Seed Of Speed

Again, Diego picked the one of the Lizard Faction, the middle son, who surrender without a fight. It was purely a formality at this point, no one other than Bako had any intention of fighting him. Since he did not take Bako lightly, he picked Euniti, the sixth son of Barru who belonged to the Lizard Faction as well. Yet again, he admitted defeat, allowing Diego to continue his meditation. After he finished the rest period, he stood and looked at Bako.

Bako did not even wait for Diego to speak as he leapt up from his seat with his axes in his hands. He was like a mad dog as he jumped out, right away with his [Twin Fang Lunge]. Diego did not hesitate and activated his [Scarlet-Gold Skin] while he held up his spear with both hands in defense. Bako's axes shimmered in a golden light as they crashed down onto his spear.

Although he was lacking Peyni's innate strength, Bako made up for it with his mastery over his skill and started to overpower Diego. Before he could, Diego shifted his spear, so that the axes slid off to the side while the tip of his spear scrapped across Bako's cheek. Bako did not flinch from the blade just centimeters below his eye and he threw out a kick to Diego's gut.

Diego tumbled back from the force of the kick, but with his [Scarlet-Gold Skin], it only felt like a weak punch. He tried to push himself up, but Bako pressed his advantage with his [Sweeping Chop]. Diego threw himself to the side and rolled until he got his feet under himself. Bako was just starting to straight up when Diego threw out his spear, activating [Ten Strikes, One Thrust]. Bako activated his [Half-Step Gold Skin] while he crossed his axes to block.

There was a loud 'tink' when the three spears struck out and crashed into the flat side of the axe head. The axes slammed back into Bako's c.h.e.s.t as he skidded backwards, but he remained standing. He threw out his axes to his sides to disperse the last of the force clinging to him while giving his brother a wild look. Slowly, a crimson energy seeped out of Bako's skin as his eyes also changed and his aura suddenly turned bloodthirsty.

::Careful! Bako has activated some kind of innate berserk skill! His strength, speed, or defense could be greatly increased!::

Even without Katalina's warning, Diego's own danger senses were screaming as he felt needle-like prickling sensation across the back of his neck. She was not the only one to recognize the skill as both Barru's and Anoe's eye were wide with shock. They instantly recognized the [Blood Craze] skill which happened to be the very Earth ranked skill that made Patriarch Krutii so powerful. The problem with the skill was it was very hard to learn; it required a type of madness that the only fueled further, strengthening its caster while eroding their mind.

"Is this fate? One is the heir of Patriarch Krutii's Earth Technique while the other seeks to remove his legacy," Barru mused in his heart.

Bako suddenly bolted forward and struck out with his [Twin Fang Lunge] which now carried a crimson glow this time. Diego did not dare to take this strike head on, so he swiped the attack to the side with his spear while he jumped to the side. It felt like he hit a solid pillar that did not budge a bit, but he used it to push himself further away from the crazed Bako.

Diego knew the longer he could drag this fight out, the higher his chances for winning would be. It would not be a quick fight like before, but he did not have a lot of options as Bako's strength was nearly double his own and he could explode with a sudden burst of speed. If he let Bako get too close, he would likely lose his life.

With a snarl, Bako leapt out once again, swinging his axes downward. Diego danced to the side, striking out with his spear. Bako completely ignored the spearhead as it delivered gash across his shoulder and switched his attack into his [Sweeping Chop]. His axes swept along either side of his spear and chased after Diego's arms. If they managed to hit, even with his [Scarlet-Gold Skin], Diego knew his arms would be ruined, if not severed entirely.

It was already too late to pull back his spear, but once he dropped it, he would be defenseless… or would he? With his life threatened, a crazy idea struck Diego and he abandoned his spear as he pushed back with his feet.

Barru gripped the arm of his chair as he watched the fight. Two of his sons had hidden themselves so well and he could not help but worry that Bako might ruin Ishu. He had so much potential that he had already grown excited to see his future accomplishments, but it all could end because his brother had five more years of experience.

Firesand was also sighing in his heart as he could tell the fight was no longer favoring Ishu. If only he had known sooner that the boy had mana, he would have had the chance to teach him some true magic, but as soon as the thought came, it went. No, if he had taken the boy as a disciple, there was no way he would have had this life-changing event that had given him the Heaven Technique, and likely even his Scarlet-Gold Skin achievement was due to it. The old man had already decided in his heart that Ishu had to chanced upon a wandering master who took him as a disciple when he had disappeared. Suddenly, he raised to his feet while his eyes widen as he saw a rapid convergence of Light Mana.

Bako's attack missed, but he stepped to throw his body forward when Diego pointed a finger straight at his face. The next thing he knew, a blinding white light pierced his eyes and he cried out in pain, stumbling forward. Diego sidestepped around Bako and ran forward, scooping up his spear. Bako yelled furiously as he swung his axes around him wildly and shook his head.

Diego took a few steps forward then sent out a thrust as Bako turned to face him. He chopped with one his axes, sending Diego's spearhead down towards the ground, then he swung his other for Diego's neck. Without hesitation, Diego pushed his spear further down then hooked the spearhead by Bako's ankle then yanked, pulling Bako's leg out from him.

Bako toppled over, but his axe clipped Diego's left arm, leaving a large gash across his bicep. The crimson glow still clung to Bako's skin, so he knew there was no reasoning with him in his current state. Diego flipped his spear around, so that the blunt end was pointed at Bako and activated his [Ten Strikes, One Thrust]. Bako raised his axe to defend, but the attack caused the flat side axe to land heavily on his c.h.e.s.t. The crimson glow flickered as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Diego was breathing hard as he raised his spear once again. He was nearly out of Solar Energy after launching two of his strongest attacks, but he was not sure if this was enough. The crimson glow around Bako continued to flicker as it grew dimmer, but he pulled himself up. With the blunt end still at the front, Diego struck out with [Serpent's Strike]. The end of the spear sn.a.k.e.d passed the axe Bako hastily raised and landed solidly on his sternum. There was a muffled crack and Bako spit up another mouthful of blood as the crimson glow completely vanished this time.

::Bako Telryn, sixth stage Mortal Body, defeated! 2 Experience points awarded, 2 Mastery points awarded, 1 Skill point awarded to [Serpent's Strike], 2 Skill point awarded to [Ten Strikes, One Thrust], 1 Skill point awarded to [Flash Point]::

Bako's eyes returned to their brown color before they rolled back in his head and he collapsed. Diego let out a deep sigh of relief as he released his [Scarlet-Gold Skin]. Everything was silent before the crowd broke into a thunderous cheer and began chanting, "Ishu! Ishu! Ishu!"

Diego looked around at the crowd in the stands then turned around to his father. Barru and all four faction leaders were staring at him with fiery gazes, especially Firesand. Only he understood the true difficulty of casting a new spell in the middle of a battle.

He had just taught him the [Flash Point] spell yesterday. Just a day, yet this little monster had been able to cast it in a battle situation! No matter what price he had to pay, Firesand knew he needed to send Ishu to his sect under his banner. With the resources that the sect would pour into him once they saw his potential, breaking through to the Demi Body would just be a matter of time for the boy and he would receive an enormous merit for recruiting such an individual!

Diego bowed and asked, "Forgive my request, but could you examine my brother, Shaman Firesand? It would be a shame for our clan to lose such a skilled warrior."

"Of course, young master," the old shaman said as he stood up.

"Bako has been defeated. Are there any others who question Ishu's right to the seat of Patriarch?" Barru barked as he looked across where his sons sat.

The remaining sons who had not fought rose to their feet and shouted in unison, "No, Lord Father!"

"Then I declare Ishu as the heir to the seat of Patriarch!" Barru said.