Formless (Rage)
After taking a day off to get my thoughts all together, I was finally able to come to terms with my situation, mostly at least. To be fair, nothing has really changed. My goal was always an almost impossible one, killing a god is not an easy task. Neither was being an adventurer, my path to strength is just different. So after taking a good night's rest, I walked around town once more, trying to get myself as calm and content as I could get. If I didn't, I knew that when I entered the dungeon tomorrow, I'd get myself killed. So, when I was walking up the wall that surrounded town, I didn't expect to run into a certain white haired adventurer dueling the Sword Princess. And losing, real bad. "Hmm?"
When I caught the fight, Bell had slipped past a stab that Ais threw towards his head only to be pushed back by a punch she threw with her other hand. Reeling back from the counter attack, Bell failed to defend against the spin kick that came hurtling towards his head. "UGH!" The heel of Ais's steel toed boots made contact with Bell's already brushed cheek. That's happened a lot today, huh? The strength of the attack sent Bell bouncing off the ground a few feet away from me. "Again?! That's the fifth time today..."
"Hi, Bell. You seem to be doing well." I walked up to the grounded young man and stood on top of him. "Perhaps you should dodge her foot. Or maybe you're into that..."
"I-I am not!" Bell sprung up and waved his arms, clearly trying his best to make sure that his crush didn't get any wrong ideas about his fetishes. "Why would you say that?!"
"Viole." Ais joined the two of us as she sheathed her rapier and handed Bell a handkerchief which he gladly accepted. Did...did he just sniff it? "How are you feeling? Coping well with..."
"Yeah, don't worry. I told Bell yesterday." Said young man was too busy in his own world to notice our conversation. "Didn't know that the person he mentioned that would be training him turned out to be you... no better teacher out there, huh? I'll admit, I'm a bit jealous."
"I...suppose." Ais coughed into her hand before looking at Bell, which he took as a sign to join us once more in the world of the living. "I owed Bell for a certain incident and this is what I felt was the best way to pay him back. Would you like to join us?"
"Gueh!" Bell let out a strange noise as he seemed to freeze like a statue. Ah, don't want you alone time to be taken over. I understand.
"While I appreciate the offer, I'm sorry to say that I can't. Unlike Bell here, not only do I not use a weapon but I'm more magic focused." I tried my best to let Ais' offer down gently. While I did think that being trained by the Sword Princess herself would be amazing, I do have to remember what mother used to say. "Friends are the most important thing in the world to have. Whether you want to open up a restaurant or take over a country, you need friends." Mother had a strange way of phrasing things... so I got to support Bell with all I got!
"I use magic as well. I can train you there." I didn't expect Ais to persist in the training angle. Both Bell and I flinched when she stepped forward. "I may not be as strong as Riviera in that aspect, but I believe that I can still help you in controlling your magic long term. You have an issue in long dungeon runs, correct?"
"How did you..." I let out a sigh and scratched the back of my head. "I don't know...I don't want to get in the middle of your training with Bell."
"U-Um, how about this!" Bell spoke up with a pointed finger to the sky. "Lady Ais, why don't you spare with Viole! If he impresses you enough with his current strength, then he can do as he says. If not, you force the both of us into more training." You fool! She's a level six you know?!
"Hm. Perfect." Ais Wallenstein, one of the strongest adventures in all of Orario looked at me with determination in her eyes. "Viole. Let us fight. The first person to draw blood wins."
"Sure." Bell, I thought you wanted your alone time!
SSS
Rabbit
While I appreciated Viole's attempt to leave me alone with Lady Ais, I couldn't allow him to pass up this chance. Viole's past is...disturbing to say the least. While I don't know how I feel about his desire for revenge, I knew that I had to support my friend however I could. After all, what that monster did was unacceptable. Being trained by Lady Ais is just the boost that he needs. So, I took my spot against one of the pillars that separated each section of Orario's wall and watched as the two of them prepared for battle. Wait, when did I tell him about my feelings for her? AM I JUST THAT OBVIOUS?!
Viole, of course, slipped on his gloves and whispered the spell to turn his hands into monstrous gauntlets. Lady Ais simply unsheathed her rapier once more and got into a readied stance. "Begin!"
Viole flew towards Ais, kicking himself off the ground and clawing in front of him. His magic left a trail in front of him that Ais had to block. Taking advantage of this, Viole dipped under the trail and slashed upwards at her, only to have slashed at empty space. "Tch." Ais had leapt high into the air and dived at him, sword in front of her. Taking no chances, Viole dodged to the side and tried to kick her as she landed, only for his leg to be caught.
"..." Before Lady Ais could stab at him, he surged magic into his leg, forcing her to let go and jump back. "First impression, Ni-" interrupting her, he dashed at her again only to get kicked in the chest and pushed back several feet. "Good. You don't allow any breathing room. Impressive for a level one...ah." Ais covered her mouth when she spoke the last word. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It's nothing." Viole brushed some dust off his chest before crouching down once more. "Here I come, Ais!"
"Hmm!" Viole rushed once more, each flurry of attack being effortlessly dodged by Ais. With every attack, his eyes became more and more red. They're changing color... what's happening? "You are just attacking recklessly now."
"Shut up!" That last comment by Ais really seemed to get on his nerves. Viole once again swiped at her head, this time Lady Ais retaliated by giving him a spin kick to the cheek. Is that her signature move or something?! Unlike me, Viole took the attack standing and only slipped back a couple feet.
"Your lip is bleeding. I've-"
"Haaaaaaaaaaa." Steam came out of Viole's mouth as she sighed. His demeanor had changed, his shoulders were slumped and his hands were twitching. When he looked up at us, his eyes were completely red with snake-like irises. "Haaaaaaaaa. No, I'm not done... More...MORE!" Viole stomped at the ground, a crack appearing in front of him and dark magic seeping out with enough force to shake me off my feet. "I'll show you more!" Faster than before, Viole appeared in front of Lady Ais and went for a punch to her chest. Lady Ais of course blocked it with her rapier but...
"What?" Ais was pushed back a few inches before she retaliated and threw her rapier forward with all of her strength. Sending Viole hurtling to the opposite wall. "Viole!" He crashed into the wall and the wind was clearly blown out of him. Blood fell out of his mouth as he gasped and the color in his eyes dissipated until his eyes were once again purple. "Viole! Are you okay?" Lady Ais rushed towards him but I stood behind for a second. It seemed like he had fallen unconscious but I was still...scared.
"What was that..." Too many things were running through my head as I looked at the Lady trying her best to make sure she didn't do any permanent damage. His eyes were blood red, his speed and strength were far beyond what they usually were and...he seemed to lose control! What's going on?! "Lady Ais, be careful! You don't know what will happen if he wakes up!"
"It's fine..." the Sword Princess sighed after checking over his body and placed his head on her lap. GUH! It shoulda been me! "That was just his skill."
"How do you know? What if-"
"I know, Bell." Ais' eyes were stuck on his face. "His father told me." WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT. "I've met his father many times in the past. It seemed like Lord Angra made it a habit to visit Loki every two years. He would teach me a few things when he was here and he had a very similar skill...the same actually. "
"Y-You knew Viole's dad." She gave me a firm nod. "Huh...WHAT?!"
SSS
Capped
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by blue skies and a blond head. Woah! Sitting up straight, I realized that my head was laying in Ais' lap and Bell looked filled with envy. I quickly pieced together what had happened and sighed. "You know, you need to learn how to hold back Wallenstein-sama."
"I apologize." Ais dusted off her lap and stood up straight. "I didn't expect your skill to activate."
"So that's what that was..." When my vision went red, my body felt like it started to move on its own. I was there but it felt like I was in the backseat with little to no input. "Nightmare Rage...jeez that name is a little too on the nose don't you think?"
"You know what they say, the gods are often cruel." Bell said as he helped me on my feet. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Other than my entire body hurting from being thrown twenty feet, yeah." At my subtle jab, Ais puffed out her cheeks as she began to leave the area. Bell and I shared a chuckle as we followed her. "So, do you know anything about that skill or is it one of those special one in a million skills?"
"Well...I've seen your skill in another Capped before. From what he told me, it's a special skill that increases your parameters based on your level of anger at the time. It can be as little as a single stat point at being mildly annoyed to a difference of two levels of stats when rampaging. He said it also depends on your personality and your control of your anger." Ais said in an even more monotone voice than normal.
"Huh...but you wouldn't want to exactly go so far that you can't control yourself. Interesting. Hehehe." I couldn't stop the grin from forming on my face as I covered my mouth. "Interesting..."
"..." My two travel companions were silent before sighing loudly. I coughed into my hand and adjusted myself.
"So, this other capped, who was he? Think he can explain more things to me?"
"No." Ais immediately began to walk at a faster pace. Every time that I tried to ask her for more information about the guy, she sped up until it was impossible for me to keep up.
"Lady Ais truly is amazing!" Bell's sparking eyes only pissed me off.
And so, a week passes...
This week has been hell. Its been non-stop training. If I'm not getting my ass beat by the Sword Princess with Bell, then we were in the dungeon fighting monsters in between sessions of getting beaten by my senpai. So I was thankful as I collapsed on the ground for the final time this week. "Oh, thank you for your excellent scheduling Loki!" Bell and Ais' training agreement was to only last until Ais left for an exhibition for the fifty ninth floor of the dungeon. So I truly could kiss Loki for her coincidental timing.
"Hm? No, our training will resume when I come back." My heart shattered as she said that and I could tell so did Bell's. "We are of the same Familia, so we have more chances to train, no?"
"Gueh...I suppose. Please don't break me before Susanoo gets the chance to." Ais glared at me and I instantly regretted my joke. "S-Sorry! Please forgive me Lady Wallenstein-sama!" Ais and Bell both sighed and Bell decided that he didn't want to look at whatever lecture that I was about to get.
He was right to do so. "I truly do despise when you say such things, Viole." Ais' eyes stared directly into my soul and it made me shiver. She sure can be scary when she wants to be! "When I get back, know that I will be increasing your training regimen tenfold."
"You truly are evil. I think you put Evilus to shame." That one actually got a small smile out of her as she helped me get up from the ground.
"Give me fifty." Dammit!
SSS
The next day Bell, Lily and I went into the dungeon once more. While it would have been nice to say goodbye to most of my familia as they left for a month-long adventure, they were gone by the time that I had been forced awake by a foot in the face from a sleeping Lily. I have no idea why Loki refuses to give Lily a room. Does she want to torture me? My head fell as I thought of the continued nights of sleep loss that I had ahead of me, with the source of my torture smiling as she walked next to me, none the wiser.
"Ugh..." Bell, who was leading our group today, suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Do you guys feel that too or is it only me?"
I tried my best to focus but couldn't sense anything that bell was talking about. "Are you feeling okay, Mister Bell? Perhaps Lady Ais hit you on the head too hard yesterday? Or are you missing the feeling?" Lily smirked at her comment as it caused Bell to blush and shake his head.
"Good one."
"Thank you, Sir Viole."
"No! That's not it! It feels like...someone is watching me." Bell looked around the empty stone cave before shivering. Huh...
"Wait...empty?" The realization hit me like a carriage. We have been walking for the past ten minutes with nothing at all happening. No monsters spawning, no fellow adventurers showing up, nothing. Not a single thing made a sound other than us. "We need to leave, now. Something's not..." I was interrupted by a low growl of a monster coming from behind us. For some reason, the sound sent alarms flaring in my head. It..hurts! It hurts! My head felt like it was being split open, the pain was so great that I fell to my knees as I had my hands on my head, pointlessly trying to stop the pain.
"Sir Viole!" Lily kneeled near me and searched through her bag, trying to find a potion. "D-Don't worry, I'll make you better in no time!"
"Guys...we need to go! NOW!" Bell's entire body was shaking as he pointed behind us.
I knew it was going to make me feel worse but I looked at what he was pointing at. It was a large, blood red minotaur. One of it's horns was broken and it was dragging a long black sword behind it...blood slowly dripping off of it. "Dammit..." Why red...WHY RED RED RED RED RED RED REDREDREDRED!
All that I could think of, was Abby and how I wasn't going to be able to save her.