Abyssal Awakening - Chapter 641

Chapter 641: Grimoire Of Original Sin
Walking through the streets with his hood over his head, Kaden suddenly paused mid-step as he glanced down at his hand.

He could see a purple marking fluctuating on the back of his hand and his pupils constricted in a mix of surprise and disbelief.

“What’s wrong? Did Alice cause some trouble again?” Nalem questioned curiously as Kaden wasn’t one to randomly stop like this. If there was a reason, it would most likely be Alice or Allura.

“When does she not cause trouble?” Kaden gave Nalem a side glance who only shrugged since it wasn’t incorrect.

“But not even I expected the brat to be able to do something like this.” Kaden chuckled.

Since she was resorting to trying something like this, she probably wasn’t in a good situation.

And if that’s the case, it’s only right as one of her guardians to give her a little push.

Clenching his fist, chains appeared on his wrist as black blood seeped from his lips. Wiping it away with nonchalance, he continued to walk.

###

Kaden’s relic was… unique in the sense that while it’s a personal relic, it is also something that belonged to the ‘Apostle’.

The Grimoire of Original Sin belongs to the Apostle of Corruption.

Meaning, whoever is the Apostle at the time, can obtain access to this cursed grimoire. Through the paradox that is Alice’s body, when paired with the fact that she had consumed a portion of Kaden’s soul, it has allowed her to tap into the authority that should rightfully be dormant.

As the grimoire began to manifest in this reality, dark energy spewed out, sending shivers down even the most fearless warrior. The cries of countless, the wailing of banshees.

Even Alice’s body began to shift to take on the appearance of Kaden’s Apostle state as a chain appeared around her wrist.

A binding of sorts.

“!!!” Even though the grimoire wasn’t fully manifested, Alice could already feel countless voices trying to invade her mind as a dark corruptive energy rampaged through her body.

‘Is this what Kaden had to deal with every time he brought out this book?!’

Collapsing onto one knee, Alice couldn’t help but cough up a mouthful of black blood that began to corrode away at the ground beneath her!

Her normal blood was bad enough as it is, but now? It’s now layered with countless curses on top of everything!

But the job wasn’t done. She couldn’t stop here.

No matter how many tools she has, the power of Kazira was simply too overwhelming for her to deal with.

She needed a way to level the playing field! To stop Kazira from using her authority and end things prematurely.

‘Cayla! Tell me what curses I can access!’ Alice shouted as her time with this grimoire was going to be short.

Even now, it was trying to reject her summoning with her forcefully using the fact that Crimson Immolation was levelling up her skills.

Meaning right now, she was barely able to meet the minimum requirements to bring out this book!

The longer she stalls, the harder it’ll be for her to use this book. Heck! Her arms were already beginning to rot with her healing failing to keep up!

[You can’t just spring this on me without telling me!] Cayla began to panic as Kaden didn’t use the grimoire often.

Being hailed as the Apostle of Corruption wasn’t a title he enjoyed but regardless, Cayla scrambled through her memories, trying to recall useful curses that Alice could use.

Meanwhile, Kazira sensed the presence of an Authority. One that she was entirely unfamiliar with and she immediately understood she had to end things now!

Twisting her body, she slashed towards Alice as the space ruptured, revealing five other blades that were raining down on her.

[Don’t think! Just do what I do! Say what I say!] Cayla didn’t have the time to instruct Alice as she immediately began to demonstrate what needed to be done.

*CRACK!!!!

Cracking open the grimoire, the pages began to flip as Alice copied Cayla without hesitation.

Raising her hand, chains began to manifest from the book cover as she slammed down her palm.

Beneath her, a circle of purple ritualistic icons began to expand.

“Curse of Devouring Blight!”

A pulse of energy erupted with Alice in the centre. As the energy came into contact with the weapons, they began to crack and erode!

“!!!” Blood began to pour from Alice’s eye as she felt her inner organs being attacked by a string of corruption.

With the way her body was breaking down just from holding this Grimoire, Alice estimated that she could only use two more curses at most. If she was to use a third, she’d die!

[Close in on her!]

Stomping down, Alice activated her Void Steps as she began to flicker through the realm, travelling up the corroding blade as Kazira gritted her teeth.

Rusted armour began to manifest, transforming into Soldiers that lunged at Alice.

Physical Resonance!

Avoiding their attacks, Alice slammed her hand down, activating her Link Cell as Void Fluxes manifested around them in an array.

*BANG!!!!!

Resonating with each node, a singularity spun to life in the centre, shredding the armour apart!

[We need to deal with the divine authority first. Can you hold out for two curses?] Cayla asked as she found what she was looking for.

‘Two curses are my limit!’ Alice replied while trying to maintain her focus on the countless attacks being launched her way.

Kazira was determined not to let her advance as Alice quickly noticed the unblockable strike flying her way.

With her body as it is, she couldn’t handle an attack of that scale.

‘SORRY FERIS!’

Creating a blade in her hand, Alice twisted her body and activated her fourth Sigil and severance!

Void Flux Cleave! Realm Severance!

*RUMBLE!!!

The arc of energy immediately began to collapse, transforming into a narrow gateway into the Void as it swallowed the unblockable strike in its entirety. In this regard, she wasn’t trying to stop its momentum, nor was she trying to stop the attack.

She was simply changing its path!

“I can see your fear! Your stance crumbles and your body will follow!” Kazira roared, raising her hand as the realm began to tremble.

It does not matter what path the blade takes. The strike will land true!

*CRACK!!!

The space began to crack as Alice could tell the attack was trying to break through.

“You owe me one. But only because this b*tch is f*cking with the Outer Gods.” A voice echoed out in Alice’s ear as her eyes widened in surprise before a grin appeared on her face.

In an instant, the oppressive energy of the void spewed out, collapsing on the attack that Kazira unleashed, erasing the space it resided in!

Seeing this, Kazira couldn’t help but feel anger boiling in her chest.

“Realm Lord of the Void! On what grounds do you have to interfere!” She roared, pointing her blade up at the sky.

“On the grounds that you mess with forces you do not comprehend. Now fall.” Feris narrowed her gaze.

Tapping her finger down, the gravity of the realm slammed into Kazira’s body, forcing her to go onto one knee.

However, she couldn’t do more. Any more than this and she’d have the Gods knocking at her door and that’s not what she wanted. Had Kazira not accepted the help of Eldritch powers, she wouldn’t have been able to interfere. Even if Alice was going to die.

With Feris helping her force Kazira onto her knees, Alice was given enough time to close the gap!

Behind her, three pairs of tattered wings unfurled as the pages of the grimoire began to turn.

However, this curse wasn’t one that she could use with Kaden’s power alone.

No, this one, she needed the help of Severance.

And thankfully. . .

Both powers reside in her body!

Curse of the Black Shroud!

Darkness and silver blades manifested around Kazira’s body as chains began to link the blades to one another.

Curse of the Black Shroud was a curse that could only be activated with both Authorities. It is one that suppresses the Divine Authority of an Apostle and the connection they have to their God for a moment!

Of course, there are ways for an Apostle to defend against this since the curse isn’t guaranteed to hit. But Kazira, restrained by Feris’s attack, couldn’t move at all!

And the next curse was the final nail in the coffin.

Lifting the grimoire into the air, Alice gritted her teeth and slammed her palms together.

Golden energy began to erupt from her body before coalescing into a structure behind her.

A spire splitting into a cross at the top. Platforms hanging by chains. The golden arbiter of balance.

Curse of the Shackled Scale!

A curse that forces the combatants within the sphere of influence to be forcefully brought down to the same level. But if the target is an Apostle, this has no effect.

A useless curse in the case of Kaden since he doesn’t need it to even the playing field. But for Alice? This was a godsend.

By stripping away the authority, even if it’s just for a moment using the Curse of the Black Shroud, she had effectively turned Kazira into a target for the Shackled Scale!

Spectral chains pierced into both the chests of Kazira and Alice as their powers were siphoned away.

The grimoire in Alice’s hand disappeared, having fulfilled its purpose, while Alice quickly deactivated her skill of Crimson Ruin.

If she were to keep up the ability, she would be exiled from her realm!

Little by little, Kazira’s form began to crack apart as she glanced down at her hands in disbelief.

Under the light of the Shackled Scale, both combatants were now facing each other on the ruined battlefield with Kazira’s crumbling War form in the background.

Gritting her teeth, Kazira slammed her hand into the ground as a rusted greatsword was pulled out.

“This will not be War, this will not be a battle. THIS will be a slaughter.”

Seeing this, Alice couldn’t help but chuckle as she created her own blood blade. Her lips curved up into a smile she had not smiled in so long. The adrenaline of battle flowing through her veins.

The desire to kill and succeed.

“To me, you’re just another stepping stone. But to you? I’m the wall you’ll never climb. The battle you’ll never win.

“So be a dear and won’t you die quietly for me?”