Born in Blood

Chapter 420 Baleful Expanse

Slowly, the eight clones spread apart from one another in groups of two.

For each direction, there were two Shadow Clones.

Right, left, front, back.

Usan didn't bother hiding himself amidst them.

They all looked the exact same and their faces weren't visible. Whether or not the Empress knew who the real Usan was, didn't really matter.

There was a fragile pause as both parties looked each other up and down.

There was no doubt about it.

Usan was far weaker than the Empress.

Right now, his Rank 6 mental sphere wasn't close to the real thing in the least.

His body was a mess.

It may have looked sturdy and solid, but there were waves of pain washing over him.

However, the Empress had to be careful.

After all, the analogy of an old man holding a rocket launcher still fits here.

She had to be careful of getting too close to Usan.

And when considering the hate Usan had for her, she knew this wouldn't end unless one of them died.

Usan was aware of this too.

At the same time, the Empress couldn't detect Usan's aura.

It was like he was invisible, despite how she was looking straight at him.

But the time for unnecessary thoughts was over.

It was time to draw blood!

SHHHH!

WHOOM!

Black energy swirled around the Empress' hands as Usan and his Shadow Clones closed the distance in barely a second.

From below, above and the sides, a spear, glaive and several other weapons were closing in on her.

At the same time, Usan's wakizashi was just about to slice into the Empress' neck, easily severing her head from shoulders.

It was a Rank 6 item. One Usan made by sacrificing a bit of his lifeforce.

Even a Rank 6 body wouldn't be able to bear the brunt.

It was just a few minutes away from decapitating the woman, when the mass of black energy exploded outward, accompanied with a shrill cry of something in pain.

SHREEEEE!

Usan was blown away, but he quickly steadied himself mid-air.

His Shadow Clones were a bit injured, but instantly healed themselves after.

The Empress, on the other hand, was unharmed.

But there was a new addition to the battlefield.

A Rank 6 Abomination.

It had an alien-like, long, curvy head, the back of which was covered with writhing tentacles.

There weren't any eyes where its 'face' was, but a blank slate.

Its mouth was almost as long and wide as its face, shaped like a diamond.

It had long, spikey teeth, but few and far in between its gums.

7 teeth above. 6 teeth below.

It was skinny but muscular, with white skin, roughly 7 meters tall.

Its ribcage could easily be seen through its tall, bony frame.

It had two arms on its upper body, which ended with two hands and long nails.

However, below its hip, there were no legs. Instead, it was one thick tail, covered with dense muscle.

It looked like a mix between a human — if one could even call it that — and a snake.

Usan groaned.

The thing looked incredibly strong, despite its unorthodox shape and strange appearance.

Shadows flowed from Usan's body, forming hundreds of shadow-blades.

Compared to its Rank 5 counterpart, the Shadow Blades attack had grown immensely.

Instead of little daggers, they were full blown odachis, and much higher in number.

The eight Shadow Clones did the same.

Although they were separate from the real Usan, they could use his 'Ora' reserves at any time, including his spells.

Before long, 9 separate swarms of rotating shadow-blades shot towards the Empress and the Rank 6 Abomination.

"Show them, Moon," the Empress ordered, pointing forward, unfazed by the threats.

The Abomination — Moon — took a deep breath.

Then, it shrieked with all its power.

SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

All of the shadow-blades were shredded apart, and Usan's ears would have imploded if not for his shadows protecting him.

Just then, the Abomination appeared in front of Usan, slapping him away with its crushing tail.

BANG!

It was too fast.

Usan attempted to block with his sword, but the tail wrapped around its edge and hit him on the side.

He was sent towards the ocean.

The Abomination shot towards him again, intent on using its tail for another blow.

But just then, as he was flying towards the ocean like a bullet, Usan snapped his fingers.

WHOOM!

BANG!

As the Abomination swung its tail, it quickly realized that the person it was aiming at had a mace instead of a sword!

Usan had switched places with its mace-wielding counterpart.

As the tail swung around the clone, the shadow mace spiraled around its muscular tail and tightened around its frame.

Its tail and body was ensnared.

But its fists were free.

It punched the clone with all of its power!

BANG!

Parts of the clone broke apart, but the chain and mace exploded.

BOOM!

Clouds of darkness gushed forth, encompassing the Abomination.

However, the Abomination exploded into flames a moment later—

WROOSH!

—dispelling the corrosive gas.

The mace-wielding clone was fully reformed a moment later.

But this time, the seven remaining clones had surrounded the Abomination.

Meanwhile, the real Usan had reappeared behind the Empress.

Instead of swinging his sword, Usan flicked his fingers forward.

The Empress snapped around with a frown.

She expected the attack, but for just a moment, she was caught off guard by the back to back teleportation.

Another mass of black energy shot at Usan in a straight line.

But a black sphere that curved the space around it met its charge.

A Black Hole.

SHHHHHHHHHHH!

The Black Hole sucked in the black energy as though it was dust to a vacuum, growing in size.

Then it continued forward.

BOOM!

The Black Hole exploded in the Empress' face, flinging her the distance.

Usan was about to attack again, but stopped suddenly.

Moon, the Abomination, was fighting against his eight clones, but it didn't bother protecting the Empress, her master.

Something was wrong.

As the Empress steadied, aligning herself upright, she sent Usan a deathly glare.

The right side of her face was missing skin and muscle, leaving only bone.

But a moment later, it healed entirely.

With a quiet, blank tone, she spoke under her breath:

"I'll show it to you, then."

The Empress made a diamond with her hands.

"The meaning of fear."

DMMMMMM!

There was a loud, echoing thud, followed by drumming creaks. Like an ancient, forbidden gate had just opened.

Then, she chanted the words:

"Baleful Expanse."