Ul'lanna awoke to the shuffling and shambling of everyone waking up. She opened her eyes to see Jacara clinging to his bed, with Grandma Xia pulling on his leg. He desperately clung on, with her tugging on him. "Finally got some strength in you now. Huh?" "LET GO!" Ul'lanna pulled the buds out of her ears. Grandma Xia let Jacara fall. He quickly scurried back onto the bed, covering himself with the blanket. "Don't make me get rough with you." "Do your worse. I'm not leaving this bed." Xia took out her reed, whipping Jacara. He screamed scurrying off the bed, scuttling under the bed. "You will do your chores." "Never!" "You think, you're the first spoiled brat, I've broken?"
She kicked the bed over, exposing the hump that was Jacara. As she reeled her arm back for another strike, Ul'lanna leapt out of the bed grabbing her wrist. "Don't." "Oh? Isn't this a surprise. One of you has a back bone." Jacara peeked out of his blanket. "Stop hitting him." "You must truly care for him." Ul'lanna blushed, keeping her back to Jacara. "No!" She snapped. "You're just motivating him the wrong way." Grandma Xia easily pulled her arm free. "How would you motivate him?" "Jacara, at the hot springs there are a lot of naked women-" Jacara leapt to his feet, sprinting out the door. Grandma Xia looked on impressed. "He thinks with his penis." "Good to know." Ul'lanna tied her hair into a pony tail. Grandma Xia ran her hand through it, startling her.
"What are you doing?" "You're too busy taking care of others, and you're neglecting yourself." "I'm fine." She shrugged, walking off. She entered the hot springs, again now frozen over, with a frigid wind blowing howling inside. Jacara entered inside, his teeth chattering and buckets of water leaking from the side, and the lid jostling a top. "M-m-m-m-make hot-ot-ot-ot" He stammered, with blue lips. Ul'lanna stood in the middle of the room once more, creating a razor thin fire gate on the ground. The room begun to heat up. She took a meditative seat atop a rock, controlling her breathing. 'Don't open your eyes, and you won't see anything. Just don't open your eyes.' Jacara lugged basket after basket, of water into the hot springs. "Motivated today are we?" Grandma Xia asked, with a sly smile. "Naked...women..." He wheezed.
With a few of the springs filled, she took Jacara by the scruff. "Take your clothes off." "What? Why?" He blushed, covering himself.
Grandma Xia unravelled Jacara's Kāṣāya. He let out a high pitched yelp, before she threw him into the pool in front of Ul'lanna. Jacara surfaced, holding his groin, pointing and shouting at Xia. "Damn it you bitch! Give me back my clothes!" Ul'lanna scrunched her eyes shut. "Don't open your eyes. Don't open your eyes." She whispered. Grandma Xia leapt over to Ul'lanna landing beside her. "You as well." Her eyes shot wide open. "What?" She took Ul'lanna by the scruff unravelling her Kāṣāya. She let out a high pitched yelp, trying to cling onto her clothes, her skin became ablaze. "Get off me, you crazy woman!" Ul'lanna exclaimed, thrashing in her grips. Jacara cocked his head to the side watching on enthralled. "Jacara, don't just stand there! Help me!" "That means I have to move my hands." "Never mind!" Grandma Xia swept her ankle, yanking on her Kāṣāya. Ul'lanna spun free from her clothing crashing into the water.
She surfaced covering her chest and screaming. "LOOK AWAY!" Jacara turned the other way. "Alright, now my turn." Jacara and Ul'lanna both snapped to her, letting out a mortified gasp. Xia disrobed in an instant. Both turned away groaning in disgust. She entered into the water, between them. "You both act like, you've never seen a naked body before." "You're not a naked body I want to see!" They said in sync. "So many similarities, and yet you two are afraid to look at each other's body. Why is that?" "We're nothing alike!" They exclaimed at the same time. "Stop copying me!" They both pointed at each other. "Hmm, we'll see about that. He should be here any moment now." "Who?" Ul'lanna and Jacara glared at each other. Yamada walked in with a towel around his waist, an exhausted expression and heavy bags under his eyes.
Foreaux followed behind him, guiding him inside. Yamada trudged over to them, sinking into the hot soothing water. "What happened to you?" Ul'lanna asked. "Didn't sleep." "By Vasha, what kind of sick chore, do you have him doing, that would make him this tired?" Jacara asked. "Wasn't any chores, had some things on my head." "You mean your mind?" Jacara asked. Yamada shook his head. The two of them gave him a confused look. "He doesn't need to do any chores." Foreaux said joining them in the water, with a towel around his waist. "What." Ul'lanna and Jacara asked with a guttural voice. "You are both so intelligent, yet so dumb." Xia said taking a seat beside Foreaux. Ul'lanna and Jacara sunk into the water. "The chores are to train your bodies." "Foreaux!" Kenpachi scolded. He entered into the hot spring naked. Jacara and Yamada winced away at the sight. "Put a towel on." Yamada groaned. "That thing has to be altered by Blessed magic." Jacara said looking away.
"They are meant to come to that realization themselves." "Every new person spends months complaining and bitching. Now they know why we're doing it to them." "How does carrying broken buckets of water make me stronger?" "How does making this frozen room make me stronger?" They asked at the same time. "The prolonged and constant use or Arcane energy, will help grow your overall strength." Yamada said, letting out a long yawn. "There you go." Foreaux said. Ul'lanna and Jacara looked at perplexed, cocking their heads to the side. "What the fuck?" They both whispered completely confused. Yamada rocked his head back, trying to keep his eyes open. "Why haven't you closed that hole?" He asked. "What hole....Son of a bitch." Ul'lanna spotted the gaping hole in the wall, at the back, filling the room with frigid winds.
"How could you not see that hole!?" Jacara exclaimed. "I woke up freezing cold and surrounded by an army of dicks and cunts!"
Yamada wadded over to the bucket looking for cold water to vitalize himself. "Don't bother Yamada. A hole in the ground could hold water better than those." "Did you tighten the lid?" "Wut?" Yamada filled the bucket to the brim and tightened the lid, the wooden slats sealed in tight, and begun to shake it violently. Jacara's jaw dropped, as no water flew out. "Are you fucking joking!?" Jacara yelled, splashing the water. "Cover yourself!" Ul'lanna screamed. Yamada reeled back startled, throwing the bucket into the air. "That lid can be tightened!?" "How could you not know that?" Ul'lanna asked sarcastically. "How did you not see that hole!?" The two of them growled at each other. Yamada made his way to the hole, moving a large stone near it, plugging it up with a snug fit.
"Now you see why he doesn't need to do chores. He is well beyond your strengths." Foreaux said with a smug face. "Strong yes. Smart? No." Jacara scoffed. "He knew how to use a lid." Xia whispered to Jacara. "Shut up!" He snapped pointing his finger at her. "Ah, I see you're all in high spirits!" Ichibae said with a jolly tone. He entered in with Kenpachi both of them naked. The three of them looked away disgusted. "Please, have a seat together. I would like you all to meet the Emperor of Kumo." "Now!?" The three of them exclaimed. Ichibae stomped his foot, opening an Earth gate. The three of them were dragged to one spot. Yamada's towel came loose from the sudden motion. Ul'lanna was smushed in-between Jacara and Yamada. She let out a yelp shrinking in, with Jacara turning his back to her. The three of them awkwardly sat together covering themselves.
Ichibae, Kenpachi, Foreaux and Xia sat across from them leaving a gap in between them. "This is how you want us to meet your emperor!?" Jacara hissed. "With our dicks exposed?" "What place would have your potential enemies be disarmed?" A deep stoic voice echoed out. From the door emerged a tall elegant man. With long velvet black hair that flowed past his shoulders, with an accompanying beard that stretched to his chest. Emperor Zhing had an athletic physique, with smooth skin, and a distinct cross scar over his heart. The three of them avoided his gaze, as he entered into water completely naked. He sat comfortably between Ichibae and Kenpachi, placing his arms over them. They looked at him disgusted and creeped out. He eyed Yamada, with a sly smirk. "Although, you aren't completely disarmed, are you?" His irises flicked a dark black.
The three of them felt the hair on their necks stand on edge. He looked the three of them up and down. "The son of Master Osore Ken. The Blazing Fist. Forsaken Knight. Water affinity." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Just like your mother, always leaving people amazed." He eyed Ul'lanna. "I don't have any titles or anything exceptional-" "Captain Ul'lanna. The Traitor. A woman of incredible resourcefulness. Or so those Elven women have told." Ul'lanna gulped. "Don't sell yourself short. For Ichibae to take you in for training, means he sees potential in you. Follow his training, and you could become a Magic Knight." Jacara snorted. Ul'lanna turned to glare at him. "Something amusing, Master of None?" Jacara's smile disappeared. He turned a scowl at Emperor Zhing, wearing a smug smile. "Yes. The only people who were ever given that title, were born talented AND trained incredibly hard. Ul'lanna didn't even know the basics of opening her gate, when I met her. Soo-" "And does she now?" Jacara froze.
"Just like your father. Too confident in your skills with magic. You think that there is a different solution to the problem." "There is always a different solution to the problem." "Did that answer work against Kenpachi? Or are you going to complain, he's a freak and that the fight was unfair?" Jacara clenched his jaw. "Sharpen that singular edge all you want. It won't matter if your sword breaks on impact." "What do you want from us?" Jacara snapped. "Watch your tongue!" Ichibae shouted. His voice silenced the room. Emperor Zhing raised his hand calming Ichibae. "Kumo, is in need of expansion." Ul'lanna felt her skin crawl. "The Monks, and my soldiers have no real war experience. We also have no experienced generals to lead them." "You want us to lead your army? Three idiots you picked up on the mountain side, that were nearly dead when you found us. That's who you want leading your army?" Ul'lanna asked.
"A Forsaken Knight to raise the morale of the troops, to rally them when they feel alone. An experienced Captain in the Kal'Nar army, to teach them war tactics. And finally the son of Encara himself, capable of using all magic. You three would bring so much to my army." "Who is your enemy?" Yamada asked. "Are you seriously considering this offer?" Jacara snapped. "Kal'Nar is our enemy." He said leaning back with a smile. "They attacked our kingdom over forty years." "You've waited forty years, to launch a counter attack?" Jacara asked. "We suffered devastating losses. Those scars did not heal well." Foreaux said solemnly. "Karina..." "Yes, that is how she lost her daughter, and so many others." Zhing said bowing his head. "In order to stop their advance, we sank one of our visible cities." "The one below the clouds. That's why we couldn't find you." Ul'lanna said.
"So what do you three say? Will you help us lay waste to Kal'Nar?" Emperor Zhing asked, offering out his hand. "How many soldiers, would be under our command?" Ul'lanna asked. "5000" The three of them gave him an incredulous stare. "Does that include..." Jacara asked. "Yes that includes the monks." The three of them looked at each other, all stifling their laughter. "You...you..." Jacara giggled. "You want to attack Kal'Nar with 5,000 men and women?" Yamada asked. "What's wrong with that?" Kenpachi asked. "Kal'Nar has been breeding soldiers for the last two decades. We have nearly one million soldiers." "Oh." Zhing and the others said in defeated realization.
Jacara giggled aloud, with Ul'lanna slapping him. "There is another way for you to make Kal'Nar pay." Yamada said. The others stared at him excited. "They're currently attacking the Citadel. Trying to finish their war with them. Send your army Weesss...sou..." He trailed off looking to Ul'lanna for confirmation. "North East." "How are you so bad at this?" Jacara whispered? Yamada shrugged sinking deeper into the water. "He's right. The Citadel is under siege, and at this stage of the war. Their casualties will be low, but the stress and resources will run be running low." "I have seen the power of the Butcher. She could wipe out an entire army by herself." Zhing said. "Gwyneth. Her name is Gwyneth." Yamada corrected with a growl. "Easy Yamada." Jacara calmed.
"They know that. They don't care for the soldiers of the Citadel. With Artaraxus and Tuskdrans aid, they're going to starve the Citadel soldiers out, and exhaust their strongest fighters." "Surely they wouldn't let their own citizens starve. I've seen Encara's devotion to healing." Ichibae said. "And they're counting on that. If given the choice to feed a warrior, or a feed the weak and feeble. Which would you choose in a war?" "The warrior." Kenpachi said. "Exactly. Now what enrages the masses the most?" "Unfair privileges." Zhing said. Ul'lanna nodded.
"If you want to hurt Kal'Nar. You help the Citadel. Bring all your resources, all your strongest fighters, and hold the line." "What will you three be doing?" Foreaux asked. "Destroying Artaraxus." Yamada said confidently. They all cocked an eyebrow at him, before looking over to Jacara and Ul'lanna. They both nodded. "How exactly?" Foreaux asked. "I can understand your scepticism." Ul'lanna said. "I thought it was the dumbest plan as well." Yamada shifted a frown at her. "Until, I remembered two things. Firstly, the largest Fork runs underneath Artaraxus and secondly, show them Yamada." The water in their rock pool began to rise at an alarming rate spilling over. "To answer your question. He's going to sink and drown Artaraxus." Jacara said with a smile.
The five of them entered into a tight huddle, making the other three wince at the sight, and begun whispering. They broke after a minute, calmly taking their seats. Zhing cleared his throat, readying himself to speak. "We'll take a carriage, at least two horses, better clothing, and plenty of sweets and fruits with our rations." Ul'lanna said with a smug smile. Zhing looked at her shocked. Ul'lanna pulled her hair back, showing her ears. "A level of that Elven hearing is impressive Ul'lanna." Ichibae said. She nodded her head taking the praise. "But, it can be tricked like anything else." His voice echoed throughout the room, without his lips moving. Her eyes bulged. "How..." Zhing smirked. "We do accept your terms. We will send aid to the Citadel, and provide you our resources. Kumo is a floating kingdom, but it can be moved." "That explains, why we never saw you past the clouds." Ul'lanna said.
"We will move you as close to Artaraxus as possible, before moving to the Citadel, but in the mean time." "Oh no." Jacara said with despair. "It would be beneficial for you three to continue your training here." Ichibae said. "Couldn't you just drop us off now?" Jacara asked. "Why can't we stay?" Yamada asked. "Because you aren't being starved or forced to do anything like us." Ul'lanna said. "But they said it's making you stronger. Don't you two want to become stronger?" "We don't feel the need to, and besides we all know why YOU want to stay. It's because of Karina." Ul'lanna said. Yamada blushed. "Whaaaat? That's not true." His voice breaking. "Oh I've seen how you look at her. It's the same way you looked at Gwyneth, whenever she did anything." Jacara said. "If you want to fuck her, do it and then we'll go." Yamada's ears went red. Foreaux became irritated.
"I must interject." Ichibae said. "While he will not be doing any chores. He too will also be training." "Will it be as gruelling, as what we're going through?" Jacara asked. "Worse actually." Foreaux said. "Okay we can stay." Ul'lanna and Jacara said nodding. "Wait, why is that the reason we're staying?" "Because we're a team." Ul'lanna said. "And we have to suffer as a team." "Fine then. How long till we get dropped off?" "Three months." Zhing said. "Wait three months of this?" Ul'lanna and Jacara asked with a shaky voice. "If you pass your chores, you'll begin your training, like Yamada, as well." Jacara and Ul'lanna shifted their gaze at each other. "What exactly is this training?" "Excellent question. Let's go!" Ichibae said leaping to his feet. The three of them groaned in disgust covering their eyes. "Come on!" Jacara yelled, splashing the water.
The three of them followed the five of them to the courtyard. Karina stood in the middle, wielding a long bronze lance, wearing a cord and plaque style armour. Made of layers of leather and steel, she stood graceful and elegant as Gwyneth, with her vest and skirt. She spotted the others giving a cheerful wave at them. Yamada stared with his jaw slowly hanging lower and lower. "Do you have an armour fetish?" Jacara asked. "I think he has a strong person fetish." Ul'lanna said. Kenpachi, Xia and Foreaux stood by her side. The four of them released a gust of Arcane energy, opening their gates at the same time. Lightning, Wind, Earth and Fire gates spun in front of them. Zhing pulled Jacara and Ul'lanna back, with Ichibae retrieving Harbinger for Yamada.
Yamada looked at Ichibae casually handing him Harbinger. "Come at them with all you have. They will not hold back." "Sure..." He said hesitantly taking Harbinger back. Ichibae stood next to Zhing. "I'm surprised you can lift that thing so easily." Zhing whispered. "Without Earth magic, I wouldn't even be able to move that thing. It's not a weapon meant for normal people." "And yet, he wields it." "Pfft, well I can move Har-" "They're gonna make you do more chores." Ul'lanna said. "Hearts. I was gonna say hearts." "Am I fighting all of them at the same time?" "Choose one of us." Foreaux said confidently. Yamada slung Harbinger over his shoulder. "Only one of you have a weapon. This isn't fair." Foreaux scoffed. "Do you really think so highly of yourself, after you lost to Ichibae so easily?" Karina poked Foreaux with the butt of her lance, she frowned at him. "What? He did. Ichibae was probably only fighting him at 30% of his strength." "Out of curiosity, what percentage did I get out of you?" Jacara asked. "Five." "Shouldn't of have asked." He said bowing his head.
"You first then." Yamada said. Foreaux smirked disrobing the top of his Kāṣāya. "Thought you would never ask." His body rippled with muscles. "Does every guy here, have a body like that?" Jacara asked. The others walked away giving them space. The two of them stood five metres apart, with Yamada still resting Harbinger over his shoulder. Foreaux snarled raising his fists. "Are you not going to take a fighting stance against me?" Yamada smirked shaking his head. Foreaux created a Fire gate, in front of him, leaping through it. He transformed into fiery ball barrelling towards Yamada. Ul'lanna watched on stunned. Yamada held his hand out, creating a Water gate. The two elements clashed with an explosion of steam and smoke. As it settled Yamada held Foreaux foot in his bare hand. Foreaux's eyes widened in pure shock. Yamada squeezed his foot firmly, before pushing him away. Karina leapt up with joy applauding Yamada. Xia and Kenpachi frowned at her. She shrunk back.
"H-h-how?" "Karina did the same thing when she kicked me. You two are always together, which means you probably fight the same way." "I always forget his brain grows exponentially in fights." Jacara said. Foreaux snarled. "Stopping one attack means nothing!" He lurched forward, opening a gate over his mouth, blowing out a roaring stream of fire. Yamada summoned his armour leaping into stream, splitting it in half with Harbinger. Foreaux leapt back, feeling the tip of Harbinger nick his chin. Yamada banished his armour, his body covered in a thin film of steam and smoke. He planted Harbinger into the ground. "Told you this was unfair." "Don't get cocky boy." Foreaux snarled. He created a Fire gate in front of him once more.
Yamada readied himself to catch Foreaux's attack. He leapt through the gate turning into a cloud of flames. Yamada summoned a Water gate, blocking Foreaux's high round house, with his left arm. He smirked at Foreaux, who shot him one back. Another ball of flame erupted from Foreaux's shin, engulfing Yamada. He reeled back dusting his face off, his skin singed and flayed. Foreaux continued his assault, throwing a straight. Yamada blocked crossing his arms. A ball of fire erupted from his fist. Yamada stumbled back feeling more his flesh burn away. "Best summon your armour boy." Foreaux said with a smug grin, plumes of fire emitting from his hands and feet. "Or I'll be claiming the credit of killing a Forsaken Knight." Yamada chuckled turning into a boisterous laugh. "By Vasha that is terrifying." Jacara said. "What is it?" Zhing asked. "Has something happened." "Get ready to save curly there." Ul'lanna said.
Yamada stood up taking a deep breath of relief. He slumped back looking to the open sky, a sadistic smile stretching across his face. "Thank you, for bringing me here, Ul'lanna. I never would have never thought of such a technique by myself." "Gone insane have we?" "You all release an incredible amount of Arcane energy with your attacks. Depending on your affinity, you change the timing of it." "So you learned our technique, what good will that do you?" Yamada clenched his fists. "Let's find out!" He yelled lunging at Foreaux, with his right arm cocked back. His gauntlet summoned first, and his attack was parried. Foreaux kicked him away with a fiery explosive kick. Yamada retched feeling his insides churn, and his ribs stinging with cooked flesh. Karina cringed at the sight, looking away.
"So much that did for you-" Foreaux dodged a hook from Yamada, with a torrent of water meekly shooting from gauntlet. He countered by driving a fire fist into Yamada's stomach, launching him away. He tumbled away gasping and coughing. Karina covered her face, watching through the slits of fingers. Yamada vision was blurry and shaky, he slammed his fist into the ground, smashing apart the stone. "Throwing a temper tantrum are we?" Yamada yakked up another wad of blood onto his hand. Watching as the blood pooled over his hand growing exponentially, he cracked a smile. He forced himself to his feet, stumbling over. Wheezing and panting he took a deep breath in. "I don't know how Osore raised you-" Jacara, Ul'lanna, Karina and Ichibae shook their heads at Foreaux. "But she made a weakling." "He's a dead man." Jacara said. "Yep."
Yamada balled his fist up tightly, breaking skin of his palm. Foreaux cracked a smug grin. 'Come on Forsaken Knight. Show me what you're made of.' Yamada planted both his feet into the ground, readying himself for a lunging punch. Yamada locked his eyes onto Foreaux, cocking back his fist. 'Focus. Focus. Focus.' "Show me your power Forsaken One! Or should I call the Butcher to fight for you?" "Does he want to die!?" Jacara exclaimed. Yamada entered into a trance, his mouth hanging. A trail of drool dripped out the side of his mouth. 'What is he focusing on? Figuring out the affinity strike is one feat. Does he actually hope to use it combat?' Ichibae thought.
Yamada had stopped breathing. Ichibae's eyes lit up with pure fear. The sensation of death filled the air. "GET AWAY!" He screamed, lunging in. Yamada lunged in with a scream, throwing a right straight. Foreaux raised his guard. As his fist made contact, everyone witnessed an endless azure, that lasted less than second. What followed was a fountain of blood spraying into the air, with the remnants of Foreaux's arm and his bone. He reeled back stunned, looking to his bloodied stump, his left arm completely blown away. The world had slowed down to a crawl. Distorted screams filled his ringing ears. The visage of the Serpent Knight towered over him. 'What was that? What was that monster? What happened to my arm? Why can't I feel anything?'
Kenpachi and Xia appeared by his side, grabbing each side. 'Why are they carrying me? Why are they screaming?' Xia launched Kenpachi and Foreaux into the air. He soared into the sky, barrelling towards the castle in the sky. Foreaux fell limp over Kenpachi's shoulder. 'What's happe-' Foreaux yakked out pools of blood, gurgling on blood as he gasped for air. Excruciating pain ran throughout his body, feeling as if every inch of his body had been stabbed with a million needles. He tried to scream in pain, with blood filling his lungs. "DON'T MOVE! DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE FOREAUX!!!" Kenpachi screamed, his face filled with dread and terror. Kenpachi crashed through the castle walls. "BLESSED! I NEED ALL THE BLESSEDS!" Foreaux's last image was several terrified Blesseds in their golden robes, rushing towards him.
Yamada was on the ground, surrounded by water and blood, face buried into the stone. "WHAT WAS THAT!?" Jacara screamed. Ichibae looked at Yamada's wounds had all disappeared. He took a gulp at the sight. Xia, Karina and Zhing looked at the terrified Ichibae, shaken to their core. He was trembling looking down at Yamada. Jacara and Ul'lanna rushed over to Yamada, rolling him over. "What was that blue flash!?" Ul'lanna yelled. "A perfectly executed Flash strike."