Chapter 297 The Thief Of Names
Northern's eyes glowed menacingly as he unleashed an upwards slash in that tight space. Krullgath was able to react quickly, parrying the attack even though he lost his balance.
However, that was a big mistake; it would have probably worked with any other opponent. It was a last-moment call that proved his reflex, but this Northern right now was a monster that had thirsted for the freedom from fear.
Just as the Commander lost his balance, an onyx blade viciously streaked towards him from below like a black mamba.
It was too late to react; even if he had the time, he couldn't have been reflexive enough to counter it when it was so low.
However, he could harden his body just like he had done before.
And so as the sword found its mark, it bounced off again. But a wild glee could be seen on Northern's face.
Which made the Commander very confused. Why the happiness? You didn't win, you bastard—was probably how he had thought at that moment.
Northern's hand—the Soul Taker, streaked towards it in that selfsame moment.
Everything seemed to play out in slow motion. That movement was utterly impossible.
The recoil from that parry, to ignore it and just throw his hands forward right after he had thrown one was an insane amount of task for the body.
It should be impossible, and even if it is achieved, it should leave the individual with a twisted—or at least wholly deformed—joint.
The White Walker watched Northern's sword bite deep into his chest as his ass kissed the ground; his face was a mixture of pain, confusion, and awe.
"Human... strong... very strong."
Northern returned the Black Mortal blade and scoffed, then he uttered:
"That's not even the highlight of it."
Northern moved closer to the White Walker.
He swung his spear hand, but Northern paid no attention to it and just deflected with negligent ease.
He stabbed the Soul Taker into the monster's chest yet again, causing it to squeeze out a deafening cry.
Northern stepped on its groin and grabbed both its horns and began to pull them apart.
The Commander cried viciously, filling the dark hall with horrific screams.
Finally, Northern broke its horns and threw them away. He placed his palm on the creature's head and closed his eyes.
Immediately, a tab appeared before him, then he opened his eyes with a little smile.
'It worked'
In the tab, he saw:
[Conditions have been met]
[You can use the ability of your name: Nameless]
[You have no essence, you have no identity, you are a storm that seeks to swallow and steal the identity and essence of everything around you. Nameless. This is the beginning of your path to ruin]
[Do you want to absorb Target True Name: Krullgath]
Note: [There are two paths to absorbing names. Path 1: they can be stored and bestowed to a designated target. For now, this feature only works with Void and Soul summons.
Path 2: They can be destroyed and broken into Name shards. Name shards can be used to create a new name or reinforce attributes ability. Currently, you have one absorbed name—Daughter Of The Lost Skies]
[Hence, choose your path wisely]
[Do you want to absorb True Name: Krullgath]
Overwhelmed by a lot of thoughts from the information he just saw, Northern spent a couple of seconds in silence then finally muttered:
"Yes."
Immediately, a bone-wrenching sound could be heard from the White Walker's body; he began to convulse, it was like his bones were being broken and remade.
Then after a few seconds, the process stopped and left the Commander lying on the ground, heavily panting—something about him had changed.
Northern took his eyes down.
[You have absorbed name Krullgath]
[As you have absorbed the true name, you have absorbed the attributes and abilities that are attached to it]
[Due to the nature of your name, you can temporarily bestow upon yourself a name, activating the attributes and abilities]
Northern stared in amazement.
So many things he wanted to process, but what first caught his attention was the pitiful state of the White Walker.
[Monster Profile]
Name: [White Walker]
True Name: [nil]
Rank: [Hellion]
Danger Level: [Disaster]
Attributes: [nil]
Abilities: [nil]
Having his name taken has caused the Commander to fall from grace; his physical form was much smaller and less pronounced than a couple of minutes ago, he was just like the others.
While before, he boasted of large, tight muscles that seemed to ripple with every slight movement.
He had lost everything.
'I'm appalled.'
Northern had gained everything the monster had; he had stolen everything from it.
His name.
His power.
Everything was gone!
And not just that, he could temporarily use the name he absorbs and use their power?
Northern began to chuckle like a deranged person.
'How interesting can this get...?'
At this rate, he'd become the world's strongest just because he tried a little bit harder.
That was on a lighter mood; he wasn't as stupid as to let these achievements get over his head.
If anything, he was now being more careful; he had more than one use for a monster, which makes thoughtlessly killing them for talent fragments intolerable.
On one hand, growing just became a little more complicated, but on a grander scale of things, it will all come back to add up in the end.
What he just needed was time and the mastery of efficiency.
Northern folded his arms and bore down at the now skinny Commander.
He slowly rose up, hands and legs trembling.
"I... will... kill... you..." even his voice was trembling, not finding a stable tone.
Northern watched with a wicked glint in his eyes, thinking for a while, then he parted his lips and spoke.
"I think I should kill you. But I won't gain much from killing you."
Losing his true name had caused the Commander to drop in danger level, hence, tremendously diminishing in strength.
If Northern was to kill him now, he'd only gain four talent fragments, akin to having killed him while he was a Catastrophe; that was quite small.
But there was a better way to make this fun.
Northern grinned as the idea fully formed in his head.
"So, here's what is going to happen. I will spare you, and wait for you to come back to have your vengeance. What I'm saying is, use this drive of defeat to get stronger, gain another name, become stronger, and make sure you defeat me. If you entertain me, I'll give you an honorable death. However, if you disappoint me, I'll just take everything from you and have you start from the beginning again."
After Northern made himself clear, he dropped a last glance at the Commander and walked away, heading into Ulzred's room.