Threads of the Soul

Chapter 453 - 453: Grasping the Wind

Trying to fight against this breezy Captain, it was like Corvus was trying to punch the wind. Literally. Beyond controlling the wind and creating a literal tornado around himself of countless wind blades, the Russian also had the ability to turn himself into the wind, much like Corvus could assume a soul form.His fists and the grasping hands of the straw filled scarecrows passed through his form like he was nothing more than an illusion, his appearance becoming wispy as if he was a projection on a wall of mist.

Whenever a hand went through him, his body would separate before quickly pulling itself back together, remaining in the loose, unsolid appearance of his Air form.

However, just as Corvus couldn't touch the Captain because of his transformation, the inverse was also true. When he transformed himself into his soul form, Corvus was completely untouchable, leaving the Captain to take out his rage on his puppets.

The benefit of using these straw men, was that they could pulled themselves back together once they were sliced apart. They were made to fall apart and easily be stitched back together again, and what was stitching them back together was his very own threads.

That didn't mean they were immortal. Bit by bit they were losing mass, but he just hoped that it would be enough to burn the Captain's energy reserves and force him to take corporeal form once more. Until then, he only had his threads to rely on as viable weapons.

He whipped them out like he was a Lion Tamer, the sound of them cracking in the air overshadowed by the roaring wind and thunderous booms of Astra's lightning.

Each whip sent agonising jolts through the Captain's entire system as Corvus whipped not his body, but his soul. But even that was breezy and hard to hit, separating into a less tangible form along with his windy body.

Whether the man knew he was doing it or not didn't matter, but he had the perfect abilities to counter Corvus, leaving them in the ultimate stalemate. His threads while excruciating were ultimately ineffectual, he couldn't use numbers to his advantage as they were constantly being torn apart or blown away, and he could not lay a finger on hide, nor hair, nor soul of this man without it slipping through his fingers.

But that was when a miserable, irritated voice sounded in his mind. No... Not from his mind. It originated from the depths of his soul and simply resonated throughout his being until it echoed within his mind.

After all, even if it was a completely annoyed and grouchy tone, it was still his own voice.

{You're doing it wrong. You need to use the sword on him. If you just listen to me I can-}

Corvus scoffed as Scar, one of his other selves, spoke through his soul and into his mind. He quickly cut the miserable sod off as he sent out another few dozen whips to lash at the windy Captain.

'I already tried the sword, It's useless. I can't use it in soul form and I can't hit him physically with it. So just but out and leave me alone. I don't need your depressed ass in my head.'

{Trust me... I don't want to be your head you arrogant bastard. It's a mess in there.}

[Oh will you just shut up, the both of you!]

A new, yet the same voice, cut in. If it wasn't for the fact it held a more upbeat and relaxed tone, Corvus would have never released that it was from Seth and not Scar. Rolling his eyes, he sighed softly.

'Oh look, now he's here. What do you want lefty?'

[I already told you to shut up. Now I don't like this as much as the rest of you, none of us like hearing the others. It's why we don't talk much. It's even worse than hearing yourself talk on camera, ugh it's disgusting.

But unfortunately we are stuck together, and when you bicker I can hear it. So play nice and work together.

Corvus, we can all see that you need help. We can see through the puppets eyes too remember, so just shut up and accept it. Scar, if you think you can help then why don't you just teleport over and-]

{Can't. Busy.}

Corvus scoffed again at Scar's dismissive response, becoming tangible once more just in time to rain punches down on the Captain's head when the man pulled himself out of his air form briefly. It was just enough to keep the Captain's attention on him, instead of Woe's group, before they both went back to their intangible forms simultaneously, almost like they were also reading each others minds.

'Busy? Busy with what? Are we cutting into your brooding time or something?'

[I thought I told you to shut up?]

{Yeah, What lefty said. Keep your mouth shut if you want my help. If you must know, I'm busy fighting a Kraken and it's squid minions. Well... It's a giant Octopus, but that's basically a Kraken. But since it's occupied with Cynthia going Octo-mode, and these squid are easy enough, I thought I would help you out. Lucky you.

Now, Let me tell you about a technique I like to call Ghost Blade.]

Corvus rolled his eyes at the name, which was utterly typical of that emo edge-lord. It was amazing how they were somehow the same person. Maybe Scar just took all the idiotic, edge-lord stuff with him and left all the handsome goodness with Corvus, while lefty got... whatever it was he got.

Yeah, that made much more sense. That had to be right. Naturally, he completely ignored the fact that he called himself Corvus and that he was constantly, eagerly portraying the role of a domineering god of death. That was just different, obviously.

Nevertheless, despite the cringe inducing name that he would never come up with, Corvus listened to Scar's explanation of the Ghost Blade technique. The same technique he had learned and developed from fighting the ghostly pirates.

Following Scar's instructions, Corvus became flesh and blood once more as he summoned the [Requiem of Blood] and poured his soul energy into it. He was pouring in a steady stream, turning the crimson blade to a deep and rich purple, before a surge of fresh energy rushed into his soul from Scar's end.

it was so fresh he could practically still taste the seawater on the Kraken soul.

With that extra kick, turning his stream into a flash flood, the once crimson blade turned a bright indigo and erupted into flames. He rushed forwards, carrying through the air by the billowing shadows of his cloak, and swept the flaming sword across the Captain's chest. It passed through his billowing body, just like before, yet this time it was accompanied by an agonising cry that even his soul whipping couldn't muster.

That certainly put a smile on Corvus' face, even if he could practically feel the smug expression Scar was giving through their connection.