The Battle of Yrun’Dïr [2]

It happened back when Yuushin was at that place.

When he fought an ogre for the first time.

He was still getting used to using Soma. It felt like a strain in his mind, something so arduous, it felt like it became more challenging the more he focused on. So when Yuushin saw the gigantic monster approaching, he could barely jump high enough to reach its chest.

Trying to fight the ogre while being less than half of its size was hard. Trying to defend himself from the monsters hordes that kept coming alongside the ogre was near impossible. Trying to take the tall creature down without being crushed almost cost him his life—twice.

Yuushin won because he learned how to concentrate his Soma in specific areas—making him jump higher, strike with more power.

Yet those knights had no wings, no talons, no venom. They only had magic and sharp weapons.

Team A, done. Onto the next one.

After he took down the first wave of knights, the rest of the group repositioned themselves around Yuushin, leaving only a very few priests to maintain their chant.

*SWOOSH SWOOOOSH*

Swinging the metal bo staff in an arc, Yuushin knocked down two knights who came running at him. And while one of them tried to dodge, all it took was a few steps to close the distance so Yuushin threw a high kick, hitting the knight straight in their jaw—at least a couple of teeth flying away.

A joyful laughter burst from his lips, despite himself.

I haven’t felt like this in ages—this is great!

How long had it been since his form had been that good? Since when had his balance and control felt so…perfect?

Leaning to the sides to dodge attacks and magic spells, blocking blows with the staff, closing the distance is almost a blink. Soon enough, ‘Team B’, ‘Team C’, every single knight was on the ground save for the last one who kept chanting.

With the staff cool in his hands, Yuushin started to walk toward them. A robed priest with raccoon ears and tail—hands shaking, sweat dripping from their chin, gaze locked on Yuushin’s.

They stopped chanting, their voice shaking. “W-wait a moment, please—”

“No can do.”

A quick, clean hit to the back of the head. Done.

Yuushin sighed, looking around at the hundreds Dikarux flying—their attacks solely focused on the castle’s barrier. One, he could see, was starting to crack.

But how will I reach those things up there…?

While the man considered the different approaches he could try to take, the Soma dissolving within his channels for a moment—

A chill.

*CLAAANG*

Yuushin turned as fast as he could, Soma bursting and spreading around his body with desperate urgency, the two weapons colliding a few inches from his face—the impact so powerful, it reverberated through his bones, making his body shake from the inside.

“We were told the demon ruler had no more allies. It appears we were hasty in our judgment.”

It was instinctive.

In less than a heartbeat, Yuushin retreated with two quick jumps, adjusting his stance. A defensive one.

This woman…

She was strong.

Holding a greatsword with a single hand, the stranger raised her eyes. Revealing a gaze that pierced right into his—one that was menacing and pernicious. Then he noticed a black tail at her back, the tiger ears on her head, one of them scarred. Yet it was the armor she wore, brighter and more detailed, that caught his eye.

She must have a higher rank. A commander, maybe?

Narrowing her yellow eyes, a low growl came from her throat as she spoke—the voice husk, its tone hostile.

“You. You’re familiar—you’re the outsider His Excellency exiled to Sepkros. How are you here?”

Yuushin’s muscles got rigid, Soma flowing through them at a slow pace. His body alert, his eyes focused.

“I got tired of killing the same monsters. Thought I could do some training with you folks.”

Dark shadows crossed her gaze as she spared a gelid glance at the fallen knights and priests. “As always, Your Excellency was correct in his evaluation. Not only you escape your punishment, you ally yourself with a Seed of Plight and hinder Light’s Truth to purge evil from our land.”

She tightened her grip on the greatsword’s handle.

Yuushin clenched his fists, her words sending shivers down his spine.

“By our Veritux command, you will forfeit Life.”

He never blinked.

Yet in a moment she was gone, the air moving behind him the very next second. Yuushin spun around, blocking her sword a second time—this time more prepared with the Soma concentrated on his upper body.

“Your mastery over Soma is commendable.” For a second, she seemed impressed. But then her face twisted in a grimace, a faint glow pulsing in her eyes. “A pity.”

She didn’t even move.

Just pushed the sword forward, once.

Yet Yuushin saw as the weapon seemed to absorb the Soma from her body, the greatsword emanating a rich crimson glow before blasting him away with its energy.

While in the air, Yuushin sank the bo staff into the ground before he went too far back, using the momentum to throw his weight to the side and spin his body around, successfully dodging the knight’s second strike as she appeared in front of him—the heavy sword’s landing cracking the ground.

Okay, now I need something a bit sharper than a staff.

Heart racing, all Yuushin could do against her powerful and quick blows was dodge and block—the tiger knight never leaving the man an opening. And while Yuushin’s Soma glowed around his body…

Her Soma…

It's concentrated on her weapon.

Could he do that?

Finally the metal staff started to react, morphing and reshaping itself—not back into a dagger—but into a long and sharp sword.

And while Yuushin wasted almost an entire second gazing at the weapon in awe—

*SWOOSH*

The knight did not even blink, her words carrying even more disgust as her blade nearly crossed his eyes.

“To be excited to hold a practice Tuning Weapon…such an inexperienced child.”

Experience

That was her true strength. Yuushin’s weakness.

But what if I can cross that bridge…even by a little?

What if…

She faked an attack to the right, using the new opening to kick Yuushin right in the stomach—Soma exploding from her foot, his body flying meters away before crashing hard against a tree.

The air left his lungs, dark spots filling his vision as Yuushin struggled to breathe, his legs shaking as he tried to stand. With no idea where he had dropped his sword.

As his vision cleared, Yuushin saw her approaching—step by step, with no rush. She didn’t see him as a threat.

Now is a good time to think, Yuushin. What can you do?

How can I do better?

Soma. His control was good, yet its use was limited. How did the heroes he drew use aura in those stories? Would it even be the same in that world?

Will it hurt to try?

No, it wouldn’t.

Like all other times, Yuushin sought that warmth again—the spark. Yet he didn’t want it to be contained in his body. He wanted to expand it, let the Soma flow not from within but from outside. And little by little, the man felt it. The warmth leaving him, a coolness spreading from within—

Only to embrace his skin like a warm blanket seconds later—its golden glow denser, brighter, more solid.

A few meters ahead of him, the tiger knight's silhouette shook for a split moment before it disappeared. Yuushin felt the air around him move before he heard the rustling leaves, his eyes never wandering, his heart never wavering.

It couldn’t.

And when the attack came—

*CLANK*

Yuushin blocked it with his bare hand.

She widened her eyes, held her breath.

“You…”

Yuushin could not hide his grin.

“Hah, it actually works.” Then he changed his stance.

Offensive.

Kick to the ribs. Punch to the shoulders. Block with the forearms. Hits with elbows. Open-palm strikes. Low and high kicks.

Considering her Soma and armor, Yuushin wasn’t dealing much damage—

Yet he was pushing her back. With the Soma hardening his body, blocking the greatsword strikes, Yuushin charged at every chance he got, forcing the tiger knight to back away with each blow.

Then all shock and surprise left her eyes, the red Soma permeating her weapon again. And he knew. Instinctively.

My Soma won’t block this.

As he was stepping away, trying to see how he would dodge the attack—

*FWOOSH*

An invisible force pulled the knight away from him, throwing her to the ground.

When Yuushin turned around, he saw two things. The first, the many barriers around the castle.

The second…

“I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome.”

Was a pair of lilac eyes.

And they were furious.