The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 171: Death Sentence

Alden twisted.

Immediately after, a ghostly blur slammed into him within his mind’s eye.

Activating Morrigan’s Art, he focused his attention on the thread connecting him to the approximate location of the new threat. Alden’s sole eye narrowed as he shifted ever so slightly, registering the information.

Ignia shot upwards, following his command.

In the next moment, crushing force crashed into his abyssal blade.

Alden shot backwards, skidding across the ash-covered floor.

He gritted his teeth, dispersing the force, before lifting his head to gain a better look at the creature. It stalked towards him on four limbs, its dark grey coat blending seamlessly with their stark, bare surroundings.

Its eyes, a piercing yellow slit, belied an intense hunger to rip him apart and feast on his bones.

Alden’s brows furrowed slightly, gazing at the ash-coloured leopard.

From the fluctuations it emitted, he estimated it was a Devil. However, after blocking its strike, Alden felt it was too strong to just be that.

Suddenly, he saw its eyes glisten with a magical hue.

That was when Alden understood.

’So, not only is it just a hair’s breadth away from evolving into a Djinn, it’s also a Dark Brood?’

He sighed.

’Great.’

And judging from how many eyes pierced him from the shadows, this ash leopard was not alone.

...How annoying.

The Keeper’s Apprentice clicked his tongue.

Then, he released a turbid breath.

Nearby, the Provisional Paladin Squad came to an abrupt halt. From their tense postures, it was safe to assume they had also sensed the imminent danger, as well.

"Kill them all. Make sure none escape."

Alden’s cold voice shattered the silence, slicing through the mounting tension.

Following it, the sound of fourteen warriors shifting resounded.

Alden burst into action, his abyssal blade hissing as it cut through the air. Responding in kind, the Defiled creature lunged at him as the ground beneath it cracked, its razor-sharp maw gleaming in the low light.

Just as he neared the abomination, Alden’s figure disappeared. The leopard’s maw snapped over empty air. Less than a heartbeat later, his form reappeared, the crimson in his sole eye flashing in tandem with his stygian blade.

Not expecting its prey to suddenly disappear, the Defiled was a fraction of a heartbeat late to react. However, to Alden’s dismay and mild shock, his dark blade did not damage the creature at all.

It simply came to an abrupt halt, hovering inches above its grey coat.

Strangely, Alden sensed all the force he had applied into the strike fade, as if absorbed by the abomination’s frame. He had no time to ponder over that incongruity, though, as the tainted mana fluctuations surrounding the leopard suddenly spiked.

It shifted, training its predatory gaze on him.

Then, a sudden burst of force exploded from the creature, catching him off-guard.

Alden cursed.

He sailed backwards as if he were a discarded toy the leopard no longer wished to entertain.

However, Alden knew that wasn’t quite true.

’If anything... it’s only getting started.’

Based on its hungry gaze and voracious appetite common amongst Defiled.

In any case, just before the powerful force collided with him, Alden had managed to cross his arms and erect a thin, but somewhat durable abyssal barrier in the way.

...Unfortunately, his insides still rattled wildly like a swinging chain.

Alden clenched his teeth as a sense of deep, intense nausea welled within him.

As he adjusted his body, landing on his feet and launching himself back at the leopard with a burst of mana, the Keeper’s Apprentice forcefully fought the urge to retch. It was difficult; his chest tightened, a faint iron taste pervading his mouth.

It seemed the leopard’s attack had done more than just fling him away.

Alden’s grip on his abyssal blade tightened, eight shadowy tentacles bursting from his back. Each of them ended in a sharp tip and stygian fire roiled across their length. With a silent shout, the Keeper’s Apprentice lunged at the leopard, ready to begin their clash in earnest.

Golden threads dominated his vision.

A few paces away, the earth surrounding the Stonewardens undulated like a turbulent sea. The half-dozen earth wielders stood in a loose half-circle, gazing intently at the fruit of their efforts - shackles of earth, mud and soil rose from the ground in an effort to restrain the abominations.

However, before they could fully materialise, the leopards leapt back and opened their maws, releasing a concussive roar which shattered the earthen constructs. Undettered, Terra, Avel, and Clay dove towards them, spear, mace, and sledgehammer in hand.

On the other side, wisps of pale, boiling fog surrounded Yuki. Her figure was akin to a large rift, absorbing the ever-present heat. Steam shrouded her body in a fine haze, and two frigid pupils pierced the approaching abominations with an icy hue.

Isolde flanked her.

Suddenly, a beam of compressed ice energy tore through the air, slamming into the latter’s mirror positioned above a Defiled. Just when they thought the creature had frozen over and roared in pain, they discovered Yuki’s attack - bolstered by Isolde - had lost all its momentum, dimming as it lost all its energy.

The two ice wielders frowned.

A few paces away from them...

Marion, Devin, and the rest of the examinees faced off against three leopards.

The numbers were in their favour. However, as they gazed into the abominations’ bloodthirsty gaze, any confidence they might have had evaporated like mist. The five warriors inhaled deeply, steeling their nerves.

Behind them, occupying the very centre of their formation, Raphaela gripped her staff, her mana sense shrouding the entire space, primed to notice the most minute change in less than the span it took to breathe.

Her job was the most critical; she could not afford any mistakes.

And so, the once silent Forest of Ash roared to life, teeming with the chaotic clamour of battle, mana fluctuations running amok in the air. This clash promised to test the provisional Paladin Squad’s teamwork, coordination and mettle.

After all, this was their first time fighting together.

They also had to overcome their foes relatively quickly, as well.

The noise generated was bound to attract more abominable forest dwellers and potentially more Dark Brood. If that happened, their fates were sealed. So, to avoid this death sentence, the provisional Paladin squad fought with greater vigour.

As the battle picked up, flakes of ash fell from the sky, silent and haunting.