Four Seasons: Spring

"Kai!" Nicole cried out, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. Ashe turned and slammed her fist into a nearby wall, cracks spreading as she mumbled under her breath. "That idiot!"

Evelynn continued to stare silently to where Kai had slammed into the wall, by her side Uncle Wang had clenched his fists. He turned to look at Evelynn, his anger boiling as he observed her reaction.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" He yelled. "Kai could be seriously injured, and you don't even say anything?!"

Uncle Wang was red in the face as he yelled. Evelynn didn't say a word as she faced him, a deadpan expression on her face as she glared at him.

"Shut up and watch, will you?" Oscar spoke up, frustrated that Wang would question their care for Kai. "We haven't just taught him to beat others, we've also taught him how to take a beating as well."

Uncle Wang's body was shaking when he heard Oscar's remark. He raised his finger and jabbed it into Oscar's chest. Opening his mouth, Wang was about to shout when suddenly the sound of a chime rang out from the arena.

Wang froze in his tracks, he turned his head slowly to look back to the fight. From the dust a silhouette emerged, Kai wasn't down just yet.

…

Kai stood tall; his breathing ragged as blood dripped down from his chest. The punch had fractured multiple of his ribs, the metal shrapnel shredding the surrounding skin and flaying his flesh. Kai looked down to his left arm, his forearm bent sideways with the bone poking through the skin.

Kai raised his head once again, glaring at the nearby Draven. Draven didn't look much better than Kai, his face swollen and covered in blood. However, the boy seemed to be filled with renewed energy seeing Kai's state.

"Weak?" Draven laughed for a moment before he began to cough up blood. He wiped his face before continuing. "I'd never lose to some insect like you!"

Kai didn't react when he heard this, continuing to glare silently. He tilted his neck from side to side, a distinct popping noise echoing out as he did so. Kai stretched out the fingers of his remaining hand, letting out a smile of satisfaction as another chime rang out.

This time Draven scrunched his brows, confused as to why a chime kept ringing out. Soon Draven widened his eyes as a second yellow spirit ring appeared behind Kai, floating in the air with a slight glow.

"Spirt Grandmaster…?" Draven mumbled under his breath. The crowd had gone silent, the cheers fading once they understood what was going on. Dorian's grin disappeared, replace with a deep and concerned frown. Standing nearby Walter could only smile as he nodded, pleased with the turn in events.

"Four Seasons: Spring" Kai spoke, his voice carrying around the arena as he raised his right arm with his palm facing upwards.

Suddenly a purple butterfly appeared in Kai's hand, with each flap of its wings the sound of a chime resounded. Soon the butterfly landed on Kai's head, sitting silently for a moment before dissolving into a series of purple particles. As the purple particles disappeared the sound of a flute erupted throughout the arena, carrying with it a refreshing spring breeze.

The crowd watched in awe as the small cuts on Kai's arms and chest began to heal slowly, the bleeding stopping slowly. His arm and ribs remained broken and mangled however, not being healed by Kai's second spirit ring.

The flute continued to play, the music mellow and graceful, like a butterfly floating elegantly in a meadow during a warm spring day. The air around Kai seemed to pick up slightly as the music began to experience a crescendo. Soon a small twister seemed to form around Kai, pushing the nearby dirt and debris away.

Kai suddenly burst forward; his speed much faster than it had been before. Earlier Kai struggled to keep up with Draven and his beast spirit, relying on the perception gained from his Spirit Ears to win. Now, however, Kai easily surpassed Draven in speed.

Racing around Draven, Kai punched towards Draven's back. The punch was blisteringly fast with Draven unable to react in time. As the punch flew the air seemed to curl itself around Kai's fist, creating a swirling glove of air. Right as the fist collided with Draven the glove burst, cutting Draven's back with a series of small wind blades- leaving some small and shallow cuts.

While the wind didn't provide much extra damage, the extra pain and bleeding were enough to inhibit an opponent to a certain extent. Kai's second spirit ring's ability was called 'Four Seasons: Spring', and it had a few effects. The most prominent being the increase in speed, boosting his agility remarkably while the spirit ring was active.

Secondly, it had a weak and passive healing effect. It could only heal surface wounds, like small cuts and bruises. Things like Kai's broken limbs as well as larger injuries were unable to be healed, the pain only lessening slightly. The third and final effect of the spirit ring was the imbuement of wind into his attacks, allowing his strikes to cut the opponent slightly.

The most important part of his spirit ring though was that he had finally figured out what system of spirit master he would become. Four Seasons: Spring didn't only affect the user; it could be applied to Kai's allies as well. Kai was a Auxiliary System Spirit Master.

Kai continued to dash around Draven, landing blows constantly. In a matter of minutes Draven was covered in blood from the multitude of cuts Kai had given him. Every time Drave tried to block his arms would be cut open, if he tried to dodge and counterattack Kai would be too fast and evade his strike.

…

Resting his head on his hand, Walter watched the fight with an amused expression. Every once and a while he would turn to take a glance at Dorian, pleased by the disgruntled look on the other man's face. Watching Kai dash around and one-sidedly beat Draven, Walter couldn't help but sigh.

"Just like how a caterpillar rebuilds their body into a butterfly, reborn and ready to explore the world anew" Walter paused for a moment, watching as the wind surrounding Kai's fists continued to cut Draven like a piece of meat. "Yet one should never forget how fickle nature can be, even smallest change can cause a hurricane."

…

Draven stumbled around in a daze, constantly being pushed around by Kai. Kai was relentless, not giving Draven a moment to catch his breath as he continued to punch and kick without pause. Eventually Kai stopped, Draven's knees shaking as the boy struggle to stay standing.

Kai silently observed Draven, the flute music's refreshing song a stark contrast to the bloody scene in the arena. Kai then burst forth, kicking Draven in the chest with all of his strength and launching the bloodied kid like a cannon ball.

Draven flew through the air before landing, skidding on the ground and creating a trail of blood. Eventually he came to a stop, a bloodied mess on the ground. The online sign of life the movement of his chest as he breathed.

Kai deactivated his spirit rings as he took a deep breath, calming himself down from the fight.

The elder overseeing the fight was stunned, unsure of what to he glanced towards Dorian. Dorian was silent, not responding as his stared down coldly towards the arena. His gaze constantly switching between his barely conscious son and Kai.

He then glanced towards the crowd, who looked up towards him expectantly. Dorian could only grit his teeth as he spoke.

"A good fight!" Dorian spread his arms grandly as he spoke. "The best one today! Now then, someone get my son some- "

"Wait!" Kai yelled out, causing everyone's gazes to lock on him. "I have a question first!"

"It can wait!" Dorian waved his hands dismissively.

"No, it won't!" Kai yelled furiously. Dorian clenched his fists and stepped forward angrily. Just as Dorian was about to scold Kai, Walter raised his hand and cut him off. At the same time, Evelynn and Oscar had risen from their seats.

"Let the boy speak" Walter said. "The cuts are shallow; it looks worse than it really is."

Dorian was red in the face, his cheeks shaking as he tried to calm himself down.

"Fine" Dorian grumbled discontentedly.

Kai smiled seeing this, happy he had made sure to invite Walter earlier in the day. The pressure and support of the Spirit Pagoda was quite useful now.

"I want to know where my father is" Kai said loudly, causing the surrounding clan members to discuss in confusion.

"You father left with you, Kai" The nearby Elder spoke, confused as to why Kai would delay Draven's medical attention for something so small.

Kai simply gave the elder a cold glare before returning his gaze to Dorian.

"He disappeared the night I left, forcing me to travel to Heaven Dou alone" Kai's tone was cold.

Dorian wore a stiff smile on his face while he thought of how to respond. After a minute or so of silence, Walter finally spoke, turning towards Evelynn in the crowd.

"You're his master, correct?" he asked, earning a nod from Eve. "Then is what Kai said true?"

"Yes, Kai's father never came to Heaven Dou" Evelynn responded curtly.

"What does her word have to do with anything?" Dorian was furious, of course Kai's master would support him. "She's his master, she would obviously support him! This doesn't prove anything!"

"Doesn't prove anything? You told me William was sick the other night, and now I find out his son doesn't even know where he is?" Walter spoke with a dignified tone, approaching Dorian slowly. "Not only that, but Evelynn is also a top researcher and Spirit Master of the Spirit Pagoda. Doubting her words is doubting the Pagoda."

Walter paused for a moment, watching as Dorian's face became pale as sheet of paper.

"Are you saying the Pagoda is an organization of liars?"

"No sir, it's just-"

"It's just what!?" Walter yelled. "Answer the boy's question now!"

Dorian was silent. After a moment Kai decided to speak up instead, his words surprising everyone present.

"Its fine if he doesn't want to answer" Kai said as he walked towards Draven, the Midnight Siren's Crown appearing on this head. "I can just ask Draven anyways."