Caster couldn't be more prepared.
He was nearly fully healed, he had laid down every little trap and method to escape that he could have set. He had created a disctraction. He had fully revised the plan Kieron had made.
He has truly done everything he can.
Yet he was nervous.
He had to escape a Saint after all.
A saint is someone Caster has no chance at winning, no matter wha the does.
All he can do is lead another saint into this battle, which in this case is potentially Sky Tide. However, there is a chance that Sky Tide wouldn't come. Which was why he had created back up plans.
The nervousness was piling on him.
The first thing Saint Cormac was going to likely see after entering the Citadel was a pile of mutilated corpses. After that, he would most likely kill anyone who appeared in his way. After all, any survivor would either be a potential vessel of the banished prince… or a witness.
Which is where the sentinel comes into play.
He will lead the Saint deep into the temple.
Caster used Mordret's graze to utilize his 'Reflection' ability. It allows him to see through and travel through reflections. Which is why he spread water all over. Since water can act as a medium for that.
Through that he saw that the Saint was indeed being led away by the other Sentinel.
At the same time, he was using the invisibility ability, to not get sensed by the Saint. The invisibility ability not only made him physically invisible, it also cut him apart from almost all senses of others. Which meant that the Saint would likely be unable to sense him. At least not for as long as he was a decent bit far from him.
This was his chance.
Caster used the reflection ability to travel straight to the gates of the temple.
A moment later, they heard a distant impact, and the Night Temple trembled once again.
It seemed that Saint Cormac had already caught the Sentinel.
The gates of the Night Temple stood wide open, the impenetrable darkness of the Sky Below stretching into eternity beyond them.
The tall doorway seemed like a portal into the endless night.
Not slowing down even for a moment, Caster dashed towards freedom, passed through the gates, and finally escaped the cursed cathedral.
Activating his aspect, he dashed across the rickety bridge that swayed above the chasm of the Sky Below on rusty chains, and soon reached the treacherous stairs that skirted the slope of the Northern island.
Running up the narrow steps, he knew that one wrong step could potentially cost him him life. But Caster was unwilling to slow down. He had to reach the surface, cross the island, traverse the heavenly chain… all before Saint Cormac was done dealing with the Mentally destroyed Sentinel.
'This is taking too long.'
After reaching the top, Caster had to already start working on another set up of his.
He'd punch the ground to create small craters and fill them with water using aquifer's gift.
After creating around five of them, he went over to an edge, and summoned Aquifer's Gift again, creating a stream of water that fell down from it into the sky below constantly.
The important part was the water stream starting to fall down.
Following that, Caster went invisible before hiding in a pool of water using the reflection traversal ability.
Caster wasn't confident that this would be able to fool the Saint but he had no other option.
The Northern Island trembled beneath them.
…And just a few moments later, a dark figure appeared.
Caster had never met Saint Cormac, but he recognized him almost instantly. Only a Transcended could have such a deep, unfathomable shadow, and a presence that seemed to affect the very world around him.
The Saint looked to be in his thirties, with a cold face and dark, ruthless eyes. His black armor was battered and worn, barely holding together after a month of exploring the Death Zone. Surprisingly, it wasn't too impressive, as far as armor-type Memories went. Neither was he wielding a terrifying weapon.
…His fingers, however, were covered with fresh blood, crimson drops falling down and painting the delicate violet flowers red.
Saint Cormac frowned, looking dead straight at him, discerning through Caster's hidden spot instantly, then took a step forward. The snow swirled, surrounding him like a cold mantle. Caster was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of suffocating killing intent.
'Fuck. Where are you Sky Tide?!'
With one strong force, the saint launched a terrifying attack, undoing Caster's abilities.
'W-what?'
It made Caster materialize again before getting hit by the strongest jab he had ever taken.
If not for both, the blackplate armor and Evermelt's protection, Caster might have died right then and there.
The immense force of the punch launched Caster nearly a hundred meter off the island.
He was now falling into the sky below.
The Saint looked down fromt he island, satisfied enought with that. He likely assumed Caster would die from that.
Either through dehydration, or starvation, or from the bleeding from the attack he took.
He couldn't forsee any way Caster surviving that.
Soon enough, Caster was out of his line of sight. The saint simply started walking towards the Night Temple again, but just as he was about to go he saw something in the distance.
Something that looked to be releasing water.
***
"Fuck this fuckity fuck ass Saint."
Caster was in immense pain due to the attack, but he hadn't given up yet.
He had now fallen below the island and could see the Night Temple from below.
However, it wasn't the time for that.
Upon noticing the Saint move, he hurriedly activated the telekinesis ability to guide himself towards the water stream he had let out using aquifer's gift, and slow his fall down.
Since the water had been falling for longer than Caster had been falling, the water had fell down further too.
If it was possible for him to fly using it, he wouldn't have needed to do the water stream gimmick, but unfortunately, the telekinesis was too weak and hard to control for him right now.
Soon, he was in range and activated the Reflection ability, traveling to the water stream through it. Following that, Caster travelled at immense speeds through it using the same ability, almost like repeated short distance teleportations.
Just as he reached the surface, he saw Cormac, from a distance rushing towards him.
'He noticed it!'
Caster hurriedly teleported to another body of water.
'I'm so fucked...'
The saint wasn't leaving him alone.
It wasn't just because of the incident at the Night Temple. It was also due to the orders of the higher ups. He hadn't gotten the mission himself, but killing him would be a net good for them.
He had heard how Caster hadded lightning related abilities, however he wasn't using that, instead he was using a short distance water teleportation ability.
He concluded that Caster's abilities were related to weather itself, as opposed to just lightning, since divine aspects are bizzare and couldn't be predicted.
But he was completely off the mark.
Not that it mattered.
Cormac reached the new pool of water Caster was hidden in and launched a devastating attack again.
This time, Caster avoided it by travelling to another pool.
He dismissed the aquifer's gift finally, and summoned it in his hands again. Following that, he used its flood unbound ability again, creating a better environment for him to fight in.
Fight was a stretch to say though, it was more accurate to saw that he was just trying to escape the saint for was long as he can, to buy time.
'Please, Sky Tide. Sky Tide...'
The Saint would follow Caster around all the pools, expecting Caster to give up or run out of essence soon enough.
But Caster was not going to run out of essence soon.
Or maybe he was. His soul was still leaking essence due to being damaged.
He kept teleporting in the water from one place to other, avoiding the saint almost completely.
The saint got a few unexpected hits in, but the damage was not life threatening.
Not yet at least.
Caster kept buying time for a while.
The whole island was flooding.
'Deja vu?'
It costed Caster a lot of essence though. That is when he dismissed the memory again.
Focusing only on avoiding the Saint.
According to Caster's observation, Cormac's aspect was something related to denying. Because he observed his powers get turned off momentarily involuntarily.
It wasn't sealing of aspect like Moonveil, just a simple short turning off of the ability.
This disoriented Caster everything he was getting caught.
It was a miracle Caster had been able to avoid anything.
Just then he noticed something far away. A giant bird of prey, her feathers white, her sharp beak and devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning danced around her body like a radiant mantle.
It was Sky Tide.
Caster momentarily lost concentration, leading to the Saint getting one last good hit on Caster. It launched Caster several meters back at massive speeds, colliding him with a multitude of trees and boulders.
Caster had gotten immenselt injured.
'Sky Tide is almost here... I need to... buy time...'
He shifted slightly. His eyes darted around, hoping to find something… anything… that would save his life.
But there was nothing he could think of. He couldn't even properly get up.
Then, suddenly, the world darkened, as though a transient shadow covered the sun. A second later, the shadow was gone in a rustle of wings, and a tall, slender woman was standing between them and the approaching Saint, her posture straight like an arrow.
Sky Tide shielded Caster with her body and glanced at the other Transcended warrior, her beautiful face as cold and stark as always, her vertical pupils full of calm, grim resolve.
"...That is enough, Cormac. Turn back."
'Ah... finally...'
A tense, dangerous silence settled over the island after she spoke, with only the wailing of the wind breaking it.
Dust danced in the air, slowly settling onto the cold ground.
His heart was beating like a caged animal.
'You're finally here...'
Cormac scowled and looked at the slender woman with a dark expression on his stern, weathered face. The Saint did not seem amused by the sudden appearance of the leader of the White Feather clan.
"Sky Tide… stay out of this."
Saint Tyris didn't move, still shielding Caster with her slender body. The wind picked up, and the clouds seemed to become heavier, as if expressing her suppressed emotions.
…Only, as Caster realized, they weren't suppressed at all. Sky Tide just didn't show them on her face. Instead, the world itself did it for her.
"I think not."
Cormac winced, resentful sparks appearing in his eyes.
"You don't know what you are interfering with, Tyris. Get out of my way. This is not your business."
She shifted slightly, the howling of wind growing louder. The violet flowers bent, pressed down to the ground.
"...This is my land. This awakened is of my Citadel. Anything that happens here, and to them, is my business."
The other Saint sighed, then took a step forward.
"The entire garrison of the Night Temple was wiped out. These two are the only witnesses. Are you sure that you want to make their fate your burden?"
Sky Tide frowned, then spoke, her voice even:
"If that is true, we can question them together, back in the Sanctuary."
Cormac smiled darkly, then shook his head.
"I'm afraid that won't be convenient. You might not know my task here, Tyris, but you know who gave it to me. Obstructing me in this matter is the same as obstructing the will of Valor… you wouldn't want to do that, would you?"
A corner of Sky Tide's mouth suddenly twisted upward. She stared at the fearsome Saint, and said, a hint of mocking in her voice:
"What is he going to do? How is he going to punish me? Exile my clan to a remote frontier region, maybe? Oh… wait…"
She took a step forward, as well, her tone changing, becoming darker and heavier. The clouds swallowed the sun, submerging the world into shadows.
"You have forgotten, Cormac… I am Sky Tide of the White Feather clan, not Valor. I am a vassal of the King… not his servant. Six years ago, I looked the other way and allowed your odious scheme to happen. I have regretted it ever since. This is my land, my isles. You are only a guest here. I warn you… do not test the limits of my hospitality!"
As she spoke the last words, a deafening thunderclap resounded, rolling across the Chained Isles like a herald of heavenly wrath.
Cormac stared at her, unimpressed. An expression of contempt appeared in the depths of his cold, dangerous eyes. The Saint moved his shoulders, as if stretching his muscles, and then said darkly:
"Your arrogance is so tiresome, Tyris. Warn me? What gives you the courage to warn… me? You say that I have forgotten, but it is you who doesn't seem to remember. Who I am. What I am.
And what I am capable of…"
He stepped forward, his killing intent growing thicker and more suffocating, almost palpable.
"What gave you the idea that this is a negotiation? You will stand down, or I will put you down. Either way, the result will be the same."
Saint Tyris lingered for a moment, then looked over her shoulder at Caster. Her gaze was calm and somber.
"...It's time for the you to go."
Caster took a step back, his mouth suddenly dry. He opened it, trying to force out a question:
"But… but what about…"
Sky Tide was already looking at Cormac, who was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced in the wind like a stream of pale gold.
"Run! You won't survive the fury of this battle!"
A moment later, something collided with a thunderous roar behind them, and Caster was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through his body, causing a short scream to escape from his mouth.
He hit the ground and felt it shifting, as if a powerful earthquake was happening mere meters away. He struggled to rise back to his feet. Shards of stone flew past them like bullets, and the snowfall was already turning into a furious blizzard.
Behind him, two vast shadows rose into the sky.
One was a giant bird of prey, her feathers white, her sharp beak and devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning danced around her body like a radiant mantle.
The other was a ferocious wyvern, his black scales as dark as the abyss, with mighty muscles rolling under them like iron chains. The head of the creature was crowned with twisting horns, and in his maw, countless sharp fangs glowed darkly, illuminated by immolating red flame burning in the depths of the beast's adamantine body.
Tyris and Cormac flew into the skies, soon disappearing in the veil of storm clouds. A terrifying roar rolled across the island, and then, another shockwave hit, tearing a hole in the blizzard.
Boiling blood suddenly streamed from above, falling on the snow like vermilion rain.
He had almost gotten to the edge of the island, ready to jump onto the chain, when there was a sudden lull in the terrifying havoc.
And then, two shadows fell down from the skies, so fast that Caster couldn't even tell who was who.
The Saints collided against the center of the island with such force that its surface swayed like water. The shockwave of the impact was so fierce that it instantly obliterated the field of flowers, blew away the top layers of the soil, and made the stronghold on the northern edge crumble into dust.
The ground itself split open, a wide crack spreading to both ends of the isle, cutting it in two.
The Northern Island shuddered… and then crumbled, large pieces of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared, and the tension of the heavenly chains tore the island apart.
Instead of running, Caster decided to turn back. He had exhausted all his stamina.
He knew he couldn't help in the fight like that, but he couldn't afford Sky Tide to get too hurt.
So, Caster took out his bow and arrow memories.
It was time to become a makeshift archer.
He focused on the Death Dealer enchantment of the arrow and fed it almost all his essence. The remaining little bit of essence was given tot he Flame Arror enchantment, that made the arrow have a flame attack.
He nocked the bow and aimed.
Many seconds passed.
He held that aim for a while.
The destruction of the saints continued.
Suddenly, he saw an opportunity.
Caster released the string of the bow, launching the arrow straight towards his target, Saint Cormac, at incredible speeds.
The arrow hit the saint's transcendent form, the wyvern right in the eye, damaging it.
He wasn't expecting any attack like that, so it had caught him very off guard.
The opening it created was very much enough for Sky Tide to turn the Tides on him.
It didn't take long before the terrifying saint was taken down by her.
The saint of the Night Temple was dead.
And Caster had prevented insane butterfly effect from happening down the line.
Upon seeing that, Caster could finall feel like relaxing. He layed down on the chains of the island.
He could see Sky Tide approach him. But he simply closed his eyes. He was going through essence exhaustion.
Just when he thought that he could finally take a rest, the entire Island started collapsing.
Which caused Caster to fall into the endless void of the Sky Below.
'You're kidding me...'
[Volume 2: Tainted Radiance Part 1].
[Finished].