SOULTALE | By ShadowNTS

(Chapter 169) Empathy.

The illuminated stairs stand above a pit of darkness. Frisk steadily climbs up the palace until she ends up in a dark room with torches in each corner.

FSK: Stay vigilant, Twilight.
TWL: Aww, you're worried about me?
FSK: For your sake, please cease being so romantical.
TWL: But you like it, don't yo-
FSK: Watch out!

A arrow formed by pure light pierces through the air, aimed at Twilight. Frisk reacts in time and shoves her away, but gets scathed herself in the process.

TWL: Frisk! Are you okay?
FSK: It's not bleeding...

A mysterious man lights up the area by firing the light arrows at the torches. He's dressed in white robes and straw-hat.

ROG: Welcome, newcomers, to paradise.
TWL: And who might you be?!
ROG: My name is Rogen, the virtue of empathy.
TWL: A virtue, huh? It doesn't matter. None hurt Frisk and live to tell the tale!

Twilight zips through the air and goes to karate chop Rogens' head off, but is shocked when he catches her hand and throws her across the room.

ROG: May I finish?
FSK: Go ahead.
ROG: As I was going to say, I'm not too fond of battle, and that's why I got the title of empathy. If it was my decision, I would've let you through, but as is per fathers' orders, I cannot.

From the smoke, Twilight dashes towards Rogen again.

ROG: Quite a feisty one, aren't you?
TWL: You're dead to me.

Frisk watches from afar as the two exchange blows at immense speeds. She looks down at the arrow that penetrated her body.

FSK: (This isn't no ordinary arrow. Every moment that passes, I can feel my power decrease as if it was a flowing river.)

Twilight dashes around the room, moving one with sound, to conceal her presence. Rogen thrusts his arm forwards and grabs Twilights' face.

TWL: Y-your speed... is extraordinary.
ROG: You're mistaken. My core strength is the ability to read ones' soul, and in turn, predict their next move. The more their soul is drawn to killing and combat, the more their actions become clearer to me.
TWL: You just told me your ability. Aren't you not supposed to do that in battle?
FSK: It means he's taunting you.
TWL: Oh shut up Frisk!
ROG: Haha, that's a good one, but I simply show my opponents empathy.
TWL: In any case, this makes everything easier.

Twilights' body turns into mist, enveloping the area in a thick fog. Rogen closes his eyes and focuses his senses. As calm as the ocean, as quick as sound and as peaceful as the calm after the storm, Twilight reaches her hand out and presses it onto Rogens' back.

TWL: This is my authentic technique, Pleasent Peace!
ROG: Ha! It seems I underestimated you!
TWL: Do not worry, as the fate that meets you is nothing short of calm.
ROG: That would've convinced me enough, but I have to follow the fathers' orders till my demise! Now gaze upon my heavenly blessing!

Rogen turns around and backs up. Twilight backs into the fog.

ROG: Divine Blessing, Virtue of Empathy, Everlasting Contract!

Rogen presses his palms on the ground. Multiple marks appear. Twilight takes action and appears behind Rogen, but is quickly dismissed by him reacting in time.

FSK: (He reacted to that. That should be impossible, so that means the ability he casted right now grants him some type of heightened senses. Truth is, Twilight has no chance.)

Twilight appears before Rogen.

TWL: Just what are you?
ROG: Someone who's fighting on someone elses' orders.
TWL: I'll relieve you of your duty soon.

Twilight disappears and shifts through the room inside the fog. Rogen has a hard time figuring out where she is. Twilight makes appearances here and there, throwing quick attacks at Rogen, who manages to block and counter a couple of times. Twilights' fierce eyes haze brightly. She appears behind Rogen, aiming for a fatal blow.

ROG: Got you.
*STAB*

Rogen grabs Twilights' neck. His eyes quickly shift into a shocked expression. He feels a sharp pain in his back. Rogen glances back and sees Frisk holding a knife deep.

ROG: When did you..?

Frisk backs up and Rogen drops to his knees. Twilight looks annoyed.

FSK: Whilst Twilight was fighting you, I had the pleasure of time, and in that time, I managed to decipher your ability and how to counter it. Your "divine blessing" is a special technique only those with godlike origins possess. Also, those marks on the ground are in the shape of a phoenix. I noticed its' eyes moved based on where Twilight was.
ROG: What an amazing mind, but how did you know to attack me like this?
FSK: I didn't.
ROG: You took a risk that'd cost you your life so effortlessly..?
FSK: A friend of mine taught me to let go of my regret, in turn making me stronger.
TWL: You're sure warming up to that brat.
FSK: That brat is the ideal human, both physically and mentally.
TWL: How could you say that?! Do you want me to get jealous?!

Frisk and Twilight squabble whilst Rogen smiles, slowly fading away.

ROG: I believe a new era of power is upon us, one that will be much more kind to the weak.

Frisk pays her respects and heads deeper into the palace, ready for whatever trial is next.

End of Chapter 169
"Empathy"

[ Frisk has defeated Rogen. ]

-- Extra Soul Trivia! --
-- Did ya know? --
Stivens' Keijō techniques are based on old japanese illustrations where the human could manipulate the flow of their life force to use as aids in battle!