Titen POV
"Titen what's happening?." Akiyon worried.
"What's happening kid, you ask? The power of a warrior within the Terragon clan is happening." The tall man shouted at Akiyon as his chi rose and became overwhelmed with power. The same as Isamu a line appeared on his forehead but his was blue in colour. "1° Nota." He said with his manic voice.
The stab wound on his chest began to glow and right next to it a blue circle tattoo appeared. A black x definitely appeared on Isamu's chest but I couldn't see it because he was more covered than his companion. The man fighting Akiyon possess the power of the Chi blade and Isamu, that of the Necromancy blade, my grandfather's blade. The two individuals fighting Akiyon would overwhelm him since both of their Chi venalicius are activated. He is being toyed with and Isamu has the ability to raise trouble from hell, literally. Our fights won't last long if that happens, especially since we also have spectators, which means we can't use all of our strength.
I have to find what it is that gives him the confidence to attack me during the Creed exam. Is it Spade? No, he wouldn't be as foolish to trust him. Would he, isn't he afraid of an Elemento? Spade must have done something that disrupts the sensorie of chi, this ability must be wide range. Akiyon and I are trapped and alone, we have to find a way to increase our numbers or find someone strong enough to deal with Spade.
"It seems you've grown close to my grandfather, and here I thought you were working your way to becoming my father's Venalicium."
"..."
"Well I guess there is a lot of competition in there, you didn't have a chance, did you?"
"Stop taunting me and use it."
I smiled at my old friend. "Of course, First Degree Nota." I felt only one blue circular tattoo appear on my chest next to my stab wound. The same power that flowed in the man fighting Akiyon, was the same power I possessed.
"Akiyon don't hold back now! A Nota is not something to scoff at."
"Wow Titen, your chi is amazing!"
I know, this is the power of the Chi blade. Uncle Lyon described it as an infinite source of chi and I believe him. A short blue horizontal line appeared on my bridge as well. I turned from Akiyon and refocused myself on my opponent.
"To think you would choose the Death blade at your inauguration, if you are a Deca then it means you can raise a person from the dead." Their reanimated body will be as strong as their summoner, their will, that of their summoner but their skills will be as they were in life. I can only hope that Isamu recently got his succession, it will be tough fighting a well experienced dead warrior.
"They gave you, the shogun, the most basic Nota. Why didn't you receive the Darkness blade or that of your father's?"
"Isn't that how the system works? Loyal soldiers of the Terragon clan are all given the Chi Nota. Only after mastering the Chi Nota do others consider challenging a Venalicium for their position and Nota. That applies to all, even me, who did you challenge.?"
"None of your concern Terragon."
"Hahaha! You were chosen, weren't you Isamu? Grandfather likes keeping his pets close to his side." I said as I laughed at him for not realising that all the steps he had taken to be here, were never his. His family thought they had played their hand well not knowing that this was the hand he wanted. "A bloodline is going to end tonight, which it will be. The Shibuya or Mamushippo house."
"Obviously yours, Disaster Child will be the one to do you in, Titen!" He shouted as his eyes began bulging profusely from the pain of unleashing each level of his Nota. The line on his forehead connected to another line and so on forth, each line representing the level he was obtaining. Two lines 2° Nota, three lines, 3° Nota and so on until ten. The lines on his forehead appearing at every second were an indication of his growing power. The decagon shape I feared appeared on his forehead, which means he really can summon the dead. The tattoo looked like it was first carved on his head with a knife and then the scar was inked by the darkest of black. "Copper Sand Art: Blowing dust."
"How strong you've become." I said as metal particles filled the air, I reached for my face to cover my mouth and nose but opted not to midway. If there is any copper in my body it won't do me much harm, more than my own. The dust filled the air and eventually I felt its weight in my lungs, I channelled chi to my lungs to break down the metal. I felt my lips dry up and my lungs began heating up, he is increasing the temperature of the copper.
"You've already lost, blowing dust is a summer storm. It occurs after droughts." I started coughing as he was talking, my vision blurred by the tears welling up in my eyes and evaporating at the same time. I fell to all fours on the ground as I couldn't grasp for air and my muscles felt weak.
"Do you know what dust symbolises to us Mamushippos? Frailty, dependence on the gods, vulnerability caused it to be easily scattered. Sounds familiar, Titen?" He was talking about my condition at the moment, frailty the small dust in my body is able to weaken me. Dependence talks about my gasping for air like believers to their gods and vulnerability, that doesn't need much explanation as I was on the ground. I raised my chi and began to also unlock my Nota, each level unlocked a line on my forehead. I reached my tenth level, my Deca and was now able to stand. The power flowing in my veins was euphoric, the decagon tattoo on my forehead felt like fire on my skin. I grinned at my old friend as he too grinned at me.
"Yet dust also speaks of potential for transformation and renewal. I remember the scriptures of how goddess of life breath of dust created life, cousin. My mother's lessons."
"It seems you do, I thought you had forgotten." He said and took a deep breath of his copper. "Copper Sand Art: Homeo-sta-sis."
As he said that I felt the hot circular tattoos on my chest cool as they had increased from one to ten very quickly. On his, though covered by his clothing I knew there were ten X marks tattoos. I pressed my hand on the decagon shape on my forehead, the tattoo was very much etched to my head. The shape that represents that I am a fully fledged Deca, ninety two more lines before I can become a Tetrakai.
"West dance, Alloy Manipulation Art: Idaten (God of speed)." I pointed my sword to the left side of my body and the gold alloy in colour (Titanium Nitride=Titanium & Tin alloy) coated my arms and legs. I could feel its lightweight relief more than the iron bronze alloy of Ame-no-Tajikarao.
Homeo-sta-sis increases the speed and reaction of his body just like my Idaten, our swords clashed before the sound of metal could echo. Our impacts echoed prematurely as our attacks increased in numbers and veracity, until the sounds blended in our battle. The ringing of the previous blow annoyed me for a second and stopped, another followed and followed.
I landed a fist square in his sternum sending Isamu back a few feet. He quickly recovered and closed the distance between us to deliver a kick right in my chin. The consequence of this was me discombobulated for a good second, I shook the senses back to me. I refocused to a sword tip aiming towards my forehead, I quickly dodged and returned a strike at his feet. Isamu jumped out of the way of my strike, exactly what I wanted. I placed my hand on the ground and manipulated the natural iron and copper particles in the soil, a metal protruded from the ground and attempted to skewer Isamu. He dodged the pike but then more appeared from the ground, he repeatedly backflipped from each pike that spur and landed on a giant rock. From his position he looked down on me while I was standing back up. I couldn't help but feel my chin properly, he grinned at my licking of my wound.
"Shall we increase the intensity of this fight?" He questioned.
"I thought you would never ask." I responded
Akiyon POV
I looked to my side at Titen, as he was staring seriously at those who were approaching us. I sensed seven strong chi signals, the farthest one from us was the strongest and probably the one who cast that weird illusion.
"Temee, huh." A boy spoke as he got closer to us. "I thought you were the only bastard here, Lord Terragon."
Titen's face lit up with excitement. "Well if it isn't Isamu, what brings you here?" He said cheerfully. If we were in a different place, in a different time under different circumstances. I would think this is his friend or still is.
"I've come for my shogun." Isamu replied.
"That's a shame, he isn't going anywhere."
Shogun? He must mean Titen, then these people are here to take Titen away to his grandfather. I can't allow that.
"I wasn't asking Titen."
After saying that I just knew I needed to prepare myself for a fight, so I reached behind me and grabbed Anrumba. I spun Anrumba around as his roots formed into a spear tip. Titen only looked at me and he took out his sword and ran his finger on its edge. Isamu also drew his sword and the man that has been staring me down took out two scythes.
"I thought since you and I are old friends we may come to an agreement."
"You are not my friend!" He attacked Titen after saying that. "Bronze Rocks, I don't want to be disturbed!" As he said this three of the seven ran to their prescribed cardinal directions, leaving the Spade man in the north.
"That's it Isamu, give in to your anger!"
The two that remained still, the woman kept her eyes on Titen's fight while the other man brandished his scythes. Sparks flew as the iron sharpeneth iron, just by looking at the weapons I couldn't tell if they were spirit weapons or not. Something Gemanda said that I should be wary of, they come in different shapes with their own unique dangerous abilities. Our eyes connected and then he slipped right in front of me, he swung downwards and across simultaneously. I quickly dodged by backflipping backwards and directed Anrumba's spear tip directly at the man's face. My attack was easily dodged as well, as the man shifted his head to the right. I managed to graze his cheek, this only made him further excited. The woman that was standing next to my attacker just stood and observe both my fight and Titen's.
The man sensed I was distracted and capitalised on this by landing a kick in my stomach with his long skinny leg. I quickly shook off the effect of the damage and in that moment my body began healing as I kept the distance between us with my spear lunges. He dodges each and every attack smoothly, he is more experienced at fighting people than me. Gemanda was my only sparring partner, though Gemanda's skill surpasses that of this man. I got used to how the wooden golem fought, this guy was someone with a completely different style of fighting.
The way he and Gemanda fight are as different as night and day. Gemanda's movements were stiff and to the book in a way, while this guy is moving like anything but human. His fighting from the ground level yet being tall was animal and the movement of his scythes was everywhere and yet controlled. His grin brought out something I felt once when I was a child, fear, and I liked it. Titen was having his own death match with Isamu now I will have mine with….
"What's your name warrior?" I asked the skinny tall man after releasing I don't even know his name but I already know what kind of monster he is. The lives I'm sure he has taken are greater than the amount of people I've met in my entire life.
"Kira Kinamura, the vanguard of the Bronze Rocks. Hehehe!" He said crouching down to the ground before pouncing at me like a quadrupede.
"Akiyon Koba…!"
"I know who you are boy, I heard legends of your power Guardian!"
He slashed at me with his left scythe and as I dodged his right caused damage, cutting skin and clothing. My healing on the cuts was soothing after the momentarily painful strike. I tried to counter him with my spear but wherever I struck I missed entirely, his reaction is something else.
"I guess there is no point in trying to keep distance between us." As I was talking, Anrumba also felt what I wanted from him. He shaped himself into a sword, I gave a glance at my weapon. The sword was wood, a dark brown, browner than Titen's hair. The guard was a seed cased by a thin metal testa (seed coat) with holes. My handle was green dried vines braided together, thick at the closest part to the testa but gradually losing diameter till it was nothing but a sharp thorn. One hand on the thick part and the other on the thin part, I positioned myself facing my opponent. "I am the Guardian of the Great Ark Forest!"
He rushed me with both scythes, so he could flank me horizontally or that was a bluff? it doesn't matter. The wood of my sword extended, the sword grew larger in size to look more like a fan than blade. Strong winds blew in every direction but I stood on barren land while he layed amongst the flourishing tree. I need the forest's help to win this fight so I need to get there.
The woman who had her attention on Titen's fight, now was looking at my direction. Our eyes met for only a short while, but I'm sure she knows my intentions. After all these people have been watching us for a while now, they drew us away from the forest with that illusion. We fell for it , the plants were all covered in some orange dust that must have been what I was sniffing the moment I entered the forest. The entire forest must be covered in it, which explains why we were never attacked. The dust was used to redirect everyone else away from us and focused them on each other.
The chi belongs to the man Titen said not to fight, I wonder how strong he and his illusions are. I ran to the forest as quickly as I could and the woman ran towards me. We aligned and she kicked me with her left leg right in the mid section, I managed to block the assault but was blown back. She is stronger than me, how?
"Get up Kinamura!" The man appeared behind her grinning but bleeding on the right side of his forehead. "Don't let him in the forest, he might have a way to hail." She said to the man behind her. "But you already knew that."
"Hehehe." The man chuckled. "I don't know what you're talking about, the boy is strong. He even withstood your kick."
"That won't be happening again." She said as she turned her head back to face me.
Our attention was stolen by the sudden rise in chi, in the direction of Titen's fight. Explosive movement could be heard echoing the forest and our ears. The woman's attention was once again on Titen's fight, Kira noticed this and pounced at me very quickly. I reacted by releasing a myriad of kicks that were blocked or avoided. His short-handle scythes flew in all directions as my attacker searched for a mishap in my movement avoiding him. I blocked both scythes with my fan sword and flung my sword, causing a whirlwind to push my assailant back.
Kira was pushed back but was able to sturdy himself enough to withstand the wind. He grinned as he looked at the distance between us.
"Next time I won't be pushed back."
The woman pounced from behind Kira and came towards me, I flung my fan harder this time. Instead of a whirlwind it was a decent tornado this time. She was unshaken as she walked to my position and placed one hand on my weapon. I jerked it away but I couldn't move it.
"I'm the strongest here boy." She said and proceeded to smack me across the cheek in the direction of Titen's fight, away from the forest. "You won't be using nature to your advantage, I'm here to ensure Lord Mamushippo Shitōgoku (Death fight + Goku) is not disturbed."
"Is that so?" I said as I woke from my crater. "It's a shame I already sent for help."
"How!?" She was enraged.
"People are not my only friends." I said smiling.
"You cheeky brat, whoever gets your message will be too late to even find your corpse."
"I doubt that he's been moving closer to us since we landed in the forest."
I returned Anrumba to his original form and raised my left hand slightly as I held Anrumba in my right.
"Great Ark Art: Widow Tree!" A black oak tree branches sprouted from the ground and began attacking rapidly in all directions. The tall man hid behind the woman as she turned her skin to metal.
"Steel Creo: Integument." She chanted, the branches whipped at her but only managed to push her back, as she blocked her face.
I see, she is sturdy enough to take brute force head on from the branches but the roots of the Widow Tree have a different approach. The roots began to grow out the ground and wrap around her feet without her noticing, the branches served as a perfect distraction. Both warriors were solely focused on the attack from above that the one from below is undetected. The woman was lifted to the air and thrown back into the ground, the crater was big and loud in the making.
Kira was able to react and cut off the roots and instantly disappeared from my vision only to reappear on my left side. His scythes were directed towards my neck, first the left then the right. Blood was the only thing on this man's mind, as he licked the blood he was able to nick from the neck. He went in for a second barrage but the branch of the Widow Tree slammed down in between us and the roots reached for him below ground, he jumped out the way and landed next to the woman laid on the ground.
"It seems you seem to be having trouble as well, with the Guardian, I'm no sensorie but I can tell he is stronger than us." He said to the woman who was on the ground, she simply was disgusted by the sight of the man. She stood from her crater and began to rub her chin.
"Slamming me into the ground with a moving tree, never thought such a day would ever come." She said as she stared daggers at me. "Your power is truly impressive, it even feels like you're holding back…"
"Yeah I felt that as well, but we too are holding back…" Kira interjected.
"Shut up! Your voice disgusts me." The man chuckled at the offence. "Under normal circumstances mystic child you would be formidable to me, but I'm a Venalicium." As she said this I could feel Isamu's chi rise drastically, this feeling I was getting. It felt like death and it reeked of blood, I turned to the source of the evil dark energy. To see the boy no older than Titen and me. A black line was etched on his forehead, and his brown chi (Rose colour) mixed with really black chi. Titen's chi as well began to increase as well, and he too had a line that formed a shape. His grey chi mixed with the blue chi of his power, a power I couldn't comprehend. I returned my attention to the two individuals in front of me, They were smiling widely.
"Do you see the power of the Terragons!" Kira shouted.
His chi also began to increase, but not in the same way as Isamu but Titen's. A short line was etched on his forehead, the mark was a dark navy tattoo with a blue hue the closer I looked. The woman went through the same change as the man behind her, their combined malice was choking.
"What is the matter boy? Release the power of the Great Ark Guardian." She said as two knuckle duster gloves appeared on her hands, the elementium pieces were the same colour as stainless steel. Silver and shiny, they covered only her up to her forearms. "Because this is the power of a Venalicium."
"It is impressive, Titen never told me he could do this. Why is he different?" I pointed to Isamu.
"Lord Mamushippo is a Child Venalicium of the reagent, your friend's grandfather."
"I know him, Titen told me about him."
"No, you don't child." Kira spoke as he walked in front of the woman. "He is the most dangerous being you'll ever meet, he is death itself!" He paused as if he were imagining the man he was talking about with fear on his face. I can't help but think of what image comes to mind, because even Titen spoke in fear when he described him as well. "I fear no man but that…that isn't a man."
Silence carried the mood as we heard the clash of metal in the background, followed by the destruction of artems.
"Akiyon, don't hold back now, a Nota is not something to laugh at!"
"Wow Titen your chi is amazing!" I shouted back at him, truly admiring the strange power that everyone here has. I wish I had a notah as well, it would make fighting the man before me easier.
Isamu and Titen's conversation throughout their fight has been confusing and yet really emotional. Those two have a lot they want to say to each other, while this man wants blood. The constant attacks from Kira forced me back as if he was leading me somewhere, probably somewhere he is advantageous. But where? There is only sand in this desert, unless it's a trap by the sandman.It seems I have no choice but to use it if I want to stop this man, that transformation.
"First Floor Takeover!" I said as I was able to create distance between us by backflipping.
Tattoos of green brown leaves and slim branches appeared all throughout my body, my chi grew more violently and settled immediately. My first Takeover is amazing to be in, my strength and senses grow but the extraordinary part is my healing. No matter how bad the damage is to my body or that of someone else, I'm capable of healing. It is as if dead leaves fall to the ground and provide nutrients for not only the plant life but also the animal life as well. My chi is constantly healing and nourishing me, so that I can fight extensively in battle. I don't know how long my opponent can fight in his state but I can keep this up for seven days, if I don't die of course.
The man and woman attacked me at the same time, probably releasing I am stronger than the both of them in my state. Their attacks were not coordinated or connected, and were easy to see through. Everything moved in slow motion even with the increased speed the Notas gave them. One attacked my left with kicks and punches too fast for most to see and the other slashed with two blades on my right. These two, although working together on a similar goal, are clearly not allies. Just people that want to kill and harm, but I won't allow that even though we're outnumbered and surrounded.
I dodged their onslaught with relative ease and with one kick to the gut, I sent the woman back a few feet. When I pushed Kira with my wind blade I slid a tiny wooden snake on his body. In the confusion the snake fled in his direction and I could feel him getting closer to us. Me and Titen need to hold out till he gets here, my takeover allowed me to see what the snake saw. I saw grass and stars, but I could smell him in the air and went in that direction of the scent.
Kira launched at me with his two scythes not carrying for the damage inflicted on his partner. His movements were sporadic but readable with my owl eyes, so I blocked and weaved my way behind him. I shapeshifted Anrumba into his whip form, which was basically a vine with a wooden and metal handle. One whip in the direction in front of me as I turned created the distance I needed from the two.
I was standing in the middle of them, one to my left recovered from my kick. The other turned slowly towards me after his quick retreat, I only grazed his forearm with the whip. It began healing as chi erupted from the cut, it seems their power also allows them to fight effectively in battle. Though the healing isn't as fast as mine, they are still going to be a problem if the pain I inflict doesn't do anything to them. I whipped Anrumba again omnidirectionally, this time increasing his range, forcing the two to move further back from me. Whenever the whip touched the sand, greenery would erupt from the barren soil. This must have scared the lady off even though she was armoured by her steel skin.
Anrumba turned back to his spear form and as I was ready to plunge him into the ground something rocked me from behind. I opened my eyes to see my body dangling in the air before my first impact with the ground helped me realise. I was punched on my side and sent flying by the metal body lady.
My distance from Titen and the forest was even greater now, and I was more deeply in the desert, the sandman's territory. To my surprise the sand didn't move or anything to me but Kira's chi was near. He walked up to me and there was something different about him, his forehead now had three lines instead of one. The two new lines appeared diagonally from the one on the bridge of his brow. His chi was greater than before, come to think of it. I also saw a change on the forehead tattoo of the metal lady when I was flying back, that explains her increased speed and strength. This power of theirs is more than just more chi, it increases their senses, mobility and other physical attributes.
I got up from my position on the ground, the damage to my body was healing but not as quickly. Kira charged at me with his increased speed, I released more chi in my Takeover. If they can get stronger then I can't hold back.
"Great Ark Art: Epidermis." My body was immediately covered by a hardened and smooth armour made of the piliferous layer of a root (outer layer of a root). Kira slashed at me with his left scythe, I blocked it with my right arm, then the other attack came. That too was easily deflected as I pushed him back, I directed my spear directly at his head. Kira dodged as he was stumbling back and kicked at my torso several times, no damage was collected.
The cell walls of my armour are extremely hard but the interior is mostly a thick gel, so most physical attacks bounce off me in this state. Kira slashes only scratched my shell which instantly healed itself, I also counter with my own slashes which were evaded. His movements and reactions were growing quicker than I could believe, chi emanated from his body like a stream. I quickly checked for the position of the woman, to my surprise she had powered down. Her skin was no longer metal and her forehead tattoos were gone, as if they never existed. It seems her objection was too clear, to get me as far away from the forest and Titen. I won't let them take him away, I won't lose to this man.
"Great Ark Art:" I chanted while jumping back from a sweep kick. "Swamp Release."
Muddy water flowed from beneath my feet, overflowing the desert terrain with wet clay. Kira fell back but his retreat was cut short as he was washed away by my tide, I twirled Anrumba in the air. With each twist I could feel him opening his layers, like a bud in bloom. I dropped to the ground my spirit weapon, which morphed into a giant water lily that floated on the murky waters of my creation. The pool of water stretched the distance of a giant pond, not too large yet not small either.
The water barely reached Titen's fight, which was audible even from a distance thanks to metal clashing continuously. Kira appeared from the body of water, not even dirt could hide the excitement on his face.
"You're still holding back, it doesn't feel like you want to kill me kid. That's why you won't even lay a scratch on me, except dirty my clothes."
He clenched his fist and widened his legs which were covered by water and crouched a little bit down. His chi just kept on rising and rising, his forehead marks grew from 3 to 4 to 5 till it formed a decagon shape.
"10 Degrees!" He shouted those words at the top of his lungs when he finished.