Chapter One-Hundred and Fifteen: Shock and Awe. Bjorn vs Drake Rematch.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake coughed embarrassedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My bad I didn’t mean to get so caught up about that collectible… I just couldn’t help asking, seeing how cultured your friend Sato was,” Drake said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cultured? He is the least cultured person here,” Shigure spat, his eyes frowning, “I wish he would grow up! We’ve almost died many times and all he does is make stupid anime references!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake coughed again.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Oh, I’m going to piss this guy off for sure…</em><span style="font-weight:400"> He thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Grow up? Kenzo, I''m a year older than you!” Sato snapped back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, but mentally you are several years behind! How many times must I tell you those cartoons do not apply to the real world!” Shigure shouted.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake coughed.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">If only this guy knew… I’ve been using those shows as a basis for everything in this tutorial. If it wasn’t for them I might have died several times over… Not to mention almost all of my spells are a reference to one show, manga, light novel or another.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought,ughing to himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then,” Drake said, looking at Shigure and Sato, “How do you exin me kicking the shit out of you?” Drake chuckled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Excuse me?” Shigure spat, unsure of Drake’s meaning.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Everything I hit you with is from a show or game I’ve experienced. Yet you seem to think they were useless,” Drake smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-what?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sato smiled triumphantly next to Shigure.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What I think you are failing to realize is that everything is a means of growing stronger and maturing. You’re dismissing something Sato and I feel passionate about on the basis of some preconception or other,” Drake said shaking his head dramatically, “That’s going to be fatal in this new world. Your construct,” Drake continued, thumbing behind him, “That is going into my tent right now, should have told you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure winced. His face then contorted into knowing as he realized Drake had some sort of perception ability.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are not the only ones this system has uprooted and thrown into the blender. You think our old world was a melting pot of diversity? You should know that it pales inparison to the myriad of races we will have once we leave this ce. And shutting out what is going to be a sh of times, cultures, and more importantly people is going to hurt you and the people you lead. I’m not saying that you have to like anime and the like, but understanding things you hate to solidify your position on it is vital to a good foundation of tolerance and mutual respect,” Drake exined, taking a breath from his long-winded speech.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">I really need to cut back on the preaching….</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not to mention, those shows are great. I mean have you even watched yerS? That alone would help you live through half the shit in this tutorial. And don’t get me started on that dude that ys Goblins. Chef’s kiss my man,” Drake said while making the gesture.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shigure was so taken by surprise by the sermon that he stayed silent, essentially conceding the point. His eyes showed that his mind was turning as it consumed the words.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake was somewhat surprised that the teen didn’t argue more, honestly thinking that he would be adamant as most younger people are with their beliefs. But it seemed that the multiple beatings Drake had dished out had at least opened the kid''s mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">Figuratively speaking.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned to the crowd, many of them scowling back at him. Ignoring them, Drake’s eyes fell on Megan and Julia.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m pleasantly surprised to see you both again. Even if one of you seems to disdain me,” Drake chuckled, walking over to the pair, ignoring the other scowling faces.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hello again, Lord Shot,” Julia said, giving a small bow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you making fun of me?” Drake asked incredulously.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing, Lord Shot,” Julia said again, a smile on her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake sighed, looking over to Megan who was eerily silentpared to Julia, her face scrunched in a mix of frustrated emotions.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So what’s the deal? You two came to watch the fight as well? Pretty sure you’ve both seen what I can do,” Drake said, leaning on one leg.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was unconscious. And no, I would like to extend my gratitude again and ask to join your inner circle. I know my skills will be of use,” Julia said evenly, then nudged Megan with her elbow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-i… I’d also like to offer my service… I have been missing my friends. And I-” Megan looked downward, before continuing, “I know I’ve been giving you a hard time. On the way here, you saved me, saved <em><span style="font-weight:400">us</em><span style="font-weight:400"> again. And I’ve talked to Chels, Jacky, even Tom more while we traveled…. I want to see with my own two eyes who you are. If you really are just a cold-hearted killer with a gentle face like… Chris… or if you are the savior they all make you out to be,” Megan said finishing, her eyes still on the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey Megan,” Drake said, “My eyes are up here,” he scoffed, waiting for the woman to face him.
<span style="font-weight:400">She stared back at him shakily, her eyes darting back and forth but Drake stayed silent until she was able to keep rtive eye contact.
<span style="font-weight:400">“When you ask for a favor, you need to look the person in the eye and be sincere. The eye is the window to the soul, and if you can’t even look me in them, how will I ever be able to trust you,” Drake said, then waiting for her response.
<span style="font-weight:400">Megan was slightly shaken but, apparently determined as she stared back her eyes tearing slightly as she did.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am asking to join your party like the rest. I want to learn more about you to make my own decision if I should leave my friends to you!” she said, her voice growing to a shout.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake smiled, impressed by the boom of her voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nope! No can do, all full up,” Drake sneered back.
<span style="font-weight:400">Both women looked at him in disbelief, their mouths hanging open wide.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean you don’t have room?!” Both yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drakeughed then shrugged.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m only kidding, sure, both of you cane with us. We could always use more support sses,” Drakeughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re such an asshole!” Megan snapped,
<span style="font-weight:400">Julia on the other hand,ughed with Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I think I will enjoy being in this group. Always keeping me on my toes, it feels like home,” she said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We can talk about the detailster. Right now I need to put on a show. It was good talking to you two, and I’m thankful for your straightforwardness. Wee aboard Team Shot,” he smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m never saying I’m a part of a team named that….” Megan mumbled, crossing her arms.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake scoffed and walked past them, making his way to the other star of the show.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sorry for the wait man, crazy how much you get pulled left and right with knowing people,” Drake said, apologizing to Bjorn.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All good bro, I’m used to having it happen. Forget I was a CEO? Sometimes you need to have meetings when you don’t have time,” Bjorn replied nonchntly with a wave of his unarmored hand, “Then, should we get started? I’ll clear some space,” Bjorn smiled, pulling his sword from his back.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn walked from the congregation of people finding a rtively open area for him to swing his sword in a manner that made it seem as if it took no effort despite the size of the weapon.
<span style="font-weight:400">And with the swing, he felled trees enough to open up the forest in front of him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Jeez, who are you, frigging Scandinavian Cell?” Drake said, giving a brief whistle.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know who that is,” Bjorn said, cocking an eyebrow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright that''s it,” Drake sighed, “Everyone is going to have to go through anime rehabilitation when we get back to earth, I’ve had enough of people not getting my references. You are all so uncultured and deprived….”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I got that one!” Sato screamed from behind them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake gave Sato a thumbs up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“At least there''s one real one among us,” Drake scoffed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn turned pointing his sword tip at Drake with one hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Should we get started then? Lord, Shot?” Bjorn smirked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s eyes lit up with eagerness, as they shed through his ocr skills.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Marked</em><span style="font-weight:400">. I’m more than ready,” Drake replied, his stance going low as he snapped his freshly returned right hand, summoning bolts of lightning to either side of him, “Don’t think this is going to go the same way asst time! Bear!” he roared, another snap of his fingers hurtling the Lightning Bolts forward as they trained right on Bjorn.
<span style="font-weight:400">The bolts screeched forward towards Bjorn. But Bjorn only smirked as he stood in the open area he had created.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake didn’t wait for the impact. The bolts now blocking Bjorn’s vision of Drake, he shot to the side, snapping his fingers once again. His Tattoo Rings slipping into his inventory as he summoned his Morning Glory Staff.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn’s eyes somehow tracked Drake, as Drake came into view around the bolts of lightning on his left side.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Again with his nuts perception. But he isn’t the only one who can see through things!</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake roared internally.
<span style="font-weight:400">The bolts of lightning finally met with Bjorn, but unexpectedly Bjorn, dodged one of the two, his free hand stopping the other bolt in its tracks as he gripped it like it was a twig of electricity.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn then crushed the bolt in his hands, the lightning mana dissipating into the air as he kept his eyes fixed on Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake skidded to a stop, pointing his staff at Bjorn now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">The halls of the underworld wee you! Cocytus!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake roared, a white magic circle forming below his feet.
<span style="font-weight:400">With his spell, the increased magic flourished. The magic circle spread to epass the surroundings, moving far enough to bring itself under Bjorn. Suddenly erecting a massive door of ice, flecks of purple-tinted ice adorning the inside.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake roared as he smiled behind his mask, his free hand raised high in the air, “<em><span style="font-weight:400">Shut the Gate!”</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">Instantly the door mmed shut, like an Iron Maiden around Bjorn. The thunderous boom silencing the surroundings.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-what…? Is Bear…” someone murmured from the crowd.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake remained vignt through the crowd''smotion, as he received no notification, and knew his friend better than that.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Just a warm-up huh?</em><span style="font-weight:400"> He thought, feeling the spell struggle to hold together around Bjorn.
<span style="font-weight:400">The next moment Drake felt something bubbling behind the closed door, sending a shiver down his spine.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quickly snapping his fingers he summoned lighting, switching his Endowment, and bolted from the spot he was just standing on throwing his staff into the air as it vanished into his inventory. Two rings materialized in front of him, that he quickly threw his fingers into, the tattoos ring to life on his arm as the brilliant yellow cascaded over them apanied by the deepening blue of the mana being infused.
<span style="font-weight:400">A split second after Drake’s foot left the position, a dark de of mana erupted from the door of ice, rending the ground he was just standing on apart, a gaping valley now there.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Ice spell fell apart, as it fell in shards of shimmering splinters reflecting the light of the morning, a mist of both dust and cold snow covering the man inside as he stood in waiting for Drake’s next move.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I thought I told you how I felt about your gimmicks, Shot,” Bjorn said evenly, his eyes ring white in the shadows of the falling ice.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake smiled wider hearing the familiar statement.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And I thought I told you my inspiration is anything but!” he roared back, “And I’ll prove it! Those inspirations will be your salvation Bear!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake threw his hand forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Heretical Symphony of Elements!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake yelled,manding his every spell to be used, all 11 instances, his Proficiency 3 Multiplicative skill shining.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake didn’t finish with just that as he changed his defensive skills, ready to enter a brawl as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">I am the shield! I am the rampart! Bulwark! I am the wall on which my enemies billow! Unbreakable!” </em>
<span style="font-weight:400">The green sheen of the skills covered Drake in a cloak of security.
<span style="font-weight:400">“He’s using defensive skills?! Isn’t he a mage!?” someone roared over the grounds.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How can he summon that many spells?! That isn’t possible!” another added.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake ignored the shouts andintsing from the peanut gallery as he trained his eyes on the red outline of Bjorn within the smoke of ice and dust that his Weak Point Skill helped him both faintly see and feel.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">On blessed wings! Guardians Reprieve!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake shouted finishing his defensive skills and roaring forward with the help of his Wind and Fire spells in tandem to increase his speed, reaching Bjorn in an instant with his first outstretched.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s first was covered both in the blue of his imbued mana and the red of his Martial skill as it careened forward towards Bjorn’s face, the ice around them falling in chunks and crashing like a falling building.
<span style="font-weight:400">But once again Bjorn''s tenacity and perception showed, as in thest moment a metal-gloved hand stopped Drake’s. The booming sound and force of the impact shattering the ice around them blowing the remains of the enormous Ice Door apart and sending pieces flying outward.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake clicked his tongue.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">He has one hell of a reaction time. But what about this!</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake roared internally, using the rest of his spells.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake moved his lightning behind Bjorn to his blind spot as he continued to throw straight after straight at Bjorn’s head.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn effortlessly blocked each punch with his free hand.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Is he getting faster?!</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake began imbuing more and more mana into his tattoos, their blue glow deepening as it started to overtake the red of his Martial skill.
<span style="font-weight:400">His bolt of lightning took its chance now that Bjorn was distracted, and thrusted itself forward, but Bjorn somehow again knew that it wasing, moving his sword to deflect the spell, ricocheting off it and impaling the ground in a red-hot molten hole.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn smiled back at Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake cursed but didn’t give up, continuing to channel his mana into his spells he began bombarding Bjorn with the elements at his disposal.
<span style="font-weight:400">Spears of lightning, water, fire, earth, magma, and wind began shooting forward in every direction, but to no avail, Drake could notnd a single blow.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">What the fuck is this?! Is he omniscient?! I can’t even scratch him this time around.</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake continued his assault as Bjorn remained calm, deflecting each of the spells with hisrge ymore, his movements so precise and casual he made the de seem weightless.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn had apparently had enough as he finally went on the offensive, using arge sweeping movement, he cut right through the spell circles, surprising Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who are you fucking Asta!?” Drake spat, pushing backward just moments before the de struck him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Always with the random references,” Bjorn smirked, holding his de’s tip at Drake, “The sword itself isn’t doing it, it just happens to be a part of one of my skills,” Bjorn said, refusing to move.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just likest time you aren’t going to move unless I make you huh?” Drake scoffed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You couldn’t make me even if you wanted to this time. The skill has improved well beyond what you have seen, and I’ve reached a threshold when I reached the max proficiency in some of my skills,” Bjornughed, “Let me show you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The mana surrounding Bjorn’s body began to shift, taking on a dark hue as he raised his sword to the heavens.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">The world has bore witness to my absolute power.” </em><span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn muttered, the density of the ck mana spiking, his sword bing pitch ck, “<em><span style="font-weight:400">Rend the skies! Heaven Splitting de!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Bjorn shouted, his sword lowering with such speed Drake was almost unable to move out of the way in time.
<span style="font-weight:400">Using his spells he had no time for his charade of fake casting. Immediately he used his fire and wind to propel him to the side, part of his robes caught in the de’s mana-infused swing.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake shot to the side, colliding with the ground as he rolled across it, eventually finding himself upright and looking at the destruction wrought by Bjorn''s strike.
<span style="font-weight:400">He looked at his smoldering robe, part of it erased, singed by the swing. It was still usable but almost half of it had been destroyed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Looking to the ground, he saw what was now a chasm separating him from the camp. And from the expressions he saw from the spectators, they had no idea Bjorn was capable of it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, you ruined my favorite robes…” Drake muttered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Happens,” Bjorn said, resting his sword on his shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake frowned.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well since we’re going all out here. Allow me to oblige!” Drake roared as he stood to his feet, his hand arcing in front of him as seven magic circles formed for his elements. Then two more yellow magic circles formed on either side of him, as they began to slowly deepen into a wondrous violet color.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Heretical Endowment! Septenarius!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake cried, the seven elements vanishing as his hair and tattoos began to shift in color into a glorious cascading show of the elements.
<span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn looked taken aback at the disy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You can do them all at once? That’s new bro.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not done yet. This might have been meant to only be a spar, but apparently, I need to show you just how far I’vee,” Drake smirked, his body glowing in the shifting colors of his elements.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Asura! Duo!” </em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake howled, his two lightning spells embedding themselves into his back just above his shoulders, turning into two additional arms as they mmed together, sparks crackling from the impact as the sound of thunder cracked through the surroundings.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And for the finale! You’re the first who gets to see it firsthand, Bear!” Drake shouted across the field a primal smile creasing his face under his mask, his eyes turning to points as he reveled in the battle.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake pped his hands together and when they separated two white burning balls of fire formed in the palms of his hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Heretical Attunement, Fire!”</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake crushed the mes in his hands, as they leaked from his hands and spiraled up his arms forming breathing gauntlets of mes around his tattoos.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ming at you full force! No backing down, I’ll prove I can keep my word my friend. I won’t let you be the monster. Even if I have to be one myself to stop you!”