Yasuke : Rise of the Black Dahlia

Yasuke, Chapter 12 : Shameful Defeat?

With the intercepting style, one of the three basic combat kata, chi users are able to sense other chi users with their own chi. Amadia's terra grid took full advantage of this and even added another level to the technique. First, she would spread her chi throughout the ground so that she could sense any movement or actions in her vicinity. Then, she added the high level skill known as the matter warp to manipulate those movements and actions. In other words, any movement or action Domitia made would be manipulated and altered by Amadia. After remembering a few informational quotes from his seniors, Domitia realized this and tried his best to devise an appropriate counter for it.

"Purple Thunder!" Domitia stated as he built his purple aura. "Triple Grand Smash!"

Domitia created three clones from his purple aura that leaped into the air and came down, crashing into the ground. After endless pieces of the ground flew up due to the impact, Domitia sent all of the scattered debris flying towards Amadia with a wave of chi energy.

*SWOOSH*

"Oh, I get it." Amadia thought. "He's trying to get me to use my matter warp on an attack that will act as a distraction before coming in for the real attack."

Just as she predicted, after sending the debris toward her the three clones and Domitia all rushed in as well.

"You're going to have to try much harder!" Amadia declared she channeled and sent out her own wave of chi.

Her wave of chi pushed all the debris back. Domitia responded by having his three clones form around him to protect him from the oncoming debris. But, Amadia used her matter warp to make the clones disappear completely. Upon being hit with the various pieces of debris Domitia's body became pure chi, making it clear to Amadia that it was also a clone. The real Domitia emerged from the ground beneath her.

*SWOOSH*

"Wait, how did he get past my terra grid?" she thought.

Domitia rushed forwards with his sword and shield in hand.

He unleashed a combination that consisted of both blunt attacks from his shield and quick, concise piercing attacks from his sword. His shield thrusting into Amadia's chest caused her to be forced back, he followed up with a sword slice with the intent to end the fight.

"You almost had me." Amadia stated as she awaited Dom's final strike. "But, in the end, the mistakes you made earlier made victory impossible."

*SLICE*

Drops of blood ran down the blade of the sword before falling down on the ground. One Drop. Two Drops. Three Drops. The hands that were wrapped around the handle of the sword began trembling. Soon, blood ran down and covered the hand as well. Amadia and Domitia just glared in each other's eye. One of the pair of eyes seeming somewhat apologetic with the other twitching slightly from the pain of being stabbed with the long sword. Eventually, Domitia's blood-smeared shield dropped a couple of inches away from their feet. After a silent gaze into each other eyes for a couple more moments, Domitia's twitching eyes fully closed as he fell to the ground. Amadia caught him from below, softening his fall as she placed her hand on his stomach.

"Don't worry, I won't let you die here young spartan." Amadia thought. "You'll have plenty time to reflect upon this loss. I hope it drives you to get better."

She sealed the blade wound in his stomach as she used her chi to create a nest of soft leaves under him. After a thrilling battle, Amadia always displayed a certain level of respect and admiration for her foes. In her eyes, she and the other warriors she faced were exactly the same. They were all warriors protecting their land and people under the command of their respected kings. However, this moment of calm was interrupted by her Terra Grid sensing two other warriors approaching. She looked behind her to see two others young Spartans closing in on her position.

"Look Logias" Mephistopheles stated. "That's Domitia over there!"

"Unhand him!" Logias commanded as he equipped and threw his chi-coated shield in Amadia's direction.

Amadia created a wall of the solid rock to block the shield. Just before the shield collided with it, Amadia used her matter warp to make Mephisto and the wall change places.

*BOOM*

Mephisto was able to block the shield with his own chi barrier, but Logias was knocked on his back once the wall suddenly crashed into him.

"Don't worry, he's still alive." Amadia stated just before she vanished.

"You're not going anywhere" Logias thought as he sent a barrage of chi projectiles in the direction Amadia was last visible in.

Once they got close, the projectiles disappeared as well.

"She's able to use the matter warp just like King Leonidas." Mephisto pointed out. "No wonder Domitia wasn't able to defeat her."

Logias and Mephisto walked up to Domitia, who was at this point slightly regaining consciousness. Upon seeing his eyes open, Logias began to tease Domitia.

"I see you still haven't learned your lesson, idiot." Logias stated as he crossed his arms. "You can't pick a fight with every person you think is strong without it backfiring on you."

"Yeah, I'm sorry." Domitia replied. "I guess I ruined your dream of being the first person to defeat me."

"What? Captains Perseus and Hercules beat you all the time." Mephisto corrected.

"I'm not talking about them!" Domitia yelled as he sat up. "And they haven't beat me in along time, the next time I'll beat them!"

"Take it easy." Logias suggested. "In case you forgot, you have a giant hole in your stomach."

"Nope." Domitia smiled as he patted the area where his long sword stabbed him. "She healed me completely. It doesn't hurt, it's not bleeding, all that's left is a scar. And I have plenty of those!"

Domitia rose to his feet and threw his upper garments off, revealing his body which had the scars of various wounds and cuts.

"This is what I warrior's body should look like!" Domitia announced. "You two barely have none."

"You don't look as good as you think." Logias responded. "But, it's a good thing you're not wounded. That means you can come with us to Neserus."

"Yeah, that lady you fought is apparently one of King Nobunaga's bishops. She was leading a team tasked with taking the Black Dahlia back to Namunda." Mephisto added.

"Yes, the two captains allowed me to fight her while they continued to Neserus after the rest." Domitia revealed.

"Spartan Captains Perseus and Hercules went to Neserus?" Logias asked in shock. "King Leonidas did not tell us that."

"Well, I doubt they'll need our help but we should join them as quick as possible." Mephisto concluded.

"Yes!" Domitia yelled as he leaped into the air. "Let's go, brothers!"

"He just can't turn it off." Logias stated as he and Mephisto followed Domitia. "He'll act like that forever."

"Leonidas seems to like it though." Mephisto replied. "Perseus and Hercules tolerate it. I'm personally always amused by it. I think a personality like that is good for Spartania. Especially for you. If he wasn't always trying to compete with you, you wouldn't train as hard as you do now."

"Well, of course not." Logias admitted. "I was never concerned with becoming the next King until he made it clear that he'd be the next one even if I was concerned with it. I cannot allow someone like him to outperform me."

"You're right about him becoming the next King. When you think of a King, he has a lot of unconventional traits. He's loud. He's spontaneous. He's overly exuberant and sometimes naive." Mephisto stated. "But, he's also hard-working. He's also determined with a righteous heart. He also, whether you like it or not, is your rival. And if you do not match and even overcome his work ethic, he'll surpass you completely."

"Like hell I'd let that happen" Logias thought. "He may work hard but he's not a prodigy. I work harder and have more natural talent. He'll never surpass me. Never!"

"Wow." Domitia thought. "I don't think I ever got her name. But, she's strong. I cannot wait to face her again. With this impending war, who knows how many strong warriors we'll have to face. I can't wait to get back to Spartania, I'm going to train until my body falls apart!"