Chapter 9: Graduation Day. 'Do You Think You Can Control Me?'
The classes were all set up together during Head Captain Henry Yukes graduation speech. The speech was pretty plain, saying congratulations, saying how he was proud of all of them, and that he was happy that Class D was able to become the highest ranking class for the first time since the beginning of the Academy.
Rellik stood with his classmates wanting for this end so he could put distance between himself and his fellow Class D students as possible. Since they've returned from their final test of surviving in the wild, Rellik had kept distant from them. Spending a majority of his time with his old friends, Mac Kosner, Blast Hermit and Jen White.
After the speech was given came the time that the students were waiting for. They were all getting ready for their Zanpaku-to partnering. Rellik was worried. He didn't know if he would get a spirited zanpaku-to or if he would be able to connect with one.
Rellik sat there waiting for his turn to go to into the cavern to see if he would connect with a zanpaku-to. Blast went in and came back out rather quickly holding his zanpaku-to at his side. He showed his zanpaku-to to Head Captain Yukes who looked over it and nodded his head signaling that he had made a connection with it. Blast was then hand his assignment papers and was sent off.
Rellik sat and watched as all of his friends walk into the cavern and came back out with their zanpaku-tos. Alexis had made a connection, Jason and Joesph also. Even Jen had made a connection. When Mac came back out of the cavern his face was down trotted. He held up the sword to Head Captain who held it for just a moment before handing it back to Mac.
Rellik couldn't believe it. Mac hadn't made a connection with a zanpaku-to. If Mac couldn't do it how could Rellik hope to do it. Negative thoughts flooded his mind as his name was called to go into the cavern.
"Rellik Wade." said the Soul Reaper in front of the cavern. "You must navigate the cavern to find the zanpaku-to that was destined for you. If you can not find your zanpaku-to, don't dread, you will still be allowed to become a Soul Reaper. Now please enter."
He motioned Rellik inside the cavern. Rellik walked down small hall, the water dripping walls making him feel even more uneasy. He didn't know what to look for or even where he was suppose to head towards.
Rellik continued walking for quite a while until he came to a fork in the cave. Rellik just stood there wondering which path he should take. Suddenly he had a strong urge to head up the left pass. Rellik went that way until he had a urge to turn right. As he felt the urge he saw a small passage to the right in which he followed.
He just continued to follow his urges until he came into a small chamber. Inside the chamber sat a zanpaku-to on the ground. As Rellik approached the sword he felt it pulse and pull him in close.
Rellik picked up the zanpaku-to and studied it slowly. Its handle was covered in a dark green cloth that looked similar to the ribbon tied around Rellik's arm. Its hilt was in the shape of an eye with small swirls coming from the edge of the hilt towards the center of the handle. He held the sword high over his head and unsheathing it slowly.
Suddenly Rellik was rocking from side to side. When he looked around he saw that he was standing on a rickety Viking vessel. He noticed that the same swirls that were on his zanpaku-to were etched across the wood of the ship and even up the large mass that protruded from the center of the ship. He looked behind him and saw the head of a dragon coming from the bow, the dragon having a scar over its left eye same as Rellik. As he turned around he saw a large man standing by the rows of the ship that were moving on their own.
"So!" Came the voice of the man. It was loud and demanding. Though young sounding the man looked to be middle aged. His face scared yet covered in long red hair. His hair was so thick and long that it seemed to almost meld into his long braided beard. "You must be Rellik!"
Rellik just stared at the man. He noticed a chain was wrapped around the mans chest and waist, connected to the chain were two axes dangling from the man's side. The axes were small in structure and were single bladed. Rellik had never seen anyone like him before. He wasn't exactly menacingly tall or wide but just held himself as though he was. He was covered in large grey furs under which was what looked to Rellik as a green dyed leather.
"Do you know who I am Rellik?" The man asked grabbing an axe in each hand letting the chain fall from around his chest. "If you don't then you're going to be in alot of trouble."
As the man said this he rushed Rellik swinging his axes wildly. Rellik was caught off guard by the mans strength. He could barely guard against one axe before the other came crashing down towards him. Rellik tried using his kido techniques but to no avail. He couldn't muster enough spiritual pressure to fire a simple kido. It seemed he would have to focus on his own strength and speed to fight this man.
Rellik used the flash step to get away from the onslaught of slashes and strikes from the man's duel axes. The whole time he had been fighting a small voice was yelling at him in his head. But he couldn't understand the voice.
"Come on boy!" Said the man appearing just feet from Rellik. "You think you can control me!"
"I don't know what you're talking about you crazy old man!" Rellik shouted back rushing the man using a special combo he had put together during his time in the academy. He slashes with his sword until he sees an open in which case he switches from zanjutso to hoho techniques. (Going from sword fighting to hand to hand combat) This seemed to catch the man off guard actually causing him to start defending more then attacking with his axes. To Rellik's surprise the man was smiling as he kept up his assault. It was as though the man was happy he was being forced into a retreat.
Rellik's onslaught didn't last long though as the man caught one of Rellik's kicks in mid air and tossed him towards the edge of the ship.
The man stood over Rellik laughing hard and loudly. "Not bad kid, not bad at all." The man said twirling one axe in his hand letting the other dangle from his other hand. "Lets see how you like this though." He again rushed Rellik bringing both axes down hard. Had Rellik not moved the axes would have sunk into his skull. Rellik was however still shocked. Not surprised but literally shocked as the axes struck his sleeve. The man smiled mouthing something that Rellik count hear.
Rellik back flipped away from the man holding his sword by his side waiting for the man's next attack. Instead of rushing Rellik though the man threw one of his axes towards Rellik. Rellik was able to dodge the attack easy enough and started running towards the man fast, the chain from the man's weapons just inches from his face.
Again the man laughed as he pulled back on the chain causing it to tighten. Rellik was just barely able to dodge the axe as it came flying back towards his head.
"That's a cheap trick there old man." Rellik said rubbing the back of his neck. "Haven't you ever heard of a fair fight?"
"Fair fight?" The man said mockingly, "Like switching from zanjutso to hoho style of fighting?"
"Hey its a fair fighting style you hairy old man! Its called adapting and learning." Rellik shot back raising his fist towards the old man.
The old man made the same stance, "Stop calling me old you selfish little punk!" The man crossed his arms over his chest letting his axes fold around him once again. "I cant believe after all this you don't even know my name yet! What a pathetic soul reaper!"
Rellik just stared at the old man the small voice in his head becoming louder.
"Wait. You're my zanpaku-to aren't you?" Rellik said staring at the axe wielding man. "You're name..." Rellik continued thinking hard.
"Yes?" The man said again grabbing each axe and holding them over his shoulders and letting them cross behind his head.
Rellik opened his eyes wide and swung his sword towards the man. "You! You are my Zanpaku-to! You are Ragnok!"
The man smiled twirling his axes again. "Very good kid. I am Ragnok."
Rellik twisted his blade. "Ragnok!" His sword then transformed into the same axes that the man had dangling from his sides as well.
Ragnok's smiled disappeared and he appeared in front of Rellik with a serious face. "Know this Rellik Wade. If you dwell back into my mind you will not survive the journey. I will not allow such a weak Soul Reaper to come into my world again." He said holding each axe to Rellik's throat. "Now leave Rellik Wade. And never return."
Rellik opened his eyes to find himself back in the chamber of the cavern. He was holding his sword in both hands. He couldn't believe what had happened. He had not only made a connection with his zanpaku-to but he had learned its name as well.
He worked his way back out of the cavern. His face showing his upset attitude. As he approached the Head Captain he held up his zanpaku-to. He sat there waiting for the old man to give the nod but it seemed as though the man wasn't going to do it.
"Hmm." Head Captain Yukes said quietly looking over the zanpaku-to. He looked at Rellik closely then nodded his head finally handing Rellik back his sword. Rellik was then given his squad assignment and sent on his way to the other students.
'Ragnok.' Rellik thought staring at the zanpaku-to he held in his hands. 'I'll prove you wrong, Ragnok. I'll prove I am strong enough to control you.'
