Shadow of the Abyss

"The last thing," Altair began, focusing now on Poseidon. "I need an army blessed with a combative Boon."

The look the God of the Seas gave him was standoffish at best, boarding criminal. Tremors ran from off his body, and it suddenly seemed as if the world was about to capsize. The Manor shook. No. All of Vastraoph trembled, nearly collapsing, thrashing back and forth like a living thing. If not for the Shadow Proclamation, Altair did not doubt that everyone would be dead, himself included. There had been a point where looks could kill, and Altair knew he had crossed that barrier.

Were he anyone else, perhaps death might have taken him. Shadow Proclamation be damned. Yet he casually held Poseidon in his sight as if his baleful aura was air. He had touched upon not one Mortal Sin, but Four, if he included what the Vale King inherently offered. There had been so many 'emotions' guiding him these past six months that his attributes were all but unrecognizable to him. So was the power of the Ninth Form, Aeron.

Each night, the Vale King toyed with Elena, or the time he fought and lost, be it to his Master or the Vale King, the frustration, shame, and hate all became his fuel to grow. All he needed was time—time he was finally allotted.

[Ninth Form Aeron has increased all base attributes by 1911 points]

A/N: Nine Months passed(273 Days) in total, and about seven points a day.

Name: Altair Blackwood Snow

Class: [ King of the Vale III: Lv 100 → Lv 199]

Mana Circle: [Sixth Circle: 41% → 97%]

Strength: 3300 → 5211 → 5508

Dexterity: 4200 → 6111 → 6507

Constitution: 4600 → 6511 → 7006

Wisdom: 5600 → 7511 → 8105

Charisma: 5600 → 7511 → 8105

Mana: 450 → 650

[DING]

[Sword of the Abyss (SSS)]

Type: Abyssal Aura

Effect 1: All proficiency increases by 2x.

Effect 2: Will of the Abyss

Effect 3: Ashen Blood

Effect 4: Psionic Mind

Effect 5: Heart of Darkness

Effect 6: Sealed

Effect 7: Sealed

Effect 8: Sealed

Effect 9: Sealed

Description: Broken is the King, who stands before the Abyssal Night. Through Despair, the Sword of the Abyss shall appear.

Fallen Moon Imperfection

Type: Vale Physique

Effect 1: Almighty Resistance

Effect 2: Vale Qi

Effect 3: Valemorph

Effect 4: Rebirth

Effect 5: Heart of Darkness

Effect 6: Sealed

Effect 7: Sealed

Effect 8: Sealed

Effect 9: Sealed

[Heart of Darkness has synthesized several skills]

Compulsion [D] + Eye of Sacrilege [B] + Foresight [E]

[Eye of Sacrilege has eaten Compulsion [D] and Foresight [E]. All Abilities Gained]

<Skills>

Omniscience Lv 1

Sin of Pride [F] Lv 1

Sin of Sloth [F] Lv 1

Sin of Lust [F] Lv 1

Sin of Greed [F] Lv 1

Transcendent Intent [F] Lv 2

Spirit Domain [C]

Range: 150m

Proficiency: 15%

Sword of the Vale [F] → [D]

Proficiency: 3%

Sword Limit: 2 → 4

Dual Cultivation [C]

Proficiency: 0% → 87

Desolate Abyss [F] → [D]

Multiplier: 2.5x → 4.5x

Proficiency: 45%

Desolate Descent [F] → [D]

Proficiency: 99%

Eye of Sacrilege [B]

Proficiency: 11% → 12%

Fallen Necromancy [C]

[Proficiency: 0% → 56%

Soul Storage: 100/200

Grave of Night [C]

Proficiency: 69% → 98%]

Hands of the Incubus [F] → [D]

Proficiency: 78%

Infernal Lightning [D]

Proficiency: 78% → 98%

Rune Work [D]

Proficiency: 0% → 68%

Sovereigns Gale [E → D]

[20m]

Proficiency: 0%

Vale Manipulation [D]

Proficiency: 80% → 99%

Mana Manipulation [C]

Proficiency: 70% →81%

Ninth Form, Aeron [C]

Proficiency: 70% → 99%

Soul of the Indomitable [C]

Proficiency: 70% → 99%

Primal Instincts [E] → [D]

Proficiency: 90%

There wasn't much of an effort required to defend against Poseidon's Baleful Aura, especially since he had to limit it if he didn't want to accidentally kill someone. Altair, while he was a Fifth Circle, held the base attributes of someone in the Ninth Circle. That was to say, nothing of the various boosts he gained from various passive skills or his Transcendent Intent.

"Enough." Altair declared in a haughty voice. "You'll only embarrass yourself. You will gather your forces, Poseidon. A God I cannot use is not a very useful God."

The godly aura kindling from Poseidon abruptly sizzled away like a slow burn. Vastroph stopped shaking, but even a fool sense the turmoil in the city. Within the Manor alone, Altair could sense the men and women who had fainted out of fear. It was a rather sour feeling—a shame that he had failed to protect what was his, yet tainted by disdain for all who couldn't withstand such a weak Baleful Aura.

"By the time your armies are gathered. You will send them to assist Zagreus. Failure to do so will result in the termination of your rights on Tera."

Poseidon's handsome exterior couldn't have gotten more ugly, contorting into an amalgamated beast. "You would force me to leave Olympus?" The outrage held by the laws that bound him.

"I am a part of the republic, protected by the Shadow Proclamation, or have you forgotten? If I can't remove you. Then, I'll have their government do so. It is within my right. Or I could ask my Master. Which do you think will result in your death quicker?"

There was a slight casualness to Altair's words, which audibly sent a chill racing down Poisden, visible to all present. The two were not friends. The mere fact Poseidon could be so arrogant was merely a testament to how unloyal he was. The threat of removing him from his home, the very place he could deem acceptable in all the Myriad Heavens, was something few Gods could tolerate, though in his case, he had to.

Poseidon snorted. "Fine." And vanished out of thin air.

"That was dangerous," Athena said darkly when she was certain he had vanished. "Our uncle is not a very kind man. That wasn't the way to handle the likes of him."

"Wasn't it?" Altair grinned. There was much he could say on the matter of Poseidon, but he held his tongue. It was best to keep various ideas to oneself. Athena was a temporary ally. The moment Arsene or Zariel was to vanish, Altair had no doubt she would do everything in her power to distance herself or at the least take advantage of him.

'Let her jump to conclusions about me,' he thought. The deeper the stigma against him, the better he'd be able to manipulate her. So was how one played the game. If she were wise, she'd truly submit. Unfortunately, even a God of Wisdom can be blind to themselves at times.

"You are not invincible, your Grace. Your people are not invincible. You are getting to that level where one is able to destroy a soul."

Altair shrugged. "The Vale, my dear Athena, is the final resting place of all. So unless they have the ability to Truly Destroy a Soul and not send it to the Vale, then I don't have to worry about such things."

"Most do not," Artemis said, her words striking true. "In fact, as far as I know, the only ones with that ability are Abyssals and a selective few on the Omnis Ranking. And from what I've heard, they don't even dare use that ability too often. No one wants to deal with the Silver Devil over such a thing."

"More reason for me to abuse my power before the Council decides to do something." He shook his head and stared at Artemis. "Although I'm glad that you're here. I have a favor to ask."

"Another?" Artemis's brows jumped, partly amused, partly interested.

Altair nodded. He truly needed a way to help this woman out. "How much do you know about Sif? The God Arsene Snow tormented until she broke, tarnishing the escape of Reincarnation?"

"Sif…" Artemis looked at Athena. "Isn't she Thors wife? I believe Altair forced her to believe everyone who touched her was Thor before his entire army took their time and…" When Athena nodded, she covered her mouth, appalled. Altair could understand. His Father truly was a cruel man. To break a woman so badly, even the cleansing of her soul could not stop the taint of the Hells.

He snapped, and from his shadow, a beautiful woman dressed in furs appeared, a glaive strapped to her back, as she blinked, surveying the room in a way that left every inch of it beneath her control, before falling to a knee before her Master.

Her cool aqua-blue eyes glistered like a nexus of stars, strong with a sense of purpose. She truly was beautiful.

"To the Glory of the Black Moon," she said in the same respectful tone as the other forsaken.

"This is Sif. I managed to cleanse the Taint of the Hells through Rebirth, but I don't think I've got the skill to properly raise her," Altair admitted, studying the beautiful woman. He lifted his gaze to the two Goddess. "I want you to train her. I want you to take her under your belt. I know you're a goddess of purity, whatever that means, and Sif is both pure of heart and body to the degree of a newborn. She is only six months old. I want you to raise her so that she too might strike true just as you do."