Chapter 461: A Fierce Showdown [Part 4]: Face To Face With The Devil
Northern leaped directly into the heart of the storm, which was raging thunderously with vicious gales, relentless tsunamis, and two distinct forms of flames-one crimson, the other ominous like tendrils of darkness.
In that brief and fleeting moment when he used the Black Flame to cleave the storm, he noticed something happen.
The potency and increased consuming ability had indeed surpassed what he expected, devouring all the elements in its path.
For that moment, Northern witnessed an uncanny phenomenon.
Due to the intensity at which the Black Flames consumed everything, it seemed like space itself was being consumed.
The space, along with the physical essence of the rising sea, appeared to be losing its stability. This was the reason why he instantly switched to Chaos Eyes.
As he lunged into the mouth of the storm, directly at that particular tear, Northern wrapped his hands in Void essence.
They were like thick darkness-like air, clothed and dancing on his hands, turning them pitch black. He plunged them into the ripped space with a crazed grin etched on his face.
As he began to fall, Northern held tightly onto what his hands had grabbed with all his might. He made sure not to let go, even as he fell toward the sea.
The object started to stretch out like rotten flesh, but it seemed to resist greatly, trying with all its might to return to the ripened space that was already merging back together.
But it seemed like Northern's grip was like unnatural sticky glue. No matter the strength the strange creature applied to break free from Northern's hold, it was utterly useless.
Northern finally fell into the sea, with an unnaturally elongated part of the monster's flesh.
The space was now remaining just a spot to close up. However, the drawn-out flesh hindered the spot from closing completely.
This caused the space to eject the foreign object that hindered its regeneration completely. Something spewed out of the space, tumbling across the ocean's surface before finally sinking.
Northern had instantaneously let go of the flesh in his hand because the thing threatened to pull him along with the sudden ejection of the monster.
Aerisyles came down, grabbing him with its leg. Northern climbed up to the back of the creature as it flew upward.
The creature immediately landed on the ship, and Northern came down, walking toward the back with his eyes set on the point where the creature had sunk into the water.
The storm in front of them had calmed down; the waters were slowly regaining their peace, as were the clouds.
There were no traces of the crimson flames and Black Flames anymore. The Black Flames had consumed the crimson flames, while space itself had vanquished the Black Flames, simply erasing their existence in that portion of space as it regenerated.
The atmosphere was cooling. Northern's armor began to materialize, the black surface glistening as it appeared on his body.
The mark it had received from Koll still stood there, a testament to the tough battle. Onyx horns twisted out of Northern's head as the armor finished forming on his body.
Then a black cloak appeared on him, fluttering gently in the ocean breeze.
Northern stared keenly at the waters behind, and very soon, it began to ripple.
He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist tightly on the Soul Taker.
Several other monsters were still in battle underwater. Of course, the battle was not in favor of Northern's monsters; however, neither he nor they cared.
All he focused on was vanquishing the Kirithon, which he had forcefully pulled out in its true form.
This time, without having to unweave thousands of ligatures.
The surface of the water rippled and began to drive closer toward him; something beneath was rushing toward him with immense speed and power.
Northern's grip on Stainless tightened for the second time as he stood on the edge of the ship, ready to lunge into the air.
The creature burst out of the water in an outrageous splash, a nightmarish amalgamation of sinew, bone, and distorted form.
It headed for the surface of Northern's ship, but Northern had already taken off, clashing with its multiple limbs midair as both plummeted downwards.
A black rift broke out at the ocean's surface as Northern extended his hand-swallowing both of them.
The ocean's surface became calm; underwater, there was a slight battle going on, but it mattered little to the significance of the true battle and didn't entirely disturb the newfound peace of the surroundings.
Meanwhile, all Jeci could do was helplessly watch as everything unfolded, while the true reality of Northern's strength registered in her mind.
Throughout the demonstration, she began to doubt the truth she knew.
She told herself multiple times as she watched him, 'No way, he can't be a Nomad.'
She had been fortunate enough to see the Tower Sage and the Emperor battle each other- even though it was just a mock battle. She had also seen the two Ascendants fight each other while training.
And the level of combat prowess that Northern was displaying, his catastrophic onslaught and their effect on the sea, it was nothing less than those powerhouses.
So how exactly was she supposed to believe that Northern was a Nomad soul rank?
If truly he was, that meant...
The thought sounded so dangerous that she refused to pursue the notion. She just shook her head and muttered to herself blankly.
"No, there's no way he's a Nomad rank."
Northern and the Kirithon plunged from the sky into the narrow canyon of the Red Mine. The creature tumbled away while Northern quickly stopped himself with friction to his feet.
Since both of them were falling with momentum, the momentum continued even though their direction had switched from horizontal to vertical.
He slowly straightened his back and stood upright. The Kirithon did the same, glaring at him.
Northern released his grip on Stainless, materializing Soul Taker and Dark Mortal simultaneously. He looked the creature dead in the eyes and said:
"Come at me, you son of a slut."