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Anything he could want... What a strange thing to say. Even stranger to hear... Or was that just because he never really had the privilege of getting a choice before. Probably. He now had that freedom to do all the trivial little things that normal people get to experience.
"Bodies tend to stink and attract too many questions. I can do without the hassle." Vance says as he looks back to the pair. "I'll probably just collect things I think are weird."
Vance takes another a moment to look around his bedroom again, letting it sink in before he lets out a little satisfied huff of air through his nose before looking to Heimrich. "So, what's expected of me then? I know I'm not getting this place on a freebee. What do I have to do?"
Vance already knew the answer to his question when Heineich pulled his face off to reveal that it is him, Enkara.
"Begin."
One second.
The eyes of the royal lineage shine, perceiving three blows that end this fight in an instance. Information screams through his frame to act inside those instantaneous moments.
No retreat
At the points of contact, his skin, his clothing, his very being, it all splits open at the smallest level to peel back, to shrink away from the blades defeating edge and revealing the storm underneath. He exercised the privilege of the Logia technique. To meld his being to bend around the blade so he does not retreat. He will give no ground.
He will only take it
All three ranged slashes seem to dice him as they pass through, but not a single one struck him as he stepped forward, the intensity in his eyes growing.
He will not be defeated so easily
His act of defiance, to render her initial attack obsolete, he was met with a endless barrage of ranged sword slashes. Kiysa didn't mind playing keep away... He couldn't ignore all of these slashes, he wasn't great with Logia yet even if he wanted to ignore the process and get to the conclusion. Something will get through... So instead of ignoring it.
He will destroy it
From the Fool's Guard stance he twisted the blade and brought it back against his left side.
It didn't matter to Duncan if she was projecting the blades edge or if this was another offensive manifestation of her spirit. He will break through these mosquito bites.
Duncan unleashes a savage swing of his blade, releasing a large ranged slash born of his defiant will. A yellow flash of lightning made into a range slash that screamed across the distance between them, cascading towards Kiysa. And he stormed in behind it, eager to destroy the distance she created between them.
As he charged he brought the kortas up, holding it in a Roof Guard as he held the blade beside his head.
She was not the only one with a instantaneous technique.
While he abhorred its creator, the technique itself was useful. He didn't mind stealing it while he worked on something greater, something his own.
Muscles in his arms strain, flexing to their limits as he pictures it clearly. The sword path for 4 different blows. All aiming with ruthless purpose. A slash across her chest, a slash to severe her arms, and a final blow to decapitate her. All made harmless by the unique property of the blade, but he would return her effort to end the fight in spades.
From the cover of his own slash, anticipating her counter attack through his own, he launches the brutal flurry.
'Vanquish!'
"Enough you two..." Winter spoke to both Flaz and Kalla before turning back to the Supreme Kai Of Time.
"Zamu has been awfully quiet for years.... Whatever made him come out of hiding he must be planning something dangerous." The Clansmen looked at the scroll watching as Zamu fought Toppo and Jiren.
"Then we need to take action now before our whole reality is erased." May said determined to stop Zamu once and for all.
"As much as I hate going in for an attack without a plan, we have no choice but to jump in and stop this." Winter said.
"We're ready to go in Supreme Kai Of Time."
Chronoa and Trunks share a concerned look. "This one is... Different, you could say." Trunks gestures at the scroll. "Time scrolls are disappearing, when they should be fine, even if this Tournament of Power is lost. The fact that scrolls are disappearing can mean only one thing."
"We must have already had joined this tournament in our future..." The Supreme Kai of Time sadly finishes Trunks' sentence. "... And lost. And the Time is fading as a result."
"The only way we can join again is even earlier, at the beginning of the Tournament, as the team of Time. We have to join the Tournament, and make sure either we win, or Universe 7 wins, to fix this. I can't join myself," Trunks scratches his head. "Not only are you guys way past me, but I'd be recognized by Universe 7. We have you five, and a man we already selected. We only need one more. We have some ideas on who it should be, but we're waiting to see if anyone else wants to volunteer."
Flaz relents, crossing his arms behind his head as he heeds Winter.
Kalla wasn't as happy about it. But he was already stuck on his own internal dilemma.
At least he was. Until he heard that they had already likely joined the tournament and lost, thus the scrolls disappearing. This also meant that they likely lost the scroll that told them who their original team was. Though it sounded like they already had an idea as to why.
"So we already have a plus one and an empty spot. I'd offer to bring one of my original crew along, but its the same as the issue with Trunks. We're way past any of them... Even my crew from when I got snatched to serve in the Time Patrol are only comparable to Raditz." Flaz adds as they start to talk about their current problem.
Kalla, hearing about an open spot, looks amongst the group before he raises his hand. "Uhm... I might have someone. One of the Athailians that was part of my group before I was brought into the Patrol. My rival and best friend, Darrius. When the Time Patrol picked me up, at the end of the Emerald Incursion we took back the Athailian Homeworld, Darrius had a similar power level to me, only just on my heels really... And he possessed Super Saiyan 2. He was part of what I understood later to be the Super Saiyan God ritual. We had no idea it was a ritual at the time tho."
"Hoh~" Flaz says as he starts scratching his chin. "You were pretty strong when you first got here... At least as Strong as Kale during this tournament. And your Saiyan hybrid buddy was as strong as you? That's wild... Blows my bid out of the water." He says before looking to Winter, Map and Pepper. "Do you guys have anyone in mind who could join in if Kalla's pick is a no go?"
"Right now, nothing. Soon though... Atticus and a number of his men are going to be involved in something big. I'll be joining them." Heimrich is looking more to Alice as he says this, confirming with her that this is the best course of action. Neither of them are pleased about it, but their hearts can't say no. It's something Heimrich needs to do. Once he's confirmed it for himself he looks back to Vance. "Atticus and I may be gone for a while. Up to a few months if things don't go well. As the head of the pack, Atticus needs someone to fill the bastard Diego's spot in the defenses. Once we're back, you're free to do whatever you want. Would have earned a spot here yourself."
"Would Blud be going with you two?" Alice asks Heimrich, who doesn't know the answer.
"... Hm. I have to talk with Atticus anyways, I'll have to check. Either way I doubt anything would show up here in the first place. Anyone getting to this village has to trek through endless werewolf-infested forests. Not to mention its completely off the grid. Atticus also has everyone's energy hidden, and has some bigwigs in his pocket to have this place scrubbed from Threat Assessment. He went all out. So, if you wanted a fight, you'd be the one finding it on your terms."
The slash crashes through Kiysa's ranging blows, doing barely anything to slow it down as is rages towards her. As a horizontal slash aimed at her midsection it certainly is more difficult to avoid along with Duncan following behind. So she won't dodge.
Duncan sees his beam begin to part as Kiysa's blade carves upwards in a vertical motion, coated in a thin red aura, slicing through the sword beam just as she twists it just enough to parry his first strike across her chest. Her sword becomes a flowing river, deflecting each strike at her arms with grace before she ducks the final blow aimed at her neck. As she drops, Duncan can see she isn't simply avoiding it. Her sword is returning to its prepared stance as he can sense the the entire immediate area, him included, are filled with slashes just before it becomes reality. To use or think of using iaido at such close range is unheard of (especially since Duncan isn't exactly part of the sword world), but Duncan can see she is reacting little by thought right now. Everything is instinctual, countless years of fighting with Jingo has honed her body into doing what it must, and what is most optimally unorthodox. Using such a technique in close range is surprising- And surprise at a stage like this could be a catastrophic end to this battle.
Albus knew all too well that a darkness dwell within Heimrich, one that burned more ferociously than any demon spawn or Vampiric ghoul that they have faced within this forest. Hate, threatening to overflow from his heart and devastate the remains of the Order aligned to 'Salem' and his loyalist forgotten, will likely consume Heimrich is he is not careful... And he was knowingly sending him off to deal with the order and their Broken God of a master.
Was he actively condemning Heimrich in order to get his own measure of revenge for what Salem and his goons have done to his family? Of corrupting him, corrupting Duncan and killing off what little remains of his family? Perhaps... He will have to answer for this sin too in time. But even if he forbid Heimrich from doing this, it would solve nothing... Someone must pay. The Order must pay. Salem and his bastard spawn must pay. And Heimrich had the drive and the strength to see it through.
He sees the two off as they leave for the front gate... Albus wishing his niece well as they leave his office, leaving him to deal with what he must do to prepare the remnants of the chapter for what comes next.
Standing beside Heimrich at the main gates out of the Citadel, Samantha thought about where they should go first. Storming Lands End was the easiest way to get the Order's attention. It was their seat of power after all. But with their Forgotten now bolstering their ranks, it will be more difficult to fight them if they all appear and fight them. The two of them were strong, no one could dispute that... But if there were more like Hakaar's second in command amongst Salem's loyalists, then it would be an uphill battle for them without support. "Then we need to get an idea of what they have before we go to Lands End..."
Samantha's mind easily went to think of her master, he was certainly vocal of his distain for the Forgotten and their master. If anyone has been watching the now broken order and warring factions of the Forgotten, it would be him. "We should go to Spearpoint Isle first, my master lives there. He's had a stake in hating the Forgotten and their master longer than I have, he's probably been watching them closely ever since their little civil war started. I can open a portal to there.. Other than that we could go back to Crossvale and I could round up my Knights. They're more than strong enough to handle your your average Templar Knight or Paladin but anyone higher or a Forgotten would be too much for them. But I wouldn't want to leave them out... The Order took plenty from them too."
The news that Vance would likely be the only fighter to protect this place while Heimrich, Atticus (who he assumes was that Werewolf that was with him at the rematch) and his men, was not well received. Vance looked like a deer in headlights at the mere mention of it being likely months until Heimrich and his doggy buddies come back. "Wha- Huh?? Months??? I have to protect this place for months?" Vance was understandably feeling small and out of his element with this revelation. Having just awoken to his newfound humanity and the power of ancient man flowing through him yet still unaccustomed to honing and using its might, he was feeling very much oversold and hesitant to be left with such a responsibility.
Especially right off the bat like this.
He didn't voice this however. But it was plain enough in his question. He felt ill equipped. Yet the simple fact that he was being entrusted with this right off the bat, taking Diego's place... Even with Heimrich's assurances that nothing will happen in their absence, Vance isn't built like that. Heimrich knew as much, there is always something to prepare for- Oh. Vance won't sit still... So Heimrich has little to worry about. He won't be slacking off, because he isn't built for it. Even with his newfound freedom, Vance isn't one for lazing around or growing complacent. There is always something to prepare for. Even if it never comes it is always better to be ready.
"Haaaah..." Vance sighs, rubbing the side of his face before clawing his fingers through his beard. "So I just have to protect this village and everyone in it for afew months. Likely by myself... No sweat. I can do it. I just need to be angry enough..." He says, trying his best to hype himself up for the daunting possibility of fighting some freakishly strong enemy... Or at worst, Salem sends a Harbinger because Heimrich isn't here to help dunk it into non-existence. He reeeeaaaaally hoped he wouldn't have to fight a Harbinger in the next few months. "I'll just force myself back into that dark pit I was in abit ago. That should be fine."
It would most likely not be fine.
It was obvious that Vance was jumping to conclusions. "It's not like you're going to be doing this alone. Atticus' men are going to be joining us for the mission, but it's just going to be the two of us gone."
Heimrich notes that Vance also doesn't understand how thorough Atticus has been in hiding this place, though understands. This is all completely new to him, and he doesn't know what Heimrich's mentor can do. That'll come in time. "Don't worry about it for now. We've got time before anything happens."
Heimrich mulls that over. Going to Crossvsle first would allow them to start setting things up and prepare for whatever comes next... But Samantha is right about going to Spearpoint. "Spearpoint first, learn what's currently going on, then Crossvale. Sounds like a plan. Do you think you can open a portal between here and there? Otherwise maybe your master could. Or..." Heimrich trails off as he spreads his arms out a little. He can fly there in little time, and Samantha could guide them in his arms.
Behind the counter within the guildhall stood a figure that was different compared to the amount of, and variety of, Lizard-folk that Farnus has seen since he entered the settlement. A Dark Elf woman with long and luscious raven black hair, fiery crimson eyes that held an disinterested expression, stood behind the counter with a small white crystal orb set on the counter before her and looked down at the Kobolds and the one following them, showing more interest in the Half-dragon man that was trailing in behind the two diminutive lizards. A spark of recognition flashes in her gaze.
Though as Brierk held up his guild license and the quest scroll, the Dark Elf had to switch back to her more professional self. Her name tag having the name 'Lox-aan' on it. Dark Elves often employ fake names for use out in public, while only using their real name around trusted individuals or loved ones and soul mates. She reaches out to collect the scroll while looking at the ID. "Of course. One moment, Brierk. Copper rank. Alright, I just need you to place your hand on the orb to confirm the Scarred Gurgoth's death."
The orb was a magic tool that only saw use in the Thelzar Dominion, it scans the mind and searches for appropriate information regarding bounties. It is invasive, but harmless. It's invasiveness is why it only really sees use here in the dominion and not in other countries outside of using it for interrogations or courts of law. Normally the Adventurers guild will only ask for proof of the bounties completion, usually a monster part taken as a trophy. An ear, a finger, something identifiable.
When the Kobold hunter asks about the Zoconian Return effort, Lox-aan pans her gaze up to Farnus for a moment and seeming to consider something before she looks back down to the Kobold. "It was. If it was three days earlier I could have told you to take him to the Portal Terminus in town, but the Forgotten beasts have begun to tamper with the portals across the Kingdoms, only our own are secure. We can't send him back as of just now, but I can reach out to a Guild hall in another country and see if they are willing to dispatch an Adventurer willing to escort him home. I cannot promise they will respond, or if one of our own will even volunteer, anyone strong enough to do so is tied up in territory defence contracts." The Dark Elf paused, returning her gaze to Farnus. "That said, I might have a way to get your friend home if he is willing to tell me abit about himself, all in private of course."
"Real easy track this time," Brierk says out loud making idle conversation as he puts his hand on the orb. For a quest just to track down this beast for Hunters to be able to catch it and take it down, their job was done for them. The orb will find Brierk's point of view of examining the specific scars marking this Gurgoth. Before Farnus eats it anyways.
The boy in question pays no attention to the state of Aetheran's transportation system, and wanders the lobby, Churk trying- and failing- to keep him by the receptionist desk.
Brierk follows Lox-aan's gaze and watches his partner struggle to keep the boy from knocking waiting room chairs around to see what's under them. "Mm, that might be difficult. I think he has been effected mentally by whatever he's gone through. Whatever might have caused his evolution. He's only spoken a handful of words."
Truthfully, Akina hadn't set out to take things so far. But she was not one to back down once she starts something, even if this had only started out as an effort to tease Aiden she would not fall behind. She certainly wasn't against taking things seriously with him. He was strong and had a decent heart. There were plenty of worse people she could become infatuated with, but this man from another sector wasn't any of them.
And as Aiden was buckling, moving his hand towards her cheek to draw her in to seal her victory, she was so sure that it was over. Yet in a completely unforeseen switch up, his hand reaches further, grasping at her platinum locks and eliciting a look and gasp of surprise as he grabbed her hair, holding her with strength that was beyond her own. And then he whispers something into her ear.
And just like that. A fire that had been slowly simmering over their back and forth has just been dowsed with gasoline.
A simple smile spreads across Akina's face as she glares passionately into Aiden's eyes. "Then why don't you~?"
His eyes focus on the fact her blade was thinly veiled with a red energy, slicing upwards through his ranged slash and parrying the first blow of Vanquish. Then the next. And the next. And the next. Not stopping until his stolen technique was rendered useless.
'Ugh, I knew this technique was only useful on fodder.'
The last blow that was aimed for her neck, she gracefully ducked beneath it. But more than that, he could sense it as she dropped back into her prepared stance. The entire area was about to be filled with slashes. His eyes of Cross dimly flickers yellow, reacting to the imminent defeat that was about to crash into him. He could not dodge this, he could not parry this, he could not overpower this...
He had a literal moment before this unorthodox attack would beat him. And his future would be closed off to him.
So why.
Why was he smiling.
'Is this what Felix feels like...?' Duncan mentally mused in the space between the moments of his impending defeat. His excitement sends a pulse of lightning down his spine, another dim flash of yellow as the Cross begins to dull in his eyes. 'It's fun. Fighting her is fun!' So close to defeat, Duncan realises what Wabani's words truly meant.
As the first vestiges of the all consuming slashes begin to form, Kiysa could begin to feel Duncan's fighting spirit climb.
They were no longer in the eye of the storm
He couldn't parry this many sword slashes, and countering them precisely was out of the question even if he could feel them. So he did what he felt was most natural when encountering an impossible situation.
His free hand, still recoiling from his sword hand after Kiysa had parried the useless Vanquish, he pressed his thumb against his middle finger focussing on the slashes that would assure his defeat. And focussed on one word that will crystallise his power going forward.
Rebellion
*Snap*
A crackle of yellow energy snapped through the air, surging through what should be the moment of defeat to force open his chance. Kiysa's ranged slashes would form before feeling the sway of Duncan’s ability, a compulsion would shudder through the world for these attacks to collide into one another, cancelling themselves out while Duncan feels the weight of his hasty self made miracle. Sweat forming on his brow. But he can't lag behind, not now. Duncan brought his sword up again, taking another roof guard stance.
Lightning shudders through his frame as he feels his soul scream for more, to keep pushing himself higher! Needing more of a challenge so he can shine brighter.
The blade swung back and down, lightning coils across the strange blade as it gained speed threatening to under-cut straight through Kiysa’s head as he took another step forward.
Kiysa could feel his soul continue to cry out in, threatening to cause all that would threaten Duncan into open insurgency!
Sensing danger with that snap, Kiysa is already dashing back before she sees her attacks become corrupted and home into each other. That is moved to the back of her mind as Duncan dashes forward to stay close, delivering an abrupt short slash down that Kiysa barely diverts to her left. He didn't overcommit, allowing him to be able to pull his sword up to block hers flicking up to cut into his upper arm. Here Kiysa begins to step forward, showing surprising amounts of strength as she tries to force his sword into a precarious spot so that she can twist it out of the way and cut him at the same time.
Watching as the human-dragon hybrid ambles through the Guild hall, investigating under furniture and poking around, Lox-aan certainly could see that it would be quite a feat to make him sit still. Though she didn't appear too worried. Though what interested her more was the fact that Farnus could stomach Gurgoth meat on its own. "Alright. I have confirmed that the contract has been completed." She snaps her fingers, prompting a Kobold with purpose and black colouration to their scales in the office behind the reception to begin counting their reward.
Her brow scrunches as she looks to Brierk as he speaks of Farnus's lack of communicational skills and his appearance. "An evo-" Lox-aan pauses, seeming to consider her words. "Yes. Of course. He must be a freak evolution. There are plenty of rumours going around of Zoconian's displaced by their civil war and now this holy war going through dramatic evolutions..." Her words seemed strange, like she was trying to rationalise an excuse instead of believing the words herself.
Seeming satisfied, she looks back down to the Kobold hunter at her reception. "A fair point. He does seem... Preoccupied." She pauses, weighing the options available to her. "I wonder if it is just plain curiosity or if he is actually searching for something..." She says as he watches Farnus continue to overturn some more chairs and look under tables.
Beside her, a pouch of coins was placed up on the counter by the Kobold member of the guild staff. "Ah, thank you Herlik." She says before sliding the pouch to the edge of the reception desk for Brierk to take as he pleases. "Well, given the situation I can offer the use of Guild accommodation if you have nowhere to keep him until I can get him an escort home."
"Wha- So they're coming back ahead of the two of you? That's weird. What the heck are you doing on this mission..." He says with a curious tone.
Still. Having some measure of backup is fine. Vance will likely get a better idea of just how thorough Atticus was in concealing this place in time. But right now he only really knows this is a safe place.
"Right... We've got time." Vance relaxed. "So, what do we do now then?"
Samantha looks to Heimrich's open arms, the idea of him just holding her tight as they fly through the sky was already tempting enough for her. Making a portal to Spearpoint would be difficult without preparation... A light blush started to colour her face as she attempts to look like she's consider it seriously. "Well... It would make getting there faster... I suppose I'm not against it... Sure, we can fly there." She says, trying not to sound delighted by the idea at all. And doing her best to look like she wasn't at all excited to fly like yesturday as she gets into Heimrich's arms. "I can guide you there once we get to the coast."
Brierk nods along with Lox-aan's theory, unaware that she is saying it for his benefit alone. They watch as Farnus seems to hime in on something, lifting up a final chair as he picks up a lone crumb that made its way underneath it from someone sneaking in snacks. He gives it a single sniff before he eats it. "Well... We figured that one out quick," Brierk remarks as Farnus continues wandering the reception with far less motive than before.
The two Kobolds are pleasantly surprised that Farnus would be able to stay here until he can get help. What they were going to do with him was weighing on their minds, anyone who can kill a Gurgoth is way over their heads. "That would be fantastic!" Churk exclaims as he fixes another chair that Farnus had overturned.
"We'd appreciate that very much," Brierk says more calmly, "That would allow us to get back to the caves and complete more quests before nightfall." The dragon boy doesn't react at all to their conversation, like they are talking about someone else.
"Well, all the big problems are behind us. We just have to move our stuff from Atticus's house to our new one," Heimrich says more to Alice before looking back to Vance, "And the rest of the day's free. It shouldn't take Alice and I long. If you want to join us and see more of the village you're more than welcome to, or if you want to explore more of your home we'll be back soon."
Heimrich smiles at the attempt as he holds Samantha in a bridal carry. "Alright. Hang on tight," He begins to float off the ground as he stops putting in the effort to keep himself on the ground. His white aura tinged green forms around them before they rocket off into the sky the trail behind them curling as Heimrich alters his course from into the sky to travel northwest, towards Aetheran. Heimrich didn't realize how fast he was going until he had his course finalized, already seeing the smear of land abruptly become the glittering blue of the ocean. By the time he limits himself to what he feels is a crawl they already see Aetheran approaching from over the horizon. "Haven't had much practice with this," He tells Samantha as he slows down even more, still traveling a few thousand miles an hour at the rate the ocean is moving under them. "Hard to tell speed in the Mirror Realm."
Once the land draws a little closer Samantha can see they are approaching the southwest coast, Scarbeast territory. "Where do we go from here?"
Vance took a moment to peer around his new room before looking back to Heimrich. "I'll have plenty of time for exploring my house later. I don't have anything to else to do, so I'll come with you guys... Maybe even help move stuff if that's fine.." The desire to be helpful, yet having never really done so before outside of... Helping her... It was a awkward exchange. In this new life he wanted to forsake his solitary future where he abandons everything for strength. Heimrich and Alice were his only friends for now... Even thinking it was a weird feeling to him.
"Besides, I should make an effort to familiarise myself with this village early on... Since I'm going to be filling that gap you left when you rightly beat up that mutt. Which must have been cathartic, shame I couldn't watch that." Says Vance as he quickly resolved himself to follow them from his house.
Proof than anyone can say anything on the internet. Even stuff they never said.
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