Shadow of the Abyss

With a step of trepidation forward, the iridescent eyes of the Kistune swayed toward the Prince. 'So much does he resemble his majesty.' she thought, that a sense of hope blossomed within her chest.

"My name is Kara,' she said, entering the dimensional rift to the Serpents Outreach.

Altair grinned and gestured for Kuu to follow. He closed the rift and laughed a cry of victory. His kingdom was growing. Even if Kara's arrival is a temporary endeavor, he had gained a potential ally.

"Altair… she said Ancient and Seraphim. That sounds like—" Ren was saying, and Altair nodded before she could finish.

"Your parents. I know," he whispered, studying the tinge of coldness in the way she spoke. 'Was she angry?' "We'll talk to her in a few days when we've time. Right now, we must make note of how strong these Soul Kings are."

"They are all Old Gods,' said Syris calmly. "It's imperative to either kill or recruit them. I suppose that's your intention."

The Prince did not deny it, rather admired the way in which she caught hold of his purpose. "It is. Kara mentioned that the Astral Sea is where she laid her head. So perhaps this is true for the others. How much do you know about Astera, Syris?"

"The Prime World?" She paused, thinking, then, " Not much, but I do know it's ruled by a young man who goes by the name of Jin. I believe that based on the rate at which he grows mentally and physically, he is about eighteen. Though, not much is known about him. The Reverend Mother only said that he was not to be crossed."

Ren was slightly confused. "The rate at which he grows?" She repeated, "What do you mean?"

"Just as it sounds. Higher lifeforms don't live like humans. Simply put, we age slower. That includes mentally. Jin, for example, is technically considered an Old God despite most considering him a New God. However, he's only just become a man based on his mental acuity."

Syris thought for a bit longer. "No one really knows why this phenomenon exists; however, it affects most higher lifeforms. Causing them to be extremely childish or naive. From what I've read on Genesis, the last Era, known as the Age of Night, that brought forth the Monarch of Night. Children of Gods were born as Gods, requiring almost ten thousand years to reach the mental age of ten.

And for extremely powerful gods, that number is even higher, requiring cycles if not Dao or Chaos Cycles."

Altair and Ren were incredulous, with many questions spinning within their minds.

"That said, there is a way to speed line this process if you will. And that's by tragedy. Force a child to grow up with the horrors of the world, and this strange phenomenon will vanish entirely. I can't say much about Altair, but Renia's blood is something that is extremely pure. I'm sure you're one of these special souls. At least you were one of them."

"Lord Raven knows the answer!" the crow shouted on top of Ren's head. "It's known as the Invocation of Innocence," she said with a caw! "Most newborn souls, and I mean newborn souls, fresh off from the boat tend to be attuned to the One's Ancient Aura, making them sort of immortal in a sense. They see things and hear things most cannot even begin to comprehend.

That's why it's so important to hone the child during this state."

"So this Jin is one of them? Of these—"

"Absolutes, they are called,' said Raven, saluting with her wing.

"Whatever. So Jin, the King of Astera, is one of them?"

"Prince, not king," Syris informed him. "Strangely enough, I can't get much information on the King and Queen of Asteria.

Altair folded his arms, annoyed. Annoyed by his own ignorance surrounding the Myriad Heavens. There had been only four Prime Worlds, each of them with their own Gods and histories dating back far beyond what people ever hoped to comprehend in a single lifetime.
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Noctem, Astera, Genisis and Vilistar. They had been the Prime Worlds that governed all of the Myriad Heavens. Be it trade or tradition, all came from these four worlds.

He sighed and pulled himself from his thoughts, recalling they were upon the battlefield, not in some tavern or library.

"Raven, what have you seen?"

"It's bad out there. Aside from your Pale Knights waging war, these Soul Kings are, without question, winning. I saw one bore into the throat of a young man, invading his body and soul to transfigure his body into one that could be used to its full abilities." she answered, a feat even she had been surprised about.

No soul could inhabit a body that was not their own and gain true authority over it, no matter how powerful one is. Much like a soul, the body was just as unique, carrying its flaws and frequency. Body and soul worked harmoniously as one. For a foreign soul to take over anyone's body broke that harmony.

The Prince knew this, having heard it from Tenebrae long ago. 'However, if they could alter the genetic makeup with Transfiguration, then… Gods. Screw these Olds Gods. That's broken! No wonder Transfiguration is a School of Magic.'

A/N: Fun Fact: All Body Cutlvation is Transfiguration

"However, Master, you shouldn't worry. With the Sword of the Vale, you should be able to cut through even the Laws of Causality." Raven was convinced, flapping her wings, her beady eyes poised upon her Master.

"Talking about me now?" Came the dark, sultry voice that sent a tingle of fear dancing along the spine of everyone present.

They all whirled towards the voice standing upon the rubble of a collapsed building. They saw a young man with long jet-black hair and eyes of gold that seemed like orbs of stars. Bare-chested with sultry-colored skin and slender features, he appeared every bit of a young master.

"Davos is the name," he said, grinning with an amused gleam in his eyes. He waved his hand, and as if an intangible force had struck them, blood gushed from out of Syris's tender lips. She was torn off her feet a dozen miles away from her location, scraping over the earth like a rag doll until she reached the great wall of Vesim.

Altair and Ren stood poised, their faces slightly pale as their Almighty Resistance bore the brunt of the Astral Qi over their bodies.

'Was that telekinesis?' Altair thought, shaken to his core. He couldn't even sense it.

"Oh? Almighty Qi?" He grinned a little surprised and slid down from the rubble with his arms poised behind his back. "No… you two are dry. What unique souls you possess: To grant such a Resistance. I wonder who your parents are."

Blood-like flames sprang from over Reina's physical features, turning her hair crimson. She slid Ice from out its scabbard, readying herself against the monster before her.

Altair snapped, and from all reaches of Vesim, his Pale Knights emerged, summoned by their Prince.

Davos felt his smile thin, counting the hundreds of Pale Knights surrounding him. He touched his hairless chin, thinking. "You're not bad. Not bad at all. Such a shame I'm in such a weakened state. Still.." he laughed, cracking his neck.

"Shall we see what this body can do?"

And once again, Altair felt an intangible force… a strange domain expanding from out of Davos about forty meters in diameter.

Aurora became the first to move, pointing her finger toward Davos. A bolt of infernal lighting flashed like a beam of iridescent light.

"Demonic Lighting, eh?' he laughed, opening his palm, catching the infernal lighting bolt with his bare hands. Crackles blazed and burned, but as if held by some intangible force, it could not harm Davos.

[Daddy: Damn!]

[Archeon: I hate Astral users. They trivialize all long-range attacks.]

Altair felt his jaw dropped, unable to believe his eyes, when [foresight] warned of danger.

Hurling the lightning back towards Auroar at three times the speed, Altair barely had time to appear, slapping the lightning away with his understanding of how it worked. Stones turned to magma and magma to vaper in the blink of an eye beneath the sheer force of the lightning.

DING

Name: Davos ???

Race: Dragon [Transfiguration]

Str: 100

Dex: 100

Con: 100

Wis:100

Chr:100

Mana: 100

'He's just like Master? Their stats are the same. But how the hell is he—'

"That eye?" Davos said darkly, sensing something invading his soul. He scowled and moved like a blur; his image became like an iridescent ribbon arriving before Altair in a flash.

Altair felt his heart skip a beat at the terrifying speed, reacting only based on instinct. His palm clashed against Davos's, sending shockwaves through the city. Altair held his ground, gritting his teeth, feeling his bones vibrate. He flicked his wrist, seeking to sever Davos's arm with Shadowclaw.

But in a frightening sense of awareness, Davos danced away with his mysterious footwork, flicking his finger as if to gesture his opponent to follow. Altair was jerked toward him with the aid of telekinesis.

"Bastard!"

Davos only laughed, ducking beneath 'Ice' that came like a wild storm above his head. He pioved back off the tips of his toes.

"You two are nice! Green but nice. Don't worry, I won't kill you. But… you'd better entertain me, well." He said, transferring energy into his Spirit Domain. "If you don't, I might accidentally tear an arm or two off."