Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2014 16:09:25 GMT -5
Five times…five…. well it was official if it hadn’t been before, he was a druggy…. Once again Anri found himself passed out from the blue substance that came from berries, at first the feeling had been enjoyable but now it was becoming an nuisance, the feeling was still relaxing as anything he could ever imagine but the annoyance was almost as strong as the drug was. It was an constant battle between the two forces but no matter how hard he fought against it, the drug was more powerful that his own will power, leaving him like a slug to lay there on the wooden floor once more… waiting… for what was the real question here. The first time he had woken up Anri had a nice talk with the leader’s daughter, Syica, and while it was nice to have someone to talk too after all the days he had spent alone in the jungles he learned quickly that the girl wasn’t much smarter than an rock, even the collective intelligence of a sack of rocks was probably equal if not greater than hers. Even as dim witted as she was it was possible to hold a conversation with her though it went much slower than one he would have with a normal person. There had been a great deal he had learned from the girl just from talking from her as it seemed like she didn’t fully think things through before speaking, just letting loose what first came to mind like an open fire hydrant, but where she lacked in mental power she more than made up for it in physical strength even going as far to match that of Anri’s, even her physical attractiveness was high in regards too other Vennors. As he eventually recovered from the drugging he had managed to tackle the girl before she could drug him one more but the unexpected arrival of her father, and it had been over for Anri. Which lead him too where he was now.
Groaning a the throbbing pain that shot out from his head Anri kept his eyes closed less a bright light make the pain any worse than it currently was, for right now it was best just to listen to what was going on around him rather than seeing with his own eyes. With no idea of just where he was at or who was around him he once again found himself at the mercy of these people, and with the amount of drugs that they seemed to like to use he might be there for a long while… an constant battle between staying awake and being drugged over and over. He wondered if the drug was bad for his body, most drugs whether prescribed or illegal were harmful when too many were taken for too long or many in a short span of time, could there possibility be the same reaction here? A broken liver and a broken person, if this stuff was addictive them he might never be able to leave here, it was next to impossible to find berries in such quantity in the cities but it seemed like these people had an abundance of the damn stuff, enough to keep him in an almost comatose state for hours on end… just how long had been since he ate anything… or for that matter drank anything? There was no way to tell if these people were just leaving him to rot and grow weak before they killed him, or if they were actually taking care of him while he was passed out… other than Syica everyone else seemed to be against him. The reasons why they were out here weren’t exactly clear as of yet but he knew it had something to do with the current government of Riva….
“Hello there…mister sleepy….are you awake?” The voice called out from the blackness of his head. The voice was familiar too him but it was the tapping on his forehead that he fully knew who it was.
“Go away Syica…..” Anri mumbled out as he turned his head away from her hand.
“Oh come on now… don’t be like that, I told you I didn’t WANT to do it. I had too!” She whined.
“Ya… but you still did it….” Anri thought about what he was saying, was she really any different than him? He was a solider after all and the only way he did things is when orders dictated that he should. Her father told her to drug him so she did, could he really be upset about that, after all it was pretty much how he lived his life day to day, if he was going to mad at her then he should have been mad at himself as well.
“…never mind… its fine…shouldn’t be that mad…not that I really can with all this blue swill racing around inside me.”
“Really!” Her voice jumped at his words.
“Ya… ya…. Can’t hold your actions that where asked of you by your elder any more than someone could hold something against me for taking orders. All is forgiven….” He sighed feeling his head twirling as if it was about to fall off.
“Thank you!” Anri jumped slightly as he felt Syica jump on his body and give him a tight squeeze around his shoulders feeling as though his organs would pop out of head like a geyser… wait was she laying on the floor as well? Anri hadn’t thought about it but now that he was paying attention to what was going on around him… gravity seemed off too how it would normally feel if he was laying down. Opening his eyes slowly the world around him was not an enclosed building as when he awoke the first time, now it looked like he was back on the stone slab that seemed to rest in the center of the so called village. Strapped too one of the four trees that surrounded and supported the stone slab he looked forwards the great fire pit that he had first seen those few days ago. Whatever was going on he didn’t like the look of it, whenever executions had occurred in the past it always too place in center of the town so that everyone would watch what was happening. With Syica being a few inches shorter than him Anri was able to get a good look around the area around them from over her shoulder, though it didn’t appear that she even seemed to notice that he was even up and looking around with her arms locked around his body. Clearing his throat too get her attention it seemed as though her mind was elsewhere at the moment, keeping all her focus on that of the embrace.
“Hey….” Anri whispered softly in her ear.
“Ya?” She responded back with a hint of a smile in her voice.
“You think you could let me go now?”
“Oh right! Sorry!” Syica released her grip and took a few steps away from Anri letting him recover from the vice like grip she had, if she had been trying to crush him then he was sure that she would have been able too. Lucky for Anri he didn’t think she would ever hurt anyone on purpose, her kind demeanor suggested she had never raise a hand to anyone before but damn if she ever decided she had the need to kill he wasn’t sure he would want to face her in combat. The most amazing thing about it was that her strength seemed like an innate ability not one which she had spent years working on training with, her body wasn’t built like those who had been working their bodies to the extremes like himself. Compared to other Vennors the woman was much smaller and petite in size her shoulders width not even reaching that of three feet across while Anri himself was around three and a half shoulder width at his widest point. It was at that point that he released that he had been spending maybe just a bit longer than he should have looking at Syica, making him dart his eyes elsewhere. Of course she took notice of his eyes quickly moving off to the side.
“Hey what’s wrong?” She asked with concern in her voice.
“Nothing… just zoning out… guess it’s the drugs.” He did his best to try and play it off as he played with the shackles that bided his hands to the tree he was tied onto. The simple worn iron chains looked as though they had come from the days in which castles loomed over the Great Plains of the east. Usually Anri would have been able to break though such weak metal but he was finding that his strength had all been drained away. Most likely from the drug that ran through his body, who knew just what else it was that it could do as well?
“So what do they have planned for me? It’s not every day that you’re tied to a tree and held in front of everyone to see.” Anri asked as he tried to change from the conversation but from the look in her eyes he knew it didn’t work but she went along with what he had asked.
“Well, to be honest I really don’t have any idea of what is going to happen, I talked to my father for a long time about what to do, tried to convince him that we should spare you and that you should help us but I don’t think it was something that he was going to go through with. So he told me to bring you out here and chain you up, with the drug going through your system there was no way you were going to escape here then I chained you up out here.”
“How nice of you… well I’m not dead yet, so that’s a good sign at least, right?”
“I guess so…father usually doesn’t kill people unless he deems it completely necessary.”
“Could have fooled me Syica, could have fooled me.” Anri said as cheerfully as he could.
It was then that the unlit fire place in the center of the platform burst into life glowing with the strength compared to that of the blue sun igniting, with a multiple flashes of light coming from it, did the fire die back down into a small puddle of flames as it licked at the sky trying to gather its strength once more.
“What was that about?”
“Oh that? It’s our way of telling time around here. You see there was six flashes of light and each one is for one hour, so that means…. Hold on…. I got this….” She looked as though her brain was going to explode with the simple math.
“Six!” Anri coughed the word out.
“Ya six!...wait… I told you I had it!” She puffed her chest out as her and across her hands over her chest.
“I didn’t say anything, I coughed, you got that one all by yourself.”
“I did? I did didn’t I! See I told you I could do itQ” She held her head up proudly with a smile on her face causing Anri to give out a low chuckle, he was surprised that she could even function out here, if it wasn’t for her pure strength he was sure she would have died off years ago.
The low thumping of feet shook the wooden platforms around them which broke off the laughter between the two as they looked around to see what it was that was causing such a sound. Looking down the nearest wooden pathway did Anri see the villagers as they began to exit their houses and make their way towards the stone platform, as if in unison they all walked at the same rate. It almost looked as if it was one of those zombie features they showed at the movies were everyone had turned into some kind of lifeless creature that roamed the streets in search of living flesh, they’re almost blank less faces matched that of the creatures. Turning his head towards Syica he rose his eye brow in question to see if she had any idea of what was going on but she just looked back at him with the same confused look. Whatever was going on it was obvious that she had not been told, did her people not trust her, or had her father told them not to tell her anything? By this point it had become clear that her father, whatever his name was, was the leader in this group of Vennor, strong and smart he was the best choice, and whatever was about to happen there was no doubt that his hand hadn’t been the driving force behind it all.
Coming from every which direction that connected to the stone platform did they stop just short of the entrance, keeping their distance away from them, their blank stares keeping locked on Anri as they waited…but waited for what was the real question here. As the noise that had been built up but their feet quieted did the area grown silent from their nosy foot steeps as the gentle sounds of the world around them kick in; the brushing of the leaves above and the faint calls of creatures that roamed through the high tree tops. Then everything went quite, the trees, the people, even the animals… it seemed as though everything in the great vale grew dim in sound… just for this moment. The silence was broken as the shifting of feet began once more as a small part of the group stepped out of the way as the man Anri knew as their leader and Syica’s father walked without so much as a word too anyone there, as if they all knew what is was that he wanted from them. Passing the crowds of people did the man make it too the stone platform of which the two of them were waiting for his arrival, the man’s eyes never looking once towards Anri’s direction.
Pausing to take his daughter by the arm did he pull her off to his side as he turned around to face the group that had surrounding the platform. Clearing his throat he began to speak, his heavy voice carrying great ways over them.
“Thank you everyone for coming here today… as I’m sure as everyone here knows a unwelcomed visitor has found his way into our village, the only one that has ever made it here before.”
“Found my way here? Pretty sure I was drugged then dragged here….”
“Though rules had been set in for what to do at times like this there had never been a need to address to them until today, it is a sad chapter in our people’s history but it is today that we will act on what was written all those many years ago.” He paused as he scanned out over the masses.
“Man… sounds like this guy came straight out of a movie, or a time rift had opened up and he had been pulled from it. Was someone holding up cue cards for him?”
“As mandated by our rule it is clear what we must do.” He turned to face Anri for the first time since he had arrived, causing Anri who up to his point had been leaned against the tree for support to straighten his back. There was a hate for the man for what he had put him through but too his people he was their leader and as such he showed him the respect he was entitled too.
“Anri, you will face me in one on one combat and the victor will decide the fate of the other. My terms upon your defeat will be the death of you, as our people’s existence and location cannot be told to anyone outside these woods. If it had not been for the rules that govern us you would have been dead long ago… and I realize that upon your arrival I had my people try and kill you and for that I apologize for my actions. That was weak of me.” His words touched Anri, never before had be met a leader that would admit to fault in his own actions… he didn’t know what to say too it.
“If you are the one to claim victory over me what is it that you should wish for?” He asked but it didn’t take but a second for Anri to know what he wanted.
“I ask for my leave of this place without being followed or attack on my venture home. I will already have enough issues getting back as it is without the constant threat of being attacked.”
“Very well but I can only promise you protect from my people, the woes and dangerous of the Jungle are yours to venture on your own, but I make my promise that no one from this village will attack you on your trek home.”
With each other’s words seeming to set well with one another… for the most part the chief turned around to face his people once more.
“The victor’s wishes have been stated! I sure all of you will honor the winner’s wishes!” His voice boomed over the he people as they gave out a loud cheer, it looked as though as different as there two peoples were they still enjoyed a good fight.
“I hope we won’t be fighting here… and I will need a little time to recover from the constant drugging if you want a fair fight, and I’m still having trouble moving my limbs as of right now.”
“Don’t worry about that. Syica, if you would.”
“Of course dad!” Syica piped in as she moved over to Anri’s side and began to dig through the pouch that clung to her side. Pulling out a large needle did she turn to Anri.
“No, fuck no, thousand times fuck no-“Though with no way to fight against it the needle was quickly thrust into his neck as the plunger pushed the fluid deep into his body.
“Son of a-” His words cut off as his head became clear and his body was once again able to move under his own will. Testing his body Anri flex his fingers watching as he was able to move them with fineness.
“See isn’t that better?” Syica smiled as she have a light tap on his head.
“Can I get some of that stuff to go? Geez…” Anri shook his head as his swung his arms forward breaking the chains that binded him to the tree as in the quick motion did a debris of metal scatter across the open area falling off in many directions.
“Much better…. So chief, where we going to do this at? I don’t think there is nearly enough room up-“ His words cut off as the man slammed his board shoulder into Anri chest causing him to fling off the side of the platform and fall down into the deep abyss of the jungle below. With so little time to react to the attack he had not even had a chance to even brace himself for the impact or even grab out to catch himself.
“Fuck!” He cried out as he fell the stories into the building darkness below but as he fell down the light began to grow as he spun over too see that the ground below unlike the rest of the jungle was lit with a series of troches all of which were out lining the distance between the four large trees that held the stone platform above up. It seemed that in the time that he had been passed out drugged these people had been busy building just this arena, looking to be at least fifty feet by fifty feet. It wasn’t the largest space he had ever fought in but it would been more than large enough to have a decent fight in.
With no way of stopping his falling velocity his only choice he had was impact the ground with all of his force on landing, thought having fallen much higher than his before he knew that such a fall would not be one that was fatal in any means of the word. Smashing into the ground as the air whipped past him, ripping up chucks of dirt they scattered into every which direction shattered across the open field, the first of many battle scars that the field would have from the ensuing battle. Groaning with some distaste of having smashed face first into the ground Anri pushed himself up and took in a better look of his surroundings before his opponent would drop down below. Not much of anything was different now that he was this close to the ground but he did take in the white line that seemed to run the length of the torches, looking as though it was the end of the arena in which they would be facing one another.
Coming down next to him in a similar flurry of soil as Anri had done the chief crashed but a few feet away from Anri as he was quickly covered in a shower of dirt and ferns, they had made the field for their fight but it looked as though they had chosen to leave the plants, either way they were going to soon be destroyed. Standing up right he turned to face Anri as he whipped off the dirt which had stuck to his plates in the fall.
“Thanks for the push but I think a simple direction would have worked just as well. And shouldn’t I get a free hit on you?” Anri give off tone of annoyance.
“The rule of the fight are as followed.” The man seemed to ignore Anri’s words.
“First off, energy attacks are not to be used. I do not know if you have such a skill but I say this now in case you hold such a power. Secondly, no fatal strikes, as such vital points are too be ignored such as the neck but everything else is free game. Lastly by now you have seen the outline of the area in which we are fighting in, if either one of us leaves it, the match is over and the victor claims their reward. This fight is not only based off ones strength but their endurance to stay within the boxed area. That having been said, do you have any questions in which you would like to ask before we commence with the duel?” He stated.
“No… it’s pretty much forward, defeat you without leaving the area, I think I can do that.”
“Do you not wish to take your weights off? It leaves you at a great disadvantage.”
“And what? Make this less interesting? I think not, just proves that if I can defeat you with them on just imagine what I could do with them off. My life may be on the line but it doesn’t mean I don’t like a good challenge.” Anri slid his feet apart as he held his fits up, this time he would not let the man get the best of him, he had already gotten two good hits on him and he wasn’t about to let him get another.
“Just one more thing.” Anri noted as the chief was preparing his own stances.
“What is your name? I’d like to know the real identity of the person in which I might die to their hands.”
“…Nagachi…”
“Wait… you don’t mean-“ But it was too late as the chief burst forward in a blur of a movement leaving Anri little time to act as he placed his arms in front of him to block the oncoming attack.
Just as much speed as he had his strength was just as strong as proved earlier when he kicked Anri to the wall. Like the force of a rocket at its max thrust the chiefs attack slammed into Arni’s arms with a screech that matched his strength forcing Anri to go sliding across the field his feet burying deep into the soil building up as he went further and further. It wasn’t until the strength of Anri’s legs that kicked in that his progress slowed coming just short of the edge of the field. The attack its self wasn’t meant to be painful it was meant to knock him out of the arena in one blow ending the fight before it had truly even started. Recovering from the blow Anri took notice that where the chief’s fist had landed his plates were smoking from the intense speed the man had put into it.
“Damn… I guess you’re not looking too have some fun with this are you?” Anri called out too him but with the look the man held on his face Anri could tell that the man was not interested in talk anymore.
“Very well….” Anri held is hands back up readying himself for any upcoming attacks but he was going to need to gain some distance between himself and the edge of the ring, one fatal push now would leave him out of luck and out of a life.
Ripping his feet from the soil in which they were pressed Anri lept forward charging towards the man to strike him but to get away from the edge as well, in blur of a moment that matched that of the speed of the chief Anri zoomed across the field and slammed his fist into the man as he put his arms up to block the attack Anri had expected about as much coming from the man but the following counter he implemented was not. Using the force of the attack did the chief spin around using his foot as a pivot, letting Anri slip past him as though his forceful attack and been nothing more than a simple push did he turn full circle with a multitude of quick jabs into the open spots in Anri’s plated body, though the Vennor didn’t have many weak points with the thick armor that covered their bodies the open joints were the most venerable places to hit. Cringing from the pain that burned through his body Anri flew across the field tumbling as he made contact with the soil as he pulled at the ground to find anything to slow him movement. Stopping just inches away from the other side of the area he took a deep breath too look towards the chief, his face still has hard as the stone that rested above them. It was obvious that this man was much older than he looked his skills and strength would only come from someone that had great age and with that came experience, on top of that his fighting expertise was amazing from what he had seen, and not many people could counter such attacks with ease or know how. Before the fight had begun he thought the man was just strong but he had proven that his power also came with great skills… he was going to have to fight the man with abnormal methods if he was ever going to stand a chance of beating him… he just hoped that he didn’t transform… with just how quick and powerful his attacks where now… he didn’t want to think what he could do to him at that point.
Finding his breath returning Anri stood up weakly from his knees his stance was shaky from the blows he had sustained too his inner knees but he wasn’t about to let a few hits take him down, not with how much was on the line. Giving off a low growl of rage Arni lunged forward once more but not nearly as quick as he had done before, and there was two reasons for it; his legs screamed in pain from the shoots that been delivered upon them but also because he moved too fast the man would be able to use it force against once more. Holding his ground the chief waited with his stance rock hard, locked in a balance between flexibility and strength, it was the prefect stance for counters but he could also deliver a power strike with little time needed to adjust it. Sliding into striking distance once more Anri launched another strike towards the man but this time his fist was aimed towards the man’s face, the primary source of every sensory that he had, whether it was sight or hearing if he was able to take at least one of them out then the odds would be in his favor. Slapping Anri’s hand off to the side with as little ease as before he thrust his fist out to hit Anri as he whizzed by but this was what Anri was counting on. Tumbling forward in the style of a roll did Anri barley dodge the thrown punch but it was his foot that swung up behind him that caught the chiefs out stretched arm sending the man leaning forward at an odd angle, coming back up from the end of the roll Anri placed his hands face down on the forest floor and spun his body sending the side of his foot into the chiefs head with a loud crack that sent the man falling off to the side and into the dirt. Finishing the roll Arni spun on his heels to face the man before he had the chance to get back up, readying himself for another attack.
Anri hadn’t realized it when he was in the process of his attack but even with the weights that pulled him down the strike had been hard enough to crack the plate that rested on the side of his head, truly a feat was difficult even too the most skilled Vennor but he had done it, and the chief was coming to realized just what he was facing. Crouching on the ground he clinched his hand on the side of his face feeling the blood that trickled from the first wound. As Anri he had not expected the kick too be as powerful, even enough that it could draw blood.
“…impressive… you have an amazing ability to change your fighting style in mid combat… not many people have such a skill… none the less it will not save you from your demise today.” Taking a deep breath did the man stand up face Anri and in a second the man became a blur as he disappeared from Anri’s sight, without even so much as any time to look at where he had gone did the chiefs hands crack Anri over the skull sending him buckling over with a ring that vibrated through his head. Following up with another strike to the side of his chest with his leg did Anri go sprawling across the ferns. Though the strike had not been one that he been expecting did he come to a stop a few feet away with a grimace of pain on his face. Even with the plates over his body the attack still hurt, if not for the persistent ring in his head then from the explosive pain in his ribs, he wasn’t sure but it felt as though a few of them were broken from the hit. Recovering from the attack was going to take much longer than he had time for, as even now the chief came charging towards him once more, a trail of blood follow in his wake. This was not good, his breath was coming in ragged, he could barely see straight and he had a charging beast coming straight towards him. With no chance to make any move to either side he had to do something, anything before he brought him to the ground or worse pushed him from the arena. With all the strength in his legs Anri lunged into the air avoiding the chief as he sped under his feet, it wasn’t the best plan of action but it bought Anri some time to think of something, anything really, his strength alone wasn’t going to take the chief down and the man’s skills in combat were way beyond his… there was always the weight… they slowed him down a great amount and with them off they would make this fight much easier if not one sided… but it would it be worth victory if he limited the challenge of the fight? The weak perish, and the strong survived and flourished… even if he was to win would the victory only make him weaker? What was the point of victory then?
It was during this thought process as he rose higher into the air that the chief had decided to take flight as well, it would take too long to wait for Anri to fall back down and it also gave him the advantage of having the upper ground and releasing a deadly aerial strike, something of which might end the fight here and their if he gave him the chance. With Anri falling back down as his original speed wearing off he found himself racing ever closer to the chief and with his little experience of fighting while in midair it was not the ideal place for him to be. Unknowing to Anri the chief had great skill when it came to fighting in midair, with the claws they used to climb it had almost become a necessity to do it. With the built up sped still behind the chief he closed as thrust up with a forceful upper cut at the same time Anri cupped his fists to getter to land a strike on the man’s head. Hitting at the same time as one another Anri was knocked away by the attack as his back arched painfully away from the strike losing most of the power in his attack on the man’s skull, doing little more than shake up his vision. Groaning in pain Anri leaned back as his vision shook like a rabid animal making it near to impossible to make anything out even at a close range, he wasn’t sure if he lost conscience but when reality came back to him he was laying amongst the ferns and soil looking up at the stone platform. Standing over him was the chief as the small droplets of blood trickled down from his face and on to Anri’s chest plate, while the majority of his body had been unscathed it was the man’s head that had taken the brunt of the blow. Bending over with a grunt of pain the chief reached his hands around Anri’s neck as if he was a child lifted him too his feet and then some as Anri’s feet no longer touched the ground, as they looked each other eyes
“If you can no longer stand then you can no longer fight, and I’ve one this. Is there anything you would wish to say before I snap your neck?” The words came out cold as if they had been standing at the poles of the world.
“Ya… just one…” Anri coughed as blood splattered across his lips, his voice coming in weak.
Muttering something the chief rose his eye at what Anri had said, leaning in close he tried to make out what he said.
“I could not make that out, what did you say?” His voice called out calmly.
“I said… burn!” His voice rose as a torrent of acid gas spewed from his mouth coating the chief’s face in a blinding layer of acidic gas. Anri grinned as the chief lost his grip on Anri letting him drop down too his a knee, he had been planning the whole thing since he was jumping through the air. During the whole fight the chief had been gaining confidant with every strike he had gotten on him, it came to no surprised when he was whispering his words that the man would lean in to hear better, he had forgotten the most basic thing that every Vennor knew how to do and that was releasing deadly acidic gases.
Holding his hands over his face with pain did the man yell out and cursed with his burning flesh, the attack wouldn’t take long for him to recover from it was just enough time that Anri needed. Already crouching over from being dropped to the ground he was in the prefect position to attack, with as much power as he could force into his legs Anri sprung force with his shoulder at its furthest point away from his body and slammed it straight into the chest of the chief sending him tumbling backwards in a pain as the very strike created a cracking sound, even though he couldn’t see it Anri knew he had broken the man’s chest plate along with Anri’s own shoulder plate as a wave of pain erupted from his arm. It was worth the small amount of pain and Anri’s body came to a stop as the chiefs did not, rolling and failing like a rag doll did his limp body roll just outside of the white line and with that a wave of tension released from Anri’s body. With a smile breaking through his face Anri gave out a low laugh but the pain that rested in his chest quickly put it too rest as his legs gave out under his weight causing him to fall on the ground. Bloody, broken and bleeding he had done it… he had won… it wasn’t a long fight… but damn if it hadn’t been difficult. Anri was a tad upset that he had chosen the path that he did but with the way things had been going there wasn’t much of a chance he would have won it otherwise, he would have preferred the fight stay between interlocked fists and kicks… but the man’s skill was far too great for that. Whatever training he had gone through it was years away from anything that Anri had done as of yet… but it didn’t shock him much since he was Nagachi. Too those that weren’t familiar with Riva, Nagachi was fourth in command of the Vennor military until fifty years ago he died in an explosion on an expedition to take down another military faction… till this day everyone thought him dead… but it seemed as though not ever thing you heard was true.
With the battle over Anri leaned back into the soft soil letting his body rest from the damages he had taken, everything from his legs to his head pounded with pain, as with every heart beat it was sending waves of pain into every part of his body. Anri had gotten into some difficult fights in the past but nothing like this had been… though he wondered what it had been like if he hadn’t held his body back from what it could really do… which begged the question of why the man hadn’t transformed, in such a state Anri would never stood a chance against him even with his transformed skill as well.
“Dad!” The high pitched voice called down from above the trees as Anri looked over too see Syica climbing her way down the tree in a rushed state, her metal claws tearing away at the bark on the trees. Landing a few feet away from her father she rushed over to his side and with one simple motion she cradled his head in her arms.
“Are you ok! Please say something! Dad!” Her voice echoed through the woods.
“…your voice… it’s just like your mother you know that?” His weakened voice called to her. Seeing that her father was at least awake tears rolled down her face Syica buried her face into her father chest, her deep sobs ringing through the area.
Now sitting up Anri took in the sight, feeling bad that he had caused just a joyful person as Syica cry, but it wasn’t as though he had a choice in the matter, it was either beat the man up or get killed himself and the obvious choice didn’t need to be said here. From here Anri’s eyes zoomed in too get a better look at Norigachi’s too get better look at what kind of damage he had done to the man. Already he could make out the deep crack the rested on his chest, and the trickle of blood that was smeared across his face, it was noting fatal, but he wouldn’t be up and around moving for a long while, with such damage done to his plates they would shed natural and be replaced in a few weeks stronger than before, so in the reality of it all Anri had done him a favor in the long run as long as he stated away from combat until they fully healed. Along with the fractured chest plate his face was almost badly burned from the corrosive acid, looking as though the man was having an allergic reaction or placed his face into a fire pt.
“What are we going to do dad? Do you think he’ll go home and tell everyone about us?... I thought he could help us….”
“I don’t know sweet heart… that is up to him.” The two of them turned to look towards Anri who moved backwards at suddenness of them watching him.
“As promised… you are free to go, but before you do I think there are a few things we should discuss… things that might have been kept secret from the public eye… things I think people should know, things that you need to know. Why we are here and just who we really are. I will not force you, but even if you left now you would never make it back to your home in the condition you are in.”
Nagachi’s words intrigued Anri… secrets where things best kept hidden which made it all the more interesting, just what had been kept from him? From everyone? And just who was keeping them from him? But more importantly he really wanted to know who these people were, it was such a backwards place. Nagachi was right about one thing though as strong as his will power was he would never be able to venture back home the way he currently was, broken shoulder plate, bleeding and possibly a few broken ribs, something that he wouldn’t be able to fix on his own without the right tools or completely removing his chest plate and he doubted that these people would have the right tools of the job.
“Alright Nagachi … lets here what you have to say. But remember this I don’t owe you or your people anything, the fact that I’m even staying is because your right, I wouldn’t be able to make it through these jungles… not like this… not now….” His words faded off as he locked eyes with Nagachi.
The climb back up from the base of the forest floor had not been a trip Anri had been looking forward to in his wounded state as it was his arm was barely moveable with the cracked plate of his upper arm digging deep into his flesh, every small movement sending waves of pain through his arm, with small pools of blood dripping from the fresh wound. Anri hadn’t thought much about it before had but there were other ways that the tribe’s people could reach the safety of the higher branches without the need of climbing or having climbing gear in which to make it easier. As it was the trees themselves stretched for at least two miles into the sky making it a difficult trek even for the most well experience climbers, with the claws they used it would have certainly made the trip easier but it appeared that the gear wasn’t something that everyone carried as Anri would learn later in his stay.
Over the time these people had been out here they relied heavily on the forest to provide them with sustenance, everything from their food to their water they took directly from it, but high in the leaves of the tall trees either was scarce, which is why the ventured down to the jungle floor to find every in which they needed to survive. The supplies they took were too numerous in size so they had designed simple lifts that could hold a few tons of material which could be lifted the many miles up by veins woven together from the forest its self, growing along the base of the massive trees there was a plentiful supply for everyone too use. Being as new as they were to the area it took a while before the lifts were readily available as it took quite a long time to weave miles worth of rope by hand, but once the first one was finished they began to pop up along the edges of the village making life there thrive with such unlimited access to the woods without having to climb back up every time one went to the forest in search of food. The lifts were a god send that made it so that people could leave the village and come back in the same day without having to worry about the lack of light in the darkness of the woods, making any climb more dangerous for anyone.
With the two men as wounded as they had been the climb up would have been impossible if not more adding more pain to just how they were feeling now. The slow ride back up was a quite one between Syica, Anri, Nagachi, though it wasn’t as though there was too much to speak of, he man had mentioned that he wished to speak to him before Anri decided to leave but had passed out soon after wards leaving his daughter too be the one to carry it towards the elevator. Right now it was the quite noise of the strain on the ropes to carry all three of them that made any noise, once again the jungle was quite. The occasional glances were shared between Anri and Syica but either one of them knew what to say to one another, the fight had been a hard one and Syica hadn’t seem particularly happy that Anri had one. If it had not been that Anri knew why that was it might have hurt his feelings but the safety of everything she knew was in danger when he returned to the city and told everyone of what he had seen. The thought was defiantly set in his mind, just not for reason of revenge, the fight had been one that he had no animosity towards, do or die for either side and he had agreed towards it. It had felt good to let a few punches off into the man’s skull for all the drugging’s he had gone through but after that was said and done with that was it, Anri never held anything too hard on a person’s shoulder once they had paid for their misdeeds. Anri wanted to tell his people what he had seen for the simple fact they seemed to have a great grasp on the usage and production of the glowing berries, something that his people had be trying to work with for years without any success in it. Which such a knowledge at their fingertips, who knew what they could accomplish.
Reaching higher and higher into the tops the trees did the light from above begin to wash over them, lighting up the darkened shadows on their faces and showing the wounds that either side had taken. Pulling his head back Anri looked above too see the end of their ride coming to a close as they crane that the small lift held on too was only but a dozen or so feet away and as he watched he saw the many eyes that cast down upon them as the rest of the village had been waiting to see the result of the fight. Their reaction as the mumbles reached his ears had been expected, it seemed that everyone was worried of what might have happened but they also seemed surprised that he was coming back up into the village. Just what had happened done there? What had been said? All very good question but nothing that anyone would know till later, right now the two of the fighters needed medical attention though one more than the other. While the chief was passed out held tight in his daughters arms Anri was still wide awake though he thought he would pass out as well if it wasn’t for the fact that is guard was through the roof. The chief had promised that he would go safely free if Anri were to be the victor but now that he was knocked out could he wasn’t sure that his people would keep the same promise.
With the elevator coming to a stop large metal rods came out from the docking platform and slid under the lift locking it in place as it settled into its hold with the rest of the structure. The silence held by everyone was more than enough that a knife would be needed to cut through it, their eyes looking towards their chief and then to the stranger amongst them; holding questions hard in their eyes it was Syica who stood up with her father in her arms that turned to speak to them.
“The fight is over… and the winner is… the outsider.” Her heavy words sank deep into the people as they turned to one another with similar shared glances of dread.
“Geez if everyone wanted me dead that bad maybe I should just go kill myself.”
“My father wished to have words with the man before he departs back to his home but right now he needs medical attention… they both do. So until my father says otherwise Anri will be our guest here and should be treated as such. As stated earlier by my father Anri will not be harmed by any of us by the guideless set when this village was first started. That being said if anyone goes against these rulings then they shall suffer under the weight of out justice and instead of my father, you will be facing me in one to one combat.” Up until the last part Anri could see the hate as they looked over him but at the idea of facing Syica in a fight there eyes looked away, it seemed as no one wanted to face her, and if she was anywhere as strong as her father Anri didn’t either. Turning to face Anri she spoke to him.
“Please follow me if you can and we will treat your wounds the best we can.” Her words didn’t fill him with the up most confidence but he was able to stand under his own wavering strength, taking the lead Syica took great strides as they walked through the crowds and too where ever it might be that a doctor would be around here.
Groaning a the throbbing pain that shot out from his head Anri kept his eyes closed less a bright light make the pain any worse than it currently was, for right now it was best just to listen to what was going on around him rather than seeing with his own eyes. With no idea of just where he was at or who was around him he once again found himself at the mercy of these people, and with the amount of drugs that they seemed to like to use he might be there for a long while… an constant battle between staying awake and being drugged over and over. He wondered if the drug was bad for his body, most drugs whether prescribed or illegal were harmful when too many were taken for too long or many in a short span of time, could there possibility be the same reaction here? A broken liver and a broken person, if this stuff was addictive them he might never be able to leave here, it was next to impossible to find berries in such quantity in the cities but it seemed like these people had an abundance of the damn stuff, enough to keep him in an almost comatose state for hours on end… just how long had been since he ate anything… or for that matter drank anything? There was no way to tell if these people were just leaving him to rot and grow weak before they killed him, or if they were actually taking care of him while he was passed out… other than Syica everyone else seemed to be against him. The reasons why they were out here weren’t exactly clear as of yet but he knew it had something to do with the current government of Riva….
“Hello there…mister sleepy….are you awake?” The voice called out from the blackness of his head. The voice was familiar too him but it was the tapping on his forehead that he fully knew who it was.
“Go away Syica…..” Anri mumbled out as he turned his head away from her hand.
“Oh come on now… don’t be like that, I told you I didn’t WANT to do it. I had too!” She whined.
“Ya… but you still did it….” Anri thought about what he was saying, was she really any different than him? He was a solider after all and the only way he did things is when orders dictated that he should. Her father told her to drug him so she did, could he really be upset about that, after all it was pretty much how he lived his life day to day, if he was going to mad at her then he should have been mad at himself as well.
“…never mind… its fine…shouldn’t be that mad…not that I really can with all this blue swill racing around inside me.”
“Really!” Her voice jumped at his words.
“Ya… ya…. Can’t hold your actions that where asked of you by your elder any more than someone could hold something against me for taking orders. All is forgiven….” He sighed feeling his head twirling as if it was about to fall off.
“Thank you!” Anri jumped slightly as he felt Syica jump on his body and give him a tight squeeze around his shoulders feeling as though his organs would pop out of head like a geyser… wait was she laying on the floor as well? Anri hadn’t thought about it but now that he was paying attention to what was going on around him… gravity seemed off too how it would normally feel if he was laying down. Opening his eyes slowly the world around him was not an enclosed building as when he awoke the first time, now it looked like he was back on the stone slab that seemed to rest in the center of the so called village. Strapped too one of the four trees that surrounded and supported the stone slab he looked forwards the great fire pit that he had first seen those few days ago. Whatever was going on he didn’t like the look of it, whenever executions had occurred in the past it always too place in center of the town so that everyone would watch what was happening. With Syica being a few inches shorter than him Anri was able to get a good look around the area around them from over her shoulder, though it didn’t appear that she even seemed to notice that he was even up and looking around with her arms locked around his body. Clearing his throat too get her attention it seemed as though her mind was elsewhere at the moment, keeping all her focus on that of the embrace.
“Hey….” Anri whispered softly in her ear.
“Ya?” She responded back with a hint of a smile in her voice.
“You think you could let me go now?”
“Oh right! Sorry!” Syica released her grip and took a few steps away from Anri letting him recover from the vice like grip she had, if she had been trying to crush him then he was sure that she would have been able too. Lucky for Anri he didn’t think she would ever hurt anyone on purpose, her kind demeanor suggested she had never raise a hand to anyone before but damn if she ever decided she had the need to kill he wasn’t sure he would want to face her in combat. The most amazing thing about it was that her strength seemed like an innate ability not one which she had spent years working on training with, her body wasn’t built like those who had been working their bodies to the extremes like himself. Compared to other Vennors the woman was much smaller and petite in size her shoulders width not even reaching that of three feet across while Anri himself was around three and a half shoulder width at his widest point. It was at that point that he released that he had been spending maybe just a bit longer than he should have looking at Syica, making him dart his eyes elsewhere. Of course she took notice of his eyes quickly moving off to the side.
“Hey what’s wrong?” She asked with concern in her voice.
“Nothing… just zoning out… guess it’s the drugs.” He did his best to try and play it off as he played with the shackles that bided his hands to the tree he was tied onto. The simple worn iron chains looked as though they had come from the days in which castles loomed over the Great Plains of the east. Usually Anri would have been able to break though such weak metal but he was finding that his strength had all been drained away. Most likely from the drug that ran through his body, who knew just what else it was that it could do as well?
“So what do they have planned for me? It’s not every day that you’re tied to a tree and held in front of everyone to see.” Anri asked as he tried to change from the conversation but from the look in her eyes he knew it didn’t work but she went along with what he had asked.
“Well, to be honest I really don’t have any idea of what is going to happen, I talked to my father for a long time about what to do, tried to convince him that we should spare you and that you should help us but I don’t think it was something that he was going to go through with. So he told me to bring you out here and chain you up, with the drug going through your system there was no way you were going to escape here then I chained you up out here.”
“How nice of you… well I’m not dead yet, so that’s a good sign at least, right?”
“I guess so…father usually doesn’t kill people unless he deems it completely necessary.”
“Could have fooled me Syica, could have fooled me.” Anri said as cheerfully as he could.
It was then that the unlit fire place in the center of the platform burst into life glowing with the strength compared to that of the blue sun igniting, with a multiple flashes of light coming from it, did the fire die back down into a small puddle of flames as it licked at the sky trying to gather its strength once more.
“What was that about?”
“Oh that? It’s our way of telling time around here. You see there was six flashes of light and each one is for one hour, so that means…. Hold on…. I got this….” She looked as though her brain was going to explode with the simple math.
“Six!” Anri coughed the word out.
“Ya six!...wait… I told you I had it!” She puffed her chest out as her and across her hands over her chest.
“I didn’t say anything, I coughed, you got that one all by yourself.”
“I did? I did didn’t I! See I told you I could do itQ” She held her head up proudly with a smile on her face causing Anri to give out a low chuckle, he was surprised that she could even function out here, if it wasn’t for her pure strength he was sure she would have died off years ago.
The low thumping of feet shook the wooden platforms around them which broke off the laughter between the two as they looked around to see what it was that was causing such a sound. Looking down the nearest wooden pathway did Anri see the villagers as they began to exit their houses and make their way towards the stone platform, as if in unison they all walked at the same rate. It almost looked as if it was one of those zombie features they showed at the movies were everyone had turned into some kind of lifeless creature that roamed the streets in search of living flesh, they’re almost blank less faces matched that of the creatures. Turning his head towards Syica he rose his eye brow in question to see if she had any idea of what was going on but she just looked back at him with the same confused look. Whatever was going on it was obvious that she had not been told, did her people not trust her, or had her father told them not to tell her anything? By this point it had become clear that her father, whatever his name was, was the leader in this group of Vennor, strong and smart he was the best choice, and whatever was about to happen there was no doubt that his hand hadn’t been the driving force behind it all.
Coming from every which direction that connected to the stone platform did they stop just short of the entrance, keeping their distance away from them, their blank stares keeping locked on Anri as they waited…but waited for what was the real question here. As the noise that had been built up but their feet quieted did the area grown silent from their nosy foot steeps as the gentle sounds of the world around them kick in; the brushing of the leaves above and the faint calls of creatures that roamed through the high tree tops. Then everything went quite, the trees, the people, even the animals… it seemed as though everything in the great vale grew dim in sound… just for this moment. The silence was broken as the shifting of feet began once more as a small part of the group stepped out of the way as the man Anri knew as their leader and Syica’s father walked without so much as a word too anyone there, as if they all knew what is was that he wanted from them. Passing the crowds of people did the man make it too the stone platform of which the two of them were waiting for his arrival, the man’s eyes never looking once towards Anri’s direction.
Pausing to take his daughter by the arm did he pull her off to his side as he turned around to face the group that had surrounding the platform. Clearing his throat he began to speak, his heavy voice carrying great ways over them.
“Thank you everyone for coming here today… as I’m sure as everyone here knows a unwelcomed visitor has found his way into our village, the only one that has ever made it here before.”
“Found my way here? Pretty sure I was drugged then dragged here….”
“Though rules had been set in for what to do at times like this there had never been a need to address to them until today, it is a sad chapter in our people’s history but it is today that we will act on what was written all those many years ago.” He paused as he scanned out over the masses.
“Man… sounds like this guy came straight out of a movie, or a time rift had opened up and he had been pulled from it. Was someone holding up cue cards for him?”
“As mandated by our rule it is clear what we must do.” He turned to face Anri for the first time since he had arrived, causing Anri who up to his point had been leaned against the tree for support to straighten his back. There was a hate for the man for what he had put him through but too his people he was their leader and as such he showed him the respect he was entitled too.
“Anri, you will face me in one on one combat and the victor will decide the fate of the other. My terms upon your defeat will be the death of you, as our people’s existence and location cannot be told to anyone outside these woods. If it had not been for the rules that govern us you would have been dead long ago… and I realize that upon your arrival I had my people try and kill you and for that I apologize for my actions. That was weak of me.” His words touched Anri, never before had be met a leader that would admit to fault in his own actions… he didn’t know what to say too it.
“If you are the one to claim victory over me what is it that you should wish for?” He asked but it didn’t take but a second for Anri to know what he wanted.
“I ask for my leave of this place without being followed or attack on my venture home. I will already have enough issues getting back as it is without the constant threat of being attacked.”
“Very well but I can only promise you protect from my people, the woes and dangerous of the Jungle are yours to venture on your own, but I make my promise that no one from this village will attack you on your trek home.”
With each other’s words seeming to set well with one another… for the most part the chief turned around to face his people once more.
“The victor’s wishes have been stated! I sure all of you will honor the winner’s wishes!” His voice boomed over the he people as they gave out a loud cheer, it looked as though as different as there two peoples were they still enjoyed a good fight.
“I hope we won’t be fighting here… and I will need a little time to recover from the constant drugging if you want a fair fight, and I’m still having trouble moving my limbs as of right now.”
“Don’t worry about that. Syica, if you would.”
“Of course dad!” Syica piped in as she moved over to Anri’s side and began to dig through the pouch that clung to her side. Pulling out a large needle did she turn to Anri.
“No, fuck no, thousand times fuck no-“Though with no way to fight against it the needle was quickly thrust into his neck as the plunger pushed the fluid deep into his body.
“Son of a-” His words cut off as his head became clear and his body was once again able to move under his own will. Testing his body Anri flex his fingers watching as he was able to move them with fineness.
“See isn’t that better?” Syica smiled as she have a light tap on his head.
“Can I get some of that stuff to go? Geez…” Anri shook his head as his swung his arms forward breaking the chains that binded him to the tree as in the quick motion did a debris of metal scatter across the open area falling off in many directions.
“Much better…. So chief, where we going to do this at? I don’t think there is nearly enough room up-“ His words cut off as the man slammed his board shoulder into Anri chest causing him to fling off the side of the platform and fall down into the deep abyss of the jungle below. With so little time to react to the attack he had not even had a chance to even brace himself for the impact or even grab out to catch himself.
“Fuck!” He cried out as he fell the stories into the building darkness below but as he fell down the light began to grow as he spun over too see that the ground below unlike the rest of the jungle was lit with a series of troches all of which were out lining the distance between the four large trees that held the stone platform above up. It seemed that in the time that he had been passed out drugged these people had been busy building just this arena, looking to be at least fifty feet by fifty feet. It wasn’t the largest space he had ever fought in but it would been more than large enough to have a decent fight in.
With no way of stopping his falling velocity his only choice he had was impact the ground with all of his force on landing, thought having fallen much higher than his before he knew that such a fall would not be one that was fatal in any means of the word. Smashing into the ground as the air whipped past him, ripping up chucks of dirt they scattered into every which direction shattered across the open field, the first of many battle scars that the field would have from the ensuing battle. Groaning with some distaste of having smashed face first into the ground Anri pushed himself up and took in a better look of his surroundings before his opponent would drop down below. Not much of anything was different now that he was this close to the ground but he did take in the white line that seemed to run the length of the torches, looking as though it was the end of the arena in which they would be facing one another.
Coming down next to him in a similar flurry of soil as Anri had done the chief crashed but a few feet away from Anri as he was quickly covered in a shower of dirt and ferns, they had made the field for their fight but it looked as though they had chosen to leave the plants, either way they were going to soon be destroyed. Standing up right he turned to face Anri as he whipped off the dirt which had stuck to his plates in the fall.
“Thanks for the push but I think a simple direction would have worked just as well. And shouldn’t I get a free hit on you?” Anri give off tone of annoyance.
“The rule of the fight are as followed.” The man seemed to ignore Anri’s words.
“First off, energy attacks are not to be used. I do not know if you have such a skill but I say this now in case you hold such a power. Secondly, no fatal strikes, as such vital points are too be ignored such as the neck but everything else is free game. Lastly by now you have seen the outline of the area in which we are fighting in, if either one of us leaves it, the match is over and the victor claims their reward. This fight is not only based off ones strength but their endurance to stay within the boxed area. That having been said, do you have any questions in which you would like to ask before we commence with the duel?” He stated.
“No… it’s pretty much forward, defeat you without leaving the area, I think I can do that.”
“Do you not wish to take your weights off? It leaves you at a great disadvantage.”
“And what? Make this less interesting? I think not, just proves that if I can defeat you with them on just imagine what I could do with them off. My life may be on the line but it doesn’t mean I don’t like a good challenge.” Anri slid his feet apart as he held his fits up, this time he would not let the man get the best of him, he had already gotten two good hits on him and he wasn’t about to let him get another.
“Just one more thing.” Anri noted as the chief was preparing his own stances.
“What is your name? I’d like to know the real identity of the person in which I might die to their hands.”
“…Nagachi…”
“Wait… you don’t mean-“ But it was too late as the chief burst forward in a blur of a movement leaving Anri little time to act as he placed his arms in front of him to block the oncoming attack.
Just as much speed as he had his strength was just as strong as proved earlier when he kicked Anri to the wall. Like the force of a rocket at its max thrust the chiefs attack slammed into Arni’s arms with a screech that matched his strength forcing Anri to go sliding across the field his feet burying deep into the soil building up as he went further and further. It wasn’t until the strength of Anri’s legs that kicked in that his progress slowed coming just short of the edge of the field. The attack its self wasn’t meant to be painful it was meant to knock him out of the arena in one blow ending the fight before it had truly even started. Recovering from the blow Anri took notice that where the chief’s fist had landed his plates were smoking from the intense speed the man had put into it.
“Damn… I guess you’re not looking too have some fun with this are you?” Anri called out too him but with the look the man held on his face Anri could tell that the man was not interested in talk anymore.
“Very well….” Anri held is hands back up readying himself for any upcoming attacks but he was going to need to gain some distance between himself and the edge of the ring, one fatal push now would leave him out of luck and out of a life.
Ripping his feet from the soil in which they were pressed Anri lept forward charging towards the man to strike him but to get away from the edge as well, in blur of a moment that matched that of the speed of the chief Anri zoomed across the field and slammed his fist into the man as he put his arms up to block the attack Anri had expected about as much coming from the man but the following counter he implemented was not. Using the force of the attack did the chief spin around using his foot as a pivot, letting Anri slip past him as though his forceful attack and been nothing more than a simple push did he turn full circle with a multitude of quick jabs into the open spots in Anri’s plated body, though the Vennor didn’t have many weak points with the thick armor that covered their bodies the open joints were the most venerable places to hit. Cringing from the pain that burned through his body Anri flew across the field tumbling as he made contact with the soil as he pulled at the ground to find anything to slow him movement. Stopping just inches away from the other side of the area he took a deep breath too look towards the chief, his face still has hard as the stone that rested above them. It was obvious that this man was much older than he looked his skills and strength would only come from someone that had great age and with that came experience, on top of that his fighting expertise was amazing from what he had seen, and not many people could counter such attacks with ease or know how. Before the fight had begun he thought the man was just strong but he had proven that his power also came with great skills… he was going to have to fight the man with abnormal methods if he was ever going to stand a chance of beating him… he just hoped that he didn’t transform… with just how quick and powerful his attacks where now… he didn’t want to think what he could do to him at that point.
Finding his breath returning Anri stood up weakly from his knees his stance was shaky from the blows he had sustained too his inner knees but he wasn’t about to let a few hits take him down, not with how much was on the line. Giving off a low growl of rage Arni lunged forward once more but not nearly as quick as he had done before, and there was two reasons for it; his legs screamed in pain from the shoots that been delivered upon them but also because he moved too fast the man would be able to use it force against once more. Holding his ground the chief waited with his stance rock hard, locked in a balance between flexibility and strength, it was the prefect stance for counters but he could also deliver a power strike with little time needed to adjust it. Sliding into striking distance once more Anri launched another strike towards the man but this time his fist was aimed towards the man’s face, the primary source of every sensory that he had, whether it was sight or hearing if he was able to take at least one of them out then the odds would be in his favor. Slapping Anri’s hand off to the side with as little ease as before he thrust his fist out to hit Anri as he whizzed by but this was what Anri was counting on. Tumbling forward in the style of a roll did Anri barley dodge the thrown punch but it was his foot that swung up behind him that caught the chiefs out stretched arm sending the man leaning forward at an odd angle, coming back up from the end of the roll Anri placed his hands face down on the forest floor and spun his body sending the side of his foot into the chiefs head with a loud crack that sent the man falling off to the side and into the dirt. Finishing the roll Arni spun on his heels to face the man before he had the chance to get back up, readying himself for another attack.
Anri hadn’t realized it when he was in the process of his attack but even with the weights that pulled him down the strike had been hard enough to crack the plate that rested on the side of his head, truly a feat was difficult even too the most skilled Vennor but he had done it, and the chief was coming to realized just what he was facing. Crouching on the ground he clinched his hand on the side of his face feeling the blood that trickled from the first wound. As Anri he had not expected the kick too be as powerful, even enough that it could draw blood.
“…impressive… you have an amazing ability to change your fighting style in mid combat… not many people have such a skill… none the less it will not save you from your demise today.” Taking a deep breath did the man stand up face Anri and in a second the man became a blur as he disappeared from Anri’s sight, without even so much as any time to look at where he had gone did the chiefs hands crack Anri over the skull sending him buckling over with a ring that vibrated through his head. Following up with another strike to the side of his chest with his leg did Anri go sprawling across the ferns. Though the strike had not been one that he been expecting did he come to a stop a few feet away with a grimace of pain on his face. Even with the plates over his body the attack still hurt, if not for the persistent ring in his head then from the explosive pain in his ribs, he wasn’t sure but it felt as though a few of them were broken from the hit. Recovering from the attack was going to take much longer than he had time for, as even now the chief came charging towards him once more, a trail of blood follow in his wake. This was not good, his breath was coming in ragged, he could barely see straight and he had a charging beast coming straight towards him. With no chance to make any move to either side he had to do something, anything before he brought him to the ground or worse pushed him from the arena. With all the strength in his legs Anri lunged into the air avoiding the chief as he sped under his feet, it wasn’t the best plan of action but it bought Anri some time to think of something, anything really, his strength alone wasn’t going to take the chief down and the man’s skills in combat were way beyond his… there was always the weight… they slowed him down a great amount and with them off they would make this fight much easier if not one sided… but it would it be worth victory if he limited the challenge of the fight? The weak perish, and the strong survived and flourished… even if he was to win would the victory only make him weaker? What was the point of victory then?
It was during this thought process as he rose higher into the air that the chief had decided to take flight as well, it would take too long to wait for Anri to fall back down and it also gave him the advantage of having the upper ground and releasing a deadly aerial strike, something of which might end the fight here and their if he gave him the chance. With Anri falling back down as his original speed wearing off he found himself racing ever closer to the chief and with his little experience of fighting while in midair it was not the ideal place for him to be. Unknowing to Anri the chief had great skill when it came to fighting in midair, with the claws they used to climb it had almost become a necessity to do it. With the built up sped still behind the chief he closed as thrust up with a forceful upper cut at the same time Anri cupped his fists to getter to land a strike on the man’s head. Hitting at the same time as one another Anri was knocked away by the attack as his back arched painfully away from the strike losing most of the power in his attack on the man’s skull, doing little more than shake up his vision. Groaning in pain Anri leaned back as his vision shook like a rabid animal making it near to impossible to make anything out even at a close range, he wasn’t sure if he lost conscience but when reality came back to him he was laying amongst the ferns and soil looking up at the stone platform. Standing over him was the chief as the small droplets of blood trickled down from his face and on to Anri’s chest plate, while the majority of his body had been unscathed it was the man’s head that had taken the brunt of the blow. Bending over with a grunt of pain the chief reached his hands around Anri’s neck as if he was a child lifted him too his feet and then some as Anri’s feet no longer touched the ground, as they looked each other eyes
“If you can no longer stand then you can no longer fight, and I’ve one this. Is there anything you would wish to say before I snap your neck?” The words came out cold as if they had been standing at the poles of the world.
“Ya… just one…” Anri coughed as blood splattered across his lips, his voice coming in weak.
Muttering something the chief rose his eye at what Anri had said, leaning in close he tried to make out what he said.
“I could not make that out, what did you say?” His voice called out calmly.
“I said… burn!” His voice rose as a torrent of acid gas spewed from his mouth coating the chief’s face in a blinding layer of acidic gas. Anri grinned as the chief lost his grip on Anri letting him drop down too his a knee, he had been planning the whole thing since he was jumping through the air. During the whole fight the chief had been gaining confidant with every strike he had gotten on him, it came to no surprised when he was whispering his words that the man would lean in to hear better, he had forgotten the most basic thing that every Vennor knew how to do and that was releasing deadly acidic gases.
Holding his hands over his face with pain did the man yell out and cursed with his burning flesh, the attack wouldn’t take long for him to recover from it was just enough time that Anri needed. Already crouching over from being dropped to the ground he was in the prefect position to attack, with as much power as he could force into his legs Anri sprung force with his shoulder at its furthest point away from his body and slammed it straight into the chest of the chief sending him tumbling backwards in a pain as the very strike created a cracking sound, even though he couldn’t see it Anri knew he had broken the man’s chest plate along with Anri’s own shoulder plate as a wave of pain erupted from his arm. It was worth the small amount of pain and Anri’s body came to a stop as the chiefs did not, rolling and failing like a rag doll did his limp body roll just outside of the white line and with that a wave of tension released from Anri’s body. With a smile breaking through his face Anri gave out a low laugh but the pain that rested in his chest quickly put it too rest as his legs gave out under his weight causing him to fall on the ground. Bloody, broken and bleeding he had done it… he had won… it wasn’t a long fight… but damn if it hadn’t been difficult. Anri was a tad upset that he had chosen the path that he did but with the way things had been going there wasn’t much of a chance he would have won it otherwise, he would have preferred the fight stay between interlocked fists and kicks… but the man’s skill was far too great for that. Whatever training he had gone through it was years away from anything that Anri had done as of yet… but it didn’t shock him much since he was Nagachi. Too those that weren’t familiar with Riva, Nagachi was fourth in command of the Vennor military until fifty years ago he died in an explosion on an expedition to take down another military faction… till this day everyone thought him dead… but it seemed as though not ever thing you heard was true.
With the battle over Anri leaned back into the soft soil letting his body rest from the damages he had taken, everything from his legs to his head pounded with pain, as with every heart beat it was sending waves of pain into every part of his body. Anri had gotten into some difficult fights in the past but nothing like this had been… though he wondered what it had been like if he hadn’t held his body back from what it could really do… which begged the question of why the man hadn’t transformed, in such a state Anri would never stood a chance against him even with his transformed skill as well.
“Dad!” The high pitched voice called down from above the trees as Anri looked over too see Syica climbing her way down the tree in a rushed state, her metal claws tearing away at the bark on the trees. Landing a few feet away from her father she rushed over to his side and with one simple motion she cradled his head in her arms.
“Are you ok! Please say something! Dad!” Her voice echoed through the woods.
“…your voice… it’s just like your mother you know that?” His weakened voice called to her. Seeing that her father was at least awake tears rolled down her face Syica buried her face into her father chest, her deep sobs ringing through the area.
Now sitting up Anri took in the sight, feeling bad that he had caused just a joyful person as Syica cry, but it wasn’t as though he had a choice in the matter, it was either beat the man up or get killed himself and the obvious choice didn’t need to be said here. From here Anri’s eyes zoomed in too get a better look at Norigachi’s too get better look at what kind of damage he had done to the man. Already he could make out the deep crack the rested on his chest, and the trickle of blood that was smeared across his face, it was noting fatal, but he wouldn’t be up and around moving for a long while, with such damage done to his plates they would shed natural and be replaced in a few weeks stronger than before, so in the reality of it all Anri had done him a favor in the long run as long as he stated away from combat until they fully healed. Along with the fractured chest plate his face was almost badly burned from the corrosive acid, looking as though the man was having an allergic reaction or placed his face into a fire pt.
“What are we going to do dad? Do you think he’ll go home and tell everyone about us?... I thought he could help us….”
“I don’t know sweet heart… that is up to him.” The two of them turned to look towards Anri who moved backwards at suddenness of them watching him.
“As promised… you are free to go, but before you do I think there are a few things we should discuss… things that might have been kept secret from the public eye… things I think people should know, things that you need to know. Why we are here and just who we really are. I will not force you, but even if you left now you would never make it back to your home in the condition you are in.”
Nagachi’s words intrigued Anri… secrets where things best kept hidden which made it all the more interesting, just what had been kept from him? From everyone? And just who was keeping them from him? But more importantly he really wanted to know who these people were, it was such a backwards place. Nagachi was right about one thing though as strong as his will power was he would never be able to venture back home the way he currently was, broken shoulder plate, bleeding and possibly a few broken ribs, something that he wouldn’t be able to fix on his own without the right tools or completely removing his chest plate and he doubted that these people would have the right tools of the job.
“Alright Nagachi … lets here what you have to say. But remember this I don’t owe you or your people anything, the fact that I’m even staying is because your right, I wouldn’t be able to make it through these jungles… not like this… not now….” His words faded off as he locked eyes with Nagachi.
The climb back up from the base of the forest floor had not been a trip Anri had been looking forward to in his wounded state as it was his arm was barely moveable with the cracked plate of his upper arm digging deep into his flesh, every small movement sending waves of pain through his arm, with small pools of blood dripping from the fresh wound. Anri hadn’t thought much about it before had but there were other ways that the tribe’s people could reach the safety of the higher branches without the need of climbing or having climbing gear in which to make it easier. As it was the trees themselves stretched for at least two miles into the sky making it a difficult trek even for the most well experience climbers, with the claws they used it would have certainly made the trip easier but it appeared that the gear wasn’t something that everyone carried as Anri would learn later in his stay.
Over the time these people had been out here they relied heavily on the forest to provide them with sustenance, everything from their food to their water they took directly from it, but high in the leaves of the tall trees either was scarce, which is why the ventured down to the jungle floor to find every in which they needed to survive. The supplies they took were too numerous in size so they had designed simple lifts that could hold a few tons of material which could be lifted the many miles up by veins woven together from the forest its self, growing along the base of the massive trees there was a plentiful supply for everyone too use. Being as new as they were to the area it took a while before the lifts were readily available as it took quite a long time to weave miles worth of rope by hand, but once the first one was finished they began to pop up along the edges of the village making life there thrive with such unlimited access to the woods without having to climb back up every time one went to the forest in search of food. The lifts were a god send that made it so that people could leave the village and come back in the same day without having to worry about the lack of light in the darkness of the woods, making any climb more dangerous for anyone.
With the two men as wounded as they had been the climb up would have been impossible if not more adding more pain to just how they were feeling now. The slow ride back up was a quite one between Syica, Anri, Nagachi, though it wasn’t as though there was too much to speak of, he man had mentioned that he wished to speak to him before Anri decided to leave but had passed out soon after wards leaving his daughter too be the one to carry it towards the elevator. Right now it was the quite noise of the strain on the ropes to carry all three of them that made any noise, once again the jungle was quite. The occasional glances were shared between Anri and Syica but either one of them knew what to say to one another, the fight had been a hard one and Syica hadn’t seem particularly happy that Anri had one. If it had not been that Anri knew why that was it might have hurt his feelings but the safety of everything she knew was in danger when he returned to the city and told everyone of what he had seen. The thought was defiantly set in his mind, just not for reason of revenge, the fight had been one that he had no animosity towards, do or die for either side and he had agreed towards it. It had felt good to let a few punches off into the man’s skull for all the drugging’s he had gone through but after that was said and done with that was it, Anri never held anything too hard on a person’s shoulder once they had paid for their misdeeds. Anri wanted to tell his people what he had seen for the simple fact they seemed to have a great grasp on the usage and production of the glowing berries, something that his people had be trying to work with for years without any success in it. Which such a knowledge at their fingertips, who knew what they could accomplish.
Reaching higher and higher into the tops the trees did the light from above begin to wash over them, lighting up the darkened shadows on their faces and showing the wounds that either side had taken. Pulling his head back Anri looked above too see the end of their ride coming to a close as they crane that the small lift held on too was only but a dozen or so feet away and as he watched he saw the many eyes that cast down upon them as the rest of the village had been waiting to see the result of the fight. Their reaction as the mumbles reached his ears had been expected, it seemed that everyone was worried of what might have happened but they also seemed surprised that he was coming back up into the village. Just what had happened done there? What had been said? All very good question but nothing that anyone would know till later, right now the two of the fighters needed medical attention though one more than the other. While the chief was passed out held tight in his daughters arms Anri was still wide awake though he thought he would pass out as well if it wasn’t for the fact that is guard was through the roof. The chief had promised that he would go safely free if Anri were to be the victor but now that he was knocked out could he wasn’t sure that his people would keep the same promise.
With the elevator coming to a stop large metal rods came out from the docking platform and slid under the lift locking it in place as it settled into its hold with the rest of the structure. The silence held by everyone was more than enough that a knife would be needed to cut through it, their eyes looking towards their chief and then to the stranger amongst them; holding questions hard in their eyes it was Syica who stood up with her father in her arms that turned to speak to them.
“The fight is over… and the winner is… the outsider.” Her heavy words sank deep into the people as they turned to one another with similar shared glances of dread.
“Geez if everyone wanted me dead that bad maybe I should just go kill myself.”
“My father wished to have words with the man before he departs back to his home but right now he needs medical attention… they both do. So until my father says otherwise Anri will be our guest here and should be treated as such. As stated earlier by my father Anri will not be harmed by any of us by the guideless set when this village was first started. That being said if anyone goes against these rulings then they shall suffer under the weight of out justice and instead of my father, you will be facing me in one to one combat.” Up until the last part Anri could see the hate as they looked over him but at the idea of facing Syica in a fight there eyes looked away, it seemed as no one wanted to face her, and if she was anywhere as strong as her father Anri didn’t either. Turning to face Anri she spoke to him.
“Please follow me if you can and we will treat your wounds the best we can.” Her words didn’t fill him with the up most confidence but he was able to stand under his own wavering strength, taking the lead Syica took great strides as they walked through the crowds and too where ever it might be that a doctor would be around here.