Extra's Descent

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"Please… give me…. wa–tah… I'll repay… yo–u."

"Sure."

He knew just how powerful Lumian was.

Things would've been much easier if he sacrificed Skill Weaver, in exchange for power.

But would the power actually be permanent?

"...."

It was too much of a gamble at the moment.

He needed Skill Weaver.

He needed the cancer inside of him.

But of course, he had no such plans to use the skills it gave him.

It was too risky.

Borrowed power would halt his progression.

And in the first place, he didn't want Jin—to be alerted about his actions.

"Ah."

It was then when he realized.

Accelerated Cognition.

If it gave Jin access to his lenses, then shouldn't Jin have seen him use the curse by now—

—You're probably gonna create a cognitive skill. Jin has one called Accelerated Cognition.

A certain memory he had recalled.

—I'll alter most of what he sees. In fact, it should've been altered from your point of view as well.

"...."

—To him, it'll look like you're using regular flames. For the chains, it'll look like ice. And the threads, it'll look like pure mana.

—If you're lucky, and he didn't have access to your mana core yet, then you don't have to worry.

Sovereign's core was different, it was his system.

"Too prepared."

However, since the other Brandon had now ceased to exist, then it wasn't possible to manipulate it anymore.

But it didn't matter.

He didn't want to rely on borrowed power anymore.

"Water, right?"

"...Yes."

Snap!

"What… was… that?"

"Don't worry, I'm a water mage."

"Ah. Thank god."

"Agreed."

When he snapped his fingers, a binding vow occurred.

"Wait… what happened… to your nails….?"

"Hm…?"

Brandon tilted his head.

"Ah, this?"

He turned his hand around and scanned his nails. Back and forth for Lumian to see.

Blood trickled down where his nails once were.

"They're… gone."

Lumian hoarsely spoke.

"Really? Seems alright to me…"

"...."

The vow he had made.

To rip off all of his nails, for a boost of power.

Yes, all of his nails. From the nails in his fingers, down to the nails in his feet.

But he knew such exchange was only temporary.

Nails grew overtime, and so, the power boost was most likely temporary.

But at the moment….

——[Status]——

∟ STR: S-

∟ MP: A+

∟ DEF: B-

∟ AGI: B+

∟ INT: S

∟ CHA: SS

[AVG: S-]

————————

He had segregated the boost into his strength and intelligence.

Yet it only amounted enough to barely step into the S rank.

It wasn't enough.

One more sacrifice.

Hopefully, it was enough.

Snap!

The emotion of fear, and Accelerated Cognition.

They were sacrificed.

He needed a revamp anyway.

And in return…

——[Status]——

∟ STR: S

∟ MP: A+

∟ DEF: B-

∟ AGI: B+

∟ INT: S+

∟ CHA: SS

[AVG: S-]

————————

[Dominion]

∟ Instills profound fear towards the opposers..

∟May be effective upon individuals up to one rank higher than the user, but its effect diminishes significantly if the rank difference exceeds two.

"This will do."

"Wha—Kh…!"

Instantly, Brandon thrusted his foot forward, forcefully sinking his feet down on Lumian's face.

Lumian clenched Brandon's feet, and at that moment, soul flames began crackling over his figure.

But Brandon was indifferent to it.

"Dominion."

He whispered coldly.

All of a sudden, the soul flames died out and he felt Lumian begin to tremble under his feet.

Brandon pressed his fingers together.

"Zone."

And he whispered once again.

At that moment, amethyst flames shaped like hyacinth flowers began to sprawl all over the ground.

Swoosh—!

Lumian recovered and kicked the ground, distancing himself from Brandon.

But scanning his face, Brandon could see panic spread across his features.

He was—without a doubt—afraid.

"...What are you… Who are you…?!"

Lumian asked as he held the hilt of his blade tightly.

"Me?"

Brandon tilted his head.

"Moriarty."

Brandon stepped forward, blue streaks of lightning started coursing with him, coalescing in the air.

"Ah."

But the streaks died out—as fast it appeared.

"Old habits. My bad."

SHIIING—

Despite Lumian's feet trembling, he unsheathed his blade and fixed a battle stance.

Swoosh—!

Suddenly, he disappeared from Brandon's peripheral view.

But Brandon had already prepared countermeasures for this.

Seeing the thread in his finger begin to twitch, he could trace the direction of Lumian's movements.

Slash—!

Lumian swung his blade down. But it was at that moment when chains shot up from the ground, rupturing it as cracks spread.

Clang—!

Rock dust permeated the air, and the chains repelled Lumian's blade.

He was still fast as always. But Brandon could tell there was a decrease in speed.

***

"Hoo…"

Lumian took a deep breath as he leapt back.

His attack didn't work, and….

"Haa…."

He couldn't find any openings.

No matter what kind of pattern he came up with, he couldn't see his attack breaking through.

He felt pressure, standing before the man as cold sweat trickled down his cheek.

It felt as if he was standing before a Sovereign.

A feeling he was all too familiar with.

As if he was fighting Lord Ezekiel himself.

The two gave off similar auras, and he felt like the air suddenly grew heavy.

He looked at his sword.

His hands were trembling and the sword shook continuously.

"Huu…."

In front of this man…

"...."

He felt helpless.

But he gritted his teeth and kicked the ground.

He had insurance, in case things went awry.

But in doing so, would take his life.

He at least had to try before he attempted it.

Moriarty's figure came close and Lumian swung his sword down.

Clang—!

But again, chains shot up from the ground, completely parrying his blade.

Clang—! Clang—!

Lumian appeared from all sides, brandishing a flurry of attacks. But each attempt was futile as chains continued repelling his attacks.

All of a sudden, Lumian felt his body forcefully pulled towards Moriarty and his eyes widened.

Meeting Moriarty's gaze, Lumian's body shuddered and his chest tightened.

Thwack!

"Ukeh—!"

Moriarty's fist—wrapped in chains struck his abdomen, and Lumian was hurled backwards.

Lumian rolled on the ground and recovered, supporting his body with his knee.

"Hoo…"

Taking a deep and heavy breath, he gently swung his blade forward.

'Calm down, calm down….'

He told himself.

Voosh—!

Soul flames ignited and spread across his blade.

Seeing the flames, a sense of confidence started to seep within him.

But as he looked at Moriarty….

"...."

His blade trembled.

The pressure was ominous, and he felt like he was being choked.

Scanning, Moriarty had an indifferent look in his expression.

His blue eyes seemed dead, and the way he looked at Lumian as if he was nothing but human garbage—made him shudder in fear.

All of a sudden…

"....!'

Moriarty appeared before him.