(Cover made by my dear friend MPTARTS. mptarts on Instagram)
(A/N)
Essiter: Yeah I think a hurricane tend to interfere with reading, Good to know that your good though. As for the tower. Just felt like it should be mentioned at least a little you know
Knucklesfan: I don't think my grammar is too bad, I've been improving but I need to start proof-reading. I've been trying to find Beta's for this story to remedy this, Think I got one but I need to make sure lol
Harmgee: Well the poison is on the stinger and not the pincer so sadly no poison, Although I doubt Cardin(At least the version I'm writing) would use poison anyways
Guest: Well it was just grimms. Not much of a threat to Cardin until the Deathstalker so it just made sense :D.
(Cardin)
"For today's match, It will be between Lie Ren and Jack Marigold." Goodwitch announced. Cardin shifted his new gear around his body, It was well-fitting and felt natural as well as light but it felt wrong for him to not feel the familiar weight of steel resting on him.
It's your conscience, Reminding you of what happened.
Is it?
No, You are just not used to the sudden change. I can make it heavier if you like!
The moment Cardin finished reading the message was the moment he felt his armor quadrupling in weight, Almost making his knees buckle before his aura flashed and he felt the reinforcing strength from aura to withstand the sudden change in his armor. Cardin struggled for a few moments before the armor lightened up.
Dickhead
Hehe
"Psst. Cardin, don't worry about Renny, He got this" The familiar voice from next to him said as Cardin arched a brow, He turned to see Nora with a huge smile on her face. Ever since he has stood up for Velvet and cleared the misunderstanding of him bullying Jaune. The three teams have grown oddly close and Cardin truly saw the error of his ways.
"I know that Renny may seem small but trust me, He's big when it counts." Nora said, Not noticing the innuendo nor the meaning within her sentence. Cardin covered his laughter with a cough and simply nodded. His attention refocused on Lie Ren and Jack Marigold.
"Hey Kung-fu boy, I hope you don't use 'wipe the window' against me" Jack taunted, A calm smile on his face as he readied his spear. Ren simply settled into his own stance without his weapon, "Sure, I'll wipe the floor with you instead"
As soon as the match started, Jack wasted no time in closing the gap between him and Ren, The spear being brought back before being thrust towards an unmoving Ren. Cardin watched carefully as the spear approached the martial arts practitioner.
Requirements Overridden: Keen Eyes active
Cardin blinked as time seemed to slow down, Jack's movements being slowed down as if he was moving through molasses while Ren still seemed to move normally, although slowly slower than Cardin could remember. Ren's forearm came up to block the shaft of the spear while his body slipped past the spear tip. Once he was past the danger, His other hand was brought up and he pulled on the Spear, pulling Jack with enough force into the outstretched palm.
Cardin watched as small ripples spread across the fabric with a visible gold aura trailing after the ripples before time resumed to normal and Jack was launched back, his weapon now sitting in the hands of Ren, who spun the spear around and wielded it. Leaving Jack weaponless.
"Didn't I say not to use Wipe the window?" Jack joked as he coughed while Ren waited for his opponent to catch his breath, a faint smile apparent as Jack raised his hands into a boxer stance. Cardin looked over to Yang, who had a disgruntled expression on her face. Seems like his stance isn't that good.
That was quickly proven as Ren dropped the spear behind him, Seemingly having picked up the same observation that Cardin had. Jack tried to close the gap but Ren was already there with a fist embedded into his abdomen before his hands struck out like lightning. Several strikes hitting Jack in fractions of a second, Each strike taking away a chunk of Jack's aura with it.
"STOP, Mr. Marigold's aura is under 20%. the winner is Ren"
Cardin blinked. He turned back towards the aura counter and sure enough Jack's aura was lower than 20% while Ren's sat at a comfortable... 80%?
Fast match but Ren didn't get hit in the slightest... What?
QUEST RECEIVED!:
{Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon}
TASK:
Find out why Ren's aura level dipped.
?
?
?
?
Rewards:
Potential new skill.
?
?
?
Cardin blinked in surprise as he read the new task, Seriously? Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon?
It's a good martial arts movie! Sue me that it fits... actually, I don't have enough money to afford a lawsuit
Cardin snorted before the target of his quest sat down beside him, His expression as boring as ever. Truly the Blake Belladonna of team JNPR... But a guy... and a human.
Sidetracked!
"You have something to ask me Winchester?" Ren asked His voice in the same monotone that Cardin has heard since the first day of Beacon. Cardin thought about it for a bit before nodding.
"You aura dropped yet Jack never hit you. I saw everything and you aura never flashed once. The only one getting struck was Jack. Why did your Aura drop?" Cardin told Ren as he raised an eyebrow before chuckling a bit, Hearing the normally stoic member of JNPR laugh was a bit of a shock to Cardin but he waited for Ren to answer his question.
"You have sharp eyes. My techniques does rely quite heavily on aura. Although it doesn't seem so, My aura was being channeled to all my strikes" Ren explained, His expression twisted as he considered something before he took a deep breath, "I could demonstrate it later, It could make more sense if you experience it"
"...Alright"
-(Training Rooms)-
(Cardin)
"Before we start, You need to understand the basics of my technique. I practice a Wushu, Or Kung-Fu in Valean, named Pak Mei, The art of lightning hands." Ren explained, His hands shooting out and making Cardin realize why the art was named that way. Keen eyes had allowed him to see strikes otherwise impossible to see or block, but he had a more urgent question.
"I see... But why is Velvet and Nora here?" Cardin asked. Behind the Martial Arts Master stood Velvet and Nora, Both in tank tops with red sashes across their waist and loose pants. Ren turned to him with a smile, "Why they are my students of course. Velvet, Come here and let us demonstrate."
Velvet smiled and jogged up to the mat and the duo set into their stance. Velvet's smile turned mischievous as she turned to Ren, "Should we slow it down for the newcomer?"
"No. He's able to see every movement I make when I was sparring Jack, He will be able to see this." Ren answered as Velvet nodded. The duo starting as soon as the sentence was finished.
Requirements Overridden: Keen Eyes active
Cardin watched as both Ren and Velvet's hands came up in sync into a standard Martial arts greet before the pair brought their hands towards them before cycling back with their arms to the sides in front of them, Pausing for only a moment before performing the same series of lightning-fast strikes that Ren had performed onto Jack. This time, however, Cardin could see each area that they were striking at.
Chest, Abdomen, Another three strikes to the chest, and finishing it off with a chop to the head. All were completed within fractions of a second. Each blow flowed perfectly and flawlessly into one another before the duo turned to the side, Striking suddenly at the chest and abdomen before bringing their fist upwards, turning again, and performing the same combo from before. The two stop before Ren nods and Velvet relaxes, A sheen of sweat already visible as she jogs back to Nora who gave her a high-five and smile.
"Did you get all that?" Ren asked as Cardin nodded. Velvet and Nora seemed surprised at the fact while Ren's smile grew. The smile was quickly wiped from his face as he motioned for Cardin to go over to him. Cardin quickly complied and walked up to Ren.
"I'll demonstrate the combination for you, You saw which area was hit correct?" Ren asked as Cardin nodded again, Bracing himself for the strikes. Silence quickly reigns the room as Cardin waited but felt nothing, He realizes soon that Ren was asking for the said area to be recited to him.
"Oh, Uh, Chest, Abdomen, with three following strikes to the chest and a chop to the neck" Cardin recited confidently, A feeling of satisfaction rolling over him when he saw the small hint of surprise in Ren's eyes and the visible reaction that Velvet and Nora gave, Ren nodded, "Good. I was correct in my assessment"
"What asse-" Cardin was cut off as he felt a surprising amount of force strike his chest with another strike embedding itself into his core, Any wind he had left in his lungs was knocked out by this point. Three quicker strikes, No less in power, followed in pursuit before the misery was ended with a chop to the neck that brought Cardin to the ground.
Yeowch.
"There is a principle in Wushu called Wude. The Martial Morality. My master once told me that He who has Kung-Fu and Wude makes the other know he can break him, His hand goes out like lightning, and the other doesn't want to fight anymore" Ren recited as he helped the bigger man up from the floor. Cardin groaned as he massaged his chest. Why isn't my aura kicking in?
"You aura isn't working right?" Ren asked as Cardin looked towards Ren with surprise, His cheeks flushing when he heard giggling from Velvet and Nora as Ren smiled again, His expression gentle as he pulsed his own aura and suddenly the pain in Cardin's chest lessened.
"Aura isn't an all-powerful being you can rely on as a crutch. it is simply a tool to help you on your journey. A little hypocritical coming from me but I would agree with that." Ren paused before turning to Cardin, His hands behind his back and another gentle smile on his face, "Wouldn't you?"
QUEST RECIEVED!:
{Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon}
TASK:
Find out why Ren's aura level dipped.(Completed)
Become a disciple of Lie Ren(X)
"Could I-" Cardin started but hesitated. His throat tightening as he was reminded by his memories of what his strength had been used to do to others.
"Could you join us in practicing Pak Mei. That's what you wish to ask right?" Ren calmly finished the question for Cardin as he sat into a meditative pose. Cardin swallowed the knot in his throat and nodded. Ren stayed quiet for a moment before sighing, "Unfortunately. I would say no"
Cardin felt his heart sink but it was understandable, Teaching skills like this to someone like him, Who had a history of hurting others with his strength. It wasn't a surprise that Ren would refuse to teach him
"Would, Cardin, Would. As long as you prove yourself able to learn and understand the principle of Wude. I will teach you Pak Mei" Ren told his newest disciple and Cardin felt a weight being lifted off his shoulder, Ren continued as Velvet walked past him, "Wude is as important as Wushu. Never forget that"
"Of course Ren."
"Of course Sifu."
"Of course Sifu."
Rewards Received:
Understanding Ren's mysterious use of aura: Aura manipulation(Unskilled)
Becoming a disciple: Pak Mei(Unskilled)
{Pak Mei}
!Passive Skill!
The art of lightning hands. Focuses on the art of striking and uses the infamous Tiger claw and Southern Crane claw in their strikes.
Skilled and Advanced users of Pak Mei often include Bladed weapons and staffs in their curriculum.
Effects(Currently):
Basic Understanding of striking
Slightly more damage towards unarmed strikes
"So... Welcome onto the Martial arts team Cardin" Velvet said as she sat next to Cardin with Nora following on the opposite end, The two giving each other a mischievous smile before dragging Cardin onto the mat, I have a bad feeling about this.
"Ren Ren, Can I haze this guy! Velvet had that awesome cheating skill stealing skill so I couldn't beat her but Cardin is fine right!?" Nora asked excitedly as Ren chortled while Cardin turned towards Velvet in confusion, "Awesome cheating skill stealing skill?"
"She means my semblance" Velvet giggled as she placed her hands on her hips and smiled, "I can mimic the physical movements and skill of someone I observe as long as it's not above my skill level"
"So the reason you are here..."
"Ren was too fast and skilled for my Semblance to observe so I'm learning to perfect my craft, A little hobby of mine. Besides more skill in my skillset doesn't hurt"
"Yeah I gue-"
Cardin was cut off in the middle of his sentence as he dodged under a strike, Blocking another towards his abdomen before succumbing to the last four strikes that knocked the wind out of his lungs.
"Whew, I almost thought we had a prodigy here" Nora said as she did a dramatic wipe of her non-existent sweat, Velvet trying to stifle her laughter beside her as Cardin stood back up, "a-any time Valkyrie"
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT" Nora cheered as she closed the distance and ducked under Cardin's strike before-
OH SHIT OW. CARDIN ARE YOU GOOD?
Both Ren and Velvet winced at the impact, Nora roaring in victory as Cardin doubled over in pain. The agony emanating from two glands that he held dearly to him for the sole purpose that they are delicate and responsible to carry on the Winchester bloodline. And it has been almost obliterated by an punch from Nora Valkyrie. The strength freak of JNPR with said strength coming from wielding a massive hammer.
"That my disciple. is aptly named the crotch punch... and is Nora's favorite move." Ren said with a wince while Cardin tried to get air back into his lungs. His eyes watering. The ability to talk being robbed from him as nausea and the pain equivalent of being ripped apart atom by atom and being pieced together in a dryer. The only response that came out was a whine of pain.
"Yeah I feel you there brother" Ren grimaced while Velvet was simultaneously trying to comfort Cardin in his pain and not die roaring in laughter while Nora was still celebrating her victory on the opposite end of the mat.
Man that was BRUTAL... That girl has no remorse either...
"... The first thing I'll do is teach you how to defend against that Cardin... and get you a crotch guard capable of withstanding her force"
"ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏ ʸᵒᵘ"
"Velvet, Would you help Cardin?"
She is way too busy trying not to die in laughter. To be fair that was pretty funny.
"ᶜᵃⁿ ᴵ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵃⁿ ᶦᶜᵉ ᵖᵃᶜᵏ"
"of course my disciple. I'll make sure you can get the treatment you receive"
2,625 words
The demonstration of Ren and Velvet was taken directly from the Opening of Sifu(the game) which uses Pak Mei as it's combat system. So it'll probably be heavily referenced from this point onwards :P, If you want to see how it look like. Just search up Sifu intro on YouTube
That is it for this chapter!
Comments and Criticism welcome!