Chapter 1058: In(heritor/terloper) Fight
[Executor. Was the entrance and dramatic fire spear reveal, entirely necessary for this moment? I don’t think it has the intended effect on these opponents of ours.]
‘Maybe not, but now I’m a feel pretty hyped right now. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to see if those spear fighting lessons sunk in.’
[Why did you need to learn those anyways, Executor? You never really struck me as tge type to fight with anything other than heavy or brute style weapons.]
‘Honestly? I feel like I’m gonna have to master a variety of weapons in the future, because this probably isn’t gonna be the last time we do something like this.’
[Fair observation.]
…
*Bing-Bong*
For the ease of reading, Zhen Liu will be mentioned as the Kaijin Lord once, but then will be referred to by name during the fighting.
Keep in mind that Gao Shen Yuan and Buzza still do not know his identity.
We will now return to your usual chapter.
Thank you.
*Bing-Bong*
…
After the Kaijin Lord(Zhen Liu] introduced himself to the Fallen’s matriarch, Gao Shen Yuan, and the rogue kaijin known as “Buzza”, the latter duo had entered fighting stances while keeping a close eye on the former.
At a glance, it would appear that Buzza and Gao Shen Yuan had the advantage in terms of numbers and even cultivation.
The two of them were radiating energy associated with those at the Aether King rank and higher, while the Kaijin Lord was only radiating power at the Aether Lord level, ironically enough.
However, using such straightforward measurements was a terrible idea when [Chaos] was involved. That, and because the rogue kaijin and matriarch could sense that there was an even denser power beneath the obvious.
“It appearzzz, thizz Kaijin Lord is not unfamiliar with the art of [Possession]. Thizz will make thingzz tricky.”
“[Possession]?”
“Due to our… ephemeral nature, we kaijin are able to inhabit the bodiezzz of mortalzzz and empower them. Help them break limitzzz impozzed on them that nature decreezzz azzz mandatory. In other wordzzz, much like how two warriorzz of the zzzame rank teaming up isn’t as simple azzz addition and is more of a multiplier, kaijin and mortal empowerment is exponential growth.”
“Meaning we’re evenly matched?”
“More or lezz, although, there is a way to win regardlezzz.”
“Oh?”
“I juzzt need more data.”
“Ah…would it be faster for you to gather this data while fighting or observing?”
“The latter.”
“Then allow me to assist with that effort. HA!”
Now understanding the precarious situation they were now in, Gao Shen Yuan decided to pull out all the stops and activate her [Astra], her [Regalia] and her [Icon] at all at once!
As she did, a surge of Caligos aether flooded the tomb, making it’s already ominous impression even more so.
…
‘Why…does it feel cliche for the leader of a faction known as the Fallen, has an aether affinity for darkness?”
[I mean…the Fallen had been living in a literal ocean of shadows for the better part of multiple centuries, Executor. It would make sense for their top cultivators to be those who are most well suited to their environment.]
‘That…that honestly tracks.’
[Also, I think we should stop talking because she’s coming at us hard.]
‘Oh, whoops.’
…
In the blink of an eye, Gao Shen Yuan’s [Regalia] took on the visage of a glowing deep sea creature, while her [Astra] took on the form of a bident of all things. As for her [Icon], the emblem of a lotus flower in dark blue circle appeared proudly on her breastplate. At the right angles though, the [Icon] seemed to flicker into looking quite similar to the Fallen Clan’s coat-of-arms.
Once she was fully decked out in her full gear, Gao Shen Yuan went on the attack.
[Shadow Serpent Strike!]
Bident in hand, Gao Shen Yuan rushed forward as the shadow of a massive sea serpent encapsulated her form and empowered it further. From an outsider’s perspective, it appeared that the fangs of the serpent and the prongs of the bident had merged into one.
…
‘I’m not exactly the agile person in the world while wearing this armor, so let’s just be like a rock and break the fangs.’
[Want me to change the flames?]
‘Not yet.’
…
In response to this charge, Zhen Liu took on a horse stance with his burning spear at the ready and began to circulate aether and [Chaos] into the soles of his feet to fortify himself. On top of that, he even used a defensive art to strengthen himself further. One that was surprisingly appropriate given the current moment no less.
[Porcupine Bulwark!]
SCHINK, SCHINK!
“Whoa!”
…
Name: Porcupine Bulwark
Grade: Major Corporeal
Description:
By taking in a defensive stance with a spear, the wielder is able to produce a temporary shield of spikes around themselves. This technique is most effective against charges.
…
The moment Gao Shen Yuan’s fangs were about to bite into Zhen Liu’s [Regalia], the latter manifested a dozen or so phantom spikes that had properties similar to his burning bone spear.
Visually, it appeared as if the shadow serpent that Gao Shen Yuan had summoned had become perforated by all those spikes and was destroyed as a consequence.
Physically, she was simply repelled as the spikes had knocked into her bident at just the right angles. Unfortunately, she wasn’t impaled by them either.
However, just because she was deterred, didn’t mean she was done yet.
“Fine! If I can’t impale you, I’ll crush your skull in!”
Using the momentum for the knock back, Gao Shen Yuan turned it into a wide swing, with the prongs of her bident acting like the heads of a hammer. As she did, the prongs of the bident began to hum.
[Reverberating Whale Smash!]
The hum of her bident became even more melodic and sonorous as soon as she channeled this art, followed by the image of a whale’s tail overlaying her.
It didn’t take a genius to realize that being smacked by such an attack would end with the target being absolutely pulverized inside and out.
…
‘Oh balls, that is a big ass attack.’
[Executor, it looks like we’re gonna need to either beat this attack in terms of power, or just…eat it.]
‘Do you mean to sit back and block it?’
[Not necessarily.]
‘Oh, wait! I got an idea.’
…
[Gorge-Swine’s Rebuke!]
At this proclamation, Zhen Liu set his spear upright as to block Gao Shen Yuan’s swing. At the same time though, the flames surrounding his spear began to take on an orange color and radiated this feeling of unending hunger.
“Wait, what?!”
The moment her bident came into contact with the spear, orange flames suddenly leapt off it and began to stick to the prongs of the bident and the image of the manifested whale’s tail. Not only that, but the bident itself began to sank into the bone spear, as if the latter was trying to consume the former.
Correction, the bone spear was trying to consume the former.
Gao Shen Yuan could feel the aether composing her [Astra] being broken down, second by second, the longer it kept it contact with Zhen Liu’s weird bone spear.
“Get off me!”
Making matter worse for Gao Shen Yuan though, she couldn’t even retract her [Astra] due to this weird orange flame.
“Not gonna lie, your abilities make me [Envious],” Zhen Liu taunted in a deeply modulated tone of voice. “So much so in fact, I can’t help but want to retaliate!”
At this comment, the hammer on Zhen Liu’s hip began to glow while the orange flames on his bone spear took on an emerald green color.
Once this changed occurred, Gao Shen Yuan could feel that he could now retract her bident, but the moment she did, she noticed that it felt significantly heavier and that there was a weird amount of resistance.
By the time she noticed the reason why though, it was too late.
The moment Gao Shen Yuan had attempted to retract her bident, Zhen Liu’s bone spear had begun to deform and coil itself around it like a serpent on a tree branch, all the way up to Gao Shen Yuan’s arm. However, instead of a mouthful of venomous fangs as the payload, the payload was a burning spear head wreathed in emerald green flames.
Once Gao Shen Yuan noticed the binding, the spear head was already coiled and ready to stab at her head.
Needless to say, this moment was precarious to say the least.
…
‘Interezzzting, interezzzting. Dezzzpite having brute zzztrength at hizzz disposal, this new Kaijin Lord prefers to fight in weird and tricky wayzzz,’ Buzza noticed.
Off to the side, Buzza had been keeping a close eye at all the fighting. He wasn’t just noting down the moves used or tactics executed though.
He was also making note of the Kaijin Lord’s energy usage…and the frequency of the energy as well.
‘Too loud and it won’t be heard. Too quiet and it own be noticed. It has to be just right, to maximize the silence and pain…’
