Prince of The Abyss

"Come on, get a hold of yourself!" Azel slapped her cheeks, making them gleam bright red. She had been given a clear order to help The Fool in changing the world. Yet she didn't know how. Aether was making progress in the zone, even if he came back with many injuries every time. In contrast, she had not done anything to help with their goal.

She had even climbed onto a building and screamed about the world changing and how to adapt. But most didn't pay her any attention, and those who did only gave her a look of disgust or disapproval.

Did she have to start giving them money? Well... it was an idea, if she had the money in the first place. So that idea was automatically not possible.

Was it that she simply lacked proof?

Most of the time, she asked someone to join the new world, and they declined instantly, or just walked away. They had gotten too used to this world, and it wasn't set in stone that a new one was coming.

But proof of a new world wasn't everything she needed; she also had to provide evidence of the fall of their original world, or something terrible soon happening inside it. That was the only way...

But where was she going to get any of those?

"Damn it!"

She mumbled to herself as she leaned back against the wall, looking up at the sky.

For how long had she seen the same sky, the same sun, the same clouds? Nothing had changed, so how was she going to find a flaw in the world? When it has been flawless for so long.

...

But to her luck, she wouldn't have to do much this time.

In the midst of a perfect world, even something as an earthquake raises questions. It couldn't have been naturally caused, so how had it appeared? It had been the first time she had seen so many people suddenly start to panic.

But what could have happened?

...

Her eye widened as she remembered something. Which was also the reason why the others had probably panicked, not because of an earthquake, but something much more terrifying.

She reminisced about her past, where she learned about the zones, and how they worked. One thing that wasn't spoken about, since it wasn't important, was that whenever a Knight would die, a part of the Abyss would dissapear with them, causing the world to tremble.

...Meaning one of the Knights had just fallen to a challenger.

...

...

"This is... useless Aether, just give up your life."

Aether's breath quickened as he clenched his broken leg. He had no way to move anymore; even crawling would hurt like he was in hell. He couldn't dodge anymore; he couldn't control his movement. Nothing.

Guliot approached him slowly, saying a prayer, as he stopped just before him. His eyes were gentle, merciful... yet he knew there was nothing but bloodlust inside them. It was all an illusion.

"I would have killed you a long time ago, but for the respect that I have for the man you were. I'll let you say your last words."

He gritted his teeth, blood spilling down his jaw.

Was this the end? It couldn't, not after all he had done! All the preparation, the information, and the painful attacks he had to endure. For every time he had spilled blood or broken something inside his body.

He could not die!

But what he wanted, did not matter to the world. He had no right to choose whenever he died. That was for the others to decide.

"I-I..."

...

He stole a glance at The Ace, a wicked smile burning on his face.

"How is your soul doing?"

Guliot paled, feeling a deep pain coming from his chest, from where his core was. He tried clench it, but coudnt. His knees started to feel weak, as from his foot, he saw black threads spreading through his body.

What could that Fool have done to cause this? And when? He had never seen him pull something like this, so how was he able to... to put him in such a pitiful and shameless state?

It was times like this he wanted to get rid of his flaw, so he could see the reaction after his enemy sees that all their hard work had gone down the drain.

...

As he attempted to utilize his ability, it did not work. Which wasn't something that wasn't possible, just very strange. It meant that he already used the ability once that day. But when? And for what reason?

He cursed under his breath.

It wasn't the end of the world, but it was annoying that he had to use something like this in such a fight.

Summoning a small stone, he crushed it, which rewarded him with the power to use one of his abilities again, without having to wait for his ability.

He felt a wave of essence rush through his body. It was a feeling he could never get used to, how good it felt... and knowing that after this, he would crush this rat, felt amazing.

But as he was suffering, ready to use his ability to make his body go back to how it was at the start of the battle. He felt Aether's hand touch his leg.

...Was he trying to ask for mercy? Well, it was too late.

"Aether... It's been good knowing you... it seems i wont get the chance to kill you this time, but the next me will do so, so dont grief."

...

"Well if it isnt my favouri-... wait, what the heck is this pain?"

Aether burst out laughing, not being able to hide it inside him anymore. Everything had gone according to plan. He couldn't believe it. He never knew he was that good at acting.

"Don't worry about it. Just let death take you down already."

The Ace had wanted to respond, but the pain was too much to handle; every movement in his body made him want to die. So he resisted trying to yell, even if he was mad.

He had no idea of what had happened or what he was saying. So, had he used his ability, that was why he didn't remember anything.

..."You know, your abilities are amazing, really. If you knew how to keep them hidden, it would have been the end for me."

The chains from his swords retreated as they moved inside his mark. Signaling the end of the battle. And his journey of conquering the third floor.

"I was able to figure out that one of your abilities allows your body to go back to the start of the battle. So then to use it against you... I just needed to learn what was considered the start of the battle."

That was one of the most important discoveries, the one thing he knew he could exploit to give him the win.

"From the glass you broke and that pierced your chest. From you gripping my blade to try and make me kneel. You don't remember those thing, but I do. For this so-called start, both of us have to have touched the other. Because if we didn't, it wouldn't have been considered a fight in your honorable standards."

Guliot's eyes widened in terror. What kind of monster could have thought of that? Where did he even get the idea to try those things? He was insane, utterly mad!

"So all that was left to do was pierce you, and inflict the poison. Then... run. And here we are."

...

As the pain continued to intensify, he couldn't control his body, letting himself fall to the ground... leaving his soul to be crushed by the poison. And in the process, dying.

...

[You have killed a Seeker Beast, The Ace]

[Your knowledge grows stronger.]

[You have gained a new relic.]

His attention was instantly caught by the last message of the Codex. A relic, and one coming from such a powerful person. It had to be strong,

[Relics]

—[Hair extension]

— [Cloak of Dread]

—[VoidPiercer Wound (Replica)]

—[Card of The Beggining]

[Card of The Beginning]- This relic was never meant to exist, yet was created with the death of The Ace, the first of the Queen Knights. His life was taken by the poison of something mighty, unknown to all, wielded by the Promise Child.

Category-Card

Class-Reader

Rank-fragment

Abilities- [Memory]

[Memory]-Knowledge is a powerful weapon, way sharper than any blade, and way more durable than any steel, but only if used correctly. This ability makes it so whenever the relic is used, the reader would relive some of the memories of the original owner of the card.

The card was similar to [Card of The Folish], in the sense that it was a card with one ability, both of the reader class and fragment rank. The only difference being that this one had an Ace, instead of a Fool. And their abilities, too.

...

Aether took a deep breath.

"Let's see your pathetic story."