The Haruno Chronicles
CH. 12 The chapter name is really about swords, though this chapter is magic, and a little bit of sword as Lee tries to master Zero Tenshi.
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Chapter 12 – True Origins
Over the next week, the group found another Saren stone, Number 20. Nanoha, Sakura and Sarah had sealed it. When he asked them how it went, all they said was GO GIRLS. All Lee did during that week was train his ZERO TENSHI. He still couldn't do the initial thrust. When he went to Lance for help, he said he had never heard of such a technique, especially one that didn't use magic and thought it was an insane idea, an attack without magic so he couldn't help.
Lee had got the initial charge down, the extra step, and the stopping down now. Now they felt 2nd nature to him but he just couldn't get the hang of the initial thrust. He went up to his dad and asked if anyone besides him had ever mastered the technique to make sure it was possible. He said only one, Lee's older brother, Sora, who was in collage and was also training to work with his father, had mastered the technique. He also said that Sora learned it much like Lee did. His brother hadn't been home in two years due to a foreign exchange program at his collage to study abroad but he called home often. He learned the charge, the step and the stop without too much trouble in a short period of time but it took him a lot longer than that to learn the initial thrust. But he eventually did learn it after coming to a realization and now he can do it anytime and as often as he wants. Lee asked what that realization was and his father said, "Well, its unique to each person but its related to why you use the technique."
Several more days past and he started going to his friend's houses again. His father had suggested he stop training for a bit and go visit his friends. He also told Lee to think about what he had said. Lee's friends asked what exactly had he been doing. Lance couldn't grasp the idea of what Lee was doing so he couldn't tell them. Lee explained what he was trying to do. Everyone was amazed when he told them that the technique was non-magic. No one thought it possible until Lee got up and put in a tape of his dad's kendo match. All they saw was his dad take the stance, grab the trophy and watch the guy fall over with scratches on him as Lee's Dad left the arena. They all thought that the technique was inhuman but then he told them that his older brother had succeeded in learning the technique.
Lee and the others were going home when Lance finally came to the conclusion that he understood about how this technique was not magic. It turned out that there is no magic that can stop time so he was finally able to understand that it wasn't magic. When he finally was able to understand this, he found the technique fascinating. He was also able to then comprehend how difficult it must be to learn this technique. He told Lee good luck and went with Nanoha and Sakura to go back to their house. Lee and Sarah decided to walk home for once. Teleporting everyday made it lose its luster and got pretty boring after awhile. And so they started to walk home. They took the long way as they hadn't taken it in a long time and Sarah liked the view. During the walk, they ran into their Father out for an afternoon jog. He decided to walk home with them when suddenly; they both felt a dark presence unlike the Saren Stones. They both then told their father that they had forgotten stuff at their friends house and had to go back to get it and that he should go on ahead of them. They promised that they would be quick so they headed in the opposite direction while their father headed home. Then when they had walked far enough away, Lee asked Lance telepathically to put up a citywide barrier. He did and as it went up, they transformed into their barrier Jackets and their staffs appeared. Then, from out of nowhere, a girl appeared. She too had a staff. She then began to shoot them down.
Lee started at the person first. He tried hit her with his BREAK IMPACT attack but missed and made a large crater in the ground. Then he shot off some Glowing shooters but she dodged them all. "I know you are Human. Why are you attacking us?" Sarah shot her PIERCING LIGHTS straight at the enemy, which dodged them all. "Second stage, BLIND DESTRUCTION," and the person got caught in the multiple explosions and got knocked through the air. "I need the Saren Stones. Please give them to me. I don't want to hurt you." She had a kind, soft voice but in it all, Lee could sense an extreme sadness. "Let's talk this out then, maybe we can work this out." "I cannot do that," she said, "Saren Stones cannot be given. They can only be won. That is their law and I cannot change that." "So are you saying that fighting is the only way?" "Yes," said the girl. "Then can I at least know your name?" "Fate, Fate Tesstorosa." "And I am Lee, Lee Cross," then he turned to Sarah, "stay back Sarah, This is between me and her." Sarah flew back as to give them room and said, "If it looks even slightly dangerous, I going to help you." "It is common courtesy to give your devices name before battle," said Fate, "mine is Baradiche." "Okay," said Lee, "Mine is Haruno."
Fate charged at Lee. A large yellow circle appeared under Fate. "THUNDER SMASHER," Fate shot a ray of yellow, electrified magical energy at Lee. Lee changed his staff into shooting mode and a large gold circle appeared under him. "SHINNING BUSTER," Lee unleashed an equally powerful ray of Gold magical energy at Fate. The two blasts collided and canceled each other out. Then Haruno then said to Lee, "Use BLITZ SHOT." "BLITZ SHOT," Lee found that he was able to fire off many shots of his own will. These shots also seemed to be very fast and could be fired quickly. He repeatedly shot them toward Fate who then said, "PLASMA LANCERS," and shot off an equal amount of yellow blasts to counter Lee's golden ones. "Take this," Lee said, "BLITZ SHOT, TYPE 2." Lee felt his magic gathering at the tip of his staff, "FIRE," and Lee shot off a rather large but still extremely fast blast of Magical energy. It went straight for Fate but fate put up a shield to block it and came out undamaged. "HAWKEN FORM," said Fate. Her staff changed into a scythe with a blade made of yellow M.E. (magical energy). "So you want to do this up close and personal. Fine with me. MSD, IGNITION START." Now Lee's sword turned into a sword. They started going at it, exchanging Blows. Lee was easily able to dodge the swings due to this forms enhanced abilities but the same could be said for Fate. She was dodging them equally as fast. The battle escalated into the skies as they went at it.
Fate then flew back. "HAWKEN SABRE," she launched the M.E. blade straight at Lee who used a wide area shield to block it du to its ability to turn in mid-air. He then swung his sword at her releasing a wave of M.E. at Fate who then made a new blade and cut it in half, thereby protecting herself. Next thing Lee knew, Fate was behind him and mad a swing for his neck. He did a quick teleport and reappeared behind her. He made a swing for her and finally managed to hit her, though it was only a scratch on her arm. "Why do you need the stones so badly," said Lee. "I cannot tell you," said Fate who then shot more PLASMA LANCERS at Lee who cut them all up very quickly.
Fate then fired off another HAWKEN SABRE that Lee dodged. Unfortunately, it headed straight for Sarah but she was ready. "HBD mode, Activate." Her staff changed into her short sword and she shot her BRIGHT SLASH at it and the two cancelled it out. Lee was running out of magic and so was Fate. They flew to the ground, too tired to fly and continued to fight. Then Fate disappeared for a second and the next thing Lee knew; Fate had a hold of Sarah with her staff at her throat. "Give up now and I will let her go. Please give up; I don't want to do this. Just then, someone shot a blast at fate from behind and hit her, forcing her to let go of Sarah. Everyone had arrived. Nanoha, Sakura, Chrono, and Lance were all there and ready for action. Then they all attacked Fate. Fate, outnumbered teleported away quickly and appeared on the ground behind Lee. Then Fate swung her sword at Lee from behind. He had no time to react. He thought it was all over when something happened. A very dark golden shield appeared out of nowhere between Lee and Fate. Lee thought it was one of his friends' barriers as he didn't put it up and so he got out of the way, not sure how long it would last. Fate didn't see this coming either and got repelled by the shield and shot back a few yards. Fate seemed annoyed at this.
"You wanted to do close combat," said Fate, "then lets do it. ZAMBER MODE." Her staff then changed into a giant long sword. "AntiMagicField ACTIVATE." Now a different dome appeared in Lances barrier. Then suddenly, Everyone's Barrier Jacket disengaged and all magic disappeared. "It is impossible to use magic in this field. So what will you do?" "Everyone," said Lee, "Leave this to me. I will fight her on my own." Everyone stepped back and gave them room. They ran at each other. Lee was slower now but so was she. They clashed swords multiple times. Then she swung her large sword at Lee swinging it downwards. It hit the ground and to Lee's surprise, it made a crack in the ground that spread in all directions.
Lee was getting tired now. He had used up most of his stamina during the battle and was running out of strength to fight with. He also couldn't rely on his magic, as I couldn't be used in Fates AMF. Then the answer came to him. A technique that didn't use magic. A powerful one too but could he do it. Well he was out of options anyway so he pulled up his sword and got into the stance. He drew the hilt level to his face. Put his left hand on the blade tip and bent his legs. "Fate, I will try not to kill you. Sorry." "Just try," said Fate. "ZERO TENSHI." Lee started the charge that brought him into Zero time. Then as he started forward, the realization came to him, the reason for his using this attack. He used it as the last resort to protect his friends. Then he felt a pulse and his gut told him to go with it so he did. No one saw it; it just happened. Lee just disappeared and reappeared in a different spot. Then after a second, he said, "It's over." Fate collapsed and fell to the ground. She had slashes all over her body and a stab wound in her left arm. "I tried to avoid the heart," said Lee as Fate tried to get up. The AMF disappeared and their Barrier Jackets returned.
ZERO TENSHI, the technique taught in my family. It is not magic; it is swordsmanship, which was why I could use it inside Fate's anti magic space. "Ze-ro Ten-shi," said Fate, " I will remember that Lee Cross." And with that, she disappeared. Everyone ran over to Lee. "That was amazing Lee," said Sarah, "You did it. You finally pulled off ZERO TENSHI. Everyone was congratulating him on a good battle. Just then Lee butted in and said, "By the way, which of you put up that dark gold barrier. You really saved my butt out there. I thought I was a goner." Everyone looked around at each other. "I didn't do it," said Sarah. "Wasn't me," said Sakura. "Don't look at me," said Chrono. "All of my barriers are green," said Lance. "I didn't even have raging heart in Staff mode yet," said Nanoha. "Then who was it? It definitely wasn't me, right HARUNO." "You nor I put up a barrier," said HARUNO. "Well that's strange," said Lance, "barriers do not just erect themselves. Someone has to create it." With the mystery of the unknown barrier fresh in their minds, everyone headed home.