Chapter 54 - Runes?

With his quick thinking, he hits Alden right in his elbow with the True Power Fist. This rips his hand off of his clothing. This allows him to bounce up and land a devastating kick to his stomach with the Dire Slam. Alden flies off of his feet and thumps to the floor. Tanji drops down and grabs his sword then lightly waves it around and tightens his grip.

Alden slowly gets up with a bleeding arm. He reaches over and literally clicks the bone right back into place. He wipes the dripping blood off and gets up to his feet.

"What sort of power does this guy have?" He wonders. He loosens up his shoulders and his hands cloak in a wailing fire. The fire screeches and flails around like hopeless souls. His eyes glow white and his muscles slightly enlarge. His arms go a more grey colour as he extracts his power. Claws slowly grow from his fingernails and he firmly glares at Tanji.

Tanji swings his sword right into the Guarding Stance and Alden races towards him. Alden leaps down and tries to slash Tanji with his claws but it's blocked by his sword. He lands and they struggle to overpower each other. Tanji's shoe slides back and deep into the coarse mud but he backs out and dodges the slash. Alden, in agitation, blindly swings again, and it is dodged. He swings once more then advances in for a final slash.

He overpowers Tanji and moves his sword around to his liking. Tanji starts losing ground and takes a few forced steps back. Alden grips the entire sword and slightly grunts from the blade cutting his palm. He snatches it from Tanji's grasp and hurls it away. He gut punches Tanji firmly and instantly makes him drop onto his fist. He throws him off then lands a powerful kick to propel him off his feet.

Tanji hits the ground and spits blood to the side of him. Lightning circulates around him in a furious manner. He lets out a roar as his aura blazes around him. He bounces up to his feet and beams towards Alden.

He just goes right past him however and grabs his sword.

Alden grows a fireball in his hand but then, it cloaks his fist and screeches. The aura around that same arm enlarges and gets more violent. He pushes off of the ground firmly and slightly caves it in. He leaps towards Tanji for a power swing and Tanji swings down his sword.

The two attacks clash and push against each other. Alden seems to win to start off but something peculiar happens. Random runes glow red across Tanji's sword. The lightning condenses and forms a pure, red cloak around the blade. He cuts straight down his fist and fireball then slashes up and across his body. In a fit of rage, Alden punches him away but he manages to keep his sword in hand.

He rushes back and puts as much force as he can into every step he takes. He ducks down slightly and violently swings up. Alden gets another deep cut across his body and he falls back about two steps.

Tanji swings down powerfully but Alden dodges then steps on his sword. He keeps it firm in the ground to not get slashed again.

He presses down and eventually makes Tanji drop the sword. He launches a fireball to his face and makes him uncontrollably cough. He then punches him in his chest so hard that he shatters his sternum completely. Tanji drops to the ground and slowly passes out.

"No.." He says before realising he failed the quest.

Silvan rushes over and seals both of their wounds with Crystal Blood. He says "You guys went all out! We're lucky you didn't get caught." Tanji wakes up shortly after and compliments Alden on his highly impressive skill. "You're so good! I can't believe you're that strong." Alden smiles and replies. "Thank you. Wendigos just have power, regardless of muscle size."

Tanji replies in awe "So lucky! Well we've all gotten way stronger!" Silvan says "Very true."

They return to the actual school grounds as school slowly starts to come to an end. Silvan accidentally bumps into someone in the hall and his whole body torques in way for the man's tough figure. Silvan says "My apologies." The teen turns and grabs the neck of his shirt. "Sorry? Do you know who I am?!" Tanji grabs his wrist and says "He said he was sorry. Just let it go, man." The teen's eye twitches through the fringe of his shaggy hair. His eyes glow a dim golden as he slams Silvan into a bunch of lockers behind them. Silvan almost slips to the ground from the force alone and coughs blood. He shakily pushes at the guy's arm but he doesn't budge at all.

Tanji says "Hey!" The werewolf elbows him in his neck with no second thought. Tanji grabs his neck while falling to his knees. He gasps for air and slowly gazes up at the man's frightening, golden eyes. Silvan is thrown to the ground. The werewolf puts his hands in his pockets and says "Know your places, first years." He turns and walks away as if nothing happened. Tanji manages to get up to one knee and Silvan is still holding his back in agony.

They both get up slowly and Tanji wonders "How did these people get so strong in a year? I must be so weak compared to everyone else still!" Silvan stands and says "This training within the academy must push us to the limits. A simple year in the Institute and that werewolf is well above our level of power." Tanji stretches his neck and he replies "True. We're really gonna have to put that extra work in. I'm not being weak again and to be a City Trooper we can't be at the bottom. We must rise and be the best!" "Yes. We can all train!" Alden says in excitement "Of course." Silvan says happily.