Arthur appeared on the battlefield, Regis already calming the storm in his mind.
He looked around, there were a dozen or so Masters.
A few he recognized as he worked with them in the past.
Then he noticed someone, the Soul Reaper.
Also known as Master Jet.
She was standing close to the center of the street.
Her glaive already summoned, her gaze cold and calculating. Her short dark blue hair flows with the wind.
Her standard uniform sticks to her form as a second skin.
Everyone spoke out about their roles.
Most were supportive. Arthur, Jet, and another master are the only close-range combatants.
Arthur sighed, he already knew this battle would be hell.
Soon enough, the gate opened, and monsters, demons, all awakened or fallen.
Arthur sighed and got to it.
He cut off a creature's leg, already turning to the next one as an arrow whizzed by his head, finishing off the creature.
He stabbed another creature, already sensing the electricity, and he stabbed back, already slashing at another creature.
Then Arthur stopped holding back; they needed to clear all of these creatures before the guardian showed up.
Already swinging, he appeared before a fallen demon via Godstep and lopped off the creature's head.
Arthur couldn't use Destruction in such conditions, so he just relied on his skills and other abilities, saving his stronger attacks for the guardian.
Arthur Godstepped again, slicing another creature in half.
A glaive whirled past him, impaling another one.
Arrows, elements, and weapons whirled all around, the battlefield a drawing of chaos.
Then, one of the supports fell. Arthur barely managed to blur in front of the downed man, killing off the chameleon-type creature.
He carried the man further from the battlefield, his arm and leg, broken beyond recognition.
Perhaps a healer would save his career.
Then Arthur got back into the fight, moving far faster, far sharper, far deadlier. He brought his essence, his body already augmented, already powerful, gaining another physical boost. He slashed, he stabbed, he butchered, he crushed. Then he got blindsided.
Sent flying away, he crashed into a building, then through the wall of it. Landing in a corner of a room.
He groaned, head dizzy, he already knew what had happened, the guardian was already present.
Lifting his head, he was met by four pairs of eyes.
All scared, all hopeful.
A family, two kids, two parents.
Arthur gave a small, calming down the kids.
Then he was gone.
In the battle once again, I could hear several sighs of relief at his appearance.
Then Arthur noticed it, two more masters were further back, injured, not dead.
Arthur grimaced, this would be tough.
His golden eyes scanned the monsters, and finally noticed a distortion, moving through its kind. It was making its way straight for Jet.
Jet, seemingly noticing it, jumped back, avoiding a crushing blow that tore at the ground, a small crater where she had stood a moment ago.
Then Arthur brought out destruction, which would be needed for this fight.
Blitzing straight for the creature, he slashed the blade, only to hit thin air, an illusion he realized.
Jumping back, he avoided another attack.
Slashing at the spot his eyes told him there was a creature, his blade met only air once again.
Growling in frustration, he turned to his hatred sense, a whole new world appearing in his mind.
He "saw" the creature, its long body, its eight clawed legs.
Its head, resembling a snake's, its eyes, locked straight onto him.
Then it moved, blitzing past creatures. Its agility was unmatched. He turned in its direction, sidestepping the claw that was aimed at his legs.
He raised his blade, and his eyes saw the creature in the same spot. His senses told him the creature circled around him, preparing for another attack.
Arthur's form blurred, appearing before the creature, only for it to jump back, an illusion already in its previous place.
"Intelligent", Arthur murmured.
Then Arthur saw Jet, appearing behind the creature, her speed unnatural. She swung at the creature, only for it to leap away. Arthur saw a frown on Jet's face.
Arthur blurred again, finally fast enough to catch the creature. His blade was blocked by a six-fingered claw, each finger as sharp as any blade.
Arthur leaped back, just in time to avoid a chomp of disgustingly red teeth. Each is as long as a hand.
Arthur moved again, Jet already moving as well.
Arthur coated his blade in destruction, but rather than block again, the creature retreated.
It was far more intelligent than anything Arthur had encountered before. Then Jet appeared from behind the creature, her glaive already flying through the air, aimed at one of the creature's cores, no doubt.
Yet as the glaive flew, it hit only air, the creature already in a different location, then the illusions started. It attacks the supports, it dashes around. Every scenario it could do, was shown in illusions. Arthur grimaced, it's intelligence was unnerving.
Then Arthur engaged the reptile creature once again, Jet staying back, searching for an opportunity.
Arthur appeared next to the creature, already in motion to slash, his blade unaugmented on purpose.
Then he reappeared in a different location.
Trying to confuse the creature.
Each location is a potential attack on the creature.
Each movement drains Arthur, bit by bit.
Each attack is countered by the creature's limbs.
Then the creature let out a low roar.
And a tail grew. It was long, spiky, and the tail itself was longer than the creature's body; it was lashing around. Making sure Arthur didn't even try to come close. Then the illusions started again, Arthur closed his eyes, concentrating.
Regis manifested as destruction armor, and Arthur dashed forward. His form formed a blur of violet after images.
He swung his blade, only for it to be parried.
The limb started burning, then was cut off, and it was growing back in seconds. Arthur grimaced. This creature wouldn't be easy.
The fight continued, the supports finally finishing off the other creatures. Now trying to distract the creature with well-coordinated attacks, Jet tells them where to aim.
Arthur remained close, occupying most of the creature's attention.
Dodging another attack, Arthur finally summoned the [Bloody crown].
Its effects are far more devastating after his ascension.
Immediately, killing intent rolled off his form in waves, staggering the creature for a small moment.
Then he lunged again, only to see the creature grin, the tail launched at him, his reaction too slow. His body too exhausted, Arthur tried to Godstep out of the way, Regis flowing more destruction into the armor.
Only for the tail to snap through his ribcage, straight into one of his lungs. Finally, Godstep was activated, and Arthur barely managed to direct it near the support's location.
He appeared next to the group, his destruction armor sputtering out. His body rolled against the blood-soaked ground, each bump aggravating his fatal wound.
Finally, he was coughed on by one of the Masters.
It was the one with the electrical aspect.
The man's eyes widened, his gaze snapping to something Arthur couldn't see.
Arthur's own vision blurred, his wound gushing blood.
The Djinn armor is trying to repair the wound, closing the armor, and slowing down the bleeding.
Arthur clenched his jaw, holding back a scream of agony.
The wound is slowly stitching itself.
Far too slowly to keep him alive. Regis stayed silent, trying to close the wound by burning it.
This time, Arthur did scream, his skin hissed, and the smell of burnt flesh reached everyone's noses.
Then Arthur's vision went black.
Then his eyes opened again, him coughing out blood, the internal bleeding filling up his lungs slowly.
His thoughts were fuzzy, his body screaming in pain.
Arthur's mind focused. He shaped his will, his Aether, he envisioned it. And suddenly, everything stopped.
Dust floated in the air. Jet stopped in the middle of an attack.
The creature stopped well.
Time had stopped, and Arthur couldn't move either.
He just observed everything.
His battered and fatally injured body, the civilians, awakened and masters, all opened their mouths, screaming something. Then Arthur focused, he shaped his will, commanding Aether, no the entire world to obey him.
He concentrated, his mind buckling against the strain.
The world itself is fighting against the very idea of him.
Arthur summoned destruction, Regis roaring in excitement, cheering Arthur on in his own way.
And then, the world shuddered, the tension eased, and Aethur moved.
He slowly stood up, coughing blood all the way.
His Aether reserves were dry. But he wouldn't need Godstep for this.
He just needs concentration.
Regis manifested around the Dawn's ballad, its weight easing. Arthur slowly trudged through the dirt, the blood, the corpses of creatures. Until finally he was close to the creature. Regis told him how static void worked.
He would need to cancel the ability if he wished to interact with anything.
Arthur groaned, infused everything in the Dawn's ballad, disregarding his defenses, since the creature could penetrate anything he had.
And then Arthur swung, canceling Static void, the creature barely managed to turn his head in Arthur's direction.
Before the head was severed from the body, the body itself was already burning out of existence.
Shouts of shock, awe, fear, and amazement were in the air.
Which were quickly replaced with worry as Arthur's body collapsed, the trickling from his mouth and nose.
The last thing Arthur heard was the spell.
[You have slain a Corrupt devil, Vile Trickster.]
[Your destruction grows stronger!]
[You have unlocked a legacy relic!]
[A/N: I'm so tired, sick, my body feels like it's giving up on me, anyway! Hope y'all liked the chapter!
What will be the legacy relic? I have no fucking clue.
So be sure to leave your suggestions in the [possible abilities] chapter.]
Thanks for reading and support!
[Leave powerstones!] The spell ordered silently, the subjects of its God like power obeying it without question.