Temple of Dead Gods

The young man shot back, distancing himself from the creature, whose legs now dripped green blood, the armor pierced and broken. The Knight fell on one knee, supporting itself with its sword as it heaved in exhaustion; it was yet to show any signs of pain.

"Good, not enough."

Leaning heavily on its sword, the Knight pushed itself back to its feet. The blood seemed to gush out more as he put weight on the impaled leg, and a few moments later, the dark blades that pierced him disappeared.

'Status'

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[ Aldric Voss ]

[ Saviour of Nothing ]

[ Retribution ]

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Markings: [The remainder] [A false existence]

Affinity: [Death] | S.E: 5 (Base)

Rank: [Warrior(3)]

Xai Energy (XE) Reserve: 60/100

Returns: (0/0)

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Aldric confirmed two things from rechecking his status window. Firstly, it seemed every soul essence got completely used up in one attack hence the [Soul Extinguished] , and if he had to guess, that most likely wasn't a default. For the essence to manage to pierce the Knight's armor means it outputs extreme power, most likely all its power even, eventually causing it to be used up in one go.

However, that might not have to be the case. Instead of using up the essence in one short burst of power, perhaps there was a way for Aldric to use lesser power attacks. With the right control, not only could he adjust the power output of an essence but also the attack type. Currently, he made only blades because that is all that came out with his intent to attack, but it is more likely that they can be weaponized in any way based on his control over them.

The second confirmation Aldric made was his Xai reserve. He noticed a 20-point decrease since his last check, meaning not only did his new ability use Xai, but it also took twenty percent of his reserve per use.

He wasn't sure how Xai worked or how it could be replenished, so he thought it better not to waste it on a spar; the same applied for the essence.

"Killing you... You said that is how it's meant to be?" Al began, the black star blade materializing in his hand. "What does that mean?"

"My purpose is to carry out the personal trial. In doing so, I gain enlightenment that I seek, and accept death as a price for it... Or maybe a reward."

"Enlightenment?"

"Yes," the Knight nodded. "Like many, I am a man with a story."

'A man?'

"Before I was made into this, I was a strong devotee of certain gods, ones I believed absolute and unchallenged... Until I journeyed to the sacred temple in the broken mountain, and that's where I read the text of old only shown to the next priest, the epistle of Hariga the creature tamer, and I found out, the gods which I served all my life—were dead. Their blood has been spilled on the altar which we worshipped them. Who could kill Gods, and for what reason?"

The Knight paused a moment, as if reminiscent before continuing.

"My existence lost meaning, only dependent on my search for answers, the last of those answers you have given me, as the firsts had promised one would. Now I will only find peace in death... To not continue on like this."

The Knight sounded more human with each sentence, and the story he told did not seem like an experience of a creature—not like Aldric would know, but so far Creatures seemed like mindless monsters, wild animals—not beings with religion and back-stories.

"Well then, since it's your wish... I'll do my best."

Aldric raised his blade, the Knight mirrored him in kind as a silence before the clash settled. Then with a quick lunge, Aldric moved, the Knight's movement was currently impaired and it was weak as can be, finishing it off shouldn't be too difficult.

The Knight's blade came down on the running Awakened, who quickly dived out of the way to dodge the heavy blade, with no combat experience, this was Aldric's trusty evasion technique. By instinct, seeing the Knight's blade still in the floor from its prior attack, Aldric saw his opening.

With steps as quick as he could manage, he made his way to the Knight's other leg. If he could incapacitate the dungeon lord's mobility completely, then the rest would be significantly easier.

With as much force as he could possibly muster, Al swung his sword at the armored leg of the Knight, causing a deafening clang to echo through the temple as his blade simply bounced off the Knight's armor—unable to make even a dent.

Suddenly, Al shot back as the Knight's sword came down on him, evading the attack by a hair's breadth. Heaving and leaning on his sword, Aldric glanced at the leg he attacked and still could not find a single mark from his swing.

'I used all my strength and couldn't even scratch it... Yet the soul essence pierced it so easily?'

With this new development, Aldric's original plan sunk down the drain. If he is unable to penetrate the armor without the soul essence, he has no chance of doing new damage with his sword alone, leaving him with one option—further the damage he's already done.

Aldric tumbled as he dodged another of the Knight's attacks, which seemingly got slower with each swing. Al, however, didn't notice the slight decrease, focused intently on the damaged leg of the Knight as he dashed to it.

'There.'

Al saw an opening made in the armor by his soul essence, then with surprising precision, he thrust his sword through it, and as he did so, he could feel the blade impale the flesh within the armor. The Knight, although, showed no indication of pain; it simply pulled its leg away from the Awakened's blade. However, it was too late—Aldric had smelled its blood.

Darkness flashed in the eyes of the Awakened, and the runes upon his blade began to glow. And in that moment, if smelled prior, one could recognize the foul stench of the Reaper, and its breath ceasing bloodlust—currently emitted from the blade Aldric held.

The Knight, amused by the imposing aura, swung his barbed blade down on Aldric.

What followed happened in a flash; what most would be able to discern from the exchange is only the bouncing of steel against the temple floor—steel only half of what it once was.

The Knight's blade was cut cleanly in two.