Arc 2: A vigorous first month -
Through Grays life he'd never gotten into a fight until that alley with Soku. He hadn't been bullied, he had no sibling or family members to wrestle with aside from his Dad. Who happened to be a pretty muscular guy, but only for looks. He and Gray only knew some basic boxing moves from fake wrestling and video games. His mom had taken karate for a few years but never taught Gray anything other than some breathing techniques to relax, which he never picked up. In the old world he never cared about sports, only ever getting invested in the supernatural and fantasy styles of fighting. Here, that seemed like it would be more useful, but for a boy as weak as Gray, all he could do was dream of something more. In truth all he had was mana he didn't know how to use, that would wreck his body the moment it lit up,
Gray Kyojin may have found his first dead end, but he dove head first anyway. Gray launches himself at Musashi, trying his hardest to focus mana around his body. And watching on, Soku, Rosemary, and Edward all coverd their faces. As Gray failed to get even a hint of mana out of his OD, and was smacked against the face faster than he could grip his sword. Sending him screaming out in fear, pain, and embarrassment, while he rolled across the short grass.
Gray: "Ow! Ow! Ow -
Musashi: "MOVE IT!"
Without a second Musashi swung again, forcing Gray to barley roll to the side without his blade. Allowing Musashi to take it and step toward Gray, tripping him onto the grass with one blade and smacking his back with the other.
Gray: "OWWW! This isn't fair at all!"
Musashi: "What's fair! This is what being a soldier is like! You'll be sent out against people and powers you could never predict! Get forced into situations, fights you could never survive! I know you have no idea who I am, it's obvious, but Its no matter. I'm another nameless old man with no history with you and a sword trying to kill you for his country! Maybe his family, some money! Or just for the fun of it!"
Rosemary: "But how does this prove he's worthy!? Why should we join the Knights if you're just gonna beat us to a pulp!?"
Soku: "I told you all these Knight dudes are crazy, I just want some coin."
Edward: "Musashi! -
As they began to talk over each other, Gray still laid on the ground trying to push out his mana. Rosemary was gripping her fists with rage, while Soku had her shoulders crossed without a care in the world, leaving Edward to sweat stressing over the chaotic situation. Trying his best to stop Musashi with a deep shout that even shook Gray, although Gray was too focused on feeling embarrassed to care. But all it did was make Musashi even more annoyed, and left Gray rolling across the grass from a kick to his shoulder.
Musashi: "AGAIN! If you're just some brat you have no place on the front lines! You can't use mana, magic, you have no Mark of Providence! What is the point of all that mana, that massive affinity if you can't do anything with it!?"
Musashi threw Gray the blade, which Gray tried his best to catch without looking like even more of a loser. He still needed it to help him stand though, until he pushed up. Trying his best to swallow his pain, his embarrassment, before all he felt was anger at all of this. Musashi, the Sect, the entire Isekai idea. After all, he just wanted to end all of this in the first place.
Gray: "DUDE I'VE EVEN HAD IT BEFORE! I JUST GOT MANA YESTERDAY!"
Musashi: "I'VE GOT NO IDEA HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE BUT IT DOSEN'T MATTER! DO YOU THINK A SPIRIT BEAST OR THUG, ANARCHIST WILL CARE ABOUT THAT!? IT JUST MAKES YOU A LIABILITY! EVERY DAY YOU SIT WEAK IS A DAY YOU COULD LOSE EVERYTHING! If you're living in my house, if you want to learn how to survive, I'm not gonna give you weeks and weeks! I want everything from day one, and then tomorrow, then tomorrow!"
The others only got more upset at Musashi, with even Al watching from a higher window of the manor in dismay, while showing Ophelia around the mansion. But all Gray could think about, was the only way he knew how to use mana. So he shouted out at the top of his lungs, ready to take on the burden for just a shot at being something special.
Gray: "I'M FR-
Just as his breath went to leave his body, tensed and scared as all could be from the incoming pain, he was once again smacked by Musashis blade. Sending him tumbling back before he barley landed on his feet.
Musashi: "No cheats! You need to focus! Feel your fear, rage, happiness, whatever! Feel your soul! If you can't defend yourself how can you defend another!? You need to focus on me! This battle! Not your friends, the pain, how embarrassed you feel or whatever! This isn't a game!""
Gray: "I'm not a damn prodigy! I'm sorry but I can't just do it because you said so! I just wanna be useful! If I can't protect myself I can't live, but if I'm broke I can't live either! I don't know anything about this country, this world, so how could I make a living!? This is all I have, and I swear I can do it, I just need a second -
Misashi: "That was your second!"
Gray instinctively held the wooden sword in front of him, taking a quick smack from Misashi. Yey one, two, three, then four more attacks just as fast were let out. Hitting every angle, curving and sliding through the air as if the world around him was an ocean. Pushing against the air, the resistance, to snap and twist back into form. All while controlling himself enough to only chip away at Grays sword, Grays confidence, until he forced him down into his knees.
Gray { Please mana please! If there's somebody watching or a demon or a god or a writer please!!! Just a spark of mana, a power up, an opening!}
He was tightening his body. Trying to push out. Let mana in of out with his breath. But all it did was give him a stomach ache, and get him hit across his face. He crawled forward right after through the grass, whipping the dirt away and wildly swinging behind him.
Gray: "Get away, get awaaaayyy!!!"
He missed his swing, but when he attempted to pull his blade back down it was smacked into the air by Musashis. Leaving Gray to get stepped on by Musashis black dress show, and slammed into the dirt. Where he held Gray down with ease, even if Gray was scratching and grabbing at Musashis leg.
Musashi: "Is this a joke to you!? You have no idea how to use a sword, throw a punch, take a hit! You can't accept it either can you!? I see it in your eyes! Your mad, jealous, embarrassed! Just swinging and running like a fool!"
Under Musashis foot, all Gray could do was stare up at the old man. Gritting his teeth as his eyes tightened so harshly it looked like hatred. He wanted to scream out over and over again why it was unfair. Why it didn't make sense. Endless excuses, examples, arguments, even plain insults. But when he looked back at the others watching on in intense worry, he just closed his eyes. Because he didn't have anything to say, with no reason to argue against something he agreed with more than Musashi did.
Musashi: "Are you afraid!? Fearless!? What'll you do in the middle of a battle, when innocent people are relying on you! What'll you do when you face somebody like me, somebody you could never beat!?"
Soku, Rosemary, and Edward hung off of every one of Musashi's harsh words. Soku couldn't help but think of Ophelia, how she would react to her compared to anybody else. She wanted money, an easy life, but was it really worth taking this burden? Rosemary however, she was lost in a daze. Hardly able to watch Gray get smacked against his back, across his face, into his stomach, while also unable to turn away. When she looked at the small scars on her hands, when she held her tough arms tight, she saw flames. Of cities, villages. Large dust piles, smoke stacks, hordes of people screaming, amidst magic arrows and blades crashing together. Over and over, across every inch of every land of every country of every continent.
Rosemary {....I should stop them right? If he wants to join I should let him. It's not like the Knights are as bad as the Goldenknights....but war is war! And death is death, no matter what side they're on! Do I step in!? What if they just get mad at me instead!? Am I really gonna go along with this?}
But Edward, Edward couldn't help but shake the feeling that this is exactly what Musashi had been trying to keep him from for all these years. Why he rejected every offer to train, why he tried his best to push Edward to study, to focus on anything but that damn blade. If this is the rage, the trauma, the fear of somebody so powerful? Of somebody so close to him? Then what does being a Knight, Warrior, a Hero even mean?
Musashi: "So what will it be!? Jump head first into my sword again!? Scream and cry and hope a miracle will save you!? I'm sorry, but if you can't stand when it matters, if you can't catch up to the weakest of our ranks, then you'll never survive outside of these city walls. You might not even survive in the Capital. Or do you give up!? Can you not handle the pain, the torture this life is!? Are you ready to take on the weight of the world on your shoulders!?"
Musashi pushed his smooth black dress shoe deeper against Grays chest, digging at the bandages covering his bruised and torn skin from last nights attack. It made him think, just how strong the Sect really were. Were those anarchists that weak? Things so simple, that Gray was an ant compared to them. Musashi saw it in Grays eyes. The mix of anger, dispair, fleeding hope as the light in his eyes slowly began to quit. Slowly stopping his constant tug against Musashi's dress pants.
Gray {I can't! I CAN'T I CAN'T I CAN'T! DAMMIT PLEASE! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO BEG!? HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH BEFORE I CATCH A BREAK!?}
The more he struggled, gasped for air, focused on mana source he had know way of understanding. He began to realize the truth. He wasn't gifted with perfect, maxed out mana. He wasn't a hidden prodigy, a magical mastermind, really anything at all. He was a boy who didn't care about school, relationships, a future at all. He had wasted any time he had, and now all of that was coming back. He was even weaker, dumber, more useless here than he ever was on Earth. His common sense didn't work anymore. Anything he learned about history, science, math, the world at all. Even people, trivia facts, lore of his favorite series. Everything but the absolute basics of living, was gone. And he was just a weak, frail, lanky teenager scraping at the leg of a man stronger than he'll ever be.
Musashi: "So what will it be, Kyojin? Do you really think you're worthy? Do you really think you have a chance? Or do you want to live your life, free of this worlds burdens. You're not a Demi-human, you're not super ugly or something. Go get a job, get a house, have a family. Live, and let those who only have strenght and nothing else make the world easier for you. It isn't wrong to want an easy life. To live peacefully. The reason I do what I do, what my daughter does, my friends, is to make a world were you can do just that. So all of you, take your chance."
At first Gray didn't respond. So, losing his anger and replacing it with a mix of sorrow and disappointment, Musashi released his foot. Until he began walking toward the others with his head down, gripping his own fist as tight as he could.
Musashi: "Kid, I'm sorry. I just don't want you to be a Knight, of a Leviathan soldier if you don't have to. I've lost my family, my friends, and fifty six years of my life to Walgonia. But I was born into it, you still have your life."
Gray could only see his room. His old life. Where his worst injury was a cut on his leg as a child, to hitting his shoulder on a door by accident or walking into a wall while not looking. Nothing major, hardly anything to even make him bleed. But his parents, figures that have become all too distorted in his nightmares, were saying the same things it felt like Musashi was. It felt like what the world has been screaming at him for what felt like forever. That he was weak. Useless. Pitiful. A burden. And nothing more.
Gray: "....I'm not fearless....but I know, if it's between somebody dying and me stepping up, I have to stand. My life isn't important enough to squander it laying around like some bum. Even if it's one life I'll stand, I will hold the burden. No matter how many times I get smacked away, as long as I have a reason outside of myself? I'll run head first in! Again and again!"
Musashi couldn't smile, and neither could the others. Soku could only scoff at Gray trying and failing over and over. Edward however was on the edge of his seat, unable to take his eyes of how Gray was still climbing even knowing the mountain ahead of him. But Gray still stood, running head first shouting out in rage. But Musashi just swiped his arm in a flash just inches away from Gray's hit connecting , blowing him back with a short pulse of force that shook the grass.
Gray: "UGH! You're impossible!"
Gray rushes towards Musashi over and over again, each time getting set back. From him running forward and pivoting out of the way last second, jumping off the ground to lunge with his sword, or even desperately throwing it forward. And each time Musashi spun to dodge and wack his side, smack him down, or simply catch his sword before throwing it back against Grays shoulder. ach time he does this he gets a new bruise or wound on his body. Just like every other time he gets back up, spitting the blood out of his mouth, then wiping the sweat off his face.
Gray {Please, just get a small amount out. Just a bit! I need to, DAMMIT GRAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS! HELP ME! SOMETHING! ISKEKIA GOD, HIDDEN TALENT, ANYTHING!!!}
Musashi: "Are you just going to keep doing this until failure? That's useless, in a real fight I would have already killed you, be aware of the fact that I'm holding back A LOT! Who are you? Ask yourself that question. You need to understand yourself before you can use your mana. The mask you use, hiding your emotions, trying to force the winner you want to be will only hold you, BACK! NOW STOP TRYING TO LOOK COOL AND DO SOMETHING!"
Gray began to use the biggest strength he had, his mouth, and did the thing he was best at. Scream at the top of his lungs full of anger and despair toward the world, trying so hard to force that voice away from himself.
Gray: "I CAN'T DAMMIT! YOU EXPECT ME TO BE ABLE TO USE MANA SO EASILY!? I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR A DAY!? HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE!? I'M NOT SOME PRODIGY, SOME GENIUS, OR SOME SUPERHUMAN! I AM A NORMAL PERSON! I KNOW I SUCK AND I SHOULD BE BETTER BUT I'M NOT AND I CAN'T FIX THAT BY PUSHING HARDER!I KNOW I'M ALL THESE THINGS AND I'M SORRY! BUT...BUT!"
Gray, covered in dirt, bruises, rushing with adrenaline and pain, tried so hard to not fall to the ground. He had faced more hardship in the past two days than in his entire life. Never before had he pushed himself so hard, held in his rage or despair, didn't give up. But he was falling, hard at that. But he pushed past that, he had to, at least for as long as he could. So he gripped his wooden sword as hard as he could and screamed, screamed his lungs out.
Gray: "BUT AS LONG AS I CAN SHOW YOU I WILL! I AM CONNER GRAY KYOJIN! AND I WILL BE WORTHY DAMMIT! SO I CAN BE WORTH SOMETHING! REALLY HELP! AND TO DO THAT!"
He swung his sword down, pointing it toward an annoyed Musashi, showing off a slight grin. But it was forced from Grays rage, his embarrassment, bruised, even the drooling blood and dirt.
Gray: "I just need to come at you over and over until I get it."
Musashi: "And I'll hit you back every time."
Gray: "I wouldn't have it any other way! How else am I supposed to show off!?"
Musashi couldn't understand just why Gray was acting like this, or he didn't want to. He knew the need to be useful. To be strong. It was the only reason he was right here in the first place. But after fifty six years of hardship, of living this war called life, it was exactly why he had to protect them.
Rosemary: "DON'T KILL YOURSELF!"
Gray: "I DON'T PLAN ON DYING TILL IT'S THEMATIC!"
Gray pivoted forward, swinging his wooden sword over the grass right toward Musashi. Before Musashi vanished behind him, and caused Gray to fall flat on his face. Yet he screamed and swung behind him, only to get a knee to the gut. Thrown back across the grass, coughing and wheezing, before he leapt again. And in a flash he's hit back. Again forward, and again back. Over and over, the shoulder, his leg, his back, his face. Ripping his bandages, his robe, his pride. But the pain faded with the daze Gray was in. A mindless pursuit to prove his worth, no matter how much he has to kill himself. A punch, a kick, and sword smack after smack. The others struggled to watch as he continued to stand up, focusing as hard as he could, to be hit back again. But Musashi wasn't going to stop until Gray did, and Gray wasn't gonna stop until his body did.
Gray {I'VE SPENT SO LONG GIVING UP! I CAN'T HERE! NOT HERE OF ALL PLACES! IN ANOTHER WORLD, WITH POWERS, AND A GOAL RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! EVEN IF I DIE AFTER, IF I DIE TRYING I DON'T CARE! I JUST NEED TO DO THIS!}
He was slammed backward, rolling in the torn up dirt and staring into the cold sky. And again, he got back up and leapt forward.
Musashi: "PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT THIS TIME!"
Musashi sped around him, tripping him and sending him tumbling. However Gray didn't skip a beat, leaping forward, and getting flipped onto his face. And still he ran as fast as he could. Though, unlike all the other times he has done this, even with the wounds on his body, he seemed to move faster than even his first leap. More serious and driven than ever before he goes to swing at Musashi. Musashi goes to attack him, thinking nothing of the boost in strength, he swings at Gray, Though Gray could predict the strike, not trying to dodge it normally, he had moved away from where Musashi was going to strike. Aiming for his legs, though Musashi was able to dodge easily. Gray curves his sword into the ground, stabbing into the ground and swinging dirt at Musashi. Musashi blocks the dirt, then Musashi rushes towards Gray swinging at his face and throwing him back.
Rosemary, Soku, and Edward watched in awe as that was Gray's best attempt yet. But Gray just moved forward to get hit back, running slower and slower in such a way Rosemary couldn't help but clutch her hands. Unable to shake the feeling she needed to stop such torture. Yet, Edward couldn't help but stand taller. Like he was inspired by Grays vigor. And yet, after what felt like the hundredth smack, Gray laid against the cold grass with tears of pain in his eyes. While Musashi harshly stared down at the back of his head.
Musashi: "That was good, try harder!"
Instead of letting him quit this time, suprisingly Musashi lifted Gray by his robe. Tossing him forward, only for Gray to barley land on his feet. He slid agaisnt the grass, kicking up some dirt from behind his bare feet, and rushed forward as fast as he could. Which honestly wasn't very fast at all, but to Gray, it felt like he was moving a mile a second. There was no walls, no Capital, no world around him. Not even Rosemary anymore. There was just Musashi, Musashi's sword, and the horrid burning pain slowly seeping into Grays body from places he didn't even know could hurt. And a lot of places he defiantly knew could. Still, he coughed and choked on the pain mid-sprint, and still he charged.
Gray {MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!}
With that last step however, he managed to push himself forward with a surprising might. He make a small hole in the grass with his foot, while his blade came crashing down harder than ever. And still Musashi dodged, easily moving to the side, before moving back in front of Gray to catch his sword and force him back. Even stronger than before, with one leap, he closes the distance swinging his sword at Musashi. Smushing Grays face against his own blade with a small trust of his fist. Then Gray just stood again, gritting his teeth and wiping his bleeding nose.
Gray {COME ON! COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!}
He was almost lost to the daze. Swaying side to side, and yet he moved. Swinging faster, faster, following Musashi as he flowed like water around Grays movements. Gray stepped forward, then to the side, then back, then around. Trying to follow the flashing swordsmen, constantly swinging. No matter how much his arms began to scream, his legs, his back and chest and muscles and brain and -
Gray {NO! I WILL NOT FALL! I CAN'T I CAN'T! THEY WOULDN'T! NO REAL HERO WOULD! THEY WOULDN'T FALL, THEY WOULDN'T LOSE! THEY'D STAND UP STRONGER THAN EVER! POWER UP! SOMETHING, ANYTHING! PLEASE!I WILL NOT LOSE! I CAN'T! PLEASE JUST GIVE ME ONE VICTORY! YOU GAVE ME A WHOLE OTHER WORLD FOR GODS SAKES!}
And with a short pulse of force, Grays blade met Musashi's. Musashi's cracked against Grays, forcing him down to his knees. Ready to break through his sword, and end this once and for all.
Rosemary: "COME ON!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! LET EVERYTHING OUT! SCREAM CRY RAGE! ROAR"
Soku and Edward were stunned by Rosemarys sudden outburst of encouragement, but Gray took it in stride. Crying through the pain, then yelling, and screaming at the top of his lungs. He dug his blade deeper and deeper into Musashi's, even if Grays blade was ready to splinter into a thousand pieces.
Gray {PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE -
With the last of his strenght, at the end of this duel, Gray rose.
From his chest sparked a small purple like hue, before condensing into a small flame-like aura. Growing tighter and tighter against his heart, while Grays muscles were screaming. His arms were ready to give way. His legs were ready to crumble under him. Even the dirt was stretching and spreading under Musashi's pressure.
Musashi: "DO YOU WANNA BE USEFUL!? THEN FUCKING DO IT!"
Gray: "PLEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSEEEE!!!!"
At the top of his lungs, he finaly roared. And his body burst with a rush of bright purple mana. Allowing Gray to push with all his might, and force Musashi back. He wasn't hit, and Grays blade faded to ash after Grays mana erupted around it. But when Musashi looked toward his own blade? It had broken in two.
Soku: "NO WAY!? HOW THE HELL DID HE DO THAT!?"
Rosemary: "YES YES YES YES!"
Edward: "....I can't believe it...."
Gray could here the others reacting. He could here Musashi genually suprised. But he couldn't really see it, as he finally collapsed on his back. In far worse shape than he had ended up in yesterday. Covered in dirt, blood, bruises. And he had large smile across his face. However, he did manage to see Rosemary running over to make sure he was okay, just before he finally fell asleep.
Gray {Hey… is that Rosemaryy, she cares enough to run… over… to... Me... Sw..eet}
Once again he was in the darkness. He wouldn't know what happened with the others. He wouldn't know what happened with him. And he couldn't see the horrified look on Musashi's face, as he realized Gray really did want this life. Musashi wouldn't turn him away. He had to make sure Gray could stay safe from the Sect, control his mana, live a free life. But now, Grays path was going to be filled with hardship. Training worse than this everyday. With monsters, cultists, countries, entire continents that could attack. Gray Kyojin was now a Student of Musashi Van Helsing, worthy to step foot into this world, and he was now truly in the hands of fate. But he hadn't realized just how unforgiving this world is to everyone inside of it. Especially thoughts fighting for it.
He didn't care about that fear, he didn't he know how to think about it. All he knew, was that he was one step closer to being a Hero. One more step away from the weak trash that is, that has to be, Conner Kyojin.