Act 1: Ch.17 - Kuni the Blood Ethos

"Come on Kuni!" Andrea yelled as she threw a punch which I just managed to block.

The force of the punch however was too strong and still sent me flying. I flipped in the air so I could land on my feet before I hit the ground with the momentum, I had gained causing me to slide across the marble white ground. I had to smash my hand into the ground to finally stop myself from moving.

Andrea fired off multiple purple blasts at me before flying forwards with them.

I moved my head from side to side, dodging two of the ranged attacks, before rushing towards the flying Andrea. I jumped onto one of the blasts before bouncing off a few others catching Andrea completely off guard as I leapt above her.

Sorry Nova, gonna borrow one of your moves.

As I flipped in the air two chained blades materialised in my hands which I flung downwards as hard as I could, the two blades embedding themselves deep into the marble white ground.

I grabbed a hold of the chains and pulled myself downwards delivering a kick onto Andrea's back, slamming her into the ground.

The ground tore up beneath us as we crashed into the floor, but Andrea quickly recovered, grabbing my face in a vice like grip that was so tight I couldn't break free. In a flash I felt possibly thousands of punches hit my stomach.

"Gragh!!" I screamed in pain as I felt something sharp slice into my stomach before Andrea let go of my face and kicked me in the chin, sending me flying across the room.

After I landed, I looked down on my chest and saw thousands of bruises as well as a deep gash across my chest.

I coughed up blood as the bruises healed themselves thanks to my Skill Heal, which was now upgraded to 10th Tier, but I made sure that the gash was only partially healed so blood could almost flow freely.

I looked around the endless marble white room and spotted multiple splashes of blood.

I like this idea your thinking of Kuni.

"Glad we're on the same page Sanguis." I murmured to my newly Awakened Ethos before using one of my brand-new abilities.

"You done?" Andrea called out as she swaggered towards me, my blood splattered around her.

"Not yet!" I yelled and clapped my hands together.

The blood surrounding Andrea seemed to come alive and shot towards, wrapping itself around her body in crimson shackles chaining her into the ground.

As I raised my arm, blood gracefully flew out of the gash from my chest and formed into a long spear in my hand.

A black aura started to surround the spear as I aimed it, Andrea.

"Bloody Judgment."

I threw the spear as hard as I could, it imbedded itself deep into Andrea's chest before a black explosion consumed her completely.

"Score!" I yelled throwing my arms into the air.

Not quite.

Andrea erupted from the explosion and slammed a kick into my stomach sending me flying up into the air.

"Now it's over." She said appearing above me and delivering a punch to the back of my head, causing me to crash into the ground before everything went black.

I sat up quickly after I woke up and whirled round, looking side to side.

"Nice, your up." A voice said behind me.

I turned round to see Andrea sitting on her knees behind me. I realised I'd had my head on her lap like a pillow.

A sudden pang of pain stabbed into my head and I fell back down, my head landing on her lap.

"Looks like I hit you a bit harder than I thought." She giggled.

I looked up into Andrea's blacker than black eyes which stared back.

I can imagine some would find her eyes quite terrifying but to me they looked rather peaceful.

"How long was I out for? Wait. Don't answer I already know."

"You're catching on." Andrea smirked. "Not only are you in The Beyond but you have transcended the Concept of Space-Time itself as well."

HEY! Don't forget about me!

"And I've evolved into an Awakened Ethereal as well." I said pleasing the request of Sanguis, my Ethos.

One of the first things I did while training with Andrea was awaken my Ethos which has led to the introduction of my latest friend, Sangui, The Blood Star Ethos.

Some new abilities that came with this was the ability to manipulate blood in any way I wish, manipulate Ethos as well as among other things. In doing so I transcended the concepts of Space-Time which has been pretty fun and overall gotten a whole lot stronger. Who'd of thought I'd ever be a Demon Rank.

Andrea says you can only become an Omni Rank if you're strong enough to effect one of the Realms in the Chaos Void in some way. I ain't there just yet but we can have hope.

"There's one more thing we need to do Kuni. Minus the Omuni since Nova will want to teach you that himself." Andrea said as both her and I stood up.

"What might that one thing be then?" I asked scratching the back of my head.

Andrea turned round to look at me and grinned.

"It's time we unlocked your Capere Form."

"You mean-"

"Yes, THAT form." Andrea said waving her hand as if it was no big deal. "The transformation that gives an Awakened Ethereal access to 50% of their Ethos's power."

I mulled that over a little.

"And that entails giving 50% control to that Ethos. Am I right?" I guessed, smirking a little.

"Well, aren't you clever." Andrea whispered in my ear suddenly, making me jump back a little started as she chuckled under her breath.

"So… how hard is it to achieve?" I asked getting right to the point.

"That entirely depends on you, my dear Kuni." She licked her lips which made me blush. "Essentially it requires a little deal with your Ethos as it'll more than likely want something in exchange for you borrowing it's power. This is exchange is usually a percentage of control over your body while in this state which is up to you two to decide what that percentage is. The next is rather simple and could be the easiest or hardest part of the acquiring of the form. The form must take the shape of how you truly see yourself. If you're a little insecure about yourself this might take a while but if not, it should be rather easy."

Andrea suddenly disappeared and I felt a little kiss on my cheek.

"What the!!" I yelped leaping back, my face bright fun, watching Andrea laugh to herself.

"Your too easy." She sighed. "Now chop, chop. This is all you. Any input from me won't help."

"Riiiight." I said sitting down and closed my eyes as if I was meditating.

I found myself in the same place where I first came face to face with Sanguis. It seemed like an infinite landscape with the floor covered in water only a centimetre deep. The whole place was bright blue teal colour and sitting before me was none other than Sanguis.

He looked surprisingly normal. Nothing like what Lazuli's Ethos (Stella) looked like from what she had told me. Sanguis looked a typical ordinary dark-skinned man. He looked like he might be in his 20s with blood red hair and a lean but muscular build. There were things however that made it clear he was not ordinary. For one who was at least 8ft tall. More likely 8'5 and had very unique looking eyes. His eyes were a neon green, but his pupils were a dark crimson and in the shape of a Biohazard Symbol.

"So shall we get straight to the point." He said with a big grin on his face.

"That would be preferable." I nodded with a calm smile.

"Ok let's start with 80% control." The Ethos said casually.

"How about piss off." I replied as I sat down in front of him, a chair forming beneath me. "Try 20%."

Sanguis burst into laughter, slapping his knee.

"And you. Told me to piss off! Hahaha!" He finished off his laughter before looking at me, his eyes looking me up and down. Measuring me.

"I'm in the top 5 when it comes to my power as an Ethos Kuni. Allow me to give you a rundown of what you'll be able to do after unlocking a Capere Form from me."

Sanguis lent back in his chair, crossing his legs.

"So long as there is a single cell of blood around you, yours or not, you will not die. If you're disintegrated, that dust will be turned to blood and you will rise once again. Even if your very existence is erased. If a single blood cell (once again yours or not) you will rise again. If the blood isn't yours must be outside of its owner's body. Thought I should mention that."

I thought about that for a while.

If that is the case on a battlefield, I would practically be invincible.

"You will also be able to freely control all kinds of blood across and manipulate in any way you wish. Not only this but you can absorb the blood of others to permanently increase your overall power. The sky's the limit when it comes to blood."

"Ok, ok!" I moaned. "Fine how about this. 60% control over me while in the Capere Form, I won't budge."

I held out my hand.

"Heheh. You drive a hard bargain but deal." Sanguis said shaking my hand. "What will you do about actually attaining the form. I can imagine a teenager doesn't have an exact idea of who they are."

I opened my eyes and found myself back in the white room with Andrea.

"Don't worry about that." I said getting up, catching Andrea's attention.

Oh really? Why shouldn't I?

I paused for a moment before materialising a small knife in my left hand and raised it to the palm of my right.

"I am many things. A 17-year-old boy with a promising future. An Ethereal, an Awakened Ethereal no less, who has gathered an amount of power that makes him one of the strongest Ethereals out there. A friend who cares deeply about those close to him with a strong sense of what is right and wrong. But that is not who I truly am. The Saber family is a family of Assassins. I've known how to kill someone the quickest and most effective way possible since I was 5 years old and have taken the lives of thousands since I was 7."

I quickly drew the small blade across my hand, cleanly slicing it open causing blood to pour out but it seemed to be almost alive as it slowly churned around my body taking a different form.

My nails turned a dark red as did the pupils in my eyes while the blood swirling around me began to attach itself to me and sinking into me. I felt myself grow taller only stopping when I was 6'9 as I felt my muscles also grow slightly. The blood then crashed down onto me, completely covering me in a dark red cocoon, my vison disappearing until there was only darkness.

Almost instantly after the cocoon seemingly exploded, revealing my transformed state. A blood red, metallic looking mask covered my mouth and nose while I now bore a trench coat of the same colour with a hood over my head. My shirt and trousers were pitch black in colour with crimson veins crawling the two pieces of clothing. My nails grew by half an inch and were sharpened like claws.

I let out a roar as I felt the amount of power flowing through me. A black vortex of an aura with a scarlet outline swirled around me as I rose in the air.

"This is amazing!" I yelled as a I formed two glowing red sawed-off shotguns in my hands.

I slowly descended down onto the ground, the aura fading away.

"YESS!" Andrea squealed jumping up and giving me a big hug.

I hugged her back as we both jumped around the room.

"This is amazing Kuni!" Andrea said as I put her back down. "I didn't think you'd unlock it that easily."

As I was about to reply I was interrupted.

"This is very impressive." A voice called out before a purple and black portal formed with person stepping out slowly clapping his hands.

"Congratulations Kuni." Nova said with a smile, his bright blue eyes shining with pride as the portal closed behind him.

Seeing Nova, the memory of my defeat with him suddenly popped into my memory.

"Hey Nova, quick request." I said catching his attention.

"Hm?"

"Rematch now?" I asked quickly but didn't give him the chance to answer.

I raised the two guns I had and fired.

Half of Nova's face as well as his chest and left shoulder was blown to pieces and Nova began to fall to the ground, but I didn't stop. I rushed towards him, forming a dagger from the blood in the wound on my hand.

"Got you!" I yelled and threw my hands down to stab him in the heart but as soon as the blade made contact, my whole arm was blown to pieces and completely vapourised.

Too stunned at what just happen, I didn't see Nova instantly regenerate and come straight at me for me. Before I realised it Nova's kick connected with my chin sending me flying across the room as I felt my jaw dislocate before barely landing on my feet.

"Not bad Kuni." Nova said as he slowly walked towards me. "You can now actually hurt me a little. Clearly your stronger than my 25% in this state."

Dude can kick.

You haven't seen anything yet.

I warned my Ethos as I knew what was coming.

"But can you deal with this." Nova grinned as he snapped his fingers. "Release Restriction Levels 5 and 4."

I immediately felt Nova's power increase and it nearly made my legs cave.

"I've gotten myself into something now." I muttered.

NO! No! I won't back down. I just got this power boost, even if I can't win, I can still make him work.

How about you try Blood Travel.

Blood what?

Like how Lunar Magic users can teleport anywhere that's dark, you can travel to anywhere so long as there is blood in the open. You basically use the blood as your own portals.

Huh, neat.

Conveniently nova's blood was on the floor behind him.

I immediately activated the ability and practically teleported behind him. I threw I punch but Nova whipped round and blocked it before multiple solar magic blasts crashed into me out of nowhere. I screamed in pain as the tennis ball sized suns seared my flesh, burning it away to the bone. As the injuries healed Nova jumped into the air, delivering two kicks to my ribs while doing so, before executing a front kick to the chest.

The attack shattered my ribs and sent my flying back again. I slammed my hand into the ground to stop my momentum as Nova flipped in the air where he kicked me before landing.

"Let's turn it up." I breathed as manipulated all the remaining blood on the floor in the room.

It rose into the air like great crimson fountains before forming into all different kinds of blades.

I threw my arms forward and the blood blades darted towards Nova, hoping to skewer him like a kabab.

Nova closed his eyes for a moment before looking up at the projectiles and opening them causing my own eyes to widen is shock.

The pupil and iris in Nova's right eye had morphed into the black and white symbol of the Yin-Yang. Instantly all the projectiles aiming for Nova lost their shape and returned to their original liquid blood state before even hitting Nova.

"What did you do!?" I yelled in frustration.

"You already know how my Omuni works so I won't bother explaining that again." He replied with a grin. "Like any material when you manipulate it, the object in question becomes infused with the power of Ethos. The only reason those blood projectiles even had the form of blades or could do harm to me in the first place is because of that very reason. I simply separated that Ethos power from the blood making it completely harmless."

"Damn you!" I roared, charging towards him.

"Dark-light Ray!" Nova roared firing a purple and golden orange beam of energy which immediately burned into my flesh causing me to scream in pain, but I continued to charge forward. The beam of energy disappeared, and I fired off multiple black Ethos energy blasts at Nova.

As soon as I did that, I found myself standing where Nova had once stood before feeling the searing pain of my own blasts smashing into my back.

At that same time, I heard the snapping of fingers before my legs were severed from my body so cleanly it was as if they were paper being cut by scissors. I yelped in pain as fell to the ground which was soaked by my own blood.

"Bastard!" I yelled before I turned with razor sharp blood tendrils forming beside me but both them and I stopped.

I was greeted to Nova who was standing over me with his index finger inches away from my face. Attached to the end of that finger was a small glowing red orb the size of a marble.

Kuni it's over.

What!?

That little orb. If it makes physical contact with you, you will be killed on the spot.

I looked at Nova and saw a viscous and focused look in his eyes. He looked as if he was fully ready to kill me right then and there.

"Alright Nova." I sighed as my wounds finished healing while I powered down to base.

Nova smiled and pulled his hand away before blowing on it and causing the marble sized orb to disappear as if he was blowing out a candle. He also powered down to base, his right eye returning to its bright blue colour as he helped me onto my feet.

"You've gotten incredibly strong Kuni so don't put yourself down." He said cheerfully as Andrea started to run towards us.

"Thanks man." I replied slapping him on the back.

"Still though." Nova said with a calm smile. "You not anywhere near my siblings' power, let alone my own."

"Ok no need to rub it in." Andrea and I said simultaneously causing Nova to laugh as the two of us looked at each other.

"Anyway, I came to collect you two. It's time to meet with the Demoreal Council for negations. Minerva's waiting for you Andrea." Nova said nodding to a door at a door at the end of the white room.

Andrea gave me a quick hug before running off with Nova starting to follow via a normal walk.

That look in Nova's eyes before. Why is it still bugging me?

"Hey Nova." I called causing him to turn round. "I could tell how powerful that little orb was. You weren't… really going to kill me, right?"

Nova paused for a moment.

Did hesitation flash across his eyes or am I imagining that.

"No." He said bluntly. "I wouldn't do that."