《Rising Spirit》


 A Path Awakens

    Chapter 1: A Path Awakens.


    ¡°Push young¡¯n, push!¡± A lady in white shouted to a woman in mid child birth. A final squeeze is all that it would take to release the child into the cruel world of Deramia the lady clad in white thought but yet she still had the new mother push with all her might. Giving her motivation every step of the way. ¡°Just a bit more Elunia, one last push!¡±


    A final push with a strained scream and the new born child is out. A child similar to the mother yet different in a unperceivable way. Instead of a black tail clad in scales there was white, where the eyes were supposed be shut they were wide open ready to look at the ugly world in full glory. White eyes along with the child¡¯s pale skin would be seen as a bad omen but for the mother to be she only saw a precious child, her child.


    ¡°Nil, I name you Nil, my baby boy.¡± The mother covered in beads of sweat barely whispered out of exhaustion of the pain. Holding her child in her arms after having the child placed there she only smiled and held her child close. The lady in white seeing the sight felt a slight warmth invigorate her soul but moments later died down to dull that she easily put into the recess of her mind knowing what she had to do next. A male child born to a slave is still a slave after all.


    ¡°Elunia my child, it¡¯s time.¡± The lady in white said softly as she began to reach for the child. Knowing the fate of the child the mother never to be silently whispered words that no one else will ever here.


    ¡°Nil, my child warrior.¡± As she released the child the baby¡¯s eyes went slightly wide as he stared at his mother¡¯s red eyes that still withheld her tears within. The baby began to cry as it was carried from its mother across the wooden village into a cart with other woman of white with horns, antlers, slit pupils and tails.


    ¡°The last one?¡± a lady in a white gown asks the lady holding baby Nil as she climbs on to the open cart.


    ¡°Yes, Lady Priest.¡± Lady Priest only nods sending her long ears to slightly vibrate from the motion and allowing a feral smile to befall her face of perfection showing sharp teeth throughout her jaws; she looked inherently evil. Another woman in white tells the cart driver to get a move on and with a quick twist of his whip the cart rolls into motion. The lady in white who birthed Elunia¡¯s child tries to quiet the crying Nil to no avail until she uses his given name. The child instantly goes quiet and begins to lapse into a restful position as it begins to close its eyes in rest remaining unhindered by today¡¯s events. The narrowing of the child¡¯s pupils catches Elunia¡¯s birth maiden¡¯s attention for a slight second before she believes she only imagined it.


    Four Years Later¡­


    ¡°Why are the children still not working!¡± a man in steel armor gives a man wearing silk cloth asks in an impatient tone. Waiting for an answer the man who spoke paces back in forth in hardly restrained anger.


    ¡°Because you useless fool they will die within the month carrying the rocks and lose me the money from the payment made you imbecile!¡± The man in cloth lets out his own rage unrestrained.


    ¡°Sir! The mines are slowing in production, without more workers we will fall behind!¡± the man taking a chance tells the silk cloth noble his fears as his voice rises. The noble already knowing this and ready to burst at his seams yells at his Slave Master.


    ¡°Get out!¡± The Slave Master with no choice does a stiff bow and exits the room leaving the noble to his Ledgers. Looking through the ledgers the noble understands his problem but with having to fund his army he cannot produce anymore coin for more slaves within the mines. Sucking his teeth in disappointment he decides his money is worth far more than a hundred guards as he releases the most incompetent. Calling for his master scribe through one of his castle slaves he awaits in patience for him to arrive while making slight tweaks here and there to afford more workers.


    A knock on the door makes the noble smile in primal hunger.


    ¡°Come in!¡± he says covering his smile as if it was never there.


    ¡°You called for me, My Lord?¡± The scribe asks as he maintains his bow of respect. The noble looks on with triumphant for this obvious sign of respect as he speaks.


    ¡°Of course, I called for you!¡± The Noble says impatiently. ¡°I need you to make ledgers stating that the anyone who works at my mines will make five copper a day and make sure they understand that any age will be allowed to work.¡± The scribe quickly hides his grimace at the last words. Not about the age of work but about the fact the common man would have to work with slaves. However, knowing his place he only nods and quickly leaves the room commanding the nearby slaves to quickly spread words to his scribe apprentices that the Lord has commanded a duty.


    The lord back in his office begins humming to himself for his bright idea of shaving off the cost for the city guard to make workers for his mine, soon enough he will be able to hire even more guards as five copper is nothing compared to the fifteen a guard gets a day. Humming as he writes in his ledgers he quickly becomes engrossed in his money making duties he can¡¯t help be believe himself a genius.


    ***


    ¡°Jak, toss here!¡± Nil screamed as he played with the others his age. Nil ran all around their small enclosed cavern as he tried to catch the ball from the much nimbler children. Not one for giving up he chases as he shouts for the ball when suddenly the ends up in his hands. Unable to contain his excitement he holds onto the ball with a proud and innocent smile. Running around the other young boys he is soon tackled in a ferocious way ending with the ball made of twigs being squashed beneath him. The other kids looking at the ball and back at Nil make distasteful faces as if they ate something sour or spoiled as they gang up on him. The ring leader Jak holding far more than a scowl on his face begins to kick young Nil screaming,


    ¡°You ruined our ball! You squashed it with you lard! your pathetic being needs to learn!¡± The other kids join in, obvious anger guiding their actions as Nil cries in pain. The kids kicking and punching as Nil rolls into a ball crying at the cruel punishment given for being happy, happy for finally receiving the ball. The ball that was purposely being kept from him for this exact purpose. He cried for someone to help him but yet no help came even as he heard is own bones crack and crunch from the other kid¡¯s onslaught of a beating.


    ¡°Pl-ea-se s-t-op!¡± Nil cried but yet the beatings continued in even more ferocity. ¡°It hurts!¡± Nil cried but Jak answered as he kicked Nil in the face.


    ¡°Should of thought before squashing our ball!¡± Nil cried as the attacks continued. It was not his fault that he was tackled on top of the ball, or the fact the weight of them all squashed the ball! Jak saw it differently. Nil while being one of the shortest was the heaviest. Broadest of them all. His strength physically unmatched by the others and a weight envied by the other kids he could only make the boy who made him feel inferior feel pain. The beating continues until a Slave Driver hears the cries of a beaten Nil. Stopping the fight Nil is placed in the corner to heal.


    ¡®Why are the others mean to me, I just want play!¡¯ Nil wailed in his mind. ¡®I just want to play¡­¡¯ Nil thought as he tried to sooth his aching body. Feeling the red liquid drain from his hurting nose he wipes beneath to dodge sharp pain of touching his nose. The other kids look on in anger as they try to fix their twig ball. Nil looking one more time at the ball and other kids surrounding Jak only one thought remains. ¡®I just want to play?¡¯.


    ***


    Eight years after Nils was born.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Snap. Uh. ¡°Move faster you slave!¡± Nil felt the whip. Dropping the rock he just carried ended in another snap and a groan from Nil could be heard once again. Quickly picking up his rock he tosses into the basket held on his back. The straps digging into his armpits he ignores the slight irritation as he continues to pick up the shiny rocks. Trying to gain ground away from the Slave Driver he picks up rocks as he moves quickly through the mine as he hears new arrivals cough from the congested air. Ignoring the horrendous coughing Nil does his duty unnoticed as he grabs more and more rocks, quickly tossing them into his basket on his back. His physique hardly changed. Broad in the shoulders, large arms and thick legs from having to carry the weight of ore in his back basket for the last year has made him even thicker. The meager meals he receives for his work hardly giving him his body¡¯s needs. Yet, day in and day out for the last year he has entered the mine and gained muscle, replacing his baby fat with strength. His eyes no longer holding the round pupils of his birth but a slit like a snake¡¯s. His tail having become half his wait drags behind him as he places more ore into his back-basket. A ringing could be heard a few hours later. Most miner¡¯s shoulders relax as the tension of their tightened muscles relax knowing the end of the day. Nil shows no such relaxing as he must now carry his gatherings to the Task Master for approval of his meal. Finally making it from the cave he finds the Task Master on duty. Shrugging off his basket he places it on the table before the man¡¯s eyes. The task Master slowly counts each ore Nil picked up and soon hands him a copper coin to hand to the cook after receiving his meal. Nil could also keep the coin to pay for freedom but then he would have to go hungry and due to the rules, he wouldn¡¯t be able to buy seconds. Nil not including this coin has one copper coin stashed away for when he truly needs it. Finding the cook Nil trades his coin for the oat slop and devours it hungrily. Placing the wooden bowl with the others he silently makes his way to the mine caverns. The caverns being where slaves sleep and rest when not in the mines. Finding his bed he falls into it and immediately falls to sleep as his body rests for the same grueling work tomorrow.


    ***


    Twelve years after Nil was born.


    ¡°Up you little turd¡¯s!¡± a man wielding a whip shrills. Nil wakes from his unrestful dreams knowing today he would become a miner. Wielding a pick as he finds ore and the kids seven and older pick up his work.


    ¡°Following behind the other twelve-year old¡¯s with Jak being the ring leader grabs a pick from the wooden weapon holder modified to hold the picks he makes his way into the mine. Finding the red X painted on where he is supposed to dig he begins. The other kids follow him and soon only the screech and scrape of the picks hitting stone could be heard. Within an hour, Nil is drenched in sweat from striking the rock wall over and over. Blisters forming on his hand and splitting as he continues his work. The lunch bell rings as miners get three meals he eats. Finishing just as the chime meaning the end of the lunch he returns to the same sight and begins to smack the pick against the wall. Having saw over the years how far the other miners were by this point Nil begins thinking himself slow in his work. Picking up the pace, not wanting to feel the bite of the Slave Driver¡¯s whip speeds his pace as he hears the cries and moans of pain from his fellow slaves that used to abuse him. Little did Nil know that by the end of the day the wall he was taking chunks from was far deeper than the others and having produced more ore than the others. Nil having turned in his pick at the end of the day was hardly capable of lifting the bowl into his mouth due to the pain his hands brought him. Slowly but surely, gulping down the oats he begins to here murmurs from the guards and soon the slaves begin talking. Nil listens in on the conversations of the older slaves all around him. Catching only a few words he soon understands that the human kingdom has finally declared war. Unsure what this means for him he finishes and does what he can to remain alive and avoid punishment. However, as times passes more slaves leave and never return as young as fifteen. Nil keeping his head down and doing what he is supposed to do remains in the mines watching everyday no more than three people are dragged from the mine and tossed into a cart. These people either looking horrified or grateful as the cart moves toward the southeast.


    ***


    Fourteen years after Nil¡¯s birth.


    ¡°What do you think is happening? Think the humans will free the slaves like us?¡± Jak¡¯s second asks as the pick up their picks. Jak looks at his second with a small glare as he shrugs his shoulders for the closest guard in trepidation. Nil only shakes his head at Geru¡¯s stupidity. Talking about freedom is a quick way to the whipping post. The whipping post being the most painful as the leather tip of the whips are separated and the ends replaced with hooks, made to maim and soon kill the target as they scream in unimaginable agony with each strike the hook tears flesh from the unclothed back of worthless slaves. Nil shudders at the thought. Grabbing his pick, he enters the cave knowing in six moons he will have a choice to join the other army in combat in the north after being pushed back by the humans, if the war does not end soon. Finding a new wall within the mines he finds an X and begins to strike all the while preparing for the day he will be forced into the war. No one above the rank of Slave Master has visited the mines in the last year but everyone after a year of random slaves taken have realized the slaves taken don¡¯t return. Nil knowing nothing but the mines and the Slave Drivers keeping their whips close at hand for the less enthusiastic slaves in their work takes his anger out on the rocks before him. No rhythm, no exact strike, just wild swings ending near the middle of the X. Soon the red X disappears and Nil keeps on striking his imaginary guard. His imaginary Slave Driver defenseless before his onslaught. Breathing and groaning with every strike the lunch bell rings. Grabbing his usual oat slop he eats slowly having learned that to eat fast meant losing his lunch. By the time the lunch bell dings symbolizing the end the wooden bowl is returned and he begins anew in the same spot with calloused hands and a bucket of dirty water to drink next to him. Jak and his followers still bother Nil but never alone. Not only has his strength become known throughout the other slaves but his reflexes seem unnatural compared to his slow speed. Fights have been started by throwing a punch out of jealousy only for Nil to quickly punch back after dodging the strike making the unlucky striker stumble from just one blow. Most not believing Nil¡¯s strength due to being below average in height tested him to only feel the weight of his strength behind each blow he dealt. Slave Guards having made bets on previous fights making quick money on new guards who chose the taller, more athletic looking opponent of Nil¡¯s. Nil known widely through the other slaves for his strength just let him be as Jak¡¯s jealousy grows unhindered as the boy who he beat up grows in fame. Nil still understands when he is outnumbered but yet he still tries to fight never wanting to feel the same heartbreaking thought when he was four years old. Nil having remembered that day clearly never forgot how he just wanted to play. Just wanted friends and earn his place among the others as a friend. Nil still wants the companionship but yet will never admit it to anyone, especially himself which is why he fights. Ferocious in his return swings some people believe him to be human from all the stories of war. Ruthless and without pity they call Nil when a fair fight is made. Nil still only wanting companionship is yet seen as a monster by the others near his age. Only losing to the greater experienced adults and yet even they respect his strength.


    The thoughts over take him as he continues to strike the grey rock before him in his frustrations. ¡®Why must I have been a slave!¡¯ ¡®Why would I be given up!¡¯ ¡®why does everyone my age resent me!¡¯ Little did Nil know he was not resented or given but taken and envied. His eyes remain with slit pupils and with white glowing irises that seem to unnerve not only fellow slaves but guards as well. His tail now dragging the remaining length of hit tail on the ground as he walks leaving a trackable trail everywhere he goes. His major difference was when he was a baby and his teeth fell out. Instead of the usual canines of humans his teeth grew fangs. Upper and lower and his tongue became more narrow than others. His skin far harder and more smooth almost like silk. His hair coming in a brown so dark that it is thought to be black till cut to the normal bald all slaves receive until cut once it grows out more. Finishing his work for the day he hears something he never thought he would hear as he slurps his usual oat slop with gusto.


    ¡°Did you hear? The Lord¡¯s are commanding all slaves of the age fifteen to join the army!¡± Nil knowing what this means hides his smiles as he slowly slurps his oats knowing his life as a slave just might end.


    ***


    Fifteen years after Nil is born.


    ¡°Slaves of the age of fifteen step forward!¡± The Slave Master believing there is a lack of slaves in front of him goes with his next order.


    ¡°Any slave found to be fifteen or older will not only suffer immeasurable pain but shall be placed on the frontlines no matter their talent!¡± The man howls in a rumbling voice. Nil having stepped up the first time ignores his instincts and looks for the cowards. Noticing as two step forward he waits to see what happens and when nothing does he looks forward again hoping his lack of attention was not noticed.


    Luckily, he escapes the Slave Masters eye.


    ¡°As you all know your King needs soldiers to fight the barbaric humans! You lowly beings shall earn a chance to not only gain freedom but a chance at fame!¡± The Slave Master shouts in a howling voice in a pitch that does not match his size. Slowly looking over the slaves he notices one that catches his eye. Standing shorter than the rest but far stockier, almost like an ale barrel but without the roundness, shoulders like a horse to go along with his body. ¡®Seems not all will be hopeless against the onslaught¡­I hope.¡¯

 Chapter 2

    ¡°Sir! Our neighbors are massing an army!¡± A man wearing peasant clothes dyed in white breathlessly pants out to a man in steel armor as he peers down from his balcony. The new guardian recruits being taught the forms, taught to defend the Demon Lord of Alcase. The Guardian General wrestles to keep his anger in control before answering. Finally keeping his amounting anger from exploding he continues to look at the trainees slashing and hacking the training posts.


    ¡°Send word to the Demon Prince to end the engagement with the humans to defend our territory.¡± The general replies calmly. Just because the country drove the humans back it could be considered the Demon¡¯s won. However, the humans keep coming, never ending in their want for battle. Recalling the troops might lose ground now but in the end if the Sedine Demon lord attacks they will be able to enlarge their own territory and send a larger force against the human threat. The general running his thoughts back and forth through his head, trying to figure out major flaws beside the obvious continues to stare down his balcony, even when the servant in white shuts the door and has since left the minor castle.


    ***


    ¡°Off the cart bugs!¡± A man in chainmail with small steel shoulder pads indicating his above average rank shouts at not only Nil¡¯s cart but the other new recruits as well. Rushing off the carts the new recruits line up next to each other facing the well armored Captain.


    ¡°I have been ordered to train, your time as slaves should have built stamina at least and therefore a mock battle with wooden weapons is to be thrown immediately!¡± The Captain shouts as he eyes each and every new recruit, hardly blinking as his eyes pass over the short and stocky Nil. Nil only looks around him trying to judge the situation based on the other slave recruits faces but as soon as the Captain notices he jumps into Nil¡¯s face.


    ¡°Did I say you can have a wondering eye! Did I say that you can even move your head!¡± The captain shouts red in the face with spit flying from his lips and landing on Nil¡¯s cheek. Nil amidst shock answers slowly. Or at least tries before the Captain shouts once more hardly losing his breath.


    ¡°No! Because of your actions the mock battle will not only be done once but twice and whoever beats you down like the bug you are will gain my favor!¡± The Captain shouts once more until he¡¯s blue in the face: with real or fake anger Nil could not tell. Suddenly men in leather armor hop off the carts, the Captain¡¯s guards also begin handing out wooden weapons that not only weigh heavier than actual weapons but look the same as well to each and every new slave recruit. Nil is handed a sword no longer than fifteen inches. Hardly a short sword but Nil knows no difference as he grasps the handle. Shrugging his shoulder the captain and his guards lead each individual a certain length from each other.


    ¡°You can only attack once stepping eight paces from the starting point! Any attacks done before than will be punished by beatings! Once struck on a main body part you are out, my guards will call each man struck and if disobeyed a beating will be incoming! Understood?¡± The Captain hardly waited for the noncommittal ayes, and shouted in his loudest voice yet.


    ¡°Begin!¡± Nil holding only his short wooden stick does not charge like the others. He calmly walks his paces and begins attacking behind the entranced fighter¡¯s backs. A swing to the left, then the right Nil soon takes out five opponents before he takes down the sixth, the sixth¡¯s opponent charges him. Left with little choice Nil slams his short wooden stick into the monstrosity of the knotted wooden stick the opponent has in the model of a spiked mace before Nil is weaving and using his sword to redirect the opponent¡¯s attacks. Nil beginning to pant as each swing forces him to use more stamina notices the same of his opponent. Waiting for his chance to strike from the oncoming onslaught of not only a heavier weapon but numbing blows, Nil notices his chance as the opponents back swing is late. Charging in close Nil slaps the stick into the opponent¡¯s face, the man falls unconscious to the muddy ground. Nil begins to feel invigorated, as if he was born to hold a blade begins to charge into battle in bloodlust until he hears a thump, a slight pain in his temple, and then black. All the while thinking over the comfort of a blade handle in his grasp even as he has no control over his body in his restful state.


    Nil wakes an unknown time later. The Captain once more shouting as a slim but yet well-defined slave recruit holds out a shiny battle axe. Nil can only groan in slight nausea as he sits up as a headache begins.


    ¡°Poor excuse for recruits! Poor! Poor! Poor! You bugs are no better than the common farmer if not worst! They can at least kill a poaching beast!¡± Nil watch as the Captains ears vibrate like Jell-O after shouting, or his demeanor of walking amidst trash. Nil understanding, he was knocked out during the battle watches the man with the axe in hidden envy. Nil felt a connection. A connection he could never put to words other than that he felt comfortable holding the fake blade, as if it was part of him. The wooden blade no longer in grasp, Nil remains by his campfire as the other recruits begin to sleep only thinking about how comfortable the blade sat within his palm and how he needs to not only explore his weird feeling for the blade but to gain strength, strength to the point to never feel envy for someone else¡¯s skill in battle.


    The next morning the drill Captain from the previous days before this one shouts the recruits awake. Nil immediately wakes, eats his morning gruel, grabs a longer wooden blade before the rest are chosen having discovered his liking for longer blades sets out to the sparing field. Finding three others Nil begins to spar one on one with the others till the rest of the recruits enter the field. Having followed the same routine, the last two weeks Nil and the other three have caught the Captain¡¯s eye but yet he shows nothing, if not pushing the four even harder each day after finding them practicing when the others relax. The Captain ends the spar with a glare of his pupil less brown eyes and begins the usual recruit regimen. Exercise in the morning, mock battle after lunch, and then form practice the rest of the day.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Nil drags his feet. Being the slowest runner of all the recruits he comes in last panting heavy and sweating through his course clothing. Hands on his knees and hunched over Nil waits for the Captain to start the second part of the stamina building part of his training. Each day after the twenty-lap run around the mock battle field with the extra heavy wooden weapons holstered the Captain than has the recruits lift logs with eight people and have them jog around the field once more but with only half the laps required. Due to Nil¡¯s slow sleep most of the other fifteen year old recruits grumble and moan when Nil is placed with a certain group. Nil ignores it all as he stands in the back, farther than the rest to make up for his short height leaving Nil to hold more weight of the log than the rest for the laps. Taking off with the other it isn¡¯t till the middle of the second lap Nil and his teammates are ready to drop dead from the weight. Beginning to walk the laps are done right at the moment it¡¯s time for lunch. Being the last group to lunch Nil eats quickly to prepare for the mock battles. The three young men from this morning also do the same. Going through the newly taught forms anyone would say Nil was one of the top recruits in forms. Counting each step and strike in his head as he replicates what he saw the Captain show the recruits the second day it isn¡¯t long before the Captain begins screaming at the top of his lungs for Nil to end. Nil stops as expected but the stifled giggles is heard by Nil where he then lowers his head. Giggles no longer being capable of being stifled sprout causing Nil to grow even angrier bringing a slight change of color to his face the other recruits mistake for shame or embarrassment.


    The Captain and his subordinates lead each into their previous places for the mock battle. Once the shout by the Captain is made the boys charge. Nil now knowing to walk in a battle means death flies forward in his slow gait. Slashing the backs of the unexpected like his first day it takes an hour for Nil and eight others to be the last. Only two from the morning sparring matches with Nil remain. The nine boys circle each other, ready for the strike that starts the battle. Some boys nod to each other in a unmistakable sign of pacts. Nil the only one to not have a pact decides to be the aggressor. Quickly lashing out to the man next to him in a stabbing motion that is blocked sluggishly the battle begins anew. The boys opposite of Nil strike the other boys that are in other pacts as Nil uses his strength and quick strikes to take out not only his first opponent but his previous opponents teammate. Sliding into the boy¡¯s guard he strikes hard and fast as his opponent over stepped his lunge and lost balance. Going in the entanglement of circles Nil takes down four opponents before he reaches an alliance that just defeated their enemy. Nil looks around the field, surveying his surroundings for future enemies sees only four more opponents remaining. Understanding the other two will be joining the battle tries to wait but is given no chance as the two in front of him charge. Sure of themselves with their increased numbers the attack begins. Nil parries one blow and dodges the other from the claymore styled swords of his opponents. No time for counter strikes Nil parries and doges until the other two join in. Seeing the new combatants nod heads in recognition Nil feels his excitement of the battle die. Realizing the four before him just created an alliance or were already apart of one didn¡¯t matter to Nil, what mattered was that the battle became four to one with no chance of Nil winning with such odds. Feeling furious Nil seethes. Breathing hard. The anger from this morning, the previous laughter of not only the recruit training but being a slave takes over. With no regard for his own welfare Nil takes off in a speed far faster than he ever ran before. Nil using form four, the overhead swing snaps his wooden sword on the smallest opponent¡¯s head. Not stopping he charges the next. A man a whole head taller than himself with nearly the same shoulder size as Nil but yet he can no dodge the unbelievably quick strike of Nil¡¯s bastard sword. Feeling a presence coming from behind Nil uses form nine, the underhand side swing smacking a charging man on his hips. Hearing the cry of pain Nil turns to the last, The strongest besides Nil himself but yet the fastest. Nil gives a battle roar full of anger and bloodlust begins to charge, sword held low.


    The Captain stands still in his shock. Having watched the boys take down each other over the last hour and half he noticed Nils skill with his blade. As he kept an eye on the other recruits the irony of a previous slave holding a sword called the bastard sword was not lost. By the time the opponents reached nine he saw Nil take down the tenth and watch as a semi large circle was formed by the remaining nine. Watching as only three alliances were made. One alliance of four and the others of two. He watches as the young boy took out one on his own and the alliance finish off the third alliance. The Captain expecting Nil to lose only watched the remaining four to try and predict who would win. Suddenly the Captain felt chills down his back. Turning his eye on Nil he watched as the boy¡¯s hair went from black to white and back to black before staying at a dark grey. The boy¡¯s opponents were just as shocked. The boy giving no time ran forward, tail dragging as he used form four, the next opponent received the form two side slash, and then fearing the boy about to be struck down from behind watches awe struck as the boy turns around, using form nine to strike the man in the hips. Each blow meeting the requirement for his subordinates to call the boys out of the battle till the last remained. Nil¡¯s body now facing the Captains way leaves the Captain in a state of fear. Nils fangs elongated to where his mouth wouldn¡¯t shut properly, Nils slit pupils more pronounced, and with snake skin like lines embedded into his skin the Captain could only see a monster as Nil roared and charged.


    Nil stabs with all his might which is parried, Nil using the rebounding momentum swings wildly with all his strength into a side slash that is also blocked but leaving the man before him with a numbing hand and screaming ears as the thwack sound from the blow could be heard to the silent watchers. Noticing the slight reaction Nil uses form four to bring down his opponent. Nil roars in his first win.


    Thwack!


    Nil goes down and the crowd watched as the Captain smacked Nil in the back of the head with a practice sword.


    ¡°Send word to the Guardians! Now!¡± The Captain shouts in anxiety.