Calmness? Hatred? Ryuho finds death's wounds

(生穏やかさか 憎悪か? 龍峰は死の傷を見つける。)

There was the question as to whether if a Gold Saint could defeat Swithern Megaera?

"My technique will mitigate your evil Cosmo that appreciates and welcomes death. For someone like you to be under the guardianship of Demeter: Who are you even, Megeara?"

The entire Third Garden was consumed by a sea blue cloud. Among closer inspection were the textures of scales from Chinese Dragons. Had Libra Genbu been alive, even as a Specter, he would not have known that the Dance of Hermit Scaled Sky—The Ranbu SenUnRan (乱舞 仙雲鱗)—belonged to Ryuho.

Meg's behemoth punch stalled against the Dragon Shield; shocked to not see her opponent fold against her might, she backed away to process the situation, staring directly at Ryuho on the defensive. She was aware of the cloud caressing her and her Garden, thought less of its scaly image, but it did pique her curiosity. The SenUnRan worked; her mind, her spirit, her senses touched by a cool stimulation projected by Ryuho's Cosmos. It seemed ironic to apply serenity in battle; SenUnRan was a theory, an attempt to diminish fighting capacity. Swithern Megaera's unflinching intuition to battle like a monster could surprise anyone corresponded to Demeter. It still did to Ryuho, seeing his current foe as no different than who he faced in the past.

"Who am I you ask? I embrace Demeter as my mother. She is the one who saved me from despair and raised me, even though she and her beloved daughter are considered chthonic goddesses. Even though I am not of her blood." She was perhaps like Pan. Demeter taking them in as a part of family assured their loyalty.

"Mitigate you say? You will play see-saw with me? Are you saying that my fists and kicks won't reach you? Never. Never in years! What is stronger? Aggressive or calm." The answer seemed obvious now that she froze against the Dragon Shield; even Leo Mycanae and Libra Genbu did not falter against the so-called strongest shield of the Bronze Saints. However, even though she assumed that this aromatherapy-like mist would last a prolonged time, Meg remained stalwart. "Cosmostherapy"? It seemed like an ability projected by illusionists; Dragon was no delicate fighter and understood penetrating the senses. What made Swithern stubborn? The protection of her Goddess or more?

"You have an interesting defense, Dragon Ryuho," said Meg. "However, the point of your defense is to not reinforce the offense, is it? Besides, I will not let you." In a duel, it did not make sense for Ryuho to retrograde and prepare for a better attack. In fact, he was still puzzled by Meg's abilities.

Suddenly, an orange flare up. The SenUnRen's aura conflagrated from blue to orange as a funnel of flame sprouted from Meg's palm. Ryuho's eyes stung, watering as he could gradually feel the temperature rising behind his shield.

"Castle fortresses are deadly due to giving one an ability to counter from high ground while the enemy is finding a way in. even when you come in, there are more traps. What is your counter, Ryuho? You are alone; if I live, I am sure that my attacks will eventually reach you."

In the back of his head, Ryuho agreed, and pushed energy into the meat of his legs. He took a stomp forward; the spouting fire crashing into him felt like a giant or a speeding rig. Another stomp; Megaera continued.

"In this Temple, the realm below the earth conquers all. You who gloat of your Cosmos, whether its Athena or Zeus, despite your exploits, you do not determine all fate. Despite your technique, you are still weaker."

Ryuho realized how wise Megaera is, and her fiery attack—even having seen in a few times over already since he, Souma and Yuna entered the 3rd Garden—carried that aggressive propulsion that didn't taper in strength. Compared to Ginga, her prating of historic war events carried more weight. Her brutality seemed core of her fighting style and she loved to emphasize that that discharging human innate aggression was fundamental in war…and so was dying. Megaera knew that there was no veneer in her fury that can propose an opening for Ryuho. Still, Ryuho felt a bluff in being called weak.

The analogy of castle walls – it would take rams to break lime mortar, but what of a few shots from a catapult?

Castle wall? Ryuho suddenly thought of those words, and in an instant, the floor was below him. So was the stream of flame that came from Megaera's hand. She saw Meg's crimson gaze follow him and he pulled his arm forward.

"Rozan Shoryuha!" Meg had a dragon diving down on her head, shot like an archer's arrow. The blue Cosmos lit up the room again and Megaera angled her body to avoid the arm. She wrapped her hands around it clutching Ryuho and yanking him into the floor; again, Demeter had such a warrior in her ranks? Ryuho quickly realized that she was nimble with apt responses.

"Have you forgotten about my Grove of the Dead? Enough of your stupid resistance Dragon!"

Ryuho was slow to react and unable to comprehend what she meant. Was that the name of the crevice? It didn't amount to any sense; "Augh!" He felt a foot digging into his back, which he arced up to push himself against the ground. He still put faith in his technique; despite what the enemy had said, Ryuho still felt a damper in aggression. The question to it all came to the stamina. How long could he, his body, Cloth, and his shield could hold?

Back at Demeter's Temple, a goddess and a Gold Saint sat quietly. The guardian Arion remained in his Garden, putting faith that his goddess would remain safe. It was not his desire to leave her at first, especially after the fallout with Amor and Hermes, the latter still being alive and among their presence as a so-called "ally". Still, the two kept an adequate mood. Demeter wasn't touched by the contagious amicableness of Cancer; somehow, he did not bore himself to tears, but being trapped in with her tore at him in the inside.

"So, the Saints are at Megaera's Garden," the Goddess said, giving the Gold Saint barely any eye contact, watching the doorway that led to Arion's Garden. She often imagined Arion coming and going, but recently, she had also envisioned the Saints encroaching her area. What did those little beasts look like, she had thought. Perhaps she had wished it.

"Indeed. They will perish there. You would like it there, Cancer. Someone such as myself, while I stand for nature's prosperity, know death just as much."

"Oh?" Cancer Hermes leaned close to the flank of Demeter's throne, where she was sitting. "An aura of death is a distinct one that I know well."

"She came from a terrible land. I pulled her from her knees; even in modern days, there are still…global disorders."

"Go on, go on."

"Even on Naxos, with a chance to placate herself among peaceful citizens, she burdened an anger towards the world. She became an imperial patron towards myself. If you thought Arion was bad, you could say that she would never tolerate any of your silver tongue. That's what happens when covenant politics destroy everything around you."

"She is barely seen, yeah?"

"She keeps a distance, but the majority of Naxos knows her station well. She is a type that carries a mysterious, yet fearful aura while she walks. She took it upon herself to contain her anger and use it some form. Unfortunately, this is her fate. Even though, I believe she is kind."

"Humph, it's not like she's wrong. Anger is indeed a powerful energy. But there is more isn't there?"

Demeter said nothing.

"Yes…She does have that foul stench on her."

"That is enough from you."

"Fine fine."

"The Swithern Stole is a unique Chthonic creation, a result of a collaboration by two. Only specific chosen ones can wear it. You probably wonder Hermes: If I forbade battle upon this island then why do I have such a monster willing to battle and kill? Would I be repulsed by my own family?"

"Would you? Or are you just that magnanimous?"

Demeter could not come up with an answer.

Perhaps Megaera was toying with him; Dragon and Swithern entered a conservative battle. Ryuho threw punches through the weight of his trembling hips and Meg lifted her arms, taking the blows with her guarded arms. Even with the billowing blue clouds surrounding them, neither one nor the other had the upper hand. Ryuho went low again, dodging a swipe to his head, and he swung up into the Swithern Stole.

Only I can do this! The boy thought. One fist knocked into Meg's stomach and she froze. He felt the Stole's toughened hardiness clearly. It was a pure armor that didn't buckle easily from force…but she froze! Ryuho looked up and saw Meg's stupefied face. Those crimson eyes, usually vicious and fearful, nearly burst out from an expression of disbelief. Her knees nearly buckling under, Megaera scampered back and slapped her hands against her face, covering it.

Dragon Ryuho gave a sigh and pulled back his punch arm. "I did it," he said. Someone like him should know that placating the aggression, or wearing down the enemy, was also a perfect tool for battle. With that known, having created the Ranbu SenUnRan, Ryuho could analyze another technique that he experienced with his own body: Tomoe Jindaiko Ken (鞆絵陣太鼓拳). It was Genbu's move that affected the mind and spirit promptly with beating sounds. If Ryuho could not smash the opponent, it was up to time. The time to motivate oneself, the time to wear down and confuse the enemy to find an opening, to pass to the next stage.

The Jindaiko could achieve all of these.

The Third Garden was silent for a moment. Dragon Ryuho heard breaths. Inhales through her nose, her face covered, then the room's silence gradually went away. Low, feeble sounds that seemed to weaken Ryuho's heart. He could not break eye contact from Meg. Bit by bit, the Swithern Stole fell apart from its owner's body, hitting the ground. Her greaves and faulds hung on. Ryuho's eyes were pulled towards her pale skin, blood pooling through his face. Around that same skin were many brown tissue marks.

Megeara is crying?!