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Chapter 38 - Small Revelations 5 - Heavenly Combat with the Primordial Spectra

Primordial Spectra were massive, abstract energy beings that embodied fundamental ideas, elements, and cosmic forces—like fire, ice, time, chaos, faith, or shadow, to name a few. They usually appeared as shifting, formless masses of chaotic energy, but can condense themselves into smaller shapes—no smaller than an average-sized space human, unless captured and contained somehow.

They had powers on par with the strongest of Meta abilities and often had strange abilities and other powers that complimented their main concept ability.

In a way, they could be said to be living Meta abilities, and some considered them to be just that.

All Primordial Spectra had a loose connection to the Akashic Records and could glimpse into the past and faintly into the future. They disliked large-scale interference with the Akashic Records, as it threatened their existence as well as the natural order. Each Spectra has its own unique personality and physical traits—some were intelligent and aware, others more primal and instinct-driven.

Powerful and mysterious, they were usually carefree and secretive but guarded against the shaping of reality in unpredictable ways while remaining largely beyond understanding to most common folk, not that any would normally see them, as they rarely came out to play.

They were highly sought after by powerful civilizations and private organizations that were usually owned by Grade S experts if they were strong enough to go after a Primordial Spectra. If a Grade S Armorer built a mechanical type host for the right Spectra, it would sometimes result in a combatant with Grade S or higher strength.

By themselves, Primordial Spectra usually hovered in the power gap between the Apex grade and Grade S. Some were a little weaker, while a few could fight evenly with a standard Grade S. This was especially so for the Spectra with tricky abilities.

The five exchanged glances despite the large distances between them. Their looks were filled with excitement and a hint of greed, rather than the fear or nervousness Norvin had anticipated from the group facing more than twice their numbers.

The void of space trembled and distorted in spots around the entire planet and surrounding area as the first of the seven rifts in space tore open even wider, with what would have been a deafening crack—if you could hear sound in space—looking like a wound in the fabric of existence.

Magus, being the closest to this rift, turned to face the widening hole and the emerging Primordial Spectra. The many staffs and books floating around him started to glow brighter, generating obscene amounts of arcane power that flowed into Magus. The orb orbiting along with his other magical tools flew toward his chest, melting into him.

From the shimmering gateway poured forth three of the Primordial Spectra—massive, shifting entities embodying the universe's most fundamental ideas and elements. Their forms flickered, sending out powerful energy fluctuations that increased in power as soon as they laid eyes on the five supers they perceived to be causing problems for the universe. 

The largest among them, a swirling maelstrom of turbulent electrical energy, hovered ominously. Its core was a dark blue, living alloy—crystalline and pulsating with electric fury. Thick, jagged lightning streaked across its shifting form as it surveyed the soon-to-be battlefield, glowing with raw intelligence and primal rage.

'Interlopers,' it boomed, its psychic fluctuations connecting with the psychic chat room Kharusha was maintaining, sounding like a crackling storm of static and thunder in their heads. 'You threaten the cosmic balance. I already warned you once, Magus.'

Behind it, a luminous, swirling green gas sphere floated, tendrils of vines and foliage constantly sprouting and retracting from it. Its form seemed less threatening—more natural. It radiated a calming yet dangerous energy, like an ancient druid awakened from deep slumber.

Another Spectra, a shimmering amorphous cloud of weird time distortions, shimmered with ripples of past and future, phasing back and forth slightly every few moments. The areas in space around it also warped, as if the dimensions of space itself were fluctuating. It shuttled around to the side of its companions, clearly on its way to start forming an encirclement around Magus.

'Ah, I was wondering when you would show up, Electro Forge. I already told you not to worry about my plan to deal with my race's problems. There's a reason I am in possession of a Totem... and can commune directly with the Records. You are just watchdogs with sensitive noses.'

'Lies! Eat this: Divine Thunder Wave!'

High-level mages often traveled in secondary dimensions. Magus's level of experience in dealing with energy entities was extensive, so dealing with this attack was no difficult task. The large amount of lightning the Primordial Spectra shot out with furious might was easily blocked by him with magical shields.

'Sigh, I told you to leave it alone, but you just couldn't help yourselves... Don't blame us for what happens next.'

Magus shook his head in regret while releasing his full power.

The Mage's eyes lit up with bright light and incredible arcane energies burst forth from multiple sources on his end, clashing with the lightning, space-time energy, and the endless supply of vines that had burst forth toward him, taking on three Spectra at once.

...

'At least you didn't run away from us immediately.'

'Leave this one to me, Esprit.'

'...Okay, Knight.'

Several more voices entered the psychic chat, and two more Primordial Spectra approached Kharusha from a nearby breach into a secondary dimension that held many strange lights and chaotic space storms inside of it. This is the dimension that these two called home normally.

Kharusha settled himself into a loose combat stance while starting to rotate his psychic energy as a shimmering golden cluster of energy radiating divine holiness, and another silver cluster of similar energy narrowed the gap before letting the gold cluster move ahead to engage Kharusha alone.

The golden cluster left its silver counterpart behind. Its golden energy flickered like a divine flame, illuminating the void with a radiant glow before condensing down into a humanoid form. It took on the appearance of a golden-armored warrior. 'We are the guardians of the record and the universe—the sacred balance. You seek to distort or destroy the order?'

This was the Primordial Spectra known as the Energetic Knight of Courage, currently a luminous, shimmering silhouette clad in armor of pure, golden energy. Its core pulsed softly, radiating calm, resolve, and an unshakable feeling into the area. Its silver colored counter-part was known as the Esprit Avatar of Bravery.

They considered themselves brothers and had formed at around the same time, traveling together since finding one another eons ago.

Kharusha's four extra arms flickered with condensed, white psychic power as he shifted his stance, eyes narrowing while entering a combat state. Kharusha also felt a tinge of guilt as he prepared to bully the golden figure confronting him. He knew this being's purpose—an embodiment of resolve, of hope. It thought itself a protector of the universe and truly believed it was in the right—yet Kharusha's desire to help Magus complete his mission completely squashed any regret he had about removing this obstacle from their path.

Without a word, Kharusha surged forward, his psychic arms morphing into deadly white blades crackling with condensed energy. They were controlled telekinetically, creating so many afterimages around him that it looked more like a white forcefield surrounded him.

Kharusha turned into a white streak of light, like a fast-moving comet, and arrived in front of the Energetic Knight of Courage in an instant.

His movements were a blur—martial prowess sharpened by his psychic shaping, strikes aimed straight for the Knight's core, with one of the four blades and his other two hands and feet flashing out in rapid succession, keeping up the sword barrier while striking with his four swords and four limbs.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Spectra responded swiftly. Its form shimmered, armor-like energy patterns swirling into a resilient shell. As Kharusha's blades flashed toward it, the Knight raised a luminous shield—a barrier of golden light—that absorbed the blows from the psychic blades and fists with a crackling hum. Sparks danced along its surface and massive shockwaves erupted with each clash, yet it remained unyielding.

'Eh?'

After hundreds of exchanges, Kharusha was slightly surprised—much of the energy he was putting out was being directly absorbed, offsetting most of the insane damage he was unleashing.

Kharusha kicked hard on the golden shield, sending the Primordial Spectra flying for a short distance. He narrowed his eyes at it while pondering.

'Ah, I see. A unique psychic type ability based on an emotion...'

'Yes... you must have a lot of courage. The more feeling you put into your attacks, the more I can absorb them.'

Being courageous by nature, the Primordial Spectra had no reservations about telling this top expert about the nature of its power, besides, it seemed like this fierce Asura before it had already figured it out.

'Yes... lots of courage indeed. See for yourself.'

Then, the Energetic Knight of Courage let loose a wave of pure, radiant energy—an eruption of courage produced by its core and combined with the leached energy from Kharusha's earlier barrage.

A feeling of resolve washed over the battlefield. It was as if fighting spirit itself poured from its core, dispelling shadows and fear, fortifying allies nearby, and even causing Kharusha's instincts to falter for a heartbeat. This wave had a positive effect on allies and an intimidation factor on opponents.

'...Not bad.'

In reality, Kharusha hadn't experienced any intense feelings of courage earlier while on the offensive. The trick was that the Energetic Knight of Courage perceived Kharusha as brave, thus activating one of its core abilities. Any entity that was willing to fight with it was considered courageous.

'Haha! Nice work brother! He's on the ropes now! Keep it up! He isn't much after all...'

The silver colored energy clusters inside of it lit up excitedly as the Esprit Avatar of Bravery talked crap in the background after the first couple exchanges, acting like a cheerleader for its friend. It thought that they had the upper hand for sure.

'...Are you sure?' Kharusha snarled, his eyes flickering with contempt for the petty trick and determination to show these two what true psychic power looked like. His blades floated in front of him and then flickered with brighter psychic energy. He shifted his weapons into a sharper, more lethal form—they all combined into one large, ten-foot-long great sword that shimmered with white-hot intensity.

After a few moments, a large psychic fluctuation erupted from Kharusha's position, engulfing his new weapon as it mixed with the thick psychic aura emanating from the giant sword itself.

This was one of Kharusha's trump cards. He would condense extra psychic energy onto one or more of his weapon arms in sword shape, then oscillate the outside layers of psychic coating at a speed of a few million cycles per second—so fast that it appeared as a shimmering, vibrating blur, capable of slicing through space itself.

The blade vibrated with such ferocity that each small swing he took would be capable enough to tear apart matter on a molecular level. Its near-impossibly fast oscillation made this technique deadly beyond measure.

His eyes gleamed with interest, wondering how long this Primordial Spectra would be able to endure the battle now that he was serious. He flew toward the Energetic Knight of Courage again, a tempest of psychic fury lashing out from his temple as an extra source of attack, aiming to overwhelm the luminous, self-proclaimed defender with a simple combo move.

The Energetic Knight of Courage's armored form responded calmly. Its core energy rippled, drawing many more layers of energy to stack layer upon layer of defenses.

'Useless... Come.'

Kharusha suddenly disappeared from both of the Primordial Spectra's views right as the Spectra braced itself to receive the psychic impact wave. 

As the wave hit the golden armor, Kharusha reappeared behind the golden energy warrior, swinging his blade down vertically to cleave the glowing figure in half, then into many pieces a moment later.

The energy armor stack had been concentrated on the front side of the Energetic Knight of Courage, where he had expected the attack. Kharusha's sharp rise in combat pace and his displacement skill had completely taken the Primordial Spectra by surprise, ending their duel in an instant!

Kharusha turned to glance at the now speechless Esprit Avatar of Bravery.

'So... Who's useless now?'

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