Chapter 912: Balance is Key
Meanwhile, as Zhen Yan and the Dragon Thief Monkey continued to fight…
“Jinju Ren! Are you okay?”
“Pfft! I’m fine darling, just need a five minute break.”
“Uh…huh…”
[How stubborn…she does realized we can sense how weak her energy is circulating right now, right?] Hurricroak asked.
[Stubborn mortals are stubborn,] Screamira added.
[Preach.]
Zhen Liu, for his part, just stared at his stubborn dragon blooded fiancee for a couple of seconds before suddenly, and gently, poking her forehead.
Evidently, Jinju Ren was so drained of aether and dragon force as of this moment that she failed to react until after Zhen Liu had fully retracted his hand.
Then again, this was an understandable reaction given that not only had her [Pentagonal Dragon Buster] require her to make an improvised aether array, but she also had to channel the power of four different dragon blooded aether beasts through her body. Needless to say, even her familiars were starting to space out due to being drained of energy.
On top of all that though, her attack ended up missing because of Zhen Yan’s interference.
While it was done in gold faith, what done was done and now her expenditure was for naught…sort of.
Jinju Ren did get a neat new trick out of it, but she would’ve liked to see it taken out her first opponent.
“You seem to be acting a little slow where princess. You sure you want to keep going?”
“I mean…not anymore, I guess…,” Jinju Ren managed to eek out of her lips before almost collapsing face first into the ground. Thankfully, Zhen Liu managed to react in time in order to catch her. At this exact moment, Zhen Liu couldn’t help but to notice how soft she was and how fragrant she was…but now was not the time for that.
Right now, his father was fighting some monkey dragon thingy and was probably gonna need help once it stopped fooling around and got pissed. So, unfortunately, he was gonna have to one of the kaijin carry Jinju Ren to safety.
He could’ve technically used the zakos for this, but he didn’t want to reveal their existence to his family just yet.
He was just about to ask Nepherage, since she was still in the process of healing and by the time she was finished, she would’ve had plenty of time to get out of the possible danger zone.
But then…
[I got it, producer.]
“Huh? Oh…okay.”
As quick as a wink, Screamira moved herself in order to give the semi-conscious dragon princess a piggyback ride. A move that proved rather effective, despite her long white hair.
Then again, that might’ve been why it was effective.
“Whoa…Screamira, your hair is much softer than it looks…it feels like a fuzzy blanket…”
[Thanks…?]
“I owe ya one, Screamira.”
[Ain’t no thang, producer. It’s what we’re here for.]
“Statement stands. You know where we’ll be so-”
[Understood.]
Orders given, Screamira proceeded to speed back off into the direction where she and the others had just come from. Shortly after she left, Zhen Liu turned his attention towards Nepherage.
“Nepherage, you ready to move?”
[Momentarily, Siege here is getting the last of the dragon force out of my back.]
“Right.”
[Do you want us to make sure your old man is okay, maestro?]
“Nah, I think he’ll be fine,” Zhen Liu said while doing the best to hide the actual worry in his voice. “He just needs to make sure Blazejudicator’s doesn’t overpower his thinking while fighting that monkey…that or hope that it doesn’t try to couy his flames…”
Evidently, he wouldn’t know the answer to this line of thinking until later.
________________________________________
Name: [Flame of Vice: Gluttony]
Rarity:???
Affinity: Fire/[Gluttony]
Description:
An orange colored flame that carries the power of [Gluttony] within it’s embers. When applied to zakos or kaijin, it bestows upon them abilities appropriate for the excess of [Hunger]. When used by mortal warriors, it allows them to produce flames that can devour and convert aether of opponents into aether for the wielder, regardless of its use as an offensive or defensive ability. Unfortunately, using this flame causes one to be inflicted with unending hunger and endless thirst. Nothing will satisfy the wielder except the sweet nectar of death.
…
Name: [Flame of Virtue: Temperance]
Rarity: ???
Affinity: Fire/[Temperance]
Description:
A dark blue flame that carries the power of [Temperance] in its blaze. When applied to zakos or kaijin, it bestows upon them abilities related to the lack of [Hunger]. When used by mortals, it produces a flame that has a restricting effect on opponents and allies alike. It can be used to “moderate” one’s physical abilities, or even the development of diseases and poisons. Unfortunately, using this flame causes one’s own physical abilities to become “moderate” as well, with the added inability to feel…anything. Only death can free someone from the chains of constant restraint .
________________________________________
“Ookie…”
A part of the Dragon Thief Monkey wanted to simply slice off its tail and get back to fighting.
The Dragon Thief Monkey could technically grow it back and for the time being, it just meant that he wouldn’t be able to use it for sneaky attacks.
That stated, he could also sense that the effect debilitating his tail was temporary at best, or required an input of aether to remove at worst.
However, like always, life seemed to have other plans in mind for malignant moppet of a monkey. Granted, life in this situation meant Zhen Yan and Blazejudicator.
Knowing full well that letting up wasn’t an option, the Seventh Elder of the Zhen Clan knew that he had to keep up the assault now that he managed to hinder the Dragon Thief Monkey to an extent.
Which is why the duo opted to simply go in, fists blazing.
Well, not just fists blazing…
…
[So what’s your plan here? Gonna keep up with the Gula/Temperantia mix, or try something else?]
‘Well…I have been noticing that this Martial Mimic Monkey-‘
[Dragon Thief Monkey, since it’s technically a mutation.]
‘Right, Dragon Thief Monkey is weirdly clever. Got anything that can mess with its ability to think?’
[Technically all of my flames do that, you need ti be more specific.]
‘Reckless behavior?’
[Ira/Patientia.]
‘Right on.’
…
As Zhen Yan got closer to the Dragon Thief Monkey, the flames in his [Regalia’s] mane changed colors once more.
From orange and blue, to red and green, feelings of scorching hot [Wrath] could be felt all jumbled up with earthy temperate [Patience].
The Dragon Thief Monkey didn’t even need to feel the impact to know that something was off about this attack…well, it would’ve if he wasn’t filled with BLINDING RAGE AND THE UNREPENTANT DESIRE TO DESTORY EVERYTHING.
The Dragon Thief Monkey was literally, and figuratively, seeing red the moment it saw Zhen Yan’s fist come barreling towards his face. But, instead of dodging or blocking, it had thought that the best course of action in this moment was to attack.
After all, offense was the best defense, especially when it led to mutually assured destruction.
“OOKIE!”
Without even thinking or understanding what the hell it was doing, the Dragon Thief Monkey’s own fist became engulfed in a black and red flame as he punched towards Zhen Yan’s face.
A crisp cracking sound could be heard as the both sides smashed their fists into the face of the other.
On the face of the Dragon Thief Monkey was a look of rage and hate, but on the face of Zhen Yan was an incredibly controlled expression.
After all, [Patience] is needed in the face of unrelenting [Wrath].
…
‘That… should’ve hurt a lot more than it should’ve…why didn’t I feel that.’
[Power of Patientia, baby. I’m pretty sure you’d be able to withstand a thousand hours worth of torture before noticing.]
‘Huh…’
________________________________________
Name: [Flame of Vice: Wrath]
Rarity: ???
Affinity: Fire/[Wrath]
Description: Blood red flames that represent [Passion] in excess. The flames of wrath can turn zakos, kaijin and mortals into unstoppable berserkers with increased attack power and decreased defense power. However, it can also serve as a means to enrage enemies to the point of them turning into unthinking beasts.
That said…true Wrath has a tendency to persist pass death.
…
Name: [Flame of Virtue: Patience]
Rarity: ???
Affinity: Fire/[Patience]
Description:
Deep green flames that radiate an aura similar to that of a timeless mountain that has seen the rise and fall of a thousand empires, [Passion] in lacking. Patience allows kaijin and zako to maintain a calm demeanor and steady form against even the most unrelenting of attacks, and encourages mortals to maintain a similar thought. However, it can also be used to force people to think too deeply in regards to their actions. Patience is all about waiting and enduring, after all. Even if the desired result is something pass one’s mortal coil.
________________________________________
[That said, you probably shouldn’t be using the Flames of Wrath again this fight.]
‘Er, why?’
[I just remembered dragons have affinity for Wrath.]
‘Oh…fuck.’
