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 Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:06 pm
 Kujaku grins up at Ashura, "You just keep dodging the obvious don't you? Sure...all of your reasons are sound. I can go along with everything you just said, it makes sense. Except for one thing that I keep sayin. You still could have picked so many other mortals. The whole Yokoshima buisness is just dandy and everything, but lots of other mortals have proven just as powerful as that one there. You could have selected any other champion...but I know more than you think Ashura. You were the one who tipped off Karura about your temple, and just "happened" to suggest that the summoner she's friendliest with should try his skill at climbing up the volcano. You were the one who nearly trampled me to death when I walked past you laughing my head off because Karura was comforting that same summoner about his relationship issues. Karura was lost in a dimension of blizzards for a week because you tossed her into that portal so casually. And...Lord Ashura...you were the one who begged Souma to leave her dimension of shadow, to drag her butt up here and square off against a mortal whom she couldn't give a grunny tail about. You picked this mortal Ashura, he didn't just wander up to your temple by accident. And summoning those Water sprites like he did? The Ashura I remember would have roasted the insulent mortal right there on the spot. Face it Ashura...something about that particular mortal facinates you...and even you don't understand why."
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:09 pm
Ashura's hand bursts into flame, and without turning away from Raiden's fight, Ashura swipes at Kujaku like a person swatting at a mosquito.
Kujaku vanishes into the pool of blood, leaving his hat behind for a moment. A hand slowly rises out of the blood pool, and very swiftly tugs the hat down. The pool of blood shrinks until it vanishes completly.
Ashura turns and looks at the spot where Kujaku vanished. There is a troubled look on his face. His eyes flicker back to Raiden for a moment, then the god vanishes in a burst of golden flame.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 3:24 pm
Souma appears in front of Raiden, but relaxes her stance. Raiden relaxes too.
"What? Is the fight over?"
Souma points to the sky, which is beginning to darken. Then she vanishes. Raiden sighs.
"Sorry Lord Ashura, I didn't..." He realizes that Ashura is no longer there.
Raiden covers his face in his hands.
"Crap. I was really that bad? I guess Lord Ashura got bored and left."
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 3:28 pm
Raiden returns to the shack, and is immediatly confronted by Oliver's angry personality. The little black goat nudges Raiden's legs and tugs at his clothes. Raiden however ignores this and prepares himself a simple dinner.
"How can I beat her by using armor? I can't just defend, and she doesn't seem to tire easily. I wonder if there's a specific item hidden in the Ashura's Soul that'll help."
Raiden continues to wonder as he crawls into bed and falls asleep.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 3:30 pm
In his dreams, an idea begins to form in Raiden's mind. It is an intangible vision, impossible to describe, but when he wakes up, Raiden's mind feels clearer than it did the night before.
He leaves the house and walks back to the feild to wait for Souma.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:04 pm
Raiden hears a noise behind him, and turns just in time to see Souma lunging at him with her electric spear. He shifts the soul gem into gauntlets to block the attack, then jumps back and assumes a ready stance.
"I'm ready. Let's begin."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:07 pm
Oliver the goat wanders out of the shack and flops down in the grass to watch Raiden's spar. It seems to be the same as the spar from the day before. Souma attacks Raiden from seemingly nowhere, while Raiden dodges and guards her attacks. His timing seems to have improved, but he still doesn't seem any closer to beating Souma.
Oliver lets out a bored bleat and continues to watch.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:11 pm
Souma appears a few paces away from Raiden. She gives him a serious glare, and taps the spear on the ground. The electric pulsing at the end of the spear seems to increase in power. She vanishes, then re-appears, up from the ground, striking at Raiden's stomach. Raiden blocks with the gauntlets, but is still blasted back a good distance.
When he picks himself up off the ground, Raiden is covered in dirt and bruises.
"Looks like I can't block a hit that powerful...unless I have a stronger shield or armor item."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:15 pm
Souma dives into the ground and vanishes. Raiden closes his eyes and stands very still, knowing he has only moments before his opponent will strike.
He tries to focus on his dream from the previous night. He can remember something powerful, the feeling of being protected...and a strange silver face.
Suddenly, Raiden is shoved back several paces and there is a heavy sound, like a person falling to the ground.
Raiden opens his eyes to find Souma crouching on the ground in front of him, like a wild animal ready to strike.
On Raiden's arm is an intricate shield, resembling the face he saw in his dream.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:18 pm
Souma vanishes again. Raiden waits, then holds the shield above his head as he hears the sound of something descending from above. Souma becomes visible again as her spear strikes the shield. The shield refuses to crack or break, and Souma leaps back and takes up a defensive stance for the first time during the fight.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:20 pm
Raiden feels a power building up inside the shield. Suddenly, a long spike bursts from the top of the shield and the mouth opens. A ball of red energy bursts from it and fires at Souma. Caught unawares, Souma is hit directly, and crumples to the ground.
Surprised, Raiden rushes over to her, and helps the goddess of stealth to her feet.
"Um...I guess our spar is over then?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:27 pm
It is over. You successfully gained the ability to use the Soul Shield. It is an excellent item which will absorb the force that your enemy throws at it, then it converts that force into an energy pulse which you can fire back. The purpose of this exercise was to help you discover that item for yourself. Along with that shield, you found the gauntlets and sandals which helped you a good deal. If you concentrated your focus on your head, the soul gem could also have changed into various head armor. If you can't dodge your enemy's attack, try to focus on the area you want to block, and the soul gem will protect you.
Lord Ashura speaks as though he were standing just beside Oliver the entire time, but it is the first time Raiden has seen him since leaving the shack.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:33 pm
Souma, still silent, shakes Raiden's hand, then kisses his palm. The goddess then vanishes in an instant.
That's her way of saying that she will answer your call if you summon her. It seems the goddess of stealth is impressed with your abilities Raiden.
Raiden turns to Ashura, shifting the shield back into a hair accessory.
"What about you Lord Ashura? I know I've only started training with your gift, but I feel that I am making good progress. How do you feel about me?"
Lord Ashura seems strangely surprised at the question and coughs before responding.
"Ahem...well, for a mortal...I'd say you show more potential than most. But as far as standing up to Yokoshima, you've a long way to go."
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:46 pm
Part 5: Trials and Blades
Raiden nods.
"Ok, then I'm ready for the next challenge. I need to use the full potential of the Ashura's Soul Gem to help Kyla and the others. So there's no time to rest or celebrate my accomplishments. Time for that when I've actually been useful to my friends and repaid them for the times when I've failed them."
Ashura nods and snaps his fingers. Raiden instantly finds himself inside a sealed room. At either end of the room is a wall, covered in menacing steel spikes. There is a creaking sound, and both walls move half an inch closer to the center of the room...where Raiden is standing.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:54 pm
Ashura's voice fills the room, though the lord of flame cannot be seen. Raiden is actually standing in the same place, and Ashura simply created the room around him. Ashura is standing just outside the room. The room is not transparent, so Raiden cannot see out of it, but being a deity, Ashura can look through the walls as easily as one can look through a window.
The spiked walls at the ends of the room will move towards you half an inch every 30 minutes. You have 24 hours to produce the Ashura Blade, or you will be crushed. This blade is so powerful that it will slice through the walls that currently menace you. It is my weapon of choice, and the most difficult weapon to summon from the soul gem. One must be placed in conditions of extreme peril in order to use it. Conditions of peril increase your focus on your own desire to live. You will be forced to reflect on your reasons for wanting to fight and survive. Only a very strong heart and will can call that blade out. You have 24 hours...good luck.
His voice fades.
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