Seventeen was relentless.
The sheer force of the strikes he continuously made was pushing Arthur back. He is not getting a single opportunity to recover.
Sparks flew as the black blade of Nyx collided with the purple-tinged edge of Ghost.
'Seriously. Does sir have infinite stamina? He's not even pausing for a second!', he thought
[You seem to be in a pickle.]
'What do you want?', Arthur asked Inferno in his mind as numerous cuts appeared on his body. Each wound was unnaturally cold and they stung like crazy.
Despite Arthur's newly toughened skin, he is still getting injured. That shows how terrifyingly strong his instructor is.
[You could ask me for help.]
'And lose control? No, thank you. Did you forget how I almost burned down the dorm with your not-so-helpful help?'
[How could I know that your attribute control was so shit?]
'I lacked an attribute for my whole life. You were inside me and didn't know that?', Arthur countered.
[I was asleep, plus how can you not understand my simple instructions?]
'Define simple instructions.'
[Imagine fire and let it go, poof.]
'WHAT IN ARTHEMIA'S NAME DOES POOF EVEN MEAN?', Arthur yelled internally, losing his focus.
"Arthur, stop talking to Inferno in your mind and focus.", Seventeen's voice suddenly broke his thoughts.
"Huh?", he was taken aback but his eyes widened as a black blade filled his vision.
"Shit!", streaming magia into his legs and releasing his presence at the same time, Arthur leaped backward as Seventeen sliced the floor like cake.
How did Seventeen know he was talking to Inferno? Can he read minds?
[I tell you, kid, your instructor is not human.]
Arthur shook his head, he should worry about that later.
He knows that Seventeen is holding back a lot in this spar against him but he is still too strong.
Time to switch tactics.
As soon as his feet hit the floor he threw five knives at his opponent. Seventeen simply dodged them all and casually swung his sword into empty space.
Arthur gritted his teeth. That is bad. Seventeen just severed the magia strings connected to the knives
"Oh well.", he took a deep breath and focused on his senses. After his awakening, his senses and reflexes have amplified to a higher degree that he doesn't need to stream magia into them.
He can hear the slightest movement of air caused by the smallest twitch of Seventeen's sword and the soft brush of his boots on the floor.
But that's it.
He should also be hearing the tensing of each of his opponent's muscles, his heartbeat, his very breath but he can feel nothing from Seventeen. He can only hear a faint musical tinkle.
The sound of flowing magia.
It was like he was facing one of the statues in Oserion's Palace, but one that is leagues more powerful.
'Just what in the world are you, sir?'
'Let's think about that later. Now, I can sort of predict his next strike.', he thought, using his genius intellect to come up with many strategies.
Seventeen had told him to calmly figure out his new abilities. Weirdly enough, he is doing that in the middle of this battle.
'It is no Catharsis but close enough. I hope. Now, shall we test my new physique?"
He stopped holding back his strength and leaned forward. The floor cracked as his legs launched him forward.
Without even putting his foot down for the next step, Arthur appeared right in front of a wide-eyed Seventeen who swiftly went for his neck.
But for Arthur, the strike was kind of slow. In a split second, he planted his foot forward and used the leverage of that contact to stop himself and lean back just as the blade passed a mere inch from his neck.
He lost his balance and fell backward. But at that time, he aimed an upward kick at Seventeen's chin at such a speed that it was almost a flicker.
But to Arthur's surprise, Seventeen casually leaned back and avoided the kick, followed by a straight kick on Arthur's chest.
The young Night was blown away by the kick but he quickly recovered and broke his fall.
"Amazing! That was a good one. You used your new strength and enhanced senses properly.", Seventeen clapped.
"You just need to control it a bit.", he said, pointing at the place where Arthur planted his foot, a deep imprint was pressed into the floor.
Arthur got up and flexed his shoulder, "Honestly, my strength is starting to scare me.", he spoke in a slightly worried tone.
Seventeen gave him a reassuring smile, "No need to be scared of it. You just need to control it and with your finesse at controlling magia, controlling your strength will be quite easy."
"Speaking of magia control. Why are you not using liquid magia against me?", he inquired, standing casually.
Arthur took out a glass vial of liquid magia from his storage ring. He opened it and willed the magia to rise from the vial and encircle his wrist.
He focused a bit more and the revolving liquid magia smoothened out and formed a bracelet that glowed bright blue.
"Good control.", Seventeen remarked, "And keeping the liquid magia in that state also saves you the hassle of taking out the vial in the middle of the battle."
Arthur smiled at the compliment, "Thanks, sir. But I won't be using it now. I still have some fine-tuning and I want to surprise everyone in the Battle Festival."
He looked at Seventeen, "Including you and Miss Ruth."
"Very well.", Seventeen nodded, "I'll look forward to your surprise."
"Now then, have you tried partial transformation?", he asked as Arthur willed the liquid magia back into the vial.
He rubbed his head, "I don't know if it was trying but I woke up today with a tail."
"Hmm.", Seventeen thought about it, "Could be an unconscious transformation."
[You were just dreaming of hugging a huge snake.]
"Shut up Inferno.", Arthur said aloud and realized his slip-up.
Flustered, he looked at an amused Seventeen, "Sorry. That guy was goading me."
The instructor gave a muffled laugh, "It's fine. You'll get used to it."
Before Arthur could inquire about that response, Seventeen spoke up, "Speaking of Inferno. You can only coat your blade with flames right now."
"So avoid using Inferno's flames during the tournament. Use them only as a last resort, when you are on the brink.", he instructed.
Arthur nodded. Inferno, Seventeen, and Ruth are still figuring out his newly acquired attribute and it will take some time. He had already decided against the use of the flames in the tournament.
As much as he wants to show the world that he is no longer the incompetent child of the Night Family who can't use an attribute, he realizes the danger if he lost control of the Purity Flames.
Even if it is weak, the Purity Flames can still cause extensive damage.
[Awww. Look who's worried. I say let the weak burn if they can't handle even the weakest of my flames.]
'Shut it.', Arthur sighed. Things are going to be quite difficult with the new roommate in his mind.
Seventeen summoned his sword and casually swung it, creating a gust of wind.
"The form in which you awakened at the island is actually considered the true form of a dragon half-blood. Usually, the first awakening is the hardest to achieve but subsequent awakenings after that are much easier.", he explained.
Arthur nodded. He had read about dragon half-bloods in the past and was very fascinated by them.
Who knew he would turn out to be one of them?
"There are some things that I would like to discuss but let's do that at a later time.", Seventeen nodded to him.
"Now remember the feeling you had when you first awakened and try to recreate that. Let's start with your left arm."
Arthur had an uncertain look, "Um. I was kind of dead when I first awakened and I was unconscious after awakening as well."
"Ah yes.", Seventeen said, looking awkward, "But still. Did you feel anything that time? Try to remember. It could even be something insignificant like an itch or a funny nose."
"That's a weird way to put it.", Arthur frowned as he looked through any memory of that time.
"Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to remember. Enter your Mindscape", Seventeen suggested.
Arthur followed his teacher's advice, trying to recall the events that happened that night. As expected there was a gap in his memories after his consciousness faded and the next thing he remembers was meeting Inferno in his Mindscape for the first time.
He went back again to the gap in his memories and peered deep into the void. He shut off everything around him until silence and nothingness surrounded him.
A long time passed and Arthur wondered if there was even anything when he noticed it.
A faint feeling of something rushing in his body. Power?
No this is more fluid. Liquid magia?
That's not possible. He is human, well, a half-blood.
Wait. That's it. Blood.
It was the feeling of blood rushing to every part of his body but there is something different.
'Hey, Inferno. How did you awaken my half-blood form?'
[Oh now you want my help?]
'Just tell me, please."
[There's the magic word.]
[Fine. I infused magia into your blood. Normally magia doesn't mix with blood as the Paths and blood vessels remain separate. Magia paths are flexible, so I used my own superior magia to connect a Path to a major artery, awakening the sleeping dragon in your blood.]
'Is that the only way?'
[There are different ways to awaken but the one I explained right now is efficient and a bit painful.]
'Oh, I hate you.'
[Well, that is the most efficient way. Just use the magia flowing in your Paths to create a branch and connect to your bloodstream. If you are partially transforming your hand, use a Path in your hand.]
[But be careful. Infusing your magia with your blood is risky, especially in your case since you are a dragon half-blood. The moment you do that, the primal instincts of your draconian half will awaken as well.]
[You must suppress it, kid. Or don't. Either way, your instructor will beat the shit out of you. So how about we try my flames and-]
Arthur cut Inferno off and opened his eyes and nodded at Seventeen, "I think I found something. Inferno also gave some tips."
He nodded, "That's good. That flame head did promise to help you become strong."
[Who are you calling a flame head?! Hey kid! Switch with me. I want to have a word with Seventeen!]
'Yeah. No. I'm not. Now shush.'
He put Ghost away and focused on his left arm and sensed a Path parallel to a blood vessel He increased the magia flow rate on a singular area on the Path.
He imagined a branch extending from that area of the Path to the blood vessel and increased his focus on magia control. The branch formed quickly and it was painful.
Arthur gritted his teeth and took some deep breaths. It felt like a hot needle slowly moving inside his arm.
Enduring the pain, he finally connected the Path to his blood vessel. Magia flowed into the vessel and infused with his blood, awakening his draconian side.
He doubled over, clutching his head as a primal instinct tried to take over his body.
Arthur stood his ground and fought the instinct with all his willpower while focusing on his arm which has started to change drastically.
His fingers curled and his nails grew longer, tougher, and sharper as his hand turned draconian. His skin burned and started disintegrating, revealing jet-black scales.
With every passing second, the primal instinct threatened to overwhelm him and take control of his body.
Something is seriously wrong.
His face started burning and when he touched it he can feel the texture of scales on his face, his teeth elongated and he can feel his hair growing.
A terrifying growl escaped his throat and an earthshaking presence erupted out of him. The walls of the training hall cracked and started crumbling as they struggled to contain the presence.
The instinct grew stronger and Arthur is losing control. In the middle of the struggle he thought about what happened, he only wanted to transform his arm, not his body!
The mental strain is becoming too much for him to handle. He has to stop this!
[You infused too much magia into your blood! Half of your body is transforming! Sever the connection! Sever it!]
Inferno's voice yelled in his mind amidst the chaos.
Heeding the spirit's advice, he tried to cut the connection, but his draconian instinct is preventing him from doing it!
He can feel his shoulder blade growing and stretching his skin as his left draconian wing has started to form.
Arthur took a deep breath but it is no use, the instinct is winning. He yelled out in pain but what came out was a roar mixed with his voice. Flames began to flicker on his draconian left arm.
What should he do? He's losing the battle of willpower!
"Alright, let's stop."
Seventeen appeared in front of him and struck him in the throat, Arthur's consciousness faded as he blacked out.
*******
"Inferno! Take control now!
Seventeen yelled as the draconian side emerged as soon as Arthur lost consciousness and growled menacingly.
Immediately the massive presence stopped and Arthur's body stopped transforming. His eyes which were draconian just a moment ago turned bright blue as Inferno took the wheel.
The spirit whistled through Arthur's mouth, "That went south quickly."
He stood straight and summoned Purity Flames. The blue flames burned away the scales and soon Inferno turned Arthur's body back to normal.
"Looks like cutting his hair was a waste.", Inferno remarked as he held and observed Arthur's hair which has quickly grown past his shoulders.
Seventeen glared at him, "You seriously suggested magia infusion into the blood?"
"The kid had good magia control. That was the efficient method. And it worked!", Inferno defended himself.
Seventeen scoffed, "Oh it definitely worked. Too well, in fact."
Inferno raised his arms, "Yeah, there was that. He accidentally infused too much magia."
He continued, "If he gets the measurements right, he'll be able to pull off a partial transformation. But it will require tons of practice."
"Hmm.", Seventeen thought about it. He then looked at Inferno, "Is he awake?"
"He's stirring. Guess I should switch."
"You should."
Inferno smirked, "We should have times like this."
He closed Arthur's eyes and when they opened, they were back to their usual amethyst purple.
The young man blinked and looked around in confusion, "Did I black out?"
He looked at his body and was shocked to find out its back to normal, "How?", he asked in bewilderment.
"Inferno helped out.", Seventeen clapped his shoulder with a smile, "You alright, Arthur?"
The young Night gave a weak smile, "Exhausted but I'm fine. That was a disaster."
"You did fine. Just need lots of practice.", Seventeen reassured him.
(He has a long road ahead, Seventeen.)
'Yeah.", Seventeen replied internally.
He looked at the broken and cracked walls of the training hall, exposing the broken magia absorbing crystals and the floor.
He patted Arthur's head.
"Let's not do the half-blood transformation in the tournament.", he suggested.
"Yeah. I agree."