Chapter 11

“We go back now!” said Greetman

And I honestly was thinking the same thing.

The second we reached the borders of Alsa we heard an enormous explosion that managed to dim out the sun from afar.

We just received reports saying that the flying fortress managed to reach the demonic army and they already engaged in battle.

“…look at the men…most of them are not strong enough nor are they feeling courageous enough to fight against the devil lord...if it was not for the help of the dragon we would have certainly lost the war back then…do you think that these men will follow you once they knew that the Overlord’s main army is more than two times the number of the one we miraculously survived, and while also knowing that the dragon will not help?” said Takeda

“I don’t care. If they don’t want to come then I will go alone. That is my Disciple who is fighting and I won’t stand here doing nothing while I know I could offer some sort of help…no matter how small!” replied Greetman with eagerness

It seems that he finally surrendered to the idea that Asura is still alive…

“I agree” I said

The other heavenly demons looked back at me…and I knew from their look what they were thinking.

Most of them know me to be a cautious man and would only go to fight if I have the chance to win. Although getting into this mess was already out of character for me…I still considered it as a sort of self-redemption.

“I will go with Greetman. you guys if you want to come then do so if not I want you to escort all those that want to go back to Alsa…escort the injured and the ones that wishes not to continue fighting. And if any still want to help then let them follow us.”

The other heavenly demons did not reply as they all must have agreed with Greetman…we will all go back but it should be just a matter of conviction for the others if they wishes to follow us.

Once the decision was rallied to the tiered army we were surprised by the will they had shown…

Most of them wanted to fight, even some of those that were injured wanted to go back into the fray.

Why? Simple.

The Alikhian would rather die in battle in their own country than to hide themselves back at Alsa.

As for our Alsian mages…it was even simpler. If they did not fight here. The fight will probably come to them.

“So what now?” I said

“Nothing. We rest for now, then we will go to make some noise”

***

Roaring to the heavens I willed equilibrium and managed to have ‘with the aid of Ashura’ an aura of holy light.

The devil lord had been killed instantly.

I think that he never saw the attack coming nor did he manage to properly gauge my strength…

The demons around us began to wail and instantly began to break the undeclared truce, attacking everyone on sight.

The humans retaliated this time with greater determination and will. After all, the devil lord that was supposed to be an immense threat was defeated in a single blow.

The Overlord then placed his hand forward summoning giant tornados of death that began tearing away at ally and foe alike.

No longer caring for his own kin the Overlord was blinded with rage.

Not only those but black mist began to seep form the black veil of death that he was wearing.

The miasma turned the behemoth that he was riding to a berserker as it stomped forward screeching and howling as if struck with infuriating madness.

I jumped forward dodging a stream of death magic and instantly appearing behind the overlord.

My sword connected to his back but felt no resistance as my sword passed through with ease.

Time slowed down while an explosion of death erupted from within him.

I used Shunpo once again to dodge only this time I felt that some of his black magic integrated itself within me.

The death magic was like a corrosive substance that began eating away at my aura.

Moments later the small sum of it was dissipated and neutralized…

“If you go in blind like that you will die futilely…”said the devil within me.

True…physical prows will be useless against him and in terms of magic this guy is much more adept than me…this is going to be hard

The overlord then summoned a black sword that sent shivers down my spine.

He swung to where I was and an arc made of death magic soon followed the swipe.

I dodged and sent a divine ray of disintegration toward the Overlord that he did not even bother to dodge.

The attack was absorbed by the black shroud covering him.

I sent more attacks hoping that one would manage to do something

Be it lightning, fire or even ice. But nothing seemed to work.

The difference in height is making this difficult too. He is mounted while I am forced on the ground. The monster is forcing me to take him in consideration as even the behemoth is fighting alongside its rider.

It tried to stomp me on several occasions but I dodged with ease.

This thing might be good against groups of enemies but it will be ineffective against lone fighters as they are much more agile.

I shot a divine ray to the monster’s snout only to have the overlord cover his mount with a similar shroud to his neutralizing the damage.

I dashed under the belly of the monster and sent another divine ray of disintegration.

This time the damage I dealt was significant. But was not enough.

Although divine aura from Ashura is strong it is not enough to tear away at its flesh fully.

“No, it is more than enough but you cannot use my power fully. Your body is still not strong enough even with the dragon flesh you possess…you are considered but a hatchling as your flesh is still tender and far less durable.” Said Ashura.

“Can’t you do that same thing like last time?” I said while remembering the time he possessed me and ravaged through the battlefield in seconds

“Your body won’t be able to take another direct possession from me.”

Damn…no easy way then

I dashed this time behind one of the beast’s legs and stabbed it.

The blade managed to tear at the flesh although with a bit of difficulty

I still didn’t give up and kept on slashing at his legs while the miasma was following me trying to encompass me with it.

I kept on stabbing it but I just couldn’t kill the beast.

The monster probably suffering from the numerous wounds began to screech and scream only becoming madder and stumping harder on the ground.

Using another divine ray of disintegration I shot another ray.

The damage was greater and the beast almost fell.

Another explosion of death magic occurred however this time I dodged it perfectly.

I willed the fortress this time to shoot directly at the Overlord’s beast.

The overlord created a barrier of black magic that protected him and his beast only to have to be forced to create another one to protect himself from my concentrated divine ray.

A ray that I shot toward him while he was distracted.

“Damn this guy’s guard is impeccable.”

Once both rays stopped, the overlord took a stance where both his hands were positioned in front of him.

Another black Mahojin appeared this one however was far more impressive and far more threatening.

A ray of death that was similar to the one that managed to shake the flying fortress was shot towards me with a speed that is hard to dodge…however if I did so the ones behind me will suffer from this.

“Morfii Aku!”

I roared changing aspect to that of a demon

The golden sheen turned to crimson red while my body redden and transformed to that of a demon

Using the eye of the wise to its fullest as it combined with the power of a demon. I used mana flux to suck the mana from the world dry.

“Black shield!”

I forced a giant black wall to be created to protect me and anyone behind me from the damage of this attack.

The giant ray rocked at the shield like an exploding river against an indomitable rock.

I did not yield a single step, the ray would eat away at the shield and the shield will do the same to the ray.

We were at a settlement for a moment as my defense proved to be enough to hold off the attack of that thing.

However there was something that the Overlord failed to notice.

I willed hundreds of humanoids to begin their climb on the beast.

They began tearing away at it finding purchase with every hit.

The overlord once he noticed the climbers used an explosion of death magic to shake them away.

However death magic only works against something that is living. The humanoids were unfazed with the attack and kept on going.

I willed the fortress to shoot more rays at the Overlord.

I was not going to give him the chance to even retaliate as more light bolts were sent towards him.

The overlord was using his sword to break apart any humanoid that managed to get closer but that will not be enough.

“Enough!!” roared the overlord this time with a voice so loud that many began to fall unconscious.

The pressure behind him rose tenfold making the air itself heavy and my movements became sluggish.

“You disrespectful and dishonorable Ashurian! Dare to engage upon me with your henchmen.”

Sorry I don’t give a damn about honor. This is a matter of survival.

I twirled both sword and used Shunpo appearing on the back neck of the beast.

“Warp!”

Using warp magic I created a portal on the face of the ugly beast and the second one was a few hundred meters away.

His body was still linked but his face appeared a bit far.

There is a very dangerous way to use void magic and only using the devil’s aptitude towards mana could I fully use it.

I snapped my finger and willed the portal to close this time decapitating the giant beast as the portal closed while his head was too far from his body.

The cut was clean it even showed the muscles of the giant beast twitching.

How it is capable of doing so without a brain is not my concern at the moment as the beast crashed instantly. The Overlord dashed towards me while swatting away the humanoids like if they were but a mere hindrance.

His skill with the blade was magnificent as I was barely able to keep up even though I was using two weapons.

He forced me to the defensive even though I was certain he was not using his full power.

I jumped back and used a void ray of disintegration forcing him to create another Mahojin to protect himself

However something was different.

The void ray unlike the divine ray managed to eat away at the Mahojin and destroying it.

The devil lord was certain that his protective shroud will do what the Mahojin failed at but it seems that he was wrong.

There was some damage as most of the shroud began to dissipate.

Although it was for just a second the shroud did lessen.

It seems that void magic is the way to go.

I willed another warp gate to be created on the neck of the overlord trying to do the same to him s what I did to his beast only to be surprised.

“Your skill with void magic is still lacking Ashurian!”

Said the Overlord this time breaking the small gate with his will and summoning one of his own that managed to latch onto my own torso.

The Overlord smirked and began to tighten the warp forcing it to close as I fought against it.

Shit, shit, shit, shit!!!

“Calm down!” said the devil

The thing was getting fare too tight for comfort as I began to feel my arms bleeding

“Did you not see how he dissipated the gate himself? Do the same!”

As I remembered my eye could copy any sort of magic used in front of it and I still remember how he did it but I was a bit too distract to focus.

I began to change the text behind the void magic that the overlord used and finally managed to dissipate it

It was a bit too slow as my hands and chest were now severely injured.

I used Shunpo to make more distance only to have the overlord following my slashing at anything in front of him.

I willed any of the remaining humanoids to stop him only they too suffered the same treatment.

This guy won’t let me rest.

I have to do it.

Morfii Drakh!

“No!” said the devil and Ashura at once!

I roared however…

My body stiffened…waves of fatigue washed over me and my body was unable to move a step back.

I turned to my human form losing all the strength in my body.

And in that moment the Overlord found purchase and managed to stab his death filled sword onto my chest.

Ripping it violently the overlord looked a bit surprised.

“You…You were using the art of the aspect…switching from form to another, just like that? Do you think yourself to be a god? Do you think that there is no leech back from that? You think that amount of power will come without consequences? Foolish Ashurian…” said the Overlord

…

I never thought of it. I truly did find it strange at first that there was not condition at using this…but no one had ever told me that I would be stricken with fatigue…

The world darkened and I felt cold darkness seeping into it.

I heard the devil and Ashura roaring for me to wake up but I could not…I was too tiered and frankly didn’t care…I have been fighting all day…it should be time for me to take a rest.

“Youngling…”said Drakhsis from far away…

“Is this the extent of your will? It must have been foolish of me to give you this task and make you promise me what you did…perhaps I was wrong in choosing you…”

Barely holding on to a thread of my conscious I said

“He is too strong Drakhsis…not a single one of my spells can harm him…not even my blade can damage him. He overpowers me in any of the forms…I just can’t…”

“No youngling…the art of the aspect is not only about using the forms that are within you…it is about using all and every possible one…you still have four more forms youngling with one of them giving you a power that is far beyond a god…”

“But I am too tiered I said…”

“Reach for equilibrium youngling.”

I tried to do so but failed to get a grasp of my surrounding.

“I cannot…”

“Then burn your soul! Even if only a tendril of it is still present! Scorch it and make it burn like a sun!”

Hell with it.

Although it was hard at first I still managed to get a grasp over some of the miniscule aura that have yet to leave my body.

Igniting it with sheer power of will I began to feel life both fill me and leave me at once.

The world around me began to light up.

The Overlord was in front of me looking perturbed yet in a moment he jumped forward trying to stab me who was still barely able to stand up.

Only this time to be pushed back by some sort of golden dome like barrier that was protecting me.

I began to sense that death magic was still rampaging through my body and was barely being held off by the devil within me.

“Welcome back Asura…” said the devil “How was your rest?” he added mockingly.

I was still feeling dizzy and was unable to do anything.

Looking at my chest I noticed that the place where the Overlord had struck was in fact a big hole where my heart was supposed to be…

This seems a bit odd…

I then noticed that the ring I got from the overseer was shining.

All there jewels were shining faintly.

It seems that the ring was the reason behind this barrier.

“Not only that…”said Ashura “It activated when you ignited your soul and now it is keeping that very soul from leaving this absolute ground…in here, not even The Everlasting silence can claim your soul…however this will last for just a few more moments…you need to heal that wound if you want to survive.”

How the hell am I supposed to do so? Should I eat some of that hydra flesh? I think I still have some.

But right after I finished that thought the Overlord shot another one of his massive rays of death.

It was futile attempt to say the least.

I think it will be a bit awkward trying to eat something here while having someone that is inclined on killing you watching…

The ray would dissipate on contact not even forcing the barrier to bend or change shape.

However the light from the ring began to lessen even more…

It seems I truly have just few more moments.

I looked at my chest’s open wound and noticed that it began to heal down…it seem that igniting the soul is the reason behind this…

I sat down in a meditative state trying not to get distracted by the Overlord that is still shooting all kind and sort of magic against the barrier to no avail.

Gathering more aura from the outer world I began to accelerate the process of healing while the ignition of the soul began to lessen.

Once I no longer needed the latter I fully switched to aura from the outer world until I heard the sound of my heart beat once more.

Not only that. Even my clothes began to mend and repair themselves…I actually felt happy because I didn’t want to have these clothes ruined…

However it matters not…I don’t think I can beat this guy…the moment I will leave this barrier I will die.

This is the truth…and I can’t do anything to change it.

“Don’t give up youngling” said Drakhsis who sounded far away.

“You said there were other aspects…” I said

“Yes.” Replied the dragon

If the art of the aspects revolves around taking the form of beings that had either possessed a person or apart of them…then I generally have only three aspects to take.

The god aspect of Ashura because I am his descendant. The demon aspect of the devil within me because I shared most of my life with him. And the dragon form from Arvion’s flesh…

So what are the other four aspects that Drakhsis had said I was able to use?

“Think about it Youngling.”

…

It took me a moment before I realized what he was trying to make me do

“Ah…now I understand” I said

Drakhsis snorted at the statement and I laughed at its simplicity.

“Wouldn’t that be a bit too tiring? Considering that I am still feeling exhaustion I said?”

“It will be. But you need to use the ones that boast with physical energy…” replied Drakhsis

“What are you guys speaking about?” said Ashura and the devil at once…

My head is becoming a meeting ground for all different and weird beings

“You will see soon enough” I said

Willing equilibrium to go overboard this time unlike before I was prioritizing an element over two.

Either prioritizing mana over aura and spiritual energy being the devil form. Or aura over the other two making the dragon form, or even a third option where spiritual energy was the dominant and that was the god form.

This time however, I will be prioritizing two elements.

Opening my eyes although behind the mask I still made sure that I was fully prepared and standing up at once I said

“Aspect of power. Morfii kami-Drakh!”

Aspect of the dragon god.

Roaring to the world above, that will now witness a might, that none had ever seen before.

My body sprouted six arms with a pale colored skin that was riddled with scales.

Four golden horns, shaped like a crown sprouted from my head while fangs began to emerge far surpassing the length of those that I had when using the normal dragon form. Every one of the six arms had claws that felt sharper than blades and mush more durable than the strongest steel.

My left eye turned to that of a dragon and the right where the eye of the wise was shone with a white light.

My hair stood up turning to a glowing golden color that moved as if it was a never fading flame.

The wings that grew from my back were three times bigger than the ones I had in my normal dragon form and felt like they would be enough to uproot trees with but a flap.

My veins pumped strength and power into the rest of my body while the air around me turned thick from the oppressing power.

“Time for round two…”