Ingrid's Ambition ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Highland Mansion, Manchester, Neo-England "Ya! Ha! Yaah!" Steel (or a substance that greatly resembled it) slice through the chilled wind of an English morning. This sword belonged to a solitary young fighting woman, the first female partisan of Roundsman, and younger sister of the renowned Aarin. Ingrid Highland. Clad in her shining sliver tinted armour, the young woman thrust and slashed the Lightning Tooth in a multiplicity of different directions and positions, her own form of practice. It was similar to the katas preformed be martial artists. Though it was training, it meant more to her than that. It gave the beautiful young fighter a chance to think things through. And right now, Ingrid did have quite a few things she wanted to think about. But before she could, she felt something stir inside her hand. Ingrid stopped slicing at the air, and took a glance at the hand holding her sword, the Lightning Tooth. It was vibrating violently in her grip. This had been happening quite a few times since she first received it, and Ingrid had been nervous about what this thing could really do. But all the same, she did not want to be overcome by the blade. It was he one chance at defeating Aarin. Her one chance and she had to take it. Ingrid gripped onto the handle of the Lightning Tooth with the other hand, and struggled hard to control its movements. "Geez!" Ingrid yelled irately. "What... is this thing?!" Soon the shaking of the sword became frantic, so much so that Ingrid doubted that she could hold it any longer. Rather than drop it completely, Ingrid thrust the Lightning Tooth into the ground in one quick strike. The second it hit the grassy floor, streaks of crystal blue electricity shot out from it in waves, dissipating slowly into nothingness. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ingrid sat down slowly, hazarding a glance at her strangely un-cooperative blade. "What the heck is up with that thing?" Ingrid wondered. "You'd think it was alive or something... but I need it to defeat Aarin. I have to beat him... to prove that I can be the best swordswoman on the planet." Suddenly, a voice called out to Ingrid. "You're well on yer way, lass." Ingrid's solid blue eyes widened, and she instantly shot up from her sitting position. She'd know that hoarse voice from anywhere. It was her faithful sword master, Roundsman. Roundsman was one of Neo-England's most respected swordfighters. Not only was he a trainer, he was also a part time blacksmith, who forged his own swords. He was a tall, burly, chiselled man, with a thick mop of grey hair, matching the fading grey of his stout beard. Though he was getting old, (he was already 48) Roundsman was in great shape for his age. It was understandable that he commanded so much respect from the Neo-English swordplay community. Ingrid smiled, doing a quick nod of respect. "Master Roundsman." The two were currently in the back gardens of the Highland mansion, this was Ingrid's normal training ground, but she had no idea that Roundsman would be visiting her. Roundsman grinned at Ingrid, then at the Lightning Tooth, buried into the grassy ground. "You've been practicing', haven't yer? That's the way forward. But you shouldn't pin yer blade into the earth like that. You'll dull the tip." Ingrid also took a look back at the Lightning Tooth, with a concerned glare. "I know... but... that thing it... I know it sounds crazy, Master, but I swear, that sword was vibrating a minute ago." "Oh, ho, ho, ho!" Roundsman bellowed into the morning air with a haughty, amused laugh. "You've certainly got quite an imagination on ya, Ingrid Highland. It's just nerves, you'll get over it." Ingrid tried hard to believe that. "I... guess so." "You've made a great deal of progress, Ingrid." Roundsman mused, with a deep pride. "Look at you. You're a strong woman. You know, many people doubted that I could mould you into a warrior. But I believed otherwise. And I was right. You have come a long way. Still, you do have much to learn about the way of the sword. As long as you are committed to progress, then it will follow." Ingrid appreciated that vote of confidence. "Thank you, sir. I'm glad you taught me too. This is all thanks to you. I won't let you down." "I'm sure that you won't." "So..." Ingrid started. "Did you come here to tell me that, or did you want something else? Are there anymore classes?" Roundsman coughed into his fist, attempting vainly to cover up his wide grin. "Well... I was going to give this to you in a few months time, but I feel I should give it to you now." Now Ingrid was curious. "Huh?" Rather than say anything, Roundsman shoved his grizzly hand into his pocket, and then wrenched out at a large sapphire stone, with the words 'Roundsman Lioness' carved into it. The scorching blue stone was dangling off a silver chain, a line of silver rings linked into one necklace. Roundsman clasped Ingrid's hand gingerly, smiling with eyes of long-felt pride and joy, and placed the necklace into her hand. Ingrid looked up at her master, and then back down at the silver neck chain placed in her hand. It was well known to be a treasured memento of his first student, Aesus, the young man who died tragically in unknown circumstances 3 years ago. Obviously the carving was new, but the chain definitely belonged to Aesus. Ingrid would have never fathomed that Roundsman would give this away. It was a symbol of the power he could draw forth from a human being. "What..." Ingrid was speechless. "This is... but... I... " Roundsman continued to smile. "I cannot really say how proud I am of you, but this might show you. Aesus... was a great tragedy, but our school will continue. Under your strength... you will officially be my successor, Ingrid Highland." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shougatsu Financial Group HQ, Munich, Neo-Germany "Do you mean to tell me that you have wasted 37.2% of this fiscal year's budget? All to find these inane four swords?" Zephaniah growled roughly under his breath, eliciting a frightened look of worry from the administrative board member. This was the usual sort of obstructions he had to face these days. The power behind the Shougatsu Financial Group was mostly due to the investments of lower, slightly minor companies. Though the group was well under Zephaniah's control, the stocks that others had in the Shougatsu Financial Group were very important to its survival. Which also meant that he had to deal with these people. It just wouldn't do to upset them. Not now at least. Zephaniah's bright red eyes scanned the room. It was the usual venue for the board meeting, the second highest floor of the building, in the de-briefing room. A circular room was placed into the middle of the room, with a chain of 7 button-nosed, glasses-wearing pencil pushers. At the head of the table was Zephaniah, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. He did hate all of this organizational, commercialist nonsense. It weakened his fighting soul. One day, he knew well that he would purge himself of such meaningless, clerical games. "You insect." Zephaniah seethed to his opposite. "Do you question my plans? Have you any idea of how powerful those swords could make us? If your head were not so far up your anal sphincter you would probably see that the world could be ours." The questioning pencil pusher silenced himself from Zephaniah's insult, though he was nursing a slight anger from it also. Before things got heated one of the other board members intervened. He was much older in age compared to the rest of the group, so he had a more neutral take on this situation. The younger generation seemed only to care about making money. "I understand what you're trying to say, Zephaniah." The old man commented, looking at the SFG leader. "Though the Four Sword Dossier you have compiled is very impressive, you still lack the swords. It is only understandable that we have doubts about the legitimacy of your endeavours when you have submitted nothing to prove their existence. All we have to go by is the ten-year-old study of a dead archaeologist. Until you bring us some proof of the legend, then I do believe you will be contested again at the next board meeting." Zephaniah studied the group as they all began to murmur in acceptance of that last speech; this was what it was all about. They needed proof... Zephaniah began to speak. "So that's it... you need proof, do you? Then so be it. One of the swords has already been located in Neo-England anyway. The second sword, the Lightning Tooth. I will have it brought here immediately and I will prove to the council that the Second Origin Project is more than mere speculation and myth. I will prove to you that we are on the verge of a new genesis... for all of mankind..." One of the other board members smiled deviously, nudging at the man next to him privately. "He sounds like a scientist. A typical romantic... too bad his 'new genesis' doesn't help us get any richer." Though there was a twelve-metre gap between that man and Zephaniah, the white haired leader heard him clearly. "So I am a romantic, am I? Those without faith always fall prey to the realities of a situation. I will make you eat those words when I return to the next meeting with the Blade of Thunder. Now if you'll excuse me, I have preparations to organize for the Ten Sekai Sentou Kyousou (Heavenly World Combat Competition) therefore this meeting is adjourned." After grudgingly accepting that, the board members of the Shougatsu Financial Group's inner committee all got up and dispersed. Though they hadn't set up an agenda for the next meeting, they were all fairly sure of what it would entail. Primarily, the progress of all of Zephaniah's efforts. As the last of the board members passed through the adjacent door, the red-eyed Zephaniah growled darkly ender his breath, clutching his fist into a ball. "Damn executives...!" He roared. "If they were not so consumed with the ever-flowing obesity of their wallets then they would see that the Second Origin is the future of mankind! Blast them! I swear... if I did not need them, I would cut the heads off of each and every one of those limp-wrist bastards." "It would seem that you have a problem." Red eyes as cold and fluid as blood ran over to the direction in which that statement came from. He looked across to the other side of the room to see another man, hidden in the shadows of the de-briefing room. Zephaniah studied him. He was a total stranger. He was swathed in a dark grey cloak that covered most of his body, the hood was darkened, and so it was impossible to see his face. He was a little shorter than Zephaniah in height, and from the sound of his voice, he was probably in his mid-30's at least. His large feet were sandaled, and his sleek hand hung loosely between the sheets of his pallid cloak, just visible by the contrast of skin. His eyes almost shone, in a way, brightly, in the darkness of the hood, a bright white. Zephaniah's eyes narrowed. He was obviously an intruder. How was this man allowed to sneak into the Shougatsu Financial Group's building so easily? "You there." Zephaniah said directly, tapping a button under his desk. One that signalled for security. "I don't know how you snuck into this building, but you shall be removed." The cloaked man smiled, though it was impossible to tell from the darkness of his hood. "I do believe that you would regret that. As hard as it is to believe, I am your destiny. You can't resist destiny." Zephaniah's grip of his fist got tighter. "Security will be here in a few moments. State your business!" "I am here to lead you to your destiny." The cloaked man said. "...Zephaniah Aeon. Or should I say... Aesus...?" Blood red eyes went wide. "H-How do you know that name?!" "That is not important. What is important is that you confront your destiny. It's something you must face. And to guide you on your way, I will divulge a secret to you. In your search, you should direct your attention to the crater..." "What!?" Zephaniah said surprised. "Do you mean the original crater where the Genesis Comet crashed into the earth's surface? You fool! That crater is in the northern arctic. The ice around it collapsed seven years ago and now the whole of the fissure is submerged in freezing cold waters. No one could reach that place now. It's virtually impossible." The cloaked man shook his head. "Don't be so naïve. The world is much more diverse than you isolated warriors believe. If you held your spirits strong, you'd know that there is a way." Zephaniah's white-coloured eyebrow rose. "And you would happen to know the way of this would you? What exactly lies there? How do you know of my plans? And who are you?" The cloaked man smiled again. "I can at least answer one of those questions." He removed the hood of his cloak, pulling it back. It revealed his face. He was definitely around 37 in age, his elongated black pelt falling loosely behind his head, while the front bangs of his hair (brown in colour) fell above his face, blocking view from his eyes. "My name is Nagare Utsume. I am the man who-" Zephaniah filled in the blanks. "...The man who accompanied Keijiro Seisuji into the Genesis Comet. The man who disappeared two days before Keijiro completed the Four Sword Study..." "Correct." Nagare said. "And I know who you are also. For reasons you could not begin to imagine... but will have the pleasure of knowing... all too soon. But before you venture into the crater of the Genesis Comet... I think you will need to silence the doubts of your fellow businessmen." "I am not a businessman." Zephaniah said. After a short pause, Nagare continued. "All the same... you need to quell the fires of disbelief burning in them... and you can do that by displaying the power of the final sword..." Zephaniah could not believe what he was hearing. "Do you mean...?" "Yes... I speak of the Shadow Edge." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Bio-Technological Research Department (Neo-Japan Branch), Nagoya "Aye... but who are you...?" Ayame tightened up when she took her first glimpse at Julia McAmish. Strictly speaking, she did not expect the young woman to be so... well, pretty. She had been in captivity for little less than a year if what Simon had said was of any worth. Yet she looked so healthy and full of life. And her surroundings didn't seem to be all that hospitable. It was the true sign of a magic-user, an Ashidah. To be full of vitality and drive even in the most extreme of circumstances. And so Julia had been found. Ayame relinquished her hold over the hilt of Nobunaga and strode up to the slightly older woman. Julia held firm, even though there was a little fright in her eyes. Which was understandable after what she had been through. When Ayame realized that she was being a little forthcoming, she stopped herself and answered the question set for her. "Sorry to frighten you," Ayame said, running her hand through her jet black bangs, "I don't do too many rescue missions so I'm kinda lacking in the tact needed for these situations. My name is Ayame Nakagawa. Your Father, Simon McAmish, paid me to set you free from these people. I know this might be a lot to take in after all you've had to suffer... but we have to get you out of here." Julia blinked, looking downwards with those wide green eyes of hers. "My Father... you know his name. Then you must be telling the truth. But why would you involve yourself in matters like this? The Shougatsu Financial Group won't stand for it. If they find out that I've gotten free... they'll hunt me down again. And my Grandfather... he's dead... because of what happened last time... that could happen to my Father..." Ayame shook her head. "No. You're mistaken. Your Father told me about that. Your Grandfather was just knocked unconscious during your kidnapping. He was brought back to full health later on." Julia's eyes suddenly brightened. "Y-You mean... Grandpa is still alive?" "As far as I know." Ayame said, shrugging. "I don't believe it..." Soon tears began welling up in Julia's beautiful emerald eyes, "after all this time and after all the worrying I suffered... I can't believe he's still alive..." Ayame scowled, then grabbed Julia by the wrist. "Save your emotional breakthroughs for later, okay? Your Father's out there waiting for you and 8,500 credits are waiting for me when I take you to him. Now lets just get out of here." That she could do. Julia nodded to the brash young rescuer, and followed her along as she began running out of the door back into the main corridor. The two women began their path to escape from the Bio-Technological Research Department. Again Ayame dodged past all the security cameras and Julia made her best attempt to mimic this action, whilst being dragged along by the wrist. Of course, this was a lab that belonged to the Shougatsu Financial Group. No one could get in and out without getting caught. Not even someone with the great stealth skills of the Dark Katana. One camera was linked to the room that Julia had been locked in. Images of all that had happened and had been said were beamed to a separate room of the complex. This room was filled with video units and video screens that were attached to the many cameras dotted around the lab. Four men stood it that room. Three of them were manning a selection of computers at the edges of the room, while the fourth man stood at the centre of it. He was the more significant. He was dressed in the white coat of a scientist, and had a small tag on the chest pocket of his coat that said his name 'Dr. Kyosuke Bai'. The scientist nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose as they slipped a little and looked over at the security team member to the far right. "Is everything okay there? You look..." That particular man gave a surprised glare over his shoulder. "No, sir! Test Sample Magi-019 has escaped from her cell!" Dr. Bai's eyes widened. "What?" "She's escaped, sir," The man tapped some readings into the keyboard he was manning, changing the image on the screen to that of Ayame and Julia, who by now were inside the elevator and ascending to the top level, "she seems to have been freed by an intruder! A Neo-Japanese female, armed with a standard-E weapon!" "Hmm," Dr. Bai mused this all over, "I probably should have killed Julia along with Test Samples 001-018. But her affinity with Darkness Magic is so strong that I hesitated. And her data was put to good use for the Second Origin Project... but in time we could have extracted even more data from her. Regardless, if she gets out she could spread details of the tests we subjected her to. And I doubt that Master Zephaniah wishes to reveal the true nature of our company until Second Origin is complete." One of the other men turned in his chair and spoke. "So should we re-capture her now? I could call for the upper-level security teams to keep the test sample from escaping." Dr. Bai shook his head. "No. Whoever that woman is who helped the test sample escape, she is clearly no ordinary fighter. So we will not use any ordinary method of recapturing that which is ours." The third man spoke in his turn. "So then... what will we do?" The glasses of the wise doctor gleamed. "...I think I'll use the second of the three Genocide Weapons to recapture the test sample. It is time to un-freeze Ras es-Shamrah." All three of the subordinates gasped with fear and confusion. One of the Genocide Weapons? Did Dr. Bai really seek to reclaim the test sample with that kind of bio-machine? It couldn't have been any more of a confusing statement at all. But only one of the security team members spoke out about that confusion. "But, sir..." He pleaded, "...do you really think it's wise to unleash that monster inside of the laboratory? We had it under full control the last time but there are never any guarantees after reawakening such an organism from Cryo-sleep." Dr. Bai smiled privately. "I understand such details. It would irresponsible if I weren't to do so. But we will allow the two to escape from the lab. I would prefer any battles to take place outside, lest they interfere with any of our experiments. And I have been looking for the perfect opportunity to test out the true level of the Ras es-Shamrah's powers. If they prove to be more worth the cost of production... it could lead to the re-funding of my older projects." One of the support staff swallowed his gulp and turned back to the computer and keyboard he was manning, looking over the screen. "...Then... do you want me to un-freeze the subject now, or..." "No..." Dr. Bai turned his back to the three workers and walked towards the door out of that particular room. "...I believe I will do it myself..." The talented doctor then walked from that observation room out into another white corridor. This section of the lab was a floor below the holding cells that bound people like Julia. But there was an even deeper holding chamber. Built for the purpose of preserving subjects that were not in current use for experimentation in the future. The time had come to awaken one of them. Dr. Bai passed through all the doors and staircases necessary to take him to the deepest level of the Research Facility. By which time the atmosphere had grown far colder. As the doctor came to the last leg of his journey, he stood before two solid metal doors that were marked with the phrase 'Cryogenic Preservation Chamber'. Or CPC for short. It was far too cold in there for him. Even outside of the doors, every time he breathed, it released a puff of visible smog-like air. However. Dr. Bai turned to the right of him and placed his long fingers against the keypad of another electronic lock. But this time it had a videoscreen above it. The scientist began a set of keystrokes which switched on the videoscreen and gave a clear view of the innards of the CPC. Specifically, it gave a good view of one test tube in particular. It was covered in thin sheets of ice... and contain a grim, morbid looking figure inside of it. Along the bottom of the tube was a plaque that read... 'GW-2: RAS ES-SHAMRAH' Dr. Bai smiled at the image of the test tube on the screen. "It is time to awaken... my rabid instrument of destruction..." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Yuuga school of Sword Arts, Osaka, Neo Japan "Namu amida butsu... namu amida butsu... namu amida butsu..." Cries, grunts of respect and painful weeping, all of it and more was heard in the respectfully quiet inner halls of the Yuuga School. It had been three days since Setsuya had arrived in Osaka for his return, now it was time for the funeral of his master. Swordfighters, villagers, friends, family, no matter who it was, they all came to the funeral to send off the great master of the Yuuga arts. The actual ceremony took place out in the main courtyard, where willing participants gave their last few words of respect. The ceremony was then continued in the fields just outside of the school, where other burials had taken place. It was sacred ground to the old master. One of his last wishes was to be buried within its soil. While the others attending the funeral wept or remained silent, Setsuya and Aarin stood back politely and watched it all take place. The master meant different things to different people, for different reasons. To Setsuya, the master symbolized the last shred of family he thought he had, and his death presented a great loss. To Aarin, the master was the saviour of his soul, the man who allowed his escape from the monotonous lifestyle of an English noble. Aarin wanted a chance to be free, to fly on his own wings, and that was the gift his master gave him. For both Setsuya and Aarin, the burial of the old master meant a turning point. A signal that relying on others to reach happiness was a dying practice. It was time to move on and grow up, for both of them. The monk standing at the foot of the grave continued to chant the sutra as the village workers shovelled the soil back into the hole, over the coffin. "Namu amida butsu... namu amida butsu... namu amida butsu..." Shortly after the grave was refilled, people laid down flowers beside the tombstone of the old master, each person walking away as their business was done with. Setsuya and Aarin did the same and then followed the rest of the group back into the Yuuga School. After the burial, there was a small gathering held inside the school, for all people to catch up and talk and reflect on the master. It was like a reception, though slightly less lively. As usual, Setsuya and Aarin were at the side of the room, watching the events unfold and musing over them between themselves. "Not exactly a fun climate..." Setsuya said, his eyes on the crowds. "But it seems the people are actually starting to loosen up a bit." Aarin's honey brown eyes were shut; his body leaning up against the old grey wall. "These people are handling the loss the only way they can. I do not blame them for trying to put their suffering aside. Sometimes to only way to heal is to forget." Setsuya ran a hand through his hair. "You and your excuses for people. But... I suppose I can't blame you for that, Aarin. The master taught us in different ways." "He taught us what we needed to know." Aarin supplied sharply. "The difference was the way we interpreted his words. He was a great man... I will find it hard to forget his teachings." Setsuya did agree with that. "Yeah." "So where do you go from here?" Aarin asked, his head turning to face Setsuya. The dark-haired Japanese smiled. "I've got my path set, buddy. I'm gonna head out to China, to a small village in northern province. That is my next target. What about you...?" Aarin thought for a second. "I am... not quite sure. I came here to send off the master, and test out my skills against you... but I do not believe this is the best time to start a real battle between the two of us. I think I shall further hone my skills by exploring more of the east... maybe Korea or Thailand. Though it will take a while to get to either of those places by boat." Setsuya grinned, holding out his hand to Aarin for a shake. "Gotcha. I tell you what. Lets make a deal. The next time we see each other, we'll be ready and prepared to fight for real. Deal?" Aarin nodded, clasping his rival's free hand with his own in an accepting handshake. It was a fair and suitable pact. When they next met... nothing would stop them from revealing their true powers. They would push each other to the limit and discover once and for all who was the better of them.
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