Chapter 12: InheritanceChapter Text
"Why, your body of course!" As those words slip from his mouth a shiver runs down my spine. The idea that not only would I lose my life but some imposter would slip into my place infuriates me. An image of my mother greeting me after I return comes to mind, except the 'me' in the image would be this bastard if I lose.
A staring contest occurs before he suddenly realizes so large is my rage that I can't speak without moving to attack him. His smile widens, pushing my self-control closer to the edge. I want so badly to finish this now but from his expression, that is what he wants. This thought makes me think about how the reprieve was worded. He was allowing me to leave but if I attacked him I'd lose the time to better myself.
My glare remains unabated and I twitch slightly even knowing it's a provocation. Luckily rationality gets the upper hand. Even as I grit my teach I spin around and move to the exit. I focus on my Ki sense lest I be ambushed. Once out of the cave I remember the time limit imposed and immediately begin training. It's going to be a long month.
My month was spent reaffirming my foundations and thinking of counters to the techniques he displayed. I may be faster but one good strike may kill me if I'm unprepared. There are also those black flames to worry about. In the heat of battle, I hadn't attempted to understand them but looking back they felt similar to my grudge flames. The color threw me off, however. Why were they black instead of grey like mine? I also can't compare potency as nothing had ever survived the flames I used. Lastly, he used those flames from a magic circle while mine simply manifests at a flex of my will.
His technique seemed to be lacking in comparison to mine but this is a monster who is far older than I can imagine. The idea that he simply plowed through his life with brute strength and no skill is hard to believe. Therefore I'm approaching the fight as though he was holding himself back. By the final exchange, I established myself as a threat so the odds on him bringing more to the next fight are high.
One issue is the damage that's been done to my sword. Even with the brevity of its use, the sheer strength of my opponent combined with his superior weapons has caused countless microfractures along the length of my blade. The weapon won't last more than a few more clashes even with sword intent enhancing it conceptually and Touki making it more durable. I either need to save my sword for a finishing blow or commit myself to fight unarmed. Both represent daunting challenges but nothing I'm unprepared for.
The greatest gain from that battle was the progression of my body refinement. The sheer damage that was done to my body combined with the strain of my muscles allowed me to grow a significant level in strength from that battle alone. It would seem my refinement method is better suited for a life of conflict than peaceful training. Perhaps, I should name it something like Tyrants Domineering Slaughter Body Method? After a few minutes of laughing at the absurdity of such a chuuni name, I prepared to walk into the arena once more.
Stepping back into the shadowed world below the cave I see my Ancestor, reclined on his throne. The throne and the small island that had been destroyed in the battle are fully repaired; any traces of the prior destruction vanished into the ether. I'm going to assume it is the product of magical shenanigans since the environment looks the exact same as the last time I entered.
Ibaraki Douji inclines his head upon noticing my encroachment into his domain. With a steady gait, we both approach the ground of our previous battle, no words needing to be exchanged. He moves to stomp and blast away the tide of blood but I'm faster. Bringing my foot down the ocean parts under my power, vaporizing that near the impact zone. We both smile as he nods recognizing the challenge implicit in the maneuver, the silent message that I'm faster and just as strong echoing loud and clear.
The field lays still, bereft of life save the two souls prepared to clash upon it. This fight is unlike the last; certainly, the two of us had been aiming to kill but neither was truly trying. The stakes are higher now, a fight for the future of a people. Regression to past glory representing one force, and a new path abound with the unknown on the other.
At an unspoken signal, we clashed in the center. My muscles scream in exertion as I slam my fist into his, meeting brute force with brute force. Both of us maintain our push not wanting to concede defeat and I smile seeing the same strain in his muscles. A short struggle later I twist my hips and drop under his arm. Feeling the limb pass over my shoulder I drive my elbow into his chest, Touki hardening the point of impact and sword intent turning it into a powerful thrust.
My elbow sinks into his ribcage and a gob of blood is spat out his mouth as his organs are pulverized. Instead of retreating, he grabs me in a bear hug and squeezes with all his might. My bones creak and snap and a silent cry of agony escapes me. My vision starts to dim and my grudge flames manifest not wishing to lose their chance at revenge. They flow wildly out my mouth and swarm around the man killing me.
I'm shoved backward and a thick arm brushes off the flames as he snarls at me. "You dare try to kill me with borrowed power? This rage that you carry isn't even something you may call your own!" The sun in the sky smolders with increasing intensity and the flames drip from it like pitch. "This is rage! Witness the wrath of the Oni!"
The sun unravels itself and the world boils under the heat of the black flames. In the haze of the heat, I watch shapes flicker, images of people in agony forming only to be torn apart by ghosts of the demon in front of me. The ghastly images appear all around me and I feel terror strike at my heart, a cold chill washing over me. I'm going to die here!
Abruptly something brushes across my side and I look to see Byakko tilting his head toward me, an expression of disappointment on his face. 'Is this truly the extent of your will? Perhaps, I was wrong to entrust my grudges to you. You may have grown powerful but you are still the weak little girl who followed me through the woods. Or that is all I can see now at least.'
The fear inside me is replaced by incandescent rage that boils through the mess of emotions in my head. A piercing scream rips through the battlefield and it takes me a second to realize it's coming from me. My Ki and Youki run wild in my body before erupting along with the sound. The flames around me simply cease to exist as my power-fueled scream of rage cuts through them.
I open my eyes and instead of seeing my Ancestor I see the Elder flash into my vision. The anger bubbles off me into a shroud of killing intent, warping my features creating a nightmare for whatever is unfortunate enough to see me. Byakko has yet to alter his expression though. Coming to a realization I focus my anger, pulling it back with everything I have until it sits smoldering beneath the surface. My Touki mingles with the anger, corrupted by it but all the stronger for it. The cloak of Touki feels like it's melting my skin but at the same time, every movement I make carries more power than I've imagined in this life.
As I slide into an opening stance Byakko finally nods his approval and the illusion shatters. My vision readjusts enough to catch Ibaraki throwing his sword like a javelin at me an expression of loathing on his face. I duck under the sword but grab the handle as it passes stopping it in mid-air. I slam it into the ground in front of me, burying it to the hilt.
His roar of rage is deafening, and as he slashes at the air, blades of Ki fly from his claws. I copy the maneuver and the blades clash, dispersing between us and kicking up dust. Shifting onto all fours I lunge, launching myself through the cloud. Behind me, there is an explosion and I'm unsure if it was an attack or my movement that caused it since I'm traveling faster than ever before. As the dust cloud parts in my wake, I catch the sight of him forming a magic circle again. His eyes widen in surprise not expecting me to rush him nor at this speed.
He aborts the formation of the circle and punches the earth. The ground shatters, spikes and boulders erupting from below, all from the force of the punch. I've trained in uncertain terrain all my life so it's a simple change of plans to bounce around the fissures and rocks. My enemy unable to track me is struck by a kick to the back which folds him unnaturally. I hear more than feel his spine turn to dust under the power released by my leg.
Of course, the moment my feet touch the floor I'm in motion again. Such an injury will slow him but won't kill any more than a paper cut would kill a human, such is his vitality. He emerges from the hole his form was buried in, his spine freshly repaired, in time to see me descending from the sky like the wrath of God. My Odachi wreathed in Touki and glistening the silver hue of sword intent.
He's able to shift enough to the side that I don't split him down the middle but over forty percent of his body is cleaved away from the larger portion. A quick flourish removes his remaining leg and arm, leaving him with part of a torso and his head. I can see his one lung spasming out the side of his chest attempting to inflate but the air finding no purchase. He's not dead yet but I can easily finish him from this point.
He attempts to speak yet all that comes out is a wheezing rasp, his lack of breath not allowing the words to come out. Reaching down I flow my Ki inside his body, I mend his flesh enough for him to speak and use more Ki to halt the regeneration in the rest of his body. He grimaces realizing I've won then smiles, the first sincere smile I've seen from him. "You've surpassed my expectations little one. I'm… not certain I wish to pass yet but it isn't without its own appeal. I've held onto my pain and rage for far longer than most and still I wish for revenge against those who butchered my people. Is that so wrong?"
Seeing the hesitance in his eyes as he asks this mixed in with vulnerability and pain, I come to realize that he isn't a thoughtless beast like the Elder. This man truly cared about his people and wished wholeheartedly for their survival. "Something like that could never be wrong, Ancestor. I hold the same desires but I also carry the desires of those who died before they could reach them. Tell me who wronged our people, tell me who haunts you to the point you linger as a specter. Do that and your revenge will be achieved no matter how many I need to bury to do so."
"Ha, the youth these days are truly bold. Listen well then young Ibaraki, bearer of my name and grudges; Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, Usui Sadamitsu, the Shitenno. With them Minamoto no Yorimitsu, the despicable Raiko slew our people. But most of all the one who caused so much pain was Abe no Seimei. I am unsure of how long it has been since I've passed, time flows differently here, but should they still live kill them for me. If they have passed destroy their descendants and the future they built for their people." Once he finishes his third eye opens on his forehead. The air distorts between us as golden light flows from his eye into the tattoo of an eye on my forehead.
Blood drips down my face as all three eyes begin to weep blood but through the pain, I suddenly remember techniques I've never learned and see Mt. Ooe in the height of its glory. It's beautiful and disgusting at the same time. The pain fades away at the same time the third eye fades into a tattoo once more. As my sight returns to the here and now I realize the cavern has shifted back to stone, the blood and darkness vanishing as if never there.
The soreness of my body, the blood on my face, and the strain on my reserves, all make it clear what happened yet it still feels like an illusion. I search for the sword finding nothing but rocks. Before I can sigh dejectedly a memory leaps unbidden to my mind and I find myself marching with purpose toward the grove outside the cave.
When the monolith comes into view I walk straight up to it and place my palm on it. The bright, soothing tone of a bell echoes through the valley, and the chunk of dark granite crumbles into dust. Inside, once the center is revealed, is the skeleton of Ibaraki Douji. Wrapped in his boney fingers is the handle of the bone sword.