The sound of an explosion filled the forest, disturbing the local wildlife and warning off some of the more curious creatures. If any were to follow the sound to the source, they would find two individuals, the human of the forest and its pony apprentice.
Trixie groaned as she picked herself up off the forest floor. She was covered in scratches and parts of her fur were burnt away. She winced as she felt pain flood through her system once more, but fought it down. She barely got the chance to retaliate when a second explosion flung her into the air, sending her once more into the cold ground. Her ears rung with the aftershock and she found her vision cloudy due to overexertion and pain. When she finally managed to recover her sight she was greeted to the image of a frowning Robin.
I sighed as I watched Trixie struggle to drag herself to her hooves once more. It had been several hours since we left the cabin and found a suitable training grounds to practice within. The only problem was what should have been all around combat training developed little more into a game of survival.
"Well, at the very least you're getting accustomed to what true pain feels like," I remarked casually.
"Screw you..." Trixie breathed out airily.
I responded to such with another well placed explosion, causing the blue furred mare to skid along the ground. She was visibly in pain now and her breathing was labored. I slowly made my way over to her, keeping a careful eye on her vital signs. I didn't want to accidentally kill her. "If you have enough energy to throw insults around, then you should have enough energy to retaliate."
I called for a small brake and healed the mare with Nosferatu. Within minutes she was as healthy as she was when we first started training. Mentally however...
"How in Tartarus is this training!?" Trixie argued as she sat on the grass in front of me.
"Simple. I'm training your endurance, speed, and power all in one go. By forcing you to go all out and practically fight for survival I'm encouraging you to use all of your abilities to their max."
"... were you always this sadistic?"
I laughed and made my way across the clearing. "Perhaps. But enough of that, I think five minutes is enough rest time for you." Realizing what was soon to come, Trixie took up her own position across from me. I held up my hand above my head and summoned a small ball of fire. I gave Trixie a feral grin as I called out to her, "There's something I want you to do for me!"
Trixie glanced between the fire and my own face nervously. "W-What?"
My eyes gleamed as I prepared to launch my attack.
"DODGE!!!"
Trixie wasn't the only one who felt the metaphorical, and physical, burn. When I wasn't training directly with Trixie I was doing my own training. I was serious when I believed myself to be inadequate. I was weak and I didn't understand what it meant to wield this powerful magic. I went back to the basics on every font. I reworked the spells, increasing efficiency, control, and power output. Magic was significantly easier for me to cast now, and I was able to drain the tomes at a much faster rate.
The first month was spent heightening my skills. Once I felt satisfied I had fine tuned my abilities, I then worked towards unlocking the magic's true potential. There was so much more I could accomplish with this power, and I would make sure I got it right.
|Wind Training|
Wind magic is the tier I personally specialize in. While I have mastery over all other forms as well, I always found the element of wind to be the easiest to manipulate. From creating storms to increasing my own base speed, I've managed this magic quite well over the years. However, there was always one trick that eluded me, something that I clearly remember from a certain fighting game I used to play. I felt a smile tug at my lips as the memory of better days filled me. I certainly needed it considering what I was about to attempt was life threatening.
I was situated at the edge of a cliff, the rocky slope below me leveling off into a small ravine. The fall was easily fifty feet high, and I could feel adrenaline flowing through my system as I prepared for a physically impossible feat of power. I took a quick glance at Arcwind as I let its power flow around me. Instead of focusing the magic into my feet though, I let it completely consume me. My body was tinted green as my clothes flapped within the concentrated storm. I closed my eyes and took in a steady breath as I steeled my nerves. Once I felt relatively calm, I jumped.
If anyone were to be watching me right now, no doubt they would be speechless. I could barely comprehend how I was able to pull such a feat off. I looked down below me as the ground every so slowly came up to meet me. Using the power of the wind at my disposal I had somehow managed to decrease my overall weight, and enable me to glide on the air. I couldn't fly, but I could certainly glide and move freely while airborne. I must have been falling at a rate of about a foot per minute. And that was using as much magic as I could possibly put into my stunt.
I reduced the magic output and I found myself falling a little faster. I played with the new ability until I felt safe enough to fool around with it and enjoy the feeling of 'flight'. Roughly twenty minutes later and my feet were once more planted firmly on the ground. Under normal circumstances this ability wouldn't be very useful as it required a substantial amount of magic to use and manipulate. Still, it was another ability I had discovered, and the feeling of freedom while I flew was exhilarating. Even later that night after I had returned home the smile on my face never left.
|Fire Training|
Of all the magic I have at my disposal, Fire Magic is one that I use the least of. Not because it isn't powerful, but because most spells aren't diverse in usage. At my level of skill I can wield and utilize Arcfire to the same degree as most other tomes in the family. It's powerful, but it doesn't have the same flexibility that Wind Magic has. After days of thinking about the problem I finally came to an interesting solution.
I found myself at the edge of the badlands, the dry, barren landscape running flat for several miles ahead of me. Arcfire was secured within my robe and I could feel its power flowing through my veins. I focused on that power and brought it under my control. I fought against its will, its desire to burn those before it as I forced it to bend to my will. Visible flames started to run across my body and the temperature around me grew to life threatening levels. Once I had gathered enough power I directed the flow of power into the ground in front of me.
At first nothing happened, but over the course of a few minutes I noticed the landscape begin to change. The dry ground was visibly steaming now and the once hard earth appeared to be softer. Another minute later and the ground looked more like molten mud than dirt. I grinned as I examined the makeshift lava and listened to the bubbles of heat that came from it. With this magic I could influence the land around me and turn the battlefield into my own personal playground.
Once more I let the tome's power flow around me, creating a sort of fine, invisible film around my body. I tentatively dipped a foot into the molten mud. I could feel the warmth of the mud, but not the pain that it should have brought with it. I removed my foot and saw it was intact and not the skeletal limb it should have been.
I grinned and let the power subside along with the manipulation. The ground hissed as the constant source of heat was removed and I watched as the soupy mud reverted once more into hard packed dirt. This ability would give me a suitable advantage over opponents who focused on speed. Take away that advantage from them, especially in an enclosed fight, and it would be an easy win for me.
|Thunder Training|
It's one thing to manipulate the field of battle, but such a technique is not infallible. If an opponent is smart enough, or has abilities to negate such manipulation, then the technique could become more of a liability then an advantage. What I needed was a defense which I could manipulate, and prove to be nearly impossible to overcome. An absolute defense of some kind. After much thought I finally found a plausible answer to my dilemma.
Once more I stood within the badlands as I held Arcthunder in my hands. I smiled as I pictured what I wanted to create and the necessary requirements for such a procedure. If I wanted this to work, I needed to consider both the magical and scientific qualities of lightning. I suppose in that way I'm not like the average mage. Magic isn't simply governed by its own laws and rules. It must also work with the laws of Physics when necessary. One can argue as much as they want, but the laws of the universe won't budge on the matter. After all, if such rules are broken, then the universe in turn will collapse upon itself.
When I create lightning through the use of my tomes the lighting itself is magical in nature, but the properties of the bolt follow the rules of Physics. Lightning is one of the most dangerous elements in the world, and most people don't seem to realize just how dangerous it really is. Unknown to some, lightning is roughly five times hotter then the surface temperature of the Sun. The reason people aren't piles of ash when they get struck is because usually they are connected to the ground. The energy travels so fast it merely uses the body as a conductor before dispersing harmlessly into the ground. While I'm sure the individual's internal organs may disagree, the science still stands. And since most beings in the world I live in are resistant to magic to some degree due to exposure, these effects are diminished somewhat.
So... I needed to bypass some of those restrictions.
I focused on the tome and I let the magic flow through my body. Arcs of lightning danced across my body and the sound of sporadic sparks filled the air. I imagined in my mind's eye what I wanted to create. The shape, design and procedure were carefully considered and implemented into my plan. When I felt I had a decent grasp on what I wanted I began to create it.
Barely visible to the naked eye a bubble of sorts grew outward around me. The film continued to grow until it was nearly ten meters in diameter. Within the field I had created was a maelstrom of power. I could sense the amount of energy that was being contained in my field, wanting to be let free. Flashes of light could be seen sporadically as tendons of lightning filled the dome. I concentrated on the design and took a step forward. The dome moved with me, always ensuring that I was at the center of the invisible electrical storm.
I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and I saw some type of lizard scurrying along the earth. Either the animal was stupider then I thought, or it was close to death as the creature failed to sense the amount of power being released nearby. Instead, the lizard carelessly passed through the barrier and entered the field. A sudden flash of light momentarily blinded me and I had to blink away the spots. When I was able to see once more I paled at what I saw.
The lizard was completely eradicated. all that was left was a small pile of ash and even that was starting to be destroyed by the sheer power of the field. The sheer concentration of lightning along with the constant output enabled me to overcome some of the restrictions nature imposed. The moment the lizard entered the field it was a conductor for the lightning to utilize. With all that power being distributed into such a small body its no wonder there isn't anything left of it. And since the field is continuously generating new bolts, even the land was scarred due to the constant heat the lightning generated.
I released my hold on the magic and watched as the field shimmered and vanished into the air. I had never considered such usage of lightning in the past, and to some extent I'm glad. I wouldn't be able to utilize this new skill for long, but the sheer devastation it creates more than makes up for that.
With manipulation like that, I would be untouchable during battle.
|Dark Training|
Dark Magic is easily the most powerful and volatile magic at my disposal. There's very little I could experiment without destroying the landscape in the process. So, I decided to focus on another problem and work on my use of Nosferatu; specifically the healing ability. The ability to heal others of almost any wound is an impressive ability. Nosferatu does something similar, but to a lesser extent. The tome speeds up the natural healing ability to the point of regenerating new flesh. It's how I was able to save the colt despite his internal organs being nearly destroyed. Nearly being the key word here. What I can't do is regenerate anything that is removed from the body. Essentially, if the body can't naturally restore a body part, then Nosferatu won't be able to do as such.
I needed to find a way around this dilemma. If I had the power to restore limbs and destroyed organs, I would become immensely powerful. If I could utilize such an ability I could even become immortal.
The only problem I now faced was a lack of test subjects. I had no intention of cutting off my hand to simply test a theory that may or may not be plausible. And I highly doubt that any of the ponies would step up and offer themselves even at the promise of money. The last option wasn't any better, but it wasn't necessary illegal.
I shook my head and considered my position. I was currently leaning against a tree and garbed in only my cotton shirt and pants. Before me was a crude wooden table with leather straps embedded into the wood. For all intent and purpose it was a table for experimenting on living creatures, and right now it was occupied.
A squeak of fear brought me out of my thoughts as I looked at the rabbit I had captured earlier that day. The creature was currently struggling against its binds and the terror was palpable across its features. This would be so much easier if the creatures were simply mindless, but almost all animals seemed to hold some intelligence. What I was about to commit would be little more than committing torture upon a sentient creature. I've killed these animals for food before, but... that was a requirement for living. This, however... even this is pushing the limits of how far I'd be willing to go.
I closed my eyes and repeated the mantra within my head which allowed me to push forward. The life of a single individual is worth sacrificing if it leads to the well being of the majority.
I hardened my heart as I made my way towards my soon to be victim. The rabbit's struggles grew more violent with every step I took towards it. I felt my heart clench for a moment before I pushed down any hesitance I had. Beside the rabbit on the table were two other items. The first one was the Dark tome Nosferatu, the second was the Levin blade. I had already connected myself to the tome, and the connection never left while I remained in the vicinity. All I needed to do now was start cutting.
I grasped the blade and lifted it up to my eyes, the metal glinting against whatever sunlight managed to seep through the heavy canopy of the forest. My eyes then turned towards the rabbit which was looking up at me with terror. It was crying, the 'stupid' woodland animal was actually crying as it seemed to come to terms with its fate. At that moment I felt something die within myself. What's worse, I deliberately ignored it for the pursuit of knowledge.
I raised the blade above my head and I could see that image reflected upon the rabbit's eyes. I closed my own eyes and whispered a soft apology before I swung the blade. The screams of pain never left my mind, even long after the creature had died of blood loss.
I held the severed arm in my hand, the stump wrapped in bandages to halt the flow of blood. Even so, the cloth was red and dripping as it struggled to hold back the flow. For the past hour I'd been sitting within the glade, working on this appendage alone. I had accomplished what I originally set out to do, but it didn't feel right to not practice on every part of the body. I suppose it was some sick and twisted way of honoring the life I took.
I sighed and brought up my blade once more. I cut off the paw, ending at the wrist. The excess blood was still impressive, but that was most likely due to the magic I continued to pump into the limb. I drew magic from my tome and let the black mist surround what remained of the paw. I watched as the skin bubbled violently before expanding outward. In several seconds a new, full formed paw replaced the one I had just removed. Even the fur had regrown.
I should have been excited. With this ability I could essentially regrow any part of my body so long as I didn't die before loss of blood or lose my head. Not quite the immortality I'm aiming for, but it's a good start. All I needed now was to find a way to automatize the ability.
I looked up to see that night was beginning to fall. I would have to return to the cabin soon before Trixie started to fret over me. I gave the paw one last glance before I set it down with the rest of the mangled limbs. I withdrew Arcfire as I begin to walk out of the glade. Behind me, a pillar of fire erupted from the ground, encasing the area I worked in. All that remained of my presence was ash, and soon that too would disperse into the wind.
If only the nightmares that would be sure to follow me could so easily be erased.