42 Sunrise

Although it was only one step difference between Silver and Gold Ranks, it was a large step as they grade jumps to another level. Copper, Bronze and Silver were all categorized as being Mortal Grade. Mortal Grade was known as the foundation stage to any form of cultivating. It was the introduction to power. However, the Earth Grade was where true power was held. A spell was only seen as significant when it was of the Earth Grade or above. Mortal Grade spells were seen as a children's level, the starting line. But it wasn't what true warriors would use as it was too weak.

This was the same for the ranks of creatures and beasts. As their Rank increased from Mortal Grade to Earth Grade, they would go through an extreme and powerful change. They would elevate to a level that those of the Mortal Grade wouldn't be able to come close to. The lowest Earth Grade creature was on another plane of power to the highest Mortal Grade creature. They were like the gap of heaven and earth itself.

And Arata knew that he was now face to face with a Gold Ranked Forest Drake. An Earth Grade Forest Drake. This was not looking good. He knew that he needed to go all out to defeat it. And even then, he wasn't entirely confident. But that was mainly due to what going all out meant. He decided that he would try to beat the Forest Drake without it.

He struggled against the heavy gravity as forced himself into the Vitality Bestowal stance. He began to convert the Energy pulling him down and began converting it. Vitality Bestowal was able absorb and redirect gravity, causing the user to float in the air when used properly. But this degree of gravity was much stronger so forced Arata to use more of his capacity. His feet pushed hard into the ground, his feet making dents int the ground, pushing Arata down. This was caused by his redirection of the Energy.

The Forest Drake had finished charging it's vast amount of Energy and fired it Arata. Arata activated Shadow Awareness as things slowed down. He moved his hands in a circle, his hands glowing. The glowing lights from his hands left a trail behind, forming a Yin and Yang symbol in front of him. The Forest Drake's Dragon Breath collided with the Yin and Yang symbol. As it did, Arata swiftly moved his hands, causing the Yin and Yang symbol to glow as the Forest Drake's Energy began to swirl, moving with the Arata's hands. He knew that this power was too great for him to control fully, he could only deflect the Energy, unable to direct it properly.

The Energy bounced of and was sent flying towards the roof. If the gravity wasn't taking up most of his capacity, Arata would have been able to redirect it properly. As the Dragon's Breath exploded as it crashed into the ceiling, the Forest Drake charged Energy into it's wings before slamming them into the ground. Vines began to shoot out from the ground, rushing at Arata. He could see them underground quite clearly thanks to his Shadow Awareness. However, even though he could see them coming, the Gravity Roar was still in effect, making it much harder for him to move, dodge and respond freely.

He moved to the side as a vine lashed out to where he was a second ago, he moved around as more and more vines attacked him. As he dodged a vine, we was shocked to see the grow another vine off of it self that grew and reached towards Arata. He couldn't react in time as the vine latched onto his arm. As the vines were attacking him, the Forest Drake had been charging up another Dragon's Breath. Although it had a powerful Dragon's Breath, the downside was the time it took to charge it. But this wasn't a problem with it's Gravity Roar and this vine move. Restricting and limiting your opponent while you charge up a powerful move, Arata could appreciate the Forest Drake's power and synergy of it's moves.

As the vines began to latch onto him as he was slowed down by the first vine catching him, he placed his left hand on one of the daggers on the back of his waist and stopped cultivating Vitality Bestowal, no longer fighting against the powerful gravity that he was constantly converting so he could move.. He sighed.

"I guess there is no other way."

The Forest Drake continued to charge it's Dragon's Breath attack. As it charged, Arata stood there like a statue under the combined power of the Gravity Roar, which was still active, and the vines. He closed his eyes and began to chant.

"Let your light pierce the horizon. Expel the darkness as you shine from the East. Burst forth, Sunrise!"

He drew the blade from it's scabbard. It was a pure white blade, shining brightly. The light pierced through the vines, seemingly warding them off. The vines couldn't stand the light as they moved away from Arata, letting the light shine throughout the nest. Ryouma and the two Forest Drakes he was fighting were also distracted and looked over at Arata's white blade. It shined so much, and had a gentle power that filled the room. Ryouma felt comforted by the light, it was soothing to him. But the Forest Drake's all felt a deathly fear come from this gentle light.

The Gold Ranked Forest Drake felt this as well, so he quickly shot his Dragon Breath at Arata. As the Breath attack flew towards Arata, he simply smirked as he opened his eyes. His left eye was now pure white. There was no pupil within the shining white eye. Light burst forth from his eye as he leaped forward, seemingly unaffected by the Gravity Roar now.

He ran low to the ground with his blade in hand, the powerful Breath attack going over him and exploding where he previously stood. The Forest Drake's claws began to glow as he searched for Arata amongst the smoke created from the Breath attack. The Forest Drake slashed down as it sensed Arata, who had managed to maneuver himself directly under the Forest Drake's head.

Arata jumped up as he dodged the claw attack, as he was mid air, the Forest Drake sent another claw attack, slashing horizontally at Arata. Arata's eyes glowed and he seemed to rise up higher, gong over the claw attack. Arata was now at eye level with the Forest Drake, who opened it's mouth to bite Arata. Arata slashed his blade at the Forest Drake. A large slash of white light burst forth from the blade and flew towards the open mouth of the Forest Drake.

As it hit the Forest Drake, the Forest Drake roared as it was pushed back, taking a few steps backwards from the force. Arata fell down to the ground, landing softly, before kicking of the ground and rushing forward. The Forest Drake quickly pulled itself together as it threw a claw at Arata, who blocked with the blade, deflecting it before throwing another slash at the Forest Drake. It was ready this time as it's other claw glowed and clashed with the oncoming white Energy. The two continued to trade blows as the room filled up with their Energy. A powerful Holy Energy and an equally powerful Earth Energy emanated from the two, these Energies pushing against each other.

The Forest Drake's battling Ryouma were affected by this clash of Energy as they tried to join their leader in battle. Ryouma kept a level head and took advantage of their wandering attention. He used this chance to grab his bow and charge a powerful arrow of Energy. One of the Forest Drake's sensed the danger and turned it's attention back to Ryouma to protect itself. But the other Forest Drake wasn't so quick. Ryouma fired the arrow, which one of the Forest Drake dodged, but the other Forest Drake wasn't as lucky as the arrow hit it in the neck before exploding violently.

A burst of flames pushed the Forest Drake to the ground as it screeched in pain. Ryouma rushed forward, running past the other Forest Drake as he charged Energy into his fist. As the smoke rose off of the injured Forest Drake, Ryouma appeared. He thrust his fist into the Forest Drake's chest, causing an explosion inside the Forest Drake. Ryouma quickly leaped off as he charged another arrow and sent it in the direction of the other Forest Drake.

The Forest Drake dodged it as it angrily charged at Ryouma. He knew that he would be able to kill the remaining Forest Drake, but he needed to deal with it quickly as he needed to go over and help Arata as soon as possible. He moved around the Forest Drake while firing quick bursts of fire arrows. Although it didn't do much damage to the Forest Drake, it prevented it from being able to charge a Dragon's Breath. Getting frustrated, the Forest Drake roared as it rushed forward angrily.

Ryouma grinned as he dropped his bow and leaped forward. The Forest Drake charged it's claw, glowing with a green light. Ryouma charged flames into his fist and threw a punch at the Forest Drake's claw. The two Energies smashed against each other, struggling for a second, before the Forest Drake went flying backwards, pushed into the wall of the nest by the powerful flames.

Ryouma appeared before the Forest Drake, his fist charged once again. He sighed as he looked at the injured Forest Drake. Exterminating an entire nest still wasn't something he enjoyed. But he knew the purpose and the reasons. He was a member of the Sato Clan, those that are to walk in the darkness, to see the ugliness of the world and do the cruel acts that no one wanted to do, but needed to be done.

He slammed his fist into the Forest Drake's chest. An explosion of flames consumed the Forest Drake. When the flames died down, a grim looking Ryouma stood over the burnt corpse. He shook his head slapped his face with both hands, snapping himself out of this depressive cycle of thoughts.

"Pull yourself together! You can think about this later."

He ran over to where Arata and the Gold Ranked Forest Drake were fighting. Arata was darting around the Forest Drake, sending slashes of light at the Forest Drake. The Forest Drake refused to move from it's spot as it deflected the slashes with it's claws. Whenever Arata attempted to get past it, it would attack with the vines, preventing him from advancing. Arata knew that he was protecting the young.

The Forest Drake had a good position. It was in a place that was hard to get past it, preventing Arata from getting behind it and attacking from there, it had it's abilities protecting it's sides and the young. Arata had to take it on from the front, which was disadvantageous for Arata due to the size, speed and power of the Forest Drake.

Ideally, he would want to rush around it, attacking the Forest Drake from the sides and the back. But the Forest Drake's position and abilities prevented him from doing that. As Ryouma reached Arata, he noticed something strange with Arata. His power seemed to be rising, yet he looked as if he was becoming weaker. Arata noticed Ryouma had finally arrived. Arata shouted as he fought.

"I need a 7 second window! Buy me that time and then run!"

Ryouma didn't know what he was going to do, but he obeyed anyway. He switched places with Arata as he threw a powerful punch at the Forest Drake, clashing with the Forest Drake's claws. Ryouma was forced back, but instantly jumped forward again to continue attacking.

Arata moved back as he finally revealed a pained expression. The light within him had been overflowing and he was having trouble containing all the power. He was waiting for Ryouma so he could bring the Energy under control. It was time to bring this fight to a close. He placed his right hand on the hilt of his second blade and he began chanting.

"As the Sun sets in the west, your power shall reign. Cover the night sky with darkness as you bring this day to an end. Oppress and destroy, Nightfall!"