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Anima tried to ignore the burning ache in her gut, and the curious cold, leaden sensation below her waist. Even so, she still had some fight left. She knew that Reaver was going to try to finish her before she had a chance to steal his body. after all, he had already admitted as much, that he knew her capabilities. So there was no way he wouldn't take such action. That led to the logical conclusion that she had to pull out all the stops. Even before the Death Beam lanced out at her, she was changing. Bulking up, growing heavier, more massive. Her very form changing. The transformation into her draconian self wouldn't do much for her injuries, especially with the sword still in her. But it would buy her time, and grant her a better vantage to try to press her own attack. after all, if she was just out of reach and suddenly more than quadrupled in size... Of course, she'd still be hit by the attacks, but thanks to the new form she had taken, the Death Beam wouldn't be aimed at her head any more, but rather another gut wound. She pushed herself as much as she could to make contact with Reaver, her new size making that a much more likely prospect even as she screamed in pain, the fiery sword charring her already horribly wounded innards.
(233 plus 4630 is 4863 out of ???)

One moment Anima felt that she might manage to pull it off, might manage to buck the odds and survive. Then Reaver vanished. She would have cursed, but the blood filling her lungs made speech, and breathing, almost impossible. She still knew where he went, she could still sense his presence. An instant later, all she could sense was pain, as his blade and technique tore into her. even with the increase in defense that her armored hide represented, this was still more than she could take. Spitting out a splash of red, she managed to gurgle out a few words before the darkness took her. "Even... through death, I'll... not give up... I'll return..." With that, she slumped down as the damage reached the point of no return. Her consciousness quickly fled, off to a new destination, some place no mortal could go while alive. thus, the Seven-star Shadow Dragon was dead. Dead, but not forgotten. And where there was remembrance, there was a chance of resurrection. The cycle would continue, eventually she would draw breath once more. Until then, she would have to face a not so final judgment.
(192 plus 4863 is 5055 out of ???)

Ryan had to have chosen one of the worst spots to travel to the Kame House New Turtle School. It took him nearly an hour at a casual flying speed. But this only meant that he could use his newly learned power of teleportation in the case of if he ever needed to return. As the school grew closer in view, Ryan's stomach let out a growl of hunger that nearly stopped him dead in mid flight. He hoped they would be willing to spare a meal to a traveling student of the martial arts. Then again, they might say it was foolish to travel without food. Whatever the case would be, Ryan continued towards the New Turtle School and began to notice students sparring on the beach. Fighting on sand was definitely a different experience than fighting on harder ground. You had to be able to find a good packed spot, or risk slipping from the sand sliding out from under your feet. Also, sand in an open wounds just adds more insult to the injury by upping the pain. Ryan remembers this experience from his younger days of training with his father.

Ryan shook his head, and quit reminiscing, as he had now reached the school. The young swordsman touched down and nodded in greeting to anyone that paid him any mind, and the ones that did returned the nod. Ryan was about to make it to the house when someone called out loudly to his friends in mocking Ryan's Gunblade. "Hah! Look at this guy! He thinks it fit to come learn from our Master while he relies on a sword to do his fighting?"

Ryan turned to take a look at the guy and then walked over. "I'm sorry. Can you say that again?"

"I said, what do you think you're doing by showing up here with that blade of yours? Need a crutch to fight with?" He and a couple of others laughed, while the rest paid no mind.

"You, me, now. I don't need my blade to prove you wrong."

"Oh, look, he thinks he can beat me!"

Ryan powered up to max, his green aura blazing up around him, and flowing quickly upwards. "Do I look like I'm joking? Come on, tough guy! Prove I need my Gunblade. Prove that I need a crutch!"

"That will be enough!" An old man with a turtle shell on his back and a cane in his hand walked out and approached Ryan and his aggressor. "Foolish boy, how many times do I have to say, that with thinking like that, everyone is a better fighter than you? Show respect for the rest of the teachings and styles, and they shall do the same for you. Disrespect them, and you disgrace yourself and your own fighting style!" He then turned to Ryan, who's aura had died down at the appearance of a Master. "You there, boy, What brings you to my island?" He raised an eyebrow, as if to judge Ryan's reaction.

"I've come to learn, Master. To further one's teachings, one must first master his fighting style, and then expand to more styles. I know I will never be able to master the Turtle Style or the Crane Style, as they are not my home School, but I do know there is at least a little bit I can learn here."

The master seemed satisfied with this, as he closed his eyes and nodded. It was then that Ryan's stomach growled. "Well boy, it seems you need to eat lunch before we further your learning. Come, follow me." The Master led Ryan inside and sat down in front of an old table, with food already on it. "Training makes students hungry, so we always have a steady rotation of fresh food. Please, eat.

Ryan bowed in thanks before he grabbed a plate and began to eat. It was mostly fish, with some vegetables, but it was all good. When Ryan was finished, he sat back and thanked the Master. All the master did was tell Ryan to wait half an hour, then to meet him outside to further his training.

After half an hour, Ryan walked outside to see the Master instructing a group of five students. All of them were facing the sea to the east, and he was instructing them on the Kamehameha wave. The master motioned Ryan over and pointed to a spot next to the student from earlier that remarked about Ryan using a sword. The Master continued to speak afterwards. "Now students, the Kamehameha Wave has been the staple technique of the Turtle School ever since I was a student way back when. But, there is the simple fact that we in fact do allow students from other schools to learn because it is not a specialized attack. Take the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School for example. The Burning Attack, which I'm sure our guest here knows, is available to all to learn. It was the staple attack of Trunks. It is not held back because it is such a widely known attack. Just like the Kamehameha or my very own Destructo Discs. Some variants are School Specific, though, and the Kikoukenjutsu Sword School's Kamatachi is such a technique. It requires a blade. But do not be fooled by the fact that it is a Sword School. There is also a hand to hand Martial Arts style to be learned there as well, as every Swordsman knows that there are those times in which your blade is not readily available. Now that I have that out of the way, let us continue with our training, hm?" The Master turned around and began instructing once more. "Now, the main point is to focus your ki into your palms, and charge it. The arm motion is to guide the ki into the attack, like such." He brings his hands together at front. "Ka me..." He then pulls them back to his right side. "Ha me..." Lastly he thrusts them forwards and out shoots a blue beam. "Ha!" He fires it for a couple of seconds before stopping the attack. "Now, you all try."

In unison, the group of them brought their hands together at front. "Ka me..." Then, all at once, they brought their hands to their right side, as shown before. "Ha me..." Ki begins showing through the gaps in Ryan's fingers, the light showing through the gaps between the fingers. Ryan then thrusts them forward. "HA!" A blue beam shoots forth from Ryan's hands, and stops after a couple of seconds. He noticed there was only one beam. His.

"Well well, I am impressed. I thought for sure my students that had been practicing this very technique for a week would have gotten it by now. Tell me, boy. What is your name?"

"Greyson, Ryan Greyson, Master."

"Well, Ryan Greyson. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Master, I believe I have learned enough for now. If I ever feel the need, I will return. But, I saw a flyer for a tournament, and I think I'm going to go join."

"Very well then. Use what you have learned and test yourself. I will be keeping up with the rankings." The Master then turned and began instructing his students once more as Ryan took to the skies and headed for the Tournament registration.

(1232 words. 1232+586=1818-800 for Kamehameha Wave - 1000 for two stat ups. 18 words left)