[Chapter 45 part 2] Soul – Heaven Splitter

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Lacking his foresight, the rest were slowly pulverizing them into submission. Eventually, they ceased moving. “That was tiring…” Light complained. “How much more?”

“A lot.” Shine caught her breath. “But at least the golems were easy, right?”

“Can’t we use the same strategy here?” Hope asked.

“No, if you rush through they barricade choke points with their bodies. It ends badly.”

They continued towards the next group, only this time their efforts were cut short. Soul noticed the change when he glanced around to discover half their opponents lying in pools of blood. What’s happening? He got his answer when Shine knocked one down and Free gracefully touched its back. The ape roared in indignation and charged after her only to stumble, liquid pouring from its eyes and mouth. How did she manage that?

When pressed for answers, Free refused to admit anything, only joking about having developed a ‘touch of death’. They could only continue without learning the truth. The rest of the cave system flew by. Every encounter, they’d focus on incapacitating the gorillas so Free could dispatch them.

As the others finished up the last group, Soul stepped away. On a hunch, he said, “Appraise self.” His eyes went straight to the bottom.

Status ailments: infected with ‘Killthemnow Version 3.1’, ‘Supreme Pestilence Version 1.7’, and ‘Prototype Omega Red Version 2’

Soul sighed and walked over to where the others were congratulating Free, “What’s ‘Killthemnow version 3.1’?”

Free mouth dropped in shock, “How? I never told anyone!”

When Soul revealed he’d checked his status, his sister confessed, “I spread a heavy dose of a few custom plagues, infecting everything around. After that, I just need a brief touch to accelerate the contagion. The end result is as you see.” She gestured to the melting carcasses. “Even I was surprised at the effectiveness. They must’ve been weak to disease to begin with.”

“So you engineered deadly viruses and brought a few with you.” Rose summarized tiredly.

“Not just ‘a few’.” Free objected. “I brought them all. My left arm is my biolab. I isolated a few lymph nodes for experimental purposes.”

‘Living bioweapon’ indeed… “Free, what would happen if your arm was injured or cut off?” Soul asked gently.

“That’d be terrible. I’d lose so much work…” Free examined her right arm thoughtfully. “I should make a backup to avoid that.” Not the realization I was going for.

Soul picked his battles, “Could you perhaps cure us?”

Free nodded, “As soon as we get out. There’s no point here.”

So the whole cave is contaminated. “What if others——”

“I chose pathogens which die quickly from air exposure.” Free reassured them. “The cave will sterilize itself once the bodies vanish.”

Not dwelling on implications, they left and had their ailments removed. Around them, the landscape was yellow swaths broken up by green near watering holes. A savanna.

“For this, I’d like to take some shortcuts. Soul, do you see those islands with giant crocodiles?” Shine sent two red beams. “Could you freeze the surface between them?”

“I can.” Soul constructed a large magic circle. They then they raced into the marshlands, and he unleashed his spell, forming an icy path. The oversized reptiles never had a chance.

As they left the water, a lumbering figure appeared on their left, towering five-stories high. “What’s that?” Light asked.

“It’s a Gigasloth.” Shine replied. “They’re passive tree eaters. Don’t concern yourself.”

“What’s a herbivore doing near the center?” Hope asked.

“It’s foreshadowing.” Shine said. “Rose, could you summon some firebirds? Quickly.” A swarm of foot long insects was approaching.

Once five flaming hawks circled overhead, Shine nodded happily, “Great. This takes advantage of the flesh hornet’s instinctual fears. They’re a pain otherwise.”

A minute later, they arrived, and their guide gave them a preview of what lay below the mist.

“Remember that gigasloth? Down there is the reason for its extinction. It’s a parasitic organism, not a predator. As a result of malevolent evolution, a species of serrating vine took root and grew inside a gigasloth, ravaging it from within. Even after its hosts death, the vine clung to and manipulated its corpse, resulting in a creature called a Vine Giant. It’s a tough opponent…”

When they dropped down, they were surprised to find the vine-covered skeletal giant already battling adventurers.

“Do we help?” Soul asked.

“Normally, we wouldn’t.” Shine said. “It’d be kill stealing. However, since it’s an emergency, I’ll see if they‘ll allow us to assist.”

Kill stealing… He’d never heard the expression, but could guess its meaning. Risking your life to vanquish a powerful foe only to have unrequested aid diminish the accomplishment… He could see how that’d be frowned upon.

Shine returned swiftly, “Great news! They’re fans. This will make everything so much easier…”

The valiant struggle of the vine giant was no match for eleven determined opponents. It grew lethargic as the vines covering its bones were chipped and burned away. When it fell, Shine was in a radiant mood, “Not only are we making good time, but I’ll be able to show off in the next part.”

The vine giant put up a valiant struggle but was no match for eleven determined opponents. It grew lethargic as the vines covering its bones were chipped and burned away. When it fell, Shine was in a radiant mood, “Not only are we making good time, but I’ll be able to show off in the next part.”

Passing the third floor’s caves proved a breeze. The first half was chameleon stalkers, six foot lizard which blended in with the walls. Shine chased them away by turning their surroundings into a blinding rainbow lightshow. Their camouflage couldn’t keep up.

The second half was a quarter mile wide circular cavern filled with water and ringed with boulders. Grinning sea serpents were the obstacle, each the size of a train with oversized teeth. Shine donned her mask and jumped lower to distract them. Again and again, the massive creatures lunged, but every time they caught a fake. Meanwhile everyone safely contoured the room.

Once outside, Shine’s admirers bid goodbye and headed off to a temple. Only one set of cave systems left.

“I imagine that’s the boss pit.” Light pointed to the familiar depression. “It’s only a mile away. Too easy. What’s the catch?”

Shine gestured, “See the colorful green and red vegetation lining the crater? It’s a carnivorous forest. We must travel around.” That’s a huge detour.

“But it’s so close…” Hope lamented. “Couldn’t Soul fly us over?”

“No.” Wise declared. “The larger plants have tongues which can reach sixty feet. Gaining that altitude seven times would take too long. Besides, what Free is about to do will be faster.”

Free had snuck away and approached a bush with a red floury jaws. A tongue was stretched out and wrapped around her staff, fruitlessly tugging. Their sister appeared to be feeding the flower something.

“Is that the same type of plant?” Rose asked.

“Yes, they’re scattered around the exit as a warning…” Shine turned to Wise. “What’s she doing?”

“Just watch and wait.” Wise said.

“We’ve a winner!” Free exclaimed after a minute, decapitated the plant. Pivoting, she discovered everyone gathered around. “Oh, I may have found a solution.”

She held out her hand. On it materialized a coin-sized round bug with two sets of razor mandibles. “Here it is! ‘Muncher version 23’. Give me a second to add some duration.” She began channeling power into her disturbing creation. “When a summon divides or multiplies, its lifespan shortens. I must add enough to compensate… Done.”

Free wrapped ‘Muncher, version 23’ in a ball of roots and threw it full strength. The black speck disappear into the far-off flora.

“I call this the invasive species strategy.” Free explained. “Homogeneous ecosystems are vulnerable. Exploit one flaw and they fall apart.”

“How long will it take?” Soul asked. Nothing appeared to be changing.

“About three minutes.” Free replied. “My muncher is immune to their acid. It’ll multiply and consume them rapidly.”

At the one minute mark, a tall plant fell over. After another sixty seconds, all life within a wide circle had vanished. In its place, the purple ground appeared to be moving. The devastation soon reached both edges, opening a pathway.

“Those plants are very nutritious.” Free declared smugly.

“That’s great, but the swarm is still growing…” Hope commented. Indeed, purple waves were surging in both directions, widening the path.

Free frowned. “Do summons last longer in dungeons?”

“Yes, since this place is within the Ether, they do…” Shine confirmed.

“Good to note for future reference.” Free nodded. “Since they’ve moved out of the way, shall we proceed?”

Reaching the crater, Shine jumped right in. No strategizing? Perplexed, they followed, landing in a forest clearing. Far off, a four story emerald scarab was chomping foliage. It looks robust.

Shine was observing the insect from a rock outcropping. They approached to find her devastated, “I was really hoping it hadn’t respawned…”

“That dangerous?” Hope asked.

“That’s hardly the issue.” Shine explained flatly. “The thing is extremely durable, and the way forward won’t open until its death.”

“Why don’t you start with how you defeated it last time.” Rose suggested.

Shine sat dejectedly, “Emerald scarabs were arthropods with no natural lifespan. They just kept molting and growing larger, their shells hardening to support their weight. Prior to extinction, the largest known specimen was fifteen feet tall and a thousand year old. What you see before you is the HEAVENLY DAO’s extrapolation of a ten thousand year old emerald scarab.”

“Breaching that defense is test of labor. Risk is low if you’re careful, as it’s movements are languid. You just get on its back and pound away. It took us eleven hours last time. Granted, we retreated for the night, so you must subtract six. Still… You can see why I’m disheartened.” Her teammates won’t be alive in five hours.

“Free, it’s an excellent time for one of your plagues.” Soul suggested.

His sister shook her head, “I developed pathogens for humans. They worked on the apes, but an insect’s physiology is entirely different. Besides the size of the thing…”

I see. Soul unsheathed his sword, “I’ll go test how Diamonds Edge fares. The rest of you come up with a plan.”

He hopped away towards the colossus. In truth, he doubted his sword would fare better than it did against the apes. It refuses to acknowledge me.

That’s why he intended to gamble. He knew defeating the scarab would take too long. Their mission would end in tragedy. They needed an approach that bucked and overturned reason. Like an Illusory Grace. Soul had seen Heaven Splitter’s power in his dreams. It sliced reality itself.

Soul refused to let others die when he held that power locked in his hand. So I’ll force Diamonds Edge to unleash it. He sent ice shards into the beast’s left eye, enraging it. I didn’t know bugs can screech. Trees fell as the scarab turned on him.

‘Believe in yourself’ Nero said. Those words would never lead to his death. Soul steeled himself as giant mandibles bared down. If Diamonds Edge is truly a heroic blade, it’ll lend me its strength.

Soul cried out, “Heaven Splitter.” He then twirled and swung in an uppercut motion. He felt the world cleave in two. An azure shockwave shot through the scarab, separating it down the middle.

Noting his success, Soul poured every fiber of his being into keeping himself alive. My right arm, shoulder, and rib cage are completely shattered. His left lung was punctured in three place, and his right in two. Blood vessels everywhere were broken, and various organs were damaged to an extent he couldn’t determine.

He lay on his back, desperately drawing breath. Hurry Free! After an eternity, he heard the others. His sister immediately went to work, painstakingly rearranging his splintered bones. At the same time, a shining magic circle appeared above him, healing his broken body. So Shine is the healer of her group. That’s fortunate. After minute, his condition stabilized, although the searing agony remained.

“He’ll be fine.” Free declared. Then she leaned close and whispered. “Good job staying alive.”

Soul gave an imperceptible nod and closed his eyes. Out of the danger zone, he reflected. So that’s why Diamonds Edge resisted me. He simply hadn’t the strength to wield its full might. Whether from pain or realization, his eyes grew misty. I was worthy after all.