CRACK! CRASH!
Xenthos was in a fight being swarmed by a horde of demons — massive insect-like demons capable of flight. This battle enraged him because each time he swung at them they’d fly off.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iec2IL5H1
“Damn pests!” Xenthos’s rage began to build and grow, his energy slowly emitting in a heated aura around him.
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SHINK SWING!
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Suddenly the beasts fell from the sky.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAu7XjAu7o
“You’re very destructive aren’t you but very strained at the same time.” Utsukushī stood nearby on a small rock formation — the sun shining on her — looking down at Xenthos she leapt down to meet him.
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“What the hell does that mean?” He asked.
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“Your temper is what gives you so much power isn’t it? The style of gauntlets you use is very impractical for our day and age. You use the pain of lugging those around to fuel you but at the same time you use them to enhance your strength.” Utsukushī sheathed her blade and walked toward Xenthos.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZwIQOp2bF
“Have you ever tried investing your energy within yourself and not your weaponry?”
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“The hell does that even mean? Speak plain.” Xenthos wasn’t the brightest.
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“A warrior’s weapon is only as strong as the one who wields it. Your weapon should serve you and not siphon off of you.” Utsukushī would raise her blade to Xenthos.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd8zzc01rj
“Please hold this so I can show you.” Xenthos looked at her, reached out, and grabbed her blade.
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“Ghn?!”
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THOOM!!!
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Xenthos’s arm was yanked to the ground and his arm was pinned, Utsukushī squatted down, her blade having brought Xenthos to his knees.
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“This is what investing within myself has brought me, my weapon is forged to the will of my soul and its dance. My weapon can never be turned against me, as long as I am true to myself it can’t be destroyed. Only with the loss of my soul will I then lose it too.” Utsukushī explained this to Xenthos but her gaze was locked on his hand…
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“Hey! Wanna pick this damn thing up now?! Or am I still being tested here?” Xenthos snapped her out of her trance as she looked at him.
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“Huh? Uh ahem, you’ve passed.” She took her blade, her hand shaking slightly.
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“By the way-” Utsukushī spoke once more to get his attention.
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“Hm?” Xenthos stood and rubbed his wrist before putting his gauntlet back on and looking at Utsukushī.
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“You know Axel correct?” Utsukushī asked.
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“He trained Ibaraki, Junsui and myself, he’s my master. Why?” Xenthos asked.
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“Well I’ve heard he’s still alive and on a diplomatic mission, to The Divine Mount. Scientist told me a lot in her message about you and Ibaraki. Which is why during this mission I plan to train you, let’s attempt to invest in yourself now.” Utsukushī clapped her hands with a smile on her face.
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“In the middle of a danger zone?” Xenthos groaned, just like Axel.
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“Of course, that alertness will make your investment that much faster. That way you won’t be there for long.” Utsukushī smiled and looked around.
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“There?” Xenthos asked, confused by her words.
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“Now follow my lead. You must sit down and be comfortable.” Utsukushī pointed to a nearby rock and Xenthos leapt over and sat down.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4122ljpkr
“Okay… What do I do now?”
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“Now you just relax. Set your mind on a set period in your life. The happiest time that either has or hasn’t come then envision yourself there. Connect with yourself and remember what it is you wish to accomplish, that'll help you manifest your weapon.” Xenthos took a deep breath and began to relax — even if it was hard. He thought back to a time. A peaceful time — he heard birds chirping and wind whistling — the air smelt of lavender and various greenery. Xenthos opened his eyes and looked around now being in a village.
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“Of course, I chose this time.” Xenthos spotted a handful of children running around — playing while following behind a young man. The sun shone on the village.
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The man was very happy and so were the kids. Moong Viel Village, home. He was there, no doubt about it. The kids were playing with wooden swords and weaponry, the man watching them. Xenthos took a seat next to him and watched the kids, he'd say nothing to Xenthos and Xenthos would say nothing back.
"......."
"......" Both men held their silence which was broken by a simple sigh from Xenthos. The Man smiled as the kids came back over, they didn't seem to notice Xenthos…or at least two out of the three didn't. Xenthos looked at the boy and the boy's eyes locked with him, his eyes began to glow blue and the boy's eyes gained the same glow. The Man didn't say anything as the two stared at one another.
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"What do you all want to be when you grow up?"
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"A Star! I want to be a Fiend remembered for finishing off demons with bright and deadly attacks!" The Girl smiled as she held her slingshot.
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"What about you?" He asked the boy next to her. The boy stood nearby with a sword and a shy shake.
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"I-I want to be kind when I grow up, I want to be a hero to everyone!" He shouted as best he could.
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"Very admirable, what about you?" He asked the last one, however the boy didn't say a word. He kept staring at Xenthos and Xenthos stared at him, both seemed locked in a gaze neither could break.
"Kid?" The man called out to him.
"Hey are you okay?" The boy asked.
"Xen-Xen?" The little girl gently shook him.
"Xenthos. Are you alright?"
"I want to be strong, I want to become the embodiment of strength. An overwhelming force of absolute might that cannot be beaten by anyone or anything, whether or not it exists. I want to purge demons from our world with my own two fists." In that moment the past and present spoke together, Xenthos began to glow and he panicked a bit.
"Wait…wait..was this-"
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PHSOOOW!
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Xenthos opened his eyes, he was in the desert still but the sun had gone down.
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SWISH SWISH SWISH SHWING!
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Xenthos heard the sound of blade strikes and rushed towards the sound. Closing in he saw Utsukushī fighting against large reptilian creatures that resembled giant crocodiles. However she was much too fast for them, her blade breaking through their armored bodies — unable to kill the creatures due to the constant assaults. Xenthos rushed in to help but as soon as he closed the distance another one burst from the sand and descended upon him.
"I want to become the embodiment of strength." The last words he heard from his younger self.
With a loud bang Xenthos completely destroyed his right gauntlet after launching a ferocious punch at the demon — while it reared up he thrusted his left arm towards the ground — a burst of blue energy erupting and launching the demon into the sky.
BANG!!!
Another fierce strike rocketed the demon down slamming it into the ground and breaking Xenthos’s other gauntlet. Zipping down he reared his arm back punching and launching the demon into the others sending them all flying. The shockwave was so sudden and intense Utsukushī was launched through the air. Using the demons she stabilized herself — jumping off and launching herself down beside Xenthos.
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“Seems your body is your greatest weapon. What did you see? Where did you go? Did you-" Utsukushī kept firing off questions until Xenthos could take no more, putting his hand in her face to shush her.
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"Enough talking, we'll chat as much as you want after we kill them." Xenthos ran ahead with a loud boom just from kicking off and Utsukushī followed beside him. Both sprinting at the demons — leaping at the large demons. By the end of it, the pair sat on a pile of the demon corpses. Xenthos sat there looking at his hand. Utsukushī began to jump around and slice off bits and pieces of the various demon bodies.
“What the hell are you doing??” Xenthos asked.
“Zaibatsu’s ingredients, he always calls out for new ones from fiends. It’s a way to make side currency, the issue is the gathering especially because demons become tougher in death due to their residue build up.” Utsukushī sighs as she then cuts open one of the various demons.
“Uh huh.”
“Think you can give me a hand? Just tear them open for me, I’ll remove their edible organs accordingly.” At Utsukushī’s request Xenthos began to tear open demons, quite effortlessly at that. Finishing the harvest the pair began to return to Valentina Village.
ns 15.158.61.54da2
