I stood facing the Nine Phantoms Of The Nightmare King.
"What is going on San?" Ciella asked.
She didn't seem to perceive them.
"It's my Sigil Ciella…it's finally come to life" I said seriously.
"Wait a sec…you're interacting with a…Living Sigil?" Ciella asked.
"To be specific…I'm interacting with Nine Living Sigils" I said.
The Phantom radiating Lightning walked to me.
"We've been watching over your progress so far. We acknowledge your mastery over the Seals Of Endregen, Kolmnid and Jo-lan. You even have partial mastery over the Seal Of Ryugaeia however…you let that stupid Armoured Basilisk Of Despair trick you into sealing up Ferren's power…the Seal Of Wisdom" the Phantom radiating lightning said.
"The figure with lighter elements circumnavigating its body walked up to me.
"Surely you should have understood seeing as you've been able to master my power. The very fact that you can utilize your power without getting injured by it proves that you comprehend what we're getting at. True, Power without Wisdom always leads to Destruction however…the very nature of Wisdom is in itself Power" he said.
"Wait a sec, isn't that a bit contradictory?" I asked.
"Have you already forgotten your lessons on Balance? A Sword without a Sheath will injure its wielder more times than it will ever hurt its wielder's adversaries" the Phantom said.
"I see….Balance. At times the things that appear paradoxical at first glance truly aren't. When balanced, they sustain life" I realized.
"We're here to remind you of that lesson…by battling you!" the Phantom said.
"What?! You guys are just raring for a fight after everything you just said?!" I screamed.
"Attack! Kolmnid and Jo-lan!" Endregen ordered.
Suddenly, the Elemental Phantoms charged towards me.
"Water Element! Water Dragon Technique!" they called as a surge of Water assuming the form of a Dragon charged towards me.
I sidestepped to evade its initial lunge. The Water swirled around and aimed for my feet. I released an intense amount of fire and propelled myself into the air.
"Kolmnid now!" Endregen shouted.
"Earth Element! Earth Prison Technique!" Kolmnid called as a cage began to materialize all around me made out of pillars of earth.
I stretched my hands and focused Wind into them. I began to spin rapidly.
"GOUEN TATSUMAKI SENPU! FULL BODY VERSION!" I called as my body transformed into a blazing current of Fire.
The fusion of Fire with Wind amplified my fiery technique and as the Wind sliced at the pillars of earth, my fire melted the Earthen Prison.
"IT'S MY TURN!" Ferren said and charged in assuming the form of bolts of lightning.
"KOLMNID! JO-LAN! KEEP UP THE ATTACKS!" Endregen called and the Water Dragon was after me again as Ferren simultaneously charged for me in the form of Lightning.
"Kid…if you don't learn to call on my power here…you're definitely going to perish" I heard Ferren's voice echo within my mind.
"Lightning and Water…they're going for a wide range stun spell. The ground is dangerous!" I called and leapt into the air while calling out.
"INVERSE WIND ELEMENT! VACUUM TECHNIQUE!" I called as I drained all the Wind surrounding me.
I held my breath as the lightning aiming for me was dispelled.
"EARTH ELEMENT! EARTH SHIELD!" I called out as Earth Shields blocked the Water headed my Way.
The Earth Shields caused the Water Dragon Technique to split thus causing the Water to flow about the Earth Shield.
"Impressive…it appears you do have some Wisdom in you" Ferren said.
"He's utilizing the Seals Of Kolmnid, Jo-lan and Ferren simultaneously" Endregen realized. "Kolmnid! Your turn!" Endregen called out.
"Fire Element! Fire Dragon Technique!" Kolmnid called and released intense flames that assumed the form of a Dragon.
The fire charged into the Vacuum but couldn't make it past it.
"With the Vacuum up, the Fire Technique can't reach me because of the lack of the presence of Wind however…I can't breathe!" I thought in alarm.
"Giving up already?" Endregen asked.
"Individually, their abilities aren't out of the ordinary however…their teamwork is practically flawless. It's almost as though…their minds are one" I thought and stared at them.
My eyes landed on Endregen and widened in realization.
"The Awakening is a special status achieved when a Dream Knight achieves a deep level of self-comprehension. A level so deep that their psyche begins to fuse with the psyche of the Guardian Force. When evil beings try to force their will upon humans and force them into accomplishing their schemes against their will, then the human achieves a status called a 'Possession'. This is the stat Zanfar attempted to inflict upon your Dad in his youth. Unlike the 'Possession', the main characteristic of the Awakening is willing mutual cooperation between the Dream Knight and his Guardian Force" I recalled my Gramps' lesson on the Seal Of Endregen.
"True, Power without Wisdom always leads to Destruction…however…the very nature of Wisdom is in itself Power" I recalled Kolmnid's words.
"If I recall, the Seal Of Kolmnid is the Seal Of Balance. That's how I've been able to counter all their attacks, by countering with antithetical elements. The Seal Of Jo-lan is the Advanced Practical Elemental Seal or the Seal Of Union amongst Mind, Heart and Spirit allowing me to comprehend the nature and effects of each element. Since my affinity is fire, Kolmnid's fire Dragon can't hurt me. Rather…I'm in danger of suffocating from my own Vacuum Technique. This must be…" I starred at the bolt of Lightning blocked by the Vacuum. "…Ferren" I realized.
"Earth Element! Earth Fortress Technique!" I called as a shield of Earth materialized around me to block both Kolmnid and Ferren's attacks.
I disappeared and in the next instant, I had grabbed Endregen in a tight lockhold.
"You're the one coordinating the others. Call off the assault" I warned.
"How did you know?" Endregen said with a sly smile.
"I've been crushing serpents left and right. What makes you think I don't know how their silly little heads work and why crushing them kills the serpents?" I growled.
"I guess it's your Victory…" Endregen said as he grabbed me by the hand. "…that is…if I weren't in sync with Ferren that is" he said and flung me to the ground.
His sword was at my throat in an instant.
"Letting down your guard at the last minute. It's said the most dangerous moment in battle is the moment before a victory. A man is never as vulnerable as he is when he is certain of his victory" Endregen said.
"But we can certainly say with confidence that…you pass. From the way you fight, it's obvious you hold back not out of conceit but rather to prevent interference with your balance. That in itself…is Wisdom of another kind" Ferren said.