Chapter 1594: Usurper! (4)
’His soul. Something feels off about it. Is it... incomplete?’ Skullius thought as Fulgardt’s Territory shattered to bits.
Around his lower right arm, a thick gauntlet, shaggy and bony could be seen. Its face consisted of a large set of powerful canine teeth, some protruding outwards. To be struck by such a thing was a horror, and in more ways than one.
This gauntlet was Ferex. In an instant, he could transform himself into a weapon with formidable soul-based powers. On their own, these powers were definitely formidable, but when coupled with Skullius’ own while he was using the War Body, they were a problem even for Deities.
Beyond just dealing damage, Skullius could tell a lot of things about other Divine beings’ souls with simple contact... like how he’d noted the state of Fulgardt’s soul just now: how incomplete it was.
But this wasn’t the time to standby and wonder.
Skullius was already pursuing the Immoral. His three other weapons were collected in his three hands, and Ferex fell away from his arm to once again become his steed. The Apostle was frighteningly quickly as he charged across the air after Fulgardt.
The Immoral was unfortunate enough to land in one of the grey blotches. His momentum was seized immediately and Benighted Ju`wtte torched every bit of him it caught within its clutch.
...But this was the Immoral. He wasn’t going to go down that easily, Skullius knew.
As Fulgardt burned to a crisp, utterly defenceless, another Fulgardt emerged in one of the white blotches, perfectly fine and poised for battle.
Delight’s Pursuit X Limitless Paradox!
"You can’t steal my freedom, brat. You don’t even understand what you have in your arsenal, let alone how to use it!" the Immoral cried and he summoned a spear of darkness that he chucked at Skullius with beyond light speed.
As it flew, another Fulgardt appeared on it, riding its haft towards the Sovereign while conjuring small, twinkling stars made of [Just Light] in his hand!
...But once again, Skullius had seen a future that played out just like this. Hence, to counter the incoming foe, he... activated his Imperial Territory’s second Primary function. It was only utilitarian, but it was no less dangerous.
All the white blotches scrolling across the entirety of Aigas were suddenly lathered in Enlightened Ju`wtte.... as were those that were taking refuge within them.
Boron, Quintess and Listafelle had no idea what this meant. Alas, they learned from what happened to Fulgardt right then.
Skullius brandished his wakizashi and slashed at the open air between himself and the Immoral. His attack didn’t connect, of course... but the Fulgardt hurrying towards him lost his head all the same.
...!!!
The real Immoral scowled at this.
In a shocking feat of speed, he zipped towards Skullius before he (Skullius) could even begin to read another set of futures playing in his head.
"This is not my cage, brat!" the Immoral cried as his fist was laced with light and fed into Skullius’ face.
Exorbitance X Master Cataract!
A combination that could rip through a world’s Rules: a Seed of the Fruit of World Myths that increased damage by 20 exponentially, and one that could forcibly create a weakness in an enemy’s defences whether they were living or not.
...Both did nothing against Skullius.
Fulgardt’s fists barely tickled Skullius’ skin!
The Sovereign was almost completely invulnerable in his Imperial domain.
Yet, on the other hand...
"You can use all the Seeds without invoking the Phantasmic Retainers. How convenient," Skullius said as he grasped Fulgardt wrist to make sure he couldn’t escape. "But as long as you’re trapped here, all my attacks will reach your body and incomplete soul whether you like or not."
...!!!
Skullius’ gladius had riddled through Fulgardt and his soul a thousand times by the time he finished speaking.
...Yet the Immoral wasn’t dead, Skullius knew.
’I’m starting to understand how his powers work. He combines the effects of his Seeds – multiplies them, rather – creating an even stronger result. As it stands, he must have unlimited combinations and applications!’
The many different futures blasting into Skullius’ head teased the Immoral’s powers. He did indeed combine the effects of Seeds to accomplish incredible feats.
Earlier, when Weaver had said that Fulgardt had decided he wouldn’t die, he had not been lying. Fulgardt could do something as absurd as abuse Limitless Paradox to the point where a cycle of him reviving after ’dying’ ran on a loop ensued without end!
Indeed, that was the miniature power system Fulgardt had created for himself using advanced Fundamental Barter.
Just after gathering all this information, though, Skullius winced. His mind was faltering. There was an overload of information that a mere Divine like him – in this state – couldn’t stand. If he were in the Second Phase of the War Body, he’d be able to endure it better but...
’Kenno won’t last much longer,’ the Sovereign thought and he looked towards the grandiose sculpture that represented his Imperial Territory’s pith. The rest of his Apostles were gathered there. Red Rage was opening his cape for Araeyn to go through into the large space within it, while Weaver had his hands outstretched towards Skullius, completing the task he had been ordered to complete.
’I have to do what I can to learn more about Fulgardt’s abilities before the Territory collapses!’
Said Fulgardt, who had seamlessly produced yet another of himself after the former real him died, grunted in annoyance when Skullius brandished his wakizashi and drew his bow once more.
Both attacks would hit even from the distance.
"Hmph."
In a blink, two eyeballs appeared between Fulgardt’s fingers. Skullius didn’t miss that.
However... his attention was stolen right then.
Quintess, in his less colossal form had darted towards the centre of the Imperial Territory along with Listafelle. Strangely enough, Boron didn’t bother to do the same. He merely watched.
"Do you want to make an enemy of me?" Skullius said to Quintess.
The Deity heard indeed, but that didn’t stop him from lathering his arm with Amras and striking down at the large art piece that prompted the Imperial Territory. Skullius swung his gladius, cutting the air... cutting both of Quintess’ arms and slicing up Listafelle’s legs. Both Deities were relatively unfazed by their wounds, but they were forced to cease their attack.
As it were, they had earned both of these bodies from the Aspire to Divine’s unique Vessel Stores for Deities. Only Deities that had created more than one world could purchase the range of customizable, powerful vessels from the stores. The ones both Listafelle and Quintess had bought just so happened to have incredible regenerative properties because of the built-in advanced Immortal Physiques.
Quintess turned to Skullius.
<I was never a friend to anomalies, if I could help it. This is why.> he said, noting the Imperial Territory as a whole.
<Fighting Boron alone is one thing, but your presence – an anomaly’s presence – always complicates things.> chimed in Listafelle as she stared at the beautiful Territory’s centre with aggression.
Skullius chuckled.
...And then looked up. Fulgardt, who had put some distance between them, also looked up and scoffed.
"Well, I can’t say I blame you for hating people like me. Things do always spiral out of control," said the Sovereign.
The sky was turning red.
Multiple presences of Undeath, refined powers, were approaching Aigas.