(The stand-off was pressurizing for both Soren and Jiwon who could do nothing but stare, the air in the forest clearing thickening like a storm about to break, charged with invisible Wi residue that prickled their skin and raised hairs on their athletic arms. )
(Soren's porcelain skin flushed faintly with tension, silvery-gray eyes hooded under long dark lashes as he shifted weight, shoulders tense beneath his dirtied shirt, the elegant curve of his jaw tightening subtly. Jiwon's light blue eyes darted wide with crinkled concern, pale cheeks flushing as his tousled black waves stuck sweat-damp to his forehead, long legs braced but useless, hands clenching at sides.)
(The glade felt smaller—pale trees ringing like silent witnesses, light wood trunks glowing ethereal under midday sun filtering patchy. Renji and Damien stood side by side, not facing the same direction as they were locked onto their opponents—Renji's golden eyes sparking yellow lightning at corners, silvery-white ponytail swaying faintly, Damien's stood, crimson eyes blazing.)
(Damien had a sharp smirk as he lifted his leg straight up for a vertical-split before slamming it down pushing up dirt and dust plus making a shallow crater. He pushed off the ground towards Valerius with a fist pulled back, a slight spark of flame covered his fist flickering crimson before disappearing again.)
(Valerius brought his palm up flat, for a catch. Intercepting Damien's fist perfectly, his emerald glowing eyes piercing into Damien's crimson blazing eyes like twin lances clashing the air shimmering with heat-distortion in-between them.)
"From the looks of your eyes, you barely awakened your Wi," (a slight hint of disdain washed over Valerius's gaze, emerald narrowing superior as scarred lips curled sneer, voice dripping with condescension)
"I can't believe I'm struggling with someone who barely has the first key."
"Blah blah blah, you talk too much," (Damien said before he pulled his fist away from Valerius's palm wrenching free with explosive force sending the man staggering for a micro step, and spun on his heel pivoting smoothly, his leg extended sweeping low to smash into Valerius's side midriff, Valerius immediately tucked his arm and then a CRUNCH was audible hinting at bone-fracture. Valerius's looked down at his arm deformed buckle before looking towards Damien emerald fury. "You are an interesting defect,"
(Valerius muttered a chant as his tucked arm healed before pushing Damien's leg away and clamping a hand on Damien's leg with an iron-grip, turning on his heel smoothly and using his strength to bring Damien whose eyes had widened with shock and smashed him down on the ground, BOOM. The impact quaked the earth as dust rose up and slowly descended back to the ground, Damien's bones protested but the impact was not enough to break them, his resilient body absorbing the shock. Valerius had let go of Damien's leg abruptly and crouched low, the muscles of his legs tensed before he launched off the ground like a rocket, the air-displacement whipping grass flat, he remained in the air suspended before coming down with his fist pulled back like a judge about to pass his order on the criminal below. His shadow engulfing Damien.)
(Renji and Alla moved hand to hand in movement, their movements were not flashy in anyway—they got straight to the point for brutal efficiency. Renji tried throwing a straight jab which Alla ducked low before spinning and sweeping him off his feet. She shot up like a cat and extended her leg for a high axe-kick before coming down with her heel. Renji's narrowly dodged rolling over his shoulders tumbling as she cratered the ground below her heel slightly. Her gaze immediately pinned onto him emerald.)
(Renji moved up to his feet, his eyes narrowed with a golden focus as Alla just stared. Suddenly her eyes flashed brilliant green flare and her fists were covered in a green slightly dripping substance, a viscous acidic ooze beading a corrosive sizzle on the air itself, her grin sharpened before she blurred off the ground.)
(Renji for some reason could barely see her until she was just right in front of him inches-away, her fist already being thrown. Renji tried dodging to the side but immediately her fist came into contact and grazed Renji's cheeks from the edge of his lip to the side of his cheek causing his flesh to hiss as it vaporized instantly, his fist already brought up for a counter as an uppercut slammed into her jaw, yanking her head upwards and another fist came into her gut causing for her to double over. He then grabbed her and pulled her down to the ground with a loud SLAM.)
(Renji took a leap back and immediately felt something was wrong—the pain of bare flesh hitting the air was felt, it was nothing but it was still present. He brought his hand up tentative and his fingertips traced the melted crater from edge of his lips to a portion of his cheek. Immediately his eyes fell onto her hands still dripping green venom.) "How the he—"
(She got up fluidly roll and grinned wide mockingly.) "Aww, what's wrong pretty boy? Worried about your flawless skin now has tiny wincy injury?" (Her taunt dripping with slight sadism, her emerald eyes raking his burn judgmental.)
(Renji's eyes narrowed with golden fury, eyes glaring towards her and she met his gaze holding it defiant, daring him to attack but he couldn't knowing that there was something on her fist that could affect him dangerously until a loud sound was heard. BOOM. Valerius was thrown into Alla, Alla instinctively took hold of him arms-wrapping catch but the drippy substance sizzled burning his skin on contact immediately before she let go with a yelp.)
(A sound of laughter was heard, uncontrollably and loud as Damien took steps towards Renji with a casual stroll and stood by him shoulder-to-shoulder, his crimson eyes blazing triumph.) "Are you seriously still struggling with her?"
"Shut up," (Renji immediately responded as he focused his glare on Alla golden lightning intensifying. Valerius slowly stood up staggering, his arm broken horribly that a bone was sticking out jagged, a white-shard bloodied and protruding. He looked down at it Alla noticed it as well, emerald eyes widening with horror.) "Why aren't you healing?" (Alla asked, voice edged panic.)
"He won't let me," (Valerius muttered with a pained wheeze, before he took a sigh deep chest-heaving and opened his mouth to chant low guttural syllables building.)
"Oh no you don't," (Damien bursted off the ground explosively towards Valerius, a fist extended before Alla appeared in front of Damien with her arms crossed with an X-block absorbing the impact as the shockwave glattened the grass, both her hands were shaking tremor visible gloves straining.) "Hmm" (Alla intoned, her eyes narrowed slits and her grin was gone vanished.)
(Damien and Renji were at the same key, but they sat on different ranks. I will reveal the ranks they sat at. Renji sat at Rank III and Damien sat at Rank II which was a vast difference. Damien was faster, stronger and more durable than Renji. If both Damien and Renji fought, Damien's win rate would be at 89%. But a Second-key Renji beats a first-key Damien but second-key Damien beats a second-key Renji. Now if that was the case, why did Alla's entire demeanor changed? I'll explain, Renji and Alla both sit at Rank III, but Alla is keys ahead, Renji is "weak" now compared to ber but an equal-key level he would demolish her. Now because of Damien sitting at a higher rank, his chances of winning increase by 25 to 30% in a fight with Alla. Now who would win between the two? Observe and see.)
(Alla pushed her forearms upwards which deflected Damien's fist as he staggered slightly and immediately her boot came up thrusting to Damien's midsection sending him barely back feet-skidding. 'This is going to be a challenge, but at least Valerius is hea—'.Her thoughts were cut off by a loud scream was audible it was guttural. Alla looked back to see Renji hold Valerius's other arm which was twisted and had a broken bone sticking out as blood gushed out.)
(Valerius weaker is weaker than both Damien and Renji as he sits at Rank IV and that compounds a disadvantage. Renji stared down at him golden merciless.) "Remember when you almost killed me a few minutes ago?"
(Alla turned around furious whirl and immediately Damien leaped over bounding arc blocking her path.) "Ah Ah Ah," (Damien intoned mockingly with a finger-wag.) "I'm your problem, so tell me. How do you want to dance?"
(Valerius looked up at Renji desperate and tried to sneak in a quiet chant as his lips moved subtlu but immediately Renji took hold of his jaw with a crushing grip, his fingers digging into Valerius's cheeks.) "I'm going to make you beg death to open it's door," (Renji's eyes shined like a golden supernova, as his grip tightened.)
(Valerius's mind moved into another state of Wi, the imaginative side, his desperation birthing creation. Immediately the ground trembled with a seismic rumble as a green skull of the same color as his eyes materialized ethereal hovering, jaws unhinging chanting amplified echo)
(Valerius's injuries healed, flesh knitting as bone snapped back into place. His hand grabbed Renji's arm counter, it was covered in the same drippy substance as Alla's hand viscous green burning on contact—but for some reason Renji just stood there staring down with unfazed golden eyes, he then opened his mouth and began to speak the similar chants.)
(Renji is a very observant man during kingdom torture, he had memorized the guard-chants, When Valerius fight healed him, he listened. Now the reason why Renji of the same key level as Alla demolishes her is because as soon as Renji gets concept down, he will use it to overpower his opponents everytime. If strongest version of Renji appeared, no opponent whether man or god will walk away with minor injuries. Now Renji was constantly healing his arm repeatedly over and over and Valerius's Wi was unstable from true fear not agony, just fear alone. He was fine physically, yet her could just see before him death, it was not as he imagined, this version of death before him was different. It had eyes like the sun and everything else was purely white according to Valerius gaze. He saw death in human form, he saw The White Death.)
(Renji continued his chants uninterrupted and continued squeezing Valerius jaw with relentless pressure. Valerius's mind went into panic frenzy emerald green glowing eyes flickered like a light as Renji stared into his eyes unblinking.)
"Tell me what do you see?" (Renji asked, voice low and oppressive, the environment felt charged with something electric static-crawling skins.The two spectators Soren and Jiwon felt their hair stand up and felt the oppressive pressure. Alla could feel the oppressive pressure of Renji's Wi, Damien could feel it but he didn't feel scared—he felt exhilarated. His gaze was focused on Alla before he spoke mockingly.) "Aww what's wrong? Scared your brother is going to die~?" (He let out an amused laugh which pricked at Alla's mind needle-sharp, she was enraged. The drippy substance on her fists increased till it dripped on the ground hiss-sizzle burning the grass and earth below black craters smoking. The acidity of her fists had increased exponential but Damien didn't even blink casual, he continuously laughed rolling belly-deep.)
(Valerius eyes widened terror pupils blown and stopped glowing dimming before he looked in the direction of Alla past Damien for a desperate plea, Alla caught his gaze and she could see the fear in her brother's gaze and immediately she bursted forward moving towards Renji.)
"YOU BASTARD!" (Alla moved at speed so fast even her shadow failed to catch up. When she was mere inches away from Renji, her fist cocked and loaded. A fist connected to her jaw, Anger fueled her Wi but the unfocus and blind rage also lessened it's power output, she tumbled away ragdoll rolling before stopping and got up, emerald eye's blazing, when her gaze was focused on infront of her Damien was already there intercept casual, a fist pulled back before it slammed upwards her jaw before another fist slammed into her gut doubling her over, he grabbed her head and slammed her down to the ground and pinned her down.)
(Renji's fist was being driven over and over into Valerius's face like a piston as blood sprayed and cheeks swelled purple. Renji stopped abrupt and stared down Valerius glazed emerald before he grabbed his ear lobe and ripped it off with a wet tear invoking a scream that was bowels-deep. Damien had let out a loud laugh.)
(Damien then felt a hand on his arm clawing desperate and looked down as the air felt charged more oppressive than Renji's thunderous, acid-burn creeping. Damien's expression hardened before he grabbed Alla's hand and fought to remove it and when he did he jumped back.)
(Renji looked over towards Alla golden indifferent as he immediately snapped Valerius jaw making it dangle.nAlla slowly stood up unsteadily legs shaking, her breaths were long and deep heaving chest ragged, emerald dimming flicker.)
(Alla had unlocked a key. It was the fourth key. Now what are the keys? The First Key Awakens Wi. The Second Key allows for the user to control their Wi so they can turn it on and off whenever. The Third Key unlocks 50% of a user's power. the Fourth Key allows for a user to master 75% of their power and unlocks 75% of their power, the Fifth Key unlocks all of the user's power and shows their pure deranged personality unmasked—but unlocking the Fifth Key is taboo to the world.)
(Alla's took long deep breaths just staring before the ground began to tremble low rumble building seismic. "Let my brother go."
(Damien leaned forward taunt, cupping his ear mock-deaf.) "Huh?"
"I said, LET MY BROTHER GO!" (It was a guttaral roar that shook the area shockwave grass-flattening, trees shuddering, leaves raining, from behind her something began to form swirling green spears long and drippy pointed at Renji venom-beaded tips hissing air.)
(Renji was not dumb as he immediately let go of Valerius and immediately when Alla let the spears fly towards his direction. He bursted away joined by Damien. They moved towards Soren and Jiwon rescue-priority, Damien took up Soren over his shoulder, Renji hoisted Jiwon.)
(Without saying a word throat-tight focus, they took a step and bursted forward with a crack sonic-boom trail. Sadly Valerius was too slow to move since he had not activated his Wi and the spears pierced into him for a multi-skewer torso/arms/legs dripping inwardly burning and invoking a shout of pain curdling blood-curdle. Alla snapped out her dangerous trance eyes clearing horror-wide and ran towards her brother stumbling.) "No no no no, Valerius. Valerius."
(The spears disappeared and immediately she said a chant desperately hands glowing green as flesh bubbling reformed. Valerius had tears flowing down his face streaming before he passed out limp head-loll. Alla's eyes stopped glowing dimming tears welling as she held Valerius close to her chest protectively, she looked down at her brother with sadness etched deep into her emerald eyes and she looked in the direction of where the four went, Inwardly she swore revenge as she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood copper-tang filling mouth oath-bound.)
(The four continued running well Renji and Damien were running fast strides as tree-blurred and whipped, they held onto Soren and Jiwon securely. Jiwon was sick from the speed nausea roiling and immediately vomited out mid-stride spew-trailing wind.)
(After they reached deeper into the forest heart-shadowed thicket, Damien placed Jiwon down but not gently followed by Renji placing down Soren.)
"Well that was fun as he—" (Damien's mind was overwhelmed neural-overload, it was not used to using Wi sustained drain and it affected him greatly with a crashing wave. He felt dizzy as his eyes were back to deep brown and he vomited on the ground painfully and his stomach-emptied bile.)
(Renji stared golden dimming before the same effect happened to him Wi-backlash, Renji's eyes stopped glowing and he held his head throbbing temples, stumbling woozy before vomiting on a nearby shrub heaving violently.)
(Soren just stared wide-eyed before he immediately stood up.) "The hell was that?" (Soren's voice etched with panic and anger.)
"Huh?" (Renji barely muttered mid-vomit retch-pausing before it thankfully stopped and he looked over towards Soren with unfocused eyes.)
"Don't 'Huh' me, You almost killed a man. Actually you tortured a man," (Soren took a step forward accusatory and narrowed his eyes.)
(Renji wiped his mouth backhand sleeve crimson-smeared before he sat down by a tree trunk-lean and stared at Soren.) "We had to, or else we would have died."
"You had to torture a man to save us?" (Soren questioned voice rising.)
"Ye—" (Renji stopped himself abruptly as it dawned on him on what he had just done, the torture was deliberate prolonged, not even a mercy-kill. Immediately Renji vomitted on the ground.)
(Soren looked over towards Damien.) "And you."
"The fuck did I do?" (Damien raised an eyebrow defiantly, he was crouched near his vomit wiping mouth. Jiwon cleared his throat slowly deliberate, voice steadying.) "You laughed like a maniac, when you were mocking her about her brother being tortured," (Jiwon took a step closer and looked down at Damien with so much distrust blue eyes hardening.) "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
(It clicked Damien as well before his body convulsed with a dry-heave. Maniac? Laughing torture glee? Why?) "It just felt.... right to do," (Damien could barely mutter through the hoarse shame.) "Felt right to do? What type of bullshit is that? Killing would have been a bit forgivable since we were about to die. BUT LAUGHING AT SOMEONE BEING TORTURED?" (Jiwon laughed bitterely.)
"We're sorry....." (Renji could mutter weak golden downcast. Jiwon rolled his eyes exasperated.) "Sorry isn't going to fix SHI—"
"Alright, alright. Look I know what you guys did was not right, but it was probably a side effect of the abilities you were using. We'll let it slide, just don't use it that much or we don't know what you'll do," (Soren interjected diplomatically. Damien nodded reluctantly, moving to stand up legs wobbling but failed horribly and stumbled forward before he was immediately caught by Jiwon who his shoe stepped into Damien's vomit squelch warm-sick.)
"Eugh," (Jiwon muttered disgust as his nose-wrinkled.) "This is the last time I'm stepping in your vomit."
"Why would you think about the multiple times you will step into my vomit?" (Damien barely muttered with a weak smirk.)
"Why do you always ask questions that I have no answers to?" (Jiwon responded.)
"Why do you always ask questions that have no answers?" (Damien asked with a smirk faint.Jiwon's eyelids hooded half his eyes he moved out of underneath of Damien's arm shrug-free and immediately Damien almost fell pitch but Jiwon grabbed his forearm.)
"Stop trying to be smart, asshole." Jiwon lifted Damien back up supportive and put Damien's around his neck. Renji watched with warmth in his gaze and Soren watched with a soft smile.)
"I believe it's best we move before she comes over to grab our necks," (Soren said as he crossed his arms over his chest. the other three nodded in weary agreement as they began to walk slowly through the forest.)
(What felt like days of starvation—which it was, the sun cycling mercilesslsy overhead to the pale moon nights—they were dragging each other through the forest. The endless pale-wood maze always there till they managed to break through the dense surroundings and ended up in a small town. Children were running around and playing with each other shrieking with joy, women walked the paths laughing to each other mid-gossip as they carried baskets filled herbs and bread, men moved down the paths holding axes. All four of them were laid on the ground under the blazing heat of the sun merciless baking sweat-dirt caking, they were sweaty and dirty and looked a bunch of handsome hobo's. A kid approached them slowly small and cute almost innocent in her looks wide-eyed braids bouncing, she sucked on her thumb hesitant, her gaze grazed over them curious before landing on Damien's deep brown skin glowing radiant, suddenly her expression hardened fear-twisting and she shouted as loud as she could piercing village-hush.)"DARK ELF!!"
(Suddenly everyone looked over towards their direction heads whipping unified and immediately glared hatred venom before running forward holding knives and axes glinting as a mob formed.)
(Soren, Jiwon and Renji looked over towards Damien with unanimous exasperation .) "Why did you have to be born that skin color?"
"Come on, it's not my fault," (Damien immediately responded defensively.)
(Before the crowd slowly spilt to allow an old man to approach, he was hunched back crooked staff-clunk, wrinkly and pale parchment-skin , wispy white hair fringe. His eyes—faded blue sharp with intellect—fell onto Damien assessing.) "He isn't a dark elf," (the old man said, almost amusingly wry chuckle gravelly.) "Tell me, who are all of you?"
(Jiwon spoke first, his voice parched.) "Can we get food first?" (The old man stared piercing before having a slight smile crinkle lines and letting a slow chuckle rumble his chest.) "Fine fine, we have guests. Take care of our guests."
(The villagers snickered with devious grins before the old man spoke again firm authority.) "No, I mean give them food and clothing."
(The old man turned slowly staff-tap retreating and suddenly all four of them were lifted by extremely muscular men village-strong arms hoisting effortless like sacks—burly frames dwarfing even their bodies, they were carried down the village paths, past wooden houses and past green pastures. It was peaceful but Renji noticed a part of the green pastures were darkened and ominous but Renji looked past it focus elsewhere.)
(They stopped before a wooden place steaming aromatic—banners recognized as a bathing house public communal. The burly man threw them into the bathhouse, the male side of course, they all looked at each other for a brief second awkward before they bathed and scrubbed grime-layers to reveal flawless skins—surprisingly there were products that shared the same purpose as soaps.)
(When they left the baths refreshed pore-clean vapor-wreathed, they saw clothing on the ground laid neat: white tunics loose breathable linen, brown trousers sturdy wool-blend, boots of the same color as the trousers rugged leather supple. They wore the clothing that hugged their physiques comfortable and stepped out the bathing house.)
(The two burly man were just standing there sentinel-folded arms before they began walking purposeful stride, the four hesitantly followed cautious trail before finally reaching a larger wooden home longhouse-style. One man opened the doors creak-hinge and they all entered threshold ducking beam, walking towards a table long oak scarred-use and sitting down benches groan. At the edge of the table the old man was sat enthroned casual staff-propped. His blue eyes focused on them keen as they sat down chairs scrape, from a part of the house footsteps were heard pattering quick as they brought food within trays laden steaming—roast meats savory herb-crusted, fresh breads crusty warm, cheeses creamy, fruits vibrant juices dripping, stews hearty root-veggie rich—placing it down laden before walking away silent service.)
"Enjoy yourselves," (the old man said gravel-kind and immediately they began to eat devouring the foods on the plate like a ravenous wolf-pack: tearing bread, sopping stew, gnawing meats as the juices dribbled their chins, fingers scooping cheese/fruit frenzy starvation-days melting bliss.)
(The old man watched silent, his eyes widened for a bit at something subtlet and calmed down back to a neutral mask.) "Where are you all from?"
"The forest," (Jiwon answered mouth half-full, immediately the old man just stared at Jiwon and Jiwon just stared food already gone from his mouth. Soren cleared his throat polite velvet.) "He is correct, we are from the forest."
(The man looked over towards Soren and studied his demeanor regal poise noble-air exuding.) "You probably enjoy kis—"
"Please stop," (Soren said slightly annoyed.)
(The old man just a slight smile quirk before he tilted his head slowly inquisitive.) "If I could ask, are you four the reason why there was a strong pressure a few days ago?"
(They all stopped eating before Damien looked over towards the man fork-dangling.) "It was him and I," (he gestured with his head towards Renji.) "plus two other people."
"And those other people are?" (The old man raised his eyebrow bushy white.)
"Some chick named Alla and her brother," (Jiwon responded as he chewed. The old man kept silent in thought before he spoke.) "You mean that Alla? Green eyes Alla?"
"Yep" (Jiwon nod casual.) "That's interesting, who won?" (Damien looked over towards the man.) "We ran away, she felt more powerful after he did something."
"And what did he do?"
(Renji sighed heavily.) "I'd rather not to say."
(The man shrugged his shoulders before he tilted his head.) "Both of you.... Do you not know how to control your Wi?"
(Renji met the man's gaze direct, his eyes narrowed.) "What do you mean?"
(The man simply smiled.)
(Who was this old man perceptive beyond years? How does he know they can't control their Wi aura-reading?)
(Find out in the next chapter.....)