- Xiao, Kija, Lucifer, Death -
Xiao stomped his foot and shot forward in a burst of speed. He whipped his triple staff at Kija. Kija responded with a one-handed block of her club.
"It's good that Lao has someone he can learn the burst style from that isn't Sun," Lucifer commented.
Death's eyes darted around as he tracked the fight. "I still can't believe you thought Wukong would be a good teacher. Reminds me of when Zac tried to have me teach him 'scythe techniques'."
Xiao slid along the ice that Kija had covered the ground in. He stomped his foot, sending a shockwave that cracked the ice as it traveled.
Kija pushed in, swinging her club at the center of Xiao's body. The swings pushed Xiao to dodge in a way that made him lose his footing on the ice.
"She's using strategy?" Lucifer questioned.
Xiao slipped but readjusted mid-fall, dropping his entire body under Kija's swing. He tapped the ice with his palm and shot himself upward. He landed a hit on the side of Kija's face with his triple staff as he launched.
"You're more experienced with orcs than I am," Death's eyes followed Xiao. "Is strategy that unthinkable?"
Lucifer matched Death's following of Xiao. "In a duel, yes. 'Tactics are for warfare' is a popular saying - or was, when I was last in the territory."
Kija slammed her club down, creating, pillars of ice. She tapped the club on the ground once more, shattering the pillars and creating a vortex of ice shards.
Xiao spun as he fell toward the icy vortex. Wind formed around him, shielding him from most of the ice shards. He brought the end piece of his triple staff down onto Kija's left shoulder as his face received tiny cuts.
Kija had formed a small layer of ice on her shoulder before the attack landed but it wasn't enough. A loud crack echoed throughout the icy field.
"I think we should stop the match now," Death took a step forward. "She can't use that arm anymore."
Lucifer cautioned Death, "Don't. If she loses the other arm we will but one arm is nothing to an orc."
Death sighed, "I'm guessing there's another saying for that."
"Actually..."
Kija dropped her club and grabbed the end of Xiao's triple staff with her good arm. She yanked it, whipping Xiao toward her. She was expecting a kick to her face in response. She covered her face in ice and reared back her head.
Xiao swung his leg at Kija's head, wincing as she headbutted his shin. The throbbing pain in his leg made him lose confidence in the exchange. He kicked with the sole of his other foot and launched Kija back, letting go of his weapon in the process.
"Still able to use the burst even in those circumstances," Lucifer praised. "What kind of nightmare scenarios has he fought in?"
Death watched intently. "He's lost more in this life than any other Grim, it makes sense."
"Wait-" Lucifer turned his head.
The sound of Xiao's triple staff landing near Xiao interrupted Lucifer.
Kija huffed, "You'll need that," She covered her bad arm in ice. "I'm not tainting my victory."
Xiao looked at his triple staff and back to Kija. He stared at her frozen arm and gave a look of pity. He took a stance, not picking up his triple staff as he readied to move.
"I suppose you've earned this!" Kija shouted. "Don't you dare pity me!"
Kija did a long exhale through her mouth. White mist poured out as she breathed. Her skin started to tint blue.
"That's Shiri's ability," Lucifer whispered.
"Are they related?" Death asked.
"Not possible," Lucifer shook his head. "She's definitely Kinja's child."
Kija picked up her club. With every breath, she exhaled more and more white mist. Her body seemed to shiver with every movement.
Lucifer tried to explain things quickly to Death, "When Shiri and I had a duel centuries ago I thought it was strange that he didn't want any spectators other than Satan."
Xiao noticed Lucifer frantically talking with Death. He didn't know what was going on with Kija but he felt his instincts warn him. He picked up his triple staff and activated his contract.
Death was asking Lucifer questions, "What does this form do?"
Lucifer took a breath and calmed down once he noticed Xiao's concern. "I don't know much. It seems to be an aura that significantly lowers the temperature around the body of the user. That's all I know. Shiri and I didn't fight for much longer after he activated the form."
Xiao and Kija ran at each other. Xiao swung his triple staff at Kija's left side.
Kija's right index finger twitched. Her icy block of a left arm moved and met Xiao's attack. The ice shattered on the arm but the attack was stopped. Kija smiled as she jabbed her club toward Xiao's chest.
Xiao dropped his triple staff as he ducked under Kija's jab. He took a breath as he went to move forward and stood still for a second. The air around Kija's body was far colder than he expected. He coughed as his body shook from the sheer cold. His body felt as if it was seizing. The few seconds that he was still felt like an eternity as he watched Kija rear back her club.
Kija knew not to aim for Xiao's head as she swung her club. She aimed for Xiao's left shoulder. Her eyes widened as she saw blood spill from Xiao's lips.
Xiao bit down on his lips with enough force to rip them off. He clenched his right fist. A strong burst of wind blasted from the back of his right elbow. His fist shot forward and dug into Kija's side.
Kija's club came down on Xiao's shoulder with a thud, followed by a familiar cracking noise. Kija puked as she felt Xiao's fist bore into her liver. The two backed away from each other with quick steps. Xiao shook off Kija's vomit from his hand and stomped his foot into the ice, ready to charge once more.
"I concede!" Kija shouted while dropping her club and wiping her mouth.
Xiao's body shivered as he spoke. "W-why? I th-thought this is what you wanted?"
Kija laughed. "I wanted to see what humans are capable of," the blue tint faded from her body. "I don't want to fight until we're both bloody and bitter. We're not enemies and this is not a fight for power. I'm more than satisfie-" she winced as she felt the imprint of Xiao's fist on her skin.
Xiao deactivated his contract. "What was that form?"
Kija's breathing was ragged. "It's a long story. Read 'The Absolute' if you want to know more," she watched Lucifer approach her. "Where's the human that travels with you? I wanted a match with him as well."
"He's away on other business," Lucifer lied.
- Peter and Shiri -
Peter approached a large gate that had yuki guards on either side.
"I'm just here to see Shiri."
The gate opened. One of the guards told Peter something before letting him through.
"Tell Zero that we don't appreciate his visits."
Peter sighed, "He doesn't care."
Peter shivered a bit as he tightened his coat. He breathed white mist on his gloved hands as he walked through the yuki land. He kept his eyes forward as he went. He wanted to ignore the fact that there was only female yuki around. The conspicuous stares and whispers didn't help. He eventually found where Shiri was.
"Oh, Peter?" Shiri said.
Shiri was surrounded by mostly male yukis with only a few members of the crowd being female. Shiri pushed through the crowd of starry-eyed yuki and made his way to Peter.
"Thank you again, Zero," One of the crowd members said.
Shiri glanced back. "I'm not Zero!" he walked up close to Peter. "Is something wrong? Are the others okay?"
Peter looked to the side of Shiri at the crowd. "Everythin' is fine, no worries. I'm just tryin' to avoid a pissin' contest."
"Why would they hold a contest for pissing?" one crowd member asked.
Shiri chuckled nervously, "Let's go somewhere less crowded."
"Before you go!" Various members of the crowd said before stumbling up to Shiri. "Please sign our text!"
The crowd members held up a white book with the words "The Absolute" on it.
Shiri turned to the crowd. "Fine but please do not spread the message that I'm Zero or their vessel."
After Shiri was done quickly signing the books, the two went to an indoor cafe. They sat at a table next to a fireplace. A demon waiter with light red skin and only one side-horn put two cups of tea down before walking away. Peter was reading a copy of "The Absolute" while Shiri was lying his head down on the table.
"Thank, Onoda," Peter waved as his eyes scanned the pages of the book.
Shiri groaned as he turned his head on the table, "I think things were easier when they were hostile to me. This 'Zero' stuff has gotten so far out of control that the matriarch is concerned I'm trying to lead a revolution."
Peter put his cup down as he recited lines from the book. "'All life is energy. Cold is the absence of that energy. To wield the cold is to wield the entropy of existence. Absolute zero is next to the void in finality. In our pursuit of strength, we seek a means to replicate the end. Cold is an absolute.'"
Shiri rubbed his head. "I remember when I first heard of the concept of absolute zero. The things human scientists have discovered were always fascinating to me so I thought it was innocent enough information. I should have guessed that things were going to turn out this way..."
Peter closed the book. "Yuki do seem more spiritual than demons. There are only a handful of groups in Hell that worship Fors and Fortuna."
Shiri groaned again as he dug his face into his arms. His tone was muffled as he spoke.
"I know my kind is spiritual I just didn't expect them to view me as an emissary."
Peter took a sip from his tea and laughed, "Yer one of the oldest livin' yuki, and ya were the one to first start spreadin' the information. I'm just surprised Satan didn't warn ya beforehand," He looked to the side. "Actually, no, that's in character for him. Probably thought it would be funny."
Shiri lifted his head up and looked at the fireplace. "I've sworn on my name a hundred times to Lord Satan that I'm not trying to use my position with the yuki in Hell to cause any problems," He grinned. "I owe Satan more than I can ever repay; I never want him to question my loyalty."
Peter gave a begrudging nod of agreement. "...Yeah. If there's one thing he does better than most, it's keepin' good company."