Abyssal Awakening

Seeing as how her opponent was taking her moves one for one, Alyss wondered if the goal of this test was to see how the examinees react to a mirror match up.

With no powers available to them, Alyss understood that this test was one that would separate the best from the good.

But there was another benefit to this. She could see how she performs the new martial arts from an outside perspective!

By watching her own movements of the unfinished martial arts, she'll be able to pick out key mistakes, issues with combining certain moves and refining it further! She also gets to experience how it feels to be attacked by it, how she can counter and make adjustments.

Without any hesitation, Alyss rushed in with the unfinished footwork.

Her ideal martial arts has three footwork's to choose from. First, a footwork to trick the senses making it appear as though she was teleporting. A merge of the poison sect's footwork, Swallowtail's Veil, and their own Void Steps.

When executing the first one, it'll look as though she simply disappeared from the spot before appearing near her enemies. However, it has the benefit of not creating a burst of energy when she exits the Void Steps. While this can't be perceived normally, she couldn't rule out the possibility of someone sensing the tremblings of the Void.

But there was the issue of compatibility. The Poison Sect's footwork seeks to confuse the opponent through mirages, Swallowtail's footwork seeks a counter with a fake retreat while Void Steps seeks a direct route to the opponent.

Seeing the masked figure execute the same movement, Alyss understood how slow it looked to someone with the state of Unity. All three were executed separately rather than in one fluid movement.

Entering a state of focus, she memorised the issues and key points to adjust.

The next footwork was a short distance burst of speed that surpassed the time needed for Void Steps. Combining the fastest footwork of Swallowtail, the burst of power from the Scorching Tyrant Arts belonging to the Blazing Sun sect and the momentum generated by the Vermillion Clan's martial arts, this footwork should generate the fastest speed possible in the shortest time possible.

When combined with attacks or evasive manoeuvres, it allows her to react late and still dodge perfectly!

Twisting her body, she launched a kick towards the masked figure who did the same and then executed the second form.

'Too much recoil. It'll be hard to counter with a follow up and the signs of activation are too obvious. I should tune down how much I use from the Scorching Tyrant Arts.' Alyss evaluated before jumping back for the third form.

A form of stability. Unlike the previous two forms, it's not a movement that lets Alyss attack her enemies faster. Rather, it's one that allows her to be unmovable during attacks that should be displacing her!

If an enemy was to counter, she'd usually be knocked back before her attack could reach.

But with this, it'll no longer be an issue!

Rushing towards the puppet, she overlayed the form of stability over her steps as she gave herself a stable centre of gravity and rooted herself to the ground.

Pulling her arm back, she punched forward with the Vermillion Clan's martial arts, seeking to push the masked figure back.

*BANG!!!

As their fists clashed with each other, neither of them moved.

'Too much focus on the stability ruins the use of attacking martial arts. I need to accurately judge when to overlap the stability otherwise my attack loses force.'

Twisting her body, she launched a backwards heel kick towards the masked figure. At the last second, before their attacks collided, Alyss activated the footwork.

*BANG!!! CRASH!!!

Seeing the masked figure slide back and tumble across the ground while she stood her ground, a grin appeared on her face.

'So it can't make adjustments like I do. The only thing it knows how to do is the stuff I knew before I entered this chamber.' Massaging her neck, Alyss made the mental adjustments.

Seeing the masked figure get up, Alyss decided to put her adjustments to the test.

Rushing forward, she parried the figure's counter before executing the first form.

Mirage Steps!

Her figure seemed to shift as she looked like she was in the midst of retreating, circling and attacking all at once!

"Which one's the real one?" Alyss's voice rang out, appearing next to the figure and kicked it in the stomach, sending them sliding back.

Phantom Shift!

Lunging forward, she attacked with her palm while the masked figure fought back using the form of stability.

Seeing her palm recoil back, Alyss nodded in approval. The form of stability was something she made entirely for defence. Seeing it match up to the second form, Phantom Shift, proved its usefulness. Even if it's in the incomplete state.

Since the masked figure was now on the defensive, Alyss tested out the next form.

A form based on Tiamat's raw power that she's observed and integrated into the movement.

A set of attacks that focused on breaking defences with raw power!

Pulling her arm back, she watched the masked figure do the same.

*BANG!!!

As their fists collided, Alyss overlayed the improved form of Stability on top of her attack.

The masked figure was pushed back by two steps while Alyss was unmoved.

"Don't break on me too quickly, we still have plenty to test." Alyss chuckled.

With her footwork now complete, she wanted to perfect the rest. The ultimate goal is not for a single form of martial art but rather the foundations for every movement.

Once she familiarises herself with all of the possibilities, it'll become natural movement for her. At that point, every action could be considered to be part of the martial art!

That was the state that Alyss wanted to reach and this masked figure would help her achieve it!

###

"A little change of plans. I want you two to go to the ritual centre and put a stop to it. This is no longer just a ritual of Famine or any other ritual that they're doing." Rosalyn ordered as she snapped her fingers and a pair of vampiric wings expanded behind her.

The barrier hasn't broken which means the Outer Gods don't have a proper way to enter this world. But there were certainly cracks and signs of damage.
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The worst part of all of this was that the damage didn't look like it was caused by them either, it looked as though someone had been tampering with it from the inside.

'Tsk, no wonder Allura wanted me to come to the East. F*cking brain damaged idiots don't know what's good for them.' Rosalyn cursed in annoyance.

"What's going on?" Ria asked with a frown.

If this wasn't an Eclipse ritual then what was it? What was the cult doing that had Rosalyn this startled?

"I'll tell you once things are over. For now, don't let the black ooze get into your system. If you do, crush the orb I gave you immediately. Don't hesitate, don't worry about anything, just crush it if the ooze gets into you okay?"

Seeing a rare case of seriousness from Rosalyn, Ria nodded her head as the Abyss Lord shot into the sky before disappearing.

Looking at each other, Luke and Ria nodded before he placed the Rook buff on the two of them, increasing their speed.

Glancing up at the sky while running, Ria could see a strange black liquid dripping from the 'sun', splitting the horizon in half. Not only that, but behind the umbral sphere, flames expanded as though the end times had arrived.

Looking to her right, she noticed in the distance people fighting one another.

Some seem to be travellers while others seem to be residents of this place.

The residents cared not for the damage done to their bodies as they hacked, tore and chewed away at the bodies of the unfortunate.

They raised the chunks of flesh towards the umbral sun in jubilation, in reverence.

Their laughter, their hollowed eyes and their ecstasy were clear to see.

'Why must you simply watch? What you must do is clear is it not? The ritual is not finished yet, finish the job.' A familiar voice rang out in Ria's head.

Her voice.

Dripping with the same ecstasy, hunger and desire as the fanatics.

Gritting her teeth, she dismissed the voice to the best of her abilities.

How long has it been since she last heard the call of the Eclipse?

"Focus Ria." Luke brought her back to reality as he noticed the changes in her expression.

"I know. Thank you." Ria smiled.

She was glad that Luke was here with her otherwise she might've focused on the voices more than she should.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, they rushed towards the blackened waterfall pouring out of the sun.

As they arrived at the base of the umbral sun, they saw a river of darkness and flames, expanding with each passing second.

There was no altar, no sign of fanatics nor were there signs of beasts.

It was… empty?

Furrowing her brows, Ria understood that something was wrong.

It was impossible for them to hold such a large ritual without a proper altar and sacrifice.

Yet there was nothing here…

No altar, no sacrifice, no cultists.

Since Rosalyn wanted them to end the ritual, there was only one thing for her to do.

Closing her eyes, Ria focused on the call of the Eclipse. The sensation of desire washed over her body and a hunger stirred from deep within.

'Where is it… Where is it leading me…' Ria gritted her teeth. She wanted to wash this filthy sensation away as soon as possible but it was the only lead for her to find the heart of the ritual.

But… It wasn't leading her anywhere. She could sense it.

She was already at the heart of the ritual…

"!!!"

Opening her eyes, Ria understood where the altar was now.

It was beneath the lake!