Moyo stood in the cold night of Agabod, his realm close to his body to prevent the rot of the blight that suffused the air, in his front stood Ulsa,

“you sure you want to do this?, your body is just recovering and no matter how deep your mountain core is, it needs to be replenished to a certain amount, then again you currently have 3 experts worth of aether in you,” she said,

“Exactly why I want to test out my limit against you with my new core,” he said,

“Fine, but another fact you should know about your core, it is at the base form currently, meaning as you grow stronger, it’ll get deeper,” she said,

“How?” he asked,

“By going into dungeons stronger than your current level, killing monsters and absorbing their essence and aether,” she said,

He had a puzzled look on his face,

“Isn't that what we’ve been using to ascend?” he asked,

She nodded,

“Indeed, however, as I told you, from expert stage, ascending isn’t about just killing monsters and using their essence to rank up. Your core and its surroundings need more than the ambient aether in the air to grow stronger. Your core now takes priority over your advancement if you want to get stronger”

Pointing to him she continued,

“Your core dictates how easy it gets for your advancement; a stronger core means your body can push past the oppressive aether in the air to cycle faster. Cores are what push your body towards perfection, and at the expert stage, you’re basically immortal, assuming some stronger expert doesn’t come along to kill you that is”

“So, my core uses all the essence and aether from dungeons to grow stronger before I can advance?” he asked,

“Yes, with each stage of refinement, you add a level to your advancement. Meaning once you start hunting stronger creatures in dungeons, your core and your skills which are now an extension of your core would need to hit a new level before you can advance. Currently, my core is at tier 2, hence my level 200. I can advance all the way to 299, but unless my core advances to tier 3, I’d be stuck at that level” she said,

“Then if I understand you, that means my core is at tier 1?” he asked as she nodded,

“Each tier has a name to it, tier 1 is an iron core, 2 is bronze, 3 is silver, 4 is gold and 5 is diamond” she explained, raising one hand in warning,

“However, I should very well sound a warning to you, this is expert rank now, fighting above your tier is a sure way to end up dead, the power level is different, in fact, the gap between a fledgling and an expert in two places still falls short of the gap between an iron and a bronze, don’t throw your life away”

Moyo nodded, a part of him wondering why he was able to fight with her a bit on equal terms. She must had seen the look on his face,

“I shrouded my core to iron, you hadn’t even undergone your core manifestation then, but let me show you the difference between an iron tier and a bronze tier,” she said, unleashing her full power,

Moyo felt the air around him fall drastically below the freezing point, eyes widened, he hastily called his mantle to his body, fighting back the power unleashed by a bronze tier expert. Ulsa stretched her hand and tightened it into a fist as Moyo found himself stuck in a globe of ice, drawing intent from his mountain core, he channeled his realm to expand out of his body, using his authority and willpower combined even as reality pressed against him to break the ice. Panting at Ulsa who raised an eyebrow,

“Usually, iron tiers are drained at this point, they no longer have any intent, but I can feel you brimming with it. It’ll serve you well in the coming days, use it well” she said,

Moyo simply activated his step of the titan, appearing close to her with his fist crashing down on her, seeing as it was her realm, she anticipated it, but Moyo knew that already. Withdrawing the fist back even as she blocked, he ducked under her guard, gathered intent into his palm, and slammed her stomach, pushing her a good distance back,

“You hit almost as good as a bronze tier, impressive” Ulsa said, flashing into mist as his senses screamed at him to turn,

He narrowly dodged a claw to the hand, the sharp ice-covered digits raking across his mantle armor with Moyo using her hands to propel himself backward, creating space. She nodded,

“you’re learning you can’t beat me easily, if at all. Another lesson for you, when fighting a higher tier, understand that you’re fighting to escape, not to win, unless it’s a team of your tier against one tier higher than you might have a slight chance, and if you catch them by surprise” she explained,

“Check your core, it should be grey in color,” she said,

Moyo closed his eyes as he delved into himself, appearing back on the land made of aether, the land booming with aether-infused life, and in the distance, a grey mountain stood. He came out nodding,

“As you keep absorbing aether and monster essence from dungeons, your core would use it in growing stronger till it becomes light brown in color, then you’ve broken into the bronze tier”

“that’s a long way to go,” he said,

“Indeed, but you’re here to train to get stronger, back in the archailect proper there are an infinite number of dungeons to delve into for your advancement, assuming you leave the watchful eyes of your masters”

Moyo scrunched his face in puzzlement,

“don’t masters take experts under their tutelage?” he asked,

Ulsa snorted,

“Not unless you’re the direct child of said master, and even at that a scion or some genius, in your case a monster of intent, the rules fly out the window when it comes to you. It serves as a boon and also a curse” she said,

“When your peers begin to notice you are under the protection of a master or some diamond tier or even a gold tier, you become the object of admiration, envy, and political maneuvers, something an iron tier definitely do not want to find themselves in”

“she’s right you know,” Ajax said appearing out of nowhere, Moyo not catching a whiff of his master as he appeared,

Ulsa bowed immediately,

“Fighting positions” Ajax barked,

Moyo knew better than to question the order, and apparently, so did Ulsa who obeyed. Ajax grinned, Ulsa shouted to Moyo to dodge but it came late, master Killian appeared by his side. The attack landed like a hammer to his side, biting back a groan he felt his body tear through the air and into a rock, creating a crater inside it. Dizzy from the attack, he came out to see Ulsa trading blows with master Killian much to his astonishment, he focused on master Killian and realized he was shrouded to silver tier. The shock was enough to make him realize he had taken a hit from a silver-tiered shrouded expert and hadn’t seen it coming. Pulling himself out of the rock he blasted forward, Ulsa saw him coming and blocked the line of sight of aster Urush, hoping to let the kick infused with aura and intent land on the shrouded master.

In a futile effort, like he had eyes at the back of his head, master Urush caught the leg, used his elbow from his other hand to slam Ulsa before slamming Moyo on top of the girl, taking both their breaths away before kicking them a good distance away. Moyo spat blood as he rolled over, Ulsa bleeding from her head as she stood, he watched Killian stroll idly towards them,

“Your kicks and punches lack your concepts, the titan should represent an immovable mountain, an overwhelming touch of a greater monstrous power, your kicks moved with the touch of a feather,” he said to Moyo who stood,

“Ulsa, you are bronze tier, you know better, you carry two concepts, one of the cold of all things and the end of the sharp bite of the predator, the cold bites too and your touch should spread that concept through your opponent,” he told the girl,

Moyo blinked and saw master Killian in both their fronts, locking metal collars on their necks, the item whining to life as Moyo felt his core churn intent slowly, like a force had descended on him. Groaning as he felt dizzy, it reminded him of how much intent and aether made his body move. Ulsa buckled under the weight a little, Moyo feeling the brunt due to his lower tier. Killian hopped backward,

“You rely so much on your principal core method, intent, but intent alone cannot and will not suffice in the coming tournament, the both of you need better interaction between your concepts, intent, aura, and mantles”

Pointing to Ulsa he continued,

“You have a solid foundation, your mantle has fully merged with your aura, hence what remains for you is to add your concepts into every move you make, your authority and concept will also need brushing up hence Ajax has decided to take over your training for the duration of time when master Urush goes on a mission here, he awaits you in your tent,” Killian said dismissing her,

Ulsa glanced at him before she began to walk, visibly sweating as she tried channeling intent in her body to power her footsteps, Moyo groaned where he knelt, the collar felt like an added portion of reality, except this time he wasn’t even actively trying to merge his willpower and authority. He noticed master Killian watching him,

“What do you want?” master Killian asked,

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“power” he groaned out,

“Power to do what?”

“To protect” he grated out,

“Begin merging your willpower and authority,” Killian said,

Moyo whipped his head up to look at the master in incredulity, he could barely move under the added weight of the collar shutting off his intent, how was he expected to move with reality on him,

“You doubt, you fear, that is enough to restrict you,” Killian said,

Moyo sat fully, feeling his core churn intent so slowly he couldn’t even power his limbs well enough,

“The mind controls the body, as you get stronger and can refine your body better, you begin to realize that. What you can’t wait for however is the merging of your willpower and intent, at higher tiers, the weight becomes worse, this is the best time to do it” Killian explained,

“Besides, we’re pretty sure some of the experts on this world will be gunning for you, if house Dracon has their way,” Killian said,

Moyo groaned as he spoke,

“truce”

“Truce indeed, however, the truce is between the four houses in attendance, there are other experts here and until we know what exactly drew so many of them to Agabod, we need you getting stronger, time, unfortunately, isn’t on your side, now begin, meditate” master Killian ordered,

The moment Moyo began fusing his willpower and authority, he got slammed into the ground, reality forcing his mind to relinquish control over them. One eye on master Killian who stared at him stoically from where he sat opposite him, Moyo delved deep into his core, the two vats representing his willpower and authority turning down towards the center where his mantle hung. He felt the walls of his mountain core shake under the gaze of reality but he powered on,

A mountain shakes under an earthquake, it doesn’t crumble,

The quaking got worse and he felt a migraine set in,

Nature changes but a mountain remain constant

He could barely see at this point, all he felt was pain, pure pain in his spirit and core,

Reality bends to the will of a titan,

I am the mountain,

I am the titan,

An unstoppable force, a katana

an immovable object, a shield,

I protect

Like a lock, his body shut down, but his mind opened. He could hear his body being slowly crushed as reality fought to stop his fusion of its two aspects, but Moyo was in his core, his mind had opened up to the one word needed. Even in his hazy mind he chuckled at the word, a titan needed no permission, he took what was his, so far as it was within his reach. He grabbed at it, watching as the two vats in his core disintegrated, his core shaking as all the aether outside of it siphoned itself into his core, becoming authority and willpower that fused,

**************

On the outside, reality around their encampment shook as everyone surrounded the body of Moyo, master Killian nodding in satisfaction, a grinning Ajax, a surprised master Urush who had probably gotten so many surprises since meeting the titan blade that nothing should surprise him again, and the various powers that locked into their position from far away, causing Killian, Ajax and Urush to unveil their full powers in retaliation, while not disturbing the slowly crushing body of Moyo that reality twisted above off,

“we’ve given away our location,” Ajax said,

“prepare,” Killian said,

“They send an expert, bronze tier,” master Urush said,

“Ulsa!” the feline master barked,

Master Killian snapped his fingers as the collar on the Ulsa’s neck snapped open, her eyes glowing blue and with a blast of power, she streaked like a comet towards the incoming expert, an explosion rocking the air with both the powers of ice and what felt like tornado clashing in the distance. Ajax whipped his head to the side, his second mantle granted to him as an emissary appearing on his hand as a spatial pathway opened up and his hand moved like a flash, grabbing the master coming out of the pathway, eyes wide open,

The master became ashes as the mantle granted by the ruler of a thousand blades came in contact with him,

“Unknown master dead, more incoming” Ajax growled, forcefully shutting down the pathway,

Master Urush stretched one hand to the sky and squeezed his fist as every living thing within their surroundings froze, the air growing flakes of frost while Killian and Ajax were left unbothered, but the pathways about to be opened up were locked. Killian withdrew his blade, with a deep breathe he drew it back and prepared to unleash an attack as day became night and the moon appeared out of nowhere,

“HALT!” a voice roared,

A red dragon appeared in the air as the very surroundings of the creature went up in flames, Ajax stepped forward with a snort produced Krial as all life began to die around him, a large skeletal figure appeared above him holding a gigantic form of Krial,

“This world can take no more, CEASE!” a female voice said as storms began to appear from the east, carrying the overwhelming pressure of intent blades that literally tore open reality,

“You send your underling masters at us and expect us not to erase you, your experts, and this world?” Killian asked,

“We did no such thing” the giant red dragon in the air roared,

“CEASE!” the female voice said as the world began to shake,

Everyone failed to notice the area around the titan blade remained stable,

“We all felt it, an inspiration, another master has awoken!” the dragon roared,

Ajax grinned,

“oh we wish, we wish!,”

*****************

Moyo felt renewed as his mind became stable, he could feel the aether in his body while drained felt stronger, it felt, more physical, no longer mist. Coming out of the mountain to see the landscape glittering, he touched the ground as his eyes widened, a jolt going through his body with the potency of the aether, another unknown change inside him. His mind was drawn back into his mountain core where a single statue stood apart from his skills, this one a giant dark purple crystalline man in armor, a katana in his hand facing the ground, the very concept of his willpower and authority fused stood, the words on his lips,

ASHE

As he uttered the word, he woke up outside his body, the weight of reality had disappeared and as he groaned, bones popping back while his body healed, he stared wide-eyed at what was going on around him. Ajax stood in front of him, his blade out, the area had been devastated so much it felt like the end of this world with lava spilling from within the planet, the sky dark as winds blew the ashes that filled the air. The moon shone with its full might, stars shining as they rotated a single man that turned out to be master Killian, a winter apocalypse blew from the north as a massive tiger roared, and in the air, a Dragonoid with a red blade stood.

However, what drew Moyo’s breath away was his master, cloaked like the grim reaper with only his blade Krial letting Moyo recognize him, Ajax turned and Moyo saw a skeletal mask on his face,

“awake are we?, come join the fun!” his master said laughing, his voice ringing through the air,

Immediately Moyo felt the attention of all what he knew were masters focus on him, he buckled on the weight nut growled, eyes glowing purple,

“NO,” he said and felt a bit of relief, but it still felt like reality pressing down on him,

He heard a growl,

“a draconic slayer?!, you raised a draconic slayer?!, do the house thousand blade want an untimely death?!” the red Dragonoid in the air shouted,

Moyo tried summoning his blade and realized to his horror it was with master Killian,

“The expert acquired it himself, something of a scheme we are pretty sure came from house Dracon” master Killian’s voice ringing from within the stars,

“What are you implying?” the Dragonoid growled,

“C-102, rings a bell?” Ajax shouted as his raspy voice shook Moyo, it carried the breath of death,

The Dragonoid master paused before roaring,

“As within the rights of house Dracon, I lay a challenge to the expert, prove the right to retain the power of a draconic slayer, and the right to live” the Dragonoid shouted, focusing on Moyo,

“House thousand blades rejects said offer” master Killian’s voice roared,

Moyo stared hard at the Dragonoid master and unleashed his full power, around him the land healed, intent floated around the air like a blade ready to descend as reality agreed with his mandate, his Ashe. The Dragonoid master descended slowly towards Moyo, and like the force of the coming winter, master Urush appeared at the side of the serpent, white blade drawn,

“Please, give me a reason to end one of you serpents” he growled,

The serpent glanced at him,

“House Garuda would receive their punishment in due time, the blazing empress can’t protect you forever” the Dragonoid growled,

“No, but neither the scorching claw nor the flying terror can protect you from my blade here,” Urush said,

“you’d kill me and incur the wrath of the archailect oath?” the Dragonoid asked,

“Test me” Urush simply said,

The Dragonoid faced Moyo,

“House thousand blade can’t protect you forever, the stellar blade nor the death blade can protect you either. Every dragon, Dragonoid, evolved wyvern and wyrm will hunt you to the ends of reality once I spread the news of your status as a draconic slayer, would you risk it?” the Dragonoid asked,

“You overstep Abraxas” Ajax replied,

“Oh, but you know I don’t, not even the thousand blade has jurisdiction over the traditions of the draconic specie, besides, not like you can do anything” Abraxas the Dragonoid said to Ajax, a glint In his eyes,

“Daddy grims life lays at our mercy, at a place you have no idea, care to piss us off more?” Abraxas said,

“What do you want?” Moyo asked,

“a duel, prove to house Dracon that you took that title fair and square, and not through the help of house thousand blades, let me see if you are worthy of the inspiration, you just got, as a…bronze tier no less,” Abraxas said,

“Bronze tier?” a voice whispered behind him, he glanced behind to see Ulsa staring at him with wide eyes,

Moyo shrugged, not sure but not caring,

“When?” he asked Abraxas,

“Now, Vasanz!” Abraxas shouted,

Another roar answered from the flaming distance a smaller serpentine dragon, oddly looking like the old Asian version of the mythical beasts flew through the air, blowing flames before landing close to Abraxas before in a burst of flames became a tall man, red eyes, wearing a red attire with red hair and slit serpentine irises for eyes. Moyo stared on at the draconic male known as Vasanz, unable to tell his exact type due to the absence of the archailects system,

“This will be your opponent,” Abraxas said,

“We reserve the rights to pick a day for the duel, you challenged us, not the other way around,” master Killian said,

“Besides, the tele hub back to point 1 wouldn’t open till the next four days, you’re stuck here as we are,” Ajax said,

“And you won’t deign it fit to run away like cowards till then?” Abraxas said,

“Not like words mean anything to you slithering bunches but yeah, we won’t,” Ajax said,

“Good, then what day have you decided on?” Abraxas asked,

“Three days from now” Killian responded as the stars began to dim, revealing the master floating in the air with his blade out,

“Good, then we would meet here, again,” Abraxas said as he and Vasanz vanished,

The storm settled to show a woman floating there, she stared at them with rage in her eyes,

“shoo,” Ajax said as her eyes widened in rage before she disappeared with a thunderclap,

The moon disappeared as daylight returned, Moyo staring at that feat of power in shock, master Killian had turned day to night, the stars rotating around him before blinking out, the feeling of winter disappeared as master Urush canceled his power out. Finally, master Ajax released the cloak and golden gauntlet on his arm his blade disappearing, Moyo stared at the gauntlet that disappeared,

“Bronze tier?!” Ulsa shrieked, jolting Moyo as he faced her,

“a level 152 with a bronze tier?, the spiritual weight alone would cripple you,” she said,

“I simply followed what master Killian said,” Moyo said,

“What I told you to do was fuse your willpower and authority, not breakthrough to bronze tier through sheer spiritual weight, then again with the amount of aether in your core, it was possible,” Killian said as he appeared,

“Everyone,” Ajax said as they turned to him, then the direction he was pointing at,

There, coming out from the destroyed blackened trees was a girl, dark hair with a jagged green blade in her hand,

“Who are you?” Ulsa asked, the power of an expert bronze tier oozing from the girl, but Moyo didn’t let his guard down, it could be a master in disguise,

“Ashira,” she said before she crumpled to the ground,

Moyo ran to the girl, catching her, Ulsa at his side,

“she’s out” he called out,

Turning the girl over to carry her when he felt a hand on his shoulder, glancing up to see Ajax,

“Killian, Urush!” his master called out,

The two masters came closer and drew in a breath, Moyo glanced down to see what took their surprise when he saw three slashes on her shoulder blades,

“what’s going on?” he asked,

“House Kairos,” Ajax said,

“House Kairos?” Ulsa asked also in awe,

Moyo hated being left out of the loop,

“Who is house Kairos?” he asked,

“Another great house young titan blade, a powerful powerful house, and that girl has the mark of the child of one of their rulers,” Killian said,

Moyo dropped her like a hot substance burning his hands.