Chapter 6: The Great Master

Rudra's heel came crashing down to punish the would-be assassin, where she stood. His heel connected square on with the top of her head. The ground beneath them cracked. However, this wouldn't be enough. She countered with a jab of her own. It barely grazed Rudra but he still felt its explosive power. He ura-kih to block the momentum of the blow but now the smoke-infused strike ignited and burned both his hand and face.

The sound shield he mistakenly created vibrated at a high enough frequency dissipating some of the ash and ember. It was the first true clean strike he landed. She had either narrowly blocked his other blows or simply evaded them. Whenever hed get close to landing a strike she'd use her smoke as a shield.

He couldn't tell how much damage he did to her but he could instantly see blood from where he stood. His onslaught wasn't over just yet. She'd been blown back in the confusion. While she was stunned he started running full speed at her gathering power throughout his body performing the third step of the Heavenly Wind Dragon.

The first kick landed in her chest then the second in her face. He had too much power behind his strikes and she couldn't take them head-on. The claws on her gauntlets shimmered like a bird cleaning its pelt.

She pushed off of him and took the horned eagle fighting stance.

"Oh? It's a fistfight now? Well... more like a leg fight." Rudra said, sucking in a large amount of air.

"Really? Leg fight?" She hissed.

He fully activated his zeal. Bright blue light started streaming from his palms while a dark blue light engulfed in blackness beamed from his boots. The black iron grieves he commissioned from the blacksmith had wyvern scales infused within them. When infused with zeal it increases the weight of attacks without increasing the actual weight.

Ivory created a smoke scream all around Rudra waiting for an opening.

"I'm tired of these games." He stomped the ground blowing the smoke away revealing Ivory. He began kicking energy strikes at her. He hadn't missed once. She tried to spread her ashen cape and glide backward. Unfortunately, the Wind Prince was already on top of her. He zeal-jabbed her directly in the abdomen. He jumped back. Spinning and hitting her with a crescent kick. 'Why won't she go down? IS her Soros barrier that strong?' He thought. Both his palms opened, and zeal from his heart started flooding his palms. He swung both his arms back smacking both of her ears simultaneously.

Then he used her face to fling himself into the tree line. Throwing himself into the air. He spun back around and he released all the ura-kih from his legs into his feet. He cast 'fall' onto his body. His legs stiffed into a twin-star pin-drop. If this connected it would surely break a few bones let alone a soros barrier.

She teleported to a plume of smoke left by her ashen wave attack. She narrowly escaped. Rudras twin stomp caused a minor explosion. The ground in a 15-yard radius had been reduced to gravel trees turned into splinters. All surrounding plant life had been contorted to fixed pushed back. The center was where he stood.

"Whoa there. I'd say you were actually trying to kill me..." She mocked. She began forming a giant ball of smoke overhead. Only 30 seconds had passed but Rudra was still stuck on one knee. ' Come on dammit. Are you really going to let things end like this?!' He thought, trying to force more soros out.

At that moment Rudra started to glow in that same bright blue tone that Chaactu did. All the cuts on his body had been glowing blue. The parasite scar began crackling with lightning.

To anyone prying it would appear light spirits were healing him. NOt healing but allowing him to use his inner strength.

"Ill give you one chance and one chance only. Why are you in Spindelgaurd? You know this is Pentaghast land?" She asked as she released her giant flaming ball.

Bringing together enough smoke to choke a town and then igniting it you could create a superficial incinerator, a tier 7 fire spell. It left the battlefield charred with the smell of cooked flesh and bone dancing on the wind.

He did something that Ivory could have never seen coming. He contained the massive fireball within a vortex of air. The vortex had multiple layers each rotating in a different direction. He didn't expand all of the air inside.

A burning ball of death had sat within the vortex so of course hot black steam had been slowly seeping out from the vortex. The surrounding trees had been reduced to ash from nothing more than steam.

Slowly but surely he was absorbing the soros from the fireball while reducing the size simultaneously. If he collapsed it too fast then a devastating implosion would surely kill him. It was still far too hot to fully contain.

Rudra could hear the surrounding wildlife shriek in horror as they melted where they stood. Beams of fire coated in glimmering smoke shot out occasionally causing explosions wherever they landed. Hed refuses to give in.

Within 10 seconds the size of the fireball had been reduced dramatically. However, the destructive power within this barrel-sized fireball was enough to turn a man into ash with a single touch. He could no longer contain such a powerful blast. He shot the rest of the cinder beam into the clouds, liberating the light from the dust clouds and smoke.

Just as Rudra thought it would implode. First sucking in the air from outside it ignited into a bright red fireball with black streaks all throughout the ball of death. Afterward using the air within to further the explosion. It was truly a devastating ability.

Without thinking, hed summoned the spear to his hand and began attacking indiscriminately. There still had been too much smoke and ash to see properly so he could only flail his arms hoping a stray energy strike would hit and kill her. It wasn't the best plan but the only plan he had.

"Hmm, where are you aiming?" A voice called out from the darkness,... 'But to think he'd fight on even ground with me.. And Im ranked 50th on the Holy Zeal Order. I should've known about someone like this. Could this really be him.." She thought, licking the blood from her hand.

"You still haven't explained who you are, sir." She said, launching her scythes his way once more. Step, dodge. Step, dodge. This continued for some time.

"Rudra Langston, Crowned Prince of Yjarl. You've earned that much." He pleaded to step through attacks. Suddenly all at once, the attacks stopped.

"Yjarl? So you're a Langston. Yea we better do this properly." Ivory replied teleporting in front of Rudra.

"Ah, then you must be a Pentaghaust. You know that means neither of us can leave here." Rudra replied, his consecration rose. Her scythes began glowing so black it drowned out the darkness in the area. The blue lightning on his arm pulsed more, at the same time a storm cloud rolled in. It began raining a terrible storm.

There a man came strolling. Instantly they both took note of him. They could feel the raw power oozing from him. Somehow the air began stiffer again.

Rudra looked to his shoulder and saw the Godseed pelt and knew this man was both powerful and important.

"I'm sorry great warrior. Wed like to finish our battle." Ivory spoke first. The both locked eyes with one another and formed a temporary ceasefire.

" I am Baldur the Spirit Shaman. Merv, my disciple, called for me." He said shadow stepping between the two. Nearly knocking them both over. His thick accent, was filled with poise and wisdom.

"It's..it's an honor to be in your presence sir. But this fight does not involve you." He bowed in sincerity. Ivory followed suit as well, she had been sweating. Their fathers the Blackfist of Yjarl and the Pendragon both controlled a 5th of the world. Their legacies had become so intertwined that you couldn't mention one without the other.

"Nonsense, two promising youths battling over nothing? Of course thats this old man's problem. No need to kill each other. And over what? Familial issues? No, I don't think you will." He said. Baldur the Great had spoken. The only man to defeat both The Blackfist and the Pendragon.

"Raise your heads brother and sister. We are the same. I'm no better or worse than you. You're no better or worse than me." The shaman said, reaching out and embracing the two. They were trapped almost instantly.

Baldur hadn't been a giant nor the biggest man. His orange sunset. Although he had been well over a hundred his body looked no older than 30. Hed seen Rudras battle with Ivory that morning. He was intrigued now.

'He's not very good with that spear. His footwork needs a lot of help and he wastes too much power.' Baldur thought walking into the Prince's room at the inn. "She has all that soros but can barely make a fireball.' He thought hugging them both closely.

"It seems Ill need to revisit your father's. They've been slacking with their teachings. You say you're ranked 50th on the Holy Zeal Order? You're unranked I assume. Abbadon would never allow his child's power to be chronicled." The Shaman asked, walking back towards the tavern.

"The spirit bands and spear all share a soulbond connection. That spirit from before looks to be settled in very well. You've signed a contract?" Baldur stopped walking releasing Ivory from his iron grip.

"Spirit I command thee, show me your form.''The Shaman said.It was time he woke up. He reached down and placed his hand straight through Rudras skull. He grabbed a part of Chaactu consciousness and pulled it from its hibernation. The moment he removed his hand he shot awake. "Void-spirit? Why is a void-spirit attached to a living soul how did you leave that realm? " Baldur asked. His calming aura is gone. Replaced with the fury of a thousand suns. Placing his hand on Rudras shoulder.

".....How did you find me? Wait, how did we even get here?" Chaactu replied sitting up.

[Several hours later]

"We've been walking for hours and you still haven't told us where we're going Baldur. You basically kidnapped us." Rurda asked, controlling blowing leaves.

"You shouldn't have so much latent strength. Neither your meridians nor soros plain had fully developed...So why is his zeal so pure? Who trained you to be a shaman, controlling the wind, not creating spells?" Badlur replied, with a curious look on his face.

"Master, please don't start this. You know how obsessed you can get. When meeting another shaman." Merv asked. His Master had already been measuring Rudras meridians with several talismans as they walked.

"As you all know, for any movements into Yjarl you'd need to wait for a teleportation array. With the increased war efforts nearly every Citadel is fortified." Rudras said, allowing the probing to happen. They all walked swiftly with Ivory lagging behind. Somehow in the commotion, she forgot to run.

Badlurs blue skin-tight garments with a snow kobold cape, swayed as he walked. His face was scared and it gave the wrong impression. People say if you looked into the Spirit Shamans' eyes you'd see destiny. He had the power to show a man the contents of their soul. The most hardened men would come across him and be reborn within hours. He just had that effect on people.

With the war between Yjarl and Azure Heaven, blacksmiths, and craftsmen. Alchemists and enchanters were in high demand. Citadel queue times had been fantastically long, most billed back several years' worth of names. Citadels were far and wide across the continents and isles. They existed long before people could remember. You could always find one if you looked hard enough.

The church portion of the church wasn't as luxurious as most thought. The Archon believed that when you're giving thanks to the gods you didn't need to kneel because the gods already knew the contents of your heart. He believed places of worship were to better the community.

After walking for a few more miles they eventually made their way out of Spindelgaurd and back into Yjarls territory. Unfortunately for the people, this place had become a battlefield.

Baldur quickly made his way onto the battlefield dropping down from the ledge they sat upon. His cape fluttered and turned into a pair of white wings. He descended like a fallen angel.

He slid his hand into his waist pouch revealing a small silver plate all manner of enchantments engraved onto the top of the plate. "Cease this needless bloodshed my brothers.." He spoke into the plate. For a moment nothing happened. Then a face appeared obscured by blue flames. It repeated what he spoke blaring it across the dust-covered battlefield. He slid the plate back into his pocket. Confusion had gripped this battlefield, like any and would refuse to let it go.

Quickly, Rudra, Merv and Ivory set off down the steep ridge. While the fresh mountain air was bountiful and the tree tops of emerald green were picturesque. Blood swirled in the air turning it foul.

Merv had caught up to his master rather quickly. In a flash, a dusted mountain appeared. Thousands of hands reached out from the spire dragging in Yjarl's martial arcanist and Dukesdons Raangers alike. The Emerald Raangers, one of the only forces to ever force Yjarls to retreat.

Baldur had been atop the spire. His hands folded and clasped behind his back. He calmly began another summoning. A warp gate appeared behind his head. Still, his hand clasped behind his back.

"Come forth earthen spirit, capture these wayward souls. Do not harm them." He said looking in the direction of Yjarls head camp.His voice was deep enough so that even without yelling his voice demanded respect.

"You say you're a master but do you know the difference between a sorcerer and an Elementalist?" Baldur asked, telepathically linking with Rudra.

"Nows not the time for a test....But An Elementalist controls elemental spirits, conducting more power. While a sorcerer creates their own source of power and fuels it through soros." Rudra answered between thrusts. His spear dancing in his palms.

"That's a half-truth. An Elementalist does not control the spirits. They guide but never control. Sorcerers do create their own power but not on their own. Their soros powers the spell but the will of the mage controls the soros. Think of the will as the desire the sorcerer holds in their heart." The shaman said, walking, unclasping his hands from behind him.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Rudra replied, dodging a volley of arrows. He created a wind net in the air. Immediately the arrows fell from the sky, piercing all unlucky enough to be below.

"I'm telling you this so you can make your own choice. You don't need to kill these men, with your skill with telekinesis and your talent with wind manipulation you should never have to touch someone to subdue them. But that's just this old man's opinion." Baldur replied, breaking the telepathic link.

After continuing up the narrow mountain passage. Their path was blocked by a landslide of earth and boulders.

Rudrar approached the landslide. "Earthen spirits please heed my request. Our path is blocked and we'd like assistance." He said, copying Baldur. There was nothing. For a moment the clashing of the battlefield yielded for only within moment's grasp.

Stepping back Rudra realized he was surrounded. Being surrounded by Raangers in any terrain meant death, but their opponent was the Wind Prince. Hills of loose dirt and rocks began to shake violently. Silver corporal spirits flooded the area.

They crushed boulders turning them to gravel and hardening the earth. Instead of moving the loose earth at once, they decided to build a slope leading to higher up the mountain. You'd easily be able to shave a few days from a trip.

"Thank you spirit guardians of Mt. Jericho. I bid you a happy journey." Rudra said, looking at the sea of men surrounding him.

"Haha, do you see even spirits heed my call?" Rudra exclaimed. Arrow after arrow beading down his back. With a flip, he had been in the air. He sheathed his spear deciding his magic would be enough. Hands drew at his side he gatherers soros.

Spirits by nature are helpful but natural tricksters. The mountain spirits hadn't dispersed instead they headed Rudras call further. They allowed themselves to be absorbed, one by one they gathered in his palms. For Rudra, it felt like minutes had passed in reality only 3 seconds had passed.

The Wind Prince had become more and more skilled with wind manipulation. Of course, the stronger he got the more spirits wanted to be with him. A natural-born shaman.

Suddenly the weather turned foul. The wind spiraled, arrows had no longer been possible. So the soldiers retrieved their teirukis from the sheathes.

Using his momentum he swung himself to a branch. With two fingers he raised his hand with the other two fingers he pointed to the crowd surrounding him. FRZZZ a blue bolt of lightning shot and arced at the men and their metal blades.

"What was that? Since when can I control lightning?" He asked dropping down from where he stood.

[across the battlefield]

When Baldur spoke it was as if the light of life itself sparkled from his every word.

The weight of his soul was heavy but every word was sincere.

"Master wait, I can't run as fast as you," Samson said arm to the chest. "Please, Master you must wait. YOu know how their scrimmages get!"

Baldur stomped, and hundreds of soldiers both Black and Raanger alike began floating, their weapons and armor unbecoming. They all dropped down to the ground. Each is more fearful of the man who controls hundreds of mages with one hand and hundreds of warriors with the other.

" Come, we must be quick about this, I since him. The Blackfist. If I'm fast enough I can kill him before anyone notices im there. But he probably noticed me hours ago." Baldur said gliding through the battlefield. Quickly they made their way to Black Star mobile headquarters.

" I look forward to seeing that boy's progress. Do you know what he holds within him? The key to the Shattered Lightning Realm. Now come, we shall be picking up the pace to a full sprint." The shaman had only taken a single step forward but was already 40 yards ahead. 'The legends of Baldur the Great Shaman go back what....at least 3 centuries.

They had been chasing behind Baldur for quite some time. He was always just barely within range. "This spot will do splendidly. The sun shall be setting in soon. Baldur said. The soil was weak and grey. The gravel regardless of shape was sharp to a touch. Just grabbing a handful of earth and squeezing it was enough to have your hands leak blood. The surrounding plant life was nonexistent. Which was incredibly hard to believe. These mountains are known for their overabundance of life. The Shaman sorosed to find one of the few barren spots and chose to call it home. 'I see...now. Even living here is a type of training.' Rudra thought. He began surveying the area for something that would help in this trial.

He squatted down using wind magic to levitate the gravel beneath him. Within moments he was high in the air. Earthen spikes rose from the soil. One by one they crashed down onto Yjarls headquarters. Of course, they were destroyed by a wave of purple energy. There The Blackfist flew, meeting the shaman face to face.

"If it isn't the Earthen Archmage, what brings you to my battlefield?" The Blackfist asked, gesturing to the fighting below.

"I've been exiled i don't hold that title anymore, you know this Abbaddon. Why does your child have a touch of the destroyer within their dantan? What did you do? Does Sol know you've mangled that boy's soul?" Baldur asked one after another.

"You may refer to me as the Grand Magus or the Blackfist, you don't have the right to call me Abbadon. Remember you exiled yourself? Since when have any of my children concerned you? Have you forgotten you killed my firstborn already?" The Blackfist asked between sighs of anger.

Baldur's eyes got wider and wider. "Even now it torments me. Not a day goes by that I forget I had to put him down. He was a rabid dog with no lease. The Wind Prince, is that what they're calling him? You know he's unstable. How old is he really?" Baldur asked, floating,

"Enough with the useless prodding. Why re you really here? Are you here to return my child to me? Good, I can sense him be on your way." He replied turning his back to the Shaman.

"I'm here to put a to this senseless war. Return the mages you've stolen, the entire world is grieving over your crimes." The Shaman asked, flicking his god-seed pelt off, revealing his perfectly toned body.

Suddenly time froze, and reality folded inward. A voice said from every and nowhere at once. As the voice spoke the stars themselves moved to the voice's whim. Even the very sand beneath them felt as if the clouds themselves were holding them up. Neither Abbadon nor Baldur knew what was going on but they knew whatever it was it was Divine. Both shaman and Magus plummetted to the ground cracking the earth.

"Tempest? Why Are you back so soon? You aren't nearly strong enough to lift the seal yet. Ah Is that Baldur the Great Spirit Shaman? You have done great work. Forgive me, for I've stranded you on Amurru. I need you to guide this one. He can't turn out like the others."

'I...who are you.' Rudra thought. His thoughts connect to every body on the battlefield. Each one freezing and collapsing where they stood. "Who am I, my child? I am the Celestial, Shiva. I've already told you more than you need to know. IM hear to stop this useless bloodshed. The Shaman and the Voidling can't fight here. Your fight would easily collapse this realm in on itself. Remember my child 'The storm binds all realms. Goodbye."

The portrait-like sky had vanished within a moment. Followed by a bright white flash. When they opened their eyes they were still standing as if nothing had happened. They all had locked eyes and stood there staring at one another. For they knew, they bore witness to God.

The battle ended there. Only one thought on everyones mind. Who is Tempest?