Abyssal Awakening

Hearing her question for a second time, neither Lord sought to answer as they simply glared at Rosalyn who shook her head with a sigh.

"It was more fun talking to Alice. At least she's responsive." Rosalyn lamented while raising her hand.

Snapping her finger, blood erupted around her as a tidal wave descended towards the city before freezing in space.

Looping back, it created a veil around the entrance of the Inverted World.

"For standard Hunters, there are many ways for them to attain the rank of Lord. Whether that be through self cultivation, constant hunts and even inherited for that matter. Over the course of countless years, I've watched the method to attain the rank of Lord change. Some nations even hide their unique method while vagrant Hunters find new ways.

"While humans have a multitude of paths they can take, there is only one path fit for a beast of the Abyss. Survival of the fittest. To fight, to kill, to eat, to sleep. Everything they do is for the singular goal of becoming a Lord. To become a Lord and transcend the limits cast by the Abyss." Rosalyn explained with a smile.

Creating a needle, she pricked her finger and released a single drop of blood onto the veil that she had cast.

"For a beast, to attain the appearance of a human is no easy feat. You may not know but there are remnants of an old rule. A rule to allow us beasts to become human and gain Sigils like you. But due to an ancient war, the rule was sundered and left to rot. Only fragments of the rule are still in place today which is why I can exist.

"I am both beast and human, I can communicate and survive without killing and eating you lot but I cannot get Sigils. A strange fusion is it not? Even with the fractured rule, many beasts still fail to become human. Whereas for me, I've been 'human' for a long, long time.

"Only beasts who attained the rank of Lord can maintain a human form. That was part of the rule in the old age. Can you answer why that is so?... Ah! Sorry, seems like I've gone on a little tangent. But believe me when I say it still matters." Rosalyn chuckled before standing up.

Even though Renna and Kizen wanted to stop Rosalyn, an invisible pressure wrapped around their bodies. The chains of a devil restraining their limbs, choking out the air from their lungs and sapping the strength from their body.

During this, Renna noticed that Urigar was untouched. Left to maintain the entrance of the Inverted World.

"My dear Lord belonging to the North, you may let go of the entrance now. I thank you on behalf of all my students and the civilians who live within this city. Your deeds will not go forgotten and I will not point my sword towards you." Rosalyn glanced over with a smile and a wave.

Letting out a strained sigh, Urigar nodded and released his grip before folding his arms and taking a step back.

He could see the situation was already beyond their control.

*BANG!!!

Crashing against the restraints of Rosalyn's veil, the entrance started to implode as she revealed an excited smile.

"The energy of a departed Lord, sealed in time. The Inverted World that's welcomed countless guests. Though it may be the pathway to a library of knowledge, it has also become a giant reservoir of power. After years of patience, my plans can finally come to fruition.

If only I hadn't drank that blasted blood of Allura, this would've been so much easier." Rosalyn clicked her tongue while recalling the mistake of their youth.

She had thought that she'd obtained the greatest benefit a vampiric beast could ask for. The blood of a Lord! Not only that, it was the blood belonging to the Apostle too!

If she drank it, it would serve as the foundation of her ascension into Lordhood. However, little did she know that Allura's blood was f*cking poisoned with the power of another. Instead of becoming the foundation of her ascension, it became her prison.

The blood was so potent that it changed her form but also stunted her growth!

Over the countless years, she's tried to purge this damn blood from her system but it refused to leave. It continuously latched on like a goddamn parasite, preventing her from reaching her true potential.

It was also the reason why she's known as the strongest below the rank of Lord. She had the strength, the experience, the powers. The only thing she lacked was a proper ascension.

Now that things have gotten to this stage, Rosalyn made a move. The blood of two Lords along with the reservoir of Energy sealed within the Inverted World. It was her time to finally purge Allura's blood!

Pulling her arm back, black and red energy surged towards her fist as her eyes flickered with a crimson light.

Years of torment, stress and being anchored by Allura's blood poured out in an instant as she slammed her fist down with all her might.

*BANG!!!

A rush of blood stabbed towards the centre, forcefully detonating the entrance earlier than expected!

With the surge of blood triggering the detonation, a flood of energy rushed out from the centre, slamming against the veil and threatening to tear it apart.

However, instead of being fearful, Rosalyn's eyes glimmered with happiness.

'Finally! Finally I can get rid of this damn appearance!' She laughed inwardly.

She could get rid of these excessively long limbs, this large physique and Allura's face that reminded her of her mistake for countless years. Finally, she could revert back to her original self having attained the status of Lord!

"This energy… I'll take it all!!!" Rosalyn shouted, raising her hand as the veil began to crack apart.

*RUMBLE!!!

As though understanding what was going on, the Abyss began to tremble, welcoming the new dawn of an Abyss Lord.

Strands of energy leaking out from the veil began to coalesce towards Rosalyn's hand.

Dark clouds loomed above while a torrent of Abyssal energy flooded from the space around them.

Even though both Renna and Kizen had felt the phenomenon of becoming a Lord, it was far more tame compared to the transformation that Rosalyn was going through!

Worst of all, they couldn't move!

A suffocating energy permeated the air, holding them in place. At this point, it wasn't just Rosalyn's energy. No, the Abyss was helping her! Telling the two Lords to watch the advent of a new Lord without interrupting!

"ROSALYN!!!!" Renna shouted, gritting her teeth in anger. She hated the fact that Rosalyn didn't breach her contract despite all of this! Meaning she couldn't even use it against her!

Condensing all of the violent energy into a single volatile orb, Rosalyn opened her mouth and swallowed it.

*RUMBLE!!! BANG!!!

A column of crimson energy erupted from the clouds and crashed down upon Rosalyn!

Within the column, her flesh began to peel away, cracks formed across her body but she didn't scream.

In fact, the more her body shaved away, the wider her smile became!

As the last piece of her body crumbled away, a pulse of darkness sparked within the column. From a single spark, it grew until it became a raging inferno of power. First, the bones then came the flesh.

Rosalyn's body was reconstructed though this time it was much smaller than her previous form. After all, Allura was ridiculously tall even by Ayrian standards!

"Ah~ How long have I waited to reclaim my true form." Rosalyn laughed, her voice different to before.

Raising her hand, she snapped her finger and a surge of blood shattered the column of light.

Behind her, reality started to warp as all four of them were dragged into Rosalyn's Second Resonance!

Second Resonance – Crimson Walpurgis

As the light cleared away, Renna glanced up and paused. Her pupils shrunk upon seeing the dark castle suspended upon a mountain with a large crescent moon hanging behind it.

Standing atop the tallest spire, a girl could be seen with flowing white hair.

She wore an elegant dark gothic frilled dress with silver and red highlights. A set of crimson ornaments decorated her wrist and neck with a pair of black evening gloves.

A long black veil hung on her hair, fluttering in the wind as she revealed a mesmerising smile with a set of crimson eyes seemingly innocent yet seductive.

"Ah ah ah~ Fufu~ How sweet it feels to finally hear my own voice after so long. My dream has finally been fulfilled at long last~" Rosalyn chuckled before looking down towards the two Lords frozen in shock.

"My dear Lords, since you've witnessed my long awaited rebirth, I trust that you won't spoil the moon. Or do you perhaps wish to stay the night? If you do, I guarantee that I will be a good host and treat you with the courtesy you deserve." Rosalyn asked, curling her lips into a smile and revealing her elongated fangs.

Behind her, a set of vampiric wings unfurled.

"Congratulations on becoming a Lord. I'll take my leave now." Urigar nodded his head as he turned around and created a gap in space.

Giving him a gentle wave, Rosalyn turned her gaze towards the remaining two.

"And now we turn to my two, violent yet esteemed guests. Will you take your leave now or enjoy the night view of my Resonance? Permanently." Rosalyn warned.

Furrowing his brows, Kizen sheathed his blade with an annoyed sigh.

"Congratulations on becoming a Lord, Lady Rosalyn. I'll also take my leave." He turned around as Rosalyn nodded, flicking her finger and allowing him a passage out.

"Then there was one. Lady Renna, what will your choice be?"

Gritting her teeth until blood began to flow, Renna sheathed her blade.

"I'll let the King know that you've ascended to become a Lord." She spat with hatred, causing Rosalyn to let out a laugh.

Now that she had become a Lord, the chains of the Kingdom could no longer hold her back.

[Rosalyn – Abyss Lord of Scarlet Ruin]