Ding...
[Innate Ability: Gate of Damnation]
[Hell Visit]
- Spectral Agony: Within the depths of hell, the trapped individuals are haunted by ghostly apparitions that embody their deepest fears and regrets, intensifying their mental and emotional anguish.
- Time Dilation: In hell, time seems to stretch indefinitely, making every moment feel like an eternity for the victims, heightening their perception of suffering.
- Cacophonous Whispers: Sinister whispers constantly assail the minds of those trapped, echoing their darkest secrets and insecurities, fueling paranoia and despair.
- Visions of Doom: Nightmarish visions of apocalyptic scenarios and personal tragedies plague the minds of the tormented, amplifying their hopelessness.
****
[Infernal Chains] - Locked
- Soul Draining Links: The chains actively leech the life force of the restrained targets, causing gradual physical deterioration and weakening, akin to a slow and agonizing drain of vitality.
- Psychic Shackles: Beyond physical restraint, the chains create an additional psychic link, exposing the victims to shared torments and hallucinations that exacerbate their mental suffering.
- Bone-Crushing Pressure: The chains exert increasing pressure on the trapped individuals' bodies, progressively crushing bones and joints, intensifying their physical agony.
- Ephemeral Barbs: Ethereal barbs emerge from the chains, piercing the skin of the victims and injecting them with a venom that induces excruciating pain.
****
[Cacophony of the Damned] - Locked
- Whispers of Desperation: The voices within the cacophony adopt the anguished tones of the victims, taunting them with reminders of their failures and deepest regrets.
- Echoes of Betrayal: The voices mimic the voices of those the victims trusted, distorting their perceptions and sowing seeds of distrust and betrayal among them.
- Demonic Mockery: Mocking and derisive laughter permeate the air, aimed directly at the insecurities and vulnerabilities of the trapped individuals.
- Screams of the Forsaken: The anguished screams of long-lost souls echo through the dimension, instilling a sense of hopelessness and impending doom.
****
[Soul Devourer] - Locked
- Essence Erosion: The life force drained is not just physical but also erodes the very essence of the victims, diminishing their willpower and sense of self, leaving them hollow and broken.
- Haunting Shadows: The spirits of the drained souls linger, casting haunting shadows that whisper torments to the living, creating an ongoing psychological assault.
- Crimson Embrace: The absorbed life force manifests as a spectral crimson aura around the user, a chilling reminder of the stolen vitality and an intimidating presence.
- Deathly Embrace: As the victims weaken, their connection to life frays, and the user gains control over their physical movements, puppeteering their now-lifeless bodies to instill dread in others.
****
[Abyssal Reckoning] - Locked
- Eternal Aftermath: The unleashed energy leaves a lingering effect, causing residual dark energies to permeate the environment, perpetuating a sense of dread and despair.
- Reality Distortion: The cataclysm warps reality, causing nightmarish distortions that manifest the fears and nightmares of those in the vicinity, blurring the line between reality and hallucination.
- Echoes of Ruin: The fabric of the affected space retains echoes of the unleashed destruction, causing intermittent tremors and ghostly apparitions that evoke perpetual fear.
- Spectral Veil: A dark veil shrouds the area, causing those within it to experience time dilation, making each moment within the affected space feel elongated and oppressive.
****
[Eternal Condemnation] - Locked
- Abyssal Bondage: The condemned souls are bound by chains of ethereal energy, perpetually writhing in agony and unable to escape their torment.
- Soul Shredding: The user gains the ability to slowly fragment and disintegrate the condemned souls, absorbing the remnants to enhance their power further.
- Tormented Echo: The condemned souls' cries and pleas for mercy become an eternal symphony, a haunting melody that resonates through the user's consciousness, amplifying their strength.
- Dark Ascendancy: The user transcends to a heightened state of existence, merging with the trapped souls' lingering energies, achieving a nightmarish apotheosis that transforms them into a living embodiment of eternal condemnation.
[Note: The locked abilities will unlock as the subordinate rises in ranks.]
"This is not what I was expecting. This is the literal embodiment of torture. I won't let him use this ability lightly," Rasoul commented after reading the ability. He understood the kind of person Sabrat was and foresaw the potential misuse of this power. The impact of the ability on the 14 Semi-Saints he absorbed was evident.
Allowing Sabrat to use the ability freely is not an option. It could lead to chaos if caution is not taken.
Turning to Sabrat, he spoke, "Sabrat, you can't use this ability until it's necessary."
"I know you'll say that, but why shouldn't I use it? A little trip to hell can straighten those that look down on us," Sabrat said, making his stance clear.
"I know, but still, don't use it until we know the victim is not innocent. We can't have you sending innocents to hell," Rasoul said.
"I know that. I am not a maniac who will kill innocents just for his entertainment. I enjoy my entertainment from the screams of those who prey on the weak and innocent," Sabrat said in a cold voice. His eyes emitted a dark green smoke for a split second, sending a slight shiver down Rasoul's spine.
He had to admit, that Sabrat is more formidable than he thought.
"So, can you use this ability on anyone, or is there a restriction?" Rasoul asked.
"I can currently use it on Semi-Saints and below, but I feel like I can use it on a Sage once I break through to the Saint Realm," Sabrat explained.
"Then I will have to find the right resources to upgrade you," Rasoul decided.
Rasoul then turned to the 14 individuals.
"You fourteen should go to Orange Field City and protect the Princess from the Shadows, make sure no harm comes to her. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Master," they replied in unison.
"Good. Alert me if anything interesting comes up."
Saying this, he and his two subordinates stepped out and started making their way to the meeting with the family heads.
****************
Back in the present inside the meeting room...
"Celestial Nexus Array - First Form: Astral Shackles..."
Immediately, he uttered those words, and ethereal chains materialized, binding the family heads to their chairs. They attempted to exert their Saint Strength to break free, but it was all in vain. The chains binding them were fueled by 20,000 Alpha Beast Cores. There was no way they could break free from that.
Taking a higher ground, Rasoul spoke,
"Sorry for the lateness. It wasn't our fault since you all decided to play dirty before the game even began. Did you seriously think we wouldn't know you had plans to kill us after getting what you wanted?
"The sad part is the Legacy doesn't even have anything interesting to it as the rumors suggested. The 27 Great Sages are just batteries fueling the Legacy.
"Out of greediness, you tried killing us, and for what? So you can get something made up by rumors."
Hearing those words, the faces of the heads turned darker. They knew Rasoul had the legacy, but from what he said, it didn't come with the 27 Great Sages, as they speculated.
"I know what you are thinking, and yes, you wasted your time for nothing. You just sent the younger generation into a Hunger Games set up by some twisted Deity for his own entertainment."
Old Charles immediately asked, "If the legacy isn't the 27 Great Sages, then what was it?"
"And why would I tell you that? I think you are forgetting something. I am in charge here," Rasoul replied.
"But are you, though?" Old Johnson muttered, and immediately, seven saints appeared out of nowhere, surrounding them. A wicked smile appeared on their faces as they stared at Rasoul and his friends.
"You're not as strong as you think, kid. We're the seven great families, and we earned that name by being tough. Do you really believe you can just waltz in here and do whatever you want without facing consequences?" Old Oslo said, looking arrogant.
"If you're smart, hand over the legacy, and maybe we'll let you all stick around as servants," Old Johnson added. But before he could say more, Rasoul cut him off.
"Why talk so much? I knew those seven fools were hiding. I was waiting for them to show up, and, being as foolish as you all are, you fulfilled my request without much effort.
'System, add 20,000 more cores to the formation,' Rasoul commanded the system and activated the third form of the formation.
"Celestial Nexus Array - Third Form: Thoughtweaver Threads."
Upon uttering those words, an invisible thread of mental energy immediately wove through the minds of the seven Saints who had appeared. The third form threads a mental energy link through the targets' minds, granting Rasoul immediate access.
Having the slave seal on standby, he promptly sealed their minds, transforming them into his slaves. While the formation proves effective, the consumption rate is exceedingly high.
The act of trapping the seven heads incurred a cost of 20,000 Alpha Beast Cores. Initially planning to use only 20,000 cores, Rasoul adjusted because of the 5-minute countdown so he added another 20,000 to ensure the continuity of the formation.
Ding...
[Congratukation to the Host for acquiring his First Saint Slaves]
[][Saints][]
>>Razor Swift
>>Crimson Silence
>>Dark Falcon
>>Mirage Wraith
>>Stormblade Serpent
>>Nightshade Whisper
>>Ember Veil
"If you seven are finished staring at me, proceed to thrash those fools. I have places to be and can't afford any more delays." Right on cue, the seven saints sprang into action, beating up the family heads. A satisfied smile crossed Rasoul's lips.
"Sabrat, Lara, do me a favor and place the seal on the remaining five heirs. I'll be waiting for you here. There are still some matters to discuss with the heads."
They nodded and departed to execute their task, while Rasoul lingered with the screaming heads, restrained by chains and receiving a beating. After they expended their strength, Rasoul applied the seal and provided instructions for tasks he wanted them to undertake.
An hour later, Sabrat and Lara returned with satisfied smiles. Rasoul didn't need to check the message; he knew his subordinates wouldn't disappoint him.
He proceeded to issue instructions to the family heads. Once everything was settled, they made their way back to the Dark Forest.
"Now, it's time to create new troublemakers.