Chosen Vs... Gifted?

"Beto, I've met with a fan. Meet you in half an hour or something." Heian Ciemnosc spoke to his emblem but didn't speak by Soul message or hide his words under a sound barrier. Everyone near him heard them, including the slightly strange expressions of the 2 young women. When Heian Ciemnosc lowered his hand, Ezquivel's eyelids drooped, and his behavior was altered. Ezquivel looked at him and said, "Black monster... black monster! Duel me!!"

“...” For now, Heian Ciemnosc only looked at Ezquivel with wide eyes. Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t in the mood to engage in something so blatantly time-consuming, especially with the war going on and both sides losing cultivators quickly. He had to ensure the Motherblood Expiritus was grabbed by the coalition’s side without fissures and the survival capability of the Interchanging Dust Dynasty’s heavenly people.

“Ezquivel, Chosen of the Tortoise Glabella Pavilion,” Heian Ciemnosc greeted the person who had called his name before. The young women beside the young master narrowed their eyes and looked at Heian Ciemnosc with some alarm. Yet, Heian Ciemnosc’s subsequent words helped them become confident in feeling alarmed, “Dark realm 5th stage cultivation base at 16 years old… Your title isn’t wrongly attained, it seems.”

“Heh, it isn’t a new thing to know about a Chosen in the world, Heian Ciemnosc!” Ezquivel said, taking a step forward but stopping right there. Ezquivel opened his arms as the young women behind him took half a step back and smiled at Heian Ciemnosc’s face. “But that’s something you can’t feel, can you? Maybe in the future, but only if you didn’t find me.”

“I usually hide my cultivation base from boys like you so they can’t see through it and believe I’m above them. That deters them from uselessly challenging me. I only allow my comrades to see through it, but… Why can you see through it?” Heian Ciemnosc asked, slightly frowning as his body tensed and a dark tail coiled once behind him. It was 3 meters long. Then, Heian Ciemnosc thought, ‘The Tortoise Glabella Pavilion excels in Spirit Sense, and their Arts are usually codependent on them, some with Soul moves.’

“Hoh? So you’ve noticed?” Ezquivel’s extended foot started burying in the ground, slowly and diminutively, as if the sole of his shoe had tiny drills beneath. He added, “My Pavilion has the greatest Spirit Sense-focused Arts in the Existence, black monster. I don’t need to hide anything. The only reason you’re not visibly naked to me now is because of your background.”

“Look, you went through a great, paved road. The Wrath Nihility Academy, the Crimsonbreaking Faction… all of these. No need for you to stay here and for the Tortoise Glabella Pavilion to become enemies. This invasion? It should’ve been everyone’s. The Great Sage promoted individualism, and many organizations kept what was theirs. That was a mistake… for the weak!”

Heian Ciemnosc rolled his eyes, making Ezquivel hurry, saying, “If you are willing to give information from the new Supreme Art you possess and help me connect with the Crimsonbreaking Faction, I won’t let you suffer here. I will adopt you as one of my universal Generals as I send you to power and grant you the role of protecting the Universal Lands after I conquer them!”

The sect disciples behind Heian Ciemnosc were calm, gazing ahead at the young women, who looked back at them without worrying about Ezquivel’s words or caring to see if Heian Ciemnosc suddenly twisted things up and betrayed the coalition and every organization standing behind it. Then… Ezquivel said, “I will even grant the Crimsonbreaking Faction the honor of having their Chairwoman as one of the future world ruler’s Queens. One of the most important ones. She’s a cultivator who no ambitious person will let go of after uniting everything and everyone! What do you say?”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes went still, looking as lifeless as they could, serene, and ultimately cold. Suddenly, it was as if silence took over the surroundings, blinding light, and noise everywhere around them. Heian Ciemnosc stood in a neutral, casual pose while Ezquivel remained in that halted position. The atmosphere made Ezquivel’s face change somewhat. Thus, he cocked his head sideways and uttered, “Meh, ah. What the hell…”

STOMP!! PSHIIIFT~!!

“!!” Ezquivel’s body shot forward! Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes fully opened. His upper body leaned slightly backwards as the sect disciples behind him slowly turned their heads from the front to towards him. At the same time, Heian Ciemnosc felt they were looking at something, but he was too busy moving to study it. Heian Ciemnosc suddenly felt like a lateral, light wind cut slap against the middle of his forehead. He projected a burst of dark Neutral Energy from the pores of his skin, sending an explosive amount of dark Neutral Energy forwards and turning into smoke in the air.

Finally, Heian Ciemnosc heard the noise of Ezquivel moving towards him, while everything that just happened took nearly a second. It was like the sound of a tremendous kick hitting an object, followed by a massive amount of Neutral Energy impulsed and trapped within a body, Ezquivel’s leg.

Heian Ciemnosc saw Ezquivel still 48 meters away at the beginning of that second and just 2 meters before him, a meter above the ground, kicking his left knee towards the right side of his head. A mild Neutral Energy followed after Ezquivel like a ghostly contrail, but it would arrive on time to hit his head and send all that might to Heian Ciemnosc’s body, possibly injuring him.

The dark Neutral Energy acted like a thin barrier, which Ezquivel saw but didn’t pay much attention to, and he was right not to worry about it. As his shins and insteps went through it, he was only ‘detained’ by tiny nanoseconds, barely mattering. However, when he noticed Heian Ciemnosc’s figure blur and suddenly appeared slightly to his right, his eyes widened, or at least began to. But it was too late.

Pshift- click! Pshift- click! Heian Ciemnosc’s dark Claws Out extended from his fingertips as he formed a fist and sent it straight into Ezquivel’s right chest!

Puuum~! Fwiish- pah- thud thud! Paaang!

Ezquivel’s body flew backwards, but not immediately. Heian Ciemnosc’s arm and punch force brought Ezquivel’s knee-kicking position to a ragdoll body with his limbs extended forwards and his neck stretching with his veins twisting and thinning while saliva was expelled from his mouth. Ezquivel’s eyes threatened to fly out of their sockets, but Heian Ciemnosc’s right arm rapidly punched downwards, making Ezquivel’s body ricocheted against the ground.

Ezquivel wasn’t reflected towards the sky. The sound of his body hitting the ground wasn’t even heard when he was sent flying 200 meters past and between his protectors. They looked as Ezquivel’s body descended a little more than a few meters and hit his head on the ground again. However, instead of ending it there, his body dragged his head through the dirt and grass as before finally bumping against it so hard he ricocheted again.

Ezquivel’s body descended rapidly again due to the force behind this development, and his body was struck on the ground from his back and front once each before finally lifting a 20 meters tall cloud of dust and dirt into the sky.

‘Chosens are a bit too silly,’ Heian Ciemnosc thought after punching the Tortoise Glabella Pavilion’s young master. Heian Ciemnosc maintained his punching stance for another second before standing straight. He could swear to have heard some bones cracking, but the Neutral Energy inside Ezquivel must have protected it from breaking apart. The subsequent Neutral Energy left behind should’ve been more helpful in resisting Heian Ciemnosc’s punch with more ease.

Step- Pshift~!~!~!!

“AARGH!” It didn’t last long, however. Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes remained open and serene as Ezquivel’s figure within the dust appeared. The young women, looking at their young master, turned their heads towards Heian Ciemnosc and frowned. Sandra frowned the most, saying, “What kind of Supreme Art is that one? The young master has made an erratic decision again… One with an opportunity too precious to lose.”

Elga nodded and eased her frown before contemplating, “One hit was enough to send a Dark realm cultivator flying. How can that be so easy? It’s as if he has Godhood. To have such bodily strength… Young master, let us terminate him! It will be quick. And it is necessary!”

Stomp- dash! “No!” Ezquivel loudly shouted as he dashed forth and stopped between his protectors. His face was half-dirty, and his shirt broke apart around his collarbone and shoulders. Ezquivel gritted his teeth and walked forward, passing by the young women. “No, Sandra. This is my decision, my rule!! Nobody gets in it. He’s mine to take his head to my Pavilion’s trophy hall!”

“...” - “...” Sandra and Elga kept silent, with Elga deeply frowning as she didn’t like being denied the ‘execution’ of Heian Ciemnosc. And it seemed like, other than doing her job, she also liked fighting. Heian Ciemnosc looked at the young women’s reactions before retreating his darkest eyes, not interested.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Wait, you have a Sandra, too?” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly said as he took 2 steps forward. He looked at the other side and added, “That can’t be. Although our Sandra isn’t so powerful, she isn’t someone else’s dog. Well, at least not in bed, I suppose. You must call her other names. Sandra won’t do. I-”

“Shut up!!!” Ezquivel raged. He threw his head and neck forth and held his shoulders up, forming claw stances with his hands and pausing before rushing towards Heian Ciemnosc again! Heian Ciemnosc was going to say something else but stopped and erupted in dark Neutral Energy when Ezquivel made his move. A darkish aura projected on Heian Ciemnosc’s shoulders as a Spirit Aspect was unleashed above Ezquivel.

Whooosh!!- Pshift! Stomp!! Stomp!!- Swish! Pppp- paah! Psh- crrrrraaaaaackk~!

Heian Ciemnosc felt his senses a little overwhelmed when his Spirit Sense followed Ezquivel’s body. It seemed that other than choosing to focus more on offense or both, it did change something within the cultivator’s path. Heian Ciemnosc effectuated dark Neutral Energy to form several dark screens before him, like before.

Ezquivel became aware and kicked the ground with both feet to increase his momentum, covering his forearms with Neutral Energy to charge into the dark screens. Heian Ciemnosc hadn’t moved yet! Ezquivel’s move allowed him to break through the first few dark screens, but he started feeling dragged backwards after a few. Thus, he kicked his feet against the ground again, with more Neutral Energy condensing around his arms.

But just then, unlike before. Heian Ciemnosc’s 4 meters long dark tail flapped, and he moved forth and to the right, while Ezquivel rushed with his bent back and ducked head, protected by his forearms. Heian Ciemnosc’s body slides to the right at the second, surprising Ezquivel for the second time, as this speed in such little time gave him little time to react.

Ezquivel tried condensing his Neutral Energy to his hands, forming a fist with his right hand and a palm strike with his left one. However, Heian Ciemnosc’s body also reacted. And before Ezquivel even did. His left leg was raised backwards, and his body faced his right as it went low until above his waist level. Heian Ciemnosc twisted his torso to face the front, where Ezquivel was coming from, and his left foot’s claws twirled inwards.

Heian Ciemnosc’s knee exerted pressure and his entire left leg became tensed. With a simple millimeter-long motion, he went all-out and kicked towards Ezquivel’s abdomen, just 3 shy centimeters from the solar plexus. Ezquivel was hit, but not without trying to punch Heian Ciemnosc and send Neutral Energy to his head to at least do some damage.

However, he once again underestimated Heian Ciemnosc’s bodily strength. First, it was because rumors shouldn’t be trusted. But now, even after finding out Heian Ciemnosc’s adequate title and veracity from the rumors, Ezquivel still thought little of Heian Ciemnosc, whose speed suddenly increased.

Ezquivel’s attempts at hurting Heian Ciemnosc failed completely, leaving him feeling as if his stomach was sinking in, losing all desire to struggle. But Ezquivel tried cracking apart that notion. Yet, before he could be sent flying again, Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t planning to do the same again. His left kick found something and immediately rushed towards it with his bodily strength, pushing into Ezquivel’s body to break it apart!

“!!” Ezquivel felt his crystallized armor, already evolved to hide underneath his skin, breaking! Before Heian Ciemnosc’s left instep could send him flying, Ezquivel looked at Heian Ciemnosc, whose casual face and opened eyes didn’t seem to be in a fight, but his body was!

Whooooooosh~! As Ezquivel’s body cracked from the inside and his crystallized armor was torn apart, Heian Ciemnosc’s dark claws extended. His right dark claw seemingly took a more defensive stance, while the left dark claw appeared more on the offensive. With Ezquivel’s body flying only 20 meters forth before descending, Heian Ciemnosc dashed forth, flapping his dark tail and kicking the ground with all his bodily strength!

“Young master…” Sandra narrowed her eyes and muttered. Elga looked at her, but Sandra returned the glare and shook her head. Elga nodded slightly and stared at the fight, keeping her hands below her waist where her Covert Space bags hung.

Swish! “Aaaah!” Ezquivel felt his instincts growing alarmed. As he was about to fall on the ground with the back of his head first, he forced his neck upwards to look in the direction his soles faced. He saw Heian Ciemnosc coming at him, flying with something protruding from his lower rear and swinging a left dark claw towards his waist!

Cuuh- swish, swaaash~! Pum, slash, phhshk!

Ezquivel did his best to dodge it and managed to avoid a fatal wound. But Heian Ciemnosc didn’t stop there. He became the young boy’s nightmare! Ezquivel’s body was still laterally positioned, and Heian Ciemnosc chased him with his whole body bent low like a dashing animal. The dark claws on Heian Ciemnosc’s hands stained his pale skin, turning them into darkened skin until his wrist. Ezquivel thought that was a side effect of the Supreme Art but couldn’t delve into it for now.

Heian Ciemnosc slashed again, and Ezquivel unleashed Neutral Energy beams like whips lashing forth, but only deflected Heian Ciemnosc’s dark claws without worsening the damage he believed the black monster was suffering. After several deflected claws, Heian Ciemnosc sent dark Neutral Energy to his left dark claw to feign an attack and grabbed the energy whip lash!

“!” Ezquivel was stunned to see Heian Ciemnosc do this, as he could see how dark liquid seeped out of the left dark claw. Reacting quickly, Ezquivel poured more Neutral Energy into his energy whip to burn Heian Ciemnosc’s left dark claw off! However, as he was doing so and held the Neutral Energy technique with both hands, Heian Ciemnosc’s right dark claw stabbed forwards!

Ezquivel wanted to avoid it, but at that time, Heian Ciemnosc’s dark tail fluttered again, and his right claw immediately appeared, already sinking its individual claws into Ezquivel’s abdomen! Ezquivel’s protectors and the young boy himself were instantly alarmed, with the latter screaming with tormenting pain bathing at his body from his abdomen. “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Young master!!” - “Protect him!!” Sandra and Elga immediately reacted. Meanwhile, Ezquivel looked down, incapable of looking at his abdomen, with 5 long, slightly wide, thin individual dark claws nearly fully sunk in his abdomen. Only a couple millimeters before they disappear past this brown skin. Blood didn’t seep out, but that was because something much more scary was happening in his insides.

“!!” Ezquivel felt his blood writhing, losing the capability to move his very own blood at his command! Infuriatingly scaring him!! His eyes widened more than they could as they looked at Heian Ciemnosc, and he could only respond in the way a young ki could, “Black monster! What did you do??!! What did you do?!!”

Slide- splaaasssh~!

Heian Ciemnosc suddenly pulled his dark claw back, let go of the painful energy whip, and flatly palmed Ezquivel’s groin with all his bodily strength! As Ezquivel’s whole body paled, Heian Ciemnosc’s body retracted and spun a few times, controlled, and like spasms of a seizure. Heian Ciemnosc, however, dodged many hidden tools and Mortal weapons that Ezquivel’s protectors threw towards him.

Pshift!!! Swish!!! Plagh! Fwip, fwop, fewp, fwuuup, fwiiip~!!!

Heian Ciemnosc heard hundreds of different objects and attacks flying past his body, using his now 3-meter dark tail to move, immediately changing his body’s position in midair as he flew backwards. He watched as the 2 young women rushed towards him after checking Ezquivel’s condition. Elga glanced at Ezquivel’s groin before frowning and rushing towards him, while Sandra’s face became infuriated, and she gritted her teeth bestially while swinging a 4 meters long rod towards him.

Pshiiiiiiiiiiiiftt~~~!!! Clink!!! Clank!!! Booowng~!!!

“Junior apprentice-brother, retreat to your Team,” the disciples taking care of Heian Ciemnosc’s well-being acted. They unhesitatingly flew forth, faster than Heian Ciemnosc and Ezquivel, and protected Heian Ciemnosc with their Earth elemental Neutral Energy. The other disciple looked at Heian Ciemnosc and immediately passed 3 pills through the wounds on his right arm, sending her powerful Neutral Energy to help him dissolve them better. They were also one of the Phosphorescent Flower Sect’s unique alchemy pill products, whose effects were slightly boosted when circulated by a member of the Sect.

“Leave this to us. We’ll rejoin senior apprentice-brother Yun Tang’s Team later. Don’t worry about us. We need you at the front!”

“... Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc looked at them as they departed, and when their backs were 3 meters before him, he nodded and said before turning around and fluttering his 3-meter dark tail. Heian Ciemnosc’s body zoomed into the distance, leaving behind the loud clashes between the Phosphorescent Flower Sect’s disciples and Ezquivel’s protectors. They became louder as he moved kilometers every few seconds, but his dark Neutral Energy was rapidly consumed, and not much was left after ‘landing’ nearby.

“Beto, I’m out of trouble. Where are you exactly? My Spirit Sense is a little blurry.” Heian Ciemnosc spoke to his emblem as his mentality was a bit too exhausted. He could continue, but it would be better if he could meditate a little with his Team, which would keep him safe. Not even 3 seconds later, Beto seemed to stop the whole Team and frankly responded to Heian Ciemnosc. Beto’s voice sounded from the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s emblem, “7,000 kilometers from where you are. What are you gonna do? Your beacon shows flickering. Are you injured?”

“No, but tell Cara and Riquel to check for 100 meters above your position and 2 km between your position and ahead… I will… try something. Riquel will know what.” Heian Ciemnosc said, his voice slightly trembling. Beto was silent, perhaps giving Cara and Riquel orders, and then spoke through the emblems. “They’re ready, what are you…”

Beto’s voice faded away as Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes became a little blurry, and his eyelids felt kinda heavy. Heian Ciemnosc lowered his body as if about to participate in a race, and dark Neutral Energy encompassed him, but only to protect his body from what it was about to experience. Meanwhile, his dark tail elongated to 5 meters…

‘... Aggh, here I come.’ Heian Ciemnosc tiringly thought, and his darkest eyes flashed once without light before his body trembled as if it could vibrate at will. Then, as his organs momentarily expanded a few millimeters, he fluttered his dark tail and slapped the wind with its tip.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWW~~~!... WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHH~!!~!~!...

The area Heian Ciemnosc was just posing on turned into a land where a sudden semi-complete ring with only the upper side lacking completion threw the air and pure energy outwards. A contrail followed the trajectory, but as the Dimension was a world without roundness or flatness, and its laws were a little quizzical, the contrail twirled and suddenly zigzagged until it reached a small group of more than a dozen cultivators waiting for it to come.

The only things left behind were bent or twisted trees, gone vegetation, and clean-cut grass…

…