HP: The Arcane Thief

Chapter 252: True Power of The Entity

Currently, the whole Atlantis was on the edge, witnessing a fight of legendary proportions.

The Atlantian forces were locked behind the barrier, unable to interfere.

But, the more they watched the fight, the more they realized they had no place in it.

As they saw just how powerful their New King was, they started to cheer for him, many of them broadcasting the fight to the whole Kingdom.

And that is how, the whole Kingdom began to watch the Fight that was going to decide their fate.

When Axel actually started to win, his water cannons breaking through the First's defense, they began to cheer.

But then, they realized that the First hadn't used Entity's power yet, blowing their minds.

The battlefield was already at a level where both sides seemed to be gods deciding the fate of the mortals. And yet, it was just a fraction of the real power?

Back on the battlefield, Axel also couldn't wrap his head around it.

If the first had really used his own powers so far, then he's someone really really powerful.

The guy destroyed the colossal statue with just one attack. How much magic was that supposed to take? But the First did it, and not by borrowing most of the power from water like he did, but with his own magic!

And then he bloody well almost killed Axel while Axel was on full powered mode.

Axel was currently using the Royal Bloodline to its full potential, along with the Royal Trident and his mental powers.

And the first was able to give him so much trouble despite all that without even having to use the Entity's powers. Isn't this a bit too absurd?

Axel had anticipated there to be a certain power difference between the First and the other overseers, but he didn't expect it to be so fucking gigantic.

The Entity gives a huge boost to the Overseers. That's why they were at a level where they couldn't stand a chance against a system user like Axel.

And the increment the First should get is expected to be significantly higher than anyone else, considering that he had fused with the Entity.

The first looked at Axel as if he knew what was going on Axel's mind. "You can't understand how I'm so powerful, can you? The Soul is the Origin of magic. And after years of hard work, I've managed to strengthen my soul to the point that it can handle any amount of magic. That's why I can do magic others can't even hope to match through relics." he explained proudly.

"This is the actual power of our Bloodline. With this kind of potential, the Arhunts were never meant to serve Atlantis. At one point, we were strong enough to even threaten the Aetherian Royal Family. In fact, WE were the ones who 'Created' the Entity in the first place," he said, causing Axel to widen his eyes.

"Wait, what did you say?!"

Axel completely lost the old man there. He knew very little about the Arhunts, as it was a secretive Septis with a low number of members. Beyond that, he didn't know much about the Septis's past in the Kingdom, let alone the Aetherworld.

As for the Entity, he never thought about how it came into existence. He just knew that its origin was Aetherworld and no one in that world could kill it, having to resort to sealing it here, where there is low magic.

"Wait, you don't know anything yet, do you?" The First broke his combat stance. "Then this fight is meaningless. You've been putting your line for one side without even knowing the complete truth. You should know all the facts before you make your decision. Maybe you'd change your mind," said the First.

'Like hell I will,' thought Axel, but he didn't stop the First. He needed some time to catch his breath anyway after the intense clash he just had.

"Back before this Kingdom was even established, the Arhunts used to RULE the dominion of souls, a subject so deep that you'd never reach its depths. We were considered to be one of the Strongest forces of Atlantis."

"But then, why create the Entity?" Axel still couldn't understand it. "No matter how you put it, it just seems like the most suicidal and idiotic thing to do."

"It was created out of necessity. Aside from further exploring the mysteries of soul, we didn't have any interest in the outer Affairs like ruling the World. But the Royal Family feared us, demanding that we stop our research.

We fought back, of course, but the Existence of the World Tree made it all useless. How unfair it is that a supreme entity like that favours only one Bloodline?"

"This… is what ultimately led us to join hands with various other magic experts to create an Entity like the world tree of our own. It's like how the muggles like to create, what do they call it? Yes, the Nuclear bombs of their own in the mundane world."

"And it went tits up, didn't it?" Asked Axel, unsurprised.

"It did indeed. And due to that, most of the Arhunt Bloodline was wiped out. The remaining had most of their bloodline potential sealed and sent to Atlantis to guard the Entity as penance," finished the first, letting out a breath of frustration.

"A Bloodline with so much potential… suppressed to the point of that it was difficult to even awaken it, let alone strengthen it. And the stupid ancestors, who simply accepted this fate without resistance, thinking it to be penance for all the death and destruction the Entity caused in Aether, and continues to cause here.

"But not me. Why do we have to be apologetic for creating the most powerful being in the world? Why did we have to seal it here, completely useless while it has so much potential? Because it killed some meaningless lives? What do those petty lives matter in the long river of time?"

"And so, I decided I was going to change things. With my friend Aslot, I recreated Kraken, used all the resources at my disposal and the Entity's help to unlock my bloodline restriction. And here we are today. I didn't use a relic, nor the Entity's power, and despite using all of the Royal means at your disposal, you failed to defeat me. Clearly, the Arhunt bloodline is superior."

"So, what do you think about it?" He asked, extending his hand. "Join me, and awaken the Arhunt Bloodline."

His pierce gaze seemed to see right through Axel. "I know you have a monstrous hunger for power. I can see it in your soul. It also hides deep pain. There's little in the name of moral boundaries. And the anger. There's so much anger! I can't understand why you'd want to protect this Kingdom."

"You don't like rules. You don't like restrictions. And, you still want peace. Do you think you'll always have peace when there are beings out there who like to dictate who you should live? Or will it be when you have all three worlds under your control?"

Axel was silent for a moment. "You know, you're not wrong," he admitted.

"I really don't give a fuck about the rules. I don't like restrictions. And I do want peace. But, what, ever, gave you the impression that I'd ever team up with the Entity to obtain it? You are standing with a rabid dog trying to convince me to break its chains, saying "it doesn't bite".

"D'you think I'm an idiot or are you just a bad sales pitcher?"

All Axel had understood from this was the fact that his ancestors were the absolute idiots who created the Entity.

'Let's create a superpowerul being that can contend against the world tree! What could go wrong?'

How moronic is that? It's not some great creation, it's just speedrunning to your own demise. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As for joining the First, there was no chance. The man's a psycho. In Soul magic, the path one chooses is the path one is most interested in, the path that best represents the person. And the First has chosen Destruction. So, of course freeing the Entity and destroying all three worlds would only be orgasm-inducing to him.

But for Axel, who ultimately wants peace and quiet, how is he supposed to get it with this psycho and the Entity roaming free?

Besides, there was clearly something fishy about his proposal. Axel likes to think he can read people's emotions.

But this old man, he's too calm, almost emotionless. He didn't care at all that almost all of Kraken was destroyed. He didn't care at all that he was meeting his Grandson for the first time, and that Axel had had a hard time growing up.

He doesn't seem to care about anything other than himself.

Then the question comes, why would he put so much effort into getting Axel to join? Especially since Axel would be far stronger than him if he actually awakened the Arhunt Bloodline. He should instead be putting more effort into Killing him.

"So be it," muttered the First, sighing. "You have your father's penchant for never agreeing with anything I say just for the sake of disagreeing."

Suddenly, a familiar pressure descended upon the whole battlefield, even reaching to all the residents of the city.

It was the same oppressive feeling one gets as they go deeper into the Trench, closer to the Entity's seal.

Only now, now that the Entity could actually exerts its powers, it was much, much worse.

The Tentacles lit up, radiating blinding energy.

The First glanced at Axel. "Then behold. The real power of the Entity."

BOOM

?!!

Axel's world tilted, his shock failing to capture the magnitude of the situation.

Imagine being hit by a bike, and you somehow survived with much difficulty.

Now imagine being hit by a bullet train.

That was the difference between the First without the Entity's powers, and with the Entity's power. The previous offense was already too strong for Axel. But now? It was simply off the charts.

Axel saw the energy blast coming. He even put up a shield to guard himself from it. But, he was flung away like a rag like doll, shields completely broken.

Axel teleported away, but was hit again, the destructive energy breaking through his water protection repeatedly.

He was buried into the ground, his whole being trying to fight against the First's concept of destruction.

"Axel!"

Antilla, Akiko, Martina, Ender and the rest of the powerhouses tried to rush to help Axel, but there was a barrier between them, which Axel himself had created.

And also, the current fight was multiple levels higher than Axel's fight against Aslot. What could they do even if they did cross the barrier? They might just die from a straight attack of the two.

So, they could do nothing but watch as Axel fought a hopeless battle.

The Tentacles stopped emitting power and the First lowered his hand, stopping his attack on Axel.

"Still not enough."

The First said, shaking his head in dissatisfaction. "If only you hadn't forced me to stop the Synchronization mid-way, I would've actually stood a chance against the powerhouses of the other worlds."

'This… this is not "enough"?'

If Axel had ever thought he was strong enough, that delusion had been completely broken now.

This level of power is beyond anything anyone in this world can achieve. It can easily destroy cities like nothing, with no one able to resist it. Axel can't tell how long it would take for him to reach this level.

And yet, apparently, even this is not enough to face the monsters of the other worlds. It really puts into perspective the changes the presence of magic in the World can bring to its natives.

"I tried to warn you. With the world we are in, it is realistically impossible to match my power without external help. Your soul simply cannot generate enough magic."

Axel really was badly injured. The destructive soul energy had hit him full on, and his [Water Body] had dropped due to the damage he suffered to his very existence, not only his physical body.

[Skill Steal

Concept of Destruction: 2%->4%]

But, Axel hadn't lost yet. From the beginning, he had been using [Skill Steal] on First.

It was progressing very slowly, but now he could understand it somewhat after being repeatedly hit by it.

[Freakish Tenacity]

With the brief respite he was given Axel first handled the pain he was in.

'I told you not to fight him!' His wand glowed as Zeta tried her best to heal him with the limited power she had.

The First began to slowly descend towards his mangled body, which laid on the ground, completely unresponsive.

"Now, I will give you one last chance. Surrender yourself willingly, and your talents will be used to their fullest."

The First arrived right in front of Axel as he extended his hand. The Tentacles slowly reached out, about to touch Axel.

'No way!' So disgusted he was that Axel willed his mind to clear up once again, even when his whole being was being eroded with destructive energy.

'I've had enough.'

Deciding not to fight, Axel disappeared from the place.

He usually doesn't quit under any circumstance.

Not even when he was fighting against people like Aslot or Scitius. But right now, he really thought of quitting the fight.

'System, how am I supposed to fight something like that?!' He demanded.

[There's a way] replied the system, as information entered his mind.

"Are you seriously going to run away?"

But apparently, the first was not going to let him off that easily.

"Well, you can run. But... they can't."

He said, pointing his hand straight at the place where Martina and Akiko were standing.

Having no choice, Axel stopped himself from running, recalling that he really didn't have a choice.

Sneaking up to the First, Axel extended the Trident's blade and swung it without causing any disturbance.

But the Tentacles seemed to have motion and mana sensors of their own, as at the last moment, they moved sharply, catching the blade of the Trident that were just about to lop off the First's head.

"You can't get away now!" What Axel didn't know was that the first was just as much surprised at Axel stealth, which seemed to have become even more powerful than he had imagined.

'Fuck.'

With his assassination failed, Axel tried to escape, but the Tentacles wouldn't let the Trident's blade go, quicjly climbing up to reach Axel.

'Damnit!'

Axel's best option was to trade the Trident for his life.

But knowing that he'd be cooked without the Trident, Axel summoned hundreds of weapons from the inventory, firing them all at the first.

!!!

A huge explosion occurred, shaking up the place.

"Useless."

But the Tentacles blocked everything as they continued to climb up to reach Axel.

While extending the blade and backing away, Axel ran his mind to think of solutions.

"Then, take this!" Cornered, injured, and running out of options, Axel did something unexpected.

Suddenly, the space opened up.

And a large amount of liquid containing solid substances fell on the first, containing an incredibly disgusting odour.

"Special Skill: Sewage bombardment!"

That's right. Axel just teleported the smelliest waste from all over the city and dumped it right on the first.

?!

So surprised and caught off guard was the old man that he let go of the blade, focusing more on annihilating the cursed water from that had started to fall right above him.

Axel appeared far, far, with a hand on his nose, looking at the area of destruction. "Too Powerful," he muttered while coughing.

He probably shouldn't have locked that space right after teleporting. That was too evil.

But, it was far from over. And he can't go on like this.

There is only one way he would be able to match that level of strength. And it's difficult.

'But, it's my only shot.'

There cannot be any mistakes. And it has to end as soon as possible.

….

A.N.: Give POWERSTONES and take me top 3 and I'll post another chapter