Fate's Reversal: The Divines Return

….

Sensing extreme danger, Kaiden reacted in the next instant. When he looked back, 6 arrows remained where he previously stood. He had bȧrėly sensed them. Furthermore, the last two nearly grazed him.

'Is he becoming serious? Or is he testing me? It seems he has marked me due to me wielding Energy. Why is that? Although it isn't something that should appear at this level, I don't feel it's extremely notable. Also... why is this boss so strong? How do we properly deal with it?'

After this thought, Kaiden began reevaluating his skillset. What did he possess at his current disposal that could prove effective on this boss? His Soul Temple was damaged, while he could utilize it, doing so would result in further damage. His Inner Energy was partly restricted. Grazing over these facts, Kaiden's outlook seemed bleak.

'I can't summon Kriishna. I can feel his body isn't fully healed yet even after this passage of time. It seems he also possessed hidden injuries from forcefully manifesting his bloodline during that scuffle. As for Lattahya, she isn't a match for this thing, there's no need to needlessly expose her to danger.'

While he was contemplating, Qreugehr continued to act. Though he still didn't make an attempt to activate something along the lines of the Twin Terrors; he amplified the amount of mental energy he emitted. Whereafter, he once again executed a large skill that covered a wide array.

"Advent of the Nightly Pleas," 3 large variegated magic circles appeared in the sky. It possessed three colors; purple, black, and grey. Each of which gave off a different feeling. After completion, a thread fell from each circle before interlocking below forming a 4th circle of even greater magnitude. Soon enough, it was complete containing each of the prior circle's colors.

A second later, each of the 4 circles shattered into small orbs of their respective later. Widening his eyes, Kaiden was appalled by what he was seeing. After shattering, there were thousands of such projectiles. It was to an extent that left Kaiden incapable of calculating the distance between.

Deploying his Sphere of Influence to the extreme, Kaiden even began to subconsciously stimulate his bloodlines. As a result, the amount of information he received from this technique bolstered greatly.

'This feeling...it feels incredible. It's like a restraint has been shattered,' inwardly thought Kaiden as time around him began to slow. His perception was becoming faster! However, it didn't mean he was out of the clear. When the orbs descended, their speed was so great it caused them to elongate into arrows.

Closing his eyes, Kaiden relinquished all of his senses to the Sphere of Influence. In the next moment, he swayed to the left while an orb bombarded the ground next to him. This scene repeated as he continuously "saw" the orbs. This was only possible due to his ȯbsċėnė Dexterity and Agility stat. If there was a dissension between the two, this wouldn't be possible to perform.

Forcing open his eyes abruptly, Kaiden sensed a large fluctuation emanating from himself. Looking at his hands, his fingers were covered in mental energy! Furthermore, it wasn't coming from the Mind Crystal in his Soul Temple but rather from his Bloodline Essence Pool itself.

'Am I...tapping into the source of my bloodline? But if I recall, Azraela mentioned doing so would just needlessly damage me. Wait… no, this is the Celestial Bloodline. Perhaps… maybe it doesn't possess the same repercussion due to being of different attributes. This may be the case, Mom's aura is much more mellow in comparison to Dad,' thought Kaiden as he began advancing towards Qreugehr.

With each step, he dodged a descending orb. It wasn't long before he entered a short distance from Qreugehr who had stopped dissipating, "Interesting. You don't seem to be a human but your signature also feels weak and distorted… Tell me young toy, what are you?" asked Qreugehr as he jumped while a cloak made from gaseous dark grey flames flowed down his back.

"Cloak of Tenebrioisty: Evershade," uttered Qreugehr. The cloak began transforming into a blanket of darkness surrounding a large area. However, contrary to their thoughts nothing really changed. 

'Is this not a Domain? I don't sense anything. Then why did he activate this skill?'

Instead of receiving an answer, he was asked a question, "Do you know why our race is called Nightmares?" chuckled Qreugehr. His question seemed rhetorical while also sounding like he sought an answer. Hence, Kaiden did just that.

"It goes without say, it's because your beings who utilize mental energy and Dark Energy. Your race name is pretty much self-explanatory," matter of factly replied Kaiden with a bland tone.

"That's part of the answer. The truth of the matter, however, lies in what we can manipulate. One can only have a Nightmare while asleep. However, we are the Nightmares which travel throughout reality. We are the personification of a grand being's negative thoughts. When one mixes an unsuspecting mind with the ever-present Darkness you come to realize that… you are in my world….

"Dark Domain: Nightmare Mantle," finished Qreugher as the cloak behind once again transformed this area into a small realm. In comparison to what they face earlier, this was leagues above! For starters, Qreugehr still stood before them. Secondly, the walls which enclosed them were thick.]

Striking his sword against one, Kaiden heard a near metallic sound. Furthermore, his wrist throbbed with a jolt of pain, 'What the...this Domain is tougher than my physique? So this is what an Ancient Epic Nightmare is capable of…' .

"Unlike those two you face earlier who each wield fundamental Domain, mine is more complete. My attainments in the Darkness are not to be compared to those two. If so, you'll find yourself wallowing in despair," spoke Qreugher as he plucked his bowstring. 

Instead of an arrow, a piece of the Domain detached and launched toward an unsuspecting target. This area was under Qreugehr's full manipulation; this was in the truest sense, his domain.

"These arrows or whatever he is utilizing are soundless. Furthermore, its presence is shadowed by the feeling of this realm. How does one suppose we deal with this?" mutter Toxic Goddess as she slashed her arm sending out a whip of mental energy that failed to hamper the incoming arrow. Left with no other option, she dodged it.

However, a sudden change happened as it changed course, doubling back to her. Widening her eyes, Toxic Goddess frowned. This arrow now possessed homing properties. Instead of wasting mental energy, Qreugehr was now actively manipulating it.

"Does he think this is a game of dodgeball? What the hell is this situation?" snarled Toxic Goddess as she continuously evaded the constantly redirecting arrow.

"It's useless, just let me stab you a couple of times. Witness a true dark horror," impishly coerced Qreugehr. Immediately after, he plucked the bowstring in quick succession, causing a dozen more of those projectiles to enter the mix. Fortunately, they weren't all aimed at one person. But they were indeed aimed at each of the strongest contributors of the raid.

'This can't continue much longer. We're just wasting stamina at this point. I don't want to use it and have been putting it off since the appearance of the Twin Terrors but perhaps it'll have its use in this situation,' thought Kaiden before he glanced back at the others.

"Hollow, I need you. Take care of this arrow for now. It won't be long but I'll need you to hold it off while I prepare something," said Kaiden as he traced his finger against the spatial ring.

'It doesn't fit my class and I was trying to hold off until a suitable person entered the guild. Unfortunately, that train of thought was wishful thinking. Nevertheless, it shouldn't change my future plans too much.'

This thought was then followed by Kaiden retreating to the middle of the Ethereal Conviction members. If he wasn't mistaken then revealing this item would cause a large disturbance. After all, how can the item he received from an Epic Treasure Chest be a trivial thing? Furthermore, it wasn't any old item. He had mentioned it before.

A bow appeared in his hands, however, it was special. It wasn't equipment; well at least, it wasn't if it wasn't held by a person of the Archer archetype. 

This bow was dazzling, to say the least. Red inscriptions were present throughout its golden magnificence. Furthermore, the string seemed to be made from a godly gold. The ends of the bow were adorned with amber flame-shaped gems. The arrow shelf was the open maw of a dragon.

[System: You are not a class capable of equipping this weapon. The equipment skills are immediately canceled. Only the auxiliary effect of this item can be utilized. (Warning: Using this item will burn up your Inner Energy supply. It is advised you don't use this item if you haven't grasped Energy.)]

[System: Upon using this item, the usable charges of the item's auxiliary effect will reduce by 1. Furthermore, the usage of this item will not be allowed again within 1 year. If these limitations are acceptable, continue to pour your Energy into the item.]

…. 

Under the ȧssault of the attack protocol of the arrow launched by the Qreugehr's domain, Hollow Stance's patience was continuously tested, "What the shit! This damn arrow is as slippery as fish out of water!" 

Multiple times the arrow threatened to break past Hollow's defenses and proceed toward Kaiden. However, with a sufficient reaction speed, he managed to regain aggro through the use of skills. Be that as it may, that only lasted for one second. Whatever Kaiden was revealing behind him must have been of the utmost importance. 

Qreugehr's eyes widened for a moment a shock flashed within, 'These fluctuations! This belongs to a perfected Element. Why does he possess something like that? I mustn't let him activate that!'

A large change happened as a source of great heat appeared behind Hollow Stance, grabbing his attention. Except, that wasn't the only person's attention who was stimulated. Even the others glanced in Kaiden's direction. At the same time, under the circumstances, all 13 arrows honed in on Kaiden as they hurtled towards him.

"Oh? Get past me first…"