Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments.
Said to be the gift from the gods and the rarest items on the planet. To create an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament, one must have a combination of overwhelming skill, heaven-defying luck and riches beyond comprehension. No, even with all those factors, there was no guarantee that an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament would be made.
Just like their name suggests, Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments could last for aeons. They possessed unfathomable amounts of mana within their cores and were far tougher than any regular diamond. However, it wasn't their durability that made them renowned all throughout the world. It was how powerful an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament could become that frightened the world.
Almost universally, an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament was equivalent in power to a Saint-levelled expert. For instance, the Healer's Association Holy Destiny Bell had the capability of fighting off a Spirit Saint or Primordial Beast all on its own, as long as the user of the artefact knew how to use it correctly. The Dalgeom Sect's Samingeom was the same way. Even if Saint Geom wasn't alive and kicking, just the Samingeom's existence alone was able to keep the Dalgeom Sect within the Five Pillars of the Kori Federation.
In a sense, an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament's value far surpassed that of any Saint-levelled expert since it could outlive any cultivator or Spirit Beast. In the distant past, during the age of lawlessness and wars, it was common for family clans or sects to start conflicts just for the opportunity to gain an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament.
That's why, in the present day, almost every single Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament had been tied down to a major organisation. The Healer's Association and Mercenary Guild each had one. The Blacksmith's League kept three, with many suspecting that they had a few more. The Himmel Empire and the Lantis Republic had six. While the Kori Federation had a whopping seven Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments.
All in all, there were only twenty-four known Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments on the entire planet. Many thought to scour abandoned treasure vaults or venture deep into ancient labyrinths to hopefully find a few more, but it was always to no avail. So, due to its rarity, it was uncommon for the owners of the treasured items to use them in battle, leaving them as decorative ornaments in their well-secured vaults.
It was thought that in present-day, there would only be twenty-four Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments. No more, no less.
Yet, the Black Masks had actually save nine of those invaluable treasures for their Noble Beasts? And that might not be all… If the Nine Coloured Noble Beasts were each given an Immortal-Grade Spirit Armament, who knew how many more the Allfather might be hiding? Could he have an arsenal full of said legendary weapons, each one more powerful than the next? No one could really tell...
Once the world finds out about that fact, perhaps a new world war would emerge with everyone putting all their resources to gain all of the treasures that the Black Masks were hiding to bolster their overall might.
"Rarara! It's finally time for me to show my power off to the world!" Akai was beaming. Being the most violent in nature, staying repressed under a hole for ten years had made the Lion Chimaera pent up. He wanted to burst forth with seething rage and annihilate everyone that stood in his path.
"Immortal-Grade... Spirit Armaments… We're already... at that stage..." Midori placed his wooden arms above his Treant face, seemingly holding back the tears.
"Nenene! I can finally use Pink?" Like a little child, Momo tugged on Kuro's pants with joy in her voice.
"Yes, use it as you please." Kuro nodded his head and swung his hand twice. Dark mist coagulated at his palms and the familiar Blade of the Ephemeral Haunt reappeared. "We have to use our everything to contest against the combined might of the three superpowers. We can't hold back our punches anymore."
"Wait, does that mean we can use the Death Ray?" The white-haired young boy clapped as his eyes sprung back to life. Shiro, the Spirit Beast behind the Black Masks' technology placement, bit down on his nails, anxious to hear his direct superior's reply.
"Yes," a short and succinct answer. "We have to use everything at our disposal. Dalits, Shudras, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Spirit Beasts, Umbras, Spirit Armaments, Payircis, Paradise Hearts, Death Rays… The Allfather has given the green light to use all of them."
"..." At this point, everyone turned speechless. The Black Masks' full power was quite substantial and could easily contest against any one of the three superpowers. The only reason why the Allfather hadn't used them all in one-shot was to conserve energy for the long war that was sure to come. If the Allfather had decided to use them all, it could only mean one thing…
The World Serpent's languid voice spoke out grimly: "Are his days numbered?"
"... Unfortunately."
"..."
"When the Allfather… Father… When he woke up from his hibernation, he'd realised one fatal flaw. His lifeforce couldn't be extended anymore." Kuro gritted his teeth while clenching his fists. The Allfather had a special Spirit, one that could extend his life way past the known limits of mankind. In theory, should all go as planned, the Allfather should be capable of holding on for at least a hundred years more. However, he'd expended a vast amount of his mana and lifeforce in the previous battle.
Breaking the shackles that bound the earth together. Creating darkness crevices all around the world to create Umbral energy that spawned vicious monsters to terrorise the public. Fighting off the six Spirit Saints and their Immortal-Grade Spirit Armaments. And most crucially… Casting the Call of Darkness when his body was in a terrible state. Even if Spirit Immortal Dream was here herself, she would be incapable of saving the Allfather from certain death.
A sombre atmosphere descended upon the room. Though the Allfather was still alive, everyone felt like they were attending his funeral, and the one most shook by the news was…
"Nenene… Father… Is dying?" Momo looked at Kuro with tears in her eyes.
"Yes… If we're lucky, we might have ten years left. But from the looks of it… Father would likely live for five more." Kuro broke the bad news with a heavy heart. All of the Nine Noble Beasts dropped their heads, saddened. No matter what their feelings were, the Allfather was the man who had changed their lives and promised them eternity. How could they be happy that the entity that they entrusted their lives to, was about to pass away early?
"Two..." Ao repeated the number mentally, his face scrunched up and voice choking up.
"That's right, two…" Kuro repeated himself, this time with far less sadness. "So, if we want to complete the Grand Scheme, it has to be done within the next five years!" The Primordial Beast stabbed the Blade of the Ephemeral Haunt into the concrete ground and roared: "We can't let the Allfather lift a single finger anymore! All of the phases of the Grand Scheme has been completed. The preparations to open Heaven's Gate has been completed. All that's left… Is to create an adversary for my liege to overcome."
The voice of the lead Primordial Beast echoed within the ears of the Noble Beasts, filling their chests with an endless amount of vigour. With the Allfather weakened, it was up to the Noble Beasts to lead the charge and complete the mission that was promised.
It was time for them to...
"We need to create more Spirit Saints!"