39

Yu Wu pulled Suzaku and Lavinia along as the group left the room and found an arena. Even Azazel tagged along to see what Onari was actually capable of.

The room was pretty standard for a Grigori sparring arena. The checkerboard flooring and walls could repair itself if it took damage. A small booth protected any spectators from becoming collateral damage. Onari and Vali took up positions on opposite sides of the room.

"Yu Wu, be a dear and count us down," Onari called.

"3"

"2"

A pair of light blue and white wings appeared behind Vali's back. Foxfire flickered in and out of existence around Onari. The air began to thrum with Demonic Energy and Qi.

"1!"

At Yu Wu's signal, Vali burst forward. His feet left the ground as he used his Sacred Gear to propel him toward Onari. He reached Onari in a second.

The instant Vali had started moving, Onari did as well. One of his feet slid back, and his opposite arm came up in front of him. As Vali reached him, he twisted his body, grabbing Vali's outstretched arm and pivoting on one foot.

In a blur, Vali's momentum was redirected. The added force from Onari's throw meant Vali couldn't react before he slammed into the ground. He skipped along the floor once before he righted himself in mid air.

Onari stood in the same position he had been in when the fight started, having not moved except for the twist of his throw. His stance was low. With his extended arm, he beckoned Vali to come at him again.

There was a whoosh of air. Vali left an afterimage in the place he had just been hovering. Instead of repeating his first attack, Vali stopped on a dime in front of Onari, reaching out to lay his hand on the cultivator.

Solid foxfire rushed up Onari's arms, forming arm guards that prevented Vali from making direct contact. Vali flared his Demonic Power, trying to dispel the flames. There was a crack as Onari's still flaming fist crashed against Vali's chin.

Vali spun with the strike, coming back around with a kick aimed at Onari's midsection. More flames formed at the point of contact. Vali and Onari both had eager grins on their faces as they began to trade blows.

Red hot adrenaline raced through Vali's system. It wasn't often that he got to fight someone who could match him, and it was even unheard of for his equals to be his own age. Onari's impossibly solid flames that kept him from using Divine Dividing to immediately gain an advantage only added to the thrill.

Onari's own inner feelings were much calmer. He still took joy from the exchange of strength, but he was more so enjoying the paradoxical inner peace that came from combat for a cultivator. Fighting was the truest way for a cultivator to express the fruits of their labor.

The sensation of exertion, of testing one's self against a worthy opponent, was just as relaxing as it was exhilarating. Life or death fights were rewarding in their own way (i.e. continuing to live), but there was nothing like a friendly spar to relieve some pent up stress.

Vali flew back, creating a bit of distance between him and Onari. With a wave of his hand, a thick beam of Demonic Energy crackled and screamed towards Onari. Onari drew a quick symbol in the air with his Qi.

An explosion rocked the sparring room. When the Demonic Energy met Onari's Qi, there was a bright flash of light and smoke. Vali hovered higher above the ground, searching for Onari within the sudden influx of smoke. He saw a blur out of the corner of his eye.

Onari shot at Vali from the smoke cloud. His hands came together in a resounding clap. Two giant palms of foxfire appeared beside Vali, rocketing together to try and sandwich him between them. Vali stretched out both of his arms to meet the palms.

"Divide"

When Vali touched the foxfire palms, Albion's voice rang out and the palms instantly halved in size. The now more manageable hands still slapped together around Vali, knocking him from the air when they dissipated.

Onari mused on the concept of Division inherent to Vali's Sacred Gear as he waited for the devil-hybrid to stand. Vali slowly stood, shaking his head.

"Hmm, interesting," Onari hummed. "Still, I think we should probably wrap this up here. I have a feeling my companion is causing chaos among your group right now…"

"Nngh," Vali grunted. "... One more round."

"You know you don't have a chance of beating me unless you use your Balance Breaker. And I don't want our friendly fight to get that serious."

"Nnnngh… Fine… We'll have a proper rematch when you come back though."

"I'm looking forward to it. Now let's go save your friends from Yu Wu. Last time I left her alone like this… Well, let's just say we're no longer allowed into the country of Australia…"

Vali deadpanned, "How chaotic do you have to be to get banned from Australia?"

"Training a hit-squad of elite kangaroos is a good start… And the dropbears certainly didn't help…"

Onari counted the snort that got from Vali as a win. He swung his arm around the silver-haired boy's shoulder and they started walking to the spectator booth.

"Now, let me tell you the true full story of Yu Wu's hot girl summer in Australia…"