The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

"SCREW OFF!" Kan roared, slashing his swords down at Oscar.

Oscar lifted to buckler to block. His knees began to buckle as the cracks like spiderwebs formed on the floor. He changed stances and diverted the two swords, running away from the head-on battle.

Oscar's hands were numb and trembling. He could not believe Frederick was capable of this incredible power. It happened so suddenly after Kan forcibly broke off his Abe-empowered 'Stone Gaze'.

"Frederick's body is tearing apart!" Oscar was terrified.

Frederick's body was bloodied all over with tears and cuts, not from Oscar's attacks. These injuries suddenly occurred each time Kan attacked, but Kan still smiled widely despite the blood dripping all over the ground.

"He's forcibly inputting more of his Ein into Frederick to force him to be stronger. We must stop him, or your friend's body won't last!" Abe shouted in Oscar's head.

Oscar's eyes were bloodshot, and he shot ahead in a powerful dash, but Kan was quick and dodged.

"Kekekeke." Kan's cold voice echoed through the manor, licking the blood on his arm. "I didn't want to do this. Frederick, here, is an amazing vessel; I don't want much harm done to him."

He recalled the first moment he witnessed Frederick in his illusion. As a Wraith, he was very sensitive to depravity and dark emotions, and Frederick was a wellspring of those emotions. His Exolsia Core and body would be perfect for him to inhabit.

A cloud of dust blew away. Kan had his hand outstretched, shrouded in green and black Ein, placed on Oscar's buckler. He smirked from ear to ear and said, "Your physical power is incredible, but your Ein is lacking compared to mine."

Oscar's legs were straining to push forward, but Kan's arm remained unmoving despite his best efforts. It was the culmination of 'Shattering Wave' and 'Ein Awaken', yet it did nothing.

At this moment, a concentration of purple Ein flowed and encompassed the room. Abe stretched his arms and clapped; the Ein distorted, and Kan found himself in a forest with yellow motes of pollen floating everywhere.

"Trying to put me to sleep in this illusion?" Kan scoffed and slammed his hand down on the forest grounds. The pollen was sticking to his skin, and roots were growing out of the floor and entangling him. Kan shouted with power, "Burn!"

A blazing inferno swallowed the entire forest, the pollen, and him. The scenery changed back to the manor floor; Kan still had his hand on Oscar's buckler, but his Ein exploded out, forcing Oscar's back to slam into the wall.

"GAH!" Oscar felt some blood welling up but forcibly held it down. He could not use his 'Steel Scales' in time to mitigate the damage. But his body was strong enough to endure.

Kan looked at Abe's spiritual form, attached to Oscar's shoulder, with his arms crossed. "Did you forget that I can do the same things you can? Breaking an illusion is easy. Or perhaps your arrogance led you to believe you were still the mighty Marshal Exalt that lorded over me? Pathetic."

Abe did not respond to Kan but looked at Oscar, who wrenched himself free from the wall. "Oscar."

"He's anxious…." Oscar whispered. His eyes were shining with anticipation, and his mouth formed a smile.

"What?" Abe asked.

Oscar could not answer as Kan began his furious assault, cleaving through the marbled floors and walls of the manor. Fortunately, Oscar had the Prinstyct, watching each fluid motion leading to the next. Even though Kan was a Greater Apprentice Exalt like Robert, he was still moving in Frederick's body.

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"DIE FOR MY FUTURE!" Kan grew anxious, adding more power to his strikes, but he could not catch Oscar. His frustration continued to build as his Ein became more erratic and lacked control.

Abe was also surprised to see this and understood what was happening.

"Nervous? I wonder what's happening inside?" Oscar goaded. He didn't know what was happening with Albert and Emily, but Kan's sudden change must be related to it. His face broke out into a smile. "I only have to dodge for a while until they're done."

"SHUT UP!" Kan's leg tore up with more blood. In a split second, he was before Oscar, whose eyes widened. This one attack had surpassed his Prinstyct.

"Stop messing with my friend's body!" Oscar shouted.

…….

"Frederick!" Emily shouted.

"Emily…" Frederick spoke; his voice trembled for a moment. The visage of his younger self distorted and changed into his true appearance. His mature face and large scar over his eye were proof.

The night sky suddenly rumbled as dark clouds gathered overhead.

"Frederick." Emily stopped, taking in Frederick's current appearance with a sad look, and held her hand out. "What are you doing? Come with me."

"...." Frederick stared at Emily's outstretched hand but turned back to stare at the deep ravine where Teresa's dead body was splattered on the rocks. "I can't go with you, Emily."

"You're possessed by a Wraith!" Emily stomped forward but not close enough to grab Frederick. She held back a bit and wanted to talk. "He's trapped you in this world to feed on you. You'll die in here if you stay long enough. You'll cease to be yourself."

"I know," Frederick said indifferently. There was not the slightest reaction to Emily's words.

Emily staggered back. "You knew?"

"I knew the entire time."

Emily's eyes widened as her face paled. "Then why?"

Frederick sighed and said, "I made a deal. Kan will kill Gilbert while I give him my body and live in this world of illusions to feed him more hate. So there's nothing for you here. Go back."

"Go back? GO BACK?!" Emily screamed. She sprinted ahead, grabbed Frederick's back, and flipped him over her shoulder. He landed squarely on the ground, but his face didn't change as though there was no pain.

"We came here for you! We ran to the Spiraling Willow Forest and fought our way through to save you." Emily yelled and knelt to grip Frederick tight on his shoulders to force him still. Her orange eyes stared dead into his green eyes.

"I can't kill Gilbert as I am." Frederick struggled and tried to pry Emily's hands away. "I can't forget Teresa. You don't know how much I loved her!"

"I've lived through your memories, and I know how much you care for her. I watched when you met her for the first time and were sad to leave. I listened to you as you never ceased to talk about her. I felt sad for you when you saw her love for Gilbert. But would this be what she wanted? What were her last words to you?!" Emily argued. "She wanted you to live, not to throw your life away like this."

"Live? How can I live while constantly thinking about what happened here? How can I live knowing the bastard who is responsible is having the time of his life." Frederick stated.

"You once told Gilbert and Teresa that you would protect them, no matter what. What about us, Frederick? Oscar and I are here, waiting and fighting for you. Oscar is putting his life on the line outside while I could die in here. Would you not protect us as well? How is going to throw yourself into death, protecting yourself?"

"Stop…." Frederick's face darkened.

"What you're doing is selfish and uncaring towards us. Do we mean nothing to you?! You're no different from Gilbert if you do this!" Emily shouted.

This statement unnerved Frederick, flaring his nostrils. The most disgusting thing in the world was to be compared to that bastard.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?" Frederick shouted. "JUST LIVE ON WITHOUT ME."

Emily struggled to keep Frederick away from the cliff. Frederick was pushing her away to stand up. In this world of illusions, it was hard to keep Frederick down forever.

"You're right! I did abandon you two like a bastard. So why? Please just go away. I'm just a failure. Why is it worth doing all this for me?!"

But Emily brought her face close to Frederick's and placed her lips on top of his.

Frederick froze for a moment; his eyes widened at Emily, who had her eyes closed with drops of tears at the corners of her eyes. Her face seemed so mellow, and Frederick was drawn into it, closing his eyes and losing himself in the soft feeling of her lips.

"Hah hah." Emily let go of Frederick and said with lines of tears on her cheeks. "I love you, you idiot."

"Y-you love me?" Frederick's face broke for the first time. He slumped back to the ground, losing strength in his body.

Emily tenderly embraced Frederick, her arms wrapped around him, and whispered into his ear, "I love you. Please come back with me."

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