The agonised hiss of a serpent as it was carved into two strips rang out, splashes of blood raining onto the rough ground. Yuyui while reverse handling her dagger was like mini-deity well versed in the art of the curved, short blade, dishing out equally devastating measures of death.r
The look of focus in her eyes as she darted here and there, evading flighty ambushes from snakes that jutted out of the endless stretch of burrows in the floor, walls and ceiling was nothing short of inspiring.r
This wasn't the same Yuyui who had sulked in weakness. It was as if she was a different person!r
The lime haired girl spun backwards, avoiding ten serpents that zipped down from the openings in the ceiling with their white fangs ready to expose a peculiar attack as well as a hateful bite. She then stormed back to where she had been standing and with her arm swinging ferociously, masterfully even, her dagger which spat fire from the edges turned the black scaled serpents into partly-cooked and sliced slabs of meat ready for kebabbing.r
"Phew..." Yuyui took a breather.r
This Cluster had a troublesome layout. Usually the Clusters she encountered had worlds that were more or less comfortable to fight in, even if they gave specific advantages to their inhabitants. This one however, was different. r
Over the hardened, constantly slopping ground painted with red soils, countless holes could be seen, unevenly distributed everywhere she looked. Their sizes differed too, which was rather annoying. When she focused adequately, Yuyui could hear the slithering within these holes, spelling the approach of her enemies that came in different variations of size, much to hers and Ferex's detriment – having to guess which size a serpent would be when they shot from the hole to attack.r
Above the nimbleness of the serpents which made for a trying time because they all had stats amplified by blue cores, they all had an annoying ability.r
Yuyui shot her head to the left when she heard the slightest hints of movement within the narrow corridor she was currently in. A serpent as a thick her thigh poked its head out, opened its mouth and hissed menacingly, a storm of mana flowing from its mouth. r
Then, a dastardly, unnatural darkness crept from its maw along with the sound of its angry call, its pervasive nature crawling from the wall speedily in an attempt to submerge Yuyui like a dark sea!r
The lime haired girl remained calm, not showing any signs of moving to attack or evade. Instead, the skin on her forehead parted to reveal an eye with dark sclera and an ice blue iris that glared at the serpent!r
The creature reeled back in shock, first at the power contained within the eye and second... at how the darkness it had cast was dispersed instantly!r
Only when its attack had vanished did Yuyui deal a definitive fatal blow to put down her enemy.r
'All things considered these things aren't that hard to kill. If you prevent them from using that darkness or kill them before they can use it, there's basically no threat. Though... THAT feeling was unpleasant...' Yuyui thought, her memory retreating to her experience with the serpent Cluster beasts' darkness ability.r
She had been the one to dive into the Cluster first, just in case there was something that could give her and Ferex a tough fight, which wouldn't be too good for the Adaptable Body Steel Hound.r
When the obscure darkness from the serpents touched anything, living or otherwise, it ate it all rapidly like a corrosive acid. While this occurred, it was needless to mention that there was no window for sight. Blindness would be the only company you had while you were swallowed whole.r
This was a formidable attack.r
Thankfully, Yuyui was immune to death and after learning how the attacked worked, the impromptu demonstration also assisting Ferex, beating these monsters became easier to beat.r
Speaking of the Apostle, he was a few paces ahead of Yuyui where the ground sloped downwards.r
Even though beasts with blue cores would have been trying for him in a physical contest, Ferex was actually having an easier time in this Cluster than Yuyui.r
The Apostle was surrounded by a growing mound of serpent corpses, some still twitching after fairly recent deaths.r
Tens more of these legless enemies shot from the burrows all around, some already opening their mouths to spit shadow-like darkness. Ferex who already had his hand extended out in preparation for attacks he couldn't react to because of the physical stat gap, activated [Soul Lord] once more.r
The threads that had been present when he used [Dark Soul Bending] last time were gone, and only a ghostly blue light flared from him in a circular arc to show his area of dominance and reign over his enemies' souls!r
The serpents were suddenly brought to a halt, with no exception.r
Immediately after the effect of his skill took hold, Ferex brandished his greatsword, the Cross Pyre and pointed it at the mess of black, slithery bodies ensnared by his power. The weapon glowed in a menacing orange hue before spewing hot flames that scorched everything before him with a violent force, digging a massive cross shaped indentation in the narrow corridor at same time!r
The hiss of the snakes was unnerving yet satisfying as they were burnt to death.r
The others still hidden within the holes in the thick walls staved away from the fire and sought to catch Ferex off guard through other burrows but as they escaped the safety of darkness to shoot close to the Apostle, a tight grip on their souls sealed their fate. From there Ferex only had to cleave their heads and move on.r
The seemingly limitless application of [Soul Lord] allowed Ferex to overcome differences in strength between himself and enemies with better cores, though he didn't use it in many complex ways in said circumstances as the stronger his opponent, the stronger their soul.r
~~~r
[Soul Lord | Lv.]r
The user is able to make the souls of lesser or equal opponents turn docile in his presence while stronger souls, depending on the disparity, can be stunned for short periods. Only a 4 meter radius of control can be achieved without coming into physical contact with the target while the vice versa doubles the range.r
Mana Requirements: 3,000 Mana Points, 1500 Mana every minuter
Duration: ---r
Cooldown: Noner
~~~r
With the bright flame ahead illuminating his frame, Ferex turned back to find Yuyui approaching.r
"Let's keep moving," the lime haired girl said. "I hate snakes. They are weird. The sooner we finish this, the better."r
"I too must admit, these are not the type of opponents I favour, servant Yuyui," Ferex also dejectedly declared.r
Seeing the Apostle's drop in enthusiasm, Yuyui smiled and patted his shoulder – by taking a leap to actually reach it – and gave some encouragement.r
"We'll hunt for better Clusters tomorrow, alright?" she said.r
The Apostle nodded.r
Another rustling came, though faint and Yuyui instantly responded.r
"Two more are coming. Big ones."r
With her alert, the two stood back to back.r
"Let me handle their creepy ability. You go for the kill," she said to which Ferex nodded..r
In the next moment, not one but two large black serpents with shiny scales darted out from both sides of the walls, both their maws open to push out a starving darkness. r
Yuyui's Eye of Dispersal fully opened, thwarting her enemies' attacks – she started with Ferex's opponent and then her own in one quick motion – and then leapt up to dice the coiling Cluster beast on her side to death.r
Ferex on the other hand didn't have the time to activate [Soul Lord] again because his opponent was particular quick, so he first braced for impact, his whole scaly body being covered in the pristine glow of the magic spells etched onto every one of his individual scales!r
At the same time, on his arm, a thick shield made of light grey steel spawned in the blink of an eye, at its centre, the pale glow from golden, tangled Unliving Threads being seen!r
The serpent, which was as thick as Yuyui's entire body rammed into the Adaptable Body Steel Hound but failed to make him budge even an inch!r
Before it could recoil for another attack, a soul stunning attack rendered it motionless for a second, just enough for it to be sliced apart by the Cross Pyre which slashed upwards.r
The effectiveness Ferex's combo was unparalleled.r
After evolution, he had awakened another mutation other than the [Pseudo Spirit Walker's Hide], as it was for a creatures like him with an inhuman base. r
What he got was the [Steel Core], a small spherical metallic orb that was forged in his abdomen. Because of it, light grey steel which was highly conductive to Null Life Essence could be forged anywhere on his body, the amount and shape depending on how much mana he employed. The core itself was like a mana core, but instead of generating mana, it generated steel which Ferex could use to create anything he wanted!r
Coupling this steel which he mainly used for defence, with another type of Unliving Thread he had awakened that was capable of absorbing impacts, produced stellar results!r
Yuyui and Ferex reformed their back to back formation, watching and listening for other incoming opponents as they moved.r
Several minutes passed.r
Several suspicious quiet minutes.r
"I'm guessing the General is coming. Right?" Yuyui said.r
"I've been saving up my mana for it. Let it come," Ferex declared.r
Another stretch of seconds passed with nothing happening but this only served to make the duo even more tense.r
Yet, before they could consider any other forms of action... it happened.r
Darkness started to creep from behind them, travelling through the widening tunnel they had been traversing . It moved slowly but that did not put the two at ease at all.r
Yuyui faced ahead with her Eye of Dispersal, prompting for the darkness to be vanquished easily and she urged Ferex on while taking the lead.r
Another burst of darkness stormed from beyond them still, this time with an unrelenting force but it still died off to Yuyui's optical powers.r
Once again, it came and thrashed towards the two but Yuyui's wouldn't have it. It was futile as long as sh-r
"Servant Yuyui!" Ferex called, prompting the lime haired girl to turn her two eyes slightly behind him in order to not break her focus from the threat in front.r
...!!!r
A speeding, almost desperate wave of darkness was throwing itself from their rear as well, moving too quickly for compromise!r
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