Chapter 11: Urumi

Chapter 11: Urumi

It is an urumi, Jagg explained, walking back to them. And it is a weapon that requires an incredible amount of skill to use properly far more than most do. It is also very dangerous to the wielder, as Im sure you could see. A mistake is more liable to cut you rather than your opponent. However, none of these are the reasons why I do not use an urumi. Do you know why I will not use this weapon?

Because youre trying not to take out half your allies in the middle of a fight? Chance guessed.

Partially. But the main reason is the environment. All the skill in the world will not make up for an unfortunate slip. Battle is not predictable, but you can recover your balance without causing serious damage when using other weapons. Not with an urumi. If you lose your footing or find yourself the target of an unlucky strike, the urumi will likely strike you or your allies.

That sounds like a horrible idea for a beginners weapon, Yeo said. The urumi seems like it has a lot of similarities with my kusarigama, but at least Ive only got one point to worry about, while hes got the whole whip.

There are other differences between the weapons. A kusarigama has more mobility and range than an urumi. Its more like a ranged weapon, while an urumi is a midrange one.

Can we get back to the part where Im meant to use this?? Chance hedged. I mean, its the coolest weapon Ive ever seen, dont get me wrong. Id love to use it, but Ive never used a sword in my life. This seems a thousand times more dangerous than anything else I could have chosen. Even a sword would be way safer.

Jagg flipped the blade around and extended it, hilt first, toward Chance. Swallowing, Chance took it. The weapon was a lot lighter than hed expected. It did have some weight to it, just not much.

Its an urumi. Not a sword, Jagg repeated. I feel your Essence, and I agree with your choice. The urumi is your weapon. You do not have to follow my instructions. You will simply be wrong.

What about me? Yeo asked. Is the kusarigama my true weapon?

Yes.

I guess that was easy, Yeo muttered. He pointed at Pete. What about gramps, then?

Warhammer.

Yeo snorted in laughter. He glanced at Pete, then caught himself when he realized the old man wasnt smiling.

Seriously?

Pete tapped his staff on the ground. The wood at its top bulged and gnarled wood reached out, forming into a heavy head in seconds. It stopped once the weapon was nearly as tall as Pete was and it looked considerably heavier than the frail man.

Well, damn, Yeo said with a whistle. Thats a weapon all right.

Jagg was the one who told me that it was what I was meant to use. He was correct, Pete said. I recommend trusting him, but I wont force you to do anything.

Is there any way for me to try this without accidentally cutting myself to pieces? Chance asked.

Jagg nodded. To a degree. I will protect you from yourself. You may attempt to wield it. Just make sure you are standing in the ring, and not outside of it. It would be unfortunate if Pete had to break your weapon.

Chance glanced at the old man, then nodded and walked out into the center of the dirt. He tightened his hand around the hilt of the urumi.

Relax, Jagg instructed. Wielding your true weapon is cultivation in its own right. You must flow like water. If your movements are stiff, you will injure yourself.

Chance let out a slow breath and let his grip loosen around the hilt until it rested naturally in his palm.

Good. Cultivate your Essence. Then flick your hand to the side to extend the urumi. Do not stop moving once you do. Slow, deliberate arcs will keep it in motion. Keep in mind that the end of the whip will move faster than the hilt, so changes in speed will be magnified.

And dont let go, Yeo added with a smirk.

Thanks, Chance said dryly, trying to suppress a laugh. Getting distracted while swinging around a rope of bladed death didnt sound like a very good idea. He called on the golden mist and the familiar burning sensation in his chest greeted him. Even though the urumi was an inanimate object, it almost felt like it was vibrating in his hand.

Chance flicked his hand and the urumi leapt to obey. It clicked apart, extending with a hiss and biting into one of the walls. He pulled it back, only barely stopping himself from turning the motion into a sharp yank.

The whip slid free of the wall effortlessly, and Chance transitioned the movement into a very awkward loop above his head. That felt like more than enough, so he flicked his hand again. The urumi whistled through the air and snapped back together in his hand.

Very good, Jagg said, giving him an approving nod. As I said. It is your true weapon. If you put in the proper practice, you will be able to gain mastery over it.

Tendrils of dark water twitched at her feet like a nest of furious snakes. Pete sighed and shook his head. I talked to Gibson, Bella. I did. He was dead set on this. He said that youd gotten the rules bent for long enough, and this was just righting things. Nothing I say or do will change his mind. Is being on a team truly that bad? I think you could grow to like it.

You have no idea what youre talking about, Bella spat. She stormed past him, but Pete leveled his staff, blocking her path.

You arent going anywhere in that state of mind, young lady.

You arent my father, Pete. Get out of my way. Im going to go deal with Gibson myself.

Then I know I cant let you go, Pete said wearily. If you come at him swinging, you might never work as a Shikari again.

Thats better than the alternative.

That isnt true and we both know it, Pete said. Go back to the house until youve calmed down, Bella. I wont stop you from talking with Gibson, but you wont be doing it in this state.

Last warning. Dark streams of water twisted up around Bellas arms, forming into a jagged axes in her hands. Move, or Ill make you.

Pete sighed and shifted his stance. Perhaps this will help you blow off some steam.

The staff in his hands bulged, branches sprouting from its top and forming into the head of a warhammer. Bella paused for an instant, but Pete showed no such hesitation. He shot forward, moving far faster than Chance thought possible for anyone, much less someone of his age, and swung the huge wooden weapon.

Bellas water surged to form a shield, catching the blow before it could hit her. She whipped her knee up, but Pete deflected it with the side of his hand. He swept her legs out from under her, but she turned her fall into a cartwheeling kick.

Pete jerked his chin back just before her foot connected, then swung his hammer once more. Water molded to block it once more, this time racing down the shaft and engulfing Petes hand.

A powerful wave of pressure rolled off the old man and he stomped a foot into the ground, thrusting his free hand toward Bella. An invisible force launched her backward and into the wall of Whiteheart house.

She staggered to her feet, but not fast enough to block the violent hammer blow that slammed down on top of her. Water formed a cocoon around her, but it wasnt enough to completely block the blow and she was sent flying into the air.

Holy shit. Is he trying to kill her? Chance exclaimed.

Shes fine, Yeo replied. Look.

Bella twisted midair, streamers of water spraying out from her back. She thrust her hands forward and they formed into razor-sharp tendrils, drilling down toward the old man as she fell.

With a flourish, Pete tapped his hammer against the ground. Another thrum ran through the air, vibrating Bellas attacks so violently that the water fell apart into a harmless rain. Pete tossed his hammer to the side and drove a knee up into Bellas chest as she fell.

It connected with a loud crack, but she managed to twist her body to drive her knee into Petes face at the same time.

They pushed apart from each other and Bella rolled across the ground before rising back to her feet. Pete rubbed his cheek and grinned.

Youve gotten better, Bella.

She growled and dashed at him again. Pete raised his hand and his hammer flew back into it. He spun, building momentum before slamming it into Bella and launching her into the sky for the second time.

Pete would be killer at baseball, Chance muttered, still completely uncomfortable with the entire fight. Wasnt Pete supposed to be teaching them? This looked more like aggravated assault.

As bad as the blow looked, Bellas face was only a little bloodied. She reared back and water rushed into her hands, creating a massive axe. Screaming, she brought it crashing down toward Pete.

The old man snapped his fingers. Once again, her Essence disintegrated and he thrust a hand into her stomach. Bella caught the blow, then twisted her body sharply to the side. Laughing, Pete spun with the move.

Somehow, Bella turned into the one spinning as Petes legs found solid ground under them once more. He slammed her into the ground with a thud that made both Chance and Yeo wince.

Thats enough, Pete said.

Bellas chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to gather her breath. The two stared at each other for several moments. Then Pete extended a hand. With a defeated sigh, Bella took it and the old man pulled her up.