A tense silence descended upon the ruined chamber of the Rendil Temple. Kahless and Poahf stared at the Rice Guru, looking very perturbed. The unassuming scarecrow figure now wielded the Dawn Sky Crusher with an air of authority that belied his ragged appearance.
Whiff!
The Rice Guru closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing his intent. The air around him began to crackle with energy, and the glyphs present upon the Dawn Sky Crusher began to move.
He chanted with an ancient power, "By the power of the elements. By the will of the ancestors, I call upon the spirits of wind and earth, of fire and water, of Aether and void..."
As he continued his incantation, Sorah's body began to rise from the ground, levitating into the air as if guided by an unseen force. The Rice Guru extended his arm, and the Dawn Sky Crusher flew from his grasp, landing perfectly in Sorah's outstretched hand.
Then, with a swirling motion, the Rice Guru floated backwards, merging with Sorah's body. Their forms blurred and shimmered, blending together in a mesmerizing display of light and energy.
The staff, now held firmly in Sorah's grasp, pulsed with a vibrant glow. Golden-black glyphs of the Sage Curse danced across his skin, their patterns shifting and changing as if responding to the fusion of energies. The air around them became lively, and a gentle breeze, carrying the scent of dried leaves and rice grass, permeated the chamber.
Whoosh!
Sorah's eyes snapped open, glowing intensely - a fusion of the Rice Guru's gentle green and Sorah's fiery amber. His voice, now a harmonious blend of their own, sounded through the chamber.
"We are Avatar Soru Gurahs!" said the new entity, tilting its straw hat.
A howling wind echoed through the ruined temple, its currents swirling around Soru Gurahs as if in reverence.
Kahless and Poahf felt a shiver through their blood as they heard the entity's voice. It was a voice that carried the weight of ages, the power of the elements, and the wisdom of countless lifetimes.
"What the heck has he or they become?" Poahf stared ahead with a bewildered expression. She had never encountered anything like this before, a fusion of two beings, a blending of elemental affinities and arcane powers.
Kahless, however, was unfazed. He allowed his TerraFlow Kana to flare, enveloping his body in an emerald-white aura. "I don't give a rat's ass what he's become. His head is still going to the Capital!"
Boom!
Kahless launched himself towards the platform with a sudden burst of speed, his hand raised and prepared to strike. He aimed for Avatar Soru Gurahs's face, determined to crush this new entity and claim his prize.
However… Soru Gurahs extended a hand towards Kahless and uttered:
"Boqumu #19 – Shiftscape!"
Whoosh!
In a blink, Kahless's position was instantly swapped with Daichi's. The boy, who had been sitting on the ground close to a Sand Krayt Dragon, suddenly found himself hurtling through the air towards the platform.
"Whoa!" Daichi yelped in surprise as he landed safely in Soru Gurahs's outstretched arms.
Kahless, on the other hand, found himself hurtling towards a group of Sand Krayt Dragons that were tethered nearby. His fist, still clenched firmly, struck the back of one of the dragons with a resounding thud.
Boom!
The impact created a massive crater in the ground, sending the dragon and its rider flying backwards. The other dragons and their riders scattered in panic, narrowly avoiding the blast.
“What the hell? How did the Commander appeared out of thin air?” the soldiers were confused.
“Kuhahahaha!”
With his face daubed with blood and dust and his garments in tatters, Kahless stepped out of the crater. He voiced his wrath as he looked in shock at Avatar Soru Gurahs.
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"Interesting..." he muttered, a cruel smile spreading across his lips. "Kuhahaha! Let's see what other tricks you have up your sleeve, old timer!"
He charged towards Soru Gurahs as he channelled the power of the earth element. His TerraFlow Kana was blazing as a massive wooden fist formed around his right arm.
Poahf, who had been watching the events unfold, also joined the fray. She activated her Aether Sabre whip, its pink energy crackling and hissing as she prepared to strike.
"You will not defeat us!" she screamed furiously. "We are the Dune Empire's finest! You are but a... a scarecrow and a broken old man!"
Soru Gurahs stood his ground with his staff held firmly in his hand. His eyes, glowing with an ethereal light, seemed to pierce through Poahf's facade of anger, seeing the fear and insecurity that lurked beneath.
“Boqumu #5 – Spirit Thorn!”
Swish! Swish!
A thorny projectile shot out from the tip of Soru Gurahs's hand, aimed directly at Poahf's chest. But with a swift movement, she deflected the projectile with her whip, sending it clattering harmlessly to the ground.
“You think that weak attack would work?” Poahf scoffed. “Die!” she launched ahead.
But then…
“Boqumu #16 – Force Repulse!”
A concussive wave of telekinetic force erupted from Soru Gurahs's palm, striking both Poahf and Kahless simultaneously. They were thrown backwards, tumbling across the dusty ground.
“Gah!”
“Tsk!”
"What the..." Poahf gasped, struggling to regain her balance. She had never encountered such a technique before, a force that seemed to defy the laws of basic elemental physics.
“SCREW YOU!” Warden Poahf slapped the earth with her whip and sent forth dozens of rocks soaring towards her enemy.
“Boqumu #25 – Glassism!”
Soru Gurahs took to defensive by summoning a shimmering barrier of transparent energy around himself and Daichi. The barrier deflected the debris and dust that swirled around them, protecting them from harm.
“He’s playing keep away.” Kahless grumbled, rising to his feet. "We have to get through that barrier!"
He charged towards Soru Gurahs once more, his TerraFlow Kana surging as he prepared to strike.
“Boqumu #2 - Willow Lash!”
With a flick of his wrist, Soru Gurahs summoned a thick vine that lashed out like a whip, wrapping itself around Kahless's ankle and tripping him.
"Gah!" Kahless stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud. His mouth became filled with dirt.
Seeing her opportunity, Poahf lunged forward with her Aether Sabre whip snaking towards Soru Gurahs's throat.
"Die!"
But Soru Gurahs was too quick. He sidestepped her attack with ease and countered with a swift strike of his own.
Clang!
The Dawn Sky Crusher met Poahf's whip in a shower of sparks, deflecting the attack harmlessly away.
Poahf stumbled back. "What... what kind of sorcery is this?" she stammered, staring at Soru Gurahs in disbelief.
“Kuhahah!” Kahless was laughing loudly. “You are one peculiar old man. How are you wielding these Boqumu techniques so well! And this staff! It’s not even your affinity!”
Boom!
He then slammed his fists against the ground, and a current of TerraFlow Kana erupted from the impact. Two massive Earth Dragon Plants, each with a gaping maw, burst from the ground and charged towards Soru Gurahs.
“Take this old man! Wood Eaters!”
With her pride and anger now a lethal potion, Poahf focused her intent on the metal fragments that littered the courtyard. The fragments began to glow with a pink light as they were drawn together by her TerraFlow Kana. They swirled and condensed, forming into a giant wolf head with razor-sharp teeth.
Whoosh!
“Wolf Strike!”
The metal wolf head shot towards Soru Gurahs with incredible speed, leaving a trail of sparks and molten metal in its wake.
“These attacks…!”
Soru Gurahs, caught between the Earth Dragon Plants and the metallic wolf head, took a deep breath and focused his intent.
"Boqumu #15 - Subshatter Leaf!"
Whoosh!
Soru Gurahs and Daichi vanished in a swirl of leaves, effectively evading the combined assault and immediately reappearing behind Kahless and Poahf.
"What the...?" Poahf gasped in shock, turning to face Soru Gurahs. "How did you...?"
Kahless's eyes narrowed as he attempted to create some distance. "Interesting... another trick up your sleeve, old man?"
Soru Gurahs smiled faintly. "Vice-Marshal Commander, it appears you still have a lot to learn about the real nature of power.”
"Boqumu #28 - Esper!"
He extended his free hand towards Kahless and Poahf, and then an invisible force gripped their bodies, pulling them together with an unrelenting pressure.
"Gah!"
“Huh!”
Kahless and Poahf screamed in pain as they struggled against the invisible force. Their bodies were being crushed together, their bones groaning under the strain.
Crack!
"What's happening?" Poahf shrieked.
"He's... he's trying to squash us like bugs!" Kahless growled.
"Yeah, Master Sorah! Crush them like bugs!" Daichi cheered from beside Soru Gurahs.
"He's... he's toying with the Vice-Marshal Commander and the Warden!" one of the soldiers whispered in disbelief. "How is he so strong?"
"I don't know," another replied. "But he's definitely not someone to mess with."
The onlookers watched in awe and terror as Soru Gurahs continued to compress Kahless and Poahf. Their bodies were contorted and twisted, their bones cracking and splintering under the immense pressure.
"This... this is impossible!" Poahf screamed. "No one can withstand the power of my TerraFlow Kana!"
"It seems you've met your match, Warden," Soru Gurahs had a hint of amusement in his tone as it resonated through the ruined chamber,
"We... we need to... to summon our Titan Avatars!" Kahless gasped, struggling to speak as his body was being crushed. "It's... it's the only way!"
With a final burst of willpower, they both yelled, "Combustion!"
Boom!
A blinding flash of light engulfed the chamber as Kahless and Poahf transformed into their respective Titan Avatars - the Eden Ryuu Dragon and the Okami Cerberus.