Prince of The Abyss

As the last shadow left his home, Aether sat on his bed... at first, he had done all this to get some sleep... but now. How could he ever rest?

When a warrior gets something that excites him, when he learns something new that he can progress and improve, how can he ever rest?

’A new skill... this is the third I have gotten in this trial... they weren’t lying when they said just how much you will change with each trial, and how much progress you can make in one.”

[Erosion]-Disintegrate the human body until nothing else is left, when not even the bones are left to remind people that a human existed, then how could you ever hope for someone to remember how you looked, to remember your form? It must take a toll on the mind to see yourself without any form. This skill allows the user to lose their form and turn into a shadow for one and a half seconds; however, with every use, it takes a toll on the mind.

’Huh? But I didn’t feel anything before... or maybe because I hadn’t awakened it before... but then wouldn’t the skill be better if it wasn’t a skill at all? ’Weird... let’s test it!’

Aether took a deep breath as he felt his body completely evaporate, and as he lost all signs of his vision, he had to rely on Eden if he wanted to see anything, but at the same time... there was a problem, he couldn’t use the ability... as he had already sealed both his essence that is used to use any skill, and his soul essence, that Eden mainly uses.

So there was no way to see, but it mattered as it hardly lasted, just as fast as he lost himself, he found his form back.

’That was pretty cool, not bad at-’

But before he could finish, he fell to his knees, falling as if something had suddenly started to stab his head without any break. It felt as if his eyes were getting crushed out of their orbits, and all he could do was listen to the voices that appeared around him.

What a sick mental effect it had. He hadn’t gotten hurt, but because it was messing with his brain, it was making it think he was hurt, so technically, it was making him also feel physical pain even if he wasn’t hurt.

He tried to regain himself, but it was useless; he could hardly concentrate with everything around him spinning, it was as if he were in a crystal ball that was getting shaken. He didn’t think he could last longer.

Vomiting on the ground, Aether wiped the saliva and the vomit left near the corner of his lips. He noticed his hands were shaking, but it wasn’t like he was going to be awake for much longer.

As his body failed to tolerate the pain, causing him fall onto the ground and fell unconscious.

...

...

When he awakened, it was night already. At first, he was confused, but quickly remembered all that had happened.

’Damn... what a sick ability. And here I thought it was going to be a very useful ability... guess not, I can’t really do anything without using Eden or Voidpiercer, and both are cut off... plus, that side effect.

He thought it was going to be bad, but when he left, he had not expected it to make him faint.

It was the only skill he had that had a disadvantage. True, his sword style skill is only available with a rapier, but that’s a limitation, and Eden, at first, while it didn’t work with his eyes open, again, it was more of a limitation. None of them made him unable to move and concentrate to the point that his body just gave up. And he likes to think that his body has good willpower.

The only thing that got close was Voidpiercer and its curse marks, but at the same time, not only did the blade also award him with powerful abilities, but by itself was strong. Not to mention its curse wasn’t even that bad, true, at first he almost died, but he was weak at that time, plus, not to mention it revolved around his soul, meaning it wasn’t bad at all if his body was healed, plus, he had gotten used to it, and while it was a very annoying task, he had to say that this pain was worse.

But like he had said, with Voidpiercer at least, he got something back, and he wasn’t in danger unless his soul got really unstable and broken. But this skill, it was only useful in dodging, but even then, when he did, he wouldn’t be able to move after; he might even die in battle before his enemy could kill him, just from the skill.

That was also a possibility that should not be thrown out of the question.

Aether sighed, taking a deep breath inside his chest... before smiling.

’Sure, it hurt, and sure, it’s not a good skill... but I see the potential, I have already done something similar to this, plus, if I am able to connect Eden with this ability, I would maybe be able to see with it, and if not, then at least I have to do something with the pain.

And while there might be ways to do so for a short time, maybe even permanently, though those were definitely out of his money reach, no question... There was one way he usually did things... he was going to make his body adapt to this pain, to force his brain to accept it.

’Well... I think it’s time for me to go to sleep, it is pretty late.’ He chuckled, before using the ability once more... the one and a half seconds felt like an eternity this time, maybe because his body and mind knew what was coming next, but it really sucked, to know what came next and not be able to change it, yet, it was also ironic, that this was the position he wished to find a way around, a position he never wan’t to find himself in, the reason on why he is training so hard. To be able to do something next time something like that happens.

And of course, he was speaking of Lilith’s genocide against those that he considered family.

But even forever has an end... and he thought that maybe he would handle it better this time because he expected it... But not at all, before he knew it, he was on his hands and knees, foaming from his mouth, as it felt as if his own brain couldn’t function properly. His vision blurred as his eyes almost rolled back in their own orbit,

I wonder what people would have thought if they saw this. Would they think he was crazy, would they think he was possessed, who knew... and who cared at the moment, he felt as if he was head and someone kept stabbing him like he was still alive. As if trying to kill him in the end, with only pure devotion.

The number of times he had vomited, his own stomach didn’t have anything inside to push out anymore, so it started to vomit blood. Since that was the only thing left in his body, and it felt like the more he fought it, the worse it got.

But even he couldn’t handle everything.

...

He once again fainted.

..

...

Next time he awakened, he felt his whole body weak, as if it was completely hollow, probably because he had vomited everything from his stomach, the floor was covered in vomit and blood. It was sickening to see; he might have had to let go again if there was something inside his body to let out.

He limped over to his backpack, where he grabbed some bread, and started eating like his life depended on it. And really, maybe it did, since it probably wasn’t a good idea to let out everything you have inside of you.

...

And yet a part of him wanted to go again... but he didn’t. He wasn’t that insane.

Before he could even enjoy it, all the food in his backpack was gone; he was going to have to go and request some from the King, since he didn’t have any money on him to buy anything.

Yet at the same time... it was weird... he knew it wasn’t a good idea, and I mean it was a horrible idea. One of the worst ideas to have ever come out of him, among the many things that have come out today, but at the same time, he wanted to go again.

He needed to make his body adapt to it... and he was going to force himself as much as he needed.

’Maybe this time it would be better. I can’t be that bad.’

...

It was as bad as it got.