Arthur Rover, wielder of the Sun Phoenix, seemed to be at the peak of youth. His usual short white robe gave him the appearance of a Greek god, and he still acted with his characteristic immaturity. But his presence alone, the weight of his aura, revealed something within him had transformed.
His silver hair shifting in the breeze, he listened while Scar apologized for his crude manners and for walking out during their last encounter. Arthur smiled, nodding along. When Scar finished, the old man laughed and spoke:
"You had every reason, Scar. Your family and I failed you. The least we can do now is make amends for our sins."
Scar breathed easily.
Staying on Arthur's good side was essential. If Dain ever uncovered the truth, Arthur was the only person who could protect him.
More importantly, though, he needed Arthur's expertise. With his newfound ability to absorb the Scarlet Moon's Blessing, he'd need Arthur to help him grow stronger.
With relief came pride, and Scar began boasting about his progress. He recounted every detail of his fight with Amell, especially the part where he'd jumped more than ten feet into the air.
"Really? That's excellent, kid. Then I suppose you're ready. Let's begin my training." Arthur said, laughing.
Scar was happy enough. He stood at the doorstep of real strength, after all. But his uncle was acting strange. The old man wouldn't hold eye contact for more than two seconds, and unsettlingly, he just kept smiling.
He briefly thought maybe someone important in the Rover family had died but dismissed the idea. If that were the case, his cousins would all be here, and considering how prominent the Rovers were, everyone would be talking about it.
After a long moment of internal debate, he gave up trying to figure it out. He even began laughing along with Arthur, until the old man's next words killed his excitement instantly.
"No matter what you do, once your body has absorbed the Blessing, it will continue to absorb it on its own, subtly, like it's become as dependent on it as we are on air.
"If it stops absorbing, no one knows what might happen. Even so, make sure you don't take it in gasps as you did a few days ago."
With an understanding expression, Scar nodded.
Haha.
"That's my boy. Go ahead with your next training. Your friends will join you the moment they absorb theirs."
Arthur's words twisted Scar's face into something disturbing, even chilling. But to Scar, that expression was all he could manage through the conflicting emotions coursing through him.
Strength was what he needed to stay alive, to face Dain without fear. More importantly, to kill Adisa.
The bastard was holed up in one of the dangerous districts, which meant his strength had to be off the charts. Power was his only ticket through this.
But even so, he pondered one thing. Was he doing what Isaac asked of him?
Soon…
Arthur put Scar through squats. The real training would come later, he mentioned, but until Scar's hands healed completely, this would be enough.
"There are three ways to use the Blessing: Enhancement, Enforcement, and Stabilization. Enhancement increases the quality of your body. Your strikes hit harder, your speed improves, and your defenses strengthen, but it's limited. You'll grow fatigued sooner than you'd like.
"Enforcement uses the Blessing to force your body past fatigue, helping you pull off what you'd call a comeback. Or perhaps adrenaline. Akumas use it most often. Some with immense strength rely on the Blessing as a trump card. But there's a risk, you could lose the fight before you even get the chance to use it.
"Now, Stabilization / Balance. The Blessing is used at a low level, carefully balanced between Enforcement and Enhancement. Ordinary humans rely on this method. It's the safest, since absorbing the Blessing is a death-worthy crime. Yet against a far stronger opponent, it's useless."
Scar listened attentively as he worked out. At that moment, he had already considered what he was going to do.
'Easy. I just use whichever works best at the time. Why would anyone stick to only one?'
He'd used the Enforcement technique before. When he'd leapt ten feet high, that was precisely what he'd imagined. Now, though, he needed every one of these techniques.
Arthur laughed louder.
"I can tell you intend to master every technique. If so, your uncle is going to grind you down to the bone."
The moment he spoke, Julien spoke from behind, flexing his muscles.
"Don't forget about us, Sun Phoenix. We stand with you now. We've absorbed the Blessing."
Scar turned to them and smiled. Purple was right behind Julien, her expression soft and warm.
"Don't forget your savior. If I hadn't been your shisho for the night, you'd still be training yourselves into the ground. Be thankful, you little brats."
Purple shrugged her shoulders. "I guess you deserve some credit. But it'd make more sense to give it to Haven, since she gave you that advice."
Scar's sneer returned.
Something told him Purple wasn't his biggest fan. Probably had something to do with him kicking her ass in their fight.
"Next time, ask her yourself. Tsk."
The booming laughter that erupted from Arthur turned the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable.
"Competing with my nephew, are you? How adorable… Now, you kids better join him in the squats. Remember, a storm's coming, and I need you ready to watch each other's backs."
He'd been on about this forever. But other than Adisa and V's alliance, Scar's thoughts were consumed by his own survival.
Meanwhile, Purple, that psychopath, kept smiling knowingly, as though she'd already pieced together what Arthur meant.
Eventually, after brutal squats that had Scar wobbling on his feet, the sun appeared alongside the moon. Arthur, laughing as always and striking his omnipotent pose, spoke at last.
"You kids should rest. I'll show you what makes me a god next evening. Then you'll see what the Sun Phoenix is truly capable of."