Chapter 8: Witch VS Ninja
Kotoha: Storm God of Mischief, Susano'o!
[appearing from her flaring blue aura is Susano'o, with a look of excitement on his mouth, the god puts his hands up and suddenly twin double sided blades appear in her hands]
Kotoha: Let me show you how we start the party!
[Kotoha flings through the air towards Luz, preparing to strike, but Luz's knows how to deal with attacks like this after training with Arthur for the past weeks]
Luz: Good Witch, Azura!
[The witch she idolizes appears from her Purple Aura lending her the Good Witch's Staff, Luz then creates a glyph that forms an ice glyph transforming it into an ice shield. If she thought that would stop Kotoha, she would have to think again. Kotoha stops in front of the shield and slices it into four pieces, shattering it in front of the human witch.]
Kotoha: Is that the best you got?!
Luz: I'm just getting started!
[Luz smash the bottom tip of her staff on the floor activating, the fire glyphs around her]
Kotoha: Hmph.
[The fires glyphs self destruct around the ninja, causing her to be surrounded by flames, Luz, grins knowing one of her plans worked, but is shook by the fire gathering into one place, the fire from the glyphs form into a ball in the palm of Kotoha's hand, in the spectators seats, Amity, Willow, and Gus are shocked by the power the Kunoichi shows.]
Kotoha: Traps like that are for amateurs, this is what real fire power is like! Fire Style! Fire blade!
[She fuses her aura and Luz fire into one of her swords, and hurls it towards her, but being quick witted as she is, Luz spins her staff and uses surrounds it in aura, whacking and deflecting the blade to the side, Kotoha then rushes to Luz with her other blade in hand, attempting to slash her, but Luz blocks with her staff, and both exchange multiple blows from their weapons, parrying each strike, Kotoha raises her hand while Luz prepares to strike but is stopped by the blade she deflecting hurtling towards her]
Luz: Whoa!
[she dodges, and Kotoha catches her other blade]
Kotoha: Hmph, thought you could do better than that, where'd all that training go, Witch!
[Luz grits her teeth, forming a Plant glyph summoning a vines from the ground]
[From the spectator's seats Willow, Gus, and Amity start having confused feelings about this fight]
Willow: *confused and worried* How is she doing all this, I thought humans couldn't do magic, let alone use it like that.
A.X.E.L.: It's amazing what these past weeks of training did for her.
Gus: Luz has been doing stuff like this?!
[Gus points at Luz, in shock of her new abilities]
A.X.E.L.: You can thank Arthur for that. I've just taught her some martial art combat tactics.
[Gus and Willow give him confused looks]
Gus: What's a "Martial Art"?
[Raymond puts his hand on Gus's shoulder]
Raymond: It's like sports, except in this type of sport, you take on your opponent in hand to hand combat, sure there are some disciplines involved, but when it comes to fighting in the field, you gotta give it everything you got.
A.X.E.L.: *stunned* yes, that is exactly what I was going to say.
[the fight goes on and Kotoha flies through the air butchering every plant Luz throws at her, and lands gracefully on her feet]
Kotoha: *Sarcastically* wow that was so hard! Pfft, seriously are you even trying?
[Kotoha throws both of her blades at her opponent, the blades spin as they moves in closer, Luz closing her eyes waiting for the right moment to strike]
Luz: (Closer)
[The blades continue spinning]
Luz: (Closer)
[It gets within an arm's reach]
Amity: LUZ!
Luz: NOW!
[Luz summons Azura giving her a boost in her light glyph transforming it into a blade, and deflects both blades before they could slice her, but to Luz's surprise, Kotoha was standing in front of her with a fist raised in the air]
Kotoha: Gotcha!
[The ninja lands a punch across her face, and another to her stomach, causing Luz to gasp for air, but Luz grits her teeth once more and she stands her ground, and grabs the upper part of her body and headbutts her. Kotoha's nose begins to bleed from behind her mask. Luz summons her staff and whacks Kotoha in the torso causing the ninja to be pushed back]
Kotoha: (wipes the blood from her mask) SO! You're really making your bite stronger than your bark.
Luz: *breathes heavily* You still think I'll hold you back?!
Kotoha: Please, I'm just getting warmed up!
[Kotoha's Aura begins to burst! She begins to form lots of symbols with her hands and ends with both index and middle fingers forming a cross]
Kotoha: Illusion style! Shadow Clone! Times 3!
[Three clones appear before behind her, Gus is shocked by the clones that appeared behind her]
Gus: Wait, how did she do that without making a spell circle?!
King: It's a part of that Spirit Power thing!
Coco: Well yes and no. While Susano'o does give her a boost in her abilities, her family have the ability to control the energy within themselves and turn it into a weapon. Back on Earth they call it ninjutsu.
[leaving Gus impressed he continues to watch the fight, keeping his eye on any other tricks that Kotoha has in store]
Gus: fascinating. (Wonder if I could do stuff like that?)
[The fight continues as the clones circle Luz, Luz keeping her eyes peeled remembers this from an anime she watched, some of them are fakes while one of them is the real Kotoha, she watches the 4 Kotohas trying to figure out which one of them is the real one]
Kotohas: Ready for round two?
[They all speak in unison, trying to intimidate her]
Eda: You don't get scared that easily kid, you got this.
[Luz puts her hand up and gestures a taunt telling them to come at her]
Luz: Come on!
[Luz forms a fire glyph and creates a circle surrounding her in flames, the four Kotohas create symbols on their hands release burst of water out their hands]
Kotohas: Water Style! Hydro cannon!
[The amount of water they expelled were able to put out the flame wall, but to their surprise, Luz was gone]
Kotoha: What! Where did she go!
Luz: Up here!
[Kotoha looks up and sees Luz fly in their air on her Staff, and notices she created giant icicles]
Luz: Take this!
[Luz throws the icicles down and poofs two of her clones, two manage to dodge and gesture three symbols on their hands causing them to fly]
Kotohas: Sky style! Sky walk!
[Luz holds off the two ninjas, managing to hold themes off long enough to keep them off her back, Luz falls backward creating a Light glyph and changes it into a blade on her staff]
Luz: HA!
[Luz charges at both of them and slashes the final clone]
Luz: So you're the real one!
Kotoha: *Tch*
[luz kicks her to the floor, but Kotoha lands on her feet as the witch gently floats to the ground]
Kotoha: *takes a deep breath* Okay, I admit you got some skills...
[Kotoha raises her arms forcing her blades into her hands]
Luz: *breathes heavily* Thanks, I'm just glad I can keep up!
Kotoha: ...but it's still not good enough.
Luz: huh?!
Kotoha: If you think everything you've done so far can take me down, think again!
[Kotoha releases her aura causing her power and the flare to burst ten fold]
Luz: *breathes heavily* What?
[Kotoha's hair becomes undone, and begins to raise it self into the air, flaring around]
Kotoha: Storm God of Mischief Susano'o, LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!
[Arthur's eyes widen at the sight before him, storm clouds begin to form around the indoor arena]
Willow: Wait, are those storm clouds?!
[The winds begin to blow harshly, lighting starts to strike the floor, the thunder echoes through the area]
King: Oh no! It's gonna rain! We gotta get inside before...
[The rain begins to pour, as the residents of the boiling isles begin to take cover, they notice the knights of shatter squad aren't nervous about the rain, and as they feel the rain, it didn't feel like the boiling rain they experience on the isles]
Lilith: It's cold.
[as the rain pours over their bodies, they relish the cool feeling of each drop]
Willow: Is this what rain is like on the human world?
[nobody responds until Raymond hides begins West]
Raymond: Wait, if she is causing this storm, does that mean Kotoha is going to use that?!
West: Kotoha! Stop!
[Kotoha hears the words of her Commander but immediately ignores them]
West: What is she doing?! Kotoha don't even think about it!
Kotoha: Shut up old man! Or she'll never learn! Musashi Blades! Merge!
[She slaps both her twin blades together changing them into a giant Shuriken]
Amity: Dammit she needs our help!
Arthur: No!
[Amity after hearing this response is pissed with the "no"]
Amity: What do you mean "no"?! She's going to kill her!
[Arthur looks at Luz, and sees her standing her ground, and then Eda interrupts]
Eda: he's right kid! Don't butt in!
[Amity shocked with Eda's response]
Amity: EDA! YOU'RE NOT THE LEAST BIT WORRIED!
[Eda sees Luz and know she has something up her sleeve]
Eda: Whenever that kid forms a plan, sometimes it ends in failure, but she always stands on top. She always finds a way to get out of any situation.
Arthur: You see it too.
Eda: I've been with that kid longer than you have, she always has a trick or two up her sleeve.
[Kotoha raises her arm, summoning Susano'o to aid her, He then holds his arms up around the Shuriken and absorbs the energy from the storm forming a tornado]
Kotoha: Time to end this!
[Luz looks up at the storm and begins to bring out a pencil and a piece of paper and starts to draw]
Kotoha: (throwing in the towel already, let's just finish this)
[Kotoha then slowly throws the shuriken releasing it, and it spins towards Luz]
Kotoha: God's Ninjutsu! Susano'o Storm Shuriken!
[The Shuriken inches towards her, Luz looks up with a glyph ready]
Luz: Azura!
[Luz's aura flares summoning Azura! She proceeds to form a light glyph with her staff, and as soon as the glyph is complete the shuriken explodes on impact, causing a twister from inside the arena, the spectators hold on to the ground while King holds onto Eda's hair trying not to fly away, the storm dies down after a few minutes, and Kotoha begins to gently float to the floor with a smirk under her mask]
Kotoha: (Let's see you get out of that)
[She then widens her eyes surprised by the sight in front of her]
Kotoha: What?!
[before her is a light glyph barrier barely stable, it disappears, and Azura and Luz's Aura shatter and disappear, Luz falls on her knees, breathing heavily once more]
Kotoha: So...
[Kotoha walks towards her with a gripped fist]
Kotoha: You still stand...
[Kotoha stands inches away from Luz]
Kotoha: *angry* You still think you can beat me?!
[Kotoha grabs Luz by the collar of her jacket, Luz struggles to keep going, and Kotoha punches her in the face causing her to fall to the ground]
Kotoha: *angry* What makes you think, you can be on par with me huh?!
[Luz struggles to get up, Arthur and Eda watch her they speak softly]
Arthur: *softly* Come on Luz, you got this!
Eda: *softly* Keep going kid, come on, get up!
[Luz then slowly picks herself up struggling to stand, Kotoha walks up to her grabbing her by the collar getting ready to punch her once more]
Kotoha: Be honest with me! You have no power! Your spirit is gone! What's next?!
[Luz puts her hand on Kotoha's chest]
Luz: This! RAGH!
[Luz taps a glyph on her shirt causing it to glow]
Kotoha: What?!
[It forms into electricity and blasts her with a lighting bolt, throwing her across the arena]
Kotoha: AGH!
[Everyone flabbergasted by the sudden glyph skill, Eda then cheers for her human]
Eda: YES! That's my student! Always with all the tricks up her sleeve!
[Eda continues cheering for her kid
Arthur: (So she saw a lighting glyph from Kotoha's storm)
[Flashback to Luz staring into the Kotoha's storm, the moment the lighting strikes she sees a symbol of a glyph being formed by lighting, she then proceeds to draw the symbol on a piece of paper]
Arthur: (not bad Luz)
[Kotoha gets up with her anger beginning to boil]
Kotoha: I'm not done! I can still fight!
[Luz still struggles to get up but suddenly chills run up her spine]
White Light: (Is that really the best you can do)
[Luz gasps at hearing the familiar voice]
White Light: Allow me to show you what we are truly capable of.
[Luz's eyes begin to glow a white light and her aura flares not purple, but a sky blue aura]
Arthur: hmm?
Amity: What's happening?
Eda: Luz?
[Luz walks towards Kotoha who is struggling to stand, she blinks once and suddenly, Luz is in front of her]
Possessed Luz: This ends now.
[Luz aura then booms through the room causing Kotoha to cower in fear, she proceeds to put her hand on Kotoha's shoulder causing her to fall on her knees]
Kotoha: *I...I...*defeated* I give up!
[Luz's aura then returns to purple, and her glowing eyes end their shine, Luz blinks a couple of times and looks around]
Luz: *confused* What happened?
[Luz looks down sees the fear in Kotoha's eyes]
Luz: Are you okay?
Kotoha: *gasps* (crawls a few steps backwards)
Luz: *confused* wait why are you-
[a pulse surges through Luz's head]
Luz: *gasp* wait...what?
[all of a sudden Luz collapses onto the floor,]
Eda and Arthur: LUZ!
Willow: *worried* Oh Titan!
Amity: *shocked* Luz?!
[everyone runs to the arena, Luz still conscious seeing everyone run to her, from her eyes everything was blurry, until Eda runs to her side and looks her in the eyes, being the last thing Luz sees, until she lays unconscious]
[Luz opens her eyes seeing she is in the same plane of existence last time she was unconscious]
Luz: It's...
[Luz looks around the area and notices how blurry it looks]
Luz: ...this place again, where am I?
[Luz hears a few whispers]
Luz: Who's there?
[the whispers keep going, Luz begins walking forward, curious to see where they were coming from, the more she walked, the louder they grew, sweat slipping down her head, Luz observes her surroundings wondering where the voices were coming from]
Luz: *shouts* HELLO! ANYBODY!
[the whispers continue until she sees three figures in front of her, one who feels familiar, and two others she never seen before]
Luz: Who's that?
[the calm male figure begins to speak]
Figure 2: What should we do sir?
[The tall one answers strictly]
Figure 3: Continue the process, no matter what happens. Keep it going.
[The familiar female figure begins to interrupt]
Figure 1: Sir we're harming it, if we keep doing this, who knows what it could do?!
Figure 2: We are at war Agent Merlin! And we need to do whatever is necessary to win. So either you are with us, or you are against us?
[Luz looks up to the female figure who sounds like someone she knows, but for some reason she can't lay her finger on it]
Figure 1: Understood sir.
Figure 3: Start the process.
Figure 2: Yes sir, beginning process.
[Events begin to play through Luz's head causing her to scream in pain]
Luz: AAAAAGGGHH!
[looking around her, she sees scenarios of familiar figures bad mouthing her, other where they torture her, and some where her friends die in front of her in the middle of what seems to be an invasion, she sees Amity, Willow, Gus, King, Lilith, Hooty, and Eda, all dead in front of her]
Luz: *traumatized* NO!
[Luz runs up to them crying, trying to grab hold of them]
Luz: *panic* Guys, pls wake up! What's going on?! What is this?!
[A white light shines behind her, she turns and sees the White Light walking towards her, Luz starts hyperventilating and begins to have a panic attack]
Luz: No, this can't be happening! YOU'RE NOT REAL! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE...IT...STOP!
Amity: Luz! Luz, wake up!
Luz: *GASP*
[Luz wakes up and sees her friends around her]
Luz: *relieved* AMITY!
[She proceeds to wrap her arms around her, Amity then begins to blush]
Luz: Thank god! You're here.
[Amity tries not to gay panic]
Amity: *panic* Of cOurSe I'm hERe, I mEan wHerE ELse wOULd I bE? bUt HerE, with you. Hahaha.
[Amity gestures to Willow and Gus, and they both join in on the hug]
Willow: We were so worried!
Gus: After the fight you suddenly passed out! What happened?!
[Luz begins to collect her thought trying to recall the events of her battle with Kotoha, but nothing sparked in her head]
Luz: I don't know. It just happened. I couldn't control whatever that was.
[Luz looks around and notices Arthur, Eda and Lilith were not with them]
Luz: Wait, where are Arthur, Eda and Lilith?
King: oh, they're with West, and the others. Arthur and Eda are having some kind of discussion, but it's nothing big.
[In the War room, Eda and Arthur continue discussing whether Luz is prepared to go on the mission. West and A.X.E.L. think to themselves, while Raymond, Coco, and Lilith watch the conversation. Eda disagrees with Luz going because a similar event from the match will probably happen.]
Arthur: Look Eda, I know what you're thinking, but I'm training Luz, and judging from the match, it looks like she can handle this.
Eda: Arthur, that training won't be enough for her to protect herself, if she runs into those guys again, or if the emperor's coven. She might turn into whatever that was, and what if something happens to her. And I'm not there.
Arthur: Then I can protect her.
Eda: I don't trust you to go with her.
Raymond: So you entrust him to train Luz, but not to go on missions with her?
Eda: *angry* SHUT UP RAYMOND!
Raymond: *eep*
Coco: Eda, we still have time to prepare her. I mean we can't exactly leave without Kotoha.
Eda: It's that too. I don't trust that kid. Luz may have won but..
Lilith: Eda, Luz won, I'm pretty sure Kotoha won't even think about harming her, not after what happened at the match.
Eda: *grunt*
Raymond: I mean Luz, did scare the shit out of her.
Eda: SHUT UP RAYMOND!
Lilith: Where is she anyway?
Coco: Kotoha's in her room.
[Kotoha hides in her room, curled up into a ball with her hand on her head, she shivers by the mere thought of Luz, along with a look of fear in her eye]
Coco: She said she didn't want to train for the rest of the day. So we let her rest. Honestly after that fight, she might not want to train again.
Arthur: See Eda, they think it's okay. So just trust me.
[Eda does some thinking, and irritatedly scratches her head]
Eda: *sigh* Well I doubted you twice, but Luz has exceeded my expectation. You can take her on the mission. But promise me you bring her back alive.
Arthur: You can trust me.
[Luz then barges through the doors]
Luz: *worried* Eda! Don't argue with Arthur, it was my fault I don't know what came over...me?
[Luz stops and sees that no one was fighting]
Luz: Oh, so what are we talking about?
[Eda walks up to Luz and puts her hands on her shoulders]
Eda: Kid, I need to know, if you go on these missions with them, can you promise me you will come back alive?
Luz: Eda of course I...
Eda: No kid, really promise, the last two times you fought, you almost broke yourself. I need to know, can you promise you will come back unscathed, and make sure you come back alive every time.
Luz: Eda, I can promise you that.
Arthur: West?
West: This kid really has some guts, so let's get started. Luz, for the first time you will be going on a mission as part of Shatter Squad. Are you prepared for whatever comes next?
[Luz closes eyes, remembers all the training, the two fights she has been in, what's at stake, and the friends that she is willing to protect, in confidence she opens her eyes]
Luz: I'm ready!
West: Well you better be, because the first mission you'll be joining, is a mission to the Conformitorium.