SOULTALE | By ShadowNTS

(Chapter 176) Compassion.

In the midst of an echoing silence, small gusts of air carry the dust throughout the palace. Frisk stays on her knees, paying her respects, whilst twilight tries her best to stand up.

TWL: Frisk, it's time to go.
FSK: There is no need. We already are where we're supposed to be.
TWL: What do you mean..?

Frisk gazes upon the entryway at the end of the hall. Footsteps approach from the darkness and a familiar face walks around the corner and into the hall. Twilights' expression is overcome by pure shock, whilst Frisk seems collected.

AMB: Good to meet you again, Frisk.
FSK: Same here, Amber.

Twilight is at a loss of words. Frisk stands up and summons her flower sword.

TWL: W-what are you doing here..?!
AMB: I believe you are Frisks' sacred possession, Twilight, right?
FSK: Sharp as ever, Amber.
AMB: Thanks, it means a lot coming from you.
TWL: Don't ignore me!
AMB: My apologies, but it seems like Frisk already knows.

Twilight turns to face Frisk and sees her with a determined look on her face.

TWL: Frisk, you can't possibly mean...
FSK: Virtue of Compassion, Amber, you are our enemy.
AMB: I'm surprised by your coldness.
FSK: I've already dealt with the shock when I felt your presence the moment I entered the palace. I accepted what happened and I'm not planning on holding back.
AMB: Neither will I.

Amber summons her sword and coats it in her energy. Twilight enforces her body with a harmonic aura but Frisk signals her to stand back. Twilight insists but she shuts up once she feels Frisks' intensified determination. A drop of water falls onto the ground and both warriors dash towards each other and immense speeds, clashing their swords consecutively. Frisk summons roots out of the ground, pinning Ambers' legs and hindering her unable to move. Taking a single step forward, Frisk uses ghost step to deliver a ghost slash. She turns around and sees Ambers' body regenerating into two. Frisks' face is overcome by shock.

AMB: Ever since becoming a virtue, my powers have increased exponentially. At the current rate, you stand no chance of defeating me.
FSK: My aim is not to defeat you, Amber.
AMB: What are you-
FSK: Soul Power, Unknown Paradigm.

Frisk seems to split into two hazy afterimages, both aiming for one of the two bodies. Amber is confused on how Frisk hid these techniques for so long. She attacks the afterimages, but suddenly, she gets sliced into two by the opposing afterimages... at the same time.

AMB: (What the hell is this technique?!)

Twilight watches from afar. She ponders on Frisks' sudden power burst.

TWL: (There's no doubt about it, that technique is Noires' chaos step... But how can Frisk use it..? Wait, now that I think about it, since arriving here, she's used two other techniques that don't correspond to her soul trait. What is happening here..?)

Frisk continues to dash towards after the quickly regenerating bodies of Amber, each time appearing as one more afterimage, until the regeneration stops. Frisks' images collect into one, as she gazes down on the countless dead bodies. Only one remains.

AMB: How did you..?
FSK: It's simple, really.
AMB: Simple..?
FSK: As the Grand Knight, I'm the strongest there is, including the realms of the dead!
AMB: The strongest...

Amber sighs and forces herself back onto her feet. She clenches her sword tight in her hand and takes a deep breath.

AMB: Sorry, Frisk, I wish we could go back to how we were.
FSK: I've accepted the present, you should too.
AMB: Always so realistic, aren't you? Well then, in that case, there's no point in holding back against the strongest. Divine Blessing, Virtue of Compassion, Eternal Love!

A massive burst of energy fills the hall. Ambers' wounds heal in an instant and with that, her other bodies rise from the dead and all wield a sword. Frisk closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, leaning forwards.

AMB: This is my blessing of immortality!
FSK: Soul Power, Unknown Paradigm.

Frisk zips across the room in one swift motion, slicing off each of the bodies heads off. Amber is at a loss of words. Frisk drops her sword to the ground.

AMB: Heh, to think my blessing could be shut down in one move.
FSK: It's over, Amber.
AMB: Yeah, I know.

Ambers' head slowly falls and topples down her neck. Frisk sighs and a small tear falls down her face. Twilight limps towards Ambers' body and closes her eyes, before using whatever leftover essence to heal her broken leg.

End of Chapter 176
"Compassion"

[ Frisk has defeated Amber. ]

-- Extra Soul Trivia! --
-- Did ya know? --
Rhetts' favorite person is Bette, despite their misunderstandings sometimes.