Abyssal Awakening

"As for who I am? A little rude to not recognise the owner of the house. The Void is my realm, young one." The woman rolled her eyes as Selen recoiled back in confusion and shock.

'The Void is her realm? Is she a God?'

As though reading her thoughts, the woman sighed, tapping Selen on the back of the head with her pipe.

"!!!" Jumping forward in surprise, Selen didn't even know when she appeared behind her. She was just sitting next to Alice a moment ago.

"Just because I'm the owner of this realm doesn't mean I'm a God. I swear all of you humans are the same. Everyone I greet thinks I'm a God even though you lot already know of the actual Gods above." She exhaled a mouthful of smoke.

Taking a step, she blinked out of existence and manifested back on her seat next to Alice.

"What do you want?" Selen questioned. Now that she understood the identity of the woman, it's only natural to wonder why she's even here.

"Let me put it in a way that you humans will understand. I am enjoying my time in my house, relaxing my body and eating some food.

"Suddenly, someone throws a brick into my window, I'm concerned but nothing more. After all, this happens often.

"Next, I see a building being thrown into my house. I go what the f*ck. I'm now more concerned than before as it's always been limited to bricks. But since my house isn't a major realm, it shouldn't be an issue and I ignore it.

"Lastly, I have the roof of my house torn off, several buildings thrown in and people barge into my realm. Now you'd think it's over but it's not. Next, these people decide to try and lay claim to a portion of my house before falling asleep.

"As the owner, isn't it natural for me to see what kind of intruder appeared this time?" She summarised with a shrug.

"So what happened to Alice?"

"Your friend?" Glancing at the crystal, the woman thought for a moment before tapping it with her pipe.

"I don't know what she did but she tried to resonance herself with my realm. Basically suicide. Humans aren't built for this realm after all." She laughed.

"Look over there, you saw that worm right?" The woman gestured at the beast swimming through the sky.

Nodding her head, Selen couldn't help but wonder why the woman wanted her to see it.

"Now look back at me."

Flicking her wrist, she opened a fissure before pulling out a small earthworm.

Throwing it into the Void, she tapped her finger five times as it began to rapidly mutate and transformed into the same kind of beast that Selen saw.

"This is what happens if you stay in the Void for a prolonged period. Of course, natural resistances extend this safety period but that's highly dependent on the individual. Now what do you think would happen if your friend tries to resonate with this realm of mine? Her safety period is basically negated." The woman chuckled before crossing her legs.

"I do wonder what kind of beast would appear once she comes out of the cocoon. You lot, on the other hand, are far luckier than her. She managed to create this sanctuary for you lot so you don't succumb to the effects. Once all of you wake up, I assume there will be a way for you lot to escape."

*CRK!!!

Pausing for a moment, the woman glanced at the crystal and saw a single fracture across its surface.

From that fracture, a malefic energy leaked out, causing a chill down her spine. Instinctively, she stood up and took a step back as more cracks began to form.

Within the crystal, a heartbeat could be heard as a crown manifested above Alice's head. Red spider lilies and briar thorns coiled around her limbs as patterns bled across her body. Little by little, she started to open her eye as the crystal began to crack further.

*BANG!!!!

As the crystal shattered, both Selen and the woman jumped back in surprise.

Rather than a red spider lily, a singularity could be seen in Alice's eye.

"She's not fully conscious yet." The woman muttered with a frown. But the most shocking thing to her was Alice's adaptability!

As the owner of this realm, she was clear on the influence it had and its energy. And right now? Alice was beginning to exude the same form of energy. She had successfully resonated with her realm and ignored the mutation effects.

Though considering her 'scent', it's more accurate to say that the mutation couldn't latch on.

"Kill..." Alice muttered.

Selen's pupils shrank as she immediately conjured her staff and activated a time slow barrier. Just as the barrier was formed, she saw Alice's fingers right in front of her eyes.

However, Alice was stopped by the woman pushing against her head using the pipe.

"Why don't we calm down a little young one." She narrowed her eyes, tapping down with the pipe.

At that moment, Alice's body was flung back as a fissure opened, launching her across the sky before slamming into the ground.

But the woman didn't drop her guard. She could sense Alice trying to use the forces of the Void against her, causing her to scoff. The Void is her realm, she is the Void. Thinking that it could even work on her was laughable.

Snapping her finger, Alice appeared in front of them as the woman kicked Alice in the chest, throwing her back once more.

Twirling her pipe, several worms lunged out from the Void in an attempt to restrain Alice using their tendrils.

*KRKK!!!!

Briar thorns whipped out as violet flames roared, above them, Alice stood with blood covering her entire body.

"KILL!!!"

A crimson halo spun to life above her, merging with her crown while crimson wings unfurled.

*BANG!!!

Rushing towards the woman, Alice created a blade in hand and imbued it with all the energy she could.

Void Flux - Cleave!!!

Letting out an exhausted sigh, the woman tapped her pipe against Alice's slash, sending it phasing through them before flicking Alice on the head.

*CRASH!!!

Tumbling across the ground, Alice crashed into the debris left behind by the previous crystal.

"How annoying. I'm not even the one you were fighting against, you sent her elsewhere in my realm." The woman spat out in annoyance.

Not only did Alice and the others intrude into her house, but she's now making a mess of it. No matter how patient she was, there was still a limit.

Before Alice could go further, the woman snapped her fingers.

The power of the Void flooded around Alice as she wrapped herself in violet flames.

"???" Raising an eyebrow at these flames, the woman was rather surprised but it was no issue. Isolating the flames in their own 'space', she separated it from Alice.

Slamming her hand down, Alice activated her partial bloodline release, granting herself another boost in strength.

"You seriously have too many tricks in your sleeves."

Shaking her head, the woman tapped her feet against the ground in front of her.

A ripple rolled out as the entire realm seemed to change.

*BANG!!!!

A cloud of dust erupted where Alice stood as Selen couldn't even process what the woman had just done.

However, she could see Alice knocked out cold in a crater.

"Jeez, youngsters these days are exhausting." The woman complained while pulling her hair back a little.

However, there was a frown on her face. Right before her attack hit, Alice was actually able to react and even attempt to offset it.

All while she's half conscious too. Ridiculous instincts and skills to match that, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of person taught this monster how to fight.

Somehow, she felt like the Void wouldn't be peaceful while this girl was still here. Just thinking of it gave her a slight headache as she valued her peace and quiet. It's why she became the ruler of this place to begin with.

###

*BANG!!!

A torrent of flames tore apart a Void Worm a figure could be seen walking out from the burning flesh.

Veins bulged on her neck as her eyes were bloodshot.

Right before her strongest attack struck, Alice was able to somehow drag them all into the Void.

If it was a standard fissure, it wouldn't be an issue since her attack would still hit. But Alice targeted only the people meaning her attack had completely missed the target.

She knew this when she crashed into the island without any flames around her. All the energy that she gathered disappeared and the ritual was now enacting a side effect upon her body.

Lightning crackled across her body, forcing her to kneel down in pain.

In order to get rid of this punishment, she had to get rid of Alice and the others. To complete the requirements set for her during the ritual.

A corrupted wyrm jumped out from the ground in an attempt to take Keira by surprise but she had long sensed its presence. She turned her bloodshot eyes towards the beast as a thick wave of killing intent roared out. Scales appeared across her body as flames gathered in her mouth.

*BANG!!!

Releasing a breath attack, the entire upper half of the beast was eradicated as Keira kicked its corpse aside.

She had to find Alice within the vast expanses of the Void. But considering how Alice transported them hastily, it shouldn't be an issue for her to find them. She just needed to be quick.

Activating her resonance, she transformed into a beast form and soared through the Void.