CHAPTER 796: VISION PROTOTYPE

"Seems like you’re finally in a good mood." Alice chuckled.

She could see Gwen training with a wide smile on her face as well as her increased enthusiasm.

"Yep. My Dad called to see what’s going on."

It was something simple but Alice understood how important it was for Gwen.

Thus she couldn’t hold herself back from patting Gwen on the head.

"Huh?"

"Don’t worry about it." Alice shrugged.

"Oh right, aunty also asked about you. I told her that you were struggling a bit with Vision and she said to call her when your prototype is finished. If you show it to her, she’ll give you some pointers."

Alice froze.

Getting pointers from an Apostle was NOT in her plans nor was it part of her expectations.

"I thought you shouldn’t get pointers for Vision?"

"I think it’s because you’re modifying it for your own purpose. At this stage, it’s already different to the technique that aunty made." Gwen theorised.

"Hmm... Fair enough." Alice accepted.

There were risks associated with showing an enemy Apostle her abilities but Alice had to admit. Shiera’s techniques were godly.

The Zone had carried her this far and they only had one day for that.

If she could get a few extra days with Shiera...

Alice was getting excited just thinking about it.

"Aunty is kinder than she looks right?" Gwen chuckled.

"Yep. Which makes me question how the hell Solaris even managed to get Apostles like these two. They’re much nicer than Famine or War. Griselda and Nana are a tad freaky too." Alice groaned, shivering while recalling their first meeting.

The souls attached to them...

Meanwhile, Gwen’s smile froze.

What Alice casually threw out made her mind explode.

Talking about how different the Apostles were as though meeting them was an easy case.

While her dad and aunty make public appearances a lot, Famine and War tend to keep themselves concealed.

Though War made big moves lately and see where that got her.

As for Spirituality and Immortality... They stopped interfering with church operations for a while now, only lending a hand if the Goddess demands them.

But this was just the information that her dad was able to gather.

So how on earth does Alice know what they were like???

And to talk about it like you were meeting an acquaintance while out on a grocery run was...

"Anyways, I do have a prototype I want to test. It’s manageable on my own but I need to see what it’s like in combat first. Can you watch and let me know if it’s close to Vision?" Alice asked as Gwen snapped out of it and nodded her head.

"Sure."

"Syrion! It’s my turn, I got something I want to test out." Alice called out as Syrion glanced over and unfolded his arms.

"Of course young lady. I’m ready when you are." Syrion chuckled.

These days were calm, peaceful. Reminded him of his time training his son.

Had he found them earlier instead of being designated as a target for the bounty... There’s no point dwelling on what can’t be changed.

He’s going to enjoy the time he has left as much as possible before reuniting with his family.

With Syrion taking a neutral stance, Alice took a deep breath and paused...

*RUMBLE!!!

A pair of draconic wings unfurled behind her while a crimson crown spun to life.

Now that she was in combat, the surroundings began to react harshly to her power output!

Storm clouds loomed overhead as the crackle of lightning flickered through the shadows.

Summoning Void Fang, Alice transformed it into a sword.

Resonance!

Duality + Tiamat + Tenebris!

Tiamat’s wings began to intertwine with the Scarlet Wings manifested by Tenebris’s Sigil. Tethers extended from Alice’s back, fading into her surroundings and forming a connection.

Harmonisation!

’Split the Sigil. Ensure that only half is inverted. Simultaneously draw power and expel it!’

Void Step!

Alice’s figure flickered out of view as Syrion moved into action.

*CLANG!!!

He parried an attack from behind but his spare hand was already moving to intercept.

This felt different.

Something was off.

Parrying then jumping over one of Alice’s attacks, Syrion summoned three blades that were immediately consumed by the Void before they could even be fired.

Void Flux Cleave!

Syrion slammed his blade into the face of the attack, shattering it.

Void Flux!

Leaning his head to the side, he avoided her attack from above.

She was getting... faster? No, her speed hasn’t changed.

Syrion frowned.

Gathering energy into his palm, he slammed down, creating a net of energy strands.

Each one sharp as his blades! A network of densely packed sword slashes to ensure his safety.

*Click

A finger snap.

The eruption of blood mist and the disintegration of his net.

"!!!"

Syrion instinctively grabbed the space next to his head.

Little by little, an invisible blade appeared along with Alice.

During the finger snap, she had disguised herself!

"Damn..."

She thought she could’ve taken Syrion by surprise but his instincts were stronger than she initially expected.

"Guess I’ll go a tad serious for a bit." Syrion chuckled, tossing Alice into the air.

He’ll reveal why he’s dubbed the Blade Sovereign by the Abyss!

Blade Horizon.

Syrion didn’t move but his blade was already sheathed.

Alice’s pupil constricted, her left arm had been severed!

Blood lashed out, reconnecting her arm as she landed on the ground.

"I was looking for a shallow cut against your chest but you actually moved out of the way. As expected, you’re seeing something different to the young lady over there right?" Syrion smiled.

Blade Horizon, a technique that allowed him to close the gap between him and his target in an instant.

To bypass defences and cut exactly how he wished in that space.

Yet Alice managed to move out the way at the last second, no. That wasn’t accurate. She moved before he even made the motion to do so.

Was she seeing into the future?

He doubted it.

"Let’s just say my eye is a little special." Alice grinned, pointing at Cayla.

"Then I’ll put it to the test."

Blade Horizon!

*CLANG!!!

Alice gritted her teeth. She was barely able to move Void Fang into place when the attack struck, cutting deep into her arm.

"You’re definitely seeing ’something’ before I move."

Jumping to the side, Alice fired a void Flux to counter a Blade Horizon while simultaneously parrying another that breached her defence using Void Flux.

If it wasn’t for the properties of Void Fang, her weapon would’ve broke on the first parry!

[Alice your body is approaching the limit. The theoretical resistance is much lower than expected in combat since you’re focused on other stuff.] Cayla warned.

’Already?’

Based on her estimations, Alice figured she could hold this state for at least 5 minutes. But it’s only been a short exchange and she’s already reaching her limits...

’We’ll need to adjust the formula a little it seems.’ Alice frowned.

But for now, she’ll finish this fight!

She wanted to land at least one good hit!

Alice transformed Void Fang into a spear and lunged forward.

Void Step!

Syrion wanted to duck down but Alice had already adjusted the course of her strike.

However...

"So with physical moves, you’re reacting later than expected. Is it a body limitation? Or perhaps it doesn’t fit the criteria for your new technique." Syrion analysed.

Grabbing Alice’s spear, he tried to slam his shoulder into her when she flipped over him.

Blade Horizon!

"!!!"

Alice froze.

Six slashes surrounded her.

Even though she could ’see’ it coming, dealing with it as another matter entirely.

"Tsk, freaky b*stard." Alice’s smile twitched.

Syrion’s battle IQ was insane. The fact that he had already dissembled and analysed her new technique, even making accurate guesses in some instants was ridiculous even by Alice’s standards.

"I give up. This state lasts a lot shorter than expected." Alice raised her hand in defeat as Syrion withdrew his attack.

Blade Horizon wasn’t a singular strike. No, Blade Horizon was simply a slash he could do at will and in mass quantities if he wished.

"Let’s see... You react slower to physical, faster when I cast. In fact, you react before the attack even flies out. I’m guessing... Energy?"

". . ." Alice blinked her eyes.

He was able to break down the foundations of his own thinking, the rules that he’s been taught all his life, and adjust himself mentally to match the anomaly that was herself.

By applying new rules that she’s demonstrated, he gathered the hints and clues to her ability.

*Sigh~

Letting out a big sigh, Alice sat down.

"Yep. I’m reading the energy around you and simulating what you could be doing in my head. Before your attack even flies out, information has already been stored and transmitted. I’m just intercepting that." Alice admitted.

During her version of Vision, she is both harmonising and being exiled from the realm. But in doing so, when paired with Cayla’s natural ability, Alice found herself in the weave of energy during the fight.

She could see the flow of energy being gathered, projected and even the circulation within the body.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t perfect.

She still needed a moment to process the sequence and store that in her mind. Similar to triggered casts, the more she sees something, the better she’ll be able to react in this version of Vision

No matter how fast an attack is, as long as she could read the flow of energy, she’ll be able to predict its course.

This was Alice’s version of Vision. One that made full use of Cayla’s properties and her own reaction speed.