"She is My Lord," Crystal stretched out her hand, and a chain made out of Chaos was conjured from her hands and latched onto the chains binding the Wraith. The eyes of the Wraith were filled with hatred, and she stared at Crystal intently, as though she could kill her with nothing but her gaze. And why wouldn't she hate the one who trapped her; especially when she was so close to getting away.
"Is it because of her Breath?" Mane thought out loud. It was only now that he remembered seeing something like Revival listed as the Wraith's only Breath. He hadn't bothered much about it because he was planning to kill her first. And when he did that, he threw everything about the Wraith to the back of his mind. But how wrong he was.
"It is indeed. That skill is a rare one. And the fact that she was able to gain enlightenment concerning such a Breath shows her exceptional talent as a Spiritual Being. If my Lord and Sky wishes to see for himself how this skill works, I suggest that my Lord scans her again."
"Good suggestion," Mane readily agreed to Crystal's suggestion. His eyes flashed in expectation as he cast his vision to the Wraith's chest. Mane speedily activated the most basic technique of every Spiritualist. However, this time he focused on just one skill. There was no rush after all, since he was the only one here, with all his enemies 'gone'.
"Augendae: Spirit Scan"
Breath: Revival – This is a unique skill privy to only a few. Revival is just as it name dictates. It could be regarded as an extra life, because it is an extra life. During the first five minutes of death, the owner of this skill would come back to life, reclaiming her soul from the hands of the minions of the Reaper. However, the more frequently one dies, the harder it will be for them to return. For each death means another battle with the Reaper's minions. And eventually the Reaper himself would come for the soul that constantly evades his bony hands. And when the Reaper comes, no one can save you.
Note: This skill isn't omnipotent. If one attacks the soul directly, it could lead to repercussions even after Revival and prevent the skill from activating. And if the soul is completely destroyed in battle, this skill would not activate.
"What a brilliant skill it is!" Mane couldn't help but exclaim in awe when he read the skill's description. Sure the skill wasn't all powerful, but which skill was. Every skill had its weakness; each skill its flaw. What was important was how useful this skill was. With a skill like this, one was akin to a god – having eternal life. If Mane had a skill like this, he would have been running rampant in all the realms.
"It is a brilliant skill indeed," Crystal easily agreed with her Lord. Revival was indeed an enviable skill. And even she felt that it was wasted on a Wraith – a lifeform that stole the life force of other lifeforms.
"However, if I am to go by what I saw in the description, my attack must have damaged your Spirt," Mane frowned and said.
By description, an attack on the soul was fatal. Mane attacked the Wraith's Spirit initially. And the Spirit was a part of a person's being that was heavily tethered to the soul. And that was why to be a Spiritualist, one had to have a Soul Based bloodline. Since Mane attacked the Wraith's spirit, her soul should have also been damaged. Which meant that it was likely that the Wraith wasn't going to have such an easy time reviving if she died again.
"Actually, it was because of your attack that I was able to capture her so easily. She has less than half of her original strength now. If she was at full power, it would have taken my entire power to keep her captured and hidden."
Crystal was not eager to accept full credit for her good work. And what she spoke was true. She was indeed not powerful enough to keep the Wraith docile and engage in the just ended large scale fight at the same time. She was only able to do so because the Wraith was in a weakened state.
"Augendae: Spirit Scan"
NAME: Unknown
AGE: 10,000,000
STATUS: Sealed – All attributes reduced to half of their original values and all Glows and Breaths sealed
HEALTH POINTS: 250,000,000/500,000,000
RACE: Wraith
BLOODLINE: Tangible Wraith
BLOODLINE RANK: Level 13
LEVEL: Ascension (Level 96.95)
POWER LEVEL: 410,475,450,498
WIELDER TYPE: Energy Wielder; A True Spirit
SPECIALTY: Unreal Vitality; Agility
GLOWS: Soul Breaker; Spirit Hammer; Destructive Sucking
BREATH: Revival
"Oh? Revival is sealed?" Mane rubbed his chin in interest upon reading her status. His words caused some panic to flash across the Wraith's eyes. The rage she was feeling towards Crystal was no more. There was only fear now.
"So if we kill you now, you will truly die. Fascinating." Mane's eyes sparkled as his hand reached over for Night Mare, causing the panic in the eyes of the Wraith to extend to her face. She tried to protest her fate, but the chains that covered her mouth severed her connection to her own tongue.
With a graceful slink, Night Mare was unsheathed. Edict filled the blade quickly, and it glowed in a brilliance that contested with the dark of the night itself. Mane wasn't one to dally once he had made a decision. Leaving an enemy alive was never a wise choice, especially when this person knew that he was a Supreme. Such knowledge shouldn't be kept by others he couldn't trust.
"Please stay your hand, My Lord and Sky. And listen to these humble words of mine."
However, Crystal stopped him from swinging the sword that had already been lifted up, downwards. The eyes of the Wraith quickly traveled to Crystal's with several unsaid pleas flashing through them. She didn't hate Crystal that much anymore. And now she was looking at the one who captured her with expectation and hope, rather than rage. She hoped that the beautiful woman standing before her had a remedy for her ill fate.
"What is it, Crystal. You aren't possibly going to suggest that I have mercy on my enemy, are you?" Mane frowned slightly and said. However, the amount of energy he was sending into Night Mare reduced, and its humming died down. However, the occasional flashing of its pitch black blade was a reminder that it was still alert, and sober. The amount of blood it had drunk today wasn't enough to disorient it. So it was hoping for more juice.
"Of course not, My Lord and Sky. Everyone knows that to spare one's enemy is a choice of the blind." Crystal replied whilst shaking her head. Her words caused the panic that had receded to return to the face of the Wraith. However, this panic didn't last long. For when she heard Crystal's next words, the anxiety in her heart cooled rapidly.
"I believe that this creature could be of help to you, My Lord" Crystal bowed slightly and said. Although what she was doing was for her Lord's sake, it was still her request. So she felt it appropriate to show the proper manners of a servant when requesting a favor from their master.
"How so?" Mane asked with keen interest as he put Night Mare away, much to the relief of the Wraith. Now the Wraith was looking at Crystal with curiosity, wondering what her fate would be.
Mane already suspected that there was a reason why the Wraith had been kept alive all this while. After all, Crystal could also use Spirit Scan, so she should have knowledge of the Wraith current status. And if she wanted her dead, she would have killed her long ago and wouldn't have bothered to keep her restrained till now. After all, the restraint she placed on the Wraith also restrained her. It was a decision that made no sense no matter how one viewed it. Unless of cause one factored in the fact that she had done so for another reason.
"She can be recruited to us, My Lord" Crystal stated, and the eyes of the Wraith lit up. However, Mane wasn't so convinced.
"You cannot expect me to trust someone who has just fought against me. Your situation is different. Hers is not so kind."
Mane wasn't quick to jump on board. Because a Wraith was a True Spirit, signing a Soul Contract with her was a poor idea. Since a Soul Contract tethered one's soul to another, that meant that the Wraith would be stuck with Mane everywhere he went – literally. She would actually have to be within a few meters of him in any situation, no matter the reason. So Mane wouldn't be able to bath alone, use the washroom alone, or train alone. It was an intrusion of his privacy that he didn't think was worth it, especially for an enemy.
"I think it would be best to let her explain My Lord," Crystal smiled slightly and suggested. By now the Wraith was struggling intently to speak and upon hearing Crystal's words, she nodded her head vigorously.
"Alright," Mane nodded his head. From the reaction of both women, he knew that there was something he didn't know.
Upon receiving Mane's approval, Crystal snapped her fingers, and the chains that bound the Wraith's neck and mouth came undone. And her voice was returned to her.
"Speak," Mane ordered simply. He needed to break into the Nobility Realm, and felt like he had indulged in this conversation long enough.
"I can give you my Spirit Mark," the Wraith replied quickly. Her eyes were filled with hope when she said this.
"Spirit Mark? I thought only Battle Beasts could do that?" Mane was surprised by her reply. A Spirit Mark was a sign of loyalty that Battle and Magical Beasts could hand over to their owners. It was basically like a Soul Contract, but for animals. And it had more stringent rules. Mane was resistant to it slightly because he didn't dare draw up such a restrictive contract with either Silver or Sasha. But those two had been with him for long. And most importantly, neither had tried to take his life.
"Logically, yes. But Wraiths are special creatures. So they too can use Spirit Marks." Crystal stepped in to explain.
"So, would you like to keep her? She would be very helpful against those with weak spirits – like the Mini Giant Race."
The Wraith looked at both Mane and Crystal nervously. But her eyes were mostly on Mane's figure. After all, her fate was in his hands. However, Mane's reply did ease her concerns, for he did agree to take her in. And why wouldn't he? She was a powerful subordinate to have.
"Alright. Let's do that then."