The Bloodforged Kin

Chapter 218 - 212: Safehold - The Deadly, Beautiful Grace of Takeshi Saito

Team 1 was celebrating, even more so with the announcement that Leon would be okay and would be fully healed by the next day. In addition to the broken bones he'd suffered a pretty bad concussion and ruptured something that had caused him to bleed into one eye. If this had been pre-System he would likely have had permanent brain damage, but Chloe Bouchard, their resident Battle Chemist, had expanded her healing abilities to a ridiculous degree and could heal almost anything but death. It would take time, and she couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be any permanent effects, but he'd live.

If the two-hour timer was still accurate they only had another 30 minutes before the next one showed up. Tess was surprised when Ash had approached her.

"Tess," he said with a slight bow, his smooth voice tinged with just the slightest accent of his Japanese heritage. She still didn't trust the wily bastard, but she had to hear him out - he was one of the Vanguard, after all.

"Yes?"

"My grandfather would like to attempt the next one." Ash was a Soul Domain Specialist and had the ability to absorb souls into what he called his 'repertoire.' Tess hated that term - it made the souls sound like tools to be used, or powers to be exploited. But the system did have its uses and she wasn't in any position to turn him down. Currently he had three souls at his disposal, only two of which would be useful.

"Your grandfather? Not that ice mage guy?"

Ash chuckled. "Brady Jackson is his name, ma'am. And no, he fears that his ice powers may be of limited use against these creatures of snow and ice."

She eyed him dubiously. "Oh really? So he's only useful when it's convenient for him?" She waved off the objection - she didn't want to hear it. "Are you sure your grandfather can handle one of these things alone?"

While she was looking at him his face began to change, lines forming in it, hair growing longer and more gray, eyes turning from a dark brown to a crystal blue. Takeshi Saito, the level 17 swordsman, was standing in front of her now. She marveled at the change. Gone was the whipcord thin, jaunty, cocky young man. In his place was a man shorter than her, but radiating calm power and steadfast death. He bowed, deeper and with more respect than his grandson had.

"Lady Tess, you remember well our battle on our first meeting, I presume?"

She did. He had wiped the floor with her. If it hadn't been for Fara's new skill that allowed her to mimic the style of anyone she fought or studied long enough she would have been a part of his repertoire now. No, no I wouldn't have. I would have let the smug bastard kill me before that happened.

"What are you thinking about, Mother?"

"Not now, Fara."

"I remember," she replied. "And I know your skills well. I'll ask - YOU this time - are you sure you can take one of these things on your own?"

The old man smiled without a hint of conceit or doubt. "I can - possibly. I am on the verge of a breakthrough with another skill and want to push myself to the limit to ensure it."

"On the verge? You mean you don't have it yet? This thing could kill you before you break through!"

"That is a possibility, but that is the path we all walk. The road to greatness is paved with trials and tribulations. I would be a poor traveler indeed if I wasn't willing to push those limits."

"But," she reiterated more firmly, "you could die."

"I could, but it is a fate I accept. We all die, Tess. I want to do it on the field of battle. I will die or this creature will - either outcome is acceptable to me."

Tess sighed. "Fine. Do you need anything?"

This time she saw hesitation in his face. "I may need you to…intercede for me."

Takeshi stood alone outside of the east wall, long robes whipping in the wind around him. He had been standing there for 20 minutes, unmoving. If Tess hadn't watched him walk out she may have mistaken him for a statue.

"What did he want?" Weeble asked.

Tess shook her head and declined to answer. She'd had to argue with Madison to get what he needed and wasn't in the mood to relive the experience. Calls rang out across Safehold and everyone turned to see the snowman appear in the distance. A low thrumming of music began to play and Takeshi moved for the first time, turning to look over his shoulder with annoyance. He had declined any music, considering it unbecoming of a warrior.

"What are you doing?" Tess hissed.

Ben, Announcer, just smiled at her. "I know, I know - but this one is perfect for him! I couldn't let this opportunity go to waste!"

'Wolf Totem' by The HU thumped heavy over the space and everyone watched Takeshi with breathless anticipation. He cocked his head, listening, then began nodding his head to the deep, reverberating beat. A small smile creased his lips and Announcer pumped his fist in the air.

"I knew it!"

"You know he's not Mongolian, right?"

"Doesn't matter - it's super bad ass and perfect for an epic Samurai battle!"

She sighed and turned back to the scene in front of them. The Abominable Snowman had come to a stop in front of Takeshi, both just out of reach of each other and staring the other down. The snowman looked incredulous, looking back and forth between the small man and the people on the walls.

Takeshi stood placidly, not an ounce of tension in his body. The snowman seemed to reach the conclusion that this would be the only person he was killing today, and Tess could swear she saw it shrug its shoulders. With a roar it rushed forward, bending down to snatch up the diminutive man.

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Takeshi was gone, appearing on the other side of the creature, bent forward with sword held out to one side. A single drop of blood fell from the tip of the sword to splash into the snow. The snowman looked down at its leg in shock, then tumbled forward as the severed tendons and muscles gave way.

"Holy shit, I think he's going to kill it in record time!" Announcer's voice rang out across all the display screens and the residents of Safehold cheered. "Wait, what did he just do?"

Takeshi had sprinted back to the snowman and punched something into its leg before running away again. He stopped and turned to face the snowman, sword tip low as he held it in a two-handed grip.

"Did he just heal him?" Announcer whispered and Tess cursed. Now his request made even less sense.

He'd asked her for as many healing injectors as possible. Tess had assumed that he'd be using them on himself. If she'd known he was going to use it to heal the damned monster… She rubbed her face in frustration. What was he up to?

On the battlefield Takeshi waited. He gave the creature time to heal - it was important to him that it remain at full health until he pushed his new skill into being. The beautiful music resounded in his chest and his muscles felt like live wires. This is what it means to be alive! In the beginning he'd resented his grandson for stealing his soul, but the tradeoff had been wonderful. He wasn't his own man - not fully - but when he was out, he could live again. And oh, how he was living. This was the life of a warrior. No bills, no job - only the thrill of battle and the pursuit of greatness. A slight impatience eked its way past his iron will and he tapped his toe in impatience. Heal quickly, there is more training to do before I defeat you.

It rushed at him again, and again he used Phantom Dance and I Move Through the Raindrops to avoid every blow - not that the clumsy creature could have caught him at any point. He could have finished the battle easily, but he wasn't here for an easy victory. He needed to grow.

Six more times it came, and six more times Takeshi failed to push the new skill to the open. Something was blocking him. Something was preventing it. Was the creature not large enough? Was it too easy? If this creature wasn't enough he could wait for more, but he was getting impatient with the slow advancements. He had seen how that beautiful, deadly woman had pushed herself and her children to advance their skills faster than The System normally allotted. In them he saw the route to the heights of power. He would push himself and call no System his master. He only had one healing injector left and he knew, deep down inside of him, that his opponent needed to be at full health for this to work.

Another slash, another healing injector, and his final chance. The breakthrough did not come. Takeshi gritted his teeth, the flexing of his jaws the only outward sign at his frustration.

That is it, then. I am not strong enough.

Something resonated inside of him with that thought. A truth nibbled at his mind and he pushed into it, begging The System to give him insight. The massive creature had healed again and was roaring towards him, but he only stared past it, deep in thought. I am strong enough, he thought. And perhaps that is the problem. I, Takeshi Saito, swordmaster of the Saito Clan and the victor of 54 individual duels, have never allowed myself to be weak.

Inspiration flooded into him and he smiled at the onrushing fist.

"What is he doing?" Tess cried out as the old man was flung across the battlefield.

"Grandfather, what are you doing?" Takeshi ignored his grandson's protestations. He climbed to his feet and sheathed his sword, arms hanging casually at his side. Another blow and he was hurled away again. He climbed to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.

"That's it - Brady, get in there!" Takeshi felt the familiar pull of him being forced back into his soul space and, for the first time, resisted.

"No."

"I'm not playing around, grandfather! You're about to kill us all!" The pull came stronger - unrelenting and overpowering.

"NO!" Takeshi pushed back and felt both Masaru and Brady's shock at his ability to do so. Takeshi ignored them. He was a man of unrelenting will and iron determination - he would no longer be forced anywhere. His path was laid out before him and he would take the step - the gods help anyone who stood in his way. The others felt his will and intent, and pulled back. Takeshi mentally shook his head. His grandson Masaru - Ash, as he liked to be called - was a good boy, but ultimately weak. He thrived off the power of others - something Takeshi could never do. He would defeat this foe in his own way, and if they all died in the process then that was the cost of leaving your fate to others who were stronger.

Another crushing blow arrived - a kick this time, and Takeshi was sent hurling in an arc through the air, landing in a skid. He tucked his arms about him and paid close attention to where his limbs were hitting the ground, adjusting as needed to soften the blows. He didn't fight the tumble, instead making it his own. He finished the slide on his feet, orienting himself in his slide to come to a stop facing the creature. He checked his health bar and saw that it had dropped below 25%.

His skill clicked into place and his soul - his own, the one that could never be owned by his grandson - reverberated with it. His entire being felt infused with the light of understanding.

Understanding and power.

The beast rushed him one last time and Takeshi dipped his head, thanking it for aiding him on his path. He heard the walls cry out behind him but paid them no mind - they worried needlessly.

The Abominable Snowman was on him and time slowed for Takeshi as his combat instincts showed him everything oh, so clearly. He could see the required point of impact. Could feel the movement that would carry him there.

They met and Takeshi's sword was out faster than even System-enhanced vision could follow, pointed straight at the creature's heart. He was in the air, flying forward. At the moment of impact he uttered his words of power.

"Shattered Leviathan."

The crowd watched in silence as the abomination bore down on Takeshi, swinging both arms down to clap him into a paste between its hands. Then the man was gone, a blur as he moved at the creature, then through it. Takeshi slid to a stop on the other side, body bent forward in a long, perfect angle - sword held directly in front of him. Without looking back he stood and whipped the blood off his blade, sheathing it. He didn't even turn to look when the snowman's body fell to the ground in bloody pieces.

The creature's death held no interest for Takeshi - it had served its purpose. Like a boy holding a small gift, he admired his skill, savoring the anticipation of opening it. When he could stand it no more he looked deep and smiled.

Shattered Leviathan:

A devastating strike that channels the force of a collapsing giant, allowing you to cleave through even the toughest of foes with a single blow. This technique focuses all your strength into one precise strike, capable of shattering the defenses of colossal enemies.

Limitations:

Shattered Leviathan can only be used on creatures of a giant size or greater.

Shattered Leviathan can only be used when your health has been reduced to 25%

"Through weakness, there is strength." He smiled to himself at the beauty and balance of the skill, then found his way back to the small village that had become his home.

Inside, his grandson seethed.