(Author's suggested chapter song: "The Only Thing They Fear Is You" – Mick Gordon (DOOM Eternal OST)

.....

Wuuuhummmm ....

Big Mama turned, her huge body crashing violently into a smaller whale.

Her six heads instantly ripped it apart. However, it was not enough.

All her heads voiced their pain—seeking relief.

No one could see what was happening inside the cloudy mist on Big Mama's head.

But if they could, then they would understand.

Soren had just used his First Form.

For the first time, he was not in a rush, as there was an excess of soul energy. He could take his time to really feel the power coursing through his veins.

It felt... different.

The king antibodies were still after Cynthia. But for the things Soren wanted to try, he did not need chickens to slaughter.

He needed adversaries to experiment with.

As crazy as it sounds, that was his goal.

In that case, he dipped his hand in his jumpsuit and brought out a certain flower.

It was bioluminescent and had petals that flapped like butterfly wings.

The moment they sensed it, their gaze was pulled to him—sharp. Attentive. Annoyed.

Even when he had killed and consumed their comrade, they had not given him that look.

"Vinegar was right. You lot really hate these things."

He had gotten it from Vinegar's cave.

Soren raised it above his head and crushed it. Its rainbow-like dust fell on him.

The moment it did, not just the king antibodies but also the antibodies fighting Vinegar and the others paused.

Turned in Soren's direction.

They screeched loudly and then gave pursuit.

It was sudden. Abrupt. Unexplained.

Even the antibodies on the lower whales seemed pissed off.

All of them rushing towards the body of Big Mama.

"That's it... come." He laughed wildly.

His right foot dug into Big Mama's flesh.

Even before he moved, the soul energy pressure from him had formed a crater.

Boom

Big Mama wailed even harder, thrashing about as it hurried to the fracture in the sky.

Meanwhile, Soren released more Soul energy.

*First Form...*

Buuuwwwwwwssshhhh!!!

Flames blasted from his dagger, rolling from him like a heartbeat. It engulfed all the antibodies rushing for him.

Soren had never pushed his first form this far. Instead of just using Vass's ability, Soren was attempting his first form.

No. He was attempting all their first forms.

*First form..."

His blade reached the first king antibody. He plunged it.

Instantly, its body unraveled like threads. Not just the king antibody but all the antibodies in the vicinity.

Tens of them peeled, like shavings of an orange.

Antibodies had the ability to heal, but this. This was just too much.

Soren felt his soul energy dip again. He was running out fast. The previous king antibody he consumed had been used up.

But there was no problem. After all, he was in the midst of a buffet.

"Chronovore... Devour! Devour!! Devour!!!"

Chronovore suddenly grew in size. Its hunger, an aura of its own, spread all around.

If the antibodies were rushing to Soren because of the flower he just sprinkled on himself, then the arrival of Chronovore was the arrival of clarity.

Their forms vibrated with...

FEAR.

Many turned to run. Not fast enough. Chronovore was like a bottomless pit.

Devouring wild and wide.

As it did, Soren also attacked, entering a kind of maddening state as he laughed maniacally.

How couldn't he? This joy. This relief. He had been holding back Chronovore's hunger for so long.

And now, it was allowed the privilege of running amok. Of exploring and exploiting.

"More! More!! More!!!" Soren screamed.

The antibodies tried. Many attacked.

Acid spits, arrows, hammers, and blades.

But this battlefield, this. This was Soren's dance floor.

He opened his hands to welcome it all.

And then.

Boom.

It all exploded outward.

Soren paused. There was none left. No more enemies to battle or consume.

He fell on his knees.

Fainted.

And then Chronovore snaked towards him. This was a giant serpent, no smaller than a train.

Its scales were massive and glistened with a pristine light.

It wrapped around Soren's body. And then it coiled for the strike.

Its six inverted eyes were looking down at Soren, mouth opened wide, as if to consume him.

Definitely to consume him.

However, just before it would dive on him, the pendant around his neck shone bright.

It shone in a similarly rainbow-like color.

Chronovore shook its head, reluctant to comply.

It hissed loudly. "Only for now." Its feminine voice echoed.

Then the world went silent.

.....

"Soren! Soren!! Soren!!!"

Vinegar's voice came. Alternating.

Like a flickering light, reaching into the mucky darkness.

It was weak, but slowly, it became stronger.

And then, a jolt.

Soren gasped. Breathe heavily. His eyes widened at the sight of the people around.

Vinegar.

Tears had battered her face.

Not just her; every person had a look of worry.

Handler, Ratler, Sausage Neck, and Tiger Face.

Then he noticed pressure on his chest. A hand was there.

It was Slacker's.

"Don't move too much. Whatever you did was excessive. You fractured some blood vessels in your heart.

I am merely holding them together long enough for your Soulbound warrior regeneration to kick in."

Soren gave a faint smile. "Thank you." He muttered.

From the little trace of blood falling from Slacker's nose, Soren could tell that what he was doing was not easy.

After a few more seconds. Soren could finally feel the rest of his body.

Slacker sat down. Breathing heavily. Handler rushed to him to help.

Soren sat upright right.

Immediately, Vinegar jumped on him, embracing him tightly.

Soren groaned a little. He did not push her away but embraced her back.

The wind brought the smell of her hair into his nose.

It was refreshing.

"So...uh...did we do it?" He asked.

Slacker chuckled weakly, pointing behind him.

Vinegar backed off a bit, allowing him to turn.

There it was, hovering inches away from the ground, giving a faint purple glow.

It was as massive as a two-story building.

The Crowned Jewel.

Soren slowly stood to his feet. And then Cynthia walked over to him.

She lifted him on her shoulder.

And like a dam let loose, the prisoners rejoiced.

"WHITEY!

WHITEY!!

WHITEY!!!"

It was a full-blown celebration. After all, this was something that had never been done before.

Far off in the distance, Vera and Edward stood.

"Sister, I think we might have just made the best bet yet."

Vera nodded, "or the worst."

Edward frowned. "Why did you say that?"

His gaze settled on her eyes. His sister lost her sight the day she bonded with her shade, but in exchange, she saw in a way no other did.

It was the reason she could even pilot a soul mecha.

"Do you see something?" he asked.

She did not answer the question. Instead, she turned towards Soren's direction.

"Either way, it's good we are not on ITS bad side."

She turned, using her cane to trace her steps back. Edward took one more look at Soren. "F-rank, huh!"

He followed behind, the loud celebration fading behind him.

(Author's note: That was epic. Yes. But not the end of the arc. I have a surprise for you. So please send GIFTS.)

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