Wild Maiden

Briar and I stood off in the middle of the forest, the sounds of nature and river currents filling the air. Briar licked her lips, her pupils slightly dilating from excitement. She lowered her stance, seemingly ready to pounce upon me at any moment. She swayed her hips from side to side, watching me closely.

'This man... He's so calm... His aura doesn't feel that powerful. Nya..! Why do I feel so hesitant though!?' Briar thought, watching me closely, huffing to herself.

I summoned my gauntlets on my hands, adjusting them and letting out a soft chuckle. "Well, if you're not going to move first...then I will!"

I propelled myself toward Briar, aiming to sweep her off her feet with a kick, but she leaped over my sweep kick then countered with an aerial spinning heel kick. I dodged her kick, rolling backwards onto my feet then launched a large fireball toward her from my gauntlet. Briar grunted in shock, swiftly dodging my fireball then met my gaze intensely.

Briar grew more excited inside, chuckling at me then dashed toward me at high speeds. Lunging myself toward her, the two of us clashed fists, a test of strength commencing to see who can overpower the other. I managed to push her back, surprised Briar then she groaned as I knocked her back.

Briar rolled backwards then recovered onto her feet, huffing softly then laughed. "Heh! You're really getting my fur all messy~ You play hard, nya~"

I held my shoulder, rolling it slowly and chuckled softly. "I work hard, and play hard. From the looks of things though, it looks like you're holding back though."

Briar's ears flicked as she stared at me, chuckling softly and adjusted her gauntlets. "Something about you is so strange, Empurror~ Have you faced off against one of my sisters before?"

"I have. I've battled against the Sangfroid Maiden, Serine Vequa...and won. I'm just testing out the waters before I fully jump in, but it seems like you have the same idea as well," I answered, a slight smirk playing on my face.

Briar giggled softly, hopping up and down then got into her stance once more. "So the news was true. You fought and defeated a Battle Maiden. Empurror Mars was the only Empurror who could have done such a feat. Not even our current Queens can beat us in a fair one on one. Looks like the Wild Maiden has to actually try!"

Without warning, Briar dashed toward me, launching swift strikes toward my face. I watched each strike, blocking and evading each one with calculated movements. Briar let out a battle cry as she threw a swift kick toward me, but I dodged it, countering with a powerful blow to her midsection and knocking her back.

I rushed after her and let out a roar, but Briar was quick on her feet, dodging my strikes and countering each one with her own. We clashed and parried each other's attacks, the two of us evenly matched. Briar began throwing swift strikes, but I took on my Atren Stance, allowing each attack to hit me.

I smirked at Briar, my eyes flashing brightly. "All Counter..."

Briar's eyes widened then multiple invisible forces began striking her, each attack she landed on me being reflected back toward her. I landed a powerful punch straight to her jaw, causing her to fly backwards. Briar grunted as she rolled backwards, but recovered onto her feet then she summoned her cannon.

She fired two large floral missiles toward me, but I evaded both of them and rushed forward. I summoned my battle axe, blocking the slash of Briar's bayonet knife then pushed her back. Briar thrusted her knife forward, but I dodged, landing a clean burning lariat attack and knocked her away once again.

Briar slid backwards, using her claws to stop her from skidding back too far. She panted softly, her heart beating quickly against her chest. Green aura began to form around her body, the Crest of Strength faintly flashing on her chest. She couldn't help but to laugh, letting out a powerful roar in the process.

"This is fun..! Fun! I haven't felt so much excitement in forever! I need more..! I need more!" Briar exclaimed, her power level now rapidly rising.

My body instinctively raised my power level after feeling Briar's energy spike, a smirk playing on my face. I watched Briar closely, expecting the unexpected while also keeping watch of my surroundings. 'I have to not only keep track of Briar, but also my surroundings. If I start doing too good of a job, the Mythical Beast will just warp the forest once again..'

Briar got into a running start, dashing toward me then the forest around us warped, disorienting my senses. I noticed Briar was gone and looked around to try and track her down. I began to notice her figure zipping around me at near invisible speeds, but I was able to keep track of her.

Briar meowed loudly, rushing me with attacks from every angle, but I used my keen senses to evade each attack then reverted to my normal form, summoning the Taurus Zodiac Crystal, the Power Emerald. I grabbed it and transformed into my Taurus Drive, my aura shifting into a divine green.

'This Empurror has other forms..? What is this form..?' Briar thought, still zipping around me at near invisible speeds.

"Zodiac Arts: Surface Liquefaction," I said, my Taurus Zodiac Symbol shining brightly on my arm.

Briar landed on the ground and grunted as the ground beneath her began to liquefy, becoming quicksand and trapping her. She quickly looked around and tried to escape, but the more she struggled, the tighter the hold became.

"Nya! What is going on?!" Briar hissed, trying her hardest to escape the hold she was caught in.

I raised my hand, raising Briar out of the quicksand inside a sohere of earth energy then solidified it. I smirked and my eyes shined brightly. "Zodiac Arts: Geo Explosion!"

Balling my hand into a fist, the sphere of energy shined brightly, exploding in the air. Briar groaned loudly in pain, crashing to the ground and grunted softly as she slowly got up. She coughed softly, huffing as she rose to her feet.

"Zodiac Abilities..? I thought those were lost in time with Empurror Ascea! I was told that Zodiac Powers can not work without their respective temples!" Briar said in complete disbelief, her gaze locking on to me.

I crossed my arms, a soft chuckle escaping my lips. I closed my eyes, thinking of if I should reveal the secret to her. After a bit of thought, I shrugged my shoulders. "The Zodiac Temples do still exist. If they didn't, my Zodiac Forms would be completely useless. Although the Temples on Earth no longer exist with the eradication of Exzodiac, a new Region of Zodiacs was reborn. A continent between Uthea and Arcania named Eshea, Land of the New Zodiacs."

"E-Ehh?! Eshea? Why haven't I heard of it..? I was alive before you were even thought of, so when and how did that land form?" Briar asked, genuinely curious.

"I'm sure you've heard of Ascea's first son, Roku? He's the one who planned the revival of the Zodiacs after he assumed the Eyican Throne. Then his second daughter, Misaki, became the New Leo Champion after Ascea's unfortunate death," I explained, crossing my arms and glancing at her.

'So it is true...Empurror Ascea's children were in Utalia. I thought they remained on Earth. Hmmm, this is getting even more interesting at this strange revelation,' Briar thought, purring softly and her tail swaying from side to side.

"Nyaha!~ I can't wait to continue this battle! I need to see everything you can do!" Briar exclaimed, her tail swishing from side to side.

Before we could continue, an explosion happened behind us, coupled with a pained scream and a loud roar. Briar and I turned our attention to the source, noticing a figure walking into view. My eyes widened as I recognized the figure.

"Morokai..." I said, my tone low and dangerous.

Briar glanced at me then her gaze returned to Morokai. "Who's this scary guy?"

"His name is Morokai...A Sacred Beast who's been clashing with me since the day I encountered him in Pyroc. To think he's found his way here," I answered, reverting to my normal form and my Crest of Arcane glowed on my hand.

Morokai laughed at my statement, walking forward and licked his lips. "I told you our rivalry isn't over, Emperor. After training in the mountains for a while, I've learned new tricks and this time...I will kill you!"

"Eek!" Briar squeaked, hurrying behind me and held onto my arm. "This is why the rule of No Men Allowed exists..! Because of scary people like him!"

I looked back at Briar, giving her a soft chuckle. I turned my attention back to Morokai, faint angelic energy flashing around my body. "Don't worry, Briar... he's nothing to worry about. There's two of us and only one of him.."

Briar understood the hidden meaning behind my words, her eyes widening at the thought of teaming up with me. "Wait! You want the Super Mega Ultra Meowster of Nyan-Jutsu to team up with the Ultra Mega Awesome Empurror of Conquers?!~"

I chuckled softly at her excitement, nodding my head. "Yeah. I know enough about your style to compliment you in battle. Let's drive this Beast out of your lands.."

Briar could barely hold in her excitement, letting out an excited meow and leaped beside me, getting into her stance. "Yes! Yes!~ Let's work together and play with the new toy..~"

Morokai chuckled softly at us, readying his axe then got into his stance. "Let's get this started. I hope you're ready to have your bones added to my collection!"

Briar hopped up and down, green lightning crackling around her body as she energized herself. She got into her stance and smirked at Morokai. "I hope you're ready!"

Briar launched herself toward Morokai at high speeds, her figure a blur as she began to land swift strikes in rapid succession. She launched him up in the air then leaped in the air, the forward around us warping and causing me to appear above Morokai.

Morokai grunted as he noticed me above him then groaned as I knocked him down with a double axe handle. Briar appeared in front of Morokai, landing a powerful palm strike to his stomach and blowing him away through the forest. She rushed forward and used the trees around her to pick up speed.

"Get a taste of my Meownster Barrage!" Briar bellowed, lunging toward Morokai.

Morokai opened his eyes and smirked widely, dodging and evading the barrage of strikes Briar launched at every conceivable angle, countering with a burning circular slash that cut down a few trees in the process. Briar managed to dodge the circular slash, jumping backwards to create distance.

Briar noticed me rush ahead, following my lead and smirked with excitement. Morokai slashed his axe toward me, but I dodged his attack and turned my body into a puff of black clouds, allowing Briar to land a strike to his chin in the midst of his confusion. Morokai grunted as he slid backwards, dodging Briar's next attack and slashed downward.

I threw my sword toward Morokai, causing his slash to collide with my sword and miss Briar. Briar took the opening I creates to knock him in the air with a powerful uppercut, green lightning flashing upon impact. She began to launch a barrage of high speed strikes upon his body as he was airborne, multiple bolts of lightning flashing upon each impact.

"Take this! Floral Flash!" Briar roared, landing a powerful strike upon his midsection, a burst of floral energy escaping his back upon Impact.

Morokai groaned as he crashed through multiple trees, the forest warping to return him back to his original position. I caught him with a powerful chop, causing his body to bounce back up from the ground then a Sigil flashed within my eye, slowing down time.

"Zodiac Arts: Lionheart Smash!" I roared, the Leo Symbol shining upon my shoulder then I landed a powerful blow to his ribs, sending him flying with a concussive force.

Briar admired my power, whistling as she watched how far Morokai was launched away. She giggled softly, her tail wagging from side to side. "Wow~ Now that's some power, nya!~"

Suddenly, a burst of infernal energy appeared where Morokai landed, followed by a laugh and bellow. Briar and I watched as Morokai rose to his feet, his draconic energy flowing around his body powerfully.

"This battle is only getting started!" Morokai bellowed, readying his axe.

Briar glanced at me and smiled, adjusting her gauntlets. "Hmm hmm~ I'm getting all excited Meowster Ryoma~ Allow me to show you what all my Crest of Strength can do!"

I crossed my arms and nodded, smiling at Briar. "By all means, go ahead."

Morokai roared as he lunged himself toward Briar and Briar pounced into action, the two of them clashing. Morokai grunted at Briar's rapidly growing power level, surprised at the fact that she was able to push him away. Briar landed powerful blows to Morokai's body, causing him to become warn out quickly.

Morokai stumbled backwards, feeling some of his strength and energy being sapped. Briar taunted Morokai by throwing lightning fast jabs in the air, her Crest of Strength shining brightly upon her chest. She smirked at Morokai, her tail beginning to sway in a feral manner.

'This woman isn't normal. What is that Crest she has..? Can she absorb strength..?' Morokai thought, carefully analyzing Briar and readied his axe. 'Not only is she fast and agile...but now I have to worry about potential Strength Absorption..'

Morokai, now very cautious, dashed toward Briar and slashed at her but she dodged his attack, launching a counter strike toward his face. Morokai grunted as he barely dodged her strike, launching a swift slash toward her midsection. Briar stood strong, tanking his strike and absorbed the strength behind his slash, causing her to take no damage.

Morokai grunted softly as he jumped backwards, creating distance between the two. He stared at Briar for a moment, in slight disbelief that she easily tanked his strike. Briar smirked at Morokai, crossing her arms and tilting his head.

'The Crest of Strength...A Crest that grants the user Strength Control. Using her Crest's full potential, she essentially is able to not only alter her strength, but the strength of her targets by weakening them or granting them strength,' I thought as I watched, gently stroking my chin as I analyzed the battle before me.

Briar began winding up her arm, green lightning crackling around her arm as she winded it up swiftly then she took on a stance. She stopped winding up her arm, holding all of her accumulated strength inside her arm then dashed toward Morokai.

Morokai was immediately alerted of the immediate danger he was in, evading each of her strokes and kept watch of her arm that had energy crackling around it. He dodged her next strike, countering with a high kick to her face, but his attack did no damage to her. Briar smirked and kneed his stomach, causing him to groan and cough up a bit of blood.

"Now you're finished! Strength Technique: Fist of Fury!" Briar bellowed, landing a powerful punch to Morokai's face, unleashing all of her accumulated strength in one strike.

Morokai's eyes flashed white upon her impact, his brain hitting against his skull. Briar bellowed as she added more pressure to her strike, launching Morokai through the forest, sending him crashing through multiple trees. Briar stood up straight and bared her fangs as she smirked, pleased with the end result of the battle.

"Well, well. It seems like your Crest of Strength is an interesting tool for you," I said, walking forward and clapping my hands.

Briar turned toward me, her mind completely feral and her tail swaying in a predatory manner. She hissed at me, meowing aggressively toward me as her predatory instincts were in full effect. She lunged herself toward me, using her Crest of Strength to manipulate her strength to land a devastating blow upon my face.

As she landed her attack, she noticed her attack dealt no damage toward me. She began launching a barrage of blows toward me, but each one looked as if they were hitting a void, dealing zero damage toward me. She took a step back, huffing and noticing ripples upon my body in the areas she struck.

I smirked at Briar, tilting my head. "This is the Sorien Stance also known as the Void Stance. I don't really use this stance taken it's not my style, but it's fun to experiment once in a while."

"It looks like you still want to play, so come on. Give me your best shot," I smirked, getting into a nimble stance.

Briar's fur slowly rose up as the green lightning around her intensified. She launched herself toward me at high speeds, rushing around me at high speeds, leaving behind afterimages. She tried to strike me with powerful blows, but no matter how close she got to me, she couldn't touch me.

I smirked as my earrings shined, the Crest of Silencer forming within the earrings and a strike form a Phantom version of myself knocked her away. I rushed toward her at high speeds, turning into a puff of black clouds then moved through her, a barrage of strikes landing their marks and tiring her out.

I reformed behind her then copied her Crest of Strength using my Crest of Arcane. I began winding my arm just as she did against Morokai, black lightning crackling around my arm. "I hope you're ready to taste your own medicine!"

Briar turned around to face me, noticing me taking on my Dagrax Stance, her heart beating faster in anticipation. She felt my rapidly growing power level, feeling the overwhelming presence of The Tyrant within me. Her eyes widened as I rushed toward her.

"Fist of Fury!" I bellowed, landing a powerful blow to her jaw, a second impact stronger than the first striking her as I unleashed all of my built up energy in one blow. Black lightning flashed upon impact, rattling her brain from the intense blow.

Briar's eyes rolled to the back of her head then she fell to her knees, defeated and her Crest of Strength slowly dimmed from her chest. After a few moments, she regained her consciousness looking up at me.

I shook my hand and smiled at her. "Hmm~ You actually survived my attack. Most of my enemies barely survive a blow when I'm boosted by The Tyrant and my Dagrax Stance. I'm glad you did..~"

"Nya?! You were trying to kill me?!" Briar asked, stunned by my statement.

"To be fair, you went completely feral against me. It was fair game," I chuckled, helping her stand up.

Briar stumbled, her legs feeling completely weak and like jelly. She grunted softly as she used me for support. "Ugh...what am I gonna tell Mistress Edea when she hears I actually lost to a man..? I'm supposed to be unbeatable with my Crest..."

I chuckled softly at her, holding her up. "I'm sure she'll understand when she sees who beat you."

Briar looked up at me, an embarrassed blush settling on her face. She puffed her cheeks, feigning annoyance. "Mmm...nyow I'm starting to see why people hate your arrogance..."

I laughed softly, shrugging my shoulders. "Hey, is it really arrogance if I can back it up?"

"Yes! It still is arrogance!" Briar meowed, scoffing at me then began to lead me through the forest. "Just follow me!"

With that and earning Briar's respect, I began to follow her through Ixia Forest to Ixia Village where it was a straight forward path to the Kingdom of Therris. As we traversed the forest, my mind began to wander to Lyna and Nebula, hoping they were okay.