The scurrying sound of insects echoed throughout the waxen tunnels and channels within the Hive-Womb Capital. Legs clattering against pallid-yellow surfaces, crawling along the walls and ceilings of the Memento Source Item. Most of flesh constructs that dwelled within were Mortal-level insects, those that were tasked with nurturing new insects and repairing any damages to the hive.

  Except for specific brood chambers and the private quarters of the Voracious Swarm Mother, most of the Knight-level flesh constructs resided on the outside of the Hive-Womb Capital. Sent out to collect biomass or Knight-level, or even precious Lord-level materials for their progenitor.

  It made the internal structure of the Hive-Womb Capital one that was senselessly complex, perhaps even at the cost of its defensiveness. Although the external structure of the Memento Source Item was powerful enough to resist the blow of a Fragment Of Eradication, the internal structure on the other hand-.

  The sounds of scurrying and skittering came to a halt as dozens of Mortal-level insects lifted their heads in the direction of one particular entrance. Their bodies forged from an amalgamation of six distinct kinds of spiritual energies, making them quite sensitive to external sources of mana that might affect the growth of their larvae.

  Some tilting their head to the side, confused at the presence of this unfamiliar source of spiritual energy.

  Their bodies, which had never experienced the glacial chill of winter, nor the pervading cold of ice and snow, shivered in response to this unfamiliar spiritual energy.

  The Voracious Swarm Mother feeling these sensations flow into her from her children, compound eyes widening as she rushed to activate her Fragment Of Barrier and Fragment Of Devour.

  [Threefold Wind Art; Disruptive Gale Of Protection].

  [Gluttonous Flesh Art; Spiritual Mouth Shields].

  Despite the speed at which she activated her two abilities, the Grandmaster Of Wind And Flesh was unable to react in time to Jon’s Fragment Of Annihilation. Watching as the spherical mass of chaotic ice natured spiritual energy crashed into the walls of her Hive-Womb Capital, resulting in an explosion which shook the foundations of her Memento Source Item.

  The tunnels and channels carved into the inner structure of her floating hive were instantly coated in a thick layer of frost. Cold winds rushed through in every direction imaginable, causing Mortal-insects and larvae to shiver uncontrollably.

  Their eyes, which had adapted to the lightless internal structure of the Hive-Womb Capital, observed a faint white glow in the distance. For the first time since being created, their compound eyes widened, watching as the pale white glow shone brighter and brighter.

  Filling the entire world around them with an overwhelming sense of endless white.

  Jagged and pointed thorns of ice expanding throughout the Hive-Womb Capital. Piercing through layer upon layer of wax-carved tunnels, inflicting hundreds, if not thousands of instance of debuffs within a matter of seconds. Frosted ice grew upon the walls of the Memento Source Item, as though a white-coloured mould, destined to bring nothing but a biting chill and promised death.

  Mortal-level insects and larvae were engulfed in ice and snow. Their bodily functions frozen, trapped within a coffin of ice. The frozen end art expanding further and further without even a hint of stopping before-.

  Wind natured spiritual energy engulfed the Fragment Of Annihilation, forming a threefold barrier around the expanding ice. Concepts of disruption and concepts of trinity imbued into the construct, disrupting the growing encroachment of ice and snow.

  Flesh natured spiritual energy forming pseudo-spiritual mouths throughout the Hive-Womb Capital. The Voracious Swarm Mother guiding these constructs to devour foreign sources of spiritual energy, transforming them into sources of life natured and flesh spiritual energy.

  This devoured mana swiftly moving towards the breeding chambers, encouraging her Lord-level flesh clones to produce more and more offspring.

  The Sixth-Honoured Lord releasing another horrifying screech as she too continued to grow more and more Lord-level flesh constructs. Insect natured spiritual energy and creation natured spiritual energy forming a new existence that could counter the abilities of this specific human.

  “Song! A little bit of help here!” The human in question shouted, manifesting both Assail and Luin in each hand. Thrusting out with the former, extending it straight through the mouth of the Knight-level plague-birth fly. Blood and viscera erupting from the wound, forcing Jon to abandon his Fragment Of Spear in order to avoid being struck with its debuffs.

  The Thulian Spellspear slashing out in every direction imaginable, carving thick neon-pink arcs through the air. Each one transforming into an assortment of lance-shaped projectiles, launching themselves towards any approaching bugs.

  His hit-rate with the Fragment Of Weapon was not the best, given its lack of targeting effects. Even the Knight-level effect of Luin, was better off against stationary targets than enemies that were capable of flight.

  ‘I’m having to fight giant fucking bugs while freefalling from more than two thousand metres in the air! Three-dimensional combat sucks! Fuck fighting in the air! Fuck fighting underwater!’

  His centre of balance was thrown out of whack, relying mostly on his [Bestial Intuition] in order to prevent himself from spiralling out of control. Seir-Perpetual Heart pounding within his chest, Minerva-Infiltration Eyes observing the swiftly approaching Sunless Cloudlight Obscurity.

  His Fragment Of Annihilation resulting in an outrageous eruption of ice natured spiritual energy, forcing him to rotate onto his back, looking back upwards at the Hive-Womb Capital. One side of the floating hive construct had a massive chunk taken out of it, evidence of his Fragment Of Eradication crashing into it.

  The thulian-coloured flames and crackling spear natured spiritual energy had vanished, consumed by flesh natured spiritual energy.

  On the other side of the Hive-Womb Capital, ice natured spiritual energy overflowed from its innards, piercing through the outer layers of the Memento Source Item. Ice thorns and glacial frost enveloped the outside of the hive, spreading further and further across its surface as though virus spreading through a healthy system.

  Several entrances to the hive froze over, preventing insects from leaving bringing a small smile to Jon’s face.

  His falling figure several metres away from the Sunless Cloudlight Obscurity before being intercepted by the Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est. The epoch-heart dragon channelling incredible amounts of weave natured spiritual energy through his Seir-Terminus Heart, slowing down the exact moment Jon was back atop him.

  “Jon…” Song Lian Yu whispered, “Your ice natured spiritual energy cannot keep up with your constant usage of your Fragment Of Annihilation. Eis relies on your spiritual energy as well. Anymore and she will not be able to sustain herself.”

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  “Also… the Severing Shieldheart Dragon did not make it.”

  Jon gritted his teeth, extending Assail forward and slashing out in a wide arc. Stretching the length of the Spear Of Cedarwood Transformations, he ended the lives of three Knight-level hungry-maw locusts, cutting through their wings with ease.

  His brows furrowed in thought for several moments, turning his gaze back up towards the Hive-Womb Capital. The movements of the Memento Source Item had grown sluggish, although did not seem to show any signs of falling or breaking apart.

  His main goal was to clear the way towards the Voracious Swarm Mother, allowing for reinforcements to assist him in the greater battle. Given the size and immensity of the Hive-Womb Capital, randomly searching inside would be a death sentence, given that the internal structure of the Memento Source Item would be under the control of his target.

  He could end up in a chamber filled to the brim with dozens of Lord-level insects.

  Or dropped out the bottom of the Hive-Womb Capital destined to plunge to his death.

  Or even just whittled down until the last droplet of spiritual energy was expended from his Mana Cores. Allowing the children of the Lord to present him to their mother.

  Not a single one was a valid option in his opinion.

  Jon tightened his grip over Assail, ignoring how his Carcosa-Form Horrors laughed at him from the depths of his mind. His burgeoning fear and worries feeding into his Fragment Of Shapeless-Carcosa, strengthened through the effects of his Shapeless Mask Of Thieving Lies.

  His Longinus-Rune Spirit and Helel-Star Pride rising up in response to this provocation, stirring within his chest as though a bulwark against his surging emotions.

  ‘All I need is one good shot. One burst of damage great enough to push it downwards…’

  ‘If I can blow another hole in its side and then use “that” I might be able to clear a way forward…’

  Jon steadied his emotions, increasing the amount of spiritual energy flowing into his Fragment Of Mind. Three Seas Of Knowledge surging in response to this influx of strength, strengthening his control over his rampart fears and anxieties.

  “We’re going up Song! All the way up to the top!” He shouted.

  The epoch-heart dragon flashing a malicious-looking grin, before flapping his elongated wings and soaring higher and higher up into the air. Given his newfound Seir-Terminus Heart, Song Lian Yu could now receive the benefits of Jon’s Title effects, strengthening himself towards limits that he once possessed.

  The platinum-scaled dragon releasing a bellowing roar, expanding his [Threaded End] Aura in every direction imaginable. Inflicting instances of [Draconic Est] and [Woven Terminus] on anything that dared to stray too close to his summoner.

  [Draconic Est]: Inflicts a continued-weave natured damage over time effect. Weave natured spiritual energy clings to the flesh, mind, and spirit, burning away anything it comes into contact with. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Woven Terminus]: Inflicts a weave natured damage over time effect. Weave natured spiritual energy threads itself around the flesh, mind, and spirit, tightening with each passing moment. Additional stacks do not have an additive effect.

  Being able to share buffs and debuffs with Jon meant that he too was able to enjoy the effects of his [Stance Of The White Spellstar].

  [Stance Of The White Spellstar]: Increases physical strength and physical endurance. Physical strikes will inflict traces of ice natured damage.

  [Requiem Charges]: Infinitesimally increases stamina regeneration. Additional stacks have an additive effect. [30].

  In addition to Jon’s Yaochi-Mudra Prana and its [Naraka Kalasutra].

  [Naraka Kalasutra]: Reveals the non-self. Five-fingered hand sign. Manifests a self-regenerating spiritual shield formed from wood natured spiritual energy.

  Dismissing the Thulian Spellspear and focusing solely on his maintaining his self-regenerating spiritual shield. Wood natured mana enveloping the epoch-heart dragon, allowing him to crash into oncoming insects without worrying about their poisonous debuffs or malicious afflictions.

  Jon occasionally slashing out with Assail, casting [Spellstar Destruction] using his spear as a conduit. Crescent-shaped waves of ice slashing colourless arcs through the skies, cleaving limbs off Knight-level insects engulfing larger Knight-level armoured-wing beetles in freezing layers of frost.

  [Spellstar Destruction]: Launches crescent-shaped waves of ice natured spiritual energy towards enemies. Successful hits will generate instances of [Requiem Charges]. Requires three [Requiem Charge].

  Slowing down their advance and allowing Song Lian Yu to crush their heads within his powerful maw.

  The human and dragon pair ascending higher and higher up into the sky. Expending more spiritual energy just to break through the swarming torrents of insects. Although Jon was sure that he alone had killed more than a hundred at this point, it seemed as though there was no end to the growing number of flesh constructs.

  “The Voracious Swarm Mother must be capable of transforming biomass into flesh. That is the only explanation as to how she can manifest so many!” Song responded, “Mitigating her spiritual energy expenditure she can create more and more insects so long as she has enough resources available to her!”

  “It is a relatively common set of abilities in the integrated universes!”

  Song Lian Yu slashing his tail out, destroying the wings of an approaching swift-wind dragonfly.

  “Although I do admit, for a Lord she has quite the mastery over them!”

  Jon on the other hand, did not hesitate to recite the chant for his Fragment Of Eradication once more. Spear natured spiritual energy gathering within Assail, forming crackling waves of mana along its length.

  The Bountiful-Spirit Rune attached to his Longinus-Rune Spirit temporarily increases his reserves of spear natured mana. Unlike his previous casting attempt, Jon did not dare to hold back, allowing half of his expanded capacity to flow into his imperial spear art.

  Words flowing like water, as both himself and Song ascended even higher than the Hive-Womb Capital. Minerva-Infiltration Eyes focusing on the point where his previous Spell effect had struck, more than a third of which had already finished being repaired.

  “Are you sure you want to do this Jon!?”

  “This might be the craziest, most stupid thing you have ever attempted!” Song shouted, conveying his thoughts through his Fragment Of Dragon. The sound of high-speed winds billowing around him prevented them both from hearing any trace of the battle below.

  His summoner did not hesitate to give a single nod in response.

  Assail held in his one hand as though a javelin, other hand still maintaining the shield effect around him and Song. Spear natured spiritual energy transforming into another sixty-metre long spiritual construct above him.

  Although this time-.

  Jon ran down the length of the epoch-heart dragon, using Song’s tail as a springboard to leap off from. Once again, did he willingly engage in a two thousand metre freefall, without any method of preventing his eventual impact.

  His figure descending at almost two hundred metres per second, descending towards the Hive-Womb Capital and an incredible speed. All of his physical enhancements, enhanced through the effects of his Mortal Title strengthened his body to their absolute utmost before being enhanced further by the effects of-.

  [Helel].

  An illusory seven-pointed star manifesting atop his head.

  [Morning Star] and [Evening Star] increasing both his maximum mana capacity and mana regeneration. His hair losing all trace of colour and tone, turning a pure white as his flesh was saturated with ice natured spiritual energy.

  His spear thrusted forward towards the hive beneath him.

  [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction].

  His mouth muttering the words for yet another Spell effect, although one that was not noticed by the Voracious Swarm Mother or her brood. Waxen walls of flesh and biomass rushing to form more “layers” between Jon and their Matriarch Of Gluttonous Insects, while dozens of Lord-level insects swarmed out from the Hive-Womb Capital rushing to follow both the human and his dragon.

  All the while, a certain bow-wielding woman floated high above the Memento Source Item. Form once again enveloped beneath her Wandering Night Protection. And Seven-Stringed Reignbow half-pulled back in preparation of what was to come.

  Her [Predator Spell Eyes] observing Jon’s falling figure, eyes widening at the sheer brazenness of the man.

  ‘He’s crazy… Like actually crazy…’

  More than a dozen of her fragments ready and waiting, for the single moment that Jon had told her to wait for. The Graceful Dragon Of Treasured Beauty fighting beside the Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est, leaving the woman alone, accompanied by nothing but this man’s fears and horrors.

  And…

  A single worm that crawled silently across her Rose Mana Core.