"Last chance, better make it count." Artorian spat, getting blood out of his mouth as he lifted his sword in a pointed stance.

It was a bloody gauntlet he had to fight through, the Vessels almost a perfect collection to take down any superior opponent. Of the eight, five of them were physical alterations and powers; ranging from speed augmentations and strength boosts to less orthodox gifts. One possessed an ability to collect kinetic energy, build it up, and release it. Artorian made the mistake of underestimating him before learning his ability. Along with a nasty bruise at the right of his face, there was no doubt three others; one at his chest, stomach and back from blows he received.

Air manipulation had also been a battle in itself, as the hybrid noticed frequently bullets of compressed air struck across his body. Some had enough force and piercing to cut into his variable suit, two even drawing blood and one grazing his forehead and passing his hair, red seeping into the silver locks. There was attempts at slices through the air to cut into him, but those lacked the precision of the air bullets and could be dodged.

And the damn light spawner was good at blinding him when needed, making counters more difficult even as the room was damn near pitch black. No offensive attacks came from this one, but working alongside the others resulted in some nasty blows landing on the Abysswalker.

However their weakness was the last two, who in their minds were their aces. One was simple, short-range teleportation. Oval portals with a vertical diameter of two meters and a width of one, simple and sweet. It was how the strength Vessel and the kinetic amplifier got some of their best shots on him. But the real kicker was the last, who possessed the ability to control shadows in the area.

He was the reason the room was pitch black, Karen and Miharu completely blind to the fight that was happening. Artorian noticed it wasn't a masterful control, but acted more as a barrier, cutting off light at any external source. His power was honed as well, as the other Vessels moved just fine in the darkness, granted sight by him and the occasional flash bang the light Vessel brought. A perfect way to take away the sight from any opponent they came across.

Any opponent, except for Artorian.

As an Abysswalker, conceptual powers were rendered useless on him. It was that reason Cronu's time manipulation never gave him an opening, as Artorian was moving freely in the fraction of time as the Vessel had. The artificial grasp of shadows was a factor he saw and couldn't pass on. So he played his part, too well at first when the kinetic Vessel's punch hit his chest the first time. He couldn't avoid taking hits, lest he expose his vision. So he rolled with the hits, tanking them as needed.

He waited for an opening, found as during the light Vessel's fifth flash bang he lunged forward going for the shadow Vessel. The teleporter assumed that was his attack, transporting Artorian into what was planned to be a kill shot from the kinetic Vessel. And it was when half his face slid off they realized something was wrong.

Just under the ear, that was where the Abysswalker's blade hit before it went up diagonally, crimson ichor reflecting the last second of light and illuminating the shock of the others to Artorian. Whether it was fear clouding their judgement or putting it up to blind luck and instincts, the Vessels hadn't realized he was able to see clearly. Which let him draw them in close, now the physically enhanced, moving forward to rip him to pieces.

And it happened too fast for them to retreat when the wind Vessel saw what happened. Artorian stomped down, the floor shattering beneath them and throwing the speedster off the ground. He could only watch in horror as the Slayer's sword came down on him, crimson eyes staring into his as his vision split and he crumbled to the ground, sliced in half vertically and into a bloody pile.

The strength enhanced Vessel meanwhile had gotten close enough to try and grab the Abysswalker, far too close for his wellbeing. He knocked Artorian's sword from his hand, but was mistaken in thinking that somehow removed the threat at hand. Two blows shook the Vessel's bones, the armor smashing apart as the liquid gel splattered into his eyes and blinding him. He was blind by the time Artorian's fist tore into his chest and exited through his back.

It was when Artorian countered the brute that the light Vessel realized that he was able to see the whole time, which meant he went next. As once the Vessel shouted the warning he was knocked down by the corpse of his ally, the teleportation portal only realigning his vision as Artorian slammed his blade down and impaled him through the corpse.

Blood splattered around as the Abysswalker swung his blade and toss the two corpses away, the movement having cleaved the last Vessel apart. Artorian counted himself lucky, as that one hadn't revealed his power yet, meaning he could have been their ace. A dead, unutilized ace was far better than all the information about them that could be gathered.

The next five minutes was a game of cat and mouse with the teleporting Vessel, as he tried to keep the Abysswalker away from the remaining trio. And he did good, tiring the Slayer out by making him get as close as possible before teleporting him away. There was no fancy games to this strategy, just teleport him away and let the wind Vessel pepper him with air bullets. The only attempt at a lethal attack came when Artorian didn't immediately charge, panting harshly as his sword was supporting his stance.

The wind Vessel clapped his hands together, concentrating a tiny cyclone into his palms to what was the equivalent of a sniper shot. Nothing had endured it before, steel was cleaved and the canyon wall had been pierced a hundred meters deep, flesh practically exploded at the slightest graze. The plan was to have Artorian prepare to dodge, and open a portal in the direction he dodged to hit him with no time to react.

That plan failed as when Artorian moved to dodge, the Vessel stared in shock as the Abysswalker through his sword through the portal just as it opened. The toothy blade dug into the teleporter's chest as his armor was outmatched by the material of the armament. In the blind coldness, his portal remained open and the wind Vessel attempted to blast him to chunks. In a display of the hopelessness they faced, the Vessels watched in horror as Artorian deflected the invisible force with a swipe of his arm, energy redirecting it to carve into the darkness as he passed through the portal.

And with him there it was too late, as he ripped the sword out of the Vessel, ripping flesh and bone out before he slashed the blade halfway through the wind Vessel's hip. Luck went against him as his armor bent and had caught the blade, stopping it halfway as he coughed out blood onto the Abysswalker's face. Artorian simply pulled the blade out, bits of guts spilling out as the Vessel collapsed into his own blood and let out a dying gasp.

Artorian's words were pointed to the shadow Vessel, who was all alone now surrounded by the corpses of his team in a horrific display. Envy had warned them that this Slayer was going to be a risk, and they miscalculated their approach. Prior to this encounter, it was believed four Vessels would be needed for an individual Slayer, excluding the lieutenants and Sins who surpassed the average Slayer. But Artorian, who was considered the weakest of his branch among Claire and Matthew.

"What… what the hell are you?" The Vessel questioned, stepping back reflexively as Artorian took a step towards him.

"What a waste of a last chance." Artorian said, and the Vessel was blitzed in a blink as Artorian decapitated him in a swing. He had no patience anymore; these bastards kidnapped people he loved, tortured Miharu, tore a hospital down, and forced his friends to fight for their lives in a game. Even on his best of days he'd have killed all of them like this.

When the Vessel's body collapsed to the ground, the shadows began to recede, slowly uncovering the bloody battleground to Karen and Miharu. But all their attention was on Artorian, the visible injuries twisting his silhouette from his position. His eyes were both open still, the bruised side of his face winced but remained aware despite the swollen skin's effort to close it. Blood, both from him and his enemies, coated across his variable suit in a twisted parody of paint, half the grey stained red.

Artorian was silent as he walked back to the girls, unable to think of anything to say as he picked his shield up from the ground. The barrier around the two then dropped, as he looked down to them with shame.

"How bad does it hurt?" Miharu eventually asked, not dumb enough to ask if he was in pain. The damage was extensive and he was tough, but he still felt every lick of pain.

"…Not as much as it looks." He was able to say, wiping some of the blood off his face. "We can debate how much you'll rail into me over being a monster later. Once we're out of this shithole."

"Artorian, you know I don't-"

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

"Well, well, you certainly don't disappoint." Artorian's whole frame froze the second the first clap was heard, and her turned slowly to see the offending piece of shit clapping at the railing three meters up.

"Fucker."

"Really, twelve years and that's the first thing you say to me?" Kai responded, chuckling as he shook his head. "No 'how are you here?', 'this isn't possible', nothing? Just a childhood insult?"

"It's not like you've grown past those days." The hybrid said, his fist trembling as the Vessel laughed.

"And it seems you haven't either, shaking like you're coated in ice." Kai applauded, respecting that the Slayer had some sense of fear preservation. It meant he recognized he wasn't in control anymore.

"You're a sick fuck, you know that?"

"Oh come on, more morality on the hospital?"

"Throwing eight of your subordinates just to feed your ego in feeling powerful." Artorian's response got a grin from Kai. He already knew that the ambush made was made not to kill Artorian, but just to wound him. Just as having lackeys as a kid made him feel like a leader, sending expendable soldiers made him feel powerful.

Especially knowing he could have killed them faster and easier than Artorian had.

"Eggs for an omelet and all that." Kai said casually, Miharu looking to him in disgust.

"All that talk of the horrors Slayers do, and you throw your men into fights they can't win." The nurse spat, her glare present as the Vessel saw it clear as day. "You're pathetic, a coward who never has been able to fight your own battles."

"Oh, so you told her about back then." Kai said, scratching the back of his head as an itch became apparent. "Well bitch, I'd watch your tongue from here on. Your purpose has been fulfilled, so every word is another bone I'll break before I kill you. You're getting pretty high."

"Of course you'd threaten the wounded prisoner."

"You're the only one not really scared of me." Kai smirked, motioning to Artorian. "He's busy shaking in his skintight boots, he knows that in a fight between us in his condition he'll lose." Kai then vaulted over the rail he was on, landing on their floor with a solid thud, his feet denting the floor. "After all, we-"

Kai's words were silenced in an instant as Artorian's hand gripped his face; the hybrid stepping past him before slamming his head into the concrete wall behind him. The room practically shook as the area of impact cratered in, the surrounding concrete cracking. The Vessel's eyes were able to just look past the fingers to see Artorian's glowing eyes, before he retracted his limb to slam his fist into his face without any protection.

It was true that Artorian was trembling, and that in some extent that was from fear. But what Kai failed to realize that fear was compounded alongside his overwhelming anger. The need to not just kill Kai, but to make him suffer for every second of pain he forced Miharu to endure. This wasn't an eye for an eye, he wanted the bastard's entire head taken off. Flesh ripped apart so he could see the basest form of the fucker's agony.

The impact of Artorian's punch did shake the entire room this time, Karen and Miharu both staring in shock at the speed and power Artorian had demonstrated. It was only amplified when Artorian jumped back, a hand placed to his chest as a fresh wound was cut into his flesh.

"Well look at me, making a mistake like that." Kai said, blood trailing down his face as five teeth dropped from his grinning mouth. "Anger, not fear. Such a simple error." A second spot of blood came from Kai, however it was from the wound he gave Artorian. And it was then everyone saw what Kai had been doing.

Protruding from Kai's palm was a blade. Not metal, not energy, not even a magically crafted construct. Skin was pushed away from the source, yet no blood was present as the yellowish-white spear dripped with Artorian's blood.

"Bone manipulation, what a fucking joke." Artorian spat, flicking some of the blood from his chest as he looked at the protruding weapon.

"Yes, quite the rare find among us Vessels. My Liege himself informed me it's a gift long since torn from the Annals of History. Even your precious pompous Lords can't replicate it outside of your Death God." Kai said with satisfaction, his ego boosted by the knowledge of his gift. It was only made worse by the fact that he was right. Bone manipulation was a powerful gift to possess, as it not only allows for such a unique approach, but it had no downsides. Evident as his teeth regrew and his injury practically vanished.

With the magic in him, he could manipulate his bones freely, his limit simply being time. It also gave him a natural heeling factor, hence why he wasn't bleeding and there was no evidence on him of his past uses of the ability. And they were strong, bone manipulation granted the user a skeleton so strong it was greater than even a Lord's supernatural biology. Only the finest crafted weapons could crush those to powder.

"They're not my Lords, and they aren't gods." Artorian growled.

"How insightful, are you going to bore me with proverbs? Pretend as if somehow you're morally superior to your people?" Kai gagged at the notion, the bone slowly receding back into him and the skin pushed back into place. "Because I'll be honest, that shit's past what I care about anymore. A hypocrite lacks any foundation."

"Said the mass murderer!" Miharu's outburst had her watch as Artorian get between her and the Vessel, blood dripping from his hand as he dropped several small projectiles. They were the bones of his fingertips, sharpened before firing and already healed back at the original host.

"You don't seem the tiniest surprised at how I've turned out." Kai noted, Artorian standing upright as he shook the blood from his palm.

"You were always a shitbag that targeted people that couldn't fight back. There's nothing new to be surprised about."

"And you're a person that's always preached he's above it all, acting as if that's any different than his bastard father or the people he denies." Kai spat in return. "You've had a superiority complex since the day you were born, it was ingrained into your DNA by that freak you call a father and whore of a mother."

Black mist escaped from Artorian at the last batch of words from Kai, an overwhelming sense of disgust entering everyone's stomach as crimson iris glared into his grey. Dread filled the two behind him, while a twisted sense of excitement graced Kai's lips.

'Just as Raime said, he's a Vessel too.' Kai grinned, mistaking the information and regarding Artorian simply as being a Vessel with an enhanced ability.

"I'm going to make it hurt, and be sure the Abyss damns you to hells beyond your comprehension." There was only malice in Artorian's voice, for a second he felt he might have lost himself then and there if he hadn't a source of anger to direct it to. And there was also Karen and Miharu, he couldn't cut loose until he was sure they were out of the crossfire.

"Oh I'm sure you would, but it won't be like last time." Kai said, grinning as he reached into one of his armor's pouches and pulled out a smooth cylinder. "After all, everything's gone just the way I wanted it."

"Including your subordinates being killed like slouches?"

"Acceptable casualties. Even if my lieutenants lost to your friends that isn't the goal. After all what would hurt reputations more: Slayers dying to rivals with the homefield advantage and dozens of unknowns? Or the son of the first Slayer dying? I certainly have an idea or two about that."

Artorian was going to retort, but his words died in his throat when Kai flicked the top of the device with his thumb. The cap hid it, but the faint glow was as obvious a sign as was needed. There wasn't a need to ask if he was crazy enough to try such a thing, it was far from the worst he's done up until now. Just for once putting him in danger.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" Kai said, noticing the hybrid take a step back at the threat.

"Why bother with words, we both know what you plan to do."

"Fair enough, I just wanted to see a bit of fear in your eyes before we say goodbye to the nurse."

Everything went quiet as Kai pressed his thumb down on the detonator, space contorting for several long seconds. Shadows and matter twisted and reformed, rushed to try and fix what had been altered by the Abyss' influence Kai had forced on the base for the gauntlet. And in those scarce few seconds, Artorian turned to grab Karen and Miharu, just getting them in his arms as Kai aimed his palm.

And in a sudden instance everything exploded. The edge of the room erupted in flames as Artorian shielded the two from the flames, staggering back as his suit and back was scorched. A spear of bone had pierced right through Artorian's stomach, blood pouring out from the clean entrance and exit wounds. The Lord took the wound without any further reactions, withstanding the flames at his back before feeling the grace of sunlight on him.

They were at the edge of the base, luck or the twisted nature of the Abyss making it possible to make for a clean escape during the chaos. Of course that was only if Kai would remain still.

Before Artorian could make a move to retreat, Kai was already right on top of them, bone blades erupting from both his palms before he slashed at the Lord. With Karen and Miharu in his arms, the Lord's only options were to take the attacks, crimson ichor spilling from his chest as bone sliced into flesh. But taking the attack gave Artorian the time needed, energy coursing into his feet as he nearly separated the two by ten meters.

Fighting Kai at the moment wasn't his plan, as he lunged through an opening of the contorted wall to the boxed descent of the canyon. He measured out his surroundings, time slowing as his adrenaline took over his senses. Looking for the best pattern, he saw debris falling in large enough amounts to use as his own footing. There was more than enough shattered metal platforms and chunks of rock ripped from the cliffside to use, it was just about getting to them.

Falling down by his feet, he landed on a blasted piece of the support beams from the base, launching himself off of it to clear thirty meters. As he was landing on the stone, a cluster of bones wrapped around his waist, Kai thrashing up with whips of bone columns connected with cartilage.

Not having time to think, he looked to the girls, a silent question of trust being asked before they nodded in agreement. Event with fear on their faces, they accepted the risk as Artorian coursed his energy to his arms and he threw them up amidst the chaos of falling debris, having made sure they didn't hit anything as they went up.

He then turned to Kai, summoning his shield and sword to deflect one of the whips before cutting between the cartilage links, severing both weapons by the time Kai landed on the falling stone with him. It was only a brief encounter as Artorian deflected several clawed lashes from Kai, bone jutting from his fingertips into razor edges that tore into the metal of the Hundred. And with its reinforced state, was able to catch Artorian's sword when he swung it to his chest.

A cracking punch came from Artorian before the Vessel had the time to grin, his metal arm overwhelming the Vessel as he was knocked clean off the debris they shared. Kai however recovered instantly, firing two spears of bone that latched onto falling debris to pull him after Artorian as he went up after the falling captives.

Lunging left, Artorian caught Karen before pushing off the stone, shattering it before catching Miharu and landing onto a five-meter plate of steel. Releasing them onto it, he rolled to his feet in time to narrowly dodge Kai's bone blade, unflinching as it grazed the side of his head and let blood fly.

The shift in weight nearly threw Miharu off had Karen not caught her, wincing at the weight and hyper focusing Artorian. Stomping past Kai, the Vessel was struck in the chest with the force the Lord could muster with little time. More then enough to launch him off the platform into the cliffside while rebalancing the stand and keeping the two on.

Before he went to grab them, his senses screamed and he stepped back with a thunderous slam of his foot, flipping the steel plate vertical to block Kai's blades as he thrusted forward. It still cleaved into the metal, missing the Slayer by inches. Freeing his feet from the platform, Artorian clamped his metal hand onto the steel and used his energy to throw it up with Karen and Miharu on it.

Kai was reeling from pain as the bone blades were snapped off from his palms, unable to react as Artorian lunged from a falling stone and grab his face. With his hold, Artorian slammed Kai into the cliffside and pushed down, gravity pulling them down as the Lord dragged the Vessel's face through rough stone. He then threw him across the falling field of metal and stone into a boulder sized rock, Kai only having a moment to see Artorian reach him and punch him.

The force of the blow shattered the boulder, Kai being knocked past the destroyed stone while Artorian used the biggest piece to thrust through the air. Thanks to his energy, the maneuver was easy and he caught Miharu and Karen again before they began to fall again; the energy at his feet locking him to the platform he ran straight up before lunging with all his strength.

In that last jump, Artorian reached the cliffside and rolled across the sand. He couldn't keep the girls from taking in sand, but it was better than stone as he placed them down with a wounded gasp.

"Stay… here." He spoke, pulling out a beacon and jabbing it into the dune. If Kai was really crazy enough and destroyed the entire base there wasn't anymore air defenses. So Charlotte would be able to land without any trouble. Which meant there was only one last thing to do.

"Artorian, wait." Miharu spoke up as Artorian collected his thoughts. "You don't have to fight, if you focus on defending here you can-" The nurse was silenced as Artorian interrupted her with a kiss. It was only a brief one, but the message was given as the Slayer stood up and smiled.

"I'm sorry Miharu, I wasn't ready until now." He apologized, thinking back to their talk. "I was afraid to tell you everything, and now its too late."

"Artorian…"

"Charlotte will explain everything… thank you for looking after Karen all this time." He thanked one last time before he turned, jumping off the cliffside with his sword summoned. He couldn't look back as he heard the Nurse call out to him, hiding his shame as he coward away from his responsibility at the last minute.

"No don't Artorian!" Miharu cried out, stopped only by her leg as she fell into the sand. It didn't take a genius to see the Lord's condition, lashes and cuts across his entire body, his face and head bleeding, and the bruising he had suffered. A look at his chest, past the sweat and blood that had stained his skin, and the bruise from his fight with the eight Vessels was deep red. Covering the right half of his ribs, the nurse knew all twelve ribs under the nasty bruise were broken.

And those were the obvious injuries. There was no telling how bad he was internally, with the multiple puncture wounds that went through him, the damage across his body was extensive. He knew these and was still pushing the attack, meaning he was either confident in victory, or suicidal.

And he wouldn't apologize if he thought he could win.

Despite the scale of the canyon, Artorian landed with muted grace, his energy slowing his descent before he landed at the rocky base. Due to the blasted cliffside, sand was carried in the breeze, making a small scale storm that obscured his vision.

'They're safe, out of the crossfire, and now it's just me and him.' Was Artorian's first thought as the sand cleared up, and Kai stood a few meters away from him. Ashen black markings flacked across his face, similar to that of Artorias' Vessels who suffered Homicida Reliqua. However, just a single look at the grin made it clear the condition was far different from those that had the Abyss removed from them.

"Are you ready to get this over with?" Artorian asked, rolling his shoulders as he cracked his neck. His injuries were extensive, and in all honesty he saw clear as day that Kai was holding something back still. Under normal circumstances he expected to die, and even then he'll make Kai work for it. But he had the last ace, the kamikaze attack generations in the making.

He looked at the cliffside, feeling the eyes set on him and returning the stare Matthew gave him. Despite the distance, the Lords saw each other perfectly, and a silent understanding was put between them. Matthew's condition was good, a single bad injury that was already clotted. Which meant Artorian had the failsafe he was promised, getting a resonated sigh from him.

"Twelve long years, and to think I'll have it all settled here." Kai said, slowly unclasping his armor's seals. The plating dropped with heavy thuds, signaling the surprise weight to them before he removed the mesh layer from his torso. There was a lot more of the ashen markings across his chest and right arm, nearly changing the tone of his flesh in a horrific display of a Vessel's progression. "It's almost too good to be true."

"I hear you there, this time I'll make sure your ego is crushed."

"Again with that superiority complex, always talking down to us like you're better by the context of your birth." Kai said, spitting at the notion of Artorian's existence as it left a bad taste in his mouth. "That damn attitude is what got us into that fight years ago, and how you ruined Karen's life with your existence."

"The fuck…" Artorian stared incredulously at the Vessel, the statement news to him. "You're blaming me for that shit?"

"Your father brought the whole of humanity down with him, and like him you've done nothing but tear away at our hope for a future." Kai sneered as he spoke, genuinely feeling disgust looking at the Lord. "How many parents did your father tear from families? What happened to my dad, who died slowly and forgotten like discarded product!? What happened to Karen, who your mere presence in her life brought nothing but suffering to!? You got her brother killed, you acted too slow and had her contract Severance! Everything wrong in her life, in all of our lives, starts with you!"

A frozen breeze hit the canyon as Artorian's face was obscured by shadows, his crimson eyes glowing through as his mood soured dramatically. The delusion of the Vessel in front of him wasn't the result of the Abyss, the procedure and treatment of Vessels if handled wrong was seen physically on them. Normally the markings were the signal of the soul rotting, the Dark Sigil carving into their flesh like a virus. But Kai's body was healthy, the Dark Sigil wasn't present on him in any way.

He actually believed that.

"Where the fuck did all this sudden care for Karen come from?" Artorian spoke, his tone hollow as he tilted his head. "It wasn't me that bullied Karen and pulled her hair. You did that. I knocked your lights out after. I wasn't the one that cut her back, beat down her brother in front of her, and threatened to kill the people she cared about. You did, and I bashed your skull to the verge of cratering to set the point. You didn't scrape through burning wood, scattered rocks carrying her with the blood of the only people that made you feel like a normal kid on your feet. I did! I didn't drop an entire fucking hospital over some blind delusion that somehow Karen had any, ANY sense of pity and care! YOU DID! You delusional, psychotic bastard!"

"I made a mistake back then!"

"You've always made a mistake!" Artorian screamed, baring his teeth as his anger boiled out, his need of restraint long gone. "Every single step of your life, you fucked up because you never thought! You bullied Karen, instead of just saying you thought the bow was pretty! You beat the shit out of me because instead of taking responsibility, your fragile ego had to feel like you were on top! You became a terrorist because instead of reflecting on all the shit you pulled and growing up like a fucking adult, you rejected reality and inserted your own delusions! All you've done is run from your mistakes, and you stumble into the next like a fucking child! Because that's all you'll ever be: a child too immature to ever grow up!"

"As if the bastard Lord who had everything he could ever want could understand!" Kai growled. "My dad was a fucking vegetable because of Artorias' program. You and your Slayers have torn down everyone around them, on the simple fact you were stronger than us! We were too wounded from the First Attack, and the Second Attack cemented your positions on top! How many have killed because they were bored? How many atrocities went through because regular people were too weak to stand up to them!"

"Don't you dare try to weigh me down with the dead! You killed more than I ever have!"

"Traitors to the cause deserve no sympathy. I killed damn sympathizers of the people who put us through hell, but they were just roadblocks." Kai said, bones beginning to grow out from his skin. First it was his ribs, reaching out and bending to form a protective cage in front of his torso like armor. Next sets of bone grew and sharpened; four pronged bracers came from his forearms as his main weapons. And unseen to Artorian, six small spikes lined down his spine, and two talons pierced through the heel of his armor into the stone beneath them.

"This next kill, I will enjoy very much." The Vessel grinned, the markings spreading even further and covering the right half of his face. The alteration affected his eyes and teeth, the sclera turning black while his iris a malicious amber.

"If only I was as numb as you, then I'd enjoy gutting you too." Artorian responded, gripping his sword with both hands as he widened his stance. Unlike Kai, who was releasing more power, Artorian was limited in his options. He didn't want to fall back on the Abyss yet, as while he has accepted the likely hood of his descent and execution, he doesn't intend to just die. But that was a tall order, as while he activated his Variant Mode, he could tell it was running on fumes.

A brief silence took over the canyon as the two took off into an immediate sprint, bone and metal clashing with a vibrant ring when Artorian deflected his right pincer up. A flurry of bladed limbs came at Artorian as he knocked them away at each swing, a good slam of his blade cracking the rib armor and knocking Kai back.

The Vessel's ribs healed fast, faster than it took for him to recover before he brought both arms up, catching Artorian's sword with eight jagged bones that gripped the metal and dug into the blade. Both fighters attempted to pull at the other's weapons, Kai's right arm losing all of its bone weapons and half of the left while Artorian's blade shattered.

In a explosion of light Artorian's sword reformed and he smashed apart the remaining bone blades on Kai's forearm. However Kai countered as bone braced around his fists, and a bash of his right hand knocked the Slayer off balance. Artorian planted his feet to keep his footing, slamming his head down as the two clashed in a headbutt.

Blood dripped down both their foreheads, Artorian's visible as always while a mask of bone formed on the upper half of Kai's face. But through the cracks made from the attack, blood was seeping out like tree sap. The Vessel tried to push forward, but even in his damaged state Artorian far outclassed him in strength. So the Lord took over, raising his hilt with both hands and jabbing it against Kai's armored face, forcing him away before striking his side with a heavy swing of the jagged sword.

The Vessel stumbled to the side at the blow, but stepped forward and formed a blade from his elbow, cutting across Artorian's side in retaliation. No time was wasted as Artorian twisted around and swung down for Kai's back, the six spine spikes shooting out and impaling across Artorian's body and right arm to stop him in place.

"A good offense is a good defense." Kai said cheekily, the bone blades from his elbows shooting out to skewer Artorian with more of the damned magic. However, before they did, Artorian outmuscled the powerful trap and snapped bones apart; demonstrating his strength before he spun on his heels.

The simply movement avoided the bone blades, and Kai was forced to defend himself as another swing of Artorian's sword nearly snapped his arms. Artorian made sure he'd feel it as he pulled the blade away, ripping flesh off Kai's forearms to expose the bone underneath. The Vessel growled as his flesh began to repair itself, his regeneration supernatural even for Lord standards as it nearly finished in five seconds.

Bone and metal slashed and tore into flesh, the two warriors fighting with nothing but lethality. A faint would slash into one of Artorian's already opened wounds, while jagged teeth on the Lord's sword nearly ripped Kai's arm off had the joint not remained. A fist of hardened bone slammed into Artorian's chin, forcing blood to be splattered out. But a knee from Artorian went under Kai's rib armor and bruised his stomach, blood and spit vomiting out as Kai took a second to recover.

Crimson began to decorate the sand and stone, splattered blood flying both from the original cuts on the two while also flying off of their weapons with each swing. A twist of the wrist and Kai would have a blade impaled just shy of piercing Artorian's heart. But in that closeness Artorian had a clear strike that went across Kai's back, the two separating causing most of the skin on Kai's back to rip off or be shredded.

The hanging skin blew off and Kai winced at the stinging on his back, eight spikes of bone exploding out across his left and right to prevent such an attack from being effective again. He had tactically worn Artorian down to make him easy prey, but even then the Lord was not dying as simple as taking a stab wound. He had never faced one before, but seeing how durable a young example was he subconsciously wondered how much more durable Raime was in comparison.

Thoughts of his current leader went away as twin curved bone blades burst out of his arms, deflecting a swing of Artorian's sword that shattered the ground beneath them. The impact was crazy, even Kai knowing that these direct blows could almost shatter his enhanced body. It pissed him off, that even with the talent and gifts he had, Artorian was still keeping up with him. The fact that he was the one fighting the uphill battle enraged him to no end, evident as his marks started to reach the left half of his body.

'Damn him, getting this far with a simple strength enhancement!' Was what ran through Kai's head as bone blades came out from his elbows and knees, covering him in the jagged ends as he charged at the Slayer again. Once again Artorian was on the defensive, blocking and parrying his attacks as energy coated his blade. He had gone against summoning a shield, needing to keep his sword strong to avoid shattering again; the shield would only divert his energy concentration and risk both being destroyed.

And it was for the better, as Kai in his fury was swinging with the sole goal of slitting his throat. It was almost impressive, as Artorian redirected each slash how close he was getting for his neck each time. And with all of the additional grown bones it made retaliating too risky, as he narrowly stepped back to avoid one of the knee blades from impaling his face.

As fresh blood fell from across his face, Artorian caught the knee blade in his mouth and tossed Kai to the ground, half his back spikes snapping from the impact as he raised his sword. That became a mistake as Kai threw out his legs, impaling his heel talons into Artorian's legs and forcing him to stumble back. It was a stupid mistake, and Artorian cursed himself as he slammed his fist into one of the open wounds, getting the pain out before dodging a lunge from Kai.

Kai suffered from his own mistake as Artorian brought his sword up from below and slashed across his torso, ripping skin and flesh before slamming the jagged edges into his face. Had Kai's bone mask not regrown in time, he'd be missing half his face right now; instead, he had part of his cheek ripped apart to expose his teeth and mouth, blood pooling down as he spat out whatever was left.

As he stood up, a strange sense overtook him as he looked to the bones still in the ground. Like another sensation formed, a twisted grin formed before he recovered the damaged bone on his back. With a crack of his neck, he rushed at Artorian in a wild clash, flipping over the Lord with a rotation of countless slashes. The Slayer was capable of deflecting most, even getting his own attacks in to nearly rip Kai's leg off, liquid gel pouring into both their wounds, shattered armor flying away as Kai rolled and stumbled to a knee.

After countering the Vessel, Artorian rose back to his full height with a hand on his face. With a flick of his wrist, he wiped off the blood from his face, the cut Nesat gave him reopened with the cyclone of bone blades Kai had used. He could feel his concentration slip for a moment, his golden iris blinking red as his energy was beginning to reach its limit. Which meant he had to make his final push soon.

In a blink of blinding speed, Kai found himself crashing into the canyon's side, the bone blades at his arms snapped off as he barely blocked Artorian's blitz in time. The Abysswalker then let swing after swing go, the Vessel forced to dodge as the wall of stone behind him gave in and crumbled apart. In the opening he jumped back and planted his feet on an unsteady rock, crushing it as he launched past Artorian and cleaved into his chest.

No time was wasted as Kai then ducked under a swing of Artorian's three of his spine spikes ripping out from the force before he raised a fist with a bone blade protruding from his palm. In a blinding burst of pain, he watched as Artorian countered it with a downward swing, shattering the bone and cutting his hand in half. Three of his fingers fell to the ground in wet puddles, the toothy end of the sword digging deeper before he ripped it out.

The Vessel stepped back in pain, clenching his useless hand as he fought down a swear of agony. Artorian saw the opening and took it, putting his energy into a solid blow intending to cleave the Vessel in half head to crotch. But as he was about to land the attack, he was stunned as dozens of spears of bone erupted from the ground, impaling him across his entire body, halting his swing before he could finish.

And that gave Kai the clearing he needed as he lashed his good hand forward, impaling his fingers into the center of his chest as the reinforced bone made easy work of his flesh. With the makeshift bone spears all across his body, and Kai's hand digging into him, Artorian felt the last remnants of his strength leave him as the Vessel smirked up confidently at him.

"Ah, so was that your ace?" Kai questioned, seeing the golden glow of Artorian's eyes go away and replaced with crimson once more. Kai didn't have a sense for energy, but he knew when a lot was being used, and Artorian's dropped blade was coursing with an unreasonable amount just a second ago.

Five more spears of bone shot out of Artorian's back and impaled into the stone face of the canyon, Kai's fingers having shot them through him. And the next thing he knew his head hit the rock hard, his vision going dizzy as he was now trapped against the wall. Blood seeped into his eyes as he watched Kai walk forward, growing a few more bones as he licked his lips; like a wolf that's finally claimed its prey.

The markings of the Abyss were now all across Kai's body, his skin polluted to the ashen brown and both his eyes twisted in black and gold. The bones protruding from him appeared thicker as well, as if enhanced by the further corruption he endured.

"I've waited a long time for this, ever since you gave me this scar." Kai said, trailing a hand down the blemish on his face.

"I should've bashed your skull in like I promised." Artorian spat back, blood getting into Kai's eye and stunning him before Artorian brought his legs up and slammed his feet into the Vessel's face.

Artorian was granted with a moment to free himself, crushing the bones that ensnared him with a last burst of his energy. But that was followed with a rush of coldness, his entire body went numb as he was slammed back into the rock. This time, a lance of spiraling bone pinned him, the fist sized cone coated in his blood as the rotation caught onto his innards, increasing the bleeding.

Kai's smirk broadened as he stepped forward, the bone having twisted around his forearm to give a piercing range the Lord couldn't dodge. Artorian's hands instinctively went down to try and pull the bone away, but lost their strength as Kai stepped closer, widening the hole in his chest further, the only thing keeping him from bleeding out being the very weapon.

Levity filled kai's heart as he chuckled to himself, shaking his head as if surprised at how simple it had been. He saw Artorian's face pale as he coughed out a horrid amount of blood onto himself. Crimson streams went down his hips, along with dripping down his bone lance into the sand. All he had to do now was pull it free, and expose the five-inch hole to the world. After all that, all the planning, effort, and breakdown of Artorian, and a hole in the chest could kill him.

"Well, color me surprised. I didn't think a person could get that pale." Kai chuckled, seeing Artorian's breathing go ragged as he coughed more blood out. "You certainly made me work for it, but at the end of the day the result is as expected. You skewered, and me putting my fist through your chest."

The cone of bone slowly rescinded after that, Kai's arm now exposed in the open wound and letting the blood flow freely. Artorian's focus became more dazed, his eyes felt heavier than they ever had before as he remained pinned against the cliffside. He never felt so cold before, it was bad enough he swore he saw his own breath in front of him. But he couldn't even begin to trust that, the blood in his eyes tinging whatever he was able to see.

"You fought hard, but your family's torture on the world ends now." Kai stated, almost wistfully as he placed his free hand, now repaired from Artorian's last attack, onto his shoulder. "As misguided as you were, I do understand you cared for Karen. Your death is the only way she can move forward… I promise I'll take care of her."

A part of Artorian's senses returned at the Vessel's words, disgust being the first as Kai sounded genuine in his conviction. Even with his fist through his chest and the bastard still thought he was some savior. That he was rescuing Karen and protecting her from him. HIM!

Karen.

Karen.

Karen.

Her name was the only thing going through his mind now, as his hands gripped Kai's arm in what the Vessel suspected was a last act of defiance. Artorian didn't have to look, his senses at this moment were only increasing in intensity. And through the bellowing winds that took over at the surface, the pumping of blood his heart was foolishly surrendering, and the shouts of dismay from anyone watching, he heard her.

He heard her crying.

Crying.

Crying.

Crying.

She was crying again, and it was all his fault.

'Sorry Karen… I wish I could have seen your smile one last time.' He thought, then looking up to see her crying, his bloodied vision catching her despite the chances.

'Dad… I think I get it now.' Artorian's mind then went to his father, as he coughed out a dangerous amount of blood, his legs began to shake. There was nothing left for him to do, no more tricks aside from his final surrender.

'Just like Karen's tears for me… it was my tears for you, wasn't it?' A tired smile spread across Artorian's blood coated lips.

Kai watched in confusion as the Lord's smile broadened more, and before he realized it he was recoiling in pain as Artorian's fingertips dug into his arm. He tried to pull himself free, but even moments from death Artorian's strength was impossible to outmuscle. The Vessel raised his free hand with a second lance, prepared to rip through his skull before he froze in shock at seeing black mist escape all across Artorian's body. All of his wounds oozed black blood that evaporated as it dripped into the sand, killing the crimson it replaced as Artorian's sclera matched Kai's.

No, it was even darker. Where Kai's was black, Artorian's reflected the Abyss itself. It consumed all light, the only reflection now being the gleaming crimson that shone from his iris. And even that twisted amidst itself, appearing hazy as Artorian's frame was coated in the Abyss' presence.

"You know what? Fuck it." Artorian swore, standing up to his full height as he grinned down to the Vessel. It was only when the Vessel saw the twisted smirk, coated in blood and oozing black ichor, that he realized he miscalculated.

And that was when everyone's vision detonated in a flash of blinding white.

(A/N): Well, I am very surprised at how far I've gotten writing the past couple of weeks. And I'm glad for that, I wish I could have crushed through this arc at even a fraction of this time, as I'd then been much farther and capable of expanding what I have planned. But I'm not one to go past what I haven't finished, and that's why I'm getting more and more pumped up. I'm so close, so close to settling things and I couldn't be happier. Through the highs and lows, the good and the bad, this arc has weighed on me writing wise for so long. And to think I'm close to finishing it is a blessing that I can't describe.

And while it was far from perfect, there's still a sense of pride at what I've done so far. Not at the time I did, but that I did it. And while I could go on and on about it, I want to keep things simple. I'm not sure when the next chapter will come out, a bit of stuff here and there is going on but I intend to make good time on it when all's cleared. So until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in the next. Peace!