Dark Soul Attacks Is Cheating!
"?" Suddenly, Heian Ciemnosc opened his eyes. They weren't from his physical body, nor did he wake up in his authentic body. He and everyone else around him could tell this much. However, what greeted him wasn't the Semi-Dimension or the world. Instead, he reappeared in a similar platform as before, but with a green tinge plastered all around. An obscure green obstructed the sight from afar, allowing one to only gaze at those immediately around themselves. Heian Ciemnosc suddenly thought of finding Elena, who was, of course, going to partake in the 2nd phase. With his vision clouding and closing, Heian Ciemnosc traveled 'forth' until his virtual body stopped.
“... huh?” Elena appeared before him as his vision returned. She was just checking her hands, with her Destructive Wind of Darkness in her hand, flying around her from time to time as if it had a mind of its own, but it was directly connected with Elena’s Soul. Heian Ciemnosc looked at her and grinned, leaving Elena more confused as he disappeared to try and find his other team members after quickly letting them know how to meet up and sending them towards his wife. He wanted to attempt something.
‘... Hm…’ Heian Ciemnosc’s shut eyes slowly opened as he failed. It seemed like this place was the reception, a lobby. He could find others by walking or thinking about meeting somebody or some people. But he couldn’t force others towards him. However, it seemed like this option was limited only to one’s team members and teammates. Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t personally contact other Wrath Nihility Academy members in the 2nd phase, much less his opponents.
That was fine. It at least showed the decency that a Fourth Step organization, or various, could have when hosting such an extensive event. Heian Ciemnosc no longer tried anything and returned to Elena, where he found Fera excitedly talking with Elena and Arla. He tilted his head to the left as Fera found him. Without saying anything, she hurried towards him, her arms thrown to the sides as she virtually hugged him.
“Big Brother, am I not amazing?! I got in at the last minute, hehe!” Fera fearlessly looked up at Heian Ciemnosc while hugging his tall torso. He looked down and tapped her forehead with his fingers slowly and calmly. His voice reached her ears amidst her slight anxiousness. “I thought I put you under arrest? How come you came out? Who’s your partner in crime? It better not be who I think it is…”
“... mmehe…” Fera blushed and looked down. To the side, Heian Ciemnosc could see Arla’s eyes screaming: ‘it was me!!’ as if hoping he’d be punishing whoever was responsible. Heian Ciemnosc shook his head and returned his gaze to the lithe figure still hugging him, threatening to continue doing so until he accepted her participation. Heian Ciemnosc grabbed the left side of her face with his right hand and said. “Okay, but do not go overboard. You can’t challenge those above the Broken Crystallization realm… without my permission.”
“Mn! Thank you. I already had Elena’s permission, hehe. I was just asking you for confirmation.” Fera spoke ‘naughtily’ at having caught Heian Ciemnosc helpless. She buried her chin on his stomach and looked at him with innocent eyes. Knowing reasonably well that Elena would do these things with the best objectivity, Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t surprised. He hid his thoughts and casually continued caressing the girl’s face before turning to look somewhere. A second later, everyone else did the same. Only those in the Neutrality realm turned their heads almost simultaneously as Heian Ciemnosc did.
“Look! The first fight! Should we wait and watch?” - “To hell with that! I want to fight, too. Everyone, watch me!” - “Wooh, that’s a polearm user? And he’s fighting a melee cultivator. They are both at the Neutrality realm!” - “Come on, let’s go!”
Above everyone’s heads on this greenish platform was a sudden ring. One with invisible walls, floor, and ceiling. It looked like a 4 square meters cube, but, in reality, their fighting field must be hundreds or even thousands of kilometers broad. It was just that the image given to them, and possibly the viewers outside the virtual world, was limited like this so that many could happen simultaneously.
“Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc became amused when he concentrated a little in the direction of the first fight. His conscience suddenly entered that ring, where he saw the polearm user losing to the melee cultivator despite the blatant advantages of the former. Just as the polearm cultivator used his Art and gained the upper hand, Heian Ciemnosc exited the ring and looked at his team members. He could see they had done the same, especially Elena. Her eyes were shining like marvelous stars.
“Hmm~,” Heian Ciemnosc crossed his arms and departed, setting his feet elsewhere. He wasn’t worried they would ask about him. Instead, he fretted about taking too much presence as he stayed around them and kept them from going all over this virtual platform to find strong opponents and items they needed. Especially Elena, she smelled of Wind as of lately. Although it was a pleasant scent to Heian Ciemnosc’s nostrils, she undoubtedly wanted to experience her newfound capabilities by herself.
Step, step, steps, steps… Heian Ciemnosc’s body entered the greenish, empty space, and he started seeing many faces. Some with organization emblems he had already seen, and others he had never witnessed with his eyes. His Spirit Sense was limited to what he could see, unable to penetrate through. When he attempted to do so, it was like his Spirit Sense had reached its maximum range, helpless to extend itself against the laws of nature.
“Upah!” Suddenly, Heian Ciemnosc bumped into someone else’s tracks. His shoe was just avoided by Heian Ciemnosc’s right foot, and when the latter looked up, he saw Biston’s face. Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head a little to the left at the coincidence. He didn’t feel Biston’s desire to see him, so he was wandering about like him. Biston opened his mouth to say, “Heian Ciemnosc! What a pleasant surprise meeting you here. Your body doesn’t seem to hurt anymore. It seems like you’ve recuperated quite a lot. Those ghastly wounds were something, you know…”
“Mn, all thanks to your future wife.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded as he politely answered. Biston nodded and was about to continue their little chat when his eyes widened, and he looked at Heian Ciemnosc speechlessly. His eyes asked Heian Ciemnosc if what happened was what was going through his mind, to which Heian Ciemnosc nodded again without any shame or awkwardness. Biston lifted his eyebrows and closed his eyes, “That gal is becoming more… perfect! Holy fuck, I was just trying to breakthrough another stage, but she went out looking for- ahem.”
It was Heian Ciemnosc’s turn for his eyebrows to be lifted. He looked at Biston as if he wasn’t alarmed, furious, or slightly bothered. As if knowing someone railed his girlfriend was just an excuse to bond and become best buddies. He marveled at the 60%’s ideologies while thinking that, perhaps, he was actually in the 40%... after all. He would never even show his women’s bodies to his nephew or any other person if he had the chance, after all. Much less being fucked.
“Well, I hope she really helped you. I don’t know what kind of freak you are, Heian Ciemnosc, but everyone around you talks about you as if you’re the freak of freaks.” Biston politely spoke, praising Heian Ciemnosc. The latter slightly nodded, saying, “Thank you. I know being the Headmaster’s personal disciple is something. I hope you can be a great Vice headmaster. Also, your future wife has this one little spot…”
After Heian Ciemnosc saw Biston’s strange, confused gaze, he elaborated on Sahnyr’s anatomy. And as if the latter knew perfectly what Heian Ciemnosc was talking about, his eyes were illuminated as his face turned somewhat stupid, flushing with embarrassment. With a light cough, he facepalmed his forehead and thanked Heian Ciemnosc.
“Really. It’s been many years since we’ve been together, but I didn’t know… I have only had Sahnyr as my partner. I might be entangled with others, but no one compares to her. I thought Human bodies were the same as any other Race. No wonder!” Biston nodded to himself towards the end of his words. Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc thought that it was slightly ridiculous for Biston to feel so good about knowing this despite understanding Heian Ciemnosc made her go nuts in bed because of it. Oh well, 60% for the win.
“Mn, good luck. I will stroll a little more before fighting. Feel free to come at any time to our bedrooms when we return. Let’s talk more about cultivation and stuff, maybe ‘train’ with Sahnyr.” Biston winked his right eye at Heian Ciemnosc before stepping away and disappearing into the green mist. Heian Ciemnosc could only slightly nod and tilt his head. He shrugged his shoulders before continuing his walk.
… Step, step, step, ste-p… Heian Ciemnosc spent 12 minutes walking after meeting Biston when a sudden sensation entered his head. Information flowed into his brain, reflecting several worlds on his retinas. Reading them, and as a face popped inside his head, Heian Ciemnosc decided to take the challenger’s invitation. His body noiselessly disappeared from where he stood, alarming other participants as they looked up. Heian Ciemnosc was finally going to fight?!
Pinshang! Fwuaashh~.
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“...” Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes were closed when he reappeared elsewhere. He was in a vast place with a greenish floor, seemingly like mud but as hard as rock. In the distance, he could see some white, bright light shining, almost blindingly but harmlessly. And 150 meters before him was a person he had previously seen underwater, trying to take something that was his and his alone.
“Weeell~~, look who it is! Hahaha!” The blond young man spoke loudly. Heian Ciemnosc could see shadows of other participants’ figures around them. This was a ring. It wasn’t their ring yet because, for that matter, Heian Ciemnosc had to negotiate the conditions to face a participant way over his cultivation base. Heian Ciemnosc was still in the Spirit Rebirth realm, while this blond was already somewhere in the early-mid stages of the Neutrality realm!
“Your name’s Patric?” Heian Ciemnosc asked, ignoring everything else. Patric looked at Heian Ciemnosc as his eyes slightly narrowed. He nodded, flicked his nose, flew up, and stared downwards at Heian Ciemnosc. The latter became silent as he slowly revised everything. Heian Ciemnosc would fight with all his battle prowess. While Patric would be limited with battle prowess at the Broken Crystallization realm 5th stage.
‘They came prepared,’ thought Heian Ciemnosc as he looked up at Patric again. Even though it was well-known Heian Ciemnosc’s cultivation base was one of the worst in the event, his battle prowess highlighted him from Geniuses of other Second and even Third Step organizations. He accepted such a proposal. It was natural for him to not be afraid, even more so after getting to understand the Broken Crystallization realm throughout those Elemental door trials.
“Now, are you ready to give me those Spores? Hahaha! It’s time for me to recuperate what belongs to me!” Patric said before Heian Ciemnosc could calmly ask about the things he was betting on. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t respond for seconds before opening his pale red lips. “What are you betting for them?”
He wasn’t worried anymore about someone from that one team exposing his attaining of such precious half-plants. Heian Ciemnosc looked at Patric from below without interest, showing only patience. Patric’s eyes narrowed as he took a few materials out. They were all for Earth grade weaponry or armory, quite rare and exceptional ones. Patric shouted with so-called majesty, “This will be sufficient! Now, hurry up and accept the duel, you moron!”
“... Those are not enough. I can only accept if you want me to bet for 1 Spore. But you won’t be able to take another one if you win after our duel.” Heian Ciemnosc ‘lamentably’ remained unmoved, with crossed arms, and still looking up without giving the impression he was feeling inferior to Patric, an already Second Step cultivator.
“... F-fine!” Seeing Heian Ciemnosc not fall for his whims, Patric remained in the sky, not descending one centimeter, and acquiesced. He accepted Heian Ciemnosc’s terms from the digital panel on his retinas, changing the bets to 1 Spore for several materials and items for Earth grade equipment. Heian Ciemnosc nodded, and soon, he also accepted all articles in their digital negotiation panel. Finally, the duel had begun!
“Hahahaha, look at how I put this little ‘devil’ to eat dust under my foot!” Patric spread his arms to the side and declared, putting on a show for the viewers whose shadows disappeared from their ring. From now on, it was just Heian Ciemnosc and Patric. The pale young man looked at the blond young man. His darkest eyes were innocently adorably to die for as he asked without the slightest ill-intentions.
“What did you say was your organization called?” - “Huh? My peak Second Step organization is the Mer-”
FWUOOSH. POOOH- PSHIFT- WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH… WHOOSH! CKRSHEERR~~...
Heian Ciemnosc’s body suddenly jumped forth and up into the air. His legs only bent for a little over a centimeter before exploding with all his might! The ground didn’t even crack or raise dust as Heian Ciemnosc’s body shot into the air. Accompanying his feet was a strange but obvious white contrail, following after his body and creating spirals… it was a Wind elemental move!
Heian Ciemnosc’s body was as if shot from the eye of a hurricane. The air below his feet exploded as his body moved in a single trajectory without a chance to change it but faster than his maximum speed without his shadow of a tail. Patric wasn’t even paying attention, so when Heian Ciemnosc was already before him, the severely limited prowess he could use was far less than necessary. Heian Ciemnosc charged forth without forming his fists, not even taking his Claws Out, simply showcasing his manipulation over the Wind element.
“How’s that possible?!” - “There weren’t any records of the little black monster knowing Wind elemental techniques of such a level! These can be compared to an Art in the hands of a Second Step cultivator!” - “This is the Wrath Nihility Academy’s peak! Their future is brighter than our own Existence!!” - “That was… a bit too much, dude…” - “I was never a doubter when it came to the Wrath Nihility Academy, and I support his claims.” - “...”
The viewers outside were astonished by the ongoing things in Heian Ciemnosc’s ring. But Elena and his team members were already in their own fights, too engrossed to worry about others and receiving quite the commotion of attention and surprise. They weren’t the only ones, as every few dozen rings, one of them had a ‘black horse’ appear and showcase their mightiness against the well-known, powerful participants.
However, for Patric, Heian Ciemnosc was the only one that mattered. Not only because of the spores, that was no longer exclusive. Now, Patric was appalled upon seeing 3 wind blades surrounding Heian Ciemnosc. They had a cloudy white substance, a long body, and several parts twisting, coiling, and self-entangling like a tree’s or a plant’s roots and leaves. Some of their sides, even a ball was formed, but each of these characteristics was alarming his instincts to no end.
He tried forming a quick barrier, without forgetting he was limited to the Broken Crystallization realm 5th stage. But his mindset, steel nerves, and semi-ideological response weren’t enough. As the 3 blades flashed forward, faster than even Heian Ciemnosc, they were each neutralized by an all-out, sudden explosion of Patric’s rigorous Power Energy, an item akin to a bulky, rectangular little shield that turned into a cloudy dust 1 meter in volume, and the other by using an armor that was just on par with some mediocre defensive tools.
The wind was so strong that nothing but their gushing sounds could be heard, tearing any other foreign air around them to shreds, becoming the lording wind over the area without obstruction. Patric could finally sigh in relief when he saw them neutralized, still forming a rigorous Power Energy barrier to receive Heian Ciemnosc’s incredible bodily strength. However, another wind blade showed behind Heian Ciemnosc, hidden behind him, coiled and stuck to his back.
“...” Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes looked into Patric’s. The latter wanted to immediately cover his Soul, traumatized from the previous penetrative Soul attack he suffered some time ago. With a last-minute effort, Patric’s left hand waved as whatever barrier he could form pounced forwards. But right then, those tenebrous darkest eyes widened slightly as they entirely concentrated on him!
‘AAAAHH!’ Patric clutched his head while the wind blade easily tore through the shaky and unstable rigorous Power Energy barrier. Like crystal broken by a heavy, large rock, everything cracked as the wind blade didn’t even lose 20% of its strength in passing through. It arrived before Patric, whose eyes and nose bled red, and the former had started popping veins out.
Heian Ciemnosc didn’t stop there, and as the 4th wind blade started prickling Patric’s collarbone open, his Vocón Link lunged forward as his body jumped in midair, impulsing him even closer. His Vocón Link became a fiery, thirsty, and vindictive monster. It entangled and gripped Patric’s body as the wind blade started exploding his upper body, leaving it dying helplessly. But then, he started suffering a torment he had never imagined!
Fwuh-pa!
“!!- NOOOOOO- AAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!” Before Patric could yell in exasperation, his body in the real world started convulsing as, inside his inner self, his Soul was set on fire! An ordinary orange and yellow spark created a sudden fire strand that was beginning to grow! His mouth opened and shouted as he writhed left and right, going through a seizure under the shocked, confounded crowds’ eyes.
“What’s happening? Why is he in so much pain? I didn’t even see this when top-notch Soul-experts fought. Is there a problem with the virtual world?” - “My god! His opponent is Heian Ciemnosc, but he’s so weak! How can this happen?!!!” - “Someone does something, he must die!”
“Goddammit!” After becoming stunned, an elderly close to Patric’s body advanced forward, waving Neutral Energy around to dissipate the strange flame within the latter’s inner self. As he struggled to get rid of it without harming Patric’s Soul, the battle in the virtual world had ended, and Heian Ciemnosc’s ring was nowhere to be seen. However, the elderly started shouting after getting rid of the strange flame suddenly appearing within Patric’s most well-protected corners of his being.
“Young master, young master! Please wake up!!”
“...” Further above, in the skies, Bajo watched. Supervising over all the fights wasn’t a problem for a God of his realm, but what he saw left him incredibly speechless. Not only were those Wind elemental techniques worthy of someone with an incredible affinity to that particular element, without even being a cultivator, and supported by Mother Nature’s caring and love to a certain degree. Those Soul attacks were… something he had never heard of! And he was sure even his colleagues were the same, baffled at the situation.
After a while, Patric woke up. Seeing that everything seemed fine, Bajo didn’t even say a thing as the 2nd phase continued. It was a surprise for many to watch as a person struck in the real world within a virtual one. But they didn’t think much about it, simply believing it was natural when 2 forces were clearly not on the same level despite naturally appearing so. Only the Grand Elders and the Heavenly Protector hosting this even fell… silently thoughtful.
… As for Heian Ciemnosc, after pulverizing Patric’s body once he was done showing him what happened to his enemies, on a practical basis, he walked through the green platform with a grin slowly forming into a huge grin.
‘I didn’t know I could do this… I must change my plans! Now… where is that little fishy fish with a big mouth? Oh….’ Heian Ciemnosc’s grin turned devilishly, cold, and serene.
…