Volume 2.5: Chapter XVI: Trial 4486: Pressure & Improper Schemes

Arson didn’t understand why he was being forced to choose. He didn’t want to choose to follow a single Master, feeling that it would limit his growth while he was in Origin, and potentially leave him with regrets about his decision for the rest of his life.

Sorry everyone, but that is a decision I refuse to make when I don’t have to.

Arson and his Gestalt forms all separated, continuing to train with the entire council of Masters within Origin.

What you all don’t know won’t hurt you… I hope.

Arson’s thoughts twisted his guts with displeasure as a sense of dishonesty washed through him, until he decided to tell the truth if any of the masters asked, but silent on the subject matter if they didn’t.

He felt as if he’d done something wrong. All of his masters had talked to him about his actions the previous day, both as a group and individually as well.

Apparently his loss to the stronger fighters within the dojo grounds had been taken as a personal loss for all his mentors, resulting in an increase in his training from all of them.

His doppelgängers also felt the pressure as all of them were being scrutinized with even more fervor, accelerating both their own personal growth, and the abilities in which they could train with Arson in his cerebral realm.

This had both its pros and cons for Arson, as his clones grew incredibly quickly, as they only had to focus on individual subject matters. While Arson was forced to balance a deluge of new knowledge constantly.

Days passed without Arson taking breaks for anything but being overwhelmed by the training that strained his mind. His masters focused on what had lead to his defeat by a group that his trainers knew wasn't capable of truly challenging Arson at his current level of combat.

Arson didn’t know if he was stressed by the thought of Carter Omni being able to call on him at any time, or if it was tension brought on by the trials, but he disagreed with his trainers.

The next fortnight left him more unsettled the more each of his new masters wanted more and more time from him, he felt he wouldn’t have been able to achieve without his doppelgängers.

He and his Gestalt forms often laughed at how the masters believed that he was choosing anyone of them over the other. The skilled individuals took pride in what they taught Arson, and Arson appreciated being chosen by all of them. So much in fact that he worked himself to the edge of exhaustion to continue to learn everything they all had to offer.

Arson learned a breathing technique before entering the runic skyscraper of Endless. It wasn’t until that breathing technique became easier to use than even breathing normally, that he realized how close to oblivion he truly was. Amidst a fight with his clones his soul and cerebral realms aligned further to such a degree that his regenerative abilities even while being suppressed by the limitations of the trial, doubled.

Amidst a block from Glory’s shield, a resonance of mana snapped outward, knocking back Temper and Bloom. Arson vanished as the mana gushed into his cores like a waterfall pouring directly into his soul.

He’d never felt closer to completing his cores, honing in on the sensation that his concentrated breathing brought.

The many folds of his mind shrank in the draw required to keep his mind split, lessening the strain felt by his mind, body, and soul to focus on a multitude of tasks simultaneously.

This alone brought his Gestalt forms growth even further, as each could feel that they were less limited by Arson’s shared power. All now determined to become the strongest aspect of Arson’s Gestalt ability.

A time came where they only rejoined Arson’s mind when they needed to train as a unit, testing their power against one another. Arson now more formidable than he’d ever been before.

He’d been able to shoot with Acu in various dungeons for entire mornings, train with Breaker both in stealth and the scythe golems throughout the night. All while training with his Gestalt forms while the city slept before dawn, starting the process again from the beginning.

Glory was on the way to becoming Osiris’s most talented student. Thinker had ongoing arguments with Merlin and Magnus that Arson found to be beyond even his own thinking, which made him feel as if his lack of confidence was holding him back, knowing that Thinker was a part of him. A detail that should be proof that he could think at a higher level of understanding, as Thinker did, not having the same fears that plagued Arson slowing him down.

Even more remarkable was Temper and Bloom. One able to fight in Rebellion’s dojo against an older generation of fighters, using nothing but martial forms and pure savagery. While the other was working on developing runic storms alongside Masters Magnus and Merlin. A feat so prominent that Arson had knocked himself out completely several times, trying to perform the same technique in his cerebral realm, before he even managed to slightly practice the beginnings of what Bloom was understanding naturally.

Yet everyday brought strides that changed Arson forever. Stealth was becoming a part of his every movement, his ability to disappear in a moment's notice undetectable in his smooth gait. Runes became as easily used as his system given tools, and his connection to his weapons of choice grew to become tools as dependable as his own limbs.

Although he was far away from mastering any one thing, his combat experience grew exponentially.

Then one morning as he and Acu entered the Ad Infinitum, everything changed. They’d once more been dropped into a version of Origin. The city as empty as when they’d been forced to defend themselves from endless foes. Only this time, they were faced with two individuals that stood across from them on the rooftop they’d been placed on.

“This isn’t good…” said Acu, staring down the version of Arson smiling back at him. While Arson faced down a seeming duplicate of Acu.

“You think,” responded Arson sarcastically, a box popping up into his vision.

*From Master to disciple, from Disciple to Master: As tested sometimes we come to find that we are our own worse enemies, yet that isn’t always the complete truth. Sometimes we struggle with the fear that we will never amount to what our betters have risen to become, or what our own pupils can become. This is common, but rarely ever acknowledged. Worry not, in this trial you will be able to fight your master as he was at your age, and he will fight you as you may potentially be at his age, as anything is possible. Good luck, Tested, you are going to need it.*

…

Acu and Arson shared a glance, not wanting to take their eyes off their opponents. Acu wanted to warn Arson of a truth he hadn’t acknowledged since he’d been in Origin, but before he could speak, his younger self spoke.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, kid, but you have a better chance of beating him,” started Acu’s younger self, pointing toward Acu, chuckling.

“than you do me…” said his younger self with a thumb jabbed toward his own chest. Acu believed the younger man, as the limits put on his chi were non-existent before Origin started to drain him of life force. As well as his father’s bow, the ancient relic he dared not use at risk of losing his own life was held by the younger man.

The bow was unfathomably powerful, limited only by the chi of the wielder, and Acu was far more in touch with his giant bloodline before he’d entered Origin; his access to chi through the use of his bloodline incredible.

The runes inscribed from top to bottom of the weapon drew his eyes as his younger self lifted it toward Acu with a sneer. Acu looked at Arson whose eyes were on his older self, taking in the potential of what he could be, as Acu couldn’t help and stare at what he had been.

The older version of Arson was quite alarming to look at. The refined version of his student had a smile that stripped all confidence from Acu. A hum of not only mana but overwhelming chi rippled out from his figure, distorting the very air around him. Ripples like that of a disturbed pond pulsing out from his being in threat.

Acu followed Arson’s gaze to the crown atop the deadly man’s head, and narrowed his eyes trying to see what the strange light construct was doing.

It didn’t take long for Acu to realize that the crown his student seemed to be able to hide was far more advanced than his current student's own. He’d only seen Arson’s own crown in more strenuous moments during combat, while this man’s crown seemed to have a presence of its own, hungrily eating at all the energy around him.

Such power…

In the next moment Acu watched as the elder Arson’s chest lit with a runic handprint that blazed through his simple white tabard, people climbing from his shadow. Only a few at first, but after a while Arson and Acu shared a wide eyed glance at the numerous members produced by the man.

“Well Master, it's official, I think we bit off more than we could chew with this one…”

“Indeed child… Indeed.”

…

Arson had an issue. He both wanted to fight the younger Acu at his best, and keep his abilities hidden from Acu.

His masters were all under the assumption that he’d picked them individually over one another, and had a feeling that if he showed off his Gestalt ability to fight the younger Acu, that the entire charade would be up.

Does it matter Arson? He’s making you look like a fool!

Acu’s younger form was the kind of archer that Arson wished he could be. The little Acu had showed him since he’d started to train with Arson was apparently just the beginning when it came to archery and bowmanship.

The younger Acu started to fire, and Arson was completely caught off guard at the speed of the first shot he charged, experiencing nothing like it before. The arrow struck him with enough energy to send him sailing off the rooftop and crashing into the street below; his body skipping off the cobbles like a rock skimmed with precision atop the surface of a lake.

Arson finally crash-landed in a courtyard, smashing into a water fountain at the center of the vast open space surrounded by shops. He stood slowly, water pouring all over him as he extricated himself from the shattered fountain, brushing shards of stone from the fountain's decorative spouts from his shoulders; water pouring everywhere as he looked around at the unfamiliar shops that ringed the courtyard.

He scanned the distance, watching as the young Acu jumped from the roof, landing on the cobbles as if the drop from the tall building was but a step to him, making Arson wonder just how powerful Acu was now, if the person before Arson was supposed to be what his master was like at his own age of 16 season cycles.

“Sparks, that hurt,” said Arson, looking at the slowly closing hole in his shoulder as the younger Acu casually strolled into the entrance of the courtyard, far faster than Arson expected, scanning the area, bow at the ready.

“Please don’t bore me… I would like to kill you at least knowing that you were a challenge like the trial said you would be, kid. I don’t have time to waste on punks without a lick of talent…”

Was Acu a cocky brat at my age?

Arson tried not to think less of his Master, wondering if he was fighting a projection of the dungeon, or somehow actually fighting his Master as a youth. Arson weighed his options, worrying that if he waited too long the shot the younger Acu charged, would force him into a defensive as his opponent made the first move.

“This shouldn’t take too long,” said the younger Acu, smiling, beginning to fire arrows at various speeds as Arson dodged, only for a second or third projectile to be redirected by another.

At first, the shots were easy to keep up with, but after a handful managed to curve, Arson began to struggle. He couldn’t close the distance due to the power and speed behind each shot, which gave his opponent the capability to fire both close and long range shots with deadly accuracy.

He’d managed to cut a near dozen from the air with the use of his scythe, but the moment he began to successfully defend himself, the younger Acu raised the level of combat by a multitude of degrees.

Young Acu smiled as Arson slashed an arrow before it could pierce his neck, firing three arrows at once the moment he moved to strike the previous arrow.

All three struck home and Arson wailed. The pain caused by the shots was immense, taking him off his feet with ease.

He rolled backward trying to get back to his feet immediately after his back hit the ground; the arrows in his arms snapping with the reverse kip up making his vision go white.

He closed his eyes and tried to refocus on the battle, nearly shot again as he was forced to dive out of the way, the younger Acu having had darted to his side, flanking him as he righted himself.

“I wish I was fighting the older you…, this is like bullying at this point,” Acu’s younger self said hysterically laughing as Arson got to his feet.

The fight had just began and Arson already had three arrows in him. One through each arm, and another through the thigh of his right leg. He glanced at his master and realized his older self hadn’t even moved from where they’d all started. The man looked bored in fact, looking over to Arson before he waved and gave Arson a wink.

“Spark this, it's go time,” mumbled Arson.

“You're bleeding all over the place and think you have time to look away from me, kid, yeah right!”

Arson looked back at the younger Acu and smiled as an arrow was fired directly at his face. Arson snatched the arrow from the air just in front of his nose, and the Gestalt rune on his chest lit up.

“I’m going to make you wish you’d fought anyone other than me, poser!”

…

Acu felt rage building in his chest at his current circumstance.

The elder version of his student was simply embarrassing him; even taking the time to wave at his younger self before he crouched, sitting on his ankles, resting his chin on his palm as he refocused on Acu a moment later.

“You know I always idolized you, right? I mean even before you gained your true title after the fall of Origin that is, you taught me so much, I think of our time together often these days,” said the elder Arson.

“What are you talking about? You're nothing but a creation of this dungeon, your simple mental tricks won’t distract me, boy,” said Acu, firing his bow constantly. The sound of his shots like that of cannons as he dodged and continued to evade attacks.

“I’m talking about all of this, it will be wiped from your mind before we meet again, in fact I only just received my memories of Origin recently, you may not believe me, but your younger self was pulled here as well, and since my younger self manages to beat you… the memories will be wiped from his mind,” said the elder Arson, pulling a huge white tome from thin air, twisting energies moving across its face. He turned a page reading from the tome before Acu could comment, still forced to focus on combat as he was.

He fought against an archer, a spearmen, a battle shield user, various elementalists, and even a scythe user. All of which had enough mana to suppress the diminished chi that Acu had access to as individuals, let alone as the unit.

Acu wasn’t even being attacked by all the people that surrounded him, making the man hate himself for not only being incapable of making them all fight, as they did seem eager to, but also that he was interested in what their abilities and skills could be.

“Let’s see… ah, yes, so after the end of Origin’s timeline, you end up unlocking your bloodline, alongside Merlin, and have three children, two of which die trying to take on the mantles of you and your future wife, while my friend Stream actually succeeds and becomes the most powerful elemental bowman to ever live. Hmm, didn’t know that you had children beside Stream,” said the elder Arson, snapping the floating book closed before it vanished.

“You lie,” roared Acu, agitated by the casual ease with which the man he believed was a projection spoke about some fabricated future in which he was united with his love. He fired an arrow at the man, and a floating armored hand shifted into the visible spectrum, lifting from his shoulder with its palm toward the arrow.

A beam of frost was fired by the construct, freezing the arrow, causing Acu’s projectile to shatter on contact with the elder Arson’s chest; a light dusting of snow wiped away by his free hand .

Acu was forced to take a scythe slash to fire the shot, and had even felt a flare of excitement rise in his chest until he saw how easily the attack was subverted. He immediately went back on the defensive, annoyed by the heavy sigh the elder version of his student made before a sudden joy filled his voice as he spoke up again to Acu.

“Oh, hey, can you show me how to do your family’s sacred technique, Stream won’t show me and I’ve come close. I just don’t know how to make the arrows grow to the size of trees?” At Elder Arson’s words Acu froze in place completely. Those he fought stopped, their attacks all inches from his body. A shield aimed at his neck. An arrow aimed at his eye. The scythe directed toward his spine, and even a rune covered fist vibrating powerfully in front of his stomach, making his shirt rustle as if caught in a constant breeze were all stopped.

“What did you say?” asked Acu, for the first time since they’d started to fight believing that the man he fought may be an Elder Arson.

“I said... can you teach me your family’s secret technique, Stream won’t teach me, he’s actually holding it against me, something about not being a real bowman, but I just think it is the last bow technique that he can hold over my head, I mean I can still beat him, it's just annoying.”

“You are really not a projection, are you?”

The elder Arson shook his head, the simple gesture and smile almost enough to make him believe that the dungeon wasn’t stripping his mind of information to feed it to a conjuration in an effort to distract him.

“No, or you’d be dead already old man,” said his student with a laugh. Acu look at all the attacks but a blink away from killing him.

“Why mercy me if you were pulled here to defeat me?”

The elder Arson looked at his younger selves fighting and then back toward Acu with another joyous grin as his eyes seemed to water, the man blinking sudden tears away before he stood and bowed.

“Because I love you, Master, and I wouldn’t pass up getting to talk with you again for anything.”