Replicus had noted the disastrous power of Skullius Tertiary assault function - the rged power of [Evil Darkness] and [Just Light] given raw, explosive offensive properties.
This was why he had clad himself in Beyrmir and shielded himself with [Maximum Neutral] despite being in his Territory. He had lost all faith in it in the face of the upcoming attack.
But all his other defences weren't much better. The only thing Replicus had truly been counting on, was the Warmoth's Spine, which was immune to all concepts; this was why he propped it forward. It had played a great role in ensuring that he wasn't eviscerated instantly, but so did a number of other factors.
[Ju`wtta Resounding Restoration] had also been extrely helpful, but even at the end of it all, whatever damage Replicus sustained or evaded, his greatest hopes laid in one thing: the third adjustnt to his body which had been awarded to him as a result of Personal Configuration!
Replicus had added two more arms to his form. He had also added a nervous system which his phantoms could use. But the third adjustnt had been more intricate and complex. It had required a few hours to completely establish as a part of him.
It was called Embryotic Stuffing.
(A/N: Refer to Ch.1159).
Its purpose was simple. It was essentially a spare body for Replicus, fresh and new, hidden within the recesses of his present one. When the need arose for it, it would replace the lost or badly damage bits of him, as it had done just now.
Replicus had hoped that since it was a new body, it wouldn't be affected by the side effects of Implicit Evolution, but he was wrong. Even though his new body was in perfect condition, his cells were drained still.
'I I suppose that's fair,' Replicus thought. He was being too greedy. Right now, he had to be thankful for what he had managed to accomplish.
His ambush on Skullius had worked much better than he had imagined.
Even though his head was blown off, he had managed to lunge and grab Replicus because his phantoms had their own circuit of nerves to facilitate their own coordinated moves. They had spearheaded the attack, using the opening Sila created to the fullest, and marking Skullius with the Stark Constellation - the brand that was on Skullius' forehead.
Replicus had created this brand while in the Timould Mirror Box.
With what had happened to Skullius in mind, Replicus was determined to ensure that his subordinates, especially the stronger combatants, wouldn't fall prey to the whims of those who made the Hidden Classes they wielded or would wield in the future.
The primary purpose of the Stark Constellation was to reject any foreign influence from an individual's body and soul. It negated all adverse soul effects and body manipulations spawning for most kinds of attacks - skills, Blessings, Spells, Veneration arts and more.
Additionally, it helped to strengthen the resolve of the individual it was branded to, responding and resonating to their personal ideals. It reacted rather violently when they did or saw anything that supported a stance they subscribed to.
Above all else, however, the Stark Constellation allowed Replicus complete control of anyone it was branded to.
The Warmoth's Progeny added this function just in case all the other properties of the Stark Constellation couldn't stop an enemy's attack on his people, and they successfully hijacked their bodies or subjected them to a vile influence.
Indeed, the Stark Constellation was the ultimate mark of loyalty to Replicus.
He didn't impose it on everyone, however, and didn't hide all its traits. Yet still, to Replicus' surprise and delight, not one among his subordinates refused to be branded. They were all even enthusiastic about it. Well, all except that one...
Replicus smiled as he thought about the beaked bastard. He sighed.
'This is awkward,' he thought, and he looked down at Skullius whose head was now planted against his broad chest. 'I wonder how long it will take for to be able to move well again. Ah, and there's a bunch of ti left until Skullius' cooldown elapses and he naturally reverts to the Penetrator. But... oh, right! I can just use Integral Ti to change him right away!'
Replicus rembered that he could just cheat and use the Rule-Level concept Integral Ti to rewind ti on Skullius' body, or better yet, use Maximum Catalyst's Reversion! The fact that he had almost forgotten these tools at his disposal when he had literally used them to do what he intended to do right now during the battle, was a mark of how exhausted he was.
Speaking of ti, Replicus looked up into the distance.
The drapes of ti remained.
He had no idea how long they would last and if he could even fix them. His affinity with Integral Ti wasn't all that great, after all.
'Maybe if I initiate [Brisk Storm Avatar], I'll get enough power to-"
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