In Darians room the light cascaded through the glass doors of the balcony causing him to wake up he had a smile plastered on his face, he spent most of his nights practicing spells sensing that an imminent change would occur in his life but at the same he was excited after all many things led to this moment this was a turning point he had practiced day and night for it was time for the bird to leave the nest and to put his preparations into action
He stood up and wore his clothes the maids no longer bothered to enter infact he was too old for that he wore a ruffled white gentleman's shirt with a jabot black pants and black shoes today he would be taking his final exams but simultaneously it was his graduation his bareminum was a 100% it seemed arrogant but if he planned to accomplish his goals placing such a high expectations on himself should be expected
At lady Roselles class Darian sat alone being watched by Doulos , Roselle and Sir Charlos who was the replacement for mister francis he had to Complete 6 papers for each of his different subjects including a Test on magic while Doulos watched carefully so that Darian would not cheat by enhancing his memories or any of the sort ,fortunately because of his constant studying to say he was panicked was an overstatement he beat the timer and was done with all six earlier than expected spending the rest of the time flicking his pen or balancing it on his nose or nonchalantly folding both hands behind his back Outside the classroom Girin waited with his arms folded his eyes closed
When Darian was about to leave his senses twitched before he could turn his head a hand was already on his shoulder a youthful but macho mans appearance reflected in his eyes it was his sensei Girin "it's time " Girin said while releasing a smirk the two went under the castle as Darian holding up a lantern as they descended,according to what I've heard the old Duke had an underground prison beneath his castle just imagining it made me think how this would be a fitting place for a final test as they say only a harsh battle field can capture a warriors heart Girin smiled looking at his student with confidence you always Questioned me about my past and to be honest I thought a nepo brat like yourself couldn't understand such pain but the more I knew,your determination peaked my interest and that shallow brat became much less shallow "hmm nepotism hey that's some fancy word Darian giggled "
On the winding staircase of light green stones surrounded by prison cells it was clear to the naked eye that this was a dungeon the space became bigger and less clausterfobic the more one went deeper taking this time Girin recounted his past I was born into a poor family in a village located in cornwall at birth it was determined that I had a defect that caused my muscles to grow rapidly leading to my death at the age of 4 a group of monks came by they heard of my situation and gave a solution they would teach me their ways and once I mastered it I could live a long life and my parents agreed I can still remember when they left me near the gates and how the gates closed I remember the sound crying then deafening silence and a hand pulling me away I was trained to the bone with many children older and younger at this time I recieved weekly letters from the outside but I could not read I had a small room ate small rashions of food I was beaten with every failure,kept in a cage the letters piled up I had a goal I would learn to read when I asked this request the elders gave me a friend an older boy who's parents died from a caravan robbing he taught me many things the more I could read the more I desired to escape to meet them again
The monks called me ungrateful that I had a debt to repay that I could only meet my loved ones if I met their expectations eventually they took the letters, I now realise even allowing me to learn to read it was all bait that they had placed and it worked, for years I trainedmy best earning me 1 letter each time,I wasn't very popular leading to fights were I would beat up a group of kids even the older kids, I remember the training causing blood to stream from my knuckles the punishments in the rain and the personal tutelage I gained from my masters five famous masters once engaged In a battle with me I battled the first outside during the rain it was a high difficulty fight but I managed to edge out the win the first told the second and he laughed to prove the incompetence of his friend and to uplift his dojos style he challenged me lets just say it was less difficult and it went on until I defeated five masters
I drowned in repitition my room became darkness assassination attempts from my peers ranged and were encouraged eventually even those letters stopped for a few months then suddenly the words changed they gave up on me they regretted my existence I went into despair nothing mattered but orders I pushed my only friend away and at some point he just disappeared infact many of the older boys I hadnt killed just disappeared then came the initiation
Underground their was a hidden colleseum inside were piles of stacked bones they were clearly recent I immediately understood what had happened ,there were two cages one contained a tengu and the other a red Oni the fights were hard but I eventually won with prominent scars I was healed but unbeknownst to myself I had actually awakened when I woke up I was given two masks as a new high ranking member I was allowed access to more sensitive information all along mount Mou was just a front for a cult to recruit and create powerful warrior assassins the leader wished to make me his successor as he grew passed his prime in a rage I attempted to go for the masters life kicking him threw multiple dorms the students followed thinking I was a monster they banded together trying to take my life a rage took over my body leading to the death of many of them ,in the battles intensity candles fell, leading to the temple burning down luckily I walked out going into hiding
Darian stroked his chin lightly back then I was so curious due to the legality of mount mous actions everytime you mentioned
it also makes sense why you wondered into adventurers guilds for someone running away from a powerful organization money is key Girin grunted as they arrived to a circular level filled with jail sells with a corridor on the wall leading to somewhere else the two passed through the passageway it led to a mini coliseum so wait Darian replied was the old Duke also in on some sort of trafficking
Girin chuckled from what Doulos told me that he likely brought captured criminals to fight for entertainment or had illegal monster fights jumping to the worst conclusion should not be the priority
Darian laughed what he really meant was the old Duke died a horrible death so theirs no need to bring up the past,Girin chuckled this will likely be our last day as master and pupil,Darian sighed so your not staying you know you could easily get work as a full time bodyguard right, a serious look appeared on Girins face do you think these passed few years my goal has only been to train you and Remove my charges no I've been honing my skills each day to become the hunter instead of the hunted I will become the greatest martial artist to ever exist !!
"We're here",Darian jumped off the stone stands which surrounded the 40 metres tall colleseum walls on each side of the front and back were bared gates Darian headed to the center dusting off his clothes his eyes shined with conviction let's get this over with, in the stands Girin released 1 lever then the second at the center Darian turned his body to witness his surroundings as torches placed above the wall lit up one after the other with purple flames inside each barred gate rustling noises could be heard red eyes glowed in the dark from Darians front and back with intense clanging following after as if trying to claw their way to freedom
The moment the gates raised a screech and a Roar exploded out from the gates behind Darian where the screech was heard a blur moved at intense speed exploding outwards lunging forward if not for Darians practice increasing his sensory state he would of been dead the moment it lunged forward the creature got 10 feet in proximity pulling back its arm and releasing a swing of its blade Darian jumped over the creature he already anticipated the attack and outmaneuvered it with his own speed and agility by jumping over it in split second,rolling to the ground before Quickly standing up
From the start this battle was going to be incredibly limiting for him as he would have to rely purely on the techniques and magics that focused more so on his physical states if it wasn't personal he much prefered long range combat the forward slash from the long odachi blade cracked the air dispersing it breaking the sound barrier as it's force moved outward resulting in massive damage digging deep into the walls the creature had black raven or vulture like wings thick red skin it wore a yellow loose fitted robe and black pants it had bird like taloned feet a white mustache and beard a long red nose yellow sclera black irises and pupils, when it saw it's attacks had not landed on its opponent it allowed the long red and black blade that seemed to be forged from steel tempered with the blood and guts of its enemies to fall vertically then sat on it with its taloned legs as it plunged and digged deep into the ground seeing such a show Darian took a moment to watch to him the creature reminded him of a redbutt monkey and a turkey it was very funny as he tried to hold back a laugh dusting off his legs
Darian thought to himself its only 5,9 interms of height and took time to admire what he called an odachi blade for its resemblance to a similar blade in his past life although this one was atleast twice the tengus height " it's not a chief including the fact its posture is less human so my chances are looking pretty good" finally the second gate opened a red Boorish like creature popped out having dark red skin stripped clothes a yellow horned head and black facial hair long claws and teeth on it was the bones and teeth of other creatures that it wore like accessories wielded a iron club it was an Oni its mouth drooled as it's saliva was like lava producing a sizzle before it's muscles bulged it's body producing steam it's eyes thrown into madness Dammit!Darian sighed in his heart while keeping a cocky smile
The creature threw its club at his direction creating a massive crater as it jumped high in the sky as it was about to land the Tengu opened its black wings and flew into the air but by the arenas magic it's flight was limited the Oni released a huge disorientating Roar pulling both arms behind its head in a knot then as it descended curled it's back and smashed the ground where Darian was previously located creating a huge shock wave Darian who currently sat vertically on the wall watched in amusement he had made use of a technique he learnt that left an after image that would last for five to 10 seconds if not disturbed,it was called speed double he then jumped off as the Tengus blade moved with incredible speed emitting a gratting noise as it rubbed against the tuff walls before he could reach the ground the 5 meter tall Oni closed the Distance presenting a forward fist "unfortunately I'll have to deny your proposal of friendship " Darian smiled as he bent his back the fist digging into the walls getting logged Darian kicked and dislocated the ogres ankle jumped on the shaft of its arm as he ran on its arm its skin heating up as the tengu swooped releasing a downward slash on the ogres arm targeting Darian,he dodged and almost instantaneosly two events occurred the Tengus blade began cutting through the layers of skin to muscle and bone while the Oni released and fired a fireball its receptors picking up sudden pain causing it to miss its trajectory Darian managed to dodge while the tengu was Covered in fire its blade ripping off the Onis arm as it screeched in pain
Darian closed the Distance delivering a amplified punch to the Onis nose breaking through the skin his fist crackling the impact alone creating bursts of flames an explosion creating a shockwave as he jumped backflipping into a downward kick on the creatures temple shattering a part of it's skull as blood spurted out a Roar of rage rang out as it fell to its knees Darian landing a few feet away from it the Tengu descended pointing its blade downwards with a lung digging deep into the ground Darian barely escaped the force sent him flying back as he caught himself the creature sat on the hilt using its taloned feet to spin generating gusts of strong blade like wind Darian enhanced his speed used grafting to make himself as light as a feather and copying an insects ability to move on walls allowing him to evade each attack as he suddenly channeling a huge amount of energy when the attacks slowed squating and lunging himself horizontally towards the tengu taking it off gaurd landing a single amplified punch which turned its neck he Quickly grasped its back long hair pulling it from the back ripping the entire head off the neck blood spurting out like a river as he said
"Next "
The ogre regained it's footing releasing a large cry everything had taken place in less than a minute after it's hand was cut off it Quickly regenerated the lost limb it's original dissolving it's body heated and it's muscles twitched as a flurry of powerful blows unloaded on Darian its speed taking him off gaurd leading him to gaurd with both hands the attack sending him flying onto the walls Girin chuckled "I starved them and Doulos mind manipulated them to only attack you but you found a way to bypass said conditions but tricks can only take you so far" Darian ran as balls of fire hurled themselves towards him as he used the higher ground to scout for weaknesses the creature hit it's chest multiple times before releasing beam of heat if it hit it would of surely meant death
In that moment Darian unleashed his mana covering his body in a wave as he fought against the creatures power who would tire first in the outside few challenged an Oni and it had no Concept of training so he knew that he the person that drained himself training pushing the limit everyday would survive this battle of will,after all the only top predator he consistently had to deal with was himself
he always had to surpass his own expectations finally the creature gave up and launched itself onto the wall creating a crater Darian narrowly avoiding it as the club flew infront of him his eyes widened as he dodged the Oni catched it delivering a downward assault causing an explosion of dust Darian falling and backflipping back on the ground
Darian and the creatures eyes met a bit of blood fell from his mouth if he was allowed to use other spells the win would of been much easier but it was time for him to lock in lightning emitted
from his body as he vibrated the creature releasing a wave of heat and radiation it's muscles bulging as if they were existences of their own releasing steam Darian closed the Distance using the electricity to better enhance his senses he could feel the very air on his skin as he used the speed double technique to create multiple afterimages as they stacked confusing the Oni Darian took advantage of it's low Intelligence being unable to process multiple factors at once each vital hit Darian made forced an electric current through its body causing it's senses to slow and confuse itself then Darian added a stack technique allowing him to gather the force produced by his speed bouncing off each wall becoming a white bluiesh blur the creature using its club attempted to hit him but it was already too late its nerves had been fried the next second it looked up Darian twisting in the air it tried breathing fire but before it could make it's next blink Darians fist ignited with fire punching threw the Onis face reducing it to ash with blood on his knuckles he walked off Girin clapping with pride in the stands
Darian had just beaten two nightmare level monsters
Outside the castle Darian sat down with a water bottle a towel over his neck on his left hand was a red Oni mask he smiled as looked on he refused to take the second mask ignoring it entirely he had no reason to care for such a ugly looking mask no cool factor at all Seconds later Claus arrived Darian turned what took you so long ,Claus sighed
Within a marble room in the castle empty of furniture was Darian the robotic doll and Claus and Doulos ,Hovering above Doulos hand was an array of ashen colour the moment he clasped it in his hand the room darkened as it was concealed from reality the tiles of the room glowing a white and blue colour while the walls were Completely black without color Darian placed his hand on the doll activating it to its highest difficulty level 1, the doll that had taken Darians appearance eyes rolled back its skin began peeling off as it's body twisted and turned gaining two extra mechanical arms they had an appearance of ivory and gold which could also be seen in its other body parts an amalgamation of human and robotic characteristics cracks appeared on its face as small bits of mercury like liquid surrounding it gathered to form four blades two crossed the other pair placed parallel to each other 1 feet away from the hips,a distorted smile curled on the dreadfully machine In an instant two blades materialized in Darians hand it was on
He wasn't joking when he said his greatest rival was himself ,he smiled aswell getting into a stance both rushed at each other full speed Darian wielding a short sword and long sword while each of the creatures blades were about the same size, blades clashed as Darian parried over and over again the clanging noises and the beating of the heart dominating the room the doll completely closing the gap using its first pair of swords to release a downward slash Darian responded clashing his blades into the pair the second pair of arms slightly longer pointing their blades down vertically to Pierce Darians body immediately Darians finger pointed while holding its blade still as an air Cannon moved through the air before the air could reach an inch closer to the dolls chest it had already moved its entire body out the way using that distraction five clones jumped from all angles as the doll attempted to parry every single one" Do you feel that I fan process information just as fast as you " Almost as if it took it personally the dolls body began moving like it had no joints twisting and turning in a dance taking out most of Darians clones
Behind the real Darian were twelve blades each having the same appearance as he picked one drawing it from the air itself releasing an attack of concentrated air the doll closed the Distance again as Darian threw the telekinetic controled blades each being parried away Darian lunging forward as two blades pointed down descended causing him to dodge as he barely avoided each horizontal slash one of his swords fell out his hand as he parried leaving only the longer one ,he focused fighting close range his plan was complete
"Disrupt"
The dolls mind holted for a few seconds as Darian spun to its right side focusing on one attack it Quickly regained lucidity as it attempted to stop the greater threat which was Darian but simultaneously 12 swords were two inches away from its chest it was a pinser attack it was incapable of avoiding a killing blow Darian winked as it got completely penetrated by each blade leaving it lifeless he had won the dark curtains breaking returning him to the real world Doulos smiling as Claus clapped " an admirable performance young master " Darian panting as he fainted
In his room a pair of clothes sat waiting for him a purple neck sash with mystic symbols drawn in black,a black wizard robe with a mantle with open sleeves and no cuffs its inner lining completely dark blue it stopped above the ankle ,a black pointy wizard hat with a dark blue inner lining ,a silver pocket watch ,and slightly pointed black leather boots,including a gold ring ,and a black lantern,his mother helped him change placing them on top of his previous clothes explaining the function of each "this is the best I can do for you " she said as she hugged him from behind he turned around and hugged her too
Outside near the carriage Conrad stood side by side with lady liedia as he tried to Console her Conrad who had slicked back black hair with white streaks a well groomed mustache and beard outstretched his hand ,on it was a black hard shell case "I've been trying to buildup the courage to give this to you ,can you put this on"
Darian opened the case inside were round glasses as he placed them over his eyes he suddenly understood its importance and was greatful Darian sighed " I wont let your hard work in raising me be for nothing " as he made a gentle bow both Conrad and liedia bent down hugging him "you will always be our son "