Abyssal Awakening

Executioner's Blade!!!

It was a replication of Allura's famed attack but without the power of Velouria's blessing.

However, in order to achieve the same effect, Alice had to overlap several theories and attacks that she's accumulated thus far.

First, the use of her blood mirrors compacted into a single sheet to increase the speed of the slash. Replication of Allura's instant slash.

Second, achieving the power to penetrate defence via rotational power but rather than a spiralling motion, it's a vertical circle like a saw blade.

Third, weakening defences through absorption using the abilities gained from activating her First Resonance.

With all three conditions lined up, she was able to replicate the potency and properties of Allura's Executioner's Blade to a certain extent!

If Void Flux – Cleave was a poor imitation that could be used several times, then this Executioner's Blade was something she could only use once upon activating her First Resonance.

Just one attack was enough to make Alice feel as though someone had just pulled all of her organs out at once, causing her to be drained of energy.

*BANG!!!!

Cleaving through the breath attack released by the hydra, Alice smiled upon seeing the slash carve through the flesh of the beast and even began eating away at the spatial barrier surrounding this arena.

For the first time in the battle, Kaden had lost his composure as his pupils shrunk at the attack that was still colliding against the walls of this space.

The way it was constantly digging into the barrier and using the barrier's energy against it! However, it couldn't maintain its original power as it burned energy faster than what it was gaining.

Focusing his gaze, Kaden broke down the basic principles of Alice's attack in hopes of potentially replicating it but there was an unknown factor hindering his replication.

The red spider lily!

Much like the flames that he couldn't replicate, he couldn't replicate the potency of the red spider lilies.

This kind of offensive power and ferociousness far surpassed her violet flames.

Kaden's smile twitched as he couldn't tell which side of Alice was the more violent one. The Alice that succumbs to her baser instincts during a fight like she demonstrated when the chains appeared, or the current Alice that enhances her attacks with these spider lilies.

Turning back to Alice, he was surprised to see her kneeling on the ground, unable to move a single inch.

"Erm… Can I give up?" Alice forced a smile.

No matter how she tried, her body simply didn't listen. None of her Sigils could be activated and she was completely helpless right now.

Massaging his eyes, Kaden flickered in front of Alice and chopped down with his hand.

"Ouch!"

"And with that you're dead. Please, and I mean this genuinely, please don't tell me you copied Lua's technique and flow of energy without knowing the proper effects and requirements of Executioner's Blade?" Kaden asked, squatting in front of Alice and squinting at her.

Feeling his gaze, Alice coughed awkwardly and looked away.

"You are a different kind of stupid, reckless and downright moronic you know that right, brat?

"First you copy Lua's Nova Core, a skill we specifically created for her to regulate her insane output to match her energy reserves. Which you refashioned into Void Flux. Then you copy a cheap imitation of her Executioner's Blade she modified to fit the brat using the Authority of Death.

"And now, you attempt to recreate the original Executioner's Blade, specifically designed for LUA, to match her BLESSING, which involves her PHYSIQUE all while taking into account of her absurd regeneration." Kaden ranted. With each word that he emphasised, he would poke his finger against her head.

Naturally, Alice couldn't say anything back since he was correct on all accounts.

"Have I explained the full details regarding the creation of Lua's Executioner's Blade?" Kaden asked.

If Alice had been to Ayr in the past, she should know. Either that or the past him didn't think she would try to recreate this attack without the proper preparation.

"You didn't…"

"I figured as much since 'I' didn't think you would be stupid enough to try. But let me clarify it for you now. Executioner's Blade is based on a way of manipulating energy to forcefully expunge everything. The reason why Lua can use it several times without tiring is because of her fifth Sigil that keeps her alive and energised while fighting.

"Not only that, but the Abyss Blood that she's drank also complements this kind of fighting style. When you release this attack, even if you find alternatives to emulate the potency, you cannot avoid the siphoning of your power.

"Executioner's Blade is an attack that's most powerful when it's released at full energy since it's a way to output everything all at once." Kaden explained, giving Alice's head one last poke with his finger.

The constant poking left a red mark and Alice felt as though she wanted to cry. Even with her increased durability and pain tolerance, each poke felt as though it hit the depths of her soul.

"However… I suppose it's commendable that you can still talk after using it. Everyone else who's tried to emulate the original Executioner's Blade through alternative measures have all been knocked out with no exceptions since the attack basically puts you into overdraft of your energy.

"Even the death using brat was knocked out for almost a month after trying it which is why Lua modified it to be something he could use." Kaden sighed.

He could still remember seeing Gin pestering Allura to teach him her attack when he was young and stupid. Only to get knocked out as a result. The only thing that's changed since then is that he's now old and stupid.

While recovering from the poking of her head, Alice noticed something as a sh*t eating grin appeared on her face and she turned her head away to hide it.

"Kaden." She called out.

"Hm? What is it brat?"

"You and Allura went your separate ways for a while now right?"

Furrowing his brows, Kaden wasn't sure what Alice was getting at.

"Yes, what about it?"

"How did you know what happened between Allura and Gin?" Alice turned around with a wide grin.

*PUCHI!!!

Seeing that grin, he felt as though a vein was about to burst.

Placing his hand in front of Alice, he flicked her in the forehead.

*BANG!!!

Alice's body was flung back and rolled across the floor until she was lying down motionless next to Ria and Luke.

Letting out a sigh, he walked over to the trio and sat down on some seats near them.

Crossing his legs, he contemplated on how he could improve their strength.

Luke's issue could be easily dealt with and his unique Sigils proved to be rather interesting. It was the first time Kaden had seen a buff type ability like his where he could use it together to summon beings like the Paladin.

Ria's issue was more difficult as it was linked to doubt and her perception of herself. Being around a monster of talent like Alice wasn't great either as her own talent was being drowned out.

A Hunter's growth is tied to their mentality and how they perceive themselves. What they think is impossible could never be achieved. But if they're insane enough to attempt things even though it seems impossible, they could reap large rewards.

'Balancing that is a pain though. She needs an environment where it's dangerous yet wouldn't cause her to lose her life. But doing it like this is too 'safe'. What she needs is the threat of death and the desperation that comes with facing death. The will to look past death and into the mouth of danger.' Kaden narrowed his eyes.

Alice had the benefit of being put into a death like state for 10 years, allowing her to face the fear of death without care. Of course, that didn't mean she wanted to die but rather she could face death head on without holding back.

For Ria, he recalled that the Gin brat had saved her from a ritual yet Ria was looking away from that fact.

'Is it because she's scared?'

If she was able to take advantage of that experience, no matter how painful, she would grow and overcome her current weakness.

"What a hassle." Kaden sighed, leaning back as he glanced up at the fake sky within this space.

And finally, it was Alice's turn.

She was adventurous in trying things, reckless in experiments but this allowed her to achieve a far greater growth rate than even the talented Hunters that he's seen.

In this aspect, she could be called a monster of growth, a bundle of raw talent forged in her suffering of 10 years.

But this is also her greatest weakness.

Her desire to experiment, lack of understanding and recklessness cause her countless troubles. While she may be getting more benefits than problems right now, the same couldn't be said for the future.

Once that happens, she'll hit a wall.

The stronger the will, the harder the rebound upon facing this kind of wall. Alice needs to be able to put herself back together if she ever faces this wall.

'One isn't reckless enough and the other is too reckless. How am I supposed to train these three abnormal brats at the same time?'

He still had his own problems to look out for too.

After Velouria's passing, the Abyss had largely escaped their control and it's been doing whatever the Will wants it to do. Expansions, new beasts and even new abilities that have never been seen before.

Hell, even Nyer has put his hand into this pot, stirring it with unknown variables that affect the outcome.

Transforming humans back to beasts, rituals to attempt to usurp the Will's power, ways of utilising a fallen God's body.

Just thinking of how he's been violating Velouria's corpse and using her flesh as a tool to experiment caused Kaden to simmer with killing intent. Closing his eyes to calm his mind, he had to first deal with the most problematic issue at hand.

Allura's wound.

Famine's attack wasn't something that could easily be healed. But if Nalem's information is correct, there's a slim chance that a miracle could occur and a beast with compatible blood to the Pheonix Feather herb would appear.

Once these two requirements are met, he'll face Famine to fulfil the final requirement of fully healing Allura.

'Just wait for me Lua.' Kaden thought to himself as he began to formulate ways to train these brats so he could resume his journey.