Chapter 324 The Bitterness Of Murder
Time literally stopped, everyone and everything froze.
That time stop, however, triggered Chaos Eyes, and the view of ligatures flowed effortlessly into Northern's visuals.
Because of the time stop, Cal's physical presence was unseen.
The whole point of Time Warp was to embed the user in the embrace of time itself, carrying them from one point to the other.
While it might seem instantaneous, or look the same as Shunpo, it isn't.
Shunpo worked with the concept of defying distance, but in the end, it is limited to how far one can see.
There is also a slight delay which can be caught by someone more experienced and sharp with battles.
Time Warp, however, was a dangerous ability that took one's physical presence out of reality, pausing time to prevent an outside reaction, and dropping the person's presence wherever they willed it to be while resuming time after the deed is done.
Which means no one should be conscious in this moment.
Cal had no doubt that it would work; he was sure of his ability and had seen it play out several times among his foes.
Although he wouldn't also deny that there was something about Northern that made him uncomfortable.
Northern, immediately he saw the ligatures, didn't need to think.
Chaos Eyes was in a moment of extreme procession, in collision with his slight mastery of the Chaos footwork, everything in that moment synchronized perfectly.
And executed a muscle memory—Northern was led forward by the reflex of his own body, the reflex he never built or never thought to have.
One that was of Chaos.
And the amazing thing was that, as he was about to use it, the information about the particular sword technique that would be executed flowed into his brain.
It was as if Chaos Eyes was feeding it to him.
This caused Northern to murmur the moment Cal disappeared.
"Chaos Art, sub form, FALLING STAR"
Immediately, Northern exploded forth a downward strike that released a concentrated burst of energy upon impact with the air.
In this case, the energy released was a burst of blue flames that consumed the entire air, entrapping him in a circle of flames.
And the air that was hit was the time-masked Cal. Northern's strike had synchronized with the perfect time Cal launched his own strike too, causing there to be a massive shockwave.
But Northern, having known this was going to happen, instantly shot his sword forward for a counter.
"Chaos Art, second sub form, Comet Fury"
He unleashed a combo series of swift, precise thrusts that bombarded the stunned Cal from multiple angles.
Disoriented and broken out of his ultimate ability, Cal was helpless and Northern was resolved.
To gain any semblance of control, Cal knew the best option was to distance himself from Northern as fast as possible.
The fact that he could even think straight in a pressuring situation like this proved he was a seasoned fighter.
But he was too late, having forgotten that Northern now had his speed ability.
Or rather, he underestimated Northern enough to not realize that his talent had been permanently copied.
Unfortunately, when he realized it was his last breath drawn.
In that moment that Cal lunged backwards was when Northern exploded forward with Velocity Dash, while using Chaos Sword Art.
"...First Form, third sub form, SILENT REQUIEM"
Cal's eyes widened before he could recount anything. He saw it but he couldn't act, because he was already in motion.
Northern just happened to be in a faster motion than he was, ushering a deadly skill, one that was a simple thrust forward, swift and silent, entering into his gut with the tenderness of a knife softly entering into a peeled orange.
Squeezing out his crimson gore as the Soul Taker came out from his nape.
And enveloping him in a dance of fiery blue flames.
Cal tried to scream but his voice failed him, his mouth was agape with blood gaggling in his throat and pouring out.
Eyes widened and blood drooling from the corner of his eyes.
He stretched his hand forward to reach for Northern but right in that moment Northern yanked the sword free from his neck, causing a froth of blood to gush out of his neck.
Cal's body slumped to the ground, but the fire continued to dance and lick him. Northern watched as his blood formed a pool.
Killing a man indeed left a bitterness in his mouth and heart.
It was different from when he first killed a monster, even though both scenarios were a kill or be killed situation.
His heart squirmed with irritation in that moment, however, in the next moment.
His eyes widened with glee because of the notification that was brought to his face.
[Congratulations, you have slain a Transient rank Traverser of the underworld]
[You have gained 64 talent fragments for killing a Sage]
[You have gained an Item]
The amount of talent fragments he gained caused his mouth to drop.
An item too—he was really hoping it was what he thought it could be.
However, he didn't have the time to revel in the experience. Raven walked up to him from behind and touched his shoulder.
"I know it doesn't feel good. But it was absolutely necessary."
Northern's expression paled at her words. He looked back with a horrified face,
"Are you even fifteen? How would you even say that? What do you mean absolutely necessary? So, you'd find no issue doing it too?"
Raven shook her head with a small smile.
"No, I wouldn't. My first kill was when I was seven. I was thrown into a pit of black snakes which are the result of the talent ability of a man. My mission was to survive the snakes and kill the man in the pit."
Northern's expression grew even paler.
'Just what is the Kageyama clan thinking! No wonder Shin hates them too'
He sighed and shook his head a little.
"I don't even know what to say…" He turned to the direction of the settlement, Marabeth. "But we have a fight before us, don't we?"
"Yes we do," Raven responded, and turned to Northern. "It's an honor fighting with you."
A small smile played out on Northern's lips, then he nodded, "It's an honor fighting with you too."
"Ah, I'm seventeen by the way. Not fifteen."
Northern frowned at Raven's correction.
'So she's older?'
He scoffed at her, "Sure whatever…"
Practically, she wasn't but he didn't want to think about that.
He summoned a clone to pick up Ulzred, however, his eyes widened to realize the boy king was not there anymore.
"Crap, I didn't see Sura take him."
Raven also looked blankly at where Ulzred was supposed to be laying.
She exhaled and said:
"Well, whichever case it is, I think this is our end line. We can worry about the boy after defeating Sura and this entire settlement."
Northern nodded.
"Yeah, since I plan to become a Master before leaving this place, I don't intend on letting any of them go."
Name: Northern Longguard
True Name: [Nameless]³
Attributes: [Formless], [Spawn of Void], [Limitless Void], [Vestige of Chaos and Void], [Chaos Eyes], [Chaos Thread], [Flames of Chaos]
Soul Rank: [Drifter]
Void Summons: [6/100]
Talent Fragments: [848/2000]
[Copied Talents]: [2/2]
[Owned Talents]: [1]
[Attribute Abilities (Active/Passive)]: [9/10]
[Owned Items]: [Mortal Blade], [Eternal Twilight], [Silver Sword], [Death Glare] and 6 others.