Arran and the rest of the group were at a loss of what to do now since Emma had disappeared three days ago. Lei and Erik wanted to go to Vermillion City and rescue Emma. But Tsuki told them not to fear for their safety.
Ashburn was nowhere to be found, and everyone had decided it was best to leave Arran alone since the day after Emma's disappearance, Arran left to train alone
" Erik, can you please go look for him. it has been two days, and I am worried that something has happened to Arran." Suzume said to Erik after Arran's third day of training
He nodded, " I know, But please, Suzume, you must understand Arran has lost someone he cares for." Erik felt the burning pain across his face as Suzume slapped him
" How dare you speak to me like I know nothing of the loss of a loved one! Did you forget that I just found my husband after who knows how long I've been dead and speak to me like I don't know the pain and torment Arran is going through!" Suzume cried out, preparing to slap Erik again, but her hand has held back by Tsuki.
" Enough. Suzume Erik did not mean it that way; of course, he understands your pain. But Erik also knows that Arran needs to control his emotions with are connected to his powers with is why he left to train and has been gone for so long."
Suzume put her hand down and nodded " So is he ok?" she asked Tsuki
she nodded and said, " I believe so; I just pity anyone who tries's to challenge him."
Meanwhile, the sounds of iron being pounded inside an abandoned Nexus Tech facility could be heard for miles as Arran repeatedly laid blow after blow into massive steel bars; red sparks flew from the bar as his fist made an impact.
He brought back his fist; the knuckles were bloody, and the skin shared down to the bone—Arran in a twisting tornado of anger and sadness. Let out a cry of utter rage as he was about to land one last blow.
But just as his fist was to hit the steel bar, a gloved hand grabbed Arrans's hand " Dragonborn, If you truly wish to let out your rage." He let go of Arran's hand and looked into Arran's hazel eyes
Arran rubbed his hand and then placed it on his sword
" Who are you?" Arran asked his sword ready to drew
The figure smiled as he removed his hood and clock to reveal a young man his age. His pure white hair was tied in a ponytail. His medium build body, a long scar ran down the right side from his shoulder to the middle of his chest. across his right eye were three long claw marks and on his side was a katana
" Arran Ember, My name is Fumetsu Kenshi. I mean you no harm. I only wish to help you, and I can't do that when you are in this state. My sister and I are aware that you have lost your sister to the Vermillion, and I am so very sorry for your loss."
Arran cried out, " What do you know of loss! There is no way you could understand my pain!"
Suddenly Arran felt a power rise from within Fumetsu, who had stopped limping and stood still as Demonsong landed heavily into his shoulder blood sprayed all over the ground
Arran removed his blade and waited for Fumetsu to begin screaming in pain. But there was none Fumetsu wiped the blood off of his face and lifted his sword once more; this time, his eyes blazed with a hellish fury.
" It has been eons since someone has made me bleed," Fumetsu said, a dark, eerie glow engulfing him
Arran gulped; he had never in his life felt such raw power " You say I don't know your loss?" Fumetsu said as Arran felt a powerful blow sending him flying into the sky
" Have you lost everyone you loved!" Fumetsu cried, punching Arran in the face. " Your Mother, Father, and everyone in your family, did you watch them die in front of your eyes!
Fumetsu continued as Arran felt the wind get knocked out of him as Fumetsu kicked him. " Have you fallen in love over thousands of years only to outlive them and to pray to the All-Mother to end you?" Fumetsu finally stopped and fell to his knees.
Arran did not know what to say, so he said the only thing he could think of " No, I have not, and I am sorry." Fumetsu sighed and replied, " It is fine; I am merely a Relic of a bygone age."
Arran sat next to him and said, " please forgive my arrogance." Fumetsu sighed and helped Arran to his feet. " That is fine. When you have lived as long as I have, you get used to butting heads with those you Allie with."
Fumetsu placed two fingers on his forehead " I will go get the rest of your friends. I will be only a moment."
Arran watched Fumetsu teleport away; there was a long, intense silence as the cool crisp air of the beginning days of Fall brushed across Arrans's hair.
Closing his eyes as the orange and red rays of the morning sun spread across his face.
The cold touch of a Nether-God Blade grazed his cheek as he tilted his head to the left and quickly jumped backward. Facing Xenoventaries, an evil grin formed across his face as Arran placed his hand on the long jagged scar across his cheek.
" I take it you are the Xenoventaries I have heard so much about," Arran said, drawing Demonsong
Xenoventaries bowed and lifted his head. Arran could see a glint of glee shine from his emerald green eyes.
" That I am Dragonborn." Xenoventaries stood up and drew his blade " I came to you to not kill you but to test your worth as a rival."
Arran's heart raced at the thrill of fighting his ache. " very well. But keep your word that you will not end me." Xenoventaries bowed again and said, " You have my word; I will not kill you." Xenoventaries said as he took out one of the three katanas that were attached to his waist.
Arran had read about a swordsman who used the Santoryu style of fighting. A style of fighting not known to be used where the swordsmen use the third sword by gripping the blade by the handle in his mouth.
Xenoventaries untied his dark red suit and blacked his ponytail, letting his white hair flowing behind him
" Do you intend on using all three of your swords?" Arran asked Xenoventaries, who smiled then replied
"No, that is unnecessary. I don't plan on killing you as of yet."
They both stood silent, staring at the other, waiting for one to attack the other. Suddenly the sky cracked with lightning, and the heavens opened, pouring down rain.
Seizing the chance, Arran leaped forward to attack, his blade ready to strike. Red flashes of fire erupted from the Katana as Xenoventaries flawlessly blocked each one of his attacks.
Xenoventaries body moved seamlessly as if he was dancing " How are you doing that!?" Arran cried out, and his breathing labored from each of the blowbacks from Xenoventaries blocking his blade
"It is simple, Your not ready," Xenoventaries said as his blade cut deep into Arrans's side; blood began to pour out of Arrans's right side. But he gritted his teeth, and even though he wanted to fall.
Xenoventaries laughed at him and said, " Is this the hero who is to stop me! You can't even hit me!"
Arran did not know if it was Xenoventaries taunts that made him snap or Emma leaving. It even has been a combination of both.
The air around Arran grew heavy as a dark red aura engulfed him; Arran's hair was made of crackling red fire. With unnatural speed, Arran landed a flurry of blows at Xenoventaries, who was able only to block a few
" So this his Mogura Sensei. It is unstable and consumed with anger and rage. But he is still learning, so in time the boy will learn to control both power and emotion," thought
Suddenly, he cried out in pain as Arran, finally having caught Xenoventaries off guard, thrust Demonsong into Xenoventaries stomach.
" Damn you, child! You wield the Chaos Blade," Xenoventaries said, then paused " Arran, you can end now; you can kill me right here and prevent anyone else from dying." Xenoventaries said in a calm voice
Arran's body returned to normal, his anger gone, and he released the blade and said, " No, I will not kill anyone, not even the likes of you." Xenoventaries tore out Demonsong and tossed it to the ground
" Foolish boy, Mercy is only for the weak, know this I only spare you this day to test your power, and your swordsmanship is good you can wield the Chaos Blade well, But a hero must be the master of his emotions as well as his powers only then can you be ready to face me in battle," Xenoventaries said as he removed his katana from Arran's chest just far enough from any vital organs where he will still live.
"But you gave me your word!" Arran said, his voice weak as he dropped his blade
" I kept my word. The wound I have dealt you will not kill you. If you get, it healed quick enough, that is." Xenoventaries said
He paused, and as he teleported away in a cloud of black smoke
Fumetsu and the rest of the group arrived as quickly as they saw the fighting end Asjborn had shown up as Xenoventaries was leaving and saw Arran; he kneeled and began to channel his Life Force into Arran to keep him alive as long as posable. At the same time, Suzume ran quickly to him and began to use her Time Powers to repair Arran's wounds.
" I will not let you die!" Suzume said, tears running down her cheeks as she began; she aged younger as more of her Time powers were being used her Life Force was being channeled into Arran to heal him.
Tsuki was held back by Erik " STOP SUZUME!" She cried out
Arran could see blurry images of his friend's faces, the faint sound of Dragon WIngs was heard, and frantic shouts as Luna Youngbloods pale face could be seen next to his own. " Quick, take them all to Youngblood Castle and hook up the Kitsune to the Re Ager and set it for 20 minutes that should put her back at the correct age and put the Dragonborn in the guest room. Then tell my father we are on our way back and the Dragonborn will see him when he has healed." the sound of an earpiece turning off was heard
as eyelids grew heavy and the surrounding static faded before his body became cold and numb; he could feel himself being taken away
When suddenly a chilling wind blew past him, and Arran found himself in a frozen wasteland standing amongst t the ruins of a great castle. Arran placed his hands on the worn stone; vivid memories of his younger days formed in his mind
Out from the snowy winds, a tall figure wearing a blue and white Dragon god amour set and a blue Nightwolf jacket.
Arran bowed before the imposing figure who towered over Arran, his long white hair flowing freely in the wind and his piercing blue eyes the right one was covered by a golden plate looked down at Arran, who was bowing before him
"Raise Dragonborn, we have much to talk about, and time grows short." The figure said, his voice gruff
He paused then said calmer this time, " Do you know who I am? Arran, I think you do," Arran nodded " I do Draco Dra'ghoul. The Dragon of Nevermore"
Arran followed him through the thick snow that melted away, forming the gold and blue tiles of a vast hallway. Arran watched as around him, Pillars of crimson stone formed alongside walls of ancient hand-carved stone that reached a domed roof that covered the sky.
"Arran, the halls we are walking were once my home, The Castle Dra'ghoul.
Streams of Eerie pale light covered the empty halls of the once great king. " You and I, Arran, are of one body and mind. The Mark of Dra'ghoul binds us."
He stopped the light from the hallway faded to where Arran could see Draco's face, "Arran, what you did when you were fighting Xenoventaries had been achieved by two others. A dear friend of mine and Xenoventaries." Draco said, then turned to
Arran as the hallway broke apart and formed into a lush field. Arran sat and said, " how am I sussed to use it again? I don't even know how I activated it in the first place."
Draco sat next to him; they both sat in silence for a long time " Arran, what were you feeling at the time of your fight with Xenoventaries?" Draco asked in a calm voice
Arran replied, "I just felt enraged at Emma for disobeying me and leaving with Vern Vermillion, and most of all, I felt guilty and ashamed for the things that I said to her that I know can never be taken back. As Xenoventaries mocked me, I became consumed in my anger."
Draco nodded and said, " I understand more than you know." Waving his hand, the field turned to a galaxy of stars
" A Dragonborn wields untold amounts of power because we have Divine Blood, meaning your father is an Over-Gods. This being the cause, our Kyi is consent motion with the flow of the Multiverse. He is giving the Dragonborn the power to bind his Kyi to his blade, making it stronger and easier for him to move quickly in a battle. But the true power of one Kyi is when a Dragonborn links it directly to their emotions, giving them access to their Dragon State. A form where the user unlocks powers that he never knew he had, even his own body will be altered. Normally it would take a Dragonborn twenty-seven years to be able to do what you did."
Arran replied, " Yeah, but I can't control it. It has happened maybe twice or more, and I have hurt my friends every time I have used this power." Draco paused and waved his hand once more; this time, the area transformed into a massive battlefield
" Arran, I can give you the elite to control your Kyi. But first, you must pass one final test to prove to me that you are worthy of being bare the name Dra'ghoul." Draco said, his voice dark and foreboding as he teleported Demonsong from the Real World and gave it to Arran. Who looked at Draco concerned
" Draco? What are you planning on doing?" Arran said, his voice quaking with fear as he raised his hand and snapped his fingers intently; the sky broke like glass while Arran and Draco rose on a massive piece of land as the ground below them was consumed by molten magma
Arran did not dare look down as they were thousands of feet into a sky littered with asteroids
" I want you to fight me, Arran Ember!" Draco cried out as he pulled out a massive Buster Sword from behind his back.