Killer Technique
Alright, Tia |
I ought to show you at least the basics before you leave! |
The basics of what...? |
To Tia's surprise, a full-sized manaquin constructed of an unfamiliar material waits for them in the garden. She watches as her father places a small elemental crystal into its chest, diagrams of major muscles and organs appearing across its surface. These patterns give off a dull glow. Allen gives a deep sigh as he places a hand on its familiar shoulder.
My techniques! |
There are more effective ways of using Beranok's Aura than just tossing lightning around wildly! |
Fine... |
It's easy to run yourself out of energy too quickly while using your aura haphazardly, even for you |
But if you focus on accuracy and precision, not only will you be more effective but you'll likely outlast your opponent! |
How do you zap someone "precisely"? |
Small charges targeting specific muscles or organs |
Just enough to freeze up or contract muscles or to impede or manipulate their nervous system. This can drastically throw off or even paralyze an opponent, leaving them open to attack or worse. This is especially dangerous for aerial opponents if you can lock up their wings. |
Wait, how does zapping muscles... um... |
She tilts her head at her father, not grasping the basis of the technique. Allen waves her over.
Change into another form |
Allen gestures with two fingers, touching them to Tia's arm. As his fingers connect, Tia's bicep contracts on its own and tingles from the gentle current. He touches her shoulder as well, furthering his point.
Whoa! |
I definitely gotta learn that one! |
When you get the hang of it |
This technique lets you alter your opponent's movements and uses very little energy. Though, it's important to remember extended or excessive shocks can damage and even tear muscles and cause serious burns. But with practice, you can also project it. |
Allen pauses, gesturing with the same two finger motion pointed to the other side of the garden. Once locked on with his yellow-green eyes, electricity connects very briefly to a flower. Tia looks with her own green eyes, zooming in to see a dead bee below the flower while the bloom itself is untouched.
What!! |
Allen beams with pride, quickly followed by laughter as she gapes
Flight is a powerful tool |
But our eyes can hone the potential precision of these techniques even further. And while it can be fun to walk around in full form, an opponent is far more likely to underestimate you if you conceal your abilities by manifesting only what you need! |
I've... beaten many opponents with just this. |
You mean... |
Killed, don't you? |
Allen frowns, sighing, and feels the urge to craft a less ugly lie for his daughter. He wants to shield her from the ugliness of his past yet he knows this isn't what she needs anymore. Tia will face the same gruesome reality very soon.
Yes |
He sits on the fountain's edge and invites her over, patting its surface. Tia settles next to him and listens attentively.
I'm sorry I didn't train you sooner. |
I had hoped you would never need any of this. |
I know, dad |
I'm sorry I wasted so much of our time being angry. |
What I wouldn't give for more time...! |
You're going to need time to learn these techniques. |
How long did it take you? |
Longer than you've lived yet |
And I've got one more for you. But... this isn't something you can practice ordinarily. |
Why not...? |
Allen rises and approaches the mannequin with a grim expression. He taps its chest.
This is my strongest technique. I developed it myself. |
As I demonstrated, you only need to manifest your eyes and hands. After years of... practice... I learned a human heartbeat follows a specific rhythm and if you interrupt that rhythm at just the right moment |
Their heart will stop. |
Tia's eyes widen, realizing his meaning suddenly, leaving her with a blank expression. When Allen glances back to her, Tia's face shows a mixture of uncertainty and discomfort. He sighs, closing his eyes and knitting his brows.
This is an assassination technique |
If you get it right, its a low energy tool to defeat almost any opponent. But outside enchantments like these, you can only practice this on live targets. Failure will leave you vulnerable. If you find yourself in this position |
I suggest a paralyzing charge or even a more powerful discharge in a pinch, if not retreating altogether. |
But |
H-how do you even know when to...? |
Allen gestures to his own neck, exposing his jugular to her.
Watch for my pulse |
Manifesting just her eyes in her father's form, Tia focuses her vision and zooms in on his throat. She watches his skin rise and fall with each heartbeat.
Lock in onto the rhythm |
With practice, you'll know when to administer the shock to interrupt it. Watch. |
Allen turns back to the mannequin and, his body slightly lowered, holds his left hand just behind his back. His body is positioned to block the target's line of sight from his hand. The marks on his hand glow and Tia sees the electricity crackling on his palm. Allen dashes forward abruptly, shoving the forearm of his right arm into the dummy and connecting his palm and his elbow to each of it's shoulders. Electricity connects at these two points and Allen plants his left palm onto the mannequin's chest unimpeded. Tia finds herself both in awe and unsettled by Allen's expression while doing this—serious, aggressive and detached. His attack is akin to a bolt of lightning, sudden, harsh and seemingly unpredictable. The illustration of the manequin's heart flashes twice before all light fades from its surface and the crystal fueling its enchantments shatters into nothing.
Your second arm can be used |
To keep a target from defending from the attack, locking up both of their arms. However, its not always necessary as a simple palm strike can be difficult to defend against if they don't perceive the threat. Finding an opening is wise. |
Allen falls silent, noticing Tia is staring steadily down at her own hands. As this silence lingers, she glances up with a pained expression.
I'm... I'm really going to have to kill people...? |
Allen closes his eyes and grimaces, knowing this innocence couldn't be preserved any longer. Tia's gaze drops with an empty expression, falling into contemplation.
I should be upset |
I should be saying "I don't want to kill anyone!" But I still think about them. |
Them? |
Hiroto, Asahi, Kenji, Junichiro, Seina |
And Ben! |
After everything they did to me, it would be a lie to say I haven't wanted to kill them, that I still don't want to...! |
Tia... |
It isn't wrong for you to hate them, to resent them |
These people hurt you so badly. What you're feeling is natural, I hate him too. I nearly killed Ben myself! |
I can't stand seeing him |
He still terrifies me and I hate it! My body was burned, my bones broken, and the rest of me battered and torn |
I felt myself dying but he doesn't even have to pay! |
Allen wraps an arm around his daughter, trembling as well from Tia's description. He squeezes Tia as if he could protect her from what had already transpired.
I wish I could obliterate that cretinous bastard...! |
And he would deserve it. But... |
Allen takes a deep breath breath and lets his shoulders drop, his grip loosening
We can't hurt or even kill everyone who wrongs us. I've taken so many lives, Tia. |
I don't want you to carry that same burden. Besides, these people have already taken enough from you |
They don't deserve to take more with the consequences of revenge. |
Tia mulls over his words, a frown lingering as she still isn't quite satisfied with his answer, but she is unable to express herself properly. She looks to Duff instead, sunbathing nearby as a cat. This had become his favorite form within the manor, not needing to conceal himself.
I guess these kinds of things are easier for you? |
He rolls over to look at them as if he hadn't already been listening to their conversation
I could kill the twit for you, if you'd like.
Duff offers casually, his own delight at the thought leaking through
No one would even know!
Don't tempt me! |
I guess I should practice? |
Allen's smile is just as light, happy to see Tia back to her sunny self. They spend the rest of the afternoon going over and running Tia through his exercises so she could continue practicing, even without him.
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