The Third

"How improper."

Akiol's eyes adjusted, "This is-!"

"You've come this far and haven't realized it yet? Can you not fully comprehend this power you now wield?"

A murky figure stood proudly. Yet their eyes held scorn, "The last of our legacy has gotten this far, a miracle considering how poorly it's done."

"What are you talking about?"

"Aura. You've trained it to this point without proper mentoring. That is deserving of praise. You've created a sword art beyond comprehension. This I am in awe. Yet despite all of this, you rely on the image you have created?"

A pang of pain flooded Akiol's mind. The elder-like figure rolled his eyes, "You wish for power. You want to grow higher. Yet you persist on taking the most foolish path! Tell me, where do you think this strength comes from?"

"I- what are you talking about?", Akiol struggled to comprehend it all.

"Aura! Where do you think it sources from?!"

"Some spirit? Stars said something about it being linked to the soul."

"It-", the elder's voice dimmed to a volume Akiol couldn't hear. A furious expression spread across their face, "Even now we still cannot speak of it. How frustrating. The last of our legacy is about to fall because of their foolishness."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"The fragments of our legacy is not what gives you strength! They merely opened your eyes to a door that's been there from the start! You ascended to the next level each time because you were given the answer! Think! Where does Aura come from?!"

"The soul. . . ?"

"Then why are you struggling now?! Is your soul something you borrow?! Wake up!"

Akiol's hand ached and twitched. The elder snorted, "I wasted too much time chiding you. I'm not as kind as the previous one, but I do owe you some knowledge since you've come this far. Don't expect the next one to be so easy. If you cannot grasp what Aura is, you do not have a chance to grow in the future. This will be as far as you go."

Flicking a small bit of energy to Akiol's head they spoke, "That knowledge will become more apparent later. Else I might fry your mind. For now, do not die."

Akiol returned to the moment right as he was about to be grabbed. The high tech suit, the green steam, the yellow lights. It all returned to him. Yet he focused on something else entirely.

"Aura is the soul. . ."

A flicker of silver traveled down his sword. Familiar feeling welled throughout his body. Akiol's eyes gained a newfound vigor, and he moved at a speed humans shouldn't be capable of. Johnson's hand grazed air and he paused, "What?"

Turning around he saw Akiol's back. A high pitched whir could be heard as Johnson threw a punch forward. Akiol moved smoothly but incredibly quickly. The sword he picked up grazed and guided away the punch, sparks flying from the impact. Having his second attack be ineffective Johnson was suddenly on edge. Moving back at insane speed he watched Akiol with newfound vigor.

Akiol inspected the sword and tossed it aside. That one block had ruined the blade beyond repair. Currently a faint trembling energy flowed through his body. Silver Aura occasionally raising to the surface of his skin only to disappear shortly after. An incredibly weak version of the Form of Fortification, but sufficient enough for this purpose.

The ceiling above Akiol split apart and two items fell. Catching them without looking away from Johnson, Akiol felt what they were. An earpiece, and seemingly a sword. However this one didn't have a guard. Placing the earpiece onto his ear he heard a voice, "I don't know how you did it. But you're facing against that high tech suit. Since you seem to do well with a sword I've given you a prototype. It should be sturdy, but it won't be able to pierce like Hank's knife. We haven't figured that out just yet."

"Willing to trust me now?", Akiol asked.

"You risked your life, and nearly died, to save Hank. Now he won't make it for much longer. So I don't have a choice."

"I like your reasoning.", Akiol unsheathed a small fabric covering acting as a poor scabbard. Feeling the weight of the sword he complimented, "Nice."

"You confident in winning?"

"I'll have to see."

Aura flickered up the blade and clung to the edges. A thin silver line highlighted the blade's sharp edges. Harrell stepped back, "What are you doing?! You have cutting edge tech! Just kill him!"

A high pitched whir sounded and Johnson sped across the room. His fist moved incredibly fast, but to Akiol it just seemed normal. Flicking the new blade up he blocked the blow with the flat end. Being pushed back he commented, "Sturdy too."

"There's a reason why Harrell is here after all."

Pang-!

Sparks flew as Akiol parried another blow. Swinging his sword he scored a cut across the chest of the suit, but failed to pierce through it completely.

Harrell took a step back, "What?! What is going on?!"

Pang-twang!

Akiol had to take a step back with each parrying blow. Although the Form of Fortification brought him to new heights, his strength was still lacking. It would be enough to survive however.

Johnson was clearly a trained fighter. Each of his blows grew more sharp as he adjusted, making it progressively more difficult to counter attack. Moreover, Akiol found he couldn't increase the output of Aura. It was like a pathway was blocked, and Aura could only trickle out.

Sparks littered the floor as Akiol deflected another blow. Realizing he was nearing the wall he prepared himself to take a risk. Constantly being on the defensive here would eventually lead to an opening.

A high pitched whir could be heard, but this time Akiol suddenly took a step forward. A cut formed on the chest of the suit, as if manifested. Johnson continued to throw blow after blow, ignoring the damage.

Slipping underneath a strike, Akiol maneuvered around. Johnson stepped with him and swung, his fist swinging a little to horizontal. As if his goal wasn't to punch.

A screech could be heard as Akiol blocked a blow. Hank's knife was in Johnson's hand, the vibrating blade left a gash across Akiol's blade. The two alloyed metals make an unpleasant sound when collided.

Johnson held the knife warily, "What the hell is this? How can you possibly keep up?"

Akiol didn't reply, instead his sword flickered forward. Johnson didn't even see the swing, but an alarm from the suit made him dodge. Akiol's strike missed!

~~~

Corolla looked to her side. Terwin's gaze was one of unwavering shock. He couldn't help but speak in awe, "He's. . . keeping up?"

Returning her gaze to the monitor screen Corolla watched as Akiol deflected blow after blow. Occasionally throwing a swing of his own, clearly he was being pushed back. Yet to even perform at this level should be impossible!

Terwin's eyes expertly noticed something, "This, this is attrition! He's not trying to win via a single strike, he's betting the suit will slow down if he holds on!"

"Surely a suit like that doesn't have issues with energy? Especially since Harrell called it a product?"

"I. . . How's the scan progressing?"

"Sixty percent and going smoothly."

"What information do we have?"

"We can't figure out the composition of the materials without a physical sample. However we can see some of what lies beneath the surface."

Terwin clicked a keyboard and a simple image appeared. Swiping through some data he pointed at one, "There! This is the power system of the suit, somehow he's managed to cut into these systems. Slowly reducing its efficiency!"

Corolla checked herself and it was true! Each bit of damage Akiol managed to deal had made the energy system become more inefficient. It was like he was already aware of where to strike!

"Just how is that possible? It took a scan with our latest technology to find it out. Yet he's managed to fight so accurately! Is this what A World's Legacy is capable of? Or is he just outstanding?"

Corolla caught a piece of information, "It's happening! The suit's energy readings are dwindling!"

~~~

A whir stuttered as Johnson delivered another blow. This one lacked the same speed the others had. A surprised voice leaked out, "What?"

A screech sounded as Akiol deflected the knife. He too was aware of the machine slowing. Now. . . it was time for a counter attack!

Johnson was suddenly being pushed back! It was as if Akiol found a new source of energy to strike, his sword turning to a blur with every step forward!

Akiol's sword was damaged, but the silver outline failed to waver even once! Johnson found it harder to keep up, several warnings covered his vision as more damage was dealt to the suit.

Gripping the sword with both hands Akiol swung with a greater strength. Johnson was unable to rely on the suit's strength this time and his arm was knocked back from blocking. At that moment his guard was shattered!

Akiol's eyes gleamed, the outline on the sword brightened. Thrusting the sword forward a line of silver followed!

Bzzt!

Sparks flew from the suit as the sword pierced through. Electricity arced without any containment. Blood and gel flew forth and spilt out.

Johnson's hands dropped the knife, he instead weakly lifted an arm to Akiol's sword.

"Your greatest strength becomes a cage that confines you."

The weight of the suit without the enhancement was too much for Johnson to bear. That final strike from Akiol had pierced his throat, and he could no longer fight.

Akiol found he couldn't remove the sword, so he let it go. The strength he used to pierce through the armor wedged the blade stuck too.

Harrell pointed the gun at Akiol, "What the hell?! It shouldn't be possible! No ordinary human can withstand the product's might! S-So this is what Terwin's been developing! Genetic enhancement huh?! Dare to make a fool out of me?!"

Someone appeared behind Harrell and rapidly disarmed him. Pinning Harrell to the ground they spoke, "With the greatest threat handled, the rest of this comes easy."

Paul, Akiol's driver from a while ago, looked up with a complicated gaze, "You have my sincerest gratitude."

More people stormed the room. Taking custody of the other intruders and giving first aid to Hank.

Each one seemed to glance at Akiol, curious on who exactly managed to deal with such a terrifying threat. Despite their highly trained diligence, they couldn't help but murmur amongst each other.

Akiol didn't pay any attention to these gazes. Instead he reflected on the words of the elder he came across, the fight he just had, and all of its hidden meanings. Absentmindedly massaging his palm his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"I am unsure how to thank you, and ask for your forgiveness.", Terwin expressed.

Akiol noticed his expressions weren't mechanical.