Kota: Right, now let's begin!

He says this and smiles.

--- Chapter 79 ---

Kota: We will start with some simple sparring! You and Geno will throw down for a little while.

Red: Alright! Something I'm good at!

He looks at Geno.

Red: No hard feeling ok?

Geno: Right, no hard feelings.

They stand across from each other. Kota gives them a thumbs up.

Kota: GO!

Reds insignia advances down his arm, separating from it, and forms his dragon blade. And he goes running in. Genos' eyes look over to Kota, and Kota nods. Geno sighs and unbuttons his shirt. He takes it off, a symbol branded on his back. A blue insignia in the shape of a helmet. It begins to glow.

Geno: Insignia, complete embodiment. AQUA KAISER!

The insignia rockets out his back and curls around, forming into a heavy duty set of armor. Red has a face of shock as he stabs into it. The blade clangs off the armor, leaving not even a scratch behind. In the palm of the armor, the symbol glows, and blooms into a giant greatsword. He lifts it above his head, and swiftly swings it down, stopping right before Reds neck.

Kota: Geno is the winner haha.

Red: What the hell was that?! That wasn't sparring! That was just me being a human punching bag!

Kota: True, I just wanted to gauge your strength, and to show you a glimpse of the strength you can have.

Red: That's a crappy way to do that.

Kota: True, well, how about we get started.

Red: I guess.

Kota: Ok, first we're going to start with a little verbal lesson.

Red: You gotta be kidding me.

Kota: Do you wanna get strong or not!

Red: Fine fine.

Kota: Good, now, let me begin. An insignia is a powerful tool in some mages arsenal. Insignias are extremely rare, and those who get them should feel lucky. Within an Insignia, is a spirit, or consciousness connected with your insignia. They take the form of the monster your insignia represents.

Red: Oh, so you're saying there's a Dragon inside of me?!

Kota: Well, kinda. It's more of your insignia, then you. And the way you're fighting, it seems you're just controlling your insignia to draw a sword for you, or making things in general.

Red: Is that bad?

Kota: No, it's better than nothing, it's just there's far greater things you can use.

Red: I see.

Kota: Such as the move Geno used, complete embodiment. It surrounds you and gives you the characteristics of the monsters.

Red: Oh wow, so I can become a dragon?!

Kota: Kinda.

Geno: The repetition in this conversation is alarming.

Kota: Ahehe. Well, if you get it that well, you gain quite a bit of its characteristics. Your skin may get scales that act like armor, breath fire, stuff like that.

Red: Wow! When do we start?!

Kota: Well let me finish first. There are many paths an insignia user can take. Beast, weapon, modes, saint, well you don't need to know saint, haha, but yeah that's the basics. There's a lot more, but we are just doing the basics.

Red: Oh, ok.

Kota: Well, what do you want to start off with?

Red: Definitely the one that makes me dragon-like!

Kota: Thought so, then let's begin. Beast path is a very difficult mode. One must become in sync with their insignia, sharing its features with themselves.

Red: Oh… how do I do that?

Kota: Here, focus on your insignia, and close your eyes.

Kota walks up and places his hand on Reds back, touching the glowing insignia.

Kota: Now, feel its heat, and focus on nothing but it.

Kotas voice tapers out as all the sound around him goes silent. He opens his eyes, and he is in a pure black room.

Red: H-hello!

Some of the black wisps around and he sees almost a version of himself, but with Red eyes walks from the shadows.

Red: Are you my insignia?

Wrath: Not quite.

Red: What do you mean?

Wrath: It’s odd seeing you like this.

Red: Like what?

Wrath: Well, here. Facing me yourself.

Red: Wait, don't tell me. Your…

Wrath: Ding ding ding! The guy you turn to when you get a little, tilted.

Red: You!

Wrath: Now, calm down, you're the one who wanted to see me.

Red: Fine, I don't exactly know why I'm here. I’m trying to become in sync for this beast mode.

Wrath: I see, well, I can help with that.

Red: I don't trust you. At all.

Wrath: Well, that's a shame. I would help you out, since we share a body, but if you don't want it.

Red: There’s strings attached. I can just tell with someone like you.

Wrath: Ouch, that stings a little. Thinking so low of me.

Red: Can you blame me?

Wrath: Fair enough. Here, how about this. I’ll help you out, with no personal gain, or strings attached.

Red: … I still don't trust you.

Wrath: sigh. Come on, I promise I won't. Scouts honor.

He says putting three fingers up.

Red: … Fine.

Wrath: Good, no, great! Glad we see eye to eye.

Wrath begins to walk in, hand extended to shake. Red looks at the hand, and extends his own. As their hands grew closer, their vision began to be shared. Through his left eye, it was his own, and the right eye he saw through wraths. And right before their hands connected, behind Red emerged the head of a dragon, with eyes glowing Red. It roared a ferocious roar, causing Wrath to jump back. Their vision separates, and red turns quickly, but no dragon is present. He looks back at Wrath, who is walking back into the shadows.

Wrath: Damn thing, always ruining my fun.

The shadow curls around him, and he vanishes. Red closes his eyes and comes back to his senses. He looks at Kota. Kota has an unsatisfied look on his face.

Kota: Odd.