Syanic Earth 5: Azir Citadel Arc

Chapter 2: Heir to the Ouroboros

 "You have summoned me, my dear friend?" A snake made of maggots slithered in front of Isrina.

Rotting human heads bulged from the snake's maggot body. The screaming heads erupted with veined tumors and angel wings, which wrapped around the snake tightly to mold it into a humanoid shape. It was the form of a familiar pentagram-eyed Vulpi with an ancient scorpion symbol on his forehead. Master Iagen sat beside Isrina.

"There, there, dear Isrina," Iagen held her shoulder with his skeletal fingers as Isrina cried into his chest. "This world treated you poorly. You deserve better. So does Shien."

"Please help me get my Little Chickadee back, Master," Isrina begged. "Everyone around me has failed to help."

"Yes, o friend of mine. I can teach you such powers to help you destroy Fanghui and retrieve all you've lost."

The Vulpi stood in front. "It will be my pleasure to help you reclaim what this world stole from you, but I must have your loyalty for my magic to flow through you. Are you willing to put your faith in me, my dear?"

Isrina knelt and bowed her head in tears. "I-I'll... do whatever you ask. Y-your wish is my command. I put my faith in you."

"Good. Good!" Iagen's porous mouth widened in a fanged grin. "Truly, I tell you, a powerful sorceress you shall become!"

"I just want Shien back in my arms."

"My dear, be not afraid. Your Little Chickadee will be back birdwatching with you before you know it."

The Vulpi snapped his finger, teleporting both into the cosmic music dimension.

"It's the Archkaos," Isrina remembered traveling with the SHRIKE to Choro Emplexion with Master Psyinen's portal ability.

"Ah, then I'm sure this place needs no introduction. Let's begin your training," Iagen walked with her across the prismatic floor. "I'm about to teach you a new martial art more powerful than the Avian Form, the Ouroboros Fang."

"The Vultau told me about many martial art styles, but I've never heard of that one," Isrina crossed her arms.

"It's an ancient art used by my ancestors for thousands of years. The Vultau frown on us because they believe it to be the Waltz of the Damned."

Iagen cracked his knuckles. "The Ouroboros Fang extends the limits of attack and defense angles in martial combat."

"What do you mean?"

The Vulpi massaged his wrist and held a fist. "Observe, my friend. When you punch, your elbow bends at a natural angle."

He punched the air with his elbow bent downward like any martial artist.

"What if I said there are many secret angles nobody ever told you?"

Iagen punched again, but Isrina could hear joints crackle as his elbow dislocated upward, extending the fist forward in a second hit. "The same applies to kicking, turning wrists and feet, and so on."

He kicked with his knee facing up like a regular kick but then demonstrated another kick where his knee dislocated downward, giving the foot an extra hit.

Isrina was stunned. "By bending your limbs like that, you're making attack and defense angles nobody can naturally do, but is that possible?"

"Yes. Just think how Avian Form techniques can do massive damage when you believe and focus your energy on the body."

"That's what the Vultau told me. Is it the same?"

"Similar, but not quite. There's a key difference. You're not just channeling your faith and energy, but your hatred."