It was yet another night at Hosenka for the mercenary. The last couple of days he’d gone all out on enjoying his free diurnal time. However, today was different. Kenzo was what one would consider the embodiment of the expression work hard, play hard, but he was surprised to notice that it didn’t quite excite him like before. Tonight, he simply wanted some peace. Hosenka had been quite an adventure. He had been dealing with troublesome bounty hunters for a long time now. At least once every other day would he need to fend them off, so he had grown used to them. Jumping on top of the roof of a nearby building, the male walked aimlessly through the neighborhood of Cabaret Crescent. Contrary to the Crimson Quarters, he felt much more at peace here. Only few people walked through the streets at this hour, so he enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.

Tumbling over the tiled roof of one particularly tall building, the mercenary placed both hands on the back of his head as he gazed at the sky. It was particularly starred that day, with some constellations in view. Soon enough, the Bellan mercenary completely lost track of time, immersed in the beauty of the night skies. However, this was not to last much longer. A couple of people gathered near a lamp post near the man’s position. They looked completely out of place, as if they were planning to do something wicked. Paying them no mind, the warrior decided to simply leave them to their own business. However, his ear eventually picked up the words of one of them that would catch him off guard. ”Did he say bounty?” Kenzo mumbled to himself. In that moment, the man’s survival instincts kicked in, releasing a stream of adrenaline down his blood and putting him on high alert. If the group of people near the lamp post lifted their heads ever so slightly towards the building, they’d definitely be able to see Kenzo.

Rolling around, the male silently tried to climb away from their sight. Unfortunately, Kenzo’s stealthy maneuver backfired epically with a *clang* sound. The tiles of the roof started sliding against one another, suddenly releasing a chain reaction that made them fall down the roof and towards the ground. As he was standing on top of them, Kenzo found himself at their mercy. ”Shit” The man’s words came out too late. Soon enough, his foot slipped, and he fell to the ground along the multitude of tiles. The impact with the ground was strong, making his body ache all over. The disaster had caused quite a ruckus, so there was no way the guys talking about bounties had not heard him. Slowly rising his head, Kenzo flashed a nervous smile at the people in front of him as he opened his palm towards them. ”Yo!” The only thing he hoped for, was that none of them were actually looking for him.

[492/X]

Despites Kenzo’s hope of settling matters in a peaceful manner, it seemed that all went down the drain. As soon as the guys at the lamp post noticed him, they started running. For some reason, this had started to become a trend. Ever since a couple of weeks ago, people had started to recognize him way more than before. He couldn’t blame them though. Considering his face was plastered in every wanted poster in the country, it came to no surprise, even more since his physical appearance was one that blended easily at all. The cursed jawbone by his check had become quite of a trademark thing, generating rumors around about Kenzo’s demonic nature. Even if he was annoyed by them, he was at least relieved that people grew scared of those stories, leaving him be more than not. As he saw the drunken male run in panic, the Bellan warrior sighed in relief while he started dusting and straightening his clothes. However, he made a single mistake. Thinking his troubles had just escaped, he failed to notice the masked kid preparing a spell.

A wave of heat suddenly startled the warrior, lifting his head up, Kenzo was too late to react to the blast that made full impact against his body. The four flame orbs reached the mercenary’s torso, burning through his shirt and into his body. The pain was bearable, but nonetheless hurt. ”Ghh!” Kenzo mumbled as he was blown back a bit. He had made a mistake, and now he was paying for it. Angry by the sudden attack, the warrior finally took a look at this night’s unfortunate bounty hunter. ”Oi!! What’s the big idea, you-“ Kenzo paused for a second with surprise. ”….kid?”

Standing before him, a kid with a mask readied yet another spell. Lunging backwards in an instant, Kenzo shook off his initial surprise to better assess the situation. He was not keen on fighting a boy, but there was nothing he could do against it. The mask prevented Kenzo from seeing who he really was, but something about him seemed familiar. Assuming a fighting stance, the warrior instantly materialized the large golden blade hidden within his pocket dimension ring. Swinging it from his side, he pointed at him before giving him a final warning. ”Last chance kid… Get out of here before things get ugly for you” Though his words urged the (boy/girl?) to go away, the Bellan warrior couldn’t help but feel his blood boiling. They were now around 10 meters apart, so Kenzo could burst into action if needed. As he waited for an answer, he could hardly contain his excitement. Kenzo’s right eye suddenly lit up in a blue-ish bright flame, activating his ability to see perfectly around him. Something inside the man told him that fighting against that stranger would be more fun than usual.

[969/X]

Details

Mana: [4500/4500]

Constitution:

• [1x C-Rank / 3x S-Ranks] Took damage from Kitsune no Yomeiri. Damage Reduced 1 Rank due to Warrior
  

Endurance:

• Torso: [1x C-Rank / 1x A-Rank]
  

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank
  

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed: 101
Base: 61 Masamune: +40	Lunge: 10 m/s Run Speed: 20 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye]  - White Eye:
  
  
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.
    
  
  
  

Sadly for the kid and fortunately for the mercenary, it seemed that his words fell on deaf ears. Instead of agreeing to stop his attack, he seemed to start to get even more serious. Flames burst seemingly out of nowhere, embodying him completely before revealing his new appearance. His/Her hair grew longer, giving him/her? a more feminine look. However, this was not what caught the mercenary’s attention. Instead, Kenzo could feel an ominous presence looming over the boy. It felt familiar, something that he’d faced in the past many moons ago. It was the same feeling he had back at the fateful night when his world would take a turn forever. As he gripped Masamune with both hands and placed it in front of him, he was certain that the presence surrounding the kid’s new form was that of a demon.

”Tch!” Was all Kenzo said as he grit his teeth. The golden sword in his hand shone as the pale rays of the moon bounced off the magnificent blade. Masamune was a sword of myths and legends in Joya, forged by the gods themselves. The fact that he was fighting someone speaking Joyan that day at Hosenka, Fiore’s Joyan city, was rather ironic. Regardless, Kenzo found no irony on the battle at hand. He was still unsure as to the identity of his attacker, given the mask on his face. However, he was certain he was his enemy. Kenzo had made it his goal in life to slay all demons, so he might as well start with the one in front of him. As a magic circle started forming in front of the kid, a scary smirk appeared in Kenzo’s face. ”This is my lucky day~”

A stream of flames instantly burst into Kenzo, flying through the air and lighting the dimly lit street. However, the warrior did not budge from his place. Instead he simply slashed at it with both hands in a downwards manner, effectively sapping every trace of mana from the air, making the jet of fire disappear into nothing. He had been cursed by a demon in the past, becoming unable to use magic. Now, the blade in his hand allowed him to triumph even over demon magic. Without wasting a single second, Kenzo would lunge forward, closing the distance between the two of them in a bit under a second. As soon as Masami came into reach, the warrior would slash at him with his sword in a with a horizontal strike from left to right, aiming at his right arm and torso. In case the kid decided to do something else entirely that would put the warrior in a disadvantage while he lunged, Kenzo would still decide to deal with it interrupting his original plan. His right eye glowing in fiery blue flames would allow him to see anything that came his way either way.  

[1452/X]

Details

Mana: [4400/4500] - Spent 100 Mana Dispelling Flame Oni's Fire Breath

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active

Constitution:

• [1x C-Rank / 3x S-Ranks]

Endurance:

• Torso: [1x C-Rank / 1x A-Rank]

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed: 101
Base: 61 Masamune: +40	Lunge: 10 m/s Run Speed: 20 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye] - White Eye:
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.

The warrior was barely getting started, so he knew deep inside him he’d be disappointed if the boy was killed with his first strike. Even if Kenzo was still not going at his fastest speed, it was still up to a point where most people would be unable to react. As Kenzo lunged forward, the stranger reacted at the perfect moment. Once the warrior saw a magical circle forming in front of the kid’s chest, he prepared to evade or slash the spell coming at him in half. Honestly, that was one of the biggest weaknesses of mages. The fact that their spells were announced by the appearance of a magic circle made it easy for someone like the Bellan warrior to prepare. However, it seemed that he didn’t need to worry about this one. Instead of an attack, his entire body was engulfed in a thin veil of fire, sending him rocketing backwards. Almost like a spaceship, he was propelled around ten meters backwards, before stopping away from the mercenary. Normally, Kenzo wouldn’t waste such an opportunity to pursue his target, but he felt like enjoying himself. The more time passed, the more the Blue Pegasus warrior became curious about his opponent. He couldn’t identify anyone behind that mask, but he figured it had to be someone above your average bounty hunter.

Regardless, the mercenary remained motionless as he observed the kid recover from the previous spell’s momentum. He finally took off the mask covering his face, confusing Kenzo even more about his/her gender. Even if it wasn’t important, the male needed at least a pronoun to refer to him/her. So, for the moment, he decided on he/him. He knew his face was somewhat familiar but decided to leave the matter to the interrogation about his identity that would come after beating him. For the moment, Kenzo’s blood was boiling with excitement. The aura of the demon surrounding the kid had brought the warrior’s more primal side. He had vowed to eradicate them, so he could hardly contain himself, even if the person in front of him was actually a human. The only thing that made him wait as he started casting another spell, forming what appeared to be platforms under his feet, was the fact that he still felt the kid had much more to offer. Looking at him from a distance, Kenzo trotted his way closer to where he first jumped, closing the distance between them to around five meters. The kid was at the top of a building, around 3 or 4 meters tall.

While Kenzo calmly waited for him to attack again, he was surprised to hear him finally ask a question. From the looks of it, he NOW wanted to have a chat. Even after he had given him an opportunity to work things out between the two of them before the fight started. Chuckling at his comment in a rather mocking manner, Kenzo simply flashed a devilish smirk. Bending his knees lightly, Kenzo immediately summoned his helmet and Magnetite Stone from within his pocket dimension ring, which materialized on top of his head and inside his pocket respectively in an instant. ”Now you want to talk heh? I’m afraid it is too late for that now… Don’t disappoint me kid~” Kenzo’s voice was serious, but his words were spoken in a playful manner. Time and time again, Kenzo’s mood would change whenever he was in the middle of a fight. Little by little, he descended into a spiral of bloodthirstiness, an attitude that tended to make him a scary opponent to fight against. The truth was, that the swordsman simply enjoyed fighting way too much.

As soon as he bent his knees, Kenzo propelled himself upwards with all his strength in a jump. Recently, the Bellan had reached inhumane levels of strength, so he was able to easily jump to the top of buildings with a single hop. Just before his feet left the ground though, the mercenary activated one of his helmet’s spells. ”Execution!”

Grabbing his golden sword with his right hand, Kenzo crossed his arm to the left to prepare an attack. At the same, the blade that away from him started growing rapidly, from 2 meters in length up to 12 in the span of two seconds. Once the blade was fully grown, Kenzo was now mid jump, around the same height as the kid on top of the building. The mercenary swung Masamune in the kid’s direction, tearing apart everything in the blade’s way as it made it towards the bounty hunter. He knew the boy still had much to offer, so he wanted to push him a little further. The sword cleaved part of the building’s roof and other structures as butter in an instant. If the boy didn’t do anything, he’d too end like them.

[2260/X]

Details

Mana: [3400/4500] -1000 from Ares' Executioner

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active
-Summoned Helmet of Ares and Magnetite Stone this post

Constitution:

• [1C/3S]Ranks

Endurance:

• Torso: [1C/1A]Ranks

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Helmet of Ares: [3/3] S-Ranks
  
• Magnetite Stone: [1/1] S-Rank
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed: 101>161
Base: 61 Masamune: +40 Helmet of Ares: +60	Lunge: 12>12.5 m/s Run Speed: 20>25 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Helmet of Ares] - Ares' Domination: The user is unaffected by both buffs and debuffs from others.
  
  
• [Magnetite Stone]: Drawbacks attached on items that would hinder the user's speed instead raise their speed for that amount.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye] - White Eye:
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.

Spells

Spells:
Name: Ares' Executioner
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: 200-1000
Requirements: Helmet of Ares
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: ~
Cooldown: ~
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user can extend the length of their weapon while holding onto its hilt by shouting 'Execution'. The length of the weapon can be increased up to 10 meters. It takes two seconds for the weapon to reach its maximum size. The cooldown and mana cost applied to this spell is based on the selected length increase.

• 1 or 2 Meters: 1 Post Cooldown (200 Mana)
  
• 3 or 4 Meters: 2 Post Cooldown (400 Mana)
  
• 5 or 6 Meters: 3 Post Cooldown (600 Mana)
  
• 7 or 8 Meters: 4 Post Cooldown (800 Mana)
  
• 9 or 10 Meters: 5 Post Cooldown (1000 Mana)

”Hmph…” Kenzo snickered as he saw the boy react masterfully to his attack. The mercenary was still testing him, but it seemed that what he was most skilled for was running around. Of course, this didn’t matter to him in the end, it was a legit way of fighting. However, he had just spent a lot of mana on that attack, so he needed to be more careful. The kid was saved from Masamune’s path by the sudden appearance of a large hand made of magic, lifting him up into the air and away from the mercenary. People started coming out of their homes and the buildings around them to see what all the fuzz was about. However, Kenzo didn’t care. All he had in his mind was the battle in front of him.

As soon as his strike missed the boy, he once again counteracted with the fire ball spell he’d used before. Kenzo was still mid-air, so he had few options to defend from it. Since he knew the general damage they made, he decided to take the hit and save more of his mana for later. As he finished swinging his elongated blade with his right hand and it started retracting to its original length, Kenzo brought his left arm up in order to cover his body. The four spheres made of fire crashed against his arm, sending him flying backwards due to momentum and searing his skin lightly. Gritting his teeth to endure the pain, Kenzo never lost sight of the kid in front of him, ready to react to any other attacks he could make. Finally making it back into the ground, Kenzo was quite at a disadvantage. The boy was flying up in the air, and the warrior had fundamentally no way to reach him without spending a ton of mana. This had always been an issue for him. No matter how much he trained his body and skills with the sword, the only aspect he could never compete with mages was flying.

For that reason, Kenzo decided to simply assume a defensive stance once more, ready to react to whatever the kid did next. In the chance that he planned to escape though, Kenzo would instantly jump into action to pursue him. He normally let bounty hunters escape after scaring them off most of the time. However, this time it was different. The demon aura looming over the kid was too much to let go. At least until he learned his true identity. Kenzo was so concentrated in the opponent flying above him that he completely missed the screams of warning from a random stranger in the distance. Perhaps if he did, he might have chosen to do something entirely different.

[2718/X]

Details

Mana: [3400/4500]

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active
-Summoned Helmet of Ares and Magnetite Stone this post
-Took damage from Kitsune no Yomeiri > Damage reduced 1 rank

Constitution:

• [1B/3S]Ranks

Endurance:

• Torso: [1C/1A]Ranks
  
• Left Arm: [1C/1A]Ranks

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Helmet of Ares: [3/3] S-Ranks
  
• Magnetite Stone: [1/1] S-Rank
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed: 101>161
Base: 61 Masamune: +40 Helmet of Ares: +60	Lunge: 12>12.5 m/s Run Speed: 20>25 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Helmet of Ares] - Ares' Domination: The user is unaffected by both buffs and debuffs from others.
  
  
• [Magnetite Stone]: Drawbacks attached on items that would hinder the user's speed instead raise their speed for that amount.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye] - White Eye:
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.

Spells

Spells:
Cooldown: [1/5] Posts
Name: Ares' Executioner
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: 200-1000
Requirements: Helmet of Ares
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: ~
Cooldown: ~
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user can extend the length of their weapon while holding onto its hilt by shouting 'Execution'. The length of the weapon can be increased up to 10 meters. It takes two seconds for the weapon to reach its maximum size. The cooldown and mana cost applied to this spell is based on the selected length increase.

• 1 or 2 Meters: 1 Post Cooldown (200 Mana)
  
• 3 or 4 Meters: 2 Post Cooldown (400 Mana)
  
• 5 or 6 Meters: 3 Post Cooldown (600 Mana)
  
• 7 or 8 Meters: 4 Post Cooldown (800 Mana)
  
• 9 or 10 Meters: 5 Post Cooldown (1000 Mana)

As he kept his undivided attention on Masami, the mercenary was able to slightly notice a change going inside him. He was far away in the sky, so it was hard to see from the floor. However, from the looks of it he seemed to be pissed off. About what? The warrior had no clue. However, this managed to bring a smile out of the experienced swordsman. He had fought countless battles in his time as a mercenary, so he had learned a trick or two when he found himself at a disadvantage. While he still hovered above Kenzo, the mercenary put his left hand against his mouth, forming a speaker shape. In the loudest voice he could project, Kenzo put his new tactic in motion. ”Why so far away? Too scared to fight brat?! Come down here and settle this like a man!” The male’s tone was full of mockery, attempting to taunt Masami into committing a simple mistake. It was a silly tactic, but you would be surprised how many amateurs fell to it when fighting.

For the moment, it seemed that it at least had some effect on the kid. Taking both hands into his face, he created two fire masks seemingly out of thin air. That was the first time Kenzo had seen that spell, so he decided the best course of action was not to underestimate them until he knew what they were made of. As soon as the first one left his hand, the mercenary lunged away from the place he was standing. Covering a distance of 12.5 meters in a second, the male didn’t stop there. As soon as the first lunge ended, Kenzo pivoted his body to lunge once again at a 90-degree angle. The Noh Masks crashed against the ground, exploding in a small blaze as soon as they hit the ground. Looking back at it, Kenzo couldn’t help but chuckle at his worries. Sure, they dealt damage to the cobblestone path, but it was barely enough to be called “damage”. Looking once again to the kid flying, Kenzo continued with his mockery tactics. ”Don’t make me laugh kid. Those puny spells are hardly worth my time!! Put some spine into it!”

He actually had a plan to deal with his flying opponent, but he wanted to make sure to use it at the perfect moment so for now, he would keep in the defensive, ready to react to whatever he did.

[3129/X]

Details

Mana: [3400/4500]

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active

Constitution:

• [1B/3S] Rank

Endurance:

• Torso: [1C/1A] Rank
  
• Left Arm: [1C/1A] Rank

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Helmet of Ares: [3/3] S-Ranks
  
• Magnetite Stone: [1/1] S-Rank
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed:161
Base: 61 Masamune: +40 Helmet of Ares: +60	Lunge: 12.5 m/s Run Speed: 25 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Helmet of Ares] - Ares' Domination: The user is unaffected by both buffs and debuffs from others.
  
  
• [Magnetite Stone]: Drawbacks attached on items that would hinder the user's speed instead raise their speed for that amount.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye] - White Eye:
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.

Spells

Cooldown: [3/5] Posts

Name: Ares' Executioner
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: 200-1000
Requirements: Helmet of Ares
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: ~
Cooldown: ~
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user can extend the length of their weapon while holding onto its hilt by shouting 'Execution'. The length of the weapon can be increased up to 10 meters. It takes two seconds for the weapon to reach its maximum size. The cooldown and mana cost applied to this spell is based on the selected length increase.

• 1 or 2 Meters: 1 Post Cooldown (200 Mana)
  
• 3 or 4 Meters: 2 Post Cooldown (400 Mana)
  
• 5 or 6 Meters: 3 Post Cooldown (600 Mana)
  
• 7 or 8 Meters: 4 Post Cooldown (800 Mana)
  
• 9 or 10 Meters: 5 Post Cooldown (1000 Mana)

Kenzo wondered what the kid’s reaction would be. In his mind, there was no way that such a young guy would have the mental maturity to avoid getting a little irked by his taunting. True, his words were somewhat crude and childish, lacking any real weight behind them considering he knew close to nothing about him. In his years as a mercenary, he’d picked up a hint or two from his more experienced peers. Taunts like that worked the most when they had some sort of truth behind them. Truth that came from knowing your foe. After all, the famous war maxim from the Sinese strategist Sun Tzu was well known by Kenzo: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”.

Even if he didn’t know much about his opponent, his words should work to an extent if he wasn’t experienced in battle. However, the mercenary knew the kid was not an ordinary one. There were not many kids going around the world that gave off and had such a demonic presence looming over them. What was more, it definitely wasn’t just any simple demon. The pressure coming out of him was quite frightening indeed. Either way, the mercenary’s gamble was only that at the moment. A gamble.

Even if he were unable to bring out any immediate reaction like he hoped, the older male couldn’t help but smirk at the first sight of the blonde-haired kid moving. The Blue Pegasus warrior was around 17 meters away from the point where Masami hovered, well within a field of vision where Kenzo could react instantly to whatever he did. Once the boy rose his arm in the air and the hand spell that allowed him to fly disappeared, a single thought crossed Kenzo’s mind. ”Lucky~” In that exact instant, Kenzo lunged towards the boy’s landing spot. He covered a distance of 12.5 meters in a single second, almost the same span of time it took the kid to reach the ground. Without stopping, Kenzo lunged once again in his direction, time by which his sword was ready to strike at him once again.

As soon as the kid landed in the ground with his palm against the road, Kenzo came within striking reach. A huge surge of fire magic burst out of the kid’s hand. Whatever the hell the spell he just conjured was, it was definitely on a different league than the rest that he’d used so far. Still, this didn’t make the warrior flinch in the slightest. On the contrary, an ominous smile grew on his face as he swung his blade at the kid’s head. The golden sword made contact with the flames first, immediately cutting through them and dispelling them in an instant. Kenzo could feel a portion of his mana being sapped right away, hinting at the strength of the spell. He was thankful he didn’t have a need to find out how strong it was. On the contrary, his sword was now mere centimeters away from his target, the one in danger was the kid.

”Got you”. A smug Kenzo thought, making sure to ready himself to dispel any trace of mana that would come in contact with his sword before striking the kid in case there was any. He knew mages were able to create defensive spells that covered their skins, so he would simply render it useless with his sword. He had no time to react to such a thing in short notice, but he would simply allow Masamune to drain as much mana from him as necessary to ensure his blade was not stopped by some sort of spell.

The kid was still recovering from the fall, considering it had been mere instants since he’d landed to the ground when Kenzo swung his blade. The merc had to adjust its trajectory a little, turning his horizontal blow into a diagonal one towards the ground, enough to reach his head. In case that it hit, the kid’s mask was most likely done for. However, the damage dealt to his mask would be the last thing the kid would have to worry about. Kenzo was relentless in battle, so he didn’t hold back with his strike. His line of thought was rather simple really. The kid’s some sort of demon, right? Aren’t demons supposed to be tough? Surely a real one could take the brunt of his swing.

[3905/X]

Details

Mana: [3200/4500] -200 Mana from Dispelling Flame Oni's Bruning Circle with Masamune

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active
-Lunged [2/2] times this post

Constitution:

• [1B/3S] Rank

Endurance:

• Torso: [1C/1A] Rank
  
• Left Arm: [1C/1A] Rank

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Helmet of Ares: [3/3] S-Ranks
  
• Magnetite Stone: [1/1] S-Rank
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank

Statistics

Strength: 666
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed:161
Base: 61 Masamune: +40 Helmet of Ares: +60	Lunge: 12.5 m/s Run Speed: 25 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Helmet of Ares] - Ares' Domination: The user is unaffected by both buffs and debuffs from others.
  
  
• [Magnetite Stone]: Drawbacks attached on items that would hinder the user's speed instead raise their speed for that amount.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye] - White Eye:
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.

Spells

Cooldown: [4/5] Posts

Name: Ares' Executioner
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: 200-1000
Requirements: Helmet of Ares
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: ~
Cooldown: ~
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user can extend the length of their weapon while holding onto its hilt by shouting 'Execution'. The length of the weapon can be increased up to 10 meters. It takes two seconds for the weapon to reach its maximum size. The cooldown and mana cost applied to this spell is based on the selected length increase.

• 1 or 2 Meters: 1 Post Cooldown (200 Mana)
  
• 3 or 4 Meters: 2 Post Cooldown (400 Mana)
  
• 5 or 6 Meters: 3 Post Cooldown (600 Mana)
  
• 7 or 8 Meters: 4 Post Cooldown (800 Mana)
  
• 9 or 10 Meters: 5 Post Cooldown (1000 Mana)

The warrior’s sword found its target, tearing through the mask easily. However, this also meant that it stopped his slash, bearing the brunt of the impact and transferring it as blunt damage. The force was strong enough to throw the boy into the air. For a second, Kenzo thought the fight was over. However, his slight disappointment would soon vanish. ”Hoh?” Albeit only for a single instant, the mercenary’s right eye captured the kid’s facial expression along with his leg movement. It was one of confusion, understandable due to the strike he’d received, but not the kind a defeated person. Kenzo’s smirk grew more sinister as soon as he saw the boy twist his leg to try and pivot for a better landing. The kid still had it in him, the fight was still not over.

Yet, it was for Kenzo. Part of his consciousness warned him about the dangers of delving deeper into the fight. It was something the Bellan warrior had learned a long time ago. The curse on his body had deformed him into something looking half human and half demon. However, something had stopped the process from furthering. The male was unsure as to the cause, but he had his suspicions. He knew his mother was an accomplished Fioran mage, so she might have done something to him before disappearing. Whatever it was, Kenzo could feel the evil being suppressed inside his mind. Yet, it was through the thick of battle and the lust for blood that the swordsman could feel the seal weakening. Little by little, his consciousness clouded as he felt a sinister presence take a hold of his body. If he let it go long enough, it’d eventually lead him into a battle frenzy. The mercenary was well aware of his new position as a member of Blue Pegasus. He’d caused enough trouble for Alisa due to his bounty already, it was best if he didn’t continue destroying Hosenka.

Even if on the outside the grin of amusement grew bigger due to the enjoyment he was feeling, his mind was still able to govern his impulses. For that reason, Kenzo decided to finish the fight now. Just as the kid flew past his right eye’s 5-meter field of vision, he lunged towards his landing direction, readying his left arm for what was to come. At the same time, he finally summoned the last piece missing of his equipment. A magnificent silver armor carved with dwarven runes materialized from thin air and onto his chest. Kenzo was going all-in for his plan to succeed, he needed every insurance he could get so that it worked. The kid landed a little less than 10 meters away from his initial position, meaning Kenzo covered the distance in less than a single second. However, the warrior’s late start had given the kid just enough time to start conjuring yet another spell. Firing off against the warrior mere centimeters away from him, four fire orbs clashed against his armor in rapid succession. Normally, the force of the spell would be enough to send him back a couple of meters. However, Kenzo’s silver armor’s runes shone in a bright blue light. They were specifically there to absorb excess of energy, meaning he was undeterred in his lunge towards the kid.

Mere instants after the spell hit him, Kenzo’s left hand made contact with the kid’s neck. Grabbing him in a tight grip, the mercenary made sure he was not able to wiggle his way out as he dragged him up to his lunge’s end. Lifting the kid up in the air with his left arm, his right arm swung Masamune closer to his body. The golden sword was too long to threaten him with the tip, so he rested the blade against the back side of his neck, where his hand was unable to reach. Upon hearing the kid speaking with a grin, it took Kenzo’s entire concentration to reign his impulse for blood back. The presence he felt coming out of the kid grew stronger and the words coming out of him were definitely not the kid’s. Hearing the devil’s words, the warrior simply scoffed at them with a cocky chuckle. ”You don’t get to speak without permission here, demon. One false step and this kid’s throat is done for. I wonder what that’d mean for you~” Kenzo’s eyes were filled with a gleaming fire, gazing defiantly at the being inside the boy. As he half smiled devilishly. ”Now answer! What the hell are you? You speak about an exchange… Does this mean you’ve taken over this kid?” Kenzo’s threats were not empty. If either the kid or the demon did something to resist, he wouldn’t think it twice before crushing his windpipe.

[4700/X]

Details

Mana: [3200/4500]

-Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye active
-Lunged [1/2] times this post
-Summoned Heavy Dwarven Armor this Post
-Interrupted Masami's actions after Kitsune no Yomeiri. You get Kojiki's mana back

Constitution:

• [1B/3S] Rank
  

Endurance:

• Torso: [1C/1A] Rank
  
• Left Arm: [1C/1A] Rank
  

Item Durability (Currently Wearing)

• Masamune: Indestructible
  
• Helmet of Ares: [3/3] S-Ranks
  
• Helmet of Ares: [1B/2S] Ranks Tanked Kitsune no Yomeiri. No knockback due to Armor's "Steadfast" ability.
  
• Magnetite Stone: [1/1] S-Rank
  
• Pocket Dimension Ring: [1/1] A-Rank
  

Statistics

Strength:666>706
Base: 501 Masamune: +140 Heavy Dwarven Armor: +40 Weapon Mastery: +5% (+25)	Damage: 2x S - Rank
Speed:161>201
Base: 61 Masamune: +40 Heavy Dwarven Armor: +40 Helmet of Ares: +60	Lunge: 12.5 m/s Run Speed: 25 m/s
Constitution: 121
Base: 121	Hit Points: 3x S - Rank Lunge: Twice per Post Run Duration: 6 Posts
Endurance: 71
Base: 71	Pain Tolerance: A - Rank
Intelligence: 1
N/A	N/A

Effects & Passives

Effects

• [Warrior] - Minor Magical Resistance: Magical damage is reduced by 1 Rank.
  
  
• [Warrior] - Armored Movement & Wielding: Warriors are used to wearing heavy-weight armor and wielding heavy weapons. The speed reduction that is applied for wearing heavy armor and wielding heavy weapons is removed.
  
  
• [Helmet of Ares]  - Ares' Domination: The user is unaffected by both buffs and debuffs from others.
  
  
• [Heavy Dwarven Armor]  - Steadfast: The user is not affected by any knock-back effects.
  
  
• [Magnetite Stone]: Drawbacks attached on items that would hinder the user's speed instead raise their speed for that amount.
  
  
• [Dhan-Galhoul's White Eye]  - White Eye:
  
  
  
  • The user has 360° unobstructed sensory of anything physical and magical within a field of 10 meters diameter.
    
  • Sensory does not mean equal sight and thus colors cannot be observed, for example.
    
  
  
  

Spells

Cooldown: [5/5] Posts

Name: Ares' Executioner
Rank: D-S
Mana Cost: 200-1000
Requirements: Helmet of Ares
Type: Supplementary
Element: Arcane
Range: ~
Cooldown: ~
Duration: Instant
Effect: The user can extend the length of their weapon while holding onto its hilt by shouting 'Execution'. The length of the weapon can be increased up to 10 meters. It takes two seconds for the weapon to reach its maximum size. The cooldown and mana cost applied to this spell is based on the selected length increase.

• 1 or 2 Meters: 1 Post Cooldown (200 Mana)
  
• 3 or 4 Meters: 2 Post Cooldown (400 Mana)
  
• 5 or 6 Meters: 3 Post Cooldown (600 Mana)
  
• 7 or 8 Meters: 4 Post Cooldown (800 Mana)
  
• 9 or 10 Meters: 5 Post Cooldown (1000 Mana)