Abyssal Awakening

[Key of Destruction – Ruinous Void]

Looking at her Personal Artifact, Alice felt a strange sense of connection with it.

The feeling of grabbing a familiar tool that had been by her side this entire time. Even without Cayla's help, Alice understood exactly what this weapon could do.

Much like Alice, the Ruinous Void had two sides to it. One for Alyss and one for Alice.

A physical and a casting mode and each side had three abilities.

[Ruinous Void – Physical]

Lance Form: Changes form to become a lance that harnesses the power of the Void. In this state, the user can manifest the Void inside the weapon for a guaranteed hit. Three uses before completely exhausting the user.

Gauntlet Form: Changes form to become a pair of gauntlets. Wherever you punch, a 'detonation' zone will be left behind. You can choose to detonate these zones whenever you want. Detonations will ignore most forms of armour to inflict direct damage.

Axe Form: Raw destruction. Slowest attack but mightiest power. Cleave through the Void with each strike and leaves behind the power of the Void, obstructing regeneration and making your next hit on them hit harder.

All three had varying offensive powers with the Lance capable of hitting fast targets, Axe hitting slow targets and the Gauntlets being a balanced state. For Alyss, this was perfect.

For Alice, rather than offensive power it was more focused on versatility and casting.

[Ruinous Void – Casting]

Unbound Form: Capable of opening pathways to the Void at will, harnessing the natural forces within the Void to push or pull.

Fractured Form: Unleash the chaotic nature of the Void, fracturing the reality around you. With the Void overlapping reality, realm based Resonances cannot be used. Void based abilities gain a boost.

Singularity Form: Transforms [Key of Destruction – Ruinous Void] into a medium for abilities. Significantly enhancing ability power, casting speed and allowing the user to gain high levels of control over the Void.

The abilities granted were rather abstract and allowed freedom of movement. However, with this abstractness, it also means the dangers are unknown.

With her previous experiences with weapons, Alice understood that channelling too much energy risked the Artifact or weapon breaking from the stress.

Since Ruinous Void didn't have enhanced durability unlike Void Fang, she didn't want to go too overboard with channelling the energy.

Naturally, this concern was due to the passive ability.

Adaptive State!

User can overlap Sigil powers with Ruinous Void. Different Sigil powers grant varying effects.

For someone like her who would constantly switch out her Sigils, this was perfect. No wonder it was called a Personal Artifact. Even though she faked her fifth and sixth Sigil, the Artifact understood that and adjusted!

Unfortunately for Alice, this was no time to admire the power of this weapon as she still had to deal with the beast in front of her.

'First things first, let's deal with this annoying resonance!' Alice grinned as she slammed the Artifact into the ground.

Fractured Form!

*CRACK!!!

Glass fractures began to manifest around them as the beast looked around in confusion.

Reaching out, she tried to touch the fracture with her finger. But upon coming into contact, the rift between her realm and the Void tore her finger apart!

Stepping back in shock, she watched as more and more fractures appeared until…

*SHATTER!!!

Her realm was forcefully torn apart!

Returning the both of them back to the Zenia banquet hall, the beast glared at Alice in bewilderment when an invisible force gripped her body.

Unbound Form!

The rings around the Ruinous Void shattered apart, allowing the singularity sealed within free as it imprinted itself onto the back of Alice's hand.

Pulling the beast towards her, Alice narrowed her gaze as golden chains manifested around her.

Gauntlet Form!

*BANG!!!

Punching the beast in the stomach, Alyss launched her into the air before Alice pulled her back using Unbound Form.

The constant switches between the two had the beast being flung around as though it was a doll, unable to fight back.

"ARGG!!!!" Letting out a shout of anger, violet flames coated the beast's body, breaking apart the invisible hold Alice had on her.

However, her shouts were cut short as Alice created a blood mirror to allow Alyss to jump through and appear behind her.

Axe Form!

In her hands, a large axe could be seen with the main body of the Ruinous Void housed in the centre between two large axe blades.

*BANG!!!

Cleaving down with the axe, the power of the Void ripped forward, tearing into the back of the beast as her body was sent towards the ground.

Violet flames tore away at her wound, preventing her regeneration as Alice took over once more.

Singularity Form!

Breaking apart the chains that held the singularity within its confines, Alice pulled her arm back and turned it into an arrow.

And to guarantee the kill, she activated her ritual.

'Same as always aye?' Alice smiled inwardly as Alyss nodded her head. Seeing her twin being so excited about an attack, Alyss couldn't help but laugh.

'Go for it, I'll funnel you as much power as I can.'

"Feast o' flame of mine."

*KACHIN!!!

Shattering the chains around her body, Alyss was given partial freedom as the shadow of a beast manifested behind Alice. The countless blackened limbs wrapped around the arrow before exploding with a surge of violet flame.

Sigils burned across her body, Alice's resonance flared and her connection to her Personal Artifact was reinforced.

The entire world seemed to tremble from the power gathering towards Alice as she arched her back to draw out as much power as possible.

Just as she was about to fire, her pupil shrunk in a mixture of anger and shock.

While the beast had landed against the ground, clutching her wound with fear in her eyes, Sienna of all people ran in front of her!

"MOVE!!!" Alice shouted in anger.

She didn't have time to hesitate and if Sienna refused to move then she could die alongside this beast! Alice didn't care if she was her mother or not. This was not a time she could hesitate due to stupid decisions from other people.

Seeing that she wasn't moving, Alice bit her lip. Doubt and hesitation clawed at the corner of her mind but she didn't dare to hold back. Not when her opponent was a younger version of her but reinforced with the power of Gods!

Ruinous Void – Nova Core!

A collapse of stars surged towards the singularity. Light erupted then simultaneously consumed by the darkness. A swirl of gravitational force mixed with the burning power of her violet fire birthed a nexus of destruction that shot towards the duo.

Nyer could feel the laws of the Inverted World bending with this attack as his eyes glimmered with excitement.

"What marvellous demonstration of power~ This! This is what a vessel should be like!!!" He roared at the top of his lungs, applauding Alice's destructive power and disregard for even her mother who tried to protect the product!

On the path to power, this is how one should act. To disregard the ignorant masses who hold you back!

"Armament!"

*BANG!!!

Several armoured knights manifested in front of Sienna, forming an iridescent blue barrier that collided against Alice's attack.

*SHATTER!!!

The first layer broke apart with ease as the calamitous energy of the Nova Core tore away at the barrier, shredding away at its energy and consuming it to empower itself.

But the loyal Guards of the Zenia family weren't going to back down even in the face of such danger.

Behind one layer, another formed and the Guards organised themselves into a defensive formation around Sienna and the beast.

Luthor was keeping Selen busy so she couldn't interfere.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get the f*ck out of the way!!!" Seeing them blatantly protect the beast in such a manner triggered something within Alice.

A deep-rooted anger and hatred.

Where was her protection? Where was this care when she was crying out in pain on the operating table?

The two of them were no different so why? Why is the beast protected but she ignored?

Why does her mother stand in front of the fake, protecting it with her own body?

Can they not see the danger of the beast?

"ARGGGG!!!" Letting out a cry of frustration, Alice clenched her fist, prematurely detonating the Nova Core into a maelstrom of chaotic energy.

Wrapping herself in a barrier of blood and flames, she rushed through this energy without a care of the damage she was taking.

Recalling the Artifact, she reactivated the Singularity Form. But instead of a giant Nova Core, she opted for it to act as the catalyst for her Cleave instead.

Void Flux – Cleave!

Shredding a guard in half, Alice stomped against the ground and lunged at the beast who was hiding behind Sienna.

"Momma! Help!" She cried out, using the same voice as young Alice.

"Not this time!" Alice glared at Sienna.

Activating the Unbound Form, Alice dragged Sienna away using the gravitational forces of the Void in case she had a defensive artifact that could protect the beast.

Just as she appeared in front of the beast with the sword in hand ready to strike, Alice watched as the beast curved its lips into a malicious smile.

The time she had to spend to drag Sienna away was enough for the beast to think up of a plan!

Columns of flesh and teeth burst out from the ground as the guards were consumed in an instant.

Both Luthor and Selen was able to react in time and dodge but the beast didn't care.

Her main goal had been achieved and an influx of abilities surged towards her body!

There was only one thought in the beast's mind.

'I've won!'