In battle, words can go unspoken but actions rarely go unseen. Anemone's eyes rolled, jaw tightening as she looked forward. Her gaze steadily fixed on him as he had become her target. My first matchup will be a pain. Not much in the way of feeling but I can tell, he is wired the same way I am. He will leverage his brain over his power and layer multiple arts to ensure that he stays a step ahead.
She relaxed her body before letting out a sigh. A gentle breeze blew away all her worries as the rustling leaves calmed the mood even further. Calm down…a calm mind is the birthplace for any victory-inciting strategy. Focus on his movement, there is no such thing as irrelevant data.
In unison, his fingers twitched while the owl hooted. She brushed her hand against the air, leaving a gust of wind in its wake. The wind was scattered, torn apart by a force that she couldn't perceive. This isn't making any sense. She jumped a few steps back before taking a deep breath. Calm down…a whistle…now, a hoot. Both of which are sound and quantified as decibel.
One of her blades was projected forward. Seeking its mark, the mark that was him. It blitzed forward, seeking him out. He exhaled, clapping twice in repeated succession. Her blade was deflected twice, the sound of clanking metal reverberating. She fell to her knees, her chest tightening as she gasped for air. The hell was that? My ribs....
No— he did nothing. He clapped twice and my blade was deflected twice. But I was hit too. He clapped twice once more when she leapt out back. The soil on which she knelt was dug up twice. Usually, a technique's name revealed what it is about. If I recall correctly, he called it, "Sound Art: Di-Octet Resound; Decibel Amplify." He isn't chanting the name outwardly because that would take away the element of surprise. But there is a reason why we must chant….
She projected a gust of wind toward him and this time too, he clapped twice. The wind was scattered before she felt something barreling against her chest. Right on queue…this time it was twice. She panted, trying to compose herself once more. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves once more. Like a spark, existing only for an instant, she felt pressed all throughout her body. It brought her down to a single knee, rely on her left hand to keep her from falling face first. This time…it was the leaves.
A whistle, a hoot, then clapping…my clanking blade—and then the leaves. I get it….I wasn't sure how it worked before…
"Hey…..your attribute is "sound", isn't it? The style is "Resound", isn't it? I was wondering why you said Di-Octet…those are just numbers— in truth, you were telling how your reverberation works.
Just a guess but you are using constructive interference. By taking the sound wave made into your condensed field, you lace it with magic…physical magic to be exact.
I read once," from my mother's research about magic, "That sound arts exist in octets (eights) and can only be amplified in said octets. So your amplification turns the octets into double and had them carry out constructive interference raising their frequency. But since your attacks aren't producing much of a noise, I will go even further and assume that you are using a special kind of form. It tore through my wind art pretty easily. So it must be a solidified form of magic."
He let out a sigh, "It's Crystalis, you dumbass. This is exactly why I hate your kind. How do you get the analysis right but mess up on fixed term. What— did I damage your memory when I hit you."
A light smirk met her face before she closed her eyes. "About that…I was planning to hit you back. I wasn't just taking those hits simply because. I was gauging whether or not you would notice. Since you haven't, I will just assume you aren't spiritually sensitive like I am. Which means…this will actually land." His eyes widened when he felt a strong wind blowing his way.
The owl flew behind him before flapping its wings. Flames danced in the tempest as they scattered the wind. The breeze scattering the heat. Sparks reverberate to mini explosions and echoed through the desolate forest. "That little bird is fast, isn't it? Must be handy. But thanks to that, I know that bird is using Non-physical magic. But were the explosions really necessary…you just wasted your magic on that…" I have to act confident….delude him into believing I know how to beat him. His sound magic is a pain, if I make a loud enough noise…it will be my undoing. Think ahead and make him lose his composure.
"My apologies, I couldn't help myself. Seeing such beautiful blue flames being scattered made me want to see fireworks. So I made my own. But do tell, where did that attack come from?" You won't see past my façade…nice try though, but I will frustrate you until you slip up and make a mistake. "I have an abundance of spiritual vibrations."
"As do I," he has caught on…he knows I am keeping a façade.. "I am actually an E-ranker…..crap!" she covered her mouth, whispering, "I wasn't supposed to say that part."
He broke out into loud laughter, "Who taught you how to bluff? Wow, you are dumbass. I really wish what I said was a lie. But on a serious note though, I have plenty more energy to spare."
He clapped and she jumped away as a response. He then continued laughing, "You can't even guess my timing. Alright, enough fun." His voice became stern when he uttered,, "Let's begin."
The owl flew all around the battlefield before disappearing into the trees. The dark night acting like the perfect camouflage.
He must have alreadyseen my blades earlier…I wonder why he isn't probing me about them. I only have one out of twenty next to me at the moment. The rest are scattered through the forest. To make matters worse, I have them flying above the trees. She began running toward him. Reducing their fight to hand to hand combat.
She jabbed. He dodged left. Responding with a kick. She parried, going for sweeper. He jumped, attempting to clap before her blade flew toward him. He clapped, causing the blade to be deflected. The sound of clanking metal echoing throughout. She rolled back, watching the land on which she once stood be pressed by an invisible force. Flaming feathers rained throughout the battlefield when she exclaimed, "Omnidirectional projection….Wind Art: Rampaging Blades; Spirit Zephyr." The wind and feathers scattered each other, accompanied by the sound of sparks. A smirk met his face when she exclaimed, "Sudden Impulse!"
They were both pushed back by the clash of sound and wind. She felt the air around her heat up. Flames burned her back. Damn it, I forgot about the bird! Alright then…let's see if he lost track of my blades….six blades projection. Six blades descended all at once aiming to strike him. He jumped back. Up, left then right. Dodging all the blades that were rushing him.
She leapt into one of the trees. Leaping from tree to tree while keeping him occupied with her blades. The bird goes firs— she fell from the tree after receiving a shot to the head. Her blades fell to the ground.
He began panting when he added, "Good thing her blades clashed into one another. A nice shot to the head should cause a concoction as well knock her unconscious." Now my owl can finish the job.
~
In the age we exist in, magic is considered everything. The more power you command the easier your chances are to get anything. About half a millennia ago, knighthood became classified as the most prestigious job of all. Applications were stopped and only those with a sufficient enough amplitudes were ever allowed to become knights. The only other route that existed in this field would be becoming a mercenary. Hollow Veil usually comes to mind for all citizens but…being approved by them is a damn near impossible feat.
So I sought knighthood, not because it's grand or because it's high paying. Its only because I wanted the fabric they used to make the uniforms. Property-less Crystalis, they called it. It's one like no other…it can suppress uncontrollable spiritual vibrations. Something I need to save my brother.
He was born cursed…an anomaly whose constant escaping spiritual vibrations reduces his lifespan and left him bedridden. On its own, that fabric is expensive and need certification to be used. It's a commodity that only families with knights can ever access. Something that my family drew a short straw on. I can change….change more than you know. I will win. And ….once I am done. My brother will be able to walk again. That's why I was named Razor…to be sharp.
~
He removed his ID.
[Name: Razor Plus] [Candidate Rank: E]
[Attribute: Sound]
[Unique Ability: None]
[Point Value: 70/1000]
"Wait…why didn't it change? Don't tell me…"
Razor looked up, only to notice fourteen blades revolving all above him. There is no way…when did that happen?
While she lay on the ground, she smiled. Blood flowing down her face when she raised her hand. You just have to love prime visualization. From the moment I used Fragmented scrutiny, I understood the limit of his magic. E-rank same me. All I had left to check was whether or not he could use Non-physical magic. The bird had him covered for that. But he couldn't.
I had to check if he could use every sound and turns out he could. But that shouldn't matter, I can distort all magic. I let him shoot me so I can guess his timing. That was a failed effort but it allowed me to understand something. Though incredibly fast, his attacks couldn't penetrate me or brake my bones for that matter.
That was all I needed….if you can't produce Non-physical magic, you are vulnerable to it. Something of that size….you won't have time to dodge so the next best thing would be….
The owl dove, flames coating its whole body. It released a large amount of flames and aimed to plumate into her. Next best thing would be to kill me…saw that coming. She rolled back before dashing toward him. Getting faster with each step.
Seeing her, he turned aiming to run away when the six blades that fell to his feet lifted and surrounded him. They trapped him in a sphere of wind. "Wind Art: Rampaging Blades; Volley Of Zephyr!" you are not going anywhere…. The bird goes first but you, no not yet.
The owl accelerated almost about to catch her when she jumped. Aiming both her palm downward. I got you…birdy. "Wind Art: Sudden Impulse." My only perfected Non-physical variant of any art. As it was passing underneath her, it was suddenly caught by a sudden gust of wind. Flames and wind clashed when she grinned her teeth. "You are weaker than he is!" She increased her wind output when she felt her lower jaw being hit. My voice…he used the sound from my voice. But…it wasn't enough. That's why I trapped you in my volley of Zephyr. It's Non-physical magic so all magic leaving the sphere is distorted. You just couldn't get enough power into it. But I can!
The wind tore through the flames before phasing through the bird. It then crushed into the ground, scattering into particles. She groaned in pain as her fingers were twitching. Too much magic…I used too much. Three arts at the same time is still too much for me.
Seeing the owl die, he shouted, "Kaaaaaaaaaaa!" on the top of his lungs. She smiled before adding, that won't work. The blades that surrounded him scattered. Damn it, he wasn't aiming to break out. He must have realized that even though it can distort, his magic can still affect things outside the sphere.
Razor then dashed toward her. A purple transparent rod materialized into his hand. This is Crystalis, "Sound Art: Di-Octet Resound; Prima Vibrous!" the rod began vibrating as he went for a vertical slash. Aiming to slice her in half.
You forgot about it, "Now descend, Wind Art: Rampaging Blades; Spirit Zephyr!" She leapt back as the blades in the sky released a gust of wind. Another transparent rod materialized before he hit them against a each other. This sent a wave of purple aura toward the sky. It's no use…the attacks are on different plains…yours is physical, mine Non-physical.
The gust of wind devoured him when he screamed. The purple aura scattering all throughout the gust. It was as though his soul was being ripped apart. That seems painful…excruciating even. This should do it.
The gust wind scattered. At was once the epicenter, he stood looking up to the sky. Thread…he thought when the rods in his hands began to fade. He averted his gaze.. returning it to the ground where she stood. He then dashed toward her and went for two diagonal swings. The rods turned to nothing as soon as they hit her flesh.
"Sorry that rough…I will end it now. Wind Art:.." As she spoke, she was suddenly interrupted.
"How?"
"Right, I forgot to mention. I never slipped up when I told you my rank. It felt unfair knowing yours without revealing mine. We are the same breed after all."
"So you had me from the beginning then." He coughed when he leaned against her.
"Oh no….just from the moment I laughed the art your bird blocked. I just needed a moment off your target list and when you shot my head, it provided the perfect opportunity."
"That doesn't make it better…"
"I suppose that's true. Wind Art: Sudden Impulse." A gust of wind phased through his body before it began to fade. Anemone fell to her knees, panting. I used too much magic. She then fell unconscious to the ground.
[Name: Anemone Zephyr] [Candidate Rank: E]
[Attribute: Wind]
[Unique Ability: Unidentifiable]
[Point value: 110/1000]
The sound of footsteps echoed closer and closer to her. She lay helplessly under the moonlit night. When a shadow covered her.