by Jackson Bale
A---moment---passes,---just---as---Artyom---had---been---able---to---position---himself---so---as---not---to---move,---a---force---of---will---strikes---him,---sending---a---cold---chill---down---his---back,---immediately---followed---by---the---massive---feeling---of---nausea.
“Ughhh,”
Artyom---groans,---moving---again---but---also---doing---his---best---to---keep---the---barrels---in---the---air---and---the---water---from---spilling---off.---His---thoughts---move---towards---the---idea---of---fighting---off---this---foreign---feeling.
He---opens---his---eyes,---glaring---angrily---at---Zeek---down---below,---the---source---of---this---thing---called---Aura.
“Better,---much---better,---but---nowhere---near---as---potent---when---you---are---using---it---subconsciously,”---Zeek---shakes---his---head,---“you---can---reliably---react---to---a---threat---that---your---senses---cannot---even---comprehend,---but---the---moment---the---threat---is---gone---or---nonexistent,---then---you---seem---to---lose---all---of---that---impressive---control.”
Artyom---grunts,---repositioning---his---arms---around---his---body,---“You---said---there---is---an---easy---way---to---defend---against---aura,---why---not---teach---it---to---me?”
Zeek---touches---his---long---beard,---moving---it---down,---straightening---it,---“because---it---is---far---stronger---as---a---weapon---than---as---a---defense.---Sure,---I---can---teach---you---how---to---shield---your---mind---from---aura,---but---that---would---cripple---your---potential.---And---yes,---you---have---a---great---deal---of---potential,---and---I---don't---mean---your---physical---strength,”---the---old---man---smiles,”---but---your---instincts.---Your---instincts---are---honed---to---the---extent---that---you---are---subconsciously---manipulating---your---aura---better---than---a---[king]---could---ever---do.---When---you---feel---there---is---a---threat,---your---aura---expands---around---you,---feeding---you---information---regarding---everything---around---you,---including---my---movements.”
Artyom---looks---at---Zeek,---annoyed---that---he---has---to---go---along---with---these---crazy---plans---from---this---old---man.---He---was---expecting---to---learn---martial---arts.---Like---how---to---kick,---block,---proper---positioning---of---feet.
But---the---man---is---obsessed---with---aura.
“That---doesn't---make---sense.---I---am---just---reacting---to---the---wind---and---where---I---think---you---are---coming---from.”
Zeek---rolls---his---eyes,“---I---can---move---faster---than---the---wind,---kid.---You---can't---use---that---excuse.”
Artyom,---frustrated---after---several---hours---of---standing---like---this,---frowns---while---grinding---his---teeth.
He---had---been---in---the---military---and---understands---how---to---take---orders,---but---all---of---those---orders---had---a---reason.---This…---aura---training?---It---doesn't---make---sense.---It---is---too---abstract.
“I---don't---understand.---Why---is---it---important---that---I---learn---it?---You---were---the---one---to---tell---me---that---few---can---use---it---and---that---most---second-tier---classes---are---not---affected---much---by---it.”
Zeek---starts---laughing,---taking---enjoyment---at---Artyoms---annoyance.---It---took---three---hours---of---training---for---the---man---to---start---questioning.
“Because,---young---man,---you---are---instinctually---creating---a---fucking---domain.”
Artyom---takes---a---moment,---thinking---about---whether---it---would---be---worthy---to---throw---the---barrels---at---the---old---man.---Unfortunately,---the---chances---of---hitting---him---are---nonexistent.---So---Artyom---adjusts---himself---to---the---other---foot.
“Then,---explain---to---me---what---a---domain---is---and---why---it---is---so---important?”
The---old---man---smiles,---a---cheeky---smile,---a---smile---one---would---have---been---waiting---to---unleash---for---several---hours.
“Because,---being---able---to---produce---a---domain---is---the---single,---most---difficult---requirement---needed---for---an---individual---to---become---Named.”
Artyom,---hearing---that,---spills---a---little---water---as---he---attempts---to---process---what---was---said.
Named.---Allisa---had---described---these---people---as---walking---disasters.---Individuals---with---the---power---to---single---handedly---fight---and---destroy---armies.---Kingdoms,---guilds,---even---the---gods---fear---them---for---their---immense---destructive---potential.
Being---named---is---the---pinnacle---of---strength---and---is---the---level---of---power---that---Aryum---needs---if---he---wants---to---have---any---chance---of---going---back---home---to---his---children.
Artyom---sighs---and---relaxes---his---body.
“You---are---saying---that---a---domain---is---needed?---What---of---levels?---Of---skills?---What---exactly---is---a---domain?”
Zeek---brushes---his---beard,”---A---domain---is---formed---when---your---aura,---your---condensed---will---and---soul,---becomes---potent---enough---to---affect---reality.---And---unlike---levels---or---skills,---a---domain---has---no---arbitrary---limitations.”
Aryum---raises---an---eyebrow,---“show---me.”
Zeek---nods.
You---are---under---the---effect---of---[Exhausting---Storm]
Everything---you---do---cost---122%---more---energy.
A---weird---feeling---takes---hold---of---Artyom.---Not---necessarily---bad,---but---it---is---noticeable---in---the---sense---that---everything---seems---to---feel---harder---to---do.---But,---it---is---rather---easy---to---ignore---and---work---through.---Annoying,---yes,---like---gravity---had---been---increased,---but---not---something---that---Artyom---would---be---unable---to---fight---through.
“Useful,---but---I---don't---see---how---this---can---defeat---armies.”
Zeek---smiles,---hands---moving---behind---his---back.---His---robe---sways---to---the---wing,---“Artyom,---I---believe---I---told---you---that---Domain’s---have---no---limits…”
Everything---you---do---cost---241%---more---energy.
Everything---you---do---cost---605%---more---energy.
Everything---you---do---cost---890%---more---energy.
Everything---you---do---cost---1671%---more---energy.
Everything---you---do---cost---6731%---more---energy.
Like---the---air---itself---had---decided---to---weigh---several---hundred---tons,---Artyom---hands---give---way,---the---barrels---dropping…---and---then---he---too---falls---a---second---later---as---exhaustion---overwhelms---his---being.---His---body---strikes---the---ground,---heaving---quickly---with---each---breath.
And---then,---as---Artyom---feels---as---though---he---will---pass---out,---the---domain---dissipates.---Unfortunately,---the---damage---has---been---done---as---Artyom’s---body---attempts---to---produce---energy---to---move.
“Everything---that---moves---or---lives---has---energy,---even---spells---and---skills.---Combine---that---with---my---own---class---of---[Grandmaster---Martial---Artist]---and---my---[Touch---of---stamina---drain]---skill---and---you---should---very---clearly---understand---why---I---am---known---as---Zeek---the---Untouchable.---Spells,---arrows,---blades,---everything---has---energy---and---all---of---it---loses---its---capability---when---it---touches---my---skin.”
Artyoms---breathing---slows.---He---takes---what---energy---his---body---had---thus---far---produced---and---uses---it---to---move---himself---on---his---back---instead---of---laying---face---down---on---the---dirt.---“You…---you---can---stop---even---kinetic---energy.”---A---statement,---but---also---a---question.
Zeek---twists---his---head,---looking---down---towards---Artyom,---“I---am---not---sure---what---this---Kinetic---energy---is,---but---I---most---likely---can.”
Artyom---frowns,---his---thoughts---thinking---on---what---could---even---harm---Zeek.---Possibly---a---rifle?---The---bullet---would---be---fast---enough---to---not---lose---too---much---energy---from---the---domain,---but---would---it---have---enough---force---to---penetrate---skin---after---it---makes-
--contact?
A---cannon,---rigged---to---explode---on---impact,---might---do---the---trick,---but---then---again,---Zeek---moves---fast.---Fast---enough---that---he---may---even---be---able---to---dodge---bullets.
“Ha,---I---see---that---face,”---Zeek---says---with---a---chuckle.---“Most---people---give---up---on---ever---defeating---me---when---they---see---my---domain---and---skills,---but---not---you.---You---are---already---thinking---of---what---weaknesses---I---may---have---and---in---what---ways---to---deal---with---them.---That---is---good,---otherwise---I---wouldn't---ever---take---you---as---a---student.”
Artyom---takes---a---deep---breath,---his---chest---rising---before---exhaling---and---allowing---to---descend.
“As---for---weaknesses,---I---do---have---them,---though---the---best---way---to---counteract---me---is---with---another---domain.---Domains---will---naturally---counteract---the---other---person,---weakening---them,---but---only---to---each---other.---Thus,---someone---like---Calidi---the---Scorching---Star---would---be---a---worthy---opponent---to---fight---me---thanks---to---her---focus---on---short---range---combat.---Though---I---will---probably---win---considering---the---nature---of---my---class---being---exceptional---in---close---ranged---combat.”
At---this---point,---Artyom---just---rolls---his---eyes---as---Zeek---begins---to---name---various---named---beings---which---are---capable---of---defeating---or---injuring---him.
“...---on---the---subject---of---being---in---the---ranged---department,---very---few---are---even---a---threat.---Hmmm,---Darude---the---Bloody---Sandstorm---would---give---me---quite---a---hard---time.---Oceans---of---razor---sharp---sand---is---not---something---I---would---want---to---fight---through.---Also,---Sylva---the---Emerald---Mistress---is---one---that---I---thought---I---could---defeat,---but---damn---that---elven---woman---has---resources.---Apparently,---fighting---her---and---an---entire---forest---is---not---easy.---My---domain---means---little---against---the---stamina---of---an---entire---forest…---I---be…
“GRAMPA,---what---have---you---done!”
The---yell---stops---the---old---man---from---his---rambles---as---he---turns---towards---the---noise---and---his---granddaughter---looking---rather---angry.
“Why---is---Artyom---on---the---floor?”
And---then---her---eyes---move---to---Artyom’s---side,---“Grandpa,---you---broke---my---barrels.”
Zeek---points---at---Artyom---on---the---ground---who---is---currently---struggling---to---stand.---His---hand---and---legs---are---shaking,---“Artyom---here---dropped---them.”
Alissa’s---hand---go---to---her---slender---hips---as---she---leans---forward,---towards---her---Grandfather,---“and---who---made---him---drop---it?---Artyom---wouldn't---drop---my---water---barrels---and---let---them---break.”---she---says---icily,---forcing---even---the---600+---grandfather---to---look---away---from---her---glare.
“It…---it---is---fine.---We---will---buy---a---new---one,”---Artyom---exclaims---as---he---finally---manages---to---stand,---taking---a---sad---look---at---the---barrels.”
“But,---grandpa---sho-,”---Artyom---raises---his---hand,---silencing---Alissa.
“It---is---fine.---We---were---using---these---barrels---for---training---and---they---broke.---It---is---both---mine---and---Zeeks---responsibility---to---have---new---ones---bought---or---made.---So---do---not---worry,---we---will---have---them---replaced---before---tonight.”
Alissa,---hearing---Artyom---take---responsibility,---unlike---her---Grandpa,---blushes.---She---straightens---her---dress---out,---trying---to---avoid---eye---contact---with---Artyoms---powerful---gaze---and---amazing,---fit,---bare---chest.
“A-alright.---Just…---just---dont---forget---that---I---will---have---dinner---ready---tonight.---So---don't---be---late.”---she---exclaims---quickly,---turning---around---and---walking---at---a---rather---fast---pace---towards---her---home.
As---she---leaves,---Artyom---walks---beside---Zeek,---taking---a---look---at---the---old---man,---“You’re---paying---for---this.”---Artyom---exclaims.
Zeek,---looking---up---at---Artyom,---smiles---as---his---hand,---touches---his---beard---again,---straightening---it---out,---“I---don't---have---any---coin.”
Artyom---looks---at---the---old---man,---gazing---at---him---in---a---new---light.---The---old---man---has---few---possessions,---even---his---robe,---though---of---good---quality,---looks---extremely---old.---The---only---seeming---thing---of---actual---worth---Zeek---has,---was---a---ring,---a---ring---that---is---now---on---Artyom’s---finger.
“You---are---a---being---that---could---fight---armies---but---you---don't---have---a---coin---to---your---name?”
Zeek---smiles---apologetically.
Artyom---shakes---his---head---in---annoyance.---He---is---not---sure---if---he---has---enough---coin---to---buy---two---broken---barrels.
“I---do---have---an---idea---on---how---to---get---that---coin---quickly---if---you---want---to---hear---it.”
Artyom---looks---at---the---old---man---and---the---cheeky---smile.
Unfortunately,---considering---the---time---of---day,---there---is---very---little---chance---of---him---hunting---for---something---large---enough---to---sell---for---coin.
*Sigh*
“What..---is---your---plan.”
Zeek---smiles---like---a---prey---watching---a---predator---give---up---on---the---chase.
___________________________________________________________
The---town---of---Snowbird---is---lacking---in---any---form---of---walls---but---not---lacking---in---size---at---all.---On---the---contrary,---the---town---is---nearing---the---size---of---a---small---city.---The---walls---are---not---required---considering---the---location---of---the---town---and---the---fact---that---most---predators---can---be---dealt---with---by---a---simple---[Farmer].
Artyom---had---been---here---before---for---when---he---needed---his---white---cloak---made.---A---white---cloak---from---a---Frost---direbears---skin.---Wearing---it---on---its---own,---attracts---a---great---deal---of---attention---as---few---could---even---fight---one---and---keep---its---fur---intact.---Immediate---recognition---and---respect---are---given---to---Artyom.
But---Artyom---can't---help---but---feel---little,---compared---to---the---men.---Yes,---Artyom---is---tall---and---has---a---bodybuilders---physique,---but---so---do---most---of---the---men---in---the---town.---They---are---bursting---with---muscles---and---many---of---them---are---even---bigger---and---taller---than---he---is.
He---had---always---been---the---biggest---alongside---his---brother---in---the---military,---but---now,---now---he---is---starting---to---feel---small.
“Artyom,---stop---staring---and---follow.---We---are---almost---there,”---says---Zeek.
And---then---there---is---Zeek,---an---old---man---with---sticks---for---hands---but---somehow---weighs---more---than---three---hundred---pounds.
Artyom---follows---Zeek---into---the---town,---passing---stores---and---homes,---all---until---he---stops---at---a---relatively---large---stone---building---with---a---line---and---two---very---big---muscular---[Guards]---at---the---front.
Zeek---walks---past---the---line---and---steps---in---front---of---one---of---the---[Guards].---The---crowd---starts---to---boo---and---yell---but---Zeek---ignores---them.
“I---want---to---enter---my---student---here---in---the---competition,”---Zeek---says---to---the---[Guard].
The---[Guard]---snorts---and---is---about---to---tell---the---old---man---to---fuck---off---but---stops---as---his---eyes---land---on---Artyom.---Primarily---on---the---cloak---and---the---man---which---had---carried---the---carcass---of---a---Frost---Direbear---through---town.
The---[Guard]---opens---the---door---behind---him,---“You---two---can---enter.---Make---sure---to---follow---the---rules.”
Artyom,---already---realizing---what---kind---of---place---this---is,---follows---Zeek---into---the---building---and---down---the---steps,---finding---themselves---entering---the---underground---arena.
And---as---woul
d---be---expected,---at---the---center---of---the---arena---are---already---two---people---going---at---each---other---with---fists,---kicks,---hooks.---Two---men---with---bulging---muscles,---trying---to---overpower---the---other.---A---crowd---is---heard---yelling---and---screaming,---both---drunk---and---sober.
Zeek---holds---out---his---hand,---“Give---me---your---cloak---and---coin,---I---will---put---all---the---bets---on---you.---Just---make---sure---to---not---lose,”---he---says.