Abyssal Awakening - Chapter 813

Chapter 813: Gwen Vs Syrion, Last Stand

Syrion stared at the crest in shock.

Divinity? No, not quite. She didn’t feel like Lumiria.

Blessing of Solaris? That wasn’t accurate either. Whatever Solaris had given her she had already crushed a moment ago.

So what was this power?

Jumping back, Syrion was summoned three blades, creating a net of defence around him but Gwen had already attacked!

Before he could even finish establishing his defence, Syrion felt a punch connect with his chest.

Gritting his teeth, Syrion stomped down with his foot.

His figure blurring out of existence.

Ripples across the surface of a lake before unleashing a devasting slash from above.

Sword Horizon!

The strike severed Gwen in half yet…

‘It didn’t connect!’

Slamming his hand down, Syrion created four blades that guarded his sides as a torrent of flames crashed down from above!

*BANG!!!

A densely packed array of slashes erupted around Syrion, cutting apart and extinguishing Gwen’s flames.

“Alright. I’ll acknowledge it. If it was the me before, you would be declared winner. But that is no longer the case.” Syrion spoke with an eerie calmness.

Then, from the back of his armour, blades began to appear.

Resonance!

Gwen didn’t make a move as everyone was dragged into Syrion’s second resonance.

A world of his own making.

His hell.

Like before, a land of water rippled out. Countless blades standing like gravestones,

What was different however, was the lack of calmness. Instead of gentle waves, beneath the surface was a raging current.

From this current, flames burst out, boiling the water in an instant as blades melted into lava.

Mountains of metal solidifying into horrific hills, lakes of lava and burning embers scattered through the air.

Screams, lots of screams.

Those who flee, those who kill, a myriad of cries merged into a symphony of carnage echoed out.

The false moon above split in half with blood pouring down in the horizon.

Burning banners, mutating silhouettes.

This is the personal realm of the Lord of Wrath.

The hell he could never forget.

Griselda was familiar with this place.

She clenched her fist while staring at this realm with bitterness in her heart.

As expected, even after all these years, this place still haunts him.

Meanwhile, Alice sat with her arms crossed.

A smile could be seen on her face as she observed Gwen’s movement.

‘No wonder she told me to not interfere anymore.’ Alice chuckled inwardly.

[Indeed. Seems like she has a knack for grasping the true essence of techniques like a certain someone.]

‘Nah, this is a bit different from what I do. You could even say I cheat a little which is probably why I can’t fully grasp Vision.’ Alice shook her head.

‘But Gwen? It takes her a moment but once she grasps the key and true nature of a technique, she’ll be able to use it with just a snap of her fingers.’

The true nature of the golden crest that Gwen was using…

The power she’s summoning from deep within, a power similar to Solaris’ blessing.

Perhaps it’s because she’s the daughter of an Apostle, blessings run through her veins.

And what she was using was a self modified version of two techniques fused into one.

Gwen’s own Vision and Bloodline Release!

Bloodline Release was a technique that required you to synchronise everything.

A link between body and soul. To form a stable passage that allows the soul to shape the body.

And right now, Gwen had achieved her ideal physical state!

Within Syrion’s twisted resonance, a single radiant orb of light had invaded this realm.

The second coming of the Sun.

Reaching out with his hands, Syrion crushed several blades into countless splinters. Shards of raw energy converging to form a new blade.

*BANG!!!

Syrion disappeared, closing the gap in an instant.

But as he appeared behind Gwen, he saw her eyes tracking his every movement.

Previously, when he had unleashed this move, she had eyes of fear. Of panic.

‘So you’ve improved this much.’

*CLANG!!!

Gwen slammed her fist into the side of the sword, shattering it with a single flaming punch.

Before Gwen could launch a counter, Syrion clenched his fist.

A storm of blades erupted from the mountains, surging towards the duo like a malevolent dragon.

Transforming herself into a streak of fire, Gwen created some distance between the two of them.

Yet strangely…

The swords weren’t going after Gwen!

Each of the shards began to pierce into Syrion’s body!

“Guinevere, show me the proof that your desires are greater than my rage. Show me the power that transcends my wrath!”

Summoning his sword, Syrion conjured seven crimson Sigils around the battlefield. Each one radiating with malice and bloodthirst.

Their target? Gwen!

Each of the Sigils transformed into a blade as Syrion pierced his sword into the sky.

A spectral array radiating the most brilliant blue spun to life before crackling with a deep crimson!

A twisted modification of Lumiria’s ritual!

Yet despite all of this, Gwen simply stared at Syrion with pity in her eyes.

She couldn’t say she understood his full pain. Only partially.

If she were to die before her father… Would her father be the same? To go from protecting the people to a man so full of malice and hate.

There was no doubt that Syrion was a good man in life. But circumstances and the Gods have driven a good man to such extremes.

Gwen’s heart ached.

She didn’t wish this on Syrion nor anyone else.

If so, what must be done?

The Gods must go.

Vile tyrants with no thought for the mortals they rule over. Their desires changing on a whim, forcing people to bow to their will.

She hated Solaris for forcing her father to do so much.

But what she hated more, was her own weakness. If she was stronger, her father wouldn’t have been subjected to such treatment.

If she were stronger, she’ be able to relieve his burden.

Taking a deep breath, Gwen stomped down with her foot.

*RUMBLE!!!

The entire realm trembled as burning fractures erupted from the ground!

But before the fire could spread, the seven swords pierced towards Gwen!

Rings of energy manifested around Gwen as a barrier was being formed. No, rather than a barrier it was better to call it a cage!

Illusionary gears locking pieces into place, Sigils marking itself upon the surface and the swords stabbed into the cage while Gwen had nowhere to run!

From above, twisted lunar light began to descend-

*BANG!!!

The cage shattered in an instant.

Where Gwen should’ve stood was a burning sun.

Radiant light seared through falling embers. Shadows stretched far from the intensity as Syrion’s realm began to warp.

Then, in a single heartbeat, the entire realm was filled with light.

Gwen stood, the sun nowhere in sight.

Yet the darkness that Syrion had conjured disappeared.

As though the entire realm was trapped in a light room, every corner was illuminated.

Liquid evaporated with Gwen conjuring a tiny thumb sized orb. Pure white in colour, blinding.

Her arm transformed into pure obsidian with molten veins.

She glanced up at Syrion.

“I’m sorry.”

Crushing the orb, her arm ignited with flames as she disappeared.

‘Behind? Above?’ Syrion’s eyes darted until he realised she didn’t circle around at all.

No, it was a head on strike!

Syrion swung down. But before his sword could build momentum, Gwen’s left hand grabbed his wrist, preventing it from completing the swing.

With her right hand burning with radiant white fire, she slammed her palm into his chest!

“!!!”

As her palm came into contact with Syrion’s armour, a sun bloomed behind him.

A single instantaneous strike that shattered his defences, unleashing solar might directly into his body.

*CRACK SHATTER!

Syrion’s realm disappeared, his body falling towards the ground.

His swords were disappearing one by one.

He had lost.

Even now, his armour was burning away into nothingness from that last strike.

“Truly magnificent…”

To condense everything into a single strike.

A gamble with her life on the line.

If this strike had missed, Gwen would’ve died. She had no more energy to continue the fight.

But her gamble paid off.

That last strike… Syrion could feel it. His death.

Unable to maintain her form, Gwen began to fall from the sky but a portal to the Void opened up, catching her.

Seeing this, Syrion sighed in relief.

As he was bracing himself for impact, he felt a pair of hands catching him.

“Griselda…” Syrion muttered.

“You’re such a fool… why must you force the matter to end like this?” Griselda looked at him with a bitter smile.

“Haha… You knew my condition. Any longer and I won’t be myself…” Syrion let out a weak laugh.

His armour was slowly peeling away, transforming into ash.

“Do… Do you think I’ll be able to see them?” Syrion asked, his voice trembling.

There was a hint of fear in his tone as his hand reached out towards the broken swing.

Griselda held her words.

She didn’t know. Fate wasn’t something that could be controlled. But a part of her wished it was different. So, rather than a promise to Syrion, it was more of a wish. Her wish.

“Yeah… You will. Next time, don’t join any stupid order okay?” Griselda smiled.

“Treasure her. Hold her close. These hands of yours are meant to protect rather than be used as a weapon of war.”

Hearing this, Syrion let out a soft sigh.

His strength was fading, darkness crept in from the edges of his vision.

Reaching up, he held her head gently.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry I couldn’t reciprocate your feelings…”

Griselda’s pupils trembled.

“Do… Do not… Do not die for the moon. Live… Live for yourself. Be happy.”

Griselda opened her mouth, her lips trembling.

Biting her lips, she forced herself to smile.

“Stupid oaf… Why are your last words rejecting me?” Holding his hand, she hugged his arm.

“I’ll live happily. I won’t die for the moon. So go, go see her. This time, protect Mariel okay?”

For a moment, Griselda felt as though she saw Syrion smile.

The light in his helmet disappeared.

Despite being a puppet. Despite abandoning her flesh and bone centuries ago…

A single tear rolled down Griselda’s cheek as she kissed him gently on the forehead.