Each step down the stairs Grim'Lok takes, furthers his journey deeper into the roots of the dojo; descending into a giant underground forest of very tall grass and trees–each one intentionally spaced 500 meters.
The moment he steps on the ground floor roots sprout from the ground and latch onto his legs, rooting him to the ground as if he's a tree himself.
"This is…" Grim'Lok tries his hardest to move his legs but nothing happens, not even a muscle twitch.
"…Different." he affirms, his eyes locking onto a tree in front of him. "There seems to be chikara everywhere, almost exactly like Risaki's signature… These roots must be a defense mechanism then."
He clenches his hands together—digging deep within himself to bring out the portion of Risaki's energy he absorbed. The moment he finds it the roots around his legs become something he can sense.
"Release!" Grim'Lok yelled the phrase causing the roots to let go and descend, freeing himself.
He analyzes his surroundings, noticing fallen leaves 3 feet in size. He looks up, seeing multiple branches connecting different trees that seem to sprout to the Dojo. "These trees are the foundation huh? Nevermind that. I can't get distracted."
The deeper Grim'Lok strides into the forest the more his heart beats with growing anticipation. He clenches his fist, putting it to his chest and taking a moment to gather himself.
When he opens his eyes they lock onto a large wooden gazebo placed oddly in the middle of the forest.
"There you are."
He approaches the gazebo, stopping just before the stairs. A shrine sits inside it, surrounded by flowers along with an engraved katana sticking out of it. On top of the katana is a cloak with the Dipea-Kicho emblem proudly displayed on it.
As he approaches the shrine his mark begins burning through his uniform, the katana begins glowing and the two things become synced.
"Uken?" As steps closer to the glowing weapon a stone tablet erupts from the floor stopping him in his tracks.
The first words eyes read were "Welcome Wolfshire, or might I say Master of the Dipea-Kicho." his eyes closed for a moment before opening with a newfound confidence..
"You have quickly become the heart and soul of a dojo you've only been to a handful of times, now inheriting the cloak of your deceased master and a mysterious blade that seems to be linked to your mark. That surely makes you question things."
The katana gleams in Grim'Loks eyes but not as much as the cloak which brings back memories of training with Nayara and Risaki for the OMEN Exam.
He continues reading the tablet.
"Bound by more than blood, you now have an Oath to protect the tree of connection, the people connected to this world, and yourself."
"Now… equip the Oathbreaker and protect yours from those whose oath may be destroying yours." His mouth speaks on its own as the blade begins to levitate slowly.
He reaches towards the hilt watching as it levitates into his hand. Once it makes contact with his hand the engravings begin to fill with green chikara.
He switches his grip on the Oathbreaker Katana from traditional to a reverse grip.
The final words on the tablet read, "Your final test is getting out of this forest to go save your friends." Grim'Lok's senses overload with a growing number of chikara signatures appearing around him.
He glances up slightly, seeing an army of wooden sentries each radiating something he couldn't pinpoint. He spins around quickly seeing that they are in every crevice of the forest.
"This is the first time I've felt the bloodlust from my enemies. How many are there in this forest anyways?"
The Oathbreaker begins to hum as the sentries ready themselves. "300." The voice comes from the katana; Grim'Lok continues to analyze the forest.
"You better talk like this during battle too," He slowly puts on Risaki's cloak and suddenly he feels as if his Oath is protecting him.
The sentries all move in unison dashing towards Grim'Lok from all sides. His mark glows brightly as he leaps from the gazebo towards them. "COME AT ME!"
…
Back on the surface Nayara and Juzu stood in front of the tree of connection, waiting for Grim'Lok to return. Juzu eventually turned toward the main doors leaning on the railing.
He slightly turns towards Nayara while saying, "This is your first mission as a true OMEN Initiate, How's the experience?"
Nayara turns around to look at Juzu instead of the tree. "It's different…"
"I feel like my mind has yet to process the change.." She clenched her fist as she said this; memories of Risaki dancing in her mind fueling her grief.
Soon they find themselves regrouping outside the dojo with Mizaka, who's sitting on the stairs. "Are we just waiting for the kid? This has been a breeze." She says while cracking her knuckles.
"You know it's never that easy." Juzu says, staring off into the burned forest illuminated by the moonlight. The quiet allows Juzu to focus, sensing a large amount of corrupted chikara around.
"We found them" an unknown voice says as a heavy presence of corrupted chikara appears.
Juzu and Mizaka immediately sense it.
The corrupted chikara splits into 3 different signatures before dispersing.
"We got company!" Mizaka yells as 2 of the signatures appear a hundred feet away, the moonlight illuminating them.
Nayara immediately recognizes one signature is missing. The two people in front of them wear unique outfits with Noctis emblems painted on.
"You– You're the girl from the exam!" The boy on the left, Ienoru points at Nayara, dawning freshly new gauntlets augmented into his arms. "I can't wait to slaughter you and…" his eyes scan for Grim'Lok.
"Where's the other one huh?" He grins with animosity while having tunnel vision on Nayara.
Next to him stands a muscular, pointy eared man with skin that glows green with an unstable chikara.
Juzu's eyes narrow in recognition but the man speaks before he does, "Eyes on the other two sentinels. She's an insect compared to them," His eyes lock onto Juzu. "Isn't that right Juzu!?"
Juzu emits steam from his mouth as he sighs, "Don't speak to me so casually Dormir. You're a damn traitor." He leaps down from the stairs landing next to Mizaka. "We need to test these guys out."
Mizaka nods, "Nay, be ready. When Grim'Lok gets back–"
Nayara's finger twitches and it's on; Ienoru dashes towards Juzu from the right side while at the same time Dormir goes for a frontal attack running directly toward Mizaka.
Juzu blocks Ienoru's initial kick, quickly resetting.
Ienoru pivots his grounded foot, throwing a faster kick which Juzu barely sways. He quickly spun around and threw a hard straight at Ienoru who caught it.
His gauntlet sends something into Juzu's system causing his muscles to tense up.
"What the..!" Juzu utters as Ienoru drops down and grabs his ankle, slinging him into the ground. The moment his body hits the ground his muscles relax allowing him to handspring away avoiding a chikara ball that explodes when it meets the ground creating a large crater.
Mizaka and Dormir clash in the middle of the clearing, throwing continuous punches and kicks while blitzing around it.
Mizaka blocks Dormir's next hook, summoning Chikara into her opposite hand forming a small ball of energy. "It's over!"
She slams the ball into Dormir's gut, the moment she does it expands. Dorotsuchi attempts evasion but the ball goes straight through the side of his body immediately cauterizing the giant wound
Dormir's eyes squint with annoyance before slamming both fists into her temples causing her world to shake. His wound slowly healing, returning to its normal form.
"How the hell did he regenerate..!" Mizaka thinks; Dormir slams his foot into the ground and his fist into her sternum with tremendous power causing the ground to split in the direction she's sent!
Mizaka's body ragdolls towards the dojo's stairs.
Nayara dashes down the stairs barely catching her before she crashes through them.
"These two aren't normal." Mizaka mutters as she spits blood onto the ground, slowly standing upright. She grits in agony, opening her right palm revealing a seal formula burned into it, glowing with tremendous power. "Summon.. Ibris Gavel!!"
In the next few seconds a golden warhammer, glowing with golden aura soars through the air and into her hand. "I won't let these guys through me." She weaves it around her until golden streaks begin to form around them. "I swear on it."
Nayara summons her gauntlets and immediately gets into a combat stance "What do you need me to do?"
"Hold your own until we can call for backup." Mizaka over at Nayara with a deeply serious look, her tone even more serious. Her warhammer always at the ready.
"Enough conversation! We didn't come to talk." Dormir takes one step forward, shattering the ground beneath his glowing foot and causing a small tremor shaking the area
FLICKER!
Juzu appears next to Nayara and Mizaka. "I need to contact Archfield." He clasps both hands together immediately creating a concentration hand sign to gather more chikara.
"How are you gonna do that?" Nayara asks while her eyes scanned her opponents..
Juzu closes both eyes as he begins searching. "The Eyuutei Tuuskei. Never heard of it? Good."
Ienoru lands next to Dormir with a serious look on his face. "That's an 8 foot warhammer, how's she wielding that?" He crosses his arms, staring at the weapon in Mizaka's hands.
Dormir doesn't respond to Ienoru, instead looking towards the sky.
The wind blows violently through the destroyed forest while they stand off; dusk slowly creeping through the clouds.
Juzu looks toward the Noctis troops; Mizaka takes a step forward to guard Nayara. "There's someone strong here… and I don't recognize the Chikara." Mizaka remarks in astonishment.
Loud footsteps come from behind the Noctis duo—they part, allowing for Team Mizaka to see the third person, a man wearing a dark longcoat, a headscarf, and a giant scroll strapped to his back.
"It seems like a reunion is in store for us eh?" The man's brass voice is easily recognizable to both Juzu and Mizaka; Simultaneously he points his thumb towards himself as the wind stops swirling.
Immediately Mizaka's chikara starts surging. "Dorotsuchi… You god damn traitor!" She stomps her foot into the ground creating a mini earthquake. "I'll kill you for helping Noctis destroy Santera!!"
Mizaka closes her eyes, gritting her teeth in agony as the warhammer glows even brighter than before. In an instant it transforms into a golden gavel creating winds and a shockwave so fierce trees uproot and fly through the air.
Nayara puts her arm in front of herself to block the winds.
Miaka opens her eyes showing off her glowing golden pupils. "Ibris grants me Judgment, Judgment grants me strength!"
Ienoru turns toward Dorotsuchi who stands with his arms crossed. "I can kill her right? She's not important to us?" His voice is full of arrogance but Dormir scoffs as he pushes past him towards Mizaka, his stride full of killing intent. "Be quiet fodder."
Dorotsuchi cracks his neck, then his knuckles. "Make them talk…"
"Kill them all." Dorotsuchi flickers—his afterimage disappears after a quick second—He appears in front of Mizaka who immediately swings Ibris gavel at him.
Dorotsuchi slides under the gavel, slamming his fist Mizaka's liver, She quickly kicks Dorotsuchi away swinging the Gavel only again this time to block Ienoru's flying kick with the handle.
"Keikona!" A golden slashing shockwave erupts from Ibris Gavel sending Ienoru flying and severing his upper and lower half; Dorotsuchi on the other hand stays grounded, running through the shockwave and toward Mizaka with a demonic expression.
Nayara begins to summon Chikara into her forearms, "Chikara Gauntlets!" She screams out as gauntlets begin to form around them–Mizaka blocks Dorostuchi's initial punch with the gavel, the next kick, but can't get it up in time to block the uppercut that sends up flying into the air.
"Dormir kill her!" Dorotsuchi says as his eyes lock onto both Juzu and Nayara Dormir begins to dash forward leaping into the air next to Mizaka; throwing a barrage of punches and kicks, each one connecting on Mizaka.
He slams his fist into her back one final time sending her crashing into a random part of the burned forest.
"GAAH!" Mizaka screams out as her body craters into the ground, the giant gavel never leaving her hand.
Dormir doesn't let up, summoning a barrier at his feet, leaping off it towards Mizaka once more.
Ienoru picks himself up out of the rubble just in time to hear Mizaka crashland into the ground. Instantly dashing out and towards Mizaka.
Juzu's eyes glow as he finally contacts the Pinnarch himself, Erik Stormbreaker.
[Mind Art: Eyuutei Tuuskei]
[Eyuutei Tuuskei is a telepathic speech technique created by the Eyodime Clan and adopted by OMEN and its members. Users of this ]
"Sir! Gomen has been attacked by 3 strong Individuals, all augmented in some sort of way. Dorotsuchi is one of them–I repeat, Dorotsuchi is one of the Individuals!" Juzu screams as Dorotsuchi approaches them.
He gets orders back almost instantly, letting go of the concentration sign after. A large cloud of steam comes out of the back of his uniform. "Wait for damn reinforcements.. Nayara, go help Mizaka now!" He dashes past Nayara immediately clashing with Dorotsuchi.
Juzu attempts to sweep his leg but Dorotsuchi jumps straight up, dropkicking Juzu in the chest.
Juzu handsprings off the ground to reset himself before coming in with a spinning kick that Dorotsuchi blocks. He brings his leg down, throwing a hard fist followed by a knee to the ribs, then two spinning elbows coming from opposite directions; everything Dorotsuchi blocks with ease.
He counters everything Juzu throws at him with non lethal palms and forearms.
Juzu leaps over Dorotsuchi's leg kick, but Dorotsuchi grabs his face, slamming him into the ground before creating the dual triangle concentration handsign. "You're making me mad Juzu."
Juzu's body bursts into steam as he reappears behind Dorotsuchi. His hand sign held close to his mouth. "Right back at ya!"
"Steam Art: Smokey Torture!" Juzu yells before inhaling hard, gathering Chikara in his mouth along with steam. Then exhaling even harder creating a large steam cloud that surrounds Dorotsuchi's entire body. The steam Juzu is able to create is hot enough to completely melt through Tungsten.
The steam cloud around Dorotsuchi intensifies as Juzu creates dual handsigns before his eyes widen in shock.
Dorotsuchi walks through the cloud of steam while tossing his jacket and shirt, revealing his face and body regenerating to its normal state. The scroll strapped to him being untouched.
In the forest Mizaka's body aches in pain; the only thing she can do is stare at Dormir who rapidly approaches with killing intent, her grip on her weapon slowly wavering.
"DIE!" Dormir yells as he points his arm at Mizaka, making a fist–Chikara swirling around his arm sharpening at the edges.
Ienoru appears next to a tree simply watching the sight in front of him, "This is what you get. OMEN Sc-"
FLICKER!!!!
Nayara appears at Mizaka's feet staring at Dormir. Her eyes glow a golden color before she says, "HALT!" her voice travels through the air towards Dormir, causing his body to come to a complete stop midair.
"What the.. HOW THE HELL!?!?" Dormir screams out as the Chikara around his arm dissipates. His eyes travel to Ienoru before screaming again, "KILL HER NOW YOU USELESS RAT!" His voice strained from anger.
Ienoru grits his teeth as he dashes toward her, green liquid dripping from his mouth.
"I call this one, Venom Spit!"
Out of Ienoru's mouth comes a small ball of green saliva, sizzling as it soars through the air. Nayara narrowly weaves the ball smacking Ienoru which makes him spin around in a circle before being clocked by a right hand. The ball melts through a scorched tree.
He grabs his face with one hand before removing it, showing his face regenerating fully. "You hit harder than the boy." He attempts to hit her with a backhand, but she blocks with her Chikara gauntlets.
Ienoru swipes his right hand at Nayara who blocks with her left. He follows with a barrage of varied punches and kicks ending with a right hook that Nayara parries hitting him with a punch to the sternum.
She quickly attempts to strike Ienoru's head but he grins as he begins to easily evade her punches, his gauntlets beginning to pulse as he activates something internally.
Ienoru slips under a right hand, elbowing Nayara in the chin. She throws a spinning backfist which Ienoru sways away from, kicking her lead leg hard enough she spins around the other direction before blasting her in the face with a front kick.
Nayara recoils in pain, as Ienoru dashes towards her. His gauntlets pulsate faster, using more chikara as he begins generating saliva inside his mouth.
"POISION SPITTER!"
Ienoru begins rapidly spitting his poisonous saliva at Nayara at point blank range. The only thing she can do is put her gauntlets up to guard herself.
"STOP IT!" She cries out in a moment of desperation.
Suddenly Ienoru, Dormir, and the Poison Spit get launched towards the Dojo, their speed creating an audible whistle. She quickly runs to check on Mizaka.
Juzu runs away from Dorotsuchi's "Earth Style: Mud Bullets." being fired so fast and precise they puncture through multiple trees at a time.
He leaps over tree after tree, looking above as 2 things fly overhead.
The loud explosion of Ienoru and Dormir's bodies hitting the ground causes Dorotsuchi to lose focus of Juzu turning around to see Ienoru slowly walking out of the cloud of smoke created by their landing.
"Her ability is quite annoying." Ienoru says while cracking his neck.
Dormir appears next to Dorotsuchi with his body radiating chikara. "I need them dead now!" He swipes his arm, a trail of Chikara following behind.
"Especially that girl!" He screams out in reference to her Nayara.
Dorotsuchi nods, "They're strong… But we don't need to use the scroll just yet." He says while looking at the fallen tree Juzu hopped before holding his hand out towards it.
The ground rumbles as various different rocks lift into the air before beginning to fly towards the tree, crushing it and anything near.
Fortunately Juzu has long since left that spot, regrouping with the rest of the present Team Mizaka, their presence hidden due to some unknown thing.
Mizaka sits on the ground next to her Gavel. Nayara sitting next to her, the gauntlets no longer present. She says "Dormir… He has some sort of regeneration. He healed almost instantly from my attacks."
Juzu stands with his arms crossed. "They all seem to have some form of it. I put him in steamy torture but on him and he completely brushed it off. That means we can no longer go in head first and unprepared."
He turns to Mizaka who sits with a defeated look on her face. "You alright? I don't need you getting soft on me."
Silence hangs in the balance before Mizaka speaks up. "That's the closest I've been to death since Noctis attacked Sanerta." She looks toward Nayara, "A sound based ability that brings your very words as action…" Her mind replays Nayara's ability causing Dormir to stop in place.
"Thank you." Miazaka says while holding her hand out towards Nayara who helps her to her feet. The two exchange looks at each other before Nayara responds, "You're welcome." They let go as Juzu finally comes up with something.
"The one who knows you Nayara, his augments are on his arm right?" He asks as his mind begins the thought process.
"Yes, augmented gauntlets installed in his arm."
As she says this an idea comes into fruition. "Sever his gauntlets." Juzu says as his eyes now show the fire lit inside him. "The augments have to be somewhere on all of them. Sever them and the augmentee is as good as dead."
Mizaka retrieves her Gavel, looking over at Juzu who's pinpointing the Noctis trio. "They're still at the Dojo stairs… Doing what?"
"I can't believe the rats got away!" Ienoru wines like a manchild as his head snaps back and forth attempting to locate them with just his eyes. "All this strength yet it cost me my ability to sense energy."
Dorotsuchi begins to unhook the giant scroll on his back, dropping it on the ground but never attempting to break the tag keeping it closed. "These kinds of rats don't just run away after being caught. No."
He clenches his fist as Chikara begins to form around it. "They like to come back."
Dormir pushes past Ienoru to walk towards the stairs. "I'm seeing what's up here." Ienoru can only clench his fist in jaw as he holds himself in restraint.
Dorotuschi never responds, instead closing his eyes and putting his hand up to the giant seal. Chikara begins to flow from his hand to the seal.
Dormir continues to scale the stairs with his eyes set on the top the very moment he stepped foot on the first stair.
Team Mizaka appears behind the Noctis trio. Nayara slams the handle of her gavel down into the ground, causing Ienoru to turn first. Dormir almost reached the top of the stairs.
"He's about to infiltrate!" Nayara begins summoning Chikara into her legs. Juzu grins as he puts his hand in front of her to stop her. "I wouldn't worry about it." His eyes look at Dormir then back at Dorotsuchi.
"It's just as I said," Dorotsuchi grins as he signals for Ienoru to get ready.
Dormir reaches the top of the stairs, and his eyes widen as a tall figure in the darkness approaches from the
"Rats always come back." Just as Dorotsuchi finishes his sentence an explosion is heard and smoke shoots from the dojo.
Dormir gets sent flying through the air with his guard up but most of his arms are blown off and not regenerating. "There's another!"
The smoke continues to flow out the doors of the dojo, around a silhouette of one tall figure with a blade in hand.
Nayara's eyes widen and a smile grows wide. "that's…"
The smoke begins to fade enough just to see the eyes of the
"…Grim'Lok!"