Chapter 145: Ouroboros' Influence

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Upon hearing Apollo's mental command, Ouroboros who was sleeping under the collar of his top robe trembled. At first, he seemed groggy but then his amethyst eyes opened with a weird glint of power shining within. While faint, signs of him advancing in power were appearing.

Not to mention, his aura was also growing to be nearly identical to Apollo's. As he peered his head from under Apollo's collar, his clear eyes continued to blink, 'You...called for me, Master?'

'Yes, are you up for some fun? Are you able to take on your true form?' Apollo questioned. At the same time, his sights remained locked on the incoming sea of silver pythons.

'I can easily take that form, Master. But, Ouroboros is hungry. Can I have food in exchange for this?' Ouroboros shifted its clear gaze to Apollo whose eyes remained unmoving.

'You may. Now proceed,' Apollo nodded in confirmation causing jubilance to flash in Ouroboros. Although it didn't have hands, Apollo swore he heard a clapping noise. Furthermore, there was a repeated tapping that grew heavier and heavier on his shoulder.

Upon noticing this, he finally spared Ouroboros a glance, widening his eyes, 'Oi.. not on me. Change on the ground!'

'No, it's better this way. I...keep getting this urge; I think I can help you like this. Allow me to continue master,' Ouroboros adjured. For a moment, Apollo was silent while looking into Ouroboros' eyes.

Albeit faint, he felt what Ouroboros was hinting at, 'Very well.'

Immediately after, Ouroboros' change proceeded forth at a rapid pace. From a palm-size, he grew. 10 centimeters...50 centimeters...1 meter.

His growth continued past his initial size! Surprisingly enough, in this short period of time, he had experienced a large development in both his body and mind. From the start, Ouroboros' size only stopped after approaching 1.8 meters.

In other words, he was already on par with Apollo's height. However, be that as it may, Ouroboros still remained on his shoulders.

'This weight...he's at least 500 kilograms. Just how compact is his physique to weigh this much? It's astonishing to think about,' Apollo mused.

Meanwhile, amid Ouroboros' change, the silver pythons with numerous black arcs of electricity arrived before them. Yet, when they did, Apollo felt unhindered confidence. With Ouroboros by his side, for some odd reason, he felt empowered.

More precisely, his stigmata felt empowered. It was as if Ouroboros was manipulating its structure. An odd power birthed from this interaction was flowing through Apollo.

'I...I know this power. Isn't this what I felt when Ira nearly succeeded in taking me over? Does this mean Ouroboros can store away Sin and use it at a later time? Then...wouldn't he be a glorified Sin vessel?' Apollo blinked, stupefied by this development.

But then, he thought about Azridan's words as well as Ouroboros. He had mentioned to him before, the rage he felt wasn't his own and was, in fact, Apollo's. Once he realized this, Apollo smirked.

'I think I found a way to circumvent the lack of Natural Essence here. It'll just require Ouroboros. While it is a shame that he falls into a slumber after absorbing energy, it seems bestowing that energy doesn't come with any drawbacks except hunger. Fortunately, this is something I can easily deal with thanks to the system.'

"WHOA! What the hell is that?" Nadida shrieked, appalled by the appearance of Ouroboros. Moreover, she was even more shocked by the fact Apollo seemed unfazed with a large snake wrapped around his neck.

'Master, I've learned a new ability. Open your mind to me! I don't need to stay here,' Ouroboros uttered. Without hesitation, Apollo obliged. He had a slight feeling about what Ouroboros sought to do.

After doing so, the connection between the two deepened. Ouroboros pressed his head against Apollo and made direct contact with his Tainted Temple. Before everyone's eyes, Ouroboros vanished. 

A few moments later, he reappeared in Apollo's mind; he had taken shelter there! To put it differently, what he did was similar to what one did to make a contract with a Spirit. Only after sacrificing part of one's Soul Temple to the Spirit would the contract finalize.

In exchange, they took root in your mind. Of course, this came with drawbacks. Both the cultivator and the Spirit would, in essence, share a life source. However, it wasn't extreme for both sides. The death of either side didn't mean definite peril of the other; the cost was the piece of their souls they tied into the contract.

In other words, the death of a cultivator would weaken a Spirit drastically and vice versa. This was why it was seen as a double-edged sword—an extremely powerful one.

'Fwoosh!' 

With a step, Apollo activated the Partial Shade Silhouette but this time felt different. Rather than shadow embers flowing with the wind, they wrapped around him, obscuring his body. He was utilizing what he learned from Xezym's presentation.

When the academy personnel saw this, their eyes grew intrigued. Sirius even went as far as to muster some faint words, 'Isn't this the technique that little lass from the Braum Family Spirit uses? Interesting, what is their connection? Have they met through Irauk?

Meanwhile, back inside the labyrinth, Apollo grouped his team together. "I'll keep the vanguard position this time. Nadida you're on the defensive. We'll finish these beasts quickly."

"Wait but that snak-"

Before Nadida could finish, Apollo turned in her direction with a cold glare. Shockingly, his pupils were irregular, similar to that of Ouroboros with elliptical pupils, "Stop dwelling on unimportant matters and listen to the matters. You have delegated me as team leader, correct?"

"Y...yes," Nadida stammered, shocked by Apollo's change. 

"Then stop questioning things and listen to my instructions. Form the rear and focus on defense. I won't kill them but I will damage them heavily," Apollo commanded, dashing into the fray of monsters.

As he did so, he was met with sudden inspiration. Using his Hellfire Molding ability, he held out his forming conjuring a long weapon, 'I'll make quick work of these beasts while using Ouroboros' Demonic Anima and Sin supply. I won't need to sacrifice my own.'

A crude black scythe with impure gray spot interspersed throughout was conjured. Oddly enough, as he held it in his hands, it felt right. 'This feeling...could this be the weapons of the demons? Perhaps so, it is after all a long weapon.'

After creating the weapon, a strong current pooled at the tip of its blade. 'I think I understood what the Demonic Massacre Wave lacked. In my case, it's two things. Firstly, it lacked intent. I have to seek to massacre when I use this. Secondly, I believe it needs the concept of a Sin behind his.

Upon coming across this comprehension, Apollo closed his eyes and dropped his weapon to a relaxed grip. However, the aura around the blade's point condensed constantly. By sacrificing Ouroboros' energy, he was tapping into the essence of his technique.

Unlike any of his prior uses, the Demonic Massacre Wave Apollo held now felt pure. So much so the space sounding it trembled.

With one swing, he repelled nearly half of the present beast. Although he didn't kill them, he fulfilled his purpose, 'That's it! I've got it. The wave is to be unstoppable, doing away with all in its path. The reason it's one attack is that its opposers are not meant to be left standing afterward! Again!'

Once again, Apollo duplicated his actions, engrossed in the action of learning. At the same time, numerous alerts appeared before his eyes.

〈System Alert! Your mastery of the «First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave» has increased by 15%.〉

〈System Alert! Your mastery of the «First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave» has increased by 35%.〉

〈System Alert! Your mastery of the «First Annihilation: Demonic Massacre Wave» has increased by 40%. To achieve full mastery, please succeed in comprehend to deepest meaning.〉

'The deepest meaning? There's another one?' Apollo mused, launching another Demonic Massacre Wave. This time, however, numerous of the pythons were split in half. Unfortunately, his countenance was also paling.

Even though he wasn't exhausting his reserves, the nature of the pure Ira Ouroboros siphoned from him was too tyrannical. If he gambled and tried to complete this learning experience, there was a chance of damaging himself.

Alas, Apollo cut his losses and settled with his current comprehension of the technique. Nonetheless, because he knew he was on the right path, he felt more invigorated than ever.

"Nadida, offense, now!" Apollo bellowed, landing by her side as he grasped her hand. Unbeknownst to him, his forceful actions caused her to blush. She was used to being the one calling the shots, therefore, this change of pace was out of the ordinary for her.

To say she wasn't overwhelmed would be an untruth.

Without delay, the two sprang into action. On one hand, there was Apollo zipping around the battlefield, rounding up the python by kicking them towards the center. On another, there was Nadida summoning numerous earth walls in the shape of an octagonal cage.

Contrary to the team's beliefs, she didn't conjure the last wall leaving a large opening. Naturally, this was due to Apollo's directions.

In a flash, Apollo appeared at the opening, "All of you perish." With a slash of his weapon, he sent a colossal Demonic Massacre Wave hurtling forward. The end result, mutilated snake bodies were seen strewn throughout the cage.

At the sight of this, the expressions of his teammates paled. That strike was far too strong!