9 Soul Gathering (1/2)
A battlefield was mired in carca.s.ses yet without blood. What was once a flouris.h.i.+ng flower field had now become a ma.s.s graveyard void of burial rites. In the center of all the carnage, a pristine youth not over the age of 8 sat unfazed and seemingly bored on a pile of corpses. Grasping his unique blade which countered logic and had the ability to hone itself. Usually blades would dull after rending flesh for the thousandth time but this one was whet by the blood of the d.a.m.ned and could shatter the hardest of metals.
The piles of corpses included not only treacherous humans but also demons of varying calibers. Innumerable lesser demons, a few formidable ones, and even a bunch of notorious fiends were downed by the youth.
Suddenly, the ground had begun to rumble. The youth calmly and instantly distanced himself from the pile of dead. Similar to a black hole, the pile of dead imploded. A demon emerged from the wreckage and its miasma spread across the battlefield.
It had the appearance of a skeleton but was 8 meters tall and donned the gear of a common footsoldier. It towered above the youth who had not even reached his teenage years. The aura it emitted could compete with the acc.u.mulated aura of a thousand or more lesser demons. The aura partially suppressed people and regular humans would faint from the pressure.
Sensing the youth, it thrust its spear forward. Itsuki sidestepped nonchalantly and avoided the strike. The attack left a giant crater in the ground which clearly indicated that the skeleton was in a league of its own.
Tch. No blood, he thought.
He wouldn't bother with something this troublesome if he had nothing to gain. Blood of this caliber could considerably boost him but alas it was a skeleton.
He began to leave which the skeleton obviously wouldn't allow. He was about to activate Stealth and don the Concealment Mask in order to leave but was interrupted. A thunderous crash sounded behind him and his curiosity caused him to look back.
The skeleton screeched as if despairing. The miasma then began to dissipate and the demonic glow in its eyes faded. It then crumbled and each shard of bone became dust.
”One must finish what they start”, a voice suddenly said.
Using Soul Perception, he instantly located the newly arrived individual. It was a man who wore the robes of a monk yet one could readily see that there was far more to him than a caretaker of a temple. The monk then raised his palm which shone. It emitted a blinding light which seemed to sear everything surrounding him.
[Ability Unveiled: Unyielding Soul]
[Ability Unveiled: Resilient Mind]
”It seems I am not the sole defier of fate”, the monk said amused and intrigued.
Itsuki stood unfazed by the holy ray and his Spirit s.h.i.+eld pulsated furiously as if irritated by the attack. He merely held onto the hilt of his blade, preparing to retaliate if provoked any further by the monk.
[Rank Quest Path:
Description: Uphold the Holy Supremacy's Will
Current Objective: Become His Disciple
Reward: 50000 Points]
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”CLOSE THE GATES!!!”, the guard exclaimed as the sky began to dim.
When the sun sets, residents of every village, town, and even clan would go into hibernation. Nights were dynamic and could last from an hour to an entire month. Extended periods of night were beneficial to those with a Celestial Apt.i.tude such as the Moonsoul but it was disadvantageous to everyone else and especially devastating to the general populace. It instilled a sense of dread and the inevitability of death among the powerless and households often worked to procure endless surpluses of food as demonic nights were unpredictable and occurred sporadically.
Demons would roam the streets at night and unless they were of sufficient strength, they could not enter a household without the explicit consent of the owner. There were also some demons that were strong enough to retain their might in the daytime but they were generally solitary and far more elusive.
A hazy mist descended upon the world and silhouettes of abominations could be seen if one squinted. At this time, only guards and capable warriors remained outside. If they were not one of the two then they were likely dead or about to be dead.
Many watchtowers guarded this one town as it contained a prominent marketplace which was affiliated with both the Yamato and Akagi Clan. Clans housed individuals with great Apt.i.tudes and strength which allowed them to combat the nightly terrors. Many guards in this town were sent from the clans to maintain relations and protect their incentives.
A hideous tongue reached across the fence which protected the town. It latched onto something and was about to propel itself. A blur of moisture suddenly apparated and a swordsman severed the monster's tongue.