Chapter 216 216 Six Seasons Sword Dance
[OP: ]
Everything is born during [Spring], so it is called the season of birth of nature, the natural elements, happiness, warmth, and the season itself is crowned as the king of all seasons since without a start, the journey itself is impossible.
Thus, his start was the birth.
"Spring."
In his endlessly white workspace, he stood there alone, once again with his sword in his hand, however, unlike the past hundreds and thousands of times he had been here, things were different for him this time.
"Birth."
With his sword loose in his hand, he started moving in a unique way, using a strange footwork that made it seem like he was dancing. And, looking at this dance gave the feeling of a strange warmth as if one was seeing a warm sight that induced happiness from the deepest part of their heart.
Warm winds circle around him, the floor under him starts to be filled with a unique image of the earth, and then grass starts appearing on the earth.
Flowers bloomed out of nowhere and as he continued, this ethereal image grew clearer with each passing second.
"Desolation."
However, right after that, he started swinging his sword, and the grass that was on the ground as well as the flowers that had grown on this illusionary ground lifted up and circles around him as well as gathered on his sword, and…
-Swish. Swish. Swish.
Every time he swung his sword in a particularly calm manner, the grass and flowers flowed out from the edge of his sword as if lowing with a warm afternoon breeze of the spring.
They were deadly though, certainly. Anything that would touch them would be severed without exception. However, this was a warm cut, so, instead of inducing a sense of pain, this strange unique cut would induce a warmer feeling of calmness.
-Swish!
It was peculiar how a sword slash could cause such emotions and, he was changing the way he swung his sword, switching from one form to another in this same series, however, all of these forms were as devastating as they were warm and attractive.
"Swish… swish!
He was like a Druid born from nature for the sustenance of nature. The grass, the flowers, the warmth, and the breeze all followed his sword, his steps, and his entire being as he continued with the dance, and with each passing moment, he was entering a new stage, which, only ended after he had demonstrated all Six of his sword forms.
"Rejuvenation."
The birth was followed by death, and death was followed by rebirth. And in nature, after the death of a being, decay followed, much like the last form of his first sword. And the decay was followed by the birth of newer beings.
Thus, after those deadly sword movements that seemed serene and aggressive at the same time, a calm followed behind and the ground that had disappeared, returned once again as new grass grew up.
The flowers that were circling around his sword at the start, after withering and vanishing completely during his sixth movement, were now back to the ground that they had come from, and, the start of the Spring was reincarnated once again in this endless place.
"Summer."
The warmth of spring goes on, and the calmness is replaced by the heat of the sun, life is sustained in the early stages, however, as it grows, difficulties are near.
"Birth."
Summer starts warm. The ground that had been happy and full of life experiences had shipped. Some lives cherish the heat, while some can't do so and face difficulties… flowers start to dry up while grass gets greener and, its blades become sharper.
The temperature rises, and so does the intensity of the sun. And, in here, his dance movements as well.
Aggressive, and more aggressive. Quicker steps, heightened senses, a warmer atmosphere, and flames rise from all around him.
"Desolation."
And just like how at one point, the sun's heat burns even the living, his red fire intensifies, covering the ground that he himself had created.
-Swish!
Each swing of his sword destroys the grass, burning it to the ground.
-Swish! Swish!
The wrath of the sun gets stronger and the ground itself dries up from the intense heat.
-Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Death, which is followed by life, brings suffering to many.
A sword movement, followed by many, brings harm to the enemies.
-Swish! Swish! Swish!
However, the heat doesn't stay at its peak forever.
-Swish! Swish!
There comes a time when the intensity of the heat starts to go down and the atmosphere starts becoming more moist.
-Swish!
There ground becomes collet, the nights change, the days become cloudier, the sun loses its wreath, and the prayers of people are answered.
"Rejuvenation."
Right before reaching the end of the paths, the protagonists face the toughest challenge of their lives, and, in nature, the last few days of the summons are the same for the elements of nature as well.
The last moments of intense heat, those last few days where life becomes the most painful, the water vanishes from the lands, and thirst becomes the main reason for death.
At that moment, in those last few moments where they have to relive hell for the sake of a position to more when they have to face the toughest challenge of their lives to achieve the goal they had been aiming for since the start of their journey when they have to muster every last bit of will to force their souls to cross over to their side…
"Monsoon."
A drop of life fell from the sky.
"Birth."
Elixir, born from the tears of nature, graces the desolate earth.
Flames clam down all around the desolate land and the atmosphere is filled with new life-like moisture, with a new life-bringing elixir that fills the hearts of those who persisted, those who faced all the challenges and got through the hellish flames of the wreath.
Water covered the land, his body, and his blade. And, he beguines the dance of peacocks, calling the heavens to grace the death on this earth.
And the heavens hear his prayers as rain wets the dead lands.
-Shrrrrrrrr…
Fire is extinguished by water, sparkling droplets circle around him, he continues his dance, and the heavenly cries intensify.
"Desolation."
What has happened could not be changed, a time already gone, could not be brought back.
Lives had been lost, and death was a natural process, however, the alive had suffered, and as the mother of them all, nature could not control her cries.
-Shazam-bhaaaaaam!
The start of the season of rain brings joy, however, whenever it gets too much, when the rain becomes a downpour, a storm, or a destructive torrent, difficulties follow again.
The alive that had gotten past one difficult challenge would face another threat to their lives.
-Swish!
At first, they did not have water, however, after this uncontrollable downpour of emotions, the excessive amount of water that fills the earth becomes the motor that fills the dried rivers and lakes, however, due to the overwhelming rain that sometimes continues for days at an unbearable amount, these same water sources that come as salvation, becomes the death traps that take their lives.
-Swish! Swish!
His body was covered in this violent storm, his sword being the personification of a storm itself, he slashed with lightning, danced with the downpour, embraced the sadness of nature, and expressed his own condolences.
His dance, his sword… they were a tribute to nature, an inseparable part of the Worldline, and, they were resonating with each other at the moment, understanding, conveying each other's feelings, sharing what they understood about each other.
-Swish!!!
Life and death, two sides of a single coin, and the edge that separated both of them…
"Rejuvenation."
He connects with nature through his dance, showing it just like how there is sadness, somewhere, and at the same time, there is happiness as well.
-Swish-swish!
Just like how life is followed by death, death is followed by life. The cycle continues, the rejuvenation permeates reality, and the water that overflows the land returns to where it belonged, as the warm rays of the sun pierce through the dark clouds.
-Swiiiiiiiiiish~.
Winds start to blow naturally, life returns to the land, and, through the new water masses, new lives are born…
Death was inevitable, he tells nature as much. However, life is bound to return after, he conveys through his sincere dance.
The storm on his sword vanishes, the water starts to return to its source, he slows down for the first time, and, all around him, is a moist land, fertile, but not yet ready to sustain life.
He opens his eyes, his feet still moving at a slower pace. He looks up at the sky, at the white ceiling of this endless place, his heart filled with warmth, and his body cools with the precious waters of the storm.
There are cuts on his body, however, the blood has also been washed up by the rainwater.
His eyes contain sadness, his white blade resonates with the illusionary water-filled land present all around him, an expression of sadness is present on his face, and, looking at him, nature realizes it's another mistake.
"Autumn."
He changed his slower pace into something even slower, something simpler, something entirely simple, something so simple that, it seemed he wasn't moving at all.
"Birth."
Waters that had filled the lands have returned to a normal level.
The atmosphere was moist and became cooler. The darker clouds have gone however, the sky is still cloudy. The winds are colder and calmer.
Sadness.
Sorrow.
Guilt.
Life finds a foothold somewhere, a shelter, a house to spend some time.
Three disasters have gone by already, however, they have learned that another one would inevitably come soon enough.
Death, they have learned that it is inevitable. And, to counter it this time, to save their lives and to save their families, this time, they would have to prepare themselves.
"Desolation."
The leaves on the three fall to the ground, they have had enough of it.
They had endured all that they could and now, they return to earth, the home they had come from.
Death fills the lands and desolation, the silence after the storm is present everywhere.
-Swish.
His sword slashes are calmer, slower, and persistent, however, angrier.
He resents nature, however, his dance continues.
He understands the truth, the life, the death, he knows it is inevitable. The cycle is eternal.
-Swish.
However, his resentment remains.
-Swish.
And he slashes his sword.
-Swish.
With calm steps, a heavy heart, and, the guilt that he shares with nature, he continues swinging his sword.
-Swish.
He continues it.
-Swish.
He continues it just like he had been doing for an unknown period.
-Swish.
He continues it.
-Oooooooooooong!
He continues it until his resentment affects nature itself, and, his sword is covered with a strong wind.
"Rejuvenation."
[ *Warning! Warning! Worldline has detected an unnatural activity in the Workplace of ID: Lucifer! Calculating data!* ]
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