Chapter 389: Inspiration is sudden, evolution is gradual
“Another day…another night of nothing but art block…godsdammit,” the artist grumbled while staring at the blank canvas before him, the palette of paints to his side looking untouched.
In the poorest district of Pearl Tusk Harbor, closest to the hustle and bustle of the warehouse district, many a starving artist or would-be artisan would set up shop here in order to save as much money as possible while practicing their crafts. Additionally, due to how close it was to the warehouse district, many an artist could pick up part time job in physical labor when necessary. It wasn’t an easy life, but it was theirs.
One such artist living this life was a man by the name of Hubert Faulkner, and he was miserable.
“Fuck…I need a smoke,” Hubert told himself as he set his palette down, got up from his seat and grabbed his pipe with a bit of smokleaf already in it.
“Wait…I need to smoke this outside, the landlord hates when I do it indoors,” Hubert told himself just as he was about light up and smoke his problems away from a spell.
Hubert was once a prolific oil painter, with a focus on portraits and landscapes and was pretty damn good at it.
He initially started his career in the Royal capital, developing a reputation so grand that many a noble, wealthy merchant and some royal family members went out of their way to comission the man for his services.
However, despite the stability of the income, Hubert soon found the work to be rather stagnating.
He didn’t have a good way to describe this feeling, but over time, he could feel that despite having completed over dozens of portraits and a even more landscapes that his skills hadn’t really improved.
Motivated or annoyed by this stagnation, Hubert moved all the way to the frontier regions in order to try and spark some feeling again in his heart. He wasn’t sure what that feeling was exactly, he just knew he needed it back.
“Thank the gods, I rented a room with a balcony,” Hubert thought to himself as he opened the door to the aforementioned balcony.
It wasn’t big enough to sit in for long periods, but for a quick smoke and a gander at the night sky?
It was perfect.
Hubert brought the pipe to lips and was just about to light, talking to himself about what his next course of action would be.
“Just a quick smoke, a breath of fresh night air and then back to the-”
CRACK!
BOOM!
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
“Stop and Stare!”
However, just before he could smoke anything, a shooting star shot up from the warehouse district a couple blocks from his rented room and exploded into a shower light that transformed into… something.
Hubert didn’t know what it was…but for the first time in a long time, he felt inspiration ignite his brain.
“Holy…I need my canvas! Where’s my fucking canvas?!”
Funny thing about inspiration, it just sorta happens.
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=Well shit, wasn’t expecting that one.=
=Disappointed? Why? We have a new kaijin in our ranks, meaning our lord now has six full kaijin all able to enhance his or other’s aether armors. Most sects and factions would kill for that kind of firepower.=
=Yes, it’s very convenient our lord happens to be related to a clan who lives very close to one of his predecessors, your point is…?=
=…=
Thwack!
=Stop reading the comics in the pop culture section, I think it’s distorting your view of reality when it comes to beings outside of the library.=
=Swear it’s gotten worst though…=
=Nothing, I’m going to look over the new formula.=
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Formula Name: Star Dancer’s Path
Attribute: Light (Star)/Metal
Grade: Major Corporeal*
Description:
The stars are said to hold power.
In another time, in another place, there is a story of how one hundred and eight demons, repented for their crimes and became one hundred and eight stars of mysterious power. These stars then descended from on high and became outlaws, who banded together to form a powerful group of heroes to overthrow tyranny.
Each of the stars were heroes in their own right, but it was when they’re together does their true power shine.
In even more places, it said the gods themselves would take the bodies of heroes, monsters and lovers alike and turn them into constellations as a means for the whole world to stare and remember them.
Some study the stars, believing that their ebb and flow represents the movement of the universe itself, that the stars can inform those who know it’s secrets how to predict the future.
But others believe the stars to be malevolent beings, ones that will devour the world when it’s time has come.
Regardless of their differing “definitions” though, all stars share the same “meaning” and that is…they inspire.
Hope.
Despair.
Anger.
Love.
Nostalgia.
It doesn’t matter what exactly, but all stars seem to draw admiration and inspiration.
As such, this formula aims for the user to become like a “star” both on and off the stage.
To move in a way that the whole world and even heavens can’t help but stop and stare.
*This formula can evolve.
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“What? Razorstella? Xiao Liu, are you o-whoa!”
Before Jin Fang could ask her boyfriend why he had suddenly went from moaning and groaning in pain to looking as if he achieved enlightenment on a profound level, the man had shot out of bed and looked ready to bolt out the door.
However, he stopped himself before doing so to ask an important question.
“So…the kaijin have apparently gotten into some shenanigans down by the warehouse district. Imma about to go see what the kaijin are doing in person. You wanna come along?”
“Uhh…”
Jin Fang paused for a moment, determining whether she should just go to bed, or go see what was making her boyfriend act like a jumpy puppy.
“Sure.”
“Cool, let’s go.”
She decided on the latter because she was honestly curious why Razor Maiden had become Razorstella.
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“Stop! Stare! And stand in attention! Razorstella is making her debut at this moment!”
“What the fuck is that?!,” Fia shouted as she saw the sudden arrival of yet another demon.
Honestly at this point, she was getting sick of these things and was starting to think maybe she needed a back alley priest to perform some exorcisms.
‘This entire situation has gone tits up at this point!,’ Fia thought to herself as she noted that she was still locked in battle with the weirdo spider and lacewing lady demons.
Her aether tool axe may have been helping her keep stalemate against two Grand Masters, but three?
Not even she was that crazy!
Fia was just about to cut her losses at this point and bail, hang the shadows and leave them to their fates as it were. But before she could even execute that plan, a giant sword leg suddenly came barreling towards her head like a giant arrow.
“Fuck!,” Fia shouted as she deflected the attack with her axe.
The demon calling itself Razorstella proceeded to spin and flip through the air like a dancer, using the momentum of the deflection as a springboard to do so.
As if to mock Fia, Razorstella proceeded to stop midair like a ballerina, sword pointed legs helping to balance a strange pirouette.
“D’awww, I was hoping to take your head off in a singular flashy manner…oh well! Looks like I’ll get to exercise a few new dance moves,” Razorstella said with an unusually melodic voice, “Miss Archanidame, Miss Lacerage, would you kindly let me take point this time? The others are in need of assistance and I think three are better than two in this case.”
“…aight! Give her hell, blade dancer!”
“Be sure to exercise some caution, that axe is no joke.”
“I will.”
A part of Fia knew it was foolish to continue fighting, hell, she didn’t even have to worry about her original opponents anymore…but another sort of her wanted to take this dancing blade bitch down.
“Well then, Fia Venus, shall we put on a show?” Razorstella asked as she took a fighting pose.
Fia didn’t even say a word…she just rushed towards her.
“I’LL BREAK YOU INTO SCRAP METAL!”
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[Spring Brawler! Are you nearby?]
[Razor Sis?! Is that you?]
[In the metal and with new powers to boot! Like the new look?]
[Very much so! You look all shiny!]
[Thank you kindly, but enough about me! Remember that Jasper boy? He’s still where I left him and he needs extraction. Would you kindly take him off the stage?]
[No problem.]
[Excellent.]
