by Aaron Oster
Wind
Buryoku
Book Four
Aaron Oster
For the people who matter most. You know who you are.
Prologue
Wind whipped about him, tearing at his clothes and sending his hair streaming out behind as Doragon tore free from the tunnel. His eyes narrowed as he plunged from the sky, and he reached for his Core, pulling Qi from its depths and slowing his fall. Moments later, he touched down, his feet landing on the hard gravel that littered the far edges of the Windblight. Before him, the gravel gradually changed, turning into rocky slopes filled with brush and vegetation. Behind stretched the Windblight, the gravel transforming into patches of sand and tan stone.
“Damn it all,” he muttered, feeling his hands curl into fists and clenching tightly.
He’d been close, so very close, to completing the mission assigned to him by the Sovereign of the Herald clan. Against all odds, he’d had the Sovereign’s son. He’d broken into the Itachi clan’s castle to fetch him, yet the boy had managed to slip his grasp, breaking free from their tunnel back to Mountain Moore. Now, Doragon had no idea where he was.
In all likelihood, he was somewhere in the Windblight, but it was a vast and sprawling landscape, filled with dangerous Beasts and a rival clan. It was a place that even he didn’t dare to cross. However, despite the risks, Doragon didn’t even consider heading back to report his failure. While the Sovereign could be merciful when he wanted, Herald Duncan was not a man to cross, especially where his family was involved.
The Sovereign had believed his wife and son lost forever, many years back, and only recently had had a vision of his return. There had been many in the clan who had doubted him, and several more that he knew would kill the boy at the first chance they got. Mainly, they were older clan members who didn’t want to give up their seats of power. Even now, Doragon was sure there were others from the Herald clan out there, searching for the boy in hopes of ending him.
Of course, he would rather be back in Mountain Moore, training himself up for his confrontation with his most hated enemy. However, Irusaru was safe and locked away.
Doragon froze as his hand landed on his lapel and felt a very distinct lack of a certain cylindrical object. He tore his robes open, patting himself down everywhere and feeling his panic rise. Finally, after another couple of minutes of searching, he was forced to face the truth. Doragon’s fists clenched even tighter, and his brows furrowed in rage. His eyes, already a burning red, seemed to glow brighter for a moment, as though projecting his mood.
He’d had him, right in the palm of his hand! He’d had that bastard, and now he was gone!
Doragon wanted to scream, to allow his rage to burn forth and tear everything he could to pieces. Unfortunately for him – or perhaps fortunately for everyone else – there was not so much as a single living creature within a hundred miles. This forced him to vent his rage on empty air, sending off blasts of condensed Qi until he’d spent as much as he could without endangering himself.
He slumped, panting hard and fighting to regain control. He couldn’t do this, not now. He needed to get back to his mission and hunt down the Sovereign’s son before it was too late. Aside from those in his own family seeking to retain their positions, Duncan had many enemies. And though none were powerful enough to harm him directly, killing his only remaining heir would be a serious blow.
The Sovereign hadn’t had any other children since his wife and son had vanished all those years back, which meant that Herald Leroy was set to inherit the clan whenever his father died. Although he didn’t realize it, the boy was in more danger than ever before. He didn’t know how the boy was alive or how he’d managed to keep going until now, but Doragon wasn’t about to fail.
He wasn’t doing so out of any great love for the boy himself, but because of his fear and loyalty to the man who’d taken him in when he’d lost everything. Herald Duncan was the only family Doragon had ever had, so no matter what he had to do, Doragon would assure his son’s return.
And when that’s done with, Doragon thought, I can find that old monster and put an end to him, once and for all!
Turning back to the Windblight, Doragon stuck his nose up in the air and inhaled deeply. He could scent nothing all the way out here, so he’d have to head in deeper and hope to come across a town, village, or traveling caravan. Once he did, he might be able to orient himself. His decision made, Doragon gathered himself up, then exploded forward, using his Movement technique to propel himself back the way he’d come.
He would find Herald Leroy. He’d done it once, and he would do it again. It was only a matter of time.
***
Light. Bright, burning light. Agony. Horrible, crushing agony. Pain was the only thing Irusaru knew. But the pain was a good thing. Pain meant that he could still feel, which, in turn, meant that he was still alive. Although it felt like his stomach was trying to eat itself and whatever was left of his emaciated body, he could still feel.
The pain was irrelevant, and he shoved all worldly worries to the back of his twisted mind. All he could think about now was the storm of Power Essence churning above him. The lightning storm was just passing by and no rain would fall here, but it would give him what he’d need. It was taking all he had to pull it in, cycle it, and allow it to flow into his Core, where it was immediately snatched up by his malnourished body. Right now, every drop of Essence he absorbed was immediately used up, but the longer he went, the stronger he became.
Irusaru had no idea for how long he lay there in the burning sands, feeling the sun beating down upon him, merciless and uncaring of his plight. It felt like an eternity, although he knew it couldn’t have been more than a few days. Pain had a funny way of warping one’s perception of time, and even once the old man had the strength to roll onto his back, his raging hunger and thirst were not satiated in the slightest.
Essence might be enough to fuel his body for now, but unless he had something more substantial, food and water to be exact, he would soon wither and die. His body would only be sustained for so long on power alone. That was the curse of being weak, of having a body that could not sustain itself. But he was alive, and he’d be able to do something about it. All he had to do now was find the strength to get up. Then, he could hunt.
It took him far longer than he would have liked, however. It took days upon days to even gather the necessary power to get to his feet, and even longer before he could manage a shuffling walk. The old man was a shadow of his former self — shoulders hunched, head down, and eyes drooping. His arms hung limply at his sides, and his Belt, once a symbol of his power and pride, was barely visible around his tattered robes.
The sun continued to shine, day and night, never leaving, never stopping, always in the same spot. The Windblight was a truly desolate place, devoid of all life. Well, at least on the surface anyway.
Irusaru stopped as he sensed something scurrying beneath his feet. He blinked, trying to focus his exhausted mind on what he was sensing. It would have been difficult, even under normal conditions. The Light and Wind Essences were so abundant here that they washed out almost everything else. In fact, had the storm not passed over the area, Irusaru doubted he’d have been able to gather the amount of Power Essence needed to pull himself together.
He swayed for a moment, then dropped to his knees, only barely managing to catch himself before he hit the ground face-first. He remained like that for several long moments, his body trembling as he fought to remain upright. If he fell now, he would not have the strength to rise again, and Irusaru had too many things to do to allow himself to die.
There was another flash, a dark, black spot in the otherwise churning sea of green, white, and brown. It was a small spec,
to be sure, but one that would assure his survival. The sand exploded beneath his palm, and Irusaru lunged, his gnarled and bony hand wrapping around the body of the squirming lizard that had been trying to get by unnoticed.
The Beast – for it had a Core – hissed and tried to strike him with its Essence. For its size, it was quite powerful, at the Green stages at least. But Irusaru was far stronger than that. Without even bothering to try and cook it, the old man bit down, tearing the lizard’s head off in a single bite. Instead of spitting it out, the old man chewed, the small skull crunching between his teeth.
Warm blood trickled down his parched throat, but Irusaru did not allow himself to cough. He would not waste a drop of his precious food. While most would have cringed at what the old man was doing, Irusaru had done much worse in the past when it came to survival. He took another bite, swallowing skin, bones, and flesh in his single-minded determination to eat the entire thing.
He trusted that his hardy constitution would handle any toxins this creature might have – his body could at least do that much. As soon as he finished eating, devouring every last bite of the small lizard, Irusaru began searching for more.
A week later, after consuming dozens more lizards and other small creatures he’d stumbled upon, he had regained a good deal of his former strength. His situation had not helped with his madness, nor had it given him any insights or perspective. His eyes burned with a maddened fervor, and the only thing on his mind was revenge.
He vowed to take revenge on all those who had wronged him. He’d start with Herald Leroy, Doragon, his own granddaughter Aika, and the entire Tonde clan as a whole. They all needed to pay for his pain and suffering! They had abandoned him and left him at the mercy of his former pupil. When he got ahold of them, they would all feel every ounce of his pain and suffering. He would make them feel a thousand times what he did before he finally let them die!
They will feel the pain and despair, the suffering, and mind-rending agony. They will suffer in every conceivable way…! Irusaru’s thoughts trailed off as a shadow fell over him, temporarily blocking out the harsh rays of the sun.
“What are you doing in our territory, old man?”
The voice was harsh and grating, setting Irusaru’s teeth on edge. He peered up and saw a group of figures, their features blotted out by the sun. However, what he could see in clear detail were their packs attached to their Belts.
He looked back up again, making sure to meet the eyes of the one who’d asked the question, and gave him a wild and insane grin.
“I don’t think I’m going to answer that,” he replied, his voice sounding hoarse from disuse.
The group of Martial Artists moved to encircle him, trying to intimidate him with their larger size and numbers.
“Tell us who you are, old man, or face the consequences!” the man snapped.
Irusaru just grinned even wider, his feet digging into the ground as he prepared himself for the slaughter to come.
“Make me,” he croaked.
Then he attacked
***
Tonde Kaeru stepped through the final gate of the Trials of Water, feeling the weight of his new Belt around his waist. It shone a solid Gold, a testament to his hard work and perseverance. The Trials had not been easy by any means and had challenged him like nothing had in the last four centuries, pushing him so far that he’d been deemed worthy of testing for his Gold-Belt. While he’d initially entered to try and rescue Aika, he’d felt her presence vanish nearly as soon as he entered, which meant she’d managed to escape on her own.
Although he’d spent nearly a year inside the Trials, he knew that time ran differently in there and that perhaps a few days had passed in Buryoku since he’d entered. Still, he viewed it as time well spent and didn’t feel at all strange about so much time having passed for him, while so little had happened in the real world. As a Supreme, a Martial Artist who’d mastered the Conqueror technique in Essence, Qi, and Chakra, time flowed differently from his perspective. Now that he’d advanced further than anyone in the Crater ever had, his views had once again shifted.
Kaeru had always been a gifted individual, someone who’d been chosen to lead his clan from a very young age. But this latest advancement, and the sheer magnitudes of power it had advanced him, showed just how far behind he really was. As a Gold-Belt, he was dozens of times stronger than he had been at the Red stage. More than that, he could now begin to feel a new type of energy, one even purer than Chakra.
He had no idea how to go about forming it just yet, but his Ideal continued to drive him ever onward toward that eventual goal. His clan was in danger from an unknown source, and out here, one had to be far mightier than the strongest in the Crater to get anywhere. As a Gold-Belt, he’d command real respect, especially once he pushed past Base and to the 1st Dan.
The world of water, filled with the Essence of his Path, vanished as he stepped through the portal and back into Buryoku. The room in which he found himself was quite familiar — the Sovereign’s throne room.
Unlike the last time, no one was here, the Sovereign included. However, he could detect the faintest hint of a whisper through the doors and quickly moved to investigate. Kaeru slipped through the crack, gliding down the halls with silent footfalls – a trick he’d picked up years ago to avoid his sister Hato when he wanted to waste time, and improved upon since the discovery of his ideal.
Small puffs of steam rose with each step, trapping the sound, and despite how quickly he moved, nothing could be heard even by the sharpest of ears.
“…Can’t believe that traitor! Why would he just leave like that, especially with all our plans?”
The words finally became fully clear as Kaeru rounded a corner and found himself facing a line of doors, only one of which was open, and just by a hair’s breadth. The soundproofing and protections in this place must have been insanely effective if someone like him couldn’t pick up the sounds, but in a palace that housed Gold, Brown, and even Gray-Belts, he supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised.
“Are you, Violet? Well, I’m not. My brother has always had a mind of his own and far too much free will. He might have changed in many ways since our last meeting, but this much hasn’t changed.”
While Kaeru hadn’t recognized the first voice, the second was all too familiar. It was of Ikari, the Sovereign of the Itachi clan, who also happened to be the most powerful Martial Artist he’d ever met.
The other girl, who he assumed to be Violet, was silent for a few moments before replying.
“Do you think we’ll be able to bring him back?”
“We have to,” Ikari replied, and although her tone was calm, Kaeru could detect the undercurrent of rage hiding right beneath the surface.
He could sense it, even out here. The pure malice radiating off the woman was palpable. She was putting on a good show, but inside, she was ready to explode. Seeing as she was a 5th Dan Gray-Belt, capable of wiping entire clans from existence with a single attack, that was not a good sign.
“How will you do it, though? You’re the only one strong enough to pose a challenge, and you won’t leave with the Heralds so close to surpassing the other Great Clans in power.”
There was a sound of shattering wood, followed by a squeal of fright. Kaeru slowly began to back down the corridor, not wanting to be near this place when Ikari exited the room.
“It is not your place to question me, girl,” the woman hissed, her voice finally showing the anger she was feeling inside. “I will get my brother back, and then I’ll recover the Core he stole from me. Once I have it, he will spend the next millennium compensating me for my loss. Now, get out!”
There was a panicked shuffling, followed by another crash, and a moment later, a young girl with a 7th Dan Purple-Belt came stumbling out with a look of pure terror on her face. Kaeru was already out of sight, having woven a mirage of Water around himself, cutting off both his physical body and spiritual presence from detection.
This was a n
ew technique that he’d learned in the Trials. It served as good proof that he was advancing further and further away from his base Path of Water. It was a combination of Water Chakra, combined with cold, heat, and light. While he’d once been the Supreme of Torrential Storms, his Path was shifting and changing, like the tides of an ocean, or like a river breaking down even the toughest of stone.
His new understanding was unlocking new possibilities, evolving his fighting style, and changing his branching Path in a way he could never have imagined. He was becoming something new, and before long, he would cast aside his title of Supreme and become something more.
He flattened himself against the wall as Violet ran past, clearly fighting back tears. For some strange reason, Kaeru felt the distinct need to follow her, and seeing as his instincts hadn’t led him astray thus far, he did exactly that.
Following the girl wasn’t all that difficult, as she didn’t attempt to hide. She ran from the castle and made a beeline for the gates of the compound. Kaeru trailed closely behind, flowing smoothly out the gates as they were being closed. He was sure this place had some sort of alarm for when people entered without permission, but no one ever thought to leave the same for those exiting. Still, it worked just fine for him, and he was glad that he hadn’t been caught or detected by the powerful Sovereign.
Violet kept moving, keeping up a fast pace as she made her way past the interior ring and into the streets of the destroyed city. Kaeru was stunned by the utter devastation he witnessed. In fact, he was so shocked that he nearly lost track of the woman in the crowd. He shook himself, dismissing the ruined city from his mind and deciding to ask about it later.
“So, care to tell me where you’re off to?” he asked, appearing next to Violet and causing the girl to jump.
“Who are you?” she demanded, whirling on him, a mix of anger and confusion on her face.