Prince of The Abyss

Aether way his way down the stairs, awaiting what was going to come next. Truly, it had been a huge risk to tell the man that he killed that he knew he was a clone; he couldn’t have told the faction if he had given him some time.

But he didn’t, luckily, their battle was soon after their first encounter, so he never got the time, even if he wasn’t sure if he truly knew the truth or if he was just saying a crazy theory, it was still something to report in the Crimson Ledger.

But it didn’t matter now does it? Its to late either way.

He was already killed, and there was no one from the Crimson Ledger here at the moment, just him.

And it wasn’t like it was going to be hard to get this guy, if truly they lost all their power when their clone is dead, all they have left is their skill, the small skill they have, nothing else.

After a while of walking down the stairs, he finally reached his destination.

The many tubes filled his vision yet again.

Really, he was interested in seeing how things were going to play out, what was going to happen next, and just how much time it was going to pass before something happened, plus he knew the reaction of the Crimson Ledger was going to be priceless.

Walking through the tubes, Aether saw many people, all living another life inside their clone, without any worry in the world, while others had to fear for their life night and day.

Some were younger, even younger than him, which was surprising, but most were older guys, which is to be expected, maybe it was because they considered this was their only way, since they didn’t have the endurance and speed to survive, on their first time in the arena, and prefering to use clones to have as many tries as they want, that way they could finally one day get through by using their expirence.

...

Really, it wouldn’t surprise him if they saw this as a joke, maybe even a little business, since using the clones and their experience, they could climb to the Named rank many times, and get the money each time.

Well, soon enough, all of this was going to be over.

He stopped walking, stopping in front of a tube, and smiling.

The one sitting inside it looked exactly like the man he had killed earlier. If he wasn’t aware of everything, he would say he was crazy at the moment, since how is it possible for the man he had killed to be back from the dead?

But he knew the truth.

That the one he had killed was, in fact, a clone.

Summoning Voidpiercer, Aether put his hand on the glass, feeling its cold touch against the tip of his fingers. He wondered just what was inside these tubes. After all, whatever it was, it was able to clone people, so it was definitely not something normal.

’Time to keep my promise, I guess.’

He said, before thrusting the blade right in the tube, and breaking a giant hole in the glass.

Stepping back, he watched as the green substance that was sitting inside the tube flowed out like a damn waterfall. He tried not to touch it; he didn’t know what it was, and neither did he know what it could do, but what he did know was that he wasn’t going to mess with it.

As the green fluid continued to flow out, the body of the man suddenly fell to the ground, without its body reacting at all, as if it was completely asleep.

Yet after some seconds, he awakened, the first thing he saw being the floor covered in green juice that he had been swimming in for a while now.

...

But the second thing he saw, though.

...

Was no one else but Aether?

The man’s face paled in terror as he was him, only now did he realize the boy was in fact not lying all this time, he was fully aware of the truth, he knew what was happening behind the scenes, he knew about the clones, he knew about it all.

He had made a grave mistake challenging him, one that he wasn’t ready to face the consequences for.

Aether crouched down near him, looking in his eyes.

”See, I told you I was going to fight your true form. And while it had taken a while, plus the danger I put myself in, it was completely worth it.

...

”But... how did you figure it out? The Crimson Ledger has been doing this business for a long time, and no one has ever been able to tell the difference between a clone and the original, so how... what did you use to tell?” The man said, clenching his fist, while at his feet.

”And, should I tell you?” Aether said, chuckling.

’Now where was it I...’

Using his relic, Aether grew his hair to cut it with Voidpiercer and use his own hair as rope, that way he could bind the man, since it was defently necessery, if he allowed him to scream just once, he was dead.

After tying the man’s arms and leaving, Aether picked him up on his shoulder. Strating to make his way up the stairs... and the man surprisingly didn’t try to resist, maybe because he knew it was going to be useless.

After all, he was the person who had killed him in his most powerful state.

What were the chances that he was going to be able to kill him now?

...” What are you planing kid...” The man asked more seriously than before.

”To bring this whole place to the ground, that way no one else gets to risk their life for just some stupid reward.

Aether climbed the stairs, and using the keys he had taken from the guard he had killed the first time, he opened the dungeon door and threw the man inside his cage, entering together with him.

Though... he of course wasn’t going to sleep, even if a man is tied, that doesn’t mean you can rest in the face of the enemy.

Even if tomorrow was going to be a long day.

...

...

...

The arena was quiet.

Not the usual restless hum. Not the rising wave of excitement before steel met steel.

Just stillness.

The crowd sat in scattered clusters along the stone tiers, leaning forward, watching without shouting. No wagers called out. No laughter. Even the banners above seemed to hang heavier than usual.

In the pit, the sand remained untouched.

Two figures stood facing one another, separated by only a few steps.

No one cheered.

No one spoke.

They simply stared.

But this was the exact reaction he had expected, after all, they must be seriously confused, they had just seen a man die after an amazing battle yesterday, and now they were seeing him stand in the arena again against the same person that had killed them the last time, just that now they seemed weaker.

They must be questioning if this was real or a sick joke, after all, there was no such thing as revival in this world; if there was, then no one would fear death, but there isn’t such a thing, only a start and an end.

Looking up at the crowd, he also noticed the Crimson Ledger standing in their usual room; their emotions seemed to be quite different; some seemed angry, almost as if they wanted to tear their own hair from their head. They must be regretting their decision when they had him in their palm. And they must really hold a grudge against the Iron Oath right now for being the reason they chose not to kill him.

Some were devestated, resting their heads in their faces, almost like if they knew what was going to happen to them, the fate their were going to soon meet for their action, and while he knew they were crushed by it, it made him wonder if they even regreted their decision, and if they did, if they regreted it because they got caugh, or because they actually realize just how much of a bastard they were.

Though if he had to say, it was probably the former.

These guys were heartless.

But in the midst of anger and sadness, some were standing quietly, almost as if they knew that they were going to fight with all their might to protect themselves, as if they were calculating every last one of their action and trying to make a way for them to get through this without being killed or exiled by the Arena.

And really, he wasn’t going to say there wasn’t a way for them to actually be able to save themselves from this situation; they were a strong house with a lot of connections.

If there was someone who could escape from this situation, it would be them.

But he didn’t care, after all, he couldn’t do anything either way.

He just had to wait and see what happened.