Elder Cultivator

Each move left Chidi the tiniest fraction away from death… which was almost precisely how he preferred it. At least, when the sword cultivator inside of him overcame the responsible Alliance member. He should want to just win. He did want to win.

Whether he could would be determined in just a few moments. Both he and Rayahu were now familiar with how the other had developed since their last battle. If there were any more techniques they held in reserve, they would take advantage of them at the next opportunity to achieve victory.

The asteroid was falling apart. Stray sword intent and Rahayu's aura had been tearing it apart every moment of the battle, and soon it would no longer hold firm. That would be when Chidi's best chances faded… but also his best opportunity.

Blood trickled from dozens of small, inconsequential wounds. Many were on Chidi, but Rahayu had more than a few of his own. Both were well aware of how to defend their vitals- and how to keep their combat functionality at maximum. If their bones or muscles were damaged, they needed to counter with something of equal or greater threat. Their flesh between muscles and their blood? Less important in the short term.

The battle was close because it couldn't be any other way. If one had gained a slight advantage, they would have leveraged it into an early victory. They wanted to fight, of course, but they also wanted to win. To prove they were the best. That was also true of Chidi, even if he judged himself as marginally more sane. He wanted to win for something. For example, he could aid the battle against Everheart himself.

Proper ground was becoming sparse. Footwork more difficult. Chidi couldn't move freely in space without using energy- which was impossible during negation. He could manipulate circumstances to avoid attacks even still, but he had to be superior to his foe for such a thing.

Chidi felt Rahayu's sword. It was filled with the man's intent. There was no hatred behind it… but that wouldn't stop him from killing Chidi.

Reinforced swords clashed. Perhaps Chidi should have continued to seek out superior materials, but none had been able to match what he held before. As it was, he wasn't at a disadvantage- he merely couldn't cut apart Rahayu's blade.

Rahayu's sword cut across Chidi's face, through his nose. Blood poured out, but nothing vital was hit. Both of Chidi's eyes would have been gone, if he had them. Most likely, Rahayu had intended the cut to go deeper. It was a small matter of centimeters or less before the attack might have reached his brain. In turn, he only managed a gash along Rahayu's thigh, barely sufficient to limit him at all.

For an instant, the flow of battle stopped. Rahayu's energy came into dominance as Chidi's negation ended. Rahayu's sword flicked down, splitting the largest remaining section of asteroid into pieces. Chidi cut forward with his sword, not attacking but merely redirecting the flow of energy. Just Rahayu's aura alone could have crushed him, if they were comparing energy to energy.

Rahayu drifted away on his own section of the asteroid. He had the advantage of reach, if he could access any of his energy. He didn't need to be far- merely a few meters away. Chidi knew this, and jumped towards him.

Rahayu would not miss such an opportunity. His sword cut down, and Chidi caught his blade with his own, the swords binding at their crossguards for but a moment. Chidi's wrists went limp, his blade dropping. Rahayu's sword continued downward.

A simple flick, and a sword came up, while Chidi's body turned ninety degrees onto his 'side'. Rahayu's hands could have come off, but he was not so careless that it would be easy. But Chidi got a gouge on one wrist. Mobility would be impacted. His fingers twisted, his grip shifting on his blade to circle it around once more. Instead of slicing through Rahayu, it slid off of the material of his shoulder- a durable textile, clearly meant to function without energy.

Chidi was sent spinning. Rahayu didn't miss the opportunity, striking down. Chidi's blade briefly intersected his, but was knocked from his grip. Or so it appeared.

Rahayu's blade stopped just short of Chidi's thigh as he kicked Rahayu's wrist. His own continued forward, slicing Rahayu's right eye.

Chidi's two hands grabbed the blade he couldn't see, knowing Rahayu's stance from the position of the sword and nothing more. No energy. Just a body slightly stronger than others who cultivated. A weakened grip from the earlier kick, and Chidi wrestled Rahayu's blade free. The man managed to grab Chidi's weapon, bringing it across his own chest- but a sword still pierced his lung, even if not his heart.

Chidi freed his blade by slashing outward to the side, then with a single spin split Rahayu from head to tail. In the last moment, he knew Rahayu was smiling. Perhaps in his next life, he would seek another path. Or his soul might be so strongly bound to the sword that even with no memories, he once again sought the highest peak.

Two blades in hand, Chidi turned his attention towards Everheart. Timothy was barely holding on. Everheart had many powerful subordinates beyond Rahayu, keeping the Alliance occupied. The other option was Rambert Glas. Which was a greater threat in the moment? Chidi would decide, then make his move. As subtly as possible. But at least he had a good view of the flow of energy.

Stolen story; please report.

-----

Runa was well aware that the battles happening in the core Alliance were more important as a whole… but defending the Little Alliance against the threat of the Chaotic Conglomeration was all that mattered to her in the moment.

Iivari was dangerous enough on his own. The Flashing Foil were a threat to the people around her, even if not the Alliance as a whole. Elsewhere, others were fighting as well. But Runa couldn't help but face against the duelist once more.

His movements were expansive as always, seemingly unnecessary dashes and wide sweeps of his weapon. However, she knew that it was all meant to control the battlefield, to shift her position to Iivari's advantage. He had the talent, and he had the strength. Peak Augmentation, much the same as Runa, but she had to admit that he was stronger.

But that wasn't going to stop Runa. She had to fight him. Others were fighting their own battles, but that wasn't even the reason. She could have exchanged battlefields, if she wished a different opponent. It might even have been the correct course of action. But she had already promised her father to defeat this man- and more importantly she had promised herself.

The Little Alliance shouldn't just be hangers on to the greater Scarlet Alliance. They needed to be a major force on their own, the defenders of the west. Constantly requesting the aid of Domination cultivators simply wouldn't do- and Velvet couldn't be with them at all points, even if she truly belonged among them.

So Runa had to be stronger. Her small blades caught Iivari's weapon time after time, pushing her to the limits of her abilities. Speed and movement were paramount. If he attacked at a distance she could handle it easily by severing his connection to remote energy, but he was also quite pleased to fight up close.

Runa had a plan to defeat him. If she lost a particular clash just so, one blade would leave her hand. Then she would draw her voidsteel weapon, cutting apart his defensive energy and then with her other piercing his heart or head. Her focus was high and her determination was great… but she strangely failed in her goal. Not because her plan was inadequate, but because her weapon simply wasn't disarmed. She had of course wanted the movement to be realistic so she held her grip… but she had thought she would be overwhelmed.

Strange. She still cut out with her other blade, drawing upon her power. In an instant, Iivari's face was filled with fear- he retreated backwards a good hundred kilometers in a single step. It could have been a ploy to have Runa chase after him, but she still did so. His blade raised against her, ready to push aside her weapon and pierce through her torso. On her end, she intended to catch it with her second blade and slip the first past his guard.

But she won the clash again. No, she severed his blade. Fearing treachery of some sort, she kept her distance as she extended her reach with energy. The cross slash was merely meant to get some distance, but Iivari's speed seemed sluggish.

Then he was dead.

Runa didn't think she had been notably skillful in that encounter. She had plan for it, but she wasn't completely confident she would have pulled them off. Slightly better than even odds- she couldn't risk her friends complaining about her death, after all. She would deserve it.

Her friends… she felt them now. And her power. She wasn't even certain it should be called Domination. She'd certainly considered anchors- and what she now felt was the option she had been most fond of.

Thin connections to those she cared about. Small strings, but ones that couldn't be severed by the Spirit Slicing Sect or any other. Her father, Velvet, Tessouat, Durff, and many others were all connected. She didn't share in their power, as far as she could tell. It simply made her feel more confident, knowing they were somewhere.

How strange. She hadn't thought herself the type to achieve a sudden advancement. Nor could she fully describe how it worked just yet. But what she did know was that she could hold the west while attacks continued all throughout the Alliance. That was enough.

-----

Timothy was keenly aware of his son's victory over Rahayu. Anyone of sufficient power and any sense would be. Funnily enough, weaker cultivators didn't need to bother considering that battle- Chidi wouldn't bother with small fry. Timothy thought he could use some help, though. Everheart was old and wily. On the other hand, he wouldn't have been offended if Chidi prioritized dealing with Rambert.

Timothy's bones creaked as Everheart slammed his shield with a hammer. There was no option not to block that, as the shockwaves would have otherwise impacted the fleet. Timothy had long since come to terms with Everheart's absurd ability. Perhaps he wasn't the strongest in any style, but he could force whatever confrontations he wanted.

In another moment, he had a bow out- forcing Timothy to spread his defenses wide. His skill was lower than Alva, but the power behind the attacks was too much to ignore.

And then there was the turtle. Timothy could never get a proper strike in on Everheart, because a whole ocean always got in his way. But he felt an opening coming- though he did his best to hide his reaction.

Timothy charged forward, extending the blade of his sword and cutting down atop Everheart's head. The man actually blocked with his bow instead of calling upon Pipsqueak. For defense, at least. Though he didn't give any verbal commands, Everheart clearly worked in close tandem with the turtle.

Its head, the size of a building, extended towards Timothy in a sudden surge. Timothy shifted his energy to defense, lowering his shield… and focusing on a rebound. The massive power of Pipsqueak rippled through him for a moment before returning. Then, the turtle was tossed away- flipping end over end as he went. Everheart, however, remained behind. That was because his connection to the turtle was momentarily severed with his energy, leaving them no connection but that of a small amount of friction. Everheart's momentum held him more or less in place as the turtle sailed off into the distance.

Chidi stood behind him. Everheart didn't even blink, simply swapping weapons once more. Two swords- one pointing forward and the other backwards. Rather than believing he intended to win with skill, Timothy knew he must have some trick. Or he wanted them to believe that. An entire reputation built on trickery made it difficult to truly read the man.

Timothy considered his angle of approach. He didn't want to break Chidi's negation, and he would also prefer to spend the least time within it. Maybe a good showing would allow them to chase off Everheart. Or they could kill him. As if.