Shadow of the Abyss

It hadn't taken long for the Prince to locate a secluded field away from the storm and monsters. It had taken even less time as his fingers danced over the snow, his fingers wet with his blood, as dozens of runes appeared one after the other.

They shimmered with golden light twisting into a black fog as a protective ward forged of his blood materialized from the mana around the Serpent's Outreach, condensing before the Enochian runes.

[Rune Master(F) Proficiency increased by 3%]

Multiplier: 2x

Proficiency: 57% → 63%

[Ding]

[Ward of Nightly Protection shall conceal your location.]

When the light faded, and his presence was gone, Altair snapped, and from his shadow, Jorm and Kirr appeared, transported dozens of miles from where they previously stood. They fell to a knee before their Master in recognition.

With the command to protect his body, Altair prepared his mind. He sucked in a deep breath to calm his heart and pushed down the excitement coursing through his veins. A feat he found nearly impossible as he stared down the counter. Hopeful of his luck.

Throughout the past year, he had failed to acquire any new skills from the various beasts, cryptids, and monstrosities he had slain. But today. Today, he felt it would be different. Today, through a sense of knowing that had never stirred him wrong, Heaven and Earth felt they would bend to his will.

In the seconds that followed, the light within his pupils died, plunging his mind into sweet oblivion, where a new beginning started once more.

Life as Tania Aros had been different compared to Jorm, formally known as Dillian. It was warmer. Her father was warm. He'd never struck Tania once, but the same could not have been said for her Mother, Catelyn. Who was as cruel as she was vindictive.

'How did you pass through my legs?' Catelyn often said. 'How is such an ugly girl, my child? Go away. Hide yourself from the guess. What good are you? We can't even sell such a thing?

What man would touch you?'

Before long, the servants grew colder, following after their Master. Tania was soon forgotten within the large estate of House Aros. For ten years, she trained, bashing her sword against the training dummies till her hands bled, striving to make advancement to compete with her elder sisters to no avail. No matter what she did, no matter who she killed or how well her missions went.

It was never enough.

Altair watched it all, devouring all her pain, love, joy, and despair. From beginning to end, he did not stop, enthralled by her life and the story she held. He loved the way the sun shimmered through her eyes, to various senses of touch and smell, and the feeling of being loved. He watched on enjoying life until he stood before the Chimera and the smiling devil he recognized as himself.

It was a sight he often saw. One eye scarlet, the other an obsidian amethyst.

The mere sight of him sent shivers of fear through his veins. It didn't matter who it was, man or beast. Fear had matted their hearts as every one of his kills engraved the image of sin within their souls. More so for Tania, who bellowed and begged, squealing like a pig at the slaughter, bursting with such humiliation, she wanted nothing more than death itself.

[+1 Madness]

[Warning, System Curruption]

[+1 Madness]

[Warning]

[Warning]

[Warning]

As one, Altair and Tania screamed their throats raw until their eyes and throats endlessly bled. They laughed, lost in a symphony of pain, loathing, death, and destruction fueled by the Madness that never faded but grew with each kill. Like a high that never ceased, insanity swept over their minds, leaving nothing but Madness.

They gorged themselves till death, finding no regret even amidst their final moments. For this life of Madness was Heaven on Earth

****

When, at last, the Prince awoke, there had been a dryness in the Boy's throat. One that did not crave wine or water but the sweet nectar of something else. He winced, trying to scratch the itch in the back of his throat. Rather unsuccessfully.

"How was her tale, My Lord," Kirr asked, vigilant despite the warding. He glanced down at his Lord curiously.

"Tragic. Tania was a good child. One I broke." He said with a rueful expression. "Did you know she had a photographic memory?"

"I didn't," Jorm said flatly. "She never mentioned it. Then again, we weren't the best of friends."

The Prince opened and closed his palm, readjusting to his physique. He sighed, unsure how much of his psyche had changed or how much humanity he still had left. He was sure there wasn't much, not after Tania.

The world was a little colder than it was before. A little more bleak.

"Mother used to call me her Little Prince." He smiled, unsure, when a black ooze began to drip from his eyes. He laughed." I guess I'll just be her Broken Little Prince now. If she even wants me."

Kirr and Jorm closed their eyes, wishing they could bear their Lord's pain. They stood by his side like two loyal knights, solem without emotions, listening to their Master's painful cries.

When the bloody tears ceased amidst his dying laughter, Altair composed himself the best he could, trying with every shred of will not to become like Tania. 'I  will not become like her. I will not lose myself to the Madness.' He told himself. He was stronger, smarter, and had steadfast willpower. One that could be cracked but never broken.

He shuddered, bearing the increasing urges that came with each soul.

[Soul of Tania Aros devoured.]

[New Skill Acquired - Infernal Lightning (D)]

[Strength as increased by 1]

[Warning!]

[Madness has tarnished your soul. The breaking of the psyche is imminent.] -verified

Altair rose, breaking the warding with a swift kick at the base of the runes. He opened his palm, allowing scarlet arcs of lightning to fold around his fingers, crackling with untold might. The power it wielded was wild, as though it were not meant to be tamed but to conquer or destroy. To break and torment. It was a power that felt right in his hands, as if it were made specifically for him.

"One does not control the heavenly might of the Heavens," Altair said, staring at the coming storm that crackled and boomed. Uprooting the Serpent's Outreach with its unending might that never seemed to weaken. "The same goes for the Lightning of the Hells." He closed his fist, allowing the lightning to recede back into his meridians.

He'd found that even with his level of Mana Manipulation, he barely met the requirements to wield Infernal Lightning.

"It had been no wonder Tania nearly lost an arm. And why she was so fearful when using it.' He thought. I'll need more practice wielding it before properly using it in battle. At least I won't end up like Tania, where my arm becomes covered by large hideous masses." He shuddered, recalling that accursed pain that went on for months without end.

He was sure if it wasn't for her madness making her insane, Tania would have cut off her arm or killed herself for a sweet relief.

He laughed, thinking about it somehow, looking forward to the day he could use it with deadly precision. "Alright. Let's go. I'm sure Ren is agitated by now." He said, looking forward to her brooding expression.

"Oh! Master! Can we meet Lady Reina?" Kirr hastily asked. " I'd love to see the future Queen!"

The Boy's cheeks grew flush. "Q-Queen?! That's… that's not… She's just a friend."

"Such fine red hair, with eyes as the pale moon. My Lord! You must wife her up before someone else steals her! You must! You must! You must!" Kirr hastily exclaimed as if he heard something blasphemous.

"My Master, you can't be a coward! Steal her before someone else does! Can you imagine how cute your babies would be?!"

"For once, he makes sense," Jorm added along, poking a bit of fun at his Lord, who sometimes acted like a boy his age. "You're about the same age," he said sharply. "Nothing wrong in professing your undying love for her. Men don't have the luxury of time when it comes to attractive women. Steal her away, sire you a progeny, My Master."

"What nonsense… I'm eleven, you idiots! Go back in my Shadow." The Boy shouted, rushing past his Shadows, his cheek burning and chest tight. He looked up to where he left Ren, finding his steps moving a little faster.

Watching their lord leave, the two Shadows exchanged meaningful glances as they burst into laughter before dissipating into nodes of black light, vanishing without a trace. Altair left the scene, entering the blizzard of hail without concern. With heavy steps that bread no sounds, the winds billowed with the howls of the storm, devouring all that entered it.

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