I rush towards Crey, boosting myself. I throw punches as fast as I can, aiming for his solar plexus and his jaw. He swiftly avoids them, almost dancing his way out. He throws a kick at my shin. I quickly sidestep and almost trip.
Damn, he's too skilled. It's intuition, he's been predicting my moves and responds accordingly. Who am I kidding? He's been doing CQB training against humans for years.
No, don't resort to blaming on the basis of time. You're better than this
I catch myself, and this time, I'll focus on speed. I only boost my legs, making me much faster. I dash towards him again and attempt to sweep his leg.
He noticed, fuck.
"Be creative Atlas, your style is so rigid."
Decey told me that one day. He told me to mix things up, making it hard for even me to know what I'm doing.
I instantly divert all of my Domain to my left leg, as Crey jumps, avoiding my sweep. I tuck in my right leg as I push off with my left foot. I feel a huge impact. Crey goes flying and drops on the ground, holding his nose.
I rush towards him. Hopefully I didn't hurt him too much.
"Master Crey, are you okay?"
"Atlas. You've outsmarted me. Good job."
This is the first time I've won facing Crey. He's amazing. I really cannot comprehend how he's gotten so strong without using his Function.
"Sir, let's fight again, with our functions."
He looks at me, almost concerned.
"Value your life, son."
"I need to see how far I can push myself. "
"You could die."
"You think I'm afraid of that?"
He smiles and looks up, with his hands on his side.
He looks at me, and I find myself flying in the air, smashing the boulder behind me.
Searing pain, everywhere. I can't think straight. My limbs are all screaming in pain, I can't listen to their requests.
Crey instantly appears infront of me and attempts to kick my head. I instantly activate sheld, stopping his foot.
His toes are millimeters away from my pupils-
I waste no time in activating Natüliche Welle at 0.01 phase change, making Crey fall to his knees. As he attempts to get up, the skin of his hand rips off viciously , decorating the air around us with a dark red mist.
A fist suddenly strikes my stomach, my back, and my elbow. I stumble on the ground, groaning in pain.
He's still kneeling on the ground, his right arm disfigured, his hand basically deleted. It has to be his Function.
I have to defeat him. My body is allergic to defeat. It sickens me to my core if I ever lose.
I can't lose anymore.
As I stand up, I feel sharp blows to my thigh. I grit my teeth and manage to boost myself. I don't have to worry about my Capacity running out, since Crey's healer is certified to even bring back limbs and heal the Defined from overexertion syndrome.
I can sense the invisible punches from all over me. It feels so exhilarating to dodge everything thrown at me. I feel as if I'm in cloud 9. I increased the phase to 0.001, completely evaporating Crey's right hand.
God, the moans of pain relaxes my entire body. Mom, this is how you felt while fighting right?
I can never get enough of this feeling.
I stand up, looking down at my master, the leader of the Real Set, shuddering in pain as the intensity of Natüliche Welle increases.
His function must allow him to create "blows" using the ambient air around him. He doesn't need to see in order to do that, nor does he have to do anything physically.
Maybe in his head, he's memorised every visual input and can see everything in his head. It's as if he's playing chess in another dimension.
Crey has me cornered. The blows increase in intensity as I come closer to him. I can't go any higher than this, and judging from how willingly he gave up his hand, he deems it useless against me. It's all a mental warfare.
It's working against me alright *Master*.
Thank you for your teaching.
As soon as I take another step, I feel cuts in my flesh from every direction.
I couldn't even howl in pain because he cut my vocal chords too.
How stupid could I be?
He was utterly in control, toying with me…
One cut to the calves was enough to make me fall infront of the one who I thought I had utterly defeated.
"Atlas, you're truly strong. But do not forgot where you come from.
Know why you want to be strong.
Do not spiral down the path ##### did…"
That was the last thing I heard, and I fell to my side. All I could see was Crey, getting up effortlessly, holding up his forearm. I could've sworn he stood there smiling as dark curtains closed up on me.
I open my eyes to the melancholic bedroom again, devestated.
I lost in a landslide. It's granted that I barely have any human combat experience but, it still hurts.
"Hey, you up?"
Crey opens the door with his left hand.
"I'm sorry I lost control Master. I got lost in the head of the battle ."
Crey sits down in one of the Ivory chairs and scoots up to me.
"Atlas. There was a kid like, who suffered a great loss. He was drowned in every negative emotion possible, with almost no one to anchor him right. He decided to get stronger to get revenge for what happened. In that process..."
Why did he suddenly stop ?
He takes a deep breath.
"Take some rest, Atlas. You're already stronger than my subordinates, so don't feel dissapointed in yourself. It's not even been one year since you've dropped out and been in my tutelage. Give me a year or two, you'll be the strongest Defined."
>>>
[December's POV]
One week after meeting up with the headmaster.
Zahl's Second semester starts in two days, which is scary to say the least. I was homeschooled ever since *that* day.
You know, I never really did ask Aunt Oris about Mom. Maybe I should've when I had the chance.
God I'm such a pessimistic fuck.
I've been admitted to the best form of schooling of all eternity. It'll satisfy my curiosity and increase it in an unhealthy amount . I can't wait to grow stronger.
As of right now, I can only punch hard, really really hard. I can also use Domain Manipulation, which is something I need to work hard on these last two days.
Singularity is something I want to hold off on for a while, maybe if some bully attempts to do some shady shit to me or Heet. No, I shouldn't do that.
Domain Boost is the next step for me, since my Domain Qualities are exponentiation, I can easily outclass people. The problem is leakage and loss of efficiency, since I'm technically a two year old Defined.
I think I have to use that.
>>
"Headmaster I'd like to have a word with you."
For some reason the headmaster came back to our house. He said he had something very important to discuss with Uncle Oris.
The door opened to reveal Uncle Oris with a distraught face. It's better not to ask him what happened.
"December, you look like you wanted to ask me something?"
"No, it's fine headmaster. I could always ask you later."
"What's on your mind kid?"
"I can't do much. All I can do is crudly copy Singularity, and use Domain Manipulation and Boost. I don't think I could even survive the first day of Zahl Academy. "
The headmaster laughs.
"This is an academy. No one is expecting you to be the best already. It's a place to learn, to get beaten up, to take losses, and to learn from them."
He's right. Besides there are not many people who can already use their function or let alone know how to bring out their Domains effectively rather than just shooting it everywhere.
"Besides, you are stronger than you think. Frighteningly so.
You can see it, can't you?"
"You knew?"
"Your eyes and my eyes were both glued to the Domain surrounding Heet. I'm sure you're curious as to why it's occured to you, but trust me. I've been asking myself that question for years. No answer."
"What else can your eyes do Headmaster?"
"Call me Lye. Headmaster is a mouthful. Realistically I'm only like 10 years older than you, so no honourifics please."
Lye…
That's such a cool name…
Then again, I'm the one to talk-
"You know how to use Domain Manipulation right? Fire one out right now."
We are inside the house and he wants me to do that…?
Lye, you really are a crazy man.
Luckily I've been practicing making molds instantly. A line segment made out of void is traced above my hands, as I pour in my Domain.
1 Second delay, that's a new record!!!!!
Focus, you idiot.
Suddenly the Domain vanished. Everything I poured into the mold has evaporated.
"A mold, eh? You're a genius, December…
No ordinary, sorry, no Defined would ever imagine something as intuitive as a mold…
Oh and don't worry about your attack not working. I was answering your question."
All Lye was doing was standing across the hall with his hands folded behind his back.
He cancelled my attack…
Right before I launched it. If our eyes can sense the Domain, maybe we could even manipulate it.
"Those gears in your head, turning, never stop that. You're only as strong as your curiosity. "
Lye opens the main door, and before leaving turns towards me.
"Come to my office after Orientation. I'll teach you what I did. Also, it would be wise if you'd research about a certain constant, 'e'. Just saying!"
He instantly dissapears. I've got to learn that…
>>
That night before Zahl started, I decided to use my Function along with Domain Manipulation. Worst case scenario? I'll die a fiery death. Best case scenario? My enemies will instead.
I tried to do something with my pinky. I want to make it so that the Line segment would-
"Decey, come down here!!!"
"Coming!"
>
Isn't that our lawyer Mr. Grew?
Why's he here?
I sit down next to Uncle, and offer a handshake to Mr Grew.
"It's been a while Mr Grew!"
"I can say the same, December. You've grown."
I really have though. I look more muscular than before, while at the same time lean enough to dodge potential death threats.
Mr. Grew plumps a huge stack of papers onto the dinner table.
I turn to Uncle Oris.
"What's this Uncle?"
"December…Your mother was one of the most special people I've met. My best friend, who introduced me to Kaya.
I decided to repay her, and you, by this."
As he says this, he reveals the main heading of the uncanny stack of paper.
Adoption papers
"I-"
"I figured you'd face a lot of criticism and unwanted attention for being someome with a Function without being a Defined. Our family name does have a very good status, Atlas, of course knows that. And Kaya led the Real Set, so that's a free job opportunity there.
You can say no, December.
But,
You were always family to us.
These papers are just for the world to show that.
You are a brother to Atlas, and a son to me and Kaya.
These papers aren't needed for me to tell you this.
It's because of you I'm still here…
Ever since that happened, I wanted to leave it all. My mind didn't bother thinking about what the wonders I had. Kaya, Atlas, You.
The things you've achieved in the past weeks is a miracle. It's as if God himself is telling me to watch and see what else you can achieve.
Besides, you're the only way I get to get grandchildren as soon as possible.
Seeing you and Heet, reminded me of the good ol' days. I can't miss out on that now can I?"
Uncle Oris, the tough man who he always is, is now breaking down in tears infront of me.
The one who stood up against people of unthinkable power, while only being a stoic man with intellegence not gained from birth…
is my dad now…?
"Uncle,
No
Dad,
you've always been a father to me, the same as Aunt has been my mom.
Thank you for taking care of me all these years."
I hug him that instant. His tears, freely dripping down my shirt, while my tears mirror his.
>>
"Dad! Is the food done yet?"
"Yeah, come on down, Decey."
The headmaster sent me the uniform at around 2 AM, what a lunatic.
I look at the mirror. The yellow color shirt with a white and black embroidered collar and the back of the shirt, with a really fancy Z, and white jeans, should make Heet fall for me again.
I come down the stairs to see my Dad, setting up breakfast.
"You look really smart, Decey."
"Thanks Dad.
I finish up breakfast and right as I was about to leave..
"Hey, make sure you tell Atlas I said hi. And have fun!!!!"
I stop midway, and leap at Dad, giving him a hug.
"Roger that."
>
"December!!! You look so handsome."
Heet seems as if she was waiting for years.
She looks gorgeous, with the same shirt but a white skirt.
Control, December…
"Shall we go?"
She holds my hand as to answer my question.
"Lead the way,
December Oris."