Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 979: The King’s Praise

"To think you would lay a hand on this King’s perception rather than time." The King spat out as an annoyed smile hung on his face.

He had to admit, he didn’t think the future generations could think up of such a trick when it comes to time.

To lengthen the gap between recognition and action.

If she had a little bit more power, if she was a little stronger, she could’ve landed a substantial blow with that trick of hers.

Snapping his fingers, he removed the time lock and Selen flew past him.

"Let’s see..." He mumbled, staring at Selen.

"I believe the trick was like this?" He suddenly appeared behind her.

"!!!"

Widening her eyes, she wanted to raise her guard but his fist had already slammed into her ribs, sending her crashing towards the ground.

"Hmm... not bad." He chuckled.

This trick was very similar to his ability of erasing the present.

Only far trickier to deal with.

When it comes to the present, they can still sense the activation even if the action is carried out.

But this?

How can one properly react during that invisible gap of focus?

Not only that, but the more you focused on your opponent, the harder it was to break out of the cycle.

Had he not put his attention on the flow of time around him rather than Selen, he would’ve been stuck in that cycle until his defeat.

Selen coughed up a mouthful of blood after crashing into the ground.

She slowly rolled onto her back and stared at the sky.

She wanted to move, she had to move.

But her limbs lacked the strength to do so.

That last hit...

Even if she stands up right now, she’ll only fall back down.

". . ." She clenched her fist.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand back up as blood dripped from her lips.

"You’re still standing back up?" The King raised an eyebrow.

Her trick has been found, her ally dead and her knight unable to fight. When faced with these odds, how can one still stand?

Was it rage? Responsibility?

Or was it simply stubbornness.

Blood covered Selen’s vision but she didn’t back down.

She tried to use her skill once more but the King simply grabbed her wrist into jamming his fist into her stomach.

Lifting her up by the wrist so that they were eye to eye, the King had a bored expression before glancing into the future.

"Hm?" He frowned.

Blood?

Not hers.

His.

He had no time to think about it as he tried to erase the present.

But this time, Selen was a step ahead of him.

She reached out and grabbed his hair, forcing him to look towards her.

As they made eye contact, a grin appeared on her face.

"I win."

"!!!"

Time skipped forward.

Even though he knew the counter, that tiny pause, that blip in his perception was enough.

As long as he couldn’t erase the present, his defeat was guaranteed.

Looking down, he could see a lance piercing through his chest as black veins fused with his flesh. Blood started to drip from his orifice as he slowly glanced back.

"Didja miss me?" Caera cackled as she slowly stepped out of his shadow.

Her body was heavily wounded with her missing her left arm. But even with these wounds, she had been waiting patiently.

How?

He was sure he cut her in half and she even turned to ash-

"Perception huh?" He chuckled.

He recalled how Caera threw her weapon into the sky.

His attention was drawn towards Selen.

And before he realised, she was already holding that weapon.

There was a jump in time.

Caera stumbled back, letting go of the lance.

Surviving that strike was no easy task.

She had to trust that Selen could hold out long enough for her to reconstruct her body.

If Selen failed, Caera would’ve had to fight the King alone.

With him learning the trick behind her perception manipulation, that fight was as completely lost.

But she managed to hold out.

And with that, an opportunity presented itself.

Her reconstruction wasn’t perfect. It was flawed and her wounds were still there.

But it was enough for her to unleash one last hit.

The King tossed Selen toward Caera as she quickly caught the girl and slid backwards from the force.

He tapped the lance, infusing it with grey energy only to pause.

It had already mutated and adapted to his flesh. Erasing it would require him to erase parts of himself.

"I see..." He mumbled.

He had to admit, the future generation was more amusing than he initially expected.

"I told you they were going to entertain you right? Even an old man like you can learn some new tricks." Miralith smiled, taking over Selen’s body for now.

She placed her palm against the wound, slowing it down for the moment so that she can talk to her friend.

"Silence fool. What part of this looks entertaining to you?" He scowled.

"Pft, stop playing hard to win. The fact that you used her trick more than once proves it no? You like her skill." Miralith skipped over, winking at the King.

The worst part was that he couldn’t deny that fact either.

This was indeed a good skill.

"Like? She simply managed to avoid embarrassing herself."

"Come on, be more forward with your praise. How can you expect your subjects to know the King when you can’t even acknowledge their hard work?" Miralith nudged the King as veins bulged on his neck.

"Little girl, raise your head. I’ll acknowledge it. This technique has value. You have forged something that deserves to be carved into history, remembered by time..." He paused briefly. "And by me."

Miralith grinned.

That was the highest praise the King could give outside of simply using the technique.

"And what else?" Miralith teased.

If she wasn’t around, the King would be too stubborn to give Selen the proper reward.

Though it was also partially her fault, not that she would tell Selen.

Had she not been around, the King would’ve simply given her a trial and praised her technique. But because she praised Selen, the King had to see properly for himself.

"Then speak freely. I will grant one request so long as you don’t step over the line." He exhaled heavily through his nose.

Hearing this, Miralith grinned.

Selen froze. Her instincts told her to stop whatever Miralith was about to say.

"I want you to give her your power as a Sigil."

". . ."

". . ."

Caera lost strength in her knees and collapse on the ground.

Egil who recovered enough to move tripped.

The King glared at Miralith possessing Selen’s body with a side eye.

Miralith grinned back.

She was not joking around.

"So you realise the nature of what you’re asking and yet you still ask for it?"

"Of course. I wouldn’t joke around with something like this after all." Miralith nodded.

"And your request is to have your former master, give up his life for this girl you’ve raised?"

"I mean if you put it that way, it sounds bad." Miralith chuckled. Walking around him, she eventually leaned against his back.

"Is it not the perfect time for us to step down from the stage? We’re merely backdrops to the actors of this age. Do you remember what you told me long ago?" Miralith asked as she glanced up at the sky.

". . ."

"The boredom that comes with knowing the future through the immovable cogs. So instead, you chose to limit yourself with prediction in order to spark life in your chest. Why not give it up? You never found the perfect successor, not even me.

"Now that the opportunity has presented itself, is this not the perfect time to request such a reward for one who has entertained the King?" She smiled.

Her finger brushed against his wrist, at the black chains that held him in place.

The King was silent for a moment before closing his eyes.

The thoughts that went through his head when he chose to seal himself, only he knew.

Not even Miralith who saw the end knew the full truth.

A part of him was guilty in leaving her behind yet he still chose to do what he did.

But now...

The King opened his eyes.

"I have promised you a reward and I have no intention of taking that promise. And this is the second time you have informed me of your desire for my power. I’d rather not hear this foolishness thrice."

Miralith chuckled.

"But before that, I suppose I have to retrieve the audacious pet that has drive me towards my own end.

"Oi, girl. You can remove this lance right?" He glanced who Caera who furrowed her brows.

But seeing Miralith’s thumbs up, she let out a sign and retrieved the eldritch energy she was injecting into him.

With his wounds slowly closing, the King took a step forward and was about to rip a passage open when the chains snapped.

"You already know what I plan to do. So why are you being such a pain? Or can a King not even retrieve his belonging?" He shot a glare at the chains.

The destination was the same so why bother with the process? At this point, the chains were simply being petty.

Finally, after a moment, they loosened enough for him to rip a hole through the realms.

The connection he shares with Miralith, it served as an anchor. A bridge between them.

There were some... barriers in place. But what are barriers to one such as himself?

Whatever protective measures the Zenia family put into place, he’ll smash through them!

Miralith closed her eyes, returning Selen’s body back to her.

Then, from that portal, a woman wearing a simple white dress stepped through with draconic features. Scales across her arm and neck along with a tail. Long dark blue hair that swayed behind her.

"Why have you given up your appearance for the form of a... half human." The King raised his eyebrow.

He was expecting a majestic beast to present itself yet that was not the case.

"If I appear as my normal state, how can I possibly roam the world with you without drawing too much attention?" She laughed.

Now that she was in her own body, the King couldn’t hold back a smile and nodded.

With Miralith retrieved, he finally turned to Selen.

To bestow to her the reward she had earned so that she may attain Lordship.