The Cardinal Court Guards were four elite soldiers tasked with defending the Orochi Emperors person at all times. They had birth names but they were never used. Upon being given the title of Cardinal guard they were named; North, East, South and West respectively.
Randolph's steps echoed as he calmly approached the Cardinal Court Guards. His expression neutral and hands in his pocket.
Titan stood still, his arms crossed and a smile on his face, though he did nothing his presence alone taunted the guards.
“I’ll ask one more time, do you not intend to step down?” Asked Randolph.
“Save it for when you’re being tortured.” North snorted.
“I see, what a shame. I desist resolution through violence.”
“!”
The guards and Randolph's figure flickered and they were suddenly in the air.
The castle shook as Randolph's forearm blocked a punch from North, the floor beneath them shattering from the air pressure.
From behind Randolph came West, his hand extended before him and palm open.
[Flash Rupture!]
From West's hand came a pillar of mana which crackled as it flew towards Randolph. Randolph flipped himself backwards mid air and with a spin kicked the Emission down into the floor where it exploded blowing a hole into the earth itself deep enough that your eyes could not see the bottom.
“North!” West yelled, crossing his arms as Randolph came at him with a punch.
“Got it!” North said, making a hand sign.
[Indefinite War Zone: Battle Field Of One Thousand Slain!]
There was a flash of light and suddenly Randolph, North and West were inside a new landscape completely shut off from the outside world. It looked like a waste land where a war had taken place. The floor was covered in broken weapons and torn flags. Spears and swords stuck out of the ground as the sun cast an ominous orange glow.
Randolph's fist slammed into West's forearm with a crackle of mana.
“God damn!” West yelped as his forearm exploded from the impact.
“!”
Randolph's observation flashed red and he rolled to the side right as a rain of arrows and spears stabbed into the ground.
“Charge!” North yelled, raising his hand into the air. Behind him was an army of soldiers who roared waving their weapons in the air.
A Liminal Realm which can conjure a mass of Familiars and weapons to attack the target upon command… Randolph thought. He stuck his hand out and with a snap of his fingers a large swarm of locusts appeared behind him.
[Profiting Plagiarist: Lord Of The Flies]
The locusts were familiars of an odd shape, their head human shaped but with the snout of a beast and a crown of twisted horns. Upon their back was a long stinger which pumped venom. The Locusts charged into North's army, North's soldiers tried to fight back but the locusts overpowered them, ripping into their armor and devouring their flesh to the bone.
[Flash Rupture!]
From behind Randolph with regrown hands was West. From his palm he shot a blast of mana which Randolph stuck his finger out towards.
[Smite: Hakai]
The blast of mana was severed instantly by a disk shaped emission from Randolph creating an explosion. Randolph rushed West and emerged from the smoke with a punch to the side of West's stomach.
“Gah!” West coughed as a hole was blown into the side of him. He was thrown backwards and Randolph chased after him.
North, seeing what was happening, bit his lip and pointed at the sky with a cry. [Reign: arrows!]
From the sky above Randolph shot down thousands of arrows. Randolph's eyes flicked around and he danced across the ground dodging each arrow flawlessly while still chasing after West.
“Damnit!” West growled, catching himself on a sword stuck in the ground. He smashed his hands to the floor and a large spike made of metal flew at Randolph fast enough to blur.
Randolph instantly slapped the spike and clapped his hands in one motion.
[Profiting Plagiarist: Kaboom]
With that the spike exploded and Randolph leapt at West smashing his foot in the latter's stomach blowing a massive hole into it. Randolph continued his assault by smashing his palm into West's jaw, hard enough to make it spin around his head completely twice snapping every vertebrae in his neck and his brain stem audibly.
“West!” North cried charging at Randolph.
[King's Command Devastation!]
The entire Liminal Realm shook and from every direction weapons of all kinds shot at Randolph. Swords, Spears, Bullets, Cannon balls, Arrows, Axes, everything that could be considered a weapon of war flew towards the Vulracious Emperor.
As the first sword flew towards Randolph he grabbed it by the handle and then used it to defend from the incoming storm of weapons. The clashing of metal was heard as Randolph's sword shattered every weapon which came at him without either him or the sword receiving a single Knick. He calmly walked towards North while defending himself from the thousands of weapons which shot towards him every second from all directions.
“You bastard!” North growled, biting his lip hard enough that blood dripped down his chin. He stared at Randolph with eyes full of hatred, Randolph took him no more seriously than you would an ant on the sidewalk. At this realization he bit down so hard he bit straight through his lip, teeth clashing teeth.
[Final Cataclysm: Divine Inte-
North was silenced by Randolph grabbing one of the axes which flew towards him and casting it at North's head. In a clean motion it separated his head from his shoulders.
There was a flash of light and Randolph was once again in the real world. West and Norths corpses falling to the floor with a splash.
# # #
South and East charged towards Titan who stomped his foot on the ground shattering the floor and making rubble fly into the air.
[Springboard!]
South leapt onto one of the rubble and then hoped to another, he continued jumping from rubble to rubble his speed increasing with each leap but he never touched the same piece twice.
“Interesting.” Titan said with a smile. He followed each of Souths movements easily no matter how much faster he grew.
“!”
South jumped off the final piece of rubble and flew towards Titan with his leg pulled back ready to kick Titans jaw.
“Come!” Titan laughed, taking a boxing stance.
[Lock]
“!?” Titan was frozen, his entire body lost its motor skills. He could only stand there silently and watch as Souths leg smashed into his head with a crack, his vision blurred and blood came from his nose and mouth which smelled of strong chemicals.
[Release : x18!]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
He was knocked to the side and quickly felt his motor skills return, within a millisecond he spun his waist and smashed his large blue fist at South who leapt off the floor and then off the roof above them shooting back down towards Titan.
[Lock]
“Dammit!” Titan grunted, feeling his body locked into place.
[Release x 2!]
Souths leg smashed down into Titans extended arm with an echo like two frying pans crashing against each other.
The ground shook and the entire castle trembled from the impact.
Titan, feeling his body regain its control, grabbed Souths leg and swung him to the ground with a crash.
“Gah!” South heaved vomiting his stomach contents.
Titan looked at East who had stood behind him. Behind East was a large conjured sand hourglass.
A Clairvoyance spell which locks my movement? For it to work so suddenly and for so long there must be a set amount of strict conditions… he probably can’t use it for too long and must have quite the timer before he can use it again… not only that but based on the fact he hasn’t attacked me himself he’s probably locked into place himself while its activated. A perfect spell for teaming up on people, if I fought all four of them this might have taken a while… Titan stomped his foot down towards South intending to crush his legs but South smacked his fist on the floor to the right and then the left of him before swinging it up and hitting Titans ankle.
[Release x2!]
He can do it with his hands too!? Titans balance was altered momentarily and South slipped out from under him and jumped back. Titan stumbled forwards but quickly regained his balance and changed direction now heading towards East.
[Lock!]
The Sand hourglass flipped just before Titans massive fist crushed Easts head.
That was twelve seconds, three times as long as he froze me last time. So he’ll be frozen himself and unable to use it for three times the length used.
East stood still, his hands crossed into an X while he poured sweat, not moving a muscle.
“Grrrrah!” With a cry from behind Titan came South smashing his fist into Titans back with pop.
Titan was thrown forwards still [locked] in place. South bounced of Titan to the floor and then leapt at Titans back once again this time with a kick.
[Release: x2!]
Titan was thrown to the side with a roll, his motor skills returning. He opened his mouth and let out his all powerful scream, one which shook the castle causing the windows to shatter and the chandeliers to fall from the roof.
“!”
Souths and Easts ears exploded with blood and Titan grabbed a piece of rubble off the floor. Like a baseball player he took a step back and threw the chunk of stone with a curve in its stride. It smashed into Souths head with a pop and then Easts stomach with a crack.
Souths head exploded into a mass of gore while a hole was put through Easts stomach like he’d been shot by a cannonball.
“Gah!” East gargled blood dripping from his stomach. Titan jumped forwards and punched East in the head with his massive fist. His fist was large enough to eclipse Easts entire skull and pop it like a grape.
“The boy Felix was stronger… what a shame you are for court guards.” Titan grinned, flicking his hand through the air.
With that there was the sound of two more bodies hitting the floor and Titan looked to his right. Standing there was Randolph with his mouth curved downwards. “Done yet?” Randolph asked.
“Of course.” Titan smirked.
“What was their magic?”
“Energy Manipulation and Clairvoyance.”
“I see…”
“Why did you allow yourself to get caught in their Liminal Realm?” Titan asked, raising his brow.
“It stopped there from being more collateral damage.” Randolph answered as the sword in his hand disintegrated.
"I see..."
With the Cardinal Court Guards defeated the Emperor and his strongest guard continued towards the now unguarded door. Titan gently pushed it open and in the middle of the entrance chamber to the throne room stood their final obstacle.
Standing in the middle of the entrance chamber was an old bald man with large scars over his eyes. He wore a lavender Hanfu and at his side was a red and black Katana.
This man was the Iron General, Zao-Huwang.
“Stop there.” The bald man said, placing his hand on his Katanas handle.
“I have no desire to fight you, I simply want to meet with Emperor Orochi.” Randolph said his expression was still cold and neutral.
“This is not about whether I want to fight or not Sir. Freyr, you have trespassed onto the Emperor Orochi's holy ground and I shall slay you as it is my duty.”
“I see…” Randolph frowned with downcast eyes.
Titan stepped forwards ready to fight but he was stopped by Randolph's raised hand.
“I’ll fight him, it would be disrespectful to not fight him myself.” He said.
“If you wish.” Titan frowned, taking a step back.
“Thank you…” Zao said, drawing his Katana and taking a stance.
“Ho…” Randolph hummed with a smile seeing the Katanas blade. “One of the three cursed blades of Edoland, [竜舌焼: Scorched Dragon's Tongue.]” A black strange aura creeped around the blade, one which would make a normal man's blood run cold upon feeling. But these were no normal men. The 2nd God Pillar Randolph Sisyphus Freyr and the strongest warrior in the Orochi Kingdom, the Iron General Zao-Huwang.
# # #
Lestat exploded from the ice which had crushed him. His eyes full of hatred and his body warped to look more like a beast than human.
“You truly are a beast of a man!” Hai-Fang yelled running forwards twirling [梅花津浪] in her hand. She swung it at Lestat and it crackled against his arm with bolts of mana shooting in the air. So tough! She thought feeling the resistance against [梅花津浪].
Lestat punched Fang in the stomach, throwing her backwards and he followed it up with a roundhouse kick which flung her to the side. Fang flew through the air and Lestat chased after her on all fours. She came to a stop catching herself on a pavilion beam and swung around it, smashing her feet into Lestat's face.
“Damnit!” Lestat grunted being thrown backwards.
“Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit!” He screamed, banging his fists on the ground, his body morphing more and more into a beast. He looked like a mix between a hyena and wolf. He had six claws on each paw and large protruding canines, his fur was striped and his tail ended with a ball of hair. His eyes were crazed reflecting his chaotic mental state.
“To think a woman would push me this far to think a woman woman woman woman woman woman woman woman woman woman woawooooooooraghhh!” His rambling transformed into a snarling howl as foam came from the corners of his mouth. All humanity was replaced by the Beast Of Gévaudan, his aura growing more intense and suffocating. It felt like the gravity had increased and Hai Fang sweat profusely.
“No way… I can’t fight this thing.” She muttered with chattering teeth. “He was holding back this much before!? Is he still suppressed even in this wild state?”
“Grrrrah!” With a howl Lestat lunged at Fang who smacked him with [梅花津浪]. Lestat was thrown to the side with a spray of blood but he quickly bounced back towards her.
[氷槍: Hail Spear!]
From behind Fang came a barrage of ice chunks ending in sharp points. They flew towards Lestat who ran through them ducking and jumping until he was right in front of Fang with his mouth wide open.
“So fast!” She grunted, throwing her arm up.
Lestat's mouth clamped down onto her arm, his teeth skewering and shredding the muscle and tendons.
“If you want it so bad, have it!” Fang grunted wincing in pain.
[Blizzard Blade!]
She threw [梅花津浪] above her and conjured a sword of ice, with that she sliced her own arm off at the elbow. Kicking off the ground to put distance between her and Lestat while catching [梅花津浪] she tried to retreat. Lestat leapt at her one again but she met him with [梅花津浪] which smacked into his chest with a crackle of mana.
“Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate!” Lestat screamed as he was thrown backwards.
Hai-Fang had hit him hard enough that he flew across the entire Dragon God Palace crashing through structures and trees along the way. “Did I knock some sense into him with that last one?” She grumbled looking at her severed arm. “Well whatever, I need to get out of here before he comes back!”
# # #
Across the palace Lestat finally came to a stop and collapsed on the floor inside a small shrine. His stomach was ripped open and his innards hung out.
“Control, I need to control!” He groaned.
His paws began to transform back into clawed hands which clutched at the ground leaving scratches deep in the concrete. The gaping hole in his stomach healed quickly thanks to his blessing but he still trembled in a half beast half man form.
“That bitch! She taunted me so much I lost control of my blessing… I’ll kill her!” He growled, clenching his teeth hard enough his molars broke.
Rain began to clack on the metal shingles of the shrine he was in and thunder struck with a bang only making his eyes tremble with more emotion.
“I’ll kill you all...”
# # #
Bestial type blessings are a type of physical mutation but might also be a Magical Mutation type depending on what creature they embody. While this is the most powerful form of a mutation type blessing it has severe drawbacks as the person's soul is constantly in conflict with its two components. That of the beast and the human. For some like Gui his Longgui blessing was too much for his body to handle and he was permanently in a full beast state. This was most likely due to his family being non magic users meaning he had no defense against the beast in his soul and it overpowered the human side.
Lestat on the other hand is the concept of the Beast Of Gevaudan. While his heritage allows him to suppress the beast part of his soul he’s still affected by it greatly as seen in his negative attitude and violent temper.
When someone like Lestat who despite controlling his beast is put under immense stress they will be overcome by their emotions and fully transform into their beast form. In this state they will lose their humanity and have the mind of an animal. For those with a weak control on their aura it can become a permanent change while for others like Lestat it’s a momentary rampage which he quickly comes back from.
lucky for Hai-Fang when someone Undergoes a Bestial transformation fully they will loose their ability to Control their aura so if they were suppressed before hand theyre stuck that way. Though they still get a general boost from their Bestial transformation taking Over. Think of it as an adrenaline rush.