It was hard to tell how much time was passing.
The cloud cover of Godgrave was oppressive, and when it did break there was no sun or moon light, only the incinerating gift left by the Sun God.
As such, the Sovereign of Hunger and the Red Judge moved in a seemingly endless and meaningless dance.
Gehrman realized fairly early on that this wasn't going to be a quick battle. Instead, a long battle of attrition would take place. However, even that didn't seem right.
Based on the current stalemate, Gehrman wasn't sure this battle would ever end. After what he thought were the first few hours, he stopped trying to judge time and instead tried to count how many times he "killed" Asterion.
Except at this point, he had lost count of that number too.
Unlike Ki Song, who could redirect damage to her puppets, Asterion was not using those in his Domain to fuel his immortality. It was just the nature of his being. The simple, absurd power that came from being an "idea". He didn't think such a thing was an actual species, like the Nephlim or the "Others". Those were creatures that existed in this world, and humans from the War Realm had been turned into them via the Nightmare Spell. Changing Star being the Nephlim and Mordret being one of those strange "Other" beings.
Whatever Asterion was did not seem to exist. Or – a more frightening possibility – they did exist, but had been so thoroughly erased from history that not even the scars of their existence could be found.
In any case, the guy's immortality was bullshit.
Both he and Changing Star had the most base level of immortality which was not really immortality at all, but instead just an absurdly potent healing factor that meant they would survive anything so long as their Will and at least a little of their body remained.
Then there was Ki Song, who had automatic immunity to pretty much any form of attack since the damage could be redirected to one of her puppets.
Mordret likely had the most broken Immortality, since even as an Awakened, no Saint could kill him. For the rest of them, there was a feasible limit to their immortality. Gehrman could run out of blood or be taken out if he was totally disintegrated. The latter applied to Nephis as well. Ki Song could run out of puppets and theoretically die normally as well.
What Mordret had did not come from his Aspect though, and that was what made it so stupid. The exact nature of it was unclear, but not even having his Soul destroyed ended up killing him.
Asterion's immortality was unique though. It was both an extension of his Supreme Ability to "spread" through the beings who knew his name, and it was also a manifestation of his personal nature.
In any case, it was impossible for Gehrman to kill him.
No amount of Soul Damage dealt with [Burial Blade] or even total disintegration with blood-nukes could do anything. He just reappeared looking all smug like a little asshole. It was quite disheartening to be honest.
That being said, Asterion couldn't kill Gehrman either.
It was quite satisfying to see that "above it all" look grow more and more strained as he continued to fail at making a death blow. Of course, he was terrifyingly powerful. The physical augmentation of multiple Divine Lineages as well as his unique use of Will was something to behold.
The only reason Gehrman could put up such a fight was because his Domain was all but non-existing, and thus his Will was actually not greater than Gehrman's own when he augmented it with Madness.
Still, as much as he grew to understand the feel and nature of Will, he couldn't compare to a Supreme. Funnily enough it was not a matter of "will power", in that regard Gehrman believed none of the Sovereigns had him beat. Instead, it was simply the nature of the gap between Transcendence and Supremacy.
Sovereigns had an innate sense and feel for the Will.
Saints did not.
It was, unfortunately, that simple. Despite being able to see into different layers of reality thanks to his Awakened Ability, the Will did not exist on any one of them, instead being within all in some way or form. The totality of Will in all planes was the reason it was the highest tier of power, surpassing any Aspect if used correctly.
All of this was to say that Gehrman was essentially fighting Asterion with a blindfold on when it came to clashes of Will. Still, he was an experienced enough fighter – and had learned a lot in the Soul Dungeons – to pick up on the shifts in the world and gain a vague idea of how to operate with Will.
Asterion had actually been a lot of help in that regard. As he was essentially an immortal training dummy, Gehrman's skill with Will improved leaps and bounds over the course of their seemingly endless battle. At this point, he would even consider himself at the same level as the Quasi-Supremes from his 3rd Nightmare in terms of wielding that invisible power.
Each Supreme (at least, each of the 3 he'd encountered) used the Will in a different way. Anvil, unsurprisingly, used his Will as a blade, severing concepts themselves. Ki Song used her Will in a more broad and "dreadful" fashion. Augmenting herself while also crumbling the world around her opponents.
Asterion was in a league of his own. For him, the Will responded almost like Essence, coating his every move while also further augmenting his every movement. It was quick and insidious, it took a while for Gehrman to realize that the "shape" that it took was quite similar to human hands.
It ripped, tore, and pulled. There was total freedom to be used in any given situation. Despite Anvil's Will manifesting as an actual weapon, Asterion's felt more deadly due to its versatility and brutality.
Of course, the battle would have ended long ago if it were not for the fact that they were battling in Godgrave.
Essence exhaustion would have surely caused things to end in a reasonable amount of time. Gehrman suspected it was even Asterion's plan to utilize that very strategy to end him. However, since the clouds would occasionally move of their own accord (or Gehrman could cause them to disperse with an explosion) he had basically an infinite amount of "time-outs".
With the Sun God's light bearing down on them, even Asterion did not dare move. That just went to show the power of the gods, as even though this Supreme had the greatest immortality defined by logic, it was meaningless to one of the 7 gods of the Flame. After all, they quite literally invented logic.
That was where the two of them found themselves in recently.
"I wonder, you have kept up the Cacophony for so long, when this is over, will you even be able to wrangle it back in?"
Gehrman didn't like Asterion's taunting. Especially because he was using the name that Gehrman himself used when thinking about that "brain". Despite everything, the guy was still able to get glimpses of his mind, it seemed.
"I wonder, why aren't our lips being burnt off every time we talk, the light is supposed to destroy anything moving, right? So why is the movement of our mouths not triggering it?"
Asterion gave him a blank look, one that Gehrman earned from the guy often these days. He must have been really bored, because he actually responded to Gehrman's question.
"There is a limit to it. Nobody would even be able to breathe if even the smallest movement triggered the annihilation. The very slight rise and fall of the chest would lead to instant execution otherwise."
"Ah, good point. You know, when you're not being you, you're not terrible."
"...I will not miss these conversations."
Gehrman held back a laugh. Even if the slight movement that came from breathing was allowed, a good chuckle might cause enough shifting to get instantly obliterated.
For now, he just stood there and let his Essence replenish.
The two of them had been fighting very efficiently ever since their first exchange. Asterion didn't have any big flashy moves anyway, but after the Supreme [Slothful Evelyn] didn't finish him, Gehrman didn't see the need for too many big, expensive attacks.
Instead, he relied on sharpening the things that did not cost as much Essence. Physical combat was an obvious option, so was becoming more adept at Will and wielding Madness. One of the things he hadn't expected to be so important was his [Sixth Sense].
The Attribute had become an after thought honestly, as concentrating to expand his awareness of space was something that had become instinctual. However, utilizing the Hollows to his advantage in order to keep his stock of blood high was an absolute must, and finding prey was only possible by expanding his senses even more than normal.
That was when he sensed it. Far away, a sliver of something odd existed.
Shadow.
Not just any shadow either, it was a land of pure darkness – though it was not True Darkness. Gehrman could only sense the edge of it, but his mind came up with several ideas.
Right, Sunny said he'd move into Godgrave with a Citadel. He didn't say anything about this though. Is the shadow its component or is this something else. For it to drown out even the clouds and light of Godgrave's sky it must be truly absurd in power.
Gehrman frowned as a dilemma hit him. Should he make his way toward this shadowy region or not?
It was risky to try and break the stalemate, if he was not careful it could lead to his clash with Asterion interrupting the Domain War, it could lead to any number of issues. At the moment, Song had a stupid advantage. Gehrman wanted to keep that for now, and let the fighting develop naturally until the Song and Anvil clashed personally. If he got involved in that and the battle became a 2 v 2, he wasn't sure how it would end up.
In theory, both Sovereigns would put their differences aside to work with Gehrman to trap Asterion again. They had teamed up to imprison the Dreamspawn before, after all.
However, Asterion only could have come back with the help of one of those Sovereigns. Based on what Gehrman could tell, it was Anvil who released this guy back from the moon in an attempt to clear Gehrman off the board before the Domain War.
In other words, if the Dreamspawn and him were to get in the path of the Domain War, it would result in a 2 v 2 battle of Ki Song and him against Anvil and Asterion.
Gehrman was fairly confident that even in such an event he and Song could kill Anvil, but she was also off her rocker right now, so there was no telling how she would act in that situation.
There was a chance that she could claim his Domain and become the most powerful Supreme by far, but even then it wasn't clear if she could take out the Dreamspawn. Neither Gherman or her had the weapons to do that as far as he knew.
Also, there was nothing stopping Asterion from spreading his Domain among the soldiers of the fallen and empowering himself further. Even if they did defeat Anvil, they didn't have a full proof way of killing or sealing Asterion again.
Though it was strange since Gehrman was getting attacked endlessly by the Dreamspawn, their duel was actually a prison for the most dangerous creature in the world. So long as he was kept busy trying to kill Gehrman, he couldn't grow out of control.
So the question was, did he want to risk letting Asterion break out of that prison by traveling to the shadow-land? It could offer him some reprieve if Sunny was able to help out. However, losing him wasn't something he was really looking to do.
So it would be better to just not think about it, that way Asterion wouldn't notice it and try to break the stalemate with a third party.
Just don't…think about it. Don't think about…the shadow-land. The shadow-land. The–
Asterion's face twisted into a pleasant smile.
"A piece of Shadow God's Domain? Isn't that a surprise? I wonder, what makes you so hesitant to go towards it? Is your ally not within?"
Gehrman's face turned to a scowl.
Asterion, on the other hand, looked a bit strained.
"Ah, did I guess right? It's a bit tedious to parse out your thoughts at the moment. You were either thinking of that dark stain on this land or… pineapple-mango-lemonade… what even is that?"
"It's a delightful flavor experience is what it is!" Gehrman yelled. He felt compelled to defend his superior taste against this abomination who knew not the joys of infusing absurd amounts of fruity flavors into one beverage.
"In any case, I don't see any reason not to go over and at least pay a visit to that Shadow Creature. I admit, I am a bit curious about him."
Gehrman frowned as he felt something in his mind be forcefully suppressed. A certain thought that warned him not to let Asterion near Sunny. However the reason refused to come to his mind.
Damn it. Has this guy adapted to my Madness?
This indeed seemed to be the case. Over the last couple of days (or was it weeks?) Gehrman felt himself improving all across the board at an alarming rate.
However, Asterion was also growing stronger.
It was a bit terrifying to consider, but the both of them were fighting at such a similar level that it was causing continuous evolution between their skills.
This was a terrifying notion, since it suggested that once Asterion developed even a moderately sized Domain, he may very well become untouchable.
With these fears in his heart, the clouds slowly cast a dim shadow across the land. Gehrman watched with a tense expression as the light of incineration left by the Sun God was hidden away.
The shade swept across the land slowly, enveloping Asterion first. The large, muscular man stood up and stretched. His long black hair moved slightly in the breeze. Truly, even without the beauty granted by rising in Ranks, this man held an allure that was innate to himself.
His posture exuded confidence and patience, and beneath it all was a devouring beast of insatiable desire.
Gehrman couldn't help but wonder if the slight amount of fear in his chest was his own, or if it had been implanted by the Dreamspawn. It was impossible to tell if that beast had managed to gain the ability to slip feelings into his brain now, but the very fact that it was uncertain was enough.
This was the true power of the Asterion, the fear that he brought.
Gehrman closed his eyes.
The shade overtook him as well.
When the eyes of the Red Judge opened, they were full of the nebulous and frantic color of Madness that Asterion had come to know quite well.
The Dreamspawn moved in an instant, bringing his open hand downward on Gehrman, slicing like a blade. His Will forged it into a sword just as capable as a Supreme-Ranked weapon of a high Tier.
Before it could reach him though, a shot echoed as the [Blunderbuss] spray of bullets connected with his chest, stunning him.
This "parry" technique was one Gehrman had gotten used to with the beasts of Yharnam, and it was phenomenally useful in the Soul Dungeons.
However, after so long fighting the Dreamspawn, Gehrman felt it appropriate to start using it here as well.
As Gehrman's own hand was coated in piercing Will and excessive Madness he plunged his fist into the chest of Asterion.
The golden eyes of the man flickered, but his face remained otherwise unchanged as Gehrman ruthlessly tore his guts out.
Blood and viscera sprayed, but by the time Gehrman's hand had torn the ribcage of Asterion outward, he was already healed.
A flurry of kicks and punches were exchanged, a testament to the martial prowess that the two had honed over the course of their duel.
Only when Gehrman's fist flew forward to obliterate Asterion's skull did a turning point occur.
In a disgusting display, Asterion reformed his head around Gehrman's hand. Supreme bones and flesh squeezed it tight, trapping him.
Then, with extreme prejudice, he grappled Gehrman and threw him far into the distance.
As he fell to the ground, he made sure to add that new possibility into the millions upon millions of possible permutations that could occur when fighting Asterion. That one trick opened up an obscene amount of new possibilities that had the potential to piss Gehrman off greatly.
However, he didn't have to worry about that.
For in the next moment, his body was covered in shadow.
"Mother fu-"
As Gehrman halted his progress, he desperately tried to leave the Shadow Domain. Though he wasn't sure why, his instincts screamed at him not to let Asterion get anywhere near Sunny.
He flipped in the air, ready to protect himself from another blow, but Asterion was far away. He simply calmly walked into the landscape dyed in shadow as if he owned the place. Within the darkness, his golden eyes appeared even more stark, even more alien.
"Now then," the Dreamspawn said. "You should be able to hear me. Why don't you come out and play, little shadow?"
Asterion's voice echoed supernaturally across the expanse.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Gehrman didn't know Sunny very well – though he intuitively felt he knew more about the man than he should – but what he was absolutely sure of was that this guy would never rise to such a taunt.
If he were to respond at all, he would do so with a clever, daring ruse.
And as it turned out, that was exactly what happened.
Far away, Sunny summoned a Memory that he swore to never bring into reality again. Two Shadows also formed. One was an altered Stone Saint, one of Nether's creations who had been doused and adapted to Shadow. The other was a being of Shadow God's own creation. The Shadow Serpent that was made to be a companion to all followers of Shadow God. This creature grew in size and strength in accordance with its owner's mastery of the lost art of Shadow Dance.
As Sunny had reached the 4th Step, the creature was of the Transcendent Rank, and since Sunny was a Titan, the Serpent boasted 7 Shadow Cores as well.
Not only that, this particular serpent was able to transform into any creature that the one it bonded to had slain.
In this case, it took on the form of the Stone Saint back when Sunny had initially killed it. For that was the only creature in the gallery of dead monstrosities that was totally immune to Mental and Soul attacks. This quality was absolutely necessary.
Not only because these Shadows were now quickly running to meet the Dreamspawn, but also because the blade that was finishing forming could now only be wielded by one of total mental fortitude.
Three things happened in quick succession.
The first was Gehrman being pulled into the shadows and instantly transported far away, to the ancient Citadel that Sunny now owned.
The second was the shadows, twin Stone Saints appeared before the Dreamspawn.
Asterion's easy grin stalled though, despite being only faced with a Transcendent Devil and a Transcendent Titan, the world was suddenly warped as a long white blade appeared. Its sinister aura immediately caused a frown to crease Asterion's face.
In the hands of Saint, the Transcendent Devil, it bestowed an aura of fear and anguish on the world. Then, in the hands of Serpent, who had been granted the newly Supreme [Cruel Sight], the blades clashed against each other.
A loud, dull, and insidious clang resounded as the mirror-like blade of the [Cruel Sight] took on a new shade. The nature of the Memory allowed it to replicate any elemental damage it came into contact with. However, in its current state that extended far past things like fire or corrosion.
Now, the [Cruel Sight] could be imbued with the terrifying property of the cursed blade, the [Sin of Solace]. That jade sword was the magnum opus of the Mad Prince, the greatest calamity on the River of Time.
It had been altered by Sunny before entering the Nightmare, but that abomination had changed it further.
Now, it was perhaps the strongest Memory in all existence.
After thousands of years in the River of Time, the Mad Prince honed his Weaving to an absurd level, and so the cursed blade reached the 7th Tier.
Now, it also gained power based on the Divinity of the one that held it. Furthermore, the more foes it slayed, the stronger it got.
Already augmented by its other Enchantments, the [Sin of Solace] had become an utter nightmare, a sword of ruin.
Though it took a thousand years to give it those extra enchantments, the Mad Prince still had numerous cycles to further prey upon the creatures of the River of Time. At this point, the [Sin of Solace] was nothing less than a god-slaying blade that would slice even Cursed Nightmare Creatures with some effort.
Not only that, with each cut inflicted the prey would suffer mental damage.
For a being like Asterion, the sword was the ultimate weapon.
Though [Cruel Sight] was not nearly as strong as the [Sin of Solace] due to replicating the mental damage that the cursed blade could inflict, it offered just as much of a threat to the Dreamspawn.
"Well…this is certainly unexpected. I come here to feast on the lineage of Shadow, and instead am met with just as much sinister madness as that damnable Hunter."