The next day Reima heads into the cave that leads to the swamp. As he walks through the almost pitch-black cave he spots glowing parts of the walls, some sort of ore? His Medallion vibrates as he approaches it and he immediately recognises it... Essence, the stuff that helps power the Alters. Reima tries to chip some of it out and ends up with a handful of essence dust, examining it with haki it seems to radiate Fold energy... He stores it away in his Folded space, maybe he can find a use for it later.
As he leaves the cave, the orange sky seems to be obscured by the dank bog and overhead trees. The floor has a couple inches of dirty water that irritates his ankles and movement, over in the distance he sees the forgotten temple. Another marked one should be inside of it, also Reima vaguely remembers treasure being left at the top of the building.
Looking around at the ever present insane Prospects he starts to lure them away and pick them off one by one, not only because it's easier, but because he can examine their moves and martial styles without worrying about an ambush. The thing that surprises Reima the most about the martial arts in this world are that they all seem to incorporate the Fold in some way or another. Not only that, using Haki he had observed higher level combatants actively using Fold energy to enhance their bodies. They still don't match up to his genetically modified physical abilities but it is still above human levels.
After defeating around 34 Prospects he approaches the Alter just outside the giant forbidden temple and sits beside it, pulling out the Essence dust that he had taken earlier he presents it to the alter to see if it does anything. It just ripples at it's presence and seems to try to absorb it. Refusing to part with this interesting material he puts it back in the Folded space and prepares to face the Marked One inside.
Walking inside he sees a large man with a stone mask that looks like it's from a children's cartoon on his face, he wears plated steel on his legs and has leather armour covering his hands, elbows and shoulders. The rest of his outfit looks like rags that had been dipped in the swamp outside...
Reima "So... What number power ranger are you then? I've already beaten number one."
Angrel "I am Angrel, Second Marked One... I have been given a single task from Anlek and that is to protect his forgotten temple." He says in deep low growl, he almost sounds like Vin Diesel.
Reima "I'm Reima, a traveller. You know, I'm rather confused at why you all wish to worship a god that supposedly kills thousands and buries a city just because they forgot him."
Angrel "I am firm in my beliefs and nothing you say will shake that, come." He drops into a low stance, the same stance that Silan had used, Khalt style.
Reima "You're gonna be Angrel when I dumpster you." He grins at his own pun...
Angrel "I am already Angrel..."
Reima "ah, you know what? Nevermind." He approaches and does three quick palm strikes towards Angrel's chest, he doesn't seem to do anything and allows Reima to strike him. "Is that all you amount to?" He taunts at Reima.
Reima hops slightly and brings his leg up in a swift kick towards his face, Angrel uses Absorb to negate the blow and counters by unleashing a heavy punch downwards on Reima's head. It connects causing Reima to quickly back away as blood drips down his face, the attack has rocked him and caused a cut under his hair.
Angrel ups to ante by channelling Fold energy and creating a shield to surround himself, the white particles envelop his body like a suit of armour as he comes barreling at Reima who uses Windfall to dodge the reckless charge, he punches Angrel but doesn't manage to pierce the Fold Energy shielding him.
Reima "Two can play at that game!" He shouts as he casts Quen to shield himself.
Angrel "It seems you're not just a bad fighter." As he turns his body bringing his full weight behind a roundhouse punch, Reima ignores it as it shatters his shield but stops the impact, he concentrates Armament Haki into his fist and strikes the sternum of Angrel, causing his shield to almost instantly shatter and himself to cough blood as he's thrown away from Reima.
Angrel doesn't look amused and lifts a small stone pillar from the floor before trying to smash Reima with it. Reima performs a matrix style dodge to duck under the deadly attack and proceeds to trip Angrel who is off balance from his missed strike, he follows up with an Armament Haki infused axe kick on his skull. Even is Angrel's skull were made of steel it wouldn't have resisted being shattered and splattered all over the ruin walls, the large made fades away into particles as Reima takes a seat on his dropped makeshift stone weapon.
As he rests he spots a drop from Angrel and decides to pick it up to see what it is, what materialises surprises Reima as a stone sword with no edge appears in his hand... It seems to be used for crushing instead of cutting as a normal sword would, it's very durable but Reima can't see any use for such a weapon. He looks at the metal rivets that seem to be hammered into it to increase it's strength and weight before slipping it into his Folded Space.
And that's the Second Marked One down, hopefully it's interesting and not as repetitive as it feels to write.
As always, if I missed anything please let me know.