Note: This is Chapter 2 of the Dualism Series. The comments and feedback from Chapter 1 is much appreciated. Please continue to send your constructive criticisms. Thank you and enjoy!
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Chapter 2: Astral
I found myself subjected to various forms of scrutiny among the rest of Aeon's inhabitants. It did not help that both my arms were held by two beauties that exhibited sex in every way. Their tits smashing in to my flesh, asses swaying garbed in dresses leaving nothing to imagination. To my right was Lilith, my ultra sexy Succubus Spirit. To my left was Yelena, the fiery warrior goddess, my Guide, whose sexual lust came close dangerously close to that of my Spirit. We navigated our way to the Astral Hall which is basically a big ass weapon training room. Its head honcho was none other than Ares, the God of War himself. The three of us did not have time for breakfast aside from all the sex that happened and it was evident from Yelena's fear that we shouldn't be late for Ares' class. As we entered the door we were greeted by the sounds of weapons clashing and people grunting and screaming in pain. This room, cavernous as it may, actually one of the most powerful enchantments in Aeon. It is a place where gods and demi-gods may display their powers without killing off each other. The only downside is that the pain of having your head severed hurts like a bitch. Yes, confined immortality and eternal pain especially since this is my first official day here. I would have preferred to start off with Psy and Spirit but it just had to be Astral. Astral is a weaponized manifestation of ones Qi. It's so Wuxia I know but Qi is our bodies internal force. Apparently the entire Asgard contains everything in the world I used to live in. Greek Gods, Japanese martial arts, American hamburgers, Russian women -- yeah Yelena is Russian, and this Chinese Wuxia stuff. The sound of the bell snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Okay Losers! Form up!" Shouted Ares.
In a flurry if movement everyone ran to a military platoon-like formation. Yelena dragged me to our designated position.
"We got a newbie in our ranks! Some mother fucking hotshot that thinks he can keep us all awake at night! Well today is initiation day!" Hoots and cheers from the other students filled the hall.
This sounded really bad. Bad enough that everyone did hear our mindless sex spree but he plans to whoop my ass publicly.
"The fucking loser gets to play with our top dawg!" More cheers from the crowd.
"Damian! Show this loser what it means to be the best! Everyone else form a circle and let's watch this motherfucker bleed." All the insults were rather amusing at this point. The circle was formed and Damian and I were at the center.
"The rules are simple. Astral weapons only and true Persona (Self-Power) only. No Psy. No Spirit. Damian you got an hour to beat this shit up. Newbie! Survive for an hour!" Ares barked. No shit. What the fuck is a Persona. In my peripheral vision I saw the horrified look on Yelena. Holy shit indeed.
"Alright. Weapons out Losers!" And the game was on.
I reached for my Qi and manifested my dual Astral short blades. I felt ablaze with power, but it was instantly gone the moment I saw Damian slowly transforming. He grew in height. Knitted muscles began to enlarge. His hands and feet turned into claws then he slouched on what looked like hind legs. His face began to form into that of a rabid dog. Muscles continued to burst out of him and brown fur started to cover his skin. He was now nearly two times taller and bigger than I was. The fucker is a werewolf! A fucking big one at that! Is that even an Astral? Damian bared his fangs in what looked like a smile.
"You are so dead Loser" Damian said with a growl.
He manifested his Astral Weapons. Shit. I just had to ask. His claws were now enveloped in demonic looking gauntlets. The claws replaced with big ass blades. He was enveloped completely in armor, even his snout was covered by it. His tail now a whip tipped with a scythe that was as big as he was. I wasn't as terrified of Damian as I was of Ares. Ares was Evil. Which was weird. So maybe I can do this.
"Yo Damian. Come here be a good little bitch." I quipped.
He charged. I saw him coming but couldn't even react. His massive claw raked my head and I felt like it got cut off. I screamed in pain and fell to the ground writhing.
"Not yet motherfucker. We've only just begun."
"I swear you sound like Karen Carpenter. Get on with it bitch." I managed to croak. I heard laughter from the crowd. Damian grabbed my head hoisted me up and slammed me back on the ground. With his other claw he raked my entire back. Fuck it hurts! Then he sent his fist down on my spine. My brain processed this and I let out a scream to put banshees in shame.
"Not so noisy now eh loser?" the werewolf growled.
Damian went on and on, slashing my neck, my chest, my torso. Eventually he settled to cutting me down with his scythe. People started to lose interest at the blood bath that the other ones left were Damian, me, Yelena, Lilith and Ares. I couldn't tell time anymore just the endless pain of dying over and over again. He finally stopped. Whatever rage a wolf felt was gone. Like a wolf full after his meal. <Get up. Fight. You know you can.> Lilith said in my head. My dear sweet Lilith. Always believing I am something I'm not. Who am I kidding? I am no fighter. <Yes. You. Are.> said Lilith in my mind.
"Why are you stopping Loser?" Ares said to Damian. "Not once did the newbie let go of his swords. I respect that. You may learn something from the newbie loser. Now quit dicking around and finish it!" Said Ares. Damian growled. He charged me once again. I tapped into Wisdom and I knew how to fight. Knew everything. Its just that I had no actual battle experience. The pain kept me from fighting back. I drew my Qi. Spreading it throughout my body. I felt the earth. I knew exactly where he was and how he'd come down at me. I shifted just the right time. I sent Wind, which was Air in movement, to the edges of my black blade. It pierced through the armor of his neck. Damian howled in pain. Light to my silver blade I thrust it in his abdomen. In rage he back handed me with all his might which sent me flying across the hall. Must have broken half the bones in my body. I dulled the pain.
The rooms enchantment healing me before I touched ground. I felt Wind again. This time using Qi enhanced legs to send me back flying at subsonic speeds. Blades at the ready. This time both flowing with Light. He was faster. He caught me mid air with his claw and I felt them pierce my lungs. Not even letting me reach the ground Damian used his other hand to catch me this time piercing my heart and yet I fought on. Blades stabbing, I sent Fire. I smelled burned fur and yet no more sounds came from him. Damian was a silent killer now. Each blow intended to kill. His speed faster than the enchantments could heal me. He sliced my arms over and over. I would see them lying on the ground holding on to my Astral blades. Some how I knew that I didn't necessarily needed so summon the blades in my hands. I summoned them in the air above me. Coating them with Light and Fire as they now appeared to be to great spears made of light and flame. Damian was so busy chopping me up that he never saw them coming. I pushed them down with so much Wind that when they pierced and crucified him on the ground, a crater formed upon impact. I reached for Aether. Seeking to combine elements. Damian straining to remove himself from my blades to no avail. I had Earth soften at his feet then harden like diamonds keeping him in place. My arms back to me by now, Air and Water combined struck him in the form of Lightning. Continuously burning him. He howled in anger. This time his eyes glowed red. He was tearing himself away from the Earth. Inch by inch he removed himself from my blades and when he was finally free he moved so fast his Scythe burying itself deep in my abdomen pulling me close to him. With two metallic claws he gripped my neck and squeezed and everything blacked out. "You are weak." Was the last thing I heard.
I woke up in Lilith's lap. Yelena sitting quietly beside her. We were still in Astral Hall.
"Did I...?" I whispered.
<Hush... Do not speak. It was a good fight.> she sent to my mind. It was soothing to hear her voice inside.
<What fight? It was a massacre!> she laughed at me and hugged me.
<Oh I wouldn't think that. The fact that He is here.> I looked where she was looking. There was Ares standing in all his glory.
"So you bumbling idiot of a pupil. Learn anything today?" He asked.
"That I suck at fighting?"
"No. That you need to train."
"Who will I practice with oh God of War? Everyone here fucking hates me."