Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Utter madness was brewing below Pherdanta's gigantic Territory. Terrible flames, sharp cylinders of sparks, blaring noises akin to clashing steel, cutting gusts, and even twisting bolts of lightning were flying chaotically, frying the Under, blasting hills, scorching what little vegetation could be seen, and contending with what was left of the red hue of the place.

Ashema fumed at the sight.

No less than tens of millions of slashes must have been striking his master's halberd by the second. The ringing noises reverberating through the atmosphere would have instantly killed the common Master Stage expert.

'What does she think she can accomplish with this? She can't possibly damage a weapon master procured from outside!'

As he tried to convince himself of this, Ashema saw the boundary of Cogent Stark Under lurch towards him. It intended to swallow him back into its fold, vague as he was as a consciousness!

Ashema dashed back, but he was quickly running out of room. Pherdanta's Territory had just swallowed up 90% of the Under with its lunge.

Cursing, Ashema mustered his control over the Under again, a tremendous strain bearing down on his mind.

It was Cogent Stark Order versus the Under now, and the odds were rapidly tipping in the former's favour. A major part of that was likely because of the respective users of both contending powers, one was weakening.

The space within which both constructs – a Majestic Territory and the fossilised body of a Deity – inhabited trembled as they wrestled for control.

'Curses! I need a body!' Ashema thought, and he reached in, summoning a random Cavern that was still alive. He wore her immediately and extended his hands against the boundary of Pherdanta's growing Territory, gritting his teeth.

It was hardly effective. Pherdanta's Territory was still pushing back against him. If it continued thriving, Ashema was certain he would lose his authority over the Under, and when that happened…

…!!!

As he struggled, Ashema spotted something hurtling his way. Seven strands of Pherdanta's hair swam through the air at the speed of light, stiff as metal rods. Before they reached him, they turned into different types of swords and attacked from different directions.

"This wench!" Ashema roared, and warped away.

The swords turned into streaks of light as they wound around Cogent Stark Order, zooming after him. They caught up soon, and Ashema warped again to a different location, but the swords didn't fail to find him. They were more than content playing the sick game of cat and mouse.

Ashema cursed when they streaked from the right, nearly cutting his torso from the middle, and when they came spinning as though to saw through his head in a fraction of second. It was frightening how durable and effective they were.

When Pherdanta was using [Great Sempiternal Vein], she couldn't use other cutting techniques, and thus, she resorted to some of the magnificent qualities she earned as a result of owning her Infinite Sword God Hidden Class. To be fair, these qualities only manifested after she developed this latest, stronger version of the [Infinite Sword God] skill.

Every part of her was essentially lethal and she could imbue any effect tied to swords and cutting on them. She could cut the world with her hand if she wanted to, and she could slash enemies with a mere glare.

She could turn parts of her body into weapons, how was why she tore off her hair, and turned it into swords. It was a convenient means of attack when she couldn't rely on her refined techniques.

As to why she couldn't simply use other facets of [Infinite Sword God, Sardonic Latitude] like Serpents' Graces while [Great Sempiternal Vein was active…

Well, truthfully, using both the Impossible Splicer Series (her slashing techniques) and Coddling Enclosure (the enhanced form of her Cogent Stark Order) was extremely taxing. Since all these facets of [Infinite Sword God, Sardonic Latitude] didn't require mana to cast, the burden of using them fell upon her body and soul alone. It was almost like using a Veneration art.

And thus, Pherdanta relied on cheaper, less draining alternatives. They were very effective, after all.

'Fighting with this woman is pointless!' Ashema thought furiously. 'If becoming Divine was a process that only took a few seconds, I would have become one already with the resources Lord Boron provided for me. I wouldn't lose to her then!'

But it was a sentiment that wouldn't have helped Ashema win the battle. He only entertained it for the sake of what he thought was the best option now.

He dodged the incoming swords again, and stormed towards the sea of darkness – a chunk of the great void – under Cogent Stark Order.

Getting close was a nightmare. The vicious, blue, red and white flames and sparks firing from below the Territory's boundary released a staggering heat that would have incinerated him immediately if he didn't effect his control over the Under, creative a safe pocket around him. Space careened and contorted the closer Ashema got to the action, but the swords still chased after him.

'I'll save my energy and expend every bit of it to get this halberd to Lord Boron! I'll do it no matter what it takes!' Ashema thought and he increased his speed, lunging forth in flight.

It was frightening being so close to the rain of slashes and the halberd which could hardly be seen at all amid the fire, the rippling darkness, and Cogent Stark Order's boundary.

Ashema managed to manoeuvre around it all, manipulating the atmosphere of the Under to his benefit.

He would do it!

Against the odds, he would retrieve the halberd and find a way to sneak it out of the Under without that monster of a woman interfering.

That was how he would win this clash of wills.

If he managed it, the wench he loathed so, and everyone else would die. Perhaps not by his hands, but still.

The lesser between him and the wench would perish all the same!

That was fact!

However…

The unending slashes striking at the Void rank halberd suddenly stopped. The flames, the chaos and all remained momentarily, but undoubtedly, Pherdanta had stopped her assault.

Yet, this didn't bring Ashema the slightest bit of ease. A sense of foreboding clutched his neck.

…!!!

His body stopped moving. Its movements were cut.

Seven clean slashes ripped through his head, neck, torso and limbs, introducing a potent necrosis.

Ashema shuddered.

No!

As a consciousness, he escaped his doomed body, and headed for the halberd, attempting to grasp it with an invisible force of will!

But…

Agonizing, excruciating pain violated him still. A slash ripped through his existence as an idea, cutting it once like a hot knife through butter.

The Under groaned and quaked. Ashema's hold over it slipped, and weakened rapidly.

His voice reverberated all around the Under, mad and dark.

"IT WILL NOT END THIS WAY, WENCH!" he cried. "WATCH ME!"

---

[Author's Note]

And that concludes this arc. Well, it's not really over. I'm sure you can tell.

Leave your thoughts on how it was for you, and what you think will result from it. I always appreciate the feedback.

The final saga of Aigas begins from here. It will be starting out strong, trust. However, before that, the next three chapters are going to be:

Master Summary; Master Index for Side Characters' abilitie; Master Index for the main players AKA Fulgardt and Skullius abilities.