3 weeks ago
Cyrn was listening to Elyon explain the way one forms a sword technique.
"A sword technique is always, ALWAYS, based on what everyone calls tenets or principles. Take a royal knight. Their sword technique is based on the principle of discipline. One can derive other sub-principles from it, but every move, step, swing, and pierce is rooted in discipline."
Cyrn nodded. Elyon continued.
"Most sword techniques are based on 1 principle. This allows many people to practice them and learn them to a high degree. The top 0.1% of sword techniques are often based on 2 principles. The current Sword Saints' technique is based on the principles of grace and efficiency. Being both beautiful, while converting 100% of his energy into his output. Mine is based on the principles of elusiveness and loss."
Cyrn's ears perked up when hearing about Elyon's sword principles. "Elusiveness I get, but what do you mean by loss?"
Elyon smirked, "Elusiveness means that predicting my moves is almost impossible, simple and straightforward. Loss, however, is unique. The longer and harder I'm losing a battle, the stronger my sword technique gets."
Cyrn stared at Elyon in confusion. "How does that work? Wouldn't you do worse while losing?"
Elyon responded quickly, "Most battles follow a blooming flower pattern. They start ok. Bloom into their peak, and wilt and fade at the end. My art is closer to a dying predator. It starts ok, stays similar in the middle, but the end, the end is where things get the most dangerous."
Cyrn stood there shocked, but Elyon continued.
"But you, Cyrn, with your interesting existence, I think you can create the first sword technique based on three principles." Elyon's smile bloomed into something dangerous
Present
Virelya, still confident that Cyrn wasn't a threat, attacked his right shoulder again; however, Cyrn deflected it flawlessly, leaving Virelya wide open for attack.
The first principle, Never-Twice. I can get hit as much as I want, but never by the same attack twice.
This was based on Cyrn's overwhelming regenerative capabilities. He could get hit again and again, but he should learn from it.
Cyrn went in for an attack against the wide open Virelya, but before the attack could land, a burst of white-blue fire burst from her form. Cyrn dodged the attack, but a few wisps fell onto his hand.
His vision blurred, a pang of small pain echoed in his chest, and for some reason, several Virelya's appeared in his vision.
She took note of his disorientation and went in for an attack. A slash at the inside of his left elbow, wanting to cut the tendon.
Before she could land the attack, though, the illusion wore off, and his vision returned quickly. He soon parried the attack, once again surprising Virelya.
Second principle, adaptability. Because of my regeneration and anti-SoulCurrent properties, I'm never at a disadvantage in any single fight. At worst neutral, and best overwhelming.
Cyrn dashed in, taking advantage of the opening. He slashed directly at her neck, going for the kill. He couldn't afford to be merciful when his chances of winning were slim.
Virelya's neck twisted, and Cyrn's blade only managed to nick her skin, drawing just a drop of blood.
They separated, Cyrn and Virelya staring at each other on either side of the arena.
Cyrn stood still, stealing his mind for what was about to come next.
The third principle is knowledge. As long as I can get the smallest taste of their blood, I'll know everything I need to know in order to win.
Virelya's face twisted in disgust as Cyrn licked the tiniest drop of blood off his sword, doing what he could to minimize the identity swap and memory transference.
Images didn't flood his mind this time, only feelings. Feelings of loss, shame, disgust, vulnerability, isolation, and a deep burning hatred for the world around her.
Cyrn didn't say anything, and his instincts soon returned to him. He got the information he wanted. If this were pure swordplay, Cyrn now had a 50/50 chance of winning this.
Before he engaged, Cyrn grabbed his heart, not from an attack, but the feeling of the raging negative emotions that flowed through his body, her emotions.
He began to cry, not much, just two tears, one from each eye. He hid his face quickly and steeled himself for the upcoming battle.
No time for empathy, I need to win this.
Cyrn dashed towards Virelya, knowledge of her sword technique in his mind.
It's based on Counters and Finesse. A two-principal base, but not invincible.
Cyrn began a wide slash, several openings blatantly apparent. Virelya began her counter, when Cyrn feinted the attack, instead swinging his left fist in a strong left hook into her jaw.
The attack landed perfectly. Virelya stumbled back a few steps, brain rattled and dazed.
Cyrn pressed the attack, sending a piercing strike towards the left side, just below the ribs. The slash connects, and a deep gash is created.
Virelya retreats, far this time, hand over bleeding wound, staring at Cyrn, hatred barely hidden.
I need to finish this now. I can't let her gain any momentum.
Cyrn closed the distance between himself and Virelya, but quickly, a pillar of those white-blue flames shot up, stopping Cyrn's advance, and burning his foot. He quickly jumped back, assessed his foot, and saw there was no physical damage. Yet that familiar pain began to radiate in his chest, stronger this time. His vision was once again blurry, and several Virelyas were now approaching him.
What the fuck is the effect of that fire? Cyrn thought to himself. Clearly, it didn't physically burn, and it seemed to have some illusory effects. But this pain in his chest every time he's hit by it is still unknown to him.
Before Cyrn could finish analyzing, a fireball of the same color was hurtling towards him.
This one clipped Cyrn in the cheek, the pain growing stronger.
I can't take anymore of these hits, fuck, this is bad. It's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between the illusions.
Virelyas charged at him, rings of fire blazing behind their backs. She threw an attack, illusions mimicking it at different angles around Cyrn, a piercing thrust towards his right thigh, as Cyrn was preparing a counter, a tendril of fire shot from her back, attacking his left thigh.
Cyrn blocked the sword, but the tendril connected in full. The pain truly bloomed through now. Blinding, as if being stabbed straight through his very being. His vision flickered, and the illusions solidified into something much more real.
Cyrn tried to retreat, but another pillar of fire cut off his escape.
Cornered and facing a SoulCurrent affinity he had no clue how to counter at the moment, he decided to trust his incredibly durable body for the moment.
Time for a Hail Mary!
Cyrn charged blindly, ignoring the fire tendril that was coming towards him. It hit him square in the chest. The pain was blinding, the worst he's ever felt, like his very existence was being burned and twisted in ways it never should've, yet he swung his sword down, trying to split Virelya down the middle.
POV: Virelya
Seconds Earlier
Who the fuck is this guy, and what is he made of???
Virelya was stunned. Her Veilfire had connected a solid 3 times. If this were someone with a larger or purer SoulCurrent capacity, she would understand.
But this fucker barely has any. How is he still standing, seeing, or even able to see through the illusions?
Veilfire attacked the soul directly, induced illusions, and could even cause blindness. It was an incredibly powerful flame, second only to Elyon's.
And that's ignoring Cyrn's sword play.
It's amazing. His body is constantly able to regenerate, and I've yet to land the same attack twice. He's even reading me like a book. That shouldn't be possible. The Erinyes' Revenge was built on feints and counters — unpredictable, sharp, surgical. Yet he's sidestepping every trap.
Virelya shot a tendril of flame towards his chest. This'll end the match here, I'm tired of seeing his face anyway.
However, Cyrn took the hit and kept charging. Her eyes shot open in shock. How is he still moving!!!
Before she got her answer, the blade descended, millimeters away from her skull.