*Akira's Pov* (Few days later)
Ghira: Here you go Akira, read it in free time.
I take the book... "Combat Aura Manual" from Ghira's hands.
Me: Than-
I'm suddenly flung back by Blake jumping on me.
She's crying and weeping her tears...
I place my hand on her head, as she looks up, I give her a small smile.
Me: Stay safe Blake.
She only nods, and lets me go.
Kali gives her a small package, as she hands it to me?
Blake: I-I know it's not much.... but it's from my collection!
Her own collection? I pick it, it's two or three books coated together in a red paper.
Me: Thank you, Blake.
She smiles, as Kali comes closer, kneels down and hugs me....
Kali: Watch out for yourself, okay Akira?
We let go, and I nod.
Ghira points at the ship.
Ghira: They're about to set sail.
Me: Shoot!
I run and jump on the ship, I open my backpack and start putting the small book into it.
The ship is slowly sailing away as I look towards the three of them.
After they dissappear from my view, I picked up my things and went to the front.
I sit down, and observe the seas.... thankfully I'm not seasick.... first target, Anima, continent which belongs to, Kingdom of Mistral. And its also known lately for uprising bandit camps....
I just sit here, and start rummaging through my backpack.... some food, water, Lien, books... and a photo?
I pick it up, it's photo of us four....
I smile and place it back in, while taking Aura Manual out.
Opening it, first page is... "Aura Unlocking", yep. Skip.
"Basic Aura Control"
Already can do it.
"Aura Elements"?
Ghira didn't teach me that part?
Opening the manual on page 12, there's few pictures and lots of text....
(Few minutes later...)
So... basically element is additional thing which manifests in your Aura... it may appear with Aura, or later in life.
Ashborn, is this accounted to my Semblance question?
( No )
Oh... okay....
So, Aura Element, is basically manifestation of one's mind into Aura? It takes one's current and previous ones, mashing it together and getting an element.... so, an energetic person would get Fire? Lightning? Something like that?
...
I'll think about it later...
I start hearing steps in my direction and turn to my right, spotting the captain...
Captain: Found you kid, when we arrive in Mistle, I'm throwing you out there.
Okay. That's what he got paid for.
Me: Where are we, sailing to?
He let's a cigarette, and takes a puff.....
Captain: Windpath, its a city north of Mistral, and its one with a port. Don't stay up for too long, it'll take us a week at most.
I only nod, and go to first page of manual.
Okay, I ended at element, now what's next....
"Semblances" and "Aura Control"
Okay? I'll check them in a moment....
Next is.... "Aura Coating"
Page 54.
"Aura Coating" or otherwise known as Aura weapon, or Aura enhancement.
Requires the user to spread their Aura on the weapon to increase its attack power, each hit will eat your Aura*.
Easiest to use with... daggers and shields?
Okay? So, what's the use?
I try reading more... but there's nothing useful.
I turn to page 46.
"Aura Control", Stronger variant of Aura Manipulation, shows more about controlling Aura..... okay...
Page 48 "Semblance"
Unique powers developed by one's soul, most of them require Aura to be used, with few exceptions. Passive Semblances.
Semblances are split into multiple categories. In some cases, a Semblance is formed due to persons current "Desire".
Now, they are split into.
Mainly:
Hereditary: Only shown in persons whose lineage is continued, and it needs to be a strong Semblance for it to become a hereditary one, Ex. Schnee Glyphs, Vasilas Water attraction.
Body: Semblances which affect users bodies, Ex. Some sort of skin hardening.
Manipulation/Control: Capability of using the Semblance on distance. Ex. Controlling a fireball mid-air.
And more....
I close the manual and place it back in the backpack, not noticing it's already got so much darker...
I take my things and went to my cabin.
Opening it... looks like a small room, just bed, desk and toilet, of course separated by door.
I throw my backpack on the bed, and lay on it.
....
Me: A week at most? Huh...
Hey Ashborn.
( What's up kid? )
Tell me what my Semblance, can do. And cannot.
( Your Semblance, "Devouring King, Azkorth" as you call it. Is capable of eating anything dead, killed. And make part of its powers yours.
You regain bits of stamina, Aura or just heal up..... f*ck... )
That all already happened. So? What's more that makes you swear?
( There's... a small chance of you, obtaining devoured targets Semblance....
I really didn't think it through when, I gave it to you )
Wait.... devouring Semblances? But that would require me to... *gulp* Kill more?
( Since it's connected to your Semblance.... I'll tell you this, you can use already dead bodies, as long as a bone remains.... so in short, you can become stronger by becoming a grave-digger....... )
... really?
I'm met with silence.... again....
So I can use, an already dead persons body to increase my power?
*Knock*
Ughh... who?
I get off the bed, and open the door... its captain....
Me: What's up, Cap?
Captain: Waters are clear, so we'll get to Windpath by tomorrows morning.
Me: Thanks.
He only makes a small salute and goes away, as I close the door and jump back on my bed.
I slowly run my Aura around my body... and leave it active for the night....
(Smol skip)
Slowly waking up... I look around and... nothing....
I pick my backpack, and deactivate my Aura.
Leaving the cabin, I went to the upper deck, and just hang by the railing. And look as sight of a city slowly comes out.
Guess, that's the start?
We slowly sail closer, more and more ships around.
I focus a bit on my hea-
Captain: GET READY! WE ARE ABOUT TO SAIL IN!
I quickly cover my ears... ouch.... it was a bad idea....
Stepping away from the railing, I wait as we slowly sail into Mistral, Windpath....
(Smol skip)
It's... quite a big city, the smell of fish is quite strong here.
Streets are kinda empty? What hour is it?
I walk around, in search of anything..... yeah nothing.
There's literally no living soul?
( Turn left, and you'll come out of this alley )
Oh.... thanks?
Turning left, I slowly come out and enter shadows Street full of people.
Humans, Faunus... yeah. I walk up to a stall, with green hairs and green beard man.
?: Want an apple kid? 3 Lien each.
Me: Here you go.
I place Lien down, as he throws me a nice apple.
Taking a bite in... its sweet and juicy.
I look around, searching for small street shops with anything.
Someone grabs me from left, as I turn to a man... in cloak?
??: Hey kid.... looking for some trinkets?
Me: Aren't you a bit-
??: Suspicious? I get that a lot. Take a look!
He starts showing me his things... this is literally a random item pile.
A map?
Me: Whats in the map?
??: Ooh... a good eye you have. It says about a legend, of a God's Temple in mountains, north-east of here. But no one found it!
Me: Okay. I'll take the compass.
I point towards a small compass.
??: 20 Lien.
Bruh....
I just look at him, is he like... f*cking serious?
Me: 10.
??: 20 kid, or goodbye.
Me: Bye then.
I walk a bit away, as he looks at what I did.
I hide behind a corner and wait... I'm going to take that compass.
(Few minutes later....)
It seems like he got another person, for his scams.
It seems to be, an old man? He's a human....
I wait for a bit.... what is he buying?
Some sort of... lamp? Some red/blue lamp...
I wait a bit.... and as he looks at him and starts saying pleasantries, I slowly get closer by staying in between people.
??: As I was saying, today I met a wolf faunus. And boss said something to get a Faunus for her, preferably cute one.
?: Wolf one? Those are getting scarcer... I only saw four?
??: That's more than me, it's the first one. We would get extra if we would catch someone like him.
?: True, and also, it was four in span of last 14 years. So you better find it, or get a fluffy one. Since boss likes those too.
What the hell? Why would they want to catch me?
I'll need to hurry, and rush to some hiding.
??: Right, follow me. I need you to pass some cash to... you know who.
The other man only nods, as they both went a bit away.
I look around and make sure no one's around looking.
I rush and grab the compass, spotting a lighter, I grab it too and rush into completely different direction, hiding my loot into my pockets.
(Smol skip)
It's getting kind of late.... there's few hotels around. I hide my ears as best as I can, and enter one called "5-star Motel"
Walking up to the cashier. It's a man, in his twenties, I would say.
Cashier: Hello, do- you need something?
The moment he spotted me, I could start feeling hate from him....
I look at the prices... 25 per night?
I place 25 Lien down.
Me: One night, one person.
He gives me a key, with a number.
36.
Cashier: it's upstairs. 3rd floor you mutt.
Ehh... classic.
I take the keys and go upstairs.
As I find my room, there's few dudes in black cloaks... I enter and close the door shut.
Since the door opens into the room, I can barricade it?
Looking around, there's a bed, few small cabinets, I start moving them towards the door.
(Few moving minutes later, or something)
... I've got only a small bad feeling about this place...
I take off my cloak, and lay down on the bed.
I should make a small plan on, "where to go"...
Mistral, for sure. Maybe Vale next?
...
There's a lot of bandits around... but there's no way I can get through safely, nor am I strong enough to defend myself from them.
I should hurry to Mistral, then pay for a trip to Vale through a bullhead.
But, what do I need fast too?
.......
Power.... that would be power. I need to get stronger, so that no one will push me around!
...
I'll go sleep for now.....
Slowly closing my eyes, I let sleep take over.....
(Midnight)
*BAM!* *BAM!*
Something woke me up, I look at the door as someone's trying to burst in....
Lightly jumping out of bed... I need to plan fast!
Think! Think! Window!
I open the window, take my things and hide them under the bed, whilst hiding myself in darkest corner.
Thug: Stronger!
*Thud!*
The door went flying few centimeters.... they walk in, as I hide....
There's two guys and a girl?
Skinny guy, mountain like guy, and just a girl. All donned in black....
Thug: Where's he?!
Thug2: He's not in bed.
They slowly look around as wind comes from window...
Girl: Windows open, seems like he fled. Sh*t! What do we tell to boss?
Thug2: He ran way?
Skinny hits the mountain on shoulder.
Thug: No you idiot! She'll skin us alive!
Girl: Let's search for him, you two go out already. I will call for guys with tracking type Semblances.
Both guys left, and I wait as, I clearly hear them going downstairs... while the girl sits on the bed, back to me and pulls out her scroll....
Wait... I can get info from her?
I step closer, and swiftly place my sword against her neck, in a spot where I can easily kill her.
She looks at the sword, and places down her scroll. She's.... mm....
Girl: Seeing how I'm still alive, you want something from me?
I cover my whole body in Aura, as bits of fear start creeping into her eyes.
Girl: A-Aura user? B-but-
Me: Shut. Up.
She looks in front of her, and stays silent.
Me: Semblance.
She's shivering a bit, she lightly flares her green Aura... if compared mine is like a thick log and her is like a stick....
Girl: I call it.... Mimicry...
Shr speaks in sound of the skinny man...
She stops and looks at my Aura... noticing difference in it.
Me: Semblance....
Girl: R-Right. I-I can perfectly copy someone's voice and fingerprints!
That's.... a dangerous one....
Me: How many? Of you? Who are you?
She starts moving in her place, as I "reassure" my sword on her neck, she straightens up.
She takes off her glove, showing me a tattoo of a... spider?
Girl: We... are from spiders. We were ordered to capture you... as boss is looking for some... unique trophies? And... and there's only three of us!
...
She works with that scammer....
I tighten my hold on the sword.
Me: Turn off your Aura. Or I'll kill you.
She looks scared, a bit around and turns it off. I take my blade away... only a bit, as she releases a big sigh, and falls on her back. As she spots my face, I slash at her neck.. not giving her a chance to move, nor scream.
I get off the bed, and grab my things from under it.... as I start hearing steps... is it those two?
Not gonna risk it.
I hold out my hand towards her body.
And whisper.
Me: Devour, Azkorth.
As if feeling my hurry and caution, her body got eaten up in matter of few seconds, I take the sheet and throw it off the bed.
I look outside the window, and spot the skinny guy? Walking on nearby rooftops....
I quickly take out my backpack and hide back in a corner, and a minute later the mountainous guy walks in.
Not noticing a bloodied sheet, since I threw it off. He walks towards the window.
Thug2: She ditched us!
After a short while I hear the skinny one.
Thug: I'll be there in a moment!
...
It goes quiet... do I kill them? Or run?
I can't kill the big guy, since he probably has Aura, but skinny one? Ambush him on stairs?
I slowly walk out of the room.... I slowly walk towards the stairs and as I go down, I hear more footsteps....
I'm on first floor... I look around for anywhere to hide....
Spotting a lightly opened door, I walk in....
Finding.... a bloodbath.... a hanged body if a woman.... what in the actual f*ck!?
The lights are off, I look around and try holding myself back.... this much of blood is.... a little too much for me.
Walking a bit more inside the room, I hear someone... eating?
Walking closer to the sound... I find a middle-aged man... eating two other bodies....?
I... he's... disgusting....
Slashing at his neck, his head went flying a bit... as I'm left with four bodies.....
I look for a toilet, and open it. Finding it surprisingly clean, compared to other rooms.
I bend over the sink and let the vomit out.
*bleurghh...*
Using some tap water, I clean my mouth, rinse my face, and point my hand outside the toilet.
Me: Devour, Azkorth.
I stay by the sink, as.... something strange starts.... flowing around my body?
Cliffhanger?
See ya on the next episode of Drago-
*cough*
Next chapter of 【King of Hatred】