As I walked through the grasslands, the wind blew fiercely against me. My mind wandered back into the past since there wasn't much else to do. I was going to have to make up an excuse for my absence anyway, or who knew what Celestia might have done if I didn't.

Suddenly, something leapt at me from the corner of my eye. I pulled out my right pea shooter and pulled the trigger without thinking. There was a flash of light, followed closely by a bang. The thing exploded and dissolved into nothingness. A projection? This far out? I thought.

I put the weapon back into my cloak. My mind wandered back to when I first got my weapons of choice... and when I became a true monster.

(Age: 356)

The punishment for leaving without permission wasn't as bad as the loneliness I felt for the years I spent away from my friends. No lashing, burning, or removing of my limbs could compare. For fifty years, my punishment was carried out because I told them my master had nothing to do with my departure. However, the three-hundred and thirty five years I spent away from that haven in the woods was the worst. That promise I made to Celestia was the main reason I was still trying my best. But, that promise would be hard to keep since I was forbidden to go there until my training was complete.

So, there I was. Three-hundred and thirty five years older, a good two and a half feet taller, and much more dangerous. I was laying on the same bed I had since the beginning, with my hands behind my head, trying to get some sleep.

You see, I had a problem. A very serious problem to me, but everyone else seemed to think the opposite. The only reason they thought this is because they've already solved the problem I had. The problem was that I only had one weapon: the knife my master gave me. Every single demigod is supposed to be able to summon their own weapons, but I couldn't do it. Even though I had risen above most students of the level I was at, I couldn't solve a simple summoning problem! Embarrassingly, I asked for help, but the only response I got was that I had to "find my reason to fight," whatever that means...

There was a knock at the door and I rolled over to face it. "You know, you don't have to knock," I called out in a noticeably deeper voice. "I put an identification spell on the lock, so you can enter whenever you want."

The door opened and in came Scarlet, who was carrying several bags of various trinkets. "It's polite to knock. And besides, what if you're doing something you don't want me to see?" she asked. Scarlet had been coming to my room ever since I came back to this place. It was mainly so that someone could keep an eye on me, but she also got some other benefits out of it too. It was usually help with assignments though. I got used to her coming, and I guess she did too. So, we kept visiting each other.

"Point taken." I pointed to the bags, "What's with this junk? You better not be using my room for storage again..."

She glared at me, "No, I'm not going to. Not since you lit all of those things on fire..." She placed the bags on the ground and started to empty out the contents onto my desk. A crystal ball, tarot cards, and other things, but most intriguingly, several slips of paper which I identified immediately.

"Okay, how and why do you have magic identifiers?" I asked. Magic identifiers are slips of paper which burn up if your magic corresponds to the magic type in the paper if you touch it. They're used for identifying what element of magic you're strongest in. But, what bothered me most is that it's nearly impossible to get them without asking a god.

"I thought that maybe you just aren't able to produce the kind of magic involved," she admitted. I frowned as she levitated a slip of paper towards me. I sighed and reached out for the piece of paper, grabbing it and making it instantly burst into blue flames. As the slip quickly burnt out in my hand, Scarlet hummed in confusion. "Well, I have more stuff we could try," she suggested.

I groaned, "Do we have to? Can't I get some sleep for tomorrow?"

"I'm doing this for tomorrow! If you go in there with that little pig-stick, you'll be humiliated! And that's exactly what Fos wants!" she warned. "Look, I know how much this tournament means to you, especially the marks, but I don't think that it's worth it. My mistress could make an excuse for you, or maybe Zero!"

I sat up and turned to her, starring into her eyes, "I'm going to be in that tournament. I don't care what Fos and his lapdog has in store for me, but whatever it is, I'm going to deal with it myself. Besides, you know the relationship my master has with Fos. If anything, my master would want me to humiliate him."

"Yes, but Lumo is the best fighter in the school!" she countered. "You must understand that for the past couple of years, Fos has been training Lumo to destroy you in the tournament!" Scarlet walked over to me and poked me in the chest with her hoof, "You're underestimating them."

I removed her hoof from my chest, "You're underestimating me. Lumo may be Fos' prized demigod, but the only thing he has is his popularity and ego. If anything, he'll get caught up thinking that the fight will be easy. Then, I can annihilate him." She still had a worried look on her face. I went back to laying on my bed as I said, "You're acting as if I'm going to have my arms cut off or my eyes gouged out."

"Knowing Fos and Lumo, that is a possible outcome..." She stated.

I sighed, "You realize that there are rules, right? Almost everybody is going to be there, Gods included. If Lumo even thinks about cheating, someone will know." I closed my eyes and motioned for her to leave, "Now, get out of my room. I have to sleep. I've been awake for forty-eight hours."

Scarlet gathered her things and went to the door, but stopped just short of it. She turned to me and said, "Lumo knows how to use dark magic." I turned to her and raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "I accidentally saw him practicing it," she explained.

"So?" I asked.

She glared at me, "What do you mean, so?! He can use dark magic! He can disable you and your magic with it!"

I sighed and turned away from her. "Bottom drawer, hidden compartment, use the quill." She didn't respond, but after a few seconds she dropped her bags and followed my directions. Scarlet opened the bottom drawer and pushed the quill on my desk into a hole in the bottom of the drawer. I heard the popping of the wooden bottom of the container and some shuffling of various important items of mine.

"What exactly am I—" she paused. "W-why do you have one of these?" she asked while holding up a small, brown notebook. I may have been turned away from her, but I knew that she would pull out that book. I mean, who wouldn't if they knew what it meant.

"Take a wild guess..." I said sarcastically.

Scarlet quickly turned to me, "But, how!? When!? ...what does it look like?"

"I only learned of this ability recently, when I was training with my master," I explained. "I really haven't gotten any progress, other than a power boost and a minor appearance change."

"But still! This is incredibly high level magic!" she said in shock.

"Is it enough evidence to stop you from pointlessly worrying over me?"

There was silence for a while, but then Scarlet sighed. "Fine..."

"Good. Now get out," I ordered. I heard her replace everything back into it's original position, open the door, and leave. Finally, I thought, peace and quiet...

Ever so slowly, I drifted off to sle—

*knock knock knock*

I sat up quickly and whipped my pillow at the door. "CAN'T ANYBODY IN THIS SCHOOL LET ME SLEEP FOR FIVE MINUTES!?!?" I screamed. "I WAS SO CLOSE!!" I almost started weeping.

"Sadly, you have one more thing to do," Zero called from the other side of the door. My head dropped even further down as I realized what I had done. The door slowly opened and my master walked in. "Are you still upset?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. I wasn't stupid enough to lie to my master.

Zero sighed and said, "I'll make this quick then. I believe in your ability to win tomorrow, but Fos is planning something."

I groaned, "I know this already! Scarlet just spent the past five minutes saying that!"

"I mean legally," he clarified. "He plans to change the rules of the tournament for your match against Lumo."

I looked at him with shock, "He can do that?"

"If he has approval from three or more gods, which we both know he can get easily," he stated. "He'll probably make it a life or death situation..."

"Then it seems like Lumo will die tomorrow," I said.

My master hummed at my determination, "Please keep in mind that you too could perish. I don't want to lose my best student..." Zero cleared his throat, "So, have you figured out-?"

"No."

"...I see..." He opened the door, "Very well. Get enough rest for tomorrow."

"Can do," I said, waving for him to leave. I heard the door close and let my head fall on to my pillow. Well, I would have if my pillow was on my bed, but it was lying at the foot of the door. So, instead of hitting something soft, my head bounced off of the wall. I quickly sat up and grabbed the area that I hit. "Ow!" I hissed.

*Klunk*

I pulled my knife out of the wooden target I had thrown it at with my blood wire spell. It flew back into my grasp and I gave the knife a few twirls. They could have called me at any moment for my match against Lumo. So, I readied myself for the fight. I would not lose to someone so inferior.

Lumo was one of my main enemies at the school. He was actually the first to comment on what I was, and he used that fact to destroy what little chance I had to obtain friendship. After that, more and more students turned against me, calling me an ape and a demon, the latter mainly because I was taken in by Zero.

But, the most irritating one was evil. Why was I considered evil? Just because I was different? Just because I was given abilities that I didn't ask for?

"Your anger is wavering your focus," Solana's voice said from behind me. I gave her no response and continued preparing. "You can ignore me all you want, but it's not going to help you. Especially since I know what Fos has up his sleeve..." Now I was interested.

I turned to the goddess with anticipation, "So, what is it? Are deadly monsters are going to be thrown in with us?"

"Sadly no," she explained, "it's something much worse. He's going to—"

A loud horn blew from the arena and I knew it was time. "Whatever it is, I'll handle it," I announced.

As I started to walk into the passage that lead to the arena, Solana called out to me, "You are not a child any more; do not let your anger blind you."

I turned back to the goddess and bowed respectfully. "Anger is more powerful than arrogance..."

The crowd roared as I waited to be summoned into the arena. I hid my knife in my sleeve: I wouldn't need it right away anyways. Whatever Fos was planing was no concern of mine. I would overcome whatever he was planing because I would see Celestia again.

A loud horn erupted from the arena and the gate in front of me opened, revealing a large ring of sand and stone. The crowd exploded as the gates fully opened and the order for the two combatants to step into the arena was given. Walking through the newly opened passageway, I made my way to the center of the ring and stood patiently for the order to fight to be given.

Across from me was my opponent, Lumo. He was a young, light red dragon, standing at around the same height as me, maybe a bit taller. He wore a belt with a long sword hanging to his side, as well as a smirk that could make even the most patient of people upset. His arms were crossed, his chest puffed up, his wings extended, and his eyes were closed. Such a closed off stance would let me have the first hit.

"Gods and goddesses! Demigods and minions! It's the match you've all been waiting for!" came a vibrant voice, echoing all around the arena and sending the crowd into a state of pure excitement. "The radiant Lumo verses the Demon Ape!"

I rolled my eyes at the announcement. Cut to the chase already, I thought. I may be partially immortal, but this build up and denouement is unnecessary, childish, and a huge waste of my time.

"But first, the great Fos has changed the rules for this particular match! Please welcome your leader!" the announcer said.

I glanced back to the crowd to see Fos stand and motion for the crowd to settle down. They followed his demands and the arena grew suddenly silent. "As you all know," the god started with a voice that could control a raging inferno, "today is a very special day! Today marks the day that the last titan was sealed in Tartarus!" The crowd let out another cheer in celebration of his words.

This fact was true, they were sealed on this day many millennia ago. The titans were the fathers and mothers of the gods, as well as the most powerful beings in existence. They're the ones who gave the gods their power, much like how Demigods receive their power from the gods. The first time I heard about them from my master, I was very intrigued about this power giving relation. However, it was strictly forbidden for anyone to study the titans.

"And because of this fact," Fos continued, "I believe a small change in rules for our best fighters is necessary!" The crowd roared in agreement, making enough noise to drown out my thoughts. I glanced over to my master, who sat beside Fos with a dark look on his face. We made eye contact, and after a few moments Fos began to speak again. "For the last and greatest match of the day... there is only one rule: to incapacitate the other using any means necessary!"

The crowd shook the arena with it's cheer, and under this I chuckled to myself. Fos has just sealed his student's fate... I thought. I looked back to the lizard standing in front of me, and he stared right back with bright, sky blue eyes. Although we hated each other, I could tell that he wanted the same thing I did: to destroy his opponent. "Are the fighter's ready?!" the announcer called. We didn't move, just stared at the other with hate.

"Fight!"

The crowd let out a massive roar as... nothing happened. The sound of the voices slowly died down to nothing, to complete silence. A gust of wind blew past us as our eyes never left each other. We waited patiently for 15 minutes for the other to make the first move. "Well?" Lumo said mockingly. His arrogant voice echoed throughout the arena like a gong in a canyon. "Are you going to summon your weapon? Or is the 'Great' ape incapable of doing so?"

I heard a few chuckles coming from the crowd. "...no, I can't," I admitted, making Lumo smirk, "But I don't need it for a mere worm." That shut the crowd up and wiped the smirk right off of Lumo's face. "Tell me," I said with a smirk of my own, "do you like games, Lumo? I quite like them myself." Lumo glared at me and put a claw on his sword as I raised my right arm and seemingly grabbed the air. The air around my hand rippled and tore as I pulled it over my body, bending the light away from it.

It was a simple invisibility spell that Lumo could counter, but hiding myself wasn't the purpose. I bit my right thumb, breaking the skin and giving me some blood to work with. I spread my blood to the tips of my fingers and closed my hands in front of me as Lumo drew his sword. I could feel a small ball of matter forming in the center of my palms, and I opened my hands to find a white, liquid like sphere. "Did you know that I made a game for myself to help me train?" I asked. The ball left my hand as I tossed it towards Lumo.

"I call it Miracle Matter."

The sphere suddenly elongated into a large spike, barely missing my opponent's neck and impaling the wall instead. Lumo dodged to the side as the ball rapidly tried to impale him. As this happened, I turned my back and walked to the wall of the arena, drawing magic circles all around it with my blood. I took quite some time, but I managed to finish in time to watch the last bit of my spell torment Lumo.

Miracle Matter is a lot like the blood wire spell in the sense that it is magic taking physical form. It uses the fundamental magic elements to form basic attacks. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem to most, but the rate at which these attacks are launched is enough to render someone immobile. I could produce something small and weak, like the sample I gave Lumo, right off the bat. However, making a larger and more powerful batch of it would require a lot of time and mana that I didn't have. It didn't matter though, I only wanted to tire Lumo out.

The Miracle Matter was now spitting ice at Lumo, making him roll and dodge more than he'd ever done before. Luckily, he managed to breath fire on the sphere, melting it's icy form and exposing the blood red core. He ran with a battle cry and struck the core with his sword, shattering the core into a million shards. My enemy planted his sword in the ground and leant on it to rest as he panted lightly. I scowled at this and ran to him.

He must have forgotten about me because he was shocked when his sword was pulled from underneath him by my blood wire spell. He fell to the ground, but I managed to reach him in time to punt his head which sent him tumbling away from his sword. Lumo quickly recovered, but I was already upon him as he stood.

I threw strike after strike at him, but he expertly deflected each of them. I managed to get him closer to the wall, however he was just out of reach of the spell. Drawing my dagger, I swiped at Lumo suddenly and caused him to leap back into the wall in surprise.

A smile graced my face as I dropped my knife and quickly reached out towards my opponent and clapped my hands together. Channeling the magic I had sealed in the walls, I summoned two marble arms to enclose Lumo into the wall.

The arms did as commanded and confined a shocked Lumo. He struggled against them and managed to crack them, but they would hold. After all, this spell was created by my master to seal demons that now reside in Tartarus. I began to turn towards Fos, but my gut told me otherwise. That was too easy, I thought. Lumo loves to mock his opponents while fighting them, so why—

Using my blood wire, I flung my bone dagger back into my hand and held it in a reverse grip as I spun around to block. Lumo swung down with his sword and I managed to deflect it just in time to leap away from the following horizontal swipe.

Lumo's arrogant laugh echoed in my ears as he ran at me. "You aren't as stupid as you look!" he yelled as he swung at me again and again.

I dodged and deflected the strikes, but my back hit the wall suddenly. Scowling, I leaped up above Lumo's next strike and up onto the wall. Beginning to run along the edge of the wall, I looked down at the dragon below following me closely.

"Let's see how well you take this!" Lumo raised his claw and pointed the palm of it towards the wall just in front of my feet. Suddenly, I felt the air tremor violently with magic and the wall beneath my feet gave way and collapsed.

I fell to the ground hard, but managed to use my momentum to get to my feet. However, I didn't have enough time to block Lumo's claw colliding with my face, sending me flying across the arena and into the other wall. I felt the wall crack from the collision, as well as a few of my bones.

Beginning to stand, I looked up to find Lumo looming over me. He suddenly smacked the dagger out of my hand when I tried to strike at him, and grabbed me by the throat and pinned me to the wall. I felt the tip of his sword poke against my heart. If he pierced that, I was dead.

"It's a shame that those cute little mares won't be able to swoon over you again," he began, "but don't worry, I'll take nice care of them when you're dead." My fists began shaking in anger, and I desperately tried to punch Lumo, but to no avail. I began imagining Celestia and Luna crying silently, waiting for someone who would never return.

"Who knows? Maybe when I'm good friends with them, I'll fool around with them before bringing their lives to an end." I could feel my rage building and building until I felt a slight pressure on my right index finger. I pulled my finger in and there was a loud explosion followed by Lumo tumbling towards the center of the arena. I fell to the ground and looked at my hand.

There was a white pistol with the same sun insignia that was on my pocket watch. I looked to my left hand and found a twin black pistol with a moon insignia on it. I looked up to Lumo, who was beginning to stand, and smiled at my good fortune. "It seems that won't be the case, Lumo." I said as I stood upright. "Not now—" I twirled the pistols and slammed the tops of the guns together, both barrels pointed at Lumo "—not ever!"

The battle began tolling on the both of us. We became exhausted very quickly and I needed to end the battle quickly if I wanted to keep my new ability secret to the rest of the school. Lumo swiped at me and I guarded using my pistol in a reverse grip. He then brought his claw to my face for a punch, but I leant away enough for it to miss. There was a sudden clank of metal on the ground and instinctively I looked at the sword that had been dropped. When I looked back to my opponent, it was too late.

Lumo pushed past my left eye lids and tore out my eye.

I tumbled back in agony and let out a blood curdling shriek of pain as I placed my hands over my left eye socket. Tripping over my own feet, I fell to the ground and quickly scrambled to my knees. The crowd roared all around me, no doubt to Lumo holding the eye up as a trophy.

I looked at my hand with my remaining eye. It was covered in my own blood and it was shaking violently. As I continued to look, I noticed that my depth perception was practically gone. H...how? How am I suppose to fight like this!? I thought. I'll die here... and then he'll... he'll...!

My previous rage was replaced with something different, something more familiar: despair. My skin began to feel like it was frozen solid, but my blood was boiling. The shaking stopped, and soon I was completely still. Managing to stand slowly, I turned to Lumo with an expressionless face, staring. Noticing me standing, Lumo picked up his sword and ran at me and brought it down on me with the crowd cheering him on.

*TING*

The sounds died right then and there with Lumo's hope. Without thinking, I caught the blade with my right hand. Lumo tried pulling it back, but it was firmly in my grasp. I pulled the sword slowly to my side, bringing Lumo right in front of me. I looked up right into his eyes and found pure horror. Lumo screamed and leaped back in shock and fear, and I knew exactly why.

My remaining eye was blood red and my skin was bleached as white as snow.

The sword dropped from my hand and on to the ground with a clank as I stared into Lumo's eyes with nothingness in my soul. I took a step forwards and Lumo turned and ran for the gate. To Lumo, I appeared in front of him in an instant, but to me it was only a short walk. He tried to take a step back, but tripped over himself and landed on his ass and looked up at me pathetically. "W-what are you!?" he screamed.

My hand shot forwards and grabbed his neck and hoisted him up into the air in front of me. Lumo choked and fought against my grasp, but to no avail. I could feel his despair flowing into my being. It was euphoric. Lumo suddenly kicked me in the face in hopes of freeing himself. I brought him down to eye level and brought my lips close to his ear.

"Despair."

My free hand tore through his abdomen and out his back, causing him to gasp and try to yell in pain, but his voice caught in his throat and instead he vomited blood all over himself. I tore my hand out as quickly as I put it in and threw the pathetic worm in front of me to the ground. I stepped slowly next to his head and placed my foot on his forehead.

However, before I could crush his skull in, something collided with the back of my head, knocking me unconscious.

Author's Note

Back from the fricken' grave!

I hope this chapter was enjoyable.
Let me know it there are any grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Also thanks to Storm Nova for editing!