Griselda shrugged.

As the Apostle of Immortality, the way she fights was… unique. She didn't have high attack power or methods to seal the enemy. She's simply very hard to kill and will constantly overwhelm her enemy through sheer vitality.

Arax and Shiera had no way of killing her.

Kazira, while dangerous, lacked the proper methods to keep her down.

Deva was a slight issue.

Out of all the authorities, minus those belonging to… the Abyss, Famine was no doubt the most annoying to fight.

Especially for someone like Griselda who lacked the proper attacking power and focused on vitality.

To Deva, Griselda was equivalent to a gourmet meal.

"However…" Griselda trailed off.

Turning to Alice, she snapped her finger.

A tiny spark detonated in her hand, A pulse of energy and a barrier.

In this moment, in this instant, Alice's true form was revealed.

Her disguise peeled away little by little as her pupils constricted.

She was about to fight back when Griselda tapped her finger against the desk.

"Calm yourself kid, if I didn't make a move earlier when you showcased the power of Duality why would I do anything now?" She sighed.

She understood why Alice was on guard but even so, it was exhausting to talk with someone putting up a mask.

Especially when she could see Alice's true state in her soul.

"Interesting Eye. I knew you were an outsider but I didn't think you were THAT privileged." Griselda praised.

"But anyways, let's see… Hold still for me."

Leaning forward, Griselda reached towards Alice's neck.

But instead of listening to Griselda, Alice stepped back. Her hands gripped her own neck, refusing to let anyone touch it.

"Sorry, it's a bit of a touchy subject for me. Surely you can go for a different spot other than the neck right?" Alice's smile faltered.

Raising her eyebrow, Griselda nodded.

"Sure."

Circling around Alice, she kneeled against her shadow instead and tapped it with her finger. Then after a brief pause, she plunged her hand in!

*TSSS!!!

A hissing sound rang out as Griselda pulled out a set of golden chains.

The chains appeared around Alice's limbs and neck.

"This thing. It's been modified for… Eldritch energy it seems. But its sealing properties are exceptionally potent. Though I suppose this much can be expected for someone of Velouria's calibre." Griselda praised while letting go, allowing the chains to disappear back into the shadows.

"So if you want something to seal the enemy inside your soul, your best bet is to modify the properties of these chains. I can give you… tricks when it comes to manipulating souls. Though in this case, the most I can do is just tell you what things are. The rest you'll have to figure out on your own."

Finishing her sentence, Griselda leaned against the window and watched Syrion train Gwen with a small smile on her face.

Alice looked down before turning her gaze towards the Apostle.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Griselda glanced back briefly, unsure as to what Alice was asking.

"Why are you going this far? And what about Lumiria? Wouldn't she consider this to be well…" Alice hesitated.

"Treasonous? Probably." Griselda shrugged her shoulders with a chuckle.

"Then why?" Alice couldn't wrap her head around it.

"Because Syrion asked me to help you."

The answer was that simple.

Because Syrion asked for her help, she'll help.

If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't care about Alice.

Alice opened her mouth, wanting to say something but hesitated.

"If you're so concerned, would you be happier if I tried to kill you instead?" Griselda sighed, turning to Alice who wasn't sure what to say.

Biting her lip, Alice decided to say it bluntly.

"Syrion will die soon. Why are you doing this? Aren't you still putting yourself in danger? What if Lumiria does something to you because of this?" This was the question Alice couldn't quite wrap her mind around.

With Kaden and Allura, she could understand since both were still alive and living. Allura may have some issues but those can be resolved.

But Syrion…

He's a hunt target.

Once the training ends, once Gwen adjusts her fighting style, they will fight to the death.

So with Syrion about to disappear, why would an Apostle, one that has lived for so long and worked for the Moon go to such lengths? Liking a person would only go so far… right?

Especially since the Syrion was about to die.

Griselda lost her smile.

She was angry. Her eyes glared at the girl in front of her. Her neutral expression slowly turning into a frown.

"I was going to say that for a joke, it was a pretty sh*t one. But you're not joking are you? I'll overlook this because of your soul's age. But don't insult my kindness further than this." Griselda warned.

Flicking her finger, she opened her door behind Alice, clearly gesturing for her to leave.

[That was a pretty stupid question Alice.] Cayla massaged her eyes.

'You can't blame me for being cautious. There's no telling what Lumiria might do to her. The more she knows, the more danger she puts herself into.' Alice frowned.

[I know your question comes from a place of concern. But you have to understand, people in love do stupid things all the time. I never felt that way but I can somewhat understand where they come from.] Cayla explained.

[You didn't see it but man… Kaden was doing far worse back then than what Griselda is doing now. When he realised the state Allura was in, he searched everywhere for a solution.

[If doctors gave him a negative response… Let's just say a good scenario would be that they only got a few bruises.]

Alice was silent.

[This is especially the case for people who live long lives. Think about how hard it is for them to truly treasure something. They've experienced the erosion of time. So when that feeling anchors itself down deep in their hearts, it's far more potent than what normal people feel.]

Glancing back at the room, Alice scratched her hair and let out a sigh.

'Then what if she actually faces danger because of us? What then? I… It feels bad to receive someone's help only for them to suffer because of me.' Alice furrowed her brows.

Cayla couldn't answer.

It wasn't an easy question to answer.

###

I see a sea of flames. I see my brothers and sisters in arms fighting to the bitter last breath.

I see the heathens of the Eclipse revelling and rejoicing in this blood bath. This is exactly what they wanted.

As I walk along this path laden with death and agony, I come to realise that this was my final moment.

The final burning embers before my fire, my life, came to an end.

I saw hell.

I saw the end that came about because I lacked strength. I stubbornly clung to the belief that maybe I could still change things.

That maybe…

Maybe I could still make their deaths mean something.

To purge the enemy from the face of this world.

I swung my blade!

I stepped forth without fear!

I cut down anything and everything that was in my path!

The years of training, my efforts, it was so that I could make their deaths mean something!

I swung! I swung! I kept swinging!

My flesh ached. My lungs burned like an inferno. My hands numb with pain but I refused to let my sword go.

I… I had to keep going.

If I stop here… What would their sacrifice mean? Why did all of us die?

So I clenched my jaw and pressed forward.

Into the ruin, into the flames of destruction.

Blades pierced my flesh, arrows sank into my back.

But I could not fall.

Not now, not ever. Even if it wasn't for my comrades, my son was waiting for me.

My wife was waiting for me.

I promised them I had to return.

I had to!

What kind of father would I be if I didn't keep my promise?

My sword broke, so I used my hands.

My arms were torn off, so I used my teeth!

"Fa…ther…"

I heard my son's voice.

Out here? On… the battlefield?

No! Impossible… It's a hallucination! My son should be back at home, on his swing-

Before me stood a beast far bigger than I…

Grafted upon its head… I saw the face of my son.