Shadow of the Abyss

For the longest time, Altair had found himself enthralled with the knowledge held within the school of Necromancy. Unlike the School of Animus, which focused on manipulating one's soul, the School of Necromancy, at least in its infancy, focused on manipulating other people's souls: A feat he'd been instinctually doing since he'd first resurrected Kirr.

Fallen Necromancy had been proof of his talent.

After learning the basics of Necromancy, the more he found that his Fallen Necromancy, which had always been stagnant, began to deepen in terms of proficiency in such a way, Tasha seemed almost concerned by how well he was mastering this branch of magic. It seemed almost inconceivable, but in just a month, he'd stepped into the realm of intermediate.

Presently, he stood downtown within the heart of a nameless city whose name appeared lost since its downfall. Facing hordes of Skeleton Warriors charging at him. Yet that wasn't much concern for Altair as an orb of black light glinted off the tip of his finger.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, the scarlet pigment in his eyes turned to an eternal black as the presence of the Vale began to pulsate from his body like a heartbeat. Silvery flames began to writhe across the Emperor's palm, shrouding Emna with their ethereal flame.

"Necromancy is about domineering," Tasha began like a devil on his shoulder. "When you claim a soul, it's done out of desire. When you command your shadows to rise, it's done out of your authority as their lord, their King. You cannot be soft, my Lord. You needn't show finesse or pity. A king feels neither.

Decree your intent and bend this Soul Flame into what you desire. Even if they might scream and writhe in such unimaginable agony. You must will your commandments into being."

The presence of the Vale became corporal, giving pause to the charging undead. The authority of mana controlling their bodies slowly dissipated as a new force presented itself to the realm—a force beyond the Myriad Heavens, so profound it resonated across the realm of the third floor.

"Bind," said the Emperor in the language of the Hells, Infernal.

Just then, an Infernal scream echoed across the walls of ruined buildings, resonating high and low across the city. So depraved it sounded, no one could imagine the level of pain it was experiencing as the silvery flames of this nameless soul merged with Enma.

Silence gripped the realm as the gods watched in awe. Some rose with fear while others laughed upon their infernal throne as the black orb appeared to drain the color from the world.

With a lithe step forward, Altair pointed his finger, invoking the spell, "Enma."

In a blinding flash of eldritch light, monolithic buildings that were entangled by an amalgamation of branches turned to vaper as Enma exploded into a pillar of light, connecting heaven to earth. From north to south, east to west, the elements were devoured in a way that left the world barron as if it was at a loss for words, needing the time to breathe.

When the world was finally allowed to breathe, a tormented gale swallowed the realm in a black lash that tore down buildings hundreds of miles wide.

[Ding]

[Ding]

[Ding]

[Ding]

[Ding]

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As hundreds of notifications filled his iris, Altair ignored it, left in awe by his own power amplified by a single soul. He simply had to wonder if we're to add ten or twenty more soul flames into Enma how much stronger woud it become.

A rather nasty smile played on his lips as he lifted his finger, ready to invoke yet another spell, when Tasha tapped his shoulder.

"You need to be crueler, your grace. When you bind a soul to a spell, you essentially refine that soul into power. You've taken sixty percent of that soul's power. You need to strip the soul bare all the way down to its core. Tear the soul asunder until so that the core requires cycles to recover. There isn't a need to be merciful.

Not when it comes to necromancy. Aurelia, the first Nephilim, said that when she fought against two Archangels to a standstill during the Battle of Evernight."

"Evernight?" Altair muttered.

"I guess she wouldn't have told you," Tasha said. "Long ago, a war was waged against the Night Mother. Zariel Snow and Aurelia Morningstar led the charge against the first primordial, felling all those who dared to stand in their way. The Battle of Evernight marked the turning point of the war.

In her anger, having lost one of her beloved children, Ciaran, to the hands of the Silver Devil, Tenebrae called forth two Archangels, who arrived with an entire battalion.

"It was Aurelia alone who took them on while Zariel hunted down Tenebrae. It was said that Aurelia was only an Infringement God at the time, while the Archangel was one level higher. Still, the battle ended in a draw, annihilating the Kingdom of Evernight. It was said that Aurelia slaughtered every last battalion member using their soul and blood to empower herself."

Altair froze. It never occurred to him that his uncle and mother had once been enemies. After all, they were all a family now.

'Why did mother even marry father then? Could it have been a political marriage?' he wondered, trying not to let his emotions show.

He failed. Tasha saw right through him and laughed. "You don't have to worry about the Silver Devil hating you. That's all in the past. Archangel Michael, Archangel Gabriel, Shiva, Lord Mephistopheles, and Lord Lucifer ended the war during the Battle of Heaven's End."

"What started the war?" Altair couldn't help but ask.

"..." Tasha went silent for a second. "I'm not sure. The records have been destroyed by the Eighth Monarch but there were rumors it involved the Second Monarch of Hell, Lord Arsene Snow."

"Are you all done?" Morrigan asked, lowering the barrier she'd made to guard against the shockwave that leveled over a hundred miles to rubble.

"Are you still mad?" Tasha couldn't help but ask, giggling.

Morrigan cheeks flared. "Don't you dare bring that up!"

"One handjob, and you're getting so embarrassed. You had Lord Blackwood shooting—"

"Enough!" Morrigan squealed, never wanting to dig herself a grave more than she did at this movement.

Tasha sighed. "Such a shame he's no memory of it." she shot a peculiar glance at Altair. "I'm not sure if I should feel offended for Morrigan or not."

"In my defense," Altair raised his hand. " I've never been that drunk in my life. However…" he glanced at Morrigan covering her face, and a smile touched his lips. "It wouldn't hurt if I could remember. You are a rather stunning specimen."

Morrigans blush only seemed to deepen.

Tasha inched closer to the goddess of slaughter, leaning onto her shoulder with a lewd smile. "You could help him remember. You know. I hear—"

Covering her mouth before more could said, Moriggan pleaded, "Please stop talking… I just want to forget that such a thing has ever happened. It was a drunken mistake."

Tasha pushed her hand away. "Please. There are no such things as mistakes to people of your level. You know what you were doing. Lie to Master all you want. But I know the truth." and her smile turned nasty.

"That night, you'd have fucked him silly if he hadn't fainted," she whispered.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Tilting his head, Altair said," What are you two talking about?"

Morrigan snorted. "Mind your business."

"After you stole my first kiss?" Tasha shook her head, pointing a mischievous finger at her. "You need to take responsibility for me."

Altair eyes went wide. "Mor! You kissed Tasha! How shameless…"

"YOU!"

"Raven wants kisses, too!" Raven joined, leaping onto Morgan's back. She wrapped her arms around her, claiming her as her own.

Laughter quickly spilled with Morrigan smiling brightest. She'd like Raven the most, finding that she was nearly a blank canvas when it came to worldly affairs.

"Alright, let's go," Altair suggested, glancing at the malack on the lookout. He chuckled to himself, curious how much control of this child whose bloodline had yet to awaken he would have in the near future. Tasha had informed him that most Malakh would awaken at age ten, but late bloomers usually required a trigger.

"I—" Pausing after a second, a screen appeared across Altair's iris, revealing the image of Aurora. His expression darkened for a moment when he noticed the grimness on Tasha's face.

"What is it?"

"Two Kingdoms just declared war on us," Aurora revealed.

Altair's frown deepened. "So suddenly?"

"They say that you have no legitimacy to the throne of earth, so they'll take everything," Aurora explained. "I suspect someone is backing them."

"They'll have to be. Leave it be for now. Fortify the Outer Rim. Let's see what they'll do first. And send me the information you have on them towards my neruolink. I want to see what bastard is courting death."

Aurora nodded. "My Lord, how long will you be in this dungeon?"

"Missing me already?"

Aurora flushed. "Always, but it would be better to have you here than away. I'm sure they'll be sending assassins after you."

"I'll be back in a week. Even if I have to annihilate this floor."