Continuing onward with Alaric until the entrance of the forest, Ignazio got a slight chill down his back as he remembered the exam that he and a few others had to undergo in the forest, although he knew the threats within the forest, were typically not as dangerous as they were that time. Ignazio looked around for the opening he and Victor created awhile back and noticed that the hole was still in the barrier. The amount of Miasma that leaked out over time lowered the tainted feeling within the forest as it seemed relatively safe to enter without any form of medicine. Iganzio was quite happy they didn’t seal off the entrance that the group made for themselves. Ignazio lead the way towards the forest and pointed between two trees. ”Enter through here only, this is the entrance through the barrier, you might not be able to see it, but the barrier is very active and dangerous and touching it isn’t a wise choice. A fellow member of my class helped me create this entrance actually, we never sealed it, just because of the fact it would make a good area for training in the middle of day and during holidays. This is the only way in and out though, I won’t be allowing you to leave after you enter. Once you enter, I’ll give you five minutes to get as far from me as possible. Your goal is to hide your presence and take me out before I can take you out. If you can’t hide your presence in an area like this while your demonic energy is a stronger in this type of area then you might as well become a candle light for any enemy.”
Ignazio crossed his arms and then turned his back to Alaric. ”Just know, I have a tracking range of five hundred meters, and that’s not including any clues you leave behind for me on the ground, trees, and whatever else that may be around.” Ignazio said as he turned and faced Alaric again. ”You might want to start running now, I started your five minutes about two minutes ago, by the way.” Ignazio said with a cheerful smirk as he slowly started to reach for his holster that held his familiar tarot cards. His left hand slowly reaching towards the opening of his blazer for another weapon of some sort; or at least it appeared. His hand was flat like a knife as he started to widen his stance and look towards Alaric as he counted the seconds down in his head.
Alaric kept his gaze on the massive forest that they were walking up too. As they got closer he could feel his stomach knot up slightly, the odd feeling he got from this forest just got worse and worse. Even though Alaric wasn't the best at sensing aura, but he could still sense that there was a lot of danger within this forest. Finally they got to the entrance of the forest, he was a bit surprise their was an opening within a barrier that a senior exorcist most likely made. They made their way through the opening of the barrier, he couldn't help to think how Ignazio and his fellow student was able to make a opening with a barrier like this and not have anyone notice. A few thought came across his mind, he was kinda curious what would happen if he did touch the barrier, but didn't attempt it since it could hurt him or even send off a warning to the person who made the barrier in the first place and he didn't want a senior exorcist to show up and ruining his training. Now the thought that this was the only way he could leave, he knew Ignazio wasn't going to allow him to leave, but with their only being one opening that statement became so much more true.
Hide his presences? The training was already starting off to be a problem for him. He questioned himself, Alaric never did take the time to learn how to control his demonic energy to that extent. Granted he knew how to use his demonic energy, but actually hiding wasn't something he had knowledge about. His father only taught him face to face combat, with that type of training there was no need to hide your energy. Alaric felt like this was going to be a game of cat and mouse, with Alaric playing the mouse. "I have a feeling this is going to be a intense game of hide and seek," with that thought he let out a sigh. If it was a one and one type of fight he could at least be able to have some type of chance, but since he has to hide himself and his presence before he attack will lower his chances a bit. However this is what Alaric wanted, a training that will test every limit of his ability and if he only did simple one on one fight he wouldn't grow as a Exorcist. Eyes widen in surprised when he was told he only has three minutes to get as far away from Ignazio as he can and hide his presence, so without hesitation he sprinted deeper into the forest.
Twigs broke underneath his feet as he ran deeper and deeper into the forest, "Damn it I need to figure something out. I could easily just manipulate the wind and fly over the leaves and branches, so there wouldn't be a trail, but that requires me to use my demonic energy and the whole point is too hide it," he muttered under his breath. Different plans race through his head, some was good ones, but defeat the whole purpose of this exercise and others were honestly stupid. "I have to at least make it harder to track," he said as he turned left from his path. He made a trail of broken leaves and branches before he back flip up into the air and on to a tree branches. With light footing he made sure he didn't cause the branch the make much movement, he then began to go the opposite direction of the trail he made and with him on tree branch it would make a less of a trail, but he knew it wouldn't fool Ignazio for long. He wanted to get as far as he can from his his five hundred meter tracking limit, so he can work on hiding his presences. His time head start was coming to a end as he felt like he got far enough from his tracking limit. Alaric made his way higher up the tree. He got about twenty feet away from the ground, he made himself comfortable on a branch. "All I need to do is focus and I could possibly get the hang of hiding my energy," he said before he closed his eyes. He figure he couldn't hide long, but hope he could figure out how to hide his energy before Ignazio found him.
The tamer looked at his watch as he started to count down. ”Three, two, and one; times up. Looks like the hunt is officially on.” the fudged haired male said as he began to slowly walk into the forest, entering the small doorway that was created within the barrier itself to provide safe entry into the forest. Ignazio’s eyes widen as it was a lot less foggy than it was before, the miasma had defiantly lost a lot of its potency with the small hole craftily sliced into the barrier wall. As the tamer walked forward he came to a sudden stop as he closed his eyes and bent down to the ground and dug his right hand into the dirt before sending out a pulse of energy. Soon Ignazio’s spiritual energy passed through everything within his five hundred meter radius. Ignazio was impressed, as he searched around and noticed that he never came in to direct contact with Alaric but the trail of his energy was strong and like a woven thread going through the trees his eyes opened and began to follow the aura. Ignazio stood up and removed a tarot card from his holster. The card held the face of an Archer on it. He soon moved his left hand towards his mouth and bit down on the light portion of skin near his thumb; drawing a little blood. The tamer moved the card in front of him and swiped the blood across the face of the card before holding it into the air.
His left hand extended in front of him and a strong wind picked up swirling through the forest. Ignazio looked forward as a massive silver glyph made up of the wind itself appeared under his body. Dirt, twigs, and mud moved in a clockwise fashion as he gathered his Qi and began chanting. ”O’ Stone of the foundation, O’ Archduke of the Contract. Let the descending winds be as a wall. Set out Judgment under the command of your King! Come forth, Garuda!”
With the completion of the norito the wind completely engulfed Ignazio’s small framed body, causing his hair and clothes to dance around with the branches and bushes. The trees seemed to start to free themselves from the ground as the wind grew stronger and suddenly came to a stop as a woman with four large wings appeared in front of her master. Ignazio placed the card away and took a step next to his familiar. ”Garuda, I’m looking for someone, you remember Alaric right, he’s in this forest. Be a dear and find him for me. Also when you do, I want you to attack him with everything you got.” Ignazio said as he started to walk passed the woman. Wings flapped and soon wind gathered and the demon woman had vanished into the clouds, soaring over the forest, using her sharp eye sight to scan the area. Ignazio then lowered his body to the ground and smirked as he pushed off the ground in a burst. His physical abilities may have been under average but in terms of speed not many could keep up with Ignazio. Legs moving swiftly as if he was the wind himself, his body blurred and vanished as he stopped every so many meters in order to rescan the area with his Qi. Iganzio had a large smile on his face, one that only expressed joy. Ignazio reached and grabbed forth another card from his holster and raised his left hand back to his mouth before opening the small tooth created puncture once more. The card he held this time was of a Knight. He wiped the blood along the seal on the card and gathered Qi once again, but this time, the wind didn’t increase. Fire began set upon the trees and even the ground underneath him. ”Let the gates in all directions be shut, rising above the crown, and let the three-forked roads to the Kingdom revolve. Stand up for your King! Innocentius!” the young heir chanted proudly before swiping the card towards the sky.
Flames rose up from behind the tamer and formed the giant flaming fiend’s body. Ignazio started to laugh as he could hear the plants crying as they caught on fire and fell to their doom. ”Now, this little game of tag is about to start. I hope you’re ready for this Alaric Erzengel.” Ignazio said calmly. He placed the summoning card for Innocentius away in the holster next to Garuda’s and then waved his right hand forward. ”Innocentius, seek and destroy my enemy!” Ignazio called out. The fiery demon let out a roar and began to move through the forest as a torrent of fire, setting everything it moved by a blaze. Ignazio placed his hands into his pockets and started to walk forwards heading towards the lake. The one place he wanted to lead Alaric, since it was his only place of surviving Innocentius, but then again, with Gaurda in the skies, he would be an easy target in such an open area. Ignazio laughed to himself once more as his plan was brilliant. He reached into his blazer and grabbed hold of four talismans and tossed them into the air. ”I summon the, a barrier of the four elements, attach yourself to this world and protect my land!” he commanded as the talismans glowed a golden color before moving in different directions along the same line and stabbing themselves into the dirt. Soon a massive golden wall appeared closing off the section of the forest behind Ignazio which lead to the exit and back to the Academy.
The demonic energy from Alaric kept expelling from his body, no matter how much he tries he could keep his energy at bay. "I just can't keep my energy hidden, I didn't think it would be this hard, but I guess being half demon makes it hard to control demonic energy," he said as he sat on the branch. Even though this forest had such a dark feeling about it, but the sky still seem beautiful too Alaric. No matter where he was at as long as he looked up at the sky he gets a calm feeling. "I guess this place isn't so bad..." he said before he saw something in the air. His eyes widen as he recognized who it was. The creatue in the sky was Ignazio wind familiar, Garuda. Even though Alaric was a apparition of the wind like her, but his skill was no where close too hers. A direct battle with Garuda could be a fatal one, also he wasn't after her or any of his familiar by the fact, he just need to hit Ignazio and he could win this game. Even if he knew his target it wasn't going to be easy to get pass the familiars at all. He had to stay out of Garuda view and find a way to catch Ignazio off guard, but since he sent out his familiar he might not be moving at all, so he might have to find him instead. "This is going to be tough. If I have to find Ignazio myself then I will have to hide from Gaurda and thats like hiding from Ignazio. Other then my knowledge of the element and uses a arrow for weapon and assumption that she is very smart, I have no clue what to expect," he thought to himself. Suddenly he heard a loud roar and even heat coming his way, without even a single thought he can assume who that was coming from, he couldn't help but to mutter, "That pain in the a**." This familiar he knew a bit more about then Garuda, Innocentius, the fire demon. Alaric actually fought with this creature and barely made any damage to it. "So now I have to deal with that beast and Garuda? I could use the same tactic I did before, but with Garuda looking for me that move will just call her attention and then I will have to fight both of them," Alaric didn't know what to do at this point of time.
Sitting on a branch won't get him anywhere since he a familiar who could easily burn the tree he sat in. Alaric dropped down to a lower branch and made his way towards Innocentius location, but he made sure he was on the far right of the creature. He didn't want the creature to notice him right away. As he got closer he can see the outline of the fiery familiar, it was as amazing as he remember. The reason why he went towards the demon was because he was going to follow the path that it left and find out where the last place it saw Ignazio. He hoped if he kept himself near the path that the demon made, the wind demon won't look at the path and hoped the the demon aura that Innocentius left behind would cover his own. This was all just a chance of hope, so he knew he could be found out, he had to get too Ignazio before that happen. It didn't take that long to get too the area of the lake that Innocentius came from, at first he couldn't see Ignazio, but after awhile he came across the lake and there he saw Ignazio. "Not surprising he is in the wide open area, if I try to attack Garuda could easily see me and make her way back," he thought. There wasn't much he could do. In a matter of seconds Ignazio will know he is in the area. The main point of this was too hide his energy, but he couldn't do that with his current ability. Suddenly he thought of something, just like the thought of using Innocentius demonic aura trail to hide his own. He stretched right hand behind him and pulled out a sword, "If I am right this forest has a barrier because of demons, so means that this ground has a lot of demonic spirits that would like to have fun." He gripped on the sword tightly, "I call upon the spirits of the demons and humans a like. Come to call, rise once more and be my cloak," he chanted. Suddenly from all around the lake, from the forest a large amount of demonic and human spirits that died within the forest charged in the open area of the lake. With this mist of demonic aura Alaric can move freely in the open area and with the large amount of spirits it would be hard to see him in the open area. Even if Ignazio can pin point his location among this many spirits he would be caught off guard since this was the first time Alaric even used this weapon against or even in front of Ignazio. Alaric kept his head low as he rushed within the mist of spirits towards Ignazio. He could have used any demonic technique, but he knew it would be no match against Ignazio skill, so he was going to use his pure strength knowing it out class Ignazio's. He got too Ignazio location, so he launched his punch at Ignazio stomach, with this punch he hope to have prove himself even more to Ignazio and even himself.
Gaurda, the flying demon that appeared to be the cross between a woman and a bird circled through the heavens with swift speed, noting the arrival of Innocentius whom was indiscriminately burning down the forest, in order to hunt down the target given to them by their master. Gaurda’s eyes locked on to the uniform and purple hair that belong to her target. Sharing her sight with Ignazio allowed him to see what she was seeing. As she watched and prepared herself for an attack, she followed, the young demon’s movements as she prepared her bow. A torrent of wind swirled rapidly before forming into an arrow, the arrow shook with power as she hovered from the distance. She watched as Alaric used Innocentius’ burning trail to his advantage to hide himself but the fact wouldn’t change that Innocentius was a familiar that belonged to the young man he was looking for and soon found. Ignazio would surly know of Alaric’s presence even without the shared vision with his familiars. Garuda remained at her distance in the sky, two large bird like wings flapping in the wind as she kept her sights on Alaric whom was standing behind the trees. ”Target acquired, master” her voice calmly sung as her eyes narrowed upon readiness to fire.
Meanwhile, Innocentius was swirling through the forest, burning all the major areas before making his way towards the Lake. The appearance of Spirits rising from the ground began to disburse as they came in contact with the three hundred thousand degree fiend. Innocentius’ might roar sounded of pleasure more so than anger before the giant took flame became one with the burning forest and released the fire outwards towards the lake. Innocentius had yet to reach the area in which Alaric was in his sight, but the spirits were simply toys for him to destroy until he could find the boy and reduce him to nothing but ash. Soon Innocentius’ body emerged from the forest in a massive wave of crimson flames. The spirits being destroyed easily as the fiend swirled back and forth passed his master in order to destroy the spirits before they could touch him. Innocentius ignored the presence of the small half demon that was using the spirits confusing dance as a cover for his own attack. ”GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” the beast roared loudly as its body rose into the air and soon slammed back down to the earth devouring more and more of the ghostly specters.
Garuda watched as Innocentius played around with the spirits and soon began to release arrows towards flames around Ignazio in order to increase their size and power, granting them more of an wall formation around Ignazio, in order to protect him from being touched by the spirits. ”Master Barthomeloi!” she called as she moved swiftly with the wind flying towards her master, releasing more arrows. She didn’t know that Alaric had the ability to call upon spirits, not at his level of strength, she had obediently told her master who Alaric’s true identity was and why she held back before, but now, there was no mistaking it. She looked for the boy whom was summoning all the souls of the dead, but in order to keep an eye on her master and reach him in time she wouldn’t be able to perform her acrobatic spins and stunts in the air in order to dodge the spirits racing towards her body. ”You won’t touch him!” she yelled as she flanked to the right and then the left before spinning around releasing her feathers in a manner that was like daggers. Each one stabbed through the low level spirits; vanquishing them. Gaurda flew over Ignazio and continued to strike at the spirits with the arrows of wind, destroying masses as they came in waves.
Familiars •Innocentius | Active •Garuda | Active •Hyorinmaru | Inactive •Tsukiumi | Inactive
As Ignazio stood at the lake awaiting for his plan to be set into action, his arms were crossed, and he faced the clearing of the forest. A burst went through his body as he felt the approaching half demon, and watched him run through the forest through the sight of his flying familiar. ’What the hell does he think he’s doing. Does he take me for a joke or something?’ Ignazio stood there thinking until both of his eyes were open and a blizzard of souls came running towards him. Ignazio sighed as he uncrossed his arms and made a seal with his hands; the seal was of Rin. A very simple and normal Buddhist symbol of power, under the power of Bishamonten; the young tamer looked at the spirits and soon felt Innocentius’ presence and a smirk came across his face as flames covered the area quickly destroying mass after mass but leaving himself open in the center, but it appeared that Garuda had begun to take care of those spirits as well. Ignazio sighed and then opened his mouth as he saw Alaric emerge through the cloud of spirits, as if it was some sort of invisibility cloak. ”Bai” he calmly yet boldly called out, forcing a massive circle of Qi the burst outwards. The Qi made contact with everything in the area with a lower level Qi than his own. Ignazio looked at Alaric’s fist near his stomach and took a step back before shaking his head. ”Area you stupid or something, the point of this wasn’t to find me, you know this is how people get killed in actual combat. Don’t be so damn direct.” Ignazio said as he started to walk closer to the lake then lowered his hands and took note of the sword Alaric was holding. Ignazio’s eyes narrowed at the blade and he thought about it before closing his eyes. ’A weapon that has a demonic energy source within it. A curse? No, it’s much more than that.’ Soon his eyes opened as he started to clap his hands together. ”I guess, first thing is to get rid of these spirits.” Ignazio said as he reached into his blazer and grabbed a talisman and held it in the air with his right hand.
The talisman caught a blaze as he tossed it in the direction of Alaric and began chanting. ”When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. Crimson!” With the completion of the simple fatal verse being added on to the power of the talisman flames stretched outwards rapidly and crashed into the spirits one after another jumping off of the ground, yet not burning it. Once the spirits were dispelled Ignazio placed his hands into his pockets and looked at Alaric with a look that basically read ‘I’m going to kill you’. ”Are you trying to waste my time. I’m not here because I need to get stronger, I’m here because it pained me to watch you rip your own heart out. Don’t be such an idiot. I’m pissed about this little ordeal, so pissed that I could just watch Innocentius burn your a** back to Hell. Would you like that or something?”
Alaric body flew pass Ignazio's. He did know that this was all just out of hope, so the probability of him succeed was very low. His feet slid on the ground slightly, he only slid for a second before he was able dig his feet in deeper, "Well that was expected," he muttered. Alaric watched as all the spirits were easily detail with, he hoped to make some type of damage or at least catch Ignazio off guard. It seemed his plan to use Innocentius to cover his own demonic energy didn't work, since he was able to counter so easily or Ignazio was just that good. Either way his plan failed and now all he did was piss off Ignazio, another thing he knew he was going to do within the three days. Alaric regain his composure as he stood straight up and looked at Ignazio, he saw the death glare Ignazio gave him, "Yea he is pissed." He listen to Ignazio speak about how he pissed him off and how he was going to let Innocentius burn him. Alaric didn't say much for a moment as he try to get his word all together. he began to speak, "I know the whole point was to hide my presence, but all the other objective was too take you out before you took me out." Alaric knew what he suppose to do, but he knew he couldn't do it in the time frame that he had. He rubbed the back of his head as he began to speak again, "I am sorry, but I wouldn't be able to hide my presence within the three days. In the past I never had any reason to hide it, I was taught to fight head on because of my strength. Now though my strength isn't the only thing I need, but within in a matter of minutes you made rethink my whole way of thinking. Granted I didn't show that just now; however I did. So I thought if I just hide my presence another way I could catch you off guard and take you out, Thinking about it now I should have attacked with the sword if I wanted to kill, but I guess I thought I could do more damage with my fist." Alaric didn't know what to say to make this situation any better, but he was going to try, "I know you want me to get better with my presence control, but like I said before it won't happen during these three days especially with fighting you. Not saying I want you to go easy on me, I don't want you to go easy on me. Just saying with something I never did before I need to do it on my own time and not on your time," he said. He hoped that his word wouldn't piss off Ignazio and if it did he was ready to fight.
The young tamer’s body began to shake in pure anger as he listened to Alaric speak. Did this guy every think before opening his mouth; he was a smooth and fast talker, as if his country words would make it to the silver spoon Ignazio held. The Barthomeloi boy closed his eyes and clapped his hands together before looking directly at Alaric. ”Now, you’re insulting me. You really picked a bad time to open that mouth of yours; maybe I should have sealed that away along with your movements.” Ignazio growled as he pushed both arms towards Alaric. ”You will learn how to control that damn power of your in three days, and you’re going to do it my way, or I’ll kill you, and to show you that I’m serious, I’m going to teach you a little something that you should try and remember about your presence. Watch carefully, because I’m not going to repeat myself after this” Ignazio coldly snarled as a black glyph appeared before his hands and soon a thick black mist began to pour out of the glyph as he chanted yet another fatal verse. ”Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Kumogiri!” he called out as the dense black fog engulfed the area rapidly. The fog didn’t only just cover the area which eliminated the vision of those within but it also removed the presence of Ignazio completely. The light from the sun had vanished completely, leaving nothing but black. A black sea as far as the eye could see.
While under the cover of the fog Ignazio decided it was time for him to make his move to show he was serious. Although the spell known as Kumogiri or better known as the Dark Mist, held a tight hold on those within it, the caster could perfectly see everything around them, even the flames from Innocentius were suffocated by the mist. The young male reached into his blazer and took five sutra and five throwing knives from his blazer. He placed a single sutra down where he once stood and then used his great speed to move quickly through the area, placing one sutra on a single tree every hundred meters from the other, which doing such he made a small slice on his left index finger with each knife at a time and wrote on the blade with his blood. He stabbed the five throwing blades into five different trees on the other side of the lake in the opposite one hundred meters of the sutra he set.
Bursting in a swift action again, he brought himself back to the side of the lake where Alaric was on, but this time he placed himself about three hundred meters away in a tall tree, just far enough that he could still easily see Alaric, but out of his eye sight due to the lush trees. Ignazio placed his hand up to form a seal and removed the binding on Alaric. Soon Ignazio held his left hand slightly in front of him and pointed at the back of Alaric but he was aiming at the talisman he placed in his original place. Qi surged through the talisman and formed a shadow like body of Ignazio and soon the other areas around followed suite, creating multiple appearances of Ignazio’s Qi. ’Innocentius, attack from the sky, and Garuda attack from the ground. Follow my Qi placed around the area as your eyes. I’ll conduct you from there. We attack to kill. Now!’ he ordered telepathically. ”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” he chanted silently as he watched the area as he began to prepare for his next fatal verse.
Offending Ignazio was the last thing that Alaric wanted to do. He figured that his words would annoy his teacher, but actually piss him off that much, now that was a surprise too him. It seem like he was like getting lecture by a abusive father of some sort. There was nothing the young half demon could say, Ignazio was completely right to lecture him, there should be no excuse for not being able to learn how to control his Qi and his demonic aura. He stood there in self pity for a moment, he then started to hear chanting coming from Ignazio. Not even a thought was process when suddenly the area was engulfed in a black mist. He couldn't see anything, not even the slightest of light, he was in complete darkness. He tried to figure out where Ignazio was at, but to locate him directly, all he felt was over a handful of different Qi and some being the same feeling as the others. "This is ridiculous. How can there be more then three Qi? I know there is Innocentius and Garuda, of course Ignazio, but it seem like Ignazio Qi is part of the ones I can feel. I really wish I was to tell Qi a part a lot better. Maybe I can learn that next, if I don't die first though," all these thoughts poured into his mind like a waterfall. It was like he was fighting with a blind fold on and he couldn't take it off. He thought he was in trouble before, now he was really in trouble. He could easily die if he doesn't figure out something. He could use his wind manipulation skill; however he figure it wouldn't work, he knew Ignazio wouldn't use something that can get pushed away that easily.
Suddenly he was able to move his body more freely, "Seem like he took the binding spell off of me. At least he did that for me." If the binding remained on him then he really wouldn't have a chance to survive. Alaric looked around the complete darkness, "The only clue I have is the idea of the location of the lake, other then that there is trees all over the place and that doesn't help one bit." He still couldn't feel Ignazio presence not even slightly, he still felt the other, but they were really faint. Alaric made sure he didn't move from his spot, one movement could cause him his life. Alaric put together that the reason he did this was because of what he said about not being able to hide presences, so maybe this was a test, a really straight forward test. If he fails to hide his presences he could lose his life in a flash. If he tries to counter he could be punish for not doing what Ignazio ask him to do. This was no longer a game of hide or seek, this was a game of, you do it wrong and you will die. Instead of thinking of different counters, Alaric just closed his eyes and began to attempt to hide his presences. He didn't know how long he has, but he was going to use the time he has too focus.
He stood there in the same spot he was when the mist first started to fill the area. "How to hide my presences? Its not like he gave me any hints," he thought as he kept his ground. Digging deeper and deeper into his thoughts he tries to figure out a way to overcome this situation, then suddenly he thought of something, "Maybe I am thinking about this all wrong. I only been thinking of hiding my presences as a type of technique, but more I think about it, its not a technique it is my personal ability. If I think of hiding presences as I would about feeling, then I might be able to succeed." Alaric believed he figured out he can hide his presences or at least lower it. The best way to do that is think of his Qi and demonic aura like the wind and himself like a vacuum.
He started to focus on his demonic aura, he imagined it surrounding his body, he couldn't believe how much of it he was spilling out. From his point of view it seem like his demonic aura was like a spot that shows everyone that he is in the area. Now that he could see his aura he started imagine his aura as the wind that surrounds his body, he was successful. He now had to imagine himself as a vacuum and start sucking the demonic aura around him. It was beginning to be successful. He could his own demonic aura lowering and lowering ever so slightly. It was becoming a lot to focus on this, but he pushed through, his aura started to fade away. He kept his ground as his presences started to fade so slightly.
Suddenly Ignazio found himself watching Alaric do exactly what he wanted him to do, and he didn’t even have to starve him for too long. All the running in the forest might have burned a lot of his calories and even the heat from Innocentius might have caused him to sweat a little more than he’s use to. Ignazio stood up and pulled himself behind the large bark of the tree and then clapped his hands together canceling the Dark Mist spell. ”Garuda, Innocentius, I’m changing those orders, it looks like he’s ready to move forward into phase two of being an actual exorcist.” he said telepathically to his familiars as he moved his hands into a different seal and the talismans he placed around the area began to glow with power. Each one began to branch off with bright golden beams connecting to the next creating a barrier like fence around the area, closing off the forest area to Alaric. Ignazio kept himself hidden as closed his eyes and relinquished his presences. ”Garuda, leave him to Innocentius for now. Take to the skies and keep a constant lock on him.” Ignazio ordered through the telepathic link. The exwire looked over the corner of the tree and looked down at the lake and at Alaric. He might have not completely hid his presence but he managed to figure out how to mask it, by spreading it through his element and then channeling it inward to keep it contained; it might not have gotten rid of the aura completely but it did manage to lower it enough that Ignazio could tell the boy was trying.
Ignazio pulled himself from behind the tree and looked down towards Alaric with his arms crossed before his body vanished and appeared in his once position. Ignazio’s speed was great, so great that it appeared as if he could teleport in a blink of an eye. The tamer revealed in his hand four throwing knives, but what he didn’t reveal was that wrapped around the handles which he held were paper talismans. Ignazio took a strange stance with his hand cross over his chest; the blades pointed towards the sky and the handles still hidden to Alaric’s sight. ”Let’s move on. As a demon, you should have superior speed to a human, but you move slower than I did as a Page. So basically, we’re going to do some speed training. As a tamer, I’m pretty open without my familiars, and as an Aria I’m extremely open when I am chanting. So, what your goal is now, is to hit me. That shouldn’t be too hard. When you come face to face with an enemy that has more in numbers than your own, you need to be able to take out the masses without exerting too much time and energy as well as keeping a low profile. So, for now, its going to be myself and Innocentius, every five minutes I’ll add another familiar into the battle if you haven’t hit me by then. Remember, strike to kill. Your time starts now.” Ignazio explained before leaping to the right and then threw the first two daggers towards Alaric with great speed and accuracy aiming for his right arm and leg.
Being an Aria and a tamer made his accuracy something to fear, as next to dragoons Arias needed extreme precision and skill in order to hit moving targets with their fatal verses, to insure they were exorcised on the first strike. Throwing knives was a typical training exorcise for Ignazio, as he typically trained blind folded and used Qi based moving targets. People whom have ever seen this training called it by a name that fit the user; it was known as the mirage bat. His right foot tapped along the ground first and slid slightly before his left foot touched the ground and pushed him forward. Ignazio prepared himself to throw the following two knives.
As the thick black mist vanished the two familiars stood stationary and prepared to attack but then moved to obey their master. Garuda’s wings flapped as attached her wings that had become giant swords back against her back and they became fluid and flexible again for flight, soon the wings flapped and she took to the skies. ”Master, please be careful, don’t forget who he is and what happen last time. I’d hate to see any harm come to you.” she warned as her body flew higher and higher before stopping high in the clouds and she was out of human sight. Garuda began to circle the area and watch the battle as it began with Ignazio performing the mirage bat; which was nothing more than speed, accuracy, and something else that most people couldn’t figure out, although she was the one whom helped him create it, so the trick was still just a trick to her, as it was developed by the Pazuzu to strike down multiple enemies with their feathers. The great mid-level demon soared through the air, watching carefully and awaiting her call to enter the fray. ”Five minutes…does that mean, he plans on calling forth him; please master, don’t call forth him, anything but him.” she begged out loud to herself as she knew Ignazio would hear her thoughts him she spoke them through her mind and soul.
Meanwhile down on the battlefield, Innocentius heard his master’s command to strike. The beast let out a massive roar causing the grass around him to catch a blaze and soon the field started to catch a blaze as the creature merged into the flames and became nothing more than a wave of pure heat and flame. The massive title wave made its way from the left side trying to force Alaric to move to the right. Innocentius’ physical body was gone, as it was one with the flames and being in such an area, brought the fire apparition to a great advantage. Open air and a substance such as the grass and wood around would feed the fire, only causing the flames to grow in size and rapidly. Innocentius’ roar could still be heard as the thrashing of flame struck the ground and bound around as it spread. Flames licked against the very air, caused a mirage like effect around, making things appear hazy and even disorientated. This backlash effect alone from the heat made the two throwing knives appear as if there were four.
Familiars •Innocentius | Active •Garuda | Active •Hyorinmaru | Inactive •Tsukiumi | Inactive
Alaric opened his eyes to see that the Dark Mist that surrounded the area was now gone. His assumption pointed that he was successful in hiding his own presences, but he didn't think hid it all the way, "I know I figure out how, but its a fact I didn't hide it completely. Maybe he just wanted me to show that I know how to do it?" It wasn't clear that is what Ignazio really wanted, luckily it seemed that was the case. His attention went towards the golden beam of lights, "So those were the things I was feeling. That makes it perfect sense now. They had the same Qi as Ignazio, but they were different," he thought as he felt more at ease. At first he thought they were more familiar, but they were just talisman. Alaric couldn't help but to chuckle after it occur to him that Aria's talisman were used for attacks and they were normally strong attacks, Ignazio was really going to kill him with his next attack. He knew he was in for the kill; however he didn't think Ignazio would try to kill him so quickly. His curiosity did get too him though, he wanted to know what a Aria offensive attack looked like, but he was glad that he didn't get to see it this time around. Alaric noticed that those beam of lights weren't used just for show, they were making a barrier around the open area they were in, so now there was no access to the forest at all.
Alaric started to scan the area for Ignazio presence, but couldn't feel it until he heard his voice behind him, in the area he once was. He didn't make such thought of Ignazio odd stance, but did take in consideration of the knives he held in his hands. He didn't think Ignazio was much of a weapon user, but he couldn't take that fact to slightly, Ignazio has proven Alaric wrong many of times. It seem like Ignazio wasn't going to take much as he threw the two knives towards him normally it would be clear what side he threw it towards, but Alaric suddenly felt a bit disorientated as he saw four knives instead of two. It seem like Innocentius was using his massive heat to cause him to see mirage like effect, this was the only logic thing he could think of. He could dodge the attack, but he didn't know exactly which one was the same, there was the choice to jump in the air, but Garuda was still around and he knew the fight was only suppose to be Ignazio and his fire familiar; however he didn't want to take a chance. So instead of dodging he decided to block with the Trial Sword he had in hand, he spun the sword rapidly in front of him so the knives would just bounce off of the metal of the blade. "His speed is remarkable. It seemed like he just appeared out of thin air. I surely do have a lot to learn from this man," his excitement returned as it seem now this was going to be combat base training exercise, this is something he can handle, but could this be more then he bargain for? All he had to do was hit him once, seems easy enough, but Alaric couldn't but to recall the fact that with his familiar it will be hard to get close to him and now it seemed like his speed has more then double since the last time they met, "I can't make the same mistake like last time and use up all my energy. Instead of using techniques after techniques I should just focus on the basic, that way I can save energy and maybe come with something to hit him. Also I can't forget that I do have my items, but the Trial Sword can't help me here since he sealed off the area to the forest and ninety percent of spirits did come from the forest."
As soon as he stop spinning his sword, with his left hand gripped on the shoulder of his coat and tore it off of him and through it in front of Ignazio to block his view. However during this he grabbed the two bells that were attach to his coat with his left hand, these bells held the etherlite within them. While Ignazio view was block he expelled a small a amount of his Qi into the bell and string shot out of the bell and around the coat, he hoped that the etherlite will wrapped around his body and make him unable to move. As he did this he release his energy too have Ignazio focus on his body instead of the small amount of the string gave off. With the hand that held the sword went for a jab type of attack through the shirt and towards Ignazio. If everything went as planned then Alaric will be able to pierce Ignazio body and getting his hit in.
Innocentius and the flames caused by the fiend in the sea took their opportunity and struck the young half demon from the left side with full force. The boy focused so much on the blades and forgot about the approaching fire. It was shocking that the young male had managed to block the swift moving knives especially with Ignazio’s accuracy and speed, it was strange to actually find the half demon actually block the knives without injuring himself with his own blade or missing the flying daggers while attempting to block. But that didn’t change the fact he blocked the knives and chose to react by throwing his coat forward and releasing etherlite as well. Unfortunately this attack was put on hold by Innocentius ramming into the side of the boy and causing him to be pushed away into a barrage of fire, burning away the jacket and the boy’s clothes as well at his flesh as the demon pushed him back with the flames and swirled it’s body to release the boy into the barrier created by the talismans. The fiend made sure to keep the intensity of the fire to a minimum so it would injure the boy enough for him to receive a few horrible burns, but nothing that would turn him to ash. Although fabric wasn’t protected, as he wanted a show for his master; Ignazio had always been one for the theatrics. Innocentius swirled around Ignazio’s body creating a small wall of fire on the ground and soon its physical form appeared behind his master, as a massive giant covered in flames. Massive roars came from the beast as it protested against the defense the boy showed. ”This is the challenge you brought to me? I’m offended Ignazio. I’m not amused, he didn’t even see through a faint attack and tried to go after you first. He forgot he had two opponents, what an idiot.” the demon mocked.
Within the sky the wind demon known as Garuda circled the skies and watched nervously, she didn’t like seeing the young prince get injured but she also had an obligation to her master. The warrior of the skies stopped pacing around and began to hover, flapping her wings ever so calmly as she counted down the seconds until it would be her turn to enter the battle. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to enter the battle at anytime, but if she did, she knew that the boy wouldn’t be able to defend against both mid-level demons at his rank, he was barely doing enough to Ignazio to make him sweat. The tamer was simply playing with the boy, as he didn’t strike with any actual offensive fatal verses, and all his talismans have been used for defensive purposes so far. But then again, the young tamer was a strategist, there was always something planned a few moves ahead. Garuda never remembered seeing Ignazio run from a fight or even back away from an opponent. The offensive was something this tamer was always on, and the fact he wasn’t backing into a defensive strategy was a good sign for Alaric, even if he just took a massive blow by Innocentius dead on without much warning.
Familiars •Innocentius | Active •Garuda | Active •Hyorinmaru | Inactive •Tsukiumi | Inactive
Ignazio’s body came to a stop as he watched Innocentius ram directly into Alaric. The young tamer didn’t bat an eye or show any sign for caring. If he managed to kill Alaric, then there was no point of the young half demon asking for his assistance. Ignazio watched as Innocentius threw the young man’s body from the flames and into the barrier wall. Ignazio watched the flames move closer and wrap around his surrounding area before the demon’s hot breath was over his shoulder. Ignazio closed his eyes and chuckled slightly before taking a step forward and moved next to the two knives that stabbed perfectly into the dirt. Ignazio was still hold the other two daggers in his right hand and soon moved one to his left hand and swirled them around before tossing them both behind him into the lake. Upon hearing the daggers enter the water, Ignazio crossed his arms and then shook his head. ”What the hell was that? You call that a defense? Or was that your so called attack? You’re really starting to waste my time, if you were planning a suicide, you should do it like everyone else, without any help from others. If you want a cowards way out I’m not going to help you out.” Ignazio said as he lowered his arms and placed his left hand into his pocket and allowed his right hand to hang lifelessly at his side. ”Now, get the hell up. I know Innocentius packs a punch, but he didn’t kill you or consume you to the point nothing was going to remain. Now, move your a**. You’re not going to survive this training if you allow your body to remain burning like that.” he yelled angrily as he looked up at the sky for a second and then back towards the half demon’s location. ”You’re running out of time, two minutes and thirty-two seconds before I order Garuda to start attacking you from the sky. Dodging a barrage of arrows while a frontal assault of fire and whatever else Innocentius decides to throw at you isn’t going to make this easier.” He said as he removed his left hand from his pocket.
The talismans attached to the four daggers started to slowly release their power as the ground started to pulse with energy around Ignazio’s feet. The young tamer turned his back to the half demon and started to walk back to his position where he was with Innocentius and stood in front of the fiend. His arms at his sides once more as he watched the area were Alaric was located. ”Two minutes and twenty-eight seconds remaining Alaric, move your a**.” he yelled at the top of his lungs.
