Leveling up the World

Chapter 841: Embodiment of Void

One look from Hannah was all it took for March to remain silent. Despite being banished and un-awakened, she remained a captain with traits close to a hundred.

You could have told me who she was, Adzorg, Dallion grumbled in his realm. I could have unsealed her.

Youve done a lot of remarkable things, dear boy, but unsealing a noble wasnt within your reach

There was no arguing the facts. The greater the level of the sealed, the more difficult it would be to unseal. It was only recently that Dallion had matched her level. Maybe once he had repaid his debt, he might do that before continuing south.

The walk to the combat arena was full of tenseness. Initially, half the Icepickers wanted to come along for support, but in the end only three did: March, Spike, and Hannah. Spike was the last person Dallion would have thought not to have debts. Then again, he led a simple lifestyle: working, drinking, brawling.

What does he have on you? Dallion asked, the fury leading him.

The lack of answer suggested that he was one of the many bought and paid for servants the general had. Before the war had broken out, it looked more like a hobby than anything else. Now that the vast majority of fury mercenaries were engaged in patrolling the skies, their value had skyrocketed. It wouldnt be past the general to exchange some of his servants for something of greater value.

Upon entering the arena, Dallion found that he had been correct. Gone were the host of fury servants there before. In their place, there were a few simple metalins standing by most of the entrances, like ominous statues.

I know the way from here, Dallion attempted to go directly along the corridor leading to the generals office, but was abruptly stopped.

The general is at the arena, the fury said, firmly. This way.

Im not one prone to panic, but I think you should be prepared for the worst, Vihrogon said. Delaying your debt payment tends to get him agitated.

He wont do anything. Even as he said that, Dallion mentally prepared to cast a few spells. Hes far too smart for that.

The stands were completely empty. According to the many seat item guardians, it had been a while since anyone had come here. That didnt stop the general from giving into his megalomania. Two sets of sculptors were working tirelessly on shaping giant blocks of glass into the shape of the general. While they were doing so, the general himself stood in a dignified pose in the middle of the arena, guarded by a dozen fury mercenaries.

What a nice surprise to have you drop by, he said, maintaining his stance. It has been a while, baron.

Of course, hed know as well.

And I hear youve brought some friends.

I wasnt sure how long Id be staying, so we decided to make the best of it, Dallion replied calmly. Never waste a moment and all that.

The general raised his hand. Immediately, the sculptors stopped working and obediently made their way to the far exits of the field. A few moments later, the general turned around to face Dallion.

Noble artisans, he said. Some of them used to work for Dreud a few years back. Now, they were lucky to get an item repair request.

But you agreed to help them, Dallion said, each word drenched with sarcasm.

Im known to help many people. The general remained unfazed. I helped this city, if you remember. I also helped you.

Help is a generous term. We came to an arrangement.

Quite. The confident smile on the generals face suddenly vanished. And youre yet to abide by that.

Here it comes, Dallion thought.

Ive been more than reasonable. When Countess Priscord asked me to give you some space to find the phoenix, I did. When you entered the Academy, I allowed you to adjust. Even when you joined the imperial capital, I let you be.

That was an interesting way of putting it. The general very specifically avoided clarifying that Dallion had become a member of the imperial family. In the past, Dallion coming to visit at all would have been a week of celebration. The Nerosal Festival would have been restored, possibly a new palace would have been constructed specifically for his stay. Things had definitely changed.

I know, I know.

Dallion cast a summoning spell. Half of the furies reached for their swords, ready should it come for a fight.

Your new guards are quite jumpy, Dallion summoned the gearwheel. This is what you wanted, right?

The generals eyes lit up. Ever since Dallion had known him, the snob had rarely shown such a strong desire regarding anything. Artifacts, materials, even magical creatures, were only viewed as a trading currency. This was clearly different.

An air thread took hold of the item and gently floated it to the General.

You brought it, the general said. After everything, you managed to do it.

I had to, Dallion frowned. Moon vow. Are we square now?

Yes, yes. All debts are paid.

Finally! Dallion thought. He had been trying to escape from the generals clutches ever since he had rented the armadil shield. Now, what seemed like an eternity later, he was free. And still, there was something that made him uneasy.

Now thats settled, are you open for transactions? Dallion asked.

The question made the general look up from the item he had acquired.

No vows, no debt, Dallion clarified. A direct exchange of items.

And what items would those be, Baron? The smile on the generals face widened. There isnt much I can offer that the imperial capital cant.

You can find some of the things faster, Dallion continued. Nymph weapons.

Nymph weapons? The general whispered. You definitely have extravagant tastes. After the glut of artifacts, nymph objects remain at a premium.

Do you think theres anything I cant afford?

Its not as simple. Some things cannot be simply sold for money. The General let go of the gearwheel. It was gently taken by a pair of air currents, slowly floating away. The item you brought, for example. How much money do you think it costs? Nothing? A simple copper coin? Or all the glass in the glass mounts?

Fears formed in Dallions mind. They were impossible, absurd even, but the more he tried to disprove them, the more likely they became.

What if I have something similar to offer? Dallion asked. Something unique and invaluable?

One mans treasure can be another mans trash, the general replied in a mocking tone.

Then you be the judge.

Dallion split into two hundred instances. Each of them did precisely the same action: taking the Elazni emblem ring and showing it to the general. In a hundred and ninety-nine instances, the snob showed no interest. In one, though, Dallions suspicions were confirmed. A single black thread shot out of the ring, going right into the general. However, it didnt end there. For the fraction of a second it made contact with his body, the entire man transformed into a homunculus of void. This wasnt a mere chainling, nor was it even a cultist. During that brief flash, Dallion recognized the characteristics of something he had seen at the top of the vortex towersa voidling.

Spark! Dallion summoned his harpsisword and did an instant line slash. A thin line of devastation flew forward, passing through the general, the upper parts of the statues of him, and the top stands, slicing off a massive chunk of the arena before continuing into the sky.

Then all hell broke loose. Air currents filled the area, as the fury guards engaged in battle. March and Hannah drew their weapons as well. It was only a matter before the whole arena exploded, sliced and diced by line attacks, taking part of the city with it. Of course, Dallion had no intention of letting that happen.

AREA AWAKENING

REALM INVASION

The city of Nerosal vanished as Dallion pulled everyone within the arena into its realm. Now he wouldnt have to limit himself.

Dozens of line and point attacks followed, slicing through everything in sight. The vast circle of mountains that represented the arenas stands broke up into giant chunks, filling the air like confetti. March had already dashed to engage two of the furies, pushing them back with such ease that one would think they were children. Yet, her actions paled to Hannahs. Just like in the memory fragment Dallion had seen, the innkeeper dashed from group to group, leaving red rectangles in her wake. Four had already been killed before they could react.

Gleam, deal with the guardian! Dallion rushed right at the general. Despite already receiving a spark infused line attack, the voidling didnt seem hurt in the least.

Not willing to take any chances, Dallion summoned his aura blade and performed a series of spart and aether line strikes in his direction.

ATTACK NEGATED

Your attack has been sliced in two by SPIKE.

Attack has no effect.

ATTACK NEGATED

Your attack has been sliced in two by SPIKE.

Attack has no effect.

ATTACK NEGATED

Your attack has been sliced in two by SPIKE.

Attack has no effect.

What? Dallion cast a series of protective spells, surrounding himself with several layers of aether.

Standing between him and the general, Spike did the same, although covering himself with void matter.

That changes things, doesnt it? The general smirked. How did you guess?

Instead of an answer, Dallion charged forward. The Spike he knew had been a close friend whod helped him in several tough spots. Yet, that wasnt Spike standing in front of him now, but a blob of void matter given form.

CRITICAL STRIKE

Dealt damage increased by 200%

CRITICAL STRIKE

Dealt damage increased by 200%

CRITICAL STRIKE

Dealt damage increased by 200%

Each attack struck a vital area, yet there was no apparent effect. It was almost as if there wasnt anything there to wound.

Shifting gear, Dallion combat split again and summoned the armadil shield.

Spark! Releasing the aura sword, Dallion grabbed hold of the shield. Expand! he ordered, combining athletics with combat, performing a point attack.

TERMINAL STRIKE

Dealt damage increased by 1000%

Spike splattered into droplets of black goo. Before they reached the ground, though, they were pulled right into the general.

Music spark attack! Dallion unsummoned the shield, playing a chord on his harpsisword.

Dozens of music threads attached to the void of the general. The attack was strong enough to wound voidlings, and yet its effects in this case were negligible.

MINOR STRIKE

Dealt damage increased by 10%

A small black stain appeared on the generals gold shirt. As it did, one of the fury guards fell to the ground, splashing like a water balloon upon coming into contact with the hard surface.

You. Dallion felt a cold chill run down his spine. Youre the void!

A layer of blackness shot up from the ground, splitting the entire realm into two. It was more than a wall, slicing the sky itself. Even in his startled state, Dallion had the strength of will to do a spark infused point attack.

The attack struck the blackness, then stopped.

Damn it!

The void had successfully isolated them from the others in the realm. March and Hannah would no longer be able to help.

Its such a bittersweet experience. The general continued in his usual fashion, not even bothering to change his appearance. Its a bit of a pity. I liked being this puppet.

I should have seen it! Dallion cursed himself mentally. It was the generals pettiness that had tricked him. Seemingly there was no way that someone so greedy, petty, and arrogant would be focused on destroying the world and the Moons. Looking beyond that, the clues had been there all along. The general was able to find artifacts that the Academy couldnt. He had made it possible for Dallion to find and enter the Stars hidden stronghold. He had provided the means with which to affect the level of Moons minion. He had been the one Arthurows was indebted to all along.