(Renji just stared before he closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath. The morning forest light filtered through the canopy in golden shafts, casting dappled patterns across his pale, flawless skin that glowed with an almost otherworldly luminescence. The woman's proximity brought her faint herbal scent—sweat-mingled dirt from her jumpsuit, a hint of pine resin clinging to her gloves—close enough to feel her warm exhalations brushing his lightly rose-tinted lips. She leaned in even closer, freckled face mere inches from his refined features, emerald-green eyes locking with bold curiosity.)
(The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the other three men—Damien, Jiwon, and Soren—frozen in varying states of shock.)
(Renji's almond-shaped golden eyes opened slowly, long pale lashes lifting like curtains on a stage of calm vigilance. His composure returned as a perfect mask—serene power etched in every precise line of his bone structure, the straight aristocratic nose anchoring his profile, arched eyebrows furrowing just enough to convey controlled intensity without a hint of vulnerability.) "Who are you?" (he asked, his resonant bass voice low and steady, piercing golden gaze now holding her captive completely—radiating unreadable depth that dared her to look away.)
(The woman raised an eyebrow as she leaned away from Renji, her emerald eyes narrowing playfully, freckles dancing across her nose as a smirk tugged her full lips. She straightened to her full 172 cm height, gloved hands planting on dirt-streaked hips, brown jumpsuit stretching taut over her practical build.) "Oh so you do know how to talk, meaning I'm getting the wedding vows?" (She wiggled her eyebrows exaggeratedly, her gaze hinting amusement as her alto voice carried a teasing lilt, the sound cutting through the forest hush like a challenge.)
(The sound of a throat clearing was heard from Soren, deliberate and velvet-smooth, his porcelain skin flushing faintly at the cheeks as he shifted his ash-blond shoulder-length hair back with a graceful hand, silvery-gray eyes hooded under long dark lashes.)
(The woman slowly turned her head lazily towards Soren slightly irritated, her short hair swinging with the motion, emerald eyes sharpening like drawn daggers.) "The hell you want?" (she asked, alto tone edged with impatience, one hip cocked defiantly as she sized him up.)
(Soren met her gaze, his expression serene but a slight bit of skepticism in his gaze, full lips curving neutral as his cool silvery-gray eyes flickered with introspective depth.) "Who are you?" (he repeated calmly, voice resonating deep with that measured velvet rasp, posture upright yet relaxed.)
(The woman just stared blankly as she dusted her shoulders with quick slaps of her gloved hands, black stains flaking off the brown fabric onto the forest floor littered with pale leaves and twigs. Placing a single hand on her hips and leaning onto one weight of her leg as she pointed a thumb towards herself, her stance radiated cocky assurance.) "You all must be idiots as well to not know who I am. I am Alla Martell, one of the strongest Wi users in the entire kingdom of Lo'ranioa and the tenth strongest in the continent of Nermidia." (She had a wide grin full of confidence and pride in her own spoken about achievements.)
(Jiwon and Damien just stared at her before looking towards each other than back at her, their shared glance conveyed mutual bafflement before Jiwon spoke.) "The fuck type of babliboo language are you speaking?" (Jiwon said, his tenor voice light yet direct.)
(The woman's eyelids hooded half of her eyes as her grin died, she slowly rolled her eyes with exaggerated slowness, gloved hand gesturing dismissively as if swatting flies, her alto tone dripping sarcasm.) "Ha. Ha. Ha. Quite funny." (The forest seemed to hold its breath, birds quieting as tension simmered.)
"My apologies, but we aren't from here whatsoever. So we are bit new to whatever Wi could possibly be," (Soren said as he slowly stood up to his full height and had spread his lips into a polite smile. Alla looked up towards Soren, her eyes ran down Soren's body before reaching his eyes again.) "You like kissing people's asses don't you?" (she shot back, alto laced mockery, eyebrow arched challenging.)
(The edge of Soren's lip twitched before Alla turned on the heel of her dirty boot, crunching pale twigs underfoot as she pivoted sharply.) "Y'all look like losers, follow me." (She began walking into the dense forest, whistling to herself an unfamiliar tune—a jaunty melody rising/falling like wind through leaves, hips swaying confident, gloved hands swinging casual.)
(All four of them looked at each other as Damien and Jiwon stood up. Skeptically they all took steps to follow her—Soren moving first with fluid grace. Renji after then Damien and Jiwon trailing in their own conversation.)
(After a full half an hour of walking, the trek turned grueling—undergrowth thickening with pale vines snagging clothes. They reached a small cabin deeper into the forest, the ground was leveled and wide for about five hundred meters—an unnatural glade ringed whispering trees, air crisp unpolluted save faint smoke-trace. The wooden cabin was made of wood of course but it was so light in color that it was weird, almost bone-pale glowing subtle dawn-motes, sturdy yet inviting with carved runes faint door-frame.)
"I'm back," (Alla shouted, her alto carrying across clearing like whip-crack. The door to the cabin was kicked open to reveal a man—similar features to Alla but just a masculine version, emerald-green eyes identical sharp, chin-length dark hair tousled practical. He wore the same brown jumpsuit as hers but only the pants, he was barefeet with his upper torso exposed—lean frame scarred brutal with jagged lines mapping his body. His emerald green eyes locked onto the four unfamiliar men before he spoke, rough deep baritone rumbling like distant thunder.) "Kidnapping men? That's a first." (His voice was rough and deep as he took steps forward, barefoot padding soft earth, he was 184cm or 5'11, stopping few feet away—his gaze on Soren for a bit before he spoke, sizing him.) "You look like you kiss people's asses."
(Damien's snorted escaped muffled laugh, dreads shaking as he looked away biting lip; Soren slowly raised an eyebrow before taking a long sigh, hooded gray eyes introspective while Alla nodded vigorous confirmation.)
"Anyways, I found these idiots sleeping just west from here," (Alla said as she walked past the man, her boot scuffing dirt path casual.)
"Doesn't mean you had to bring them," (the man said, emerald eyes narrowing skeptical, scarred arms crossing over his chest.)
"I wanna marry the white haired one, but you know the family ritual," (Alla responded as she made her into the cabin before coming out with a wooden stool and placing her body down it, her arms crossed over her chest and her legs crossed over each other.)
(The man studied Renji before looking towards Alla.) "Fine." (He looked towards Renji.) "You ready?"
(Renji raised an eyebrow, precise arch amplifying his contemplative default.) "Ready for what?"
"Are you deaf? To fight."
"Fight why?"
"He talks too much Alla, why do you want him?" (The man looked back towards Alla, scarred delts rolling shrug.)
"Just my type, now come on. Whoop my brother's ass and be my man," (she shouted back, emerald eyes flashing challenge, freckles crinkling grin.)
"I don't wann—"
(A chill washed over all four of them, visceral ice gripping spines—air thickening oppressive, birds fleeing canopy rustle. When the man's eyes began to glow a bright emerald green glow, time seemed to slow down as the man bursted forward with speed too fast for light to catch— the blur afterimage lingering with a wind-whip crack—his fist slammed into Renji's gut. The impact was unnaturally loud, Renji's organs immediately bursted from within—intestines rupturing, blood vessels shredding agony-explosion. His M
mouth opened wide, crimson spray arcing fountain-like as his frame launched hundreds of feet back, tumbling across ground gouging furrows, silvery hair whipping dirt-muddied, pale skin splattering red.)
(Before the others could blink except Alla—who smirked satisfied—Renji was already convulsing violently on the ground, golden eyes bulging with white-rimmed pain, heaving spasms, and his hands clutching his midsection that bubbled blood. The man eye's widened from genuine genuine, he blurred forward before raising a hand and an ancient chant sounded from him. Renji's guttaral screams shredded the clearing, his intestines were being knit together, his vessels were resealing. The chant finished and the man looked back towards Alla.) "You wanna marry this bum?"
(Alla looked clearly disappointed before she shouted out, her words meant for Renji, alto piercing.) "AY!, How come you aren't using your Wi?"
(Renji sat on his knees, hyperventilating ragged as he looked towards the direction of Alla, hostility etched in his glare towards both Alla and the man—golden eyes piercing daggers promising retribution, jaw clenched firm point.)
(The other three were too stunned to move or do anything, of course they wanted to go and help Renji but the fear of the two beings that couldn't be human was so strong—raw primal terror rooting feet, chills menacing to the brain like psychic venom.)
(The man turned his gaze towards Renji lazily, he crouched down low, scarred abs flexing. Meeting Renji's harsh glare eye-to-eye.) "That's interesting, you have a good stare and your hostility is strong. Why aren't you using your Wi?"
"The hell is that?" k(Renji muttered through his breaths, resonant bass strained wheeze, the man's eyes widened at his words shock raw.) "Tell me, where are you from?" (The man asked.)
(Soren finally mustered up what little courage he had to look over towards Renji and the man, he took slow steps forward deliberate, ash-blond tousled, porcelain skin pale tension.) "If I can answer, we aren't from here. So we don't know what Wi is...."
(The man looked over towards Soren, then Alla who shared they same confused stare as him before looking back towards Renji.) "Y'all are defects then, why did I even bother healing you?"
(Alla just sighed disappointedly as she slowly stood up from stool creak.) "Should we just kill them? They are not meant to even be here."
(The man looked down at Renji, emerald glow fading casual.) "I don't know."
(Renji felt so powerless, they were talking about killing him as if he was just a simple insect—casual chit-chat over tea. 'Who are these people? Treating human life like rotten food to discard?' His powerlessness burned worse than gut-rupture, golden eyes flashing fury.)
(The man grabbed Renji by his hair and pulled him upwards roughly and stared into Renji's eyes.) "It's a shame, it would have been nice to have you as a brother in law."
(Renji's eyes widened, death was so close he could taste it again—way too bitter to be enjoyed, metallic tang flooding mouth anew. As he watched the man's eyes ignite into that bright green all that played in his head was, 'I want to live, I want to live, I want to live,' over and over that it sounded like childish whines in his head, a desperate mantra echoing in his skull. He wanted to live and survive.....)
(The first key was opened. Renji's eyes began to flicker like a lightbulb unstable yellow-gold.)
(Chills washed over the three like arctic wave from the instinctual sense of strength.)
(The man pulled his hand back fist cocked, like a blur it moved forward piercing-straight—would've cored torso—but Renji's skin had hardened like it was a diamond. His fist rebounding shockwave rippling the air. The man's eyes widened disbelief as Renji clamped his forearm with a vise-crush, bones creaking and near breaking. The man released as his bare foot stomped Renji's torso sending Renji away but Renji slowed his movement as his fingers gouged the soil deep skid-stopping twenty meters back.)
(His now golden glowing gaze was fixed on the man, sparks of yellow lightning began to dance at the corner of his eyes crackling ozone.)
(Alla looked taken aback jaw slack, but she sat back down on stool leaning forward elbows knees, watching the stand off with enthusiasm gleaming emerald.)
(How does Wi work? Wi as mentioned before relys on the mental psyche of a person—sound mind amplifies output exponentially, fractured yields sputters. Now what is the key to unlocking Wi? One of the first keys is the absolute need—not want—the need to survive, a primal directive overriding all. Damien unlocked his because of the kingdom a day ago, the gates slamming and the mob behind him, he needed to survive. Renji sat on death's door twice, the whining was just a bone-deep need. Wi is basically adrenaline taken to the next level but there is no such thing as fight or flight.)
(Renji slowly rose to his full height but he was slightly hunched forward, his breathing was deep and long controlled, his eyes focused on one thing.... The man in front of him. Renji's mind had tapped into a state where it was killed or be killed.)
(The man rolled his wrist casual scarred-knuckles popping, stared down at his arm bruise-blooming before his glowing emerald gaze moved towards Renji. A slow smile of amusement had spread his lips wide.) "Not bad, not bad. But you'll need to do more to get my sister."
"To hell with your sister," (Renji whispered, resonant bass venom-dripping, golden lightning-eyes narrowing.)
(The man leaned slightly forward curious.) "Huh?"
"I said, TO HELL WITH YOUR SISTER" (Renji took a step forward before bursting forward in a blur leaving sparks of electricity crackling trail, Renji threw a lightning fast fist which the man deflected towards his left with forearm block—shockwave uprooting grass. Renji spun on his heel fluid lethal a backhanded left fist made contact with the man's jaw, sending the man flying metres tumbling skid till his emerald Wi flared and halted him.)
(Alla clapped her hands enthusiastic palms stinging.) "That's my m—"
"ALLA!" (The man shouted, his eyes slightly narrowed fury-vein throbbing temple, catching Alla's attention—but Renji blurred towards the man when in sight again for the other three to see—hands clamping skull vise-tight, knee hammered into the man's nose cartilage with a sickly loud crunch, blood exploding from his nostrils. Renji even after the impact did not let go and landed on the ground feet slamming down before slamming the man's head down repeatedly until another sudden blur moved forward and a fist connected into Renji's jaw explosive CRACK, sending him flying away before he could halt himself.)
(It was Alla, her eye's glowed a bright emerald green aura flaring wild, she stared down at her brother bloodied nose. The man was slowly rising up to his feet as he said a quiet chant as his bone cartilage reformed with an audible grind.) "Alla" (He said angrily.)
(Alla noticed the anger in his tone and looked over towards Renji sprawled rising, she was pissed as well emerald blaze matching brother's.) "Maybe I should have killed you in the forest, that would have been way better."
"No point in speaking about that, Because now it's better to have his head now," (Valerius/the man said.)
(Footsteps were heard but they were slower, more human-paced deliberate. It was Damien. Damien ran towards Renji and stood by him for a protective stance.) "Dude are you alright?"
(Renji stood there staring at the two siblings golden glowing eyes murderous.) "Do I fucking look alright?"
"Fair," (Damien responded as he studied Renji's eyes glowing persistent.) "How are you doing that?"
"You did it first, ask yourself that question," (Renji's said as he cracked his neck with an audible pop.)
(Damien narrowed his eyes amber-flecked and looked over towards Alla and Valerius, mind whirlwind. It was correct, he was the first one to do it but the key was because he had to survive at gates—but what's the key now? Fear simmered but it was insufficient, what was the other trigger? Wi as mentioned before is adrenaline but evolved, so what does that mean? near-death/danger activates it plus acute emotional overload.)
(Damien stared while Renji spoke.) "I'd fucking appreciate it, if you activated yours as well."
(Damien looked at Renji before looking back at the two, time seemed to quicken for Damien, he wants to help, but he is too weak for that. He can't watch friend die as well. Now Renji is demanding help but how could he help? His brain shuffled through memories until he reached it. An emotional spike crested—key two unlocked. Damien's eyes flickered on, the color is a bright blazing crimson, fire etched at the sides of it flaring heat-haze.)
"Alright I got it, let's ge—"
(The two siblings bursted off the ground explosive divots, moving towards Renji with the intent to kill. Damien took a step and bursted forward like a blur as the roared, while Valerius was focused on Renji something came into his eye view peripheral. Damien. Damien grabbed Valerius's face palming vise-crush thumb digging eye-socket pressure, before slamming him down on the ground causing the earth to explode with a crater five feet wide as dust slowly settled.)
(As mentioned before, there is no such thing as fight or flight in the power system of Wi. There is only kill or be killed which causes an innate derangement afflicting all users the more it is used. Everyone with access to Wi is a bit deranged, hell the higher your rank of Wi? The more deranged you may be.)
(Damien stared down at the man slightly powerless under his palm pinned gasping, slight bit of a spike in dopamine euphoric rush flooding veins causing an intoxicating power high. Damien's lips then slowly curled into a devious smirk revealing even white teeth.) "Quick question? Whose head did you say you were going to have? Because I think it's your head." (Damien drawled his words.)
(Alla didn't bother to look back, she was focused on her opponent in front of her. Renji brought up his arms to block his upper torso with crossed forearms, she slid down boots skidding dirt and swept Renji off of his feet. Before he hit the ground, she jumped up to her feet again a few feet away almost catlike.) "Sometimes I make stupid decisions and my opponents make even stupider decisions. Now tell me what was your stupid decision?"
(Renji climbed up to his feet before suddenly Damien was skidding back towards Renji with uncontrolled momentum, Renji placed out his arm and splayed it across Damien's back stopping him as Damien stumbled steady.)
(Jiwon and Soren were forgotten in the fight, they were just standing there rooted with terror as eyes were wide trackintblurs, and hearts thundered. Completely unable to intervene.)
(Damien rolled his neck satisfying crack traps rippling, began to test his footwork pivoting explosive. Crimson eyes glared brightly with excitement overtaking the previous stress. Renji tilted his head precise, golden eyes glared brightly with pure anger within his gaze.)
(Valerius stared at Damien rising chant-healing jaw bruise fading, rolled his neck and his shoulders scarred delts popping, his expression radiating boredom mask-thin. Alla stared at Renji, she had a sharp grin predatory fangs bared.)
(Who was winning this fight? And who was losing? Actually not even who was losing, that's the wrong term....)
(Who was dying with their blood spilt and who was walking away with blood etched over them like cloth?)
(Find out next chapter.....)