Chapter 308: I Condemn
Unlike usual, Ximena had no need to go retrieve the shard. Instead, she felt a portion of her power increase upon the kill.
Such was par for the course when a Dungeon Beast slew another inside a foreign dungeon.
Ximena smirked, then took a step forward.
While she could already create and control crystals, these chains were different.
Unlike having to visualize, then manifest the form while siphoning Aether, these chains formed near instantly, and Ximena had no need to care about the intricacies of their design, as they designed themselves.
That was the first feature of her new ability, [Crystal Chains].
The beetles began to chitter and panic as they fluttered away, giving Ximena even more room.
Still, they hadn’t figured out what to do about her.
And, well, there wasn’t much they could do.
Without opposable thumbs, they couldn’t throw anything at her let alone anything meaningful.
Meaning the only hope for these beetles to defeat Ximena was a Champion. Even then, their chances were low, as that Champion either had to be resistant to Ximena or be able to attack from range.
One of the chains disappeared instantly, dissolving into sparks.
As for the other one…
Ximena reeled her arm back and swept the chain through the swarm. Most scattered in time. The unlucky ones burst against its thick crystal links.
More Aether swelled in her Core.
That was the second feature of her ability — weightlessness and heft.
To her, her chains weighed a quarter of the amount they should; however, to the world, they weighed the amount they were supposed to and then some.
So, while all she had to do to attack was almost effortlessly swipe her hand, to defend, one would have to plant their shield and reinforce their defenses as best they could.
A slight smile crept onto Ximena’s face as she let the second chain disappear in an explosion of iridescent sparks.
The third feature…
They could be dismissed or recalled near instantaneously.
That almost rang true for the creation time as well, but the longer the chain, the longer it took to reel out.
And finally…
Ximena called forth another chain, then sent it out.
The crystal chain wrapped around a Golden-Beetle Warrior. The beetle chittered and fought as best it could to free itself. But Ximena activated [Frostbite].
Transmuting through the [Crystal Chains], [Frostbite] burned the exoskeleton of the beetle.
Once weakened, Ximena pulled on the chain, causing it to bite through its flesh and split the beetle in half.
At this sight, the beetles were driven from fear to frenzy.
They began climbing over one another to escape, with a few even killing their own brethren in the scramble.
The Crystal Owl paid them no mind as she inspected the bloodied chain before letting it dissipate.
“I’d say that was a successful test…”
That was the first time she’d used [Crystal Chains], since she hadn’t seen any real bat since being Emergent. And, honestly, using it wasn’t even necessary — not yet, at least — she simply wanted to test it.
And, with that test out of the way…
Ximena picked up her pace, marching toward the mass of retreating beetles, letting them lead her through the dungeon. Even after taking five or so turns, they’d showed no more resistance; however, her march did eventually e to a stop…
‘Eugh.’
Since Ximena couldn’t smell — or barely could — she only noticed it once the beetles retreated over it…
“How disgusting.”
Human and animal bones carpeted the floor, and a writhing mass of grubs nested in the gaps, churning through the sea of white.
And while the owl didn’t recognize the bones, it was clear where their supply had e from — or rather, the only places they could have e from.
Ximena scowled, then stomped on the floor. From her foot, a path of crystal shot out, arching over the disgusting heap.
‘And I’m supposed to be the same as them?’
At least according to the humans.
‘It’s revolting…’
The very idea she was looked at with the same contempt as humans gave these foul bugs…
Something clicked inside of Ximena — an echo of her past self flickered to life as she reminded herself of that nasty fact.
And neither Vale, nor anyone except Mias, was there to watch for once…
One doesn’t get titles like Ice Witch and Force of Nature without cause.
Ximena began to reflect upon how the Akkuron forces looked at her, as well as her tumultuous time before ing to Pandora.
Finally…
She also thought about Salome.
That Demon who tormented her without reason, hunting her down, vowing to spend as long as an eternity chasing her until she killed her. Yet that same woman had now saved her life.
The owl had still yet to e to terms with that fact. And, when one is presented with an undigestible reality, there’s really only one proper outlet.
Ximena decided to let loose.
Not just releasing her physical limiters, no…
But the mental ones too.
‘If one hates and fears you for no reason… the only thing left to do is give them a reason.’
And if one hates you with reason…
‘Make that reason damned good.’
And if one dares to forget their hate and fear…
‘Remind them why they did so in the first place.’
The crystals on Ximena’s outfit creaked and groaned. A moment later, the red was gone, replaced by a shiny, iridescent sapphire.
[Absolute Zero] stretched far, further than it had ever stretched before on Pandora, guided by the goo-covered stone walls.
It didn’t even take a second for the legs of all the beetles in eyesight to freeze, then snap as they hurriedly tried to retreat.
“For annoying me, I condemn.”
A sinister smile touched the Crystal Owl’s lips as she crossed over the bone field of grubs and stared at the entrance to a room absolutely coated in nasty goo.
Taking a step toward it, all the crying, legless beetles perished — freezing to death.
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