I sprinted for what felt like an eternity before the chaotic scene unfolded before my eyes.
The twisted form of the creature that had deceived Mauga and Ninth as the Fifth Arcana, stood alongside another of its kind. In front of them lay two of their companions, lifeless and cut down in their monstrous forms.
But the sight that gripped my heart was of the Ninth Arcana. Impaled from both front and back, skewered by the creatures, his condition was grave. A dreadful silence hung around him.
Mauga had just arrived at the scene, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. His playful aura had vanished, replaced by a violent swirl of rage and bloodlust. The Oull around him was ablaze, fuelled by a fury so palpable that the near structures were getting disintegrated. Despite the horrifying spectacle before him, his gaze never left the creatures in front of him. A growl rumbled deep in his chest, and for the first time since I met him, I saw the raw power that the Third Arcana possessed.
Drawing upon his energy, Mauga stomped forward, every step causing the ground to tremble.
His fists clenched, a manifestation of Oull shimmered, coating his hands like armored gauntlets.
"One's not enough, huh?" he snarled, a menacing undertone in his voice, "You have to gang up on him?"
The two creatures paused in their actions, their unearthly gaze settling on him, positioning themselves to attack. But Mauga didn't care. His sole focus was on annihilating the things that took his friend, and he wouldn't allow these abominations to escape.
Mauga's words darted to me, his voice hardened with urgency. "Kid, you need to leave. Now."
"What?" I questioned to myself. But the stern silence that accompanied my question left no room for argument, and the situation didn't permit further discussion.
Reluctantly, I nodded, pulling myself away from the scene. I gave him one last look before turning to leave, my mind full of questions and a worry that felt like a heavy weight in my stomach.
As I distanced myself, I could feel it, a shift within the Oull.
It turned dense, the air quivering. A wild wind whipped through the streets, a prelude to the impending storm.
Mauga was going all-out.
The ground shook once more, through the whirlwind of dust and debris, I saw Mauga's figure against the radiant sunlight. He had leapt high into the air, his body bathed in a radiant violent glow of his Oull, shaped like a celestial armor.
In that moment, his voice rang out, as loud as one could hear, echoing through the buildings, transcending the chaos and reaching my ears. It was a solemn incantation, a chorus of the forces of nature, reverberating through the earth itself.
"FROM THE LAND BENEATH US, WHERE SKIES AND EARTH MEET,
BY THE MIGHT OF THEE, HOLDER OF HEAVENS, ETERNAL MONUMENT OF ENDURANCE AND MIGHT,
GRANT ME THY STRENGTH, THE RESILIENCE OF THE UNYIELDING MOUNTAIN,
O' MIGHTY ATLAS, I CALL UPON THY BOUNDLESS STRENGTH,
LET MY FISTS BECOME THE VESSEL OF BURDEN, THE BEARER OF CELESTIAL RAGE!"
『ASTROLABE TESTAMENT』
The energy around him erupted. It was a dazzling display of power, raw and untamed, creating a spectacle that lit up the once gloomy and destroyed surroundings. A towering blue silhouette seemed to form behind Mauga, mirroring his every move.
The world around us held its breath as his Oull swirled and twisted.
The figure was colossal, ethereal yet tangible, its presence commanding the awe and respect of everything in its vicinity. It was as if the Titan Atlas himself had descended, ready to demonstrate the true might of a celestial being.
He raised his fists above his head, and as if mirroring his actions, the massive ethereal figure did the same.
"BEGONE!" Mauga roared, the weight of his voice echoing the intensity of his Oull.
With that, he struck.
The impact that followed was cataclysmic. An intense light burst from the point of impact, followed by a shattering boom that rippled across the city.
Everything shook, the tremors of the collision travelled far and wide. Buildings far from the epicentre of the clash rattled, windows shattered, and the earth groaned under the incredible force.
As the light subsided, the creatures that once posed a great threat were now lifeless forms sprawled in the vast crater left behind by Mauga's monumental attack. The colossal ethereal figure that stood behind Mauga dissipated into thin air, its grandeur fading with the settling dust.
Mauga landed back on the ground, his clothes torn, body covered in sweat and grime, and panting heavily, all due to the massive and violent Oull he had just unleashed. Despite his own rough state, his gaze was fixed on the forms in the crater, both the lifeless creatures and the still figure of the Ninth Arcana.
Strikingly, despite the intensity of the attack that had just transpired, the body of the Ninth seemed to be untouched. It was as though Mauga, even in his righteous fury, had consciously protected his friend from the wrath of his attack.
"Mauga," I called out, my voice panting from running back as fast as I could, echoing in the eerie silence that enveloped the area. I found him standing beside the Ninth Arcana, his eyes unreadable as he gazed down at his fallen friend. Despite the urgency of the situation, I felt the need to console him. Not sure how, I settled for placing a gentle hand on his arm.
I tried to say something, looking for the right words. It felt inadequate, but I didn't know what to tell him.
Mauga's gaze did not waver from his fallen comrade. After a moment, he responded, his voice quiet but steady. "Have you ever lost someone you cared about, kid?"
The question caught me off guard, but I nodded. "Yes," I said softly. "I have."
Mauga was silent for a moment, still looking at the Ninth Arcana. "He was a good man," he began, his voice slightly shaky. "Always the first to jump into danger, never thinking about himself. He was fearless, but not reckless. He was brave, but not foolhardy."
I watched Mauga as he spoke, his face a complex mix of sorrow and pride. "He never hesitated to protect those he cared about, even if it meant risking his own life."
Mauga paused, collecting his thoughts. "And he had the most annoying habit of always winning at poker. No matter how hard we tried, he always seemed to have the upper hand."
"He lived his life to the fullest, always putting others before himself. That was just who he was." Mauga's voice was heavy with emotion, his words heartfelt. "He was more than just an Arcana. He was a brother, a comrade, a friend. He was family."
There was a moment of silence between us. It was then that I realized, despite his tremendous strength and stoic demeanour, Mauga was hurting. The strong façade he put up was crumbling, and for a moment, he was just a man who had lost a friend.
Mauga gently picked up the body of his friend and carried it over to a nearby wall. With a surprising tenderness, he settled the Ninth against the wall. He then began to perform what looked like a ritual, one that was undoubtedly linked to a Polynesian heritage of sorts.
He clasped his hands together, his Oull shimmering gently around him, casting a serene glow in the dim light. He began to chant, his voice low and rhythmic. The chant had a soft, sorrowful melody, filled with an undertone of reverence and respect.
Even though I didn't understand the words, I felt their meaning. It was a farewell, an homage, a tribute to the friendship they shared. Despite the circumstances, it was a beautiful moment, a cheers to the bond between them.
Mauga's ritual ended with a final, heartfelt word, and he bowed his head in respect. The moment was solemn and sacred, the air still thick with loss, but there was a sense of closure, a whisper of peace in the silent night.
After the ritual had ended, Mauga slowly extended his hands, placing them gently on his friend's chest. As his fingers made contact, a shimmering pale light began to radiate from his hands, enveloping the Ninth Arcana's body in a soft, warm glow.
The sight was melancholic, almost surreal. I watched in stunned silence as the Ninth Arcana's form began to fade, dissolving into the brilliant luminescence. A wave of shock washed over me, and I couldn't help but voice my confusion,
"What's happening?"
Mauga glanced back at me, his eyes softened but still holding an echo of sorrow. "This... is the best way to honor his legacy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The light grew brighter, casting long shadows on Mauga's face.
"His Oull doesn't need to be trapped within a lifeless body. Instead, it can return to nature, become a part of the world he so dearly loved."
He paused, looking back at the fading form of his friend. "This is a final gift, a parting blessing. His essence will spread, nourishing the land, the sky, the sea... He will continue to protect, even in death."
And with those words, the Ninth Arcana's form completely disappeared, leaving nothing behind but the warm, comforting glow of his Oull. It seemed to pulse for a moment, before dispersing into the surroundings, a radiant energy that seemed to breathe life into the devastated cityscape. It was a final goodbye, a glimpse of a life lived for others, a tribute to a fallen hero.
Slowly, Mauga rose to his feet, his gaze lingering on the spot where his friend had once been. There was a certain serenity in his eyes, a quiet acceptance of the harsh truth. After a moment of silence, he raised his head high, facing the now sunset that had witnessed their battle.
He began to chant, his voice echoing throughout the silent city. The words he spoke were not of any language I recognized. It had a rhythmic cadence to it, a melody that made the air around him shimmer with a subtle energy.
『VAENA OSTU DEIMAERE』
The Oull around him responded to his call, casting an iridescent light up towards the heavens, which would then scatter in 8 different directions.
This, I assumed, was a call, a warning to his fellow Arcanas. It was a lament for their fallen comrade, a beacon announcing the tragic loss.
Mauga turned to face me, the remnants of his ritual still glimmering in the air around him. "I'm sorry, kid," he said, his voice low, "you shouldn't have had to see that."
Shaking my head, I exclaimed,
"No, if anything, I had to see that."
He lets out a small chuckle, as if recognising my words.
I turned back to Mauga, curiosity burning in my eyes. "That giant technique you used, what was it?" I asked, remembering the grand spectacle that unfolded during the battle.
Mauga seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering. "That was an Aegis," he replied, his voice low but firm. "It's a manifestation of your very essence, your very being. It's the culmination of our identity, our experiences, and our will. And most importantly, our conviction. It's the peak of what human Oull can achieve."
Human..?
My thoughts regarding that word were completely washed away as quickly as it came to be.
Listening to him, I felt a strange sense of awe. I had known that powerful Oull users were capable of great feats, but this... this was beyond anything I could've imagined. The depth of their power, their unique identity manifesting as an unparalleled ability, was something truly remarkable.
I nodded as Mauga explained, my mind spinning with questions. "But who can use it? How can one achieve such a technique?" I asked, my eyes reflecting my curiosity.
Mauga looked thoughtful, "Anyone who can weave Oull can potentially achieve an Aegis. However, it isn't something you can force."
"You can't achieve it overnight," he continued. "It takes years of practice and dedication, of pushing your limits, and breaking through your boundaries. Only when you've understood who you are can you possibly manifest your Aegis."
Who I am huh?
"Every Aegis is unique, just as every individual is unique," he added, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It is their soul made manifest."
The idea of manifesting one's soul, one's very being through their Oull was fascinating. It was an inspiring concept, one that spoke volumes about the depth and complexity of Oull that the Academy had never taught before.
With this newfound knowledge, something tells me that It's going to come in hand one day.
I wonder what my Aegis would be like.
I turn to observe and examine the corpse of the now dead creatures. Their forms were grotesque, a stark contrast to the serene scene that had just unfolded. As someone who utilises Oull on a day to day basis, I had been trained to study and understand its various forms, but these... these were different.
The Oull around the creatures was dark, shadowy, and constantly shifting, much like their physical forms had been. There was a certain otherworldliness to it, a sense of... opposition. It wasn't a force that should exist naturally in this world.
As I reached out, the voice that had been dormant started to stir. A single word resonated, echoing loudly in my mind:
『CONSUME』
Ignoring the icy tendrils of fear that laced my heart, As I reached out, the dark Oull that swirled around the creatures responded immediately, rapidly bolting and being absorbed into my hand. Alarm bells rang in my head, but it was too late. I tried to retract my hand, but it was as though it was stuck, bound by some unseen force. Panic set in as pain shot up my arm, my scream piercing the silence.
"Mauga!" I managed to call out, my voice strained from the pain.
Without missing a beat, Mauga was at my side. He gripped my arm and with a swift tug, managed to free me from the dark Oull's hold. But the damage had been done; my body fell limp, drained of strength. My vision started to blur and the edges of my consciousness began to fade.
"No... I need to..." I mumbled, struggling to stay awake. But my attempts were in vain. My legs buckled beneath me and the last thing I remember was Mauga's voice calling my name before
everything went black.