Wooden Blossoms Style

-<>-

Desk Guy tossed a soda can in the air whilst walking through the office. After Akiol and his party's loss against the undead generals for the fight of Goldlight he decided to get a soda to soothe his disappointment. 

The can made a crisp sound as he opened it, taking a swig of the soda he placed the can on his desk with a little too much force. Making a sound loud enough to shock everyone still for a moment Desk Guy coughed for a moment, "Seriously, why was there such a high level event so soon?"

"Orothus is a bit crazy, doesn't take kindly to any form of offense.", a developer answered.

"Unfortunate. Were the generals actually unbeatable?"

"If they had more knowledge about how they operate it would've been possible maybe. Wrecking Rocks had the highest chance of success, if he knew about Carthino's berserk state requirements he could've won that fight."

"That's one general there was a chance of beating."

"Carthino's only problem is her whip and use of poison. Once the whip is out of the equation she's one of the easier generals."

Desk Guy plopped into his chair and spun about, "Right, run by me in this hypothetical situation real quick. Wrecking Rocks avoids Carthino's face and doesn't trigger her berserk state. He defeats Carthino, leaving Northan and Vertigo. What are their odds looking like?"

"Northan has the strongest Berserk state of the generals, and because of it he has one of the harder trigger requirements. If that was triggered they'd lose, but if somehow there was more reinforcements for the generals it could be possible."

"Such as them tackling the generals one by one?"

Another developer spoke up, "Possibly. Carthino would've went down even with her berserk state if that was the case. I think they'd be able to handle that much. Northan's berserk state maybe not, but they'd be able to take down Northan without his berserk."

"That's two, that leaves Vertigo."

Silence spread among the developers for a second. Desk Guy picked up a stress ball and tossed it into the air mindlessly while thinking about it. As he sighed Desk Guy was startled to find it turning into a collective sigh. All the developers participating in the discussion had the same idea regarding Vertigo.

"Probably not.", someone was the first to speak their thoughts.

"His ability is too much to think about in the middle of battle. We were forced to make him lower leveled to make him more beatable.", another added.

One developer was amused by the memory, "Hahaha Third Stage Vertigo was a menace. Especially in his home turf. Who's bright idea was it to make his slashes not have an expiration timer by the way?"

Someone defended the idea, "I put a limit on how many could be activated!"

"Yeah but not how many exist! Have you seen what he's capable of in his training area?"

Desk Guy caught his stress ball and sat properly in his chair, "So basically you're saying Vertigo made things impossible."

"He's the strongest of the generals no doubt."

-><-

Era blocked a slash and felt her arms quiver. The rot inflicting her equipment was reducing her stats to the point where she could barely compete. Her sword was far too rusted at this point, and a chip of metal broke off when she blocked the slash.

Yuto's scythe oddly remained untouched. It clearly wasn't some ordinary piece of equipment, however his armor did not have such luck. Shrugging off the scraps of armor he continued to wield his scythe with a fierce vigor. Uyana was the most well-off of the three. Her Haori granted through Synced Nexus naturally was untouched, and as a creation of Borus her bokken was entirely unaffected by the rot. A powerful weapon meant to last centuries wouldn't fall apart so soon.

Vertigo's katana held a faint tinge of rust. He glanced at it and his expression seemed to carry a tinge of disappointment. Swinging towards Era he made out a cry, "Hah!"

Scrambling to the side Era barely dodged an incoming series of slashes. Yuto approached Vertigo and swung his scythe aiming to at least impale the samurai. Yet a red slash manifested and deflected his attack. Uyana flickered to the front of Vertigo and swung forward.

Surprised but yet pleased at Uyana's direct method of fighting Vertigo responded in kind with his own blade. Their two weapons clashed and cherry blossom petals flung outwards like sparks. Several red slashes manifested to cut through the cherry blossom petals. 

Pang~!

Deflecting another attack Vertigo suddenly spun and blocked a slash from Yuto. Redirecting the scythe he bent to the side and dodged a slash from Uyana. Entirely controlling the tempo Vertigo parried and dodged the fierce attacks from Uyana and Yuto.

Era swept her sword through the sand and a series of earthen spikes shot through the ground. Vertigo dodged two horizontal attacks from his two attackers by ducking and then sprung upwards to avoid the incoming earthen spikes. 

Placing his katana near his hip he swung horizontally while calling out, "Hah!"

Cherry blossom petals swirled violently as if kicked up by a storm. They pushed Yuto aside and gently guided Uyana out of the range. Several red slashes descended towards their previous location, making their maneuver a smart one.

Vertigo landed gently and dashed towards Era with a speed greater than she could react to. His katana slashed and scored a deep wound spanned from shoulder to hip. Rolling back only made Era collapse, her sight growing dizzy. The effect of Vertigo's blade took effect and made her feel sick to her stomach. Collapsing onto the ground she couldn't find the strength to sit back up.

Yuto sent several crescent attacks forward but they were clashed with red slashes. Vertigo returned to the center of the training grounds with a flicker and simply stood waiting. Just as Yuto was about to approach Uyana gestured for him to stop by extending out a hand. Vertigo looked towards them, a faint red mist extending from his body.

Vertigo's berserk state! One triggered by time in battle! Having reached the threshold Vertigo was now in a berserk state! Holding out his katana he gently sheathed it, a faint click rang across the training area.

[Delayed Strike: Lifetime of Slashes]

Throughout the entire training area red slashes manifested one after the other. In a greater amount than before. A large AOE type Skill, and immediately everyone felt the pressure. Era was knocked out of the ring from the impact of a slash, and she took a moment to drink a healing potion to recover her HP.

Yuto dashed about attempting to dodge the slashes and close the distance. Yet the closer he got to Vertigo the denser the slashes became. Forced on the defensive he was forced to retreat out of the training area. 

Uyana was faring significantly better due to her overall better stats granted by Synced Nexus. However she couldn't close the distance either. Vertigo continued to stare in their general direction, refusing to move. As cherry blossom petals scattered the field they were sliced apart from the barrage of slashes.

Seeing the brilliant display Uyana was putting up to survive Vertigo was impressed. Unsheathing his katana he raised it above his head, "You are certainly among the best I've fought. Take pride in such strength."

Swinging downwards he unleashed a barrage of several more slashes. They came forth like a violent wave, cutting through the area of slashes. Uyana saw their approach and she blinked before she could process it all.

Her surroundings changed, a small Japanese inspired courtyard laid out in front of her. Cherry blossoms floated down in a gentle manner. She frowned and walked on the path, crossing a small bamboo bridge over a calm river. Approaching a dojo she knocked upon its entrance.

"Enter."

Slipping through the entrance she found a middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on a cushion. A cup of Sake in one hand, the other in his kimono. Long hair tied back and held together by a needle, an unshaven face decorated by scars. A cherry blossom themed Haori covered his shoulders, a copy of Uyana's own.

"Kaban?", Uyana asked incredulously.

"Uyana.", the middle-aged man responded.

Gesturing to a cushion Kaban urged her to take a seat. Setting herself onto the cushion she asked, "What's all this about?"

"I couldn't stand you wielding me in such a manner for any longer.", Kaban answered while taking a sip of the Sake.

Uyana winced at the comment and tried to change the subject, "What's with the theme we have going on here?"

"I enjoy this kind of style.", Kaban answered calmly before redirecting the conversation, "Do you know why I picked you to wield me?"

"You never mentioned it."

"Because back then you were the closest that resembled the style of Wooden Blossoms."

"The style?"

"You seemed to have lost yourself Uyana. Back then you fought with everything you had, a desperate attempt to secure what you wanted."

"I was fighting for something back then.", Uyana recalled the Professional Competition. 

"Are you not now?"

"I accomplished my goal. . ."

Kaban sighed heavily. Setting down his cup of Sake he stood up, "Walk with me for a moment."

She followed him to the courtyard. The two watched the cherry blossoms fall for a minute before Kaban spoke, "A cherry blossom will sprout and last for only a short time compared to other trees. A very small timeframe, and yet it's so incredibly beautiful. Seeing you fight reminded me of such a tree. You fought desperately, brilliantly, beautifully, and yet faded away just as quick."

Uyana frowned, "I can't tell if you're trying to compliment me, or point out my failings."

"Neither, because you don't fight that way anymore. You've lost the essence of the cherry blossom. Because of it we cannot synchronize any further than this."

Looking at Uyana he lifted the haori with a pinch, "You must accept the way of the cherry blossom. The style of the Wooden Blossom. A style explosive, beautiful, and short lived. It must be quick and powerful, but leave a lasting impact to all that see it. You must push yourself to be like the cherry blossom, and return to the you that fought so beautifully."

Uyana returned her gaze to the cherry blossoms and entered a state of reflection. She desperately became better to with the Professional Competition for the sake of helping Aunt Venny. Once they had obtained the prize money she hadn't fought so desperately, for the sake of something to push herself further.

That feeling she had facing against Akiol, could she recall it?

Kaban studied her expression and smiled, "Very good, now show the short lived but yet beautiful style of the Wooden Blossom!"

Uyana opened her eyes and returned to the training ground. The series of slashes a mere inches away from engulfing her. Yet the training ground seemed to change. A series of cherry blossoms trees appeared and surrounded the area, petals constantly falling like rain. Uyana swapped with one of the blossoms and escaped the approaching slashes. 

It was Territory! She had further increased her synchronization for Synced Nexus and regained her ability to use the Territory! When two Territories overlap the smaller one usually held the advantage. The visual change would always go to the smaller Territory, but the buffs of the two would remain for both its wielders. 

The catch to this was that the Undead King's Territory affected all undead! Yet since overlapping Territories effects only continued for users, it meant Vertigo was now no longer receiving the buffs from the Undead King's Territory!

Uyana flickered about as she constantly swapped with the falling cherry blossoms. Avoiding slash after slash from Vertigo's [Delayed Strikes: Lifetime of Slashes]. Vertigo searched about but struggled to gain any sort of visual through the slashes and falling petals. Additionally the slashes were kicking up the fallen petals on the ground, further worsening visual quality.

With such a threat he was forced to end his Skill and the constant slashes came to a stop. Immediately Uyana appeared in front of him, her bokken curving through the air. A red slash manifested to stop her, but she immediately swapped with a petal to avoid coming into contact with it. 

Vertigo blocked with his katana but found himself sliding across the ground. With the loss of the Territory buff, and Uyana's own Territory buff the different in stats had been flipped!

Constantly switching between the petals Uyana surrounded Vertigo. As he parried blows and slid about she would immediately appear near him and prepare for another series of strikes. The tempo rose to such a high pace Vertigo was starting to see Uyana's figure in the falling cherry blossoms.

Once again sliding Vertigo went to dodge the next attack, but found his feet refused to move. Looking downwards he saw ice creep up his legs, restricting their movements. Turning he spotted Era with her hand to the ground. She had been slowly layering the floor with water, and now the time to strike had arrived! Freezing the water she froze Vertigo in place. Red slashes appeared to break the ice, but almost immediately dark hands sprouted out of the ground and gripped Vertigo. 

Yuto clutched the air, his scythe brimming with a dark energy. Struggling to keep ahold of Vertigo he shouted, "Now! Finish it now!!"

Uyana appeared in front of Vertigo and pointed her bokken towards him. Cherry blossoms swirled violently and she thrust the weapon forward. Stabbing through his stomach the bokken poked through the other side.

Several blossoms began to sprout on Vertigo's body. Wooden branches grew at a rapid pace and overcame his rotted flesh. His movements grew stiffer by the moment, and the cherry blossoms bloomed beautifully.

[Wooden Blossoms Style: Falling Serenity].

The wooden branches entirely encompassed Vertigo, sealing him away. He was not defeated, and thus no rewards were given. However this sealing had accomplished a similar outcome, the general could no longer participate in the battle!