Chapter 578: Battle of Wills

[You have entered the area where the fox marble is being controlled.]

[There are two consciousness currently in the area.]

[Only one could control the fox marble at a time.]

[You need to defeat or make the other consciousness submit in order to activate the fox marble.]

Adrian received a lot of system notifications as soon as he stepped in the area of the Torii. The white fox is now staring at him with killing intent that should be able to put anyone in fear. Adrian would have been terrified if not for the fact that he already faced gods so what could a vestige of a heavenly fox do.

"I suggest that you obediently obey my command." Adrian stated as he looked at the white fox.

"Do you think that this is as easy as you thought!?" The white fox stated as it exerted all of its remaining energy.

The small white fox suddenly transformed to a large five-meter-tall fox with nine tails, but Adrian is not scared. The battle stated that it is not a physical one but consciousness or wills. In Pandemonium, battle of wills and consciousness is none other than battle of souls. 

To challenge a summoner when it comes to a battle of souls is basically foolish. Not to mention, Adrian is the former Soul Summoner which mainly dealt with soul weapons that are formed by his very soul. If a normal summoner's soul is already powerful due to their soulbounds then Adrian is twice or even three times more powerful.

"I shall eat your soul and become a real heavenly fox by sacrificing you and your soulbounds!" The white fox, who now has nine tails, stated as it tried swallowing Adrian whole.

Adrian did nothing as the white fox is not really swallowing him physically but spiritually. He just activated all the nether energy in his body as soon as the white fox tried swallowing him. The nether energy that is poisonous for other beings is now permeating the vestige of the heavenly fox.

"What is this blasted energy! I am being burned!" The white fox stated as its white fur started getting stained with three different colors of the nether mist.

Adrian then used his soul to try and devour the white fox. The manifestation of Adrian's soul is none other than his soulbounds. His soul then slowly ate the vestige of the heavenly fox as it tried struggling but it was futile.

The vestige of the heavenly fox could not properly exhibit its strength because it wanted to expunge the nether energy that it consumed but it is too late. Adrian's soul is basically nether energy itself as he is a Netheros. Once Adrian's soul ate the vestige of the heavenly fox, he got system notifications that he did not expect.

"I expected more of a fight, but I guess the vestige is already weakened beyond comprehension." Adrian stated as he read his newly acquired title.

[You won a battle of the souls against a vestige of a powerful being.]

[You received the title 'Can't Touch This' due to your achievement.]

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Title: Can't Touch This

Tier: Epic

Effect: Disables the effect of skills that affect the souls when it is below Epic Tier. It also gives resistance to soul affecting skills and abilities that are above epic tier. The effect of this title stacks with your current resistance to soul affecting abilities and spells.

Description: You managed to do the impossible and protect your precious soul from a predator. Do your best from the more powerful ones though.

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"Glad that it is a very beneficial title as I would need this when fighting against dark gods. The description is a bit too much though. Who comes up with these descriptions anyway?" Adrian muttered to himself as he is now in full control of the fox marble.

[You are now in control of the Fox Marble. What would you like to do?]

"Absorb every bit of nether energy that this fox marble can handle." Adrian commanded as the Torii suddenly glowed. Adrian's command is initiated, and his soul is sent out of the fox marble. 

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Adrian's soul is sent out of the fox marble as it started absorbing the nether energy around it. The fox marble looked like a starved beast as it swallowed as much energy as it could. Even Adrian could feel that the nether energy in his surroundings become thinner than before.

The fox marble only stopped absorbing energy from the surroundings when its color changed into the signature color of the nether mist. The fox marble also changed in description as it is no longer a simple fox marble as it is now filled with nether energy.

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Item: Fox Marble

Tier: Legendary ~ Mythical

Type: Material

Effect: It is filled with nether energy, but the effect of the fox marble is still unknown once it is filled with energy. If it has no energy inside it, the holder can use it to absorb energy from its surroundings or even the life of beings.

Description: A marble that is said to be given by the Heavenly Fox to the ancestor of the fox clan due to its gratitude. Even the fox clan members do not know what it is for as they rarely left The Wilde. You somehow feel a connection from the bead due to the mysterious energy it is releasing.

You managed to erase the vestige that lived inside the item and grabbed full control of it. It is now filled with nether energy due to Equinox' command. Be careful not to break it or the energy inside will get released and wreak havoc in its surroundings.

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"It seems that the fox marble is already full. I should go back as well. I did not realize that I spent almost seven hours inside that marble. The old man should already be finished with reforging that chain. He also needs more of my blood to continue." Adrian stated as he focused energy on the Cube of Paradox once more and created a portal back to the smithy.