All Hail

Yuna, a technician that works directly under Elsa of the royal guard, pulls up her Radial and calibrates the portable arena the Realm. Yuna invented the Realm of the kingdom to have its subordinates, especially the royal guard, practice their maneuvers. For people like Lori, Kana, Aiko and Elsa they constantly train and have constantly destroyed areas training their skills. Queen Aurora was constantly apologizing for the near misses that became frequently bombarded by the four and tasked Yuna to design something specifically for their training.

The complaints kept coming to the queen that Lori, Kana, Aiko and Elsa were indirectly destroying near by lands. Not only was the queen paying compensation, but the four young women were beginning to be given names like Calamity, The Four Winds of Destruction, Rebellion, Catastrophe, and the list of names kept growing until one day.

“Yuna, I want you to build a portable arena, and I will personally see that you receive whatever resources that you may need to build it. I just need those four to stop creating damage when they train. They’ve already obliterated our training facilities twice over and the repairs will not be completed any time soon.”

“Consider it done your highness.”

Shortly after Queen Aurora prohibited the four of them from training until the training facilities were fully repaired. Yuna oversaw all the training facilities and made modifications using Luminous to reinforce the structures. Upon her discovery Yuna was also able to engineer a shield barrier that allowed anything to pass through except everyone’s attacks. To do that she set up new sensors throughout the facilities to capture data from everyone’s attacks and Gifts when they were used. Then she recalibrates the data with everyone’s biometrics and developed the Realm.

The Realm system that Yuna created measures everyone’s biometrics upon entering the area and can adjust the barrier fields as she sees fit utilizing the IRL system. Unlike the arena used for the Rite where everything is physical, the Realm allows natural living things to pass through as well as air but creates a barrier for the participants. The field acts as a wall when one of the participants gets thrown into it and absorbs attacks from their skills or Gifts, preventing any substantial damage to leave the barrier enclosure. Therefore, Yuna named it Realm.

Irin and Lori touch fists in the middle of the Realm and take their positions. Everyone is outside spread out at different perspectives to observe the sparring session. The Iris+1 begins to flicker as everyone adjusts their settings on the Radial and synchs the connection with drone cameras circulating the Realm. Some of them open multiple windows to observe and Yuna broadcasts an encrypted feed to Queen Aurora also watching intently.

Yuna announces, “Lori and Irin, ready. Realm running intact and fully operational. Ladies remember this is a sparring match. You are go in three, two, one! Fight!”

Instantly the Iris+1 display adjusts the viewing with the screen and lists the participants registered skills and Gifts.

<Name: Irin Age: 17>

GIFTS: Transmission, Inferno, and Grid.

<Name: Lori Age: 18.5>

GIFTS: All Hail.

Lori and Irin dash off and engage each other by going blow for blow constantly positioning for a hit, but they counter and block.

Kana gathers next to Crimzon watching with his arms crossed. Kana silently joins him and stands shoulder to shoulder as the two continuously engage. At times they look like streaks of light dashing and ricocheting off the walls.

Kana softly breaks the silence, “Lori was concerned about Irin. But from the looks of it you must’ve given her a good pep talk.”

Crimzon chuckles and grins, “Nah. I just reflected what she had forgotten. Irin thinks she may not have an identity, but that’s where she didn’t realize, fighting and training are a big part of who she is currently. She just needs to start there and who she becomes next will be amazing to see.”

Kana nods in agreement, “I think this worked out for both of them. They’re both fighting to build their identities, and we get to watch them use their Gifts. I’m amazed Irin obtained three. This will push Lori and All Hail.”

“All Hail…” Crimzon ponders the name of Lori’s Gift and what could it be.

As the fight continues Irin begins to trigger Inferno as she lands consecutive hits. Lori recovers and lands consecutive kicks sending Irin into the barrier. After each decisive blow the other comes back stronger, not backing down. The two are pushing their abilities higher.

Lori realizes that she is landing her blows to Irin, but Irin is recovering quickly from hits that could otherwise drop someone. She notices that when she lands a hit on Irin a subtle flash of a green grid appears.

Lori realizes, “So this must be Grid. It must be some kind of barrier around the contact area of my strikes.”

Lori evades a punch and counters, but Irin keeps pressing her. “It is a barrier. It must take a good amount of the damage, and she’s able to bare it to keep pressing.”

Lori quickly separates and punches straight into the ground launching the debris straight up to buy some time. Irin presses straight through the debris cocked and ready to throw a punch, Lori barely blocks with both her forearms and upon impact is sent flying to the barrier wall.

“What strength, she keeps getting faster as the fight prolongs. Ah, what’s this now my arms are burning? Wait my forearms looks singed. Irin must have an effect from Inferno.”

Right before impact, Lori adjusts her body midflight to allow her feet to hit the barrier and pushes off launching herself toward Irin landing a roundhouse kick sending her back. Lori refocuses and repositions her stance as the cloud settles showing Irin standing.

“Oi Lori! Quit holding back princess! You’re not helping if you’re going to hold back. Meet me head on with everything you got!” Irin readjusts her gauntlets grinning with excitement.

Lori stands up from her stance matching Irin’s aura for the fight, “Don’t hold back either Irin, I’ll use my Gift, All Hail.”

“Bring it! We both said we would build from here who we are, so now let’s commit and don’t hold anything back.” Irin readies herself.

“You’re right. Let’s go.” Lori readies herself, “All Hail.”

In that instant a whirlwind unleashes out from Lori and Irin begins to feel an immense pressure come over her. Lori’s Iris+1 flashes and breaks from the pressure. Then a step from Lori propels her in front of Irin who quickly evades a kick.

“Incredible speed!”, Irin is filled with adrenaline pulsing. “I feel all this pressure, and its weight is slowing my movements. So, this is All Hail? Not sure what it does exactly but time to meet her head on!.”

Irin engages Lori blow for blow, counter for counter. They’re much faster now reacting to each other like water and oil constantly drawn in no matter how much they repel each other. Then Iris+1 flashes on everyone’s peripherals.

“Oh, someone is unlocking another Gift.” Kana looks intently.

Then as Lori is about to land a punch to Irin, a blue flash cashes down like lightning and in that same instant a bright pink flash flickers and stabilizes. As everyone’s eyes refocus they see Lori holding an axe kick as Irin maintains her block. The ground where Irin is standing has caved in around her from the impact, and the two separate. Everyone looks at the Iris+1 prompt as Lori looks to her Radial for the information.

GIFT UNLOCKED: Tempest Pacifier

USER: Princess Iori

ABILITY UNLOCKED: Grid 2 Resolution-Love

USER: Irin

“What was that, Lori?! I just saw a thunderbolt descending upon me when you were coming down with that kick.” Irin gestures with her hands in awe.

“I’m not sure myself I just felt everything in flow of the moment as we were going and when I was coming down, I kept concentrating on landing the kick. Then the air went dry, and I saw the lightning crash on you. I was worried. Thank goodness you’re okay.”

Lori checks her Radial, “Ah Irin, how did you unlock this ability? The name is cute.” Lori playfully smiles as she rereads the ability unlocked.

Embarrassed by the name of her skill’s name, Irin barks back at Lori, “I’m changing it later today!”

Replaying that decisive moment when she saw the thunderbolt descending upon her, at that moment a flash back of Crimzon holding her popped into her head. She was thinking about their conversation and his gesture to comfort her. In that moment something shattered off of her and she found herself with a new Grid protecting her as the ground around her began to cave in due to the pressure.

“Irin, are you okay?” Lori made her way in front of Irin.

“Huh? Ye, yeah, I’m okay.” Irin smiles not realizing that she is blushing.

Realizing the flustered expression Lori pries, “Eh, what were you thinking about just now? Something you remembered that helped you unlock your second Grid? Tell me, tell me.” Lori playfully shakes Irin by her shoulders refusing to let it go.

“Alright, alright. But not a word Lori!”

“Of course.” Lori leans in closer to Irin.

Irin whispers in Lori’s ear the image and her thoughts as she braced for Lori’s attack. Lori nods and upon hearing Irin’s flashback unknowingly just reacts blurting out Crimzon’s name. Irin closes her mouth shut and gestures to her to be quiet.

From a far Crimzon stands with his arms crossed with a window prompted open surveying the fight sequences. He replays and slows down overlooking every detail and angel. Then he comes to the crucial point when All Hail was activated. He notices Irin’s movements are slowed and not as fast as they were when they first began. Irin looks weighted but then begins to adjust her speed. Could this be Transmission, Irin’s Gift he thought. Continuing to watch Lori still has the advantage throughout the rest of the fight with All Hail. Lori’s blows began to go through more and Irin began to feel the damage as the fight drew out.

Then at the impact of Lori’s axe kick Crimzon replays the sequence slowing everything frame by frame. He sees the thunderbolt strike directly where Irin is and then at the last second, the pink flash as a Grid barrier at the last second absorbs the thunderbolt. Crimzon immersed with the footage catches a silent Kana next to him as she peers into his screen.

“Yes Kana.” Crimzon acknowledges still going through the footage as Irin and Lori continue their squabble.

“Aiko mentioned that your very observant to details. I didn’t realize you were this detailed. You really make use of everything it seems.”

“In my previous life, as I got older, I used my mind more. Observation is always a good thing, a good way to gather information. Even with this I think it helps me to understand this world.”

“So, what is your analysis on this fight so far?”

“Lori’s All Hail acts like a ‘debuff’ from my experience. It lessens the effects of the Gifts in use but at the same time empowers her. If I had to guess judging from the footage, it probably doubles Lori’s physical abilities. Lori was able to keep up with Irin’s speed and power, but once she used All Hail, she was at a slight advantage overtaking Irin just a bit.”

“Impressive! You are right All Hail lessens the effects of all Gifts within the area and raises Lori’s potential. Keeping that in mind, it’s also a reason why Lori tries not to use All Hail as much. It greatly affects those around her in a situation once she activates it. So, in turn our Gifts and their abilities lessen until she deactivates it. But Lori hasn’t been too successful to control it to that extent during combat. Right now, she’s calm so All Hail is not in effect. Irin surprise me with three Gifts, it’s almost unheard of.”

“From what Aiko told me is that Irin always trained and pushed herself. It wasn’t a surprise that she ay unlocks two Gifts but to unlock three in succession at a young age surprised even Aiko. I’m just trying to learn what she’s capable of and support her if I can by doing so.”

“The both of you are like siblings, you remind me of Shiori and I.” Kana looks at me and tries to pull up my Gifts, but the Iris+1 shows nothing.

“Crimzon, you have not unlocked any Gifts?”

“To my knowledge no. I guess Astray affected the countless consciousness that keep passing through that it never did learn anything, or rather I have not learned anything to this point.”

“We should try to get one unlocked before next week if possible.” Kana leans in closer to Crimzon latching on to his arm. “I can help. I’m stronger than Lori and we could have next to spar. Maybe you might unlock a Gift.”

Crimzon becomes flustered and blushes. He thinks to himself, “Kana! What are you doing? You’re too close…”. But just then he feels warmth coming from Kana. “This feeling, it feels nice. I don’t remember being hugged twice by someone in a long time. And yet here two companions embrace me. “

He snaps out of his thoughts and realizes standing before him are Lori and Irin both interceding with their arms on their hips.

“What’s this Kana? Are you already trying to confess to this Crimzon?” Lori gives a look of disdain to Lori.

Irin then begins to accuse Crimzon, “Hah, and you, I leave you just for a moment and you’re flirting with Kana? Did you even watch our fight?!”

The four of them begin an engagement of teasing each other for attention for a moment then begin to summarize the fight as they saw. Aiko and Mirai on the far end give their input through the IRL as Aiko keeps Mirai entertained with snacks. Yuna shares the information of the Realm with the queen going over any questions she as the fight played out. Elsa begins to assess the fight and document everyone’s input while also giving her observations via the IRL.