Abyssal Awakening - Chapter 915

Capítulo 915: Cornering Deva

“Ha… Ha…”

*drip…

Kaden leaned against the wall with his entire body bleeding and wounded.

Cracks spread across his body. Damage that wasn’t purely physical.

His authority eating away as his own flesh.

Before him, Famine twitched in a pool of her own blood that’s been tainted by darkness.

Neither of them were in a state to keep fighting.

Famine glared at Kaden with anger, a million curses that she wanted to spew out were stuck in her throat.

“We could’ve avoided all this if you released the effects of your authority on Lua. Now look at us.” Kaden couldn’t help but find this moment laughable.

He didn’t have any strength left to move.

She didn’t have any strength left to run.

The sentinels surrounded them yet didn’t make a single move.

“F*ck… You…” Famine squeezed out as her eyes were bloodshot from the pain.

“I’ll pass. You’re simply not my type.” Kaden shook his head.

He wanted to take a break to recover but with how long it’ll take to recover from the backlash of using two primal sins, it was unlikely.

However…

The finish line was in front of him.

Famine was at the end of her ropes. As long as he could leave with her in tow, Allura can be healed!

“Don’t you all just love to watch…” Kaden mumbled, forcing himself to stand on his own.

Creating a spear from his shadow, he took slow steps towards Deva.

In that moment, he sensed the movement of the Sentinels that surrounded them.

“So you’re finally making a move… Get the hell out of my way!!!”

A rush of adrenaline surged through Kaden’s body.

He couldn’t withstand using spells so instead he’ll fall back on his foundation!

To enhance his physical body using energy and channel his authority through the staff!

Hone his senses, discard what’s unnecessary.

Feel the danger, react instinctively. Allow mind and body to become one.

He was never as strong as Allura when it came to fighting physically. But just because he wasn’t as strong as her didn’t mean he couldn’t hold his own!

*BANG!!!

Slamming his spear into the ground, Kaden vaulted into the sky as he sensed danger coming from all directions.

There’s no need for fanciful techniques. He simply needs to do what he can in the shortest time possible, in the most efficient manner.

Who cares about the beauty of the technique?!

*CLANG!!!

Twirling the spear, Kaden parried every strike around him!

Gritting his teeth, he could feel the feedback from the strike and was forced backwards.

“Tch!” Sliding back from the impact, he felt his arm turning numb from the impact.

In the distance, Deva was slowly getting up.

If he wanted to chase her down, she wanted to run no matter what.

“You’re not getting away!”

Crouching down, Kaden dug his foot into the ground and shot forward!

From above, an invisible sentinel slashed towards him with one of its hands but Kaden simply glared at the sentinel.

Even though he couldn’t see the beast, he could tell it was there! And that alone was enough!

Stopping his dash immediately, he dodged the strike and ran up the arm.

‘Three approaching from behind. One jumping from above.’ Kaden analysed.

Stabbing the spear into the arm, he ran to the underside while still dragging his weapon.

Once the sentinels were inches away from hitting him, he jumped from the arm and dodged the strikes.

“DEVA!!!” He roared.

Going after the sentinel was simply to dragged the others away from Deva!

*CRACK!!!

Widening his eyes, Kaden felt an invisible hand grab his spear and shatter it.

There was one more sentinel.

One who hid his presence around Deva.

Revealing a bitter smile, Kaden projected energy outwards to form a shield!

*BANG!!!

###

“Hm?” Alice frowned, she placed her hand over her own chest.

Pain?

For a moment, she felt a slight pain in her chest.

Her body condition was fine, she felt healthy. But that ache as definitely there.

A split instant.

“Something wrong?” Suyin asked in her puppet form.

“Nothing, don’t worry.” Alice shook her head with a smile.

With everything set up, they were on their way out of the city.

The portals had been shrunk down in order to keep them inconspicuous. After all, if the guards saw them, even if they’re not part of the Zenia family and knew of the Nightmare, they would still question what Alice and the group are up to.

If possible, she’d rather avoid that kind of delay.

Sitting on the carriage that Elias has bought, Alice leaned against the seat and glanced at the roots of the world tree threading through the land.

This city… had given her much to think about.

The Nightmare realm, the Zenia family.

And… the noble families still resisting their take over.

Nightingale, Serathei and Varyn.

Out of the three families, Serathei was probably in the most danger. Especially since Karina was working as a double agent for both the Zenia family and the Underground. She had access to information on everything she wanted to know and thus by extension…

The Zenia family knew as well.

As for the easiest one to talk to, it was probably the Nightingale family.

Especially since she had a connection with Miki.

They’re on the verge of falling so giving them a hand to tide over this period would be killing two birds with one stone.

The first is helping and old friend and possibly gaining the favour of her family. The second was foiling the Zenia family’s plans.

House Varyn was probably fine, considering they’re the sword of the Royal family.

A faction like them wouldn’t fall so easily to the Zenia family.

“Don’t you think they’ll find us suspicious if we were to offer our help at this moment in time? What’s to say they wouldn’t treat us as spies?” Elias asked curiously while the umbrella was opened next to him to block out the sun.

“Probably. I’m somewhat banking on the fact that an old friend of mine is there. If she isn’t… Well, at that point we can only let our actions do the talking right?” Alice shrugged with a smile.

“Urg…” Elias let out a sigh.

“I swear, do you ever formulate a proper plan?”

“Of course I do.” Alice raised an eyebrow but Elias shook his head.

“I wouldn’t call those plans. More so… a checklist of things to do.”

“Leaving blanks give room for improvisation no?”

“Nope. Improvisation is only needed if things go off the rails. Having a proper plan is still ideal. Then everyone knows the rough approach they should take. Without a foundation to work on, things will deviate too much.” Elias explained while Alice folded her arms.

[He’s got a point. Making plans are ideal to keep everyone on the same wavelength.] Cayla agreed with Elias’ point while Alice let out a groan.

“Urg… making plans are a painnn…” Alice flailed her arms lazily while Suyin let out a chuckle.

“You get me right?” Alice glanced over as Suyin nodded her head.

“Yep. I do things on the fly, it’s easier for me that way. Only because I got all my plans and projects already written out on my whiteboard. I just see whatever interests me and do it.” Suyin shrugged.

“However, if I don’t have anything like that, having a plan that’s better than just let’s see what happens is ideal.” She grinned, causing Alice to let out another groan.

Thinking of plans makes her head hurt. There were so many variables to consider and when so many of those occur at once, she just wants to throw her hands in the air and give up.

Of course, it’s not like she didn’t make plans in the past. But rather they were broad enough where she can maintain her sense of freedom.

Take for example the battle against Kazira. They made plans using the corpse they retrieved and so on, but the main details of the battle was still just, in Alice’s own words, “F*ck it, we ball.”

But with things as they are, using that philosophy might not be appropriate for the time being.

Scratching her head, Alice let out a sigh.

“Fine, let’s go with this for now then. Our goal is to arrive at the city where the Nightingale family is most active. Help them out if possible, drive back the Zenia family. Investigate the reaches of this Nightmare, its rules and effects. Find effective counters and deconstruct this new realm in the making.”

“That’s still just a checklist of things.” Elias chuckled, causing Alice to throw her shoe at him.

“Shuddap! We’ll flesh it out once we have more information. But my main goal is to stop whatever the Zenia family are doing and put an end to everything.” Alice huffed, causing Suyin to laugh.

Joking on the way out, the group left the city behind.

Thankfully, the guards by the city walls didn’t give them much trouble and they were allowed to leave without much issue. On the way out, they felt a small spike of energy and the machines roared to life.

As expected, the moment one leaves the city, their memories are modified to prevent information from leaking out.

Elias needed a slight break from the effects and so did Cayla, but after a short moment, they remembered everything once more.

The machines succeeded in retaining memory without overload!

With everything secured, they approached the next city.

###

“I don’t like this.” Karya frowned deeply as they stood at the border between Verona and Extalia. The land before her felt… unnatural.

“I agree. It does not feel like a place that should exist. Something is overlapping this nation.” Allura furrowed her brows.

Right now, it was simply a ‘feeling’. But something that could disturb a Lord’s senses this much wasn’t going to be good.

“Only one way to find out.” Gin shrugged as the three nodded and took their first steps into Extalia.