True Devil, Awakening
-Unknown Territory, Beast Realm-
As Percy was on his knees in front of Chrysaor, he could feel a powerful, irresistible suction from the Golden monk in front of him. And there was no resistance from him either. he could feel the power of the monk. If he accepted that power, wouldn't he become invincible? Unstoppable? Wouldn't he finally gain the power to protect all these people who he loved?
So, what if he was sacrificing his soul?
So, what if he was sacrificing himself?
Hadn't he already prepared to lose everything when he decided to use riptide?
BUZZZZZZ!
An explosive roar suddenly rang out from the distance and both Chrysaor and the golden monk swung their heads in that direction, their eyes widening. "W-what?"
The skies trembled and a Blue pillar of light suddenly descended between Percy and the Monk, immediately severing the connection between the two of them. Percy realized what had happened and his eyes regained focus as he stared at the pillar of light in front of him. While others might not recognize or realise what it was, how could Percy not?
With one trembling hand raised, he slowly started walking towards the pillar. That was because he could see something within the pillar. It was… without a doubt… Riptide?
The gleaming bronze sword emitted an unfathomable aura, a powerful aura of righteousness that even caused the other riptide in Percy's hand to start trembling. But that was not what attracted Percy's attention. It was the aura. Mike's aura. This was mike's Incomplete Devil Sword, his riptide that Percy had buried alongside with its master. But now, it was here, and with its appearance, t felt as if mike was speaking to Percy from even beyond the grave. Just like when Percy had been an impulsive brat who used to disobey all his orders. Mike used to kneel down in front of him, then slug him in the face before laughing. His eyes were always sparkling with mirth, with joy and love for him. Even in death, that had never disappeared.
"Percy… Hatred… Revenge… you must never… never… lose yourself."
Percy trembled and his soul stabilized as mike's soft words echoed in his mind.
"You… are my successor… but more importantly… you are… MY SON! Do not disgrace my name!"
The glow around riptide grew even stronger and it suddenly emitted a powerful suction as it thrust towards Percy's chest. Percy flinched but before he could move, the sword stabbed itself through his chest… and was absorbed into the pearl on his chest.
Immediately, an explosion of information erupted in Percy's mind, like a tidal storm of the accumulation of all the experiences and knowledge Mike had gathered over the years.
Percy slowly closed his eyes and breathed in. his aura had calmed down and an eerie peace had descended on the world that not even Chrysaor or his master dared to break. Then Percy's eyes opened and a terrifying roar resounded. The scales on his arms rapidly spread, covering every inch of his body in an instant. His fingers turned in to claws, spikes erupting over his body, his entire frame rising up to almost eight feet tall, and a gigantic, six feet long tail erupting from his back before coiling up behind him. Percy's eyes were pitch black voids as he stared at Chrysaor and his master. Who Percy now recognized. His mouth opened, revealing crooked and jagged fangs that were carved into deadly efficiency, a long black tongue slipping out as he tasted the air around himself. "Smelly… Gabe… you still stink."
At this moment, the riptide in Percy's hand finally stopped trembling and resisting him as it unveiled an equally ferocious aura as it's master as Percy slowly turned his gaze to Chrysaor. "And you Chrysaor… let me show you a sword that can kill immortals."
-Unknown Territory, Spiritas Realm-
Mrs O Leary slowly turned around with a smile as she faced Allen. Her eyes were cold and her bloodlust was on par with even the Darkflame Phoenix. "So, you're the enemy of my master? How brave for a mere Divine Spirit like you to dare to challenge my master!"
The Possessed corpse smiled eerily. "A mere Heaven rank Spirit dares to speak to me like this?"
"Let me show you if I'm qualified or not!" Mrs O Leary snarled and leapt towards Allen again.
Percy rose to his feet, raising his hand as a wave of fire erupted from his palm, wrapping around the Darkflame phoenix from behind. The Darkflame had no choice but to ignore Percy's attack as he himself leapt to meet Mrs O Leary's attack. As her dagger collided with his fist, Percy could immediately see the difference between their powers. Though Mrs O Leary currently appeared to be equally matched against him, the Darkflame phoenix was much stronger than the current Mrs O Leary. Though she was holding on, she would inevitably lose if the battle dragged on.
However, as if Percy would let her fight alone like that. He slammed his fist into the ground and to everyone's surprise, shards of ice erupted from underground, turning into gigantic hands as they reached out to grab Allen.
Allen Scowled and his fire erupted, meting away the ice. At the same time, Percy's shoulders gave rise to two wings of Vermillion flames as he also flew into the air, one hand covered with golden Flames and the Other holding as sword or Crimson Flames. This was the combination of The Vermillion Bird, The Golden Crow and the Crimson Phoenix!
"How!?" Allen's eyes were wide with disbelief as he clashed with Percy repeatedly. Percy's powers were simply on the same level of his own! It had to be understood, the Darkflame was a true Divine Spirit. Even if another human with a Divine Spirit were to fight against him, he would still be superior. But Percy… he had completely broken through to a new level of power! Of course, the reason for this was quite simple. That was because, Percy was not just using one Divine Spirit. Within Percy's body were countless divine Spirits whose fearsome power surpassed all imagination! Right now, the Souls of the 3 great Flame Spirits was completely showcased! As such, Percy truly had the power of a Divine Spirit.
As Asclepius watched, his own eyes flashed with appreciation and surprise. After all he truly hadn't thought Percy would be so powerful! Of course, if it was just Percy, he would still lose. Even though their powers were equal, Percy had very low stamina and his battle experience was also very weak compared to the Ancient Darkflame Phoenix. But at his side, there was a Heaven Rank Spirit Mrs O Leary! Her Battle experience and techniques were even more powerful than the Darkflame phoenix itself, slowly beginning to supress it. As the two of them worked, slowly, bit by bit, the Darkflame Spirit was suppressed. And evidently it also had realised this as it tried desperately to escape, looking for some way to break out of Percy and Mrs o Leary's encirclement. But how could they let it escape so easily? As the battle dragged on, both parties were constantly weakening as they wore each other out.
In the end, the Darkflame spirit managed to break free. However, rather than escaping, he immediately rushed towards Stella's body instead.
"Courting Death!" Percy was immediately enraged and moved to block it. However, the Darkflame Spirit was incomparably cunning. It instantly destroyed Allen's Body, self-destructing it as it absorbed the power from the body.
The explosion forced both Percy and Mrs O Leary back and the Spirit rushed towards Stella to possess her body. It knew that once it had fused with Stella's Phoenix power, it would immediately surpass Percy and Mrs O Leary. "Hehehe, foolish child. How could you ever hope to compare with me in terms of planning and strategy?" the Spirit mocked Percy as it continued to rush towards Stella. But at that moment, a wicked smile crossed Mrs O Leary's lips.
"First, you must meet this old man!" a resounding roar suddenly swept forward as Asclepius appeared before Stella, his body glowing with a holy aura. Of course, if it was the possessed Allen, he was no match for it. But a spirit body like the Darkflame Phoenix was simply too vulnerable to his Purification Powers.
"NOOOO!" the Darkflame Phoenix roared unwillingly and it immediately ignored Stella and tried to back away. But Percy was already upon it, both his hands covered with gauntlets of fire as he grabbed at the Darkflame Phoenix.
"SCREEEEEE~~~!"
The Darkflame Phoenix unleashed its full power, erupting at full force as it tried to break free.
"IMPUDENT!"
The Crimson Phoenix Screeched as a terrifying majesty spread from Percy's right hand.
"KNEEL!"
The Golden Crow burned the heavens in a single cry, its power radiating from Percy's left hand.
The Red phoenix flames and the Golden Crow flames completely submerged the Darkflame Phoenix and then fused together. The two fires mixed and fused and a powerful might that shook the heavens was released from the fused flames. Though they had simply mixed, and not truly fused with each other, their power soared, and a painful screech was heard from the ball of fire.
Refined. The Proud and arrogant Darkflame Phoenix was being absorbed and refined by Percy!
-Destruction Territory, Destruction Realm-
Moon Splitting Cascade's fundamental stage was profound and cryptic. It contained tens of thousands of mysterious principles and variations, while its profound energy circulation method was even more complex and ever changing… moreover, it could only be used with frost profound energy. Without frost profound energy, it was absolutely impossible to learn.
No matter the profound energy requirement nor the circulation method, they were all much harsher and more complicated than Celestial Moon God's Moonlight Flash … the cultivation difficulty was also several times greater.
This was the Destruction Realm's Oblivion Grounds, a sacred place that no outsiders could approach. Here, Percy could obtain a state of complete focus. After his initial difficulty and four hours of strenuous nonstop cultivation, his mastery of Moon Splitting Cascade had already moved from the initial stage to the beginner stage. He now only needed a span of three breaths to teleport once and the distance far surpassed what it had been before. However, he would leave behind a clear ice afterimage.
After dozens of practice attempts, he would close his eyes and return to comprehending the mysteries and variations of its fundamental formula. Under his terrifying comprehension and focus, he would gain new understanding each time and every use of the art would show obvious progress.
The activation speed grew quicker and quicker, while the ice afterimages became fainter and fainter.
For ordinary profound practitioners, such enlightenment could not be forced. Tens, hundreds, and even thousands of years could be spent comprehending some of the extremely high grade and complicated profound arts before an understanding dawned...
On the other hand, Percy only needed to close his eyes and concentrate for fifteen minutes to half an hour to attain new understanding.
Eight hours later, an icy figure appeared in the Sacred Hall and silently observed the highly focused Percy as he practiced.
Eight hours was undoubtedly the shortest of times for a cultivator. Yet, in the newcomer's eyes, every time Percy displayed the Moon Splitting Cascade, it would be several times more complete than during the previous eight-hour period. Although it was still at the initial stage and could not be used for actual combat, if such astonishing progress continued, it was extremely probable that the first "shadowless" stage would be reached in less than a month.
Moreover, it seemed that he did not even need her guidance over this period.
Another "Moon Splitting Cascade" was completed. This time, it was not only fast but there was also barely any ice afterimage. However, there was still a tremendous gap compared to what The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit had displayed earlier.
The Ice Phoenix Spirit gave a faint smile of appreciation, then disappeared.
-Many Years Later-
Percy was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed at the centre of the heavenly lake. There was no aura on his body but wave after wave of the water in the heavenly lake was rising and flowing slowly around him.
It was not actually the water of the heavenly lake that was being soundlessly influenced by Percy, but the power of frost contained within it.
There was no doubt that among the energies Percy possessed, the power of the Phoenix flame was the strongest. Evidently, its power had completely surpassed the Power of the Azure Dragon after he had finished comprehending the World Ode of the Phoenix. There wasn't any need to even mention the power of the Ice Phoenix, which was the weakest of the energies in his possession, as it was only being supported by a single drop of divine blood.
It was at this time that seven cold beams appeared out of the blue and shot towards his back.
Percy reacted almost instantly as his body rose up while maintaining the same posture, and the seven cold beams pierced through his afterimage.
There was no warning of the seven cold beams of light that had come shooting towards Percy's back. It was as if they had suddenly come out of a crack in space. His spirit sense hadn't sensed them at all, but his body reacted even faster than his spirit sense could perceive the existence of the beams. Percy quickly turned around in the sky, but before he could say anything, he fell down under an irresistible might, as he was forcibly smacked into the heavenly lake.
"master," Percy said his greeting as he kneeled down on one knee in the midst of the heavenly lake.
The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit was looking down from the sky. Her ice-cold gaze swept over his body, as she seemingly mumbled to herself, "Looks like it's about time."
"Sit down!"
She didn't give Percy any opportunity to ask any questions. Consequently, Percy could only correct his posture and sit back down on the heavenly lake.
The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit descended from the sky and came over to him. She moved her right hand lightly in the air as blue lights appeared one after another. Every time a blue light appeared, it would be accompanied by an aura that was bone-piercingly chilly but vast as an ocean.
As the Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit lightly pointed ahead, the blue lights and their auras rushed forth into the centre of Percy's brows.
This is…
The divine blood of the Ice Phoenix!
Percy wasn't unfamiliar with the aura of the divine blood of the Ice Phoenix. Back then, when he had acknowledged The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit as his master, he was bestowed a drop of the divine blood, which was a favour only the disciples of The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit could get.
But now, The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit was once again bestowing him the divine blood of the Ice Phoenix. Furthermore…
As much as six drops at that!
"Master…"
"Don't be distracted!"
The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit said in a stern tone, "Master won't help you deal with these six drops of divine blood. You need to refine them on your own! The divine blood of the Ice Phoenix contains supreme frost laws which can be only be comprehended if you refine them by yourself. It's also the best opportunity for you to truly understand the laws of the Ice Phoenix!"
The voice beside his ear gradually became indistinct. Percy also paid no more attention to anything else as he focused completely on the six drops of the divine blood of the Ice Phoenix.
The newly acquired divine drops slowly fused with his blood vessels and profound veins. In his body, the blood of the dragon god, divine blood of the phoenix sensed its presence and unleashed strong divine auras, but there was no sign of rejection from them as one would expect normally.
The Divine Ice Phoenix Spirit didn't leave the place, and silently looked at Percy as she sensed the change in his aura. Based on her experience of millions of years and incomparably vast knowledge, she was firmly convinced that it was only with Percy that such perfect coexistence of divine blood, divine aura, and divine body could happen in the entire God Realm, in the boundless Primal Chaos.
Seven days later.
Waves began to surge all of a sudden on the Heavenly Oblivion Lake as chaotic auras from all around, and even from inside the heavenly lake, rushed forth towards Percy. The aura present on Percy's body disappeared for a moment, after which it once again erupted fiercely and immediately forced the water around him away, raising quite a big swirl of water.
Percy opened his eyes slowly. It was also in this instant when the ice spirits over the heavenly lake stopped their graceful dance. All of them frantically swarmed towards Percy and flew beside his body while letting out faint cries of excitement. They didn't show any signs of dispersing even after a long period of time.
At this moment, Percy's aura was surging like an awakened dragon.
Overgod, Rank one! After so many years of being trapped within the Destruction Realm, Percy had finally broken through the limitations of death, and forcefully cultivated to the rank of an Overgod! It had to be understood that Percy was a creature born of the Primal Chaos. As such, his body was fundamentally opposed to the Primal Realm of Destruction. But not only had he survived for so many years in this incompatible environment, he had also learned to use the energy of destruction! And now he had used this energy of destruction. He had absorbed and refined it and reached the realm of Overgod! He was the first God created by the energy of Destruction!
Up in the void above Percy, Destruction stood there, watching Percy. "Finally. Looks like I wasn't wrong to choose him. He is indeed worthy. Worthy of the Chaos seed. And Worthy of my Seed of Destruction as well. If so, it is finally time to tell him how to return to the world of the living."
Author's note: Double update because of quarantine boredom. Also, I bet none of you guessed you'd see Gabe in the fanfiction. But who better to serve as the villain for Percy, if not for him?
