The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 160: Growth

Alden stared at Caelum, the crimson in his sole eye gleaming like a pool of liquid blood.

His gaze was calm, tranquil almost... and the pain in his side was the furthest thing from his mind. Alden couldn’t really describe the state he was in.

It was extremely weird, and something he hadn’t come across before.

His strange state wasn’t fueled by a desperation to survive, or even an obsessive desire to win.

...Rather, it had to do with growth.

Alden yearned to discover how much he could grow from this fight. The bout itself was quickly pushing him to his limit, but instead of panicking, he felt a strange excitement, as if he couldn’t wait to unearth what was on the other side.

Right now, nothing mattered.

Not his body, or the crowd, or even Caelum and Varnel.

Alden discarded every thought he had, and surrendered conscious control of his body, letting it do as it wished.

It was a state that far surpassed battle clarity.

Perhaps it was enlightenment, or something less abstract.

Either way, Alden had no reason to complain.

He could not even make a fuss if he wanted to - all his attention was focused on immersing himself deeper in this strange state, and ensuring he grew.

A dark lance formed in Alden’s hand. It was wreathed in flickering abyssal fire, and caught the light like polished obsidian. A small part of him wondered why he had used the [Flame Spear] skill, but it was quickly overshadowed.

The Keeper’s Apprentice sensed his opponent shift, and saw a grave expression manifest on Caelum’s face. He did not stop to think about why the illusionist was so perturbed, launching himself at the new Chosen of the Divine Sovereign without a moment’s delay.

Alden’s vision blurred, yet his mind was crystal clear.

Suddenly, the white-haired young man flinched.

An invisible force washed over him, wresting control over the surrounding space, and ejecting him from the midst of his teleportation. Alden’s frame trembled as he materialised again, his insides shaking like a rattling chain.

A trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his lips.

He instinctively righted himself.

Then, contrary to how he would have normally reacted, Alden did not hesitate, or even pause. He launched himself at the green-robed youth.

However, this time, he did not disappear. Instead, small bursts of mana exploded beneath his feet, propelling him forward like a small, magical catapult.

The tenebrous lance he held whipped forward like a springing snake.

...And just in time.

A torrent of green wind blades, imbued with extremely sharp wind energy bore down on him. It was akin to a violent storm, such was the sheer power laced into the attack.

However, the Keeper’s Apprentice remained unperturbed. His body felt as light as a feather, and he spun in a rapid half-circle, the abyssal fire which flickered on his lance hungrily devouring any wind blade that sought him harm.

Alden did not stop there.

A dark, gloomy energy began to coat his body, like a thin film.

It crawled from the soles of his feet, up his calves and legs, before stopping at his chest. Then, the stygian energy detached itself from his figure, and under his control, transformed into a large, lightless, oval shield.

It revolved around him like an annoying gnat. However, it was not a pest - anything but.

As Alden spun, the shield blocked several wind blades which had inevitably bypassed his guard, preventing them from mangling his body even more.

As the torrent of green wind energy faded, the space to his right suddenly fluctuated. From that, a lance saturated with a stunning amount of space and wind energy tore through the air, streaking towards the Keeper’s Apprentice at lightning speed.

At the last possible moment, though...

Four tentacles glistening with the power of abyss arrested its advance.

The roiling appendages warred against the space and wind energy.

For every inch of their dark swathe consumed, almost twice as more of the cosmic lance disappeared.

Still, Alden was not done.

In this marvelous state, it felt like he could do as he wished, unbound of the shackles which had previously plagued his mind. And so, like a spectator watching his life play out from above, Alden watched his body draw on the power of three Skills.

First, a pitch-black arrow weaved itself out of abyssal decay. Then, stygian fire ignited across its length, turning the simple [Arrow] into a [Fire Arrow]. Lastly, the projectile seemed to glow, infused with some sort of energy.

Not once, or twice.

Alden sensed his body infuse the arrow thrice.

And then, with a casual wave of his hand, it zipped away.

Less than a breath later, Caelum’s neck whipped to the side, just barely avoiding the dark arrow. However, the small part of the Keeper’s Apprentice mind which still remained was too stunned to pay attention to the illusionist’s reaction.

Because...

That was [Haste].

A portion of Alden’s mind dissected what just happened, and to his deep surprise, he had applied [Haste] on an object. Not just that, but he had also managed to take some of the properties which [Flame Wave] possessed, and transfered it to the plain [Arrow] skill, in order to form a more dangerous construct.

The infinitesimal portion of Alden’s brain that resisted his strange state hissed.

Alden always had a feeling that he was not making the most out of his Skills, but to have it proved so accurately, stung a little. However, he did not have any more time to reflect, as just then, an arm wreathed in purple lightning obliterated his large, oval shield.

Alden shifted his gaze towards Varnel, and swiped.

A thin, almost imperceptible disc of abyssal energy shot out.

Suddenly, the speed demon’s expression changed drastically, and he disappeared in a flash.

Not paying Varnel’s fate any mind, the Keeper’s Apprentice returned his attention back to Caelum, who’s entire face had strangely gone pale. If Alden’s thoughts hadn’t been so consumed with growth, he would have sensed it sooner.

...A demonic smile slowly marred his lips.