Chapter 191: The Battle Begins 4: Sacrifice

Along with telepathy, telekinesis was a skill that was not currently part of Jacob’s long list of passive skills. Even his physique did not grant him the ability to move things with his mind.

But again he asked himself ’Who decided that?’

In the short time that it took for Morbius to cross the battlefield and reach him, he had used the Dao to create a skill for himself, one that required him to use his mind to move things. One that would also evolve based on the level of his cultivation. Which meant his telekinetic abilities were now at Cosmic Overlord level and due to his <Infinite Comprehension>, the skill had evolved to <Grand Authority>

<Description

Grand Authority is an evolved form of telekinesis that transcends the manipulation of physical matter. Rather than merely moving objects with his mind, the user imposes his will directly upon all living beings capable of breathing.

Within the reach of his authority, his will becomes absolute command.

Any living creature that breathes, regardless of strength, species, magical power, cultivation, or physical resistance, is compelled to acknowledge his commands. When he issues an order, the target’s body and instincts respond before their own will can oppose it>

Jacob almost laughed at how broken this skill was, but he still had a mission to complete.

Morbius now knelt helplessly before him, the power of his own will completely useless as he could not even control his own body anymore

"Slice your left arm off. When it regenerates, slice the right one off." Jacob commanded.

Morbius’ eyes widened in shock as his body immediately began to move on its own. His right hand raised a sickle and swung it down on his left arm in one swift painful motion.

He creamed in agony as his dark crimson blood spurted out onto the grass. He spent days drinking minute doses of this poison, making himself impervious to the effects of it over time.

Morbius was a calculated planner. For centuries, he always made up for a lack of power with cunning and wits, a necessary survival skill which had gotten him out of many a situation.

Right now, there was nothing that his cunning and wits could do for him.

"You... w-will not... grahhhh!!... get a-away... with... aagghh!..." Morbius could not even speak a single sentence as his own regeneration abilities had somewhat become the source of his pain.

Jacob just gazed upon tbe grotesque demon as it caused its own self a multitude of pain.

There was still one issue to tackle. The sap eas not with Morbius, it was a clear as day now that the demon general knelt directly in front of him. Jacob was about to give the command for Morbius to call the flying, invisible demon to hilt, but Morbius voice rang supreme in this moment.

"Skaltha! Now!" The demon general screamed in a low guttural tone as he knelt in a puddle of his own blood.

***

Immediately Seraphina heard this battle cry, she opened her star engraved eyes, and launched herself into the air, spreading her wings wide. They were a beautiful shade of gold and purple now. Combined with the flame colored aura around her, she looked nothing but majestic.

She floated directly in front of a portal that had been conjured a few beats from the tree, waiting, using her eyes to spot when the demon would come flying out with the sap in its hands, but nothing happened.

"Hahaha... aghhhh! You... you really thought it would be that e-easy." Morbius laughed.

"Shut up." Jacob commanded, causing Morbius’ lips to seal shut.

It was unknown to Seraphina that the portal she saw was just a decoy created to throw her off, and another one had been manifested behind the tree. That was the one where Skaltha had emerged from, imperceptible to the human eye.

Skaltha was already closer to the tree than Seraphina had imagined.

’Behind the tree Seraphina!’ Jacob shouted in her head, causing the phoenix to pivot immediately and fly around the very thick stem of the tree, dodging a few branches.

By the time she had arrived, the demon was already at the stem of the tree with an open vial. It looked at her and knew that she could perceive it. She was most likely the only one in the entire garden who could perceive it.

The rest of the elders, including Xenia and Light were still fighting their way through an army of thousands of demons that never seemed to end. Alaric still struggled with a powerful Destro, who refused to give up. The rest of them cut and slashed endlessly.

Jacob had already given Seraphina a charge and so he would not interfere.

By the time the Phoenix reached the other end of the tree, the demon had already opened the vial. When it looked at her, it smiled knowingly, a triumphant smile that pricked Seraphina.

"Noooo!" She screamed as she rushed towards it, but the demon had already emptied the contents of the vial, which was now falling towards the root of the tree.

Seraphina would not give up, she mustered all her energy and speed and flew towards the downpouring red colored sap.

She managed to insert herself in the gap between the root and the sap.

She looked upon the downpour of the sap, and closed her eyes, in that moment she remembered everything.

Her family suddenly came into view, her friends, the elders of the covenant. This was the first sacrifice she would ever make in her life. And after this she was almost sure it would be her last.

If it kept her bloodline safe; she was willing to do it, and more. It made no difference if it was her, or Banqui, or Rhaenys. As long as it was for the good of the world they inhabited. Then it was good.

She spread her wings and allowed the sap to rain on her continuously, coating her body with its burning essence.

She immediately felt as though her soul were corrupted by a very sinister power as she absorbed the sap in her body and used the rest of her strength to fly away from the tree, crashing into a distant wall with a loud thud...