Chapter 462: Awirren

Chapter 462: Awirren

Madness Reflected Soul

Awirren Goldenfeather was many things in her life. She was a leader that had saved her world. The most powerful, the one that shone the brightest. The beacon of light that had led her people through the darkest time in their history. The one that had given hope to those survivors lost in a new world. Who had comforted them and helped them move past the trauma of losing their world, losing their loved ones.

She continued being that beacon, as they settled and tamed this new world, as they met souls from other worlds who had gone through the same thing. But throughout it all, Awirren remained an example to all, both her people and others. Her power, her beauty, and her desire to keep people safe. She stood as one of the pillars of the newly arrived peoples.

Until other pillars emerged. Other people, from different worlds who proved themselves her equal. And in time, some proved to be Awirren's better. People who rushed ahead, who pushed the boundaries of power. Who discovered things that raised them all up.

Awirren struggled to keep up, struggled to keep her image of someone that stood above everyone alive, until it became just that. A faade, a lie that she had to project. She was not the strongest, and that knowledge, like a weed, took root inside her soul. Until she convinced herself that all she needed was a little helping hand. A little push, and that she would be able to find the way on her own.

And when that push came, it came with consequences. Awirren was stuck, and the resentment in her soul grew, until she had become convinced that she had been betrayed. Until she started to believe that the only way to advance again was to prove that she was better than everybody else.

And she had, she took her rightful place in the sky, and it didn't help any. Stuck and with no way forward, Awirren made a decision, one that only made her state worse. But as she grew more and more erratic following the consequences of her actions, a small part of her soul was aware of what was happening. And that small part of her pushed her to find a way to control her slipping mind.Thi/s chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.co/m

The world was an infinite place, filled with infinite possibility, filled with mysteries, with secrets waiting to be discovered. All things that could be, were possible, for the Infinite Realm was a dream made real. But for most, there was one place where all things could be obtained. A place that everyone knew about, but few actively ventured to. Because the very nature of that place made it something that a mind couldn't quite grasp. It was so by design, because it was always the last resort. And among those who were able to push through the fog and enter, few were willing to pay the price.

But in one rare moment of clarity, the piece of Awirren's broken soul did reach out, and in a place where clarity of mind was always present, she made a deal.

Pieces of her Soul tore apart and fueled her power. Soul melting into Qi, shaping and fusing together. The golden flames winked out, and were replaced by pure black Soulfire. A reflection of the Soul that wielded the power.

The world trembled at the display, Essence twisting and churning as if it was trying to get away from the flames.

Awirren opened her mouth and shrieked, and the Essence shaped by her vocal cords sent a ripple through the air, one that was tainted by the weight of her Soul.

They were in the sky, and that was her domain, her kingdom. She was the Frenzied Empress of Mad Sky by virtue of her Class, the peak of power.

Her opponent was in front of her, and nothing would stand in her way. With a mighty beat of her wings, she launched herself through the sky.

[Mad Wind Rush] aided her flight, as a wild wind manifested and carried her forward, twisting and turning around her. Her opponent was surprised at her speed, but Awirren didn't even notice. All she saw was death to everything that tried to take her place.

[Frenzied Rampage] bulged the muscles of her evolved form, her technique and perk burning a black shroud all around her body as she smashed into Anatalien. Awirren's claws dug deep into her enemy's abdomen, grasping her enemy tightly. Her head reared back, and with a |Greater Titan's Strike| she lashed out with her beak.

Her opponent defended with a wall of Qi, slowing Awirren's beak in a field of expanding Sky. With a cry, the black fire around Awirren burned at the Qi of the technique as her Will pressed on the world, a wild and uncontrollable will that threatened to burn everything in its way. With a shriek of reality, Awirren punched through. Her beak sank into Anatalien's shoulder as she twisted, trying to get away. Her claws gouged deep wounds and her beak burrowed, fire streaming into her opponent's body, burning her from the inside out. Spikes on Anatalien's tail swung and hit Awirren's side, her own claws flailed as they tried to take purchase on Awirren's body, but black flames and feathers protected her. Awirren's wounds were leaking blood as black as her fire, and just as hot, boiling liquid dripped on her opponent, the black fire that burned all in its way. The spikes of bone on Anatalien's tail burned to charcoal, cracking and splintering without doing any damage. Her claws blackened, and skin melted.

Lances of light rained from above them, but Awirren gave them no heed.

There was no thought in her mind, only the desire to burn the world to ash.