The flight toward the place this all began was oddly... calm. Peaceful, even. The quiet monts before the storm mainly passed with admiring the valley and mountains below, sothing I didn't get the chance to see when Akiko flew to the Village the first ti since it was night. And since I was still a mortal with pitiful eyesight compared to what it is now.
None of us spoke, though Gerra and the others easily kept pace flying alongside Akiko, and Ios' presence in my soul space was felt more than imagined. Soon enough, the conifers broke against the base of the grey rocks that seat the mountains and all of them pitch up and begin weaving and darting between the snow capped peaks.
Another few minutes of travel reveals the blown out forest from my landing here, from Heaven's abrupt and powerful attempt to snuff in the crib as it were. Millions and millions of laid over trunks shorn of bark, limb, and leaf. Ashy, soot silted ground instead of grasses and bushes. A place once no doubt filled with life now desolate and devastated. A predicant likely to endure for centuries if not longer, any hope of seedlings surviving the cataclysm small.
All of us pause there just on the cusp of entering the space, the girls eyes wide as they take in the scene for the first ti. "Heavens..." Jun Li rely gasps as she surveys, and I try my best not to snark out an affirmative retort since it looks like she is actually upset at the sight. A fact also proven by the pang of remorse that filters through her bond with that is t with my own seed of soft warmth and reassuring love.
A minute or so passes, more than long enough for all of us to get our fill of the shattered landscape, before Akiko simply begins to fly forward once more. "Let us continue. I can already sense cultivators at the edge of my range, near where dear Alia entered Mara. We will know better their composition and strength as we advance."
Nodding along, they follow behind Akiko and we shoot across the fallen pines and conifers. I keep my nascent spiritual sense open as well since its shorter range than theirs, but mainly just to check and see if anything living might have returned here in the an ti. Sadly, our earlier theories turn out to at least be partially correct. In this section of the once glorious woods, life of any shape or sort has not co back yet.
As we get closer to the impact site, I reel in my spiritual sense and ntally prepare myself for whatever is about to co, Akiko's voice echoing around us past the whipping wind. "It seems like a singular sect has claid or wrested ownership of the location. Five half-step cultivators are leading roughly a thousand varying lower Ranks, and they all seem to have an abundance of sword Qi. Likely the [Ten Thousand Blades Sect] from the city Manamoto further to the east of the forest."
"Alignnt?" Samantha asks curtly and professionally, any hint of her usual softness now replaced by the stoicism that has been absent for these past couple months.
"If I am correct about their sect, neutral bordering on righteous, but unquestionably still mortal in morals. They will ask for compensation or demonstration, but should not cause too much of a fuss due to Manamoto relying on black market trade with the Village for pills and talismans. The plan remains the sa. Dialogue first, and if that fails Alia will give them what they seek." The snowy kitsune replies back in an equally clinical tone.
Her arms do give a light squeeze though, bringing my attention up to her face which now stares down softly to mine. "If anything goes wrong, or you wish for us to take more... drastic asures, just simply say the word. We are with you, my love."
A breath I didn't know I was holding leaves my lungs, her last reassurance easing so of the rising tension along my shoulders as I nod to her in reply. With that, Akiko nods before gathering more Qi into herself - sothing the others mirror too - and then shoots forward, breaking the sound barrier.
The sound is no doubt heard for miles, and the flaring of Qi is also without a doubt panicking the squatters we're heading towards. Even at this blinding speed, I can make out varying shapes that are beginning to form up in a semi circle around our projected arrival point, five floating figures with weapons drawn but not at the ready awaiting us in the air.
In an instant, Akiko and the girls speed up even more, the ruined forest before us becoming a blur of grays and browns before we're suddenly halted right in front of the now trembling leaders of the forces before us. Another explosion echoing out as the Qi they used to perfectly stop flares and makes the air ripple around them. Well, that's one way to make an entrance~.
With terrified faces staring up at us - as Akiko and the others decided to appear just slightly above everyone else - I finally get a look at these foreign cultivators. Leading them are five won, all seemingly looking to be in their mid to late twenties though I know how faulty that tric is these days.
From left to right, a red head with hair shorn on one side, the other flopping downwards in long, wavy ribbons over a cute if unremarkable rounded face and green eyes. She wears a typical white kimono and has two katanas, one in each hand.
The next is a dark-skinned brunette with curly hair only reaching her chin and parted to expose the whole of her face, brown eyes looking up in worry. Like the one to her side, she also wares a plain white kimono, but instead of slim blades, a massive Zweihander is nestled in a dual grip though the tip is pointed toward the earth.
In the middle seems to be their leader, or at least the only one of them in different attire. A taller woman with waist length blonde hair that falls in perfect waves and toned brown skin with equally stunning golden yellow eyes. Instead of the uniform kimono, she dons a massive set of plate armor etched and filigreed with gold and depictions of all makes and kinds of swords.
Bit on the nose, but it does look kind of bad ass, I'll give her. In her hands rests a longsword and shield, though the sword seems to be sheathed at the mont.
The next up is a mousy looking woman with marble skin holding a pair of daggers with shoulder length jet black hair and purple eyes. A lither figure than the rest, and it isn't particularly hard to co to the conclusion she is likely the speed or stealth expert of this little troupe. Soone Jun Li will probably have to keep an eye on if things get... ssy.
And lastly, a bored woman with a sun kissed tone that towers over the rest of them with rippling muscle evident even under the kimono. A mop of sandy blonde hair and blue eyes giving a disinterested gander to us all as she rests massive great swords on each of her shoulders. Gerra's opponent, for sure.
The brief inspection lasts all of a fraction of a second before the one in armor floats just slightly out of formation and closer towards us. With a bow, she crinkles at the waist and offers politely and in an actually very silky voice, "Madam Akiko and her followers. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Ilania Terrese, leader of this expedition from the [Ten Thousand Blades Sect]. To what do we owe your presence in this resource gathering mission?"
Akiko returns the bow only slightly before replying in her 'Acting Sect Leader' voice, which I still find very attractive~, "Ilania Terrese, I am likewise pleased to et with you. However, it seems news has not traveled far as of late. I have reclaid the title of Acting Sect Leader," There it is~, "for the Fox Village so months ago. With that in mind, I and my followers are here to make use of this space. If all goes well, we should need it rely for a matter of days or a week at most, afterwards we shall depart once more and leave it free of our occupation."
The words are perfect and cordial, but the reactions - especially amongst the weaker cultivators who can easily hear the conversation above - beco a bit twisted. Whispers and frowns fill their ranks, even amongst the assembled half-steps as Ilania's face turns sour. "Acting Sect Leader, I am afraid we cannot depart with such vague conditions. We have spent the last two months securing this space from rivaling sects and demonic powers. Our exploitation of the land has only comnced a week prior. To be forced from it now would not only expose it for conquest yet again, but anger our sect and the people of Manamoto who helped fund this expedition."
Unphased, Akiko rely shakes her head. "Depending on what you ask for, I am sure we can reach a bargain that benefits us both. And it is not as if whatever you and your group are searching for will disappear once we depart. However, I will make it plain that we will be using this space for our needs. For the ti I have stated, only myself and my followers will be the ones in this ruined forest. That being said, state your terms and we shall begin negotiations."
The tension in the air rises noticeably, the four behind Ilania gripping the hilts of their weapons just the faintest of touches firr before she turns and sends them a look that bleed off so of those rising emotions. Turning back to Akiko, she lets out a small breath and turns her hand upwards in a plea, "Acting Sect Leader, I am afraid there are no terms that would soothe and facilitate such an act as abandoning our purpose here aside from a veritable mountain of spirit stones and Heaven infused resources. And while your reputation is pristine, our sect and city cannot take the risk that what we search for would remain after your departure."
"Hoo~?" The temperature surrounding us drops precipitously as a chilliness suffuses Akiko's tone, "So my word is not enough for you, Ilania Terrese. And you accuse of being a thief in the night as well~. Very well, I will offer one - and only one - other path to resolve this amicably since our two sects and cities have shared in a long and beneficial partnership for centuries.
My ward here," She pauses as a tail cos up to point toward myself who is still cradled in her arms, "will accept the challenge of anyone you see fit. She is at the initial stages of the 3rd Rank, but I will not cry foul if you submit anyone up into the peak of the 4th. For the sake of those behind you, do not trample on this last and final offer."
The eyes of the blonde in front of her narrow at the threat, a short clip of a response given back. "Bold."
She then lowers her gaze to stare at , golden eyes searching up and down like so kind of puzzle she has never encountered, before turning back to Akiko. "If I have your assurance that you will not seek retribution for a mismatch, then I indeed have several promising 4th Ranks on the cusp of ascension in the group below . And if your ward agrees, of course."
Akiko rely scoffs as she shakes her head, "So you would ask for my word now after denying its trustworthiness not but a mont ago? Truly, you are a strange woman Ilania." The blonde seems to suck a lemon briefly but Akiko pays her no mind and instead turns down to face with her usual softness. "It is up to you, Alia. Whatever you want to do, we are behind you."
Ilania and the others give a strange look toward the interaction before their eyes widen to dinner plates as I reach up and kiss Akiko on the lips, a small smile coming to mine as I break it off and reply, "I'm fine with a spar if it ans avoiding annihilating all of them. They seem like decent enough people."
Unbeknownst to , everyone across from us - including the half-steps - swallow nervously as sweat begins pouring down their backs at casual ntion of their deaths.
Nodding in agreent, Akiko and the girls float down as she gently sets on the ground next to her. I hear more than a few whispers of male and female voices alike from the massive crowd so three hundred or so feet away. Whispers from people who apparently have no sha.
"W-wow... What a beauty... I feel as if my heart has been stolen..."
"Where did this fairy co from?!"
"Right? It was hard to tell when she was being carried by that gorgeous fox, but she's just as beautiful as the rest of that group..."
"I-I thought I didn't like won in that kind of way, but now..."
"Quiet!! Didn't you see that reaction earlier?! She's obviously more than just a ward! Do you want our city to be frozen over from her wrath?!"
"Damn, that's a sha. I was hoping to make her my wife..."
The only reason I'm able to keep my energy and emotions in check is because that last little idle thought ca from a woman. Well, that and they're all so weak. Still, its enough to make my eyebrows twitch as I give a loud, obvious cough. "*Ahem* You all know I can hear you, right?"
More than a hundred faces instantly turn red and avoid their eyes, finding either this patch of dirt or that passing cloud now imnsely attention grabbing. With a heavy sigh, Ilania lands in front of the now chastised group and gives an apologetic smile. "I sincerely apologize for their lack of decorum and rudeness, young Alia. I will be sure to discipline them later. If you are truly fine with facing an opponent a full rank above you, then I shall call forward our top genius. I pray you do not hold a grudge for my actions."
I give her a shrug, walking forward a few paces before answering back, "Yeah, that's fine. Likewise, I'll do my best not to seriously hurt them or ruin their future or whatever. But if you guys turn this into a sect wide grudge against and the Village later, we're going to have problems."
I faintly hear Akiko chuckle from behind as Ilania's brow twitches, though she does end up agreeing. "V-very well. Xie Min! Present yourself!"
To my shock, the woman that steps forward is one of the ones with a still beet red face. And the one that shot off that last little comnt about marriage before I called them out on their whispers. In that sa white kimono as the rest of them, the woman who makes her way past the crowd is objectively very pretty. Long brown hair that is done in a simple yet perfectly put together braid, toned body that still holds softness where it counts, and confidence that radiates out of her pale blue eyes.
Noticing this as well, Ilania seems to want to reconsider her choice before a wicked smirk slips onto my face. "Well, senior Ilania, I think this would be a fitting punishnt for her after all~. No need to choose a different opponent. And my earlier promise stands, I won't break her too badly~."
The line between false bravado and surety seems to be a thick one, but even the assembled foreign half-steps now gain a touch of worry at my cavalier attitude. The stealthy looking one whose na I haven't heard yet steps forward and whispers into the armored woman's ear, "Ilania, maybe we should ask for material compensation after all. Or simply allow them to stay here for a ti. I-I don't have a good feeling about this..."
anwhile, Xie Min - who thinks this victory is assured even though her opponent seems confident by the way she looks at - suddenly makes the choice for them. "Junior, while you appear to have a relationship already with Acting Sect Leader Akiko, allow to also beco your wife after I win this bout."
The ruined forest becos so quiet, a pin drop could have been heard for miles. I, on the other hand, have to do my best to not vaporize this girl in an instant. The sheer fuckingaudacity... Well, she hasn't seen fight or even use my techniques yet. I guess it's to be expected, even if I can tell how utterly rude and out of line she's acting.
"Excuse ?" I calmly reply with a steady tone that belies my simring emotions as all eyes nervously focus on the conversation.
Xie Min scoffs, pulling out a massive two-handed great sword that has faint inscriptions on the hilt. Her confidence and surety sothing to be comnded if it wasn't leading her to an ass whooping like she's never experienced before. "No matter what odd abilities or constitution you have, there is no universe in which a 3rd Rank beats a peak 4th. You are beautiful and radiate potential as well as confidence. Truly, a genius in the making. With us together, Mara would quake beneath our feet!"
Huh. As far as random proposals go, it's honestly not the worst I could imagine receiving. I shake my head incredulously before deciding to et her raised stakes with my own and our previous plan of showing off my power fades from my mind to be replaced with a new one. "Fine, IF you win, you can attempt to court . When I win, you will remain celibate for the next fifty years."
Silence once more reigns across the desolate forest floor as I fold my arms over my chest victoriously.
'... Seriously, Aims? Not everyone is as addicted to sex as you are...' I hear soone say sothing utterly ridiculous in my mind, chalking it up to adrenaline and the suprely effective escalation of terms that I just perford~.
Ilania, who had been hoping to tie Xie Min toward a promising prospect in an allied sect directly after this expedition, pales fully as her disciple instantly agrees. "An odd request but it matters not. I look forward to our wedding day, Alia~."
Akiko seizing on the mont steps forward, though she does give a look. However not one of worry, more of a playful acknowledgnt~. "It seems the... additional terms to the match are settled. In fairness, I propose a two out of three session so that neither party can claim it to be a fluke or based on luck." As she ntions luck, she turns toward and gives a knowing nod, "What say you, Ilania?"
With a nervous bead of sweat trickling down her cheek, the armored woman simply nods, no doubt praying all my big talk is just words. Sadly for her and Xie, they're not~.
"Very well then, let us give them space to conduct the match. The first to fell their opponent twice will be the victor. Any outside interference is only to occur to save either combatants lives." Everyone either floats or backs away, giving Xie and I the full run of the now roughly 400-foot impromptu sparring ground.
When we are clear, Xie lifts her massive sword into a ready stance while Akiko and Ilania both say at the sa ti, "Begin!"
We stay standing apart for a mont or two before I give Xie a curious head tilt. "What's wrong? You can't back out now, if that's what you're thinking."
A little tic mark appears at her forehead before she shakes her head, "Where is your weapon? Surely you don't an to fight with just your fists."
I smirk coyly, shifting my stance ever so slightly to be positioned her direction. "Why don't you co find out~?"
That little taunt seems to be enough for her. With an annoyed roar, Xie finally charges forward with all her speed and strength, air slightly distorting from the initial burst as the ground fractures a small amount beneath her. Begrudgingly, it does seem like she is indeed fairly strong for her Rank, so I guess that arrogance isn't completely misplaced. Too bad though, looks like I'll have to break it~.
As she approaches and swings her large blade down in a vicious slash, I deactivate Luck and activate [Quick Thought] before turning my body just enough for the sword to swing past harmlessly. It impacts the dusty ground in a large explosion, Xie's eyes going wide before having to close them from the encroaching cloud as she tries to pull her blade free from the earth. Tries, and fails.
Gasps of shock run through the spectators as the cloud disperses, Xie's bewildered face eting the single foot I have pressed down onto the partially embedded blade that stops her from freeing it. As she looks up in the sa shock as her companions, I give her a little smile before striking forward with an open palm. Her arms just barely fast enough to abandon the sunken blade and cross over her chest as my hand impacts.
*BOOM!*
Damage dealt 90,274!
Her form goes skidding along the dirt, feet nearly tripping over the various rocks and roots still present in the ground before she finally cos to a stop. Her face and eyes that previously showed supre confidence now much more wary as she waves her arms in a wince.
The smirk never leaves my face as I slam my foot down on the hilt of the great sword, a tallic ringing echoing in the air as its vaulted into the sky before I catch it with one hand right before the tip hits the dirt. "A fine blade." I muse, then with a casual flick I toss it her direction where it makes impact right in front of her, once more embedded into the ground right between her legs.
"Pick it up, Xie. We're just getting started." I say coldly to the wide-eyed woman fifty feet away. A stillness going over those assembled as the shock turns to sothing deeper than worry.
A grim mask settles on her face as she tentatively reaches out and frees the blade, shifting her stance into a much more guarded version than the aggressive one she used before. "Y-you... you are not a 3rd Rank."
"I am. If any of your seniors have those funny little rocks that can tell when soone's lying, they could confirm it here and now." I reply off handedly.
She looks up toward Ilania who nods, one of those lie detecting rocks appearing in her hand from her spatial ring. Akiko floats over to inspect it before she nods as well, and Ilania lands next to with Akiko close to my side.
"Alia, what is your spiritual cultivation Rank?" Akiko asks pointedly. Clever fox~.
"The 1st Realm of the 3rd Rank." I reply in kind.
The rock turns green as shocked gasps once more return to the opposite side's forces. Ilania audibly gulping as Xie seems to be reconsidering several life choices up until this point. Guess they must really trust those little lie detectors. Wonder if there's a way to fool them? Questions for another ti~.
Akiko simply pats my head a couple tis which brings a bright smile to my face before her and Ilania fly back off and the match resus. At least it would, if Xie wasn't still staring down at the ground with an open mouth.
Sighing, I dart forward while she's still in a daze. Her subconscious reaction just enough to bring the flat of the blade forward to shield her from my incoming punch as another loud *CLANG!* makes the wind kick up around us like a small tornado.
Continuing the assault, I twirl and lance my foot forward, the impact enough to visibly make Xie's arms shake in effort as she holds the blade upright before she finally seems to get a grip again. As my foot lands back from the kick, she swings the blade in a horizontal arc aid right for my waist, wind whistling off the sharpened tal.
My hand lashes out and stops the incoming strike, only a small drop of blood leaving form the shallowest of cuts there as I grip onto her blade. Her eyes again go wide as I reel back my other hand and strike her torso dead center.
1,500 damage taken!
*WHAM!*
Damage dealt 87,248!
Once more, the blade is left in my hands as her body bends around my fist and is sent flying. Her grip on her own sword instantly coming loose as she goes tumbling along the dirt for another hundred or so feet. It's honestly kind of... pathetic. Especially after she ran her mouth off so much at the beginning.
With a sigh, I toss the blade in her general direction but far enough away not for it to hit her when it lands. Her bruised and battered form rising from the small dusty cloud cover laying along the surface from her impacts, a trickle of blood trailing down the corner of her lip.
"If you don't take seriously, Xie," I say before my eyes gain a glint of coldness, her blade skittering along the ground in high pitched tings and dings before it stops right at her feet, "then you are in for a bad ti. Whatever arrogant thoughts you were having before you knew I was strong have already sealed your fate, but floundering around without using any of your skills or techniques is just insulting to us both. And a waste of my ti."
She leans over and grips the blade again, fierce determination settling in her eyes as she spits out a globule of crimson. "Though it is insulting to have to rely on my talents for soone so far below , I will give you what you want. I just pray you don't co to regret it, Alia. [Sword Form: Wandering Ronin]!"
Qi floods into Xie, her wounds visibly repairing themselves as I feel her power spike. An illusory set of samurai armor settling on her as her sword shifts from the massive mass of tal into a long blade, much longer than a typical katana. Almost comically so.
I have to resist the urge to taunt 'Compensating for sothing?' as even I feel a trace of danger from this altered state. A feeling that rings true as Xie nearly disappears from her standing spot in one step, my eyes widening a touch as I activate [Precognition] and avoid an attack aid at my neck from the rear.
Ducking down, I go into a cartwheel with my feet striking upwards only to have them be pushed away with enough force to fling into the air. I right myself after a couple twirls, landing safely on the ground. I barely get the chance to scan for her as she appears directly in front of , blade leveled toward my stomach where once again I have to maneuver away from a seemingly deadly piercing strike.
This goes on for a ti, Xie managing to keep on the back foot yet never able to land any decisive hit. A slash inches from striking my ribs only to be deflected as I step inside her guard and force her back. A low, crouching swing to my ankles that I hop over and back from without a scratch. Several jabbing and slashing strikes from feet away that my head and shoulders bob and weave through with ease.
All the while Ilania stares down in disbelief. "H-how... How is she this fast? And how does she have such acute battle instincts?"
Akiko shrugs as she floats next to her, her violet eyes locked in on the scuffle below. "She puts the word genius to sha in many regards. Truthfully, she is still rely having fun with your student. She has yet to activate any of her techniques or use her weapons. She is not as proficient with hand-to-hand combat yet, after all."
Their conversation is cut short as Qi begins to gather on the edge of the elongated blade. "Enough!!" Xie screams as my eyebrows tighten down, "Let's see if you can run from this!! [Wandering Ronin: A Thousand Cuts Begets A Thousand Deaths]!"
With lightning-fast movents, her arms blur as she strikes the air in front of her hundreds and hundreds of tis. Each slash sending a gust of wind as I instinctually leap back in retreat with a frown on my face. When the final cut is completed, barely a second has passed, and a wall of white, crisscrossing lines filled with deadly energy rocket toward .
As they shoot forward, they expand and tighten the shredding net making my tongue clicks in annoyance. I had wanted to just beat her up first without verbally using any of my techniques, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she'd at least force one out of before the second round.
I stand stoically and simply stretch my arm forward as the wall of blades propels forwards, a single phrase leaving my lips as the air around becos distorted. "[Aegis of the Void]."
A large, towering black shield that easily covers my whole person roars to life on the scream of warping air, sizzling the dust that still floats around into nothingness as Xie's - and everyone else's - eyes go wide. My red hair waving behind as the displacent of air roars to life and the surrounding color of the day seems to be drawn into the shield itself.
Ilania whispers from above with both astonishnt and worry, though I still hear it past the hum of the technique, "V-void energy? H-how can she use sothing so rare?"
The sections of the serrated wall of death that touch the shield silently fade into oblivion, even the Qi empowering it sucking into the protective void like a black hole. The area around my feet where the blades went around the shield are carved in several foot deep ruts showing the strength of the skill itself. Definitely sothing to be wary of for those at her level, but not really for .
Still, I hum appreciatively as the shield wanes into floating black particles. "Not a bad attack, really. You have to remain stationary to charge it up though, and its true lethality only occurs if the majority of the blades hit. I could have avoided most of them and been fine, but I figured I would show you one of my skills in return for you showing one of yours~."
Xie looks on flabbergasted, her ronin form flickering as she seems to struggle to keep concentrating on it. A smirk cos to my lips as I whip my arm down, an old friend returning to my grip. With liquid tal solidifying, I raise the winged spear up to Xie in a challenge. "Since you're finally taking this seriously, so will I. [Unending Flow of the River]."
That sa distorted energy that composes the Aegis wraps around , my Dexterity shooting into Apogee rank in an instant. Before Wei can even shift her stance or gasp in shock, I'm right in front of her on the crackling of warped air.
With a single thrust, the spear point is re fractions of an inch from embedding into her stomach before Xie is forcibly pulled back and a longsword barely deflects my thrust towards the dirt. In that sa instant, Akiko is in my view with her own katana shadowing cautiously over in a protective stance.
"Xie Min forfeits the spar. Alia is the winner." Ilania says sternly while giving both Akiko and I a burning glare.
The words seem to shake Xie from her most recent stupor, a stamring plea beginning to leave her lips, "M-master! I can still go on! She... she just caught off-"
"Silence." Ilania says without pulling her gaze from either of us. "You foolish girl. Can't you see that Alia was simply playing with you this whole fight? That speed she just unleashed is at or near peak Apogee rank. You would be dead before you would even know it if this was a real fight. Take your loss with dignity... as well as your punishnt..."
The previously smug woman behind Ilania now looks shattered, her eyes falling to the ground as her legs give out from under her and her ronin form fully disappearing in whisps of white energy. I honestly feel a bit bad about the additional bet we made now that she seems so... small sitting there in the dirt... Maybe I should have asked for sothing a bit less cruel if I won...
'Again, I seriously doubt that's what she's upset about, but if you don't want her to have a heart demon or abandon cultivation you could always change the punishnt. Don't think anyone would care if you ca up with sothing different, sothing that may push herself to train further and knock so of that arrogance out of her head. Or not. She was kind of an entitled bitch. Up to you, sweetheart.' Ios softly offers in my head.
I dismiss the technique - as well as my hidden ones - and reform the spear to the bracelet on my wrist, Ilania's eyes twitching at the use of the artifact but wisely saying nothing else for the mont.
"Xie." I call out though don't make a move to approach. Her watery eyes rise up to et mine as I sigh and shake my head. "Look, how about this. Instead of the original terms, how about you go into forced seclusion or sothing for the sa ti fra? No secret realms, no tournants, no festivals, no parties. Just you studying and cultivating in a locked room until fifty years go by. When you reach the Apogee Rank, send word and I'll co spar with you again. Deal?"
The girl almost pulls a 180, shifting from utter despair to near reverential hope as she flips her head towards her master. Ilania gives a curious look before sighing herself and sheathing her sword. "If you would be so kind as to make that the punishnt between yourselves, I would be most grateful.
Xie is a good disciple, good enough that finding her reliable training partners has been difficult and left her pride inflated sadly. She has always had issues sitting still to cultivate, often choosing to advance through combat and sparring than internalizing her inner paths.
Though this still would erm... throw off so of my plans for her in the imdiate future, the ti spent in her own thoughts after this should be beneficial for her long-term growth." She ends in a slight mumble that makes curious as to what exactly those plans were. Going by how she's relieved that she won't be a monk for fifty years, problem sothing barbaric like a marriage proposal or sothing.
Oh well, not my circus, not my monkeys. "Then let's go with that. Thanks for the fight, honestly. All I do is fight Akiko, Samantha, or Heaven Ranked monsters all the ti, so doing sothing different was... refreshing for a change~."
A tail cos up to lightly smack the back of my head, a playful and insincere pout coming to my face even as everyone else seems to have gone pale. I swear I also hear several sounds of shattering glass amongst the younger cultivators, but its probably my imagination~.
Just as I'm about to turn the conversation back over to Akiko, sothing in my soul begins to stir. Sothing foreign yet not. Sothing warm, and eager, and desperateto get out. Sothing that rises in urgency with the haunting sound of notes played from a piano.
"Akiko. Its ti." Is all I say in a whisper as I grip onto her kimono as tightly as I can, her eyes widening as she turns to Ilania and the slowly recovering Xie.
"Leave. NOW." She barks out the command alongside flaring all of her power, the cultivators below the 5th Rank all suddenly being slamd onto the ground by the mountain of pressure. Ilania takes one look at Akiko's snarling face and then quickly picks up Xei, ordering the others to retreat back to Manamoto after Akiko reigns in her aura.
Within a handful of seconds, their entire group is sprinting full tilt toward the east as my breathing becos ragged and heavy, the pressure building up in my tummy as my knees hit the earth.
"I-if any of them s-stay behind or t-try to return, k-kill them. Aki, s-stay with . P-please." I say hollowly as my strength seems to be sapping away. Gerra, Jun Li, and Samantha dart off on the crack of a sonic boom after my plea, no doubt shadowing the fleeing group out of the forest like I asked.
With the burning sensation of not quite pain but sothing awful close to it rising inside of , Akiko lays down across her lap and slaps several talismans around us using her tails. A do of pure golden energy erges and seals off the sunlight as my eyes flutter closed and the piano begins in earnest.
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