Mane calmly walked towards the peak 9th stage earth wielder. He didn't look tense at all. It wasn't because he had the ability to easily take on peak earth wielders, but because the man he was facing didn't have the battle prowess of a true peak stage earth wielder. He didn't even need to use spirit scan on the man. He could easily tell from the fluctuations of energy the man was giving that although he had a large pool of inner energy, his true battle prowess was merely at the peak of the 6th stage of the earth realm. If he was a Celestial, Mane wouldn't be confident in taking him on. But he was a merely a Zandorian who had gotten his hands on power he didn't understand. As Mane drew closer to his opponent, he Abe's figure brushed past him in a blur and descended mightily upon the 3rd stage earth wielder. Just when the leader (the 9th stage earth wielder) was about to intercept Abe's charge, Mane arrived before him and sent a punch his way.
*Bam*
*Bam*
Mane's punch was blocked without much sophistication, and Abe's attack did nothing to faze his opponent either. Abe had recalled the large hammer. Since he was facing a pretty decent opponent, it wouldn't be wise to display his lack of mastery of the hammer. He would rather fight unarmed. Besides, he was eager to try his newly unlocked glow.
Mane wasn't concerned that his punch was easily intercepted. He avoided the sword that was stabbing his way by shifting his body weight to the right, and countered with a spinning roundhouse kick in fluid motion.
*Boom*
Mane's kick was reinforced by the earth elements, so it was as heavy as a bell. Although the leader had raised his sword to block the attack just in time, he was pushed back by the sheer force that accompanied the kick. Mane rushed to the man, aided by the speed of the wind elements, and quickly delivered a smooth roundhouse kick to his temple.
*Boom*
In his disoriented state the kick struck its target and sent him flying backwards like a broken puppet. However, he was a veteran after all. Although he was unfamiliar in the use of the strength he had suddenly gained overnight, his instincts as a soldier were still present. He managed to keep his footing, and furiously backpedaled to create some space between himself and Mane. After retreating sizable distance, he dashed towards the incoming Mane with his sword in hand.
Mane conjured an earth shield to deflect the incoming sword, leaving his opponent wide open. He then summoned some fire which coated his wrist like a glove, and struck the unfortunate man.
*Bam*
The punch struck the leader directly on his chest. This time he didn't maintain his balance. He allowed the momentum of the punch to send him backwards and rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames. He then flipped back up when the flames died out.
"How can you use so many elements with such proficiency" he asked, terrified at what he had just witnessed. Mane didn't see the need to answer him. This was the disadvantage of a blessing. Although blessings allowed one access to a large amount of inner energy, one wouldn't be of any true threat unless they could really use the energy. This man was a good example. Mane could feel the fluctuations of the earth elements around the man. He should be an earth elementalist. Yet his understanding of the element paled greatly in comparison to the large pool of inner energy he had access to. It was the same as having an amazing sports car, but not the ability to drive it. Unless you finally learned how to correctly drive the car, it would be wasted on you. So in this man's case, his speed of conjuring the earth elements couldn't even be compared to an initial stage earth wielder. And in a fight against someone like Mane, conjuring speed was always a factor. So he wasn't even getting the chance to use the earth. If he had attained his wielding level through his own hard work and comprehensions, he would have been more than capable of using the earth like it was his third arm.
"You are right. I am wasting too many elements on you. Fire should be more than enough to deal with you" Mane was ruthless with his words. And the leader was rightly angered by what he heard. He run towards Mane at full speed and activated his most treasured technique.
"Sword Arts: Penetrating Hilt"
Penetrating Hilt was a technique their Master had passed on to him. Although he hadn't studied it for long, he was able to use it quite well. This technique made even the bluntest of sticks as sharp as a sword. When used with a sword, it was capable of splitting the air itself. That was his greatest talent – his ability to easily comprehend sword arts.
*Clang*
The leader watched wide-eyed as he precious skill was blocked by a swing of Mane's sword. Mane was initially planning to meet the strike with a punch. But his instincts warned him otherwise. As a scholar, Mane had sharper instincts now. He couldn't ignore them when they said the sword was dangerous. So Mane unsheathed his sword and blocked the attack with a skill he learnt from his masters. He then countered with another skill.
"Prideful sword: Guard of the half-moon"
"Prideful sword: Dance of the half-moon"
*Clang*
Mane was a bit surprised to see his technique blocked by his opponent. The man seemed to have great affinity with the sword. Even so, Mane continued with his assault. However, he wasn't only attacking. The opponent was so good that he also countered with his own moves every now and then.
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
Mane was forced back after several blows, and so was his opponent. He realized he had underestimated the man. Although his opponent's power wasn't truly his own, his comprehension of the sword was. Mane couldn't help but wonder what the man could become if he rose up with his own strength. Or if he was given a few more years to stabilize his power and grow.
"Unfortunately there isn't any hope for a person who is blessed" Mane sadly thought. This man was clearly talented. But his Master didn't care about that. Whoever his Master was, that person was more eager to get a lot of wielders under his/her control than he/she was in gaining true talents. Besides, even if he wasn't blessed, there was no way Mane would allow him to survive since they were enemies.
"Prideful Sword: Wrath of the Half-Moon" Mane muttered silently as he activated a technique that was the strongest sword skill he had in his arsenal. The winds stirred around him, and the ground below him cracked apart at the momentum that was being gathered. The leader furrowed his brows at the unusual scene. But he wasn't flustered. He too activated his own killer technique and created his own natural phenomenon. The power behind his skill didn't lose out to Mane's in any way.
"Sword Arts: Forceful Sword"
The two rushed towards each other. In less than a second, they were almost upon each other. At the last moment Mane activated another technique
"Star Flicker"
The leader's expression changed when he lost Mane's figure.
*puchi*
"How" he muttered in pain? Mane pulled out the sword lodged in the man's chest and sheathed it without bothering to wipe off the blood. Their techniques had similar strengths. In order to ensure he would come out as the victor, he resorted to using Star Flicker. The boost in speed had taken his opponent by surprise, and the close tie had ended pretty simply.
Mane walked away from the fallen man towards Abe. He had barely taken half a dozen steps when he felt the aura that was slowly fading behind him, soar once again. He turned quickly, only to see the man who should have been dead, stand up once again. The hole in his chest was sealed up and his eyes were blank.
"Possession" Mane uttered when he witnessed the strange phenomenon. He was furious. Possession was a dangerous skill. This man's Master had used this skill as a failsafe in case they failed their mission. It allowed a person to fight when they were killed, whether they approved of it or not. The price was their soul. Instead of their souls being collected by the grim reaper, they would be truly destroyed.
"Celeritas"
"Viribus"
"Vitae"
"Arma impia"
"Augendae armis"
He casted a speed lease, a strength lease, and a vitality lease. The fourth lease he used was the one he had made himself. It covered him with an armour tailor made to accommodate his beast fighting form. The last one strengthened his armor.
"Brimstone" Mane activated the dangerous glow he inherited from his reckless father. His entire body was engulfed in blue flames that burnt the ground he stood on. He was angry. Angry that someone's master could be so heartless. Angry that he was killing people who were only pawns on the chessboard of another. Angry that his only solution was to destroy all that stood in his way. Angry that the planet he grew up on was now embroiled in a war outsiders had begun. He was angry. He was mad. And he let it all out.
*Boom*
His fire exploded like several detonated TNTs. He crouched into his wolf beast form and took a long hard look at possibly the most gifted sword master he had ever faced. It was disheartening to think that this man would never be reborn, for once Possession was activated his only destination was true death. After recollecting his thoughts, he sped towards the possessed man.