Tides of Protomis XVIII

A Turning Point? The 4 tides struggle continues

Minoru stood as he did before, his hand clenched over his chest, with his teeth gritted… The fact that things had even gotten to this point was a miscalculation on his part.

“The poisons that one creates when he has time. they're very troublesome indeed. I should've just avoided those needles instead of knocking them off course...”

Minoru removed his hand from his chest, as he exhaled, suppressing any pain he might have. He was quick to grasp his blade, lifting it from the ground with his now free hand.

“No matter-- I will still eliminate you all here…”

Minoru tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade once more. And his opponents stood there, ready to receive any attacks he would send. Elsewhere, Bijan observed the battle that was about to start. He leaned on his plants one more, huffing as he watched the fighters take their stances. Though, his feet became more and more unstable, until he finally fell to his knees, with his vines retracting. He held his wound once again, as his torso began to lower, and his vision became blurry once more.

“Before I lost my control again… I made that poison for use against an apostle-level opponent… it looks like I made the right call… It’s rushed, it won’t last for all that long. But, hopefully, that’ll suffice… Survive, you all.”

He fell to the ground, as his eyes closed. Though, unaware of this fact, the preparations continued nonetheless. Until, Minoru pointed his blade forward, as he sped toward the four. Arctaius squinted his eyes as he focused on the man, taking note of his speed.

“He’s still fast… But he’s much slower than before. Perhaps I can keep up with him in this state.”

Zhao drew his dao, as he adjusted his stance to reflect his earlier one.

“Then we have a much better chance of landing any attacks.”

“Alright-- Let’s go…”

“As if I needed you to tell me that.” replied Alarick.

Soon, arcs radiated from arctaius once again, disappearing from his current spot, with some, minuscule spots of electricity moving through the air. But, not nearly enough to show his path of movement, nor his target, which, as Minoru soon found out, was himself, as the youth reappeared in front of him, his fist shot out, the intent of hitting his chin. But, Minoru would not be caught that easily, maneuvering to the left, and ducking under the punch, moving past him, before his body spun, sending his blade toward Arctaius’ midsection, ready to cut him once more. But, with a narrow dodge, Arctaius was out of harm's way, and ready for a counterattack, a right hook, that slammed into Minoru’s cheek, sending him flying back. Though, a few feet away, he skidded, before coming to a stop. Arctaius’ attack wasn’t finished yet, however, as he rushed to follow him, shooting arcs of lighting at the swordsman.

Unlike last time, he was not able to avoid the strikes, easily, at least. Rather than run forward to meet him, Minoru leaped up, raising his blade, and preparing to come down on Arctaius. Something all of the fighters took note of. As he took note, Crimson light began to flow around Kazimir once again. As, what remained of the buildings surrounding them were broken down, much of them forming cubes, with that same red glow surrounding them. And, as Kazimir closed his hand, they all began barreling toward Minoru, at blinding speeds.

As this took place, his target’s gaze dashed around, as he took note of the approaching attacks. And, stopping his descent, instead, choosing to ascend, and backflip mid-air, avoiding a massive stone block, that flew past him. But, it would soon return, flying at him once more. But, he was not done just yet, he flew above once more, before landing on it, and, tightening his grip on his blade, before he swiped, cutting the block in half, before bounding off of it, using it as a springboard, and doing the same to the others that came to him, again and again.

Just below him, however, a blonde looked up at the wealth of stone fragments descending toward him, seemingly untouched by the original attacker’s abilities. Alarick glanced over at Kazimir, who, while saying nothing, simply nodded. He then took note of the fact that this was his plan. Alarick slammed his fist onto the ground, as he invoked two words yet again.

“Geode Carapace!!”

The stones that had since cascaded onto the ground moved to form the very same Gothic armor, with the same rough texture was forged around his body, once again. He glanced down at his outfit, checking for any chinks, or structural weakness, some moments after, coming to the conclusion.

“All good… Let’s do this.”

Alarick flew off, making his way toward the Swordsman, who still jumped amid the debris field. Not too far away, was Arctaius, hoping to achieve the same thing, attacking him directly. At first, their path was clear, until the two Youths found that they crashed into one another in a headbutt. Stopping their attack just like that. The two split moments after, giving each other the side-eye.

“Don’t get in my way.” Spat Arctaius.

“That’s my line.”

Before the two could proceed any further, Minoru had taken note of them. As he hopped over yet another cube, he sliced it in half. Before, he began a straight descent toward the two. He’d even begun to get close before they moved out of the way. His blade missing attacks on both of them. And, the two were ready for a counterattack. Arctaius’ flist flew toward his chin, as Alarick’s knee flew toward his stomach. However, just as this took place, the swordsman backed up, letting their strikes go toward one another. Soon, the two flailed as they managed to avoid one another. Alarick frowned at this.

“Again with this?!”

Now… He’d confirmed it. That poison may have affected his strength, but.

“These fools will hold each other back. It’s time to end this and get back to the rest… I have forces to manage”

Minoru began a counterattack, taking a swipe at Alarick’s neck. However, as Alarick took notice, glancing at him, he leaned back, avoiding the strike. But, soon, another came at him, aimed at his arm, which cleaved through his armor, leaving a gash on his arm, directly above his wrist.

“Even with four of us, he’s nobody we can take lightly.”

Now, Alarick sprung forward, smashing his chin into Minoru’s chin, with an uppercut, which lifted his head and forced him to fly upward. And, following him on cue, was Arctaius. Minoru, unable to counterattack, was elbowed in his back. Pushing him toward Alarick, Who begins launching a flurry of strikes from the front. And, from behind, was Arctaius. The blows hit him, time, and time again, leaving small cuts and bruises across his body until he had had enough. He grasped Arctaius’ fist, and stopped Alarick’s foot, aimed at his stomach, with his own. Soon, throwing his blood-stained blade up, he grasped Alarick as well. He tightened his grip on the two as he began to spin. The two youths spinning as well. Until, he released them, flinging them to opposite sides of the city. And, it was in this moment, that he reached up, grasping the hilt. Before his watchful gaze began to move between the two remaining fighters, the bald, and telekinetic ones. The bald would be his first target. Or, it would have been, if he hadn’t found that.

“I can’t move…! I should’ve taken care of that one first.”

Soon he began to feel pressured, as the very same glow that surrounded the stones began to flow around Minoru. Followed by him being flung away from the group, bounding across the city, before, he was slammed onto the ground. Leaving a small crater where he impacted. A few moments after, however, the light began to disappear from around him. As he began to get up, the feeling on his body was mostly gone, he was prepared to go back to continue his attack… At the least, until, a shadow began to form around him, somewhat obscuring the area around him. In front of his eyes, what was once a full moon, with lights scattered across the rock's surface, turned into a mass of steel and concrete. A skyscraper, surrounded in the same red glow. Something which soon crashed upon him, further obstructing any light. The four swiftly took this chance to regroup, Alarick was the first to return.

“That likely won’t keep him down for long… We need to continue pressing the attack.”

“True as that may be… I can’t help but feel a bit uneasy, Even if he was weakened by lafeyah… He couldn’t have been weakened to our level that easily.”

As the monk spoke, Alarick put his hand on his chin.

“It sure does seem suspicious…It can’t be that easy.”

“Maybe he has some kind of power that he’s hiding…”

As the brown-haired man spoke, Arctaius landed beside them.

“That’s certainly possible... Though I have no interest in figuring out what that may be- What do you all say to ending this quickly?”

Kazimir nods

“I agree with you on that.”

Alarick nodded as well, placing more stone around his exposed wound, which soon went to join his armor.

“But of course..”

Zhao nodded.

“It’ll likely get much worse if we don’t… Do try not to trip over each other, we’ll need to be coherent to take someone like him out. We can overwhelm him in short range, Kazimir, support us from long-range.”

“Let’s go then.” Replied Arctaius.

The three bounded forward, while Kazimir stayed behind, beginning to levitate once more. The building dropped on Minoru had begun to lose its glow, as the man under it, took notice of the fact that he could easily escape it now. He rose from his knees, as he placed his palm on a section between the building’s windows. Or, at the least, what was left of it. Unaware of their approach, Minoru lifted the building, with a single hand. Before throwing it across the city like an oversized javelin. Right toward the three coming in for an attack. Who, rather than going around, entered the destroyed spire through the remains of the ceiling. Weaving through the destroyed floors of the building, before rushing out off the floor. It was only then that he saw the approaching fighters.

“Heretics, you’ve seen the gap between us yet you haven’t tried to escape yet? How foolish…”

Minoru bent his knees, as he grasped his nodachi with his hands, tightening his grip, before he sprung forward, his blade pointed at them. And, as they ended up in melee range, he changed his direction, moving to get behind the three. Something that they were well aware of, swiftly rotating to meet him. It was only then that they saw the blade coming toward them, or, more specifically, Arctaius. Which was stopped in its tracks, as Zhao stepped in, locking the apostle’s blade in place with his own.

“You Underestimate us if you think we can be defeated that easily- Ito…”

The monk’s words seemingly had little effect on him. He shoved forward, pushing Zhao out of the way.

“Me, underestimate you? No, you overestimate yourselves!”

Regardless of these words. Soon, they all began to take their strikes, as Arctaius launched a knee at Minoru’s stomach, which Minoru dodged. Arctaius backed up, as Zhao advanced, taking a swipe at his neck. Minoru swiftly turned, using his blade to parry this attack, locking their blades between him, before his leg smashed into the monk’s ribcage. Something that a blonde man took note of, maneuvering through the air, and moving just below the two. And, as Minoru shoved Zhao away. Alarick was there, ready to take advantage. Throwing an uppercut at his chin. Only to be stopped, as his palm intercepted the fist. Elsewhere, Kazimir began to raise more rubble off of the ground, as he focused his gaze on Minoru. His eyes darted around as the four continued their striking match higher up. He flicked his wrist, with a storm of rubble coming toward his opponent. Taking notice, his allies got out of the way. However, once again, Minoru took rapid swipes and destroyed the rubble as it got closer. But, unlike last time, these fragments glowed as well, rebounding to their user's target.

“Tch. What’s his limit?”

As the onslaught continued, the three soon appeared by their ally.

“I’ll do what I can from here. I don’t think getting into melee range is a good idea right now.”

“No problem… We’ll take care of him.”

“That new ability I gained. I think I understand it a bit more now. It’s hard to explain but… That heat that I felt. it's as if the power of the sun itself flew through my veins…”

Alarick raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Arctaius. Had he gone off the deep end?

“Power of the Sun? Just what are you talking about…”

“Didn't I just say that it was hard to explain..? Nevermind that, let’s get this over with.”

Part B

Minoru, finished with the last bit of rubble, leaving nothing but specks of dust, put his gaze back on the three. Who barrel toward him. Or rather, the two, Arctaius disappeared once more. With the resulting bolts flashing around Minoru, Over and over, until they concentrated behind him, where Arctaius appeared, launching his fist at Minoru. Minoru spun, stopping the fist. However, Alarick soon moved in, prepared to throw his punch at Minoru. However, he grabs his hand as well, stopping his punch. Soon, Minoru looked at the two of them, and then at Zhao, who was prepared to swoop down on them. Before he spun, flinging them away. Arctaius crashed into Zhao, who both eventually stopped themselves by ascending into the air. Elsewhere- Kazimir closed his hands, with the rubble around him breaking down further, as he flung another wave at Minoru.

As the rubble closed in on him from all directions, he began to take swipes again. With none of the objects reaching him.

“Is this it? This is what you call an attack. If so, then-”

This rather weak attack is proved to be a ruse. As elsewhere, Arctaius deforms once again, and he appears directly in front of Minoru. The man himself seemed visibly surprised as Arctaius threw a punch at his stomach, slamming in, as a small, but noticeable crack was even heard. As his torso folded over his fist. But, arctaius was not done just yet, throwing a left hook, a right hook, and then, drawing back his right hand, before hitting him with an uppercut, one that stunned Minoru. Long enough for Arctaius to jab his fist into his liver. Knocking the wind out of him, and for a moment, leaving him breathless. But, at the same time, bringing him back into consciousness. Enough for him to start taking return strikes, swiping his blade, attempting to hit vital areas, his chest, neck, even attempting to sever the arms, that continued to attempt to rain blows upon him. Though he handily dodged them.

Eventually, however, this momentum began to change, as he caught Minoru with another strike to his chin, once more, stunning him, and breaking his rhythm. This wouldn’t last for long, however, as he returned to continue his attacks. Though Arctaius manages to land his hits, time and time again, Minoru takes swipes at him, creating new wounds on his body. This continues, for quite a bit, until Zhao flies toward the two, Putting his dao above his head, Minoru turns his attention toward the monk, and takes a wide swing, in an attempt to hit them both. However, Zhao managed to get out of the way, maneuvering upward, and, getting above Minoru’s head, before taking a swipe from there. Aimed at the center of his skull. But the fighter flew up to follow him. Leading him to only leave a small cut on his chest.

Soon, he was thrown away by a kick to the stomach. But, he quickly returned into melee range, met by another swipe from Minoru, he avoided the swipe, and attempted to cut his chest once more, but, with the apostle’s lightning quick reflexes, he only cut air. Then, Minoru counterattacked, landing not one, but 10 kicks on his stomach, the speed of which disoriented him, letting him be sent flying with one final kick. But, as he focused on the monk, Alarick flew at him, hoping to capitalize on this. He began to throw punches at Minoru’s back. But, as Minoru spins, a kick to the side sends Alarick flying away. Elsewhere, Arctaius loomed above, as he thrust both of his hands forward, Unbeknownst to him, the golden light around him had begun to flow again.

“Shoc-”

Arctaius was cut off, as, what he had expected to be a burst of electricity, was instead a burst of golden light from his palms. The heat that resulted scorched the landscape, and even somewhat burned the sleeves of his jacket.

“Wait-- What is this attack?!”

Kazimir’s gaze shot toward Arctaius.

“Maybe that Sun statement was true if it’s this hot here now!”

Arctaius looked down at his body, as he removed the tattered, burnt remains of his jacket and shirt. Leaving his chiseled chest bare. As well as the cross-shaped scar that lies upon it.

“Tch.. just like it was with Yuutaro… it's always the damned shirt. Happened to like that one too.”

On the ground, Minoru was hit straight on with this attack, his hakama burning away as it made contact. The top half gone, the bottom, while still there, was not undamaged either. His skin itself, only covered in some minor burns, But, as he looked down at the tattered burnt cloth that was in his hand, he clenched his fist around the cloth, as he frowned.

“This...Was the last pair of clothes that Aina made.”

Arctaius, Zhao, and Alarick charge forward at him, as they prepare to press the attack, However, they soon stop, as they notice the look on Minoru’s face, his formerly neutral face had turned into a scowl as he grips his blade once again.

“I’m going to end this… Immediately!”

The three returned to Kazimir, as they kept their gaze on the swordsman in front of them. Who continued to return their gaze. With a look of pure vitriol, a burning rage.

“That expression on his face… That growth in protomis.” mumbled Alarick.

“Lafyeah’s Poison must be starting to wear off... and it looks like we pissed him off!” Yelled Kazimir.

Arctaius glanced at him,

“Oh really- what made you think that?!”

But, his gaze soon flew back to the man, as he took note of a bright light coming from the mentioned swordsman's direction. Taking note of the blue light swirling around Minoru, and coming off the edge of his blade. Once more, he was ready to strike.

To Be Continued