Just Take It

Class 7 were currently lined. Although it wasn't a tidy line. The students were either meditating to counteract the pain, or the were sprawled out on the ground, completely exhausted. The past few days were completely hellish to the students. They had thought that Teacher Takuma's methods of teaching were severe, but she didn't hold a candle to Arata, or as they now referred to him as, the Demon Commander. Ryouma was the only one who didn't call him that, instead calling him Demon Captain.

Through the constant pushing and "commanding" from Arata, the students felt a sense of achievement as they were all able to finish their tasks. Many believed that they were doomed from the start, but they quickly found what it was that Arata wanted to show them, many of the students gaining enlightenment during their harsh training. Although the Class hated every second of this painful training, they had to admit that Arata was able to push and grow them immensely in such a short time. They deeply respected him more now.

Even Teacher Takuma had to take her hat off to Arata. He taught with precision and clarity, pinpointing every strength and weakness within the class and helping them accordingly. She had learnt a lot about her own class from this experience, thinking up new ways to grow the class after the tournament. She was also inherently proud of how strong willed her class was. They were able to get through this training, not only stronger, but grateful and wiser because of it.

But right now, they were currently just mad at Arata. They had all finished their tasks, but they were being made to wait. One by one, they finished their tasks and were brought here to wait. Now that the class had all finished and were gathered here, they expected to get the Medicinal Pills so the pain would stop. Instead, Arata seemed to be lost in thought, as if he was waiting for something. He had been sitting like this for the past half hour while the rest of Class 7 did their best to cope with the wracking pain. At that moment, Visha, who was meditating beside Arata, spoke up.

"OK. It's ready."

A grin appeared on Arata's face as he stood up and turned to look at the class. The class felt a wave of fear as they looked at the smiling Arata.

"You all have done well. Each of you overcame and accomplished the tasks I set out for you. You have also grown as both individuals and as a class. Your teamwork and synergy has reached new heights and I am thoroughly impressed."

Arata then revealed a pouch from behind him. The class's eyes lit up. The Medicinal Pills! He smiled as he walked a few steps in front of everyone before putting the bag on the ground.

"This is your final test. Take a Medicinal Pill and be rid of the poison."

Arata then walked over to Visha.

"You may begin."

The students were cheerful as they were about to rush towards the small pouch when they felt something was inherently wrong. They suddenly felt the blood in their body surge toward their hearts, the strength of the poison had become concentrated and was rushing towards their hearts. They instinctively knew that if it reached their hearts, they would die. They immediately got into meditative positions to redirect the poison.

During the past few days, they had learnt the flow patterns of the poison. Although they didn't know this, but it was the actual pathways for their Physical Meridians. It was a Body Strengthening cultivation pathway that Arata had instructed Visha to flow through, strengthening and clearing the pathway over the past few days. As they had learnt the patterns of the flow, they slowly learnt how to adjust and direct it. They found that if they directed down certain pathways, the pain would lessen.

At this moment, they were using what they had felt during their training to try and redirect and push the poison into a flow away from their heart. On the side, Visha was stretching as he collapsed on the floor, splayed out like a starfish. He had been controlling the flow of the poison this whole time, preventing it from going towards the students hearts. But now he had removed his control and the poison was flowing naturally, rushing towards the heart.

As it was aptly named, the Devil's Heart would build the poison within the body before rushing towards the heart, causing incredible pain and then death. The students were all profusely sweating as they did all they could to get the poison away from their hearts. Arata watched the students.

"As you all have realized, the Devil's Heart Poison is now streaming through your blood and is heading for the heart. Once there, it will be impossible to save you. Your mission remains the same. All you need to do is just take a pill from the pouch."

All you need to do? Screw you! Just take it? Rubbish!

The students were silently cursing Arata. How could they "just take it" when they could barely move? They had to maintain their meditative positions to keep the poison away from their hearts. Once they moved, the poison would rush through their bodies, poison their heart and kill them. The pouch was only a couple steps away from them, yet those couple steps seemed like a vast ocean to the students. Visha looked the struggling students and sighed.

"You truly are an evil one. When you called this 'Operation: Deathwalk', I doubt they thought you were serious."

The class realized how naïve they were. They had actually thought that this was the end and Arata would just give them the Medicinal Pill. He watched over the struggling student's. He was then stunned to sense something strange coming from Tallis. The poison had been directed and forced to his feet, when it was suddenly released, rushing towards the heart before being stopped just before the heart. Tallis seemed to sit up straighter, he seemed confident now. Arata grinned.

"It seems that Tallis has it figured out. A lot faster than I thought. Impressive."

Tallis redirected the poison in his body to his feet once more. He took a breathe before releasing the poison. At the same time, he slammed his hands on the ground and pushed himself forward. He remained crossed legged as he landed by the pouch and resumed meditating, stopping the poison just before it reached his heart. The class were stunned to see Tallis leap forward. After Tallis had once again redirected the poison to his feet, he quickly reached into the bag and pulled out a Medicinal Pill and shoving it in his mouth before meditating once more, stopping the poison once again.

A soothing Energy moved through him, he felt light and warm. He felt the poison being restrained and restricted by this Light Energy. The poison began to dissipate within him, being slowly eaten by the Light. After 6 minutes, Tallis opened his eyes. He felt refreshed and as he circulated his Elemental Reservoir, he was stunned to see how much his Reservoir had grown and how much stronger his Energy was.

He couldn't properly use and control his Energy while he was affected by the poison. But now that it was gone, he found that his control and power was on another level completely. He was able to keep his connection ability active for 24 hours with the poison in his body, but he felt that he could last much longer and use it more efficiently and effectively now that the poison was gone. He looked over to Arata in awe as he slowly stood up, unused to how his body now felt. He bowed to Arata.

"Many thanks, Arata Sato. I can feel how much stronger I am thanks to your training."

Arata nodded.

"Go back to your room and rest. Also, maybe have a shower. Also take your time to come to terms with your power. We will continue with the strategic training in 2 days."

Tallis bowed once more before looking back at the students. Arata chuckled.

"Don't worry. They will figure it out. Believe in their ability."

Tallis hesitated. But he agreed with Arata. He wanted to tell them what to do, but he knew that it would be better if they discovered it on their own. He nodded and left, quickly heading to his room to rest and recuperate. Seeing Tallis leave, the class were inspired. They realized that it was possible to get the pill, now it was about figuring out the method. Arata sighed.

"Tallis is too much of a genius. I was hoping that they would struggle longer, but he figured it out right away and gave everyone hope. Such a buzz kill."

Visha chuckled.

"It is hard to factor in a brain like Tallis'. Although he figured it out, I still think the others will take some time to figure out what he did."

Arata shook his head.

"He isn't the only genius in Class 7. Look."

Visha followed his eye line to Ryouma and Akari. Ryouma had activated Shadow Awareness after seeing Tallis jump forward and observed what he did and was now replicating it. Akari made an educated guess by watching Tallis pause between movements. She surmised that you would need to create windows to move, and then she came to the conclusion that she needed to direct the poison as far away from the heart as possible, and move while the poison tries to get back to the heart, and then stop moving and prevent the poison from reaching the heart.

Ryouma was the first to move as he copied Tallis movement, pushing off the ground and pushing himself forward. He, however, over shot it and ended up past the pouch. Akari moved next, gracefully landing next to the pouch. After redirecting the poison again, she quickly grabbed and ate a pill. As she began absorbing the pill, Ryouma landed next to Akari and the pouch. A moment later, he also grabbed a pill and began absorbing it.

Akari opened her eyes and glared at Arata, who began staring at the sky innocently. Akari slowly got up and walked over to Arata, who was looking at everything but Akari. Akari punched Arata and sent him flying. Arata landed 8 metres away. Akari looked at her hand in shock. She didn't use her Elemental Reservoir, she didn't even put her all into the punch, yet she sent Arata flying that far away. Where did this strength come from. Visha chuckled as he turned to look at Arata on the ground.

"You gave her strength, and then she used that strength against you. You might want to be more selective with who you help out."

Arata sat up, rubbing his chest. He was caught off guard and didn't expect to be hit so didn't block it in any way. He slowly stood up, slightly annoyed.

"Noted. Last time I train anyone."

Akari felt conflicted hearing Arata say that. Although it was harsh training, she couldn't deny the results. She knew that the entire class had grown immensely, as did she. Arata was a powerful ally to have and could grow the class in a handful of days, she knew that his help was something that Class 7 would benefit greatly from. Akari bowed to Arata.

"I apologize. I put my personal frustrations on to you instead of seeing the benefits to, not only myself, but the entire class. Please forgive me."

Arata was still annoyed but in front of such a sincere apology, in front of the rest of Class 7 who all looked at Akari like a saint, he couldn't retort. Especially with the eyes of all those touched by Akari's words. Arata sighed.

"Whatever. You heard what I said to Tallis. Go clean up, rest and observe your new strength."

Akari nodded as she walked off, just as Ryouma opened his eyes. Unlike Akari and Tallis, he sat by Visha and began cultivating, choosing to stay by his Captain. Arata looked over to the corner. There was a black and purple barrier that had been in place since they began the training. Inside was Hyosuke and Damien. Neither of them had come out this entire time. Arata couldn't sense a thing but he estimated that it wouldn't be much longer before they finished.

As the students finished one by one, Arata now ignored them and got Ryouma and Visha to repeat the same directions to everyone as he stared at the large barrier. He hadn't known Damien long, but he could feel the darkness that covered him. The past that haunted the young boy. He didn't know his story, but Arata empathized with Damien. Being the Heir to the Sato Clan, Arata knew the pain and darkness that one could go through in their life and he was naturally sensitive to it. He could see that within Damien and wanted to help him, which was part of the reason why he got his Father and Clan involved.

The other reason was the innate power within him. Although extremely strong, it was also dangerous to Damien and those around him. Hyosuke was currently helping Damien bring his power under control, but it was a dangerous thing to do when working with a Child of the Source. Their power was too immense sometimes, so Hyosuke had a very delicate job to do. Arata knew that if he was unable to complete the seal by today, it would be impossible to finish and Damien would most likely be consumed by the Source. Arata walked over to the large barrier and placed a hand on it, worry on his face.

"Make it out, kid."