Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 19: The Smoke Zodiack

"Oi oi, calm down a little won't you? You won't be doing this while I and my Dual Berettas are here." says the guy that recognized Yoso earlier, that judging his catalyst and fighting style...

"He is... an Authorania soldier..." mutters Keigo

 "I won't make a hole in your head if you tell me what happened with my associate over there..." says the gun wielder

"Frankly speaking... I don't know, nor I care," says Keigo that turned his gaze to him

"Ho? This is what synchronization means to you, Dinsfurd kids? Not even knowing the extent of the capabilities of your fellow Zodiacks is regrettable..."

"Huh?!" shouts Keigo

"Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Mark Light, the Zodiack of Gemini in Authorania!"

"An Authorania soldier... Moreover, he is a Zodiack?!" shouts Ryuuen that was preparing to strike once again

"Now... Show me something good, Dinsfurd Zodiacks!" shouts Mark, just before starting to shot everywhere with his catalyst.

--- Meanwhile, Sarus and Carrion, were having a little chat in some unknown place.

"You bastard... What did you do?!" asks Carrion

"World of Pitch Black is my original ability... From my cursed affinity that ended up being called one of the weakest possible affinities," explains Sarus

"Ho? So a small fry like you thinks you can keep me in place with this so-called 'weakest affinity' of yours?"

"We'll see... Want to explain to you the extent of this ability? I wouldn't mind..." says Sarus 

"Giving information to your opponent in the middle of a war? Aren't you a cocky one?"

"We'll see... I see your affinity is steel, so I know more or less what you are capable of, judging on the level you have achieved thus far," says Sarus

"Don't put me in the same pot with all the steel users over there... You might get crushed, kid!"

"Good grief... I guess you really are an unreasonable one, after all," says Sarus just before charging with his katana catalyst, straight to Carrion

"Useless! I knew you were a cocky kid, but to think you'd try to hit me with a sword! Are you in your right mind?"

"First special thing about my affinity... It is a good match with fire..." quietly explains Sarus after leaping behind Carrion.

"Smoke style: Smoke Cloud..."

 Cough Cough*

"Is this all you can do, kid?!" shouts Carrion

 Then through the smoke, Sarus approaches Carrion and says:

"As I told you... The affinity of smoke works well with fire... That's why I am a support type..." and saying this, Sarus takes out a lighter from his pocket and starts a small fire, that quickly envelops both of them.

"So hot... So this is what he was talking about... This smoke being inflammable might be something really troublesome for a steel user such as myself..." thinks Carrion

"But..." charging out of the smoke cloud, Carrion comes and delivers a strong blow to Sarus.

 Sarus has guarded just in time, but he couldn't deny the fact that he took some damage from that steel empowered attack. Carrion fiercely charged continuously towards Sarus, trying to attack him by any means, however, there was a pretty obvious gap in their speed, so Sarus always dodged backwards, leaving unscathed.

"Fight me like a man!" shouts Carrion

"Man? Didn't you just call me 'kid' like 3 times already?" says Sarus with a dumbfounded expression

 Then changing his expression from the normal, bored one he had always put on, into a serious one, Sarus told Carrion:

"You've lost this, steel user Carrion... You neglected the potential of 'Pitch Black World' and now you will find yourself into a troublesome situation..." says Sarus with a cold tone.

"What are you saying? What can a small fry like you that is even weak in this useless kingdom do to me, that I received training from lord Percival himself?"

"I am sorry... I couldn't save any of you, people that have fallen to the grace of the Black Cross... Sayonara!" says Sarus, just before turning off his main skill.

 Finding himself in the middle of Dinsfurd's troops that had come to defeat the Black Cross, Carrion realized the true danger he was actually in, as a steel user that didn't have any means to escape such sticky situations.

"Everyone! This is an order from the eleventh Zodiack...  kill him with all you've got..." and after letting out such orders, Sarus turned his back to Carrion and left, hearing from behind him the sounds of explosions, mainly caused by the fire users in the army that had come beforehand for the mission.

 "World of Pitch Black" is a skill that transports both the user and the targets the user wants to transport, to a parallel world, outside of the original one. And more so... Every step that you take in "World of Pitch Black"... is a step that you take in the real world... Carrion's reckless behaviour made him fall right into Sarus's trap.

"After all this time... I still detest my powers..." mutters Sarus while slowly walking towards the main battle that is waiting for all the possible help available.

 Ten years ago:

"Sarus, it's time for you to discover your true potential, and lead our family from now and onwards!" says a figure that Sarus recognized perfectly enough.

"Yes, father! I can't wait to shoulder the responsibility our ancestors did!" says Sarus, full of ambition after learning that he is the one that is going to lead the family Orion to the future.

"You already know the details, show us what you've got. Put enough power to be recognized as the true leader of the strongest Fire Affinity users in Dinsfurd!" says Sarus's father

 It was the same test as the one where you find what your affinity firstly is... Sarus was just 10 years old, the normal age to try and discover your affinity with the affinity test. However, things didn't work as expected...

"You trash!"

"You are not our son..."

"I am sorry brother, I am going to be the next leader of the Orion family!"

 All the harsh voices resounded within Sarus's mind, he didn't feel like everything was over, just because of the affinity he was bestowed with...

"Orion family my ass..." mutters Sarus, getting pumped up, ready to show his former family, what this world was truly about.

 He joined the military academy at the age of 12, finishing it at the age of 14, and then... He defeated the former number eleven Zodiack, taking his place at the age of 16. He never liked to stand out, so he didn't even choose to use his powers properly. He was strong enough with just his sword... And his strong mind made him a true dark horse of the Zodiacks, that only a few people were truly aware of.

 As for the Orion family... They desperately tried to bring Sarus back after coming to learn about all the accomplishments he's made... But all he did say when they met again was:

"Who are you...?" and then leaving, he left behind him one document that stated:

      "As of now, 02 July 2018, Sarus Orion gives up his name, thus now he will be known as, Sarus."

 Giving up on his name, just so he couldn't share it with the ones that abandoned him, was Sarus' resolve, and the best option he could've found, on the day of his 17th birthday.