Shadow of the Abyss

In a single breath, the once azure skies were baptized a cardinal red. Perhaps it had been that those that had appeared had thought Altair's forsaken as cannon fodder, but the moment they struck, few were able to defend. Those that couldn't be slain in a single strike were felled by the third. There were no exceptions.

Under the burning sun, thunder rolled across the clear skies as the battle turned into a slaughter before all was silent. Not a single one made it into a range of five hundred meters before they were killed.

Of course, Altair only half paid attention to the turbulent storm overhead. Raven had not directly joined the battle but chose to remain by his side in the event someone broke through his perimeter. It was a good choice. Not a few minutes after he had left the holy grounds of Sepith did an arrow capable of killing any Ninth Circle struck true. It stopped an inch from the projection of Vale Qi emanating from Raven's slender palm. As if all its kinetic force and Mana had been absorbed, the arrow fell limp onto the floor.

It was Nia who spotted the sniper three miles south, commanding Therion, the fastest of the forsaken, to take care of him.

The more Altair saw, the more he realized how powerful his people were becoming. Each Forsaken had all his skills but lacked the experience that defined each skill's proficiency. That was until an olive-skinned woman managed to step onto his carriage. The way she moved suggested that she was proficient in the ways of Shadowheart. It was the first time Altair had seen someone use Shadowheart outside his circle and use it at a higher level than he had reached.

Not only was the strange woman hiding her intent inside her heart, but she was also doing the same for inanimate objects, including sound waves and light particles. Not only had she stepped onto his carriage through the door, but she had the audacity to close it afterward, only to freeze mid-step when she saw him looking right into her golden eyes.

Altair considered it lucky that he had chosen to flash his domain of Omnipotence when he did, or else he would have been caught off guard and most likely killed. Raven had still not noticed.

"Now, I don't really want to kill you. You made it so close," Altair said in a flat tone, hoping he didn't sound too entertained. "I'd like to say congratulations, though I don't believe you'll live long if you decide to attack." He pointed to the seat beside Raven. "Sit."

The woman's sleek expression contorted from serine into unease. She obeyed, though reluctantly.

"Who taught you Shadowheart?"

"The Maiden of Cold Steel, Lady Luness of Elsfrost," The woman replied, glancing at Raven, who was glaring out hurt pride.

That made Altair smile. "Then how did you reach such a high level? I had heard that those that walk the realm of Soul can only be taught the basics and had to master advanced techniques through their luck and talent." He had at least talent but had not reached the second level of Shadowheart. He chose to ignore the fact that it hadn't even been a year since he learned Shadowheart.

A line of sweat shrieked down the maiden's strange green skin as she gave an audible gulp. "I—"

"Please. Do relax. It would speed this conversation along."

"If…If you are going to kill me," the olived colored woman began once more, and it was only then that Altair noticed that strange accent she carried. "Why should I tell you anything? Spare my life, and I'll—"

The condescension in Altair's voice permeated the carriage walls. "I have a devil as a Sword Maid. I'm sure she'll have you screaming all your little secrets by day's end. So spare me your words and get on with it. Your life is up to my whims." Of course, he could simply kill her and view her entire life like a movie and be done with the matter, but where was the fun in that? No, Altair quite enjoyed playing with his food.

"My Father is after an Infernal Monarch. I've countless Devils under me."

[Update to User Name]

[Daddy—> Second Infernal Monarch]

[Second Infernal Monarch: Stop the Cap! I haven't given you shit!]

Altair could kick his father.

[Archeon: Well, there is a handful of Succubus in Vastroph right now. I'm quite sure they all work for the Young Master.]

[She Who Hunts: Isn't Altair as strong as a True Devil yet?]

[Piercing Owl: Too Early to tell.]

[Second Infernal Monarch: He is close to or on the level of a royal devil.]

[Conquest: Aurelia Morningstar has not given him Seraphine. Will he be granted that blessing?]

[Second Infernal Monarch: Hell, if I know.]

Conquest: She's your Sister-in-law] Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

[Second Infernal Monarch: And she's your bloody niece. All you Fallen/Angels are related in some way. You can ask.]

[Conquest: I forgot how exhausting it is to deal with you fucking Snows. I hope Altair didn't rub off on you.]

[First Neph: Aurelia hasn't given him Seraphine. And she doesn't think it's a good idea. At least not until he gets a handle on his own power.]

[Conquest: SEE! How hard was that! Bloody Snows!]

[Second Infernal Monarch: I'm on Earth, come catch these hands!]

[First Neph: Hehe!]

***

Forced to release an audible sigh, Altair threw his head back to rest his eyes. He did not miss that accursed chat box. Tenebrae had told him many times that Arsene had a talent for pissing people off. He never believed it, at least not until now.

"Keep going, woman," He said. "And what is your name?"

"Yes! Yes! It Ye'vanna," The woman said in haste. "I was able to obtain the second level of Shadowheart by eating a Shiitan! A Soul Stone!"

A/N: Shi-Tan Pronunciation

Altair opened his eyes, shifting them to the woman. "A Shiitan?"

"Yes! Some call it the Will of the Myriad Heavens. It's these little shards that allow Progenitors to be born from the Myriad Heavens. If one is able to find a Shiitan, then you'll be able to fuse it into your soul to increase its power and comprehension many times over."

Altair blinked. "Do you have any—"

A small violet-pink glass shard the size of a slab of small diamond appeared in Ye'vanna's palm. It seemed so small yet seemed to sparkle even where light could not reach, permeating the carriage with its ethereal glow.

Raven took the shard and examined it for a few seconds before handing it to Altair when she determined it was safe. Ye'vanna's expression was sour, but she held her tongue.

[Divine Sin, The Second Monarch, tilts his head in shock at the Shiitan and expresses that it's the first time he has ever seen one.]

Examining the Shiitan in the light, Altair was a bit taken aback by the weight of the shard. Physically, it couldn't be more than a few grams in weight, but the weight on his soul was so strong a tight tension lanced through his body.

"The Shiitan is used to train the Soul," Altair muttered.

"That is one way, but you are only feeling that weight because your soul essence is so unkept," Ye'vanna said with an odd expression. "Most that hold a Shiitan typically lose conscious…" She silenced herself when Altair glanced at her with a cold smile.

Altair didn't quite mind that she still had a mind to kill him. He appreciated it. It was his ignorance that landed him in this trap, but in this case, there was no harm done.

"No, please do go on. I'm interested." An explosion sounded from the outside as more of the otherworlds continued to court death. Flashes of explosions came and went, shooting tremors through the carriage as it carried on.

"Only those that have achieved some mastery of the art of Soul Manipulation can wield a Shiitan," Ye'vanna said in a feeble tone. "Even when one is in the presence of some Gods that achieved their godhood with a high level of master of the soul, will lose consciousness if they are not careful. Shiitans are extremely rare, offering more than just a boast in comprehension or soul essence but also possessing extreme combat potential."

Altair tapped his fingers over the window ledge and grinned like a child, finally turning an eye toward the olive-skinned woman. "I've decided what to do with you. Even if you aren't that strong, to possess one of these babies is quite an achievement. I don't think your Master gave it to you." Ye'vanna's silence was all the answer Altair needed. "So you stole it, or you found it. Whatever the case, you've achieved something that is insanely hard to accomplish. Congrats. So… I won't kill you. You're a bit too valuable to die so early. Don't look so pale. I've already said I won't kill you."

"Sometimes death is a mercy," Ye'vanna explained.

Altair went on as if he hadn't heard anything. "So I'll keep you as a hostage. She'll have a hundred years to seek you out before I kill you. Raven, if you don't mind, bring her to the Serpents Outreach."

"Of course, my Master."