The Ark Of Assuring Victory

"I hope you are right because Nasima's powers are starting to go in the upper levels if she continues to draw air for her expanding Elemental Energy pool."

"Duncan and the Ankou will win this round as well."

As the oversized flagpole was hurled towards Duncan, the child merely stood there with his eyes closed. Was the kid confident he wouldn't get hurt by Nasima's attacks? The little girl was frowning at how arrogant Duncan was acting. Finally, Duncan held up a hand and... Caught the flagpole.

"What the ever-loving crap was that?! How can the kid grab a speeding spear with a single hand and not be bleeding buckets?!" yelled Tomoe, propping himself up to see further into the arena.

Ashley's face wasn't shocked, but he looked slightly amused. The Marksman Pillar smiled as he saw Duncan's face brimming in confidence. The power behind that smile was phenomenal.

"So it would seem that Duncan's physical defense is quite high... Either that or he is using some tricks up his sleeves," said Ashley as Duncan stood still to hold the pole in midair.

"Whatever trick is that Duncan better has a good explanation about it since Mavislin will demand a report on each of the children's aspects and talents tonight. Another chore for me to do as if I've got nothing to do..." grumbled Ashley, rubbing the back of his head.

"You are a dead man... What more do you do?" asked Tomoe, raising his eyebrow at the tired Marksman.

"Excuse me, but I was busy scouting out a few areas before coming here, and I would need to go out in the night again for patrol duty because of the Major Mission that activated the Headmaster. So yes, I've got quite the things to do... Would you like to help, sake-loving fox?" asked Ashley.

"Not in this lifetime, dead man."

"Hehe... See what I told you? Be confident and go wild with your Elemental Energy since you've got nothing to lose!" said the Ankou, smiling brightly.

"Yea... But if she were to summon another weapon and aim for another part of my body, I'll be done for. And I think I can only pull that trick off once in a battle... It took quite a bit of effort," said Duncan as the Ankou patted him on the head.

"Ah~ Not to worry, dear child, we've got plenty of time together so I can teach you more ways to pull off that rick and even find a skill for it to fit you."

"... Don't phrase it that way... I still like to fight battles on my own without the help of a random spirit in my body... However, I must learn to stand on my own two feet when I grow older, right? You can't be here forever..." answered Duncan, slightly creeped out at the Ankou's words.

The Grim Reaper... The grave watcher for all souls that have passed onto the afterlife, the personification of Death... Some even think that the Ankou is also the God Of Death... The Ankou was now pouting like Nasima when she couldn't get more candies this morning.

"So you don't want me in your body? I make delicious dog bone cookies... I can make some for you during your relaxing time... Please let me stay..." begged the Ankou, forcing his voice to be as cute as Nasima.

Duncan shuddered as the Ankou tried acting like a small kid begging his parent not to be thrown out.

"Stop begging with that voice; it's freaking me out! Besides, why do you want to stick with me for so long? I'm quite useless compared to the other humans across the globe. So why don't you choose them?!" exclaimed Duncan, distancing himself from the Ankou.

"Useless?! Excuse me, but you are related to that fox girl above us, right? So you've got the same blood coursing through your veins with Midori, right?"

"Ya, so do the rest of us and most other kids back in the house! So why do you have to pick me? Why was I so special that it attracted the Grim Reaper, not to reap my soul but to stay in my mind and help me survive the horrors of Albion?"

The Ankou looked shocked but tipped his head down so his fringe could cover his eyes. The Reaper used his oversized scythe to draw some markings onto the dirt he stood by as he tried his best to find the answer to Duncan's question.

The child deserved to know the valid reason why the Ankou was invited into his body. After all, the Grim Reaper should be very busy, right? So what was a critical being doing in a child's body? Instead, the Ankou was tongue-tied as he racked his brain for the words to say to Duncan.