Killer Technique

Suggested Audio Secret Garden

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Alright, Tia Allen looses a sigh, leading his daughter into the central garden I ought to show you at least the basics!

The basics of what...? Tia questions

To Tia's surprise, a full-sized manaquin constructed of an unfamiliar material waits for them in the garden. She watches as her father places a small elemental crystal into its chest, diagrams of major muscles and organs appearing across its surface. These patterns give off a dull glow. Allen looses a deep sigh as he places a hand on its familiar shoulder.

My techniques! Allen claims in a popping tone There are more effective ways of using Beranok's Aura than just tossing lightning around wildly!

Fine... Tia mumbles as her face heats up, her pout drawing out a laugh from her father

It's easy to run yourself out of energy too quickly while using your aura haphazardly, even for you Allen explains But if you focus on accuracy and precision, not only will you be more effective but you'll likely outlast your opponent!

How do you zap someone "precisely"? Tia answers with a measure of sass

Small charges targeting specific muscles or organs Allen responds, pointing to different diagrams on the mannequin as he explains Just enough to freeze up or contract muscles or to impede or manipulate their nervous system. This can drastically throw off or even paralyze an opponent, leaving them open to attack or worse. This is especially dangerous for aerial opponents if you can lock up their wings.

Wait, how does zapping muscles... um... Tia questions, confused

She tilts her head at her father, not grasping the basis of the technique. Allen waves her over.

Change into another form Allen instructs and, as she takes up her birth form, his hand glows yellow

Allen gestures with two fingers, touching them to Tia's arm. As his fingers connect, Tia's bicep contracts on its own and tingles from the gentle current. He touches her shoulder as well, furthering his point.

Whoa! Tia gasps, amazed by his ability to affect her movements without hurting her in the process I definitely gotta learn that one!

When you get the hang of it Allen continues, Tia flexing her arm This technique lets you alter your opponent's movements and uses very little energy. Though, it's important to remember extended or excessive shocks can damage and even tear muscles and cause serious burns. But with practice, you can also project it.

Allen gestures with the same two finger motion, pointing to the other side of the garden. Once locked on with his keen yellow eyes, electricity connects very briefly to a flower. Tia looks with her own feline eyes, zooming in to see a dead bee below the flower while the bloom itself is untouched.

What!! Tia exclaims, gesturing with shock

Allen beams with pride, quickly followed by laughter as she gapes

Flight is a versatile tool Allen reasons, a tinge of amusement still sneaking into his tone But our eyes are one of our strongest assets, capable of lethally honing our precision. And while it can be fun to walk around fully manifested, opponents often underestimate you if you conceal your form and manifest only what you need! to further his point, Allen manifests just his yellow hands and eyes I've... defeated many opponents with just this.

You mean... Tia responds slowly Killed, don't you?

Allen impulsively grimaces and sighs, feeling the urge to craft a less ugly lie for his daughter. He wants to shield her from the ugliness of his past yet he knows this isn't what she needs anymore. He chokes down his protective urges, knowing Tia will face the same gruesome reality very soon.

...Yes Allen husks reluctantly

He sits on the fountain's edge and invites her over, patting its surface. Tia settles next to him and listens attentively.

I'm sorry I didn't train you sooner. Allen states plainly, no evasiveness or cheery facade--he wears his heart on his sleeve I had hoped you would never need any of this.

I know, dad Tia states sympathetically I'm sorry I wasted so much of our time being angry.

What I wouldn't give for more time...! Allen bemoans, wrapping an arm around her shoulder You're going to need it to master these techniques.

How long did it take you? Tia prods and Allen's face goes taut

Longer than you've lived yet Allen admits, Tia blinking in astonishment And I've got one more for you. But... this isn't something you can practice ordinarily.

Why not...? Tia questions slowly

Allen rises and approaches the mannequin with a grim expression. He taps its chest.

This is my strongest technique. I developed it myself. Allen narrates grimly, his voice devoid of life As I demonstrated, you only need to manifest your eyes and hands. After years of... practice... I learned a human heartbeat follows a specific rhythm. If you can interrupt that rhythm at just the right moment... he places his palm over the chest of the mannequin Their heart will stop.

Tia's eyes widen, realizing his meaning suddenly. When Allen glances back to her, her face shows a mixture of uncertainty and discomfort. He sighs, closing his eyes and knitting his brows.

This is an assassination technique Allen drones plainly If you get it right, its a low energy tool to defeat almost any opponent. But without enchantments like these, you can only practice this on live targets. Failure will leave you vulnerable. If you find yourself in this position, I suggest a paralyzing charge, an even more powerful discharge in a pinch or retreating altogether!

But Tia speaks with hesitation H-how do you even know when to...?

Allen gestures to his own neck, exposing his jugular to her.

Watch for my pulse Allen instructs

Switching back to her father's form, Tia focuses her vision and zooms in on his throat. She watches his skin rise and fall with each heartbeat.

Lock onto the rhythm Allen instructs With practice, you'll know when to administer a shock to interrupt it. Watch...

Allen turns back to the mannequin and lowers his body slightly. He holds his left hand just behind his back, his body positioned to block the target's line of sight from his hand. The marks on his hand glow just as brightly as his yellow eyes and Tia can see electricity crackling on his palm. Allen dashes forward abruptly, shoving the forearm of his right arm into the dummy, connecting his palm and his elbow to each of it's shoulders. Electricity connects at these two points before Allen plants his left palm onto the mannequin's chest unimpeded. Tia finds herself both in awe and unsettled by Allen's expression while doing this—serious, aggressive and detached. His attack is akin to a bolt of lightning, sudden, forceful and merciless. The illustration of the manequin's heart flashes twice before all light fades from its surface and the crystal fueling its enchantments shatters into nothing.

Your second arm can be used Allen explains and gestures to his palm and elbow To keep a target from defending from the attack, locking up both of their arms. But it isn't always necessary as a simple palm strike can be difficult to defend against if they don't perceive the threat. Finding an opening is crucial.

Allen falls silent as his eyes catch on Tia, peering down at her own hands as a frown weighs down her lips. As this silence lingers, she finally meets his gaze with a pained expression.

I'm... I'm really going to have to kill people...? Tia questions on a timorous breath. She hadn't even begun to consider this impending reality.

Allen squeezes his eyes shut and grimaces as though her own pained expression were contagious, lamenting that her innocence couldn't be preserved any longer. Tia's face hollows out into an empty expression, falling into contemplation.

I should be upset Tia's criticizes herself, dissatisfied I should be saying "I don't want to kill anyone!" ...But I still think about them.

Them? Allen echoes, Tia's face falling into a scowl weighed down by resent

Hiroto, Asahi, Kenji, Junichiro, Seina Tia lists with a quivering voice, fisting her hands in her lap And Ben! she spits, her rancour apparent After everything they did to me, it would be a lie to say I haven't wanted to kill them, that I still don't want to...!

Tia... it isn't wrong for you to hate them, to resent them the softness of Allen's tone makes Tia wince, his eyes drifting to her hair, but as she meets his eyes she finds only concern These people hurt you so badly. What you're feeling is natural, I hate him too. I nearly killed Ben myself!

I can't stand seeing him Tia seethes acrimoniously, her face scrunching at the memory of Ben meandering their great hall at her introduction He still terrifies me and I hate it! My body was burned and torn, my bones broken and battered Tia spits and trembles at the memory I-I felt myself dying but he doesn't even have to pay!

Allen wraps an arm around his daughter, trembling as well from Tia's description. He squeezes Tia as if he could protect her from what had already transpired.

I wish I could obliterate that cretinous bastard...! Allen remarks in a quiet but ferocious tone, his malice astounding Tia And he would deserve it. But...

Allen takes a deep breath breath and lets his shoulders drop, his grip loosening

We can't hurt or kill everyone who wrongs us. I've taken so many lives, Tia. Tia can see the regret painting him I don't want you to carry that same burden. Besides, these people have taken enough from you already. concern spills into his eyes They don't deserve to take more from you with the consequences of revenge. But most of all, its important not to lose yourself to resent--never let it consume you!

Tia mulls over his words, a frown lingering as she sn't quite satisfied with his answer, but she is unable to express herself properly. She looks to Duff instead, lurking beneath the bushes and stalking after birds in the form of a cat. This had become his favorite form within the manor grounds.

I guess these kinds of things are easier for you? Tia questions, watching him stretch as he emerges from the shadows

He halts at her feet, twisting his head and peering up at them as if he hadn't already been listening in

I could kill the twit for you, if you'd like. Duff offers casually, his words drenched in delight Disappearing in the night... no one would even know!

Don't tempt me! Tia laughs and Allen blinks at her. Tia releases a long sigh as she stands, looking back to the mannequin. I guess I should practice? Tia questions, feeling somewhat lighter

Allen's smile is just as light, happy to see Tia back to her sunny self. They spend the rest of the afternoon going over and running Tia through his exercises so she could continue practicing, even without him.

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