Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 652: Eldritch Body

In the end, Alice sighed and shook her head.

If she was to kill him simply because he's different, then by that logic, Feris would've killed her as well.

But by having a… 'safe' Eldritch being near her, she can potentially see how to counteract this energy. To make it safe and find methods of purification.

Granted, this could just be her making excuses to Jin. But this was her choice.

"Is there something on my face?" Jin asked curiously, wondering why Alice was staring at him before shaking her head.

Could it be that he made a mistake?

"Nothing. How are you feeling? Anything wrong with your body? Hearing any voices?" Alice asked with a small smile.

Lifting his arms and checking out his own body, Jin shook his head.

"Nothing feels wrong. Aside from being a little hungry, that's about it?"

"Nothing else? In that case then why don't we get you some food." Alice offered.

She wanted to see if this hunger of his can be filled with something else. If it can be contained, they'll have more time to figure other things out.

Leaving the tent, they made their way to the canteen where Jin got himself a hearty serving of food yet as he continued to eat, his expression slowly faded into that of disappointment.

Eventually, he put down his cutlery with a bitter smile.

"Seems like your hunger is not a normal one." Alice sighed.

She was holding on a small hope that it could be resolved through other means but that didn't seem to be the case for him.

In the end, they left the canteen as well and relaxed by some cliffs overlooking the sea.

Jin couldn't help but lean back and look up at the sky.

"Do you know what's going on with my body?" Jin asked.

He knew the answer with the way Alice was 'testing' him in various methods without making it clear, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Somewhat. But at the same time, I'm clueless." Alice shook her head.

"Can you tell me about it?" Jin asked.

He wanted a clue to what he was going through. Small as it is, it at least gave him a 'floor' to stand on.

Folding her arms, Alice gathered her thoughts.

"How do I even put it. . . I don't know what Kazira was planning to do to your body but she essentially made you into an Eldritch being. At least in the body. It means that there's not a speck of Abyssal Energy in there." Alice pointed at him.

"And in its place, Eldritch energy fills your core. This energy is… Hmm… To put it bluntly, I don't know much about it. I just know that it merges with other energy, Abyssal, Holy and Void, corrupting them in the process."

"So like a cancer or parasite that latches itself to something?" Jin questioned.

Alice wanted to word it differently but perhaps that was the best description for it. At least from what she knew.

"To an extent. There's more to it but I'm not entirely familiar." Alice admitted.

"Since it's corruptive in nature, I'm assuming things are fine right now. What happens when it's not?"

"Let's just hope it doesn't become that way." Alice shook her head.

Hearing this, Jin paused. He contemplated for a moment before opening his mouth.

"Then. . . If the energy goes out of control, are you going to kill me?"

"Yes. Yes I will."

Surprised by Alice's lack of hesitation, Jin glanced up and made eye contact. HE could see the seriousness in her eye. She wasn't smiling nor was she laughing. It was no joke.

If this energy inside his body went out of control, she'd kill him without hesitation.

It wasn't the same kind of 'killing' that she'd do against people that harmed her. But rather, perhaps in her view, it was more of a mercy.

She wasn't trying to hide things nor was she trying to comfort him. Simply the cold hard truth.

Surpassingly, this truth comforted Jin. Knowing that despite being willing to kill him, since the energy was dangerous, she wasn't doing anything right now. Instead, she was trying to figure out the inner workings, giving him a chance to live.

What else could he ask for?

"Thank you." Jin smiled, causing Alice to raise an eyebrow.

"I think you took more damage to your head than we thought. Who thanks the person that says they're going to kill them? Weirdo." Alice rolled her eye, causing Jin to laugh.

"So since my body is entirely made up of this Eldritch energy, does it mean all the Sigils I had before are gone?"

"More or less, I can't really see anything inside your body right now. All I can see are the strands that are corrupting your pre-existing body. I mean, there's only one way to verify it, right?"

Nodding his head, Jin tried to activate his Sigils but nothing happened.

A long period of silence followed. Eventually, he let out a sigh and shook his head.

"Yep, I got nothing. Seems like I've returned to zero."

"Well it's not all bad. Silver lining is that you no longer have the Sigils that Kazira wants." Alice tried to comfort.

"Let's have a spar. Physical powers only and martial arts, how's that?" She suggested.

It'll also give her a chance to see what her current body could do considering her strange increase in physical power despite not being able to use her energy.

Nodding his head, Jin followed Alice to an empty spot and pulled out his chained blades.

Strangely, despite not being able to use his Sigils, these blades felt light.

Alice on the other hand, decided to use some spare swords that she had picked up in the past. The quality wasn't great but it'll suffice for a spar.

"Same rules as usual okay?" Alice smiled.

"Okay." Nodding his head, Jin immediately activated his Boundary, rushing towards Alice at surprising speeds.

'As expected. He might've lost his Sigils but his body got stronger. Eldritch energy? There's something in his shadow too.' Alice thought to herself, taking a step back and activating her own Zone.

Immediately, Alice felt as though a jolt of electricity shot through her body. The next thing she knew, she was already clashing blades with Jin. Neither of them were prepared for the sudden burst of speed as Alice widened her eye.

*CLANG!!!

Separating herself from him, she rushed forward once more.

Like a demon, she flickered behind Jin and slashed down with her blade.

Phantom Shift!

It wasn't a perfect copy of Alyss's footwork but with her strange physical condition, the effects were the same!

*BANG!!!

Twisting his body, Jin countered with a horizontal cleave upwards to block the blade.

As sparks flew, he could see the focus in Alice's eye.

The next attack was already on its way!

Gritting his teeth, Jin immediately relaxed his entire body, dropping down to the floor and narrowly dodged the slash.

Snapping like a bow on release, he whipped up with a kick of his own, forcing Alice to guard and jump back.

"I thought this was a spar master? Aren't you going a little hard on someone who's injured?" Jin's smile twitched.

"Oh don't be like that. You're holding on rather well are you not? This is a chance of discovery for the both of us." Alice chuckled softly.

Now that she was actively sparring, she could feel the changes in her body. It felt as though she was connected to the world around her on a deeper level.

This synchronisation, the 'breath' of energy through her body.

Tossing her blade up into the air, Alice twisted her body and kicked the pommel, sending the sword flying towards Jin who parried it off to the side.

However, Alice caught the blade immediately and slashed down.

*CLANG!!!

Blocking it once more, cold sweat dripped down Jin's back.

The only thing on his mind was the next strike. Where was it coming from? Left? Right?

'Behind!' Quickly turning around, Jin widened his eyes seeing nothing behind him.

"You keep forgetting about feints." Alice smirked, smacking him on the back of his head with her hand.

Pushing him on the back, she created some distance between them before re-engaging the fight.

###

"Where are we even going right now?" Ria asked curiously while Rosalyn showed her where to go.

Currently, she was sitting on Ria's shoulder, using her as a mount due to her shrunken form.

"Just someone I know. Don't worry about it. However, when we arrive, don't say a single word. Pretend you're objects." Rosalyn shook her head, causing Ria and Luke to stare at each other before shrugging.

They were currently walking through a large city with buildings flanking either side of them.

There were quite a few people staring at them but Ria did her best to ignore their gazes.

At this point, she didn't mind any location so long as it's not the desert anymore.

Soon, they stood before a restaurant with loud music playing and the laughter of people. Woman in skimpy outfits standing by the balconies while waving to the people that walked past the establishment.

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Ria's smile twitched.

"Did you take me to a brothel???"

*SMACK!!!

Slapping Ria's head, Rosalyn had a vein bulge on her neck.

"Who the hell do you think I am??? Do you think I want to be here? And no, this is not a brothel, the workers here just like to dress this way. Go in." Rosalyn huffed as Ria stepped through.

Immediately, a waiter greeted them but before he could show them to a table, Rosalyn handed him a small coin.

Seeing the coin, the man paused before nodding his head and putting the coin in his coat.

"The master awaits above." He smiled as Rosalyn nodded.

Showing Ria where to go, Rosalyn eventually jumped off her shoulders.

Before she could even knock on the door, it creaked open, showing a man sitting behind a table, resting his chin on his hands.

There was a crafty smile on his face as he scanned Rosalyn's appearance.

"F*ck you." Rosalyn flipped him off, causing him to smile.

"After all these years, dear sister finally comes to visit and you've chosen such a cute form at that."

Both Ria and Luke froze.

'Sister???'