Yamada awoke in a single bed, with a thin ragged blanket. It was one of many beds that lined the entire dull dusty concrete room. He sat up confused, taking in his surroundings. His muscles were no longer sore, but he was still had trouble using his Arcane energy, and he was also naked under the blanket. At the foot of his bed, was a folded Kāṣāya, of dull yellow and brown. He quickly wrapped himself, slowly making his way out of the long room of beds. He had almost forgotten how it felt to feel things on his bare feet. The cold smooth stone and dirt between his toes. Yamada found himself navigating the hallways, made of tall wooden pillars, with lattices stretching along them. Chequered beams of sunbeams poured in. Yamada hesitantly peered out the lattice, seeing the cities floating in the clouds. He froze in awe, slowly walking down the hallway, locked onto the city outside, bathed in warm sunlight.
Cities of pavilions and pagodas lined the sky. Each one floated and bobbed in the air, encircling each other. Yamada enthralled by the scenery sprinted down the hallway to a clearing. He froze in place. He had entered into the courtyard, filled with men and women in a tight and synced formation. They practiced their katas and stances, each time letting out a chant with their motion. Their Kāṣāyas shot into the air, with each motion exuding a burst or Arcane energy. The men where all bald, and the women wore their hair short or in a simple pony tail. The leader of the training session raised his hand, spotting Yamada, and halted the session. The men and women froze, before all deeply bowing to him. "Your friends are waiting for you, Master Ken. They are by the dining hall. Please follow the path." Yamada said nothing, simply staring at him confused with bulging eyes. He awkwardly slipped past the smiling group, before sprinting off.
He followed the path and soon heard a familiar voice. "What do you mean, I have to do chores?" A whining voice, that he could tell, even under water. Yamada felt a wave of relief. He entered into large courtyard, filled with Kaioni trees, intricately cut into different drakens. The ground made of giant slabs of concrete squares. Jacara stood in front of Ichibae, standing at the same height as him, while he sat down comfortably. His Kāṣāya was worn incorrectly, and sagged in other places. "You must earn your keep. It is not fair to the others." Ichibae said, stroking his chin. "Fine, I'll do the chores, but why can't I use my magic?" "Because I said so." "Jacara!" Yamada said relieved. "Yamada?" Jacara was puzzled, before terrified, as Yamada forced a hug on him. He wheezed feeling his bones being crushed. He eked out a response. "Crus...hing..." "Son of Osore." Yamada released Jacara. He fell to the ground clutching his chest, gasping for air. "Learn some damn restraint!" He cried out. Yamada ignored him, turning to Ichibae wearing a sly grin. He clenched his fists. Ichibae quickly raised his hands into the air. "Sorry, sorry. I did not mean to anger you." "How do you know my mother's name? How do you know who I am? Are you apart of that damn cult?" Yamada shouted getting into Ichibae's face.
Jacara attempted to pull Yamada away, to no avail. "Yamada, don't! He saved our lives." "I need to know, how he knows my mother's name!" "Because she was once a master here." Yamada stood there stunned. "I'm honestly surprised, she didn't tell you about us. Very hurtful really." He pouted. Jacara grimaced, gesturing for him to stop talking, and avoid the topic. "She was killed, when I was five." "Oh." His eyes bulged shocked. He looked over to Jacara face palming. Ichibae stood up towering over Yamada, placing a hand onto his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hea-" Yamada shrugged him off. "Don't. I won't take your damn pity." Ichibae sighed pulling his hand away. "You must be hungry. Come, your friend is waiting for us." Yamada begrudgingly followed Ichibae into the dining hall. Jacara followed after him, keeping his distance from Yamada.
"You must eat it!" A woman grunted. "NO!" Ul'lanna cried out. Yamada sprinted past Ichibae, summoning his armour. "Ul'lanna!" He yelled, before freezing. Ul'lanna was being held down by two women, with another trying to feed her a plate of vegetables. "Yamada!" She cried out relief. "Help! They're trying to make me eat this poison." "I...but...huh?" He banished his armour, scratching his head. One of the women holding her arms, pinched her nose shut, and the other forced the mouthful of vegetables down her mouth. Ichibae placed a hand onto his shoulder. "She was very malnourished, when we found her. Originally we thought, she had been starved from lack of supplies, but-" "She loves sweet things only." Jacara said walking past. "BLEH!" Ul'lanna shouted, thrashing in their grips, gagging on the vegetables. "NO!" She cried out seeing the spoon raised in front of her again.
"Please sit Yamada, once you have eaten. We will talk further." Ichibae left, without saying anything. Yamada slowly slumped into his seat across from Ul'lanna, sitting beside Jacara, as they watched the women force the last spoon down. They left in a huff, with Ul'lanna slumped on the table. She sobbed gently. "Did you want me to help make you a glass?" She shook her head. "I'm full..." She sobbed, banging her head on the table. "Can't you just make her a small glass?" Yamada asked. Jacara shot him a glare. He stood up showing his flapping Kāṣāya. "Can't. They took my damn cards, and every time, I try to use any magic. Someone comes running out to stop me." Jacara sighed slumping on the table. "Wait really?" Jacara held his hand up opening a Fire gate. A fork whizzed past stabbing into the table in front of them. Yamada reeled backed stunned. He spotted a cook glaring at Jacara. "Told you."
"How long, have we been here?" He whispered. "Three conscious days for us. Less than an hour for your sleeping ass." Ul'lanna mumbled. "Should have just turned back to the Silver City." She muttered. "Vegetables are-" Ul'lanna lunged at Yamada, snatching his Kāṣāya. She pulled him in close, smashing her forehead into his. "You tell me that vegetables are good for me, and I'll burn your balls off. Am I understood!?" She growled. Yamada nervously nodded. She returned to slumping over the table. He rubbed his chest, feeling a shiver run through his body. "At least you know how to wear a Kāṣāya." He said with a nervous smile. "I will kill you." Jacara growled. Yamada shrunk back. A burly fierce woman, wearing a greasy apron, she wore her hair in a tight bun. She dropped a bowl of steaming noodle soup in front of Yamada, and an entire roasted chicken on the side. "Eat." She said glaring at him. Yamada shot Jacara concerned glance, before taking the chopsticks slowly.
Yamada was bombard by nostalgic flavours of his mothers cooking. He quickly threw his manners out the window, slurping down the noodles, and taking the chicken in his other. The woman leapt for joy, giddily dancing around him. Jacara and Ul'lanna had a confused look, squinting their eyes at her. She waddled away joyously swaying her hips. "Master Ken, likes my food." "You need to breathe." Jacara said, watching Yamada continue to inhale the food. He choked on the food pounding on his chest. "We need water!" Ul'lanna shouted. The woman came rushing out with a entire pot of water. "Drink Master Ken." Yamada nodded slugging back the water. "Anything else you would like Master Ken?" Yamada took a large gulp, and gasped for air. "Do you have any fish?" She nodded, and rushed off.
"Have you noticed..." Jacara said. "That they all call him Master Ken? Yes, I noticed." Ul'lanna said, watching shocked as Yamada completely finished the dish, raising the bowl of soup to his mouth. She slumped onto her hand. "Well his mother, was apparently someone that use to teach here, but that shouldn't make him a mast-" A knife flew through the air, piercing the table in front of Jacara. His and her eyes bulged. The woman chef glared at them. "How is she doing that?" Jacara whispered. "No idea, she has better hearing than I do." "Yamada, are you at all concerned, on why they call you Master?" The woman came out with a plate of raw fish, soaked in a dark soy sauce. Jacara and Ul'lanna reeled back in disgust. Yamada gasped looking at the woman in complete joy and awe. She nodded at him with a warm smile, before glaring back the other two. Yamada took the first bite, melting at the flavours. "You guys want som-" "NO!" They both exclaimed. Yamada reeled back defensively covering the fish.
"How do you know this recipe?" Yamada asked, stuffing his mouth. "Have you been to Yamata?" She shook her head. "Your mother taught it to me." She said pinching his cheek. "Please let me know if you need anything else Master Ken." "Seriously. Who was your mother?" Jacara asked. Yamada shrugged. "I was told by Kapuna she was a weaver." "Clearly not. We should investigate this place a little bit more." "You can't escape your chores, just like I can't escape eating those damn vegetables." "I'm doing damn chores!" "At least you aren't being held down to eat vegetables. So stop complaining." "Never." "Right, what was I thinking? You've been bitching ever since we got here. Nyeeeh, it's not possible, to have a floating kingdom. Nyeeeeeeeh, the bed is too hard. Nyeeeeeeeeeeeeh, I can't use my magic."
Yamada broke out into snort, with Jacara glaring at her. "That was a terrible impression." "No it wasn't." "Like you were any better. Waaaaa, no sweets. Waaaaa, the men don't satisfy me." Yamada cocked an eyebrow at her. "What?" She snapped. "They all look like you, and I have needs. That being said, these guys didn't do anything." "I'm sure they tried their best." Yamada said. "If I can still walk the next day. It wasn't good enough." She banged her head against the table, rattling it. "I guess you could say, that you've had nothing good inside of you." Yamada said with a wry smile. Ul'lanna let out a long exasperated sigh, with scalding steam coming out. Jacara gave Yamada a pat on the shoulder. "You always know, exactly what to say. Now, how about from now on you stop?" Yamada cocked an eyebrow at the statement. "I see you are all in high spirits." Ichibae said from the door way. Jacara and Ul'lanna let out a low grumble, begrudgingly nodding. "Come along."
Jacara and Ul'lanna dragged themselves off the table, sulking after him. Yamada filled with his mouth, and bowed at the chef with a big smile across his face, and sprinted after them. Ichibae strolled at a steady pace, each step his staff pinged off the concrete. "While, we have taken you in. No one lives in the monastery for free." Ichibae took them into a large temple room. The sides were lined with golden bronze statues, of men and women. He sat at the end of the room, atop a large fluffy cushion. The three of them stood awkwardly in front of him. They watched him nestle into his cushion, crossing his legs, laying the staff across his lap. "What are we doing here?" Jacara asked. "Eager to do your chores?" Ichibae asked with a sly smirk "I'll shut up now." "First time for everything." Ul'lanna muttered. "You got a problem with me, say it to me Ul-ly wooly." "You piece of shit-" Ul'lanna readied herself to choke Jacara.
Ichibae slammed his staff into the ground, the ping echoed through the entire room. Yamada pulled Jacara to his right side, standing between them. "Thank you Yamada." Yamada nodded. "As I have said, no one lives here for free. If you want to eat. You will help with its preparation. If you want clean clothes, you will clean it. If you want a place to sleep, you will have to earn your place." The three of them shot each other a concerned glance. Jacara hesitantly raised his hand. "You don't need to do that." He lowered nodding. "Did you say, we had to earn a place to sleep?" "Yes." The three paused, trying to comprehend what he meant. "Could you elaborate?" Jacara asked. "Those beds, we have you in are, for the lowest and weakest members. We value strength and growth here at the monastery. So we must test ourselves." "Do we have to prove ourselves daily?" Jacara asked. Ichibae nodded. "Welp! Thank you for nursing us back to health. We will be leaving." Ul'lanna followed Jacara, with Yamada hesitating to do the same.
"I wish you three safety. The mountains down below are quite perilous to venture through, with no supplies." The three stopped. "Although, I do suppose you three are more than capable of traversing the land below." They quickly huddled, dragging Yamada in. "What are we doing?" He whispered. "Listen, we have no supplies. If we leave now, we're going to die down there." Ul'lanna said. "I'm not going to fight for a place to sleep every damn night." Jacara hissed. "You'll have a place to sleep, it just won't be nice." Yamada said. "Like, I said. I'm not fighting for a place to sleep every night." Ichibae inspected his nail hearing their whispering peak and dip. Yamada perked up. "What happens if we lose?" "You will be tasked with doing the winners chores." Jacara perked up. "Wait, if I win. I don't have to do those chores?" "Of course, it means you are strong enough to have someone else do it."
"You said, I had to do chores, and that I can't use magic." "I tried to explain this to you before, but you wouldn't stop talking, so I didn't explain further. I was trying to say, that I don't want you using magic around the monastery." "Told you, that you don't shut up." Ul'lanna snapped. Jacara shot her a glare. He scoffed standing proud. "Had me worried about nothing. Let's get started, I'm gonna go get myself a castle." "Do you two share his confidence?" The two of them shrugged, with shaky nodding. "Very well, follow me. We will test your might, and see where you three must grow." He leapt to his feet, walking with a skip to step. His eagerness concerned Yamada and Ul'lanna. Jacara sauntered beside him, filled with bravado. "I'm assuming, I'm allowed to fight my magic." "Of course. There cannot be growth, until we see your all weaknesses." "He has very weak muscles." Yamada said. Jacara snapped around giving him a scowl. "And an incredibly low pool of Arcane energy." Ul'lanna added. "Oi." "It's more of a puddle than anything." "Real funny Ul-ly."
Ul'lanna punched Yamada in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?" "You made up that stupid name!" She hissed. "You were keeping us warm, like a woolly blanket. And you asked what pet name I would give you. That one is good." "It's terrible! It makes me sound like a fat woolly mammoth." "What do you mean sound like?" Ul'lanna lunged at Jacara. Yamada held her back as she thrashed to try and claw at him. He taunted her further, sticking his tongue out at her. "I would advise the three of you save your strength." Ul'lanna paused. "Wait, we all have to fight?" "Why, of course. You cannot rely on someone else's strength all the time." Jacara rolled his eyes. "Tell that to every royal ever." Ichibae led them to a large stone courtyard.
It reminded Yamada of the training grounds of the Citadel, and the beaten grounds of Yamata. Countless men and women were scattered around, each of them training in pairs, with weapons or magic. Ichibae slammed his staff into the ground. The courtyard went quiet and all of them froze, before bowing at him. "Our guest are here to fight for their place. The first is the son of Encara Cagim. Who will take his challenge!?" None of the monks raised their hands. "Well, looks like everyone is too scared to fight me." "No...I don't think that's why." Yamada said, seeing a hulking figure walking towards them. He wore his Kāṣāya at the waist, exposing his torso. Standing well over two metres tall, and built of solid muscles. The sun glistened off his bald head. He bowed slightly before Ichibae. Yamada and Jacara stared at the man shocked, with Ul'lanna panting at the sight of him. "Ah, Kenpachi. Are you accepting this challenge?" "I am, Master."
"I don't think you should fight him." Yamada whispered. "Yeah...don't touch his perfect..." Ul'lanna wiped her mouth. "Body...." Jacara looked at her disgusted. "Really? Thought you said the men here can't do anything for you." "I bet he could..." She trailed off, scanning him up and down. "I'm going to take him to Death's door." Kenpachi and Jacara made their way into the centre of the courtyard. They stood ten metres apart. Ichibae took Jacara's deck from inside his Kāṣāya, tossing it to him. "Please be gentle with him." Ichibae called out. "Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt him that much." "I don't think, he was talking to you!" Yamada called out. Jacara took out three cards. 'I'll finish this fight in a second.' Kenpachi took a deep breath, releasing it slowly, tensing all his muscles. Yamada cocked an eyebrow at Ul'lanna drooling at the sight of him. "You know, I have muscles like that-" She fumbled for his face. "Sh,sh,shhhh."
Ichibae raised his staff into the air. "Fight!" Jacara threw the cards out.. Gaia hit first, surrounding Kenpachi in a wall of stone. Drown filled the stone cage with water, with Fork hitting last crackling through the air, chaining through the droplets of water in the air and ground. Gasps and shocked murmurs spread through the crowd. Surprised at Jacara's magic abilities. "Well, that was easy." Jacara scoffed, dusting his hands. Kenpachi's fist punched a hole through the stone wall. His eyes bulged, seeing the gigantic steaming fist in front of him. He tried to get away, before Kenpachi snatched the top of his Kāṣāya, and ripped him through the wall. Jacara was tossed into the opposite wall. He felt the air escape his lungs, before landing in his puddle with a solid thud. Jacara quickly shot to his feet gasping for air. "How...How the fuck aren't you a smouldering corpse?" The stone walls sunk back into the ground.
Several of the monks closed their Earth gates. "Your lightning, was very warm." Kenpachi said, wringing out the ends of his pants. "Fine, I was trying to be gentle and nice, because my friend their likes you. But you're not the first muscular dumbass I beat." Yamada looked to Ul'lanna. "Yes, he's talking about you." "Hey!" Yamada called out. Jacara took out the Scorch and Feather card, holding them together. A raging swirling torrent of fire shot out. Kenpachi planted his feet into the ground. He let out a shout, punching the torrent of fire. The flames dissipated into the air. Yamada's eyes bulged out of his skull. Ul'lanna's jaw hung low, with more drool pooling out. Jacara blinked vacantly, he turned to Yamada and Ul'lanna. "Did he just punch my fire away?" They both nodded. He turned back to Kenpachi smirking at him. "Ooookay...plan C."
Jacara took out the card of Revelation. Yamada shielded his and Ul'lanna's eyes. Ichibae stood unfazed with Kenpachi doing the same. Jacara made his way towards Kenpachi, holding the card out. He summoned an Enk dagger, placing at Kenpachi's throat. "I win!" he said banishing the light. "Then finish the fight." Ichibae said, with a confident smile. "Fine." "No! Don't hurt him!" Ul'lanna cried out. Jacara ran the dagger across Kenpachi's throat. The edge warped and twisted against his throat, leaving no mark at all. Jacara gave his dagger an incredulous look. He rammed the dagger tip into Kenpachi's abdomen, watching it completely dissolve into fluids rising to the sky. Jacara placed his hand on Kenpachi's torso. "OI, DON'T TOUCH HIM LIKE THAT!" "Alright that's definitely flesh. So are you human?" Kenpachi wrapped his large burly and calloused hand around Jacara's throat. He gasped for air, before being thrown across the courtyard.
"BEAT HIM UP!" Ul'lanna shouted. "WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON!?" Jacara yelled rubbing his throat. "HIS!" "Whatever! I'm going to beat him now. He's played his hand, and now I know he's affinity." Jacara took out a singular card. Yamada spotted the vines drawn on the card. Jacara threw the card of Restriction out. Vines entangled Kenpachi, pulling his arms out, and catching his ankles. Ul'lanna swallowed some saliva. "Are you okay?" Yamada asked. She nodded. Kenpachi tensed, and the vines exploded into the air. "As I thought. You have an air affinity." 'High intellect an ability to open every gate with mastery. His only flaw...' Ichibae's thoughts trailed off. "Which means, your weakness is lightning and fire...which I have already tried...so that means I'll have to beat you another way." Jacara pulled out the Hero card. Ichibae stared on impressed.
Jacara charged in brandishing his spear and golden armour. 'I'll be too heavy for him to warp anything away, with his Wind, and-" The spear tip veered up shattering against his chin. Jacara gazed up in shock, seeing Kenpachi wearing a devilish grin. "Did you just break my spear with your chin?" He nodded, before placing his hand onto Jacara's cuirass. It shattered in his grip. "Your armour is very weak!" Yamada called out. "It's a replica of Orichalcum!" "A very bad replica." Jacara attempted to reach another card, before being struck in the gut. He retched. Jacara fell to his side, gasping for air, clutching his stomach. Kenpachi bowed at Jacara. "Thank you for fighting me. I have wanted to take a break from my chores." "Is he going to be okay?" Yamada asked, as Jacara convulsed and twitched on the ground. "We have some Blesseds that will take care of him.
A woman handed Ul'lanna her katana. "Wait, I don't to want to hurt his perfect body." "You won't. Because you won't be fighting him." Ichibae said, nodding at Kenpachi. "Alright, who will I be fighting then?" A lightning bolt streak across the sky, followed by a deafening rumble of thunder. Yamada and Ul'lanna ducked. She covered her ears. Karina swatted away the dust cloud she made as she coughed. "You're late Karina." She smiled at Ichibae, putting her hands together to apologise. Yamada helped Ul'lanna to her feet. She rubbed her ears. "Yeah, I'll be fine." Yamada spun around and froze completely in place. The angelic woman was in front of him again. She wasn't a dream. She smiled warmly and waved at Yamada. He robotically waved back, completely stunned. Ul'lanna waved her hand in front of his face. "Yamada. Yamada. Yamada, are you alright?" He shook his head. "Yeah..." She gave him a confused look, before heading to the centre.
Karina jogged over to Ul'lanna, inspecting her up and down. Her bubbly energy and cheerful smile caught Ul'lanna off guard. "I'm not sure, I want to cut her." "You won't" Ichibae said. Ul'lanna spotted Yamada still stuck in his trance. "Don't blame if I end up hurting you." Karina shook her head, before bowing at Ul'lanna repeatedly. "She's apologizing." A man's voice called out. From the crowd emerged a handsome man with curly black hair that touched his shoulders. He wore his mahogany and gold Kāṣāya at his waist as well. "Who are you?" "I am Foreaux. Karina's interpreter." "Name is too hard to say. So curly haired Yamada it is." Karina snickered at the name. Ul'lanna took her hilt with both hands, taking a middle guard stance, keeping the blade centred. 'Lightning affinity, probably as strong as perfect dream man. The question is how does she intend to beat a sword with her bare hands and feet?'
Ul'lanna tested Karina with a feint. She did nothing. Karina suddenly begun to bounce on her toes. Each step made her float for a second longer than normal. 'She relies on speed. Which means I just have to stop her movement.' Ul'lanna dashed in, aiming for her legs, with a thrust attack. Karina leapt into the air still wearing her smile. Ul'lanna dropped her katana, placing both hands onto the ground, covering the ground with a raging Fire gate. Karina's eyes bulged with shock. "PURGATORY!" Ul'lanna screamed. A geyser of raging fire shot into the air. Those with a Fire affinity, quickly summoned their gate, containing the flames. Ichibae held his hand out, watching the tips of his Kāṣāya catch on fire. 'What intense fire. However...' Ul'lanna rose to her feet, atop the smouldering ground, huffing and sweating. "Sorry about killing her." Ichibae looked into the air. Ul'lanna looked up to see Karina unscathed, waving down at her with a big smile across her face, floating gently down to her. "Oh, you have got to be fucking joking." She groaned before fainting.
'Both suffer from the same weakness, in different aspects. Now the actual question to ask...' Ichibae turned to Yamada. 'How much of a mountain is your son, Osore?' The monks repaired the damage done to the courtyard, all of them bowing respectfully at Yamada. "They should stop doing that. I'm not some Master." "They are respecting you, out of the respect for your mother." "Who am I fighting? Because I don't feel comfortable fighting that angel." Karina cocked her head to side, clutching her heart, pouting at him. "And, I don't want to fight him, because I know some of his strength." Ichibae let out a chortle, hand over his belly. "You still want a fair fight, even knowing the consequences. You truly are Osore's son." Ichibae slammed his staff into the ground, planting it firmly into the stone. He approached the centre of the courtyard, removing the top of his Kāṣāya. His torso was a toned picturesque figure, with rippling muscles. On his left pectoral a Earth gate was branded on, and on his right a Wind Gate. "I will be your opponent."
Yamada removed the top of his Kāṣāya. Karina looked on pleasantly impressed. He raised his clenched fists. "Would you like your weapon?" He shook his head. "You aren't using yours. I won't use mine." Ichibae planted his feet into the ground, taking a wide base, and adopted the Sonkyo stance. Squatting on his wide base, he placed both hands on his knees, before smiling at Yamada. "COME!" He roared. Yamada dashed in, throwing a front kick. Ichibae blocked the kick with one hand. Yamada was blown back the force. He stumbled back, sliding across the courtyard. Ichibae placed his hand back over his knee. Yamada shook his foot. It felt like he had kicked stone and not flesh. The force that pushed him back, was reminiscent of Valsko's technique. Yamada slowly encircled Ichibae. He did nothing, letting Yamada reach his back. Yamada hesitated, but charged in anyway. He went for a straight punch, hoping to strike the back of his head.
His fist made contact. Again he felt stone, instead of flesh, clash against his knuckles, before a force pushed him back. He stumbled back, his knuckles stinging with a familiar pain, and inspected his fist. His knuckles were bleeding, and his skin scraped off. Ichibae spun around, smiling at him. "I have not forbidden you from using your Forsaken Knight abilities." A murmur spread through the crowd. Karina's smile faded to a solemn and doleful expression. Foreaux became irritated at the sight of smile disappearing. Yamada summoned his armour. All of them reeled back shock. Karina let out a silent gasp. Yamada charged in throwing a right hand. Ichibae raised his hand to catch in. A shockwave pulsed out as Ichibae was blown back, having to float, in order to recover his posture. His entire arm rattled, throbbing with pain to his bone, his palm bleeding. "You truly are impressive Yamada." "Stop holding back."
"Very well then. Let me finish this then." Ichibae slapped his face with both hands. He let out a shout. Yamada spotted the dirt around his feet swirl. Ichibae launched himself at Yamada. He struck his cuirass, shattering it. Yamada was sent flying away. He retched, coughing blood. Yamada tumbled across the courtyard slamming his claws into the ground, to stop his momentum. He rolled onto his knees, vomiting and clutching his stomach. Before he could catch his breath, he felt a rush of air beside him, and a shadow cast over him. Yamada leapt out of the way, dodging an axe kick. The kick shattered the ground into dust. Still coughing, he tried to gasp for air, only to see Ichibae continue his assault. Yamada shot up to his feet, crossing his arms. Ichibae started a relentless attack, throwing palm after palm. Each one knocked Yamada off his feet, rattling his entire body, and cracked his vambraces.
Yamada timed a counter attack in between the palms, throwing a high front kick. His toes connected with Ichibae's chin. The sound of his sabatons crunched on stone. Ichibae stumbled back, and an impressed whispers rippled through the crowd. Yamada's forearms were exposed with hanging remnants of his vambraces. Bruised and bloodied. Ichibae stared on stunned at Yamada keeping his fists up, without any tremors. Karina winced at the sight, watching on concerned. He banished his armour, letting it disappear. Ichibae lowered himself. Yamada dashed in throwing a right hook. Ichibae didn't react, watching as Yamada's fist closed in. Before they made contact, Yamada summoned his gauntlet. The attack knocked Ichibae out of his stance, sending him tumbling. Blood sprayed out with pebbles hitting the ground. Ichibae stood up, wiping his bleeding mouth. He smirked at Yamada.
"That's a good trick, but it won't work on me anymore." "What trick?" He asked with a sly smile. "You're releasing a burst of Arcane energy before I touch you. Your Earth affinity makes a barrier, and your wind blows me away." Ichibae broke out into a boisterous chortle. "Most people would have rolled over, from taking those attacks. Only a few have ever made me bleed. And no one has ever figured out our technique in the middle of a fight." He slapped his face repeatedly, shouting with each one. He begun to bounce on his toes. Each step created a gust swirling around him, with the earth rising and falling with each step. Yamada clenched his fists tightly. The bruises on his arms stung and burn, but they weren't a new pain. "Let us fight for real!" Ichibae declared. Everyone leapt away letting Ichibae expand the courtyard.
Ichibae closed the distance in a flash. Yamada summoned his armour, blocking the attack on his vambraces, leaping back to absorb the shock. He landed off balance, tittering on his toes. The ground beneath encased Yamada's sabatons. He was pulled towards Ichibae, with his fist cocked back, and a sadistic grin across his face. As Yamada neared Ichibae's range. He forced his transformation further, increasing his size and struck first with a hulking straight. Ichibae was knocked back. Yamada shrunk back down, ready to continue his attack. Ichibae planted his feet letting out a primal war cry, that blew Yamada away. He tumbled across the ground, his armour in places disappearing. He forced himself quickly to his hands and knees. Yamada vomited, his ears ringing and head spinning. He looked up to Ichibae walking towards him. "Come now monster! Surely you know some magic." Foreaux jeered. Karina gave him a quick disapproving stare.
Yamada slammed his fist into the ground cracking it apart. He forced himself to his feet, barely able to stand. "Ha! You took a scream that close, and you're still standing. You truly are marvellous." "You...want...magic?" Yamada panted, glaring at Foreaux, his eyes slit and amber. Yamada held both hands high above his head. He let out a primal scream, his body transforming in sporadic locations, and his armour summoned in random spots. High above them a Water gate opened, stunning everyone, as it cast a rippling shadow over them. A Water gate they gasped. Yamada made a fist, and grit his teeth together. "TI-" Karina opened a Lightning gate in front of her, leaping through it, transforming into lightning. She teleported in front of Yamada, with a crackling of thunder and lightning, planting her foot into his stomach. He curled forward falling unconscious. The Water gate disappeared crashing down, drenching everyone in the courtyard.
Ichibae gulped, looking down at Karina cradling Yamada. "Take them to the infirmary." She nodded, carrying Yamada in her arms. Kenpachi slung Jacara over his shoulder, and cradled Ul'lanna in his arms. "Continue your training." Ichibae said, hiding his hand tremors. The monks nodded, still trying to shake the shock of seeing the Water gate. Ichibae dressed himself, grabbing his staff. He paced with giddiness, hurriedly making his way through the hallways, with a spring to his step. Ichibae entered into a library, tapping a scholar on the shoulder. "Send a urgent message to Emperor Zhing." "What should it say?" "To come to the monastery, and meet his new generals."