Shadow of the Abyss

The next day, Altair woke the most relaxed he'd been in years. He had been unsure how many times he'd unloaded in Reina, but looking at her happy smile, he kissed her lips and smiled, gently pulling himself out of her. Altair snickered, watching her belly begin to deflate. He nodded proudly.

"I wonder how many times she came?"

"Lady Reina Blackwood orgasmed 207 times," Said Ava, startling Altair. "While Altair Blackwood came 56 times."

"... it was a rhetorical question. Ugh, whatever."

Scooping Rein up and into the bath to get her cleaned up, the Nephilim awakened in his arms within the Imperial Bathhouse. A luxurious den that housed wall-to-wall hot springs that was as divine as it was beautiful.

"Did I faint?" Reina asked so comfortably she couldn't be bothered to even question where she was.

"I think we both did." Said Altair, spooning her through the water. He yawned, resting on the ledge as he looked up over the sun, which didn't quite belong to the Serpents Outreach but one within the palace of Stragyian. He was a little unsure what happened near the end but didn't quite care. Right now, he was so relaxed he nearly forgot he was in a deadly game against an entire world.

"One could really get lost in paradise," said Reina, reminded of her Mother for some inexplicable reason. She couldn't explain it; a sense of guilt began to surge through her heart when she felt Altair's arms tighten around her, soothing her nerves.

"Have you been researching this past month?"

Reina, knowing it was a strange question, answered, "Of course." She'd spend nearly every waking moment studying alchemy within the Ilviarin archives. Learning the language of this ancient race had taken merely a few hours before she had unfettered access to an endless Drove of Knowledge.

"Then what does it matter if we relax for a few hours?" He replied. "I think it's been… maybe fifteen hours since we started in the afternoon."

"When did you get so laid back?" Asked Reina, smiling.

"I'd go mad if I didn't, especially in light of everything that happened. If you didn't persuade me to say another month… I think I'd have gone on a rampage." And his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Though I suppose it's not too late."

The Nephilim gave a devious smile as a scarlet mist intertwined in her golden eyes. "If that's your wish. I'll be there."

***

"You're wearing your Mask?" Reina asked, throwing on some azure black robes that bore the intricate Sigil of Darkness on the back. A gift, no doubt, from the Ilvairans to Tenebrae.

Altair, who wore the same thing, nodded. "Yeah. I've already peaked in every stat. All that's left is to reach the third class."

Name: Altair Blackwood

Mana Circle: [Third Circle 99%]

Class: [Prince of the Vale Lv 74 → 75]

Strength: 301

Dexterity: 310 → 311

Constitution: 330 → 332

Wisdom: 346 → 348

Charisma: 298 → 300

Mana: 150 → 200

[Third Class Evolution: Vale Manipulation I ]

Vale Manipulation [E → D]

[Proficiency: 97% → 1%]

Fallen Shadows: [31/100]

Name: Reina of the Moon (Blackwood)

Mana Circle: [Third Circle 81% → 99%]

Class: [Blood Nephilim Lv 74 → 75]

Strength: 327 → 329

Dexterity: 297

Constitution: 317 → 318

Wisdom: 346 → 348

Charisma: 298 → 300

Mana: 150 → 200

[Third Class Evolution: Blood Manipulation I]

Blood Manipulation [D]

[Proficiency: 3%]

"Ren, I've got to ask. Why the fascination with blood? What's so good about it?" Altair couldn't help but ask, feeling like the question was a long time coming. "I get that you use it to tarnish your elements, but I don't really understand it."

Reina shrugged. " I don't know why I chose blood as my focus. I just like it. And if you didn't know, Infernal Rage is based on the Principle of Blood; when I multiply my stats, its power comes directly from my body rather than Mana. And while I need Mana to tap into that power now, as my understanding of it grows, I'll be able to summon the deepest source of Angel's Blood.

I can do the same for your blood, too. And double cast it through Infernal Rage, though that might kill me."

"... That's a little broken." He said, frowning.

"I'm a Nephilim. Master said there are less than twenty in all existence. So, of course, Ren is a little special. Hehe." Beaming childishly to herself, she snickered, puffing out her ample bosom.

As the two made last-minute checks, Altair's mask shifted from transparent into a wolf-shaped oni mask. He paused and opened his [Dimensional Rift]. Altair gave one final glance back to the palace that housed his Mother, stepped through, along with Reina, to the beach he'd woken up on, and closed the rift.

Kirr, Jorm, Talia, Aurora, Nia, and Alyssa all appeared one by one like ghostly apparitions turning more corporeal.

"We're back! How long were we gone, Master!" Shouted Kirr happily.

Explaining all that happened and the sudden month they missed, thanks to his depression, Altair felt somewhat apologetic. Though not enough to apologize. He didn't want anyone but Reina to have seen him so weak.

Unapologetically, he stared at his six Fallen Shadows and lifted his gaze toward the horizon.

"We've got a little than three months left to reach the center of Yarwin." His lips lifted, measuring their resolute faces with a swelter of pride in his chest. "You six will escort us there. We'll match your tempo, but I'm expecting much from my Pale Knights."

The Six Fallen Shadows all stared wide-eyed, bringing a smile to Atlair's lip. "what did you think you'd be Shadows forever?"

"THANK YOU MASTER!"

Without a carriage, they journeyed by foot through valleys and pastures stretching well into the horizon. And with barely three months left to them, Kirr had been the first to suggest they go full speed during the day and train at night. Aurora had calculated that if they were to travel at full speed, they'd arrive two months earlier than necessary.

Neither Altair nor Reina seemed to care much since most of their time was spent trying to master their focus. Although Altair had made it a point, they found a dragon on the way in which he could kill.

He'd always wanted a fearsome mount, and a demonic dragon would be perfect. He'd already had a dozen demons within his soul space to be used as cannon fodder. Though, he didn't quite like demons. Even as he wiped them of consciousness, demons tended to be unsavory to be of use in his eyes. They were simply too hard to control despite being enthralled.

And he suspected they were not the best influence on Talia, who'd once lost her mind.

Nevertheless, despite a month slipping through his fingers, Altair's luck had not been good when it came to finding a dragon, much less a wyvern.

Reina had blamed the curse and said that he needed to learn to keep his thoughts in his heart rather than make it known.

"Once known, the world will act against you," she'd said when the topic of the Curse of the Nephilim was discussed. "Or at least that's how Master discussed it with me."

Altair was mildly disappointed, but he figured with the world actively trying to kill him, it was only a matter of time before a dragon or some manner of beast would try to kill him.

"Master! You got me. You don't need some stupid dragon to ride!" Said Raven as they trekked up one of the mountains blanketed by snow. She was batting her wings, shrieking about like a crow.

Altair, who'd been slightly covered in a bit of sweat, laughed, leaping nearly six meters up. He stabbed his fingers into the cliff edge and laughed. " Then, can you lift me now?"

"CORN!" Raven flew away, giving Altair his answer.

The Prince rolled his eyes at the silly Raven before hurrying up the mountain while the others shadowed after him. Reaching the top, they stared down from one of the highest mountains, spanning nearly twenty miles off the ground.

Altair grinned, taking in the moonlit city below with a joyous smile.

"Is that… Vesim?"

"By the looks of the map," said Aurora, nodding. " It looks to be. It's about a two-day journey if we sprint it. If we had a flying mount, this journey might have taken a week at most."

Altair patted his Pale Knight's shoulder with a bright gleam in his eyes. "It'll happen. Just give it time. Plus, this journey was oddly enjoyable." He said, glancing back to his Reina, surrounded by his loyal Knights. "Come on, let's go."

Spending the next few days traveling down a mountain, Altair was quick to meet up with a caravan that bore the Crest of a Golden Trident. He hadn't recognized it but knew almost immediately they were from Babels tower, especially when he saw a seven-circle man leading them. He kept his distance.

That would be a losing battle.

Cautious, Aurora had them take another path around the caravan before they were seen, and with their speed, they arrived a few days before the strange group.

Vesim was large and had been the capital city of Yarwin, housing the majority of the lords of the kingdom and, currently, the king. And now, many denizens of Babels Tower that were looking for places to rest the night.

Altair might have been disappointed with Zola, but as he stared around at the plethora of men and women of all Circles, he was thoroughly impressed by some of their special skills that made him a little jealous. He was especially jealous of some of the race class skills.

Laros, who'd had the Flames of the Phoenix, seemed like a common dog before some of the young lords and masters who held abilities to manipulate light or slightly bend time to their will.

"Wow… that is just insane." He muttered, blown away as the guards let them in with a bit of compulsion.

He grinned. "Shall we not see if I can't create a legion by the end of this festival?"