"And once You're nine tales you will practically be king. So promise… promise to bring us with you Kota."
Ciro power instantly grew tenfold, the air around him shifted—
"Wait Ciro. This is my fight." Omi yelled out towards him still holding Mifu in his arms.
Ciro unzipped his windbreaker and swept his hair out of face.
"This thing is strong, it's my job—" Ciro was cut off.
"Please, that ashkin, I have to be the one to put him to rest. As the prince…" Omi stood up staring towards the haunting power hovering over them.
Ciro gaze towards the ashkin dropped. He walked towards the bleeding Mifu on the ground before sharing a moment of eye contact with Omi— the sign of faith, he nodded.
"I can't use any remembrance conversions, but I'll do my best to help Mifu and everyone else across the estate. We made a promise, so you're not allowed to die." Ciro said as leant down by Mifu wrapping his jacket around her wound.
Omi simply nodded and pulled his sword from his waist; still keeping it sheathed.
I should heal Mifu sensei but I cant reveal my divine yet.
I'll trust you, Ciro.
"Prince Omi Hanazaki, you have grown." The ashkin said.
The pressure around Omi shifted, his aura grew denser but more maintained, unlike Ciro.
I should use refortification for now.
"Kota, I promise to put you rest." he muttered
Omi quickly dashed towards Kota, appearing behind him in the air, then swung his sword at him.
Suddenly Kota split into 10– however these clones looked more like projections of light. Each of them replied to Omi's assault differently, sending Omi crashing back into the ground.
He still has nine paths, refortification was the right call.
Ciro went to help Omi but Mifu grabbed onto his shirt pausing him in place,
"The prince is not weak." she said.
"Hes been fighting this war alone the whole time. Sorcerers from other nations trying to take the island in mutual combat. He has never lost a battle. It's why he never entered those distortions, since they were too much on an unknown. The dynasty would be destroyed without him." she added.
Ciro knelt back down, applying pressure to Mifu's wound.
Omi jolted back to his feet using his sheathed sword as leverage. Cos refortification is the ability to automatically adjust cos fortification depending on opponents' attacks.
Kota in a flash appeared in front of Omi and the pair's swords clashed, as Omi was able to react in time.
A projection appeared in Omi's peripheral vision causing his eyes to widen.
But there were multiple people all around.
I can't predict which path he's going to use.
But I can't increase my fortification yet.
Omi continued getting slashed without stopping, his white clothes now stained burgundy but he didn't look panicked; instead he looked weirdly composed.
"Why isn't he increasing his fortification? Automatic barely uses enough energy to brace impact, and is nearly useless against blades." Ciro asked.
Her breaths were no less sporadic, she seemed more calm.
"Im not divine myself so I can't comprehend sorcery as much as you can. But Omi is one of the smartest combatants I've ever met. Ever since he was young." Mifu replied.
Omi and Kota, now on top of home, continued to clash swords. Every time Omi parried he was met by a slash he couldn't avoid.
He was too slow, especially to react to the nine tale divine.
The nine tale divine user could phase between one of nine different paths of action for each movement. Each looked like projections and Omi struggled to predict which path would be used.
It was a 1/9 gamble, and Omi was still yet to guess correctly even once.
"I will claim this kingdom. So you must die, Omi." Kota said as he swung his sword once more to the left of Omi.
Omi quickly parried and once again the projections surrounded him.
He raised his sword over head, holding each end of it with both arms stretched out.
He guessed correctly.
Omi parried a second attack overhead.
Kota laughed hysterically.
"You think that is enough prince." He said towering over Omi.
Kota continued to push his sword down into Omis block.
Omi's knees started to buckle under the pressure. His arms grew tired and started to shake.
He smirked, pulling his arms out slightly wider, unsheathing his sword by a few inches.
Suddenly a bunch of light slashes crashed into Kota's head and torso.
Kota quickly dashed back.
Dammit. What the hell was that?
The two quickly go back to trading blows, The clashing of Kota's sword wore away at Omi sheath that he refused to take off completely.
Kota swung once more.
Omi blocked but the impact sent him flying into a nearby pond.
He increased his fortification.
Immediately Kota appeared behind the now drenched Omi. All projections reflected off the water, adding to illusion
Kota kicked Omi sending him flying into a bulding— somebody's house.
Omi lifted himself up holding onto the kitchen countertop.
Kota once again appeared in front of him, his sword jabbed towards Omi's chest.
Omi blocked and then looked up towards the projections…
And smiled.
The single moment Omi had been waiting for this whole time had arrived, all nine paths led to one single anchor point.
He quickly switched his fortification from automatic to manual and his aura surged.
He unsheathed his sword.
You didn't notice all the built up light energy in this sword, light energy that slowly converted into heat radiation.
Before Kota could react Omi slashed his shoulder spilling blood.
Omi quickly dashes back towards without adjusting his body.
Kota and the house burst into flames— flames that couldn't be tamed, flames that could be seen on every axis.
Omi's clothes, hair and the camera strapped around his neck all flowed against the wind. Until the flames finally stopped.
Then a figure appeared in the smoke.
"I will have this dynasty."