azorath1234

First, I would like to apologize for the long absence. Second, I will be writing more consistently again, though I don't know how often between chapters yet. I'll try one a week for now as the absolute lowest amount, and hope my motivation allows me to write more. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter.

As Ventus declares the battle begin, a soft noise is heard from the star in the demi-plane. Frowning, Ventus puts solid space up between the participants of the battle. 

“Stop, there’s something wrong. No one should be near the training grounds, yet noise was heard from the outside.”

As Ventus finishes her statement an explosion is heard, as a wave of flame, shrapenel, and force erupts from all around the demi-plane, forcing Ventus to rapidly shield everyone. Her tails fall limp as she shakes her head. Her mana bleeding from her in streams visible even to the unawoken. 

Several more explosions rock the demi-plane, each one making Ventus paler. The previously abundant atmospheric mana in the demi-plane is now scarce, all having gone into Ventus as she rapidly absorbed it to protect everyone.

Finally with one last explosion, Ventus collapses, the demi-plane unraveling to show the training ground and the surrounding area devastated. Despite being unconscious, the surrounding mana floods into Ventus, causing some murmurs of surprise as Avery rushes over to Ventus. Upon reaching her, she picks Ventus’ head up and places it upon her lap while sending mana into Ventus in the form of the green light of healing. 

Vina frowns as she scans the surroundings, the barriers having fallen when Ventus passed out. Sniffing briefly she races over to Lamu who is doing all he can to calm the awoken.

Snapping to attention due to the seriousness of the situation, Vina reports, “Sir. Clear signs of residual fire, metal, and air mana. Far higher concentrations than would appear naturally.”

Lamu nods at this news, his expression grim.. He then looks over at Ventus and starts swearing. Upon calming down, he asks “She’s out of commission isn’t she? 

Vina nods, only to see Ventus starting to stir. “No sir, I believe she will be fine, though perhaps weakened momentarily. I’m sure you’ve felt the mana pouring into her… she’s unconscious but can still absorb mana at such a rate. It’s odd to say the least.”

Lamu chuckles as Vina starts grumbling about how unfair youko seem to be. “I’ve heard word that one of the researchers at another branch is also a youko, but she doesn’t seem nearly as strange as Ventus.”

Vina sighs before gesturing for Lamu to walk with her. As she approaches Ventus, she asks Lamu, “Do you have a name for the other youko?”

Lamu nods before frowning, his expression turning sharp. “Why is the mana concentration increasing rather than fading? Ventus is absorbing it, so it should have gotten thinner, right?”

Vina nods while frowning. Some startled yells bring her attention to the sky, where visible rings of otherness can be seen. Gritting her teeth she rushes over to Avery. “Avery,we need you at the lab. Right now. We need to know what those rings around us are, and why the mana concentration is still rising.”

Ventus chuckles weakly, her eyes appearing akin to a nova right now despite her weakness. In a voice that sounds distant, as though in the distance, she says, “It’s fine, we’ll have lost some satellites but people won’t awaken from this ambient mana. Though that is due to all of the unawoken mutating slightly. They’ll be able to grow stronger faster, but to awaken you need a sudden surge of mana at a level you’re not acclimated to.”

Lamu frowns as he hears this, but more at the distant tone, as though Ventus is observing from afar. “Avery, do you know what’s wrong with Ventus?”

Shaking her head, she sighs. “No I don’t. Perhaps when the demi-plane collapsed, all of its component mana flooded back into Ventus, along with all of the additional mana from the barriers and explosions? All I know is that when I’m healing her, I can feel the mana that’s being absorbed. It’s not able to complete the cycle it’s meant to. Whatever pathways that are followed when we absorb or spend mana broke for her. They broke at the base of her skull, trapping all of that mana, several times her normal capacity, to be stuck in her brain. Although the mana flooding into her, as well as my healing, are starting to mend the pathway, until that’s finished, she’ll likely be stuck like this.”

Ventus grins before pulling out her phone and buying some lottery tickets, specifying certain numbers. “I can tell you’re all worried, I would be but I can feel the pathway fixing itself. As for those rings, they’re…” She gasps as the pathway finally mends, causing a flood of mana to race through her body. Cracks can be heard before splits in Ventus’ skin can be seen. They rapidly repair themselves, though Ventus groans from the pain. “Ugh, this is the part I foresaw that I didn’t want to feel. 

Avery frowns as Ventus’ temperature skyrockets. “What’s going on Ventus. Can you  answer? Someone, get some cold water, right now!”

As nearby awoken scramble to get the supplies, the commotion finally draws a nearby patrol’s attention. “What’s going on here? How did you all survive those explosions?”

Lamu frowns at the patrolman, his guard up as he prepares to defend the awoken. “We were protected by someone. Why are you asking it like that?”

The patrolman sneers as he surveys the awoken. “Oh, just wondering who we’re supposed to be taking out. That fox over there was the one that protected you all, right? We can’t have that one surviving. Men, you’re to eliminate the fox.”

The other guards of the patrol grin, before racing ahead, while the one that made the announcement glows with fire mana within as he draws a knife. “You’re going to regret surviving the explosions. Those would have been quick.”

Lamu lunges forward, the ground around him shattering due to the force he uses as he enhances his body. His eyes are glowing with electricity as he performs a low kick into a sweep, knocking the patrolman down before yelling in pain. His leg is burnt badly, but he did manage to knock down the patrolman.

Forcing himself to stand, he yells “Vina, protect the awoken, now,” before stomping the patrolman’s head with enough force to cause the surrounding earth to shake. Despite this, the patrolman’s head does not burst like a watermelon, though he does fall unconscious.

The awoken with fangs whistles at the durability before using his ability to cause blood to erupt from the nearest traitorous guard. The guard falls into a heap, before becoming desiccated. He looks like a mummy as his mana filled blood  condenses in the air, becoming a small bead 

The vampire kicks the corpse aside, grabs the blood bead, and then runs towards the next guard, his own mana drained from forcing the blood manipulation. Said guard is being struck by hammers made of golden light, knocked around repeatedly. 

Upon seeing the guard that is being knocked around throw something towards the woman making the hammers, the vampire leaps in front of her, taking the blade to his shoulder. Groaning, he twists on the ground, managing to dislodge the blade before putting the condensed bead of blood into his mouth and swallowing.
The woman that was protected screams, her face twisting in fury as spears of golden light rush toward the offending guard, piercing him easily despite his resistance to the hammers, before kneeling next to the vampire, shaking him to try and keep him awake. “Come on, stay awake, the knife was trailing disgusting mana. You need to stay alert until we can examine the wound.

The vampire chuckles even as other awoken are fighting the traitorous guards on the other side. “I’ll be fine. You’re pretty cute though. I’m Vio, what’s your name?”

The woman flushes at the cute comment before stuttering, “I-I’m Chloe”

Vio’s eyes flare crimson as the swallowed bead hits his stomach, near instantly flooding his system with power. “Ugh, that had some kick.”

As that power flows through Vio, something in the wound fights against it, though ultimately is overwhelmed. Groaning as the flesh mends, Vio forces out, “Feels like an army of ants in my shoulder,” before passing out, unable to take the pain as the wound reopens several times, gushing blood each time as Vio’s body pushes out any contaminants automatically.

Chloe sighs as her cream colored skirt gets covered in blood. “You’re paying for this mister.”

Over on the other side of the battle, Todd is facing the other two guards by himself. Thankfully they are unarmed, or else he would long be dead. The guards hands and arms are looking black due to a surge of fire erupting from Todd with each strike taken. Despite this, they continue attacking.

Todd frowns before the ground begins to shake, sharp, jagged spears of stone erupt around the two guards fighting Todd, as well as the leader that Lamu had dealt with. At the same time, a small shower starts, each raindrop glowing green. As the rain falls upon the awoken, they immediately feel relaxed, energy soaring within them. 

Todd looks back before chuckling. “Good job Vina, and I must say, you make a very nice tree lady”

Vina grumbles mentally as she thanks the elements she called forth, her leaves falling and limbs drooping due to the vitality she invested into the rain.

As the vitality infused rain hits Ventus, she begins emitting smoke, startling Avery before her nose wrinkles and she backs away. “Whatever that is, it isn’t mana overload, and it stinks.”

Vina laughs quietly as Lamu approaches. “You okay there Vina?”

“Yeah yeah, just tired. I’ll take a short nap, wake me up when Ventus is awake.”

Sighing, Lamu nods, knowing that whatever Vina did was too much. “Sure thing. I was going to say that other youko’s name is Helia, though surprisingly her ability focuses on illusions.”

Laughter is heard as someone crests the hill overlooking the training ground, nine white and cyan tails flowing behind her. With a heavy Asian accent, she asks “Did someone mention me?”

All of the awoken turn towards the newcomer as she walks down the hill. Everyone viewing her frown, sensing something off but no one is sure what it is. Lamu glares towards her as lightning surges through him, preparing to deal with a threat. “Why are you here Helia? You weren’t supposed to arrive for several more days.”

Laughter erupts from Helia. “You say that, but when the shared feed from the satellite showed explosions I knew I had to get here as soon as possible.”

Chloe strokes Via’s head while she kneels next to him before glaring at Helia. “Were these men your doing then?”

Todd glares at Helia before tilting his head and laughing. “Ah I see, so this is one of those rumoured illusions hmm? No wonder your movements look a bit off, you’re half way around the world, aren’t you? There’s lag so to speak.”

Helia grins at Todd, before clapping in delight. “Correct. Now then, why is my kin on the ground with black smoke coming off of her?”

Ventus groans weakly as a surge of that black smoke erupts from her, quickly dispersing in the atmosphere, though it leaves a burnt plastic smell. With the eruption of smoke, she opens her eyes, wincing at the light. “Ugh that’s bright, what are you all staring at?”

Lamu coughs from the smell of burnt plastic before chuckling. “You always have impressive timing, Ventus. Are you feeling better?”

Ventus nods before staring at her phone as she sits up. “Please… tell me I did not buy lottery tickets while I was able to observe the future.”

Avery palms her face and groans lightly, embarrassed that the one she likes is like this. “It shouldn’t matter Ventus, what’s more important is whether or not you’re okay.”

Helia steps in front of Ventus as Vina starts growing new leaves, her roots moving as though gulping down the vitality of the earth. “I apologize for this facsimile meeting you instead of myself kin. You’re needed in Japan.”

Ventus hurries to her feet before bowing while having her tails splayed out. Grinning at Helia’s statement. “I’d be happy to, but it isn’t exactly my call right now. Also, if it was permitted, I’d have some conditions.”

Helia smiles at Ventus’ manners, before frowning at the request for conditions. “What are they, and what is your name? I can’t very well keep calling you kin, can I?”

Ventus chuckles before standing up, her tails waving slightly in anticipation. “I’m Ventus now. As for the conditions. First is to convince my boss,” she points at Lamu before continuing, “To let me go.Second would be let me bring four people of my choosing. Two of them are here, being Vina and Avery, while the other two are at the Crevice between Canada and the United States.”

Helia nods, starting to fade, “I can promise that… wait damnit that means I need to deal with two commanders, gah.”

Ventus laughs, and right before Helia fades she says, with a grin, “Your mask is slipping.”

As the illusion fully fades with a soft pop, Ventus walks over to Vina and pours mana into her. 

At the rush of mana, Vina’s eyes open, and the missing vitality returns rapidly. “Well good morning Ventus. What’s going on?”

Lamu laughs before ordering everyone to head back and rest up. “Oh just Ventus here getting you and a few others a free vacation to Japan. I didn’t realize you had family there though Ventus, none of your files say you do.”

Avery blushes before going over to Ventus and hugging her arm. “I believe when Helia said kin, she was specifying youko, rather than blood relations. I can’t believe we get to go to Japan now. They’ve been getting armament artifacts from their crevice and I’ve been desperate to examine them.

Lamu sighs before carrying over the guard he knocked out. “Armaments you say, like what he has on?”

Vina returns to her elf form while Avery looks over the guard. “Yeah, exactly like that in fact. I didn’t expect it to be cracked though.”

Lamu frowns before rubbing his horns. “Well it seems they take damage for the host, or something like that. He should have lost his head from my attack, but instead he’s just unconscious.”

Ventus sighs before kneeling down and pressing her hand to the guard’s chest. “I think I know how to do this now, but don’t expect too much in case I fail.”

To agreeing nods, Ventus closes her eyes and surges mana into the guard. For everyone else Ventus opens her eyes in the next second, but for Ventus, she follows the path of the guard, from the training grounds, to a safe house, to the airport, to Japan. Something attempts to block Ventus from seeing further, but Ventus easily evades whatever it was as she sees a boardroom. Within the room are the other guards that were at the training ground, as well as multiple other groups, all viewing a whiteboard. Ventus notices some mana lights around as well as a cavern filled with water through a window before a mechanical voice sounds in her head. “There you are, little trespasser. Return from whence you came lest you get trapped. Ventus sees the guards looking around in shock as mechanical arms shoot from the ceiling, all rushing towards the guard she was scanning. As they latch on, Ventus feels a slight tug on her mana, causing her to release the ability with a mental gasp. However, as her mind travels back to the present, the mechanical voice mocks, “Too late. You didn’t escape.”

Upon opening her eyes, Ventus travels backwards immediately, while bringing the other awoken with her. From where she was, a mechanical monster emerges from a crack in space.