Before Steven and I could even think, the monster lunged forward and thrusted his blades towards us. Using pure instincts, I raised Genki and completely stopped the monster's attack. When Steven realized what happened, he readied his spear and thrusted it towards the monster. The monster jumped back to avoid the attack and stayed at a distance.
"Is it time to use our aura?" Steven asked, looking over at me.
"Yeah!" I responded.
Flames began to rise up around my legs and continued to move upwards. As the flames continued moving up, I could feel all my senses becoming sharper. When my aura reached my hair, I could feel it rise upward.
I looked over at Steven and saw him surrounded by black flames. His body seemed almost shrouded by the darkness as he stood there. The same eerie feeling I felt before when I first saw his aura reappeared again. It was a feeling that I would have preferred not to experience again.
"Thanks for letting us power up." I said to the monster, looking over in his direction.
"It's only fair since you let me change into one of my strongest forms. Don't expect that from other monsters though, they couldn't care less about honor." The monster said with a smirk.
"Oh? Telling us about other monsters while we're fighting you? Do you think there's a chance of us beating you and taking down other monsters?" I smirked at the monster.
"You very well might. I would not mind falling to someone of your strength."
I looked back at Steven, "stay back and let me handle him. I want to find out who the better swordsman is."
Steven gave me a baffled look, "are you stupid? That's a terrible idea!"
I laughed at Steven's comment, "maybe so but if I want to reach the top of the tree I need to grow stronger. What better way is there to grow than to fight an opponent who has been blessed with talent for the sword?"
Steven went silent for a moment before letting out an annoyed sigh and deactivated his aura. He walked over to the wall near the entrance of the area and placed his spear against the wall before sitting down.
"Tell me, what is your name?" The monster said, readying himself.
"The name's John. John Yuji. I'll be the one to reach the top of this tree and end the drought that has consumed my village!" I said, readying Genki.
"Very well, John Yuji. I, Takamori Kuga, will be a roadblock you must overcome if you wish to accomplish that dream!"
"I wouldn't want it any other way!"