Chapter 6: Kill the Snake

Skysin RIllem-

I sauntered on what seemed to be grey earth, covered with a multitude of civilians. Not recognizing anything around me, I observed the bizarre area. It was the evening, as a fulgent blue moon was viewed upon the midnight sky. I gazed above myself, seeing towering buildings made of glass, gleaming from the moon's rays of light. Then, I heard strange sounds on the left of me. Glancing over my shoulder, I seen what looked to be a smooth black road, with yellow and white line markings. But that wasn't the cause of the noise.

There were these inexplicable, rectangular devices, thick black wheels, all having lights in the front and back ends of these odd creations. As I continued to study these contraptions, abruptly, a woman's soft voice on my right called out, "Dranon, what are we going to eat tonight?"

I gradually looked over to my right, viewing a beautiful middle-aged woman smiling brightly with long scarlet hair, sleek peach skin, dark brown eyes and a singular scar on her right cheek. She had an elegant figure, wearing a black trench coat with the collar covering her slender neck, and a short burgundy skirt, wrapped around her curvy thighs.

I espied her arm, latched in between mine. Despite that, I literally had no idea about what was going on… at all. I concluded that this was only but a rather odd dream, howbeit, felt more like Deja Vu.

The man whom I supposedly was, responded gazing throughout the city, "I'm not really sure babe, how about we go to an Italian restaurant?"

"hahaha, I swear Italian is your favorite." She chortled.

Unfortunately for me, I suddenly awakened, having hot air encounter the back of my neck. Puzzled by what it could be, I turned around with haste. Only to confront a giant green lizard, possessing yellow eyes and two small horns on the side of its head. Along with its tongue hanging out, like a dog.

Before I knew it, the oversized reptilian opened its wide mouth, seizing my head inside of it. "AAAHHH!!" I screamed in terror thinking I was about to be eaten, and the smell of its breath was anything but pleasant. The lizard shifted as I continued to struggle wiggling my own small body.

"OW!"

I'm more than positive my butt had hit a wall.

At this point, I had given up trying to escape, then felt cool air come into contact against my lower body. The lizard spat me out of his ferocious mouth, causing me to collide onto the ground, rolling flat on my back, facing the azure morning sky. Including the laughter of my friends, looking at my appalled state. I used my elbows as support to slightly sit up and glanced above to see the three on top of the beast's scaly green back.

"Hey Nirvana, clean Skysin and dry him off if you could please." Alzar asked walking into view.

Nirvana and the rest jumped off the back of the giant beast, then she lifted a finger spraying a stream of water on my whole body, making me soaking wet. Not even capable to speak a word that I was almost ingested by a giant reptile. I simply sat there with a dazed expression.

Then, Nirvana blasted a heavy gust of wind onto me, drying me off completely. Which made my hair look as if I was some mad scientist, nonetheless.

Crim tried to hold his laughter while the girls pointed their fingers at me crying about my appearance. "Tch, why do you guys get to have 'A class' transportation?" I clicked my tongue, combing my frenzied hair back with my fingers.

"We tried... but you wouldn't wake up." Crim stated chuckling.

After I finished, Alzar fixed himself, "mm-mm... alright, before we start, I'll call each of your names to utilize your vital and show your kinetics. We'll be going by who made it here first to last."

"First, Nirvana."

"Kay!" Nirvana filled with energy shouted, thrusting her arm in the air. Thus, as she closed her eyes to concentrate, lifting her arms in a ninety-degree angle. Four spinning orbs appeared in front of her: earth, wind, water, and fire.

"Interesting, not a lot of people have kinetics for all four elements." Alzar commended her. "Crim it's your turn." He looked over to the fiery headed boy.

Crim nodded manifesting two different types of flames, appearing on his arms. Crim is the son of two half deity clan members that specialize in fire. Sun-Dragon and the Phoenix clan. One was pure white on his left arm, moving chaotically like a forest fire. That's the Sun Dragon clans vital, a part of his late father Sedreen, fire so hot it can even disintegrate stars. As for his right arm, had a deep, dark orange color, being a lot calmer and flowed like water. Which is the Phoenix vital from his mom, Savitra's side. Phoenix blazes are extremely more controlled and can even be conjured into weapons. But they also have a fantastic ability to heal, even mortal wounds. It also explains the red pigments on the outer edges of his eyes as well.

"I see you have good control over them, you must have been training a lot to get used to their power." Alzar applauded him.

Next, he pointed at Elaine, "alrighty miss princess, your turn." The crème haired girl made a stern nod, "ok master." She lifted her arm slightly, then a transparent smoke like ball appeared. In addition, a few yellow molecules emerged, rotating like how planets revolve the sun.

"I wasn't expecting you to be telekinetic, along with being able to control plasma, very nice indeed." He bent forward to inspect Elaine's kinetics.

Lastly, he turned to me, placing his arms behind his back while rolling his hazel eyes, "and for the finale, we have… the twerp, Skysin."

"Oh ha-ha geezer," I scoffed sticking my tongue at him and began. I lifted my right arm and made a black purplish mass appear with an array of white orbs inside of it, looking like a spiral. Then, multiple balls of crystal ice came into view, spinning alongside each other. Alzar looked at me with a dull expression, "no wonder your mother worries about you."

I squinted my eyes and made a sour face, "what do you mean old man?!"

Alzar Greldin-

'This is amazing… no magnificent even.' I thought to myself, placing my fingers on my chin creating a grin.

'These kids could really be something, especially in the future.' as I thought to myself, all the children looked at me in an addled manner. Rellgis's brat, Skysin, made a revolting expression, squinting his violet eyes and lifted his upper lip, "what are you planning, old dude?"

I looked at him and made earth twirl under his feet, plummeting him into the ground, allowing only his neck and above to be in view. While the kids laughed at the boy struggling to free himself, my nexus, Ebizan, started licking him, causing his hair to whirl around from mucous.

'These are the strongest kids I ever came across, especially Skysin and Crim. One being able to control two of the three strongest flames in existence. While the other can wield Kitsune ice just like his father. Including the ability to use spatial kinetics from Valentine. Those two will become a force to be reckoned with when they get into their teens. If possible, they may surpass their parents before twenty. This'll be something life changing, for not just them, but the entirety of kingdoms across the solar system.'

"Hey old man, who's this lizard?" Skysin asked as Ebizan laid next to him.

"He's my nexus, his name is Ebizan. He's also an earth dragon." I replied

"Wow really? I heard that nexus partners are extremely rare." Elaine in awe walked over to the lizard, patting his snout.

"You were informed correctly child, there's not many of us. It's hard to find these types of comrades. Not only your mind, but your souls must connect"- I turned around gesturing them to watch- "But back to training. I'll be teaching you four a fighting technique. What you'll be learning is called Braideferm. Which allows you to attack your opponent with great strength and pressure applying your aura." Thus, I spread my legs shoulder-width apart. Taking in a deep breath, I shot a casual strike, releasing a shockwave of aura, causing a large tree across the broad yard to hew down.

As all the kids gaped with amazement, I motioned my arm telling them to come forward, "well then, let's get started."

Skysin Rillem-

Alzar made us all spread our legs shoulder-width apart and tuck our elbows in beside our stomachs.

"Now listen brats, I want you to inhale and exhale slowly. Shroud your body head to toe with aura, and try to flow it into your back. Then, try to imagine your arms are being restrained by a heavy chain. In that moment of time when you feel you're being weighed down enough, think as if all that weight has left you and punch straight forward, full strength while releasing your aura." Master explained, showing us the technique once more.

I closed my eyes and imagined a thick chain holding my arms. Feeling somewhat of a weight, I released my aura, letting the cold energy flow around my body and moved it towards my back. Keeping a steady breath, I shot my arm forward only to hear a 'fwip'.

As the rest attempted it as well, nothing happened. Alzar chuckled rubbing Ebizan's snout, "hahaha, it's not just going to happen at first. You must focus on concentrating your vital from your brain to your back, then at that moment of time, release it, shooting all of the energy through your arms."

After multiple failed attempts that went endless for hours, we finally started to feel the weight and power from the attack. "Good...now I'll show you the stance." Alzar said.

He walked in front, then lowered his legs making them bend about ninety degrees, his left hand was aligned near his face. While his right was adjusted by his chest. He turned to us, "now that you kids got the hang of that. You're now going to have a slow sparring session while grasping a better understanding to use the technique regularly as you fight against stronger opponents. Elaine, Nirvana, you two will face each other. As for Skysin and Crim, will be sparring partners."

As we all got into place facing each other and got into the stance, Alzar yelled, "begin!"

Crim let his right-hand slowly flow towards me while I blocked it with my left. I steadily lead my fist into an upper cut, aiming at his chest. But he fended it off, moving his elbow in the way. As we came into contact, we could both feel the pressure and tense waves from the small collision, causing small gusts of air to form making our hair flutter around.

We noticed the girls were also doing well, Elaine slowly lifted her right leg into an upper kick, aiming at Nirvana's left ear. Nirvana parried it with her forearm and leisurely swung her fist to Elaine's chin. As Elaine moved her hand downward blocking the attack. Light wind had formed, smiting the ground making the grass flow from it.

*****

As we all continued to spar, it was now the afternoon, and could move at a decent speed. This time, it was me and Elaine, while Alzar made Crim and Nirvana face off.

When Elaine shot her fist at my stomach, I moved my arm down blocking it, at the same time, extended my other palm towards her face. She used her hand as well to smack mine downwards, and sent her leg to the side of my ribs. Then, I used my elbow to defend it and jabbed twice at her neck and chin. Surprisingly, her reflexes kicked in much faster, weaving the first and fended the second with her right arm. As my fist hit her arm, strong winds continued to flow around us at this point.

Alzar clapped his hands together, catching our attention, "ok, I'm sure you guys got the gist of it now, so…were going to play a little game called, 'Kill the Snake'."

"How does the game work?" Nivana asked. Alzar stood from a rock and walked past us, "it's simple really...all you kids have to do is try to hit me and I won't hit back. I'm only allowed to throw you."

Crim rolled his right arm, "seems pretty simple, is there a time limit?" Alzar pointed at now setting sky with a grin, "you have until it gets dark, if you hit me, you brats get to have a feast."

Elaine raised her hand with a puzzled face, "what if we lose master?"

"Nothing of the sort at all, this is simply to help you all train." He chuckled.

I added bouncing on the balls of my feet, "are we allowed to use vital or is it only physical?" Alzar raised his index finger, "you're only allowed use of it to support yourself or each other, got it?"

We all nodded approving his rules, "then let's begin." Alzar opened his arms, welcoming us to attack him. Not wasting time, using my innate speed, I flashed forward leaving an after image of myself as Crim trailed directly behind me.

I leapt into the air, spinning my body into a round house kick. All while Crim ran under me extending his left into a punch. But the tall man flawlessly grabbed my leg, and casted me to the right while he jumped right over Crim.

With me still airborne, I created two portals simultaneously in front of Nirvana and Elaine, teleporting them above Alzar. As they both kicked downward, he leapt into a back flip, jumping a few feet away from the two. The girls slammed into the ground, with enough force to create craters around the size of their selves.

Crim used his white flames to increase his speed, confronting Alzar under half a second. The red-haired boy aimed his knee at Alzar's chest, but he fended it off with a wave of his hand. While Crim was still midair, he swept his leg across Alzar's face, however, he weaved under, clutched onto Crim's arm, and threw him on the ground with a hard 'thud'.

Taking this as an opportunity, I lurked behind the man and tried to grab him. My hand only a few inches away, Alzar placed his large palm on my forehead and slammed me into the grass covered ground. He grasped the collar of my shirt and threw me into the air.

Elaine lifted herself with telekinesis and flew to him, attempting to punch his face.

Trying to grasp another chance, I formed an ice platform above me and used it to dive back onto Alzar. When I crashed on the ground, dust and grass covered my vision. But I grabbed hold onto someone. Thinking I caught the slippery stickman, nothing but glee was expressed from me.

However, I noticed I was on top of Elaine, seeing her blush in rose as her lips began to wriggle awkwardly. I helped her up, embarrassed as well, "haha…sorry about that Elaine."

"I-it's ok Sin," she slightly bowed. Then, Alzar chuckled as the four of us looked at him, "you kids don't have much time left. Better try to keep up brats." At that moment, we all dashed towards him.

*****

It became night as the darkened, celestial sky began to gleam above our heads. We all were sitting on the ground, panting heavily out of breath. While the tall man, Alzar, was standing before us, not even breaking a sweat.

"Welp, looks like you kids failed, no feast for you four, huhuhu," the man chuckled. While Elaine tried to catch breathe, "amazing…not only were you able to dodge all of us…but you perfectly-countered our attacks too." She said in awe.

Alzar turned around proceeding towards the house gesturing us to come with, "that my young disciple, only comes with much experience…something that you four still lack at this point of time."

"Just what are we going to do for training master? If you don't mind me asking?" Nirvana questioned tilting her hot pink head.

Entering the house, there were plates of food on the long brown rectangular table that had an oval-shaped, pellucid glass in the center. Along with eight black chairs sitting under.

The food was sliced ham, a bowl of rice, along with some broccoli and carrots.

"We'll be going over the form and techniques for the week, then the next, you'll be applying everything you learned and will add it to your vital. That way we can go and hunt some monsters." Alzar stated.

"Really?? What types of monsters?" Crim asked as we made way to the table. When we all sat down; master was placed in the very front of the table with his back facing the living room. I sat on the chair to his right while Elaine was seated next to me. Nirvana made her place next to Alzar on his left and Crim occupied himself on beside her.

"Oh all types of them Crim. Big, small, slow, fast, I'm sure it'll help you all utilize the technique more if you were to go against enemies in an actual fight. Rather than just sparring all the time." Alzar said grabbing a fork.

We all dined into our food at that time, and I have to say…it was delicious. Despite that, not as good as moms though, beginning to miss her cooking and thinking about her wellbeing, 'I wonder if the baby was born yet?' I thought to myself as I ate.

When Crim had a grain of rice near his lip, "oh Crim, you got rice on your cheek." Nirvana grabbed a napkin and wiped it off his face. Crim started to blush, stuttering, "th-thanks Nirvana."

As she chuckled, I started joking with him, having a sly smirk across my face, "awee look at Crim being babied."

"Shut up you idiot, at least I don't look like a girl," he firmly argued. Then everybody started laughing at me. "I-I do not look like a girl…you bum!" I shouted stumbling on my words, extending my arm pointing a silver spoon at him.

"Hehehe, I remember when I was four, my mom thought he was a little baby girl. Until my aunt Valentine told her that 'she, was actually he', hahaha!!!" Crim added calking away as his shoulders bounced from laughter.

As everyone continued to chortle at me, I grew flustered, crossing my arms and poking my bottom lip out of pure embarrassment. "Haha, it's ok Sin, there's nothing wrong with looking like a girl." Nirvana stated trying to reassure me. "Yeah, at least you're cute." Elaine added.

Nirvana and Crim grew silent and stared at her growing wide, devious smiles. Elaine looked as if her peach skin was sun burnt, "we-well, what I mean guys, you- you know- like a cute girl…actually, I'll stop..." Elaine lowered her head.

"Hahahaha, we know what you mean." Alzar laughed after he finished drinking his wine from a clear glass. "I'm sure the two of you will get married and have a wonderful family."

I looked at Alzar, completely befuddled by his words. Elaine stiffly stood, standing like a tree, still beet red. "Mm-mm... I-I think this is the part when I take my leave..." Elaine left the dining room walking to the stairs.

As she walked, she slipped on one of the stairs almost losing her footing. But caught herself just in time. After fixing her balance, she stood there for a good second, covered her face and advanced up to her room.

*Thud*

"I-I'm fine!!"

We all laughed at her for a little, then later, Alzar and Nirvana decided to leave. As me and Crim stayed down for a bit, "hey Crim?" I questioned him.

"Yeah?"

"Where have you been these past ten months? Everyone was worried that something happened to you and auntie."

Crim's grey eyes looked up, then gazed down onto me, "it was nothing, just some family business is all, nothing to worry about." Crim shrugged his shoulders.

I didn't really want to bud into his business, but regardless, it must've been quite consequential. At the least, for him and aunt Savitra to just disappear for almost a whole year, "is everything ok?" I asked.

He made an irritated expression, but altered back to his relaxed manner, "yeah doll face, everything is fine."

I nodded taking his word.

"Hey Crim, could you put your hand in front of your face?" I asked. He looked at me with a puzzled expression lifting a brow, "umm, why exactly?"

"It's like a way to...measure someone's hand." I added with an innocent smile. Since we were basically brothers, he's already been a victim to a plethora of my vicious pranks.

He glanced at my nonchalant guise, then sighed placing his hand near his face, "like this? I swear Sin, if you do something stu- I smacked the back of his hand, causing him to hit his own face.

"You little fox bastard!!" Crim sneered chasing me down. While I laughed at him, he dove directly at me. I dodged, jumping over the boy. When he tripped on his own foot, falling flat on the floor near the couch. I darted up the stairs heading to my room, laughing hysterically, "that's for earlier idiot!"

*****

Before we knew it, a week had passed. Strolling in the vast forest, master was taking us to some beasts. We approached a wide field, the grass was near my height, just below my chest. Being an indistinct yellow color, as if it was close to perishing soon.

We all ceased movement, as master perceived a sleuth of monsters just thirty meters ahead, there was at least five of them. Breuds; large bear like creatures, wide bodies with purple fur, regular sized snouts and large fangs. Their eyes were dark blue and had small ears, along with tiny puffy tails.

Master smiled, "you brats are going to fight against these beasts, so remember your training. 'Do NOT', take them lightly. You'll have until the sun sets, understood?" He instructed.

We all nodded, then allowed our vital to flow through our bodies releasing aura. "Go," master spoke.

Prepared for battle, we dashed towards the towering beasts...