I walked into Liao Ru's outdoor dojo and noticed multiple other students training, three of the students being Blaze, Melody, and Sennie. Everyone was practicing their elemental control while Liao Ru was personally teaching Blaze, Melody, and Sennie.
As I made my way toward her, Blaze looked back, noticing my presence. His eyes glowed with curiosity, wondering why I was here. I looked at him and my eyes glowed as well, adding a bit of intensity between us.
"I see you aren't here with your allies. Feeling brave enough to walk alone?" Blaze taunted, trying to get under my skin.
"You aren't here with your buddies either, so that makes us even," I quipped, a bit of sass in my tone.
"Settle down," Liao Ru said, crossing her arms. "We're all allies here for the time being. August, this is your first time being here and we have faced off before. It was an unfair match, so I will grant you a proper first trial..."
I looked at Liao Ru, slightly tilting my head and crossing my arms. "Okay? What will it be?"
"Your first trial will not a test of strength of Individuality, but of Synergy. I can see you hold a powerful synergy with your team, The Pride, but what happens if you don't have them? You'll need new partners unless you're strong enough to go solo, however many solo heroes do not make it far," Liao Ru said, walking along her mat, her gaze focused on us.
"August. You and Melody will team up against Blaze and Sennie in a two on two sparring match. Don't worry, this outside dojo is one of Annalise's Domains so it's safe to go all out in here." Liao finished, nodding her head and holding her hands behind her back.
I looked at Melody, her gaze temporarily meeting mine before turning away with her arms crossed. I smiled at her then placed a hand on my hip. "The Lion and Lioness teaming up for the first time. I hope you're ready~"
"Hmph! You better not hold me back, Knight. Trial or not, I take Pride in victory." Melody said, flipping her hair.
"My Knight!~" Leona giggled, appearing next to me.
I noticed Leona then smirked, feeling the power of my Solar Peridot surging with energy once again. 'Right on cue. I was just about to face off against Blaze and Sennie.'
"You seem to be full of energy, Leona~" Sephora chuckled.
Leona giggled and crossed her arms. "Yeah, me and ladies finally went out and we're all energized ready to take action!"
Blaze looked at me, a singular wing of fire manifesting on his left shoulder. "If you think this Infernal Titan is going to be easily defeated, think again. Now that I have the chance of battling you myself, I can see what you're truly made of!"
Sennie giggled and summoned her staff. "It'll be a fun rematch! I don't have my main partner with me, so Blaze let's do our best!"
Blaze looked at Sennie then scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, let's do our best."
Liao Ru had all the other students clear the battlefield for the four of us then observed from the sidelines, her focus mainly on me. "You all may begin when you feel you are ready!"
I looked at Blaze then smirked, taking off my jacket then summoning my gauntlets. "I'm going after the King."
Melody watched me and her eyes shined, seeing a sudden boost in my confidence then noticed my Solar Peridot shining brighter than before. 'His bond increased with Leona? So suddenly..?'
"Let's rock and roll, My Knight!~" Leona roared.
I unleashed my Leo Aura, my energy pulsating around my body, small flares surrounding my aura. I could feel new power pulsating around my body as I generated my Helios Force. "Hell yeah, now this is the kind of power I needed!"
I hopped up and down then chuckled as I got into my stance. With a swift movement, I lunged toward Blaze, a burst of energy trailing behind. Blaze countered, flames swirling around his fist as our clash echoed in the air. Blaze pushed me away then went for a spinning kick, but I evaded his kick, countering with a swift strike to his chest and knocking him back.
I jumped backwards then chuckled, adjusting my gauntlets. "Alright, Melody. I've gauged him just from our clash. It's time to get serious," I said, summoning my Solar Peridot and Rainbow Fluorite, equipping them to my gauntlets.
Melody noticed another greater boost in my power. "Hm. Alright, I'll follow your lead.."
Sennie twirled her staff and got into her stance. "Alright, Blaze! You won't be able to deal with them both alone, allow me to tag along!~"
"Do as you wish, Knight." Blaze said, switching his Gauntlet to Raging Fury Mode.
Liao Ru watched us then sat down with a smirk on her face. "Everyone make way! The Trials will begin now!"
All of the other students backed away and watched from a safe distance. Athena and Avery watched the battle closely, wanting to study me even more.
I let out a powerful roar, charging forward. Blaze dashed toward me and his fiery aura surged powerfully around his body. We clashed once again before entering a fiery battle. Dodging and blocking each other's attacks, neither of us let each other find an opening on ourselves.
Blaze bellowed, landing a clean strike that knocked me back. With a swift motion, he appeared in front of me, landing a flurry of blows upon me. "Burst Skill: Meteor Impact!" He bellowed, clenching his fist and landing a powerful blow to my chest, the impact blowing me away.
I grunted, flipping backwards then performed a back handspring to my feet then chuckled. "Alright, let's turn up the heat!"
I roared transforming into my Zodiac Drive then vanished at blazing speeds. Blaze grunted at my speed, bracing himself, looking around to try and catch me. I began rushing Blaze with attacks from all angles then kicked him upwards.
Melody roared as she appeared above Blaze, preparing to land the finishing blow, but Sennie intercepted her, kicking her to the ground. Sennie landed and swiftly twirled her staff, rapidly firing bubbles at Melody. Melody bellowed, deflecting the bubbles then took a deep breath.
My eyes shined and I smirked as I sensed Melody requesting for my Zodiac Power. 'Zodiac Arts: Celestial Shift!'
My Rainbow Fluorite shined, granting Melody the power of my Solar Peridot. Melody began to radiate Leo Energy and her earrings shined brightly.
'Zodiac Arts: Leo Blazing Assault!' Melody chanted in her head, blowing out a barrage of fireballs shaped as a Lion's Head toward Sennie.
"Zodiac Arts: Lunar Protection!" Sennie bellowed, raising her staff and projecting an illusionary moon in the air, forming a barrier of Lunar Energy around her to block Melody's attack.
Both skills created a massive explosion, filling the area with smoke and debris. Everyone watched with anticipation, in awe of our combat prowess.
"Gotcha." Blaze said from behind me, grappling me.
I grunted, caught off guard from Blaze's grapple. Blaze flapped his wing, taking us to the skies then tossed me into the air. I recovered in the air, noticing Blaze flying up toward me. I blocked his first attack, pushing him back, countering with an axe kick to send him down. Blaze recovered in the air, launching multiple fireballs toward me, but I absorbed them using my Helios Force, rejuvenating my energy.
'What the—Did he just recover energy?' Blaze asked himself in shock.
Liao Ru watched me, her focus concentrated entirely on me. 'All of that Untapped Potential...Somehow I know you're in here. Your allies potential depends on you. What will it take to awaken you..?'
I used my Rainbow Fluorite to swap to the Wind Element and controlled the air currents to levitate in the air. "Our round two starts now huh? I guess I can start showing you more of my power," I said, smirking and my bangs covered my left eye.
Blaze noticed my demeanor change then braced himself. 'He's getting serious now...So should I!'
Blaze landed on the ground and bellowed generating more of his fiery energy. He bellowed, a second crimson wing manifesting on his back. The crimson wing solidified, golden armor appearing on the wing.
"The Infernal Titan's Power..!" Avery said in awe then looked up at me. She noticed my smirk, feeling Celestial Energy within me and shivered. "But his power is strange...That Rainbow Fluorite's energy feels...divine.."
Athena watched me closely, her Zodiac Symbol shining brightly in her right eye. "What kind of power is that..?"
I landed on the ground then got into my stance. "Showtime..." I chuckled, licking my lips.
Both of us with a swift motion, dashed toward each other and clashing once again, this clash outdoing our previous clashes. We knocked each other away, but I was the first to recover, launching three wind serpents at Blaze. Blaze noticed them and generated a large fireball, launching it toward the serpents.
The fireball overpowered the serpents, heading straight toward me, creating a path of destruction behind. I dashed forward, leaping over the fireball, swapping my element to fire and manipulating the fireball.
"Zodiac Arts..." I said calmly, raising the fireball in the air. "Infernal Devastation!"
I roared and launched the fireball toward Blaze. Blaze grunted and began to charge up energy within his gauntlet then noticed Lunar Energy surround his gauntlet. He bellowed and launched a beam of Fiery Lunar Energy at my attack.
I swapped my element to water then landed on the ground. I exhaled, completely clearing my mind. I rushed forward and began to surf on top of a water serpent. Blaze noticed me then used his other hand to try and launch a fireball at me.
I drifted around him, swapping my element to Earth and my serpent switched to an Earth Serpent, striking Sennie. Blaze looked surprised and noticed the serpent dragging Sennie along the ground, draining her energy with its venomous bite.
"I hope you didn't forget about me!" Melody roared as she stood behind Blaze. "Zodiac Arts: Leo Flame Burst!"
Melody launched a massive fireball toward Blaze. Blaze released the beam then a symbol shined on his chest, his hair becoming white as he harnessed his Titan Power.
"Final Burst Skill: Armageddon Destruction!" Blaze bellowed, striking the ground, cracking the ground then a burst of apocalyptic energy rose to the sky, striking Melody.
Melody yelled in pain as the energy rapidly harmed her body. She grunted as she tried to resist Blaze's ultimate attack, but couldn't as she was blown away.
Blaze's energy disappeared then he grunted as he was hit by an invisible force. I appeared in front of him, swiftly striking him with a right hook into a spinning kick. Blaze groaned as he was knocked backwards. He flipped backwards, recovering then grunted as his Crimson Wing disappeared.
My Zodiac Crystals also deactivated, but I kept my secret weapon hidden just for this moment of exhaustion. 'It's time, Mama!' I said to Sephora as I uncovered my left eye, my Yaoke shining brightly.
Sephora bit my neck, unlocking my Yaoke Prowess, chaotic energy flowing around my body. I grunted as I had a faint memory flash into my head with some of my potential being unlocked. The Spirit Seal shined brightly then shattered, a Crest taking its place.
Liao Ru noticed and her eyes widened. 'There! His potential!'
I grunted as I began to overflow with Chaotic Spiritual Energy. I closed my eyes, aura began to spiral around my head forming into a crown, the faint memories becoming more clear.
"Ascea..."
"Prince Ascea..."
"Eyica's Prodigy!"
"Sir Ascea!"
I heard the voices of my people then bellowed, unleashing my power, fully awakening my heritage's power. I opened my eyes and my Yaoke shined brightly, my spiritual crown glowing with glory.
Athena and Avery watched in awe, their bodies trembling with both awe and fear. They felt my otherworldly power, a chaotic energy that didn't belong on Earth.
Liao Ru stood up and stared down at me. 'Nagini was right. He wasn't born on Earth. That power...Utalian Power. Not only is he royalty, but... he holds a Crest..'
I looked at Blaze then looked at my hand. I couldn't believe the hidden power I had, power I wished I had years ago. I could finally hear them again...my people.
I smirked and got into my stance. "Blaze...from this point on...there's no defeating me. Be thankful that this isn't an official Royal Battle, or else...you would have been dethroned...by The Tyrant.."
Blaze looked at me, noticing an avatar of my celestial energy behind me, his wings spreading. He began to softly pant, the presence of The Tyrant overwhelming Blaze. 'This energy...it's so chaotic. It makes no sense..! What world does this power belong to?!'
Liao Ru was also too amazed to speak. She just sat back down and went back to intensely studying me. 'I have to see how this ends...The Infernal Titan against...The Tyrant...'