Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life
Rosemary: "Come on, watch the match!"
Sitting in the stands of the arena was Rosemary, Gray, and Edward, staring down while the fighters got ready. Phase one of the tournament was still commencing, the Walgonian side finished for the moment and Valatroctius stepped up. While Rosemary was trying to save face, her loss again was hurting, but Soku and Ophelias absence hurt even more. Thinking about why Gray didn't seem to care. However he did care, he cared so much he'd rather bite his lip so hard he bled than so it. Wiping it away with only Musashi to notice. Edward was busy feeling bad for his fight with Rosemary and how it went down, his shoulders surging with pain from the burdens of expectation further building atop him.
Announcer: "NOW FOR THE THIRD MATCH, FIGHTERS READY, BEGIN!"
Down below was the dirty, black haired, second oldest adoptive son of Valatroctius; Roy Cromwell stood with a confident smile, eating the rest of the meat off his massive turkey leg and tossing the bone at his brother's chest. Roy pulls out his short sword and then begins to run toward the youngest adoptive son of King Cromwell; Holding his rapier out, dressed in a white coat with purple fur, black pants, and white shoes, was Julius Cromwell. Julius turns around, no longer facing Roy, looking directly at Edward. Julius smiles before his monocle starts to give off a faint glow. Without even looking at Roy, Julius can dodge him flawlessly, with ease Julius continues to dodge Roy, with both his eyes closed and his back turned.
Roy: "STOP IT DAMMIT, THAT'S CHEATING!"
Julius: "All is fair in war."
Julius grows a large grin on his face. Turning his body, then quicker Roy can react, Julius kicks him away. Roy goes tumbling, staring up at the laughing crowd with rage. Rage rage rage. Julius didn't care at all, pointing his rapier toward his brother.
Gray: "Dang! I'm not beatin that!"
Edward: "He must be extremely strong!"
Rosemary: "It's kinda spooky."
Butin the seats behind them was Musashi, thinking of the real answer.
Musashi {He's good but he's not that good. He's showing off, but how the hell did he…No way! That monocle it can't be! Very peculiar. Cornelius must trust him a lot.}
In the stands to their left were the three candidates for the throne, the leader of the fighting squires speaking over them.
Arthur: "Yep, that's Julius for yah! He might be the youngest out of the siblings but he's the strongest by far. And the meanest and the most annoying and so on. "
Elizabeth: "I can tell. Does he have a crush on that Helsing boy?"
Arthur: "Hah! I don't think so but that would be funny."
Elizabeth: "That would be disgusting!"
Kioshi: "Calm down! And stop being so rude! If they wanted to love each other then they should be able to! Edward Cromwell or Julius Van Hesling or whatever!"
Kioshi was trying to take a stern stance, even pointing and turning her head, but only made Arthur continue to laugh.
Arthur: "You are too cute."
Kioshi couldn't help but pull back, utterly repulsed. Elizabeth shares the feeling, sending a wave of frost toward his groin.
Roy: "EL-DIGVIC!"
He poured all of his mana into one massive volley of fast moving stones. Julius ran forward and nibley dodged between them, dodging them by centimeters, but never getting a bit of dust on him. He would use his fast moving rapier to cleave and cut through the rest, leaping into the air and bringing his hilt down on his hazy brother.
Arthur: "Dammit! Roy is always using up his mana on big spells for nothin!"
The crowd roared with applause while the announcer's voice roared along with it.
Announcer: …U..m... WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT, JULIUS CROMWELL HAS TAKEN THE ABSOLUTE WIN! NOW FOR THE LAST MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND! MAY THE LAST TWO FIGHTERS WALK DOWN TO THE ARENA, LLOYD CROMWELL, AND ROSINE VORIA! PLEASE GO DOWN NOW!"
A few knights walk down into the arena and pick Roy up, moving him to the infirmary, while Julius walks up to the stands. Pushing past the many nobles who wished to speak with him to make it toward Edward and the others, Edward especially.
Julius: "I hope to battle you in the finals."
Edward: "Yeah, I guess…"
Feeling a bit overlooked, Gray stepped in front of Edward. Edward towering over him.
Gray: "He has to make it past me first."
Julius: "I do not doubt that he can take a buffoon like you out fairly easily, no offense."
Gray: "None tak - HEY!"
Feeling instantly embarrassed, and with the many people watching and laughing, even Rosemary listening in, caused Gray to lunge out in a rage. Edward being forced to grab him by his red cape, holding him in the air while he flawed with rage.
Gray: "YOU STUPID PINK HAIRED PRICK! WHO CARRIED YOU THROUGH THE SECOND ROUND AGAIN? OH YEAH! ME!"
Julius: "Do you need me to take you out before you can make it to your match? I do not know if I can take your squeaky voice any longer."
Gray: "MY VOICE IS NOT SQUEAKY! AND ONLY I'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR A MONTH!"
Gray pushes forward and kicks off of Edward, landing and getting right in his face. Gray was not being boastful, he was not wearing a mask, he was instead lost in a full blown rage. Surging, red, sweating, he looked forward with pure malice in his eyes. Staring, filled with rage, right at Julius' closed lids.
Gray: "AND I'M STANDING IN THE SAME ARENA AS YOU! I'd think twice about where you and I stand, with me and my friends. Even if you beat me, give me another month and you're gonna be nothing but an outscaled background character."
Julius: "Oh, alright then."
Julius smiled and walked away, leaving Gray with nothing. Throwing his arms out in rage once again.
Gray: "UG...WHA?"
This time his arms were caught by Musashi, who didn't look happy.
Musashi: "Sit down!"
Before Gray could speak out he was already in his seat, giving up and slumping down in his chair, aggravated, while Rosemary started a bit cautiously. Surprised by Gray's rapid switching between modes and how quickly his rage can fire out. Down below the arena is quickly patched with earth magic, a sight that would always impress Gray.
"Digen!"
The few mages and guards with earth affinities in the room had run down and cast a spell, taking in their mana and spreading it toward the latent earth spirit mana within the arena. It would fill in the broken holes, allowing Lloyd and Rosine to make it down to the arena. Starting the last match in the first round.
Announcer: "OKAY NOW BEING THE LAST MATCH!"
Right under the crowd's roar was the praying Rosine, holding Pandora's charm.
Rosine: "Dear Great Spirits, I pray that I progress through this round with ease and grace."
Lloyd: "You should be praying to your gods that I don't lay you out right here."
Rosine: "I heard you Cromwells had an attitude, but this is just arrogance."
Lloyd: "Alright then, I'll show you arrogant!"
He ran forward, his bowl cut waving against his trusting staff. He rushed mana toward the red crystal, heightening his affinities strength, and screamed out -
Llyod: "IG -
Rosine: "NO!"
Running forward was Rosine, activating the charms effects on Lloyd and sealing his mana to his OD. In his panic he threw the staff to the side and took out a small dagger from his long brown coat, barely parrying her quick trusting short spear.
Gray: "I don't know much about trinkets and religion here, but what's with this great spirit nonsense?"
Before anybody else could go on a long, long rant, Musashi placed his hand on Gray's shoulder instead.
Musashi: "We'll tell ya later."
Gray: "So what's up with his staff then?
Rosemary: "He's mage, using that to boost his fire affinity."
Gray: "Ooh is that rare?"
Edward: "No it's the second most common, behind Water. One of the Lower Pillars, Conroy, has one too. Among thousands and thousands of other people."
Gray: "I feel like I should be learning more of this. I am supposed to be a super spirit dude or whatever."
Rosemary: "I wouldn't worry about it."
Rosine pushes Llyod back with speed and precision, smacking his dagger away. As she dove forward he went to pull and throw her, getting smacked across the face by the end of her spear.
Rosemary: "Unlucky, mages usually sit near the back of fights. And that charm is perfect against him."
Gray:"I don't think I'll ever get used to this."
With a final kick to his groin and a chop to the back of the head he collapsed to the ground, the crowd roaring and the announcer screaming out.
Announcer: "AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! ROSINE RAVORIA IS THE VICTOR OF THE FINAL MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND! THOSE FIRST MATCHES WERE SHORT AND SWEET, THESE NEWBIES ARE GOOD! THOUGH VERY OBVIOUSLY SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, NOW FOR THE SECOND TO LAST INTERMISSION BEFORE THE EXAM IS OVER!."
Gray: "Damn finally, get a break after this long ass trial. Gonna get some water and take another nap."
And he would, dozing off. And as he did, it all shifted, his eyes opening once more to see a familiar misty abyss.
Gray: "Shit not this again."
The smell of corruption, the gooey freezing cold darkness consuming it. Stepping through it, wearing a long dark dress connected to the darkness, a dead beauty. The corrupted windows are very beginning.
Azalea: "You are giving quite the show, boy. But I can tell you're still struggling! Every time somebody shows their strength you fill with envy!"
Gray stepped backward, the darkness attaching to his leg like a growing web.
Azalea: "You say these people are you friends but you only argue with the elf, feel jealous toward that Helsing, and flaunt over that Goldenwind. Trash trash trash! You can't live with yourself! You hate everything you do and if you were another person you'd wish he was dead! HAHAHAH!"
Her laughs filled, his rage building. Still her darkness attempted to wrap around him, taking his arms, his legs, his chest, even covering his screaming mouth.
Azalea: "But still, you fight on. And I will wait for you when you fail, when you fly too close to the sun and come crying to me. Wishing for me to save you from this hell."
His eyes widened at her words, and his mind instantly filled with the idea -
Gray {Can she let me go home?}
Announcer: "NOW IS EVERYONE READY!"
Gray is shocked awake, covered in sweat and tumbling out of his seat. Rosemary quickly catches him while the crown roars, awaiting the next match.
Rosemary: "Are you alright?"
Announcer: "OKAY! CAN CONNER GRAY KYOJIN AND EDWARD VAN HELSING PLEASE WALK DOWN TO THE ARENA!"
Gray quickly looked around and spotted Edward already walking down to the arena, dashing off to follow.
Gray: "Yeah I'm fine sorry!"
Rosemary: "Uh, okay! Good luck!"
Arthur and the other candidates watched, however the two women quickly turned to Arthur when he pulled a raw thick steak out of his black and gold suit pocket. He would flash black flames around it to cook it in an instant, ripping into it with his teeth and speaking with his mouth open.
Arthur: "Your daddy's prized pupils, who got your money?"
Kioshi: "Well Gray is good and all but Edward is far past him."
Elizabeth: "Please go into further detail. I have no idea of either of these useless children, especially that Kyojin brat. Only say what is useful."
Musashi: "Edward stands still, playing defense. He also likes to make sure all his emotions are under perfect control, while Gray wants to lose himself in his feelings, and rushes into the fight wholeheartedly. Edward tries not to do that to not hurt somebody or himself, but Gray kinda needs to since his powers hurt him so much."
Arthur: "I get what you mean, I mean look how they were fighting in their matches."
Down below they were ready. With Gray a bit more on edge than usual. Still smirking.
Gray: "So ready for our rematch!?"
Edward: "Don't over-exert yourself!"
Gray: "I got more experience fighting than I did before! So it won't end the same as last time!"
Edward: "I'll hold you to your word then!"
While Edward smiled with a bit of camaraderie, Gray snickered and flared with rage.
Announcer: "OKAY AND WITH THAT, BEGIN THE FIRST MATCH OF THE SECOND ROUND!"
Gray and Edward take out their swords, looking into each other's eyes like they were looking into each other's souls. If they were to be described, Grays would be cracked dolls, with a faint flame on the inside. While Edwards is like a small child, trying to hold down a monster wrapped in chains. Gray smirks at Edward, leaping toward him.
Gray: "CENIC!"
As the arena is filled with black smoke Edward blows the smoke away by swinging his sword. The last time he tried this on Edward, he ran behind him. This time he remained in front of Edward. Catching Edward off guard. In that time he tries to overwhelm Edward with strikes. Bjørn can easily withstand the blows, remaining still. Edward lifts Bjørn, pushing Gray back. Edward goes to hit Gray, trying to swing as fast as he can. The smirk on Gray's face drops, he dodges the swing, and then lets go of his sword, preparing to hit Edward's body.
Gray {Just boost a small part of your body's power, just like Rosemary! NOW, MANA OVERDRIVE!
A burst of power mana mana emerges from Gray's arm, surprising the knights in the stands. At awe of his raw mana output. Edward blocks it with his hand before his punch can land. His arm was protected by the gauntlets, though the punch heavily dented the armor, with it stabbing into Edward's arm. After trying to push him back with a wild swing he pushes Gray to duck. Gray gets down, looking up at Edwards' towering body with fear. His large blade soon came crashing down. Gray screamed as he rolled backward, dodging a strike that sent cracks through the arena.
Gray {Come on focus! Control it! Break him down to my level and then beat him!"
Arthur: "WOAH! He's quick, and that's nice thinking, just overwhelm him to victory."
Kioshi: "His pain tolerance is off the charts! And he's still able to pull off such pristine and unpredictable movements on a whim!"
Elizabeth: "He's gonna kill himself."
Watching from afar was Musashi, listening in and muttering to himself.
Musashi: "But there are limits for a fighting style consisting of grasping at straws."
Rosemary had heard it, trembling for a moment.
Gray: "This can't be all you got!"
Gray had just finished rolling and focused mana into a few of his fingers instead of his entire arm. But Edwards' strength could be seen through his stern eyes, forcing Gray's fast beating heart to go even faster with trembling fear.
Gray {Not good! I need to counter!}
He forced his panicked face down with rage, the pain overwhelming his focus. He then gripped his fist, the blazing purple mana spreading from his fingers to his entire arm to encompass it with immense power. Then by sending to his leg he pushed forward, clashing against Edwards' thick blade. The force of the attack coming from Edwards shield for a sword left the crowd in further awe, but it wasn't over yet. He continued to coarse as mana was lost from his right leg to kick Bjørn. The kick lands pushing Edward further back, so Edward lets go of Bjørn and grabs Gray's legs, picking him up into the air and planning to slam him to the ground.
Gray: "SATIC!"
The spell overwhelms both their senses, causing Edward to lose his grip on Gray. Gray takes advantage of this, kicking Edward in the face, launching himself back, and landing on the ground away from Edward.
Gray: "That spell hurts doesn't it? I've used it enough that I don't care how much it hurts me anymore. Can't say the same for you though!"
Arthur: "No way…I thought he had mastered those spells, or at least gotten his body used to them. He's just powering through them! Sure this dudes not a Helsing?"
Elizabeth: "Well Satic is a powerful spell for a lesser-skilled spirit mage. He does seem to be able to use Cenic correctly though, at least to an acceptable degree. But how is he using both spells with such different classifications for both?"
Kioshi: "His affinity seems to be so strong that even with a defensive spirit arts affinity, he can barely use offensive spells unknowingly.
Arthur: "That's crazy but so is that Helsing, for their class. Being able to lift that sword. It's super dense, if the legends are a little exaggerated, then that sword might weigh more than the Gotsu's, and he was a God of war."
Kioshi: "More or less."
Kioshi and Elizabeth chuckled under their breath, knowing that Gotsu wasn't a God of War. It was a standard piece of history Arthur had either forgotten or tried to make up, and Kioshi didn't correct it to try and be polite. Still down below the fight was shaking and exploding.
Gray: "You gonna give me the silent treatment!? Come on man, don't be like that!"
Gray and Edward's swords are across the area from them. Edward removes the dented armor, dropping it to the ground. Gray puts the red hood of his cloak over his head, covering the unease on his face. Edward just stands there, composed, and emotionless, lost in his mind.
Gray {I need to get my sword back. But if I go for mine he's gonna go for his. My physical strength is worse than his, though if I overuse my mana to overwhelm his strength, I'll break my body. If I want to make it to the next round I can't do that.}
Edward takes a deep breath, then proceeds to start taking steps toward Gray. Gray goes into the pockets of his belt, reaching for something.
Gray {I wanted to save these for when I needed them…SO THIS SEEMS APPROPRIATE!}
Gray pulls out a throwing knife, and coats it in mana, so that when Gray throws it it'll easily push past any resistance in the air, moving in a straight shot toward Edward. Edward barely moves his head out of the way, being so close that the knife cuts Edward's cheek. Edward rushes towards Gray as fast as he can, causing Gray to freeze up. And to Gray, Edward closes the distance seemingly instantly.
Gray {He's going for hand-to-hand combat!}
Edward sends out hard blow after blow, forcing Gray to either block or get hit. Gray can't seem to get a clean hit on Edward, due to Edward dodging and weaving all his attempts.
Gray {SHIT, SHIT SHIT! MANA OVERDRiVE}
Gray's arm once again bursts with mana, delivering a clean and heavy blow to Edward's shoulder, pushing him back. The bones in Edward's arm shake under pressure. Somehow he doesn't even react to the pain, as if he's somewhere else entirely. Edward picks up Gray's sword, tossing it to him, then picks up Bjørn.
Edward: "I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE WAITING TO WATCH A HELSING LET LOOSE!"
Edward starts speaking to the crowd, with an angry tone in his voice. And as it surprises everyone, he finally lets out the anger he's held in this entire time.
Edward: "I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WANT TO FIGHT, OR WHY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE NEED TO! SO GRAY IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT ME RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW! DO YOU WISH TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR!"
Gray {What the hell why is he ranting? Maybe Al's death affected him more than I thought. Or maybe he's been holding back a lot more than I thought. If he becomes sporadic then he'll mess up, and I can take advantage of that.}
So, even with his body struggling and twitching, covered in bruises and blood, his bones all on the verge of breaking down at once, he had a wild smile on his face. And a look in eye filled with the same rage as Edwards, although Edwards flame was burning brighter and faster than his own; Gray was forcing his small flame to keep going while Edward had been holding that fire back with all of his might.
Gray: "YEAH! WHAT'S THE POINT IN FIGHTING IF YOU AREN'T GONNA TRY!"
Edward shook his head even if he hated what he was about to do. To break the powerful hold on his emotions he's had since he was a kid. He shatters thoughts, binds and plants Bjørn down on the ground. Gray stares into Edward's eyes as if the chains on the monster are coming undone.
Julius: "There it is. I hope he uses this on our match as well."
Julius' smile rose before the crowd gasped.
Arthur: "Well what do we have here."
Elizabeth: "I was wondering when we'd see it."
Kioshi {Oh Edward...}
Kioshi looked toward Musashi with a somber look, knowing how much work Edward had put into mastering his emotions. All for nothing.
Musashi {What are you doing dammit?}
Gray leans down and stretches his legs, taking a quick breath. Edward stands straight up while letting his sword rest within his hands, huffing in a fit of anger. In a flash Edward leaps towards Gray, preparing his strongest swing yet.
Gray {There's no way I win this. And if I do I can't win the next rounds. DO I HAVE TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH RIGHT HERE!? RIGHT NOW!?}
Rosemary {Gray…what are you gonna-
Gray screams as his left arm explodes with mana before it quickly travels toward his blade. His muscles begin tearing, his bones cracking, and his blood boiling. Like two monsters about to clash, Gray swings his sword at Edward, with both swords heading right toward each other. Bjørn goes right through Gray's sword. As it breaks in half, with no effort at all, Gray truly realized the gap in strength there was between them.
Gray {DODGE! FOCUS AND DODGE!}
So just as Edwards sword continues to close in on Gray, Gray bursts mana to his legs so he can lean forward and leap past him. Using the last of its power, he finds himself sliding around Edward before jumping away, turning his body around mid-air throwing three knives. Edward swings his sword before the knives can reach him, smashing his sword against them.
Gray {HE'S A MONSTER!}
Edward's face turns from angry to even angrier, like he's letting out all his emotions at once. Looking more like a monster than the real monsters they fought earlier. Everything that's coming from Edward is grunts and growls like he's forgotten everything other than how to survive. Edward leaps across the arena, cracking the ground from his pure jumping strength. Gray pulls out all of the flame crystals in his pouch.
Arthur: "He took advantage of the weapons locker. Those are just fire crystals, but they don't do much."
Rosemary {Is he gonna…Like he did to Jeremiah in Soku's old house!}
Gray "THERE'S A REASON I WASN'T USING MANA AROUND MY WHOLE BODY! SO THEY WOULDN'T ACTIVATE!"
Gray charges up the crystals, throwing them at Edward. Edward once again tries to just hit them away, but they explode on contact with his blade. The blast isn't too extreme but the dust from the blast covered them.
Rosemary {That might give Gray some time to recuperate, but there's no way he can beat Edward, especially with how Edward is acting now. Before, Edward was stronger than the average soldier, but now…he's looking more and more like the Helsings from the legends. Monsters in the form of people.}
The crowd sees a faint black figure running around in the smoke like a ghost running around, while Edward's presence in the arena draws attention from the audience. Edward feels something banging at his psyche, his mind turns back to the raging inferno, swinging Bjørn all around him with no thought behind it, moving like a surrounded animal.
Gray {I'm about to reach my limit on my mana, so I need to use the rest in this last move! I need to pull out a shounen power up and surpass my limits…and I know just how to do it!}
With an idea stolen from a story he read back home as well as his own skill, he puts a makeshift plan into focus.
Gray: "I'M FROM - "
In a flash of power his OD explodes, cracking it on purpose. Edward feels the power, rushing towards it. Behind the rest of the dust, Gray's broken sword is flung at Edward. Edward swings Bjørn hitting the sword away, though it leaves him open. He sees Gray, like a demonic figure, completely covered in his blackish purple mana, with his black cloak flowing from the wind giving in from his mana. Gray has successfully cracked in his OD, blasting out mana and surpassing the limit that Gray's body would allow.
Rosemary: "GRAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Her screams break past the rest of the crowd. However they're still too quiet to break past the vigor screaming in his mind.
Musashi {THAT IDIOT'S GONNA KILL HIMSELF!}
Arthur: "SO COOL! THESE GUYS ARE REALLY GETTING INTO IT!"
Gray uses this last-ditch effort, rushing toward Edward and delivers multiple blows to his body. Edward swings Bjørn to hit Gray back, but Gray uses this to his advantage, flipping and hitting the wall of the arena, jumping off it, and flying toward Edward. Gray focuses all the mana onto the palm of his hand. Everyone in the crowd is surprised and amazed at his ability to cultivate so much power. It's to the point even Julius chimes in.
Julius: {A grand use of mana on something like this? If he had any control it'd seem endless.}
It was something only a person like Gray would be able to do. With mana one hundred times the average person, his massive amount of mana allowed him to even weaponize it in its purest form. Whilst he flies toward Edward, his mana starts building up on itself and turns a bright blue, making a flowing sphere-like shape.
Gray: "TITANS, IMPACT!"
Edward {A sphere of pure mana!?}
Gray had moved so quickly after Edwards swing that it left him wide open. So, with a burst of pressure imitating just as Gray's hand reaches toward Helsing's face, it happens. Gray hits Edward in the face, pushing him to the ground. The "Titans Impact" explodes forcing Edward further into the floor and cracking the ground. Gray stands still with a smirk on his face, with the crowd thinking he's victorious.
Gray: "hehe...HAHA! I DID IT! GRAY KYOJIN, KNIGHT OF WALGONIA, DEFEATER OF THE SECT STANDS
Rosemary: "Did he..do it?"
Arthur: "Why is the announcer not calling the match?"
Elizabeth: "Most likely because he's bored out of his mind."
Kioshi {Come on Edward. Are you really finished here?}
Musashi: "Here it comes."
Edward flings up from the ground, staying couscous. He drags his fist through the air, hitting Gray in the side of the face, and forcing Gray's head into the ground with his fist. Leaving him motionless. huffing and puffing with a large bruise on the side of his face.
Edward: "One good punch, that's all I needed."
Ringing out and being the thing Gray heard before he fell unconscious was the announcers booming voice.
Announcer: "AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE MATCH IS OVER! EDWARD VAN HELSING IS VICTORIOUS!"