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Chapter 4: Blake

Integra, the Master of Arcana that had been assigned to Blake Ryan, stared at the man before her in shock. He had arrived only fourteen days ago and had returned from his final trial already, successfully regaining all of his life years. Not only had he set an unprecedented record of doing so, he had seemed to soak in every lesson she had taught him as if it were second nature. She would have called him a prodigy, but even that didn't begin to describe it.

There was something else about the man. It was an intensity that seemed to encompass everything around him and a focus she had never witnessed before.

Blake Ryan terrified her.

When he had arrived, he had accepted the trials laid before him without hesitation. She had never even seen the man sleep. More often than not, when she ended a lesson, it was because she needed rest, not him.

After he had effortlessly taken in the novice and intermediate instructions that she had given him, she had begun to teach him the more advanced side of being a diviner.

After seeing her diviner form once, he had effortlessly activated his, sprouting those incredible wings made up of his eerie gray mana. She had never seen such dull and lifeless mana. Even black mana, directly from the Necro Realm, had more life than his. Yet the power he possessed was more potent than any she had ever seen.

"Well that was easy," he sighed. "So what now? Do I just go back?"

"As much as I would like to say yes, there is still one thing left for you to do," she responded.

"Oh?" He questioned blankly. He almost seemed bored.

"Well, normally, you would fight me in combat and at the end I would give you a portion of my power to spark the creation of your Mastery Form, but-"

"I would like to test your skills, myself," a voice cut in.

Integra turned to see her master and the Overlord of the realm approach the two of them.

Jondor.

His shock white hair and beard starkly contrasted the deep tan of his skin. The only thing to match how bright his hair was was his equally white ropes.

She instantly gave a deep bow, and even Blake gave a slight nod of his head.

"I know that we have barely met, but I was shocked to hear that you had already cleared all of your trials. That is impressive beyond all doubt and I would like to be the one to administer your Mastery Exam."

"Honestly, it doesn't matter to me who administers my exam," Blake shrugged, still possessing that bored expression. "As long as I can get stronger I'll do whatever is necessary. I'll defeat either of you. Even if you both fought me, I reckon that I'd still win."

"Why you-" Integra began, anger flaring up within her.

"That's enough, Integra," Jondor stopped her. "He's clearly trying to bait you."

"I'd never," Blake gave a humorless smirk. "Let's do this, old man."

"Very well," Jondor sighed. "Let the Mastery Exam begin! I'll show you the true might of a Master of Arcana!"

—————

Jondor knew from the moment that he had laid eyes on Blake Ryan, that the man was not to be underestimated. He would have to start off strong and keep the pressure to truly test the younger diviner's power. Any less, and Ryan would overpower him.

"Tarot Art Infinium!" He called out. "Mastery Form: Divine-"

Ryan disappeared from his field of vision before he could finish chanting and Jondor's eyes began to dart around frantically to find the younger man.

That's when his eyes fell on Integra.

Blood began to drip from the corners of her mouth as she lowered her widened eyes to look at her chest. Protruding from it was the hand of Blake Ryan with her heart firmly gripped within his grasp.

Jondor's eyes went wide. When had he moved? Why had he targeted Integra? And why had he gone for a lethal blow? Diviners couldn't die in the Diviner Realm. Even if they could, Integra was his master!

"Sorry, I don't have time to mess around," Ryan sighed. "Mastered Arcana: The Magician."

Jondor felt his heart drop as Integra began to shrivel, her golden mana pulsing into Ryan at a rapid rate.

"Stop it!" He cried out as he darted forward. "Mastery Form Divine Overlord!"

Silver plated Mana Armor shrouded his body in an instant. The armor, if it had been real, would have been heavy beyond belief, but since it was made up of his mana, it only would increase his speed.

A greatsword appeared in his hands as he closed in on the younger diviner. The world had seemingly froze with the speed that he now moved. Before the boy could even react, he cut through the arm that was connecting Ryan with Integra.

As soon as Integra fell away Ryan, Jondor scooped her up and flashed away several kilometers. He quickly removed the severed arm that was still sticking through her and then reset her heart. Soon her body would heal itself.

After a moment, when no sign of regeneration occurred, he scanned for her mana. His gut twisted. There wasn't a single drop left. Ryan had succeeded in taking all of it. She was dead. Truly and completely dead.

"You're pretty fast, if you had acted any sooner, you might have actually stopped me."

Rage filled Jondor as Ryan's voice echoed from behind him.

"I'll be taking this back," the younger diviner said as he picked up his arm and held the severed ends together.

Instantly, a gray shimmer reattached the severed limb.

"Much better."

"You killed her!" Jondor glowered. "Why did you do that!"

For the first time since seeing the young diviner, a shadow of emotion crossed his face.

"Trust me, I didn't want to," Ryan claimed as the shadow disappeared. "But I don't have any time to waste here. I need power, and I need it fast."

Jondor could see now. Ryan was desperate. He was trying his best to bury his emotions, yet he couldn't fully do so. Even if that was the case, he couldn't forgive the young man for murdering Integra.

"I see, then this is truly unfortunate. I had high hopes for you, but it seems that your potential is wasted."

Silver mana exploded from Jondor and completely engulfed him. When the light cleared he knew his appearance had changed drastically. Silver lightning arched from every crevice of his mana armor and his blade had become raw mana that incinerated the very air around it.

"Tarot Art Infinium: True Overlord."

————-

Blake's gut twisted as he witnessed the Divine Overlord transform into his new form. Yet, the feeling wasn't of fear. In fact, the feeling didn't come from the Overlord at all. It came from his own actions. He had murdered Integra. A truly kind woman, made even more evident from the memories that now flowed through him after he had absorbed her power.

It had been the right course of action, hadn't it? A necessary casualty in his war with the Association? Or had this act now made him no better than them?

That sickening feeling that had become all too familiar over the past year churned within him.

"She was weak, she was merely an obstacle for you to tear through. You shouldn't feel bad about it," that horrifyingly familiar voice mused. "Why are you so torn up about a woman you didn't even really know? They are nothing but stepping stones to achieve your revenge, right? Treat them as such."

"Maybe you're right..."

"Of course I'm right," the voice giggled. "Besides, are you going to feel bad when you kill Barthomeloi?"

"No."

"Are you going to feel bad when you topple the Mages' Association?"

"No, not one bit."

"Exactly. In fact, I think you'll enjoy it. You'll enjoy pulling that gods damned clock tower apart brick by brick until it topples to the ground."

"You're right, I will."

"Then let go and run wild. Take the power that is rightfully yours and fulfill your dream. This old man is threatening that dream. Don't let him."

"I won't."

Blake met Jondor's glowing eyes as his own began to glow with gray mana. Twin wings of gray sprouted from his back and lightning began to arch from his body.

"Tarot Art Infinium: Divine Lord."

Gray mana armor instantly covered his body and a sword and shield materialized into his hands.

"Sorry, but I can't afford to be taken down," Blake stated. "There's too much left to do."

"Then come at me, boy," Jondor responded.

Before the world could take in a breath, the two flashed towards each other like twin bolts of lightning. Blake ducked under Jondor's blade and made to strike with his one, only to have the blow blocked by the cross-guard of the elder diviner's sword. Jondor gave a shove forward and the wind pressure that it gave off sent Blake flying backwards.

Before Blake could properly regain his footing, the old man was upon him again, swinging his blade in a downward arch. Blake intercepted the larger blade with his own, but once again the wind pressure slammed down on him, cracking the floor beneath him and buckling his knees.

In less than a blink, Jondor's foot slammed into Blake's chest, sending him flying back once more.

Shit, the old man was powerful. Not only was he faster, but Jondor's speed was leagues above Blake's own. Blake didn't have time to react, let alone think. If he didn't increase his power output, he would be screwed.

"Special Composition: Strong Pentafather!" Blake managed as Jondor came beaming towards him once more.

A gigantic gray pentacle appeared between the two. Blake could only pray it could buy him at least a moment to think.

One instant, the Overlord was in front of him. Then the next, he was picking up his presence behind right as the giant blades slashed through his armor and gouged through the skin and muscles on his back.

The pain was almost blinding, but the younger diviner managed a backwards swing, forcing Jondor to back off.

"Is that really all you have in you?" Jondor spat. "You claim to not have time to waste, yet you can't even handle this much. If your goals were important enough that you had to kill Integra, then you should be putting up a much bigger fight than this."

"Don't mock me!" Blake yelled as he held out another card. "Judge my enemy to your harshest extent and punish him for his defiance! Mastered Arcana: Judgement!"

An enormous gray beam of light erupted from the card and engulfed the overlord until he couldn't be seen any more.

This was it. This was Blake's trump card. If he couldn't defeat Jondor with this, then he didn't know what else he could do.

"Well that was a poor use of that card," Jondor's voice sounded from behind. "My turn."

Blake turned his head to see Jondor hold out a card. His eyes went wide.

"Incinerate all that lies before me. Turn it to ash. Mastered Arcana: The Sun!"

Flame engulfed Blake completely and pain seared through him as his armor melted away and his skin began to fry.

It hurt. It hurt so much. Even the pain that Einsbern had inflicted upon him hadn't measured up to the sheer agony that he felt now. Not only was his body being burned, but it felt almost as if his soul and his very being were being decimated by the cruel flame.

That's when he saw them. His family all reached out towards him with smiles on their faces. They were waiting for him. Two more figures appeared. One was a large man with dirty blonde hair and pale blue eyes, and the other was a smaller framed woman with dark hair and turquoise eyes. They too reached their hand out to him, beckoning him to join them in the peaceful afterlife.

Maybe he should just go. Maybe he should just take all of their hands and join them. It would be so much better than the pain he now felt, and the pain he would likely have to endure if he survived. Maybe he should just let go.

Barthomeloi's face rose to the surface of his thoughts. How she had looked when she questioned him about Rin and Ben. How she had looked when his family was killed right before his eyes.

No. He couldn't go peacefully to the afterlife. He had promised to hunt that woman down until the end of existence, if that's what it took.

His rage grew.

She had murdered his family.

The pain dulled.

She had most likely been behind what Einsbern had done to Ben and Rin.

The flame in his heart grew.

He couldn't die. Not yet. He refused. Defeating Jondor was merely a step to achieving his revenge against her. He'd be damned if he went down here.

Mana exploded from every pore in his body and sent such a forceful wave out that the fire that had been burning him, extinguished.

His burns began to heal as his armor restored itself to his body. Yet, the armor was different now. Gold now outlined the gray and a crown of mana now rested upon his helmeted head.

"Tarot Art Infinium: Divine Monarch."

As the light of his mana died down, Jondor stood before him in shock.

"That's impossible," he gaped. "A stage three mastery form should be impossible for you at this point."

Blake leveled his eyes on the old man. "Like I said. I don't have time to waste."

Jondor moved to block with his sword, but he was too late. Blake's sword impaled the elder and then transformed into a card.

"Take my enemy's power, and turn it into my own. Mastered Arcana: The Magician."

Jondor's body locked up and his power began to flow into Blake.

"I see," the old man smirked. "It seems you have won. But it will cost you."

Blake's eyebrows shot up, but it was too late to react. A single silver card materialized from Jondor as he completely withered away.

"Oh Higher Arcana," a bodiless voice echoed. "Hear me and obey. Trap this man within walls not made of iron nor stone, but those of his own mind. May he never escape for as long as he may live. Taboo Arcana: The Hermit."

The world seemed to twist and warp around Blake. He felt as if he was being twisted, spun, and pulled apart all at once. Time seemed to stretch on into eternity and he couldn't seem to place where he was. After what felt like centuries, yet it had only been seconds, it stopped and he opened his eyes.

He had taken Integra's and Jondor's power, but now he found himself trapped in someplace familiar.

He wasn't in the Diviner Realm anymore.

He was in his inner world.

————————

4 years later

It had been so many years since he had had contact with anyone. So many years since he had uttered even a word. Who had been, and what he had wanted to accomplish had slowly faded over the millennia he had spent alone. No matter how much he had tried, he could not escape the empty plane on which he existed.

All hope of salvation had been lost, yet he could not die. He had no need to eat, drink, or sleep in this place and had long since tried to maintain that normalcy. No, that was no longer normal for him either.

In the beginning, there had been eight others, but those too dissipated into this barren land. They had guided him and taught him everything they had known, and then disappeared, leaving him alone.

All that remained of the man was a burning feeling in his heart. A feeling that never faded, even after the millennia he had spent here.

He couldn't even remember the name for that feeling.

Yet, even though all hope had left him, he still struggled to get out. There was something he needed to still do. Something that still kept him tethered to his sanity. Something that drove him to keep moving forward.

Screams of the burning and death plagued his idle thoughts. He had to avenge them.

Everyday, he practiced what the eight had taught him, and every day he felt his power grow.

No, he no longer hoped. He would get out on his own power. No one would save him, and he would no longer save anyone.

"So you've finally accepted death as your ally?" a voice spoke from behind him. It was so familiar, yet he couldn't remember who it belonged to.

He turned to see a small-framed, white haired woman in a white and gold gown. She was familiar to him, but yet again he couldn't place her.

Her red eyes rose to meet his and she smiled. "You can finally hear me. That's good."

He tried to respond, but all that came out was a raspy and strained sound.

"It's fine, there's no need to respond," she waved off. "I'll make this short." She took in the sight of him and frowned. "You've really changed, Blake."

That name sparked something in him, but he continued to listen.

"Even at your lowest, you always seemed to have a glimmer of hope in you. That's gone now, isn't it?"

He nodded.

"Good, hope has no place in what you seek to accomplish. I'm just here to let you know that I found a way for you to get out of here. You want that right."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Eh-uhn-ee-uh," he struggled. He tried again, focusing harder. "Nuh-ee-duh."

"Need to?"

He nodded.

She smiled wryly. "Then you're going to need to absorb me."

He raised an eyebrow. Even from his faded memories, he knew that this was not something that she would have suggested.

Seeming to read his thoughts, she responded. "I've been in here with you the whole time. Though you may not have been able to see or hear me, I've been trying to reach you. You now share the same ideology as me. You want to see the Mage's Association fall along with mage society. That task no longer needs both of us. Once you get out, there is no one who can oppose you. I no longer need to exist."

"Why?" He questioned in his mind.

"After the fifth holy grail war, my predecessor sacrificed herself for her elder brother. The Association didn't care for that action and has been punishing the Einsbern's by forcing them to commit atrocious acts. I'll admit, at one point I enjoyed those acts, but since being here, I remembered what I truly desired. You are the conduit that I will entrust my goal to. Even if I still had my physical body, I wouldn't be able to stand up to all of mage society, but how you are now, you can definitely do it."

He understood. The more they communicated, the more he remembered the screams of his loved ones as the Association burned them alive.

He nodded. He would do it.

He held out a card and she smiled.

"This is goodbye forever, Blake Ryan. Destroy them for the both of us."

The magician card activated Irena von Einsbern disappeared.

His power surged up within him and cracks began to form throughout the world. He wouldn't be able to return here, but that was fine by him. Mage society would kneel before him at last.

The world shattered.

————

Blake Ryan's eyes fluttered open and a beeping sound next to him drew his attention.

He was in a fairly small room with an IV stuck in his arm and a clip on his index finger to read his pulse. His nose burned from the small tubes flowing oxygen down through his airways.

He raised the arm that wasn't hooked up to anything and gently pulled the tubes from his nose. It was an increasingly difficult effort to do so. His hand, wrist, and forearm looked so frail. Yet, he couldn't complain.

He was in the Realm of Life again.

"Blake?" A voice came from the doorway.

He turned to take in an awestruck Shirou gaping at him.

"Hey, old friend," he rasped. "It looks like we have a lot to talk about."

A/N: Blake returns to the Realm of Life. Now that everything has caught up to itself, the story should be a lot more straightforward and easy to follow. Will Blake truly topple the Mages' Association? Or will he fall in his attempt? Find out by staying tuned.

If you are enjoying this story, please drop a review and let me know what you think. This may not be part of the main trilogy, but it is very important for the next instillation of the trilogy.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and I hope you all have wonderful day!

-B