This is going to be the final chp of the mini arc.
Also I am going to be giving names to the song sisters since they haven't been revealed yet.
I'm going to bold the use of his lineages.
-------------------------------
Keter felt the [Clay Shell] envelop his body, making him more durable than ever. Quickly placing the [Shattered Sea Charm] within [Underworld Armament], his gaze shifted to the bellowing mist as it stepped onto the Ashen Barrow, as it began forming into a more solid shape.
The [Starlight Legion Armor] manifested around Keter, as he called the [Silver Moonlight] to his hand. The world trembled around his blade, as his 'Will' began to intertwine with the world around him.
'Shit, with my current condition I wont be able to draw on any miracles or my stigma. I have to change my battle art mid-fight, that won't be easy.'
Soon enough, the mist formed into a distinctly humanoid shape, yet still void of many details. A large man with a great sword in hand was all the details the humanoid creature held.
The two stare into each other's eyes, or where there should be eyes, for a moment.
'It's conscious, closer to a human than a nightmare creature. It hasn't moved yet, but I can tell this thing has a battle art.' The mist waned at his thoughts.
Keter soon shot forward with a might that shocked the barrow, his sword aimed for the creature's chest, only to meet the uncertain mist of its great sword. The misty figure twitched, yet that movement was enough to send Keter shooting back. Before he even landed, the figure was on him, its great sword aiming for his neck. Keter was barely able to bring his sword up in time to deflect it, still leaving a wound across his neck.
Keter's eyes momentarily widened at the shining Ichor left from his wound. Keter quickly pulled himself together, pivoting to the right, Keter went tumbling. A strike came down at him before he could stand up. Rolling to the side, Keter then pushed off the ground to send himself into the air. His sword struck empty air, the misty figure gone. Keter braced himself as his instincts screamed. Soon enough, the misty figure's fist rocketed into his side, sending him flying.
'This thing fights like an assassin. I can go off what I know of Eris's(Silent Stalker) battle art to begin learning this thing's battle art.' The misty figure solidified slightly at his realization.
Keter used the force to flip over in the air to land on the ball of his foot. As Keter once more made contact with the misty figure, he smiled madly. 'It's gotten weaker.' Keter's heart began to beat like a war drum, and his body shook. unable to handle the new force that his heart bestowed upon him.
"Growth."
The blood of the Heart demanded he grow to combat the force in front of him. Even with the boost to his strength, the misty figure's strength was still overwhelming. Each time he made contact with its great sword, it felt like a mountain slammed into him.
Keter spun on his heel and shot forward like a bullet, away from the misty figure. Keter utilized his instincts and predictive calculations to try and find out where it would appear.
He failed hundreds of times, and yet with each confrotation he learned a little more. With each bit, he learned the misty figure became a little more defined.
Keter's steps soon became silent and uneffecting of the world around him, he crossed distances impossible through normal movement in a single step. His sword was no longer a violent whirlwind but a graceful dance.
'My previous style was too linear, I made it from using 'destruction' as the main essence on which I built it. Will that was fine for my fight against impulse-driven nightmare creatures, but if I want to win this fight, I have to find a new essence. 'Murder' won't work for me like it did for Nephis; I need something new. 'Violence', my previous idea, is too broad and would only end up unraveling later down the line.'
The mountain in front of Keter felt far less titanic than it did before. Kete could now hold his own with the thing in front of him, but as it lost strength, it began to truly regain its mind.
Black robes covered its body, only beginning to reveal the start of the formation of a human skull draped upon its head.
Keter could feel it as they clashed, the being was beginning to mold its will, its intent to kill him, making it all the more deadly. Its attacks slowly began to bring a feeling of death as they approached. The previous mindless yet all-consuming skill became a disaster as it began to evolve.
"What are you?" Keter asked as he saw true intent take hold. His foot pivoted to the right, allowing the giant blade to slide off his own. Only for the great sword to flick upward, tearing off a piece of Keter's side before he could stop it.
"A Hassan who killeth Hassans." Keter's eyes widened as he realized just who he was fighting.
"Hassan-I-Sabbah, The Old Man of the Mountain, King Hassan." With each word Keter spoke, the mist lessened, only leaving a lone man in front of him. "That's you, isn't it?"
"Oh? Is mine name known to the children of War?" As he questioned Keter his sword flashed to claim his head.
"No. I'm the only person in the world who would recognize your name." As Keter blocked, he found the force to be far more manageable than before. 'If this truly is him, then the essence of his battle art is death.' Keter's breathing was ragged and uneven, his lungs unable to sustain the needs of his heart.
King Hassan stayed silent at Keter's answer. His blade disappearing from Keter's view, repeating behind him only to be blocked by the hilt of Keter's sword and swiftly countered, to which he deployed a counter.
'Solace. The essence of which thy is building thy art is solace, even if thy doesn't know that yet.' King Hassan appeared next to Keter and kicked him with a force that would shatter the bones of a fallen creature, sending him flying once more. His sword was once more blocked as he attempted to take the boy's life.
'I must die, yet I can not allow myself to die to one unworthy. Taking my own life is a sin beyond measure. This boy in front of me stands a chance, yet I can hear the bells tolling for thy name. I am conflicted.'
"Earn thy Right to Live." The Angel of Death stood before the Keter with his own demands.
Keter's sword glowed with a baleful moonlight as his 'Will' forced its activation. Once Keter's foot touched the ground, he shot forward, striking King Hassan's blade with a technique that mirrored his own. Utilizing King Hassan's strength, he pushed himself upward, then, utilizing what little power he had saved up over the course of the fight, he pushed off the air, slicing through his robes, he found nothing.
Keter's eyes widened, accidentally opening himself up for an attack. King Hassen took the chance, leaving a bloody wound across his stomach. Keter allowed he blood to splatter across the ground instead of staying inside the wound as he called upon [The Fire].
"Creation."
The wound healed instantly, leaving lasting burn marks across his veins. Realizing something, Keter called upon it once more.
"Creation."
The debilitating holes in his body made by the sigma were refilled, at the cost of Keter pushing himself far closer to death. 'I remember now. King Hassan, similar to the other Hassans, made a sacrifice of flesh, but unlike the others, he tore out everything. There is nothing left within him.'
A countless fury of blows was exchanged, laying waste to what was left of the Ashen Barrow. Keter's growth was an unstoppable march while King Hassan was a living fortress. Free from the debilitating wounds caused by his stigma, Keter's sword was far deadlier than ever before.
Soon enough, the Evening bells rang their final rite. 'Death' began to infect Keter from a wound on his arm, and without any hesitation, Keter called upon [The Fire] once more.
"Destruction."
With a singular word, the concept of Keter's 'Left Arm' was destroyed, eliminating the mark of death with it as well. Only to have a sword pierce his neck. Keter moved forward through the strike, hoping to kill his opponent before he killed him.
With each step forward, Keter pushed the concept of 'Growth' to its absolute limits.
With the first step, 'Solace' was reached.
With the second step, His heart burst, allowing him to become one with his sword.
With the third and final step, a miracle was born.
"Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust"
The first thrust was blocked.
The second was 'Killed'.
The third pierced the 'Heart'.
[You have slain, ???]
"You are worthy, I grant you the name Old Man of the Mountain." King Hassan died by his blade dispersing into mist content.
As Keter fell to the floor, the consequence of his actions began to catch up to him. He was going to die, but that did not matter, for he had won.
As Keter fell unconscious, a boat made of demonic bones appeared in the distance.
[You have received an Echo, ???]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Discord link: https://discord.gg/skxVvWSca2