Chapter 1174: Monochrome World And A Spark Of Crimson

"Fu..." Exhaling softly, Eryn closed her eyes.

She stood alone in an empty plot of land, her mind drifting back to the fight she just had.

She had to review what went right, what went wrong. How she could avoid making the same mistakes as last time.

If their enemies were making new Hybrids just to deal with her, she had to make herself stronger than before in order to keep up.

But as a Lord, her growth had almost reached the limit.

The only thing she could improve on would be her technique.

Dealing with the Hybrid that could control time was no doubt the right choice.

The issue came with the battle afterwards.

*CLANG!!!

Even now, she could hear the sound of her blade being parried by the hybrid that could copy her attacks. The longer the fight went on for, the harder it became to kill her enemy. Not only that, but the hybrid with regeneration kept on interfering with the ’ideal sword path’.

Eryn slowly unsheathed her blade.

Her brows knit together.

’Rend.’

Her figure shifted forward, after images of her sword flicked around her as three slashes was unleashed at the same time.

No doubt an exquisite strike that would cut off all escape routes.

Even if it wasn’t lethal, serious damage would be done.

Or at least that’s what she believed before.

*CLANG!!!

A parry against the most dangerous strike, the neck.

Pinch the second strike between the elbow and knees.

The third will be blocked by her ally.

In that moment, all three strikes were blocked and her guard was forced open.

Eryn winced. Her hand touched her stomach where her most serious wound remained.

A claw strike that mixed the corruptive properties of Eldritch energy in order to prevent her from fully recovering.

She could supress the spread to some extent but fighting at her peak was no longer an option.

Though her enemies may have died eventually, they have pathed the path for their successors.

"My sword is still lacking..." Eryn mumbled with a somewhat bitter smile.

There was always this gap... this veil blocking her from attaining the pinnacle of blade techniques.

She had seen records of it. Just once before it was burned away.

Scriptures about a woman clad in silver cleaving apart a calamity with just a single blade.

The realm of Oblivion.

While authority and Sigil ability no doubt played a part in things, Eryn understood that the woman’s skill with a blade must be no less than her own.

There was a specific insight that she was lacking that the woman had.

Something that allowed her to reach beyond.

And in order for their journey to succeed, Eryn needed to reach the same level.

Eryn swung her sword, space trembled yet refused to shatter.

It was a simple strike with no authority behind it.

’I need to reach a state of Zero first.’ She came to the conclusion.

Discard all distractions.

That instant where her mind is empty. A state of unclouded, clear minded focus where ego, fear, desire all vanish into nothingness.

That transcendent moment where she is fully enraptured by a single action.

A slash.

Pure instinct and discipline, the swordswoman will be able to react effortlessly to any situation with infinite creativity.

She needed to unleash a cut at a conceptual level, at the level of Oblivion, to engrave upon the world the desire she wanted.

To ’slash’ at whatever she wanted.

Eryn relaxed her body and mind.

Her state of being like that of a lake’s surface without a single ripple.

Perfectly serene, reflecting the world around her.

Then, with a single droplet of intent, the surface breaks.

*KRKKKK!!!

A shrill high pitched screech escaped her sheath as her blade was drawn.

The world lost its colour, returning to a state of black and white.

Cracking around Eryn’s arm was crimson energy that screamed against all things.

Within this world, she saw a certain glimmer of red.

A tiny point in which she was wholly confident that it was a ’weak point’.

That if she was to strike it, destruction will surely follow.

She can do it.

She can reach beyond the veil.

A strike within this monotone world!

Eryn took a step forward.

*CRACK!!!

A fracture appeared within her view. Colour seeped back into her surroundings as the crimson light disappeared.

"!!!"

Out of desperation, Eryn slashed without being fully ready.

*BANG!!!

An arc of light that shattered the world erupted. Despite not having authority behind that strike, it continued forth until it left a deep mark against the mountains.

Crackles of crimson energy flickered around the edges of the strike and yet...

Eryn wasn’t satisfied.

She knew she failed at the final step.

She managed to glimpse at the world she had been desiring but wasn’t able to maintain the state.

*Krk...

"Hm?" Furrowing her brows, Eryn looked down at her blade.

A single fracture...

A blade that had remained by her side all this time had received a fracture upon its body.

Even while she was Hunting lord level beasts for her promotion, it had never cracked apart.

And yet...

Just the single act of trying to reach beyond the Veil had caused it to suffer such damage.

"I’m sorry old friend, I wasn’t responsible enough." Eryn had an apologetic look in her eyes as she sheathed the blade.

She had to be more careful with how she used this sword from now. It probably couldn’t survive another ’attempt’ at reaching Oblivion.

A new weapon was needed...

’If I recall... the North should have a master smith at the level of Lord. Even without his forge, given the right materials, he should be able to craft me a blade.’ Eryn thought to herself as she glanced at the slash mark that she left.

Kneeling down next to the beginning of the slash, she reached out with her finger as a crackle of crimson energy whipped against her finger.

*Drip...

Her skin broke from just the residue of the intent left behind as blood dripped against the ground.

Even if it was meagre, even if it was barely what she wanted, she had left her intent upon this world.

That the things approaching this slash will be ’cut’.

"It’s not perfect but it’s a good starting point."

Standing back up, Eryn made her way back to the camp. Albert should be finishing his preparations soon. Once that’s done, they’ll be making their journey to find the Northern group.

###

A man sat with his fingers tapping against the table.

He viewed the state of the world through his different vessels, understanding exactly what was going on.

There were a couple of factors that he lost track of but... things were still progressing as he desired.

The different actors were gathering within the Abyss. That will be where their next play begins.

"The Sun and Moon will gather... The North will emerge. Though Verona has escaped her death for now, her outcome has yet to be set in stone. Alice will be making her way down and so will Allura..." Nyer mumbled.

With such a convergence of different factors that could affect fate, it’ll naturally transform into a maelstrom that drags everything around it towards the epicentre.

Which means...

’So this is the prelude to the end that you saw, Yvael. So much so that you’re even making a move despite your main body being stuck outside of time.’ Nyer narrowed his eyes.

Yvael’s triggered casts were activating one after another.

She had started to interfere with the movement of pieces in order to shape her ideal future.

Just like himself.

But this was not a game played between two people. Far from it.

The players at the table go beyond just two.

Himself, Yvael, the Will of the Abyss, the Gods, the Outers... the Cogs.

And naturally...

Dear Alice herself.

It was a battle of who will remain in the end.

A royal rumble of desires and will.

"Ha-" letting out a short laugh, Nyer shook his head.

He slowly brought his hand towards his own mouth.

He was smiling. Not a courteous smile. No, it was genuine.

He was enjoying himself.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and felt his body relax.

The long journey was finally coming to an end.

Time that had felt like it stopped the moment he witnessed Velouria’s death had finally started to resume.

Life flowed through his veins, his heart beating with vigour.

He could see the finish line.

The burdens that he carried, the promises that he made.

Soon, all of it will be over.

And thus, Nyer smiled.

No matter the outcome, no matter the victor, his curse of obsession will finally end.

Either he wins and gets what he wants... or he dies.

No more, no less.

He knew that fully so his attachment to life was practically zero.

And even if he loses... he’ll make sure he wins.

Because within this happiness, was the unyielding hatred he felt towards two ’individuals’ specifically.

Even if he dies, even if he fails pathetically, he’ll make sure his enemies won’t win. He’ll make sure they don’t get the ending they desire.

His spite will be what carries his vengeful will past the finish line even as his body fails.

The Will of the Abyss and the Cogs will not get what they want.

He’ll make sure of it.

For they were the very ones orchestrating Velouria’s death, to ensure that no matter what, her demise was unavoidable.

This was a fight against the world itself, against a will that controls the fate of their star through invisible strings.

Therefore, he needed Alice to be strong as well.

A confident smile appeared on his face.

Alice will reach the final act. He’s sure of it.

She’s his greatest masterpiece and his proudest creation.