Chapter 4 - The Strokes

Ken's taunt was too much for me, and I responded.

I pounced and leapt forward, aiming for his chest, but he parried my strike with a swift kick. It threw me off balance, and I landed awkwardly. I quickly steadied myself and manoeuvered my palms to execute my next attack spell. Within seconds, I shouted "Tobu" and instantly, a stream of blue energy flew at Ken.

He swiftly raised a dark shield with his palm and parried my strike. He sniggered and then snapped his fingers. Instantly, a dark flock of darkness swooned onto me before I could leap. I was pinned to the ground.

“Heishi!” he cried, raised both his hands and leapt into the air. He was about to execute his next spell. However, I jumped onto the top of a car and somersaulted towards him. I enjoyed watching the evaporation of his smug smile as I grabbed him by the shoulder and hauled him onto the ground. As he fell, I swung right and sent a kick to his chest.

He landed with a thud, and I saw the opportunity to pin him down for good. I rotated my left hand and drew a Yin-Yang Trigram. Then I looked skywards and shouted

"Hinamari!"

This is my trademark spell - the Heaven Thunder Spell - 天雷咒.

However, I felt a hollow in my chest. The powers eluded me and then sank back

into my dantian area.

Nothing happened.

I joined my palms and raised them over my head

"Hinamari!"

I looked to the sky and commanded again "Hinamari!"

There was a faint sizzle in the air with a sparkle of purple light but the expected lightning failed to materialize

Ken had regained his foothold.

"What happened?" He remarked "Where's your thunder? Lightning?"

He taunted with his eyes burning with bloodlust. Then, he ruthlessly delivered

a swift kick into my abdomen.

I doubled over, feeling pained and silly. This had happened a couple of times in the past few months and I suspected my meridian points must have been damaged during one of the exorcist outings.

An internal injury will make it hard for an Onmyoji to summon his inner powers.

Ken put his palms together and commanded

"Heshi!"

Very soon, a surfboard of dark energy framed with crimson red materialized and

raised him into the air and beyond.

"Come back..." I cried but within moments, Ken was gone.

"Come back!" The pain in my abdomen turned my request into a whimper.

As I struggled with the shock, I realized the spell Ken had cast. Around me, a dark and

glossy substance began to grow to my full height and wrapped itself around me.

It began to metamorphosize, first growing a head and then the scales popped like flowers.

The newly-grown serpent began to constrict me.

Ken - that rascal!

He must have cast one of the darkest spells in the Dark Robes book - Jumon which was powerful

enough to trap an Onmyoji or any other spirit masters.

I struggled to break myself free, but it was futile. I was up against a powerful force. To think Ken can constrain me over the remote control, it shows his strength has improved over the years.

As the dark mass tightened, I felt every cell in my body crying. I tightened my fists and shut my eyes to focus the energy. In my subconscious, I executed the kuji-kiri (临兵抖者皆阵列在前）and shouted “Kowasu - destroy”.

The next moment, I felt warmth in my limbs and soon my energy delivered its impact and burnt a hole in the dark mass. Instantaneously, the dark mass began to loosen its grip. I took the opportunity to deliver another push. I drove my energies down my limbs and then commanded “Kowasu!” again. This time, the dark mass recoiled and weakened its grip on my body.

I took the opportunity to break free. I swiftly regained my foothold and somersaulted to safety a few feet away. The defeated dark mass, however, has not been eliminated. It slithered away and quickly morphed into the shape of a serpent that was almost three metres long with a huge head and eyes that were crimson slits of light.

Hissing, it approached me with its glowing eyes forming an intimidating hood of darkness.

I tried to run but it quickly darted forward to cut off my retreat. As I tried to form a spell, it protruded its head and spat venom. I leapt to my side in time to avoid the malicious load which burnt a hole on the tarmac. I pulled out the remaining amulets from my pocket and counted five.

The meagre amount will have to do. I decked them out on my palm and scribbled the word “Tatakai 斗 ” on them. Then in one athletic hurl, I sent them in a trajectory. Immediately, a shield formed in front of me. I raised it with my palms and dashed towards the serpent. With firm application, it hit the serpent on its face repeatedly. Undeterred, it tried to find a space to retaliate but I was not giving it any chance.

I leapt over it but it bit my shoe and threw me back on the ground. I steadied my gait and then formed a sword formation with my fingers

“Forces of the four directions, I command you to my support.

"临、兵、斗、者、皆、震、列、在、前",“

I executed the Kuji-in.

Soon enough, a wind began to pick up and built into a spiral of air column.

“Go!” I cried, throwing the column of air at the serpent, which hit it on the head. The reptile recoiled and hissed in anger. I looked at the tree behind me and focused my energy. Come, come! I mumbled as I felt the stubbornness of the tree.

Within seconds, a branch broke and flew into my energy orbit.

With a focus, I concentrated my powers and sent the branch, like a sword, onto the serpent’s head. Instantly, it pinned the reptile to the ground.

I felt a force trying to break free from my powers. I held my sword fingers upright and tight to hold the vicious serpent down. Every tug and turn it was a knock on my hands. However, I was not giving it any chances.

In one huff, i cried

“Aku o horobosu - break all evil.”

The branch plunged deeper and I heard the crackle of my power as it broke the darkness core of Ken Ito’s black magic.

Instantly the entire reptile turn stale and gradually dissipated into miasma of darkness

“Magic! Despicable magic.”

I looked around. Ito is nowhere in sight and I have no clue where Kelly is

The entire street was strewn with wreckage, broken wood branches, and fallen leaves. The chaos will attract the nearby residents who will call the police. I decided to leave as I do not want to be seen as a vandal. I had to limp back to my car as there seemed to be a swell on my right ankle which came from one of the abrupt landings I had to make to avoid the bats.

I had underestimated Ken. The power of his force has deepened. There is an unfathomable element in his craft which he seemed to have acquired over the years. I could no longer underestimate him. On another day, with adequate preparation, I am confident I can beat him but tonight I had to admit - he is the better opponent.

However, my key worries have not been addressed - where is Kelly?

As I limped back to my car, I heard clapping sounds.

Another trap? Another of Ken’s cliques?

I stopped in my tracks.

I had sensed someone, something, a strong presence.

However, when I turned around to look for the source of the clapping, I was disappointed.

Half-hoping it would be Kelly, I was disappointed.

I saw a smaller figure at the bus stop. I drew closer to find a girl.

“You were amazing.” She said.

Who are you?

When was she at the bus-stop?