Asher took a deep breath, his sigh echoing through his surroundings as if ethereal. Closing his eyes before snapping them open. He finally mentally prepared himself.
'If the Queen was so dangerous to use, then what does the king do?' The entire battle style felt confusing to him. Although he had already predicted most of the traits, the Queen and the Knight really surprised him.
Brushing his hand against his hair before he rubbed his eyes. He yawned before sharpening his eyes as a solemn expression appeared on his face.
Extending his right hand, he shouted.
"The King!" Just as the words left his mouth, in the corner of his eyes, he saw the crimson text shift again.
His eyes widened as he read it.
[The Master of the Void.]
[Abilities: ???]
[Flaws: You are despised by the fated beings of the hell and heavens. The unknown realm curses you while the fallen deities kneel down to you. You are the cursed of all]
"This..." Dumbfounded by the new information he had gained. He blinked twice before heaving a deep sigh. His ocean-like hue remained well within his eyes, and suddenly, he had a tinge of purple within them.
'That's what Astraeus truly meant by 'defying fate.' Asher concluded as the crimson text shifted again. Its crimson hue suddenly changed to black and purple. As that happened, he suddenly felt the strange Essence in his veins circulate.
"What is it trying to do?" He gritted his teeth; his eyes proclaimed severe caution as to what was happening. Just before he could make a decision, a pain started to flare within him.
His eyes bulged as blood started to flow from it. His veins popped up from his arms, ears, forehead, and almost everywhere on his body. Feeling something scorching him apart, he tightened up and started to shift uncontrollably.
Instantly, he shifted once again and opened his mouth as if trying to vomit. But nothing came out. His breathing became ragged, indicating his inner struggle.
Splash! Immediately, he coughed up a barrage of blood. His already half-blood-stained face suddenly regained its crimson hue. As the coughing stopped, a line of crimson liquid was still flowing through his chin, eventually dripping into the ground beneath.
"Holy shi-t." He cursed under his visible breath. His eyes bulged once again before moving towards the constantly shifting previously crimson text. A blackish purple hue was falling on the nearby jagged floor beneath.
Just as his eyes fell on the purplish text, it shifted again, dissolving into blackish steam before appearing once again through the same process.
[Your first core being created.]
The text shifted again.
[Time: 30 seconds.]
A sudden mental relief fell over Asher as he read that. The pain was unbearable, but if it was only thirty seconds, then he could manage.
'If I can't even hold out for 30 seconds then I can just die!' He thought self-deprecatingly. A corner of his trembling lips curled slightly. Under such circumstances, he suddenly felt a chill in his spine as a thought rose in his mind.
'I am pretty sure I called myself the same thing back in the Unknown Heavens, no?' He thought, hoping that someone might answer his question, but he was only met with silence.
With a shake of his head, or at least he tried to, but only to shift uncontrollably again, he continued his thoughts.
'The text also mentioned the Unknown Realm. Is the Unknown Heaven related to this? And if it is, the text implies that they have cursed me, but Astraeus and others weren't hostile. They also have no need to scheme against me; they can just kill me instantly if they want.' His eyebrows creased slightly.
'It doesn't make sense. Is this related to Fate? That me having a connection with the Unknown Heavens and the Gods of the Void has brought Fate's attention? But Fate controls everyone, it should know the moment something unusual happens.' His eyebrows creased even more as a frown appeared on his face.
'I am lacking in knowledge as of now. At this point, I can only assume that me having a connection with 'them' is going to result in something abnormal to happen that won't be good for me. Curse you Fate!' He sighed as he slowly felt the rigid force fade away. A fraction of a second later, it abruptly vanished. Another sigh left Asher's mouth as that happened. Relief was all over his face, making anyone presume he had just experienced the most blissful experience in his life.
"Goodness gracious, that was unbearable." He muttered before stretching his arms. Slapping off the blood from his face, or at least what remained, he stared at the text once more.
A small chuckle left his mouth as he read the text.
[Your first core has been created]
The text dissolved into a black mist before appearing again.
[The Curse of the Unknown]
[Rank: The Crimson Blade]
[Marking: Divine.]
[Curse Activated: Divine Arrival, The Bane of ???]
[Zodiac name: The Master of the Void.]
[Zodiac sign: Pisces]
'Who knew that I would be named 'The Master of the Void.' A smile that showed a hint of misery had appeared on his face, only to gradually fade away as his eyes read the rest of the text.
His eyebrows creased once again. Heaving a sigh, he blinked before staring at the text with a solemn expression. His ocean-like eyes that had a glow to them suddenly had a shine to them.
'How is my Zodiac sign related to this? And what even is a Zodiac Sign? How deprecating, I feel something is pulling the strings behind the veil.'
With a sigh, he added:
'I hate mysteries.' Suddenly his eyes widened as he felt his surroundings burst into black purple flames. A circle path was made where there was no flame whatsoever. In the middle, Asher was standing, and his eyes conveyed fierceness to what was happening.
Like a whirlpool, the flames continued to circle him, every now and then, they would slightly bend towards him as if worshipping him.
Suddenly, he gasped.
'Worship! I don't know why, but that makes sense. The text named me "Master of the void". So these flames are...
Proclaiming a relationship between a master and a slave."
The whirlpool of flames increased their speed. However, something felt off to Asher. In a fast motion, he turned towards the text which had shifted once again.
[You are the King, the Master. Bear the souls of your servants. Bear them and be the King of Defilement. Behold, the Master of the void.]