Shadow of the Abyss

Foraging the Grove of Estelle, Altair felt sheens of sweat trail down his jaw, sinking into his fur line cloak. He fell to a knee, bellowing with laughter with Ren by his side.

To his rear, Laros, Olivia, and Leonie lay over the wet battlefield, unable to even move a finger; having been pushed so hard, they cursed the monster named Altair with all their heart.

For three hours, they sprinted through the grove, striking hard and fast, before most of the goblins could even unsheath their weapons, be they hobgoblins or the more average ones. Most were Felled in a blinding flash, faster than Laros thought possible, thanks to Olivia's bird's eye view, allowing her to fully display her marksmanship.

At the same time, Leonie's killing efficiency seemed to double now that she didn't have to take on scores of enemies head-first like Altair. She neither had the physique for that nor the skill.

Meanwhile, Laros had been fighting for his life, swarmed by goblins on many sides. Cuts and bruises rummaged his flesh as he desperately tried to hold his ground, much to his dismay. Death followed him in nearly every battle before he dropped to battered and beaten to move.

"You guys did good! Especially you, Laros," Altair said. Despite being enemies, he wasn't going to let personal feelings get in his way. Not when he could gain a significant amount of EXP, thanks to his new pawn.

"Hungry…" Ren whimpered, dropping the Longsword from her mouth.

"Hmmm, I'm actually good." He said, touching his stomach. Ever since he satiated his hunger, Altair had been feeling quite happy. More so than usual.

The world through his eyes just seemed more radiant. However, he didn't relish the idea of devouring more goblin blood due to its gamey nature.

Ren tilted her head towards him. "You don't want to eat with Ren?" She muttered, heartbroken.

Altair's eyes jumped. "I'd rather eat you." He whispered so softly he didn't even realize they echoed into her wolfish ears.

The wolf girl quivered, feeling Altair's predatory gaze satiating her. She moved to him, nudging her face against his. When he rose, still short of breath, Altair grinned, having reached the peak of the first class.

Name: Altair (Snow)

Mana Circle:[Second Circle 99.99%]

Physique: First Vale Star

Class: Young Prince Lv 21 → 25 [First Awakening]

Strength: 28

Dexterity: 30

Constitution: 43 → 47

Wisdom: 45 → 49

Charisma: 45 → 49

Mana: 23

Still, something came as a bother to the Young Lord as he stared down the system requirements to achieve his Second Circle and Class.

[Tier II - Advancement Requirements]

[??? – Tier Three Heartstone]

[Blood of the Corrupted]

[Blood of the Righteous]

'Why is the material needed so rare? No. Why were they so abnormal? Hells, ' He thought to himself. The blood of the Corrupted and Righteous could both be taken from Ren. But he couldn't understand why such material was needed to create a Magical Circle.

Altair shook his head after a long while, dismissing the matter from his mind for the time being, and turned to the approaching Vincent. "Lieutenant, we've achieved everything that was needed." He said, glancing down at the lifeless bodies of his teammates, moaning and groaning. He smirked. "And as you can see. They need rest… Or a hospital."

Checking on the Recruits to ensure none were pushed too hard, Vincent shifted a gaze towards the young lord with a long, solemn glare. At first glance, Altair seemed short of breath, covered in blood and sweat. But Vincent could sense the power he still carried deep within his Circle. Vincent had never been more sure that this boy, barely over twelve, had barely pushed himself.

Nor had he even suffered a bruise or cut… he was spotless.

"You ain't human, are you," Kalvar griped. No human could have done what Altair did.

Bashful, Altair grinned, waving off their concern. " Come on, guys! You're going to make me blush!"

"And I'm going to hurl," Ren muttered, rolling her eyes. She slouched over his head and closed her eyes, mildly exhausted.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom whipped out in front of Altair and his crew as a swirling gate of mana spiraled with a fearsome might. And before the Prince could react, it pulled him in and pushed him out outside the main Gate, within the underground sector of the Fortress of Rim.

A gale of various recruits, soldiers, and instructors applauded, welcoming him back as more and more recruits began stepping out of the Gate. Directed away my medical officers, Altair allowed them to check him for injuries before he was allowed to leave with a bright smile on his face.

Dawn had barely broken over the horizon, glimmering with first light when he made it back to the surface with a joyful smile. Altair dropped off all his equipment before jumping into the shower within his quarters.

Most of the recruits would have the day to recover from their first dungeon. However, while most of them would sleep, by the time Altair had jumped out of the shower, clearing away the blood and dirt, he pushed out his quarters to find Admiral Darkfire to cash in on some favors.

*Thud~

Not even a few steps out of his quarters, Altair eyes spun to the noise, to a large man, a brawny fellow, gripping a delicate thing with barely any meat on his bones. He was a small boy with long, shaggy brown hair that covered his face.

"Vadi…" The brawny man spat, gripping the boy by the throat a few feet off the ground. "I thought I told you to send her to me? How hard is that to understand." He tightened his grip until Viens protruded over Vadi's thin throat. Any more and his neck would pop.

Tears streamed down Vadi's delicate features as he struggled to speak. "Please… Logan…She's… my… fiance…"

With a fierce backhand across the face, Logan's palm whipped out again, and again, and again, until Vadi's face was plump and swollen, with nearly half his teeth on the ground.

"What a pussy you are," Logan said, spitting bile right into his eye. He scuffed. "I don't care if she's your fiancee. I'll have that bitch scream my name." He said. "You got an hour. Send her to my room or—" He paused, turning to Altair.

"And what the fuck are you looking at."

Altair pointed at himself and glanced around, wondering who Logan was talking to.

"Your… Altair," he noticed and glanced towards his chamber. "The one everyone is droning on about."

"I am, and you?"

"Logan Drarc, my Father is Earl Lorvac Drarc, Knight of the King's Brigade and Lord of the Eastern Black Isles." He dropped Vadi and strode towards the Prince, and once more, his gaze slid to Altair's bedroom. 'So why don't we trade? You can sleep in my barracks, and I'll—"

"You're in my way," Altair addressed, making no move to step around him. He wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone. Nor was he willing to get involved with someone who couldn't even stand up for themselves.

"Kid… I wasn't asking—"

BOOOOM~

Made to bow like the worm he was as Altair's presence whipped out like an iron mountain. Logan knee's caved and buckled, slowly succumbing to the pressure as he fell to his knees in reverence. Altair pressed a foot over his head and continued over his body as though he didn't exist. Not even willing to spare a glance towards Vadi.

"Are you not going to aid him?" Ren inquired once they were out of sight. "He looks like—"

"Ren…' Altair interrupted her, frowning. "I refuse to help those that can't help themselves. What good is power if you lack the will to use it? I don't cater to the weak-minded. That idiot didn't even try to fight back."

"What if… he couldn't?" Ren mused, opening her pale blue eyes. " What if that logan fellow was abusing his power? Threatening his family, or—"

"And how would I aid him? I've no status on Earth. Not really, anyway. I'm not even human." He said, with a dark edge to his voice.  "But if he wants my help… he needs to prove himself to have worth. Prove to me he has potential. Call me a bastard, but I don't need victims by my side.

I need killers. Fearless monsters who don't need a high circle to have confidence, to stand up for themselves." he shook his head, unsure when he grew so callous. "We aim to do something most would consider impossible. Not to help others."

"It's still sad…" Ren muttered, thinking of Vadi's poor Fiance.

"I'll help, but only if it's what you really want me to do," Altair replied, looking up at her. " All you have to do is ask. "

She shook her head. " no… it's fine. It's…it's  just I wonder… if you'll save me if I ever become useless."

"You aren't the same as a stranger, Ren." He reminded her, resisting the urge to flick her head. "We've fought, trained, and slept together. Of course, I'll save you. What type of stupid question is that!" He sounded a little angry as he pulled her off his head, frowning.

"You're mean!"

~(>_<.)＼

"And you're thinking about foolish things."

Meanwhile, within her office, Lady Darkfire stood before a blue hologram, fully hidden by a cloak.

"Give us the boy. You've neither the resources nor the experience to raise him."

Arms poised behind her back, Vaiga Darkfire smirked. "If you wish for him, you've my permission to visit. Scorpio has already—"

"You misunderstood,' The Hooded figure interrupted, shaking his head. "Give him to us… the will of the boy isn't of concern."

"Then we've nothing to discuss," Vaiga said, cutting the connection on her Datapad without hesitation. She rolled her eyes. " Fucking acolytes of Bahumat. Gods, I loathe those bastards."

"I, too, would agree." A startling voice echoed.

Vaiga turned pale, hurrying to turn to the faces inches from hers, to the eyes so dark, they seemed to embody the night. She shuddered, trying to pull the mana within her nine circles to defend herself, but her mana didn't respond.

"Hello, Vaiga Darkfire. My name is Tenebrae. Altair's mother." She said as a mysterious figure loomed behind her. Wrapped in loose-fitted robes, she saw a woman draped in a beautiful white mask and a sword strapped on her back.

Vaiga gulped, trying not to shudder. She was horrified that another could so easily seal her ability to manipulate her refined mana. Not even transcendent or Devas could perform such a feat. At least not without a display of power. But Tenebrae was merely standing there.

"No need to be frightened. I've actually come to ask a favor." Tene said, giggling, noticing Vaiga frightened like a little fawn.

She gulped, trying to speak without a crack in her voice. "Wh…what do you want?"

"Altairs master…" Tenebrae glanced at the masked woman, narrowing her pale black eyes. "I need you to give her a command within this base. And move Altair beneath her; think of this as a special team of sorts."

"..." Taking the time to calm her palpating heart, Vaiga sucked in a long breath of air. "Why?"

"Because my baby will see an early grave if he doesn't have anyone protecting him. He has his father's bravery, but he's a fool if he thinks the gods won't outright try to kill him." Tenebrae explained, shaking her head.

"But the Shadow Proclamation—"

"There are loopholes to every rule, my dear. I should know. I created the blasted thing." Tenebrae revealed. And the fear in Vaiga's eyes only grew. "I've little time… before I'm recalled back to the Tower of Babel. But if you accept, know you'll be choosing sides."

"I don't… I don't understand."

"Altair powers are dangerous. And it forced me to change my plans. More so than I'll like to admit: He wasn't supposed to leave me so early." Tene bitterly said, feeling her heart clench. "Nevertheless, Earth is about to get chaotic. So you'll need to pick a side. Not now but soon." Tene opened her palm, conjuring an amethyst shard.

The moment the shard appeared, Vaiga felt her entire being atomized in a single instant by an intense sword force. She trembled, coughing blood as the shard radiated a force so great its mere presence seemed to demand death.

"This is the shard of the Primal Sword. A fragment of the first weapon the Fallen Angel Azazel created for you mortals." Tenebrae said lightly, tossing it into the air as though it were a toy. "I've sealed most of its power, but it's enough for you to transcend and then some." She glanced back to the elusive figure to her rear and back to Vaiga, smiling.

Greed practically spilled from Vaiga's eyes as she stared at the shard."That's it? That's all you want from me?"

"Of course."  Smiled Tenebrae. "That's all you need to do."