Desecration Chapter67: Failed Theories Are Bitter, But Have You Tried Di

There was only so much ti I could spend theorizing, at the end of the day my primary goal was still strength. The consequences I just had to deal with as I grew stronger. Not the best answer to my predicant, didn't even pass the threshold of being a good one.

It was better than being paralyzed by the fear of so many possibilities.

Besides, Alvir seed sane, and his demon was likely much stronger than mine. Though he was a bastard, I didn't know how much of that could be ascribed to demonic influence. So I still had plenty of ti to figure shit out.

I wasn't going to wait until it beca a problem though. I had more ti to spend as I grew awake, though it chaffed to sacrifice my training. I'd tried a few of my theories, and so far...no luck.

The first thing that ca to mind was inspired by the demon itself.

Couldn't I just eat its soul until it was gone? The implication of snuffing out a life so entirely gave pause...but it was a demon. When I tried though, I found that its soul was much too strange for to interact with.

I didn't know how to interact with souls in the first place, but starting on a thing of ever-shifting persuasion and what felt like an inversion of so sort wasn't the best for practice.

It didn't help that the base components that made up our respective souls were completely different. Mine was...well, I didn't know, the closest thing I could compare it to was a pond. The demon's felt like pulsating flesh, maybe a heart? If said heart pumped rcury instead of blood?

The imp found it endlessly amusing that I was trying to eat its entire being, not even a hint of worry that I'd be able to accomplish it.

I'd keep trying, but it didn't look promising.

The second theory I ca up with was a ritual that could sever the bond, but that ca with the problem of needing a ritualist. I knew next to nothing about rituals, only that it acted as a kind of exchange between mortal and...sothing.

The effect varied depending on how much and what was sacrificed. To the extent that a nation could be blessed with everlasting prosperity. No one bothered to go that far, considering it'd take every citizen of said nation and then so to get the sa affect for a limited ti. Though there were stories.

The third theory was to get a blessing.

Surely the gods would've had no trouble with my dilemma, and I had already grabbed the attention of one among the pantheon's number. I just...wasn't good enough yet, apparently.

Which was what led here.

I laid sprawled on the sand like a particularly stupid starfish, gazing at the clouds that marked the sky. One of them was shaped like a rabbit, which reminded of Kit. I didn't think I'd see them in winter but hope was an insidious thing that didn't really care for sound logic. I'd have to settle for the clouds, which were kinda cute so it worked out in the end.

A shadow cast itself over my form, and I looked up to find a waiting hand outstretched for my benefit. "Hey Adaman," I said. "You wouldn't mind if I stayed on the sand a little while longer, would you?"

Adaman let out a snort and shook his head. "You've had enough rest from the beating I delivered, and the sun is still high in the sky."

This book was originally published on . Check it out there for the real experience.

"Fair," I grunted, then grasped his hand with my right before pulling myself up off the ground.

I turned and picked up the dull gladius I'd been abusing for the past few hours and turned back to Adaman with a raised brow. The man nodded, and got into his stance with the quarter staff. I gave a nod of my own before doing the sa.

The series of bouts that followed led to a lot of crumpling back onto the sand and getting back up for more punishnt, the part I hated most was the repetition of the process. I had gotten better, but no where near the point where I could pose a true challenge to the priest. Then again, I wasn't using any magic.

Not that I thought it would've made much of a difference, but I wanted to respect the god's rules, even if I wasn't sure if they extended past the initiation duel. I wasn't going to take risks when a blessing was on the line.

Whether that was feasible was up for debate.

Surely the god of valour and martial might only needed to be stronger?

"You've gotten better, but not in skill," Adaman said as we circled around each other. "But I can tell you aren't using magic, how interesting."

I shrugged at the man. "I'm cool like that."

"I'm sure," he chuckled.

Then the talking was over and I charged to clash with the priest. His quarterstaff t my gladius and I tried to redirect to the side and create an opening. It didn't work, Adaman had more than enough experience where he could see past any plans I made. A whisper, just a hint of one.

Adaman was hard to read, both literally and taphysically. I'd asked about it once, hiding from the World was sothing I'd only seen once before, and that was seemingly through witch magic. The zealot went on a philosophical rant about the beauty of combat and the benefits of its mastery.

So no dice on that front, unfortunately.

But when I did catch sothing from Adaman, I acted on it without hesitation. The World never lied after all.

He sidestepped and pushed my blade aside, going for a sweep of my legs in my mont of vulnerability. I brought my foot up and stomped down on the end of his staff. I saw of flicker of genuine surprise on the priest's face for a mont, but it wasn't enough to temporarily trap his weapon.

There were likely many things he could've done to outmaneuver , but he chose perhaps the most ridiculous thod I could think of.

Adaman's smile was filled with insanity as he let go of his weapon and parried my gladius by bitch-slapping the broadside of the weapon as though it were a simple gnat. I'd long learned not to let shock effect in the middle of a fight, but that was too much.

Not a second later I was back on the sand and looking at the sky, a distinctly broken nose where the madman had punched . nd was giving so many interesting details about how cartilage wasn't the only thing that took damage, but I was too busy contemplating how the fuck.

Adaman seemingly found my bewildernt hilarious, because he was laughing straight from the belly. "It's always a joy to show my juniors the bounty that cos with the climb!"

"How?" I said as I sat up to stare at the man. "That—that shouldn't be possible, that kind of shit is reserved for stories. You broke every rule when it cos to combat and it fucking worked!"

"Indeed!" Adaman said with a smile filled with mirth. "You should never do such a thing when facing an opponent that is your equal. Too much risk for just a bit of flair. You, however, are not my equal. Not even close."

I scowled at the man. "Thanks for rubbing salt in the wound, asshole."

"I ant no offence, simply stating a fact. You are a prodigy, but those above you aren't hard to find. You're making remarkable progress though, progress you should be proud of."

"Not enough for a blessing apparently," I grumbled and got to my feet.

Adaman huffed a chuckle at that.

"What's so funny?"

"You know so little of the divine," he shook his head. "Perhaps It is ti for a pilgrimage to the villages if their knowledge is so lacking?"

I glared at him and he waved off with a smile.

"While my god encourages your growth, he is already satisfied with your skill, else you would've never entered his domain. A boon, considering his standards are much higher for most, perhaps it is your age combined with skill that impressed him?"

That...made so sense, but it didn't solve the greatest problem I had.

"So how do I get a blessing then?"

"It has sothing to do with you, as a person. A flaw that my patron finds glaring enough that they'd withhold their aid."

I let out a heavy sigh, of course it was going to be sothing complicated. Just my fucking luck.

"Any idea what that flaw might be, oh wise priest?"

Adaman gave a knowing smirk and shrugged. "I have an inkling, but it isn't my place to say. This is your journey, so you must be the one to find and rectify your shortcomings. To receive assistance would be a disservice to yourself."

"Fantastic," I grumbled.