Aviantei

By: Aviantei

Part Twenty-Seven: Doctrine

Getting to watch Ren participate in his first round of battle of the Shaman Fight tournament had filled Ivy with a giddy sort of exhilaration.

Watching Lyserg about to do the same was causing the opposite effect.

She'd known, back when they talked in Mesa Verdede. She'd understood that they were to be enemies from that day out, standing on opposing sides of a war. But seeing him in the arena, proudly dressed in his snow white uniform alongside Marco in all his arrogance and the iron maiden torture device that housed Jeanne, the X-Laws' leader—it brought the whole reality of the situation home, dashing any hopes that maybe in the past few months he'd changed his mind and decided to alter his course.

Seeing him there felt far too much like watching Estella's trembling form as she recognized that everyone she'd ever cared for was dead.

It felt too much like watching her younger self.

"Hmm, the X-Laws' top team is up first," Hao said, as casually perched in his arena seat as always. "This could be interesting. We have their Iron Maiden leader here. But what's more interesting…is that the child I met eight years ago has joined them." His chuckle was enough to even send a shiver down Ivy's spine. "I'm going to enjoy this. Ah, yes, you were there when we first met the boy, Aviantei. Do you remember?"

"I do," she said, not having any option but to answer. The memory along with her past few conversations was creating a pit of nausea in her stomach, and she clenched her fists to try and stifle the sensation.

With Ha-Gumi still sitting in a row, Kaede gave Ivy an expressionless but still observant look. Ivy sucked in a quick breath through her nose and regained her composure. She'd made her choice long ago, back in the flames, back at the side of the campfire. She'd vowed to defeat Hao's enemies. Someone she knew or not—an X-Law was an X-Law, and she couldn't afford their kind any sympathy.

Shifting mental gears, Ivy adjusted to the mindset of someone assessing the competition. Thanks to Luchist and her own encounters, she knew more than enough about X-I. Their opponents, Team Nile, were just as distinctive in appearance, each of them wearing something in representation of their Egyptian roots. The one in the pharaoh's mask seemed to be the leader, but his mana didn't seem to be anything worth noting. Even Marco could handle the lot of them without issue, much less their Iron Maiden. Given the X-Laws' brutal methods, the outcome would be obvious.

It should have been a simple battle, over in a few moments of bloodshed. With Marco's impatience, it seemed like he was about to counter the opponents before Radim had even declared the start of the match, but that didn't come to pass.

Lyserg stepped forward instead.

Ivy understood, even without needing to listen to the discussion that had passed between the members of X-I. The three-on-one before her was different than the one that had happened during Team The Ren's match versus Tsuchi-Gumi. When Ren had sent Chocolove into the fight, he had done so out of trust for his teammate's capability to handle the battle. That wasn't what the X-Laws were doing.

They're testing him.

It made sense. Lyserg may have fought his way to this point in the Shaman Fight, but he hadn't done it amongst the X-Laws. They needed to ensure that their newest recruit could handle battle to their expectations. It wasn't all that different to how things went in Hao's group or the things she'd endured under her former master's watch.

Lyserg didn't balk under the pressure, though, invoking his pendulum Over Soul as Marco rolled Jeanne's Iron Maiden off to the side of the field. As soon as the match began, the unlikely weapon made short work of the pyramid headpiece, and then the sarcophagus medium of the Anubis masked member, the pieces shattering across the tournament floor. The wire wrapped around the pharaoh masked leader next, the edges buzzing with sharpened mana, and Ivy was on her feet before logical thought could catch up with her.

"I'll shred you…just like I did that mummy."

No, you don't need to.

"This is my justice."

You're not the type of person that needs to go that far.

"Only a fool frees a captured enemy."

You don't have to walk down the same sort of path that people like me do.

"I'm sorry, Yoh. You can't save anyone by being nice."

You're still pure!

First she noticed the colorless streaks of tears running from those green eyes.

And then there was blood.

More than enough of it to cause a serious injury, but not enough to immediately lead to death. Ivy was familiar with what that looked like. She'd expected a corpse, but the man entwined in Lyserg's wires was still alive. As Lyserg continued to speak, it was clear that he'd intended a feint. Something to scare the opponent away and lead to a forfeit. Still, there was no mistaking the malice she'd felt in the moment before, even as he cried. A little bit more force, and Team Nile would've no longer had a leader.

All for the sake of what he was declaring to be his form of justice. The idea that causing a little more pain and death was okay if it meant defeating their enemy. A pretty little sermon near recited from the prattling she'd heard of the X-Laws before. They hadn't wasted any moment of the past three months in instilling their doctrine into his mind. The hollow expression on his face, even more void of emotion than Kaede's stoic features, proved that plenty.

Behind her, Luchist was shouting, upset by Lyserg's words, but Hao didn't seem to pay it any mind. He was right. What they were doing and what the X-Laws were doing—it was the same. They'd both chosen paths that meant obliterating those who stood in the way of their goals, even when that inevitably meant there would be blood on their hands, piles of corpses in their wake.

"They're no more righteous than we are."

That's right. No matter what we do, we never insist on purporting our way is the correct one. We simply take what we're capable of, because that's the right of the strong.

But the X-Laws…

They insisted they were upholding a sense of justice. While it pissed Ivy off, she had to admit it did serve as a powerful cornerstone of their resolve. With that sort of dogged devotion backing him, Lyserg was more than enough to handle Team Nile, especially after the psychological advantage he'd gained with his first ruthless strikes. If they were smart, they'd throw the match. While everyone was fighting to realize their ideals, there were more ways to accomplish a dream than being victorious in the Shaman Fight.

Anatel, the leader, didn't seem to think so. He pumped his mana into his Over Soul, Egyptian obelisks and carvings forming massive wings that rained down feathers onto the field. The effect was a curse that would eat away at those affected until their death. With her mana and healing capabilities, Ivy would have been able to brush off the assault, but Lyserg was a very different kind of shaman, and he didn't have as much resistance.

It's impossible to interfere with a match thanks to the Patch's barrier, but if that man does kill Lyserg and Marco or their shitty Iron Maiden doesn't kill him, then I'll—

Then she'd what? Get revenge for an enemy? What good would that even do?

Not an enemy. A friend.

The nausea in her stomach rose to become a pang in her heart, but Ivy didn't have time to process the emotion. Lyserg, knowing that killing the owner of the Over Soul would negate its effects, launched his pendulum at Anatel. His aim was true, and his resolve was solid, but the attack never connected.

Ivy almost couldn't recognize why from her vantage point, but then she saw it. The small pink shape of his fairy spirit ally amongst the blue glow of his mana. She was stopping him, preventing the attack from reaching its intended target—long enough for the feathers to complete their curse. Lyserg tumbled to the ground, his body wracked with coughs.

He could have forced Morphea to continue, dominated her will and taken Anatel's life.

But he didn't.

Relief surged through Ivy enough that she finally dropped back into her seat. Yes, it was a risky move. Yes, not forcing the kill put Lyserg's own life in danger. But the dead could be revived, especially with someone like the Iron Maiden on their side, and choosing not to press the issue meant that Lyserg didn't have to become a murderer, not yet.

Kaede was still peering at Ivy, and Issebella was chattering some sort of nonsense amongst the murmuring commentary from the crowd. It all barely registered. I shouldn't care, and there's still a risk that later he'll make a decision, but for now—

His will isn't strong enough to go on.

Not that it mattered as the Iron Maiden launched across the field, smacking into Lyserg. In some ways, it looked as if the X-Laws' leader was knocking him out of harm's way, but that was optimistic. No matter how many years had passed, Ivy could easily recognize a strike meant for someone that had failed to live up to expectations. A flash of anger coursed into her veins, and it intensified as Marco declared that the only way for Lyserg to remain a member was to come and face punishment later.

She briefly wondered if she could kill the Iron Maiden before dismissing the thought. She wasn't strong enough for that, and, even if she were, Hao wanted the X-Laws to stick around out of a sense of amusement. She couldn't defy that, and there wouldn't be a chance for them to cross paths in the arena, either.

When the time comes, though, I'll kill as many of those damn X-Laws as I can possibly manage.

With a great wave of mana, the Iron Maiden Jeanne fully stepped foot on the arena, her small body framed by her locks of silver hair. To most, her power would seem immeasurable, but it was nothing more than a fraction of Hao's capability. To be scared of someone like that would be pathetic, no matter how much carnage she could cause.

A child cultivated into a weapon of mass destruction while singing pretty words of justice—

The Iron Maiden Jeanne slaughtered all opponents in her way with a holy smile, and the match between X-I and Team Nile came to an end.

The next match was that of Team Funbari Hot Springs versus The Ice Men, but that only held Hao's interest for so long. He'd witnessed Kiyoyama Anna with the Ultra Senji Ryakketsu; it was inevitable she'd drill it into the minds of Yoh and his teammates. Combined with the sheer power of the Futsu no Mitama as a medium and Yoh's new mastery of a compound Over Soul, there would be little his opponents could truly do to stand up to him. The refined abilities of his teammates also contributed to that factor, making the outcome obvious. Hao wouldn't have minded watching the full results, but he had a few visits to make which took precedence.

The first was a quick chat with Tao Ren.

A quick chat that he hadn't expected to involve having a blade drawn at his neck.

Maybe I should've expected it because I provoked his insecurities, but still…

"No more games," Ren said, his hands and blade never once wavering. "I'm no fool. Your barbs don't work on me. You're the one who came after me, so what do you want?" Not that Hao had been hiding it, but it was still clever that Ren noticed. "Maybe you want to know…how I really feel about Yoh?"

"You're a sharp one. I like that. I knew you were good, Tao Ren. No wonder Aviantei has such an interest in you." Hao didn't need to hear the questioning thought with how clearly it was telegraphed in Ren's eyes. "Ah, I suppose you don't know her by that name. 'Lon Ivy' is much more familiar to you, isn't it?"

If possible, the sharp look in Ren's eyes refined even further, nearly more dangerous than the kwan dao still poised at Hao's neck. It was almost adorable. "What do you mean, 'interest'?"

"It's exactly the same as your interest in her." The complex emotions on the matter roiling around in Ren's heart were just as complicated as Aviantei's. Hao couldn't help but wonder what a future with the two of them standing on the same side would look like, how it might push each of them even further past their limits. "Join me."

Ren's hardened expression faltered as his Chinese warlord spirit ally shouted his surprise. Taking advantage of the faint wavering in Ren's mind, Hao continued:

"Join me and you will be able to learn everything. Techniques that surpass the outdated Ultra Senji Ryakketsu. And you will learn about me. Oh, and more about Aviantei, of course. She'd be elated to have you on our side." A chuckle slipped out from his smirk. "Ren, you know you can't defeat me, or Aviantei. Where you are, even the idea of defeating Yoh is a pipe dream."

"Devil! What do you take me for?!"

Ren moved with a ferocity of murderous intent and insecurity, his kwan dao aiming to kill. Hao was able to use his cloak as a screen, integrating his Over Soul to burn the core of the weapon to a crisp—faster than the halberd could turn to ash. His body recognizing the threat, Ren halted his assault, but his mental opposition was at an all-time high.

"Ah, well. I expected resistance the first time. But you'll be mine, soon enough. Next time, you won't be so hostile. Ren…"

Leaving Ren behind in the dust, Hao marked one item off his mental to do list and spread out his awareness. He'd managed to catch Ren after noticing him leave the Patch arena, but his next target was a bit more elusive. Thankfully, it just took a bit of communication with the elements to know where he was going.

The second priority was a warning for Lon Ander.

He'd taken the smart strategy to avoiding large gatherings of participants, likely because he knew, even with their confrontation marked out on the official tournament bracket, that Aviantei wouldn't hesitate the moment that she saw him. At least, within the Shaman Fight, Ander could prepare for the confrontation, for what little good it would do him.

But before then, he should know—

(The trauma and fear, the loss of life, blood spilled, the memory of a terrified child from over a thousand years ago that refused to fade away)

—just what kind of hell he created for himself that day.

Hao found Lon Ander resting in one of the many Patch lodgings on his own, not a teammate in sight—more than likely left behind to report back on the tournament, as Hao was having his own followers do. He did look a lot like Aviantei in some ways: the same angles in their face, matching shades of chocolate brown hair and eyes, though Ander kept his a bit shorter and messier. He was taller, too, with a lanky build that compacted in muscle from years of unrelenting molding. Between his tight top and baggier pants not too different from Tao Ren's attire, his almost European features seemed out of place, but the gold on vibrant violet of his clothes proudly proclaimed his family allegiance.

With the unwavering gaze of someone who was used to not backing down against those that were clearly more powerful than him, Lon Ander looked up to where Hao had perched himself on the window frame.

"Well, well, well," Ander said, voice drawling out the English syllables with fluent ease, not even budging from his relaxed sprawl, "I didn't expect to get a VIP visit from the top contender of the tournament that everyone's pissing their pants about." Fear resonated out from him, but Ander had plenty of skill in not letting it show. If it weren't for his mind reading capability, Hao might not have even noticed. "I'm pretty sure I'm not even a concern to you. So what do I owe the honor of this visit to, Asakura Hao?"

Not many things could take Hao by surprise, but the fact that someone like Ander knew his family name was unexpected, to say the least. He's well informed for someone with such a single-minded goal. But I suppose it's not all that impossible. Hao maintained his usual placid smile. "You're right. Normally, I'd have no concern for someone like you. However, we do have someone rather important connecting us, don't we?

"So tell me. Do you know what happened to Aviantei after you left her in that fire?"

Ander sat up, all traces of his previous casual demeanor gone. "So Avi-hime got picked up by you, huh? Would you consider that lucky or unlucky?" Hao didn't answer. There was no need to entertain this child's questions. "Well, if she's made it this far at your side, then I'm sure she's gotten even better. So that just means this is the perfect time to bring her back home."

"Second question," Hao said, ignoring the thread of the conversation Ander was trying to pursue, "do you have any idea why you're even alive right now?"

When I could blink and burn you and your soul to ashes right now, when I could have hunted you down nine years ago, when Aviantei herself could have slaughtered you long before this very moment?

With Hao not even bothering to hide his murderous intent, Ander was frozen in place by the sheer output of mana. The conflagration Hao could unleash with just the oxygen in the room was immense, and that was just counting a direct Over Soul—never mind what else he could harness from the elements.

"It's because Aviantei has a misplaced idea of her own strength," Hao said, letting flames dance between his fingertips. The light emphasized the fear in Ander's eyes. "Holding herself up to a ridiculous standard, she's convinced herself that she's needed this much time to overcome you—as if you could ever outstrip her in raw talent, let alone effort.

"After all, how could a mere priest ever hope to defeat a princess, Huarthian?"

The sound of his elemental name dropped so casually into the conversation eliminated the last of Ander's composure, and he broke out into a cold sweat. He must have understood, just how willing the elements were to bend to Hao's will. Satisfied, Hao allowed himself a chuckle.

"Of course, it's not just Aviantei's insecurity keeping you alive. You see, I wouldn't mind being the one to kill you myself." Just thinking of the story, of the pain Aviantei had suppressed inside herself—it brought up too many aching memories of Hao's own for him to ignore it. "But I decided long ago that being able to destroy you is important to her, so I'll let her handle things on her own. So you should be grateful that you've had this much time on this earth before it comes to an end. Because I can assure you—

"You're not going to make it out of your match alive."

More than satisfied with the resulting fear overwhelming Ander's mind, Hao dismissed himself by hopping out the window and adjusting his cloak back into place as he began the return to their base, the oncoming sounds of the stadium's crowd exiting as the matches of the Shaman Fight for the day came to the close.

I shouldn't stay out too late when tomorrow's such a big day, after all. No matter how insignificant X-III may be, it's always best to be in top shape before a match.

And, thinking of the possibilities to come, Hao's expression settled into his customary smile as he walked beneath the crystal-clear lights of the stars above.

[Author's Notes]

Greetings, everyone. I hope that you're doing well amidst the COVID-19 situation that's ongoing right now. In case you were wondering, I'm doing okay. I'm not in any risk groups, and my work can be conducted 100% online, so I only need to go out to purchase groceries, and I'm not in any financial distress. I sincerely hope you're all doing safe and that seeing this story update will be enough to help stave off some of the stay at home boredom that may be creeping up on you.

Loads of thanks go out to niln, Diamond D' Natsuki, kyokosa2gawa015, LyriaHart, and 22 for the favorites, follows, and reviews since the last update. Y'all are amazing. Now, are you ready for some good news?

I may still be working, but I've had plenty of time to write, as many other fic writers have experienced. In my case, the time to write just happened to coincide with a wave of energy and inspiration on this fic, and I'm pleased to announce that as of last week, I've finished drafting out the rest of the story. Yes, that's right; the stars fucking aligned, and it only took me eleven years to knock this sucker out. I'm even in the process of rewriting the earliest chapters and am planning on conducting overall edits just to make this story shine and feel like a more cohesive product. I normally don't rewrite my old chapters (I'd never stop, otherwise), but this fic means a lot to me, so I want it to be the best it can currently be before I put it to rest.

So what does that mean from your reader perspective? First up: bi weekly updates. Every Saturday, you'll get a new chapter, no exceptions. Updates to the early chapters will wait until I've completed the rewrites. I'll let you know when those suckers go live. It'll probably take at least until a few weeks into May, or even later.

Anywho, this chapter is more poking around in canon events, as well as looking at the variance on Hao's attempt to recruit Ren, plus more Ander! So much is happening and will happen. We'll be seeing a lot more canon scenes, as well as plenty of new additions as we work our way through the tournament on the Island of Tokyo and beyond!

Thanks once more to all of y'all for being amazing readers this whole time. I hope you enjoy reading the rest of this fic as much as I enjoyed doing a deep dive once more into the world of Shaman King and writing the conclusion.

Next time - Part Twenty-Eight: "Vulnerability." See you in two weeks, folks. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[04.27.2020]/[06.27.2020]