Dyne’s words were soft-spoken and calm. But Songi had never heard of such an arrogant challenge.
He tried to maintain his calm position, but his heart was raging.
“So what do you say, Red-haired man? Want me to paint your face red too?” Dyne laughed.
Tetsu glanced at Dyne with a strange expression.
“Meta… Is Master Dyne affected by the Mist?” Vahn asked.
“I don’t know… But he wouldn’t do this without reason. Remember what Lord Dyne told us. He might know something that we don’t know. Haven’t you noticed it? Concentrate on your soul. The Soul of this Monk feels…”
“Dark. I know. He isn’t even hiding it. It’s very strange for a Monk.” Vahn added.
“Exactly. I doubt Tetsu noticed this. We can only notice it because we are two and one at the same time. Your increase in soul cultivation also increases mine. We are, in effect, doubly more skilled than Tetsu in this regard. But Lord Dyne must have noticed something. It’s very possible that this man, Songi is the traitor that Lord Dyne spoke of.”
Vahn nodded and continued to observe Songi.
Songi forced himself to keep quiet. He was angry, but it was very unbecoming of a Monk to reply towards an elected Elder.
“How about this… If you fight me and win, you get to become Patriarch. I never really bothered about titles anyway. I could be some Elder-level guy. After all, in these times, strength is necessary.” Dyne smirked.
Songi’s expression changed as he heard this.
“Patriarch!” Zopu cried out.
“Master Zopu. This is my first order as Patriarch. We need strength to guide us. If someone else has proven to be stronger than me in the aspect of the battle, I would gladly step aside.” Dyne smiled.
“Patriarch. Forgive my presumptuousness. But such a title is given by honor, not through might!” Gala added.
“I need to see strength, for we have a mission to fulfill after all. You see, the Basilisk has attacked several villagers. Vahn was not the only one who was petrified. Somewhere south of here, near the river, there are several hunters. I believe that they tried to find Vahn when he ran away to get Drake Water. We plan to save them. And in order to do that, I need to head to the Genesis Tree and gather the tree sap, which we believe could cure this soul-petrifying attack. I plan to head there and gather it, and I will need strong men.”
“Patriarch. There is no need for you to go! I can-”
“I have to.” Dyne interrupted.
“I need to see the Genesis Tree as well. The Genesis Trees are important Soul cultivation resources. My fear is that the Mist may poison the Tree. The Mist is, after all, a form of evil Soul energy. So if Songi proves himself to be stronger than me, he can take the role of Patriarch, and I will serve him. If someone is stronger than me, he should naturally take the lead of such a risky mission.”
“Then I humbly challenge Patriarch!” Songi bowed and hid his evil smile.
Zopu and Kin glanced at each other and then nodded.
“Very well. As Patriarch wish. We will use this to reform the Monastery ranks. Then, Patriarch and Legacy Disciple Songi. Go ahead and face each other. You may start anytime.” Zopu then retreated, and the many monks and various onlookers also retreated.
“After you, Patriarch.” Songi motioned as he took a defensive stance.
“Alright.” Dyne spun Grim in an expert maneuver, and Grim suddenly released two fireballs.
BOOM! BOOM!
The first fireball was blocked by Songi, who quickly released his Spirt arts to block it but was knocked back by the second fireball.
The Monks were stunned at Dyne’s dirty fight opening that they had their mouths wide open.
“Wait! You’re a Biron Monk! You can’t rely on a Seru?”
“Says who? I’m the Patriarch. I literally changed the rules when I showed you Grim!” Dyne complained.
Songi wanted to rebut, but he couldn’t find the words to counter Dyne.
“But isn’t it unfair, Patriarch? You have a weapon, and you are currently bonded with a Gimard! That will give you an increase in strength! Shouldn’t this battle be one that does not use the Seru to increase your strength? Shouldn’t this battle be one of Soul Cultivation?”
Dyne was silent, but his eyes revealed a grumbling look.
“Alright, fine.” Dyne threw Grim, which spun all the way to the back and landed near Vahn.
“Happy? Now it’s a Soul Cultivation fight! Are you ready?” Dyne asked.
“Yes!” Songi bowed and resumed his battle stance.
Songi gave Dyne one look and scoffed at his stance. His position was so full of openings.
“Your battle stance is rather… eccentric, Patriarch.”
“Mine? Yours is much worse! You left your back wide open!” Dyne complained.
“My back is well-”
SLAM!
Songi was sent flying as a powerful force rammed him from behind.
“WHO DID THAT?!” Songi cursed as he stood up
It was the Gimard, Grim. It had reverted back from its scythe form and attacked Songi in its Gimard form.
The Monks were covering their mouths in shock. That attack was just plain evil.
“WHY?!” Songi shouted angrily.
“What do you mean why? You said that this is a contest of Soul Cultivation! That Gimard is no longer attached to my body and is therefore not giving me the extra strength you were talking about. Which, by the way, wasn’t even real! Gimards don't give me strength because I did not fully bond with them! My soul cultivation simply reached a point that I can control that Gimard from here. Have you ever seen someone control a Seru without being connected to it?” Dyne challenged.
“He is right…” One of the non-monk residents voiced out.
“Yeah. It’s amazing! He controls the Gimard! It’s like it’s his pet!”
“That’s soul cultivation? Amazing! I can’t wait to become a Biron Monk!” One of the kids cheered.
Songi was boiling red but couldn’t find a way to argue with Dyne.
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“But it’s still a Seru! No Serus!”
“So I can’t use Grim in any way whatsoever?” Dyne asked again.
“YES! NO SERUS!” Songi shouted angrily.
“Songi! That is still your Patriarch!” Gala reminded sternly.
Songi wanted to punch Gala in his anger. The Patriarch had just launched several insidious attacks.
“You should have said so! Fine! No Serus! Grim, Go back and sit next to Vahn.” Dyne ordered.
Grim obediently went next to Vahn and sat down and didn’t even use its ability to hover.
“Alright. Grim is back there. Sheesh. For a monk, you sure are scared of a Gimard!” Dyne grumbled.
Songi was gnashing his teeth.
“Take care, Patriarch! I will attack you this time!” Songi warned.
Dyne immediately reached out both his hands, and bright yellow energy gathered in his palms. Using his Brimstone heart, Dyne gathered the floating fire energy and harnessed it in his palms. He then did a domineering pose with his palms on fire.
The Monks were stunned at what they saw.
Songi, who had already begun to charge, stopped halfway as he was shocked by the sudden appearance of the fire.
“Be careful! Soul attack coming at you!” Dyne warned.
SMASH!
Songi was struck once again.
Songi was sent flying and fell flat on his face.
He was so confused. He didn’t know where the attack came from. He looked over at Dyne and could see that he didn’t move.
Songi glanced back to his former position and found a large green slime standing where he once was. It was Calamity. Calamity did its grievous and powerful tackle that could even throw off a Zenoir.
Just when the Monks thought that their mouths couldn’t open any wider, Dyne’s attack caused them to stretch their jaws like an anaconda eating something twice its size.
“WHAT? WHY? WHY? YOU’RE-YOU’RE CHEATING!” Songi accused angrily.
“Cheating? What do you mean?”
“WHAT 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN?' THE SLIME!”
“Yeah. You said no Serus. Calamity isn’t a Seru. Are you dumb?” Dyne frowned.
“NO! YOU SAID SOUL ATTACK! YOU SAID SOUL CULTIVATION! WE AGREED!”
“How do you think I am controlling Calamity?” Dyne frowned.
“Zopu give me a piece of paper,” Dyne asked.
Zopu was confused but handed Dyne a scroll.
Dyne took one of the primitive writing tools nearby and began to write and draw something.
The crowd began to murmur, and even Songi was confused at what Dyne was doing.
After drawing it, he gave it back to Zopu.
“Alright. Zopu. You judge and see what I wrote. See those blanks? Fill up any command you want. But don’t say it out loud.” Dyne explained.
Zopu looked at the scroll, and his eyes widened in shock. But he immediately began to write certain words in the scroll.
Dyne glanced at it and nodded.
Suddenly, Calamity divided into three. One rushed towards where Vahn was and began to carry him. The other went for a nearby child and carried him. The child was in glee as he happily hopped aboard the Slime.
The third Slime turned into a large ball and rolled towards Dyne and circled around him three times.
The two Slimes moved towards Zopy and dropped Vahn and the child and rushed back.
Dyne gathered the Spirit on his legs and kicked the ground, which sent him flying high up the air.
Dyne somersaulted and fell with his back facing the floor.
The Slime moved perfectly and formed a bed as it connected with the other Slimes.
Dyne had a pose that looked as if he was asking to be painted like a French girl as he landed softly on Calamity.
“Perfect! Absolutely perfect!” Zopu revealed the scroll, and it detailed the actions of what Calamity just did. And everything that Calamity did was written on paper.
Zopu filled in which characters the two slimes would pick up. And Zopu wrote Vahn and described the child as Dyne did not know the child's name.
The Monks marveled at that sight. Dyne gave off very complex orders and even managed to perform a very entertaining act without saying a word! It would be impossible to do so.
"Soul Cultivation!" The Monks muttered.
"He could send his soul thoughts to a monster!" Kin was shocked. Only he could send telepathic messages. But how did Dyne managed to do that?
“This is Soul Cultivation.” Dyne voice echoed across the hallway. Calamity began to push Dyne up and made Dyne slowly rise like a Vampire rising from a coffin.
"Are you going to keep complaining? If so, just admit defeat. You couldn't even protect your back from an attack. What a disgrace." Dyne shook his head.