Dacer grinned and stepped forwards, stumbling slightly before stamping both of his feet into the ground to strengthen his stance. [color=8dc73f]"Pshaww, [i]best friend.[/i] You're gonna make me blush, kiddo,"[/color] Dacer mocked, brandishing his claws. His eyes looked back at the ongoing thunderstorm behind him. With Jenso stuck inside, he wouldn't be able to move until it was finished raging, [i]if he could even move after that.[/i] He looked back at Jeff. [color=8dc73f]"You were just the first guy with any potential for Ki control I came across. If it wasn't you, it could've been [i]anyone else.[/i] Truth of the matter is, I found you pretty goddamn [i]obnoxious.[/i] If I wasn't planning on using you, there's no way in hell I would've done anything to protect your stupid village."[/color] Dacer rubbed his thumb-claw together with his index-claw, producing a small pink spark. [color=8dc73f]"'Course none of that crap matters now. Things have changed pretty significantly since then. I've got some new goals now. The first of which..."[/color] Dacer's body flickered and his royal amp fell apart, revealing Jenso, partly immobile nearby. Dacer disappeared, and reappeared in front of Jenso, pinning his body to the ground, neck-first, and holding him in place.

	[color=8dc73f]"...Involves taking [i]this[/i] back!"[/color]

	Suddenly, Jenso's body was overcome with a familiar warmth. A memory grasped to his consciousness, ripping away at the scene around him. Lark stood over a slightly younger Dacer, with his hand grasping the boy's shoulder firmly. He muttered something incoherent. Dacer slapped his hand away, and punched his father in the stomach as hard as he could manage. Then he ran, tears streaming down his cheeks as Lark watched quietly, clutching his abdomen with one hand. The memory faded, as did the warmth of his transformation. Pij squawked loudly, over and over, until her voice was squashed by darkness. The scene around Jenso returned. His wings faded, and the flames that encompassed him burned out. Dacer chuckled, and let go of Jenso's throat. In an instant, Pij had been stolen from him, along with all of the energy that Lark had gifted Jenso on his deathbed. Dacer stood over the still-paralysed Jenso and turned to Jeff, grinning confidently. In a single moment, one of the hero's most powerful weapons was taken away.

	Jenso's one with nature transformation was no more. 

	[center][hr]
[h1]~ End Of Chapter 178 ~[/h1][/center]