CHAPTER 776: ASTRELYA’S ADVICE

"Isn’t that quite the interesting thing you’re trying to do." Astrelya peaked over Ria’s shoulders.

Ria furrowed her brows, the afterimage of her blade shattering along with her concentration.

"Can you not? I’m trying to concentrate." Ria sighed.

They were currently sitting on a carriage journeying to the north. During this time, Ria wanted to increase her mastery over the three fold lightning.

Right now, she can only use two fold. But once the requirements are met within her personal realm, three fold was possible.

However. . .

She needed three fold to be something she can do at will.

It’s only with three fold can she match up to the dangers they might face. If that ability was locked behind her last resort, the moment it doesn’t work she’ll die.

Thus, she needed to make her strongest attack her most common attack and go up from there.

"Why should that be an issue? Aren’t you trying to use this skill often? If so, this should come second nature to you, no matter the distractions." Astrelya chuckled, flicking Ria’s blade and watching the afterimage shatter.

*Puchi

Before Ria could lash out, Rosalyn spoke up.

"As annoying as she is, she’s right. You don’t see Alice complaining about focusing when she has to use her Void Flux. If you can’t use your three fold lightning when death is gripping your neck then it’s not an attack you can rely on."

Hearing this, Ria sighed in frustration. She was right.

In the heat of battle, your opponent won’t wait for you to finish charging your strongest attack.

Instead, they’ll be taking that chance to attack you and land potentially fatal damage.

Gritting her teeth, Ria sighed and tried to focus once more.

One fold. . .

An afterimage slowly appeared on her blade.

Astrelya grinned and flicked it.

*Ping~

Snapping in half, the attack was broken once more.

Ria tried again.

Astrelya flicked.

She tried again.

Flicked.

Again.

Flicked.

"ARGGG!!! F*CK!!!" Ria shouted in anger, throwing the blade down.

"I get that I need to learn how to do it while something is distracting me but don’t you think I need to succeed first!? So I can get a feel for it?!" Ria glared daggers at Astrelya who smiled smugly.

"Did dear Alice succeed first in getting a feel for killing an Apostle? Or did she wing it with everything she’s accumulated?" Astrelya asked, causing Ria to choke on her own words.

Her frustration did not stem from the fact that she was being distracted. No, it stemmed from the fact that she wasn’t succeeding, she was simply trying to find reasons to vent.

And it seemed like Astrelya honed in on that feeling.

As for Rosalyn, she didn’t want to intervene too much. Maybe it’s because Astrelya was bored but receiving advice from such an old Abyss Lord was valuable in many ways. Experience that they’ve spent years gathering, the insight of one who survived this turbulent world.

Of course, she was also old in a sense but she didn’t spend that time as a Lord.

"Are you aware of the saying that a Hunter’s power is tied to their mentality?" Astrelya asked, crossing her legs.

At this point, even Luke, Isolde and Jin were interested.

"Yes, my old teacher told me that before." Ria sighed, sitting back down.

"Oh my, bonus points to them. They’re a smart cookie." Astrelya clapped before getting back on topic. "The term a Hunter’s power is tied to their mentality has multiple origins. Different ways of saying the same thing in originating from different cultures. But the key take away you want to get is the fact that strong hunters, experienced ones that reach the top are those who are true to themselves.

"They don’t shy away from their desires, they’re honest with what they want and they find the most efficient path towards that desire. Hunters are innately selfish creatures. Being true to that selfishness pushes them to the next level.

"Take me for example, at the beginning, I wanted to be strong because I desired to stand at the top. To tear the lives away from those clinging onto it so desperately. I wanted to see their panic and fear, to revel in it." Astrelya grinned as the four listening to her shivered.

"But once I reached the top, I realised that’s not what I truly want. I wanted a battle, a conflict between two. A romantic collision where one dies and one lives. This time, I wanted to feel the panic and fear of death." Astrelya hugged herself, feeling excited by the prospect.

"Are you a masochist?" Ria asked out of habit before shutting up with a glare from Astrelya.

"Anyways, what I’m trying to say is that all four of you are turning away from what you’re like on the inside. It doesn’t matter how ugly the inside you may be, accepting it is the first step to becoming stronger. Especially for you two." Astrelya pointed at Ria and Isolde.

"I don’t know your story, but this lady here is a walking bundle of malice and anger. I’ve seen your kind pretty often you know?" Astrelya turned her gaze towards Isolde who furrowed her brows before shrugging her shoulders.

"So you’re telling me to be true to myself?" Ria frowned.

"Yep, you got it. It doesn’t matter how ugly or heinous it might be, it’ll definitely help you achieve a new level of power. That’s just how twisted our world is." Astrelya chuckled.

Ria frowned.

Was this the case for everyone? Did her grandfather go through the same process to obtain his level of strength? What about Allura? Then is Rosalyn or Caelan the same?

To listen to the voice she buries deep in her chest.

Ria sat down and closed her eyes.

Once more, she focused on the blade in hand.

’Be true to myself. . .’ She frowned.

When. . . did she feel most like herself?

When she was holding nothing back?

She could hear the drums in her ear, the call for battle.

She could taste the blood in her mouth, the fury in her veins.

She could feel the rising desire for murder.

In the deep recesses of her mind, she could hear a faint chant.

Sweat began to drip from Ria’s mind as an after image appeared over her blade.

Seeing this, Astrelya smirked and flicked it.

As the blade broke, the shards started to reform, multiplying even. She wasn’t bound by simple after images right now.

Ria twitched. Flashes of her memories.

Her time in that blood pit.

The chants that kept echoing on and on. . .

Blood in our mouths.

Ash in our hands.

Steel in our hearts.

Death is our crown.

Kill! Maim! Burn!

Blood in our mouths, ash in our hands. Steel in our hearts, death is our crown.

KILL! MAIM! BURN!

She saw herself in the reflection of the blood. That blood soaked smile as she cannibalised on those who were in the pit with her.

Her throat bellowing out the same chant to the rhythm of her slaughters.

The sensation of ripping flesh from bone.

That feeling of tearing the life from someone else.

That desperation, the fear.

Through their despair did Ria feel alive in that moment.

Why did she chase after absolute speed? She wanted to avoid seeing that moment again.

The slow agonising deaths that brought forth a twisted desire in her heart.

While the ritual may be incomplete, it’s left its mark.

The mark of the Eclipse.

*RUMBLE!!!

Ria felt her inner world tremble.

As though giant chains that she’s been desperately holding onto slowly being removed from her body.

She saw a silhouette in front of her.

Enris.

She saw her smile, she saw the joy in her eyes.

She saw Enris’s bloodthirst.

"Yo~ It’s been a while." A voice whispered behind her.

Ria recognised it. The same voice she heard when they walked in on an Eclipse Ritual.

Her own voice.

The call of the Eclipse.

"F*ck off. . ." Ria struggled but her own silhouette walked past her.

"Didn’t Astrelya tell you? To be true to yourself. You were made as a vessel for the Goddess, which means you have the power to contain divinity. Why don’t you simply accept that this is who we are? Go on, partake in the blood sport once more.

"Kill maim burn as your heart desires. Sing along with the chorus of Eclipse like before. Blood in our mouths~ Ash in our hands~" Her silhouette jokingly sung along as Ria glared at her only to freeze up.

Her silhouette was nowhere to be seen. Only Enris.

But this time, it wasn’t quite Enris either.

It was a reflection of herself, used as a vessel.

"Either you make this power yours or be used as a vessel."

Before Ria could respond, she felt a pair of arms grabbing onto her, restricting her movements.

"RIA!" Rosalyn shouted as Ria blinked her eyes.

"Huh?"

"F*cking hell you’re finally back. What the hell was that?" Rosalyn sighed in relief, letting go of Ria as she had put her into a headlock while Isolde was restraining Ria’s limbs.

Confused, Ria looked around and saw a burning line of destruction. Luke managed to shift his body to the side as cold sweat dripped down his face.

A dreadful thought filled her mind as she glanced to her left and saw Astrelya grinning at her.

She pointed her finger up at the sky, gesturing for Ria to look towards where she’s pointing.

Then she saw it.

An ominous icon hanging above them. It was slowly fading away but Ria could tell. . . It wasn’t a coincidence.

Above them, a false Eclipse had manifested.