Chapter 1220: Just Like That
Replicus had noted the disastrous power of Skullius Tertiary assault function - the merged power of [Evil Darkness] and [Just Light] given raw, explosive offensive properties.
This was why he had clad himself in Beyrmir and shielded himself with [Maximum Neutral] despite being in his Territory. He had lost all faith in it in the face of the upcoming attack.
But all his other defences weren't much better. The only thing Replicus had truly been counting on, was the Warmoth's Spine, which was immune to all concepts; this was why he propped it forward. It had played a great role in ensuring that he wasn't eviscerated instantly, but so did a number of other factors.
[Ju`wtta Resounding Restoration] had also been extremely helpful, but even at the end of it all, whatever damage Replicus sustained or evaded, his greatest hopes laid in one thing: the third adjustment to his body which had been awarded to him as a result of Personal Configuration!
Replicus had added two more arms to his form. He had also added a nervous system which his phantoms could use. But the third adjustment had been more intricate and complex. It had required a few hours to completely establish as a part of him.
It was called Embryotic Stuffing.
(A/N: Refer to Ch.1159).
Its purpose was simple. It was essentially a spare body for Replicus, fresh and new, hidden within the recesses of his present one. When the need arose for it, it would replace the lost or badly damage bits of him, as it had done just now.
Replicus had hoped that since it was a new body, it wouldn't be affected by the side effects of Implicit Evolution, but he was wrong. Even though his new body was in perfect condition, his cells were drained still.
'I I suppose that's fair,' Replicus thought. He was being too greedy. Right now, he had to be thankful for what he had managed to accomplish.
His ambush on Skullius had worked much better than he had imagined.
Even though his head was blown off, he had managed to lunge and grab Replicus because his phantoms had their own circuit of nerves to facilitate their own coordinated moves. They had spearheaded the attack, using the opening Sila created to the fullest, and marking Skullius with the Stark Constellation - the brand that was on Skullius' forehead.
Replicus had created this brand while in the Timemould Mirror Box.
With what had happened to Skullius in mind, Replicus was determined to ensure that his subordinates, especially the stronger combatants, wouldn't fall prey to the whims of those who made the Hidden Classes they wielded or would wield in the future.
The primary purpose of the Stark Constellation was to reject any foreign influence from an individual's body and soul. It negated all adverse soul effects and body manipulations spawning for most kinds of attacks - skills, Blessings, Spells, Veneration arts and more.
Additionally, it helped to strengthen the resolve of the individual it was branded to, responding and resonating to their personal ideals. It reacted rather violently when they did or saw anything that supported a stance they subscribed to.
Above all else, however, the Stark Constellation allowed Replicus complete control of anyone it was branded to.
The Warmoth's Progeny added this function just in case all the other properties of the Stark Constellation couldn't stop an enemy's attack on his people, and they successfully hijacked their bodies or subjected them to a vile influence.
Indeed, the Stark Constellation was the ultimate mark of loyalty to Replicus.
He didn't impose it on everyone, however, and didn't hide all its traits. Yet still, to Replicus' surprise and delight, not one among his subordinates refused to be branded. They were all even enthusiastic about it. Well, all except that one...
Replicus smiled as he thought about the beaked bastard. He sighed.
'This is awkward,' he thought, and he looked down at Skullius whose head was now planted against his broad chest. 'I wonder how long it will take for me to be able to move well again. Ah, and there's a bunch of time left until Skullius' cooldown elapses and he naturally reverts to the Penetrator. But... oh, right! I can just use Integral Time to change him right away!'
Replicus remembered that he could just cheat and use the Rule-Level concept Integral Time to rewind time on Skullius' body, or better yet, use Maximum Catalyst's Reversion! The fact that he had almost forgotten these tools at his disposal when he had literally used them to do what he intended to do right now during the battle, was a mark of how exhausted he was.
Speaking of time, Replicus looked up into the distance.
The drapes of time remained.
He had no idea how long they would last and if he could even fix them. His affinity with Integral Time wasn't all that great, after all.
'Maybe if I initiate [Brisk Storm Avatar], I'll get enough power to-"
<You're a fascinating creature up close. Definitely more conniving and powerful than you should be.>
...!!!!!
Replicus visibly quaked at the voice that had come out of nowhere!
...But then came a horrendous, absolutely atrocious pressure that stole the wits out of his mind!
The Progeny's mouth fell open.
The mere shadow of the thing that had spoken was like a furnace to his flesh, frying his faculties of composure and strength!
Replicus only managed to turn his eyes up to get a look at the thing that had somehow approached him without him noticing.
It was a giant marble stone being sculpted as a half-naked, extremely handsome man with short hair and curly beard. It was crouching over Replicus, the sharp, obsidian eyes brimming with might the likes of which Replicus was sure was Deific, but on a scale he couldn't fathom. Suzamete was a Deitess, but she didn't carry power like this even in her domain!
Replicus' [Sorcery of Essence] picked up various kinds of energy blasting from the great Deity in mind-boggling volumes.
Primus!
Nitros!
Genuine Divine energy!
It all seemed intent on crushing him!
Replicus called desperately for Serenity. She was his only hope for getting out of here alive!
But Serenity didn't spring forth to help.
She couldn't.
<I don't want anomalies meddling in my affairs. You've proven to be a potential thorn in my
side already.>
And then Boron scooped up Replicus and Skullius with one hand, raised them to his eyes, and
squeezed.
<Tell the one who cursed you with these powers that I look forward to their next vessel which will- and I have no doubt - come for revenge as many others have.>
And a blaze Replicus couldn't fathom engulfed himself and Skullius!
The former realised at once that this was game over. His instincts told him that in his current, exhausted state, he couldn't offer any kind of resistance, even if he caused Skullius to do
something against Boron!
Was this it?
'Just like that...?' Replicus thought while looking at Boron's colossal, dark eye.
Just like that?
He was going to perish just like that?
...
...
BOOOM!
Replicus' senses seemed to reset.
He was on the ground, Skullius lying down beside him.
He was unharmed.
'W... what?' the Progeny thought, lost for words, confused and terrified.
What the flesh was going on?
He turned his head to his left.
A massive white arm was lying in the lava, severed cleanly at the elbow.
...Wasn't this the same arm that had been crushing him just now?
Replicus reeled. This didn't make sense.
He looked up.
Boron was donning a fearsome expression, the hand on his remaining arm grasping a deep,
lengthy gash running across his chest. From this gash, a fiercely bright radiance, textured like
soap suds, was leaking upwards.
What the...?
<Another one?> Boron said hatefully.
...And then something fell right in front of Skullius.
It was humanoid and much shorter than him.
It held a very long sword whose blade was half pink, half gold.
This sword... Replicus shivered at the sight of it.
The figure wielding it had on a bland, shiny, sapphire mask.
<WHO ARE YOU?> Boron asked as he staggered and fell on one knee, straining.
But the figure didn't answer.
Instead, it turned to Replicus, who flinched.
It grabbed the mask on its face and pulled it off with some difficulty, revealing the pretty
visage of a familiar, dark-skinned woman.
The woman flashed Replicus a kind smile.
"It's probably not ladylike - or Knight-like for that matter - for me to say this, but my word,
you got uglier!" she said.
Replicus, torn between the view of a massive, literal god a few meters away, and the familiar face of someone who had just brought said god to his knees, fumbled. But then he managed to
spill out a word - a name.
"Elita...?"
[Author's Note]
End of Volume 4: Chaos Across Boundaries!
Phew!
I cannot express how happy I am to have finally written all of this. It's been spinning in my head for many months and I'm glad I can share it with all of you sockethole- ahem, friends!
I know this Volume is flawed just like any other, but I really enjoyed writing it, especially the final battle.
I know it got very long, perhaps too long. Forgive me for that, but I felt 'Possessed' Skullius
deserved more time to shine especially in the fight, revealing all his abilities and his trickery and the likes.
In any case, please tell me what you thought about the Volume and the final fight! I would
REALLY love to hear your detailed thoughts, criticisms and all! Leave comments if you wish socketho-, dear readers!
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If you haven't done so, please leave a REVIEW as that would help with exposure, and with
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