"UWWWWAAAAAAAAAA…."
"…"
"….AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"…"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"…"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The exchange is ferociously fast, much like their first encounter as Xavier and A.K dodge each other's blows at an almost obscene speed!
"Tch."
"He's fast."
A.K thinks throwing all his weight behind his fists!
"But it's not like I didn't know that already."
He thinks
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"…Hm."
Xavier exclaims focussed on the exchange
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
("plop.")
"THERE IT IS!!!"
A.K thinks in a panic as Xavier vanishes right before his very eyes!!
"Stay calm."
"If what I remember is correct he should be popping up right…."
A.K thinks watching his surroundings cautiously
"HERE!!!!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Urgh…."
("SHHHhhhhhhhh….")
Xavier exclaims in pain as he just about blocks A.K's blow and is sent back spreading the sand around him softly.
"HM."
A.K exclaims smirking proudly
"Not so tough now that I know how your little move works huh?"
He says smugly
"Urgh."
Xavier exclaims anxiously as his forearms shiver in pain from the last blow
"…"
"There are two reasons you beat me last time."
A.K says raising two fingers to the sky
"The first one is obvious."
He says
"It involves that little trick you seem so intent on using."
He says grinning
"You purposely control the flow of the exchange everytime."
"Alternating the power and speed of each blow as the fight goes on."
He says
"And the moment your opponent is fully entranced in the battle you shift the weight of the your punches to one direction."
"Increasing the intensity and power behind every blow in that direction to further force your opponent to concentrate solely on that side."
"…And that's where the trick comes in."
A.K says proud of his assessment
"With your opponent focussed on one side you shift your souls to your feet and dash to the opposite direction."
"…Your opponent's blind spot."
He says
"The speed at which you do it so quick that it gives off the impression you vanished."
A.K says seriously
"…"
Xavier stays silent as he watches him still faced
"Honestly its quite impressive."
A.K says scratching his head
"Such a high mastery of souls that is…."
"…"
"Your teacher must have been amazingly gifted."
He says calmly as Xavier stays silent still…
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"However, at the end of the day that's all it is."
A.K says
"A trick."
He says smirking
"And despite how skilled you are at using souls."
"It means nothing if your projection isn't high enough."
A.K adds as he recalls their last fight.
"So why don't we stop playing around and you show me."
He says seriously
"Show me the power you used towards the end of the fight last night."
He says as the marks on his body begin to brighten
"…."
-silence-
"…."
"Hm…"
Xavier exclaims opening up his guard
"…"
"You're right."
Xavier says clearly to A.K
"It is… nothing but a trick."
He says softly
"And my teacher…."
Xavier pauses, reminiscing on the times he spent with Jeremiah
"Well…"
"He was, incredibly talented."
Xavier says looking to the glow on his arms
"But if that was all I had in my bag of tricks I wouldn't have entered the trials in the first place."
Xavier says looking back up to A.K who stays silent
"So if you wanna see what I really have…"
("bzzt.")
He says as his own marks begin to burn brighter
"Then I guess I could show you a little bit."
"…"
!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The air erupts ominously as the marks on Xavier turn an odd transparent grey
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"So he finally decided to show us."
Lucius thinks anxiously watching Xavier
"The power to see 'a path with no end'."
He thinks cautiously
"The Beyaz Foresight."
Lucius thinks as a single ring forms round Xavier's pupils, visible from afar as his crimson red eyes shine in the sun.
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"But…"
Lucius thinks
"Didn't A.K say there were two rings?"
He thinks cautiously looking to A.K who stands focussed
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"So?"
Xavier says coldly staring down A.K
"Why don't we get this started."
He says bluntly
"…"
"Hm!"
A.K exclaims as his own marks burn even brighter!
"With pleasure."
He says confidently getting into battle stance
"…"
-silence-
"…"
!!!ZIP….
….ZIP!!!
(plop.)
"WHAT THE--"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A.K exclaims as in an instant Xavier vanishes right before his eyes once more but this time returns instantly to hit him flash in the nose!!!!
"HUH?!?--"
"HOW DID HE?!!--"
Lucius exclaims flinching up as a shook A.K wonders how he finds himself flying through the air!!!
"NO! IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME TRICK JUST FASTER!"
A.K thinks in a panic as he watches Xavier close the distance between them with great speed
"I HAVE TO REGAIN MY FOOTING QUICKLY AND GET ON THE OFFENSIVE!"
He thinks seriously
"HM!"
(Thud!)
!!!!ZIP
The sound is heavy as A.K lands on his feet before immediately rushing forward at the oncoming Xavier!!
"The secret to beating his trick is to be on the offensive."
A.K thinks trying to keep his composure
"Stop him from controlling the fight and I have the upper hand."
He thinks
"Alright here we Go!"
He thinks in a rush charging his souls into a hard right!!
"HAAAAAYAH!!!!"
("FWOOOSSSSHH!!")
(plop.)
"…"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The air erupts as A.K lets loose!!!!!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"I-Impossible!"
A.K thinks with a cold sweat as his punch hits nothing but air!!!
The explosion nothing more than a reaction to the weight of his fist while Xavier…
Xavier now stands right beside him! Side by side!!!
"…"
"what?"
Lucius thinks shook a cold sweat sliding slow across the side of his face.
"…"
"how-- HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!"
A.K thinks in a panic as he turns his head slow to meet Xavier's eyes
"…"
"HAAAaah!!"
He exclaims stumbling back in fear as his eyes meet Xavier's cold steely gaze
"wa-WAS IT THAT TRICK AGAIN?!?"
He thinks panicking in a battle-ready stance
"But I know the manoeuvre behind that one."
"It shouldn't be able to work anymore."
He thinks nervously looking to a still Xavier
"…"
"Those eyes."
"JUST WHAT DO YOU SEE WITH THOSE EYE!!!"
A.K wonders locking eyes with Xavier as his arm begins to shiver
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"I know what I saw but I still can't believe it."
Lucius thinks in disbelief
"Just then…"
He thinks
"Xavier…"
He thinks
"HE MOVED BEFORE A.K HAD EVEN THROWN THAT PUNCH!!!"
Lucius thinks nervously!!!
"…"
"It was almost as if he…"
He thinks….
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Wait is that it then?..."
Lucius ponders the exchange
"…"
"This changes everything."
He thinks…
!!!!!!!BZZZTT!!!!!!!
"XAVIER GREY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROGRESS IN THESE TRIALS!"
Lucius thinks steeling his resolve and beginning to make for Xavier and A.K!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"So?"
Xavier says coldly
"Satisfied?"
He asks A.K as he looks down on him and the uncontrollable tremble that now consumes his body.
"Ah…."
"…"
"TCH."
A.K grits his teeth ashamedly
"…"
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
Xavier asks tilting his head to meet A.K's eyes
"To 'see the Beyaz power'…."
"TO SEE 'MY' POWER!"
He shouts, his voice clear and stern
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Are 'YOU' satisfied?"
He asks once more, sternly looking down on A.K
"…"
-silence-
"…"
(deep breath)
"Hmph."
A.K exclaims getting back to his feet
"Don't get cocky."
He says softly as he stands upright, nerves somewhat calmed
"I ain't beaten yet."
He says dusting himself off…
"…"
"It seems what I felt last night was no fluke."
A.K thinks watching Xavier with a calm mind
"This kid…"
"…"
"Xavier Grey is strong."
He thinks
"Stronger than me… and maybe even Mu."
He thinks seriously
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"But I guess that's all the more reason I have to stop him here…"
A.K thinks locking eyes with Xavier's crimson reds
"It's not just about those eyes…"
"Even the way he uses his souls and fights is beyond most people I've encountered…"
He thinks
"It wouldn't be a stretch to say he might just be a match for those damn royals."
"Or more…."
He thinks cautiously
"…."
-silence-
"…"
"Dammit."
"I really hoped I could see the end of these trials."
A.K thinks frustrated
"…"
"Sorry Mu."
"But it looks I'll be stopping here."
A.K thinks about to rush Xavier when…
"…"
"uuuUUUU…."
"RRRRAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
JUST THEN!
A shout is suddenly heard coming from above!!!
"LUCIUS!"
"Hm?"
A.K and Xavier react in tandem when they see Lucius rushing Xavier full conviction!!!
"DIE XAVIER GREY! YOU INSOLENT PIECE OF ROYAL TRASH!!!!!!"
Lucius shouts flying through the air a fist raised at Xavier!
"L-LUCIUS DON'T!-"
"Hmph."
A.K shouts as Xavier primes himself to counter when!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"URGH!!!!!!!!"
Lucius is blown out the sky with a hard kick to the face by 'ANOTHER' unknown assailant?!?!!
"HUH?!"
A.K shouts in shock
!!!!THUD!!!!
The sound is loud as for the second time today Lucius is sent flying to the ground!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"My, my, it's quite the party you've got here…"
The voice of the unknown assailant says smugly peering from where Lucius was hit!
"Mind if I join in?"
"…"
"Boyfriend."
The unknown assailant says smugly leering at Xavier
"…"
"eh."
Xavier exclaims disgusted?!
"What are you doing here?"
He says devoid of all emotion or care…
"You stinky bully."
Xavier says unenthused at the figure before him who shrugs disapprovingly!?
"…"
"…"
-To Be Continued-