On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

The two girls, Natsumi and Motoko, had read through the documents provided on the two Gods. Nkunim and Chollima, yeah? Though I’m not sure how a horse is a God… but then, I suppose there’s plenty of Dragons in mythology that would be Divine, I guess? David had scratched his head at that. Mythology and all the spiritual nonsense weren’t his forte, no, his role was to break heads and crack bones, fighting on the frontlines.

Despite that, he had enjoyed watching the two girls converse, positing their ideas on how to become more suitable. The servants at the mansion had constructed an Octagon, though it was more expansive, to take account of their greater speed. Motoko and Natsumi had barely even noticed, so intent they were on their discussions, and David had grinned at the reality that despite their rivalry here, they were such good friends. If it wasn’t for them being in love with Akio, I’d totally have pegged them for lesbians. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Love’s love. It’s a bit surprising though… all this noble and bodyguard stuff. Even we in Britain don’t take it that seriously anymore. I mean, the Princess…

The Princess was training hard herself, and David chuckled, remembering. He glanced over at her again, where she was putting on a face of extreme concentration, trying to absorb and manage the ruby energies of earth element, which supposedly would amplify her durability and self-regeneration. She’ll manage it too. Nobody’s as stubborn as our Princess. They say those who aren’t that bright dig their heels in and never give up, and it’s true.

Feeling a little pang of conscience at calling her… less than a genius… David was pleased to see the expression on her face was far lighter, the frown lines she had crossing her forehead and around her eyes, which showed she was always under heightened stress, having smoothed out. She looked her age again, a fresh-faced young woman in her mid-twenties, ready to face the world. It’s because she now has someone to truly rely on. Before, we were allies, but… that can’t compete with a boyfriend, I guess. Though to think it came to this. She really despised him on first meeting, although… honestly, our Princess doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.

No, it was down to that bastard Max Power, who David would dearly love to get hold of and choke the life from him, and his stupid poisons, as well as the constant stress that was building up. Throw in a bit of troubled family history, and her concern for Natsumi and Motoko, who to Western eyes looked too young, despite them being adults by British standards, and you got the toxic cocktail of disgust. Though in my case, his cockiness pissed me off, turning up with three beauties in tow, annoying the Princess. But I respect fighters, and justified arrogance isn’t arrogance at all…

Shaking his head, David grinned. Camaraderie is a wonderful thing, and standing shoulder to shoulder with warriors you can trust is a great feeling. Gets the blood pumping. But for Eleanor… I know she’s got little Miss Asian and the teacher… or she will have the teacher again, no way he’s going to let Eleanor down… no, having women like Motoko, Natsumi, that Faerie princess Shaeula and the others in her corner… well, in ordinary times, of peace and boredom, shit, it’d be hell, she’d be spitting blood for being cheated on… but these aren’t ordinary times. Now, nothing’s more precious than companions you can trust to have your back no matter what, and… he’s the tie that binds them together, and won’t break. It can’t break…

Initially, Motoko and Natsumi, after making their plans and sharing ideas on how to raise their compatibility, had been excited, but then their professional mindset that David very much approved of had reasserted itself, and they had retrieved their practise weapons, though to call them practise was underselling them, as they were all live steel, just not their deadly katanas or the other weapons Tsumura house possessed.

They had faced each other in their fetching blue and white training wear, and bowed deeply, before beginning their battle, which was more for pride than anything else, but David felt pride too, on their behalf. Of course, any girl who is a fan of me is going to have guts, and there’s no way she could dedicate herself to a weak, worthless master. Oh well… I’m here to give advice, alongside these others, so I’ll do it. I want to see how far they can go, and as a favour, I’ll get them to watch over the Princess, make sure she integrates into the group without problems. She’s shockingly shy for a member of our Royal Family, and rather clumsy emotionally. Don’t want her making enemies amongst the others…

His attention back on the battle, his drifting thoughts now focussed on the duel, her narrowed his blue eyes thoughtfully. Natsumi was on the defensive, holding a bow. Japanese bows were on a par with longbows for size, though their shape was distinct, which gave them a lot of penetrating power, but they were hardly suited for close combat use, even in an enlarged arena like this Octagon. Still, Natsumi surely knew that, and as the brother of the weasel princess, Shaeraggo, urged Natsumi to remember that bows were a hunter’s weapon, meant for swift, sure kills, not melee combat, David narrowed his eyes trying to ascertain her intent, as Motoko swept in.

Excellent footwork. Honestly, her speed even without a Favour is now joke. No, it’s not just speed.  She wasn’t just fast, but perfectly balanced, her feet lightly but firmly placed with every step. She called it hebiodori, I think? Snake dance? She does have that slithery motion down.

Speed alone could be defeated by skill. Obviously, if the gap was too big, no amount of talent would be enough, but someone simply fast could easily be taken down by a skilled brawler. As if to prove David’s thoughts true, Natsumi started unleashing a barrage of arrows, but Motoko slid and pivoted, dodging them all by mere inches, which while it looked clumsy, was actually a display of skill, to anyone who knew what the hell they were talking about, anyway.

“You will have to try harder, Natsumi…” Motoko warned, smiling, not even out of breath despite her graceful and rapid manoeuvres. In her hands was a katana, and she would have the advantage up close.

“Oh, I’m just getting warmed up, Motoko!” Natsumi smiled back. “Besides, Shaeula’s brother is telling me to switch weapons, but… not yet!” At her declaration, the air felt prickly around them, and David could tell she was calling upon some sort of elemental energy. Yeah, I’m a fist and mace guy, but… even I have to admit knowing a few of these tricks is a good idea. Well, I’m David Reckless, of course I’ll learn!

“I respect your determination!” Motoko cried, even as a heavy shaft flew towards her. It was followed by several more, Natsumi’s hands working the string of her bow with incredible speed, but Shaeraggo shook his head.

“No matter how swift one is, an archer is limited by the nature of their-their bow. It is a hunter’s weapon…”

“Maybe so, Raggy, maybe so.” Shaeranna, the fierce sister of Shaeula, shrugged. She mainly used a spear, and so was discontent neither of the two girls were using spears yet. “But I think she has a different plan, other scheme, afoot.”

Motoko swatted aside the first arrow, sword slicing through it, and using her slithering footwork she dodged the other two, only to pirouette, mitigating several impacts. She grunted, but used her momentum to carry her all the way around so she was facing Natsumi again, and her movement speed wasn’t diminished, as she sprinted across the makeshift Octagon.

“Invisible wind arrows?” Motoko asked, raising an eyebrow, and Natsumi giggled, even as she ran to the side, arrows streaking from her bow as she loosed them in quick succession. Some had arrowheads wreathed in circling jade winds, increasing their cutting and piercing power, and Shaeraggo nodded his head in approval.

“Of course. It’s not like we’re not learning from the others. But…”

Motoko hurled herself to the side as one of the arrows turned at a right angle, flying back at her, a fine thread of wind tied to the fletching allowing Natsumi to control it.

“We are both trying to combine elements into our combat techniques, reviving the true Tsumura Arts long lost.”

“Indeed.” Motoko agreed, throwing herself into a swift roll, ducking under arrows both invisible and corporeal. Performing such a move with a bare blade was unwise, but she executed it gracefully, covering a surprising amount of ground, and David whistled in appreciation as the green glow flared around Motoko’s feet, propelling her forwards like a sportscar, the acceleration blowing loose the ribbon tying back her long hair, which flapped behind her from the rapid movement.

“We are. Ichi man-po no hiyaku! Ten Thousand Steps Leap!”

“That’s new!” Natsumi chuckled, her own wind responding, blades slashing down at Motoko, fragments of blue and white cloth scattering, even as she unleashed more arrows. “Trying to imitate Chollima’s Favour? Clever.”

“Indeed…” Motoko repeated, coming through the storm mostly unharmed. “…Though it is a pale imitation.”

Great, they can hold a calm conversation even in the midst of a frenzied duel. That’s down to good breathing techniques. Without them, a fighter runs out of stamina, and their muscles juice up… although… David didn’t have fancy eyes like some, but he wasn’t a fool, and he realised they were both using faint trickles of wind element to oxygenate themselves even during moments where they were unable to breathe deeply.

“No, a mistake.” Shaeraggo shook his head, narrowing his green eyes. “You have left-left behind your sword and spear when you dodged. Careless. An archer must always have a backup weapon for when the enemy is too-too close!”

Ulfuric, his great arms crossed in front of his massive chest, narrowed his own bright eyes. “Ordinarily, most certainly. But… the body itself is a weapon, and…”

“What’s an arrow but a dagger?” Natsumi answered, and an orange light shimmered around it, extending out into a blade of water droplets.

Motoko was still being propelled by her new technique, so she wasn’t fully able to dodge Natsumi’s stab, which was accompanied by a torrent of wind arrows and water bullets, pouring in from all angles. Motoko spun her katana, and a yellow glow surrounded her, a fiery nova blasting outwards for half a metre.

“Nice try, but…” As Natsumi moved backwards, her arrow consumed by the flaming barrier Motoko had momentarily conjured, she channelled a little wind, and her spear flew towards her.

“Sorry, but… no.” Motoko interrupted. “Tsumura Art… Iaijutsu… Kazehebi!”

She lowered her sword to the sheathed position, despite having no scabbard, and a green cyclone of wind suddenly surrounded it. Then she whipped the blade out, as if drawing it at lightning speed, the wind energy igniting as it passed through the fading sparks of her earlier flame nova. Natsumi widened her eyes in surprise, smiling in admiration, before darting to the side, her movements irregular in ways different to the standard, snake-like steps of Tsumura Style.

“That hurt…” Natsumi chuckled, fingers pressed to her cheek, which had a deep cut and a livid burn across it. More blue and white cloth was fluttering down, her training outfit shredded, and David called out a warning.

“Shit, be careful you two. If you start flashing too much skin, I don’t want your boyfriend coming over here and plucking out my eyes!”

Natsumi giggled at that, and as the shoulder and upper half of her outfit fell away in burning scraps, David instinctively looked away, only to realise, that despite the fact they were warriors who only concerned themselves with battle, they were girls in love too. Yeah, makes sense…

Under Natsumi’s ruined garments she was wearing a form-fitting short-sleeved leotard-like set of black armour. A faint scratch had been left on it, but even as they watched, the damage disappeared. “It’s all right. We’re wearing precious protection for emergencies.” Natsumi called. She had also blocked some of the slash with her free hand, a leather bracer having deflected the vicious strike.

“Now that was a good strike, Motoko.” Natsumi marvelled. “Sheathless sword drawing? I’m impressed. But…” Wielding her spear one-handed, phantom spears of wind and water mirroring her strikes, she pressed forwards, and now Motoko was on the defensive.

“Yes, one on one, a skilled wielder of the spear will defeat, will crush, a skilled wielder of a sword.” Shaeranna insisted. “Greater reach should be leveraged, used properly!”

“That is not strictly true…” Ulfuric rumbled. “Though after her mighty strike, she is at a disadvantage. And also…”

As Motoko fended off the incoming spear, which was being thrust with deadly, unerring sharpness towards her heart, which made David sweat, even though he knew the two of them would never seek to seriously injure each other, she was counting with her own sweeping blasts of fire and wind. Unfortunately for her, Natsumi was moving with great irregularity, wind and water element jetting from around her feet and legs, making it difficult to predict where she was going to be from ordinary combat cues like eye sightlines, muscle tremors and focus.

“I call it Tsumura Style – Sora no Ugoki! Empty Motion!”

Her spear was thrust, slamming into Motoko’s sword, the pinpoint force and surge of wind generated surely enough to disarm her, but as cloth shredded, revealing Motoko’s own black under-armour, Natsumi was surprised that Motoko held firm, and even managed to counter, by using Kazehebi again, this time with a sword made of wind, with her free hand. Natsumi’s bare arm was cut deeply, red and silver flowing, but despite that she showed no fear or pain, closing in. Shaeranna clicked her tongue, but Natsumi’s eyes were bright, as she sheared half the shaft of her spear off with wind, shortening the spear to a close combat weapon.

Her irregular movements now applied to her whole body, and her fingers were aimed like claws at Motoko’s eyes, which David thought was going a bit far. Despite that, he was watching, assessing their strengths.

“It is most excellent.” Motoko approved, her two swords, one of metal, one of wind, warding off Natsumi’s spear, as well as her fists and feet, as Natsumi was like a snake herself, kicks and punches coming in from seemingly random directions. “But…” On her hand was a single glove. “Never will blade, shaft or spear slip from my grasp while I am in love…”

“Oh yes, I forgot.” Natsumi stuck out her tongue. “But… we’re not done, are we?” They clashed again and again, wounds piling up. A beam of light shattered Motoko’s wind sword, and she countered with a blinding explosion of light and wind, the shock momentarily stunning Natsumi, but even without conscious control, it seemed Empty Motion was working, and she dodged a fierce slash, sparks flying off her black armour.

“Of course not.” Motoko agreed. “Not until we determine a winner!”

Sword spun down, but Natsumi dodged instinctively, and her hand snaked out and grabbed Motoko’s limb. She squeezed, and David frowned as Motoko’s movements became erratic. What did she do?

“Qi?” Motoko headbutted Natsumi, which made David wince. Damn, those pair have no concern for each other’s faces. I respect that, but… oh well, guess they can get healed up later…

“Yes…” Natsumi managed, spitting blood, her nose horribly squashed. The blood turned into bullets, water element infusing them, and David chuckled, remembering Eleanor’s story of how she used similar to save her life when the traitorous fucks came after her. Motoko’s own cheek was laid bare to the bone, but she didn’t flinch, forcing her arms to swing her sword, only for Natsumi to abandon her spear and grapple. Heads clashed, hands stabbed and joints were twisted as they fell together in a heap.

“I can’t do it like Daiyu, but… we’re barely Cultivators, it disrupts our networks if we get a Qi infusion haphazard…” Her words were cut off by another headbutt, and she spat more blood, only to struggle as Motoko wrenched free the leg Natsumi held, gripping her arm tight, bending it almost to breaking.

“It is clever. We must use all… at our disposal…” Motoko’s face was crimson too, her mouth bloody, and she spat, a broken tooth hitting the ground. “If our parents could see us now…” She snorted a laugh, quite unlike her usual stoic demeanour. “I hardly hate this, but… I do not want Akio to see me with a missing tooth…”

“I quite agree.” Natsumi managed, her speech a nasally twang through her smashed nose. Her free hand seized Motoko’s long hair, pulling her head back painfully. “Selensha can fix us…”

“That hurts…” Motoko grimaced, forced to relinquish her hold on Natsumi, her hair fluttering down as she cut the strands Natsumi held. As they broke apart, Motoko dashed for her spear, while Natsumi seized the sword, weapons reversed.

“I won’t lose!” Natsumi declared, and Motoko shook her head, hair now ragged and uneven. Still, neither David nor the other watchers laughed at their story state. How can we? They’re fighting for pride. And… there’s a fair number of rough spots they can improve, but… they’re smart, determined and won’t stop until they’re able to stand by his side. Lucky bastard.

“Lose? Neither of us will lose.” Motoko rolled her tongue, probing at several more loose teeth. “But if you mean defeating me… sorry, but… no!”

Motoko threw another improvised flashbang of light and wind, but Natsumi surrounded her head with a bubble of water, mitigating it. She swung her sword at a distance, and light flashed. Motoko staggered, leg pierced, burned to the bone, and David whistled, shocked she would aim such a dangerous move at her friend.

Even as Motoko stumbled, arrows were accelerated with wind, pulled from her discarded quiver, and they rained down. Natsumi’s Empty Motion dodged most of them, but one lodged in her bare wrist, and she pulled it free with her teeth. That bought Motoko a moment, and she used wind to propel her again.

“I’ve seen that one!” Natsumi grinned, and water and wind surged, engulfing Motoko.

“Yes, but have you seen this?” Motoko had thrown her spear, accelerating it, and droplets of light were raining down. Natsumi desperately dodged, but with her Empty Motion she wasn’t entirely able to direct her movements, so the light droplets struck her exposed limbs… only for nothing to happen.

“A ruse?” she managed, and Motoko’s answer was a vicious strike to her wrist, and she cried out, a cracking sound echoing.

“Obviously. Simply a pretty lightshow, but…” More droplets fell, and this time Natsumi stumbled, one leg trailing as some of the beams were real. “…what is real, what is simply a distraction?”

“This.” Natsumi grinned, her face smeared with drying red and silver blood.

Her sword shattered, light element heating it and water element cooling it rapidly, then wind to manipulate the shards. Motoko’s vitals were protected, her under-armour blocking the worst, but her exposed arms and legs were crisscrossed with deep cuts, leaking fluid.

“Or… this?” Motoko managed as she fell over, and the spear Natsumi had dodged before came flying back, slamming into her head. Fortunately Motoko wasn’t a fool, and had turned it so the butt rather than the spearhead impacted her. Momentarily stunned, Natsumi floundered, and Motoko struck out at her ankles, breaking them both with fierce, precise kicks, while her final move was to grab Natsumi by her remaining working arm, dislocating her shoulder. That done, she dropped Natsumi, and pinned her, glancing back at David.

“Octagon rules, huh? Well then…” David counted down. Natsumi struggled, but she was effectively immobilised, and David soon signalled the victory. “Too bad fangirl, looks like your noble mistress beat you good and proper.”

“Hardly.” Motoko slumped down, though her face was pink from excitement after winning such a fierce battle, no, David judged, just for partaking in it. Yeah, this pair are just my sort of girls. Imagining that foolish redheaded traitor in his mind, telling him ‘Ach, ye have nay chance David, and would ye steal a girl from another man?’ he couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

Stupid bitch. Even in my fantasies you’re a pain in the arse, aren’t you? There’s nothing wrong with a woman, or a man from that matter, leaving for greener pastures, but… much as I hate to say it, the grass is greenest where he is. And he’s looking after my Princess now too. Besides… I like these girls, they’ve got guts, and honestly, it’s a proud thing as a fighter to have such brave girls as fans of mine… but I’m not the sort to shit on anyone’s happiness, and nobody else even enters their eyes. Which I respect, honestly. Fuck me, there’s no chance, but even if by some miracle they did come onto me, I’d be a nugget like Donovan in a hot minute once Akio found out. Fuck that…

Shuddering, David realised he was drawing attention, before a wicked idea crossed his mind. “Hey, you think Donovan is going to be pissed if I tell him Akio’s marrying the Princess? I think seeing the wretched fucknugget suffer would improve my mood.”

“Maybe.” Motoko managed, helping Natsumi to stand, supporting her weight. “Since Shaeula did dismember him, and now Akio has both her and Princess Eleanor… no, Eleanor now.”

“In that case, I’m going to have fun.” David decided. He then asked the question on his mind, seeing the sorry state they were in. “Damn, you went all out. Aren’t you worried about injury?”

Natsumi was the one to answer, but not before Motoko had painfully reset her broken nose to a semblance of a normal form, though she still had a whistling lilt to her words. “Not really. In the worst case, our Ether Healing will fix us in a day or so. But… missing out on the fun later tonight would be disappointing.”

“Indeed.” Motoko agreed, a faint laugh trickling from her bloody lips, and another tooth fell free.

“Stick that under your pillow and Akio will have to leave you a gift tonight.” David snorted, and at their confused looks, he sighed. “British tradition. Try it. Akio’s half British, I bet his mother did it for him and his sister when they were kids.”

Nodding, Motoko channelled a little wind, and retrieved her two lost teeth. Handing one to Natsumi, she finished explaining. “There. Now Akio can gift us both. As for our worry… we know so long as we do not die, we will be fine. Though we do not want to worry Akio. But… we passed through the doors of life and death a number of times at Hanafubuki.”

“That’s right.” Natsumi agreed.

Selensha, the white furred weasel… no, she’s a stoat, isn’t she? Not that I care much about what damn type of mustelid she is… raised her staff tipped with a massive chunk of orange crystal and began to weave water element over the girls. It soaked in, rapidly accelerating their already powerful self-healing, and soon Natsumi could stand, and speak normally again.

“We should have died a number of times. We survived because we were skilled, yes, but… so were our enemies. If it wasn’t for the strength Akio gives us through Lovers’ Link, we’d have died to the terrorists, and against the Chosen… he was simply too arrogant. So we won’t be.”

Not sure the tooth fairy works like that, but whatever, you two certainly do get along. But yeah… arrogance… David nodded. “Makes sense. It was the same with us. That bitch Mary Stuart was arrogant too. She wanted us to give up, to acknowledge she was right. Me, If the boot was on the other foot, I’d have just snapped her fucking neck and punched out all her goons rather than give a speech. That’s the thing. If you’re at someone’s mercy, better pray it’s an evil or an arrogant bastard, as they want you to squirm. That gives you a chance. Don’t make that mistake. A lot of your moves…” He glanced over at the others, and it was Ulfuric who answered.

“Even in this short time, you have developed greatly. The new moves you displayed all have their strengths, but… weaknesses too.”

“That is right, is correct.” Shaeranna agreed. “Your Ten Thousand Steps Leap is fast, but predictable. Whereas your Empty Motion…” She addressed Natsumi now. “…is more effective the more your opponent relies on a warrior’s or a hunter’s perception, but… against a wide array of strikes, you lose the ability to choose which to take.”

“Yes.” Shaeraggo agreed. “I would easily take-take your life with a set of arrows that boxed you in, so no matter how random your motions, you would be pierced.”

“I’ll tell him you want to pierce his girls…” David snickered, amused at the sudden look of panic on the weasel’s face, before he was glowering sullenly.

“Shut-shut up! I would not risk the wrath of my little sister, nor upset my darling Selensha or Phaelae.”

“Another one who attracts the ladies, I see.” David snorted. “Anyway… so, you won, Motoko…” He changed the subject, suddenly tired of the jokes.

“Yes, she did.” Natsumi pouted. “If you ask me, it doesn’t seem right. Shouldn’t I get my long-desired win at last?”

“You nearly did.” Motoko reassured her, her own injuries now restored, and she felt around her mouth, nodding in satisfaction as her missing teeth were back, though she kept her broken one in her free hand, clutching it as though it was precious. Fuck me, Akio, you owe me one. Give them a good reward, okay? Though it’s likely a reward for you!

“Nearly isn’t good enough.” Natsumi frowned, before smiling cheerfully. “But… that just means I need to be stronger. So… you’ll be taking Chollima’s Favour?” she asked, and Motoko shrugged.

“If you cannot be made suitable for it.”

As Natsumi paused, confused, Motoko laughed happily. “Come now, Natsumi. I am your best friend, I have known you since kindergarten. We go everywhere together, we marry the same man, we became women on the same day on the same bed. And as we fought, I realised… you are more suitable to speed than me. It is as you say.” She bowed to Shaeranna. “I merely focussed on overwhelming speed, whereas Natsumi tried to control speed, make it work for her. Besides… Nkunim suits me. Victory in battle… is what I desire. Though…” Now her smile was teasing. “…if you cannot make it work, Natsumi, then I shall take Chollima’s Favour, have no fear!”

“I’ll succeed!” Natsumi insisted. “So that next time we have to walk on the borders of life and death, instead of dragging ourselves along it, soaked in blood, crying tears of pain… we can dance along it, hand in hand!”

Motoko nodded. “Yes. Very well said. But… we have much work to do. We have time, the Pilgrimage is long, but… Akio has many demands on his adherence, so the sooner we can lift his burden, the better.”

“That’s right!” Natsumi agreed. “So…” She smiled at her observers, David included. “…you all watched us fight. Where can we improve? How can I make Empty Motion truly a part of my repertoire? Motoko, you should learn it too!”

Motoko nodded. “Indeed. If you are to become compatible with Chollima as soon as possible, learning how to perform a similar leap is imperative. Please guide us, seniors.” As they both bowed, David exchanged a look with the others, and he now was grinning too. Pounding his open hand with a fist, he spoke.

“All right then. We won’t go easy on you. But… yeah, firstly, your grappling techniques are useless when you can toss around elemental blasts and damn lasers. But…” Ideas whirring in his head, he clenched his fists. Okay, so… there has to be some grappling techniques that disrupt the subtle body that allows all these crazy powers… and ideally… it has to boost their compatibility…