Abyssal Awakening

Each flicker of fire that danced before him was a reminder that his wish, his desire had been foiled.

"Ah… ARG!!!!!!" Letting out a scream of anguish, a burst of energy erupted from his body, pushing Alyss back.

Running towards the flames, he ignored the burning across his body as he looked for Velouria's heart and Soul.

Even if Alice got the real heart, surely she wouldn't snuff out Velouria's soul!

"!!!"

Hovering in this swirl of inferno was a spectral figure of Alice while Velouria stood in front of her with a smile.

She opened her arms, welcoming Alice and closed her eyes while Nyer reached out with his hand.

"Alice don't you dare!!!"

Hesitating briefly, Alice resolved her gaze as she reached for the beating heart floating in the centre of Velouria's ghost like figure.

Just as Alice's finger touched the heart, it began to wither away rapidly before turning into dust that was swept away by the flames around her.

As though mourning the passing of the Goddess, the Abyss began to tremble. The skies cracked apart, revealing countless strands of energy that flowed down towards Alice's heart.

Opening her eyes, Alice could feel the link between her and Alyss strengthening as she was being pulled back to her physical body.

As for the changes that were brought forth by the presence of the true Heart of the Abyss, Alice couldn't quite feel the effects just yet. If she had to describe it, it would be that she feels no different with the exception of sensing her connection to the Abyss.

It feels like she's resting in a pool of water connected to the vast ocean. Aware of its existence yet floating in her own small section, unaware of how to reach the sea.

'Did you miss me?' Alice smiled as she came face to face with Alyss who had calmed down now that Alice had returned.

The voices bothering her all this time faded away as she shrugged.

'I was just getting to the fun part before you came back. So how does it feel? Now that you've obtained all three pieces?' Alyss crossed her arms with a smile.

'It feels pretty normal. Like nothing's changed. But let's deal with Nyer first then leave this memory. Now that I've gotten the Heart, I can feel the barrier stabilizing this place crumbling away. The sooner I deal with Nyer, the more time I'll have to say goodbye to Kaden and Allura.'

Nodding her head, Alyss closed her eyes as the two began to fuse together once more. Seeing each other in the mental space, they high fived before the golden chains began to disappear.

Clenching her fist, Alice could feel herself in control of her own body once more.

The pillar of flames slowly faded away, revealing Nyer who stumbled towards Velouria's body which was slowly turning to ash. There was a small smile on her face even as she died while Nyer scrambled to gather the ashes, making sure none of it disappeared.

As for Cayla, she collapsed by the side, passed out.

Looking at the state of Nyer and Cayla, Alice felt regretful at heart but they've chosen their path and she chose her own.

Their path would've resulted in her death which she couldn't accept. Likewise, her path resulted in Velouria's death.

Flicking her wrist, she summoned Void Fang and transformed it into a sword.

As the last piece of Velouria turned to ash, Nyer stood up. Turning around, he looked at Alice while his eyes were devoid of life.

He's lost his purpose, his goal, his idol. Everything that he's lived for and the one who gave him the second chance was gone.

Had he waited, perhaps they wouldn't have left on such a bitter note. But he had to try. Yet his attempt was foiled.

Whatever goodwill he had left for Alice disappeared.

There was simply one last thing he had to do.

That was to kill her!

*BANG!!!

Bursting into action, he appeared beside Alice as his blade tore through the space around her. His eyes which looked calm were now full of fury and anger. Killing intent exploded from him like a crashing wave as Alice's eyes tracked his movements.

Due to the previous battle while Alyss was in her body, her hair became dishevelled and hid her left eye.

Cayla existed in her right while her left eye was untouched.

However…

Upon transforming her Faux Heart into the real Heart, her left eye underwent some changes while the collar like pattern across her neck disappeared.

Tilting her head back, Alice revealed the crimson pupil now containing the icon of a flower. A red spider lily.

First Resonance!

At that moment, the obsidian crown manifested above Alice's head once more. Her hair flashed white while red dyed the edges.

Across her body and on her right cheek, the pattern of several red spider lilies could be seen, blossoming on a bed of briar thorns containing her Sigil patterns.

The cluster of spider lilies became more compact as it reached her hand, blending into crimson.

Void Fang wasn't left untouched either. Its blade transformed into the same crimson that coloured Alice's spider lilies while red briar thorns erupted from the guard, digging into Alice's hand and draining the blood.

From her wound, the spider lilies bloomed.

In her resonance form, Alice wore a white dress, a tattered white jacket, white stockings and a pair of white boots.

On the jacket, the pattern of spider lilies could be seen yet they were white like the rest of her attire.

Adjusting her stance, Alice parried Nyer's blade with ease!

Widening his eyes in stock, Nyer couldn't understand how Alice could move right now. The space around her should be sealed!

Calling upon Cayla's ability, he saw the truth of the matter. Around her, spectral red spider lilies were consuming the energy around her. The space lock that he had imposed was consumed without a trace left behind!

Pushing Nyer back, Alice narrowed her eyes and slashed with Void Fang.

'She must be trying to use Executioner's Blade.' Nyer thought to himself and braced for the attack. Yet the attack never appeared. It wasn't until he felt pain from his right side did he realise that Alice had already launched the attack!

'The blood!'

He understood that Alice's blood mirrors acted as a portal for her attacks but he couldn't see it!

She had activated her mirror so fast that it wasn't until he felt the wound, did he understand that she had already attacked.

Gritting his teeth, Nyer activated the blessing of corruption! A black aura flowed out from his body as he sought to burden Alice with several curses.

While he couldn't make use of this as well as Kaden could since he didn't have the artifact, he could still reduce Alice's power until it was manageable for him.

Recognising this sensation of being Kaden's blessing, Alice revealed a chilling gaze while reaching towards the empty space in front of her.

Grabbing hold of something, Nyer felt countless stabbing pains across his body as his blood began to reveal what was 'invisible'.

Blood briar thorns acted as Alice's 'threads'.

These thorns had wrapped around Nyer's body, preventing his movement while Alice stepped towards him.

Noticing how the briar thorns had stayed hidden, a bitter smile appeared on Nyer's face, finally understanding the situation he was in. The moment Alice activated her first Resonance, this entire area had been covered by her mirrors. Meaning no matter how she attacked, it would be almost instantaneous due to the teleportation.

Without giving Nyer a chance to leave behind any last words, Alice released a horizontal slash and turned around.

A swift decapitation with no pain. Severing the countless strands he has connected to the Abyss. Her final mercy towards someone who Velouria had treasured.

The blood that spewed out from his neck dyed the white spider lilies on her jacket red as Alice deactivated her Resonance.

She could feel the fatigue but after the countless training sessions and spars she had with Allura, she was able to maintain multiple uses of her Resonance within a day. Her current limit was three if she spaced out the amount of power she used per activation.

Locating the faint aura of Kaden who was heavily injured, Alice teleported over and saw him resting with his back against the wall and Allura next to him.

A bitter smile could be seen on his face as he glanced up at Alice.

"Seems like you've resolved things. This memory should be fading soon right?" He asked with a soft chuckle. Raising his hand, Alice could see that he was slowly crumbling away.

"Mnm." Nodding her head after a short pause, Alice watched as Kaden sighed and glanced at Allura to his side.

"I suppose I can be happy about the fact that the real me didn't fail if you said you're Lua's adopted daughter."

Hearing this, Alice bit her lip as she understood what he was talking about.

After all…

She couldn't feel Allura's aura at all.

No blessing, no Sigil power… No vitality.

"If you see me in the future, give me a good hit." Kaden chuckled, feeling his strength fading away with the disappearance of this memory.

Kneeling down in front of him, Alice nodded her head.

"I will. And… You're there too in the future. Allura didn't find anyone else, she's still talking about you. You're also the one who gave me Cayla and sent me to Allura. Thank you."

A smile appeared on Kaden's face as he let out a relieved laugh.

"I see… I'm glad. But make sure the real me hears that okay?"

"Mnm, he did." Alice nodded with a smile as both Kaden and Allura faded away. The rest of the battlefield followed suit, crumbling from the collapse of this memory.

Closing her eyes, Alice took a deep breath before making another mirror.

To take one last look at Ayr before it disappeared.

###

Folding his arms in front of the entrance, Kaden could sense the conflict in power. From that sickening aura belonging to Nyer to a new presence. Familiar yet different at the same time.

Cracks began to form around the edges before bursting into a ball of violet flames.

Seeing this, a smile began to form on Kaden's face as a silhouette manifested within the fire.

"Brat." Kaden greeted with a grin, feeling happy that Alice was safe.

Surprised to see Kaden being the first to welcome her back, Alice let out a small chuckle before smirking.

"Pink apron."