SOD: Alright, 10k away.
Andrew: You're really counting it down, huh?
SOD: Yes I am.
Andrew: So what's coming up?
SOD: You'll just have to read and find out~.
Andrew: But Shinn!
SOD: Silly Andrew. You think I'd spoil this chapter and especially the next?
Andrew: I can't wait, damn it! Tell me!
SOD: ... Literally you'll find out tomorrow.
Andrew: That's too long!
SOD: Boi if you don't go and read some manga you better.
Andrew: But I've read all of the ones that interest me!
Relon widens before catching himself.
"Is that so? That explains why Mister said your name so casually when we first met."
"Yes. Yujiro Namikaze. Cecily Namikaze. Norowareta Namikaze. And now Relon Lucinance. Quite the odd one out, wouldn't you say."
"Just hearing you say my full name leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Though it would be worse if you said my name correctly." Relon grins gaining odd looks from Claire and Lechter and the grin on Osborne to cease.
"Oh? Then pray tell, what is your name?"
"Curious to find out? If so, I wouldn't a friendly wager. Say a sparring match against you." Everyone looking surprised by this as the man's grin returns.
"Go on."
"You win, I tell you my name and you get to see first hand what I'm capable of if you're still secretly obsessed with having me be an Ironblood. I win, I get to see your Hundred Forms Military Combat in action."
"That's quite the absurd proposal." Giliath laughs.
"Well, if you want to keep treating me like a child the way you are, then you'll get an absurd proposal. That is, if you can even do it. You're such a busy man, I wouldn't be surprised if you had a meeting to get to." Relon retorts glaring at the man.
"Relon, what are you thinking?!"
"I'm with Claire. That isn't wise. Not at all."
"Mister told you when we first met. I'm no child." He states with finality as the air increases in temperature.
"Fine then." Everyone looks to the chancellor. "If you wish to give me an absurd question, then I shall return to you an absurd answer. I accept."
"Sir/Boss?!"
"Great." Relon causally grins.
Entering the palace, Relon and co. see the royal family still where they were now giving them odd looks.
"Alfin, can you look after Noro for a while longer? I got some business to take care of." Relon smiles, the girl looking past him to widen.
"O-Okay! Come on, Reta. I can show you to my room!" The sister nodding glancing back at Relon.
"I'll be back soon, sis."
"But..."
"You have nothing to worry about, milady. He'll be back soon, I assure you ." Olivert interjects smiling for Norowareta to warily nod.
Glancing to Olivert, Relon silently thanks the man.
"It seems we've missed something. Care to explain, Giliath?" The king questions.
"Yes, your majesty. Relon and I have reached an indifference in our light dispute and to better understand such, we have opted to participate in a friendly sparring match. It is worthy to note that I've held quite an interest in him over the years."
"Possibly as an Ironblood?" The king questions eyeing the man.
"Yes. Exactly right."
"Relon, is this true?" The queen looks over to the boy.
"Yes it is." He grins excitedly. "Lead the way to the sparring room, boss." Relon says mentally throwing up in his mouth.
Everyone including the royal family heads in the direction, Giliath ahead with the king and queen behind followed by Claire and Lechter leaving Relon and Olivert in the rear.
"And that's everything that happened in the span of five minutes."
"I see. I do want to remind you how unwise this is."
"I know. But, it's like you said. 'With every day, we all surpass our previous selves and this will continue to.' By the end of today, that will fit me to a T."
"Are you sure you wish to go through this?"
"I am. There's a few things I want to know and plan to get. And after my years of training, now is the best time to test myself and get a few answers."
Ahead of them, Claire closes her eyes in defeat hearing the teen's answer.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine." Lecter reassures.
"Is that you saying it or your instincts?"
"Both."
"Lechter..."
"Have faith. If Relon feels confident enough to challenge the boss, then he must have grown stronger than we anticipated."
"... Thanks." She glances back to the boy talking with Olivert.
Relon, please... be careful.
Sparring Room
"With everything Mister had me doing at the time, I can see why he didn't want me training here. This place couldn't hold the both of us." Relon comments to himself eyeing the humongous room. (That and it is oddly cold in here. Is the AC on high or something?)
Along the sidelines are the king, queen, Olivert, Lechter, and Claire. Hearing a door open, Relon looks in the direction to see Osborne wearing a black skintight bodysuit clearly showing his abs and muscles.
Rolling his neck and cracking his knuckles, both approach the other.
"Not gonna lie, I like the bodysuit. Got one in my size?"
"Hahaha, sadly I do not. But if I find you worthy, then maybe I'll see what I can do."
"Heh." (Still lying I see.)
(I haven't a clue what you speak of. Everything I've said has been the truth.)
Twitching an eyebrow, he watches Osborne release a large black sword.
"Pippin, hang back for now." Relon smirks eyeing the man, his sword flying from its sheathe to fly to the back wall.
"Relon, what are you thinking?"
"Hold on, he's up to something." Lechter notes.
"What are you planning?" Osborne eyes the teen.
"Nothing much." Relon says revealing his gloves from his pockets. "I'm just curious as to how your hand-to-hand combat compares to mine. I could use a few tips." He states putting on the last glove.
"Ha.. haha, very well." Osborne walks to the other side placing his sword in the ground before coming back to the center, both getting into a fighting stance.
"I have some questions and I know this fight will tell me a few of them."
"If it is answers you seek, then claim them you must."
"You don't have to tell me."
"Good. Then come!" Osbrone shouts.
"Careful, Osborne! Underestimate me and you'll get burned!" Relon lunges forward throwing a punch to connect with Osborne's open palm.
Got him.
Before the man can grab hold, Relon jerks his arm back to deliver a quick spin kick. Raising his arms, Giliath blocks the kick skidding to a halt. Looking back, he sees Relon already on him.
"He's gotten way faster since that day on the Gigantic!" Lechter notes amazed.
Throwing a punch, Relon tilts his head avoiding it, the man's knuckles grazing his cheek as he delivers a punch to be blocked with Giliath's other hand. Gripping it tightly, he speaks through his teeth.
"Got you!" He begins to spin Relon around and around.
"That's what you think!" Going with the rotation, he pulls himself closer to deliver a punch for the man to parry as he throws Relon across the room. Recovering, he flips to land on his feet.
Noting his sword hover down, he shakes his head walking towards Osborne.
"I give you praise. Your are are sharp but predictable." The man states with crossed arms.
"Yeah. I already know that. So what if I change styles? Tell me, did you ever fight Mister?"
Narrowing his eyes, the man answers.
"No, I only saw from a distance his sparring matches."
"Heh, perfect." Hunching over, Relon looks up to take off once more. "Then bear witness to the Beastial Arts!" Relon announces blitzing the man.
Readying himself, Osborne gives a side punch for Relon to jump over and land on the extended arm. Pulling back, flips back and down towards the ground, the ball of his boot connecting with the man's chin sending him back a few feet.
"Whoa!" Lechter gasps as do the rest of the spectators.
"Come on!" Relon shouts as Giliath disregards the slight pain, both rearing back a fist to collide sending the two sliding back wincing and shaking their hands.
"Bring it!" Osborne demands, Relon rushing directly at the man to crouch launching himself up attempting an uppercut but Osborne leans back retaliating with a strong fist which Relon narrowly blocks as he lands onto his back skidding over and back to his feet.
Looking up, he jumps back avoiding a stomp from the military man. Throwing a punch, Relon deflects it as retaliating with a knee aimed at Osborne's abdomen. Blocking the teen's knee with his own, Giliath pushes Relon off to punch again which Relon dodges only to deliver a backfist though Relon guards this skidding to a halt.
Rushing back in, faster than before, Relon jumps swinging a kick for the man to block pushing him off only for Relon to jump back at the man. Extending an arm to grab the speedy boy, Relon spins in midair avoiding the hand to land on the ground.
"Take this!" He clenches his fist thrusting it towards the man's stomach pushing him off his feet to the other side where his sword stands.
"Heh, quite impressive. I believe that's enough with the warmup, don't you?" He takes his bastard sword in hand walking towards Relon.
"You can start going all out, I'm still just getting started!" Relon and Giliath take off, the man swinging his blade downwards as Relon thrusts forward a punch, the two colliding to a standstill.
"Quite the unique gloves you have there. Mind if I get a pair?"
"Sorry, currently out. Though if I find out what I want, then maybe we can work something out!" Relon exclaims pushing away the sword to deliver a barrage of punches, Giliath blocking with the side.
"He's actually making the boss go on the defensive...!"
"Relon...! Unbelievable...!"
"He's grown far more than I anticipated." The queen comments.
"And he still isn't going all out." Olivert adds.
"Just how far he's come remains to be seen." The king notes.
Swiping horizontally, Relon backflips out of the way, to launch himself forward. Seeing this chance, Osborne swings his sword back but is blocked by Relon's backfist to his shock.
"Here's a knuckle sandwich!" Colliding his fist with the cheek of the chancellor's, Relon pushes him off his feet and rolling a good ways. "THAT WAS FOR THE LIVES OF THE MANY YOU RUINED!" He bellows, all widening at the proclamation, especially Olivert.
Relon... So that's what you meant earlier.
Getting to a knee, the man glares back at the boy rubbing his mouth of the small blood that's escaped. Standing, he eyes the boy silently. Getting into a stance slowly, Relon readies himself.
"Uh oh. Boss is finally getting serious."
In a burst of speed, Osborne disappears to Relon shock. Immediately rolling to his side, he gets to a knee seeing Osborne with his sword extended towards the space Relon was just at.
"So. You finally decided to get a little serious, Osborne." Relon gets to his feet. "That could have possibly killed me, you know?"
"I was confident you would either block it or dodge. Your reaction time is more phenomenal than I first thought."
"Tch, excuses." Relon takes off as Giliath goes on the offensive, Relon forced to counter each deadly strike with his fists.
Pulling back his sword, Osborne drives it forward as Relon blocks to be sent crashing into the wall.
"If you wish to continue this spar, I would suggest you use your sword." He notes dryly.
"And I would suggest you stop holding back still." Relon gets to his feet glaring at the man.
"What good would come from going all out against you?"
"Simple, you would see what I'm truly capable of. You do want to confirm with your eyes just how much I'm already capable of, don't you." Relon grins maniacally.
"I know what you are up to but... you're right. Very well." A dark battle arua surrounds the chancellor before with a mighty shout, it disperses. "I shall come at you with a higher difficulty." With that statement, odd black symbols appear around him.
Wait, are those...!
"He's using arts now?!" Claire exclaims.
"Grim Butterfly!" He announces, a swarm of butterflies surround the teen before a black and purple explosion erupts.
"Relon!" Olivert exclaims as everyone looks in shock.
An eerie moment of silence follows as the smoke begins to clear.
"Is that the best you have? After all of that bravado, I am clearly disappointed." Osborne calls out earning looks from the audience.
At his call, what seems like a flaming comet shoots out of the smoke and straight towards Osborne. Bringing up his sword, he blocks the attack as he is shot off towards the far off wall. Wincing as he picks himself up, he takes sight of Relon shaking his hand.
"Phew. Had me worried." Claire sighs easing herself.
"Told you there was nothing to worry about. But did you catch that attack? Seems pretty strong."
"Yes, but... it seems to have hurt Relon as well."
"Bold of you to assume I would be done after a little surprise like that. Or was that taunt just to make me start trying as well." Relon calls out as the man rises.
"Hmpf, if I had to say, I'd go with the latter. I can see now how you managed to take down a Leaguient. Now then, show me what else you can do." Another amount of black symbols circle the man.
"Before we do, I have a question for you." The mention of the question causing Osborne to halt his casting.
"And what might that be?"
"Your lordship." Relon calls looking to the king. "Did you really tell Osborne about my fire?"
All look to the king and after a moment, he nods.
"Yes, I did."
"Hm. I see."
"That's all for now." Relon says. "Alright..." Bobbing his head, heat emanates from him. "This works out pretty well. I get to beat up on the chancellor some more and I get to show off my training to their majesties." He off-handedly comments to himself.
"You seem quite confident considering your predicament."
"You can drop the charade, Osborne. I know you're aware of what I'm truly capable of."
If I had concrete proof, I'd ask if you knew anything about my past but I doubt you'd answer.
"Hmhmhm. You assume too much of me."
"More like I assume too little."
"Ha. I enjoy our... talks."
"Sorry, can't relate."
What I would enjoy is getting some damn answers.
"I assumed as much, but I do believe we've prattled on long enough." He lowers readying his blade.
"You know, I'm getting really irritated at this act you're putting on."
"I seem to not understand what you're implying." He smirks.
"Of course you don't... Fine then, be that way. Don't say I didn't warn you after I wipe that smug grin off your face." Relon readies himself.
"Then, by all means, have at it."
Both eye the other before taking action. Giliath proceeding to cast an art and Relon rearing his arm back to release dozens of cinders. Stopping his casting, Osborne gives a mighty swing of his blade dispelling the many flickers to reveal Relon having jumped afterwards. Attempting to bring back his blade, Relon blocks it throwing a punch for Osborne to do the same.
"Since you're aware of my fire, I might as well use it!" Relon exclaims, his hand quickly catching on fire forcing Osborne to push the boy away inspecting his hand. "Told you when we first started." Relon calls gaining the man's attention. "Fight me and you'll get burned!" He repeats unleashing a large stream of fire easily larger than the chancellor himself.
"Dark Blast!" Osborne casts, a black flame releasing from a circle colliding with Relon's own.
Wait a second. He's using fire to fight my own?
Ceasing in an instant, the Dark Blast tears through until Relon is swallowed in its heat.
"RELON!" Claire cries out getting to her feet for the black flames the enshroud the boy to burst into nothing.
"You know, Osborne. I have to thank you. I was starting to get get tired but thanks to that wake up flame, I'm wide awake." Relon states unharmed.
"Thank goodness." Claire sighs seating herself.
"So you are immune to fire. You continue to interest me."
"Yeah. Though I'm more interested in how you'll handle this!" He punches the air, a humongous flamethrower bigger than his previous one blazes towards the chancellor.
"Crescent Mirror!" A white barrier covers the chancellor as the flame rebounds over an leaving a large burned marking along the ground and wall around the man.
"To think you'd have to use arts against a guy that was originally sticking to hand-to-hand combat. I don't know whether to say that's sad on your part or great for me considering I seem to pose quite the difficulty. Though I'm not complaining. The harder you want to fight, the better the victory will feel when I win."
"Hmpf. I wouldn't be too sure of yourself. This is all a test after all. I wish to see just how much you can handle. How long will it take for you to struggle for victory? As you can see, I am not in the least bit tired. Rather, I feel quite energized. It has been quite some time since I've been able to relieve myself like such. For that, I am most grateful, Relon." He states walking towards Relon and stopping back at the center of the field.
"Just shut up with the roundabout excuses and fight me." Relon groans blasting another fire towards Osborne who puts up another shield.
Rushing forward to jump, Relon ceases his attack diving down and punching the barrier shattering it to once again collide with Osborne's blade.
"Do you hate me? Despise me? For who I am? For what I've done?"
"Yes to all of that and plenty more! How about using whatever cronies to keep tabs on me or using such merciless methods to claim victory!" Once again, Relon is pushed away sliding to a halt.
"Do you honestly believe people will simply listen? You have to give them a reason to listen! You don't understand that!"
"What I understand is that force isn't always an option!" Relon shouts back.
"Oh?! What makes you so sure? Either you take the left road down or you take the right path further up! The left represents inferiority and the right superiority. There is no middle path! I have chosen to rise up to those that wish to stand against us! What I do is for the greater good!"
"YOU'RE WRONG!" Flames expel all over the room and across the floor though none come close to the spectators.
Everyone including Osborne in awe at the young man's appearance. Taking a deep breath. He calms himself reverting to normal.
"You're wrong." He calmly says. "There's always a choice." He raises his hand to show a small fire.
Grasping it into a fist, he raises his hand into the air. All of the fire being drawn in.
"I could either leave the room as it was to burn or I could get everyone out. The low path being the simply leave and the high path being to save the civilians. Yet, I just chose neither. I stopped the fire. I chose a middle path that was hidden from plain view where both the room remained in tact as did the civilians remain safe."
Giliath remains silent.
"Your majesties, Claire, Lechter. Are you all alright?" Relon ask for the group to nod. "I'm sorry about that outburst."
Looking back to Osborne, he gazes at his fire releasing arm.
"This power I was born with. It's powerful and it wasn't until after we dealt with Arentula that I gained control. All I have to do is become angry, but you know something Osborne? I'm always angry. Angry at how weak I was that Alfin had such a terrifying experience. Angry at not having all of the answers I seek. Angry at the way this country is."
"Angry at how you run things. Angry at why syndicates such as the Senate and whoever else out there wishes to bring about chaos and ruin to Erebonia. No, to the world. Looking at the whole picture, I feel so helpless. I'm only 17.I can't do much. But... I can look for that third path. One that allows both the left and the right to be of equal footing."
"I don't like you and I certainly don't like the methods you use. I am certain I never will. But from your point of view, you seem to be doing things for the greater good but from others, you're not. I'm not trying to convince you that you've been doing your job wrong. I'm simply telling you that you don't always have to use such brutal methods."
"Peace is a versatile thing." Everyone looks to Olivert who now stands. "Throughout history, peace has come through two side wagering war against the other to the point, that the sheer number of casualties was enough for either if not both sides to simply want no more. This third path Relon speaks of can lead to a new path. One which the the world if not the Erebonian empire needs. I too wish to believe in this. What say you, Chancellor?"
All eyes fall upon the iron man.
"Such methods have but one weakness." He begins, Relon and Olivert eyeing the man. "You say you chose the middle path by ridding this room of flames. I say you were the cause for all three paths opening up. Had I wanted, I could have stopped you within mere seconds. That would have prevented the whole incident from occurring in the first place!" He shouts. "I was appointed chancellor because my methods were the most efficient regardless of the end result. Crush the opposing force before more tragedies can sprout. I am the one who shreds away every weed before they can sprout affecting others! Tell me, Relon, Prince Olivert. Is that wrong?" He finishes.
Closing his eyes for a mere moment, Olivert shifts to Relon. His body trembling with clenched fists. Heat noticeably radiating off of him.
"Damn you...!" Everyone looks to Relon as he grips his chest. "Does none of it mean anything to you? DOES NOT SAVING POSSIBLE LIVES MATTER?!" Relon cries out.
"Why would I condemn the lives of the few for the lives of many?" He answers coldly. "I care more about the lives of my people. My soldiers than the lives of our enemies. It is their own doing that often leads them to their own fates."
Feeling his emotions reach their breaking point, Relon looks up to the lights illuminating the room as he feels the tears recede. Panting, he lowers his gaze back to Osborne.
"Tell me this, then... If you fought someone and they were on the verge of death, what would you do?" The heat around him ceasing.
"Thinking from your point of view, I could either save them or take their life. But since you insist on a third path, I could also just leave them. Of course, I would take their life." Relon feels his heart sink at the nonchalant tone in the man's blood. "It is the fool's fault for attempting to bring harm to my own life. I won't rely on a whim should they pass on with the slim chance they come back to stab me in the back. That is but a fool's thought." Osborn says with a firm fist.
It's as I thought. Olivert looks to the boy.
"... I see. So that's it..." Relon lowers his head, tears every so often hitting the floor.
Wiping them away, he snaps his head up to eye the man fiercely as he raises a hand above him. From the back wall flies Pippin slipping into his friend's hand.
"I get it now. This is no longer a simple spar between us. No, this is a battle to see who's ideology reigns superior." Relon declares pointing Pippin's blade at the man. "Yours or mine?!"
"Hmpf. Very well..." His black aura radiates once more. "Then come at me with all you have! I shall tear down this 'third path' you speak of with my iron blade and fist! Show to me how this ideology of yours and the prince's measure up to my own!"
"Should we allow this to continue?" The queen questions.
"Even if we wanted to, stopping either of them like this is impossible." The king responds.
Relon, show us the strength behind such a resolve.
"HAAAAAA!" Relon bellows, flames exploding in all directions followed by an explosion.
No longer does Relon hold his normal eyes for they are now slits and no longer does he hold normal skin for now odd markings cover his body and face.
"If I defeat you, you accept the idea of a third path."
"And should I win, you join as an Ironblood." His proposal shocking his own Iron children as well as Olivert, Relon narrowing his slit-eyes.
"Chancellor Osborne, you can't be serious!"
"Oh, but I am, Claire. Someone such as this... warrior before me has had my interest for quite sometime and what better chance to recruit him then now. Of course, he doesn't have to accept these terms just as I don't have to accept his. Do we have a deal?"
"Relon, think about this! You don't have to go through with this!" She calls over.
"The Boss is stronger than you think! You'll regret this if you accept!" Lechter adds.
"Think about Norowareta! The other children along with your aunt and the Wandering Beast!"
"Claire. Lechter." His voice calm once again. "Believe me when I say I have thought about it. Ever since I first encountered this man, I've always thought of the prospect of what would happen if I became an Ironblood. But, I can't back down. It's only a matter of time before some order given by this very man causes a tragedy to occur. I refuse to sit by and do nothing when the chance to change his way of thinking it right before me. If it means risking my future for the better of many, then I gladly accept!" Finality in his voice as Pippin becomes ablaze, Claire widening as she remembers what he said earlier.
Flashback
Relon.
"I don't want to regret not doing something I've should've. That's something I learned from Mister."
End Flashback
"Relon..."
"Such confidence is something I wholeheartedly respect. But, you've been thinking of this, have you? Then allow that once thought to soon become a reality!" A sinister energy radiating along his blade.
"Olivert." His father commands for the prince to nod.
White symbols appear around the the blonde adult.
"Crescent Mirror!" A large dome surrounds the spectators. "Have at it, Relon! Hold nothing back!"
Prince Olivert... He nods looking back ahead.
"Do you have what it takes to survive my wrath? I'll be sure leave you with the ability to walk!"
"Pippin, let's go!"
Both charge rearing back their weapons to clash resulting in a red and black force field of sorts battling the other for dominance.
"HAAAAAAA/HAAAAAA!" A red and black sphere surrounds the two before it erupts in an explosion.
From it, both skid away from the other.
"I'm getting real tired of these collisions! Crescent Strike!" Jumping up, he swings his sword.
"Hmpf! Trifecta!" Finishing a cast as he coms to a halt, Osborne unleashes three black whips from different angles.
The middle collides with the flaming crescent canceling each other as the two zip by towards the airborne teen. Throwing Pipping towards one to cut through it, he blasts the other. Touching down, the duo takes off with Relon firing consecutive blasts towards the man. With ease, he slices through each and every one to swing vertically at Relon. Shifting out of the way, Pippin zooms down clashing with Osborne.
Seeing his chance, Relon readies a punch but the large man parries the sword reflecting Pippin towards Relon. Seeing everything before him, Relon reaches out catching the sword twirling it in his hand before gripping it reverse-style.
"That won't stop us!" Swiping horizontally, Osborne quickly recovers delivering another vertical strike.
The power behind both attacks create another explosion. This one sending the black swordsman into the air and Relon onto his back. Quickly getting up, Relon blitzes to where Osborne is landing. Touching down, he blocks the first strike for Relon to disappear reappearing behind the man. Slashing at the man, Osborne pivots his body quickly blocking the attack though Relon is gone once more. This time, sensing the teen all around, Giliath assumes a defensive stance as he begins blocking and parrying every attempt.
"You know you won't get anywhere clashing head on so you're resorting to speed. I respect that." He smirks blocking another strike.
"If only you were so foolish..." Wiping behind and slashing with his sword, the man is stunned seeing nothing to snap his head above seeing Relon. "Then maybe you would understand how wrong you are!" Gripping Pippin with both hands, the sword's flame expand. It's odd shape taking on that of a greatsword of its own. "This ends now! Flame Cleaver!" Relon shouts plummeting down as Osborne jumps a great distance away, his sword glowing with black energy.
"You are still too experienced! You think you know the world but you know nothing! Behold! Calamity Eruption!" Raising his sword overhead, he strikes the floor before him to extend a hand forward; a black shower of darkness shooting off like a geyser towards Relon.
Slamming downwards, flame pillars erupt one after another stacking higher and higher traveling towards the black geyser. Red flames meets pitch darkness. All either can see are the effects of the clash shooting specks of their attacks in all directions.
"This is nuts! He got this strong in just three years?!" Lechter says, he and the rest of the spectators holding an arm over them protecting from the strong winds emanating from the collision.
"Did your instincts tell you about how insane this would become?!" Claire shouts back.
"I'm a guy who guesses! Not a psychic!"
Both men grit their teeth applying more pressure, neither refusing to back down.
Much more of this and they could tear the whole room down! Claire notes.
Pressing the changed Pipping down harder, the flames increase. Slowly clenching his extended palm, the pressure from Giliath's attack increases. Increasing in intensity, a sudden shred of bright light encompasses everyone's vision...