Confused… Having no idea where she was, but still having the clarity of mind to know her enemies.
Anya could figure that the big guy drooling on her student gracelessly needed a punch to the gut.
How dare he touch her new student?!
Of course, she'd first have to get past the four Elite Divs that were protecting the massive creature.
They looked at her while licking their lips curtly.
Their presence in this illusionary landscape being more noteworthy than any Anima she'd ever slain.
After all, what was their true purpose?
It looked like the largest ogre among them was doing what something sketchy to the youth.
She needed to act quickly…
"Hey there~ Beautiful woman, will you please marry me?" One of the Divs waved at her.
It made her brain short-circuit momentarily…
What did she just hear?
"Hey, I saw her first!" The other bare-handed blue ogre at front retorted. He glared at his 'brother'.
"Hey hey! Pick me! You have to pick me!"
"Don't pick that guy. He has bad breath."
"I doooonn't! Liar! Wanna die?!"
"You first."
The two of them were at each other's throats almost immediately. Their king sighed helplessly.
This was always the problem with evil entities. Even if you got them under control, they valued freedom.
It meant internal strife was a daily occurrence.
The only good thing was that they at least barely remembered they were here to protect their ruler.
"Ummm… Guys-" Anya interrupted the bickering blue ogres. Then hesitated after a moment.
The duo shape-shifted to become more human-like in appearance despite retaining their forms.
Two big lugs who had an innocent charm.
Truthfully, they were right in her strike zone. The kind of guys who just tickled those dirty emotions.
However, she wasn't shallow enough to believe that surface looks counted more for the inside.
In the end of it, they were still harming Fritz.
"Yes?" "Yeah?" They both answered at once.
"Sorry, but I'm too young to marry right now. And I'm pretty sure you guys aren't humans…?"
"Oh, that's fine."
"No problems."
The way they agreed with her so easily was somehow eerie. As if they didn't expect a 'Yes'.
It was their next actions that brought her to reality.
"Dibs!" The more barbaric looking one was the first to lunge at her. The other ogre following behind.
Immediately, she tried circulating her internal energy… only to find that something was wrong!
*Bang!*
Using her inactive folded weapon as a shield, her body thrown back. The force… was too powerful!
It was because of their statures…
More muscles meant higher striking power. On top of that, these lugs seemed built for close combat.
The internal circuits of her Mystic Tool got jammed.
It would take some time to readjust them…
However, that wasn't most important. It'd been a long time since she fought with her hands, and…
…her 'Qi Capacity' had dropped!
It went from E Rank to F Rank, something the Div Raja immediately took notice of when she arrived.
This was the condition for entering his 'domain'.
It didn't sound like much, but dropping an entire Qi Rank was something most couldn't adjust to.
Moreover, his domain could even drop an A Rank's capacity of magical energy down to the F Rank.
The 'Rank of a Failure'…
Thus, his worries were gone.
Although he hadn't been to the human world in the past millennia, there was a way they all fought.
A method shared by all being in magical combat.
Mainly: Slamming a bunch of magical energy on others until they died. A crude method at most.
Unless they were an exorcist, most needed at least an E Rank Energy Capacity to take care of spirits.
And that only applied to lower rank Jinns.
He watched as Anya was immediately put on the back foot. Her style of fighting within expectations.
'Power Style… How long has it been since I've seen that?' He thought while Fritz writhed in agony.
His heart filled with nightmares…
The Div Raja was impressed she wasn't instantly defeated at first, but slowly started getting worried.
The red hooded woman wasn't going down.
In fact, she seemed to be getting even stronger…!
Anya started off with polished basics of the 'Power Style' she had an affinity for. It gave her better ability to apply Martial Arts related to powerful and explosive results. Even without using Fire Qi.
Despite her stature being smaller than their elbows, she was able to keep up momentarily.
The shift in which side would lose starting from how the two Elite Divs had no problem teaming up.
They pressured her with their interconnected strikes that didn't seem to follow any specific form.
Irregular patterns created from instincts.
Striking with both power and pinpoint precision.
The scale started to tip one way, then was somehow brought back in the red hood's favour.
The Div Raja couldn't really explain how…
Her body seemed to hold some sort of secret.
"Banda Niyamas…!" He chanted, which resulted in a change in the left eye he was staring at her with.
All that was hidden was finally revealed.
He gasped after comprehending what he'd seen.
In his special vision, he could see a flame engulfing the little red hood's musculature without restraint.
He wasn't sure what Rank of energy this power had innately, but he could tell it boosted her strength.
To be more specific: It boosted ALL physical stats.
Whether it was her speed, strength, muscle control and flexibility… everything boosted by this 'Art'.
A trait that was working independent of her will.
On top of that, her mysterious movements that seemed to control the 'flow of strength' in her body and others was… unrealistic. His eye of observation couldn't even detect what Art she was executing.
A part of him wondered if this was the legendary level of 'Style becoming a Concept', but even that didn't seem right. None of his experiences could explain how she was managing to overpower them.
But there was one thing above all that seemed to be bothering him the most. He glanced at Fritz…
…and the look in his eyes changed.
'Where are their Magic Pathways?' He remembered that humans were too prideful of this divine grace.
'Specialists' in the past used to rely on being able to circulate a great amount of Mana upon birth.
That was what made humanity special in the past.
But now, they seemed to be missing this.
Instead having some sort of 'Limiter' artificially placed on them that deepened their resistance.
Was that why his magic wasn't working fast?
Even though he was using an excessive amount of strength and even weakening in the process, he was having a hard time keeping hold of the young exorcist's nightmare. Destroying faith with despair.
Slowly changing him by replaying his past and dark tragedies. Giving great importance to them.
Then, a wrench was thrown into the works.
It was at that moment Anya made eye-contact with him. A sharp chill ran down his spine in an instant.
"Everyone… attack!" He instinctively knew that things were about to take a turn for the worse.
However, he was too late…
'This feels more comfortable.' The girl with the red hood thought while rotating her arms mysteriously.
Her style wasn't one an ancient demon would recognise. After all, she was the creator of it.
Unlike her dear sister, 'Crescent Crimson' wasn't known for being able to pull of massive explosions.
In fact, her Impact Red was used in a more advanced way than 'focusing' and 'exploding'.
Perhaps the ancient warriors he mentioned wouldn't be able to adapt, but she was different.
Initiators like her all started from the F Rank.
In fact, that wasn't technically their starting point.
Having F Rank Qi Capacity as an Initiator was in itself proof of having some mastery in techniques.
The true 'first step' came with physical fighting.
More specifically: 'External Techniques'!
When monsters that threatened humanity came from the depth of hell, they didn't need 'strength'.
What they needed was 'the courage to act'.
And this philosophy was etched into her style.
Before the cage and blade holding Divs could interfere, she started her assault on the other two.
Her arms rotated to widely around her body like a windmill. The only thing constant was her waist.
She tilted her hip subtly while controlling the flow of her strength, throwing it down on an unsuspecting Div. Her hands whipped and slapped the blue ogre across the face, bashing out a tooth.
Her body became open for a retaliation…
…and the more formal Div took that opportunity!
Just as a fist was travelling past the opponent she slapped and into her ribs, her other arm dropped.
That synergetic counter was intercepted.
The end of his strike was instantly deflected by an elbow, which was followed by a full retaliation.
Oddly enough, the flow of strength passed onto her foot to apply a rotating flip kick on his face.
This only possible thanks the the man's stature…!
At that exact moment, both of the two Divs were knocked out. Falling by one of the 'eight extremes'.
Then, a metallic cage was thrown at her afar.
No matter how good her control of strength was, it would only take one hit from them to take her life.
The metallic cage aimed to crush her skull.
After all, neither of these Divs desired her as their partner. They were totally fine with lacking mercy.
The blue ogre holding his Chinese broadsword also readied himself. It was to bisect her if she dodged.
And if she didn't, his job would end.
Her life flashed before her eyes the moment she noticed the trajectory the first attacker's weapon.
The heavy cage heading straight for her face.
Death seemed so close in that eternal moment…
["Don't get conceited when you finally attained experience. Remember to focus your CQC to only use the most effective moves. If you trust me, you will be invincible."] Her mentor had taught her.
She didn't have time to ponder on those words.
Adrenaline and agitation stiffened her entire body…
…until she hit the limit.
Everything changed when it reached that point.
Calmness arose in her eyes.
When the wave of fear was overcome, her stiff and tense muscles fully relaxed to the very extreme.
[Crimson Lightning- Cellular Activation!]
On top of that, red electrical energy sparked from her entire body. Strength flowed in her 'relaxation'.
A paradoxical form that couldn't be replicated…
[Assault Neutralising Hua Jin!]
The essence of her Chinese martial arts arose to the surface, which the Div Raja finally recognised.
The demons of that other nation knew this style…!
'Was she taught by a demon too?! That means…' A terrifying though arose once the ogre king saw the crimson electricity followed the chain attached. A bolt of bio energy electrocuted the careless Div.
His conjecture was spot on!
She was an exorcist!!!
At least, that's how it looked in his eyes. The bio energy radiating off her body neutralised Jinns.
But that didn't matter now…
*Slash*
A large blade came from her blindspot. The power strong enough to severing her body to two pieces.
However, her Hua Jin (Blossoming Power) had yet to fully be executed in the midst of her clean parry.
The moment Anya grabbed the mallet-like birdcage and shocked the Div, she twisted her 'strength'.
Her Impact Red allowing her to 'focus' the slash into a path that was altered with her turning elbow.
[Force Storing Hua Jin!]
[Physics Transforming Hua Jin!]
[Impact Releasing Hua Jin!]
Thus, the next three steps of the 'Blossoming Power' technique was done in a linear fashion.
This sent the cage to intercept the blade…
*Crash!* *Shatter*
Two noises could be heard at the same time as the Div retreated. Not because of the power, but due to the flying bits of metal that could stab into him. It was then the disciplined Div took on a stance.
She could tell from a glance that this ogre had been training for thousands of years in this art.
The blade was his specialty…
Would she be able to beat such a creature?
There was an experience gap between then that couldn't be surmounted. Her fight was hopeless.
But that didn't matter to the red hood. The face of her new student she had yet to meet was noticed.
His agony reminded her of her old self…
The one who wasn't able to do anything as her friends died… and the world around her fell apart.
Then met the man she respected the most.
"You're strong, but… A teacher has to protect her students." Anya roared before soaring like an eagle.
Her arms opened up like wings after rotating her arms like a windmill again. It changed her 'attitude'.
And this was because she knew two styles…
The first was Piguaquan.
The second was Bajiquan.
Which were both equally balanced.
The result was a style the combined the heavy hands of the former and 'one hit' philosophy of the latter. Subtle and sharp twists of hips was used to alter the trajectory of the 'power' she harnessed.
All the bladed Div saw was a spiral of red lines circling her body with the twisting of her arms.
The blue ogre roared and was about to chop at her again, but the smaller girl was a faster fighter.
Her attack appearing before him caused him to block a downward kick with the spine of his 'Dao'.
He was about to retaliate against her, but…
*Clang!*
Her knee, to her hips, to her back, to her shoulder, her hands, and eventually the last of the 'eight extremities'. She didn't hesitate to throw her head straight down onto the metallic spine of the blade.
Cracks started to form on the broadsword…
But it still had enough durability left!
He wasn't able to find any opening when she rained down her barrage of attacks, but now was his chance. All the Elite Div needed to do was make quick work of her. His strength was overpowering.
'Not happening!' Anya roared inwardly before twisting her entire body. Her whole body flipped!
*Crash!*
A foot crashed down!
The blue ogre's blade shattered with once the initial strike of the eight point combo connected.
This time, they fought with their bare hands only.
At least, after she did something about the rest of it that Elite Div was using as a makeshift knife.
Regardless, Anya attacked the Goliath head on.
[Bullet Kata- Blossoming Power Ammo Prep!]
She seemed to be prepping her power and retaining the focused strength into a spiral in her dantian. The energy was spinning through her body freely. It's only restraints was her body.
Her body was dancing the rhythm of death. Her partner being thrown around when she took lead.
Every part of her body became a weapon, and she was switching 'extremities' to keep him guessing.
Sometimes she used her head.
Other times she used her back.
Whether it be her elbows or knees…
…There was a fluidity in each of her motions.
She was like a flowing river of water that eventually downed her opponent in the myriad combinations.
Even the most powerful Elite Div fell to her power.
The last one standing was the weakened Raja (who was towering over her with his giant physique).
His eye of observation watched the burning flames covered in crimson bio electricity getting closer.
Inching nearer to foil his evil machinations…
It was at this point that the Div Raja noticed the barrier around Fritz had finally disappeared.
There was no better time than now!
"Khawājāt Samadhi!" He chanted after a loud fit of laughter. His body being 'devoured' into the Lazrik.
The balance in Fritz's body was broken!
His skin started to turn dark blue, and tattoos similar to the Div Raja appeared on his face.
His red glowing eyes gazed at her wickedly…
"Too late~!" The youth's body had been consumed by the demon. His lack of faith was his downfall.
A new ancient evil was born in a human body…!