by Aaron Oster
Water
Buryoku
Book Three
Aaron Oster
For my sister. I hope you will continue enjoying books forever.
Prologue
Itachi Hakai, or Kai, as everyone in their small village called him, let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
The young girl who asked him this was his younger sister, Ikari. She was small and had long black hair. Her large eyes shone with the innocence of an eight-year-old girl. Despite her innocence and young age, she was already a Yellow-Belt. Kai had yet to develop a Core, and seeing as he was already ten years old, the chances were growing slimmer by the day. This led their parents to expect great things of Ikari and not so much from him.
Kai debated making up some lie, but they never kept secrets from one another. Besides, it wasn’t like she didn’t already know that he didn’t have a Core.
“I don’t understand why you wanted me to come in here with you,” he grumbled. “You know I can’t protect myself.”
Ikari just gave him a strange look, as though she was having a hard time understanding why he was annoyed.
“Because I don’t like going into Dungeons alone,” she replied. “I don’t like the dark.”
Kai let out a snort of laughter that made Ikari’s bottom lip turn down in a pout.
“What’s so funny about that?” she asked, her voice sounding hurt.
Kai had to remind himself that despite how strong she was, Ikari was still only eight. Not only that, but she was a particularly sensitive girl, though he blamed that on his parents. Their clan was relatively small, no larger than a hundred people. No one from their clan had ever shown any real promise, and they were constantly at risk of being wiped out.
Ikari had given them all new hope, and because of that, their parents were placing a lot of pressure on her to become stronger as quickly as possible. He was mostly ignored, already being written off as one of the Regulars, those born without Cores. There was nothing any of them could do about it. It was just a fact of life. It wasn’t that uncommon, as one in every six or seven people would never develop a Core. He’d just been hoping he wouldn’t be one of them.
Things were very different for Ikari. Not a single individual had been born with her potential in the history of the clan, and they saw a real future for themselves through her. Itachi – in the old language – meant Weasel. The name had been bestowed upon their ancestors when they’d displeased one of the larger clans and had been cast out. Instead of shunning the name in favor of another, their ancestors had chosen to keep it, though Kai had no idea why.
The name was still spoken of with scorn and malice. In fact, he was pretty sure that the only reason the other clans hadn’t come to wipe them out was simply becuase they had no reason to. That was all about to change, though. In just a few more years, Ikari could be an Orange-Belt, or perhaps even a Green. Once that happened, their clan would approach one of the others, probably the Inu, and forge an alliance. From there, they could strike out at one of the larger clans.
The clan was so pleased that their parents had produced such a prodigy that they’d insisted they have another child, contrary to custom. Their parents, having been elevated to statuses of importance in the small clan due to Ikari’s potential, had agreed. Little Geki was only four years old, so he was too young to form a Core just yet and spent his time at home, learning the basics of martial combat from their clan’s best instructor.
“I’m sorry I laughed at you,” Kai said. “I just think it’s funny that a Darkness Artist is afraid of the dark.”
Ikari stuck her tongue out at him and sped up, forcing Kai to do the same. The problem was that despite their difference in age, he was just a regular human, while Ikari was a Martial Artist. And so, after about half a minute of running, Ikari began to outstrip him.
“Slow down!” he called as they reached a bend in the tunnel.
“Catch me if you can, slowpoke!” she called back, her voice receding as she picked up her pace yet again.
Kai tried to keep up, but by the time he rounded the bend in the tunnel, his little sister was nowhere to be seen.
“I know you’re using Essence to hide,” he called, leaning over and panting hard.
There was no reply, which wasn’t surprising. Ikari often played tricks like this on him, hiding in his room or the outhouse or literally anywhere with a lot of shadows. She liked to jump out and scare him, and though he hated it when she did that, it was the only time she really seemed to have fun. He knew how hard her life was already with the weight of so much expectation on her shoulders, so he did his best to let her enjoy the few small moments of happiness she had.
Even now, though they were alone, they were still in a Dungeon, where she would be forced to train five to seven hours a day. Everyone had been busy today, and since this was a relatively weak Dungeon with the strongest Beasts only being at 2nd Dan White, they were content to allow her to go in alone. She’d only asked for him to come along because she’d wanted company.
Kai didn’t know if she really was afraid of the dark or not, or if that was just an excuse so he wouldn’t feel bad. In all likelihood, she’d asked him to come along to keep an eye on him, not the other way around. Because, although it wasn’t uncommon for someone to be born without the ability to form a Core, he was the only one in his clan who’d been born with that defect.
He also knew that there were those in the clan who thought his mere existence was an insult to his family, and especially to Ikari. And though his parents didn’t say as much, he could tell that they thought the same. He was an outcast for now, but in just another couple of years, when it became clear he wouldn’t be developing a Core, he may very well find himself the victim of an unfortunate accident.
Even now, he was sure that there were those in the clan who would see him dead for besmirching the honor of his sister by simply being alive. And despite her young age, Ikari was extremely perceptive. It was sweet of her to bring him along when he really thought about it, but it made him feel even more useless that his younger sister had to be watching out for him.
“Boo!”
Kai let out a yelp, jumping nearly a foot in the air as Ikari’s head popped out of the wall just a foot away.
“That’s not funny!” Kai yelled, clutching at his chest as Ikari laughed at his expense.
“It is for me,” Ikari replied with a grin. “Now come on, I think the Guardian is just up ahead.”
Despite knowing that the Guardian was the last step and that they’d finally be able to leave this dangerous place, Kai felt his heart sink. Defeating the Guardian would mean that he would have to go back outside and that the next time he saw Ikari would be for a few minutes at suppertime. Her training had become more intense and focused since her advancement to Yellow-Belt several months back, and their time together had been cut down more and more.
“Don’t look so sour just because I scared you,” Ikari said as she skipped ahead. “It’s not my fault you’re such a scaredy-cat!”
“I’m not the scaredy-cat. You are!” Kai shot back, not really having a better retort.
Ikari just blew a raspberry at him and continued skipping down the tunnel, giggling all the while. Not really having much choice, Kai followed her, having to jog to keep up. The Dungeon was nothing special, just a short series of tunnels interspersed with a few Beasts. This was more of a light workout as far as Ikari was concerned, but for Kai, coming in here alone would have been a death sentence.
“And there she is,” Ikari said, stopping at the end of the tunnel and gesturing forward.
There, on the far side of the small cavern, lay a small black and gold badger. It looked completely harmless, though Kai
already knew that looks could be deceiving. The badger was the Guardian of this Dungeon, meaning it was the strongest beast in here.
“Wish me luck,” Ikari said in a sing-song voice as she skipped into the open cavern.
The badger immediately rose, its beady black eyes fixing on Ikari and letting out a small, barking growl. Ikari didn’t so much as flinch, continuing to skip forward until she’d nearly reached the badger. As soon as the badger moved, her countenance changed. Ikari stopped in place, her back leg sweeping out behind her. At the same time, she balled her fists and bent her knees.
Blades of Darkness Essence extended from her closed fists and the points of her elbows, its shadows writhing about her. Kai sighed, leaning against the tunnel wall as he watched Ikari get to work dismantling the badger. It also used Darkness Essence, though seeing as it was still in the White-Belt stage, it didn’t have a chance in hell at winning.
He watched her fight anyway, noting her graceful and fluid movements as she danced around the badger, a misty darkness seeming to trail behind her as she moved. Ikari was incredible. Even Kai could admit it through his petty jealousy. She made it look easy, but Kai knew that if he were to try the same thing, the badger’s mighty claws would tear him to ribbons.
A small flash of movement from an adjoining tunnel caught his attention. Kai turned just in time to see a mole making a mad dash for Ikari’s exposed back, its body trailing Darkness Essence. Logically, Kai knew that the mole wouldn’t be able to hurt her, but logic didn’t really come into play when he perceived danger. Before he knew what he was doing, Kai was running across the room, calling out a warning to his sister as he did.
Ikari half-turned, her eyes widening as she saw the mole and Kai charging towards her. He knew it wasn’t the mole she was afraid of, but of what he was about to do.
“Kai, don’t…!” Even as she began her sentence, it was too late.
Kai dove in front of the mole, its small dense body slamming into him and forcing him to the ground. He struck out at it as he fell, hoping to perhaps stun the Beast so that he might give his sister some time. Kai had forgotten one critical piece of common sense in his desperate bid to save his sister, though. He was powerless, while this creature, though small, was a Beast.
He cried out in pain as the mole lashed out, its powerful claws tearing into his arms and chest. Pain, the likes of which he’d never felt before, flared throughout his body. White hot lines traced across his flesh as blood splattered on the floor around him. His arms flopped to the sides, his vision going hazy, even as he felt the weight of the mole vanish off his chest. There was a dull thud as it impacted against the far wall, but Kai barely heard it.
“Kai! Kai, stay with me!” Ikari yelled, her blurry form looming over him.
He felt something wet hit his cheek and blinked a few times to see his sister. She was clutching one of his limp and bloodied hands in hers, and fat tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry,” he said, trying to give her a smile.
His entire body was going cold, and it was starting to get hard to breathe.
“Why did you do that?” she demanded, now hiccupping as she tried to stem the flow of tears. “It doesn’t matter. We need to get you back to the village. They can help!”
“No,” Kai said as she tried to get her arms under him. “I’m too far gone. You know there’s nothing they can do.”
“Don’t say that,” Ikari said, her voice cracking and shoulders slumping. “You can’t leave me. Not like this. I still need you.”
“You haven’t needed me in a very long time,” Kai replied, giving her a weak smile. “You’ll do great things, I’m sure of it. Just promise me one thing?”
“Anything,” Ikari replied, her entire body shaking.
“Don’t be like them. Be better…”
Ikari nodded a few times, and he gave her another smile. He wasn’t so cold anymore now. In fact, he felt quite warm, comfortable even. This was as good a place as any to go to sleep.
A bright, red light flared in his mind’s eye, and Kai mentally recoiled. There, standing out in his subconscious, floated a round bright sphere, flickering softly in the darkness. Kai didn’t know how, but he could feel a strange sort of sentience coming from the small sphere, as though it were alive, but not alive at the same time.
“What…What are you?” he asked, his voice echoing strangely in the darkness.
“I am the Dungeon,” the sphere replied. “I have a proposition for you…”
***
Azure, as he was currently being called, sat high above the clouds, legs folded beneath him as he watched the world below. From his perch high atop the clouds, he could easily see the Essence of the world ebbing and flowing, like the tides of the oceans. At this height, it was easy to see the world as it was, sectioned off into eight distinct parts, each representing one of the eight Advancement Paths.
The world was in flux, patterns emerging that had not been seen in many thousands of years. Small pinpricks of light dotted the areas where the Essence was warping, and it was easy to see their source — the Cavern Beasts. These were Dungeon creatures of such immense power that they’d broken free of their Dungeon’s control, absorbed said Dungeon, and then escaped into the world at large. From there, they’d begun absorbing Essence alarmingly fast, which was why the world appeared so agitated.
It happened from time to time, but never before had there been this many at once. Just from what he could see, Azure counted six Cavern Beasts, and that was just on this continent. He had a feeling that if he traveled further east, he’d begin to discover more. He had no idea what was causing this to happen. Things like this always needed a catalyst, a trigger, some person or event to cause something of this cataclysmic level to occur.
Cavern Beasts were not just a threat to small villages or towns; they could threaten entire clans. Not only the weak clans, but the powerful, more established ones were at risk as well. Even the Seven Great Clans of Buryoku weren’t immune, and right now, there was a Cavern Beast trundling right towards one of their borders. This one appeared to already be somewhere near the Red-Belt stage and was growing by the day.
Less than two months ago, this would have been just a regular Dungeon Beast, perhaps Green-Belt, if it had worked really hard. By the time it reached their borders, it could be as high as Brown, and the clan’s greatest Martial Artists didn’t live anywhere near the borders. If they were lucky, they’d catch it after only a couple of towns were wiped off the map. If not, then the entire clan could be wiped from existence.
Azure wished he could intervene before that happened, but his Ideal bound him to remain as a neutral third party until the Beast reached a certain threshold. Unfortunately for this clan, there wasn’t a single Artist among them who’d be able to stand up to the Cavern Beast once it reached that Advancement Stage. This meant that by the time he’d be able to step in, they’d already be nothing more than a memory.
***
Doragon marched swiftly through the corridors of the main house of the Herald clan. He was still a bit dizzy from seeing the Sovereign in person, but the effects were slowly wearing off. Only the message he’d been given still stuck with him. The Sovereign believed his son was still alive, and currently somewhere in the Chikurin Empire. The Empire was massive. Worse, it was the home of one of their rivals, a fellow member of the Seven Great Clans, the Itachi.
Doragon didn’t look like a Herald, as he’d come from a land far from here and had done his best to keep attention away from himself. He’d been sure not to make any friends and stayed away from any close connections. It also helped that his heritage wasn’t exactly what one might expect, especially with the way he looked now. Sure, he’d once been part of the Tonde clan, but those days were long behind him. Besides, he doubted any of them would dare leave the safety of the Crater.
He still had his personal revenge to attend to, but Irusaru could remain in his prison until Doragon was strong enough to kill him on hi
s own. The old man hadn’t made his life easy, and he’d be paying him back ten-fold for all he’d done. Irusaru probably didn’t even remember what he’d done or what he’d taken from him. And, for the longest time, neither had he. When he’d been found by the Sovereign, lost, alone and on the verge of death, he’d discovered the truth.
Irusaru would pay for everything he’d done, but only after Doragon was sure he could beat him. For now, he had a mission to complete, one given to him by the Sovereign himself. His son, the only one he’d ever had, who’d been lost for nearly sixteen years, was still alive. It didn’t matter how long it would take, what he had to do, or who he would have to kill along the way. Doragon would find Herald Leroy and bring him back to his father!
1
Roy felt the air explode from his lungs as a bare foot drove into his stomach, extending all the way into a perfect side kick. He didn’t really have the capacity to appreciate the form, as the kick sent him to the ground.
“That was just pathetic!” Geon said as Roy hit the ground and felt something sharp dig into his spine, making him gasp for air.
He lay there, groaning softly as stars danced before his eyes, but he knew he couldn’t stay here for long. If he remained on the ground for more than three seconds after a fall, Hermit would command Aika to start kicking him until he got up. Despite their friendship, Aika had no qualms doing so in the name of training.
Roy climbed slowly to his feet and faced the girl in question, the one who’d been beating him black and blue since the day Hermit agreed to train them. Aika stood before him, hands raised, legs slightly bent and not so much as a hair out of place. Her smooth features were calm, her almond-shaped eyes focused, and her lips pursed.
He knew she didn’t like beating him up like this, but Hermit had explained that there was no better way for a Martial Artist to grow – or learn humility – than near-constant defeat. Roy wasn’t so sure about that and wondered if the strange man simply liked seeing him get pummeled by a girl half his size.