Chapter 344: Obsidian Star

Chapter 344: Obsidian Star

"[Shards of Clarity Abide the Star's Tyranny.]"

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The instant Roias heard this verse, he knew what he was dealing with. And in the next instant, he had to dodge a slash nearly as fast as himself. Swiftly, he propped himself up on the werewolf's polearm with one hand, before pivoting and kicking him in the chin.

But when his strike landed, he was met with a much stronger resistance than he expected. Rakna had barely tilted his head to the side from the force. 'Did his attribute distribution change again...?'

Right after his assumption, a rippling fist came his way and when he tried to deflect it, the rebound instantly snapped his wrist. He grunted in surprise and stepped back. 'First, he was fast. Then, he was resilient. And now, he's stronger but slower. I see... truly an absurd ability.'

"You can re-assign your attributes at will..." He muttered out loud and Pandora's Curse swallowed his surroundings and shoved the werewolf away. "The silver lining is that you must keep a certain balance in order for one attribute not to overstrain another. But your strange body mitigates that weakness," he muttered and pointed his hand at Rakna.

The Curse was converted into dark blue water and coalesced into the giant form of a bipedal lizard with spikes covering its spine. "[Cry Out, Dagon,]" the Téras intoned and several halos of water appeared around its claws like bracelets. The summoned monster's red eyes glowered forward.

Yet, Rakna's expression was uncaring as he lowered Sonata. Instead, a purple aura whirled around his arm and was promptly encased in a translucent black crystal in his palm.

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"[Ought The Blades of Fragility Rend Your Flesh.]"

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With the second verse of the Cōl Lāli sung, the air rippled with soul power, and Roias widened his eyes as the force manifested physically, ruffling his clothes. The Dagon roared out and opened its mouth, charging a blue-colored breath.

The werewolf raised the black crystal in response and it transformed into a large slab blade with a carved edge. Roias' summon roared and fired a beam of flowing plasma, swerving right and left like a snake in the direction of its target.

"[Naṭcattira Pirippāṉ,]" Rakna whispered and swung the unwieldy weapon. Then, in the blink of an eye, at the end of the swing, the crystal shattered into a thousand pieces, and the purple flames trapped inside flickered away.

Silence fell for a split second and was broken by the Dagon's attack suddenly stopping and then splitting apart from the middle, each half drifting away like it had been slashed. And beyond it, the giant monster at the source of it was similarly bisected.

Roias glanced to his left where his arm was slowly falling, and then behind at the wall which now welcomed a ridiculously thin but deep scar. 'What...?' Even the Téras was out of his depth at the sight.

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"[In a Dark Firmament, The Star Prowls the Light.]"

"[In Eternal Redemption, The Wolf Sings and Confers.]"

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He heard the werewolf chant again and he warily looked back, calmly letting his arm float back up to his shoulder where it was stitched back up by Pandora's Curse. 'So, this... is the true face of what the Basilica has foretold the arrival,' he thought as he watched the werewolf's aura grow with each second as black crystals continued to sprout everywhere, even on Rakna himself, like armor.

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"[In Between The End and Beginning...]"

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Rakna trailed his last word and then burst forward, his form blurring. And as if he had teleported, he swung Sonata at Roias' head who managed to catch it with his palms.

The Téras grunted as the blade's oscillation traversed his arms and despite himself, shivered when the purple eyes of the werewolf, adorned by golden crosses, gazed at him from up close.

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"[Sits the Tamed Mayhem of the Philosopher.]"

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Rakna uttered and his soul power surged again, multiplying in intensity and twisting space itself as if something was trying to tear it apart. He then channeled more energy into his Guandao and wordlessly triggered Severance and Falling Star at the same time.

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"[Spilling Blood and Smothering Death.]"

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The perks exploded and Roias skid the wall with his arms crossed in defense. Narrowing his eyes, he muttered to himself, "[My Name... Is Vindication,]" the Curse disappeared from around him and his Nirvana Skill advanced to the next stage.

Erasing all spiritual energies; he applied it to himself. It did not destroy them but disallowed them to ever leave his body. Effectively turning him into a reactor with a compressed output, the dream of every master of physical combat.

Endless stamina, unlimited strength, and impenetrable defense. Roias' flowing movement sped up and he kicked away Sonata before striking the werewolf's abdomen with his elbow. Rakna snarled quietly and similarly increased his speed, distorting to contend with the Téras.

However, this time, it was Roias who did not take any damage no matter the attack. That was until a swarm of black crystals was fired again and his Vindication gave under their sharpness, opening countless cuts on his body.

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"[Pitying Fairness and Collecting Hearts.]"

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⠀

“[Crystals of Frost Abide the Star’s Wrath.]”

“[Ought Rime Rip Bones and Flesh.]”

“[In a Fireless Firmament, Shall the Star Blister and Flicker.]”

“[In a Lifeless Perdition, the Wolf Growls and Howls.]”

“[In Between The Heights and Depths.]”

“[Lies the Slumbering Mayhem of the Devourer.]”

“[Bathing in Blood and Rattling Death.]”

“[Mocking Fairness and Gorging Hearts.]”

“[The One, They Offer Harvest.]”

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---

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Neverwinter Star

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“[Embers of Ardor Abide the Star’s Vehemence.]”

“[Shall The Fervor of Hell Taste Your Flesh.]”

“[In a Burning Firmament, The Star Has Forgotten How to Blink.]”

“[In an Eternal Damnation, The Wolf Devours and Howls.]”

“[In Between The Lows and Highs.]”

“[Lies the Incarnate Mayhem of the Devourer.]”

“[Drowning in Blood and Laughing at Death.]”

“[Scorning Fairness and Obsessing Over Hearts.]”

“[The One, They Give Harvest.]”

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---

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Obsidian Star

⠀

“[Shards of Clarity Abide the Star’s Tyranny.]”

“[Ought The Blades of Fragility Rend Your Flesh.]”

“[In a Dark Firmament, The Star Prowls the Light.]”

“[In Eternal Redemption, The Wolf Sings and Confers.]”

“[In Between The End and Beginning.]”

“[Sits the Tamed Mayhem of the Philosopher.]”

“[Spilling Blood and Smothering Death.]”

“[Pitying Fairness and Collecting Hearts.]”

“[The One, They Call Harvest.]”

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