LET THE BEAST FREE (3)

Ciemnosc looked up slowly and gazed into the eyes of this old enemy of his. They were the darkest sect master Holoriu had ever seen, and they were all full of wrath, one that could very well sit him down just by being looked at it. Ciemnosc didn't give the sect master any more time to react though. What he was about to do was just right, and too much time had passed since he had been wanting to do it.

Ciemnosc’s right hand had caught the axe’s blade, so his left hand had to be the one he thrust forwards, right into the sect master’s stomach, and entered it like a knife plunging into its enemy’s body. There was no sound from Ciemnosc’s movements. But the faces of everyone, who was barely gaining both courage and reason from watching Isol’s body eaten began to become shocked once more, and this time as they saw Ciemnosc’s left arm profoundly penetrating into the taller and bulky sect master.

Ciemnosc looked still at the sect master’s face. His right hand tightened the grip on the axe, just as Power Energy was sent into it from the axe’s handle. On the other hand, Ciemnosc’s left hand was digging into the sect master’s stomach. The muscles, gastric veins and bones were being torn apart wherever his hand went. There were traces of Power Energy barely starting to form and condense within the sect master’s body, but that too, was spread apart and away from his left hand.

Then, Ciemnosc grabbed onto something, which could be seen by how intensely and harshly the veins from his left hand were being moved into motion. Then, Ciemnosc pulled, and at the same time, the sect master’s eyes were bulging like they were falling off their sockets.

“Ciemnosc!!” The previous headmaster finally screamed and screamed loud, hoarsely as well as unbelieving everything he was seeing. Nobody was blind, nobody was dumb, and it had happened twice. A Spirit Gathering realm cultivator in the 10th stage had just made short work out of 2 Obsidiafying realm cultivators with half a step into the next realm!! One after the other!!!

“Headm- Clann, he- he isn’t weak like we thought, don’t do anything rash for the academy still needs someone to lead them!” The black supervisor held the previous headmaster, as the latter obviously showed signs of wanting to interfere. The previous headmaster calmed down but still looked at Ciemnosc with eyes ghastly open and a loose jaw.

Crrrrrrack~... psshhh- plop.

At last, Ciemnosc’s left hand came back out of the sect master’s body; who had his arms extended upwards to cleave Ciemnosc in two and who was now powerlessly letting those arms fall to the sides.

Ciemnosc’s left hand came out, holding something, it was a bone but then revealed to actually be a spinal column. Yet it wasn’t one that was complete. There were strands of something dark, something that didn’t even seem like Power Energy nor pure energy, yet was similar to a mix of both and yet of none at the same time. Either way, they were formed and shaped like tendrils as they gnawed at the spine, moving creepily all around it, mostly at places where the bones were missing a lot of structure.

“Aah- aak… aah, aaaggh.” The sect master of the Self-Mutilating Honores Sect, the leader of the strongest organization from the east, began falling down to the ground as he no longer had a spine to even try moving.

“Grrraaawh!” However, the sect master remained on his feet. He wasn’t falling anymore though his arms were immobile, his upper back suddenly hunched without life and all ugly, and his legs were tormentingly stiff with semi bent knees.

It didn’t take Ciemnosc any effort to know the sect master was using all of his Power Energy to try and keep himself on his feet. That wasn’t a joke, as the Power Energy of an Obsidiafying realm cultivator beyond the peak was something only someone who wasn’t in that realm like Ciemnosc could know how vastly superior and potent it is compared to that of any lower realm!

It might be of larger quantities and of a much more stable composition as one goes from the Spiritual Ligament realm to the Spirit Gathering realm and even change to a slightly better Power Energy overall. But for an Obsidiafying realm cultivator, their Power Energy would just become so monstrous, it was impossible to deal with it even with 16,000 kg of strength with both his hands. Only when Ciemnosc also used his everything against their Power Energy could he rival them as he did.

But the sect master didn’t even think for a second, just launching himself towards someone who escaped an old, experienced, and peak expert of the Obsidiafying realm like himself such as Isol. With such an obvious flaw, Ciemnosc’s hand easily went through that body. And the sect master, now having lost his most crucial bone structure, left him hopeless and using all the Power Energy in his body to replace his spinal column.

“...” But it was obviously not working. As Ciemnosc watched, the sect master remained on the spot with his shirt open where his stomach was. Yet only blood peeked out as the wind from so high up made his clothing flutter and his body sway nonstop. To the sect master, the entire auditorium was moving about and around. But to Ciemnosc and the rest, the sect master was idiotically moving around like a drunkard.

Crunch crunch crunch, munch, crunch crunch, munch munch, crunch crunch crunch…

Unceremoniously, Ciemnosc lifted his left hand and began eating the spinal column, bite by bite, like a skewer, and even used his right hand after throwing the huge axe that was now breaking to the side. While the steel of the Mortal axe was crumbling peacefully at the side, Ciemnosc broke those incredibly tough bones one by one, letting them become supplements for solidifying his foundation while he had enough pure energy from his Supreme Powerful Stones and didn’t need to worry about.

“Thank you, this comes in handy.” Ciemnosc’s voice was simply calm as he said these words as he was finishing the last bits of Holoriu’s spinal column, also looking towards Clann. His voice might be calm, but his eyes showed an obvious rage that wasn’t simple, that wasn’t just going to be a fallout today and make up for tomorrow.

“Ciemn-” The previous headmaster had more of his already white hair falling, and wrinkles appeared furthermore around his face and head. He aged considerably more after this much happened, one event after another and one shocking scene… after another.

“Catch him!” However, that was only for the previous headmaster and his party. The others, the rest of the Obsidiafying realm cultivators that were from the other party, and had a large number of peak experts for that matter, were more than sober and already lunging at Ciemnosc.

Pum, crash splassh.

“!” Ciemnosc stopped frolicking, he went over and punched the Holoriu’s face, and just as a screen of blood, organs, bone and skin splattered all around and were deforming, he stored the corpse entirely into his Covert Space bags. He even placed it together with his new lover. He was considerate alright.

Pum, whoosh, pum pam pam-pam pam pam.

As soon as he finished picking Holoriu’s corpse up and storing it, Ciemnosc was hit in the chest by a kick, one that he wasn’t allowed to move to the side to avoid due to some tiny chains made of Power Energy holding his shoulders, but not his legs.

As he was sent flying backwards, his feet tapped lightly against the ground, and, together with the impulse from being kicked, he fled an extra 200 meters already way outside of the stage. His body, flying away, had to be chased though, as he was sent so far away they couldn’t engage in a chain assault to kill him.

‘Urgmmh.’ But the hit wasn’t without strength. It was an all out attack. The only difference was that it wasn’t anything worthwhile for him to worry about as even though it appeared to be some ‘art’ that covered the owner of that leg with fiery Power Energy - it was just empowered, and that was all.

While Ciemnosc was flying backwards, his chest was hurting. Although the remnants of the enemy’s Power Energy cleansed almost instantaneously after leaving the main body. No longer being empowered by the source, they became obsolete and were no longer painful to Ciemnosc. But that was something only Ciemnosc could enjoy, his dark Power Energy and All-Devouring Force Chronicles allowing such a mental thing to be possible.

… From below the peak of the mountain. In a certain Creature-renting service, a Creature opened its eyes. Following it, the thousands and thousands of other Creatures did the same before slowly yet powerfully springing up to their feet.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Ciemnosc continued to fly backwards, his neck and upper back directing his body and his eyes observing the incoming Obsidiafying realm whose flight speed was slightly slower than his. And his Spirit Sense was already tracking those who had been hiding at the corners of the center of the auditorium, which was no larger than 2 square kilometers.

“Get him!” One of the pursuers shouted, directly landing the soles of his shoes against Ciemnosc’s left cheek, changing the trajectory at last. Ciemnosc couldn’t do anything. His cultivation base didn’t allow him to fly. He was hopeless as his skull felt the terrible pain from another empowered kick.

As he was yet being sent flying at a faster speed but towards the ground, the tip of someone’s foot came from below him and sent him to a sudden top, change of trajectory and speed, and arching up into the air once again.

“Everyone, get out! Out of here! Go t safety!” Seeing it was all true and their eyes not deceiving them, the staff members left behind from the party that used to support Ciemnosc began evacuating everyone, with the previous headmaster leading the rest to do so. On the other hand, the rest went over to chase after Ciemnosc. They just… couldn’t leave the life and death of such an impossibly powerful enemy alive!

Not only was he ‘fast’, and capable of strengthening himself, which was just their assumption from what their little eyes saw and their little ears heard Ciemnosc speak. He was also immune to flames, and had an even more impossibly grand Spirit Sense!

A kind of monster such as this, one that can be called their academy’s genius, should not be treated lightly after he became an enemy. It was clearer than water and the sky; after the pillar of fire made a gap into a dot of darkness so high up there!

More and more flew towards Ciemnosc. Some might be at the early, middle, or late stages of the Obsidiafyting realm. And while there was a good number of those at the peak, they were all restless and fearful of dying even despite their numbers!

Swoosh, ting ting~, swish swish swish swoosh sesh swish swish swish swoosh swush swish…

As Ciemnosc found himself sent into the air once again, this time higher up, his speed had also become much slower compared to the previous hits. He was now able to maneuver as he waved his arms, and in their hands, a pair of Mortal swords slowly appeared.

“!” Rapidly, however, Ciemnosc turned his body upside down only to face an incoming dozen flying cultivators rushing up towards him! His arms danced quick as his elbows bent and went in diagonal, quirky directions to intercept soles, palms, and bouts of Power Energy with the shape of spearheads, arrows, and balls as if to bombard him.

Ciemnosc swung his arms and wrists; reflecting some punches and kicks to his right, reflecting quite some more to his left and a lot from the center right between himself and the ground more than 2 dozen meters away from each other. But a lot of hits also came to land on his body, his shoulders, neck, torso, legs, and hips becoming battered one hit after another.

After the first barrage of attacks was dealt with, Ciemnosc’s head nosedived towards the ground, but it lasted only so much as his body directly went down for a few seconds and bypassed those flying up, dodging a few attacks in the process. Suddenly, a rather weak palm was sent towards him, naturally not expecting to land on his body. Ciemnosc maneuvered, his upper back coming to face head on that palm as his head made a turn and so did his body.

Pla-.

The attack couldn’t be any weaker as it didn’t even make a complete slapping sound, but it helped bring Ciemnosc’s body back up. And with his head having made a turn, his body following, and the top of his head facing the sky, his body sprung up enough for him to mimic those other enemies that flew up past him just now.

Ciemnosc’s body was fine even after the first barrage of attacks. If anything, only his humble-styled clothes were tattered and appeared old now, yet not a single piece of cloth on his body was harmed or ripped off.

As he was sprung up, his legs were slightly forward from his stable waist as his arms were hanging down while his shoulders made a reverse ‘U’ with their forearms. Ciemnosc was facing down as he saw the next, second barrage of attacks incoming, dozens more Obsidiafying realm cultivators all at the peak as well.

“Ha- hooo~.” Though not injured, Ciemnosc still felt pained after so many attacks. As he saw the second barrage about to begin, he had to take a breath in and slowly let it out to prepare himself. Never has he ever faced such a precarious situation in his entire life, the first time he confronted an Obsidiafying realm cultivator head on and without situational environment added. It was an allout battle. And against… so many at the same time.

‘Here… Here, come for me!!’ Ciemnosc’s face was becoming dangerous just to look at. He thought savagely as his body halted in the air by inertia, making it look like he was floating… just like their bodies do. His body began falling down as soon as he finished thinking. And it was also the same time that the no-longer-confused peak Obsidiafying realm cultivators below him decided to fly up and kill him with their fists, kicks, and superior Power Energy!!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh whoosh… siiip.

Ciemnosc’s body fell down slowly, his feet slightly inclined forth and his back straight along with his waist as his head was slightly tilted down, looking at the incoming bags of flesh and blood; delicacies he was just lacking!

The sound of his body falling down the sky heavily, combined with the sound of their bodies flying up towards him, created a limbo of silence just at the aerial space where they were to meet. The fleeing students and weaker staff members of the academy that were helplessly watching while they orderly retreated couldn’t help feeling an uncomfortable silence like ghosts breathing on their necks.

Clank! Pum pom pam pam pam pam… Crrreeesshhhhkk, crreeshhk- ckrsheerr ckrsheerr ckrsheerr ckrsheerr ckrsheerr ckrsheerr, phhshk phhshk phhshk…

Ciemnosc’s swords suddenly and quickly went to his front and formed a cross. The incoming first 4 enemies came up with their weapons flashing and glinting ferociously in response to Power Energy being transmitted into their bodies. But their owners were not just injecting their Power Energy. They were also covering their bodies with their own, protecting and empowering their bodies as they were the first to clash against Ciemnosc!

Their steel clashed against one another, and despite the Mortal grade of Ciemnosc’s thin swords, they were semi reflected by the ordinary weapons of the others whose Power Energy was far above Ciemnosc’s - more or less.

Sparks flashing and flying at intense speeds, Ciemnosc’s Mortal swords went through some of the weapons brandished against him, mostly cracking and being sent flying away the rest. But the 5th person to come up to Ciemnosc, holding 2 polearms, was met head on with the left side of Ciemnosc’s body that have been turned this way after the last block from his 4th enemy.

Instead of having a front torso to aim at, the 5th enemy to come to him was forced to join his polearms together, their heads aiming at the center of Ciemnosc’s torso from his left side to see if he could strike that little heart and rid the world of this evil.

But that was exactly what Ciemnosc waited for, as he immediately began rolling towards the 5th enemy’s chest on top of the polearms’ shafts. The 5th person didn’t even notice when Ciemnosc raised his arms, the tips of his Mortal swords came down onto his chest. For Ciemnosc was hugging his head with both knees and had the 5th enemy’s back facing the ground.

With the thin swords entering his enemy, they went through his body instead of Ciemnosc pulling them out. At the same time, since Ciemnosc ‘body blocked’ the person above them, the rest of his enemies below the 5th enemy couldn’t see what was going on, only that Ciemnosc was suddenly ‘standing’ in the air and that their fellow staff member was falling down instead.

Not able to see what was going on, fearing Ciemnosc and knowing they could be instantly killed if careless, just as they would if facing someone on their same level, the peak Obsidiafying realm cultivators tried sending their Spirit Sense up to identify the problem. That was when the tip of Ciemnosc’s swords penetrated through the 5th enemy’s back from his chest, and as they did, Ciemnosc’s body slumped to the front to disappear from the eyes of the rest!

His head, however, immediately peeked through the 5th enemy’s back, as his body was once again nosediving. This time, with his whole body straight and with his head first. His swords held in reverse grips, Ciemnosc flawlessly let go of them and let them float in the air for themselves for a good moment before casually catching them again, forming a cross with his wrists below his solar plexus.

Low stance!

Ciemnosc’s crossed wrist then slashed outwards towards opposite sides. The simplicity of the movement did nothing to hide the dark Power Energy the thin Mortal swords were being bathed in. And it was even harder to take when that dark Power Energy flew out of the Mortal swords’ edges, down onto the shoulders, glabellas and chests of those below him.

Immediately, 3 bodies were slashed and torn apart, with the sound of such being emitted at the very same moment. Then, more slashes and hacking down happened with Ciemnosc’s arms and elbows moving, thrusting, and pulling as well. Each time he made any movement, his strange and new dark Power Energy flew out of his swords and rained down on his enemies!!

After the 3 first bodies became corpses and their halves went back down with strength and heaviness, those below and beside the 3 bodies turned into corpses set their alarms at maximum, their Power Energy sent into techniques to defend themselves from Ciemnosc’s attacks, which were just like those of a Conflagrate realm, yet were new in the entire world and were too shocked to notice they were flying back down again.

Below the second batch of peak Obsidiafying realm was the rest of the peak Obsidiafying realms in this entire Region, with some more at other stages accompanying them. When they saw those fellow staff members come down along with some flashes of what seemed to be… dark-colored Power Energy? They cooperated with the other group to attack and defend together!

But the noises of bodies being torn apart and their flesh cut through into halves or more portions could be heard ongoing, even as they fell more and more down, and Ciemnosc followed suit. In a sense, they looked like they were under such heavy bombardment that they couldn’t help but back down towards the ground every few seconds.

Ciemnosc, on the other hand, looked to be boosting himself up more and more the more he slashed and made any movement against those below him. But he wasn’t being left alone to do as he wished. Not only were those above him coming back down to strike him, those below him were making sneaky, little but lethal techniques to go through the gaps of the offensive and defensive Power Energy techniques and moves to stop the dark Power Energy.

But Ciemnosc’s body ‘floated’ down step by step, every few moves of his arms. While the enemies below him had a much harder time and could only fall onto the ground faster than he did.

…