Hollowed sounds of panic erupted behind Arthur. It was the guards retreating from the camp, hastily scrambling to reassemble themselves in the confusion.
He took a relaxed breath, the heady rush racing through every fiber of his being as he witnessed his success become tangible.
Having dismantled the three power sources, he recognized the turning point; he felt invincible, a sense of accomplishment blooming within him as he prepared to exit the camp.
He glanced one last time at the wreckage, ensuring they'd be as weakened as possible before he whipped around and dashed to where Chiriku was.
As he entered that area, he found the monk with wide eyes, glancing toward the camp—but those astonished features transformed into a solid flash of relief as Arthur approached.
"We did it!" he explained, stepping forward. "We really did it! I can hardly believe my eyes! We took out their power source."
Arthur exhaled slowly, pretending that he was exhausted from all the fighting. In truth, he could go several more rounds.
"They won't be a threat for much longer," he said. "Without their tech, they'll be scrambling to find a solution, and we can take them out while they're vulnerable."
"Brother Ryugetsu, incredible work," Chiriku praised. "When we report back, the temple will know what you've done."
"What we've done," Arthur corrected.
Realistically, this victory was a tad personal, a new frontier to expanding his capabilities against the flood of technological advancements.
"Let's finish this then," he continued.
Without their technological advantage, he had already dismantled the core of the occultic group's operational strength. All that was left was to take care of the remaining fighters.
"Yes! Let's finish this together," Chiriku replied, steeling himself.
As they ventured further, both of them quickly analyzed the remnants of the occultic camp, now disheveled and overflowing with confusion as the leftover members struggled to regroup.
With their technological advantages now demolished, the odds had shifted in the favour of the monks. But they still needed to strike while the members were weak.
"We'll take them out quickly—don't give them a chance to recover!" Chiriku gritted his teeth in determination.
"Agreed," Arthur calmly replied, charging into the fray.
As if they had fought before, they split apart, taking on the remaining members of the occultic group.
Arthur moved fluidly, quickly scanning the area for obvious targets. His Tamashii kicked in, guiding him to a lone figure in a dark cloak, his posture betraying anxiety amid the shocking disarray.
The occultist was frantically shouting orders to a group of disheveled members trying to reassemble their defenses. Arthur silently closed the distance. He was determined to confront one of them directly for a certain purpose.
As he approached, the occultist turned around suddenly, catching sight of Arthur. The man's expression morphed into one of disbelief—fear proximal to awe.
"Y… you're the attacker! You took out the power stations! What are you?"
"No need to point out the obvious," Arthur responded coolly. "But if you really wanna know, you'll be marred to the ground beneath my feet."
With a single motion of his wrist, he summoned a small flourish of smoke—a mere teasing extension of his power that spiraled into the air around him. The occultist stumbled back unconsciously, terror gleaming in the others' eyes.
"I'll make this easy on you—run now, while you still can," Arthur challenged.
The uncertainty in the occultist's expression almost made Arthur chuckle. But he remained stoic.
"W-wait! You don't understand, I have friends! We can come to an agreement!" the occultist stammered, glancing back at his companions, who were still struggling to collect themselves.
Arthur stepped forward, causing a storm of smoke to swirl within him—the empowering chakra that surged through every inch of his being.
"Think about your next move carefully," he demanded with authority. "Do you even know what we've destroyed? You can't keep running back to those stations just to recharge your little toys."
The occultist hesitated, a lost expression on his face as he said, "You don't understand... Without our technology, we'll be nothing."
"And I won't be merciful again—next time I won't let you retreat," Arthur warned in a cool and steady tone. "Unless you want to test whether or not I mean it, I suggest you make a choice now."
In a moment of frantic realization, the occultist let out a breathless laugh, recognizing he was outmatched. "Alright! Just... just let me go!"
"Dare I ask?" Arthur wondered, lifting the member by the shirt. "Will you promise not to bother the temple or harass its members?"
"I-I promise! I won't hurt anyone! Just let me go!" The occultist pleaded as Arthur dropped him.
"Run, then," Arthur commanded dismissively.
As the occultist turned to flee, however, Arthur knew it wouldn't be the last time the two met. Why was that? Because he had placed a flying raijin mark on the man's garments!
Would it matter that the occultists would see it? Nay. The flying raijin marks were like beacons for Arthur to sense when he pleased.
The reason why one was placed was because he understood that this group had an even bigger camp, one that housed more advanced technology that he could take for himself one day. And if this member was to return to the occult's headquarters, Arthur would know exactly where it was.
With that confrontation concluded, he swiftly shifted his focus back to Chiriku, who was engaged in battle with a small group of remaining occultists.
The monk displayed remarkable skill, diverting their attacks with quick reflexes—footwork amplified by the fundamental teachings of the temple. Not once had he used the Raigo technique.
Arthur joined the fray, disorienting the remaining adversaries without showing off his smoke techniques. His movements in front of Chiriku were slowed down as to not arouse suspicion.
Together, they fended off their enemies with impeccable coordination, fighting side by side. It was almost as if they had been teammates before. But that was because Arthur knew how Chiriku fought alongside characters like Asuma Sarutobi, his once former teammate.
With their opponents crumbling under the combined force of trained shinobi skills and technological acumen, the remaining occultists scattered. Defeated and demoralized, those who remained were driven away, vanishing into the underbrush, leaving the field in shambles.
As silence fell over the clearing, Chiriku and Arthur stood among the remnants of battle, panting slightly as they surveyed the aftermath.
"We actually did it!" Chiriku exclaimed with a broad grin. "I can't believe how effective that was! We made quick work of them!"
"They weren't expecting us to be this strong, especially after losing their advantage," Arthur replied, surveying their work.
"Regardless, I owe you for your help today," Chiriku gratefully added. "We all do. You've proven we can stand against them."
"Just doing what needed to be done as a fellow monk," Arthur said nonchalantly, faking the enjoyment of the high mood of their success while keeping the underlying goals to himself.
With the threat neutralized, the two made their way back toward the Fire Temple, the sun beginning to set.
As they walked through the front gates, the atmosphere shifted to one of celebration; monks began to circle around, ecstatic voices rising with the news of their success.
"Look! It's them!" their fellow monks shouted, welcoming them back with cheers and claps on the shoulders.
No one save Sora and Chiriku knew of Arthur's existence in this temple. But the weight of their achievement settled on the two like they were heroes; the glow of admiration enveloped them.
Chiriku found his footing amidst the crowd, declaring, "We did it together! The occultists are retreating, and their power has been done away with! They won't be able to threaten our temple any longer!"
Cheers erupted once more with some of the monks clasping Arthur in a tight embrace, recognizing the effort he'd contributed to their victory.
"Come, we shall celebrate your heroism!" one of the elders announced.
A banquet of gratitude and honour awaited them. Never before had Arthur experienced something like this. He kept a steady composure, accepting their customs so as not to arouse suspicion.
As the night wore on, he partook in the festivities, having traditional dishes and the warmth of camaraderie. The monks upheld their customs strongly, abstaining from alcohol like real monks. However, they did indulge in a small serving of wine—a practice that found balance among the strains of celebration.
Chiriku shared stories and laughter amid the growing festivities, confirming the legends that they had come to know. Arthur added on to his tales in return, faking his thrill. It's then that monks began to sing.
"In shadows deep stood brave Chiriku, a monk who believed. With insight of ages and spirit so bright, he faced the dark cultists, prepared for the fight."
"Beside him a warrior, swift as the night, Ryugetsu, the brother, his heart full of light."
"Chiriku struck with skills refined, a monk that's so balanced, the cosmos aligned. He chanted old verses that always would flow; the fight was outlived with power to bestow."
"Ryugetsu was silent and his authority's unbound; a mysterious monk who made his foes hit the ground. Side by side, they fought—two forces intertwined! No one can stop them when their powers combine."
"The cultists fell and their dark magic defeated, by Ryugetsu's wisdom and Chiriku's heart; it could be repeated! Though songs are sung and the tales may persist, the two just chuckled, 'This tune we can't resist!'"
As the evening drew to a close, Arthur excused himself, seeking solitude to do what he initially came here for.
Silver light reflected off the tranquil ripples across the water's surface. The atmosphere was also perfect for him. Setting himself down at the edge, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
As minutes went by, many monks passed him, but none disturbed him. Whether it was out of respect or it was their sacred vow never to disturb someone in a meditated state, it worked in his favour.
He delved deeper into his thoughts, reflecting on many past events. Events like how long he'd been in this world and what was most likely to unfold. Considering he had placed a mark on an occultist, he relished the idea of wielding their technology for his ambitions.
It was only after several hours of silence that a strange sensation finally made its way to the forefront of his consciousness.
'It's getting stronger,' he thought to himself, the energy feeling right as visions of a newfound strength coalesced in his mind.
Slowly, he began to forge a connection with the temple's chakra around him—the never-expanded Hermit chakra curling deep within his body.
The sensation pressed upon him, settling into alignment; he concentrated on the flow, interlacing the threads and amalgamating them into one cohesive fabric. Much like the stages of Sage Chakra, this new chakra felt expansive, almost liberating.
By applying himself to it, he felt an eruption of potential within him. It coursed through his body with clarity, forming a translucent glow within his mind. This was new; this was different; this, so he deemed, was "hermit style."
Much like how every combative feat had a "style" to it in this world, this new technique utilized the Gift of the Hermit chakra in all of Arthur's moves. That meant that if he used that chakra, he could amplify his techniques.
He rose to his feet, feeling the power coursing through him, invigorating every fiber of his being—a combination of shinobi skill and now-enriched vigour.
Techniques he had cultivated shifted under the influence of this newfound power. Sage art breathed new life into every jutsu he had perfected previously, but this... this hermit style would open new avenues altogether.
With these thoughts lingering, he stood at the opportune brink, ready to innovate for himself further.
Tomorrow would bring strength and opportunities to expand this prowess, to develop methods that would meld with almost everything this considered a breakthrough.
Without needing to look around, for no eyes were on him, he performed the flying raijin and vanished.