It had been only a few days since the news caught her that Linnea had disappeared from Karate Island. Although it was not that much of a surprise, considering how free-spirited pirates tended to be, but it was clear that the ranger's absence had left some impact on Elise. While it was already past dawn, there was no sight of the martial arts student within the training hall. It wouldn't have come as a surprise to Master Ryuujin, in the end despite being on her way to becoming a martial arts master, Elise was still young of mind, and the feeling she would have experienced right now... was without a doubt loneliness. The master's assumptions had been correct, for Elise had been seated on top of the large gate leading into the dojo, her legs pulled upwards while she wrapped her arms around them, pulling her body closer while she merely rested her chin on her knees, her gaze not wavering from the road for even a moment.

"I guess she already left South Blue by now..."

It was a rather painful feeling, her heart felt heavy and for some reason she had to use all her willpower to fight back the tears of frustration. Was this how it felt like when one was abandoned? It did feel that way to her, especially when that departure came without a letter or a message.


"Your eyes... they were akin to your mother's when she trained at the dojo, as if she was missing something."

Elise briefly raised her gaze, noticing that her master was seated beside her, a sympathetic smile on his lips. Her mother... She had been a member of this dojo at some point, having trained under the previous master of the Ryuujin no budo. However, the question that plagued her mind still surfaced verbally.

"Why Master... Why did she abandon me?"

The elderly master's smile seemed to disappear for a more neutral look, his gaze turning toward the road up ahead.

"Is that how you perceived her decision?"

Elise nodded her head firmly, and while her expression might had been one of anger and frustration, her eyes clearly shown a clear sense of sorrow and loneliness.

"Then, would you have left the island without finishing your training? Your friend didn't abandon you Elise, she shouldered the pain of leaving you behind without a farewell, so that you could become strong enough to join her on her adventures someday. In the end she knew how important your training was for you. So instead of agonizing over her departure, you should be training yourself so that you can catch up with her!"

The master's explanation did make sense, in the end she doubted Linnea was the type to disappear without a good reason, and although it did hurt her feelings, it had given her another reason for finishing her training at the dojo.

"How about you take a walk around the island Elise? Clear your mind a little, and then go back to training."

The young woman nodded her head lightly, rising onto her feet as she jumped off the gate, and with a short wave of her hand descended along the road, hoping to figure out the answers she sought during her walk...

It was rather difficult for Elise to properly place her emotions currently. Perhaps she was figuratively lost within a sea of them, a sea that had submerged her. Certainly, at one side she was upset at the fact Linnea had seemingly abandoned her, yet at the same time... she could understand the girl's reasoning. Her training on Karate Island wasn't done yet, and she was quite certain that if she followed Linnea on her journey, she would most certainly have become a burden. Was this what it meant to be weak? It was a thought that genuinely frustrated Elise. Was the only path to traverse, a long-winded path of training in order to hone her body and mind?

As she thought those words while wandering along a grassy field a sudden spell of dizziness hit her. It clearly caught her by surprise, for she staggered, and after a moment last her balance to collapse onto the grass. It took the young warrior only a moment to realize something had changed, her visage seemingly turned a shade of crimson, as if someone had covered her eyes with a pair of glasses that caused her to see the world in a red tint. A dream perhaps? It might had been, but the moment she heard a familiar voice resound from behind her Elise couldn't help but change her opinion of the situation.

"There is another path to travel, but to tell you about it right now, would be a bit boring."

The voice spoke with a hint of mischief, and when Elise's gaze settled down onto the person who addressed her, she was pretty confident that she had gone crazy. The person in question was quite familiar to her, something that was difficult to be otherwise, for the individual looked like a mirror image of her, if not for the dragon-like features that blend with her appearance. Those powerful wings that beat lightly, a gust of air brushing against her body with ever beating, that tough armor-like carapace that covered her body, and those lethal claws...

"The will of V again?"

It was to be expected, in the end she had anticipated that it wasn't the last time she saw that entity. She was still slightly confused at the nature of this entity, but the fact that a power had a will of its own was worrisome on its own already.

"I doubt you'd be able to show me anything my master wouldn't be able to show."

Elise's comment caused an amused giggle to escape from the dragon girl, and while warily watching her approach, Elise couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued by the words spoken moments later.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that~ I could show you so much more than that old geezer would. If only you gave me that opportunity."

However, it seemed the talk for idle chatter had run out, for the dragon girl's gaze turned sideways, a smirk appearing on her lips as she disappeared from view, shortly afterwards followed by the recovery of Elise's visage to its normal condition. It seemed the Will of V had retreated for the time being, and at a good time for the martial arts warrior spotted a group of cloaked figures had spotted her, and judging from the fact they were charging up at her they were up to no good!

----
Incoming!

Wave 1: 4 T0 opponents

It was not unheard of for an overeager martial artist to challenge someone without any warning, in the end this was the Karate Island. However, it was an entirely different scenario when there was such a strong sense of killing intent coming from those people. No, this wasn't going to be a good old sparring match, those people were out to kill her without any provocation!

The first one to arrive had attempted to launch a punch at her, a motion Elise could predict easily enough, and while she stepped sideways, raising one leg upwards during the motion, she prepared to retaliate. It was a quick attack, a powerful kick in the stomach of the cloaked warrior who gasped for air as he was send reeling backwards on the ground. However, by the time he was down a second one had already arrived, this one seemingly taking a balanced approach of offense and defense, for while he had started with a swift kick that Elise nimbly avoided by using some backwards steps, the punch she had launched toward the man had been deftly blocked, and the two were locked in a brief back and forth exchange of blows where neither one earned a solid strike.

"Che... to think I'd have to use one of the Ryuujin's moves against those guys..."

Grumbling in annoyance Elise stepped closer, just in time to grapple her opponent's arm and twist it downwards, the sheer pressure she used in the motion causing the man's entire body to lose its balance, and when a knee-strike followed to his face, it was no question that he was done for.

It was odd, but despite the fact those enemies were fairly easy, Elise did notice her breathing had gotten a bit faster. Was she already getting exhausted? The thought alone already angered her, and when the remaining two cloaked strangers approached her, Elise decided that this time she would take the initiative. It was a swift and nimble movement, almost unpredictable as she sped into a charge that made it look like one moment she had been approaching, and the other moment she had been right between the two warriors. It clearly had caught them off-guard, and the timing was perfect for Elise to allow one of her hands to punch forwards, the palm of it striking the man's chest, and she knew all too well that the force behind her attack would have been enough to send him reeling backwards. However, the other warrior had already been given a chance, seemingly attempting to ambush her by raising both his arms above her, forming a sledgehammer-like pose with his arms in an attempt to blow them down upon her.

Unfortunately for him Elise had not forgotten about his presence, for the moment his arms swung towards she lifted her own upwards, her hands grasping his wrists and before he could complete the attack, she had tossed him over her shoulder, straight into the staggering ally of him that was on the other side, making both collapse onto the ground with a heavy thud.

"Heh, so this is the power of the Ryuujin's students? I guess we shouldn't have left this task to weaklings..."

Looking up toward the direction of the voice, Elise spotted 3 more figures having concealed themselves amidst the trees, each of them slowly revealing their presence... What was it with people targeting her today?!

3 of them, 3 enemies and yet she felt there was something different about them. She didn't knew for sure what it was, but it was clear they carried themselves with a confidence that the earlier men didn't, and something told her... that those guys were dangerous. However, it was not the Ryuujin's way to back down in fear, she was a dragon, not a bunny! Her lips curving up into a smirk Elise rushed forwards, seemingly intending to take them down with a few basic attacks, but she was rather quick to realize she had underestimated her opponents. The first guy easily dodged her jab, his hands locking her own in a grapple, and before she could break free the second guy had kicked her flank, causing a pained gasp to escape from her lips.

She tried desperately to break free, but the man's grip was too much, to the point her wrists started to hurt from the defiant reaction she gave. However, what would follow was the figurative killing blow. The man made a swift motion with his other hand, and oddly enough even without his hand ever reaching her, she felt a sharp blow in her stomach make her recoil backwards, seemingly being released from his grip while the third enemy revealed himself. Having jumped over his companion the outstretched kick that was made, landed cleanly against the martial artist her chest, but the blow came with such force she felt her body being pushed straight into the ground, a small tremor beneath her, and the sharp pain across her entire body making it evident she was not dealing with a normal kick. Despite the soundless cry she made Elise couldn't even muster the strength to speak, and her attempt to raise her body upwards was only met with a feeble twitch of her arms.


"Leave her be, she won't be of any danger to our plans. She isn't even worthy of being called a true Ryuujin."

The man's words stung, much harsher than he had likely imagined. Hearing the three of them slowly walk away from her caused the young woman to realize she wasn't a threat at all. She was weak, and it was for that reason she couldn't be at Linnea's side. She was weak, and for that reason her father and her beloved family had perished during the slave rebellion. And now she was about to lose her master and fellow students...

"I hate it..."

It was only a soft whisper, but she could feel something. A pain that was different than the one her injuries caused. She hated being weak, to be unable to obtain and protect the things she loved and desired.

"That's right... embrace your hatred. let it fuel your desire for power"

The voice of the Will of Violence resounded in her ears, but Elise couldn't care anymore. She had made a decision. Slowly rising onto her feet, a cough accompanied with a small sweep of the blood stains from the corner of her mouth.

"To obtain what I desire... to protect what I love... I will crush EVERYTHING IN MY PATH!"

It was almost a Berserker-like howl, but the sudden burst of energy that came from Elise was enough to catch the nearest cloaked man off-guard, her hand violently pressed into the man's back.

"PALM OF DESTRUCTION!"

The shout was accompanied by a painful snap in the palm of her hand, but it seemed like something serious happened, for the man was send flying several meters into the air, crashing onto the ground with a painfully loud thud, while the two looked with a look of disbelief... for the grass beneath their fallen companion became stained in blood.

"I won't... I won't lose! Not until I get my revenge, nor until I find her again! I CAN'T DIE HERE!"

It truly seemed like she had fallen into a state of madness judging from the glint in her eyes.


"Tell the others to start the siege, quickly! before this woman ruins our entire plan!"

One of the surviving men ran into the direction of the Ryuujin dojo, while the remaining one stood defiantly before Elise... or what might had been left of the girl that had once carried that name, for now it seemed she had become someone else... someone much more violent and darker... The Will of V

It didn't take long for the battle to erupt into its earnest, and yet to call it a simple fight would have been an understatement. This was a battle where both opponents clearly were out to kill each other. Elise was the first to take initiative, but she acted in a way the man had not expected. He had thought she would try to grapple him, in the end she had used mostly grapples and defensive movements before, but this time she was acting entirely different. Rushing in a beeline toward the man Elise raised her fist into the air, a forwards swing being made, but the speed and strength that accompanied the punch was unlike the type she shown before.

The sheer strength of it made the man stagger from the impact, and she soon followed it with a second punch to his stomach. However, despite the pained groan the man made he smashed his head against her own, the attack making Elise stagger backwards from the recoil while he returned the favor, one punch aimed at her face, a rather nasty hit to her cheek followed be a punch to her stomach, but the second punch was deflected, the arm that coiled around his and pulled forwards sending the man reeling to the ground as she straddled his waist, her fist raised into the air. A flurry of punches followed, enough to make the man briefly get stunned from the overwhelming pain as his face got hit repeatedly, but it was what followed that would decide the battle. A sudden metallic click followed as the man raised his arm, seemingly hoping to surprise her.

A metal blade had appeared from under the man's coat, seemingly hoping to ambush her and kill her with a single well-aimed stab,

"Die Bitch!"

but Elise hand narrowly been able to raise her hand, feeling the edge of the blade slide into the palm of her hand, and yet despite the pain and desire to cry out she merely narrowed her eyes into a glare, forcing her hand downwards. It paused for only a moment, but finally she pushed the man's arm downwards, making the blade slide down to his own throat, to a disastrous effect.

Although the screams followed Elise remained unshaken in her determination, the blade digging in deeper as the blood splatters hit her in the face and the rest of her body, till finally the man's body went limp and he had clearly died.

Her breathing was ragged, and in the distance she heard several shouts, but a familiar voice reached her ears again

"Ah, nothing more fun than to get messy with blood~"

However, Elise ignored her, slowly climbing off the corpse as she started to stagger her way homewards.

"Got to... got to warn master..."

The voice resounded in her ears again, seemingly genuinely surprised.

"Ooy, ooy, ooy, you just killed a guy, got DRENCHED in his blood and you're more worried about checking on an old dude? Ugg nevermind...."

She had to... reach them at all costs.

----
One of the thugs was able to escape to warn the enemies to begin the siege!