Shadow of the Abyss

Beneath the bloodstained moon, harsh, rugged breaths broke the silence, followed by laughter. Altair tilted his head to the pale face of Reina, who'd collapsed next to him.

"What are you laughing at?" She asked him, following the spasming of her muscles and the drool pooling beneath her lips.

Altair lifted himself up, ignoring the weakness of his physique, his shadow looming over the young woman glaring up at him. He carried himself to her, amused, and pressed his fingers against the plump of her cheeks.

A wild blush surfaced over the young maiden's face. "W-W-What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Came his mischievous reply. He leaned down, fingers treading through strands of silky red hair, softer than the finest silk. "You always poke my cheeks when we sleep together. Hehe, oh.  I never got to ask how your hair became so blood red, did I?"

Embarrassed more so than what she wished to admit. Reina turned her head, allowing him to do as he pleased. "Infernal Rage." She muttered. "Master said my blood was corrupted at birth. So the more I use Infernal Rage. The more my physical attributes will change.

So after this… I think my eyes will gain a red hue, or I could get taller. Who knows."

"Well, it's pretty." He mused. "I like red."

Her blush deepened. "Bully," she whispered in an auspicious voice, too low for Altair's senses to hear.

"I'm sorry, Master," Talia said, slowly approaching. The shame of her failure pressed against her cheeks. "Infernal Lightning took all my Mana I—"

"Enough," Commanded the Prince, his eyes a swelter of power, and from his shadow, Jorm and Kirr reemerged bearing grim faces. Altair expression turned a shade paler as he emptied his remaining reserves. Summoning Talia for the first time had already taken a third of a Mana. And now, with the resurrection of the two former Shadows, another two-thirds were taken. "You three played your roles perfectly.

If it weren't for you three, forcing him to reveal his trap card early. Ren or I might have died. You three did well."

"MY LORD!!!~" Kirr wailed, tackling his King with tears in his eyes. He rubbed his cheeks against his. "I LOVE YOU!~"

"Kirr, you bloody idiot! Release our Lord!" Jorm spat, snatching Kirr up by the nape of his neck like how one would a young pup. He bowed to Altair. " We thank you for your words, our Master.' And his body, alongside Kirr and Talia, turned into nodes of black light, sinking deep into his shadow.

Slowly, all of the other Shadows followed suit.

"Your really strong," Reina said, sourly. Hopeful, she would remain stronger when he returned to her.

"You evenly matched a Shura, going as far as to overpower him." The boy countered, his eyes bright with amusement. He poked her on the cheek again, fascinated by how fluffy they were. "I'll say we'd have a good match."

Reina turned her gaze to him. Her eyes were like fire. " You didn't even summon your World of Shadows Grimoire. I'm sure you still had more spells to unload." But the boy wasn't listening. He continued poking at her cheeks till her expression turned docile. Ren, against her will, closed her eyes, allowing the darkness to take her.

He smiled. " You did well." lifting her into his arms, Altair opened his pores to the outside mana, pulling it into his mana roots without reservation. For over a mile, the Mana roiled into his body and Shadows, draining the domain of life.

It wasn't until an hour had passed and the Prince had recovered did he moved towards the temple, stepping inside what seemed to find an altar carrying a sword at its center.

Cobwebs lined the chapel in thick brushes of silk that coiled around the luscious vines tailing through windows, bearing vile black pedals. The pedals smelt sweet, bearing the cruel sign of warning with a nest of small pristine white bones and exoskeletons, of critters and insects,

"Jorm," Altair said, and from his Shadow, a fiery glaive flashed through the cobwebs and viens forging a path. Jorm stepped forward, leading the way to ensure his master's safety until they arrived at the alter.

There, he saw the sigil of the moon, branded over the sword hilt, crusted and rusted. Yet the edge remained sharp, its shone edge glistering beneath the scarlet moon. Altair handed the girl to Jorm, reaching for the sword.

And as he did, an azure light erupted, swallowing him in a blaze of glory.

When the light faded, and Altair's eyes regained their poised focus, he found himself upon a lake, rippling from the awe coursing through his body. He gasped. His eyes twirled to the crested moon that reflected off the mirrored lake,

"Honestly…"

Altair turned to the source of the voice dead ahead of him. To a frowning Luna, "I swear… we thought that would be enough. How we underestimated you and Ren." she said, irritated. "You were never supposed to win. At least not like you did. Curse this Proclamation."

"Huh?"

Noticing the boy's confusion, Luna sighed. "Once a trial has officially started. We can't intervene. We set the parameters and the route. From there, the Origin System will bend our power to ensure it happens." she explained, folding her arms over one another. "Your Father wanted you to face a demon to show you the power they hold, and I made sure the dead would continually regenerate."

The boy grinned in a gloating tone. "Well, aside from the Shura, it was pretty easy. Although I'd have loved to battle that Shura alone."

"You'd have lost," Luna promised him.

"Perhaps. But… you also thought this trial was enough to challenge me." The boy said, his tongue as sharp as his sword. "So what do you know."

Luna's cheeks felt like they had been stung. There was a trap there, one Luna wasn't willing to fall for. "Arrogant little shit. You were supposed to leave Ren to handle the army of the dead and the Shura and enter my temple to enter this realm."

Altair shrugged. " I figured. But its stat wasn't that impressive."

"It was almost four times stronger than you.'

"Just four?" The Prince said with amused arrogance. He grinned. "All he had going for him was battle prowess. And a single spell. Maybe if you had added more, I'd be more impressed."

'Then Reina would have suffered if everything would have gone to… oh, whatever. I told Arsene creating trials for you was stupid. We are too attached to you." she said, and Altair knew she was right.

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Had someone like Archeon made the Trial, Altair was sure sacrifices would have been needed. Luna was clouded by emotions and knew little of Altair's abilities. He kept most of what he was capable of hidden, showing glimpses of battle prowess here and there.

"Well? What was in this realm? It looks amazing."

"First off. "Luna began raising her palm. " Before I give you anything. Do you want to experience a bonus? Just you, not Reina. My trial is basically over.

You can have your prize, but…"

"What is it?" The Prince asked, somewhat intrigued.

"A battle within this realm." she mused, but Altair frowned, sensing he couldn't feel his Shadows. "It's a bonus event. Based on your results, you'll be given a reward.' And then she grew solemn. "The other Gods can't watch. However… your Future Master is watching. So you had better show her something good.

As is your Father and his Brother."

At that, Altair grew grim, placing a palm on the hilt of his sword. "I don't like games without solid promises." The Prince said, his voice thick with a vile contempt at the games being played.  "I'm not some zoo animal to be prodded and toyed with."

Luna closed her eyes. " Altair…" She began her voice like a cold abyss, bearing the authority of her presence,  that brought him to his knees as a fear he'd never experienced before stabbed through his mind. Veins thick with blood protruded over his neck as Luna spoke."You will do well to respect those your elder. You are standing before some of the most powerful Lords within the Myriad Heavens.

Had your Father been here, much less Tene, you'd have been bleeding from the mouth at the disrespect. We are not equals."

"NO~" Altair barked, bleeding from every orifice, his pride bearing its fangs. "I'll do no such thing. Show me the same courtesy. Am I not your blood? Am I not your future? Show me the same respect, and I'll give you yours!"

Startled, Luna bowed her head, masking her smile with vast relief. Her heart thumped with a swelter of pride towards the boy who would never bow to those more powerful than him. But when she raised her head, death all but flashed through Altair's eyes.

He could feel his skin being peeled away like an apple while his eyes bubbled and popped. The pain lasted less than a second before the splintering winds of winter arrived. And Altair returned to himself, glancing down at his shaking palms.

He gulped.

"You will be granted this dungeon," Luna told him, sheathing her intent less she shatter his soul. "What the others grant you is up to them."

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