Born in Blood

500  Defense Tribulation

"How long do you think it'll take for him to come out?" in a Temple of Shadow bar, one Elder asked another. "Been 3 months already…"

"I don't know," the other Elder shrugged, sipping his drink. "He's been closed up for far longer."

The first Elder sighed. "Man, I just wish we had a closer relationship with the person that's leading us. Usan was a friend and leader, but Leader Liam is just… a leader. And he's damn terrifying… not that I have a problem with that, y'know?"

"If you have any issues with his leadership," the second Elder said sternly, a little worried someone might overhear, "say it to his face."

"No thanks," the first Elder said immediately. "I value my life." "That's what I thought," the second Elder said. "Besides, that's the only kind of person that could keep people like us in check. It makes sense for our leader to be the worst of us all."

"True, true," the first Elder said, nodding in agreement. "Can't deny that." There was a brief moment of silence as the two took sips of their drinks. "Hey, you seen Kamjin around?" the first Elder asked suddenly. "Nah, he's secluded himself somewhere."

"Man, that old man is crazier than I thought he would be. He parties like an absolute animal."

The two shared a laugh.

"It's that other girl that's strange," the second Elder said. "Keeps trying to sneak into Sect Leader Liam's place, man. It's weird. She's gotten in trouble so many times already…"

The two shared another laugh.

"True. Ever since she got her shadow powers, she doesn't even try to hide herself anymore. Those Dark Stars really show the worst in people, eh?"

The two shared yet another laugh. "Well, can't deny that they aren't doing wonders for the clan. Jin has already fortified our borders, and even built protective measures for Leader Liam's Defense Tribulation."

"Right, right." "And Valerie has been a massive help with it. Can't deny that either."

"Right, right."

There was silence after that.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh…

Then, something caught the first Elder's attention. The bar was open-door, allowing for a clear view of the distance. It was daytime, and yet…

"D-Do you see that?" the first Elder asked the second with narrowed eyes. The second Elder leaned forward a bit, then paled. "Oh my God," he muttered with widened eyes. "I do…" The two Elders weren't laughing anymore. "Go, go, go! It's happening!"

Something was approaching the island! …A massive freaking shadow!

It was creeping over the horizon, engulfing the skies in a cloud of darkness. It was… huge, and the danger it let off could be felt even from such a faraway distance. And it was making a beeline straight for the island! ***

A few minutes earlier.

Just ⅔ of the Empress' corpse remained.

Liam had eaten everything above the elbows and knees. All of his centers of power brimmed with power, but especially his core.

However… there was still that mass of strange energy that enveloped the Empress' solar plexus. A jittery shroud of dark matter that protected something beneath, swirling in a circular fashion like a cloud of smoke. 'I've avoided it till now,' Liam thought seriously. 'It's weakened significantly over the past few months… but it still looks dangerous.'

'Should I risk it and interact with it anyway?' 'What's the worst that can… no, don't say it. Just don't. Don't!'

Silence. 'Ah, screw it.'

Liam grinned. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

'What's the worst that can happen?'

Liam put a palm on the Empress' solar plexus and used his Spirit Sight. With his pristine, crystal-clear view of the Empress, Liam quickly worked to find the easiest way to manipulate the energy. Controlled strands of 'Ora' seeped through the Empress' skin. Since she was… well, diseased, her body didn't resist his essence at all. It happened way too fast.

As soon as his 'Ora' engulfed the ethereal substance… something lurched out of the swirling cloud and connected with his essence!

It was a whitish substance that looked like melted wax, but ethereal and ghostly in nature. Liam attempted to sever the connection between him and the 'Ora' before it entered through him. A slash of Honed mental energy tried to do exactly that. SHING!

But it was too late!

Like fire to a strand of inflammable gas, the parasitic energy ate through Liam's 'Ora' until it entered his body!

Uh-oh. This was bad.

This was very, very bad!

Liam's body was filled with natural 'Ora'.

As soon as the wax-like substance made contact with his skin, it caused his muscles and skin to shrivel and dry up!

And it continued unhindered, doing the same to the insides of his body, starting with his chest.

If Liam let it continue, it would turn him into a mummified corpse!

'Pearly,' Liam thought to the brass organ in his solar plexus. 'You haven't failed me yet.'

A moment later, Liam used his 'Ora' as a lure to the ghostly, parasitic wax, baiting it straight into his Chaos Pearl!

Well, once, it was called the Chaos Pearl.

But after Corruption found its way inside it, Liam called it just the Pearl.

Pearly was its nickname.

And as soon as the wax-parasite made contact with the metallic walls of his brass organ, it seeped through!

Liam froze like an ice sculpture.

Then, he fell over like an ice sculpture.

And he remained frozen.

Obviously, Liam wasn't actually frozen.

But whatever was happening with his Pearl, had subsequently paralyzed his entire body. A moment later, the wax substance rooted itself onto the walls of Liam's Pearl!

Three substances.

Chaos.

Corruption.

And now… whatever this thing was. ...A new member to the Pearl family!

But in the midst of all this chaos, as Liam lay paralyzed... something else was subtly taking place.

A morsel of the Empress' flesh that had entered his stomach prior to all of this had fully melted.

And the nutrients it provided went straight to Liam's core, causing it to bubble and froth with darkness 'Ora'.

The Defense Tribulation… …had begun!

chapter 500. party time.

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