"Hahahahaha! It's over for you, Transcender!" The awakening of the emperor came in a clutch against the Lich's shortcomings in its match against its oppressor.
The sinister Lich left the vessel and before Neon could even flinch he was sent to the castle walls with just a simple kick. This feeling he thought had disappeared resurfaces once more, the blood-curdling feeling, and his bones which uncontrollably shake. Correction, he was feeling fear for the very first time since his revival. And that fear came in the form of an undying vessel of a shackled emperor.
[System Log]
[Status]: Portions of the Guardian's body were left unshielded—pierced by unidentified attacks.
[Outcome]: Special ability triggered — Devouring Leeches' natural regeneration has been activated.
[Problem]: Nutritional reserves insufficient for complete recovery.
[Solution]: Mana reserves consumed to sustain life. Internal bleeding halted. Bone fractures stabilized.]
'It's been a long time coming, this is one of those occasional mood swings I felt in my time surviving this hell hole... But I've never backed down without a fight, it's been so long since I've drugged myself. Well, whatever... I've already gotten this serious since I've faced the abnormality,'
Before he left the crater, Neon unpacks every single one of his drugs packed with a variety of different sets of buffs. He did the unthinkable and downs all of it with not a single care of the aftermath. But since he left the dark forest his immunity was no longer shackled by the toxicity of its air and it was later revealed his body was immune.
[System Warning]
[Alert]: Stimulant intake has exceeded standard thresholds!
[Status]: Due to advanced resistance and altered physiology, host remains unaffected by side effects.
[Reward]: Achievement unlocked — [Drug Addict]
Healing, buffs, and stimulants are 30% more effective.
Side effect chance reduced by 20%.
[System Log]
[Status]: Eight rounds of Grade A stimulants successfully ingested.
[Effect]: Each stimulant boosts all stats by 25%.
[Result]: Total stat boost = +200%
[Stroke of Luck]: Failed. Buff stacking decreased trigger rate.
[Skill Sync]: Unparalleled Alchemical Knowledge
Buff duration doubled: 5 → 10 → 20 minutes.
[Passive Activated]: Underleveled Pro
Temporary stat increase when facing stronger foes.]
"20 minutes is enough to make do with my opponent," A light step manages to leave a huge hole enhancing the overall size of the crater.
His speed entered a new pinnacle and it was enough for him to learn perceived the attacks of his foe. The clash of their blades echoed and every floor below heard a thunderous clap. Every clash of their blade would emit a loud and terrific screech and their speed was unperceivable to the untrained eye. They stood tall in the center of the ruins of what was previously described as the throne room which became their battlefield.
Neck and neck, with each side swinging their blade as if it were their last, Neon manages to parry most of the ruined emperor's attacks. Every ounce of movement quickly drained him of his stamina and every single skill activation slowly reduce the remainder of his mana. The two of them were stuck in endless exchanges of swordplay until it forcibly stopped by a single technique.
"I've finally remembered all of your moves," He caught the emperor off of his guard when he suddenly mixed a spear in the middle of their skirmishes.
[System Alert]
[Skills Triggered]:
Golden Eyes of the Abyssal Tiger:
Advanced predictive vision activated.
Thorneus Bone Structure: Defensive and offensive enhancement granted.
Unbound: Passive proficiency and adaptability boost activated.]
A durable white spear poked out of his flesh and was propelled manages to disrupt the movement of the emperor. His custom-made sword was no longer in any condition to continue and so he created a spear with the help of his ability. The Lich was sickened at his tricks and used all of the souls in his possession to enhance the power of the twilight emperor.
"End his life now!!! Kill this insect, I can't stand his attitude!! You're an emperor right end him now~ Ugggh... Arghhhgg!!!" The Lich's soul appeared to have been afflicted by an attack that originated from the twilight emperor.
Its power was enough to harm the sinister spirit who was his master, but it never once left its trance. The emperor was able to escape the trance inflicted by the sinister Lich, the reason being the amount of power he possesses. The power of hundreds of souls merged into his undying body drove him insane and incapable of telling the difference between his foe from his master.
"Power... I want more!!!" The Lich was slaughtered then and there with a single attack from the twilight emperor. The outcome converted this once-enslaved spirit into a power-hungry monster. In an attempt of gaining more power, it plots and with a single thrust manages to pressure and broke Neons spear in one fell swoop.
"Food!!! You... You will become my food!!!" The souls gave the emperor a major advantage and all of Neon's buff was no longer able to lessen their gap.
The amount of mana he spent and all of his stamina were nearing their end. He longer had any cards to play and could do was grit his teeth and pull every ounce left of his body. He first conjures up a weapon with the help of his bones wherein he manages to prolong his life, in the emperor's nonstop assault. With a sword, spear, dagger, and staff, these weapons were the one he mastered before his untimely death.
[System Log]
Relentless - Triggered!
Stamina depletion delayed.
Time remaining until full exhaustion: 10 minutes.]
He shifts from one weapon to another whilst he carefully reads the moves of the twilight emperor. Though it was powerful, its rage made him incapable of using one of its skills and Neon only needs to adapt to its change of attacks. Its thrashing was an unpredictable turn of events and the power of souls it consumed made it harder for Neon to withstand. All of his preparations were all for naught and at the end of their ongoing fight made him realized the time.
[System Warning]
[Buff Expiry]: All Grade A stimulant effects have ended.
Stat boost duration exceeded.
Physique and mana returning to base levels.]
With his constant acts of maintaining his life, he never once paid any attention to the duration of the drugs. In one instance, his body was torn to shreds, he couldn't even comprehend the speed of the slash. Even with all of his efforts, all of his planning, and even every ounce of his preparation wasn't able to turn the outcome in his favor.
[System Critical]
[Fatal Damage Detected]
Body integrity collapsed. Limbs shredded.
Death count initiating in 3… 2… 1…
[Error]: Death protocol interrupted. Unidentified skill override.
[Skill Activated]: Second Wind
All injuries restored.
Lost limbs transformed into controllable homunculi.
3 seconds of invincibility granted.
Cooldown: 24 hours.
Skill Grade: F+]
'Hehehehehe, what a joke... I thought this skill was a cruel joke because of the ability it has, but it's true. So this is the reason why the golden eyes didn't warn me about the timer running out. Well, It's time for the final act to occur,'
The limbs turned into a mutated variant of his limbs and with his single command, the outcome was decided. Every limb that turned into his minions grappled onto the twilight emperor and gave him a split second for his final move. His attack wasn't a slash of a sword nor was it a thrust of his spear, all of his mana was gone and his strength was only temporary. Though he died, he remained in his catastrophic form and not long after he made a fist, and with it, he evoked the activation chant.
[System Log]
[Final Skill Activated]: Stockpiling Full Impact
Fist-based force release triggered.
Arm destroyed on execution.
Tower collapse initiated due to environmental disruption.]
The force brought down the owner of the tower and because of that, the rules of the tower hand applied. The tower was no longer able to withstand the force of his punch, and it collapses upon his victory. But he wasn't yet finished, after he restored a decent amount of stamina and regenerated his limbs he sets off to find the spirit of the emperor.
But to his surprise, the emperor along with the rest of his subjects appeared on his back and bowed in his presence.
"Thank you for everything you've done... Not only did you free my people, you even saved this foolish ruler from ruination. My old friend told me about your predicament, I'll tell you everything I know before we disappear," After that whole fiasco about the tower, a week had passed and two of them were now capable of leaving the forest behind.
'Transcenders are beings who defied their fate, individuals who defied their deaths to be certain... Death is an irreversible outcome that not everyone can escape, and I manage to do what was deemed to be impossible. Let alone I possess the power of the catastrophic monsters... Today's our last day since I had to trouble myself in handling that mythical monster,'
"Master, I've already packed every single one of our items, let's go already!!!" Alex called for him as soon as all of their preparation was finally complete.
'I guess it's time. I won't miss this place a single bit, I hate it here... Now's the time for me to leave and do what I always thought of doing since I awakened. Leave this hellish environment and find the answers to my assassination,'
[System Log]
[Ability Unlocked]: Draconic Wings: Homunculus Shift
Mana pool enhanced.
Spellcasting capacity improved.
Weight reduction + bone lightening = flight capability enabled.]
'Ernest Quelt is dead... That's a fact that people have to live with their lives and I'll make it that way even if I have to silence anyone who knows. If anyone were to find that I'm alive, even if I'm welcomed, the ones who planned my assassination will appear. If that's how it is, I rather have my old self remain deceased. A new tale is about to begin, it's not about the great alchemist and his journey, but about that time I got reborn as a homunculus. I'll put up with hiding for a while, until I'm strong enough to unveil myself, get my revenge, and attain peace by reigning over every living thing'