Essence.
The invisible breath of the world, drawn in by anyone with enough discipline, talent, and sheer stubbornness to call upon it.Humans learned early in history that the world would answer their call so long as they had the strength to handle what it gave back.
This basic form, the energy that flowed everywhere and through everything, was known simply as world essence. Anyone could use it. With practice, they could pull the world essence into their bodies, circulate it, and shape it however they pleased into strength, speed, or raw force. Fire, water, light, stone… all could be imitated. A flame shot. A hardened body. A blade of wind.
This manipulation of the world's natural essence was called divine essence, not because it was holy, but because it obeyed the will of its user. A divine essence wielder was only as strong as their training and their ability to shape the world essence around them.
But materialistic essence… was different. Where divine essence users borrowed the world's power, materialistic essence users converted it. People who awakened materialistic essence gained an entirely new ability a power to take the world essence, draw it into their own core, and transform it into a unique, refined essence tied to a particular element or concept.
This refinement was known as essence authority.
The higher one's essence authority, the more completely they could convert world essence into their own specialized type. A flame essence user, for example, didn't simply shape a fireball.They turned the world essence itself into fire, amplifying its destructive force beyond anything a normal wielder could imitate.
That converted power was called Core Energy named for how materialistic essence users stored it deep within their cores before unleashing it. Core Essence was sharper. Denser. Far more lethal. A single attack infused with Core Essence could overwhelm dozens of divine essence techniques.That was the fear and awe reserved for those who achieved materialistic essence.
And so the world split into two kinds of wielders: Those who borrowed power. And those who became power. And here Harian was standing in front of two materialistic essence users.
The Light Essence. The Moon Essence.
Two names whispered across the entire continent.Two forces who, if they fought with even a fraction of their full power, would reduce Thax Prison into dust, debris, and scattered bones. Harian knew that better than anyone.
He glanced at Edward Rean 'The Reaper' and remembered him vividly, too vividly.Then his gaze slid to Leon Lighthart 'The Knight of Light.'
In his previous life, these two monsters had never once crossed paths.That was only because the Reaper… died early. By Harian's own hands. An interesting matchup, he thought, almost amused. Moon Essence versus Light Essence.A clash between two of the most dangerous Core Essences in existence. Harian smiled faintly. He knew exactly what both were capable of.
"What ever you're planning, boy, I suggest you stay put," Leon said without looking back."I'll deal with you when I'm done with him."
That comment made a thick vein throb on the Reaper's forehead. Edward Rean's voice dropped to a quiet, icy mutter.
"Underestimating me… will be the last mistake you ever make."
With no warning, he swung Cronux the twin chain-scythe artifact and slashed at Leon.
Leon reacted immediately, raising Arondight to block.The moment steel met steel, a shockwave exploded outward, rattling stone, bending bars, and forcing everyone back several steps.Even Leon felt his footing shift.
He gritted his teeth and threw the scythe aside with sheer force but the Reaper was already moving.
The second scythe sliced from another angle, chains shrieking through the air.Leon barely blocked again. The Reaper yanked both scythes back, the chains snapping taut as he spun them lazily through the air. His smile stretched wider. His head lowered. His posture shifted.
He was getting serious.
"It's not every day," he said, eyes gleaming with violent excitement,"that I get to fight someone like you, Leon Lighthart. So-..." He twirled the scythes faster, chains slicing the air like whips.
".....let me show you why they call me the Reaper." Leon said nothing.He simply tightened his grip on Arondight, light essence growing brighter around him, the blade humming with power.
Two monsters. Two Core Essences. Seconds away from tearing the entire prison apart. Immediately, the Reaper activated his Moon Essence. Cronux responded instantly. The chains rattled. The twin scythes hummed. A cold blue light seeped from the blades as if the moon itself had descended into the prison. A wicked smile spread across the Reaper's face.
Then he threw them.
Both scythes shot toward Leon from opposite directions, moving so fast they left afterimages. Leon twisted, blocked the first, then the second, steel ringing violently through the air but the Reaper gave him no time to breathe.
He yanked the chains tight and leapt, soaring high above.From midair, he hurled another barrage of slashes downward.
Leon blocked. Then blocked again. And again. Sparks and light essence flashed against the chains in rapid, blinding arcs. Everyone watching froze.
A battle like this between two materialistic essence wielders was something most people would never see in their lifetime. Even Harian couldn't help but smile. Two monsters tearing into each other it was a terrifyingly beautiful sight.
But then he exhaled sharply.
"As much as I want to watch this… I need to get out," he muttered, preparing Null Steps.
He bent slightly and at that exact moment, a streak of blinding light slashed across the ground in front of him. Leon's attack. It cut a perfectly straight line in the stone, barely missing Harian by inches.
[THAT WAS TOO CLOSE!] Vex shrieked inside his skull. [IF YOU GOT CAUGHT IN THAT, YOU'D BE A SMEAR ON THE FLOOR!]
Harian looked at the slash, then at Leon, then smiled slowly dangerously.
"Trust me… You've got more things to worry about."
Because above them the Reaper unleashed something even more absurd. He twisted Cronux in the air and the chains split. Then split again. What remained was no longer just two scythes.
It looked like a dozen.
A rain of bladed chains descended from the sky.Blades whipping, chains writhing, each moving with a life of its own as they spiraled toward Leon like a storm of moonlit death. Everyone stared, horrified. This wasn't a technique a normal human could defend against. This was the Reaper unrestrained.
Leon was too busy fending off the rain of scythes to notice anything else. Chains clashed against light while parks lit the air. The sound was deafening. And in that chaos Harian vanished.
Null Steps blurred his body and the next instant he was standing beside the prisoners. George flinched when he appeared, Muliad's eyes widened, and even the old man nearly fainted. Then the Reaper's voice cut through the noise.
Cold and Murderous
"If I said I'd kill everyone…" His chains curled through the air like vipers. "…I meant everyone."
And all the while, he kept attacking Leon. Even divided into a dozen shifting chain-blades, the Reaper still had enough focus to track Harian out of the corner of his eye. Moon Essence surged around him like a dark tide. The warning was unmistakable One wrong move and he'd slaughter the prisoners first.
But Harian didn't look afraid. He didn't freeze. He didn't panic. Instead… he smiled.
A cold, calculating smile. This-.. this was what he had been planning from the start. Not intimidation. Not escape.
Manipulation.
He raised his voice just enough for the Reaper to hear him over the clash of steel. "Find me… in the Black Winter Light."
Silence hit the battlefield instantly. The scythes stopped midair. Leon froze mid-block. Even the prisoners didn't dare breathe. Dust settled, the torches flickered. And in that tension-...The Reaper whispered, almost reverently:
"…So that's how it is."
Leon's brows drew together. He didn't understand why the Reaper suddenly stopped. But Harian did. The Reaper turned slowly toward Leon.
Then with a huge booming sound a massive surge of Moon Essence erupted from his body, blowing cracks across the floor. His silhouette warped in blue light, chains writhing like beasts around him. "I'm afraid things have changed, Leon Lighthart," he said with a smile that wasn't human. Leon's grip tightened around Arondight. The Reaper tilted his head back, grin widening.
"Now..." Moon Essence flooded the prison like a tidal wave. "...I'm going to get serious."