Though in theory the First Island Master’s method of battle could have been part of a plan to provide a fair challenge for John, he was absolutely certain it was meant to embarrass him. The only thing she was doing was maintaining a cyclone, but it was powered by a significant gap in ranks.

He felt her spiritual energy weakening the bonds he was making with the platform below, the only thing allowing him to barely keep his footing. He nearly slipped up as she suddenly twisted the direction of her tornado, but he was used to handling difficult to predict gusts. He’d just never thought it would be so practical as more than an introduction to the air element.

His spiritual energy would give out soon. John knew that… and it would be a rather pathetic loss. He knew he wouldn’t be able to strike Abritt with an attack, as his ranged weapons would be bound up in her winds, and attacks made purely of spiritual energy would be torn apart. She wasn’t close enough for him to attack with his sword, and there was a good chance it would be torn from his grasp anyway. Actually… he sheathed his weapon.

Some might have taken that as a sign of surrender, but Abritt clearly didn’t intend to let up unless he said the words- or was tossed out of the arena. John really hoped that neither would happen, though in reality he could only expect to delay the moment longer.

He did have one thing prepared though. He reached deep inside himself, stoking the flames in his dantian. He’d been ready for a while, but now was the time. He began to break through for a while, and had considered doing it before or during his battle with Sitora. However, he had been confident enough in passing that challenge without.

He grit his teeth as five elements- with just the slightest trace of a sixth- built pressure inside of him. This wasn’t going to grant him victory, but it was a statement. Not one that he needed to break through to stand against her- since he would remain five ranks lower. Instead, it was a statement that he could break through whenever he wanted. That he had real talent… and she was an old woman who seemed to be stuck in her cultivation. Not that all of that would come through clearly.

The surge of energy within him caused a single twitch in the flow of energy from Abritt. That was all, but John felt a relief in pressure. Obviously, he was still going to get worn down. But he already knew he wasn’t going to win, at least in terms of being victorious. That was why he’d set himself personal goals, and if Abritt continued as she was… he would absolutely achieve them.

The breakthrough was the first. It was straightforward enough. The second goal was to learn what he could about Abritt from the battle. He’d assumed it would be an actual battle, and had been prepared to go down in a short time. This was far better, as he was able to observe her energy for a long time. More than that, she was twisting and turning to try to catch him off guard.

Abritt revealed a lot from the way she changed the motion of her winds. The earth element she used to try to unbind his own was also quite clear to him. He considered trying to burn it all away, forcing a minor victory there. Instead, he only countered with what fire and water element he had to spare, matching his levels to his earth and air which were directly countering the winds.

He stood firm, his head high. He could see she had expected him to falter before now, and she was getting frustrated. She would step up her assault, he had no doubt about that. But forcing her to launch an actual attack- one for which he reserved enough of his energy to shield himself, just in case- or at least use her full power was good enough for him.

Elements cycled within him, strengthening each other just enough for him to resist. Until she moved from the center of the arena and began to approach. Both the force of her winds and the way she tore at the roots binding him to the platform began to intensify. However, John redoubled his own efforts, taking in the patterns she had to predict changes in tempo. He also grew more tangible roots, reaching around the platform he was holding his position on and twisting around it. They were stronger, but conversely more vulnerable to direct assault.

It seemed Abritt had enough pride to not directly assault them, instead using her own energy to dismantle his technique. It was slower than before, but she had more spiritual energy of each type to call on. And she grew more powerful the closer she got.

John managed to last until she stepped onto the platform next to him. He really wanted to force her hand to at least shove him away… but ultimately he found he wasn’t strong enough. Nor was his technique up to par, but he had learned quite a lot about how she operated and how he would counter her in the future.

The roots holding John to the platform tore away, and he was blasted out of the arena in a single instant. He stabilized his momentum over the stands, the winds not stretching beyond. John remained tense, prepared to create a defensive barrier- he would allow himself to be blasted off the island, if necessary to survive. But Abritt seemed to be aware of the gazes watching, including that of the other Island Masters who were not doubt fixated on the battle from their own positions.

It was pride, not honor, that held her hand. She might have been willing to have Morana dirty her hands, but Abritt would not taint her own.

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“You are a century too early to even think of beating me. Your loss was total and complete.”

John agreed, though not entirely. “I accept my loss.” He walked over to Viriato and the other two. He gestured for them to follow. He began to walk away, then stopped. He projected his voice, scattering it across the island, and to the other peaks below. “Nine years. I invite any and all challengers from the Sky Islands to come to the tournament in Astrein at that time.”

He didn’t have to look or even use his energy senses to detect the frown on Abritt’s face. He returned to his previous pace, heading straight for the nearest edge of the island. He wasn’t quite fleeing, but he didn’t want to give Abritt an opportunity to change her mind.

He let himself glide back towards the Second Peak. In his exhausted state, it was much easier than proper flight. When he landed, Sitora was waiting for him.

“How amusing,” she said. “I am quite interested to see this tournament of yours.” She frowned slightly. “You have great faith in yourself. Five more ranks in nine years? To surpass even myself in that time… it will be more difficult than you think.”

“And why should I need to grow five ranks?” John asked. “I just need to win.” He didn’t mention that the arenas he would be using would be much more in his favor. Even if he allowed a random option, the arenas of the First Peak were made specifically to cater to the Island Masters and the other inhabitants of the Sky Islands. But John didn’t think it would be unreasonable to set up a perfectly neutral arena for himself.

“You can rest here,” Sitora said. “But, I wouldn’t stay too long.”

John nodded. He didn’t intend to give Abritt to much time to stew, and even if no direct insult to her had been offered he’d still made her lose some face, having to increase her efforts to defeat him.

-----

John was still digesting the flow of energy Abritt had as they reached the closest island to the continent. They still had quite a distance to go, since it had taken them a few days of sailing to reach it. On the way, John hadn’t worried about potentially being followed by those with ill intent. Unless Abritt herself came, he wasn’t concerned. With Sitora backing him up at least to some extent, and two of the remaining three Island Masters having a vaguely positive relationship with him, he didn’t let himself be concerned.

If Morana tried to kill him with one hand and a smaller gap in rank? She would die. Or if she brought sufficient armies to challenge him, they would just jump. The four of them were already intending to drop down to the sea below, so it wasn’t as if enemy techniques that stopped them from flying would be a real issue.

Nor could any sort of technique expect to hold up for the entire ten kilometer or more drop, so they would be free regardless of whether or not they eventually fought it off. More importantly, all of them had the water element so it was not as deadly to crash into the ocean at terminal velocity as one might expect. It was something they had discussed before flying up, given that Viriato couldn’t fly on his own and the other two could only barely manage. Or at least, that was how they had been before coming.

Everyone had made advancements in insight into their own spiritual elements- and potentially prospective ones. John and Ayhan already had both earth and air, but Viriato might be picking up both of those eventually- in a theoretical world where his advancement continued unhindered. Either way, the insights would be valuable for his future decisions. Lir was of course going to attune to earth for her fourth totem, though she still had to reach the peak of the Soul Expansion Phase.

The two disciples were at the twenty-third rank, but John had no doubt they would advance to the twenty-fourth in short order. Viriato was higher rank so his advancement would be a bit slower, and reaching the thirty-second rank for him meant reaching the mid Consolidated Soul Phase. The experience would certainly bring him much closer to that point.

The group of four descended, gliding away from the Sky Islands. They could all swim with supernatural speed as cultivators of the water element, but it was still less convenient. John provided the bulk of the energy binding them all together, with Lir and Ayhan supporting with their own air element.

-----

They reached the Wuthering Steppes first on their return journey. Viriato had business there, discussing potential trade with the Sky Islands with them. The important thing was that the Wuthering Steppes allow it, given their previous altercations with the Sky Islands. It hadn’t been anything serious, but there was still bitterness. However, the groundwork had already been laid.

“Do you think we’ll actually manage anything soon?” John asked. Cultivators could move slowly, and there were also logistical issues when one had to fly ten kilometers vertically.

Viriato shrugged. “Before the tournament? I doubt there will be much of anything. Perhaps probes from Sitora, as the most amenable Island Master. But even then, politics might stay her hand. Still, I was able to get my hands on some interesting samples… and I greased a few palms with treasures that can only be found on the continent.”

There was some risk at showing wealth, however John firmly believed that the continent would win if there was a war immediately. The enemy only had four Ascending Soul Phase cultivators, if they could somehow all be convinced to commit to a true assault. Abritt would be an issue, but plans had been made. Now that he knew their strength, John judged that Cua’arn could match Abritt at least for a time.

With Renato, Steve, Yusina, John… they had more than enough to match the rest. The Sky Islands were close to having a few more Ascending Soul Phase cultivators, but at best John thought they could dominate one or two of the regions. Trusted members of the Alliance made up at least five elemental regions, plus the Wuthering Steppes or whoever was attacked directly.

The goal was to not have a war, of course. But they would be preparing regardless. If it wasn’t a war… he hoped they would peaceably join the tournament, in which case they would be fighting anyway. Abritt might be a problem there, but John truly did believe he could achieve victory in nine years.

Of course, he was completely unprepared for what actually happened.