Distributing Rancor

In another ring. Where an intense and decisive fight had just finished.

"Huff, huff- haa..." A male aquatic Beast with fins and even a few small gills slightly bent his upper back while looking down at his smashed-down opponent. It was a Titan whose bodily strength was above his but fell to the Beast's feet. The fish-looking pal looked at his palms, feeling invigorated to no end after winning this fight that not even he believed he could win. His breathing ragged, and his body hurt, but this was his second fight, and he knew he could recuperate as soon as he exited the ring. However, the eyes and muffled cheering from the sides encouraged him to stay.

“Rauaaaghhhh!!” The male Beast Race member roared into the air after wincing at his right hand, hurting like hell, as if it would explode a second later from the foreign rigorous Power Energy swarming inside. But what followed his cry wasn’t just more pain and a bloody explosion. Instead, the crowd exploded in cheers and excitement after a marvelous show! “WOOOOHOO!” - “Congrats, man! You’re a natural!” - “Heeey~, fishyyy boiii! My fish needs some ointment replacemeeeent~!” - “WOOOOHOO!”

‘Heh heh,’ the male Beast Race member grinned as he received polite comments and callings from females, boosting his already high-up ego. However, the ring lasted a few minutes before he was ejected back to the greenish platform. He was slightly dizzy, but feeling his virtual body back to a top-notch state and brimming with fighting experience, he lifted his chin and stared ahead, confident and pleased.

Whoosh. “Oh, hello there. Now that you’re finished wasting my time, wanna come fight me in my ring?”

“!!” Just then, the male Beast Race member saw his front warp as a figure materialized towards him. At the same time, a digital panel appeared before his eyes, showing the silhouette’s identity as his words fell on the male beast Race member’s fin-like ears. The latter became stunned, instinctively wanting to escape, but a horse voice, simply speaking a word, somehow rooted him on the spot.

“Hold.” Heian Ciemnosc’s voice came from the warping scenery before the male Beast Race member. The latter’s neck twisted, followed by the rest of his body as he looked at Heian Ciemnosc, now looking at him with a slightly serious expression. He gulped down and stepped a few times over, realizing his actions now were laughable. But everyone watching from their immediate surroundings was silent, wanting to see how this would unfold.

“Do you not want to fight me? After ‘exposing’ my secrets and painting several targets on my back, chest, and head? Here… I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself. Don’t you want it?” The last few words Heian Ciemnosc spoke were spoken lightly, under his breath, as if he was pouting while saying them, seemingly teasing the other party.

“Hah, no… bro.” The male Beast Race member said, shaking his head and waving no’s with his hands at his waist level. He added while quickly glimpsing around, flicked his nose, and slightly lowered his chin. “I just know my limits. You are impossible to defeat on the same level. We got it. Now, I’ll find someone I can fight. Alright?”

“Are you afraid of me?” Heian Ciemnosc asked in the same way as he spoke his last few words previously. “Tell you what. We will both restrict our battle prowess at the Broken Crystallization realm 1st stage. From then on, everything is the other party’s fault or glory for winning or losing.”

Step- stop. The male Beast Race member, who was about to step into the greenish, unknown space to be free of any chase from Heian Ciemnosc or hearing more words spill from his mouth, halted. Some time had passed since Heian Ciemnosc fought Patric, and nobody dared to challenge him so far. As for Neutrality realm cultivators, they just weren’t interested in losing one of their tries to test him out for no reason.

“Are you for real?” The male Beast Race member asked, moving his upper body forwards to reveal his face and his moving lips speaking. Heian Ciemnosc looked at him as serenely as before and calmly nodded. The former crossed his arms after stepping back into the same space around Heian Ciemnosc. His mouth suddenly formed a grin. “But I want another condition. You, using those Soul Arts from your Academy’s Supreme Art, is too much. Let’s take it out of the fight, alright?”

“Oh, then, what are you offering?” Heian Ciemnosc similarly crossed his arms and looked at the other party, but there was no grin on his face. When the male Beast Race member frowned, confused at Heian Ciemnosc’s meaning, the latter calmly spoke again. “You’re asking me to give up using my full battle prowess while you remain at your own indiscriminate power sources. Why don’t you give something else up in return? You are asking me to let myself become weaker, and that is after convincing you to fight me in a way that wouldn’t let me have any advantage over your slow cultivation speed. So, why are you still so afraid?”

“You don’t know whether or not I am secretly hiding my trump cards. How can you know whether or not that is tr–” The other party attempted to invalidate Heian Ciemnosc’s statement, recuperating some face. But all Heian Ciemnosc did was stab his image again. “Because I can. I’m not the only one capable of nature reading in this event, nor the only one whose eyes are on you.”

“...” The male Beast Race member became silent. He looked at Heian Ciemnosc with a roughened-up face and slowly decided inside his mind. After a while, he took out a few recipe ingredients for creating Earth grade items. Heian Ciemnosc glanced at them once before returning his darkest eyes to the other party. Slowly taking out a Spore, an additional article was implemented on their digital negotiation panel.

Besides the Spore, bet by Heian Ciemnosc, he would not use any Soul attack on his opponent. On the other hand, while the other party wouldn’t limit any of his power sources, he would give up additional items besides a few rich materials and cultivation resources, most of which were from the Wind element. This was without Heian Ciemnosc’s knowledge. The male Beast Race member had decided to entice Heian Ciemnosc like this, knowing about his incredible Wind elemental manipulation.

Heian Ciemnosc said nothing in response, simply allowing the other party to put as many delicious Wind elemental items as possible. He would make some nice boots for his COs, including Gloria, whenever she broke into the Second Step after this event. Even if he had to seal her pair with a few array formations so she could at least use them. Heian Ciemnosc’s body disappeared from the platform as he thought about this and, once again, reappeared inside a ring!

“Look!” - “H-hey, look! Little black monster is fighting again!” - “Wooo! Who is his victim this time around?” - “Some fella named Allen… huh. Didn’t he just win a lot of reputation? Look at the website. He even got sexual threats and everything.” - “...” - “Holy shit! They are fighting at the Broken Crystallization realm 1st stage!!” - “So what? The Academy’s trump card will still be the strongest. It changes nothing.” - “And Heian Ciemnosc can’t use Soul attacks!” - “... He was bored. Surely, he just wants to warm up before finding a nice meal to end the day. Nobody dares challenge him anymore, anyways…” - “Diehard fangirl…” - “But I’m a boy…”

Without knowing what the crowd was crazily talking about, as countless pairs of eyes, all from over the Existence watched, Heian Ciemnosc’s feet landed on the floor as Allen’s did with fins behind his shins.

GURRRGLEEEE~~~... WOBBLE, WOBBLE, WOBBLE- SPLASH!!! SWOOOOSH, SWOOOOOSH, SWOOOOSH, SWOOOSH, SWOOOSH, SWOOOOSH…~~!

Barely setting his darkest eyes on the bluish-skinned figure, Heian Ciemnosc observed Allen rapidly take a small box out of his Covert Space bags. It looked costly and one-time use, like an eccentric or specific talisman. But it was just an array formation conforming exquisite uniqueness and… Water elemental particles!

Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes slightly opened further as an impossible amount of pure water came out of the box. Allen’s right hand, uncovering the box, was forced backwards just as a millimeter from its insides could be seen! A torrential of water soared 150 meters into the air, forming a bubble of approximately 50 meters each, growing from just a few meters in diameter. They quickly increased to their maximum size in under 10 seconds as the torrential water became those strange bubbles.

They were, many times, fatter than that volume. However, those bubbles contained seemingly a strange spatial law inside, holding more water than they should. As Heian Ciemnosc slightly frowned when seeing those bubbles stagnate in midair and do nothing, his darkest eyes fell on the heavily breathing Allen, who remained silent but showed a large grin. A mental message from the latter arrived at the former’s ears.

“I planned to keep this until the 3rd phase, but since you want it so much, COME AND GET IT!! Hahahaha!!”

‘Why does every idiot I duel like to laugh?’ Heian Ciemnosc thought as his darkest eyes focused on the bubbles again. Just then, they altogether broke apart and started flooding their ring. Heian Ciemnosc’s body was swept backwards, sliding as endless water bodies broke out from within each bubble. The total volume quickly increased to a smallish river, somewhat like that of the Sinvonnia kingdom’s Little Lake!

At the same time, Heian Ciemnosc’s Spirit Sense scanned around, discovering array formations forming around the water. A cage was slowly being built under his nose, and even if he wanted to start impeding its construction, it was too late now. If he had acted beforehand, even if this was an area larger than 1,000 square kilometers, Heian Ciemnosc would’ve disrupted enough core inscribing points to ruin it all.

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Now, however, that was all left in the dust. Heian Ciemnosc’s body slid backwards as the water couldn’t make him float or stumble. It was just that the floor became slippery, and the water bodies clashing against him increased in volume. Thus, his body moved left and right, but always backwards with his arms crossed. Allen saw this and felt the urge to lightly start some friendly bullshitting.

“Hahaha! See? This is the world’s scale! I had thought you’d have spent enough time outside a backwater Kingdom to understand this. But don’t worry, I know you’ll manage to think of something, haha.” Allen swam around the water as it continued endlessly gushing back and forth, completely disarming Heian Ciemnosc’s Wind elemental techniques. This way, his craftiness allowed him to bind down 2 of Heian Ciemnosc’s power sources.

“...” Yet, Heian Ciemnosc’s arms remained crossed, and his pale expression serene. His darkest eyes were opened even as the water came up and down on his nose and forehead. Allen fell silent, too. Slowly, everything in a 1,000 square kilometers area became a water cage without a spot of free air. Heian Ciemnosc remained on the ground, his body unmoving as that cage was strangely light blue inside, not obstructing the naked eyesight.

On the other hand, Allen didn’t move, floating a few hundred meters away from Heian Ciemnosc, wanting to see how he would react now that he was weakened for the second time. However, Heian Ciemnosc did nothing for over a minute, leaving Allen somewhat at ease and gaining confidence. After pondering a bit more and devising his strategies, he finally moved.

Gurgle, gurgle… Heian Ciemnosc’s left darkest eye looked at the figure moving. His crossed arms finally relaxed, and his stance was… dull. He faced the incoming Allen as several water balls formed behind the latter. Heian Ciemnosc observed them and felt slightly funny. He was sure that if those water balls were used somewhere without only water around, they might make sense, but not here.

Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the left, understanding Allen’s water balls to be one-time use, meant for exploding, and were even slightly hot, probably trying to scald Heian Ciemnosc in numbers. But in his eyes, these water balls had their impact lowered, and they weren’t even used as an ammunition center for a water torrent to shoot him with a spurt or several spikes, arrows, etc.

Heian Ciemnosc slightly shook his head as Allen was just 70 meters from his position. Allen didn’t notice and stopped, allowing his few dozen water balls to position behind him. His body took a stance, making him seem like the water ball emperor. But although such a notion wasn’t pleasant and prideful, those water balls behind him were brimming with natural affinity, with more power!

Swswoooosh! Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…

Water balls came flowing towards Heian Ciemnosc from every angle possible, taking their time to coordinate their speed and timing before suddenly shooting towards him! Meanwhile, Allen started flying towards Heian Ciemnosc. Allen aimed to pick up the Heian Ciemnosc, who would grow tired and weary after defending from many attacks that could potentially injure him!

Heian Ciemnosc continued looking ahead, this time directly at the incoming Allen, purposely lowering his flight speed so he would arrive a few seconds after the water balls did. But Heian Ciemnosc still didn’t move. When the water balls were just a few seconds away from him, and Allen’s face became engrossed in his lust to defeat this little black monster, he finally spoke underwater. His voice’s sound waves rippled, seemingly unobstructed by this pure water cage.

“What makes you think Wind is useless here? You should’ve run instead,” Heian Ciemnosc’s words were without recognition and emotionless. When they arrived beside Allen’s ears, Heian Ciemnosc’s body suddenly disappeared. Allen’s eyes widened, his ears expanded, and the fins around his limbs elongated, further enhanced by rigorous Power Energy. As for the water balls, Allen became distracted as he saw them land on the floor, totally missing their target.

POOOOH- GUUUURRG- SWOOOOOOSH- GGGLEEEEE- boom boom boom boom boom boom boom booom. PSHIFT-CLICK, WIUNG WIUNG WIUNG.

Suddenly, as the water balls landed on empty land, Allen heard a terrifying gushing sound coming from behind him as if a colossal Fauna was rushing towards his position! However, upon looking back, he only saw a few twirls and swirling water currents, but no figure appeared there. The water balls continued to explode. When their sound was almost finished, Allen looked back at where they landed.

“!!” Suddenly, from behind him, from both sides, a hair-raising clicking noise spread from his ears, down his neck, to the soles of his feet. His Spirit Sense gained sight of a pair of dark claw-like hands. Allen quickly turned around, kicking behind him as water scalded wherever his foot passed. The claw-like hands aiming to disfigure his back backed away into the darkness before showing Heian Ciemnosc’s pale body and dark coat, floating a meter before him and with his back slightly slouched.

However, Heian Ciemnosc’s dark claws were notoriously attractive, even in the slight darkness of this water cage. Allen’s eyes fell upon them before gazing into those darkest eyes. He felt like his Soul was being stolen, slowly eaten away, and stirred. Almost reclaiming Heian Ciemnosc for using a Soul Art, Allen stopped himself. His eyeballs abruptly rotated to the left, where hundreds of wind blades gushed through water and brought forth heavy momentum!

‘This can’t be!’ Allen thought, but he also acted. Heian Ciemnosc watched as Allen’s fins, covered by rigorous Power Energy, glowed white. Immediately, the cage was activated as inscriptions shone from the floor. Heian Ciemnosc charged at Allen as this happened, but the latter didn’t look worried, as if what was done was done.

GURGLE- SWASSSH- BOOM BOOM PLAFFF BOOM BOOM BOOM…

Water suddenly became heavier and rushed towards the few hundred wind blades directed towards the fighters. A disordered collision began with Allen not retreating from Heian Ciemnosc’s charge but deviating and taking this opportunity to strike him with a water whip. As the devastating commotion continued around them, turning and changing positions like dancing with the explosive waves in the background, their melee fight started!

The crowd might be excited and tensed upon seeing some action at last. But Heian Ciemnosc and Allen were simply going for each other’s throats while avoiding theirs being taken by the enemy. Then, out of nowhere, Allen’s muscles overgrew, gaining maturity and height taller than Heian Ciemnosc as he suddenly let go of any semi-long distance attack and charged to go melee.

“There it begins! Allen’s gonna beat the crap out of him!” - “Naahh! Who can have Heian Ciemnosc’s bodily strength? It’s impossible!” - “Watch and see that little black monster turn into a pulp.”

SWOOSH- POOOH, gurgle gurgle gurgle, swiiish… Allen’s body tackled Heian Ciemnosc, his hands at the latter’s sides and fingertips trying to peer into his pale skin. However, he didn’t notice Heian Ciemnosc's grin. And when he finally looked up to stare at a Heian Ciemnosc whose expression was calm, he felt unknowingly vulnerable. Heian Ciemnosc spoke again, confirming his terrors. “Good. You came to me by yourself. Now it’s time to put the big mouth in its place.”

Swoosh… FWEEEEEEEEESHHH~~.

Heian Ciemnosc waved his right hand, placing his right arm beside Allen’s left ear, before swiping rightwards. Allen was confused as he unhurt, but it did not last long as he looked back, letting go of Heian Ciemnosc’s body, not noticing his fingertips became half-broken and whose nails thrashed their way into their skin, stabbing and sliding through.

Behind his back, an immense diagonal cutting wind with cloudy whiteness slashed at him. It was filled with an insane amount of dark Power Energy, overwhelming Allen so much with his current battle prowess that he wanted to remain still and get over it. But the prospect of defeating Heian Ciemnosc, gaining that fame, and stealing one of the Spores his team leader gave him after talking behind his back… It was enough of a drive to pull him up!

“RAAAAAAAWWWRR!” Allen roared to the top of his lungs. An unknown, one-eyed fish appeared behind him. His Spirit Image came announced into the water cage. It was flat, had a tall face, and not too long. As it looked at the incoming, cutting wind, it suddenly turned into several twirling water torrents that congregated before Allen’s chest. Forming a sphere of crystal, light blue, that started freezing and heating the water around it.

“HAAA!” Allen held the sphere, his palms burning and freezing nonstop as if he was playing with Elements, but this was just the last stand that an Art could allow one to employ. He discharged the sphere, letting it go forwards as he looked on with trepidation, but he still trusted himself. When the sphere and cutting wind blade connected, the former absorbed the latter’s upper and lower extremes, drawing it to it as it bent forwards and clashed with each other with the sphere in the middle of it all.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM- KAAAAAASSSHSHHHHH…

The water rippled as lava almost formed, and the cage nearly froze. The epicenter of the clash became a big ball with twirling water torrents coiling around it. Even with his battle prowess unrestrained, Heian Ciemnosc felt danger from it, consisting of an all-out Wind attack and Allen’s last stand. However, he was only surprised and apprehensive, not dispirited.

“Huh?!” As if noticing something, Allen turned his body around to look at Heian Ciemnosc. Heian Ciemnosc’s eyebrows moved slightly as his darkest eyes casually stared back at Allen. Heian Ciemnosc’s left arm was lifted to his shoulder level, and his fingers were gathered, except for his middle and index finger, which he bent after seeing Allen’s concerned expression.

SWOOOOOOOSH, SWOOOOOOSH…

“No…” Allen’s shoulders drooped as his eyes became downcast. Behind Heian Ciemnosc, like a hidden viper in the dark, 2 cutting wind blades projected from an unknown dark smoke several hundred meters behind Heian Ciemnosc. They traveled at the same speed, had the same might, and showed the same momentum as the first cutting wind blade he just destroyed. At once, Allen felt all hope leave his body.

In a last struggle, before deciding to quit, he looked at Heian Ciemnosc and forced his lower lip upwards. Pointing at Heian Ciemnosc, he said. “You win.”

“Oh…” Heian Ciemnosc, however, had other plans. Instantly, from the floor, behind Allen’s heels. Vocón Link made its appearance and firmly penetrated Allen’s tailbone!

“AAAAAHH!!!” Allen’s screams immediately started. The crowd already knew what to expect. Still, they felt incredulously good seeing this development. Just then, as the wind blades seemed to slow down, Heian Ciemnosc’s dragged-on, hoarse voice resounded with wind ripples cutting through Allen’s enhanced skin. They were no longer so passive and smooth.

“I hurt you, it’s true. But nobody asked you to come looking for me. Be careful of your actions from now on, and consider this me being merciful. If it wasn’t about me, but someone close to me, even an ant I already killed by stepping on it…” Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes seemed so… terrifying. He felt his Soul start trembling despite not feeling any life-threatening danger. Heian Ciemnosc finished his speech with a scoff. “Hurf.”

‘I… just let me go.’ Allen’s bloodshot, vein-less eyes looked sideways at Heian Ciemnosc as the Vocón Link entangled and lifted him above the water. The wind blades finally resumed their original speed and swiftly after arrived before Allen’s soon-to-be-named-carcass body. Allen expectantly waited for this release while Heian Ciemnosc was planning to give him an experience to deeply mark him for life, even if this was harmless to one’s body.

The wind blades arrived, crushing Allen’s body to smithereens in a single, conjoint blast.

SPLANK, SPLANK- POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM… SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHH~~...

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