Seeds of Discordia

As Liam started to fall unconscious whispers began to tickle his ears. Like usual they were faint and hard to understand. He knew he had been using too much Shadow Magic and eventually the Whispers from the Beyond Debuff would start making its way onto him. However, for some reason this time felt different.

He didn't know when or why it happened, but all the whispers suddenly turned into two. Their voices were familiar, but at the same time he couldn't remember where he had heard them. It was like the answer to their identities teetered on the edge of his mind not trying to make themselves known, but at the same time trying to make a point to him.

"Why aren't you using our powers?" the first voice questioned. While all the other voices had quieted down and allowed this one to speak, it was still very faint. "You have taken our powers and yet let them remain in stasis. Why? Are you afraid to use them?"

What? Who are…What are you… Liam tried to think as he still tried to fight off the drowsiness that had almost completely taken over him.

"You're wasting perfectly good abilities. If I had the chance to use other type abilities like you could then I'd happily use them," a second voice commented. This one was a bit gruffer, like a man's. "You were greedy enough to take them from us, why not be greedy and use them?"

Liam grew more and more confused as his mind started to swim. He wasn't sure what was going on. Last thing he remember was trying to get to that flower…Remembering the flower bud full of aroma Ariyana had left him, Liam fought hard to focus. Even though his sight blurred and started to darken he saw it. However, he couldn't move his legs anymore. Instead he put all his will and what was left of his drowning focus into his arm to reach out. At first it didn't want to move, but finally after pushing everything he had into it, it finally reached out.

"Only you would be greedy about things. No sane person would even consider using an ability they aren't supposed to have let alone three of them at the same time," the female voice whispered back.

The male voice laughed as he retorted, "Well it is part of my nature to be that way, but you are right. No sane person would do that."

Liam felt his body start to fall as he leaned forward. All of his strength starting to fade, his hold onto the abilities he currently had active starting to wane as his vision faded to black. He felt his body land on the ground and his hand fall onto an object. The fall wasn't enough to snap him out of the Debuff, albeit the sudden wave of familiar power that washed over his body snapped his brain awake and dispersed the Drowsy debuff.

It didn't stop there though. This familiar feeling that was coursing through his body made him go on alert as his thoughts started to clash. The two voices that were faint began to disappear, but before they could fade back to wherever they came from the female said one last thing that struck something within him, "Right. No sane person would…but a person who was in a state of chaos…now that person might…especially if they knew…one of…the best ways to fight a Sin User is someone…with Sin abilities…of their ow…"

Mystic Gorger and Languid Peril stared at Liam as he stared at them. Mystic Gorger grinned wide and wildly, eyes locked on her prey, hands gripping both of her weapons. She was raring to go and didn't want to waste any second of this feeling she was getting off of this man.

Languid Peril, snapped out of the strange hold he was under as he pushed away the unknown feeling this guy had given him moments ago. He didn't want to admit that whatever the young man did had caught him off guard, making him believe that he was a threat. However, now that he had snapped out of it and calmly studied him he felt no threat at all.

From the look in the man's eye down to the strange posture, all Languid Peril could feel is another annoyance. He believed that Liam was probably a lot more flexible, and his movements were going to be more sporadic than before. These types of enemies annoyed Languid Peril. It meant that it was going to take twice the effort to land a hit and be able to use his Acedia Aura to enhance the Drowsiness Debuff his abilities and attacks created.

Languid Peril slowly changed from his spear to his Flower Tip Vine Whip. This was his go to weapon when he wanted to get his target to fall asleep. The spore cloud that exploded from the flower buds was the easiest way for him to land the debuff. He side eyed Mystic Gorger and took in her mental state.

After doing several requests with this gorger, he came to understand that, while rare, when she get a taste of something that triggers her bottomless appetite, she loses her mind until either she is knocked out, eats enough to bring her back to her senses, or kills the source that activates her Binge Gorger's High.

On a few occasions he had witnessed this woman drain a person dry of their mana when they stupidly tried to channel enough mana to land a big attack. It was an amazingly horrifying spectacle for him to see that he would be glad to never witness again. Which is why he needed to finish this guy off before his fate ended that way.

Before Mystic Gorger could move, Languid Peril swiftly cracked his weapon at Liam. However, right as the pollen spores exploded, Liam had already moved forward to the side, dodging the cloud completely. He didn't stop there as he reached within attacking distance.

Two Shadow Hands suddenly appeared right and raced towards the two as Liam continued forward. Mystic Gorger's eyes trailed the one going right for her. With a pleased grin she opened her jaw, a line of drool running out from her mouth, and snapped as fast as she could right at the Mana Type Hand. Right as she went to clamp down on it, the shadowy hand suddenly rolled right under her chin and pressed her jaw closed. The second Shadow Hand flew right at Languid Peril. He didn't find the hand a threat and instead went to focus on Liam, however that ended up being a mistake as the Shadow Hand slapped him across the face with enough force to turn his entire body around.

Mystic Gorger, giggling like a school girl turned to follow the hand but then stopped as both she and Languid Peril saw that Liam's focus was never on them, but instead on the group of assassins that were coming out of the spell Liam had placed them under. Confused, irritated, and angry the group's full attention fell on Liam as he ran up towards them.

Once more Languid Peril was confused by this man's antics. He wasn't sure why he would run straight for the group of angry people. There was no merit for him to do so if he wanted to keep both of them there. Mystic Gorger and Languid Peril went to take a step forward but then stopped as Liam disappeared into a cloud of black smoke and reappeared in the middle of the group.

The second he did, something strange happened. The entire group of people suddenly slowed to a stop as their annoyance and anger instantly disappeared and turned into looks of doubt and timidness. They could hear the people start to whisper words of doubt almost like their fighting spirit was knocked completely out of them.

Something familiar suddenly washed over them causing even Mystic Gorger to suddenly snap out of her trance. She looked at Languid Peril with a confused expression as she asked, "Is this…"

Her question was suddenly drowned as terrified scream escaped from one of the people within the group. The both of them watched as someone dropped to their knees, tears running down as they looked both confused and horrified. A second person dropped after a few seconds reacting the same way as Liam weaved through the crowd for his next target.

Languid Peril had a hard time keeping track as Liam started getting faster and more agile. More screams and pleas started to fill the air around the group. Languid Peril grew more and more confused as he tried to keep up with Liam's movements.

What the hell is going on here? Every time I find him he moves on to a different person. It's like he's getting… Languid Peril's thoughts stopped as he finally heard what the people in the group were shouting and crying about. With a mixture of doubt and timidness in their eyes, demands for why this was happening and pleas for their levels to return escaped their lips.

Languid Peril swiftly looked for Liam again after lingering his attention on the people. While Liam was moving from person to person Languid Peril didn't know what he was doing. At first he believed that maybe he had used some sort of spell to cause some sort of Debuff and then was attacking them in a manner that would knock them down to their knees.

However, that familiar feeling that both he and Mystic Gorger had felt when that aura washed over them told him it wasn't any old spell that caused these people to suddenly lose all their animosity and grow both doubtful of themselves and timid at the same time. It was an exclusive type of spell that fell into a category they were more familiar with. It was a Field of Sin ability that fell under the Pride sect.

A shiver ran down his spine as that unknown manner of dread suddenly resurfaced. It was faint at first, but the more he looked around to find Liam the more it grew. As he watched Liam do what he was doing he hadn't really seen what the man's hand was doing those times. He had believed he was either stabbing, or striking, but now…after hearing the cries and pleas of the people who had fallen to their knees, he had a sinking suspicion that that might not be the case.

Languid Peril's mind whirled as what he was trying to believe was happening was clashing with what he believed was the truth he had always been told when he made his choice to receive the Focus Point Sloth. In their culture there had never been a single demon-kin who could wield more than one Field of the Sins Focus Points. It was an unwritten rule that it was impossible to do. And yet…what was happening before them was attacking that single rule…that single belief.

He knew what a Hubris Aura felt like. He hated the way it felt as much as he hated those who were followers of the Vice of Gluttony. That wave of doubt and timidness that washed over him and Mystic Gorger and continuing to, while faint due to how far they were from it, was in no doubt Hubris Aura.

Feeling that made the two believe they had made a mistake and were attacking a fellow demon-kin in disguise, a fellow Sin User. However, now he wasn't so sure. The screams and pleas told him a different story. He wasn't a hundred percent sure since he didn't see this guy showing signs of using the one ability he hated the most. But of course he wouldn't know if he was really using that one ability. Each time a person was attacked Liam's hand was hidden behind a body, however there was a familiar glow each time a person dropped to their knees. That glow, that color told him it was a possibility, albeit, without actually seeing it he wouldn't know for sure if it was true.

The screams suddenly became muffled as Languid Peril watched as the shadows underneath the people in that group suddenly snake up and wrap their mouths, muffling their cries and pleas. That was the moment he got a better look at Liam. He was standing in the middle of the shadowy tendril wrapped field of people. A crazed look still expressed on his face as he stared directly at Languid Peril.

Now, for the first time in this fight he saw the man as an actual threat. Not just a threat of an unknown manner no. The feeling of him actually losing this fight was now there. It was real. That reality along with the fears he was trying so hard to deny was shown to him as Liam suddenly appeared right in front of him within a cloud of smoke. His right hand glowing with that hateful burnt orange as it touched his chest.

A wave of weakness washed over him causing him to drop to his knees. That hated feeling of not being able to move was like a slap to his face. While his Focus Point was all about not moving as much as possible, this feeling was different. The ability he believed used on him was one that took away all freedom of a person's ability to move.

His mind kept rejecting it over and over again as his body grew weaker and weaker, his arms and legs not listening to his commands. Then, like a kick to the nuts, his mind grew silent as a notification appeared, bringing truth to his fears.

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[Avaricious Potency Absorption has been successfully used on you. 10 levels from your sub-stats: Stamina Endurance, Body Endurance, Body Strength, Stamina Recovery, and Will Power have been temporarily taken. Levels taken will return after a short amount of time.]

[Due to levels being forcefully taken, your body has fallen into a state of stasis. You will not be able to move until levels have been returned.]

[Due to level difference between user of Avaricious Potency Absorption and the target, amount of time levels will be gone has lessened.]

"Ho…how?" Languid Peril questioned as he looked right into Liam's eyes. Due to his actual height, while Languid Peril was on his knees he was almost eye height with the man. However, while looking into the man's eyes he understood that he wouldn't be getting any answers. He was completely mad right now. He wouldn't be answering any questions, nor would he be reasoned with.

Languid Peril then watched as Liam pulled out a dagger from his hip, lifted it into the air, and started to swing down. However, as he swung down, Liam spun around to block an attack from Mystic Gorger.

Languid Peril looked at her and was confused as to what was going on. From the look in her eyes she was back in her Binge Gorger's High state of mind. But Languid Peril didn't know how or when she had gotten back into it since she was snapped out of it when Hubris Aura washed over them.

He then noticed five of the guys that were wrapped in shadowy tendrils were now free from them and were still crying and pleading while in their timid and confused state of minds. He quickly put the missing pieces together. When Liam had attacked him, she had eaten some of the Shadow Mana created tendrils and had gotten the buffs she had lost. However, since she couldn't eat faster and he was about to be killed, she must have prioritized him over her urge to…

Mystic Gorger let out a loud maniacal laugh as she wildly swung one of her cleavers in a horizontal strike while following up with an upward vertical strike with the other. "More…More! I want to eat more of that delicious mana of yours!"

Languid Peril watched as the two crazed fighters fought each other. Liam ducked, dodged, parried, and even spun both across the ground and horizontally in the air to not get hit. His movements were sporadic and unreadable. There didn't seem any rhyme or reason for why he twisted his body when he tried to strike nor why he would move too far to the left or right when he attacked. Even his two Shadow Hands missed completely when they came in to attack.

Mystic Gorger didn't need to worry about getting hit each time he went to strike, instead she was more focused on trying to catch the Shadow Hands as they flew too far to the right or left or even above her head. Each time she tried to catch the two shadowy hands she made sure she didn't over extend while still keeping an eye on Liam.

She tried to attack him as well but wasn't able to land a strike. Surprisingly, Liam was able to palm strike the flat end of her Meat Cleavers even now and then, redirecting the strikes to miss him. That's when Languid Peril noticed a pattern. It wasn't a pattern of attack or defense but rather a pattern of him correcting his course of trajectory.

A sudden thought popped in his mind as he watched this. He's not used to moving at that kind of speed. The amount of levels he received in his sub-stats must be more than he is used to and that's why he's missing his attacks and his movements to dodge are all over the place.

After a couple of minutes had passed, his theory had proven itself true as he watched Liam suddenly duck while thrusting an open palm up and timing it perfectly to slam against one of her meat cleavers as it was swung vertically. The strength of the strike was enough to bounce up and collide with the other weapon as it moved above it. Both of Mystic Gorger's arms went up over her head as Liam stepped in close enough for him to throw an arm around the back of her neck as he grabbed one of her biceps with his other hand. He then spun his body swiftly while pulling her forward and over his hip.

Mystic Gorger, surprised by this, flipped over Liam's back, and then landed on her own. As she felt Liam pull the arm he still held onto up, she twisted her body enough to turn and look at him while swinging her free arm to strike at him. As she went to attack, she had completely missed the hot pink glow covering his free hand as he slipped it underneath her mask and grabbed her lower jaw and chin.

Mystic Gorger's body suddenly tensed before it went slack as the hot pink mana washed over her body starting with her head and rushing down to her feet. Liam released his hold on her arm, allowing it to drop to her side with her other arm. Her grip on her weapons loosened as they slipped from her fingers and dropped to the ground.

Her hunger crazed mind disappeared as a new sensation started to take hold of her. Her body grew hot and sensitive as she stared into Liam's eyes. Her mind, once full of how delicious his Shadow Mana was and how badly she wanted to eat it, was now full of how amazing Liam's hand felt on her chin. She didn't know why, but the longer Liam held on to her chin, the more she wanted him to touch more of her body.

His rough hand sent ripples of pleasure throughout her entire body, and she wanted more. She wanted him to touch more of her body with his other hand. Not just her chin, but her cheeks, neck, arms, legs, and other parts of her body. Her hunger to gorge on him now completely replaced with a hunger for him to devour her.

She breathed heavily as her crazed looked remained in her eyes, but instead of a crazed hunger in them, a crazed desire to be nothing but pleased by him emanated from them. She wanted to reach out to him and embrace him, but each time she tried to move her arms or legs, ripples of lustrous pleasure filled her causing her to moan erotically out in pleasure. The more the ripples filled her the more her body began to grow hotter. The hotter her body grew the more relaxed and tired it felt.

She didn't think about why she felt this way, but she also didn't think about why she didn't want this feeling to stop. Her legs squirmed underneath her as her toes curled tighter and tighter with each ripple being sent through her body. One thing she did understand though was she was almost there. She was on the brink of reaching the best pleasurable feeling she had ever felt in her life. Her body started twitching more and more with each second passing by and each panting breath and erotic moan escaping her lips. Then, almost as if a wave of cold water had dropped on her, Liam released his grip on her chin as he let out a painful scream.

A sudden sharp pain, feeling almost as if thousands of needles were digging into every inch of his body, snapped Liam free from the Bedlam Trance he was placed under. His arms, legs, and body tensed up as his muscles spasmed and tightened. He screamed out in pain as his mind started to come back and race trying to figure out what was going on.

He found the cause of the pain a few seconds after his mind came back under his control. During his chaotic state of mind he wasn't able to remember to take the last Minor Body Rejuvenation Pill. Adding on all the stats he had accumulated while using Avaricious Potency Absorption, his body was now reeling in the side effects he was warned could happen when not using the pill.

He quickly released his Bestial Takeover ability. While doing so he had also released the stats he had accumulated, lessening the pain to a dull throbbing that he was thankful for. He breathed heavily as he slowly moved his arms and legs to make sure he hadn't broken any bones. Unfortunately, as he did this he had completely forgotten he was in a battlefield.

His Danger Sense had flared up, warning him in time to start moving, but due to his body's sudden relaxing state after having all of his muscles tighten and spasm, he wasn't quick enough to completely miss the punch that had slammed across his face. Liam's entire body flew across the ground and bounced a couple of times before he came to a stop against the wall of a building.

Languid Peril stood right in front of Mystic Gorger who was slowly snapping out of the Lascivious Passion Debuff she was caught under while Liam had Passionate Caress activated on her. Her sex filled mind was clearing as she looked around in a confused manner. Her body still slightly sensitive and a line of drool running from her mouth and onto her chest.

"Languid Peril?" Mystic Gorger asked. Her voice was full of dreamy wonder. "What's going on?"

"You were under the effects of Passionate Caress," Languid Peril said full of venom.

"Passionate Caress?" Mystic Gorger questioned as she tried to stand up. A ripple of pleasure faintly ran throughout her body causing her to let out a stifled moan.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Your body is still reeling in some of the effects. It might be like that for some more time," Languid Peril stated while still looking in the direction he had sent Liam.

"What do you mean though? I don't understand," Mystic Gorger started as she felt her legs shake a bit as she tried to keep standing. "How could…"

"I don't know," Languid Peril interrupted as he suddenly snapped his face in a direction opposite of Liam. He was looking at the shadows filling in the alleyway in between two buildings. His voice grew softer as he stated, "And it doesn't look like we'll be able to get any answers. Our time is up. We failed this request."

"What do you…," Mystic Gorger started to say until a powerful wave of pressure washed over them. Her senses suddenly sharpened as she turned to look in the direction Languid Peril was staring at. "They really sent them here?"

Glowing red eyes suddenly peered through the shadowy area of the alleyway. Within the red glow were reptilian slits for pupils. Several other glowing eyes suddenly appeared before the bodies they belonged to stepped out of the shadows.

Six people were wearing skull bandana masks covering only their mouths, noses, and majority of their necks stared at all the people standing in the road. Each skeleton face on the masks were either red, blue, green, or burnt yellow. The only one who didn't fit that color scheme was a male who stood in front of the group of newcomers.

The skeleton portion of his mask was white. The sides of his head were shaved leaving a black mohawk with red tips. He wore a black tank top that matched his black pants, boots, and fingerless gloves. He was the only one who had a full black color scheme with his clothing.

The rest had colors that matched their masks along with some interesting looking weapons. One of the women wearing a red skeleton mask had a few creature looking stuffed animals hanging around her while one of the lanky males with a green skeleton mask had vials in his hands with multicolored pills that looked dangerous to eat. Each of these people had an aura about them that made even those who were squirming around in a field of shadowy tendrils stop moving.

The man in the white skeleton mask looked around and took everyone in. He noticed Liam stirring not too far off from them and asked, "You Phantom Cat?"

Liam stood up and looked at the man. He was thankful his Spirit Weave ability was still activated. He looked back at the man and the group he had with him. He wasn't sure who they were. He did know that if these guys were enemies then he was about to die right there. The pressure from the leader of these people alone was enough to tell Liam that he was nowhere near ready to face someone like him.

However, if they were an enemy then he had no choice but to try and stall them like he did with the others here. No matter how close his Spirit Weave ability was to disappearing and how badly his body hurt, he needed to keep it up. He got into a stance ready to attack or defend depending on what their next move was as he replied, "I am. Who's asking?"

"Your backup," the man said with an approving grin under his mask. "You did well to hold up for as long as you have. Head on out. We'll take it from here."

Liam stared at the man for a long moment. He wasn't entirely sure if he was telling the truth, but with how things were right at this moment, he had no choice but to retreat. Without taking his eyes off the man, he nodded before using Shadow Step to get away as fast as he could.

Languid Peril clicked his tongue after hearing the exchange. Irritation and anger started to fill him as he heard the sound of smoke puffing out indicating that the man who had distracted them and caused them to fail their mission had ran away. His anger and irritation froze as he heard Mystic Gorger suddenly whisper, "Phantom Cat huh?"

Languid Peril didn't freeze because she repeated the man's code name but rather from the way she said his name. He took a chance to glance at her and was stunned that she had the audacity to have her back turned on the new enemy before them. Adding in the lustful and longing gaze she had in her eyes almost as if she wanted to chase after him but couldn't due to some forbidden rule placed on her.

"Mystic Gorger snap out of it," Languid Peril chastised. "There is a more…"

"It's been a while Languid Peril…Mystic Gorger," the man suddenly called out. "I am actually quite surprised to see you both here. Are you hurting that badly for coin?"

Languid Peril let out a sigh of frustration before schooling himself and replying, "Not really. But you know how it is when it comes to associations. Sometimes you get stuck with requests you'd rather not do. What about you? Can't really say I understand you being here since your group doesn't operate in these parts, leader of the Twisted Angels, T.G."

"I wouldn't know that. Never had a request I didn't quite like before," the man responded calmly. "As for your accusation…let's just say we owed someone a favor." He then looked at Mystic Gorger. A brow raised as he noticed her body language and was actually confused by her behavior. "What's going on with her?"

Languid Peril didn't want to reveal too much of what had happened since he was still trying to figure it out himself so instead he shrugged and replied, "Puberty?"

His response threw off everyone in the group with the man. He let out a chuckle before saying, "I didn't know you had jokes." His chuckling came to a stop as he heard Mystic Gorger let out a sigh. The sound of it was full of longing and desire. He then saw the look in her eyes. It was full of desire and…craziness. He could imagine the smile that was starting to grow under her bone mask and came to a decision. "She doesn't look like she's in the right mind to fight which is strange because usually when she's in that crazed state of mind of hers she's usually raring to go. Right now she looks more like an unhinged maiden in love…"

"Like I said…puberty," Languid Peril stuck to this not wanting to explain anything. "But if you're giving us an out then we would be more than happy to take it."

The man waved his hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. "Take my words however you want to. If you're not in top shape to fight then you're not worth my time." The man's eyes snapped to the group of people who were trying to sneak away during the conversation. "Except you lot. You're dying here no matter what."

The group of people froze for a split second before sprinting away. The man let out a sigh. He then looked at Languid Peril and said, "They're dead and they don't even know it yet." He then snapped his fingers and the rest of the people in his group started their chase. "Till next time you Sin freaks."