"Some old man in the sky that has all the power you can think of, but does nothing with it and only observes from his omniscient and omnipresent throne." Tez had a resigned smile. I forgot such a concept doesn't even exist in this world. The only old man in the sky they have is the supposed Architect. If that guy is even such a thing.
Shuren could only scoff at his words. "What makes you think you're worthy of such a powerful being helping you out?" He held out a bloodied scroll in his left hand, ingesting a sliver of his Qi. It crumbled into ashes that flew off with the wind.
Tez clicked his tongue.
A spherical domain, almost invisible to the eye, formed around the roc. The Rank 1 Dome Formation, removing Tez's chances of any and all escape. This rat made me waste a Sacrosanct Artifact on him. Getting killed by the innards of this beast was almost unbearable.
"Get up." Shuren ordered. "Who sits when the enemy is in their sight?"
"Dickhead, you're the one who put me in this state," Tez complained, though bearing through the pain as he held a hand on his knee to get up.
Naturally, he noticed the formation set up around him. Though he chalked it up to Shuren making sure he wouldn't escape. The battlefield was now restricted just on the back of this beast.
Shuren raised his chin up high, staring down at Tez. I'll waste some time until he loses control of this roc. By that time he'll instinctively order it to come near ground. Even at this height, if I kill him and get thrown off, I'll become meat paste.
The Vrostin Roc frantically flew, following its previous command regardless of the hole in its body. The winds of the mountain range peaks were all that encompassed them.
In the warmth of the roc's blood, the gales wrapped Shuren in a gentle cold. To Tez, those gales were cutting knives digging into his open wounds.
Shuren put one hand behind his back and used his right hand to beckon over Tez.
Tez held his left hand on his sword hilt, confused at Shuren's gesture. "What?"
"I'll let you take the first five attacks. Give you the feeling of a real fight," Shuren announced as the winds caused his hair to flutter. "Come."
Tez spat a glob of blood on the skin of the Vrostin Roc, shaking his head. "You're as arrogant as they come. But I'll take you up on that offer," Tez retorted back as he took out his sword. My only advantage here is the control of the Vrostin Roc. I have to figure out a way to break through this! The question is, what exactly can I use from the System that won't make me suspicious to any overseers?
Tez held a bladed stance, feeling the crackling of his shoulder and arms. Even when Tez's fingers trembled as he cycled his Qi, he continued, ignoring the searing pain throughout his body. *I'll focus on lowering his guard.
He stabbed forth, aiming for Shuren's heart.
Shuren simply sidestepped, watching Tez flail toward towards the tail end of the beast.
He sighed from boredom. As if he expected more.
Tez switched his stance, putting away his sword. Both his hands were lowered below his waist, and his Qi surged around his calves. He ran forth like a mad bull. Shuren prepared to kick him away like a stray dog.
That was until Tez leapt to Shuren's side like some leopard, using that momentum to do a wide slash towards Shuren's torso.
Shuren just stepped back to avoid it.
Did I expect too much from him? But we're getting closer to the mountain range, so he must've ordered it to do so. Shuren thought, his face a mixture of disappointment and boredom. It was true that this person was quite lucky and good at retreating.
But a cultivator's way of life was to walk through the path of strife.
Tez threw out another vertical slash, completely missing Shuren. He continued again, flailing around like a child.
"Do you still think this is some sort of game? Use everything you have." Shuren frowned, almost forcing a yawn down. But he still held his guard up.
He would not hold back on this Stage 3, not after the plan he pulled off, let alone surviving towards the end of the sect finale. It was one thing to play around with a rat. It was another to let that rat dirty your clothes.
He watched as Tez backed away, preparing his fifth basic sword attack. An absolute amateur swordsman.
This time, he ran forward for a simple stab. Even yelling as if it would help his strength.
Shuren kicked him. Tez was swatted away like a fly towards the back of the roc. It's about time. We're getting lower in altitude. This guy should be pulling out a trick by now.
"Roc, slam into the mountain with all your might!" Tez patted the tail of the roc as he proclaimed, prompting Shuren to narrow his eyes. He looked around towards the head of the Roc, watching it dive bomb madly towards it.
Shuren felt something off. Don't tell me this was what he had in mind.
What was the point of killing them both together?
Wait!
He turned around only to see the tail of the roc burning with vibrant blue flames. Even the cold winds around him grew dim, replaced by the sweltering heat of a raging mythical flame. One of a Deviant Beast.
With it, the stench of the beast's blood on Shuren also worsened, to the point it began boiling. Almost as if it had a life of its own…
Not good!
He threw off the bloodied robe on it, watching it burst into flames. The blood blotched on his pants still lit up, and Shuren surged Qi around his body.
All of his Qi Aura was diminished in a blink, burnt by the flames of bursting blood. His Qi Reserves had gotten dangerously low.
Shuren ran towards Tez, keeping an eye on the attack. He focused on the tail, waiting for it to release its move. There's no way it would be strong enough or aim to pierce through him, otherwise the roc would end up injuring itself too much.
It had to be an avoidable attack.
A feather shot out with intense speed, sheathed in blue flames. Shuren controlled his aura, protecting his vitals as much as he can while weaving to the side.
It wasn't enough.
The feathered arrow of flames tore straight through Shuren's forearm, burning his left arm entirely from the inside. Shuren sucked in the cold air of the skies, bearing with the pain. He had to cycle Qi around his arm, otherwise the flames would continue to burn his innards!
In a single move, his left arm had been rendered useless!
This Stage 3 brat! I should've killed him back then!
Shuren didn't stop, reaching Tez within a few seconds.
Facing imminent death, Tez feigned fear as he trembled at Shuren's next attack. He had to use his trump card. With this, he'd have an actual chance!
Tez glared Shuren down, or rather, the floating screens in front of him.System! Use 300 Insignias to purchase a Low Grade Rank 1 Sacrosanct Artifact. Give me a one time usage of Full Counter!
Shuren brought back his right arm for a single, raw punch. He left a deep imprint in Tez's chest as he dug it in deep.
Tez's golden pupils shook as he almost cried out from the pain. Excruciating as he felt all the blood move around his liver. Shit! Even with Turtle Shell Defence, it only could cover half of it! The Full Counter won't work if the artifact breaks with too much force!
He lost focus, as Shuren dug his middle finger in his fist to stab even further. He couldn't even feel his own breath anymore, holding back the sensation of retching out his saliva. The light in his eyes had long dimmed, Tez's breathing cycle completely thrown off.
But Tez then felt a combination of spit and blood land on his body. Shuren held his chest in pain, his eyes faltering as well. The half-damaged effects of the Full Counter.
Yet, Shuren barely received damage compared to Tez! With his Iron Grade Talisbody, he could still breathe and wasn't stunned for long. Recovering his bearings in a breath, Shuren struck without relent.
Tez's legs failed to feel the solidarity of the ground.
The sensation of iron constricted around his neck, cutting off his breath. Moving the fingertips of his sword arm, he felt only air.
"You have talent. Talent in using others as your strength." Shuren snorted. In a blink, he had kicked away the sword and lifted Tez up by the neck like a stray cat.
Even at his awkward position, Tez grabbed Shuren's arm with all his might, his forearms bulging with muscles. Having steadied himself, he executed a high-knee kick to Shuren's elbow.
Shuren didn't even flinch, boring holes deep into Tez with his gaze.
"I don't need to hear that from a spoilt brat like you, born with all the wealth and resources in the world you could ask for!" Tez glared at Shuren with nothing but malice.
His neck was snapped on the spot.
Shuren didn't even waste his anger on this idiot. "Trash. You know nothing of the life I've led."
The light dimmed from Tez's eyes, but he still muttered out something under his breath, just barely enough for Shuren to hear.
"Shitty System, you had one… job."
Shuren clicked his tongue. This brat is always on about this system.
Without his robes, Shuren's shirt moved in the breeze, revealing the scars beneath. "Now then, time to subjugate this beast."
"With my own hands."