Post by Lord Xylo on Apr 9, 2016 12:36:46 GMT
”Well, here we are!”
The small Wizard pointed across the way at an incredibly massive tree. The grey bark was accompanied by beautiful green leaves. Though the tree seemed fairly average despite its size, there was one thing that made it special: On its branches grew the most beautiful golden peaches, each one looking good enough to gobble down in an instant. Rumors and legends say that taking even a single bite of the fruit will increase your power to levels that you’d never even dreamed of. Power like that was what Xylo needed.
As the duo walked closer to the mighty tree, the tall Namekian Lord gave it a closer look, arching a brow in curiosity as he stepped closer. ”Didn’t you say there would be guards? I certainly don’t see any here…” The Wizard steps forwards, quickly shifting his head to the left and the right before he responds. ”Perhaps they’re on break? Why not try and snatch it up whilst they’re gone?”
Xylo shrugged. ”Works for me.”
He moved under the branches of the tree, slowly floating up to reach the delicious fruit that hung above. He placed his hand on the fruit, gripping it tightly as he tugged at it. Though it was only a simple fruit, the thing was connected to its branch incredibly well.
”HEY YOU! HANDS OFF YEMMA’S FRUIT!”
The shout of an incredibly angry man came from across the lake. Though he was far, his voice carried incredibly well. Before Xylo had time to remove his hand, the mighty ogre had already leapt over the lake. He landed quickly, causing the entire area to rumble from the impact. Had Xylo been on the ground, he probably would have fallen prone. The Blue Ogre marched forwards with a large, spiky, and incredibly heavy-looking club. He reeled back, slamming his huge club into Xylo’s chest. The Namekian warrior was flung back from the force of the blow, skidding across the ground before he came to a stop.
The Mazoku slowly rose from the ground, his body shaking with a mixture of rage and pain. He inspected his chest, expecting to find a wound, though there seemed to be none there. He blinked blankly, unsure of how he wasn’t bleeding profusely.
”What the hell? … Maybe simply being in the Afterlife increases your durability … Let’s hope he isn’t too much of a tank himself.”
The Namekian narrowed his eyes at the Ogre. ”So what are you supposed to be? Yemma’s little lap dog?”
The Ogre chuckled. ”Pfah! You wish! I am Goz, one of two protectors of the Sacred Ensenji Fruit!”
Xylo’s eyes widened. ”One of two? Where’s the other one.”
A gruff voice came from behind. ”Right here.”
The Namekian didn’t even have time to turn around before he was clubbed in the back. He was launched through the sky once again, tumbling to the ground next to the Wizard. Another groan escaped him as he took to a stand once again. ”Lucky shot, punk!”
The two Ogres slowly walked towards the mighty tree, standing directly in the way of Xylo’s path. The Namekian spat on the ground, a small bit of blood escaping with his saliva. ”So, just who are you two anyways?”
The duo raised their clubs as they introduced themselves. ”I am Mez!”, ”And I am Goz!”
”We protect the Mighty Yemma’s Tree from punks like you! Nobody has ever gotten past us, so don’t try your luck.”
Goz slowly leaned over to Mez, whispering quietly in his ear. ”But uh, Mez… That one bug guy got past us not long ago, remember?”
”Of course I remember! It don’t mean we gotta tell him!”
They both faked coughs, before turning back to the Namekian. ”Now, we could just beat the snot out of you and toss you in the lake, but if you really want this fruit, I suppose we could play a little game … If you can best us in a challenge, you can have one of the fruits. How’s that sound?”
With their introductions finished, they dropped their clubs on the ground, simply folding their arms as they waited for Xylo’s next move.
The Namekian turned to his wizard companion, arching a brow as he readied for battle. ”So, any ideas?”
The Wizard shrugged. ”Why not materialize your own club?”
Xylo smirked. It wasn’t a bad idea, in all honesty. He could match their brawn with some of his own. He raised his hand into the sky, charging it with a mixture of both Ki and Magical energies. A dull orange glow filled his hand, increasing in brightness until it suddenly erupted. The Mazoku gripped tightly on the newly formed implement: A large, black, spiked club. It was a little smaller than the Ogres’ clubs, only because the Namekian himself was a bit smaller.
He hoisted it up, letting it rest upon his shoulder as he stared the two guardians down. They were quite the menacing specimen when together, let alone when they were apart. If he could get them separated, this would probably be a lot easier … But where would the challenge be if this were easy?
”Alright then, If it’s a challenge I need to complete, then so be it … I challenge the two of you to combat! If I win the duel, then I shall gain access to the Ensenji Fruit!”
The two Ogres blinked blankly. ”Wait … What?
”Usually we uh… We expect people to want to do more fun challenges … Like uh, a race? Or maybe a battle of wits? Just straight combat is a little … Different.”
Xylo chuckled as he gripped the club tightly, holding it directly in front of his face as he taunted the duo. ”Ah, I see! You two are just pansies! You don’t know how to hold your own in a fight, do you?”
Mez furrowed his brow, adjusting his glasses as he ripped his massive club from the ground. Goz did the same with his own club, glaring in annoyance at their challenger. ”Alright then kid, fighting it is! We don’t do this too often, so excuse our rustiness.”
The two Ogres slowly lumbered forward, clubs raised menacingly as they closed in on Xylo. They quickly swung their clubs down at the Namekian, but he was able to narrowly avoid the blows by hopping into the air. Their clubs smashed into the ground, causing rubble to shoot into the sky. Xylo let out a mighty shout as he descended, aiming to smash his own club into Goz’s noggin. Luckily for the blue Ogre, his crimson ally had his back. Mez brought his weapon up quickly, moving it above Goz’s head to block Xylo’s incoming strike.
The Mazoku sneered at the red guardian, somersaulting away from the duo just as Goz attempted to swing at him from below. He landed a few feet away, before quickly charging in again. He held his club high above his head, slamming it down towards Mez with intense force. Sadly for the Mazoku however, Goz was ready to defend his friend. The blue Ogre swung his club in as Xylo charged, smacking right into the Namekian’s stomach. Xylo coughed up a huge glob of blood as he was launched straight upwards. He spun through the air wildly as he ascended, trying his best not to vomit while also trying to figure out how to stop himself from being sent up to Heaven.
After a long moment, Xylo let out a burst of Kiai in mid-air, stopping his ascent quickly. He was quite high up now, meaning he would be able to perform some ranged attacks. He reeled his club back, before tossing it towards the ogre duo, attempting to distract them as he charged his Ki. Orbs of energy began to form in both of his palms, slowly gaining strength as he hovered in the hellish sky.
As the pitch black club rocketed through the sky, Mez got into a batter’s stance. He tightened his grip on his own club, before quickly reeling it back. As Xylo’s club got into range, he swung his weapon forwards, redirecting Xylo’s weapon right back at him!
The Namekian’s eyes widened in utter shock as he watched his weapon begin to rapidly return towards him, intent on knocking his lights out. He dropped his Ki Orbs, but before he could guard himself, the club smacked right into his chin. He quickly began to plummet towards the ground below, his eyes shut tight from the sheer pain he was feeling.
Xylo hit the ground with an unceremonious thud, groaning in pain as he simply laid there for a moment. Eventually, he took to a stand, panting heavily as he cracked his knuckles. ”Is that … All … You got?”
Goz and Mez both laughed heartily. They both had to admit, this was quite fun; it had been quite some time since someone had challenged them to a fight, after all. Mez adjusted his glasses, chuckling as he moved forwards. ”Y’know kid, you are a bit stronger than we expected. Even though you haven’t landed a single hit, you’re certainly got heart!” Goz spoke up as well, agreeing with his companions statement. ”Yep! I didn’t expect ya to even last a single second. You’re doing better than most.”
Xylo spit another clump of blood, wiping his lips with his arm as he stared down his foes. They were tough indeed; tougher than Mayze by a long shot. He would need to resort to trickery to take them down.
”Alright, let’s get to it!”
”WAIT ONE SECOND! TIME OUT! TIME OUT!”
The small Wizard who had accompanied Xylo had finally spoken up after a long silence. Both of the Ogres stared in confusion, watching as the old man slowly waddled over to the Mazoku Lord. As he reached the Namekian, he beckoned him to kneel down. He did so, and the Wizard began to whisper to him.
”I think you’re going to need to employ some tricky tactics here, Xylo. Why not use your Stone Spit ability?”
Xylo’s ears twitched. His brow arched in confusion. ”Stone Spit? What in the world is that?”
The Wizard facepalmed, sighing in disappointment as he explained. ”Do you really not know how to use the Stone Spit? It was one of Tuner’s specialities! His father taught it to him, and his father’s father taught it to him, and so on! Are you honestly telling me Tuner never taught it to you?”
Xylo nodded. ”Never heard of it in my life. Honest.”
”Well then, I guess I’ll have to explain it to you! It’s simple really; Just collect some saliva, and fill it with your malicious magic energy! You know how to Materialize objects, right? It’s sort of like that, but you alter the spit itself rather than creating something new." The Wizard pointed to Goz before continuing. "Here, try it on the blue one. I'm sure he won't mind."
Xylo shrugged. "Very well. I'll give it a go." The Namekian stood up, looking directly at Goz as he began to pool his magical energy in his mouth. The blue ogre scratched his head in confusion, unsure of what exactly was going on. "Uhh... Should I be doing something?" The Wizard placed his hands out in a calming manner. "Give him a minute, sir. He's collecting himself."
The Mazoku slowly hovered into the air, trying his best to aim his mouth properly to actually hit Goz. He pulled his head back, before jutting it forwards slightly. He let loose a large glob of grey spit, which soared through the air at intense speeds. It landed on Goz's shirt causing him to recoil in disgust. "Gah! What the..?"
Xylo turned back to the Wizard, a disappointed look on his face as he spoke. "So that's it? I spit on him and he gets grossed out? Really great move, old man." The Wizard chuckled, pointing at the blue ogre with a smirk. "Look again, young man."
"GOZ?! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?!"
Xylo turned back to the duo, his eyes widening as he realized what was happening: Goz was turning into pure stone! The blue Ogre tried his best to get the stone off him somehow, but it was useless. It spread along his body quickly, slowing his movements further and further.
Goz turned to Xylo, fury present in his eyes as he yelled. "YOU DAMN NAMEKIAN! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIIIIIII---"
Before Goz could finish, he had become a statue. Mez stared in horror, before shaking his head. He dropped his club, running off into the distance with intense speed. From afar, the red ogre shouted. "Don't go anywhere Goz, I'll grab the chisel!"
Xylo watched in disbelief. His jaw slackened as he hunched his shoulders. He still wasn't sure what had occurred. "Did I just... How did... What?"
The Wizard floated upwards, patting Xylo on the back as he smiled proudly. "Welcome to the world of powerful magic, friend. Why don't you celebrate by collecting your prize?" The old man pointed to Yemma's tree, which was currently unguarded.
Xylo began walking towards the tree, a smirk present on his face. As he reached the tree, he slowly floated up to the peach he attempted to grab earlier, this time gripping it with more intensity. He pulled with immense force, ripping the peach from its branch.
He stared at his prize for a moment, before quickly taking a huge bite. He swallowed the chunk of fruit quickly, barely even chewing it before it fell into his gullet. As it hit his stomach, a massive surge of energy courses through his veins. His muscles bulged as his malicious purple Ki Aura began to burn around him. His body strained even more as he took another bite, and another. Soon enough, the peach was gone entirely. The Mazoku fell to his knees, his body pulsating with vibrant power. He let out a scream; a mixture of pain and happiness as his power began to peak.
A bolt of lightning crashed into the lake nearby as Xylo forced himself to stand despite the debilitating power coursing through his veins. He let out another ferocious scream as a burst of Kiai exploded from him, knocking over the freshly made statue of Goz.
His Ki Aura finally died down. The Namekian let out a satisfied sigh as he inspected himself. He had gained immense power, that much was certain. If he had to guess, he could probably take Mayze down already. He couldn't try to leave Hell just yet however; he needed to meet that Beelzebub fellow first.
Xylo turned to thank the Wizard, but he was already gone. The Namekian raised a brow in confusion, but decided to try and decipher this mystery some other time. He had a demon prince to meet, after all. Before he departed, he snatched a second peach from the tree. He hid the fruit under his Gi, saving it for someone else. "I can't meet a demon prince without a gift, now can I?"
The Namekian walked off, pondering to himself about where he was actually supposed to go. "Now, where would one find a prince of darkness? ..."
---
(Eating Ensenji, which should boost me up to 150k)
(If I've reached 150k, then I'll be Unlocking x18 Permanent: Mazoku Wrath)
The small Wizard pointed across the way at an incredibly massive tree. The grey bark was accompanied by beautiful green leaves. Though the tree seemed fairly average despite its size, there was one thing that made it special: On its branches grew the most beautiful golden peaches, each one looking good enough to gobble down in an instant. Rumors and legends say that taking even a single bite of the fruit will increase your power to levels that you’d never even dreamed of. Power like that was what Xylo needed.
As the duo walked closer to the mighty tree, the tall Namekian Lord gave it a closer look, arching a brow in curiosity as he stepped closer. ”Didn’t you say there would be guards? I certainly don’t see any here…” The Wizard steps forwards, quickly shifting his head to the left and the right before he responds. ”Perhaps they’re on break? Why not try and snatch it up whilst they’re gone?”
Xylo shrugged. ”Works for me.”
He moved under the branches of the tree, slowly floating up to reach the delicious fruit that hung above. He placed his hand on the fruit, gripping it tightly as he tugged at it. Though it was only a simple fruit, the thing was connected to its branch incredibly well.
”HEY YOU! HANDS OFF YEMMA’S FRUIT!”
The shout of an incredibly angry man came from across the lake. Though he was far, his voice carried incredibly well. Before Xylo had time to remove his hand, the mighty ogre had already leapt over the lake. He landed quickly, causing the entire area to rumble from the impact. Had Xylo been on the ground, he probably would have fallen prone. The Blue Ogre marched forwards with a large, spiky, and incredibly heavy-looking club. He reeled back, slamming his huge club into Xylo’s chest. The Namekian warrior was flung back from the force of the blow, skidding across the ground before he came to a stop.
The Mazoku slowly rose from the ground, his body shaking with a mixture of rage and pain. He inspected his chest, expecting to find a wound, though there seemed to be none there. He blinked blankly, unsure of how he wasn’t bleeding profusely.
”What the hell? … Maybe simply being in the Afterlife increases your durability … Let’s hope he isn’t too much of a tank himself.”
The Namekian narrowed his eyes at the Ogre. ”So what are you supposed to be? Yemma’s little lap dog?”
The Ogre chuckled. ”Pfah! You wish! I am Goz, one of two protectors of the Sacred Ensenji Fruit!”
Xylo’s eyes widened. ”One of two? Where’s the other one.”
A gruff voice came from behind. ”Right here.”
The Namekian didn’t even have time to turn around before he was clubbed in the back. He was launched through the sky once again, tumbling to the ground next to the Wizard. Another groan escaped him as he took to a stand once again. ”Lucky shot, punk!”
The two Ogres slowly walked towards the mighty tree, standing directly in the way of Xylo’s path. The Namekian spat on the ground, a small bit of blood escaping with his saliva. ”So, just who are you two anyways?”
The duo raised their clubs as they introduced themselves. ”I am Mez!”, ”And I am Goz!”
”We protect the Mighty Yemma’s Tree from punks like you! Nobody has ever gotten past us, so don’t try your luck.”
Goz slowly leaned over to Mez, whispering quietly in his ear. ”But uh, Mez… That one bug guy got past us not long ago, remember?”
”Of course I remember! It don’t mean we gotta tell him!”
They both faked coughs, before turning back to the Namekian. ”Now, we could just beat the snot out of you and toss you in the lake, but if you really want this fruit, I suppose we could play a little game … If you can best us in a challenge, you can have one of the fruits. How’s that sound?”
With their introductions finished, they dropped their clubs on the ground, simply folding their arms as they waited for Xylo’s next move.
The Namekian turned to his wizard companion, arching a brow as he readied for battle. ”So, any ideas?”
The Wizard shrugged. ”Why not materialize your own club?”
Xylo smirked. It wasn’t a bad idea, in all honesty. He could match their brawn with some of his own. He raised his hand into the sky, charging it with a mixture of both Ki and Magical energies. A dull orange glow filled his hand, increasing in brightness until it suddenly erupted. The Mazoku gripped tightly on the newly formed implement: A large, black, spiked club. It was a little smaller than the Ogres’ clubs, only because the Namekian himself was a bit smaller.
He hoisted it up, letting it rest upon his shoulder as he stared the two guardians down. They were quite the menacing specimen when together, let alone when they were apart. If he could get them separated, this would probably be a lot easier … But where would the challenge be if this were easy?
”Alright then, If it’s a challenge I need to complete, then so be it … I challenge the two of you to combat! If I win the duel, then I shall gain access to the Ensenji Fruit!”
The two Ogres blinked blankly. ”Wait … What?
”Usually we uh… We expect people to want to do more fun challenges … Like uh, a race? Or maybe a battle of wits? Just straight combat is a little … Different.”
Xylo chuckled as he gripped the club tightly, holding it directly in front of his face as he taunted the duo. ”Ah, I see! You two are just pansies! You don’t know how to hold your own in a fight, do you?”
Mez furrowed his brow, adjusting his glasses as he ripped his massive club from the ground. Goz did the same with his own club, glaring in annoyance at their challenger. ”Alright then kid, fighting it is! We don’t do this too often, so excuse our rustiness.”
The two Ogres slowly lumbered forward, clubs raised menacingly as they closed in on Xylo. They quickly swung their clubs down at the Namekian, but he was able to narrowly avoid the blows by hopping into the air. Their clubs smashed into the ground, causing rubble to shoot into the sky. Xylo let out a mighty shout as he descended, aiming to smash his own club into Goz’s noggin. Luckily for the blue Ogre, his crimson ally had his back. Mez brought his weapon up quickly, moving it above Goz’s head to block Xylo’s incoming strike.
The Mazoku sneered at the red guardian, somersaulting away from the duo just as Goz attempted to swing at him from below. He landed a few feet away, before quickly charging in again. He held his club high above his head, slamming it down towards Mez with intense force. Sadly for the Mazoku however, Goz was ready to defend his friend. The blue Ogre swung his club in as Xylo charged, smacking right into the Namekian’s stomach. Xylo coughed up a huge glob of blood as he was launched straight upwards. He spun through the air wildly as he ascended, trying his best not to vomit while also trying to figure out how to stop himself from being sent up to Heaven.
After a long moment, Xylo let out a burst of Kiai in mid-air, stopping his ascent quickly. He was quite high up now, meaning he would be able to perform some ranged attacks. He reeled his club back, before tossing it towards the ogre duo, attempting to distract them as he charged his Ki. Orbs of energy began to form in both of his palms, slowly gaining strength as he hovered in the hellish sky.
As the pitch black club rocketed through the sky, Mez got into a batter’s stance. He tightened his grip on his own club, before quickly reeling it back. As Xylo’s club got into range, he swung his weapon forwards, redirecting Xylo’s weapon right back at him!
The Namekian’s eyes widened in utter shock as he watched his weapon begin to rapidly return towards him, intent on knocking his lights out. He dropped his Ki Orbs, but before he could guard himself, the club smacked right into his chin. He quickly began to plummet towards the ground below, his eyes shut tight from the sheer pain he was feeling.
Xylo hit the ground with an unceremonious thud, groaning in pain as he simply laid there for a moment. Eventually, he took to a stand, panting heavily as he cracked his knuckles. ”Is that … All … You got?”
Goz and Mez both laughed heartily. They both had to admit, this was quite fun; it had been quite some time since someone had challenged them to a fight, after all. Mez adjusted his glasses, chuckling as he moved forwards. ”Y’know kid, you are a bit stronger than we expected. Even though you haven’t landed a single hit, you’re certainly got heart!” Goz spoke up as well, agreeing with his companions statement. ”Yep! I didn’t expect ya to even last a single second. You’re doing better than most.”
Xylo spit another clump of blood, wiping his lips with his arm as he stared down his foes. They were tough indeed; tougher than Mayze by a long shot. He would need to resort to trickery to take them down.
”Alright, let’s get to it!”
”WAIT ONE SECOND! TIME OUT! TIME OUT!”
The small Wizard who had accompanied Xylo had finally spoken up after a long silence. Both of the Ogres stared in confusion, watching as the old man slowly waddled over to the Mazoku Lord. As he reached the Namekian, he beckoned him to kneel down. He did so, and the Wizard began to whisper to him.
”I think you’re going to need to employ some tricky tactics here, Xylo. Why not use your Stone Spit ability?”
Xylo’s ears twitched. His brow arched in confusion. ”Stone Spit? What in the world is that?”
The Wizard facepalmed, sighing in disappointment as he explained. ”Do you really not know how to use the Stone Spit? It was one of Tuner’s specialities! His father taught it to him, and his father’s father taught it to him, and so on! Are you honestly telling me Tuner never taught it to you?”
Xylo nodded. ”Never heard of it in my life. Honest.”
”Well then, I guess I’ll have to explain it to you! It’s simple really; Just collect some saliva, and fill it with your malicious magic energy! You know how to Materialize objects, right? It’s sort of like that, but you alter the spit itself rather than creating something new." The Wizard pointed to Goz before continuing. "Here, try it on the blue one. I'm sure he won't mind."
Xylo shrugged. "Very well. I'll give it a go." The Namekian stood up, looking directly at Goz as he began to pool his magical energy in his mouth. The blue ogre scratched his head in confusion, unsure of what exactly was going on. "Uhh... Should I be doing something?" The Wizard placed his hands out in a calming manner. "Give him a minute, sir. He's collecting himself."
The Mazoku slowly hovered into the air, trying his best to aim his mouth properly to actually hit Goz. He pulled his head back, before jutting it forwards slightly. He let loose a large glob of grey spit, which soared through the air at intense speeds. It landed on Goz's shirt causing him to recoil in disgust. "Gah! What the..?"
Xylo turned back to the Wizard, a disappointed look on his face as he spoke. "So that's it? I spit on him and he gets grossed out? Really great move, old man." The Wizard chuckled, pointing at the blue ogre with a smirk. "Look again, young man."
"GOZ?! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?!"
Xylo turned back to the duo, his eyes widening as he realized what was happening: Goz was turning into pure stone! The blue Ogre tried his best to get the stone off him somehow, but it was useless. It spread along his body quickly, slowing his movements further and further.
Goz turned to Xylo, fury present in his eyes as he yelled. "YOU DAMN NAMEKIAN! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIIIIIII---"
Before Goz could finish, he had become a statue. Mez stared in horror, before shaking his head. He dropped his club, running off into the distance with intense speed. From afar, the red ogre shouted. "Don't go anywhere Goz, I'll grab the chisel!"
Xylo watched in disbelief. His jaw slackened as he hunched his shoulders. He still wasn't sure what had occurred. "Did I just... How did... What?"
The Wizard floated upwards, patting Xylo on the back as he smiled proudly. "Welcome to the world of powerful magic, friend. Why don't you celebrate by collecting your prize?" The old man pointed to Yemma's tree, which was currently unguarded.
Xylo began walking towards the tree, a smirk present on his face. As he reached the tree, he slowly floated up to the peach he attempted to grab earlier, this time gripping it with more intensity. He pulled with immense force, ripping the peach from its branch.
He stared at his prize for a moment, before quickly taking a huge bite. He swallowed the chunk of fruit quickly, barely even chewing it before it fell into his gullet. As it hit his stomach, a massive surge of energy courses through his veins. His muscles bulged as his malicious purple Ki Aura began to burn around him. His body strained even more as he took another bite, and another. Soon enough, the peach was gone entirely. The Mazoku fell to his knees, his body pulsating with vibrant power. He let out a scream; a mixture of pain and happiness as his power began to peak.
A bolt of lightning crashed into the lake nearby as Xylo forced himself to stand despite the debilitating power coursing through his veins. He let out another ferocious scream as a burst of Kiai exploded from him, knocking over the freshly made statue of Goz.
His Ki Aura finally died down. The Namekian let out a satisfied sigh as he inspected himself. He had gained immense power, that much was certain. If he had to guess, he could probably take Mayze down already. He couldn't try to leave Hell just yet however; he needed to meet that Beelzebub fellow first.
Xylo turned to thank the Wizard, but he was already gone. The Namekian raised a brow in confusion, but decided to try and decipher this mystery some other time. He had a demon prince to meet, after all. Before he departed, he snatched a second peach from the tree. He hid the fruit under his Gi, saving it for someone else. "I can't meet a demon prince without a gift, now can I?"
The Namekian walked off, pondering to himself about where he was actually supposed to go. "Now, where would one find a prince of darkness? ..."
---
(Eating Ensenji, which should boost me up to 150k)
(If I've reached 150k, then I'll be Unlocking x18 Permanent: Mazoku Wrath)