The Power of Concepts

After three weeks of travelling, we finally reach Serpent's Nest. "The town looks..."

"Disgusting," says Rai.

The look in her eyes is that of hate. Is it the town, or is it...?

"Let us go and find Elsie Bloom. Knowing her, she likely knows of our arrival and is planning her escape from this town. Time is of the essence—"

"Get out of this town, you damn swindler!!"

A woman, pink-haired and rose-eyed, runs with a bag of money. The outlaws occupying this town are chasing her. The woman laughs and screams, "Good luck catching me, you half-baked crooks." The woman looks at us as she is running. Her grin widens as she screams, "Oh no!! It's the Commander of the Valkyrie Knights, Erika Blade, and Her Highness, the princess of the Sakura Kingdom, Rai Sakura. They have come to raid Serpent's Nest. It's finally happening!!"

"Wha...?"

"Erika Blade?"

"And the Princess?"

"I'm not getting captured today. Let's go!!"

All the crooks that ran after the woman run in all directions until the town is completely abandoned.

"Well done, Princess. You chased those crooks off with your mere presence," says the woman, patting Rai on the back. "Well then, I guess it's time for me to skedaddle. I wouldn't want to be caught again, now would I?"

As the woman walks away, Erika suddenly shouts, "We need your help, Elsie!!"

So, she was Elsie. I don't sense any danger from her, though.

"My help? You want my help?" Elsie laughs. "You're quite funny, Erika." Her expression grows cold and emotionless. "Why would I ever help you people?"

You people? What does she mean by that?

Rai turns to face Elsie. "Elsie, I know you were hurt, but..."

"No, Princess. I was not hurt. I was destroyed. You of all people betrayed me. You stabbed me in the back and continued living your perfect life. Why would I help someone as twisted as you are?"

"Enough," I say, interrupting the argument.

"And who are you?" she asks me.

"Why should I reveal my name to someone as rude as you?"

"Ah, I see. You are the new toy."

"New toy?"

"What? Did she not tell you? I see, that is so like the oh-so-perfect Princess. Let me tell you this, Rai is..."

"I don't care."

"What?"

"I only met Rai a few weeks ago; however, I can say with certainty that she is not a bad person. She might have secrets hidden from me, but they do not concern me."

"I see. She has you wrapped around her finger."

"Elsie, just think it over. We need you," pleads Rai.

Elsie places her hand on her sword. "Princess, if you want to convince me, you will have to defeat me first."

Rai's eyes reveal no hope. I sigh and step forward. "Then I will convince you."

Elsie stares at me and says, "You... are not human, are you?"

"No, I'm a dragon."

"I see. I never fought a dragon before. This will be a first."

I equip Yugure. She draws her katana.

After staring into each other's eyes for a few seconds, both of us disappear. Our clashes cause sparks to appear. Her movements are more refined than Erika's. You can tell the difference in experience.

"You're quite good," she says as we stop our clash and jump away from each other.

"So are you."

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Haruki. Haruki Ryu."

"Well Haruki, do you know what a concept is?"

"A concept?" I ask, confused.

"It's an abstract idea. Like love or death."

"Haruki!! Get away from her!!" shouts Rai. "She is going to use her magic!!"

"Her magic?"

The wind howls. Elsie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Such fascinating things they are. Concepts, I mean. They shape our view of the world... No, it shapes our view of reality. Haruki, what do you think would happen if there existed no love?"

"There would only be hate."

"And what would happen if the concept of death did not exist? Everyone would be immortal. Haruki, concepts exist so we can better comprehend this twisted reality of ours. Now, Haruki, I am sure you are wondering why I have been rambling. Let me ask you a last question. What do you think would happen if your willpower was erased?"

"Sh..."

"Too late. Sakura Style: Lotus Bloom!!" Her attack comes in all directions. Each slash peeling through my skin like butter. My clenched fists loosen. I fall to the ground with a thump.

Why am I fighting?

"This result was inevitable," says Elsie pridefully. "You were powerful; however, not as powerful as I am."

Not as powerful? Me? Haruki Ryu?

My body gets up, even though it has no will left to fight. Elsie walks away. "Stop..." I say softly. Her footsteps get further away. "Stop..." I say louder; however, still muttering. She does not stop. "STOP!!!" My voice causes the earth to quake.

She turns around and looks shocked. "Y-you... that hair..."

"Concept Manipulation..." I say. She glares at me warily. "You can manipulate concepts like willpower, love, hate, and death. This magic is powerful. More powerful than any magic I have ever seen before. However, it is still inferior to me."

"I destroyed your willpower, how are you getting up?"

"Because I am Haruki Ryu."

"What? That... That's... illogical..."

"It's not illogical. Concept Manipulation is the most powerful magic a mortal can obtain. One that can compete with, and even defeat deities. However, your use of it is a waste. How about I show you the true power of concepts? By applying a concept such as weakness to a weapon, you can rid your opponent of willpower. By doing this you are cancelling out a concept by using an opposing concept. However, I can take your magic a step further. If I just destroy the concept of willpower, such a concept would cease to exist."

"What!? Destroy a concept? That... You can't do that."

"Of course, I can. But doing this could have consequences against me. So," I say laughing, "How about I destroy the concept of victory instead?"

"Are you insane!?" she shouts. "If you do that there will be no winner in our fight."

"Are you sure?"

"What... do you mean?"

"I destroyed the concept of victory, yes. However, a concept is something difficult to grasp. People see victory differently. Let's say there is a marathon. The fastest runner in this marathon pictures victory as crossing the finish line before the other runners. But what about the slowest runner? Their victory, knowing they are slower than the other runners, would differ from the others."

"So what? Are you saying your view of victory is different than mine?"

"Yes. My guess is you picture victory as defeating your opponent. Am I right?"

"Hahahahaha!!" She bursts into manic laughter, before screaming, "THEN WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER VICTORY!! From what I've seen, you are merely a goody two-shoed dragon. Yes, you are powerful; however, with all that power, you still have not put a scratch on m..."

She coughs up blood. Blood sprays from multiple wounds opened on her body. "My concept of victory..." I say, appearing behind her, "used to be total domination. Using my power to overwhelm my opponent. That is what earned me the title of 'Destroyer' in Ragnarök. However, since my view of victory changed, this would be my victory, would it not?"