Chapter 8 – A Cherry Blossom’s Might

CAPSIAN AND KOFEERA did not waste any time. As soon as Hayato gave the signal, Capsian rushed towards Daisuke while Kofeera stayed behind and activated her power.

The three-way battle just did not make any sense for Daisuke. There’s no point showcasing his abilities if he gets beaten up by two powerful elves. Yes, even he admits that Capsian and Kofeera, no matter how big of a jerk they were, still had powers to be reckoned with.

Capsian was the first to attack. From his right arm, a cayenne plant sprouted and formed a blade. With every slash he made, flame-like powder followed thanks to the cayenne peppers that sprouted, dried, and explode into a powdery abomination. Daisuke doesn't like spicy food and Capsian was not helping him to like them. The cayenne powder may not burn him as fire do, but it still had that burning sensation.

Daisuke managed to dodge Capsian’s assault though. Thanks to his heightened senses, he could perceive Capsian’s movements. When Daisuke saw an opening, he immediately tried to counter him with a wooden arm punch, but a dark brown powder blocked his attack.

“Don’t forget about me!” Kofeera shouted.

Kofeera was using her Karma to grow coffee plants and beans. She then turned the beans into powder and used it to defend Capsian, letting the coffee powder absorb Daisuke's blunt attacks.

“With Kofeera here, I do not have to bother with defense. I just have to focus on cutting you!” Capsian continued to attack.

“Or burning me. Let’s not leave that option,” said Daisuke sarcastically.

Capsian created another cayenne plant blade, this time on his left arm. He released slash after slash, not giving Daisuke any opportunity to attack. But Daisuke still tried again to counter.

This time, he managed to close some distance. He focused his mana on his feet and then stomped on the floor. Just as when Capsian tried to slash, a tree grew directly below Capsian and sent him upwards. Kofeera was able to catch Capsian midair, however, using her coffee powder. As the battle continued, the crowds cheered loudly. But Jack and Riku do not like what was happening.

“Three-way battle my ass! This is obviously a two-on-one!” Riku protested.

“We can’t do anything about that. Any rumble-ish battle will most certainly start with an alliance,” Jack responded.

“But that’s not fair! At this rate, not only Daisuke will lose --- he will lose without even showing what he can do.”

Jack placed his hand on Riku's shoulder to comfort her. “Then let’s hope Daisuke has some ace up his sleeves.”

Back at the stage, Capsian has already managed to wound and burn Daisuke. Getting wounded or burned was one thing. But having your cut sprayed with chili peppers? That stung even more!

“What’s the matter, short-ears? Are we really that too strong for you?” taunted Capsian.

Daisuke was breathing deeply. He was running out of breath from dodging and blocking most of the time. He will surely lose not just the match but also the trial. He knew he has to do something about Kofeera first. Otherwise, he won’t be able to land even a single hit to Capsian’s oh-so-punchable face. Just one solid punch to this jerk’s face was all he wanted now.

“Oh, screw it! You’re having fun! I want to have some fun! Let’s all have some fun!” Daisuke suddenly emitted powerful mana. He’s releasing way too much that the floor he’s standing on is cratered. “Let’s do this!”

The organizers and the council felt the mana Daisuke released and got worried, but Mahogry gestured that they stand down. For now.

Daisuke blasted forward, passing by Capsian and straight to Kofeera, by using a large amount of mana to create a tree that propelled him. He knew that closing the distance between him and Kofeera would prompt her to defend herself from his attack.

He wasn't wrong.

Kofeera indeed used all of her available coffee powder to protect herself. It was supposed to be her last resort, but after he felt the mana that Daisuke released, and the mere fact that Daisuke was able to close their distance in a blink of an eye, fear won over her. She was now inside a coffee powder cocoon.

It was dark inside so she did not notice that Daisuke was able to insert his hands just before the coffee powder cocoon closes. That’s when suddenly, she saw a bright green light. Then, the coffee powder cocoon exploded.

A tree came out with Kofeera from the cocoon. She was sent flying out of the stage and straight to the walls. When the clouds of dust and coffee powder subsided, everyone saw her lying on the ground unconscious.

The crowd cheered after witnessing the move that Daisuke performed.

“Kofeera!” Capsian shouted.

Daisuke turned towards Capsian. “Just the two of us now.” His right arm turned into a wooden arm and prepared to attack. “Are you ready?”

Capsian got irritated. “Bring it on, freak!”

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He released his left blade and used his power to elongate the right one. When it was long enough, he dashed back to the end of the stage and then forced the plant to sprout red hot chili peppers.

Meanwhile, Daisuke changed his stance. He created roots from his legs, effectively rooting himself on the stage floor.

Capsian roared as he swung his cayenne blade. It wasn’t meant to cut Daisuke but to release a huge wall of cayenne powder to burn everything in front of him.

But as the cayenne flame crawled towards Daisuke, Daisuke made his move.

Daisuke focused his mana on his right wooden arm, then he punched just as when the flame was near him. As he punched, the wooden arm grew forward, and larger as it goes, like a giant fist. The force and speed of the growth of his right wooden arm would have recoiled and sent him back. Thanks to his roots on the legs though, he managed to withstand the recoil.

As the growing wooden arm hit the cayenne flame, the cayenne flame got 'extinguished', but the wooden arm’s leaves got burnt.

Then, the most beautiful thing was witnessed by the audience and organizers: The gigantic wooden arm sprouted pink flowers. Cherry blossoms.

As the wooden arms continued forward, the pink-colored flowers dispersed but more grew from the wooden arm. The whole sacred ground was filled with bright pink cherry blossom flowers.

Capsian could not believe what he saw. He was amazed by the cherry blossom flowers, but at the same time terrified by the huge fist closing in. And just as when it was about to hit him, it stopped. It took Capsian a few seconds to realize that he was safe, that the tree already halted.

Capsian turned back and tried to run away from the stage. But Daisuke was already behind him.

With his bare fist, Daisuke punched Capsian in his face with all the strength he could still muster. Capsian hits the ground, unable to stand.

The crowds cheered on Daisuke so loud. He could hear them chanting his name. It was the first time the elves actually said his name as if they’d always liked him. And with that, Hayato concluded the match with Daisuke as the victor.

* * * * *

A week later, the result of the Seeker Trials was posted outside the Council House. Only five candidates managed to become Seekers, including Capsian and Kofeera.

And Daisuke, for the third time, failed the trials.

That morning, Riku and Jack were already with Rango at the Council House. They already saw the result, and are now just waiting for Daisuke for today’s mission.

“Daisuke’s still not here. I know he’s always late, but not like this,” said Riku.

“Sir Rango, should we go to his residence and check on him?” asked Jack.

Rango looked around, then responded with relief. “Well, I think that would be unnecessary.”

Daisuke arrived, catching his breath as he tried to speak. “Sorry guys --- Overslept --- Won’t happen again ---”

Riku and Jack were concerned about Daisuke and hugged him. He already failed the trials for the third time, which meant that he can now only participate every other year.

“Have you seen the result over there?” asked Riku.

Daisuke has already caught his breath. “Doesn’t really matter, isn’t it? I lost my cool and I failed.”

“Then that’s that, I guess,” said Rango. “If Daisuke thinks it doesn’t matter, then let it be. Let’s focus on today’s work, shall we? We had a long break thanks to the Seeker Trials.”

Rango and his team went inside the Council House. As usual, it was filled with Seekers and Elven Corps, those who are being briefed for a mission, and those that already came back to report.

As the crowd saw them, they cheered on Daisuke.

Daisuke was confused. He doesn’t know what was happening. They were then approached by the elves, trying to talk to Daisuke.

“It was so beautiful!”

“Hey, can I ask for you to grow some cherry blossom trees near our house?”

“Yeah! Me too!”

“Me three!”

“Me four!”

Everyone was clamoring about how awesome Daisuke was, some were asking for him to grow a cherry blossom tree near their respective houses. The same elves that once bullied and shunned him now changed their attitude towards him all because of the cherry blossoms.

“Okay everyone, that’s enough!” said Rango, trying to disperse the people. “Go back to your superiors!”

“That was crazy,” said Riku in disbelief.

“Yeah. Who would have thought that everyone would like you, Daisuke, after the match?” Jack wondered.

“I wonder about that as well. And come to think of it. We never knew what your plant power was until last week,” Rango claimed.

“Really? You guys didn’t know what a cherry blossom tree looks like?” Daisuke asked.

“Wait. You’re telling us that all this time, every time you use your power, it’s a cherry blossom tree?” asked Jack.

“Ummm...I guess?” Daisuke vaguely replied.

“Maybe everyone only knew what cherry blossom tree looks like when it’s blossoming. Besides, cherry blossoms are endemic in the country of Kinokuni and some islands in the continent of Islas and Eaucove,” said Riku.

“We’re here, guys. Keep it down now,” said Rango as they reach the office of Ananais.

Rango knocked on the door, but no one was answering. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. A scout elf from Ananais’ team then came for them.

“Sir Rango. Lady Ananais is at the Council Meeting Room with the rest of the councils. She asked me to bring you and Daisuke.”

“Wait. What’s happening?” asked Rango.

“Everything will be explained there.”

“Can’t we come as well? We’re part of Sir Rango’s team,” asked Riku.

“Sorry. But my order is to fetch Sir Rango and Daisuke only.”

Daisuke and Rango followed the scout. Rango decided to dismiss Riku and Jack to take the day off.

* * * * *

As they reach the Council Room, they saw the seven councils, together with the elven leaders Cedra and Tamato, and this year’s Seeker Trials organizers Raffla, Hayato, and Musa. Capsian and Kofeera were present as well.

“Rango. Daisuke. Please, have a seat.” Mahogry offered.

Daisuke and Rango sat together. They were curious as to why they were in a meeting together with the councils.

Orchilles spoke to Daisuke. “So, I am sure you are wondering why you are here, Daisuke.”

“Umm. Yes sir.”

“Very well. Let me explain,” said Grumple. “This is about the Seeker Trials last week. But just to clarify; you are aware that you have failed three times already, correct?”

“Yes,” Daisuke responded.

“Good. Because thanks to your friends here,” Grumple pointed towards Capsian and Kofeera. “We found out some…irregularities.”

“Huh. Like the three-way battle?” Daisuke guessed.

“Someone sabotaged you to fail the Seeker Trials. Not just this year, but also from the past two years,” Volcadon revealed.

“What are you talking about? You mean Daisuke could have been a Seeker already all this time?!” Rango got up from his seat, demanding answers.

“Not only that. The humans that tried to kidnap Daisuke were planned to get rid of him.” Ananais added.

Mahogry stood up. “Daisuke, we have enough evidence to conclude that your father, Sequovas, was the cause as to why you failed all your attempts in the trials. And it was Durant who planned to kidnap you using humans.”