Surlayn P.O.V.
‘The chosen needed that kick. Show me something flame warrior.’
“SPHOOORIAAA!”
SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG!
The opening trade off was a stalemate. Two against one.
A sign of a major war, a Kazardim and a Zigur working together.
The Kazardim used his Spectre ability again. This time nine copies of himself.
‘It won’t work.’
Not with my Soul Sense ability. I can detect anything within a thirteen-cubit long area around me in all directions.
‘He can switch positions instantly with any of his copies. But they are illusions. Maybe nine is his limit?’
“Try this!” The Kazardim shouted.
Switching positions constantly dozens upon dozens of orgonid charges appeared. His teammate keeping up the pressure with Core Condensation speed level dagger attacks.
SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG!
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
Our armors took the explosions with ease. It was the true opening exchange. Half of the Kazardim’s illusions darted towards the sleeping Malgrunian beauty.
‘A bait? Aren’t we fighting for her?’
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Tosen P.O.V.
‘He’s fast, faster than me.’
The rival was the personification of the common awakened traits: speed, strength and energy reserves. Most awakened are like these with few if any affinities or other standout traits.
This one was similar, just that his abilities were on the extreme. Too fast, too strong and too much energy. A master of the basics.
I decided to change the pace a little. Time to mess with his heart. I activated the second ability I chose from the Temple, the Eye of Desire. An ability that has stringent requirements for the user, I am one the few Malgrunians who can use it without penalty.
A continuous high speed exchange on equal footing occurred.
‘Show me your heart.’
I was expecting an edge, something that could cause a deviation, a weakness, a heart demon even. Strangely, the expert in front of me showed none of that. He was a strange heart, a heart filled with joy, joy for the life he was given.
To make matters more complicated, he could sense my probing. He shouldn’t have been able to do so, according to our priests in the temple. My opponent was also some kind of soul master.
He immediately probed into my soul as well.
‘You better be quick about things Fuko. I need to ready my ring for items and artifacts.’
The furious fast paced exchange raged on, power kicks and palm kinetic strikes added in. His double blades making things entangled. It was almost like a perfect mirror counter to my current abilities.
Fighting without creating energy from our slashes to maintain darkness was proving ineffective.
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SWISH! CLANG! SWISH! CLANG! DOOONG! PRACK! PRACK! SWISH! CLANG! SWISH!
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Surlayn P.O.V.
‘You can look into people too? Tell me about you, Zigur!’
I peered into him and couldn’t find his joy with my Joyful Soul art. He was calm, too calm like still water. A rational killer. At least I realized that he wasn’t one to be prone to mistakes.
I also decided to spice things up by targeting his partner.
“ADOHI!” I shouted a chant.
increasing my speed into the realm of true after images, I attacked all of the nine “copies” at once. I wasn’t going to allow them to touch the main reason for this fight. His calm partner desperately tried to stop me. Hundreds of charges from his temporal ring were thrown. A stop gap measure, slightly effective.
SWISH! BOOOM! SWISH! BOOOM! SWISH! BOOOM! SWISH! BOOOM!
The space trembled but wasn’t really affected. The true “copy” of the many was the closest one to the sleeping beauty. Like a bolt I closed in, deflecting and blocking his partners’ counters on the way.
ZOOOM!
Reaching the position of the beauty, the not so calmed second opponent lunged at me.
His ring turned into a blade. A glittering metallic yet liquid blade. A soul weapon. Something from the realm of Ascension Masters.
SLASH!
The massive energy slash was unblockable. Specially with such a weapon. I evaded and countered with my own energy slashes.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
That gave me barely enough time to land next to the sleeping beauty. To my dismay, ten long range teleportation glyphs activated around me in a triangle formation. The calmed one had placed them while I was evading, most surely.
The chosen one threw ten artifacts on top of the glyphs. In reality he threw dozens upon dozens. Many were blocked, deflected or destroyed using charges from the temporal rings of our foes.
The glyphs were temporarily disabled, at least that is what it seemed like to me.
I activated my Joyful Soul ability to peer into my other enemy’s heart looking for an edge. I found it.
The fight was intense; twelve breaths had passed.
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Fuko P.O.V.
I felt a tingling in my soul. Our opponent was doing something. Soul Masters are dangerous, really dangerous. Few can counter their shenanigans and machinations.
The only way to counter these bastards is through special artifacts, runic tattoos, potions, even some very rare orgon infusions with special beast blood or lastly and even more rare, incredible soul fortitude. Not even a higher realm can protect you, depending on the master.
Before I could have any more thoughts, the vivid image of my mother walked out of the darkness, she was shining with light. She was wearing exactly the same stylish outfit she was wearing the last time I saw her.
“Musuko!” “Musuko!” “Musuko!”
Even if I knew that what was happening was impossible, the need to stretch out my hand and touch her became unbearable.
“Snap out of it!” Shouted Tosen.
ZOOOM! PRACK! DOOONG!
A fast, powerful, triple combo energy charged attack. I was sent flying backward with no chance to retaliate. My soul weapon reverted back into ring form. Our enemy had hit me with the pommel of his blade straight into my forehead.
He didn’t want to kill me but he had accomplished his goal. I tumbled on the ground of the sealed space like a piece of rock.
“You cheap bastard.”
Was all I managed to say before I passed out.
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Surlayn P.O.V.
“Your time runs short and you cannot defeat me by yourself. You spared these younglings, I’ll spare you. Truce after all.” I spoke serenely but sternly.
“Claimere.” Those were the only words that came from the mouth of the would be kidnapper.
I let him believe whatever he wanted. Not that it was far from the truth, anyway.
“Zigur.”
A breath later, more teleportation glyphs activated around the two and they disappeared. The sealed space started to break down. It couldn’t take anymore discharges from the activities.
I turned to face a slightly smiling chosen one. I stood at a hair’s distance.
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Krigsain P.O.V.
“You sped up here, knowing I would be the only one capable of following you. You tricked an innocent one into a hazardous trap, many innocents lay dead outside, so much for preserving, chosen. Some friend you are. Akathos charges will be here shortly once the space breaks down.” A serene but powerful voice came forth.
‘I know. I know.’
“Do you know what I am?” The intense voice reverberated as he pressed a question.
[You sure this guy cannot be convinced, Great One?]
[You were given all information needed to make a decision, young one.]
“Executioner.” I answered flatly.
“I don’t like these little games you play, prospective sage.”
“This is all for the cause.” I answered again.
“Risking Andurian lives for the blood of enemies? There are many of us who don’t approve of you. We rather deal with the empire than with something like this.”
Massive pressure was felt. I couldn’t breathe.
[Help, Great One, help me.]
There was no answer.
“Don’t involve me in your games again. Ikrei is my responsibility, not you. If you ever do, I’ll kill you by my authority. The blades of retribution are not something for you to use. For you will never be Patriarch.”
Finishing his speech, he attacked.
SWOOSH! ZOOOM! DOOONG!
One intense three hit combo later. I lay bleeding on the floor on the verge of passing out.
[This outcome can be considered optimal for your plan. He will kill you next time, be mindful young one.]
‘That worked. I still got it!’
Drops of blood everywhere I joined my friends in their forced sleep.