Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 12: Infinite Shield

--- "Show me what you've got... Yoso!"

Even though he said that...

"I can't believe you lost, Kein!" says Shizuo laughing while pointing at Kein with his index finger

"Shut up."

"Yeah, Shizuo. It's not like he could've done anything in that situation. When they started to fight seriously, Kein's life force reserves depleted."

"Yeah..." says Kein just before remembering Yoso's plan he found out about in their match,

["It was a good fight, mister Kein. I am sorry I had to drive you in this position, but I knew that you have much more life force amount than me, so I exhausted you before showing off..."

"Due to Shimada's life force exhaustion, his inability to fight is decided. The winner of this fight is... Yoso Edroch!"]

"It was a good fight though!" says Yoso that just arrived in his living room, wearing a swimsuit with ducks on it.

"Yeah, you really grew a lot, Yoso. Don't get too pumped up since you won against a support type though."

"Su- support type?" asks Yoso dumbfounded

"Yes. Shimada Kein is a support type, with a pretty interesting support ability if I should say. However, there is no excuse for the fact that he lost. Remember that, even as a support type, you still are one of the strongest individuals of the kingdom." says Laure after sitting quietly for quite some time

"Sure... I'll do my best, mister "Stone General"," says Kein ironically

"Do you want to jump on the window?"

"No, sir..."

"It was a splendid fight, Yoso. However, don't expect to underestimate the future opponents in the future. One day, you'll lose just because of this mistake alone."

"Yes. I understand..."

"He is true about underestimating, but he shouldn't kill them either... If he had used that skill, "Blast Burn", I would've probably lost on the spot." thinks Kein while intently staring at Yoso

 Yoso might've realized that Kein was staring at him since he proceeded to ask him:

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing..."

"Okay! So, mister Laure! Who is my next opponent?! There are still eleven of them left! I'm all fired up!"

"As energetic as ever, I see. Your next fight was already arranged, and even though it's going to be an especially tough one, I couldn't find any other day more suited for it than... tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?! Alright! Who is my opponent?"

"The Scorpio Zodiack of Earth: Geoff Stinger"

"Oi! Wait a bit mister principal! That guy is a monster! Shouldn't Yoso fight the zodiacks in the order of power?!" interrupts Kein with Shouko and Shizuo backing up his argument.

 Geoff was one of the most well-known zodiacks in the kingdom, and also one of the strongest ones physically. His earth magic is even more potent than that of the principal's himself.

"That's precisely why... After giving it some thought, I reconsidered the idea of Yoso having to fight all the Zodiacks in order. So instead, I am choosing this option. If he can defeat Geoff Stinger tomorrow, he won't have to fight any of the zodiacks that are below him in power."

"But isn't this basically like...the majority? He is ranked 4th after all!"

"But if he loses, he will fight them all, moreover he will have to fight Geoff again later."

"This is not alright! If he had the option to use more elements against him this would've been a great idea... But Yoso has access only to three elements as of now, and two of those are at a heavy disadvantage against Rock! It will theoretically be a fight against two regular mages since Yoso's only option is the water magic."

"This is an advantage as of itself. Water is strong against earth after all."

"Yeah, mister Kein! Not to mention that after our fight, I learned how to use wind as well!"

"That's more useless than even fire in that fight!" shouts Shizuo after hearing this argument

"It will be alright. I made a promise with someone that I can't lose to anyone until I fight him again!"

 Everybody stared at Yoso with a questioned expression on their faces, only Saki that was carefully listening from the cough understanding the situation of Yoso's promise.

 And so, everybody went to their houses after a while, with Yoso thinking about the big fight tomorrow.

"Geoff Stinger...huh?"

 And just like this, he fell asleep...

Training grounds of the Dinsfurd Military Academy

"There is a lot of people here, but if I have to say, Kein had many more spectators," says Yoso while looking around him.

  Geoff had yet to come to the battlefield, while the designated match time was about to come. And just before the last second until that time, an imposing presence made its way in the middle of the field.

"Wow, you are so punctual! Just in time!" exclaims Yoso, as carefree as ever.

"So you are Edroch's kid... Pathetic."

"Hmm?"

"When I heard that he got a kid, moreover that he wanted me to actually fight him, I thought that any resemblance could be seen. But you are looking like some regular boy of your age, not interesting at all..."

"Well, I am sorry I couldn't meet your expectations. I am just his adopted son after all."

 When talking about physical appearance, Yoso couldn't compare to the well-built bodies of Laure or Geoff. They were way taller and their musculature made them look like actual gorillas compared to Yoso.

"Adopted son, I see. Well, hope you can entertain me for more than a minute. I have a lot of missions to do nowadays after all."

"Pleased to fight you, I will give you the fight of your life! Mister Stinger!"

"Let the training battle between Geoff Stinger and Yoso Edroch, start!"

 After this call, Yoso took some distance from Stinger and used his thunder affinity from the get-go to move around him at high speed. Earth affinity was usually stronger in close range combat, so Yoso was trying to find a good opening while keeping his distance from Geoff. This was the only way his most potent affinity could help him in this fight.

 However, Geoff didn't even take a step from that one place he was standing at the start of the battle.

"I have to give you this, you are a fast one, kid!"

"Well, thanks. I am really proud of it."

"No matter how I look at this, I can't see any way for Yoso to win this fight," says Kein from the side of the battlefield

"He won't make the first move huh?" In that case, I should take the lead..." thinks Yoso, just before approaching Geoff with his incredible thunder speed.

"Thunder Element: 1000 volts s***h!"

 Even though his sword made contact, the attack was nullified. It wasn't the same magic that Laure used against Yoso, but it wasn't too far off. He covered his entire back with a stone shield that not only protected him from the hit but was also covered with long rock spikes that hurt Yoso as he approached carelessly.

"You've got to be kidding me, Laure. Did you make a thunder affinity kid fight me? Did you lose your judgment along with old age?" says Geoff

"I see... I can't take this fight too easily after all," says Yoso

"Huh? Is there something wrong with you kid? Why is your hair like a Christmas tree?"

"No reason, but if you really want to find out... be prepared!"

 After changing his affinity to fire, he used one of his skills in the large area around Geoff.

"Fire Style: Extending fire pillars!"

 With this call, Yoso made four fire pillars go up to the sky around Geoff, but that wasn't the only thing...

"Wind control" Fire and Wind combination skill: Four Fire Snakes!"

 For the first time, his hair and eyes changed colour to light green, a colour never seen before.

 The four pillars of fire looked like they were alive, moving all around Geoff, and striking him like some whips from up the sky. The atmosphere grew hotter in an instant.

 However, Geoff seemed unaffected by this attack, his earth shield covering his entire body, and defending him from the fire whips.

 Then jumping out of the trap of fire, he made his way towards Yoso, with his rock spikes close to him, ready to pierce any opponent.

"As I'd let you!" says Yoso after changing his affinity once again into thunder. 

 His decision was pretty weird though, even though he was faster than Geoff by a dozen times, the way he chose to run was exactly into the middle of the pillars of fire he created.

"That kid... is he nuts?!" says Geoff, just before running back towards Yoso

 Getting inside the fire trap, Geoff being mostly immune by it, saw a shadow in the middle of the firestorm. A blue light caught his eye, and then he realized the danger he was in.

"Water style: Floor - Level 1..."

 Using this weak water skill, Yoso's aim was not to hurt Geoff. The fire and water collided, and many vapours filled the air, making the terrain look heaven-like, filled with vapour clouds.

"This kid... Was this his plan? Where is he?!"

"Right here..."

"Coming right to me when you have the upper hand?"

"It's not like I can't run away from you."

"Big words from someone with the life force that is just about to end!

"Yeah, you are true. I changed my affinity way too many times in this fight. I am exhausted, however, I can't let you underestimate me anymore. So even though the others might not like it. I will use a skill that I shouldn't have used... Feel free to regret the fact that you will lose to me after using 0 to no life force on my water affinity whatsoever."

"How do you plan to defeat me without water magic?!"

"The answer is in the air... and in my next skill. Good luck, Geoff Stinger of the Infinite Shield. Fire Original Skill: Blast Burn-Blue"

And so, the fight came to a consensus. The combination of the heat coming from Blast Burn-Blue and the vapours that weakened Geoff's shield was probably enough to end the life of many regular earth users. Even though this might not be enough to kill someone with the nickname of "Infinite Shield", the results were already well-known by this point...

"Neither of the fighters can fight anymore... I hereby declare this fight between Geoff Stinger and Yoso Edroch... a draw!"

"I see... Good job kid..." mutters Kein while slowly taking some distance from the battlefield.