Agnisotra: Origin Tails

After Agnis went to take a nap, we cleared up some shades. Gregory theorized that destroying the root might be easier after the guardians are defeated because its energy level dropped after the spirit sisters got defeated. I was eager to test my skills against the Mountain. Because I had fought him before the training and during the training, I have a good grasp of my progress but now I want to see how far I've come. It was disappointing that he fled but anything that doesn't flee at the appearance of a dragon would have deserved to get vaporized when Agnis dropped those attacks. I was absentmindedly smashing some shades thinking about how I would handle my rematch with the Mountain. I didn't need to wait long. After an hour he appeared again.

This one is mine! I dashed at him and let out a [Taunting roar]. The Mountain locked onto me. Perfect! Because the current setting was quite wide, I noticed how slow he really was. Well, he wasn't that slow but certainly one of the slower opponents we have faced. It didn't matter much when we fought him in an enclosed space. The Mountain dug his hands in the ground, lifted a mass of earth, and threw it at me. I used my [Bear avatar] to catch it and throw it back. The Mountain jumped up and toward me. I smiled. I have to give Agnis credit, we didn't fight him for long the last time but from that information, he seemed to have made quite an accurate simulation of him. When I was training my bear avatar, I fought the Mountain a lot.

That simulation was a bit faster than this one but the behavior matches perfectly. I went into big bear mode and shot a [Meteor rain] at him. He couldn't dodge this nor block it and took it full on. He got hit full-on and crashed down. I used this opportunity to rush at him and attack him with some bear claws. The Mountain took some of those slashes and started to bleed. He tried to punch my bear avatar but without magic augmentation, it won't do anything to it. I tried to end it quickly with an [Ursa Major] but he seemed to sense that and backed off. I had to give up on it to block masses of rock being thrown at me. It chipped away some of my bear avatar but it wasn't an amount that would cause problems for me. I threw some more [Meteor punches] to apply pressure on the Mountain and tried to close the distance. He stomped on the ground and spikes shot out of the ground. I jumped back and picked myself up with my bear avatar. It seemed he found one of its weaknesses. Now that my bear avatar only had one arm to attack the pressure, I was putting on the Mountain dropped. I returned the favor and sent [Rock spikes] back at him.

He jumped up. Is this what Agnis meant by that they adapt poorly? I put myself down and hit him again with a [Meteor rain]. The same thing happened as it did the first time he jumped up. Abusing this would make for an easy win but I won't feel satisfied with this. I’m sure Agnis and Gregory would abuse this either because it is fun or because it is the most effective and risk-free. I rushed at him and landed some punches on him. It didn't seem like he was well-versed in martial arts. Quite understandable with this build and sturdiness however that won't work for me. I attacked his joints by hitting some nerves and the Mountain lost control over his body. I was intending to immobilize him but it seems his beefiness decreased the effectiveness of my attacks. He responded by using [Diamond skin]. Unfortunately for him, I have just the skill that can punch through it. I made an [Earth wall] behind him so he couldn't escape.

My earth walls aren't as strong as Gregory’s but it does the job of cutting off escape routes. I charged my [Ursa Major] with earth magic and hit him on his torso. Chunks of diamond fell off as my fist broke through it and sunk into his abdomen. He flew backward and broke through the earth wall I had behind him. He put his feet on the ground but still slid backward from the force making 2 canals in the ground where his feet dug into the ground. He seemed still conscious but close to defeat. The mountain roared and raised both of his arms above his head forming his hands into fists and slammed them down on the ground. The ground shook and formed cracks as the shockwave traveled toward me. I picked myself up with my bear avatar and dodged the shockwave. The Mountain dropped to one knee and leaked pink goo out of its wounds. I walked toward him and punched him with a [Meteor punch]. He flew backward and dispersed into pink vapor. I canceled my big bear mode and looked at my hands. Are they weaker than we remember or did we just become stronger? This fight went similar to the ones I had with the Mountain in Agnis’ simulation so I have no reason to believe that they were weaker. Did we really become this strong in just 5 days? No, that was wrong we have repeated 5 days multiple times this is more like a month, on top of that we got a month of training from Agnis so that makes 2 months. But still. I looked at Raishin and Gregory. Gregory seemed to be studying the root and Raishin seemed like he was cheering me on. None of them seemed to have any doubt that I would win. Granted this was one of the weaker guardians but still… I walked over to Raishin and made a victory pose.

That was so cool! Was the Mountain always this weak though? Hmm, he didn't seem to adapt as well as a real opponent would do, he was slower but also sturdier than I remember, I think that we just got stronger over these past 2 months. 2 months? I explained to Raishin that we have been doing this for effectively 2 months now.

We’ve been at it for 2 months, eh? It doesn't feel like it but also feels like it! Not sure if that makes any sense. So, when is that other guardian coming out?

I don’t know why he moves and talks so slowly! He couldn't even finish one sentence before the Mountain grabbed him and escaped. He seems easy but my instinct tells me that he is super strong. Well, he can be both, maybe he is the type that when he gets an attack of that you're screwed so just make sure he can't.

Like a slow Agnis? Or a slow… like a Greg? Hey, I heard that! Did you learn more about the root?

Its energy dropped again after you defeated the Mountain. How was the experience by the way? Is anything different from the original? A bit slower and sturdier and poor adaptability that is all.

Hmm, neither you nor Agnis got hit so I don't have any evidence but I think they have way more firepower. Because that is the only way I can explain that. He points into the distance and it seems that some mountains that were there before had disappeared but it seemed like Armageddon was taking place there.

Is Azu still fighting? Seems so. Oof good thing she is keeping her copy busy. So how many mountains do you think will disappear before she wins?

Well, it seems they already destroyed 2 so I would guess 5. Hmm, I think 6! I think the battle is almost over. We look at Gregory.

Why do you think that? Hmm, judging by what I know her personality in battle is probably in between Raishin and Agnis so she will mess around and then swiftly defeat her opponent either by nuking the whole area or becoming a more technical fighter and overwhelming the opponent. She has been fighting for almost 3 hours so it should be around the time that she will be getting serious. I didn't know you were interested in her! Don't tell me you also have an eye on her. Raishin pokes Gregory with his elbow while moving his eyebrows up and down.

I’m just basing it off the fact that her personality seems close to you and Agnis and since I know you both quite well, I’m using that for my conclusion. Meh, boring. It seems the fighting stopped. I can't believe you were right… Azu appeared 30 meters from us, but she looked… odd.

Azu?

“Sorry guys, that took a bit longer than expected!” Are you alright? You look… different.

“Yeah, I liked how hot I looked in pink so I tried to absorb her without messing up my mana signature. It wasn't easy, it also didn't help that she seemed tankier and stronger than I’m supposed to be, she did survive attacks I probably wouldn't, but she didn't act like me at all though… So how do you guys like my new look?!” You’re even hotter than before! Did you spend 3 hours fighting just to become hotter? Gregory buried his head in his hands.

That is crazy… but unfortunately, we know someone who would do something similar… I can’t believe how similar she is to Agnis…

“Hehe, really? Where is he? I want to show off my new look!” He is sleeping somewhere over there. Azu put her hand over her eyes and looked around. “I don't see him.” He probably hid himself with some illusions, he should be near that crater somewhere. Hey Azu, a question. Of all the people you know who are as strong as you are, how many have strange or difficult personalities? She seemed to ponder over this question a bit while putting a finger to her lips and looked at me.

“I don't know! I didn't have any friends back then, also nobody seemed to be able to keep up with me.” I’m not surprised. Azu went to look for Agnis. I helped Gregory to set up some small houses made out of earth to stay in while Raishin went hunting. There seemed to be fewer and fewer shades spawning which allowed us to get more rest.