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Chapter 55: Close Encounter
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Dragon-kissed Chapter 56: Fight or Fright
“What did you answer?” Aki asked in a whisper. “Well, to tell the truth, I had considered the situation hypothetically before. All students of Wani Academy probably had. Our options were, precisely in this order: first, answer yellow cover – because naturally who wouldn’t want to get out of the experience alive? Sure you’d be covered in pee but at least you get to continue breathing. “But the most logical option didn’t appeal to the mentally enhanced version of me. Being discovered by my schoolmates covered head to foot in pee was a fate too horrible to accept, even weighed against the risk of dying. That was how concerned I was about my honor. I’m telling you, my priorities were so messed up. “And so my brain moved down to the second most attractive option. Option No. 2 was answering blue cover so we blue Slayers would get to die in our mother element. In fact, most Wani students I knew had thought the same thing, except for those who actually admitted they’d rather suffer a bucket
Dragon-kissed Chapter 57: Know Thine Enemy
“The door creaked open,” Sasha narrated to his petrified audience. “There was no one there, at least no one immediately outside. I buttonhooked to my left and looked to the middle of the bathroom. There was the Ayakashi floating in all her spectral glory. I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The legends were true. She did look like someone who was eternally trapped in a dark, watery grave, clumps of her long hair waving like octopus tentacles. Because she had her head bowed and her neck bent in an odd, impossible angle, she was looking at me from the top of her eyes. She was smirking so her tiny face looked very malicious. I knew then and there this was no prank Lorelei or any student could ever arrange. “‘H-Hello there,’ I greeted in a small, cracked voice. I was forcing my mouth to say something, anything. “‘My name’s Sasha Babor and I’m a student here… in W-Wani-ryu. Just like you were. F-from what I heard.’ Instinctively, I was treating the ghost the way I would a
Dragon-kissed Chapter 58: Death Blow
“The Ayakashi floated in the middle of the bathroom inside her aura of dark water. It was like when you place water on a lotus leaf and it takes a spherical shape. There were bits of seaweed and tiny debris hanging about her. Her hair moved like octopus tentacles but more dispersed and chaotic. “This reminded me of the Second Law of Latent Heat as formulated by Lord Kelvin, how things tended to proceed towards a more disordered state. A basic tenet of education in Wani Academy, something that had been ingrained in all blue Slayers, was the superiority of creation over destruction. Or rather, the undesirability of destruction. “A direct result of this was the existence of a Restricted Section in the school library for books that were considered taboo. Blue Slayers were taught to have a deep love for science and the arts – ice sculptures during the Snow Festival, mechanical wonders during the science fair, the tundra biotope and the zen pond in the school grounds. In other words, creat
Dragon-kissed Chapter 59: The Maw
“I was thinking about all these things and more,” Sasha narrated. “I figured that during teleportation, Slayers are basically breaking themselves down on the subatomic level, phasing in one vibrational coordinate and then reconstituting themselves in another. This phasing process will include not only one’s body but also one’s consciousness and soul.” “And weaknesses?” Aki offered uncertainly. “Incredible, isn’t it? In theory, every summoning of Retsu creates a double or clone and obliterates the original at the point of origin.” “Ouch!” Temujin said, wincing reflexively. “Aye, I imagine it hurts every time they do it.” “But why don’t I feel anything when I do our clan’s Bunkai no Jutsu?” Aki asked. “With frequency and over great distances,” Sasha replied, “it must take a toll on the wielder. More importantly, because Slayers who summon Retsu are rapidly breaking down and reassembling themselves, their essence is in a constant state of flux and uncertainty. Again, they’re like pl
Dragon-kissed Chapter 60: The Water Dragon
First, a brief history lesson: The fighting styles of Slayers took their inspiration from nature (godai, the five elements) and from their original enemies, the Great Serpents. There were a few styles that featured man interacting with nature and not the other way around; for instance, the Fish Gate style of a northern tribe derived from the natural movements of fishermen casting their nets. Nevertheless, the four main styles of the Clans sought to imitate the general attitude, posture and reflexes of the powerful dragons and appropriate them as a form of camouflage. It was believed that, after the heroic deed of Toryu, the first Dragon Slayer, the yamabushi monks of Mt. Emei on the Ethereal Nest compiled hundreds of dragon-slaying styles from all over Pan-Terra. Mt. Emei possessed indescribable beauty and hid a wealth of flora and fauna. More importantly, the yamabushis were travelling monks who journeyed far and wide to gather lore from healers, minstrels, hunters, lumberjacks, f
Dragon-kissed Chapter 61: The White-haired Czarina
“The Ayakashi’s face had also undergone a complete transformation after ice crystallized on it then cracked open like some glassy cocoon. Even her eyebrows had frozen over like tiny upward icicles. She now looked half her age and was an attractive, albeit severe, woman. I wasn’t sure why but I thought I recognized her, not only from the confused flashbacks we had shared but from my own memory. For some reason she also reminded me of Lorelei. “Now she looked less like a wild woman or a Haxan but more like the White-haired Ice Czarina, a jōnin who ruled before the Dark Ages and was notorious for her wanton extravagance, her opposition to reform and for saying ‘So what if their crops have frozen over? Let them eat ice cream!’ She had been stripped of her riches and executed by peasant revolutionists. “The Ayakashi floated towards me like a snowflake. It was my first time to witness levitation outside the Clan of Stork. This removed every doubt in my mind that the Ayakashi was a powerful
Dragon-kissed Chapter 62: Darkness is Thy Friend
“The Blackest Maw now lived up to its name. I sought to regain my bearings but I was doubled over in paroxysms of coughing. When I heard the familiar clink of swords being screwed together, I knew that the Ayakashi had assembled a double-bladed staff. “The Ayakashi took her time and toyed with her prey. She walked around slowly and taunted me with her new weapon. She kept flipping over and swishing the staff on either side of her to let the blade slide and spring out on one end and then the other. The sounds sent a chill down my spine. She reminded me of Lorelei once again, except the Ayakashi stayed quiet and let her blade do the ventriloquism. I tried to open my eyes but the most I could achieve was a blurry image of the Ayakashi. Worse, I felt extreme pain each time. The other fear I had was that I had gone blind. I was desperate to summon my mother element and wash all the foreign particles out. The effect produced by pepper was a burning sensation under my eyelids. “I swiveled
Dragon-kissed Chapter 63: The Vanquished
“Another crucial factor was the non-existence of a true double-bladed sword. A double-bladed long weapon like a spear or naginata can be wielded effectively without hurting oneself. The same goes with a double-bladed dagger or knife. But a double-bladed sword is a completely different matter. The only time such a weapon can work is if the blue Slayer alters the length of the hilt in the middle by stretching it and shortening the blades, basically transforming the weapon into a polearm. The problem was, in a real match between blue Slayers, we’re able to inhibit each other from liberally making or changing ice constructs. This is the very practical reason a sliding blade function was designed for the jotō along with a mechanism that would lock it on either end, not both. “The Ayakashi must’ve forgotten I didn’t have any recourse to my elemental powers in The Maw. Out of pure habit and training from Wani Academy, she was once again reduced to making single-blade, single-sword attacks. B
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Dragon-kissed Epilogue: New Dawn
“’Tis a sin tah suffer such a numbskull as ye live,” Captain Fang said, “but it appears we be a perfectly even match. Ye know as well as I do ’tis futile tah resort tah our mother element.” The pirate could barely stand in his exhaustion and was leaning on his sabre. Sasha was also down to his last reserves of energy. He was poised low on the ground, ever ready to strike with his shinobuken held horizontally in front of him, his left hand behind. “Were we in a trainin’ dojo where ye’ve been raised,” the captain said, “no one would claim victory… BUT HITHER IS NOT A DOJO!” Captain Fang thrust his amputated right arm and released the harpoon on the end of it. As a matter of fact, Sasha had earlier grabbed a handful of salt when he tumbled forward across a drying pan. Now he swung his left hand from behind him and flung the salt to the captain’s eyes like a sumo wrestler purifying the ring. Sasha felt a certain amount of pleasure when he heard the captain utter a pained squeal. In a s
Dragon-kissed Chapter 89: The Cleanup
Yuriko poked her head inside the hole in the roof. The building was a temple. Its ceiling was high above the floor and the whole place, although spacious, was empty. There were plenty of Everlite crystals to keep the temple well-lit. She regretted that she didn’t bring a grappling hook. She made the hand seal of Pyō the Great Thunderbolt to execute a Kyūbanjutsu (Suction Pad). It was one trick she inherited from her clan and had been useful during her stint as a cat burglar, till she scaled the hull of Captain Fang’s ship and became a stowaway. She channeled her ki to the soles of her feet and created partial vacuums on them so they would stick to any flat surface. The suction was enough to let her stand completely upside-down on the temple’s ceiling, her braided hair hanging down from her scalp. “Thanks for dropping in.” Yuriko gasped. Aki was across from her and also upside down. With the better lighting, she looked formidable in her white Slayer suit, at ease and back in her ele
Dragon-kissed Chapter 88: Rooftop Fisticuffs
Aki leapt from roof to roof. Her tabi boots touched the tiles lightly before pushing off. She was harnessing Karamijutsu (Body-lightening). Without warning, a tile she was stepping on broke and she slid straight down to the edge of the roof, only managing to grab the gutter in the nick of time. She was dangling there when Yuriko appeared on the incline, just a few feet away, crouching and fanning out a set of throwing knives. Apparently, she had launched a projectile that broke Aki’s foothold. “Fancy a prince tah rescue ye, princess?” “I’m not a princess,” Aki replied through gritted teeth. “I’m a SLAYER princess!” With a back flip, Aki brought herself upside-down with her legs spinning in a wheel kick. Yuriko held her forearms up in an X shape and the casings of her katars blocked the kicks. Aki landed right in front of her. They were soon locked in hand-to-hand combat; something rare for Stork Slayers who emphasized defense over offense, evasion over brute strength. Yuriko projec
Dragon-kissed Chapter 87: The Teacher
“What took you?” Koumori-shishou asked. The old man remained seated on the driftwood, his back still turned and exposed to the newcomers though all three of his students had sprung to their feet. “Cor blimey! Whar be our manners?” Captain Fang said sarcastically, drawing a water-saber that he instantaneously generated out of an empty, solid scabbard. “Apologies fer keepin’ ye waitin’.” The saber was made possible by the Undina Clan’s Mizu Funsha no Jutsu (Water Stream), which produced a very high-pressure jet of water that was as strong and sharp as regular katana. “Well,” Koumori-shishou said, “we would not be very good Slayers if we threw away fifteen minutes of head start, would we?” “Maybe you’re just stupid,” Ganzorig said. “It was precisely the light in your pipe that led us here.” “Death on a hook is food in the eyes of a fish.” “Be ye sayin’ ye lured us out here, ye treacherous cur?” Captain Fang roared. “This shall nah end well fer ye.” “As I be a soul,” Kosano said, “
Dragon-kissed Chapter 86: First Class
They sat around Koumori-shishou on the moonlit beach. Like real students, Aki thought excitedly. Sasha had returned to his human form and was still half-naked. Apparently, shrinking back down was relatively easier than blowing up to the fearsome scale of Dragonkist Ryūjin. The master sat on a large piece of driftwood. He took off the tunic-like uniform of the Dark Emperor and revealed his usual attire underneath: the saffron robe and pom-pommed surplice of the hermit monks, the Yamabushis. From inside his sleeve, he drew out his shakujō staff with the six rings. Like Aki’s bō staff, it could be retracted and extended. Next, from his slightly hunched back, he produced his straw conical hat and placed it on top of his head. Finally, he unclipped his one-toothed geta sandals from his belt and put them on. He was completely transformed. Aki clapped and Sasha muttered, “Wow.” Koumori-shishou bowed with a flourish. “You’re a true master of disguise, shishou,” Aki complimented. The monk
Dragon-kissed Chapter 85: The Emperor of the Dark
From the strong rocking movements, Aki could tell they were on a small boat. Her captors were using oars. All at once, the bag was pulled from over her head and the wind coating was removed from her mouth. “Get your stinking hands off me or I swear you’ll lose them!” Aki blinked to adjust her eyes. It was still night. Have they arrived in Dragon’s Horn already? “Spoken like a true warrior-princess,” said a familiar voice. Aki couldn’t believe it. She strained her eyes in the dark. “Temujin?” she blurted out. “That’s right. It’s me.” “But I thought…” “I had some help,” he said, gesturing to a second figure behind him. Aki let out a frightened gasp. In the pale moonlight, she could make out the Dark Emperor! “Oh, don’t be alarmed!” Temujin said. “It’s just my master, Koumori-shishou.” To Aki’s great consternation, the Dark Emperor swept back his hood and took off his iron dragon mask. An old man with slanted eyes and a long wispy beard like a mountain goat’s was beaming at her
Dragon-kissed Chapter 84: Hard Truths
“What do you think they’re going to do to us?” Aki asked Sasha. They had eventually given up hope that Temujin would return. As much as it pained Aki to admit it, she knew he would succumb to brainwashing. Most Slayers did, sooner or later. “Well, at first they were pointed south like us but then they made a U-turn, which explains why we didn’t see them coming. My guess is they’re now taking us to Dragon’s Horn. It’s a big and busy trading port, for all things legal and illegal.” “They’re gonna sell us as slaves?” Aki said in horror. “No, we’re much too old to be submissive. But they know you’re the heiress apparent so they’ll demand a princess’s ransom.” “A princess’s ransom? How much is that?” “Let’s just say they’re gonna try and bleed your empire dry.” “My grandfather would never allow that. I’m sure he’ll have imperial soldiers waiting for us when we reach port. I’ll have these pirates arrested before they even—” “They probably wouldn’t tell anyone about you just yet. The
Dragon-kissed Chapter 83: Torture
In the afternoon, after their cheerless and tasteless brunch, the captain came down to the brig to grace them with his presence. Aki was right, the four most important people on the ship were: Captain Fang, the Dark Emperor, Kosano and Yuriko; in that order. But because they were pirates, it was easy to imagine incessant politicking among the last three. The entire crew was of course curious about the young Slayers who had kicked their butts, but they were under strict orders to stay on their posts and perform their duties. Nevertheless, Aki recognized Zaterra and Ganzorig; the first was endlessly cutting his nails with a dagger. Temujin also noticed his cork backpack slung on Zaterra’s shoulder. “Hey, that’s mine!” Temujin shouted, gripping the dragon-bone bars of his cage. “Finders keepers,” Zaterra replied and stuck out his tongue. “Give it back to him!” Aki demanded. “Be yer companions knowin’ yer secrets in this here bag?” asked Kosano. Temujin fell quiet. “Cat got yer ton
Dragon-kissed Chapter 82: Prisoners
They were held in separate cells down the ship’s brig. Aki’s and Sasha’s were adjoining while Temujin’s was across from theirs. Each cell had an additional feature. For instance, Aki’s had a water barometer to monitor the slightest change in atmospheric pressure if she attempted to form winds inside the ship. Sasha’s had a quicksilver thermometer to keep the room temperature in check. Last, apart from confiscating his flint and steel, the pirates put Temujin in a cell with the fire-proof bones of a red dragon for bars. In case the prisoners showed any signs of defiance by using their powers, the pirates also had a weird-looking contraption like an electrically charged spear. Sasha figured it was a weaponized version of the Leyden jar. If it touched their prisons (the conductor), it would discharge tens of thousands of volts. This last piece of technology suggested a link between the pirates and Tamerlane’s research on the fifth element, but all of them pointed to the fact that the cap
