Mashyuu's Secondary Magic! (Private)

...After everything Mashyuu went through after joining Sabertooth he realized he still wasn't strong enough. There were things in the world that his Earth Magic couldn't handle. Things that needed a different approach. His body was strong but his soul was weak....

The earth Wizard and Rocky wandered the countryside for weeks until the two came to a strangely isolated canyon. The land was dry, devoid of most signs of life and was the perfect place to start his training. He looked down at the large stone golem at his feet and patted it on the head. "Ready boy?" He asked and looked out into the large canyon.

Sky blue eyes caught and reflected sunlight from the morning sky as a cool but dry wind hit Mashyuu, sending his hair into a small whiplash before it fell back into place naturally. Swiftly he slipped his backpack filled with water jugs off his shoulder and set it down where he would be making camp then jumped straight into the canyon....
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As the Earth Wizard fell, wind caught him and billowed out his mothers brown jacket around Mashyuu. His orange cargo pants flapped rapidly before his right arm reached forward and bent at a sudden ninety degree angle. "Rock Wall!" He shouted. A six foot long wall sprouted from the wall of the canyon.

Mashyuu balled up and flipped then landed on his feet along the wall. Extending his body he flipped backwards and landed on the face of the orange canyon wall. "Eath Swim!" Before he knew it, Mashyuu was swimming up the face of the canyon while leaving a small trail behind him.

He sprouted from the wall back where he was standing to start with. Rocky happily yelped and ran in a circle before it tried to dig into the ground where Mashyuu had sprouted from.

WC: 303

Mashyuu dropped to a knee and patted the dog like Golem on the head a few times then went back to his training. Off in the distance was a large cliff that looked like it would be a challenge to climb. Swiftly Mashyuu peeled off his jacket and shirt then tied his mothers jacket around his waist and started to jog towards the cliff. It looked to be about a half day's trek if he didn't use magic to bound himself forward at a faster pace. The jog mashyuu took wasn't taxing but it was a great warm up for what he thought would be a hard climb.

As Mashyuu came to the wall he stopped and took a deep breath of air. Rocky came up behind the Wizard and started to whimper as it realized that it couldn't get up to the top of the cliff. Mashyuu looked to his left and right a few times while trying to judge how long of a distance he had to go to climb the cliff. It looked like an easy hundred to two hundred feet up and a few miles across. "Alright boy. Stay here and I'll be back in a few hours." He ordered the Earth Elemental and then took a swift run and jumped up to grab part of the rock face. It was then that he realized that the wall was much taller than Mashyuu had thought it was.

...Hours had passed since Mashyuu started his climb and the sun was setting on the horizon. The man reached up and sighed in relief when he realized his hand had grasped the top of the cliff. He struggled and lifted himself up to the top of the cliff. He sat on his hands and knees, letting drops of sweat pool under his body while he looked up at the mouth of a cave. "What the hell is that?" He asked as a low rumble and cool breeze came from the dark caves mouth.

WC:332

Mashyuu stood, gazing at the mouth of the cave for a long moment. He wondered if he should go inside. If he should explore or turn around. "What's the point of coming here if I don't see what's what?" He asked himself while slipping on his mothers brown jacket and starting forward. He took a breath of air and placed a hand inside the pitch black cave as a second gust of wind blew through the narrow tunnel.

His hand found the wall of the cave and cautiously he stepped inside. The moment he crossed that threshold Mashyuu nearly froze in fear. Bodies laid strewn about in the cave. Some wore armor, while others were clearly simple men and women who had gotten lost. "Always with the bodies..." He whispered to himself while wishing to high heaven that he had brought the war hammer just in case. Mashyuu stepped over a decayed body and headed down the narrow pass that made the mouth of the cave.

"TURN BACK!" "YOUR GOING TO DIE!" Voices rang out around Mashyuu and seemed to echo in the cave as sound bounced off of the dry brown walls of the cave. After a long lasting walk, the path he was on winded down in a spiral stair case made of natural formations. Mashyuu looked back but the magical darkness at the front of the cave blocked his view of everything aside from the dead bodies. The man was about to take a step down the stairs when Mashyuu's ears perked up. His body tensed and he felt the ground shift around him with vibrations from something passing along the ground.

Mashyuu spun around on his heels just as a shield from a skeletal soldier came slamming into his chest. With no muscle around the bones, the shield hardly even stung nor did it budge Mashyuu from his position. It rattled to the ground under Mashyuu and he looked at the five skeletons that raised weapons as if they were challenging Mashyuu to keep walking down the stairs.

WC: 331

The rattling of bones echoed in the cramped space from the five skeletal soldiers as they advanced in an eerie manner upon Mashyuu. The monster that had tossed a shield bent down and picked up a heavy cross bow. With an abnormal swiftness it took aim and fired at Mashyuu. His arm shot up at a ninety degree angle and a stone wall shot up out of the ground, blocking the bolt. The bolt shattered along the stone wall. While Mashyuu could hear the monsters getting closer he couldn't see past the wall. Slowly he advanced with the wall, sending it forward to test the monsters speed and strategic reasoning.

The wall Mashyuu had moving did little to bother the Skeleton soldiers who swiftly stepped to the side of the wall. Two of them slashed heavy maces down towards Mashyuu who stepped back just in time to dodge the swings as the maces cut through the air. Mashyuu dropped to a knee and punched out at a Skeletal warrior as hard as he could. His dragon Slayer blood flowed through him and helped Mashyuu crack the bones to pieces as it fell lifeless to the ground.94 However when the one fell another took it's spot. This one carried a blade with a mace at it's side.

Both the skeletons stepped in front of Mashyuu and the Wizard rolled backwards and sprang up on his heels with both hands raised. The man looked at both the monsters and stepped forward with one leg while raising his left hand forward. A steam of stones shot out from under the ground and struck the skeletons, causing them to crumble to the ground. Without waiting for the other two soldiers to slip around the wall Mashyuu reached down and pulled a staff of stone out of the earth. He waited while watching the wall with sky blue eyes. "Come on...." He whispered to himself. As if they were answering his request the monsters came around the corner with crossbows. Two shot out and one bolt was blocked by Mashyuu's staff while the other dug straight into Mashyuu's thigh. He dropped a step back as blood seeped through the wound and ran down his leg. The Wizard gritted his teeth and walked forward weakly. Rapidly he swung his staff in a large arc then gave it a hard swing into one soldiers neck then stabbed it into the others face, shattering both in one fluid motion.

WC:409

Bones rattled to the cold stone ground around Mashyuu as he grasped the crossbow bolt and ripped it out of his leg. Mashyuu snarled and kicked one of the skulls then turned for the downward leading flight of stairs. Each step he took caused Mashyuu to limp a little more as blood continued to lightly trickle down the Wizards leg for the length of his trip down the long spiraling stairs. The art drawn in blood along the walls wasn't lost on Mashyuu. Paintings of strange sacrifices on large alters to some sort of what Mashyuu would call religious symbol filled the spiraling wall.

Mashyuu came to a stop at the final step and looked at his blood stained orange cargo pants. Torches still lit the walls to show the way along the caves walls. Mashyuu looked around at the spacious, square room. Tapestries of beautiful sunrises lined with gold hung from the walls, tall rods jutted from the ground holding candle sticks that were still lit. "It's strange that a place with nobody inside would be so well lit." Mashyuu muttered to himself. On each wall was a large bronze door that had no knob but a bar to pull with. Mashyuu looked at each of the doors while stepping to the center of the room. Nothing indicated what door to go through. It was possible that the doors all led to a similar room but Mashyuu doubted it.

After a few moments of both rest and thinking Mashyuu walked to the door on his right. He reached his left arm out and grabbed the pull bar. Swiftly he pulled the door open and took a step inside. The moment he crossed the threshold a magical force slammed the door behind him. Mashyuu froze in fear while looking over his shoulder. After a few moments Mashyuu looked at the room he was standing in. He wasn't sure what he was looking at exactly. The floor was stained with blood, along the wall was an alter about four feet tall and six feet long. It glistened with a glittery gold and atop the alter was a dagger stained with a dark blood. Mashyuu walked over to the alter and picked up the dagger. He lifted it in the air and examined the weapon, unaware that his action had awoke a terrible creature.

WC: 388

The dagger wasn't anything special but he felt like he should keep it with him. He flipped it in his palm and grasped the handle firmly. Swiftly he spun around in place and headed for the door. It only took a single push of the door to force it open. As the bronze door creaked open another cold breeze seemed to flood through the rooms. Mashyuu looked at the two doors he hadn't looked through yet and decided to go straight ahead. Swiftly he pulled the door open with the dagger in his hand but was blown off his feet and into the ground from a small monster that was waiting in a hunched position behind the door.

Mashyuu was sent sailing off his feet and landed in the center of the room with a loud thud as the weight of his body came crashing down. He rolled to his feet in a hunched position and lifted the knife up to use. His sky blue eyes glared at the tall creature that stood up straight and started to lurk forward. It's hands dragged along the ground as it stalked towards Mashyuu. Pale white skin clung to a thin body that wore a pair of lose fitting jeans and a white tee shirt. It's eyes were sunken deep into it's skull and it's jaw was set in an unhinged state. Spit ran down it's chin and hit the ground, hissing against the stone as the acidic spit fizzled.

Mashyuu watched the monster as it drew closer to him and lifted the dagger as the creature lunged. The Wizard swung the blade and drove it back a few paces with the swipe but sadly didn't connect with the monster. Mashyuu pushed hard off the ground and flipped backwards to land straight up. As the creature rushed forward again Mashyuu tried to strike it but to his shock the monster wasn't solid. Mashyuu's hand went right through the creatures face but it's claws dug deep into the Wizards flesh, drawing four streams of blood up the man's torso.

WC:343

The Wizard stumbled back while holding his chest with one hand and looking at the dagger with bewildered eyes. What the hell is that thing? He wondered to himself. Mashyuu shook the sickening feeling from his body and prepared for the next rush of attacks. Just as he was about be rushed, the brown haired Wizard dropped low, flipped the dagger in his hand and slashed it upward. It ripped through flesh that he wasn't aware it had. The monster howled in pain and stumbled back. Mashyuu rose to his feet and felt his life force slowly return. He wasn't sure if it was the dagger or something else but a warm feeling enveloped his soul.

His right hand felt warm to the touch while he tossed the dagger to his left hand. He rose it to a defensive position and rushed the recoiling monster. It jumped back and dodged a series of rapid slashes however Mashyuu spun on his heels and sent a spinning back fist at the monster. While it seemed to not do anything to the creature, it reflexively ducked down out of the way of the attack. Mashyuu recovered from his rapid assault of strikes and eyed the monster up and down. The only sound in the room was that of Mashyuu's labored breaths and the acid melting the floor as it dripped from the monsters mouth.

The monster lunged forward and Mashyuu froze for a moment. He needed to defend himself but couldn't block the monsters attacks. Suddenly a light from inside his body shone through his flesh and seemingly hardened around him in the form of armor. Mashyuu's body became enveloped in a dark purplish color that had tendrils lashing around it to drive the creature back. A dark shadow was cast over Mashyuu's face like the hood of a cloak that only revealed Mashyuu's sudden sinister smile. He lifted his left arm and took aim with his palm. "Dark Matter." He said with an echo in his voice. Light in the room warped and flooded into Mashyuu's palm then fired out in a dark purple form. A solid beam lanced fourth and struck the creature square in the chest, knocking a solid hole about the size of Mashyuu's fist in the monster. It gasped weakly before it fell back with a thud and dissolved into the ground...

WC: 394

Secondary Magic Spell status.:

The shadows faded from Mashyuu and the dagger no longer felt like it was doing anything for him. Mashyuu tilted the dagger in his hand then stuck it in the waistband of his cargo pants, holding it by his hip. He looked into the room that the monster had lunged at him from and peered around inside. Only a coffin made of an old wood, noting really of note. It looked like the monster had come out of the coffin but Mashyuu couldn't see if there was anything else worth taking in the room. Mashyuu pulled his head out of the doorway and headed for the last closed door. Swiftly he pulled the door open and stepped past the threshold.

The door led to a wide, circular room with lights that went from a bright glow to a dim setting. The way the lights went from a bright to dull then back to bright shine hurt Mashyuu's head and made him put a hand up to shield his eyes. He could feel a cold breeze whirling from the room until the lights seemed to dim completely and stay that way. Mashyuu Dropped his hand and looked around the room again. Upon further inspection it looked like an old gladiator arena. When his eyes hit the light he groaned with annoyance. Before him was indeed a Gladiator made of the light. It looked solid and held a blade of pure white light and a shield of a golden hue.

Reaching down deep Mashyuu pulled the darkness from his soul and let it unleash around him yet again. Purplish black tendrils lashed and licked around the man as a shroud of darkness wrapped over Mashyuu. That same sinister grin spread over Mashyuu's face. He bent at the knee and rushed the Gladiator. The Wizard ducked in a blur of motion and avoided the swing of a white hot sword. Even as he ducked Mashyuu could feel the blades heat but the young man felt no fear. He sprang up from his crouched position and slammed the top of his shrouded head into the fighters jaw. The light and darkness merged for a moment in violent energy before the Gladiator used his shield and pushed Mashyuu back forcefully.

The earth and shadow Wizard stumbled backwards and looked down, watching the darkness sizzle away from his body before it slowly reformed over the wound on his body. "I see...Alright. I get it." Mashyuu muttered in an echoing voice. With a loud roar of anger he rushed forward and sent a flurry of strikes towards the glowing figure of light. The energy of the two clashed hard with every swing and block both fighters made. "Shadow Break!" Mashyuu called out. A large group of tendrils jutted from his body and grasped at the soldier, taking the creature by the arms, legs and neck. Strongly it wrapped around the monster and squeezed while pulling at it's limbs...

WC: 382

The tendrils that sprouted from Mashyuu gripped and tugged on the white shrouded gladiator, pulling his limbs apart for a long moment until it dropped the sword to it's foot. Swiftly the foot kicked the white hot sword through one of the tendrils and caused Mashyuu to drop the gladiator. Mashyuu stepped forward and took a swing for the Gladiators head, striking the solid light creature and sending it rolling to the left. It came to a rolling stop and slung it's shield at Mashyuu.

The shield whirled across the room and slammed hard into Mashyuu, not strong enough to move him but strong enough to drive the wind out of his lungs. Mashyuu almost fell to a knee but just barely managed to keep his footing about him. He lifted his arm once more and let the light in the room flicker and fade away into his palm before he fired it off. "Dark Matter!" He shouted and blew a hole through the fighter. It dropped it's blade as Mashyuu recovered from the shield sling and charged to finish the fight.

The fighter tossed a series of blasts at Mashyuu, trying to take down the Wizard with beams of light. Mashyuu barely managed to side step and duck away from the blasts then jumped up high and slammed his shadow covered fist right into the Gladiators face. It's head snapped back and it fell a few paces. Mashyuu grasped his wrist and tugged the Gladiator closer to him. Mashyuu drove a knee up into the solid lights abdomen and doubled over. As it stood straight up Mashyuu twisted and slammed a backfist into the fighters jaw. It spun to the ground and exploded in a bright light.

Mashyuu took a deep breath of air as the shadows around Mashyuu fell away. He stumbled to a knee and took a deep breath of air. The man had used more energy than he thought he had. If the use of that kind of magic drained him so much already then his newly discovered magic would take a long time to master...

WC: 350

... It took a good deal of time but Mashyuu made his way out of the cave and back out into the open. It seemed the cool breeze of air had come from the arena where Mashyuu fought the Light Gladiator and after it's defeat the breeze had stopped. The young wizard came out of the cave and the sun had already set. While the days were hot the nights were very cold. Mashyuu stood at the edge of the cliff and peered down. From the height he was at, Mashyuu couldn't see Rocky but the stars this night looked beautiful.

Once again Mashyuu shrouded himself in darkness and spoke a sinister spell. "Shadow step." He took a single step into the dark air and vanished. A moment later he emerged from the shadows next to Rocky and let the darkness around him fade away. "Well Rocky, I found a new source of magic. I thought it would be a holy light but really it's a darkness inside me that is trying to help. I don't really know how to explain it." Mashyuu said to Rocky while he patted the animal on the top of it's stone head. Rocky barked happily then laid down on it's belly while closing it's eyes.

Mashyuu smiled and nodded at the Rock Elemental. "Yeah, your right. Lets get some sleep." He agreed with Rocky and laid down next to it. He scooped up his bag and pulled a small sleeping pad off it and used the bag itself for a pillow. Moments later Mashyuu was asleep for the evening.

The following morning a loud rumble and roar woke the Wizard from his sleep. Mashyuu sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes while he scanned the area around him. A single horse was galloping in the distance and a series of other animals with riders were giving chase. Mashyuu narrowed his eyes and pulled himself up off the floor. "I'll be right back Rocky."

WC: 329

Gotta get better with the shadow magic... Mashyuu thought to himself and gave himself a moment to focus before that slightly familiar darkness inside him erupted like a second skin and covered the man in a sense of dread. His now dark blue eyes watched the horse and rider gallop, trying to get away from whatever was chasing. Slowly Mashyuu reached out and vanished into his own shadow...

A few moments later Mashyuu erupted from one of the trailing horsemen's shadows as the man drew a sword. The sudden appearance of what seemed to be a shadow demon frightened the four horses. The horses reared up and threw their riders of them before turning and running from Mashyuu as he landed on the hard floor between the four men.

All the men were dressed in what Mashyuu would call the worst desert gear ever. All black, almost like ninjas. Mashyuu started to laugh as the men stood up with weapons drawn. Long curved swords that gleamed a faint silver in the sunlight. The men spread out evenly and started to measure Mashyuu. "Guys.... you can still run. We don't have to fight ya know." Mashyuu said while dropping into a stance that kept him stable on the ground.

While Mashyuu hit his stance the four men started to circle, slowly drawing closer to the Wizard. Without looking Mashyuu stepped to the left, deftly avoiding a swing from a swordsman, his shadowy aura staying in place giving off the effect that he was almost in two places at once. The Earth and Shadow Wizard jumped and flipped backwards, smashing his foot into the swordsman's face and sent the man to the ground with a bone cracking thud.286 "Seriously, run. You can't beat me." Mashyuu said as he landed on the ground with his hands raised as if he was asking the men why they were still there.

WC: 316

At once all three remaining swordsmen rushed the Earth Wizard. Mashyuu simply let the swings come at him. A series of steps like a dance sent Mashyuu's body twisting to avoid the blades all the while his arms snapped out and a fist crashed into each of the men's faces, sending each of them spinning away in a different direction while dropping their blades in a clatter to the ground. Mashyuu let the shadows slip back into his body and turned to see the horse and rider that was trying to escape had stopped and looked back at the scene. Slowly the rider trotted up to Mashyuu and pulled the brown hood back from their body...

Sitting atop the horse was a young woman with short blonde, almost pink hair, large sky blue eyes, a blue zip up hoodie that was just a little to tight on her small frame and a short skirt of white. She peered down at Mashyuu silently for a long moment before speaking in a sweet voice. "Thank you! You just saved me. These men have been chasing me all morning and I don't think my horse here would have made it much longer. I'm Ann." She said while slipping down off her horse and extending her hand to Mashyuu's.

For a long moment Mashyuu could only stare at the beautiful woman who was now standing with her hand out before him. After picking his jaw up off the floor Mashyuu smiled and shook her hand gently. "Hi Ann, I'm Mashyuu..... Why were those men after you?" Mashyuu asked while kicking a sword away from one of the men. Ann looked at them and then back to Mashyuu while placing her hands behind her back. "I stole from them. But it was only the horse so I could get across the desert!" she exclaimed in self defense.

WC: 311

Mashyuu felt his face fall into a half frown. He didn't believe that four men would chase and try to kill her over a horse. His blue eyes scanned the woman before he twisted on his heels and started to walk away. "Hey! Where are you going?" The woman asked while she reached out to try and grab him. Mashyuu pulled his shoulder out of Ann's grasp and said over his shoulder. "I don't want to deal with a liar. Either you tell me why those men are really after you or I'm leaving you here."

Ann looked over at the male Wizard with a nervous but considering glance but nodded her head up and down. "Alright... You win. My home has been invaded by a force of Wizards who use strange magic. Some of it is Sword Magic and other magic is a sort of reversal magic." Mashyuu stopped and turned to look at the woman with a firmly set jaw and narrowed eyes. If Mashyuu hated anything it was when a bandit harmed anyone. And those Wizards were giving the Earth Dragon Slayer a bad name. Mashyuu licked his dry lips and spoke softly. "You were trying to go get help... I'll save your village. If you can show me the way." The Earth Wizard reasoned...

...An hour later Mashyuu was on horseback with Rocky giving chase on the ground while Ann rode hard to lead the way to the village. The sun had hit it's mid way point, high in the sky causing a strange shadow to overcome the three travelers. "Can you cast any Magic?" Mashyuu asked while yelling over Ann's shoulder. Ann looked back at him and shrugged her shoulder. "I know a little bit of fire magic. Nothing major but I can help if you need it!" She responded... Moments later Mashyuu vomited for the first time due to being transported by anything that wasn't in his own control.

WC: 322

The lack of faith Ann had in her own skill made Mashyuu mutter in anger and frustration. He had no idea what on earth he was going to do against a group of Wizards and bandits on his own. Of course there was Rocky but that only went so far. Mashyuu smiled the best fake smile he had ever made as his hair was whipped back and fourth from the speed of the horses gallops...

As the sun began to set Ann slowed the horse to a soft trot and stopped the horse. Off in the distance a small outcropping of buildings could be seen. Already Mashyuu could tell that was her home. Mashyuu closed his eyes and felt the darkness in his soul struggling for freedom. Mashyuu pushed the feeling of anger welling up inside his body down until he had it under control. The Wizard looked over at Ann as he slipped off the horse and spoke kindly. "We should rest now. If not we won't be able to help anyone. I promise that I'll help them in the morning." The Wizard explained.

Night faded to day and Mashyuu slowly awoke with a start. Ann was nowhere to be found, nor was the horse but a faint trail of tracks were pounded in the dirt of the desert area. "Dummy." Mashyuu swore under his breath and grabbed up Rocky then cast an earth spell...

A long trail from where Mashyuu started to where he ended up could be followed by anyone who was looking directly at the earthy ground that Mashyuu effortlessly swam through while holding Rocky in one of his arms. The Wizard jumped up under the shade of a small clay building and pressed his back to it as he emerged from the ground below. His blue eyes darted from side to side to make sure he hadn't been seen while he let Rocky down out of his arm. Again the darkness in his heart clawed and fought for it's way out until the shadows jutted and ripped from Mashyuu's body but instead of staying around him, part of his shadow shifted and jumped off his body to land a few feet from Rocky. Slowly it shifted and took the form of a small humanoid with a large head and long limbs. It's ears were pointed like an elves and swept back like sharp daggers. It's teeth were razor sharp and eyes red as a thick blood. "At your service master." It spoke with a soft yet echoing voice.

WC:400

The small monster like shadow strutted around the Earth Dragon Slayer while licking it's dark lips with a grim smile. The figure actually made Mashyuu take a half step back out of shock and fear. He wasn't sure what he was looking at but he was more than a little freaked out that the thing had come from his soul. Rocky snarled at the creature but when it glared at the Golem, Rocky shrieked back against the wall near Mashyuu.

Blue eyes looked at the creature curiously and softly Mashyuu spoke. "What is your name?" The Wizard asked and the monster shrugged it's shoulders with palms open and facing up into the air. "It's my first day of life! How should I know?" Mashyuu gave it the point and moved on. "Alright, go around and scout the area, find Wizards and tell me how many you see. If they are all in a general location let me know about that." Mashyuu ordered and the Shadow creature sank into a pool of blackness then vanished, teleporting away.

When it came back the little creature jumped up and down while softly patting it's hands together. "Oh you aren't going to like what I saw master. Lots of lots of Wizards. More than my fingers but less than lots of my fingers. Oh.... I don't know how to count." The creature said with a wide grin on it's face. Mashyuu placed his face in his palm and ran it down his head until he could see the creature again. "So more than ten but less than any number above eleven..." When he looked at the monsters hands Mashyuu was shocked to see each hand had six fingers. "Alright, well did you at least figure out where the Wizards are hanging out?" Mashyuu asked.

The monster lifted two hands and held out it's index finger on both hands then put them together. "Well. I see this many standing at the big doors into the cities. Lots more at the water hole in the center of the tall houses and a big house with a time circle has many many more."

WC: 353

"Time circle? Must be a town meeting hall. I wonder if Ann is anywhere around here?" Mashyuu asked. The man pressed his back against the wall and Mashyuu slowly turned the corner to look around the area. Off in the distance was a large gate that had a welcome sign over the door. The Earth Wizard figured that was the main entrance to the city. His eyes narrowed and he sniffed the air. He could see men with swords. Again as his eyes bounced around his nostrils flared and he picked up the scent of Ann. She was closer than he thought she would be but the wind was carrying her scent and he couldn't pin point her location.

The young man knew he had to help Ann but he had to be careful too. Instead of rushing in like he normally would the Wizard looked down at the shadow creature and named it on the spot. "Dark one. Go find the woman I was with, you know what she looks like yes?" The Dark One nodded up and down with it's tongue hanging from it's mouth. "Good. Now go find her and help her get free. Find me and await my next order." The Earth Dragon Slayer commanded. With almost no time between the Wizards commands the monster vanished in a plume of dark shadows.

Slowly the Earth Wizard came around the corner and watched two men walking around with swords on one hip and guns on the other. Mashyuu remained still and tried to find the well that the Dark One was talking about. Suddenly he heard a loud crash coming from a building a few blocks away and started to move for it when the two wizards turned with guns drawn and saw Mashyuu. "Don't move!" They shouted and fired at Mashyuu.

WC: 303

Mashyuu sighed at the sight and knew that the steal option was blown. Gunshots rang out and the Earth Wizard rolled his eyes while lifting his arm up in a ninety degree angle. A massive wall of stone shot up out of the ground and stopped the bullets. "Man you guys are really weak. There must be a ton of you if that is the case. I can take you guys out all by myself." Mashyuu called from behind the stone wall before he sank into the ground. The next thing the bandits knew, a line of stone was traveling towards them. Mashyuu erupted from the ground and landed right in front of them. "Earth Dragon's Tremor Stomp!" He shouted and slammed his left foot down hard. The two wizards were smashed suddenly with a blast of rock from right in front of them and knocked out on impact.

Swiftly he turned to where the sound had come from and saw a group of five wizards running with swords drawn at the building. "Rocky, flank!" He ordered and took off in a sprint towards the building while Rocky ran around the building they started at and took off for where the Elemental's master was headed. A bullet zipped past Mashyuu's head and caused him to turn to look at the source of the shot. From the front gate a wizard held a rifle and used a magical scope, just barely missing Mashyuu. He held his hand out and from the ground a massive plume of stone and dirt shot up and masked Mashyuu in the fog. Swiftly Mashyuu swam through the dirt again and came up at the front of the building. Just then the Dark One came barreling through the door while holding Ann's hand. Rocky came around the side of the building and threw it's spiked body into a Wizard with a sword, smashing the man to the wall of the building. "Ann help me out here!" Mashyuu shouted and aimed a finger while a rock floated to his index finger. A moment later it blasted forward and hit a second swordsman. Ann extended both hands and from her palms a wave of fire extended, burning the the three remaining wizards so badly they ran for the well and jumped in...

WC: 377

Water shot out of the well as the Ninja like Wizards jumped into the well to put the fire out. Mashyuu glanced over his shoulder at Ann with a raised brow. "A little fire Magic?" He asked in an almost mocking tone. In response Ann shrugged her shoulders as if she were blushing but didn't say a word. The Earth Dragon Slayer looked down at the Dark One who had helped get Ann free and he gave it a thumbs up. "Guess I can't take living things with me." He said, speaking of his teleportation. Mashyuu smirked and peered into the room the two had come from. Inside were five more Wizards who had been burned fairly bad, a chair with ropes that were untied and a few bottles of whisky. "See what happens when you run off Ann?"

Blushing Ann nodded her head up and down but another bullet rang out and hit the small dark one in the chest. It stumbled back into the wall of the building the group was standing at, it's long claws clenching it's chest as black smoke poured out of it's wound. The monster almost started to scream until Mashyuu picked it up by the head and aimed it at the four Wizards by the front gate. "If you can't take living things then get their guns." He ordered and dropped the Dark One to the ground.

"Earth Dragon's Scales!" He called out, Mashyuu's skin hardened and took on a slightly brownish shade. A bullet fired out and clipped his shoulder but did no harm to the Slayer. Swiftly Mashyuu rushed the four gunmen, closing the gap between them in the small village rather quickly. Just as one of the gunmen were about to take aim at the Wizard and fire, the Dark One shot up out of the ground, grabbed the Wizards gun and vanished again taking the gun with it.

WC:317

The Gun and sword using Wizard looked on in horror while the Dark One snatched the Wizards weapon and drew his sword, attempting to take off the shadow monsters head before it vanished again. A moment later it had another gun, and another until only one Wizard held a weapon. In that time Mashyuu had gained on the guards so much that barely twenty feet remained between them. However he stopped abruptly as something pounded in his chest. "Let me out! Let me feed!" it called to him. Mashyuu slowly extended his left arm as if he were possessed by some invisible force.

Darkness and smoke rose up from Mashyuu's arm and a black serpent like creature with a thick body and blood red eyes launched from the Wizards palm. It opened it's mouth and flew towards the first Wizard that fired at Mashyuu. It's lethal teeth clamped down on the Wizards arm while it's strong tail lashed about and struck another Wizard so hard the man flipped through the air and hit the ground almost lifeless. The bite attack the monster had used secreted a sort of poison into the other Wizard and Mashyuu felt his life energy slowly restored to him.

"...Cool." Mashyuu whispered to himself then slammed his fist on the ground and pulled up a staff of stone from the earth. Deftly he whirled it around in his hands then flung it like a spear through the air and into the chest of a third Wizard. The Wizard felt the staff slam straight into his sternum. The Wizard's body crumpled into the door of the gate and he slumped down to the floor, gasping for air. The final Wizard who had his sword drawn was trying to strike the Dark One but continued to miss with every swing as the Dark One vanished and appeared in a puff of dark smoke while it tried to figure out how the gun worked. Suddenly a loud shout rang out and the Wizard fell, clutching his leg. "OH! hehehhehe I like this master!" It called out while pointing at the gun.

WC: 350

Ann ran up to Mashyuu's side just as the scales on his body softened and became regular skin again. She looked Mashyuu up and down then to his two new creations. Rocky yelped in anger at the Two creatures. The large snake like creature slithered up to Mashyuu and came to a full stand on it's tail, coming some seven and a half feet tall in height. "Master.... I am the darkness in your soul, you will come to know me as Sin. And I will protect you for as long as I am able to. The Dark One as you have named him will act as a fine scout and minion for you. We act in your best interest and are not afraid of doing what needs to be done. But your will is ours to carry out. Shall we help you finish off the Wizards holding this village?"

Mashyuu looked up at the snake like creature of shadow and then over to Ann who seemed to be as confused as Mashyuu himself was. After a moment of thinking he nodded his head up and down. "Yeah... Lets free this village. Dark One, you said the majority of the men were in the Town Hall right? Get inside and open the front door. Don't get caught." Hoisting the small gun it held in the air the Dark One started to laugh then vanished into the ground...

The Earth Slayer turned to Ann and clasped her shoulder. "When your villagers come out of the town hall, lead them somewhere safe, keep them from harm and wait for me to come get you. If you can go to the camp we made last night and I'll meet you there. Sin, I don't know how many other Wizards are in there. Just do what Rocky does and help me out, together the four of us can free the village." Sin licked it's lips with it's serpent like tongue and nodded it's head up and down. Swiftly it made it's way towards the large, wooden town hall.

WC: 343

As Mashyuu and his allies ran towards the front of the town hall Ann ran and hid behind the well, waiting for her villagers to make an escape. The halls doors burst open and the Dark One came running out, it's back facing Mashyuu and the others while it fired small rounds of ammo at the Wizards inside. After the tenth shot, a bullet came back out but not from a gun. Standing in the center of the door way was a man carrying a massive sword in one hand. His bald head gleamed in the noon sunlight, he wore a half chest plate and armored pants. A long, jagged scar ran down the right side of his face and his eyes seemed dead. He looked on at the group of Mashyuu, Rocky, the Dark One and Sin. The massive man started to laugh then called back to his men. "Let the villagers go! You, if I can take you down you will join my ranks and this village will be mine." The massive Wizard said as if Mashyuu would agree to such outlandish conditions to a fight.

Mashyuu considered the massive Wizards challenge and with all his allies at his side couldn't help but feel a little more confident than normally. "Deal! Lets do this." Mashyuu shouted back. But before he could get ready to strike, the Wizard was already in striking range. Oh shi- Mashyuu started to think but the Wizard slammed the hilt of his blade into Mashyuu's gut hard, nearly doubling over the Earth Dragon Slayer. In the same motion the massive Wizards free arm came up and his elbow slammed into Mashyuu's jaw. Swiftly the man brought his arm back down and struck Mashyuu on the crown of the head, driving the younger Wizard into the ground hard.

WC: 300

The Large Wizard grasped Mashyuu by the hair and lifted him off the ground. "It pleases me that you have chosen to help these people. I was getting bored with smacking around men and women who couldn't keep standing after one of my strikes. It took three to bring you to your knees. Now, surrender and live." The Wizard let Mashuu start to fall again and smashed the flat of his blade into Mashyuu's side, sending him sliding along the ground. The moment Mashyuu was a safe distance away Sin and Rocky charged. Rocky grew spikes and launched itself at the Wizard but he lifted his palm and a field of white light appeared, reflecting Rocky away at a rapid speed and causing the elemental to crash through a near by building. Sin attempted to grapple and wrap around the Wizard but the large bald man simply gripped Sin by the tail, spun on his heels and tossed the serpent into Mashyuu as the Wizard started to stand.

While the serpent should have knocked Mashyuu over again, his mountain stance kept him from falling. He snarled in anger and stepped over the downed Sin. The large Wizard grinned and held his large sword ready for a real fight. "Armor of Stone!" Mashyuu called out and from the ground rocks jutted up and formed to the Earth Wizard's body. "Stone Guantlets!" The armor of stone that was already around Mashyuu then hardened and formed to the Wizards hands, thickening into a strong weapon. Using the rocks around him to propel himself Mashyuu skated straight ahead and and aimed a left hook at the Wizard's gut. The massive swordsman lifted his blade to counter but from behind the Dark One teleported on the man's shoulders and boxed the Wizard's ears. The man winced in pain and tried to shake the small creature off. This gave Mashyuu the opening he needed and his stone gauntlet connected firmly with the man's torso. Without pausing Mashyuu dropped to a knee, jumped up as hard as he could and sent both his closed fists into the man's jaw.

WC: 352

The Sword Wizard barely budged as he grasped the small Dark One and started to hurl it into the air. However before he could get the full swing the Dark One vanished and the sudden loss of weight caused the Sword Wizard to stumble forward. Quick to react Mashyuu stepped back and drove his knee up into the man's gut. At the same time Mashyuu's left elbow came down and struck the Wizard in the shoulder. "Find Rocky!" Mashyuu called out to the Dark One and without question the Dark one vanished. The Swordsman backed up a step and took a deep breath to steady himself. The first round of combat had been fairly even but Mashyuu swiftly started to consider the fact that he might not win the fight.

Slowly the two fighters started to circle each other. Mashyuu made the first move. He leap't as high as he could and swung his left foot out for a kick but the Swordsman used his reflect magic and the kick bounced off a nearly invisible wall. Mashyuu landed and reached a foot back while lifting his other. "Earth Dragon's....Tremor Stomp!" His foot came crashing down and the ground rippled in the process. A large pillar of stone came up under the Wizard to fast for the Swordsman to react. It smashed straight into the man's jaw, knocking him backwards. Mashyuu swiftly bent his arm up at a sharp angle. "Wall of stone!" The wall that came up slammed sharply into the small of the swordsman's back. The Sword user rolled off the stone and landed on his face.

Mashyuu started to run forward but the Swordsman was ready for it. He rolled to his back and swang his blade out, smashing the blade into Mashyuu's side, causing the Wizard to skid along the ground but not quite fall. Recovering quickly Mashyuu smiled with satisfaction. Thus far his tactics had worked but he wasn't sure how long he would be able to keep the pace up. Not like this. It was only then that he noticed his summoned Sin slithering up behind the Swordsman and coiling to strike...

WC: 357

The Earth Dragon Slayer let the ground carry him away for a moment then Mashyuu summoned up a massive dirt screen around the Swordsman. Mashyuu dropped to the ground and started to eat the ground under him. In the dirt cloud the Swordsman started to swing around wildly, trying desperately to disperse the cloud of smoke. Before the could fell away Sin launched himself at the Swordsman and latched onto the Man by the neck. The Swordsman howled in pain and started to whip around wildly, desperate to rid himself of the monster.

A loud yelping sounded off in the distance and just as the Swordsman reached to grab the serpent, Rocky sprayed a line of rock into the Swordsman's face. Being pelted by the blast the Swordsman dropped his blade but kept his footing. Mashyuu in the mean time continued to eat, frantically growing strong and stronger. Fangs started to jut from Mashyuu's mouth, small scales grew on Mashyuu's skin and his eyes grew dark. A magical energy field appeared around Mashyuu giving him the appearance of a massive dragon standing behind him....

"MOVE!" Mashyuu called out while his armor and gauntlets fell from his body. Mashyuu stood on both his legs and a single arm. His fingers looked like sharp claws while his body flexed hard. In a rapid blur Mashyuu rushed the Swordsman. With almost no time between his movements Mashyuu appeared behind the Swordsman and slashed his claw straight across the man's back. Swiftly Mashyuu dropped down and swept the man's legs out from under him. Mashyuu pulled both his hands up and clasped them together. As the Swordsman dropped to the ground Mashyuu slammed his fists down into the thugs chest.

The energy that had been surrounding Mashyuu faded away and left the Wizard feeling drained. He stumbled back and fell to his rear. Mashyuu ran the back of his hand over his forehead as his allies all swarmed around him to keep him safe. Mashyuu looked around to see the other Wizards all running away from the fight, seemingly afraid to do any more combat with Mashyuu and his allies.

WC: 353

Slowly Mashyuu pulled himself up to his feet and the Wizard looked down at the Swordsman who looked as if he was just utterly defeated. Suddenly the Swordsman rolled to his chest and pushed himself up off the ground on shaky legs. The Swordsman was bleeding from the mouth and looked like he was on his last leg. Slowly he lifted his hands and shook his head from side to side. "You win.... I'm leaving. The village is yours." The Swordsman pleaded and started for his sword.

Swiftly the Dark One teleported to the sword and vanished again, taking the sword with the summoned creature. "Na ah! This is mine now. Take a hike and don't let me catch you around here again. If I do, you won't walk out of here." Mashyuu threatened the Swordsman. The serpent Sin coiled around and looked Mashyuu in the eye. "You let him go? Why? Surely he will return with stronger Wizards, seeking vengeance no doubt." The serpent Sin questioned as the Swordsman took off out of the village.

Mashyuu waved his hand dismissively and let his magical energy disperse the shadow summons that had came from Mashyuu's body. Sin hissed in anger then vanished in a plume of some. The Dark One jumped up and down in joy while clapping it's hands and waved. "Bye Master, it's been fun!" the creature called out and vanished like Sin. The Wizard looked down and motioned for Rocky to follow then the Wizard headed for the camp that Ann had led the freed villagers to.

Nearly an hour later Mashyuu had made it to the camp sight just outside the village. Some twenty men and women were huddled around a small campfire and Ann was comforting those who thought for sure that they had lost their home. "Everyone alright?" Mashyuu asked.

WC: 306