Shadow of the Abyss

[Iron Blood Pill Consumed. Constitution has increased by 1]

When all was packed and ready for departure, Reina turned to the boy silently by her side, smiling as he downed one of the Iron Bloods. His skin had flashed a bright red, revealing long black elongated veins. They seemed inhuman. At least to her, they did. But he hadn't mentioned it, nor did he seem to be uncomfortable.

"Hey Ren," He called, as his skin returned to its normal complexion. He turned to her.  "We need to go east of our location. It should be a three-day journey. I–"

[Divine being, 'Golden Pope' has grown wary of your connection to the Hells. He demands to know your identity.]

Altair's voice grew cold. "You demand, do you." he sneered, shooting his eyes to the vibrant skies, to the countless stars glistering and bending with untold wonder. "And who are you to order me around?"

[Divine Being 'Golden Pope' furiously stands from within the Chapel of Time.]

"Altair?" Ren called to him, startled by the shimmer of his eyes. She felt no killing intent, but her heartbeat quickened with unease. Intent or perhaps authority roiled from the boy's toned figure, silencing the forest with his presence.

"Careful, Your Holiness," Altair warned, his voice like the devils of the hells. It was vindictive, filled with ridicule and arrogance. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you are trying to get a rise out of me. To scare me, perhaps. Why don't you just get to the point? Show me your contract.."

[Divine Being, 'Golden Pope' clenchs his fist in humiliation.]

"You know what, don't bother." He said soon after, not bothering to leave the Pontiff any face. "I've rejected every offer brought on by Hundreds of Gods. And you'll be no different. If you don't like it… try to kill me. I'd love to see who you'll send to lose their heads."

[Divine Sin, Daddy, nods in approval.]

"Hey! That's not fair! How are you getting various contracts from gods? I've not gotten any." Ren shouted, pointing an accusing finger towards the young man.

"Because  I'm playing the game." He told her, flicking her nose. " And they want to see if we'll survive leaving House Aros. Once that happens, I'm sure you'll get a good offer."

"Will we be able to leave?"

Altair nodded. "I've got it covered. Now. Shall we?"

When she heard this, Reina flashed her pearly teeth. "Kay!"

***

Days Later, Altair stared out at the blizzard they'd barely escaped in time when it arrived. Had it not been for Reina, he was sure he'd have been lost and torn away by the wild wethers. The winds were howling, cutting through branches, uprooting trees and stones, leaving nothing behind but a frozen wasteland.

"What a mess." The Prince calmly whispered beside the small fire. Reina had started it with a snap of her fingers, turning in for the day to meditate. He sighed. "Come out," he said, his voice carrying a magical authority.

And from his shadows, over the crackles of fire. Two beings appeared on one knee, awaiting their Master's orders.

"Member of the Aros Family ought to be hiding out. Jorm, Kirr, kill them. We can't lose out on Exp." He commanded, closing his eyes, as the two Shadow took off in a flash of black light, bleeding a harsh killing intent. He faintly smiled. "The Members of Aros will surely give me a fine meal. I just hope Tania is alive.

To lose such an asset would be a tragedy."

[Divine Sin, Archeon snickers and is willing to offer you Tania.]

Altair peeped a single eye open. "For what price?"

[Divine Sin, Archeon laughs at your wariness and wishes you never to form a contract with the Golden Pontiff.]

'Doing that would make me a full-on enemy.' The Prince thought, scowling at the blatant trap. 'I may have insulted him, but it's not to a point he'd actually deem me an enemy yet. Blocking me will really make him want to kill me.'

[Aros Member Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Member Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Member Felled. Exp Gained]

"Why?" Altair asked, ignoring the slaughter brought on by his Shadows. He was used to it.

[Divine Sin Archeon doesn't believe he owes you an explanation.]

The boy's frown deepened, slowly growing to dislike devils. He couldn't get a grasp on Archeon's mindset. He was sure he wasn't an ally, but neither did he show himself to be an enemy, at least not in Altair eyes.

"Grant me another spell, and I'll do as you ask."

[Divine Sin Archeon has grown amused by your greed. He approves.] ҽ#ҳ@с*ӏυ#ѕɪ*νε-ҭ#σ--+

"System Block Divine Being, Golden Pope," Altair commanded when the crackles of lighting shrieked over the skies, splintering the land. Tectonic plates trembled, parting, creating webs of crevices stretching for miles. Tornadoes gathered and roared, uprooting the various ecosystems. Leaving nothing behind but destruction. In seconds, the Blizzard had seemed nothing more than a soft breeze.

[Ding]

[Divine Sin, Archeon has awarded you the Infernal Spell, Hellish Rebuke]

The Prince grinned, feeling knowledge pool into his mind. A soft voice caught his ear.  "You got that evil smile… why?" He turned to the voice, giving a chuckle.

[Aros Member Felled. Exp Gained]

[Aros Member Felled. Exp Gained]

[Lunar Manba Felled. Exp Gained]

[Lunar Python Felled. Exp Gained]

"You've gotten quite nosy."

"And you're a lot more secretive. What's going on?" She questioned, wrapped up like a burrito. She stepped to the cave entrance, turning to Altair with suspicion. "Seems like the Gods are screaming… what did you do?"

"Why would you think I did something?" He asserted, flicking his hair, " I am an angel."

Reina's face went green. "I'm going to hurl at your lies."

"I—"

"Master, we found something." Jorm telepathically conveyed within his Master's mind. The Prince went silent, standing up. He closed his eyes as a sheet of strange obsidian mana gathered around his flesh. And through the eyes of Jorm and Kirr, the Prince saw an ocean of blood, limbs, and organs sprawled about as if mauled by a bear of sorts.

Altair counted the various scarlet-colored snow angels printed over the snow. "Can I assume there were seven victims?" He asked as Kirr and Jorm nodded in tandem.

"Based on the snow angels. I assumed Tania did this. Only a bloody madman would. Not to mention the sizes match." Jorm said, without feeling. He glanced at the coming storm, then to the various tornados approaching, and back to the blood bath. "There was a squad around here, but we took cared of them."

"Bring back a few Shield Belts and continue tracking Tania. Seems she is doing what I planned. Bring her back alive." Altair said, opening his eyes to Reina, glaring profusely at him. Cheeks like two plump balls, she rolled her eyes, snorting.

"More secrets," she said.

"I'm a man of many mysteries. That's why they call me the Vault of Secrets."

"Liar."

The Prince grinned, inching towards her. "Would I lie to you?"

"One hundred percent." Said Ren as a matter of fact, blocking her nose, sensing Altair's intent to tease her with a flick.

[Divine Being 'Piercing Owl' demands you stop flirting.]

[Divine Being 'She Who Hunts' wonders if this is what's called Rizz.]

With a mysterious grin, Altair glanced out at the storm. 'I'm going out for a hunt."

"Huh? Why? We have enough…"

"I'm going to kill Tania." He said calmly. "You know, the one I let live a year ago. She's served her use."

It was then Reina realized something. "You didn't leave her alive merely to kill off the other members within the Aros Estate, like you told me, did you."

With a fiendish smile devoid of human emotion, the Prince nodded with a devilish grin over his lips sharp as a reaper's edge. " Indeed. Tania's main purpose is to feed my power. What I want is infernal Lightning. The power Archeon granted her to kill me. Now that she had a year to train it.

I'm sure she must have gained some insight into it."

BOOOOOOOOOOOM~

[Divine Sin Archeon roars at your arrogance with wild, untamed laughter!]

"So do me a favor and wait for me. I'll be back before the storm ends."

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