Shadow of the Abyss

As if he had reached a well of power that appeared near limitless, Altair's perception of reality began to transcend. His stats hadn't changed in the traditional sense; if anything, he felt leaner than before as his muscles and Mana began to condense. The power he commanded was becoming closer to the Vale, so much so that he found it quite difficult to differentiate between Vale Qi and Mana. There was almost no difference now.

Staring at the blackish violet mote of energy dancing around his fingers, shimmering like a burning sun, ready to consume the world. He breathed, releasing that energy, feeling the pang of the Thirteen Godhands echoing from some distant past. They were like Ancient Wells of Power that simply could not be contained by his fleshy body or unrefined soul.

The sensation of the Godhands resonating through his mind appeared no different than a chorus of music. There were thirteen of them: thirteen bloodlines, thirteen hands, thirteen powers, thirteen voices.

At first, Altair had no intention of tapping into such a power, dreading Mephisto's warning, and yet… how could he resist the call? Was such power not his birthright? How could he refuse to use what was his? It was the same as asking a bird not to fly or a fish not to swim. Surely Mephisto did not expect him to simply obey?

"Master?" Raven's soothing voice pulled him from his inner voice, awakening him to the present. A shiver ran through his body as he looked up, breaking into a cold sweat. For some reason, her eyes were scrutinizing, filled with what could only be suspicion. "I got the feeling you were about to do something stupid."

Altair could only force a laugh. "How could you say such a thing to your Master? You hurt me." Raven hummed in reply, those suspicious eyes of hers narrowing into slits.

The small voice of the Vale King was roaring with laughter. "Pride and Sloth, how they work wonderfully!"

He ignored the voice, focusing on Raven and the bit of blood on her face. For all the womans power, she had a nasty habit of not using her understanding of the Seven Schools of the Arcanes to cleanse herself, choosing to use a handkerchief or rag like a caveman.

"Another intruder?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Assassin," she corrected, tossing an obsidian red dagger onto his desk. "Master, this is getting out of hand. Every day, there are at least ten attempts on your life."

"Tera is also in a mess," Altair groaned, not really wanting to think back to the disaster back there. "I'll have to return to the Sunset Palace soon to deal with the several hundred representatives from various worlds outside our sector in space."

"Master, we should go on the offensive," Raven not so much said but demanded. "We are so open that—"

"I am well aware of my life in jeopardy, but I have you, my ever-loyal familiar. I'm sure you'll figure it out. For now, we stay," Altair decided, amusing himself with Raven's colorful expression.

Did she ever use to get angry like this? The question amused him.

Raven bit her lip. "Then, at least take a break. You've been working constantly without rest."

"I think I've moved past such mortal limitations. I should have long ago." Altair remarked, clenching his fist. If not for his constant battles with Soul Exhaustion, he felt that perhaps he might have been further in his training. He might have even tapped into that Ancient Well of Power—the Godhands.

Altair wasn't exactly sure why they were called Godhands. In his mind, they had multiple names—Godheads, Thrones, Swords, Crown—and Godhand simply seemed like the iteration that came to his mind first.

Between the Sin of Pride, pushing his comprehension to new heights whenever he felt even a pang of jealousy towards his followers for being able to achieve enlightenment, or the Sin of Sloth tempering his will into cold steel, Altair felt he was stepping further away from mortality—if only he could access that Well of Power once more.

BANG!!!!

Just then, the door snapped open, and Ashara came flying in. "Master! Are you really the son of the Second Monarch of the Nine Hells, whose Brother is the Protector but also the renowned Silver Devil?"

"... All these bloody titles…" Altair grumbled. "And where the hell have you been? It's been months. I've seen your Succubi more than I see you."

"Hehe! Little old me?" She pursed her lips seductively while also touching her belly. "Did you miss me, or did you miss reaching all the way up—"

Raven coughed with reddened cheeks. "I'm also here, you know."

There was a bit of an exchange between the two Altair caught but didn't quite understand. He chose to ignore it; if it were important, they would have told him.

"You've got information for me?"

"Ah! Sorry. I would have everything ready, but with this new information about you being the Second Infernal Monarch's son, it's been chaos out there. The Vampire Lord is scared shitless. Not that I blame him. He doesn't want to anger a True Lord of Wrath."

"I've been meaning to ask; my Father doesn't seem like an angry person… why'd he choose the Sin of Wrath?"

[Ding]

[Divine Sin, Second Monarch of Hell, throws his head back and laughs since he would have rather chosen the Sin of Lust.]

[Divine Sin, Second Monarch of Hell, laments at his poor choices.]

"There weren't many records about your Father like the other Monarchs, but he is a follower of the Second Form, Ren-Shii, the Form of Vengeance and Carnage. And unlike the other Monarchs who master a few, your Father obtained True Master of such a form."

"Ren-Shii? ISn't that form that throws defense away for offense? Isn't that battle form suicidal? You can't even use footwork to escape blows."

"Said the man who is practicing a form that drives him mad," Raven mouthed off half to herself, half aloud; the girl was certainly getting more sassy. She was truly asking for a spanking.

Altair eyes glowed from black to sparkling red as he eyed the woman up and down, unable to decide what to do about her before his gaze swayed to Ashara's bright ones.

"Master! Lady Grimory wants to see you and your Father. For some reason, she can't track his energy in the Serpents Outreach."

'Zero's Wardings seem to be working quite well,' Altair thought and said, "That was intentional. As for the meeting… that's up to father. I've no say over him."

[Second Infernal Monarch: I'm always down to meat a baddie… Is she a baddie?]

'Oh Dear Lord…'

[Second Infernal Monarch: Set it for two years. I'll be fully recovered enough… maybe.]

Altair was massaging his temple, replying to Ashara. The young Lilm was practically ecstatic, clasping her hands together, giggling like a schoolgirl.

'... Ashara in a School Dress… Damn.'

'That's not a bad idea,' The Vale King sounded, in equal enjoyment of the imagery. They gulped.

"Lady Grimory will certainly be delighted."

"Yeah-Yeah. Now, tell me about the Vampiric Lord is he—"

"Oh, right! The outworlders screwed everything up," Ashara began with a serious expression. "A few with Transcendent levels of power have already approached him. Most have died, but a few have managed to scare him with their power. I'm afraid he might go into hiding."

"Approach him, and tell him a Duke son would like to offer him protection… for a price. From what I remember from that fool, he is quite arrogant. He'd rather side with an ally than flee from his home. To not let him know what you are."

Ashara grinned. "Of course, my Lord. And might I add, there are a few transcendent who have said that they'll kill him if they don't use his spawns to kill Nox De Neir."

"Even better," Altair mused. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

"Indeed. No one likes being told what to do. Especially prideful men, but I'll need to send him a gift… you don't mind if I temporarily offer him one of my girls for a long stay, right?"

"There yours to do what you will. Are you still summoning them?"

"Of course, my Master. I summon two Devel or Demon a month; it'll be more if we get low-grade ones, but I'd rather intelligence over strength… at least for now."

"That's fine. Is that everything?" Altair asked, and Ashara nodded, then said, "Oh… I almost forgot. Sorry. One of the Transcendents that threatened Sypher said that his master was on his way—a nobleman from Genisis. That was two days ago…"

"You're kind of late telling me this," Raven spoke out. "Genisis possess weapons that could kill even the strongest of gods. How easy is it for a nobleman to acquire such weaponry?"

"As simple as a babe suckles at its mom's tit," Ashara noted. "He'll no doubt be in possession of some valuable tech, but that doesn't change anything, does it?"

"No, it doesn't," Altair remarked in an overly calm voice that scared even himself. It felt so distant that he almost thought there was another personality aside from the Vale King. "Whomever he is will die like a dog by my hands if he dares challenge me."