Damien stood in disbelief as he was denied entrance. He never heard of an infiltration problem at the school, but it did make sense others would try to take the school’s knowledge for their own. He tried his best to calm down and be the reasonable one in this case.
“C’mon guys, surely you remember a student with white hair like this. I was just gone for two years due to some mistake. I’m sure if you let me go in and speak with Headmaster Sord, I can clear this all up!”
The guards talked amongst themselves, bringing up a student that indeed had Damien’s features but disappeared into the abyss. Damien felt his hopes rise thinking he had solved the issue of his entrance without causing a fuss.
“Sorry, you’re going to have to wait here until an elder arrives. Because class is in, it will be until the end of the day, so buzz off for now.”
Damien felt all of his excitement be drenched in cold water. His whole demeanor changed as he began to lose his patience. He didn’t want to force his way through, but he could not wait to show everyone he was okay.
“I tried to be nice and cordial, but today I am actually in a rush.”
The temperature rose to scorching levels followed by an immense pressure being sent out of Damien. The two guards tried to counteract the effects but it easily overwhelmed their defenses. At this moment Damien felt exactly like his Grandfather, Veron, when he brought him to his first day. The guards were left on the floor, only able to push a security button that was kept behind their ear.
Damien was finally able to walk in and bring in the familiar sights. It quickly changed his mood back to a joyous one with great anticipation mixed with light anxiety. Before he got any deeper into the academy, a group of unfamiliar elders in white robes surrounded Damien in an attempt to stop him.
“Intruder, let yourself be apprehended peacefully or we will be obliged to use force.”
Damien slowly raised his hands to show he was not a threat. Just to make sure they could lock him down if needed, the group of elders used a combination technique that interlocked them together. This combined their Mana together creating a large pool of Mana to fight off anyone with ease. Damien felt the ever growing pressure push down on his body, making him annoyed.
“You say to surrender, but then you still poke the bear! That doesn’t make any sense!”
Damien felt like he had no choice but to retaliate. It would be one thing to calmly talk it out and come to an agreement, however they were pushing it too far. Kyro did nothing to help, he felt it would be out of character to manage such a meager situation. Damien proceeded to activate his Devour ability as his Flame Core drummed to life. He absorbed all of the Mana they poured into their technique in an instant. It fueled a simple, but powerful white fire ball that stood in his palms. The elders could do nothing as they were completely drained of their Mana. Only someone who was far superior in the Dao and cultivation would be able to dominate others like that.
The elders professed their surrender believing they would be wiped out of existence. At this moment, Damien felt he had taken things too far. That feeling was reinforced when he felt an aura immediately take over the entire area. It wiped Damien’s momentum off the face of the earth, making him quite uneasy.
‘I must’ve also just poked a bear. Is this karma?’
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Who dares to be impudent in our academy!?”
A thunderous voice echoed through the sky, blasting down on Damien’s eardrums. It continued to reverberate throughout his body until he forced it out with his Mana. Damien began to contemplate if he should just surrender, that way when they investigate everything they will find the truth. As Damien was trying to get down on his knees a figure appeared flying through the sky. It was coming down like a crashing meteor with no intention of stopping.
“Hey, wait! I surrend…”
Before he could finish his sentence the figure began laughing freely, like a madman without any care in the world. It was a laugh Damien was all too familiar with.
“You little runt! So now you decide to show yourself in the academy!”
It was the free as ever Leylin, who Damien had met at the Sword Guild. He tested his aptitude and ranking before asking him to be his disciple. Damien could not have been happier to see a familiar face, but for some reason he was not stopping his momentum. Kyro took this moment to fly to a nearby tree as he did not sense a real killing threat.
“Leylin! It’s good to see…”
Damien was cut off once again!
“You know I joined the Academy chasing you! I agreed to become a protector just to see your progress and maybe even mentor you a bit! But once I come I find out you disappeared off the face of this earth! Do you know how bored I was?”
Damien felt the pain in his words. He clearly knew what kind of person Leylin was, and his lifestyle could never mesh with the one in the academy as a protector. It was a life of constant focus and strictness that didn’t allow for much free time. It was against all of Leylin’s ideals, but he had to come looking for Damien or it would have been his life’s biggest regret. With regret comes setbacks that could be detrimental to one’s cultivation.
“Leylin I can explain!”
“There’s no explaining you need to do, kid. I can see by the look on your face you changed. Quite a lot at that, but what about that sword on your back? I can feel it’s been sheathed for far too long. It’s longing to come out and wreak havoc. You have ignored your sword thus weakening your Dao! Remember what I said! All facets of the Dao lead to one! You are missing out!”
Leylin’s words struck down Damien with a wake up call. He was so focused on his Fire Dao along with his cultivation, he never really focused on the sword. He left it on the back burner believing his experience and talent would make up for it in the long run. It was only now that he realized it could’ve been another boost to his overall strength.
‘Perhaps my attacks could’ve been more sharp and precise if I mixed the Sword Dao with the rest.’
This conversation all happened within a few seconds, however Leylin still didn’t stop from executing his attack. He came as swift and unpredictable as the wind leading Damien to block the attack in an awkward position. Damien was swept away to the side tumbling uncontrollably. It was a clear warning from Leylin, that he was not holding back.
“Kid, you better be ready. If anything, I am going to beat the sword into you and show you what you are missing.”
Damien wanted to protest and argue, but Leylin’s next attack did not leave him any time for that. This time he was able to unsheathe his sword and activate his Dao Domain. Realistically, Damien would be able to use his domain without a sword, but the sword was like a conduit of focus to help him materialize it easier since he had a defensive style. His new and improved Dao Domain scorched the earth in its way while shining white sparks filled its void. It was the first time he used it since his fight with Tenzin. Subconsciously, he did not want to use it, however Leylin didn’t give him the chance to think about it.
Right as Leylin entered the domain, he was able to get a lock on his position, even if he was not making any wind movement. Leylin was immediately badgered by the endless amount of devouring sparks. They clung to his body like leeches hungry for blood, however it didn’t slow him down one bit. He created mini cyclones around his body, launching the sparks always from him as they didn’t carry enough suction force to deal with someone like him. All it was able to do was make him use up more Mana then he wished to.
Leylin then came right at Damien, using several advance feints with his Wind Dao. They were as real as any attack and Damien couldn’t discern the real one since Leylin easily overpowered his Dao Domain.
‘Have to aim for them all!’
Damien swung his sword, Thunder, with its entire weight unlocked. He spun it around in a circle in a desperate attempt to deal with the attack. With just the right amount of luck, Damien was able to clash with the real attack.
“You call that a parry? Disgraceful, not an ounce of effort!”
Leylin was easily able to deter Damien’s attack, redirecting him to the floor. It didn’t matter if there was enough force to shatter a small mountain, if it didn’t connect it was just a waste of energy.
“And don’t get me started with your Dao Domain! I was impressed when you had a breakthrough at the guild, but what have you done to it? You added some gimmicks with no real substance! It’s basically the same as it was two years ago! Shameful!”
Leylin was hounding Damien both physically and mentally. He pointed out every single one of his flaws as he beat him down relentlessly.