Abyssal Awakening

Scratching her hair, Alice sighed deeply.

Using these numbers, it was natural to assume that there was probably another realm similar to the Abyss but filled with an opposing energy. Possibly the same energy as the flame.

But if that was the case, why was she the only one thus far who\'s shown this potential against the Abyss? Were the others taken away like she was?

\'I doubt such a realm could exist without others knowing. Plus, Allura and Kaden don\'t seem to know about the nature of my power too. Not to mention… If it really was a natural counter then why would it be able to exist in my body? Especially with it being invoked by the powers of the Abyss itself.\'

What she was doing was akin to lighting a flame using nothing else but water as fuel. It was simply impossible to perform. Yet this paradoxical ability manifested in her body and was one of the reasons why she was able to survive thus far.

With no other test she could perform on herself right now, she could only pack away all of the equipment she used and clean up the lab.

Looking at the beasts that were sealed within the containers, waiting for the next experiment, Alice couldn\'t help but press her hand against the glass.

On the beast, she could see her own reflection. Had Kaden not freed her, she may as well be no different from them. And yet here she was, helping another researcher dissect a beast just like what the scholars did to her.

\'I suppose I\'m quite the hypocrite.\' Alice mocked inwardly. When it came to her own benefit, she didn\'t mind doing the same thing she hated so much.

After locking the labs, Alice decided to try and find Ria now that her work was done.

She was carrying Alice\'s blood bead, making it easier to track her down if they ever wanted to meet up.

Closing her eyes, she realised that Ria\'s bead was a little further than what she had expected since it was out of her detection range.

\'The Combat Department is located under the Inverted World. It should be relatively simple to get to her from here.\'

Making her way down the mountain, she took a leisurely walk to the Combat Department as she wasn\'t in any rush. With the experiments being finished earlier than expected, she had plenty of time to herself.

\'Ria should\'ve passed the initial test pretty easily if she\'s still around. Either that or she\'s already gone back to the Inn, but I doubt that.\'

When it came to fighting one on one, Ria wasn\'t someone that could be defeated easily. Even for those with more Sigils than her.

As expected, Alice was soon able to feel the presence of Ria\'s blood bead. It seemed like they were currently training in one of those private training rooms she had seen on the airship.

Understanding that Ria was most likely busy, Alice couldn\'t help but wonder if she could borrow the facility and enjoy herself to pass the time.

Walking up to the doors of the Combat Department, she used her temporary pass to get in for now since she hadn\'t returned it yet.

Seeing as how people weren\'t bothering with her nor was there anyone to guide her around, this was a place that allowed you to plan your own training and use the facilities at will.

Looking around her with curiosity, Alice couldn\'t help but wonder about the quality of this facility. It was provided by one of the best Academies around after all.

The building itself was a vast network of corridors and rooms with countless signs hanging from the ceiling, telling her where to go.

Scanning her eyes through the different signs, she couldn\'t help but notice a name that caught her eye.

[Hall of Champions]

Contemplating to herself for a while, she decided to take a look. After all, she was basically here as a tourist.

Following the sign leading to the Hall of Champions, Alice couldn\'t help but notice that the people who were walking around her had decreased the closer she got. A few of them gave her a curious glance after noticing where she was going.

Pulling down her hood so that others wouldn\'t see what was underneath, especially the floating crown, Alice continued down her path and soon, there was only a single set of doors in front of her.

There was no one around anymore and upon this door was the depiction of several Hunters, each with a different weapon and armour.

\'If it was dangerous, they wouldn\'t leave it unguarded. It\'s probably like a museum piece or something.\'

Pressing her hands against the doors, Alice tried to push it open but realised the sheer weight of these doors. With no other choice, she had to activate her first Sigil before she was strong enough to push open the gates leading to the Hall of Champions.

As she opened the door, a golden light surged from below, lighting up the room and causing Alice to pause in surprise.

The room was just as if not bigger than the airship she travelled on with a single arena in the middle. Surrounding the arena were towering statues depicting the Champions. Golden letters inscribed upon the base, revealing their name and title.

[Lady Lyra – The Blade Dancer]

[Lord Aldric – The Berserk Star]

[Lord Alexander – The Liberator]

[Lady Scarlett – The Dawnbreaker]...

Alice could see 13 statues in total with their names lit up while several others that were hidden by shadows seemed to be dormant for now.

She could feel a strange sensation wash over her, beckoning her to the arena. A challenge for the worthy.

It was as though instructions were implanted into her mind, unable to resist its commands.

Taking a step forward, she made her way to the arena as she understood that this was not just a museum piece.

No, the command in her mind told her that this was a fight. A trial of combat.

Unsheathing her blade from its sheath, black and red flames lit up as Alice placed one foot on the arena.

At that moment, her Sigils manifested around her body. One on her arm, one over her eye and the last on her back.

\'Seems like it\'s detecting how many Sigils I have. Interesting.\' Alice thought to herself as she couldn\'t suppress the smile on her face.

Standing in the middle of the arena, the ground started to shift as miniature versions of the large statues manifested around her.

It wanted her to pick her first opponent.

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice decided to pick the statue of Lady Lyra, the Blade Dancer.

Upon selecting her target, all of the statues crumbled to ash as the larger statues around the arena had their eyes light up with a fiery glow. Observing and judging her every move.

Killing intent erupted around her as Alice instinctively jumped back and gripped her blade. Her first Sigil roaring at full power, enhancing her physical power to its limit.

In front of her, motes of red condensed into a single figure that walked calmly.

Lady Lyra took slow calculated strides forward as her hair fluttered behind her. Her tall slender frame was covered with a set of gleaming silver armour. Each plate, meticulously crafted and designed to protect her while giving her as much movement as possible.

Strange silk like veils hung from the edges of her armour, covering her with a strange ethereal dress that shifted with her movements.

In her hand, she held a large twin blade that radiated with an ominous aura.

Her body seemed to be made entirely from energy as Alice couldn\'t make out the colour of her hair nor her eyes.

But in her moment of observation, she disappeared from her sight.

"!!!"

Holding her breath in shock, Alice could see a single blade slowly approaching her head.

Had it not been for Cayla, she wouldn\'t have been able to see the attack coming!

*CLANG!!!

Slashing up with her blade, she parried Lyra\'s attack and immediately assumed a defensive stance to recover her posture but Lyra continued her onslaught of slashes and stabs.

Twirling the twin blade in her hands with ease, her footsteps made it seem as though she was dancing in the midst of this fight.

But as the recipient of these slashes, Alice knew it was far from a simple dance. Each step allowed her to maximise the power of her attacks as well as the speed. As it stands, Alice could only defend but found it difficult to fight back!

Gritting her teeth, she slammed her hand down as blood spears shot out of the ground in an attempt to force Lyra away but she evaded the spears with grace.

*CLANG!!!

Lyra\'s cleave was met with resistance as Alice parried the attack to the side before flicking her finger.

From the blood spears, metal spikes rushed towards Lyra as she managed to jump out of the way at the last moment.

Alice wasn\'t fazed by the fact that Lyra avoided her attack. She simply wanted to create some distance between them and compose herself.

\'This place is called the Hall of Champions. She\'s not someone I can take it easy on.\' Alice thought to herself.

Lady Lyra the Blade Dancer. If her being was immortalised in this place, it meant her fighting prowess was recognised by all!

\'Calm the mind. Trust in my instincts but don\'t lose control. Use the hunger to my benefit. Let the hunt begin.\' Alice thought to herself as a smile crept up on her face.

Narrowing her eyes at the armoured Hunter in front of her, Alice rushed forward without fear.