Abyssal Awakening

Giving Selen a light slap on the back, Alice stood up and stretched her body.

"Alright, it should be sorted now. If Miralith or whatever that third source starts to pull some weird sh*t, just use what I planted in your body. It'll cut off the connection and return you to normal. Though it's just a one time thing." Alice scratched her hair.

"Thank you." Selen smiled, putting her shirt back on.

"Don't mention it. I gotta leave a gift behind if I'm heading to another nation after all." Alice grinned. So far, she's given Egil hints on how he could use his power better and installed a safety net for Selen.

She wasn't worried about whether or not Selen could harness her full potential since she's smart. All she needed to do was be a little more free thinking like she did when she fought the hybrids. If she could achieve that state often, very few people could actually match her in combat.

"If you say it like that, I'll have to give you a farewell gift as well you know? And we both know we're broke so." Selen shrugged with a laugh.

Joking around with Selen for a bit before calling Egil back in, Alice gave them a rough run down on how they should use the hybrid forms and the limitations.

By having a group discussion now, it'll make it easier and save time for Selen and Egil.

Egil needed blood to keep fighting and struggled with maintaining his focus. Meanwhile, Selen didn't have this kind of limitation since she drank hybrid blood.

For Selen, her limitation was entirely based on whether or not she could hold back Miralith if she decided to pull anything.

Thankfully, that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

The dynamic between the two would be that Egil takes the frontline and Selen uses her powers to distract her opponents. That way, Egil can get his blood supply and not worry about his simple attack patterns.

During this, Selen had also explained the new skills that she developed during the fight against the hybrids.

Upon hearing about her skill to reverse her own time and heal wounds, Alice blinked her eyes in sheer confusion as she didn't even think something like that was possible.

Selen's explanation didn't help either since it was mostly instinctual for her. A feeling rather than words.

Regardless, Alice was curious if she could use it on anyone else but that didn't seem to be the case. The reversal was entirely limited to her.

While talking, Alice couldn't help but feel a little hesitant when it came to leaving. The time she spent with Selen and Egil was enjoyable and she's learned valuable lessons with them in the north.

###

Deep in the Abyss, a woman could be seen walking without care. The beasts around her trembled in fear and dare not raise their heads.

"Well aren't you just a sh*t stain that won't disappear. Care to go back into your cage or do you need me to drag you back there?" Another woman could be seen, lighting a cigarette with her finger as killing intent seeped out from her body.

"Bold words old woman. You can't bluff against me when your body is in such a mess. The old Allura would've acted first before talking." Tiamat narrowed her gaze as she curled her lips up into a grin, revealing a row of sharp teeth.

"I might be old and my body might be a mess, but still more than enough to deal with a sh*tty lizard like you." Allura warned.

"I don't know how but you managed to get out to the surface, what brings you back here?"

She couldn't figure out Tiamat's goal. She clearly had access to the surface and could do whatever she wanted to do yet she was back in the Abyss? Something was up.

"I'm the sentimental kind. Can't I have a look what what's happened to my old home?" Tiamat asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

Flicking her wrist, the colour of the world drained as the space near Allura was torn apart.

"And I didn't think you'd bring another walking corpse with you. What's this? A cemetery?" Tiamat asked, dragged Gin out from the Void.

"We both know you're not the sentimental kind. Speak up while I'm still being civil with you." Allura warned.

"Tsk tsk, still flapping your mouth instead of acting. I'm disappointed Allura, I thought you would've made a move by now. Honestly, I thought you kicked the bucket when I saw a kid with your power. Turns out she was a weirdo that had the Queen's power and hints of my own. Curious little thing isn't she?" Tiamat snapped her finger and created a throne for herself.

Sitting down, she crossed her legs and smiled at Allura who furrowed her brows.

'She came into contact with Alice? When? How?'

"Ohya? Seems like you do know of her. If I visit her again, I wonder if you'll make a move."

Right as Tiamat finished her sentence, Allura had already appeared in front of her wearing silver armour. Her blade was pressing against Tiamat's neck but it was stopped by her finger.

"What did I say? You've grown weak. To think you can't even cut my neck after I stuck it out for you. And I'm still injured too, this was probably your best chance." Tiamat let out a yawn.

*BANG!!!

The space around her erupted as Allura was flung back from the explosion.

Adjusting herself in mid air, she widened her eyes as Tiamat was about to grab her head with her hand.

*KRKK!!!!

Parrying the grab with her blade, Allura furrowed her brows.

"Your body might be a mess but at least your instincts are still pretty good." Tiamat smiled before relaxing.

Turning around, she continued to walk through the Abyss.

"Where are you going?" Allura questioned.

Tiamat was too much of an unknown variable to be left alone. If she doesn't keep track of her, who knows what she might do.

"You can relax, I'm not going to spout some bullsh*t like 'the time for revenge has come.' There's too much weird sh*t happening in the world for that." Tiamat glanced back.

She could tell that if she didn't give Allura a small hint of what she's going to do, they'll probably have to fight seriously. As much as she enjoyed entertainment, there were bigger concerns.

"Some of the sealed Lords have died and their corpses harvested. Some are even kept alive as batteries. I'm going to check who is still alive in the Abyss."

Taking a step, Tiamat disappeared from her spot as flames flickered where she stood. Read latest stories on m_v-l'e|m,p| y- r

Hearing what Tiamat said, Allura frowned.

She dismissed her armour and blade before pulling out another cigarette.

"I'm starting to think I should probably retire now." Gin groaned.

"Don't worry about it. Tiamat is not someone I could take lightly even when I was in my prime. And while I'm weakened, she's already had three of her seals undone. Two more and I would've needed to resolve myself to die if I wanted to take her down with me. And even then, there's no guarantee." Allura offered Gin a cigarette as her mind lingered on what Tiamat said.

Sealed Lords have died and their corpses harvested.

Some are even kept as batteries.

She had a person in mind but just using the corpses and sealed Lords as batteries didn't make sense. There must be something else going on.

Then there was also the concern about them somehow being able to birth a new Lord from the body of the sealed ones.

White Death being the first one they discovered.

Even though it was a newborn, it showed an absurd degree of adaptability. If they didn't find it early and had Gin kill it asap, it would've become a monster even for Allura's standards.

But despite all of this turmoil, a smile could be seen on her face.

After all, she got some news regarding Alice.

From what Tiamat mentioned, it sounded like Alice had gotten much stronger. Not only did Tiamat recognise the power of the Queen inside her but also hints of her own power? Now that was something Allura was interested in.

'When did Alice get a hold of my Sigil? I don't believe I fed her my blood.' Allura couldn't help but wonder.

Thinking about her, a smile appeared on Allura's face.

"Say Gin, let's finish up the things we need to do quickly. I want to see Alice again." Allura suggested.

"Only if you stop going on random detours." Gin sighed.

"I'm a busy woman and the world lacks capable people. Can't blame me now can you?"

"I can and I will, I haven't even gotten a letter from my granddaughter yet. She's probably spending time with that brat right now." Gin spat out in annoyance, recalling that the last time they met, Alice and Ria were going to look for Luke.

"Don't be a party pooper now. Let the young'uns experience youth." Allura patted Gin on the shoulder.

"Uhuh, so you say. And if someone was to try and woo Alice?" Gin asked as Allura 'smiled.

"Who dares? They gotta meet the standard first ya know?"

Hearing this, Gin rolled his eyes.

'And you say let the young'uns experience youth.'

###

*ACHOO!!!

"Are you alright?" Caera raised an eyebrow as Alice nodded her head.

'Did you catch a cold?' Alyss was confused.

'Not sure. Maybe dust got in my nose.'

Shrugging her shoulders, Alice glanced out at the queue that was forming from the Warriors who wanted the cure.

Once she was done with handing out the cure, it would be time for her to leave.