Amadeus Enkrall; known to the general population of Springtown as the Tribune Of Dusk And Destruction, stood atop the Mortal Ranked Guardian Wall that stretched across the northern border of the Safe Zone. His brows furrowed, giving one the impression that he was deep in thought.

  Nennius; Soul-Rending Greatsword and Caesar; Soundless Towershield manifested in both hands, as did Lorica; Bronze-Spirit Armour and Sagum; Crimson-Constitution Cape. In hindsight, if he had known that Weapon Mana Cores tended to manifest construct summoning abilities more often in comparison to other Mana Cores, he would not have chosen such a thing after the System had placed him within the Pure Room.

  It was followed by the integration of a Dusk Mana Core and Destruction Mana Core allowing him to improve his offensive capabilities to levels that other Mortals within Springtown could not match.

  After acquiring a Dragon Mana Core through a task reward, alongside a Technique Mana Core and Spirit Mana Core, Amadeus thought that he would be amongst the strongest individuals within the System Introduction. Vritrium had not once argued against his words, merely nodding at him before closing his eyes and returning to his motionless slumber.

  The synergies between a Weapon Mana Core and Technique Mana Core were abundant, allowing him to generate numerous buffing effects for himself while also inflicting debilitating afflictions on his enemies, granting him several advantages the longer a fight was drawn out.

  His Destruction Mana Core added depth to these complimentary effects, giving him a wide-range of ranged options in the event that he could not close the distance between himself and his opponent.

  His Spirit Mana Core allowed him to resist metaphysical damages, such as those sustained through nightmare natured spiritual energy or eye natured spiritual energy. His Mors-Twilight Spirit, a bulwark against spirit-natured damages and a dusk-filled abyss against observational-type abilities.

  His Dragon Mana Core allowed him to assume more draconic traits as he ascended from Mortality to Knighthood. Fragment Of Scale-Mail. Fragment Of Breath. Fragment Of Roar. And even Fragment Of Wings just to name a few. Through the integration of a Fragment Of Mutation, he was now capable of manifesting a pair of Ladon-Mutation Wings at Knighthood.

  Amadeus believed that as a Mortal, there was no-one within Springtown; no-one within the entire System Introduction that was capable of defeating him in open combat.

  Delila was incapable of doing so.

  Maliq was incapable of doing so.

  Mael was incapable of doing so.

  That is… until he met Jon.

  The sound of Mortal Ranked Eruption Mines and Mortal Ranked Explosive Traps detonating resounded in all directions around the Safe Zone. Spiritually charged bombs exploding in near-perfect unison as the approaching swarm of Knight-level insects charged straight towards the walls of Springtown.

  One Explosive Trap was capable of destroying an uninitiated building.

  While one Eruption Mine was capable of flinging out enough shrapnel to collapse the foundations of an entire building floor. The cost of one-time use spiritual items was high, given that Fragments Of Explosion and Fragments Of Eruption were not common within the forests surrounding Springtown.

  Although their strength was undeniable.

  Chitinous flesh erupting into pillars of red mist. Chunks of bone and pieces of viscera splattered across the flattened earth, pushing clouds of dust and dirt high up into the air. The swarm of insects that led the charge towards the walls of Springtown were now nothing more than a viscous layer of meat, emanating the scent of copper and ash.

  For just a moment, the sound of charging figures was silenced, eardrums ringing in the aftermath of such a powerful explosion.

  Before the next wave of insects rushed forward, crashing into the stone edifices and wooden monoliths formed using Fragments Of Steele or Fragments Of Architecture. Their screeches ear-piercing and monstrous, drowning out whatever feelings of happiness or satisfaction the creationists who made said spiritual items were feeling.

  Dozens of beetles rushed through the dust clouds, accompanied by ants, termites and horrible chimera-abominations of the three. Amadeus narrowed his eyes at the lack of serious damage the explosive traps and eruption mines managed to inflict, letting out a small tsk before shaking his head, half-turning it in the direction of Mael beside him.

  “Are the Imperial-Spell Towers ready Mael?” Amadeus asked.

  The Spiritus Ensis Sanctus glanced towards the two Knight-level structures on either side of the Northern Gate. His Fragment Of Perception allowing him to notice the two subtle nods of the Knights situated atop their highest floors, gesturing in confirmation.

  Mael smiled, nodding his head in response to Amadeus’ question.

  “We are ready to go the moment you give the order. Although this will be their first proper test, the members of the Creationist Guild reported no problem during the integration of the Fragment Of Spell or Fragment Of Boost.”

  The Tribune Of Dusk And Destruction smiled, allowing a short, shallow breath to escape his lips. His gaze glancing upwards, towards the floating hive-shaped construct that loomed through the Sunless Cloudlight Obscurity.

  Amadeus could see the miniscule figures of Jon and Miyoung soar through the skies, atop the backs of the Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est and Graceful Dragon Of Treasured Beauty. The Fragment Of Heart within his chest yearning to head up there and join him, although was restrained by the overwhelming power of his Fragment Of The Dusk-Palace.

  As much as he did not want to admit it… Jon’s strength was far superior his own.

  It was not just through virtue of Jon being a Fourth-Vein Knight, or through the unique effects of his Memento Source Item. Nor was it through the unique effects that his dual-fragment pathways granted him, or the number of fragment pathways that he had formed in the first place.

  The one living being within Springtown that had completely exceeded him in terms of ability mastery and combat prowess. Despite having their abilities for roughly the same amount of time, Jon had possessed a near-perfect control over both his Fragment Of Mind and Fragment Of Horrors.

  Even managing to transform the latter into some strange ability pathway that he had never heard of before. The combination of his Hades-Draconian Shadow and Carcosa-Form Horrors was undeniably powerful and that was before Delila had told him about Lethe.

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  Amadeus could only imagine what degree of strength he had reached. After forming two more dual-fragment pathways.

  “Inform the spellcasters to take aim at the swarm. Fifty meter intervals between each designated point of impact. Guardians and Bulwarks should activate each of their spiritual shields after the swarm is less than fifty metres away from the base of the walls.” Amadeus spoke, not bothering to turn his head towards Mael, whose figure vanished in the faintest flickers of colourless light.

  The first of his dual-fragment pathways manifesting behind him, once a Fragment Of Banner layered beneath a Fragment Of Victory.

  [Behold Thy Victorious Sigil, Unmarred By Conquest Or Peace].

  Fragment Of The Conqueror-Banner.

  Manifested from his Technique Mana Core, Amadeus allowed the three-metre-tall banner to bury itself into the stones that formed the Mortal Ranked Guardian Wall beneath him. Granting an increase in the effectiveness of all abilities with the Technique Trait to those within a defined radius.

  It was capable of stoking certain emotions within his allies. Such as courage and bravery. While reducing the possibilities of them growing stricken with fear or overwhelmed with terror or dread.

  It was even capable of granting visions of a potential victory, although the chances were near infinitesimal.

  It was without a shadow of doubt, his strongest and most powerful ability.

  And it was a group-buffing effect, rather than a method of inflicting damage or protecting oneself.

  “This is the Path that you have chosen Amadeus.” Vritrium’s words ringing in the back of his mind, “You will understand this decision better in the future. Perhaps sooner rather than later.”

  With Nennius; Soul-Rending Greatsword in one hand and Caesar; Soundless Towershield in the other, Amadeus allowed his imaginary mental construct to disperse all the memories and emotions that flowed from the depths of his Fragment Of Palace, focusing solely on the enemies that laid right in front of him.

  His brows twitching as he felt incredible bursts of spiritual energy emanate from each of the Imperial-Spell Towers beside him, grinning as he watched streaks of lightning and eruptions of flame shoot down from the tops of each tower. Fragments Of Annihilation and Fragments Of Extinction activating in unison, producing effects capable of wiping out entire city blocks.

  Cruel, hooked thorns pierced through the soft earth and into the flesh of the approaching insects. Clouds of poisonous gas melted through bones and muscles, reducing insects to mere puddles of liquid viscera. Ice sprouted across the surface of the earth, freezing anything that came into contact with its indiscriminate touch.

  Each Spell effect was capable of eliminating more than a dozen insects at once, perhaps even two dozen if their grouping was tight enough. Eruptions of spiritual energy blooming from all four sides of the Safe Zone, matched by the sheer intensity of fighting in the skies above them.

  Insects were killed en masse every passing moment. Fragments Of Swamp and Fragments Of Bog used to slow down their advance while Fragments Of Cessation and Fragments Of Freeze were used to inflict debilitating effects capable of restricting movements.

  Fragments Of Marionette and Fragments Of Control where used to transform corpses into puppets capable of stalling the insects even further. Fragments Of Trench and Fragments Of Abyss manifested pits of an unfathomable depth in the space before the Guardian Walls, causing dozens of insects to fall to their deaths, crushed beneath the weight of their fellow swarm members.

  “Spellcasters are to swap after thirty minute intervals! Watch your rotations and spiritual energy expenditures! Do not overload your abilities more than what is necessary!” Amadeus shouted, watching as another crackling burst of thunderous lightning streaked through the dusk-filled skies.

  Within a matter of minutes, more than a thousand insects had died all at once.

  Stretching across four main gates and with dozens of squads placed at intervals between each of them, the defenders of Springtown had the advantage in terms of spiritual energy-.

  Writhing flesh and slithering meat whispered horrifying truths of the differences between Knighthood and Lordship. Legs crawling across the corpses of ten thousand lifeforms, consuming biomass, and spiritual energy until their stomachs exploded.

  Before feasting on themselves, becoming one with the banquet.

  But not numbers.

  Within the depths of her Memento Source Item, the Voracious Swarm Mother observed the myriad battlefields going on beneath her Hive-Womb Capital. Her Life Mana Core, Flesh Mana Core and Creation Mana Core producing larvae by the dozen, gestating them at impossibly swift speeds in order to create more and more insects with unique and specialized characteristics.

  Through the effects of her Mortal Ranked Title; Grandmaster Of Wind And Flesh, she commanded her flesh constructs to expand their formations, concentrating her swarm into thin-needles and attacking locations with the least number of defenders.

  Knight-level hard-headed beetles charged into the Mortal Ranked Guardian Walls head-first, allowing their reinforced skulls to create microfractures with each additional charge. Knight-level acid-stomach termites vomiting caustic stomach acids capable of melting stone and metal alike.

  Ten-metre-long Knight-level plague-birth flies flew straight down off the Hive-Womb Capital, through the layer of dusk natured spiritual energy that half-hampered her senses and towards large heat masses on the ground beneath her. Crashing into groups of Mortals or Knights with powerful fire-type abilities.

  Inflicting almost half-a-dozen different Lord Ranked debilitating effects to anyone within thirty-metres of the point of impact.

  Through the effects of her Knight Ranked Title; Matriarch Of Gluttonous Insects, her flesh constructs were able to consume the biomass of their deceased siblings, temporarily strengthening themselves and enhancing the biological abilities that she had granted them.

  Ants with spider-esque abdomens were capable of shooting webbing over a hundred metres, targeting unsuspecting Knights across the length of each rampart. Some swiftly assisted by their friends and comrades, while others struggled immensely, entangled within thick, layers of debilitating spider webs.

  Knight-level swift-wind dragonflies rushing to kidnap these tangled Knights, flinging them off the walls and towards the rest of the approaching swarm. Some devoured by Knight-level hungry-maw locusts and Knight-level myriad-poison hornets, temporarily gaining one of the abilities of the individual whom they had eaten.

  Allowing insects to hurl spheres of poisonous darkness or launch arrows of searing flame down at the defenders of Springtown.

  Through the effects of her Lord Ranked Title; High Priestess Of The Swarm, the Voracious Swarm Mother strengthened the effects of her Memento Source Item. The Hive-Womb Capital was not just a summoned structure which served as both fortress and staging ground, but also as an extension of herself.

  A womb in which all manner of different lifeforms could be produced.

  Swarm natured spiritual energy flowing through the metaphysical veins that extended throughout the floating hive construct. Fragment Of Womb creating the foundation for the Memento Source Item, layered beneath a Fragment Of Fecundity at Knighthood and a Fragment Of Propagation at Lordship.

  Withered, lifeless copies of the Voracious Swarm Mother squirmed and writhed as their bodies were forced to produce more and more larvae. Through a high enough mastery in her abilities during life, the Voracious Swarm Mother was even capable of producing mindless, Knight-level flesh-reflections of herself capable of producing Mortal-level insects.

  Despite being devoid of her mind and spirit, her flesh still very much contained the lingering concepts of someone that once ascended to Dukedom. Memories engrained into muscles and tendons. Experiences buried deep within organs and viscera. Emotions that spilled over from the mind and willpower that overflowed from the spirit.

  Despite her bestial appearance and instinctive reactions, the consummation of so much flesh, containing such raw spirituality fuelled the growth of weakened concepts. Her Fragment Of The Mindless-Hunger regaining just a fraction of her original sapience, having inherited concepts such as “feast,” “mindfulness,” “consummation” and “assimilation.”

  The Voracious Swarm Mother allowed her dozens of compound eyes to twitch, feeling an inkling of her mental faculties return. Watered by the consumption of thousands of living Mortals and Knights.

  Her mandibles twitching and her mouth widening, filling her lungs to their utmost for the first time in over two-hundred billion years.

  “Need… More… More… Flesh!”

  The tiniest most imperceptible crack appeared on the surface of the small realm.