Shadow Slave: The Holy Emperor

Keter ran forward sword in hand through the Ashen Barrow, Keter looked to his left Nephis who held Cassie on her back. 

"Go" Nephis nodded at him splitting off from him to go the long way around. Keter looked to the horrific abomination upon the hill, Miricle shined brightly around his ankles, wrists, and as the runes began to dig into his skin the final Miricle appeared on his sword. 

'We can't trust a Nothing, I won't leave my life in the hands of anyone other than my own.'

Keter broke out into a sudden burst of speed, Surprising the Carapcse Demon.

"Flare"

Blood exploded from Keter's back as his sword cleaved through one of the demon's legs. The Demon screamed as its pincer crashed down towards Keter. Keter barely dodged as he was forced to twist his body to stop one of the scythes from cutting him through.

"Burst"

"Flare"

Keter forward over the pincer and to the other side of its body cleaving through another leg and quickly summoning [Carapace Centurion] and [Carapace Scavenger] as the demon threw itself down. Causing an explosion to shatter his foot, to get it out from under the demon. Keter quickly healed the injury and then went to take off as many limbs as he could while it was busy.

"Flare"

"Burst"

"Flare"

[Your Echo has been destroyed: Carapace Scavenger]

With the Scavenger being dead some of its limbs were no longer occupied. A pincer crashed into Keter sending him flying into the tree.

"Grrha"

Keter choked as blood exploded out of his mouth. Keter pushed himself up as he dismissed [Carapace Centurion] so it wouldn't be destroyed. Keter ducked under the scythe, dismissing his sword to grab the scythe, and propelled himself over it to dodge the other one. Keter could see one of the pincers heading toward him, one he couldn't dodge.

'This is about to suck but as long as I get rid of one of the scythes it's worth it.'

"Flare"

Keter summoned his sword and cleaved through his elbow as the joint connected one of the scythes. With everything beyond the elbow gone, he had slightly enough time to stop it from grabbing him. Keter caught sight of Nephis descending the tree in his peripheral vision. Keter then jumped back and directed the Demon to where its back faced Nephis. 

Nephis and Keter locked eyes briefly before they slid under the Demon. Nephis took his place as Vangarurd, giving him just enough time to take off another leg.

"Flare"

With its right side no longer having legs the Demon collapsed on top of Keter's leg. Nephis took the opportunity to stab through the fracture on its chest, killing it. Keter didn't even try to get up, he just laid there till Nephis got his leg out from under the beast. Nephis looked toward some of the bloody sand and then began walking toward it.

"That fucking sucked also don't my arm was crushed beyond belief, I will have to regrow it."

"Alright let's go tell Cassie we succeeded."

Nephis picks up Keter after harvesting and absorbing the soul shards. Before they were completely up the tree the exhausted Keter had long passed out.

--24 Days Later--

Keter woke up tiredly gripping his head as he felt memories invade his brain.

"Six Keter it's always been six, though I don't think I need to tell you that."

Keter flinched as the stub on his elbow made contact with the ashen sand. 'Cassie? Wait six?' Keter pushes himself up against the tree. Keter's head then snaps towards the stump on his arm. 'Why haven't I healed it yet?' Keter eyes dull, if for a moment. 'There's no use in using Miricle, Miricle can't fix this kind of injury.' Keter began to toss his suspicions aside as he noticed a Miracle wrapped around his brain that he didn't remember placing there. 'Where did that come from? A message?' Keter inspected the Miricle and as he did he noticed its sole purpose was to give a message.

"Reach the top of the Soul-Devouring Tree and resist its influence, we did not come this far to die here."

'My voice?' Keter stands up and begins to slowly climb the tree. 'If I can't even trust myself then how will I trust anything in this hateful world.' Keter took periodic breaks on his way up eating a few fruits on the way as well, and as he reached the top he saw it, and as he did he remembered.... that Vile Terror.

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Shorter chapter but the next one will go till they leave the island and a little more maybe. It really depends on how I feel.