At that moment Yuuto's mind swirled.
Information rapidly entered his head and his vision blurred for a moment.
The way Mauve Moon breathed. How his muscles contracted. How his blood flowed.
All of these were laid bare for [Archive] to discover.
'What is this…?'
Mauve Moon's body shivered and a sensation of dread slowly overcame him. His eyes loomed on Yuuto who held a firm grip on his throat but the light within his pupils were unsettling.
As if his entire being was exposed and there was no way he could hide from it.
Panic began to quickly settle in. "What are you doing?!"
Mauve Moon rotated his head and dislocated his throat, which was a painful process but considering the situation, it was the only option he had.
And with his unnatural regeneration, he could easily handle this amount of pain.
'There's also that annoying pressure pressing against me.'
His mangled head glared at Welt whose arm crackled in a deep hue of purple and the more he closed his fist, the space around Mauve Moon felt more suffocating.
"What an irritating group that damn General hired."
Sensing the pressure getting to him, Mauve Moon adjusted his broken neck after escaping Yuuto's grasp and clenched his teeth.
In an unfavourable position? Yes. But in a position where he was helpless? No.
Mauve Moon's body began to radiate a green light and in an instant, an explosion that shook the entire area erupted.
The ground cracked and Mauve Moon's figure disappeared.
Condensed energy that was the source behind this explosion immediately dissolved Welt's hold on the space but that didn't matter at all to him.
What mattered to him were the people who were caught up in the explosion. Especially Yuuto who took this explosion point-blank.
Usually, a quick escape and enhancing his defences with his mist along with [Mother's Embrace] would have been enough to offset the damage at this range.
Considering he's been in worse scenarios. But there has been a slight oversight in judgment.
With [Archive] in his possession from the very beginning, Yuuto has used it quite often.
To help him instantly memorize books, copying the functions of objects to scanning an entire mech for his own personal use.
But there was something that slipped his mind before using [Archive] on Mauve Moon.
He never fully used it on a living being.
Yes, he had used it on a dead Wingweaver to create a memory of their wing anatomy which he began to use right now.
Yes, he used it on his own heart to gradually form his engine.
But using [Archive] on a person's entire being? Never.
A similar sensation came when he used it on his heart in the past. A memory of Mauve Moon's heart and other organs quickly formed.
Painful? Yes, but it was bearable.
What came next was what he was after. The way the Arbor's power flew through his veins and how it influenced his body.
It felt nauseating for some reason the more he created a memory of it but it was still within the limits he could handle.
Finally feeling that what he searched for was successful, Yuuto wanted to step back to put this memory to use but for some reason [Archive] continued to go towards something more foreign.
Something much deeper than anything he's ever experienced.
Even more intricate and obscure than the concept of the [Nexus].
'Damn it. I only wanted to learn about his energy flow and not this.'
His mind which focused on Mauve Moon slipped from his grasp and began entering a state where it displayed pieces of his past.
How he grew up in a modest family of Cloud Knights. His struggles to climb the ranks and his ambition to reach the top. Ultimately, lagging behind due to his 'talent'.
No matter how much he trained, it wasn't enough. While his peers improved, he didn't.
That was until a deal too precious to give up finally dangled in front of him.
Yuuto saw it all. Interactions, thoughts. Emotions. As if he were Mauve Moon himself.
Or more like a spectator.
He saw the memories that made up his story. The actions that conveyed his mark in the universe.
His Chronicle.
–FLOOF
'Huh…?'
Yuuto's mind, which was muddled as he sank into this state, felt a hint of clarity after sensing a familiar presence in his mind stir.
A familiar book silently moved its pages and the memories that Yuuto was immersed in gradually began to fade away. Storing them deep within itself.
–-FLOOOF…
'I feel like shit… what the hell was that…'
Finally having the capacity to think, Yuuto felt a cold shiver as he tried his best to forget that feeling. Mainly that detached feeling as he observed Mauve Moon's story.
'That was more than just memories… Even a [Core Memory] only made me see the event that would shape them into the person they are today.
…It was more like I was peering into their very existence. Their own personal story.'
Yuuto mentally clenched his head and felt the burden on his mind gradually decrease.
Seemingly from the efforts of the book in his mind, working its hardest to filter this excess amount of memories he suddenly received.
Thankfully, it was only close to a hundred years' worth of memories matching Mauve Moon's age. But if it was two hundred or even three…
He didn't even want to think about what would have happened.
'Don't fully use [Archive] on a living person or entity. Noted.'
–FLOOOOF
'How would I know something like that would happen? It's not like I wanted to read that guy's life story.'
—FLOOF
For an entity that didn't speak any words, Yuuto can clearly feel the disdain it had after another one of his blunders which irked him quite a bit, but he didn't blame it.
In this suspended state, Yuuto wrinkled his brow as he remembered what had happened just before his mind blurred and groaned.
'I know [Mother's Embrace] would save me from lethal damage but that wouldn't mean I will suddenly walk scott free.'
He could already imagine the injuries he would get from the force behind that explosion and he wasn't too keen on returning.
A moment of silence continued as he collected himself, but at that moment, he couldn't help but think that despite being with him for a long time.
This book had always been here to support him but he knew nothing about it.
'...Just what are you.'
[Archive] and even the way memories gathered to him, he knew nothing.
Letting out a brief sigh, Yuuto clenched his fist and returned to the battle he had briefly left.
He took one last look at the book before deciding that he should dig deeper in what he saw earlier.
It felt… unnatural.
But he knew deep inside that it wasn't something inherently harmful to him. More like something he couldn't exactly wrap his mind around.
His consciousness returned and the space was once again silent. The ripples of pages were the only thing present but it lingered a bit longer than usual.
The book floated in the space where Yuuto disappeared. Staying in place for a few seconds as pages slowly turned.
–......
Back to the present, Yuuto finally felt his body but that was only a short term feeling of joy.
"Can I just—-"
—-BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Yuuto noticed a hue of blue and gold light form in front of him indicating [Mother's Embrace] being triggered but what came next made him clench his teeth.
The explosion itself was offset but the force behind it was not. With this, it caused Yuuto to get blown backwards before ultimately crashing into an abandoned cargo crate nearby.
As he crashed, the air in his lungs disappeared and the taste of metal filled his mouth.
"Yuuto!?"
His blurry vision focused and there he saw Welt's worried face along with Stelle and March closely behind.
"Don't worry this is just a…"
He couldn't finish his words as he coughed up the blood stuck in his throat which didn't help calm the people in front of him down.
"Do you have a hobby of hurting yourself…"
"How would I know that he would suddenly pop like a balloon? As if I would willingly step into that."
"I have doubts about that."
Stelle clicked her tongue as she helped March support him while Welt applied some basic wound care to him.
"How are you feeling? Can you move your body?" Welt asked.
Yuuto shrugged and moved his shoulder. "I've been in worse so I'm fine for now."
Welt was silent as he stared into Yuuto's eyes. He tried to read his expression but seeing as he didn't flinch, he could only sigh and take his word for it.
"It's really been a while since I've joined a Trailblaze that I'm forgetting just how chaotic it really is."
"Hehe, then you should have joined our precious one! That one was a journey." March laughed, trying to ease the mood which caused Welt to smile just slightly.
"I can only imagine."
Finishing his treatment, Yuuto felt his body gradually heal as he expended more energy from his Stellaron to help him.
Noticing his pain begin to slowly decrease, Yuuto donned a serious look as he felt a familiar energy gather just a few meters away.
Welt was also quick to notice as he saw clumps of flesh assemble before rapidly forming a torso of Mauve Moon.
Chunks of bones and bare muscles. If Yuuto wasn't familiar with his energy signature, he would have mistaken it for a ghoul.
"What would I have expected? You're too much of a cockroach to have died just like that."
"I'm assuming you would have liked me better gone?"
"Took the words right out of my mouth."
Yuuto's sharp words only made Mauve Moon chuckle but his gaze was showing no signs of amusement.
That feeling of dread he felt beforehand had clung stubbornly to his mind and he was cautiously looking at Yuuto in a different light.
This feeling even grew after seeing how Yuuto stared at him. It wasn't just full hostility but more like he knew his exact thoughts, actions and ambitions.
He didn't know what it was but he didn't want to take any more second chances. Even more since his opponents have increased by a concerning number.
"Blessed Guardian. Allow this one to offer thy flesh."
Seeing the scenario, Mauve Moon didn't hesitate and caused a tiny green marble to float towards his mouth. Biting it down which caused his body to regenerate at an even more frightening rate.
Not only that but the Ebon Deer that was on the verge of dying, leaped towards him.
Biting his head right off.
"That's…" March recoiled seeing the bloody scene.
The others showed similar reactions but it wasn't their biggest concern. Their biggest was the sight of the Ebon Deer suddenly convulsing.
Its head morphed before finally taking the shape of a man's upper torso along with a pair of jade-like antlers.
"I'm feeling energy gathering within the deer's body again." Welt frowned as he raised his cane.
March was stunned. "You mean that it's going to have that freakish regeneration again!? After all that we've done!!??"
Welt didn't answer but it was more than enough confirmation to her question.
"Before, he was only manipulating the power given to him by the Arbor but now he's acting more like a direct extension or more so kin to that tree."
Yuuto tried to stand up but he clenched his head, feeling his head still being muddled from the unexpected effects of [Archive].
March quickly supported him as she noticed and let him lean on her, seeing him catch his breath.
"I can hinder his regeneration but I can't attack him directly so I will have to leave it to you guys."
"How much time do you need?" Welt seemed to pick up what he was suggesting.
Yuuto smiled. "Don't worry it will only take ten minutes."
Welt nodded before a shift in his actions caused the space around them to thicken.
There, a jade-like spear stood suspended in the air just a few meters away, attempting to pierce the exact spot where they stood.
[Done formulating your plan?]
A strong mocking tone came from the new transformed Mauve Moon.
"Don't push yourself too hard and keep your safety as your priority."
Welt ignored Mauve Moon and left Yuuto a few words before raising his cane one more time.
March and Stelle looked at each other and nodded before joining Welt as Yuuto told them that he was counting on them.
Stabilizing his breathing, Yuuto leaned into his coat's inner pocket and spoke softly. "Star, can you help me?"
The little heliobus within his coat slowly exposed her head. Still looking a bit scared for some unknown reason, the quiver in her eyes began to relax as Yuuto rubbed her chin.
"I just need you to stay as a flame and I'll handle the rest, okay? It may be a bit uncomfortable but it won't hurt."
In a tone that was as gentle as he could muster, Star agreed before fading into a light blue flame that radiated a different type of heat from what he was used to.
Rather than the intense and aggressive heat that his Stellaron had, this was more chilling than hot.
Possibly because her property was predicted to poison the 'soul', Yuuto knew that this was the perfect time to use it.
"I could do what I've always done and cut the threads seen through [Clarity], but he has an even larger connection to the Arbor now. So attacking it straight on is not enough."
Yuuto held the flame in his palm and gazed at the sword he had formed. After a moment of contemplation, he dissolved it and decided to use his hands.
"I can be more precise while also keeping it in reach in case I need to make some adjustments."
Seeing March in the distance firing her arrows, Yuuto joined in but at the same time kept his distance.
"This guy doesn't hold back in his punches!" Stelle stumbled catching the right time to dodge before pulling her arm back.
The gray bat in her hands trembled in a white light before it crashed down on Mauve Moon's spear.
At the moment, she expected the spear to crack, considering that almost all the objects she swung at ended with the same fate.
However for her, expectations were not met.
"Ow!? How hard is that thing!??"
Stelle felt tears in her eyes as her hands felt numb from the force that traveled up her bat and couldn't help but complain.
[How foolish.]
Mauve Moon took the chance to attack this opening and thrusted forward.
Plunging it through the air. its trajectory, a deadly focused line.
"Fold. Compress."
A confident voice echoed before a purple orb formed in front of the spear. A powerful vacuum dragged the spear in, interrupting his attack completely and leaving his hands empty.
Mauve Moon frowned as he glared at Welt and considered that this had happened more than once already. His temper only rose further.
A flick of his wrist, sprouts that formed into samplings appeared and a familiar attack of leaves gathered before rushing Welt.
"Mr.Yang! I'll take the ones on the left."
March drew her bow string and a portion of the leaves that drifted in the shape of a wave, froze into pieces.
Mauve Moon was surprised since this came from just a few arrows and wasn't anything flashy. But the results spoke for themselves and he began to shove more leaves in the direction of Welt and March.
A new jade spear was formed and seeing Stelle alone, he set his sights on a new target.
There, a casual swing of his spear rained down but this made Stelle's blood run cold.
Her reflexes moved her body out of the way and it was the right choice as a thin line immediately formed.
This thin line grew before a large crevice that destroyed a third of the area appeared. This caused the others to look at him unsettled.
The sight of destruction was a surprise to even Mauve Moon, but a grin eventually formed as he sunk himself in this new strength.
[However, there are still bugs that love to linger around.]
Mauve Moon twisted his body and swung his spear upwards, sensing a presence but was only met with empty air.
There, Yuuto was already standing on his torso and his palms gave out a cold light blue light which was something he hadn't seen before.
At that moment, Yuuto swung his palm downwards aiming at five distinct points.
A slight feeling of discomfort was the only thing that Mauve Moon felt, which was odd considering the destructive nature he had pinned on Yuuto during the fight before.
'Is it due to this new form?'
Confidence within him grew and he twisted his body to swing his spear but Yuuto managed to move away in time.
What followed was an onslaught.
Growing confident in his form or his mentality had finally adjusted, Mauve Moon continued to rain down his attacks with increasing aggressiveness.
Spear attacks carrying the weight of a thousand soldiers, waves of blade-like leaves and even freakish regeneration that healed him from any attack he received.
He was growing to be a calamity.
"Are you almost done yet or do we still have to keep on going?"
Stelle gathered her breath as she looked at Yuuto who was also catching his.
The past few minutes have been rough.
With growing confidence in the way he handled his power, Mauve Moon began to move faster, stronger than what his form showed on the surface.
At first, they thought it was just him getting comfortable but as time went on, they felt like he was getting even stronger. Growing the longer he fought.
Strikes were heavier while the blade-like leaves turned sharper.
"How much longer do you think you need? I have a feeling that he may start targeting us one by one, seeing the advantage it brings."
Welt adjusted his glasses and swung his cane to create a dome that prevented the leaves from reaching them.
"I just need to hit him on the chest one last time. The 12th time is the last one."
Yuuto wiped the sweat off his forehead and calculated the location in his mind.
"Hold his arms and this will end quickly."
"If that's the case, then let's go already."
Stelle was the first to run out as she raised her bat along with her lance that continued to spew our flames.
Welt followed right after, while March stayed behind.
"I'll support you from behind! I can create an opening once you reach at least a meter away from him, so just wait until then."
March smiled softly and Yuuto nodded before joining the other two.
[Again? How much longer are you going to come back?]
Mauve Moon's tone was bordering on sounding bored as his spear flawlessly moved through the air and redirected the orbs that came from Welt.
So far, his attacks showed no signs of slowing down and seeing that he has yet to get a single scratch on him, he felt like he should end this farce soon.
Encryptions and sigils embedded deep within his jade antlers let out a faint glow before pulsing, signaling a rather grim ending that would arrive if they weren't quick enough.
"Mr. Yang!"
Yuuto yelled seeing the antlers and Welt moved and raised his palm.
A small orb crackled with deep purple lines as the space and light around it began to bend.
Taking a step closer, he mixed this orb with his cane and it offered a similar glow that made Mauve Moon cautious.
"Fall."
In a split second, Mauve Moon felt his balance shift and he looked to his right arm.
What was originally holding a spear was now gone and all that was left was emptiness.
"Go away! I don't want to see your ugly mug again!!"
At that opening, Stelle pushed her lance forward and pierced Mauve Moon's palm.
A strong pull resisted the attack from going deeper but as he moved a solid arrow made out of ice snapped right into his shoulder. Inhibiting any other movement.
"I only asked for them to hold his arms but they're going beyond that."
Yuuto could only laugh and he instantly made his way towards Mauve Moon's chest.
There a light tap was done. Similar to the other eleven times, this one didn't feel any different but after a few seconds, Mauve Moon felt a sudden urge of weakness overcome him.
[What is this…?]
This sudden bout of weakness was unpleasant considering his euphoric taste with power that coursed through his body the past few minutes.
[What did you do!?]
A bellowing shout filled with irritation and anger came from Mauve Moon's mouth that it caused his glowing antlers to let out a blinding light.
"An ultimate? Most likely."
Yuuto mumbled to himself and let go of the light blue flame lying in his palms.
Instead, cold mist flew from his body and gathered right under Mauve Moon's head before surging upwards.
A pull of gravity also seemed to accompany him and helped adjust Mauve Moon's head.
The contact was enough. The antlers that were aimed directly at them had moved due to Yuuto and Welt's interventions and shot in a line upwards, where a notable beam of light appeared.
"Thankfully you moved his head in time or else this entire platform would be gone."
Stelle looked at the damage it made just before it shot up in the air and groaned. "Now he should have his regeneration gone, right? But that's just one check of the list."
Considering that Mauve Moon's regeneration was just one of the many strengths he had, it was still going to be a hassle going forward.
"Don't worry we already played our part. We just need to leave it to him."
"What do you mean?"
Stelle looked at Yuuto suspiciously after sensing how relaxed he was.
[Again!! Always in my way!]
Mauve Moon's face was brimming with murderous intent as he looked at the four in front of him.
His anger clouded his mind that he didn't even notice the faint hints of green smoke escaping his body.
Or that the power of the Arbor was no longer supporting him.
'Star's poison really shows its effects when placed in vulnerable spots. Especially in the meridians of the body where the Arbor's power was gathering."
Using some of the teachings he got from Jingliu about the body when she explained the [Core Esse] along with the archived memory of what his body looked like from the inside.
It was easy for Yuuto to figure out where the Arbor's connections were anchored the deepest.
On top of using Star's rather potent poison affecting the 'soul', it was just enough to cause a disturbance.
If a person's vessel or well to contain power was 'poisoned', how would they be able to properly utilize it?
'Now when will he show himself..?'
Yuuto looked in the sky and noticed faint signs of golden lightning.
As Mauve Moon continued to run towards Yuuto and his group, his spine suddenly shuddered and he subconsciously looked upwards.
What was originally a bright blue sky had suddenly turned dark and what appeared was a golden entity.
A suit of armor that held a long Guandao, a type of Chinese polearm bearing a massive blade.
[Wha….ARGHH]
Mauve Moon only had a second before his entire body was engulfed and pierced by this giant blade made out of golden light.
Pain shivered throughout his body and his pieces of flesh rapidly burned away.
He looked down at his body and seeing that it showed no signs of regenerating all he could do was laugh.
[So it's like this…. AFTER ALL THAT I STILL GET TREATED LIKE THIS!?]
Mauve Moon's eyes turned bloodshot and he raised his spear using the remaining limb he had.
He fought against the blade that dug into his very core, but it was futile. He was fated to fall no matter how hard he tried.
[No, there has to be something… That's right… the person who gave me the fruit.]
Mauve Moon looked around and frantically searched for her.
[Lord Ravager! Do something!! You promised me undying power!? Then what is this? FULLFILL OUR PROMISE!!]
'How noisy can you get?'
The voice was soft but hidden beneath those words was a tone that seemed to be talking to someone worthless.
[Haha, so you can hear me! Hurry up and save me, I'm about to die!]
'What made you think I'm going to go out of my way to save you?'
[What?]
'A pawn or failure? Maybe both but you've already done your part, so I can at least applaud you for that.'
Mauve Moon couldn't register the words he had just heard but suddenly he felt a piece inside get ripped apart.
As if a piece of his very being was stripped from him.
'You've utilized the regeneration quite bluntly and constructed a rather inept body using the Arbor. So I guess even with this power, you can't escape your incompetence.
'I will use this as a reference and fortunately enough, I have an appointment to keep, so farewell.'
Words that were sharp and distant were the only thing that rang in his head.
[So I was discarded just like that?… HAHAHA]
A mad laugh blew from him and he couldn't think straight. His laugh continued as if he had turned deranged and heard the funniest joke of his life.
It continued until his body floated into dust. Leaving not a single speck of him left.
"This is a rather interesting first meeting, isn't it?"
Floating in the sky, a tall man with long white hair and a fair complexion stepped in front of Yuuto and the others. Wearing his signature lazy and soft smile
"Let us return to the Seat of Divine Foresight and allow me to offer some tea along the way."
***
Seated in an empty courtyard and holding a porcelain cup gently to her lips, Tingyuan or more so Phantylia, glanced at the shimmering green marble in her fingertips.
"Lady Phantylia, shall we get going?"
"Hmm~ I will stay for a bit longer, there's still something I wish to do."
"As you wish."
Phantylia lowered the cup onto the stone table before standing up.
"Has your side completed what needs to be done?"
Her voice carried a hint of authority that wouldn't accept anything less than what she ordered.
"It has. We have captured the runaway High Elder along with an interesting guest that accompanied her."
"Interesting? It must be considering the tone you have when you speak of them." Phantylia carried a smirk but her interest faded away.
"How long until her core is taken?"
"It can be done whenever you like."
"Set it to be tonight."
"As you wish."
Phantylia didn't speak any longer and got up to leave.
"I expect good news, Preceptor Taoran."