HP: The Arcane Thief

Chapter 253: Tearing Through Another Grandmother Fucker

'Is he actually... comprehending the concept of Destruction mid-battle?!' This was the thought flowing through the First's mind while he tightly held onto the Trident's blades, having finally caught him.

There should be no other way he could have survived his full powered blasts head on while was using the Entity's powers.

But, even if he did survive, he is currently severely injured, and weakened, as evidenced by his lackluster offense.

This is exactly why it was important to deal with him right now.

'It's over,' he thought, as the tentacles sensed Axel's location while climbing up the Trident. Now, all he needed was just one another beam.

But, just before the tentacles reached Axel, a horrific stench filled the First's nose, as the space just a millimeter above his head opened up, releasing extremely toxic substances.

?!

So surprised and off-guard he was the old man that he let go of the blade, focusing more on annihilating the cursed filth that had started to fall right above him, even letting go of Axel in the heat of the moment.

As soon as he got free, the first thing Axel did was to completely disappear once again while noting down 'no more close quarters attacks'.

"That... was incredibly infuriating." Even though the first had protected himself from the filth, the smell still managed to get to him.

And so, for the first time, Axel saw anger on the face of the First.

"I'm going to end this quickly now."

The First was now genuinely irritated. It was crazy enough that Axel could still remain conscious after getting hit by his concept of destruction.

Imagine the most destructive spell in the world. His Soul energy is supposed to be 10 times more destructive.

Just a nick is enough to finish anyone. But Axel managed to survive.

The First looked around the Tentacles spreading through the air, searching for Axel.

"Well, you survived one of the most destructive offensive magic on your own. I commend you for that. But..." He paused. "THEY... can't," he said, pointing his hand at the Atlantian forces.

The First changed his approach. From what he can see, Axel should have run away by now. This is a lost battle and Axel is not an idiot.

He realized, the only reason he didn't, could be due to the people present here.

Without a warning, he flung out an extremely destructive soul energy beam straight at the barrier.

'Shit!'

A large number of Barriers appeared in its paths, all of which were broken through one after another. But in that time, Axel appeared in front of the beam with a huge amount of water.

[Arcane Barrier]

Magic was extracted from the water and in front of Axel a barrier appeared, using the extracted magic.

The First's eyebrows went up, looking at the unique magic barrier that had managed to put some resistance against his attack.

the first sighed. "So much talent, so much potential... And yet, you waste it for these insignificant bugs."

"Pathetic." Continuing to release the energy, the First shook his head, seemingly disappointed.

Of course, this also spelled Axel's doom as he was in no condition to handle another full powered attack from him.

He increased the power output further, pushing Axel further and further until he hit the barrier protecting the Atlantian forces.

The whole Kingdom turned silent. Everyone watched as Axel's shield started to disintegrate, and his body started to get crushed between the shield and the barrier.

"Stop it!"

Antilla wasn't going to let Axel continue this madness. All his life, he has been suffering. She really couldn't bear to see him suffer more.

"Axel! Leave us! Run away!" She screamed desperately.

It's true that she was too powerless to help. It's true that she couldn't fulfill her duty as his Aunt. It's true that the Kingdom was going to be destroyed because of her.

But, she'll be damned if she let Axel go down with her.

Axel… deserved peace and happiness. He shouldn't go down with this Kingdom that has done nothing for him.

Now, there's only one thing she can do. Convince Axel to leave. His stealth skills have increased to the point that he can hide from the First's detection.

And he has space control, meaning he can definitely leave.

"Axel! You've done enough!" Said Martina.

"Let's leave! It's not worth it!" Added Akiko.

Everyone in Atlantis heard the Princess. Did they feel hurt? They did. But really, could they blame him for leaving them?

What would they do if they were in Axel's place? Most wouldn't even bother doing 10% of what he had already done for the Kingdom, let alone the fact that none of them even ever have 10% of Axel's capabilities.

"""Shut it.""""

At this moment, Axel's voice rang out throughout the battlefield, silencing everyone. "My days of running are over."

"And also…"

"Who said I'm going to lose?"

"Who said there's no hope?"

"Who said ANYTHING is impossible for ME?!"

The shield broke down, but Axel still didn't give up, holding onto the beam with bare hands.

"This is MY Kingdom! And I'm… not… going… ANYWHERE!"

No one from all over the Kingdom could move their eyes away from that figure, who was the last hope of this kingdom.

Everyone knew how old Axel was. Everyone knew that he had grown up in the outer world, without access to the training and resources that the Atlantian children get from birth.

And yet, here he was, putting his life on the line and shouldering the fate of the whole kingdom.

From his first trial, to the Biopark incident, to his fight against Aslot, and the battles he had against the Traitor king and the Third Overseer. He has accomplished miracles that are impossible to even think about, let alone achieve.

And yet, instead of getting the reward and rest he deserves, here he is, fighting the most difficult battle of his life.

This… this just makes them feel an emotion rise from the very depths of their hearts.

"YOU CAN DO IT!"

At this moment, one of the soldiers yelled out stubbornly, tears and snot running down his face.

"YES! I… I BELIEVE IN YOU!" Another one yelled.

"YOU ARE THE STRONGEST! YOU CAN'T LOSE!"

"WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU!"

Suddenly, voices began to be heard from all around as people began to shout out encouraging words for Axel.

"WE'RE READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU!" Someone yelled.

"YES! WE'RE READY TO BLEED FOR YOU!"

"WE'RE READY TO EVEN DIE FOR YOU!"

""""WE'RE READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU!""""

""""WE'RE READY TO BLEED FOR YOU!"""""

"""""WE'RE READY TO DIE FOR YOU!""""

"""""""""WE'RE READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU!""""""""

"""""""""WE'RE READY TO BLEED FOR YOU!"""""""""

"""""""""WE'RE READY TO DIE FOR YOU!"""""""""

The voices started from the battlefield. But soon it could be heard throughout the whole Kingdom. It expressed the citizens' gratitude to Axel, their King, their eagerness to get a chance to fight for him, and their helplessness at not being strong enough to contribute.

"A bunch of Ants. As if they could actually do anything here." Seeing it all, the First scoffed. "Their hopes are about to be crushed right in front of them," he said with amusement, further pressing Axel.

Axel's body started to disintegrate as the rate of his healing and the amount of protection was being overshadowed by the destructive energy.

"You can't last long. Surrender to me now!" Yelled the First, as cracks appeared on the barrier behind him.

One second passed…

Two seconds passed…

Ten seconds passed…

The chanting only grew louder, now being accompanied by a dull rumbling as the Soldier slammed the ground with each shout. On the other hand, while Axel remained pressed up against the barrier. No matter how much more the First pressed, the beam couldn't break past his hands.

The old man frowned, sensing the abnormality.

This was not how it was supposed to go. The Axel's hands should have broken down by now.

The wind picked up and small lines of magic became visible, entering Axel's broken body, filling him with power. And that's how, a small barrier was forming in his from of his hands, preventing him from dying.

"What?!" The First's eye widened looking at the magic lines that were hoping in on Axel.

Slowly he shield got re-erected in front of Axel. The muscles on his body bulged out through his broken armor as for the first time, he pushed back.

"How?! How are you creating this phenomenon?"

Axel raised his head, power started to enter his body. "How? Because I'm the mothefucking King of Atlantis."

Aetherian Runes appeared on the ground beneath them. And small energy lines became visible, extending out of the bodies of the Atlantian forces and being absorbed into the runes. The runes then transferred those energy lines to Axel, empowering him.

Very soon, the runes appeared all over the city, causing it to light up. A huge amount of energy started to gather, with Axel as the focal point.

Cheers arose throughout the city as they saw Axel creating a miracle yet again. And within their hearts, their belief in Axel was only solidified.

The barrier behind him that was protecting city thickened as Axel slowly rose from his postion, now becoming stronger every second.

Seeing the runes, the First finally got an inkling of what was going on. "This can't be… The Ultimate Acknowledgment! I thought it was nothing more than a myth!"

"Well, apparently, it's not," said Axel, now surrounded with so much energy that his body appeared to be a dark silhouette in the dazzling light.

There's a legend in Atlantis.

That the whole Kingdom is actually actually a powercell for the King.

That when in need, the King can actually access the power of Atlantis itself.

But, it has been widely termed as just a myth. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

There have been highly powerful kings, popular kings, and well-respected Kings in History who have tried their best. But, so far, none have been able to obtain this power, or maybe they did but never bothered to reveal it.

That's why this information was termed nothing more than a myth by the people of Atlantis.

But today, the myth was proven true by Axel, as he very clearly managed to get the power.

"How did you do it?" Asked the First curiously.

Axel looked back the millions of people cheering for him throughout the city.

"The Secret is… faith."

The primary emotion that Axel awakened in the depths of hearts of everyone in the kingdom was not just the fear and awe that comes from seeing a powerful king.

It was also not just the adoration that the popular kings have.

Nor was it just the respect that the wise and commanding rulers have.

It was straight up, pure, unadulterated, Blind Worship.

Axel's impression on Atlantians was short, but highly impactful.

When someone achieves things as unbelievable as Axel did. And when someone does for them as much as Axel did, people can no longer relate to that person. Instead, they are put on a higher pedestal.

If he can do even that, then surely, he can do this as well

He has never let us down. He won't this time again!

He is special! If anyone can do it… it's him!

He can never lose!

This is how they begin to thing of them.

So, when he was cornered and looked to be about an inch away from dying a dog's death, with (this time), really no way of turning things around, he made everyone remember who he was.

He was Axel Fucking Hunt.

Despite being odds stacked up ocean-deep against him,

Not once, has he failed.

Not once, has he lost.

Not once, has he cowered.

Not once, has he given up.

And not once… has he let them down.

Why would this time be any different?

So, after thinking they were going to die, and after almost accepting their fate, a new hope was ignited and a faith was established.

That as long as they that guy is standing in front of them, nothing can happen to them.

And with that faith, came the complete fanatical willingness to help him from the depths of their hearts.

And this was the condition.

To make every Atlantian see you as their indisputable King and make them willing to do anything for you, thus activating the magic siphoning.

To test out his power, Axel casually flicked his finger, destroying the ground beneath.

"You see, since borrowing external power is the trend now, I thought I'd join in."

The First was silent for a moment. seemingly lost in thought.

"Well… This complicates things." said the First, not much impressed. "But, No matter how much power you can borrow, you cannot change the outcome."

"We'll see."

Axel was currently feeling indescribable.

An unprecedented feeling of complete power was surrounding him, making him feeling invincible.

BOOOOM

!

————————

A shockwave was released, right after which an explosion happened.

When the light cleared up, Axel stood right where the First used to be. The Space in between his previous position and current position was glitching, unable to contain the load of his speed.

The same happened to the space of the First's trajectory, so fast he was launched into the ground.

"Hot damn…" muttered Axel, surprise by his own power.

White lights emerged from the ground before it was blown up, as the First reappeared in the air.

Tentacles unwrapped from around him, having once again protected him from damage.

Assessing Axel's new power, he cracked his neck. "Looks like I won't have to hold back anymore."

"Those tentacles are annoying." Muttered Axel, coating inserting a huge amount of magic in the Trident to strengthen it.

In the next second, both Axel and the First disappeared from their positions as collisions happened all over the place.

Now that he was using the Entity's powers, the First had become extremely dangerous.

His soul energy had gotten significantly more destructive. And the numerous tentacles all over his body were extremely durable and highly conductive to the destructive energy, making them perfect for offense and defense.

So, it was extremely lucky that Axel had managed power up.

With the new found energy, Axel could make his [Water Body] faster, by releasing mana in powerful bursts, stronger by concentrating more explosive mana in his body, and more durable by coating it in layers of defenses.

Now equally matched in power, within a few seconds, the two of them had exchanged thousands of blows, creating space-rifts everywhere.

And from those rifts, ocean water started to flood in in massive quantity.

But, Axel still couldn't break through the First's defense as those tentacles were extremely durable, making the first's defense impenetrable.

"Enough."

Having gotten used to the new found power, Axel proceeded to end things quickly.

The power he was currently wielding… he was not cut out for it. It's like drinking 10 bottles of alcohol when you have the capacity of drinking one.

You can't handle it. You have to slowly build tolerance for it over the years.

Similarly, there are no shortcuts to power. You have to slowly increase your capacity. Or, you give away your soul to a superpowerful Entity in exchange for letting it bear the burden for you like the first did.

So, in preparation of ending things once and for all, magic began gathering around Axel's hands.

It was not only the city's magic, but also the magic from the massive water body that had formed in the place.

The gathered magic began to coalesce around his fists, forming a dangerous aura.

"What… are you doing?" Asked, the First increasing his offense through the Tentacles.

The First didn't know what Axel was doing but he knew whatever it was, was not going to be good. Thus, he decided to stop playing around.

Thousands of Tentacles attacked Axel at the same time.

"I'm creating... a Custom Octopus Meat grinder."

But, Axel's hands blurred, and the Tentacles were cut down, not one of them being able to pass through.

?!

The First was flabbergasted.

It should have been impossible for Axel's mind to process the defense for each tentacle in such a short period of time.

The only way he could have done it was to move his hands so fast that they were able to be at every point around his body at the same time.

And not only that…

They could now actually cut through the Entity's Tentacles, something that is supposed to be impossible.

But...

The first realized the danger too late.

"Chop chop, you freak."

[Magic Hands: OVERLOAD]

Light erupted from his hands, before they broke through space due to the their sheer speed. And then…

*Burst*

Blood burst out everywhere as his hand literally tore through every inch of the First's body, tentacles and all.

The light was so intense that it made everyone temporarily blind.

When the glare faded, they saw Axel breathing deeply, with blood mist all around him.

Silence spread over the battlefield as everyone looked at the scene in shock.

"He… did it?"

.....

A.N.: POWERSTONES

In case you wanna read 23+ chapters /Snollygoster