DAISUKE RECOVERED FROM BEING disoriented caused by his own attack. His right Wooden Gauntlet totally withered after using the green energy sphere against Zeb.

He looked around and his opponent lying on the ground, but was already trying to get up as well.

Soon, both of them were already on their foot, facing each other. Daisuke promptly created another Wooden Gauntlet around his right arm.

For a moment, Daisuke recalled what Volg and Lira taught him two days ago.

* * * * *

“The Auros family are all Transformation-type Karma users. They rely on the buff and additional abilities they receive from their transformation,” Lira explained.

“Transformation-type? What does that mean?” asked Daisuke.

“Well, Karma can be classified based on how they spread within the population or the kind of ability an individual exhibits,” Lira lectured. “They can be Genetic-type, which means they can only be passed down through birth; a Bestowal-type, which means a Karma could be given to a total outsider through obscure means; or a Unique-type, which means the Karma is, most of the time, exclusive to one person only and could be lost forever upon their death.

“But, if you categorize them based on how they are used, you'll get four types. Some Karma will fall into just one of them, others can be classified into multiple types. The Auros family falls mainly under the Transformation-type. They can transform into an auroch, a kind of extinct bovine. However, it is worth noting that this type is not limited to such transformations as Graphael and the rest of the Baldini could change only their skin into graphene-like matter which gives them extreme toughness.

“The Giovanni family can control silica-based glass, thus they belong under Manipulation-type. But that’s just one example. Others could control something that’s not even physical. The Caponili family can generate combustible black powder, so they fall mainly under Creation-type. Some of them could also manipulate the black powder they generated, which gives them more flexibility with their power.

“And last but not least, the Lumbard family could double their raw strength, which makes them Augmentation-type. Meanwhile, I, from the Corleone household, could double my attack…or attack twice. To be honest, it’s kinda weird that we still don’t understand it fully.” Lira ended her lecture.

“And how can this help us?” asked Daisuke who eagerly made a mental note about the categories.

“Most of the time, an Auros executive will only spend mana to transform. Then, they will gain immense strength and dexterity,” Volg hopped into the conversation. “But it also gives them other abilities. Gauro and Zeb gain the ability to properly communicate with the cattle, usually to order them. Kouper gains oversized arms with immense punching force. And Yakia gains hair that she could manipulate and are as tough as steel. But remember: every Karma has limitations.”

“Right. Take your ability for example,” Lira pointed out. “You cannot make an infinite amount of trees in a day because the trees you make use mana as the growth medium. Greta, Geode, and Ventori continuously consume mana to control water, earth, and air, respectively. And Volg and Lars consume mana to produce a flame.

“Moreover, most transformation Karma has a time limit. Go past it and you’ll slowly drain your mana just to maintain the transformation. And I bet you know what happens to anyone who gets drained of mana.”

“If you could just overpower and outspeed Zeb, then you could have a chance at winning,” Volg suggested. “You either end the battle before you deplete your mana by overpowering him or pray to whichever god you believe in that they deplete theirs first.”

* * * * *

Overpower. Outspeed.

Daisuke was trying to come up with something so he could overwhelm Zeb, but shooting just a single green energy sphere has already consumed a considerable amount of his mana.

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Daisuke looked confused as he wasn’t entirely sure what that green energy was. He remembers that he used it back in Shiromori. Multiple times. But now, after just one green energy sphere, he almost feels depleted.

While Zeb looked far from hitting the sack, Daisuke was already exhausted. He has to do something about his bovine enemy soon or he’ll lose again.

“Ugh. If only I know how to properly use my avatar powers...Gaaah!!” Daisuke mumbled to himself which was followed by a sharp pain in his back.

You’re going to regret this.

“T-These…v-voices…a-again?”

More hexagonal patterns appeared on his skin and his complexion turned more ash-gray. His eyes were glowing bright green. Saplings grew from his legs. Branches and leaves grew from his Wooden Gauntlets. And a sapling grew from his back, tearing the back of his cloth.

Daisuke could feel intense heat surrounding his body, making it difficult for him to breathe. The heat coming from him radiated all over his surrounding, which caused varieties of plants to grow on the ground. Though the heat and difficulty to breathe were painful, Daisuke could also feel intense power coursing all over his body.

Zeb was looking at him, unsure of what was happening. He noticed that Daisuke was in pain, but he could also feel a dangerous power coming from his target. He felt the surge of mana that radiated with uncomfortable heat and made him feel uneasy, almost as if he wanted to run away.

Did his power just double like the Lumbards, he wondered. No, it didn’t just double. More like his target was five times stronger than before?

Zeb didn’t want to give a chance to Daisuke and quickly rushed to his target. With his incredible speed, he tried to impale Daisuke with his horns.

Daisuke still couldn’t move and still could feel pain all over his body. He saw Zeb rushing towards him and wanted to dodge, but it was too late.

Zeb closes in and pierces Daisuke with his horn to his left chest.

“DAISUKE!!” Riku, who just arrived at the scene, shouted as she witnessed Daisuke getting impaled.

* * * * *

Zeb raised his head with Daisuke still impaled on one of his horns.

Daisuke coughed out blood. He wanted to scream from the pain of being impaled, but the pain he was feeling was too much that he could not even scream.

You’re going to regret this.

There go the voices again. He could not understand what he was going to regret, and he could no longer think straight from all the pain he was experiencing.

“Daisuke!!” Riku and Mirana shouted.

As soon as Riku's necklace glowed, she reckoned that something must be happening to Daisuke. She already saw him get burnt alive, feel great pain because of mana bruises, and now she's seeing him impaled and drenched in blood.

“S-Stay…b-back!!” Daisuke could barely respond, grabbing Zeb's by the horn, and wincing while trying not to slide further down.

“How you like that, elf! Not fun being the one skewered now, does it?!” Zeb laughed as Daisuke's blood flowed to his face. “I’m not supposed to kill you, but that’s what I’ll just do! I no longer care about the money! I’d rather kill you here and now!”

You’ll regret using our power.

Daisuke refused to give in. “Noooooooo!!”

As he shouted, his grip tightened on Zeb's horn. Cracks followed and the next thing he knew, Zeb was sent flying backward due to a surge of mana that came from him. Even more grass, shrubs, and all sorts of trees grew everywhere.

Daisuke fell to the ground, still holding onto Zeb’s horn. He mustered all the strength he still has just to stand up and pulled the horn impaling him. His eyes were still glowing bright green. Hexagonal patterns were still all over his body. The hole in his chest was now slowly closing.

I-Impossible! You’re too weak to bear our power!

“I don’t know...what y’all...are talking about! But I am not...dying here! And this power? You bet I'm owning this!!” Daisuke responded.

Daisuke bursts forward and struck Zeb with countless punches, but Zeb easily blocked all of them. Zeb countered by catching Daisuke’s fist and releasing a powerful jab.

Daisuke got hit and fell on his knee, but immediately stood up.

“More!!”

Daisuke gained more speed. This time, woods surrounded his foot and legs that resembled a pair of greaves.

He released more strikes that made Zeb unable to counter easily. And just as when Zeb was about to catch Daisuke’s fist, Daisuke cancels his attack and re-positions before releasing another punch, catching Zeb by surprise.

Daisuke can still feel the agonizing pain all over his body. And he feels like he was about to burst from the inside out. His chest still radiated with pain even though the wound has already closed. And every breath he took felt like his left lung was being pierced by thousand blades.

One more punch and Daisuke managed to hit Zeb straight to his face. He grabbed the opportunity and released more strikes.

“MOOORE!!”

Hexagonal patterns appeared on his Wooden Gauntlets and Wooden Greaves. The leaves on his gauntlets, greaves, and the small tree on his back became more alive and were glowing brightly.

Zeb’s arms already dropped and were now simply swinging as Daisuke continued to pummel him with hooks, jabs, and straights.

Daisuke released one final uppercut with all his strength, but he hit nothing but air. He pulled away and noticed that Zeb has already fallen to the ground.

Slowly, Zeb reverted to his human form.

Daisuke was waiting for the voices in his head to say something, but there was nothing.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he said as he falls to the ground flat on his back.

Riku and Mirana ran towards him.

Behind them, Kouper was already out of the ice-rose dome and witnessed how Daisuke defeated his brother. He could easily defeat the three of them now, but an explosion coming from their manor occurred.

Instead of going after the three, he calmly walked past them, took his beaten brother, and went towards their manor.