Biohuman

Lee Seng moved for the flag first. He jumped off the platform, pushing himself with gravity as the flag descended. He turned his head to watch as Akio ran and jumped after him. Lee Seng raised his hand and watched Akio come to a stop.

"Stupid Vanishing spell. Stay there." Lee Seng whispered. Akio cursed as he pushed his hands on the invisible force holding him in the air.

'He's gonna get there before I do… Did he notice the Rift was up here?' Akio thought. 'No, he shouldn't have known that… I guess I'll really show him a bit of my power.' The flag was almost in Lee Seng's hands as Akio's energy exploded. The lights flickered as darkness stretched across the entire field. In a split second, Akio was next to Lee Seng, swatting him away from the flag.

Lee Seng flew through part of the course, slamming into one of the small half-walls. He groaned in pain as darkness swept like a tornado.

"You think you know everything there is to know about me, but there's something I haven't shown you, yet." Akio's distorted voice spoke from within the darkness. A loud cracking noise came from within the darkness and Lee Seng could only take that as a sign that Akio had hid the flag from him. Whispers grew around Lee Seng as his back cracked.

​ "Ah, you fixed it!" Lee Seng shouted. He stretched his back one more time, listening to the release in his body. "It's been bothering me forever."

"Do you think this is the time to be joking around?" A deep voice came from behind Lee Seng. Lee Seng turned to swing, only to meet nothing.

"You should pay more attention to the battle." Akio spoke. Lee Seng turned, scanning the area. It defied Akio's class as a Fighter.

'How can you do such a thing?' Lee Seng wondered.

"The Protocol is a strange thing, isn't it?" Akio asked. "It changes you. Molds you into what you're supposed to be if you fight just enough. Have you fought just enough, Lee?" Lee Seng turned right and lifted his hand up to stop the Vorpal Blade inches from entering his head. He couldn't feel any signatures of energy on it. He only heard it whistling and barely managed to catch it before it came at him.

The Vorpal Blade pulled away spinning around as Lee Seng grabbed the hilt. There were signatures of Akio's energy in it, but that wouldn't help Lee Seng one bit.

"No matter what you do, this is my space." Akio chuckled. "How do you like it?"

"It defies everything you do." Lee Seng answered, looking around.

"Like what?" A distorted voice asked to his left. Lee Seng swung the Vorpal Blade, hitting a wall. "You must be thinking its too powerful for a Fighter, no?"

"Let me tell you a secret about my power." A whisper came in his right ear. Lee Seng turned to listen. Akio was toying with him. He only needed to buy time to figure out where he was. Lee Seng bravely took a step forward, only to see shadowy figures appear. They were barely visible from the shadow-scape. They didn't register in energy, so Lee Seng's eyes fixated on them.

"When a Number gets their Protocol under control, they are gifted with powers so unimaginable, many think of us as… the strongest warriors, gods - whatever you want to call it." Akio continued. "But, it doesn't come without limitations of our own bodies. Do you know what my weakness is?"

"Madness." Lee Seng answered like he had been asked this question a million times. He turned his head away from the humanoid shape closest to him. "The longer you go without light, you go mad. That's what you told me."

"True, but there's something else that happens when I'm in this form." A humanoid figure appeared right in front of him. Lee Seng swung the Vorpal Blade at it, only to hear flesh tearing. The humanoid figure dissipated, leaving a black ink substance on the blade. "This body." A fist slammed into Lee Seng's back, forcing him forward. Lee Seng steadied himself, turning to swing at Akio, only to meet another strange humanoid figure turning to liquid.

"That's all I'll give you. Try not to get spooked, kid." Another fist flew at him, hitting him square in the chest, sending Lee Seng backwards. Lee Seng flew straight into one of the holes in the course, landing with a loud thud on a floating wall. He grunted as he steadied himself. Fists flew at him, knocking Lee Seng left and right. A huge fist flew at Lee Seng. Akio was trying to end him before he could find the flag.

'Stop.' Lee Seng thought, raising his hand. The shadow fist came to an abrupt stop. Lee Seng pushed it backwards, watching it disappear into the void. He dropped to the ground, losing his step on the stairs. 'Body. The physical body… What does he mean by that? The madness is a clear sign of Akio's Negative, but he says its his body…'

"What do you mean by that?" Lee Seng whispered.

"Exactly what I said." Akio spoke behind him. Lee Seng felt hands grab him. Lee Seng instinctively flexed, pushing Akio away from him. He turned, only to see pure darkness.

'He's not there.' Lee Seng thought. He descended the stairs, slowly, trying to gather his surroundings with seismic sensing. Lee Seng could easily gather his surroundings and quickly make his way towards the edge of the platform, but sensing Akio nowhere, he decided to figure out where the flag was.

Lee Seng hit the ground of the room with ease. Akio had gone quiet and it was probably because he was done giving Lee Seng hints.

'I still don't like the way you try to help me when I'm doing anything with you.' Lee Seng thought. 'You were always like this.' Lee Seng searched for the flag, but felt nothing. 'I could've sworn it hit the ground hard. I guess I was wrong.' Lee Seng's right foot lifted, almost hitting the floor when something strange caught his attention. His foot hovered off the ground as Lee Seng blankly stared in front of him.

Kuyarami appeared out of the ground as Lee Seng swung his foot away. Akio came out of the ground as Lee Seng jumped away. Akio swung for Lee Seng's head, only to be met with Lee Seng blocking the attack with Vorpal Blade. Lee Seng's right hand flew outwards, releasing a blast of gravity at Akio. Akio flew backwards, disappearing into the energized darkness.

Lee Seng ran after Akio, sensing for him with his gravity. Akio had disappeared as he came. Lee Seng's head reeled with potential answers, only to be met with Kuyarami flying out of the shadows for Lee Seng. Lee Seng threw his right hand up, stopping the blade as Akio's foot flew out of the side. Lee Seng went flying as Akio grabbed Kuyarami and twirled it.

'Technique 254: Flower Blooms.' Akio vanished from thin sight, quickly appearing above Lee Seng as Kuyarami glinted with energy. He slashed at Lee Seng, who managed to block the initial attack with Vorpal Blade. The two energies pushed off against each other as Akio slammed his left hand down onto Lee Seng's chest.

Lee Seng crashed into the ground, watching Ako vanish into the thin air. He groaned in pain as a pinching feeling grew across his chest. Lee Seng stood up, pulling his shirt up to reveal a black flower on his chest.

'A black flower? What is this?' Lee Seng thought. He released his shirt as his eyes grew wide. A sword flew straight into Lee Seng's chest. Lee Seng swung at Akio with Vorpal Blade, watching him vanish from sight, leaving Kuyarami in Lee Seng. Lee Seng cursed as he forced Kuyarami out of his stomach. His blood spilled on the ground with the blade. He winced as the wound closed.

'How do I get rid of this darkness?' Lee Seng thought. 'How do I use Devouring Storm?'

"Thinking in the middle of battle like that is going to get you killed!" Akio grabbed Kuyarami and swung the blade at him. Lee Seng lifted Vorpal Blade up, blocking the attack.

'He's gotten stronger too.' Lee Seng observed. His muscles expanded as he pushed Akio away. Another gravity blast flew out, missing Akio as he vanished again. Akio reappeared, sending a flurry of attacks at Lee Seng. 'Akio has field advantage. I need to figure out what my Devouring Storm does.' Lee Seng blocked each attack with Vorpal Blade. Akio grunted as he tried to get another attack off on Lee Seng.

'He can infuse any weapon to block. I got to break through his defenses quick! Technique 104: Shadow Rush!' Akio pulled the darkness around him as he rushed forwards, slamming his sword into Lee Seng's. The shadow energy pushed forwards, knocking the Vorpal Blade out of his hand. 'He's open!'