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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2018 23:25:18 GMT -5
The spectral woman perked her attention as her pupil responded to her question. She didn't expect the question, and the obvious truth before her she had been blinded to. How had seen not seen the obvious staring her in the face. The girl even had her mother's look about her, the determination in her eyes, much less the color. Her hair, her face, her frame, it was all like staring into a window to the past. Kaede gasped, dropping her bansho fan/ As part of her incorporeal form it faded away in a wisp of light, rematerializing in her hand. "Of course... Saya..." She whispered under her breath, before regaining her normally stoic composure. "Asuka Atsuki, have I truly been dead so long I forgot your family name?" The woman said to herself, slowly shaking her head. "Yes. I know of your mother, though it pains me to hear she had died. I shall look for her in the Other World when I return."The ethereal master let out a sigh, thoughts drifting to a past that seemed so distant. "Your mother was perhaps my greatest pupil, and in another life I would gladly have named her my successor. She came to us in the last years of my life, I was an old crone though I did not let it show through my magics. I spent so much of my time and attention on our Order, it never occurred to me I too was only human. When faced with my own mortality I hastily began grooming possible successors. But that is a tale for another time." The woman spoke wistfully, as if she held a longing desire to go back and change the past. To undo mistakes and see the forest for the trees. "Your mother came to us as many do, a wanderer, an exile, a warrior seeking a new life and new purpose. It is not our way to judge, and as you must know many of our order walk all paths of life, myself included. It quickly became clear your mother had been a ninja of some great renown. For a self proclaimed 'novice' she was already in peerless physical condition, adept at multiple forms of unarmed combat, and shown extreme levels of mental and physical discipline. Were Koh Tetsu alive he would have tried to break your mother down and build her back up. He say students the way a sculptor sees a block of marble, chip away and carve from it your masterpiece. I see my pupils as a sculpture sees a block of clay, malleable, moldable, something to be shaped gently through a steady hand and a guiding touch."
Kaede Nakamura smiled longingly, thoughts lost to the past. "Regardless, your mother easily proved herself to be one of my greatest pupils. She took to the Vanishing Technique in a way no one else before or since has. To her, it was as natural as running is to the rest of us. She was among my star pupils, and often sought me out for advice late into the evening, having stayed up late for her midnight walks of the temple grounds. Saya had a way of sneaking up on you when she wanted to. I had to cheat, and resort to using magic to warn me of her arrival. I never could admit to her that her stealth was too potent for even her sensei to detect her through by normal means. I felt it destroyed the air of invincibility a Tetsukami must exude." Kaede let out another long sigh, shaking her head at her own foolishness. "Your mother ultimately became one of my final applicants for the title of Third Tetsukami. Despite her great skill, natural ability, and dedication to her Tetsudo teachings she was very young, only a few years older than you at the time. I could not bring myself to force my position on another who would suffer my ostracization. A second female Tetsukami, a ninja not a witch, the youngest Tetsukami by far. Saya's ascension would have looked like mere favoritism, gender bias and I chose not to allow her to suffer for decades as I had, an outsider among her own people. So with heavy heart I nominated Noh Ogata as my successor instead. He was nearly a decade older, the most capable duelist I had ever trained, and relentless in his pursuit of mastering his personal techniques. I thought his unique vision an asset to our order, and that his passion and drive would make up for his often reckless nature. To this day I struggle with my decision, wondering if perhaps I did, just once, make the wrong choice."The room grew very silent, and very cold. As if even the air had stopped circulating. Kaede closed her eyes, reflecting on her long life and the many weighty decisions she had bore for the sake of her order. It could not be helped now, the past was called 'passed' for a reason. She decided instead to focus on the young woman's second question. "There was another, some time before you. It is so damnably hard to tell how much time has passed in death, it flows different in the Other World than it does here. I cannot describe it with justice, save for the fact it feels 'eternal' on the other side. This pupil was bold, confident, and assure of himself. He did not speak his name, much to my irritation, but I could not deny his skill. He spoke neither of what he sought, or if he found it. Were I living, I'd have beaten him savagely for his insolence, but as a spirit, I was limited to an icy stare as he passed through the gate to the Third Tetsukami's chambers..." The spirit trailed off, leaving her speech ending cryptically on those words as irritation was painted across her porcelain face.
Post Count: 10 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Nov 24, 2018 20:47:57 GMT -5
Upon overhearing the words from the specter. Asuka came to conclusion. “My mother was a ninja...that makes sense...she was always quick and efficient when we sparred. She never dragged anything out...she was quick and to the point.” Asuka thought on it for a moment… “That term Kage they called her by...I wonder what that meant…was she really strong enough to become a Tetsukami!?” Asuka perked up at through of it. “Wow, my mom a Tetsukami candidate, I always knew she was cool! I’ve got a lot to live up to, by the sounds of it...she was...a good teacher.” Asuka’s tone went from jubilant to solemn in a second it would seem no matter how much she tried there is always a deep part of her that will miss her mother dearly. She then got lost in her thoughts let out a sigh. “I hope she’s happy wherever she is in otherworld.” But her sigh of sadness returned to a ponderous one after the second Tetsukami answered her question about the disciple that had once passed through this trail “So Kaede Sensei...there was another who passed through here, and he said nothing...How rude...” Asuka stops to think about what he might be like, do you think he made it to the end?“ she paused to think for a moment recalling all that she was told. “...His skills sound impressive, he must’ve been very driven. But that still doesn’t excuse how rude he was, I wonder why he was in such a hurry? He didn’t even give you his name? I wonder what he was after?” Lightning crackles breaking Asuka’s concentration. “Yikes...that’s so distracting, by the looks of things this labyrinth doesn’t seem to easy to clear...but I’ve come this far, I won’t let a little thunder get in my way, I have to finish the trails!” Asuka tied her headband and braced herself to embark on the next portion of the trail, watching as the strikes of lightning gleamed a reflective light off of her face as each one struck with more ferocity. “So what am I up against this time, Kaede Sensei!” she says looking to the specter for instructions while the lightning continued to rumble in the background.
(WC: 391)
(WCT: 9,194)
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2018 22:34:36 GMT -5
The Second Tetsukami smiled warmly, seeing the elation on her student's face as the young woman learned the truth of her mother. "Saya was a very calculating woman, she left nothing to chance and took every opportunity an opponent gave her. It was always something I admired in her, I liked to drag out my fights as I tested my enemy. That said, she was indeed strong enough to become a Tetsukami, were she five years older or I five years younger at the time I would have chosen her over Noh Ogata. But alas, time is a more fickle mistress than I. If you get too focused on the past, you lose sight of the future." The woman looked wistfully for a moment, before steeling her spectral gaze anew. "Your mother was a good teacher in part because she had a good teacher." Her words ended in a light chuckle, but there was truth to what she said. The ghostly mentor's brow furrowed when Asuka mentioned the other student, the unknown one. "Correct. Another student, one who I must admit displayed great mastery in spite of his cold behavior. I know nothing of his name, his origin, or his motivations. I am sorry I cannot provide more information." The spirit cast her gaze further down the path ahead, the only way the girl would uncover any truth was the press forward herself. There was little more Kaede could say, trapped in her tomb for a brief few moments before returning to the after life. "I have said enough for now, derailing my own trial with my tales. I will let you continue uninterrupted... good luck Asuka..." With that the spirit disappeared from sight to watch as little more than an ethereal presence. Asuka was left alone with only her thoughts and the pressing quest ahead. The second level of the maze was more perilous than the first. The walls of the shifting metal maze lined with strange flashing signals meant to disorientate. Piercing magical darkness continued to emanate from the trial area, ki leeching traps were hidden throughout the maze. They appeared as small scarab beetle golems, the size of house cats. Stepping on their back or coming in close proximity caused them to spring their trap, the small constructs back opening to reveal a ki draining device that functioned like the ancient Gourds of Mist. The scarabs released a toxic cloud of magic gas, that leeched ki and pulled it into their container. However, being traps, this was not the end of their purpose. Once full the scarabs 'armed', like living time bombs and chased after the person who activated them before detonating in a blast of energy equal to what they drained. These creations were bred from armored 'hives' hidden along the maze. Strong ki powered clockwork devices, sending out assembler scarabs to collect damaged pieces of the destroyed counterparts to build into replacements. All stemming from the Third Tetsukami's witch heritage and subsequent fascination with insects, toads, and snakes. In addition the maze had a standard battery of traps, pitfalls, spiked pits, poisoned arrows that made the user's limbs go numb and leave them immobile until the trial reset. At the end however, was the grand centerpiece of the second level. A large room, roughly two hundred feet in any direction, perfectly square. Four obelisks stood, one in each corner mirroring the watchtowers of the temple compound high above. In between was a shifting gauntlet of elevated platforms, endlessly moving and changing heights, positions, and angles in a strange and convoluted machination. Meant to keep the combatants endlessly off balance, forcing them to adapt to rapidly changing terrain. This arena however, was not easily accessed. It was protected by a powerful magical barrier, erected around its edges encasing it in a translucent white sphere of magical energy. There were many ways to avoid this obstacle, it is for the individual pupil to decide how best to overcome this hurdle. Within, is the final hurdle of the second level of the Paths of Wisdom. A towering stone golem, with backwards bending legs and two sets of arms. The lower pair are a set of stone limbs, where the upper are curved scything blades that look like the claws of a mantis. The golem is carved in cruel mockery of Kaede, with her beautiful face and figure grafted onto the frame of a monstrous beetle creature. Great bladed wings vibrate rapidly on its back, serving as both a terrible slicing weapon and a defensive aura. Beneath the steel edged wings lies the beetle golem's weak point, marked in white and endlessly protected by the construct's vibrating wings. The creature sits motionless, antennae endlessly probing the air for new challengers as it maintains the magic barrier. In battle it is ruthless, using its weight and speed as a scythed battering ram while exploiting its shifting arena with its mechanical knowledge of the platform's patterns. Truly, one of the most imposing of Kaede Nakamura's magical creations.
Post Count: 11 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Nov 27, 2018 22:58:37 GMT -5
With her instructions made clear by Kaede Sensei, Asuka watched as the specter left and began to face the trail looking out into the distance the youth could see a platform out in the distance. But in her way were a series of panels that sht out lightning however after each strike the thunder would linger in the room disorienting Asuka’s senses. “Guh...how am I supposed to focus with all that thunder, I suppose that’s the point…”Asuka then overhears the sound of small metal needles scurrying against the ground causing a steady but quiet rumble on the ground. Asuka shuts her eyes and drowns out all the sound she can. “Focus Asuka Focus…if I take too long the beetles will drain me, but if I act to quickly I might get struck by the lightning. I have to be very quick on my feet. As the beetles charge toward her Asuka times their movements with the cadence of the lightning. “I have to move…” “TCHOW TCHOW!” goes the lightning. “Now!” Asuka takes a step and her body vanishes across the air, the Lightning Strikes, but she manages to make it to the other side of the platform however she underestimates the distance of the jump and ends up grabbing hold of the platform and hoisting herself up.
Once she gets her bearings before her she sees 3 different pathways before her. “Well this is a labyrinth after all…” she looks around but hears even more thunder. “As I go further into the labyrinth the thunder will only get worse, time really is of the essence here…” Asuka then notices that the slab she stands on begin to crumble. “There’s no end to any of this." Asuka using her Shouten focus narrows her field of vision, allowing her to see the end of each pathway upon inspection of each path, all she is able to discern is their distance and nothing more it wasn't much to go on but as she began losing ground to stand on she had to make her decision quickly. “The one on the left has the most distance in between me and the platform. The center one is the shortest and the third one is the second longest.” Asuka wasn't sure where each one would lead but they were only the paths she had and the young girl had no time to hesitate. Every second she spent trying to decide where to go, gave the small scarabs enough to climb up toward her feet, not to mention a series of poison arrows hidden within the blind spot of the Shouten state just above her head and the crumbling floor beneath her. As the small scarab began to scurry on the ground, Asuka vanishes off to the left choosing to take the longest possible route, and luckily managed to evade the lightning as it struck just as she reappeared on the far-off platform. And while she was safe but her decision to take the longest route left her feeling particularly fatigued upon landing. “Gaah…to move so fast over such a long distance...” as she stands up to asses her new surroundings before her she once more hears thunder but is in awe at the sight of the plethora of platforms before her in a void of what practically looks like a thundercloud. “Ohhh man..” Asuka said being both awestruck and challenged at the same time…as she watches she noticed that the platforms seem to travel in an orbit around a large white orb of Ki with the massive golem of the second Tetsukami stood waiting in the center. Asuka looked out it. “So that’s what I’m up against...that looks menacing…” but never the less the youth contemplated her next move taking note of the cycle of each platforms orbit. She also watched for the lightning strikes that would crash down to destroy a platform at random. “Looks like there’s about a minute in between each lightning strike, each time it comes down it hits a random platform and due to its unpredictability I doubt I’ll be able to see it coming. I’d better be quick as well as careful." Asuka places her hands on her hips as she focuses herself once more. "Man I can only imagine what her students must’ve gone through...” As Asuka makes her declaration she once again hears the tattering of the small scarabs making their way toward her “Crap, I'll need time before I can use the vanishing technique again…” Asuka looks out and notices that the strikes of lightning now land on the platform and as she looks back more scarabs begin to chase after her. "Looks like I'll have to jump it." Asuka uses what little physical strength she has to leap onto one of the platforms in front of her as she leaps she looks down and sees a blue void with rumblings of lightning within it a long way down and no end in sight. She then stands up and attempts to gauge her next jump.
and upon preparing to take the leap the platform she intended to land on is swiftly destroyed in a flash of lightning. "Tck!" She then attempts another leap, however, undershoots her momentum, and extends out her arms attempting to grab hold of the next platform. She grabs hold of it and climbs atop it, watching for the next available platform however upon landing she feels a turning in her stomach as the g-forces from the change in speed begin to take their toll. “Oh man...the platforms are getting faster, I gotta hand on...it doesn't look like jumping is gonna cut it anymore.” Asuka feels herself losing control as she struggles to keep her footing looking out at the large orb of Ki noticing that it is now much closer then before. “I have to focus, I'm about halfway there.” As Asuka shuts her eyes and attempts to enter into the Shouten state, but is thrown off by a nearby lightning strike. “Dang it...how can I--” suddenly another strike of lightning can be heard as her platform is destroyed and Asuka is forced to hold on to a broken fragment of rubble. "Aggh..." she cries as the sharp rubble digs into her hands. blood seeping from her palm. As Asuka struggles to hang on she stops and let go and allows herself to enter into the Shouten state in doing so she enters a state of Pure Focus.
“Okay, I remember how to do this…just gotta harness it....” As Asuka falls through the air she thinks back to her training she had with her mother, when she was first informed of a move that would prepare her for this very moment.
With Asuka now being somewhat older, she remembers one of the last training sessions she had with her mother, however it was a much less traditional one. Asuka sits outside training and overhears her mother scribbling down something inside of a small scroll, “I can’t seem to figure this out…” Asuka hearing her mother in distress heads into her room. “Mommy?” young Asuka says seeing her mother slumped over with her head on her desk. Her mother lifts her head up. “Oh, hello my love, come here Mommy needs a hug...this scroll is much to difficult to decipher…” Asuka snuggles up beside her mother and looks over it quickly becoming confused by all of the different terms and diagrams within the text… “It looks hard...” the youth says looking up at her mother “Well you remember that Shouten state, technique I taught you when you first started training?”
“Uh-huh…?” Asuka says nodding to her mother.
“And do you remember how it works?”
Asuka enthusiastically nodded her head.
“Mhmm Mhmmm, it flows through those thingies called...Channeling points, or focus points...they’re different pathways throughout the body that control the flow of Ki right?”
“Very Good, we use those channeling points to funnel our Ki and the bandages we wear are meant to keep them in check, now imagine if we took those bandages off and were able to access all of our Ki at once, like an Ascended form of the Shouten state.”
Asuka looks up to her mother with mysticism and childlike wonder in her eyes. “Oooh~”
"Ohh is right, it sounds very lucrative...but according to the scroll here the method of accessing it is rather...difficult, for unlike the base Shouten state this state called the Shouten Hado works in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system as something of a panic button producing a massive spike of Ki that can only be activated when specific conditions are met such as during an emergency giving us access to reserves of energy never thought possible, think of it like the Shouten State when amplified by the effects of Adrenaline or the flight or fight response.”
"My master Kaede Sensei would tell me about a technique in private going over her postulations and theories as she explained how to harness and maintain it, this scroll contains her teachings." Asuka watched as her mother stroked her chin as she pondered the idea further all the while the young child barely understood a word of what her mother was saying. "But based on what I can understand from within the scroll…when used voluntarily the Shouten Hado is very taxing to maintain as the rate at which it drains the user of Ki seems to occur at a very rapid pace not to mention the strain it puts on the muscles the heart in particular. And since it was originally only intended to be used in short bursts as a natural response to stress. Spending more a than few minutes within the state involuntarily takes a massive toll even more than that of the Shouten state itself." However, with all of this information the youth seemed relative lost “What is she talking about…?” thought the confused youth as her mother continued to speak whilst reading over the scroll. "I’ve never attempted to pull it off myself, I’m afraid that if I do I might just pass out from exhaustion or worse. It's power is very explosive and if done incorrectly could have dire consequences on the body. Not even Lady Kaede could fully master it only able to survive its intense drain for few seconds." Asuka's mother shuts the scroll and then looks down at Asuka. "But who knows...maybe you’ll be the one to master it, now wouldn’t that be a sight.” Her mother says as she strokes her daughters head.
“Yeah, I'm gonna be even stronger than you Momma! Scared? Haha Just kidding! Don’t give up hope Mommy! If anyone can do it Mommy can do it!” Asuka said with a great deal of vigor.
“Why thank you love, I’ll do my best not to let you down!” her mother chuckles.
Eventually, Asuka’s mother would figure out the key to the Shouten Hado, but wouldn’t live long enough to tell her daughter how to do it herself. But Asuka was saavy and eventually figured it out on her own.
"Now is the time, it'll drain me since I'd be using my inner ki reserves but...Shouten Hado!" as Asuka recited these words her eyes began to glow white but the emissive Ki was far more intense as her Aura exploded around her granting her a brief moment of levitation, her muscle tone increased and her veins began to pop, and while visually it may not seem like much internally this transformation was rough and wreaked havoc on Asuka's body rather painful to induce, but in this advanced form of the Shouten State Asuka's focus increases to even beyond that of even the strongest of Earthlings allowing her to temporarily slow down time for herself able to witness the platforms’ speed drop to a crawl. "OKay...Focus.”
Asuka looks around and sees the frozen environment
“If I do this right, I could land on one of the platforms...but if I mess up...Ugh I don't wanna think about it." She then focuses herself and uses the vanishing technique and appears directly atop another platform above her. "Phew...no time to rest just yet, I'm about 2 platforms away...!" However now with the orb so close, Asuka is nearly pushed off of the platform from the sheer speed of the powerful winds that keep the platform in orbit. "How do I breach this thing...there's no way in!? Wait a second..." As the platform continues to revolve around the orb, Asuka begins to notice that everytime a bolt of lightning is fired the orb temporarily vanishes. "The lightning bolts seem to create an opening for me...that's my way in...!" Now with a plan Asuka readies her last reserves of Ki but needs to time her movements perfectly once more in order to make it through. "Agggghhh...! This is insane, I have to move at the speed of a light in order to breach this thing, the Second Tetsukami really was a perfectionist, here goes...One more push Shouten!" With another burst of Tetsu Hado energy, Asuka slows down time once more, suddenly she spots a lightning strike collide with the ground in that instance the orb of the barrier goes down, to her it seems like a long while whereas in the real world only but a moment passes. In this locked moment in time Asuka uses the last of her Ki to perform one last vanish causing her body to disappear passing into the barrier just as it reappears. After a moment the young woman materializes on the hard metal ground floor, panting from utter exhaustion as her body is pushed out of the Shouten Hado. “Arrrrghhh…” she looks up taking in the rather stunning view as the inside almost seems to mirror that of a starry night sky. “Am I hallucinating…if I am...can I stay like this for a little while longer…” she pants a few more times, before being interrupted by the screeching of the Metal golem. “Aww man…” She then places a hand inside of her gi and takes out a small vial with the Kanji for "Sunshine Extract." written across it, the bottle itself glows a lavender color, she drinks it while she lies on her back and after a moment feels her Ki restored back to her, along with the wound on her hand slowly healing up "Thanks, Izumi...even when we're apart you still have my back..."
Asuka then stands and enters the Shouten Hado state to face down the creature. "Ikki Masu Yooooo!" she shouts as she charges the beast re-entering the ascended Shouten state. "I'm not losing to some oversized monstrosity!" Asuka begins to pummel the legs of the creature with a barrage of palm strikes using empowered ki strikes to cripple it. "Hyaah!" once its legs were crippled the beast fell directly toward her and its mouth began to glow and suddenly a massive blast of lightning charged Ki rang out, Asuka leaped into the air and looked down at the beast placing a hand on her chest, her heartbeat beating fast enough to rupture at any moment "Gaah...I gotta make this quick this form is extremely hard to maintain...but...It's the only way I can win..." just then Asuka notices the marking on the creatures back as it begins scaling up the walls of the orb, causing an odd visual disconnect giving it the appearance of standing on air, it's back revealing the spot she must hit in order to deactivate it right between it's rapidly beating wings. "There's the marking...now I just have to hit it....but I've gotta be quick I can't waste a single ounce of energy."
(WC: 2655)
(TWC: 11849)
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 21:34:31 GMT -5
The golem roars in mechanical anger as its legs buckle under it from the damage its sustained. Its great metallic weight too much for the injured limbs to support. It reaches down with a hand, pressing release mechanisms on its upper thighs. With a pneumatic hiss the legs detach and blow free. The injured limbs fold apart, unfurling like mechanical scorpions with the 'foot' of the leg becoming an electrically charged stinger. They skitter and hiss, glowing white gems at the seam where they once connected to the larger construct giving away their weak spot. Kaede's clockwork golems all relied on crystal balls charged with her own deadly Shoten state ki, it was the secret to defeating any of her mechanizations. The scorpion-leg constructs lunged at Asuki in unison, stalling and buying time for the primary golem to reassess its battle plan. The lumbering beast arched its back, letting out a mechanical howl as jets of flame fired from the openings in its thighs where its legs had been. Like two thrusters, they gave the titan added lift, allowing it to hover in the air and use its mechanical wings for maneuvering. It was quite the spectacle, a macabre mechanical beast that continued to adapt and fight even as its body took damage. It dashed across the arena, taking scything swings at Asuka with its long bladed arms. Each swipe had enough force to cleave through solid stone pillars like a sword through bamboo, its steel edges tempered with magic long ago. The golem continued to attack at range as well, belching gouts of electricity and mechanized ki like some kind of steam punk android. It's aim was deadly, but could be beaten with great speed and agility. The creature did not truly think, it merely acted upon stimuli. It could easily be confused and disorientated, lacking senses such as smell or sound to augment its sight. As it fought the golem carefully positioned itself, always eager to keep itself between Asuka and its vulnerable back. Never allowing itself to expose its weak point if it could allow it. The mechanical nightmare's ki was not limitless, given a few hours of heavy fighting it would drain itself and deactivate. But few opponents could last that long in a proper fine, none while maintaining the Shouten Hado, save for a Tetsukami. But Asuka was no Tetsukami, and she did not have hours at her disposal. She had precious minutes before her stamina depleted and she'd be left too weak and debilitated to mount a proper offensive against the titan. Kaede Sensei's spirit watched silently from the shadows, bansho fan covering her mouth to hide her suspense. She was rooting for Asuka, the girl had her mother's heart and fighting spirit. But she lacked her mother's ruthless perfectionism, her unyielding focus. Her master of Shouten Hado was impressive for one of her skill level, but rare ability alone was not enough. To best the Second Tetsukami's trials you needed fast thinking, decisive action, and flawless execution. Kaede was keenly aware the pupil had only a precious few chances left to decide the fight. If she did not find a way to press an advantage she would succumb to the golem's might. The spectral woman's eyes went wide, her automaton raising a scythed arm. It fired an electric bolt at Asuka's chest, trying to force her to evade in a predictable direction to avoid the attack. Its curved steel blade already scything through the air towards her destination. Intent on cleaving the girl in half with one fatal blow.
Post Count: 12 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Nov 30, 2018 0:22:48 GMT -5
Seeing the two creatures race toward her Asuka took a step back and did battle with them one on one, the first creature attempted to Stab her with it’s tail Asuka deftly stepped out of the way, grabbed the beast by its tail and tossed it aside sending into the barrier where it broke apart on contact. As her back was turned the scorpion like creature from behind had begun to ambush her as she looked away yet in this new state of focus the youth had felt its presence, sensing the motion of its tail as it tried to stab her, Asuka twirled her body in order to side step the creature she then raised her foot and crushed it with a debilitating axe kick.
However after finishing the scorpion like creature off, she heard the sounds of the golem beginning to transform and then bore witness as it charged right at her, Asuka dangerously did her best to dodge each blow, weaving her body carefully to avoid to blow from its blade. However upon seeing it’s near final blow come to pass Asuka thinking quickly executed the vanishing technique in order to maneuver out of its way in order to reposition herself behind her foe on the ground extending out her arms creating and creating tendril out of her Tetsu Hado Aura that mimicked her bandages in an attempt to grab it. But once the tendril had latched onto to one of it, Asuka is jerked forward by the strength of the beast and collides into a wall, which she then slides down and lands on her head.
Seeing downtime the golem is able to self-repair reconstructing its limbs by absorbing the ki from the scorpion golems destroyed by Asuka, once its repairs have completed it scales climbing the dome wall and remains in place, while Asuka picks herself up off of the floor. “So looks like its ready for round two…” Asuka says as she stands to her feet, examining the creature and adjusting her headband as she contemplates her next move.
“Okay...so, I’ve still got to somehow hit that mark on it’s back, but those wings and new said of legs are gonna be a problem. I don’t have the time or the speed to be able to move fast enough to take this creature out with sheer brute force...but...I think I might know of one way to still strike the mark and take this guy down at the same time…it’s exhaustive but it just might work, now to find a weakness.” Asuka shuts her eyes and looks over the creature using a special sensing technique that allows her to tune out all sound and sees that the creature is in a state of severe disrepair, able to hear the sounds of its gears locking up just from where she stood.
“Sounds to me like the repair job wasn't perfect. I’ll have to rip it apart...limb from...limb…” And so Asuka extends out her arms creating a bandage made of Ki that wraps around the creatures upper extremities. “This is gonna hurt me a lot more than it hurts you…Grrrrraaah!” Asuka pulls her arms back as she struggles to rip off the appendages from the creature the gears creaking at its legs are ripped from its body and yanked to the ground below. They scrape against the ground as Asuka’s arms relax into her body. “2 down...6 to go…” She panted as she continued to rip apart the beast, forcibly removing its limbs two at a time, the process becoming more and more strenuous with each limb that was removed. Yet by the time youth was finished the creature itself was nothing more than a quadriplegic. And Asuka who was now extremely winded realized her time within the Shouten Hado was running out…”Gaah...too much pressure...I don’t think I can do this for much longer.” She looks down at her tattered hand, where the scar from the wound she had received earlier began to open up, from the repeated stress of Asuka constantly balling her fist in order to remove the many limbs of the beast. “Can’t make Aura bandages anymore...gonna have to use...regular ones…gotta make this one count...if I can infuse enough Ki into em...maybe I can send a shockwave through its body and... activate the marking, I hope she doesn’t mind me using moves from the third Tetsukami’s repertoire, even though I sort of already used em before...”
Asuka extends out her arms one last time and wraps the beast in a cocoon of cloth, her bandages having enough slack for Asuka to promptly grip them in her hands. She then takes the last of her Shouten Ki and expels it into the bandages and then picks them up in her hands. “This might be overkill but I can’t think of anything else…Now then…Tetsudō ōgi-jutsu: mīra-ka: Nenshō hōtai!” "Tetsudo Style Secret Techniques: Burning Bandages!" after reciting these words, Asuka would lift her bandages up over her head and whip them in a powerful downward thrust. A shockwave of Shouten Hado Ki would send a ripple towards the machine and then detonate once enough energy wells up inside of the bandage, lightning up the sigil to drop the barrier but also causing a catastrophic explosion in the process.
Asuka was blown back, knocked toward the edge of the arena, the upper part of her gi torn, leaving in nothing more than a tattered pair of pants and a tightly wound collection of bandages wrapped around her chest. With remnants of her gi hanging by her thighs. A long scar can be seen on her right shoulder, from a battle fought long ago. With the beast defeated Asuka pants quite heavily. Her heartbeat slowing down to a normal level but her body wracked from the pain of spending so much time in the form. As she turns her head, she finds her small vials of "Sunshine Extract." sprawled across the floor 2 of her remaining 4 are cracked their remnants now a dried up mess on the arena floor and the other quite a distance away, Asuka begins to crawl to the nearest one, taking it in her palm after reaching it and ingesting it. Before turning halfway over on her back and taking a moment's rest. "I never was the best at keeping my ki under wraps...I...I think I'm gonna take 5..." she says as she passes out for a short moment.
(WC: 1110)
(TWC: 12,959)
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2018 1:29:00 GMT -5
The metal golem breaths its last, letting out a final roar as the explosion of overcharged ki envelopes it. Its charred hulk of a mangled body slams into the ground hard, the light fading from its eyes with its power source destroyed. The damage to the golem is significant, and it will take years for the maintenance scarabs to fully repair it. Kaede Nakamura's spirit watches with a mixture of glee that her student had triumphed, and sorrow her creation had been so utterly destroyed. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of displeasure seeing something she had labored on for years perfecting turned to scrap metal in one decisive blow. Regardless, the spirit began to drift towards the girl, hoping she hadn't herself died in the process. That final attack had been quite the spectacle, but as a ghost the Tetsukami had few senses beyond sight and sound. When she closed upon Asuka, she found the girl completely unconscious upon inspection. She paused, giving a strange look before hearing the pupil let out a snore. It seemed instead, she was so winded from the display the girl had simply passed out from exhaustion. Kaede suppressed a laugh, finding it both humorous and being relieved she had not lost a pupil. Especially one that was the daughter of her own star pupil. The spirit had no physical body, and thus no way to wake the girl beyond screaming. As that was rather unladylike, she decided instead to simply wait. One of the few perks of being dead was you now had so much time to spar, a few minutes could be spent waiting. Or hours, the spirit had little grasp of time within the halls of her dark tomb. By the time Asuka stirred from her sleep, a maintenance scarab was prodding her thigh with a pincer, checking if she was a corpse to dispose of. Kaede's spirit loomed over the woman, looking down at her with a pleasant smile as her pupil woke. "It good to see you haven't joined me among the dead, Asuka." The woman said coyly, before chuckling to herself at the joke. "I would help you to your feet, but I am a bit indisposed at the moment. Regardless, that was quite the spectacle back there. Your fortitude, your stamina with the Tetsu Hado is most impressive, and I have never seen such a masterful use of the Vanishing Technique in such dire circumstances." The ghostly woman paused though, briefly stumped for a moment before asking her final question. "That last technique though, I have not seen it before, not like that anyways. Who taught you such a move? It is not something I perfected under my tenure as Tetsukami. Is it by chance, one of Noh's moves?"
Post Count: 13 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 2, 2018 10:30:31 GMT -5
After some time, Asuka had awoken from her nap on the ground, sitting up and examining herself with her wounds having healed slightly. “My Ki is at about less than half at this point...Just enough activate the base form of the Shouten State. But, I probably won’t be able to hold it for longer than 30 minutes. I’ll have to really conserve my energy...” As she stands up the lavender glow of her “Sunshine Flower Extract.” potion can be seen giving off a soft lavender glow on the ground. She hastily walks over and grabs it the purple color reflecting a light off of her face. “I could always use The Nikko Flower Extract for another boost but...it’s best to hold off until later when I might really need it.” Asuka then tucks it in her pants and then shuts her eyes and activates the Shouten State once again but with the Ki from the golem no longer present, Asuka’s surroundings were now devoid of light and she was forced to traverse in the dark. Her only semblance of light coming from the faint Aura radiating from her body. And so left with no other choice Asuka begins walking about keeping her hand extended out in front as she walks around the perimeter of the platform searching for any signs of a new pathway. “With that golem incapacitated I should be able to find the next platform to lead me further into the tomb...I should be nearing the end by now.” eventually the youth stumbles upon a walkway leading to another platform, however, something about it seemed final. “Only one more test left...the Tetsu-ha...the signature technique of Tetsudo Style Martial Arts, it’s the basis for our understanding of ki control, and mastering it is paramount. I should have enough Ki to pull it off, but knowing Kaede Sensei...I have a feeling there might be a catch to this...” As she walks along the path the youth once again recalls more memories of training, however, this one came about a short time after her mother was deceased after she had been taken to the Cup City orphanage as a young girl and began to practice on her own.
A young Asuka can be seen with a scroll keeping to herself beneath a tree while the other kids played on the playground behind her. “One must focus their Ki through their fingertips from both hands doing so will create a...massive...what…?” Asuka rolls up the scroll and sets it down behind her. “I think I get it…” Asuka then assumes a stance and places her hands by her side. “Just like the scroll thingy says stand with legs apart and your hands by your tummy.” Asuka shuts her eyes and enters the Shouten state however in doing so creates a ripple causes the wind to whip the grass. “Okey doke…” Asuka then places her hands by her side where electricity would pulse from her fingers and soon a small orb would form. “I think it's working…” However, she then takes a step back and trips on her scroll with the mass of ki she created being flung through the air as her arms flew up into the air and she landed on her back. Asuka watched as it was launched into air. “Did I do it?” Suddenly it fizzled out as it peaked in the sky. Asuka then became disheartened. “Aww...man...with Mommy here...I'll never…” “BOOOOM!” goes the orb of ki as an explosion rang out. The detonation enough to shake the very air around her. The students can be heard cheering out in the distance however suddenly a siren goes off and everyone is ferried inside by the caregivers of the orphanage. Asuka stands up marveled by her potential. “Whoa…” she says. “Asuka get down here now!” calls out a caregiver. After sometime she comes up the hill, an older red-haired woman, slender build in her late 20's early 30's. she spots Asuka training and notices her on the ground. “What..." She then notices a scroll beside Asuka and begins to chastise the young child. "Asuka Atsuki, what did we tell you about using Ki! Martial arts practice is fine but no using ki on the playground...what if someone had gotten hurt!? Come along...I think you need a little time in the corner.” Asuka then picks up her scroll and cradles the small artifact in her small bandage wrapped clutches. “Okay…” she replies as she marches down the hill, looking up at the plume of smoke and feeling a small sense of pride as she smiles at her handiwork.
Since then Asuka continued to practice the Tetsu-ha truly making it her own, and from that moment on realized that she can still be great even without a teacher. Which in turn shaped her into a much more independent person.
As Asuka comes upon the end of the tomb she sees a simple wall, Asuka seems confused as to what it’s purpose is…”It’s just a wall...but what’s the trail?” Asuka said seemingly perplexed by the next steps of the trail awaiting the presence of the Second Tetsukami for guidance.
(WC: 880)
(TWC: 13,839)
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 21:35:54 GMT -5
Kaede Sensei grinned a spectral grin. "It is no wall, Asuka." She said simply, before vanishing into a wall, leaving the girl to her puzzle. Slowly the 'simple' wall began to unfurl, uncoiling around as it revealing its true form. The third golem was the wall, or rather, the wall was a golem. Its body was long and serpentine, fashioned from hundreds of interlocking stone and metal bricks. It shook itself loose, dust and soot falling off its aged form as it turned its head to glare at the intruder in its lair. It had the second Tetsukami's face, as did the others. But this one sported long fangs, a forked steel tongue, and snake-like eyes. It let out a horrid metallic hiss, like nails on a chalkboard. On its chest glowed a white gem, an orb that stood perfectly in the center of its upper body, pulsing with shoten ki like the beating heart of a beast. The serpentine golem began to scurry off, propelled by four sets of armored limbs. It moved quickly, seemingly between surfaces as it traversed on clawed feet. Winding its way into the darkness of the maze, the rhythmic pattern of its feet as they marched the only indication of where it had traveled. The third golem was the most insidious killer of them all. It lacked strength, it lacked power, it had only speed and agility. The third golem did not win by beating students in a battle of might. It did not win with an arena and deadly traps. It won by persisting, without defeating it by striking its energy gem on its chest the student could never continue on. However, the golem had simple goal, survive. It would go to any lengths to do so. It knew the maze like the backside of its mechanical limbs. Every corner, every passageway, a flawless mental map existing within its clockwork brain. Time was most insidious killer, and the golem had endless time on its side. It needed only to run, to hide, until its foe was too exhausted to chase it further. Keep moving, keep running, never stopping until they simply begged the Tetsukami to relinquish her trials and send them defeat back to the temple above. The third golem prayed on the strengths of the second. Exhausted students that could barely fight, forced to chase an insidious foe who's only purpose was to exhaust them further until they simply submitted. It needed to be beaten quickly, decisively. Tracked and outsmarted, felled by a deciding blow to the chest. The golem was far from perfect, though its vision was the keenest of any it still relied entirely on sight and sound. Depriving it of those senses, or avoiding them entirely would leave it confused, unsure of itself. It could also be herded, driven into areas of the maze that suited its pursuers. The very environment of its home used against it. Whatever the course of action, it was cleverness and decisive action that this golem tested. Working under the tiring conditions of stress and fatigue, forcing a plan and then executing it quickly before the pupil was too tired to continue. The mind was the greatest weapon of Tetsudo, at least under the Second Tetsukami's tenure, and her final challenge was a test for mind and spirit of her student. Which would triumph, focused intellect and sheer willpower or an aching body and a failing stamina? That answer, was for Asuki to uncover herself.
Post Count: 14 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 9, 2018 14:04:16 GMT -5
Asuka overhearing the voice of the 2nd Tetsukami feels the ground rumble and witnesses as the wall collapses and morphs itself into the massive serpent. Taken aback by the transformation. into a giant golem. “What is that!?” she cries out as the serpent begins to slither about in the darkness. Asuka keeps herself composed and watches it crawl around her taking note of the glowing mark on its back. “There it is now to formulate a pl--” “CRRRCCKKK” went the gears of the snake as it lifted its large head sneaks behind Asuka in an attempt to swallow her whole. Asuka vanishes out of the way and appears in a nearby pillar hanging from a crack within the structure. ”It's fast but I get the feeling it's just as blind as me right now.” Asuka looks to its white glowing eyes realizing it too is drawing on the same well of Ki as herself. “So it can use the Shouten state too...Maybe if I suppress my Ki I can catch it off guard.” The glow in Asuka's eyes fade. “if my hunch is right then that must be how its detecting me.”
“I'll have to stall for time. By then the medicine can do its thing.” Asuka watches the Snake slither along tracking the glow in its eyes to follow its movements, Its eyes darting up at her “I don't think it can see me.” she thinks to herself. The Snake holds its gaze on her for a short moment, looking at her while Asuka remains motionless.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Only to continue about it path slithering past her. “Okay then...now All I have to do is wait…” As Asuka meditates on the ledge. The snake coils into itself to rest. Asuka looks down at it. “Man...look at it...even up here it looks menacing.” however as the snake rested its ki began to swell. “What's it doing…?” Just then a white ki pulse coats the room. As the shockwave passes by her she is overwhelmed by a sharp pain and is suddenly forced into the shouten state as a result. It was a ruse the Snake deliberately forced open the Ki points in Asuka's body using said shockwave forcing her to dispel some of her energy. Now with its adversary exposed the snake leaps toward her with its jaw wide open clamping down on the pillar, she stood from. Thankfully Asuka was able to dodge out of the way. Yet just as her feet touched the floor the crafty creature itself revealed yet another trick as it too was able to utilize many Shouten techniques and could perform the vanishing technique just as she could. Seizing its chance to coil itself up and envelop her in its grip once it drew close enough, Its mechanical parts whirring and grinding about inside of its metal structure practically crushing the poor girl. The youth could barely breathe and used small pulses of ki to keep it from causing any lasting damage but this proved futile. “Hggck...” As she looked up to see its menacing head staring her in the face. Her vision began to blur and nearly fade as she gasped for air As it attempted to swallow her whole. Her eyes shut. However, just then she began to feel her heartbeat accelerate...the medicine…!
“...”
“...”
“...”
Suddenly Asuka felt a surge of Ki overwhelm her eyes reopened emblazoned with the power of the Shouten Hado.
With Time now slowed for a few seconds Asuka executes her vanishing technique, Causing the snake to clamp down on its own body. Sparks began to fly as it's bronze shell burst open and its mechanical interior was exposed. Asuka who reappears in mid-air seizes her opportunity and places her hands by her sides and reciting a mental incantation in her head. “Shouten…” as she recited these words she placed her hands by her side and a massive sphere of Ki began to form as the serpent struggled to free itself. “Ha…” the mass of energy began to increase in size increasing in mass almost instantly. As the serpent frees itself from its trappings the beast drawn to Asuka's ki, lifts its head up and opens its jaw as it attempts to extend its head to rip her in half within its fangs.
However, just in the nick of time Asuka finishes her incantation with the silver mass now at its peak form with electricity crackling around it “Kogeki!” With haste, she then fires it forward straight into the mouth of the beast traveling into its throat bursting out the back of its head where it would collide with the floor and detonate upon striking the floor. Shattering the creature in the ensuing explosion leaving bronze debris strewn across the floor with the light from the creature's underbelly fading.
With that the creature was defeated and light returned to the room once more Asuka relieved would then land on the ground, bending over slightly to take a seat the worst was over but she would surely need a moment to recuperate. “Oh man...that sucked but...I think the medicine might be kicking in, without it that last surge would've killed me…” As she lifted her head up she would hear the gears break open as the tomb door would begin to rise. She looked to it watching as the door would open up, revealing the many secrets of the 2nd Tetsukami.
(WC: 905)
(TWC: 14,744)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 0:43:00 GMT -5
As the serpent golem wheezed its last, Kaede Nakamura's spirit once more emerged to float besides Asuka. She clapped her spectral hands eagerly, practically bouncing on her heels in eager pride. No longer attempting to conceal her face with her bansho fan, the woman displays a look of pure elation. "Well done, well done Asuka!" The Tetsukami says excitedly, smiling ear to ear as she looks down at her exhausted pupil. Around them the stone and steel walls of the Halls of Wisdom begin to retract and collapse back down, leaving the cavernous chamber surprisingly barren. Small repair golems, scarab styled ones like those early begin examining the slain juggernaut, probing it with small pincers and picking up bits of scrap metal to ferry away for repairs. The ghostly woman paid them no mind, her creations continued to perform their tasks admirably even decades after her death. The Tetsukami spoke again, her initial delight fading as she shifted back into her stern, teacher-like tone of voice. "That was truly an impressive display though my student. You demonstrated great reflexes, incredible feats of stamina, unyielding willpower, perseverance, mastery of the Shouten Ha Kogeki, and above all else, exceptionally quick thinking. Truly you are all that I strive to see my students embody from our order." As Kaede Sensei spoke the great doors of her tomb slowly ground open, revealing the riches beyond. "Come Asuka, once you have rested. My tomb awaits."
Behind the duo indeed lied her tomb. Within lie the treasures and relics of a long lived life as both a seasoned witch and a deadly martial artist. Much like Koh Tetsu, Kaede Nakamura's many ceremonial robes, martial arts gis, and of course her Tetsukami's robes proudly graced her tomb. Her mummified body lied entombed in a sarcophagus of black marble in the center. On the far wall was a kind of alter of sorts, dedicated to her life of mysticism and the arcane. Her many magical relics were kept there, from simple trinkets like wands and crystal balls to ancient spell books and grimoires passed down to her by her full blooded witch mother. It is a much more lavishly adorned tomb than that of the First Tetsukami's. Kaede was never one to shy away from the extravagant, and believed that a certain amount of bravado was needed in the leader of their storied order. It reflected in her tomb, which was more a museum in celebration of her life than a crypt of her death. Around the sarcophagus were a great number of photographs of Kaede Nakamura throughout her life. Pictures of her in her youth, wearing her then oversized witch hat as her mother chuckled. She and her parents standing before the gates of the temple, a much younger Koh Tetsu looking boisterous as ever behind them. Her father holding her up on his shoulders as she passed her graduation exams, and finally her bowing before Koh Tetsu as she accepted the mantle of Tetsukami. It was all rather touching, and the ghost would have shed a tear in sight of her own nostalgiac photographs, but alas she lost the ability to cry when she became a ghost. Asuka's mother was even in one photo, challenging Noh Ogata to a fearsome spar in the temple courtyard as hundreds gathered to watch. Scrolls lined the tomb at regular intervals, and Kaede motioned to them after she snapped back from her brief trip down memory lane. "I took to my writings as Tetsukami more than my sensei did. There are a great number of my written works preserved in here. You are welcome to take as many as you'd like, provided you make a copy and leave the original. They contain the full body of my works. My research into ki, the Shouten state, our numerous signature techniques, and even a few of my own pet projects I did not formally introduce until my later years. The wealths of my knowledge are yours to do with as you please Asuka Atsuki. You have earned that right."
Post Count: 15 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 16, 2018 13:20:49 GMT -5
With the sounds of gears clinking together from the slow reveal of the door, The youth lifted her body off of the floor and as she looked inside at the machines throughout the halls she was awestruck never before had she seen anything like and she was rather curious as to how they functioned. “So this is where they’re created.” she says as she watches the many golems she destroyed being rebuilt from the ground up. “What keeps them alive, Kaede sensei?” Asuka asks as she watches them being rebuilt. “Have you just been routing them with Ki all this time?” continuing along she sees the entrance to her tomb seeing all of the splendor of the 2nd Tetsukami’s lifetime. Many of these things Asuka herself was quite familiar with, given how much her mother’s teachings were inspired by her studies with the second Tetsukami. “So...since I’m here I should take this opportunity to transcribe any of these scrolls, I’ve seen most of them except...this one?”
Asuka turns her attention to a chart in the corner of the room detailing the stages of the Shouten state outlined by a diagram of the human body. The scroll itself still in decent condition save for some dust.
“So this is your dissertation on the Shouten State.”
Asuka enters the shouten state she reads over the text in the scroll.
Based on what I was able to gather from master Tetsu’s original theory on the Shouten state, I Kaede Nakamura have concluded that the Shouten state that even if one cannot fully master it there is, in fact, a way to control it even if for a brief period, I will begin by outlining the fundamentals of the Shouten state and then going into further detail later on.
To start when a disciple of Tetsudo style Martial arts is first brought into the order they must have their latent Ki unlocked via the activation of Channeling point or “Shouten” in the back of their head. Upon doing so the disciple is then thrust into a state of immense power, with all of their ki now focused throughout their body thus augmenting their strength and speed. However, due to the sudden shift in power, their body will be unable to control it and so that ki is then sealed behind a set of bandages wrapped around the arms and legs which holds this power in place and allows them to access it albeit in small amounts. Master Tetsu put this formula in place in order to keep up from being overwhelmed by our own power as well as a means of keeping us from harming others.
However, in my lifetime, I discovered that when faced with an extremely stressful situation it is possible to control the remaining energy even if only for a moment. For when our body is placed under extreme stress our natural reserves of ki become amplified due to our bodies production of adrenaline. This form this surge, is what is known as the Shouten Hado or the “Surge of Focus.” a brief moment of power where all of the potential accessible in one’s body can be fully controlled but only for a brief period of time temporarily bypassing the seals of the Shoten bandages, I’m certain that Master Tetsu has experienced this as well but perhaps was not able to fully understand it, his specialty was more so the release of powerful energy rather than finite control witch, in essence, is far more difficult to do, since holding too much ki can be just as damaging as releasing too much of it.
So far I’m only able to access it for a brief period with the longest I’ve been able to control it ranging on a few hours, though it is taxing and has undoubtedly shortened my lifespan, I feel it’s usefulness can be quite plentiful. However even I with my bountiful discoveries in the Tetsudo arts have still yet to master the Shouten state to the point where I no longer have a need to utilize my shouten bandages. It is my hope that one day some brave disciple of our order can find my work and use it to further our understanding of Ki.”
“Wow! so this is how it works. Master Tetsu had only scratched the surface of what was possible. But you literally gave your lives in order to push the limits of what earthlings are capable of.” After finishing her transcription, she then looks around and finds a photograph of her mother when she was younger…”Is this…” Asuka takes a moment and her face begins to wrinkle as her lip begins to furrow into a frown. “Mom.” Asuka becomes a tad choked up, letting out a few tears upon finding the picture of her mother “You know, Lady Kaede, when my mother was raising me back on our old home whenever she would grieve my father’s death she had told me all the time how she wished you were still alive, How she wished you could be there to guide her she wanted you to be there in case anything happened to me...she said that next to my dad there would’ve been no one better to raise me than you...” Asuka begins to weep softly wiping her eyes in her forearm “I wish she was still here...I miss her every day...I wish I had never had to stay in that orphanage...I...I...” Asuka suddenly begins to feel her power surge around her as the combination of her emotions swells within her, her ki set to explode as the stress of the situation sets in. However, Asuka manages to restrain herself and calmly sets the frame down she then looks up at the tomb of the 2nd Tetsukami. “So do you have anything else for me Kaede Sensei?” she says as she looks to the specter.
(WC: 1002)
(WCT: 15,776)
@amatricina
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2018 18:52:22 GMT -5
The female Tetsukami's spirit just crossed her arms and laughed a lighthearted chuckle at her student's question. "Oh no, Asuka, that would be impossible. The dead can't use ki, not unless King Yama grants us our bodies back. My golems exist on a combination of Shoten ki they leech from the students they face and magics I and my mother imbued them with while we were alive. I know it is impressive, but they will not last forever. Someday they will sputter their last, I only hope by then one of the Tetsukami has created something even more ingenious to replace them." The spectre smiled brightly, flashing her bansho fan and once more using it to shield the view of her delighted expression. With the trial done she had returned to her normal nature it would seem. The ghost's eyes practically lit up when young Asuka's gaze fixated on that one particular scroll. "Indeed you should... and indeed that is. It is the culmination of decades of careful research, intense training, and extreme discipline. Not just my own, dozens of our order poured their life's efforts into the brief slivers of knowledge that grace that parchment. Sharing it with the next generation of our order is the least I can do to repay such selfless efforts by my peers." This was the teacher in Kaede Sensei speaking again, everything was a lesson to her. No one thing happened without becoming an opportunity to impart some of her vast wisdom on her pupil. She nodded along in agreement as Asuka relayed what she had discovered in the scroll. "Mmhmmm... That is correct, I knew you were a bright young woman. Just like your mother. Koh Sensei was a brilliant man, but he began his journey of self discovery too late into his life to ever scratch more than just the surface. He laid the foundations of our order, just like he laid the brickwork of this temple. Just as we must fill the temple with scrolls, we must fill ourselves with their knowledge first. Each Tetsukami's great purpose is to expand on the teachings of their predecessor, pushing the limits of our knowledge and our abilities ever further forward. That is the true meaning of what it is to be a martial artist." The spectre's words beamed with pride and purpose, even in death she was resolute on her goals. Nothing could steal away the fire in the Second Tetsukami's heart, not even the cold hand of death. The ghost of the Tetsukami watched with heavy heart as her pupil looked at the picture of her mother. It was always sad to see another grieve the loss of their parents. She tried to place a hand on the girl's slim shoulder, but it phased through her body. Kaede briefly cursed her own incorporeal form, before trying to look stoic and resolute for her student. "It is, Asuka. Your mother was perhaps my favorite pupil. I look back on our memories fondly. It fills me with pride to hear that she should that of me. I would have been to your a grandmother worthy of recognition. But, fate dealt us a different hand. No one can change the past, not even the Gods in Other World. Your eyes must gave forward, lest they become lost in the past." The spirit drifted in front of Asuka, getting on her hands and knees to face her at eye level. "I wish I had more for you child, truly I do. But I am little more than a phantom. My ki, my magic, everything is lost to me but my words and my wisdom. I have shared with you all I can. All I can do now is give you my blessings, and point you towards your next trial." She sighed, looking wistfully at her student. "I would hug you if I could. I can feel how much you need it now. Know that when my spirit departs again, I will seek out your mother among the spirits in Heaven. I will tell her of everything I've seen today. And I will smile back as her face lights up with pride. That is the last gift I can offer you."With her message complete the energy that briefly bound the spirit of the Tetsukami to this world began to fade. Her ghostly body grew ever more transparent. Kaede Nakamura slowly rose to her feet, and by the time she stood upright she had all but vanished. With one last flick of the wrist she folded shut her bansho fan. And with that she was truly gone. Leaving Asuka alone in her tomb, with only the woman's worldly possessions and the door to the Third Tetsukami's chambers before her.
Post Count: 16 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 22, 2018 15:34:44 GMT -5
“Thank you, Okāsan .” Asuka said taking the 2nd Tetsukami's words to heart placing her hand on her sarcophagus and silently mourning her death, as the tomb creaked open leading her down a new pathway. “So the third Tetsukami.”Thought Asuka her heart racing in anticipation and slight worry for what she may have been about to face next. However, as she made her way down the torch lit hallway she overhears something a voice calm and reassuring. “So I see you're about to take on my trail…” Asuka stops and looks about seeing nothing before her when suddenly in a flash a man in a tattered gi much like her own appeared before her. “You’re the third Tetsukami Noh Ogata…?” “That's right Tetsukami Noh Ogata at your service.” Asuka seemed a bit caught off guard by how informal he was. “The wild card of Tetsudo style martial arts, himself. Your work taught us all about the different forms of defensive application and it was said you were one of the most indomitable of the 4 Tetsukami. I’ve mastered all of your techniques, it’s application is a cornerstone in my fighting style!” The third Tetsukami placed a hand on his head. “You Flatter me...and what is your name...” “Asuka, Atsuki Asuka.” the youth says as she bows to her sensei. The third Tetsukami hearing her name thought to himself. “Atsuki, she couldn’t be…” her surname bringing back old memories he'd rather not remember. “My pleasure, Always good to know that I inspire the students of our order. But as you know defense was my specialty and my trail won't be easy so I think it's only fair that I give you a warning. In my time I was a medical doctor in the Earth Military, and after my discharge found myself without a home and nowhere to turn. After falling ill, due to my horrendous living conditions on account of my poverty. I was found on a roadside by a woman who nursed me back to health when I told her of my plight she brought me to this ve temple and upon joining the order I never looked back.” He says. Asuka's eyes light up. “My word Noh Sensei, so the order literally saved your life." Asuka says in awe of his story. "And in turn, I gave it everything I had, and when that woman died, I felt she needed to be properly buried, and so I took upon myself to personally see to the fair treatment of the dead and made sure that all members of the order have their bodies preserved, so that they may travel with them to the other world. It is such a shame that her death was mine to blame. But that's in the past and this is the present." He then quickly and casually shifted his tone as if nothing had happened. "I hope you're ready for my challenge, disciple." "I’m not afraid Noh sensei!” Asuka says enthusiastically “Glad to see you're eager that's the spirit. Let’s hope you're familiar with my protective mummification technique, otherwise, you won’t get far.” Asuka nods. “Yes Noh sensei. I had to learn on my own, but I’m very well versed in it, it application is quite useful in defensive situations.” “Excellent, I expect you to put my techniques to good use and try not t overdo it, alright? Best of luck.” His ghost fades into the shadows. In that very instant Asuka continues forward, feeling a sense of calm. After all Asuka was quite adept in the teachings of the third, and thought he was called a “Wild Card.” Asuka left feeling a sense of calm. Yet upon arriving at the entrance to his death chambers and the door had opened up the youth was greeted to a horrific visage. The room smelled of blood, and a potent odor of rotting flesh. With marks of dried blood scarring the floors. It was in this moment that Asuka understood where that reputation had come from. Asuka's heart began to race as the tomb door shut behind her. An overwhelming sense of dread began to creep up on the youth like something could sneak up on her at any moment. But Asuka stowed her fear and entered the Shouten state. “Now then as I said my trail will consist of a series of tests that will force use to utilize techniques from my arsenal in order to complete them, make your decisions carefully.” Ogata continued to speak with his calm tone, but it also carried a distinct lack of emotion very matter of fact and direct. Asuka who stops to listen takes this in and proceeds forward, but as she takes her first step forward her foot pushes down on a panel in the ground and suddenly. A series of spikes jut out from the walls in an effort to impale her. Thinking quickly Asuka encases herself in a cocoon of bandages in order to prevent the spikes from piercing her flesh her entire body from head to toe covered in wrappings with the only visible sight being her glowing white eyes in the darkness. After a moment the spikes retract back into the orifices from which they left. “Expert application of the Protective mummification technique, Carry on. As you progress further you’ll encounter more of these.” says the third Tetsukami as he watches on. “Now I see why he garnered such a reputation. Noh Sensei...is as unpredictable as they come.” Asuka thinks to herself. “Auuughhh!” cries out a voice. Asuka’s eyes widen and then after a moment an appendage can be seen landing before her, an arm severed and skewered by two of the same spiked rods that she had just successfully protected herself from. “What the...is someone else here...Okasan did mention another disciple...by the Kai...” As Asuka presses forward in an effort to figure out where the injured disciple was she can hear the sounds of grunting, coming from deeper in the tomb with a fresh trail of blood beneath her no doubt belonging to the now disabled disciple. As she entered into the next room yet another disturbing site awaits her as a young man in a uniform similar to hers can be seen on the floor writing in agonizing pain, a bloody mess of vessels and shredded cloth now hang in place of an arm, the young man now laying unconscious on the floor “By the kai…” Asuka takes another step in an effort to try and aid him...racing toward him and kneeling beside him. After a moment, The ghost of the third Tetsukami entered the room his arms crossed “Not sure why you’re wasting your time...leave him be. You don’t need him to face your trails, the door to the next tomb will close soon, and you’ll have to re-do this trail if you don’t move.” Asuka looks up at the specter who nows stands before her. “Noh Sensei...I can’t just leave him here…!” she protests placing her hand on his neck to find his pulse. “He’ll die.” “And what’s wrong with that? There’s nothing wrong with failure, He’s a fine martial artist. And if he dies then, that’s just an unfortunate casualty. And tell me what sense does it make for you to remain here and die with him. Sounds like a waste of time to me. In my time while I was alive, I never stomached anyone who was unable to to aid me or acted as a hindrance,” Ogata spoke with a very casual tone, speaking with a calm demeanor but careful to show actual emotion towards the two in anyway. “He’s in no condition to be left alone.” she says the blood from his wound dripping out onto the ground.” Asuka gently sets him down and removes her tattered gi placing it beneath his head in order to comfort him. “I’ve watched this young man very closely, I assure you he will be fine, I won’t stop you from tending to him, thought personally I find it to be an unwise decision. You children are too soft.” The specter then vanishes to observe from afar.
After thinking it over, Asuka continued to aid in Yuujin’s recovery remain behind to help feeling as though she couldn’t simply abandon him.
Asuka removes the small vail of her Niko Extract potion, and pulls his chin down in order to open up his mouth, pouring the remaining liquid down his throat, his body would glow for a brief moment and she would then place her hand on his chest in order to expedite the process “That should ease the pain.” Asuka says. His wound would then begin to slowly heal itself however, unfortunately, his arm would only heal the skin leaving him without his right arm. “There…now he just needs to rest.” Asuka sat over him waiting for him to awaken once the potion had taken it's full effect.
@amatricina WC: 1521 TWC: 17,297
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2018 17:13:24 GMT -5
Yuujin had always considered himself talented. Things came easily to the young man, as he displayed a natural mastery of almost any task at hand, training only furthering his skills with time. At least, that is what he once believed. Now though... now he had been humbled. Yuujin had studied under a group of Tetsudo martial artists living in a small mountain village deep in the northern mountains. They protected their rural home fiercely from bandits, brigands, and natural disasters while doing their best to preserve their ancient martial arts in spite of the loss of their temple. Against the advice of his elders, Yuujin had been adamant he was a true Tetsudo master, and wished to prove himself as his forebears did, but completing the Trials of the Tetsukami. With a rucksack of supplies and spirits held high, he'd set off in pursuit of his dreams. Finding the temple hadn't been hard, neither had opening it with his signature Seeking Tetsu-Ha technique. The trials of the First Tetsukami had proven a good warm up, and the trials of the Second proved him in battle. Tired and near exhausted though, Yuujin had forced himself forward even as he ran on fumes. Something about the Third though, this Noh Ogata, it had not sat well with him. He brushed it off as doubt, before entering the Tetsukami's trial. He hadn't made it far, falling for one of the devilish traps lying in wait in this gallery of gore. The pain in his arm was absolute, so bad the warrior blacked out, collapsing onto the ground in a heap. His mind racing even as his body went limp, would he simply die, lost and forgotten in this tomb. All these years of training, all these goals and dreams... just taken from him by one careless mistake? He'd weep, if he could open his eyes to do so. The next thing Yuujin knew, he felt something. Something cool and refreshing on his lips. Niko Extract had an incredibly bitter aftertaste, but in that moment it tasted sweeter than the finest sugar. Yuujin felt some of his strength returned, and coughed up a fit of blood from his mouth. His arm instinctively shot to his damaged stub, causing him to scream in pain as he touched raw damaged nerves. He raised his good hand to his bleary eyes, seeing it slick with blood. "My blood..." He thought to himself, feeling the warm glow of the extract potion flooding through him as it began to mend his damaged flesh. Wounds closing shut, skin regrowing and blood vessels closing off to stem the bleeding. It felt like his arm was on fire, but it felt far better than moments before. He looked up to see his savior, greeted by the warm smile of an angel. Yuujin shook his head, his vision clearing as the room came back into focus. What he saw was a young woman, about his age. Lithe and beautiful, but looking little better off than he was. Her hair was a disheveled mess, gi tattered by the signs of battle. She was battered, with bruises and cuts from her earlier trials. Yuujin laughed, but stopped and clutched his chest as he was still wracked with pain, the potion's effect not yet complete. "You saved me." He whispered, his lips cracked and his voice hoarse. "I... I'm Yuujin. I came here... Agh... to prove my worth as a Tetsudo master." He grimaced through the pain, lifting himself with his good arm to sit upright. "But I failed... My arm... Go on without me, I'm dead weight to you." Yuujin turned to avoid his gaze, his hand moving to touch the healed stub of his arm. "I'm no good to you like this, I'll only keep you from completing the trials too."
Post Count: 17 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 24, 2018 19:54:35 GMT -5
As the wounded youth’s eyes flutter open, Asuka smiles with relief and delight as he regains consciousness. “You’re awake, how are you feeling?” Asuka watches as Yuujin weakly lifts himself off of the ground, leaning over to help him remain steady “Easy…” While he was unconscious, Asuka managed to clean the blood off of his face and clean him up after sprucing him with water from a gourd she found on the ground near his body. She worked hard to make sure he was safe as wasn't leaving without him, it was simply the right thing to do in her eyes. “Well, Yuujin, I'’m not leaving you here. We’ll face this together, are you well? I hope you don't mind but I used some of your water, I needed it to clean the blood off of your face.here. I’m Asuka by the way.” Asuka returns the gourd to Yuujin and places it in his lap. She then slides her hand around his back and grabs her gi, she then looks to it, seeing it stained with blood from the floor and wraps back around her waist where it belongs. “Man I’m not sure where I’m going to get another one of these.” She says with a laugh. She then looks to Yuujin. “I’m sorry about your arm, I wish I could’ve done more, but Niko Extract has it’s limitations, judging by that look on your face, I’m guessing you’ve tried it before.” She attempted to make a joke but wasn't entirely sure if she'd picked the best time to lighten the mood given their situation. "Anyway...the doors to the tomb have closed shut. We'll have to reactivate the traps in order to get out. Whenever you're ready we can begin. Do you remember how you started it?" Asuka looked to her wounded companion awaiting a response.
@amatricina
WC: 320
WCT: 17,617
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2018 23:23:27 GMT -5
Yuujin raised his good hand, rubbing at his forehead. "Like hell." He replied simply, still piecing together everything that had just happened. It was all so much, happening so fast. One moment he's confident he can overcome the Third Tetsukami's trial, the next he's doubled over in pain clutching his missing arm. Now he was here, being rescued by the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid eyes on. Once he realized the severity of what the woman was saying, Yuujin immediately became defensive. "No! You should leave me." He let out a wince from the lingering pain, gritting his teeth through it. "I'm doing better than I was a minute ago." He admitted with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. His eyes gazed down to the blood soaked puddle of water at his side, how much blood had he lost? "Yeah... it's fine, I didn't need the water anyways." The young man admitted, retrieving the gourd and tucking it back into his belt. "Asuka..." He repeatedly, slightly star struck as their eyes briefly met. He glanced away, inspecting the stub of his own missing arm as he grimaced. "Thank you... for saving me. Even if you shouldn't have." He let out a sigh, touching the end of his stub with his good hand. He could still practically feel the fingers he now longer possessed. "Don't be sorry about my arm. You did all you could. And yeah, I've had Niko Extract before, can't say I like the taste." Yuujin cracked the faintest smile, his eyes returning to match Asuka's gaze. The man slowly pulled himself to his feet, brushing himself off. He looked around the dimly lit tomb, back to the doors as Asuka mentioned they'd sealed shit. "I can't say I exactly want to reactivate the traps. But if it's the only way out... I guess its our only option." The crippled warrior pointed with his good hand to a large kanji embossed on the floor. "That. That seal activates the traps. Hit it with enough shouten state ki and its like the on switch to this whole nightmare factory. I'm... still a bit drained. Do you think you could give me a hand?" Yuujin winced, realizing the magnitude of his unintended pun. He took Asuka's hand in his own, focusing his energy as his eyes began to shift briefly back into the shouten state. "On three..." He said simply, transfering what little strength he could muster into Asuka. "One... Two... THREE!"
Post Count: 18 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 25, 2018 2:08:42 GMT -5
Asuka watched as Yuujin gathered himself she noticed how he rubbed his forehead and protested “I told you I’m not leaving you here.” She reiterated, once he had calmed and gave a more honest if not sarcastic reply she felt a degree of relief and watched as he stood up.
She took a moment to observe his movements, making sure he was okay and then began inspecting the room looking for something that might lead to a way out. Once he had mentioned a magnet Asuka looked to the center of the room and nodded in affirmation as he gave the order.
And upon hearing Yuujin’s signal she, hits the magnet with her foot, immediately causing a slew of rods to fire out at the duo Asuka deflects them away as quickly as she can her arms, crushing them into pieces as she deflects each metal beam as it comes her way. However, during the flurry, she loses her focus and as one closes in on her Asuka loses her footing putting herself right in the line of fire of one of the beams. But just as she falters Yuujin enters the fray rapidly encasing his body in bandages which then violently spin and swirl creating a swirl of white bandages creating the illusion of a white sphere from the outside. How inside Asuka stands in the dark with the only visible light coming from Yuujin’s white eyes she looks around in the dark and suddenly the bandages fade away, and Yuujin stands before her, panting as he finishes the technique. “What was that I’ve never seen the Protective Mummification technique used like that before?” Yuujin then stands before with his back turned towards the girl, he glances back at her briefly and then begins walking forward his attitude slightly changed this time they carrying a slightly more serious business-like demeanor, which left Asuka in awe. However she then overheard the sounds of the door closing down and remembered where she was. “The door, C’mon let’s move!” The duo then rush towards the exit managing to narrowly make it out before it shuts.
But rather than coming upon another dungeon they instead come across a torchlit hallway filled with moss creaking up from the dilapidated masonry on the ground, that appears to have been irreparably damaged over tim, the third then makes his presence known yet again, speaking to the two warriors from a distance.
“Remarkable, doing such an advanced variation of the protective mummification technique to encase one’s entire body with only one arm is rather exhausting, still being able to stand after that either is fairly impressive that medicine he was given must've been some sort of a miracle cure. Same goes for you Asuka, had you just been a bit more cautious you would’ve been fine but to have done that well alone is quite the feat. I wish you luck in the next phase. But be warned it isn't easy, but I have faith in you.”
As his voice fades Asuka places her hands on her hips.
"Noh-sensei is definitely...different from the other Tetsukami?" Asuka then remembers the words of the second Tetsukami, informing her of Yuujin's disrespect. "Wait it was you!? You were the one who disrespected Kaede sensei, weren't you!" Asuka then goes into a full on tirade. "I suppose you gave him the cold shoulder as well?"Asuka says scolding him mildly, as she remembers how the second Tetsukami had told her of his rudeness. But even though she was slightly upset he did just save her life and realized that her anger was misplaced. she owed him thanks to her thanks and an apology. “I'm sorry...I...umm...Thank you for saving me...I appreciate it, I just have a very close familial tie to the Second Tetsukami...” Asuka says looking to Yuujin her gaze meeting his, she then attempts to lighten the mood yet again. “Umm...That was one impressive technique you did earlier, the protective mummification barrier was it? Mind telling me how you did it. I've never seen it used like that before.” Asuka kept from looking at him out of embarrassment but before he could answer something caught the young man's eye up ahead. "Hey wait up...what did you see, was it something I said!" Asuka says as he marches off and she attempts to catch up to him. "I said I was sorry, I thought we were supposed to be a team!?" she called out trying to keep up with him, however, despite her protests, Yuujin carried on remaining ever so focused, which wasn't such a bad idea given the third Tetsukami reputation up to this point.
At the end of the hallway, he would find a suspicious Lever, above it a stone door with the usual Tetsudo Kanji, if used stones would drop from the opening above, and whoever stood beneath it would surely be crushed if they opened the door while directly pulling the lever from beneath it. However, this was only the beginning. Should the students find the way to open the door the right way they will be faced with the next task of traverse upwards into the chasm using their Shouten Bandages to ascend upwards towards the next phase of the temple.
@amatricina
WC: 890
TWC: 18,507
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2018 14:31:18 GMT -5
"Yeah I know you aren't..." Yuuijin replied in an equally sarcastic, if not honest tone. He'd reluctantly accepted that his rescuer had no intention of leaving him to die so he wouldn't weight her down. If Asuka wouldn't leave him to die, then he'd have to do everything in his power to make sure he didn't slow her down. He hardened his focus, steeling his resolve the return the favor the young woman had done for him. Like a whirling top the crippled warrior deftly deflected the incoming missiles with his well honed Protective Mummification Sphere. When the technique dissipates though he's left visibly wounded, grasping at the shoulder of his crippled arm. "Damn... that took more out of me than I thought." He admitted, more to himself than to Asuka. With his injuries Yuujin was becoming acutely more aware of his physical limitations. He couldn't afford many more techniques like that or he'd be completely drained on ki. "I'm fine though, still plenty of fight left in me." He lied to Asuka and himself, looking up to the large doorway as it slowly ground shut. On Asuka's command Yuujin chased after her, leaping and bounding through the trap filled corridor running on pure adrenaline and iron resolve alone. He slid like a baseball player diving for home as he lagged behind his less injured comrade, barely making it through as the great metal door slammed shut. "Too close..." He whispered under his breath, panting as he caught his breath. Mercifully the room before them seemed absent the haunting displays of core. Dim torchlight and dilapidated masonry greeting the duo instead. "Well..." Yuujin stated grimly. "It can't possibly get any worse, right?" It indeed did, as Noh Sensei appeared, only to offer false congratulations and warn the pair of greater dangers they'd soon face ahead. He silently cursed under his breath, rising back to his feet and dusting his gi off from his sliding dash. "Some help you are." He mumbled to the Tetsukami as the spectre disappeared. He didn't know if Noh Sensei had heard him, and he didn't care. He felt better just saying it. "Yeah, he's a real piece of work." Yuujin said like a smart ass, agreeing with Asuka's comment on their 'mentor's' spirit. He grimaced, practically snarling out his reply. "Yeah, and so what if I did? Was giving a ghost the cold shoulder really worth LOSING MY ARM!?" With that outburst Yuujin turns to avert his gaze, sulking as he reminded himself again of his injury. "Yeah... I was just repaying the favor. You saved me, I wasn't just gonna sit around and watch you die. I'm Tetsudo too, our order has to stick together." In spite of his words, Yuujin marched on ahead grimly. He was in little mood to talk, not after everything that had happened so quickly. "That technique? I call it my Protective Mummification Sphere, it's my own special variant. If we live, I'd be happy to teach it to you. But right now we have more important things to worry about." With that Yuujin approached a level, reaching out to grab it absentmindedly. Lulled into a false sense of security by idle chit chat with the young woman Yuujin pulled the lever without considering the consequences. He was fast enough to hear the trapdoor swing open above, not fast enough for the falling boulders. Huge carved stones in the shape of important Kanji within the Tetsudo order fell from the ceiling, weighing several tons each. Yuujin threw up his protective bandages in a last ditch attempt to protect himself. "Asuka!" He cried out for help, the boulders mere moments from crushing him into a bloody pulp.
Post Count: 19 Hanzo Medjikara
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Post by Hanzo Medjikara on Dec 25, 2018 22:39:51 GMT -5
As Yuujin continued his barrier, Asuka grabs hold of the Kanji with her bandages and crushes it, breaking them down into small fragments. She then rushes down toward Yuujin’s location. “By the looks of things we’ll have to proceed upward, thought we might wanna be careful. I don’t think that was the last obstacle we’ll be seeing.” Asuka looks to Yuujin. “You can still use your bandages right? We’ll probably have to use them to climb upward. I think I see a platform we can grab onto.” Asuka extends out her arms and latches onto the of the platform and her body is zipped up towards it. “C’mon! Try climbing up the left side!” The atmosphere in the room went silent, she then overhears a rumbling and suddenly another Kanji can be seen falling in the distance as it comes into view.
“Crush it!” Asuka extends out her hands to wrap up the Kanji and crushes it. “Okay onto the next one, I can see the platform from here.” As the duo leap from platform to platform, Asuka begins some conversation.
“So are there more like us out there, I had assumed the order was dead but judging by you, it seems as though the order still exists even in some small number.” Another Kanji swoops down.
“Get ready...Now!” the duo repeat the process and advance just a tad further into the dungeon. “I hail...from a small village in the mountains, due north of here…” After crushing the Kanji the duo make a leap for it.
“I came here to test myself, prove that I was worthy of the order and also to validate myself, I have a grudge against my father.” Asuka stopped taking in the gravity of the situation.
“Your father, your father was a Tetsukami!? Which one…? You never did me your full name.” As the advance towards the 4th platform, Yuujin pauses from a moment.
“Ogata…” Asuka’s eyes widen upon hearing such a revelation.
“Your the 3rd Tetsukami’s son, why didn’t you tell me earlier, I’d be proud of something like that!?”
Yuujin’s looks to her with a dismissive look on his face as if he didn't want to talk about it, deep down Yuujin had a deeply seeded despisal of his father.
“Would it have really made a difference...he was a very strict man and it seemed as though he only suffered me out of responsibility...the same goes towards his feelings towards my mother. He was a good teacher but a horrendous parent.”
As the next Kanji comes down, Asuka extends out her arm to crush it however Yuujin manages to do so first. “I wasn't a son...I was an heir he was attempting to groom me to be just like himself but showed no compassion in the process seeing me as a means to an end rather than as a child, he abandoned my mother and I shortly after I was 5 years old and I've never seen him since and it was all due to my failure and in a way I'm glad he's gone. I’ve come here to prove to myself that I don’t need his validation to be a great warrior. I am one with or without him. Do you hear me "Father.", My validation isn’t yours, it is mine alone! ” He howls his disdainful declaration toward the ceiling, a degree of contempt in his voice as he uttered the word "Father."
Asuka looks to the young man admiring his conviction, but then recalls her own life and how she too grew up without a father “At least you had your mother…” Asuka says. “My mother was killed by members of this very order...to this day I still don’t know why…?” Yuujin thinks back to his old life...he then looks to her once again. “And your father?” Yuujin asks. “I never knew him…never even saw so much as a photograph, my mother always spoke very highly of him.” Asuka’s words carried a coldness to him that caused a silence, making Yuujin truly reflect on his own life he wanted to speak of his mother but knew it would be inappropriate to do so.
“We should get moving.” he said as he leaped towards the next platform. “Almost there just one more to go. I think I can see where the Kanji blocks are being dispensed from. Let’s seal them up.” As the two arrive at the final series of platforms they both seal up the large area where they are being dispensed from, using their bandages to create a net to hold them in place but by the looks of things the tattered bandages that hung from that very spot suggest that they were not the first to do so.
“I hope ours holds up a bit longer than the last one that was here…” Asuka says.
“It should.” Yuujin remarks.
With the duo having made it to the top of their respective platforms a ledge that leads to a doorway can be seen just underneath the large hole where the Kanji is dispensed which the two latch onto and climb towards. Asuka arrives first and helps up Yuujin after he grabs hold of the ledge. With the two now safely by inside their wrappings that hold up the Kanji snap under the weight of the stones and it begins to descend yet again crashing into the distance with a thud. With that, the duo move forward with Asuka sending some ki into her palm to use as a light fixture. Yuujin the same as they continue along their journey with the ghost of the Third Tetsukami watching from afar.
“Yuujin...had I only known what was wrong with me in the time that I was alive, perhaps I would’ve been a better parent, despite your hatred of me, in a way I’m proud of you. You may not like it and I may not have left the best impression but you will always be...my son, it is a pity that my actions have seemingly destroyed two lives...perhaps my suicide was justified, I failed the order and I failed my family.”
As the duo walk along in the dark their ki fades to a degree.
“Looks like we’re both running on empty...think it’s time for another break?”
“I have another solution.” Yuujin reaches for Asuka’s hand but just as he grabs it the lights go dark. Asuka feels his fingers touch against the openings of skin on her bandaged hand, with hers doing the same to his. With both their hands now touching, they are able to sustain their light by sharing power between one another.
“There now let’s keep moving…”
As the two walk in silence both probably embarrassed by the awkwardness of the moment.
“I was hoping I could’ve saved this moment for someone a bit more intimate.” Asuka would think to herself, thankfully the light only glowed enough for her face not to be seen. “He is cute...at least.”
As the two walked forward hand in hand they would come across a doorway, the two would enter inside and find a spacious but empty room with the tomb of the 3rd Tetsukami before them, it seemed almost like an arena of some kind. However, there was no area for seating and the ground itself was made of some sort of metallic paneling. The ground was littered with bandages and even more stains of blood strewn about the ground. This was the area of the Tetsukami’s final test. The Spiral Mummification technique, a move that Asuka only used a handful of times it was both the most and least deadly technique in her arsenal. But how would it be put into action here?
@amatricina
WC: 1321
TWC: 19,827
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