THE END WAR – MING DAI'S DIVINE ABILITY
The Imperial Palace
The Imperial Guard's generals are gradually drifting apart. They were never an especially unified team to begin with. Safura was able to make them work together, but even she couldn't take away who they are. They are a series of powerful individuals. The sadistic General Nero who used questionable means throughout her career. The mighty Alaa who loves nothing more than a competitive striking match. The wise Rana who has only ever fought because the circumstances demanded it. The thorough Odion who manages his subordinates more precisely than anyone else. The cheerful Yasmine who enjoys pushing boundaries and teasing her opponents. The empty Dodi who is devoid of ambition and has arrived in his position by coincidence.
Only two of them are a real team, only two of them stand together no matter what. These two are just like their royals Nadia and Swen with their friendship. It is of course General Odion and General Dodi. As the battle expands and the others go their separate ways they stand together. They each know how the other fights, they know how best to integrate their movements with one another, they are the best team in the Imperial Guard. That is why when they see a series of their subordinates being cut down they make the natural decision to intervene. The opponents they have selected are class 8 warriors, but they are not a team. This is surely their fight to win.
The opponents that Odion and Dodi are stood in front of are from the Beast Kingdom. They are the first and second in line to the throne of that kingdom and will be to the throne of Aturia should they win this battle. Naturally it is Princess Emilie the Leopard and Duke Laurent the Gorilla, users of 'strength' and 'intimidation' energy respectively. It is no coincidence that Odion and Dodi have chosen them as their opponents. Dodi is not only the General for Seblix, the land in which the original Beast Kingdom was located, he is also the user of the Perfect Memory divine ability. No human knows more about the Beast Kingdom's ranks than Dodi.
The most important fact of all in selecting Emilie and Dodi as opponents is the enmity between them. While Emilie has never trusted the humans she has long been the leader of a political wing which has spoken of working with them. Emilie has always favoured a policy of begrudged coexistence. Laurent is more of a traditional thinker, like many beasts that came before him he always favoured war with the humans. Laurent wanted to treat humanity the same way they have treated the beasts all these years. That line of thinking only began to change when a human cured Fauna Blight, when the Beast Kingdom was saved by Uzumaki Naruto.
"Emilie, continue protecting the others, I can handle these two by myself," Laurent declares.
"Don't be foolish. These two are elite generals. Odion is a rare 'time' user who can confuse anyone in a battle. Dodi uses 'absence' energy, in the right circumstances he can pass straight through your attacks. Neither of us can take on the two of them alone, we have to work as a team."
"We are not a team Emilie."
"We have to be, otherwise how will we ever win?"
Odion heard the rumours of Emilie and Laurent's dislike for each other, but he didn't know that it went this far. He suspected that on the battlefield they would be able to put their differences aside. That doesn't seem to be happening. Even now when it would obviously mean a two-on-one fight Laurent prefers not to work with Emilie. It is a shame that the princess is not listening to the duke, fighting them one at a time would certainly make things easier for the generals.
"I'm surprised that the Beast Kingdom has never rebelled before," Odion remarks. "The two of you are definitely close to the general level. The other beasts here seem quite strong too, even if they need your help. I guess that you were held back only by your cowardice."
"You dare—" Laurent begins.
Emilie smartly cuts Laurent off. "Don't fall for his provocations! He is trying to make you angry so that you charge in carelessly. Listen General Bata Odion. Yes, some of us remember your real name. The Beast Kingdom has never been afraid of humanity, we have always been ready for a fight, even when we were the underdogs. The reason we have never rebelled is because of Fauna Blight. With Fauna Blight every lost soldier meant potentially losing the king, but now we have no such restriction.
"The King can fight with nothing held back. He can lead the mighty kingdom of beasts into this battle without worry because he won't die here. None of us are going to die here because we are strong. When this battle is over and we spare your lives at the Pocket Emperor's request you will understand just who we are. We are the Beast Kingdom, and we are what the Imperial Guard could never be, we are strong both in power and resolve."
Odion runs towards Emilie, eager to test her theory. Just as he makes his final approach he uses golden 'time' energy to slow her perception and make his final strike easier. He swings to the side slightly and strikes towards her with a golden 'time' bat. Emilie uses golden 'speed' to move, swatting the bat away in spite of her slowed perceptions. Odion frowns, it seems that Emilie was telling the truth.
At the same time Dodi runs at Laurent. He realises that he has a significant strength disadvantage against a gorilla, but he has other advantages. He uses his golden 'absence' energy to run through Laurent and then turns to attack him from behind. For a moment Laurent looks over his shoulder and fires a piercing stare towards Dodi. The General for Seblix freezes, an effect of Laurent's golden 'intimidation' energy. Laurent makes use of this momentary hesitation to turn and powerfully strike Dodi backwards.
The first exchanges is won by the Beast Kingdom.
"I don't often agree with Emilie, but she is right," Laurent declares. "The Beast Kingdom never has been weak. And right now we are stronger than we have ever been."
Nearby, the Imperial Palace
Nero has one particular opponent in mind for this battle. The time has finally come for her to take her rightful place as the Head General of the Imperial Guard. If she wants a smooth transition to that role there is one opponent she needs to surpass, one opponent who defeating will mark her role as the strongest. That opponent is former Head General Al-Aziz Safura. Currently Safura is fighting with Ashen against Petra, but Nero is pleased to see that her queen is finally using her full power. She is sure that removing Safura from that fight will be to Petra's advantage.
Nero doesn't get that chance.
Someone tackles Nero to the ground from behind, clearly a powerful class 8 warrior. That warrior starts to hit Nero repeatedly in the back of the head, throwing left and right hands as if possessed. The person is clearly filled with rage, just like Nero. Nero spins on the ground, throwing her assailant off her back. As the new Head General gets to her feet the assailant rushes towards her and strikes at her again. Nero catches the strike and pushes it back with her newfound strength, each moment she is getting angrier, each moment she is getting stronger. She delivers a powerful kick to her attacker's torso, driving them back and getting a clear look at them for the first time.
Nero smiles, as if there was any doubt. Her attacker is Marti Nina.
"Marti Nina, why are you so obsessed with me? Are you counting on burns to the right side this time? You won't be so lucky a third time. This time I'm just going to kill you."
Nina activates her golden 'lightning' power for several seconds in an intense burst. Nearby fighters from the Imperial Guard and the rebellion each watch where they step as the ground is supercharged. There is a tremendous thunderclap above them and the sky blackens. Nina raises her hand into the air and summons a bolt of golden 'lightning' down from above, increasing her power several times. It is her modification of the technique Naruto created; this is Lightning-Gathering. She throws her hand forward, hitting a surprised Nero in the head with the golden 'lightning'.
Nero is flipped onto her back. She can feel small vibrations through the ground as Nina approaches her. She tries to get to her feet but Nina flies through the air and stamps her shoulder back into the ground. Nina leans over her opponent and strike frantically at her again. She has abandoned any desire to fight a smart fight and is attacking Nero with nothing held back. After a few seconds Nero catches Nina's fist and begins using her Razor Skin divine ability, hurting the teacher every second they are in contact. Nina is long past caring. She pulls Nero up a short way off the ground and kicks her repeatedly until the Head General releases her. Once the contact is broken Nina kicks Nero in the ribcage, throwing her backward into a group of captains.
Nero orders the captains to their feet, telling them to form a ring around her, temporarily protecting her from Nina.
"You are bold to attack me Nina. I was strong enough to become Head General last time we fought, but now I am stronger than I have ever been before. I am stronger than Safura could ever be! Now you have given me a chance to prove that."
Nina uses Lightning-Gathering once again, supercharging her hand and dragging it back, ready to cast a bolt of golden 'lightning' towards Nero and her protective ring. She has hated Nero more than she has ever hated anyone before. She is not letting her win for a third time, this time she will find a way to change things. Naruto, Sarada, Hannah, they are her 9th, 10th and 11th students and they are fighting people even stronger than Nero. She will not let the Head General cause any more problems for her students, for those she thinks of as her son and her daughters.
"Would you attack when I am surrounded by such weak captains?" Nero asks. "Look at them Nina. This one has only recently joined the Imperial Guard; he looks terrified doesn't he? If you attack you will kill at least three of them. Are you willing to live with that?"
Nina throws her hand forward. Nero's estimate was conservative. The Lightning-Gathering strike doesn't eliminate three of the captains, it eliminates all of them. All that remains is the black scorch marks on the ground where the terrified guardsmen and guardswomen stood. Nero is surprised, she narrows her eyes and glares at Nina.
"I fight with good people. I teach good people. I side with good people," Nina says. "But Nero, remember why you were sent after me in the first place. I am the famous bandit Marti Nina. No matter how much I associate with these good people, don't think for a second that I am one of them."
Nero laughs. "Do you really think you can fight like me, without consideration for the enemy? No, you don't have it in you. You have tried that before and it has never worked for you. The last time we fought you only survived because Naruto's power suddenly increased. He is not going to save you this time. The only way you can fight is with mercy in the back of your mind. You can only defeat someone like me if you are planning to spare me. I'm not afraid of someone like that."
"I am not going to spare you."
"Really? You think of me too much. Take those students of yours. I often forget that they ever existed, I was there for you not them. You think about your enemy all the time, but I don't even remember their names. Do you?"
Nina clenches her fist tightly. "Liao Huo, Lang Yu, Shi Ju, Qian Xun, Shen Hui, Jiang Zexi, Kong Lan, Cao Fen, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sarada, Hannah. I will never forget any of those names. Every time I think of what you did to the first eight my blood boils.
"Nero, I told you, I am not like them. I am not a hero. I am a bandit. I don't care if the rebellion can forgive me or not. I am going to kill you!"
Nearby, the Imperial Palace
Shao Chin watches solemnly from afar as Ming Dai systematically loses to his father. To begin with Dai used his 'strength' cleverly to outwit his father, but as time moves on that is becoming more and more difficult. As time goes on the majority of Dai's approaches are interrupted as Swen uses golden 'psychic' energy to lift his son and throw him away. The student of Muto Sora is becoming tired. Shao Chin only hopes that Dai is waiting for the right moment to show his trump card, to fight back.
Ming Dai stands across from his father, his breathes deep. 'Now is the time,' he decides. He hasn't used this power in a long time. He gathers 'lightning' energy on his hand and throws it towards Swen. The Lazy King raises his hand and catches the 'lightning' energy likes it's nothing. He simply glances at his son and questions how he could ever have thought that technique would work against him. 'Doesn't he know how many 'lightning' users I've fought. I've fought at least two-hundred.'
"At least two-hundred," Ming Dai says.
Swen starts. "What did you just say?"
"That's how many 'lightning' users you think you have fought. At least two-hundred."
"How do you know that?"
"It's handy isn't it? Being able to invade people's thoughts, hearing what they think, knowing the minds of everyone around you. It has been a very long time since I last did it."
Swen takes a step forward and looks into his son's eyes. He sees a reflection of his own appearance, the result of his 'psychic' powers. Whenever Swen uses 'psychic' energy his eyes turn a light pink colour, the same colour as his energy. He struggles to believe it but right now Ming Dai's eyes are that same colour. Ming Dai raises his hand, pointing his open palm at his father. A new energy travels the length of Ming Dai's arm, an energy a mixture of gold and pink. Ming Dai points that hand at his father and gestures towards himself.
With a great force Hoffman Swen is dragged off his feet and flies in Ming Dai's direction. Just as he arrives before Dai, the energy on the prince's hand changes from pink to green. Ming Dai's arm is also suddenly wrapped in 'lightning' energy. With the 'strength' and 'lightning' in place, Dai strikes his father in the chest as hard as he can. He takes him out of the air and slams him down into the ground, delivering a mighty attack.
Swen is shocked. That last attack was more severe than any his son has delivered so far. He uses his own golden 'psychic' energy to push himself back along the ground away from his son. Dai reaches out with his hand, using 'psychic' energy to resist Swen's attempted escape. Dai runs over to the now stationary King of Gavaria, he stands above him and with golden 'strength' and 'lightning' strikes down towards his chest. Swen partially activates his Energy Body divine ability, converting his hand to pure energy as he blocks his son's attack. He then converts his foot as well, kicking Dai in the chest to create some much-needed separation between the two of them.
Swen flips backwards onto his feet and looks at his son once again. He cannot believe what he is seeing, Dai is using three types of energy. He is using 'strength' energy, 'lightning' energy and even 'psychic' energy. From afar Shao Chin smiles, it seems that Ming Dai's full power has finally been revealed. This is the full potential of Muto Sora's student, of the rebellion's best kept secret.
"How long have you understood 'psychic' energy," Swen asks.
"I do not understand 'psychic' energy."
"Then how—"
"Because you do," Ming Dai says. "I have always been ashamed of my divine ability. You are the reason I am ashamed to use it. I told my teacher that I wouldn't be using it not long after discovering it and he understood completely. But Sora was wise, he didn't say anything but I think he knew this day would come eventually, when I was forced to use this power.
"My divine ability was a stroke of luck or bad luck depending on your perspective. For most people it would do nothing, but for me it made a world of difference. My divine ability lets me use the elements of my ancestors. I have two ancestors who use divine energy, one of them must have been a 'lightning' user. Since you haven't worked it out I assume they were on mother's side of the family. The other divine energy user is you. That's why my divine ability lets me use not just 'lightning' energy, but golden 'psychic' energy as well. It can turn me into a class 9 warrior."
Swen tests this. He throws ranged golden 'psychic' attacks at his son. Dai picks all of these attacks out the air, replying with identical golden 'psychic' attacks, showing an identical proficiency with the element to his father. He may not have the experience Swen has, but he has the training of Muto Sora, the one teacher who could have foreseen this eventuality and prepared Dai for it without the prince realising. Their attacks cancel each other out perfectly.
"You are responsible for my mother's death," Ming Dai says. "I can never forgive you for that. In my entire life you have only ever given me one thing as my father, that is the power to fight back against you!"
In Resposne to Demon90340
Who asks if Hannah knows any other techniques
She learnt Impact Absorption from Nina at the same time as Naruto.
She also has a variety of techniques she developed herself such as Light-Speed.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Darkest Wizard
Who asks who the strongest general after Nero is
That's a good question, I've never given it much thought.
Either Alaa or Yasmine.
It's hard to say.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to reader
Who points out some typos
I will fix those immediately.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Sarada chan san
Who asks what Erik's divine ability is
It lets him create barriers.
Thanks for reading.