(SHIRO'S POV)
Stupid Clyde! Getting special training from a legendary pyromancer. Screw him. I don't need fire to be the best. I'll kick ass without it.
I was currently doing push ups and sit ups until I was unable to continue. I was working my ass off just to even the odds against Clyde. His lame ass was in the middle of training his fire magic with Xeno. He offered to help Clyde advance his powers. Meanwhile, Eliza was pushing me to my limits with these dumbass calisthenics.
"C'mon kid! Push yourself!" The rogue said.
I continued to go above and beyond in my training until I caught a glimpse at Eliza's clothing...Or should I say, lack thereof. She was rocking a nice bikini that had me trembling."What are you wearing?!" I asked while wiping my nose.
"The ladies and I are gonna go head to the hot springs." She replied.
"Isn't that what got you all hypnotized?! You know...with the bard…" I asked.
"No. This is different...Now hurry up and finish so that I can leave!" Eliza shouted. Her sudden tone had alarmed me and forced me to quicken my pace.
-TWELVE MINUTES LATER-
I had finally finished my ridiculous amount of push ups and was resting with Vizeron. The wolf was currently laying down on my lap. I stared at him until he looked back at me.
"What?!" He asked confused.
"I don't know... I guess I was just thinking about old times."
"What do you mean?"
"Like how I used to be a prince and a screw up at the same time." I chuckled.
"You said your home got destroyed. What exactly happened?" Viz asked.
"It's not a day I like talking about…"
"Well then...talk about your family!"
I shook my head at his bluntness. "I had a little sister and a father. My father was the king and was usually busy with royal stuff. I usually spent time with my sister up until I was thirteen and learned about my family trait. You see...in the Tatsugami family, every first born son is supposed to gain the powers of the Righteous Seven, aka the start of our family tree. Now, for some reason, I didn't get those powers. I should have inherited them, but instead, I was left with nothing. I was supposed to gain access to the abilities of the Righteous Seven and put a stop to the Red Death...but I never did get them...and that alone costed me my family."
"Damn dude. That's some deep shit…" Viz said.
"Yeah...but that's in the past now. I need to continue my journey to get stronger so that I can face the man in red."
"Well if you're getting stronger then so will I!"
"Alright then. Why don't we take a little nap and then get back to our training."
"Whatever you say, beta male." Viz plopped down and went straight to sleep. I scratched the top of his head softly and closed my eyes.
-TEN YEARS LATER-
(??? POV)
"Ward of Flames: Solar Strike!" I slammed my burning fist into the rock, instantly reducing it to rubble. I continued down the path until I was greeted by a large fountain. This was no ordinary water fountain though. It was the fountain of Eve. Those that drink from the blood fountain are able to walk through the deep depths of the underworld. I had to drink. Only then will I be able to find he who is supposed to be the Master of All. I must free my family from this wretched nightmare.
Within just a few short weeks, the world had been submerged into complete chaos. It was the literal apocalypse...and I couldn't prevent it. I underestimated Metagenesis and now, he's got humanity backed into submission. Many of the heroes that tried to stop him, died in the process. I was the last hope for humanity. I must protect the remaining third of the population. I'm the only one who can.
I filled the Chalice of Hell with the thick blood from the fountain. I downed this liquid with little hesitation. The blood was extremely hard to swallow. It was warm and held a thick stench. I almost threw it back up but I stayed strong toughed it out. As I was nearly finished the slimy substance I began to sink about my oncoming depression. I was just a couple days ago when I had my family my arms and we were all happy. Now, they are all being held within the deep pits of NecroFall. I wish I was strong enough to protect them before this mess happened, but I wasn't. I tossed the chalice to the floor and clutched my stomach. Vicious waves of pain radiated throughout my body. I dropped to my knees while panting heavily. My vision became blurry and my head began to ache. Stood up with determination. I bit down on my thumb until I drew blood. I created a small pentagram on the stone ground beneath me.
"Acshz Vhzi Nezryt Mgszea Hytmru Zojhulm!" I chanted the names of the Six Kings of NecroFall. The pentagram began to glow and a bright beam of energy swirled around me. Within a matter of seconds, I was teleported to the underworld city. This was the start of my mission to free my family.
-PRESENT-
(SHIRO'S POV)
I snapped my eyes open to see that I was inside they really fancy looking room. "Where am I?" I asked, openly.
"We are currently residing inside of Xeno's tower. You were passed out so we carried you back with us." Amora said while she and Eliza had left the room.
I nodded to the white-haired healer. I got off of the soft bed it stretched my arms out. I looked to my side and saw that Viz was still asleep. He was thrashing around so I assumed that he was having a nightmare. I gently nudged I'm awake and gestured him out of the room.
Everyone, minus is Clyde and Xeno were at the top floor staring outside of the window. I moved in next to Gabby and Tazorac. I was confused as to why everyone was cuddled up in this area, so I asked. "What's going on?"
"Clyde is nearing the end of his training with Xeno. He's actually doing pretty well." Gabby said with a grin.
I walked up closer to Isabel and noticed her smile. Her cheeks were slightly red as she stared out of the window. "You can do it Clyde." She said happily. I took a mental note of that. I finally decided to look out the window myself, and trust me I was baffled. Clyde and Xeno will levitating high up in the air blasting ridiculous amounts of fire at each other. Both of their clothes were torn up and charred. Clyde's whole upper level of clothing had been burned away.
"What the hell?!" I said with shock.
"My brother has been teaching Clyde well. Xeno really did give Clyde the push that he needed to advance and master his fire." Xena said with a smile.
"But... how?!" I asked.
"Simple. He got Clyde to find his purpose. He gave Clyde a reason to always win and to fight with pride. Before Xeno trained him, Clyde was about, level 15. Now he's a level 23." Xena explained.
I almost choked on my own breath. "Level 24?! In only a few days?! DAMNIT!!!" I shouted. I'm already like the weakest one here...and now Clyde just widened the gap between us, exponentially. I had finally thought that I had caught up to him. I finally got to level 14 and now, he's ten more levels ahead of me. I need to find a way to get stronger like he did.
"Wow. He already hit 24? That's incredible!" Gabby said.
I looked at her questioningly. "What level are you?"
"I'm level 28. Why do you ask?" Gabby said with a smirk
She knew damn well why I asked that. I quickly looked at Isabel and asked what her level was. I almost fainted when she told me hers. "LEVEL 19?! WHAT THE HELL?!" I looked back out of the top floor window and continued Watching Clyde display his new found power to the rest of us.
-FEW MINUTES AGO-
(CLYDE'S POV)
"Are you ready for your final test, young Yukio?" Xeno asked me.
"Yes master Xeno! I am ready!*
"This has been a very long week, training you. I've watched you progress with amazing speed. You have adapted to the ways of fire in ways that most people could only dream of. You have shown heart and dedication throughout your training and for that, I would like to congratulate you... However, your training will not be completed until you are able to defeat my."
My eyes widened. I couldn't believe the words that he had just spoken. "You want me to fight you?!" I asked him.
"Indeed. All of this training would be meaningless if you could not apply what you learned into actual combat. In order for you to what you have learned, you will battle me using only the power of your flames."
"What?! How can I beat a pyromancer with fire?!" I asked.
"Everyone's flames burn differently. Use yours to best me in a duel." Xeno said. I was getting nervous and was loosing my nerve. It seemed so illogical to fight him with only fire. It wasn't just illogical. It was impossible! Xeno walked up to me and gave me a hard look. "You are losing yourself, child. You must never admit defeat before the battle as started. That shows weakness and a lack of pride."
"Isn't too much pride a bad thing?"
"Hell no! Pride is what motivates you to do better than others and to reach for new hights. Those that lack pride, have no purpose in this world." I looked down and let his words sink in. ", Tell me, child. What is your reason for getting stronger?"
"To be a Grand Sp-"
"No! That is not a true reason. That is a mere goal that you hope to achieve. You need a real reason to get stronger. What is your reason?" Xeon pressed on.
I looked at him and gave him a mixed looked. "I don't have a reason then…"
"Hmph. That won't do!" He shook his head. "That other boy... Shiro Tatsugami, correct? He may be a lower level than you, but his dedication and his reasoning are gonna make him unbelievably strong. He has a real reason for wanting to get stronger. That is what will push him to do great things. The same goes for the brown haired girl. She shows conviction and has a strong mentality. She clearly has a reason to get stronger and is willing to do anything to achieve her goals. When you first told me that you wanted to be a Grand Spellcaster, I was surprised. The road to become the next Grand Spellcaster is long and treacherous. Nobody is willing to go for that goal because it is a difficult thing to even hope to achieve. You must not only master all magic but you must also channel your mana essence and raise it to be the strongest. Even stronger than my father, Dex. The only way you will reach that level, is by having a real reason for growth."
"What should my reason be?" I asked him.
"I can't answer that for you, but I will say this…" He began to charge up his flaming energy. He grit his teeth and let out a loud shout. He blasted off, propelling himself forward with a blast of fire. "YOU BETTER FIND YOUR REASON FAST BECAUSE OUR FIGHT STARTS NOW!" Xeno rammed his flaming fist into my face and sent me flying back. I land on my feet and flared up my aura and lifted myself off of the floor. I flew at Xeno and blasted him with an orb of fire. He got pushed back slightly. He charged up his on orb of fire and flared his aura. The orb glowed brightly in his hand. He aimed his orb at me and narrowed his eyes. "Well then...what will you do against this attack." He said as his flaming orb grew.
"..." I stayed quiet and ignited my hands.
"I hope you're ready young Yukio!" He launched the ball of fire at me. I lifted my hands and brought them forward. I caught the huge ball of fire and held it in place. I thought that I had control of the situation but Xeno chuckled lightly. He lifted his hand and enlarged the flaming ball of and pushed it harder against me. I was slipping and struggling. "What's your reason?! You're gonna get overwhelmed, boy! Don't you want to win?!"
"Winning…isn't... everything…" I hissed.
"...No... it's just the only thing that truly matters!" He pressed the ball of fire further. I grit my teeth even harder and pushed back a little harder. "Don't you crave the sense of victory?"
"...Y-yes!" I said with a pain filled growl.
"Then say it boy! Say that you want to win. Say that you want to grow! When you say those words, think about why you want to get stronger!" Xeno thrusted his hand forward.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" I let out a large yell as the orb pushed me back.
"WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION?!" Xeno shouted.
"...I"
"YOU WHAT?!"
"I want…"
"WHAT?!"
"I WANT TO WIN GODDAMNIT!!!" I flared up my aura and lifted the flaming orb and pushed it back at Xeno. "I want to be the best! I want to go back home and tell all the people that doubted me, that I did something they could never do! I WANT TO STRIKE FEAR INTO THOSE THAT PICKED ON ME AND ISABEL! I WANT TO MAKE HER FEEL SAFE WITH ME, AND ME ALONE! I WANT HER TO LOVE ME!!!"
Xeno swatted the blast away and grinned. "Excellent! I can see the passion in your eyes young Yukio! You know what you want! NOW COME ON AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" I charged up my flaming mana and pushed off the ground. I didn't notice that I was now levitating.
"Good for you. You've managed to force your mana downward. Flight is quite a difficult thing to do. Let's continue our battle."
"Yes sir!" I said as I flew at him.
-PRESENT-
(SHIRO'S POV)
Clyde was really going at it. He was sending a barrage of fireballs at Xeno. Xeno dodged them and flew forward sending Clyde a flaming roundhouse. Clyde ducked and sent Xeno a fiery uppercut. Xeno backflipped and cupped his hands together. "Ward of Flames: BLAZING INFERNO!" He sent out a blast of solar energy towards Clyde. Clyde cocked back one of his now burning hand and thrusted his open palm at the blast. Clyde's flaming aura appeared and he let out a yell. Xeno's blast faded and Clyde grinned. Clyde flew at Xeno, holding a fist full of fire. "Ward of Flames: Phoenix Blast!" Clyde hurled the blast of fiery energy at Xeno from point blank range. Xeno was sent flying through the window that we were all watching the fight from.
Xeno smiled with excitement and picked himself up. "Very good young Clyde! You are once again, exceeding my expectations. Keep at it!" Xeno flew back out of the window. The two of them wen right back to duking it out.
I continued to what with ever growing malice. I can't believe that Clyde got so strong. He's actually holding his own out their. Here I am, just watching him be kick ass. I decided that I saw enough and walked away from the shattered window.
"Where'er you goin?" Gabby asked.
"I gotta go...do a thing…" I said.
She rolled her and waved me off. "Don't be gone too long. We're leaving tonight."
"I won't. I just gotta take care of something." I told her.
"Can I come?" Viz asked.
"No. Stay here and chill. I'll be back." I told the small wolf.
"Whatever beta male."