Shadow of the Abyss

As the Vale Throne began to grow more corporeal, the twin Vale Stars above the Prince's head grew ever more radiant. Like a burning star, he shimmered like the silver gates of the Heavens.

"Bastard," The Astral Ghoul spouted, staggering back with a gaping hole in his chest. A smile was present on his disfigured face. "So you're a necromancer. Nothing I hate more than those that fuck with the laws of life and death."

The ghoul reached for his chest and, before Heaven and Earth, began to peel away the flesh tainted by the Vale. He wasn't sure what manner of Source this energy was but felt it attack both the body and soul.

"Unfortunately, you've just touched upon the power of a Spirit Domain. Allow us to show you why we, Astral Monster, are so feared by all of the Myriad Heavens."

"The dead have no right to speak before me,' the Prince decreed, conjuring the World of Shadow's Grimoire. The moment it appeared, the mana whirled from beyond the control of many within the city.

Strava sneered, unveiling his domain: 'Dominating Mountain.' pressuring everything within a hundred meters. From every cell that encompassed the Prince, every microfiber within the air, several tons of force came crashing down like a mountain.

The earth shattered as all the shadows and astral monsters came crashing dozens of meters into the ground, creating craters all around.

Blood pooled from the Prince's nose as he stood his ground from within a crater. Beneath nearly fifty tons of force bearing down on his being, Altair wanted to roar in pain, yet knowing aided him as the Vale Cloak instinctually began to lessen the force upon his mighty body.

He roared, and in a single step, he was before Strava when the force upon his body shifted direction, blasting him miles into the air. Unsure why his foresight didn't let him perceive what would happen.

"Shit!" Altair roared, cursing beneath his breath when he saw Strava soaring after him. The unease came when he began to understand his intent. 'What a ridiculous ability. He's going to use his domain to propel me down into the earth. And I can't fly.'

Propelled forward by his astral qi, Strava was upon Altair in a matter of moments. He smirked and pointed down. Find your next read at m_v l|e'm-p| y r

"ART!!!!!" Ren roared, flashing forward in a blaze of emerald flames. On her back shone the necrotic flames of her mana manipulation, granting her phoenix-like wings.

Piercing through Strava's domain, to his shock, made little difference as the Domain of Dominating Mountain allowed him to exert force in any direction he pleased. And while he wasn't sure how Altair was still alive, it made little difference once he tore off his head.

"Down!"

Ren suddenly felt her body turn against her as tons of force came crashing into her, seeking to tear her from the skies. And yet, as the Necrotic Flames of the Hells blazed around her, space distorted, offering a sort of protection.

She vanished, applying all four hundred of her mana attribute to Broken Moon. A horrid explosion took place as Strava was forced to defend with his talons. He was sent flying, his astral Qi not holding as well as he thought against the Necrotic Flames of Ren.

The instance they were out of his domain, Ren caught Altair.

"We can't escape, so don't even try.' The Prince said. "How many times can you use Necrotic Flame?"

"Two more," Ren said, a little short of breath. "My mana is nearly depleted from our fight with Davos."

"We need to land."

"You're not going anywhere," Strava said, returning in a few breaths. "Just give it up, boy, even if I can't finish you. You'll eventually tire out. No way that body of yours can keep this up. If I've learned anything in my endless life. That Throne of yours is taking something quite precious in return for all that energy.

Allow me your life, and I swear upon the Imperium of the Astral Realm that I, Strava Suvilam, will not slay her afterward. Listen to me well, boy. This is merely the second layer of my Spirit Domain. There are seven more left to tap into."

Altair felt the hairs upon his neck stand on end, but he couldn't afford for fear to cloud his mind. If there was anything that rotted the mind, it was fear.

'If that was the case," he said. "If that were the case, you would've done so long ago. No… I think… No, I know you Astral Creatures can't use this Astral Qi as much as you want. Your souls are either in a weakened state, or the Shadow Proclamation has limited your power."

[Ding]

[Vale Manipulation has Increased by 3%]

[Vale Manipulation has Increased by 3%]

Ignoring the changes to his mind and body, Altair felt his own domain coming together. He was drowning in a sea of knowledge that was not his own. He could feel the flow of space, the strings of karma that connected him and Ren, the eyes of Beelzbubub's intent, the will of the Gods watching, and more. He could feel Authority.

The binds of the Shadow Proclamation, the Laws of Life and Death, and so much more that knowledge began to burn his very soul.

[Vale Manipulation has Increased by 3%]

"Then DIE!!!!!" Strava roared.

Altair felt as if a bat had been taken to his face, jerking him from Ren's arm. Blood popped from out his lips as he caught sight of Ren in the same position. Another invisible blow caught him again, casting him downwards into the earth like a meteor.

"Shadow Cage!" He shouted, using the world of shadow grimoire to pause him mid-flight for a single instance. He had Aurora make the earth soft as mud with 'Mold Earth.'

Everything had happened so fast that not even Strava had time to understand what happened as he came barreling toward Altair for the kill. However, as he arrived, he frowned, noticing that aside from a few bruises, Altair was perfectly alright.

"Restoration!" said Aurura, aiding her Prince with a bright smile.

"Monster," the Astral Ghoul muttered, looking around at the hundreds of shadows arriving. "What are you sacrificing for this power!"

"CAWWWWW!!!!!!! Master doesn't need to sacrifice!" Raven shouted, flapping her small wings. She landed upon her master's shoulder, enjoying the rich sensation of home emanating from his being.

"Eh?" Strava suddenly turned, taking a step back as his left arm flew high into the air, landing with a thud. His hollowed-out pupils shrank deeper into his skull as he turned to see a blood-stained Syris surrounded by a strange ripple of energy.

"That bastard caught me off guard last time, not this time," Syris said. "I'll show you the power of a Highborn Celestial." She cursed, merging the properties of space and sword with her innate skill of 'fusion.'

"You recovered." The Prince exclaimed, though his guard was up, as he scanned the battlefield, spotting a few Astral Monsters waiting. 'Waiting for me to exhaust myself,' he thought.

Strava glanced at his missing arm with a deep frown. 'I'm almost out of Astral Qi.' he noted inwardly, calmly glancing around at the others watching. 'Tsk… looks like I'll have to cut my losses on this one. But how is this Altair alive? My domain was supposed to pressure even the brain. Why is he still alive?

I best consult Davos.'

"Cutting your losses?" Altair asked bitterly, recognizing the way Strava's tense shoulder relaxed.

"It's not even been a single day, yet you're already half dead, surrounded by hundreds of my kin." he smiled. "You'll see me again. I hope you survive till then."

And he was gone.

Syris sneered, approaching Altair while Ren emerged from the skies to his right.

"You two should have escaped." The Prince told them, the burn within his mind turning to a sizzling mess of anguish.

"I don't need your protection," Syris exclaimed, betrayed by the warmth in her voice that echoed. "Though you did come to my aid. So it's only fair I do the same."

"As competitive as ever." He muttered, clutching his right eye. He could feel the Vale penetrating through his flesh.

'Master?" said Raven with a caw.

'I'm fine… Lets—"

"Is it my turn now? Strava, that little bitch went so easy on you."

The voice that echoed came from behind, coming from a tall, muscular man with hair so red it flowed like blood down his shoulders. Skin the color of obsidian with eyes to match approached Altair and his team.

"Heard you met Davos and lasted against him. Not bad. Not bad. Little chicks with fangs." he laughed. "But I'm not as easygoing as him. That number on your head could serve me well in reaching the sixth level.

Nearly two-thirds of the people have already been slaughtered. All that is left is you babel tower weaklings. "

'Screw you, Beelzebub. How are we supposed to win this? These bastards are all on another level. Strava nearly killed us. If not for the Vale, I'd be dead.' Altair thought quite bitterly.

"You've got a powerful body. I like that. So I'll give you a chance. Survive a single attack from me. And I'll let you live. I'll order these weaklings here to back off for a single week." The dark-skinned man declared, his bright teeth showcasing rows of jagged teeth.

"You expect me to believe that? Killing me would—"

"Be a mistake. I'm no fool," he said, shaking his head. "You're definitely some chosen. And if Lord Malzeen here saw to increase your rank to Five thousand, you must be important."

Altair expression was grim; he wiped the blood from his nose that never seemed to stop flowing and stepped out. "What's your name?"

"Protector of the Weave, Keres Umbel. First Commander of Zariel Snow, Architect of the Weave, Protector of the One."